#yandere roman sionis

[recreationalfanfics]

Yandere! Roman Sionis x Reader

Note: I have a huge crush on Roman Sionis (not the BoP version) so I wanted to try my hand at writing him <3 Also, I am going with the version where he can take the mask off.

Roman Sionis was a lot of things.

He was a trust fund kid who relied on daddy’s money all his life until he decided to take that money for himself.

He was a horrible business man so he turned into a mob boss, you know, as you do.

He was a whack job who had a sick and twisted obsession with you and was currently holding you captive.

But you honestly think that the worst part about him was that he was incredibly snarky and condescending. To you at least, his countless victims would most likely complain about his sadistic and brutal torture methods, but you doubt that you’d ever experience that for yourself. Mostly because Roman knew how to psychologically torture people in other ways.

“There we go, don’t you feel all pretty now?” He hummed, tilting his masked face and speaking in a way that made you know he was smirking. 

The scene is tense for everyone. His gangsters stand behind the other tailors who are sobbing quietly as they sit on one knee, you can feel the uneasiness of the two tailors behind you as they silently pray and beg repentance for every sin they’ve committed, but what makes it worse is that all eyes are on you. You want to avoid speaking, one of Roman’s favorite pastimes is to find a way to misinterpret your words on purpose so he could have an excuse to kill someone, to guilt you into thinking that you were the one who condemned them to death despite him pulling the trigger. You feel your stomach churn, knowing that someone was going to die for Roman’s own amusement, and he knew it too.

“C’mon, give Daddy a twirl, yeah?” He hums. 

Daddy.

You scrunch your nose in disgust. You absolutely hated it when he called himself that, it made you want to shrink into yourself, and rip your ears off so you’d never have to hear him say it again. He probably knew you hated it too, guessing by the way he chuckled at your incredibly obvious reaction, and it’s probably the only reason why he says it. Still, you do as he says because you have no choice and try to twirl for him enthusiastically. The last time you tried to be nonchalant about a gift as a form of subtle protest was when you were getting fitted for a ring, that resulted in one person losing their life and the employees getting all of their ring fingers cut off, and you know what Roman said to justify/blame it on you?

“You deserve only the best, sweetheart. If they can’t give it to you, then I don’t think they should be alive.”

Maybe in another life, where you were an equally depraved criminal, you would’ve found his words to be genuine and sweet. However, you knew that Roman Sionis was incapable of being genuine and sweet, and that this was another one of his mind games. A warning for future reference that if you wanna try and resist him, even in the most tiniest and insignificant ways, he will not stand for it. 

“Absolutely stunning.” He praises, standing up to walk towards you. 

You resist the urge to step away from him, no matter how strong it may be, because you know that’s another way to get someone killed. Instead you stand there, obediently like the good spouse you were, and don’t flinch when he brings a gloved hand to the diamond necklace around your neck.

“But you know me, I’m a sucker for you wearing anything expensive,” He says, almost in a tender tone as if there was some truth to his words, but you don’t think about that. Instead, you think about his next sentence:

“What do you think about it?”

You gulp and you look up at him, your eyes silently begging him not to do this to you. Not to make you have to stand outside the shop as you hear gunshots and crying, shamelessly throwing his arm around you with small droplets of blood decorating his nice white suit, and leaving you lying away from his body as your haunted by what you could have done differently even if you knew Roman wouldn’t have let you. His dark eyes stare back at you with nothing but a mischievous glee and you were on higher alert than ever.

“I love it!” You say, forcing your best smile and cheery tone.

He fidgets with your necklace between his fingers, his eyes now studying the way the diamond sparkles rather than your incredibly unconvincing expression, and he just says: “Yeah? That right?”

 Still, you nod eagerly and continue to try and guess what he wants to hear: “Yeah, it looks really good on me, I think! I really like the style, a-and the material, and the uh-” You lose your train of thought as he slowly lets go of the diamond hanging from the sterling silver chain, letting it fall back down to your chest as he slowly starts to walk behind you, and the goosebumps start to rise on your skin. You didn’t like this, you didn’t like this at all, but you still tried your best to keep going, “the, um, the color is nice.”

“The color, hm?” He mumbles, his hands gently massaging your shoulders as he lowers his mouth (or where it’s supposed to be) next to your ear, “You sure about the color, sweet thing?”

You nod your head again, giving a shrill “mhm!” because your words are dying in your throat. You hated it when he got too close like this, it made you nervous, and you wanted him to get away from you. You wanted to push him off, to scream and run, but you also knew you couldn’t do that. His silence made the very blood in your veins run cold but set your mind on fire as you were trying to figure out how to salvage this already doomed moment. 

“Really? Because you hate this color.” Roman states, his hands moving from your shoulders to your waist.

Someone’s sobs become a little louder than the rest and when Roman turns his head to look at them, you quickly turn around to face him again and put your hands on his chest. It does what you intended it to do because his eyes are back on you.

“I changed my mind!” 

“Nah, I don’t think you did. If I recall, you absolutely hate this color because it reminds you of me.”

There’s an edge to his voice now, a petty “gotcha” kind of one. He wasn’t wrong, though, because he tried to give you something in the same horrendous color early on when he abducted you and you blew him off. Saying how you wouldn’t want something so gross and so…him. You gulp, realizing two things: 1. Roman had an excellent memory regarding you and 2. You just lied to his face. 

And he hated it even more when you lied.

You stammer out apologies and excuses, anything that could help the situation but he steps away from you before taking out his concealed gun. One of the workers lets out a fearful cry and tries to back away but one his False Facers comes and grabs them by their shoulders, walking closer towards Roman despite the fearful protest of the poor innocent civilian. They were going to be the first one to die.

“I mean, c’mon, none of ya had the decency to look at how unhappy they were when they saw the color? None of you guys stopped to ask them what was wrong and fix it and put a smile on their precious little face?” He shakes his head as he loads his weapon. They beg for their lives as you try to plead with the devil himself.

“Roman, please, they probably didn’t want to go against you! Th-They knew that you knew best and I- I promise I love this color-” 

You sound so pathetic, yipping at the big dog not to use his fangs, but you had no power here. No one did except for Roman Sionis, a man who never did anything other than to get more power for himself and to make others miserable, even the one he claimed to love the most. 

Then it hits you.

Your body reacts faster than your mind as you take the fleeting opportunity to have one hand grab his mask and the other to grab his tie. Not even Roman was aware of what was happening as he tensed up the moment he felt your lips against his. You gripped the mask tightly in your free hand as you kept a strong hold on his tie, even pulling him closer towards you as if you were trying to chain him to you. As if forcing yourself to do this usually romantic and loving act is enough to break his need for blood. And it does.

Once Roman understands what’s going on, he drops his gun and cups your face with his hands as he kisses you back. Tilting his head to the side to deepen it and his body relaxes. You might not see it but you cloud your mind completely. His eyes stay open for a while as he sees one beautiful tear stream down your cheek before they go half lidded and he surrenders himself to this bliss.

You’re making his heart do the thing again.  You did it to him the first time he met you, then you did it the second time, then so on and so forth, and here you go doing it again to him. You wonder why he’s so addicted to you, don’t worry, he does too. He wonders why he bothers with such an ungrateful little brat who doesn’t appreciate his gestures and only pays attention to the crimson that stains his hands, why he bothers with someone who sleeps on the farthest part of their bed as if Roman was some horrible monster they didn’t want to touch, but it’s times like this that he remembers why. It’s because you were the only one who could make him feel this way, who could give him a taste of what love felt like, but also made him feel so powerful when you did stuff like this as a last resort.He pulls away for air, your lips chase after him despite being out of breath as well to try and buy a little more time, but he’s just gonna tease you later and ask if he was just that damn good of a kisser. 

Roman stares at you again, this time really looking at you, and his hands still cup your face gently. His pants softly under his breath as one thumb from his hand gently caresses your cheek. You stare at him with hopeful eyes and while he does love keeping you at the bottom of his heel and remind you whose in charge…he figures that this time it wouldn’t hurt to let you have your way.

“On second thought, boys,” He starts and he loves the way you edge closer to him unintentionally, “...Let ‘em go, they can be off the hook. This time.”

You let out a breath of relief but then shyly hand Roman back his mask, your hand letting go of his tie and wrapping your arm around his. As he puts on his mask, he relishes in the feeling of you resting your head on his shoulder and being more affectionate with him. Maybe you were so relieved that you managed to get through to him or maybe you were just exhausted with everything that went down but you fall asleep on his shoulder during the ride home and when he’s done admiring the sight, he gently puts his head on top of yours.

[kneamet]

could you please do jealous/possessive roman sionis???

blood moon ball

Trigger Warning: angst, obsession, drabble, yandere

Word Count: 613

Character: roman sionis/reader

blood moon ball

A mad night under a cold moon, the scarlet sky of flesh waved love in a haze. Stars were scrawled on the ceiling — so far away, almost real! the constellation of the monster pointed the way, dragged back into a deep, cruel and pathetic embrace; an embrace full of darkness and depravity, death and blood. It was the blood moon ball — Roman was the main guest, and angering him was like an execution. This is a one— actor theater for a single spectator — you. A spectator doomed to eternal imprisonment, contemplating the whole horror of life with faded eyes.

Lost to yourself, the whole world, but not to Roman, you were connected with strangers by a thread. They were sitting on chairs —coquettes with fake eyebrows, shiny earrings and mocking pupils, gentlemen with bloody hearts, greasy smiles and tasteless clothes. A row of flickering chandeliers poured abundant rays on the joyful faces of famous thieves, murderers who were going to shed a bloody sweat. And only you, like a small white flower sprouted in dirt and gloom, looked around the club in confusion, unable to move. Not being able to say a word against Roman that squeezed you in an insatiable embrace.

He kissed your neck, breathed hotly on your bare shoulders and ran his gloved hands along your waist. You shuddered, trembled and thoughtlessly looked into the distance, envied the crowd of harlots that were overcome with passion, madly rejoiced, traded in lost beauty and honor; they are carefree, who decided that life belongs to them; they are the same as you were a few months ago. Roman, not paying attention and ordering Zsasz to guard the most remote chairs, whispered in ear:

"Mine, mine, mine…"

The skin was covered with goosebumps, the heart beat faster. Your gaze was poisoned by endless longing. Forgotten dreams rise again with royal towers, block, help to live in the male world of the Novel. Roman protects you, protects you and pleases before you, ready to get the enemy's heart and present it on a platter. His control knows no bounds, but you feel — or should feel — safe. You're not in danger, but I'm worried, baby! he keeps saying, once again closing you at home. He says he has to protect.

Roman is a fragrant, luxurious fruit, a tombstone urn asking for tears; it is an evil spirit chasing from all sides, burning your chest with an unclean flame; you are forced to breathe it, inhale and swallow. Roman is a spider, he weaves webs and entangles victims, lives several lives that are nothing to him. His nets envelop the whole Gotham and it is not possible to get out, and why would you do that? Every girl in the city dreams of being in the bed of Roman Sionis, so why do you refuse?

Prohibitions multiply like bacteria, ordinary relationships will turn into continuous obligations and services — don't do this, don't do that. You sigh, trying to say something, but you are silent, afraid, remembering the bruises left on your neck. Suddenly you twitch when you feel the touch of tongue on the skin and the wet trail left. Roman, like a cat, makes this gesture, as if trying to ask for forgiveness, to lick wounds. Paying attention to a man walking with a drunken gait to your table, you don't even have time to say a word, as he, leaning against, demands something:

"Pretty, you want…"

He is interrupted by a dull bullet fired in the forehead. He falls with a thud, softly, almost inaudible thanks to the loud music. Your eyes widen and you swallow; Roman runs a gun through your hair.

"Mine."

im sorry if this isnt exactly what u wanted, i can always write something different fur u, anon! also, please indicate which type u would like to read - a drabble (500~ words) or a fic (2000+ words), since they are very different in content. drabble is more of a rest than a full-fledged job, so they may not be very interesting, perhaps boring and clumsy in terms of the plot. but if you liked it, then im very glad!

[the-fo0l]

Yandere!Roman Sionis x reader

Notes: i hate him but i watched Birds of Prey and felt the need to write this, maybe a bit out of character cuz i prefer soft yanderes

Warnings: mentions of kidnapping and murder

He's just about as delusional as yanderes get

Honestly there's hardly any difference between regular Roman and yandere Roman

He genuinely believes that you two are soulmates, meaning, he immediately ditches all other women he's been talking to

His emotions switch up so fast, he can do from 1 to an 100 in a second, in fact, a lot of people know him for his dramatic and aggressive outbursts

But now that you're here, there's finally a way to calm him down, seriously, he could literally be in the middle of the biggest temper tantrum of his life but as soon as he sees you, with that scared look on your face, all the anger goes away

Blows damn near all this money on gifts for you, you'll get all of life's finest luxuries whether you like it or not

And naturally you're protected in Gotham, no one dares to even look at you, shit you may as well be the Joker's s/o

Anyone stupid enough to even dare say something even remotely negative about you better hope Roma. doesn't find out, otherwise they will be begging for the sweet release of death soon enough

Wants to wear matching jewelry

And matching outfits

If he has a meeting of any kind he wants you to be there 1. to make sure he doesn't go ballistic 2. cause he hates being away from you for long 3. you're the eyecandy ;)

He let's you have some freedom, like you can go shopping, clubbing and out with friends but he does insist on regular checkups to check on your well-being

But make so much as one attempt at escaping him and you'll be tied up and in his arms before you know it

Gets super dramatic with birthdays or anniversaries. Everyone in Gotham has to hear him talk their ear off about how he has the best s/o

As he says, you're just too cute, how could he not?

[thegreatwicked]

Shadows of Deception - Chapter Fifteen

The Great Wicked

Summary: In Gotham City, a world of secrets and danger, Belladonna finds herself embroiled in a web of crime when she becomes a witness to illicit activities at Roman Sions' exclusive club, Masquerade Noir. Instead of eliminating her, Roman sees an opportunity and spares her life, forming an unconventional alliance. They pose as a couple, using each other as alibis to deceive the police. But as they delve deeper into their charade, their connection intensifies, blurring the lines between reality and deception. As desire and danger collide, they discover unexpected love in the midst of a thrilling and forbidden affair.

Rating: Explicit; graphic depictions of sex and violence

Pairing: Roman Sionis/OFC; Belladonna Black, slight Zsasz/OFC if enough interest.

She Knows It by Steven Rodriguez

Roman sat back in a plush chair outside the glass-walled conference room, his dark eyes fixed on the meeting taking place inside. Ever stare at something for too long before your mind just takes it and runs with it? Or you say a word too many times until it loses all meaning? That was how Roman was feeling.

With each passing moment he sat in that chair ‘people watching’ his mind wandered further. The conference room began to look less like a conference room and more like a giant fish tank with its floor-to-ceiling glass walls and bland artwork that was supposed to be thought-provoking but only induced boredom. And let's not forget the generic, mass-produced paintings that were meant to add some color but ended up blending into the beige office walls perfectly. So stimulating.

The ergonomic design of the chairs in the room was reminiscent of strange coral furniture one might find in a fish tank. The potted plants in the corners probably aimed to add some vitality to the sterile environment, which likely saw many long hours and late nights without exposure to any natural stimuli.

Yes, the longer he looked the more it looked like a fish tank. 

The men in their suits became a school of angelfish, drifting aimlessly. The women with their bright colored high fashion frocks like Discus fish effortlessly floating through the water. 

And there, in the center of it all, perched on the table leafing through papers and glancing back at her laptop was Belladonna. Her inky-black hair flowing loosely, cascading down her shoulders like the elegant fins of a betta fish. Dressed in the black jacket, and silver jewelry that Roman had delivered for her that morning made for a striking contrast against that only solidified his odd comparison. Beautiful and elegant. And just like a female beta fish, she seemed to furrow her brow when approached by her male colleagues - he was well acquainted with the difference between her ‘resting bitch face’ and her ‘are you that fucking stupid’ expressions to know that her colegues were not impressing her with theri smart deas. 

Why was he comparing the woman he wanted to fuck to a fish? He pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Goddamn it, Cobblepot.” He muttered under his breath, refocusing his attention on the conference room and trying to shake off his annoyance.

Fuck he hated fish.

Roman couldn't understand why people would choose to have fish as pets. 

Fish were about the most ridiculous idea for a pet Roman could think of, but people loved them. Maybe because they were cheap and easy to dispose of when they inevitably died - just a quick flush down the toilet. Some people went for the more exotic options like lionfish, piranhas and even electric eels. But at least those were interesting, lionfish were venomous, electric eels looked scary as fuck and he could certainly see the benefits of having something like piranhas floating nearby. Perfect for getting rid of unwanted guests...or bodies.

Roman didn’t personally like fish. In fact he thought they made horrifically boring bets and he had little interest in pets in the first place. He didn’t even have any as a kid. Though that might have been due to his parents not having any faith in Roman not using them as target practice or something. 

Bit extreme. He didn’t hate animals, he just found them like he found most living things; clingy and annoying. 

He looked back to Belladonna adjusting her glasses and combing a hand through her hair. He liked those glasses on her, he’d have to see if he could convince her to wear a sexy little pencil skirt, then he could live out the sexy librarian thing again, the first time it was for the novelty of it. Not because he particularly liked the woman but hey, a fantasy was a fantasy.

Betafish weren’t boring. 

Hell, females could be so aggressive that they would attack males, nip at them to establish dominance and it could result in injury and even death.

God, he loved a woman who wasn’t afraid to take a bite out of him. It was what he found fascinating about Belladonna, she was afraid of him, no doubt, but she didn’t act like it. Hell, she’d put a gun in his hand and all but dared him to shoot her. Fuck the woman had some balls, her temper flaring like the vibrant fins of a betta.

They were some of the most common fish in aquariums, but commonality didn’t mean less interesting. Hell, diamonds were as common as taxis but that didn’t stop everyone from falling all over themselves saving two months salary for one. Bettas in particular were well liked for their beauty, intelligence and their spunky personalities.

