Chapter 16: Games and Intimacy
It was just after the Therapy Room with Zsasz. Dr. Quinzel was sitting in her office, scouring online for a good domestic violence psychologist in Gotham. The door knocked; rattle of chains was heard. She called to it, "Come in!"
Morello clicked the door open and behind her was Coralline Atkins. Usually, she held a sour puss on her face, but today she beamed an energetic smile walking into Dr. Quinzel's office. She did her best Bugs Bunny impression, "Wassup, Doc?"
Morello giggled as she made way for her to enter, Dr. Quinzel matched her own enthusiasm, "Hello Miss Cori! Come on in!"
Morello left them be and Coralline skipped to the patient chair like a child from recess. She was ebulliently hyper. Giddy like a schoolgirl. Dr. Quinzel was pleased to see it considering what she saw in the Therapy Room. She knew the feeling too well. However, this only pained her at the meaning for the session.
"You're in a good mood." Dr. Quinzel amused.
Coralline snickered, "I know, it's weird. But I had a good day today."
"Did you? That's great!"
"Yeah. I mean I'm still kind of annoyed about Zsasz but… it doesn't really matter anymore."
"May I ask what is putting you in such a good mood?"
Coralline thought for a moment and confidently stated, "Nah. I'm in a good mood. That's good enough."
"Fair enough," laughed Dr. Quinzel. She went earnest and crossed her hands to the table, "Cori, I needed to talk to you today about something pretty important. I want to tell you now and we can continue with the talk therapy after, okay?"
Coralline leaned back in her chair relaxed, "Fire away."
Dr. Quinzel breathed through her nose and took a breath in to say, "You are one of the fastest successes I've ever had. The medication you're on now is greatly improving your mental state, your contentment. You are a treat in therapy, you engage and aren't afraid to open up to me anymore. You're amicable with your peers in Therapy Room and even good friends with a certain one who is also benefitting from you. This part of the trial is sixteen weeks, but you've managed to tip over the dominos in a measly six. Goes to show you were greatly neglected in Dr. Crane's care and all you needed was a good medication regime, positive talk therapy, and something to look forward to. I'm so impressed with your progress, Coralline. I can't tell you that enough. You've come a long way from Corrosa, and to be honest, it's hard to believe you were her at one point. All I see is Coralline, and she has so much promise."
Coralline wasn't sure how to react to the praise. She was elated to hear it, but a little confused on why it was so important to say it. "Thanks, doc. That was the… important thing you needed to tell me."
"No," Dr. Quinzel confessed, "No. I'm saying all of this, because you are being transitioned into the next stage of the trial. Next week you'll be moving to the wards. You'll have a lot more autonomy. They have their own common room with its own piano, cafeteria, education programs so you can get your GED. They have an art class, a gym, they even have a therapeutic pony that comes and visits every Tuesdays and Thursdays! Most importantly, you'll be put into a program and have your own job. Since you're in my trial, you'll have a say in what job you'd like to do. You'll still have me as your psychologist so we will continue our sessions and progress from there. Sounds fantastic, right?"
"Wow," Coralline sighed with a smile, "Yeah. That sounds pretty bitchin. So, Therapy Room will be closed now? You're moving all of us, right?"
Dr. Quinzel's excitement cooled. The time to rip off the bandaid and tell the complete truth was here. "No, Cori. Just you. Therapy Room will still be in progress for the other four. You'll be going alone."
Suddenly, the elation in Coralline shifted. Her eyes wilted and she began to shake her head, "No. I… I'm not ready yet. Today I just… no! I don't want to."
"Coralline, take a breath."
"What about Edward?" Coralline badgered, "Can't he come, too? He's doing good, you see that. You just said I help him. He should be pushed to the second phase, too!"
"No. True, he is progressing by a landslide, especially with you as his friend. But… he still has a long way to go. I can't tell you how long it may take for him to be transitioned to the next phase, everyone heals differently. You're a case and point."
Coralline started to panic in her seat, "This is bullshit! You can't move me this fast! I've only just started to… we just. We had a hundred hours! Now we only have… eight! We only have eight hours together! Why the fuck would you do this?!"
