Hellooo may I have a jealous Gotham jervis tetch 🥰
A/N: yesss you may! So I know Jervis doesn't really do the whole hypnotist performer shtick anymore (he's upgraded to hypnotist homicidal terroristic felon, good for him) but I couldn't get this scenario out of my head (that may or may not have happened during a talent show at my college rip).
Trigger Warnings: violent thoughts, mentions of self-harm (through hypnotism), violence, death mention, and toxic behavior
Word Count: 1.5 k (idk it sorta took off on its own...my bad)
Gotham Mad Hatter x Reader - A Willing Participant
You were backstage with Jervis helping him prepare for another performance. You adjusted his tie and straightened out his top hat you adored. You teasingly lowered it down to cover his eyes, causing you two to giggle.
Jervis cupped his hand along the side of your face, his gloved thumb rubbing your cheek. You brought your hands up and held along his lifted arm.
"You should get going. Wouldn't want anyone to take your seat, without you knowing."
You gave him a tight smile. "Maybe, but there's still fifteen minutes until the acts start…"
He chuckled. "It'll be over soon, I'll be back by your side before you know it." Jervis leaned in and gave you a sweet kiss to your cheek that wasn't occupied by his hand.
You pouted at him when he pulled back. "That's not where they go…" You mumbled.
"Oh? Is it here?" He kissed your head.
You shook your head.
Jervis tapped his chin in faux contemplation. "Oh. I know!" Yet he kissed your nose.
"Jervis!" You jokingly scolded, before he finally gave you a proper kiss on the lips.
You could feel his warm breath as he chuckled at your sweet face glowing red along your cheeks.
"You really must go now, darling."
"Okay, okay, I'll see you soon." You smiled as you turned your heels and made your way back into the sea of tables and people.
You were able to find a decent spot in the middle and close to the front. You sat at a white clothed table with a simple classic plastic white rose in a glass vase.
The lights finally dimmed and everyone's attention was drawn to the center stage. You enjoyed the various acts, but were on the edge of your seat to see Jervis. He never fails to amaze you time and time again no matter how many times you have seen him.
There was just one more act ahead of him. Apparently they were a singer slowly climbing the ranks.
As the singer made their way to center stage, they addressed the crowd politely. Their eyes combed through the audience but somehow managed to land and stay on you.
You could feel the heat rise up in your face at the unwarranted attention. You offered a soft wave hoping that would turn their eyes away…it did only for a moment.
Fairly soon they were crooning away, a rather sappy love song…and you can’t help but notice they were still making steady eye contact with you. Especially, very deliberate lyrics of dancing, kissing, and falling in love. To say they were laying it on thick was an understatement.
A certain hypnotist took quick notice of this vocalist trying to win your affections.
It's any wonder steam wasn't pouring from under his hat or burning the top of it clean through. He was agitated and frustrated with the singer's antics.
How could they not see you're not reciprocating from the crowd, but poor you, you were always so sweet and polite to others regardless of your discomfort.
Fortunately for you, Jervis wasn't so keen to be the same when it comes to you.
As the singer finished their performance, they winked and blew a kiss towards you before trotting off stage.
Gloved fists clenched tighter as Jervis tried to restrain from downright bludgeoning this person within an inch of their life.
He did, however, manage to follow close behind them. All he had to do was open the gates to their mind with a little small talk.
"My, that was quite the performance, singing your heart out to anyone in particular?" He asked slyly.
The singer chuckled. "I guess, you can say that…what's your act?"
"Oh, nothing quite as passionate but more so…entrancing as yours…"
The singer's ears rang with the sound of a ticking pocket watch as their vision was clouded with the even swinging watch.
Swinging left…right…left…right…
Tick…tock…tick…tock…
~~~~~~~~~
You were a heated blushing mess. Not sure what to make of whatever just transpired. You were fumbling with the cloth napkin in your lap. Shaking your head, you try to forget them as Jervis was finally due to come on.
Oh God, did he see?
"Good evening, everyone!"
A smile grew on your face, there he was, finally after what seemed like forever! You could put that off-putting, forthcoming, flirtatious singer behind you-
"Hey there~"
What. The. Hell?
