Haly's Circus ~ Jerome x reader

11: Prison visit

"Come on Barb!" I said. "Look at the time. You've got to go to school." I take another quick look at the clock, while I pack my bag. My leotard is laying on my bed. "One minute!" My sister comes out of her room. "I'm here." "Good, now have a great day at school and ignore the annoying people in your class okay?" "When are you coming with me y/n?" I sigh and give her the bag. "Not today. I have practice at the circus and after that, I will be visiting Jerome in prison." Barbara looks at me while she packs her bag.

"Can I go with you?" It's been a while since Barbara saw Jerome, but I've never really thought of it. "We'll see about that, cause to be honest I'm not so sure how many visitors he can have."

I said goodbye to my sister and cycle to my work. I've decided to call it that since it's becoming really fun. Over two months I even have my performance in the sideshow! Plus I practice in the same area as the Graysons. Once there I park my bike, God I wish Jerome could be here to see me. I got interrupted as soon as I walk inside the locker room.

"I'm so sorry for you y/n." Confused as hell I look around. Everyone is staring at me. "Why are you sorry?" I say when placing my stuff in the locker. "Your mom, didn't you hear?" Wait what, did something happen to my mom? "Is she fine?" I have no idea what's going on and Luna points at the television in the room. My phone rings. Three missed calls from dad.

Luna is one of the best people I've met here since I got promoted. We got really close, and have the same interests. She likes to read, and of course to have all eyes on her in the circus. Just like me. She's been an acrobat for as long as she can remember, that's the first thing she said to me when we met.

Also, she describes Jerome as a bit of an introvert, a strange boy, who mostly didn't talk to anyone here. What she doesn't know is that I and Jerome are in a relationship. I won't tell her, cause I don't trust her with that. I think she'll share it with probably everyone here if I would...

"Barbara Kean has been arrested for killing her parents, now locked up in Arkh-" I turned the TV off and most of the people looked away from me and started minding their own business. As they should. The door of the locker room got knocked, and the new ringmaster opened the door a crack. "Ew go away Andy, we're changing." I ignored the fact that we were kind of mean to him, cause I was with my head somewhere else.

The door got closed again and Luna turned at me. "So you really didn't know?" I had to act like I didn't care, to hold myself down from stress. "No, but we weren't close the last few months anyway," I say as I apply my lipstick while looking at myself in the mirror. "Hm. Okay. Well, get ready for practice then, bestie." Her long black hair goes back and forth in her ponytail as she walks out of the room.

My mom is locked up in the same place as Jerome, oh my god. I hope he doesn't mention me if they meet, cause he has no idea what my mother looks like.

"Ohh yes," I say when I take another look in the mirror, I look sexy in this costume. Even if I say so myself. Ready to be a star.

~

Barbara (Gordon) pov:

"What are you doing?" Jessy's voice echoes through the locker room. Not again, I think. I stuff my stuff in my P.E. bag. I quickly try to walk away, but Jessy is standing in front of me with her arms folded. "Give Bella's shirt back."
"Are you talking to me?"
She lets out a dramatic sigh.
"You know that very well. Why do you steal stuff from Bella?" She points to my white Levi's shirt. I shake my head.

"This one is mine, got it yesterday from my sister."
"Sure," she sneers.
"Do you believe it yourself?" I look at Bella pleadingly. I thought she was my friend. "You have this one in red right?" Bella says nothing and stands next to Jessy like a salt bag. The others are almost encouraging Jessy.

It's always been that I was the target of the class. Not just for the girls, but also the boys. I think about my sister. What would y/n do? If she got into a situation she'd probably beat the shit out of them. Or Jerome is there, god I wish they both were here. To learn them a lesson.

It starts buzzing in my head. I press my index finger on my thumb. Sometimes that helps. Jessy takes a threatening step forward.
"Stop, Jessy. Otherwise..." I search for the right words.
"Are you going to get your mommy? Oh no, wait. She's in jail of course!" The other girls are screaming.
"Oo-woo, can you see me being scared? Soon you're going to freak out like that." My classmates watch as if it is a funny play. Starring Jessy and me.

"Come on, undress the shirt." Bella still doesn't say a word. She knows this isn't her shirt! Even she's not on my side. Not anymore. Jessy pulls up the bottom of my shirt. My breathing is loud and hasty. I have to get out of here, a voice in my head says. I push her arm away and squeeze through the crowd of classmates. Whatever I'll say. This never stops. I'm just happy this school day is over.

~

I walk around searching for my bike as I hear the voice of my sister yelling behind me. Finally, I think.
"Hey! How was your day?" She sounds happy, and I don't want to ruin that feeling for her.
"It was fine." Even now I can't put on a smile. Fastly I change the subject.
"I love your make-up!" We walk towards my bike, and y/n follows me with her own in her hand. "Thanks! We can go to Jerome now if you want?" There is a silence. I drink from my bottle and stare at the people strolling by. No Jessy, no Bella.

Of course not. Why would they be here just right when I have an option of going against them.

"So?" "Oh, yes... I'd love to." It's been way too long since I've seen Jerome. I know that he is bad, but he makes my sister happy. And he is kinda... really funny. Why does it not feel right to say that about a person in jail? Nevertheless is my mum there also. I'm nothing like a bad person. I even want to go with my dad if I'm old enough to work. Y/n kicks fast and I have trouble holding onto her side. She's definitely into it, as am I.

"Are we going to visit mom too?" We pass the opening from Arkham Asylum and I jump off the bike. "No, we can't. We can only visit one person today." I nod. "You're right. I don't even want to see mom either." I'm not mad. I'm... Scared to see her again. More scared than to see Jerome, I know it sounds weird.

We walk into the big building and I follow my sister. She makes big steps, and it seems all good, it's like she comes here every day to visit Jerome. She knows exactly what way to go everywhere.

We're standing in front of Jerome's cell, and we get permission to open the door. He was laying down on the bed, playing with a tiny football in his striped pajama. "Omg, hey J!" Y/n runs into his arms and Jerome looks at me. He opens his arms for me and I hug him. All I see is the perfect boyfriend for my sister. I don't see anything bad in him. "It's been a while." He starts. "Your big sister and I have been talking a lot about you." I look at y/n and then back at Jerome.

"All good I hope." They both smile at me. "How are you doing?" Suddenly I feel a stab of pain shoot through my body. I feel horrible. Jerome darkens his face when he realizes I'm pretending to be better than I feel. I burst into tears and immediately regret it. Four eyes are now looking at me as if the play continues here.

"Ohh no, don't cry. Tell me, sis, what's up?" Y/n wraps an arm around me and walks me to the bed. Where Jerome is still sitting, not knowing what to do probably. I can feel awkward in this situation. But it's better than crying at school. "It's... Jessy again. But this time worse." I'm gasping for air, I need to tell them everything. I know their secrets, so they are allowed to know mine.

"It's getting physical." My sister looks at me with hatred for them in her eyes. Jerome now rubs his hand softly over my back. "I would kill them." I look at him. "No I am for real I would literally kill them." He says while laughing a bit, causing us to laugh too. I wipe my tears away. It feels so good to have this off my chest. "So this is the real reason you wanted me to teach you how to fight?" I nod in answer. I'm sitting between Jerome and my sister.

"I could go with you." I look surprised. "Really?"
"Yes."
"Me too!" Jerome says kind of exciting. I tell them about what happened today, and we all agree with each other it's better if they come with me. At least, my sis. And hopefully in the future... Jerome?