A couple more chapters left and then we draw to a close. Somehow this pays a homage to one of my favorite fics by my friend Vytina, "Cold Eyes, Yearning Soul", from BTAS.

Chapter Three

Valentine Bride

"When are you going to ask her, Jonathan?"

"When the time is right, Penelope," he answered coolly as he looked up from the patient file of an Annabeth Coles, a case of the fear of being touched - numerous names being aphenphosmphobia, haphenphobia/haptephobia, and commonly chiraptophobia. He had yet to find out whether she suffered sexual abuse or somehow knew someone who had. At least, a form of touching contact. "But I am not the man who gives flowers first and then gets on my knees to ask her to marry me," he said, both brows creasing in a frown.

"You're something else, Jonathan. If you want to do this the right way, flowers and then the ring will be the answer," Young stated, cracking a grin. "I haven't been with someone in a damned while, but take it from me, Jonny -" He hissed and reeled back, loathing the boyish nickname, but she ignored him. "- you want to impress the girl with flowers and then place the ring inside to surprise her. How does that sound? Something soft and feminine, enough to show her that you mean it all."

Jonathan's hands slammed on the surface of the desk. "Of course I mean everything, Penny," he said in agitation, though in his mind, he was taking her advice. What else could he do? He somehow wanted to do this the right way. He quickly apologized. "I'm sorry. It's been a...rough day."

"Rough day," she repeated, nodding. "Don't we all have them?" She laughed. "I'll just close my yap and leave you be then. Hope what I said helps, though." The door closed behind her, leaving Jonathan alone to his thoughts.

Three weeks later, the plans were settled. It was Wednesday, but he had no classes to teach today, and Arkham did not need him, either. But today, he had it all prepared and brought them to the asylum as she'd called him and told him she was coming in for another patient's surgery, and had time to visit him afterwards. He certainly looked forward to it. He could not control his pounding heartbeat.

The flowers were soft pink roses paired with white lilies as well as sprays of baby's breath. Deep within the confides of greenery was the surprise she might find on her own - if not, he could at least attempt a hint of getting her attention. Holding them to his nose, Jonathan felt like he was a bit lighter to the senses. He held them close to himself for a few moments before setting them down on his desk. He had to get these for her soon before they died, he knew that for sure.

Her latest suffered a kidney infection and needed a new one. He waited until she was finished near the end of the day, waiting outside the door and not caring others were watching him, the sweet flowers held to him - the first and only sign of sweetness in this dreary place. Where did you even see flora anywhere? But these were for the one person he knew could give life to the dying - and in this entire place.

"Oh, Jonathan!" She looked up at him, smiling upon finding him as she was leaving, still wearing her surgeon robe but the mask and hat removed. "She's going to make it, as usual," Aurora said cheerfully, rubbing her hands together. Then her attention fell to the way he held his right arm behind him, frowning then. "Jon...are you hiding something?"

His posture went rigid. No sense in making an excuse or hiding it any longer, he sucked in his breath and held out the bouquet to her. "Yes."

Her green eyes went wide. "Jonathan, they're gorgeous." She took them and held them to her face, inhaling their sweet fragrance - and then something fell to the ground at their feet. He watched, heart thumping, as she bent down to pick up the small navy velvet bag which measured to be as wide as her palm. Jonathan reached and took it from her, pulling the string and dumping the contents into his palm. The ring glittered with pure enchantment in his palm: sterling silver, the crown of the band was an intricate work of vines and leaves, centered with a single round diamond. Her eyes went wide at the sight, and looked up at him, her eyes telling him the answer which he already knew.

And everyone was watching, even calling out to them, urging her to say yes. When she did, she leaned up and kissed him, wrapped her arms around his neck, the flowers forgotten and falling to the floor behind them, some soft petals scattering and adding color to the cold charcoal and black floor.

~o~

The rain got heavier and heavier, his body getting number each moment, but eventually he happened upon one of the most abandoned areas of Gotham, and there was a great number of the homeless here. He would settle on finding something here to replace his tattered costume.

Crane found shelter to pause, his legs getting tired, including his injured one. He leaned over the makeshift cane and took some deep breaths, sighing heavily. He held himself straight, his gauntlet tucked under his arm and his mask around it to prevent any of the needles sticking his skin. Perhaps he could use this, though. If there was a chance - and it was a definite possibility - that he could encounter a homeless man and take his garments, whatever he could, maybe a few more if any parts suited him...

