Who: Jimmy and Janet What: Comfort and misunderstandings. Where: Jim’s apartment When: After this Warnings: Epic amounts of awkwardness.
After leaving the car, Janet made her way into the apartment. She knew better than to walk too quickly; that would raise suspicion. She kept her movements fluid and natural, the work of an excellent actress. On the outside, she was calm. On the inside, she was screaming.
Seeing her brother again was, she could accept, a good thing. Finding out that he was an insane clown with face scars was, really, not such a good thing. She knew better than to impose values on Gabe/Joker/Bozo. She knew better than to complain. This was how he was now, and this was how things would be. She could accept that. But right now, after being manhandled, yanked around, punched, threatened with rape, and stuffed in a body bag - that had been used to bag bodies - she wasn’t in an “accept everyone and hold hands” kind of mood.
Just as she had outside, she climbed the stairs with measured steps. She didn’t rush, she didn’t hurry. She just took the stairs one at a time, right foot in front of the left. Just like normal. Just like everything was okay. When she reached her floor, she kept her breaths as even as possible. Her heart was already starting to race, as if it had only just figured out what all had gone on over the last hour. As she headed towards her apartment at the end of the hall, she passed Jimmy’s door. At first, she passed it casually.
After a few steps, though, she paused. Backed up. Turned.
It wasn’t until then that she realized her hands were starting to shake at her sides. Gulping, she reached up to her left cheek, smoothing her fingers over it. She could feel a bit of swelling already, imagining the very slight discoloration that was starting. Closing her eyes, she let out a slow breath. She shouldn’t stop. She should keep going to put on an icepack and hope that she could keep the swelling down and discoloration at a minimum so it could all be covered with makeup. But there was something in her that wanted to knock on that door. Jimmy had gone to her after the bank robbery. Didn’t that mean she could go to him after this?
After a few moments of debating, she stepped up to the door and knocked on it firmly. She had to wait a few seconds before realizing that she wasn’t about to run. Jim had spent his evening quietly. He’d gotten off work in a fairly decent mood, not found Peter in his apartment and not second guessed it. He’d showered, cleaned off theater scent and smell (along with rotten fish) and changed into a pair of long PJ’s and a white t-shirt. His plan for the evening had involved a bowl of cereal and possibly reading a biography of Judy Garland a friend had lent to him. The knock came just as he’d settled on his couch, Froot Loops at hand. He only frowned for a moment before moving his wet cereal to the nearest table and folding his book shut.
There was only a few people it could be at this hour and he half expected it to be Peter. Pulling it open to see Janet though surprised him. He cracked a grin, opening the door the rest of the way. “Hey. What’s up?” Seeing him was like puncturing a water balloon. It started the leak. Biting her lower lip, Janet forced a smile on her face. She wasn’t going to make a scene in the hallway - that was tacky. She just gave him a slight wave, the fingers of her hand trembling. “Hey Jimmy,” she said, voice choked with restraint. It was as if she were finally realizing everything that happened over that last strange, insane hour.
“Do you mind if I come in?” she asked, expression hopeful. “If you’re not busy, that is.” Jim was an actor at heart. He lived, ate, and breathed the theater and everything it involved. He was a pretty good liar once he was on a stage and could direct decently. Seeing Janet like that, starting to crumble was enough to tip him off. He didn’t think he’d seen her like this before - not even when the robbery had happened. “Of course - I mean, I’m not busy.” Not for her or any of his friends.
He ushered her inside, gesturing towards the couch once she came in. The door shut softly and he moved to sit on the couch again. “Something the matter?” He wouldn’t ask immediately about what versus whether. Jim knew better then that. “Thanks,” she said with a tight smile. She moved into the apartment a bit too quickly for comfort, only comfortable when she heard the door close. She followed him to the couch, sitting down beside him and smoothing her hands over her thighs. The skirt she wore stopped just shy of her knees, no matter how much she pulled at it. At his question, she had to pause. She couldn’t tell him everything. She had to tell the truth while lying. He couldn’t know about her brother, and if she mentioned the clowns he’d probably just panic and she needed him to not panic right now. She needed someone that wouldn’t be upset the way she was.
