Trick 2: Perform for your unwilling date!

Kate knocked on the door and paused when it was slightly open, she frowned and touched her hip, walking in slowly, "Ace?" then froze up as she saw Ace sitting there with candles at the table, smiling at her.

She laughed angrily, saying "You should lock your door! Damn! I thought someone broke in!" Ace chuckled and said "Who's going to break in? Plus, steal what? Bruce? Probably return him the next day, right?"

Bruce grunted while eating and Ace ignored him, shooing him with his hand.

Kate looked at the plate of what she could only describe as cooked lunchmeat dressed up all fancy, saying helplessly "Are you serious? Paper plates?" Ace coughed and said "Actually, saving money is a good habit."

Kate sat down and retorted, "You have to HAVE money first though, right?" Ace froze and scooped up whatever it was that he made, grumbling "Tomato Potato…"

Kate poked the 'meal' and asked seriously, "Is this edible?" Ace pointed at himself, saying "I'm eating it, right?" Kate replied seriously, "You could be immune." Ace almost choked on his food and patted his chest, looking at her speechlessly.

Kate licked her lips and tasted a single bite with closed eyes, preparing for death… Fortunately, she wasn't dead! She opened her eyes and said "Unexpectedly, not that bad! Not good… But edible!"

Ace smiled proudly, saying loudly "I pride myself on my barely edible cooking!" Kate giggled and ate the so-called 'barely edible meal', saying "Although, if I got this on a date, it's a dealbreaker."

Ace patted the table and let out a breath, saying with relief, "Good thing it's not a date then." Kate looked at him with a twitching lip, "It's not?" Ace looked at her dumbfounded, "It is?!"

Kate had black lines on her forehead and Ace coughed, "What I meant was, of course not. I would definitely bring you out if it was the case of it being a date which it's not at this moment in time right now." Kate ate the food while looking at him as he continued, waving a fork "But it could be! A walk while you wait for your clothes to dry in the dryer will help you digest your food."

He nodded and announced "A great idea! It's decided!" Kate was speechless, "Did I agree? I don't remember agreeing…" Ace waved his hand, saying "You did! I heard it. Right, Bruce?"

Bruce turned around and hopped away, ignoring Ace, who said "See? Even Bruce heard it. Look at his huge ears, if he didn't hear it, you'd know." Kate covered her forehead and sighed "I guess so…"

A little bit later

Ace and Kate were walking on the sidewalk next to each other. Ace pulled down his baseball cap, saying with a smile "How's your Aunt?" Kate blinked and looked at him suspiciously "How did you know I have an aunt?"

Ace smiled in response, "I'm a Magician. A little bit of mind reading isn't too crazy, right?" Kate rolled her eyes, saying "Do you expect me to believe you're magic?" Ace puffed his chest and said "I really am! Look, pick a card."

Kate looked at his hands and then up at him with amusement.

He coughed and threw up a deck of cards, spreading them out on a single hand before saying with a smirk "Sorry, these are dirty. Let me change them." he fanned the deck and the red backs turned blue as he added "Pretty lady, would you please pick a card?"

Kate curled her lips and pulled out a card, Ace dramatically covered his eyes, saying "Alright, don't tell me! Now put it back in the deck." Kate looked at her card and said with a giggle, "Such an old trick…" as she put her card back.

Ace shuffled the deck quickly before throwing the deck in a trash can as they continued to walk.

He clapped his hands and pointed at a street lamp, smiling "Is that your card?" Kate was stunned and looked at the streetlamp, gasping in shock as she said "How is that even possible!?"

There was a Queen of Hearts inside the glass on the streetlamp!

She turned to Ace, who smiled mysteriously, "Believe me now?" Kate held her chin and squinted with a smile, "How did you do that?" Ace coughed and smiled "A good magician never reveals his secrets~"

Kate scrunched her nose and looked at him, saying "But I want to know!" Ace leaned over and whispered "It's been there for a few weeks now, accidentally threw it in there while they were fixing the lamp."

Kate's eyes widened and Ace pulled back, grinning as she laughed, slapping his chest as she said "I really thought you were a magician!" Ace smiled happily, "I am!" Kate rolled her eyes and giggled, "Sure you are~" as they continued walking.

In the trash can behind them, the deck was sprawled out, but the Queen of Hearts wasn't in there…

The duo came to a park and sat on a bench, Kate rubbing her calves, saying "Shouldn't have worn these heels…" Ace rested his elbow on the back of the bench, leaning his cheek on his palm as he chuckled "Why didn't you wear your flats? You changed into heels when we left."

