I'm Not Crazy: Jerome Valeska

Chapter 2

"I'm going to go get some air." You told James, getting up from your seat and shuffling through the crowded row of people. Pushing your way through into the cool of the night, you looked around you. Nothing but a grassy hill overlooking the ocean. Wandering further down, you found your way to the trailers of the performers and sideshows.

You came upon a trailer with a terrarium outside, a large snake resting within its confinements. You gazed on in wonder, the creature seemingly gazing into your soul. Or rather, looking right through you, at something behind you. You whipped around, your eyes widening in shock as you realised there was in fact, someone behind you.

"Beautiful, isn't she?" A redheaded boy that looked about your age spoke, hands buried in his coat pockets. "Oh! Uh, hello." You stammered, smoothing your dress in an attempt to compose yourself. "The name's Jerome." The boy said, extending a hand accompanied by a  warm smile. "Y/n." You replied, taking his hand in yours. His hand was incredibly warm, soft to the touch. "Is she yours?" You asked, referring to the snake.

"My mother's, actually. She's a snake dancer in the sideshow." Jerome corrected, withdrawing his hand back into his pocket. "A snake dancer?" Your eyes lit up with excitement; you'd never seen a snake dancer before. "Do you perform?" You asked curiously.

He chuckled, shaking his head. "No, as much as I'd like to. I just help out around here. "Oh." you said, realising how long you'd been gone. "Sorry, I should really be getting back. It was nice meeting you, Jerome." You smiled, waving as you walked off in the direction of the circus tent. He offered a faint smile in return, waving back as he watched you disappear inside the red and white dome.

The crowd had dispersed by now, the stadium empty aside from a group of performers and at the centre of it all, your brother, James Gordon. "What happened?" you asked, looking around at the battered and bruised faces of the performers. "Circus brawl." Jim replied, turning to the ringmaster. "Sir, where's Lila?" "Lila?" the ringleader repeated. "Snake dancer?" Jim elaborated. "Uh, she'll be in her trailer. This way." he said, leading the way outside.

You found yourself standing outside the same trailer as before, the snake still resting in its enclosure. Jerome poked his head out the door, his eyes widening as they met yours. "GCPD. We need to speak with Lila." Jim said, examining the ginger. "She's not here, why? What's happened?" Jerome said, stepping outside and wrapping his coat around himself.

"Are you a relative?" James asked. "I'm her son, Jerome." he replied, looking between you and the detective and noticing the similarities. "Jerome, when did you last see her?" The boy paused, collecting his thoughts. "This morning, she was here when I left for the library." he seemed tense, worry ebbing away at him. "Relax Jerome, this man is just here because there was a disagreement between Owen and Al. Your mother is fine, gone on a spree no doubt. You know how she is." the ringleader comforted, resting a hand on the boy's shoulder. "A spree? Without her hat, or coat, or purse?" Jerome paused, looking around at the group of people seemingly cornering him, before directing his attention to the snake. "L-look at Shiba; she's distraught, she knows something's wrong."

"The snake does seem to be distressed." Jim noted, looking at the reptile. "Sir," the ringmaster said, taking a step forwards. "She's what you'd call a party girl. Back in the morning with her knickers in a handbag, sure as eggs." "But she didn't take her handbag, did she?" Jim replied, looking him in the eye before looking back towards the snake. "How fast does an animal like that move?"

"Uh, fast walking pace, they rely on surprise mainly." Jerome answered, fiddling with his coat. "Let her out." "I'm sorry?" Jerome said, raising a brow at the detective. "Let her out." Jim smiled. You fell back to walk beside Jerome, following the snake up the path all the way to a trailer back with a sheet draped over it. Watching the snake slither inside, Jim grabbed the sheet and pulled it back, revealing the bloodied corpse of Lila. Lee gasped, hand over her mouth as she took a step back. "Oh my god." she breathed.

Jerome collapsed to his knees beside you, a helpless cry of sorrow choked from his throat. You fell down beside him, wrapping your arms around him as you tried to comfort him. He buried his face in your neck, warm tears falling against your skin. Jim looked back at the ringmaster, his eyes widening in realisation. "You knew." James said, walking towards him. "No!" "You knew she was here!" Jim pushed, face to face with the ringleader.

The ringleader sighed, looking up at Jim. "She was like that when we found her." James paused, taking a moment before he turned to you. "Take Jerome and go back to the trailer. We'll be back soon." Jim said, before walking off with the ringmaster and some officers.

"Come on." you whispered, helping the boy up and making your way back to the trailer. He sat down on the cold metal steps, enveloped in his coat and head down. "I can't believe she's gone..." he sniffled, wiping his tears with the back of his hand. "Shh, I know. It's ok..." you murmured, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. He leaned into you, head resting against yours as his fluffy red hair tickled your neck.

"Thank you..." he choked between sobs. "What for?" you asked, slightly confused. "For being here. I've never had a friend before..." he trailed off, looking up at you as your eyes locked. He was quite attractive, really. A handsome face with beautiful deep green eyes, complimented by his fiery red hair. But you noticed something else, something buried deep behind those emerald eyes. You couldn't quite place it, however.

"Y/n, there you are." James said, snapping you out of your trance. He looked between the two of you, raising a brow. "It's time to go. We're taking them all up to the GCPD." Jim said. "Wait, all of them?" you said, looking over to the dozens of performers. "Come on." Jim said, walking off with Lee. You looked to Jerome, smiling gently. "It'll be ok, don't worry." you said as you helped him up. "We'll see." Jerome murmured, burying his hands back into his coat pockets.