"This gym is seriously just for the employees?" Percy asks, looking around in wonder.
The gym was first class, even getting close to what the camps had. Around it was a running track while in the center were rows of step machines, weight lifting benches, rows of weights, and more. Outside the track was a corner of the room which seemed to be a rest area with coolers of drinks and food. Another corner held a boxing ring while the third one held dummies used for sparring along with mats. The elevator and steps where we were right now was the fourth corner of the room.
"Yup, and through the locker rooms is the pool with a hot tub. Gotham doesn't have the best gyms and the ones that are good cost a fortune. On certain days, employees' families can use the gym as well," Roy says, quite proudly.
Roy may have been somewhat confused when Bruce called and asked for a favor, he expected to be dealing with a gun runner or drug dealer. He did not expect to return to his old temporary job in order to babysit a young lady who, according to Bruce, was, on a few occasions, a suspected terrorist. So imagine his surprise when he first met Prosephone Jackson, her short hair half tied up to show piercing holes going up both ears and dressed in a suit. The smile she had on her face while talking to Bruce threw him off. Looking at her, he had a feeling that there was no way she could be a terrorist.
"So, what about the rest of the tower?"
*********************************
After Roy showed her the entire tower, he brought he down to the cafeteria for lunch. When she heard that lunch was really provided for free, she ended up loading her tray high. Roy watched her in mild horror as she got herself enough for three people, well, normal people at least. Percy must notice his looks because she flushed bright red.
"Sorry, too much?" She asks, moving to put the prepackaged food back.
"No, not at all. Are you sure you can eat that much?" He asks, warily looking at the tray of food.
"Yeah, I was cut off from food for a while so I'm still trying to recover from that. Are you sure it's fine?" She asks again, looking down at her tray.
"Of course, and if you have special dietary requirements then you can make special requests. As you saw, there are meals suited for any diet," Roy says pointing at the smaller section that was meant for employees with allergies or on a special diet.
"Oh it's fine, these seem like they will work. The only thing special I have besides eating extra food is that I refuse to eat seafood or fish," She says, sitting at a table.
Roy watches her start opening her food and watches as she attempts to discreetly slips two protein bars into her jacket and one into the waist band of her pants. Huh, squirling away food for another time. Either she planned on needing food later on or more likely judging by her story, she was afraid of not having food when she needed it.
Roy pretends he doesn't notice and starts eating his food, which matched Percy's in quantity.
"So what made you get a job here?" Roy asks, eating his salad.
"It was an open job. And I wanted something quiet, I've had enough excitement to last a lifetime," She says, her hand drifting down to her pocket as if she was reaching for something.
Roy can't help but laugh.
"Then you should move. Gotham isn't exactly known for its quiet or peacefulness," he says, shaking his head.
"I guess, but it's a lot better than New York and one of the only places I can't be followed," She jokes, starting to open her juice.
"Can't be followed?" Roy asks, perking up.
This is what Bruce wanted, information on her life and why she bounced around.
"Due to my family, people tend to want to kill me," she says, distracted as she attempts to stab the juice pouch, her fingers looking stiff.
"Really?"
"Yeah, but don't worry, they won't come after me here, too crazy for even them," Percy says, giving him a crooked smile. Roy does his best to smile back.
"Is that why you moved? To get away from them?"
"Partly, but to be honest, I didn't know what to do with my life. I just happened to figure out the fact that they wouldn't follow me here when I had already moved here," She says, still struggling with the straw.
"Here, let me," Roy says, reaching and taking the pouch and straw from her, his finger twitching when he felt her hand and how cold it was. Her left hand definitely wasn't normal and he clenched his, almost as if he could really feel it.
"Thanks," she says, taking the juice pouch back.
They say in silence, each eating their lunch.
Roy watched her as she kept looking around, her fingers twitching. She seemed to be looking around as if expecting some kind of threat. Now, he wasn't upset at the fact that a security employee was being vigilant, but he did wonder if she knew she didn't have to be on high alert during lunch.
"You know, you are on your break. You can relax while eating," Roy says, looking around as well. Maybe he had a reason to be vigilant, maybe Percy knew something he didn't. But nothing was wrong.
"I-I know, sorry," Percy says, flushing while shoveling her meatloaf in her mouth.
"It's fine, if it makes you feel better, I do it too," he says, attempting to ease her embarrassment.
"How long have you worked here?"
"Not long actually. I worked here before and then I left when I got a new job opportunity. Bruce was kind enough to take me back. I just started a few days before you,"
"Oh, did it have to do with archery?" Percy asks, perking up and looking at his hands.