Dr. Quinzel prepared to click the button, "Coralline, calm down. Please, you need to understand that this is the trial. Victor Zsasz was brought in because I knew you were reaching the second phase faster than the others; these are the guidelines the Board of Psychiatry has set out for me. I have a checklist for all of you, you just crossed those boxes faster than the others."
"So, what if I take them back?" Coralline hissed angrily, "What if I act up? Throw this fucking desk?! Punch your fucking face!"
Dr. Quinzel warned, "Enough, Coralline."
"Will I stay in the Therapy Room then?!" She wailed it, tears dipping down her cheeks.
"You'll be taken out of my trial, indefinitely. Don't act out, Cori. You've come so far, don't fuck this up. You will see him again. You'll see him in the wards when his checklist is completed. Have faith in Edward, he's progressing so well. You need patience."
"By that time, he won't care about me! He didn't want to be with me because we didn't have enough time together. Now I'll tell him this, and how do you think he will respond, huh? You fucked up the only good thing to come out of this! I don't give a shit about art classes, a job, a fucking pony! I want to stay in the room with him!"
Dr. Quinzel tried to calm her down with her own soft tones, "Now, listen. This just blossomed between you two, and I know it's not fair. I know it's the worst time to do this. I promise you, when you go to the wards you will achieve so much. He will, too, in the Therapy Room. When you two reunite, you'll be two totally different people and can start that blossoming all over again. But this time, in better states of happiness and mental health. Think of what you could achieve together, then. This isn't a stop. It's a pause. A pause for the two of you to heal and find yourselves. You act out now, or in the coming days, you'll only go backwards. Don't lose faith in the trial, Cori. Stay on and trust the process. He will be waiting on the other side if you do."
"You don't get it," she wept, "He was already scared of this. Now I have to tell him that we only have a week. My last week with him he's gonna ignore me, and it's your fault."
"That's not true. Not at all. You two can still make the best of it while you can. Leave things in a good place. I was waiting to tell you both this when your relationship got off the ground first, but there are allowances in the trial with intimacy. I cleared it with the Warden a while ago."
"Like what?"
"Well, the reason I didn't flag the two of you holding hands at the piano was because it's allowed. So are a few conservative displays of affection like hugging, shoulder to shoulder contact, even kissing. A brief kiss. Nothing more than a few seconds. These are the limitations of the Warden, but seeing it's your last week with each other, I may let a bit of overstepping slide. There's lots I can still do for you two while we have time. I don't want you going into the second stage with a broken heart from a painful goodbye, but a hopeful one."
"Wait, so you knew we were feeling each other before we did? How?"
"I am a psychologist," Dr. Quinzel fibbed, remembering her scheming with Jay, "After the blinded challenge, I could see the sparks. I wanted to get ahead of it before you two got in trouble. But… you guys took your time. Got to know each other a little more, which was great to see. I encourage the relationship and have been for a while."
Coralline thought for a moment, her distress leaving for a second at indulging the possibilities of her last week in Therapy Room. She asked cautiously, "So… we can date?"
"Yes. If Edward is consenting, as well. I'll talk to him about it during our session today. If so, we can announce it to the others tomorrow. Just so Lazlo, Victor and Jay don't flip out, if you know what I mean. You two talked about it today? Seemed like it was pretty tender at the piano."
"Yeah," she dimmed a smile, "He said he liked me too. But the only reason he wasn't acting on it was because we didn't have enough time. He thought a hundred hours wasn't enough time. Can't wait to see how he reacts with eight."
Dr. Quinzel explained cheerily, "That's why I'm here! You guys invested this in the trial, which means you get your own couples counsellor for the time being. I'll talk to him. I'll get to the bottom of that fear. It's up to Edward if he wants to follow through. Falling in love is always a chaotic experience. However, in a high-risk state hospital it's a very different story. You two are dealing with some complex emotions and I'm here to guide you both through. Don't worry, I'm very confident this week will be a meaningful goodbye."
"Edward? You… want to weigh in? This does concern you."
