We Are Robin // Riko Sheridan & Isabella Ortiz

In all her years of training and crime fighting, Cassandra had never felt this sore. Legs feeling like half-broken sticks, stomach aching and empty, throat parched, and eyes red from the lack of sleep. Aaron was doing marginally better. He was naturally gifted but he wasn't a Kryptonian. His stamina had its limits and he couldn't replenish it at the touch of the sunlight.

Head against the headboard of his bed with Cassandra laying on his chest, it was a nice moment he didn't want ripped apart. Neither of them felt like getting up to make something, so they instead ordered something from Luigi's Pizza. They were known for their authentic Napoli slices, which Aaron and Cassandra had both attested to the last time they had fucked. It revitalized them better than an energy drink.

The soles of her foot unintentionally rubbed his shaft. The pair shared a sigh. The emotion released was not of relief but of delight and possibilities. The day seemed bright and they were so cozy and comfortable.

Cassandra's stomach grumbled. Aaron snorted with laughter.

Twenty minutes later, there was somebody at the door. Aaron groaned and started to get up but Cassandra pushed him down, insinuating that she would do it.

"Wallet is in my jacket," Aaron yawned out. Cassandra sent him a thumbs-up and retrieved it from the jacket on the rack. The sultry air of the apartment prompted her to stretch an arm up. As she opened the door the pizza delivery man was in for one hell of a sight.

If there was one thing Cassandra sorely lacked at the most crucial moments, it was common sense. Sure, she wasn't an idiot but there was the rare occasion where everyday etiquette would slip past her mind. She yawned and didn't make much of a face as she handed the innocent pizza delivery man the money, all the while she was stark naked. B-cup breasts, pretty little cunt, signs of muscle and scars. The pizza guy was dumbfounded, his movements withdrawn, taking his time in taking out the three boxes. He wondered why the fuck this Chinese chick was standing there in the nude, aloof and sleepy.

"Err, here's your change."

The coins fell into the palm of her hand one-by-one. Cassandra yawned again. "Mm."

Then she shut the door.

The poor pizza man was left bewildered and dazed.

She carried the three extra large-sized boxes to the living room. Aaron was already there, arms in the air, stretching. The welcoming aroma of pizza quickly changed his tone, however.

After they ate, they managed to fit in two more rounds. The first was an enjoyable rutting where Aaron fucked her against the wall, where he thrusted up and up, higher and higher. Her toes refused to touch the floor as Aaron seized her sides and casually used her like a pussy sleeve.

"You feel so fucking good, Cass," Aaron grumbled. He wasn't going fast as he was winded from their repeated, nonstop days of sex. He heaved her up and down, his balls contracting from the heavy and tense sex.

Cassandra grunted and whined. Whenever he penetrated and attacked a particular zone, her voice would crack. When a climax came, her folds clamped down hard and his cock melted at the spot, needing to stay to grant her blissful release.

"Uungh...! Mmgh! Unh! Unh! Ooooh~!" Her drippy, squelching cunt coaxed him for another pleasant release. A rush of warm exhilaration that would grant her fulfilment. "Cum! Cum!"

Aaron gritted his teeth. As much as he wanted to assault her womb with his sperm, the imagery of the potential mess stayed his hand and his balls. In the past four days, he was able to train what dubbed his hypno cum to perfection. It was tough at the beginning but now he had a perfect handle on it. He just needed to clench his buttocks and the torrent of cum would stop. Simple as that. Of course, within all the heavenly intoxication, it wasn't an easy feat to do. Not to mention he had to do it without Cassandra's knowing, which was a difficult task in itself. Giving her the hypnotic suggestion to overlook his metahuman tendencies eventually solved his problems but, again, he felt terrible about it. He wanted to tell her but there was a chance the powers were temporary. Better to stay quiet than cause unnecessary worry.

"Let's do X marks the spot," Aaron suggested huskily. Cassandra peered over her shoulder and sported a thrilled smile.

The transition must have been odd to watch from an outside perspective. Rather than missionary or doggy or something basic, Cassandra climbed up his frame, crossed her legs around his waist, and kissed him. A minute passed where she bit his neck and caressed his back.

She climbed him again until her cunt was in his face. He kissed the inside of her thighs and teased her clit with his tongue. She moaned and grabbed his hair in ecstasy and want. Aaron went deeper.

"H-ha…!" Cassandra whined and her nails dug into his scalp. "W-wait!"

His dexterous tongue lapped at her for three more seconds before stopping. Her chest rose and fell, her eyes misty. He met her gaze with a smirk. She was so, so close to climaxing but…she didn't want it this way. She wanted his cock to do it. She wanted him to finish.

It was time.

Holding her ankles which were in a cross, her legs flat on his chest, her upper body upright and her hands needing to guide his cock inside. It was a quick, effortless L-shaped position that seemed impossible. An angle just barely reaching her entrance. Indeed, for a normal woman, support was needed for the back. A table, a bed, something. But Cassandra Cain? She could keep herself upright through sheer strength.

Once again, she was like a pussy sleeve. He pistoned in and out of her, to and fro, gazing down upon her expression–and vice-versa. They scanned their respective features, tightening or speeding up or pausing for the additional bits of pleasure.

She was bendable. Malleable. He wondered if this was what sex with yoga trainers was like.

Her walls twisted. He nearly stopped from the gorilla grip.

No, Cassandra was much better.

Her cute little smile was everything to him. To see her enjoy it as much as himself was just…revelling. Her narrow eyes blinked lovingly and her wet lips parted to create the most wonderful noise in the world.

A tight fit and a perfect point of view. Who could ask for something better?

"Cum," Cassandra ordered, panting heavily. She was desperate. She wanted him. Her cunt was stuffed and she wanted him! "Cum! Cum!"

Aaron refused to. Biting his cheek, he went faster and harder. He moved his hips and her legs and ass clapped against him. His thrusts became technical. The angles he reached were purposely geared to weaken her.

Cassandra fell into it. The pits of heavenly pleasure–the irresistible pull of his cock–she got addicted. She lost herself. Her eyes rolled back, her breasts bouncing, she reached cloud nine. "Aaaaron~!"

He grunted and fucked her harder. His grip on her ankles tightened. He wanted her to scream his name. He wanted her to cream herself–

"Haahn~♡! Haahn~♡! You're still–mmnggiiiihhhn~♡!"

And she did.

The floor was a mess.

Her upper body went limp from the tension and wild passions and she nearly fell into the puddle of her own making. With a quick, strong pull, he managed to save her from her fate and carried her to the sofa.

The weekend comfort fell over them and they cuddled together without much thought. Inevitably, due to their remarkably high libidos, one thing led to another and Cassandra started deepthroating him.

Aaron stroked the head bobbing up and down his cock. The television was on and describing the details behind the international organization, Leviathan, and Markovia, a country for metahumans. Not too long ago, the entire nation was bought out by the Leviathan Organization under Mark Shaw. The announcement was chilling as Mark Shaw went into detail about the state of the world, about the alleged corruption of the largest governments, and the fundamental problems with men like Lex Luthor and the US government in power. He illustrated the broad effects of their carelessness and the measures they took to maintain their positions in spite of their criminal acts.

