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“Ah, great, you’ve arrived.” Jonathan stepped out of the way to let his colleague into his home. Edward walked rather warily, his heels placing so softly on the wooden floor that they were barely heard. The man in green turned towards the other man as he watched him close the front door and lock it.
“I am still rather curious about why exactly you invited me here.” Edward crossed his arms but Jonathan simply walked past him, giving him only a passing glance and motioned him to follow him.
“I’ve been workin on a new drug-“
“No, no no no.” Edward interrupted Jonathan as they came to a halt next to the dining table. “There is absolutely no way I will be letting you drug me again. I simply refuse to be a lab rat, you know I am not the type.”
“Let me finish, Nygma.” Jonathan turned to face his visitor, putting up his hand a bit. “It’s not a fear toxin, not really. It should be milder and only affect the person enough for them to be paranoid or anxious. Hypothetically this sort could be used in interrogation or simply questionings, especially in public places where you wouldn’t wish to cause a scene.” Jonathan placed his hand to rest on the chair next to him. Edward still seemed unconvinced.
“Yes and it just HAS to be me, the one you test this out on.” Edward rolled his eyes. “I am so flattered.”
Jonathan pulled out the chair. “Yes. I need someone I know for this. Sit.” He nodded to the chair before turning and heading for the kitchen. Edward let out a sigh and sat down on the chair, resting his hand on his forehead. Had he really come all the way out here for this? The sound of rustling in the kitchen and Jonathans footsteps approaching made Nygma look back up. Jonathan placed on the table a seemingly freshly opened wine bottle and two glasses. He sat down next to Ed. “The drug wears off in about an hour. It’s been tested on two other individuals, plus myself, however I need to see the exact effects of it. Hence the need for someone whose body language, speaking manners and attitude are familiar to me and can be observed.” Crane poured wine into the two glasses and slid one over to Ed.
“It’s not already drugged, is it?” Edward said unamused.
“No.” Jonathan shook his head.
“What makes you think I will say yes to this, rather, ludicrous ask?” Edward raised an eyebrow as he took a sip of the wine. Not bad.
“You owe me.”
“Do I? I don’t recall…”
“If memory serves right, I was the one who got you out of your term in Arkham last time.” A slight smirk grew on Jonathans face.
“Well, that- ugh.” Edward knew he was right. “Seriously? Does it have to be this? Why can’t you ask for a normal return favor? Ask for sex or something.” Edward swirled the wine in his glass as he leaned back on his chair.
“Well, you don’t have to do this if you’re so against it. You’ll still owe me one th-“
“No, no. I’ll do it.” Edward sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “You said it wasn’t terror, right? Just being more apt at spilling the beans for an hour?”
“Basically.” Jonathan nodded.
“Well,” Edward took the last sip of his wine and pushed the glass away. “Lay it on me. Is it an injection?” Edward asked. Jonathan shook his head as he stood and rather quickly fetched his notebook and pencil. He sat back down, already jotting something down.
“Hey, what could you already be writing?” Edward tried peering at the notebook but failed at seeing what the other had written.
“I’m noting that the drug doesn’t alter the taste of the wine.” Jonathan said as he looked back up.
“You- when did you even do that?” Edward looked towards the glass. Jonathan let out a low chuckle.
“While you were busy pinching your own nose.”
“We sure are all lucky you don’t have a knack for date rapes.” Edward leaned his cheek on his hand as he turned his attention to Jonathan.
“Very funny. Now, it should start affecting you any second now, just let it take you.” Jonathan played with the pencil in his hand while speaking.
“Oh, I’ll be sure to fall into the comforting hands of anxiety and fear.” Edward scoffed. His face dropped a bit as he felt his gut do the same. An unmistakable yet unexplainable dread started to inch its way over him. Little by little. He felt himself straighten out his back and glance behind himself and even over Cranes shoulder through the window to see if anyone was there. He knew there wasn’t.
Jonathan jotted down note after note. Edward’s eyes were getting more spastic, his pupils dilated, his posture more proper, the small jump in his foot that made his heel tap against the chair leg softly and the fact his breathing got more rapid. “Give me your hand.” Jonathan said.
“What? My hand? Why?” Edward pulled his hands closer to himself. Jonathan hummed as he wrote down paranoia onto the page. A good tool to get out information if used right but also it could be a hindrance at times. Jonathan shook his head.
