Chapter 9

Tyger, Tyger

And here you go! That chapter is longer than most, and I really like it! Hope you will enjoy it!

A reminder: After giving Bruce the names, Silver also gave those to Alfred, written in a book.

Once Alfred learned by Lee that Peter Tobias's real name was Adrian Bates, he immediately contacted Selina and Jeremiah. They all gathered in his flat, Ecco was here as well, listening silently. He poured tea for all of them, even Selina accepted to have some. She wasn't super fond of it, but it was cold out there and something warm to drink was welcome.

"So, that would explain why we had difficulty to find him," Jeremiah breathed out as lfred finished his explanation. "I hope Bruce didn't take too much risks.;"

"That still doesn't tell us where he is," Selina pointed out.

"No, but it could give us a lead, if we have a name we can find people close to him," he reminded her.

"I might have an idea," Selina said before turning to Ecco: "And I could need your help."

"…As you wish."

"What do you intend to do?" Asked Alfred.

"Go through some people I know," she simply replied.

"I might need you anyway, Alfred. I want to learn more about Galavan. Maybe you could lend me a hand in that. We should all meet again tomorrow, and see what we gathered."

"I'll give you a call if things didn't go as planned," Ecco concluded.

She followed Selina out and sternly asked: "Who are we gonna see?"

"A friend of mine. She could help us."

"You're lying."

Selina cursed herself mentally and reluctantly admitted: "Okay, I just wanted to try. It's a girl indeed, but she's not a friend. Her name is Silver St Cloud. She is the one who gave Bruce the names. I suspect that bitch has some hidden intention, and I'm pretty sure she could tell us more. And since you seem to be good with liars…"

"She probably has hidden intention. But maybe not against us. There is only one way to know."

There was no difficulty getting around Galavan's flat where Silver lived. However, breaking in would have been dangerous and they needed to get the girl at a moment when she would be alone. For that, they found a much simpler solution: they waited the moment when she would go to school. It was a beautiful building, in appearance, nothing would have made you thought a monster lived here. But now, the Devil's greatest trick was to make people believe he didn't exist. In her uniform, Silver descended to the parking lot, taking the stairs as the elevator was apparently blocked that morning. The stairs were well enlightened, but she didn't really like it, she didn't like to go to the parking lot. Since she lived with her uncle and aunt, she had a good idea of what could happen in a parking lot. Calm down, it's not as you risked much. But while she was getting down, someone suddenly appeared before her as she almost reached her destination: a blond young woman. As she was about to pass beside her; the woman blocked her and Silver noticed the gun in her hand.

"Hi."

The girl tried to back up but someone behind her stopped her and she turned her head to see that street-girl who was Bruce's friend. And she had a knife in her hand...

"Remember me, bitch?"

Silver was unable to talk, she looked back at Ecco who pulled on her arm, made her get down the stairs and pushed her against the closest corner.

"What do you want?!"

"Don't talk that loudly! Now, I don't like to use violence needlessly..."

"It doesn't bother me," Selina interrupted.

"Well, for now let's try to discuss nicely: we know what your uncle did to Bruce Wayne. And we want you to..."

"I'm not telling you anything! And I won't do anything for you!" Her voice was determined but there was a twinge of fear under it.

Selina smirked, almost happy that Silver wasn't cooperating: "Loyal to your pain-in-the-ass of an uncle? I'm not surprised. Why did you gave Bruce the names, is it part of your game?"

"He told you..." Fear grew in her voice and expression and Ecco narrowed her eyes.

Showed her the knife threateningly, Selina went on: "Oh yeah, he did. I know you didn't do that for him, so you'd rather tell us what you have in mind if you don't want to..."

"I don't care what you'll do, I'm not talking! You have no idea what will happen to you if you do anything to me!"

Huffing, the street-girl had to admit she wasn't completely deprived of courage, but she would break that easily. "Well then you're stupider than I..."

