just_muse_me 19.4 Practice makes perfect [+ rp for knowthenbreak]

[gothams_dent]

Harvey Dent stumbled back against the brick wall of the alleyway, breathing heavily. He looked down at the gun he held in his shaking hand. He was a murderer. This time-it hadn’t been like before-with Wuertz and Maroni and the others. Those deaths he could justify. Sure, he’d been angry, but those men were deserving - they’d crossed lines and

Comments

[knowthenbreak]

You'll make your deals and take your lunch orders.

She told herself not to think about it, not to listen. She could not take the things Harvey said when he was angry seriously. Surely he didn't think she'd just give up... Just like he couldn't think she was as bad as the Joker. She still hadn't forgotten that statement either. In all honesty, she didn't think she'd ever forget hearing that said.

Nadine Lewis had done everything in her power to disguise the fact that she hadn't slept last night. She wouldn't tell Harvey (or Jonathan, for that matter) that she'd waited up, dozing off only to wake up with nightmares. She hadn't touched her sleeping pills, and she was paying the price now. Still, a cool shower had revived her somewhat, and a cup of coffee from the shop down the street would help further. Make-up managed to hide the slight circles under her eyes almost completely.

She was dressed professionally, but she hadn't gone out of her way. Jewelry that matched her outfit couldn't be seen. Her hair was only half dried and pulled into a ponytail. She hadn't put on perfume. Nadine wouldn't appear in court looking like this, but she knew she didn't have court today. She wasn't going to give getting ready for Sale the extra fifteen or twenty minutes she'd always given getting ready to see Harvey.

For at least the tenth time since Harvey had gone, she checked her phones, seeing if he'd called either cell. Hopefully he'd call during the day... Even if she couldn't talk to him, at least she'd know he was okay. Just as she reached for her briefcase, the door opened, and she breathed a sigh of relief as he walked through the door.

She didn't even hear herself speak. "Harvey."

[gothams_dent]

The man grunted as he walked past her. "Have fun at work," he couldn't help but add bitterly as he took off his suit jacket, revealing the holster and gun, not caring if she saw.

[knowthenbreak]

Nadine looked at him but bit back any kind of a retort. If he needed to lash out at someone... fine. Fine. She'd take it. "There's food in the fridge if you get hungry," she said quietly.

[gothams_dent]

He felt suddenly like some kind of ogre. As if remembering his manners, he said, quieter, "Thanks." He cleared his throat and glanced at her, as if he was a bit unsure what to do next.

[knowthenbreak]

She glanced up at him briefly and smiled, though it was the same kind of smile she gave when promising him she was fine even when things couldn't be. "It's the least I can do." She paused, looking at him. She wouldn't ask where he'd been, what he'd done, only-- "You okay?"

[gothams_dent]

"I--don't worry about it, Nadine." There was part of him that wanted to tell her everything, but what good would that do?

[knowthenbreak]

She did her best to smile at him, and the expression was sincere-- the strain in it came from the lack of things to smile about recently. "Just... be careful, okay?"

[gothams_dent]

"Don't worry about me," he told her. "I'm already dead anyway, right?"

[knowthenbreak]

"Not to me."

She looked at him for a moment, though she quickly looked away, picking up her briefcase, straightening just a bit. "I-- should get going. Like I said. Food in the fridge. If you need me to bring home anything, I've written down my new number." Better he and Jonathan both use the new phone she'd bought, a cheap, untraceable model that she could toss into Gotham Bay at the first sign of trouble. She didn't completely look back up at him as she headed for the door. One of these days, she was going to say something stupid to him. She'd have to be more careful.