A/N
Before we start, I'm really sorry for the spacing, paragraph separations, etc. It's my first time posting on here and I'm trying to figure all the editing out.
...
Wandering through the back alleys of Gotham, keeping just far enough in the shadows to keep yourself hidden, you mumble to yourself.
You shy away not because of who you are, because that is nothing to be shy about. You're the pretty Princess of Gotham. All sunshine and rainbows. The great Detective James Gordon's little orphaned niece. Mummy and Daddy hacked up by a crazed killer; Jamesy just the man to step up to the plate. Butter wouldn't melt in your mouth, not in the eyes of the public. They don't know you. None of them do. Not even good ole uncle.
No, you shy away because tonight is the dreaded night. The one night a year where you are reminded of how alone with your own thoughts you are. Reminded that no one knows the real you; no one cares enough to know what you're thinking. The only way you're getting heart-shaped chocolates is if you nick them off some googly-eyed couple. You're not buying yourself some. That's just sad.
Yes, it was Valentine's Day, or night to be more accurate. The streets were lined with sickeningly sweet couples holding hands, gazing into each other's eyes, holding gigantic teddies and bouquets. Yuck. That definitely wasn't what you wanted for yourself, but you still had a small trace of a beating heart which pined for someone who understood it; who would accept it wholeheartedly.
You stalked the shadows, dressed to kill in your red plunge dress and heels. You'd be stopping by the GCPD office later for their annual 'Red Hearts Bash'. You'd find someone to take home with you there; all of the officers loving the thrill of sneaking around with Jim's 'daughter'. You had never been bothered to tell each one they weren't the first; they were more than happy keeping schtum, thinking they were your dirty little secret.
Grabbing a ribbon-tied box from a passerby's hands, you stuffed a handful of the chocolates inside into your mouth; they didn't even bother to notice they were one box down.
"Mn-Sho fūckin' shpoiled." You managed to spit out amongst a mouthful of caramel hearts as you kept on wandering.
Dropping the empty trays amongst the other junk scattered about you stood opposite Police Headquarters, staring up at the large gothic building.
"Such a beautiful building. Such a waste for it to be burned to the ground. Sucks to be you, 'Daddy'." You spoke lowly to yourself as you flicked the small lighter you kept in your bag on and off, on and off.
You were so caught up in your racing thoughts, mentally counting the days until this particular plan came into effect, that you failed to notice the presence behind you.
"Mm, I'm not sure how I feel about you calling anyone but me 'Daddy'." A cold breath gilded over your shoulder, making you shiver as the voice rang clear from behind you.
As quick as a flash you swung your right arm backwards, aiming to knock whoever this was away and give you time to reposition yourself.
No such luck.
A strong arm caught yours easily, predicting your reaction, and bending it up your back. A warm body pressed fully into you from behind, your arm caught between you both. A faint trace of mint wafted over you from lips which were grazing your ear.
"Now, now, little girl. Quit struggling. Wouldn't want Gotham's Princess ending up in that beautiful building's morgue now, would we?" He growled out, increasing the pressure on your arm as he done so.
"Hmph, who the fūck are you? What do you want?" You growled out through gritted teeth.
"Oh, ya know, the usual things. Forty-seven million dollars, a helicopter, obviously, a pony, and a big ole house filled with babies and a white picket fence. Oh no wait, that last one's yours, right beautiful?"
"You don't fūcking know me. I don't want that shit."
"Hahahahaha." A loud laugh burst from his lips, bringing a smile to your lips.
"No, no, no, no. You want more, right, baby girl? You want that building to go down in flames. You want to cause.. hm.. chaos. Right?" He murmured into your ear, each word caressing your mind.
"I don't want to cause chaos; I will cause chaos."
Your stance became controlled... cold. You stopped struggling. You stared straight at the brick wall you were held against, a dark chuckle escaping your mouth.
"They're all going to know me. Fear me. Tell their grandchildren all about me."
