Chapter 3: The Ragdoll, the Scarecrow, the Bat, and the Bird

Disclaimer: See chapter one.

Ellifain95: My dearest Ellifain95, I myself have never been abused, but I am very close to someone who has been. When you've been abused from a young age, even if you do know how to fight, you won't fight those who abuse you, especially if they are one of your parents. You retain a fear of them that does not allow you to strike back, and deep down, Nadia loves her father. A case in point, Harley Quinn and the Joker. He hurts her, but she doesn't do anything about it. She just goes crawling back to him even after everything he's done to her. Love makes people do strange things. And I totally agree about the story thing. It's about time poor Jonathan got some love.

*~*~*~*~*~*

He let the sound of rain hitting the windowpane sooth him.

The storm had started shortly after he and Nadia had gone to bed and he'd had to get out of bed and completely close the curtains so the lightning wouldn't keep him up.

The door to the bedroom opened some more and Nadia stuck her head in.

"J...Jonathan? C…can I sleep with you? J…just until the storm is over?" she asked timidly, her voice wavering in fear.

Jonathan sat up and looked towards where her dark shape was in the black room. "You're afraid of the storm?"

"Of lightning. H…he locked me out on the fire escape one night when I was twelve. I…it was storming r…really bad. I…I went to the roof thinking I could find better shelter, or at least try to get into the stairwell. I…I had just gotten onto the r…roof and hadn't y…yet let go of the ladder handles when a bolt of lightning hit the other handle. A neighbor found me the next morning." She inched closer to the bed, flinching every time there was a crash of thunder. "I can usually handle it pretty well, I j…just stay away from windows."

He tossed back the covers on the other side of the bed. "Come here, Nadia."

She slid into the bed next to him and drew the covers up to her chin. "Thank you."

He laid back down and turned to face her. "Go to sleep, Nadia. We have a big day ahead of us."

She nodded and curled up closer to him.

Jonathan stiffened for a moment before he relaxed as Nadia's breath washed over his neck in a content sigh. He awkwardly put an arm around her waist and settled down to sleep.

*~*~*~*

Sunlight filtered through the small crack between the curtains the next morning, waking Jonathan from his slumber.

He felt a weight on his chest and looked down.

Very short black corkscrew curls met his eyes.

The night before came rushing back to him and he realized that Nadia had come to his room without her mask.

She sighed softly and snuggled closer in her sleep, her breathing timed to his heartbeat.

Jonathan noticed that he had his arms wrapped around her, she had an arm around his waist, and their legs were tangled together. He dimly wondered exactly when they'd ended up in the position they were in during the night.

All thoughts left his mind when Nadia tilted her face up, trying to fight the ray of sunlight that was attempting to wake her up.

She had short black curly black hair, clear pale skin that made her look like a porcelain doll, long black lashes that swept her high cheekbones, pink lips that looked perfect for kissing (Jonathan surprised himself by wanting to kiss them), and a heart-shaped face.

Her eyelids fluttered and opened slowly.

Jonathan was swept away by the sight of her deep light green eyes looking up at him under half-lowered lids, slightly dulled by sleep.

Nadia smiled sleepily and snuggled closer yet to him. She froze and then quickly moved to the other side of the bed and under the blanket.

Jonathan lifted his side of the blanket and looked at her. "What are you doing?"

She tugged the blanket from his grasp and tucked it around her, keeping her face hidden. "I'm not wearing my mask. Now you know what I look like and will make me leave."

"Whatever made you think that I'd do something like that?" he questioned, completely confused.

"I'm ugly. Everyone who knows what I look like leaves me. I don't wanna leave you!"

He rolled his eyes and went to stand at the foot of the bed. He grabbed the blanket and gave a strong tug that stripped the blanket from around Nadia.

She squeaked and dove beneath the sheet.

He grabbed all the pillows off the bed, tossed them to the floor, and repeated what he'd done with the blanket on the sheet.

Nadia attempted to cover her face with her hands and arms.

