We Are Not Afraid

Across Gotham, The Iceberg Lounge

"Many sources are claiming that the person behind the chemic attack on North Gotham is none other than Jonathan Crane, AKA the Scarecrow. The authorities have declared an emergency and is asking for Gothamites to avoid the area if possible. Our eye in the sky, Jack Ryder is observing the scene outside the declared hazardous zone. We go live to him."

"Vicky, I am looking down below at the city and my god. I can without a doubt, confirm that that is indeed fear toxin that is in the air. It is complete mayhem down there, Vicky. Scarecrow's gang and Checkmate locked in an all-out brawl. I cannot say this enough, avoid this area at all cost. Lock all windows and do not leave your house!"

"Do you see Crane, Jack? What is he doing down there?"

"Hard to say, Vicky. We're too far away to positively identify any parties, but we do know that Batman was seen entering the area. He has yet to be seen to emerge. Here's hoping that he's able to stop Scarecrow. "

Oswald Cobblepot, also known as Penguin pays no mind to the broadcast. Instead his attention is towards the soft piano music that plays in the background. He moves his fingers to be in-tune with the music, though he was off with the timing. He makes a move to walk towards the counter of the bar, passing by serval ice sculptures, all that was in the form of his namesake. He limps to the counter, using his umbrella as a cane while still entranced by the soft melody of Moonlight Sonata, even humming along.

His eyes meet the gaze of a woman with dark-spikey hair who mans the bar, dressed in a purple corset and black jacket, "Jay, have you heard from Ed? He's late."

"As usual, he's probably still working on that chip. He musta got lost in his work," the woman replies while she cleans one of the glasses, "You've heard the news? Scarecrow has gone mental."

"Annndddddd?" Oswald gives a slimy grin, tapping the handle of his umbrella against his scalp, "This is great for us, my dear, dear Jay. As long as he and the rest of his ilk keep going bold to confront the Bat, we will keep being at the bottom of his priority list...which means, we are golden."

"Wouldn't a chemical attack in the heart of Gotham be bad for business?"

Penguin replies first with a snigger that comes from the back of his throat, "You really are new to Gotham, aren't you, my dear? This whole chemical situation is barely...the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this city. Trust me, tomorrow will be a completely different problem," he taps his umbrella on the floor, "Contact Raven and Lark, have 'em find Edward."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

- Meanwhile -

Batman is knocked to the ground repeatedly by both of the Fearless. He is further struck when he tries to recover, while his own mind was in its own battle. His vision tells him that it was his parents who were his attackers, however, he knew better. He knew that it was all a trick, however, trying to convince his senses of that was easier said than done. Between the constant barrages, both physically and mentally, he had no time to form a coherent thought.

"What's the matter, Bruce? Can't you even look your mother and father in the eye when we're talking to you?" Thomas Wayne's grins, bleeding black from the mouth and eyes. He kicks Batman in his sides, over and over, "Your father is talking to you!"

"Agh!" Batman snarls between the harsh impacts of his father's boots, "You're not *Agh!* real! You can't *Aghhh* fool me..." he grabs the man's leg by the ankle, "I'm done with feeling helpless!" and with a single twist of his wrists, he snaps the ankle of his attacker.

Outside of the vigilante's world, the male fearless drops to the ground and screams, holding onto his leg.

"Wait? What?" the other Fearless ponders as she swings her sickles, "He's not supposed to be able to fight it!" With lightning-fast reflexes, Batman rolls out of the path of the dual weapons, "Scarecrow, he needs another dose!" she swings continues to swing her sickles, but Batman kept evading them.

From the view of the vigilante, he sees the distorted face of his mother stares into his soul, "I am very disappointed in you, young man. You dare lift a finger against your father? You are a worthless piece of filth, boy! You need to be punished!" Martha yells.

"I failed you, and I'm sorry. But I can't have the night haunt me forever..." Batman exudes one long breath as he slams his fist against the rotting form that held the image of Martha Wayne, "Forgive me," Batman eases up as he sees the spectre drop to the ground. His eyes then widen in shock when he hears a new voice.

"But what about me, Detective? Do I not still haunt you?

"No..." Bruce mentally screams, he didn't even have to look. He knew who the voice belongs to. He could tell simply by the force that the voice commanded. Behind Batman stood the Head of the Dead, Ra's al Ghul, "...Get out of my head...Get out..."

Ra's smirks as he comes closer to the vigilante, "That has always a miscalculation on your part, detective. I was never inside your head, I've always been within your soul. The flesh of man is limited in time, but all around the world, the essence of one's soul is what is considered eternal. I am forever with you, for I was once you and you'll one day become me," the Demon stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Batman, "That's what you're truly afraid of, is it not? That all of this will only lead you down the same path as mine?"

Batman jolts away and snarls, "GET OUT OF HERE!"

"Make me, Detective" Ra's challenges Batman, beginning with a jab to his neck which brought the vigilante to a choking fit. Ra's then delivers a kick to the man's chest which throws him onto the ground, "Disappointing, Dark Knight. Perhaps I was wrong about you all along..." observes Ra's as he draws his blade above his head, "Your failure shall ensure the death of all that you love." The demon swings his sword down towards Batman who blocks with his gauntlets.