Ecco put a gentle but firm hand on Selina's wrist to prevent any move, interrupting the girl in the process. She titled her head on the side, watching their target: "We won't need to use torture. You know, getting infos can be tricky, however, spreading some rumors is easy. What if your family knew a little blond girl gave Bruce Wayne some names? Or better: you wrote those in a book and gave it to Alfred Pennyworth, didn't you? It would be bad if it fell into their hands."

At this, Silver's face paled and she had a slight spasm; it was no doubt to Ecco anymore: the girl didn't act according to her uncle's wish out of loyalty but because she was terrified by him. Even Selina started to change her opinion when she saw this: she still didn't like her but it seemed like she feared her uncle more than she thought.

"What do you want?"

"We want infos too. Where is Adrian Bates?"

Silver frowned in obvious confusion: "Who?"

"The guy supposed to be called 'Peter Tobias," Selina declared.

"I didn't know he had another name. But I don't know where he is and neither does my uncle nor my aunt, I swear! They promised him they would give money and a second face change but it was a lie of course. Killing him was simpler, but somehow he guessed they would do that. My aunt went to met him to pay him..."

"With a bullet in the head I guess," Selina snorted.

"Yeah. But he wasn't here. So we don't know what happened, she tried to know what became of him, but she didn't find anything. They think he is hiding, my aunt is still searching for him. I swear it's the truth."

Ecco nodded and watched her attentively: "Silver, what do you want? Yes, you're living a rich life, but you're also prisoner right now. Don't you have anywhere else to go?"

"Not really. But anyway, if my uncle knows I spoke to you..."

"He'll kill you."

"No. He said that if I disobeyed him, I would end up in the worse underground brothel of Gotham, and that if I was to get out of here, I wouldn't even be able to talk normally anymore."

Indeed that was a big threat, both Selina and Ecco had an idea of what life was like for those prostitutes. But then... "Why did you take that risk for Bruce?" Asked Selina, feeling a bit of pity for her in spite of everything.

"I was pretty sure no one would discover, that he wouldn't tell my uncle. I...I do like him, he is someone good and since his parents' death his life went wrong, just like me. And maybe...It was crazy but I kinda hoped that something would happen."

"That your uncle would be defeated?"

She sighed, looking abnormally tired for someone her age. "It was a stupid hope. If you really want to know more about him, then it's his laptop you need. There are probably tons of proof in it, but of course it's well protected, you won't steal it or hack it easily. But if you're smart, you'll stay out of it."

"Why? You said monsters always win. In that case, I have my chances," Ecco replied naturally. "Anything else?"

Silver hesitated: "There is something more to it. My family's real name is Dumas. My uncle isn't doing this only out of cupidity, there is also bad blood between our family and the Waynes...Personally I don't really care, it happened a while ago, but my uncle and...Other people, they want revenge."

"And where are those people?"

"I don't know where they reunite yet, I was never brought there. It's really all I know, please..."

"Fine. Go to your driver, and of course, not a word of what happened."

"If all of this are lies, believe me your uncle will be the less of your worries," Selina concluded.

They started to go but Ecco suddenly stopped and turned to Silver again: "The book you gave Alfred Pennyworth, it was the Dark-Half by Stephen King, the story of a man pursued by an evil twin. I guess it was another hint?"

She only nodded in response and Ecco gave a little grin: "Not bad."

They left Silver here, the young girl hoped she would actually get out of all of this alive. As she said, her life really went wrong since she lost her parents, her uncle had seemed cold to her, but he was actually a monster. She didn't have much hope about those two, though the blond woman made her think of her aunt. Maybe she was an assassin too? If she managed to put a bullet in Theo's brain, she would be relieved. She went to the driver, faking nothing and pretended she had been a bit late because she had forgotten something. She prayed nothing would happen to her, and she prayed Bruce would be okay too.

At the same time, Ecco and Selina were out. "So, what do you think of it?" the woman asked.