Gulping once, she looked up at him. “I was jumped on my way home,” she said, perfectly sincere. And, really, it wasn’t entirely a lie. She was, to some degree, jumped. “Two guys.” She looked down at her feet, feeling hot tears prickle at her eyes. “I-I guess I’m still shook up.” He could be patient and his expression was concerned as she confessed. He did however become outraged as he heard what happened - watching her tear up and lose her usual carefree composure. “Geeze,” he whispered. A hand went out to her shoulder, friendly and without his usual awkward with her. Sincerely, the way that no one else could, Jim said, “I’m sorry. Did they hurt you?”
Jim gulped, wising he could hurt those who’d put her like this. He didn’t think like that often; not even with the clowns. “Can I do anything? Get you anything...? Or do you want to stay here tonight?” Peter, if he ever showed up, was likely to mind. Feeling his hand on her shoulder was a comfort. A strange comfort, but a comfort nonetheless. She smiled just slightly as she felt it, tears finally rolling down her cheeks. “Yeah, they uh...punched me a few times. My face.” She gestured to her cheek and looked up at him, lower lip trembling. “I just hope it doesn’t swell too bad. I don’t think Brigs would appreciate having a waitress with a purple face.”
As he asked if there was anything he could do, she stilled. Her eyes widened slightly, and she just stared at him for several seconds. Finally, she lunged forward, hooking her arms around his neck and holding him tightly in a needy, consuming hug. Resting her cheek against his chest, she held him close, like a vice. “Just stay here,” she whispered. “Like this.” The lunge completely threw him off guard, but Jim reacted well enough. Arms wrapped tightly around her, pulling her in as closely and as comforting as possible. Right now, he could forget that most days he could barely think straight because Janet was dazzling. Right now, she was just his friend, one of his best friends, hurt and needing comfort. He slowly rubbed her back, chin tucking down towards her hair. “I can do that.” “Good,” she whispered, tears flowing more freely. She wasn’t sure how long she sat there, sniffling and crying as she clung to him for comfort. It was nice, in a weird way, having this. It was a good thing. Though Janet was fine with being the soft and squishy one, she rarely needed people. At this moment, though, she needed something. Someone. Her fingers remained tight in the material of his shirt as she rocked against his chest, finding a happy home in his arms.
After what felt like forever, she peeled back just enough to look up at him, eyes as red as her hair. “I’m really glad you answered the door,” she said. As she clung to him, Jim kept quiet. There weren’t really words beyond what he’d said. Sometimes people just needed contact - the reminder that not everything in the world was darkness and terrible. He even needed that on occasion. A hand moved up to hair once - nearly touching before falling again, just holding on.
His embrace loosened as she pulled back, a frown crossing his face for a moment at how she looked before managing something lighter. “I’d be a terrible friend if I didn’t. Besides, I like you better then Judy.” He nodded at the book fallen to the floor, Judy Garland’s dark eyes looking up at them imploringly. She followed his gaze down to the book, letting out a choked giggle. “Oh yeah?” she asked, looking up at him with the beginnings of a smile. Though she just wanted to curl up in a ball and never leave her apartment again, she couldn’t help that smile. It was almost impossible not to smile around Jimmy, as if he were this beacon of smiles that kept any frowns away.
“Well you’re a very good friend, Jimmy.” She gave his neck a little squeeze, not enough to hurt but just enough to realize the weight of her arms against his shoulders. “Thanks for that.” Without a moment’s hesitation, she leaned forward, pressing a kiss to his cheek just to the left of his lips. His grin was secretive, leaning down over her just a bit. “I can’t dance with Judy,” he said, not even trying to be serious. “And I’m not really into the Danse Macabre stuff. I’ll leaving necrophilia to others.” His head tilted just a bit, debating. “Friendly way of course.”
There was a slight laugh at the compliment, pulling him from weird thoughts of people in graves. “I try,” he said, just as she moved upwards. There was no time to react or even guess at what she was doing - shifting? Getting up? - and her lips were at the side of his mouth.
Jim didn’t move. He couldn’t move. Eyes went slightly wide as he stared down at her. He wanted to say something, ask something, figure out what she was doing, what she meant - and his brain went on shut down. She’d kissed him. JANET WILSON HAD KISSED HIM!
No coherent thought was possible which meant speech was even less so. Something resembling gibberish escaped him as he continued to stare. “This is true, you can’t,” she replied. “And a warm body is a lot easier to work with than something cold and stiff.” Perhaps that wasn’t the best way to leave their conversation considering what happened next, but Janet wasn’t exactly thinking about appropriate or inappropriate.