Dr. Quinzel sat across from him in her office. She had disclosed the information in full, and now regretting it. The news was likely too much at once and in too much detail to digest. Far too many shocking developments to pick apart. However, Edward was a sponge to information, he had already digested it. He just didn't know how to respond to it.
He finally muttered, "She only has a week left?"
"Yes," Dr. Quinzel nodded sadly, "I'm sorry. But did you get the part about my stance on the relationship? That you two have some autonomy with expressing yourselves?"
"Yeah, I did. But… what happens after the week is done? I just stay in the Therapy Room with the others. I'm not friends with any of them."
"Maybe that'll be your chance to get to know them. Probably for the best, you don't want this relationship becoming dependent. When you reunite in the wards, you'll both have the tools and the self-respect to avoid that. Doesn't mean you two can't make the best of it before the week is done. Do you consent to the relationship? Do you want to be with her?"
Edward pushed the bridge of his glasses up and sighed, "This is happening way too fast."
"Is that a no?"
"No. I mean yes, I do consent. I like her a lot. It all seems meaningless now, though. Just another chapter in my life kicking me down. What's the point?"
"I'll tell you the same thing I told her. That this is a pause, not a stop. You two are just beginning and it doesn't end when the week is done. You know when I worked in prison, there were so many loyal wives that stayed the process. The worst that'll happen is you'll have to wait ten weeks. That's two and half months. Those wives had to wait years, Edward. Yet, they still waited and reunited. Grew the heart fonder, too. You're thinking the worst because you're used to the worst. This isn't the case. You both just need patience. For the time being, we still have the rest of the week. A lot of time to enjoy each other before you say goodbye."
"I'm hearing what you're saying, Dr. Quinzel. I appreciate it. But this all seems kind of arranged. Like we're being led on a leash. Like uh… like you're a dog breeder or something." He scoffed a smile, trying to show how outlandish this all was.
"This is the best possible outcome for the two of you. I know, ideally, you'd both like to be free, taking it slow with dates to the movies and dinner. Enjoying the privacy of your own feelings. We all do. It feels exposing but you're both in Arkham for crimes you committed. This chance is a one in a million. I'm choosing to foster it, as long as you and Coralline consent and allow me to guide you both. This is a first for me, too. But we can test it out, see how it goes. You two can go your own pace this week, there's no pressure to hit every milestone. I just wanted to make it clear it's supported and you two have more freedom in this than you thought."
"So, you're saying you're not going to be on the other side of the window waiting for us to make a move?"
"No," Dr. Quinzel laughed, "I'm giving you the parameters of what you can do. I'm acknowledging your relationship. Just so you understand this week doesn't need to be as meaningless as you think. Coralline doesn't want it to be, either. I think she just wants to spend time with you."
"I do, too," Edward quaked nervously, "She scares me, though. Not because she's scary, but because she's…"
"Just do what you did before all of this came to the front. She's outgoing, let her steer the wheel. Engage when you can, and if she makes a move, reciprocate it. Within your own boundaries, of course. Don't be worried about being shy, I feel that's the reason she took to you in the first place. Outgoing girls like shy guys, in my experience. Above all, just be yourself. Don't pretend to be anything you're not. You should be with someone who accepts you for you. If she's that girl, you won't need to hide who you are behind silence."
"What if she's not?" Edward asked in a glimpse of worry.
Dr. Quinzel replied steadily, "Then this is your week to find out."
As everyone took their seats in the Therapy Room, there was an awkward silence. They all stared to Dr. Quinzel waiting for her to initiate the group exercise as she usually had. Then Zsasz walked in last. Their minds should have registered the empty sixth chair, but all still surprised to know he was joining them again.
Dr. Quinzel welcomed him and motioned to his chair next to Jay. Lazlo was beside Coralline, and Edward to Jay's left. He glanced up from the floor to catch a glimpse of her, she returned it. She made a shyly smile and flexed a small wave of her hand. He waved back.
"Okay, guys! We have some new developments today. Two big elephants in the room to load off, then we can get to the activity."
Lazlo exuberantly startled, "Not another newbie."
"No," she giggled, "Good news and bad news concerning your fellow peers. Edward, Cori, did you want to tell them?"