According to Lois Lane, the reporter at the Daily Planet who exposed the organization and its leader, Leviathan allegedly had the means to combat the Justice League. They were dangerous, they were mysterious, and they were responsible for a murder of Lois' father, Sam Lane, Senator and former US Army General.

It was a massive deal. The whole situation had blown up on every social media and even at work it was a never ending topic.

"I hope you weren't involved in this," Aaron said, peering down at Cassandra. She deepthroated him to his base, throat tightening, then went back up.

She coughed, holding her throat, and shook her head. "No. Barbara and Batman, yes. Not me."

"That's good."

Naked on a Sunday morning, watching television, getting deepthroated by Gotham's very own Batgirl–who could ask for a better morning? Aaron certainly couldn't.

Work had been cancelled on Thursday and Friday as a result of the gas leak and neither of them had anything else to do. Therefore, they fucked nonstop. Just pure, unadulterated rutting. His apartment reeked of sweat, metal, and salt. He opened the window but the winter chill prevented him from letting it vent his living space for long.

He grabbed her ass and massaged it tenderly.

"They are connected to the League of Assassins," Cassandra suddenly said. She lay flat on her stomach, chin on his thigh and legs swinging in the air. She scanned his cock and traced the veins with her finger as if it was an experiment. His cock never, ever went down and she found it curious how infallible it was. "Tim told me yesterday that Talia Al Ghul isn't the leader of the League of Assassins anymore. It's Angel Breaker."

"I have no idea who that is," Aaron said.

"New villain. Trained by Black Canary and my mother. Wields Angel Breaker sword. She wanted me to train her. I refused."

"O-okay."

Her index finger began rubbing the underside of his mushroom head. "Talia works for the D.E.O. It was after she was arrested by them."

"That sounds…risky."

Cassandra's head shifted up and down on his thigh. Her legs fell down. "Mhm. Nobody told me until last week. It also means…" She breathed in and out. Steady but brimming with emotion. "...my mother. She leads the League of Shadows–"

"Which is different from the League of Assassins," Aaron cut in. She chuckled.

"Mhm. It is a splinter group. Once, it was under the control of Ra's al Ghul. Then, mother. Then, Talia al Ghul, then my mother again."

"Oh." Aaron blinked twice. "Oh. I see."

"Yes. My mother might be on our side." There was a shaky excitement in her tone. "She's working with my father and the Penguin because she has to. Because she needs to protect Gotham."

"The question is…from who?"

Cassandra sucked in a breath and glanced at the TV. "Leviathan."

"What even are they? I know they're a big deal and anti-capitalist but I don't think they've done anything world-ending. Their work consists of…what? Wanting to expose government secrets and corruption? It's not what I'd consider pure evil."

"We thought Talia al Ghul founded it. She wanted to mind-control all of Gotham and its children through the food supply. It was evil. It used to be evil. But then Mark Shaw said he, um." Her face scrunched up and struggled to find the word. "Orced…uh…um…"

"Orchestrated?" Aaron suggested kindly.

"Yes, that. Mark said he orcisted Talia's plans. He betrayed her and now all her assassins and resources are his."

He ignored her mispronunciation. "That's awfully complicated," Aaron mused aloud. "So what does Mark Shaw with the new Leviathan want?"

"World domination," Cassandra replied. She grimaced and her voice went hard and low. "The D.E.O., A.R.G.U.S., Checkmate, and Spyra. All were brainwashed by Leviathan. Only the D.E.O has escaped."

"Where Talia works," he supplied.

"Mm." Her tongue suddenly licked his shaft. A small taste as if she simply wanted the flavour for comfort. "Tim theorized that Leviathan wanted Penguin and my mother in their operations. They refused. Now, they are at odds."

'So that's why the Penguin was so scared. This powerful organization capable of buying out entire countries is after him.'

"I can't believe so much happens in Gotham without the people knowing," Aaron commented. "The League of Assassins is working with these Leviathan guys to take out the Penguin and assert their control over the Gotham underworld. Am I getting this right?"

Cassandra nodded. "Luke said they are doing this kind of stuff in Africa."

Aaron frowned. "Jeez."

"Yes. They are powerful. Discreet. Slow and meticulous and patient."

If a group this powerful was parading around Gotham, then that did not bode well for anyone. As if fate was warning him, a breaking headline flashed across the news. The fiery glare of Vicki Vale appeared and she stood in front of what seemed to be property wrapped in green.

"Yesterday night, at 11 p.m, We Are Robins engaged Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy right here, in this building. According to witnesses, the battle was one-sided and two of the Robins were gravely injured," Vicki announced, speaking into her mic with great passion. "Authorities have been attempting to contact the owner, to no avail. The building appeared to be housing dangerous goods, which exploded in the middle of the conflict."

Aaron stood up straight, his dick practically wilting and dropping to the leather of the sofa. The college students, the Robins, fought Harley and Ivy? Were they crazy? Nothing short of Batman and Nightwing could defeat them.

Worry struck him and he realized the Robins were way out of their league. He needed to tell them about this development, about Leviathan and this massive faction war as fast as he could. Intrigued by the sudden departure of his erection, Cassandra's hands stroked his flaccid dong. Head tipped on her arm, she silently asked if everything was alright.

Aaron exhaled weakly and replied, "Yeah, perfectly fine. I have to make a call though. Be right back."

He got up and headed to his room. He dialled in their number, which he burned into his mind, and pushed the call button. Then he waited. Ten seconds passed. It was an excruciating wait.

"Hello?" It was Shug-R, the comms girl. Aaron was immediately relieved.

"Hey," he greeted. "I saw what happened with Ivy and Harley. Are you guys alright?"

"Ivy and Harley?" Shug-R sounded perplexed. "What do you mean?"

"Well, they attacked you, or you attacked them. It's all over the news."

"No–wait, what?" Shug-R readjusted her speaker. "We didn't attack them. We were fighting WITH them."

Aaron did a double-take. "You…did?"

"Dax and Dre got hurt by this goth woman with a sword. Angel Breaker, she called herself. That was our enemy. That's who we fought against. Together, not as enemies." Shug-R let out a grated groan. "Don't tell me the media is telling lies again?"

"The Gotham Gazette is," Aaron admitted.

"And I thought they were decent. Oh well."

"I can hand you guys supplies if you need it," Aaron said.

"Stitches, bandages, casts, anything to do with medicine. Are you down for Crime Alley in about two hours?"

Aaron checked the time. Right now, the small hand was barely pointing to ten. "That's perfect."

"Okay." Shug-R breathed for a moment, silent. "And thank you. We could really use the help right now."

The call ended. His shoulder suddenly didn't seem to ache anymore.

He felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist from behind, naked flesh pressed to him and small beady nipples poking him. It was Cassandra, needy for his touch and smell. He twisted his torso, looked at her, and chuckled. He patted her head and said, "Let me guess: you want to Netflix and chill?"

Her head shifted against his back. Her nonverbal response added another small chuckle.

"I have things to do, unfortunately. Maybe when I come back?" Her head moved left and right and he could feel the frown kissing his back. No, she was saying. "Right, right, you have to go." He smacked his lips. "Then this is where we part ways for today, Cass."

Cassandra whined.

"Don't be like that," he said, laughing. "We'll see each other again, promise. Once our schedules line up, we can do this all over again. For now, we have to commit to our responsibilities. Okay?"

"Okay," Cassandra grumbled, still stubborn about it.

Smiling slyly, Aaron said in a slowed yet wise inflection, "Goodbye, old friend–"

"May the Force be with you," Cassandra muttered like a mantra. She had the script of the infamous prequel movies remembered like the back of her hand and her spirits were always lifted whenever he engaged in her little obsession. Right now, a smile started to curl up on her lips.

***

Going to Crime Alley at twelve wasn't all that bad. Actually, it felt safe, a term Aaron thought he'd never be using at a place literally called Crime Alley. The light gave it a sense of hope, of the potential to be better.

He saw the bright red costume of Rook and Robina beside her. They were silent, leaning on the alleyway walls, and a moody atmosphere hanging around them. Carrying a black duffel bag stuffed with medical supplies, he came over and gave a wave.

"Hey, you two," Aaron greeted. Their gazes drifted to him and he could see the bags under their eyes. "You look exhausted."

"Thanks," Robina muttered, taking the bag. It was heavy and she needed to heave it onto her shoulder. "We owe you."

"No problem." Aaron was prepared to leave right then and there. However, their crestfallen expressions urged him to stay.

"Are you doing anything?" Rook asked slowly. "We need extra hands."

"Rook," Robina called out, exasperated. "We can't–"

"I'm available, yes. I took a course in nursing once and a couple biology classes." Years ago–actually, even now, hospitals lacked male nurses, to the point where male-oriented classes in university were offered. And since the pay for the job was high, well, Aaron had once thought about getting into it. If he hadn't been accepted by Wayne Technologies early, he might have gone into nursing. "Maybe I can help."

"And risk taking you to our base?" Robina said, brows furrowed. Rook elbowed her side and made a face. Sparks flew as they silently conversed and debated. The red woman's face fell and she nudged at Aaron. Robina frowned and shook her head. Rook gestured to her waist. A flash of pain waved over Robina's face and she sighed in defeat. "Fine. Fine. Help us, please."

The journey was long and silent. He and Rook exchanged a few pleasantries but other than that the atmosphere was tense and rapidly oppressive. Aaron felt like he had intruded in a situation that should not have been his business. The feeling grew as he entered their base: a small, empty warehouse in Cherry Hills, located at the ends of Gotham, facing a sea of water. Robina punched in a code and the wide gates opened automatically.

It was just as massive as he thought it would be. Grey and black, and gleamed by a dozen strips of LED industrial lights. There were tables and boxes on the floor and weapons attached to the walls. There were two floors and a staircase directly at the centre leading to the upper portion.

"This looks amazing," Aaron complimented, neck turned in every direction. "It must have taken some time to build. Not too fancy or expensive. It's just right."

"Signal helped make most of it," Robina responded quietly. "Before he abandoned us, he made this place."

'The Signal? Duke Thomas?'

Aaron didn't want to press the issue further, so he didn't. They climbed the stairs and reached the second platform. At the back, mannequins locked inside a large glass window tube. Six of them. In other words, six vigilantes.

To the left was a computer and a large chair. He detected the heat inside the chair but didn't comment. The computer screen was blipping and making noise. If that was who he thought it was, then they were likely busy.

In the middle were two occupied hospital beds. For a warehouse so far away from the hospital, it was up to standards, having an IV stand and a heart monitor. But he sensed it was incomplete. As he approached the figures inside and caught the scent of blood, it dawned on him on how poorly equipped they were.

Alt, the lanky guy in red, was struggling to breath. A terrible wound was clogged by a piece of cloth but it wasn't enough. He was in pain. Awful, awful pain.

Aaron exhaled and immediately got to work. "Can any of you stitch?"

"I can, sort of," Rook responded, stepping up next to him. "I tried to stitch his wound before though. It…it didn't really work."

Aaron lifted Alt's black flap, revealing the nasty wound. It wasn't a gaping hole, thankfully, but very irregular in shape. Like somebody had stabbed him, twisted the blade, then let acid melt the edges.

"Stab wound by a superpowered sword?"

"Y-yeah." Rook was taken aback from his dead-on guess. "The lady surprised us and took Dax–I mean, Alt down first."

'Dax is his name?' Aaron gave her a sidelong glance, seeing her fret over her stammer. 'These guys are slipping. They won't be helpful to anyone if they die.'

The second patient was somebody he didn't recognize. It was a male, tall and buffy and handsome, and very much unconscious. He didn't have any visible injuries. Judging by the lump on his head, he was suffering from a concussion or some sort of brain injury.

"How long have they been like this?" Aaron asked.

"Err…"

"Seventeen hours now." The voice was familiar but not from Rook or Robina. It was Shug-R, yelling from her little computer station. She spun around in her chair and exposed a dusky face streaming with tears and exhaustion. She rubbed her eyes and put on a pair of glasses. "Can you save them? We tried but…we can't do anything. We scoured the internet but we don't have the skills. I'm a computer person and Robina and Rook are fighters. We're not medics."

Her hands were shaking on her lap. Shug-R was absolutely correct, she would never be able to do medicine with nerves that weak.

"Will they survive?" Rook added, the atmosphere changing, heating up.

"Duke–the Signal, he hasn't been picking up any of our calls." Robina sounded annoyed, exasperated, and afraid. A bundle of unbridled emotion. "He's been ignoring us for almost two months. We…we don't have anyone to turn to."

"The hospital won't help us." Shug-R, the one in the chair, the one who was supposed to keep her composure, was starting to lose it. "The Anti-Robin Law is still in effect, they'll know. They'll know!"

'Not like I have a choice. You three look like you're about to collapse any second.'

"Pass me gloves, scissors, and sutures." Aaron spoke with authority and the utmost urgency. Then, sensing their confusion, added, "Sutures mean stitches."

It took a long, long time for them to be in stable condition. Alt–or Daxton Chill as he was really named–was the toughest to treat. The Angel Breaker blade must have been imbued with magic because it took a while before the metal could penetrate his flesh. The red vigilante was stubborn and must have been a metahuman because he refused to die. He refused to fade away, for his heart to stop.

Andre Cipriani; codename Dre, was beyond his ability. He was warm and his heart was steady, but no matter the medical procedure he just wouldn't wake up. The single semester of nursing classes he took wasn't enough to figure out the root of the problem. Put simply, they had to wait. Wait, wait, wait, till he hopefully opened his eyes.

