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imonthinice · 3 years

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The Criminal Psychology Majors, Jason Todd x Fem!Reader Part 16/?

Word Count: 4.2k

Author’s Note: Y/N - Your name

I put two days into this chapter<3 I guess the timeline may speedup a bit<3

Warnings: Jail discussion, Victim Shaming, Fighting, Mentions of Injury, Disassociation, Disconnect, Trauma, Swearing, Mentions of alcoholism and drug use, No beta bitch we die like Jason Todd

(Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) (Part 4) (Part 5) (Part 6) (Part 7) (Part 8) (Part 9) (Part 10) (Part 11) (Part 12) (Part 13) (Part 14) (Part 15) (Part 16) (Part 17) (Part 18) (Part 19) (Part 20)

Family game night was well underway in the Wayne Manor when Y/N got a phone call from the prison that Justine Wong, her high school friend who went to jail protecting her, was incarcerated in until her trial or the man who attempted to assault Y/N dropped the charges.

She excused herself and went outside in the Autumn weather to take the call.

“Hello.”

“This is an automated call from Gotham County Prison from Inmate ‘Justine Wong’, to accept this call please press 1.”

She did as such.

“Thank you for your cooperation. All inmate calls are recorded. Your account balance is $50.69.”

“Hello?” Justine asked into the phone.

“Hey, it’s me. Why are you calling? Are you alright?” Y/N asked.

“I need you to come here and get me a lawyer.”

“You’re up my ass right now, aren’t you? I thought he was dropping the charges?”

“He isn’t. Christopher, Thomas, Kaitlin and I seriously need your help now.”

“Are you all in the same prison?”

“Yes, they transferred over the boys yesterday because of this. We can all meet in a recorded room while you get us a lawyer.”

“Fuck, dude. Uh,” she thought about game night, but decided this was more important, “Do you need me now?”

“Yes, we can all get into the room and then you can meet us, I think the jail is 10-20 minutes of a walk away from the Manor?”

“Fuck. Okay. I’ll be there.”

Click. She thought about going back inside and asking someone to drive her to the jail, but she was also just not prepared to answer anyone’s questions about it. It was cold outside, but if she ran she could get there in 10 minutes. But that’s when Bruce joined her outside, she assumed Jason sent him because he was crushing his siblings in Monopoly at the moment.

“So, I’m friends with the commissioner of the county, Jim Gordon,” Bruce said, “And I know what your friends are dealing with.”

“Well, it’s not like it’s plastered all over the news or anything,” she said to Bruce, with a slight [massive] amount of sarcasm tinged in her voice.

“Do your parents know?”

“If they did I wouldn’t be in Gotham anymore.”

“Do you need a ride to the jail?”

“Yes.”

“I can do that, no issue.”

“Thank you, Bruce.”

“Anytime,” he said before leading her to one of his cars.

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In the car, Y/N tried to keep up conversation with Bruce, it was a short drive but the time seemed to slow and he could tell she wasn’t talkative. This was, what he thought was likely, very, very stressful for her. He was used to this, the court dates, the police station, but he knew that her attackers’ court dates were coming up and she was going to need emotional support, since her parents weren’t in the city.

He didn’t know how to support her as the dad of her boyfriend, he’d probably just mention it in passing to Jason and Jason would deal with her. ‘Deal with’ probably was not the way to describe the girl that his son was dating, especially when she’s in as much emotional distress as Y/N clearly was in that moment, but Bruce was terrible with wording.

She didn’t even want him to bother with her emotions about it all, because she didn't know how she felt. She didn’t know anything about the situation and how it made her feel, she just froze in the sight of this confrontation and hid from it all behind a mask of seeming to know what she was doing.

They pulled up to the prison, and she got out of the car and waved off Bruce before walking to the front desk and saying who she was and why she was there, providing her ID if need be. They led her into the backrooms, and told her that the room was being recorded and that she couldn’t touch them before letting her in the room.

She looked at the 4 of her friends who were all being charged with assault and battery.

“Y/N?” Thomas asked.

“This... this is surreal. Didn’t think we’d ever end up like this,” she said, looking at the floor before crossing her arms.

“What do we do now?” Kaitlin asked.

“Do any of your parents have enough money to pay for a lawyer? I can call them for you,” Y/N said.

“You didn’t already call them?” Christopher asked.

“No, I didn’t. I’ve been pretending this entire thing doesn’t exist, I don’t want it to exist.”

“But we need a lawyer,” Justine snapped.

“No fucking shit, Sherlock Holmes.”

“Well you should have gotten us a lawyer!” Justine snapped again, raising her voice.

“Now is not the time to yell at her, Justine,” Thomas interrupted.

“Shut up, Thomas! You,” she turned to Y/N, “Look at me! Look what you made us do and you can’t even look us in the eyes!”

“I didn’t make you do anything, Justine.”

“You’re the one who’s a fucking alcoholic and can’t handle her drinks so she almost got raped! You’re pathetic.”

“Now is not the time to victim shame me, Justine” Y/N sighed, “What you’re saying is very hurtful and makes me not wish to help you anymore, understood? You can lash out at me to get the anger out, but this isn’t my fault and you know it,” she said, finally locking eyes with Justine.

“I’m sorry.”

“You should be.”

They continued talking about what to do for hours, with Y/N ignoring most advances Justine made to prove the point that yes, she was pissed at Justine about what she had said to Y/N.

Y/N wasn’t taking anyone’s shit anymore. Ever since she met Jason, and pissed off the press, she stopped letting people get away with everyone, she stopped telling people what they wanted to hear.

And people were noticing, especially her 4 friends in that room. She was trying to get better, to recover so she wouldn't relapse, and it was obvious.

“Y/N?” Justine said.

“Justine?”

“I’m sorry.”

“I am aware. I’ll be calling your parents when we’re done here.”

“So do you forgive me?”

“I’ll consider forgiving you.”

“You’ve changed.”

“Good,” she turned to the other 3, “Anything you 3 want before I leave?”

“Nope, that’s it,” Thomas said, “Thank you, Y/N.”

“That’s everything yeah,” Kaitlin said, “Thanks, man.”

“What they said,” Christopher joked, “Thanks.”

“Alright, I love you 3, I’ll try to arrange phone calls with you 3,” she said putting emphasis on the word 3. Oh yeah, she was pissed.

She would leave the room without even saying ‘goodbye’ to Justine. She would tell the police she was done with the meeting. They asked who would be handling getting lawyers to the 4 kids, she said she would call their parents. Commissioner Gordon walked up to her and held out his hand, “You must be Jason’s girlfriend. I’ve know that kid all his life basically, I’m Commissioner Jim Gordon,” he said.

“Y/N,” she said, shaking his hand.

“I know these last 2 weeks have been extremely stressful for you, Y/N,” he said.

“I think everyone’s caught onto that.”

“I called Bruce to come get you.”

“Thank you, sir.”

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Meeting new people filled her with a lot of life after the hell she was pulled through. From stabbing, to head injuries, to friendships crumbling, to court, Y/N was being strewn through the wringer.

She knew it would calm down eventually, she was just being put through a few bad weeks for a lifetime of happiness, and she hoped that happiness was with Jason.

She couldn’t think much longer when Bruce pulled up and she got to the car.

“How was it?” he asked.

“Do you really want to know, Bruce?”

“I do. The justice system can be draining.”

“You could say that again,” she joked, “So, where do I start? Well, I get in there and tensions are high, obviously. I’m sure prison sucks when they shouldn’t really be there, they did the job the vigilantes here do, and we all let them do it. Anyway... my friend I guess, she comes at my throat about my attack,” she paused, trying to swallow her pain, “Starts blaming me for it, uses my alcoholic past against me, you know, the stuff you shouldn’t do. I don’t care if she’s right and I shouldn’t have drank, but she fucking led me to the bar.”

She fumbled with her hands a bit, still trying to not cry, “Anyway, I told her that she can’t talk to me like that, that I won’t let her talk to me like that and she apologized. Guess what? I said ‘You should be.’ and I know that might not mean much to you, Bruce, but I would have never stood up for myself like that had I not met your son, you did something right with that boy, Bruce, I swear,” she joked, “But that was about it, I have to call everyone’s parents to get them lawyers, but that’s it.”

“I figured you had a backbone from the start, kid,” Bruce said in response.

“You kidding? I had to ask Jason if you would hate me for flipping off the press? I’ve never, ever had a backbone.”

“Well maybe, besides the lack of protection,” he joked, “Maybe Jason and you are a good couple.”

“You think so?”

“I think so.”

“Thanks, Bruce. Really. Your kids are a hoot to hang out with and you’re not half-bad yourself, old man.”

“Are you going to start calling me that, too?”

“Maybe jokingly.”

“I’m not that old, kiddo.”

“You just called me kiddo and you think I don’t deserve to say you’re old? Really? Bruce, c’mon, you’re smarter than that.”

“You don’t deserve it. You’re just going to do it.”

She laughed, “About the protection lecture, I wouldn't have done it if I wasn’t on the pill, Bruce. I appreciate the concern, but you were so wrong about us ‘not being prepared’.”

He laughed, “Maybe you should have said something.”

“You never asked me, Bruce.”

“I wouldn't make a good detective, then.”

“That’s why Commissioner Gordon is on the cases I’m involved in, and not you.”

He paused, “Isn’t your head-butting buddy’s trial starting tomorrow?”

“It is.”

“Are you going to watch it?” he asked, off-handedly, “I think Dick might, just to see what the ‘sicko’ looks like.”

“I’m definitely going to watch it,” she laughed, “Might even make it an essay for school.”

“Well that’s one way to handle it.”

“Might as well turn the sick fuck who tried to turn me into a ransom note be turned into a 100% in my classes. Call it; Classy Revenge.”

They pulled into the driveway together, while Bruce was laughing at the comment Y/N made. She laughed, too. It helped heal some of the wounds she experienced over the 2 weeks of knowing Jason, even some of the prior wounds. Bruce told her that the kids were still playing Monopoly, none of them had apparently gone bankrupt yet, it was 12:00am.

To say she was impressed with Jason and his siblings would be an understatement, she remembered playing Monopoly with her family, and they’d all always declare bankruptcy within an hour or so, and thee was never a back-to-back winner when they all played.

Maybe they were bad at managing money, maybe thee Wanes just were too stubborn to declare bankruptcy and they bent the rules of Monopoly a little bit to suit their family, she didn’t know.

They walked into the house and sat back down, Y/N at Jason’s side where she had been the 4, or-so, hours before. Everyone seemed to acknowledge her presence and wished to ask her what happened, but no one knew how to bring it up to her. They knew she wasn’t used to the life of court and trials, the needing to talk to police, it was really one the Waynes and the kids of police officers that were used to tat stuff.

She pretended to not notice them wanting to ask her and opened her phone while Jason tried to negotiate for the 4th railroad from Tim, to see her mother texted her.

How are you, sweetheart? Her mum had asked.

I’m fine, mum. Shouldn’t you be sleeping?

I should, but I can’t sleep thinking about the trial of your attacker

Same. It’s such a stressful situation.

I can’t even imagine how you’re feeling through all of this.

She couldn’t put how she felt into words. How the way that the moments she was in the alleyway made her feel. the way that man’s face was burned into her memory to be a constant reminder tat she wasn’t safe wherever she went. It was something she had never experienced before.

Maybe it was fear. Maybe it was pain.

I don’t know how I’m feeling either, Mum.

How’s your nose?

It’s healed basically. No more nosebleeds at random intervals.

You didn’t tell me about the nosebleeds.

I didn’t tell anyone about the nosebleeds, Mum.

Why not?

I don’t need people to worry about me, to feel for me, to make their times and schedules molded to fit me. Good intentions or not, I don’t need charity hand outs.

Then do we stop paying your rent?

Well, I mean you could. I wouldn’t stop you from stopping paying my rent, but the difference is that you giving me money is to keep me at the top of the school, to make myself the best I can be.

How badly would your studies be impacted if we stopped paying your bills?

Probably massively. Don’t worry, mum. It’s a two-year program and then I can get my own job and make enough money. I’ll get you a little house on a hill and you can be the Queen of the Hill.

That’s nice of you honey. We should both try to sleep if we’re trying ot catch the trial today.

Goodnight, Mum.

they were all still glued to the game, when Barbara chose she would take the risk and ask Y/N about the meeting.

“So, how was it?” she asked, innocently.

“How much time do you have?”

“We have pretty much all night, the others can go at this till the trial tomorrow,” she joked.

“I mean, challenge accepted,” Y/N laughed, “So, we pull up to the county jail, right. I wave off Bruce, no big deal, everything was going to plan, which should have honestly been my first sign that things were going to be fucked, but I digress,” she paused, “I walk in, give the lady my ID and she looks at m funny, like she knew that I had been drinking underage in that moment and was disappointed in me, as she should be.”

She fiddled with her hands, “So they lead me to the back and before they do they tell me the usual, I can’t touch any of them and my conversation with them will be recorded, then they let me in. I greet everyone like the good friend I am but tensions are high and everyone’s on edge, which is understandable, but.”

Jason perked up when she put emphasis on but, knowing the story was about to get real, really quickly.

“My friend Justine, she called me to get me there, she starts going at me about how this is my fault for being an ex-alcoholic and drinking, which, yes, i should not have been drinking. But she lead me to the bar,” she paused, “She starts blaming me for how I almost got raped and putting them all in there, whatever,” she paused again, “I basically told her that if she wanted my help she was going to have to behave and be nice to me, to which, she apologized,” she paused.

“You didn’t accept that apology, right?” Stephanie asked.

“God, no. I said I’d consider forgiving her. Everyone else was fine though. anyway, I have to call their parents and get them in contact with a lawyer soon.”

“You’re still doing that even after that whore victim-shamed you?” Jason said, he seemed in awe that Y/N would be so kind to someone who did her so wrong.

“Jay, I’m borderline legally obligated to do that,” Y/N said, “I wouldn’t do it if she hadn’t saved me.”

“I think you still shouldn’t do it,” Damien said.

“And you seem very vengeful, Damien. But that’s only sometimes me.”

“Look, thou shalt not sin or whatever, love thy neighbor or whatever, but that girl wronged you in that conversation, do you really owe it to her to call her parents?” Tim asked.

“You know, for a family who’s known for being the ‘Nice Billionaires’ you all tend to really hate my choices,” she joked.

“Don’t make dumb ones, and we wouldn’t judge,” Tim retorted.

”Okay, smartass. I hope you go bankrupt.”

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Waking up next to Jason on the day of her attacker’s trial was something to her. The comforting aura of the room seemed to be stripped away because the sun hadn’t risen, the blinds didn’t need to be closed, and Jason wasn’t cuddled up next to her.

She would find him already dressed, pacing back and forth in his room. For her 3 back-to-back days of being in Jason’s house without going home, she never saw him this actively distressed about anything. But given the situation they found themselves in, it was understandable.

Someone actively threatened her life for an attempt at a ransom on her name, because she was now tied to Bruce Wayne, and Bruce had money. Of course, for the Wayne household, the kids and Bruce were used to ransom attempts on themselves, with some of them actually being taken hostage before, but Y/N wasn’t.

She defended herself, and since it was, thankfully, caught on camera unlike the attack on her attempted-rapist, she didn’t have to appear in court, she didn’t even need to video her side of the story, she wrote it in a letter and sent it to the District Attorney's office. The District Attorney, being the prosecutor, was obligated to give her statement to the defense, so she was curious as to how her words would be spun to fit their narrative.

Jason and Y/N were both in the criminal psychology major at their college, they both knew what they were in store for, and they both had the ability to tear the defendant into pieces the minute he spoke. If, he spoke, that is.

Jason didn’t seem to notice that she was awake. He was really lost in his own thoughts, his own concerns. He stopped pacing though, and he was just staring at his laptop, possibly zoned out from the situation.

She got up as quietly as she could and went to hug him from, she could hear him let out a little chuckle, so she greeted him, “Good morning, Jay.”

“I thought you were still sleeping,” he turned to look at her.

“I was, but I woke up, that’s how that works,” she joked.

“That’s insane I would have never thought people wake up after they sleep,” he said with heavy sarcasm, “The more you know.”

“Insane, I know,” she said, “I still don’t even have clothes here,” she laughed, “I really need to go home eventually.”

“No you don’t, what?” he said with more sarcasm, “You can just wear my clothes, baby.”

“I don’t think they’ll fit, Jay, I think you forget you are literally massive.”

He laughed, “Listen, being massive is not my fault.”

“How is it not your fault?”

“Don’t ask questions.”

“I am asking questions, I am curious now.”

“Shhh,” he joked, “No need to worry.”

“Billionaire, playboy, philanthropist and he’s got rippling abs? But zero cause for concern? Where do you even find the time?”

“Well, when you’re not over it’s during my downtime.”

“Can’t believe you won’t work out in front of me,” she laughed, “That’s just rude.”

“You already have free entertainment here,” he joked.

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Somehow she found clothes that somewhat fit her so she could go downstairs and watch the start of the trial. She didn’t know if she could sit through the entire trial, she was victim. No one expected her to be able to sit through the entire thing. It was a lot different from studying trials to actually being a part of the trial.

There was more of an all-seeing-eye presence in the living room of the Wayne Manor that morning before the trial began. The sounds of reporters through the television while everyone sat and waited for it to begin, it was not something many would enjoy.

There would be an ending to this story, to this court case, whether it was a month from that moment on that couch or a year from that moment. There would be justice for that bullshit.

Part of her didn’t even want the trial. She wanted the man to take a plea deal. She didn’t want to be in the spotlight when murders were happening. But no one would let it go, a beautiful woman being hurt in an attack against her? It was the kind of stuff that the news sources wanted, craved, from every court case.

And that was the thing about it. She didn’t want to be the tabloids newest escapade into being more and more corrupt, broken, deceitful.

She looked to the television as Jason put his arm around her, bracing for any sort of reaction to the news. No one really knew how she was going to react. And then it started.

Cameras were being let into the courtroom and panning over to him. The man who had attacked her in the alleyway. She subconsciously brought her hand up to her nose and felt it. For a moment, it was like she was back in that alleyway, head-butting that man and then running to the Manor. But she wasn’t there and she knew that, trying to snap herself out o that state brought nothing, though. It took the Judge having to shush the entirety of the courtroom to get her attention back to the real world.

The Judge would introduce himself to the press, but mainly to the court, and then request opening statement. Or at least, Y/N thought that was what he was doing. She didn’t really know what was going on, something pulled her away from the court trial she was witnessing for the man who attacked her.

To the outside, the people surveying her to make sure she was okay, her eyes seemed to glaze over and she seemed to just disconnect from the situation. But they didn’t realize she had disconnected. She just looked to be in thought.

She saw colours fade in and out of her sight, people showing up in front of her, him showing up in her sights, the images dancing in her mind as if she was there in that courtroom.

The time began to slur in her mind. Hours became minutes to her. And before she knew it, court had ceased fro the day. She was snapped out of it by Jason letting her go. He offered to drive her home, she agreed.

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“Y/N?” Jason asked while they were in the car.

“Uh huh?”

“Are you alright?”

“Good question,” she answered, flatly.

“Are you?” he asked, seeming more concerned.

“Probably not.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“Uh-uh.”

“Is that a no?”

“Mhm.”

He reached to place a hand on her thigh, attempting to comfort her, “That’s okay,” he said, “You don’t need to talk about it.”

“Mhm.”

He sighed, “I’ve decided something,” he said, “I’m going to spend the night at yours, just to make sure you’re okay.”

“Okay.”

“You still don’t have to talk about it.”

“I know.”

“Okay, here,” he smiled, “Have I told you the full story about the time that we did chair-racing in the halls of Wayne Manor?” he asked.

“No, you haven’t.”

“Well, what happened was we ended up flying down the halls at like 4 in the morning, right? Well,” he paused, “Dick used to be an acrobat, so when he almost went flying off the stairs, he actually caught himself on a handstand on the rails. Chair still went flying,” he said.

She smiled a little bit. He knew he was doing something right.

“We ended up breaking a vase. Bruce was okay with it because it wasn’t his parents, but Alfred was pissed at us for it. Grounded us all for weeks about it.”

“As he should.”

“Look at me go, getting multiple word answers out of you, and I even got you to crack a smile,” he laughed and grabbed her hand to hold it, “I’m just so good at this boyfriend thing.”

She smiled again. The smiles wouldn’t last for long, but they did happen. He knew the trial was traumatic for her. He could tell. Just from the way she drooped after the trial ended, she could normally not shut up when it came to Jason, so this was out of character.

When they got to her house, he would walk, basically lead her, to her house. She was so far disconnected from everything, that he even just let her rest in her bed with his clothes on and her shoes still on, because she wasn’t functioning.

He would crawl into bed with her and let her rest her head on his chest.