Coralline scornfully said it in her head, Way to put us on the spot, Quinzel. She fumbled her fingers and kept flicking her eyes to Quinzel and Edward. He finally breathed out long and explained, "Me and Coralline. We're…"
"Well, it's about time!" Jay interrupted in a laugh.
Lazlo celebrated in claps, "Very good! Now you two can stop undressing each other with your eyes!"
"Nah, this'll only make it worse." Jay teased, smiling cheekily at the two.
"You didn't even let him finish, Jay." Quinzel chastised.
Jay defended himself, "We all knew what he was getting at."
"I didn't." Victor shrugged.
Lazlo leaned into Victor's ear, "They're courting."
Victor's eyebrows flexed up in surprise, "Really? That's allowed?"
"For Edward and Coralline, yes." Dr. Quinzel continued, "Victor, you just got here so it may be a little confusing but in this trial it's all about the relationships we can build with each other. Without relationships, well we can't really find the happiness within ourselves to share. Romantic relationships weren't really expected but… you can't control it. I figured we'd share the news and offer our congratulations."
Victor stretched his lips and nodded, "Different. Wasn't really expecting that. Congratulations you both. Be careful with her, Nashton. She's a wild one."
"Yes, yes. Congratulations you two! Edalline! Or Corward… or coward. Nope, don't like that." Lazlo fussed with the words he was trying to mash together.
"Riddlossa." Jay said proudly.
"Ooo! Very good, Joseph."
"Thanks guys." Coralline smiled but keeping a gloom.
Edward humbly smiled, "Thank you."
"You guys don't look as pumped as I'd thought you'd be. Come on, Nashton. You snagged the only girl in the group, and she's hot. You should feel like the man." Jay was trying to break a smile on Edward's face.
Lazlo went still and asked, "Wait… the bad news?"
"Yes," Dr. Quinzel said regretfully, "Bad news is this will be Coralline's last week. She's being moved to the wards on Monday for the second phase and you may not see her again till you've all advanced to that stage, as well."
They all shared a somber silence, eyes widened at hearing it.
"Wow," Jay winced and glanced to Edward (who was looking down to the floor forlorn), "Ouch."
"Well, that is seldom good news, too," said Lazlo, "Means she's advancing to the next care directive. It is… quite shattering for our Edward, I'm sure. I'm sorry, dear boy."
"I'm okay. Just let us spend time together uninterrupted. Don't… bother us." Edward asked of them.
Coralline nodded, "Agreed."
"With that said, let's make everyday count with Coralline still in the group. Today I actually have a fun game planned for laughter! Another important tool in our module. It's called the Ostrich Game!"
"Where do you find the names for these games?" Coralline asked cynically.
"Basically, we get into teams of two. We'll all have a sticky note on our back with something written on it. Whoever reads what's on their teams back first wins."
"Oh, I get it," Jay chuckled, "Ostrich game because we're gonna be running around in circles with each other."
Dr. Quinzel tittered, "Pretty much. You can get a little creative with it. Try to trick your opponent. You can tickle, wrestle, but absolutely no fighting. If someone doesn't want to be touched, you listen. If not, you're disqualified from the game. Let's make this fun, not a pain. Get into teams!"
Coralline didn't want to miss her chance again and asked Edward, "You wanna team with me?"
"I'm pretty tall… you might be at a disadvantage…" He said lightheartedly.
"You saying I'm short?"
Edward giggled and nodded, "Compared to me, yeah."
"Bring it on, Daddy Long Legs. I'm short but I'm fast." Coralline challenged ebulliently, "We're a team!" She called to Dr. Quinzel.
"Alright, Cori and Edward, Lazlo and Zsasz? You guys want to partner up?"
Victor made a side eye to Lazlo and huffed, "I mean, sure. Team me up with the biggest guy in the room."
"Don't fret, Zsasz. I'm very ticklish," Lazlo crooned to Victor, who made a short grimace.
Jay shot up from his chair and beamed a grin at Harleen, "Looks like you're with me, doc."
"Looks like I am," she said as she was taking off her lab coat, "Morello, do you wanna put the sticky notes on our backs, please?"
Morello put her phone away and tapped over, "Sure thing."
