Dick thought over the next name in his notebook on the entire train ride into Vegas. He really didn’t know much about the city, not having spent a lot of time there himself but that was something that he was going to need to figure out before he proceeded any farther. Now wasn’t the time to make reckless mistakes just because he was rushing things. He had learned well enough that not thinking things through would only get himself or innocents hurt and he was trying to avoid that at all costs. 

As he stepped from the train, he tried to focus as best he could. The warm weather was a far cry from winter in Chicago but that wasn’t any reason to lose sight of what he was doing, even if the bright lights of the casinos were trying to draw his attention in. This wasn’t a pleasure trip, it was a necessary one. He knew the names on his list were only going to make things terrible for those around them and that wasn’t something that he was ever going to let stand. They were in the notebook for a reason, some worse than others but all terrible in their own right. 

Finding a darkened alleyway, he leaned up against the building as he pulled a smoke from his pocket. The lighter flicked to life as he drew in a sharp breath, holding it for a moment before exhaling out in a puff of smoke. The days had been long but the nights had been even longer and he was trying to convince himself that it all wasn’t catching up to him now. 

Dick knew that he didn’t know much of this place and he was at least smart enough to not press his luck. He was in a whole different land than he was used to, the Wild West really. If he wasn’t careful this is where it was all going to end. He needed help, one way or another but he had to figure out how to find that help. The city was bustling but he wasn’t familiar with any of Vegas’ citizens and he needed to do something to change that. 

Tossing the butt of his cigarette away, he pushed off of the building, looking around the corner before noticing a small bar across the street. A drink or two wasn’t going to hurt him now, no one knew that he was in town anyways and maybe he could find that connection that he desperately needed at the moment. 

No rest for the wicked after all.

Dick pushed through the crowd in the bar, trying his best to find a quiet corner where he could catch his breath. The room itself was hazy, filled with the smoke from too many cigarettes and cigars to count. Finding a table, Dick sat with his back to the wall, more so out of habit than anything else but he watched each and every person that stepped through the door intently.

Due to the crowd, it took a little but if time before the waiter sauntered over to him with a half smile. Forcing his own smile Dick spoke loudly over the crowd, “Whiskey on the rocks and a pint of the dark stuff please!”

This place wasn’t exactly his scene but at least they served booze and he was content with that for the time being. Turning his attention to the notebook that he lifted from his back pocket he silently read the next name to himself, Roberto Rosas. Dick had heard some stories about the man, mostly in passing and nothing that could be truly verified but vile all the same. Apparently Roberto had a proclivity for torture, making his intended victim suffer as much as possible before putting them out of their misery. Word on the street was that he preferred his younger targets which just made Dick’s skin crawl and his blood boil. There were just some lines that you didn’t cross and Roberto seemed to be crossing each and every one of them. 

Forcing the smile a little bit longer, Dick passed over a healthy tip as his waiter brought over his drinks. The young man seemed distracted as he kept looking over his shoulder as if there was someone watching him but Dick didn’t think much about it, even though he should have. He was in  foreign territory after all and farther out of his depth than he had been for some time now. He needed time to think this through and the only thing he kept falling back to was that he needed some eyes and ears within the city to move things along. For some reason this one felt more personal than the others and he wasn’t really sure why which caused his heart to skip a beat slightly. 

Sipping at his drink lightly, she caught his eye as she entered. She seemed to command the room although no one turned to notice her like he did. There was something about her that he couldn’t quite put his finger on but it certainly caught his attention. Maybe that was his in. Dick knew that he was going to kick himself if he didn’t take the chance. At the very least he should introduce himself, maybe she could help him with his little problem here.

Finishing his whiskey in one long pull, he pushed himself out of his seat and made his way through the crowd once again, saddling up next to her at the bar. Not wanting to spook her, he leaned on close, trying his best to speak over the noise, “Dick Grayson, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Doing his best to sound friendly, he extended a hand in her direction, hoping that she would accept it kindly.

It was a night like any other or so she thought, as Alana walked through the door of Sinners. It was basically a part of her daily routine, the bar was on her way home from the Chimaera head quarters. Sure some could classify her with a bit of an alcohol problem but for her it was a great way to wind down for the evening and it helped her sleep at night. On top of those couple things she was also a bit fond of the taste, the amber liquid had some sort of voodoo properties that her taste buds had a hard time resisting.

