Chapter 1

Power Play

Instead of trying to kill Bruce Wayne, Galavan has him accused of killing Jim Gordon. Bruce is locked in Arkham where he encounters a certain Jerome Valeska. A game of manipulation and seduction starts. Meanwhile, Jeremiah Valeska wants to unmask the truth, eager to have both his twin and Bruce out of jail. And what really happened to Jim Gordon?

The Cannon events had been changed, Jerome and Jeremiah actually get along, and Theo Galavan came later in the chronology. Please, don't tell if some things are left unclear.

Learning Bruce Wayne had been arrested for murder was a huge surprise. The murder of Jim Gordon, nonetheless! Why? That was the biggest question. Even Jerome Valeska was curious.

The News had spoken of that many times, and he had followed the events from Arkham's Common Room, where one TV had been set. Images of a security cam had show Bruce trying to stab Gordon, then the two fighting and finally the billionaire had knocked out poor Jimbo, making him fall in the river. Jim never got out, and his body still somewhere in the water Those images had been just delightful to watch!

But learning that Bruce Wayne had been judged mentally ill and would interned in Arkham…Now that was even better!

After all, it was partly because of Bruce that he had been arrested.

Some patients here were too disconnected with reality to actually understand who the new addition was, others didn't care, and others just wanted to sink their teeth into a fresh new prey. When Bruce arrived, Jerome knew some of the predators here were impatient.

It was a clear winter morning with a blue sky when the kid stepped in. It was cold, but now that was quite usual in Arkham. He wondered how the kid would take that. Jerome looked at him and was pretty impressed at how he grew up…He was still lean and not as tall as he, but he didn't look like a weak boy anymore. Bruce hadn't noticed him and Jerome liked that. It gave him the feeling to be a hunter watching his prey.

He had spoken of him with Jeremiah during his brother's last visit. Officially, Jeremiah was innocent of everything Jerome did. If only they knew…Jeremiah told him he wished Bruce Wayne wouldn't be hurt. Well, that would be up to the little billionaire.

It was somehow satisfying to see him like that: in Arkham's outfit, just like any of them. Here, he wouldn't be the little prince of Gotham anymore, but another lost soul. And in this little hell-hole, Jerome was the boss, the Devil himself. He had gathered other patients around him, twisted their minds and wrapped them around his pinkie. That place was his playground, and he wondered how the boy would do now that he couldn't run away or have the cops helping him.

Bruce just sat and read one of the rare books available around, Jerome smirked: oh, if he thought he could read nicely, he would be surprised! He saw Buddy, one of the biggest guys around and the most violent, approaching the teen. Buddy was pretty much under his thumb, Jerome could easily tell him to leave Bruce alone, but one the other hand…

Did Jeremiah really wanted him to protect Bruce Wayne? Because right now, he'd rather have fun watching that!

"You! That's my fucking seat!"

Bruce gave him a confused look and the man suddenly grabbed him by the collar. A punch sound was heard. But unlike everyone thought, Bruce was the one who punched first. The teen gave him a hook and kicked him away. Buddy hardly backed away but it was enough for Bruce to get free.

"I don't know what's your problem, but you should stop that right now!"

Oh no, Brucie, he's just getting started. Buddy roared and rushed toward Bruce who just dodged and hit his opponent. Buddy retaliated with a punch in the face, and Bruce yelped but blocked his next blow before giving him a kick in the stomach and tried to hit him in the throat. Buddy dodged though. Bruce looked at him with cold anger.

"Okay, you want troubles? You'll get it!"

Everyone gathered around. Buddy was much more muscular and taller too, but hell! Bruce was swift like a cougar and more precise. He dodged a punch and elbowed the big man in the face before giving him a hard kick in the plexus; Buddy was bent in half and he coughed. One of his friends tried to attack Bruce but the teen elbowed him right in the nose before punching him hard, making him fall. Another tried to grab Bruce from behind. The boy sent his skull back, hitting his captor's face and threw his above his head to grab the back of his aggressor's shirt. He swiftly bent over, taking the guy off of his feet. The lunatic yelped as he fell head first toward the ground. He hit the ground with a crackling sound but Bruce was already fighting Buddy again, who tried to attack again.