"Well...Maybe you were right, she seemed to be terrified." And admittedly, the names she gave had been obviously a good lead, not some fake hint to fool them, they did find a surgeon and a file about Bruce's clone. She didn't like the girl, but she had been honest for once. "What do we do, now?"

"I have a call to give. I want to tell Jeremiah about it." She took her phone out, and called him with a twinge of hope that he would be proud of her. Once she and Selina were in her car, she explained Jeremiah what they learned and the young man congratulated her. She grinned a bit at this. "Also, I noticed something: whenever she was talking about their plans, she would talk both about her uncle and her aunt. But whenever she was scared, she spoke only of her uncle. I don't think she is scared by Tabitha."

"Well, maybe they have a better relationship. We could use that. Anyway Bates has no family left. Only a mother but she is in a retirement home. It really won't be easy to find him. At least it' good news if Theo doesn't know where he is. Means he is alive. I'm thinking of a new plan. I'll tell you more about it."

She perfectly knew what it meant: Alfred and Selina couldn't know about that plan, and it definitely meant something exciting would happen!

O o O

The morning went quite differently for Bruce. He was awoken early by Jerome, he was sleeping on the side when he was abruptly turned to lay on is back. He blinked and felt Jerome straddling him.

"Wake up sleepy head!"

"What…"

"I'm bored! Come on, let's do something; sleeping is all good but I'm not some fucking sloth!"

Bruce huffed: "Did you woke me up like that just because you're bored?!"

"Yeah!"

"…Seriously! You're worse than some excited puppy, you know that?!"

This made Jerome laugh and he kissed him only to have Bruce push him gently but firmly, looking obviously annoyed. The redhead smirked at this: was he playing hard to get? "I want you. How about we do it right now?" Jerome was almost purring as he said that.

"No way!"

"Too bad. Kiss me, then."

"Is that an order?"

"Would you like it to be an order? Would that entice you?" Asked Jerome.

"It seems like you don't know me," Bruce pointed out.

The teen sat down and Jerome put a finger in his upper chest. "I know guys in power often enjoy being submissive, you know like in BDSM and all. Make them feel relieve of responsibility and all. It could be your case. But I gotta admit, how can you know that yet when you hardly explored your sexuality?"

Bruce knew Jerome was saying that to make him feel uneasy and inexperienced. He decided to try and turn the table.

"And you? How much did you explore it?"

"I'm not a virgin if that's what you're asking. I had a few girls and guys, that's the advantage if having a cult forming around you: you can find partners very easily."

"And you were...On top or..."

This made Jerome laugh out of surprise, he didn't think Bruce would be able to ask such a question, the boy was blushing already. "Wow, my little tiger is getting bolder and bolder! Well, if you must know, I was always on top. Why?"

"Out of curiosity."

Jerome leaned closer: "Really? Does it frighten you? The idea of being under me?"

Bruce felt a twinge of fear but kept a poker face and leaned a bit closer: "You don't scare me."

"Prove it."

Bruce hesitated and frowned before understanding: "Are you seriously challenging me in hope that I'll sleep with you? Find something better!"

With that, he just got out of bed and Jerome rolled his eyes. After all, breakfast time would come soon. The Common Room wasn't exactly calm this morning, there were already a few fights and of course Jerome was immediately in to make even more mess. Bruce just searched Marina and Jonathan. He found her arguing with another girl, but they weren't hitting each other, and considering that their arguments was about the possibility of aliens inventing electroshocks, he would rather not get involved. Then, he saw Jonathan in a corner isolated and looking worried. Bruce went to him: was someone threatening him?!

"Hey? Are alright?"

Jonathan suddenly stiffened and shook his head, but it wasn't an answer. He wasn't looking at him, he seemed to be looking at no one actually. Bruce understood immediately: he was seeing the scarecrow again. The boy yelled and let himself slide down, his back against the wall. Bruce kneeled to Jonathan who was trembling. "It's okay, it's okay, he isn't here, it's okay!"