With a smile and slight head nod, Alana made her way past the bouncer just inside the entrance. There were no words spoken but her nod was good enough to appease him. Making her way through the crowd, directly to the spot at the bar she usually sat at. It wasn't much of surprise that her seat was opened, it was almost if it was specifically reserved for her even though it wasn't.

Never has she gotten unruly here, nor thrown her weight around but there was some sort of aura about her that demanded respect. Part of it was her demeanor of course, some of it was the fact she tipped well but more importantly it was her connections within the city.

Before she even sat down, there was a freshly made drink waiting for her. The ice cubes within the glass had just began to crack from the newly poured amber liquid. It was a great way to tell how fresh the pour was, it was instantly mouth watering to her. Placing her clutch on the bar top, Alana pulled herself up onto the high top seat and quickly adjusted herself for comfort purposes.

Without paying much attention to anyone within the walls of Sinners, Alana picked up her glass. Making sure to give the contents a slight swirl before bringing it up to her lips. The first sip was always the best, it had an instant calming affect on her. Causing her to take in a deep breath, to her displease was a deep breath full of smoke from the patron sitting next to her.

Slowly turning her head to the left, she gave the man a deadly glare.

"Do you mind taking that smoke elsewhere?" She asked, even though she wasn't really asking but more telling him.

He was about to say something, probably something stupid. Something the barkeep noticed and stopped prior.

"Sir, come sit over here." He pointed to an empty seat on the other side of the bar. "Next drink will be on the house."

The man didn't even give Alana a second look, the allure of a free drink made the man move quicker then he had probably moved in ages.

"Thank you Chuck" Alana said as she put her glass to her lips once more. Letting each sip her help melt her day away, with each sip she became more relaxed.

She was so much in her own little world that she didn't even notice someone new sit down next to her. That was until she heard the name which caused her to almost snap out of the bit of a trance she was in. Before she was even able to give the man a glance over she began speaking.

"I'm not inter..." She finally caught a glimpse of the man which caused her to immediately stop speaking. Completely turning her head towards him she immediately knew this wasn't the ordinary bar drunk just trying to bed her. There was something about him that she just couldn't initially put her finger on. Sure he seemed a bit out of place in a bar of this caliber but there was something else. Something that intrigued her quite a bit.

With his hand extended outwards already, Alana raised hers to meet his.

"Alana." She spoke up but could see he was waiting for her to continue.

"Alana Burke..." She said with a smile.  

Dick couldn’t help but smile as she took his hand in hers, shaking it firmly. There was something about her that let him know he made the right choice by approaching her. There was no way that he could take care of this one alone and the way that she commanded the room without as much as a word was a skill that couldn’t be taught. Alana Burke was expected, at least within these walls but Dick got the feeling that her respect spread far and wide in this city.

”As you can probably tell I’m not from around these parts.” It was most likely pretty obvious at this point, the way he was nearly shouting over the crowd, “I’ve hit a bit of a road block with...a business venture in these parts. I was wondering if you might be able to help me out a bit. You will be handsomely compensated of course.”

Dick returned his gaze towards the bar, trying not to put any pressure on her and act as nonchalant as possible. “Another whiskey please. And I’ll be picking up the lady’s tab.”

After picking up the glass that was placed in front of him, he turned back towards her, clinking his glass against hers lightly, “Slainte, Mrs. Burke.”

Taking a long, slow sip, he drained the glass in only a second or two, leaving the couple of ice cubes sitting at the bottom of the empty glass. Dick knew that he should probably slow down but there was just something about the place that didn’t lend itself to moderation. Or maybe it was just her. Alana Burke had a pull about her, one that he clearly couldn’t deny although he wasn’t trying all that hard if he was being honest.

Picking up the half empty glass in front of her, Alana swirled the contents momentarily. This whole encounter quickly went from a casual greeting to a business proposal but the bigger question was what the proposal entailed. Her mind worked overtime in the short moments after he took a full pull from his glass. 

Did he know the kind of business she was or was he assuming something completely different? It was the the main thought bouncing around her head. It had to be either he knew she was connected or thought she was for hire. Even though there was something about his aura that was attractive, Alana was definitely not an escort. 

She took a matching pull from her glass, finishing the remaining amber liquid before speaking up. She was never one to sugarcoat things and wasn’t going to start now. Completely turning her body in her chair, Alana crossed her arms over each other.

”Listen! Let’s get this out of the way now, I’m not an escort! If that’s the business proposal you’re looking for you are looking in the complete wrong direction but I can direct you to a place down the road if that’s what you like.”

