Chapter Text
Jeremiah is baffled, annoyed and tirelessly sifting through explanation after explanation of how his bombs had failed, “think, think, think, think, think.”he mutters wracking his brain, “how did they beat you huh, how did they figure you out?”it’s been a repeated mantra for the last hour, it had all been going so smoothly, so perfectly.
The bombs failing had been a disappointment though he only found he was mildly irritated over this in the shadow of recent events, Bruce, he smiled, Bruce was his.
Bruce wanted him as much as he wanted Bruce, the realisation left him reeling, ecstatic and utterly lovesick.
Bruce had been worried about him over the phone when he’d been confronted with Oswald Cobblepot and his little entourage of criminals. It had made his heart flutter. Their attempts to blackmail him might have proven amusing had they not interrupted his time with Bruce.
He casts pale eyes down once again, on the papers and blueprints spread out before him, trust, Jim Gordon to thwart his meticulously thought out plans, it seemed Jeremiah could agree with Jerome’s written statements on the subject of Jim Gordon at least.
Jim Gordon was harder to kill than a cockroach.
Similarly Jim’s ability to avoid death had worked more in his favour if he’s being honest with himself and free the butler too, had been a wise decision,the only downside to failing in his attempt to kill Jim Gordon was that he’d had to purge himself of Jerome’s fickle followers, but, ah, Bruce...beautiful, wonderful, magnificent, perfect Bruce had been jovial upon hearing the news that Jim Gordon had survived.
Bruce was happy and far more receiving of Jeremiah’s affections—every phone call he’d made Bruce had answered, every conversation with Jeremiah had been welcomed by Bruce. Despite being thwarted Jeremiah couldn’t be happier when it came to the ever blossoming relationship he was building with Bruce.
Back to the dilemma at hand.There was really only one explanation that made sense to him.
“Hmm, Gordon must have stolen the blueprints to the maze, found one of the bombs and sabotaged the sequence.”it was rather impressive if he was being honest. “I’ll have to start again.”the hairs on the back of his neck prickle, his instincts alerting him to another presence within the abandoned theatre.
He feigns being unaware of their presence.
“You’re tenacious. I like that.”The voice echoes, it’s not familiar to his ears and he reaches for his gun, Jeremiah isn’t keen on entertaining an uninvited guest with the exception of course, being Bruce Wayne.
“Who are you? What do you want?”
“I had a vision of Gotham in flames.”he rolls his eyes while firing off a few shots, the shadow that had been there moments before seemingly disappears into thin air, did he think his little act could unnerve Jeremiah? This person, whoever it was, clearly didn’t realise Jeremiah had been born into the circus and spent his time growing up around magicians, soothsayers and charlatans among other things. “Together we could make that happen.”
“Well, I appreciate the offer, however recent events have convinced me the benefits to working alone.”or with Bruce by his side, but that might be a long time coming, though a man could still dream.
The intruder vanishes for the second time, he shoots despite knowing he’ll miss, irked by the tedium of the man little show,“don’t be so rash, your dream of a new Gotham will come to be.”Hmm, clearly this man knew nothing of Jeremiah's dreams, Gotham was simply part of his plan to outdo his brother, where Jerome failed, Jeremiah certainly would not.
His dreams however, were centred around a certain brunette, the keeper of his heart.
“With my help, of course.”Jeremiah sighs, resigned, why can’t he just be left in peace? He lowers his gun.
“You’re behind me, aren’t you?”Of course he was, how typical, such a performance just for him, he’d be flattered if he didn’t find it to be such an annoyance, this man could offer him nothing, Jeremiah did not already possess. “I can conquer Gotham on my own, what makes you think I need your help...whoever you are?”he turns to face the stranger, a tall man, holding himself with a regality as though he thought himself of high importance.
“Because my boy, this is not just about Gotham,”he walks steadily nearer, “this is about Bruce Wayne.”Jeremiah stares at him, his mind reeling, who is this man? he thinks and what exactly does he want with his dearest?
“You never did tell me your name,”he says, narrowing his eyes. “If we are to discuss the possibility of an alliance, isn’t it courteous to first introduce yourself?”
“Forgive me, my name is Ra’s al Ghul.”now that piqued his interest as Jeremiah recalled consoling Bruce, what felt like so long ago, before their confrontation in the cemetery. He remembered Bruce had been upset because his little girlfriend had lead him into a trap, he’d been restrained, his blood used unwillingly to resurrect a man named Ra’s al Ghul, Bruce had then gone on to explain how Ra’s had relentlessly tormented, kidnapped and made Bruce’s life miserable for a time.
