Darren Drake was really happy to be out of Indian Hill finally. And now he was back with his new family, the street performers he befriended and now his personal chapter of the Jerome fanatics. Jongleur had indeed looked after them but was more than pleased to see him. They had moved out of their old place in the Narrows and were now holed up in an old factory remodeled into a living space. It was pretty nice for what it was. They threw a party when he came back.
Darren was now standing in Jeri's nightclub the Celestial Gardens and waiting for Jeri to introduce him on stage. A lot of Jerome fans were eagerly waiting for him to speak. Dwight was standing there next to him and smiling, happy that Jack was supporting him.
"Hey there my fellow crazies. I know Dwight's claims might be hard to believe. But look what has already happened in Gotham. Theo fucking Galavan alive again. And he's not the only one. Hugo Strange brought back more than one person. If it can be done, than who's to say Dwight can't do it too? And if he can, then shouldn't we do all we can to bring back Jerome? None of you ever got to meet him. Or maybe you did. Maybe you were one of his victims and lived to be changed by the experience. Either way, you know that he deserves to come back. We deserve to see him and show him how much we care. I say we give Dwight a chance. That we do all we can to help him pull it off. Because to even attempt this, he is going to need our help. All of us. So, since this is Dwight's show now, I'm going to give the mic to him. Treat him with respect. If he can pull this off, he deserves it." Darren said to the crowd. They cheered as Dwight came on stage and took the mic. Darren yielded the stage to him and Dwight enthusiastically told them his plan. He had already told some of them. But now the ones that really counted were listening.
Darren had to admit, Dwight seemed confident he could do it. And he had a good plan. They'd have to spend a lot of time gathering the equipment and stuff they needed. They'd have to secure a location. And they'd have to test it. Luckily, Dwight said he now had a job at a morgue. So he had access to all the bodies they needed. Darren was optimistic. He might actually see Jerome again. The Jerome fans now seemed on board with the whole plan. They were very enthusiastic about it. Dwight wasn't creative like Jerome, but he managed to get the fans motivated. They became almost fanatic about it. Dwight had mentioned it was a bit like a cult. A Cult of Jerome. Darren realized that Jerome would get a kick out of it when and if he came back, so he didn't discourage it.
Darren was in the middle of helping Dwight organize the cult when Fish Mooney came to the club.
"Fish. Its good to see you. How are things? You don't look so good." Darren said. Fish looked a bit under the weather. Like she was ill.
"I'd say I was fine but I'd be lying. I did hear that the leader of your group of friends is a former Indian Hill employee, though."
Dwight looked a bit nervous when she mentioned that.
"Yeah. But he only stayed working there to see that nothing bad happened to Jerome's corpse. Jerome was a friend of mine and a lot of people here are fans of him. He was in a preservation tank just like you. But he wasn't brought back. Yet. Please don't try to kill Dwight. I kinda need him right now." Darren said.
"You misunderstand. I don't care what he may have done in Indian Hill. Well, he should probably avoid the rest of the former test subjects though. They are very interested in revenge. I'm hoping finding Strange might sate that a bit." Fish said. "But as for me, I merely want information. I need to find Hugo Strange. There is something wrong with me. Something only Strange can fix."
"I don't know where he is." Dwight said. "The police are likely the only ones that know. I have a contact in the GCPD. If there are any cops that know, he can find out for you."
"That would be helpful. Thank you." Fish said. "Darren, you've gathered quite the large group of people under you. I'd love to know how you accomplished it."
"I didn't really do it. They kind of did it themselves. And its not me they're ultimately loyal to. But my friend. They hope to bring him back to life, just like you were brought to life. I was his friend so they have a respect for me. Anyway, I'll have the information you need relayed to you. Where are you staying now?"
"We haven't moved. Please give me the information soon. I'm not sure how long I have. Thank you for your help." Fish said before leaving.
"No problem Fish. Us metahumans have to stick to together." Darren said.
The Jerome fan cop told Dwight that Detective Bullock knew where Strange was. Darren had a brave and discreet cultist give the info to Fish.
Darren later learned that Fish got her hands on Strange. And disappeared. He figured she was off getting cured and scheming something. He wished her well.
Not long after the Fish thing, another person from Darren's days at Indian Hill came looking for him for help at the club.
"Alice? What are you doing here?" Darren asked when he saw the nervous blond girl in the club.