The problem was that most people didn't know how to properly care for them or keep them happy. Instead, they would see these stunning creatures and impulsively buy them, only to place them in tiny fish bowls that were unfit for their needs. Her shabby loft came to mind, a place far below her worth. She'd chosen to keep a low profile, to avoid the limelight that should have been hers. 

Eventually the shimmer in their scales would fade and they’d more than likely be forgotten about. Not Belladonna, she shimmered in a dark room.

Roman blinked, suddenly aware that his mind had been drifting into an almost absurd fantasy about fish. He scowled at the thought, silently cursing Oswald Cobblepot again for filling his head with such useless information. The man had a penchant for talking endlessly about his various collections and interests, and naturally, in his years of knowing Oswald Cobblepot he’d been forced to absorb information about things he didn’t care about whenever they spoke. 

Cobblepot had a thing for penguins and naturally with his collections of oddities at the Cyrus Pinkney Natural History Museum. He also collected seemingly useless information, which he then forced upon Roman in their younger years.

Roman knew far too much about fish for his own personal liking: including tips on how to care for betta fish.

He shook his head, his thoughts went to some strange places when his mind was stagnant like it was currently. 

His fingers tapped impatiently against his leg, the urge to barge into the meeting growing stronger by the second. But he knew she would bear the brunt of those consequences and then he’d be subject to hers. And while Roman was sure he could turn that frustration into something a little more fun with most people, Belladonna wasn’t most people. He sighed, forcing himself to remain seated.

He needed to get a gameboy or something, watching the meeting Belladonna was stuck in wasn’t good for his IQ, he could feel it dropping by the second. And by this point it had to have dropped at least by thirty points, because he’d been waiting for thirty minutes. 

Once he’d focused on their moving lips it had gotten a little bit better, he couldn’t quite read lips but he could make out some words:

"Emergency... Urgent... Expensive… Client… Fired…" Roman whispered under his breath, catching a few words. Roman's eyes flicked to Zsasz, who stood beside him with an air of stoic indifference. "You picking up anything useful?" he asked in a low voice.

“Nope.”

Zsasz shook his head, but Roman wasn’t surprised, he noticed that the man's gaze seemed to be following Belladonna's assistant, Daisy, as she moved around the room. Fair enough, he was Zsasz’s boss, not his goddamned babysitter, it he wanted to eye fuck Daisy; let him. Someone should.

She was too tiny for Romans taste anyway, he liked curves, hips, breasts. Daisy was just too petite for his taste. But judging by the way Zsasz was watching her, it didn’t seem to bother him.

Back to the meeting, it didn’t seem to be wrapping up or getting any better. He knew from the way her brow furrowed and the tenseness in her shoulders that whatever was the topic of discussion wasn’t a very pleasant one. It didn’t look like she was bearing the brunt of anyone's wrath but rather she was trying to untangle a mess. She hadn’t even noticed him there on the chair in the small waiting area and he hadn’t really said or done anything because at first watching her had been somewhat fascinating. Then he made the comparison of the conference room looking like an aquarium and then… Shit. He needed to stop this.

Roman checked his watch again, scowling. Thirty-five minutes now with no sign of the meeting ending. Roman's fingers went back to tapping impatiently on the arm of his chair as he watched Belladonna continue her heated conversation with her boss. 

She threw up her hands, clearly exasperated. His fingers tightened on the armrests of his chair. 

Maybe she finally felt his gaze on her but he seemed to catch Belladonna's attention and she looked at him, he winked at her and she at least smirked at his little flirtatious charm, but she was still clearly strained by the weight of the conversation she was having. 

He knew that look well, it was the look of someone who was surrounded by incompetence or someone who was forced to fix something that wasn’t their problem to begin with. Roman gestured with a nod of his head, urging her to join him outside the conference room. But she only shook her head softly, her expression remaining serious, before turning her attention back to her boss. 

Pulling out his phone, Roman quickly typed a message. 

'Problem, angel?'��

As he hit send, his eyes flicked to Daisy, who often had Belladonna’s cell in her possession, glanced at the notification. She offered Roman a little wave hand, held up a finger then showed the text to Belladonna, and after a brief pause, Belladonna texted back, as her eyes darted back and forth from the phone to whomever was talking 

'Can't talk.'

"Damn it," Roman muttered under his breath, his jaw tightening. 

Well, he couldn’t necessarily be angry, it wasn’t like she was ignoring him. But he still wasn’t wild about being sidelined. He wanted her undivided attention, not this nonsense with clients and deadlines. Frustrated but simply too stubborn to quit, he decided to try another approach and texted Daisy instead. 

‘Everything alright, Daisy? Your latte is getting warm.’

She was sitting at the conference table looking up from a laptop then looking at her phone, her eyes met his as she read the message, and she offered Roman and Zsasz an appreciative smile. They could see the tension in her shoulders begin to ease, if only slightly.

She seemed in a far better mood than Belladonna and offered a smile and twirled her finger around her temple to convey the insanity of what was currently happening. Roman chuckled.

‘Everything alright Daisy?’

She looked like she was struggling to put her thoughts into words and after a minute she got up, whispered something to Belladonna, who looked back and forth between Daisy, Roman, and her boss before giving a small, almost imperceptible nod.

"Finally," Roman murmured, as Daisy excused herself from the conference room. 

The moment the door swung open, a cacophony of raised voices spilled out into the waiting room, as predicted, it wasn’t good.

Daisy emerged looking utterly relieved to be free from the chaos within. As she approached Roman, he got to his feet and held out her iced green tea latte, from the way she was looking at the cold drink one might be tempted to think that Roman was holding out a winning lotto ticket. She gratefully accepted the drink and a quick sip seemed to energize her a bit.

​​"Thank you," Daisy said gratefully, wrapping her hands around the cold cup and taking a long sip. Her expression softened, and she let out a frazzled breath, trying to shake off the tension that clung to her like a second skin.

Zsasz watched the exchange with an amused glint in his eyes, leaning casually against the wall. He gave Daisy a playful wink, which elicited a small smile from her before Roman's deep voice cut through the lingering tension.

“Daisy, Daisy… What’s got my girls so worked up?” She smiled at Romans' endearing ‘his girls’ note. “Bad day?”

She shook her head, “It’s one for the books, that’s for sure.” She took another sip, “Falls into the category of ‘its not our fault but it is our problem’ kind of thing.”

"What's going on?" Roman asked, charming concern coloring his voice.

"It's been absolute chaos since this morning," She began, sweeping a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Long story short, we had a huge post-fashion week photo shoot scheduled with the Gotham Literary Society, but there was some sort of paperwork snafu with the permits. Now we're out of a location and scrambling to find one to accommodate the client."

“Yes, I read about that, the site’s just been restored after a two year long renovation.” Roman added casually. Daisy nodded and emphatically gestured with her hand in confirmation as she took another sip of her coffee.

“Exactly! We need to find another location by tomorrow or we might lose the client, Lauren is pissed and well, everyone is scrambling to figure something out." She explained, frustration creasing her brow. "Her bosses are breathing down her neck, which means she’s breathing down our necks. There's talk that if we lose this client, several people might lose their jobs. It’s literally no one’s fault but someone’s gotta pay, right?" She glanced back at the conference room, worry etched in her features. "We're trying to find a place for the shoot, but it's practically impossible because most popular locations are booked already and have been for months. It's the week after fashion week, after all."

“Big client?” 

“Huge,” She looked around and lowered her voice, “Adrian Blackwood.” Romans face lit up in recognition. “He just debuted his entire collection and lets just say he had other offers for people to work with, we need to figure this thing out but we’re running out of time. He’s expecting the details to be confirmed by the end of the day which is officially in,” She paused and looked at her watch, “Six hours. Any place worth booking is booked out and any place available isn’t worth the trouble.”

"Are you or Belladonna's jobs at risk?" Roman's concern for their well-being was palpable, his fingers tapping against the side of his leg as he awaited Daisy's response.

She hesitated, biting her lip. "I'm not sure. Belladonna might be okay, but I can't say the same for myself. Assistants get fired all the time, we’re a dime a dozen but I’m pretty sure Belladonna would march out with me while giving them all the stiffest middle finger ever.”

Roman scoffed, of that, he had no doubts. Despite Belladonna’s claims of not having any friends, she was loyal, he’d only recently seen just how loyal.

"We can't have that," He said, shaking his head. He looked back at the chaotic conference room, his gaze finding Belladonna's once more. Roman furrowed his brow in thought before an idea struck him. "Daisy, I think I can help," He declared. "Tell her to come speak with me."

Daisy seemed uncertain, glancing between Roman and the ongoing chaos inside the meeting room. She took a deep breath, seemingly weighing the potential consequences, briefly opening her mouth to try and argue but Roman insisted and his tone of confidence seemed to convince Daisy it was worth the interruption. Finally, she shrugged, an air of ‘fuck it’ in her demeanor. 

"What's the worst that could happen?" With that, she turned on her heel and made her way back into the lion's den to relay Roman's message to Belladonna.

Again when the doors opened the tense tone of their words floated out, she whispered to Belladonna who looked between Roman and Daisy, confusion evident on her face. He was pretty sure she was telling Daisy she wasn’t going anywhere but Daisy appeared insistent. And she must have convinced her because Belladonna let out a sigh, rolled her shoulders and reluctantly approached her boss. 

They talked for a minute and her boss didn’t look very happy, clearly unimpressed by Roman's presence, waved her hand dismissively. But after a minute and some vague gesturing with her hands she conceded and Belladonna strode out of the conference room, back rigid and heels clicking sharply against the tiled floor. Roman watched her approach, noting the tension in her shoulders and the tight set of her jaw. She wasn’t happy by any means, though she was doing her best to conceal it but the irritation was simply radiating off her.

"Ok, Daisy said you needed to talk to me. Make it quick, Roman, I’m kind of in the middle of something." She snapped, her patience wearing thin.

“I can see that,” He wore something of a smug smile and after a silence long enough to start to get on her nerves, he spoke again before she could bite back with something smart. "Daisy was just telling me about your little predicament. It seems you're in need of a new location for your photoshoot, and quickly.”

"Yes," she replied tersely, impatience and exasperation seeping through her words. "But can we please get to the point? My boss is already in a pissy mood and I’m pretty sure I’m next on the chopping block if I don’t get my ass back in there."

"Question?" He said, clearly not bothered by her eagerness to wrap up their conversation.

"Fine, what's your question?" His leisurely questioning was starting to grate on her nerves, and she couldn't help but glance back to her boss, who seemed to be keeping a watchful eye on their conversation.

"Am I a joke to you?" Roman tilted his head looking both disappointed and confused. Sort of reminded her of a puppy with its ears half up and half down trying to suss out a high-pitched sound.

Belladonna stared at him, confused. "What?”

"Use my club," 

Belladonna stared at Roman, her dark eyes wide in surprise. "Use your club?" Momentarily thrown off balance by his unexpected offer.

"Yes," he said, his voice low and smooth. "It's mine to do with as I see fit, it’s empty during the day, and should have more than enough space to accommodate your shoot. You can use the space however you need.” Roman smirked, crossing his arms over his chest. “and you can vouch for its legitimacy since it's up-to-date with all the necessary permits and licenses."

"Would that help?" he asked, a hint of smugness creeping into his voice.

"Yes, it would," Belladonna admittedly a bit lost for words

She hesitated, shifting on her feet. The offer would solve all her problems for the shoot and might even put her in a better spot for work. She’d obviously need to run it by her boss.

As if reading her mind, Roman gestured towards the conference room.

"Go. Run it by your boss." Roman said with a playful flick of his wrist, shooing her away as if she were a mischievous cat lingering too long by the cream. His dark eyes twinkled with amusement at her hesitation, a side of him few got to witness. "Do you need a slap on that gorgeous ass to get you moving?"

Her eyes flashed with something sharp, but she bit back a retort and turned on her heel, striding back toward the conference room before Roman could follow through with what she hoped was only a joke. As she spoke to her boss, he could see the shock register on her boss’s face. She glanced at Roman, then back to Belladonna then back to Roman, who allowed himself a triumphant smile, knowing he was about to be the hero.

Belladonna motioned for Roman to join them, trying not to let her surprise – or her gratitude – show too openly. As he stepped through the door, the room seemed to hold its breath in anticipation. All eyes were on him, but this time, he was not the source of any problems. In fact, he was the solution – a role that felt surprisingly gratifying. With his charming smile and easy manner, he greeted Belladonna's boss.

“Ms. Preston, it’s a pleasure to see you again.” His smooth tone eased the tension in the room as effectively as a tranquilizer. 

"Mr. Sionis, this is a pleasant surprise," Laura said, her demeanor considerably improved as she reached out to shake Romans’ outstretched hand. 

“Oh, please, Roman is fine.” 

"Belladonna here, tells me you're interested in leasing out your club for our shoot." She crossed her arms over her chest, head tilted as though she wasn’t sure she bought it. 

Surely there had to be more to it, right? 

“Leasing? Oh, not at all. Can’t have a face this gorgeous wearing anything other than a smile.” Roman's gaze drifted to Belladonna before turning back to Laura. "I'm more than willing to assist, by providing my space free of charge," He responded smoothly. "It won't be a problem."

Laura was one of the most assertive people Belladonna knew, never one to be told what to do, never one to let a man swoop in and save the day… Yet, here they were… Either the situation was worse than Belladonna had initially thought and Laura couldn’t afford to lose this client, or her boss too, was drawn in by Romans’ charm, she wouldn’t be the first or the last. Hell, it happened to Belladonna more times than she could count.

Laura eyed Roman skeptically, her expression guarded "So let me get this straight, Mr. Sionis. You're offering us the use of your club; one of the most exclusive night spots in Gotham for our shoot, free of charge?"

Roman nodded, a nonchalant smile playing on his lips. "That's correct, Laura. Consider it my contribution to the arts."

Laura shook her head incredulously. "Well, I'm afraid I can't accept your offer without some form of compensation. Your club is a prime location, and we can't just take advantage of it for free." Laura stood clicking her pen several times as she contemplated her next move. "But, you know, Roman," She began, "I think we could generate some fantastic publicity for your club through the shoot. If you’re unwilling to accept monetary compensation, maybe some good publicity in the fashion industry might suffice."

"Oh? How so?" 

A smirk played on his lips as if he didn’t understand what Laura was proposing, he knew damn well. But he was at least smart enough to know that he had to let her feel like she had a say in this whole thing.

"Well, I have it on good authority that the designer behind the collection is a huge fan of your club. Since your club would be the backdrop it seems wholly inappropriate if we don’t see the man of the hour. And I happen to know for a fact that the designer has a fantastic piece that only a man like yourself could do justice to.” Roman's ego swelled at the thought of being part of a fashion shoot. “It would be great exposure for both the club and the collection."

"I like the sound of that," he replied, nodding thoughtfully. "But one condition."

Laura raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what's that?"

"Belladonna does the shoot," Roman declared, his gaze drifting to where Belladonna stood, sorting through fabric samples. "She's got the skill, the eye. She'll be perfect."

Belladonna's eyes widened in surprise at the sudden turn of events. She opened her mouth to object, but before she could speak, Laura cut in.

"I think that's a fantastic idea," Laura said, flashing a quick smile at Belladonna. "It would add a personal touch to the campaign. We all know Belladonna has quite the eye for male beauty,"

Belladonna hesitated for a moment, then nodded, reluctantly agreeing. She knew she didn't have much choice in the matter.

"Great," Roman said, extending his hand. "It's settled then."

"On behalf of the entire team, thank you, Roman. And I look forward to the proofs,” She turned to Belladonna, “Don’t let me down, Belladonna. This goes well and I think you’ll have earned that bonus we talked about.”

“You got it, Laura,” She replied coolly.

“Alright, then let’s go make the client happy, I'll let him know about the change of venue, I’m sure he’ll be thrilled.” Roman offered her a card from his jacket pocket.

Roman extended his hand, sealing the agreement with a firm handshake. "My pleasure, Laura. I hope you’ll find time to stop by, and if your client has any questions, don't hesitate to give them my card. I'm always happy to accommodate."

As the bubble of stress burst open like a fragile balloon, the aquarium fish seemed to have taken a cue swimming away. Daisy wrapped Roman in a hug that could rival the strength of an ant and crowned him a lifesaver, before following the other fish out of the conference room. Belladonna collapsed onto the table, hands rubbing her temples in relief… or maybe just exhaustion at the fact that it was only noon. Roman playfully nudged her with his foot, 

“Look at me on my white horse, saving the day!” He mused so proudly, “Seems it got you a bit of cred with your boss, didn’t it? And what was that, something about a bonus too?”

“And now I have an entire shoot to direct.” She replied with a tired smirk and a nod. “And yeah, she’s been dangling that bonus since the beginning of the year.”

He shrugged, prowling closer, caging her in with his arms as he braced them on the table behind her. The scent of his cologne enveloped her, dark and sensual. 

“I’m sure you’ll manage just fine.” He paused, “You’re welcome by the way.”

She tilted her head at his playful remark, giving his belt a tug, pulling him into a kiss. Her lips brushed his several times, by now they were both used to the stares and quick little instances of phones being pulled out during his lunchtime visits. 

“Thank you.”

“You know angel, I have to say, I think these conference room meetings are starting to grow on me, I’m finding them very stimulating…”

“Keep it in your pants, Sionis, mama’s working.” His eyebrows shot up at that one, and his chest inhaled a deep controlling breath.

“Easy kitten, don’t forget who holds the cards here.”

“Let's see them.” Her mood had considerably improved but Roman found that was usually the case after he kissed her, “Full house beats a flush.”

Roman shook his head, a half-smile playing on his lips as he held out her coffee. Today, it was different - her usual rose-infused mocha, but iced. The cool container melted against her skin as she took it from him, the condensation leaving small droplets on her fingertips. 

"The girl at the shop insisted you try it iced with the warming weather," Roman explained, a glint of mischief in his eyes.

"And you actually took her suggestion? Shocking," She replied, taking a whiff of the sweet aroma before taking a tentative sip. 

"Jokes on her, if you don't like it I'm burning that little cafe to the ground..." Despite his playful threat, she could tell Roman was only half serious. But the drink was surprisingly delicious, and she couldn't help but wear a pleasantly surprised expression as she took another sip. 