She could see his eyes widen as a bead of sweat dripped down his brow. To his defense it was a bit warm within the bar and he was wearing an outfit not quite suitable for the desert heat, even during these less hot summer months. She watched as he picked up the little bar napkin his drink had previously been sitting on and used it to wipe the bead before it got on his shirt.

He motioned to the barkeep with two fingers held out in his direction. The classic sign for two drinks. 

”In case you didn’t hear me, I’m not an escort!” Alana repeated herself with a bit of an angrier tone. 

A tone that made Dick crack a smile in her direction. 

“Oh no, that’s not the nature of my business.” He simply stated. 

It was a simple little response but an effective one which completely changed her demeanor. 

”Oh... well then perhaps this conversation needs to be continued in a more private area? There’s a table in the back of this place that’s perfect for those kind of talks, if you like?” 

“That would be perfect.” Dick let her take the lead as he followed close behind her heading towards the back room. It took him a moment but he caught himself watching her intently as she moved but he quickly tried to push those thoughts out of his mind. That wasn’t what he was here for, as enticing as it may have seemed in the moment. 

Finally snapping himself back to reality, Dick swiftly pulled out her chair before taking a seat himself after her. It wouldn’t hurt anything to be a gentleman right about now, he needed something from her and it could help a bit to show her that he wasn’t a bad guy. 

Waiting a moment longer for her to get settled in he began to speak softly, deciding to skip the small talk and get right down to the brass tacks of everything, “Thank you for taking the time to at least listen to me. I’m looking for a man, Roberto Rosas. I’ve heard he likes to spend a decent amount of time around these parts. I’m in need of a guide of sorts. Someone who can help me get in and out of places that an outsider normally wouldn’t be able too. I need-“ Dick cut himself off. He nearly forgot that he knew absolutely nothing about the young woman sitting across from him. For all he knew she could very well have been a cop. It wouldn’t have been the first time he ran across someone pretending to be something that they weren’t. Dick absentmindedly rubbed at the scar on his left shoulder that was hidden beneath his shirt.

”I need to have a little chat with him.” Dick continued, he might as well press his luck now, “It most likely won’t be a good chat but a necessity none the less. It would really help to have someone with me that knows these parts. Someone who can fit in here.”

Dick slowly brought his glass to his lips, taking a sip through a half smile as he did. There was just something about her that was telling him to trust her. It was an odd feeling for him, the last time he did that he was burned for it. Those wounds took a bit longer to heal than a bullet or knife did.

It was almost instantly that the sounds of chatter and laughter dissipated when the pair sat down at the table in the back. It was meant for just this purpose and it wasn’t the first time she had the pleasure of sitting at this table. Though usually it was with someone she knew, someone she closely worked with. One of her fellow Las Vegas underground members... 

Once the pair got settled in, Dick began speaking. His words were digested piece by piece by Alana who sat there intently listening to him. She knew what he was asking, the tip toeing around the subject was just enough to cue her in on what he actually wanted. It was definitely something she was more then capable of doing but the bit of randomness was holding her back from responding how she normally would. 

She had only met this man a mere moment ago, had never seen him once before and now he was asking her to help with “talk” to someone. Cleared he was talking about murder but was this a trap? Was the man some sort of undercover cop or detective? He didn’t seem the type but perhaps that was the ploy? 

”Hmm, a chat with him you say? What sort of chat?” Alana asked as she scooted her chair in a bit closer to the table. 

”Cause I have a feeling what you’re actual intent is but my biggest question is who are you really and why me? Things just aren’t lining up for me and to be completely honest with you. I’m not looking to end up in jail for this, do you know the hassle it would be for my boss to get me out?” 

Alana took a breath then a quick sip on her drink before continuing with the real question. 

”Please tell me you’re not a cop?”

Dick couldn’t help but chuckle slightly. That was a first for him, no one had accused him of being a cop before. He couldn’t even remember the last time that he was on the right side of the law. Probably not since the last time he saw his parents.

”No, I’m not a cop.” Dick spoke over his glass. The truth of the matter was that he needed her a whole lot more than she needed him. She was taking just as much risk as he was and it wasn’t fair to leave her partially in the dark.

Taking a deep breath, he decided to lay his cards completely on the table, “I am here to kill him.” Dick stated matter of factly, as if it was any other comment, “There are some things that just can’t be allowed and Mr. Rosas has been doing all of them. He needs to be stopped, one way or another. I know that you don’t know me from any other guy who wandered off of the streets. I don’t want you to be taking all of the risk here or any risk really. I just need you to get my foot in the door, after that I will do what I do best.”

