AN: One more chapter after this. This one will jump between perspectives a bit, I'll separate that change with a line.
When the magic in the area faded, the com link came back up. Tim took a look around to determine they were in the power plant, informing Batman and Jason so they could meet there. Mr. Agent of Order was down for the count, it looked like thanks to Scarecrow's toxins.
"I tried to warn you." He'd been carrying antidotes with him since they'd begun looking for Crane, administering one to Fate and taking a look around while he recovered. It wasn't hard to notice the electrical box that didn't belong, he recognized what it was instantly. Closer inspection showed the bomb wasn't armed, however, allowing him to breathe a sigh of relief. Sure, he'd been learning some disarming techniques, but that didn't mean he wanted to have to use them.
"Hey Bats, I've got an unarmed bomb set up here. Don't know if there are more in the building, we'll probably want to do a sweep-" his words were cut off by a distant explosion.
"Not good." The other ones they planted must have been armed after all. He rushed to Fate's side, who was making picking himself up.
"Come on big guy, we've got to get out of here!" he still seemed woozy, though Tim was much smaller he still tucked under his arm to help get him to his feet. The explosions were getting closer fast, they needed to move. A groan from Fate, Tim working to get him towards the exit, the explosions were coming closer, his ears ringing with the sound and feeling the heat waves radiate through the air. They needed to move faster, or they weren't going to make it. He pulled to a stop when he noticed the bomb just four feet from them, the light blinking quickly. It was about to blow, without thinking about who he was with or if they were capable or not, Tim swung to put himself between Fate and the explosion which sounded no more than a second later.
They didn't go up in smoke. They weren't even thrown back by the force of the blast. When he opened his eyes to look around, they were outside of the plant, several other workers gathered in the area as well who had heard the explosions and fled. He rushed to the nearest worker,
"Are you alright? Is there anyone left inside?" the woman was catching her breath, an injured man slung over her shoulder. Tim helped her set him down as she answered,
"I don't know. I think we all got out? There aren't a lot of us on the night shift." He gave a nod, looking up in time to catch the batmobile pull up.
"Fire trucks and ambulances are on their way." Batman informed as he jumped from the vehicle. Tim gave a nod and felt a firm hand on his shoulder, turning to see Fate had recovered.
"Your heart is true. Perhaps I was too hasty in my words earlier." The other two caught up.
"Fate." Jason was first to greet.
"And who's body did you steal this time?" Batman's grunt even less welcoming than the first address.
"It is necessary. I had almost returned the fear creature to the place which it belongs."
"You didn't finish?" Jason.
"I was…interrupted."
"Scarecrow." Batman.
A silence hovered between them all, glancing back at the factory. Before they could question the purpose of this, several more explosions could be seen in the distance, down the hill from the plant. They watched as the lights of the city began to switch off, one section after the other, until the whole of the city was in darkness.
"This is just the beginning." Batman knew how these things worked by now. This couldn't be all Crane was planning. He would never take part in anything so simple as to stop here.
"Yes, this is merely a way to spread chaos. It will feed on the terror which comes of this, and through that grow stronger. We can't allow that."
"Gentleman," Jason stepped between them all, "It seems we have quite the task before us. It would be most adventitious to work together now and settle any…discrepancies later." That look was for Batman. Deal with putting the Helmet of Fate away, right now they needed him.
"The police can help regain control of the city. I know some people who will help get power restored as fast as we're able. Robin and I will take care of Crane, you two-"
"Will handle this Jabberwocky nonsense." Jason finished.
"Jabberwocky?" Fate hadn't heard the name it was using, "fitting, considering the craze it showed." His gaze drifted out to the city.
"It seems to be hiding itself for the moment. I dealt a good deal of damage. When it recollects itself, it will no longer be able to hide from me. This gives us time to prepare, with every moment our task grows more difficult."
"What's the plan?" Batman's dark tones implied not just a lack of trust, but a suspicion.
"The ritual I translated involves primal forces. Those forces need to be removed from their host and returned to where they belong." Fate gave a nod at the explanation.
"But what will that do to Jessica?" Tim spoke up now, picking up on what had Batman so nervous.
"We can't know for certain." Jason didn't much like admitting it, Fate was colder in the reaction.
"We will do what is necessary, but these forces are not things to be trifled with. It's very likely she is already gone."
"You mean, dead?" They had both promised Mrs. Milner they would help her. Was she really already dead?
"And now we must prevent others from joining her."
Crane didn't know who the guy in gold was, just that he had been able to do something unseen to Jabberwocky. He hadn't been immune to his toxins, which was the only way they managed to get out of there before the charges went off. She seemed to be alright now, and they made it to the hidden bunker nearby, ready to lay low until the heroes had to go down and tend to the city. It should be in darkness now, all the people below confused. And then, the longer it takes for that power to return, fear would begin to set in. Some would no doubt see the opportunities, take advantage, and the panic would grow. They would wait until the heroes were good and gone for certain before going down to revel in the results. Batman was right, this was only the beginning.
