DC Technomancer: Chapter 10

“Thank you for standing up for me,” Stella said as she turned to Victor as they stepped outside her apartment building. 

Victor let a slight smile spread across his lips, “Call it even, for me lying about my age.”

“I don’t know…” Stella answered seriously though when he looked, Victor could see playfulness in her eyes, “I mean you can’t even order a drink.” 

“It’s a good thing I don’t drink then,” Victor responded smoothly. 

“Why not?” Stella asked as they walked away from the door. 

Victor hesitated for a moment before responding, “My dad was a violent drunk, he would come home stinking of booze and beer every night it was the death of him. Left my mom and I with nothing, so I promised to myself that I would never become like him. A deadbeat bastard who no one loved or respected.” 

Stella was silent for a moment before she reached out and took Victor’s hand, “Thank you for telling me Victor.” 

Squeezing her hand in his, Victor grinned, “I haven’t told anyone that, but here I am spilling my guts to you.” 

Stella smiled, lighting up the night with her pearly whites, “One of my many talents.”

“Oh really care to name a few?” Victor asked. 

“I could tell you but I think you would prefer…” Stella trailed off as she lowered her voice to sultry tone, “If I show you.” 

Caught off guard by the sudden seduction act Victor missed a step and stumbled forward eliciting a tinkling laugh from Stella, “Were you trying to give me a heart attack?” 

Stella winked at him, “You wouldn’t be the first man, but enough flirting. Let’s get going before my dad storms out here armed to the teeth.” 

Victor nodded and pulled out his keys clicking the button and starting his bike with an ear splitting purr. Stella’s eyes flashed over and stared at Victor’s bike in shock, “Is that a VMAX?” 

Victor grinned, “What did you expect me to pick you up in a moped?” 

Stella slapped him lightly on the arm before pulling him forward, “You’re lucky you’re hot, now shut up and drive.” 

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“No way…” Stella stared wide eyed at the restaurant sign spelling out its name ‘PŌ’ as Victor came to a stop, “How did you get reservations here?! I heard they were booked a month in advance.” 

Victor stepped off the bike before offering his hand to Stella who took it without taking her eyes off the restaurant, “Just call it one of my many talents.” 

Stella shot him a playful glare before taking his arm in hers, “This better not be a prank.” 

Victor only smiled as he walked them through the front door, but not before quickly hacking into the restaurant’s network and creating a reservation under his name. Once they were seated Stella ordered a drink while Victor stuck with water. 

PŌ was a fusion restaurant mixing traditional asian cuisine with hawaiian flavors and ingredients reflecting the owners heritage.  The interior of the restaurant was very well put together with subtle tropical themes mixed in with the usual fine dining decor. 

“So let me get this straight, you’re nineteen don’t come from money but somehow you can afford a room at Wayne Towers and one of Gotham’s most exclusive restaurants,” Stella summarized as she sipped on her drink, a clarified pina colada according to their waiter. 

Victor nodded and winked, “Got it in one.” 

Stella rolled her eyes, “You’re not a drug dealer right?”  

“No, not a drug dealer,” Victor said with a small shake of his head. 

“Then what gives?” Stella asked as she leaned forward giving Victor a perfect view into the valley of her breast which he was sure she did on purpose. 

“Programming,” Victor responded as he stared into Stella’s eyes, “I make software and sell it to the highest bidder.” 

It was one of the plans Victor had considered to make a quick buck but he quickly decided it would draw too much attention from people in high positions. 

“Really? You must be pretty good then,” Stella challenged as she leaned back. 

Holding out his hand Victor didn’t look away, “Give me your phone and I’ll show you.” 

Stella raised a perfectly arched eyebrow but reached into her purse and handed Victor her phone, “Do I need to unlock it?”

“No need,” Victor said confidently as he turned it on and pretended to type away at something. After a minute he handed it back to Stella, “There I just jailbroke your phone. You now have access to any service on any app regardless of pay walls or any verification. Just don’t go overboard or people may try and look into it. Though your IP address changes every three seconds so it’s almost impossible to pin you down.”  

“Your fucking with me right?” Stella asked as she took back her phone and opened it, “Holy shit you’re not.” 

Victor shrugged with a smug look on his face, “What can I say I’m good at what I do.” 

For the next two hours Victor and Stella enjoyed their food, which came in several courses,  served one dish at a time with each more intricate than the last. The meal ended with a kind of pineapple cake and faux ice cream that reminded Victor of sweetened condensed milk. 

“Oh my god, that was the best meal I’ve ever had!” Stella said with a sultry moan and a glimmer in her eyes as she pushed her cleaned plate away. 

“Well I’m glad you enjoyed it,” Victor said equally as satisfied, “You know the night’s still young, if you want I think there a movie theater near-” 

“Well if it isn’t Stella Rivera!” 

Victor frowned as he looked over at  the two men who had interrupted him. One was clearly some kind of hired muscle, while the other was actively leaned over Stella clearly trying to talk to her and judging by the grimace on face she both knew him and hated him.