Love and Death in Gotham City

This is a different type of Scarecrow fanfiction. I have been toying around with this idea for a while. It has been years since I wrote anything. I hope you like this idea as much as I do! The Scarecrow in this story is from the "Mistress of Fear" Story and Miss Albright may make an appearance (but I hate her and think she was an idiot to reject Scarecrow's offer so it won't be fun – for her!)

Myranda Thomas wove her dark brown curls into a single braid and tossed it behind her shoulder. She assessed her appearance in the mirror. The lady at the costume shop had assured her that no one else would have a costume like this. Not many girls want to be the grim reaper for Halloween, she had told her, most of them chose something a little racier for the occasion. She looked more like one of Gotham's rogues with her black combat boots, tight black leggings, black leather corset, and tattered hooded cowl that covered most of her shoulders and chest, she picked up the long plastic scythe, hooked the skull half-mask that covered the lower portion of her face to the inside of her hood, and left her tiny apartment in The Narrows.

She made her way through the crowd of trick or treaters and headed toward the Old Mabry Theater. They were having a classic horror film marathon and she couldn't wait to spend the entire evening watching the Wolfman and Frankenstein on the big silver screen. It had been a tradition for her ever since she had come to Gotham as a Medical Examiner for the Gotham City Morgue three years ago. Myranda loved horror and gore a little more than she would ever admit to anyone. She had learned the hard way to never let anyone know exactly how much, however. Living in the big city felt more like home to her than it ever had on her family farm in Missouri. Gotham had room for all kinds strangeness and at times it seemed like the city itself had welcomed her with open arms.

She was had almost reached her destination when she heard a whimper from the dark alley to her left. When she glanced that way, she could see three large boys beating and kicking a smaller boy dressed as a pirate. He was trying to cover his face with his bloodied hands but they kicked them out of the way and the next kick broke his glasses in half.

"P-p-please stop!", The little boy cried, "I already gave you my candy! Please just go away!"

"Aww widdle Marty's crying!" One boy taunted. "Come on and fight like a man, you little wimp! Come on, you skinny little runt, get up!"

Myranda couldn't take it anymore. She walked down the alley until she was right behind the bullies.

"Alright, that's enough!" She said.

All three boys turned around and looked Myranda up and down, lecherously appraising her in a manner too mature for boys their age. The middle boy sauntered up to her and smirked.

"Or what?" he asked with a wink, "You wanna spend some time with us lady?"

She scowled and pointed the end of her scythe at him. "Or I am going to personally hand your rude little asses to each of you. Slowly and painfully."

The boys burst into laughter. "You're a girl!" The big one said. "What the heck you think you're gonna do? Take us all on at once. You ain't even that hot. Bring it on, girl freak. You're just a weak little nerd like him."

"Funny thing about nerds, boys," Myranda said as she took a fighting stance, "Sometimes they grow up and get revenge on their bullies. You're lucky I'm the one beating you up tonight. One day you're all going to be grown up. I wonder if Marty here will be very forgiving of tonight then."

She used her scythe to sweep them all off their feet and delivered several kicks to their posteriors with her boots. As soon as one got up, she knocked him right back down. It didn't take long for all of them to just stay down. Meanwhile, Marty had scrambled up and hidden behind her, watching her every move. But he was not the only one watching. High above the alley, perched on a fire escape, a lanky scarecrow watched as a rather lovely Grim Reaper defended a nerdy little boy from a group of bullies. He chuckled to himself as the petite female held her own against the bullies and made up his mind to approach her when her task was done. There was something special about this girl and he was going to find out just what it was. Whether she wanted him to or not.

As the last bully went down, she pointed the plastic blade of her scythe at his neck.

"Now give him all your candy" she said. She only had to ask once. The three bullies thrust their sacks at Marty without looking at him.

"Now get out of here and I don't ever want to hear about you harassing him ever again or I. Will. Have. Your. Heads. Understood?"

The bullies ran out of the alleyway as fast as their legs could carry them. She turned around and looked at Marty. "You alright kid?" She asked.

"Y-yeah," he shakily replied. "They broke my glasses but I have other pairs. Thanks for helping me miss-"

"Myranda Thomas. Can I walk you home?"

"Yeah thanks."

She took him home and then headed back to the theater. She was halfway there when she noticed a man in a Scarecrow costume standing in her way.

"Oh wow!" She exclaimed. "I love your costume! Scarecrow is my favorite of Gotham's Rogues. You did a great job on that, looks just like him!"

The man seemed startled. "Uh-yes! Thanks! That's what I was going for Miss- "

"Thomas, Myranda Thomas." She replied.

"Miss Thomas," The man said. "I…live nearby and I couldn't help but notice you assist that young man back in the alley. That was rather brave of you."

Myranda blushed. "Oh that. It was nothing really. I hate bullies."

"As do I." The man replied. She could have sworn he was grinning beneath the mask he wore.

"Um, listen," she stammered and looked at her feet," I don't usually do this but I have tickets to the Mabry for their Halloween Monster Marathon. I wasn't going to bring anyone but if you don't have any plans you're welcome to join me."

Now she knew he was grinning under there. "I'd be delighted." He said. His voice was tantalizing and sinister. He offered her his arm and they walked together into the theater.

Many hours later…..

They were walking back to her apartment in the wee hours of the morning. Her companion was a perfect gentleman and insisted that she not walk home in The Narrows alone. He still hadn't taken off his mask even though she had taken hers off by now. Her hood was down and she was merrily chatting with him about their favorite horror authors as they made their way down the sidewalk.

"Honestly Myranda, I can't believe you think Lovecraft is scarier than Poe!"

"He is though! He paints such vivid pictures of his creatures in the minds of his readers. It is amazing how the human mind can come up with things like that."

They walked up the steps to her apartment and stopped at the door. She very briefly entertained the thought of inviting him up to her apartment but thought better of it. Her companion was a gentleman, after all, and she wanted to see him again.

"Well, this has been the best Halloween I have had in a while." She said shyly. "Hopefully we can do it again sometime- "

"Jon, you can call me Jon, and definitely. I'd love to do this again." he said.

"Jon. Um, I guess I should be getting back to bed. I have an early day at the City Morgue tomorrow. Thank you again for a wonderful evening."

"You're very welcome, and – "he was cut off by Myranda softly pressing her lips to his. He could feel how warm her lips were through his mask and it made his head spin. It was over all too soon.

She opened the door and was halfway in. "Goodnight, Jon."

"Goodnight, Myranda"

"Crane." A dark grating voice behind him said. Myranda's eyes were wide was saucers.

"Oh my gosh! Batman!" Myranda yelled as he grabbed The Scarecrow by the collar and pulled him backwards.

"Get inside ma-am," a young boy in yellow and green beside her said. This must be Robin. She thought.

"No, wait, you don't understand! He wasn't doing anything!" She protested as she was shoved inside her building. Batman and Robin shoved her date into the Batmobile parked on the curb and drove off with him.

She walked numbly into her apartment and locked the door. She was on autopilot as she changed and got ready to go to sleep. As she sunk down on her bed she smiled.

"I just went on a date with The Scarecrow…..I can't believe it!" She said out loud to no one in particular as she finally drifted off.

I hope you like this, there are many more chapters to come! Please let me know what you think!