Max Gordon, aka March to his friends, was a normal young twenty something year old. He had traveled the world for two years and now he was back to Gotham to go to college at Gotham University. His brother was helping him a bit with tuition but most of it was paid by scholarships. He was getting a Bachelor of Science with a major in neuroscience. He wanted to know which parts of the brain made us feel certain things. He wasn't as concerned with the feelings. Just the function.
"You're late." March's brother said as he meet him at the train station.
"By an hour. I know. Plane came in delayed. I suppose I forgot to call you to warn you. Sorry." March said going up and hugging his older brother. "How have you been, Jim? You look stressed."
"Oh. Just work. And everything. It can get stressful. I'm ok." Jim said hugging him back. "I hope you took loads of pictures of all the places you went in Europe because we are definitely looking through those tonight. How was Europe?"
"Jim I can clearly tell that was a lie. You aren't ok. What's been going on? I know you were exonerated from that whole Nygma framing you thing but I kind lost contact for awhile from you. What's been going on?"
"A lot of things. I didn't go back to Lee so now she's marrying another man. She moved on without me. I don't know what else I expected. And I didn't go back to work at the GCPD. I'm working as a bounty hunter now."
"That's rough about Lee. You two were good together. But why on Earth would you stay away from the GCPD? That's your life, Jim! You are always talking about your job. How can you stay away from your life?" March asked as they walked down the street. Jim was not doing well.
"I've done bad things, Max. I don't feel like the hero people tend to view me as. I can't go back to that if its a lie."
A van drove by with a man shouting something on the speaker attached. "Vote for Oswald Cobblepot and Make Gotham Safe Again!"
March looked at Jim with an amused look. "Really? That guy's running for mayor? The Penguin is running for mayor? That's hilarious. I remember you telling me all about the guy. People actually want him running the city?"
"People are scared. Things have happened. Penguin is playing on that fear. I wouldn't be surprised if he wins given the competition is former Mayor Hill." Jim said not really looking fond of the idea.
"I heard about some of it on the news. Gotham is popular news in other parts of the world. All the odd things that happen. That awful secret lab and those people that were victims of it. Then that one hypnosis guy recently. People are calling him the Mad Hatter. Because of the hat I suppose and the obsession with his poor sister, Alice. But I suppose you know all this. You were in the thick of it as always. Why do you constantly have to place yourself in harms way? I expect someday to get a call saying you died in some awful way. You don't have to save everyone yourself."
"That's one of the reasons I'm not a cop right now. Because I do that. Being like this, I don't have to worry about the whole city anymore."
"That's bullshit and you know it. You will never not worry about the whole city." March said exasperated. "Go back to work, Jim. That's where you belong."
"Maybe. Someday soon. But not right now." Jim said before changing the subject to something else. March let him. He knew that Jim was going through some bad stuff now. He would need time. But he also knew that Jim probably also hated not being a cop and needed that more.
As predicted, Penguin won the election in a landslide. And turned out to be rather competent so far. March was enjoying the snide comments Jim would make ever so often about Penguin being mayor. Jim did not like Penguin. He would call his brother while he was at school and that's all Jim would talk about.
March's classes had started and were enjoyable and his classmates were friendly. He made friends easily. It was easy to make friends if you could understand the person you were trying to make friends with. And March was very good at figuring out what a person's interests were. March probably would've been even better at Psychology than neuroscience but he had his interests and he stuck with them.
March knew that Jim had a girlfriend now that was a reporter. He met her. Their dynamic was so weird. No lovely dovey stuff. It was rather casual. Maybe Jim needed that after Lee. Valerie Vale was beautiful and snarky and not above using her relationship with Jim as a way to get a scoop. But Jim seemed resigned to that last part.
March went over to Jim's place to drop some groceries off. Jim did not take care of himself. He let himself in and put the food away and then sighed and tidied up the living room a bit. His brother was a mess. March let himself out and started walking back to his bus stop and passed a man in a rather dramatic top hat.
"Nice hat." March said casually as he passed. March did love dramatic hats even though he never had the courage to wear one himself. It made you stand out way too much.
"Oh thank you. Did I just see you leave that apartment building? Do you happen to live there?" the eccentric looking man said smiling at him pleasantly.
"No. My brother does. Do you know someone that lives there?" March asked a little unnerved by the guy.
"Yes. I do. James Gordon actually. Is your brother a neighbor of his?" the man asked politely.
March snorted. "No. Jim's my older brother. How do you know him?"
"His brother?" the man had an odd unreadable look on his face.
"Yeah. I'm Max Gordon. But its March to my friends. And you are?"
"I'm Jervis Tetch. I do believe you've heard of me? Now, I would like you to listen to the sound of my voice..." The man's eyes twinkled madly as he hypnotized March. March felt like he was falling. It was an odd feeling. He could feel himself stand there unconcerned. But inside he was struggling to get away. The fucking Mad Hatter. Jim told him that Jervis hated him. And now March was going to suffer for it because he was Jim's brother. Jervis smiled at him madly as March's eyes unfocused. "My dear March, I believe this was indeed fate bringing us together."
The next thing March knew he was sitting in a chair in an unfamiliar townhouse and Jervis was pacing frantically and muttering to himself. March couldn't move. He had vague memories of watching himself follow Jervis obediently home like some dog and not able to do anything about it. Time seemed a little weird. He was barely aware of his surroundings and surprised he was aware at all, given what was happening to him.
"Now what should I do with you?" Jervis asked as he walked up and stared at him intensely. "An eye for an eye I initially feel inclined to think. Killing the sibling of James would be a fair trade for the death of my sister. But that doesn't seem like it will hurt him enough. So I find myself at a loss at what to do with you at the moment. Maybe I should make you suffer and make Jim watch? Or maybe I should make you do something horrible to someone else that Jim cares about. The possibilities are endless." Jervis said before walking away and pacing again, thinking about what he could do.
March just sat there hoping he wasn't going to die soon. Or worse.
"You said your name was March? Like the March Hare in Alice in Wonderland." Jervis said smiling as he walked up again. He seemed like he had come to a decision and that scared March. "I'm not blind to what they call me now in the news. The Mad Hatter. Its fitting. Alice always enjoyed that story so much as a child. I grew to love it as well through her. Perhaps this really is fate. Its a way to get back at Jim in a way that will truly hurt. And it just seems right. With a name like that, its like this was meant to be. My March Hare." the man said with a pleased and mad look. March stared at him terrified. What was he going to do to him? He obviously triggered something in the guy with the whole reference to the Alice in Wonderland character as his name and that didn't seem like it was going to end well for him.
