It had all worked out splendidly. He had the information he wanted, Luthor was rattled and that meant he was overhauling things in the way Edward had anticipated. He could infiltrate certain operations, he could work further toward his end goal with this plan.
And, for the moment, it also meant that he didn't require Harvey's help any more, but he felt he owed it to him to thank him in person, maybe toast to a successful partnership. Why not celebrate the victories, small and big?
The guards let him past this time, no bribery needed. Edward saw that as a good thing. He had gotten ready for this venture by himself, Echo and Query had a girls night out, whatever that meant tonight, so he had been left to his own devices. He had still opted for the classic suit, cane and hat, but this time the mask and tie were purple, as were his fingernails. He didn't want Harvey to be completely deprived of his sense of style, after all. Also, he had considered holding back, but this mask just didn't pop right without black eyeliner. Fashion and good taste always made demands.
"Harvey?" He walked into the old restaurant, looking around. "I wanted to congratulate you, golden boy. You've been making quite the impact!"
Harvey was relaxing in the restaurant alone, having kicked most of his men out for the day, only leaving the guards outside. The place was a bit cleaner than last time Edward had been, he'd cleaned up the glass and fixed some of the lights. He realised, after actually having company for the first time, that he didn't want people to think he just lived in a dim shithole.
Stubbing out his cigarette when he saw Edward, not wanting to bother him with that sort of thing, he smirked playfully and then got up. Looking at Edward, he raised the glass he had in his hand towards him.
"You're welcome, Ed. It was fun on my part, less like work and more like play. Glad I could help though." It was pretty cool, actually. Having a purpose. Who would have thought he'd miss that so much?
"I see you have spruced the place up a bit, huh? I should give you the card of my interior decorator, discreet and know how to execute a theme. Although I naturally have a lot of input to give." He had some very concrete ideas, even where his one time lairs were concerned. Edward imagined that Harvey might not be quite that particular, but he still seemed like a man with a refined sense of taste. He appreciated that.
Stopping in front of Harvey, he held out a bottle for him. "I thought I'd bring a little something, to celebrate. Maybe you'll miss the burn drinking whiskey as fine as this, but I assure you, the taste will make up for that disappointment."
"I dunno how much I want to decorate. Not really a decor sort of guy. Didn't even decorate my last place." His wife did, she mostly told him as she did it and he nodded along agreed with whatever he had to agree with. He found that easier than trying to work out what to do, he didn't overly want to redo the whole place but it did still smack of Maroni. And he hated that. He had shot up most of his center pieces by now but that just made the place look shittier. "Is it worth decorating in Gotham?"
Seemed like a fair question. Did anything ever last? Looking over the bottle, Harvey took it in his hands and looked at the age and the brand, impressed by how fancy the drink had to be. "Now you're spoiling me. Shit, Ed. This stuff is the real deal."
"Of course it is. Harvey, come on. You must have caught on to that now. The one thing that is always worthwhile in Gotham is to commit to a theme. Have some style." Edward moved a hand up to his hat, so he could tilt it a little, for a jauntier angle and a bit of flair. "You know what I mean."
He laughed at Harvey's assessment of the bottle, walking behind the bar as if he owned the place. Well, he needed to get them glasses. "You are the real deal, my friend. Start treating yourself like it or I'll just have to keep spoiling you. Somebody ought to."
"I'll see if I can't commit to this place a little more. I dunno, I just needed a place, never bothered to give it any love. Don't like the previous owner, after all." He did like the tiles on the floor though, weirdly enough. They were black and red, interchanged, and they had a fun chessboard style he really dug. And he did like the walls too but they were just deep red and covered in bullet holes. Nothing fancy.
Walking across the room, Harvey pulled open one of the cabinets and raided around until he finally found what he wanted. He had a very fancy black box and he slide it along the bar, gesturing for Ed to open it. "All yours, buddy. I said I'd get you something nice. Can't say I don't keep my promises."
"Well, if you are looking for property, I can give you the number of my realtor too." Edward had connections, of course he did. He found the glasses that seemed most fitting to the occasion and set them out, just in time to notice the box Harvey had put down. He touched his chest, perhaps a tad exaggerated. "For me? Really? Aw, Harvey, you shouldn't have..."
Even as he spoke, he already reached for the box and pulled it over, opening it and then gasping. "Ohhh... I take that back, you most assuredly should have. Would you look at that?"
