The Summer Time [Flashback][Summer]

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The East End was, without contest, the most dangerous side of Gotham.  Harvey grew up here, so the 'danger' of it did nothing to keep him away from it when he so wanted to be there.  Besides, any true Gothamite knew all the best and most culturally significant little spots were there.  These days there were more things like strip clubs, sleazy bars, and what have you, but all the best places to eat and enjoy one's self were there.  The people were real and the experiences were unparalleled.


Harvey sat at a table in a little Mexican restaurant and bar.  He was sitting back, a little Mariachi band was playing, filling the space with music.  He had a newspaper out that he was reading.  It was an early Sunday afternoon, thus Harvey was enjoying some sort of Mexiacn Bloody Mary.  it was one of the rare occasions he would be spotted in something that didn't involve slacks, a suit jacket or one of his infamous fedoras.  He was wearing a pair of white slacks and a teal polo.  He always wore a watch on his wrist and a gold chain with a small pendant around his neck.  A gold bracelet was on his left wrist along with a ring with an onyx stone that belonged to his mother on his pinky.  He never took that ring off, even if people did give him crap about it.

Harvey loved Sundays.  Sundays meant brunch.  He also loved Mexican food.  Sunday brunch at a Mexican grill always spelled out for a good day.  He didn't even bother checking his phone, it was too nice a day and it was also one of the rare days he took off.  His hair gently tussled in the sweet breeze that carried through the place, he was sitting in a covered patio, occasionally looking up to watch people passing by, mostly women.  He loved the Summer, women always looked so nice in the Summer.

Harvey picked up his bloody mary, finishing it off.  Within only moments a waitress was replacing it with a new one.  Harvey looked up and winked to her as he took the new drink.  She just smiled and continued on her way.

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It was rare that Summer visited this side of Gotham for leisure; typically she was in hot pursuit of a story. The recent graduate of Gotham University had managed to land herself a job as investigative reporter after a long and exhausting internship with Gotham Live Studios. So far, the young redhead had put in an astounding amount of work, impressing both her co-workers as well as her employer in regards to her ability, promise and overall dedication. Even now on her day off, the ambitious redhead was working, even if it didn’t seem like it. Summer had intentionally come to this shabby little Mexican restaurant in search of something, or someone.

It didn’t take Summer long to make a list of prominent people associated with the city and the Gotham police department. After eliminating some of the individuals off that list, she managed to narrow her targets down to a small list of three links in the chain that she was sure she could break or manipulate one way or another. If she managed to use whatever she had available to win the attention of some of Gotham’s finest, she could basically use them in order to get the most recent and unavailable inside information out of the Headquarters by batting her pretty little eyelashes.

There were great lengths that she was willing to go to in order to get ahead in her career. After a little harmless flirting with one of the few women officers, the woman took much more of a liking to Summer than she had preferred. While she played the innocent act really well, Summer began to ignore the woman’s calls when she realized that the officer didn’t have the information that she needed to get ahead. The next subject on her list was a single, male detective; he was sure to have some kind of insight to leads and information regarding the crime in Gotham. This was going to be easy.

Insuring that she wore a tight fitting top that showed off her midriff and a matching skirt to expose her long, smooth legs, Summer strutted toward the bar to order a drink. Her red lips matched her red stilettos as she ordered something light, fruity and certainly virgin. She spent several moments carefully stalking her prey before she decided to pounce, a playful pout on her pretty face as she approached the detective. “I’m so sorry to bother you, but it looks as though my girlfriends canceled on me last minute. Mind if I join you? That creep at the bar won’t stop touching me.” She asked innocently, flashing him a playful smile as she took a sip of her drink. Making a face, she stirred the contents with her straw. “Goodness, they sure to make these strong here, don’t they?”

outfit: clicky!

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Harvey didn't look up from his paper.

"Sure, go ahead."

Harvey turned the page in his paper and continued reading for a few more minutes before he realized he'd told someone they could sit with him. His eyes darted down to a pair of fire engine red stilettos. Soon he was lowering the paper and folding it back together, setting it down on the table. He picked up his drink and took a swig.

"I'm not a chump, I can tell a bullshitter when I meet one."

She looked a little too well dressed for a Sunday afternoon and that comment was a little too forced to be true. Harvey could detect someone trying to play him without much thought, but the determining the game was always the more difficult part.