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milliondollarbaby87 · 4 years

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From Gotham’s White Knight to Two-Face

“You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain”

This was something uttered by the new Gotham district attorney not long after he had begun to get involved with the true low life and scum of the city. Predicting his very own future something that he probably wouldn’t have even believed himself. Happy with his life and how everything just seemed to be falling into place for his professional and personal life. Although his turn to become the villain would not be well known and his death was used to highlight the good side and not the monster that he had become. Rachel’s death pushed him to a very dark place very quickly, going from the incredible hero making such a difference to then going about avenging her death with the traitors within the police force to the mob and more importantly to The Joker.

I have watched The Dark Knight many times now and on a recent cinema trip to eventually witness it in all the IMAX glory it got me thinking about Harvey Dent. Thinking about how we don’t really talk about him that much when discussing The Dark Knight. I mean we all know why because Heath Ledger’s Joker is utterly breathtaking and scene stealing. But that is not meant to take away anything from Aaron Eckhart and the marvellous performance he puts in as Harvey Dent and then later Two-Face. I would even go as far saying it is one of the most impressive turns from good to evil as a character within Nolan’s trilogy. While some characters are walking a fine line between the good side of them and the bad side of them. Dent completely goes from one extreme to the other in dramatic fashion.

Batman highlights to Jim Gordon that Dent was the very best of them and that was the reason why The Joker wanted to bring him down. The toughest target and to prove the point that everyone could be corrupted and changed if you managed to push them far enough. Obviously Dent had no idea that Bruce Wayne was Batman, so the link with Rachel was rather awkward for Wayne. Immediately Dent wanted to get to meet Batman and when the press conference is called he did not actually want the man behind the mask to step forward. Sacrificing himself in hope that Batman would indeed to the right thing in saving him.

A small joke made by Rachel about how terrified Harvey was of the trust fund brigade, but this was very interesting to see unfold when he could not cope with Bruce Wayne and his pals. The fundraiser that was thrown in his honour was something that he did not really want to do or attend. Which shows his character in different situations as he was quite happy going up against the mob and criminals of Gotham even having a gun pointed at him in court not effecting him as much as the rich socialites of the city.

The panic of trying to free himself from being tied up whilst also talking to his love Rachel was never going to end well. A very cruel technique used as they both left with people they trusted and woke up tied up, with a timer and being able to speak to each other. Having to try and reassure the other that everything was going to be ok. That was far from the truth as Batman and Gordon attempted to get the locations of the pair. Falling into oil drums and being stuck on the floor with the oil, mixed with fire was never going to be a good combination, especially as he also had to say goodbye to Rachel.

The build up to seeing him physically injured from the incident was rather impressive, as we see that his nickname given when he was working internal affairs was about to become very true. He really had become Two-Faced. But while visually we can see he has changed the important thing to really focus on is that as a person his spirit was well and truly broken. So much so that he would never be the same again, especially when it comes to the choices he makes when seeking revenge. I also feel it is possible that his new outlook on life links with how he looks, so with his features being destroyed by the oil people will expect him to be a monster.

We instantly see him become the villain when waking up with his face melted off basically, then seeing his coin on the bedside table knowing that Rachel was not saved. She had his double headed coin, something that she did not realise to begin with when he loved leaving things to chance. Now though the coin would also become a symbol of his new dark side, one side of the coin had been burnt. This was one of his trademarks of leaving things to chance, although in his lighter days he always said heads for what he wanted the outcome to be knowing that was the only option. Now it would become a sinister game and first used with none other than The Joker, something he certainly likes very much!

In that very sense The Joker had already won, he took Gotham’s real hero with a face and proud to represent and be changing the city, not needing a mask like Batman and destroyed everything about him. Taking away someone you love being the worst possible thing to happen. That is what he cannot deal with at all, after the encounter with The Joker and managing to escape the hospital before it was blown up he sets on his way to find the people responsible and involved in Rachel’s death. Picking them off one by one and letting the coin decide, as soon as he makes the first kill it is sure that he will never be the white knight again.

The turning on Jim Gordon and forcing him to lie to his family, holding his young son at gun point. That really is one very dark turn right? Especially when Batman seems to take forever to arrive. Anyway the final scene and moments with Dent really show that he had become the evil monster, the villain that he predicted right at the start of the film. Although Batman was not going to allow the world to know about Harvey Dent becoming the villain, he was symbol in a different way to the dark knight and everyone just needed to continue the good work he started.

The Dark Knight: The Rise and Fall of Harvey Dent From Gotham’s White Knight to Two-Face “You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain”

#Aaron Eckhart #Batman #Bruce Wayne #Christian Bale #Christopher Nolan #Gary Oldman #Gotham City #Harvey Dent #Heath Ledger #Maggie Gyllenhaal #The Dark Knight #The Dark Knight Trilogy #The Joker #Trilogy #Two Face

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malereader-inserts · 5 years

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Got My Mind Set on You

Fandom: Gotham Pairing: Jerome Valeska x Male!Reader Summary: Jerome is mad, well both psychotic and mad for you. Word Count: 2,062 Request: ooOoooOoo Gotham hell yeah!! Could I request some Jerome x reader? I'm down for absolutely anything, but I was thinking maybe the reader is a beat cop that is known to have bad luck when it comes to running into famous criminals, but lately it's mostly been Jerome and maybe the ginger sparks some insanity into the reader's life? Love your writing by the way~!!!” A/n: idk if i’m dumb but what idk is a beat cop so I changed it to a detective

GCPD finest.

Well, as best as they could manage.

You were proud to be one of the youngsters within the band of dysfunctional, coffee addicts the city fondly called GCPD. You were a detective and at such a young age, you were questioned and challenged about your position. You proved yourself worthy of being a detective, being Alvarez’s partner was a bonus.

Alvarez, though disliked having you as a partner at first, enjoyed your commentary, your thoughts and overall impressed with your professionalism. He took you on board, under his wing and whenever he found you struggling on a case together he helped you and guided you.

You and Alvarez were Jim Gordon and Harvey Bullock’s trusted detectives. Whenever the two needed extra hands on a case, the two of you would be there at the ready.

Which also means that due to your age, being in your mid-twenties, means that you were charming and very charismatic. Which is why, when they come to a dead end they often push you to speak to the criminals. Whilst you play an innocent naive detective who has no idea what they’re doing, you often get them to speak.

Thus, getting you a reputation within the fine city. Not only you’ve dealt with basic criminals you’ve come face to face with some notorious villains.

At first, it was Fish Mooney, though she was much kinder to you. She found you adorable and always made her men keep an eye on you. However, you have to visit her at least once a month, keep her tame. It’s how you caught the eye of her umbrella boy, Oswald Cobblepot.

Oswald was on and off with you, much like his relationship with Jim. Jim had warned you not to be mixed in with Oswald’s plans but he just kept popping up. Smiling and inviting you around, he would always try to bait you as friends, no matter how much you didn’t want to associate yourself with him, he finds himself threatening you if you were to betray him.

“If I were to betray you, Oswald, I would have to be on your side in the first place.”

“We’re friends, (Y/n),” Oswald drawls out, “And friends have each other’s backs.”

You went back to the station, asking Harvey for a glass of his secret stash of alcohol, leaning against his desk and you knock back the burning substance. You rubbed your forehead as Jim and you lock eyes, he nodded ever so slightly understanding your predicament.

Whilst you had to run in with many of Oswald’s men, who harassed you into when you were next visiting Oswald at his mansion. You made run-ins with a psychopath you hadn’t even realised.

Sweet Ed Nygma who would come to your desk with a smile on his face, sits down in the free seat that rested next to the corner of your table. As you write your notes, you had Ed blabber on, with few comments here and there. Ed was satisfied. Until you find out he was sent to Arkham, got out of Arkham afterwards in the hopes of helping Oswald.

So, when you run into Oswald, you ran into Ed, which made you feel cold. Ed had changed, the way he talked, the way he stared down at you, the way he had confidence.

“I need you to help me become mayor, (Y/n), just like we said we’re friends.”

“Friends don’t hit each other with an umbrella, Oswald,” You dryly commented as Oswald blinks rapidly, his mouth open trying to string up some excuse.

“We’re friends, though,” Ed mentions behind Oswald, who turned around at his sudden voice before turning to look at you with a smug smile.

“Were, we were friends Ed,” You corrected, standing up straight, ignoring the darken of his eyes, “until you decided to murder some-”

Your phone started to ring, digging out of your pockets you sighed looking at the caller ID. Oswald looks at your hands, his eyes flickering back up to you, a growing smile on his face.

“I mean Butch here would happily do whatever I say, perhaps Zsasz would-”

“I’ll see you later, no promises I would help you with your stupid mayor campaign, just-” You huffed annoyed, you had run into the strange hitman a few times and the way he stared into your eyes were giving you the shivers, as you stare at Oswald then back at Ed, “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t.”

Oswald smirks as you leave his mansion, bring your phone to your ear as he looks at Butch, Ed sitting nearby.

“You’ve got him wrapped around your little fingers, boss.”

“The young ones, they’re always impressionable.”

As if, Oswald and Ed weren’t enough, you were stuck on frequently bumping into Barabra. She had no mercy for you, often times you would leave with a new injury. She was ruthless especially when she was with Tabitha. Of course, she was the one to introduce you to a new villain in the city. Jervis Tetch.

He would look at you up and down, a black eye forming as you looked annoyed to be in their presence. He found you amusing, he would scare the hell out of you by popping up in areas where you least expect him. His rhyming words would have no effect on you, though you hardly seem to notice the threats and malice within his speeches.

When he was locked up in Arkham you could breathe again without him breathing down your neck. Though, you wondered why he hadn’t infected you with his sister’s blood. Then Ed wanted to establish fear within the city causing him to team up with Butch, Barabra and Tabitha.

You were sure you had to keep yourself on high alert because they always seem to have men around and keeping an eye on you.

“The Riddler,” You dragged the title, crossing your arms over your chest as you stood in the doorway of the Siren’s club, “Sounds like a bore.”

The three watched Ed almost throw a tantrum, as he hardens his stare, “You don’t have Oswald to protect you anymore, (Y/n).”

“No, but I wonder who would get to Zsasz first,” You bargained, “I’m young but not stupid, I’ve run into people like you before, I know how to play you.”

“People like us?”

“Psychotic.”

Truth be told, you didn’t know how you’ve lasted so long. The stress of the job was enough but getting tangled within the villains of Gotham was making your hair grey. You’ve spent any sleepless nights within the precinct, your lamp on within the darken room as you finish the last of your notes.

There was always one villain you were curious about. Jerome Valeska. You remembered him, being only eighteen, murdering his mother. You kept him company before his judgement day with Jim and his father, his confession day.

He found you a real cutie, young and very charming, much like himself. When he had seen you with bruised knuckles or hues of unflattering colours on your face he gets even turned on. So, when he had broken out of Arkham with Barabra, he went out to seek you. He kept an eye on you, as most people did. But, he wanted something different for you.

Whilst people like Penguin wanted you as a puppeteer, a man that they could break. He saw something else, a companionship, a crush as most would say. Jerome wasn’t capable of feeling love, and yet, during the massacre of the police station, he stared at you right in the eye and giggled like a little boy.

“I’ll see you, sweets.”

He runs off, only to give you one last look. Devouring your bleeding state, confused as you stood there doing nothing in your power to follow him and to stop him. He sends you last one wink before disappearing into the chaos.

“(Y/n)?” Jim called out, you blinked and stared at him, “You’re hurt.”

“Not too bad, just my head,” You commented as you watch your partner and Harvey run into the precinct, “Go, I’ll be fine.”

Jim nods as Alvarez comes to you, you were leaning against the desk with your hands shaking. The last time you saw him was at the charity ball, he was a killer - you knew that but you couldn’t help watch in awe. Grasping in fascinating ways, he managed to seek you out whilst up on stage, he sends you a dazzling smile as you couldn’t help but smile back.

So, the last thing you were expecting him was to be revived and alive, you were sitting against one of the few cop cars, mentally preparing whatever Jim had placed on your desk. Alvarez had told you to take a breather, despite him being not right, you took it not wanting to push him.

You weren’t expected a bandaged face man with a police uniform rampaging towards you.

“Hiya sweets, mind if I borrow your car?”

You knitted your eyebrows in confusion, tilting your head, you thought you’ve finally gone insane with all these villains, who out for your blood for no apparent reason other to torment you, you have finally snapped.

“What?”

The next thing you knew, you were in the passenger's seat with him driving. You woke up confused as you suddenly take aware of your surrounding, jumping, grabbing the car in shock. Then you heard his famous laughter, you snapped your head to him.

“Sorry ‘bout your head,” He mentions, tilting his head to you as you briefly touched a small wound, “but, one bloody cut doesn’t compare to my face being gone.”

“Jerome?”

“That’s my name,” He gives you a charming side glance, “Please wear it out.”

He chuckles before hysterically laughing, gripping his hands against the wheel as you sat there dumbfounded. Watching how the buildings were rapidly moving past.

“What is going on?”

“Well, I was going to kill you but then I remembered who you were.” Jerome gags on his words, swerving into another pedestrian as you jump back into your seat, he giggles again, “You’re the darling detective that Jimbo likes so much.”

“I’m not Harvey.”

“Not the alcoholic freak!” Jerome exclaims, snapping his gloved fingers, “You’re the pretty face, if I remember correctly, you’re detective (Y/n) (L/n) and the truth is I like your pretty face.”

“I don’t know if I should be comforted with that statement,” You hummed, finally noticing your gun in his holster, “Where are you taking me anyway?”

“For adventure,” He simply states, almost as if that explains everything, “Doesn’t it get boring where you work. The same boring things.”

His voice deepens, make an old man, he rolls his eyes. Before small laughter ripped within the car, bringing back that you were indeed in a high speeding car with a murderer. A childlike psychopath, one wrong action or words he had your gun to kill you with.

“I get threatened every day of my life, so you and I have two different definitions of boring.”

“But, I can make your life exciting,” He was grinning, tearing his eyes off the road to prove the point, your face drops as you gripped the handles looking at the road, watching him run over more people. He waves his hands and looks back at the road, “Relax, sweets, I wouldn’t put a hand on you.”

“And if I say no?” You wondered, shifting in your seat, “I have many people wanting my head so get in line.”

He chuckles, halting the car suddenly, as you take in the new location, channel nine building with some cop cars already there. He fully turns to look at you, you could barely manage to make out his wicked smile under the bandages.

“I’m not gonna kill you, but I’ll drive you insane,” He boops your nose, “Now, be good and stay in the car, I have a business to attend to.”

You watch him exit the car, he leans down to the window, winking at you before causing havoc. You noticed he hadn’t locked the car, you could have left him but yet, oddly enough, you were just too curious about what goes in his funny little head of his.

Was this a risk?

A massive regret in the future?

Perhaps, but’s Gotham baby, and Jerome does have a charming laughter.

#jerome valeska #jerome valeska x male reader #jerome valeska imagine #gotham #gotham imagine #gotham x male reader #x male reader

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dragon-kazansky · 5 years

Text

The hypnotist - Jervis Tetch x reader

Summary: Captain Barnes is slipping up and Mario has been infected. Seems as if Jervis has been playing the long game. Jervis finally gets to speak his mind to Jim about the hypnotism accusation.

This chapter is Jim’s point of view. The whole scene with Barnes is important for his talk with Jervis, so I couldn’t really see a way around it. It’s also a little all over the place. This is all just too important to leave out.

Chapter 6 - The Tetch Virus

Change was in the air for Gotham. Something was brewing and Captain Barnes was finding all the more difficult to restrain himself. He had been particularly riled up after his visit with Jervis several days ago.

A need to punish the guilty was strong in him.

Nathaniel Barnes was acting as judge, jury and executioner of Gotham’s criminals. If they were guilty, he would serve them justice.

Lee Thompkins engagement party had occurred and Barnes had been there, following a particular guilty man, whom he threw out of a window and killed. He had fled the scene before anyone could see what he had done.

Jim Gordon had managed to speak to the man before he had died and received a name. Barnes.

He didn’t want to believe that it was the captain who had done this, but he couldn’t ignore either. It was a lead. Jim knew he would have to look into it, but he would have to make sure Barnes didn’t catch on.

He had no idea what was happening to his captain. Not yet anyway.

Jim had gone to Harvey for help, but Bullock wasn’t overly happy with looking into his captain. Jim knew he was onto something, especially after he had heard about Barnes nearly beating Jervis to death at the founder’s party. It wasn’t like the captain to go all out like that, so something had to be happening.

Harvey reluctantly helped Jim, helping him to prove his innocence. Barnes was a good man with a good record.

You had spent the best part of the last few days working as usual. There was an awkward moment where Barbara had sent you to Penguin, apparently he needed someone trustworthy to a special job for him. You didn’t really want to face him, but went anyway.

It didn’t click right away, but it slowly dawned on him that he remembered you being there night, even if he didn’t speak to you then. You had your arm linked around Tetch’s when Jervis bumped into him. You were there when Tetch was pointing that gun in his face, and had done nothing.

Yet, he had also whispers, considering he had eyes and ears everywhere in Gotham, about your ‘condition’ and even had the audacity to show sympathy for you. It took all of your will power not to knock out the mayor.

You thought you had escaped the pity and accusations.

You should have known the mayor would have heard something. Oswald Cobblepot knew everything in Gotham.

You moved into Tetch’s safe house without alerting Gordon or Thompkins about it. They would only know if they tried to visit you.Many of Jervis’ things, though he didn’t have a lot with him when he came to Gotham, were still there. The house hadn’t been touched since that day.

You had ended up sleeping in the main bedroom, clutching to Tetch as much as possible. You had tried to deny that you had feelings for the man, but laying in there in that bed, thinking about him, you knew deep down it was true. You longed to be with him.

You wouldn’t say anything.

It would only complicate things considering the current situation. He was locked up in Arkham and you were more than certain that even now his heart only belonged to Alice.

You would continue to be the good friend you were.

The more days that passed without a visit from you, the more bored Tetch was becoming. He missed so you very much, but he knew you were also trying to keep low. You were working hard to get Jim off your back.

If only he wasn’t locked up in Arkham, he could get rid of James Gordon for you.

Jim, however, was starting to make connections back at the GCPD. Harvey had gone to the scene to get prints and hopefully prove Jim wrong. Gordon was looking through the captain’s office where he found a file on the Tetch siblings.

On the right was a photo of Jervis Tetch, on the left a death certificate with a photo of Alice.

Before he could even comprehend what Barnes was doing with the file, the man himself entered the office. It was very awkward indeed. Jim lied through his teeth about why he was in the office, looking for another file, Barnes seemed to be buying this story.

Jim lied some more when Barnes asked if, due to witness claims the victim was still alive, he had told Jim the killer’s name. Jim of course said no, despite the fact he had.

It was becoming difficult to tell what Barnes was thinking. He wasn’t giving away any indication he knew Jim was lying, but something wasn’t sitting right. There was just something in the way he was looking at him and talking to him that indicated he knew something.

“Well, for what’s worth, I called an old CI of mine with deep ties with the mob.” Barnes walked over to his desk and pulled a gun out of the drawer, loading it as he spoke. “He says that once I collared Simon, the higher ups got jumpy.” He looked Jim in the eye.

“You saying the mob had him killed?” Jim asked, concerned.

“He was giving these guys new faces, was probably the only one who could ID them.”

Something just wasn’t right about this.

Apparently his CI also had a name. That caught Jim’s attention. He said he would get someone onto him, but Barnes immediately denied that idea. The more time he spent with his captain, the more concerned Jim was becoming.

Barnes told him this should all be kept between the two of them, they would go see this guy together. He didn’t even allow Jim to tell Harvey where he was going.

Jim was able to leave Harvey a message when Barnes went to adjust something in the boot of the car. He was more sure than ever that his captain may be up to something. He just needed to prove it.

Barnes got in the car, handed Jim a gun and sounding rather chill as he said, “you never know what’s going to go down.”

Silence filled the car for the longest time, but Barnes was the first to break after driving for some time.

“I have to say Jim, I’m disappointed in you.”

“Oh yeah, why’s that?” Jim narrowed his gaze at his captain.

“Lead detective for a high profile murder and you don’t collect statements from everyone present?”

Jim looked at him confused.

“Me.” Jim nodded. “Let’s do it now.”

“Did you see Simon at the party?” Jim asked, seeing he had no choice but to go along with this.

“Yes.”

“Did you talk to him?”

“No I did not.”

“Did you see him go into the bathroom before he was attacked?” Jim side eyed his captain.

“Unfortunately no.”

“Were you ever in it?”

“Yes.” Barnes finally looked at Jim. “Before it was a crime scene, obviously.” He clarified. “So, detective, am I in the clear?”

“For now.” Jim gave a forced smile.

Barnes chuckled.

“This city is a cess pool, don’t you ever want to do something about it?” Barnes had a smile on his face as he focused on the road.

“I thought I was.”

“What, as a cop? I would have thought you of all people would find that limiting.”

“Not any more, came back to the GCPD to things right. Like you.” Jim eyed him again.