"Um..hi..uh this seat is taken.." You got annoyed now, your politeness tank was about to go empty.
"I just wanted to-"
"Look, I-I don't reciprocate whatever feelings you're expressing–I am taken and by the person performing now so if you could just leave–"
A spotlight landed on the singer and you almost fell out of your seat in surprise. You immediately kept quiet, unsure of what Jervis was up to.
"Ah! A willing participant I presume?"
"Oh, uh, yeah…sure.." the singer got up and headed toward the stage.
Your heart was hammering, Jervis was capable of anything and that endless notion of anything had you hanging on by a thread.
Sitting on the edge of your seat, you watched as Jervis made the singer do the traditional hypnotist routine. Make someone think they're an animal, have someone do something they wouldn't normally do like a cartwheel or handstand.
To be honest, you couldn’t help but chuckle at the singer being made an even bigger fool out of themselves than they were with you.
"Now, while under my complete hypnosis you'll find…not only can I control their mind… but also learn what's on their mind…"
"Tell me fellow artist, what about tonight has caught your…special interest?"
"Them right there…when I first walked out on stage…I knew I wanted to talk to them…get to know them…" The singer pointed straight at you and spoke with such moving sincerity. They even dropped to their knees as if begging for the possibility to still become reality.
You couldn't respond because of the death grip you had on the napkin and you constantly swallowing the stubborn frog in your throat.
You looked around you as the audience gasped and murmured curiously.
"I wanted to take them with me, back to my–"
Before they finished that statement Jervis snapped his fingers and the singer fell on their face.
"Oops.." Jervis playfully cringed.
The singer groaned as they regained consciousness. Wobbling their weight as they got their footing back.
"W-whoa…did I-I perform again?"
The audience gasped in unison as they realized the singer was acting on their own accord. The room erupting in applause for Jervis. Whilst the singer took in the applause for their own as if they actually did perform an encore. Jervis swiftly snapped the lid to his pocket watch next to the singer's ear and they went rigid like a mannequin.
Jervis whispered in a hush tone behind a beaming smile. "Once the curtains fall, so do you. Go away and erase yourself from view. Rather by train or roof it doesn't matter…as long as your heart seizes to pitter patter."
As the applause continued to fill the showroom. Jervis bowed and the singer stayed motionless until the curtains fell. Then the singer was off through the backstage and out the door.
You jumped up and headed backstage to Jervis, only to see him heading your way as the crowd dispersed.
"Jervis, darling, I-I I'm sorry I- I don't know what they wanted, or who they are…or what-what’s going on but, but…"
Jervis cupped your face into the palm of his hands, and stroked each of your cheeks with his thumb. Your skin began to flush warm, as the weight of confusion and embarrassment slowly began to lift.
Jervis shushed you sweetly, “don’t worry about it, my love…it’s all sorted out. No hard feelings.”
You quirked your eyebrow, “are you sure? Jervis…they came on kinda strong…and what you had them admit to…”
“--I do apologize for that, you didn’t need to hear that.”
You shook your head. “Y-You didn’t know, you seemed surprised youself. It’s..it’s fine. Just uncomfortable.” You began rubbing your arms with your hands, trying to calm the rising goosebumps.
Jervis turned to your side and offered his arm for you to link his. “I’m here now…no one will ever bother you whilst I’m by you side. No matter what.”
“I know Jervis, even if you have your own way of showing it…I do appreciate it.” You linked your arm with his and immediately leaned into his side as you two began exiting out of the club.
As you two walked out to head back to the hotel, you both stopped at the scene just outside the doors.
Red, blue, and white lights flashed on top of two GCPD cars. Yellow tape was being drawn by an officer and there was a lonely white sheet with a pool of blood seeping from under it.
You gasped at the scene, Jervis quickly shielded you from it with his hat. He guided you down the sidewalk and back to your two’s temporary home.
“Such a terrible accident! And the driver just-just left! How crazy!”
“Yes, it’s a mad world out there indeed…” Jervis lamented, hoping you didn’t see the sly smirk on his face.