They stood in teams of two to different corners of the room. They faced each other head on so they wouldn't see the sticky note. Morello made her way to each team, but they waited for Dr. Quinzel's word. As the last note was stuck to her back, she announced, "Alright! Morello, do you want to referee?"
"Basically what I do, anyway." She shrugged and obliged.
"Okay, guys! Ready, set, go!"
Zsasz nonchalantly walked around Lazlo first, trying to catch a peek of the note. Lazlo hunched down like a quarter back, spread his arms out and shimmied to the side. His big eyes glaring Zsasz's every move. He stopped at this and pondered for a moment. He suddenly leapt to the other side, Lazlo promptly turned to face him. Lazlo then scurried around him, but Zsasz was faster, twirling around from Lazlo's prying eyes on his back. Zsasz was backing away as Lazlo persisted, the two of them duetting in a circle as they tried to catch a peek.
"I wonder if this is how my victims feel." Victor observed eerily at the large, robust man chasing his backside.
Lazlo huffed, "A dose of your own medicine, Zsasz," he tried to sike him out by leaping to one side than the other, but Zsasz was adept in any hand-to-hand dance. He twirled again from Lazlo's prying eyes and shot a tickle into Lazlo's side. He leapt in one spot and yapped, but Zsasz took that as his chance to snatch the note from Lazlo's back.
"Got it!" Zsasz hailed with the note in his hand.
Morello said sternly, "Go wait at the chairs for the others, you two."
"Drat." Lazlo gloomed, "I never should have told you that.
Coralline and Edward were carefully circling each other for a while, smiling and escaping playful laughs in doing so. She innocently walked up to Edward with her hands up. He raised his own instinctually for defence. She slipped her hands onto his, smiling up at him. He fluttered at her touch.
"I'm not gonna do anything," she cooed sweetly. He backed away keeping her hands in his.
"You're trying to butter me up."
"No." She said in a crack of her voice, "Not at all. But… are you ticklish?"
She ripped her hands away and mischievously laughed as she tackled his sides. Edward raised his arms and didn't react. He looked up from her with a droll expression.
Disappointed he wasn't reacting, she tried to turn him around to see the note, he only turned in response easily deterring her. She backed from him and whined, "You're not ticklish?"
Edward shrugged, "Nope." He suddenly tickled her underarm, sending her squealing back, "But you are!" He chased her in a circle, getting cracks of giggles and squeals as his hands would travel from her arms, neck, and sides. Coralline tried to fight away, but she was heaving in laughter, her voice filling the room.
"Stop it!" She squeaked in a laugh.
"Not until I get that note!" Edward's voice inflated with a smile. He snatched her arm, and pulled her into him. His arms gripped her lower waist as he persisted mercilessly under her arm. Coralline squawked and yelped in laughs, she fell back as Edward gently guided her to the floor. She laid on her back so he had to reach his arm underneath for the note. She scooted away and laughed, "No! No!"
"Yes." Edward huffed back smiling. The two were engaged in the game, but discreetly enjoying the physical contact and intimacy. Edward could have easily gotten the note by now, but he was drawing it out a bit longer. Coralline wasn't complaining.
"Okay, Nashton, wrap it up," Morello ordered seeing what they were doing was not productive to the game.
Edward plucked the note from her squirming backside and stood up with it. Coralline still lay to the ground in petulant disappointment. He helped her off the ground and they went to sit with the others.
"I thought I was watching the opening to a porn for a moment there." Zsasz sniggered to Lazlo.
Dr. Quinzel and Jay were squaring off. Quinzel had kicked off her high heels and was now barefooted. She scurried to one side of him, but Jay circled around her to try and snatch the note. She slapped his hand instinctually. She then clapped it to her mouth in shock.
"I'm sorry, Jay!"
Jay only laughed, "I like it. Feisty!"
Harleen blew a laugh and said, "You haven't seen anything yet, Mr. J."
"What did you just call me?" He spooked at it. She ran around him again and he snatched her upper arms and walked back with her, "Whatever it is, can you say it again? Slower and more sultry next time?"