He reached for the tiara, holding it between his fingers and lifting it out carefully, inspecting it from all sides. "Easily beaten, but never free... That's real gold, all right. You go for the real deal too, huh? No wonder we get along."
"Told you I'd get you something pretty. I saw it and thought of you, had to make sure it was the real deal before I bothered nabbing it. I figured gold would go nicely with the whole green thing. Besides, a guy like you? Bet you like when things dazzle and shine." Edward screamed glitter and gold, all that charisma, charm and showmanship? He needed something to match it. It seemed like a perfect fit for him.
Leaning on the bar, he smiled playfully at Edward, amused by how happy he looked. "Do as you wish with it. Wear it, display it, sell it. Just make sure to enjoy it, yeah? I don't steal shit for just anyone."
"Aw, I'm special?" Ed reached up to take his hat off, just putting it on the counter for now, so he could try on the tiara instead. "You can't judge it based on this, I so did not do my hair in preparation for tiaras tonight."
He had done his hair, naturally, but not in a tiara way. Whatever a tiara way would be, he had a few thoughts. For now, he looked up and smiled at Harvey, deciding to use his reaction as a mirror, as he lacked an actual mirror right now. "How do I look, Harvey? Be gentle, my ego is big, yet fragile."
"I dunno how hair is supposed to look to be tiara worthy so I'm not sure I'm the best judge, I ain't the best at this sorta thing." He did look at Ed, really look at him, earnestly trying to assess for Edward's sake. For some reason. He wasn't sure why himself. "You look hot, Eddie. Promise."
With an amused smile, Harvey leaned forward and adjusted the tiara ever so slightly so it sat better. Then he sat back and gave Edward a thumbs up.
This was weird. He could swear he heard his heart beating louder and faster. These things didn't happen to him, on account of him not being a schoolboy. He was a rational, extremely talented and cynical supervillain, not someone who'd get a crush. So Edward pulled back on it and laughed.
"Swoon! Don't play like that, you'll give me false hope." Making light of it seemed like the best course of action. "I ought to take a picture for the girls..."
He got his phone out and turned the camera on, which was a good way of seeing himself and, yes, a good way to take a picture too. "They are already eager to meet you."
"The girls are... the henchgirls, right?" He only had men, which wasn't always an asset but he just felt more comfortable around men and had less to worry about. He knew what guys were likely thinking and less so what girls were. Maybe he was sexist but it was well meaning sexism so that was better... hopefully.
Picking up a glass of the fancy whiskey Edward got him, he looked it over and raised an eyebrow at that beautiful colouring. It was such a deep, dark brown with a hint of almost red in it. Must have been in the barrel for a while.
He knocked some back and let it sit with him a few moments before clearing his throat. "It still burns but the taste is insane. Holy shit, Ed. This stuff is worth more than some tiara, should have gotten you a necklace to go with it."
"Query and Echo, yes. They are having a girls' night, so I just hope I won't have to pay bail this time." He sent the picture and then put his phone away, so he could pour himself a glass as well. Looking over at Harvey, he raised his eyebrows and grinned. "There's always next time, big boy. I never say no to a good present."
Such as this beautiful tiara, which he fully intended on wearing for the rest of the night now. "What's the point in money, Harvey, when you don't spend it on the good things in life?
"Oh, I do. In my own way. Lookie what I got myself." Harvey pulled out his new gun and showed it off to Ed, not sure if he cared about weaponry but Harvey had gotten really into it. He didn't care too much about look or appearance, he just wanted quality and firepower. "The bullets are a bitch to get, they're fucking expensive for what they are but the aim is heaven and I love the feel. It's got a nice weight."
And, without thinking or considering that maybe he shouldn't hand another rogue his gun just like that, he held it out to Edward. Offering for him to take it and feel.
Edward breathed out slowly, looking at Harvey and wondering. What exactly was going on? Was he being underestimated? Certainly wouldn't be the first time. A gun wasn't his usual modus operandi, but he certainly had used one before, he had shot people before. Still, he honestly felt as if it simply didn't occur to Harvey that he'd take advantage.
Touching. Sweet. Naive, perhaps. He reached for the gun and held it, admiring it openly. "That is a beautiful weapon." He knew enough to appreciate that. "Do you like it? How a gun can feel? I remember your gun against my face."
