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Jonathan had gone out in search of Edward after he received word that the bat had been spotted at his hideout. He had been expecting to find many things. His partner torturing the GCPD, more updates to his next plan. What he wasn’t expecting to find was Edward stuck in one of his own puzzles. Muttering curses under his breath as cops watched on with glee. Jonathan hid in the shadows of the entrance as he surveyed the situation. He couldn’t use fear toxin; he had a limited supply as it was, and he couldn’t risk hitting Edward while he was at it. He needed to find a way to draw the group away from Edward so he could deal with them in a quick and quiet manner. Perhaps all he needed to do was separate the group. There’s an unlocked padlock hanging on the door. If Jonathan could just get them to go outside, he could lock them all out. All he needed to do was draw attention to himself. And there was one very simple way to do that: creating a sense of danger.
He knew his vocal chords were going to sting after this.
“Help me! Someone help!” Jonathan screamed at the top of his lungs.
He ducked into a gap, listening to the cops all scramble in his direction. Barking out orders to one another. One had stayed behind to keep an eye on Edward, but that was fine; he could handle one man. He waits until the men are away from the door before pulling it closed and locking it. It doesn’t take long for the police to notice something is wrong, and soon enough, they’re banging on the door, demanding to be let back in. The cop that’s standing guard over Edward glances nervously between the door and his partner. He knows something's up, he just doesn’t know what. The faint traces of fear making themselves known in his heart. Jonathan adores it. He picks up a loose plank of wood from the floor. Watching and waiting as the man battles with his own instincts. It is a familiar thrill, the act of hunting prey. And a wave of pleasure shoots up his spine as the crack of the police man’s skull echoes through the room, as Jonathan brings the plank down on his head. That brief, split second of fear in the other man’s eyes as he realised he was about to die never failed to excite him.
There’s a solid thump, and the cop falls unconscious on the floor. Jonathan snaps his neck. Just to be safe. He wasn’t in the mood for interruptions right now. He creeps through the shadows towards Edward. Listening as the sound of the panicked mob grows dimmer. They were drawing all the attention to themselves now. And it wouldn’t take long for the lowlife stalking the streets to go investigate what the hell was going on. The cops would have to hide; they had no choice. Stepping through the darkness, he observes Edward from a distance. His hands are outstretched in front of him and handcuffed together. A helmet is strapped to his head, and it is a design that Jonathan is familiar with. He watched Edward work on them in his free time, and his partner had explained in great detail exactly what he had planned for them. Part of him had seen this coming, while the other part was still shocked that Batman would allow anyone to strap a bomb to someone’s head.
Jonathan observes Edward complete another two laps before he announces his presence. Stepping out of the shadows, while ensuring that he didn’t block Edward’s path in any way.
“Well, this is certainly an interesting thing to stumble upon. I take it our local bat decided to pay you a visit?”
Edward doesn’t even glance up from the ground as he snaps.
“Now is not the time for mockery, Jonathan. “
“And why’s that?” He drawls,
“You know exactly why! I told you what I had planned; you know what this device is. Now, are you just going to stand there or are you going to help me?!”
There’s the faintest sheen of sweat on Edward’s face. He couldn’t have been here that long which meant it was most likely from nerves. Not that Jonathan could blame him. Even with the muted fear he experienced he couldn’t imagine it was pleasant to walk around with a death trap strapped to you. As much as he would have loved to drag this out, test Edward’s limits. He needed him for his next plan. And he wouldn’t be the best partner if he just left Edward to walk around in circles for another for the sake of science. He’d have plenty of opportunities to test out his theories on much more deserving targets once they got out of here.
“And how exactly do I turn it off?”
