Breakfast with the ladies

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.