"Your tricks won't work, Crane," Batman grabs the body of the sword and slices the fins of his other arm across the blade which breaks it. Batman then jumps to his feet and right-hooks Ra's. The Head of the Demon falls back, eventually vanishing within the layer of Fear toxin, "Now fight me yourself! Unless you're the one who is afraid!".

"An interesting hypothesis, Dark Knight, however, it's one that's easily disproven" Scarecrow's voice addresses Batman, cloaking from within the thick clouds of fear toxin. The voice of the villain surrounds Bruce, seemingly coming from every and all direction, "I was right in my research, you truly are an excellent specimen. This was never about fighting you, Bat. This whole ordeal was to learn from you, if I could throw you into the deepest depths of fear, then everyone else would fall the same..."

Batman continues to carefully assess his surroundings, looking for anything that could resemble Scarecrow, "Riveting, Crane. Looks like I disappointed you because I'm done with your tricks!"

"Disappointment, Bat? In the realm of science, even a failed experiment can...be enlightening, for example..." Scarecrow leaps onto Batman from behind and rips off Batman's oxygen mask, "Seeing if an even large dose has an effect," Batman grabs the villain and throws him to the ground then quickly moves to cover his mouth and nose with his hand, but it was too late. He wheezes at the sudden rush of the fear toxin forcing its way down his throat, taking over all his senses.

"B-B-bastard..." Batman coughs, fumbling away.

"You now have both forms of my beautiful toxin within your body, Bat. Both the gas and liquid. Watching what will become of you will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience and to the field of science," Scarecrow follows after the crawling vigilante, "I will give you credit, Dark Knight. Most men would've been driven to madness by now, but you? You're different, undoubtedly so. I wonder...just what are you?" The Villain kneels down to get a closer observation, "Ah, I see. All this time, I hypothesised you to be one of a strong mind to combat my toxin so effectively, but that's not the case now, is it? The truth is the opposite."

Batman rolls onto his back and gasps, narrowing his eyes at Crane. He then lunges his fist forward towards the villain. Scarecrow catches Batman's hand and stops it in its tracks, "Shhh," he slowly creeps his finger over the vigilante's lips, "That is your fear, isn't it? Your darkest nightmare is the fact that...you're already mad. That you're just as crazy as the very people that you fight against? Very insightful...this completely changes the foundation of my research on you, very exciting...I will enjoy discovering all of your secrets that lie below the mask that you parade around..."

"Y-you w-won't get away with this, Crane!..."

"That was never the plan. The foundation of change is built upon one's sacrifice, Dark Knight. I may not be everlasting, but my research shall be. I shall be a legend within a world succumb by fear! In the form of a legend, I shall be more powerful than I ever could be in flesh..." Scarecrow grins as he lifts his arm, showing the vigilante the syringes at the end of his fingers, "One more concentrated dose should destroy your mind. But do not threat, I still have use for you...my research shall be your last contribution..."

"-Research this, Creep-face!," a voice calls out with Scarecrow turning in confusion, only to be immediately flung away by the impact force of a sledgehammer being hurled at him. Scarecrow rolls with force from the impact, "Take that!," Harleen comes to Batman's aid, "How ya holdin' up, B-Man?"

"Maybe I'd be better if you got here like f-five minutes ago" Batman forces out his words between quick exerts of breaths, "What took you so long?" Batman struggles to his feet, going to cover his mouth. The blonde shrugs with an awkward smile.

"For once my tardiness isn't my fault, B. Foxy needed to make adjustments to the container," Harley holds out the gadget to Batman, "Ya okay, B? We need to get ya out of here before this toxin-thingy screws with your mind more."

"Negative. I can't let Crane escape again, not after this..." Batman fights against his own body to stand straight, "Whatever happens to me is nothing compared to what will happen if Crane gets away."

"Ya are like...the most stubborn person that I've ever met, B," the blonde curves her arm, to show a high-tech watch that she was wearing, "But also the most metal. Good thing that Foxy upgraded my gear." With a quick flash of the watch's face, the sledgehammer that was far removed from the scene flung back to Harleen. She catches it and hangs it over her shoulder, "Also...that might also be the reason why I didn't get here earlier..."

"I'm...t-too exhausted too be mad at you right n-now..." Batman watches Scarecrow stumble away, trying to escape from them. He drags his feet, fighting against his own locking limbs. A look of irritation forms on his face when he sees several Fearless crowds around the villain, acting as a well between them him and Crane, "Give up, Crane! You've lost!"

Scarecrow clutches his jaw, chuckling softly, finding humour within Batman's words, "Lost? Do you not understand, Dark Knight? There will be no winning or losing this day. I'm not like the others, no matter how much you desire it so, I am beyond them, beyond even you." Crane is lifted up by the Fearless at his side, "I say so not because of pride or arrogance. But because I respect you, Dark Knight. There are two types of people in this world, those of whom fight their fear, and those who succumb to it, well...that's what I used to believe until this night."

"Sheesh, we get it! Fear is your gimmick, now shut your pie hole!" Harley reaches for her sledgehammer.

Barely able to stand, Batman moves his body to shift his weight. His mind was an absolute mess, his vision was becoming even worse and his auditory senses weren't varying much better either, "This ends here, Crane... H-hear m-m-me?"

"You're not lookin' too good, B. Ya need to get the hell outta dodge."

"I said no. I'm not leaving until he's in cuffs."