"Yessss. I like how you think, baby girl." He squealed with delight. "Gotham's perfect Princess no more. You could be great –we could be great! Me and you; Gotham's King and Queen. We'll leave our mark on this city. Spread across it like a virus."
His breath panted over your collar bone as he steadied himself against you, his free hand grabbing your waist. His other arm loosening its hold as he leaned in to nibble lightly on your neck.
Your heartbeat raced as you processed what he was saying.
He was like you. Thought just like you. Wanted you.
You vaguely recognised the voice encompassing all of your thoughts, but couldn't quite place it.
Did it matter who this was? What they'd done? You've probably done worse. What they looked like? Not when they make you feel this powerful.
"Fūck it. You're on, baby." You happily grinned and twisted your head round as best you could.
"Now, how about you let me see who I'll be ruling this dump with?" With a roll of your hips you had him grunting in agreement.
"Mm-hm. Do that again and we'll see." He groaned into your neck, peppering kisses down one side.
You smirked and twisted your body around, using his loosened hold to your advantage.
"Well, hello there."
Your small piece of heart that wasn't black beat hard and fast as you tilted your head up to take in his deep green eyes, seemingly sparkling with mischief and laughter, his plump pink lips which were opened slightly as warm pants left them, and his tousled ginger hair, darker in the dim light, messily styled bar one piece which flopped forward over his pale forehead.
He gazed back at your similarly warm face, glancing down at your lips every few seconds.
"Hello, gorgeous. I'm Jerome."
With his introduction made -as if you needed it now you'd seen who it was- and with yours also being a household name, he grinned and swooped down to capture your lips. His cold mouth pressed hungrily against yours, his body pressing into you fully as he deepened the kiss. You backed up into the wall, hitching your leg over his hip as your tongue done battle for dominance. His cold hand leisurely stroked your thigh as he ground his hips against yours, eliciting a moan from you both.
You broke away from one another and locked gazes, your foreheads resting against each other's as you both tried to catch your breath.
"Mm. You're bad." He giggled huskily as his eyes roamed your face.
"Hahahaha." You broke into laughter, him watching you, grinning.
"You're the first person to ever see it, Jerome." You rolled his name out slowly, caressing each syllable.
You slowly unwound your leg from his waist, grinning as you playfully nudged past him. Retrieving your long forgotten fallen clutch you lit up a cigarette. You made your way to the edge of the shadows, signalling the end of the alley, blowing swirls of smoke from your lips as you went. Looking back over your shoulder you grinned at the maniac wearing a Cheshire Cat smile as he leaned against the brick wall you were previously pressed up against.
"So, Valeska, will you be my Valentine?" You quirked an eyebrow in his direction before making your way across the street, without waiting on an answer, a spring in your step as you done so. A smug smile remained on your face as you climbed the stone steps, a chorus of manic laughter following you as you went.
...
Entering the GCPD you fixed your assets into their rightful places, making sure you didn't look too disheveled, and popped a few mints to hide the cigarette scent that lingered. You made your way through throngs of men and woman who all just had to stop you to say hi, enquire after your wellbeing and just casually mention how wonderful it would be to work a case with dear adopted-daddy.
Vultures. Absolute vultures, the lot of them. Circling, just waiting for their opportune moment to feast.
You eventually made it through to Jim and Harvey. Lee stood smack bang beside Jim, his arm held in her vice grip.
You groaned internally. How clingy. Gives all us females a bad name.
"Heeyyy, Dad." You brightly called out, plastering a cheesy smile on your face, and reached up to peck his cheek.
"Any Valentine's this evening?" You wiggled your eyebrows up and down, ignoring Lee's glare entirely.
What? She wasn't the only woman Jim had eyes for and she should know it.
"Heh, one or two, sweetie. But you know there's only one girl for me." He responded, winking in your direction as he also ignored Lee's looks.
"You know who was lookin' for you earlier? Ed. Just think, Jim, he could be your grand baby-daddy!" Bullock howled with raucous laughter, obviously pleased with how red Jim's face was getting with even the thought.
