four

                                    

                                          
The date was nearly over and the two of them knew it. Novella wouldn't admit it, but this had actually been her best date in Gotham so far. The fact that the man that initiated the date was a sociopath actually escaped her mind for the few hours she was with him.
                          
"I had a nice time tonight, Victor." They has reached her apartment door and she was about to head in.
                          
"So did I." He turned to walk away before turning around to ask a question, "I'd like to do this again actually."
                          
She blinked at him, unsure of what to say. Of course she'd enjoyed herself, but he was an assassin albeit an attractive one and unusually well-mannered.
                          
"Um yeah-yeah sure. Just um text me?" She didn't mean for it to be a question, but that's how it came out. 
                          
He leaned against the wall and started messing with his fingers. "I don't have your number."
                          
"Oh right of course." She reached out a hand for his phone, "can I have your phone for a second?"
                          
He gave her a weary look before handing it over and watching her type away. "Alright it's in there. I guess I'll see you later?" She gave him a little wave and opened her apartment door, stepping halfway into the room.
                          
"Yeah, goodnight Novella."He turned on his heel and started to walk away, barely hearing the 'goodnight' she whispered to him.
                          
•*•*•*•
                          
The next few days went by without word from Victor. Novella had begun to think he had forgotten about her, and while that should have been a relief, a tiny bit of sadness ebbed in the pit of her stomach.
                          
It was a perfectly normal day at the GCPD, Jim was trying to close the Wayne case and Ed was handing out riddles. Kristen and Novie were sifting through files and getting them to the officers that had ordered them when a phone buzzed.
                          
"Hey Nove, some number texted you. The name isn't in but they're asking about having dinner tonight." Kristen held up Novella's phone and the girl immediately rushed over.
                          
"So, who is the mystery guy?" The ginger looked at her friend in a way that clearly said for her to spill.
                          
"Um nobody. I mean, not nobody-but nobody." She nervously fiddled with her cell to type out a reply agreeing to the date.
                          
"Yeah, and nobody has you acting like that." Kristen let the sarcasm drip from her voice as she tried to pry the information from Novella.
                          
"Honestly Krissy, it's nobody. I went out with him a few days ago and now we're going out again, but it probably won't go anywhere." She shook off the curiosity of her boss and went back to work.
                          
"Sure. Come back and tell me that when you can keep a straight face," Kristen said, referring to Novella's blushed out face.
                          
"Whatever," the girl mumbled before diving into her work and ignoring all other attempts at conversation.
                          
 •*•*•*•   
                          
That night Novella decided she truly had nothing to wear. She looked through her closet three times before deciding on a rustic pick sweater and jeans that had a hole in the left knee. Her white lacy tank showed where the sweater fell off of her shoulder slightly and the look was completed by her dark beige wedges.
                          
The dinner wasn't supposed to be fancy, but the feeling of being under-dressed consumed Novella. The last time she'd gone out with Victor had been to the nicest restaurant in Gotham it seemed, but hopefully this time would be different.