Author's Note: So as I was writing this I learned something, fun fact Roman's father's name is Charles. Yet no where in the comics does it mention his mother's name. At least none I could find, I even looked on the wiki to see if perhaps it was there but nope. Whenever she's mentioned she's usually just called Mrs. Sionis. But if I'm wrong and there's a comic that actually says her first name, please let me know.
Warning: This chapter will contain child abuse/neglect. Also some violence will be shown and death.
Lunchtime rolled around and everyone was taking their seats to eat. Joker followed after Roman and took a seat with him, deciding to have a chat. Figuring he get know his cellmate more. "Just so you know, I'm not buying the sleep deprivation thing. Come on, I'm good at keeping secrets!" He was being very persistent in trying to get Roman to spill the beans. However, he wasn't budging and remained to determined to keep it to himself. That when Joker thought of something. "Tell you what, let's make a deal. You tell me what or who it is your having illusions of, I'll tell you a secret of mine." He whispered leaning uncomfortably close Roman.
Roman looked over at him raising an eyebrow. "Oh, like your backstory that you constantly change?" He spoke in a sarcastic tone."Besides knowing you, you'd probably just make it up. And how will I know for sure you're at all being truthful?" He wasn't an idiot and he knew the clown well enough. It was partly the reason he avoided him when he could.
"Well fine! Don't tell me what illusions it is you have. But tell me something else that you haven't told anyone at least." Joker huffed crossing his arms he seemed determined for some reason to get Roman to open up to him.
Roman looked at him raising an eyebrow. "Number one, why would I tell you anything? Number two, why do you wanna know so badly? And also what if I DON'T have any secrets?"
Jokes tsked as he shook his head. "Oh, Maskie I'm a clown but not a fool." He said grinning widely at him. "The answer to your first two questions is trust. Considering well, how loopy you seem to me knowing your seeing something that I don't see. And I know I'm not blind, I'd at least like to be able to sleep without worrying about getting my throat slit." His throat slit, Roman wasn't buying and knew Joker was up to something. Perhaps manipulation or hoping he'd get something on him for blackmail or whatever. "As for your last question, everyone keeps secrets. And given how you live behind a mask, keep to yourself... I think you have some interesting ones."
Everyone keeps secrets.
"Roman, hey Roman!" Roman blinked and looked over at the young boy in front him. The look on his face seemed confused more than anything. "Isn't it hot for long sleeves?" Oh yes, he remembered this it was summer time or close to it anyways. And he'd spend time going to go play with Bruce after school.
"Yeah but it's fine." He was used to long sleeves, anytime he got injured or anything. Either by his parents or due to them not looking out for him, they'd cover it up one way or another and mask it.
"Well I noticed you were walking weirdly, did when you came over, did something happen? Mom noticed and she's wondering too."
Roman pulled himself out of his own memory when he took notice lunchtime was over and he stood up. However he wasn't allowed to just go and join the others, as some guards came to take him for therapy. Course he wasn't thrilled about it because of his violent tendencies he ended up being strapped into a chair once they got him there. He decided whoever was going to be his doctor, he'd remember their name for whenever he got out.
The guards left him there, unattended and was forced to sit and wait there until the doctor showed up. It didn't take long for him already getting agitated and part of him hoped perhaps one the straps were loose. He moved his arms and upper-body up against them, just to test them. Nope they were rather tight, even if he did manage to slip out of them he doubted he could just walk out of there without issue. Especially since last he heard Arkham got a security upgrade, though he was sure one the other criminals that been here longer figured out the security upgrade. As well as some way around it.
After what like an hour waiting finally someone came in. It was a psychiatrist and she seemed somewhat annoyed. Weather it was because he was her patient or something else set her off into a bad mood, he had no clue of. "How are you this evening Mister Sionis?" She said and took a seat in an office chair across from him with a clipboard and pen in hand.
He glared at her taking note of mood and tone of voice, he recognized her though he had no idea of who exactly she was. "Well I think it's clear that you don't wanna be here for whatever reason and I most certainly don't wanna be here." He grumbled. "So how about you let me go back to my cell perhaps we won't have issues in the future miss..." He paused for a moment trying think if he did know her name for sure not. "Sorry I don't what your name is."
"Dr. Jansen." She said firmly and eyed him. "Also is that a threat?" She said writing something down, but still keeping an eye on him.
"No... more so an offer. We skip this therapy session, along will others because I think we both no you won't get anything out of this." Roman wasn't a patient would cooperate with the doctors at all, unless of course he made them an under the table offer. Even than though, he wasn't given them anything aside from cash. Nothing that they could use on him for lets say, rehabilitation or therapy.