He didn't worry about Edward holding his gun or admiring it, he didn't mean it as an insult, he just didn't have much to fear either way. There were two options, Ed liked the gun or Ed shot him and honestly, it was his suicidal tendency rearing their ugly head that made him so lackadaisy with his weaponry. "I never used to get the appeal of guns. Never had one or wanted one. And then I killed Maroni and I finally got it."
Why people loved them, wanted them, shot up firing ranges, clubs, schools, whatever else. There was a certain rush about it. "I remember discussing gun control with Jim a few times, it's really funny to think back."
Criminals shouldn't have access to guns was the main theme. With a small smile, he held his hand out for the gun. "I remember it, it was our first meeting. Kind of sticks with you."
"See, I never was too into guns to begin with. But there's a certain appeal to their practical fatality, I believe. Besides, with a beautiful weapon like that?" Edward ran a finger along the gun, then looked at Harvey as he closed his hand around the barrel, stroking it. Yes, the phallic imagery really might be entirely on him, Jonathan might have been right with that diagnosis. Not that it had anything to do with his father.
"And then there is the rush, of course. Of holding a gun. Or of being at gunpoint." He lifted the gun, rather than letting Harvey take it, taking aim at his head, still smiling. "You like it too, don't you? That rush."
He looked at Edward and then at the gun, not sure why his heart was racing because it wasn't fear, not really, but something was making his heart beat like wild. He licked his lips and met Edward's eyes, not afraid to stare into the barrel. He wondered what it would be like if he died now at the Riddler's hand. It seemed strangely fitting for his post lawyer lifestyle.
"I guess I do, huh?" He tsked lightly and then leaned back in his seat, diverting his eyes back to his drink and slowly taking a sip, clearly not all that afraid of having a gun on him. "I feel like I died already. Back in the courthouse. It's weird, it's kind of nice to get that rush again. To feel alive. I like it."
Setting his glass down, he looked up and met Edward's eyes. "You wouldn't shoot me."
"You sound so sure of that." It was intriguing more than insulting, Edward leaned forward and moved the gun, so he could press it against Harvey's cheek - on the uninjured side, of course, he didn't want to go that far. He still watched his face, never breaking eye contact. "Do you feel alive now?"
Edward was feeling a lot of things himself, but luckily he trusted this outfit to be able to hide any side-effects of his arousal. "In a tunnel of darkness lies a beast of iron..."
He traced the gun along Harvey's jaw. "Could cut myself on that. Damn. Fuck me, but you are hot."
"I am sure of it. I'm a very good judge of character, it's what made me a good lawyer. I can tell a liar from an honest man or a murderer from an asshole from a dupe." Harvey explained as he inhaled deep, feeling Edward move the gun around his face, the cold barrel of his new gun pressing against his face. Fuck, it was sexy. Why the fuck was it sexy? Why the fuck was a guy sexy? Weird. His eyes flicked up at Edward and he swallowed hard. "You ain't any of those. You just like exciting. Like me. A simple shot is way too boring."
A simple bullet seemed too easy. Besides, he didn't think Edward was the sort to kill for no reason.
"Also, let's face it, I am hot. Why would you want to put a bullet in this pretty face, eh?" Reaching out, he put his hand on the barrel of the gun and gently brought it around to his mouth, kissing the top of it before letting go and making some distance, leaning on the bar and raising an eyebrow. "Am I right or am I right?"
"Tell a liar from an honest man, huh?" Edward was too amused by that to not repeat the statement, thinking how it encompassed what he already anticipated to be Harvey's biggest flow. Being fifty-fifty, seeing the world black and white in a city so full of shady grey.
Still, Harvey certainly wasn't wrong about what he was saying right now. And Edward would have conceded the point right away, but as he watched his lips against the barrel, talking became impossible for the moment. He swallowed, wondering when his mouth had become so dry. "You are right."
There, he'd admit it. "There are so many better things to do with a face like yours."
"You think? Good to know. Same with yours, I ain't gonna pump it full of bullets any time soon." Reaching out, he picked up his drink and smiled behind the rim of the glass. "Besides, we like you, Eddie. Make of that what you will."
Knocking back the drink, he set the glass down and whatever small flare of Two-Face that had appeared was gone as soon as it came but clearly, there was some consensus there.
"So... what's next? You need any more help or are we good?"
