AN: In case it wasn't obvious, Scarecrow is CRAZY. I mean, Crane's not exactly a model of sanity, but Scarecrow...Scarecrow is something else. This has no point apart from creeping poor Eddie out for shits and giggles. Sorry, Eddie.

Christineoftheopera-Maybe they'll kill him this time and I'll be free. MURDER WILL HAPPEN. Kitty... Remember how upset you were when Joker and Batman destroyed a library by accident? ...We don't speak of that. Exactly.


Gotham's taxi drivers refer to Arkham Asylum as 'that creepy-as-fuck place' and charge double for going there. One cannot begrudge them-all too often at least one homicidal maniac breaks out, and when one's out there's usually more.

And oh, so many drivers have been lost to an escaping inmate. It's not that they pick them up, it's that...well...Joker doesn't usually ask for a ride. He just gets one.

Really, their description of Arkham is probably the most accurate, if not the most PC. Especially on nights like tonight, when all is quiet in the halls and rain slashes at the window panes, sliding down the glass like long, thin fingers.

Scarecrow lies awake in the cell, knowing it's only a matter of time before they find out the medication isn't working and force something else in to shut him up. Humph! As if he's the bad influence here. He was helping. He always helps. Jonny would be dead without him, be buried out there where that bitch is now and they would never be the wiser.

And later, it was...it was a confidence boost for the kid, really. Something he was good at. And if Scarecrow happened to enjoy it, well, that was no crime.

So, really, he's the good influence.

The murders turned them against you. Jonny says sleepily. Kitty's professor might have been overkill.

They don't know about that one!

Jonny is suspiciously silent after that and he scowls. Across the hall, Edward twitches in his sleep. Good. It's Edward's fault they're here now-if he could have resisted leaving a riddle, just once, they'd be fine. But noo, he has a 'compulsion' and 'can't help it'.

Humph. Scarecrow suspects he's just an asshole.

Edward whimpers something and Scarecrow smirks, rolls over, and stares at him. Eventually he rolls over, half-awake. Awake enough to hear him, anyway.

"It's raining..."

"Hrm?"

"It's pouring..."

"Dad?"

"The old man is snoring..."

"Huh?"

"He went to bed..."

"Jon?"

"And bumped his head..."

"Jon, you're being creepy, stoppit."

"And couldn't get up in the morning."

Edward went very quiet after that and Scarecrow grinned.

"Sweet dreams, Eddie. We'll talk tomorrow."

"Scarecrow..."

"Nighty-night."

He wouldn't actually do anything, of course-no need to call attention to himself-but Edward would spend tomorrow in a state of panic-and silence.

Beautiful.

THE END