#alright now I’ve got a billion other drawings to go work on because the grind never stops yall

[ricky-mortis]

A portrait of Sir John Herschel because I‘m normal about Pulp Musicals

[ladyfogg]

Sick Like Me - Part 2/20

Sick Like Me - Part 2

Fic Summary: With unfinished business hanging over your head, being locked up in Arkham is holding you back. However, you have your eye on a certain red-haired maniac, who may be just the person to help you escape and realize your true potential.  Fic Song. Fic Playlist. Fic Masterpost.

Fic Rating: NC-17

Pairing: Jerome Valeska/Female Reader

Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Explicit Sexual Content, for a complete list of warnings, visit AO3.

A/N: Due to some plans changing around, I was actually able to get this posted today. Enjoy!

The yard Arkham offers isn't much to boast about. It’s a flat, square bit of grass surrounded by high walls. There are a few dead trees here and there, and a rather sad looking garden in the corner that had been abandoned long ago. Since, by law, they need to give you some fresh air, it was their solution.

You’re actually enjoying it this time, having been off the permission list after a brief incident with a guard. Honestly, his eye was just fine. You don’t know what all the fuss was about.

It’s sunny, a rarity for Gotham. You mosey around the yard, your friend, Aaron, trailing behind. You wave him away and keep walking, pausing by a bench to kick your shoes off. The cool grass feeling amazing between your toes. As you walk by one of the trees, Jerome seems to materialize out from behind it. You wonder if he was watching you from behind there the whole time you were wandering, waiting for Aaron to leave your side.

“Morrringggg,” he sings, hurrying to cut you off. You keep moving forward however, forcing him to walk backwards.

“Morning, Jerome,” you smirk.

“Thought about you last night,” Jerome says proudly. He looks good today, his hair slicked back except for that one strand that doesn’t seem to want to do what its told. His face is bright and he’s absolutely giddy to see you.  

“Of course you did,” you say. “A lot of people do.”

Jerome giggles and falls in step with you. “True,” he says.

“Was it good?”

“Oh, sooo goood,” Jerome assures you. “Toes curled and everything. Made quite a mess.”

“Hmm, well maybe next time I’ll be there to clean it up for you.”

Jerome makes a noise that’s between a grunt and a bark. “Now there’s a mental image I won’t be getting rid of any time soon,” he tells you. After a few seconds, he shakes his head as if to clear it. “Unfortunately, I'm here on business.”

“Shame.”

“Right?” he grins. “Do you know Richard Sionis? Big shot CEO. Killed—”

“Yeah, yeah, killed twenty-something people just for shits and giggles,” you say, dismissively. You've heard it a billion times. “What about him?”

“Well, he wants to be one of your friends,” Jerome says. “A fact I maaaay have forgotten to mention yesterday.”

“If I recall correctly, you offered yourself to me,” you remind him.

Jerome grins. “That I did, Queenie,” he says. The grin fades. “But I was supposed to offer him.” He leans in and puts his finger to his lips. “Shhhhhh, don’t tell him. It definitely won't go over well.”

“I know all about Sionis,” you say. “He’s rich, so he likes to buy people's loyalty. Which is actually a really effective way to get them on your side. Just doesn't really help him in this situation. He’s come after me before and it didn’t go well. Never does. Pass.”

You find a nice, mostly clean spot of grass and collapse onto the ground, laying on your back. The sun rays feel wonderful, though they get blocked out when Jerome leans over you, face eerily serious.

“He won’t like that,” he says.

Eyeing Jerome curiously, you ask, “Why are you following that imbecile’s orders? You're so much better than that.”

“Survival,” Jerome answers. “Everyone’s got friends but me. Like I told you yesterday, guards don’t care what happens to us. If you know Sionis, you know that he’s the shot caller around here. A lot of people seem to be in his pocket, so when he ordered me to try to get you in as well, my options were fairly limited.”

You allow yourself a luxurious stretch, relishing in the feeling of the soft grass. “And so you thought you’d try your luck with me why?”

Jerome laughs and holds up his hands, making a square with his fingers. He pretends to bring you into focus as he says, “I like the look of you, Queenie. You’ve got the potential to be a real star, kid!”