“Like me?”

“Last year at Galavan’s when we were attacked, you told me the law shows us where the line is, it stuck with me.”

“Some would say that our job first and foremost is to protect the citizens of this city, even if it means bending the laws.” Barnes told him, seemingly OK with those words.

“No. Break the law and we’re no better than the criminals.” If Jim wasn’t sure about Barnes’ involvement before, he was now.

Sure Gotham was corrupt and was run by the criminals, but that didn’t mean everyone had to live that way. Someone can still do good in this city. That’s what Jim was hoping for the GCPD, but it seemed even the captain had become corrupt.

“Is that what you were thinking the night that Galavan was killed? The first time. This city is at a crossroads, Gordon. Question is: Would good men fight for it? Will they do what’s necessary? The decision is yours to make.”

Jim turned away from his captain, letting those words sink in, but he didn’t sit still for long. He realised that Barnes had driven past their stop. He tried to tell Barnes, but Barnes changed the address to another, making out as a mistake earlier.

Jim rolled with it as they arrived to the second address and grabbed their guns, storming the area. They found the guy they were after and Jim was losing patience with this guy when he didn’t give any straight answers. He eventually fessed about not killing Simon, he swore by it. Jim believed him, but it’s what happened next that confirmed all his theories about Barnes.

“I think he’s telling the truth, but you’re not innocent.” He lifted his gun up at him and shot him.

Then his reloaded and pointed his gun at Jim.

Barnes ordered Jim to move the body. Considering he had a gun pointed at him, Jim didn’t have many choices and did as he said.

“That’s far enough.” Barnes told him, watching Jim drop the body and look at him. “You’re probably wondering why would captain Nathaniel Barnes, mister by the book, blow a hole in this unarmed scumbag? Could it be that he actually killed Simon? I know, Jim, that you have been investigating me.”

“Did you kill Simon?”

“Is that what he told you? I know he said something to you before he died.”

“Yes he did.”

“Probably the truest words that bastard ever uttered.”

Jim was getting the answers he needed. All he needed was Harvey to come. He hoped his partner had received the message he had left.

“I am the law.” Barnes looked James dead in the eye as he stated those words.

“What happened to you? How did you become this?”

“This? This is who I’ve always been, I just needed something to unlock it.” Barnes closed the distance between them.

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re just going to say that I’m sick, but I’m not. I’ve never been so clear, so strong, in my life.”

“Alice Tetch’s virus. The files on your desk, you’re infected!” Jim finally connected the dots. This had taken longer than Jervis had originally anticipated, but it was happening.

“You are a detective, after all!”

“Don’t you see? This means you’re innocent! We can get you help.” Jim tried to reason with him.

“Can you just skip the part where you try to get me to give myself up?” Barnes wasn’t having any of it.

“This isn’t you, this is the virus.”

“No! I’m not insane, and you, are not seeing the big picture.”

“You'e going to frame me for Sugar’s murder.”

“That’s up to you.”

It all made sense now. Barnes was having a God complex, almost. He saw the law as his to do with as he pleased. He was taking it into his own hands and serving justice his own way. As long as people were guilty of something, he would be their executioner.

If there was ever a more important moment for an antidote to exist, it would be now.

Barnes tried to recruit Jim, but he would never, NEVER, cross that line.

The conversation was interrupted when someone entered the warehouse to talk to Sugar. Jim used that distraction to run for it, Barnes shooting at him. Barnes gave chase. Jim was able to call Harvey for help. The GCPD had a call saying Gordon had killed someone and they were on their way to bring him in. Harvey went to Lee for help because they needed everyone to believe that Barnes was infected with the virus.

If not, Jim would be arrested for a crime he didn’t commit.

While this was all going down, you at the safe house. It was quiet and lonely, considering you were the only one there, but you were biding your time. After talking to Jervis, you hoped Jim would discover the truth soon. After everything he had put you through about being hypnotised, you wanted to see him struggle as he tried to save someone close to him.

You vowed to stick by Jervis’ side and be his partner in all of this.

Working with him would be a thrill. It had been so far, so why stop now? Especially when you had become so attached to him.

Harvey and company reached Jim. Barnes had been shot, no where vital and was being taken into custody.

He needed the antidote.

Back at the GCPD he thanked Lee for faking a medical report on Barnes. It could have ended much worse if she hadn’t.

Barnes was transferred to Arkham, where would stay until an antidote became available. That was his only way out of the asylum.

Jervis grinned from his cell further down the hall.

“Guilty. Guilty. Guilty.” On repeat.

Jervis knew that was captain Barnes, therefore knew Jim was aware of the situation. He was sure he would get a visit some time soon. Before he wanted to see Jim to mock him some more for what happened to his sister, but after your visits and what you had told him, he wanted to see Jim for a whole other reason. He couldn’t stand by and let Gordon accuse him of hypnotising the only person he had left who cared for him.

He couldn’t!

However, the constant shouting of ‘GUILTY’ was going to drive Tetch mad, more so than he already was. He could only take so much of that.

Jim didn’t have time for visits as Falcone’s car had exploded. He had a whole new case on his hands.

You had taken to writing to Jervis in the meantime.

When he received the first one his was over the moon. He knew you were back on the job and had to limit your visits anyway. Your letters were more than enough to satisfy him, even if he was missing the sound of your voice.

He had told you that Barnes had been arrested. You replied saying you had seen it on the news. Both of you were sure Jim knew about the virus now.

That talk didn’t last long, however, as most of the letters consisted of how much you were missing each other.

It was nice to know he was missing you.

Jervis would make Jim see, he wouldn’t dare do that to you.

Whispers on the street were telling you that the Tetch virus antidote was still being worked on, but they were getting close. Whispers also told you that Falcone’s son, Mario, was infected. If that didn’t rile up Jim, nothing would it seemed.

Jim Gordon hadn’t seen or spoken to you since his last visit. You had ignored every single one of his calls since then, and Lee was unable to carry out her sessions with you.

He had been attacked at the lab where the virus antidote was being made, but he hadn’t seen who it was that attacked him. He was only left with a message on his hand.

Arkham.

It was about time he made this visit. Jervis had been waiting.

“Hello Jervis.”

Jim walked into the room where the Hatter had been waiting. Tetch smiled at him, acting surprised to see him. He wasn’t.

“James, what an unexpected pleasure.”

“Someone else is infected with your sister’s blood.”

“You don’t say?”

“And I’ve been thinking it’s possible she infected accidentally.”

“Yes, possible.” Jervis smiled.

“But your reaction to me you knew, so you infected them after you stole your sister’s blood, but you stayed quiet, waiting for them to show symptoms.” Jim remained stoic as he spoke his theory.

“Well, that would be darn sneaky of my, wouldn’t it?” Jervis grinned.

“I need the name.”

Tetch chuckled as he looked around the room.

“You need the name? So, I’ve been quiet about it all this time and now I’m going to help you because we’re such good friends?”

“Because I can make your life here very uncomfortable.” Jim leaned forwards.

“More uncomfortable than having captain Barnes next door shouting guilty all hours of the night?”

Jim grabbed Jervis by the collar and pulled him closer to him.

“Give me the name!”

“I don’t think Y/N would be too pleased to hear how you’re treating me.” Jervis let out a little chuckle. “My poor dear Y/N.”

“While we’re on this topic, tell me how to break your spell over her.” Jim growled. “I know you’ve been controlling her all this time.”

“She told me what you said. You think I hypnotised her? How dare you say such a thing! Y/N is my dear friend and I would never think of doing such a thing to her. You just hate the idea that someone is being so kind and loyal to me.” Jervis grinned, but it went away rather quickly. “I’ve been waiting for this visit for a very long time, ever since she first told me your lies.”

“Why would someone willingly follow you after everything you did. Does she know you infected people? What would happen if I told her? If she really isn’t hypnotised, she would turn her back on you in seconds.” Jim was trying to get under Jervis’ skin.

“That’s what you want to think. Truth is, I think she would be impressed. She likes me, she does!”

“Where is she, Tetch? Her apartment is empty and if she’s been talking to you, then you must know something.”

Jervis gave a toothy smile. “Why would I tell you that? She’s safe from you. I don’t like how you’re trying to turn her against me, but I’m happy to know she isn’t falling for your lies. My darling Y/N is on my side.” He smile turned soft and his gaze too.

“Alice is dead and your heart is broken, you’ve turned to the only person who gave you the slightest bit of compassion.” Jim shook his head. “You fall in love too easy, Tetch.”

“How dare you! I wonder what my sister’s blood would bring out in you.” He grinned.”The beast in you is right there.”

Jim wasn’t winning. For some reason, he believed Tetch’s words. Perhaps you had been telling him truth all this time.

“So desperate to get out, and I know of whom you speak, oh yes indeed. I stabbed him and pricked him and caused him to bleed, but nothing you can say, no words you might posses can pry me from the smallest guess. For this game is my game. I say when it’s done and right now I’m having too much fun.”

“Want to play a game, Jervis? Fine, let’s play a game.”

Jervis frowned.

“Whoever you infected, has some sort of plan. I want you tell me the name of this man.”

“Wow, James, I have to give that effort and F. Can you really imagine that-?”

“Two are dead. More may die soon. This isn’t a game, give me his name.”

Jervis was growing frustrated with James as he glared at the man across from him.

“You will only know his name when it’s too late, when the one you love has been murdered by hate!” Jervis spoke quickly, caught off guard that he had Jim that. The answer was easy. “Guard! Take me to my cell!”

“What do you mean the one that I love?”

“Guard!”

Jim grabbed Jervis again.

“Give me his name Tetch.” Goodness, Jim was slow. “Give me his name or you share the blame!”

“Nothing, nothing. I’ll tell you naught! His name shall neither be spoken nor taught, he’ll cut and he’ll crush, his blood will run thick. Though from healer to killer is no easy trick.”

Jervis covered his mouth and groaned. Jim had him going and he hated how much he spilled to him. Surely Jim would get it now.

“Healer to killer... He’s a doctor.” Finally he got it.

“You’ll never stop him, James! He’ll kill and he’ll kill!”

Jim got his phone and ran out of there.

Jervis glared at him as he went. He was annoyed he had given Jim the answer, but he was more worried about you. He saw it in Jim’s eyes that he knew he was telling the truth. James didn’t know where the house was, so as long as you stayed there you would be fine.

The moment Jervis returned to his cell he began writing you a letter.

My dear Y/N,

James Gordon finally came, he still puts me to blame. A part of me thinks he finally believes me, however. I hope it won’t be long before we are back together.

I ask that you be wary of Gordon. I am unsure of his next move.... other than going after the man marrying the one he loves.

I must confess I haven’t shared with you my entire plan. I had a few select people infected with my sister’s virus. It would seem they are finally showing effect. I hope you are safe from these select few, though I have no doubt you could handle yourself if things went wrong.

I hope you are not too lonely without me there. I’m sure we’ll be together again soon, one way or another I’ll see you again.

For now stay safe, my dear.

Jervis.

He would wait patiently for your next visit. He knew you would come the next time you were able.

You received the letter the very next day. The day after the wedding of Lee Thompkins. Mario was dead, so you heard. Falcone would most defiantly be dealing with that.

There was no proof, other than Tetch’s words, that Mario was infected.

The virus didn’t seem to come up in tests.

Jim Gordon would be too busy with that issue to come find you. Perhaps you would be able to visit Jervis more.

His words in the letter made you smile. The way he kept calling you dear and how he was concerned about you. Your heart couldn’t take it. You adored this man all the more now.

You weren’t letting Arkham keep you from him.

At least now, if you met Jim again, he might actually listen to you about not being hypnotised. Would he arrest you too?

You knew you had lost your mind when you realised you wouldn’t mind that. With this line of thought, you would have a one way ticket to Arkham.

For now, you would wait and see what happens with Jim.

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@mistressoftorture @fandombeehive @awyr

#jervis tetch x reader #jervis tetch #gotham #the hypnotist #chapter 6

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graaaaceeliz · 5 years

Text

BruceBat and Clark-man

I put up (finally) a second chapter of my fic where Bruce and Clark have made a Thing out of their resemblances to Batman and Superman. I'm linking chapter one, but it isn't entirely necessary to read it to understand the principle behind chapter two.

Chapter Two: Where have all the good men gone? (<1500 words)

Days like this were the best, thought Bruce. He’d never admit to that aloud, nobody wants to tempt the fates, but it was true. His children filled the home with noise and joy (and arguments and temper, but who was he to complain?) and Alfred’s eyes glimmered with theirs, whilst Bruce laughed more than he had since he was a troubled teenager with an adrenaline issue and the absolute chaos of Tony and Lex as his brothers. The rift between Lex and Clark saddened him, because they should have all been together, united against threats to Earth. They had plenty of those. But he was a united front with LexCorp most of the time, and people knew that Batman and Superman had as close a shield-bond as had existed. The Bats themselves were a clan, a colony, symbols of the end for evil and of hope for good. He couldn’t have ever dreamed this.

Clark nudged his shoulder into his. “Good day, huh? And I am coming with you to the dance tonight. I don’t want to go home just yet,” he trailed off slightly as his eyes glazed over. “B, I will be right back.” Bruce sighed. He truly sympathised with families linked to the emergency services. Alfred’s friend had called from England last night, and they’d sat around the kitchen table with the phone on loudspeaker as she talked about the mountains and the sea and the surprisingly good winter, which had led onto the topic of emergency responses and various light tales of their exploits. Bruce had missed her, actually, because she’d been around a lot when he was a kid (hardly any older than Tony, she’d introduced him as her baby brother in New York a few times in clubs) but he had only seen her three times since he became Batman. Jason’s funeral, when he came back to life, and seven months ago when she finally got out of MI-whatever. He didn’t know. Wasn’t sure he wanted to – she was quite possibly an assassin.

A sudden swish of the air to his left indicated Clark’s return. He seemed a bit flustered, collar crumpled and hair tossed by the impossible speeds he achieved when it was necessary. Bruce turned to him, wondering vaguely what that had been about. He hadn’t been gone long enough to have saved the planet, barely long enough to save a kitten. Bruce was well aware of how long it could take to save a world. It usually involved violence, subterfuge, and injuries. And payouts. And payoffs. Besides the point. Clark gradually quietened under Bruce’s steady patient gaze, as everyone eventually did. It was so human, for Clark to be soothed by his trusted brother, for Bruce to feel the urge to punch whatever upset Clark so. They were neither of them human as most imagined them to be. Grudges could be held for eternity.

“I went to a group of firefighters. There was a big fire a couple of days ago, remember I told you about it? The one in Boston that they told to me leave to them and go save those boys in the cave in Madagascar. That one. Well, they called for me, because they wanted to show me the exhibition they made. It’s about us, Bruce. The League, other known heroes, the Avengers too. And ordinary people. Doctors, nurses, grandparents, big sisters, teachers. Local heroes. And – Bruce, the exhibition is as large as the one we’re going to tonight at the Gallery. Heroes. Ordinary, brilliant humans, who save people.”

Bruce grunted into the warm evening light, keeping a close eye on the wrestling match between Damian and Tim that was getting dangerously close to his prize roses. He looked out to the pale blue sky, “You cried.”

“....Yeah. I couldn’t help it.”

“Quick back.”

Clark smiled slightly. “I want to show you,” he murmured, “it’s so full of wonderful people.”

Bruce quirked a smile. That would be good. Perhaps he should suggest that as the next exhibit in the Gallery or maybe the Precinct – local heroes. Hopefully it would boost the city’s morale without the necessity of drugs or alcohol. He’d make sure Jim got recognised. But going with Clark to this special one also sounded good. “Tomorrow.”

Clark smiled.

*~°~*~°~*

“Mr Wayne! Over here! Is this your friend? A reporter! Oh my!”

Hello, I’m Clark. A smile as innocent as a child’s. Hello Clark. I’m Bruce.

“Hello, Pietr. Bruce and I would like to talk to the curator of the museum, so we’ll have to talk at a later date.”

Sorry, but Superman and I have things to do, Señor Domingo. Adiós. What kind of a name is Lord Sunday? A stupid one.

“Well handled, Clark.”

“Eh. I hate the act you put on, so I’m trying to avoid it. Is that the curator?”

“Hm.”

Clark, that’s him, isn’t it? Yeah. Oh good, we can all go home soon. Shut up, I’m sarcastic all the time. A Hm can be sarcastic.

“Excuse me, Mr Hammerstein! Excuse me, ma’am, sir, excuse us, thanks. Mr Hammerstein, Mr Wayne and I- oh for goodness’ sake. Bruce! Come on, I need to interview some visiting rich folk and if you take all night I won’t get it done. Thank you. Anyways, Mr Hammerstein, we have an exhibit idea...”

*~°~*~°~*

“Please, call me Brucie.”

“Okay, Brucie. Now, we all saw the last time you pretended to be Batman. Tonight I heard that you have a friend who looks like Superman – oh, the crowd are excited tonight!”

“Haha, it seems so. Clark and myself do bear a resemblance to the famous heroes, yes. It gets pointed out to us periodically.”

We’re supposed to be undercover! We’re in our suits! What, so we pretend to be Brucie and Clark in our actual suits in an attempt to infiltrate Lex’s party?? That’s insane, Clark, absolutely insane. What – well, yeah, it might work... Lex won’t call us out on it, no.

“I have heard that at one of Lex Luthor’s famed Metropolis Galas you did an act?”

“Well, not an act, no. I had had rather a lot to drink, shall we say, but I was dressed up as Batman.”

“And yourself, Mr Kent is it? Yes – you make a strikingly good Superman. I’ve heard that you’re known in your office at Perry White’s Metropolis ‘paper for your impressions. Any chance the pair of you would do an act for us tonight?”

We have to go along with it just pretend, Clark, call it an act and just pretend like I do with Brucie, won’t be easy but you have to try Clark we have to try

“I’m afraid Brucie and I would rather not. However, we would like to talk some about our new venture, the Gotham branch of which is named: Where have all the good men gone? As you may recognise, we’ve taken the name from Bonnie Tyler’s song I Need a Hero. We’re aiming to put together an exhibition here in Gotham about our unrecognised street-level heroes. My nomination is the guy who does late night door duties on the hotel building I have often stayed at not far from here. He prevents people accessing the tower when they don’t have appropriate ID, opens the foyer to those waiting for taxis home, and has interrupted no less than five incidents in the last six months at the cost of his health. So here’s to you, doorman.”

There will always be hope as long as one man or child or woman is willing to stand up painpainpain and say no there will always be hope and that’s why I do this I am bringing hope despite blood and I refuse to give up and you are hope you embody it we are hope so don’t give up ignore the pain we get up it hurts so much but we get up

“My personal nominee is Jim Gordon. He’s always been supportive of my family and myself, has dedicated his life to cleaning up the police force and has really given hope to the youth of Gotham. The nomination process will be described in an interview tomorrow night, which will also be published in local papers. We would love for you all to nominate an unrecognised person who you see as a hero. Of course, our costumed vigilantes each get a photo in the exhibit, so there’s no need to nominate them unless you have a particular inspiring story.”

“All proceeds will go to soup kitchens and hostels, to help people get off the streets. Next month we hope to launch the Metropolis branch of the campaign, named in honour of our own superhero: Where are all the gods? It will run off exactly the same principle, with people nominating personal heroes. The Waynes and myself hope to establish skills centres in both of our cities to help people get off the streets and into jobs, and to teach transferable skills to as many people as possible. But please, please partake in this I Need a Hero campaign. The more we raise, the more people we can help.”

“Certainly the most admirable project I have had the joy of hearing about in several years. Well, folks, remember what these two have said to us tonight. Thank you both for agreeing to this conversation.”

“It’s been a real pleasure.”

#almost forgot to post this #batfam fanfiction #Bruce & Clark #superbros #fanfic #bruce wayne #clark kent #Secret identities are hidden in plain sight #They do impressions of themselves #that's the fic

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the--blackdahlia · 5 years

Text

This Life Chapter 17

Title: This Life Chapter 17

Summary: Dean Winchester is the Vice President of the motorcycle club The Hunters. After almost 7 years in prison, he's free. But things have changed and Dean has to figure out how to put things back together.

Warnings: Language

AN: Thank you love @sams-serialkiller-fetish . The song for this chapter is Summertime Blues by Joan Jett.

“What are we still doing here?” Ruby asked the morning after the funeral. They were all gathered back at the garage, trying to figure out what to do. “We buried Benny. We should be heading back to California.”

“That requires having to go near Horsemen territory. And we kinda just killed one of their members.” Andy told her. “We’re just gonna stay here for a little bit and figure things out.”

“That’s why I’ve called in some reinforcements.” Meg said.

“Who?” Cas asked. That’s when a yellow AMC Germlin pulled into the lot.

“A friend.” Meg said. “She’s a genius. She can help us keep track of the Horsemen.” A redhead got out of the car with a smile on her face.

“‘Sup bitches.” She laughed.