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Summer slid into the seat, taking a sip of her drink as she sent a smile in his direction. He hadn’t bothered to look up from his paper, instantly alerting her that this was going to be a bit of a challenge. “Thanks,” When he said nothing in return, she was a little caught off-guard. I mean, really, a stunning, redhead decided to sit with him out of all the people in the room. Oh, she was beginning to see how that might be a little suspicious, but she was sure that she would be able to win him over eventually.

Blinking, she put on the most innocent pout that she could muster, “What are you talking about? I’m not bullshitting anyone. It’s just that…well, I didn’t want to sit by myself and you didn’t seem to be with anyone.” She traded the playful pout for a pearly smile. “My name is Summer, I just graduated from the University and I don’t really know too many people around here, so I thought I might expand my horizons a bit.” The perfect redhead announced proudly, fully aware that her sentence was laced with lies. “And what’s your name?” There was really no need for introductions on his part, Summer already knew more about him than he might have liked, but it was all an act.

She took another timid sip of her drink before setting it on the table, smirking at the red rings around the tip of the straw from her signature red lipstick. Summer smiled warmly over at him and then went to eye the paper before him. “You still read newspapers?” She giggled. “That’s so cute; you know there is an app for that, right?”

outfit: clicky!

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Harvey looked her over from her from bottom to top. He couldn't help but admire everything she was keeping in that outfit of hers. He shook his head and set his drink down. He took her drink and smelled it.

"Mhmmm."

Harvey looked back to his paper and then back to her. He leaned forward on the table, moving closer to her. His mouth not far from her ear and his breath finding a place near the bottom of her jaw.

"I think you already know my name. You must understand with my profession I've have a great number of people that'd love to see my ass getting nailed into a coffin, so please, don't toy with me. I could eat you for breakfast and you'd never leave me alone after that."

Harvey slowly leaned back into his chair again and looked her over once more.

"Mmmmm."

He quirked a brow and then opened his paper back up.

"I read plenty on my phone. I like reading the newspaper, I like the way it feels in my hands. I am a tactile man, Miss...?"

He lowered the paper again, looking over to her.

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Summer nearly jumped as he reached across the table, securing her drink from her. A perplexed look masking her pretty features, the redhead opened her mouth to protest. “What are you-“ She paused as he took a whiff, causing a pink tint to brush across her cheeks. He was good, too good. However, Summer was not going to give up on her little act just yet. She didn’t reach for it back, though she did take the opportunity to order another drink. “Oh, can I have a bloody mary please? Thanks” She asked with pleasant smile, deciding not to skimp on the liquor this time. Though it wasn’t going to correct her actions, she might as calm her nerves a bit. Attempting to keep up her innocent act, as he leaned forward.

Her eyes widened as he closed in on her, his hot breath bouncing against her pale skin. “I might like that too much, Mr. Bullock.” She replied coyly. She was going to have to take a completely different approach and hopefully prove that she was harmless. Well mostly. Summer quickly devised a new plan in her head now, fully up for the challenge. First she had to think of a good excuse for lying, now that she had been figured out. “Look,” She leaned forward in hopes that he low-cut top might grab his attention away from the newspaper. “I’m really not good at this kind of thing.” She started, “Of course I know who you are, you are basically a hero around Gotham, I just wasn’t completely sure how to approach you. Can I buy you a drink to make up for it?”

The waiter arrived back at their table with her drink. She thanked him before turning her focus back to Harvey. “Do you want to smell this one too?” The feisty redhead asked before she took a sip of the glass’s contents. “Gleeson.” She finished his sentence quickly. “And I am sure you are.”

outfit: clicky!

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Harvey's expression was a little more smug at her ordering a real drink. He doesn't mind someone not drinking around him, but he didn't appreciate people faking drinking with him. He leaned back in his seat a little and put the paper down. He picked up his own bloody mary and had a nice swig of it. After setting it back down he picked up a bottle of Chulula and doused his drink with the hot sauce, stirring it around with the celery sticking out from it.

He finally cracked a smile at her next comment.

"You would, a girl fresh out of college still has plenty to learn."

I'm the worst.

His expression soured at the H-word.

"Look, I don't like that word. I have a job and I do it as well as I can. I'm just like any other guy, except instead of trying to turn up profits I am just trying to keep this city from blowing itself up."

Harvey's expression softened again and he looked at her new drink.

"Nah, I know its real this time."

Harvey let out a chuckle at her very last comment.

"Well, you can't take everything you hear as fact, sometimes you have to just investigate for yourself."

Harvey was not interested, but it didn't mean he wasn't going to lay his charm on her. He'd be a fool if he didn't use it where he could because he only got to use it so often.

