Lockdown

[3rs]

Comments

[3rs]

"Step away from the bars! You too, Nygma." Edward rolled his eyes, but he stepped back obediently, mostly to keep from getting zapped or whacked. He was curious though, so he only stepped out of reach, not too far back.

"What? Waiting to greet your boyfriend?"

"Witty." Made him more curious, admittedly. "Who's my boyfriend now?" Because the last candidate he hadn't even met before. However, when he spotted who was being led down the hallway, he actually had to smile. "Jon! I guess that makes sense, this time of year. Sorry I missed Halloween." Clearly Jon hadn't, from the looks of him.

[jonboy]

"You should have been there, it was a real funny one. Two words: Poisoned. Apples."

He went with a bit of a fairy tale horror theme this year, all very Snow White, lots of apple bobbing and candy apples he had to make and orchestrate but it was worth it. And, of course, the nice little fog of fear toxin that spread out at midnight. Oh, what a glorious Halloween! Of course, then the Batman came in November and broke several ribs, battered his face in and left him in cuffs for the cops. The usual November. As dull as the month itself. Nothing could top Halloween.

Jonathan didn't pay much mind to the guard as he shrugged off his touch and turned to Edward, holding up his cuffed hands. "The fucking bat, son. Every year, it's the same dance, why can't he ever just let us have our holidays?"

[3rs]

"Ah, you know how he is. Get's put out when he's not invited to the party." Edward took one step closer, his smile widening easily enough. "You'll have to fill me in on the details, it sounds like you had the whole town entertained. We did catch some of the screamers out here."

Halloween always was an event, he really did wish that they could just respect that. Shame to miss it. "Tell me, Jo--" Trailing off mid-word, Edward caught some movement from the corner of his eyes and, yes, those were the tell-tale sign of fear on his face for a moment there before he immediately turned around to face the wall, stepping closer toward it for safety's sake. "Later."

He whispered it with some urgency and, yeah, the approaching steps told him that he had not been mistaken. He badly hid a wince when a baton started being dragged along the bar of his cell. Awful sound, really hated that one.

"What's taking so long?! You're supposed to take him through to his cell, not watch him have a date with his girlfriend. And YOU oughta SHUT UP for once, faggot!" Bolton hit his baton against the bars again and Edward bit his lower lip very hard to keep from making a remark. It was a struggle.

With a huff, Bolton looked at Jonathan, shaking his head. "Bat go easy on your freak? Shame you can still walk yourself."

[jonboy]

Was Edward scared? Of what? In Arkham? Unlikely. Everyone here, they were peers. They didn't really fear each other, though sometimes it was a little uneasy when the Joker was in an off mood but no, there wasn't real fear. So what made Edward look like that? He frowned and wanted ask more questions but the more irritating voice he had ever heard was fucking yelling near his ear.

Jonathan winced and pulled a face, looking the guard up and down with a sneer.

"Fucking hell, son. You ever learn volume control or did you skip that day in class?" Jonathan rolled his eyes and wondered where this gorilla got off banging his fucking baton around and calling Ed a faggot. Fucking bastard. "You're new."

When Jon worked here, he knew most of the guards. Hell, two of them here were guys he spoke to regularly about patient care. So a newbie with this much aggression and power tripping? Yeah, no, it ain't fun. He bet a loud mouth like that would scream bloody murder under toxin. "You wanna watch your tongue with those slurs."

[3rs]

"You're the one sounding like a cousin-fucker. Though I guess you're a faggot too, defending your boyfriend like that." Bolton whacked Jonathan's arm once, then the guard who'd been leading him so far pulled him forward a step, making it seem almost protective.

"I'm gonna lead him to his cell then, Lyle, yeah?"

"A man comes home from work and says:'Honey, I'm home.'" Edward left his warning at that, because he could already feel Bolton glaring at him again.

"You want to go back into solitary, you fucked up queer?! STOP TALKING!" That said, Bolton gave Jonathan a shove. "You've gotta learn how to talk to me, freak. You're no doctor no more."

[jonboy]

"So you wanna tell me what has you so freaked out, son?"

