Heart Shaped Fingerprints
Twenty-five years ago, in a back alley behind Santia’s.
A young woman stepped out of the club, pulling a man a little older than her out by the arm. Anger was deeply set in her expression, as she had gotten word that he had chased away another one of her clients.
“You rich bastard. It’s bad enough you’ve become a regular. Now you want to scare off all of my other clients too? My real job is shit, I don’t get paid enough to live. This is the only way I can make money. You don’t get to ruin that for me. Do whatever the hell you want.” She enunciated every syllable, jabbing his chest with her poorly painted fingernail. “Just stay out of my damn business.”
He stared at her, unmoved, “You’re welcome.”
“Asshole! You must be proud.”
He shrugged, “You’re the one who decided to work near my establishment. I can’t help who I am or what happens.”
“You could’ve had any other woman in here. Yet, you’re tormenting me. And for what? Aren’t you bored by now? Don’t answer that. Just stay away from me.” She stormed back into the club, seething with rage.
Around two months later, she built a clientele, at the cost of her apartment. The minute she saw Baniar, she growled, shook her head, and stopped him. “Why the hell are you here? No one in here is your type and you know it. ”
One of the other women pulled her back. “Hate to break it to you, Zer, but you’re exactly his type. You’re a whore, but you look stupid when you dress like one. You should be happy you have a regular.”
“Yeah, cause I just love being broke,” She muttered sarcastically.
“If you dressed better, maybe he’d pay you extra,” She remarked, smirking as she walked away.
Zerina growled. “Bitch!”
“She seems a bit shallow, doesn’t she?” The man stated in a mattter-of-fact manner.
“You’re one to talk. Why are you even here?” Zerina frowned.
“Because, this ‘shallow man’ would like to take you on a date.”
“You want to do what?” She stared blankly.
“Take you, on a date. Free food,” Baniar plainly stated.
“I do love the thought of free food.” She thought. “This could also be a trap.”
After her moment of hesitation, she asked, “How do I know I’m not going to say yes just to have you laugh in my face?”
“For one, I’m a regular so I can’t really afford that. If I laugh, you can consider it our last time meeting. How about that?”
“Fine. When and where? ”
He smiled warmly, the smile seeming a bit strange on his blunt, business like appearance. “Do you have a favorite or would you like me to pick?”
She thought back to the time she had eaten out, which had been around five years earlier. “Rothland’s.”
“Rothland’s?” He raised an eyebrow. “I’ve never heard of it, actually.”
“That’s cause it doesn’t exist anymore! She wouldn’t know. She hasn’t eaten out in five years!” The woman from before called.
“Shut up!” Zerina shouted.
Baniar pulled out a card and a pen and scribbled down an address with some directions. “Meet me here at about 7:30 tonight?”
She frowned. “Whatever.”
He tapped the top of the card. “It’s called Supreme Tastes and Taps if you get lost, seeing as you apparently don’t get out much.”
“Yeah, okay.” She rolled her eyes and took the card.
Baniar shrugged and started walking away, hiding his smiling face. “See you then. If not, your loss.”
“Yours too.”
At 7:30, she stood outside the restaurant, her wings covering her body. Embarrassment covered her like a glove at the lack of cover her dress provided. Her rust red hair was hastily thrown into a bun because it wouldn’t stay straight.
Baniar noting her appearance, walked up, took off his coat, and offered it to her. “Would you mind, or…?”
She hastily took the coat and put it on, dismissing her wings.
He admired the look of her in his coat but quickly looked away, not quite used to the thought or feelings he was experiencing. “I hope you don’t mind. This was the only place to lend me a reservation at the time.”
Upon further knowledge or inspection, one could gather it was a five star hotel. If experienced with the place, you’d find that the employees were familiar with him as well.
Zerina figured from the name and his apparent lifestyle that it was at the very least a four star. When she heard the word reservation, she nearly burst into tears from the realization and sheer embarrassment that she would have to walk in looking the way she did with people that made more money in an hour than she could in a year.
She lied through her teeth. “Y-yeah. I’m fine.”
Baniar looked at the front doors. “I figured a small room alone would be fine seeing as we’re both ‘icons’, so to speak.” What he didn’t tell her was this was the standard for this kind of restaurant. A restaurant of which emphasized customer privacy and premium service.
“I doubt I could be considered an icon.”
Baniar smirked. “I don’t need to be scaring off any current or potential clientele, nonetheless.” He walked up to the doors as a worker opened them.
“Baniar! Nice seeing you here!” A cheerful blond headed man chimed.
“Long time no see see, Nathaniel. Got our table?”
Nate looked over and groaned as he noticed how upset Zerina was. “You’ve probably made the poor girl uncomfortable. You’re lucky you know us here.”
Baniar waved him off. “Yeah, yeah. Table.”
Nate smirked. “Bossy… Anyway, the two of you can follow me to your table. Private room, right?”
He nodded and glanced at Zerina. “If that’s still alright with you?”
She nodded, though it admittedly wasn’t.
