ѕelιna ĸyle. (adaptably) wrote in mandaluslogs, @ 2013-01-22 21:00:00 |
|
|||
"Miss Kyle?"
Selina turned her attention from her phone, her eyes sweeping up to meet the voice who addressed her. It was early for a January morning - early enough that it was still dark and her breath was white as she exhaled. Whenever Raven was available, Selina set up a time for them to go to a gym and work on her self defense techniques. The blue skinned woman was coming along faster that she expected, but Selina knew there was still work to be done. Until Raven could be confident with her strikes and more agile, it would be a rough start.
She raised her head and lowered her phone. An unfinished text was present on the screen, intended for Raven. She always let the young woman know when she was heading out and where to meet her at. Selina was many things, including punctual. How could a master thief be effective if she didn't understand the basics of a schedule? Especially another person's schedule.
"That depends on who's asking." She said simply.
The man in front of her looked like a stereotypical high end security worker. Black suit, black tie, sunglasses and a scarf to go against the cold. Another man stepped out behind him, and he looked like something out of a James Bond movie. White suit, pale pink shirt with an open top button, and a white over jacket for the cold weather.
Selina knew who he was instantly - considering he was one of the bigger targets she had successfully stolen from. Darius Ardon. He was the premier developer for the native born citizens of Mandalus. Weapons, defense, even down to house hold appliances that made Mandalus a tiny bit more futuristic than Selina's home world. If his company hadn't made it, then he certainly had things invested in it. He was an eccentric man and liked to make himself well known. In many ways, he reminded her of Tony Stark. Without the streak of sarcasm.
"I am." Ardon answered with a smile. "Actually, it was my security detail that asked. Yet you responded to the question. That, unfortunately, does make you the one I have been looking for." He stepped closer to her. "Miss Selina Kyle. Your reputation proceeds you."
She glanced at the security guard before giving Ardon a curt smile. "What would you know about a supposed reputation? Maybe I don't have one at all."
"Please, Miss Kyle, there is no reason to hide your talents. Especially when I've been at the mercy of them." Ardon chuckled and held up his hand. "A master thief in her own world. It isn't too hard for a man in my position to find out information on the guests in our city. Your accessory gives you away."
Selina's smirk twitched slightly, her wrist rolling around inside the Bangle the System had so graciously given her when she arrived. She took a deep breath and faced him completely. "Is there something I can do for you, Mr. Ardon, or is this a social call?"
"I would prefer to see it as a social call." He chuckled. He gestured to the car beside the road with his raised hand. "Please, Miss Kyle. There's no need to make a scene. I will, however, request that you give us your phone. They're not too fond of the signals where we are going."
For a moment she clenched the phone in her hand before holding it up. The security guard took it from her. Ardon gently took her arm in his hand, moving over to the white car and opening the back door for her. She tossed him a pointed grin in thanks before sitting inside the back seat. Before the door closed she could hear the sound of cracking plastic.
So much for that phone, she thought to herself. She held her head high and kept her calm as Ardon sat beside her. The security guard sat in the passenger seat in front of her. With a tap on the ceiling of the car from the wealthy developer, the windows tinged black and the car started. Selina turned her head to the man beside her.
"Not a fan of letting people see what's inside your luxury cars?" She asked sweetly.
"I thought it was better than placing a bag over your head." Ardon answered. "I am a gentleman first, Miss Kyle. Even if you have pushed me into some very hard boundaries. I hope that our talks this morning will go over well and we can put all of this behind us."
Selina had a feeling about what those talks were. She had every doubt that they wouldn't go easily. She turned her attention to the darkened window, smiling confidently to hide the thoughts inside her head. How to get out of her situation and where to run to. There was that button on the Bangle she could press, but she wasn't entirely certain what it would do. For all she knew? It could trigger any security system around. That would get her nowhere but dead.
Not that death mattered in Mandalus.
