One Foot in Front of the Other One (Jake Storm)

[Michael Smith]

People passed a suit-clad figure as he stood on the street corner, his dark eyes watching them all, watching the little things they probably didn't realise they were doing, watching the couple across the road who were talking - no, arguing - with hand gestures and a lot of lying if their body language was anything to go by. A little fake cough here, a touch of the nose there... All usual things that went with lying. Being on the other side of the road, though, he would only wonder what they were arguing about. The woman, with curly hair and brown eyes, seemed to be the most angry. Her arms were crossed as she appeared to snap at the man. The man was white with blond hair and a suit. He was the one that kept doing the gestures as though he were lying.

Michael smirked as he realised what they were arguing about. The man had probably cheated, the woman had found out and the man was denying it. He rolled his eyes as his hand moved to flatten is already perfectly slicked back hair out of habit while his other hand moved to the pocket of his light grey trousers. His other hand slipped into the other pocket and he smiled now as his gaze turned to the rest of the people walking past him. None of them noticed him. Why would they? He was yet another suit wearing man amongst a grey and black sea of suit wearing men. Unlike the others, though, he wasn't walking or moving. He was watching. Watching the ordinary people. Watching the boring people. Watching them running around with their funny little business...

The only reason that Michael was still in New York was very simple: he had denied the offer of the man he was supposed to meet a few days ago. What was the offer? After the man had aborted everything, Michael had been offered for his flight to be changed to a sooner flight to get him back to Gotham before the original flight was planned. That offer had been declined as he'd decided that he wanted to remain in New York until the day he was supposed to go back to Gotham and so he was here, still. It had been two days since the offer had been made and Michael was enjoying himself quite a bit.

Flattening the front of his suit jacket, which was the same colour as his trousers, Michael looked around with a bored expression. So many normal people. So many ordinary people. He turned and began to walk casually down the street, his hands at his sides as his stride held purpose and aim. His stride was rather aimless, though. He didn't know anyone in New York and had nowhere to go. Maybe this would become a productive thing. Michael could hope so, as he avoided accidentally touching the ordinary people as best he could, his hands moving to his trouser pockets once more.

((Notes: This went down hill at the end. I'm so sorry! D: I hope it's okay, though...))

[Jake Storm]

It was a rather slow day in New York, nothing out of the ordinary wasn`t happening either in the city. Jake Storm had gotten up early this morning as he couldn`t sleep any longer. He had gotten his morning coffee and gotten dressed. His father Johnny Storm was saying goodbye to a random girl again, at the door. Jake scoffed and had gotten used to this over the years . Jake put the empty coffee mug down on the counter and grabbed his jacket, he felt like going outside and see what was happening in the city. He took the elevator down to the first floor and stepped out of it as the elevator doors opened. He greeted the doorman and stepped outside. As usual the street were starting to get crowded with people, rushing by and running down the streets wearing suits and talking on the phone.

Jake walked down the street ,listening to music ,he crossed the road when it was a green light. He kept walking and looked at some of the people he was passing by ,smiling some at a pretty girl who walked by him. As he looked down for a second he bumped into a guy in a grey suit , Jake looked up at him "Sorry " he said to the man.

[Michael Smith]

His gaze momentarily moving to the woman from the couple as she marched down the street on the other side of the road, his attention was brought back to his own side of the street when he felt someone collide with him. Stumbling slightly in the aftermath, his arms having done a soft of half-flail in the process of being walked into, Michael's eyes moved their line of sight to the person who had walked into him. Silent fury was held in his gaze as he hands moved to straighten his suit before he seemed to brush invisible dirt off of it silently in one swift movement of both of his hands moving down the fabric. His expression was one of less than impressed as he eyed the boy. Ordinary. Boring.

"It might be a good idea for you to look where you're going." Michael suggested, his voice holding a somewhat immature cheerfulness in its tone, despite the less than cheerful expression on his face. "Though, I don't blame you..." His lips curved into an almost knowing smile, though his eyes remained cold and somewhat distant. His gaze moved over the boy absentmindedly.

Teenager, probably had enough money to enjoy life beyond the occasional meal but didn't seem to have a car... Or didn't need one. Seemed old enough to drive and simply chose not to have one? That seemed unlikely... Ordinary.

Boring.

This wasn't someone he usually stopped to talk to. Why would he? He was ordinary. So ordinary... Michael's hands moved to his pockets as his gaze brushed over the other male again. Ordinary.

((Notes: This is bad. I'm so sorry.))

[Jake Storm]

Jake looked at the man he had bumped into, he frowned at his words, "Oh really..didn`t know i would upset you so much ,didn`t wrinkle your pretty suit now did i ?" he asked and looked at him some more. There was just something about this guy that seemed shady to Jake. "But i`m not gonna apologize for bumping into you though " he said and smirked a bit.

Jake looked at the man`s suit, he looked like someone important, or maybe the guy thought he was someone important walking around with a fine suit on. But Jake was used to meeting guys like that, he always had a way to getting into trouble.

"Gotta admit,that`s one fine suit you`re wearing " Jake said and grinned.

[Michael Smith]

At the boy's words, the irishman raised an eyebrow. Upset him? He didn't get upset. He got annoyed. He got impatient. He got sarcastic and rude. He didn't get upset. Given the cheerful tone with which the older male had spoken, he couldn't quite understand where the idea of him being upset had come from... Regardless, he said nothing. He didn't have to. This boy was ordinary and therefore of no interest to Michael. He was about to say so when another thought crossed his mind. This boy probably didn't know him... It was New York and Michael wasn't from around here... The fun he could have...

