It all happened so fast, before you knew it, you were at the bank with Jerome and that's where he decided the next casualties would be. It didn't take long for the other members of the Maniax to arrive there with you. You didn't feel like they were needed but the backup would be nice.
"Hello everyone! May we have your attention please?" you asked in a soft yet loud tone to capture everyone's attention.
Jerome fired his gun at the roof and the patrons cried out in unison. They were running about the building and desperately looking for places to hide.
"My, my, so many runners here! Not to be uncivil or anything, but I highly recommend that you all stay put or you'll surely die faster." he grinned as they shrieked in fear and some people still continued to sprint, attempting to find the nearest exit. Most of them stayed still, doing what they were told. Jerome shot the ones who didn't do as he said, without hesitation. They instantly dropped to the floor and the others screamed at the sight. Jerome blew out the smoke from the gun, smirking broadly.
"I don't think I stuttered." he chuckled and then added, "Now I know what you're all thinking, that we're here for the money, but you couldn't be more wrong."
Everyone was crowded together, loud sobs and crying filled the room, people were begging to be released and trying to bargain their way out but you knew that it would be to no avail. You spotted a child huddled up to her mother and father, her head was buried in her father's chest and hot tears stained his shirt. Her noisy crying reminded you of every time you wailed to your sick mother at the hospital when you were little after being beaten by your father. You couldn't help but feel sympathetic and the sounds of her whimpering only made the remembrance of the memory harder to think about. You shushed the little girl from across the room when Jerome wasn't looking. She looked back at you with fear in her eyes but she tried to suppress her tears.
"Lucky for you guys, we won't be here long, we'll keep it simple. This is just a quick stop before we get onto more important matters. There's bigger fish to fry." he snickered and he ordered Aaron to get the gasoline pump from outside. Once Jerome had the gasoline pump in his hands, he didn't waste any time showering everyone with it, they all yelped and squirmed in their positions. After he was finished, a trail of gasoline traveled outside of the building. He stepped out and pulled out the lighter that was inside his pocket and grinned at his sniveling audience.
"Is everyone ready back there? On the count of 3! 1. . . 2. . ." he was rudely interrupted once the police sirens came in blaring outside of the bank. You and the others quickly went outside with Jerome. Jerome passed the lighter onto Robert so that he could bring out his gun. An officer started shooting towards your direction and you instantly avoided it. You fired back without hesitation and you were able to shoot him in the shoulder which made him fall back on the ground.
"Hold your fire!" Jim commanded the other officers, he ducked behind a car as the Maniax fired their guns in their path. Jerome skipped his way over to find Jim, aiming his gun at the car he was hiding behind. He fired until he ran out of bullets and chuckled to himself, "Oh Jimbo, come out, come out wherever you are."
Robert flicked the lighter repeatedly but failed to ignite it. Jerome looked back at him and rolled his eyes in annoyance. Aaron and Arnold pointed their guns to the other officers, firing at them without any second thoughts, but the bullets only hit the cars because of their lack of skill.
"What's taking you so long? Don't make me do it myself you pathetic halfwit." Jerome complained, giving Robert a black look. The officer you shot earlier had got back up on his feet while you were looking for Jim and he fired his gun at your arm, piercing your skin with the bullet. Jerome eyes widened once be realized what happened and he rushed to your side, catching you before you fell back on the ground. You groaned quietly but you were comforted once you felt his hands holding you up. Jerome grasped the gun you were holding and he shot that officer down with a scowl on his face. Your arm was stinging and bleeding steadily, you gripped onto it tightly to keep it from quivering.
"Let's get out of here, take us back now." Jerome ordered Aaron who instantly followed. Jerome got you in the car carefully, keeping his eyes on you the entire time as Aaron started the engine and drove all the way back to Theo's place.
Everything was sort of a blur on the way back and you felt lightheaded so you ended up drifting off to sleep in the car, with your head rested up against Jerome's shoulder.
When you awoke, your body was laying down on the sofa and you were back at Theo's. Tabitha was at your side and you immediately looked back at your patched up arm, which had a bandage wrapped around it. You looked about the room and you noticed the supplies on a table: the rubbing alcohol, tweezers, gauze, and the fragmented bullet that she removed from your skin. You jolted up even though you felt a sharp pain in your arm and you asked, "What happened?"
