The Marksman and the Speedster Part 1

## Mob Boss Peggy

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Sunday, 8:00 PM

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Gavin wasn't used to these silly operations. Many times he'd considered cancelling his 'meeting' with the mysterious young stranger from the childish dating app. He'd received no reply from his employer regarding who this man was, or whether he was a part of the hero coalition or otherwise, or even whether he was superpowered or not. If the latter was true, the night would be a waste, and that would be a shame.

The Marksman was dressed in none other than a fine suit, custom made, that fit him like a glove. With his hair combed and his styling up to standard, Gavin looked every bit like he belonged, mingling with the upper-crust of Westmount that inhabited the shiny, marble halls of the Weiss Opera House.

He waited at the steps in the lobby for his 'date'. That odd fellow, 'Fan Li' who was obviously just out to score some cash from a wealthy gentleman. It was amazing how easy it had been to lure those shallow little shits to his feet. They believed everything they read on the internet - it had been precisely as easy as Thamir made it out to be.

Instead of having cancelled, or rather just *ghosted*, as they say, Gavin was somewhat interested in seeing the date through. He had a feeling that he couldn't logically explain, and nothing really to lose. In any case, there were two pistols holstered beneath his suit jacket. Far from impatient, Gavin checked his expensive watch for the time.
@sephet(edited)

## sephet

Fan Li didn’t necessarily know how the high class dressed, but figured if it had a high price tag it was probably pretty close. His floral trench coat was fairly striking and he liked it plenty, so it seemed like a good bet. He pulled back the long top of his hair into a small bun and wore simple dress pants and a sweater with his more expensive running shoes. Topping the outfit off were a pair of circle lense sunglasses. *He* thought he looked classy and expensive.

He caught a ride to the opera house, not exactly his first choice for date ideas but if some rich bitch old dude wanted it he could put up with some boring ass singing for a while. He looked around the lobby with his hands in his pockets kind of ignoring the way people shot him glances in his search for the right stuffy white guy for his date.

He pulled out his phone to check the picture again and finally spotted Gavin and walked over to him. “Hey man, got some fine fancy taste goin’ on huh?”

## Mob Boss Peggy

Gavin looked up from his watch in time to see the person that was unmistakably his date, wearing something hideous. That was to be expected, judging by how young the man was. Wearing *trainers* to the Opera. Gavin was surprised that they let him in. Amusingly, he found himself acquiring those high-brow thoughts although he wasn't the perfect measure of class to begin with, just by being here.

"My name is Gav." He responded flatly, wearing very little expression on his face, as usual. He stared at Fan Li, scrutinizing him, both in his face and at his clothes. He was looking for something telling. Was this man special in any way, or just some ordinary, clever twink looking for a sponsor?

"I like the finer things in life. Are you uncomfortable?"

## sephet

“Gav! Yeah I can tell you do!” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively and leaned into Gav. He was always moving at least a little bit. A foot tap here, fingers wiggling there. He wasn’t good at standing still and keeping things normal looking. “I’m sure we can make sure this shit has a happy ending. Dunno how operas usually go, gotta admit, but I’m good for makin’ sure you get what you want.”

“Shall we?” He bowed dramatically to indicate Gav should lead the way, and to make his coat flutter somewhat. He didn’t know where he was supposed to go but he did love the way trench coats moved. Closest thing to a fashionable cape.

February 8, 2019

## Mob Boss Peggy

Gavin's face didn't react much to Fan Li's brash, energetic presence. Dark blue eyes still scanned the fellow oddly, watching him fidget and shift as he tried to guess why he was acting like that. Meth? Crack? Or was he just a little touched in the head?

Gavin was starting to regret letting this encounter happen. Although, it was a little bit entertaining how flashy the other man was, it wasn't good for discreetness if by some slim chance Gavin got what he *really* wanted that night. Some people just didn't believe in subtlety.

Silently, Gavin eyed Fan Li's face before turning and taking the lead as beckoned. "And for the sake of transparency, Fan Li, what are *you* looking for?" The stonefaced man asked as they walked through the atrium. There was a grand marble staircase with a red carpet running through it that Gavin started to ascend.

## sephet

Fan Li pulled a face to think about what he should answer and held his hands out despite them still being in the pockets of his coat. “You know. Some fun. Some stuff. A good night. That sorta shit. Just like feel good for a while, right? You too?”

He walked backwards to look at Gav, bumping shoulders with a person here or there and shrugging them off despite the frustrated looks he gathered. “What’re you lookin’ for?”

## Mob Boss Peggy

Some fun. Drugs. Some stuff. Money. A good night. Sex.

"Yeah." Was all the Marksman said, completely uninterested. His eyes were trained on the staircase as he walked, face as still as a statue; a stark difference from the lively person tagging along with him. They looked so different and so mismatched that Fan Li nearly looked like Gavin's child or charity case or something. The pair garnered plenty of looks, but Gavin didn't really give a shit about that.

