The Crane and the Falcon

Chapter XV

Katherine - Oh yes, a fantastic dress indeed :) lol, I want to be a fashion designer O.O … But, sadly, no ogling, sigh. As for the stilettos, I always had the thought of a kick to the head while the kicker is wearing heels bouncing around. Now I get to use it! Happy reading!

Blodeuedd - Yeah, I thought the whole "I did drugs, deal with it" episode between them was cute and awkward on Jon's part, but in a good way. In regards for the fistfight, I'm afraid that you'll have to wait, but I PROMISE it'll be in there, with a little Batman on the side.

"You know what happens when my interest is peeked."

Detective Flass stood by the side of the road that led over the bridge and into the Narrows. A forgotten club sandwich was clutched in his hand, lettuce and mayonnaise dribbling onto the asphalt. He shifted his weight from foot to foot, tense and nervous. He and his partner, Jim Gordon, were about to enter the Narrows in its darkest hour.

The partner in question, however, was ducked inside the squad car, yelling into his radio. Over the crackle of the speakers and the scream of sirens, both men heard the rev of a motorcycle engine. "Hey, buddy! You're not getting through here! Sorry, pal-!" Flass began, waving his arms for effect. The black and white motorcycle screeched to a halt in front of him, while Gordon merely shook his head and continued calling inside the car.

"You heard me buddy, there's some bad stuff going down and-," Flass continued, but the cyclist slid up the shield on her helmet and her blazing eyes made him stop. "Ms. Falcone?"

"I'd greatly appreciate it if you would let me pass," she purred. Flass looked around. There were nearly half a dozen squad cars idling nearby, waiting for the okay to enter, not to mention the teams of SWAT roaring towards the bridge.. This wouldn't be easy. She'd need to fly to outrun them. He didn't miss outline of a Glock beneath her jacket. "Detective Flass?"

"Just go. I'll cover for you. Get wherever you're going fast, SWAT's on the way, and your little damsel act won't get you anywhere this time around," he muttered, shaking his head. Over Sakura's shoulder, he could see Gordon getting out of the car. "Go now, boss."

Sakura was startled for a moment. Boss. That word was familiar. But it had always been Carmine Falcone on the receiving end. She wasn't even first in line to take over, she couldn't possibly be boss. Behind her, the yell of more sirens jolted her, and she sped off, kicking up dust and dirt and burnt rubber. Gordon straightened up, watching the cycle speed away before turning to Flass.

"Is that who I think it is?"

"You don't wanna know."

Sakura sped over the bridge and a quick glance into her mirror said that the cops had gotten the 'OK' to proceed into the Narrows in force. She had minutes to find Jon. No doubt Arkham was a war zone from what she heard.

Sure enough, the streets themselves were crawling with men in bright orange jumpsuits and the few cops who had ventured in first lay dead or dying in the gutters. Families were running for the river and the inmates of Arkham were washing forth like an evil flood. "Shit," she cursed, turning down an alley. There was no way she would find him without being raped or killed first. He was either the last to leave or the first. She guessed the former, and tore off down a side street. Sakura Falcone had an idea.

Jonathan Crane was one of the first out of Arkham. His black heart nearly skipped a beat in anticipation, but then the back of his mind remembered Sakura. She wasn't safe in Gotham. He made the call, and it backfired. He cursed loudly, startling his men. He should have known. Sakura wasn't one to take orders. But now here he was, approaching the one and only Ra's Al Ghul, ready to align with the devil himself.

"Dr. Crane, I should have known," Ra's said in clipped, aristocratic tones. Jon never liked him, but he was the boss. "Yours, I suppose?" He nodded at the inmates running rampant in the streets.

"Yes."

"A nice touch. The Narrows is beyond saving now." He smirked to himself and turned a gas mask over in his hands. The man was seated in the cargo hold of a stolen SWAT truck that had been smuggled in more than a half an hour prior. The back doors were open and he looked down on the tall doctor.

"When do we call in the ransom?" In the back of his mind, Jon thought he heard the squeak of tires. He clenched his jaw. Hallucination? Never a good sign.

Ra's smirked more strongly. Jon could see the other members of the League of Shadows tense and move closer. Another bad sign. "We don't, Mr. Crane." The men moved like lightning and in a second Crane was almost lifted from the ground by the crushing force of two men holding him by the arms. He knew a struggle would be futile. These men were built like brick walls.

"Technically, it's Dr. Crane," a voice said, confident and strong over the echoing turmoil. Sakura stepped out of the shadow of a support beam, a small smirk on her face. She had planned to climb to the station above and search from there, but instead, Crane met her there.

Ra's looked up at the new addition to his merry band. "The girlfriend, no doubt. Quite clichéd, I might add," he chuckled stepping out of the truck. Sakura kept walking forward until she was in reach of the League. Jon said nothing, only staring in disbelief at her. He wanted nothing more than to yell for her to run, to do as much as he could to save her. But it was no use now. She had walked right into the lion's den.

"Now that I've met you, I am, however, somewhat surprised," he continued, a cold laugh on his lips.

"Surprised?" she echoed, taking another step forward. Two men filled the gap behind her quickly.

"Well, Dr. Crane doesn't look like your type."

The men smirked at each other, as did Ra's. Jon flared his nostrils and tried to move, but found the use of his arms was lost to him. Sakura's eyes hardened and her hand strayed to the gun. In a flash, both her arms were behind her back and the gun clattered to the ground. Jon could only raise an eyebrow when Sakura showed no sign of struggle or resistance. What is she doing?

Ra's stooped and picked up the gun. "Again, I am surprised, Miss-?"

Sakura couldn't help but smile. "Falcone. Sakura Mirihoto Falcone," she spat, and the look in Ra's eyes allowed her a small cheer in her mind. In Gotham, she was a princess, and in Japan, she and her family were like criminal gods.

"And the penny drops," Ra's murmured, turning from Sakura. "You are of the intelligent sort, Crane. But I fear your respect for the mind and disinterest in the body will be your downfall. You see, the two walk hand-in-hand. Without one, you can never win." Crane raised his head, his eyes flashing. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Ra's had tricked him. Ra's had used him. "You certainly have the mind, Dr. Crane, but physically, I'm afraid you are lacking."

"That's why he has me!" Sakura barked before kicking up her leg high enough to hit the man holding her hands square in the forehead. She spun, throwing a punch at the nearest man that sent him reeling. They had underestimated her. Her damsel in distress act had worked yet again.

A quick note, I've decided to make this a trilogy, and after the end of the movie verse, I'll start part two which focuses on what happens to Crane and Sakura after. Than part number three will include quite a lot of Batman and Bruce Wayne.

Well than, shall jump right into chapter 16. Review, all!

Btw, saw Harry Potter opening night. It was good, not the best movie in my opinion (was too short to do the book justice) but the acting and shots were superb!