“Yancey? We’re here. This is our stop.”
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Yancey shook off sleep and stretched. Sitting next to him was his brother, Laurel.
“Thanks for waking me up. I’ll go get our stuff.”
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He stood up and stretched some more before getting their bags out from underneath the seats. They were the only passengers this late in the train car. With the three bags in hand he came back.
“Okay. Got ‘em.”
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His brother smiled at him before reverting back to his frown.
“You know, you can still go back. You don’t have to…”
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Yancey dropped one of the bags onto the floor.
“No! We were born together, Laurel! I won’t let you go through this alone. They’re wrong. And if they can’t see it, then they aren’t our family.”
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Yancey frowned before he grabbed Laurel into a hug.
“Come on, it’s time to go see Gotham.”
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The two brothers grabbed their bags and left the station, no one but them on the platform.
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A grey haze met them as they looked at the city where their fresh start awaited them. They went to a 24/7 dinner when they got some food before Yancey nodded to his brother.
“Okay, so first thing first, we need a place where we can sleep at night.”
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“Right. But I don’t even know where to…”
Laurel frowned and looked at his hands.
“You know, we could probably just go ask Bruce for…”
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“And then everyone is going to know where we are. Besides, look, that building says they’re leasing!”
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Yancey pointed out a brick building that looked like it was straight out the roaring twenties. Laurel thought there was no way they could afford it but once Yancey had an idea, it was over…
“Okay… let's go take a look.”
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Yancey nodded again and they headed into the lobby.
And older man sat behind the desk, a cup of steaming coffee on his desk as he watched the morning news on a black and white screen. The twins approached and Yancey took the lead as Laurel stood behind him.
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“Good morning, Sir! We were wondering about that vacancy?”
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The man looked at them before rubbing his eyes then nodded. “Oh twins.” He took another look at them before narrowing his eyes. “Why are you two wanting to live here?”
“I can pay in cash. Right now.”
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The man stroked his chin before grabbing a key off his desk and his cup before motioning them to follow him.
They went up a few flights before they stopped at a door that was a different wood type from the others.
The boys looked at each other while the man opened the door and spoke.
“Rent’s due on the first. It’s $800 a month, utilities aren’t included. Laundrymat’s down the street on the corner. Last renter left some stuff, feel free to do what you want with it. You need any repairs, let me know and I’ll get to it. Should be fine on the pipes, they just got replaced. Oh, last thing, 7th floor’s off limits. That’s for the owner.”
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“Thank you, Sir.”
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The man grunted at Yancey’s comment. Before continuing.
“You come back downstairs, your brother can stay up here. Here’s the key.”
He handed Laurel the key as he looked like he was about to cry. Yancey waved with a grin before he followed the man back downstairs.
“You won’t be disappointed Sir!”
“Eh it’s Greg. Now you said you could pay in cash?”
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Yancey grew more serious and handed the man the 800 dollars out of his wallet.
“Yup. It’s all there. Alright. Hope you enjoy your place, and kid, a bitta advice, I wouldn’t be carrying that much money ‘round here.”
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“Oh, thank you for the information. I’ll keep it in mind.”
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After a grunt from Greg, Yancey headed back upstairs, he counted the flights, they were on the sixth floor, he saw the elevator in the lobby but it looked like it needed a key to use. He found the room with ease and headed inside to where he found his brother going through his own bag and beginning to unpack.
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“So.. what was the stuff the last renter left?”
“Hm? Oh. A bed frame and side table. There’s see chairs in the kitchen too…” Laurel looked down before he continued sounding a bit sullen. “Uh Yancey? How are we going to afford this place, or I guess I should say, why can we afford it?”
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Yancey thought about that as he unpacked the small amount of food they had brought into the shelves.
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“Honestly, no idea. I’m not sure why it’s so cheap… Once it’s a normal hour, I’ll head upstairs and talk with the owner. Say hi, introduce myself, you know, the works.”
“Yance, the man downstairs…”
“Greg.”
“Okay… Greg said not to go upstairs. It’s off limits.”
“Ah come on, fruit baskets are never off limits. Everyone likes fruit baskets.”
“If you say so… Before we worry about uh… fruit baskets, why don’t we find somewhere to work? So we can afford this place?”
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Yancey sighed before nodding.
“You always were so responsible…” He was soon back to his usual happy self as he bounced up. “Okay! It’s currently 8 am, we each have our new phones, meet back here for dinner?”
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Laurel nodded as he stood up.
“Okay. See you around six. Hopefully with a job.”
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They said their goodbyes and headed off into the city to find some work.
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____________________
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Yancey found himself in the nicer section of town, it felt like nothing but guys, and gals, in suits. It didn’t feel much different from Metropolis here anyway. Still a big city! Yancey got a newspaper from a seller and sat on a park bench looking at the help wanted ads. He couldn’t afford to be picky right now; he needed to be strong for Laurel.
A few ads caught his eye. Most of them were just delivery jobs but he’s pretty quick on his feet so he didn’t mind too much.
With a bit of a stretch he got up. A bar kinda nearby had open interviews today, Yancey thought to himself that he may as well pop in and see what kinda trouble he could get into.
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Halfway there, following the map app he had downloaded, there was the squeal of tires as Yancey jumped back to the sidewalk.
The bright purple and green Lincoln looking car slammed to a stop as the driver rolled down his window. A huge grin on a pale face met Yancey’s wide eyes.
