Title: Down the Rabbit Hole - 00
Author: Shadow Arashi
Fandom: Batman
Pairing: Jervis Tetch x Jonathan Crane
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1418
Summary: "So this... Mad Hatter character is going to be my new patient?" Jonathan said as he flipped through the file in his hands.
Warnings: slash, lemon for later chapters, AU like wow. This is the introduction to my AU in which Jonathan wasn't fired from Gotham university. Instead he continued teaching for a few years before he left, by choice this time, to become a psychiatrist at Arkham. There he was appointed as Jervis's doctor who promptly did to him what Joker did to Harley. Basically, Jonathan did made some progress with Jervis but, unfortunately for him, the Hatter turned his obsession on him instead of Alice and began to court him. Obviously Jonathan gave in, and here we are. This is also a Scarecrow Year One fanfic, as it is my favorite version of Jonathan and one I'm very familiar with. Moreover, he is actually pretty cute in it :)
Disclaimer: Batman and its characters belong to DC. I own nothing and am doing this for entertainment only and don't make any profit of it.
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"So this... Mad Hatter character is going to be my new patient?" Jonathan said as he flipped through the file in his hands.
"Yes, I'm sorry about that Jonathan." Joan sighed, running a hand through her short brown hair.
"What are you sorry for? It is after all our job to help heal the criminally insane. There is nothing out of the ordinary about me getting another patient." He frowned slightly as the comment draw his attention away from the file.
Joan shook her head.
"In others circumstances I would agree. But this is a rogue we are talking about here." She insisted.
Jonathan turned his head toward her in question. The way he did it made him look a little bird like, something that Joan found quite endearing even though she would die before admitting it.
"I tried to tell Dr. Arkham that you were already handling more than your fair share of patients since Dr. Quinzel... sudden departurebut he insisted that you took this new one. He seems to think that since you are already treating Mr. Nygma you can handle another rogue." She explained.
Jonathan had to bit back a snort at the unspoken words she was politely neglecting to mention. It was just like the administration of Arkham to do something like that, but he really shouldn't be surprised by now.
Ever since he had proven himself able to handle and even keep the upper hand with the Riddler his colleagues, who he knew didn't think very highly of him, had been all over themselves trying to find the 'secret' of his success.
Rogues were notoriously impossible to treat and did everything they could to make their doctors' lives hell, everybody in Arkham knew that. But Crane had shown no signs of stress or agitation at being so regularly in close contact with the infamous Edward Nygma, something that mystified and made more than a few doctors - such as the charmingDr. Young - green around the edges.
"I thank you for your concern but I assure you that it is not necessary." He said politely, though the steely tone of his voice clearly told Joan the topic was no longer up for discussion.
Turning his attention back to his newest patient, Jonathan glanced back down at the photo stapled on top of the file marked JERVIS TETCH.
A blond man was smiling back at him, showing an impressive set of white, perfectly straight teeth. Even through the paper print the blond's blue eyes were bright and clear, not at all cold and empty like Jonathan had heard from the guards and medical staff. Overall Jervis gave the impression of a gentle and educated man, if a little childish. Just below the photo Jonathan could see Joan's name listed as Tetch's current psychiatrist.
The file stated that he wasn't an aggressive patient, which pleased Jonathan as it would definitely help make his job easier. Scribbled down on the bottom of the page he found Joan's diagnosis. According to her Jervis Tetch - or the Mad Hatter as he called himself - was suffering from disillusion and was most likely schizophrenic.
Jonathan finally put the file down onto his desk and rubbed the bridge of his nose. At least he could trust Leland's professional diagnosis. If it had been one of the others, like Young, he may have had to start from scratch. Some days he really wondered how some of his colleagues ever got their degrees.
"So when do I start?" He asked Leland.
"Dr. Arkham said as quickly as possible so... I guess that means now. I'm supposed to have a session with Tetch in 10 minutes, you can come with me and I'll introduce you to Jervis. Hopefully it will make the transition smoother."
Jonathan nodded, his eyes trailing back toward the photo of Jervis Tetch. It would be the second rogue under his charge and he would be lying if he pretended that the thought didn't please him. He wouldn't have left his job as a teacher to become a psychiatrist otherwise.
As it was he found that he was actually looking forward to treating his new patient. One thing he had learned from dealing with the Riddler was that the rogues were never boring. If nothing else the dirty, jealous looks he was sure to get from the rest of the staff would be more than enough to justify the extra work.
"Very well then. Let's get to it." He said, closing the file and slipping it in his briefcase.
He followed Leland as they left his office and made their way to the second floor of the asylum, where Leland's own office was located. Two guards were already waiting for them when they arrived, indicating that Tetch was already inside the room.
With a quick thanks Joan opened the door and stepped inside, Jonathan behind her.
"Hello Jervis." She said warmly.
"Oh hello doctor Leland! Happy unbirthday to you!" Jervis Tetch answered just as warmly, a bright smile on his face.
The rogue was sitting in a chair, his hands loosely resting on his lap. Being one of the more docile inmates he did not have restrains. Jonathan couldn't help but notice that the photo did not do justice to the blond man's eyes. He could have swear they were literally sparkling as he glanced at Leland then at Jonathan, his expression shifting into one of wonder.
"Thank you Jervis. I'm sorry I'm late today but I have good news for you." Leland gave a little smile to her soon to be ex-patient. She was clearly glad to see he was in a good mood and apparently relaxed.
Tetch blinked as he tilted his head to the side.
"Oh what it is? Are we having a tea party?" He said, looking confused for a second before he smiled again, obviously enjoying the idea.
Jonathan distractedly thought it was quite endearing but it was quickly forgotten as Leland spoke again.
"Not quite Jervis. You are going to get a new doctor." Leland motioned toward Jonathan. "This is Dr. Crane. He is going to be your psychiatrist from now on."
Jonathan smiled at Jervis while Leland sat down behind her desk..
"Hello Mr. Tetch." He said as he began to discreetly observe his patient.
Unlike Leland he never tried to encourage close bounds with his patients, at least no more than necessary, and it was his belief that patients should be called by their last name to keep things as professional as possible.
"As Leland said I am to be your new psychiatrist. I know this is rather sudden but we are hoping that this change will be beneficial for you. Before we start, do you have any concerns or questions?"
Tetch remained silent for a moment, looking back and forth between Crane and Leland before he shook his head slowly.
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat." The blond finally answered, his eyes fixed on Crane.
Jonathan raised an eyebrow.
"Alice in Wonderland? That was from..." He paused, thinking quickly. "chapter VI if my memory is correct. Forgive me, I do believe I have fallen behind on my classics. I guess that means you don't have any questions then."
But Tetch wasn't listening to him anymore. The smaller man's whole face had lit up when Jonathan had recognized the quote and he was now staring at Jonathan in pure joy.
Jonathan allowed himself a small smile. At least Tetch wouldn't be unpleasant to treat with such infectious happiness.
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Forgotten behind her desk Joan stared with a frown on her face as Jonathan continued his session.
Crane seemed to have warm up very easily to Tetch, something she couldn't remember him ever doing before. He was usually much more distant. But it was Jervis' reaction to Jonathan that worried her a little.
She had never saw him so interested in anyone before since he was brought to Arkham. On a good day it would take her quite a while to pull him out of his imaginary world, but here Jonathan appeared to have... grounded him, for lack of a better term. Jervis was certainly looking more alert and aware of his surroundings than he had been in a while. In fact, the only time he had shown a similar level of awareness of the real world was during their discussion about Alice Pleasant.
Joan glanced at Jervis and Jonathan, wondering why she suddenly felt uneasy.