JINXED! Edward Nashton

[LIBERATE]

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[2017]

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The cold Gotham air was unwelcomed by most but on this day it couldn't have been more of a blessing to Jerome. Her skin formed goose bumps as the air kissed her sickly pale skin, it froze her lungs as she took in deep breaths sighing in complete bliss.

She no longer adorned the orange striped jumpsuit that once made her want to throw up her stomach acids, no longer confined by chains or handcuffs as she stepped out of the door. Her imprisonment was over finally, after nine long years she could finally feel the breeze and smell the salty air, feel the little sunlight that broke through the thick cover of clouds as rain softly fell on her face.

Sighing in complete content, Jerome made her way to the large iron gate that would release her completely from the Hellhole that was Arkham Asylum. She held herself with confidence, head held high, shoulders back, her happy smile never leaving her face, she glanced at the guard there waiting for the buzz of the gate to entirely free her from the cage.

"How do you feel Valeska?" 

Tilting her head in a mocking sense of thought, "In a word big guy, I have to say it's liberating" with that she grinned and strutted her way over to the car that held the one thing keeping her alive for nearly a decade.

Edward Nashton.

Taking off in a ran, the young man scooped Jerome up into a fierce embrace, spinning them around as he buried his head into the nape of her neck wanting to savour the moment of her touch and insane laughter as if he would wake up and this all be some cruel dream.

After a few moments, he finally let go setting her safely back onto the ground before cupping her face into his hands, "My God, you're here" he said as tears began to pool in his eyes, "You're here, you're coming home finally".

He couldn't look away, the fear that this moment was just all in his head was too much for him to bear. He had waited so long to have her back, for her to finally be back with him that his body felt frozen to the ground unwilling to move or even blink. The sensation of her fingers brushing against his face to wipe away his tears was unexplainable. They felt like heaven to him, the cold of her fingers against the heat of his face was unreal.

"We are going home and I am never going to leave you again, you understand me?"

Those words were true, he knew how much she valued her word and she would do everything in her power to keep it.

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The drive through Gotham City was in many ways nostalgic for Jerome. Finally seeing the city again after being locked away for nearly a decade, seeing how it had barely changed a day, the grime and grit of the streets still the same, the overly used artificial lights to keep the island from being emerged in total darkness, the smell of fast food, booze and salt.

Home.

The redhead leaned her head against her seat in utter relaxation, her eyes tracing the sights as they drove through the centre of Gotham. Her hand clasped firmly in Edwards as he kept his focus on the road, determined to get the pair of them to their chosen destination as quick as possible. The idea of his Rose finally being out and free with him caused his heart to thump against his chest, adrenaline and excessive amounts of dopamine causing his whole body to shake in excitement.

Memories flashed through Jerome's mind of her sneaking through the streets to see her brother, talking Edward to the rooftops of the city to show him the sea and the borders of Gotham, the promises to one another.

"Us against the corruption of Gotham, Eds"

Lost in the thoughts of the past Jerome hadn't realised the car coming to a gentle stop until a hand caressed her cheek snapping her out of her thoughts. Deep green eyes met pale blue as Edward stated that they had reached home.

Home, something they had wanted for so long.

The salty air invaded her senses as she stepped out of the car a smile made its way onto her face as she took it in. A place by the sea, he had remembered. Satisfied Jerome finally opened her eyes to her friend, taking his hand in her own and allowing him to take her up the stairs of the apartment building. The place itself was old, definitely in need of some serious work but she couldn't have cared less, she was just happy to be away from Arkham.

As they came to the top floor the jingle of keys rang through as a pair was placed in Jerome's hand. Confused, Edward simply smiled as he dangled his own set of keys.

"Well seeing as this is your home too, I figured you would want your very own keys" the goofy smile never left his face as he watched her hurriedly unlock the door. Edward's gaze never left Jerome's figure as she explored their apartment in a child-like manner, running from the living room to every other room.

Her squeals and giggles made Edward feel euphoric like he could have died right there and then happily from seeing his Rosey so happy. Running back to him, the redhead he loved so much launched herself towards him in a crushing embrace as she expressed how delighted she was to finally be here with him, how they would get the food that she had been craving since being locked away, greasy burgers and fries and milkshakes as they celebrate their new beginning, everything was perfect and nothing could have ruined their peace.

Not yet anyway.

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