Faye Feng → Dick Grayson ✔

The Business Meeting

The list of things that Klarion hated was longer than the list of those that he liked. So, it was no surprise that he loathed business meetings, and if it hadn't been the Council asking, Klarion would have skived.

To make things worse, he had to put up with Abra Kadabra. He had never despised someone more than the cheap, street-side magician, shaming legitimate magic with his party tricks and sleight of hand. It gave the wrong impression that all magic was faked and bought, while in reality, it could only ever be spread through bloodline or some sort of blood sacrifice.

Klarion sat in the private room that they had been ushered into. Apparently, their new soon-to-be business partners owned the restaurant, and many others, no doubt, which was why they had been reserved the best spot in the gourmet eatery.

"He's late," Abra Kadabra snarled, twirling his wand as if to intimidate. It wouldn't have worked, even if there was somebody other than the bustling waiters – who were too busy going to and fro to care or notice – and Klarion in the room.

"Thank you, Captain Obvious," Klarion rolled his eyes.

"They're not taking us seriously," AK hissed. "I should have known! Rich people, always looking down on us, thinking that we're nothing but fleas on the back of rats!"

Personally, Klarion thought that the Fengs had good reason to. He had scryed the night before and managed to find their old palace in China. They had moved into one of the ancient palaces back when the country was ruled by kings, refurbishing it to look more modern and adding extra facilities, making the already vast estate even larger.

Another item on the list of things he despised was people who were arrogant without reason, but the Fengs had plenty of them and more, so he couldn't fault them for that. After all, if he had half as much wealth, he'd flaunt it every which way.

"I'm so sorry for being late," a sonorous voice said as a figure, dressed in a flawless suit and tie, hurried into the room. "I got held up at the company – busy first couple of months and all."

Jason Chow-Feng sat down in the chair draped in velvet opposite AK and Klarion, his award-winning smile on full display. His teeth seemed to glow beneath the perfectly positioned lamplight, and Klarion could feel AK wanting to punch them in.

"Nice to meet you," Jason held out a hand, which AK reluctantly took. "I'm Jason."

"AK." He answered curtly, letting his hand drop to his side immediately after it was released from Jason's clasp. However, the other man didn't look in the least bit discouraged, and offered his hand to Klarion, who almost rolled his eyes at AK's childish behavior. Who would have thought that he would be babysitting a man twice his age?

Klarion shook Jason's hand much less grudgingly. He even flashed Jason a grin in return. "Klarion."

"How old are you, Klarion?" Jason asked warmly.

Taken back at the sudden question, Klarion blurted out the truth without missing a beat, as he tended to do whenever he was put on the spot. "Seventeen years old."

"It's always good to see young people get involved in business," Jason said, impressed. "I can tell that you're keen to get started and learn how things are done, so you'll get along great with my daughter."

At this, Klarion perked up. He raised a hand to his hair and wondered if it looked alright. "Your daughter?"

"Faye," Jason checked his smart watch, displaying a text message on its shiny screen. "She said she'd be a little late too – I really am sorry about our lack of punctuality, I promise that we aren't usually like this – because she was busy with schoolwork."