𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 ; A Shakespearean Tragedy Called Love

03

Ivar was one of the lucky few who weren't poor but wasn't wealthy either, he was a safe balance of middle class in Gotham City. That meant he wasn't a target to those who hated the wealthy or those who preyed upon the poor who already had bad luck in life.

But it also meant that his life rarely ever changed.

"I was thinking that we could go to the arcade by the boardwalk and eat some of those weird Joker Dogs" A young girl with wavy black hair and freckles splashed across her pale skin

Ivar holds onto the messenger bag strap and winces as he bumps past a man in an overly large trenchcoat with flower decor all over it. "Joker Dogs? didn't the FDA tell everyone that it wasn't healthy?" 

She puts her hands up in defence. "A few chemicals are fine, helps you grow"

"Extra limbs maybe" Ivar scoffs. "Seriously, Talia?"

Talia laughs quietly while she steps over a crack in the sidewalk, her shoelaces clicking onto the sidewalk as it comes undone. "Who wouldn't want extra limbs? Maybe I could become the next big villain in Gotham" 

Ivar glances off and hums in agreement, he watches the ocean crash against the beach and shivers slightly, regretting that he wore a short-sleeved shirt. "I'd say start small, just become the villain of your neighbourhood and expand from there"

"You would know, wouldn't you Taxus?" Talia sticks her tongue out at him. 

"Yeah, I would" Ivar rolls his eyes and walks off towards the boardwalk. "Still not eating any Joker Dogs" 

Talia chases after him, waving her hands in the air. "Oh come on Ivar! Just because it's green and purple doesn't mean it's bad for you!" 

"I swore to never eat or wear anything that was a combination of green and purple!" Ivar calls out as he walks away. 

"You're literally wearing a green shirt right now!" Talia calls out angrily.

Ivar turns back to her but keeps walking towards the boardwalk. "With black pants!"

The air quickly becomes salty with hints of fish, the echoes of children's laughter, and music emanating from stores along the boardwalk. Ivar wanders up and down the boardwalk, searching for something that is grabbing at his mind and pulling it in all different directions.

Ivar stares at a young man arguing by a cotton candy stand, the boy had fluffy black hair with void eyes that had likely seen things too grotesque for someone of his age group. 

His red hoodie just made him look as though he was covered in blood, it wasn't really doing him any favours.

"Who are you watching?" Talia goes to his side and watches quietly. "The guy in the red? Yuck- the colour doesn't suit him"

The kid yells angrily in the face of an older woman with scars going across her face. Ivar looks away from the disturbance and continues walking down the boardwalk in hopes of finding something to do instead of watching the racially ambiguous boy argue with a clear drug dealer. 

Talia trails after him, she zips up her bomber jacket and buries her face in the collar. "Aren't you gonna do something? I thought you were a hero?"

"A vigilante- there's a difference" Ivar mumbles.

His shoes make a thunking noise on the wood as he quickens his pace and watches the boy in the hoodie out of the corner of his eye. "-Besides, it seems that woman was sneaking edibles into the cotton candy"