Faced

"Man is not what he thinks he is, he is what he hides." ― André Malraux

"Are you mad, Mad?" the woman asked, pouring a cup of tea.

"No...I'm angry at the situation, but nothing else." Maddie took a sip, sliding into the nook. Tugger watched from the window. "I didn't know you talked to Leland about me." Granted, she didn't know that the man who was her partner was a veteran psychologist. But life happens, she reasoned. The kitchen was small, considering that the apartment supposed to have housed seven people. Maddie only stayed in the halls and kitchen for so long to move, and now it felt...weird. Weird sitting in the place that someone else, someone that was dead now, would take and only see a glimpse of her passing by. She fumbled with the cup some more. When the police asked her about them, she only remembered their names, faces, voices...except for the one that she actually talked to. And yet, his body wasn't discovered. Mad did feel horrible about not being able to remember the others, but...

"W-well, your my best friend." The girl mumbled. Maddie scratched her head, taking a good long look at her. Pink hair cascading down her shoulders, polka dots allover her black and white dress. Sure, she was certain she was the girl's 'best' friend when the opportunity arises. Like when she had that dye incident that made her hair green instead of blonde. Or when she was stuck at a party and didn't remember her own name. This girl wasn't her best friend though. Just a, well, a person that she interacts with. Friends are loyal, dependable, and this w-girl..."You have helped me get through the little things, in life."

"So then I've been useless though the big things?" This girl won't call her just to see how she is. This girl won't come to her aid if she needed it. Perhaps earlier in their relationship she can say that, but now weeks pass before they speak to each-other. When they do, it's almost always her seeking comfort. Except today, when she called Crystal over. She took another sip, shutting her eyes. She can try not talking to her as often, but then Crystal might turn to Leland. It's still telling her about how she's behaving. And if Leland brings it up during the session, Jonathan will know.

"No," she implored. "Mad, you're like the nicest person I know. I just...well I have my moments.." Mad had to bite her lip. Wrong, very wrong. Especially now...there has to be some way of shutting her up about herself. Tugger leaped for her lap and bounded for the open window, slinking out. "Aren't you worried he'll get hurt?"

"He's been doing fine so far." Maddie stretched, making a bee line for the fridge. What she wouldn't give for one of those moments to happen. A trip to a hospital usually equals weeks of silence. "By moments are you referring to your mood swings?" Milk, eggs, and bread laid among the contents. "Are you up for egg in a basket? It's really good for-" She glanced back at her friend, who was staring at her with an odd smile on her face. It reminded her of the fact that Crystal's biggest symptom to being bi-polar was that she had really poor concentration. "Crystal..."

"You look so cute in the morning." she giggled. And the fact that Crystal was bi. And that the girl had a crush on her.

"I'm not wearing pants aren't I?" she glanced down to confirm her suspicions. A fleeting thought involving breathless sighs, torn clothes and other fun activities came to mind and were just as quickly squashed. She picked up a pasta dish with parmesan, mushrooms, and peas. "I was in one hell of a rush today..." It would be pointless to put on pants now.

"Nice stripes. Did you sleep well?" she asked.

He shifted, like distorted film to her. His voice scratching into her mind as he loomed closer...

"I actually had a dream last night." She opened the lid, placing it into the microwave. "It had slender-man in it." Crystal cringed, standing up.

"That no-face dude?" She looked about the walls, eyeing the art pieces hanging about. "Hm, what do you think that means? Do you think it has to do with that scarecrow guy?" Maddie sighed. Right, her partner was a costume wearing sociopath. That's a lovely thought.

"I hope not. A face is a form of identity. So seeing someone without a face means that I don't know something about them, or their intentions. The problem is two things though..." she cut herself short, cursing at her mistake. "Oh, did you here about the euro going down?" She took a longer sip of her tea. Crystal stopped walking, knitting her brows together.

"N-no...but-"

"It's a lot cheaper to travel there-hey, isn't your boyfriend over there in Greece?" Her voice was higher, but it had to be. This almost always worked.

"I don't have a boyfriend in Greece, Mad."

"Well then you should go get one." Another sip of coffee. If the idea is spontaneous enough, with her voice pitched right...Crystal should-

"Hmm...maybe," she smiled. "But, I'd have to make some plans first."

"Plans? Who makes plans?" Everyone, nearly. Maddie thought about it, if Crystal left and didn't have enough to fly back... "Not you..go on an adventure. Join the international branch of ..modeling, kay? Don't you have some bandmates over there? I..." But then something creeped in. A small, minuscule thought of the girl before her dead, or held against her will to do unspeakable acts. "I can pay for your tickets at least..." Those things can happen anywhere, she told herself. "Wouldn't want Dorothy to not have her shoes, right?" A bright smile grew, and Madeline knew she had her.

