In some instances, it's called kisslaying.

Gotham city

Jack's residence

7:25

Friday

You cringe slightly when your toothbrush mistakenly dabs at your lips. Your poor, sore and bruised lips. Tessa was very merciless last night, trying to suck them up into her mouth like a vacuum, which would have been the case if said lips weren't firmly attached to your face. After all the spit swapping and some light petting that got thrown in the mix, you had been the one to put a stop to your 'activity', using your work and her going to school early tomorrow, as an excuse to save your own skin. You're supposed to be the man here, but you are not even sure if you can keep up with her voracious appetite for intimacy. So instead, you pass the rest of the time, talking about your lives spent apart, sharing anecdotes, telling her about Barbara, whose subject she's now receptive of, and you, learning a rather juicy info that your little sister is still an untouched flower. That had you looking gobsmacked, Gotham and teen girls, especially ones as pretty as Tessa aren't much of a really good mix after all. Only God knows the numbers of them that hasn't ridden the stick yet. But when she exemplified this is due to her conflicted feelings for you, it warms your heart... in a inexplicable sort of way. You doubt she'd refuse if you decided to go further that night. But, she deserves better, much better, perhaps when you've got yourself out of this looming crisis. How happy she seemed, going to school this morning with a smile on her face, left you in a positive mood yourself. Yep, she surely deserves the best.

You quickly breeze through the whole bathroom affair, mounting on your willpower to resist playing with that distinctive part of your anatomy, which still awes you incredibly by the way. Since it's workday, you make an effort to dress up with a little bit of flair, and look a lot less like an homeless hobo. Feeling like a million bucks (that you wish you had) you stride into your living room, ready to head out, when your eyes fall on ol reliable, your phone, laying there, on the table. Dammit! With all the implications of what had transpired yesternight, you even forgot you had a phone. You take a quick detour to grab it and tap it on, instinctively navigating to your favorite app since two days ago. Notifications... Lots of them, were waiting for you. You glance at the clock, mentally timing yourself before going to town on your device.

PROFILES *tap*

Barbara Gordon

Heep Templeton (¹)

Jack Jericho

Tessa Jericho

They say Curiosity killed the Cat. They never mentioned anything about it literally gnawing at you, against your better judgement, to check out Heep's page, and as such, weak in the **** as you are, therefore unable to resist, you hardly believe yourself when you tap on his branch.

HEEP TEMPLETON

ENTANGLEMENTS

Affection: 65

Love:

Lust: 30

Will you like to pursue a romance path with Hee...

*Exit*

*Exit*

You speedily back out of Heep's profile, while trying to unread what you think you just saw –You failed. Hard. The image of what the App just insinuated keeps popping unbiddenly in your head... You and Heep, locked in passionate embrace... You shudder fearfully at the traumatic fantasy. That is definitely never going to happen. The thought of playing the other team, especially with someone like Heep sickens you to the core. Come to think of it, why does he even have a high affection score in the first place? You punch him in the freaking face for crying out loud, and the Lust score... Wait... does that mean Heep is a homo-masochist?... That's it, that depraved bastard is never touching you again. Forcibly, you push thoughts of Heep out of your head and resume your task.

Scrolling down, you perk up, seeing something more worthwhile that wouldn't traumatize your morning any further than it had been.

ACHIEVEMENTS (³) *tap*

Bfff?: Reach a milestone of 100 affection pts with someone (100 D°)

Crush requited: Someone is head over heels for you even before the app came along (100 D°)

Sister smoocher: Really? Snogging your own sister? What's next? Gonna be bumping uglies with her? Cause there's an achievement for that too. (50 D°)

Okay... You are just going to ignore that the app has got issues for now, and focus on on the amount of doubloons your achievements rolled in. Added to your current amount of 200 D°, making it a total sum of 450 D° in the bank. Well, there's one place all that dineros is spendable (unfortunately), the SHOP, but you're never going to make up your mind over the Buff options there in time for work so you decide to put it off for now.

Swiping to the bottom of the menu for further updates that might be, you come across a feature called the Loan system. Sounds intriguing...

LOAN SYSTEM *Tap*

When all your monetary points has been exhausted, this feature enables you to use store buffs for a specified period of time. Please note that once the designated time limit has been reached, your leased buff will be excised with immediate effect. In other words, you are living on borrowed time, bro. Enjoy.

Great, you sigh, another awesome thing you're going to have to put a raincheck on if you want to make it to work on time. What is it with you and plot holes in your life? You put off checking anything else, shove your phone into your pocket and head for the door. But all in all, you still have to admit today is shaping up to be a really good day.