"Darren. I'm sorry. I didn't know who else to turn to." Alice said. "You're the only former test subject that I really talked with and I need help."
"Sure, what's up?" Darren said, sitting her down at a table. The Jerome cultists left them alone.
"It's nothing big. But I need to find someplace to stay. I...kind of burned down my last apartment."
A nearby cultist laughed amusedly when he heard that. Darren glared at them until they left. "Go on."
"I had to. I cut myself rather badly and the blood got all over. You remember what my blood does right? Do you know someplace where I can stay? I can't find a job and can't really afford much. And I heard you were well connected now." Alice said hopefully.
"I can totally find you a place. You'd still have to pay rent but I can also help with that if you want. Just try not to burn down the next place you stay, ok?" Darren said. "How come you didn't stay with Fish, anyway? You don't seem to have any connections in Gotham. And she was offering protection for people like us."
"She reminded me of someone. The mind control thing. It made me nervous. I don't really want to talk about that, please." Alice said as if she was thinking about someone she'd rather not be thinking about.
"Ok, that's fine. I'm not going to pry." Darren said smiling reassuringly. "Anyway, I'll ask around and see if any of my friends are landlords that can accommodate you or they know someone who is. I'm sure I have at least one or two. We can look after you Alice. Don't worry."
"Thank you. No one has cared about me in a long time. At least no one who didn't have a twisted motive behind caring. It's nice to be able to trust someone." Alice said relieved.
"Not a problem. Keep in touch." Darren said.
Darren found an apartment for Alice and helped with her rent. They talked ever so often. She was very timid. But he didn't blame her. One scratch and she was a walking biohazard. That would make any decent person nervous. He also thought that she was afraid of someone finding her. But he had no idea who that could be. She didn't want to talk about it. But he did end up finding out who was after her. She called and said she might have to leave Gotham. Because her brother was in Gotham looking for her. He offered to have her stay at the club so he could protect her, because it was obvious she was afraid of the man. But she didn't want to put anyone at risk. She said that her brother, Jervis, had a power over people's minds. He was a master hypnotist but it was more than that. Metahuman level mind control. She begged Darren to stay away. Because she didn't want Jervis to hurt him.
In the end, Alice died. Darren found out about it later from the cop cultist. Her brother had found her with Jim Gordon's help. Gordon tried to help her when he discovered just how bad Jervis was. But things went south. Alice fell and was impaled on a spike on the way down. Darren was a bit upset about it. But his anger at her death was nothing compared to Jervis's. Darren heard all about Jervis blaming Gordon for her death and messing with him. Darren had to admit, the guy had style. And his ability was amazing. Able to control people's minds? He tried not to think about how growing up with Jervis must've been for Alice. That kind of power likely goes to people's heads. And you end up hurting the people you love. But Jervis wasn't directly responsible for Alice's death in Darren's opinion. Yeah, she was trying to get away from him. But if Gordon hadn't helped him in the first place, then she'd still be alive. He mourned her and moved on. And vowed to not get on Jervis's bad side if they ever ran into each other.
They finally gathered all they needed to bring back Jerome. Dwight grabbed a few random bodies from the morgue to test it first. They would only have one chance to get it right. Once Jerome was thawed, they'd only have a limited time before he started decomposing. So testing it was important.
The latest test subjects were a young woman, who had been stabbed by her boyfriend recently and a random dude that got killed in a mugging gone wrong. The set up they had was very Frankenstein and cobbled together. Not very high quality lab. But it would have to work. They weren't made of money.
Dwight tried reviving the mugging victim first. He strapped the man to the table and got the man ready. When everything was set up, he turned on the juice and an electrical current was passed through the man's body. When Dwight turned off the power he checked the man's vitals but nothing. So he tried it once more. But by that time it was already too late. They didn't get a second chance. The body was ruined.
"Well that was underwhelming." Darren said disappointed. "Are you sure you can pull this off?"
"I can!" Dwight said frantic. "I must have gotten my calculations wrong. Just wait." He went to his notes and looked through them. "Ah. I think I know what I got wrong. I'm going to try it on the girl next."
"Let's hope this one works. We can't keep stealing bodies from the morgue. Someone will notice eventually." Darren said.
"Don't worry. I think I'll get it right this time." Dwight said getting the dead girl prepared. He then turned on the power and Dwight and Darren watched as jolts of electricity passed through the girl. Dwight turned off the power and stared at her, with a hopeful yet desperate look on his face. "Come on. Wake up!"