“Good?” He asked with a smug look, she held the drink out to him but he shook his head, so she took another sip and leaned forward to give him a kiss, slipping her tongue past his lips for a rose-infused mocha-flavored kiss. He seemed a little more interested in tasting the coffee now.

"And so the little coffee shop that could, lives another day... Have you eaten?" His concern might have been slightly pandering but it was still kind of cute.

Roman looked hard at her searching for any signs of deceit, Belladonna seemed very unamused at now having two people inquiring as to her dietary needs. “Been too busy.”

Roman reached into the small brown bag that had gone unnoticed until now, revealing a box of french macarons that were almost too beautiful to devour. After careful consideration, he chose a bright pink one adorned with delicate swirls and a sprinkle of glitter. The aroma of rich chocolate mousse wafted through the air as he playfully commanded:

"Open up." 

Belladonna licked her lips in anticipation before parting them to accept the treat. She nipped at his fingers, savoring the velvety texture of the macaron and the warmth of his skin against her lips. As she chewed, Roman chuckled and shook his head.

 "What am I going to do with you, kitten? Tie you down and force you to eat?" Belladonna shrugged nonchalantly, enjoying the banter between them as well as how Romans eyes did that thing again; where they flared up and there was a little surge of something dark trying to get out.

“Don’t tempt me with a good time.”

At that moment, she wanted nothing more than to drag him into the nearest closet.

Professionalism be damned.

“Kitten, don’t test daddy’s patience…” He warned her with a growl, his voice low and dangerous.

Belladonna wasn’t quite sure what came over her but she couldn’t stop the words that slipped past her lips. 

“I’m sorry, daddy.”

He jerked her forward into a hard kiss, and she was pretty sure she could feel that last little strand of his self-control pulled taut ready to snap as his tongue delved into her mouth and his hands slipped over her ass, lifting her onto the table. Standing between her legs, he pressed himself against her, feeling the heat of their bodies meld together. A guttural groan escaped his lips as she wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers tickling the nape of his neck.

Oh, this naughty little kitten of his…

“You like to tease me, don’t you, Kitten?” His voice was gravelly and strained in between kisses, panting heavily before finally breaking away just long enough to speak a few words.

“I’m about five seconds from dragging you into an empty office and bending that sweet ass over a desk, Belladonna, and I don’t care who hears." He kissed her again, harder this time, “You wanna play like that? Call me daddy?” He grinned a wolfish lear against her lips, “I’ll make you fucking scream it.”

A knock at the glass window pulled them both from the edge of the abyss they were standing on, looking over to the windows, Zsasz stood with his back to them, he had knocked on the glass, and several people in passing were hurrying away. No doubt they must have snapped a few pictures that would be splashed over the tabloids and gossip rags tomorrow, hell, maybe even today, it was still early.

“Kitten,” His deep voice rumbled through the air, causing her heart to skip a beat. He paused and straightened his perfectly-tailored jacket, his piercing blue eyes scanning the room before landing on her. 

“One of these days I’m not gonna care how many people are around, and if you get fired, I’ll just get you another job somewhere else.”

“My office is down the hall.” She tried to maintain a professional demeanor but felt her cheeks flush under his intense gaze.

“Temping as that is, Angel,” He used her nickname with a hint of amusement in his voice, “I did come for more than just your afternoon coffee and to check to make sure you’ve eaten.”

“Has something happened with the cops?” Her curiosity was piqued by his serious tone.

“No,” His expression turned grave, “Does the name Maria Lopez mean anything to you?”

She furrowed her brow, trying to recall any information about the name. After a minute of concentration, she shook her head. 

“No,” she answered honestly.

“No one? Not a teacher, a maid, a friend, nobody?”

“No, I didn’t get along with most of my teachers. Our maids were mostly Italian or Greek, and after what happened with Olivia, I didn’t have many friends. Plus, my father wouldn’t allow anyone with even a hint of Hispanic heritage near me,” 

Roman looked confused by this revelation. 

“His best friend was Spanish,” she continued, “They had some kind of falling out between their families a long time ago. My father saw anyone with Hispanic blood as someone not to be trusted.” Roman nodded in understanding; he knew the type of person her father was. “Why do you ask?”

Roman hesitated before offering up what he knew, “If I tell you this, you do nothing. Do you understand me?” 

His voice took on that hard quality again, the one that readied her fight or flight instinct, he was serious. She nodded slowly, but he looked expectantly.

"Okay, I promise. What's going on? Who is Maria Lopez?" She asked.

He lowered his voice, “I think that’s the alias your mother has been using.”

Her jaw dropped. “You found her?”

He shook his head. "Not yet. I'm still verifying some things, but I needed to know if that name meant anything to you."

"If it's an alias my father chose for her, I never would've known to look for it." Understanding dawned on Roman's face as he nodded. "Where is she?" She demanded, feeling a surge of hope mixed with fear.

"I can't say for sure," He admitted.

“I don’t believe you.” His eyes sharpened. "You wouldn't ask me something like this if you didn't have reason to believe she was out there."

He was amused by her straight talk and she was right, fact was he had a lot more than he let on. 

“Maybe I do have something. But,” She visibly deflated, “Nothing happens until I can verify what I’m looking at.” He seized her chin, “You do nothing. You don’t even so much as Google that name, do you hear me, Belladonna Black?”

She hadn’t been called by her full name in years and the way Roman said it… Well, it had her wondering if she could change his mind about the whole office rendezvous.

“You’re really gonna find her?” He was trying to be serious and maybe a bit intimidating but she didn’t see it, she saw him assembling pieces to a puzzle she hadn’t even been able to find pieces to in four years. 

“I said I would. Anyone jumping the gun could result in more blood spilled. Do you remember what we talked about the other night after Stan left?” She nodded and gave a feint, ‘Yeah’ It was easy in the span of an evening with Thai takeout and sleeping in the safety of his cozy bed to forget just how real the game they were playing was. 

“Do you understand me?”

“Yes.” She took hold of his hand that gripped her chin and kissed it. 

“Alright. You’re going to finish out your day and I’m picking you up at eight, not a moment later. Any other work you have to do will have to be done remotely, understand me?” 

“You kidding, I’m a hero by association today, it won’t be hard to leave by eight.”

“Be ready.” She nodded, “Now, I need to be going, Angel. I have some errands to run and before you ask; don’t.”

Roman pulled her in for one more kiss, his hands settling on her hips, maybe a little lower than might have been appropriate for a goodbye kiss but she didn’t seem to mind. It was slow and leisurely, a gentle exploration of her mouth and she could feel the warmth of his wet tongue teasing the seam of her lips. With a satisfied 'Mmm' and a heavy restrained sigh, Roman pulled back, leaving her wanting more. But before she could protest, in Roman fashion he kissed the palm of her hand, his lips lingering for a moment before he left the box of macarons on the conference table, a gesture of sweetness in contrast to his confident and seductive demeanor.

“Eat up kitten, but not too much. We’re going out tonight.”

The hands of the clock on the wall had inched closer to six pm, casting long shadows across the nearly deserted office. Belladonna, now left to her own devices after sending Daisy home with Lloyd, focused intently on her task at hand: finalizing preparations for tomorrow's shoot. The responsibility of running it all loomed over her, a weight she now bore thanks to Roman's influence.

Belladonna adjusted her glasses and diligently worked through the shot list, making necessary adjustments and confirming equipment availability. She double-checked every detail, ensuring that everything would be in working order for the big day. Somehow knowing Roman would be there not only watching but participating made her a bit anxious.

Her gaze momentarily drifted to the corner of her desk where the mostly empty box of macarons caught her eye. A small smile played on her lips as she recalled Roman's 'doting boyfriend' act earlier that day. She reached for the box, taking out the last one; a chocolate and pistachio macaron, and lifted it to her nose, inhaling its sweet aroma.

She’d never say it outloud but the Roman made one hell of a fake boyfriend when he tried, almost fooled her, before taking a satisfying bite.

As she chewed, her mind wandered back to Roman—his enigmatic presence and the powerful connections he held. She was putting a lot of trust in him, the feminist in her didn’t like how dependant on him she was and she felt a pang of unease. But at this point Roman had had multipl opportunities to either cut her loose or let her die and each time he did neither. 

The clock continued to tick away, marking the passage of time as she worked tirelessly to ensure tomorrow's shoot would go off without a hitch. And all the while, Roman Sionis' presence continued to linger in the back of her mind.

She redirected her attention to the list of garments for tomorrow's shoot, pulling out the photo of the piece Roman would be modeling, an intricately detailed, dark and alluring outfit that seemed to perfectly match his enigmatic persona.

"Damn, he is going to look incredible in this," Belladonna whispered under her breath, feeling a sudden surge of excitement at the prospect of capturing him on camera. 

The past week had been a whirlwind, and despite the chaos and danger, but oddly enough she felt perfectly safe. And the notion of Roman being close by while she worked, working in his club was oddly comforting.

She still knew practically nothing about him, and their entire relationship seemed to be built on a foundation of dependency and manipulation. 

Slumping into her chair she stared at the open search engine on her laptop thinking back to the last time she Googled him and how she didn't find much. At the time it had been disheartening but now she had more information on him, especially after her conversation with Cobblepot. She has a better idea of what to look for. She decided to try again, beginning her search at Gotham Preparatory School for Boys. 

As she browsed through the website, with some quick math she found the graduating classes section and quickly calculated which year Roman would have graduated. Once she located his year, her eyes were immediately drawn to his graduation picture – stone-faced, serious, and undeniably gorgeous. 

She studied the class photo, she noticed the space that people seemed to give Roman, as though he was a shark among a school of fish. It only confirmed Cobblepot's description of him – magnetic yet unnerving. People were afraid of him even at only eighteen. 

"Roman Sionis, man of mystery…”

Roman wasn’t Valedictorian and hadn't received any special awards or honors. However, his grades must have been decent enough for him to participate in extracurricular activities, and he was a busy boy. Her eyebrows shot up in surprise as she read the list – debate team, high-ranking chess competitor, social clubs, polo, squash, fencing, boxing, equestrianism, and swimming. 

None of those sounded like Roman but given the prestigious nature of the school, she suspected his parents likely had something to do with Roman’s busy schedule; something she could relate to. The thing that surprised her the most was the chess thing, she didn’t see Roman as having the patience for that sort of thing but by all accounts, he was very good.

"Of course, they'd want their son involved in everything," she mused, thinking of how similar Roman's upbringing seemed to her own.

Though she knew she should focus on the upcoming photo shoot, the enigma of Roman Sionis proved too enticing to resist. 

She clicked further into the archives next, finding a treasure trove of photos featuring Roman in his school uniform. The crisp white shirt and sharp black blazer and his immaculately styled hair seemed to be precursors to his current love for suits. Even as a teenager, he exuded an air of confidence and danger that was undeniably attractive. His stern expression, reminiscent of a young James Dean or Clint Eastwood, gave him a "resting bastard face" that somehow only served to heighten his appeal.

"Damn," she whispered to herself, unable to look away from the smoldering intensity in his eyes. Many of his photos possessed the quality to them that his eyes seemed to follow you wherever you went.

There was an alumni section dedicated to post-high school achievements like colleges, civic honors, and prominent family legacies where Roman was mentioned as a successful club owner, nothing more. There was no mention of any continuing connection with the school, but it did lead her to a page dedicated to significant contributors – including Roman's father, Richard Sionis.

Richard's gray hair betrayed his age, though there was still a strong resemblance between him and his son. Unlike Roman, Richard wore a smile in his pictures – but it appeared rehearsed and artificial, reminding Belladonna of the way her own father would grin for the cameras. It was clear that Roman had inherited his father's good looks, but there was something more genuine in his features, less tired and fake than the elder Sionis.

Belladonna continued to read about Richard's long-standing support of the school, noting his service on the board of trustees and involvement in numerous fundraisers. It seemed that the Sionis family had a history of influence and power, making her wonder what role Roman's upbringing played in shaping the man he had become.

Who was Roman Sionis before he became Roman Sionis?

She stared at the screen, not ready to pack it in just yet.

She didn’t know if he went to college or where to look and she really had no idea what happened to him after he graduated, only that at some point his family had severed all ties with him and Roman had begun a criminal life. He had mentioned he’d done time in Blackgate, but she wasn’t sure of the reason. The criminal stuff didn’t bother her at this point, she mostly wanted to know about his family drama. Because personal family drama was irritating, someone else’s family drama was entertainment.

"Alright then," She muttered under her breath, typing in the keywords ‘Roman Sionis’ and ‘Blackgate’ then hitting enter.

Over a dozen arrest records appeared on the screen, and Belladonna felt her heart tighten in her chest. Most of the records showed Roman posting bail up until he was twenty-one, but then the pattern changed. The bail postings stopped, and he started doing more time in jail. She suspected this may have been when his parents severed ties with him, but she couldn't find anything concrete to prove it. 

Not surprising, a family like his was likely to have as many skeletons in their closets as hers did and like hers; they stayed locked up tight away from prying eyes.

She clicked on the last arrest record, dating back to when Roman was twenty-three. Her stomach churned as the mugshot revealed several injuries to his face – a black and slightly swelling eye, bloodied cheeks, and a split lip. He looked like he had been beaten very badly, yet his smug expression remained intact, as if daring the world to knock him down further.

"God, Roman..." 

Despite his injuries, there was something about his defiant gaze that made her feel a flicker of admiration. It was clear that Roman refused to be broken, even when the odds were against him. She could practically hear him boasting ‘You should see the other guy.’

Aggravated assault, property damage, trespassing, criminal menacing, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of illegal weapons, resisting arrest, and battery – it was an extensive rap sheet that painted a portrait of a man prone to violence and chaos. 

"Roman, you really don't make things easy, do you?" Belladonna muttered under her breath, feeling a strange mix of concern and fascination. 

As she researched further into the dates of his arrests, Belladonna stumbled upon the court case where Roman was tried for these numerous charges. Limited to a mid-tier lawyer, she expected him to suffer the consequences of his actions, yet one by one, he managed to beat most of the charges. It seemed as though evidence had conveniently disappeared or witnesses had mysteriously chosen not to step forward.

"Interesting," She mused, intrigued by the power Roman appeared to wield even in his darkest moments. "How did you manage all of this?"

Her search eventually led her to the final charge that stuck: tax evasion. The out-of-place accusation left her puzzled, as it seemed far removed from the violent nature of the other crimes.

"Tax evasion? That's what they got you on, Roman?" Belladonna shook her head, disbelief etched across her face. Frustration gnawed at her as she tried to find more information on the bizarre charge but came up empty-handed. “Well, the permits make a little more sense now…”

The courtroom photos were grainy, like a lower quality paparazzi shot. His expression was one of pure disgust and irritation as he stood before the judge, his dark eyes blazing with barely restrained fury. The gavel came down, sealing his fate: three years in Blackgate Penitentiary.

She couldn't find anything on Roman's prison stint without hiring a private investigator or formally requesting court documents and that required the Freedom of Information Act which was time consuming and could be expensive and it wasn’t exactly subtle. And for some reason, she didn't want Roman to know she was digging into his past.

Her eyes narrowed as she typed in a new search query – this time focusing on Roman's initial arrest that had landed him in Blackgate Penitentiary. As she skimmed the articles, she discovered it was tied to an assault case against a local criminal named Tony Zucco.

"Tony Zucco?" 

A feeling of déjà vu washed over her. She knew the name sounded familiar but couldn't quite place it. Frustrated, she opened a new tab and quickly Googled the man.

As the search results loaded, Belladonna found herself staring at a squeaky clean image of Tony Zucco – a self-made man from Old Gotham with a very old school mafia gangster look to him. He looked like the type of man her father surrounded himself with. 

The more she searched, the less information she seemed to find about the altercation between Roman and Tony. It was as if their conflict had been purposefully scrubbed from the internet. However, one detail remained consistent throughout the scarce information available – Roman had lost the fight, but not without causing some serious damage.

"Damn," Belladonna breathed out.

What did Tony Zucco do to earn Roman’s wrath? What could have possibly ignited such a violent confrontation between the two? Her instincts told her it wasn’t exactly a fight over a seat at the bar.

The case was open and shut. As far as she could tell, he’d done his three years and he was released on the date, not a day more or less. There were a few pictures from paparazzi’s of Roman after his release and he looked harder, features darker and sharper, grittier. But she couldn’t imagine that three years of prison was easy on a man like Roman who had known luxury his whole life.

Gotham was almost pretty at sunset, if you didn’t think about all the scum that came out at night, the fading sunlight doused the area in hues of orange and gold. Roman lounged against the hood of his sleek black Maserati, scrolling through his tablet. A smirk played on his lips as if he were watching a thrilling episode of his favorite show, waiting to see what would unfold next. 

Zsasz, Roman's loyal assistant, stood beside him, taking a drag from a cigarette and exhaling a cloud of smoke into the air. For once not wearing his jacket in a departure of his professional look, he wore a shoulder holster but it didn’t hold a gun. No, where a small firearm usually sat tucked against a mans side instead was the scabbard of a very large knife. Scars on his arms on full display since no one was around to be scared by them, besides when it came to nightfall in Gotham, the scarier you looked, the less likely people were to fuck with you and there weren’t many men who looked scarier than Zsasz. 

"Tell me she's asking better questions this time," Zsasz asked in a monotone voice with a hint of reservation. 

“She started with my old prep school this time." Roman said, his eyes never leaving the tablet. "Nobody ever thinks keyloggers are useful until they are," 

“I prefer a more hands on approach.”

Roman chuckled, nodding in agreement. "You think she’ll find my list of extracurriculars impressive?"

“Hell no. Squash is dumb, and polo is for spoiled rich pussies," Zsasz countered, blowing out another puff of smoke. Zsasz scoffed. 

A bark of laughter escaped Roman. "You do remember I played Polo, right?." Zsasz shot him a sideways glance, the hint of a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “

Zsasz's lips quirked. "Wasn't calling you a pussy." 

"Damn right I’m not." 