He closed both of his eyes but kept the partially blind one opened as it gave him a sense of remaining alert. He wished that Aurora was here; her body against his made him feel more heat than his form by itself could give him. Jonathan stretched out his undamaged leg to get some circulation going through. He looked up at the dark sky, soft gray cloud lines popping against black and charcoal, and silver sheens pouring down onto him, cleaning everything in their paths and even ruining some - just as it tried to cleanse the scum of the city streets only to make it messier. Poetic and truer words had never been spoken.

He enjoyed the rain because of how refreshing it was, but Aurora hated it because it made everything wet and sometimes ruined. Even thunderstorms; at first, he assumed she was scared of them as a little girl and it remained with her into adulthood, but she shook her head no and stated they just made you jump, caught you off-guard when you least expected it. That was what she hated more than feared, period.

But the thunderstorm occurred the night of their first time, which was on Valentine's Day, a month short of their wedding.

~o~

"Jesus, I didn't think it'd be this bad!" she shouted as they hurried out of the Italian restaurant. He took out his umbrella and put it over their heads, their coats closing around each other's bodies to provide as much protection as they could so they could get to his car and head home to their apartment. It was Valentine's Day, and it had to end on this night with a rainstorm. It gave him a sense to lighten up, but it made her sour by the time it was over.

The night's not over yet, his mind reminded him.

"Oh, Aurora. The rain might be more than a mere shower to ruin everything in its path - but it helps nature blossom," he told her with a smile as he opened the door for her and let her get in first, then walked around to the driver's seat, closing the umbrella and opening the door for himself. "It can't be that bad, my dear."

She snorted and unzipped her coat before pulling the belt around herself. "Ruined tonight after we leave the restaurant."

Jonathan sighed and started the engine. "I honestly do not understand why you treat rain as though it is your enemy. You have no phobia for it; you simply find it...messy."

She said nothing, making him look up at her then when she turned the light on to take a look at herself in the mirror. He almost rolled his eyes; women and their hair and makeup. Her locks were in an interestingly braided bun as if to show little hearts in places, as well as set with small rhinestones in the shapes of flowers in opened parts, but also to hold the braids together. Her ears were exposed, showing twinkling heart-shaped diamonds. Her lips were painted tonight with a bright lava shade of red, her nails a shimmering dark blue with streaks of black. Her gray coat fell from the right wrist, exposing a diamond bracelet of unparalleled beauty in the pear-shaped halos, and her favorite ring replaced with a dramatic black rose set with diamonds, sapphires and tanzanites.

A sense of mystery, intrigue and drama - and all good things happening after midnight.

His body stirred at the sight of her. He loathed women and their pretense to shine, but Aurora knew to rouse him. She did not pine over herself as most women often did, but she fought to make herself appealing for him. Opening that coat more - Jonathan started the car and began to drive them home but watched from the corner of his eyes - she showed her dress for tonight, which was a midnight blue velvet dress with spaghetti straps and a subtle V-neck, the necklace a cascading chain of silver that even draped marvelously over her curves, eliminating the need of an actual necklace. She had not gone all out with red or pink, the silly sweetheart's colors, but for a dark color to represent everything that happened when the night fell...and the real fun began.

"I'm sorry if I ruined tonight with my attitude," she said as soon as they hit a red light some long minutes later which felt like an eternity. Jonathan shook his head.

"It's nothing to apologize over. We both have our own views of the rain. It's natural."

Aurora snorted and laughed at the same time. "You and that clinical attitude, I swear to God."

"You say that, but you don't mean it."

After they first met back in college, they both had come to an agreement that a God did not exist, that it was in the name of science that they had come to life after the dinosaurs - and everything that happened before them. God had nothing to do with anything in the world. Radicals and fanatics believed otherwise. "When we get home, I want to make up for what I said," Aurora said, and he turned to look at her to see her smiling innocently - but her darkened eyes told another story. He knew the meaning behind her words.

"Aurora, are you sure?" he asked. They had been together for a year before the last seven months of their engagement, but they had never once gone beyond the levels of their relationship; it wasn't like they were traditional in waiting until their wedding night.

"Yeah, and besides, you know what this day is all about." She winked. "And...anything happens after midnight."

He exhaled without even taking a breath, in perfect timing as the light turned green and he brought them forward before turning right at the next corner. "You're right. How long have we been together - I think we've waited long enough." In fact, it never crossed his mind - but now that he did think about tonight, he suddenly felt like a teenage boy again. He had never done this before, never focused on women in a positive light before Aurora. He was worried about not making their first time memorable, and a variety of other things.

They said no more words until they got home, and he locked the car up after she got out. Walking up the stairs until they reached the third floor and number 302 C, he unlocked and opened the door for her to go inside first. Jonathan had turned his back to her when he locked the door; the rain pelted madly against the windows, and soon there was the sound of rolling thunder. Thunder and lightning always made his fiancée jump, but if only their upcoming first time could relax her.

