Disassociation

Chapter 6: Clowns and Knives


Bruce arrived back at his hideout and parked his bike. Scarecrow was still unconscious, so he figured he had a little time to work. Already sore muscles complained as he hefted the unconscious man into his arms and placed him gently on the ground, taking care to bind both of the man’s hands and feet. There were two large gated storage cells in the far corner of the large room and Bruce emptied them quickly, finding other places for the items to go. He tested both cells, once he was positive that not even he could break out of them, he went about collecting things to make the cages as comfortable as possible.

After all the appropriate arrangements had been made, Bruce returned to the Scarecrow. He removed the hideous mask and checked for concealed weapons before attending to the other man’s wounds. The most serious damage had been to Scarecrows left shoulder, which was already turning purple. From what Bruce could tell, nothing was broken, so the man wouldn’t be suffering too terribly.

Bruce had just finished wiping the last of the blood from the other man’s skin, when the Scarecrow started to stir. Stunning ice blue eyes slowly came into focus under dark flickering lashes, and they regarded Bruce with contempt. It took the young doctor a few minutes to find his voice as he watched Bruce with relatively relaxed body posture.

“Why are you cleaning me up, I tried to kill you?” His voice was calm.

“I can’t have you getting sick on me now can I? You are quite a valuable asset to me. Plus there’s no use trying to find a cure for you if you’re dead.” Bruce answered.

“You know, you can take off that ridiculous outfit Mr. Wayne. I already know who you are.” Jonathan’s voice lacked all emotion, even as he regarded his bound wrists. Bruce was in shock. This was the last thing he had expected to hear. He stood rigid and unmoving for a few seconds.

“How did you know?” Bruce didn’t want to make the villain feel like he had caught him off guard but he couldn’t help but ask. Jonathan gave him a tight lipped smile, his cockiness remaining, despite his current condition.

“I’m not a simpleton Mr. Wayne; remember I am a doctor after all. It was rather easy actually.”

“Who have you told?” Bruce asked evenly.

“No one, who would believe me even if I told them who you are, we live in a city of morons and I’m crazy now, so what I say has no weight anymore.” Bruce was relieved for a moment before a thought occurred to him.

“The Joker.” He said allowed.

“What about him?” Jonathan asked with out any real interest.

“Did you tell the Joker?” Jonathan sighed impatiently.

“I didn’t have to he already knows.” Bruce couldn’t ignore the chill that ran down his spine. He took a moment and removed the bat helmet, placing it carefully on the table next to him.

“No worries Mr. Wayne, he won’t tell anyone. He likes you far too much to risk your safety in that manner.” Jonathan informed him.

The words did anything but comfort him. The idea of the Joker having the knowledge and keeping it so Bruce could remain Batman bothered him. It was like the Joker had said before, ‘we need each other,’ One side of Bruce was sickened by the idea, while the other grew increasingly curious about why the Joker felt that way.

‘Damn these two,’ Bruce thought to himself grimly, ‘why can’t they be like every other criminal in this city?’

“You’re rather handsome when you think Mr. Wayne; you should do it more often.” Jonathan commented. Bruce gave him a look and was going to ignore the comment, but then he became aware of the way Jonathan was looking at him.

“You’re….gay..?”

“The correct term is homosexual and yes, I am. Is this a problem for you?” Jonathan asked plainly.

“No, why would I have a problem with it?” Bruce asked almost defensively, “it would be wrong of me to dislike someone because of their sexual preference, but when I think about it now I sort of always suspected you were gay.” Now it was Jonathan’s turn to feel a bit defensive.

“It’s homosexual, and how?”

“You’re too pretty.” Bruce said simply. Part of Bruce wondered how he had gotten so off track and he mentally shook himself.

“Now enough of that, you and the Joker are working together and I need some information from you.” Bruce stated.

“Oh really?” Jonathan commented dryly.