Jervis walked right up to him and told him to stand. And he stood up. He told him to look into his eyes. And he did. He stared into those dark eyes that seemed to suck him in and never let go. He couldn't entirely process what was being said to him but it was probably not good. He could feel his head get foggy and weird. The man was doing something to his head. And he couldn't stop it. He couldn't even stop from staring into his eyes as he smugly spoke his rhymes at him. He felt like he was falling and couldn't hold onto anything. He tried grasping at anything in his head to keep himself...himself. But it was hard. Jervis was messing around in there. It didn't hurt. It felt good. All of it was telling him to just give into it completely and let go. And most of him did just that. But a very small part of him held on just a little. It was not noticeable. But it was there. Jervis smiled at him in triumph. He released March's paralysis.
"You are free to roam the house as much as you wish, my new friend. But don't leave just yet. We have things to plan." Jervis said smiling.
March just sat down, a little disoriented. His head was a mess and no matter how hard he tried to clear it, he couldn't." Sure thing, Hatter. Thanks." he said frowning and confused.
"You are still disoriented. I'll go make us some tea. Just sit for now." the madman walked away to the kitchen. March sat there in confusion. What had he been so worried about? He felt like he had just been worried at something but he couldn't think of what it was. He could hear Jervis clattering around in the kitchen making tea. Nothing seemed to be wrong. So why had he felt like that?
Jervis came back with a tray with a tea set and some food and set it down on the coffee table. "Perhaps this will make you feel better, my friend." Jervis said smiling and sitting down on the couch.
"Well I never turn my nose up at free food." March said trying to calm him his breathing a little. He shook himself out of his confusion and smiled at his friend.
"Good because I have enough for both of us. We'll talk business after we eat." Jervis said pouring a cup of tea and setting it in front of March.
"Thanks." March said, taking it. Did he even like tea? He couldn't remember. But the scenario didn't seem weird. Like it was normal for him to be having tea with his new friend. But a small part of him was screaming and he didn't know why. What was wrong with him?
"I do believe this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship my dear March Hare." Jervis said raising his cup up in a brief toast. "I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes."
"So am I." March said politely, smiling back at him. He takes a sip of the tea. Maybe he did like tea.
After their little tea party, where March was forced to talk all about Jim's personal life, Jervis starting explaining his plan. "It will be so good to have help. Well, the twins are helpful but I need someone who can think at a similar level. They have a hard time with figuring things out occasionally. And you know Jim so well. Being his brother. You will be such a helpful ally to have."
"Glad to be of help." March said. "Now what's the plan?"
"Oh. Yes. My plan is very complex. I won't tell you all of it. You don't need to know all of it. Not yet. But I will make Jim suffer. I'm not even going to kill him. He deserves much worse than that. We are going to make sure that everything he loves is destroyed. And show him how helpless he really is at stopping me. We need to find some people to help us out. I can do all that. And then we find the real stars of the show. You can help with that part. For now, I want you to go back to Jim and act normal. Don't say that you've met me. He will know soon. But not yet. I want it to be a surprise."
"I can do that. No problem." March said getting up. "How will I contact you?"
"For now you won't. You will know when it is time. And then you can go and lure one of our guests of honor to the tea party we are throwing for your brother." Jervis said smiling. "Be careful, my March Hare. He mustn't suspect you."
"He won't, Hatter." March said, reassuring him.
Jim was deep in thought about Lee when March came up to him in the diner. He jumped a little when his brother tapped him on the shoulder. He looked up startled. "Oh. Its just you. You just missed Vale."
"Oh, I did? Bummer. I do like that woman." March said smiling as he sat across from Jim in the booth. "You two still doing ok?"
"I suppose. I'm not really sure where the relationship is going actually. Anyway, what kept you? You said you'd be here thirty minutes ago."
"Oh I got a little distracted. I met a guy. I do like the intense ones. So I'm a bit late. Sorry." March said.
"Oh so you might be seeing someone then, now?" Jim said. "I figured after that guy in France that turned out to be with the mob, you'd swear off guys for awhile. That didn't end well. I believe you said you were nearly arrested." Jim said amused.
"Hey, how was I to know that the guy was a mob boss? So I have bad luck with guys. So what. I don't see your relationships turning out much better." March said before grimacing as he realized what he said. "Sorry. That was uncalled for and I realize that. Given all that's happened."
"Its ok. I know. My luck with relationships is awful. Just be careful. Because yours aren't much better." Jim said.
"I'm an adult, Jim. I know to be careful. Trouble just seems to find me. And I suppose this time around will probably go rather badly for everyone involved too. It's rather likely to go bad actually." After he said that, he clutched his head with his hand and rubbed it.
"Something wrong?" Jim asked.
"Just a headache. No big deal. Long nights studying." March said.
"Try to actually sleep occasionally. In between all that studying." Jim said nagging him lightheartedly.
"You're one to talk, Mr. 'I'll sleep when I'm dead.'" March said amused.
"That's fair. But you need your rest so you can keep those grades high." Jim said. "Why neuroscience anyway?"
"Why not? I want to understand how the brain works. Maybe help people with all that I learn. Like curing Alzheimer's or something. I don't know. I don't really have an end goal in place yet."
Just then, a very pale albino man in a white suit walked up to them. They both looked up at the strange man. "Can I help you?" Jim asked, weirded out.
"Jim Gordon, Jervis Tetch has a message for you."
"He's hypnotized." Jim said, very concerned.
"I can see that." March said looking equally as concerned.
"Follow my friend where to go, to learn the truth you've hidden below." said the blank eyed albino. "Should you choose not to play, precious people will die today."
"I need to go. If Jervis is putting people in danger then I need to stop it. I'll see you later." Jim said getting up to follow the albino.
March got up too. "You'll see me now. I'm coming with you. You shouldn't be alone. Not against Jervis."
"No. I don't want to put you at risk." Jim protested.
"Tough. Its a bit late for that." March said, an odd look passing across his face too brief for Jim to catch. "This guy hates you and wants to hurt you. That means I was at risk the minute I got into town. It would be safer for me to be with you than somewhere else on my own right now. So deal with it. Because I'm coming."
"Ok, fine. But stay close and if I say run, then run. And whatever you do, cover your ears if Jervis starts to talk." Jim said, not liking the idea at all but seeing little other choice.
"Like I said, I'm an adult and know when I'm in danger. Let's just go." March said.
They follow the albino who silently leads them to their goal. Which seemed to be in the middle of a random part of the city near an overpass for some reason. The man just stopped in place when they got there and didn't do anything else.
"I guess we're here?" March said with a frown. "Why are we here?"
The pay phone across the street started ringing. Jim ran across the street to the phone an answered it as March caught up with him.
"Hello, James." Jervis smugly said as Jim answered the phone.
"Jervis." Jim said in greeting, with a serious look. March stared at him in concern. "Never should have left that hole you were hiding in."