Darren started to feel misgivings about Dwight's abilities until he saw the body twitch. His eyes got really wide as she opened her eyes. Dwight grinned a very pleased and surprised grin. "It worked. It actually worked."
The girl looked at them with confusion and a bit of pain on her face. She tried to get up but the straps held her down.
"Hey. Can you talk? Answer and I'll let you get up." Darren asked her.
She stared at him frightened. "...yes. yes I can talk. ...Where am I? What are you doing to me?"
Darren smiled happily. Not only was she back, she had a mind. Dwight had actually pulled it off. He looked over at Dwight. "You can actually do this. You can bring him back. You have no idea how happy this makes me."
"Please let me go." the girl said.
"Sorry. We've got to make sure everything is alright with you first." Dwight said. "Just give us a day or so. We need to make sure the process worked and doesn't have side effects."
"Side effects? What did you do to me?" she asked scared.
"Don't worry. Nothing bad. You'll have your normal boring life back soon." Darren said. He knew telling her that she had been dead would likely only make her upset. So he didn't mention that.
Darren was over the moon for the next day or so. He spent his time finalizing their plans for reintroducing Jerome publicly to Gotham. They'd be taking over a news studio. Everyone was in good spirits when they heard that Dwight's process worked.
Darren was in a bit less happy mood when he returned to their cobbled together lab and he found that the girl escaped. And then he found out from the mole they had in the GCPD that they found her body dead. The process brought her back, but not for long. When he saw Dwight come in and berate the cultist that had been watching the girl, Darren went over and expressed his concern. "The police said she was dead. The cause of death makes it seem as if the process didn't work for long."
"It worked. The current was too strong. Her body couldn't take it." Dwight said frustrated. "It doesn't matter. I can still bring Jerome back. I won't fail."
"You had better not Dwight. People have their hopes up now. They want to see him. They'll tear you apart. And I won't stop them." Darren said.
"I won't fail." Dwight repeated. "Its time to go get him. Are you coming with us?"
"Of course. I wouldn't miss this." Darren said. "I am sad I won't be able to see him right when he opens his eyes again. But someone has to make sure he has an audience when he does come back."
The storage warehouse was only lightly guarded. Dwight and Darren made their way through the building with the cultists behind them. They saw two guards sitting at a table and they grinned. The guards rushed to their feet when they saw them. But only one of them got out his gun. "Stop or I will fire!" the man said scared. He shot one of the cultists but they continued to walk over to them grinning. The guard with the gun looked over at his partner. "Call for backup."
The other guard pulled out a knife he had hidden and stabbed his partner. Then the man laughed maniacally. "Call for backup." he mocked the dead man. The man unlocked the door to the restricted area of the warehouse and they strode confidently through to the area where the preservation tanks were. Darren walked forward ahead of them, eager to see his friend. He stopped in front of the tank. He saw the familiar redhead grinning even in death. Darren got an emotional look on his face.
Dwight walked up and stared at the face inside the tank. "It's you. Its really you." he said reverently. He laughed maniacally.
Darren put a hand on the tank, trying not to cry at seeing Jerome's corpse for the first time. He shook himself out of it. This wasn't a sad moment. It was a happy moment. He would soon have him back. The only person he ever came close to loving would come back. He smiled. "Soon, Jerome. Soon you'll be back. We'll have you back. I'll have you back. And this time you'll be free. No one will get to tell you what to do."
They had some of the stronger cultists push the tank outside, very carefully. Then they pulled it into the van and they headed to the makeshift lab. Dwight was in a very good mood. Darren couldn't really blame him. He was in a good mood too.
They all got back to the lab and got things ready. Dwight immediately got to work. Darren helped him get Jerome out of the tank and they lay the corpse on the table. Dwight started working on getting the body thawed out, while Darren got the cultists ready to head to the news studio. Darren walked in and went over to Jerome and looked down at him with a hopeful look on his face. Dwight saw him and smiled reassuringly. "Go ahead and go. He'll be thawed out soon. We'll meet you at the news studio."
Darren stopped staring at Jerome and looked up at Dwight. "Ok. I trust you. I'll see you both soon. I can't wait." He grinned before walking out the door. Darren got his group of cultists, the ones led by Jongleur, and headed to the studio. They wouldn't do much. Just getting things ready. The rest of the cultists and Dwight and Jerome would be by later.