“Guys, this is Charlie.” Meg introduced her. “She can hack anything.”

“So can Ash.” Cas said, crossing his arms. “You’re just bringing another person into the crossfire.”

“I laugh in the face of danger.” Charlie said, smiling. Cas just rolled his eyes and headed over to where Caleb and Jim were. “Is he always this friendly?”

“Trust me, the Hunters aren’t exactly a warm and loving bunch.” Gabriel sighed.

“One of them was.” Ruby added.

“And Sam’s not too bad.” Lucifer said with a shrug.

“Sam is one of us. Not one of them.” Gabriel pointed out. “So of course he’s awesome.”

“Guys, let’s face it,” Andy said, looking at all of them, even Charlie. “Sam might be one of us, but his true home and family is here in Wolfpine.” He motioned over to where Sam was perched on a stool, watching Dean tune up Baby. “And I have a feeling, he won’t be going back to California with us.”

“So, do I get to meet this mysterious Sam?” Charlie asked.

“Of course sweetheart.” Meg said. “I’ll go introduce you to anyone and then we’ll get you set up.” She led Charlie away from the other Wayward Sons.

“I wonder what she’s supposed to be doing here?” Andy asked, looking at Ruby and the brothers. “I guess we’ll find out.” He said when no one answered him. He made his way over to where Meg was introducing Charlie to some of the Hunters, ready to find out.

****

Charlie was set up in the office by Ellen, typing a mile a minute and looking at reports. Ellen was impressed to say the least. Charlie was a woman on a mission obviously.

“You need a job?” Ellen asked. “I’ve got about fifteen years of files that need typed up and organized right. I’m no computer expert and Jo’s not that fast of a typer.” Charlie laughed some.

“Maybe when I settle down and decide I don’t want to be a grey hat anymore.” Charlie told her. She had a beautiful Blueberry iBook and a Wifi card. So Ellen assumed that she was doing something to make some money. “I heard someone say that they were sending me help?”

“Um, I’m not sure.” Ellen told her. “What do you need help with?”

“Nothing. That’s why I’m confused.” Charlie told her. That’s when a bright orange El Camino pulled into the lot, Lynyrd Skynyrd blaring from it. The engine was cut and music stopped as Ash climbed out of the car.

“Relax everyone, I’m here.” Ash said. Caleb laughed and Cas wenet over to talk to him. A few minutes later, Ash was walking into the office with Ellen and Charlie. “Who’s this?”

“Charlie.” Charlie said to him. “And I don’t need your help.”

“Tracking the Horsemen can be a tough challenge. And I did go to MIT.” Ash said, flipping his hair back.

“MIT? That’s cool. I went to Cornell.” Charlie told him. “And I think I can manage just fine.” Ash flopped down on the dirty old couch that set in the office and got his own laptop out.

“You might be able to handle it just fine, but I want to help anyway.” Ash said. Ellen laughed a little.

“I’m just gonna go find Bobby. It’s getting a little too crowded in here for me.” With that, Ellen left, leaving Ash and Charlie to stare each other down while typing away.

“Watchya lookin’ at over there?” Ash asked, glancing at Charlie.

“Things and stuff.” She said. “You?”

“Updating my stock portfolio.” He said with sarcasm seething.

“Well, if this a competition, may the best woman win.” Charlie said.

“Oh I intend to…” Ash realized what Charlie had said and glared and started in on his search. He was going to win.

****

“Why is Ash here?” Sam asked, looking to where they had set Charlie up. Dean looked over and shrugged, not sure why he was here.

“I called him.” Cas said. “I’d rather have someone from our team working on this. I just don’t trust some of those Wayward Sons.”

“I saw the way you’ve been looking at Meg.” Jim teased. Cas’s face turned red.

“I have not…” Cas said. Bobby laughed.

“Guess Cassie boy isn’t as much as monk as he wants us all to believe.” Caleb announced.

“You guys are all assholes.” Cas said, rolling his eyes. “Anyway, I wanted a backup in case this Charlie isn’t as good as Meg said she is. And I trust Ash more than I trust Charlie.” There was a motorcycle pulling into the lot. Gordon got off his bike and headed to them.

“Hey guys.” He said.

“Hi Gordon.” Bobby said. “What can I do for you?”

“Bike’s making weird noises. Can you check it out for me?” He asked.

“On it.” Dean said, heading over to Gordon’s bike. Gordon looked at Sam and his eyes widened slightly before he plastered a smile on his face.

“Hey Sammy.” Gordon said. Sam frowned more than he already was.

“Hi Gordon.” He grumbled.

“Okay then. Uh, point me in the way of the bathroom?” Gordon asked. Sam motioned to where the bathrooms were and let Gordon on his way. Gordon made his way in and shut the door. He thought Azazel was going to kill the crown prince. Alastair had sent him there to scope out the situation. He noticed Benny wasn’t standing around with them like he used to. So that was one down.

He looked around the small bathroom, wondering what he was supposed to do next. He looked at the sink, ready to splash his face to get his head around everything, when he saw a bracelet laying there. A bracelet he had seen before. It belonged to Sam. An exchange gift when he gave Dean an amulet that was supposed to protect him on runs. Sam had lost it once when Gordon was over and he thought the kid was going to have a panic attack until they found it.

It was perfect.

Gordon pocketed the bracelet. He wasn’t sure why he did, but it seemed right. He gave himself another minute before he headed back out. Dean was wiping grease off his hands talking to Caleb. He looked up at Gordon.

“Just a couple loose wires.” Dean told him. Gordon nodded.

“Don’t have a job for me, do you?” Gordon asked.

“No man. Sorry.” Caleb said. Gordon nodded again and went back to his bike.

“Well, thanks for the fix.” Gordon said, starting up his bike and driving off. Dean looked at the others.

“Something doesn’t sit me right with him.” He said. Sam nodded in agreement. He looked around.

“Anyone seen my bracelet?” He asked.

“Sorry man, I haven’t.” Cas said. “It’ll show up though.”

****

Gordon made it out of Wolfpine and headed to New Mexico. He stopped close to the state line where Alastair was waiting for him. The Horsemen looked like he was ready to fight. Gordon just hoped it wasn’t with him.

“What did you find out?” Alastair asked.

“Everyone was there except for Benny Lafitte.” Gordon reported. “Even Sam.”

“Damn it.” Alastair sighed. “Azazel was a capable leader, but he let his emotions get the best of him.”

“I snagged this.” Gordon said, handing Alastair Sam’s bracelet. “It’s Sam’s. I don’t know if it will do any good or not…”

“I actually think I have a plan.” Alastair said, smirking. “Good job Gordon. You’re definitely a Horsemen.”

Forever Tags: @anathewierdo @i-would-die-for-woodland-demars @dekahg @marvel-af @feelmyroarrrr @nanie5 @imboredsueme @gemini0410 @aiaranradnay @babypink224221 @mogaruke @xxwarhawk

Dean Winchester/Jensen Ackles Tags: @luciathewinchestergirl @sheris532 @bobasheebaby @flamencodiva @bella-ca

This Life Tags: @soulslaststand @jamielea81 @caplansteverogers @becs-bunker @colie87

Supernatural Tags: @bandobsession98 @mrsdeanfuckingwinchester @fangirlsencyclopaediaofweirdness @ilovetardis @missihart23 @cloudyskylines @supernaturalwincestsblog @sams-serialkiller-fetish

#this life #sam winchester #dean winchester #supernatural #Jared Padalecki #Jensen Ackles #fanfiction

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cobblepot-comfort · 5 years

Text

Oswald Takes the Bullet and Jim Bites It - Chapter 44 - Laugh or Cry

There is another twist in the search for and rescue of Oswald

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14157339/chapters/45596419

Laugh or Cry

Jim experienced such conflicting emotions as he stood staring down at the comatose figure in the hospital bed.

He felt some relief that this critically-injured soul attached to beeping machines with tubes going in and coming out of him wasn’t Oswald after all - and devastated that...well, this wasn’t Oswald after all….

If the man lying there had been Oswald, at least he would have found him...and at least he would have been out of that monster's clutches. He could have held his hand, stroked his face, kissed his cheek - talked to him, whether he could hear him or not, and tell him he loved him.

This unfortunate man did have a striking resemblance to his beautiful dark angel - but there were significant differences too.

He was a similar height and build. His face had the same exquisite bone structure, and the same aquiline nose. His closed eyes also revealed long, jet black lashes, matching the hair on his head.

But that noble nose lacked the cute freckled bump that Jim loved to peck so playfully, making his little devil squeal with ticklish pleasure when he did it.

And this guy’s dark locks were combed neatly and side-parted unlike his little kingpin’s spiked crown. He looked more like an administrator than a gangster.

However, there were a couple of hidden features that contradicted his clean cut appearance.

When the nursing staff had stripped their new patient to put him into his hospital gown, they had discovered a tattoo - on his left buttock, of all places. It was a red heart with the initial ‘J’ inscribed on it in italics. He also had a ring through his left nipple. It seemed that their sober looking John Doe might have hidden depths.

After leaving the scene, Jim offloaded to Harvey about the callous set up.

“The ID - the wallet…”

“All part of his sick joke. This man was supposed to die and we were meant to think it was Oswald, at least til you turned up to identify the body. Anway Jim, on the plus side, I’ve still got people following up those other leads we managed to find - as we speak - thanks to Ed.”

“That’s something, anyway,” Jim smiled gratefully, but then he frowned darkly. “The ring!” he snarled. He bit his lip fiercely and his blue irises turned to black.

That had been the finishing touch - they had put it on John Doe's wedding band finger.

Lecesse - or ‘Big Guy’, as Oswald had at first flippantly called him - had of course been Oswald’s enemy from day one. Leccese had coveted that engagement ring at first sight, and had quickly picked up on the reason for its presence on Oswald’s finger.

That first meeting had put paid to any business deals the two men might have struck - after Leccese had taken exception to what he saw as Oswald’s unacceptable life style, which Oswald had refused to lie about even at the risk of his own life.

He had tried to play down the whole encounter to Jim, because he hadn’t wanted to worry him unduly. He had summed up the whole experience as ‘the best of days and the worst of days’ - because the true loyalty of Gabe and his men had been proven by the way they had been prepared to back him up and lay down their own lives for him. That had made him so happy, and he had allowed this joy to overshadow any inner dread he felt every time Enzo Leccese’s name was mentioned.

“He wanted to slow us down, by planting these things on this John Doe,” Harvey said.

“As well as torment me,” added Jim bitterly. “Lecesse really is a sadist!”

“Yep, he is. But we are gonna get this sick sonofabitch Jim, and we’re gonna get Oswald back. That’s a promise! We just have to stay positive and keep pushing on those leads.”

“I know, I know. Thanks Harv. Don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Don’t mention it Jimbo. That’s what partners are for!”

“I wonder who this John Doe really is?” Jim pondered, as they made their way back to the precinct. “Someone will be missing him, too.”

“Jesus Jim, with the greatest respect, only you could care about a scumbag employee of Lecesse’s at a time like this!” “Well we have to have some compassion - I don’t want Lecesse taking that away from me, it’s just what he’d want - besides, this guy might not even be an employee of Lecesse, say if he’s just some innocent random stranger they did this to? Grabbed him off the street, noticing the resemblance?” “Bit far-fetched bud, although not impossible I guess. This is Gotham, after all…..anyway, we’ll put a guard on the door here and get the hospital to call if he comes round and can tell us anything. About Oswald I mean, as well as who he actually is.” “Which I hope happens, soon. If he’s one of Enzo’s guys he’s bound to know where Oswald is being kept.”

Meanwhile:

An elderly woman called in to the GCPD, clutching her capacious handbag tightly against her chest. She was on a mission.

Her greying brows were tightened with worry, her dark circled eyes betraying a lack of sleep as well as general poor health. Her reddened cheeks were salt-stained from crying.

“I-I want to report a missing person,” she sniffed, once she had managed to attract the attention of the officer on duty.

“Missing person? Who would you like to report as missing?”

“My son.”

“Oh, I see, I’m sorry to hear that - erm, Mrs..?”

“Gambini. Lucia Gambini. And my son, he is Marco, Marco Gambini.”

“I see. And how long has Marco been missing for? When did you last see him?”

“Yesterday. Yesterday morning, when he left for work. He said see you tonight mother, as he went out the door, but...but he didn’t come home! And he hasn’t called, and he still isn't back this morning…”

“Ah. Um, Mrs Gambini - are you sure your son is actually - well, missing? I mean - it’s been less than 48 hours, and might he just have spent the night....elsewhere?” the officer said slowly, trying to be as tactful as possible.

“Not my son! Not my Marco! He’s a good boy, officer, he would call me if he wasn’t going to come home. And he always comes home to his mother, without fail. And he doesn’t go tomcatting around - he doesn’t even date! I’m so worried something bad happened to him.” Her eyes filled with more fresh tears and she wiped fiercely at her eyes again. Then her brown irises flashed with determination. “Please, please, officer - you HAVE to help me find him!” she insisted, slamming her hand on to the desk and making the officer jump out of his skin.

So the officer decided to help Mrs Gambini and asked for a description - or a photograph - that the GCPD might work from.

Mrs Gambini nodded her head vigorously, and produced several photos of her beloved boy from her oversized handbag.

“Look at him - so handsome!” she declared, momentarily swapping angst for choked up pride. “I’m sure he only stays single because of me - I’m not in the best of health and he looks after me, you see….”

She stopped talking as she saw the officer’s expression change from forced patience to utter amazement.

So there it was - that little mystery was solved. Marco Gambini was the ‘body in the bed’ - the almost-duplicate Oswald planted by Enzo Leccese as a decoy and means of mental torment to Detective Jim Gordon.

So before long Mrs Lucia Gambini was sitting at her son’s hospital bedside, holding his hand and staring down at him with tears of anger, sorrow and disbelief.

“My poor boy! Look what they did to him! He did nothing to deserve this. You HAVE to find out who did this to my beautiful Marco!” she demanded, her dark eyes boring into Jim’s fiercely.

Jim nodded with understanding and empathy. His heart went out to Lucia Gambini. He promised her that they were going to get whoever was responsible and make sure that justice was done.

But meanwhile, he received another phone call from Lecesse, even more disturbing than the last - taunting him about the lookalike he had ‘killed’ and promising that next time, it really would be 'your fag boyfriend's body on that slab…. '

And shortly afterwards, a DVD had been dropped off by masked motorbike courier which showed a recording of Oswald in his cell on the first night of his captivity - clearly distressed and crying.

A typed note had been received with the recording which stated in no uncertain terms that Jim’s ‘sad snowflake of a fag fiance’ would be put to death if a list of demands wasn’t met - within the next 24 hours.

These were impossible in the timescale allowed. Enzo must have known that.

Jim was horrified to see Oswald in such terrible emotional pain. His heart was breaking and he’d never felt so angry and afraid.

He clenched his fists until the knuckles were white and fought off the scalding tears that burned at the back of his eyes.

Jim just had to find Oswald - fast - and then he was going to kill Enzo Leccese.

He didn’t know that this had been the only time that Oswald had given in to his emotions and shown his despair - before he had become aware of the camera’s presence in the room. Jim didn’t see his strong, defiant Oswald, the one who had since fought to hide his inner turmoil from the intrusive lens and the prying eyes of his captors.

Marco Gambini was strong and defiant too.

As Jim's fury rose to boiling point, Marco’s life signs went in to overdrive. He beat all the odds and dragged himself kicking and screaming back into the world.

The first thing he did on regaining consciousness was to ask to speak to Jim Gordon.

So, Marco had pulled through and had straightaway spilled the beans on Enzo. Now Jim knew where Oswald was being held. He thanked Marco from the bottom of his heart, and he was so grateful that Marco had decided to help Oswald, particularly as he had almost paid for it with his life.

Gabe and Zsasz gathered together Oswald’s loyal soldiers, then converged on the GCPD to join forces with them. This army prepared to overthrow Enzo Lecesse to rescue and reinstate Oswald to his rightful place. "Long live the King of Gotham!" they all proclaimed as they prepared for battle.

#gobblepotalliance2019

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aaaanathaniel · 3 years

Text

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globalmediacampaign · 3 years

Text

RANK() and DENSE_RANK() differences

The Window Ranking functions: ROW_NUMBER(), RANK(), and DENSE_RANK() each rank rows with an increasing integer value. I wrote a previous blog post, ROW_NUMBER() Window Function – find duplicate values, where I covered how the ROW_NUMBER() window function can be used to target any duplicate rows, with the use of the PARTITION BY clause in the OVER() clause. In this post, I cover the differences between RANK(), and DENSE_RANK() in handling any ties according to the sorting performed by the ORDER BY clause with regards to the assigned increasing integer. Continue reading and see examples… Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay OS and DB used: Linux Mint 20 “Ulyana” MySQL 8.0.22 Self-Promotion: If you enjoy the content written here, by all means, share this blog and your favorite post(s) with others who may benefit from or like it as well. Since coffee is my favorite drink, you can even buy me one if you would like! Inspirational Videos I learned a great deal about RANK() and DENSE_RANK() from these videos so be sure and check them out as well… Rank and Dense Rank in SQL Server Options for ranking An arbitrary table named ‘some_names’ containing duplicate values in the ‘first_name’ column is our test data for the example queries: mysql-sql [learning]> SELECT * FROM some_names;+----+------------+| id | first_name |+----+------------+| 1 | Max || 2 | Mary || 3 | Charlie || 4 | Humpty || 5 | Roger || 6 | Jim || 7 | Jupyter || 8 | Max || 9 | Mary || 10 | Charlie || 11 | Humpty || 12 | Roger || 13 | Jim || 14 | Jupyter || 15 | Jim || 16 | Jim || 17 | Max || 18 | Max || 19 | Mary |+----+------------+19 rows in set (0.0011 sec) RANK() and DENSE_RANK() differences: How RANK() and DENSE_RANK() are similar when there are no ties In order to better understand how RANK() and DENSE_RANK() differ when duplicate values are present in the sorting ORDER BY clause, we will see a query where there are no duplicates. We can easily eliminate duplicates from any query results using DISTINCT on the ‘first_name’ column. I’ll wrap this particular SELECT in a CTE (WITH clause) for easier handling: 1234567891011121314151617 mysql-sql [learning]> WITH distinct_names AS (SELECT DISTINCT first_name FROM some_names) -> SELECT dn.first_name, -> RANK() OVER(ORDER BY dn.first_name ASC) AS rnk, -> DENSE_RANK() OVER(ORDER BY dn.first_name ASC) AS d_rnk -> FROM distinct_names AS dn;+------------+-----+-------+| first_name | rnk | d_rnk |+------------+-----+-------+| Charlie | 1 | 1 || Humpty | 2 | 2 || Jim | 3 | 3 || Jupyter | 4 | 4 || Mary | 5 | 5 || Max | 6 | 6 || Roger �� | 7 | 7 |+------------+-----+-------+7 rows in set (0.0329 sec When there are no ties in the sorting column(s), both RANK() and DENSE_RANK() assign a sequential integer value. Which is an important distinction because when there are ties (duplicates) in the sorting column, both of these Window functions handle assigning the incrementing integer value different as we will see in the query examples that follow. RANK() and DENSE_RANK() differences: How RANK() handles ties First, I’ll execute a query using RANK(), ordering by the ‘first_name’ column in ASC (ascending) order: 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627 mysql-sql [learning]> SELECT id, first_name, -> RANK() OVER(ORDER BY first_name ASC) AS rnk -> FROM some_names;+----+------------+-----+| id | first_name | rnk |+----+------------+-----+| 3 | Charlie | 1 || 10 | Charlie | 1 || 4 | Humpty | 3 || 11 | Humpty | 3 || 6 | Jim | 5 || 13 | Jim | 5 || 15 | Jim | 5 || 16 | Jim | 5 || 7 | Jupyter | 9 || 14 | Jupyter | 9 || 2 | Mary | 11 || 9 | Mary | 11 || 19 | Mary | 11 || 1 | Max | 14 || 8 | Max | 14 || 17 | Max | 14 || 18 | Max | 14 || 5 | Roger | 18 || 12 | Roger | 18 |+----+------------+-----+19 rows in set (0.0013 sec) Based on the returned query results, RANK() assigns the same integer value for any duplicate values (ties). For example, both ‘Charlie’ value rows are assigned 1. Likewise, both ‘Jupyter’ values are assigned a 9. However, the ranking numbers are not sequential as they were in the query where no duplicate rows existed. As any duplicate values are encountered, RANK() skips the next sequential integer value. Consider the gap from value 1 to 3 between the second ‘Charlie’ first_name column value and the first ‘Humpty’ first_name column value. The 2 has been omitted or skipped and the incrementing integer value resumes with 3. RANK() and DENSE_RANK() differences: How DENSE_RANK() handles ties How does DENSE_RANK() differ from RANK() with regards to ties? Essentially, I’ll execute the same query, but using DENSE_RANK() instead of RANK(). Again, the ‘first_name’ column is used as the sort criteria in the ORDER BY clause: 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627 mysql-sql [learning]> SELECT id, first_name, -> DENSE_RANK() OVER(ORDER BY first_name ASC) AS d_rnk -> FROM some_names;+----+------------+-------+| id | first_name | d_rnk |+----+------------+-------+| 3 | Charlie | 1 || 10 | Charlie | 1 || 4 | Humpty | 2 || 11 | Humpty | 2 || 6 | Jim | 3 || 13 | Jim | 3 || 15 | Jim | 3 || 16 | Jim | 3 || 7 | Jupyter | 4 || 14 | Jupyter | 4 || 2 | Mary | 5 || 9 | Mary | 5 || 19 | Mary | 5 || 1 | Max | 6 || 8 | Max | 6 || 17 | Max | 6 || 18 | Max | 6 || 5 | Roger | 7 || 12 | Roger | 7 |+----+------------+-------+19 rows in set (0.0013 sec) The above query results are different but do share some similarities with the example query using RANK(). As with the RANK() function, duplicate values (or ties) in the ‘first_name’ column are assigned the same integer value by DENSE_RANK(). However, beginning with the same 2 ‘first_name’ column values we discussed in the query using RANK() – ‘Charlie’ and ‘Humpty’ – the incrementing value continues sequentially with the next number, 3, being assigned to the ‘Jim’ first_name column value. Where the second ‘Humpty’ row (with ‘id’ column value of 4) had a RANK() value of 3, using DENSE_RANK() yields 2. Which is the next sequential value after 1’s are assigned to both ‘Charlie’ first_name rows. RANK() and DENSE_RANK() differences: Side by side A side-by-side comparison query using both RANK() and DENSE_RANK() helps put in perspective the differences in the sequential number ranking when ties are encountered: 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728 mysql-sql [learning]> SELECT id, first_name, -> RANK() OVER(ORDER BY first_name ASC) AS rnk, -> DENSE_RANK() OVER(ORDER BY first_name ASC) AS d_rnk -> FROM some_names;+----+------------+-----+-------+| id | first_name | rnk | d_rnk |+----+------------+-----+-------+| 3 | Charlie | 1 | 1 || 10 | Charlie | 1 | 1 || 4 | Humpty | 3 | 2 || 11 | Humpty | 3 | 2 || 6 | Jim | 5 | 3 || 13 | Jim | 5 | 3 || 15 | Jim | 5 | 3 || 16 | Jim | 5 | 3 || 7 | Jupyter | 9 | 4 || 14 | Jupyter | 9 | 4 || 2 | Mary | 11 | 5 || 9 | Mary | 11 | 5 || 19 | Mary | 11 | 5 || 1 | Max | 14 | 6 || 8 | Max | 14 | 6 || 17 | Max | 14 | 6 || 18 | Max | 14 | 6 || 5 | Roger | 18 | 7 || 12 | Roger | 18 | 7 |+----+------------+-----+-------+19 rows in set (0.0016 sec) I hope this post has shed light on the differences between RANK() and DENSE_RANK() with how ties are handled and the increasing ranking value is incremented. As always, if you see anything in the code I need to correct or improve on, please let me know via the comments below. Thanks for reading! Like what you have read? See anything incorrect? Please comment below and thank you for reading!!! A Call To Action! Thank you for taking the time to read this post. I truly hope you discovered something interesting and enlightening. Please share your findings here, with someone else you know who would get the same value out of it as well. Visit the Portfolio-Projects page to see blog post/technical writing I have completed for clients. To receive email notifications (Never Spam) from this blog (“Digital Owl’s Prose”) for the latest blog posts as they are published, please subscribe (of your own volition) by clicking the ‘Click To Subscribe!’ button in the sidebar on the homepage! (Feel free at any time to review the Digital Owl’s Prose Privacy Policy Page for any questions you may have about: email updates, opt-in, opt-out, contact forms, etc…) Be sure and visit the “Best Of” page for a collection of my best blog posts. Josh Otwell has a passion to study and grow as a SQL Developer and blogger. Other favorite activities find him with his nose buried in a good book, article, or the Linux command line. Among those, he shares a love of tabletop RPG games, reading fantasy novels, and spending time with his wife and two daughters. Disclaimer: The examples presented in this post are hypothetical ideas of how to achieve similar types of results. They are not the utmost best solution(s). The majority, if not all, of the examples provided, are performed on a personal development/learning workstation-environment and should not be considered production quality or ready. Your particular goals and needs may vary. Use those practices that best benefit your needs and goals. Opinions are my own. The post RANK() and DENSE_RANK() differences appeared first on Digital Owl's Prose. https://joshuaotwell.com/rank-and-dense_rank-differences/