Jonathan sat down on the bed next to her and carefully pried her arms away from her face.

Nadia turned her head so she wouldn't have to look at him.

"Look at me, Nadia." he told her. He reached out and gently grabbed her chin when she softly shook her head. He turned her head to meet his gaze. "You are not ugly. I'm not going to make you leave. Where did you get the idea that you're ugly?"

She bit her bottom lip and glanced up at him. "My father called me ugly all the time, and my classmates, particularly Vincent Finnegan, would call me an ugly little ragdoll."

Jonathan had to take a deep breath to fight back the rage he felt. "You may be many things, Nadia, but ugly is not one of them."

She looked down at her lap. "You're just saying that."

He tugged her from the bed and led her to the bathroom.

There was a full length mirror on the back of the door and he positioned her in front of it.

"When you look in the mirror, what do you see?" he questioned.

She refused to meet her reflection's gaze.

He sighed and turned her face to the mirror. "What do you see, Nadia? What vision of beauty meets your gaze?"

"I see nothing beautiful except for you. I see a silly little thing that should be more at home under a rock." She met his reflection's gaze evenly, her expression serious.

He wrapped his arms around her waist. "I'll tell you what I see. I see a divine looking young woman who is beautiful inside and out, with a body a man would fight for and a face he might die for. Her curly black hair is softer than silk, her face is filled with beauty and glows from the inside out, her pink bow lips are enough to fuel a man's sweetest dreams, and her eyes could make a man lost in them forever. Those who called you ugly, they were jealous and blind to your beauty."

She tilted her head to the side and tried to see what he saw. She bit her lip as she studied her reflection critically. "I don't see it."

He shook his head softly. "You will." He turned her to face him, letting his eyes feast on the lovely face before him. "I think you're beautiful. And you should play up your beauty a little bit." He looked at her worn looking pajama pants and T-shirt. "We'll start by getting you a new and better wardrobe."

Nadia followed him from the bathroom. "With what? We don't have that much money."

He grinned at her. "Just go get dressed my dear Nadia. Allow me to worry about everything."

"Regular clothes or as Ragdoll?" she questioned.

"Regular clothes. It's about time I introduce you to some people who can help you should you need help." He disappeared into his own room to get dressed.

Nadia quickly dressed in a pair of patched jeans, a plain T-shirt, and a plain black hoodie that was worn thin from wear. She pulled on a pair of socks and her holey tennis shoes, tying the fraying laces tightly.

Jonathan tutted softly when she appeared. "Yes, a new wardrobe is exactly what you need. You'll catch a cold in those clothes." He handed her the messenger bag she'd bought at a thrift store to carry her dolls in.

She opened it and saw a few dolls of each type in it. She looked up at him. "Are we going to be expecting trouble?"

He smiled at her. "Better safe than sorry, and I'm sure those I'm taking you to meet would like to know what it is you work with. No need to bring your mask. They keep secrets extremely well." He pulled her arm through his and led her from the apartment.

They were very careful and made it to the club district of Gotham.

Jonathan opened a rear door to the Iceberg Lounge and bowed to Nadia. "After you my dear."

She flashed him a smile and entered.

One of the waiters saw him. "How may I help you today, sir and madam?"

Jonathan again pulled Nadia's arm through his and looked down at the man in haughty dignity. "Please inform Mr. Cobblepot that Dr. Irving is here to see him."

The waiter instantly went to a telephone on the wall and spoke to someone. He walked back over to Nadia and Jonathan. "Please follow me. Mr. Cobblepot will see you in his office."

They followed him up a staircase to a set of doors.

He opened them. "Dr. Irving and..." He looked at Nadia.

"Miss Van Tassel." she supplied.

"And Miss Van Tassel." The waiter closed the doors after them.

The overweight man behind the desk rose. "Crane, it's good to see you. I expected you sooner. And who is your lovely friend? She no doubt has read The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by the name she gave Marvin."

