A dinner for two (Abigail)

[Rawhide]

Drip…drip…drip…drip

The sound was quiet, almost hushed as the mountain of a man walked through the apartment. He had started early that day on this apartment; everything had to be ready after all. So, around 3:00 pm the man known in the media as the Rawhide-butcher had entered this small, cozy apartment and quickly and silently overpowered the husband first, knocking him out and carrying him to the bathroom, then it was the wife, same procedure as her husband. Rawhide, as he called himself, having accepted the medias title for him, at least partially, had then entered the teenage girls room, she was, to put it mildly, surprised and terrified to see him. She was easily knocked out without a sound and carried along. That was when he heard the first gurgles of a baby just waking up. Rawhide had tied the girl and entered the baby’s room, looking down at it he had said from behind his hood with that deep, rolling voice of his. “…Perfect…”

Now, it was several hours later and Rawhide stood back up, looking down at the two skinned bodies before him. They had been dead long before he started skinning the corpses, so they had felt no pain. Rawhide was no sadist in that regard; he did not want his subjects to suffer anymore than a farmer wants one of his cows to suffer before he kills it. Now that that was done with and he had done his little trick to make the room with the skinned corpses locked from the inside, and his little Voodoo doll had been placed, Rawhide removed his first pair of gloves and took forth a nice, white tablecloth with embroidery along the edges and placed it on the table in former Mr. and Mrs. Brodsky’s living room, he then turned towards the kitchen, time to cook.

It had taken some time, it was 9:00 Pm now after all, but he was done, well, the food would be done in 15 minutes time, but that was also what he needed, he knew she could be here in twenty minutes if he called now. Thus, Rawhide called the Police station, asking for a certain lady, he was close to call her his little mouse, but went with her actual name instead. She had to be there, everything else would be a shame, but Rawhide had sent her a letter a couple days before this, having learned her address and everything else at their last confrontation, asking her to stay late this particular evening. Thus, when she was handed the phone he said in a serious, but calm tone, just like when they met last time. “Good Evening my little mouse, here we are again. I want to see you now, come to apartment 4B in Nr 11 on Barker Street. Also, come alone, two out of four is singing with the angels now, but if you don’t come alone, I’ll make it four out of four. Remember, apartment 4B in Nr 11 on Barker Street. See you soon Miss Fairweather.” And with that, he ended the call and returned to the kitchen to finish dinner, wearing a apron a couple numbers too small, belonging to the late Mr. Brodsky with the words “Kiss the Cook” imprinted on his chest. Perhaps she would even kiss him this time? Rawhide had to admit that the chances were slim to none, but one never knew, just perhaps, she would surprise him this night?

[Abigail Fairweather]

It came as no surprise to anyone that the work desk of Abigail Fairweather was buried in paperwork, with the small creature going by that name sitting behind it, working fast and tactical.

The work had piled up rapidly the last couples of weeks, it seemed as if every bloody criminal in Gotham had decided to go crazy all at the same time. The Riddler had returned, Joker and Scarecrow had been spreading chaos in an orphanage, casino gun down, inmates fleeing from Arkham, buildings being lit on fire and in general small gangs doing whatever they saw fit. Yerh Gotham really was in its downfall, and it kept every available police officer and trainee either trapped behind their desk, or on the tip of their toes in the field.

Despite drowning in work, the moment Abigail recognized the voice in the other end of the phone, which she had picked up in a haze blurting out her name automatically, she froze for a second. Still listening to what she was told, she pulled her drawer open, grabbed her gun and cuffs and ripped her tie of. The minute the call ended she was off.
Grabbing her hoodie on the way she excusing herself without any further explanation and was out the door. This was a chance she could not escape, since she had been hunting this so called Rawhide for months now, without getting any closer to catch him.
His crimes were rarely noticed until some days after, and he was seemed to be very strict as to not leave any traces that could lead to the revealing of his true identity. But frustration was not the reason she hunted him so eagerly. No it was the fact that the life of the few people she held dear was at stake.

She ran from the police station to the address she had been give, slowing down as she got to the right block.

The adrenalin ran through her veins, building up anger and fear. She was afraid that she would not be able to save lives of the two people that were held hostage. But there was still hope, since she didn’t know what he demanded in return for their lives.
The thought kept repeating itself as she kept getting closer. She knew this was stupid, it was probably a trap, but she found ease in the thought of saving someone, even if she had to pay a high price for it.