“There’s a control panel upstairs. “
Of course it was. Jonathan had to bite back a sound of frustration. He didn’t want to send Edward on a tangent. Glancing off to the side, he can see what his partner was talking about. The stairs weren’t particularly tall; they were only one flight, but that didn’t change the fact that his leg had not healed well enough for something like this. It was going to hurt. And it was going to send him back on his journey of healing. He’d have to do so much more work after this to ensure the limb healed properly. Jonathan practically drags himself up to the stairs to the control panel Edward had told him about. It’s still almost impossible to put pressure on his injured leg for more than a few seconds. And the push of moving up the stairs sends waves of pain through him with each step he takes. He would not be coming back downstairs on his own anytime soon. He could tell that already.
He could only hope that Edward could put aside his ego for one moment to ensure that the both of them could return to their hideout tonight. He had plans he needed to work on, and he was exhausted. And the last thing Jonathan wanted to do was find himself captured by Batman before he could set his final plan into motion. He had spent too long resting and recovering. Perfecting his formula. Just to end up being sent somewhere else. He was no moron; he knew Arkham City couldn’t last forever. This place reeked of corruption, and it was only a matter of time before it imploded on itself. And if Batman’s presence meant anything. That time was coming soon.
By the time he gets to the top of the stairs, he is practically out of breath, and he has to stumble his way over to the main control panel. It doesn’t take him long to figure out how to deactivate the helmet. Jonathan sinks to the floor with a groan, laying his legs out flat. Edward would have to get out of the handcuffs by himself. From below, he can hear his partner muttering to himself as he struggles to free himself of his own creation. There’s a loud bang from below. And soon Edward is trudging up the stairs towards him. Edward takes one glance at his Jonathan, and his anger seems to melt out of him at the sight of Jonathan sitting on the cold metal grating. His leg stretched out as he tries fruitlessly to work out some of the cramps running through the shaking limb. Edward sinks gracelessly down onto the stairs beside him. Letting out a sigh as he shuffles close enough that their arms are touching. Even through layers of clothing, he can feel the warmth radiating off of Edward.
For a while, they just sit there. Both of them taking a moment to recover. At one point, Edward reaches out to him, resting a hand on his upper thigh. He doesn’t try and massage the limb. He just leaves it there.
“…Thank you.”
It’s said so quietly that Jonathan almost doesn’t hear it. He doesn’t say anything in response; he just leans closer. There was no right way to respond when Edward thanked you after all. You just had to accept it and move on, no matter how rare this occasion was. Outside, he can hear the faint roar of a helicopter as it passes by. The sound echoes through the room. Announcing the start of a silent countdown to the end of Arkham City. Two more pass by within the span of a minute, and it sets something in Jonathan on edge. They wouldn’t be safe if they stayed here. The building was falling apart already; it wouldn’t survive any sort of attack. If they wanted to avoid the chaos, Jonathan would have to try and get back down the stairs soon.
“We can’t stay here much longer, Edward. We need to find somewhere to hide.”
Edward glances at him, tilting his head with a frown. Another helicopter passes by and then another. Rumbling low like an animal growling. Warning them to get away.
“It’s finally happening then?”
“Yes. T.I.G.E.R. had upped the number of patrol helicopters they have out. It would be sensible to assume that this City is finally going to fall to its knees.”
“Hmm.”
He might have imagined it, but Jonathan swore that in that moment, Edward pressed closer to him. Ever since he was attacked by Killer Croc, Edward had been distant. Not for any fault on his part. He’d just come to expect violence when he encountered contact with another person. It still took him by surprise just how easily Edward adapted. Just how easy it was to shift his language of love to fit Jonathan’s needs. It was nice to know, no matter how crazed Edward seemed part of him was still in there. So he presses closer. Until their legs are flush up against one another. They lapse into a comfortable silence for a few more seconds before Edward sighs.
“I suppose we’d better leave then. No point in us waiting around for the final show.”
Edward stands with a groan, before reaching a hand down to Jonathan in offering. An offer that he readily accepts. The head towards the exit with plans to pack up and leave Arkham City as soon as possible.
After all, it would do him no good to get caught now with his plan so close to fruition.