"Archery?" Roy can't help as his voice pitches up an octave.
"Yeah, your hands. You've got calluses from archery on them," She says, pointing.
Roy looked at her perplexed and back down at his hands. He could see what she was talking about, but just barely. And it wasn't a common thing to have or notice. Looking at her hands, he had questions of his own.
"Yeah, it's a hobby of mine. How'd you know though? It's not all that common,"
"I used to go to this summer camp for special kids. They taught us how to use various weapons, kiddie stuff really. But the kids who were obsessed with archery had those kinds of calluses from the bowstrings and arrows,"
Roy narrowed at her. He could tell that she was somewhat telling the truth but something about her story didn't seem to be fully true. And what kind of camp allowed special kids to play with weapons?
"So you did archery?"
"Nah, I was shit at it, nearly shot someone. I use a sword," She says, swinging her arms around, madly mocking swinging a sword.
This just confuses Roy even more. But as he watched Percy, he noticed how she became uncomfortable as the topic progressed. Time to redirect.
"So, do you know anyone in town?" He asks.
"No, I kinda just pointed to the map and chose a city at random. Well, I might," She says, seeming to think.
"Might?" Roy asks, confused.
"My cousin of sorts, but I don't know if she's actually here," She says, tilting her head as if somehow listening, which was totally ridiculous.
"Well, if you need help tracking her down, I might be able to help you," Roy says, offering.
"I think she would find me before we would find her. She probably knows I am here anyway. Maybe I can finally meet her," She says, smiling.
"You've never met her? Then how would you know she's here?"
"Just a feeling. Us cousins, well we seem to know if any of us are around. If you don't mind, I'm going to go check something out,"
Percy stands abruptly, looking around nervously. She starts piling her garbage onto her tray, seeming jittery. Roy notices and sighs.
"You can leave that, I'll deal with it. You seem like you have somewhere to be," he says, concerend about her.
It was her first day and she seemed to be jittery, which was fair. But this seemed to be something different. He had shown her the tower's security system already, she knows that no one could get inside the tower, so why was she so freaked out? She specifically said she got this job because it was supposed to be quiet corporate security.
Watching Percy flee the cafeteria made him think, maybe she had more to her than what he had previously thought.
*****************************
On the ground outside Wayne enterprises, Percy finished dispatching the hellhound that was attempting to track her. Alright, so she wasn't completely safe inside Gotham, noted. She groans, looking down at her once immaculate suit which was now covered in specks of glitter. There was no way she was getting it off before returning to Roy. She would just have to make up some story although she didn't know what that story would be yet. Yeah, sorry Roy, I was killing a mythical monster. Not going to work. Well, she'll think of something.
Walking back into the lobby, she froze. Standing at the front desk, being greeted by Bruce was King Orin. Looking around frantically, she darts over to a pillar, hiding behind it. No no no! She did not need to meet an Atlantian, not here and not now!
"Why are you hiding?" A smooth voice comes from behind her and she jumps, whirling around, barely controlling herself from ripping Riptide from her pocket and attacking.
Behind her was a boy, maybe a year or older than her with dark skin and blonde, short sheered hair. Looking at him, she could tell he was Atlantian as well. She could feel the sea within him. And he looked vaguely familiar. Maybe a guard in Atlantis? But judging by his reaction to her, he couldn't tell who she was, at least she hoped.
"Um, I don't like Mr. Wayne?" She says, fumbling for an answer. The boy raised his eyebrows.
"Who are you?" He asks, looking at her as if expecting her to jump out and start attacking the two men who were now walking towards the elevators.
"Percy, I just started here today. And you?" She asks, looking at the Atlantean as if he wasn't supposed to be there, which was fair, he wasn't supposed to be on the surface in the first place.
"Kaldur, Arthur, the guy talking to Mr. Wayne, is my boss. He had a meeting with Mr. Wayne and I tagged along. I'm sorry, but do I know you?" He asks and Percy nearly squeaks.
"I don't...um...think so," She says, struggling to get the words out.
"Well, I suppose I'll be seeing you around more often than since my boss and yours have regular meetings," Kaldur says, still puzzled by the woman.
Kaldur could swear he knew Percy. Something about her was so familiar and welcoming. But he couldn't. He knows that he hadn't met anyone like her on the surface, he would remember someone like her. And she couldn't be from Atlantis, he would also recognize her. He watches as she scurries away but not before checking if King Orin had disappeared with Bruce. She seemed determined to avoid Bruce, for whatever reason.