"So what's your gig then? What do you do to make them dolla bills, hmm?"

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Summer couldn’t help but wrinkle her nose as he added hot sauce to the tomato juice concoction. This was honestly the first Bloody Mary that she had experienced, though it reminded her much like some of the juices that she devised at home. Stirring her drink, she took another hearty sip. “And what is that supposed to mean?” She asked with a subtle smile. “Well, you are more than welcome to teach me.” Biting her lower lip playfully

“Isn’t that the typically spiel that heroes usually ramble off when confronted? So modest, it’s charming.” Tossing her long, red curls over her shoulder and looking back at him hungrily. The drink sat before her was large and much too strong for her liking, but she wanted to prove herself after being caught. Having assumed that the tomato juice might mask the liquor was a mistake, but she still continued to steal sips of it through her straw occasional.

It was almost ironic, seeing as she was an investigative reporter and here he was informing her she needed to investigate. If only he had any idea what her true hidden agenda was he might have packed up and abandoned her right then and there. “I guess that makes sense,” She started innocently, batting her pretty eyelashes. When he asked of her profession, she debated for only a brief moment as of what she might tell him. Unwilling to be caught in another lie, she told part of the truth. “I’m the receptionist at Gotham Live; I just got hired on a couple months ago. It's a lot of work, but I am sure it is nothing compared to what you do!"

outfit: clicky!

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She was flirting with him. Harvey was finding it harder and harder to keep brushing her off. She was younger than the youngest of his sisters, by the looks of it. The moral dilemma was getting at him. He couldn't understand why such a nice looking little thing was after a big lug like him, then again...

My hair ain't gray yet, but maybe I'm turning into a silver fox prematurely.

He wanted to bite his own finger at her invitation. She was something fierce. Harvey was thankful for her next comment, it was a good opportunity to roll his eyes.

"Please, don't try to flatter me. I'm cockier than anyone you ever met."

Phrasing, idiot, phrasing.

He watched her take sips at her drink. He could just tell she wasn't a huge fan. As much as he'd like to get her drunk, he was sure she'd just be more aggressive in her pursuit of him were she in that state. And Harvey Theodore Bullock ain't no creep that takes advantage of anyone in a less than sober state, unless it was a criminal. He didn't mind slapping handcuffs on someone he was already had a warrant for if they were stones, drunk or high.

"Ah... The media. How quaint."

Harvey never cared much for it, but she seemed like a sweet enough kid. A little voice in his head said maybe this was all a bad idea. He went ahead and humored it.

"What're you playin' at here? I can't tell if you're trying to get somethin' out of me or if you're just lookin' for somethin' a little more carnal..."

Harvey did not often attract the attention of younger women, though on occasion he managed it. Some younger women just had a thing for older men. He always figured it had something to do with the experience they were percieved to have, which in Harvey's case, he had plenty. More than he would be willing to admit.

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Summer shrugged, taking a sip from her drink. She didn’t see why he kept continuing to brush her off, but it was almost like a game for the feisty little redhead. The young reporter was just going to keep playing up this not-so-innocent act in attempt that he might eventually fall for it. It was needless to say, but Harvey was not her type. In fact, Summer was still struggling to decipher what her type even was after a series of stages and phases she had underwent throughout her college years. Still, that wasn’t really like that mattered now. Despite his desirable tough exterior, Summer only needed him for his leads.

“Oh are you now?” She teased, her eyebrow raised. A girlish giggle followed. Determined to get off the subject of her job, she nodded ecstatically. “Yes, I am really interested in filming. I just love being behind the camera. But, until I can be trusted with one I guess I have to work my way up by answering phone calls.” It was surprising how easily she could lie directly to his face, especially with his intimidating presence. Little did he know that he was gracing the presence of the newest field reporter for Gotham Live who was practically starving for a good story.

Here came the hard part, where her acting ability would be tested. Taking a sip of her liquid courage for a little boost of support, she sighed and looked down at her hands she was pretended to fiddle with before looking back up to meet his gaze. “I just, I think you are kind of – well, never mind you are just going to think I am a silly little girl.” God, she was flirting with him, not trying to kill him. She sighted, knocking her straw from her glass intentionally as she went to reach for her hair. “Oh, I’m such a klutz, I swear.” She got up from her chair, bending down to pick up the straw and insuring that she gave him a good view.

The mischievous smirk vanished the moment she turned back to face him, replacing it with a shy smile as she sat back down. “Sorry, what were we talking about again?” She asked sweetly as she sat back down in front of him.

outfit: clicky!

