"Genny ..." Marvin purred. "This is perfect timing, isn't it? Feel like that coffee now? I'm just down the street."

She paused for a long moment. Oh what the hell? It might be a good opportunity to get some dirt on him, right?

"I'll be right there," she said and hung uo before she could continue blabbing to the guy who tried to kill her and Themis the night before.

Oh shit. Themis is going to kill me!

...if she finds out.

Marvin, content with the day's work, stretched his arms behind his head and ordered two coffees in preparation for when the redhead arrived.

Gen turned and strode toward the coffee shop. She knew where it was like the back of her hand. She paused outside the door and took in a deep breath. "Just do it," she said firmly, and with that she stepped inside, her eyes scanning for the hunk that had tried to kill her.

Marvin grinned when he saw her enter and motioned to the empty seat across from him. "I've ordered coffee for you, it should be here any second. Hope you don't mind, Genny."

Genevieve slid into the seat across from Marvin and smiled tentatively. "I...I don't usually do this sort of thing," she admitted. Understatment of the year.

"Coming out with a guy you know has a girlfriend?" he asked boldly.

Geneveive felt her lips twitch. "Coming out with a guy I just met, whom I know has a girlfriend," she said with a saucy grin.

What the hell!?

He chuckled appreciatively. "So ... Shall we just ignore that fact then? For the sake of ... fun?"

Gen hesitated for a moment. "Yes," she said finally. "I thikn that would be wise." And we can look over he fact that we'll be trying to kill each other by night. A giggle bubbled out of her lips and she shook her head. "This is crazy," she said. "You're girlfriend isn't going to slash my tires is she?"

He dismissively waved a hand. "What Beth doesn't know won't hurt her." With the same hand, he reached out and gave Genevieve's cheek a brief, soft stroke. "Crazy or not, you seem happy about it," he grinned.

Genevieve shied ever so slightly away from his touch. "Perhaps," she murmured, her eyes clouding over.

This is a really bad idea. But then, why am I so attracted to him?

Marvin leaned back in his seat as their coffee arrived. "Thanks, darlin'," he winked at the waitress. She went away giggling. "I haven't even told you my name, Genny," he smiled. With a touch to his forelock, he continued. "Marvin Marks, pleasure to meet ye."

(I'm just laying some groundwork for a later scene. Would you let me know what you think of my new character?)

The shrill ringing of her special cell phone woke Victoria from a deep sleep. As she rolled over to grab it form the bedside table, she groaned. The bullet wound along her ribs pulled - she'd bandaged it the night before, but she suspected it needed stitches.

Too bad. She gritted her teeth and held the phone to her ear. "What?" she snapped in her gruff, male voice.

"It's one in the afternoon. Did I wake you?" the man on the other side asked calmly.

"No," Victoria lied. "What do you want, Constantine?"

"There's been a recent sighting."

That caught her attention. "Where? And how recent?"

"Downtown. Five minutes ago."

Downtown ... I can be there in ten minutes if I take a cab ...

"He's in a coffee shop with a girl. Do you plan to go?"

"Let me think ..." Victoria said. For months she'd been trying to find a way to get rid of the Dog. Direct confrontations never ended well for her - her growing list of scars were proof of that fact - so that only left guerrilla tactics. Her plan was to tail him without her Themis outfit, pretending to be just a normal girl. Then she'd try and gather any information on him she could. And if the opportunity presented itself, she wouldn't hesitate to try and kill him.

"Yes," she finally said.

"The name of the place is 'Oliver's Cafe, on thirty-second street. Good luck." Then the hacker hung up.

Victoria was already on her feet, rummaging in her closet for her normal street clothes. Having donned a pair of shorts, a sleeveless t-shirt and boots, she grabbed her purse from it's hook in the hallway and she was out the door.

"Marvin," Genevieve said slowly. "It is a pleasure."

Can I use this to my advantage? Maybe make him fall for me and trip him up?

(He sounds interesting. :))

"Likewise ... So tell me a bit about yourself, Genny."

Genevieve instead chose to sip at her coffee, trying to think of something to say to the guy.

Well, you see, we really shouldn't be doing this because I'm one of the good guys and you really aren't. In fact, we've met already. You tried to shoot me and I ripped your suit. I hope you can forgive me for that and we can both move on from there.

"There's not much to tell," she said instead. "I work at the dance studio. I like coffee," she said with a small laugh. "You're bound to be more interesting."

"Oh, not really," he waved her suggestion away. "I'm awfully boring, honey, awfully boring." He smiled, trying to distract her. "What's your favourite position?"

Gen nearly choked on her coffee. She stared at Marvin with wide eyes, setting her mug down with a loud thump. "Excuse me?" she demanded sharply.

He innocently widened his eyes. "You're a dancer, aren't you? Don't you have a favourite dance position?" Then he chuckled. "What did you think I meant, honey?"

Genevieve blushed and stared hard into her coffee. "I'm not really a dancer," she siad. "I mean, I've taken a few classes, but I mostly just do whatever Miss Abby tells me to do at the studio." She peered up at Marvin, her cheeks still red. "I think you know exactly what I thought you meant," she added with a glare. "And it was exactly what you wanted me to think, wasn't it?"

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean ..." Marvin hid his smile behind his coffee cup.

Genevieve cleared her throat. "Moving on," she said. "I'm not really into the whole...dance position thing. I would rather just go with the flow. I don't like people restricting me."

"I know what you mean, honey," Marvin nodded, eyes running familiarly over her. "You like to walk your own path, don't ya?"

------------

Heart hammering, Victoria opened the door of the cafe and entered. As she walked, she let her eyes scan the busy room.

Genevieve laughed and shook her head. "You could say that," she nodded, surprised at how easy it was to talk with Marvin. Who would have thought that he was a cold blooded killer?

Victoria nearly fell over her own feet when she heard a voice she recognized. A female voice. Slowly, she turned to look, and saw ... Genevieve. Phoenix.

With the Dog.

---------------

"That's a pretty smile, darlin' ..." Marvin said. "I'd like to see more of it."

"Maybe you will," Genevieve said with a saucy toss of her head. She glanced at her watch and stood. "Unfortunately I'm going to have to go. Abby will have my head if I'm late. But I suppose you'll need to collect Beth as well. Care to walk with me?"

"Why not?" Marvin asked, tossing a few dollar on the table and getting to his feet.

----------

Victoria saw them getting up and tried to get over her shock.

In a split decision, she plastered a huge smile on her face and approached Genevieve. "Gen!" she cried, throwing her arms wide. "Funny seeing you here!" Then she wrapped her up in a hug. "What the hell are you doing with him?" she hissed into the other woman's ear.

Genevieve stood frozen in Themis' arms. All the blood had run out of her face. "I'm trying to get dirt on him," she lied, hoping the other woman believed her. She pulled back and flahsed Marvin a smile. "We were just on our way out. I have to get back to work, but I'll meet up with you tonight, okay?" she asked Themis with a smile that faltered a little around the edges.

Victoria could only maintain her fake smile as Marvin gave her a slight nod and grin, clearly failing to recognize her. "Okay ... See you tonight then," she forced out.

"Nice to meet ya, darlin'," Marvin said, giving her a once-over and dismissing her just as quickly. Then he threw an arm around Gen's shoulders. "Comin'?"

• Forums are not to be used to post stories.
• All forum posts must be suitable for teens.
• The owner and moderators of this forum are solely responsible for the content posted within this area.
• All forum abuse must be reported to the moderators.