Elsewhere

Skyline Club

"Hmmm" Sionis puts out his cigar in the ashtray that was at his side, "Thought the Bat would've taken that whacko out by now." He continues stubbing the cigar, "Makes a guy wonder, maybe he ain't cut out for this after all."

"What's wrong, Roman? Having doubts about this *solution* of yours?" Sofia takes a seat opposite to Black Mask, crossing her legs and laying her arms out over the arms of the couch, "Why are you even cheering the bat in the first place? You hard of memory? don't you recall the millions that he has cost us? I would've thought that you of all people would be the biggest advocator of having the bat's head on a platter..." she lifts her eyebrows to accent her words, followed by a taunting smile.

"How little you truly know, but not surprising, considering that your daddy's empire was just handed down to you. I actually built my own, girly," Black Mask leans forward, "Sure the Bat did take a lotta cash out of our pockets, but think of what we got in return?" he goes to light another cigar, "Think about it. With the whole underworld running scared, the less...*organized* parts aren't nearly as bold as they used to be. They're coming to us for protection...which means they're giving us a cut of their take. Thanks to the Bat, I'm making nearly double of what I used to. Tell me, why would I want to stop that gravy train?"

"Because it'll eventually run dry, Roman. Then you won't make a single dime, you won't even have a cent to your name," Sofia snaps her fingers to beckon the waiter to refill her glass, "As weak as my father was, he and I agreed on one thing, this isn't just about the money. It's about keeping order."

"Swell job you're doing with that, love," Black Mask exudes a large cloud of smoke, "This isn't the same city that you daddy looked after. New villains and new heroes, the likes of which your Pa couldn't even begin to understand. The days of balance in Gotham are over, have been for a long time, sweetheart. It's either gonna be either order or chaos, but that only leaves one question: which one is which?"

Sofia sips from her newly refilled glass, "You really think that you know it all, don't you?"

"Yes. Yes, I do. Why the hell do you think I wear this mask?" Sionis cups the bottom of his mask, "This city is rotten with lunatics on both sides. Whether they dress as a scarecrow, clown, in bright green, or even a bat. Theses days, masks are what are respected, I just finally decided to join the goddamn circus, dollface."

"Where you rightfully belong, Roman. I approve," Sofia shrugs, "However, it does appear that we do see eye to eye on something, after all, Gotham is changing. And I'll be damned if the Bat gets his way..."

"Yes. You will be damned. Godspeed if it does happen because the Bat will have to wait in line to get payback against you."

The woman lifts eyebrow to show her amusement, "Is that so, Roman? Let me guess, you'll be first in line, huh? Then let's hope that you're faster on the draw."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Meanwhile

- Below on the Streets -

"Your suit's readings are spiking, Mr Wayne. You need to get out of there now!"

"Sure t-thing. Just as soon as I'm done here" retorts Batman as he does his best to change into a battle-ready stance. He glares at the group of Fearless, passing past them and locking onto Crane, "Harls, you deal with the Fearless. Crane's mine!"

The blonde woman smirks as holds her sledgehammer over her shoulders, "Sheesh, leavin' me the scraps like I'm some sorta sidekick," pouts the blonde, rolling her eyes, "You're lucky that I'm in a butt-kickin' mood, otherwise...I would be kinda offended."

"Soon you shall be afraid, my little dear," Scarecrow faces Harleen and Batman as the Fearless move to reveal him, "Is this how desperate that you've become, Dark Knight? To rely on such a lowly specimen so easily? Just what despair have you fallen into?," he looks at his side when one of the Fearless hand him the top half of his scythe, "Can a man have so much fear, that he becomes brave? The natural weakness of one's mind turned into a strength? Is...this the true power of fear? An untapped form of strength?"

"People are more than their fears, Crane!" Batman snarls.

"No. Our fears define us. They limit us in our lives, Dark Knight. They make us who we are far more than any action that we could take, any word that we could speak, any thought that we could think," Scarecrow grins wider, "Fear is the prerequisite to our very being."

"Only if we let it be," Batman reaches behind his back, "On my mark, Harls."

"'Bout time" Harley swings around the sledgehammer in her grip, "Let's do this, B," the woman grits her teeth.

"...Now" Batman hurls a Batarang towards the crowd of Fearless, aiming for Scarecrow. But before it could make its target, a sickle is swung to intercept it. Looking at Crane's side, Batman sees the sickle-bearing Fearless back on her feet. Harley moves fast, using all of her upper body weight to lunge her sledgehammer at the Fearless which works to knock several of them to the ground. She then buckles her wrist that prompts the return of her weapon to her grip.

She then rushes to the rest of the Fearless, swinging her sledgehammer at them, hitting them in their shoulders, knees and chests. Her rampage is halted as her last target was the Female Fearless who swings her right sickle which has its chains wrap around the handle of her hammer, "We're not afraid of you, none of us is. We are beyond your thuggish tactics" she then throws herself back with all her strength to rip the sledgehammer out of Harley's hands, "We are the Fearless."

With the combined strength of both her arms, the Fearless swings her upper torso around which brought both the chains and the hammer tied to it straight into the blonde with the force of a wrecking ball. Harleen is thrown across to the other side of the road, "Ow! That like...hurt, a lot..." she rubs the back of her head as she gets up. She looks to the Fearless, watching her slowly approach, still having her chain tied around the hammer which she drags across the ground, "Hey genius, ya forget somethin' kinda important?"