The teen breathed in and out deeply; holding his head. He vaguely heard a voice and looked at his side. His heart raced and he felt like ice had been thrown over him. The scarecrow.

Bruce was startled as Jonathan looked at him in fear and yelled and hit him to push him away. The teen seized Jonathan's arms and tried to maintain him down. "Stop! Stop it, it's me!"

"LET GO! LEAVE ME ALONE!"

"It's Bruce! Please, I'm not here to hurt you!"

The teen struggled, tried to push Bruce and hit him but the teen managed to restrain him and hold him down. The ruckus the teen pulled drew some attention, and a prisoner, small but muscular and a notorious rapist who also killed one of his victims.

"What's wrong with the angel faces?!"

He approached with a dirty smirk and Bruce cursed mentally. Beckett, that was the guy's name if he remembered well. He would have to let go of Jonathan to fight this guy, but Jonathan needed help!

"Angel face?! Isn't that the nickname you gave me once?"

The man's smirk dropped as he recognized Jerome's voice. They saw the redhead who was maniacally looking at Beckett. He made his fist crack.

"And if I remember well, you never called me that again."

"I'm not afraid of you..."

"Now, that's a lie..."

The redhead lunged at him and punched him. The man tried to back away but it wasn't efficient. He hit Jerome as well but the redhead was resistant to blows. He just laughed at it and punched the man back and kicked him hard, sending him against the closest wall. He didn't have as much as practice Bruce but he was still strong. Before he could hit again, one of Jerome's followers crashed the man's skull against the wall, knocking him out efficiently. That one was tall and big and he looked at Jerome with all the devotion possible.

"He is done!"

"He'll be done when I say so."

The man looked at Bruce who was still restraining Jonathan who was starting to calm down, and snorted in spite: "So busy playing the babysitter you didn't help! Good thing I did something."

"Is Jerome some damsel in distress?"

"No!" The guy looked away and left, fearing that Jerome might actually get angry at him: if the redhead thought he was considering him as some weakling, he would suffer. The atmosphere had calmed down, the guards had stopped most of the little fights. Jerome still gave one last kick in the guy's stomach, chuckling cruelly. One guard told him to stop, and Jerome accepted for once and just watched as Beckett was brought in the nursery.

Bruce rolled his eyes and spoke again to Jonathan, telling him the scarecrow was leaving and the teen calmed down progressively. He was breathing hard but at least he wasn't trying to hurt Bruce anymore.

"Are you better?" The teen could only nod in response. Bruce put an arm on his shoulders and started helping him to stand up. Jonathan couldn't help but blush a bit at that gesture, and gripped the boy's shirt. Jerome saw this and almost hissed in rage. Jonathan Crane…That guy was going to die! He just helped Bruce and his stupid friend was all he cared about!

The guards weren't looking in their direction anymore. He went to them and as Jonathan was standing, Jerome roughly pushed him again the wall, making him gasp and squirm. He looked up at Jerome in fear, and Bruce sent his palm against Jerome's chest, keeping him away from Jonathan. "What the hell are you doing?!"

"I should ask that, Bruce! The fuck are you doing with that wimpy twink?"

"Twink? I'm just helping and why…"

Seizing the hand which was still on his chest, he pulled on his arm and got him closer, making Bruce gasp. "I don't allow you to approach him, got it?"

The expression on his face would usually make people cower, in fact, the inmates around were all feeling wary already: when Jerome Valeska was like this, it was dangerous. Then, why did Bruce kept looking in his eyes? Why did he have that slight smirk?

"Allow me? You don't allow me?"

He approached his face and Jerome smirked. Until Bruce's hand fled and hit his throat. The redhead chocked and Bruce pushed him away strongly, then turned to Jonathan and grabbed his arm. He started to lead him away and turned to Jerome who was regaining his breath.

"Don't even get near my room tonight!"

