the boys ain't back...

we always owned this town.

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On The Fence

[theboysneverleft-blog]

Two Face chuckled, and Harvey good naturedly let the topic slide with a “Musta been somethin’ funny, then, ta put that kinda smile on yer face.” They looked like they were scared a him. Harv had enough people around him to be scared of him. He liked havin’ a couple of folks who weren’t afraid that he might put a bullet in their brain. That wasn’t to say that the situation might never arise, but... he didn’t control Fate was all he was gettin’ at.

“How old are you, kid?” he asked, for a change of topic. He was, however, genuinely curious about it.

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On The Fence

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“I wouldn’t be surprised if we’ve seen each other in passin’. If ya don’t look too close at someone it’s like they ain’t anyone at all,” he said. Neat trick if you knew how to work it right. “Sure if I looked twice at you, though, I’d recognize ya.” He didn’t add anything else to that. He was mighty fuckin’ sure Ro knew that their appearance caught a little interest. They looked at their own face in the mirror every goddamn day... same as Harv.

“What’re you laughin’ about?” He heard the caught breath and saw the grin on Ro’s face. Somethin’ was around that they found funny. They were starin’ at him, though... “Got somethin’ on my face?” he joked.

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On The Fence

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Harvey nodded, taking a drag on his smoke. He’d clearly been right about the pocketbook issue, since they both ordered food, and blushed with embarrassment about it. “Yeah. Once a week, more’r less. It’s a nice family business. I take it you’ve been around this neck ‘a the woods a couple a times yerself, Ro.” He almost called them sweetheart again. Fer fuck’s sake.

Agnes came back with his cola and Ro’s milkskae - which was a cute stawberry pink colour. Suited their cheeks, but Harvey didn’t say that. Figured that they’d blush deeper red if he did.

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On The Fence

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“You sure? Ain’t nothin’ wrong with takin’ food home, Ro. Sure you got room fer a couple fries or a plate a’ pie.” Harvey had a suspicion that Ro’s problems came from their pocketbook, not their stomach. Or maybe some sense that it would be improper to eat off Harvey’s dime. Fuckin’ nonsense, all of it. “My treat,” he said, underscoring that Ro wouldn’t be payin fer their food.

He hadn’t touched the menu in front of him (he’d memorized it a coupla years ago), but he pulled the ashtray closer to him, taking out a cigarette and lighting it. One of Two-Face’s bad habits... gotta try an’ cut back a little. He did, however, offer one ta Ro.

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On The Fence

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Harvey pulled up in his old Cadillac, perfectly maintained and polished to a shine, which was sayin’ somethin’ when you considered Gotham’s weather. Stepping out, he looked through the well-lit windows of the diner. It was mostly empty, which was a little surprisin’. However, all things considered Harv wasn’t concerned.

He strode in, tipping his hat to Agnes, who followed him a moment later to the table where Ro was sittin - this time no longer in their little school uniform. A pleasant change - he couldn’t say that he really looked back fondly on ‘em.

“Evening, Ro.” Harvey pulled out his coin, flipping it and glancing at the result. “I’ll have this evening’s special, doll,” he said to Agnes. “With a glass of cola.” He glanced at Ro, waiting for them to place their order. When they just asked for a shake, he asked “Ain’t you hungry, kid? Growin’ thing like you’s gotta eat.”

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On The Fence

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Nate’s - what luck fer Harv. He never forgot that when he left the safety and normalcy of the mob that the average Gotham citizen was piss-terrified of him as soon as they saw his better half. He didn’t like it, but that was just the way that it fuckin’ was. Nate’s was his place, though. The waitresses there had honest smiles, and the patrons didn’t outright ogle him.

“Sure, I’ll be around in 20 minutes or so. Why don’t you ask Anges for the corner booth, sweetheart?” He hadn’t meant to call Ro sweetheart. Most likely a kneejerk to talkin’ with a boy like that on the phone. Makin’ dinner plans. Shit, Harv, gotta get yerself together there. “Tell ‘er yer with Harv.”

He put his hat on, at least somewhat shading his face. Cocked to one side, matching his sports coat - which was a one-colour one. Contrasting against his pants, however. Didn’t have ta be every day that he walked around full regalia. Mismatched shoes and a glossy gold watch, with only one cufflink made the outfit more... him. More them.

“Just hold off orderin’ till I get there, kiddo. I hate eatin’ last.”

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On The Fence

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Harvey considered where Ro was going. He hadn’t eaten dinner himself yet and he was a little peckish... some diner food and company would do him some good, he thought.

“Milkshakes are a little sweet fer my taste, Ro,” Harvey said. “I prefer a nice stiff drink,” Two-Face continued, his gravely tones slipping under the words. He stood from the sofa and strode towards the foyer, picking up his jacket off a coatrack. “What diner are you going to, kiddo? Think they’d have a booth fer two?” His voice carried his smile.

He was gonna go out for dinner now whether or not Ro wanted to, but it would be nice to see the kid. He was really gettin’ invested in them.