He checked his phone. Nearly twelve hours had passed. He let out a bleary sigh. 'Now I remember why I didn't want to go into nursing. This shit is tiring.'

Relaxing on the floor and leaning on a wooden crate, Aaron observed the two young ladies in his presence. Robina and Rook. There was history between the two of them. Conflict. Sparks of aggression and hate.

'I wonder what this is all about…?'

Robina swallowed and placed a hand to her heart. "My name is Izabella Ortiz, but call me Izzy. I'm also Robina and Duke Thomas' girlfriend. Thank you for saving Dax and Andre."

Again, he sensed disagreement between her and Rook. However, after a few glares, the blue-haired woman inhaled through her nose and added, "The name's Riko Sheridan."

"It's nice to meet you two. I'm Aaron."

"We know," Izzy said, huffing. "Why did you help us anyway?"

"Because you asked?"

His response seemed to surprise them. Again, Aaron didn't understand what was so complicated about helping people. Superman didn't go save the world because he was being paid; he did it because he was a good guy.

"Does the Nest not help you guys?"

Riko shifted. Her posture was upright and exuded unease. "How do you know about that?"

"Because Shug-R kept mentioning it during the Iceberg Lounge mission and even a few hours ago. She was talking to the Nest, right?"

Riko and Izzy shuffled next to one another and exchanged glances. Finally, Izzy sighed and said, "Yeah, well…the last time we received a transmission was right after the Iceberg mission. Right now, Shug-R is attempting to contact Duke and the Nest but nothing so far."

"Are the Bat Family in danger?"

Izzy bit her lip. "Maybe."

"Or they could be ignoring us," Riko said, a comment which immediately garnered a hateful glare from Izzy.

"Would you please just shut up, Riko."

A snort. "They abandoned us before and I'm sure they would do it again."

"They did not–"

"Alright, relax." Aaron teleported in between them and held them back by the shoulder. "We have two injured men upstairs. Let's try not to wake them by arguing."

Riko softened and Izzy lowered her fist. The Robina had the stereotypical Latina temper, quick to use her fists when tempted.

"Trust me, Aaron. Batman Incorporated isn't as good as you think it is." Riko's declaration drew intrigue and confusion. He released her shoulder and let her continue. "During the Robin War, when We Are Robin was at its peak, we fought the Court of Owls."

"I remember," Aaron said. "It was all over the news."

Her eyes and lips went flat with thinly hidden rage. "What they don't tell you is what happened afterwards. We were trained by the original Robins, the main four. It was brief but it meant everything to us. And then they told us to stop. Just…after the fight, after all the loss, we were told to stop." Riko scowled, her bottled up frustration and fury flowing through her words. "Dre almost died of depression and drug overdose because he couldn't fight crime. He ended up in Arkham Juvie with Shug-R and all the other former Robins who weren't sanctioned by Batman's brand. Me and Dax barely escaped."

"And then you decided to work for Xavier Pearl and XP industries," Izzy added spitefully. "You guys turned from vigilantes to mercenaries. You nearly killed Duke!"

"Because we had no choice!"

"You could have just talked to us!"

Riko was glowing blue, a sign of metahuman energy. This was not good–

"We did!" Riko snarled. "You just said you had better things to do!"

Aaron was the only thing stopping them from fighting. He stood his ground, hands pulling their weight down, making sure they wouldn't swing at each other or godforbid throw their superpowers around. It was a tiring job. Listening to them yell and vent and relentlessly attack one another wasn't fun. For him, a stranger, it was like spectating a sibling fight.

"Okay, okay." He extended his arms fully, pushing them apart far enough to stop the engagement. "I get it. You're angry." He stopped to think. "Let's just go."

"Go where?" they said in sync. Immediately, animosity brewed but Aaron spoke before it combusted. Thank god for it–they were shooting daggers at each other and he was sure if they were holding any they would have thrown them without blinking.

"To O'Malley's for drinks." He looked at them hard, grey eyes freezing them in place. "You are over eighteen, right?"

"I'm twenty-two, she's twenty-one," Izzy remarked, sounding offended.

"What about Dax and Dre?" Riko's blue hair flipped as her head gestured at the upper level. "We can't just leave them–"

"Shug-R is already keeping watch over them," Aaron replied. "Now come on. Let's go."

***

O'Malley's was a humble place generally reserved for the GCPD. With the cops littered everywhere, the two ladies needed to switch to their civilian outfits. Everything was casual and amicable at first. The bartender was kind and understanding and suggested their professional opinion on what to get, while Aaron offered to pay. He wasn't a heavy drinker but the people around him constantly used it as relief and in the rare time he joined them he found himself half-agreeing. He thought he could do the same for Riko and Izzy and be that anchor of support.

Ten minutes in and Aaron came to understand that the young ladies were wholly unequipped to drink in heavy amounts. They ordered bottle after bottle without any regard to their health or the cost, very much reminiscent of college students thinking they were invincible and drinking away their sorrows, which was exactly what they were. College students. Aaron assumed that with vigilantism they would possess a higher level of maturity and life experience. He assumed they would be like him, cautious and careful and measured.

Nope.

"Maybe the squirt was right. Maybe we aren't cut out for this shit," Izzy muttered. Aaron swiped a few glances, making sure nobody was listening. The squirt whom she was referring to, who hampered her confidence, was none other than Damian Wayne, the current Robin. He was cranky yet powerful, someone whose words carried great weight despite his youth.

"I even had Xander fucking Pearls hit us up with powers." Riko went high, then down low. "Fuck…all that for nothing. Couldn't even beat Duke."

Cops loitered the shop yet none of them paid a modicum of attention to them. They likely chalked up the girls as sputtering nonsense. The talks of women overdosing on alcohol and making grand delusions. That was fine by Aaron. It was better than getting caught. Regardless, he didn't want to stick around for the inevitable questioning. Their cheeks flushed and weights feeling like a sack of potatoes, Aaron dragged them into a taxi. The night sky was upon them and he didn't want to risk falling into the shadows of the streets. The safest method of transportation was by car.

He told the driver his address and off they went. He couldn't drop them off at their homes because he had no idea where they lived while a motel would just be improper.

"I hope those girls are alright," the driver said, looking at him through his mirror. "Are you dropping them home?"

"We live together," Aaron lied, wanting to avoid suspicion. "They're my cousins."

'I'm pasty white and they're clearly not but Gotham is a semi-diverse place so hopefully the driver doesn't grow suspicious…'

"Ohh, I see." The driver relaxed. That was good. If he had grown overly suspicious and called the police, then their whole operation could have been blown. This was why it was vital to remain anonymous, to constantly keep his cool. While some folk, like the driver, were decent and well-meaning people, most of Gotham wasn't. They were mean, manipulative, and unforgiving.

Unexpectedly, the ride went smoothly. No traffic or robbery in sight. Perfect. He relaxed and allowed the female heaps to cuddle up to him. His apartment soon came into view. He thought it was over.

The faux Robins nearly slipped and fell as he swiped them inside but otherwise the two ladies were fine. Very lively and talkative, for sure, but fine.