The car came to a stop and Ardon stepped out. With an exhale to keep herself calm, Selina stepped out of the car as Ardon held the door open for her. Then again, gently, he took her by the arm and led her inside a small restaurant. It reminded her of the lower end places in Gotham's East End--making it somewhere in Old Town. Keeping her composure, Selina sat at the booth she was led to and crossed her legs under the table. The security guard sat beside her and Ardon sat across from her.
"Please, Miss Kyle, order whatever you would like." Ardon said as he nodded to the waitress behind the counter. The smaller woman quickly came over.
It's bought off. Selina thought. He owns this one.
Wanting to keep appearances up, she politely ordered a small breakfast and turned her attention back to the developer. With a nod and a smile, Ardon sent the woman back on her way. Then he folded his hands and placed them on the table with a wide smile.
"While they are doing that," he said, "let's talk about us. It seems you and I are developing a history."
"I'm not sure I would call it a history, Mr. Ardon." Selina replied with a tinge of honey in her voice. "This is the first time we've formally met."
"Ah, but, you know me... and I know you." He gestured to the space between them. "It is not surprising that any of your kind--" a gesture to her Bangle "--would know of me. I am the foremost developer, engineer and weapon consultant in this great city of ours. So, it was not too surprising to learn that a rather pretty cat had found her way into my offices one night and looked through my files."
Selina's smile faltered slightly.
"What was surprising was the little thing this cat made off with." Ardon continued on without a care for her composure. "I would have thought money, or perhaps even a weapon of some sort. Instead she found something that I feel is very important to myself and the true citizens of this city. Shielding! Imagine if we could protect ourselves from the Serpent without needing the help of people like you. So, I am certain that you could understand the anger I had felt to learn that those plans were tampered with."
He held his hand up to her lips to keep her from speaking. "I am not an idiot. Don't suggest that I am. You may not have taken the files, but you most certainly copied them. I believe in your world that is known as theft."
Selina's eyes narrowed and a dark smirk touched her face as her chest rose. She had been caught.
Ardon sat back in his seat. "It took me some time to find out who it was. You are very good at covering your tracks, Miss Kyle. Clever as a cat indeed. If you had stolen from a competitor of mine, I would have even congratulated you on it. Sadly, you didn't, and that brings us to this lovely breakfast this morning."
Selina glanced at the security guard. "You want it back."
"Of course!" Ardon chuckled. "Except, you are a very clever thief. You wouldn't have held onto such valuable information. You sold it off, as anyone in your position would. Or, perhaps someone hired you to steal it." He leaned over the table again. "As I have stated, I am a gentleman first. If you simply tell me where I might find my misplaced designs? You can go free. We will eat our breakfast, and perhaps I will ask for your services in the future. All I need is that name."
Selina held her gaze with the man in front of her. There was a time when she would have given the name to him. A time where she would have saved her own skin over the cost of another person. What had anyone ever done for her? It didn't matter if she sold someone off. It would be their problem, not hers. Except that wasn't who she was anymore. She had already sold one man off and an entire city fell into near ruin because of that. While she had her doubts that Mandalus would fall if she gave away Tony Stark's name, she knew that there would be hell to pay.
Besides, she could find her way out of this situation on her own.
Selina leaned forward over the table, a her expression coy and her mouth in a thin smile. "You see, Mr. Ardon, that's just the thing. I never knew the name of the person I sold it to. You know how the Black Market is.. the person who pays the highest gets the goods."
Ardon laughed. He leaned back, closing his eyes and shaking his head. In that quick moment, Selina glanced around the small area to find the best way out of it. Her eyes were back to him before he could even notice.
"You see, I would have believed that." He said. "If I did not deal in that market myself. If anything of mine ends up there, it is because I placed it there. Now, please. Do not try to play games with me. I simply need a name."
"I told you. I don't know it." Selina repeated herself.
An uneasy silence fell the restaurant, save for the cooking in the back. Ardon and Selina's gazes met, daring each other. Pushing one to budge before the other did. Then, Selina thought she had won. Ardon sighed and shook his head, relaxing. Her face stayed the same as she slowly leaned back as well. It couldn't have been that easy.