You laugh as well, rolling your eyes. “I’m pretty sure we’re close to the same age,” you say. Slowly you slide your foot up between his legs, stroking his inner thigh. “It’s not my pocket I want you in. I am way more fun than Sionis.”

The slow smile you’ve come to adore makes its way across his face. He looks off into the distance, contemplating your offer. “Hmm...okay!” he finally shouts, and falls to his knees. Crawling over your body, he presses his forehead and nose to yours and asks in a low voice, “That mean we’re friends now?”

Chuckling, you shove him off to the side. “Yes, it does,” you tell him. He falls next to you. “But, if you’re friends with me, you’re done with him. I’ve got plans and I won’t have him or anyone else interrupting me.”

“Done. You’re prettier anyways,” Jerome states. Rolling over onto his stomach, he folds his arms under his chin. “Alright, Queenie, what’s the plan then? Whatever it is, I want in.”

“Not here, too open,” you say. “Also, ‘Queenie’? That a new nickname?”

“Well, a certain someone is being all secretive with her real name,” he huffs. “Had to come up with something to call you when I came last night.”

Speaking of images being stuck in your brain. The thought of Jerome thinking about you with his hand around himself is almost too much for you to handle. Pants around his ankles, free hand fisting the bed sheets, hips jerking upward with each tug…

Focus.

Smiling, you tell him your actual name, but he just scrunches his nose and shakes his head. “Nah, I like ‘Queenie’ better.”

You kind of do too. Or at least, you like the way he says it.

“Queenie, let me ask you something. I know you’ve got friends that you whore yourself to and that’s all well and good, but how do you stop the guards from doing bad things to you?” Jerome speaks rapidly, almost as if his brain is on overdrive. “I’ve been here near a year now and I have seen and heard some awful, awful things. Truly. Terrible. Things. But I've never seen anything happen to you.” He pauses, and you can see he’s breathing heavily.

“Been watching that closely, huh?”

“I'm always watching you, Queenie. Always.”

You roll onto your stomach, bringing your faces close because you need to be in his space. It’s a compulsion you just can’t shake. Breathing the same air as him is becoming necessary when he’s this close. He smells like grass and a hint of soap, mixed with his natural musk. It draws you in, invading your senses.

“You know how Sionis is rich?” you question in a low voice.

Jerome nods slowly, grinning. “Yeaaaahhhhh.”

You nuzzles the side of his face, inhaling the scent of his skin. He’s practically panting as he does the same to you, and he’s so close you can feel his soft eyelashes brushing your cheek.

“I’m richer,” you whisper in his ear. “And I’ll have even more money when I kill my stepmom.”

Jerome is growling now, low in his throat, drawing back enough to touch his forehead to yours. “Money is a powerful motivator,” he says. He pulls away suddenly, sitting up and crossing his legs. “Doesn’t really do it for me. But if it works on these pathetic halfwits, than who am I to complain.” He extends his hand, that ever present grin plastered across his face. “Shake on our new friendship?”

You’re so turned on you can’t even stand it anymore. Taking his offered hand, you give it a firm shake, then let your smile drop. He’s watching you carefully, smirking, waiting to see what you’re going to do next. Using his hand for leverage, you pull yourself up and onto his lap, cupping his smooth face. His mouth is already open when you kiss him, diving your tongue in as far as it can go.

If he's surprised, you don't even notice. There's no hesitancy as his arm wraps around you immediately, while one hand buries itself into your tangled hair. You can feel his growl return, his teeth clacking against yours painfully.

It's like a strange tug of war. He kisses harder, tongue shoving past your lips, pushing you until you're nearly bent backwards. Grunting, you wrap your arms around his shoulders and resist, trying to push him back. After a few seconds, you succeed, rolling his bottom lip between your teeth. He tries to wrestle you for control of the kiss, but you’re not backing down. Neither is he.

No other kiss compares to kissing Jerome. He’s hungry, demanding, painful. Oh such sweet, wonderful pain. From the way his long fingers twist and pull your hair, to the way his teeth bite your bottom lip when he draws away. Both of you try to catch your breathe. He tastes like pure sin and you’re just about to dive in for more, when out of the corner of your eye you see something across the yard.

