Two months passed, and Bethany was growing more and more worn from the new protocol in the asylum. Inmates weren't allowed in the rec room, not even if they were on their top behavior. They couldn't even eat meals together anymore, their food being brought to their cells, in much smaller rations than it used to be. Now, all the food did was give her minimal energy and a bad taste in her mouth. Several attempts to escape had been made by Harley, Joker, and Riddler, but to no avail. Once, Riddler had come back from his session with a black eye, refusing to tell where it had come if any of the others happened to walk by him and ask.
Jonathan continued to keep his distance, only giving her a curt nod when they did happen to pass each other in the halls. She'd eventually figured that he was doing this because of something Bolton said to him. She really didn't know. He was, after all, a master of disguising his emotions, and she couldn't tell what he was really thinking with that constant reserved expression of his. It didn't really matter if he was faking now, anyway. Even if his actions were a ruse, it didn't change the fact that it pained Beth every time she thought of the fact that they hadn't spoken in two months.
One day, Bolton's remote for the cells malfunctioned, causing the cell doors to open and spark with electricity at the same time. The gallery had to be moved to the rec room so they could repair the system. Harley and Ivy didn't seem to be able to stop hugging even after fifteen minutes of them being in there. Riddler and Hatter were quickly making their way through games of chess, and Joker switched the television onto the cartoon channel. Beth saw Arnold Wesker shaking in a corner with Scarface trembling in his hands.
"What happened?" she asked them.
"Nuttin' ta do wit'choo, broad." Scarface said shakily. "K-keep movin'!" Beth shook her head and walked over to the bookshelf to find something to read during her time in here. She bumped into someone as she reached it. Jonathan.
"Oh, hello." she mumbled, and kept her vision on the shelf.
"Hello." he said. He looked over the room. There were two orderlies at the entrance. He relaxed a little, much to Beth's notice.
"What has you so tense?" she asked.
"None of your concern." he answered.
"Sorry for expressing worry on your behalf." she muttered. She reached for a book, and her hand brushed Jonathan's in the process. Apparently he as well had gone for it. They paused, and drew their hands back.
"You may take it, if you so wish."
"No, you saw it first. I'll be fine." she said.
"Take the damned book." he said sharply, and she grabbed it. He smirked, and took another book. "Still taking orders from me, I see." he said, and began to walk away. Beth's eyes narrowed, and she spun around to face him. She threw the book at him, and it hit him upside the head, knocking his glasses to the floor. The rogues stopped what they were doing and watched them intently as Jonathan turned slowly to face Beth once more. They hadn't seen a good fight in a while, and this one would be a doozy. But nothing else happened, sadly for them, and Beth only walked off to a small spot on the floor to stare at her hands in anger. Jonathan sighed, and sat back down in his seat.
He opened his book and stared at the pages, but didn't even notice the words.
...
"Hello, Crane." Charmin said to Jonathan some hours later in their session. Jonathan didn't answer, and Charmin shrugged. "Whatever."
"Yes...whatever..."
"Something seems to be on your mind. Want to share?" Charmin asked. Jonathan rolled his eyes.
"No, you idiot. Why would I even want to breathe the same air as you, much less share my thoughts?" he asked. Charmin scowled, and leaned back in his seat.
"Is it Niles?" he asked. Jonathan clenched his jaw, and Charmin smirked. "Yeah, it's Niles. She doesn't seem so sweet on you anymore. Why would that be, I wonder?" he asked. Jonathan tapped the arm of his chair, agitation becoming apparent. "Could it be because you've been a complete ass to her lately?" he asked. "Harley told me all about it. It seemed interesting. One minute, you're all lovey-dovey on her, and the next minute, you're giving the cold shoulder."
"What would it matter to you?" Jonathan asked.
"What's most interesting is this all started the day Bolton had private meetings with all of you. Did he say something to you? Did he threaten Niles?" he asked. Jonathan eyed his psychiatrist. Was he expressing a sign of help? Jonathan would have to answer truthfully if so.
"Yes...he did. Why do you ask?" he asked. Charmin cracked a wide smile.
"Oh, nuthin'. I just needed to figure out whether or not to thank him for screwing up your relationship." he said. Jonathan shook his head as the doctor laughed.
