The footsteps faded into the distance, but the "intimate couple" on the ground didn't move.
Not for a long while.
The red-haired woman finally stirred when she felt the weight of the man lift from her body. Opening her eyes, she saw his calm, handsome face smirking faintly down at her. She looked flustered, a blush coloring her cheeks, but then she let out a small, self-conscious laugh.
"Can you get off me now?" she said, brushing her hair out of her face.
Jack Kadere chuckled and rolled off her, lying in the grass beside her with an amused sigh.
The woman sat up, straightened her black dress, smoothed her tousled hair, and after confirming that the black-suited agents were gone from the park, turned to Jack.
"Thanks for the help back there," she said. "I'm Helena. What's your name?"
"Jack Kadere."
"You're pretty smooth under pressure."
"You're not the first to say that," Jack said, propping his head up with one hand and letting the other rest casually against her leg. "And I doubt you'll be the last."
He smirked. "Still… you sure we want to stop here? It kinda feels like we were just getting started."
Helena glanced down at his hand, then back up with a half-smile. "Are you saying you want to sleep with me?"
"Sure. Unless you've got a better idea."
She leaned closer, lowering her voice as her eyes glinted with challenge. "Do you even know who I am? I'm Helena Bertinelli. My father—Frank Bertinelli—was one of the most powerful mob bosses in Starling City. You want to get involved with me? What if you end up at the bottom of the bay in a pair of concrete shoes?"
Jack grinned. "What's life without a little danger? I'm not looking to date you—I just think you're interesting. And besides, sneaking around behind the mob's back sounds... fun."
Helena couldn't help but laugh. "You're not even pretending to be afraid."
"Why fake it?"
"You really want to test your luck?"
Jack spread his arms. "I'm game if you are."
Helena chuckled again, genuinely entertained. "Not today. I've just managed to give those agents the slip, and I'm heading to Central City."
She hesitated for a moment, then offered, "I can give you my number. If you're serious—and crazy—you can call me."
"Now that's a coincidence," Jack said, sitting up. "I was planning on heading to Central City too."
Helena raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? Planning, or just afraid you'll never see me again?"
Jack gave a playful shrug. "Why not both?"
Helena shook her head, amused. "Alright, I'll go grab my car. Wait for me by the roadside."
"You got it."
The two parted ways. Jack casually strolled toward the curb, waiting in the shade of a nearby tree. About ten minutes later, a sleek sports car pulled up, engine purring like a panther. The door swung open, and Helena leaned over, sunglasses now perched on her face.
"Hop in."
Jack got in, and the moment he closed the door, the engine roared to life. The car peeled away with a burst of speed, leaving the park behind.
...
Jack Kadere wasn't exactly sure how far Starling City was from Central City, but judging by Helena's ease, she must've been confident she could make the trip and be back before nightfall.
She was an odd one, no doubt about that. Not just because she was attractive, bold, and quick on the trigger, but because of the strange vendetta she had against her own father. Helena Bertinelli was the daughter of one of the most feared mob bosses in Starling—Frank Bertinelli—and yet, she'd turned on him completely.
At first, Helena had tried going the legal route—gathering evidence, reporting his activities to law enforcement. But eventually, she traded suits and subpoenas for a crossbow and a mask. That's when she became the Huntress—hellbent on bringing down her own blood. Several times, she had tried to kill Frank herself, but in the end, someone else beat her to it during a crossfire. Her crusade was over—but her war had only just begun.
After that, she crossed paths with Oliver Queen and temporarily joined Team Arrow. She even linked up with Batman's circle in Gotham, briefly taking up the mantle of Batgirl. But her ruthless tactics and disregard for Batman's no-kill rule caused friction. Eventually, she returned to being the Huntress.
Later still, she joined the Justice League and made strides toward tempering her violent streak. But old habits die hard. Batman himself expelled her, coldly declaring: "The League doesn't need assassins."
Not one to sulk, Helena did what any outcast vigilante would do—she built her own team. Alongside Laurel Lance (Black Canary) and Barbara Gordon (who rebranded herself as Oracle after being paralyzed), Helena co-founded the Birds of Prey. The group eventually expanded to include others like Katana, Catwoman, and even Poison Ivy on occasion.
But the Helena riding next to Jack now wasn't there yet. This was still the early Helena, still tangled up in her family's bloodline and mob drama.
Jack glanced at her, realizing the strange timing. Barbara Gordon hadn't been paralyzed yet, Laurel was still in training, and Huntress was just getting started.
"Feels like I'm unlocking the Birds of Prey achievement tree," Jack muttered under his breath with a smirk.
"What's so funny?" Helena glanced sideways at him.
Jack just shook his head. "What are you going to Central City for?"
"Got some custom work to pick up," Helena said offhandedly. "You?"
"Same," Jack replied. "Looking for someone to build me a special piece."
Helena rolled her eyes. "Look, the place I'm heading into isn't exactly tourist-friendly. But if you're really not afraid of getting killed, I can give you two hours once I'm done."
Jack grinned. "Deal."
They rolled into Central City just before noon. Helena stopped at a mid-range hotel.
"You can hop out here," she said. "I'll swing back in half an hour."
Jack nodded and got out, watching her drive off. On the way in, he'd noticed that S.T.A.R. Labs wasn't far. Perfect.
The lab hadn't yet suffered the infamous particle accelerator explosion that would turn half the city into metas, and it was still fully operational. Jack strolled toward it, only to be stopped at the front by a security guard.
"Can I help you, sir?" the guard asked.
"I'm here to see Cisco Ramon," Jack said with a casual smile.
"Name?" the guard asked, reaching for the phone. But before Jack could answer, the doors opened and two figures stepped out.
A woman with long curls and a warm smile, and a man with shoulder-length hair and a sharp gaze.
Caitlin Snow and Cisco Ramon—aka Killer Frost and Vibe in the near future.