"Woo!" Izzy's arm was draped over his shoulder, her breath of alcohol aimed at his lips. "I can't believe we made it! Thanks for helping us, amigo."

A soft laugh came from Riko who was skipping beside him. "It was quite an adventure. Gracias for your assistance, my friend."

'Why is the Japanese girl speaking Spanish? Whatever. I don't care and neither does anyone else.'

They danced up the elevator and continued to make slurred comments. Aaron should have expected something to happen. He really, really should have, especially when he felt a hand paw at his waist. Unfortunately, even he was feeling the effects of the ethanol and his deductive mind was deeply hampered as a result. He chalked up the cuddling and clumsy tugs to his belt as coincidence rather than lust or desire.

"Finally." Aaron searched for his keys and hurriedly opened the door.

He dropped the lagging girls on his bed, left to grab a bottle of water from the fridge, and when he returned…

"Aaron~♡!"

….he was pounced on like a piece of meat.

"Huh–"

Pain spilled from his bottom lip as Riko bit and kissed him. A hand touched his thighs, unbuckling his pants and pulling them down. Riko and Izzy were madly addicted to him, bodies close enough to cause sparks of arousal for him too. Lacy panties and bras, warm and flushed, and before he knew it his semi-hard member sprang out.

Izzy, on her knees and instrumenting his lower body, stared in awe. Her tongue rolled around her mouth, watering. "That is a fucking monster."

The comment ripped Riko away from his lips and she glanced down with startling surprise. She didn't say anything but her face switched to shock and amazement. His meat which seemed to hang ten inches down and looked thick enough to destroy her needy cunt. It was as though their drunken haze momentarily snapped.

Aaron grasped their weakness and crashed his lips against Riko's, pulling her by the waist on one side. With his free hand, he held up his cock and slapped Izzy's chin with it. A wake-up call to tell her to suck it. With tentative hands, Izzy did, her hands stroking the large schlong.

Aaron's hands eventually groped Riko's ass. Firm and muscled, similar to Cassandra's, and a perfect fit. There was a groan as their tongues tangled.

"You like that?" he asked. In his drunken haze, his arousal spiked and he spanked her. Another squeal came from her lips and another chance for him to take over the kiss. Riko tasted like whisky, a fruity, creamy and buttery aroma. He drank her up like he would a lowball glass.

Izzy worked hard as her fingers stroked his veins and witnessed his dick rise and pulsate. The mighty slab of beige meat gained size and weight till it was stiff. Her eyes glowed with admiration and disbelief. Reverence and anticipation.

They took to the bed, kissing and groping and exchanging fluids all the while. Clothes strewn on the floor as they tossed and yanked their meagre garments. Aaron lay on his back, hands cupping bare ass cheeks, two women on top of him vying for his attention and love.

"Look this way–"

"Fuck, you taste so good–"

"Your cock is throbbing…"

He could barely identify their voices through the mist of lust. His fingers sank into their booties further, without restraint. He heard moans and felt tongues invading and prodding his inner cheeks. Digits tempting his nipples and chest, stroking his shaft.

To his left was Isabella Ortiz: permed hair hanging down her shoulders, a dark brown complexion, rouge lips, and a lithe body type. Then to his right was Riko Sheridan: bright blue hair laying on her shoulder, light skin, and a toned figure.

There was a shift and the two of them pulled back before the towering shape of his erection. Izzy on the left side and Riko to the right, they began licking bottom-to-top. It was an agonising sensation and one he had never felt before. Head resting on his bed's backboard, fists clenching, he enjoyed the feeling of a double-team. A double blowjob.

His thoughts devolved into curses and mindless exhilaration. 'Fuuuck. Fucking hell…'

Izzy was the experienced of the pair and took the lead, giving his glans the attention it deserved. Swirling and breathing on the ridge of the flaring head, managing to glide across those sensitive zones. Riko wasn't bad either, displaying a level of talent and adaptation that was only surpassed by Cassandra. For a moment, he wondered if Asian chicks had a natural inclination to blowjobs, before crushing the prudishly impulsive stereotype.

Aaron let out small groans which only seemed to encourage them. They switched areas, Izzy focusing on his veins and shaft while Riko went for the glans. Again, there was a gap in experience and skill that seemed to shrink with every passing minute. Izzy was faster and more knowledgeable. When she saw a thick, girthy veiny, her soft tongue struck it meaningfully.

Riko, meanwhile, was gentler and her ability to swirl and move her tongue less flexible. However, she did something Izzy didn't dare, which was fiddle with his cumhole. She lapped up any potential pre-cum before it could exit. She was passionate and observant and when his fat cock throbbed she would immediately tease the small hole.

"You're amazing, Riko," Aaron ended up muttering.

Izzy took offence to that. She went lower, to his scrotum, and lathered it in her saliva. She licked and tasted his lazing ballsack, making sure he would feel every small dab of her tongue. The tiny wrinkles and the space in between, all captured and touched by a wet warmth.

Minutes passed. Groans echoed. His knuckles nearly turned white. All because a Japanese-American and Puerto-Rican-American shamelessly grinded up against some white cock as if it was the centre of their world.

"You two are doing great."

His compliments spurred them on. Faster strokes, thicker saliva. Tongues skimming his glans in a coordinated attack of stimulation, tracing the outer shape then the inner. It was astonishing and gratifying and Aaron could feel himself edge closer and closer to release. His heavy balls clenching, his girthy member throbbing.

"You seem like you're close," Izzy commented.

"Do you want to let loose?"

'These college girls are getting cocky.' A small smile appeared on his face. 'I guess I'll allow it for now.'

Aaron groaned and his balls unleashed their contents. Thick wads of cum spat on their faces and the two of them worked together to plug the barrage of streaks. First Riko, then Izzy, gobbling down his sperm delightfully. It wasn't a long climax as the rush of excitement came and went in roughly twenty seconds, yet the damage had been done. His superpower, his hypnosis had settled in, and the pairs of eyes staring back at him folded into the void–into his control.

They were frozen in place, consciousness gone, and Aaron smiled to himself.

'Mind control: success.'

He adjusted himself to face them properly. "Alright. When I snap my fingers and say, 'Gotham's Reigner', you will snap out of control. When I say it again, you will be re-hypnotized. Understood?"

They nodded. It was time for the test.

There was a snap and the ensuing command, "Gotham's Reigner."

Life returned to their eyes. Izzy and Riko stared back at him, trails of cum slipping down their chins, smiling seductively, not understanding they were in the middle of an experiment.

He repeated his actions. A snap and, "Gotham's Reigner," to click them back into his control. The cloud of control surfaced into their pupils.

"Nice." Aaron stretched his arms, feeling quite good about himself. "Alright, alright. When you guys return to your normal state, I want no more arguing. You can think it and say it in a calm, collected tone, but no yelling." There was a second where he was deep in thought. "Also, are you two keeping any secrets from me?"