"Why would you care, anyway?" he asked.
"Oh, you were all smug whenever you caught me looking at her, man. Pulling her close, like she was some kind of prize. Well, from what I hear, she's up for grabs again." Charmin said.
"Someone with her taste would never sink so low to your level. She has standards." Jonathan said, but Charmin didn't appear to hear him.
"Is she good?" he asked. Jonathan furrowed his brow.
"She's good at a vast number of things. What are you asking for specifically?" he asked.
"In bed, Crane. A sweet ass like that has to have skills that go with it." Charmin said. Jonathan was disgusted by this openly offensive comment.
"I don't care if we are no longer on good terms; if you speak about Bethany in such a manner again, I'll rip your arms off and beat you to death with them..." he hissed. Charmin watched him for a moment, and his smile became larger.
"Holy shit, you never did any of that, did you?" he asked. Jonathan sighed.
"This conversation is over, Barry." he said.
"You poor bastard. Is there something wrong with her?" Charmin asked. Jonathan caught himself thinking to the night he found out who Dr. Landon really was. He remembered her beneath him, and, besides that small round scar over her abdomen, he didn't see a damned thing wrong with her. He even enjoyed her rambunctious attitude on most levels. She was just fine. Perfect.
When Jonathan didn't answer, Charmin shrugged and flipped through his papers.
"So, uh, what'd he say, to make you like you are?" Charmin asked. Jonathan didn't answer him again, only averting his eyes and thinking back on what Bolton had said to him.
He was set roughly in the chair before Charmin's desk, and cuffed, as usual. He looked dead-eyed at the smirking psychiatrist.
"You called, Jerry?" he asked.
"No, I did." Bolton said stepping inside the office and shutting the door behind him. Jonathan instantly yanked at his cuffs, wanting to get free. He looked down a them. They were new, and much thicker than the usual ones. "My own design. Held together by a powerful magnet. You're not getting out of that unless I shut them down." Bolton said.
"What the hell do you want?" Jonathan finally asked when he knew he couldn't get out.
"To make a deal..." Bolton said. Jonathan scoffed at this.
"And what deal would this be?" he asked.
"You be a good little patient, and no one gets punished." Bolton said, cracking his knuckles. Jonathan swallowed, flashes of that brown haired boy throwing stones going through his mind.
"I'm not afraid of you..." he said evenly. Bolton nodded and waved his hand.
"Yeah, yeah, Master of Fear, and all that..." he said. "I know your game. But I don't really care. You're just a nut in a raggedy costume. Besides, it's not you who would be...punished..."
"And who would pay for my misdeeds, might I ask?" Jonathan asked.
"I've seen you with that Niles girl. Apparently, you're pretty sweet on her. Wouldn't want her pretty little body to be black and blue on your behalf." he said. Jonathan imagined a large number of possible ways to kill the man before him slowly and painfully. He shook his head, forcing himself to keep his anger hidden. Instead, he cocked his head to the side.
"But, isn't that her job? To become black and blue on my behalf? She is paid to guard me, after all. This would just be another job for her to do, so, why would I really care, if I pay her for it later?" he asked. Did he really just say that? Disgusting. It seemed to be slightly effective, though, as Bolton seemed to show a sliver of disappointment.
"What's with the obvious affection you've been showing? Explain that." he said. Jonathan forced a cruel smile.
"What can I say, Mr. Bolton? I may be a master criminal, but, like every other common man in the world, I have...needs." he said. This time, Arkham spoke up.
"Are you saying you're using Niles for sexual pleasure, with no emotional attachment to her?" he asked. Jonathan pointed at Arkham.
"Bingo, Jerry. Congratulations, you said something correct." he said, never losing his smile. Arkham only shook his head.
"This sounds awfully like the case with Harleen and Joker." he said.
"I'll admit, I like to take a leaf from that clown's book once in a long while." Jonathan said, shrugging and leaning back in his seat.
"What is Bethany Niles to you, Crane?" Arkham asked. Jonathan remembered what was said the night he'd 'killed' her.
"She's just a pawn in my game of chess, free for me to use however I wish. Her purpose is to serve me until I no longer have any use for her." he said.