"Oh. I wasn't just hiding." Jervis said amused. "I put the time to good use. Made a thorough study of you. Quite the fascinating history, yet so tragic. A father lost, career gone by the wayside, failed relationships."
"And here I didn't think about you once." Jim snarked.
"Oh James. You and I both know that's a lie." Jervis said with a little laugh. "I've been inside of that head of yours, James. I've seen the web of lies you tell yourself. Strung together to keep that fragile psyche of yours intact."
"Well it's been nice catching up with you..." Jim said, going to hang up.
"I'm going to force you to confront who you really are. And I'm going to drive you mad doing it. Now, please, direct your eyes to the overpass."
March and Jim looked up and saw the bride and groom calmly walking up to the edge of the overpass above them. The fall would kill them. That was certain. But they were hypnotized and didn't even know where they were.
"Meet Dave and Amy Walters. Married just this morning. Lovely ceremony." Jervis said. "In 30 seconds they're going to jump to their deaths. Take the stairs and you can save them. However, only you can save them. Not your brother. Something bad will happen to him if he tries anything. I will make sure of that. I would also like to pull your attention to down the street where a little boy, named Shane, is going to be hit by a truck, driven by my highly esteemed associate."
They quickly looked over to where a truck was seen getting ready to barrel towards a little boy standing in the road. The truck driver and the little boy were hypnotized.
"Again, if your brother saves either of them, he dies. This is about you. Not him. He's not allowed to help!" Jervis said snarling. "Choice is yours. You can't save both. So who's it going to be?" the phone went to dial tone.
"Don't help, Max. He'll kill you. Don't help." Jim pleaded desperately to March.
"Ok. I won't. Don't worry." March said reassuring as Jim rushed to save the little boy. At the same time the newlyweds jumped. March watched them fall. Jim didn't notice his lack of reaction to it. Jim managed to save the boy. But the married couple was dead. Jim stared at the two dead lovers with a haunted look. March put his hand on his shoulder. They turned as the phone rang again. Jim walked silently over to the phone and answered.
"You son of a bitch." Jim snarled.
"Good. Now I have your attention."
"They were innocent Jervis. You didn't have to kill them."
"It was your choice James. You practically pushed them off the ledge." Jervis said. "Stay with me James. James?"
"What?"
"87 Fulton Street, apartment 4C. Five minutes. Come alone this time. No police either. Or more people die." Jervis said hanging up the phone.
"Max, you can't come with me this time. I'm sorry. But you are all I have left. I can't be putting you at risk. And he told me to come alone." Jim said.
"Are you sure? It could be dangerous." March asked.
"I'm sure. I'll call you later, to let you know I'm alright." Jim said, starting to walk away.
"Oh I bet I'll see all about it in the news anyway. If its anything like business as usual for you. Be careful." March said before walking away in the other direction.
While Jervis was busy distracting Jim, the twins were in the van waiting for Jervis's word and March was headed to pick up Lee. They'd all meet up at Lee's apartment in a bit. March knew Lee's routine well enough, being Jim's brother. He walked up to her and smiled. "Lee. Hi. I don't know if you remember me. We met awhile ago. I'm Max Gordon. I hope this isn't awkward."
"Max? Wow. It has been awhile. It's not that awkward. Me and Jim are water under the bridge. It's good to see you. I didn't know you were back in town." Lee said.
"I just got back about a few months ago. I've been going to school here. Gotham University. Anyway, I was hoping you had some time? I need to talk to someone and Jim can be a little hard to talk to at times. I know this might not be appropriate but I didn't really know who else to go to." March said getting a little teary eyed.
"What happened? Are you ok? You can tell me." Lee said, getting a concerned look on her face.
"Its hard to explain. It really is. And rather personal. I don't know if I want to take up your time with it. It might take awhile to explain it all." March said, with a look that made Lee worried about him.
"Look, lets head to my place. Its not far. You can tell me all about it. You'll be in a safe place. I have time if its important and it seems to be." Lee said.
"Thank you." March said. Bingo. That was easy. He didn't even have to restrain her. Jervis might be a hypnosis expert but March could get people to want to do what he wanted them to do with no hypnosis required. You just had to find out who they were as a person. And Lee helped people. No matter what. It was a bait that would never fail with her. He let her lead him back to her townhouse that she shared with Mario Calvi.
"You have a lovely home." March said.
"Thank you." Lee said smiling. She turned around to put away her purse and when she turned back around, there was a gun pointing at her and March was the one holding it. "What are you doing?" she asked frightened.
"What I've been told to do. I don't have anything against you Lee. I like you. But its not up to me. Its up to Jim." March said smiling. he lead her into the living room. "Sit down. Please. Your other guests might be a little late. My apologies."
"My other guests?" Lee asked confused. "What is this about? Why are you doing this?"
"I should have thought that was obvious. I'm doing it because I've been told to do it. It's as simple as that." March said.
"Jervis. He's controlling you. Fight it, Max." Lee said, her eyes wide. "Please fight it. You are Jim Gordon's brother. He was able to break through this. So you can too."
March just smiled at her. "My name is March. Not Max. And its a little late to start fighting it now. Now, just wait for a little while. Jervis will be here soon with your other guest and then my brother will eventually make his way here to rescue you. He might even succeed. Who knows. We'll see. It all depends on him."
Jervis soon arrived with Vale in tow between the twins. "Ah. March. You got her. Did she give you any trouble?"
"None at all. She thought I needed to talk to her about some personal matter I couldn't talk about in public. I didn't even have to restrain her." March said smiling at Jervis.
Jervis smiled back, pleased. "My clever little March Hare. Such a silver tongue."
"What the hell? Max? You're working for him?" Vale said as she noticed March.
"He's been hypnotized. It seems to be a pretty thorough job too. Max, we'll find some way to help you get free of this. I promise you." Lee said, trying to reassure the man.
"You probably should be more worried about yourselves right now." March pointed out.
"That is an excellent point, my dear March. They seem to think they will get out of this. One of them might but not both." Jervis said smiling smugly. "Take them both upstairs. We need to prepare for Jim's arrival. So much to do."
The twins took both women upstairs and Jervis smiled at March, his eyes sparkling with triumph. "You are better than I could ever hope for. Truly my best work. Jim will be devastated. His only sibling belongs to me. And I'm not letting you go. Ever. I've had time to think about this. I've felt less heartbroken since you've been in my life. Having someone by my side will be a comfort in the days ahead. We need to make them all pay. Together. I had hoped it would be Alice that would be at my side, but you are an acceptable replacement. And Jim owes me this at the very least." Jervis said caressing his face fondly. March stood there staring at Jervis, and not really reacting. "I'll perfect you over time. The look in your eyes is still not right." Jervis said, frowning at his lack of reaction.
