AN: so this was being a bitch to figure out where to take things. I settled on this. Because what's better for a villain to bond with someone over than revenge?


Fair slipped into the world with a casual ease Crane almost envied. He'd always been that awkward boy hiding in the background, able to communicate with others only in the academic setting. And even there, his interactions tended to be brief and condescending at best. People didn't like him. They feared him. The tolerated him because of the intelligence and skills he had to offer. He watched this little sprite flit between conversations with Harley and Joker effortlessly. Watched her remain unphased by a single one of either's antics. Noticed the way her eyes lit up with interest each time he did little more than lean in, flickering over his face with rapt fascination. She moved as easily and carelessly as a breeze, and that was before Harley insisted on shots. Which was as soon as they got into the club Joker brought them to. The giddy thing of purple and glitter beside him shimmered through the room, greeting one person after the next as if they had each been friends since childhood, before settling back down at his side.

"I could introduce you to folks, if you'd like. Though you'll have to tell me which name you want me to use." She made it playful, taking the chance to place a hand on his chest, which was only easy for her to do since he was seated. "I could always just call you my cute one." his brow raised, not going for it, one skeletal hand snapping around her tiny wrist. Instead of pulling her off he leaned in, noticing faintly the shiver under his palm. His words came as low of a murmur as the pounding music would allow.

"I don't think cute is an apt adjective." She responded without missing a beat,

"My delightfully sinister date for the evening. Who knows-" her attention snapped away from him, eyes narrowing if only slightly on a target entering the establishment. Now there, was the glare of a predator. His own interest followed hers, attempting to determine which of the three who had walked in she was focused on, if not all of them. He didn't determine who before she slid one leg up to crawl into his lap, leaving his face bright red and wide eyes back to her.

"Speaking of sinister, hold that thought my dear." she brushed the words over his ear, and slid off his lap as smoothly as she had approached. With the sudden bold distraction, he couldn't help but note the way her hips swayed with every step as she approached the three to the time of the music. Smile on her face, she stopped to stand in front of the curvy blond woman, who returned the smile. To the unobservant they might look like the best of friends reuniting, but Crane was wonderfully trained in spotting the truth. This wasn't the same casual friendly greetings he'd seen through the night. Both despised the other, but had thrown on a smile for the sake of social society. The blond motioned to male companions next to her in introduction, earning a nod from Fair. He couldn't hear them from here, or read their lips, but his curiosity was peaked. He rose from the chair, casually winding his way over until he could begin to make out the conversation.

"-Oh this old thing? You're too kind. I saw your latest photo-set, absolutely stunning!" Fair was playing the game. It wasn't Crane's taste in the least, he would have called this whole date a bust if not for the unmistakable glint of malicious intent he had seen in her eyes. Would she act on it though? Or shy away like so many of the other cowards he had encountered? There had been nothing cowardly about her so far.

"Thanks! You had a dance coming up, didn't you? Oh! You should come check out our new movie we're working on."

"I heard about that, you're the leading actress, aren't you?" there it was. The most subtle hint of incoming destruction to that smile.

"Oh, it's just a small thing. We appreciate the support we're getting from everyone." The blond's attention moved to Crane, providing a perfectly sickly sweet smile. It reminded him instantly of Sherry Squires.

"We hope you'll check it out. Here, I have a flyer." she had several, in fact. She held one out not for Fair but for Crane, Fair intercepting the paper with a swift hand.

"We'll be sure to check it out." she leaned in and gave the blond a hug before the other could object, though her muscles tensed beneath it. He could swear Fair whispered something in her ear, but he couldn't make out a word over the music. Fair turned back to him with an all too pleased smile.

"Shall we?" was that all? A little social play? How boring. Crane frowned, but still let her wind her arm into his as they made their way back to the now empty table. (Where had the Joker and Harley gone?)

"An old friend?" Crane inquired casually.

"Something like that." she was still smiling ear to ear, adding with a sing-song voice, "Wait for it..." she grabbed another shot, knocking it back easily. Wait for what, exactly? What could she have possibly done in that small amount of-

No more than two minutes and the blond was storming over to them through the crowd, fury unmistakable at her face. It was a miracle she didn't strike down the smaller Fair then and there, who reacted by simply settling down into Crane's lap.

"I never said that!" the woman all but shouted, leaving a smiling Fair to inquire,

"Never said what, my dear?"

"I never said that! I never said that! I never said that!" the words flew from her lips, the same sentence over and over again, angry and desperate tears beginning to well up in the woman's eyes. Fair's head tilted, delightfully mischievous.

"Are you alright? Poor thing. You really should be more careful who you play with." Crane saw the craze in the blonde's expression, already scooting both of them away instinctively when the women reached out hands for Fair with a shriek. It did little good, the small sprite was wrenched to her feet and the blonde was readying a punch. His hands were on the toxin canister in his jacket pocket, when Fair held up a hand and smiled at the blonde again.

"You're making a scene." sure enough, most of the crowd had stopped to stare. It worked to draw the blondes attention away, a fevered gaze turning to terror as she realized the judgmental looks of the crowd were upon her. A few even held cell phones, eager to record the downfall of their fellow man. All Fair had to do, was hold up her hands in surrender and look mildly shocked by the exchange. The women dropped her, rushing out through the crowd and disappointing the onlookers wanting drama. The two men who had come with her followed, looking both concerned and confused. The scene settled down, and Fair returned to his lap with a happy little hum.

"That, was a well earned gift." she raised the single drink he had been nursing, holding it out for him to take up again as she continued, "She didn't appreciate what I gave her before, so she gets that now. She will probably try to kill me for this. It's impossible to continue as an actress when you can only say a single sentence. But she knows she can't do it here. When she does make her move, I'll give her something else."

So she wasn't a complete fool after all. One of the metas he had heard of, perhaps? He had just enough drink in his system to mirror her bolder motions and rest his free hand on the small of her back. She didn't object.

"And what other things are you planning to give?" she only smirked, not willing to give the details so easily.

"Hmmm, sorry, what was that? I was imagining the other things those lips of yours could do..." she was leaning in with the words, he felt his face turn red again instantly, having to internally remind himself of who and what he had become. He wasn't that stumbling fool of a boy set up to be mocked and ridiculed. He was the master of fear. And that meant, he would simply have to discover the deepest darkest of this delightful little pixie who had sidled up to him.

"You seem very confident in your ability to handle yourself around me. Aren't you worried I'll drag out your terrors in the night?" He didn't quite let her close that last centimeter of distance.

"Sounds delightful. Lets give it a whirl." before he could question her resolve, her lips came crashing into his. This time, no one jumped out to laugh at him. No one even noticed. No one cared. He felt rather than heard a hum from her tongue, and closed his eyes to return the favor.