"M-hm, don't worry Dad, Ed's just a good friend." You smiled sweetly. "What's up, Harv? You jealous? You want Ed down on his kne-". You were stopped short with the look 'Dad' shot you.
"Enough, you. I really don't need any more images of Ed doing things to either one of you in my head. Bullock, go do something –anything, somewhere else...". You tried to casually back away before he got to you.
No such luck.
"...and you, madam, go do your rounds as my good little girl and watch your dirty mouth, please." He stared at you pointedly as you huffed out an affirmative and took off.
Hmph.
...
"Ah, yes, wonderful to see you again."
...
"No, no, can't stay too long."
...
"Oh yes, Daddy's doing incredibly well."
...
"Hm? Oh no thank you, I don't really dance."
Doing the rounds with these people was monotonous. You felt like you may slip into a coma at any given second. And to tell the truth, you really weren't sure whether that'd be so bad.
"Hey!"
You ignored the shouts coming from behind you as you tried to make it to the drinks table.
"HEYYY!"
You were unsuccessful. Tonight obviously was not your night.
A warm, perspiration-coated hand grabbed your arm, turning you around to face none other than Detective Armstrong.
"H-hey, Kris. How are you?" You smiled sweetly once again, wishing he would wipe his sweaty palms anywhere but your arm.
"I'm good, thanks. I –uh, was calling you for a while. Everything ok?" He rubbed his neck anxiously as he stood. Poor guy really was a sweetheart, but he was just. so. boring.
"Oh, were you? I'm sorry, I didn't hear you." You giggled and rubbed his right arm just above the elbow; your hand lingering, distracting his attention. "Listen, I gotta go. Could you do me a big, big favour and cover for me with my Dad? Please?"
"S-sure, but I –ah, was wondering if you'd like to have dinner with me tomorrow? Pick up where we left off after New Years? I just seem to keep missing you when you stop by the station..."
Ah, fūck. You knew you should have chosen someone else to bed at the bells, but you really wanted every drop of someone's attention and he was just the man. I mean, he done the job perfectly well, but at least if he was an obnoxious prīck like the others he wouldn't be chasing you as a 'take home to mommy'-type girlfriend.
"Listen, Kris. You're a great guy-". You were interrupted once more by a loud commotion coming from the front of the building.
Smoke was quickly entering the room from what you could only assume was a large fire by the entrance. Panicking, you grabbed Armstrong by the hand and dragged him off to the side, placing yourself between him and the wall.
What? If someone had was going down first, it certainly wasn't going to be you.
A loud boom sounded, bricks and rubble tumbling from all angles.
"FŪCK! What the hell is going on?" You screeched.
To be perfectly honest, you couldn't care less about what happened to the precinct or anyone in here, but this was your plan. You were going to be the one to bring down the GCPD. You were going to be responsible for the carnage that followed. You were finally going to make them all see who you really were, and what you'd really done in your short lifetime.
"It's ok, baby. I'll protect you." Kris smiled as he squeezed your hand tight.
You internally rolled your eyes. Ugh, just great. My knight in shining armour is this boring bast-
A loud shot was heard, the sound ricocheting all around to your head and the space where Kris stood was now vacant. Your eyes shot across the room on instinct and met with a pair of green. Blood stained your face as laughter bubbled from your throat. You no longer cared that your stunt had been stolen. After all, it was being expertly conducted by the best performer of them all.
You dipped down and gathered blood from the open wound in Armstrong's head and smeared it from your lips up your cheeks. You struggled to contain yourself, laughter bursting from your lips as you observed the panic and chaos all around you.
You skipped and danced your way gleefully through the pathetic cops and civilians in the direction of the front of the building. How would you get through the fire? No idea. But you would.
Once at the front of the building, facing the crackling flames, a cold hand shot out and grabbed your waist.
"Well, hello, my dear." A soft chuckle brushed past your ear as his grip on your waist tightened.