One of the inmates who had actually noticed the exchange suddenly looks fearful, and he turns around and runs into the building. Shit. It’s hard to see his face from his distance, but you know it can only be Sionis’s little snitch, Arnold.

Jerome sees he no longer has your attention and grows angry. “Hey, focus,” he snaps. Both hands fall to your ass and he thrusts up against you, grinding his growing erection into your thigh. “We’re in the middle of something here!”

“Sionis’s pet just ran into the building,” you tell him, getting off his lap. “Come on, I want to follow him ”

Jerome sighs dramatically and hauls himself to his feet, scrambling to keep up with you. The both of you hurry across the yard, only stopping so you can retrieve your shoes from where you left them earlier. Aaron gets to his feet to follow, but you motion for him to stay behind. This calls for stealth, something he doesn't understand.

Arnold is just turning a corner when you and Jerome get inside. You're quick to follow, making sure to stay a bit behind him so that he doesn't realize he's being followed. After a few minutes, Arnold slips down hall that leads to one of the abandoned wings that has yet to be redone.

“He's going to Sionis's office,” Jerome tells you.

You figured as much, you've been there before. But you don't tell him that. You just look around to make sure the guards are distracted, before slipping into the wing, Jerome right behind you.

By the time you get your eyes on Arnold again, he's knocking on the door to a room at the end of the hall. A few seconds later, the door opens and he disappears inside. You and Jerome silently creep towards the room, but you can't hear what they're saying inside. All you hear are muffled noises.

You motion to the door next to Sionis’s office. Jerome follows your lead and the two of you slip through it. It’s an old broom closet, with barely enough space for the both of you to move in. Once the door is closed, you drop to your knees.

“Mmm, what sort of plans you have for me in here, Queenie?” Jerome teases, but you pull him down with you so he can see the small hole in the wall, peering into the next room. The voices stop and you both hold your breath, hoping they didn’t hear Jerome.

After a few seconds, Arnold speaks. “Sorry, Richard. Sorry. But you said to come to you if I saw something.”

“What is it, Arnold?” Richard asks.

You chance a look through the hole, which is partially hidden by a desk. It makes it difficult to see much, but you’re able to make out Richard lounging on what was once a sofa. The bodies of other people are also around, but you can’t determine exactly who they are. However, it’s clear they’re fellow inmates.

“He was talking to her again,” Arnold says hurriedly. “They were talking together.”

“Arnold, we went over this,” Richard responds. “I told Jerome to talk to her.”

“But you didn’t tell him to kiisssss heeeerrrr.”

You lose sight of Richard as someone moves to block your view. Next to you, Jerome has buried his face in your hair and is currently smelling it, humming under his breath. It distracts you for the moment, your hand reaching up to cradle his cheek. You close your eyes and just savor the feeling of him being close. He kisses along your cheek to your lips, but Richard’s angry yelling brings you crashing back to your current situation.

“He is dead! That little shit is dead! You hear me?!” Richard explodes. “Him and the slut picked the wrong guy to mess with! And another thing—”

Jerome isn’t listening to the rant. He's clearly annoyed not to be the center of your attention and he gets to his feet. As you look up at him questioningly, he grabs your upper arm and pulls you stand with him, lining his body flush against yours. He’s kissing you now, pressing you to the wall. It's even more demanding than it was outside, and his body trapping you sends you into a fit of excitement.

The sounds of Richard screaming in the background is actually a major turn on. While he rants and raves about betrayal and other bullshit, you worm your fingers through Jerome’s hair, tugging. He moans, so you do it again, knee sliding up to press on the bulge jamming into your hip.

Every sensation sends a fresh wave of wetness between your legs. You claw at Jerome’s shirt, trying to bring him even closer, while his hands run along every part of your body he can reach. He’s giggling between kisses, the sound drowned out by Richard’s yelling. The way you're kissing...it's like you and Jerome are trying to devour each other.

You pull on Jerome’s hair harder than before, yanking his head back. He lets out an obscene sound as you run your tongue up his neck, sucking on the spot just below his ear. The bulge you're rubbing twitches as you press your teeth into that pale throat. Your face is seized in both his hands and he practically smashes his mouth to yours, stealing what little breath you have left.

