Salvation

39

Waking up to voices, Adelaide looked around the semi darkened room with confusion. Sitting up with a frown, she stared towards the door. She knew those voices, one was obviously Harvey's the other she had not heard for a while. Swinging her legs out of the bed, she quietly avoided stepping on the floorboards which creaked. Opening the door and peering out, she tentatively walked out and down the corridor. Looking over the banister she raised an eyebrow at a light coming from one of the ground level rooms. It was the only lit up room and therefore where the voices were.

Walking down the stairs quietly and quickly, she walked over to the door and peered through the small gap between the door and door frame. Harvey was sitting at the table looking rather annoyed. In front of him were scattered papers with erratic hand written plans scrawled over them. The owner of the other voice had his back to her. Adelaide frowned and backed away from the door, only to end up bumping into someone.

"The boss doesn't like eavesdroppers, even if it's you." The male said while picking her up. Adelaide naturally started screaming and kicking. Harvey slammed the door open and shot the man who was clutching onto her. The body fell backwards still holding onto her. Squirming around, Adelaide looked up when Harvey appeared.

"What are you doing?"

"At this moment in time or previously?"

"Both." Harvey said bluntly.

"Watching and now laying." Adelaide said honestly and yelped when Harvey reached down and pulled her up by her t-shirt collar.

"We don't like eavesdroppers, go back to your room."

"But-"

"No, now. We're discussing business."

"Harvey-"

"Go now please, Addy."

"You certainly know how to talk to a lady, Harvey." The other male quipped from behind him. Adelaide peered over his shoulder and frowned. The owner of the voice was familiar because it was none other than Thomas Elliot.

Adelaide's eyes lifted slowly to Harvey's. "Business...with a surgeon?"

"It's not quite that." Thomas piped up while walking over. He looked down at the corpse and nudged it pathetically with his foot.

"What is it then?" Adelaide questioned, Harvey shot her a look. "Don't look at me like that. I want to know, especially if your welfare is in danger."

"Aw, that's so sweet...yet a little disgusting. I'm not much a fan of public signs of affection."

"I highly doubt you like any sort of affection." Adelaide mumbled quietly while crossing her arms. "So, you're not going to tell me anything, either of you?" She received blank looks from both males. "Fine," Adelaide turned on her heels and walked off.

"Women," Thomas sighed and walked back into the room he'd just left. Harvey frowned lightly and walked back to the room too, he even slammed the door shut for good measures just to put off any eavesdroppers.

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Sitting on the roof, Adelaide looked around. The day was slowly turning from day to night. Frowning and shooting up when there were several explosions from the east side of the city she sighed. Those were Penguins residents. Adelaide pushed her hair over her shoulder. It looked like with the help of Thomas, Harvey may have just settled his score with the short Cockney. The problem was, if Thomas helped Harvey he must want something in return. Maybe this was the business they were discussing earlier on.

Looking over her shoulder she eyed up a random man. "What do you want?"

"Boss says you shouldn't be out. He wants you back inside and to go and see him."

"I think I'll pass." Adelaide sat back down. "Tell him I'm enjoying watching his handiwork and Penguins empire going up in flames." She watched as the man disappeared. Minutes later heavy footsteps were heard. Adelaide watched rather blankly as Harvey stormed onto the roof and towards her. There were no words spoken, but he roughly picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. Walking heavily back to the stairs, Harvey walked down. As soon as they were back inside he threw her onto the bed. Sitting up Adelaide looked at him. "I think a congratulations is in order." She said and flinched when Harvey narrowed his eyes at her. Bolting up, Adelaide ran and shut herself in the bathroom when Harvey had started to walk a little too menacingly towards her. She looked up when the door handle got turned. Putting her hands to her ears when there was a gunshot she peered open an eye and looked at the handle which had landed in her lap. Standing up she flinched as the door got literally kicked down.

"Why do you look so scared?"

"Maybe because you've not been the nicest person to be around as of late."

Harvey didn't even seem effected by this. "Don't go out." Was all he said while turning and walking off. "I mean it." He glanced at her one last time before slamming the door shut and leaving her on her own.

Harvey's moods were becoming more erratic and in some ways dangerous. Heaving a sigh Adelaide walked out of the bathroom and looked around. She wondered if Harvey knew he could have shot her when he shot the door handle off. This thought made her shudder. Grabbing her coat, Adelaide climbed out of the window. Not before leaving a note on the bed which read 'gone home.' It was hard, but she couldn't stay with him if he almost put her in danger by his own hands, again. Adelaide never thought Harvey would be capable of harming her, until he shot the door clearly without a second thought that she may have had her back pressed against it.

Rubbing her eyes, she stopped in the alleyway she was walking down when a tall figure stood at the end. Picking up walking she walked past Batman without a second glance. She barely heard him pick up walking because he was that silent at moving.

Just as she got away she could hear gunshots. Sniffling and rubbing her eyes again she freely walked down the now busy Gotham street crying.

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(Edited: 30/Jan/2020)