96. Storm


Astraphobia-the fear of lightning and thunderstorms


Dr. Young shook as a bolt of lightning tore through the sky. The brief flash and the sound that always accompanied it shook her to the core every time ever since she was a child for some reason. She knew it to be dangerous, but she also knew it was not a threat while she was driving in her car. The rubber insulation of her tires protected her from electricity…at least she thought. It had been awhile since she had learned about electricity in school.

Penelope gave a sigh as she drove towards Arkham Island. Crane likely would get a kick by her fear. As she continued on she thought reasoned that it was that particular behavior that she had to cure Jonathan of.

"Astraphobia."

Young rose her eyebrow at his sudden outburst in their session, "What was that Dr. Crane?"

Crane looked at her impassively, "Astraphobia. You look like you were perspiring and I doubt you ran a good deal before our session. So, astraphobia."

Young nodded. At least he wasn't demeaning her for her fear…although that didn't mean he wouldn't soon.

For now, she was content that her patient hadn't tried to drug her or torture her like he had all of his other doctors, "Do you know all of the names of different phobias?"

"Why yes I do in fact. It wasn't all that hard to remember most of them, since the fear of arachnids is arachnophobia, and so on and so forth."

Young gave a light smile. Crane may be obsessive, but from her diagnosis he didn't seem very crazed, "That is impressive though to know every single phobia. Have you ever catalogued which ones that you are prone to?"

Jonathan gave a somewhat twisted laugh out of habit, "I have conquered my own fears. I do not fear anything in the way you may be thinking."

Young's brow crumpled, "I find that hard to believe. No fears whatsoever?"

Crane shook his head, "No, no I have plenty of fears. I just know how to overcome them. I have never encountered a fear of mine I could not find a way around, even the severe ones."

Dr. Young tilted her head for a moment, "Have you suffered from anxiety disorders in the past?"

Pausing for a moment, Crane continued, "Yes, as a matter of fact I have. I have over time learned how to overcome them though."

Young's face didn't show it, but she was beaming. If her patient could overcome multiple anxiety disorders, some of which were probably severe given his obsession over fear, he could most definitely overcome his predilection for causing fear.

And, if Crane could do that…well, Penelope surmised that she may just benefit from the experience of having cured a Gotham Rogue.