"You were shot by one of those cops outside of the bank, fortunately for you it was only a flesh wound. But you should still get some rest." she tried to guide you back down on the bed but you pushed her hands away.
"Why did I pass out then?" you questioned in a vexed tone, you were feeling a little groggy.
"Probably from the shock. It's all cleaned out, I'm sure of it. We know that you could never go to a hospital so if you need something I can help you." she reassured with a small smile.
"Thanks. Where is Jerome?" you made an educated guess in your head where he would be but that didn't stop you from asking.
"Jerome is at the police station, he left after he made sure you were going to be okay. I think he was actually worried, scared maybe, for you. It was so strange seeing him like that." she lightly giggled as she cleared away the supplies from the table. "Should've seen the look on his face."
You giggled once you heard that and you couldn't help the big smile forming on your face. "I wish I could have seen it too." you found yourself imagining a genuine concerned expression on his face but it was difficult to picture because that wasn't something you saw often unless he was feigning it. You and Jerome had an inseparable bond, when you two were alone you were able to bring out the more human side of him which is something that no one would ever see besides you. It was something that made you fall harder for him. You knew how the world saw him, as a monster, but that was something you could never see him as. There was so much more to him that only you were able to witness and that meant everything to you.
"I'd love to stay and chat with you but I have to get out of here." you tried to get off the sofa again but she instantly stopped you.
"Hey, he said you're not going anywhere today and that I had to see to it. He's going to take care of things there himself, he said there's going to be some hell to pay." she replied calmly, keeping her composure.
"Of course he said that, but really I'm fine. I can handle myself, it's only a little sore." you lied, it was hurting more than you'd like to admit.
"You're going to need to take some antibiotics for that, you don't want it to get worse." she noticed the pained look on your face and she handed you percocet pills, you promptly took it from her hand and swallowed them down.
"Theo cannot know about this, okay? I don't want him thinking I'm frail. I made a small miscalculation, no biggie." you looked her in the eyes and she nodded her head.
"I won't say anything, you have my word." you smiled, you had a good feeling that you could trust her because you sensed that she was hiding things from her brother as well, it wasn't just you.
"Good." you pulled your sleeve down to hide the bandage. "I know Jerome has things handled but those other guys aren't good for anything, more of an inconvenience." you shook your head and removed yourself from the sofa. "I'll be on my way now."
"That won't be necessary." Tabitha turned on the TV which was automatically set on the local news channel. A newswoman was reporting the GCPD massacre and that they were able to obtain footage from one of the assailants. You knew exactly who that was. She warned that the recording contained very graphic material. You stood there watching and waited for Jerome to pop up on the screen. When he did, his pale exterior was covered with blood and his lips were crimson red. His voice was husky and sinister. He was announcing to the world who he was and that he was the leader of the Maniax, so that everyone knew his name. He didn't stop there; he shot an injured officer with his gun who rudely interrupted him with his moaning. He told all of Gotham that they should be free like they were and reminded them to always smile. He was incredibly shameless in everything he said. They hadn't seen anything yet, this was just the beginning of a long blood-curdling journey and nothing would be able to stop you two.
His cop uniform attracted your attention more than anything else, it was hugging the contours of his body and you felt your heart flutter. It was literally impossible for him not to look good. You turned to smile at Tabitha who looked rather impressed. You were pleased yet you felt disappointed in yourself because you wanted to be there and see the look on Jim's face as all the destruction took place before his eyes.
"Temporary setback, unfortunately." you thought.
"He should be back soon, just stay here." she said with a confident smirk.
You sat back on the sofa and waited for Jerome to walk through that door. Your thoughts were loud and grating, you felt like a fool having to stay back because you wanted nothing more than to be there with him. You thought you deserved it after becoming such an ardent member of the group, but in the back of your mind you knew that you'd get a second chance eventually.
Jerome came through the door with his arms spread out dramatically, the blood was still stained on his face and partially on his uniform, he was grinning devilishly and he looked so proud of himself.
"What a show! It's a shame you missed it, Y/N." he plopped down next to you on the sofa and you instantly clung to him, your arms wrapped around his neck even though there was a stinging sensation in your left one.
"I'm so proud of you! You cleaned up real good." you giggled and locked your lips with his almost immediately.