There it was, the door with the number 11 printed on it.

She took a deep breath and then knocked on the door
The thought kept repeating itself as she kept getting closer. She knew this was stupid, it was probably a trap, but she found ease in the thought of saving someone, even if she had to pay a high price for it.

There it was, the door with the number 11 printed on it.

She took a deep breath and then knocked on the door.

[Rawhide]

Rawhide had been busy, but he was still satisfied with the result. The table was set, dinner was served, the candles were lit and he even had time to spare, five minutes exactly. He then went into the Teenage girl’s room once more, picking up a cute, blue Pegasus plushy with a rainbow colored mane and tail. Rawhide weren’t all that in on the newest tv-shows and child entertainment, but he knew his daughter had wanted to get one of these, might as well bring it back. He then placed it in one of his large pockets on his legs, and picked up the late Mr. Brodsky’s cellphone, dialing a number. After a while a tired girl’s voice was heard in the other end. “H…Hello?” “Hey there Pumpkin, it’s daddy.” Rawhide replied in a surprisingly happy tone of voice. “Daddy! I missed you!” the child exclaimed happily as she sat up in her bed with her new cellphone in her small hand.

Rawhide smiled as he sat down in the chair opposite of where his guest would sit. His daughter were the only one who could recognize his voice anywhere, and she never asked why it sounded different on the phone anymore after her dad had explained that it was because her dad was so big and his voice so deep the phone didn’t know where to put it all. They had had a good laugh about that one, and no further explanation was needed. “So, tell daddy what you have been up to today?” He asked, simply listening as his daughter started to tell about her day. Rawhide then heard the knock on the door, holding a hand over the phone as he answered. “The door is open, do come in and close it behind you” with that voice of his that reminded anyone who heard it more of a boulder rolling than a man speaking. The apartment itself, once Abigail had entered, were quiet and filled with the scent of freshly made dinner, roasted duck it smelled like.

In the living room the table stood, filled with a deliciously looking dinner. It was roasted duck after all, and nothing more horrible, one could conclude. There were mashed potatoes and candied potatoes as well as a Greek salad and an assortment of different vegetables. As for beverages, there was a bottle of fine wine and a glass. Oddly enough, the table was only laid for one, her one would assume. There were even lit candles to complete the whole thing. And across from where she should sit, sat Rawhide, totally relaxed, the apron left in the kitchen and the cellphone to his hood-covered ear. He simply nodded to her as he listened to his child’s story of her day. The large brute was so out of place it almost seemed comical if not for the fact that he was a heartless killer. “Well, I am glad you had a good day pumpkin. I’ll be home later tonight. Say..how about I sing you a song so you can sleep? Would you like that princess?” “yes..I’d like that, dad” his little princess replied as she put the cellphone on speakers, snuggling down under the covers in her bed. Rawhide simply nodded before he started to sing in that deep, deep rumble of a voice of his.

“Hush, little baby, don't say a word.
Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird

And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring

if that diamond ring turns brass,
Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass

if that looking glass gets broke,
Papa's gonna buy you a billy goat

if that billy goat won't pull,
Papa's gonna buy you a cart and bull

And if that cart and bull turn over,
Papa's gonna buy you a dog named Rover

And if that dog named Rover won’t bark,
Papa’s gonna buy a horse and cart.

And if that horse and cart fall down,
You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town”

Once he was done he could hear his daughter was fast asleep and Rawhide simply ended the call, looking at Abigail as he spoke. “Ah, the joys of parenthood. I can highly recommend it, it sets the world in a new light once you have your own bundle of joy to look after. Anyway, Welcome Miss Fairweather, please do sit down.” He rumbled, gesturing to the chair across the table from him where the cutlery and plate was placed.

[Abigail Fairweather]

With a rather stiff movement Abigail opened the door and walked in. She was not comfortable with this situation, but she desperately needed to safe the two persons still living at the moment. Hopefully he wasn’t about to back out of his bargain. If so, she had to hope that her gun would work better this time. Last they met he hadn’t even stopped for a second. It was like she hadn’t even hit him.