Jongleur was pretty hyper when they were driving there. "This is it. We're finally going to get to meet him! I can't wait."
They made it to the alleyway outside the building and got in position. Darren kept looking at his watch impatiently. Finally, after what felt too long, it was time for them to go inside. They made their way through the building. They took out almost all of the security as they went. Jongleur grinned as he made good use of his throwing knives. While Darren, in his best punk rock magician's outfit, used his abilities enthusiastically and with flair. He easily removed the guns from any guard's hands as they went. Finally, they neared the newsroom. They didn't have to wait long before the rest of the cultists arrived. But Jerome wasn't with them. Only Dwight. And when Darren saw what he had done to Jerome's face he got really angry. He shoved Dwight against the wall, rage written on his face. "What the hell?! That's his face isn't it? Isn't it?!" the other cultists didn't know what to do. They hesitated in defending Dwight because they respected Darren so much. Darren let him go and looked at him in disgust. "I take it the process didn't work? What's this then? Your attempt to get the cultists to not tear you apart? Why are you all ok with this? What did he tell you?"
"We're all Jerome. Dwight told us each of us kept him alive." said a random cultist trying to defend him. Darren sneered at them.
"What a load of bullshit!" Darren had a million emotions in his head right then. He was a mix of rage, disgust, and devastation. He had gotten his hopes up for nothing. "Do whatever the fuck you want. I'm done. If you all still insist on following Dwight, then there's nothing left for me to say. I'm leaving. And I'm not coming back. All of this for nothing. You had better hope that if we ever meet again, Dwight, that we aren't alone. Because I'm not sure I wouldn't filet you. Maybe take a razor to your face to do the same you did to Jerome. While you are still alive. Enjoy your life while it lasts. Because it might not be long." Darren left the room, in a huff. Jongleur and the rest of the street performer cultists looked at each other, not knowing what to do. After a moment, Jongleur left as well, and the rest of his group followed.
Darren stood outside the building and tried not to cry. He slid against the wall until he collapsed on the pavement in a heap. He had actually gotten his hopes up. He was so sure Dwight would pull it off. All of that for nothing. Jerome was still dead. And now Dwight had somehow convinced the Jerome fans to still follow him. He didn't know what to do next. He had dedicated all his time to this idea. And now it was all over. When Jongleur and the others found him he was staring into space on the ground. "Darren?" It took a moment before Darren looked up at them. He looked lost. Jongleur looked at him worried. "We aren't following Dwight. We have always only followed you. The others can delude themselves into believing whatever bullshit Dwight spouts. But we are behind you. I'm sorry about Jerome. I really wished it would've worked out. But don't give up. You can still go out there and make a name for yourself, in his honor. You aren't just Jerome's friend. You're the Magician. Maybe its time you make people realize that. Maybe starting with Dwight."
Darren thought about it for a few moments. He nodded. "Its true that Jerome wouldn't want me to mope about this. Maybe you're right. Go ahead and go. The cops will be here soon. You need to get out of here before then."
"Aren't you coming with us?" the acrobat, Cammy asked.
"No. Not yet. I'm going to wait for Dwight to come out of the building. After that...I don't know. Maybe I'll do something horrible to him. I think that's probably the only thing that will cheer me up at this point. Don't worry about me. Just go back to our hideout. I'll join you there soon." Darren said.
They reluctantly left him behind. And just in time too. The cops arrived not long after. Darren hid in plain sight, using his powers to get the cops to ignore him. He watched as Jim Gordon rushed into the building. Darren realized that if the cops get to Dwight, then he'd likely not get the chance to do anything. Oh well. He'd get his chance eventually. Sure enough, he watched from the shadows as Dwight was led out of the building in handcuffs. Dwight still had a smirk on his face. The cultists that were also detained shouted that they loved him. Darren wanted to cut that smirk off his face. And maybe he'd get the chance someday. He had to hope. He saw him being led to a cop car when he noticed a very odd looking cop walk in Dwight's direction. The man had bandages on his face. He put all his effort into his 'ignore me' power and walked closer. He saw the bandaged cop do something to the cop that had Dwight and start to lead him to a news van. Darren grinned. The bandaged cop had red hair. Red hair And a bandaged face? It couldn't be anyone else. He slipped into the passenger seat of the news van as the red head shoved Dwight in the back. When the red head got into the van he saw Darren sitting there grinning at him. "Long time no see old friend."