"Really?!" too high pitched, Maddie's vision was blurred by pink strands. "Ohmygosh, thank you!"

"Oh, don't..." She patted her back, thinking just how far apart in weeks, or months, can she make said flights. Tugger curled under the window, rat in his mouth and a disapproving growl. "Don't mention it."

Later, Tugger pawed at her blank papers near the bed. Laying next to him, Maddie glanced over before looking up at her ceiling.

"Yeah, not so many creative juices flowing in that department. Just drawings and painting, see?" She pointed to the several sheets of paper hanging above her, swaying pieces she's done late at night. "It takes forever to actually get stuff onto those, let alone something worthwhile." Her phone beeped, another text from Crystal. Though leaving hours earlier, she kept the thanks goings for a good couple of hours afterwards. Maddie thought of a rhyme prompt as she stared up.

Block

Sock

Rock

Tock?

Lock

Bollocks

"See? At least those," she pointed again. "Made me money when I sold them." The cat closed his eyes, opening one before reaching out a paw to her face. She twitched her nose. "I'll get there..." He swatted her again. "What?! You ate already..." He slapped the papers, the blank sheets in particular again and her face. She sat up, watching him pat the paper, trying to reach her face and staring. Maddie did think that it's just natural for animals to be able to communicate with humans, since humans are just the most advance species of mammals. But for a cat-this cat, to understand and convey an interest in a topic she had with someone else...

"My dream? The Slenderman?" she asked, and he yowled. Loudly.

"Mrowl!" She stared, finally blinking. Okay, alright fine. She'll write this down later.

"Um...Well, the two things were that even though their was no face, it was something identifiable. A symbolism of fear." She watched as he rolled on his side, but still eyed her. "What was strange was that it changed into..." She bit her lip. "Something else. I saw what it was before I think, but I can't place it." Perhaps a movie, or a play? "Anyway I ran like the dickens." Replacing something that was symbolic of fear, something unknown with a familiar and terrifying thing or person.

He snorted, sitting up and ducking out of the room. She flopped back on the bed. Maddie's appointments were on Thursdays each morning, and that meant tomorrow she'd be under the scrutiny of two people crawling into her mind. "Fun..." she muttered into the night. Morning couldn't come sooner.

Mornings in August shouldn't be cold, at least not to Maddie. She breathed a small puff of air in her bathroom. Shivering under her towel, she looked for her radio whilst thinking about the money it would cost to send Crystal away and herself living. Among other things.

Maybe Greece is too far...A family trip can do the same-wait no Crystal hates her family. She found her small device, turning onto the news. Maybe...if Leland has been telling her to connect with her family...Yes now that can work. She picked up the phone quickly, texting her...person of interest about how her family was doing. If she comes to the idea on her own, then Leland might support it.

"Good morning Gothamites! This is Jack Ryder welcoming a new day on the Ryder Talk Show and boy is it cold in here? Or is it just me?" Maddie rolled her eyes. No shit. Where are my jeans? She bent down under her bed. Bursting with confidence, the man continued. "Looks like fall is k-i-c-k-ing early! And sorry folks, but it's only going to get colder." She found a dark pair and threw it on the bed. "But before we dive into what's going on in the morning, you're uncle Jack is going to to give you the scoop on what happened last night." Socks were next, along with underwear. "Apparently a certain caped crusader- and by that I do mean Batman- has been in an overhaul of catching villains. In fact, statistics show that he caught in one month more than the entire police force in six. Whoa now," She unrolled her hair, nose scrunched up.

Thats...disappointing. Okay so maybe a family trip would be better. I covered the rent and just went grocery shopping...I should get to the laundry. Maybe I can start riding my bike again to save. Still, her trip might take a few weeks to save up for. I should renovate the other rooms, that soot is going to be a pain. I did enter an art contest, and if I win that...

"Hmm, well folks now that's just not good. A vigilante out on the streets putting more men behind bars than the same men guarding them? You know what? Somebody needs to get the Batman..." A hushed silence. Maddie glanced at the radio as she shimmied into her pants. "And get him to teach classes to these crooked-I mean- underachieving officers." She smiled, throwing on a blue and gold striped sweater. "I'm sorry, but that's just not the numbers I like to hear folks. But it needs to be heard, and that's why I'm here. But last night was extra special because he brought down Miss Dollface, or-oh oh wait no folks it's Babydoll. Huh. Anyway the little squirt was brought down by Gotham's finest along with the tremendous help of the devilishly handsome Creeper down by the toy factory at the docks. Cuz, you know these villains and their gimmicks; cheesy. But she's in the comforts of Arkham now so that's another point for Batman. More on her story later though as we get a weekly forecast but just a heads up; stay warm-"

The radio went silent as she turned it off, frowning. The who? Oh well, good for them anyway. Now wear are those boots? Finding them, she strapped them on, got her army jacket and headed for the door. "Bye Tugger," she hollered, locking the apartment. Maddie eyed her black and orange bike carefully. Maybe she won't take the train.