Bruce quickly grew tired of looking down at the ground to talk to Jonathan and lifted his slight weight easily, much to Jonathan’s surprise. He sat the smaller man on a table in front of him before continuing. Jonathan regarded him warily, like he expected Bruce to do more, but when the billionaire remained still, Jonathan relaxed a bit.

“If I talk will you allow me to leave Mr. Wayne?” Bruce frowned.

“No.”

“Then what incentive do I have to speak with you about the Joker?” He asked smugly. Bruce found the doctor’s cockiness irritating but he was determined to keep his cool and deal with the man in a civilized manner.

“Would you rather spend the rest of your life in there?” Bruce asked, pointing to one of the cages he had prepared. Jonathan followed his finger and was greatly displeased at the thought.

“I obviously can’t return you to Arkham because you’ll escape again, so this is my only option.” Bruce explained. After a moment he remembered his earlier plan and added.

“I also plan on investing every resource I have into coming up with a permanent antidote for you. The more you cooperate the more freedom you’ll have.”

Jonathan seemed to think over this for a few minutes before looking back to Bruce with suspicion. Something about what Bruce had said however seemed to have touched a place inside him and it made Jonathan feel like working with Bruce.

“Why would you want to help me? How do I even know you will stay true to what you’ve said?”

“I made you what you are Crane and I am not blind to the damage I’ve caused. I can’t even begin to pretend I know what it’s been like for you, becoming the very thing you study. I feel guilty and because of that, I want to fix it.”

The honesty in Bruce’s words could not be faked and though Jonathan hated being restrained against his will, the promise in the words could not be ignored.

“I will work with you Mr. Wayne, to the best of my ability but be warned, the more you restrain me the more I’ll fight you.” Jonathan said.

“That is a balance we’ll just have to find for ourselves as this progresses,” Bruce replied, “but I will do what I can to make you comfortable when we get along.”

“Alright Mr. Wayne we have a deal for now.” Bruce offered Jonathan a relieved smile.

“Good, now let’s get down to business.”

“The Joker.” Jonathan stated.

“Exactly,” the smile faded, “where can I find him?”

“One condition.”

Bruce sighed. “What do you want?”

“I want two bottles of your finest cognac and the ability to sit and drink with you tonight.” Bruce was stunned by the demand and the only thing he could think of was that Jonathan was trying to make a move on him. A voice somewhere in the back of Bruce’s head made a comment about the doctor’s undeniable attractiveness, but Bruce silenced it instantly.

“I don’t drink.”

“Well make an exception.”

Bruce found himself giving in. What exactly was the price for catching the Joker? After a minute Bruce convinced himself that he could break one of his rules, just for a night.

“How do I know you won’t try and escape?”

“You can restrain me, if it makes you more comfortable.” Jonathan said calmly.

“Alright, I’ll do it, now tell me where he is.”

“He’s staying at Ray’s inn, where Mali bird Street meets lower sixteenth.”

All of a sudden the riddles made perfect sense to Bruce and he wondered why he hadn’t thought of it before. The urge to run out and nab the Joker now was strong but formality insisted that Bruce stay true to his word.

“Is there anyplace less prison like where we can talk?” Jonathan asked.

“Yes, I have a room made up in the west wing, just past your cage. We can talk in there. In the meantime, I’m going to have to lock you in the cage while I get things ready. It shouldn’t take long, I’m sure you understand.”

“Just how do you suppose I get there?”

“Well, I’ll have to carry you I guess.” Bruce replied. He scooped Jonathan into his arms, which the man seemed a little too comfortable with, and walked over to one of the cages. He placed Jonathan down and secured him inside before grabbing his mask. Jonathan smiled at Bruce’s retreating form, the action going unnoticed by the billionaire.


Bruce changed out of his armor and stored it carefully away before slipping on some pajama pants. He contemplated putting on a shirt but decided he was too sore to attempt it at the moment, plus it wasn’t like he was trying to impress anyone. He walked upstairs and Alfred almost attacked him. The butler took a step back and lowered the bat, examining Bruce’s bruised torso with concern.

“I swear you look worse every time you come home. You need to be more careful master Wayne.” Bruce smiled.