“Whatever.” He mumbled as he leaned over and pressed his two fingers right underneath Edwards jawline. “Don’t move.” Jonathan said as he looked at his watch and counted the beats of Edwards heart. Edward himself felt as he unwilling tensed up at the touch and held his breath before realizing exactly what Jonathan was doing. He placed his hand on the table, drumming his fingers across it. After thirty seconds Jonathan pulled back and wrote down the numbers and then increased heart rate.
“Alright, Nygma, how about you tell me how your days been?” Jonathan crossed his legs as he looked towards Edward.
“Well,” Edward began “I woke up and saw your message. Told you I would be coming over after some of my, uh- errands and then came here.”
“What were the errands?” Jonathan asked.
“Uhh well,” Edward felt his stomach swirl as he thought about it, unsure why but he didn’t want to talk about his day in too much detail, what if Jonathan had an ulterior motive? “Just…errands.”
“Right.” Jonathan wrote something down. “You should tell me, otherwise if the results are inconclusive we would have to sit down like this again sometime, yknow?”
“Oh, uh,” Jonathan was right and what if next time the drug was stronger? What if Jonathan would decide to put something else into his drink? What if something went wrong next time? “I went to buy some supplies for my next build, had to travel some time for a special component.” Edward admitted.
“I see.” Jonathan wrote down something again. Edward tried to peer at the notes again. He couldn’t handle not knowing what Jonathan was writing. He gripped his knee with his hand as he bit his lip.
“C-what exactly are you noting right now?” Edward blurted out.
“Hmm,” Jonathan hummed as he jotted down the last thing and raised the book a bit, “Lies are easier to see through, stumbles over words, takes longer to answer, vague answers but easy to persuade and…” Jonathan put the book back down “heightened senses.” He leaned on the table, watching Edward carefully. Ed had gotten even more visibly anxious. Sweat on his eyebrow as he had stopped looking around rather frantically and now stared intently at Jonathan with an expression that could only be read as anticipation.
“How would you describe the emotions you’re feeling right now…be honest.” Jonathan asked.
“I feel nervous. Like I am about to enter a fight with an unknown opponent and I haven’t had any time to prepare.” Edward spoke rather quickly. “A-also uncertainty about everything. I can’t- don’t know what is the right thing to say or do even if, well- even if I know there is no right or wrong answers. Reminds me of the first time I got put into Arkham.” Edward could hear his own voice quiver and he could see Jonathan heard it too by the way the corners of the older mans mouth etched into a smile.
“Like in Arkham, hm? Do you usually feel like this there?” Jonathan had abandoned the paper and was now solely focused on Edward.
“Not anymore.” Ed shifted in his seat.
“Just the first time then?”
“First few times. After getting my bearings I stopped being afraid of that wretched place.” Edward sighed.
“Alright.” Jonathan nodded. “Last test. What usually calms you down?”
“W-huh?” Edward leaned back a bit.
“When you’re anxious, what helps you calm down? Some people listen to calming music, some meditate,” Jonathan leaned back on his chair, he pushed up his glasses with a small smile. “personally, I used to read.”
“I don’t know. I never really-“ Edward shurgged.
“Really? You have to have something.” Jonathan cocked his head a bit to the side. “On those cold, dark nights in Arkham, what do you wish you had to make it better? Hm?”
“I-“ Edward gulped a bit, he knew deep down he was going to regret answering this question yet the sensation and the not knowing of what might happen if he didn’t overrode his sense of self preservation. “You?”
Jonathan stared at the shivering mess that was his friend for a couple seconds befor it fully registered what the other had said, “I’m comforting to you?” He pointed to himself.
“Don’t take it as an insult. Master of fear and whatnot.” Edward shuttered as he felt like he wanted to crawl into a small little ball under the floorboards and stay there until this was over.