March watched from a nearby chair as Jervis talked to Jim and tried to make him choose who would die. He had rigged up a set where two highly successful people were strapped to chairs attached to high voltage electricity in an abandoned factory. Jim refused to choose and Jervis snarled in anger and killed both men to spite him.
"He is so frustrating! He wouldn't choose! That's fine. If he does it next time both the women he loves die. So I'm not upset." Jervis said trying to calm himself down. "We need to get ready. Deever and Dumfree have been setting up the dining room for us, for our little party. We should see if they are making progress. We need everything to be perfect. And I should probably make that tea. They'd just bungle that part up." Jervis said walking away. March got up and followed him obediently. He watched as Jervis put a kettle on to boil for tea. He turned around and smiled at March. "I should probably teach you how to make a good cup of tea soon. You'd probably not bungle it like most people." He set out a clean tea set down and made sure it didn't have any spots on it. Then he prepared some loose leaf black tea that he just adored. They were having a party and needed the best. "I considered the oolong. But I found a good basic black tea was best for serious situations like this. What do you think?"
"Black tea seems fine." March said not looking like he cared much about the tea.
Jervis sighed and mumbled to himself. "Getting there. Still not quite right but he will be." He went over and stared at March, smiling. "Probably should work a little bit on you before your brother comes. Rome wasn't built in a day but we can at least show him progress."
March stood not reacting to that statement. Inside though, that little part of him that was still him, was crying in despair. He was never going to get away from this man. He was going to turn him into a monster just like him. And he couldn't stop it. "Whatever you need, Hatter."
"Indeed. Now look at me. In the eyes. Try not to blink." Jervis said. He looked into his eyes and started to float again as Jervis started talking to him. Saying things that the small part of him that was him still was chilled by. Jervis was trying to make him a willing partner to his crimes. As ironic as that seemed. He didn't want some mindless slave. He wanted a partner. And maybe even more when and if Jervis wanted it. Jervis slipped orders in that would make him attracted to Jervis. But nothing active. Nothing about doing anything sexual. Yet. March hadn't been unattracted to him before but being forced to be sexually interested in someone was hard to deal with, even if it was with a pleasant to look at partner. He would not get to choose whether or not he did something sexual with Jervis. Did that count as rape? That little free part of him thought it might. He didn't like feeling so helpless. "There. Much better. You look much less unfocused now."
"Thanks." March said smiling. "So you think Jim will be here soon?" the kettle chose that time to whistle and Jervis went over to take it off the burner.
"I have no doubt he will be here soon. We need to get everyone seated." Jervis said. "I'll let you shoot the one he loves."
"Thanks, Hatter. If it'll make you happy, I'll do it." March said.
"You are such a good friend." Jervis said. "Now, time to go get the ladies seated at the table. It's almost time to begin."
The twins and Jervis got the woman, who seemed to have tried to escape unsuccessfully, and brought them downstairs. March was told to wait out of sight. And Vale and Thompkins were sat at the table. And Jervis sat at the head of the table with the twins flanking the either side of him.
Jim soon came through the front door with his gun out. He entered the room and Jervis smiled at him with a smug look. "Welcome to our tea party, James. We've been expecting you. Please, sit down."
Jim didn't sit down immediately. He stayed aiming his gun at the twins. So he didn't immediately notice the gun being pressed to the side of his head. "Sit down, big brother. You're being rude." Jim looked at his brother aiming a gun at him and smiling smugly at him. With an almost Jervis-like smile on his face. But the smile did not reach his eyes. His eyes seemed blank.
"No. He got to you." Jim said, staring at his brother in shock and dismay. He looked over at Jervis. "Let him go. This is about you and me. Don't bring him into this."
"It is about him. Because he is one of the only people you love. I think it's more than fair that I take him as repayment for the loss of my own sibling. I'm not even killing him. He will live a good, happy, and long life. More than you deserve. You deserve to see your brother die in the exact same way as Alice. But March is special. I have grown fond of him. They call me the Mad Hatter. And what Mad Hatter is complete without his March Hare? I'm keeping him, James. I hope you understand that I will never let him go. He will be mine forever, even after you are long gone. I hope that knowledge haunts you. He will never be free. Because it will eat at you to know you can't save him. And in that I will finally have a bit of my revenge. But not all of it. We still have more planned for today. So sit. Get comfortable. March, please show him to a chair. Let's be polite."
"Of course." March led Jim to a chair and his brother reluctantly sat down. March also took Jim's gun and gave it to Deever.
"You have to fight this, Max. Please. You understand the brain. You can figure this out. Just find a way out." Jim pleaded with his brother. March had an odd look on his face for a few moments like he was really getting through to him. But Jervis noticed.
"March, do sit down. Now." Jervis said, making it clear it was an order. March shook his head trying unsuccessfully to clear it and sat down. "That was admirable. But pointless. He belongs to me now. Its permanent. He is truly my masterpiece. A work in progress but still a work of art all the same. The things I've put in his head are layered so thick, you will never get him back completely. He will always be mine. Even if I die, he will be mine. Now onto business." Jervis got up and poured everyone tea.
Jim looked at the two women and tried to reassure him. "It's going to be ok."
"Don't lie to them, James." Jervis said as he passed out cups of tea. "I must apologize for the hideous china. Frankly, I expected more from Don Falcone's son. I guess I know what I'm getting you for your wedding." He smiled at them all and raised up his cup. "To good health." Only March responded to the toast with his own raised cup. And then Jim raised his own cup up.
"You know what. I'll have some." Jim said, trying to show he wasn't afraid. He drank some.
"Bravo big brother. I'm really proud of how much you manage to hide just how utterly terrified you are." March said mockingly, sipping his own tea with a smirk.
Jim tried to ignore the Jervis-like comments like that coming from his own brother. Jervis really did seem to want to turn his brother into some carbon copy of himself.
Jervis then told his story for context. He told a story of a brother and a sister and how the brother searched for years for his sister only to lose her forever when Jim Gordon came along. "Does that sound about right James?"
"Sure why not?" James said, very done with the conversation.
"Now James, I sense you're not being honest. Though that's not surprising. considering you've run from your true self every day of your life. The insights into your life from March have been amazing. He knows you so well. And I don't think you know him half as well. More proof you aren't deserving of love. You can't run from this choice. Not this time. The woman you love is going to die. And March is going to be the one to pull the trigger." Jervis said with a smug look. "We just need to figure out which one it is that you love. That you truly love. Let's review our options shall we?"
"On the one hand, we have Lee Thompkins." Jervis said getting up "Intelligent, kind. She thought she could save you from your darkness, drag you into the light. And what did she get for her efforts? Hmm?" Jervis mocked him with their unborn baby's death.
