Poised feet glided across the smooth wooden floor of the dance studio gracefully, making not a sound as a girl with a delicate figure performed to a nonexistent audience.

Her posture was perfect, her nimble body replicating each move from a complex ballet routine with precision. It seemed as if she dedicated enough time to that routine daily as her moves were fluid and executed with the ease of a practiced dancer. 

When her performance came to a halt, there was no applause or roses as she was all alone in that spacious dance studio. The only eyes observing her belonged to her own reflection visible in the mirror in front of her. 

Her small brown eyes carefully calculated each turn of her head, the sway of her hands and the time it took to perfectly execute each step.

It had to be perfect. Everything had to be exactly the way she wanted, with no error, from the precision of her moves to the outlook of her studio.

She had to be perfect; it was a desire that had blossomed within her from a very young age ever since she found out that she could have anything and everything she wanted with one twirl of her fingers. Thus she wanted to be someone who seemed worthy enough of that power and control. And in her eyes, that could only be achieved if she had no flaw.

Lorena Sionis was the only daughter of the most influential man in Gotham but she had been kept like a secret, hidden away from the eyes of the world.

Just like a ballerina performing for no audience, she lived each day of her life as a monotonous repetition that was seldom broken by rare visits from her father and sometimes even those visits were sacrificed for his work.

As a result, she had gotten used to the isolation, surrounded by the very few trusted staff that Black Mask had appointed to keep her safe. Her life was like that of a glass figurine stuck in a snow globe, revolving purely out of instinct.

She knew her father had to come for a visit that day after months of staying extremely busy. There shouldn't have been anything exciting about it if not for the fact that he had conveyed that he'd be bringing forth a guest as well. He didn't mention who that guest was so it made her a little curious to find out.

There was some time left until dinner so she headed to her room to get ready for it. By the time she came downstairs, she was surprised to see a young boy looking at the paintings displayed in the hall.

She had never seen him before and by his attire, it didn't seem that he was a new member of the housekeeping staff. Her heels clicked against the floor as she approached him and he quickly spun around to see her, the brightest shade of blue meeting her brown irises.

His cheek had a fading bruise but other than that, he looked quite decent and dressed up. She had a guess that perhaps that young boy was the guest his father had invited although it didn't make much sense to why Black Mask would introduce her to him.

He looked younger than her by a year or two and it was clear that he was quite worried about something. Those blue eyes were full of fear and anxiety that she couldn't quite miss to see.

"Hi," he spoke up nervously, "I was asked to wait here so..."

"What's your name?" She asked, eyes scrutinizing his every move.

"Timothy," he replied.

"I'm Lorena," she took a step closer, offering him her hand that he hesitantly shook, "I take it that you are my father's guest? Sit down."

He did as he was told, his eyes flickering toward her every now and then. Lorena was still standing by the luxurious sofa, waiting for her father to show up.

It didn't take her long to wait as the front doors opened and Roman's personal bodyguards entered, followed shortly by the feared crime lord himself.

Roman Sionis greeted both of them heartily and he seemed to be in a particularly good mood. Timothy had sprung up from his seat as well, Lorena noticed, cautiously standing at a distance from her father.

To her, it seemed as if that fear she had seen in his eyes earlier was due to her father. And if her assumption was true, then he could surely not be blamed for being afraid.

Roman Sionis had all of Gotham crawling in fear from his very name. 

"Timothy, meet my lovely daughter, Lorena," Roman introduced the two of them while both were carefully observing each other as if analyzing what motives could be behind that introduction, "and Lori, this is Timothy, my new business partner."

"He's a child," she spoke up immediately. 

Tim felt as if she had rebuked him by that remark and he withdrew his gaze, focusing on the food in front of him but unable to eat much due to the worry clawing at his heart.

"I think both of you are around the same age," Roman remarked, pausing as if to recall how old was his only daughter but failing to do so, "and a few years here or so doesn't make much difference."

"If you say so," she mumbled amiably to her father, changing that tone of disapproval quite instantly when she addressed Tim again, "it's a pleasure to meet you, Timothy."

"Pleasure is all mine," the boy mumbled, keeping his eyes down.

Tim felt quite uncomfortable as it seemed he was seated at a dining table with one merciless dragon and another sly serpent. Both the Sionises had a very piercing gaze and despite the outward hospitality, they were rather cold.

He felt like prey for two predators, each analyzing how he could benefit them and whether or not he was useful enough to be kept alive.

"I want you two to get acquainted with each other," Roman resumed, revealing the reason for his decision to introduce them, "Timothy will join you in your classes from tomorrow. I have talked to Edgar already and he says it will be easier if both of you are taught at the same time. He will manage."

Lorena's eyes sparked in resistance, "does he have to study the same subjects I do?"

"Yes. It's important," Roman replied firmly, "I want both of you to perform your best."

Tim had no idea what those classes were about, he had only been told that Roman had arranged for a tutor to help him continue his education. Nowhere before had he mentioned that he would have to study with his daughter.

"I am sure you will get along," he wiped his hands on the napkin and stood up to leave. He gestured for one of his guards to go and bring Tim's stuff from the car outside. "Timothy, you will stay here for the time being until the issue with Drake Manor is sorted. And you are not allowed to leave unless I say so."

Tim stole a glance at Lorena who was managing a straight expression but it was clear that she wasn't happy with her father's current decision. She certainly did not want Tim to become an interruption in her daily life.

Sensing her unease, Roman remarked, "Lori, he will not bother you. He knows his place."

Tim bit the inside of his cheek, quite accustomed to being treated as dirt by the elder man but knowing he couldn't possibly do anything about it. His current problem was the crime lord's daughter sitting in front of him who seemed even more hostile compared to her father and who he would have to tolerate for the upcoming few weeks.

"That's alright, Father," she shook her head, managing a slight smile right after shooting a warning glare to Tim, "we'll manage."

***