"I found help elsewhere, Ozzie. No doubt you've heard of my escapades over the last two months." Jonathan led Nadia to a chair and helped her sit down like a gentleman.

Nadia looked around in awe. She'd heard about the Penguin and his nightclub, but she'd never thought in a million years that she'd get to see it or meet the Penguin.

Oswald Cobblepot sat back down as Jonathan took the seat next to Nadia. "There's been an outcry for your capture. I also heard you've been working with a woman. Ragdoll, I believe is her name."

Jonathan smirked. "Ozzie, allow me to introduce you to Ragdoll. Ragdoll, this is Oswald Cobblepot, more commonly known as the Penguin."

Nadia smiled at him. "It is an honor to meet you, Mr. Penguin, sir. You have a beautiful club."

Ozzie (as all the Gallery called him most of the time) smiled at her. "Thank you my dear. And I must say, you are a beautiful sight for such an unworthy man such as myself to see." He turned back to Jonathan. "Might I ask why you are here Crane? And just where did you get help?"

"I stumbled across Ragdoll one night as I was taking some vegetables from a small garden on the roof of the building she lived in. She fed me and I took her in after her father's rather 'unfortunate' suicide." Jonathan told him.

"Meaning you dosed him with your toxin and something happened to him that led to his death." Ozzie translated with his own smirk.

Nadia spoke up. "He saved me. My father was abusive and was going to hurt me. He merely stepped in and prevented it from happening. My father's death had nothing to do with him, Mr. Penguin, sir. I just want to make that clear."

Ozzie smiled at her kindly. "Of course my dear, and do call me Ozzie. All the Gallery does. If you don't mind me asking, just how did that brute of a man die? I hope it was a suitable death for such a horrid being."

"He fell from the roof." she replied.

He nodded. "I see. Now, why are the two of you here?"

"Ragdoll is in dire need of a new wardrobe. I was hoping you might know of a place she can go that will allow her and Miss Isley to shop undisturbed." Jonathan told him. "And I'd like to speak with you."

Ozzie sat back in his chair and thought for a moment.

The phone rang and he answered it.

"Yes, I've been expecting Mrs. Green. Bring her up, please." Ozzie hung up. "Ivy is here and I know just the place. What did you wish to talk about?"

"I don't want Ragdoll to ever end up in Arkham. I was hoping that you would be willing to help her should I end up there and she doesn't. I want her looked after if I'm ever incarcerated." Jonathan told him. "And I'd rather that the Bat not know who she is or what she looks like."

The door opened and in walked a beautiful redhead.

Nadia felt like a wall flower next to her and meekly looked at her hands as they sat clasped in her lap.

Ozzie and Jonathan rose from their seats.

"Well Jonathan, what did you want to speak with me about? My plants told me you said it was important." the woman stated.

Jonathan took Nadia's hand and pulled her from her seat. "Ivy, I'd like you to meet Ragdoll. Ragdoll, Poison Ivy."

Ivy looked Nadia over. "She's beautiful, Jonathan. Where ever did you pick her up?" She noticed what Nadia was wearing and glared at Jonathan. "How dare you let the poor dear dress like that! She'll catch her death in those clothes, particularly those shoes."

Jonathan chuckled. "That's why I wanted you here. Ozzie knows of a shop where the two of you can shop peacefully. I would like for you to take Ragdoll and get her a completely new wardrobe. I want you to make sure she gets some things that bring out her natural beauty more. She thinks she is ugly due to her peers and abusive father."

Nadia looked at her feet. "I'm not pretty and I don't need pretty things." she muttered.

Ivy took her from Jonathan and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "You are absolutely beautiful and don't let anyone else tell you different." She looked at Jonathan. "Her father's name?"

"He's already been taken care of." Ozzie told her. "You know that Miss Ivy and I are trustworthy, Crane. What is her real name?"

"Nadia Holmes. She'll be starting college next fall at Gotham University to do their major-minor in chemistry and psychology." Jonathan told them proudly.