"No, Master," Izzy and Riko responded in sync. Aaron frowned.

"Even regarding the stuff with Ivy and Harley?"

"No secrets, Master."

Such synergy. If only they acted this way when they weren't under his control.

"Why were you there then?" Aaron asked.

"Local kids reported to Shug-R that they saw Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn," Riko explained. "We went to check and found a common enemy."

Her voice was monotone, as if she hadn't experienced the most traumatic event of her life.

"Alright then." Snap. "Gotham's Reigner."

Aaron was too sympathetic to fuck them while they were hypnotized. He enjoyed bringing pleasure to women; it wasn't just a one-sided affair for him. Every party needed to be satisfied and he was going to do just that. Seeing life return to their eyes gave him a rush and he stood on his knees filled with overwhelming dominance.

"Bend over."

This was no hypnosis. This was sheer manly charisma coped together with a big dick. Riko and Izzy did as they were told with an electrifying shudder. Their booties weren't fat like Tanya and Vicki or firm like Cassandra's. They were somewhere in the middle, what he assumed was an ordinary woman with a nice pair of hips, muscle, and fat. Riko was a little leaner, a little stronger and firmer, due to her more aggressive vigilantism. Regardless, both were fantastic in their own rights and his member throbbed with excitement.

"Fuck me," Riko begged, wagging her hips left and right.

"No, no, me!" Izzy cut in, doing the same. On their knees, it was a spectacular show of submission. "Duke hasn't fucked me in forever. It's not fair!"

"I haven't had a guy in me since high school," Riko hissed. There was a flicker of surprise on her face. She had likely intended to yell but couldn't find the vocal cords to do it.

Before she could think deeply on it, Aaron plunged into her. There was a gasp and a moan, and the sound of tight cunt splashing. Aaron went deeper and deeper and deeper till he hit the end. Riko whined and groaned as her pussylips stretched and her cunt weeped with its fluids. A drawn gasp escaped her lips as a minor orgasm flashed her mind; vision going white, arms and legs weakening.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

He proceeded to fuck her nice and slow. Not too hard or too fast, taking his time as if on a leisurely walk. Izzy pouted and came behind him, stealing kisses. His hands gripping Riko's rear while his head was turned and busy eating Izzy wasn't a challenge for Aaron. The stimulation provided him plenty of encouragement for the double-task.

Riko's jaw fell further and further and strings of saliva dripped down. Heaving, slipping in and out from the explosion of elation ramming her cunt.

"Fuckfuckfuck! Fuuuck~! You're too fucking deep! I'm already there! I'm already–" Riko wailed. She was totally defenceless to her own pleasure. The faster he went, the more of her sanity she lost and deeper into the rabbit hole she went. "So good! So good! Oh god! Oh god! Oh my god! My…shit! Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod!"

Shrieks, orgasms, and moans, in that order. That was Riko's experience. She would never forget for as long as she lived. She would forever remember the day she was fucked silly by a BWC. It was carved into her memories and in the walls of her cunt.

Whilst drowning in her words, Aaron let go of one cheek and used it to grope Izzy. Manhandling two college girls was easy. The blue-haired vigilante slammed her hips against his pelvis, taking in the entirety of his cock over and over again. The wet slopping sounds of flesh as he pummelled her womb.

"Take it!" Aaron announced, shoving his cock right up against her. There was a gasp and a moan and Aaron dumped his load inside her. Milky, thick, and virile enough to impregnate a dozen women, he took his sweet time relieving himself. The soft sensation tingling his mind, the addicting pulsing of his cock, and the clenching pussy enveloping it.

His wet, sleek cock pulled out like a train. Seriously, her hole was gaping and struggling to close. Orgasms and a high like none either shook her soul. Even without the hot presence of his member, she could taste it. She could feel it. She came one last time and her world faded from her eyes. With Riko down and unconscious, her eyes rolled back and her body flat on the bed, it was time to focus on Izzy.

The whore was taken. Happily dating Duke Thomas, or so it appeared. The way she was making out with Aaron, it was clear their relationship was anything but happy. She much preferred his dexterous tongue.

"Fucking hell," Izzy said, laughing. Their lips connected again. Their tongues tugged and played. "Mmmm…! You taste, hah–ay, qué rico!" Groping her ass cheeks was bold but welcomed. She came closer to him and deepened the kiss. Her arousal spiked. Drips of her lewd juices could be heard.

She decided it was time. Izzy's caramel heart-shaped ass appeared in front of him, directly beside the Japanese woman's fallen, creampied figure. Izzy winked at him and spread her cunt with her hands.

"Show Duke what he's missing," Izzy taunted, grinning while spreading her pussy for him. She was secreting enough fluids for a smooth entry, the sides of her thighs wet. Aaron licked his lips.

"With pleasure."

After months of no sex, Izzy couldn't wait. Feeling the molten warmth of his member on her clit, she moaned. Inside, she was soaked. Aaron ventured inside her, massive cock spreading her widely, and he heard her shrieking.

"S-shit! You're so…big!" Gasp and a little bit of spit flung onto the bed. Her emotions were indescribable. "You're…holy…fuck…still…spreading…deepening…! Unh! Mmph! Ooh~! Fuck!"

Aaron had gone particularly slow with Izzy yet she was reacting as though he was ramming inside her. 'I've only put in four inches…' Her boyfriend's couldn't be that small, right? It must have been the thickness. Women tended to lose their sense of size whenever they encountered significant girth.

"It's so fucking biiiig~! Oh godddd~! Ah! Oh! Ohh~!" Izzy hugged a pillow tightly as her cunt experienced the drilling of the lifetime. Inch after inch disappeared and experienced the tightening of a young, eager cunt. Aaron wondered just how busy Duke was to want to miss this.

Over half of his cock slid inside. A solid, girthy eight inches before he bumped against an impenetrable wall. Aaron frowned, having found this same problem with the detective whores. He heard a tinge of pain within Izzy's cries of pleasure, so he decided not to press it further.

Aaron moved. Back and forth, back and forth, never being able to clap his pelvis up her rear but still managing to bring her orgasms. It was nonstop. Repeating. Every minor thrust brought a tremor and an egregious moan.

"Fuck! Fuck! You're so much fucking bigger than–"

Izzy cut herself off as another wave of pleasure overtook her. Her arms shook. Her legs collapsed and recovered.

"Fuuuuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Son a whore!" An orgasm. A scream. A moan. A sound that balanced between both. "Está muy chingón! ¡Me la estoy pasando a toda madre! Qué chingón! Aaarooon~♡!"

The latina squirmed under his white cock relentlessly. Always trying to move and go deeper but never being able to do so. She was a small woman, sure, and didn't possess the stereotypical curves of a latina, but she certainly had the enthusiasm of one. She wasn't just eager, she was skilled.

Her hips, despite never meeting his pelvis, managed to create a fast-paced rhythm. Taking as much cock as she could without hurting herself, maximizing how much he rubbed her sensitive zones. Her womb, her clit, his white rod was girthy enough to massage all that and more.