"What will happen when she wears down her usefulness?" Arkham asked. Jonathan appeared to think for a moment.
"I think I'll use her for one of my experiments. I can say this; you'll know she's lost her usefulness when she stops showing her face..."
"Are you saying you'll kill her?" Arkham asked in surprise. Jonathan tilted his head to the left and right.
"I did it once. I can do it again." he said simply. He turned to Bolton. "The point here is, if you want to intimidate me, then you'll have to do something better than threaten one of my henchmen." he said. Bolton crossed his arms in thought.
"How do I know you're telling the truth?" he asked.
"You'll just have to trust me." Jonathan said, shrugging.
"How about this? You keep away from her at all times. I don't care if she's just your little slut. I don't want you two conspiring." Bolton said.
"Or else what?" Jonathan asked.
"I'm a pacifist, Crane." Bolton said, and began to pace. "But patients are known for stumbling down those long, metal stairs, often breaking bones..." Jonathan willed every fiber of his being to keep from shouting a string of threats and dark promises to the hulking man before him. Instead, he smiled.
"I've seen that happen a few times when I headed this place. Rather nasty thing. Whatever, I'll accommodate you and keep away from her, purely for the sake of keeping her capable for future missions." he said. "But, that won't stop me from misbehaving when I wish."
"Doesn't matter, you won't have much opportunity to misbehave once I'm done preparing everything for you freaks."
"Do tell..." Jonathan said.
"It's a surprise. I think you'll find it quite...shocking, hahaha."
"One more thing before you leave, Bolton." Jonathan said as Bolton went for the door.
"What, maggot?"
"What are you afraid of?"
"Crane!" Charmin's voice brought Jonathan back to reality, and he blinked at the young psychiatrist.
"What is it, fool?" he asked.
"You were creeping me out, just staring off into space like that."
"Good, I haven't lost my edge. Is this session over yet?" he asked.
"We have twenty more minutes..."
"Jesus Christ..."Jonathan tilted his head back on the chair and looked up at the ceiling. It had been a long two months. He'd only spoken with Beth once, and she'd thrown a book at him. Dammit... It seemed that all she ever did anymore was throw things at him, be it lunch or reading material. She had a right, of course, because of how he'd been cruelly treating her. But he'd hoped that she'd see past that, and notice that it was all a ruse. It would certainly make everything for him much easier. At least he'd not have to fall victim to her throwing arm. "Foolish child..." he muttered with a smirk.
"What was that?" Charmin asked.
"Mind your own business." Jonathan snapped. Charmin sighed, and closed Jonathan's folder.
"You're obviously not cooperating." he said.
"You've only spoken about Miss Nile's abilities in the bedroom. I don't want to be a part of that. So, I won't speak at all. Why waste my breath on a cretin such as yourself?"
"You think you're still so high powered even with the new arrangement in this place." Charmin said. "Get over yourself, Crane. The Rogues don't run the asylum, anymore."
"Perhaps you are right. It doesn't change the fact that you're still an idiot who also thinks much too highly of himself. As for your desires for Miss Niles; I've heard from the grapevine that, even if you did somehow manage to spend a night with her, you wouldn't make much of an impact..." Jonathan said knowingly. Charmin's face went red.
"I think this session is over." he said.
"Good, good." Jonathan said as the orderlies uncuffed him from his chair and led him outside to the hall. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw Beth being led down the hall as well, and they ended up walking in stride with each other, each silent. He finally glanced down at her, and his eyes narrowed at her red and tearstained face. He looked at the orderly who was escorting her. "What the hell happened?" he hissed at him, making him jump.
"She, uh, she heard a recording of you talking about her with Bolton. She got upset." he said. Beth huffed once at the orderly for speaking, and she again went quiet. Jonathan gritted his teeth. God fucking dammit. Of course Arkham would make her listen to that, the bastard. He looked around, checking for anyone besides the orderlies. When he saw none, he turned to Beth.
"Bethany-"
"Don't...don't talk, please..." she said. He could tell that she was straining to kep her voice calm. He reached out and grabbed her wrist.
"Bethany, listen to me-"
"Shut up!" she snapped. Jonathan gripped her wrist tighter, anger at her unwillingness beginning to rise.
