Phoenix Burning

Disclaimer: I unfortunately don't own Batman. ;-;

A/N: Here's the first chapter, quite a few people seemed interested in this story so far so I put together another chapter… I hope you guys like, sorry for any spelling or grammar mistakes

P.S: Oh and I have a new rule, from now on all my chapters (of all stories) shall at least be a 1,000 words or more.

Chapter one: Unwelcome guest

People's thoughts

-Flash backs-


-"Crane."

Jonathan felt a shiver run up his spine as the man growled his name, he stared at the man in front of him in the eyes, trying his hardest not to show him how much he feared him.

"Bat. Man."-


(Batman's POV)

Batman glared hard at the smaller male tightening his grip around his neck, he had done a quick survey of the room they were currently in, however he hadn't been able to spot any of Scarecrow's fear toxin. He took his time to study the man before him wondering what it was that the man had been planning.

He managed to stop himself showing his surprise at Crane's appearance, the usual flawless man now looked like he was at deaths door his once clear porcelain skin, was now a sickly pale, even his usual maculate hair was now greasy and messy with hints of grey, it was almost like he had aged two decades.

He then studied Crane's face more closely, he noticed the dark bags under his eyes, showing a lack of sleep the man must have been having; then focusing on his eyes, Bruce noted how the once intense blue eyes now seemed dull.

If he didn't know any better he would say that Crane was dying.


(Jonathans POV)

He was starting to get a little annoyed and a little bit creeped out a the Batman's constant staring, after a while he tried to make the other man loosen the choke hold he had on his throat, however this caused the man's grip to become tighter. If the Batman kept this up he'll end up choking to death… or, more likely, faint from lack of oxygen.

"B-Bat-M-m-man l-let me-e g-go!"

If it was possible, the Batman's eyes narrowed even further, however he did loosen the tight grip from around his neck, not completely letting him go. He took in a few deep breaths trying to even out his breathing before he tried once more to speak.

"What are you doing here Bat. Man?"

It was said as more of a demand than it was as a question, he tried his best to glare at him, however with the bags under his eyes; he knew it didn't have as much of an effect as it would of before, but who said he couldn't try.

"Taking you back to Arkham Crane!"

Jonathan couldn't help it as he burst into a fit of laughter; I guess he never heard the good news, well now is probably the best time to tell him.

"Oh haven't you heard Bat's? I have been released from that god forsaken hell hole! I never have to go back there again!"

He couldn't stop the manic smile that spread across his face even if he wanted to. Watching as the Bat's face went into complete shock.


(Batman's POV)

He couldn't believe that they would allow someone as mad as Crane back into society, he was too much of a danger, to himself as well as other, surely… unless… unless he was, perhaps, dying, then they would think him to weak and close to death to do anything anymore, so taking pity on him allowed him back out instead of dying inside an insane asylum… He had to ask him… Why else would they let a mad man like Crane-no the Scarecrow out to roam free.

"Are you… dying?"

The smile seemed to freeze on Crane's face, before fading and disappearing completely.

"Dying? I… I suppose it depends on how you look at it. I'm… shall we say 'ill'."

Jonathan looked like he was struggling to find the right thing to say before an expression of anger spread across his face.

"What does it matter to you! As long as I'm not terrorising your 'precious' Gotham, what does it matter to you whether I die or not!?"

He then slammed Crane into the wall, causing him to howl out in pain.

He couldn't help it; there was something about the arrogant man before him that just rubbed him the wrong way, even if he was ill (or possibly dying), he had done much worse to him before, even more so than other villains, he didn't know what it was or why he was compelled to do so; all he knew was that he had to show Crane that he was the one in charge. He felt slightly guilty for it now, watching as the other man, who was hunched over and biting his bottom lip from the pain, trying his hardest to hold the tears in.

Looking on with a hint of guilt across his face, he was about to say something, apologise to him maybe, when his eyes caught the sight of something, something on Crane's back, he reached to turn the other man around so he could fully see what it was, however the other man mistook his actions and recoiled back.

Bruce looked over into Jonathan's face and had to hold back his wince. Crane now had tears slowly falling down his face; his bottom lip was bleeding slightly from where he had been biting it, but what really caused Bruce to fill ashamed of himself was, the terror filled eyes, but it wasn't just the terror, there was other emotions mixed in there too.

Bruce wanted so desperately to do anything to make the pain in those eyes to go away, to make that fear filled face to light up into a brilliant smile, anything to make the man before him happy, but he had a feeling that he wouldn't be able to make that happen just yet. He blinked a few times in shock, where had all that come from?

Jonathan's face then became expressionless, his voice was nothing more than a whisper, but the harsh hiss of it came out sounding far more loud and cruel than any other words Bruce had heard before…

"Get out."

Batman stared into the once again dull eyes, that now seemed to be full of fire. He walked quietly over to the window, turning back one last time to face Crane, he watched as a single tear rolled down his check before turning and jumping out the window.


(Jonathan's POV)

He watched as the Bat jumped out the window before letting out a sigh of relief, and following after to shut the window, on his way he glanced in the round mirror that hung above his bed. He stared at his tear stained face for ten seconds before he began wiping his face and rubbing his eyes angrily, this was another reason why he hated burning season, it messed up all your emotions, walking back over to the window, he stared out at the other buildings that were heading out into the narrows; a sinking feeling in his gut that he was being watched, and it wasn't just by the Batman.


A/N: I hope that was OK, I think it could have been a bit better, however I don't have that much time now, I'll try my best to at least get the chapters out on the weekend or when ever I have time in my schedule, plus this computer is really old and annoying… it crashed twice while I was writing this, one of the reason why it isn't as long as I wanted it to be… It had been longer, but I kept forgetting what I wrote, however I stuck with my rule and wrote at least/over 1,000 words, hopefully the next chapter will be longer… and this computer will stop crashing -_- … anyway please R&R J


Answers to some reviews:

Makoto4ever: Thank you so much :D You have know idea how great it is to have one of my fave authors say they like me story. I love Dance of the Crane! :3