There was the sound of rustling behind him. "I'm feeling a little...afraid."

He laughed, turning around to face her. "It's good to be scared." When he saw her, his breath hitched when he saw her in her blue dress, coat discarded on the armrest of the sofa. He changed his use of vocabulary. "Aw, my little sunshine, there is nothing to be scared of." He wrapped his arms around her and brought her in for a kiss. "Shall we hit the bed right away, or should I get the candles set up first?"

She giggled. "Get the candles ready while I get ready for you." She pecked him on the mouth before pulling from him, surprising him by reaching and pulling her dress over her head, leaving her in her strapless blue lace bra and thong, lighter than her dress and mirroring on cobalt. Turning her back to him, he had a view of her ample rear end, stirring his loins and inner muscles. Jonathan ignored it for the time being and made way for their shared bedroom.

None of the lights in the house were turned on, but that was fine with him. The only light on was in the bathroom adjacent to the actual bedroom, where he heard the shower running and Aurora's soft voice. Smirking, Jonathan found the two candles and placed them on either side of the bed, one on hers and the other on his. They both smelled of lavender, cashmere and wood mingled with fresh citrus. Finished, he hurried to undress until he was down to his tight gray briefs, climbing into bed and waiting for her to come and join him.

The water stopped running, telling him she was finished. His mind suddenly stirred with the idea of her coming to him dripping and naked...

But the real picture stunned him altogether.

Aurora stood in the bathroom doorway, her long hair in thick free curls, and she was wearing a garnet-colored chemise with a lace bodice, hem and side slit to show more thigh. He shifted and sat on his side, swallowing as the heat burned hotter than before, impatient to wait any longer. He could not speak the words aloud that she was beautiful - it was because she was.

Her moves were swaying subtly and tempting, the glint in her eyes reflecting off the candlelight, and soon the weight of her body and her soft skin as well as the boiling heat caressing against his was too satiable to resist.

~o~

The memory warmed his bones and his very being if only for a short time. He managed to continue for a while longer in time for the rainfall to slow down, and he ignored the throb in his leg the best he could. He relished the memory of how he broke that little layer of skin that was proof of a woman's first time, and the little blood produced. He had been frightened then out of his wits but did not let her know that; she calmed him down with her assurances that she was all right.

It had been exquisite.

She might not have been happy with the rain, but it couldn't have been at a more perfect timing when they fell asleep in each other's arms. After that, they had not been able to get enough of each other. It made the next month to come that much easier, because they were married two days after the first day of spring. He had no living family, and she had her parents attend, but he could not say that he and her father were on the best of terms. It was not uncommon for a father to be overprotective of his daughter, but it was like he was sticking his nose in deep with Jonathan when he said he would come at him with razor blades and tabasco sauce if he so much as made his daughter cry, hurt her in any way. What a fool!

He had come onto a street which displayed a coffee shop, a few thrift stores and others he did not really pay much mind to, as he was concerned with finding an alleyway and a location filled with bonfires - anything to give an indication he found what he was looking for.

The fork of his trousers gathered at the base, tightening and burning him below the waist, causing his cheeks to flush. He could not possibly be aroused at a time like this; he tried not to think about his wife in this matter right now. Turning his back from the quaint public street, Jonathan dove through an alley and quickly strapped on his glove, the mechanisms clicking in place. Who knew what time it was now; it was very late, but Gotham was all about "everything bad happens at night, especially midnight."

There was a noise, something cluttering and falling over. Crane ducked behind a dumpster just as he was about to step out from the bricked corner. The air smelled dank, water drops still falling even though this part shielded him from the softly pouring fall. His brown hair matted to his head now, droplets hanging from his lashes. His ears picked up voices and the sounds of footsteps.

"Hey, man, what did you get this time?"

"Got a hundred bucks from the old man. He didn't think he could match me with just a cane and not a gun like me."

Jonathan suppressed a sneer. A robbery took place, some helpless old cretin involved. Well, these two would get what was coming to them soon. His fingertips pressed against the ends of the needles in his glove but didn't push them. They itched with needing to push the toxin into fragile skin. "What about you?" he heard the same man ask the first one.

The former man laughed it off. "Ain't nothing much, but I think I might have gotten lucky - if only the bitch wasn't armed," he sneered. "Earlier I saw a chick walking home; I would have taken her car and keys and everything if only she wasn't free from them. But then again, whatever else she had might have substituted -"

"Oh, you always get the good stuff!"