"Darren." Jerome said, looking surprised but not at all displeased to see him. "What a surprise."
"We can talk while you drive. We better get out of here before someone gets past my 'ignore me' power and sees us." Darren said.
"Right. Lets get this show on the road then." Jerome said enthusiastically. "Hang on Dwight. We got a busy night ahead." He said as they peeled out of there as fast as they could.
Jerome seemed very interested as to what had gone on while he was dead. He talked to Darren while he drove. "So what did I miss? I missed quite a bit in general I heard. But what about you? What have you been up to?"
"Where do I begin? A lot of things have happened. After you were murdered, I was pretty damn upset. Me and a few of those street performers that I told you about, we helped gather together a group of people that were fans of you. At the time, we did it to plan Galavan's murder. But that crime boss, Penguin, beat us to it. Or maybe it was Jim Gordon? I'm not sure. That was the rumor, that he pulled the trigger. But who knows. So after we had that let down, I decided that we'd hunt down his employees. I was pretty successful with that but Jimbo eventually caught me and I was sent to Arkham. You are right, those uniforms are awful. And that Hugo Strange guy was just as dangerous as you thought. More so. He was the head of a secret lab under Arkham. A lab that created and/or collected metahumans. Long story short, he found out about my little gifts, and I was stuck down there. But then us test subjects escaped and I went back to my lovely street performers and the Jerome fans. Who Dwight over there had been trying to gather into a cult. I helped the asshole get their loyalty with the belief that he would bring you back. I guess he did pull it off after all. But you must've not woken up immediately and he took steps to make sure the cult wouldn't rip him apart. Hence the cut up face. I should've just murdered you where you stood when I saw that, Dwight. I still might."
"Now now. No need to get hostile. We've got things to do." Jerome said cheerfully.
Darren looked at him curiously. "You have something planned?"
"Just a little plan. We need explosives. A lot of them. So I'm making a quick stop." Jerome said as he stopped at a shady place known for selling explosives and not asking questions. As Jerome was inside grabbing what he needed, Darren's phone buzzed. He answered it.
"Hello?"
"Darren? You aren't back yet and I was worried." Jongleur said.
"Oh. Yeah. Sorry. Things came up. I'll tell you all about it soon. But I don't want to spoil anything for you."
"Why do you sound happy all of a sudden? Did you get Dwight? Are you going to make him pay?" Jongleur asked hopefully.
"Sort of. And yeah. But I can't tell you the details. You'll find out soon. And you won't be disappointed. Trust me." Darren said smiling. "Just wait at our place for now. But don't get comfortable just yet. We'll likely have a lot to do soon. Oh and I would keep an eye on the news. Channel 9. No promises but there may be something on in awhile that you'll enjoy."
"You're taking my advice aren't you? Getting your name out there. I'm so glad. Like I said, we're behind you no matter what." Jongleur said happily.
Darren saw Jerome coming back with two shopping carts full of explosives. So Darren ended the call. He got out and helped Jerome load the van with the explosives.
Darren was very interested in the fact that Jerome had driven them to a power plant. He stared as Jerome made Dwight move most of the explosives into the building. "We're blowing up a power plant? Why?"
Jerome grinned. "Because this one provides the majority, if not all, of the power in Gotham. Dwight's little shtick might be useful for something. Turn off the lights and we'll see just how mad the city really is. When the people turn on each other. Because they can. This whole 'you are all Jerome' bullshit may be bullshit. But he has a point. It would be fun to see people do what they truly want to do if society's expectations weren't an issue. Anyway, help me with my face will ya?"
Darren rushed over and helped Jerome unravel his bandages so he could stick his face back on. he hoped it wasn't too late to save his skin. He still wanted to cut Dwight's face up a little and hoped Jerome would let him. He carefully took Jerome's face out of the evidence bag while Jerome went and got a staple gun. "Oh damn. That's probably going to hurt like a bitch."
"Not really much else we can do at the moment. We don't have time to get it stitched back on." Jerome said shrugging. "Alrighty. Bring that over here and stick it on."
Darren put Jerome's skin back on his face as best he could. Jerome grit his teeth as he started stapling his face back on. Darren winced as he watched. Dwight had finished bringing in the explosives and was wincing as well. He took his time but eventually he was finished. "How's it look?"