“It could have been worse; you could have hit me with the bat.” Bruce said, eying the object Alfred had tried to put out of sight.

“Oh, um about that yes, one never knows now-a-days master Wayne.” Alfred laughed nervously but obviously saw the humor in the situation.

“Would you please fetch me um two bottles of the best cognac we have and two glasses? I know we have some in the liquor closet, I remember seeing it once.” Alfred stood stunned.

“Having a party dressed like that?”

“Not quite,” Bruce said, “just bring it down to the room in the west wing of the subbasement.”

“It’ll take me just a minute Master Wayne, and I’ll want answers.” The old man demanded as he walked away.

“No worries Alfred. I’ll get the glasses and meet you in the kitchen.” Bruce called.

“You know, I hate making that long walk through that tunnel at night master Wayne, yet I always seem to be doing it.” Alfred said from the wine closet.

“You can bring your bat if you want Alfred. I won’t tell anyone.”

“Very funny master Wayne but I have my ‘bat’ with me already thank you very much.”

“I won’t be with you on the way back.” Bruce said with a playful smile.

“Oh get over it master Wayne, I don’t need the bloody bat.” Bruce chuckled to himself.

When everything had been collected, Bruce led Alfred down the long tunnel to the subbasement. He could not have managed to get every thing he needed in one trip with out the other man’s help. As they talked, Bruce completely forgot about the scarecrow, until it was a little too late. Alfred placed the items he was carrying down on a table and turned to Bruce. Bruce tried to move in the way of the cage but he wasn’t quite fast enough. Alfred’s mouth fell open and he looked down at the things he had gathered.

“That’s…” Alfred started.

“Dr. Crane, um this is Alfred.” Bruce said, scratching at the back of his head and studying the floor.

“It’s a pleasure.” Jonathan said mildly from the cage.

“What on earth are you doing Master Wayne? He’s killed dozens of people and he tried to kill you. What is he doing here?”

“I thought about what you said Alfred. There isn’t a place where I can throw these psychos where they won’t escape. He can’t escape from me, so I’m keeping him here.” Bruce explained; his eyes still fixated on the ground.

“I didn’t intend for you to start a collection of mass murders in your basement.” Alfred glanced at the caged man and then back at Bruce.

“This is the only place I could bring him Alfred. Plus, Dr. Crane and I have reached an agreement of sorts.” Bruce glanced over at Jonathan who gave him an unenthusiastic wave.

“Oh, and what is that?” Alfred folded his arms over his chest and watched him sternly. Even though Bruce was no longer a child, he still had a hard time looking the older man in the eyes when he wore that expression.

“When I sprayed Dr. Crane with his own fear toxin it caused his mind to split in two. The Scarecrow is the side of him that has committed the most evil. I’m keeping him here in a controlled environment so that Fox and I can work towards finding him a permanent cure.” Bruce explained. The guilt in Bruce’s tone seemed to sooth most of Alfred’s anger but he still felt like the young man had lost his mind.

“And what if you can’t do that Master Wayne, what then?”

“I will do it Alfred. I have to.”

Alfred realized that there was no way he was going to change Bruce’s mind, not when he was working towards a goal. With a sigh the old butler shook his head and picked up the items he had carried down, heading towards the room in the west wing.

“If things get out of hand Master Wayne there’s going to be another one of those I told you so’s with your name on it.”

Bruce helped Alfred get everything set up in the other room and then came back out to watch the older man leave. Bruce was sure he could get Alfred to come around, with some reassurance but he would have to make time for it later. He sighed and turned towards the cage, regarding Jonathan with hesitation. Was he really going to go through with this? Then something inside Bruce pushed the feeling away. Jonathan had completed his part of the agreement and honor dictated that he follow suit. He was going to take precautions however because the man was a villain and unpredictable.

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Authors note:
Sorry It has taken me so long to add another chapter to this story. I have been ill and distracted. The two never work good together. I am back however and I will be updating whenever I can. Hopefully, the updates will come quicker than previously.
-Mana