Author's Note: Why yes, I am back! For anyone who recognizes me, I've been away for…a year? More than that? I forget how long it is, but all that matters is I'm here. No, my other stories are still on hiatus until I remember where I was going with it, so hush and stop whining at me. Anyhow, let's get a nice intro going to this little number, shall we?

Cecily Adams was just supposed to be visiting her slightly demented grandmother in Arkham Asylum, like she had been doing every month for ten years. She wasn't supposed to catch the eye of the infamous Dr. Jonathan Crane, nor his alter-ego Scarecrow. She wasn't supposed to be feeling like this; but everyone knows love doesn't have to be pretty.

Chapter One: Unplanned, Unexpected, And Unneeded

It had started to flurry by the time she entered the asylum grounds, making her pale face flush pink with cold and exertion. Walking fourteen blocks from her apartment to Arkham in the middle of November wasn't what one would call a cakewalk, but it was better than in the middle of August.

The building was warm, and that alone made up for the slightly stale smell in the air. She walked up to the receptionist; an older lady who sat playing what she assumed was Solitaire on her computer.

"Excuse me?" Her voice was soft and childlike, matching her outfit. The woman looked up and was taken aback by the soft peach colored overcoat, matching boots over turquoise leggings the same color as the butterfly that adorned her headband.

"Uh, can I help you?"

"Yes, I'm Cecily Adams here to see my Grandmother?" The woman typed her name into the computer, matched the information, and gave the pass to Cecily.

"Visiting hours will be over sooner than normal, 'cos they're moving around some inma-…patience tonight." The woman gave her a stern look, and then went back to playing her game. Cecily just looked at her pass, and walked away slowly towards ward A where her Nana was.

As she walked, she took in her surroundings-the light blue colored walls of this part of the asylum were more clean and calming than the others, making her feel a little safer. There was only one guard at the entrance due to the fact that only the lowest level patience were kept here. As she approached him, she smiled softly.

"Hello Marty." Marty turned towards her and broke out into a grin, tipping his guard hat at her.

"Why, if it isn't the wonderful Cecily come to visit me!" He leaned against the wall as she stopped in front of him. "How's the weather outside? Still cold?" She nodded her head.

"It was just starting to flurry when I arrived, so that's one thing I'm not looking forward to walking home in." He laughed, making his deep voice echo throughout the halls. It was comforting to Cecily, and she soon found herself laughing along, the sound like tinkling bells.

"Well little Miss, I shouldn't be keeping you from Ms. Jones." He winked and patted her shoulder with a strong dark hand. "We all know how much she loves seeing you." With that, they said goodbye and Cecily walked down the hall to room twelve.

Sunshine shone through the small window, giving Ms. Anna Jones a ethereal glow. Her white hair was wavy on top of her small head, and it glowed like it was itself made of light. Dressed in a simple grey dress and blue sweater, she was reading in the chair of her desk, and looked up as Cecily knocked on the open door. Anna stood weakly, and held out her arms for her granddaughter with the whisper of "My sweet Butterfly…my wonderful Butterfly."

-One hour later-

As seven o'clock rolled around, Cecily found herself leaving her grandmother's room and heading back towards where Marty stood guard. Her amber colored eyes were slightly red and puffy, but that was normal of her visits, mostly because with her grandmother's condition she never knew how much longer she would be there. When she got closer to the door, she saw Marty talking angrily with another guard, who she assumed to be his superior. Marty noticed her, and waved his hand in her direction saying; "and what am I going to do with her? Hmm? Let her just waltz out of here with him out there?" Cecily came up to the two men with a bemused expression.

"Marty? What's going on?" He looked down at her and closed his eyes, pinching his nose.

"They're doing the transfer sooner than expected, and one of the most dangerous patience is out in the main hall. So, this man…" He pointed to the other man, who just huffed. "wants me to let a young thing like you just walk right past him and out the doors." She raised an eyebrow.

"Is he not secure?" Marty looked over at the other man, who rolled his eyes.

"I suppose his is…" Cecily smiled crookedly and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Then what's the problem? I'm a big girl Marty, I think I can handle walking past a crazy man in a straight jacket." And with that, she walked past the two men and down the hall.

The sounds of her heeled boots were the only sound in the hall, the quiet clicking tapping rhythmically against the tile. Her eyes scanned the blank walls, looking at the slightly chipping paint. Without knowing it, she found herself looking into the glass window of a holding room. She stopped and locked eyes with piercing blue ones. Her heart stopped as she held gazes with the infamous Jonathan Crane.

-Cecily's POV-

His eyes held me fast, like glue to a cotton ball. I found myself frozen to the spot, gazing at him like a deer caught in the headlights of a semi. He cocked his head slightly, then slowly smiled the cruelest smile I'd ever seen; it gave me goose bumps through the thick glass, and even in my warm coat I shivered. My whole body went cold, my blood froze in my veins, and my breathing sped up slightly.

I was caught in his net.

He was so handsome, with strong cheekbones and slightly frazzled brown hair. I found myself blushing, even as my brain screamed at me-"Stop it girl! He's a criminal, not some piece of meat to oogle at!" Even with my psyche screaming at the top of it's proverbial lungs, I couldn't help my fluttering heart or the deeper blush that crept across my face. I nearly jumped as he began to speak.

"My, it's not every day that a beautiful girl comes in my line of sight…" His voice was raspy, like he hadn't talked in quite a while. It was sexy, and I shivered involuntarily. "or one so… colorful." I looked down at myself, cursing my bright style and bright strawberry blonde hair. Why did I always have to attract attention?

"I'd love to hear you scream…" That was it… that was what broke the comfort barrier. I gasped and found myself looking back into his eyes, and saw the color had become icier-colder and dangerous. I ran.

-Jonathan's POV-

I watched somewhat lazily from inside my own head as the girl ran, and listened to Scarecrow growl.

Damn…I was enjoying looking at that one… I snorted.

"You enjoy looking at all of them. But, I do agree; there hasn't been such an interesting one in a long time." I felt him grin, and the feeling of pleasure and excitement rushed over me.

I want to hear her scream…watch her squirm and thrash with our toxin rushing through her body… I suppressed a shudder, feeling my body break out into a slight sweat. You want her too, Johnny Boy. Just because I broke the ice doesn't mean you didn't want to. I sighed, he was right.

"So? There's no way to know who she is, or any way to get her." Scarecrow laughed, and I knew what he was going to say before he said it.

Oh Johnny, you forget who we are; we'll get her.

-End Chapter One-

An/: So, what did you think? Review for me, won't you? Don't bother spamming me, you'll just get reported. I don't deal with those kinds of people.

The next chapter is in the works, and when I finish and get one review I'll post it.

~Zoo