The lack of windows reminds Jerome of his cell at Arkham, which makes it hard to fall asleep. The darkness around him seems all-consuming, like a black hole sucking up every bit of light in his already bleak world. And his little sunshine isn't there beside him to brighten things up, either.
It's not hard for him to look and feel brave when he's with her, too concerned about her own safety and feelings to worry much about his own. It's easier like this, in the lonely darkness, to feel afraid. Not of the dark, necessarily, but of what it does to his mind.
With nothing to keep his attention, it's easy for the mind to dig up something to think about, often things Jerome would rather not think twice on. Like his feelings of helplessness and despair as a child, or the madness that consumed him thereafter. He knows that he can tell himself he's not crazy, but here, in the dark, he can't look past the thoughts that no sane person would conjure.
Certainly not my princess, he thinks to himself.
Despite her cooperation and apparent ease with him, Jerome can't help but feel suspicious. Remembering how terrified she'd seemed earlier when he arrived to save her—as well as recalling with a wince the things he's done and kept from her—it doesn't make sense that she would still care about him and willingly come with him.
Should I be keeping a closer eye on her? What if she only went with me so I would let Jimbo's girlfriend go, and now that she's lured me into a false sense of security, she'll escape while I'm here sleeping!
He begins to regret being so trusting and carefree with her earlier, showing her exactly how to get to and leave their hideout. It would be all too easy for her to slip away without a trace. Jerome glances continuously at the bedroom door as thoughts fly through his head, rapidly devolving into hysteria.
She may be my princess, but my Rapunzel is not leaving her tower.
Until such time that he can worm himself back into sleeping at her side, he will not allow himself to take his eyes off of her. Jerome stares hard at the bedroom door, resolute. There is no way that he's going to let Daisy escape from him.
Like some sort of conditioning, this thick darkness has an effect on his mind, dragging it back to a similar state as it was in Arkham, before Daisy. More dangerous feelings begin to show themselves again, manifesting in a dark sort of possessiveness, for now at least.
Dry eyes have been resting in the same spot for a while now, but it's impossible to know how long (due to their seclusion) without checking a phone. However, that would require looking away from the door, which Jerome cannot bring himself to do.
That's when he hears it. Noises—whimpers and cries are coming from behind the door. Jerome has to seriously listen for a moment just to confirm that the dark and his own mind aren't playing more tricks on him, but as he gets up and moves closer to the door, the cries grow louder.
Alarmed, he swings open the door to find Daisy writhing and crying out like a hurt animal on the bed. Tears stream from her eyes as she frantically tries to flee an invisible enemy.
Jerome remembers that the last time he tried to intervene in one of her nightmares, he inadvertently made things worse. He hesitates a moment as he quickly tries to decide how to best help her.
When the next cry leaves her lips, instinct alone takes over.
"Help me! Daddy!"
He's kneeled down before her in an instant, one hand in her hair at the scalp and the other on her cheek. Being very gentle, he strokes and caresses her as he murmurs soothing words.
"It's alright, babygirl. Daddy's right here, Daddy's got you. Daddy's not going to let anything happen to you," he coos reassuringly. "Give me those eyes, princess, I need to know you hear me. You're safe now."
Seemingly at hearing his voice, Daisy's eyes shoot open and she lurches toward him, terrified. Jerome takes it in stride and catches the disoriented girl in his arms, lifting the both of them into the bed, her in his lap.
"Shh, princess, just breathe. In and out for Daddy, nice and slow. I've got you, baby. Feel my deep breaths and match them, alright?"
Jerome breathes deep and slow to emphasize his points, trying to calm his heartbeat as well so as not to frighten the poor girl further.
He smiles in relief as he feels Daisy finally relaxing in his arms, body sagging as she lets him hold both of their weights.
"Was it the same as last time?" Jerome asks when she's calmed down some more.
Daisy nods slowly against his chest.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
This time she shakes her head no, ruffling her hair, which makes Jerome huff in annoyance at her persisting cuteness. He remains attentive as he smooths her now messy hair down some, but in doing so realizes something.
"Were you having these nightmares and everything while we were apart? When you were with Lee?" Jerome wonders, heart clenching a little at the idea that she needed him and he wasn't there.
This time Daisy hesitates a little before nodding her head some more, looking up at him. She whispers, "Lee didn't know. I didn't make any noise."
Jerome nods his own head and clutches her a little tighter to his chest. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you then, babygirl, but I'm here now. Do you want me to stay, or would that just make it worse?"
"Stay, please. Hold me," she pleads quickly in a whisper, grabbing onto his shirt between them and pulling herself impossibly closer to him.
"Whatever you want, princess. Your wish is my command," Jerome agrees, shifting them both so that they are laying down, he on his back with her head resting on his chest.
Their legs entwine naturally like puzzle pieces, weaving together just as their fingers do to form an intimate picture. Both of them hold on tight to one another, afraid the other might disappear into the unforgiving blackness around them, just beyond their bubble of happiness and love.
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A/N
Online school gives me no motivation, so grow used to biweekly updates as big projects and finals loom ahead. Let me know what you think of our own quarantine lovers. Do they have enough toilet paper? Only time will tell. Vote and comment if you please. Peace out.
Gingy
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Rapunzel <J. Valeska>
Fanfiction"What's the matter gorgeous? Cat got your tongue?" So, after the breakout, Jerome found a mysterious blond girl on the street and decided he wanted to keep her. He's got issues, but she's got some too, though maybe not the same kind. Jerome must ha...