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newagesispage · 4 years

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OCTOBER 2020

PAGE RIB

The Stones opened Rolling Stones # 9 on Carnaby St.** Bill Wyman auctioned off many unique items for the Prince’s Trust.**Wyman’s bass used for groundbreaking records in ’69 and ’70 broke a record at $384,000. The famous amp that got him into the Stones went for $106,250 and the most expensive toilet seat cover sold at auction with the tongue logo went for $1,142. Brian Jones Rock and Roll Circus guitar sold for $704,000.

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VOTE!!!!

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In San Francisco people can order dinner and drinks delivered with a drag queen performance.

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Joaquin and Rooney had a baby that they named River.

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Real Time has been renewed thru 2022.

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The new film, No Sudden Move about 1955 Detroit will star Don Cheadle, David Harbour, Benicio Del Toro, Ray Liotta and Kieran Culkin.

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Shep Smith is back with Just the Facts on CNBC.

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The Presidential debate: Well, Good Biden moments-“You don’t panic, he panicked.” “It is what it is cuz you are what you are.” “Everybody knows he’s a liar.” Wouldn’t know suburbs unless he took a wrong turn.” “Will you shit up man?” “Get out of your and trap.” Imagine if Bernie or a younger candidate with real energy were there. Imagine someone quick on their feet because we need that. The bully style of scary clown 45 does fluster a normal person as it supposed to. Joe held his own and had real dignity though. It is hard to not respond to the President’s ridiculousness but he needs to be ignored. Trump and son both seemed like they were about 8 Red Bulls into the day with all that pent up anger. Who should be drug tested? Biden? Trump went on about forest management but most of that land belongs to the Federal government. ** I have never seen my mailperson trying to sell ballots.** Trump said that bad things are happening in Philadelphia. Biden should have showed some love for the state. He is on a tour of it now though. ** Chris Wallace said, “Why you not?” Was that a real question? 45 said, “I was a private business people.” They all had a little trouble talking. It is exhausting the way people put up with his manners. **As soon as the debate was over, the Trump army wasted no time reaching out to goons to be poll watchers. Do they know that you just can’t show up randomly for that??**Apprentice insiders say Trump abuses Adderall.

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The other day when Trump took the podium for a rant, an open mike caught a someone saying, “Oh shit” On Fox.

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For those who insist Trump is a religious man, I’ll grant you he pays taxes like a church. –Stephen Colbert

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Letterman is ready with My Next Guest Needs no Introduction. This season includes Robert Downey Jr., Lizzo and Dave Chappelle.

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There are about 9 million feral swine in this country known as super pigs.

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There is talk of Levar Burton replacing Alex Trebeck when he retires. YES!!!!

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Cigar Afficionado magazine has named CBS Sunday Morning the greatest show on tv.

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The U.S. built tunnels under Trump’s wall to let water, garbage, DDT and other toxins flow thru. Millions were spent for nothing and now millions more will be spent to address this problem that empties into the Pacific Ocean.

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Days alert: Melissa Reeves is being replaced. Is it that she does not want to commute from Nashville or that she is a bit too conservative or something else? Is it an end of Days with old side characters and replacements of the stars??** Ava is coming back, JJ is back, Eric and Sami are gone. ** Absolutely loved the pic of Abigail 1 that confused Abigail 2. Funny!!!! It reminded me of the OLTL moment during Asa’s funeral when Blair saw the 1st Blair in a flashback.

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“Smaller than expected” would probably explain a lot about the proud boys. –Andi Zeisler

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Why does anyone listen to Christie or Rudy??

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Looting isn’t part of protesting just like murder isn’t part of arresting.

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A judge has said that Florida has created an “unconstitutional pay to vote system.” This has now been overturned. What are the things that can be termed felonies to keep one from voting? The list includes releasing helium filled balloons, driving without a license, catching the wrong lobster and disturbing turtle eggs. Amendment 4 was originally put into effect to stop freed slaves from voting. But SB7066 makes sure that felons complete the terms of their sentences. The fines, fees and restitution can be hard to navigate. There must be proof before they can vote but all counties keep their own records and there is no organization statewide. Mike Bloomberg, John Legend, Michael Jordon and others are paying off millions of dollars in debt for felons in Florida so that they can vote if they can unravel some of the puzzles. Now Florida Republicans are saying that that is also illegal.

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Two thirds of the world’s wildlife has disappeared in the last 50 years.

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At our own peril, we have to step up or everything is lost. –John Batiste

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Michael Jordan will start up a Nascar team with Bubba Wallace.

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Laraine Newman signed up to be a poll worker. How do you get people to vote? Celebrity poll workers? Hey whatever works as long as the masses don’t gawk and hold up the lines.

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A refrigerator sized asteroid is headed to earth and may arrive about the time of the election.

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So the coronavirus relief funds were funneled by the pentagon to defense contractors.** What kind of a selfish fucking world do we live in? At least we know which people in this world give a flying fuck about the rest of us. Rally and fair participants, relief money scammers and mask protesters, we hear you loud and clear!!

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The Emmys went on thru the week of the 14th thru the 20th. Winners included RuPaul, Don’t fuck with Cats, Leah Remini, The Apollo, Eddie Murphy, Last Week 2nite, SNL, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Crown, Better Call Saul, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Archer, Hollywood, Maya Rudolph, Dan Harmon, Bad Education, Cherry Jones, Regina King, Julia Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Uzo Aduba, The Last Dance and Stranger Things. Schitt’s Creek (and practically the whole cast), Dave Chappelle and Succession took home the big ones. Norman Lear became the oldest Emmy winner ever. Letterman ‘hitchhiked’ to the Emmy’s to present an award. I was really rooting for Amy Sedaris!!

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Bill Murray and Rashida Jones will star in Sofia Coppala’s On the Rocks.** The Doobie Brothers want Bill Murray to stop using their music to sell his golf clothes.

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Danny Trejo and Jessica Tuck will star in ‘The Shift.’

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Illinois is pulling down statues including Chris Columbus. Woo Hoo!!

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13 mummies have been discovered in a well, stacked one on top of the other. The Egyptian discovery from about 2,500 years ago has been well preserved.

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Hysterectomies on immigrant women in detention camps?? Really??

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Scientific American mag is 175 years old has never endorsed a candidate but Joe Biden id their man.

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Word is that in Indonesia the anti- maskers are forced to dig the graves of the Covid 19 victims.

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The Breonna Taylor case continues with a settlement and too few charges.

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Scary Clown 45 announced he will call in to Fox and Friends every Monday or Tuesday but a host told him that they were not committed to that.** The Scary campaign put up ads with “Support Our Troops” but the problem is they are Russian troops and jet fighters.** Trump did a phone interview on Fox Sports and talked about golf.

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It is a shame that Hillary lost the election and many more of us would be alive if she were running the show. But, I can only imagine the shit they would have given her.

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Brad Pascale, Trump’s former campaign manager, went to the hospital after being taken into custody in Florida after threatening suicide.

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Just remember , 1619 Project: Good 1776 Commision: Oh my! Why do these rich old fucks want us to stay as stupid and uninformed as they are? Haven’t we been in the dark long enough? They are the fake news masters.

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Jim Carrey will play Biden on SNL. Chris Rock will be host the season 46 opener on Oct. 3. New players will be Lauren Holt, Punkie Johnson and Andrew Dismukes.

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Gulf War Syndrome is a chronic and multi symptomatic disorder that has affected military personnel from the Persian Gulf War. The DOD is resisting the strong evidence and needs more of a spotlight. The possible exposure to chemical weapons may even have been passed on to their partners through sexual contact. All of this came to light in the mid 90’s thru complaints that were told to Ross Perot. Let’s hope Tammy Duckworth looks into this further.

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Amy Coney Barrett has been nominated to the Supreme Court. Her previous statements tell us she believes the ACA is unconstitutional, abortion is always immoral and the country should undo marriage equality. She is a member of People of Praise.** If she was a Muslim and everything else was the same regarding her beliefs and associations, Republicans would call her a religious extremist and never let her step near the Supreme Court. –Wajahat Ali.** Notorious A.C.B. ?? Do they have one original idea other than new ways to cheat and steal??

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Finn Wittrock has a funny little Emmy Uber ride on Funny or Die.

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Breonna Taylor’s neighbor’s wall got more justice that Breonna herself. –Jordan Uhl

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Go Stevie Wonder!!!

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Dax Sheppard went off the wagon for a while.

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A Giant Gundom? Really?

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A fun prank would be if we stopped this from becoming a dictatorship on Nov. 3rd and whatnot. –George Wallace

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Sen. Kevin Kramer has been acting a little crooked on building the Wall.

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The Metropolitan Opera has cancelled the whole season.

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Happy Doomscrolling

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Can dogs be trained to detect the coronavirus?

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Rand Paul is an idiot. Birx and Atlas have ruined reps. Give ‘em Hell Fauci!! ** Everything Atlas says is false. –R. Redfield

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Eric Trump must testify in court about the Trump business’s a judge has decreed. The Trump biz has made about 19 billion in the last 3 years.** The world is gobbling up the news about the Trump tax returns with tales of debt, the $72.9 milliion refund and foreign influence. How does the IRS let a refund like that happen? How bad of a businessman do you have to be to lose that much $? National security threat. One of his fans will probably bail him out.

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Bet we’d all own houses if we stopped eating so much avocado toast and committed tax fraud. -Kashana

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Mary Trump has sued The President and his siblings for fraud.

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Ellen is selling off $10 mil in art.

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61% say we should abolish the electoral college.

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The Netflix series, Challenger :The Final Flight reminds us that like The Titanic, the arrogance of man can change so many lives.

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Wilderness of Errors is a great doc. It proves just how right the book and mini -series got it.

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The remains of the 1644 warship, Del Menhorst have been found off the Danish coast.

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Everybody is talking about Jeff Daniels in The Comey Rule. The actors were upset when Showtime was going to push back the release until after the election. The actors said they wouldn’t promote the film so the film has premiered.

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David Tennant gets better and better and now he is giving us DES on ITV. Quality AND quanity.

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Independent prosecutors are not going ahead with a case against NE Patriots Robert Craft for soliciting prostitutes.

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America has no memories. –Wallace Shawn

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Tyler Childers has released ‘Long Violent History”. Give it a listen.

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Does it seem like the administration gets a word of the week and they really push it? Caravan-Herd-sedition-looters- Antifa. It is like they all share a brain and do not have a thought of their own.

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Chris Petrovski `will star in ‘Listen’ about a young Israeli soldier.

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On a personal note, I love the way that Autumn makes my brain feel. The spring allergies are gone, the hot muddled summer thinking fades and everything opens up.

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Gubler is back and in the video for Future Islands ‘Moonlight’.

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Niecy Nash wed Jessica Betts.

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Check out the Curious life and death of… on the Smithsonian channel.

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Conan is looking hot with his grown out hair.

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I just love Mel Rodriguez and Weijia Jiang. Some people just don’t get enough credit.

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Vet’s crisis line: 1-800-273-8255

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Donald Trump is taking page out of Charles Manson’s playbook. Start a race war, then convince the public you alone can end it. He’s a lying racist piece of garbage. –Rob Reiner

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Serious Question: Would good Christian conservatives have mounted a Go fund me for Timothy McVeigh? –Michael Mckean

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Old Navy will pay employees to work the polls on Election day.

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Trump is the most effective anti -liberal in my lifetime. –Newt Gingrich

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Tommy Chong does not seem too happy with Joe Rogan.

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Anna Faris is leaving CBS’s Mom as it heads into its 8th season.

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Q Anon should take advantage of the ACA. –Joe Biden

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Word is that the White House told Federal agencies to ban race based sensitivity training. The thinking is that Un American propaganda training sessions have no place in Federal Government.

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I wish I lived in a country where John Kelly, James Mattis and John Bolton had at least half the balls of Sally Yates, Maria Yovanovitch, Fiona Hill, Reality Winner, Christine Blasey Ford or Stormy Daniels. – Andrea Junker** If only Mad Dog Mattis had the balls of Olivia Troye – Michael Mckean

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38 million Americans live in poverty.

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80 year old Sam Little with a possible 93 murders has now been called the most prolific serial killer in the U.S. and he has a photographic memory. Whoever takes this on, please let David Alan Grier play him in the movie.

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You must check out the album, the Angel Headed Hipster.

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Everybody is talking about Cottage Core.

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The Trump campaign can’t help themselves with things like playing ‘knockin’ on Heaven’s door’ and ‘Fortunate son’ at rally’s. It was like the time my Grandfathers young wife brought a purse to the funeral that boldly stated ‘Jackpot.’ True Story.

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Glenn Howerton and Seth Meyers should play brothers on something.** Also Meyers and Larry Wilmore wondered if the cancellation of Wilmore’s show was a reason for the racial unrest and terrible results of the last election. Hmmm.

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Can we remember this election enthusiasm for all future elections? We need to take things seriously EVERY time.** So many say that even with our divide, we all want the same things in the end. I do not think that is really true. It seems that in this divide, we have different ideas about what we want this country to be.

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Harry Styles has replaced Shia LaBeouf in Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling.

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Cat Cora has filed for a restraining order against her ex- wife, Jennifer who it seems has been stalking her.

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Showtime’s The Comedy Store sounds interesting with stories like Jimmie Walker who claims that Freddie Prinze wanted to kill John Travolta.

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Maplecroft, Lizzie Borden’s last house sold for about $890,000.

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A woman ref in the NFL?? It’s about time!

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Doc Martin will end after its 10th season.

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Kelly Clarkson is being sued by her management firm.

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Pope Francis refused to meet with Mike Pompeo.

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R.I.P. Tom Seaver, Sophie Farrar, Kevin Dobson, Toots Hibbert, Stevie Lee, Bruce Williamson, Ben Cross, Diana Rigg, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Rev. Robert Graetz, Ron Cobb, Gale Sayers, Dan Dettman, Kevin Burns, Mac Davis, wildfire casualties, Covid victims and Helen Reddy.

0 notes

creativexoxo · 7 years

Text

See you Soon Doll || Part 2 || JeromeXReader

Imagine you are a cheerleader riding on a bus to a football game when the Maniax attacks it.

(GIF not mine)

Part 1

Part 2

A few days after the incident with Jerome, you are now at the police station giving a statement. You tell the police what happened on the bus. You tell them what happened from the time Jerome and his gang got on the bus, to when they left you on the ground outside the bus.

When you are done they tell you to wait a few minutes. You wonder why they still need you to stay here.

After a couple minutes another man comes into the room. He introduces himself as Detective James Gordon and sits down in the chair in front of you.

“So, y/n,” he says, “We need to talk about a couple of things.”

You stiffen, looking up at Detective Gordon in fear. “What... What is it,” you say.

“We can tell that Jerome has taken a liking to you,” he says, “and we are worried for your safety. We are worried that the Maniax will try and come back for you.”

“Who is the Maniax?” you ask.

“They are the group that attacked the bus,” Detective Gordon says. “They are a bunch of Arkham breakouts. We don’t know who their leader is but the group has been causing havoc on Gotham for the past couple days.”

“And they want me?” you question.

“We aren’t sure,” he tells you. “Jeome is known to be very unpredictable and it is best to assume that when he said to you that he will come back for you, he was being serious. It is always best to stay on the safe side especially when dealing with this group of criminals.”

This is so much to take in. You are freaking out right now. You can’t believe this is happening.

“So how am I suppose to stay safe?” you ask Detective Gordon.

“Well, we are going to have to work out a plan with your parents. We have already called them and they are on their way.” Gordon says.

“Thank you,” you say.

You hear a ringing noise coming from Detectivve Gordons pocket. He reaches into it and pulls out his phone. You see him look at the caller ID and then he stands up from his chair.

“Sorry I need to take this, I’ll be right back,” He says before walking out of the room.

Right after Jim leaves Harvey walks back into the room.

“So Jim told you what was going to happen.” Harvey says taking a seat in front of you.

“Ya he did,” you reply.

“I know it sucks but it is for your own safety. Besides hopefully we catch him soon and you won’t have to worry about him ever again,” Harvey tells you.

“Ya, hopefully.” You really do hope he gets caught soon. You don’t know how long you will be able to live in fear of him.

“Don’t worry Y/N as long as your here he won't be able to do anything to you,” Harvey comforts you.