"Pretty? Expensive is more like it..." He commented, his voice having taken on a rather drawling tone as his accent dulled. Michael did what he did for a price, and that price covered many things; including his expensive taste in suits. His gaze turned down to his suit, one hand in his pocket as the other ran down the front of his suit gently, pushing away any wrinkles and creases. As he spoke again, the elder of the pair fought the urge to snap at him... His gaze remained on his suit, his body language remaining calm despite the urge. Michael could easily suppress urges and wants. That was easy. So easy.

"Little rude, isn't it?" He inquired as he looked back at the boy, eyebrows raised in questioning. A moment passed before his lips pulled into a grin. "I'm joking, of course." He added, chuckling softly. One hand moved to scratch the side of his nose gently before it returned to his pocket.

At the admittance, Michael smirked softly. His hand moved from his pocket to seemingly slick back his hair, despite it not needing to be slicked back. His eyes flicked to a near-by person momentarily as they passed and he raised an eyebrow. Diamond necklace but no rings on her fingers... Looked a lot like a secretary, too... Office romance or office affair? His gaze turned back to the boy with the amused smirk in toe. "Oh, thank you." He grinned, almost seeming pleased with what had been said. "It really ought to be... Over $100, it cost..." He gave a somewhat nervous laugh and ran a hand over it gently again, the fabric on the front of his suit smoothing under his hand.

"You never said your name... I'm William. William Queen." He smiled, holding the hand that had previously been running down his front out for a hand shake. He liked that name. William Queen. It was a favourite of his. He used it often, though he really shouldn't have used it as much as he did...

[Jake Storm]

Jake looked at the guy and wondered who he was since he had never seen him in New York before. He got a bit curious about him so he didn`t mind standing here talking to him. He had to smile a bit at his comment, " Yeah it looks expensive for sure " Jake said to him. Jake wasn`t known for wearing expensive suits, he`d rather wear just a pair of jeans and a nice shirt instead of wearing a suit,but this guy seemed rather comfortable wearing one.

He looked at him as he asked if it wouldn`t be a little rude,but Jake just grinned as he was clearly joking. " It might be rude..and i`m known for not having the best behaviour" Jake said and looked at him. One thing Jake caught about the guy,was his accent, it was irish.

Jake looked at him some more ,his slicked back hair and the suit that was looking sharp. He wondered if he was some kind of a buisness man ,maybe he did some shady work here in New York,maybe he was an agent who was on a mission. Jake turned his head and looked at the person passing them by,he smirked some and had to check out the woman`s behind. "that`s one fine behind " he said and smirked. He turned his gaze back at the guy and smirked, "You`re welcome..and that is a lot of money for a suit " he said and smiled some.

"William Queen..I`m Jake Storm " Jake said and reached out his hand and shook William`s hand. "So what brings the irishman to New York if i may ask ?" Jake asked him and smiled some.

[Michael Smith]

Michael's gaze passed over his suit again at the comment of it looking expensive. Good. he didn't want it to look like any cheap, badly made suit someone could buy in a high street store. It wasn't one of those. Hand tailored and very nice. No labels, either. Who needed the normal stuff when you had bundles of money? Not Michael, that was for sure. Okay, he might not have had bundes of money, exactly, but certainly more than he really needed... He nodded regardless, noticing that the boy didn't seem to be a suit wearer... Then he certainly knew quality when he saw it. Good. It was a good thing to be able to recognise, certainly.

Having no reason to reply to the comment, Michael didn't. To the point, that was him. His hands never moved during this part of the conversation... At least, no more than previously stated. As he spoke, replying to Michael's seemingly joking comment, Michael laughed softly.

"Hard to be good all the time... That's for sure." It was so hard not to make any references to princes, but Michael was determined not to. That didn't suit Mr Queen. Not at all. William Queen was a businessman, pure and simple. The business might never been explained beyond the title ('business'), but the fact still remained that William Queen was not Michael Smith... Though Michael Smith could easily be William Queen... Regardless of the entire identity crisis he seemed to be having silently, Michael caught the boy's comment on the person's butt and raised an eyebrow. How disrespectful...

"I'm sure she'd love to be told that..." He commented rather casually, raising an eyebrow. A hint of a smirk may have been on his features, but Michael was most certainly not joking. Though he may not seem like it, Michael did believe that everyone deserved the same amount of respect and part of that was not looking at peoples' butts as though they existed purely for other peoples' enjoyment... He didn't dwell on the thoughts, though, as the boy spoke again about the suit. He gave a nod. "Custom... Tailored, too..." He stated, smiling again.

Jake Storm. Interesting name. Not one that Michael had ever thought he'd hear, though there were a few names like that... He gave a small laugh.

"Storm. Nice name." He grinned as they shook hands. After the hand shake, he put his hand back on his suit gently. Upon hearing the question of what an irishman - and Michael was rather impressed that he'd picked up on that - was doing in New York, Michael's lips curved into a smirk. "Business." He answered almost straight away while watching Jake. "I'm impressed, by the way. Not many people know what the accent is..." He added, smirk growing a little. "Always mistake it for Welsh" He sounded somewhat confused as to how Irish could be confused for Welsh, and he really was a little confused, before shaking his head. "People are strange like that, though..."