I'm a Valeska | Jerome Valeska | Gotham

1. "Chaos will spread across the city like a virus"

Penn

"So I'm guessing this is the part where you ask me why would I burn a bus full of innocent cheerleaders." I sigh dramatically, resting my chin on my hand in a bored gesture. "Typical."

Detective James Gordon gives me a nod, obviously exasperated. "Why did you set that bus on fire, Penelope?" His eyes are set on me, for some reason wanting to know why. Does it matter? And if he knows my last name... That alone should give him some idea.

"It's Penn," I grit my teeth as I forcefully correct him, my expression immediately darkening. "Call me that again and see what happens to you." No one calls me Penelope. Or Penny. That just sounds childish. Even Jerome and my sisters call me Penn.

Another annoyed sigh escaped the detective. "Penn. Why did you do it?"

"Wouldn't you like to know, Detective?" I let out a giggle full of madness, and I don't care if I sound absolutely psychotic. I'm a Valeska. I probably am. "But remind me, dear detective. Didn't my lovely big brother attempt such a wonderful scheme a while ago? You know, before that worm Theo Galavan killed him?" Everyone thought Jerome Valeska was dead. Of course, he had died. But unbeknownst to the people of Gotham, I and my lovely sisters worked together to resurrect him, with the help of Hugo Strange.

Recollection of the scheme glitters in Gordon's eyes, and he nods. "Yes, he did. I intercepted him and managed to steer the bus away from the lit gasoline before the flames could burn the bus. Why did you do it?"

I stare at him with a cheeky smile for at least a minute, before I finally speak up. "Oh, fine. I'll tell you. You see, once my sisters and I found out our brother was dead, we were devastated." I fake an expression of sadness, sighing dramatically. "Who would do such a thing to our sweet big brother? Absolutely heartbroken! So off to Gotham City we went -- lovely city, by the way -- and we start asking around, of course not sharing our identities. I mean, we're not stupid! Of course we're very proud of being Valeskas, but if we told, we knew that all we would get would be gasps of horror and terrified expressions! Stupid pansies." I roll my eyes at the sheer idiocy of those people, afraid of a little blood!

"How does this relate to what you did?" Poor Mr. Gordon looks terribly confused, and I can't help but let out a laugh that most people would call "psychotic" or "maniacal".

"Oh, slow down, detective! I'm getting there!" I roll my eyes and giggle once more before continuing. "Anyway. We eventually heard that some hero named Theo Galavan had murdered our dear brother, on his big night, too! I can't think of anything more rude than ruining someone's moment of glory! After learning more about the many secrets of Gotham, we went to Hugo Strange, you know, the guy who brings people back from the dead, and he already had Jerome at Indian Hill! Lucky us, huh?! Once Jerome was resurrected, Strange of course told us he couldn't leave, but of course we wouldn't let that happen. So we broke Jerome out of Indian Hill and off we went on our merry way!"

By this point, Gordon looks absolutely horrified. The terrifying, charismatic Jerome Valeska has returned to Gotham. And his three sisters are with him. Well, two. I know I'm going to Arkham.

"You're saying Jerome is out there somewhere, alive."

I grin. "Yep! Alive and well! But of course you'll never know where to find him! Frankly, I don't even know where he and my sisters are. We don't exactly have a... permanent location. Too bad!"

He sits there in silence for what feels like an hour, taking this all in. I know this news is horrifying for him. A past evil is back to torment him. Now he has something else to deal with. Finally he looks up at me. "And the bus?" His tone is very quiet.