He didn't care that half of the room heard him, everyone knew anyway. He led Jonathan to one of the table and made him sit at his side. He looked at Jerome who slowly walked, observing them, obviously furious. few of his followers came and he told them something. Bruce had no idea what but he knew this was about him and Jonathan. He turned to his friend, still keeping vigilance, though.

"Feeling better?"

"…Yeah…Jerome…He makes me think of the scarecrow…He isn't here, is he?"

"I see no scarecrow, and I can handle Jerome, you know that."

"Why did he hit me? I did nothing to him…"

"Calm down, Jerome is just jealous."

"You told him not to get near your room, does he hurt you?"

"Hum…" He grinned slightly, a bit embarrassed and amused. "No, I must admit he doesn't."

Jonathan's face lightened with realization, and the scared expression fainted; he grinned slightly instead, for the first time in forever. "Ah, yes, I see what you mean! I'm stupid. I got laid a few times, before getting locked here. She wasn't really my girlfriend, she would see several guys, but I didn't care, I just wanted to…You see?"

Bruce nodded, he didn't bother telling Jonathan he didn't have sex yet, because well...Thy got quite close to it. He wondered if this was his motivation with Jerome. The young man was still looking at them, talking with a few other inmates. Weirdly, this jealous behavior roused something in Bruce, some kind of weird amusement. He would just make sure this would stay between them, that Jonathan wouldn't go through consequences. But he wanted to see whether or not he could make Jerome do what he wished.

"You love him?"

"No…But I guess I'm attracted to him."

"Just like me and that girl. Cheryl, her name was. I also had a thing with Marina yesterday. You only like guys or girls too?"

"I usually like girls, this guy is an exception…" He saw Jonathan cringing in fear and looking around. He put a hand on his shoulder. "He isn't around. He doesn't even exist, just in your mind."

"No, Bruce…I swear he is here…Why doesn't he just kill me?"

"Because he is only a dream. You can push him away, I'm sure of that, just remember he is your creation, you can erase it." Jonathan shook his head and whispered: "Even if you're right, there are things in your mind you can't erase…I learned one thing here, we don't really know our own minds, we can fight but we can't never really win."

"But maybe we can…Help it to get better, to feel better. That monster, I'm sure you can find a way to fight it, one way or another. There are ways to control our fears, you just need to find yours." He took away his hand from his shoulder after giving it a light squeeze. He looked at Jerome again who seemed calmer but who still had his eyes locked on him. He was thinking of a way to get revenge…He wondered how he would react if he made a gesture toward Jonathan. But no, the other boy was no toy, he was obviously stressed enough, he didn't need to be some pawn in his and Jerome's sick little game.

"Do you mind if we just talk about girls and boys again?" Jonathan asked, almost pleading.

Bruce agreed, understanding it was probably comforting for Jonathan to have a normal teenage conversation. In fact it could do him some good. "Okay. So, what happened with Marina?"

Jonathan smiled and blushed as he started to tell him more about it. He spent most of his morning with him, but in the afternoon, Marina came and decided to join them. That's when he decided it was time to start investigating:

"Guys? Have you ever heard about a guy named Adrian Bates?"

"Hum...No," Jonathan replied.

"I might. There was an Adrian, but I don't remember his family name. You should ask Emily, you know. She had a thing with that guy. Why do you want to know that?"

"Well, it's quite complicated, but that guy could have infos I need. Thank you, Marina."

She winked at him and Bruce left them alone, not noticing the disappointment in the other boy's eyes. Going to that girl named Emily, he knew this wouldn't be easy. She was around his age, maybe just a bit older, and was really thin, her long blond hair a bit messy. She didn't look friendly at all, and he had seen her once or twice, she could be violent. He didn't fear that, he could defend himself after all, but he needed her to talk to him. He sat at her table and she immediately growled: "Fuck off!"

Well, this wasn't a good start! "Hi. You want to stay alone."

"Yes, go away!"

"Did I do something to you?"

"You're here, and that's all! I don't want anyone around! It's not just you, you're not that particular, mister Bruce Wayne!"