"I'm looking for someone good enough to share my time with. Someone... unique. Is there anything particularly special about you, Fan Li?" Gavin asked, looking at him from the side as they stepped onto the second floor. With a few minutes left before the show, he headed to the champagne bar.

## sephet

“Hey, sure. Yeah there’s plenty special about me, name your flavour.” Fan Li laughed a little and slapped Gavin’s watch back into his hand along with a wallet that belonged to one of the men he’d walked into on the way up. Sleight of hand was even easier when you could move faster than any human being alive. He winked playfully and turned to the bar to see what he could get to drink while they were there.

February 9, 2019

## Mob Boss Peggy

Gavin had to admit, he was surprised when Fan Li returned his watch to him along with a wallet he'd stolen within the mere moments they they had been in reach other's company. Looking down at the objects in his hand, Gavin's face finally moved, his brows lowering contemplatively before his eyes moved up to the other man's face again. So he was a thief. A good one. Gavin wanted to see more.

He stared at Fan Li for a moment when he turned away before continuing his path to the champagne bar, pocketing the wallet and slipping the watch back onto his wrist. He took a seat at the crowded bar and motioned for Fan Li to do the same as he ordered two glasses of fine champagne, paying with a hundred dollar bill.

"How did you do that?" He asked, calmly as the glasses were set in front of them. "Could you do it again?"

## sephet

“I have very skilled fingers.” He grinned and wiggled his fingers obnoxiously to show off his dexterity and speed. He picked up the champagne glass and took a swig as he looked around at the crowd.

“And of course I could do it again. *You* didn’t even notice. And you’ve been eagle eying me this whole time.” He snickered a little, feeling pleased with himself and his skill. “Just tell me what you want, right?”

## Mob Boss Peggy

Gavin's eyes traveled from Fan Li's nimble fingers to his own champagne glass as he took a sip. A cliche response from a once lackluster character that was slowly beginning to shine.

"Your coat distracted me." Gavin joked dryly, even though he didn't *look* like he was joking and certainly didn't seem the humorous type. He didn't smile or anything. In fact, his face was so steely that it was almost like he'd never smiled in his life. He tilted his chin in the direction of a man standing a few feet away.

"Him." He said. The man was younger than Gavin but looked similarly wealthy, dressed in a long coat. He was speaking to a *beautiful* blonde woman wearing a skin-tight, white dress. She was dripping in jewelry.

"I saw him outside pacing. He's going to propose to her tonight. There's a ring in one of his pockets that's probably worth a fortune. Are you good enough to get it?"(edited)

## sephet

Fan Li grinned widely at Gav’s joke/excuse and took another drink of his champagne, he looked to eye up the frazzled man and his glorious would-be fiance. There was something very satisfying about stealing engagement rings. Something about the crushed dreams and expectations was kind of delightful. He set the champagne glass down in front of Gavin and strode forward easily, he was gaudy young and annoying looking enough that it totally made sense for him to bump and jostle people as he made his way through the room to the restroom. His hands move almost too fast to be seen and his fingers are feather light to make up for the rough bump of his shoulders hitting and knocking people around. There isn’t really a moment where Gavin would be able to see Fan Li’s hands at work, he’s faster than any person is capable of. He may not be able to run faster than people can see but it’s easy work to move his arms in a blur of half motions completely disguised from sight.

After a moment he makes his way back from the restroom with as much pomp and fluster as he had on his way out and drops down beside Gavin with a grin. He pats the man’s hand and in the process slips the ring onto his pinky finger. “There you go, darlin’.”

## Mob Boss Peggy

Gavin really did have an eagle-eyed stare. His vision was beyond perfect, and one of the many things that made him the Marksman. He watched Fan Li do his bidding carefully. Watching, and waiting for the moment when he did the deed. He didn't even blink, but still, he saw so little of what had happened that he almost thought that Fan Li hadn't succeeded at all. The smug look on his way back moments later told Gavin otherwise.

He received the ring with a curious look, impressed by what he'd seen and what the man had accomplished. He held it up between his fingers. It was a marvelous little trinket that he didn't have a singular need for. "Why aren't you afraid that I'm a cop, or that I'd turn you in for this?" He asked, turning the ring in his hand to see the metal band glisten.

## sephet

“Well for one you don’t got a badge, I checked for that.” Fan Li picked his glass back up and sipped from it casually. “Second you’ve been interested in me as something you could make use of from the start. *I* know *I* clicked for the chance of a paycheck, on the surface there ain’t much in it for you. Thought maybe you were in it for yellow fever or sex or something. But you seem more interested in something else.”

