(for inyourdreams )

[gcpd]

John had been fiddling with her card for the rest of the afternoon. He really thought about it - really thought about calling her and asking her out on a date. She couldn't have had a boyfriend, right? Otherwise she wouldn't have given him her number. But then maybe she just wanted to "hang out" with no romantic connotations...or maybe he was just over thinking it. It was so unlike John to over think things. He had, after all, been called a "hot head" by the late, great Peter Foley.

But then Bane and Batman had messed everyone up. "Fuck it," he said under his breath and dialed her number on his cell phone.

Comments

[inyourdreams]

She ordered some fries and a slice of apple pie a la mode with a coffee.

[gcpd]

He ordered a burger and fries and a cup of coffee as well.

[inyourdreams]

"No pie for you?" she asked as the waitress left.

[gcpd]

He shook his head. "Not tonight."

[inyourdreams]

"Well, you'll have to eat some of mine," she said. "I doubt I'll be able to eat the whole piece."

[gcpd]

"If you insist."

The waitress came back with their coffee. John added some sugar and cream before taking a sip.

[inyourdreams]

She did as well, sitting back as she sipped her coffee. She looked out at the people passing on the street.

[gcpd]

"Are you a fan of Gothic Revival?" He asked.

[inyourdreams]

She looked back at him.

"I am, as an historical architectural movement," she said with a nod. "Not exactly how I'd design my house or anything."

She smiled.

[gcpd]

"That's what most of the buildings in Gotham are modeled after. Or so the plaques on the buildings say."

[inyourdreams]

She nodded.

"As did my architectural books," she said. "I've been to some of the buildings. The cathedral, the train station. They're all very beautiful. And interesting in contrast to some of the more ultra modern buildings that have gone up in the past couple decades."

[gcpd]

"You know your stuff."

[inyourdreams]

She smiled.

"I'm supposed to say something modest here, but the fact is, I do," she said. "And I'm also good."

[gcpd]

"I'll take your word for it," he said with a smile.

[inyourdreams]

She smiled back.

"So what are you good at?" she asked. "Any hidden talents?"

[gcpd]

He shrugged, looking modest. "Nothing really."

[inyourdreams]

"Oh come on, I just told you I'm like the best architect ever," she said. "You were a detective. I doubt you got that position by being good at nothing."

[gcpd]

He half smiled. "I got the position because I was a 'hot head.'"

[inyourdreams]

She huffed out a laugh.

"I would not have guessed that," she said. "So you like to ruffle some feathers? I'm kind of surprised that's rewarded in the Gotham PD."

[gcpd]

He grew quiet, thinking over what he was going to say.

"I quit because I realized that shiny piece of medal - my badge - it didn't do much. You can't make the city safe if you have to follow orders."

[inyourdreams]

Her smile fell as he got serious again.

"So how then? A cape and a cowl?" she asked, raising a brow.

[gcpd]

He shrugged. "Batman did a lot more for this city than any cop ever did," he replied.

[inyourdreams]

"I think years of keeping the city safe before the Batman ever showed up should be taken into account," she said. "Never mind all the years he just disappeared.

"From what I read, he wasn't exactly a reliable authority figure."

[gcpd]

"Before Batman, the mobs ruled the city. Falcone, Maroni...crooked cops working for them. Everyone was afraid to take them down." It was before John ever became a cop, he was still a teenage boy then, but he still knew what was going on. Boys he knew who aged out winded up dead. "Like I said, Batman did more for this city than anyone."

[inyourdreams]

"Yeah, but in between, who kept the order? Who upheld what Batman initiated, what he stood for?" she asked. "Obviously not every cop is crooked."

She indicated to him.

"I just don't think one man should be held up as the last word on how to keep law and order. For one, no one person should have to hold all that responsibility."