Jon sat down by Edward and frowned at him, trying to piece together what he was missing. He didn't have any food on his tray, he just had water. He wasn't hungry, it usually took him a day or two to build up hunger. That and the food here was suspicious and garbage so he didn't really fancy any of it.

He looked around the room to make sure there was no unknown variable before settling on the logical conclusion. "It ain't that fucking gorilla of a man, is it? Cause he ain't scary. He's just a bully. Got plenty of those in life, don't we?"

Surely that wasn't the answer.

[3rs]

"Nah, Jonny. There's more to this one, I'm afraid. He's a bully, and he's a moron, but..." Edward shrugged, having a tray with food in front of him, but not feeling overly like eating. For one thing, it really was suspicious and garbage. For another, the vibes weren't right. "He's good at it. Quite adept, the bully. For someone so clearly intellectually handicapped, he has a remarkable talent for cruelty. He almost got to the Joker. Got to Delite. Harley's behaving right now so she doesn't get dragged here."

Which was saying something. Short of a serious falling out, both Harley and Delite always gravitated to the Joker, whether by freeing him or by following him inside. "He hones in on any weakness and then he's like a dog with a bone. Pamela's subdued because of how he's threatening the plants. As for me..." Well. Edward grinned with a shrug. "I shut up sometimes. For a bit. You know how I hate solitary."

[jonboy]

"He's a bully, he ain't that scary. Back in Georgia, I had a heap of boys like that. That ain't as scary as they look, they just -- like you say, it's a dog with a bone. It's not that bad. You ride out the worst and hit them where it hurts." Sooner or later, guys like this, they always crumpled. Paper men always did. Acting like they were made of real shit but they never were. And he didn't fancy this Lyle asshole as anything special. He sighed and tilted his head back, watching the way everyone here was just kind of ... meh.

There was a real off mood. Usually by now, the Joker fucking threw something or there was a weird tea party thing from Jervis but no. The vibe was seriously wrong. Jonathan hated it.

"You know you can lodge a complaint. They don't do shit for cruelty but they really don't like the slurs, the higher ups. I know, I know, tattling is like base level but it'd at least get him under investigation if you're that scared. Just need a witness or two." And Jonathan would be one. Hell, he'd report this shit later today during therapy. Leland would never stand for this kind of language.

[3rs]

"Jonathan, if you can handle him for all of us, be my guest. Personally, I'm not as bothered as some of our more... fragile compatriots." Such as Jervis, sitting there trembling and looking around himself fearfully. Or Delite, who was sitting next to the Joker but didn't seem to react to anything, which might account for the Joker's low mood. "All I can tell you is that he's right at bull's eye for several big names, once there's a riot."

Only, rioting had become a much more difficult event to set into motion. He lowered his voice a little. "I managed to help Waylon get out of dodge, but he caught me on the way back. Now he really wants to break my fingers, I was just lucky Leland was there."

Because with all fingers broken, even Edward's abilities to escape or, well, do much of anything might reach their limit.

[3rs]

"The fuck is this bullshit? What are you waiting for?!" Clearly out of patience - as he always seemed to be - Bolton grabbed Jonathan and bodily forced him into one of the shower cubicles, turning on the water. Edward had been watching, like everyone else in the room, with wide eyes. He was used to Jonathan taking some time before showering, he didn't like showing his body. At least that was Edward's assessment and he hadn't poked at that yet. One never knew around here.

However, right now he could not even see Jonathan, because Lyle Bolton was unreasonably broad and had him blocked into the shower cubicle, the towel hitting the floor and the water coming down hard. Edward looked around, at a loss. Was anyone going to do something?

Oh no.

Did he have to do something?

[jonboy]

Jonathan took his time, he always did. It was the way it was when he was in Arkham. He wasn't into the group showering scene and the last time he had tried to shower with these guys, the Joker kept making cracks about his upper body so no, he wasn't showing the lower. And then, never again did he consider it. He just wasn't really into showing himself off. School day bullying had taught him that he was an ugly weirdo and he knew that, he accepted it and he liked to keep it to himself.