Much later, a cold Maddie chained her bike to the barred fence at Arkham. Taking a deep breathe, she went through security and was guided to the rooms. Again she was there first, before her partner showed up, eyebrows raised. Again with his eyes.

"Morning," she tried to not swallow as he continued to stare. What was it this time? Why did he have to...scan her like that?

"Good morning Madeline, how are you feeling today?" He sat down, giving her a once over again.

"Oh," she shrugged off her coat, looking over her shoulder. "Cold. You?" She felt so watched. As if every minuscule movement was being filed away in his mind. She held back a shudder. Probably so.

"Peachy." He tilted his head. "I'm actually surprised to see you hear again. Pleasantly though."

"Surprised at me being here again?" she angled her chair slightly, but stayed on her feet. His stare turned icy, again. "I'm interested in what makes you...well you. And it helps me understand myself a bit." It was a truth of sorts. That and the pay was too good, honestly. He probably knew that though. She sat down, really looking at him. Waiting for that change again, but nothing occurred. Leland warned that Jonathan will, if he can, treat the interview as though he's conducting it. And to stop him the moment he does since it's a stroke to his ego. Maddie bit the inside of her lip. However...

"So, do you like..." Scaring people? No, Leland stressed to not bring up his 'research'. But then how can she do hers? "Mornings? I'm a night person myself, can't sleep until it's midnight."

"Really?"

"Yeah...so how about you?" she waited.

"I sleep soundly, most nights." he stated, shifting. She rose and eyebrow herself. No...no if you're like me then...

"That's a lie John, you don't sleep well." His eyes narrowed, but she straightened up. "I'm willing to bet you don't sleep that much-"

"Don't put words in my mouth," it was quite and quick, but Maddie stopped.

"Then be honest, Crane." There. Right when she said the name, that shift. "We can't help you if you're not honest with us."

"She's right you know," startling her patients, Leland walked past them undaunted. "Especially for today, since we're discussing truths." Sitting at her desk, she glanced back and forth before pointing at the lanky fellow behind the glass. "On that note, Jonathan. Maddie will be giving up information in relation to herself regarding her history." The girl made to speak, but Leland rose her hand. "At her consent and leisure. I will ask you to do the same, and if you don't answer the questions, if you fabricate anything at all, then I will use your files for you so that she's on the same level of knowledge."

"Well if you're going to threaten me instead, then by all means Joan. Proceed." he muttered, glaring at Maddie as though she would burst into flames. Leland whispered something before taking on a cheerier note.

"Let's start from your childhood, Maddie. You're an only child right?" Maddie forced herself to not look at Jonathan.

"Yes," She kept a faint smile on her face.

"Single-parented, if I remember correctly from your test. Jonathan and you were both raised by your mothers." Leland tapped her pen, glancing back and forth. Maddie shifted in her seat. Jonathan rubbed his eyes, taking off his glasses.

"So then, we're going to focus on the 'empty void' our fathers left us?" He inquired.

"Most relationships that an adult has in their life reflect on the relationships they had with their parents," Maddie stated. "And the relations those parents had with each other." she saw out of the corner of her eye him surveying her.

"How are your studies, Madeline?" he asked.

"It's Maddie. And...peachy." she drummed her fingers. She hoped that would make her feel better, letting them know she was onto their studies. Instead, it made her feel more inexperienced.

"Now, Jonathan." Leland asked. "Do you know why you're parents separated?"

"No, because they were never together." He stated, then added "Aside from sex, my father abandoned my mother shortly after I was conceived."

"Abandoned you, as well." Maddie prompted. He scowled, but she continued. "At least, that's how you must've felt as a child. As though you weren't good enough for him. Or that it was her fault..." A deep chuckle rose from him.

"Are we talking about me still?" he asked. "If that's the case, then you also felt abandonment Madeline. As a girl, it affected you more. Didn't it?" Her eyes widened.

"I'm not desperate for male attention, if that's what you're referring to." she spat. "My folks divorced, and..." she caught herself. Leland looked up from her pad finally, writing one last note.

"And what Maddie?" she asked. Taking a breathe, the girl continued.

"For a while I thought that my mother was deliberately keeping me away from my dad." she whispered.

"Why did you think that?" Leland went back to her paper.

"Because that was what he told me. Every time I tried to see him, or we had plans they would be canceled, so I blamed her. Then...well anyhow now I know that he just didn't want to see me." She glanced over to the glass. Jonathan was silent, before finally speaking.

"So then you resent him. For deliberately not wanting you in his life." he watched she her mouth settled into a thin line.