The smell of food hanged in the air, but she had a hard time feeling tempted. She just walked into the kitchen where she could hear that, all too easy to recognize voice of Rawhide. She stared at the empty spot meant for her, just standing there starring at him. She was sitting stiffly and stared at Rawhide as if she had no idea what she was supposed to do. Well she didn’t really, because this was a rather weird situation, and she didn’t feel hungry, since knowing what had happened in this house killed her appetite.

So like a school student waiting for her teaser to finally state the seriousness of the situation, she just sat there, feeling out of place as the brutal murdering giant was singing some children song. Well at least he had a nice singing voice, not that it mattered but more a useless fact. It wasn’t even information she could use to anything.

“I wanna see the two hostages…” She replied calmly, not even looking at the seat meant for her. “Oh and don’t try anything !” she pulled her gun forth, pointing it at him with no change in her facial expression.

She felt a little awkward in this situation… It didn’t seem right that her first dinner with another person for a good while, was a criminal that had tried to kill her last time they meet. He even put her in the hospital for two weeks. Perhaps it would end up in the same situation, or perhaps he would try to kill her again. His chances were bigger than before, since this confined space didn’t really give a lot of options to get away. That was the same reason for the gun. Besides you couldn’t trust a criminal, they were all the same.

“I don’t know what you are up too, but don’t think that I am just gonna let you get your way, or that I am gonna let you go free… I plan on putting you in prison, not have dinner with you, or whatever you call this” she found the cuffs in her back pocket, and slowly stepped closer to Rawhide, hoping that he would not try to resist an arrest. If he did she would be in trouble. She knew just how much strength that guy had, and she wouldn’t want to fight him again, though it was naïve to think that she could avoid it.

[Rawhide]

Rawhide looked at her with expressionless eyes as his little mouse demanded to see the hostages. It was strange really; almost admirable that such a little thing possessed so much courage. The gun she then pulled at him didn’t even make him blink, much less react in any way. He just looked at her as she explained her plans and pulled forth the cuffs, making him raise an eyebrow as she did. He then sighed, not in an annoyed way, but an almost disappointed kind of way. So, there was no change yet, she still wanted to catch him as much as before, which was fine, what was disappointing was that she tried the same old methods all cops did instead of thinking outside the box. He then almost smiled, as he was kind of glad at the same time, since she hadn’t given up, the game was still on. Ah well, time to show his hand in this little symbolic card-game of theirs.

“Miss Fairweather, as much as you wish to put me in prison, you will do no such thing, not yet anyway.” He paused, looking into her eyes. “You see, the two hostages, the children of former Mr. and Mrs. Brodsky, aren’t here in the apartment. They are somewhere else and if you put those cuffs on me, I will not say a word about their location...They will remain unfound and die…” Rawhide’s gaze drilled into hers as he spoke slowly and clearly. “Did you know that one of them was a baby? And the other a teenage girl… Now, imagine if some of the more… unsavory elements of this city found her? Bond, gagged… and helpless..” He paused, letting his little mouse imagine exactly what would happen. “And it would all be your fault…Abigail, their lives are in your hands… put the cuffs and gun away and talk with me, humor me in this little part of our game, and I will tell you where one of them is, I may or may not have left a clue for the other’s location there as well…”

Rawhide then became quiet, looking at his mouse as he allowed his words to sink in. He had prepared, it did not take six hours to skin a couple humans and make a dinner like this, especially if you only skinned them partially. The large killer had to admit he was curious, wondering what she would do. “So tell me this, Abigail Fairweather… is my capture worth two innocent children’s lives? If so, put the cuffs on me…if not, put those silly toys away and sit down so we can talk. The choice is yours and yours alone.” He finished, awaiting her decision. In this very moment, Abigail held the children’s lives in her hands, whether they should live or die, that was her choice and her choice alone.

[Abigail Fairweather]

For a second, and just one small second her mind allowed her to think that he had given up when he raised his hands. Of course it had been too much to even suggest as a possibility. He had the upper hand, and she was just dragged around the circus in a leach waiting for him to give her a command. It was like a torn in the eye knowing it, but it wasn’t what had the real impact.
The mere words implying that the teenage girl would fall in the hands of moral less men, hit a nerve. A small tic around the eye was the only physical reaction shown to her dismay. Though dismay was only a small part of what had hit her like an accelerating train. No she felt sick to the bones, remembering things that had been happily forgotten. It was all coming back like a movie flashing before her eyes showing and reminding of the feeling which had been. She wanted to throw up, but had to keep it down, ignoring every feeling which was to eagerly tearing her up from within.