Bruce had confessed to killing this man, because only he could do so, Ra’s al Ghul could only die at Bruce’s hand, and wasn’t there something else regarding a specific blade?
Something to look into further, he thinks, he’ll have Ecco do some investigating for him.
Jeremiah wasn’t penchant to align himself with people who had actively caused harm to someone so dear to his heart, however, his eyes narrow, perhaps Bruce would appreciate the gift of retribution.
A saccharine smile stretches Jeremiah’s lips, “I’m listening.” Is all he says, let him believe he can confide in and trust him whilst Jeremiah plots his next course of action.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Late into that very night Jeremiah cannot help himself, can hardly bear keeping away from Bruce for such extended periods of time, so he decides to snatch a quick glimpse of his dearest, to set himself at ease before he attends to matters at hand.
Jeremiah slips into Wayne Manor easily, for someone so rich, the level of security was laughable. He crept quietly through the halls, knowing Bruce’s bedroom resided on this side of the manor, while his man servant occupied the opposing side.
He stands now obscured in the shadows watching the gentle rise and fall of Bruce’s chest, unsure of how many minutes have actually passed, he’s so caught up in watching Bruce. He’d needed to come here tonight, after Ra’s had reached out to him, Bruce had consumed his everything to the point where he was rendered incapable of anything, other than coming to see his love.
Jeremiah has never been a believer of love at first sight, until he met Bruce Wayne, he was captivated by the mere sight of him and utterly lost by the time Bruce said ‘you have a great mind, Mr Valeska.’ He was past the point of no return with each passing day that Bruce deigned to visit him in the bunker, getting personally involved in Jeremiah’s project...craving Jeremiah's company perhaps as much he had been craving more of Bruce’s time.
He steps from the deep shadows of the room, scattered beans of silvery moonlight glitter through the drapes, illuminating Bruce’s pale complexion, highlighting the peacefulness of his features, he reaches out his fingers in a whispering touch, light and gentle upon a pale cheek, unconsciously Bruce moves into the touch, or perhaps drawn to Jeremiah's warmth.
“Soon,”he says in a hushed tone, “there will be a reunion, dearest heart of mine.”It's a promise, a retribution and a reunion, and the thought is thrilling.
He fades back into the shadows of Wayne Manor and slips out into the night.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
His plan was rudimentary based on scratchy bits and pieces of information Ecco had managed to collect, at best it would roll out as smoothly as possible, at worst, Jeremiah would gain an enemy of Ra’s al Ghul. Not that such an outcome bothered him. It was thanks to Ecoo’s information that had brought him to The Sirens Club. She had insisted she should join him when confronting Ms Kean, ever loyal and seeking to protect him, she’d vanished before he entered the club and would appear when or if she were needed.
Barbara Kean was a person of great interest and as Jeremiah had discovered, was just as deeply connected as Bruce to Ra’s al Ghul, it was something Jeremiah could use and counted on as he entered the club, he remembered their last little encounter with a chuckle, the utter horror on their faces as Jeremiah had turned the tables on such a brazen little plot to blackmail him.
He feels the glares zero in on him as he enters, pinning him in place as the blond turns to face him. Barbara and her little sidekick, Tabitha was it? Are openly hostile to his appearance.
“Why is it all the freaks enjoy congregating in my bar?”
“You want me to see him out?”Tabitha smirks, eyeing Jeremiah up and down, she looks ready for a fight and he smiles wider, nothing can sour his mood, not even Barbara’s pet, he lifts up a hand effectively shushing her, Tabitha’s fury is palpable as she growls, insulated. Jeremiah laughs. “Before you decide to turf me from your establishment, I have some information you may find of value, after all,”he glances to the snarling blond, “you like information, don’t you Ms Kean?”she glares at him but nods for Tabitha to stand down.
“This information of yours...how do I know it’ll be worth my time or having to suffer your presence in my bar?”
Jeremiah lifts a brow offering a shrug, “you’ll have to take a leap of faith...you’ll want to hear what I have to say.” He saunters closer his eyes alight with a wicked gleam.
The corner of Barbara’s lips tilts as she saunters forward, closing the distance slightly, the clicking of her heels echoing around them, “thanks for the offer, freak, but I think I’ll pass.” Out from the shadows of the bars' sidelines steps a band of darkly clad women aiming their weapons at Jeremiah, he takes another step glancing either side of him.