"Jonathan..." Leland warned. But he shook his head.

"You hate him."

Silence.

"You hate yourself, don't you?"

Silence, then "Are we talking about me still? Besides, I was wanted at some point." Again the eyes shifted, his lip twitched. Shaking his head, he mumbled.

"Difficult...stay...out.."

The doctor rubbed her temples, looking down at her note book. "Okay now let's discuss you, Jonathan."

He scoffed, looking up. Leland just noticed that his eyes had bags. "Didn't you hear from her? I have abandonment issues obviously. Raised by my mother and grandmother, I grew a resentment towards my father. Next question." She looked at Maddie, but she was focused on her hands in her lap. She wrote in her notebook.

Might be better to conduct some interviews separate. It's like two cobras striking their venom. Branch further into it later.

"How about we discuss something less close to home. Any ideas?" she sighed. Maddie looked up.

"Why the hell is it so cold in August?" she asked. Jonathan shrugged.

"Because hell has frozen over." he replied. Maddie rolled her eyes.

And I'm in it, she thought.

In the cafeteria, Edward studied the chess pieces carefully. Jonathan gone, and for a while now that he thought about it, his new opponent wasn't as clever in his friend's steed. Though Edward can't blame him; trapped in his own world Jervis only saw things as he believed they should be. And he believed quite firmly to not move a certain piece that would've helped him ten moves ago.

"Jervis, move your queen." he insisted. It wasn't as though the short man would win, but the game wouldn't be as easy. But the man shook his head vehemently.

"No nono, only the white queen leaves her king's side. The red queen-"

"There's no red queen." he bridged his nose, looking around as his friend went on to babble some more. He paused though, when he realized someone was watching them. Or for that matter, his checkmate. "Riddle me this, riddle me that; what girl has her eye on the man with a hat?" he smirked as the blonde looked up confused, then turned around.

His eyes only saw the walls of orange in the distance. But a flicker of blonde caught his attention, before she stood there. Her bun had a few strays loose, and fell on her neck in a lopsided manner. Glimpsing over the cafeteria, her eyes fell on him. And burned into his skull as he looked away. Edward tapped his spoon, watching Jervis carefully. "So...you and Marion?" The short man made quick haste to stuff his mouth with a bagel. But his companion's eyes went to him and-probably her- in rapid succession. "That doesn't help the rumors about you'r tastes..."

"I don't wish to discuss that," too chipper, Jervis took a sip of his tea. "To nice a day! And it's my unbirthday, so I wish that we just drop it." The words were deep and sent the message. Edward shook his head, slightly smiling.

"Alright, then."

"Don't tell John." It wasn't a request. Edward rose and eyebrow. A lot of words came to mind about the hatter, none of them being intimidating.

"Jervis..."

"Don't." He didn't forget that the man wasn't always naive and harmless though. And he nodded, slowly. He glanced out the window, just when his friend finally made a move. "If I must, then..maybe I can tell you..." Looking up, Jervis noticed that the ginger's eyes were trained onto something outside. Following his gaze, he saw that next to the fence was a young woman unchaining her bike. He looked back to Edward. The man seemed shocked, pleased, and disappointed all at once. "Do you know her?" he asked.

Edward looked back at the chessboard, then back outside. Without looking, he moved his knight. "Checkmate. Jervis?"

"Yes?"

"I'll tell you what, I'll keep my mouth shut if you keep yours." He watched as she looked at the building, scowling. He tore his eyes away as she walked off. "It's imperative that Jonathan doesn't know that I know her."

"Oh..." he stared, dumbfounded at the board. Edward saw the entrance gates open, and Jonathan's lanky frame come into view. His lip quirked in a smile. Edward tried to smile back. "It would be checkmate for us then.."

"Exactly." gritted Edward. After lunch, therapy, and the gym, he sat in his cell just staring up at the ceiling. Eyes heavy, he wondered if she still hung paper from hers before going to sleep.

AN: For the record, thanks for the reviews! Also, to a certain someone yes the riddle was a nod to Edward and Jonathan. The answer is fear though, so you get half a cookie for guessing the answer wrong but getting who the answer was a nod to right.

On another note, I'm going to make one thing clear here. Maddie isn't supposed to be a villain sympathizer (which is what I see a lot in oc/villain pairings) or a complete goodie two shoes morality reminder (another thing I see in OC pairings). She's not going save gotham, or have a higher advantage against a villain when it's not believable, or always come out on top. She has no special talent hidden other than her imagination, creative skills and a beginners understanding of psychology. She's just Mad. There is plenty of fanfics that have those other things listed, and this is going to attempt to be as different in terms of an ending, story and character as possible.

Any-who thanks for reading! BTW the next chapter is entirely focusing on the inmates. Stay tuned!