Suddenly you hear what sounds like gun shots coming from outside of the office you are in. You look over at Harvey and you see him pull out his gun.

“Behind the desk now!” Harvey yells.

You quickly jump out of your chair and duck behind the desk. You see Harvey move behind the door, his gun loaded.

He looks over at you. “Y/N don’t move and don't make a sound, Okay?” he says.

You nod before ducking behind the desk even more. Making sure that you are not visible at all.

A few minutes later the door to the room you are in gets opened. You can just barley see a man who is dressed in a police uniform come in. Except you can tell by his facial expressions that he is not actually apart of the GCPD.

Harvey jumps out from behind the door knocking him unconscious. Harvey steps over the body and exits the office, and shutting the door to the room.

You sit behind the desk trying to not make a noise. You are so scared and breathing so heavily, but you're trying to keep your breath quiet.

Suddenly, you hear the door to the room you are in slam open. You jump a bit but try and stay hidden behind the desk. You can’t hear anything for a while. You think this is strange.

You look around a bit but you can't see anything. You look to the left to the right and then you look up.

You scream! He is just starring down at you with this big creepy smile on his face. You want to get up and run. Run far, far away, but you can't. You are frozen in fear!

He then leans down really close to your face, about two inches away. He whispers, “Miss me doll!”

He then puts a cloth over your mouth. You try not to breath in whatever is on the cloth, afraid what might happen if you do. You then feel a hand squeeze your butt and you gasp, accidentally breathing in whatever is on the cloth.

You start to feel dizzy and weak. You can no longer sit up and you need to lay down. The corners of your vision start to darken.

As you are falling unconscious you can just barley make out Jerome picking up your limp body and holding you bridal style.

Right before you lose complete consciousness you hear Jerome say, “What did I tell you doll. I would come back and see you soon.” Then everything goes black.

#jerome #jerome valeska #jerome gotham #gotham fanfic #gotham jerome #gotham #jerome fanfic #jerome valeska x reader #jerome x reader #gotham jerome x reader

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differentjokes4differentfolks · 6 years

Text

WTFIT Chap 10

Chapter ten!! I think it’s safe to say the fic is more than halfway done :) As always, thanks for the comments and likes/reblogs. I’m glad y’all like the story. Enjoy!!

Bruce swears if Vicki Vale was a villain she’d be unstoppable. He spends an hour alone trying to dodge her questions, his phone ringing incessantly (How did she even get his number?). When the mob of reporters shows up on his front step he tries to have Alfred shoo them away, but they’re like vultures. The camera flashes annoy him to no end, you don’t need camera flashes in broad daylight anyway (he thinks). The interview goes on for about an hour. He doesn’t mind some of the questions, no, he’s not straight, yes, he’ll donate to LGBT organizations (he donates to them anyways). But some are insulting and honestly? Some are just straight up kinky. He ends up just staring at one reporter after a certain question about leather, at a loss for words. So, in a curt fashion he ends the interview, loosening his tie as he enters the manor and heaving a sigh of relief.

“What was that about?” Dick asks, dressed to head out to Barbara’s. His hair looks stiff with gel, which makes Bruce frown and mess it up. Dick protests but Bruce cuts him off.

“You look better like this,” he says, “You’re not going to an interview, you’re going to hang out with your girlfriend.”

“Fine. But why was the press here?”

“Why do they ever show up? For information and uncomfortable conversations.” Dick looks confused, so he decides to enlighten him. “People saw me dancing with a man yesterday at that restaurant and Gotham was in an uproar.”

Dick blinks. “You’re gay? Or bi?”

“Maybe. Probably.” Bruce laughs awkwardly. Dick shrugs.

“So what? Why do they have to make a big deal out of nothing?” He kneels down to tie his shoelaces. “I mean, it’s just who you love, not that world-changing. You should call them when you find out who Batman really is,” he jokes.

Bruce hums in agreement. “So what do you and Barb have planned?”

Standing up, Dick runs a hand through his already messed up hair. “You know, I was thinking we could sightsee. Or maybe watch a movie. Or stay at home and do something. I’m not picky.”

An idea springs into Bruce’s head. “Take her to a cafe. There’s a great one across Wayne Tower, they have really good cheesecake.”

“Really?” Dick furrows his brow. “I think I know which one you’re talking about. You’ve gone? Doesn’t seem like your kind of venue.”

“I had nothing else to do. And if I hadn’t gone I would’ve missed out.” He edits out the real story, but the last bit is true.

“Alright. Well, I should go. I’m taking the Lamborghini.”

Bruce raises an eyebrow. “Don’t get it scratched up.”

“C’mon Bruce, you know me.” Dick winks. Yes, he does. As skilled a driver as he is, he’s still totaled a couple of Bruce’s best cars. “I’ll be back before nightfall.” He exits, leaving Bruce to slip out of his coat. Today is going to be a relaxing day, he promises himself. No going out, no phone calls, no anything. His eyes are half-shut when he falls onto the couch.

And then his phone rings.

With a groan Bruce looks at the caller ID. No name; it could be anyone really. Fine. He answers.

“Hello?”

“So I heard you were in the East End last night.” Selina. Bruce can hear the annoyance in her voice.

“I had a good reason. Scarecrow and Black Mask were there. They were going to poison the water system if I didn’t stop them.” Bruce turns on the TV, idly clicking on the remote.

“Really. And you didn't tell me?”

“I had a lot on my mind.” He stops flipping at a Harry Potter marathon. How many times have they marathoned this on TV in the past couple months? It’s almost constantly running. And if he’s exaggerating, it’s not by much. He leaves it on as background noise.

“Look, I appreciate you stopping them. Just tell me next time. When I saw Nightwing there I was about ready to knock him out. Didn't he tell you?”

He’d failed to mention that, actually. “Did he explain why?”

“Yes. I don’t like this, Bruce. It’s been so long since something like this has happened. Don’t get me wrong, taking a few millionaires down a peg or three doesn’t sound awful. But killing them all?”

“I know. But I’m going to fix it.”

“Tell me when you’re done, maybe we can do something, it’s awfully cold and the fireplace is roaring,” she purrs. Bruce rolls his eyes, but he can’t help a smile.

“You don’t have a fireplace.” The woman on the other end of the line laughs, and Bruce joins in. Once the laughter fades he says, “I’ll see you later, Selina,” the mirth in his voice audible.

“Bye, Batman.” She hangs up, her laugh the last thing Bruce hears before the phone clicks. She’s a valuable friend, he realises. He enjoys her company for what it is, upfront, witty, and relaxed. But it’s just that, that softer feeling of friendship, not unlike what he feels for Clark, or even Jim Gordon. He leans back on the couch, watching as Harry faces off against Voldemort. He can’t help but feel critical. Villains are rarely that one-sided.

Sitting on the couch got boring pretty fast. Countless pushups and crunches later and he feels more productive, though when he checks the clock it’s only eleven in the morning. What could he do to pass time? He glances at the phone. His finger taps at the leather of the couch rapidly. It might not be a good idea. It probably isn’t a good idea. But…

He turns on his phone, Joker’s number already in the contacts. The phone rings once...twice…

“Hello?” Damn, he’s not ready for this. It feels too casual all of a sudden. He hesitates. Joker’s voice is bright though. “Bats, is that you?”

“Hi, Joker.”

“It’s been a while.” It really hasn’t, it’s only been a few hours, but Bruce isn’t about to tell him that. “Oh, have you seen the newspaper, dear? We look amazing.”

“You saw that?”

“Saw it? I scrapbooked it!” Bruce can imagine the smug look on Joker’s face. He also thinks he knows the man enough that yes, he did in fact scrapbook it. He’s seen pictures up on the walls of his hideouts before, newspaper clipping and old Batman sightings from when he was just getting started. He still doesn’t know how to respond. It’s strange. “...You did call me, Batsy. Getting cold feet?”

“No.” Bruce’s defensiveness spikes. “You sound like you’re in a good mood, though.”

“Oh, I am.” Joker giggles. “Can’t compare to whenever I see your devilish good looks, but it’s a close second.” Shameless flirting. Okay. He can deal with this.

“Miss me?”

“Always.” Bruce can hear the smile in Joker’s voice. “My other half, the one who beats the crap out of me whenever I wreak havoc. When are we getting back to that, by the way? I miss our little sessions.”

Bruce snorts. “You miss that?”

Joker laughs. “Well that was an attractive sound. And yeah, I do actually.” He sighs. “Don’t you?”

As a matter of fact Bruce does. He hasn’t thought about it much, but it’s true. Fighting on rooftops in the rain, kicks and punches as fluid as a dance. Moves like reflexes. Adrenaline. “Yeah, I guess I do. This is the longest you’ve been around me without an actual fight.”

“Too monotonous.” A voice calls out in the background, Joker’s voice quieter as he tells the speaker to shut up. The voice answers back more animatedly, to which he replies with exasperation. Bruce figures it’s Harley in the background. He waits till the talking stops.

“So? What are you doing? Should I be worried?”

“It’s a secret. You’ll find out soon enough.” There’s a crash on the other end. Bruce frowns.

“What was that?”

“Darling, don’t worry about it. Trust me, you’ll like the surprise. I know I do.”

“If you say so.”

“I do say so.” Another crash. “Gotta go, I’m working right now. Ciao!” Joker ends the call abruptly, Bruce blinking at the short response. He’s suspicious, but knows he won’t get any answers until tonight. He slowly sets the phone down. And wishes the sun was setting.

He decides to let Tim come along tonight. He did a fair job in helping him and Dick out last night, and he does keep a level head for the most part. He’ll be working with Jason though, making sure there isn’t anything wrong at the Gotham Observatory, where the Gala will be held. Dick will be coming with him and Joker to the docks, but first he decides to check out Ace chemicals.

The weather is actually nicer today, the night still safe a slight breeze. There’s no report of snow, yet he can see a few flakes drifting in the cold October atmosphere. He breathes in the cold air, the sharp chill of it waking up his senses.

Bruce hasn’t visited Ace Chemicals in months. It hasn’t changed much, the plant only up and running half the time. Recently it’s been closed down for “remodeling”. He assumes that’s still the case, if it’s being used as a base. His instincts tell him it’s rigged in some way, but he won’t know until he gets closer. So he does, grappling to the top and looking in through a window.

The whole place is decked out in greenery, vines twisting about on the floor. Ivy. But there are also hints of something else, more Joker-ish in nature. A colourful box here, some toys strewn about. He purses his lips. Okay, so Joker has a hand in this. This must be the surprise he was talking about. He can’t say he wasn’t expecting it, the way he was talking earlier, and the fact that Harley was there. It’s a challenge. Just not one he has time for.

Bruce glances around, seeing a grate he can enter through. The closer he can get the better.

He’s inside when he hears Joker’s voice through speakers.

“What do you think, Bats? Interesting, right? Just wait.” A laugh.

Bruce takes out a few men, dodging and cutting at vines that rush at him. The factory only holds about a dozen thugs, not counting Harley, Ivy, and Joker. And it isn’t too big a complication. Though Ivy is obviously getting a kick out of it. There are plants everywhere. He can handle it, but those on top of armed henchmen he’s wasting time. He brushes by them, not discriminating, his goal just on the control room.

Harley lands in front of him, grinning. “What’s up, B-man?” She throws a punch, Bruce dodging and retaliating. Her blows don’t land, Bruce avoiding them easily, landing a hit. Harley grits her teeth, but instead of recoiling she uses the momentum for a kick. It hits Bruce’s side. He grunts, but the pain isn’t enough to stop him from knocking her back.

“Get back before I knock you out,” Bruce warns. Harley pretends to think about it.

“I think I’m good, you know? This is way more fun!” She jumps at him, landing a solid kick to his side. Again and Bruce blocks a second kick, knocking her away. She comes back in with a flurry of punches laughing as Bruce tries to block them. It’s when she lands a hit to his jaw that Bruce decides to act, ducking and throwing a punch at her stomach. In her haste to avoid the blow she missteps, and he takes that opportunity to pulls her towards him, twisting her arm behind her back.

She cries out in pain, and that’s when Ivy decides to join in. Large thorns erupt from the ground around them, Bruce stepping back with Harley. He makes quick work of tying her hands together, watching the floor warily.

“Gotta say, this is way more interesting than any movie I’ve seen!” Joker’s voice rings out. Bruce aims a look at the control room, narrowing his eyes. A vine snakes towards him, Bruce cutting it in two with a batarang. When Ivy reveals herself her eyes are blazing.

“How dare you hurt my babies?”

“And me,” Harley calls out. Bruce lets Harley drop to the floor, the woman falling with an “ow”. One of Ivy’s vines picks her up, placing her to a side before rushing at Bruce. He kicks at the plants, making his way closer to Ivy. Leaves slash through the air like throwing knives, a couple knicking Bruce, sharp like papercuts. He pushes on, avoiding thorny barriers and feeling as though he was walking through a deadly jungle.

It’s too late when Ivy realises Bruce has the upper hand, a few steps ahead of her. He knocks her to the ground, hand pinned on her neck. She hisses in anger, but he quickly places a blow to her temple that knocks her unconscious, her plants writhing before dropping to the floor. He glances up at Harley, who pouts.

“You’ll get what’s comin’ to you Batman! Just wait!” Her smile turns sly. Bruce drops Ivy off next to her, making sure they’re both bound tightly enough that they won’t get free any time soon. Time to go up into the control room. He steps over plants on the stairs, the windows streaming light. He guesses whatever he came for is there, as is Joker.

When he walks in there’s no sign of anyone, but he finds schematics of the observatory, as well as explosives and masks. Good, it’s all there. He places a tracker, knowing Joker is behind him the moment he hears a quiet click. He turns slowly. And his reflexes take over to avoid a kick to the head, a flash of purple that rushes past his eyes and causes him to jerk back. Bruce grabs at Joker’s leg, throwing the clown off balance and tossing him across the room. Joker hits the ground laughing, on his hands and knees. He stands up to run at Bruce again, a spark in his eye. Ducking before Bruce can knock him down, Joker doesn’t hesitate in throwing a punch that brings stars to Bruce’s eyes. He lunges again, a quick strike that gives Bruce only seconds to deflect. Another punch, a cuff to the head. He’s aggressive with his attack, Bruce waiting for the opportunity to retaliate. When he does Joker’s leg is just close enough for Bruce to kick at, throwing the man off balance. Bruce pushes him back with a hit to the chest that knocks the breath out of his lungs. Joker stumbles back, giving Bruce the opportunity to pin him against the wall, unable to attack again. The man gives a breathless laugh, eyes level with Bruce's.

“So, now what, Dark Knight?” he asks, resting his forehead against Bruce's. They're both breathing heavily, exchanging breaths in the messy room.

“You realise I'm running out of time, right?” Bruce frowns at Joker's careless little shrug.

“That's what your bat-brats are for, Brucie. You needed a little... distraction.” Joker smirks, Bruce not relaxing his grip. “Don't tell me you didn't enjoy it.” He places his hands on Bruce's waist, sending shivers through his body even through the layer of armor.

“Not the point.” He pulls back a bit, but Joker doesn't let him go, eyes half-lidded. His expression unnerves Bruce, but it also makes his heart beat rapidly, chest still heaving. “What are you doing?”

He barely has time to react as Joker presses his lips to his. Bruce makes a small sound of surprise.

This. This is crazy. He’s thought about it but now that it’s happening it’s all he can do not to short-circuit. A rush of warmth suddenly hits him and he melts, deepening the kiss and pressing against the wiry man. He cradles Joker’s face in his hand, feeling warmth through his gloves. Joker’s trying not to smile into the kiss, he knows that, he can feel it, that slight pull to his mouth that only makes Bruce want to kiss him more. He tastes of cotton candy and something slightly chemical, a metallic tang that should be a deterrent but isn’t. It’s just something that fits, surprisingly.

Joker loops his arms around to pull Bruce down towards him, nails scratching at his cowl. Bruce almost loses himself completely, but the nagging in his mind reminds him of the task at hand. Which, if he weren’t Batman he would ignore it, but being a hero...

“We have to go,” he tries to say, the words turning to a mumble as Joker recaptures his mouth. Bruce lets himself enjoy a few more seconds before he puts his hand to the wall to steady himself. When he pulls away, Joker lets out a quiet whine of annoyance. “Joker. The docks.” Joker opens his eyes, his makeup more of a mess than usual, his pupils dilated so that only a thin ring of green is visible around them.

“Five more minutes.” He grabs at Bruce, who pushes him away firmly. “Bats.”

“We need to get to the docks, J.” He makes to turn away when Joker tugs him back.

“Wait. You have lipstick on your mouth,” Joker says with a satisfied little smirk. “Now that’s a look I could get used to.” Bruce’s knows his face is flushed but Joker continues, pulling out a handkerchief. “Wouldn’t want your little bat-family to see though.”

He helps Bruce clean it off, Bruce protesting, “You don’t have to say ‘bat’ in front of everything.”

“Well let’s see. Batman, Batmobile, Batsuit, Batarangs, Batwing...kind of a running theme,” Joker points out. Bruce is unable to come up with a good comeback. The clown looks over Bruce until he can’t see any traces of paint. When he’s satisfied he nods, reapplying his own. Their breathing is steadier, though Bruce still feels like he’s floating. It’s an odd, light feeling, his nerves are on fire but in the nicest way possible. He smiles uncertainly at Joker. The man beams before kissing him again lightly. “Alright, we can go to the docks now. Nightwing is going to meet us?”

“That’s the plan.”

They head down the stairs, where they find Harley free of her bonds and cradling Ivy’s head in her lap, Ivy murmuring about how next time they should just plan a picnic at a garden. She glares when she sees Bruce, but Harley’s eyes are on Joker, whose smug expression is clear on his face. She winks at Bruce, who suddenly wants to sprint out of the factory, grapple onto a very tall building, and jump.

Instead he settles for a warning. “If I hear anything else from you two the rest of the week I’m dragging you down to Blackgate myself.”

Harley leans back, smiling crookedly. “We got it, Batman. We’ll be quiet as mice, won’t we, Red?”

“Stop hurting my plants or you’ll be in a body bag, Batman,” Ivy says, the severity of her gaze not lessening. Bruce nods.

“Noted.” He gestures to Joker to get a move on, the clown walking up to the Batmobile before him. They get in, Joker turning the radio on. He cringes when the only thing that plays is the police scanner.

“Please tell me you have music.”

“I don’t have time for music when I’m in this car,” Bruce says, thinking it obvious. He’s not going to jam out to tunes when people are in danger. That’s pure evil.

“It adds to atmosphere! Imagine racing after baddies listening to ACDC! Or maybe some obnoxious pop song, I don’t know. What kind of music do you like?”

Bruce doesn’t reply. Usually he listens to older tracks, unless Dick or Tim plays the newest song. But he doesn’t like anything specific really. Joker looks at him expectantly. “...Eighties music. Journey.”

Joker nods. “Not what I had in mind, but I can see that.” He opens the window, cold air rushing in. Whooping and laughing in delight, he sticks his head out, eyes closed. He only comes back in to ask how fast it can go. Bruce smirks, pushing down on the gas till they’re a blur. Joker finds himself pushed back into his seat, cackling at the rush.

One of the perks of being a vigilante? No one questions when you’re speeding.

The docks look the same as they did on Monday, though this time Dick waits for them near the entrance.

“You guys took your time. I’ve been waiting for at least fifteen minutes.”

Bruce glances at Joker, who raises an eyebrow. “There were...complications that held us back. Anyways,” he gestures to the clown. “Lead the way.”

Joker cracks his knuckles, rolling back his shoulder like he’s about to put on a show. “Gladly. Ozzie’s got eyes everywhere, but if we go through the docks he won’t expect it.” He strides into the maze that is the docks, humming the mission impossible theme. Dick looks at Bruce out of the corner of his eyes, but Bruce doesn’t respond, starting after Joker. They’re headed in completely the opposite direction, more towards the shipyards themselves then around the shipping containers, the slight creaking of the ships putting Bruce on edge. It makes complete sense that Penguin would have a ship though. He doesn’t know why, but he feels the need to be extra cautious, some of his worry from earlier this week making a reappearance.

When they arrive where they need to be Joker stops them, holding his arms out. He then points to a large ship that towers over them.

“That’s the one. If Ozzie is there then your job is done,” he says.

Dick squints at him. “Are you trying to jinx us?”

Joker scoffs. “Believe me, if I wanted you to fail you wouldn’t be here right now. I’m rooting for you guys.” He wraps an arm around Bruce, the latter jolting away. Joker just grins.

Dick looks at them oddly. “Right. I’ll just scope around the other side, see if I can find a different way in. Divide and conquer, right?” Bruce inclines his head in agreement.

“Be careful.”

“You too.” Dick runs off, Bruce following him with his eyes until he disappears. He turns to Joker after, crossing his arms. Joker raises his hands defensively.

“I’m not doing anything out of the ordinary you know. You’re the one who gets flustered. It’s a wonder you can keep any secrets.” He pouts. “Maybe you should just tell Grayson.”