He really hadn't expected Bolton to come at him like that. There was no fucking time to even brace himself. He smacked into the tiled wall and he felt his teeth knock together painfully as he caught himself against the piles. The water was fucking cold and Bolton was boxing him. And yeah, there was some anxiety. Some left over phobia from school.

Cause suddenly, for the first time in almost 15 years, a bigger guy was towering over him.

Gritting his teeth, he turned around and tried to regain something close to dignity. "What the fuck is wrong with you? You fucking creep!" Jesus Christ, he was big. "You wanna be looking at my dick or something, Bolton? You sure you ain't the queer one!"

[3rs]

"Are you calling me queer, you damn faggot?" Edward was trying to see what was happening, having abandoned his own shower and stepped forward. Oh, great. So apparently he was going to be doing something. No one else appeared to be feeling the urge, based on everyone else keeping their eyes averted. What was he even supposed to do here?

Bolton shoved Jonathan against the wall again, clearly pissed, as showed when the shove was immediately followed by a punch. "I ain't queer, fag. I'm just making sure you ain't got anything to hide, creeping around like that. Keeping any of them drugs up your ass? Must be loving that."

The laughter was ugly and Ed was trying to find a good way to do this. There probably wasn't one, given everyone else seemed intent on ignoring this happening. "Hey! Lyle!"

Maybe it was the use of the first name, but either way, Bolton turned his head to look his way. Edward regretted that it was working, but it sure appeared to be. He was forgetting why that was a good thing. "Why don't you go to the zoo? You know, pick on someone your own size, even if you'd still be dwarfed by intelligence level. They have a trunk but are not a car."

"What are you even on about?! Want to join your boyfriend in here, pretty boy? Think I know who the girl is with you two."

"You really can't be calling me a girl, him a queer and us a couple all in one go. It's contradictory." And problematic on a number of levels, that too.

[jonboy]

As much as this was freaking him out, as powerful and painful as Bolton was, he really didn't want Edward to jump in front of this bull for him. The panic in his chest was... entirely unexpected. He didn't think he had the capacity to be this concerned over Edward. He didn't know what to do, his legs were shaking and he wasn't sure if it was because of pain or ... was he afraid? No, not fear, just unease. Anxiety? He wasn't sure. He didn't have time to test it.

"Is your only fucking resort to call everyone you hate a faggot? Sounds like some internal panic there you wanna deal with. You know, people who excuse everyone else of being gay, son, they're usually pretty fucking gay."

Jonathan had to keep Edward safe, he tried to look at him, tried to make eye contact, to get the fucking idiot to back off and leave him alone and get out of here. He didn't need Edward getting his ass kicked for him. What was he even going to do? About as much as Jon. Two nerds verse one tank of a man.

"I mean it really does say a lot, doesn't it, son - you saw me naked, cock out and you fucking leapt on me." Jonathan let out a low whistle. Fuck, fuck, fuck. He didn't want to deal with any of this.

What was he doing?

Why did he care if Edward got his dumb arrogant ass kicked?

"Does it make it easier to be gayer than a three dollar bill if you call Ed a girl cause man, only a queer would make that mistake."

[3rs]

It was not an easy decision, but a necessary one. There were a few other options, but Edward was suspecting that whatever - whoever - was keeping Lyle Bolton in Arkham had to have a lot of influence. Calling just anyone would not do. No, he had to call someone. And no one in Gotham was more of a someone than Oswald Cobblepot.

On the surface, there wasn't really any issue with calling Oswald. He liked Oswald, for the most part, and he had no doubt that Oswald liked him. Appreciated him, even, for his habit of wearing very tight-fitted pants as much as his intellect and ability to entertain the crowd at the Iceberg Lounge. He was certain that Oswald had at least some vested interest in him not being wasted in Arkham. However, Oswald never did anything for free and, as favours went, depending on how negotiations went? This could count as a big one.

So Edward made sure he was no longer concussed when he used his phone call to dial his way through the system, bypassing the numerous people on the way and making sure his call would go straight to Oswald's personal telephone in his office in the Iceberg Lounge. It was afternoon, so he expected he'd be at work, not too drunk, and hopefully in a good enough mood. "Oswald? Good day to you! Edward here, Edward Nygma. It's been too long."

