Jonathan planned everything with meticulous care. Jervis let him. He'd been feeling vulnerable since Joker had managed to fix one of his own mind control chips onto him. The feeling that someone else had control over him…

Thinking about it he should have been equally upset by Crane exerting his own dominance over him. Ordering him about while they orchestrated their escape. But there were some very important differences. For a start, Jonathan was trying to help him rather than abuse his technology. And for another, he trusted Jonathan.

The plan itself had surprised Jervis. Not so much for any ingenuity it involved but more because Jonathan… the Scarecrow… had come up with it. It was so delightfully outlandish. It had made Jervis smile. Plus, it depended on the help of others, and not just any others, but female others.

When the time came they enlisted the help of Harley. Jervis had always been fond of Harley and though he never admitted it, he knew Jonathan was too. She was more than happy to occupy Joker's attention while they set up their 'show'. Despite all her outward appearances she was actually highly intelligent and quickly understood what they wanted.

Unlike Harley, Joker's thugs were hired for size rather than brains so it was child's play to slip mind control cards on them. It helped that they were unsure how to deal with visiting Rogues. To punch or not to punch. It was Jervis' idea to use them to set up. Why should they do all the heavy lifting when they had such helpful puppets?

By the time Joker returned with Harley, everything was in place.

"What's this?"

"It's a surprise Puddin'," she leapt gracefully onto the stage. "A little show, just for you."

"Is this one of your ideas," he asked suspiciously.

"Nah. Actually it was…" she suddenly bit her lip. "But they said if I told you it would spoil the surprise." He flopped down into a chair.

"Alright then. But this better be amusing." She grinned happily.

"Ahem. Presenting… a Tale of Control and Terror. I give you… Tweeddledum and Tweedledee." The make-shift curtains clumsily parted and his two goons stepped up beside Harley. They'd been dressed in matching stripy outfits.

"Tweedledum and Tweedledee agreed to have a battle." Both thugs dutifully produced clubs from behind their backs. Joker sat up interested.

"For Tweedledum," she gestured to her left. "Said Tweedledee," she spun so her hand pointed the other way. "Had spoiled his nice new rattle." Tweedledum swung his club and swiftly knocked Harley out. Joker laughed. A recorded voice continued the narration.

"Just then flew down a monstrous crow," Joker jumped as a huge shadow flew over his head. "As black as a tar-barrel." He replaced his gun as he realised it wasn't the Bat and laughed as the gigantic bird's outstretched wings collided with the heads of his thugs. They fell onto their broad backsides and their propeller hats spun off their heads. Joker continued to laugh.

"Which frightened both the heroes so," the voice continued as a cloud of gas burst from the crow's mouth directly into the faces of the thugs. "They quite forgot their quarrel." The men's faces drained of colour as the toxin took effect. They stared at the Joker still laughing away, but it wasn't a man they saw anymore, but a rabid hyena. With a scream they both leapt at him.

He managed to duck out the way at the last second and the two goons collided again. They stared at each other with confused expressions then began to swing their clubs at each other. Joker scarpered outside and caught his breath in the alley.

He should be angry, he knew. His lair had been invaded, his girl had been knocked out, his goons were beating each other up and now he was standing outside in the cold. But it was just too… damn… funny. He laughed.

He was still laughing when the police pulled up, no doubt attracted by the continued screams and crashes coming from inside. He easily slipped away from them. However he couldn't avoid the Bat so easily.

"Alright Joker," Batman spoke behind him on the roof. "What's going on?"

"Did you ever have a song stuck in your head?" He turned to face the Dark Knight and began to sing. "Dance little baby, dance up high. Never mind baby, mother is nigh. Cr…" he was cut off by a solid uppercut.

"I don't know what your plan was this time but you're going back to Arkham." Joker began to snigger.

"If you're going to play rough, I won't play."

"That's fine by me." He dragged Joker up and led him away, still giggling.

In a room not far away, two concealed figures watched proceedings. The taller one was listening attentively to the screams still echoing from below. The shorter one was frowning after Joker.

"What was that about? Dance little baby, dance up high. Never mind baby, mother is nigh."

"Crow and Caper. Caper and Crow," Jonathan continued. Jervis' eyes widened as realisation dawned.

"Oh, I say. That's rather good."

"Hhm?"

"Caper… capper… Hatter. He was telling Batman it was Hatter and Crow." Jonathan snorted.

"Just as well he's too dense to appreciate it." They headed out and away from the excitement.

"Thank you, Jonathan," Jervis said quietly. The taller man stopped abruptly.

"Huh. I've got to go get some of my things." He gestured vaguely. Jervis nodded. He didn't want to embarrass his friend with his gratitude. And Jonathan probably did need to seek out another stash of his fear toxin.

"Okay. We'll catch up tomorrow maybe?"

"Maybe. I might be busy with plans but... maybe." Jervis nodded again and Jonathan promptly turned to slink off into Gotham's dark alleyways.