just one bad day.

Jerome lay back in the middle of a busy sidewalk with his sunglasses on. People were tutting and calling him various names as they passed him. “I’m just catching some rays! You’re all so UPTIGHT!” He laughed until there were tears in his eyes. When he noticed a younger looking guy walk past, he grabbed his ankle with his hand to trip him. “Why don’t you join me down here? The view is SPECTACULAR!”

Jeremiah removed his glasses and set them on the counter before turning on the tap. It was an interesting feeling, to say the least. To be alone with Jerome again. It felt right, but also a bit wrong. Like he had been missing this one piece in the puzzle of his life but it was all bent and just barely fit. “Don’t be proud of me. What I did was appalling.” Jeremiah said before washing most of the blood off his face. He turned off the tap and turned to look at the other. In this lighting, he could hardly see his twin’s scars. “I would never do anything of the kind to Ecco.” He nearly hissed, “It was someone who I didn’t know.” He let out a sigh. “…Was Mother your first kill or did you ever kill anyone before that?” 

Jerome chuckled when Jeremiah confessed that his crime had been appalling. There was nothing wrong with a little murder, but it was probably too early to tell his twin that. “Appalling or NECESSARY?” He smirked at his brother. It was a surprise to hear it wasn’t Ecco he killed. “Why not? She can be so...BORING.” Jerome wondered whether killing a stranger was a worse crime than killing somebody close to you. In some ways he believed it was, because they could’ve been innocent and done nothing wrong. He frowned at Jeremiah’s question and took a seat in his armchair. “She was my first kill. I was PROVOKED, brother.”

He grit his teeth when Jerome rubbed it in. He was right. He did kill someone, like he said he would. Jeremiah paused by the door before stepping in after his twin brother. Having a look around at the place his brother had been hiding out. “I don’t think you need that, Jerome.” He gestured to the gun, keeping his arm close to his body as he did so. He still felt a little tense around Jerome, especially with the added stress of having just murdered someone weighing on him. A long moment passed and he moved to the nearest sink. Wanting nothing more then to wash the blood off his face.

Jerome unloaded the gun and put it on the table. He knew he wouldn’t be using it, but Jeremiah might if they ended up arguing. He didn’t trust him not to MURDER him now that he’d had a taste of blood. “You’re right! Why would I shoot the man I’ve been waiting for? I thought I might have to wait FOREVER, yet here you are. I’m so proud of you, brother!” He watched carefully when Jeremiah moved to the sink and began to wash away the blood. “So, who finally made you CRACK? Was it Ecco? Women are often mens undoing.”

Loki smirked looking at the male if anyone was staring worthy it most definitely was him. “ Really? Am I allowed to return the favor?” She replied watching him move closer turning to face the man. “ Nothing very interesting I’ve afraid, just an old book about a man who gets what’s coming to him in the end.” She pouted with mischief in her eyes “ Romance isn’t your thing huh? Did someone break your pretty boy heart?”

Jerome was a little SHOCKED when she asked if she could stare at him. He knew that he wasn’t the most good looking man since he had his face cut off. “Sure! I don’t get many pretty ladies asking if they can admire me these days.” He laughed to make it sound like a joke. SERIOUS subjects were easier to handle with a good laugh. “Sounds like a book about my brother.” He grinned. “He’ll get what’s coming to him too, eventually.” He shook his head when she asked about his heart. “Nah! I’ve NEVER been in love! Nobody can break my heart if I don’t love ‘em.”

@thegingermaniac

Tracking him down was pretty easy. He had known for a couple of days now where Jerome was staying. It wasn’t too hard to locate someone after all, when you had people at your service and a lot of money to spend. Jeremiah lingered at the door. The blood was beginning to drip down off his chin but he didn’t really want to touch it with his hand. He thought about not knocking, about turning around and calling Ecco to very simply collect Jerome. So that they could talk with a wall between them. But Jerome had said he didn’t want to kill him and he was sure that was true. He sighed before timidly having his hand approach the door and knocking very quickly from his nervous energy. 

Jerome jumped up from his seat when he heard a knock on his door. He hadn’t told anyone where he lived. He grabbed his riffle from the coffee table and headed towards the door. His eyes widened a little when he opened it and saw Jeremiah, a wide grin spreading across his face when he noticed the FRESH BLOOD dripping from his chin. He swiped the tip of his index finger through it and inspected it. “What did I tell you?” He asked with a laugh. “I knew this day would come.” He didn’t need to ask his twin what he’d done because he already knew. “I think we should go inside, brother. It looks like you have A LOT to tell old Jerome.”

The moment Ecco heard the voice of the person approaching her, the annoyance she felt, grew immediately, causing her to let out a sigh “Of all people,” She mumbled to herself before she stood up straight and turned to face the one person who managed to annoy her the most. He had escaped her once before at the circus, and despite her current lack of preparation and car troubles, she didn’t intend for him to do so again. “Jerome.” Her voice had now become neutral, and one lacking any sign of any emotion and the annoyance she felt. “I doubt you’re here to help me with my car. So, my question is, why are you here?”