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Harvey, in all his years, had never met anyone involved in media that preferred to stay 'behind the camera' with a pair of legs that nice. No it was the guys about his age that looked like him that liked to stay out of the shot. It was already sending up a red flag in his brain that she was involved in the media as it was, however Harvey was beginning to get a little more invested into this exchange the longer it went on.

He was going to grab the straw for her, but she was quicker than he. He didn't think bending over was the most creative move in the book, he'd seen it done a million times, but damn. If that wasn't a sight to see. Harvey shuddered when she wasn't looking and went back to leaning back in his chair. When she got into her seat again.

"You were about to say something, but then you assumed I would think you were a 'silly little girl.' You may be young, but you ain't no little girl, that's for sure."

Harvey began to feel a bit dirtier and dirtier the longer she sat at his table. He didn't have the heart to send her away, and he didn't have the strength to resist her charms at this point.

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Why was this so hard? She had managed to easily win over many men in the past without as much as getting out of her chair. After pulling out many of her tricks and attempts it seemed as though she had not even made the slightest bit of progress. Still, she wasn’t going to give up and the stubborn redhead continued to smile as sweetly, her expression masked with a false innocence that did not even begin to mask her true intentions. She eyed him hungrily, taking another sip of her drink. If she kept this up, she was going to need another one very soon. Feeling a little light-headed, she hoped that her liquid courage might kick in soon.

“I-oh. I mean, I guess I just kind of like you really. You are successful, well-known….and pretty good looking to be honest. I know this is super forward, I just want to get to know you is all.” She pretended to fidget with her long red hair, twisting a strand around her finger as if she was embarrassed for admitting the truth. In all reality, he wasn’t her type and was far from it, Summer couldn’t stand smoking and his age greatly rivaled her own. However, he was pretty fascinating for what he lacked in desirable traits. Maybe he would make up for the tobacco flaw with something else.

Quickly sipping the rest of her drink, she stood up once more. “Seeing as our waiter is missing in action, I think I am going to the bar really quick, is there anything you would like? It’s on me, really.” Waiting for his answer, she then turned and started toward her destination. Her red heels clicking on the multi-color tiled floor. She felt someone grab her waist. With a smirk, she momentarily assumed it was Harvey, only to be unpleasantly mistaken. “Get off me.” She said, wrinkling her nose and clearly repulsed. Shoving the impressive figure away from her, she continued to make her way to the bar.

outfit: clicky!

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Harvey's skeptical look was finally starting to wash away. He let her do the talking for now. Finally, when she was getting up for another drink he shook his head.

"I think I'll hold off, for now, I still got this one, toots."

He watched her mosey to the bar and then looked to his paper again. A moment later he raised his head again to see some guy walk up to her. He was going to say something, but she seemed to handle it fairly well. He huffed to himself and when she came back his way he was smirking.

"So you wanna get to know me, eh? What would you like to know?"

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Trying to hide her annoyance as she started back to the table, she sent another icy look in the direction of the individual who had the nerve to come up and touch her. The frown melted away and was quickly replaced with a charming smile as she sat down once more in her chair, hoping she had given him a decent amount of time to dwell over her words. She hoped he might let his guard down after she had – well, pretended to do the same.

She shrugged at his question, “I don’t know, what’s it like being a detective? I’m sure it’s exciting!” Her eyes lit up with excitement as she took a sip from her new drink. Unsure of what exactly she was drinking, she wrinkled her nose as the liquid coated her throat. It was incredibly strong, that was for sure. She pulled it away from her lips, examining her drink and stirring her straw. “Do you know what this is?” She asked before taking another sip, “All of the names were in Spanish, so I just kind of pointed at one.”

outfit: clicky!

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"Well, being a detective isn't easy to compare anything else or describe. You go to work, case files litter your desk, you do what you can to solve them. I guess its like putting weird puzzles together. A lot of the time its not only a challenge to put it together correctly, but to make sure you have all the pieces before you get started or finding them as you go."

Harvey shrugged a bit and looked to her drink.

"Ah, that's a grapefruit margarita. They're pretty good here, best in town, I can vouch for that."

Harvey chuckled a bit and leaned back with his own drink, having another healthy swig. He looked over to her, setting his drink down, and then crossing his fingers while his right elbow rested up on the back of his chair.

"Don't drink too fast, alcohol is slower than that to evaporate, doll. What about you? Why ya wanna be in the media? Hmm?"