He didn't know what to say and remembered the technique of manipulation Jerome told him about once: I just have to pretend I understand them easily, getting them to talk to me, and that's how I can start to have an influence on them. He also told him 'psychic' would often just throw general information at people, and let them do the whole work. Maybe he could try. He observed the girl and saw marks on her wrists, auto-mutilation obviously.

"You're not just a loner by nature, I'd say. You do enjoy your peace, but am I wrong to assume you want to be alone because you're sad as much as you're angry?"

"No shit! Who would feel good in here? Except maybe some crazy ass like your boyfriend!"

Bruce shook his head: "I'm not happy either, but I'd say there is something more..." Marina said she had a thing with Adrian. "Is there someone you miss?"

She suddenly hit the table with both hands and stood abruptly, making the chair under her fell.

"What the hell is your problem?! I don't want to talk!"

He stood and spoke in a harder, cold-angered tone: "Don't lie to me! You do want to talk, you long for it! And you know how I guess that? Simple, you sit alone but you don't get into a corner where you would be left alone, you don't ask to go in your room! You sit in the middle of the room, at the end of the table close to the other seats where people could easily come and talk to you. You want people to notice you while you're mopping, so stop pretending you don't need anyone!"

She huffed but seemed taken out of balance: "I just sit where I want!"

"Yeah, and it's very revealing! You do need someone, you just don't know who you can talk to." He sat down again. "I know the feeling."

She snorted, but her stance was less aggressive. "Please, you have that boyfriend of yours!"

"It's not the same...Wait...It's that, isn't it? You miss your boyfriend?"

She looked at him and her eyes became sad again. She sat and hunched her back: "He was freed and yet he shouldn't have! He wasn't ready!"

"What makes you say that?"

"He would still open his wrist, like me. You know that once we did it together, but to mix our blood...It was romantic."

He didn't tell her how this actually wounded quite weird. He just went on: "He left a long time ago?"

"I don't remember, more than a month, something like that."

"I'm sorry, you must miss him a lot."

Emily nodded: "You don't find many people you can understand. Yes he was violent, but not really with me, we had a bit of fights, but I felt more alive with him."

He could understand, he felt like that with Selina, when he was living with her in the streets and now with Jerome. He nodded: "It's almost addictive when someone makes you feel that way."

"Oh yes!" She smiled to him for the first time, a tiny grin but it was something. He asked: "You feel...betrayed?"

"No! Before leaving, he said he would make me come with him!"

"He wanted to make you escape?"

"No, no! He wouldn't do that, he said someone big had a job for him and that once it would be done, he would have money and that this big guy would make sure I would be liberated. He wanted us to go and live together in Mexico! He loved Mexico. He just told me I would have to call him Peter, he changed his name, but I didn't like it."

Definitely the right Adrian! Bruce was stunned: so this was how Galavan convinced Bates? Money and freedom for both he and his girlfriend? "What kind of big guy could do that..."

"None, you dumbass! He just got trapped! This is probably one of Strange's fucked up experiment. Watch your ass by the way, if you're one if his patients, he might have horrible plans for you."

Oh, you're boyfriend got trapped, but not by Strange. "I'll be careful, thank you...You know, I know a few people outside who could maybe help find your boyfriend, maybe he is somewhere outside."

She shrugged: "Nah, he isn't alive anymore, I'm sure. But if you wanna try, go ahead."

"What was his family name?"

"Bates. Yeah, like in the movie, thank you very much," she said on an angry tone again. "So many people made fucking jokes about it!"

"You noticed too? There are some jokes that are very easy to make, and yet every person who say those think they are the only ones who ever thought about those!"

She laughed at this, her sad expression disappearing suddenly and nodded franctically. He continued to speak to her but she didn't know much about his past. She just told him that before being released, he had befriended one guard named Barry, and there always seemed to be something shady between them. She made a small head move in the guards' direction: "It's that shithead. When I asked him once if he had any news about him, he acted as if he had never known him. I'm sure he helped Strange to fool him."

