won't you take me by the hand

[3rs]

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[riddleboy]

"Look at that. Jon-boy knows how to party." Edward made fun of him, mainly because he actually felt a little insecure over that. He didn't like the idea of being so much less experienced than anyone, especially not Jonathan. Jonathan was new to the city, but he supposed in Georgia people had nothing better to do than get stoned. "I'm saving my drugged up phase for my twenties, just for the hell of it."

How was any of that fair? "They say these things stunt growth. Why are you so damn tall?"

[jonboo]

"Genetics. I was tall before I started smoking pot so I guess I'll just be shorter than I could have been. Given how tall I'm shooting up, not a bad thing." Jonathan smiled playfully at Edward, amused by how annoyed Edward was by his height, it was always so cute. "All the things they say stunt your growth, I've done. Drugs, drinking, coffee. It doesn't really seem to do much to me. Though coffee keeps me awake on boring days, I can't deny it."

It just didn't make him any smaller. He assumed. And if so, good! He would have been a freak otherwise. "When you enter your drug phase, come to me. We'll have some fun."

[riddleboy]

"Who says that we won't be living together by then? You'll need a roommate or you'll just live inside a library and never come out." Edward felt he had a point there. He grinned at Jonathan from the side, then gave him a slight shove. "Shop's at the corner there. You know what you wanna order? Don't think they've got any weed on offer, but I like the ham sandwich."

[jonboo]

"God, we're gonna live in a shit hole. I guess as long we save, it won't be so bad. Let's just make sure we don't end up above a meth lab." He had a feeling they'd never sleep otherwise. "I'll order the same as you, genius. Nice joke, real funny." Rolling his eyes, he pushed Edward inside the shop and huffed, watching as Edward ordered for them.

As the guy went off to make their stuff, Jonathan checked out the kitchen from the side and then leaned into Ed. "There's three generations of grime in there."

[riddleboy]

"You don't want to know when they've last cleaned. This is why I want gloves." Edward made a face as he looked around, but it wasn't as if he wasn't used to it. "What do you want to do after high school, Jonny?"

Edward actually wasn't sure whether he could predict that. "I'm sure you'll be a man of vision. My plan is to fit into my clothes." They were all too big.

[jonboo]

"I want to go into psychology or chemistry. Both are fascinating but I haven't decided which. The trouble is, back in Georgia, the choice was easy. Here in Gotham? You gotta think more." Was a chemist just going to be making drugs, was a psychologist just going to hear crazies in Arkham rant. Neither seemed ideal. "If all else fails, I'll become a drunk. I think that's a fine Narrows profession, very respectable."

Given everything, it sure seemed like it. "What about you? Besides the clothes, obviously."

[riddleboy]

"I'll be rich. You've no idea. Computers have so much more potential than anyone in this godforsaken town realises. Honestly, I might go to another city for a while, get a decent position. Maybe with Luthor Corp." That seemed like the best ticket to what he wanted. Independence. The kind of wealth needed to tell everyone to go fuck themselves and get away with it.

"I don't know if I'll bother with more schooling. Not necessary for programming, you just need the skill. Maybe I'll develop games. Or be a hacker. Or write codes for big firms. there is nowhere genius relates as directly to power as in cyberspace."

He smiled, then caught himself, frowning and shrugging. "Or I dunno. We'll see."

[jonboo]

"You've thought about this a lot, I see." Their sandwiches were put down in unappealing brown bags and Jon took his, pass Edward his own as they left the store. He started eating right away, walking beside Edward idly as he thought about his future and what he wanted. Mostly, he just wanted to get away from his family and be alone. "I want enough money to buy books."

That was something he definitely wanted to achieve. "And I want to... to conquer my fear." He bit his lower lip, not wanting to linger on it but it was something he wanted. "And I will."

[riddleboy]

Eddie was eating as well, not quite as ravenous as Jonathan - who was - but hungry enough. Besides, there was comfort in this. Enjoying food, walking with his friend. Not alone. He didn't always think about it, but he hadn't felt true loneliness in a while now, not since Jonathan had become his friend.

"That makes sense." And he didn't think too much of it. After all, conquering fear, wasn't that what he wanted to achieve too? "I want to be as cocky and full of myself as they accuse me of being. I'll show them."

His father, sure, but all of them. "I'll earn my arrogance. Then I don't have to bluff any more."

[jonboo]

"Then you'll be even more of a delight to be around." Jonathan laughed before taking a bite of his sandwich, just glad that Edward could make him laugh - he was starting to worry that he was broken or something. "I think one day, Edward, you will make your arrogant know-it-all son of a bitch dreams come true. I promise."

At least, he wanted him to. He knew Edward was struggling to find himself, he just wanted to help pull him together and make him into himself. It would be fun to watch. "Fitting your clothes will definitely help with that arrogance."

[riddleboy]

"Yes, yes. I'll keep eating all my greens, surely that will help." Of course, appearances weren't everything. He was sure even staying a diminutive four-eyed nerd, he'd do just fine. He knew what he wanted out of life. People would know just what he could do. "All right, Jon, I gotta run. See you tomorrow? We can walk to school together."

[jonboo]

"Yes. See you later, Ed. Stay home."

Jonathan waved and then took off, walking in the direction of home and finishing off his sandwich.