And still Richard rants.

Jerome’s kisses are quickly becoming a drug. One that you are already hopelessly addicted to. His tongue is buried so far into your mouth you can’t even move your own tongue. Well that won’t do. You bite down, just enough to force him to withdraw. He doesn't at first, so you bite harder. He jerks away, breathing heavily and you taste copper in your mouth, the lingering reminder that you actually drew blood.

“Wouldn’t it be hilarious,” he giggles, “if I were to just fuck you right here against the wall while he swears vengeance on us?”

“Oh it would be,” you agree. But then you put your hand on his chest and push him back, breaking almost all contact. “Except for the fact that while I fool around with my friends, I don’t fuck them.”

Jerome’s arms drop to his sides and he fixes you with an incredulous look. “Are you shitting me?” he asks, chest heaving under your palm.

“Nope,” you smile. “Only special people get that privilege. Been a long time since I’ve granted it.” You bat your eyelashes at him, playing coy as you let your fingers trail down his chest. “How about it, sweets? Do you think you have what it takes to be my special person?”

“You don’t get more special than me, doll face,” he says, coming at you again. He just manages to get his arms around your waist when the door to the closet flies open.

Blinking in the sudden light, you can’t help but smile at Richard’s angry expression. “Hey there, Richie,” you mock. “Been a long time.”

His goons seize you and Jerome, yanking you out of the closet. You struggle of course, while Jerome lets them manhandle him.

“Fellas, fellas, easy,” he says. “Queenie will be absolutely heartbroken if you damage the goods before she has a chance to sample.”

Richard isn't amused. He steps right up to Jerome and punches him in the gut. You scream angrily, fighting against the two inmates who are holding you. Jerome wheezes and doubles over, laughing.

Richard doesn’t find it funny at all. He grabs Jerome’s face and pulls him up so he can peer into his eyes. “I wouldn’t be fucking laughing if I were you, asshole,” he snarls. “After everything I've done for you? This is how you repay me?!”

“You have to admit, it’s just so funny!” Jerome exclaims. At the lack of reaction from Richard, he laughs even harder. “Come on! Think about it! You send me to go talk to the girl you’ve been lusting over, and has rejected you over and over and over and over…” He coughs slightly as Richard tightens his grip. He’s still being held by the Arnold and another inmate, not bothering to try to break free. “Only to learn she likes me more than she likes you! For all your money and power, you lost out to a skinny, pale, guy with nothing to his name! It’s fucking hilarious!” Jerome laughs louder. “To be fair, I have a wonderful sense of humor!”

Richard punches him in the gut a second time and you see red. Self control snapping, you turn and sink your teeth into the arm of one of the men holding you, only to yank off a chunk of skin. As he screams in pain, you wrench your arm free and spit the skin at him, before turning and sinking your fist into the face of the other man.

“Woooo! Look at Queenie go!” Jerome exclaims excitedly through his laughter. He's looking at you like you're the most beautiful thing he's ever seen.

Richard, not expecting such a violent display is temporarily stunned. Arnold is sufficiently terrified and immediately lets go of Jerome, taking off down the hall. You wipe the blood from your face, smearing it across your mouth as you grin. His men take off running, leaving just you, Richard, and Jerome. Well, and the man with the missing chunk from his arm who is currently bleeding all over the floor.

“We talked about this last time you came after me,” you growl at Richard. “Do you really want to do this again?”

“You need to be shown your place!” Richard snaps, seemingly over his shock.

“My place is standing on your fucking grave, Sionis!”

From the other end of the hall, there’s suddenly yelling as guards finally come to investigate the noise.  

Jerome grabs your hand and starts to pull you back the direction you came. Richard is also backing up in the opposite direction, so you allow Jerome to pull you away, not even bothering to spare your enemy a backwards glance. Jerome’s laughter is ringing in your ears, but that quickly stops as you both round a corner and smack into more guards.

They grab you and Jerome, trying to separate you from each other. Jerome fights hard, managing to reach out and seize the back of your head, yanking you into one more painful kiss. His eyes still shine with awe and you barely get a chance to grin at him before you’re both carried off to your cells.