Jace stared at the man in the doorway. This stranger had the same hazel eyes and nose shape as Felicity. Jace guessed they were related somehow, but he didn't want to assume.

Before he could speak, City took charge.

"Wesley, calm down. This is Jace," said City, gesturing to him. "He walked me home from Indigo and fought off some street thugs."

"Thugs?" asked Wesley sharply.

"I'll tell you more inside," said City. She sighed and looked at Jace. "Thanks, Jace. I'll see you Friday?"

"Friday at 6," said Jace with a smile. She smiled warmly back and stepped inside. Wesley gave Jace a glare before shutting the door a bit more forcefully than usual.

As Jace walked to the street again and got in a taxi, he thought about Wesley. He had seen so familiar... Where had Jace seen him before?

Then he remembered; Wesley had been to the Pit with a group of rowdy friends a few times in the past. He hadn't been recently, and no one knew that Jace was Songbird, so he had no reason to worry... But he still felt uneasy. Jace did not want City to find out about his side job.

Isaac and Devin were waiting for Jace when he got home. Jace told them all about the cliché way he saved the day, and how he had met City's brother.

"Ooh, her brother," said Isaac, thinking out loud, totally ignoring the fight and skipping to the drama. This was typical for the friends of Jace. They were used to his fighting, but not his love life. "He shouldn't know that you're Songbird; you probably have nothing to worry about."

"That's what I was thinking... But still," said Jace, frowning.

"Where does he work?" asked Devin.

"Auto shop somewhere in the city," replied Jace, remembering a previous conversation with Felicity. "He seems protective."

Isaac scoffed. "Of course he's protective; he's her older brother."

"But at least you got another date with City!" Devin exclaimed.

"Don't blow it," warned Isaac, waving a finger at Jace. "I actually like this girl; unlike literally all the other ones you've brought home."

"Thanks," said Jace with a roll of his eyes while Isaac and Devin exchanged grins. "I'll try not to."

The week dragged on for Jace. He worked at Tim's gym every day while Isaac worked at Papa John's and Devin went to his classes. As Thursday came around, Jace was feeling more nervous than ever.

"You're seriously going to the Pit the day before you go on a real date?"

"Yes, Isaac."

Isaac and Jace stood at the ladder going down into the subway that led to the Pit. The cold was still biting, but the wind was not as strong today. Jace was feeling his usual calm before a fight.

"But... what if you get hit in the face and then you're super ugly for your date?" asked Isaac, throwing his hands to his head in an exasperated manner.

"You're more worried than I am," said Jace. He began his descent down the ladder. "I won't even let them hit me; you'll see."

Devin had homework to do that night (as Isaac had pointed out, claiming he was glad to not be in school), so it was just Isaac with Jace. Isaac got the responsibility of collecting bets, something Devin usually did.

Jace made quick work of the night. He won his two matches, all without a single hit to his face. He was one of the only fighters at the Pit who could manage such a feat.

He was still exhausted as he and Isaac rode back in an Uber. It was nearing 1am when they were finally out of the Pit.

"You were great, as usual," said Isaac, keeping his voice low so the driver couldn't eavesdrop. "I don't know how you do it sometimes."

"Practice." Jace was quiet for a moment, images of his training flashing through his mind... "And being pushed past your breaking point so often that you never want to feel that again, so you have to win."

Isaac didn't have a witty comment or opinion after that. Jace hasn't been that deep in a long time, he thought to himself.

He let the conversation drop, for which Jace was thankful.

City was so excited for her date with Jace that she could hardly believe her week was gone already. Her days had been spent working at Indigo's restaurant and club at night. Audrey gave her company during this time, but City could not wait to see Jace again.

Friday night came, and she was headed out of the changing room, about to go back to her apartment and change before her date.

"City, wait!"

Shane was coming up to her. City caught herself from groaning out loud.

"Hey Shane..." she began, but Shane cut her off.

"Why are you headed out so early? Not working the club tonight?" he asked, an impatient undertone to his voice.

City could tell there was an ulterior motive behind him asking. After a moment's hesitation, she figured she shouldn't keep something this big and potentially damaging to their relationship from him.

"Actually, I'm leaving early because I have a date."

"A...date?"

City felt her face flush red slightly. She felt bad; she hadn't had a date with someone else since going out with Shane. They weren't exclusive by any means, but she still felt that guilt of leaving him hanging.

Shane spoke again. "Don't tell me it's with that guy you were with last weekend..."

"Yeah, that's the one. Look, Shane, I've got to go, or I'll be late. We can talk about this later?" suggested City, putting on her leather jacket and starting toward the door.

"Sure, sure..." said Shane. City could practically hear the jealousy in his voice, and she was grateful for the rush of cold as she stepped into the street and waved down a taxi.

City hurried to her apartment and ran to her bedroom. She could hear Wesley's voice from outside her door. What was he saying? Eh, who cares.

She changed her outfit, throwing together a pant and jacket combo, and reapplied makeup before going back out to the living room. Wesley sprang up from the chair in which he was sitting.

"Are you going out with that Jace character?" asked Wesley in a hurry, following City to the door. "Are you sure he'll keep you safe? He seemed like he was hiding something when he came over—"

"Wesley! It's fine, I'll be fine," said City, opening the door. "And I'll text you when I'm on my way home!"

"Okay, okay." Wesley stood in the threshold and watched his little sister walk down the hall. "Be safe!"

"Yep!" She disappeared from his sight.

When City walked out the apartment complex, she was greeted by Jace standing in front of a car's back door, holding it open for her, a boyish grin on his face. It was clearly an Uber, and City laughed at the sight but appreciated the gesture.