"We'll have to get rid of Marvin, I suppose. Especially if we don't want Batsy knowing who Ragdoll truly is. The best way I can look after her is if she works here at the Lounge. As she'll be a student, she can work part time. Many students do." Ozzie told Jonathan.

"I work at the library in the Narrows right now, but I did work at a dinner once as a waitress." Nadia told him. "If you're going to get rid of the waiter that showed us up, it's only fair that I take his place as your employee so you aren't one short."

Ozzie chuckled. "She's a gem, Jonathan. You're right in wanting to keep her as an unknown. Now, let's send the girls off on their shopping trip and begin planning how we're going to protect her from being found out."

Jonathan went to pull out his wallet.

Ivy held up her hand. "Allow me. It's about time there was a new female Rogue added to the Gallery. Let me get her clothes as my 'welcome to the family' gift."

Ozzie pulled out a large roll of money from his pocket. "And take the dear child to get some trinkets and baubles to play with. Anything she wants."

Nadia blushed. "No, no, I can't allow you two to do that. I'm not worth it."

Ivy took the money Ozzie handed her and put it in her purse. "You're so refreshing. And we're glad to do it. When the others meet you in your costume, they'll probably shower you with gifts as well. Every time there's a new member, we throw a party to welcome them to the family. Now come along, we've shopping to do." She led Nadia from the room.

Jonathan and Ozzie sat down and began to plan what needed to be done to protect and take care of Nadia.

*~*~*~*

Nadia bit her lip as she stared in the mirrors outside the dressing room.

The dress she wore was very pretty. It was the color of emeralds and fell to her knees. The tiny straps were studded with small green stones.

Ivy, or Pamela as she'd asked Nadia to call her, smiled brightly behind Nadia in the mirror. "It brings out your lovely green eyes."

Nadia studied her reflection and smiled. She finally saw a little of what Jonathan saw. "He is right. I'm not ugly."

Pamela laughed. "Of course you aren't darling. You know, I think that dress will grab Jonathan's attention. He'd have a hard time keeping his hands off you."

Nadia blushed. "I've never been in a relationship before. I've not even been kissed."

Pamela gasped. "A beauty like you? You poor dear. Well, don't you worry. You'll have men falling at your feet very shortly. Let's find some shoes that go with that dress. And maybe some emerald jewelry to go with it."

Nadia turned to her. "Oh, I have emeralds. They're just uncut, unpolished, and unset. We got them over a month ago. I've lots of other gems too. We sold some, but Jonathan made me keep the best ones and some of the small ones."

"I'm sure Ozzie knows someone who will make you jewelry. Now, go try on some of the other clothes. I'll go find you some under things and once we're done here, we'll go get you some books and other things." Pamela went off to get what she had mentioned.

Nadia merely shook her head and went back into the changing room.

*~*~*~*

Jonathan and Ozzie both looked up when the doors opened to admit both women.

Jonathan's jaw dropped when he saw Nadia.

She was dressed in a pair of loose black dress pants that had little silver leaves embroidered on the scalloped hem of the pants leg, a deep green draping sleeve shirt, a black corset that looked almost as if it'd been painted on, black boots with a two inch heel, and a set of mystic fire topaz jewelry. She was even wearing make-up and it made her eyes more noticeable.

Ozzie stood up, a smirk that Pamela shared at Jonathan's reaction gracing his lips. "I take it your shopping venture was successful."

Nadia smiled brightly. "I had some of the most fun I've ever had in my life. That experience is only second to helping Jonathan with his plots."

"What do you think, Jonathan? Isn't she just the most beautiful things you've ever seen?" Pamela questioned.

Nadia looked at him, almost as if she were seeking his approval.

Jonathan stood up slowly, his eyes fixed on Nadia. "I am made speechless at the sight before me. Words escape me and I cannot even begin to describe how beautiful I find you."

Nadia blushed and looked at anything but him. "Thank you. We might have to make two trips though, with everything we bought."