Roman's attention returned to the tablet, watching in real time as Belladonna uncovered more and more of his sordid past. Part of him relished the thought of her reaction. The rest rankled at her audacity to dig into his business but he had done just that too her so he couldn’t blame her much. Still, pretty stupid to think she could dig into him and he not know. He knew about her previous day of Googling after his little adventure at the docks with Cobblepots men and he’s watched as she searched up his old school.

He had to give it to her, she’d gone right back to work after he’d left and he was pleased to see that she didn’t Google the name Maria Lopez, just as she’s promised not to. Nope. But she did take a second shot at Googling him. Her first attempt at digging into Romans past hadn’t yielded much, turns out when you write in the name ‘Roman Sionis’ into Google it’s mostly just papparazzi pictures and a few articles on his club. Roman had paid good money to make sure those articles on his arrest and his younger years were at least seven pages back in the search results. You couldn’t erase a criminal past but you could make it harder to find. 

He admired Belladonna's tenacity. She was resourceful, stubborn, and unafraid to dig into his past. Those traits only served to make her more attractive to him.

"Let's see what else she has up her sleeve," Roman murmured, his finger swiping across the tablet screen. 

A wicked grin spreading across his face as he noticed Belladonna had uncovered his criminal record. 

"Ah, there it is. She's finally found my rap sheet," He said, his voice low and amused.

"Should've been her first step," Zsasz commented, looking over Roman's shoulder at the screen. 

"Oh come on now, give the kid a break. She's new at this."

"True," Zsasz chuckled, leaning back against the car hood. "I’ll give her this, she’s has handled everything so far like an old-school mafia woman. Haven’t seen tears from her once."

“Thank God for that, I can’t stand seeing women cry.” Roman agreed, his admiration for Belladonna growing with each passing moment "Indeed, she's been a champ,"

Flicking through the rest of the information she'd gathered, he spotted something that caught his attention. 

"Look here, she's found Tony Zucco's name."

"Tony Zucco?" Zsasz mused, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. "She won't find much. He's been out of the game since you shut him down.”

"Ah, yes. Good ol' Tony," Roman sighed nostalgically, a distant look in his eyes as if recalling a fond memory. "Brings back memories, doesn't it?"

Not the least of which was the scar on his shoulder,courtsey of Zsasz's loyalty. Roman met his gaze. 

"Good shot, by the way. The ladies seem to like the scars." 

Zsasz's lips quirked again. "Following orders.” Zsasz reminded him with a sly grin as he flicked the ashes off his cigarette. “What else has she dug up?" 

Roman scrolled through the contents of the laptop. "She found the shooting at the club." His mouth twisted. "Hard to believe that lazy bastard was in business for so long, Tony never seemed to understand the value of paying your people what they’re worth..."

Zsasz chimed in. "You had a better employee retention program." 

"I did at that." Roman said smugly. They both chuckled, enjoying the memory that many would probably find deeply suspicious or deeply unsettling.

"Yeah, poor Tony never saw it coming. Shame you didn't kill him," Zsasz said casually. "Could've gotten the club for cheap if there had been a death on the property." 

"True," Roman mused, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction at the thought. “A little restraint goes a long way Zsasz…”

His laugh died and Roman's eyes narrowed to slits as he zoomed in on an article that Belladonna was currently browsing. It was a piece the Gotham Times had published shortly after the shooting—one he'd somehow overlooked until now. The street lights flickered above, casting eerie shadows across his face as he scrutinized the text.

"Zsasz," Roman said, his voice low and dangerous. "Take a look at this and tell me what you see."

Zsasz took the tablet from Roman, his pale eyes scanning the screen with a growing sense of unease. He glanced back at Roman, his voice tense with anticipation. "Two very irritating names.”

"This makes it two times now," Roman muttered, a note of irritation lacing his voice.

"Two?"

"First, we miss Belladonna's hypoglycemia diagnosis," Roman said, tossing the tablet aside where it landed with a soft thud on the leather couch. “Now this.”

"Ah," Zsasz nodded slowly, his lips twitching into an almost-smile. "A determined woman does better research than the FBI. Maybe you should take Belladonna out for a nice dinner, thank her properly for her detective skills."

Roman's expression softened at the mention of dinner. The thought of her resourcefulness brought a rare sense of warmth to his chest. 

"Dinner?" he echoed, considering the idea. His hand instinctively reached up to adjust the cuff of his immaculately tailored suit.

Roman considered it. 

"Taking a half-Italian woman to an Italian restaurant... is that too cliché?" Roman inquired, the corner of his mouth quirked upwards in a semblance of amusement.

"Boss," Zsasz replied with a deadpan delivery, "clichés are clichés for a reason. But if you want something different, I know a place. Turkish."

"That little hole in the wall joint in the Bowery?" Roman's tone shifted with intrigue.

Zsasz gave a single nod. "That's the one."

"Karnıyarık," Roman mused aloud, a hint of hunger creeping into his voice as he remembered the savor of well-spiced eggplant and minced meat. "That does sound good."

"And don't get me started on the büyükanne's baklava." Zsasz's eyes gleamed with a rare spark of enthusiasm. "Better than any of those fancy restaurants, hands down."

Dinner was a good next step but there was a new loose end to tie up. Roman's amusement faded as he glared at the article again, picking out the names that had drawn his ire—Ramirez and Craven. The detectives first on scene after he'd been shot. 

Roman sneered at the article, muttering under his breath, "So that's why you've got it out for me..." 

His mind raced with thoughts of revenge and calculated moves, feeling the weight of their names pressing down on him. 

"This changes things," Roman said, the gears turning in his head. He looked at Zsasz with a new sense of urgency. 

"What do you want to do about it?" Zsasz asked calmly. 

"Call up the lawyers and our inside man. I want everything on Ramirez and Craven by Monday." 

"Got it, boss," Zsasz replied, nodding in agreement. His fingers were already reaching for his phone, ready to make contact and set things into motion. “You wanna wait on Metropolis? Left that doctor in pretty rough shape, he might talk, might not.”

“No, I think we’ve properly motivated the good doctor to keep his mouth shut. But let’s not take any chances, keep our travel plans as scheduled. And look into that other thing, I want that sorted by the time we leave, make sure she has everything she needs.”

"Now what?" he asked, curious about Roman's next move.

Roman's mind buzzed with plans and contingencies, the dark machinery of his intellect churning relentlessly. Craven and Ramirez had been the proverbial annoying thorn in his side since this whole damn thing started. He’d have figured out exactly what their beef with him was sooner or later but thanks to his little detective, it was sooner and he’d have to make sure he thanked her properly, wouldn’t he?

But he’d also have to tell her he’d been spying on her at work as well as her home, which really shouldn’t surprise her at this point. Well, she’d get over it.

The neon glow of the city reflected in Roman's dark eyes as he glanced at his watch, the ticking seconds a reminder that time was always moving. 

"Time to go pick up my angel from work." 

He pocketed the tablet and slid off the hood of the Maserati with predatory grace. Zsasz looked up from his phone call, nodding in understanding. Neither spoke of the growing reality, which was that Belladonna was quickly becoming a more central influence in Romans life, which made her dangerous.

Her beauty and courage had captivated him from their first meeting, and he found himself craving her presence more and more each day. 

"Boss, everything's set," Zsasz said, interrupting Roman's thoughts as he hung up the phone. "Our guys will get us what we need."

"Good," Roman replied, his voice low and intense. "We'll find out exactly what those bastards are playing at, and put an end to it. But for now… let's focus on something far more pleasant." He smirked, enjoying the idea of spending time with Belladonna, even if only for a brief reprieve from the darkness that consumed his world. “I’m hungry.”

When faced with virtually no information about Tony Zucco aside from his sterling reputation within the community and the many mentionings of his hand in local businesses, Bealladonna’s bullshit detector started going off. Jaded or not, a wise man once said if something seemed too good to be true then it was.

When one word didn’t work, she opted to cross reference the name of Tony Zucco with Roman Sionis and then she found it.

The words "shooting" and "Masquerade Noir" had caught her attention, and as she read, she began to piece together a story that had unfolded just months after Roman's release from prison.

The article detailed an incendent that had unfolded at the location that would later become Roman’s club, he had been looking at the building with a leasing agent when Tony Zucco and his men showed up.

The statement of the leasing agent told of how Roman instructed her to flee and call the police and when she ran Tony’s men persued her. She imagined Roman's tall, dark frame acting as a barrier between the fleeing woman and Zucco's thugs. Roman then inteviened and tackled one fo the men by throwing punches but was qickly overwhelmed when he second man attacked Roman from behind. The witness report stated she saw Roman taking a severe beating on his knees before she went for help.

Roman out-numbered two to one, those seemed like his kind of odds. The image of his strong, muscular body entangled in a vicious fight made her shiver with both fear and admiration. It was compelling but something about it just wasn’t right. Where was Zsasz? She hadn’t bothered to look up anything about Zsasz, that one she had been a little afraid to look into.

The article continued stating by the time the police had arraived the two men were dead from gunshot wounds, Tony Zucco was shot in the chest but still alive and Roman was shot in the shoulder. She could almost hear the gunshots echoing through the empty building as Roman and Zucco traded fire.

Her breath caught in her throat as she envisioned Roman wounded and bleeding. She thought back to earlier that morning when she’d caught sight of him with that towel draped around his waist. She’d seen a few scars, one in particular on his shoulder, it had looked like a bullet but she couldn't tell from where she was.

As she absorbed the information, she could almost see the scene play out in her mind: Roman, bloodied but unbowed, bringing down the older man before collapsing into unconsciousness. It wasn't long after this brutal exchange that the police arrived, taking both men to Gotham General Hospital for treatment.

"Both men were treated and held in medical hold with armed police officers until they cold be taken to the GCPD." She read further. 

While there was push from Zucco’s attourney to have Roman thrown back into Blackgate for the shooting and there was a potential civil lawsuit against him, the judge had ruled that Roman was out numbered, out gunned and he acted in reasonable self defense. 

"Tony Zucco was sentenced to ten years for conspiracy to commit murder, assault with a deadly weapon, criminal conspiracy, and criminal solicitation. " 

It had been, as far as she could tell, a slam dunk case mostly thanks to the severity of Romans injuries and the leasing agent who had witnessed the whole ordeal. She had stepped forward offering testimony, ultimately clearing Roman Sionis of any wrongdoing.

She moved from one article to another that talked about Tony Zucco’s release several years ago and he hadn’t been mentioned that much since, choosing to keep a quiet profile until almost all mention of him stopped. And a price reduction of several hundred thousand dollars had left the building vacant, which Roman swooped in to purchase it months later.

"Masquerade Noir opens its doors... quickly becoming Gotham's hottest night spot," She read aloud, her voice tinged with disbelief. The club had been born from violence, yet now thrived with people fighting to get in.

"Roman Sionis: Behind the Mystery" – another article title caught her eye, and she clicked on it eagerly. Scrolling through the text, she absorbed every detail there were interviews with staff, patrons, all speaking very highly of Roman as an employer who ran an immaculate ship. Didn’t tolerate any shady activity and overall, all who set foot inside his doors reported they loved the experience and felt safe and eager to return even if a martini cost almost twenty five dollars.

"From violence to prospering into an icon of the city; one thing is certain – he has built an empire from nothing, and many are drawn to the allure of his power and charm."

The sudden buzz of the intercom jolted Belladonna from her thoughts, her heart pounding in her chest. 

"Miss Black, Mr. Sionis is in the lobby to pick you up," The security guards voice came through the speaker.

"Thank you, tell him I’ll be right down." She managed to reply, quickly shutting down her laptop and packing her bag. 

As she stepped out of her office and made her way to the lobby, she considered what she might say to him, or even if she’d say anything at all. He’d never forbade her from looking into his past, never warned her not to go digging and what kind of idiot would she be if she didn’t at least do some light Googling into a man that she was growing more intimately connected with? Hell, she was all but sleeping with him at this point, she was living with him. 

Her steps slowed as she entered the elevator and waited for it to carry her to the first floor. He did, however, tell her to ask fewer questions or learn to look the other way. 

"Angel," 

Roman's deep voice called as he saw her, his eyes alight with a mix of desire and possessiveness and he wore a smile that could charm the devil himself. He crossed the distance between them in a few swift strides, pulling her into an unusually passionate kiss that caught her off guard. There was no one here aside from the security guard who wasn’t even watching, why the show? Something put him in a good mood. 

"Hi.” She said a little breathlessly.

He ushered her toward his black Maserati parked outside, his hand resting possessively on the small of her back. "Hungry?"

"Actually, yeah." She replied, her previous queries now pushed to the back burner after that kiss and the prospect of dinner. She wondered what he had in mind but before she could ask he answered that with a question of his own.

"Ever had Turkish?" Roman asked, his dark eyes glinting with amusement.

She wasn’t sure what it was but something had put him in a very good mood, it was hard to find any hint of those little tendrils of darkness that usually clung to him. It was then that she registered his question and her lips curled in distaste, the memory of her father's rants about 'those damned Turks' still fresh even after all these years. 

"No, of course not." She said it with an almost laugh, as if it was the dumbest question she’d been asked.

Roman's gaze sharpened, and she could almost hear the unspoken reprimand. “Excuse me?’ Who's never had Turkish in this cultural melting pot of a city? It’s almost offensive.”

“Sorry?” She shrugged. "Did you forget I'm half Greek and my father is something of a xenophobe?" She replied, unable to keep the slightly defensive note from her voice.

"What's that got to do with food?" He asked perplexed as the car pulled away from the curb.

Belladonna bit her lip. Did Roman really need her to explain her father's deep seeded, outdated, cultural hatred? She thought it was pretty self explanatory. On the other hand it was just as plausible for Roman to harbor no real hate for anyone unless they crossed him in which case that was most certainly a ‘case by case’ basis. He also seemed like an ‘I hate everybody equally’ type of man. He was a total social butterfly, floating between different groups without a care in the world. Old grudges and racial tensions didn't seem to faze him at all, personal grudges? Well, that was likely different.

"Turkish food," She finally said. "Greece and Turkey have been enemies for centuries,” She managed. "Ever since the Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople in 1453, there's been bad blood between the nations. Even now they're still not exactly friends-"

"Despite both being NATO allies..." Roman interjected, one dark brow arched knowingly. 

His mention of something so political surprised her, Roman was smart but she didn’t really think of him as ‘politics smart.’ She had never thought of him as someone who paid attention to politics, let alone casually mention it. But in a way, it did make a certain kind of sense, the politics of crime.

"Just because someone is an ally, doesn't make them friends." 

She froze, hearing the echo of their own intricate affiliation in those words. The playful atmosphere evaporated, replaced by an awkward tension. 

Without warning, Roman's hand reached out to cup her chin and he silenced any concerns she had with a deep, passionate kiss. His lips moved slowly over hers, lulling her into a relaxed state, slow, smoldering, possessive and hungry. When he pulled away, she was left breathless, her mind pleasantly unfocused. 

"Trust me, you're gonna love it," He purred, low and seductive, his thumb stroking over her lower lip. 

He didn't acknowledge her earlier words or the uneasy parallel she had drawn between them. If her comment bothered him, he didn't let it show. 

“Was your father that much of a bigot to keep you from trying some of the most delicious food known to man?” Roman's disbelief was evident in his tone, and it surprised her. She had never thought of him as a foodie but he seemed all riled up over it.

“Roman, what do you think?” She asked dryly.

"Come on," he said. "Time you tried some Turkish delight."

“That jello thing that little prick Edmund liked from the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe?”

Roman rolled his eyes, and scoffed. “You know classic children's fantasy literature but you’ve never had Turkish?”

“You mean, ‘I know classic Christian biblical propaganda?’ Then yes, I do. I went to an all girls Catholic school, remember?”

A sly smile crossed Roman's face. “Oh, Angel, trust me. That’s a detail I’ve never forgotten.”

Just an hour ago she’d read through as much of Romans criminal history as she could find, she was still no closer to discovering what it was that happened between his family and him. She didn’t for one second buy the fact that he’d done three years for tax evasion or that there was no validity to any of the other charges against him. 

He did it. She was sure. 

And she knew for a fact that the shooting that took place in his club couldn’t have been as simple as the article had made it out to be. 

Roman protecting a curiously present leasing agent when someone he had a sketchy past with had just happen to show up? Not for a second.

She couldn't explain it, but somehow Roman had found a way to get away with murder and attempted murder. And now, he was doing it again with Jimmy. Even more unsettling, she was helping him - at times, even enjoying it. She could hardly believe how comfortable she had become in his presence, especially since learning to read him better. As they drove through the streets of Gotham, for what was sounding more and more like a real date, Roman wore something that hovered between a smile and a smirk. His hand rested possessively on her thigh, thumb gently grazing her leg through the fabric of her jeans. Electric sparks shooting between their bodies like lightning bolts. She couldn't deny the thrill she felt being by his side, despite the danger and moral ambiguity of their actions together.

Roman was a man of many qualities, but at the forefront of it all was his ability to survive. She couldn't imagine how much blood he must have shed to get to where he was. Despite knowing he was dangerous and having witnessed his quick fire temper firsthand, and even being mildly on the receiving end a few times. She was drawn to him. 

Everything about this man should have sent her running and screaming.

But it didn’t. 

First he’d spared her life, then he’d saved her life more than once, called down an armed assault when she’d been in danger and nearly declared war with another criminal over her. Yet, here he was, sitting beside her, taking her to dinner after a long workday, to try something new. She wasn’t bothered by his touch, in fact, she craved it. Despite the red flags every Cosmo had ever told her to look for and run from there was a warmth emanating from those flags, like a bullet-proof, blood red blanket. 

Roman Sionis was a pit bull. An angry dog with a penchant for biting and slicing off ears. Dropping bodies where it pleased him and something about that knowledge set every nerve of hers on fire. 

He was a criminal. A killer with blood on his hands. And a psychopath with violence in his heart. And if there was a God in heaven, let him help her because she was falling for him.