Later that morning...

Gotham city

Big Belly Burger

8:40

The familiar structure of your workplace comes into sight, and you idly quicken your pace towards it. The glass doors offer not a hint of resistance as you push past it to enter. Things you love about this job; the inside has already been cleaned; the chairs and the table neatly arranged and blessed ventilation provided by AC dries up the perspiration on your body.

Judging by the looks of it, you are likely the first employee in the building, barring whoever opened the doors. It wouldn't be long before others starts arriving so it's probably best to go ahead and prepare yourself.

Then you glance to the side – and see her – your manager, seated in a corner, so focused and absorbed in whatever she seems to be writing that you doubt she even heard you come in. You just stand on the spot, awkwardly unsure on how to deal with this non sequitur – should you approach her? Or just ignore her? Granted she did give you that much appreciated day off, maybe thank her for it.

Abruptly, your body makes a decision for you before your mind could, as you soon find yourself standing near the table she occupied. That seems to catch her attention, as she startles away from her work to look up at you — All these months, you have known Kaitlyn to be this impeccable someone you can hardly find something awry with. But when she looked at you and you saw there is a no brainer that something is definitely wrong.

She looks so out of character that it's not funny — her usually cold, judging eyes now possess a particular quality to them that doesn't not speak of happiness or enjoyment. Bags under her eyes caused indubitably by lack of rest or lot of worries has almost become a staple feature of her face. Her hair, frazzled and unkempt, made with the barest minimum to keep them looking presentable along with her clothes creased in all areas. She looks more like a tired housewife than a boss lady.

"Hi, Mrs – Miss Sharpe, everything okay?" You say once your mouth finally catch up with the rest of you.

She blinks, once, twice as if rebooting, before... "Mr Jericho – sorry, I was just too far gone – have a seat, how are you?"

Taking her offer, you eye at her fidgety form, before replying, "I'm doing alright. How about you? It's not my place to say, ma'am, but, you look like you barely slept a wink."

"Oh," she bristles, straightening up in her seat, "I was just catching up on work and everything, no worries." At that, your gaze falls on the papers scattered in front of her and you make out a few letter of the heading... V... O..R..C..E, before she momentarily panics, and bodily blocks it from your view, while acting all natural. You'd have to be a complete idiot not to have notice the change in demeanor, and you sigh.

Leaning back in order to placate her, you fold your arms and say, "Okay Miss Sharpe, you sure it's something I can't help you with?"

She smiles, still trying to maintain her brittle facade of competence. "I'm perfectly adequate to deal with any problems, Mr Jericho. Thank you."

Perfectly adequate, your ass. You may lack that bit of empathy that allows people to perceive and determine other's feelings, but, even a blind man could see she's troubled.

"Miss Sharpe, I —"

"Mr Jericho," She snaps, her face firm, and her voice even firmer, "I said I am fine, I do not require your help. What sort of assistance can you even offer me? Huh?You're just a waiter. Just... leave."

Ooohhh, bbbuuurrrnnn. But, seriously, her words just lack the bite to make it hurt. It's no skin off your back to concede to her demands. It is obvious that she wants to be left alone, she can have it her way then. The only reason you are even trying is out of the courtesy she once did the same for you. You've been through all this, She's just frustrated. That's what happens when people accustomed to dealing with their own shit finally hits their nadir.

Nodding somewhat sagely, you say. "I am sorry, Miss Sharpe. You are right, there's nothing I have to offer. Heck, I'm still in a steamroller myself with no idea how to go about it. It is just — you are one of the kindest people I've ever met in Gotham and that's saying something. And I hate to see such people wallow alone in their predicaments. I hope you'll understand that everyone needs a little help sometimes." It is true, you have your own mystical aide in your pocket after all. Your piece said, you stand, making good on your dismissal.

"Have a good day – Mrs – Miss Sharpe."

"Jack — wait!"

You pause, partially out of novelty, partially out of curiosity.

"I... need help." It came in form of a strangled whisper.

"What?" You weren't sure you heard her right.

"Stay – I – I truly need help. The therapy — they tried, but it hasn't done — it hasn't done anything. And, I'm just running on smoke here," she says, slightly faltering "It isn't... I thought I could cope — I feel like I'm falling apart. So..."

She gives you a weary stare and you stare back at her while berating yourself mentally:

'Why couldn't I have just mind my own business?'

Sorry for long wait, guys, just getting my affairs in order and all. Lemme know what you think of this chapter. Oh, and happy Val ~ OM