Chapter Text
October 22, 2004
Hood generally enjoyed visiting hours at Arkham. He wanted to make sure those he visited knew he didn’t forget about them, despite everything that someone cared about their well-being.
This was not a usual case and was fifteen kinds of complicated, however. He was still fidgeting with his fingers when the guard brought Eddie to the visitation room. No one else was around, besides the guard, which was perfect for Hood because he didn’t have to watch what he said as much. But it was also the first time he’d be (mostly) alone with Eddie since their breakup.
Eddie was sitting across from him and Hood thought about making a joke on how Hood might be wearing the helmet to hide his face, but Eddie was the unreadable one here.
Then he thought that might sound like an attack and thought better of it.
After sixty-two awkward silent seconds, Hood counted, Eddie grabbed for the phone so they could talk through the glass. Eddie had to gesture with his other hand before Hood remembered to do the same.
“H-hi.”
“That’s how you want to start this? With banal pleasantries?”
Hood’s shoulders dropped, “What else am I supposed to say?”
Eddie put his face in his hand and groaned a long sigh. “Hood. What are you doing here?”
That felt like a question that was actually a trap. When had talking with Eddie gotten so hard?
Right around when you broke his heart, you idiot .
“I ah…just wanted to see you.”
The look Eddie gave him could kill a man. “You wanted to see me? Really ? No other reason.”
“Eddie I- I’m sorry . I don’t.” Hood lowered his voice, glancing at the guard from the corner of his eyes. “I don’t want to lose you Eddie.”
The man made a half attempt at hanging up, pausing only for a moment before bringing it back to his ear. “Prove it,” He practically hissed. “Next time you visit, stop hiding. Don’t try to tell me you didn’t come here like that without a reason. You wanted to hide in case this went poorly. I know you. Also, next time, bring a crossword puzzle or something. I am positively dying here with nothing to do.”
With that, Eddie hung up and motioned to the guard to take him back to his cell. Hood sat there a while longer before hanging up on his end with a sad sigh.
At least Eddie said there would be a next time. Maybe he could build their friendship over again.
A week later, Hood walked into Arkham not as Red Hood, but as Dr. John Hood, crossword book in hand. He couldn’t hide his nervous smile as Eddie saw him, but was rewarded with a small grin in return.
“Hello, J. I’m still upset with you, but your face is at least refreshing to see after all the dimwits populating this place.”
“Be nice, Eddie. Or I won’t give you what I brought for you.”
“If you don’t give me that crossword puzzle, I won’t be here by the time you visit again.”
Hood wasn’t sure if he was just being dramatic, as he had the week prior, or if he meant he’d break out of Arkham. Best to play it safe.
“And here I went to all the trouble of finding this for you.” He held up the booklet so Eddie could read the cover.
“J. That book is in French.”
“Yes it is.”
“I don’t speak French.”
“I have a feeling that you won’t let that stop you, and will provide entertainment longer than an English crossword book would anyway.”
There was silence as Eddie stared at him. “I really want to say I love you right now, but you broke up with me so I feel that would be going backwards.”
Hood winced, but understood. “Fair. Let’s settle on…still friends?”
For the first time in months, since July 10th, Eddie graced him with a genuine smile. He then turned it into a smirk and rested his chin on his fist. “Friends. So, tell me J, how have you been? I heard we got invaded by aliens.”