Nice isn’t it Ann-Beth?

Slowly the gun was but back in place, obviously not wanting to let go of the only thing capable of protecting her. The cuffs were placed on the table in front of him, before she slowly stepped backwards. Her eyes was starring emotionless at him, hiding the raging war inside her. Every inch of her inside wanted to burst into tears as her whole world came crumbling together. But despite the odds she just sat down, starring at him calmly. If only he knew how much he had weaken her right now, he would know what kind of control he had suddenly gained over the little cop.

You are good at this… Very good

She grabbed the table, ripping it away throwing it into the air for a second, she stepped forward gripping the kitchen knife of the kitchen table, the table hit the ground. With one knee placed on what little part of the chair left between Rawhides leg, and one on the ground on the other side of his leg. She grabbed his apron pulling him close, as the other hand found a nice spot just under the edge of the hood. “You are gonna tell me where those kids are, or I am gonna be sure that you will have a hard time enjoying your little hobby, and not because you are behind bars. I am going to make sure that every time you are going to have your little fun time, that you can’t get It up, before I have spoiled Everything! Tell Me… Where The Kids… Are!”

[Rawhide]

as she put the cuffs on the table and the gun away, Rawhide smiled slightly beneath his hood. It was a good thing that she saw reason, all he wanted was to talk with her, to find out if she was giving up, or still intended to catch him. And if so, if she had found anything interesting on him, a lead of some kind perhaps? there was much he would like to know, and if she would just talk with him, no one had to get hurt. It was invigorating to play these new games with her, spicing up his life, though he was a little too excited perhaps. This game was new to him too after all, since she was the first to actually be a worthy opponent, but like with all good games, Rawhide had set some rules he intended to follow.

First of all, he was not to harm her and hers until the time was up, well, not kill her or them, anyway, bruises and a few broken bones was okay. He should leave small clues for her at his 'work sites', when he felt she needed it. If she could capture him within the time limit he would surrender willingly. After all, chances was big that he would end up in Arkham if he was caught, and escape from there wasn't exactly hard, as several inmates proved time and time again.

and then, suddenly things went very fast. Rawhide heard the table crash to the side, the cutlery and plates smashing against the floor as the whole meal flew about. But what Rawhide found interesting was what he saw in her eyes, having never broken eye contact with her as she sat down. What he saw was the very moment she snapped. As she threatened him he simply looked at her, analyzing their conversation to see what could have made her snap like this. What he figured was the reason was noted and stored away for later use inside his head before he spoke. "Miss Fairweather, there have never been anything sexual in what I do, as for the information you seek.."

Rawhide had pulled his head backwards slightly as she had threatened him, but now rushed it forward, head-butting the small woman between the eyes as he shoved her off him. He then leapt at her following the shove, forcing the knife from her hand hand if she hadn't already dropped it. "Miss Fairweather, calm down and please stop making this harder than it needs to be." He huge man said in his deep, rumbling voice as he pinned her down against the floor.

[Abigail Fairweather]

Everything snapped the second he was over her. As the knife was twisted out of her hand, and she was pinned to the floor, the first tears started flowing. Though tears running, she still tried fighting back by using her legs. If it was possible she would move her legs into a position where she could still kick him.

“Let go!” she screamed, still trying to fight.

This was in no way comfortable, and kicking a hell lot of memories back in her head. For a second or two Rawhide seemed like taking from of her father, only making her scream even more. She wanted to get away, though she knew that he was much stronger than him.

“Get away from me!” she growled, managing to rip one of her hands out if his rip, though at the cost of her hand saying a weird sound and becoming all red.

She ripped after his hood, partly as an attempt to hit him, but also a way to remind herself that he wasn’t her dad. Well not that she actually could be sure, since she had never seen hid face for obvious reasons. But something told her that he was not her dad, and she was as sure at it probably was possible. But she did have an… intermit… knowledge of her dad.