“Right this way then,” Nate led them to the glittering dining room. Glasses of water poured complete with a bottle of wine, two empty glasses, polished silverware, and two empty plates were waiting on the table before them.
“If you two need anything, let me know.”
“Will do,” Baniar nodded in thanks.
She sat down, thinking about various things to distract herself. She sat for a few moments until he pulled her from her thoughts.
“I’m surprised you took me up on my offer.”
“It was free food. I’d never pass up free food.”
“That’s fair,” He chuckled, “I’m pretty much the same.”
“Do you always eat at expensive restaurants?”
“I do. It’s a bittersweet blessing in all honesty. Do you always eat at discontinued restaurants?”
She glared. “Are you trying to pick a fight?”
“No, just conversing. I’m used to talking to grade A assholes 24/7, so pardon me for that one. People have always treated me like shit because I grew up in… fortunate circumstances.”
“Fortunate to what extent?”
“Fortunate as in wealthy, I guess? It seemed that way anyway. My father owned tons of businesses which helped out the family a ton. Then, I worked a bit for him until I could stand on my own. But… if I can be honest, I don’t quite like mingling with ‘that’ crowd of people.” He smirked, “If you think I’m anywhere near arrogant or rude, you haven’t met them.”
“I’ve met my mother. She was a grade A plus asshole.”
“Ha! Maybe they’d be friends then.”
“I’m sure they are. She’s worse than me. Difference is, she has the money to look nice when she does it.”
Baniar looked at her, puzzled, “So, why are you doing what you’re doing?”
“I don’t have any money, it pays more than my actual job does, and it’s all I know. ”
“Actual job?”
“Yeah.”
“So, this is seriously all you know?”
“Pretty much. I graduated top of my class as a demon and it was all for nothing. The only useful thing I know how to do is to be a prostitute. It’s rather nice when you get used to it.”
Baniar stared at her in disbelief. “That’s honestly baffling. I mean, you’re gorgeous so it seemed to work out somewhat, but it’s a shame that it didn’t work out. But you said as a demon?”
“Does that surprise you?”
“Your wings. I can’t say I’ve seen anything like them.”
“Oh, um, they….Anyways, what made you want to take me out on a date?”
Baniar looks down at the table cloth as he tries to sort out his newfound feelings, “I find you intriguing, I guess you could say. You’re not like most of the people in my life, which is nice.” He admitted, half truthful.
She laughed incredulously. “I know that’s a lie.”
“No, not really. It was mostly true. It’s just not my entire reasoning.”
She smiled gently. “You really don’t have lie to me. It’s fine. I’m one of those women you can’t take anywhere. I’m homeless, I’m never properly dressed, I only have the one dress, my hair is a mess, my makeup is too bright, I’m a mess anyways, I’ve been with at least a hundred men this year. I’m nothing any self respecting man would want. So why in the hell would you ask me out?”
Baniar put his hands out to put it simply. “You are the reason. All of those things are why. I don’t want someone who’s had it all or someone who’s superficial. Hell, you looked horrified when you showed up here. I know we haven’t had the most personal encounters but… but I’ve grown to like you a bit.” He trailed off as he lost confidence, partly because he felt ridiculous but mostly because he was confused.
After a pause, he cleared his throat. “But what does it matter what I think anyway? I’m just a client to you and that’s it. That’s business.” At this point, he reverted to his typical businesslike manner.
She was speechless. Though she didn’t feel anything for him (that she knew of), she was touched.
He started pouring wine into the glasses as food was brought and served to the table.
“Please enjoy.” Nate grinned and walked away.
“I’ve always loved the food and atmosphere here. No matter who I was or where I was from, everyone treated me like normal. They’re the nicest staff you’ll ever meet.”
She took a sip of her wine and nodded. “They seem very friendly.”
Suddenly a thought pressed his mind, causing him to change the topic. “Since you call me out on my shortage of answers, I’ll press for yours. What’s the story behind your wings?”
“Ummm…….. That seems like a question for the third date? I don’t even think they’re all that different, to be honest.” She took a few bites of her food, sighed, and answered. “My father is an angel. My mother is a demon.”
“Oh, okay.”
“That’s all I had to say?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh. Good,” She took another sip of her wine and enjoyed the rest of her meal in silence.
After dinner, she asked, “Do you have a phone I can borrow?”
“I do, actually.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and handed it to her.
She took a deep breath and dialed a number. “Mother, I need to ask a favor of you. I need money. No, I don’t. I’m sorry I asked.” She hung up.
Knowing the answer, “Did she say no?”
“Yes.”
“How much do you need?”
“Probably somewhere around five hundred medallia. It’s fine. I’ll think of something.” She handed him his phone. “Thank you. I should get going. It’s late.” She gave him his coat and left.
He stood there in thought as he looked at his phone until he decided to head home for the night.
With money she received later that week from a “mysterious” benefactor, she made a trip to a mall and a salon. She purchased clothes and make up that was more suited to her. She went to a salon and had her hair done.
Somehow, it made her feel a little more special.