He punched Bruce in the stomach but the boy took it and punched back right in the jaw. Then, he sent the side of his hand in the man's neck. Jerome whistled at the ninja-like move while Bruce was punching again and finally kicked the back of Buddy's calf. The man fell and Bruce gave him one last kick in the face.

The boy looked around while regaining his breathing, checking out no one was attacking again. The lunatics around were either gaping, or cheering, one was dully applauding. Bruce's eyes fell on Jerome and his face twitched in anger. Jerome just applauded him. After all, three guys were down, one of them being one of the most violent of the asylum.

Bruce just went back to his seat and took his book again. He looked at Buddy and just declared loudly:

"Find another seat."

People around either mocked the three down, or just walked away from Bruce, but no one dared to annoy the kid. Jerome just looked at him, and for the first time, he was unable to say anything. He had fought against the kid in the past, and yeah, Bruce had been able to beat him, but now, he was even stronger.

Did Jeremiah really wanted him to protect Bruce Wayne? Because he didn't seem to need it!

O o O

Jerome had just observed him for some times. A few lunatics came to talk to him, and the kid replied politely, although he didn't seem very interested in them. Another guy had tried to bother him, and Bruce had just kicked his ass too. Jerome actually liked to see him fight, there was something exhilarating in that. You could actually see the savage side of Bruce and it was…Actually enticing.

"Why are you watching him?" Asked one of his followers.

"I met him once, would you believe m if I told you he was actually living in the streets at a time?"

The guy just looked at him with a dumb face and he laughed. It was actually true. After he killed his mother, Jerome had escaped the cops (surely not thanks to Jeremiah, no!), and he had spread some…fun in the city. A cult had even started to gather around him!

Bruce was actually posing as a street kid at that time, Jerome still had no idea why. He hadn't even recognized him, hell, why would he? He didn't give a damn about the Waynes back then.

Their first encounter and fight had started in the streets. Bruce had seen him beating up some little punk, and like the goody-good shoes he was, he had jumped in to help. The kid had been able to beat him down and save the guy, and Jerome had been more than angry. That's why he had pursued him through the streets, and hadn't stopped even when Bruce was back in his rich little world. In fact, that's what got him arrested.

Ah, the Horror Fair…He and his cultists had deprived the city of electricity and taken over a Fair. They had brought some citizens for fun, and he had even organized a great show with Bruce Wayne as the leading star! This should have been his perfect revenge! And it had been such a great night! But the kid had escaped, the cops had taken over. He had pursued the kid in the Mirror Maze, but Bruce had beaten him and left him on the ground. When he had gotten out, furious and trying to kill the kid, Jim Gordon had just shot him. A fucking bullet in the shoulder!

Because of that, he had to stay in Arkham way longer than he should have. Jeremiah told him he couldn't make him escape as long as he wasn't fully healed. But at least, it had paid off. Jerome had gathered additional followers and sharpened his manipulation skills. And now that Bruce Wayne was here, he had new perspectives.

He should have been eager to hurt him again. But he was also very curious about him.

As the evening came, music passed through the speakers. They would do that from time to time, and Jerome was happy. This was good music; even though he would usually prefer Metal and Hardrock, or even circus music, Jerome enjoyed what they put here. It was pop music, but good one, sexy and melancholic, and not the cheap, slutty kind of sexy. He didn't know it, but he liked it.

He was speaking to some of his guys, playing with their minds, ensuring himself of their loyalty, when he eventually looked around, searching for a distraction. He saw something that really caught his eye. Bruce Wayne wasn't reading, he was pacing around, but not in a casual way. He was swaying a bit, at first, Jerome thought he was maybe not feeling well, but no. His serpentine moves were subtle and controlled, and…Kinda graceful but in a masculine way.