She surprisingly did as he asked playfully. Her blue eyes leaned seductively with her back turned from the officers. Jay was struggling with keeping her from pulling his shoulder, but internally struggling staying hunched so his erection wouldn't protrude through his jumpsuit.
"If this is your tool for winning, gotta say, I'm inspired," he giggled excitedly.
Dr. Quinzel went to tickle Jay's side, he yelped and shot back. She breathed out in a smile, "You're ticklish?"
Jay fumbled back and rolled his shoulders, "Maybe a little bit."
"Oh, Jay." Dr. Quinzel mischievously grinned, "Oh, Jay, you've lost."
"No," he grinned nervously, stepping back from her, "Stay back, wench."
Dr. Quinzel fiddled her fingers to him and nudged closer, both of them skittish and jolting to each other's movements. Jay leapt to her side and tickled her arm, but she didn't react.
"But you're not. How am I supposed to playfully tackle you to the ground now?"
Quinzel laughed, "I guess I'll have to do it to you."
She wrestled his arm away and tickled underneath, sending him squirming in high pitched cackles. He wrapped her arms around her and the two circled each other, trying to grab the note on their backs which was just out of reach. Dr. Quinzel couldn't help but relish it. Even in a game of wrestling and tickling, he was gentle with her. It was a sensation she wasn't used to with Daniel. He presented his care so well. She quickly snatched the note when she started to feel herself getting aroused. As she did so, she could have sworn she felt something hard against him poke into her upper thigh. She knew what it was, but it only excited her more. She tore from him and raised the sticky in one hand triumphantly. Coralline and Edward had just taken their seats when she got her victory, and they all clapped for Dr. Quinzel. Jay joined in, being a good sport. He had gotten what he needed from the game, regardless.
She felt it, too. She didn't react. What if she liked it? Is she imagining it inside her?
Dr. Quinzel and Jay walked back to the circle. Jay jested, "Got my ass beat by the doctor."
Lazlo guffawed, "That you did!"
Dr. Quinzel said aloud, "I think we all got our laughs out on that one! For the winners with notes, wanna read yours aloud? Starting with Victor."
He held his note up and read, "What is it about your partner that makes you laugh?" Victor chuckled, "His exuberant personality, of course."
Lazlo didn't take offence, he was flattered.
Dr. Quinzel amended, "Lazlo is one like no other, that's for sure! He makes us all crack up. Edward, your turn!"
Edward read from him letter softly, "What do you like most about your partner?"
He glanced up to Coralline and smiled, she cheekily returned one.
"There's too many to count."
Jay praised, "Nice one, Eddie! You've went from the Riddler to the Rizzler."
"Her laugh," he answered, still gazing to her, "Her sense of humour. But mostly, she's shameless. She doesn't see it in herself or others. She doesn't see it in me."
"Do they get conjugal visits?" Jay asked to Dr. Quinzel jokingly, "Because the way they're staring at each other is making me feel dirty."
"Shut up, clown," snapped Coralline in annoyance.
Dr. Quinzel read her own then, "What is it about your partner that makes you smile?"
She looked up to Jay and smiled, "Just looking at him is enough. He's the life of the room. No question."
Surprisingly, Jay didn't have a quipped response as he usually did. He just glanced up at her steadily, responding with his eyes.
I know you felt it, he thought. That thing could make you smile and beg for more, Harleen.
"Well, guys. That's it for today's exercise. Give Zsasz a warm welcome to the group, this'll be his first day in the Therapy Room, so feel free to show him the ropes with a game of monopoly or dice!"
Dr. Quinzel left them to carry on with Therapy Room once again. Lazlo, Edward and Coralline went to the fish tank and plants first, feeding and watering them. Jay joined Victor at the main table for idle chatter. Lazlo was distracted with the fish in the tank. Coralline and Edward retreated to the princess canopy again.
"That was pretty fun," she said to him as he struggled to get inside the canopy again. She handed him an elephant stuffy. He wasn't sure why she gave it, but he sat and cradled it.
She traced her hand along his forearm, "You sure you're not ticklish?"
He held his arm out for her to continue tracing, enjoying the feeling, "I might have a spot. But I'm not telling you."
