Professor Fear (the sequel) - Jonathan Crane

Chapter 24

"She sent the Batman!" Joker screeched, "She can't really be part of the rogues yet. You're supposed to condition her mind," He growled the last part. "Are you not a mastermind of the... mind?"

The Joker – or at least, one of his men, had sent Jonathan a message on his 'business' phone, With the same text as Daria, but additionally with: 'Sale is over, Mr B forgot to pay.

Scarecrow concluded it was Batman who was 'Mr. B'. He had taken control shortly after 2pm. As promised to himself, he went to spook the paramedic who had given Jonathan attitude earlier in the morning.
Under his mask, Scarecrow had a dreamy expression as he thought of how the paramedic was most likely still trapped in a random car trunk in Arkham's parking lot.

He refocused himself on the conversation with the Joker.

"I admit that I've been absent in using my methods recently," Scarecrow sat in a soft brown armchair in the middle of the room. Joker was squatting in the purple armchair across from him. The two had met in the abandoned storage room of a recently closed restaurant. "I want her alive and the last instances of my methods being used on her resulted in near death,"

"Maybe don't inject her with your psychedelic horror show doc?" The Joker sassed. "Play with her mind, you don't have to touch her to do that. Harley worked out purrrfectly," He rolled the 'r' as if a cat.

"Daria has a much stronger mind than Harleen Quinzel did," Scarecrow put bluntly, "I worked with Dr Quinzel for a while, so I can offer my opinion first hand."

The offence that the Joker took to the remark was gone as quick as it came.
"You have three days, then I'm coming out of hiding and ravaging Gotham and you and your squeeze will help me,"

Scarecrow was his own Master. The Joker's command fell on disinterested ears. In this moment, he loosely agreed in order to end the conversation. He felt that he was slipping as a villain. Yet similarly, he felt love for Daria as Jonathan did – in his own unique fashion – and it clouded his vision.

Daria pulled the pie from the oven which she had bought ready-made from a store on the way back from work. The commercial 'perfectness' of the pie made Daria think about how it was about time she and Jonathan went on a dinner date in the city.
She cut the pie equally and placed two plates on the small kitchen table. Unfortunately, there were no classy drinks which could accompany it.
The door opened and shut at a perfect timing.

"Are you hungry?" Daria looked to her phone. "It's 8pm, you're probably hungry,"

"Yes,"

"How was your day?" Daria asked. .

In his right hand, he held his metal briefcase which concealed his burlap mask and toxin. "I got revenge on a rude employee and I had a meeting,"

"Any big names I'm aware of?" 

"Yes," He sat down to eat the pie. "The Joker, who thinks he is the leader of the rogues, as if he doesn't get the meaning of the rogues."

They both ate in silence. Due to the lack of conversation, when Daria had finished eating, she took her plate to the sink, washed it and then retreated to the bedroom to get ready for bed. Leaving Jonathan in the silence of the kitchen.

However the kitchen was not at all silent. Jonathan was mulling over everything the Joker said. He didn't want to 'break' Daria's mind but to cure it of fear. His toxin was the key. He was sure of it. She had a whole childhood to uncover. A whole other sense of who she was.

Daria placed her toothbrush back in the cup on the sink and headed for the bed. After a day of walking around constantly, it was lovely to be able to sink into the soft warmth of the fabrics.

"beautiful,"

She turned her head to where Jonathan leaned against the doorframe. He took off his tie and jumper before coming to sit on the bed. 

"Have you been noticing any fluctuations in your anxiety lately?" He asked, "paranoid thoughts, racing heart-beat, sweating?"

"Do you want me to say yes?"

"I know you have been teeming with anxiety, over brimming with fear," He admitted. "The other night at the Joker's event you were absolutely soaking in fear." He closed his eyes. "I had to be so careful to not be overcome by your reactions."

The woman kept her breath steady, not letting his words affect her. She sat up and faced him. He reopened his piercing blue eyes.

"The truth is, I don't think I can stop."

"Stop what,"

"I love fear," He reminded her, "I want to uncover your mystery; your past. The truth lies in fear, Daria,"

"You aren't going to do it to me again, are you?" The strength was gone. Her voice was soft. She didn't want to have to feel the drug in her system anymore.

Scarecrow placed his hands either side of her face and used his thumbs to massage her temples. "I want to," he admitted. "I want you to let me, I'd let you do it to me too."

"No-" She pulled her head away from him, but he was holding her firmly – not enough to hurt her.

"Do you love me?"

"Yes, I love you Jonathan," She tried to coax him out by name.

"I want to free you from fear," He ran a soft-padded finger over her lips and stroked her cheek.  Then he moved a hand to pull down the left side of her sweater, to check on the bruise from the earlier assault. It was already deepening purple and bluey-black. 

"Fine. Shall we start by good ol' fashioned talking therapy rather than you pushing a needle in my arm without consent?"

"Perfect,"

"Okay," Daria let out an exhale and moved towards her lover to give him a gentle kiss. "Talking therapy works wonders, you should know that from your years of experience."

"Oh certainly. I had to do things to make people afraid before I had created the toxin." Jonathan agreed.