"Like w-Aghk" the Fearless was then thrown towards Harleen thanks to the force of the Sledgehammer that's inbound towards its owner. As cued, the sledgehammer falls back into her grip and with one large intake of air, the blonde puts all of her strength into a single swing that holds enough force to throw the Fearless up into the air.

Harley winks as she blows a kiss to the downed Fearless, "Bada bing bada boom! Night, night princess, you're out!"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Scarecrow swings his scythe at Batman who blocks it with his gauntlets, "W-why continue fighting? This is meaningless, nothing more than delaying the inevitable. Fear eventually becomes the master of us all!" he swings again and again, Batman blocks each time, though becoming slower and sluggish as they continued, "It's our most primal instinct, our most defining moments, it is the reason why you fight! Fear is the tool that you use, yet you refuse to give yourself to it?"

"You talk a lot about Fear," Batman sees an opening and takes it, punching Scarecrow in the centre of his chest. The villain slides back and growls, going on a frenzy of attacks, slashing continuously with his scythe. Batman manages to block them and thrusts forward, slamming his head into Scarecrow's mask which cracks it further, "But you never talk about what you're afraid of. So tell me, what's your fear?" Batman ducks under another attack from Crane.

"I. Am. Beyond. Fear," Scarecrow snarls as he retreats back, "I. Am. One. With. Fear," behind his broken eye-lens, Batman could see Crane's real face, although he didn't look human. Not anymore. Scarecrow's flesh was marred with cuts and bruises all around his face, giving him the look of a rotting body, "I. Am. Absolute. Fear."

"You're wrong," Batman says with more of an analytic tone than one of anger, "You aren't beyond fear at all, Crane. You've succumbed to it completely. It rules you so much that it's the only identity that you know...or want..."

Scarecrow runs towards Batman as he swings his scythe. Batman jumps out of the way and lands behind Crane, "Is that your hypotheses, Dark Knight? Such an outrageous claim needs to be tested before you can use it."

"Be careful about what you wish for" Batman throws himself at Scarecrow, delivering a blow to the man's face. Crane backs off and holds his jaw, "T-this e-ends now...Agh...," the Dark Knight's body slopes as he falls to his knees, coughing violently. He could feel himself drawing in the Fear toxin, stretching his lungs and burning his insides. Blood spatters out of his mouth with each violent cough, becoming more bloodier. His muscles were stiff, feeling like they were locking into place, "N-n-no...".

Scarecrow moves in front of Batman, lifting his scythe to be level with the man's throat. He taps it against the vigilante's chin, lifting the man's vision to greet his own, "Cease this pointless resistance, Bat. What good would it do now? My victory over you was assured before our little fight even begun," slowly descending on to his knees, Scarecrow slews his head, "But I must admit, you even surprised me with how long you fought off the toxin, but as you can see, no one can fight forever..."

"Speak for yourself, creep!" from behind, Harley jumps onto Scarecrow's back, using the handle of her sledgehammer to choke the man as she forces him away from Batman, "Leave B-Man alone, Johnny Creepy-face! Or I'm gonna get nasty!" Scarecrow's eyes widen as his hands quickly go to the handle of the hammer to try to force it away from his neck, "You ain't gettin' away, Scabby! I'm a real clingy girl!". Harley's world was shattered within a single moment, feeling Scarecrow's syringes pierce her bare forearm.

"Never was my intention dear, but it appears that it's you who is unable to escape...," with minimal effort, Scarecrow pulls the blonde off of him and lets her drop to the ground, "A prison build by your own mind, my dear, and your fears are the bars..." Harleen rolls onto her back, grasping her head.

Meanwhile

Inside Harleen's Mind

Harleen holds her arm over her eyes, suddenly feeling her eyes being exposed to some sort of bright light, "My h-head's...g-gone so...funky." She then feels something drip onto her chin from her raised hand, leaving her in a state of confusion. After three or so more sensations of the dripping liquid, she moves her hand and discovers that it was bathed in blood. She jolts up and pants, kicking herself up onto her feet and sees that her other hand was also soaked in crimson, "-W-what? B? What's goin' on, B-Man?!"

Looking down, she sees the dribbles of blood forms a large crimson pool at her feet, "W-W-what's happenin'?" She then violently jerks, feeling a pair of hands tug at her ankles. She attempts to move away, escape from the endlessly expanding red sea, but she couldn't. The hold on her boots was strong, stronger than anything she ever felt. Chained by the crimson-layered skeleton hands, she panics, "N-No-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no, this ain't real! B was right!"

"...Harleen..."

"Harleen..."

"Harleen..."

"T-that voice...no-no-no-no...please god...no. Anythin' but that...anythin' b-but him...," from the red river, she watches helplessly as the owner of her hands further emerges from the crimson. A shiver travels up her spine and her jaw drops, seeing the grotesque form of a man who she loved, a man who raised her, a man who she failed. The fully blood-soaked skeleon now stands on eye-level with her, having a dislodged jaw and the back of his skull blown out.

"My daughter...my hope..." the man whispers in a haunting echo.

Shaken to her very core, Harleen couldn't move, bound by her own fear, unable to fight back against the apparition that comes in close, "D-daddy...? P-please stop...just p-please go away...please... I'm not afraid of you! I love you! You're the only one that I did love! Please...if this is happenin' then please just bring out my mother...or brothers! I can look them in the eye...but not you. I don't want to feel afraid of you...please...I'm beggin' ya!"