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“Well, well, well. WHO do we have here!? In Gotham?”
“Uhhh….”
“Now Yancey! Get in the car! We should catch up! I haven’t seen you in ages!”
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Yancey watched with a gaping mouth as a woman opened the back door and pulled him in as the man gunned it.
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“You know Yancey’ Jon’s goin to be pleased as punch that you’re here!”
“Harleen?”
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The woman hugged him close to her chest. As she squealed in delight.
“Oh Puddin! He remembers us! Can we take him with us?”
“Harley. Of COURSE! We’ll bring him with us!”
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“Where are we going? Is there a dress code!?”
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They both laughed at Yancey’s honest question before Joker made a sharp turn, sending Yancey tumbling into the other side of the car, where he promptly put on his seatbelt.
“My dear boy. You are right! We can’t have you going to our meeting dressed like that! It’ll shame the Joker brand!”
“You said it Mister J! We gotta make this little boy into a man!”
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Harley reached back and pinched Yancey’s check as she spoke. Yancey grinned in response before Joker continued to talk.
“So Yancey-boy, what brings you- GET OUTTA THE ROAD YOU MORON!!- to Gotham this fine summer?”
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“Oh I moved here with my brother, Laurel.”
There was a pause as Yancey pondered how they would take the news about his brother. Joker spoke first.
“So there’s two of you in Gotham? Where’s sweet little Laurel? We can pick him up too!”
“Ah, I don’t know where he’s at right now. Besides I don’t want to make you guys late for whatever you were going to do.”
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Harley sobbed as the car pulled to a stop at an abandoned amusement park at the docks.
“Oh you’re just such a sweetie! Worrin bout us bein late!”
He undid his seatbelt just in time as they pulled him outta the car.
“You’re going to look so nice after we get done!”
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_______________________
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Yancey soon found himself back in the speeding car, but with a few changes, mainly his normal blond hair was now a bright electric blue, his ear pierced, he convinced Harley to only do one, and he was wearing one of Jokers old suits, it was a bit big on him and he wasn’t sure the purple with green pinstripe was really his style but he was not about to say anything against Joker’s fashion as they drove like 60 mph through the Gotham traffic.
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The car slammed to a halt before Joker got out and tossed the keys to a guy that Yancey could only guess was the valet? Harley pulled him out of the car as they walked into the fancy up scale bar. Yancey opened his mouth to say something as they skipped the line but Harley assured him “Nobody with Mister J stands in line sweetie.”
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He soon found himself sitting in between Harley and Joker. Across from him sat a man he didn’t recognize. He was shorter than most men, with even Yancey being taller than him.
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“Joker, who is this?”
At the mention, Joker slapped an arm around him.
“This fine, upstanding man, is my dear little brother’s childhood friend!”
The laugh that came afterwards sent a chill down Yancey’s spine but he just sat there smiling.
“I’m Yancey Carver. It’s a pleasure to meet you sir.”
“I didn’t expect you to have such good manners, being brought here with… these two. Please call me Mr. Cobblepot.”
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Joker exclaimed in a bit of rage but Cobblepot just waved him off. A worker came over and whispered something into his ear and whatever it was made him go red with rage.
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“What!?”
“Ahh what’s got your umbrella all twisted my inflight friend?”
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Joker laughed before letting Cobblepot speak.
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“I had an event planned for this evening Andy singer just called with a stomach flu. Where am I going to find a replacement this late!?”
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Yancey raised his hand.
“Oh! I can help with that! You should hire my brother!”
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Looking around, he saw the room was silent. He sat back down with a quiet ‘Sorry.’
Cobblepot thought for a moment.
“How fast can he be here? He’ll need get to get fitted with an outfit after all.”
“Let me call him real quick.”
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Yancey pulled out the cheap burner phone he had bought and dialed the one contact in his list. Laurel picked up almost right away.
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“Hi Yancey, I hope you’re having more luck than me..”
“Actually I might have a job for you!”
“Yancey, I thought you were looking for you?”
“I was! But that’s not important! Oh hang on.”
“Okay.”
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Laurel heard some conversation taking place on the other side of the phone before Yancey came back.”
“Where are you right now?”
“The north section of Wayne Park, why?”
“Okay! Stay there, Mr. Cobblepot said he’s sending a car to pick you up okay?”
“O-okay?”
“Love you Laurel!”
“Love you too Yancey…”
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_____________________
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The next time Yancey saw Laurel, he looked great. His hair and makeup were on point and the clothes that Mr. Cobblepot had chosen for him really brought out the color in his eyes. Harley poked Yancey as his twin came on stage. Everyone seemed to be going about their own business as Laurel starting singing the smooth jazz songs that were chosen for that night.
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By the end of the night, the two of them were reunited and Laurel promptly laughed at Yancey’s hair.
“You look silly.”
“Yeah but when Jack wants to give you a makeover, you let him!”
“True! Oh, Mr. Cobblepot invited me back to do some more shows throughout the week. He really seemed to like me. So thanks.”
“Hey all I said was the truth. So… how much did you get paid?”
“He said he would send it to our bank account?”
“We don’t have a bank account…”
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At the time a staff worker handed them an envelope from Mr. Cobblepot. Inside were two Debit cards and a letter saying that the two of them were to come back tomorrow evening to discuss future employment options with him, as well as getting the two of them actual suits. As they finished reading the letter another employee handed them a fruit basket, to celebrate their new apartment. The card attached was signed in purple, green, black, and red pens.
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