"She's the obvious one. But it's been awhile. I missed the whole Blackgate thing and your separation from her. So I don't have a good insight into whether or not you still think she's the One. People change. So it might not be her." March said getting up and standing next to Jervis.
"Look in her eyes." Jervis said looking over at Jim and then looked over at March and smiled.
March smiled back and then looked at Lee. "She still has love for you, Jim. Congrats."
"And then, there's Valerie Vale." Jervis said, walking over to where Vale sat, March close behind him. "The intrepid reporter, from a blue-collar family. She still has hope for you. What will happen when she learns who you really are? So those are the choices. Now its up to you."
March held up his gun. "Which one do you choose brother? Vale or Lee? Who do you love?"
"First, get these idiots to lower their guns. I don't trust them not to shoot me by accident." Jim said.
"You're right. They are stupid." Jervis said. "Down boys."
"Now you drop your guns too." Jim said to both Jervis and March.
"Now why would we do that?" Jervis asked.
"Because I'll shoot you." Mario Calvi suddenly entered the room with a gun aimed at them both. He looked a little surprised to see two people with guns instead of the one he figured on.
"Well well." Jervis said smugly. "This was your plan all along. Play along until Dr. Calvi could sneak in and shoot me dead? Well there's only two small problems. The first is my partner is likely to shoot Lee in the head right after you shoot me. The second is before you arrived, I went down to the basement and switched the magazine in that gun with an empty one."
They heard the telltale click of an empty gun. Deever and Dumfree grabbed hold of Calvi.
"My apologies Dr. Calvi. I only set the table for five." Jervis said. "Dumfree, will you please escort the doctor to the bathroom?" After Calvi was out of the room, Jervis turned back to Jim. "Now I am out of patience! Who do you love?"
"You want to talk about love, fine. Let's talk about who you love, or loved." Jim said.
"Don't."
"Your sister knew you were crazy, Jervis." Jim said trying to goad him.
"Stop it."
"She was terrified of you. She hated you. She told me..."
"Enough."
"what you did to her when you were kids. You did the same thing to her as you are doing to my brother now. That's not love, Jervis. That's obsession. And its sick."
"Lies! Deceit! The story you tell is incomplete! She loved me!" Jervis said.
"She loved you?" Jim said. "She killed herself rather than be with you."
"She didn't...no." Jervis said with a sad look.
"She impaled herself on a spike and died in agony, because even that was better than having you touch her."
"No no no no no." Jervis was getting very upset.
"I saw her when she was dying. Her face... When she knew she was finally safe from you, she was smiling. Because despite the pain, she was happy."
"Liar!" Jervis exploded with rage. "She was the only thing I ever loved, and you, you, sent her soul to heaven above." He pressed his gun to Jim's head.
"Yes." Jim said "That's right...me. I'm the one you want. Not Vale. Not Lee. Not Max. Me. Let them go and you can do whatever you want to me."
Jervis seriously considered the offer of just shooting Jim in the head. He was that pissed off. But then he took a deep breath. "Oh James. You're trying to confuse me. But I won't let you. No. I'm determined that you'll live on and suffer without your love as I have. Choose."
"No I won't choose." Jim said.
"You will. You will. You'll certainly spill." Jervis said with a snarl. He straightened up. 'I'll make it easy for you. On the count of three, instead of telling us who you love, tell us who to kill. Or March shoots both of them. Which would be such a thrill to watch."
"One."
"Two."
"Three."
"Kill Lee." Jim said. Lee had a shocked and scared look on her face.
"Finally." Jervis said. "The truth is revealed. You chose Lee because you love Vale. Very well. Kill Vale."
March smiled as he turned to Vale and shot her in the abdomen.
"I knew you had it in you, James." Jervis said happily. "All this time you made everyone believe you were the hero, but deep down you always knew the truth. You're a villain." Jervis said. "Come, March. It's time to let your brother reflect on things." March followed behind him.
Jim took that time to make sure Vale didn't bleed out so he didn't go running after them.
Jervis was in a very good mood the rest of the day. When they got back to their lair, he turned to March and with a look of pure happiness. "Finally. He gets to feel a bit of what he made me feel. And this is only the beginning. By the end of this, he will truly feel despair. He thinks I don't know he still loves Lee. I just did that so Vale wouldn't be an option he could fall back on. If she lives, she'll see he's far too dangerous to continue dating. And if she dies, well, that works too. But Lee. We have to get a lot more complicated with Lee. Its not enough to kill her. He'll know that she still loved him at the end. We have to make her hate him. Make her never want to see him again. Oh this is going to be so much fun. I'm going to need access to Alice. We need her blood. It'll be easy enough to get."
"That would definitely get to him." March said.
"Indeed. It's been such a great day." Jervis said walking up to him. "Thank you for being there to enjoy it with me."
"That's what friends are for, Hatter." March said smiling.
"Yes. It is." Jervis said, staring at him with an intense look. He muttered hypnosis trigger words at him. March suddenly felt aroused. It was intense and sudden and he could barely keep himself standing. Jervis helped him stay up, holding him upright.
"I think, my friend, it's time we celebrate." Jervis said with a hungry look.
March returned a similar look. He was extremely turned on. As much as Jervis needed him to be. Jervis leaned forward, grabbing ahold of March as he did and pulled him into a possessive and bruising kiss. March kissed him back. When they finally pulled away they both gasped for breath. "I believe its time to take this to the bedroom, my dear March Hare." Jervis led him to the upstairs bedroom, holding tightly to his hand the whole way. He kept staring at March with dark possessive looks. When they got to the bedroom Jervis closed the door and told March to remove his clothing. March removed his clothing without a word. Jervis could see he was aroused when he was fully nude. Jervis stared at his body and almost reverently touched him all over.
"Such beautiful skin. I will learn every inch of it. Every inch of you." His hand traveled lower where it wrapped around March's cock and lightly squeezed. He started removing his gloves and when he was finished, he placed his hand back on March's cock, stroking him firmly and loving the blissful look on March's face. March closed his eyes and threw his head back in pleasure. The small part of him that was still him had gone out to lunch. It didn't want to experience this. He may have some odd kinks but mind controlled dubious consent was not one of them. But his body felt differently. His body felt whatever Jervis wanted it to feel. He was drowning in the sensation. And it was driving Jervis wild. He pushed him to his knees and stared down at him. "Your face. It makes me so hard to see how turned on I can make you. I can make you feel anything I want you to. Pain. Pleasure. Horror. Disgust. Love. Anything. Your body and mind are mine to play with. It's the most arousing thought I've ever had."
March just stared up at him waiting for orders.
"I am going to need some attention. I assume you are experienced with this sort of thing given what you've told me." Jervis said, very much getting off on having March completely under his control.