"Duke–Duke–! Fuck! If only you were here to watch! This is how a real man fucks!"

Aaron pitied the young man. From the little he knew of him, he was a well-meaning, smart, and strong superhero who simply didn't have time for his girlfriend.

Oh well.

"So your boyfriend never fucked you like this?" Aaron asked, voice rising and cock blurring in and out. There was a long gasp before she answered.

"Neeever!"

"Why not!?"

"His cock–" An orgasm. A breath. An admission. "His cock could never reach this deeep~!"

Aaron's white cock made quite the picture with her brown complexion. Her permed hair bounced around her shoulders–he would have grabbed them if not for the distance.

He creampied her without mercy, without warning. Izzy's mouth went wide as her insides were suddenly filled by a warm, viscous sensation. Ropes upon ropes of sperm making their way inside her womb, fulfilling its instinctual desires–its fundamental function: to breed and fuck a bitch. Her mind went white and her vision felt distorted. Overwhelmed, her body went limp.

"Ooooh~!"

It was sound stemming from the root of her vocal cords. A cry of exhilaration, delirium, desperation, and want.

"You like it?"

Her lungs refilled themselves to the brim before answering.

"Yeeeeeeees~!"

Aaron kept cumming and cumming till he knew she was out of commision. Drawing his cock out was, again, a difficult task as her cunt kept tugging on him, never wanting his primal dong to leave. Alas, he had no choice. He watched the waterfall of white sperm fall.

"...Ha sido el mejor sexo de mi vida…" Izzy's mutters were incomprehensible to him but he understood the gist of it. He was the best she ever had. Of course he was. The biggest dick in Gotham, super cum, and an inquisitive personality built for sex? Her boyfriend couldn't compete. No way.

He heard a few extra groans and murmurs but eventually there was peace.

He swerved around and slapped his cock onto Riko's lips. The blue-haired woman was regaining her sensibility, it seemed, and there were still leaks of cum needing to be cleaned. Given her natural talent, she needed to be trained on how to properly clean a dick.

***

Night till morning, he fucked them. Cunnilingus, a little anal, but mostly just raw love taps to the womb and creampies. Aaron took it easy on them, fucking them enough so they could still move. Their legs would be sore and they would need two or three days to fully recover, but that was the payment for Aaron's service.

Izzy and Riko, permed black hair and short blue hair, lay splattered on his bed. Aaron came out of the shower and dried himself off with a towel. He threw on a pair of shorts and a cheap t-shirt. He wanted to relax and cook some breakfast, whipping up spicy tuna avocado wrap in a flash of eight minutes.

He called his workplace and let them know he wouldn't be here. His supervisor was instantly alarmed and begged for an explanation as he needed all hands on deck. Aaron cited a family emergency regarding his sister. He didn't have a sister but he kept to himself so much that he doubted anybody could contest that. His supervisor begrudgingly let him off the hook and asked when he would come again.

"Maybe tomorrow, sir. Right now, my sister is in critical condition."

"Alright, Aaron. Keep me updated. Let me know when she's feeling well." It was a courteous statement stemming from his role as his boss. Still, Aaron did appreciate the tinge of genuine concern in his voice. "You haven't used your three emergency days yet, so you should be fine until Wednesday. But do you think you'll be able to come to the event?"

"Event?" Aaron repeated, as it dawned on him. "Oh. The Foxes' party."

"Yes, Tanya Fox's charity event. I don't blame you for forgetting given your circumstances but–" His supervisor sighed. "I could really use you. We need everybody there to make the manager look good."

Ah, yes. The General Manager of the building. The head honcho who the lead heads of the divisions reported to. He was an ambitious asshole whose desire to climb the company's ladder superseded his compassion and human decency. The only reason why he was the manager was because he brought results. With Aaron's division, which was among the best in the building, he probably hoped to appeal to Lucius Fox. their esteemed CEO. Perhaps increase their annual budget or authorize a project of his.

"I'll try my best, sir."

"I need more than that," his supervisor said, voice cracking. He let out a garbled noise and his tone went flat and casual. "Look, man. Iman Avesta. Wayne Enterprises' Director of Human Resources and Analytics? You know, a big wiz of our father company? She asked for your number. She wanted YOU as her date. So please. Please, please, please! Accept it! I know your sister is in the hospital but…I-I-I have kids! And a wife! I can't afford another pay cut!"

All of a sudden, Aaron felt bad for lying. This man was desperate for his presence. Oddly enough, he wasn't too surprised about Iman's desire to take him on as her date partner. Knowing her, she didn't have anyone else to turn to besides an old university friend like Aaron.

"If you need it that badly, then sure." Aaron made sure to wear a smile as he said into the phone, "I'll be there."

"Thanks! Thank you! Aaron Reigner, you won't regret this!"

The call ended right then and there. Aaron snorted. His supervisor wasn't a bad man, just a regular family guy in Gotham trying to get by. He could relate. Before meeting Cassandra, his life had been dull.

He sat at his small dining table and was about to check the girls in his room before hearing a knock on the door. Sighing, he got up and opened the door.

It was a short-haired blonde, hands twisted in front of her, nervous but looking young and peppery. A college student in all likelihood.

"Uhh, hi! I'm Claire!" she said, high-pitched.

'Yep, definitely a college student.'

Aaron softened. He was an anti-social and rigid man but when it came to college students and the youth he was as gentle as a fly (or at least he tried to be).

"Hi, Claire." He wore a pleasant smile. "Is something wrong?"

"Well, not exactly wrong, but, uh…well…I live under you–I'm your neighbour and I'm about to head to college and I have exams so…could you…keep it down…?"

Blushing and squirming, the blonde barely managed to get the words out. An embarrassing confession for sure but there was something to her that didn't sit well with Aaron.

He smiled still. "My bad. I didn't think the walls were so thin."

"They're not," Claire clarified, a little loud, "I have sensitive ears…is all…"

She was blushing from her neck to her ears, light complexion shading into a light red. She fiddled with the ends of her blue plaid shirt.

The smell of his shampoo must have affected her because he had never seen a woman act so flustered around him.

There was a nagging feeling in the back of his head. A sixth sense of sorts. It was identical to the warm feeling during his encounter with White Rabbit at the Iceberg Lounge.

'Is she lying?'

No, that couldn't be. Her eyes were wide and honest. He couldn't see a smidge of negativity in those blue orbs of hers.

"Err…you're making breakfast?"

Her question broke him from his thoughts.

"Yes, well, I just made it." Aaron peered down at her. Messy golden locks, slacks looking weeks unwashed, and an anxiety-inducing smile. A typical college student. "You want to come in?"

Claire waved her hands out in front of her. "Oh, no. I couldn't possibly…"

"I don't mind."

"But your guests." Her eyes flickered behind him and a strange redness glowed within. It was only there for an instant, perhaps less so, and Aaron thought for a moment that he imagined it. "You have people inside, right? Er…they, uh…women…" she mumbled off into obscurity.

