Stitches

Chapter 40 'Recover'

2 weeks later.

"Jerome it's been two weeks, I want to be able to leave the house already!" I said, crossing my arms. He shook his head softly and said, "Back to crime? No." I rolled my eyes, "The identity modifier needs to recharge so that means you have to go back to Arkham, or else people will start to wonder," I explained, he sighed and nodded, "You're right, but I still don't approve of this," he said.

I placed a kiss on his forehead and said, "Your next crime spree is coming up, after that, you don't have to go back to Arkham,"

🔪

"Let's go, Val," Nygma said as he stumbled around the dumpsters. He told me to meet him here for some reason and I can't say no since he basically saved my child.
"You alright?" I asked, he looked at me and said, "Does it look like it?"
I rolled my eyes and shrugged, I felt something cover up the light behind me, me and Nygma turned around.
Our eyes widened, "Butch," I couldn't believe it, Tabitha had told me that Barbara killed him, but now he was here, he looked... Pale as a ghost.
Ed started to ramble, begging for his life, next thing I know Butch hits Nygma on the head and he passes out.

"Men talk too much," Butch said. "I'll say," I said, "You. Lady, come with Grundy," Butch said, Would Jerome appreciate it if I ran off with a deceased person? "Okay," I shrugged and walked with him.

🔪

Nygma and Grundy talked as I waited for them to finish I look at all the people passing by.

Grundy gave some food to Nygma. "Lady, already friend" Grundy said. Nygma looked at me then at Grundy. "I protect lady" Grundy said. I smiled. I walked towards them. "I think Grundy here, is indestructible," I said.

We sat there on the street. "Thanks for the snack big guy," Nygma said to Grundy. "Its been an emotional day," Nygma said. "i got to go, c'mon Val," Nygma said as he stood up, Grundy grabbed his foot, preventing him from leaving.

"Not this again, c'mon. God...I've told you I'm better off alone and you are too," Nygma said. "He's not gonna let go," I said.

"Hey, freak, I knew we'd find you," a few bums walked toward us. I stood up and put my hand behind me back with a knife in my hand. "And it looks like you got friends," the bum said. "I assure you, we are not friends," Nygma said, referring to Grundy.
"Get em! All of em," the bum said, i've been itching for a fight. One of the bums threw a punch at me, I dodged it and grabbed his arm, flinging him over my shoulders like a ragdoll.

The rest of them backed off as Grundy came up, but then one of them lit his hand on fire.
"Friend help," He said to Nygma as his hand burned, though I doubt he could feel pain. Nygma ran off, I stayed and tried to find something to put the fire out, then Nygma came back with a bucket of water and put out the fire.

"Good job, friend," I said with a cocky smile, Nygma rolled his eyes, clearly not amused. "Grundy friend not dumb," Grundy said, "Grundy friend... smart"
Not where it counts, Grundy, not where it counts.
"Well, I guess, yeah, you're right, water beats fire, that was smart," Nygma said,
"Basic knowledge but okay," I mumbled, Grundy pulled Nygma into a hug, "I can't breathe," Nygma said, I chuckled and was going to leave them to their moment but Grundy pulled me into a hug. "Oh glob," I said as I was being squeezed by a giant.

🔪

"Those guys that attacked us didn't have five bucks between them," Nygma said as he checked the bum's pockets, "We need a new plan," he said,
"Im just waitin' on you guys," I stated,

Grundy stopped us for a moment,"What's wrong?" I asked, "Truth," Grundy said. "Grundy friend...Know Grundy,"

"You deserve to know" Nygma answered,
"You and I...Were the very best of friends and then something happened to you and I just didn't recognize you," Nygma said, "Really?" I said, Nygma looked at me, giving me a hint to shut my mouth.

"But what is important is that, with your muscles, we can make money, and with money, we can make me smart again, and then we'll figure out what happened to you, just trust me, okay?" Nygma said, I crossed my arms and followed Nygma to wherever he was leading us to.

"This is wrong you know," I said to him as he lead us. "I'm just taking the opportunity," Nygma answered, I shook my head softly. We entered a sort of club, there was a fighting ring in the middle of it all, it looked... Exciting.

I stayed quiet and kept walking with them, as Nygma talked to the manager. They called the doc to fix up Grundy after a fight and I went out back to speak with the doctor, to try and explain Grundy's...appearance.
"You the doc? " I asked the woman with dark long hair, she turned around, I gasped as I saw who it was..
"Lee?"