March was still kneeling on the floor in front of Jervis. He unbuttoned the man's trousers and pulled his cock out. The man was a decent size. Not huge but definitely not small. And he was rock hard. March leaned forward and licked the tip of Jervis's cock, looking up at him as he did so. Then he pulled the cock into his mouth. He wasn't unexperienced with this. He'd done it before. So he knew what to do. He sucked on the man's penis, watching as Jervis threw his head back with a blissful look, mumbling pleased sounds. Jervis's hand soon found March's head and gripped his hair tightly, controlling March's movements. He moaned in pleasure and couldn't help thrusting into March's mouth chasing more of that feeling. March tried his best to breath when he could find the time, but Jervis didn't give him a lot of time between thrusts. When Jervis finally pushed him away he was gasping for breath on the floor. Jervis was still very hard. And was looking down at him with a hungry look. "On the bed now, my little hare. It's time to consummate this new relationship." Jervis said a little out of breath himself.
March did what he was told. He lay on the bed and waited for Jervis. The man took off his top hat first. He undressed slowly, trying to relish in the feelings. There was no need to rush these things. March was laying there willing and eager for him. He could take his time and enjoy it. March belonged to him, body and soul.
Soon Jervis was nude. He got on the bed and pulled his tall lanky body over March's, pulling him in for another brutal and possessive kiss. March kissed him back. Jervis pulled away and started kissing him all over, stopping near his neck and opening his mouth to bite him there possessively, leaving a visible mark that would likely bruise. "Mine."
March lay there and let the madman touch him all over. Stroking him in all his sensitive spots. March willingly lost himself in the feelings so he wouldn't have to face how fucked up his situation was. He didn't want to be aware for this. So he did his best not to be. But he could still feel it all, no matter how much he tried not to. Jervis was trying to make him enjoy it. And his body did, even if a small part of his mind was slowly losing his sanity at the violation. So he accepted it and just tried to forget he had no control over any of it.
Jervis got up briefly. March just stared at the ceiling until he felt a warm and velvety feeling on his cock. He looked down and saw Jervis deep throating his cock. It felt so damn good and he couldn't handle it. He closed his eyes and moaned. Jervis moved March's legs into a different position and then slid two lubed fingers into his asshole as he was sucking on his cock. It was an uncomfortable feeling but the feeling of suction on his cock was drowning it out. Jervis scissored his fingers inside of him, loosening him up. He got up and removed his fingers. March made a little sound of protest.
"Patience, my beautiful little hare." Jervis said, covering him with his body and leaning in for another kiss. He pulled March's legs into a better position and then got between them. March could feel something at his entrance. Jervis then buried himself inside him in one swift thrust. It hurt. A lot. But March ignored the painful feeling as he was told to. Jervis narrowed his eyes in pleasure, using all of his self control not to start pounding away. He wanted his partner to enjoy it as well. He let March get adjusted to the feeling of him and then started moving, trying to angle himself in such a way that would hit that sensitive spot inside of March every single time. March was soon a moaning mess beneath Jervis and Jervis wasn't exactly being quiet either. He had picked up the pace of his thrusts and moaned enthusiastically. He whispered to March to move too, and soon March was matching his pace, just as enthusiastically. They were such a mess. Two sweat slicked bodies chasing the sweet taste of euphoria. There was no other better feeling than this, Jervis thought as he moaned. He was getting close. His thrusts became much less controlled. He frantically pounded himself into March as if he could absorb into him if he pushed hard enough. March screamed out his orgasm and his hole clenched him in such a beautiful way that Jervis was not far behind him, also screaming out his climax. March could feel Jervis explode into him. Jervis held himself there for a few moments and then collapsed on him bonelessly.
"That was exquisite. Absolutely perfect." Jervis said, rolling over onto his back on the bed and pulling March to lay against him. He stroked him affectionately. "My beautiful March Hare. I don't think I will ever be able to let go of you. Ever. Someday, what you feel for me may even resemble actual love. I will wait patiently for that. And in the meantime, I will get to know how best to satisfy you."
March lay there in a boneless heap and let Jervis hold him. His mind was a mess under all of the mind control. What just happened had not been his choice at all. Jervis hadn't cared if he wanted it. He was just a toy for Jervis to use and he was a sobbing mess inside of his head because of it. Was this what the rest of his life going to be? A sex toy for some sadist? Would he just stop being Max Gordon at some point? Would he just become one hundred percent what Jervis wanted him to be? His March Hare? The thought scared him. The idea that his life was no longer his own.
As much as Jervis wanted to spend as much private time as he could with his partner, he had plans he needed to fulfill. He needed to get Alice's body. And possibly an accelerant for her blood. It was unpredictable. He needed it potent and nearly immediate. March was at his side, in his new dapper vest and dress shirt that Jervis picked out for him. He stood there silently as Jervis spoke to the chemist about what he needed. The chemist showed him a good accelerant that would work and Jervis noticed a bottle on the man's table that really caught his eye. It had a drawing of the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland.
"Ah. The Red Queen. She's a blend of psychotropic plants. Thought she'd be a big hit." the chemist said. "Turns out, she's only good at putting people in the looney bin."
"I'll take her." Jervis said picking up the bottle.
"That stuff's no joke. At first it incapacitates you. Then an hour into the trip it completely fries your brain."
"Perfect." Jervis said smiling. He took the stopper out of the bottle. March could see it would likely not end well for the chemist. He was probably going to get a face full of that Red Queen stuff. But he couldn't say a word. He couldn't warn the man. "I'm looking to sideline someone before this evenings event." he stuck a finger into the bottle and took out some of the red powder on his finger.
"That'll do it. Hey what exactly are you planning?" the chemist said, not seeing the danger he was in. Suddenly Jervis blew the powder into the man's face. He grinned as he saw how the man reacted to it.
"This city tore my love from me. So I'm plunging it into insanity."
When Jervis went to get Alice's body, he left March behind at their newest lair. Making sure to tell him not to leave the lair before pulling him into a bruising kiss and then left with a smile.
March used that time to his advantage, since his mind felt a bit more aware now that Jervis wasn't in the room. March was good at exploiting loopholes. He hoped he could attempt that with this now. He had so many orders inside his head that he couldn't go against. But it didn't mean he couldn't get around them. Jervis might have told him not to leave the building, but he did not say he couldn't use the phone. So he picked up the phone and dialed the only number he could think of.
"Hello, this is James Gordon. Who is this?"
"Jim."
"Max? Is that you?" Jim said surprised.
"I don't have long. I get a bit more aware when he's not around. He left me behind briefly. So I'm using the time to my advantage. I can't escape. I'd love to but I can't. He won't let me. I just wanted to hear your voice. Hatter has something awful planned for you." he choked a little when he tried to say what it was. "But I can't say what it is I guess. I'm sorry I can't help you."