I woke up a little early so here's a happy surprise for you guys! So, we got a little more insight into Roman's past, eh? Anyone else get the impression we're missing some information???? Belladonna does. Hope you guys liked this chapter, I know I'm teasing you guys mercilessly but stick with me I PROMISE YOU the smut is coming in the next chapter or two, it just depends on pacing but it will be worth it! Y'all have stuck with me this far just hang on a little longer. I need to work on a few one-shots but I have the next chapter mostly planned out so it shouldn't take quite as long. I also had some family in town so writing was put on the back burner for a little bit.

I'm really loving how this story is coming together and I really appreciate everyone's support, especially my mysterious anonymous questioner who checks in on me, I don't know who you are but I appreciate you! Comments and interaction comes from such a small group so the feedback and check-ins really do keep me motivated!

How do you guys like the new look fo the story??? I finally got Canva Premium so I think I'll be playing around with some more fun stuff like the bars and dividers. You guys know what to do, reblog with those crazy tags, comment and like! Reblogs are the best way to circulate work on Tumblr so we can reach more Toxic Fangirls! And speaking of which a big welcome to a new potential member of the Roman Sionis Toxic Love Fangirl Club who is actually a pretty damn good writer her/their damnself! Looking at you @gilverrwrites and my other toxic fangirls too! @hereticpriest @daenerys-skywalker @tarrenterror25 @supernatural-lover and @keffirinneYou guys are my cheer squad!

Have a great day, let me know what you all think, and stay toxic.

[gothamitelove]

Heyyy 🖤 I have a request for Yandere Platonic ArkhamVerse!Black Mask with daughter!reader. I just imagined a scenario where his daughter fall in love with one of the Robin and she wants to run away from the criminal life and be with him. But Sionis is like "eh you're funny, princess" with his gun ready to kill the Robin who dared to try to take his lil princess away from him.

ooooh i like this!

so i imagine roman eventually relenting here, if only because he'd be torn between his desire to keep his kid safe and how he wants to see you happy.

but even if he does let you run away with one of the robins, he'll still be very present in your life. expect to be protected, even at a distance.

you don't have to stay in the crime business- he doesn't care what you do as long as you stay with him.

he will actively sabotage you if you try to leave the city, though. you can wander, just not very far.

roman would probably be slightly more lenient with a family member/friend as a darling than a romantic partner. remember how his last girlfriend died? yeah, that's why.

(roman's almost halfway to being a yandere in canon as it is lmao this is not far off)

he keeps a keen eye on robin. if he thinks robin's mistreated you in any way, he's a dead man. you might not even be able to beg your way out of it.

[bad4amficideas]

In the earth 1t8, do any of the villains have that fun dynamic where they hate the Bat and love Y/N Wayne or the other way around?

Well now that you say it. (This question automatically rules out those who know of Bats' identity like the Al Ghul family, Harley Quinn y Harvey Dent/Good Side). See here for more villains thingies

Note: English is not my language, so I hope you will be understanding of any flaws you find.

Jonathan Crane has a dislike for Y/N Wayne but respects Bats. This is because all the money that Wayne has invested in educational institutions came with restrictions and regulations included in the experimentation (even if the students were volunteer subjects). On the other aide Bats inspires fears and that deserves respect (and envy).

Sionis Roman. Thomas Elliot. These two are totally, sick and utterly in love with Y/N Wayne and let's give thanks that they already decided to share them. They've decided it's theirs and be with them and Ric Powers in the same gala or room in winter makes heating unnecessary. The room burns alone with the hatred they bring among all of them. If this was an A/B/O AU, people would be swooning from the pressure of these three fighting for their mate. Except that Dick is the most alpha of the three. Oh, but they HATE the Bats. Their plan is to control the streets of Gotham and "secure" them for their dear Wayne (like a couple of mobsters that they are) and Bats is in the middle, Bats doesn't let them pass one, they destroys each and every one of their bases and operations and if it wasn't because they work together to cover their asses, their dear Wayne would have discovered that they were villains a long time ago (by the press and being captured and such, a case that has not happened yet).

Bane. I think I said it in my other post. I have made Bane the president of Santa Prisca, because I love to fuck with diplomatic immunity (in fiction, that is) Also, he is a strong AND intelligent man. And no touching Alfred. Alfred is sacred. And he doesn't know Bats identitny. Now, we can continue: This Bane has been found many times at galas with Wayne. He doesn't like their "persona", but from seeing them in so many galas (especially in galas that have been ruined by some other villain on duty), he has already realized that it's a facade, so he finds them interesting. He also wonders what skeletons they hides in the closet, why Wayne's so damn charitable. At first Bane had a problem with Bats, but more related to "you dress up as what scare me". Over time he has come to see them as a RIVAL, he really is the type of villain that if meets you on the street he says "fight me" and he will fight with all the bad energy in the world but if you politely explain to him that your friend is in labor he will told "ok, good luck" and he will leave you alone (Oh, but if he's stealing or something. Don't let him down, you have to try to stop him at least)

Harvey Dent. He met Wayne during his studies. They supported him, encouraged him. They are a friend (maybe something else). Harvey's good side is quiet about Bats' identity, which he knows; his soul hurts by the trust that Bats has in him. Harvey-Bad thinks that Bats is a sanctimonious person always trying to "reform" him and everyone and he hopes a fourth-rate thief kills them in a dark alley in a humiliating way.

Edward Nygma. He's not interested in Wayne at all, as they has not shown anything (superior intelligence, detective skills) that could interest him. If you ask his it's something like "Oh yeah, the benefactor of Gotham" and that's all. This Riddler is sometimes close to discovering the identity of Bats and sometimes closer to touching the sun. The truth is that he enjoys spending his time creating his puzzles more than solving that particular puzzle, especially since Bats "plays" with him, makes suggestions, praises him, etc.

Victor Fries. Wayne has invested in all his research for his wife. They're a blessing from heaven. They has never turned his back on him. Bats is always messing up his plans (although at least they lets him have a snow day on his wife's birthday), so he doesn't hate you.

For Selina Kyle. Wayne is kind of repellent. They are happy, has a lot of qualities, people love them. They has everything and everyone served on a platter, that's is unfair. So what does it matter if she steals one thing or another from them? But Selina respects Bats, because Bats tries to do something good in a crazy city, but for the same reason she believes that Bats themselves is crazy.

Pamela Isley. Of course Pamela didn't know who Bats was at first, but she was really a fan of WE and its president because every time they discovered or was informed that something didn't add up in their companies they took it seriously or sought to correct it. According to her, if all businessmen were like Wayne, she wouldn't have to do what she does. Poison Ivy on the other hand is annoyed that Bats won't let her carry out her plans, that they are never affected by her pheromones and yet Bats expects her to heed her when Bats tells Poison Ivy that random company would be a better target for such x or y motive and what if she just did z thing she wouldn't harm anyone and... which, look, is a good plan, but who's in charge of ecoterrorism here????

Oswald Cobbleplot. After @dcsupersimp introduced me to TellTales, I've decided that along with Hush and Black Mask (and Batwoman and Alfred obviously), Penguin is now part of Bats' childhood as well (Harvey joined in high school). What I want to say is that Oswald totally approves of Wayne, because he remembers and even cares, gets, the child! Wayne that given the public person that Bats maintains for the public, is the most "Y/N" that anyone can gets and Wayne has also helped him not to make too many bad decisions that would have ruined him (of course he would never share the other side of his business with lovely Wayne!). With Bat!Reader is an ambivalent pulling to despise them. Bats, As Batman, uses Penguin to get information and in return gives him some rope.This certainly annoys Oswald a lot and from time to time he sets up schemes to let off steam but in the end -since his money keeps him out of jail- he's the informer of Bats always for his own good -and if he doesn't want a lot of little birds turning his face into pulp-.

Slade Wilson has been hired to kill both Bats and Wayne. He actually did a relatively deep check on Wayne (not deep enough to discover their alter ego) and decided not to take the case of Wayne because "Wayne is the sun that keeps Gotham turning." (that was fucking poetic). He respects what Wayne does and while he wouldn't go out of his way to save them, he definitely won't go against them. On the other hand Kill Bats? Ooooh, that sounds like a challenge and a worthy opponent. Subsequent encounters only confirm it. And well, if in a job in parallel he has the opportunity to confront them, he's not going to complain either.

[mywitchcultblr]

Can you make a moodboard for Rasroman? I love this ship but not many talk about them

Roman survived Harley and her gang attacks but then he was arrested and taken to Arkham Asylum Although Ra's Al Ghul break out his love from the asylum, Roman has not been doing well.

The time in Arkham was enough to destroy his mind. Roman became more paranoid, unstable and also deathly obsessed to keep Ra's by his side.

Afraid that Ra's Al Ghul might left him to rot just like others who abandoned him or died before him...

It is a concerning development. But there's no way Ra's will ever abandon Roman, not even when Roman's mental state deteriorating rapidly

[stupid-sloot-headcanons]

Black Mask definitely seems like that kind of Yandere who buys you very expensive stuff unprompted, pays your college dept etc. and then throws it back at you when you ask him to see your family or be less rough during sex

Absolutely. Like he does those things with the intent of being kind and spoiling you, but he'll still use it during an argument if you try to leave. And he has that guido tendency to monologue in anger at a Darling.

"You're treating me like I'm keeping you fuckin' prisoner. This look like Blackgate to you? You think when I'm in there they give me a king-sized bed, a whole custom wardrobe, a team of the best guys assigned to keep you safe and sound from all the assholes trying to get to me through you? Yeah, I keep you close because I've got all sorts of enemies. You're my tesoro, sei tutto per me; if you're out by yourself and I'm not keeping you safe, you're gonna get snatched up by the Falcones, Cobblepot, that jackass with the question mark fetish. And that's if you're lucky. You've seen what people like Crane and--god forbid--the fucking clown, what they do? Joker killed one of my girls before, I'm never letting him hurt someone I care about ever again. If that means you think I'm a fuckin' cazzo, then fine, I'm a fuckin' cazzo for keeping you safe and happy. Biggest asshole in Gotham, Roman Sionis."

[tarrensbookmarks]

Batman

➼ Alfred Pennyworth ‣I'll Be Seeing You by eupheme Invisible Man!Alfred x F!Reader ‣Slip Into Your Skin by stargirlfics Alfred Pennyworth x Black F!Reader ‣The Gentleman by stargirlfics Alfred Pennyworth x F!Black Dancer!Reader ‣Penny For Your Thoughts by eupheme Alfred Pennyworth x F!Reader ‣In Bloom by eupheme Alfred Pennyworth x F!Reader and sex pollen

➼ Bruce Wayne/Batman ‣Iron by stargirlfics Battinson x F!Reader

➼ Jason Todd/Red Hood/Arkham Knight ‣Dark!AK!Jason Todd x F!Reader by nocturne-pisces

➼ Harvey Dent/Two-Face ‣Yandere!Two-Face x GN!Reader by recreationalfanfics

➼ Roman Sionis/Black Mask ‣Morning After by gilverrwrites Roman Sionis x Reader

dividers by saradika-graphics

[1donoow]

DC VILLAINS REC

On going

......

♡ - smut

Most of them are fluff

......

<a/n>i somewhat explain why there's alot in my pin post

jervis tetch

the valeska twins

roman sionis

@fetish4jugglos - gotham villains with their s/o

@thejsquadswhore - headcannon with the j squad

@lonleywriters-blog - gotham villains with a sexually dominant s/o

- gotham villains when s/o stroke their hair

@witchthewriter - being in a poly relationship with harley quinn and poison ivy would include

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jervis tetch

@cactusmisslittle - burnt sugar

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the valeska twins

@valeskawhore - patients 07 and 08 (Psychiatrist! reader)

- jerome and jeremiah with a chubby bimbo reader

@fangirl--writes - relationship with the twins

@darkmoviesquotespizza - old library

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jeremiah valeska

@darkmoviesquotespizza - jeremiah the puppet

@plus-size-reader - black and blue

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jerome valeska

@darkmoviesquotespizza - my personal photographer

- greek gods

- it tastes like fried chicken

- trust

- new mommy ♡

- giggling little "girl"

@southern-fried-simpin - jerome with a flirty hostage

@clean-bands-dirty-stories - trouble

@generic-wattpad-badboy - dating jerome valeska

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roman sionis

@stardancerluv - a night out pt 4

- being a couple

- gotham surviving the pandemic pt.8

@starshipsofstarlord - dove

@the-fo0l - yandere!roman sionis

@parvulous-writings - drunken roman

@like-rain-or-confetti - when he sleeps

[tarrenterror25]

Thinking about Roman Sionis having a sugar daddy type arrangement with someone but then he ends up catching feelings for them. And he's big mad about it cause that was not supposed to happen...but once he decides they're his, they're his and that's that. (He gives me extremely possessive yandere vibes).

He would be the type to spoil the hell out of his partner, buying them all sorts of expensive stuff and making sure they want for nothing, but he'd also totally be the type to throw it back in their face in a fight or something.

Ohhhhh I love this!! 💕

Roman doesn't share his feelings so if he catches them he's not at all telling you, but he's acting different, buying you more stuff than usual, trying to go out with you on the days he normally doesn't see you, he's texting/calling you more and asking what you're doing or trying to convince you to ditch it to spend time with him.

And because you don't know, you might find yourself in a situation that makes Roman extremely upset so yeah, he would definitely throw it all back at you! What do you mean you don't know that he's in love with you and you're not allowed to be around other people like that?? Ugh!

Toxic Take: Whether he knows it or not, Roman is a love-bomber.

The need to keep you in his life is strong so he'll do anything to keep you around and when you've seen him at his worst, expect him to shower you, even overwhelm you, with affection, compliments, and mostly gifts.

[lyssak09]

Masterlist & Things I write for

AN: I automatically write the reader as female so when you re quest please please tell me what pronouns you want the reader to have. Also if requested I will and can write the reader as part of the LGBTQ+ community

Key: Italics means to be posted/its a draft

Fandoms I can write for:

Supernatural

Corpse Bride (my favorite movie ever)

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Night Court (1986)

Certain Stephen King movies: Just request one and I’ll tell you if I have seen it or not

Doctor Sleep

Charmed (the original one)

The Labyrinth (David Bowie movie)

Krull (1983)

Secret Obsession (netflix movie)

Day of the Dead: Bloodline

The Walking Dead (seasons 1-7) I get pissed with the show when I get to parts of season 7 so I stop watching and restart from the beginning of the show

Umbrellas Academy

Repo! The genetic opera

Z Nation

Warehouse 13

Repo! The Genetic Opera

Dead by Daylight

Adventure Time

The Big Bang Theory

Friends

Suicide Squad (both movies)

Futurama

Slashers: Ghostface (preferably Stu), Michael Myers, Thomas Hewitt, Jason, Brahms Hillshire

Star Trek: TNG, Voyager, Lower Decks

Nightmare on Elm Street: Movies 1 through 3 (I’m iffy on doing Freddy because he is a dick and child rapist in a lot of the movies. But I will do the other characters for sure)

My Bloody Valentine: Both 1981 and 2009 movies so please be specific with which one you want

Markiplier & Jacksepticeye egos

Masterlist

Supernatural

Yandere Dean hcs

Yandere Shapeshifter hcs

Yandere Sam hcs

Yandere Archangels request

Yandere Castiel hcs

Yandere Lucifer hcs

Yandere Casifer hcs

Yandere Casifer with Trans!reader request

Yandere Archangels soulmates request

Dead by daylight

Platonic Yandere killers reaction to child reader

Yandere Leon with Killer!reader request

Yandere Leon with Killer!reader pt.2 request

Platonic Yandere (HOY) Trapper & Huntress with tween!reader request

Platonic Yandere Huntress & Trapper request 

Yandere Nemesis hcs request

Yandere Killers & Survivors request pt.1

Yandere Killers & Survivors request pt.2

Yandere Doctor hcs request

Plantonic yandere (HOY) Trapper & Huntress pt.2

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Yandere Jake Peralta hcs

Yandere Jake with Lawyer!reader request

Yandere Jake

Yandere Rosa

Yandere Amy

Yandere Charles request

Star Trek

Yandere Q request

Yandere William Riker

Yandere Data

Umbrella Academy

Yandere Five with Soft!reader request

Yandere Five hcs

Yandere Luther hcs

Yandere Diego hcs

The Walking Dead

Yandere Daryl with motherly!reader hcs request

Yandere Daryl motherly!reader hcs pt.2 request

Yandere Daryl

Yandere Rick hcs

Yandere Grown Carl hcs

Yandere Michonne hcs

Miscellaneous (Aka writing that doesn’t have their own category yet)

Yandere Brahms Heelshire (The boy)

Yandere Elliot Stabler (L&O SVU)

Yandere Mack Thompson (Z Nation) hcs

Yandere Emily (Corpse Bride) hcs

Yandere Black Mask/Roman Sionis (DC/BOP)

Yandere Pete Latimer (Warehouse 13) hcs

Yandere Homelander (The Boys) hcs

Yandere Joker (Suicide Squad)  hcs (Fight me on this)

Yandere Piper Hallowell (Charmed) hcs

Yandere Leo (Charmed)  hcs

Yandere Colwyn (Krull) hcs

Yandere Danny Torrance (Doctor Sleep) hcs I love Ewan McGregor 

Yandere Max (Day of the dead: Bloodline) hcs

Yandere Victor (Corpse Bride) hcs

Yandere Wilford Warfstache hcs

Yandere Antisepticeye hcs

Ocs

Tyler from my yandere song fic

Evan ( Yandere Landlord)

Daniel (Yandere Slasher)

Hudson (Yandere Cop/Sheriff)

Luke (Yandere Childhood friend/Bully)

Damien (Yandere Teacher)

Zachary (Yandere zombie apocalypse survivor)

Derek (Yandere Hypnotist/ Therapist)

Ashton (Yandere Neighbor)

Zeke (Yandere robot boss)

William (Yandere Prisoner)

Adrian (Yandere Asylum patient)

Devon (Yandere Priest)

Jason (Yandere Step father)

Max (Yandere step brother)

Anthony (Yandere slasher/homicide survivor)

Ryan (Yandere childhood friend)

Ewan (Yandere military man) 

Unnamed (Yandere boss)

Unnamed (Yandere AI robot house)

[kneamet]

Hi! Could you do one for Roman Sionis, where the reader is a telepath who's a frequent at Roman's club

But every advance Roman does while the reader is in his club, she'll know because she easily read Roman's thoughts and she smugly points out that his obsession with her won't work because "every move he makes that involves her, she's 10 steps ahead"

And Roman's just looking at her with an interested look?