"It'll have to do for now. Until we can get someone to stitch it on properly." Darren said making sure it was on securely. "Jerome, would you mind if I make sure Dwight pays for this? I just want to cut up his face a little." he asked him in a low voice so Dwight couldn't hear.
"I suppose there's no reason not to. But lets get everything set up first, ok? We've got to look good for the cameras." Jerome said grinning.
"Thanks Jer." Darren smiled a pleased and deranged smile. "Alright where do you want everything?"
"Ok, put the camera there. And that over there." Jerome said directing where he needed Darren and Dwight to set things up. "Oh and put a chair right there. Yeah. Right in the middle."
Soon everything was in place. They were ready to go. Jerome turned to Darren and grinned. "Ok. We don't need the extra hands anymore. Have fun. But leave him alive, ok?"
Darren grinned and looked at Dwight. Dwight had a very worried look on his face. Darren got out a knife and walked towards Dwight casually. Dwight backed up. "Dwight Dwight Dwight. If you had just messed up and admitted to it, I might have forgiven you. Especially when it turned out you pulled it off in the end. But you had to pull all that bullshit. I told you the next time I saw you I'd do this. And I meant it."
"But I brought him back! It worked! I did that!" Dwight said backed against a wall. "Jerome! Don't let him do this to me! I brought you back to life!"
"You cut off his face!" Darren snarled. Then he acted cheerful. "You did bring him back. So I'm not killing you. That's up to Jerome. But you do deserve a bit of a punishment. Take it like a man." He grabbed Dwight's face and held him still. Then he put the knife in his mouth. "Give me a big smile, Dwight." He cut his face ear to ear. Jerome laughed as he watched. When he was finished Dwight was not in a good state but he was alive. They dropped him in the chair in the middle of the explosives and tied him down.
"Well that was sexy." Jerome said winking. "Clearly I've missed a lot in your life. You've become so... entertaining. Anyway, time to start the show. Thanks for all that. I was just going to have Dwight sit there but his new look is the perfect centerpiece." He grabbed hold of Darren and kissed him roughly, leaving a bit of blood behind since his face was still a little loose around his mouth, before going over to the camera to turn it on and send the broadcast to the news station. Darren didn't mind the rather bloody kiss though. It had been way too long and any kiss from Jerome left him weak at the knees even with his face in that state.
"Ah. There we go. There should be an indicator light or something when they have it and we're live. Just hold on a bit." Jerome said fiddling with the camera. "Testing. Testing. Am I live? Am I on air? Can you hear me? Ah screw it. Let's do it." He noticed the light and hoped they were live. "Hi. Some of you may know, I died. Uh-oh. But take it from me, death is... dull...but coming back? That is something. Leave it to dying to give you a whole new perspective on life."
Jerome walked away from the camera towards the explosives. Darren stood by and let Jerome do his thing. It was Jerome's show after all. He was the one everyone wanted to see. And Darren was ok with that.
"I would like to share that with you." he leaned over Dwight and grabbed a lighter. He lit it and looked back at the camera. "Tonight, Gotham, in the darkness, there are no rules. So, tonight, Gotham...do what you want. Kill who you want. And when morning comes you too, shall be..." he lit a fuse. "reborn." He laughed as he started to walk away. Darren quickly followed. Jerome passed Dwight on the way. "Dwight, I don't forgive you for my face." He laughed and left the building, Darren laughing along with him.
They quickly headed back to the news van and peeled out of there. They drove a safe distance away and stopped to watch the fireworks. Just in time too. Because just as they got out of the van the building blew. They stared in awe as the lights went out all around the city, plunging the city into darkness. Jerome looked ecstatic. He finally turned away from the sight to stare at Darren with a hungry look. "Sooo. Just how much have you missed me, Darren? Want to show me?"
Darren grinned back at Jerome, with a look equally as hungry. He pounced on Jerome, kissing his cut up mouth hungrily. Jerome didn't protest when he was dragged by the tie on his cop disguise to the back of the van. He just grinned. He didn't even stop grinning when Darren shoved him to the floor of the van. Darren showed off by pulling off Jerome's clothes with his powers, which had Jerome laughing. He finally lost patience though and flipped them around so he was on top. "So you did miss me." he said as he felt Darren's very hard erection. He tore off Darren's clothes impatiently. "Damn it. I'm guessing you don't have any lube?" he said realizing they were probably not going to find appropriate lube in the back of a news van.