[Rawhide]

Rawhide made a slight grunt as he was kicked by her, but his hands keeping her in place as best he could, his eyes studying her, feeling curiosity in the middle of all this. What was it really, that she remembered that brought such a fighting response from her. What was it she had experienced, what nightmares was it that haunted her? Rawhide had a feeling after all, that right now, his little mouse was fighting something else than him entirely.

His brows furrowed as she ripped her hand free, he had felt the way her hand had made the weird sound, watching as it turned red. He knew he had to take care of this a little later, since it could potentially delay her hunt for him. He was always surprised by how much willpower and fighting spirit this small, tiny and seemingly frail woman contained. It was admirable and fascinating in some ways.

a loud Riiiisch sound was heard as the bottom part of his hood covering his mouth was torn off, showing the small woman the tremendous amounts of scars covering his face, or at least his chin, lips and parts of his cheeks. He looked at her, his mouth showing nothing but a neutral expression as he looked into her eyes. "Abigail, calm down..I have no intentions of hurting you unless you force my hand..so, kindly, clam down and take some deep breaths.." The big brutish man said in a calm, almost soothing voice, still rumbling like boulders rolling.

[Abigail Fairweather]

Her eyes flickered wildly and she looked almost feversly as she laid there. Her chest raised and fell rapidly, every bit of her mind were scattered. Despite alot of efford the feeling of being sick stuck clinged on. It was the strong feeling of disgust, stubbornly staying in its host. Still trying to fight her sick mind, her eyes shut tightly together. It wasn't real, none of it was, it was only a simple stranger. This was no intimate game of humiliation, all it were was only an unpleasant memory.

Reality came tumbling back with a intense pain rushing though her wrist, like the panic from before had never excisted. Instead of showing horror her face twisted in the pain, her eyes slowly opened and glansed at her wrist. Then the pain from his little stunt from before kicked in as well.
"Ouw..." she moaned as she lot her body relax. It was around here as well that she realised that she was gripping tightly onto a peice of cloth not belonging to her. Her eyes slowly turned towards Rawhides face, being met with half a face displayed. He looked like a victim of bomb shards and debree. The lower part of his face was covered in scars, it was... Not possible to discribe the feeling it gave. Though she could say as much as she was deeply curious: How could someone get that many scars? Besides wouldn't it be so much easier to recognice him.

The surprice was obvious to see, and surpricingly she had calmed down as well. She just laid there starring at his face, almost like she was surpriced over the fact, that there actually was a face under the hood.

[Rawhide]

Rawhide nodded as she looked at his face, calm as she were. He then slowly reached down, picking the piece of cloth from her hand, in it's weak state it probably wouldn't hold on too well anyway, and placed it in his pocket. "Good..now let me have a look at that.." he rumbled as he gently took hold of her arm, studying her wounded wrist. It was a strange situation to say the least, the big brute and mass murderer gently studying a womans wounded wrist with the same care as if she was but a wounded little bird. "We'll need something cold to keep down the swelling.." He concluded and rose to his feet, picking her up in his arms with the same care he showed before, placing her on a nearby couch before he headed into the kitchen.

It was ironic in some way, probably, Rawhide thought, that he was now taking care of her, but by his reasoning. if she had to fight with a wrist in it's current state or worse, she'd be hindered in their game, and he needed her at her peak capability. Thus the big man pulled a bag of frozen peas from the freezer and a dishtowel in the kitchen, wrapping the towel around the peas as he returned to her side. He then pressed the cold towel against and around her wrist, helping to keep it colder.

He then looked at her after a while, guiding her remaining hand to keep the pressure before he stood, pulling a chair over in front of her, sitting down into it as he kept looking at her. "You have to be a little careful you know.." He started, his facial expression totally neutral. "..If you hurt yourself too much you'll waste valuable time you could spend on our game.." He added. This would be the point where he would smile wickedly and chuckle, IF he had been any other madman. He was not, he was Rawhide, and thus his face remained neutral, yet somehow not devoid of emotion. There was something in the way his mouth was kept in the neutral expression that hinted at the fact that this big brute could smile, and perhaps even laugh.

[Abigail Fairweather]

Her hand griped tightly around the cloth in her hand, without wanting to let go. Sadly the mere action of gripping onto it was painful. So her fight for keeping the evidence was non exsisting, and a little nudge was enough to make her let go.