[beaky]

"Edward, my boy. You've been away for a while. They finally let you out? About time. Arkham truly does waste some of our greater minds." Oswald was in a good mood. He just sold a stupid painting for three times it's worth, won a very public debate against his mayoral challenger for the next election and he had the top shelf scotch on his desk. So yeah, really was a good mood to catch Oswald in.

It could be very up and down with Oswald but right now, it was great.

"Last time we talked was... God, New years about a year ago, wasn't it? Good party." Oswald remembered very little of it but he was very wrecked and that usually translated to a good party.

[3rs]

"Yes, yes. I've been in here since the summer, so there's unfortunately been a lot of time wasted we could have used to catch up a little. Share a nice drink or two." It was one of his longest stints in Arkham, especially considering that he hadn't spent any time in the infirmary to begin with. Right now, of course, here he was. "I hear through the grapevine that your mayoral campaign is going well. Such a shame I can't follow it more actively."

He let out a heavy sigh, glad that Oswald appeared to be in a good mood. Perhaps he could take advantage of that. "Alas, I am still stuck in Arkham. There's been a new-- The Joker himself has referred to the person in question as an immovable object. Quite the brute, really. A bully. Lyle Bolton. Have you heard of him before?"

He did wonder. Had to be connected, Bolton.

[beaky]

"Bolton, Bolton, Bol-- oh. Yes. Waller's man. Yeah, he is quite the obstacle. Designed to be one, I believe. Blame our dear friend Joker for that one. Waller believes we Gothamites can't handle containing our own, she insisted on an import. If I'm remembering right, I'm not often big on discussing with the -- governmental operations like that." Oswald wasn't interested in anything going on in A.R.G.U.S. and usually sought to avoid Waller whenever he saw her at parties. She always just wanted to yell at him and honestly, he didn't care what she thought.

It wasn't surprising after the Joker's last rampage that they upped security, that wasn't news at all. The strange thing was that Edward felt the need to call him and recount the situation. Odd. What was his game?

"Edward, I love hearing from you, I really do but we rogues don't do social calls very often, especially not when incarcerated. So what do you want from me?" He always liked to be as direct as he could be, avoided any messy confusion. "Be open, we're old friends - give it to me straight."

Oswald paused and then made an amused noise. "In a manner of speaking." Nothing he did was straight.

[delitefun]

"Now, why don't we clear this up?" Bolton stopped marching Delite along, still holding his arm - he was in a straight-jacket - and looking right at Jonathan through the bar of his cells. "You see, your precious "Doctor" Crane is in here in the nuthouse, just like you, you complete loon. Why do you think he gets to treat you?"

"Dr Crane said not to take the--"

"I DON'T CARE WHAT HE SAID!" Bolton shouted loudly enough to make Delite duck his head, looking at Jonathan both miserably and apologetically. "HE'S A FREAK! ALL OF YOU ARE FREAKS! FUCKING ACCEPT THAT ALREADY!"

[jonboy]

"Ignore him, he's an idiot. You know what to take. You talk to Leland, don't let a guard say anything. I got a medical degree, he's got... I don't even know. Did you finish high school, son? I fucking doubt it." Jonathan wasn't in the mood for Lyle yelling in his ear today and he didn't want to see another one of his... colleagues looking at him like that.

He came close to the bars, furious that Lyle had essentially driven Edward to escape and Delite to such misery. The only option he had - baiting him.

"Yell at me again, boy. See what fucking happens."

[delitefun]

"Don't call me boy, you pathetic little man." Lyle let go of Delite in favour of grabbing Jonathan by the collar and pulling him up to the bars. "You fucking faggoty hick. Where the hell are you coming from, talking like that, when you're less than nothing, huh? You don't deserve to kiss my boots, freak."

At a bit of a loss, Delite was just watching them, unsure whether to interfere. Probably not much he could do. Still. "He's the best doctor I've ever had."

"That's just kinda sad than, isn't it? They don't got good doctors in China?"