Hehe thanks!

​my beautiful madness

Trigger Warning: obsession, drabble. yandere

Word Count: 609

Character: roman sionis/reader

my beautiful madness

The air was enveloped by the smell of perfume, light alcohol and suspense; the club glowed, lived its own life, was filled with hot and rich people. They were insects, as inconspicuous as time, trying to show off their «second self» — hypocritical, tender, profitable. Their bodies, lightened in tight-fitting suits, dresses, shone, showed the whole owner; cigarettes smoldered in their hands, thin glasses were clutched in their palms, little fingers were set aside. They are like caterpillars, striving to be butterflies, but however they have not come to a happy end.

Roman spent another evening in peace, sitting at a distance from the guests, and watched their habits and behavior with animal, animal interest. He was swinging a glass of whiskey, washed the sides with liquid, fixing his eyes on the only decent person in this sinful room — you. Sionis did not move, his hot breath was on his skin, the pounding of his heart drowned out even Dinah's birdlike voice. How long have you been coming here, to the place of sin and debauchery, vice and vulgarity — his club? He wouldn't have remembered, and was it important? Who is interested in numbers when there is a real diamond in front of him? even the pursuit of the material is not worth it to contemplate you like this.

He knew that you were far from perfect: your private unbearable sarcasm, too bright gestures... you managed to tame the mess, and Roman — chaos — favored you. You were just as crippled as he was, strangled by your parents and obligations so that now there were no barriers in front of you anymore. A beautiful, proud bird with clipped wings, charred wings, with fluffy feathers falling.

This is a party of darkness and there is no one to believe, no one to look up to. Roman, lifting his head, stuck out his clean-shaven chin, and carefully walked to the place where she was sitting. Chatting with another uncouth man who pulled his hands to the most intimate places, he suppressed the desire to break, but he felt his fingers begin to tremble. Roman leaned against the side of the sofa upholstered in red fabric, and leaned towards you, to your ear and quietly whispered something threatening, sweet, rude. everything in the world is a pretense and a game; and if you want to play, then he will enthusiastically take part. He rubbed his nose against her skin — ah, that smell! — and, closing his eyes, he sniffed hair until he felt a repulsive movement.

Roman looked at your smug face in bewilderment, but quickly recovered, smiling seductively and spreading his hands. The man with pink hands, a greasy stain on his shirt, a shiny collar and tight pants, has already left. Her piercing gaze was directed only at him, focused only on him, and Roman enjoyed the attention. His chest filled with even more narcissism, and his hands relaxed.

"You're not going to make it, Mr. Sionis," he tensed when he heard the despised surname; Mr. Sionis was his father, he's not Mr. Sionis. You looked at him ironically, grinning. “I know your every move,” you got up and, hitting him on the nose with your finger, said: “ten steps forward,” and turning around, left like a white free swan. Roman was fascinated by her proud gait, did not utter a word; he could imagine the soft sound of her thighs touching and get a true obsessive joy from it.

His club is a city where the lights go out, and he calls death down the aisle; she left a couple of scars.

The beautiful madness was not silent. The beautiful madness triumphed.

@jjeresano-euler sorry that it turned out so little (and so late). if you are not satisfied with something - the text, the narrative - write to me and i can write something else for you. but thanks for the request! even if i dont really like this job. the next most likely will be drabble about patrick :)

by the way, have any of you watched/read "young adam"? and if so, what can you say about joe? i just finished reading the book and god, i will definitely write something on joe.

[recreationalfanfics]

I know you’re not taking requests right now but I just wanted to say I love the yandere Black Mask/Roman Sionis fic you wrote and I hope you consider writing for him again. He was so sinister but sexy 🖤.

I THOUGHT I ANSWERED THIS ASK ALREADY, I'M SORRY-

But yes ROMAN SIONIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE DC CHARACTERS. He's awful but he's also super interesting and well written. Like, he's a fun character that I can analyze but I still want to see him get his ass handed to him because nothing makes me happier. BUT YES, IF I CAN FIND THE MOTIVATION; I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO WRITE FOR HIM AGAIN BC HE HAS SO LITTLE CONTENT.

[thegreatwicked]

Shadows of Deception Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

Goddess by Xana

Summary: In Gotham City, a world of secrets and danger, Belladonna finds herself embroiled in a web of crime when she becomes a witness to illicit activities at Roman Sions' exclusive club, Masquerade Noir. Instead of eliminating her, Roman sees an opportunity and spares her life, forming an unconventional alliance. They pose as a couple, using each other as alibis to deceive the police. But as they delve deeper into their charade, their connection intensifies, blurring the lines between reality and deception. As desire and danger collide, they discover unexpected love in the midst of a thrilling and forbidden affair.

Rating: Explicit; graphic depictions of sex and violence

Pairing: Roman Sionis/OFC; Belladonna Black, slight Zsasz/OFC if enough interest.

“You seem flustered Miss Black, you’re not nervous are you?” The Detective’s feigned concern was almost insulting, but she guessed he was back to playing the role of ‘Good cop’ . She looked over her shoulder behind her at the door that led to the interrogation room Roman had been ushered into. Guess that made Craven the bad cop.

The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, the room that smelled of antiseptic and old coffee. A glance down at the table saw it was still covered in graffiti, though it looked like it had been freshly scrubbed. The chair still wobbled when you shifted your weight and the room was freezing. A more uncomfortable portrait couldn’t have been painted for an interview.

“Nope.” She replied quickly.  

Not anymore. She replayed the heated moments between her and Roman in the car just prior to arriving at the station, finding herself anchored somewhere between the Detective Ramerez’s patronizing fake concern and her and Romans reckless intimacy. It was hard to care about anything with the post orgasm high still that still had her feeling like she was walking on air.

~~~

"You wanna know what gets me off? Control."

The echo of Roman's voice reverberated in the confined space of his car, a low purr against her neck, like a content cat but with a much more provocative agenda—his version of 'kitty biscuits' involved his hands asserting their grip on her ass.

"Let's start with one..."

The air in the car was charged with a blend of their passion, and if she didn't smell like sex, she'd undoubtedly be saturated in Roman's cologne by the time they left.

"Angel, you're so tense. Can't have you walking into that police station like you have something to hide, can we?"

She didn’t know what he wanted to say, or even if he wanted her to say anything, more than once Roman gave her the distinct impression that when he spoke, he didn't always want a response, sometimes he just wanted an audience. 

~~~

The interview room intimidated her far less now with Derick by her side in his three piece suit that cost more than her loft. She hadn’t seen him since their first meeting, in fact she hadn’t really spoken to him since they got there, other than his advice to not volunteer anything unnecessary and to stop talking if he told her to. The police were not their friends. 

They sat with their backs to the two way window, which was a little unsettling and only because she knew people were watching them from the otherside; talking about her. Picking apart every little thing she did, said or implied. Despite Dericks presence, the odds still felt a bit stacked, she found herself wishing Roman was with her instead.

All things considered she was fairly calm this time around but it was hard to tell if it was from Roman’s gentlemanly kiss before they went into separate rooms, or the orgasm he’d given her not fifteen minutes before. She felt that paranoia that comes with the feeling that people know your dirty secrets, like they knew what she’d let Roman do to her in the car, but it was stupid, they’d only know if she told them. 

“People only know what you tell them and you can say more with your body than your words.”

Another Roman’s surprising pearls of wisdom and it turned out it came from a fortune cookie then she couldn’t hold it against him. With that in mind, she sat up a little straighter and looked straight ahead, not down at the table like she was ashamed or scared, was she both of those things? To some degree maybe. 

~~~

She could've resisted, said no, maybe moved to the other side of the car. Despite the occasional fear Roman could evoke, his good moods were undeniably, well, good. Nearly impossible to resist. One arm securely around her waist, the other slipping beneath her panties—it was a potent combo.

Even his cocky smirk, though mildly irritating, couldn't overshadow the intensity of the moment. Arousal outweighed any irritation. It might have been more manageable if she'd kept her cool, but Roman had a knack for coaxing sounds and reactions from her that seldom surfaced.

"Still stressed, angel?" His fingers played a delicate dance, a sensation more tortuous than the absence of touch, "What can daddy do to make his kitten feel better? Hmm?" The words hung in the air, his tone a sinful mix of amusement and desire.

~~~

The red light of the recording device burned into the periphery of Belladonna Black's vision as she watched Detective Ramierez settle into the chair opposite her. It all looked so different this time around, the first time she was here it had been scary, she'd felt sick, like she'd puke. She was a bit glad she skipped breakfast, nothing to throw up this time, right? 

Now she just felt bored like she was watching a late-night tv run. It was like a choreographed routine of someone who had done this too many times to count. He placed down his notepad, the files fanned out like a hand of cards, and finally, with a decisive click, he turned on the recorder.

“Well, Miss Black,” His smile was thin, like a salesman’s grin that promised good deals but also, like salesman, she knew not to trust a word of what he said. “I think we got off to a rocky start last time, so let's start fresh. Set the record straight,” His pen poised in his hand as if he was actually going to have anything useful to write. “Afterall, we all want the same thing; the truth.”

Sure.

Before she could unleash a barbed reply, Derrick's hand rested lightly on her arm and he gave a subtle nod, a silent reminder to stay focused. 

“Detective, let's stick to the pertinent inquiries. My client is graciously dedicating her time to assist in your investigation, but it's important to note that she's already sacrificing precious work hours for this interview.”

She drew in a deep breath, steadying herself against the onslaught she knew was coming.

With a curt nod, Ramierez clicked his pen several times. “Fair enough. Let’s go back to the night you were at Masquerade Noir when our victim disappeared, can you walk me through it again?” 

She felt a shift and that cold feeling in her stomach for a second and heaved out a sigh, she hadn’t given it much more thought since it had happened. Life had been a whirlwind of chaos since Roman came into her world, and she was just trying to hold onto something stable. Jimmy had been the last thing on her mind.

“I needed to blow off some steam so after I left work-”

“--About what time was that?” His reply came so quick it was like he was looking for an opening to interrupt, she had a hunch most of the interview would follow a similar pattern.

“Seven, I think.” He nodded for her to continue, “I went home, got changed, and went out the club–”

‘Masquarade Noir?” 

Yeah, it was a pattern. Probably meant to put her on edge. Her lawyer had told her as much, but it had been Romans advice that had stuck in her mind,

‘They wanna waste your time, angel? Waste it right back.’

She stared blankly for a minute and nodded with a shrug. “Yeah, seemed as good a place as any. I’d been meaning to check it out but just never really had the motivation to go until then, you know how it is. You get off work and all you want to do is curl up on the couch-” Ramierez cleared his throat, giving her a disinterested look, then he nodded for her to continue. “I got there around ten and I headed for the bar–”

“--Did you see or talk to anybody?” She looked at him blankly, allowing several seconds to pass like she was thinking about her answer before she answered.

“Not really, ID check at the door but there was no conversation.” He nodded again. “I headed to the bar for a drink,” Ramierez returned the nod, his pen hovering above the notepad in anticipation.

“Did you see the victim, James Angeloff at any point?” Before she could answer, he reached into the file and pulled out an autopsy photo of Jimmy, splayed out cold and lifeless. Belladonna flinched involuntarily, her features twisting into an expression of revulsion.  “Problem?”

The metallic taste of bile threatened at the back of Belladonna's throat as she shoved the autopsy photo away with a flick of her wrist. The image skidded across the table, Detective Ramierez’s trick had turned her insides cold, but she wouldn't let him see her squirm. Her voice came out steady, albeit dry.

“Yeah, I haven’t eaten yet.” Something about knowing Jimmy was either in a morgue or beginning to rot underground turned her stomach, but at least it wasn’t that cold weighted feeling like she was about to puke.

He made a show of feigning surprise and a bit of remorse, “Oh, sorry, wrong photo.” 

Sure it was. 

Ramierez observed her for a second longer before the photo disappeared back into the file, his movements precise and controlled. He replaced it with Jimmy’s mugshot, as if that did anything to help Jimmy become a more sympathetic character. Jimmy would have killed her. That was what she had to remember.

Be cold, Belladonna. 

He awaited her response, pen poised over notepad, ready to document every word she uttered. She looked at the picture again, and shook her head.

“No. Even if I did, he’s not my type.”

“And what is your type?” His tone was casual, too casual, as if they were discussing preferences in coffee rather than delving into the intricacies of her personal life.

Not here to make friends, she reminded herself, Roman's words echoing in her mind like a lifeline. 

"Detective, let's remain focused on the incident. Her personal life isn't subject to interrogation." Derrick's voice was smooth, a calm counterpoint to the undercurrent of accusation in the room. His tone was even, but there was a steel edge to it that suggested he wouldn't tolerate further digression.

~~~

Her labored breaths created a rhythmic echo in the confined space of Roman's car, each desperate pant building into a crescendo as his skilled touch played with her, unraveling her in the dimly lit atmosphere.

"Nothing to worry about, right, kitten?" His fingers danced between pleasure and restraint, teasingly slow, prompting a pouty protest moan from Belladonna. "Or is there?"

"N-No." Her voice, breathy and desperate, clung to him, arms wrapped around his neck, fingers entangled in his hair, her hips moving in rhythm with his hand.

"You're gonna tell those detectives exactly what we did in the back of my club, won't you?" He licked her neck, then pressed a firm kiss on her pulse point, lips lingering before licking the spot with his tongue obscenely. "Nothing wrong with what we did, is there? Just two consenting adults, right?"

"Yeah." Her voice quivered, lips brushing against his warm skin, sending shivers through her.

"And what did we do?" His voice remained mostly calm, but a subtle undercurrent of desire hinted at his internal struggle with impulse control, she gasped when he stopped his gentle touches and returned to a move firm petting.

"--Fuck! This! W- We did this..." Expressing the words proved more challenging than expected; Roman's presence overwhelmed her, short-circuiting her brain.

"What's this?" She could feel his grin against her neck.

~~~

"Hey, I'm just making conversation here," Ramierez retorted, the superficial smile still plastered across his face. But everyone in the room could sense the undercurrent of frustration threading through his words, his tactic had been noticed and countered. “So you head to the bar, then what? Did you order a drink?”

“No,” Belladonna finally replied, her voice level, “Someone offered to buy me one before I could.”

“That was nice.” She grimaced, from his perspective she was certain he really thought that. Spoken like someone who’s never had a drink bought for them used as ammunition against them.

“I wasn’t interested.”

"Wasn't interested?" Ramierez tapped the pen against his notepad, a slow rhythm that seemed designed to unsettle.

“No.”

Ramierez's eyebrow arched, the question hanging in the air like a challenge. “And why not?”

“Because I don’t accept drinks from men I don’t know, especially when I didn’t see them made.”

“Bit paranoid, don't you think?” Was it paranoia if she was right? But he didn’t give her a chance to respond. “Let me guess--He wasn’t your type either?”

“No he wasn’t.” Ramierez jotted down some notes but his writing was so scratchy she couldn’t make it out. “I turned him down and tried to refuse the drink, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer. I eventually got fed up and decided to go to the other end of the bar and he followed me.”

“Sounds dedicated.”

She tilted her head slightly, dark strands of hair slipping over her shoulder. "If ‘dedicated’ is another word for ‘annoying’ then he was certainly the lord and master." The corners of Derrick's mouth twitched upwards ever so slightly and she could practically hear Roman’s deep chuckle in the back of her mind. She knew he’d appreciate that one.

“That's not very nice,” 

If the next words out of his mouth were anything related to how she should have just given him a chance, she was going to end up behind bars for slapping that smug look off his face. Derrick seemed to sense this and nudged her foot with his,

“Nice girls end up roofied in the ER with rape kits being done.” She replied coldly.

Ramierez paused, the hint of irritation flashing across his features before he masked it with another practiced smile. He made a show of consulting his notes, probably realizing that this particular line of questioning was leading nowhere fast.

“So, he doesn’t leave you alone, then what?” 

"Told him no on the dancefloor," She continued, the words tasting like stale air. "Even outside the bathroom," She finished, a hint of exasperation seeping through. The image of the man's unrelenting gaze as she emerged into the relative quiet of the corridor was still vivid in her mind, an unwanted shadow in the neon-lit escape she had sought that night.

“Ok, I get it,” He said a little too harshly. She afforded herself a tiny smirk ‘Waste it right back’ she’d have to kiss Roman for that particular gem as it was now her new favorite toy.

Her lawyer stifled a yawn behind his hand, a clear signal of his opinion on the current line of questioning.

“At what point did you decide to leave?” 

“I’m not sure, I had been there a while, maybe it was around midnight, I wasn’t wearing a watch and clubs don’t exactly have clocks.” He jotted down more notes, her lawyer looked bored, but weren’t they all? “Anyway, I was tired and the evening had been a bit of a bust–”

Ramierez leaned forward, a hint of provocation in his eyes as he tapped the pen against his notepad. 

"Meaning you couldn't find someone to have sex with?"

A sharp intake of breath filled the otherwise silent room. Belladonna's fingers curled into her palm, nails pressing half-moons into her skin, as she fought the surge of indignation. 

