The Beast Within

Chapter One: Jerome Valeska

2 years later.

I put my skills to good use and Lucky and I became bounty hunters, her cousin Tabitha joined us too, I brought in another wannabe villain into the GCPD and called for commissioner Gordon, he walked to me and slapped handcuffs on the idiot I brought in "12th capture in just 5 days, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you like ruffing these guys up and bringing them in" he said jokingly and I smirked "you know me Commish, just doing my civic duty" he smiled then looked semi serious "you know, we could use you on the force, you'd be a great officer" he handed me my check and I smiled and shook my head "I'm not a good guy Jim, I just do what I have to survive" "you're not a bad guy either" I shrugged my shoulders "I'm a good, bad guy, not good enough for the force but not bad enough to join the clowns that run this City" he chuckled a bit and placed his hand on my shoulder "you're a good kid Nyssa, don't think all you'll ever do is just bring low-life's in" "isn't that what you used to do? just with a fancy badge and gun?" he cocked his head to the side with a slight grin "I've always wanted to follow in my fathers footsteps, you have so much more to take in life, don't settle on just one thing" I smiled and lightly nudged him "awh Jimmy, there you go getting all sentimental again" he smiled and shook his head "alright get outta here before I throw you in with this joker" I laughed and looked at the guy I brought in who had crazy clown make up on and kept chanting something.

I went to leave the building but before I could I heard Jim yell "EVERYONE GET DOWN!" I turned my head and the guy I brought in exploded, the force pushed me back making me hit the doors hard and fall to the ground, blurring my vision a little, I heard a maniacal cackle and the silhouette of a man in the smoke, he got closer and stopped at James who was on the ground covering his ears "hiya Jimmy boy! miss me? HAHAHAHAHA" my eyes grew wide and my jaw dropped, the guy had stitches around his whole face and a permanent stretched smile on his lips, he had fiery ginger hair that was slightly spiky and a suit on that even she had to admit, looked pretty good on him, his shirt was covered in blood from the lower part of his shirt near his stomach and he had gloves on that were covered in blood too "Jerome? you're.. alive?" Jim groaned and stood up to be face to face with him "ohhw!, sorry for faking my death on that roof and scaring you Jim, I just needed to get you off my trail for a while, what better way to do that, than fake my own death!? HAHAHAHA" his laugh was obnoxious and eerie "I shot you" Jim said in disbelief and Jerome pouted "you did, which wasn't cool by the way, that shit hurt!" he said almost like a whiny toddler that made me smile a little.

Jerome pulled up his shirt and I couldn't look away from all of his markings and scars and my eyes fell on a large scar across his torso "took a while to actually grab the bullet out, it hurt too! but, at least I didn't die.. again" he shrugged and cackled again "I saw you die, you fell into that car" Jim said and Jerome smiled "acting my good frenemy, acting, I paid the forensics idiots to 'check' my pulse and say I was 'dead', most of it was for the cameras" Jerome said using air quotes "alive or not, you're under arrest Valeska" Jim said and went to grab Jerome's wrist but he was too quick and jumped back before Jim could touch him "not so fast, you didn't really think I would just bomb the GCPD and just stroll in here without a plan? come onn Jim, you know me better than that" Jerome said smirking.

Jerome pulled out a little blinking remote with a red button on it and Jim's eyes grew wide "yeah, you already know what this is" Jerome said shrugging gesturing to the small detonator "what do you want? Jeremiah runs this City now" Jim said and Jerome rolled his eyes "I know, I'm 'dead' for a year and here he comes and steals all the spotlight! I made him what he is and he prances around like a vampire barbie and pretends he got there all on his own!" "we can't help you go against Jeremiah, Jerome" Jim said cautiously and Jerome rolled his eyes again "well obviously I know that Jim, I didn't come here for help, I came here to send a message to my dear make-up loving brother" Jim rolled his eyes at Jerome's dramatics "what do you want then?" Jerome looked around and suddenly Jerome's gaze landed on me and he smirked "who's that? I don't remember seeing her before" Jerome said looking at me but talking to Jim "she's a bounty hunter, she doesn't work for us, she just catches bad guys like you" Jim said and Jerome once again rolled his eyes "yeah, yeah, I'm the bad guy blah blah blah" Jerome said walking towards me.

He grabbed my wrist and pulled me up to my feet, I pulled out of his grip and stepped back with a stern look on my face and he grinned "tell me little miss bounty hunter, you do contract work?" I looked him up and down and I can't even lie, he is one fine looking man, even with a stitched on face "she's not working for you unless you deactivate your bombs" Jim said sternly and Jerome grinned "whaddya say? you work for me and I won't blow this place sky high?" I looked him over again and sighed "hand Jim the detonator and I'll work for you under a contract" he laughed loudly and tossed Jim the detonator, he quickly caught it and glared daggers at Jerome who just shrugged, Jerome walked out of the GCPD and I followed after.