The kiss was spur of the moment, something she hadn’t been planning but simply did. Pulling back with a light smile, she couldn’t help the very slight giggle that escaped her at his reaction. The poor thing looked like he had just seen a ghost. Sniffling once thanks to her post-crying runny nose, Janet reached up to tousle his hair playfully. “Awww Jimmy,” she said, head tilting to the side. “Don’t tell me all your ex-girlfriends have made you scared of girls now. Don’t worry. I don’t have fangs.” Just to prove it, she opened her mouth and pulled her lips back, showing off her non-fangy choppers. All dead people, even ones who could sing and dance amazingly well, were forgotten for now. Jim had a bigger crisis on hand. It was unlikely he’d ever think of Frances Gumm ever again. Janet could be blamed of course.
Her reaction to his reaction was barely comprehended. Even as she roughed up his hair and made a silly face, Jim couldn’t respond. He just remained as he was on the couch, Janet still in his lap, his arms around her and frozen.
Vaguely he was able to make out the thought that he was never going to wash his face again. Beyond that he was still shell-shocked. Slowly, very slowly, Janet’s playful amusement and post-traumatic giddiness began to fade. At first, it was funny - Jimmy garbling nonsense, an old cliche from movies - though the joke lost its charm the longer it went on. The smile fell from Janet’s face as she stared at him, arms still around his neck. She was still seated on his lap, positioned as if everything were okay but she knew it wasn’t.
“Jimmy?” she asked, voice suddenly apologetic. “I...I crossed a line, didn’t I?” Why the hell had she thought kissing a guy with obvious women troubles was a good idea? “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean...I wasn’t trying to impose or anything, I just...it sort of came out?” She pulled her hands back from around his neck, biting her lower lip. If she were a man and he a woman, she’d probably be in handcuffs soon. Damnit. Jim’s problem was that he had no idea what was going through Janet’s mind. There was no way to know or guess or - or anything. In his mind, Janet didn’t like him. Not like that. As a friend (right?). She couldn’t, absolutely couldn’t, but she’d kissed him and she’d never done that before and oh crap, oh crap, she’d been assaulted earlier and maybe this was in response and even as Janet was worrying about crossing her line she didn’t know what she was doing and oh crap, crap, CRAP, he was basically taking advantage of her and why couldn’t his love life be easy instead of either being with the worst luck ever or luck even worse than that with pig like ex-girlfriends who ended up getting splattered like Flat Stanley?
Fortunately Jim remembered to breathe after turning red.
His arms remained around her, frozen even as hers fell. His mouth opened and shut several times, attempting speech and then - and then he finally managed to say something. Unfortunately this was: “Nrgll.” It was accompanied by an expression of utter awkwardness before he shook his head. He needed a translator for the language of ‘Janet, you’re breaking my heart.’ As his face turned red, Janet knew that this was bad. This was worse than bad. Though her relationships with people tended to be superficial, it didn’t mean that she never cared. And she couldn’t help caring for Jimmy. He was a nice person. A good one. One of the few she’d actually tried to call Gabe off of not just because it would work out better for her, but because she didn’t want to see him go through that. People came and went, and it was likely Jimmy would too, but she wanted his stay to be longer than most. It was a ride she enjoyed being on, a roller coaster she’d stop at time and time again.
And now she’d broken it.
Normally, Janet would feel bad because she wasn’t getting what she wanted. But here and now, watching Jimmy flail and fizzle out, she felt bad because she could just see him collapse in front of her and she knew that it was all her doing. It made her want to cry again, and the tears started, but she managed to hold them back. “Jimmy?” she asked, very gently resting her hands on his shoulders. “Can you...please say something? Anything?” Biting down on her lower lip, she looked down at his feet before her gaze returned to his face. “Do you...want me to go?” Hadn’t he said something? Jim though he had. Even if it came out as something unintelligible and weird. He gulped once, attempting to think straight. It wasn’t an easy thing to do. Janet was still on his lap, he was still holding onto her and he could still feel that kiss. Lips pressed together - the first real movement he’d made since her move - and he tried to not nod yes. He didn’t want that. Did he?
No, of course not. Not really. Even if he just was unsure of how to act, react, or what the flying fish he was supposed to do. He shut his eyes, tried to think of what he knew for sure - about her and him and everything. It wasn’t much, but his filter on his mouth dropped.