"Oh...my beautiful precious daughter...you were on track to be different...you were meant to be the good one. I wanted you to be different...I wanted it so badly, but you...you've become a murderer. How c-could you...? How could my daughter become such a...monster...," like a slow torturous game, the phantom crawls his fingers around the blonde's neck, "You are no different from your brothers, no...you're worse. You've taken lives, torture innocents and you're not even sorry..."

"Daddy...p-please...STOP! I-I...I..." pleaded Harley, finding herself removed from her mismatched red and black outfit, instead she was in casual clothes, "Please d-don't c-compare me to them! I-I'm not like them...I loved you! I tried so hard to help ya!"

"Murderer. A good for nothing soulless murderer, that's what you are," from behind, Harley hears the voice of Maria Kyle who stands with her throat agape and exerting a stream of blood, "You killed your friend's own mother without a care in the world. You slaughtered me like I was worthless, looked into my eyes and got your sick fun seeing my life leave them..."

"I-I h-had no choice! Mr J was..." Harleen bites her lips and shuts her eyes, "I didn't have a choice!"

"Oh...I know what you were gonna say, sweet pea. We all do, we're in your head, remember?" Maria approaches from behind Harleen and whispers in her ear, "He made you a deal. Kill me now and he would spare Selina? Then...why did you enjoy slitting my throat? You're a sick-minded heartless soul who looks for any excuse to kill..."

"N-No! I don't wanna hurt anyone, I just...lose control. I don't mean it! I p-promise! I'm sorry f-for...what I did! I mean it, I promise! I just like...I just like killing! I dunno why! I can't explain it!" Harleen covers her eyes and feels her entire body trembling, "Killing is the only reason why I'm even loved. I need them...so I need to keep killing because if I don't... Mistah J wouldn't want me...and if B-Man finds out, he and the others would hate me! I'm in too deep to stop now...! I'm sorry! But without them, I'm nothing...and I don't wanna go back to that!"

"So you'll just keep on killing? Just because it makes you feel wanted? Even with all the pain that you'll cause?" Maria scoffs, "I guess that we are mental, aren't we?"

"If I have to...I'll make the whole damn city covered in blood. I never want to be lonely ever again! I'll take out whoever I need to...or whoever I want! I'll do anything to never feel weak never again," Harleen snarls, removing the shielding from her eyes and stares directly at the remains of her father, "I don't like this...b-but it's the only way. I love you, dad, Harleen will always be your daughter, but I'm not her. She was weak. I'm not weak."

"...You...were my greatest accomplishment my daughter...you could've great...you could've been a h-" before the remains of the man could finish, Harley had punched through his skull, shattering the bone to ash while she carried a wide smirk with a look of crazy in her eyes.

"Goodbye, Daddy... Now Harleen can join you...," she finds herself returned to her red and black getup, dusting the ash from her gloves, "That was my fear... Being afraid that I would want to go back to being *her*. Yuck, no chance. I'm happier now than I ever was..." she tips her hand, watching the blood fully drip away, "Huh?"

She hears the soft sound of weeping come into hearing range. Following the direction of the sound, she finds herself face-to-face with a petrified little blonde girl who stares back at her, holding onto a teddy bear tightly, like her life depended on it, "You..." Harley grimaces at the look that the younger version of herself was giving her.

"I-I'm s-scared..." was the only thing that the girl says, shaking at the sight of the bloodied Harley.

"I'm not, Harleen. I'm not." Harley wears a wide smirk as she closes in on the girl. She grabs her by the neck and lifts her up, "Get out of my head, Stich-face...trust me, It's not a very nice place to be, " tightening her grip, she widens her smirk at the sight of the struggling girl.

Outside of Harley's Mind

Reopening her eyes, she finds that her hand was wrapped around Scarecrow's neck and finds herself back in the regular world, "W-what? Impossible...How can this be happening? How did you escape your demons? Tell me...how is this possible?" Scarecrow chokes between his words from the tight hold on his neck.

"Escape? Ha, why would I wanna do that? That's where the fun is..." whispered the blonde, looking over Crane's shoulder and sees Batman standing up, "Let's finish this, B-Man!," she hurls Scarecrow at him. Batman's eyes narrow as he uses all of his strength to kick the villain back at the blonde. Harley recalls her Sledgehammer and swings it at the incoming target, knocking him back to Batman, "Strike 3! You're out, Scar-face!." Intercepting Scarecrow mid-air, Batman punches him to the ground.

"A-and...s-stay down this time..." Batman coughs, dropping to the ground with Harley running to him for aid.

"B!" she wraps her arms around the masked-vigilante and holds him tight, "We need to get you out of here now."

"Harls...h-how did you fight the toxin so fast?" Batman wheezes under Harley's hold on him.

"Simple, B. Remember we made each other a promise to not give in to our fears! Trust me, I'm never gonna let my fears take a hold of me," she slides her palm over Batman's hand, "Now let's get that toxin and get the hell out of here before you go dyin' on us."

"W-what do you know? Another plan that we agree on. M-must be a new rec-record..." he limps towards Scarecrow's body but is intercepting by Harley. She gives a quick nod to him, telling him that she could handle it. The blonde squats down and picks at one of the syringes attached to Crane's gloves, carefully removing it.