"Fool child." he muttered. She forced a hollow laugh.
"Insulting me now? At least now you have the balls to do it in front of my face." she muttered. That was it. He'd had it. He lifted his cuffed hands and slammed her against the wall, pressing the link connecting his cuffs against her throat. The orderlies panicked, and he glared at them.
"Do anything but stand there like good boys and I'll snap her neck, understand?" he asked politely. They hesitated, then nodded, keeping their hands in the air. "Good." he turned back to Beth, who's reddened eyes scowled at his. "Now, you're going to listen to me very carefully..." he said quietly so the orderlies couldn't hear him. Beth only kept glaring, and he swore to himself that if she didn't stop that he'd end up kissing her right there. Shaking his head, he got back to the subject. "I never took you as a person who believed everything they hear." he whispered.
"You said all of that-"
"And you believed it..." he said. Beth growled at him, sending a small shiver up his spine. God, what was she doing to him?
"You said yourself you weren't a fan of lying." she hissed, bringing back his attention.
"I said I wasn't a fan, but I never said that I wouldn't. You should know that." he said. "Now, you need to stop being so thickheaded and actually see the real situation here. Normally, your stubbornness is charming, but right now is not the time to be stubborn." he wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb. "Alright?" He stared into her eyes, silently pleading for her to understand. "Please..." he muttered. She finally blinked, and gave a small nod.
"Alright..." she whispered. He let a small smile escape his lips.
"Finally. Now I don't need to duck every time you become angry." he said.
"I wouldn't count on that just yet." she joked quietly. "You did say some hurtful things, after all."
"And I still hate myself for it. It had to be done." he said. Beth let her own smile show. "What?" he asked.
"I kind of feel bad, now..." she said. Jonathan narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
"What is it?"
"I only wanted to hear you apologize..." she trailed off, and he leaned closer to her.
"What, Bethany..." he asked. Her eyes were suddenly bright as she looked at him.
"I already knew..." she said. Jonathan froze.
"What?"
"I knew for about half an hour." she said. "When I heard you say that you used me for sexual pleasure, I knew it was all a lie. I know you wouldn't ever disclose such information, especially if it was false; It's unprofessional." she said. Jonathan hooded his eyes at her. She'd played him. He pressed his thumb against her throat.
"I should snap your neck right now..." he said lowly.
"But doctor, I wouldn't be of any use to you dead, would I?" she asked. "Besides, I just wanted to make you feel bad for a few minutes. I've been feeling like shit for two months. Didn't think I'd get to do it so soon though. Perfect timing on your part, doc." she said. Jonathan hung his head. This person...
"Woman, you are a handful..." he muttered, and looked back up at her.
"That's rich, coming from you of all people." she said. "What do we do now?"
"Act like I just insulted you, and kick me away. I don't want them knowing we're back on good terms." Jonathan said, gesturing to the orderlies. "They might talk." Beth nodded, and raised her foot. He clenched his stomach, and she kicked him away, a little harder than he had expected, and he stumbled. The orderlies grabbed his arms.
"You sick bastard!" Beth shouted at him. It sounded real, and he almost felt like he'd actually done something wrong. "Stay away from me! Keep him away!" she said to the orderlies, new tears forming in her eyes.
"Oh, Beth. You are such a handful. I should teach you a lesson..." Jonathan said.
"Shut up, Crane." his orderly said when he was subdued. The orderly then hauled him off, leaving the other orderly to tend to a shaking Beth. Jonathan was smirking when he was placed in his cell. He walked over to his bed and lay down, folding his hands under his head as he gazed up at the ceiling. That was taken care of. Now all he had to worry about was Bolton. His smirk disappeared when he remembered Bolton. He'd need to be especially careful not to let Bolton know about him and Beth. Who knew what that brute would do if he had found that he was being played?
"Bully..." Jonathan muttered, and raised a brow. He hadn't used that word in such a manner since highschool. It was true though. He was much like the lads in his highschool who heckled and beat on him for pleasure. Especially that one, in particular. That son of a bitch who was now in a wheel chair, because of Jonathan.