"Detective." Derrick's voice sliced through the tension, smooth and unyielding like tempered steel. He adjusted his cufflinks, an understated display of control. "I’d advise you to refrain from such offensive questions. My client's sex life isn’t up for discussion."

~~~

In a frenzy of desire, she trembled in his arms as his fingers tapped an agonizing rhythm against the thin fabric of her panties, sending shivers of anticipation through her body. Like he was playing a damn instrument.

"God! Please, Roman," she begged, her voice raw and desperate as she said his name but Roman showed no mercy. 

"What is it that you want, angel?" He whispered, his breath hot against her neck. 

"Please...stop teasing." Her teeth gritted, she fought to focus on speaking, knowing that giving him anything less than complete submission would only fuel his hunger. 

"Am I teasing you?" He taunted, his grip tightening on her body, leaving her with no escape from the intense but infrequent pleasure coursing through her. She whimpered helplessly, unable to contain the building pressure within her. It seemed to only please him more. "Oh, kitten," he purred, his lips brushing against her skin. "The sounds you make when you're ready to come for me..." 

Desperate for release, she tried to roll her hips in a futile attempt to find consistent friction. But he held her firmly in place, denying her any relief. "You want it, don’t you?" His voice was dark and possessive now, dripping with lust and dominance. 

"Yes!" She cried out, nearly sobbing with need. 

His fingers stilled their maddening dance and settled into a firm and steady rhythm. "Is that what you want? You want to come for me." 

"Yes!"

"Oh, kitten, let me hear you say it." His voice dripped with possessiveness and dominance.

"I want to come for you!" She moaned loudly, not caring how pathetic she sounded.

"You’re mine aren’t you, kitten?" His words were like fire on her skin, igniting every nerve ending with longing and craving. "You my good girl?"

"I'm yours! I promise! Please!" Her words spilled out of her in a desperate plea for him to push her over the edge. With a growl of satisfaction, he continued his relentless assault, finally done teasing.

~~~

Ramierez's fingers riffled through the stack of notes before him, “But that was why you went out, right? You said last time you were–” He stopped at a single sheet of paper. “Looking for someone to help you forget your ex, isn’t that right?” She nodded, “So then you were unsuccessful?”

“Obviously.” The word fell from her lips, dry and devoid of inflection. “I wasn't having fun, my feet were killing me and I decided to go home.”

“You left through the front door?”

“No, I didn’t want my stalker to follow me home or try to nose his way into a cab, so I ducked into the back hoping for a rear exit.”

“Then what?”

"I thought he might've caught me sneaking off, and I didn't want him getting any ideas about me looking for a quiet spot for a hookup. So, I slipped down the hall for a quick hideout, just to see if he'd follow through the door."

“Did he?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

“The door never opened and when I turned to leave, I ran into Roman.” Her stomach tightened slightly; this was where the lies began. Up until now, she had told the truth.

Ramierez's scrutiny didn't falter, his gaze now sharpened, dissecting her statement. "Ran into him? Literally?" he leaned back in his seat, the chair creaking under his weight.

"Figuratively," She corrected quickly, a flash of annoyance flickering across her face before she smoothed it away. "He was just there, suddenly. In the hallway." 

"Interesting timing," Ramierez murmured, more to himself than to her, as he scribbled another note.

"Happy coincidence," she replied, her tone neutral, though a pulse throbbed in her temple—a telltale sign of stress she hoped went unnoticed.

"Coincidences can be convenient," Ramierez said, locking eyes with her once more. "Especially in stories."

"Life is full of them," Belladonna countered, matching his stare with a defiance that bubbled up from deep within. She refused to look away, refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her flinch under his probing.

~~~

In the adjacent room, an undercurrent of tension mixed with pure ‘Do I look like I give a fuck’ energy gripped the air as Roman engaged in a standoff with Detective Craven. The detective's patience, much shorter than Ramirez's, wore thin in the face of Roman's nonchalant demeanor. Seated across from Craven in the interrogation room, Roman lit up a cigarette, displaying a level of comfort one might expect in the waiting area of a doctor's office or the DMV.

Craven's gaze bore into him, a look of disdain that suggested Roman was nothing more than the scum of the earth, and the detective would jump at the opportunity to toss him into a trash compactor and push the button until he heard squishy noises. Roman, seemingly unperturbed by his surroundings, glanced at his lawyer and nonchalantly blew out a plume of smoke, his demeanor more like someone suffering from analysis paralysis than facing an interrogation.

After a prolonged stare from Craven, Roman finally acknowledged the intensity with an amused chuckle. He turned to his lawyer with a shrug, continuing to maintain an air of indifference.

“Keep looking at me like that, detective, and you’re going to make my girlfriend jealous,” Roman quipped, a smirk playing on his lips as he observed Craven's stern expression. His lawyer shared a smirk and shook his head like he was completely at ease working with a man like Roman, but Craven, far from amused, refused to crack a smile.

“Cut the crap, Sionis. We both know she’s not your girlfriend.”

“Guess that makes what we just did in my car a bit awkward,” Roman retorted, seemingly unfazed by Craven's harsh tone. "Oh, come on detective, that’s funny!” Roman laughed at his joke, “If you’re jealous then that's all you had to say." He chuckled again, “I’d be jealous of her too, I’m a solid ten.”

Craven reclined in his chair, attempting to mirror the facade of calm Roman effortlessly projected, but instead, he only appeared more scrunched and uneasy. "So, what'd you do? Threaten to kill her cat? Dump her parents in Gotham Bay?"

Roman scoffed, "That's a little harsh, don't you think?" He cast a glance at his lawyer incredulously, who seemed either accustomed to or immune to Roman's theatrical behavior. “Isn’t it, Nathan?”

"Stick with the case at hand, detective. Questions like that are inappropriate," Romans lawyer, Nathan, didn’t miss a beat, offering a quick warning which didn’t seem to phase Craven.

"That's right!” Roman emphatically placed a hand on the table in agreement, delivering a mild slap. “I love kittens."

Craven slapped a morgue photo onto the table, triggering Roman's annoyance as his smile disappeared. "What happened to James Angeloff?"

"Who?" Roman feigned ignorance, raising an eyebrow.

Craven slammed his fist on the table, intending to rattle Roman, but it had the opposite effect—he just smiled. "James. Angeloff. Your employee. What happened to him?"

"My apologies, detective. I'm good with faces, not names." Roman picked up the picture, sucked his teeth, and shook his head. He made a face. "Looks like he had a rough night." Craven glared, and Roman responded with a smile. "Afraid I don't know. He stopped showing up for work, and I consider it a no-call, no-show when that happens. I allow for two before I consider the employee terminated. Whatever happened to him, I couldn't say." He let the picture slip from his grip, it slid across the table back to Craven.

"I bet you couldn't." 

Craven and Roman were like two storm fronts colliding, both known for their tempers, yet the contrast was apparent. Roman had the ability to charm effortlessly, while Craven relied on intimidation. However, it became evident that Roman was unimpressed and unintimidated by Craven's presence.

"We have him on your cameras entering your club and then going into the back. What was he doing?"

"He wasn't scheduled to work, so I couldn't say."

"You know his work schedule but you couldn't remember his name?"

Roman leaned back in his chair, taking another puff of his cigarette. "I have over sixty people working for me; sometimes, it takes a minute."

"What was his job?"

"Mr Angeloff was a bartender, three nights a week." Roman passed a sheet of paper across the table to Craven– Jimmy's job application, complete with his background check and a very spotty ‘resume’ with only two other jobs listed.

"You hire criminals, aren’t you a saint?"

"Everyone deserves a second chance." Roman's voice carried a touch of sympathy delivered with a smile, a sentiment that visibly grated on Craven.

"Security footage also has you going into the back of your club with your… assistant, Victor Zsasz." Roman nodded, waiting for the detective's next move. "Why?"

Roman leaned back in his chair, eyeing Craven. "I noticed a customer going through an employee-only door; the back of the house isn't for guests."

"Belladonna Black?" Roman nodded, Craven’s gaze remained sharp. "What were your intentions with Miss Black?"

"I had every intention of removing her from the premises and maybe issuing a ban, if not a warning."

"Had?" 

Roman sighed, his smile widened, a hint of mischief playing in his eyes. "What can I say, detective? A face as pretty as hers had me changing my mind."

Roman raised an eyebrow. "And what did you do when you found her?"

The corners of Craven's mouth twitched. "Well, after I picked my jaw up off the floor, I asked what she was doing in the back of my club, and she explained to me she was trying to evade a persistent customer who was bothering her."

"And then?"

A sly grin played on Craven's lips. "Well, I'm not one to kiss and tell, I'm a gentleman like that." His statement hung in the air, and in response, Roman's amused smile grew, while Craven let out a loud scoff and sneered.

~~~

Belladonna's breath came in ragged gasps, her body trembling with anticipation as Roman's skilled fingers danced over her clothed pussy. Each touch sent electric shocks through her veins, like a symphony of pleasure pulsing through her entire being. She was so close, on the edge of oblivion, and he still had time to spare, hell he just might give her another one.

"That's right, kitten, you're mine. Go on Belladonna, come for me." Roman growled possessively, his voice thick with lust as he zeroed in on the damp spot on her panties. He increased the pressure and speed of his movements, determined to make her unravel for him. "Feels good, what I do to you, doesn't it?" His voice, determined now, as if getting her off was as good for him as it was for her. 

"Oh, fuck--Yes!" Her voice grew higher pitched and she continued rocking her hips into his hand, desperately seeking his promised orgasm. She cried out his name and crushed her lips to his, moaning into his mouth when her orgasm hit her. Her nails dug into his skin and she pulled at his clothes and hair, making him look like he was mauled by a tiger.

~~~

“Did Mr. Sionis threaten you in any way?" Ramierez inquired, his tone probing for signs of distress. 

She half wanted to laugh but she wasn’t sure if that would help or hurt the case, so she opted to be detached. Roman could be intense, and he had managed to scare her on a few occasions, but was she genuinely afraid of him? Not anymore. Her mind raced back to the heated kiss in the car and the low rumble of his voice, coaxing pleasure effortlessly just before they arrived.

“No,” she replied with a cool composure, her voice unwavering.

“He wasn’t angry when he found you in the back of his club?”

“He didn’t look happy, until we started talking.”

“And what did you discuss?”

In that moment, the surprising brilliance of Roman Sionis unfolded in her mind like a blooming flower. At first, when he casually told her to 'wear the dress' and invited her to his exclusive club, she had brushed it off as a mere ploy to further their story as a couple, an opportunity to see and be seen. But as the detective carefully probed further, she realized she had underestimated Roman's strategic mind. Memories of their second meeting flooded back, each detail revealing the calculated nature of his actions.

She realized how masterfully calculated Roman's actions were. Remembering their second meeting at the club, she could now see the intricate web of manipulation he had spun around them. The circumstances were carefully crafted to mimic their initial encounter, from the location to the outfit she was wearing.

It was clear now why he insisted she ‘wear the dress’ - it allowed her to seamlessly straddle the line between truth and deception, just as he intended. She couldn’t help but smile.

"He asked what I was doing back there, and I explained about the guy who'd been following me." Despite her best effort, a smirk played on her lips, revealing a hint of satisfaction.

"And?" Ramierez tapped his pen against the notepad, his impatience evident.

"Asked me to describe the guy, and when I did, he told me he'd received a few complaints about him. He asked Zsasz–"

"Victor Zsasz?" Ramierez interrupted, seeking clarification.

"... Yeah, he asked him to show the guy out and told him he was banned."

"Then what?"

~~~

"I don’t allow for the men in my club to mistreat the ladies. It’s bad for business. I want women to feel safe and enjoy themselves. Can’t do that if the men are scaring them off. So I had Zsasz escort the man out after Belladonna described him to me, there’d been a few other complaints about his behavior and I issued him a ban on the spot.”

Craven's face suggested he was waiting for Roman to proceed but Roman smugly waited for him to ask Roman to continue. “Continue.”

“I asked Miss Black if I could do anything to revitalize her night and she said she might just go home, that it was effectively ruined, poor thing. I just couldn’t let that stand.”

Craven leaned forward, his curiosity palpable. "What did you do, Sionis?" Roman just smiled, savoring the anticipation in Craven's eyes, relishing the control he had over the narrative.

~~~

As her breathing began to calm and she started coming down from her orgasmic high, Roman smiled into her neck, "Oh, angel, I don't think I could ever get tired of seeing you like this, it's a thing of beauty." He was cocky and full of himself but as he laid kisses on her neck and flexed his hand against her damp panties she jolted and he chucked in amusement. "So sensitive, I think I'll have some fun with that later."

He looked up at her with a dark and lazy but satisfied grin. "Angel, don't let it go to your head but you look positively gorgeous after you've had an orgasm." She wasn't sure what to say, she licked her lips unconsciously, "Felt good, didn't it?" His expression suggested he fully expected an answer and after a moment she decided he wasn't mocking her, this was an odd sensual part of his life he was sharing with her. Gathering her courage, she leaned in and kissed him fully on the lips; Roman was like a pitbull – he might protect you or take your hand off, but the man knew how to kiss.

"Yeah," she admitted breathlessly when their lips parted. His lazy smile only grew as their lips brushed against each other once more. "What about you?" Her fingers trailed down his shirt to his belt.

He carefully removed his hand from her pants and brought it up to her lips, she could smell her arousal on his hand and in a post-orgasm boldness slipped his finger past her lips. His eyes widened and a primal look overtook his features. Tongue swirling provocatively over the digit, it looked like the act was testing his resolve. When she let his finger slip from her lips he just smiled. "Oh, angel, seeing you come undone like that for me was more than enough." A knock on the window partition told them they had arrived at the station. "We'll pick this up later, angel. Feeling a little more relaxed?"

She scoffed, "Yeah," but couldn't resist diving in for another lingering kiss. After all, it wasn't her fault that the man had such irresistible lips.

~~~

"Miss Black, if Mr. Sionis coerced or forced you into anything in the back of his club, we can help you."

Belladonna couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head at the detective's misguided attempt. "Detective, Roman didn't force me into anything. What happened between us was purely consensual."

As the words left her lips, she was hit with a barrage of memories from their staged encounter in the club - the fiery heat of Roman's mouth on her skin, the unrelenting pressure of his body pressed against hers as they were pinned to the wall. The vivid recollection of how she had shamelessly allowed him to hike up her dress, and dive into her panties, eagerly giving in to his touch and practically pleading for more, sent a wave of intense desire crashing over her.

"And what was that?"

"The only crime Roman Sionis committed was giving me an unforgettable orgasm in the back of his club." Ramierez looked at her like she was a slut, but she didn’t care. Fuck him. When was the last time he got laid, or better yet, when was the last time he pleased a woman like Roman could?

Her lawyer coughed, looking a bit shocked at such a bold admission, seemed she had shattered his expectations of her. Ramirez, however, sat back in his seat, staring at her as though he were disappointed.

"Belladonna, may I call you Belladonna?"

"Let's stick with Miss Black."

"Fine, Miss Black, doesn't it scare you, the kind of man you're involved with? He's a monster?" Ramirez tried a new angle, his voice now laced with a hint of warning.

"We're all monsters, detective. At least Roman is a well-dressed monster." The words were delivered with a confidence that mirrored a protective shield around Roman, a subtle declaration that she knew what she was getting into and was unafraid of the darker aspects of his nature. As far as she could tell, Roman hadn’t lied to her once. She bit back the urge to point out how Roman was also a monster who knew how to please a woman. Maybe that was a bit too much for the moment.

~~~

Craven's accusation hung heavy in the room, an unspoken challenge that fueled the escalating tension between him and Roman.

"We know you're lying, Sionis," Craven asserted with a confidence that bordered on arrogance.

Roman, ever the master of a composed façade, glanced at his lawyer with feigned shock, a subtle play at innocence. "Whatever could you mean?" he retorted, his tone laced with a challenging edge.

Craven, undeterred, plunged deeper. "We know you did Jimmy. We know you're stringing that girl along, and we both know what you do when people stop being useful to you." He let his tone linger with the weight of unspoken truths.

For the first time, the confident smile that usually adorned Roman's face wavered. A subtle shift in the atmosphere hinted at a more serious undercurrent. 

"Wanna know what I think?" 

“Indulge me, detective.” Roman countered, gesturing vaguely. “I love a good story.”

"I think you threatened that girl, maybe got her under some surveillance. I think she saw what you did to Jimmy, and she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Nathan attempted to interject with another warning, but was cut off, and Roman, rather than showing irritation, seemed invigorated by the challenge. Leaning forward in his seat, he met Craven's gaze, and the air in the room crackled with the electric charge of two formidable forces locking horns.

The atmosphere grew denser as the conversation between Craven and Roman escalated, each word a deliberate attempt to pierce the other's defenses.

“You’ve got all of Gotham thinking you’re a lovestruck puppy, trailing after that girl but I see past it. It’s all a lie, it’s just a game to you. And hey, I get it, may as well have some fun with her while you can, right, Sionis?”

“Careful now detective,” Roman, not one to back down, retorted with confidence, “I think you’ve got the wrong idea about my angel. What Belladonna and I have is special; I think she could be the one for me.” His voice was icy and full of implied warning.

Craven scoffed dismissively, a sneer etching across his face. “I bet you really do believe that, don’t you? Bet you got it in your head she’s crazy about you, that she would never leave you, don’t you?”

“No one leaves me.”

“Until they do,” Craven snarled back. “See, women like that? They don’t love men like you, and she’s putting on a good show, I’ll give her that. But at the end of the day, Sionis, you’re a monster, and it won’t be long before your mask slips, and she sees the real you, and she runs away. Who do you think she’ll run to for protection?” Craven smiled a twisted grin.

Roman's eyes narrowed, his patience wearing thin, for all his bravado Craven was having an impact in undermining Belladonna’s loyalty to him. 

“I’m genuinely amused that you think you can protect anyone in this city. Tell me, how's her unsolved assault case going?” The words hung in the air but went unacknowledged, a palpable tension swirling between the two men, each word a calculated blow aimed at undermining the other's composure.

Craven's words were like poison, sharp and venomous as they pierced through the thick air in the room. Each sentence felt like a blade digging deeper into Roman's composure. 

"Don't underestimate her loyalty, Roman. She'll eventually turn on you, and when she does, we'll have all the evidence we need to bury you right alongside Jimmy. They’ll toss away the keys this time, I hear Arkham has some new security features.." 

A devious grin spread across Craven's face, and Roman's expression remained stoic, but his eyes flashed with anger. 

"Save your threats, detective. I've been to that hellhole you call Arkham, and I can handle anything they throw at me." The detective's response was a wicked laugh, confident in his ability to break down Roman's resolve with his psychological warfare tactics.

“Just remember, Sionis, she won’t stay scared of you forever. She’s a sweet thing but she’s not like you. Whatever she knows will weigh on her, pull her down until it’s all she can think about, then she’ll crack. Bet you’ll be sorry you let a pretty face be your downfall then, huh?”

Roman's knuckles turned white as he gripped the table, his eyes burning with rage. His lawyer tried to intervene, recognizing the dangerous territory they were treading but Roman was already on his feet, ready to pounce.

“Detective! This interview is over. Roman, come on! We’re done here.” 

Nathan struggled to hold onto Roman, but the man was a wild animal. He towered over the table, his lawyer urging him to calm down but Roman was beyond reason.

The air crackled with tension, Roman's composure slipping away into a seething anger. Craven's grin grew wider, relishing in the chaos he had caused. Every muscle in Roman's body emanated tense energy, ready to strike. 

"Just you wait, Sionis," 

Zsasz and another officer rushed into the room, creating a physical barrier between the two volatile men. Craven leaned back, tapping his watch, relishing the revelation that Roman's carefully constructed mask had indeed slipped, just as he had predicted.