Bruce sighs. Joker’s right, but there are more important things to take care of. “I will. After the gala. We need to finish this though, come on.” He sneaks on board, scanning the ship. Oracle hasn’t said anything yet, but he knows it’s just a matter of time. She’s usually on top of this.

Once on the ship they split up, Joker taking on half the men on the ship with ease, if not discretion. But at least the distraction helps Bruce take out his half. He joins Joker at the door, the man wiping blood off his mouth, sticking his tongue out at the flavor.

“These guys aren’t pulling their punches. Kiss it better?” he suggests, waggling his eyebrows.

Bruce rolls his eyes, turning to open the door and enter the ship. This is going to be a thing now, isn’t it. He should’ve expected it. “Later, maybe.” Joker closes the door after him quietly, Bruce just making out the words he murmurs.

“I can live with that.”

“How’s it going, Grayson?”

It’s Jason. Dick makes sure no one is around before replying. “It’s all going good. How’s it looking on your end?”

“It’s quiet. If this is where they plan on blowing up the wealthy then they aren’t very prepared. I assume that’s Batman’s doing.”

“Yeah. Hey, I gotta go, I’m on Penguin’s ship.” He hears footsteps coming towards him and hides behind a container, knocking them out the moment they step close enough.

“Yeah, yeah. Tell us if you need help.”

“Sure thing.” Dick shivers as he opens the door, the cold rushing out. Has Cobblepot never heard of heating? Just because your persona is Antarctic doesn’t mean you have to live at negative temperatures. Gotham isn’t even that cold yet either, why is there ice on this ship? Taking the cosplay way too far, Penguin.

The ship itself is huge, more than enough for one man. And henchmen. Dick barrels his way through at least ten just on the first deck, going down through a dark hall. Penguin is most likely in the center of the ship, if at all.

He sneaks through the ballroom, used now as more of a storage area, crates piled haphazardly on the once polished floor. He imagines the rest of the ship looks the same way. The ship creaks as it bobs on the water, Dick wondering just how old it is. Oswald Cobblepot isn’t known for buying things second hand, but it’s worn down. Not suited for a life of crime.

Bruce joins up with him further down, Joker still with him. Since Tim had mentioned the clown acting different Dick’s been studying him. He thinks Tim may have been right. Joker just leans against the wall like it pains him to stand upright, waiting for the next step. His eyes still have a dangerous flicker to them, but Dick isn’t so sure it’s aimed at him anymore.

“Have you found anything?” Bruce asks him. Dick shakes his head.

“No. He’s probably in the lowest part of the ship. It’s been a breeze so far, which worries me.”

“I guess we’ll find out.” Bruce opens the door to the left of the trio, a door that Dick guesses is the boiler. He steps through, not waiting to see if the others follow.

It’s all grey. Cold metal everywhere, not a soul to be seen. Dick tries a different door and finds it locked, going instead through the grate on top. Bruce and Joker come after, and the three find themselves in a small room, another door at the end labeled Office.

“He’s in there?” Joker whispers. “Seems a little drab.”

Bruce does a quick scan. “He’s in there all right. The only thing is I know he wouldn’t just be here alone.” He looks somber, Dick not liking the expression but used to it by now.

“Should we just open the door?”

“You find a back way,” Bruce says. “I’ll go through the door...as a distraction if need be.”

“Shouldn’t be too hard if it’s just Penguin. I’ll wait out here,” Joker says. He slides down the wall, sitting cross legged on the scuffed up carpet. He closes his eyes in something that almost looks like meditation. Dick stares, the man before him more of a puzzle than ever, but he shakes it off. A look at Bruce proves it’s nothing the older man hasn’t seen before.

Dick sighs. “I guess I’ll go now, should be a grate or something right? I’ll tell you when I’m ready.” He exits the tiny outer room, back in the boiler. As it happens, there is an air conditioning system that spans out to the whole ship. And it’s just big enough for Dick to crawl through, frowning at all the dust and trying not to cough.

Penguin’s voice can be heard from somewhere underneath him, and he finds an opening in the corner of the room, where he can see the stout villain on the phone.

“They’ll never know what hit ‘em. This plan is foolproof... Yeah, I got the stuff, that blasted bat took a lot, but we should still have enough...no, it’s not here. You think I’d trust in these idiots enough to keep it safe. Don’t worry, I have it somewhere they won’t find till it’s too late.” Dick listens intently, a spike of worry travelling through him.

If the rest of the supplies he has aren’t here then we’re just wasting time!

He comms Bruce, murmuring “Ready.”

Bruce slams into the door to open it, Penguin jumping up in outrage. This was what Dick always enjoyed, Bruce making an entrance to unsettle the bad guys. Make a scene and people are either so scared or distracted that they won’t know what hit them. He opens the grate quietly and drops down behind Cobblepot.

The villain is obviously angry, but he’s smirking through his cigar all the same. “You think you’re so smart coming here?”

“Where are you keeping your cargo?” Bruce demands, closing in on Penguin’s desk.

“What cargo?” He puffs smoke into Bruce’s face, but his nose barely wrinkles in disgust. He grabs Oswald by the collar. “Alright, alright, I’ll tell you where it is. After this!” He whacks Bruce in the head with the butt of his umbrella, having a heavy swing for such a portly man. Bruce drops Oswald, Dick wrapping his arm around his neck so he can’t move. The man squawks in indignation and surprise.

“Where is it?” Bruce says, glaring.

“It’s too late, you’ll never find it!” Dick tightens his grip on Oswald. “I won’t tell you, you can threaten me all you like! You think I’d just give it up...after all this...? Do you actually think...I wasn’t using everyone as distractions?” His breath comes in short gasps. Bruce nods at Dick, who drops him.

“You’re done here, Oswald.” He ties the man up, Penguin barking curses at him.

“You won’t make it, you’re too late!” Bruce growls, slamming him into the wall. Penguin growls, shaking his head in pain. Dick takes him from Bruce, glancing up at him.

“They’re not at the observatory, Robin and Red Hood would’ve found it by now.”

“I know.” Bruce snarls, punching at the wall. Dick starts, not used to this side of Bruce.

“You know we’ll figure it out, we always do.”

Bruce shakes his head. “I knew something was wrong, but I kept trying to push the feeling away. Bane had a plan, his chemicals, but it fell through. Then with Crane and his toxin, but we took care of it. Maybe... they haven’t been working together at all. Maybe we’ve been on a wild goose chase, and for what?” Dick scrutinises the man.

“Maybe this time you shouldn’t trust your gut. If you think you’re gonna fail what’s the point in trying?” Bruce glances at him. “This isn’t about Joker is it?”

Bruce shakes his head almost vehemently. “No. This is entirely different. I’m just...”

Dick’s seen Bruce go through this before. Though he can be a drama queen at times, he does also get weighed down by the job at times, loathe as he is to admit it. He places a hand on Bruce. “You’re tired. I get it, you can’t always put up a front. Trust me, I’ll be taking a break after this, and so should you. But Batman is bigger than this. And you’re going to have to put aside any uncertainties.”

Bruce stays silent for a long time before he nods. “You’re right. We can do this. We have time. But we won’t get anything done standing around.” He looks at the door, expression resolute.

Dick’s comm goes off before either can move. “Dick?”

“What’s up, Babs?”

“There’s a lot of activity over by the Asylum, might want to take care of that. Tell Bruce.”

“Yeah.” Bruce looks at him questioningly.

“Something’s come up at the asylum. Can anything else go wrong?” He sighs.

Bruce scowls, hand on the doorknob. “We’d better get over there then.” He opens the door.

Dick carries Penguin, who drifts in and out of a daze as they exit the room. Joker’s standing when they get to him.

“Nothing?”

“Just him,” Dick says, gesturing at Penguin. The clown grins, coming over and bending down to look at Penguin. The villain blearily looks at Joker, brow deeply furrowed and a scowl prominent.

“You finally caught him. One less thing to worry about, right?” He taps at Penguin’s head. “Shame he lost his hat though, I wanted a souvenir. What now?”

“I need to find the rest of the supplies, they spread everything around, most were just diversions. Now there’s something going on at Arkham,” Bruce explains, a tinge of anger in his voice.

Joker tilts his head to the side. “So, what are you gonna do about it?”

Bruce clenches his hands into fists. “What else? We’re going to stop this and figure out what’s really going on.”

After all, if he doesn’t there won’t be a Gotham to really save, just rubble and chaos. And maybe Gotham could take it, but Bruce doesn’t want to let it experience that much destruction while he’s still around. He’s got a job to do.

#batjokes #batman #joker #wtfit #my writing #comments appreciated #thanks for reading!!#update on ao3 later

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usablogs · 5 years

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powertobehandsome · 7 years

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The Way I See It || Matt and Seth

Part one of many. I love this game; everything is so happy in the beginning. || @blindlyburning

“I think I chipped a tooth,” Seth looked at the weary and battered Ryan to his left as Ryan leaned against the filthy jail cell wall. The party, whatever party they’d been dragged to, had ended roughly four hours ago, and they were both on the steep decline intoxication. And this night? Sobriety was more of a bitch than that asshole’s girlfriend. Or had it been his sister? Seth couldn’t remember now. All he knew was as he ran his tongue along the upper teeth on the right side of his face, one felt a little more jagged than he ever remembered it being.

“Excuse me, sir? Look, I’m sure you have more important guys to deal with. My father is a public defender. And I have a spotless record. So, if you’d be so kind as to just let us go home. I need to go to a dentist. I’m tired. And, honestly, this place smells a little too much like urine for me to be interested in lingering within this cage.”

As the police officer stalked forward, Seth couldn’t believe his luck. It was actually working.

“You, blondie, come with me.”

Ryan stood, frowning, and moved hesitantly toward the police officer.

“I’m tired of listening to your friend talk, so I’m separating you.”

“If you think being alone will get him to be quiet…” Ryan started, but was cut off soon after.

“You don’t understand who it is you two messed with. You’ll be here for a while. And we have all the charges to lock you up. Drunk and disorderly. Public intoxication. Assault. And your friend? Well, let’s just say assaulting a police officer is certainly not going to work in his favor. Now. Both of you need to just shut your mouths.”

“Excuse me!” Seth called out, his face resting between the bars before he realized how much that might be a bad idea. “Hi. But when do I get a phone call to a lawyer?”

"Kid, you got any idea where you are?" Another cop asked, walking up. "What do you think this is, California? Shut it."

“No. No, but listen. I at least know I have the right to an attorney. And sure, my dad isn’t here to come to my rescue and bail me out today, but that doesn’t mean I can’t pay.”

“Seth. Shut up,” Ryan called from his own cell, begging his brother to please, please stop talking before these cops thought he was trying to bribe them.

Seth moved back to the far wall, slid down until he sat roughly on the bench, and then in one movement, laid across the cold, unsterile metal. “I hate New York.”

It wasn't until about five in the morning that a couple of lawyers showed up. Both men were young and in unfortunately cheap suits, but they wore them well, without any shame. They talked with the cops for a while before coming down to the cells.

"Pretty sure these guys won't be able to pay," Foggy murmured, leading Matt down. "They never can."

"And one of the guys they got in a fight with has connections that can get them killed in here."

"You actually hate me, don't you?"

"Only sometimes." Matt smiled and shook his head.

"Okay. We're looking for uh. Ryan... Seacrest? Reynolds? Whatever. And Seth Cohen. Any takers?" Foggy looked around at the sleepy, irritable cell occupants on the hall, feeling a certain kinship.

"Atwood," Ryan's called in a too unamused voice. "Seth, wake up. Our layers are here."

"Huh? Dad? That was a quick..." when his blurry vision cleared enough that he could see that these men definitely weren't his father, and he definitely wasn't in California, Seth groaned, cursing the headache gods. But this felt worse than typical hangovers. He hurt in his ribs. Every time he looked to the left, his head throbbed in that temple. And the memories of what had landed him in this cell were a blur.

"Yes, hello. I... I am Ryan At... no. He is Ryan Atwood. I'm Seth Cohen. How can we help you gentlemen?"

Ryan's face was buried in his palms, and he shook his head. "What he means is, can you at least get us out of here tonight?"

"You mean this morning?" Foggy asked, going over to Ryan's cell. "Probably. We're awesome like that. As long as you consent to hire us? By the way, anyone ever tell you that you look a heck of a lot like a really young Jim Gordon?"

As for Matt, he stepped closer to Seth's cell, expression turning to one of concern. "You okay, Seth?" He asked softly.

"Yeah. I haven't been in a fight since I first met him," he nodded in the direction of the other cell and then groaned at the movement. "And the cops in this city are dicks who have to hate their jobs. Can you get us out of here? The smell is making me nauseous."

Not that they had anywhere to go. They hadn't gotten a hotel. And the guys who'd kicked their asses had also been swell enough to loot their wallets while they were on the ground, throwing them back at them with nothing but their IDs and for Seth, a membership card to his local (i.e. his) comic book store.

Ryan looked up at Foggy with a certain amount of distrust. "A young who?"

Seth rolled his eyes. "He's been told that. I've told him that. He refuses to even look up who I'm talking about."

"Right. So. Can you get us out? Will you? So we can find a hotel or something?"

"Just hang tight," Foggy said. "I'll go get someone." He wandered away to find a cop.

Meanwhile, Matt was still focused on Seth. "How badly are you hurt?" He asked. "And where are your injuries? You'll have to forgive me, I can't see them." Although he had his dark red sunglasses on, he didn't have his cane with him and knew that his blindness might not be abundantly clear.

Ryan nodded in response, never having been one for a lot of words. This was typical, but they'd get through this. Seth was pretty beat up, he'd taken the brunt of the abuse, the rest thinking it hilarious to hold Ryan off and make him watch, calling them "Cali Queers". Which. Whatever. They were. But they also weren't together anymore. So what did that matter?

"Wh-- oh. Oh. Yeah. It's really..." Seth sat up and suppressed a grunt. He didn't think any ribs were cracked. But there would be some definite bruising there. He lifted an arm over his head and made a face. Nope. One was definitely cracked. It must have been those last few kicks. "It's really nothing," he said on an exhale. He looked like shit. Cheekbone was cut, as well as the brow just at the end. His eye was trying to close from swelling. And his lip was busted. There was a deep bruise across his forearm. But that last one had been thanks to a cop and her baton. "So why are you helping us?"

"Because we're a fairly new firm with next to no clients is what Foggy would tell you -- and because you need help is what I'd say." Foggy came back with a cop then and they took the two men to a private room. Once there, they were left alone.

"Okay, we need to know what happened..." Foggy hesitated at glanced over at Matt. "But my partner wants to know about your injuries first, Mr. Cohen."

"Do you feel nauseated or dizzy?" Matt asked. "And can I have permission to touch your abdomen? I want to make sure you don't have any internal bleeding."

"Don't creep him out, Matt. But he has good hands, Seth. He's not a doctor or anything, but he's freaky accurate."

“That’s… a little much? Don’t you think? For an attorney? To be like… assessing my injuries? I told you I was okay.” Though even as he said it, he spoke like a man who had a fat lip.

“It’s no stranger than your dad bringing me home.”

“Please, Ryan. That was in California. This is New York. It’s a whole new ball game out here.”

“Sports reference? I’m kind of proud.”

“Yeah, well. Some part of you had to rub off on me over the years. And since I look terrible in a wife beater…”

“Seth, just let the man examine your injuries so we can get out of here and then go back home.”

“Fine. He can take a look.”

“SETH.”

“You know what I mean. Sorry. He can examine them.”

"In the meantime..." Foggy looked at Ryan. "Tell us what happened?"

Matt quietly and carefully started running his fingers over Seth's abdomen, seeking the signs of internal bleeding -- heat where there shouldn’t be any, bunching muscles, the feeling of something hard inside, like pebbles or rocks or even eggs. He'd have to check his head out after that, although heads were a little trickier.. either way, he thought, this kid might well need to go to the hospital.

Seth winced as he was touched, but otherwise tried not to make a sound. The man’s fingers were chilly and though he was gentle, every little movement hurt, let alone any touch from prodding fingers. But at least he seemed to be conscious of the need to be careful. For the most part, it felt more like he was just brushing fingertips over his skin — touches which gave Seth a brief wash of goosebumps.

“There was a girl. And her boyfriend.”

“Dude, I think it was just her brother.”

“Okay, there was a guy and a girl. And Seth and I were both… pretty drunk. And Seth has a tendency of thinking he’s invincible when he’s drinking. He hit on the girl. The guy told her to back off. Seth tried to casually imply that the guy was a moron and that he needed to back off. The man took him by the shoulder. Seth tried to shove the hand off, then pushed when the guy got in his face. The girl egged it on. I tried to get between them. Three of his friends held me off while he and another kicked the shit out of Seth. Apparently the man was in well with the bartender, probably someone important, considering our luck, because the bartender called the cops on us. Which, of course Seth tried to argue with them. And then when he reached out for one of the cops, trying to be charming or something. I don’t know. She struck his arms with her baton. Right across the backs of his forearms. The other cop claimed he assaulted her, said we both were drunk and disorderly, public intoxication, which… is what happens when you go to a bar, I’ve never understood that charge. And somehow we got charged with assaulting both the woman and her… whoever he was. I don’t know. As we walked by, the guy spit on me, called us Cali Queers, and here we are. Sober. Miserable. And the cops had no interest in taking him in to be checked on.”

“Ryan, I’m fine. It’s just a black eye. Being your friend has given me plenty of those.”

Ryan looked at Foggy with a you-see-what-I-have-to-deal-with glance, rolling his eyes and shrugging. “Any chance we can just get out of here with a minimal fine to pay?”

"If there was a chance, it went out the window when he reached for a cop," Foggy sighed, and rubbed a hand against his face. He'd been warm and happy in bed not all that long ago, but then Matt just had to wake him up with this shit. "Not to mention, one of the guys is an enforcer for a guy named Ramirez. Real upstanding guy on the outside, pretty rotten mob boss on the inside. He's trying to be the new Fisk."

Matt made a quiet sound of derision, then smoothed Seth's shirt down and ran his fingertips even more gently over his skull. "Cop aside," he said, "it sounds more like you were victims than perpetrators." It wasn't their job to judge the way these two conducted themselves; just because they were entitled jackasses was no reason for them to be assaulted. "And you need to be checked over by a professional." He helped Seth sit down, then stepped away and folded his arms. "If we can get you released, they're probably not going to want to drop it right away. They'll want you to stay in the city. Are you prepared to do that?"

"Matt, try being reassuring." Foggy shook his head and turned to them. "It'll be fine. As long as you guys are willing to cooperate, Nelson and Murdock will have your backs. Right, Matt? This is the part where you agree with me and reassure the clients."

Matt nodded once.

Seth shrugged. “We can stay, sure. And I wasn’t trying to… I wasn’t…” His shoulders slumped, and he stayed standing. One of the kicks had landed to the back of his thigh and the pressure of sitting was uncomfortable. Head dropped, Seth moved to pinch the bridge of his nose, remembered why that was a bad idea, and just sighed. “I wasn’t thinking clearly. I was just going to reach out to touch her shoulder or something. Try to reason with her, to give her the full story. It’s… how I connect with people, I guess. It was dumb. New Yorkers don’t like to be touched. I got it now.”

“We’ll stick around as much as we need to. We just want this to go away. And you… I know we’re probably not ideal clients. But we’ll make sure you get paid. Even if we… I mean, if we end up serving some kind of time.

“No. Ryan. We can’t serve time. I’m not prepared to face harden criminals just because I tried to…”

“Because you got drunk and forgot oh hey, you’re not actually that charming.”

“I’m pretty charming. Don’t lie to these nice gentlemen.”

Neither one of them wanted to admit to their attorneys that they didn’t technically know how they were going to find a hotel to stay in. Without credit cards or cash, the chances of any of these places letting them stay with the reassurance of ‘I’ll have the money in the morning. It just has to be wired.’ Was slim. So they bickered and they distracted.

“Right. The charming guy is the one beat to hell. Meanwhile, will you just go to the hospital and at least get your face glued back together?”

“Sure, and show them what insurance card? Or pay with which of my credit cards? Oh that’s right, Ryan. All that has been taken to prove some kind of point.”

Ryan hung his head. “Thank you, guys, for your help. We will follow whatever council you offer. Seth will stop being a pain in the ass sometime after he’s slept a little and given a pain pill. Then he’ll want to be your best friend and tell you stories of his favorite superheroes. He’s a bit of a fanboy.”

"Worst case scenario, you can stay with me," Matt started.

Before he could go any farther though, Foggy held his hand up and dragged Matt aside. "Matt, no. You're not letting strangers in."

"They're not strangers. They're clients. And you heard them. Their things were taken. They're tourists. He was bashed. Where are they supposed to go?"

Foggy could sense the rage just under the surface, under Matt's calm voice. "Maybe they have friends here."

"If they don't, I'm not putting them on the goddamn street."