“NoIreallylikeyouJanet.” Jim kept his eyes shut, winced, and promptly turned a deep forest green.
Sheesh. The gulp was progress. The shift of his lips was also progress. At least he was moving and seemed to respond to her words. As his eyes closed, she considered just leaving. But his arms were still around her, and she wasn’t sure that ripping away from him would leave the best impression. So she just watched him, hoping for something.
She wasn’t expecting that.
Eyes wide, she watched his skin change from peachy pale to deep green. She clenched, wanting to scrub the color away, but refrained from getting a sponge and water. That wouldn’t solve anything, and it’d just make things more bizarre. Instead, she paused a few seconds, trying to think of how to respond. How did you respond to that? “I really like you” could mean so many things, and she wasn’t sure if any of them were good. She remembered the phone call after the bank robbery, what he had said: ”Some days, I really love you, Janet.” Was today one of those days?
“I like you too, Jimmy,” she said carefully. “You’re green.” Biting her lip, she brushed a finger absently over the tip of his nose. “Do girls always make you turn green?” What did I like you too, Jimmy mean? Beyond the obvious part where she didn’t hate him. Jim’s lips pressed into a firmer line, making him look even more awkward - and feel terrible. He wasn’t oblivious to his color either. He could see that on her arms. He was the damned creature of the black lagoon now. If he was in a better mood he’d hum the Monster Mash.
Of course he was never in a mood that allowed for that while green.
He attempted to answer - with gibberish again - before taking a deep breath. It didn’t calm him much but his heart wasn’t going at lightning speed. “Not all. Not - not really, I - sorry.” Crap, he’d ruined everything now hadn’t he? She didn’t mean it, she couldn’t - oh crap. Why did only girls who liked to push him around like him?
He needed to see a doctor about this, clearly. Though he was still talking semi-gibberish, Janet could sort of understand. To a degree. She imagined he probably didn’t mean to insinuate that only she made him turn green, so she didn’t harp on that. It wouldn’t get them anywhere. And as much as she imagined they both wanted to run and hide, she knew that wouldn’t help either. Janet had had a rough day as it was, she didn’t need to pile on this thick awkward with Jimmy to make it even worse. If they could cut through some of it, it’d be a start.
“It’s okay,” she started, nodding for emphasis. “It’s fine. I...know you’ve been pushed around a lot. Manhandled?” Her face was written with empathy as she pulled back, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I didn’t mean to surprise you like that.” Jim really didn’t understand Janet. Sometimes he thought he did - most of the time, in fact. The last couple of minutes had taken his understanding, turned it upside down, sent it through a blender, and dumped on his head. It wasn’t pleasant, he didn’t get it or her and didn’t edit himself. His eyebrows furrowed, hands falling away from her at last, resting uselessly on either side of him.
“Manhandled?” It was surprisingly intelligible. Clearly Jim was improving. “No, I-” It was a tricky subject. Jim shifted, just slightly, thinking back. “Not really,” he admitted. Even with his pushier girlfriends, Jim thought he knew when he initiated things - versus when it was completely out of control. “And it wasn’t - wasn’t like that. Really.” He was just making a fool of himself now. The fact that he got out real English words was a pleasant surprise. She almost applauded him, were it not for the fact that it’d be seen as mocking - and she wouldn’t have been, not really. Instead, she just nodded slightly. “Okay,” she said, offering him a slight smile. “Nevermind, then.”
Her common sense told her to get the hell out of there, but something in her couldn’t just ditch like this. Instead, she stayed on his lap, looking up at him with a strange amount of reservation. “I’m...sorry I made this weird...you were just trying to be nice.” Jim bit down on his lip hard as she allowed it to pass. There wasn’t a way for this conversation to get more awkward thankfully. Or at least, not that he could think of and at least they were verging away from that. There was the faintest attempt at a cracked smile, though his verdant shade said it was still fake.