He sighed. All this thinking would drive him mad. He wanted to speak with Beth again. It was almost odd, talking to her earlier, because of how long it had been. He was happy that she hadn't changed since two months ago. He remembered her sly face giving him an expression of mischievous glee as she told him she had played him. For a split second he'd felt like he really would kill her, making him apologize like that. But she'd been felt like that for months. He shivered, imagining himself in her position. He was surprised she hadn't killed him yet. So, he let the little minx live.
"Bethany Niles..." murmured. She looked terrible in that orange jumpsuit. He much preferred her in red.
Or nothing at all.
He blinked at his sudden thought. Throughout their entire relationship, he'd not thought that way about her in such a risque manner. Why was that? The psychiatrist in him suggested that it was because of the time he'd spent with her when she was a child, that he in some way still saw her as the twelve year old girl he once knew. Hell, she still was a child in some senses. But he'd called her a woman earlier. Something he didn't remember ever doing.
Perhaps she had changed in two months. Not literally, but in his mind, she'd changed. He frowned at this. When did that happen? Sifting through his memory, he found when he'd talked to Charmin that day. Was that it? When that idiot had asked about Bethany's skills in bed? He also remembered speaking the lie to Arkham about his relationship with Beth. How she was used for his own sexual pleasure. Were these encounters causing him to think subconsciously about...that? He also added the fact that he'd not been with a woman in many months to the equation. He cursed under his breath.
"Absolutely frustrating..." he said in agitation, and rolled over to press his face against his pillow. Bethany Niles certainly was not a child any longer, and it seemed that he was only just realizing this. She was a young woman. An annoying, frustrating, foolish young woman. She often infuriated him with her antics, and made even him act much the fool on occasion. Their arguments were often ridiculous, and her sudden changes in mood nearly drove him over the edge. Hell, he'd even considered killing her a second time at times. She was a constant thorn in his side, one that only pressed further in whenever he tried to do something about it.
And she wasn't afraid of him. He gripped his pillow as he thought of her unabashed face whenever he'd become angry. When others would tremble at his temper, she'd simply look at him with mild concern. Concern, for God's sakes. Not fear. It was at first frightening, knowing there was another besides the very few that were not afraid of him. Even as a child, she laughed at his scowls, his glares. It scared him, made him think he was losing his touch. Simply one of many reasons he kept her with him, with a silly subconscious thought that if he'd allowed her to leave, her bravery towards him would spread like a disease, affecting others and causing them to turn and laugh with her at his attempts to make them scream.
But now she was his, and his alone. She did not fear him like she should, but that didn't matter, so long as she belonged to him, so long as he could say that she was his. His possession, his prize to show the entire world that he had conquered the one that did not fear him, and they could not share in his glory.
God, what the hell was wrong with him?
"Son of a bitch." he muttered to himself. He felt ashamed at his thoughts towards her. But they were true in a sense. Even Charmin noticed his possessive attitude towards her.
'Oh, you were all smug whenever you caught me looking at her, man. Pulling her close, like she was some kind of prize.'
Jonathan was suddenly angry at the thought of not being able to pull her close at all in two months. That encounter they had in the hall was the most intimate they'd had in that span of time, and it was infuriating. He wanted to be with her, and he couldn't be because of that damned oaf, Bolton. It was his fault they were in this mess. His fault Jonathan couldn't hold her. God, he needed to be with her.
He needed her.
Jonathan gripped his hair, cursing himself and Beth. Cursing the following dark thoughts of her that he'd never relay to Beth for fear of her slapping him silly. He was so sick of thinking in such a way towards the girl. He hated not being able to help it. It all made him feel dirty and pleased at the same time. He feared that this constant distance from her would drive him mad, and make him take her as soon as he next saw her, like some beast. Why did relationships have to be so damned complicated? Why did no one warn him of these damnable quirks? He groaned in defeat and punched his pillow, ashamed that a mere girl was able to reduce him to some love-sick fool.
"Curse this love business all to hell..."
...
Author's Note: Kinda invaded Jon's head there, didn't we? Kinda weird in there, isn't it? It's not so reserved and organized as he leads most people to think, is it? Haha, hope you enjoyed his torment. Stay tuned, and thanks for the reviews! ;D