"Good question." Ed sipped his drink, mostly so he wouldn't blurt out anything about how they could fuck against the counter right now. Or on one of the tables. Up a wall. Honestly, he wasn't that picky. He tried to will his dick to soften, leaning his head back as he swallowed, then licked his lips. No, the whiskey wasn't really helping, just made him hornier. "I'm good. For now. But it has been a joy, working with you. I got all I bargained for and then some."
He hadn't anticipated the immense attraction. "We have to do this again some time."
"Ditto. I have a few things I want to get done, feel like you're the sort of guy to talk to about that stuff." He wanted to get everything together, he wanted revenge on a few names but he just didn't have anything set out in front of him. "It's like I have all these things I want to do, people I want to deal with but it's too many fucking things in my head. It's so much easier to just walk up to a fucker and blow their head off but that ain't really a statement. Anyone can do that."
He wanted to hurt the Bat and just firing shots at his bullet proof armour was bullshit. "A lot of people in this city owe me. I wanna collect." Turning to look at Edward, he met his eyes and tried not to get lost in them... what? Wait, no. No homo. Just ... they were deep!
"I do know how to deliver a statement, true enough." Edward grinned, seeing no reason to be humble about that. Honestly, he saw little reason to ever be humble about anything, just felt dishonest. "You'd not be the first to come to me to plan a show."
It was quite common, all things considered, for better or worse. Often it led to interesting possibilities, but sometimes it was just about getting tortured or beat up until he provided a plan. He didn't anticipate that being the method Harvey would choose though. "Who is on your list, Harvey? I can think up something for you. Gather information, at least. It always pays to know things."
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icebergloungers2021-01-24 06:04 pm
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And, for the moment, it also meant that he didn't require Harvey's help any more, but he felt he owed it to him to thank him in person, maybe toast to a successful partnership. Why not celebrate the victories, small and big?
The guards let him past this time, no bribery needed. Edward saw that as a good thing. He had gotten ready for this venture by himself, Echo and Query had a girls night out, whatever that meant tonight, so he had been left to his own devices. He had still opted for the classic suit, cane and hat, but this time the mask and tie were purple, as were his fingernails. He didn't want Harvey to be completely deprived of his sense of style, after all. Also, he had considered holding back, but this mask just didn't pop right without black eyeliner. Fashion and good taste always made demands.
"Harvey?" He walked into the old restaurant, looking around. "I wanted to congratulate you, golden boy. You've been making quite the impact!"
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Stubbing out his cigarette when he saw Edward, not wanting to bother him with that sort of thing, he smirked playfully and then got up. Looking at Edward, he raised the glass he had in his hand towards him.
"You're welcome, Ed. It was fun on my part, less like work and more like play. Glad I could help though." It was pretty cool, actually. Having a purpose. Who would have thought he'd miss that so much?
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Stopping in front of Harvey, he held out a bottle for him. "I thought I'd bring a little something, to celebrate. Maybe you'll miss the burn drinking whiskey as fine as this, but I assure you, the taste will make up for that disappointment."
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Seemed like a fair question. Did anything ever last? Looking over the bottle, Harvey took it in his hands and looked at the age and the brand, impressed by how fancy the drink had to be. "Now you're spoiling me. Shit, Ed. This stuff is the real deal."
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He laughed at Harvey's assessment of the bottle, walking behind the bar as if he owned the place. Well, he needed to get them glasses. "You are the real deal, my friend. Start treating yourself like it or I'll just have to keep spoiling you. Somebody ought to."
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Walking across the room, Harvey pulled open one of the cabinets and raided around until he finally found what he wanted. He had a very fancy black box and he slide it along the bar, gesturing for Ed to open it. "All yours, buddy. I said I'd get you something nice. Can't say I don't keep my promises."
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Even as he spoke, he already reached for the box and pulled it over, opening it and then gasping. "Ohhh... I take that back, you most assuredly should have. Would you look at that?"
He reached for the tiara, holding it between his fingers and lifting it out carefully, inspecting it from all sides. "Easily beaten, but never free... That's real gold, all right. You go for the real deal too, huh? No wonder we get along."
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Leaning on the bar, he smiled playfully at Edward, amused by how happy he looked. "Do as you wish with it. Wear it, display it, sell it. Just make sure to enjoy it, yeah? I don't steal shit for just anyone."