"Very well." Ardon shook his head, dismayed. "Then I won't keep you from your business. I will have the cooks box your breakfast and then we shall send you on your way. There is no point in keeping you here if you are not going to help us. We have other ways of finding what we want."
He waved his hand and his security guard stood, stepping out of the way. Selina quickly glanced at Ardon before standing up, smoothing out her jacket. There was another pause as she met the eyes of the developer. Both knew that they were once again waiting for the other to make their move.
"You're not going to make a poor girl walk out into the cold, are you?" She asked softly, a small frown touching her face. He simply smiled and motioned for the security guard to escort her to the car.
Selina waited until they were at the door before making her move. She spun on the balls of her feet, smacking the security guard with her elbow. Her hand immediately went for the gun inside his jacket as she spun around the recovering guard, shoving him down onto the ground. Her knee made contact with his spine and she pointed the gun straight at the man in the white suit.
Ardon raised his eyebrows and pushed himself out of the booth. He chuckled, clapping his hands at her display. "You are very impressive for a thief, Miss Kyle."
"I know when I'm being played." She said evenly with ice sneaking into her tone. "Let me go, or I'll make you wish you hadn't come after me."
"With just a gun?" He snorted. "Don't be so naive. You are good, but not good enough to take down a man in his own territory. Especially when you choose to talk before you shoot."
Selina fired the gun. She was never afraid to shoot a firearm. It was aimed at his side, intending to be nonlethal. That was all she needed to be on top of being a thief... a murderer.
There was a small metal sound. Suddenly, a streak of white bounced from the area around Ardon and the bullet hit the wall. A blue shimmer followed. The round hole made Selina's eyes turn to it and a frown settled on her face.
"Did you believe that a man who designed a shield would not have one on him at all times?" Ardon walked over to her, his hand on the gun. "The security is only a rouse. Only weak men need others to protect him. Now, shall we try this again? Please, stand up. I'd hate to make a lady sit on the ground."
Selina stood, her heart pounding in her head. She was trying to find another way out of the building. It was owned by him, that she had no doubts of, which meant no one would be pointing the exit to her. Not to mention that all the windows and doors were still locked because the restaurant hadn't properly opened. Ardon nodded to her, placing his hands on her arms.
"We will try one more time." He squeezed her arms. "Tell me who you sold my designs to."
She leaned forward, her face inches from his. "I don't know his name."
At that, Ardon gave an annoyed chuckle. He shook his head, turning away from her. "Ah, Miss Kyle, you are infuriating. As much as a cat would be. You are such stubborn creatures. How sad it is that you have forgotten that men hover over animals. Even the clever ones."
Before she could react, Ardon turned and his clenched fist made contact with the side of her head. Selina stumbled over the security guard under her, sticking her hands out to brace herself from the fall. It partially worked. Her ankle tinged in sudden pain as she fell over the legs of the man under her, her head knocking into the side of the booth. Selina hit the ground, her head pounding and her ankle screaming out in pain.
"I hate to be such a brute." He sighed and bent down, lifting Selina's chin up. "I am sorry it came to this."
He raised his hand to hit her again and Selina rolled away, grabbing his arm and twisting it back with her. Ardon yelped in pain and quickly kicked her, sending her into the near by metal table. The back of her head hit the tables and she groaned, everything swimming at once. She raised a hand to the side of her head, feeling the warm liquid that began to coat her hair.
Ardon helped the guard up and brushed him off. "Make sure that she is taken to the car without any trouble. We will have to further negotiations." He stepped over Selina and walked up to the counter, ringing the bell. Then he pulled out a roll of money, setting it on the counter. "For your troubles this morning--and your wall. It will need to be fixed."
Selina felt her body being pulled up and turned her head, attempting to swing her body weight against the guard. Her ankle reminded her that it was injured and she hissed in pain, practically crumbling down to the ground again. She closed her eyes. Once her head stopped pounding she'd find a way out.