Chapter 1

659 8 0
                                    

Present (4years later...)

                  The Circus Kid.

Cat and I make our way down the street. She slyly picks up a newspaper from the stand, and keeps walking. "Huh, would you look at this," she giggles handing me the paper.
The headline reads, "Circus Freak chops up own Mommy. On the loose." I look at the mugshot of the young man.

I immediately notice his Cheshire Cat-like smile

Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.

I immediately notice his Cheshire Cat-like smile. As if it's contagious, I smile back at the photo. "I like his smile," I point out. Cat shrugs, "Crazys not my type.." she pauses, "except you." She gives me a little wink.
I giggle, "Seems him and I have some things in common." I toss the newspaper in a bin as I walk by.
I start pulling my hair into my classic pigtails as we're walking. We start approaching a food truck, which has a long line. Cat grasps my arm, "go for the one in the hoodie, I'll the one in the coat." Cat goes first, making her way through the line, bumping into the man in the coat. She keeps her head down and keeps walking. Our turn! I make my way towards the line, straight for the man in the hoodie. As I bump into him, reaching my hand into his pockets, I pull out his wallet and a pack of gum. I continue walking when I feel a hand firmly grab my arm, yanking me back. Suddenly I'm facing the man, who turns out to be the exact "Circus freak." I'd recognize that smile anywhere.
I try yanking my arm back. "Id like my wallet back love." He laughs. I glare at him. Studying his expression, the look in his eyes. He seems to be doing to same to me.
I smirk, pulling out his pack of gum with my free hand , popping a piece in my mouth. I hand it over, along with the wallet. He let's go of my arm, which starts throbbing, I notice a bruise forming from his grip.
I shoot daggers at him, "I know who ya are. Ya should still be careful who ya mess with." I say blowing a bubble and it pops dramatically. He let's out a chuckle, "yea, yea. Whatever ya say doll face. Now get outa here before I possibly kill you." He growls the last bit. I roll my eyes, " I can say the same thing to you." With that I turn around and skip towards Cat, who's watching from the alleyway.
"What just happened!" She says as we make our way to the roof of the building. "He caught me. But get this! That guy was the circus kid from the paper." Cat let's out a laugh, "wow small world, were lucky he didn't "chop you up" either." She says referencing the paper. Something's off about that boy. I like it. I roll my eyes at my inner thought. "This definitely feels different." I say to myself as I sit on the edge of the building. Cat most likely heard me, but she knows I talk to myself so she never questions it.
•••
(Milk and cookies- Melanie Martinez 🎶)

Cat and I had separated shortly after resting on the roof, to continue with our daily tasks.
I'm walking along the sidewalk when sudden someone's walking along side of me. I slow down expecting them to pass but they slow their pace as well. I come to a halt. The person stops a bit ahead of me. I can hear a laugh coming from the stranger. It's the kind of laugh that sends a chill up your spine.
I cross my arms as the person slowly turns around to face me, it's the circus kid. "What do you want?" I spit, and continue to walk. He catches up, "Uhm I don't know really," he raises his eyebrow in though, " you intrigue me."
"So you followed me?" I glanced at his as we walk side by side. He's staring right back at me, not paying any attention to where he's walking. His hood covers most of his head, a little bit of his fiery red locks poke out the front, along with a single strand hanging across his forehead.
"Look, I have stuff I gotta get done. So leave me be, will ya." I quickly walk faster, towards an alley. I feel him slow down, but still following. I turn my head to see him eyeing my body as I walked. I teasingly sway my hips as I walk. My tattered jeans have a hole right under the left ass cheek, along with holes on the knees and thighs.
I look back again and the circus kid is gone. Whatever. I roll my eyes. As I'm making my way through the alley I hear a catcall whistle to my right. I stop and turn. An old homeless, drugged up man sits against he building, smiling up at me. "Hello there pretty lady. What're you doing in a place like this. It's not very safe for a little lady like you." He stands up. Making his way towards me. Lead him on, I smirk at the voices.
"Why, I'm not sure what I'm doing out here all by myself. I seem to have gotten lost." I pout, with fake innocence in my voice. He shoves me against the wall, attempting to trap me. "I can show you around," he hisses against my neck. Out of the corner of my eye I see a figure making its way towards us. I quickly pull out my knife, that was held against my hip, and slit the mans throat. He falls to the ground and I turn the figure, holding it to their chest. It didn't take long for me to realize who it was. "Circus kid.." I mumble. He just lets out a laugh. "Wow. You've made a mess." He states gesturing to the bleeding man on the ground. He steps closer to me, raising his hand to my cheek. I flinch, his eyes widen. He gently rubs my cheek with his thumb, "you've definitely made a mess." Showing me the blood he wiped off my face not even seconds before.
I break out into uncontrollable laughter, "oops?" He shrugs his shoulders, and joins in the laughter.
Suddenly the alley is filled with red and blue lights. Shit. My eyes widen as I look at the boy, who's got the same expression. "Run." He says, grabbing my hand, gently, dragging me down the alleyway. We come to a dead end. "No, no, no, no, no." I mutter to myself. He looks at me with a puzzled expression but doesn't question it. "It's okay doll face, it won't be that bad." He shrugs and breaks into laughter. Causing me to laugh as the cops surround us, guns raised.

************************************
Jeromes here!! I couldn't wait.
Like I said before, the story won't follow the exact Gotham storyline.
What did you guys think of my introduction of Jerome? I could've waited a chapter, but i kinda like the way this turned out. It's getting exciting quicker.

X.

Mad Love. (A Jerome Valeska fanfiction)Where stories live. Discover now