"Women are always better than money for me!"

"Not always true, man!"

Jonathan's body thrummed with anger and the lack of patience. Damn it, get to the point already! "What did the bitch look like?"

"Eh, sexy as hell, but so fiery. You know I like that. Long blonde hair, though she was wearing two rings on her finger. She was married, but damn, she was so hot I couldn't help it. She had a gun, though, and threatened to shoot my balls if I did not get away from her. She also said she was a...doctor or something. A surgeon." He laughed obscenely, and from what Crane's ears could tell, he licked his lips, too, at the image of the woman. "She must have good hands, too, if you know what I am implying."

"All too well," his friend agreed.

"And those green eyes of hers? Fiery."

Jonathan Crane - or should he say, Scarecrow at this time - was seething with more fury than Mt. Kilimanjaro. Aurora...they're talking about MY Aurora! How DARE they?! That gave him more than enough of a good reason to give them large doses of their worse fears. At least they failed to have her. My wife, you have someone coming home proud. At that point, he decided now was the time to strike.

One of his feet lashed out and kicked at a can, the tin clattering getting their attentions.

"Hey, what was that?"

"You tell me. The Batman?" the second asked nervously, but the other laughed.

"Nah, I heard the Batman was trapped on Arkham Island. Or better yet, he's busy with chasing Harvey Dent - or Two-Face, as he likes to be called. He won't have us tonight."

"I don't know. He's a ninja, that one. You never know with him. Remember he pushes the boundaries?"

"You honestly think I don't know that?!"

Crane snickered to himself as he readied himself, pulling his makeshift half-mask down and then pulled the real one over his face. Something much worse is coming your way, boys. You will see soon enough.

"Hey, wh-why don't you go check it out? You got a gun, right?"

His friend sputtered. "You idiot, you're actually leaving me alone to look for the Bat myself? How about we both go together?" he asked, losing his brave shell and sinking to the same level as the other imbecile. Could this get any better? Scarecrow found he was unable to keep himself together, but stifled his laughter to himself. They were in, as the average person would say, for one hell of a surprise.

Or should he say, shock?

"Okay, fine. I'll go, you scaredy-cat. Ain't no Bat gonna scare me tonight."

Scarecrow waited and waited, his excitement unable to be quenched, and it burst yet remained controlled when the man finally came around, and he pulled him into his embrace, slapping a hand over his mouth and bringing his gloved hand up, sticking the needles into his exposed neck, the glowing yellow serum vanishing into his body. The man began to scream against his hand, falling to the ground and writhing at whatever demons he was seeing.

Hearing his wails, his friend joined - the stupid, brainless cretin! - and as soon as he saw Scarecrow laughing maniacally, he turned to run, but he was no match for the Master of Fear and now lay howling on the cold ground. "Was that good enough for you - your just desserts as that unfortunate lady of yours would have felt had you succeeded?" he leered, leaning over him, then looked up at the first.

Both of them did not appear to be your typical on-the-street thugs; both were casually but otherwise finely garbed in collared shirts, jackets and denims. They smelled of whiskey and cigars; out for some debauchery and then a fun robbery they succeeded in, and would have been an attempted rape if the woman involved had not been smart enough to own a weapon. Aurora was not a fool to not prepare herself.

He decided both were fitting his needs, and it appeared he wore the same shoe size as the second man who tried to violate his wife after she was coming home from work. Reaching up, he took his mask off and spat at that crying child. "That was for the poor woman in question." These men would not last much longer in a few more moments, so Jonathan hurried and took what he needed: he took Aurora's would-have-been rapist's socks, shoes and his wallet, namely the stolen money. He would not go around penniless for a while. From the other one, he got the rest to cover his body and left them both sobbing and succumbing to trance.

Jonathan set the garments and his costume and gauntlet down as he found a private spot in the alley, shivering again as he stripped off the rags that was his costume. His naked body trembled as he wrapped his arms around himself, looking around and seeing through only one eye. His leg ached when he had taken his pants off, and he was at risk of hurting it even more when he dressed by himself, but he was too far into the deed to give up now. As fast as he could, he dressed himself up and pulled the coat over himself, pulling the hood over his head before making his way out of the alley.

By now, the rain had ceased altogether in its shower state and had become nothing but a fine mist. This time he welcomed it on his face; he had put the rag back around his face to cover his nose and mouth. Keeping his eyes open, both of them, he set about taking the right street directions as he recognized where he was and knew he was not that far away.

And when he finally reached Anchor Street, he stopped there when he beheld the neighborhood. His heart began to beat fast again with anticipation.

I'm home.