A Familiar Face Returns
It was a relatively quiet night for Gotham, the streets mainly empty, save for a few stragglers who walked briskly down the sidewalk. No doubt they were trying to find shelter, while the rain was barely a drizzle, there was a sense of foreboding in the air as if a storm was coming right around the corner. Citizens of Gotham were used to this however Only one individual walked with ease, a relaxed smile resting on his lips as he strolled through the streets.
His red hair and hospital garb shined like a beacon, he tried to stick to the alleyways, and away from the street lights, to avoid being seen. It's not every day you see a psychotic killer walking the streets, especially when the killer in question is supposed to be dead. Jerome Valeska looked up at the buildings, trying to find a place that was abandoned, or simply open. This would all be much easier if whoever had awoken him from his frozen slumber had stuck around and offered to help Jerome. But, beggars can't be choosers, so it seemed Jerome would just have to be content with what he got.
Whoever, or whatever, had freed Jerome and brought him back to life, didn't matter now. What did matter, was that it was 4:32 am, and soon the sun would rise. It was almost never sunny in Gotham, but even in the dim early morning, the maniac would stick out like a sore thumb. If the maniac hadn't felt so tired, then maybe he would have welcomed such a dramatic appearance and the following confrontation with the GCPD. But the redhead felt weak, his legs already shaking, although he'd only just made it out of a warehouse, that had held his icy coffin. Jerome stopped walking when he suddenly saw it, an open window on a second floor. He smirked, making his way to the fire escape and climbed up, his arms shook as they clutched the ladder, the crazed teen wasn't stupid, so he took his time making his way up the wet fire escape. Thankfully whoever had brought the maniac back to life had at least given him a pair of briefs to wear, otherwise, he'd be giving anyone who had managed to be walking the streets with a view. He sneaked up the stairs and grinned victoriously, lifting himself onto the windowsill, and falling awkwardly into the room.
He raised a brow, the place was warm and filled with plants like a greenhouse. He took a step forward, eyes alight with curiosity, a slow grin forming.
"Who are you?" said a high angry voice. Jerome turned, smiling at the small red-headed girl across the room. Her clothes were dirty and her red hair wild, she looked more annoyed than anything, she wasn't really scared, which was odd. Didn't kids watch the news lately?
"Hello, young lady," Jerome said with a smile as he made his way across the room, near the girl."I'm Jerome, but you probably already knew that," he laughed, "and you are?" He held out his hand, his eyes level with the girls, whose eyes were now wide, realization dawning on her as she studied his features more carefully. She shifted away from him, her back against the wall.
"Ivy," she said carefully, her tone flat. Jerome rescinded his hand and stood up straight all the while maintaining his grin. Water dripped from his hospital gown onto the dirty floor, causing a small puddle to form. It irked Ivy, but she didn't dare express this to the newly resurrected Jerome Valeska.
"Well, nice to meet you kid. Now if you don't mind," he stretched, peering around the room for a bed or chair, finding nothing but tables that contained rows of plants, some under heat lamps. Well, who needs a bed and blanket when he had a nice heat lamp and table waiting for him?"I'm gonna crash," he yawned,"Kinda tiring coming back from the dead, you know?" he cocked his head, smirking at the girl, waiting for her to be in awe.
Unimpressed she looked at him, a bored expression covering her face. Anger rose in Jerome as she continued to stare, her eyes sizing him up, trying to see how big of a threat he truly was. Jerome smirked at her, baring all his teeth like a predator. This seemed to do the trick because she quickly looked away, eyes on the floor before she tilted her head up trying but failing to look brave.
"What do you want from me?" she asked, her arms crossed, and knees pulled up against her chest. Her jade green eyes were guarded but showed just the slightest hint of fear.
Ah, now that was more like it. Jerome strolled to the window, closing it with a flourish. "Well, the first thing I want is to keep that-" he pointed to the window "shut. It's kinda cold outside, and I'd prefer to be nice and cozy" he winked and whistled across the room. He came to a stop in front of her, looming over the young girl, he flashed her another sharklike grin. If he couldn't inspire her into helping him like he had done with some of the loons in the city, then he would just have to settle on scaring her into helping him.
Her face paled, and her hands balled into fists. "I'm not interested," she said her voice trembling. "And I'm not alone," she quickly added. "My friend will be back soon." she said, her eyes darting around the room, she panicked, realizing the only exits were a now-closed window and a single door, which she wouldn't be able to open without the teen following close behind.
Jerome frowned down at her, wondering why she'd come to THAT impression. "Uh, neither am I. Your like fourteen!" he said, chuckling, hoping it would calm the girl down. Why would she assume him of such despicable intentions? She visibly relaxed, then her expression hardened again.