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On The Fence

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“It sure is fun, kiddo. Nothin’ bests the end of a week like a good ol’ game of poker with some... friends.” Harvey heard the distinct sounds of movement, and if he was right, the scrape of shingles - or asphalt. Given the other sounds in the background, Harvey knew which one he’d call heads on.

“Where you headed, Ro?” he asked, assuming what he thought to be true.

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On The Fence

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“Lucky Strikes ain’t bad,” Harvey allowed. “I ain’t sayin’ I like ‘em, but they ain’t bad.” He took a puff on his cigar while he listened to Ro’s next question. They seemed to be lightening up a little, which he liked. no good to have a sad kid like that.

He realy didn’t like it that Ro’s home wasn’t a place where they felt safe. He knew that trans kids had a shit time already, and that was even with a supportive family. Hell, not that he really knew much, but someone had to goddamn say somethin’.

“Yes, usually. Or later. Friday night’s poker night,” he replied, though he didn’t mention who he played with... that was a little more confidential.

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On The Fence

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Harvey listened to Ro speak. Every other word had an air of hesitation, like they were heavily editing what they wanted to say to him to fit something else. Although, he really didn’t know what. Two-face had more of an idea, but Harv decided not to voice that.

The mobster named his preferred brand, one of which was sitting in the ashtray of his coffee table. “You smoke any, kiddo?” He had no idea how old they were, but he also figured it didn’t really matter. If the kid wanted to smoke, they’d smoke.

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On The Fence

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Ro’s voice over the phone was cute. Sweet, even. They seemed to fit into Gotham pretty damn well, he thought. “Right now, I ain’t doin’ nothin’ of importance... havin’ a cigar, watchin’ traffic go by.” Two Face looked out of the high warehouse window. The building wasn’t a warehouse any longer, but a multi-purpose building, the top of which had been renovated into a large safehouse.

“And to be honest, kid, I only started my day around noon. Some paperwork, catchin’ up on the news. Nothin’ all that exciting. How about yerself, kiddo?” he probed. He could hear the arguing getting closer in the background.

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On The Fence

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Harvey listened to their voice trail off at the other end of the phone. In place of it, the sound of an argument. He frowned slightly. Not something unheard of, but that didn’t mean that Harvey had to like homes like this. “I have some time to talk,” Harvey said.

He did, too, have time. He had a few hours before he had to really do anything - although that particular anything was fairly important. “What did you want to talk about, Ro?”

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On The Fence

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“Alright, Ro, gonna put you on hold fer a minute.” Isiah put the call on hold and sighed. He really didn’t wanna bother the boss if this was nothin’, but then again... Ro, whoever they were, sounded like they were desperate. He heard a lot of desperate voices on the phone, and this was definitely one of them. At their limit kinda deal.

He made the call to Harv, and almost got worried when the boss didn’t pick up until the fourth ring. “Hey Boss...” After a quick description, he was surprised when Harvey enthusiastically agreed. As enthusiastic as Harvey usually got, anyways.

Harv’s voice came through the call, and Isiah hung up his line. Didn’t need to be nosin’ in the boss’s business.

“Ro... how are you? What can I do for you tonight?”

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On The Fence

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“Looking for the boss?” Isiah knew that sometimes Two-Face gave out the Hell’s Gate cards in lieu of his own personal line - usually a safety precaution. “Sure, I might be able to connect you. You got a name? And uh, what’s the business that you gotta talk with him about? The boss is a busy guy, ya know.”

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On The Fence

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The phone rang twice before a tattooed hand picked it up. “Hello, you got Hell’s Gate. How can I help y’all?” Isaiah said into the phone, pitching his voice a little deeper. Why the hell did he get put on phones today? The man leaned back in the chair, twirling a pen between his fingers. He had a lot of paperwork to do, and this better not be another complaint about Mackenzie... that fucker was runnin’ outta chances.

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On The Fence

[theboysneverleft-blog]

Harv nodded, smiling at the awe-struck kid. They really didn’t know what to do with themselves, did they? Their doe eyes were round and wide lookin’ up at him, and Harv couldn’t say that he minded the attention. They were pretty cute, after all. “It was nice meetin’ you too, Ro. Keep yer chin up, there. And if you ever need me to come around and beat up a coupla transphobes fer you again... you can just give me a call, all right?”

Two-Face fished out a business card - the edge of which had gotten charred and torn at some point - or had that been intentional? He couldn’t remember. He slipped it through the chain-link fence before turning and walking away, giving Ro one last smile. He sure hoped that that kid was gonna do okay.

[infernal-vestige-blog]

On The Fence

[theboysneverleft-blog]

Harvey thought that if the nosebleeds were gonna be a problem for this kid, they’d know about it. He shrugged off the concern when they did, listening to their next question. As a response he smirked. “I ain’t worried about that, kid.” Someone was gonna see him but right now, Harv wasn’t technically a wanted man. All charges had been suspended due to... how had the courts put it? ‘Evidence tampering’ was how he remembered it.

“But if you’re gonna be okay, then, I better get movin’, Ro...” After a beat, he asked. “And what are your pronouns, kiddo?”