#as a former switch player im in awe its been so good to get back to it

[leonbastralle]

skyrim scenery appreciation

[hamlet-writes]

Double Jeopardy- Part 1

Harvey Dent heaved himself up the last flight of rickety steel stairs, regretting his choice of hideout for the third time that week.  The derelict apartment complex had been abandoned for years, and the homeless had flocked to it like rats before he had arrived.  Now it was silent and empty, save for the constant drip drip drip of water damage that had been omnipresent for his entire tenure, and the flocks of pigeons who roosted stubbornly in its open-air windows (luckily for him there were no other winged animals roosting there.)  He stumbled with a heavy sigh to the door of his hideout, shoving it open and flipping the switch on the wall next to it.  The lights flickered miraculously to life (they had a 50/50 chance of working on most days,) and the sputtering electricity illuminated a before-unseen figure sitting calmly in his chair, studying the head of his cane with a smug expression. "Well, it's about time you arrived!" the green-clad man exclaimed. "I was beginning to think you wouldn't show."  In an instant Harvey had his gun in his hand, aiming it straight at the intruder. "Who the hell are you?!" he growled.  The man chuckled, irritatingly calm for someone with a gun pointed at him. "Ahh, I'm disappointed Harvey," he said, clucking his tongue. "We've met before, albeit under different circumstances.  You were to be the one prosecuting me before I was declared unfit to stand trial- don't you remember?" "Nygma," Harvey realized.  Edward rose from his chair with a flourish, laughing. "So you DO remember!" he said. "Delightful!"  Harvey cocked his gun, scowling at the man in front of him. "How the hell did you find us?" he growled, reaching for his coin. "A simple matter, really," Edward said, ignoring the gun aimed his way in favor of admiring the enormous window overlooking the city. "I have a way of finding out things everyone seems to think I shouldn't know- besides, this place was almost obvious.  Look at where we are, Harvey!  Hmm, I wonder if you even realized it when you picked it out.  This building is smack-dab in the center of the doorway of Gotham- to the right you can see all of her dark corners, nestled away in Crime Alley, and to the left you can see Wayne Enterprises, her crowning glory!  With your bifocused tendencies, you would have to be right in the center." "Congratulations, you found us," Harvey said, advancing on the shorter man.  Edward turned to face him just in time to find the end of his gun shoved forcefully against his forehead, pinning him to the wall. "Give us one good reason why we shouldn't kill you right now," Harvey growled. "Well, for starters you'd have an AWFUL time getting all that blood out of the carpet, although I don't suppose you care much about looks," Edward said, chuckling. "But the reason I'm here is to make a proposition." "A proposition for what?" Harvey asked, rubbing his coin with his thumb. "Why, for a collaboration, but of course," Edward said with a smug laugh. "You've proven yourself to be quite the up-and-coming player these last few months, but you very nearly got caught last night.  You need someone with a plan, and I need someone who can demand his presence be noticed.  We get rich quick, and then we move into deeper waters.  It's a win-win situation." "You make a compelling argument," Harvey admitted. "However, you broke into our home and risked exposing us to the Bat.  So, heads we accept, and tails we blow your damn head off."  The coin flew skyward with a fateful ring, and both men watched its descent with baited breath.  Harvey caught it in a deft hand, and Edward cringed slightly as he opened his palm to reveal the answer. "Looks like it's your lucky day, kid," Harvey said, pulling his gun away and flicking the safety on before tucking it back into his pocket.  Edward released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and laughed, clapping his hands together. "I believe this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship, partner," he said, flashing a smug grin. "Just you wait and see." TWO WEEKS LATER "GO GO GO!" Query yelled, firing off three pot shots over her shoulder that sent Batman temporarily diving for cover.  Civilians scrambled out of the way as Edward and Query dashed through Wayne Memorial Plaza.  Echo roared across the snow-covered cobblestones in their getaway car and screeched to a stop in front of them (right on time, Edward noted with a hint of satisfaction.)  Query put on another burst of speed, sliding across the hood and throwing herself into the front seat. "C'mon!" Harvey called as he threw open the back door.  The sound of boots thundering across the cobblestones behind him was enough to motivate Edward- he slung the bag of cash off of his shoulder and chucked it into the back before diving in after it, landing with an oof! across Harvey's lap.  Echo floored it before the door had the chance to close, peeling out of the plaza and out into the crowded streets.  Cars swerved out of their way as they screamed down Main Street, honking and telling them exactly what they thought of the quartet's driving.   "We lose 'im?" Query panted, sticking her head out the window to look behind them. "I think so," Echo said, not taking her eyes off the road.  All four of them screamed as Batman landed with a thump on the rim of the open back door. "Stop the car!" he demanded. "I think the fuck not!" Eddie objected.  