Dick sat back in his chair slightly, still holding the glass in one hand. He watched !!Mrs. Burke intently, looking for any tip offs in the direction that she may be leaning. It might not have been the wisest choice in telling her everything but he needed her to trust him, even if he knew that he couldn’t trust her completely just yet. This was too important of a thing to leave to chance or to go in guns blazing without so much as a plan. He would end up seeing his parents faster than he anticipated if that were the case.

Leaning forward once more, Dick rested his elbows on the table, “So, Alana, do we have a deal?”

The confidence in his voice coupled with his serious demeanor while he spoke about his intent towards this Mr. Rosas guy was enough for her to put faith him. She wasn't really sure what it was about Mr. Grayson but there was something about him she found fascinating and intriguing. He definitely didn't give off the from Vegas vibe, clearly he wasn't from around here but where? 

Alana thought for a quick moment before catching herself drifting off, it was the feel of Dick's eye glaring her that pulled her back. With a subtle nod in his direction, Alana was committed to help. She didn't say anything, at least not until she took another sip off her drink, this time finishing the last bit in one gulp.

The moment she pulled the glass from her lips, she began speaking.

"Okay, I'm in!" She muttered hoping those three words weren't going to be regretted later on.

"I believe I know the man you are speaking of. Well I don't know him, I just know of him. Though I'm not too keen on his whereabouts nor the places he frequently visits."

She paused for a moment while she adjusted herself in her chair, placing both of her arms crossed over each other onto the table in front of her.

"I... uh.. If you give me a couple of minutes, I can find out. In the meantime, mind getting us a couple more drinks?" She asked but wasn't really asking and didn't give him much time to respond before she got up from her seat.

"I'll be back shortly."

With that Alana made her way back out front into the mixture of Vegas connected and non-connected locals. There was one person in particular that would more then likely be able to tell her what she needed to know and that's who she directly went to. He was a rather small fellow, didn't have many friends but seemed to know everything that was happening in Las Vegas.

It didn't really take her too long to find out all the details she needed, the man had a bit of a crush on her, she knew it and exploited it. To be polite, Alana chit chatted with him briefly before excusing herself but not before giving the man a kiss on the cheek. It was her way of keeping him in awe of her and nothing else.

It took her a minute or two to get back to the table where Dick was waiting at. Seemed in the short time she had been up front, the place got a ton busier. Nonetheless she got seated back into her chair and was welcomed with a fresh drink, waiting just for her. 

"Alright! I've got what you need." Alana said with a serious look on her face.

She picked up her glass and like always gave the contents a swirl before taking a sip.

"Seems this Mr. Rosas is a man of habit. Tomorrow evening he will be having dinner with a friend or two, it's never more then three of them but more times then not it's just him and one other. Anyways, it a place called Carmine's. It's right next to the Pair-O-Dice Club down on Highway 91. It's one of those fancy Italian steakhouses, the kind you need to make a reservation weeks in advance just to get a table."

She could hear Dick sigh when he heard to weeks in advance reservation. It was a sigh that made Alana chuckle a bit.

"Don't worry, I'll get us a table for tomorrow. The reservation will be under the name Joseph Vasile, yes that's you for the evening. Keep in mind though the place is extremely formal, you'll stand out like a sore thumb dressed how you're dressed now."

Alana gave him a look up and down, not that he was dressed bad right now but it clearly wasn't fancy dinner standards. Hell, with the simple blouse she currently had on, she'd be denied as well.

"Is there anything else you need for me to do or set up?"

Dick watched her leave for a moment before signaling their server for another pair of drinks. The thought crossed his mind that she might bolt but that didn’t seem like her style at all. She seemed like the type that would follow through with what she said. 

She was only gone for a moment or two before he spotted her moving through the crowd again, heading in his direction. Try as he might, he couldn’t fight off the smile that spread across his lips. She was different than the others that he came across before, as if there wasn’t anything that could rattle her. Most would have heard his plans and took off, deciding to get as far away from a murder as they could. And he was a killer. No matter how he tried to dress it up, telling himself it was all for the greater good. He still took mens’ lives, whether it was warranted or not made no difference in the moral standing of everything.

Listening intently as she spoke, he took everything in. He knew he made the right choice stumbling into her. There was no way that he had the pull to get into this Carmine’s place, especially all the way out here. Maybe it would have worked back in Chicago but this was the Wild West and he was a relatively unknown. He was the same as every other passer through in Vegas. 