He was dancing…Not exactly dancing, just moving along the rythm.

Now, it was true the song was hypnotic, it wasn't in English, it was maybe French; anyway the sultry voice of the female singer just called anyone to just let themselves get carried. Sensual, very sexy, melancholic, agonizing somehow, but in such a graceful way…But as good as the song was, it wasn't what called his attention the most.

Weirdly, Jerome found himself looking at Bruce with some fascination. He had seen the boy scared, angry, defiant, but that…That was a Bruce he never saw, it was like something out of reality, he didn't seem to give a damn about who was around; he was rolling his head gently while slowly swaying his body, his feet moving aimlessly.

A young woman started dancing, more clumsily, and went toward him. She wasn't exactly pretty, but Bruce didn't seem to care as he started to dance along with her. They were slow, gentle, and hell, Bruce was sensual. It was weird, but yeah, the brat was indeed…Attractive. Other people looked at them, there was something appealing emanating from them, but Jerome looked only at Bruce, something as hypnotic as the song could be felt. He was holding the girl, brushing her more than holding.

Jerome wanted to break this between them, to push the girl away and seize…What? He didn't know but he needed to do something. He stood up and advanced toward them. But before he could reach them, the song ended, another one started. Bruce rolled his eyes and abandoned his dance partner who just kept dancing, a bit lost. Jerome followed him and saw him jumping and climbing like some feline on one of the window's frame. Those were large enough to allow someone to sit comfortably. Of course, those had bars.

Bruce just sat nonchalantly and looked outside. Jerome reached him and stood by his side. The teen threw him a deadly look, but Jerome spoke before he could say anything:

"So, Bruce, didn't know you were such a beautiful dancer!"

The teen narrowed his eyes and huffed in annoyance: "What's the point of that comment?"

"What do you mean?"

"I don't see how we could have any kind of interesting conversation with such a start."

This baffled Jerome. "Actually I wanted to know whether or not you were high on drugs, but it seems like you're very conscious of what you're doing. That's make it even more interesting."

"What are you talking about?" Asked he with confusion and more annoyance.

"You know, you dancing like that without giving a damn. Why did you stop?"

"I hate the song which came after. Why does it matter to you?"

Jerome smirked and titled his head: "I liked watching you."

Bruce's face irked a bit, making Jerome laugh. "What? Don't tell me you didn't know people would find that attractive."

"I didn't expect that from you. But well, good for you if you enjoyed it."

"Do you know you danced with a prostitute? That girl is a sex addict, she whored herself out and she liked that. It must bother you to know you danced with that kind of low-life."

Bruce shrugged: "I honestly don't give a damn. Prostitutes bother you maybe?"

"Well, they kinda remind me of my slutty mother, to be fair."

"But you hate her for much more than that."

This made the redhead tense. "Surely, Brucie…But y'a know, she was indeed a slut, so calling her like that is no less right…"

Bruce shifted to fully face Jerome. "Your brother doesn't seem to hate her. Maybe she wasn't the bad one."

This time, Jerome put both arms at either side of Bruce's thighs, showing the boy he had no exit. Although he was a bit startled, the teen kept his cool. Jerome was expecting that.

"You know a lot of people would much rather get an electroshock session rather than speak to me like this about those things."

"Those people didn't beat you down, Jerome."

A short silence settled between them and eventually, Bruce gently but firmly put his hand on the redhead's chest and walked past him.

"If you'll excuse me, I'll talk to that girl…"

Jerome's face twitched slightly. He grabbed Bruce's arm and made him turn round. "That won't be possible."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not allowing you." Bruce's confused face was actually arousing. "You're mine, kid. Anyone who touches you will die."

Don't hesitate to review! Next chapter will have Bruce's point of view too. The song during the dance scene is California by Mylene Farmer it inspired me that scene which had me starting the whole fic. Here is the link if you to listen to it: watch?v=bW8N9_Nyfyc