A magic trick

Safe and Sound

The sun was hidden behind an abundance of dark dreary clouds causing an overcast on the city of Gotham. The weather was cold as usual causing the civilians to bundle up. The young man walked down the street with a bandage secured onto the side of his neck. He had a dark look, but kept a smile nonetheless. He watched the corrupted city do what it does best and chuckled darkly earning strange looks from the people near him. He heard a small whistle and turned his head in that direction seeing a familiar blonde. He walked over to her opening his arms wide.

"Missed me gorgeous?" He kept a smile on his face as he watched her look at him in distraught.

"Not really." She said boredly earning a roll of the eye from the young man.

"Well I missed you. Shouldn't you be more excited, I mean we're free so smile!" He laughed and smiled widely noticing her not partake in the same actions as him "They broke us free and I'm not going to spend my freedom locked up at his place again."

"Well, If he knows you're messing around and not doing your job then you'll be dead soon so you have to stay focused on the task at hand Jerome. We're wanted criminals so we have to lay low." She sighs and hands Jerome a wad of cash looking around for any sign of being watched. Jerome pocketed the money and laughed loudly in response.

"If he knows I'm messing around then 'he' is going to have to lay low. Thanks for the cash Barbara. I appreciate it, really I do." He laugh darkly and keeps a smile on his face. "You know where the bastard is don't you? My dear old dad." He smiled even more watching her tense at his question. He raised an eyebrow waiting for her to answer watching her avoid his gaze.

"He's hiding somewhere near a convenient store. I don't know exactly where but its on J street. Get yourself settled in before doing anything else kid." Barbara warned with a mother like gleam in her eye. Jerome walks past her with a playful salute and continued towards J street.

The street was littered with trash and dirty homeless people doing drugs and begging for money. Jerome took a deep breath and smiles maliciously. "Great hiding spot Pops." He laughed under his breath and spots a convenient store across the street and makes his way towards it. He walks in and looks around seeing an old man at the counter watch him closely. Surely Jerome figured it was because people his age robbed the old man. He walked to the cashier and smiled. "Hello good sir. I am looking for a Mr. Cicero. Have you seen him?" He asked with a fake polite demeanor. The old man just shrugged giving the redhead no lead.

"Never heard of him. Now buy something or get out." He said bitterly earning a dark chuckle from the boy. Jerome pulled out a pistol and aimed it at the man and sighs.

"I really thought it wouldn't come to this." He said with a dark laugh watching the old man put his hands in the air. He shook in fear no longer acting bitter as his life rested in the boys hands. "I only hoped it would."

"I don't know a Cicero! Look take what you want. You want money?" He stuttered nervously and Jerome rolled his eyes waving his gun in a circular motion.

"Cut the chit chat old man. It's gonna get ya hurt. Now walk to the back room." The old man became silent after Jerome's words and walked towards the back. He heard the young man hop over the counter and follow him. As soon as they were out of sight Jerome aimed more carefully causing the old man to shake in fear. "Now I'll ask one more time. Where is Paul Cicero?" He asked darkly. The old man shook his head.

"I don't know. I don't know." He repeated between sobs. Jerome sighs annoyed and takes off the safety. He began to pull the trigger only to stop when he hears the entrance bell ring. He looked at the old man pressing his pointer finger to his lips. He shut the door behind him locking it and began strangling the old man with one hand covering his mouth with the other. The last thing the old man saw was Jerome's malicious smile.