“Heroes show compassion,” I continue. “Villains are driven by fear. But the ones in the shadows? The ones who move without permission, without fear, without loyalty? The ones whochoose their morals and do what they want, they’re the ones who shape endings.”
A deep silence fills the room, and I continue.
“And to become a Joker… Well… you need to stop caring about what your loved ones will think of you, stop caring or taking advice. Not just anyone can become a wildcard. You have to have it in you, and not many do… it means walking a different path.”
Arden’s eyes narrow, studying me with such intensity and a glint of intrigue.
“And which one are you, Theo Westwood?” he asks quietly.
I don’t break eye contact as I sit back and pick up my pen again before I smirk.
“I’m the kind you don’t see coming,” I reply.
“Interesting,” he murmurs.
He looks away from me only to address the class.
“And that,” he says emotionlessly, “Is why you should be aware of even those you consider allies, because there are men like Mr Westwood out there… and…” He pauses. “Because he’s right.”
There’s a whisper of unease in the room before he smiles.
“Welcome,” he says softly, “to Ethics of Power.”
A Lie
Theo
“You worried me,” Renji mutters, now observing me as we walk down the hall.
“Don’t, man, you know me, I’m always fucking messing,” I say lightly. “I got to go.”
“Theo!”
I wave him off as I shove through the crowd, as everyone rushes towards their next class. But even with the rush, the crowd parts for me, and I smirk when I glance back and see Renji struggling to get to me.
Adios,I say through the mind-link as I slip away, hiding my presence only to almost knock into none other than Heaven.
Her eyes widen as her back hits the wall, and I stare at her as I catch her elbow, although we both know she wouldn’t have fallen even if I didn’t catch her.
Trying to run, trying to hide from her, and here we are,once again colliding into one another.
“Really, Blondie, are you stalking me?”
She raises her eyebrow questioningly.You’re the one who bumped into me,she writes, pointing out the obvious.
Yeah… I still ain’t given her voice back yet… Since he made it so fucking hard, and I don’t really want her to know I’m the one who got it back for her… So, unless I kiss her like some creep whilst she’s unconscious, there’s no other way – really.
Hello?
She snaps her fingers, and I blink, shaking my head. “Sorry, I got distracted,” I say, resisting the urge to say anything else. I speak, and I fuck up.
She’s got long lashes. I’ve never noticed that before…
She raises a brow sceptically before shaking her head.Do you have a moment?she asks. Her face is emotionless, but there’s a glimmer of something in her eyes. Nervousness? Doubt? I’m not sure. Since that dance, I second-guess every interaction we have, even though they are becoming fleeting…
“I’ve got to get to class. You know me, straight-A student, who never misses-”
She grabs me by my jacket and looks down both sides of the corridors before dragging me to the nearest unoccupied room, only releasing me after she’s opened the door and shoves me inside with her powers.