Dick couldn’t help but laugh lightly as she eyed him up. He knew that he wasn’t in his best dressed at the moment, but that was only because he headed straight here from the train depot. He hadn’t even taken the time to stop and wash his face. It helped to blend in a bit, no one seemed to bat an eye at another weary traveler but she was right about the fancier places in town. There was no way that they would let someone like him within fifty feet of the door let alone inside. 

”Thank you for everything Alana. You’re taking as much risk as I am here and I appreciate that. There may be one more thing if it isn’t too much trouble.” Dick took a small drink from his glass, the ice clinking against the sides as he did, “You wouldn’t happen to know of a place around here a guy like me might be able to get a nice crisp suit would you? Money isn’t a problem. If I’m going to do this, I might as well do it right. A nice custom job would be ideal. And hey, who knows, maybe I’ll get a few more uses out of it as well.”

Dick knew that he was putting himself on the line here but for some reason it didn’t feel that way. The way she moved, the way she spoke, all out his mind at ease. None of this was going to be easy, especially if Roberto had more people around him than usual but those were all roadblocks that he could deal with when the time came. He was well versed at thinking on his feet. That was always something that Bruce made sure to hammer home with him. The strongest weapon he was always going to have at his disposal was his mind. If he didn’t use it now, he might as well walked in empty handed with a sign hanging from his neck saying, “Here for bad things.”

Alana nodded, she knew a guy but that wasn't really much of surprise. He was the tailor for a majority of the guys that she worked with, it was a name she had heard more then once.

"Mr. Young... He's your guy. People swear by him and I've seen his work, he makes a ridiculously sexy suit." Alana said with a smile on her face.

There was something about a clean shaven man in a newly pristine suit that was quite attractive to her. Maybe it was the allure of power and confidence that came with it or maybe it was something else all together. Either way it was something she was quite fond of and it was something she couldn't wait to see from Mr. Grayson.

"He's got a little shop just down the road, his apartment is just above the place. If he's not in his shop, he will definitely be home. He's not one to go out at nights."

She took another sip from her drink before continuing.

"Considering that you're going to need this suit for tomorrow evening we should probably head over there now. Just in case he has to make something from scratch."

Alana looked down at her now half empty drink, brought it to her lips and finished the contents then slid the glass to the corner of the table. She stood up and grabbed her clutch, while watching Dick finish off his drink. He then took a couple dollars from his pocket and tossed it onto the table before standing up himself.

"After you, show me the way." He said with a smile on his face. A smile that Alana matched herself, a smile that clearly was not fake.

Turning towards the front door, Alana made her way through the crowd with Dick following closely behind her up until they made it out of the bar. They walked for about a block, without saying much of anything. It wasn't an awkward silence but more of a calming, trusting silence. A silence that was broken when Alana stopped in front of the dark shop. 

"Well, he must be upstairs. No worries, let's just wake him up." Alana said as she looked over her should at Dick.

There were two buzzers next to the front door, neither of which were labeled. Only thing to do was to press both of them, which she did a couple times. Just in case he didn't hear the first one. It only took about 20 seconds before the lights within the building to turn on as the old man made his way to the front door of his shop, peering out into the street before unlocking the front door.

"Sorry but we are closed for the day." The old man said.

"I kind of figured that and I would have came in the morning but it's rather imperative this man get a suit by tomorrow evening."

He looked past Alana before directing his attention back to her. She took a small step to her left, which gave Mr. Young a full view of Mr. Grayson.

"This is.. Mr.... This is Joe... he needs a suit and money is no issue. You're the best in town, can you help?"

He stood there for a quick moment before stepping to the side, ushering the pair inside. Once inside he locked the door behind them and directed them into the back.

"Okay, Joe? What kind of suit do you want?"

“Thank you Mr. Young. As you can probably tell this isn’t exactly my forte.” Dick held his arms out as he looked himself up and down a bit, “Something with a little flexibility would be perfect. If everything Alana here has told me is correct, it should be right in your wheelhouse. Maybe a special spot or two for a blade or gun to be concealed with easy enough access.” 

Dick was clearly out of his element here. He was used to a couple of long sleeve shirts and his old leather jacket with jeans but he could adapt to nearly anything at all. It was part of what made him, him. Standing there in front of her made him a bit uncomfortable as Mr. Young went about his measurements but he tried his best to not let it show. The last thing he needed was to show any nerves at all even though this seemed harder than any fire fight that he had been in before. 