She wasn’t moving either. Jim winced. “As were - I mean - I don’t know what-” He needed to shove his head into an oven and end things. As soon as possible. He winced again, fighting the urge to bury his head in his hands. The persisting green in his skin made it obvious that any pleasantries he professed were fake. But Janet didn’t allow herself to be offended. Instead, she just let it go. She didn’t want to create a scene, especially since she already had in a way. Patting his shoulder slightly, she nodded. “It’s okay,” she said. “I...don’t really know why I did that.” Her smile widened as she looked up at him, hand squeezing his shoulder gently. “I guess it just felt like the right thing to do.” For some reason that answer was awful. Not that he could think of any way of her answering without it being so...but it was. Rejection right there and then. He barely bit back a sigh, preparing himself to try and distract - he could make her cereal? - when she smiled at him and went on. Once again, Jim was frozen and at a loss of words.
Actually, no. It hit him then and he shook his head, the slightest bit of a hysterical laugh escaping him. “Damn it, Janet.” Somehow she had managed to make this even worse. Eyes wide, she looked up at him pleadingly as he shook his head and let out that painful laugh. It was nothing like the Joker’s, but something about her day had made her absolutely loathe laughter at that moment. She cringed slightly, face falling at those three words.
“What?” she asked, giving him a gentle shake. “What’d I do?” Jim could only shake his head, hands rising to her shoulders. There was a light amount of pressure, intending to shift her away - leaving him alone to bury his pride properly and possibly not leave the Magic Store for a few weeks. But her look stopped him and he remained frozen, meeting her eyes for a long moment.
Somewhere, in the back of his mind - the part that was all too aware of cliches and suave moves and generally being classy - music was playing. The realization didn’t sit well, recognizing it. Crap. No. She was looking like that and she...
His right hand moved from her shoulder, across her back slightly. Like everything with Jim, the movement wasn’t meant to offend and if she pushed away in the slighest, she’d be able to tumble away. As it was him swallowing then leaning towards her, kissing the top of her head - more chastely then a brother - was easily avoided if she wanted to. She should have known better than to expect a verbal response. Jimmy was never good with words. However, the reaction he did give shocked her quite a bit. She supposed it wasn’t radical, a kiss on the head, but it was something she hadn’t been expected. Her eyes widened slightly as he leaned forward, hand gently across her back, and placed the kiss.
She stilled then, just sitting right where she was - the fact that she was in his lap was ignored temporarily. She just thought of how sweet that gesture was, how kind and protective. It was nice, feeling this way. As she looked up at him, her expression brightened. “Awwww,” she said, expression full of dawning comprehension. “You’re so sweet, Jimmy. Don’t worry, our friendship is really important to me. I wouldn’t mess with it for anything.” With that, she threw her arms around his neck in another hug. “You’re such a great guy, putting up with me like this.” The reaction was automatic this time, arms wrapping more fully around her as she hugged him. He didn’t think she quite understood - he didn’t understand himself - but at least ...they could be alright. Probably. Maybe. Hopefully it would look better in the morning. Jim could only wish for that. “You’re great for putting up with me.” There was one long pause before he pulled away, hands beside his legs again. She chuckled despite herself, pulling back enough to look up at him properly. “There’s nothing to put up with, Jimmy. You’re a pleasure.” She stood, giving him a small wink. “Best guy in the city.” Smoothing her hands over her skirt, she glanced towards the door. “But I should probably get going. I...I want to take a shower.” To get those dead body cooties off her. Jim couldn’t laugh, not after that. He wasn’t quite as green as before, but he still was distinctly frog like with his wide eyes and gawky legs below. He shook his head as she got up - no, he wasn’t the best. He had no doubt he was a good guy, but if he was the best he’d be able to say something right now. “Okay. You - you’ll call me if you need anything?” “Of course I will,” she said with a smile. “You’re the first one I’ll call.” Which was probably the truth, as long as she didn’t need girl-things. Jimmy was great, but she wasn’t about to belabor him with desires of doing her hair and painting her nails. She wasn’t cruel, after all. “Have a good night, okay?” And with that, she saw herself out, feeling just a tiny bit better. Jimmy really was the best for that kind of thing. “Yeah.” Not likely. Jim watched Janet leave, remaining on his couch until the door shut behind her. Once he was certain she’d moved down the hall, Jim pushed himself up and went to lock the door. His head thumped against the wood of the door, eyes shutting as he did so. Where had his luck went? Ever? A shaky, uncertain sound escaped him - halfway through a laugh and a sob.
Slowly he sunk down next to the door, head hitting against it. He didn’t curl up as much as not make any effort to get up, slowly going more green as his thoughts ran away from him.