[jonboy]

"He's fucking Korean!"

And with that, Jonathan's temper snapped without meaning to and he pulled the pencil from out of his jumpsuit pocket and stabbed Lyle in the fucking hand with it, making sure it got in deep and twisting it hard before he was forced to yank it free and back off while Lyle was in shock. A pencil wasn't much of a weapon but Jonathan brandished it like it was a sword. Leland always sharpened them to a point, they were quite deadly.

"You racist piece of shit. You're damn lucky it wasn't your fucking eye but if you come near me again, it damn well will be." Jonathan felt his chest heaving and his pulse racing. Fear. He was afraid. He was anxious and afraid and he fucking hated it. "Don't fucking touch me."

[3rs]

...arriving very much out of breath - Edward was in good shape generally, but it was difficult to keep up with cardio while stuck in Arkham for over three months, he made it out the door, panting as he looked at Oswald. Victor Zsasz stood next to the mayoral candidate, tilting his head to the side curiously.

And Edward tried to explain. "I-- Scarecrow! He's-- He got out somehow, I don't--" Right, he really should catch his breath first and try not to incriminate himself.

And just like that, the blaring started, the alarm, the announcement.

"ATTENTION! THE ASYLUM IS GOING INTO LOCKDOWN! ALL VISITORS ARE URGED TO VACATE THE PREMISES. ALL STAFF MEMBERS: HEAD TO THE STAFF ROOMS. ALL GUARDS ON THEIR POSTS. PRISONERS ARE TO BE ESCORTED TO THEIR CELLS AND REMAIN THERE!"

Edward gestured, figuring that said enough. "Yeah. That."

He pushed his hair back from his face, taking another deep breath, and watched as Victor handed a gun to Oswald, patting himself down with a frown, likely accounting for how many kills he could make.

"We need a plan," Edward ventured, but that just made Victor look at him expectantly. Ah, right. He was the plan guy.

[beaky]

"It's the same bullshit every time." Oswald sighed as he took the gun and loaded the bullets in, checking everything was working fine before looking expectantly at Victor. "Make sure Edward doesn't die, I didn't pull strings for nothing. We can't just leave either, as easy as that would be, we can't let this escalate or it'll spill into the streets."

He had to contain or deal with it later when he was on a public stage. No, this was better.

Jonathan was the target. He got out. Not good. "Victor, we will have to neutralise the threat. I don't believe Jonathan has armour in his outfit, especially not the mask. Shoot to kill."

Oswald looked at Edward expectantly. "Bolton is hopefully still alive, yes? I really don't want to have to meet with Waller."

[3rs]

"You brought me for security, boss." Victor was reluctant to leave Oswald like that, but also reluctant to take him along on a manhunt.

"There's the communication room, Oswald, it runs most of the tech for the asylum, at least where CV footage and the like is concerned. You'd be safe there, that's a reinforced door and a keypad. Jonathan can't work keypads." Evidently, which was why he had to do it for him, like an absolute moron with an irresistible need to show off. Fuck this! Fuck Jonathan, he was going to kill him if he survived this. "It's not... It's not Jonathan's fault! He just hates bullies, Oswald. Don't we all? Should he really have to die for that?"

Heading in the direction of the communication room, Edward was trying to think his way through this. "If we can just neutralise Jonathan, it would be fine. I don't know about Bolton, but he should still be alive. My guess is that Jonathan's getting his things together first. He'll want to be in full costume for this."

"I can just shoot him in both knees," Victor offered, "Really slows people down."

[beaky]

"Okay, I'll go to the room and you can stay with Edward. Trust Edward's judgement. And if you both start pissing me off, I will yell into the microphone. Just FYI." He wanted them both to brace themselves. Yes, he understood Edward's empathy issues and yeah, it made sense that Jonathan hated a bully but was it enough to stop him from wanting Jon out of the way? Not, not really.

Anything to avoid Waller.

"We have time. Last resort, I guessss, is killing him." Oswald shrugged and then started to walk. "We'll go to the communication room together and then you two can pair off, go find Jonathan before he causes a bigger mess."