#so. ask unwittingly helping next asker

[stealingpotatoes]

i love love love your anidala art so much!! it always makes me smile!

aww thank you!! hope this lil sketchbook Anidala I did yesterday also makes u smile!!

[thedeevirus]

Prompt if you're in the mood to write season 1 Jim/Ed (can be platonic) hurt/comfort: Jim starts to get worn down by Harvey's insults of Ed both to his face and when he's not around. Jim had given his fair share of brush-offs to Ed as well but it's becoming a legitimate workplace problem.

FOR SUMMER OF GOTHAM WEEK 2; SEASON 1

PART 2 WIP: smut incoming, wanted to keep the really nsfw stuff separate in case the asker didn’t want to see it

Hope you enjoy!

***

‘Ed? You down here?’

‘Where else would I be?’ Ed thought sourly butresponded affirmatively to Gordon’s call.

Gordongave a token knock on the lab door before entering. Ed nodded in acknowledgementand feigned interest in a pile of folders, shuffling them busily.

‘LookI’m sorry about Harv’, Gordon said, ‘I’ve chewed him out for how he talks toyou but he’s got a temper’.

Ed shruggednonchalantly.

‘Justa bit of ribbing that’s all’, he said neutrally, ‘Comes with the job. Besides,if he thinks he upset me or something ridiculous like that th-then shouldn’t hebe down here apologising himself?’

‘He’sprobably afraid of these guys’, Gordon said, jabbing a thumb at a nearby mountedskeleton.

‘Technicallythat’s just a naked human male’.

‘You’retelling me Harvey wouldn’t be spooked if one of those came walking up to himwith a grin like that?’ Gordon smirked, leaning on the skeleton’s bony shoulder.

Edlaughed despite himself. Clearing his throat and put the folders down, he movedto the table where a series of samples were set up ready to be examined beneatha microscope. Ed pretended to examine the first in the line, watching Gordonout of the corner of his eye and wondering why he hadn’t left yet. He seemed almost…interested in Ed’s work.

‘Doesit ever get lonely down here?’ Gordon asked, his voice echoing slightly againstthe bare walls.

‘Notto be rude but is there something you need from me Detective?’ Ed asked, waryof Gordon’s continued presence. People didn’t typically come down to the labfor social calls with Ed. They only visited when they needed something from him.

‘Comeon Ed, Jim’s fine’.

‘Isthere something you need, Jim?’

‘Justchecking if you’re alright’.

Edremoved the first sample and moved on to the next. He didn’t even know what hewas supposed to be looking at.

‘Rightas rain. Wh-why wouldn’t I be?’

‘Just,Harvey can be a bit…brusque’.

Jimrubbed the back of his neck and made a pointed correction.

‘A lot brusque and you usually seem to beon the receiving end’.

‘Believeme, I’m more than capable of taking whatever Detective Bullock’s feeble mindcan dish out’.

Edbit his lip as he accidentally zoomed in to the sample too closely and theglass slide cracked beneath the microscope’s lens: the sound similarly amplifiedby the room. Maybe he was a bit more irritated with Bullock’s insults than hepretended to be.

Jimonly nodded sympathetically.

‘Usedto it, huh?’, he said, ‘I know the feeling’.

Ed abandonedthe samples, worried about damaging another and fiddled with a pair of rubbergloves, unsure of how to respond to Jim’s candid words.

‘Thankyou for your concern Detec-‘ Ed said before correcting himself, ‘Jim. Is thatall?’

‘No.Also wanted to say good work out there today. Get the feeling you don’t hearthat very often’.

‘No,I don’t’, Ed said, startled and pleased by Jim’s honest gratitude, ‘Thank you.Again’.

‘Anyplans for tonight?’ Jim asked conversationally, ‘TGIF right?’

‘Ah,nope’, Ed said, feeling slightly cautious again as talk turned to his emptyprivate life, ‘No plans here’.

‘In thatcase, can I buy you a drink?’

‘You don’t have plans for tonight?’ Edasked, wincing at the unwittingly incredulous way the question had come out.

‘Hey,don’t sound so shocked’, Jim said light heartedly, ‘I’m not exactly MrPopularity here’.

‘Really?Why’s that?’

Jimraised an eyebrow, obviously doubting Ed’s ignorance of his situation.

‘Idon’t get out of the lab much’, Ed said, gesturing at his surroundings in selfdemonstration.

Jimnodded, accepting Ed’s answer.

‘BecauseI don’t think like they do’, Jim said ruefully and turned to go.