Glancing back over his shoulder at her watching him, he let out a small sigh, “Don't you start laughing now, I’ve never done this before I swear!”

It really didn’t take as long as he thought it would but soon enough the suit maker was done with his measurements and had taken the small piece of paper he had been jotting down on into a different room. Dick was able to breathe a little easier as he turned his full attention back to her. It looked as if this was just another night for her but he was sure if that was exactly the case. She very well just have been good at what she did, hiding emotion the same way that he could. Although he was finding that a little hard at the moment as well.

”Thank you for all of this. I know I’ve said it a couple of times but I truly mean it. There was no way I could pull this off without you. I’m going to be in your debt for a while after this one.”

Part of him wanted to take a step closer to her but Mr. Young emerged from his office carrying a couple of swaths of fabric. The older gentleman spoke matter of factly, “You seem like a dark blue, which of these do you think suits you best?”

Dick couldn’t help but stutter slightly, “Uhm-uh-this one?” It came out as more of a question than an answer but Mr. Young nodded politely before slipping away again. 

”Geeze, I really hope I made the right choice. Don’t want to go fucking this up just because I ended up looking like an idiot here.” He gave her a sheepish smile as he saw her trying to stifle a giggle.

"Oh trust me, you'll look great." Alana replied without giving it much thought at all as she gave him a smile.

Perhaps her response was a bit too direct, too flirtatious but it was the truth. He was gonna look good.

"Forever in my debt you say, huh? I might have to hold you to that." She smiled once again but realized that she still knew nothing of this man. She had no idea where he hailed from, nothing. Nothing besides his name, if it truly was his name... It was something that she became quite curious of and no time seemed better then this to find out that information.

Waiting to completely make sure they were alone, Alana patted the empty seat next to her on the bench.

Without much hesitation Dick took the cue and sat down. There was a brief moment of silence before Alana turned to him.

"So.. Mr. Grayson. Besides your name I just realized I know nothing about you, hell I don't even know where you are from. Am I privy to any of that information or is this an after tomorrow you will vanish without us ever seeing each other again situation?" She inquired, hoping he'd open up to her, at least just a little bit. 

Taking her cue, Dick occupied the seat beside her. There was just something about her that made him feel comfortable, safe even and it had been sometime since he felt anything remotely close to that. 

”Now don’t laugh but, I’m actually a circus performer. I was part of The Flying Graysons with my mom and dad. High wire act, trapeze artists, death defying stunts and all of that. After-“ Dick paused for a moment, maybe trying to find the right words or maybe just trying to work up the nerves to let her into his little world, “After they were murdered, I turned to something else. A new way of life if you will. I was only eight but even then I knew the difference of right and wrong. I was taken in by a man who helped me channel myself. He taught me more than I could have realized at the moment. I guess you could say he set all of this in motion back then but I was just a kid. I never could have guessed that I’d be here today.”

Dick didn’t want to look her in the eyes, even though it had been some fifteen years ago now it still stung as if it was yesterday. He took a deep breath before going on, “I somehow managed to fall in with !Carol Hathaway some years after I had been on my own. I made my life in Chicago but something always felt a bit off. As if something was missing. A few months ago an old friend from the past showed up. I suppose friend is the best way-or rather was the best way to describe her. Turns out I have twins, Jason and Emma. I can’t let myself have them growing up in a world with so much nastiness in it so I set out to clear up what I could. I know that I’ll never be able to stop all of it or protect them from everything but I’m always going to try. I missed the first five years of their life so it is literally the least that I can do for them at this point.”

Although he was still staring down at the floor, he tried his best to eye her up anyways. He wasn’t used to sharing this much about himself, or anything really. Bruce had always told him to play everything close to the vest but there was something about her that was just so damn disarming. It might bite him on the backside later but right now, as they sat alone in the tailor’s shop, it felt right, like this was exactly where he was supposed to be exactly when he was supposed to be there.

A circus performer in specific a former trapeze artist made a lot of sense to her. It wasn’t until hearing those words leave his mouth that his physique and body structure completely made sense. He wasn’t a big guy but was rather toned, even after all the years away from it he still looked like he could be up there flying through the air with ease. 

She wanted to comment on it but figured to just let him finish speaking before chiming in on anything. That’s exactly what she did, keeping her eyes on him the entire time. She could tell some of the details pained him to even speak and she kind of felt honored that he was going into so much detail about his life. Hell, she would have been happy just knowing he was a Chicago native but this was a whole new level of trust. 