Harvey's coin sailed through the air, and he caught it in a deft hand. "Sorry Bats," he growled. "Today's just not your lucky day."  With a snarl he fired two shots directly into the symbol on Batman's chest.  His eyes widened in surprise and he lost his grip on the doorframe, disappearing from sight.  Edward shot forward, grabbing the handle and slamming it shut before craning to look out the back window, just in time to see Batman tumbling head-over-heels down the street.   "Lost him!" he exclaimed, then fell back onto Harvey's lap, laughing exuberantly.  After a moment he realized what he was doing and collected himself, looking up with a testing glance.  Harvey started down at him with a look of bewilderment, unsure what to do.  The coin sailed through the air, and Harvey leaned back in his seat, neglecting to push Edward off of him.  Edward in turn neglected to extricate himself, grinning widely and running a hand through his hair. "Where to, boss?" Echo asked, choosing not to acknowledge the elephant in the room.   "Drop us off at the back entrance to the penthouse," Edward said. "Then take the car and drive it across town and switch it out for one at that drug house before you meet up with us.  Police won't notice it's missing." "Aight," Echo said, gliding down the streets leading towards uptown Gotham. - Edward and Harvey sat cross-legged on the plush green carpet of the former's luxurious penthouse.  Towers of hundred dollar bills reached towards the high, arcing glass ceiling, and were ever-growing as the two counted out their ill-gotten prize.  Edward hummed contentedly to himself, nimble fingers deftly sliding each individual bill into its place.   "Not bad at all," he said with a delighted laugh as the towers rose. "At this rate we'll be ready to move on in a week or so, my friend!" "Move on?" Harvey asked, fumbling with the stack he was sorting. "Well, yes," Edward said. "That was what you originally had in mind, wasn't it?" "We, uh," Harvey started, clearing his throat. "Yeah. Originally." "That doesn't necessarily have to be the case, of course," Edward said. "I think we can all agree that this partnership has been quite fortuitous."  Harvey's coin pinged as it sailed upwards, landing in his outstretched palm.   "Nygma," he said. "Hmm?" Edward asked, not looking up from his work.  Before he knew what was happening Harvey leaned forward, grabbing him by the chin and turning his face towards him before pressing his lips roughly against Edward's.  Edward's eyes widened in surprise, and he dropped the wad of cash he'd been counting in his shock.  Harvey tried to pull away with a look of embarrassment, surprised when he found that Edward had a hold of his tie. "Well, why didn't you just say so?" he purred before pressing his lips to Harvey's.  One hand pushed itself against Harvey's chest, forcing him to the floor and sending their carefully sorted stacks of money fluttering into the air around them.  Edward smiled against his kiss, snaking his hands up Harvey's body and, when he didn't stop him, pressing them to both sides of his face.  Harvey's hands roamed, one worming its way into Edward's hair, the other finding its way to his waist and pulling him even closer.   Finally the two were forced to break apart, gasping to catch their breaths. "Very fortuitous," Edward panted, laughing to himself.  Harvey somehow managed to flip his coin, glancing briefly at the result before grabbing a handful of Edward's hair and rolling so that he was on top of him, pinning him to the floor.  Edward's heart fluttered as their lips collided with renewed fervor, his hands drifting downwards to his partner's collar.  Painfully slowly, he loosened Harvey's bicolored tie, sliding it off with a deliberate motion and tossing it to the side.  Pulling out of Harvey's kiss he smirked mischievously, trailing his lips teasingly down the sensitive red skin of Harvey's neck, smiling when Harvey tightened his grip on his hair.  He ran his hands languidly down Harvey's body, taking his time in undoing the buttons of his suit jacket and sliding his hands inside, pressing them slowly and deliberately against the small of Harvey's back, who wrapped his entire arm around Edward's waist, pulling him closer and purring his approval.  Edward stopped his descent, pressing his lips purposefully to the hollow of Harvey's neck and grabbing a fistful of his undershirt, one leg drifting up to wrap around his waist. "Bet we're having better luck than Bats right now," said Harvey breathlessly.  Edward broke away, laughing. "I bet you're right," he said.  The two of them took a deep breath before diving back in, Harvey smashing his lips ardently against Edward's. It was at that moment that Echo and Query decided to let themselves in. "Hey boss, whaddo you want us to-" Echo began, then stopped in her tracks. "Oh.  Well.  Uh..."  Edward and Harvey completely ignored them, preoccupied. "We'll...We'll come back later," Query said, clearing her throat and grabbing her partner's arm, pulling her back into the hallway. "Told ya so," she hissed triumphantly. "Yeah yeah, I'm gettin' my wallet out, just hold your horses..." Echo said, fishing around in her coat.  The two of them disappeared from sight, until Echo popped back through the doorway, hurling a handful of condoms at the happy couple before running like hell after Query, sniggering loudly the entire time.