"Matt, what if they rob you? Or worse?"

Matt shook his head at Foggy and came back over. "If you have nowhere else to go, you'll stay with me. We're taking you to the hospital first. You'll receive emergency assessments without being charged right away. This kind of thing happens. Right now, I'm going to go get you out. In the meantime, go over the details with Foggy again. Every detail. Everything."

"You good to get back out, man?"

Matt snorted at the gentle teasing, which helped knock his anger down a bit, then turned and left.

It took almost two hours before anything happened after that. An officer drove them to the hospital and their assessments were done. Matt stayed near, protective, and let Foggy handle the administrative details this time.

After that? They were turned loose, once the boys received the all-clear, and Matt took them home, against Foggy's better judgment. Foggy was too tired to argue by that point though, and by the time they got there it was almost noon. He left them and went to the office, but warned Matt to be careful.

"You guys can take the bed if you need to sleep," Matt said, going into the kitchen. He poured them both some water and set the glasses out. "Or if you're hungry... I can make something. Just -- try not to be too stressed. You'll be okay."

Ryan, for the most part, kept quiet through the whole ordeal. He spoke when he had to, but mostly his comments were a series of shrugs and glances that spoke more than any string of sentences could do for him. He followed along as Seth was ushered between doctors. He made a call to Sandy to let him know what had happened, and to ask for some money transferred to them to at least be able to pay for these attorneys. He’d assured Sandy that there was no need to come down himself. That he was certain these guys would do just fine. They seemed competent enough.

When they got back to Matt’s place, Ryan nodded and instead of taking a bed, he stretched out across the couch and he was asleep in less than fifteen minutes.

Seth, meanwhile, was high on pain killers, and while they should have made him sleepy, he was instead a little hyper and starving. But he’d imposed enough on Matt, or so Ryan had informed him… he thought. Did they actually have that conversation?

“You don’t have to cook for us.” Seth looked back at Ryan. “For me. Do you have crackers? I can snack on a box of them.” His face itched where the glue had been applied. A tube had been stuck in his chest to drain some of the blood, and that spot had stitches now, which were bandaged. And the oxycodone was the strongest they could prescribe. Sandy had had to come to the rescue by paying over the phone. Thank god Seth had a license, or he would have never been allowed to pick them up.

“So… I’m sure I’ll ask you this again. Or maybe I already have. But are you Murdock or Nelson. And what is it about attorneys that make them give up too much for their clients?”

"Murdock," he said. "Matt Murdock. My partner is Foggy Nelson. And I guess... it's just the right thing to do. A lot of the time, when someone needs an advocate, they need more than -- just someone to fight their legal battles. You've been through something that... for most people, it can be pretty traumatic. It's just.. not human, not decent, to -- ignore the person behind the victim."

Matt made up a bowl of crackers and some sliced cheese for him, then brought it over and handed it to Seth. He listened to Ryan for a moment, then walked into the bedroom and came back out with a blanket, which he draped over the sleeping guy before he came back over to join Seth.

Seth ate happily, smiling, the expression scrunching his face just enough that he could not see at all out of his right eye.

“How did you… Your touches were nice… I mean they were soft, careful. And you… How did you know how bad off I was just by brushing your fingertips over…” Seth stuffed his mouth with crackers and cheese just to keep quiet for a while. He smiled awkwardly, and then realized that his smile wasn’t seen. “I’m really sorry in advance if I get awkward or weird or if I talk so much I find a way to make you uncomfortable. I know I’ll crash before long. Potentially right in my food, which is why I didn’t ask for a bowl of cereal. But I do appreciate your help. You have a good heart. And, I appreciate you deeming your partner’s concerns about us as unfounded. We’re not… I’m… I’ve never been in trouble before.”

Matt smiled and shook his head, then went and took his jacket off. Coming back over, he said, "My dad was a boxer. He got hurt -- all the time. I guess my hands just.. got used to feeling injuries from a pretty early age. A little extra tension, rigidity, heat.. it's -- sort of like reading braille, just a lot more important, because people are important."

“A boxer? That’s really interesting, actually. Ryan dabbled in the caged, bare knuckle illegal kind of boxing just after our last year of high school. An old girlfriend of his died in a car accident. So… Anyway. My point was me saying that I’ve never met a boxer before. OR a professional fighter of any kind. I’m kind of… I read more than anything, I suppose. Which is why I got my ass handed to me last night. I’m going to pull the cliche criminal line and say we’re really not bad guys. I don’t drink that much. And, if it’s any consolation, I likely won’t drink again for a very very long time.” He sighed heavily. “Right. So. Gritty details. You’re an attorney who had a boxer dad. You went into business with your best friend. I’m Seth Cohen. I am a bit of a nerd with no athletic ability. And, it seems, I owe you more than just money. You’re a nice man, Matt Nelson.” Seth smiled at himself for remembering the right name. Wait. No. “Murdock. I’m a dick. God, these pills are the worst. You wanna just… hit me over the head so I pass out. Or turn on the… Right… You wouldn’t have a television. I’m gonna stop talking now. Hopefully.”

"How about," Matt suggested, "I help you over to bed and you get some sleep somewhere that you can't hurt yourself?"

“I shouldn’t take your bed from you. You’ve been up all night like we have. And you didn’t even get the really good numbing shit like I did while they stuck a tube in my chest. You sleep. I’ll stretch on the floor. It’ll be fine.”

"Right. Come on." He helped Seth to the bed anyway, tucked him in, then went and picked Ryan up and carried him over. He tucked Ryan in as well, then slid the panel door most of the way shut before going and taking up Ryan's still-warm place on the couch. In just a few minutes, Matt was out.

Seth had sat up when Matt brought Ryan in, impressed with how easily he’d managed it. Ryan wasn’t that light. Seth knew. But he collapsed back, groaned, and then stared at the ceiling until he crashed.

When Seth woke again, his bladder was full. He struggled to sit up, leaving himself breathless when he’d finally managed. Ryan was still sleeping, snoring lightly, and completely oblivious as Seth moved from the bed, shuffling in socked feet until he found the bathroom. When he made it back out, Ryan had stretched an arm and a leg across the bed. It would be easy for Seth to push him back over, but it was easier to grab the top blanket and move to go back to sleep in the living room floor.

Matt was already awake again, exercising. He was shirtless, in sweatpants, shadowboxing and framed by the light coming in from a light-up billboard across the street. Matt had been making an effort to be quiet, but when Seth came out, he turned towards him.

"Sorry if I woke you... how are you doing?" Quickly, hoping to cover up his scars, Matt pulled his t-shirt on.

Seth’s gaze drifted over the moving form, but he didn’t comment on the scars. It seemed inappropriate. “You didn’t wake me, my bladder did. And Ryan… has never been good about sharing a bed. Do we… I mean…” He reached for the bottle of pills sitting on the counter. “How do we start working on this? What do you need me to do?”

"Foggy and I have been working on it over the phone. For now, we just need to wait. He's taken down the photographs of your injuries and treatments that we got at the hospital, using them to argue that you were the victim. If they won't throw it out -- which they probably won't, but there's still a shot -- we'll go from there. Tonight, all you need to do is rest. Tomorrow... we'll have more information and go from there.

"How do you feel?"

"Like I've been hit by a truck. My side hurts. My face hurts. And it's probably a good thing you're. I mean. I'm usually much prettier to look at. Not that... you would be looking. Of course." Seth groaned and poured water from the faucet into a glass. He tossed his head back to take the pills, and groaned again. He stuttered a step, and balanced himself against the counter. "Fuck. I'm not sure I like New York."

Matt smiled and shook his head. "Sometimes, I feel the same way. But Hell's Kitchen is home." He folded his arms and walked over to lean opposite Seth, on the island.

"How long were you originally planning to stay here?"

"A week or so." The palms of his hands were pressed against the counter while his hips pushed away, his head hanging between his arms. The room was spinning and Seth felt a little nauseous. But he'd handle it.

"I'll have to call my bank at some point and tell them my card was taken. And my singular credit card. My cash... whatever. So tell me about this guy? And who the hell is Fisk? Some crime lord?"

"He was. Not anymore -- as far as I know. But people have been...rushing to take his place." Matt shrugged, then listened to Seth's body for a moment. "Maybe you should sit down. Here, let me help you over?" He offered Seth his arm.

Maybe he took it at first because it made him feel taken care of. Maybe because he liked the irony of the literal blind leading the half blind.

"You're more observant than I would have given you credit for. And that's a compliment. Because my dad never misses a damn thing." Seth watched Matt for a long minute. Then decided to let it go as he held his breath to prepare for his shift down to the couch. "And I hit on the sister-girlfriend of one of the wannabes?"

"I think so." He helped him get comfortable. "Which is why I've got to warn you that -- things might get ugly. Violent, ugly. This.. isn't the most forgiving place. But we'll get you through it, no matter what. Running away isn't an option."

"Well, if you aren't mister sunshine..." Seth stayed at the end in case Matt wanted to sit, and then his eyes rested on the bare windows. "She wasn't even that pretty. And I'm not... I mean I haven't tried to hook up with a girl since high school. Or early college, I suppose." Seth sighed. "IDK."

"IDK?" Matt sounded confused.

"Yeah. IDK. It stands for I don't know. It's... well, it's text talk, but so is BFF and ILY. I'm just shy of being a millennial. Using full sentences can cost you valuable seconds."

"Oh.. huh. Alright then. Um. Tee why." Matt settled in on the other end of the couch.

Seth laughed, groaned, held his side, and looked over. His gaze was only diverted when Ryan sucked in a deep, gurgling, almost choking snore, before audibly rolling over.

"Charming, isn't he?

It seemed Matt wasn't overly ready to share details about the enemy in all this, so maybe Seth could get to know him. "How long have you and Foggy been friends?"

"Just since college. We were dorm-mates.. but we hit it off.. pretty well. He was just so -- normal and charming and good. Becoming best friends just sort of... felt so natural."

"It's good to have that person. Are you..." he continued on in a single breath, looking to Matt again. "Are you sure we're not cramping any plans?"

"Plans?" Matt raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah. Like other clients. Or going out to the gym. Crime fighting, that kinda thing?"

Matt's jaw dropped and for a moment, everything in his world went silent.

When he took another breath, he managed to find his voice again. "Uh.. crime... crime fighting? Why did you... why... mention that?"

"It... I... was just rattling off things. Did Ryan not mention my fondness for superheroes? Did I dream that? Why? Are you an undercover cop? Is the blindness a ruse? I already believe you could kick my ass after seeing you box that little bit. It's kinda hot. But that's just me. You're a ninja, aren't you? Man, I always wanted to be one. The slimming black and the stealth. That would be the best."

Oh fuck. Okay. Okay. Seth didn't know. It took Matt another moment to remember what words were.

"No. I. Um. I'm not. A ninja. Or a cop. I'm blind. For real. Ninja are...usually not. I mean. So far as I -- not that I know a lot of them. Uh. So." He cleared his throat. "I guess I should... um. Call... and check in with Foggy."

Seth moved suddenly, gasped at the way such a movement took his breath away with pain. And gripped Matt carefully by the hand. "First off, god save you from ever having to be put on the stand in a trial. Second, your secret is safe with me." He winked, didn't care that it wasn't seen, and then moved back to his spot on the couch. "Is there a grocery store nearby? Or something. I... have no money to get a book. Shit."

"I'll... go get you one... but how... how did you... you know? You -- how -- how?" Seth might be feeling conversational already, but Matt was still flatlining.

Seth smiled. "Don't spend more money on me. I get less chatty when I'm reading, is all. And I figured you wanted me to be quiet. And just... I don't know.

“It was a joke. And you panicked.

"But I figure one of two things are true. The first is that you've kept your secret bottled up for too long and you are dying to be able to talk to someone about the truth. Or someone knowing makes you nauseous. In which case I'll totally forget everything. I'm probably just high on pills anyway."

But yesterday his high had been more morphine and a light sedative mixed with the oxycodone which gave him the buzz.

"Either way, you're safe."

Matt's heart was racing and he shifted uncomfortably on the couch. "How did you... even... no. Sorry. I um. This.. is part of why I wanted you two here.. because if things get bad, I can probably, uh, protect you."

"You are blind. But you're hearing is... fuck are you... no. Batman isn't in New York." He pursed his lips. Thinking. "There are more deserving people to be saved, I'm sure." But Seth wasn't sure that they would have been safe in jail. Or in a hospital. And he imagined there would be a hit out for his or Ryan's names around the city. If this guy was as dangerous as Matt believed.

"Do you wanna talk about it? Do you have a patio, though? Because Ryan has a tendency to sneak up on people like a ninja. You get it."

"No, uh, no patio, but we can go to the roof if you're -- sure you're up for it. But... we probably shouldn't move you too much. When he wakes, I'll know. Trust me. I can uh. I can hear his heart. And breathing. From here."

Seth was beaming with the little truths. "What else."

"What... um. I. What do you... want to know?"

"Dude, as much as you'll share. I'm sorry. I know I'm geeking out on you a little, but I'm also kind of just in awe. I didn't know... I mean. You're great."

"I'm not great. I'm just... they call me the Devil of Hell's Kitchen. But I'm just a vigilante, just -- I want people safe. That's... that's it." Matt sounded embarrassed.

Seth reeled his comments in, but his eyes were wide. He'd heard of the Devil. Argued with his Dad for an hour about why he was, in fact, a hero, just a couple months ago. Fuck.

Fuck.

"Does your partner know?"

"Yeah. He... it wasn't pretty. When he found out. We fought.. but he's accepting it. Slowly, but... it means a lot that he's, you know, he's trying."

"Sure. Listen, do you want me to stop asking? Because I will." Or he'd at least try. "But man. If you're going to be a... a hero. You've gotta get better at lying."

Matt hesitated, then shook his head. "No, you uh, you don't have to stop. And... you're... probably right. I.. I'll find a way to..work on that.."

"Start with your assertiveness. I know you can do it. I think I heard you be that way with Foggy last night. Or I dreamed it. Who knows. But if someone says 'crime fighter' or 'super hero' or 'vigilante' or even 'ninja' your immediate reaction should be to scoff. Always assume people are joking. And even if they aren't joking, they'll think that you think what they said is so preposterous, that it can't be true."

Matt nodded, but he stayed quiet. Thank God Seth understood, and thank God he was willing to keep his secret -- and to help him keep it, for that matter.

"Thank you. I know you're a vigilante, and you keep to the shadows and keep anonymous for a reason. But you took us in. And you save people's lives. And whether you like it or not, you deserve to be thanked. At fucking least once."

Matt still couldn't talk. He hunched over a little, arms wrapped over his chest. He didn't even know what he was thinking or feeling, he didn't know how to react. On some level he was grateful that this had happened with Seth. He had to learn to scoff it all away, Seth was right, but still...

Fuck.

"I'm... Maybe I should go get me more water." He could sense the tension, and didn’t want to make it worse. But a trip up to a balcony? There was no way Seth could manage stairs today. He already had a limp, and the slightest extension on his left side left his ribs screaming. So, water and apparently freaking this guy out by accidentally guessing right -- that was today's game plan.

"Stay. I'll get it." He took Seth's glass and patted his knee once, extremely gently, then got up. "Is Ryan... would you trust him with -- this?"

"I could trust him with it. He's incredibly loyal. But. It is not my secret to tell."

Okay, honestly, Seth was shit at keeping secrets. But he would. He would do this. After all, how often did he get the chance to know a secret identity?

"Speaking of. I'm impressed he's still asleep. He must have not slept on the flight over."

Matt didn't like the idea of asking someone to lie to their best friend, but for now he kept quiet on it. After getting Seth more water, he went back to the kitchen to start making some breakfast for all of them.

"It sounds like he's coming out of it... slowly. Do you guys eat pancakes in California?"

"Do we ever. Pancakes are a life source." Though he hurt, he didn't know how to stay still when he was this excited. So he carefully worked to stand up -- the couch kinda swallowed you -- and then walked over to the kitchen island, carefully sitting on a stool.

"Can I help?"

"The company is nice," Matt replied as he got started. "Just... talking, it's nice. I like your voice."

Seth blushed and looked down. "This old thing?" He chuckled and smiled wide enough that his dimples showed.

I like your arms...

"So what do you do when you're not being an attorney or sleeping or being a ninja?"

"Eat. Shower. Exercise. Sometimes go drinking with Foggy. And... that's... about it. Which... pretty boring, I know. What about you? Tell me about yourself?"

And so Seth did. He told Matt a little about his parents and what they did. He talked about his hometown and the jocks who beat him up and peed in his shoes. He talked about Ryan's arrival, about Marissa and Summer. And then talked about where he was now. No solid job -- just doing art concepts of.... super heroes, and selling them. He wrote stories, offered commissions where he could turn people into super heroes and give them their own, single issue, story with graphics included. Seth talked about sailing, and how he'd sailed to Oregon once when Ryan had left to go back home for a summer because of a baby scare. And how he still wanted to sail to Tahiti on his little boat. He talked about life in general. How Ryan had just parted ways with his off-again girlfriend Taylor who talked too much and was a bit obsessed with being the center of attention. And his parents again, their move to Berkeley. Seth talked until breakfast was ready.

Ryan, lead by his nose, dragged out of the bedroom, rubbing an eye. "I thought I heard the endless white noise of Seth's life story. Did I sleep walk?"

"Do you usually?" Matt asked. He served up breakfast for all of them. "And I don't know what you mean, Seth hasn't said a word all night..." he smiled, and for a moment, it was the warmest and the happiest Matt had ever looked.

Seth's returned smile was full of adoration and Ryan rolled his eyes as he caught sight of it. "No... N-Not that I know of. But I thought I fell asleep on the couch."

Seth beamed, pointed to Matt, and half-whispered "He's strong," as if that explained everything.

It didn't.

"You did," Matt said. "But I'm a secret ninja and I carried you to the bed. It's more comfortable."

Ryan laughed, scoffed, almost, as if the idea of a secret ninja was a bit absurd. It wasn't an insulting sound, just as if he were responding to a joke Matt was telling.

It was the exact sound Seth had been trying to explain to Matt earlier.

"So," Seth said, looking back at Matt, allowing himself to look for a moment with a soft, appreciative gaze. "Thank you for breakfast. You've been a very gracious host. Let alone a defense attorney.”

"You're welcome for breakfast," Matt answered, although he also blushed a little and, now that Ryan was up, went to get his glasses. "So how are you feeling, Ryan?" He sat on the couch, giving them the kitchen space to themselves, and thinking about the lesson Seth had just given him and that Ryan had unknowingly finished.

Seth ate in near silence while Ryan shrugged, clearly not thinking twice about the joke Matt had delivered, figuring the man had just already spent too much time with Seth.

"Well enough. I'm a little sore from the few punches they delivered. But it's nothing." He gestured at Seth. "I look a hell of a lot better than this kid with his black and busted up eye and cheek. It's a shame. You used to be so handsome. Now who's gonna love you."

"My mother will always love me. Dick. But you're right. I look like Quasimodo."

"Here's hoping you fare better than he did." Matt smiled again.

"Ha!" Seth pointed again at Matt and looked at Ryan, and the latter knew that there was some kind of infatuation on Seth's part. Which could only stand to complicate things. Especially because this guy didn't exactly read as being one who was open to dating males.

"Any word on the case?"

"No." Matt shook his head and told him what he'd told Seth. After, he said, "I'll have to abandon you two tomorrow during the day to go work on it, unless you want to come to the office. We won't hear anything until after ten -- but from there, we'll know the next step."

"Take your clients to work day. Your office sounds swell."

"I'm gonna stick around here and make some calls. All the banks are closed today, obviously. So I'll make calls about canceling cards and having money transferred and hopefully getting us a hotel tomorrow. That way, maybe, we can get out of your hair." Ryan wiped syrup from his lip as he finally looked at Seth. "How are you feeling?"

Seth pouted. He didn't want to go. But he told Ryan what he wanted to know. It was easier to humor him.

Ryan casually ignored the look of pleading. They couldn't stay.

"You know, you're safer here than at a hotel," Matt said quietly. "I know that may sound... tough to believe, but it's true."

"It's true, Ryan. What if they come looking for us. They have our names."

"Seth, this isn't one of your graphic novels. There aren't evil crime lords who look to destroy people for hitting on a girl."

Seth's brow raised and Ryan faltered.

"Wh-- No. Seth. No. You did not get us mixed up with an evil crime lord."

Seth pursed his lips and shrugged, taking a bite of pancake.

"Damnit, Seth."

"Listen, I know your mad now. But think of how exciting this is."

"We're hiding out in our attorney's apartment. Of course you're excited."

"Adventure, Ryan. We'll be safe here. And we can just pay them a little extra when it comes time to pay our bill. That way we make up for the inconvenience."

Ryan finally looked back at Matt. "You're sure this is okay? We're not putting you in danger, are we?"

#blindlyburning #one shot #the way i see it #part one

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