Her fingers gently unrapped from the cloth peice, letting her watch how it disappeared in his pocket. And then finding herself under this giant mans care. Like a small creature at a vet, he slowly examined her, finding a diagnose, then picking her up as if she weighted nothing, and found a comfortable place for her. It seemed so out of place to watch this happehing, so despite her anger towards this... Person... She did nothing. Of course when he was gone, a little peice of herself returned, and her attention went to a wrist. With help from her other hand she pressed her hand down and twisted it, making it give loud crackle/snap. She left of a small grunt in pain, quickly regretting that she had ever thought of doing it, even if it was for the best.

Her eyes sought to wander across the floor for her gun, hoping that it might had ended up in the living room. Her luck was low, it was on the kitchen floor, of course it was on the kitchen floor, so far away that it would take more than a jump to get it. Well she could try and get to it before he got to her, if not he filled the whole freaking room, which he showed as he walked back into her. He was too tall to jump over, at least with no more room above, and she would havde to run pretty far to get around him. She could always hope that it wouldn't be needed to get it, though she really wanted to, so she could shoot the bastard.

With a surpricingly spareful movement, he grabbed her hand, placing the bag on her wrist. Under his gudiance she placed her other hand to hold the bag, still watching him closely. He sat and talked, his words obviously not amusing her at all, and they propely weren't supposed to. But to her it sounded like a bag joke. "Don't expect me to do anything for your entertainment. I am here for the kids only, and if not for the kids, then to catch you sick bastard" she sneered, glaring at him. "So let me cut it out for you. State your buisness and guide me to the kids, before I will give you any chance to leave at all. You got that?" her voice had turned cold and hateful, as she had no possitive feelings to spare for him.

[Rawhide]

Rawhide looked at her, what of his expression she could see remaining neutral. He let out a mild sigh, not in a disappointed kind of way, but almost understanding and forgiving. "I see..perhaps you have forgotten, Miss Fairweather..You won't be doing anything for my entertainment, but at the end of our little meeting, when we met the first time, I issued you a challenge, "catch me within a year from the day we met, and I shall not harm anyone you know when I then escape. Fail to catch me within a year from that day, and I shall track you down and kill you and everyone you care for.." he paused, sighing again, this time a little disappointed. "When I hear it again I admit it sounds a little too dramatic, but it did sum up the point of this game." He looked at her expression and almost smiled. "Oh, and don't give me any of that "I have no one I care for! I won't play your sick games, scumbag!" You're a cop with a strong sense of justice, you can't help but try and stop me"

Rawhide looked at Abigail, his brain already working at high-speed. Obviously she had no real leads yet, thus, if she were to have a chance, and to keep the game interesting, he had to give her a lead, a clue. "Now, Abigail, I want you to listen real carefully, because what I tell you now is really important." As he spoke he looked into her eyes, locking her eyes in his gaze, making sure he had the small police woman's full attention. "A week from now I will strike again, and when you have crawled inside the woman in red, standing before her offspring, looking at her dead child, look beneath the child's tongue for the address of memory lane"

Rawhide then rose to his feet, stretching. "That shall be my advice for you Miss Fairweather, and with this I will bid you farewell" He then turned towards the front door and started to leave. Standing in the doorway he pointed at the older daughter's room. "Both children are safe and sound Abigail..They are in that room." And with that Rawhide left the apartment, simply walking down on the street and into the alleys. Time to get home, get some dinner and make sure the kid was still asleep, that was if the lovely Miss Fairweather didn't decide to try and follow him.

[Abigail Fairweather]

“I haven’t forgotten your words, but you don’t make it seem like you aren’t getting entertained from this” she sneered. “Calling it overdramatic is an understatement” she stood up, feeling sick of being so close to him, it was crazy that she was sitting with a psychotic murder, chit-chatting but she had little of a choice. If she could fighting him she would have. “I would be surprised if you could even find them” she mumbled and grinned to herself.

She stopped and looked at him, and looked like a stubborn child the way she sat down. It was list she was protesting, but she said noting and just looked back at him. His words made little sense as it was, and she didn’t really want to listen to him, but it showed to be worth the wait. His last words before leaving send her flying toward the daughter’s room. Her heart almost skipped a beat as she saw the children. Scared from their senses, but still alive. She called for back-up and tried to comfort the children, not regretting that she let him go.