"No need dear child. You and Jonathan now have a car so that you don't have to walk to work. It would be very unsafe for you in a city such as this and Jonathan cannot risk following you every night, lest he attracts the attention of the Bat. He would no doubt capture Jonathan, find out who you are, and keep an eye on you. Which might lead to him finding out you are Ragdoll." Ozzie walked over to her and took her hands after she put down the bags she held. "You truly are a lovely sight."

"Thank you, Ozzie. By any chance, do you know a jeweler who can take some uncut stones I have and make them into jewelry for me? Jonathan and I retrieved some a little over a month ago." She had a few ideas as to what she wanted.

"Of course. Bring the jewels with you when you come in to work the day after tomorrow and a list of jewelry you'd like and I shall see to it that it's all taken care of." He turned to face Jonathan. "Speaking of jobs you two pulled, where ever did you learn to fight Jonathan? Ravvoni and his men are still talking about what happened at that warehouse of his. The one you stabbed didn't make it through the night."

"He's dead then?" Nadia questioned.

Ozzie looked at her. "Yes, he is."

Her eyes blazed in satisfaction.

"Good. That's what he deserves for hurting Jonathan." She nodded at the end of her statement.

"Ozzie, allow me to present to you the one responsible for what happened that night. Nadia is quite the fighter and is very protective of me." Jonathan smirked at the expression on both Pamela and Ozzie's faces. "She can see in the dark as if it were bright as day and used that to her advantage to get rid of our attackers and get what we needed."

Ozzie looked at Nadia appraisingly. "Jonathan, instead of charging you for the creation of Nadia's jewelry, I'd like to borrow your lovely Ragdoll for a certain little venture I'm going to be undertaking in two weeks."

Jonathan crossed his arms. "What type of venture?" He felt a bit overprotective of Nadia and somewhat like a little boy who didn't want to share his favorite toy.

Ozzie seemed to pick that up from his tone. "Nothing dangerous. I need a certain gem stolen from the house of a very light sleeper. The security system is no problem, but the last time I had someone attempt to get it, they woke up the person by bumping into a table because they couldn't use a flashlight. It would fetch quite the pretty penny on the market and a very high paying client has requested that it 'come up for sale'."

"That's up to Ragdoll. You'll have to ask her." Jonathan replied.

Ozzie turned to Nadia. "Would you be so kind as to help me out my dear?"

Nadia bit her bottom lip and glanced at Jonathan.

"It's up to you, Ragdoll. Whatever you want to do is fine with me." Jonathan told her, understanding her hesitance.

She nodded and turned back to Ozzie. "I will help you on two conditions."

"Just name them."

She stood up straighter. "One, you keep your word about not charging Jonathan for the jewelry. And two, you find Jonathan some henchmen to help with the plot we have started and a base of operations for no cost to us. Agreed?"

"Done. Shall we schedule the night of the robbery for next week on the night of the new moon? The house and grounds are quite dark on that night." Ozzie went to his desk and began to jot things down.

Nadia looked at Jonathan.

"That will be fine, Ozzie." Jonathan told him. "Now, if you and Pamela will excuse us, Ragdoll and I must be getting home."

"Do stay for dinner, won't you? It's on the house." Ozzie looked between the two. "And some of the others should be popping by. You two can go get dressed up and join us."

Nadia smiled. "Sorry, but I've already got a pot roast put on for dinner tonight. And Jonathan and I would rather that few of the Gallery actually know what I look like so that there's a lesser chance for the flying rodent to find out who I am should someone say something and it be overheard. The longer I'm out of the public eye, the easier it will be for me to be over-looked and free Jonathan from where he's being held should he be captured. Perhaps another night?"

Ozzie smiled. He understood their reasons. "Of course. Let me know what night you'd like to have a break from cooking, or Jonathan would like to come, and I will have a private dining room prepared for the two of you so that you may eat without being disturbed."

