What Will It Take, Victor Zsasz?

Sweet Marie.

Cara left work after a very tiresome hour, Alvarez had run her ragged in order to get all of the case files on her desk finished before she could go home. He of course didn't know that she would be going dress shopping with Victor but that didn't stop him from shooting her curious glances at how fast she was working so that she could leave.

Cara hurried to the alley, knowing Victor, that is where he would be waiting. Sure enough, as soon as she rounded the corner, Victor had slammed her against the wall and planted his lips firmly on hers. His usual scent of leather and cool mint filled her nose, she smiled against his lips.

"Well hello to you too!" She laughed as he pulled back with a smirk.

"Sorry babe, I just got excited. Let's go!" Victor giggled like a child as he took her hand and dragged her through the dull streets of Gotham.

"How far is this place?" Cara whinned after about half an hour of walking.

"Just around this corner, please just keep an open mind." Victors tone grew a little serious but Cara knew he lead a wierd and wonderful life so who was she to judge.

The two stopped infront of what seemed to be a very run down building. A greenish mould seemed to have fused to the stones of the walls, the windows barely let any light out and Cara doubted any light entered through the dirtied glass. The red paint on the window sills was chipped and peeling, even the old painted wooden door was cracked and appeared like it would fall from its hinges at any given moment.

Cara paused for a moment, looking that the building in confusion. It looked nothing like a dress store, the exterior didn't even have a sign. It was deffinately not the kind of place she would have approached without her gun in hand.

"Don't worry, you will learn to love it here." Victor drawled as he pulled her towards the door.

"Victor, I don't know about this. I mean this is a high standard event, I need to look sophisticated." Cara voiced her concern but to no avail as Victor opened the door and stepped inside with her in tow.

The door closed and a chime rang through the air, Cara steadied herself in this new surrounding. Taking a deep breath she focused her eyes in the brightly lit shop. She was suprised to see an elegant chandelier hanging from the ceiling, the crystal orbs sending light patterns around the rose gold coloured shop. Every where she looked there was racks and rails of beautiful, unique ball gowns. Even a few wedding dresses hung in the far corner.

The place was truely magnificent on the inside, every part of the place was beautiful. A noise came from above them, catching Cara's attention as she turned around. A white marble staircase decended from a room above, the single door was too painted white. The hand rails the same rose gold colour as the rest of the room.

A woman stood smiling down at the two people who had entered her shop, she was tall and poise, elegant in every way. Her long silver hair was neatly curled, ending by her hip and pulled to the side of her head. Her features were defined in the golden light, her cheek bones high and her full lips pursed.

"Victor, darling! Good to see you again my dear!" Her accent indicated that she was British, her voice smooth with years of experience clear behind it.

"You too Marie, it has been a while." Victor greeted the woman with a fondness he usually did not show. She made her way down the stairs, her long emerald dress made her look as though she was floating.

"Ah, you must be the famous Cara that I have heard so much about." Marie greeted Cara with a warm smile and shook her hand.

"Yes, I'm sorry, I'm a little overwhelmed. I had not imagined you to be as- refined as you are." Cara smiled back, enjoying the moment of doubt that flashed in Marie's eyes.

"Well, you are just as beatiful as Victor described you to be. I'm looking forward to working with you dear, I can see you have alot of potential." Marie smiled again before taking Cara's arm and walking towards the back of the shop.

"Potential for what exactly, might I ask?" She raised an eyebrow at Victor as he just grinned.

"To be fabulous my dear! Now on with the show!" Marie gestured towards a seat that Victor took happily, she turned to look Cara up and down then smiled widely. "I have just the dress! Go on in there dear and I'll bring it through."

Cara entered the changing room and waited for Marie to bring the dress she seemed so enthusiastic about. Marie seemed nice enough, a little higher class than she had expected from a friend of Victor but then again he had once been part of a wealthy family.

"Here darling, try it on! These heels also." Marie caught Cara's attention once more as she handed over the seemingly never ending material.

Cara closed the door and held up the dress, still not seeing the full picture. She undressed and slipped it on, amazed at how well Marie had guessed her dress size.

The dress had a white laced flower pattern embroided into the bust, the A-line of the front exsentuated her collar bones. The rest of the dress fell around her in a beautiful cloud like manner, hints of pastel pink and yellow mixed perfectly. The back of the dress hung open, dropping low and making her back appear toned. 

Cara looked at her face, even when her hair was still in a tight bun she admired how much of her natural beauty the dress seemed to bring out. She put on the pearled heels and took a final look before opening the door.

Victor shot up as he saw the woman he loved step through the door of the changing room. She looked like an angel on earth, he had to take a moment to stop the partial drool from falling past his chin.

"You look breathtaking!" Marie gasped with a huge smile.

"Thank you so much. This is perfect." Cara thanked her returning the smile.
"Now dear, sit. I want to fix your hair." She demanded, Cara did as told and sat on a stool as Marie circled her.

Marie set to work, making small talk with Victor as she worked on Cara's hair. Victor was happy to see her again, he had not had much time to visit as of late and Marie was family to him. Before too long his phone rang, much to his annoyance, he stood and waved off the girls as he stepped outside to take the call.

"So, how did you two meet?" Cara asked Marie while she sat as still as possible.

"Well darling that is a long tale, one I would gladly tell you but for now I will go with a shortened version since we have not got all night." Marie began as she stared to pin her hair up in parts.

"Victor was just a boy when we met, I used to design dresses for his mother, god rest her soul. Eventually I began to tailor his suits too, he was always a kind young man. No matter what was going on he would be happy, then when his parents passed I saw a darkness arise in his soul. He disappeared for a while. When I found him again he was in a world of pain and hurt. He was mind was shrouded in depression and I knew he had changed. When he told me what he had done to that man, well, I didn't believe him. He showed me his mark and told me how much better taking that life had felt. I supported him of course, I knew the man well and I knew he would become a notorious killer." Marie spoke with a smile, almost like she was very proud of the man who now stood outside pacing on the phone.

"Well notorious he is. I never would have guessed that I would one day fall for him." Cara laughed as Marie stepped back and admired her work.

"All finished darling!" Marie leaned in to hug Cara as the door chimed open. "Remember dear, if you harm him in anyway, I will come for you myself." Her tone remained light but Cara could hear the truth in the threat.

"Wow babe, you look amazing! I told you Marie is great!" Victor got that mischievous smirk up his face that always made Cara's heart flutter.

"How much for everything?" Cara turned to face Marie again while pulling her purse off of the chair.

"Oh nothing dear, it was a pleasure to finally meet you." The older woman smiled warmly at Cara, Victor grinned wider at the scene between his two favourite ladies.

"How sweet of you Marie, thank you." Cara smiled back just as widley.