My Deadly Mistake (Jerome Valeska/Gotham FanFiction) [Book 1]

Exposed (Part 2)

Ignorance is truly bliss.

Those words rung loud and true in Anthony's mind as he took in the sight in front of him. It was a horrible confirmation of a deep rooted fear. In all honesty, he didn't need this confirmation.

Call it a man's instinct, but he already knew the dark truth. He had fought against it, and had for countless sleepless night tried to convince himself that he was being a paranoid freak. But how could he do that when all the signs were there?

He knew it the moment he saw the way he had looked at her before their first therapy session. Even though he was just a bystander, he could feel the sparks flying between them. The attraction was clear, especially when he saw the way she looked at him.

She had never looked at him like that even though he had told her how he felt about her. It wouldn't have bothered him if she had found herself wanting to be with another man. He wanted her to be happy, but not with him.

It could have been with anybody but him.

Anthony knew all too well the devastating effects a relationship with someone like Valeska could mean. He had seen for himself to many people admitted to Arkham who had no previous history of mental illness or instability. They had been admitted since the poor souls had been manipulated to the point where they couldn't even see that they too were no longer sane.

He didn't want that to happen to Rhiannon. She was too precious of a soul to fall to the tactics of someone like Valeska. The worst part of it was that he could already see the effects taking its toll on her. It always seemed like she had this dark shadow over her, and it made her wary. He could tell that she was always looking over her shoulder because she knew that she was doing something that she shouldn't.

Anthony had hoped that after the breakout she would have forgotten about Valeska. He had thought that perhaps after some time she would be back to her normal self. That's why he was extremely frustrated when he paid her a visit that day and saw that she looked even worse.

He would have gotten the truth out of her if the Detective hadn't shown up. Gordon had good intentions no doubt, probably assuming that she was in a typical dysfunctional relationship. After Gordon ran him off, Anthony had thought about going to the GCPD and letting Gordon in on his suspicions.

Turns out he didn't need to do that, since it was a few days later that Gordon came to him. Gordon had found it interesting that he had such an interest in Rhiannon's well being. Not to mention the poor guy looked like he was about ready to scream something to the world that he head been keeping inside for a long time. They had a long talk, and it wasn't long before Gordon too felt the dark truth creeping inside of him.

Connecting Valeska with Rhiannon made everything make sense. The murder of the cop at the Gotham General, the dormant period, and then how the Maniax made their grand entrance right after Rhiannon returned to Gotham.

Even after Gordon had accepted the possibility; he couldn't help but wonder how it was possible for someone like Rhiannon to even get involved with someone like Jerome. He couldn't help but wonder what Jerome did. He remembered when he had first brought in Valeska for questioning; he had been convinced by the innocent 18-year-old façade. Perhaps he had pulled that same façade on Rhiannon.

It was because of Anthony's urging did Gordon confront Rhiannon. It was something that he really didn't want to do. If anything she was a victim in all of this, she didn't deserve to be treated like the scum he normally dealt with. But he was first a Detective, and if closing in on Rhiannon meant getting Valeska under lock and key then so be it.