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He had done his hair, naturally, but not in a tiara way. Whatever a tiara way would be, he had a few thoughts. For now, he looked up and smiled at Harvey, deciding to use his reaction as a mirror, as he lacked an actual mirror right now. "How do I look, Harvey? Be gentle, my ego is big, yet fragile."
Quite the paradox.
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With an amused smile, Harvey leaned forward and adjusted the tiara ever so slightly so it sat better. Then he sat back and gave Edward a thumbs up.
"You're ready to take Gotham by storm."
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"Swoon! Don't play like that, you'll give me false hope." Making light of it seemed like the best course of action. "I ought to take a picture for the girls..."
He got his phone out and turned the camera on, which was a good way of seeing himself and, yes, a good way to take a picture too. "They are already eager to meet you."
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Picking up a glass of the fancy whiskey Edward got him, he looked it over and raised an eyebrow at that beautiful colouring. It was such a deep, dark brown with a hint of almost red in it. Must have been in the barrel for a while.
He knocked some back and let it sit with him a few moments before clearing his throat. "It still burns but the taste is insane. Holy shit, Ed. This stuff is worth more than some tiara, should have gotten you a necklace to go with it."
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Such as this beautiful tiara, which he fully intended on wearing for the rest of the night now. "What's the point in money, Harvey, when you don't spend it on the good things in life?
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And, without thinking or considering that maybe he shouldn't hand another rogue his gun just like that, he held it out to Edward. Offering for him to take it and feel.
"It feels good, you should try."
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Touching. Sweet. Naive, perhaps. He reached for the gun and held it, admiring it openly. "That is a beautiful weapon." He knew enough to appreciate that. "Do you like it? How a gun can feel? I remember your gun against my face."
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Why people loved them, wanted them, shot up firing ranges, clubs, schools, whatever else. There was a certain rush about it. "I remember discussing gun control with Jim a few times, it's really funny to think back."
Criminals shouldn't have access to guns was the main theme. With a small smile, he held his hand out for the gun. "I remember it, it was our first meeting. Kind of sticks with you."
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"And then there is the rush, of course. Of holding a gun. Or of being at gunpoint." He lifted the gun, rather than letting Harvey take it, taking aim at his head, still smiling. "You like it too, don't you? That rush."
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"I guess I do, huh?" He tsked lightly and then leaned back in his seat, diverting his eyes back to his drink and slowly taking a sip, clearly not all that afraid of having a gun on him. "I feel like I died already. Back in the courthouse. It's weird, it's kind of nice to get that rush again. To feel alive. I like it."
Setting his glass down, he looked up and met Edward's eyes. "You wouldn't shoot me."
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Edward was feeling a lot of things himself, but luckily he trusted this outfit to be able to hide any side-effects of his arousal. "In a tunnel of darkness lies a beast of iron..."
He traced the gun along Harvey's jaw. "Could cut myself on that. Damn. Fuck me, but you are hot."
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A simple bullet seemed too easy. Besides, he didn't think Edward was the sort to kill for no reason.
"Also, let's face it, I am hot. Why would you want to put a bullet in this pretty face, eh?" Reaching out, he put his hand on the barrel of the gun and gently brought it around to his mouth, kissing the top of it before letting go and making some distance, leaning on the bar and raising an eyebrow. "Am I right or am I right?"
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Still, Harvey certainly wasn't wrong about what he was saying right now. And Edward would have conceded the point right away, but as he watched his lips against the barrel, talking became impossible for the moment. He swallowed, wondering when his mouth had become so dry. "You are right."
There, he'd admit it. "There are so many better things to do with a face like yours."
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Knocking back the drink, he set the glass down and whatever small flare of Two-Face that had appeared was gone as soon as it came but clearly, there was some consensus there.
"So... what's next? You need any more help or are we good?"
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He hadn't anticipated the immense attraction. "We have to do this again some time."
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He wanted to hurt the Bat and just firing shots at his bullet proof armour was bullshit. "A lot of people in this city owe me. I wanna collect." Turning to look at Edward, he met his eyes and tried not to get lost in them... what? Wait, no. No homo. Just ... they were deep!
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It was quite common, all things considered, for better or worse. Often it led to interesting possibilities, but sometimes it was just about getting tortured or beat up until he provided a plan. He didn't anticipate that being the method Harvey would choose though. "Who is on your list, Harvey? I can think up something for you. Gather information, at least. It always pays to know things."
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