He kissed back before answering, "I killed so many of those stupid cops I lost count. They were at my mercy and I made damn sure they were aware of it." he burst out laughing, like it was the funniest thing.
The others shortly entered after him, but you noticed that Robert wasn't with them. You raised an eyebrow as you looked at Jerome, "Did something happen to Greenwood?"
"He stole my line, can you believe that? I had to get rid of him, he didn't give me a choice. Never liked the guy anyway, he was a loony and pathetic cannibal." he shrugged his shoulders and mentioned the matter so casually. You never liked him either and he was more of a nuisance than anything, so you didn't mind.
"What an ass, I'm glad you got rid of him." you replied and you noticed that Jerome was staring at your arm, it was like he couldn't take his eyes off of it. "I'm fine, it hurts a little but nothing I can't handle. Don't be getting any more ideas about me staying behind, that was just a one time thing." you said positively, but at the same time you knew that you were trying to reassure yourself more than him.
"Of course, just a one time thing. You seemed a little distracted though, that can't happen again." he said as he ran his fingers through your hair, gazing into your eyes rather solemnly, you knew that you had to take him seriously when he looked at you like that. "But don't you worry buttercup, I disposed of all that waste."
"Right, it won't happen again." you reassured, but you quickly changed the subject as well as your tone. "Hey, we never discussed who was the boss of this group, but looks like you decided that on your own huh?" you pursed your lips and you watched his face as that signature grin appeared quickly after hearing what you said. You could see Tabitha roll her eyes playfully at the corner of your eye.
"I thought it was silently agreed upon. Do you really think you have what it takes to be the boss?" he teased, and before you could answer Theo entered the room. He had a smug smile on his face with his arms behind his back.
"Oh! You're all back already, perfect. Jerome and Y/N, come here for a moment, if you don't mind." he motioned you over with a finger and you two rushed over, practically jumping off the sofa. He brought you both to the empty dining room, shutting the doors behind him.
"You both look so enlivened, keep those smiles on, because there's something big coming up for you two." he examined you both with a satisfied smirk, the blood on your clothing caught his eye and he couldn't help but laugh at the sight, "There's going to be a magic show at the Gotham Children's Hospital gala next week. They already have a magician for the event but I figured that you two can make him disappear, so to speak." he lightly chuckled at the silly pun he made. You and Jerome looked at each other with hysterical devilry. Theo was unquestionably speaking your language. Magic tricks was right up your alley.
Jerome bowed dramatically and grinned like a Cheshire cat before finally saying, "You got it! We'll be there. I don't think there's anything more suited for us."
"That's not all. The deputy mayor will be there, he's going to take Mayor James' position because he's nowhere to be found, but we can't have that. When the opportunity surfaces, be sure to take care of him." he urged, looking back at you two fixedly.
You grabbed Jerome's hands in yours and sprung up and down gleefully, there was an ache in your arm but you didn't care because you couldn't contain your excitement, "This is so perfect! I can't wait!"
"It's great to see you so excited. As soon as I heard about it, I thought of you two and I knew that you'd love it." he looked pleased, he was confident that you and Jerome had what it took. "You're both a mess, clean yourselves up." he advised, giggling afterwards.
"Of course." you smiled sheepishly, "Theo, I just wanted to say thank you for breaking us out of Arkham and giving us all these opportunities, for believing in us." you said admiringly, but it was only a half truth. You were thankful for the chances he presented you and Jerome but in spite of everything, you knew not to trust him. As you got to know him more, it became clear that you and Jerome were just pawns in his game, but there was no way in hell that you would be his puppet. You knew that Theo needed the Maniax in order to advance his position in Gotham and that you were stuck doing his dirty work to make that progress happen. You reminded yourself to always stay one step ahead of him and to never make it obvious that you were onto him. But you embraced this opening, you and Jerome were going to be in the limelight, everyone's attention would be on you two. You knew that Jerome would relish in this more than anything because he adored having Gotham at his mercy.
"Not a problem, Y/N, just keep up the good work. I couldn't be more proud of you two." he smiled at both of you before he left the room.
Jerome turned his head to look at you by his side, he had that familiar look in his eye. "And the curtain rises! Lights, camera, action!" he threw his arms up in the air and cackled maniacally and you couldn't help but laugh with him.