When she got in the car, Jace sliding in beside her, City got a good look at her date for the evening. His dark eyes shone with excitement and anticipation, and City couldn't help but feel giddy inside that she was the cause of these emotions. His tousled, dark brown hair was slightly messy, as though he had recently run a nervous hand through it, and his simple black athletic jacket showed off his toned figure. City hadn't really noticed before, but he was incredibly fit – but not in an obnoxious way. She could tell even from here that he worked out regularly. Duh, he works at a gym! she thought.

Jace caught City staring. She looked forward quickly.

"You look gorgeous tonight, Felicity," said Jace with a perfectly crooked smile, drawing City's eyes back to him.

City smiled back, blushing. Her name sounded like it was made for him to speak it. "Thanks. Where are we going?"

They arrived just as she asked. It was a short drive, but because the air was so chilly that evening, Jace had decided not to walk. He practically jumped out of the Uber and ran over to City's door, opening it for her to step out.

As the Uber sped away, City got a look at where they were. It was a very small Italian restaurant. Inside, there were only a few customers.

"It doesn't look like much," Jace began as they walked in, "but they have the best pasta in the city."

"I can't wait!" said City. Food was the way to her heart, no denying it.

They ordered, ate, and talked for the evening. The restaurant owners were very friendly toward Jace, who later explained that he knew them personally. The two talked and laughed the entire time. City had to admit she was amazed at how well their conversations flowed; they understood each other's jokes and both listened to stories well. She was saddened when the store owner came over to their table and said the restaurant would be closing soon.

"We've been here for three hours?!" cried City, eyebrows raised in disbelief.

"Crazy right?" commented Jace. He took the check from the waiter and said, "Don't even think about it," when City started to get out her wallet. She sighed and put it back.

They left the restaurant, noticing how quickly night had fallen. Jace lightly took City's hand, much to her pleasant surprise. She couldn't think of a time when a guy had treated her this well, especially on a first date. She didn't even think guys like this existed. He was so attractive, the street light falling on his face and casting shadows in his dark eyes.

"I want to show you something," said Jace. He noticed her quizzical look and laughed. "Nothing too bad. Just trust me."

He led her by the hand between a few tall buildings, down a drafty alley, and around to the back of a building. He positioned her in front of a fire escape that led up the side of the building.

"What are we..." City began, but Jace had that same boyish grin on his face that made her feel more at ease. She was about to do something reckless, and she never did anything reckless, but with Jace there... City was strangely calm, eager even.

They took the stairs to the top landing. Then, carefully, Jace helped City climb up the side of the building further so that they could get on the roof. City felt the rush of adrenaline as she climbed, but she wasn't prepared for that rooftop view.

She had never been this high in the city before. The buildings stretched out below, their bright windows and signs lighting up the streets and sidewalks. Jace made it to the top and stood beside her, and they took a moment to just stare across the city.

"Isn't this illegal?" City had to ask. "Are you a criminal, Jace?" she joked.

"Maybe for trespassing?" said Jace with a laugh. If only she knew what he really did...

"I've never seen the city like this before," said City in a quiet voice. "It's beautiful."

"It is."

She looked at Jace and was taken aback when she saw he was looking up at the sky instead of out at the city lights.

"I've always wanted to live somewhere with no light pollution," continued Jace. He glanced to the side at City and smiled, his dark eyes showing a tenderness in them that City loved. Loved?

"Out in the country somewhere?" asked City, brushing away that L-word quickly.

"Yeah... I've always loved the stars."

City followed Jace's gaze up to the dark sky. The city's glow was obscuring most of the stars, but a few random, bright dots made it through the darkness.

"I've always wanted to see a sky full of stars," said City wishfully.

"I'll take you someday."

"Really?" City looked at Jace. He laughed, and she wondered why. Was it her expression, or maybe how eager she had sounded? She started to get self-conscious until he spoke again.

"Really. Someday I'll drive you out so far that we will be able to see the stars." He sounded serious. City smiled. The way he was talking, he clearly pictured that they would be hanging out more often, which made City feel a warmth inside her that drove away the chilly air.

Jace closed the gap that was between them. City looked up at him; he was tall, probably just over six feet or so, and City hadn't realized that before until now, when there was barely a space between them.

He looked into her hazel eyes, she into his dark ones.

"May I please kiss you now?"

Oh my goodness. His voice was so sweet, his face so innocent... No one could have said no to that question, and City was wondering how she ever got so lucky to be in this position.

She laughed gently. "Please."

Their kiss was light, brief... but to City, it felt like all her passion was rolled into that one kiss. Jace didn't linger for too long, probably because he didn't want to overstep any boundaries on the first date, which City thought was so kind of him. But he did shortly place his hand on the back of her head, tangled in her wavy hair... It was over too soon for City's liking.

After the kiss (and a long pause in which they both just stared happily and rather awkwardly at each other), they climbed back down the fire escape and called an Uber.

Jace walked City to her apartment door once more.

"I hope to see you again, m'lady," said Jace in a British accent.

City laughed. "The pleasure would be all mine!"

They smiled at each other again for a moment. Jace cleared his throat. "Um, well, I better be going... But I'll come visit you at work again, okay?" said Jace. City thought it was cute how nervous he seemed all of a sudden.

City beamed. "I would love that. Thanks for tonight, by the way."

"Anything for my lady," he said, his voice quieter again.

She gave him another brilliant smile before disappearing inside the apartment.

Jace had a huge grin on his face the entire drive back home.

"Are you high?" asked his Uber driver as Jace got out.

"Sure feels like it!" Jace exclaimed, barely able to contain his excitement. The Uber driver gave him a funny look before pulling away.

Jace slept better than he could ever remember that night. No dark thoughts from his past plagued his mind as he slept, his mind on his Felicity.