"Let's hope that Foxy can undo this creep's whacko plan," smirked Harleen as she slid the syringe into the containment device, "Okay, let's go, B," she carries her sledgehammer over her shoulder and taps her scalp, "I believe that we're done here."

"N-not yet," Batman glances over Scarecrow and the Fearless, "We need to get them restrained and out of this toxin. It should die down in an hour or two..."

Harleen groans, "Oh, ya gotta be joshin', B? All of them...?"

"It's the right thing to do, Harls," Batman nods.

"Yeah-yeah, tell that to my chiropractor... -get 'em outta this toxin my ass..." she hangs her head and slugs her way along with Batman.

Four Hours Later.

- Across Gotham -

Watchtower

"And this should do the trick, Mr Wayne," Lucius injects Bruce's bare shoulder with a hypodermic needle, as part of a syringe, "Hopefully this should counteract all of Crane's fear toxin that was put into your system," the man gives a smile once he had given the whole dose to the younger man. The dark-hold man holds his shoulder and looks to Lucius with a half-opened look.

"*Should*? Not really filling me with confidence, Lucius," Bruce gets up and flexes his biceps.

Lucius sets the syringe down on the side and shrugs, "If it makes you feel any better, by my estimate, you only have a zero-point-two-seven percent chance of having a negative reaction to it," turning his attention to the blonde that was to their side, he smiles, "Now for you, Miss Quinzel."

Upon the call of her name, Harley blushes and holds her arms over her chest, "Oh no, no, no, no annnndddd no. I do not do needles," she looks away for a split second, "Had a terrible experience as a kid."

"Trypanophobia? Huh, never figured you as the type... with you being a doctor and all," Bruce comments while he reaches for the shirt that was at the table behind him, "But you better have Lucius give you a dose of his antidote, just in case Crane engineered any more surprises with the toxin."

"Nu-uh. No way José... I freeze up around needles like ya do with basic human interaction, B-Man," Harley makes her contention known with an overdramatized shake of her hips as she wages her finger at him, "Can't Foxy like make a tablet or maybe a drink...anythin' but injecting me." She then widens her eyes, like a light bulb had appeared over her head, "Wait! Can't I just drink it instead of havin' it through a needle?"

"No." Lucius answers with a roll of his eyes, "Can't believe that I just dignified that with a response."

"What happened to you *Not letting yourself be ruled by your fears*, Harls?" Bruce lifts an eyebrow and smiles, "C'mon, you seriously don't want that toxin freely running in your system? For all we know it could have more effects than we think."

The blonde mutters under her breath, throwing her sigh away from Bruce and Lucius, "Y-yeah, but that doesn't suddenly make me overcome my very, very rational fears of havin' sharp objects stab me."

"Maybe you would stop being afraid of this *rational fear of havin' sharp objects stab you* if you stopped thinking of it like that," Lucius ponders as he tabs a pen against his scalp, "Think of it as a flu jab. It's harmless...mostly by my calculations."

"Lucius, stop talking," Bruce intervenes as he walks towards the blonde, "You don't have to take the shot if it makes you unconformable." He comes in arm-reach of Harley, holding his hand over her shoulder and smiling at her. She smiles back at him, "It's fine."

She slants his head as reaches her arm up and holds her hand over the man's, "Thanks, B-Man. I knew that I could count on you to...," her eyebrows ruffle, "...You just jabbed me, didn't ya?," she looks over to her right shoulder and sees that there was a needle in it and then back to Bruce, "Sonuva... That was a dirty trick, B."

"True, but it's easier to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission" Bruce winks. He then leaves the blonde and heads back to Lucius, "Once we can confirm that this shot is effective against Crane's new toxin, we can start mass-producing it."

"Hmmph..." Harley scoffs and folds her arms over her chest, "I'll never forgive ya, B... Never-ever! Even if ya get on your knees at my feet and beg for it! Never-ever!" she closes her eyes and asserts an irritated look, snapping one of her eyes to look at Bruce, "I'll never forget this, B!"

Bruce shrugs and turns back to the blonde with a grin, "Even if I promise to stop holding against you that you bought a diamond-plated dress worth thousands out of my own money?"

"Ugh..." Harley fought to retain her poker face, shortly after she breaks into a giggle, "Alright, B. I guess...I can let this transgression slide...just this once, but next time... I'm gonna kick your butt," she comes in close and flicks Bruce's nose, "And in all fairness, it was a *Killah* dress and ya know it. "

"Yes...so *Killah* that you only wore it once and it's now probably just collecting dust. Definitely seems like thousands of dollars well spent, Harls"

"Thought ya said ya were gonna let that go?" Harley hunches over and holds her arms behind her back.

"Just an observation, Harls. Wasn't at all...throwing any shade your way...none at all," Bruce confirms with an uneasy gulp, "And for the record if I really did hold it against you, I would've had you pay for it through your salary."

"You mean the salary that comes from your company, Bruce?" Lucius inquires, "Wouldn't that be having you pay for the dress for a second time?"

"And you wonder why I avoid *human-interaction*, Harls? It's because it always feels like the *dunk on Bruce hour* all the time," Bruce beams an eye-catching smile to Lucius and Harleen.

Harley nudges her shoulder and grins wider, "Well, ya do make me dribble...Oh...I just realized how weird that sounded, I was goin' for continuin' the basketball theme. That's all...," she backs up, "What do we do now guys?"

"I've been on my feet all day, and I am starving," Lucius tells Harleen.