"You can't have the weed either," she said, glaring at him and pouting angrily.
A bright smile lit up Jeromes face, as he let out a laugh. "Holy shit you got pot?" he laughed again loudly, joy flooding through him. He hadn't smoked in a long time, drugs usually just clouded what was already an unstable mind, but Jerome had always been open to trying anything at least once, and if he could snag a good amount of the stuff, he was sure he could use it for bartering.
"You can't have any, I have to give it to Falcone's men!" she screeched, whether it was in fear or anger Jerome wasn't sure. He narrowed his eyes, as she backed further into the wall, away from Jerome. Confused, his smirk shrank, ore tightlipped as he tried to understand the girls' reaction. He didn't mind she was scared, in fact, she should be. But not like this.
Jerome backed away, sensing the girls' discomfort, and leaned down, so he was eye level with her. "Let me guess, these bozos got you under their thumb, doing some gardening?" she looked at him saying warily, but nodded. "Is that all they want you to do?" He asked, his eyes cold. She looked away in shame and shook her head. Jerome let loose a dark chuckle. "What did they do to you?" He asked, watching her expression closely.
"Nothing, yet. I do good work here and stay out of the way. It's all jokes, I don't-I would get away before I let them do anything." She said quietly. She didn't need to say anymore, Jerome had been, familiar, with low lives like the ones Ivy worked for.
Jerome's grin dropped, he felt a cold anger spread through his chest, his face hardened into a cold smile. "Well. How about a deal?" he said grinning a shark-like smile. "How about we light up, take the edge off, have some fun" he gestured with his hand "And I take care of any unwanted visitors. Deal?" he grinned, extending his hand once again. She looked at it warily but nonetheless shook his hand, much to the older teens delight.
"So he just exploded?" Jerome said lying down on a green bean bag, smoke in the air surrounded him. Ivy sat against the wall, she hadn't chosen to partake in 'lighting up' but nonetheless enjoyed the effect it had on the known criminal. She nodded, confirming that Theo Galavan was indeed, dead. Jerome frowned agitated by the news. "Jokes on me, again. I come back to life, and don't even get to exact my sweet, sweet vengeance" he inhaled, sighing he put out the joint, growing bored of it already. He flipped onto his stomach and peered at the messy haired girl before him.
"Why'd he keep going after the rich kid though?" Jerome said an eyebrow raised. He didn't know much about Bruce Wayne, the only interaction they had been when he almost cut the kids throat on live television, to be fair it wasn't the worst thing someone had ever done to get ratings. No, that title belonged to Theo Galavan, who'd killed Jerome, metaphorically stabbing Jerome in the back and literally stabbing him in the neck.
Ivy shrugged "I don't know. I think it had something to do with his family?" She said, trying to recall the exact events. "I don't know, Bruce Wayne is all anyone talks about. I've met him, he's not that impressive," she said bitterly, suddenly she smirked, meeting the older teens eyes again. "But you knew that already," she laughed. Jerome chuckled with her, but also felt a pang of disappointment.
He'd been gone a long time, He'd missed out on a crazed girl with a flamethrower and a heartbroken iceman? He felt as if his mother threw him a birthday party and didn't invite him. His mother would never have done that to him though, she'd forgotten when his birthday even was. But still, one question, or person, rather, still peaked his curiosity.
"So where is little orphan Annie?" he asked tentatively. It seemed to irritate the girl, her smile already dissolving into a pout.
"I don't know, I could ask Selina," she sighed, her face falling. Jerome put his head in his hands and studied the young girls face.
"Who's Selina?" he asked curiously.
"My friend, the one I told you about earlier," she said, now frowning. "She never hangs out with me anymore, she's either playing a cat and mouse game with Bruce Wayne, or working for Fish Mooney." She finished, her expression going from one of irritation to one of sadness.
Jerome's jaw dropped, a shocked smile spreading across his face. "She's back too?" his laugh echoed off the walls, of course, she was back, because why not? He rolled on his back and continued to laugh, at the sheer ridiculous world he lived in.
Ivy started to smile, she didn't trust the maniac but she'd been quite lonely lately, and she was starting to enjoy the other redheads' company. Her smile dropped at the sound of loud banging on the door. Jerome's laughter abruptly stopped, his face focused, he spared a glance to Ivy, who glanced at the door worriedly.
"Is that them?" he asked. She slowly stood, and went to the door, her legs shaking as she walked.
Jerome snapped his fingers, she turned and looked at him, his expression animated and smile wide, a look of excitement blooming on his face.
"Bring the boys back here, will ya?" He said laughing, than coughed, trying to stifle his laughter as the men banged on the door once again. "Now, it's time to have some real fun" his grin grew wider, as did Ivy's as she made her way to the door, ready to lead the scum to their end.