A new life(Marvel&DC)

As always, I woke up to the loud ringing of the alarm clock. Putting on my sports uniform, I went for a run. I'm still trying to make it a habit, but so far, it's not working out. I still wake up with difficulty and have to persuade myself not to give up.

This isn't bad: it trains willpower. And I'm sure I'll need it in the future. After finishing my morning routine, I went to the local confectionery shop. I wanted to make an original gift for Vicki. I bought several types of candy in the store. Of course, I didn't know which ones our reporter preferred most, so I chose based on intuition.

I also bought a medium-sized wicker basket. Arranging the chocolates beautifully, I hired a courier to take it to the editorial office for my beloved Miss Vale. The clock showed a quarter to ten.

I headed to Barbara's house to pick her up. She wanted to familiarize herself with the workings of my small enterprise. We arrived at the company at eleven o'clock. Since I had given everyone the day off, there shouldn't have been anyone in the office.

However, my secretary Heather didn't seem to think so. A hard-working woman... Oh, you don't take care of yourself. As I found out, since yesterday, she had been looking for a suitable advertising agency to promote our game.

"Heather, what would I do without you?" I asked rhetorically.

"Nothing," came the immediate reply.

"Miss Brooks, could you be a little softer with me?" I slumped my shoulders in mock despair.

"I'll do so when you get serious about your job. I'm already hanging around here alone."

"Now you won't be alone. Meet Barbara Gordon," I introduced my companion. "She's the future CEO of Alex Mobile, our division for mobile games and applications. Barbara, this is my irreplaceable assistant, Heather Brooks. I hope you two get along."

"You found a CEO already?" Heather said in a serious tone. "I hope you chose with your head and not your lower half."

"How could you think that about me?" I feigned offense. "Barbara is a wonderful programmer, well-versed in legal activities, and a natural leader. She'll definitely handle the responsibilities. And I might add that her technical skills are in no way inferior to yours." If my first words had no effect on Heather, my last remark clearly struck a chord. In our small team, Heather was the best when it came to computers and programming—apart from me, of course. My statement about Barbara being her equal piqued her curiosity.

"Well, Ms. Barbara, I'd be glad to work with you."

"Please take care of me, Ms. Heather."

I had a feeling they had just challenged each other. Well, it didn't bother me. I felt they'd work well together.

"So, what about the advertising agency?" I asked.

"I found one called Ad Star. It's based in Star City and has a solid track record. They work across North America."

"Is it an independent organization or a subsidiary of another company?"

"Independent, as far as I know. What are you up to again, Mr. Reath?" Heather cast me a suspicious glance.

"Nothing yet..." Yeah, I could use a personal advertising agency. My business is entirely dependent on marketing. Games, books, songs, movies—it would be better to have my own agency. Unfortunately, I couldn't implement that plan now. My pockets weren't full enough. But if Ad Star proved itself, I'd consider acquiring it in the future.

"Contact them, Heather. I'm sure you'll sign a contract."

"Understood."

Heather then gave Barbara a tour of the premises for about 20 minutes, explaining what each office was used for. After that, they studied the company's documentation. I didn't want to disturb them and decided to visit the local police department.

The editorial office of the Gotham Gazette. Vicki Vale, as usual, was busy writing an article for the magazine. Despite her complete dedication to work, her thoughts occasionally wandered in another direction.

Alex Reath... The young man she'd met a week ago had caught her attention. She hadn't figured out what she felt yet. He exuded mystery while radiating a sense of openness and directness.

She'd been asked out before by men she interviewed. At such times, she usually refused politely. But this time, there had been a glitch in her system. She wanted to know more about this man.

Since their first meeting, he had called her almost every evening. At first, she didn't know what to talk about, so she spoke about her work.

He listened attentively. Soon, their conversations became smooth and natural. She hadn't noticed how she began opening her heart, sharing secrets she'd never told anyone.

Lately, she'd been wondering: when would he ask her on a date? She felt he was trying to make her impatient. If so, it was working.

From their phone conversations, she'd learned quite a bit—or so she thought. He claimed to have no memory of his life before becoming homeless. Her instincts told her he was telling the truth, but she couldn't shake the feeling he was hiding something. Who was he?

He could write such complex books. An uneducated person couldn't do that. He was very good at deduction, and he could build intricate logical plots. She might have guessed that perhaps he was training to become a police officer, but the two fantasy novels he had written prevented her from making such a simple conclusion.

Now, he was also developing a mobile game, which required a deep understanding of computers and programming.

"Oh, how complicated it all is," Viki groaned, stopping her typing for a moment. Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Viki, a courier has come to deliver something for you," the editorial employee said with a sly smile.

"What? I didn't order anything." She went out into the hall and saw a young man dressed as a courier. He was holding a basket with assorted candies.

"Hello, are you Victoria Elizabeth Vale?"

"Yes."

"Please sign for the delivery receipt," he held out the form. As soon as she signed, he handed her the basket.

"Who is this from?" she asked the delivery man.

"There's a note in the basket. I think that will clear everything up," the young man said, heading for the exit.

The girl began to carefully examine the parcel. A medium-sized wicker basket, filled to the brim with assorted chocolates. As soon as she was about to return to her office, she was immediately surrounded by curious employees.

"Vikki, who sent you this? Could someone really win the heart of our irresistible Victoria?"

"This is so sweet! I've never been given anything like this."

"Here you go! The only thing the guys have ideas for is a bouquet of flowers, but a basket of confectionery is very creative."

"Come on, Vikki, admit who it is?"