Jerome took a seat on the hood of his car and stared at the woman. “Where is your FAITH in me?” He laughed and slapped his hands on his knees. He knew a few things about cars, but he doubted he’d be able to fix Ecco’s. “I’m here because I hate to see a damsel in distress! Your PRINCE CHARMING has arrived!” He gestured to himself. “Need a ride back to the city? We can gossip about Jeremiah and listen to show tunes.” He knew Ecco didn’t trust him but his offer was GENUINE. If she needed to get home, he would drive her. Or even let her drive. “If you don’t trust my driving, I’ll let you take the wheel. Whaddaya say, Ecco?”

Oswald couldn’t help but want to kick Jerome’s ass like he’d done some many years ago when the man had finally gotten the dark side to come out and play. He quickly wiped his lips off with the edge of his prison jumpsuit glaring at the Ginger haired twat. “I’M NOT YOUR PRINCESS NOR WILL I EVER WANT TO BE” He froze for a moment when his brain had finally woken up to the words, it was similar to what Jeremiah had said when they kissed and Oswald could almost feel himself wanting to throw up. How could he have allowed himself to like someone who’d look like the man that tortured him while in this hell hole?

He sighed lowering his voice in feign concern for Edward’s sleeping form in the other room before turning back towards Jerome. “ I must say it took you long enough to appear here. Such a shame they didn’t lock you in with me this time, I’m sure you miss controlling the crazies of this place” He smiled at the other before taking a seat on his bed. “ What do I owe the pleasure, Jerome?”

Jerome found Oswald’s words HYSTERICAL, hunching over and holding his stomach as his laugh echoed off the walls. “But I’m your Prince Charming! This could be like one of those Disney movies if you’d stop screaming.” When the man finally shut his mouth, Jerome stood up. He didn’t want to get his suit jacket dirty on the FILTHY floor of Oswald’s cell. “Someone really needs to clean this place. I know a good maid who has fair prices.” He grinned at his friend.

“I do miss the screams of the other patients. But I prefer being on the outside looking in. Do I detect a hint of JEALOUSY, old pal? Do you want to be the King of Arkham now?” He chuckled to himself and sat down on the bed again. “Truth be told...I was just bored and missing your RIVETING conversation.” He said it insincerely but in a way it was true. Jerome had never had many friends and it could get lonely being all on your own. It reminded him of being back at the circus.

Ecco wasn’t only Jeremiah’s bodyguard, but she also worked as a proxy for him, passing on and receiving information at the firm where he worked. And despite her now living in New York, and that the city had horrible traffic, she had still decided to get a car to drive herself back and forth, finding it far more practical in her case. Today, was however not one of those where having her own car was practical, as it had broken down on her way to the firm. And so, she now stood on the emergence lane of a very crowded road, trying to figure out what was wrong with the car. She knew and could do many things, but fixing a broken down car, didn’t seem to be one of them. 

Jerome couldn’t believe his LUCK when he spotted Jeremiah’s annoying bodyguard girlfriend on the side of the road. He hadn’t seen her since their fun at the circus. He would’ve just continued driving past her to save getting his ass kicked, but he was feeling MASOCHISTIC. “Ecco!” He laughed as he got out of his car which was now parked in the emergency lane. “If I wasn’t such a GENTLEMAN, I would make the most of you not hanging around my dear brother.” 

Loki had to admit this was the most fun she’d been having since coming to live here on Midgard. No one could tell that it was him so long as she stayed within her illusion she could fade to the back. She sighed re-reading the same sentence for the fifth time before the staring from the other was getting annoying. “ It’s rather rude to stare for long periods of time. Is there something you need?”

"Nope. Just admiring the view.” Jerome had a habit of being CREEPY and he wasn’t going to apologize for it. Not even when he was called out. He grinned at the stranger and sat in the chair next to her. “Whatcha reading?” He wasn’t great at smalltalk, but he knew he could be CHARMING when he wanted to be. “Is it something ROMANTIC? Because I’d also have an annoyed look on my face if I was reading something about love.”

Jerome had been staring at Oswald for an hour, watching him sleep. He had expected his friend to wake up when he felt the pressure of him sitting down on the bed. But it had been 60 LONG minutes and there was still no sign of the man waking up. He probably thought he was free of their friendship now he was in Arkham, but he was WRONG because Jerome still had ways to get inside. While there were guards that could be bought, he’d always have a way in.

Boredom eventually got the better of Jerome, and he leaned in to press a HARD kiss to Oswald’s lips. There was NOTHING romantic about it. It was just because he had nothing better to do and wanted him awake. When Oswald responded by kissing him back and wrapping his arms around his neck, Jerome laughed loudly. His laughter only grew more intense when he was pushed to the ground and the man started shouting. “It’s what happens in all the fairytales, old friend! The kiss awakens the sleepy PRINCESS!”

Tony stumbled out of the bar that night, beat up pretty bad. It wasn’t that he couldn’t take the guy, but he just felt like being punched. It was a lot better than feeling the constant guilt and anxiety that plagued his nights. He had barely gotten any sleep, despite Steve’s attempt to make him feel better. He leaned against the brick wall, taking in a deep breaths. He was stupid drunk at this point. So much for AA. When someone stopped in front of him, he looked over.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve gotten worse than this.”

Jerome was THRILLED to see a stranger bleeding as they stumbled out of the bar. He’d planned on going inside and having a drink or two, but he wasn’t going to do that now chaos had been found. He was far more invested in why this man was bloody and bruised than he was in getting drunk. He skipped over to the man, not caring that he had an EXCITED grin on his face instead of a look of concern. Who had time to be concerned? Not Jerome.