It was warming to her, sure he had his downs but who hasn’t? He was still alive and seemed to be thriving. Yeah his lifestyle isn’t what most call normal but it all made sense to her. Guess herself being in the business too helped her understand a bit more then others.  She for one was not perfect either, not even close. 

Done speaking and looking down at the floor, almost as if he was ashamed for telling her. Alana softly placed her hand on his shoulder, for her this was the first time in a while she felt connected with someone. It was her way of thanking him for sharing his story with her, without saying a word.

She was not often lost for words but for some reason she just didn’t know what to say. So she sat there next to him for a couple minutes, with her hand still on his shoulder. Normally she would just kept her distance with people, it was easier that way but something inside of her knew she had to share something with him.

Removing her hand from his shoulder, which caused him to look over towards her, she gave him a smile. She was just about to open her mouth went Mr. Young came back from his back room.

”Okay, I can make this suit for you but if you truly want it come the morning it’s gonna cost extra. I’m not staying up all night for free you know.” He spoke directly to Dick. 

”Cost is not an issue, I just need it come the morning.” Dick said looking up at him from his seated position. 

”Well then come back in the morning, around 10am I’d say and it’ll be ready for you.” Mr. Young eyed Dick and Alana then looked over at his door. He never told them it was time to go but they got the hint. 

With that the two of them headed out of the shop, which was promptly locked up behind them. She had no idea what time it was but knew it was rather late, it probably would be smart to call it a night but she wasn’t exactly sure that’s what she wanted to do. Perhaps she’d leave up to him to decide... 

Taking a couple steps up the road, Alana paused in front of some brick building. Propping herself up against it, she looked over at Dick whom was looking towards her. 

”So, now what? It’s got to be late now and I know tomorrow is gonna be quite the busy day so if you wanna call it a night I know of a hotel you could stay at. Unless you already have something lined up then you can just ignore me.” She said with a slight chuckle and waited to hear what he wanted to do.

“Well, I certainly won’t be ignoring you, that is for sure.” Dick spoke softly as they made their way down the street away from the tailor’s shop. He didn’t want to push his luck any, especially with her. He was even enjoying the silence that they shared between each other.

”A hotel does sound nice but I’m not sure I’m ready to turn in just yet.” Before he could go on he was interrupted by his grumbling stomach. It had been sometime since he had a bite to eat and clearly all the whiskey he had been consuming wasn’t cutting it anymore. Dick felt his cheeks redden with embarrassment as his stomach continued on.

”It seems like I could use some food. At this point anything would do really.” There was a small diner towards the end of the block that Dick could see from where they were. The parking lot was empty except for a car or two but Dick could clearly see the lights on. It seemed intriguing but really he wasn’t completely interested in just a meal. Try as he might, he couldn’t hide how intrigued he was by her. It wasn’t every day that he met someone like her and he really wasn’t ready for that to end. 

He slowed his steps a bit, almost falling in line behind her a bit, “Care for a bite to eat?”

The streets weren't as busy as they were prior to them entering the tailor shop, it signified that it was getting late. Vegas wasn't known to sleep, it was a perceived notion that non locals always had but that only really pertained to the casinos and clubs. Those things never closed, though the rest of the town mainly worked off of normal hours. Minus a few businesses that piggybacked off late night crowds, like the diner that was within sight just up a head.

If it wasn't for the bright lights that shone through the streets she probably wouldn't have paid the place much mind. That was until she heard Dick mutter a few words.

"Care for a bite to eat?" He asked.

She herself wasn't really that hungry but it seemed like a good way to keep the night going for a little bit longer. Looking over at him she did nothing but nod, there was no need to talk, they both knew they were headed to the diner up the road. Plus she didn't really know what to say to him, it was not often that she was lost for words but in this moment that's where she was at. 

Thoughts in her head kept on questioning the next thing that would come out of her mouth. Should she inquire about the job tomorrow? Should she comment to the words he spoke within the tailor shop? Should she tell him a little bit about her past? There were so many options but which one made the most sense?

They made it to the diner doors before she was able to decide, which meant they spent the majority of the five minute walk in silence but again it wasn't an awkward silence whatsoever.

Taking a step in front of her, Dick grasped the handle of the diner door and pulled it opened. Alana walked past him, smiling as she walked through the door, stopping once inside. Normally she would have just made her way to whichever table she wanted to sit at but for some reason she left that for him to decide.

He took the lead, which she followed as they walked over to a booth and sat down. It didn't take long for the waitress to make her way over with two menu in hand. She placed them at the edge of the table.