He winked and tapped his glass against Gavin’s. “So you’re looking for a skill of some sort. But something you can’t straight up ask for. If it was gonna be simple I *could* say I give great head but… you seem vaguely a step away from disgusted so probably not your style.” He shrugged a little bit and bounced on the balls of his feet. “You’re not gonna turn me in if I can be useful to you some way.”

## Mob Boss Peggy

There was little alarm when the young man saw through Gavin's ruse. He had been questioning on purpose, though nowwhere near malicious. After all, he already knew that this guy wasn't one of the heroes that his employer was after. If it wasn't evident before, it was now. When Fan Li clinked his glass against Gavin's, a ghost of a smile could be seen on the Marksman's face before he drank from his glass. This *person* was surprising him every step of the way.

He set the glass down empty and leaned his elbow against the bar. "A good paycheck." He said, setting the ring down on the bar and sliding it to Fan Li. "But I'm not looking for any ordinary thief. I'm looking for someone with *natural* talent."(edited)

## sephet

He smiled widely and stuck the ring in an inside pocket of his coat. “My good sir we both know you already suspect. I am in fact, *too* good to not be a naturally talented person. This just ain’t the best place to show off, as it were.”

He finished off the champagne and dropped one of the necklaces he snatched into the glass and winked at the server as he handed it back. “I suppose what matters now is if you really do want to see the show, or if you were here as a test of character. Am I just a gold digger or am I worth some fun?”

## Mob Boss Peggy

Gavin noticed the necklace drop onto the glass as it was handed over. It seemed like this 'date' wasn't a total waste of time after all, if what the other man was saying was true.

Fan Li had a quick wit for a twenty-one year old and Gavin knew that the young man knew that he had the older male's intense interest, even if it wasn't the type of interest he was expecting. Fan Li was certainly a gold-digger. But maybe he could be of good use, too.

"Why don't we skip the show?" Gavin said casually, his voice a little lighter than before. Even his face seemed a little brighter, even though he still didn't smile. "I doubt that you would be able to sit through it anyway. I'm more interested in seeing what you can do."(edited)

## sephet

“It’s true, originally I thought it would be the kind of show we got entertainment in the middle too, but you’re not that type of guy, huh?” Fan Li nodded and began with a swagger back down out to the lobby. Now it was probably a bit more noticeable that he knocked shoulders and made a direct line through groups of people as he went. “I like to be distracted.”

“Love this era of everybody doing like 3 things at once, you know? It’s way more my speed. You don’t look like a multi-tasker. Like you probably can, but you probably don’t even listen to music while you read, do you?” He turned around to walk backwards again and grinned obnoxiously at Gavin.

## Mob Boss Peggy

The two simultaneously removed themselves from the champagne bar and headed back down the stairs to the atrium. "I don't know what you mean. I like the opera." He said humorlessly, assuming once again that Fan Li was making a sort of sexual innuendo again. He figured that the guy did that a lot by the frequency at which he mentioned those things.

He of course noticed Fan Li's little habits by now and assumed that he was making a fortune just by being there. Why even rely on a sponsor if he was capable of such things?

"You're wrong." He said simply, looking down at the much smaller man, who looked nearly like a child in that oversized coat. "I'm good at multi-tasking. But I'm far more patient than you. Are you on drugs?"

He asked, as they stepped through to the bitter cold of the outside. Gavin was used to the cold. He enjoyed it, in fact. He hailed for a cab.(edited)

## sephet

“Patient. Sure, sure. You know I appreciate your bluntness. So many people get twitchy around that shit.” He shrugged absently and wiggled his fingers again. “And actually it’s remarkably common in my line of work so I guess the assumption isn’t an undeserving one. *I* simply run at a different speed. I do drink, *obviously* but in a pretty normal way for my age. I mean honestly you’ve met college students right? Not that I’m in college. Ugh. But I like a good bar or a house party.”

His metabolism ran him pretty hot most of the time, so even the chill in the air wasn’t the worst thing for him. He shoved his hands back in his pockets but it was more that he was comfortable with the stance. “I mean I guess I’ve done weed before, that’s not terrible. It’s kind of boring though? I guess it depends. I don’t really bother with it most of the time.”

## Mob Boss Peggy

Fan Li certainly did move at a speed faster than most people, even in conversation. Gavin wasn't much of an extrovert who engaged in sweeping conversations, but Fan Li spoke enough for the both of them. The juxtaposition between the pair was almost comical.

"I see." Was all the man said in reply to the other's long explanation. So, he wasn't on drugs, unless he was just lying. He was just *like* that. Somehow, Gavin found him far more tolerable than someone like the Magpie, for example. Although Fan Li was no saint, he didn't seem as cold-blooded as the other company he kept.
When the taxicab pulled up, Gavin held the door open for Fan Li, mainly so that he could keep an eye on him, and the two set off to the Reverie Hotel, a few blocks deeper into the luxurious heart of Westmount.