"Nice try but I have a job to do and we have all the time in the world to talk." Either she had guts or just wasn't fully aware exactly who she was dealing with. "So I've read through you file and you've committed murder, assault, drug deals, weapons dealing and also suspected of arson. Quite a record you have there." He looked over at her and raised a brow when she mentioned arson, she of course took notice. "Oh, the house fire that killed your parents. It was ruled as an accident, but it's being looked into. I mean you'd have the motive too with all your parents wealth and money. At least, that's what they all assume."
"They all assume?" He repeated a bit unsure about this doctor or what she was trying to get at. "What you think I didn't do it or that I had a different motive?"
"Let's see, looking at your record you have a long list of injuries from back when you were a child that healed up. Also some medical reports that said you long list of 'accidents', growing up." She didn't take her eyes off him, watching for his reaction. "So tell me was revenge a motivator for you?"
He didn't reply, knowing that was a time limit to how long the sessions could last and he didn't feel like the mood to cooperate or share anything about himself. He turned his head away and could see HER, standing there, this time his mother had a horrified look on her face, which brought back another memory. Dr. Jansens voice rang in his ears when she asked him a question. "Mister Sionis are there some secrets you've been keeping ever since childhood?"
Roman had came home after spending sometime with Bruce, his father was in a rage. It was nothing new, he knew to stay clear of his father whenever he got like this. "Roman! Come over here!?" He called from the kitchen, he entered seeing his father and mother were at the table. "It's dinner time, so we are going to sit and eat as a family. And share news about our day."
Roman went over to go sit by his mother's side, while his mother never paid much attention to him if at all. He figured it was safer to sit beside her. Even though he knew if his father decided to take any anger out on him she'd do nothing. "Charles what's gotten you upset this time?" His mother started to talk, Roman decided he eat quietly. He wasn't going to speak unless spoken to. Exactly what it was his parents talked about word for word, he couldn't hear it or remember. All he remembered was the name Wayne being dropped over and over.
Eventually though he heard the sound of chair pulling back, as his father stood shoved the whole table aside in a fit of rage. "Charles!" Roman's mother snapped and stood up. Roman looked up at his father, frozen a bit. He never seen his father this angry before. He looked toward his mother who seemed horrified of his father, fear. That was the first time he saw fear on his mother's face even though his father never did do anything to lay hands on her. Or at least not that he could recall or seen before.
Before Roman could anything his father came and grabbed him by the arm. "Wait, what did I do!?" He asked confused more than anything as his father had him get up and dragged him to the living room.
"The Wayne's are asking questions like why you're so low on energy, or if you got into another accident. Did you tell them anything?" He asked gripping his arms tightly, Roman didn't tell them anything but he was afraid to answer. Charles twisted his arm to get the answer out.
"N-no sir I didn't I swear. I just told them I tripped down the stairs!" He said and suddenly his father pushed him away letting him go without thinking much of where his son was being shoved to. His head hit the corner of a coffee table and last thing he remembered was his father saying something, what exactly he couldn't make out.
"Mister Sionis!"Dr. Jansen snapped to get his attention. "Tell me something, did your parents abuse you at all." She said and rolled herself closer to him when he muttered something she couldn't hear. "What you say?"
"Oh, just I remember you finally... you have 9 year old son, right? He goes to a school in a nice area. An area I own." He wasn't against threatening someone's loved ones but Dr. Jansen seemed to not scare as easily as he hoped. But it was worth testing, she stood marching out the room.
"Send him in for an to do a shock therapy session. Maybe that'll get him to cooperate." She muttered as she walked past the guards. Roman leaned back in his chair, knowing what was coming and prepared himself mentally and psychically. He wasn't about to let anyone break down his walls so he could tell them his secrets. And certainly wasn't one to break down because a bit of pain, that was probably the only thing he was somewhat grateful for his parents teaching him.
Roman recalled something else from his childhood he was around ten maybe, he walked out the stairs with his head hurting. Why he was going down there in the first place was he heard yelling, his father arguing him with someone, than loud thumbing sound. Halfway down the stairway he saw just what was happening. His father beating someone head in with a blunt object. His mother was standing a few feet away a glass of wine in her hand, but amazingly she didn't look horrified in the slightest. His father suddenly stopped and looked up toward Roman out of breath. "Honey, go take care of our son."
Just than his mother looked toward Roman seeming agitated more than anything, she went up the stairs and grabbed, walking him back to his room. Only than did he decide to speak. "Is that man dead?"
She looked at her son with a usual look that didn't show any emotion, she wasn't even trying to fake it. "Yes but he deserved it, he went behind our backs and was going to hurt our family. Family is important Roman." She said placing her hands on his cheeks. "However, if family betrays family than they'll be dealt with the same way. Understood?" It was a threat and a promise combined into one. He nodded his head. "You're real good at keeping secrets. So I know you can keep this one, for us." She said stroking his hair sweetly. She pulled away from him faking a smile. "Goodnight." She said before walking out his room, leaving him be to reflect on his thoughts.