"You two want something to drink?" She asked in a rather snarky tone.

"Coffee for me." Alana replied

"And for you?" The waitress looked over at Dick, waiting rather impatiently for him to respond.

More so out of habit than anything else, Dick found them a booth off to the side and out of the way. It always felt a little safer that way but that might have just been something that he told himself. There wasn’t really any safe anywhere around these parts. If someone was going to come knocking it wouldn’t have matter where they sat but at least he had a clear view of the door from where he sat. 

”Hmm, coffee sounds good right about now. Black please.”

Waiting until the waitress was out of ear shot he turned back to Alana. He feared the sleep was beginning to show on his face but for some reason, he wanted this night to last just a bit longer. Sure, tomorrow was going to be hectic especially at night but things like this were what made that struggle all worth it. 

It was no surprise that he wasn’t very good at small talk but he wanted to at the very least, make the effort. “So, Alana, there has to be some story behind those pretty eyes of yours. You seem like you have a good head on your shoulders. I mean, you know more about this city than I could learn in a life time. Are you from here?”

Dick genuinely wanted to know, he wasn’t just trying to be nice at this point. He was intrigued by her in the best of ways. It may have just been blind luck that he ran into her or maybe something had been pushing them together but whatever it was, he was glad for it in that moment. Tomorrow could have always went to hell but at least they had these quiet moments now. 

The waitress brought over the coffees but Dick didn’t pay her much attention, he was too busy waiting on Mrs. Burke’s answer.

Alana waited for the waitress to leave before speaking, you just never know who is really who and it was better to not say certain things in front of people you didn't even remotely know. Sure you could kind of classify Dick in that category but he was different, hopefully not against her better judgement, she trusted him.

Wrapping her hands around the mug, soaking it's warmth into her hands, Alana glanced over at Dick.

"Yeah, born and raised. My parents still live on the north side of town but I haven't talked to them in a little while now. To say I'm not living up to their standards is a bit of an understatement. I was a bit rebellious growing up, never adhered to ways a woman should have been."

Alana raised the coffee mug up off the table and slowly brought it to her lips, making sure to give a subtle blow across the top of the black liquid. Far too many times had she burnt her mouth from not being careful with a cup of coffee. Taking a small sip, she brought the cup back to the table.

"They expected me to be a typical housewife. You know the type, one who sits quietly, raises kids, cooks meals and does very little else. Yeah that's so not me, I felt more comfortable with the guys. So that's who I began hanging out. Kind of slowly led me into the business, seemed I had quite the knack of the streets and the hustle. Something I've made a living off of now."

She glanced down at her cup quickly before locking eyes back onto Dicks.

"So, yeah... Nothing too special on this end of the table. Definitely no where near what you've gone through." Alana said with a playful smile on her face.

A moment later the waitress got back to the table.

"You two ready?"

They hadn't even looked at the menu but Alana already knew what she was getting. Nothing goes better with a late night cup of coffee, then some sort of pie. It was just a matter if he was ready to order...

"I know what I want but if you're not ready then we can wait."

“I think I’m good. I’ll have a bacon, egg and cheese if it isn’t too much trouble, Ma’am.” He smiles politely at their waitress. 

Turning his attention back to Alana, his smile only grew as she order herself a slice of pie. 

”There is something to be said for a strong woman who knows what she wants. I don’t mean any offense but, you don’t seem like the housewife type. You have a different look in your eyes, something deeper than staying home and minding the house.”

Dick let out a slight chuckle, he certainly didn’t want to cross any lines with her, things were going well enough that he didn’t want to stick his foot in his mouth now. There was still so many details to work out about that coming night but he didn’t want to focus on any of that now even though he knew that he absolutely should have. Mistakes were easy to come by if they weren’t focused and in their line of business, mistakes usually meant, at the very least, a trip to the hospital. 

After taking a slow sip off of his coffee he refocused a bit, keeping his voice barely above a whisper, “Tell me about this Carmines place, is it usually full? The last thing I want to do is put any innocents in the proverbial line of fire. That’s not really my style. I’m more of a subtle guy. Quick and quietly has served me well so far.”

Before she could respond their server brought their food, placing the plates in front of them with a forced smile. Dick could tell she must have been towards the end of her shift and really only wanted to get out of there and home as soon as possible. Giving his watch a quick glance, he couldn’t really blame her. Only night owls and crazies were usually out at this time. He imagined she had her fair share of both for the night.