You turned around in his arms and grinned. "We meet again, Mr J."
"Come with me, doll."
His hand grasped yours tightly as he pulled you through a gap in the flames. Just before you stepped into the fresh night air, where police and fire sirens were already ringing, Jerome covered your eyes with his hands.
"I've got a surprise for you, baby girl." He murmured into your ear, tracing the shell with his tongue.
Once outside your eyes were uncovered and you blinked away the black spots.
"What d'ya think, Princess?" Jerome shouted into the night air, walking backwards with his arms wide open.
At the bottom of the stone steps lay nine bodies, dead and bound with straight jackets. It didn't take you long to determine that they were all cops; more specifically, cops you had wrapped round your fingers... and cops you had your legs wrapped around once upon a time.
"Jerome?" You questioned. "I don't..."
"Understand? Baby, read the message." He stood boyishly with his hands in his pockets, smugly waiting on your reaction.
You then noticed the red spray-paint on the men's backs.
"B...M...Y...Q...U...E...E...N?" You murmured out the letters sprayed on each jacket.
He held his hand out, grinning at your stunned response. You made your way towards him, arm held out high, smile firmly in place.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Jim raced out the building at your back and tried to grab you, but to no avail. Jerome roughly gripped your outstretched hand and tucked you under his arm, smiling smugly.
"Hahahahaha." You burst into fits of laughter.
"What's the matter, 'Daddy'? Don't cha love the real me?" You continued giggling under Jerome's arm, fluttering your lashes as innocently as possible towards James.
"C'mon, Jim. You must've known that it was her all those years ago. Sitting in a pool of blood, playing with knives whilst Mummy and Daddy lay chopped into pieces on the ground." Jerome kissed your forehead and squeezed your shoulder as he recited the tale of your first kills.
You hummed in contentment, his tale taking you back to that day 9 years ago when you were only 11. Jim knew exactly what happened back then. Poor bāstard defended you throughout –covering up everything and pining it on some made-up serial killer. Therapy, hugs and plenty of love were what followed, and to be honest you did like your godfather more than your waste of space parents. But the fact still remained that you didn't give two fūcks about anyone else until that voice penetrated your thoughts earlier on this evening.
You peered up at Jerome and roughly grabbed his face in your hands. As quick as possible you stuck your mouth on his, smearing the blood over his cheeks as well.
You grinned and giggled as you turned back to Jim.
"Hahahahaha!" You bent over slightly, clutching your stomach. "Let's see if you can catch us, 'Daddy'."
As quick as a flash, Jerome pulled you off with him down a back alley, smacking your ass hard in the process.
"What did I say about calling anyone but me 'Daddy'?" He growled out through clenched teeth.
You giggled as you ran along with him, vowing to make up for your little slip up when you got the chance to be alone.
Gordon remained standing in shock on the stairs of the burning GCPD long after you left. Emergency vehicles, crew, news vans and civilians were everywhere, allowing you both to speed towards an unknown hideout on the back of a stolen motorbike, unfollowed.
"SO, BABY DOLL, YOU DIDN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION..." Jerome twisted round, his previous annoyance gone, and loudly shouted over the sound of the wind racing past. "DO YOU WANNA BE MY QUEEN?"
You grinned at him, holding his stare –not a care in the world about watching the road you were speeding down.
"OH, MISTAH J, I ALREADY AM."
With that you roughly kissed his lips as best you could before you both burst into fits of laughter as you continued down the open road, ready to rule Gotham together.
...
A/N
Hello, lovelies.
This is my first time posting on here... mainly because I haven't had the cahonies to do so before. I thought I'd start small with some Jerome. If anyone likes what they read, let me know, and I'll post some more. I have plenty in the archives that I've never felt were good enough to post so :)
Also, this was supposed to be out for Valentine's weekend but I got distracted/doubted myself...
But it's still February and there's Valentine's cards in shops ...and it's Jerome Valeska, so I reckon I'll be forgiven.
Until next time,
Happy Friday!
- Ellie