"How do I know this isn't just some trick of Jervis?" Jim said.
"You can't. Not even I can at this point. My mind is so twisted up. I can barely tell what is me and what is just him. And its only going to get worse the longer I'm with him. I don't think you can save me at this point. Even if I never see him again, he's burned himself into my head."
"I can get you away from him and get you help. Don't give up, Max. Please. I'll find some way to save you." Jim said. "Where are you? I'll come get you."
"I can't say that, Jim. I was told not to reveal that information. I can't figure out a way around that one. He made it quite specific and detailed." March said. "Next time you see me, treat me as an enemy to be captured. Because Hatter has made me just an extension of him. I won't hesitate to kill you. And it will destroy what little part of me is left in here. He'll win. Don't let that happen. I need a cell in Arkham now because of him. I'll be safe if I'm locked away. Please promise me you'll lock me away. You can't fix this. And as long as he's alive, he won't let me go without a fight. He's deluded himself with the idea that I'm somehow a willing participant in all of this now. He obsesses. He obsessed over his sister. Then you. And now me. I don't think that, even if you die, he'll ever get tired of his precious 'March Hare'. I can see why Alice wanted to get away from him so badly." March made a pained noise. "Just talking like this is making my head hurt like hell. Its so hard. I tried it back when he was having me pretend nothing was different. I tried telling you in any way I could. But you didn't pick up on it."
"Just hang in there." Jim said, sounding rather upset. "I'll do what I can for you. Don't lose hope. I love you, little brother."
"I... I love you too." March grimaced in pain after he said it. "Damn that hurts. I'm surprised I was even able to say it. He doesn't want me to care anything about you. Someday soon he might actually manage to change that for real." March said. "I can't stay on the phone. He could be back at any time and if he knows I'm fighting this at all he'll just make it harder for me to do so."
"Max... I'm sorry. This is all my fault. I shouldn't have let you come back to Gotham." Jim said.
"That was my choice, Jim. You had nothing to do with it. Don't beat yourself up about it. And go back to work. I'm serious. Don't let anything hold you back. You are such a good person. You do so much for this city. Don't give up."
"I won't. I promise. I'll go back to work. And I'll stop him. I'll make sure he never hurts you again. He'll be in Arkham until the day he dies." Jim said.
March hung up the phone.
It wasn't long before Jervis returned with the twins carrying Alice's body. March rushed to help Jervis get set up. They hung her body upside down and let her defrost a little. Then Jervis placed a tube in a vein and let her blood trickle through it.
"Isn't science marvelous?" Jervis said to March as the last of her blood left Alice's body. "Gravity, a few heaters and voila! The last drops of coagulated blood become cocktail mix." March went over and grabbed the bottle the last bit of blood dripped into and handed it to Jervis. "Bravo, Alice. Truly your best work." He placed the accelerant in the bottle and it bubbled and fizzed like some Alka-Seltzer from hell. "Now time to test it to see if the accelerant worked."
"How are we doing that? Should I go out and find you a test subject?" March asked.
"No need." Jervis said before sticking a needle into March's neck and injecting his sister's blood into his bloodstream. March gasped in pain and surprise.
"There is no need for you to fear it, my Hare. Let Alice change you. I'll see that you are safe. I would not put my March Hare at risk." Jervis said watching March's face.
March felt it inside of him. The rush of power. The dark feelings that threatened to swallow him whole. He didn't know which was worse. Jervis or this new overwhelming feeling. He stared at Jervis and he felt so angry at that smug look on his face. He felt so helpless and he Hated it! His face slowly worked itself into a snarl and he tried to attack Jervis. But Jervis was ready for that.
"Stop right there." Jervis said as March stopped just inches from attacking him. "It works so fast. How wonderful. And to see her in your eyes... its so fitting. Perhaps this was how it was always meant to be."
March felt the blood consume his mind. He was a bundle of feral rage but he was held back easily by Jervis. He was still a puppet at his mercy. Even in this new state.
"My friend, seeing you like this pleases me very much." Jervis said. "Deever, Dumfree. Give us some privacy."
The twins left the room and Jervis gave a pointed look at March. March had a feral look but still had all the compulsions placed on him and so he still went to his knee in front of the man and unbuttoned his trousers. He looked up at Jervis with rage in his eyes as he started sucking the man's cock. It only made Jervis more turned on. He immediately started thrusting into his mouth, not caring if he hurt him in the process. When he exploded into March's mouth, March obediently swallowed and buttoned Jervis back up and then rose to his feet. Jervis was staring at him with a blissed out expression. "I think I might be falling for you. The things you do to me. I never thought I'd feel like this." Jervis said, caressing March's face. "Now we have so much to do. We need to head to the hospital. I believe we have an appointment we must keep." Jervis said smirking.
Mario was still stewing a bit about his fiancé's ex that day. He didn't want Jim in their lives because he could see how Lee looked at him. She clearly still loved Jim. It made him have a lot of anxiety. Was he going to lose Lee to him? He sighed and went back to checking on patients at the hospital. He knew he shouldn't feel so insecure. Lee loved him. She would never do that to him. Even if she still had feelings for Jim. But it was hard not to feel jealous. He was trying though, for Lee's sake. He bumped into someone and felt a sharp pain in his neck briefly. "Oww! Watch where you're going, please."
The young well dressed man turned around and smiled at him. "Apologies. I'm going through some stuff right now and wasn't watching where I was going. Have a pleasant day." the man said before walking away.
Mario felt around his neck for where he felt the pain, and came away with a bit of blood. Not much. Just a tiny bit. He went and looked in a mirror but there was just a tiny cut on his neck. It didn't seem serious at all. But how had it happened? He dismissed it and put a bandage on it. Suddenly a nurse came in.
"Doctor Calvi. Come quick."
"What's wrong?" Mario asked concerned. He rushed out after her as she lead him to what was wrong. And there was Jim Gordon of all people lying on the floor in a catatonic daze.
"I found him lying there. I found this next to him." the nurse said handing him the bottle with the very obvious Red Queen label on it.
"The Red Queen. I've seen this before." Mario said and he got into doctor mode and told the nurse get him the antipsychotic medication that would save Jim Gordon of all people.
Jervis and March met up across the street from the hospital. Jervis was looking smug. "I trust that our little secret weapon has been sufficiently prepared?"
"He has. Poor fool has no idea. But he will. I can see he's pretty smart. We won't have to manipulate him much." March said. Now that he was out of sight from their prey, he didn't bother to hide that he was infected. His eyes ran red with blood and a snarl appeared on his face.