“I don’t.” Jonathan shook his head, his face bearing an odd look about it. “Well, my plan was to give you said comfort to see how well it fends against the drug so…” Jonathan moved his chair closer to Ed’s. He hesitated for a second before placing his hands on Edwards shoulders. Ed looked straight into the taller mans eyes that were for once on the same level as his own. He felt the skin under where Jon was holding buzz slightly as if static was emitting from the other. “You’re alright…” Jonathans voice was low and almost delicate. He slowly rubbed Ed’s shoulders. “It’s only for about ten more minutes, you can do that, yeah?” Jonathan continued. Ed was experiencing the clashing of multiple feelings inside himself. On one end the anxiety still rang high but it was oddly comforting having Jonathan assure him it was alright. Then again the proximity of the other made a different kind of nervousness creep in Ed’s self. “Is…is this helping?” Jonathan asked.
“I think so.” Ed sputtered out.
“You sure?” Jonathan said as he was oddly eyeing the others face. An almost devious smile on his face.
“Y-yeah. Yep.” Edward nodded. “The anxiety is still here, just mixed with the…comfort.” Ed bashed himself for not finding a different word to describe what he was feeling.
“Alright,” Jonathan removed his hands from Edwards shoulders, which he immediately felt the absence of. He was almost overtaken with the anxiety of being separated from the safety he had gotten from the others touch.
“Wait.” Ed grabbed Jonathans hands. “Waitwait.” He said as he glutched the others hands. “Can you- we- just stay like this? Until this wears off?”
Jonathan seemed surprised at a reaction like that but gave Ed a nod, noting to himself to write down how the induced anxiety seems to give the victim attachment issues with aby comfort give, this time it just happened it had been him…further testing would be needed. “Yeah, we can.” Jonathan nodded. “Here.” Jon took his hands, placing one on Ed’s shoulder and the other on his chest, feeling the quick heartbeat that he felt even through all the layers of clothing.
Edward took a sharp breath in and pursed his lips as Jonathans hands made contact with him again, “Cool!” He almost barked out before immediately leaning down, placing his head on Jonathans knee. “I can’t look at you right now.” He sputtered out.
“That’s okay.” Jonathan said as he held his one hand on Ed’s shoulder and slowly pet the others hair with the other. “You’re okay. Only five more minutes.” Jonathan said as he glanced at the clock. Edward felt as the others fingers ran through his hair in a small repeat pattern that made his beating heart feel a bit better yet not beat any slower. He had the horrible urge to reach out his own hands and grab Jonathan, pull him closer, he had and almost need for the other’s proximity now. Nothing which he would admit so he just tucked his hands under himself.
“Can you talk about something?” Edward asked as a slight shake emitted from him.
“Sure.” Jonathan agreed. “What do you want to hear?”
“I don’t know…” Edward stirred. “How was your first time at Arkham.”
“My first stay was as a staff member.” Jonathan chuckled. “But the first as an inmate, well…” Jon hummed. “Wasn’t great. I think the only reason I didn’t have any trouble was because you were there, do you remember?”
“I was there?” Ed asked quietly.
“Yeah. Saved me a seat and everything.”
“Do you…” Edward thought about his words carefully. “Do you find comfort in others?”
Jonathan raised his eyebrows at the back of Ed’s head as if the other could see him. “I suppose, I do.” Jonathan admitted. Ed had been forced to share so Jon felt obligated to be honest. “They have to be close to me, though. Not just anyone.”
“Agreed.” Edward slightly nodded against Jons knee.
“Yeah…” Jonathan trailed off. “Now if we had some music in the background right now. That would be pretty picture prefect of comfort, yeah? Maybe a couch and a blanket…a fireplace.” Jonathan chuckled.
“Are you trying to cryptically tell me I comfort you as well?” Edward asked. Jonathan could tell the effects of the drug were wearing off already by the almost quirk in Ed’s voice and his lack of trembling yet Edward wasn’t sitting up and Jon wasn’t about to force him to.
“I trust you, Edward.” Jonathan said. “So yeah, you comfort me.”
Edward slightly turned his head, making Jons hand stop. Ed peered up at the other with a cheeky smile before sitting up on his chair. His hair was out of place and falling in front of his face. “I never want to do that again.”
“You won’t have to.” Jonathan turned to his notebook and made one last note. Ed leaned closer to see what he wrote.
“Flushed face? I wasn’t blushing!” Edward scrunched his eyebrows.
“You were.”
Ed let out a long sigh before grabbing his empty wine glass, “How about we put on some music?” He said, making it clear he had no intention of leaving yet.
“I think that would be nice.”