There were two creampied women in his room, yes, but she didn't know that…right?

Aaron looked at her again. The odd sensation returned but he could find nothing within the girl. No malicious intent. No hostile or bitterness, only pure anxiety.

The small spark of red erupted again. He certainly wasn't imagining it. Balancing a straight and honest face while deducing this mystery was difficult.

"It's no problem. Next time, I'll remember to quiet down."

Aaron smiled, slightly cheeky. She burst into flames, somehow more embarrassed than he was.

"Um, ah…I guess…" Claire gathered up the heaps of courage she had left and said, "I saw someone in the dumpsters last night. Um, be careful…sir."

"I will."

He slowly closed the door and waved her goodbye while the blonde lifted a weak hand in a half-baked response and protest.

'Welp. I guess I'll have to keep a gag around.'

He returned to his room and was met with groans and yawns. Riko and Izzy were up but not ready. Blank stare. Aaron was fed up. At home, he desired complete control, including how long a guest stayed or how long they would use the bathroom. Cassandra was a half exception to the rule. He granted her permission to slip in and out of his house as she pleased but there were still firm rules to follow.

He snapped his fingers and said, "Gotham's Reigner."

Immediately, their demeanours became stiff. Their eyes drowsy and filled with raw emotion. The hypnosis had taken hold but due to their weak bodies it was losing its influence.

"Master," they called out.

"Pull yourselves together," Aaron commanded. "Take a shower and brush your teeth. I have spares in the cabinets. Use them. I already washed your clothes too. Come back to me in twenty minutes. Understood?"

"Understood, Master."

Like obedient servants, they hopped off the bed, naked, and headed into the bathroom just across. The running water of the sink and the shower turned on. Relieved, Aaron went back to the kitchen area where he waited. Twenty minutes passed and the pair finally arrived.

His hypnosis power was very intuitive. He could give vague instructions and his servant would carry it out exactly as he envisioned it, as though they had a telekinetic link to bridge whatever gaps, questions, or interruptions they had.

"Whatever you guys did should flow properly into your memory banks and it won't be considered weird," Aaron ordered before snapping his fingers and announcing, "Gotham's Reigner."

There was a shift and the two sat down rather awkwardly. In the back of Izzy's subconscious was Duke Thomas, her boyfriend, who she had unabashedly cheated on. Aaron's commands, however, told her to keep her lips and mind sealed. Don't mention it, don't speak of it, and don't acknowledge it.

As for Riko, she resumed her mini-conflict with Izzy. Although Aaron had strictly said not to yell or argue, that didn't mean she couldn't glare or act demeaning.

"Wow." Izzy blinked. The kitchen suddenly brightened as a similar expression spread across Riko. Pure amazement and a craving appetite. The Japanese girl dug in eagerly while Izzy took the time to compliment his work. "I'm not the biggest fan of carrots and tuna but holy fuck this is good."

"Thank you."

"What did you put in this?" Izzy asked, taking a small bite to savour the wrap. There was spice and the slightly sweet, buttery and nuttyness of the avocado. A blend that perhaps should not have worked but did under Aaron's guise. "My mom runs a crappy diner but even I have to admit the food is great. But this? This is miles better."

"You're exaggerating," Aaron replied, smiling.

"I'm not." Izzy gulped down another bite. "This shit is good!"

Cassandra spoke highly of his cooking skills too. He had taken a semester in cuisine during his university days but that was all. He didn't think he was serving Michelin-level food.

The fact that Izzy was using looser language meant it was a big deal indeed. The girlfriend of the Signal, after the initial disbanding of We Are Robin, became reclusive and less chaotic. Her family life had been a total mess, abusive and jaded, yet she managed to keep a tight lid on her temper for much of her college life.

But with the injuries of her comrades, Duke's neglect, and Aaron's tongue melting food, Izzy was reverting to her teenage self.

He heard his phone buzz in the living room. He excused himself and went over to check what was up. The contact was unknown but judging from the contents of the messages it was Shug-R, asking for his location and updates on Izzy and Riko.

> Unknown: r u okay?/?

> Unknown: dre n alt are awake!!

> Unknown: pls call izzy and riko asap

> Unknown: pick up???? They r in stable condition

Aaron glanced at the pair in his kitchen. They were sure to freak out. He texted Shug-R back and returned with a blank expression, hiding his intentions.

"Good news, bad news," Aaron began, arms crossed. Izzy and Riko exchanged long glances. "Which one do you want first?"

"Bad news first," Izzy said.

"Bad news is that you have to leave. I have an important thing to do today and I can't afford to not go."

Izzy looked as if she expected it. "Good news?"

Aaron put on a wide smile. "Your friends are awake. Shug-R just texted me. They're fine."

The switch in emotion was phenomenal to see. From the anticipation of a tragedy to pure elation and relief. Riko leaned back and rubbed her eyes, stopping the tears threatening to escape. Izzy was stuck frozen before eventually melting into her chair, laughing.

"Thank fucking god," Izzy said, breathing shakily. Elbows on the table, she put her face into her hands. "Thank god…"

The atmosphere softened. Izzy and Riko spoke with a pinch of joy and enthusiasm. They ate, they joked, and made a mess of things. Aaron didn't mind. He could see the immense burden that had left their shoulders. Their night together had been nothing more than a way to distract themselves. It didn't need to be anything more than that.

"I'm not really sure how to thank you," Izzy admitted. Hanging around his door, he simply smiled and nodded. "No, seriously. We owe you. The Robins won't forget this."

"Of course."

With that, Izzy left. Riko, however, decided to lay back. Aaron waited for her to say something. She didn't. She stood there fiddling with her fingers and staring at the floor.

"Is something up, Riko?"

He heard her sucking in a deep breath. She looked up, features firm and steady. "Can I have your number?"

He blinked. "My number."

Her confidence died a horrific death. Her fingers stiffened and lay limply at her sides and her mouth made an attempt to say something yet nothing came out. He tilted his head, puzzled, and she quickly glanced back down to the dull white flooring.

"Sure," Aaron said, "I don't mind."

The blue-haired woman seemed shocked. Even as he supplied his number, she appeared as though she was having trouble accepting it.

Aaron had a guess as to what happened. Performance anxiety. Behind all her pent-up anger, she was a girl who struggled to perform when push came to shove. He also assumed that was what happened in the fight against Angel Breaker. Riko choked and her friends paid the price for it. And now that she was interested in him–

'Wait, wait. His rollercoaster of thoughts stopped. 'She's interested in me. She asked for my number. That's not…that could be…romantic.'

He looked her over. She was refusing to make eye-contact and the tips of her ears were a light pink. Her breathing was a little shaky and her heart rate was elevated.

'Did…did I just give her false hope?'

Oh no, he did. Riko smiled, spun on her heel, and left. Her aura had changed completely, from depressed and anxious to happy and expectant. He didn't know what he could possibly do to rectify his mistake and watched her walk off giddily.

He swore under his breath.

'Well, at least this problem is over and done. Now I have to get ready for the party…'