Edblinked, taken aback by Jim’s confession and the admiration for the detectivewelling up inside him. Ed hid from people because he didn’t want them to mockhim whereas Jim faced it head on and did what he thought was right. It was astrong position to take. And a lonely one.Ed realised he had misjudged Jim Gordon badly: he had anticipated another muscleheaded bully with an over eager trigger finger and a palm waiting to begreased. Just one more person’s barbed half heard comments and cruel laughterto ignore as he passed.Instead, Jim’s dilemma was practically a cliché: a good cop in a dirty city whoungratefully sneered at his protection. Jim was an intriguing aberration. Hewas a mutant, an outsider. A riddle.Just like Ed.

‘Doyou have a particular place in mind?’ Ed called, hurrying after Jim.

 ***

‘I didn’tknow you could sing’, Jim said, sighing gratefully as they finally reached Ed’sfloor.

Hehelped Ed take the last step, the forensic scientist swaying slightly on hisfeet but holding up fairly well considering the amount of shots they hadindulged in. Ed coughed, his throat obviously still aching from his spirited participationin the bar’s karaoke competition.

‘’PurpleRain’s’ my party piece’, Ed replied with a grin as they stopped at his door, ‘Notthat I ever get invited to parties. Shoot!’

Hiskeys hit the hallway floor with a clinking noise.He automatically bent to retrieve them as did Jim. Their hands touched as they simultaneously took hold of the keys. Ed froze, alltoo aware of the implications that accidental physical contact could have, especiallywhen mixed with alcohol. He was still trying to figure out how to withdraw hishand from beneath Jim’s when Jim handed him his keys.

Edstraightened slowly, head swimming slightly as he accepted his apartment keysand he inhaled deeply. Both to clear his head and out of relief that Jim didnot seem to have noticed Ed’s misstep. And also for another reason he tried notto think about: how nice it had felt when Jim’s hand had graced his. Ed couldn’tremember the last time someone had touched him without hurting him. He had theawful suspicion it had maybe been years.

‘Youalright?’ Jim asked, conscious of Ed’s unfocused eyes.

‘Rightas rain!’ Ed said with forced brightness, ‘Um, Jim, I…I had fun tonight’.

‘Gladto hear it. Me too’, Jim said, stretching, ‘Been a while since I’ve been ableto relax’.

Therewas a pleasant silence between them and Jim was about to leave when Ed spoke abruptly.

‘CanI ask you something?’

‘ThinkI’m a bit too tipsy for any riddles’, Jim joked but waved a hand invitingly, ‘Butshoot’.

‘Doyou ever get lonely here?’ Ed asked, ‘Gotham’s a big city but it can feel veryempty’.

‘Sometimes’,Jim said thoughtfully, ‘The other guys just…’

Heshrugged obviously struggling to find the words. Ed said nothing, giving Jimtime to process the answer.

‘Ialways feel like I’m outside looking in, you know?’ Jim concluded.

Edsaid nothing. They both knew he didn’t need to.

‘ListenEd’, Jim said, ‘If you ever want to do this again, we can-‘

‘No’,Ed interrupted, hating the word even as it passed his lips, ‘No I don’t thinkthat would be-well, I’d like to but…’

Edsighed heavily before continuing.

‘Let’sjust say you being associated with me may cause you more problems with socialinteraction. But, thank you for the offer’.

Ed’s fingersclasped and unclasped uneasily as a sad disappointment flitted across Jim’sface before it was replaced by his smile once more.

‘That’sokay’, Jim said easily, ‘It was just a thought. Goodnight Ed’.

Jimoffered his hand.Before Ed’s brain had caught up with Ed’s body to respond to Jim’s handshake, Edwas hugging Jim tightly in sheer gratitude. Jim did not pull away and actually pattedEd’s back in appreciation. Responding to the recognition of his gesture, Edinhaled deeply, the scent of aftershave and Jim’s sweat an irresistible perfumethat he longed to taste. His lips brushed against Jim’s ear as he drew backmaking the other man shiver and, before Ed knew what he was doing, he kissedJim on the cheek. It was only when he felt Jim tense did Ed fully realise what he was doing, coldhard reality shattering the warm safety of inebriation in an instant. Ed let goof Jim as if he were a poisonous serpent and hastened backwards, only to banghis back against his own apartment door.

