When Wounds Don't Heal
I'm hopeless when it comes to making up titles. This story was my attempt to get over a major writing block. Not sure if it was successful or not…
And I realize that this may be slightly (or greatly…) off the real batman past, but I'm changing it to match the little ideas popping up in my head like popcorn... or those jumping spiders. They amuse me... Coughs Anyways... I apologize if this barely matches his real past or if he's a bit off character...
Update: New and improved (hopefully)! Thanks to great reviews and me reading the entire thing (not without grimacing…), I've managed to make Crane a bit more in character.
The sun beat down onto the University campus, practically bringing the water in the fountain to a boil. Sweating students, their brains rendered useless as they lay victim to the summer heat, inhabited all spaces beneath the trees as they lay motionless beside one another. Every tree had at least 10 students crammed under it trying to seek refuge within its welcoming shade, which was unfortunately limited in size. But beneath one tree sat a lone student.
He was clothed in a thin collared shirt, its sleeves rolled up to give pale arms access to the humid air. His brown hair fell in wisps around his forehead, which was dotted with small beads of sweat that he repeatedly blinked out of his eyes. Unlike the other students who were all lying lifeless, eagle spread on the grass, this boy had his piercing blue eyes fixated upon a thick book in deep concentration.
This lone bookworm was none other than Jonathan Crane himself… or rather the awkward college student he had been many years ago before Batman, before Arkham, before insanity.
Jonathan Crane flipped the thin pages of his thick book steadily, his eyes darting to and fro behind his frameless glasses. He didn't seem to mind his lack of companions and instead seemed to be fixated on consuming the entire book as quick as possible. After all the years of boyhood torment and neglect, the young psychologist had grown accustomed to being alone.
Jonathan Crane finally sighed and closed his book shut. He looked around at the other students and immediately presumed he was the only moving creature within the grounds. He rose from his spot feeling eyes on his soon-to-be vacant spot against the large oak tree.
Shouldn't make them wait any longer I suppose…
Holding the thick textbook by his side, the tall boy walked out of the comfort of the shade and out into the sweltering heat. Walking towards the large double doors of the university, he heard a loud giggle and looked up to see a swarm of girls, clad in nothing but thin bikinis, clambering out of the doors laughing and gossiping amongst themselves. Heads rose from their spot against trees to glance over at the group of cheerful girls and some even conjured up the energy to sit up…. Mostly the males.
Crane sighed wearily. Typical. The group of yammering girls breezed past him and took his former spot. He was slightly amused to see that they were all armed with water guns and water balloons, which all remained to be used. This "group activity" was one he would sit out. Windows opened above him as the heads of students who had chosen to remain inside during the heat peaked their heads outside then vanished quickly. It wasn't long before practically everyone in the building poured out of the doors running right past him. The first water balloon was thrown and havoc commenced. He turned to go back into the building when a well-aimed balloon exploded in his face.
Crane sputtered dropping his book to the ground. He heard shrieks of laughter as he took off his glasses to wipe them off on his just as wet shirt. Superb. He placed them back on his head just in time to see a brown-haired girl donning a skimpy bikini top smirking at him.
Elementary school all over again…
Had this been a different situation, Jonathan would've rolled his eyes. Maybe next time they'll try to copy his homework or steal his lunch money.
Water once again exploded in his face as another packed balloon burst and water was shot into his face by a well-aimed gun.
Once he was capable of seeing again, Crane quickly stooped down and picked up his now soaked textbook then hurried inside before more water reached him. Once inside, he walked towards the stairs then paused to wipe his glasses. Replacing them back on his head, he leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. He remembered the words of his mother before he left home many months ago.
"Don't worry… this is college. It's not going to be like elementary school or high school! Sure lots of kids from your other schools will be there but they wouldn't hold a grudge all the way into University…"
He smiled slightly to himself. He, of course, hadn't trusted his mother's words. It was her job as his parent to give him false hope. After years of her false reassurances, Jonathan learned to be ready for the very worst. He had always known better than to take his mother's constant optimism seriously. They both knew that he was too smart to believe any of the things she ever said to him, but he respected her for trying.
Crane straightened his head and walked through the empty hall back to his room. While the dorms were graced with air conditioning, the heat was still quite unbearable inside. Closing his the door behind him, Jonathan tossed his ruined book onto his desk absently, which was quite unlike the reader. His window remained open allowing screeches of laughter to be heard up in his room reminding him of the fun he'd never be able to have...
--
Dried off and sporting fresh clothes, Crane looked over at the alarm clock beside his bed. It was still an hour before class started and with his book dripping wet, there wasn't much else to do. He walked over to his desk where he had previously dumped the ruined text and picked it up holding it by the cover. Water dripped from the pages while the wrinkled paper stuck together, slightly dried off and crinkly in his fingers.
A knock at the door interrupted the student's observation of his textbook. Crane set the book down gently then opened the door only to come face to face with none other than brownie herself.
"Oh… wait… sorry. Wrong room," she said, her short brown hair soaking wet and mascara running down her eyes.
She looked up and seemed to have just noticed exactly who it was who had answered the door. Her eyes lit up and a smirk crept onto her face.
"Hey… it's the infamous Jonathan Crane. I've heard of you from your old high school… buddies," she said holding her arm out across the doorway leaning the edge. "Yeah… you knowTyson? He told me aaaaall about y-"
Before she could say another word, Crane smiled sarcastically and interupted her before she could start explaning his peer's description of him. "Wow... I'd love to talk but I'm kind of busy. Good bye." Then slammed the door in her face with relish.
Pleased and satisfied, Jonathan allowed himself a quick smile. Maybe college didn't have to be the same after all.
Ok… so he's supposed to be shy and stuff, but since he's a big boy now, I decided to have him use his superior intelligence to his advantage and show that he can't be pushed around just as much. Of course if I had it my way, I'd have him destroy the entire college population then laugh madly atop the school rooftop, but that's a BIIIIT out of character even for my standards…