She barely managed to slip out of the clutches of the predatory women. Returning to the office, she began to unpack the gift.

Most of the candies in this basket were her favorites. She even got a little nervous, wondering who could be so aware of her preferences. However, there were chocolates here that she had never tried. This calmed her down a little. Finally, she picked up the note and read aloud: How about a meeting? Tomorrow at 5 pm. I'll pick you up. Alex Reath

"So it was him? I should have guessed... I wonder if he found out that I had a day off tomorrow or if it was just a coincidence?" Having unwrapped the unfamiliar candies, she began to taste them. Enjoying the taste, she thought that these candies would now be added to her list of favorites.

At one o'clock in the afternoon, I arrived at the Gotham Police Department. I was planning to ask Gordon to help me get a license. If I went through the usual process to obtain a driver's license, such as studying and passing the exam, it would take too long.

I didn't have that much time. If the commissioner still refused me, I would have to go to the school and give money. But that also takes time. I knew where James's office was and went straight there. To my great misfortune, the door was locked.

"Have you come to see Commissioner Gordon?" a female voice addressed me. In front of me stood a beautiful brunette, about 25 years old, with short hair, and a hat atop her head. She was wearing a white shirt with a gray vest, and a loose tie hung from her neck. The top buttons were unbuttoned, revealing an enticing view of her chest.

"Yes," I confirmed. "But it looks like he's not here today."

"The commissioner left for a meeting at City Hall this morning. He should be back soon. You can wait if you're not in a hurry."

"In that case, I think I will wait."

"Do you have urgent business with him? If anything, you can contact me. I'm Detective Rene Montoya," the girl introduced herself.

Well, I had hoped for this meeting. Renee Maria Montoya was a detective in the Major Crimes Unit, one of the best in the Gotham City Police Department, and what's also important—an honest cop. But the main problem wasn't that; it was that she was a lesbian. No, with a hot body like hers, it's almost a crime! If I'm not mistaken, no one knew about her non-traditional orientation.

She kept it a big secret. Renee was a very closed person and shared her feelings and experiences only with her closest friends. In the future, Two-Face, because of his obsession with her, would reveal to everyone that she was a lesbian. She had hidden her orientation from everyone except her younger brother.

Her life would become chaotic, especially her relationship with her family. While her younger brother knew about her orientation, her very religious parents did not and abandoned her as soon as the truth was revealed.

It wouldn't be easy, but I would try to set her on the right path. I'm afraid I won't be able to completely rid her of her love for women. But it doesn't matter; the main thing is to make her fall in love with me and show her that a man and a woman are made for each other. It's for her own good, I have no selfish goals... Well, maybe a little. Who cares? As they say, one doesn't interfere with the other.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Montoya," I extended my hand in greeting. "You don't have to worry, my business can wait. I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Alex Reath."

"Pleased to meet you… Did you say Alex Reath?"

"That's right."

"So you were the one who gave Gordon the information about the pharmaceutical company?"

"Yes. And how many other people know about it? I hope Gordon didn't tell everyone about it. Or else he'll get into trouble. If any of the crooked cops find out that it was Heather and I who gave the tip about this 'Wellness Company,' they'll most likely leak the information to the shady guys. And I don't need that."

"Don't worry, only Gordon, me, and Detective Harvey Bullock know about this. You can trust us completely."

"Well, I'll take your word for it then."

"Hmmm, you're taking this a lot more calmly than I expected. I thought you'd pretend to be indignant."

"I just feel like I can trust you, Detective," I said, smiling as I looked into her eyes.

"Let's sit down... So, if I'm not mistaken, you're that famous writer, aren't you? I saw your picture in the newspaper when they published an article about you," Renee said, changing the topic of conversation.

"I thought most people only knew the names of writers. Usually, they're not at all interested in what the author looks like. I assume you recognized me only because you recently read the article."

"Maybe so. But still, you shouldn't be so skeptical about yourself. After all, you're a celebrity in our city."

"But I still have no reason to wear sunglasses. People don't recognize me on the streets yet. Ha-ha," I laughed with self-irony.

"Do you want people to recognize you?" Montoya asked, sitting down at her desk.

"I don't even know how to answer that. Popularity has its pros and cons," I said, sitting in the chair opposite her. "I see you have a lot to do," I added, noticing the large stack of papers on her desk.

"That's not so much. In the last month, crime has decreased by 5%. I don't know whether to be happy about that or not. It feels like this is the calm before the storm."

"I don't think there's any need to worry too much, since the city has an irreplaceable Dark Knight protecting it."

"So, you support our dark guardian, Mister Alex?"

"Tell me, Renee, how much has crime decreased since the advent of Batman?" I asked. The detective looked at me meaningfully.

"Crime has decreased by 75%, and it continues to fall."

"You see. It used to be scary to walk around the city, not just at night, but also during the day. Criminals acted openly, fearing no one. And the corrupt police were powerless. When darkness fell, people locked themselves in their homes, afraid to look out into the street. But now, if you compare Gotham today with the past, when our dark guardian didn't exist, the difference is clear. Today, you can walk at night without fearing for your life. Criminals who used to act openly now hide, afraid to see the dark shadow of a bat. So, yeah... I support Batman. Without him, this city would have fallen apart long ago," I concluded.

"Heh, I'm of the same opinion," she smiled at me. "Only my partner, Harvey Bullock, doesn't share the same view. Unfortunately, he's not too fond of superheroes, believing that the more heroes there are, the more villains."

"I'm afraid that without superheroes, supervillains would still emerge. You know, they say the universe always seeks balance. So, we can only wait and see what else it will throw at us."

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