Disclaimer: I own nothing of Batman or any of its characters. I do not make any profit than simply enjoyment of writing and hopefully, the enjoyment of the readers.

Chi: 3 My writing has been on hyperdrive!

Fears to Face

Chapter Four – The Pool of Tears

Alyss woke up in an awkward position, sprawled on her couch with her clothes still on. Two of her cats were cuddled up to her. "G'morning, Zero and Nymphy," she said to the black kitten and brown tabby. Noticing her Maine Coon lying across the top of the couch she gave the feline a pat on the head. As soon as their human got up all the cats followed suit, racing her and each other to the kitchen.

The eighteen-year-old couldn't help but smile at her wonderful girls, despite the horrid night she had experienced. When she reached the kitchen she dished out cat food before getting herself a bowl of cereal. After eating, taking a quick shower, and getting dressed for the day, she ran out to get to her first class, a half-eaten piece of toast between her teeth.

For some reason, as she was waiting to cross the street alongside a mother and her five-year-old daughter she was reminded of her own parents. She'd held both their hands tight, for fear that if she let go, the cars would run her over as she waited for the light to turn green. Her mother had helped her pick her outfit and put it on: a black denim dress with a dark blue long sleeve and matching leggings. Her dad had bought her the patent leather Mary Janes just for the first day of school. They had been smiling and telling her how happy they were to have a kindergartener in the family. Alyss had said something about being the best kindergartener in the world and her dad laughed heartily. "We're so lucky to have you!" They both told her as they raced towards the other end of the street, both of them holding her so that she didn't have to walk. Then they smiled at each other and kissed over her head, and…

Alyss blinked and noticed that the light had already been green. The other people waiting to cross had already made it halfway over. She had to jog to make it across in time. As she continued on her way, she felt a warm tear glide slowly down her cheek. Her mom and dad had died together in a fire that had burned down the family estate. Pushing the now unhappy memory from her mind she tried to think of more productive things—like what she needed to do when she got to work that evening.

…

Crane's POV

Are you having fun yet? Scarecrow asked, sullenly. He hadn't gotten to have his fun and it was starting to annoy him. He desperately needed a victim to torture and they'd had a nice long argument of why Alyss couldn't be said victim.

"I want to know what she is thinking," Jonathan watched the tear slide down her smooth check and wanted to catch it before it hit the ground. Why had she paused at the crosswalk?

Why? It's no fun. Come on, we made more fear gas last night so let's see if it works today.

Usually, this was the time when Scarecrow got very annoying and loud, but for some reason Jonathan found it very easy to ignore him today, his mind was so centered on the girl and his plans for tonight.

He followed her to Gotham University and waited outside, reading a book he'd brought with him. This was one of his favorite parts. At the end of her class she'd walk down the walkway right past the bench he was sitting on and the last few times the path was really crowded and she'd brush against his foot with her leg.

He wasn't that lucky today. He waited until she'd reached the end of the pathway and it was safe for him to get up and follow her to her workplace—a little café on the corner of D Street between Gotham University and her apartment complex. Across the street from the Café de la Chance was a perfectly dark alleyway where he could sit undisturbed and watch her until it was the right time to carry out his plan.

…

Alyss walked into her workplace and immediately headed to the back room where there was a small set of lockers among the coffee beans and other supplies. She pulled her uniform out and changed in the employee bathroom, which was separate from the customer's because they used it as a cleaning supply closet. After thoroughly cleaning her hands she tied on her apron and got to work.

It quickly grew dark outside as the customers dwindled away. The other waitress left early because everything was going so slow. Alyss sighed and began cleaning when the last person left. Thinking she was done for the night she started to run through the shut down checklist when the front door opened and a slender man wearing a pair of large sunglasses walked in.

His suit was nice, especially on him, and he wore a warm black trench coat to keep out the chill. The man smiled and she immediately thought that he looked awfully familiar, she just couldn't remember why, though. She frowned and thought about it as he walked up to the counter. As soon as he did, she smiled welcomingly for him. "Hi! What can I get you."

"Whatever is good. Go wild with it."

"Okay." This wasn't the first time she'd gotten an order like that, so she began to make one of her favorite drinks.

…

Crane's POV

Jonathan Crane smiled. Waiting for this moment had been torture. Scarecrow had bugged him until he'd gone out, leaving his post, to find a man to torture. He'd used the deviation from his original plan to fit his own needs by searching out a well dressed man of his own size to mug. It hadn't been hard and it killed two birds with one stone. Scarecrow was happy and quiet, and Jonathan had a new outfit and more money.

It was all worth it. She'd checked out his suit when he walked in and gave a little nod of appreciation. He made a mental note that she seemed to like the gentleman look. When he gave her the money and took his coffee he thrilled at the touch of their hands.

"Thank you," he said, almost breathlessly. She was polite, beautiful, and warm. She treated him like a human being should be treated. All the things she had done when he first met her, all the things he wanted her to do, had come to expect her to do.

He stayed in the café until he was finished with his coffee before heading back out to hide in his alleyway and wait for her departure so he could walk her home.

…

When Alyss got home she headed over to her bedside table, where a picture of her parents was framed. Picking it up she crawled into the bed and held it to her, tears escaping as she allowed herself to cry over the loss of two amazing and beautiful people.

That night, she dreamt that she was drowning in a pool of her own tears and that her mysterious last customer gave her a black umbrella.