Haly's Circus ~ Jerome x reader

16: Revenge

Y/n pov:

Jerome looks up. "Today?" he asks, as if he's completely forgotten about it. "Why not?" I say hoarsely. "Well, I don't know if that's really the intention, because of Theo's planning." It doesn't feel right, this whole thing with Theo. It's like he totally brainwashed Jerome. I have so many questions about that man and no one seems to have an answer. He was also suddenly there out of nowhere, no one has ever seen him in Gotham before. I decide to go with it anyway. "And what if I ask him?"

"How?" The answers Jerome gives aren't things I usually hear him say. He is always ready for a fun thing like this. He is so sure of himself and now that Theo has come into his life, it seems like he determines everything for him. To put it mildly, of course, because Jerome is and remains Jerome.

"Just, uh... Dear Theo, could I borrow Jerome from you for a minute?" I joke, and a smile appears on his face. "Okay no, you're right. He will not miss us for a morning, and maybe the afternoon." I slap my hands on my thighs and stand up. "Let's go!" Jerome follows behind me. It's the Friday before a great weekend, I can feel it. Even though it's still early, I'm really looking forward to helping my sister with Jerome. Those bitches in her class don't know what will happen to them next.

We walk to the school, the only primary school in all of Gotham, which is not far from Theo's apartment. Jerome walks down a side street. "What are you doing, it ain't that way, you crazy." Jerome doesn't look up or back and quickens his stride. "Hello!" I scream and I have to run to keep up with him. Jerome points to the supermarket. "Serious?"
"I could use some sour mats before we go to your sister."
"We have no money."
"So."
I can't take his face serious and burst out laughing. Jerome takes my hand. "Are you laughing at me now?"

We walk into the supermarket together and before we know it the first employee is already staring at us. For a moment I'm afraid we'll run into someone we know here, but I don't care today.
"This one."
Jerome grabs a huge tub of candy from the department and flips it over as if he's already bought it. Without looking at the cash register we walk towards the exit. It's not like we give a fuck or something.

The store manager stands right in front of us and I freeze. Jerome is standing next to me, gaping. "What do you guys think you're doing?" My breathing quickens. I don't answer and Jerome blurts out something. "Eat this." He points to his mouth and pretends to be crazy. Which he is a bit of course. Reflexively, the man grabs my wrist and I immediately pull it free. Jerome gives the manager a big push and we storm through the sliding doors of the store.

I'm not sure which way to go, but Jerome chooses the right. Not long after, I sprint past him. We go faster than the cars next to us. A few meters further on he shoots into a winding path. He stops abruptly and slides the box of candy under the only bush in town. I nearly hit him. The manager is faster than expected. He runs right behind us and calls hysterically for us to stop. My lungs are burning and my heart has a life of its own. Jerome takes my hand and pulls me along. "I know a shortcut," he screams. The winding path comes to a dead end and Jerome dashes to the left. His shoe falls right off his foot because no matter how many times I told him today, he didn't tie his shoelace.

I don't pick it up, takes too much time. After a while, I can't anymore. My leg muscles protest and that when I easily run ten kilometers. Just never at this rate. And not jumping over bums, flying cigarette packs and don't-know-whats, and right through the crowds. I look around again. The man has turned into a small black dot. He's given up. "Jerome!" I shout shrilly. "It's safe." He gestures for me to run and yells, "Just a minute." I cuss, but still have to laugh at him. He looks so stupid running on one sock and a shoe.

He only stops after at least two hundred meters. A few seagulls screech above our heads, and on the pier we gasp. Jerome rests his elbows on his knees and tries to control his breathing like I do. I sit down and lean forward. "Well well." He puts his hand on his chest, then on mine. "I... it seemed like the GCPD was after us." I nod. Words is something I can't get out of my mouth. I wonder how far we are from Barbara's school. What I do know is that we've already run past it. Besides, we have to go back to that grove to pick up the box of candy.