“Huh, I guess you got me again.” He titles his head, a wicked smile stretching his lips, “or perhaps not.”Ecco, steps out from the shadows appearing behind Barbara, a pistol aimed at the blonds temple.
“Call off your dogs or I’ll put a hole in your head.”Ecco hisses in Barbara’s ear. “Aren’t you glad I joined you Boss?”she asks, throwing Jeremiah a glance, she bats her eyelids issuing a high pitched laugh.
What would he do without her?
“So dependable, my dear Ecco...it’s such a shame Ms Kean isn’t open to polite exchanges,”huffing a long suffering sigh Jeremiah brushes dust from his sleeve, “but I’m sure Ra’s will pay you a visit, at some point…”he turns on his heels intending to leave until…
“...wait.”he smiles, knowing dropping a little hint would leave her wanting more, he turns again to face the blond with a raised brow.
“Yes, Ms Kean?”
Her expression is pained as if she hates herself for having to ask Jeremiah to elaborate, “you’ve met Ra’s al Ghul?”
He inclines his head in a slight nod, “indeed, it seems he believes our interests align.”
A blond eyebrow lifts and she throws Ecco an irritated glance but nods to the females around the room, they stand down and move away from Jeremiah but make no move to leave the near vicinity. He signals Ecco to stand down and she joins him at his side, flashing Barbara a sweet smile.
“And...do your interests align?”
He shrugs, “in one sense yes, in another, not anymore...he’s repeatedly harmed someone very dear to me,”his expression becomes wistful as Bruce enters his thoughts, Barbara and Tabitha share a glance, their expression pinched, uncomfortable almost, as if Jeremiah unnerved them. “Then again so did you.”Those eerie, pale green eyes swing to Tabitha, he was sure Bruce had named Tabitha as the one who’d tricked his little friend into leading him into the trap that had brought about Ra’s resurrection.
“What the hell are you talking about? Who? When?”Tabitha demands.
Both women watch, becoming more uncomfortable as Ecco begins swaying to the background music, gently bobbing her head, things become even weirder when Jeremiah begins to have a conversation with himself.
“Mmm does it matter?...yes...no, perhaps, ah...water under the bridge, for now, for now...yes—hahaha.”even Barbara’s Shadows shuffle in discomfort, it was quite evident Jeremiah Valeska might possibly be madder than his brother, the woman exchange a further look and Barbara shrugs recovering from the weirdness of the situation.
“Mr Valeska?”
He whips his head toward the blond, his expression slightly manicle before he recovers himself, “Ms Kean, we can help each other, you have something that can end Ra’s al Ghul…”
“The dagger, right? There’s only one teeny tiny problem when it comes to ending Ra’s”she lifts her hands to enunciate with her finger and thumb.
“Yes, I know...I can help with that, things are currently in motion that will lead to Ra’s al Ghul and Bruce Wayne, coming together, in the same place…”he looks to Barbara with a wide smile, “all you need to know is the time and the place.”
Barbara looks thoughtful, hands on her hips as she strolls forward, “and what’s in it for me?”
Jeremiah offers a knowing look, “it’s simple, you get your revenge on Ra’s al Ghul and you’ll no longer need to look over your shoulder, worrying when he’ll suddenly drop by for a friendly visit.”he closes the gap between them so they are standing shoulder to shoulder and speaks quietly into her ear, “you’ll be free.”
Her eyes are alight and a smile playing on her lips, Barbara leans in, “and what do you get out of all this?”she queries, with open curiosity.
They share a look, “everything I want and need.”is the cryptic answer she receives. “You go your way and I’ll go my own, no one needs to know about this minuscule alliance, my lips will be sealed.”he lifts a finger to his lips and mimics the action of zipping them shut.
The blond takes a few minutes of silence, to appear contemplative but Jeremiah knows what her answer will be, he’s known since the moment she called him back, the opportunity to end Ra’s al Ghul, permanently, was too good for Barbara to pass up, he’d counted on her need to be free of his shadow.
Finally she steps back to face him and holds out her hand, “you’ve got yourself a deal freak.” The handshake is brief and Barbara saunters back to the bar to pour herself a drink, “now, why don’t you walk me through the details.”
Jubilant, Jeremiah smirks, “gladly Ms Kean.”