Kate looked at him pouting "I usually like to look good when I go out, unlike a certain someone." Ace was stunned and asked in shock "I look bad?? It's only my apartment that looks bad, right?" Kate looked at him for a moment, before sighing "It's you too. What a shame…"

Before chuckling, adding "But you're kinda cute. In a Hobo kinda way." Ace rubbed his chest and replied "I don't know whether to take that as a compliment or insult to be quite honest with you…"

Kate laughed and leaned back on the bench, sighing "Do you ever feel that you chose the wrong career?" Ace was startled and held his temple, saying "I'm sensing… regret and melancholy?"

Kate punched his shoulder lightly, saying laughingly "Come on, I'm serious." Ace hummed and looked at the sky, replying "Well, not really! I always wanted to be a magician." he rubbed his nose and chuckled "The first Christmas I can remember, I got a little magic kit."

He laughed and gestured for Kate, "You know one of those kid magic sets? With the trick boxes?" Kate covered her mouth and laughed, nodding. Ace smiled fondly, "I remember that day, it was the happiest day of my life. I was obsessed with Magic and Wizards as a kid and then…"

He paused and Kate asked with a teasing tone, "You became a down and out Magician?" Ace's face changed from reminiscence and he laughed, "Yeah!" before shrugging "Now I have to settle for walks instead of dates and talks about life instead of making out."

Kate rolled her eyes and chuckled as he asked "What about you?" Kate narrowed her eyes and smiled gently, "No, actually… Despite my mom's wishes, I'm really happy where I am. It was actually because of my Aunt." she turned to him and rested her head on her arm, smiling "Did your parents want you to be something else?"

Ace thought about it and looked into her eyes, replying "Not exactly. They just wanted me to be happy I guess. I don't know because they left a long while ago." Kate sighed and looked at him gently, consoling "Me too. I'm sorry." Ace shook his head and smiled, "It's not all bad, actually it forced me to become super independent at a young age…"

He spread his hands and shook them, smiling "Which is the man you see now, surprised?" Kate covered her mouth and laughed, "The man who runs from gangsters, loan sharks, mafia goons, and debtors every week?"

Ace smiled happily, "I always get away though." Kate looked at him and replied softly while curling her hair with her fingers, "Yeah… You always do." The duo looked at each other silently for a moment, slowly inching towards each other.

Their lips touched and they closed their eyes, Kate pressed her hand on Ace's chest gently.

Just as they were enjoying the moment, Kate's phone rang.

They separated and Ace rubbed his nose, Kate looked at him apologetically and answered the phone "Yes? Ah. Aunt Peggy! Wha- Okay… Alright…" she hung up and Ace asked "You have to…" she nodded wordlessly and Ace stood up, coughing "Well, I'll walk you back."

Kate looked at him and giggled, "We live in the same place." Ace scratched his cheek and said "What? You're crazy. Come on, let's go." as he walked away slowly. Kate looked at his red ears and chuckled, chasing after him before walking next to him.

She looked at him and teased "Oh my~ You, of all people, are shy?" Ace retorted "No. Not at all! I perform in front of hundreds of people!" Kate snickered, "Only hundreds." Ace scoffed, "It's only a matter of time before it's millions and billions!"

Kate rolled her eyes and nodded, "Mhm. I'm sure." Ace pouted, "I'm serious!" Kate laughed and said firmly "I believe you!" They went back and forth like this before arriving at the Apartment building.

Kate walked to the door and turned, teasing "Wanna come up?" Ace's eyes lit up, "To your place?!" Kate burst into a short laugh, saying in anger "To your own damn place! Do I look like one of your show bimbos?!"

Ace looked at her seriously and she grit her teeth, "The right answer is no!" Ace nodded and chuckled "Then no!" She glared at him and opened the door, walking inside. They walked up the stairs as Ace said "Maybe you can come to one of my shows?"

Kate rolled her eyes and replied "Should I bring running shoes for the after show?" Ace replied seriously "Of course. I always keep gym stuff under my clothes." Kate laughed and walked down the hallway, waving over her shoulder "I guess I should keep my shoes tied then, for a quicker escape."

Ace smiled happily and chuckled as he opened the door to his apartment. Kate said "Ace." he looked over and she smiled at him from the doorframe, "I had a really good time." Ace smiled softly and said "Then maybe we can do it again sometime." She curled her lips gently "For sure." before closing the door to her apartment.

Ace looked at her door for a moment before smiling as he walked into his own, closing it behind him.

He tossed his jacket and keys to the side, saying "We're in, Bruce!" Bruce rolled over and grunted, Ace took off his shoes and stepped on him lightly, saying "Don't give me that, maybe things are looking up!"

Bruce purred angrily and Ace snorted "What do you know? You're just a stupid rabbit, honestly!" Bruce grunted and Ace shouted "No you! If I knew how to make Rabbit Stew, you'd be in big trouble, you know that?!"

Suddenly he stopped and looked at the table.

He walked over and picked up a Tarot card with an Eye on it. The front was Judgement!