Teen Idle❔Edward Nygma❔

12.Jerome Valeska|edicirtaM

I'm sitting in my restraints when Queenie comes in.

"Tell me who he is."

A small smile crosses my face before I respond.

"His name is Jerome Valeska. He was raised in a circus, he killed his mother who was a snake dancer, which ended him in Arkham. He reminded me of you when I met him. Theo Galavan broke him and some other inmates out of Arkham, making a group called the Maniax. The group killed numerous amounts of people, their most known were the massacre they did in the GCPD and their last appearance at the Children's Benefit Gala. I was at both. Jerome was killed by Theo Galavan on the night of the gala. He was stabbed in the neck. Theo Galavan was then murdered twice, once as a corrupt mayor and another as a villain called Azrael."

"Okay, the guy was a maniac, no surprise there, but that still doesn't answer why I'm seeing him in my dreams."

I hesitate for a moment but decide to go against it.

"Because you were there, with the Maniax, when Theo Galavan was killed, when Jerome died, you were there. You're the reason I didn't die all those times the Maniax attacked."

"And I don't remember any of this because?"

"I don't know. We weren't on big speaking terms during that time. You tried to kill yourself Queenie, you weren't the same afterwards."

"I know the whole kill myself thing, that's why I'm stuck here after all. But now you're saying that I suffered amnesia or something?"

"Hell do I know? I haven't known you for a long time, I don't know what or how much you don't remember. I don't know you, as much as I sometimes liked to pretend I did, I don't."

"Why would you keep this from me, for so long?"

"You tried to kill yourself Queenie! You were comatose! I was scared, I had no idea what would be the best for you. We needed a break, from all of it, from Gotham, that's why we went on our little road trip. But when we came back, I still wasn't ready. I didn't know what would break you. You need to trust me when I tell you, I never meant to hurt you, I just wasn't sure how to help."

"What, you're gonna go on a whole spiel like Alex, saying how this was the only way you knew how to deal with it? How you were just trying to help? How I wouldn't understand?! I'm not you, Rose, I'm not just going to fall for that."

"I know and I'm not. I messed up, and this is probably karma for what I did. I should've done something else, I should've realized that I didn't know and was probably the last person to help you with what you were going through."

"Damn right!"

I sigh.

"I'm not as good as I think I am, I haven't been for a long time. You were always trying to help me realize that and I finally have. I'm not going to excuse my shitty behavior because that makes me shittier."

"It takes you getting kidnapped to learn a lesson?"

"Surprisingly not the first time."

"What do I do now?"

"Search him up, see that I'm not lying to you. Then you can come back and uphold your end of the deal."

"Sounds good, unless I find out your lying."

"Please, I wouldn't get caught in a stupid lie like that, one that could easily fall apart. I'm not Alex."

She leaves me to my solitude for a while, but then finally returns. Plopping down on a chair in front of me.

"So you weren't lying."

"Kind of obvious I wasn't, but okay."

"So, he and I were friends?"

"All I know is you two knew each other."

"Did I know the girl he was with? Harley, I think her name was?"

"Yep, you sure did."

She nods slowly.

"So, the thing you need me to get from your room, what is it? And if it's like a photo of your boyfriend so you could look at him one last time or something sappy like that, I'm going to punch you in the face."

"It's a box, it's under a wood tile, I'm sure you know where it is."

"Not really, so unless you want me to burn your whole room then I'd suggest you be more specific."

"What? But my tile was definitely moved, a couple of times, I thought it was you."

"Nope."

"My old diary was taken from there, when I didn't find it in your room I assumed you burned it or something."

"No, that was Alex. I've definitely seen her with it, probably has it in her car or something. Believe me, reading about your awkward teenage phase isn't something I'd be deliberately doing."

"Oh, so another secret I didn't know til now? Yes, I absolutely have no more respect for her or for her reputation at all. And you've known about it and haven't told me, kind of hypocritical."

"I don't tell other people's secrets."

"Then why tell me?"

"Because you're going to memory and personality, might as well know the whole truth."

"So that's it, no more secrets hidden somewhere, or is it going to be a surprise each time?"

"With us, it's really always a fucking surprise, we hoard secrets more than a squirrel hoards nuts. I mean apparently I could have millions of more secrets I don't even remember. And soon enough you won't either."

"We'll see about that. But in the meantime, let's go back to you getting what I asked for. It'll be by my nightstand, I need you to get a metal box, it'll be locked but I'm sure you can pick it, I'll also need the cigarette box and make sure there's a nice amount of cigarettes inside... Please."

"Be right back with your order ma'am."

And with that, she left.
But true to her she came right back with the things I asked in hand.

"If you don't have the key, then who does?", she says as she inspects the box.

"Alex. Now if you could please use your lock picking skills to open it."

"This isn't part of the deal."

"Please, give me something to lock pick it with and I will gladly do it myself.", I say as I dramatically try to fling my arms, drawing attention to my restraints.

"Alright, fine."

She starts picking at the lock as she grumbles.

"What's in here anyway? And why does Alex have the key and not you? And why would need this? And why haven't I seen this before, I know most of your guy's secrets?"

"No, you don't. Like you said this family is dripping with secrets. None of us really know anything."

That's when I hear the lock click.
Queenie opens it and looks at its contents without touching them.
I take a deep breath as she turns the box to me. With the little flexibility I had with my hands I was able to grab a poker ring and a small key.
Queenie sets everything to the table next to me.

"What did you get?"

I was able to grab her hand.

"Go to the garage, and remember everything, and when you do you can decide what to do next. Either come back here and make me pay for what I've done or don't waste your time and get the hell out of here. All I ask is that you remember that I'm sorry." I let go of her hand.

She leaves with a confused look.

I glance at the lock picks she left on the table next to me.