"Inside pocket of my jacket. I came prepared. I was certain you'd be back so I wanted to be ready for it." Darren said winking.
Jerome laughed. "Always thinking ahead." he pulled the lube out of the inside pocket of Darren's discarded jacket. He poured some onto his fingers and got to work lubing up Darren's entrance, scissoring his fingers back and forth.
"Damn it, Jerome! Just fuck me already!" Darren said impatient. He had waited way too long for this. Screw patience.
He didn't have to tell Jerome twice. He took his fingers out and lubed up his fingers again to rub around his cock before quickly burying himself into Darren in one deep thrust. It hurt but it felt oh so damn good. An ache that he had longed for for way too long. It didn't take Jerome long before he started moving at a frantic pace. Jerome fucked Darren like a starving man devoured a steak. As if he had been the one to have to wait for this instead of just being dead. Darren moaned as he moved with him, trying to match his frenzied thrusts. In all the frenzied action, some of the staples had come loose on Jerome's face but neither of them cared. They were too lost in each other. Jerome had no control and Darren was not much better. When their orgasms finally found, they came at roughly the same time, Jerome collapsing on Darren bonelessly.
"I've missed you so damn much, Jerome." Darren said, holding him. "Don't ever fucking do that to me again."
"Don't die. Check. Ai ai sir." Jerome said amused. He rolled his eyes when he saw the look on Darren's face. "Like I'm gonna let someone do that to me a second time. I was too trusting back then. I thought Theo was on my side. I won't make that mistake again. Plus now I'll have you at my side, watching my back."
Darren just wanted to lie there with Jerome all night but they had things to do. That thought didn't stop him from groaning in annoyance when his phone started ringing.
"Yeah?" Darren asked irritated as he answered the phone.
"Oh my fucking god, Darren! Is he really back?" Jongleur said excitedly through the phone. "It actually worked? That video was for real?"
"Jesus. Of course it was real, Jongleur. I did tell you wouldn't be disappointed. I do hope you didn't get comfortable, because we are headed over there. We've got things to do. Hmm." Darren had a look at Jerome who had been pulling on his clothes. A cop uniform wasn't going to cut it for his new audience. "You still have that tailor friend that can resize clothes in a pinch? The one with the stylish yet edgy designs? We are going to need him."
"Yeah. I still know the guy. I'll give him a call. But damn! This is so exciting!" Jongleur said, geeking out.
"Jongleur focus! Call the guy. We are on our way." he hung up the phone. Then he noticed part of Jerome's face slipping off a bit. "Your face is falling off. Where'd you put that staple gun?"
"Over here." Jerome said, grabbing the staple gun and climbing into the passenger seat to look in the rear view mirror. Darren tried not to grimace as Jerome stapled his face back on. The really needed to find a guy to sew it back on when they had time. He slipped into the drivers seat since he was the one who knew where they were going.
Darren drove to the old remodeled factory hideout of his. Jongleur rushed outside when he saw the van, the other former street performers not far behind him. They were all grinning like idiots, eager to see their idol. Darren rolled his eyes as he stopped the van. "So you do know you are going to have a lot of people geeking out over meeting you, right? Including my little group of former street performers. Hence the fanboy and fangirl looks on their faces at the moment." Darren said sighing.
"Yeah. Will it bother me getting idolized? I don't give a fuck. Its actually flattering and its kind of nice to be appreciated...by someone not you of course." Jerome said amused.
Darren sighed again and got out of the van, Jerome getting out at the same time. Darren thought a few of his friends might swoon. "As you all probably have seen by now, Jerome is alive. And here he is finally. My friend, Jerome Valeska."
They stared with maniac glee as Jerome gave a little dramatic bow at them. "So I heard that I might be getting new duds. Where's that tailor dude?"
"Just inside. I called him like you wanted, Darren. When he heard it was for Jerome, he rushed over." Jongleur said happily. "I have to say, Its amazing to finally meet you, Jerome. You have no idea."
"Yeah yeah. I'm amazing." Jerome said dismissively. "We've got stuff to do. So no time to waste. Don't want to waste this beautiful night of darkness."
Darren watched Jerome preen with all the attention and smiled. Jerome deserved it. After all he's been through, he deserved to get all the praise. Darren knew life with Jerome was going to be a wild ride. But it was a ride he would enjoy every minute of. He had him back. He was so happy.