"It's weird."

"That guy is just an asshole. Now maybe you could actually leave me. I really want to be alone, you're fucking annoying at times."

He was surprised at the mood swing, but now, she seemed to suffer from that. He just nodded as she changed seat to lean against the wall, and this time it seemed like she really wanted to stay alone. Anyway, he had what he needed. Jerome had watched the whole exchange with interest. Bruce hadn't been careful enough, he had listened to them. Adrian Bates? Who was that new guy? Why Bruce wanted to know more about him? Maybe, but with all the people who gravitated around him he might have forgotten him.

That evening, he left the Great Room earlier than most of the inmates. He looked back at Jerome one last time. Smiling darkly, the redhead went to follow him when one of the wacko near him grabbed his arm.

"Going to your lover, eh? You could do better than a kid…"

"Like you? Oh, sweetie, you're cute, but I like them when they can bit, and you…You can hardly bark." He almost threw himself at him, chattering his teeth once as if he was going to bit him. The man backed away in fear, letting go of the redhead. He laughed out and walked away while other loonies mocked the man. He went to Bruce's room and saw the young boy on his bed, reading his stupid book. He turned to him and huffed while getting up.

"I told you I didn't want you to get near my room."

"You really thought I would actually stay away?"

"I had my hopes."

He went to him as Jerome was closing the door. He had that little smile which confused Jerome a lot; once again, anyone else would have been wary, at least careful, but Bruce looked like he wanted to play. He was certainly not scared.

"I believe we have some things to discuss."

"You mean how you got so emotional? I didn't think I could ever get you into that state."

That's when Jerome realized. "Did you really do this only to make me jealous?"

"No, I really just wanted to help my friend. But then, I admit your stupid reaction put that idea in my mind."

Jerome laughed at this, the kid got him! Passing his arms around the boy's waist, he drew him closer. "You like him, Bruce?"

Strangely, there was something enjoyable in that twinge of jealousy, weirdly arousing even. "How do you think I like him, Jerome?"

"Like this…" He kissed his dark-haired beauty, a smooth one, just like the first time they made out, still wondering whether or not Bruce was attracted to that wimpy teen. That made Bruce shiver once again. Once they broke the kiss, the redhead asked again: "So?"

"Still jealous, really?" He thought of toying with him a bit, but for Jonathan's sake, he decided to give Jerome what he wanted. Plus that would be only the truth. "No. And I think we already had a discussion like this once. We're friends, I want people to talk to."

"You have me, I'm all you need."

"Ah, let's come back to that," he freed himself from Jerome's hold. "You're not allowing me? Do you seriously think you can forbid me to do anything?"

"I could, Brucie."

That wasn't to please him, and Jerome could see it. He wondered how he would react. The boy just sat on the bed. "Fine, then, maybe I should forbid you to do things as well. Like, for example, that guy from earlier who came to save you…"

He laughed at this: "Miller? I could have him but you must be crazy to think I would screw that one." Towering over him, Jerome warned him threateningly: "Anyway, Bruce, you're not one to control me."

"It's annoying when someone try to do that, isn't it? You're probably feeling like I do, that's called empathy, I wonder if you have that ability sometimes."

Oh, he had a little smug smile, and it was hard to say whether it was unnerving or seducing. "What game are you playing?"

"I'm teaching you something. Now let's hope you can learn," Bruce replied, still so smugly.

"Guys like me rarely learn..."

"That's a lie. You showed me about it, you taught me a few things too, after all."

That was true, and maybe he would have to be more careful than he thought. The kid might understood more than he ought to. He just smirked and uttered gently: "Fine, then there is something else I'd like to learn: who is Adrian Bates?" The kid seemed a bit unsettled and he enjoyed it. "Come on, I heard you, you weren't very careful! I vaguely remember that girl and a guy, but I never paid attention to them. You'll tell me."

"I need to know where that guy is. That girl doesn't know but there is that guard..."

