Teen Idle❔Edward Nygma❔

23.An Explosion

"Good morning, Ivy.", I say as enter the used-to-be store.

I begin to water and fertilize the plants growing all around.

"Does this affect you at all? Is what I'm doing in any way helping you in there?", I ask the cocooned Ivy.

Of course, I know she can't respond, but it's nice to think she's listening. 

"I kissed a boy, recently. His name is Ed, I think I like him. Of course, I have to like him somewhat to have kissed him, I don't gain anything else from doing it. It's a nice feeling, being with him. Like you, he's the only one I can be around without feeling a constant need to be someone I will never be again. Well, Alex's coming around recently."

I move closer to Ivy, sitting down next to her.

"Being with Lee is nice and all, and I feel like I'm actually helping make some difference. Part of me just... isn't satisfied. I feel like it's all too close to who I used to be and they're all just expecting me to become who I used to be, but won't. I may remember, but they're like memories that aren't completely attached. Like two pieces of fabric loosely sewn together. Everyone just has their own strings of who I used to be and that's the problem."

I water the plants around Ivy and the ones on her.

"Sometimes I wonder who I was to Ed. He's never told me who we were. Though I'd rather wonder forever than be told, ignorance is bliss after all. I fear that once I know, all I'll have is the same feeling I have with everyone else, where I feel like I need to become the person they've lost. They don't say it, but they all just continue to try to get her back. And I feel like I'm just letting them down by not being her. I don't have that feeling with Ed, he feels like you, just trying to get to know me."

I take a breath.

"Anyways, Lee's having a meeting today with some of the citizens. It's the building just above here, actually." I stare at the cacoon. "I hope when you come out, you'll remember me. But if you don't, I'd be glad to get to know you again."

I pull out a green and black striped sweater from my bag and place it near her. Attached to the sweater was a note by me that included my phone. My anxiety on Ivy's well-being if she were to get out and me not be here had gotten worse. I needed to do something to ease the thoughts.

"Things have been so hectic with Lee and Alex, I want to make sure if you ever get out you can call me. And I'll be here to help you in any way you need."

It did help ease my anxiety. Only occasionally did I think about Ivy as Lee had her meeting.

"I understand times are tough, I understand you need to make a living, but it's time to stop punishing each other for the situation this city has put you in. Instead of stealing from those hurting as much as you, this community needs to start protecting one another." Lee walked around the seated people.

"We do what we do to survive!" One man spoke up.

"Yeah!" The people around him agreed.

"And is that all you want, all of you? Just to survive, every day, one day at a time?"

"Listen, Doc, down here it's every man for himself. That's the way it's always been."

"Yeah!" The people continue to support the man.

Lee puts her hand up to calm the situation, "How many of you have kids?"

A good amount of people raise their hands.

"I've been running a clinic down here for the last nine months, and we've been treating your kids for things like TB, hepatitis, pertussis, pneumonia. Diseases that don't belong in a modern city. But there are no functioning hospitals down here, and the doctors are too afraid to visit.", Lee explains. "You're not stealing from the rich you're stealing from each other. You are fighting each other, and you are living in a prison of your own construction."

"Gives me the chance to prove to you that I can turn the Narrows into a place where you don't have to steal from one another to live."

One man starts clapping, "Yes."

The rest of the people join in. I look at Ed who's next to me and we share a smile as we clap. Lee looks towards me and I smile at her, proud of her success. 

The applause is cut short when a toy plane flies through the crowd. They all duck as it heads towards Lee. I rush over to push, Lee out of the way. As I do so, Butch knocks the plane over, part of it flying out the window. Just in time too, as the small piece explodes. Causing the glass to shatter as fire from the explosion comes in, everyone ducking down in fear. 
A fire starts spreading and people start rushing out of the building. As we get out of the building I try to head over to the shop Ivy was, fearing for her safety, but Ed pushes me into the car.

"Whoever this was, needs to be made an example of. I mean, can't they tell you were trying to help?" Ed rants once we are back in the club.

"Maybe it wasn't one of them.", Lee argues.

"Oh, of course, it was. I just think that maybe the best thing for the Narrows is to burn it to the ground. Start over."

"Well, that would certainly suit everyone, wouldn't it?" Lee walks away.

I try to grab her hand to stop her but she just pushes it away.

"I'm just saying, someone tried to blow you to bits, and I bet they're gonna try it again. So I'm gonna find them and when I do, Grundy's gonna pull them apart, limb by limb."

I lose myself in my thoughts. My anxiety might've been quelled this morning, but now they were brighter and unignorable as ever. What if the whole place was burned, what if Ivy was dead? While I'm here doing nothing. I should've gone right to the store as soon as the fire started. I shouldn't have left the damn store!

The noise of the door closing as Ed leaves puts me out of my thoughts. I look up to see Grundy being the only one left. I walk over towards him.

"Thanks for today, big fella. Wouldn't be here right now without you." I pat him on the shoulder before leaving.

I go find Ed who's in his room. He's there pacing, probably thinking about how to find the person responsible for today's explosion.

"Hope I'm not interrupting."

He turns to me and shakes his head, "Of course not." He chuckles as he runs his hands through his hair, "I- I was just-"

I grab his hand, "I know you're going to catch whoever is responsible, Ed. If anyone can, it's you. Right now, I'm heading to visit Alex in Arkham, but as soon as I'm back, I'd be glad to help you in any way I can." I lean over and kiss him, "Though I doubt you'd need it."