"Good. It's all coming together. I've watched him. It works out so well for us that he's the jealous type. He is rather capable of holding that all back despite it. He is a good man. But Alice will bring all that jealousy to the forefront. His rage will be jealousy and heartache. He is also a victim of Jim Gordon and should be allowed to recognize that and take appropriate actions. I've made it to where he'll likely start feeling it long before he lets go. We will help him along with clever little messages. If all goes to plan, Mario will become a true danger to Lee and only James will be able to tell. And everyone else will think he is some jealous ex lover, because he is. They won't listen. Until its too late. And one of several scenarios could play out. Mario could murder Jim. That would be regrettable but not too disappointing. Secondly, Mario could kill Lee. Now that would be beautiful. For Jim to know just how dangerous the man is and feel helpless to stop him and then he has to deal with the grief afterwards. It would break him. Or Mario tries to kill Lee and Jim stops him in time, by shooting him dead. And Lee is still convinced that Jim is a jealous ex lover even when presented with evidence of the latter. She will hate him and think him a murderer. And then, since he killed Falcone's only son, no matter the reason why, he's going to get hunted down. I suppose that would be the ideal scenario really. It would kill every bird with one stone. I do hope our little weapon doesn't disappoint."
"He shouldn't. The man is as jealous as they come. And Jim is already stressed and paranoid about everything. It won't be hard for everyone to assume he's trying to get Lee back by any means necessary." March said, still sporting a snarl.
"I just can't wait. Its so exciting." Jervis said. "Well, its time to get on with our other plan. Deever and Dumfree have found us a catering van. This will be so much fun."
Jervis made sure March and him were looking there best before they arrived at the Founders dinner. Jervis was not immediately recognizable to these people. They both looked like rich yet eccentric people that still belonged there. March watched as Jervis placed drops of Alice's blood into glasses of wine that would be served with dinner. The rich elite of Gotham would have a lovely dinner before they changed in maniacs just like them. March was watching the party for any unexpected appearances of Jim Gordon. They didn't figure Gordon would be lucid enough in time to save anyone. But it paid to be careful. He nearly ran into a rather severe looking woman who looked down on him a little as she passed.
"Pardon me, mam. I was not paying attention."
"There was no harm done." the woman looked at him as if she knew him but didn't say anything and left the party without another word. Weird woman, March thought.
The guests at the founders dinner were very surprised and terrified when, right after they sat down at the table, the party was crashed by the Mad Hatter and his goons. The waiters were all hypnotized.
"I'm afraid your evening has been hijacked, Mr. Mayor." Jervis said pointing a gun at guests. March and the twins stood nearby also pointing guns at the guests. "For those of you who don't know me, my name is Jervis Tetch. I promise not to take up too much of your time. But the fact is, you are the heads of Gotham. And tonight the heads of Gotham will roll."
The waiters silently placed wine glasses in front of the guests.
"But first, a toast. A drink to your health." Jervis said.
"And if we don't?" Penguin, aka the new mayor, snarled his question at the madman.
"Change, my friends, is nigh. Drink the wine..." he aimed the gun at Penguin's head. "or else you die."
Penguin and the other guests slowly brought the glasses up to their lips, not wanting to drink it since they figured it contained something awful. Just as they were about to drink, the cops rushed in and yelled to drop their glasses. Captain Barnes, who was this large hulk of a man, immediately tackled Jervis to the floor. Bullock took the time to do the same to March, wrestling him to the floor, trying not to hurt him too much or Jim would kill him. March was infected though and snarled up at him, knocking the larger man free as if he weighed nothing. He fought the cops viciously as Jervis was occupied with the police captain. Jervis was detained and that distracted March enough that Bullock was able to knock him out.
Jervis and March, and the twins, were finally in police custody. They were all sent to Arkham, despite Jim's pleas that his brother was just a victim. They knew, but they couldn't secure him anywhere else. He was infected by the Tetch virus and until they could find a cure, they had to keep him under heavy lock and key. Jim went back to work. But he visited his brother from time to time.
March was chained up and in a straight jacket when Jim arrived. He stared at him with an almost feral look. "You looked stressed, Jim. Not sleeping enough?" he said in a mocking tone.
"Max. I'm sorry about this. They're looking for a cure as quickly as they can. To both the virus and what Tetch did to you. It'll take some time. But don't give up hope. We will find a way through this."
"Oh, Jim. How many times do I have to tell you? My name is March. Not Max. Its March!" he snarled the last part, his eyes getting red.
"Ok. It's March. Calm down. It's ok." Jim said trying to calm his brother down before the guards would come in and he'd get less time with him. "Please try to hold on. I need you around."
"You don't need me around, Jim." March said laughing a little madly. "You're the lone wolf, remember?"
"I've rejoined the GCPD. I listened to what you said. I do listen. I miss you. You always knew what to do. I wish I could come to you for advice like I used to. My clever little brother. Please don't tell me he's gone. You're still in there. I know it."
"He's gone. Sorry not sorry." March said smirking darkly.
"I know that's not true." Jim said shaking his head.
"You never answered my question. You seemed so stressed. What's got you so upset this time? Other than the obvious of course."
Jim tried to pretend he was just having a normal chat with his brother and not the twisted mess he saw before him. "There are things going on in the city that are troubling. Things that don't make sense."
"Oh I know. I can see so much when I see the news, now. Everything people ignore about the city. I've noticed them. They think they can hide it. They can't. Not if you know what to look for in the news and read between the lines."
Jim looked at him surprised.
"Yeah. I still have the same brain even if its a mess. I need intellectual stimulation. And now that Hatter is kept away from me I don't feel quite as cloudy. So I notice things. Something is happening in Gotham, Jim. You aren't imagining it. I wonder what they'll do. It won't be pretty. It'll be a fascinating thing to watch though. I'm looking forward to it." March said smiling madly.
Jim tried to ignore his brother's mad look. "What is out there? You seem to know."
"A secret organization of course. But I'll leave it at that. Because I want to see how this goes." March said. "Now, unless you have anything else to add, I'd like to go back to my cell."
"Wait. There's something else." Jim said looking worried. "Mario is a Falcone. That should mean Lee is as safe as she could be, right? No one would ever dare hurt the daughter in law of Carmine Falcone. But I just..."
"You just don't like that another man is the one to protect her instead of you. You want to be there walking her down the aisle yourself. Am I right?" March said rolling his eyes.
"It's not just that. There's something about him. I didn't see it right away. But lately he just rubs me the wrong way." Jim said.
"And you thought your clever little brother could figure out some wise beyond his years advice for you, hmm? Mario does seem the jealous type. Maybe you should keep an eye on him. But this conversation is boring and that's all I'm going to say. Maybe you should just move on." March said dismissively. "Guards, I'm bored. Take me back to my cell, please." He was led away, nearly being dragged along because of the restraints.