"Ah, perfect! I got an idea!" Harley cheers, "Why don't we go for a meal or somethin'?"

"Like...a hangout?" Bruce sounded opposed to the idea, "Bad idea. I can't even step outside without being swamped by reporters."

"Nah, I mean in private...like my place? We can have takeout. C'mon, B and Foxy, it'll be perfect! Harvey will even be there."

"I dunno, Harls..." Bruce then stops as he meets the blonde's puppy-dog eyes, obviously trying to guilt-trip him, "Eh...fine, just stop looking at me like that. We still have some work to do here, how about you head home and we'll meet you later? That good for you?"

"Yay!" Harley throws her arms up and squeals, "I'm proud of you, B! You're really makin' progress! You're even nearly actin' like a normal human...nearly..., but still, I am so proud of you!"

"...Thanks...?" Bruce itches his nose, "We'll meet you once we can confirm that Lucius' antiserum works."

"I can assure you, Mr Wayne. You have nothing to worry about, I did all the calculations.

"Let's hope so."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

- Across the City -

Scarecrow is seated at the back of the police transport, handcuffed and bound. His attention is drawn by someone who joins him inside, appearing to be Harvey Bullock. After a long moment of complete silence, Harvey speaks up, "Long time, no see Freakshow. Should've known that you'd show your ugly-face sooner or later." Crane watches in silence, tracking Bullock's movements with his eyes. The Detective holds his hands to his hips, "Hey, freak! I'm talking to you. Do you know how much trouble you are in? You just pissed off Amanda Waller and trust me, she's not someone who you want to be in the a habit of pissing off. She has enough power to put your ass on the electric chair...even with your insanity plea..."

"How...How can you fool anyone looking like that, Mr Karlo?" Scarecrow looks over Harvey, examining him.

The detective scoffs before he curves his lips into a grin, "Well...just how did you figure me out so fast?"

"Simple. I know the real Bullock's body language, I know the look in his eye. You're are not afraid of me, and there's only one explanation, you do not feel threatened. Only your mutated biology is immune to all of my toxins. In fact, by my hypothesis...you're immune to all diseases known to mankind. You cannot bleed out. You cannot be poisoned. And with your abilities, you are the perfect spy. I thought the clown would use you, however, I am unsure of how the Dark Knight has not yet figured you out...let alone Gordon."

"Oh, Jonathan Crane... Always so smart, but look where you are now," Clayface reaches behind his back, "From where I'm standing..." he pulls out his gun, "Since you figured out my little game, I either have to make sure that you'll never tell anyone...or bring you into the fold."

"Change your face and your voice. Continue to play this absurd charade, Mr Karlo. It does little to hide the truest part of yourself: your fears," said Scarecrow as he whispers callously, "You may be the one with the gun, but we both know who's in control here."

"Oh, really?" Clayface aims his gun at Scarecrow, "I feel pretty in control here" he curls his index finger around the trigger of the gun, "I can just shoot you."

"If that was the case, you would've done by now, yet you still threaten me?" Scarecrow examines Clayface's frame, "You will not shoot me, because the real Bullock would not, and have the strongest of urges to play your part correctly, no? The man's who face you wear would not shoot a captive of his, so neither will you, because if you did...you wouldn't be playing the part right. And that's what scares you...you must be the ultimate actor..."

Clayface glares at Crane, eventually holstering his gun, "Damn you..."

"If you are to take on the Bat, I only ask of you this, my friend..." Scarecrow rests his hands in his lap, "Do not misuse fear, only use it to guide the Dark Knight. Any other usage of it shall be a waste."

"Hmmm. Good luck, John. Have fun being fried," Clayface leaves Scarecrow.

Later

- Across Gotham -

Harvey Dent answers the door and smiles, seeing both Bruce and Lucius, "B-Bruce? What a great surprise...I didn't know that you were coming?" he moves aside and welcomes the men into the apartment. He holds his hand out and shakes Lucius' hand, "Good to see you, Lucius. How are things these days?"

"Hectic as usual" Lucius replies with a smile, "Just how I like them."

Bruce and Harvey then hug, patting each other on the back, "It's good to finally see you again, Harv."

"Oh, you have no idea how great it feels to see you, Bruce." Dent smiles.

Hearing faint music from the other room, Bruce and Lucius look over as Harleen makes herself known, "Oh my god, guys! Ya made it...aw, I'm so happy!" she comes in and hugs Bruce, "I got worried for a sec that ya got cold feet..." She then turns to Lucius, "You too, Foxy! Come here!" she rushes over and wraps her arms around the man, "Looks like ya finally managed to pull yourself away from a computer long enough to come over" she chirps.

Dent looks gobsmacked when he turns to Harley "Wait...did you invite them?"

The blonde smiles, "Sure did! I thought we could all use a little human company. Is that okay with you?"

Harvey Dent smiles wide, "It's perfect. It' all perfect,"

After a while of catching up, the group sat around the dinner table. Lucius and Bruce sat beside each other with the others on the opposite side. On the table were empty glasses by each seat. Harley reaches for the bottle of wine and fills up each glass around the table, "Been meanin' to ask ya two, what's goin' on with that apprenticeship thingy? Ya decided on the winner yet, B?" she stops at Bruce's glass, only half-filling the glass, she then moves to Lucius' glass, "Hey, ain't ya son in it? Seems like an easy win for him."

