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"I couldn't exactly... know your tastes, so I decided to go for mine and see if you like it."
Vengeance blinked, confused as Hell. He didn't comment the meal inside its cardboard box bought from a bakery. He actually enjoys pumpkin pastries, only... the situation feels a tad too absurd for him.
The Bat reached the flat rooftop of this short-sized building, a bit before the hour his informer communicated for their rendezvous. His secret admirer waited for him already, the portable paper mug of coffee he placed in the vigilante's hand was lukewarm, proving he must stand there for longer than a handful of minutes.
Pumpkin pie and coffee with cream.
Looks like his caller tries his best to appear cordial.
"I... hu... wanted to give you this," the young man took a little USB key out of his right trousers pocket after the Knight placed his untouched coffee on the concrete edge circling the roof of the building. "It contains... files you must take a look at. About... people who abuse the system for years and keep obtaining benefits. Initially I planned on... showing it all by myself, but... I can't compromise my position more than I already have."
The man was wearing an ordinary-looking black balaclava that left no more than his eyes and mouth apparent. The fact he put clear-framed glasses on his makeshift mask gave him a weird comical aspect, for the rest he wrapped in loose black and green clothes not to be identifiable.
While he hadn't made a move to grab the pie, Bruce's gloved fingers locked around the electronical device.
"Why getting involved?"
"... Because I have children I love very much," the stranger whispered, an audible knot forming in his throat at this mention of his private life. "And although I... don't believe Gotham really deserves to be saved, I want... to try. For them. I will... do my best to give them a future filled with the hope I never had the luxury to taste over my youth, in... a town that won't be crushed by the weight of corruption. You... inspired me to step in. I just... didn't find another way to do something."
Batman kept quiet nearly a full minute, staring at the key in the palm of his hand.
"How old are they?" He looked back at his odd ally when feeling how nervous the guy, whom must be roughly his generation, had grown due to his lack of reaction. "Your children? If that's not... too personal."
"It's not. Or I... don't think it is," he responded awkwardly. "They are eleven and seven. And I... hu... I raise them alone. We have... no one else to rely on than each other."
Bruce granted him a mildly interested glance, this time.
"I will look at this," he declared in an emotionless tone. "... A communicator?" He frowned when the man gave him a widget not unlike what he regularly uses himself.
"I want to... work with you," he explained. "At least a little bit. At least to... give you informations when I figure something out. I have enough elements to bring to its knees the mob empire of this city, but I can't do it alone. And I can't... expose myself for now. I have... responsibilities."
Vengeance was definitely interested, now.
Maybe this could be a good idea, to keep that man around?
"I will contact you," he concluded, laconic.
Then, thinking it might be the most normal thing to do, he scooped up one of the two slices of pumpkin pie.
"Thank you for the snack."
Deciding he interacted with someone for long enough today, Bruce cut short the meeting. He quickly ate his pastry and vanished without a glance backwards.
To Edward's best belief, this is what you call a successful first date.