AN: The line "In here. With me." is my playing with the "In here. With us." line from The Exorcist. I see Jonathan/Scarecrow as being a huge fan of horror movies, and while Jonathan's too dignified to make references when he speaks, Scarecrow doesn't care.

In regards to this chapter…I don't know where it came from. I really don't know. But I am deeply sorry.

Thanks for the reviews!

Oh, how he loved the look on Joker's face. It wasn't quite apprehensive, and although fear would have been delicious on the man, Scarecrow had to admit that was aiming a little high. Frightening the Joker would take far more than switching control. No, it was just a little guarded, and still a bit confused.

"So you're the Scarecrow." He drew the word out, exhaling after the last syllable with a slight smack of his lips. God, he loved how the clown said it. If he'd known Joker could make simple words this interesting, he'd have come out a lot sooner.

Scarecrow wasn't willing, however, to let the Joker see how much of an effect he was having, not so early on, so he only shrugged, still grinning. "That's my name. Don't wear it out." The clown raised an eyebrow and Scarecrow put a hand over his mouth to keep from giggling. It wasn't as if Jonathan didn't talk back, but he was never so juvenile about it. He could only imagine how wonderfully dissonant they must seem to Joker.

"You know, Jonathan doesn't think we'll get along."

"Is that so?" He sat up, closing the space between them and pressing his mouth against the Joker's. Arms wrapping around the man's body, he parted his lips and slipped his tongue into his partner's mouth, the clown doing the same to him after a moment. They stayed that way for several minutes, exploring each other, before Scarecrow pulled back slowly, gently biting Joker's lips before moving his kisses to the corner of Joker's mouth, down across his painted face to the jaw line, and then the neck, still biting softly. The shiver through the clown was fantastic to see, both amusing and attractive. "Jonathan," he whispered against the Joker's neck, "worries too much."

To his surprise and disappointment, the Joker's hands were on his shoulders, suddenly, gently but firmly moving him away. He frowned, feeling only slightly reassured when he saw that the Joker's expression was still one of curiosity, not rejection. "Where is Jonathan now?"

"In here. With me." He tapped a finger against his temple.

"Is he, uh, aware of what's going on?"

"Yes. We're always aware of each other." Scarecrow paused, considering his other half. "At the moment, he's mentally biting his nails and thinking of all the ways this could go wrong. At the same time, though, he wants to see what will happen next."

Joker seemed to consider it. "So what exactly are you, if you're not a separate personality?"

He forced himself to keep his expression calm, starting to burn with disappointment as he remembered the man's words from that tape of Jonathan drunk: "I don't wanna take advantage." If he decided messing around with the Scarecrow would be taking advantage of Jonathan, there went all the fun. "An alter ego, of sorts. I'm everything Jonathan wishes he could be."

Joker tilted his head. He liked that. It was a reminder that the clown felt confusion, that under the paint and façade he was as human as anyone. And it was damn cute. "How's that?"

"I am confident, fearless, beautiful." He paused, trailing his tongue over his lips quickly, the way the Joker so often did. "I do what I want and say what I want because I'm not afraid of the consequences. And I get what I want, because I don't hesitate to take it. I have all the fun of scaring people without the stupid research getting in the way."

"Ah." His curious look had been replaced with a smirk while Scarecrow was speaking. "So, in other words, he wishes he could be me?"

Scarecrow giggled. "Please. Don't flatter yourself, I don't wear makeup."

"You oughta try it. You look enough like a girl anyway."

Jonathan felt a faint flash of annoyance, which Scarecrow shrugged off, making himself blush in what he hoped was an appealing manner. There was no use in getting angry over a petty taunt, not when there was so much to be gained from the situation. There was no point in skirting the obvious, the way Jonathan loved to. Joker wanted him, and if he could just help the man over the barrier of performing carnal behaviors with his mentally unstable lover, there were so many ways that could be exploited.

The only question was how to go about it. Come on too strongly, and the Joker was likely to reject him on the grounds that Jonathan couldn't want this. Too slowly, and he'd risk losing the moment. As it turned out, Joker solved the issue for him.

"So, you're not inhibited in what you say?"

"Not at all." Scarecrow wondered if it'd be coming on too strongly to lick his lips again. Probably, yes. He settled for glancing up at the Joker through his eyelashes. God knew his eyes were striking enough already, and given that the Joker was taller, even when they were sitting, it wasn't that unbelievable a gesture. "Why?"

"'Cause I'm wondering; what does Jonny think of me?"

"He thinks you're an asshole," Scarecrow said brightly. "That you're an evil, manipulative bastard who's completely unstable and deadset on ruining the lives of everyone close to him."

"Ah. How nice of him."

"But he thinks you're beautiful. Like an angel." He watched the Joker's surprised expression, and went on, suppressing a smirk. "And he loves it when you're nice to him, even though he thinks it's confusing as all get out. He loves how special you make him feel, even though he's afraid it's just an act. And…" Scarecrow hesitated for a moment, wanting to make it seem hard to say. If Jonathan was so shy about it even his fearless alter ego had trouble saying it…well, that would just make him adorably vulnerable, wouldn't it? "He's also in love with you, even though he won't admit it to himself."

Joker looked like a little boy who'd just opened up a fantastic Christmas present. "I think I like you."

AN: There is more to this chapter, though it's not necessary to read the rest to follow the plot, and I've chosen not to post it on Fanfiction due to the sexual content. There's nothing hardcore or highly graphic, but since the guidelines for M fics on site are vague (non-explicit adult themes, and I'm not sure what they consider explicit), I've chosen not to post it here, because it's not worth having the story deleted if someone objects. If you'd like to read the rest of the chapter, it's available here on my livejournal (be advised, it contains masturbation and oral sex): lauralot. livejournal. com/ 7635. html?#cutid2

If you prefer not to read the scene, then you can still proceed to the next chapter without losing a greater sense of the plot. All you need to know is that a sexual encounter took place.