"And you need someone with influence to make him talk...Well, seems like you got your man."

He suddenly kissed him and pushed him down. Bruce started to push him away but he pinned both his arm at each side of his head.

"I'm not sleeping with you."

Jerome looked at him with a playful expression. "I'll make you change your mind."

He kissed him again and yelped in pain as Bruce bit him. The boy sent his knee as hard as he could in Jerome's side and they struggled until the dark-haired boy found himself on top, Jerome was smiling in wonder, and he bit his lip.

"Do you know you're damn attractive when you're like that?" He uttered slowly, almost entranced. "Dominance, anger, fire! Just like that little glimpse in your eyes each time we speak of Galavan...Yes! Here it is!" He took Bruce's face in his hands, devouring him with his eyes and slowly murmured: "That's what I love about you, even more than your pretty face...Have you ever heard those lines? Tyger, Tyger, Burning bright, In the forest of the night...This could be you."

He knew that poem, indeed. Bruce felt a weird vertigo at this, Jerome was looking at him in a way no one did: unrestrained desire. He didn't give a damn about money, he just wanted him. Without thinking his lips descended. "Are you really jealous?"

Understanding, Jerome whispered: "Each time someone has their eyes on you."

Taking a deep breath, the teen finally declared: "If anything happens, then I'll be on top."

"Everything you want." He kissed him and laid down again after taking off his shirt. It was the first time Bruce saw him like this and he had to admit he was attractive and muscular. "I'll give you a favor: you will be dominant tonight. I can't guarantee you it will always be like that, but for tonight, go ahead."

He was pretty eager to see what would happen, he wanted to see what Bruce would do. In a swift move, the teen went to his neck and planted his teeth there. The redhead tensed, expecting a lot of pain, but instead, Bruce just nipped, playing with him in a strange, gentle way. But now, that was his thing, to be gentle and fiery at the same time, the way he started to nip his ear as well. It teased pain without really giving it, and he was starting to get addicted, his hands went under Bruce's shirt and he lifted it slowly. Understanding the message, Bruce lifted himself and took it off and threw it on the ground.

Jerome smirked hugely at the sight, he drew the teen toward him once again and Bruce kissed his neck this time, letting his nails graze the skin. Jerome also scratched his back, gently too, and allowed his hands to wander as Bruce also kissed chest, nipping it as well. The young man tensed slightly at this, impatient to have more.

The lights were turned off, like every nights. As they were in the dark, other ruffles of clothes were heard and new sounds as well, groans and moans, muffled words from Jerome giving Bruce a few indications. The teen knew it was wrong, it was his first and he would waste it for Jerome, and that man was a murderer, it was shameful...But he wanted it, and a part of him yearned for it badly. He was in that cold, macabre and joyless place, horrible thoughts plaguing his mind...This was life and fire, and he felt so free...And it was great, shameful maybe but pleasurable!

"You're mine, Bruce, you're mine, don't ever forget it!"

He ignored those words. The redhead didn't care that he didn't answer, he didn't need Bruce's approval, the boy was his now. Jerome had allowed him what he never accorded to anyone else and he didn't regret it. There was something he felt with him which was just fulfilling, his mind usually overwhelmed and yearning for violence and excitement had his fill, and that was so relieving. They were embracing tightly, almost tangled together, and Jerome gripped him like his life depended on it. He never experienced something like that, true passion and desire!

When they lay together, panting, Jerome kept smiling as he listened to Bruce's breathing as it was getting steadier and steadier. he was falling asleep. He had really loved what they did, the kid was still a bit clumsy, it had been a messy exploration of what they enjoyed. But it been a passionate and fiery exploration.

Jeremiah...His twin would have to taste that too. He had to get out of here with Bruce and bring the young man to his twin. They would get Bruce to stay at their side and the three of them would be unstoppable! Jeremiah needed Bruce and now Jerome needed him too.

And I hope you enjoyed it! Don't hesitate to review!