Jim’seyes were wide and his jaw agape: the very image of shock. Ed was used to thatlook. Soon Jim’s lip would curl and his face would metamorphose into one of utterdisgust. The face of Ed’s father that haunted his nightmares. Ed gritted histeeth, furious with himself: why did he always get things like this so wrong?!Why did he ruin everything?! With pathetic tears building in his eyes, Ed beganto babble, trying frantically to unlock his door and retreat within.

‘Ohmy God! I’m so sorry Ji-Detective! I’ve had far far too much to drinkand-and-oh God damn it!’

Thekeys fell from Ed’s shaking hands, destined for the floor once more. Only to beseized in Jim’s lightning fast hand. Ed stood, head bowed, awaiting the simultaneouslyinevitable and familiar: harsh words, a bruised cheek and blood in his mouth.He closed his eyes, feeling wetness pool beneath his lashes and battled withwhether to go limp or brace himself. Instead he heard the keys click in thelock of the door and a soothing hand on his shoulder. Ed opened his eyes and Jim was looking at him with something Ed couldn’t placeat first, simply because nobody had ever looked at him that way before.With desire.

‘Ed’,Jim whispered, ‘Just breathe’.

Thistime Jim took the lead in kissing Ed on the mouth.Ed’s surprise and shame was instantly overwhelmed by the sensation and his eyelidsfluttered as he instinctively surrendered himself to the moment.Ed could feel Jim’s stubble tickling his lip: contrasting delightfully with thesoftness of Jim’s mouth. Ed opened his mouth wider, the better for Jim’s tongueto continue its exploration, entwining with his own in the wet heat making bothmen gasp as the kiss gradually deepened.Ed felt Jim’s hand move to the back of his neck to hold him in place and he eagerlymirrored the gesture. He tried to step closer and bumped against Jim’s crotch.Feeling a rock hard bulge press against his own erection, Ed broke the kiss,gasping for air.

‘What is it?’ Jim asked, his lips glistening.

‘Justa little surprised I guess’, Ed replied, pushing his glasses up, barelynoticing how the glass in the frames had steamed up.

‘Hopeit’s a pleasant surprise’, Jim said softly, ‘It was for me’.

Edmoved from one foot to the other as he internally mapped the calluses of Jim’swarm, strong fingers carefully enfolding his hands. They were thicker than Ed’sand his touch was firm and sure.

‘Whatif they find out?’ Ed asked, swallowing hard.

‘Who’sgoing to tell them?’ Jim said simply, ‘Trust me Ed’.

‘Whyme?’ Ed asked, still convinced this must be the prelude to some kind of crueljoke.Ed had learnt years ago that something that seemed sweet often hid a brass barjust waiting to snap. He still carried the scars from those bitter experiences.

Jimreached out and Ed’s breath hitched as Jim gently brushed a curl of Ed’s hairaway from his eyes. Ed didn’t remember his hair becoming mussed, loosened fromthe protective sheen of gel he always used to keep it under careful control.

‘Youreyes’, Jim smiled, ‘Got a little danger in ‘em’.

Atthe mention of the word ‘danger’, Ed turned his face away, hating how hecouldn’t look Jim in the eyes. Yes, he was dangerous. Sooner or later everyonelearnt what he truly was: the monster inside him. It was why he had been socareful when he came to Gotham. He had cultivated the image of a harmless manwho wouldn’t fight back no matter what happened and hid himself in the coldenvirons of the forensics lab. Wrapping his darkness in a palatable lie was theonly way he felt safe. In control. And yet he could feel his grasp slippingaway as he drowned in the blue of Jim’s eyes.

‘Youdon’t know what you’re doing’, Ed warned, searching Jim’s eyes, ‘There’ssomeone-something dark inside me and…’

Hegasped suddenly and Jim’s brow furrowed in confusion.

‘What?’Jim asked, glancing over his shoulder, worried Ed had seen something behindhim.

‘It’sinside you too’, Ed whispered, heart beating faster and faster, ‘I can see itin your eyes too’.

Jimshook his head indulgently, obviously clueless at what Ed was referring to andstroked Ed’s hair placatingly. Ed leant into the touch and moaned at the simplepleasure of human contact.

Thatlonging moan made the hairs on the back of Jim’s neck stand on end and apleasant warmth spread through his stomach.

‘Doyou want me to stop?’ Jim asked.

‘No’,Ed breathed.

‘You’resure?’ Jim asked, face serious and eyes focused despite his earlier confessed‘tipsiness’.

Jim’sobvious concern for his wellbeing shattered Ed’s last restraint on his self-control. He yanked Jim inside the apartment and slammed the door behind them.