~~~

Ramierez's accusatory words hung in the air, an attempt to fracture the facade of composure that Belladonna wore like armor. The dimly lit room became a battleground of words, each sentence laced with tension and veiled animosity.

“You're nothing to him, you know? Roman Sionis doesn't fall in love, and he sure as hell doesn't stay in love. He just uses people,” Ramierez declared, his fingers idly playing with his pen, his writing momentarily forgotten.

Belladonna met his gaze with a steely calmness, unfazed by the attempt to unravel her. “Like you're trying to use me against him?” she countered, her voice even.

“I think he's got you so afraid of him that you're blind to the truth.”

“And what's the truth, exactly?”

Ramierez leaned back, gesturing around the room. "Look around you, Miss Black. The odds aren’t even remotely in your favor. This fancy lawyer, paid for by Roman. He’s not interested in what's best for you; he’s interested in what's best for him. Roman only cares about himself. You’re nothing to him.”

Her response was measured, almost indifferent. “I know.” 

Both men stared at her, caught off guard by the unexpected bluntness of her reply. Belladonna, however, stayed cool as a cucumber amidst the escalating tension in the room.

"I keep up with the tabloids and I can read a room," she continued, her tone firm. "I'm not stupid—maybe a little starry-eyed, but not stupid. I see the score. And you’re right, men like Roman don't fall in love; but they do dip their toes in it for a bit. I get it. Sooner or later, he'll move on, find someone more exciting, someone willing to do things I won't. And when that day comes, I'll thank him for the good times and go my own way."

“And what if he doesn’t let you go that easy?”

She tilted her head and shrugged, almost challenging them to dispute her words. Her gaze stayed strong, detached, her attitude unyielding. "Life's short—last year sure hammered that home. If Jimmy's fate tells us anything, it's that nothing's guaranteed. Not today, not tomorrow. So, until my clock runs out, I'm going to enjoy every second I can, and right now, I’m enjoying them with Roman. He makes me feel alive."

A heavy silence filled the room, everyone tacitly acknowledging the weight of her words.

"If you want me to spin a story to help you dodge your duties and let the real killer go, find someone else," she asserted. "Roman didn’t kill Jimmy. He was with me, delivering a memorable experience against a cinderblock wall, then I gave him my number and got a lift home."

The room hung in silence, no one daring to challenge her testimony.

"Any more burning questions detective detective?" she asked calmly.

Seizing the moment, her lawyer stood. "My client's been more than cooperative, detective. If you need more, slap her with a subpoena. We're finished here."

Outside, all hell broke loose. A thunderous crash and the unmistakable sounds of a brawl reverberated through the corridor, grabbing everyone's attention. Belladonna, her lawyer and Ramirez, dashed towards the door, stumbling upon a wild scene where officers were desperately trying to separate a furious Roman from a seething Craven, both men looking like they were going to kill each other. The air crackled with palpable animosity, a volatile energy threatening to explode.

In the midst of the chaos, Zsasz had stepped in, playing the role of a human barrier to pull Roman away and having far more success than Nathan had. Craven was calmed far quicker as Ramirez engaged in a whispered exchange, the contents of which sparked a smug smile from Craven. 

Roman's lawyer, already expressing discontent with the detective's antics, doubled down on his objection and issued a stern ultimatum: any further communication with Roman should go through the lawyer's office.

Belladonna quickly rushed to Roman's side, her hand gripping his hip tightly squaring his body to align with hers, but she met resistance. She turned his face towards hers, forcing him to make eye contact. 

"Roman, baby, look at me," she spoke sternly but sweetly. He hesitated, glancing back and forth between her and the chaos unfolding before them. "Don't look at them, look at me."

As he focused on her intense gaze, his initial anger began to dissipate. Taking a deep breath, he let go of his resistance for a moment. Belladonna adjusted his jacket and collar with gentle touches, planting soft kisses on his cheek. With a satisfied smile, he put on his metaphorical mask.

"Let's get out of here," Her words were like a calming melody, easing the fire burning within Roman. 

"Yeah, we're done here. Zsasz, bring the car around." His voice held a hint of restrained anger as they made their way out of the precinct under the disapproving stares of those around them.

The atmosphere bristled with tension as they left, Roman's arm wrapped firmly around Belladonna, his grip slightly too tight, his jaw clenched intermittently. The precinct, still simmering with hostility, followed their exit with dirty glares. Belladonna recognized the storm brewing within him and knew that getting him out of there, back to the penthouse, was the priority. Once away from prying eyes, perhaps they could untangle the knots of the recent events and decide on the next course of action.

~~~

The elevator ride up to the penthouse was quiet, Roman's usual charisma and charm seemed to have disappeared. He was quiet and tense, his jaw clenched tightly. When they arrived at the penthouse, it felt as if the walls were closing in. Zsasz, usually unshakable, also appeared on edge. As Roman and his lawyers entered his office, slamming the door behind them, Belladonna was left alone on the couch. She tried to distract herself with work, pulling out her phone to check emails and messages from her colleague Daisy. But she couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling that had settled over the penthouse. The brooding and dangerous side of Roman that she had seen glimpses of before now seemed to be fully present.

At around two in the afternoon, realizing that most of her remaining tasks could be handled remotely, she sent a quick text to her boss. The silence emanating from Roman's office felt eerie, especially given the strained atmosphere. Half-expecting a burst of voices or some dramatic confrontation, the room stayed unnaturally quiet.

~~~

Derrick's heart pounded in his chest as he glanced uneasily at his partner. The once tense atmosphere in Roman's office had reached a boiling point, the energy crackling with an unmistakable sense of danger. Roman's question hung heavy in the air, a demand for answers that they both knew could have severe consequences.

"She said what?" Despite Roman's calm tone, Derrick could feel the simmering anger bubbling just beneath the surface. 

"She handled herself well, considering how the guy was practically attacking her- all but called her a slut–" 

Derrick stammered out, handing over the recording of Belladonna's interview. As soon as it touched Roman's hand, he snarled and gripped it so tightly that it seemed like the tape recorder might shatter into pieces. Derrick shot a furtive glance at his partner, both of them sensing that their boss was dangerously close to losing control. 

As the recording played, every word from Belladonna's mouth hung in the air like a dense fog. Roman's face contorted with fury as he listened to her: 

"Roman only cares about himself. You're nothing to him." 

"I know." 

The nonchalant way she spoke struck a nerve deep within Roman. It wasn't just wounded pride, but a growing sense of distrust that swirled in his mind like dark clouds. Craven's insidious words had taken root in his paranoid psyche, and they were now blossoming into full-blown doubt and suspicion.

The atmosphere crackled with tension as Roman absorbed Belladonna's dismissive words about their connection. Derrick exchanged another glance with his partner, a silent acknowledgement passing between them that they were navigating a situation with a man rapidly losing control.

As the recording played, the room, once airy, now felt suffocating as every word pierced through his pride. Brows furrowed, his gaze turned intense, as if seeking answers in the very fabric of the walls. Derrick, caught in the tempest of Roman's emotions, opted for silence, while his partner, seemingly uninterested, checked the time, eager to escape the mounting tension.

"Get out," 

The lawyers wasted no time, grabbing their briefcases and making a swift exit, leaving Roman and Zsasz in the room's charged silence.

Roman's eyes stayed fixed on an arbitrary spot on the wall, as if it held the solutions to unspoken questions. The room absorbed the weight of disappointment and the simmering anger. Sensing the gravity of the situation, Zsasz placed a drink on Roman's desk, a small offering in the midst of the storm.

Without a word, Roman's gaze shifted from the indifferent wall to the glass before him. After a moment of contemplation that hung heavy with unspoken thoughts, he took the glass and downed its contents in a single, determined gulp. The fiery liquid mirrored the seething anger that radiated from him.

The bitterness of betrayal, not only from Belladonna's admission but also from Craven's insidious words, lingered in the air. The next move weighed heavily on Roman's shoulders as he navigated the treacherous waters of pride, distrust, and the gnawing fear that the carefully constructed world he'd built was beginning to crumble.

~~~

Belladonna, acutely aware of Roman's simmering anger, tiptoed into the room, a spectator to the brewing tempest. Roman, seated at his desk, absentmindedly swirled the remnants of his second drink, his gaze fixed on the swirling liquid mirroring the chaos in his mind.

Belladonna's heart was racing as she tentatively approached Roman's office, unsure of how he would react to her presence. She took a deep breath and asked in a soft voice, as if trying not to startle a cornered animal.

"So, what happens next?" 

The room seemed to hold its breath as Roman remained silent, his jaw clenched and eyes distant. Growing frustrated with the heavy tension, she repeated her question with more force. Suddenly, he slammed his glass onto the desk, causing her to jump and the liquid to spill.

In response, she defiantly slammed shut the door behind her. Their eyes locked in a battle of irritation and challenge, the silence between them almost tangible. Belladonna struggled to keep her composure, but couldn't contain herself any longer. 

"I can slam things too," she added coldly, "What's your problem? Your whole brooding mob boss act is getting old." 

The question just hung there, heavy and insistent, waiting for an answer Roman seemed unwilling to give. His annoyance at Belladonna's confession about the shallowness of their connection fueled his frustration, hitting a nerve that had been simmering beneath the surface. Meanwhile, Craven's insinuations had planted seeds of doubt, making Roman question the depth of Belladonna's loyalty.

"You know, you're replaceable to me, right?" 

Roman's tone oozed with contempt as he spoke, his eyes revealing a mix of annoyance and rage. Under his breath, he mumbled something sharp and caustic, adding to the growing tension in the room.

Growing tired of Roman's brooding silence and moody atmosphere, Belladonna decided to address the looming storm. 

"I could easily get fifteen people to provide me with an ironclad alibi. Even if there was a video of me turning Jimmy into a lead-filled human piñata, cops and top-notch lawyers wouldn't be able to find any holes in it. You know that, right?"

A touch of sarcasm colored her words, a feeble attempt to lighten the mood. "No, Roman, and here I've been doodling your name all over my notebook. Why don't you tell me again?"

Roman's reply held a chilly warning. "I don't mind the odd smart-ass remark, angel. They can be quite entertaining. But you need to remember who you're dealing with here. I let you live that night, and though it might require a bit more finesse, trust me, I can undo that decision just as easily." The threat hung in the air, a stark reminder of the precarious balance in their tumultuous relationship.

“Well, sounds like you should quit being lazy.”

“I’m serious, angel. I’ve got a fleet of women waiting, and they’re–”

“--All filled with more plastic than a damn Barbie doll. They’re boring, Roman. Believe it or not, I wasn’t so taken in by your charm to have not heard what you said. Your threats get less scary the more I hear them. If your shiny new toy is losing its luster, then maybe you should quit being a spoiled little prince and actually follow through with what you’re saying.”

Roman, his pride stinging and fueled by the seeds of mistrust planted by Craven, couldn't handle the confrontation. Fed up with his silence and moodiness, Belladonna turned on her heel and headed for the door, grabbing her coat.

Roman, unable to contain his fury, stormed after her. "Where do you think you're going?" he demanded, his tone harsh.

She shot him a steely glance, but continued. "If I wanted kids, Roman, I’d have let some guy knock me up. When you feel like acting like a big boy, then you know where to find me. Until then, you can man up or shut up." Leaving Roman fuming in her wake.

"BELLADONNA!" The name was a violent eruption from his lips, barely containing the intense emotions roiling within him.

Roman's accusation hung in the air like a brewing storm, thickening the already tense atmosphere between them. Belladonna was growing weary of Roman's silent treatment and moodiness. The two were now entangled in an argument where Roman's wounded pride collided with the seeds of mistrust planted by Craven's insidious influence. The room crackled with their heated exchange.

"You think you’re safe with those fucking cops?!" Roman snarled, his words dripping with venom and hatred. Belladonna momentarily froze, caught in the gravity of his ominous declaration. His following promise held a sinister edge, "You think they can protect you from me? There isn’t a cell secure enough to keep me from getting to you!"

But instead of cowering or retreating, a burning anger ignited in Belladonna's eyes. Defiantly, she threw her bag back on the couch and stepped forward, unafraid. "Am I a rat?" she demanded, her voice laced with fury. "Is that what you think of me?"

Her response wasn't one of fear; it was a genuine rage that caught even Roman off guard. "I don't know what that detective said to you to get under your skin so badly," she continued, her words sharp as knives. "But he deserves a raise for it, doesn't he? After all that bullshit about 'they're going to try and drive a wedge between us, angel'? You turn right around and play into his hands? How is it that I come out of that feeling fine and safer, but you come out acting like a spoiled teenager who just lost access to daddy's trust fund?"

Roman remained silent, his expression unyielding, challenging but the rage boiled over. A tense stillness hung in the room as he waited for her to say something incriminating, to confirm his suspicions. In return, she met his burning anger with an icy glare, a resolve that hinted at an unwillingness to be easily shaken.

The exchange reached a boiling point, the words slashing through the already tense air like knives. Roman's anger, fueled by Craven's insinuations, simmered beneath the surface. Belladonna, sick of his silent treatment and moody disposition, decided to confront the building frustration and distrust between them.

With a bold and determined stride, she marched towards the counter, her hands reaching for the metallic glint of a handgun. The reflection of the weapon caught Roman's eye, and Zsasz, ever vigilant, instinctively reached for his own gun, ready to shoot at any perceived threat. But before he could take action, Belladonna swiftly slapped the gun into Roman's hand.

"Do it!" she challenged, her voice slicing through the charged atmosphere. "If letting me live made you soft, then please, allow me to help you out! If you think I'm stupid enough to turn my back on the only person keeping me alive, there's no point in dragging this out. Just put me out of my misery."

Her words hung in the air, a mix of defiance and desperation. "And if you're actually the gentleman you claim to be, then you'd better not miss! Because I am sick and tired of waiting around to die!"

In the deafening silence that followed, Roman stood frozen in place, his internal battle evident in his conflicted gaze. Belladonna's fierce determination began to falter as she backed down, the weight of their confrontation settling over them.

"I'm going home," she declared, her voice quieter but no less resolute. "You wanna shoot me? Shoot me there."

With that final challenge thrown at Roman's feet, Belladonna turned on her heel and made her way to the door, slamming it so hard the wall rattled, leaving behind a room that was filled with shocked stillness, both men equally stunned by the unexpected turn of events. 

~~~

Her front door slammed loudly as she stormed into the loft, throwing her bag and coat onto the counter in a fit of anger. Just hours ago, Roman had been charming and confident, but now he was acting like an immature teenager who had heard gossip about his middle school girlfriend. But she couldn't say she hadn't been warned - he had always been possessive and warned her that he could drive her to madness and thus far he was on track.

The sudden shift from his smooth persona to simmering rage left her feeling like she had walked into a storm. As she stood in her loft, exhaustion and frustration tangled together. Roman's warning echoed in her mind, a reminder of how unpredictable he could be. It was all too much for her to handle. At this moment, all she wanted was a drink and maybe a nap to escape the chaos of emotions. Her head was pounding and she felt like crap, tired and shaky. Jesus. She hadn’t been this mad in a long time.

She reflected on how her day had started with a steamy orgasm in the back of Roman’s car and ended with threatening a man to shoot her. Life sure was funny sometimes. But right now, what she craved was relief from the overwhelming feelings of frustration and uncertainty that had consumed her day.

First things first though, setting her alarm, a task that had been slipping her mind lately, she wasn’t used to having any form of security. As she reached for the security panel, a sudden sinking feeling hit her. Her heart raced as she noticed the exposed wires and the loose panel face. She could feel cold dread washing over her, a bucket of icy water and she instinctively turned to reach for her bag which was thrown on the counter for her phone. 

Roman. She needed to get back to Roman.

Facing the living room which once used to be her sanctuary, instead, it now confronted her with a group of armed men, their weapons all pointed at her. A wave of dizziness washed over her and she felt a strange sense of faintness creeping in.

Suddenly, a voice pierced through the silence, echoing from the shadows in the living room. It sent chills down her spine as it delivered an unsettling introduction. 

"Well, well, it's nice to finally meet the woman behind Roman Sionis..."

Thirteen

[the-fo0l]

MASTERLIST

CRIMINAL MINDS

spencer reid dating hcs

♡

RESIDENT EVIL

yandere Ethan Winters headcanons

ethan winters fluff

yandere simp Ethan x reader

yandere wesker- soft possessive hcs

yandere wesker coming home to you

♡

NBC HANNIBAL

yandere Will Graham headcanons

♡

PRISON BREAK

michael scofield dating hcs

♡

HITMAN

playing cards w Diana and 47

lucas grey x reader headcanons

yandere agent 47 headcanons

yan!agent 47 x airheaded/princessy reader

yan!agent 47 getting the silent treatment

yan!agent 47 with brat/rebellious reader

yan!agent 47 x sleepy reader

agent 47 rescuing his darling hcs

"Thrill of the kill" 47 x nb!reader

♡

SLASHERS

yandere dbd Pyramid head headcanons

yandere dbd Micheal Myers headcanons

thomas hewitt drabble

♡

DC

yandere Roman Sionis x reader

♡

ARCANE

"Your beauty never ever scared me" Silco x gn! reader