Professor Fear (the sequel) - Jonathan Crane

Chapter 2

Daria leaned back into the embrace of the warm water of the bath in which she had infused a drop of lavender oil. The action reminded her about the time when Jonathan had laid with her in the bath in his house. The reflection of that day made her look to her right hip where the once large smudge of dark purple, black and green was now healed. Jonathan had explained to her that the bruises had been a result of her falling off a table. In her warped memory, Daria recalled believing that she had been tied up and thrown into a ditch before being buried alive.

When she had begun avoiding Jonathan after her return to the university, Daria had felt guilty. He had been slowly trying his best [much to Scarecrow's distaste] to repair the damage he had started. She had abruptly severed his chances to continue 'fixing' her. However it turned out that it had been just what she'd needed: starvation from dependency. A chance to rethink her life and reset. The effect of the last toxin overdose had caused her to reach much too close to being almost permanently mentally vacant. It had affected her in odd ways that she would have never imagined it would:
Two weeks after her return to Gotham University, April had invited Daria to a movie night at a friend's house. No more than twenty minutes in, the frightened woman had rolled off the shared bean bag and scurried back to her dormitory. The zombies in the chosen movie had not been scary physically but as a concept; vacant minds that had no autonomy or capacity for thought.
Additionally, her physiological symptoms had resulted in her becoming very undernourished. The constant stress had initially made her throw up whenever she'd eaten. She'd been approached by two pastoral carers around campus who had tried to explain to her that she had anorexia nervosa and needed help. Daria of course knew that protesting their claims would seem like being in denial. So she took their words and 'accepted' she had to seek help. What she didn't realise until later was that her physiological symptoms had become exacerbated by her starvation and her brain signals had gotten confused. Therefore, she had, thankfully temporarily, developed EDNOS [Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified- DSMV].

Daria didn't see Jonathan until one month after her return to 'normal' life. This was partially because he had immediately resigned as a professor. The original cover teacher happily offered to become the full-time professor. The majority of the psychology students were told that Professor Crane felt a stronger call to his responsibilities as a psychiatrist for Gotham's criminally insane. Daria had also overheard one of the 'high-importance' members of the university. Well... she'd purposefully located a cracked window by the main office to hear the excuses Doctor Crane had made. One man in particular was saying that he had found Jonathan exhibiting malicious behaviour towards his students, who had reported him as manipulative and hostile. Doctor Crane apparently 'taunted them with their fears which he had previously deduced'. Much to Daria's surprise while she was eavesdropping, a cheshire grin had spread across her face. The behaviour was so characteristically the Jonathan she had come to know.

After a month of recovery, Daria had gone back to the narrows to go see how Eric was doing. Much to her joy, Eric had been promoted to manager of the bar and he was getting 'good' business. In other words, rich criminals took a liking to the food, booze and service the bar had on offer. His hair had also continued to grow and he'd developed the habit of tying it into a low bun. Eric knew a little bit more than April and Ethan about Daria plight. She had told him about the exposure to the toxin. Leaving out the details about Jonathan, Scarecrow and the toxin being tailored to expose fear. Eric was therefore the only person she could vent to. He had also ironically bought her Chinese takeaway to munch on while talking to him in the bar while he was serving day drinks. It had been her first proper meal for a long time. 

After she left him to his work after lunch, she'd walked towards Arkham on her way to a safer shortcut to take her towards the busier streets of Gotham. While walking past the back of the grandiose Arkham, Daria noticed that none other than Jonathan had finished his work for the day. Upon spotting her, he began to walk directly to her.
Daria found herself also walking towards him.

"Daria!" He called after her, walking quickly. "Daria what are you-"
She'd not hesitated to kiss him. Her feelings towards him had not terminated while away from him. Having a clearer head had clarified her attraction to Jonathan, who himself, felt similar.

Jonathan leaned back into the sofa and looked to the empty space beside him. Months before, Daria had been sweating through the effects of the fear toxin. During her stay, not only had Daria correctly shown Jonathan how to make decent coffee in a French Press but she also showed him that he did have capacity for affection. In fact, he had discovered both that and that he not felt repulsed by it. Daria was the first and only person who knew of his identities and unconventional activities and didn't discriminate him for it. He did not doubt that she may judge him for it (but how wrong he was to think that).

Of course, the psychiatrist in him knew that her affection for him despite his sadistic actions towards her were not considered normal. Then again, a good psychiatrist, such as himself, – and clinical psychologist – learns over time that mental illnesses can be culturally relative and normality has yet to have a valid definition. If Jonathan were found as being a psychiatrist running an asylum while having DID [Dissociative Identity Disorder] he would lose it all and become a patient in Arkham merely due to the stereotyping of the disorder.
Speaking of patients, we have some work to do for our newest member of Arkham.
Scarecrow grinned. Adam Cleary would begin seeing his worst fears the next afternoon. For now, Crane had to develop a perfect dose to pack in his briefcase next to his treasured burlap mask for his next day of work.