The sound of footsteps gradually faded, but the passionate exchange between the man and woman didn't cease.
After what felt like a long while, the girl, still caught in the moment, suddenly sensed the other person pulling away. She opened her eyes in confusion and saw him looking at her with a faint, amused smile on his handsome face.
Despite feeling a bit embarrassed and shy, the girl smiled back. "Can you get off me first?"
Su Sheng chuckled and rolled over to lie beside her. The girl sat up, adjusting her clothes and hair. After confirming that the men in black had left the park, she turned toward Su Sheng. "Thanks for helping me. My name is Helena. What's yours?"
"Su Sheng."
"You're really good at this."
"You're not the first to say that, and you won't be the last," Su Sheng replied with a light smile, one hand supporting his head while the other rested casually on her lap. "But we can't continue here. How about finding a more private place?"
Helena glanced at his hand, then back at him with a teasing smile. "Are you trying to start something with me? You might not be able to handle it."
"I'm Helena Bertinelli. My father, Frank Bertinelli, is the infamous crime syndicate leader in Starling City. Do you really think you can handle dating me? Aren't you afraid my father will have you killed and thrown into the ocean?"
"What's there to be afraid of? I'm not looking for a relationship—just the thrill of the chase," Su Sheng laughed.
"You're not scared?"
"Want to find out?"
Seeing Su Sheng's eager expression, Helena burst out laughing. "Not today. I finally managed to shake off those goons, and I'm heading to Central City. I'll give you my number. If you're really not afraid, you can call me anytime."
Su Sheng clapped his leg and grinned. "What a coincidence! I'm heading to Central City too."
"Are you really going to Central City, or are you just afraid of missing out?" Helena asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Both."
"Alright then, I'm going to get my car. Wait for me by the roadside."
"Sure."
They parted ways briefly, and Su Sheng walked over to the side of the road. About ten minutes later, a sports car pulled up in front of him. The door swung open, and Helena leaned out to call him over.
Su Sheng got into the car, and with a roar of the engine, they sped off.
He wasn't entirely sure how far Starling City was from Central City, but judging by the time Helena chose to leave, she seemed confident they'd make it back before dark. Helena was an intriguing woman—skilled at deceiving her father and determined to rebel against him. Despite being the daughter of a mafia leader, she was committed to bringing him down. Initially, she collected evidence to report him, but eventually, she took on the persona of the Huntress, seeking justice by any means necessary. Her vendetta didn't end until her father was accidentally killed in a firefight.
She briefly joined Green Arrow's team and the Bat-Family, even adopting the Batgirl mantle for a while. However, her ruthless approach and refusal to adhere to a no-kill policy led to her once again donning the Huntress' mask. She later joined the Justice League and learned to control her temper and cruelty, but Batman eventually dismissed her, stating the League didn't need a killer.
Not one to be left out, she joined forces with Black Canary (Laurel Lance) and Oracle (Barbara Gordon) to form the Birds of Prey. The group quickly grew, attracting the likes of Catwoman, Katana, and Poison Ivy. But at this point, Helena was still at the beginning of her journey.
With Barbara Gordon yet to be paralyzed and Laurel Lance just starting her training, Helena was clearly still in the early stages of her transformation.
"This feels like the beginning of the Birds of Prey," Su Sheng mused, chuckling to himself.
"What's so funny?" Helena asked, glancing at him.
"What brings you to Central City?" Su Sheng asked, changing the subject with a smile.
"Just picking up something I ordered," Helena replied casually. "What about you? What are you going there for?"
"To get something custom-made."
Helena rolled her eyes. "I can't take you with me where I'm going. If you're really not afraid of danger, we'll have two hours after I'm done."
"Sounds good," Su Sheng agreed with a grin.
When they arrived in Central City, Helena parked the car outside a decent hotel.
"You can wait here. I'll come back in half an hour," Helena said.
Su Sheng nodded and got out of the car. As she drove away, he noticed that the S.T.A.R. Labs building wasn't far from where he stood. Without wasting time, Su Sheng headed toward the lab.
The particle accelerator explosion hadn't occurred yet, so S.T.A.R. Labs was still operational.
As Su Sheng approached the entrance, a security guard stopped him.
"Sorry, sir. Can I help you with something?"
"I'm here to see Cisco Ramon," Su Sheng said with a smile.
"May I have your name?" the guard asked, preparing to contact Cisco. Just then, the door opened, and two people stepped out.
A man and a woman.
The woman had long, curly hair that cascaded over her shoulders, with a bright smile and a poised demeanor. The man, not very tall with a slightly darker complexion and shoulder-length hair, looked more casual.
It was none other than Cisco Ramon, the future Vibe, and Caitlin Snow, the future Killer Frost.
...