It’s Just a Prank.
//Jerome x reader.
Requested: Yes.
Summary: Y/n decides to pull a prank on Jerome by pretending she died.
Warnings: This got fairly angsty. Emotional Jerome, mild language. (Assumption of suicide.)
Rating: Fluff.
Title: It’s Just a Prank. //
Jerome bounds through the door, happier than ever. He can’t wait to tell y/n about the Maniax newest achievement. They had just made a name for themselves, literally. “Hey! Y/n apparently, I was right. We made headlines y/n. They know who we are.“ He laughs giddily, opening the door to the room that Theo assigned him. “Y/n?” He calls out, stepping in and flicking his light on. “Y/n, where are you? Ah, come on sugar!” His voice takes a playful tone. “Y/n,” he calls out in a sing-songy voice. “Well, sugar, if you wanna play…” He moves over to the closet, pulling the door back. “Come out, come out, wherever you are.” He laughs giddily, bounding from his room to the next, going in a line through all of the rooms; Barbara’s, Tabitha’s, Theo’s- all the way to Greenwood’s before finally jogging back up to his room, going past it to hers. He knocks on the door. “Sugar, baby, come on out!” He smiles to himself, giggling again under his breath. “Come on baby. I know you’re in there.” When he doesn’t get an answer, he grips the door handle. “All right sugar, I’m coming in to get you.” He twists the door handle, and tries to open it. “Sugar, come on.” He jiggles the doorknob again, the playfulness leaving him slightly. “Y/n, open the door.” He knocks loudly on it once more. “This isn’t funny anymore sugar, open the door.” He leans against it heavily, pushing his bottom lip out in a pout. “I wanna see you; I wanna talk to you, open the door…please?”
All of Jerome’s whining makes Barbara get up from the table and walk over.
“If you want in so bad why don’t you just use your key? We all know you have one, it’s not a secret.” She leans against the wall as she stares at Jerome with raised eyebrows. He rolls his eyes and reaches into his pocket.
“What’s the fun in that?” He mutters as he pulls the keys out and unlocks her door, swinging it open. “Y/n, I am officially upset that you didn-” Jerome doesn’t have a chance to finish whatever thought was in his mind. Everything goes blank and his vision swims as his gaze takes in the sight before him.
Y/n’s body is motionless on the ground, a pool of crimson blood surrounding her.
“Y/n!” Jerome gasps, moving forward quickly and kneeling at her body, pulling her up to him. “Y/n, y/n…who did this to you, who did this…” His words come out in small gasps as he realizes that it had to have been her. She did it to herself. He tries to force more words out, but his mouth stays firmly shut, nothing more but a small whimper coming from the back of his throat. He rests his forehead on her shoulder, nuzzling his face into her neck as the small whining noise grows louder. Jerome rocks back and forth, holding onto y/n tightly. “I can’t lose you,” he cries, his voice soft and broken. “I didn’t get to say good morning,” he gasps softly. “I didn’t tell you how beautiful you looked yesterday,” his words slur together as he begins talking faster, his heartbeat quickens. “I never made you breakfast like I promised I would,” Tears now freely run down Jerome’s face as he holds onto her like a life boat. “I never told you…” His voice cracks, and he tries to inhale deeply, only he chokes again and lets out a loud, shaky sob. “I never got to tell you I loved you,” Jerome sniffles and lets out another sob. “We were gonna be together,” he whispered. “We were gonna be together, you promised me. You promised me you wouldn’t leave me y/n.” He begins to shake slightly as his words grow more frantic. “You said you’d never leave my side, we were gonna rule Gotham together, sugar, why? Why’d you leave me, y/n-sug- why’d you leave me?” His voice rises to a shout at the end as he unravels completely. “Without you there’s nothing- nothing for me! You left me alone in the dark again y/n; I don’t want to be alone!” Just then, a small gasp comes from y/n’s mouth.
Jerome freezes, his whole body going rigid.
“Jerome, I didn’t know you felt that way…I…” Her voice trails off as he stands up stiffly, staring down at her.
“What is this?” He asks, his voice cold and sharp.
“I- I thought you would laugh, I thought you would find it funny…I’m so sorry Je-” Jerome’s eyes darken as he stares down at her, his fists clenching at his side.
“You thought it would be funny to fake your death?” Jerome growls, turning away from her quickly. “Of course, let’s get a laugh out of Jerome! The clown without any feelings!” Jerome snarls, beginning to walk out the door.
“I didn’t mean it like that and you know it!” She says, standing up. “I was just trying to pull a prank on you Jerome- like you do to me all the time!” He snaps around quickly, moving forward until she’s backed up against a wall, pointing his index finger at her face, his whole body shaking with rage.
“Faking your death isn’t a prank,” he whispers, his fiery eyes staring into hers.
“You thought it was funny when Greenwood makes these jokes,” y/n murmurs, staring up at him with wide eyes.
“I don’t give a shit about Greenwood. He’s not the one I share a bed with half the time,” Jerome stares down at her. “He’s not the one that I protect, the one that I can actually talk to.” His head tilts. “He’s not the damn fool that I love, y/n. So yes; I thought it was funny when Greenwood joked about it. Hell, if Greenwood had pulled this stunt it would’ve been funny. But not you. I’m not so heartless that I’d laugh at the idea of losing you, y/n.” He hisses the last sentence, his eyes dulling. “Do you think I’m that heartless? That I’m that insane? That I’m that…” His voice cracks again slightly, and he casts his gaze to the floor. “…screwed up?”
Y/n’s heart instantly melts at Jerome’s sudden vulnerability. For the first time ever, he was completely open to her. His shoulders slump slightly, his eyes no longer lite up with their constant fire. The ever-so present smile on his face has vanished completely, replaced with a firm line. It’s as if all the humor has drained from him at once. He stares off at the ground, no longer moving.
“Jerome…” Y/n whispers. His gaze takes an eternity to drag over to her, his eyes showing how completely empty he was; how completely alone and lost he felt. “I didn’t mean any of that. I- I would never think any of that, Jerome. I love you,” something in his eyes flickers at those words, and so y/n pulls him close to her. “I love you Jerome, I love you so much.” His body slowly relaxes again, his arms wrapping around her as he steps backwards, kissing y/n’s cheek softly. “I need you in my life Jerome,” she continues, holding onto him tight. “I’d never have done this if I kn-” Her apologizes are cut off by Jerome’s lips pressing against her own, although the kiss doesn’t last long.
He pulls away fairly quickly, inhaling shakily. “That was embarrassing.” He chuckles, running an unsteady hand through his hair.
“Showing your emotions isn’t embarrassing, Jerome.” Y/n says gently. Jerome rolls his eyes, perking up instantly.
“Whatever, sugar. I’m gonna go make us some waffles.” He bounces out of the room, already back to his normal self. A smile spreads across y/n’s face, and Barbara stares at her, apparently unfazed by the whole scene she just witnessed.
“Why are you so happy?” Barbara asks.
“Because,” she whispers, walking out to the hallway. “He’s making me breakfast.”