Edward moved his arm back to hold his hand in hers again. Their shoulders were squished together. She leaned her head against his shoulder and moved her thigh along his. It was then Edward's nerves began to jangle. He then felt her other arm lift and her cool fingers press on the right side of his jaw. He turned his head with her pull and startled to her lips coming to his. He jolted away, startling Coralline.
"What?" She asked sadly.
"I'm sorry," he took her other hand, "I'm not ready yet."
"We only have four days left."
"I know… but I don't want to rush it."
Coralline sighed dejectedly and eyes wilted at this.
He affirmed, "No, trust me. I really really want to. I'm just… I haven't done any of this before. I've never held a girl's hand. I've never been this close to one before. Holding your hand right now is a lot. I'm still getting used to just doing this. I wasn't really taught how to show affection properly."
"I get it, I'm sorry. You make me excited…"
"You make me excited, too. I just don't know what to do with that excitement. If that makes sense."
"Were you excited when you were tickling me?"
Edward went red at the question, "What do you mean by that?"
"Like…" She suggestively giggled, "You know."
"Um…" Edward looked away escaping a nervous giggle, "Um. Maybe. I got a little carried away?"
"No. I liked it. You touched my boob. I don't know if you knew that."
"I do." Edward mumbled, "It jiggled."
Coralline giddily tittered in her throat, "You wanna see it again?"
Edward looked around the room and stuttered, "Um. No, it's okay," he went silent in thought then said, "Actually… yeah." He relented nervously, but still holding some excitement.
Coralline didn't hesitate in gently pulling up her breasts and letting them fall in a bounce. He was captivated for a moment and whispered a sigh, "God. I want to touch them." He was hoping she didn't hear him.
"Go ahead," she puffed her chest out a little and egged him on, "Do it. No one is looking."
He nervously flicked his eyes around the room and asked again, "Are you sure?"
"Yeah. Just do it. You'd be the first guy to touch them, too."
Edward made one final exam around the room for prying eyes and hesitantly lifted his hands to her chest. He was slow, so Coralline pulled his hands up to pillow them. Over the shirt, but more sensual than the two were expecting. He sighed long and low, letting Coralline guide him in squeezing. She bit her lip and looked up to him again. He wasn't looking back, he was in a dead stare to her breasts, not able to breath or utter a word. She could feel him shaking from his hands.
Edward was screaming in his head, Holy shit. Holy shit! Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit!
He could feel himself getting hard, but Coralline's hands kept his to her chest tightly. He enjoyed a bit more before looking up to her and smiling like an excited child. Her lips parted and she came closer again, he didn't fight away this time. Before their lips could meet, Robinson's voice clapped.
"Nashton! Atkins! You two shooting a porn in there?! Get out of the canopy and go do something else."
The two flinched and shot away from each other, Coralline then angrily spat, "Being a peeping Tom, Robinson?"
"Shut it, Atkins. Go on."
Edward was flushed in the face but struggled getting out of the canopy. He was holding the front of his shirt down and lightly hunching over from the erection in his pants. Coralline was flushed too, but not out of embarrassment.
Jay jested as the two made their walk of shame, "No handjobs under the princess canopy, Atkins!"
Meanwhile, inside the observation room, Dr. Quinzel was sad and happy the moment was interrupted. It was a moment of theirs disturbed, but it was getting a little too suggestive. She got a call from her phone, the Warden.
"Hello, sir. You're calling me, you don't usually do that."
"Yes, I wanted to tell you that this morning a new ombudsman was appointed. David Jefferson, he is the ombudsman at Blackgate, but he'll be coming to Arkham for another case number."
"That's great!" Dr. Quinzel chimed, "Would he have time to take on the Crane case?"
"That's… another matter I need to inform you. As it happens, Dr. Crane is also back. He is meeting with the ombudsman now. You'll be needing to attend the hearing at 1pm today."
"Wow. That fast? Thank you, Javier! This is… this is amazing. You took the initiative as soon as you could. I have another witness to testify against Crane."
"It isn't Crane's hearing, Dr. Quinzel."
Dr. Quinzel flummoxed and asked quieter, "Who is it, then?"
"Yours."