"No." Lucius straightens his tie, "If Bruce decides to choose Luke, it should only be because he thinks that he's the best possible candidate. Bruce only picking him because of his friendship with me would anger Luke. Either if he wins or loses, my Luke wants it to be because of his own merit."

Dent was the first to drink from his glass, "That's a very mature way to handle it, Lucius. Most parents would kill to get their kid chosen," he comments after taking another sip of his glass. After he was finished, he placed his glass down, "By the way, what are we doing for food?"

"Ah! Glad that ya asked" Harley chirps with a smile, "We're having takeout. Yeah, it's nothing too fancy...but I can't be bothered to cook, and I'm not in the mood for ya health-based meals, Harv. I'm guessin' that B has never cooked a thing in his life and Foxy's has enough problems as is," she takes the first taste of her wine, "So like it or not, we're having a feast of the cheesiest and greasiest pizzas in all of Gotham."

"So Pizza and wine?" Lucius comments, "That's a weird combination."

"Maybe..." Harleen shrugs, "But it's a hella better than my university days, B. Compared to that, it's eatin' like royalty!"

Bruce holds up his glass and smiles, "Well then, to a royal meal for a royal pain," he raises his glass. The four then toast, holding their glasses together.

Harley lifts her head and smirks, "Aw...that's really sweet of...hey!...Rude...," Lucius, Bruce and Harvey burst out laughing, though in good faith, "Stop it! Ya guys ain't funny. Like seriously...grow up..." she too breaks into laughter between words, "Seriously like stop it. It wasn't even like that funny!"

The laugher dies down and makes way for Dent to speak up, "Isn't it out of character for you to pop by for dinner? Thought you'd be at Wayne Enterprise for its next world-saving project?"

"Well, what can I say?" Bruce smiles, "What's the point in trying to save a world that you refuse to be apart of? The world comes at you fast, sometimes so fast that you're left behind. I say it's about time that I finally caught up with the rest of you."

"Very methodical, I like it," Harvey complements as he takes another sip from his wine glass, "This means that you're up to join me in starting up my mayoral campaign?"

"Wait, what?" Bruce leans back in his chair, lifting up its front legs, "I don't know, Harv. Would Waller even let a race happen? And that's not taking into account the massive target you'll have on your back from Sofia Falcone, Sionis and the rest of the underworld."

Dent leans over, "Waller can't keep her power in Gotham forever, Bruce. I trust that the law will see to it. We can get lawyers, judges, heck even activists to challenge her authority. And even if that fails, we have our friend, Bruce."

"Friend?" Bruce raises his eyebrow.

"Batman. Just look at what he's doing, Bruce. He's taking down all of the Arkham escapees. At the rate that he's going, Waller will lose any power that she has with the government. She was assigned to capture the very same people that the Bat is gunning for, just think of what would happen if he takes them all down before she does?" Dent slams his fist on the table, "Not only will she be forced to leave the city, but she'll be humiliated too. A public embarrassment like Waller would make the government cut all ties with her and make her face the furthest extent of the law. "

"I admire your optimism, Harv. I wish that it was that easy, I really do" Bruce

"Alright, guys!" Harley stands and raises her voice, "Thought this was meant to a break from the outside world and its problems? Cheer up ya lot, the food's gonna be here soon," with perfect timing, the doorbell rings and Harleen rush out of the living room, "Be right back!"

Harvey's eyes follow Harleen as she leaves the room, "I better go help her," going to stand, Bruce stops him.

"I'll handle it, Harv. I'm the guest here," Bruce gets up and heads out of the room, joining the blonde at the door to the apartment. Bruce is handed four large pizza boxes while Harleen pays the delivery man. She then is given two other bags. When finished, they head back towards the dining room.

"How's it going with the antiserum, B?"

"Good. Lucius has already made plans to disburse the antiserum to Gothamites through the water system, although the real challenge is giving it to the people who've already left the city. We made a note to track the medical files of all people that have left the city, hopefully, we'll catch any irregularities."

Bruce and Harleen return to the others, unloading the food onto the table, "Alright who's ready for the meanest, cheesiest, greasiest goodness is all the city!"

"That has to be the most disgusting way that I have ever heard anyone describe pizza..." Lucius comments as he is handed a pizza box by Bruce, "Really shouldn't have worn my nice suit today," he goes to remove his cufflinks and rolls up his sleeves. Bruce then finishes handing out the boxes, leaving the last one at his own seat.

Harleen takes a swig of her wine, "Relax, Foxy. If ya are too worried, we can get ya a napkin" she then turns her attention to Bruce, watching him become seated, "What 'bout ya rich boy? Are you used to eatin' like us common-folks? Or do you need a knife and fork?" she laughs.

"You kidding, Harls?" Bruce smirks back, "You're talking to a guy whose favourite food is a grilled cheese sandwich" surprisingly, he was the first to open his pizza box, "Also helps that Selina is mental on that noodle place next to Gothcorp."

"She has good taste," Harley bites on her first slice, "By the way, I just remembered. Earlier I ran into Tal, she said that there's meant to be some kind of board meetin' tomorrow. She wanted me to tell ya."

"Huh?" Bruce sets down his slice, "How does Talia know about a board meeting before I do?"

"Ah, 'bout that..." Harleen takes another bite, "I think she said it's a meetin' 'bout you. That's probably why you didn't know."

Bruce stammers, "What?"