"That could have gone worse." He chuckled to himself, removing gloves to light the lamp and glance about their hide away. It was less a bunker per say and more a room, a hole, dug into the ground. But that made little matter, it did the job of concealment. There was a shelf with some canned goods, a few boxes on the far end, and a single cot with rusted metal legs. A spider skittered over the floor to hide from the intrusion of lamp light, but neither guest was bothered by such as that.
He was about to speak again, when he noticed the change in his otherworldly companion. She had shrunk back down, and was sitting with her back to the dirt wall and knees to her chest, hugging them. Her face was buried into her knees and under the hair, but he knew the eyes would be back to normal again. She was rocking back and forth, if slight.
"Jessica. I see you're back." He was perfectly adjusted to the changes between them by now. She didn't answer him, only allowing a rigid nod without losing the pose. Tiny little mouse, frightened little shivers. The blouse was a bit too big for her like this, the skirt and bare legs adding to the impression. She looked like a child, huddling in the dark against the monsters, but the monster was already inside her. The monstrous Scarecrow was already here beside her in the dark.
"You don't seem very happy with the results." She stopped swaying. Her voice was all but a whisper, he leaned in to hear it better.
"What do you mean?"
"I thought, from your previous boasts, this little transformation of yours is what you wanted."
"It is." She lifted her face from her knees. Dark circles made her eyes seem sunken in, and her skin was gaunt and sickly.
"This is-" she couldn't finish the sentence, turning away from him in a fit of coughs and somehow having stomach contents to lose. When she turned back and wiped at her lips with the back of her hand, it wasn't stomach contents she lost. She had none. He snapped a hand out to catch her wrist, dull eyes flicking up to him from behind the bloodied skin. She was burning to the touch again.
"This is killing you." Her gaze sharpened, and she tried to yank her wrist and blood stained fingers from his grasp, but she was too weak.
"It's my life to give." When she failed to reclaim the hand she settled for looking away from him stubbornly.
"You didn't have to give it at all. You showed promise. I could have taught you." He let go of her, and she drew back the arm and rubbed at the skin which was already bruising. He hadn't meant to grip that hard, or was it just an effect of…all this?
"You would what? Protect me? That's what she said."
"No, I would teach you how to protect yourself." She flinched at his words. She was petrified. Not of him. Not of spiders or rats or madmen. Of her own actions. She had no room to fear him, when she was her own worst nightmare. Her words lost all fight as quickly as she had found it.
"It's too late for that now. I tried. I tried so hard, and it was never enough." She turned away. She didn't have to tell him who was responsible or what had been done. He was familiar all too personally with the end results. I was there for yours as I was there for hers, the creature had said. He was reaching out to place a hand on her shoulder, when she straightened up and turned back to him, making him quickly withdraw the outstretched digits.
"It's better this way," she forced a smile, "I'm much more useful like this." Her attention drifted upwards and outwards. He wasn't sure how much time was left before the other would return. If her state was degrading each time she broke through, he wasn't sure Jessica would ever return again. She gave her flesh. She gave her life. He supposed it could have been him. If he had placed his faith in magic instead of science. Real or not, she paid the price and got results. If he felt like this had been his only option at her age, would he have been desperate enough to try it? Yes. He would have. Sometimes you'll do anything to crawl from the hole you've been buried in. Even if it's just for a little while.
This time he extended both spindly arms, awkwardly wrapping them around her folded frame. She tensed at first, but after a moment leaned back and relaxed with a sad sigh. He told her what he suspected she wanted to hear.
"You are good enough." She didn't answer, just brought a hand up to loosely grip his arm.
He wasn't sure how long they stayed like that. Her skin burning under his touch and breath a labored wheeze from lungs. But eventually that breath slowed. Eventually the skin began to cool. He felt spider webs drift over every inch of his skin and heard the sickening crack of joints. Within his grasp the figure grew in hard jerks of motion and fidgeting stretch of limbs.
"How sweet." The creature hissed, turning back and nuzzling further into his arms. He frowned at it under his mask but didn't pull away. "She knew the price to pay," the creature tapped at the scar across the throat and made him recall the amount of blood which had soaked through her shirt at first meeting, "Why if it weren't for me she'd already be dead." So it made sense that it got her body, it implied. And let the girl out only when it suited to do such.
"The heroes should be gone. I've adjusted, it should be much harder for the sorcerer to find me now." It purred, and he gave a curt nod and pulled away to stand up. As soon as he had his space back he turned to find those unearthly green eyes staring at him again.
"You're not having second thoughts, are you?" the creature cooed, gaze aggressive and hinting that it wanted blood as talons played with the stitches in his mask.
"Not at all," he pushed the hand away, "it's as you said."
"Oh good." It grabbed his arms, turning into them and pressing back to him making the arms wrap around again, "I was almost worried for a moment there. When there's still so much to be done. It would be a shame to have to do all of it alone."
"But you're not alone."
"Too true." As he suspected, the moment he relaxed at the forced contact was the moment it pulled away from him.
"I'd race you, but I know you'd lose." It winked, and then hurried up the ladder and into the night above.
"You can see the stars now!" it called down to him. He took his time putting his gloves back on and putting out the lamp to follow.