Nadia thanked him and grabbed the bags she'd put on the ground.

Jonathan nodded to Ozzie and led the two women out to the car Ozzie had arranged for them to have.

All the bags were loaded into the trunk and Jonathan gave Nadia the keys.

"You do have a driver's license, don't you?" he questioned.

"Of course. I had a car once, but I had to sell it to pay the rent. I'll have to renew my license on my birthday." She slid into the driver's seat and put on her seat belt. She grinned at Jonathan when he got in. "Where to, boss?"

He chuckled. "Home."

She gave him a cheeky salute. "You got it, boss." She started the car.

It was almost completely silent.

She ran her hands over the steering wheel. "I like it. Remind me to thank Ozzie when I see him next." She put the car in gear and drove them home.

The apartment smelt of the pot roast she'd put on the night before and Jonathan's mouth began to water.

"What all needs to be done for dinner yet?" he questioned once they'd brought all the bags in.

She headed straight for the kitchen. "Just need to cook the croissants and we can eat. Could you get them out when they're done? I want to put everything away."

He looked at the forest of bags at his feet. "Sure. I'll start carrying the bags into your room."

"Thanks." she called from the kitchen.

Jonathan grabbed some bags and entered her room. He stopped short when he saw it.

Nadia had dug out the previous owners' decorations and had decorated her room with the strings of lights from their Christmas stuff and had bought some stuff with her pay check to make it into her own little safe haven.

The little girl's stuff was placed against one wall and in the large doll house, Randy the Scarecrow and his Ragdoll were tucked into bed together, covered by the black silk Randy was usually wrapped in. The room had a very cozy feeling to it.

Jonathan put the bags on the floor by the bed and picked up a picture of a woman with a young girl that could only be Nadia.

Nadia appeared in the doorway with more bags. She saw what picture he held and entered. She put the bags she carried next to the ones he'd carried. "That's my mother."

He looked up at her. "You look just like her."

She took the picture frame and stared down at the photo of happier times. "I think that's why he drank so much. My parents were completely in love. Daddy, back when he was still Daddy, would have to go on business trips. He called Momma every night and she wasn't herself when he was gone. They needed each other. I guess he saw her in me too much."

Jonathan wrapped an arm around her waist and looked over her shoulder at the smiling woman. "And instead of treasuring you like he should have, he hurt you."

She shrugged. "To each his own, I guess. I'll go get the rest of the bags and start to put stuff away. You can do whatever you want." She put the photo back on the bedside table and went to get more bags.

Jonathan went to the kitchen after helping bring in the rest of the bags and stared at the timer on the stove. He wondered whether or not he'd have Nadia in his life had her mother lived and if her mother would approve of what Nadia was doing.

*~*~*~*

The warehouse Ozzie had supplied them met all the standards they had. It was ignored by most of those who lived around the area and there was a hidden escape route like Jonathan had specified as a necessity for Nadia's use.

About a dozen or so henchmen stood in a line before the two.

Jonathan walked before them, looking them over.

Nadia stood on the other side of him, watching him pace back and forth.

Jonathan stopped before the center man and looked at all of them. "You each will be given a job of your own. You will also do anything that I tell you or anything that Ragdoll tells you to. You will respect her as if she were me."

"She's nothing but a little girl." one commented.

Jonathan looked at him sharply from behind his mask.

Nadia smirked as she walked right up to him.

He looked down at her.

She gassed him with the fear toxin.

He dropped to the floor and started screaming.

The others recoiled in horror.

She dropped a toxin doll on him and discreetly pressed the button that released the toxin.

Jonathan merely grinned darkly behind his mask.

The man choked and it was a repeat of what happened during their first heist together.

The rest of the henchmen stared at her in fear.

"Does anyone else doubt Scarecrow? I have a few more tricks up my sleeve." She looked at each henchman in turn.

They shook their heads.

"No ma'am. Tell us what you want done, and it'll be done." one told her.

She looked down at the body at her feet. "Clean this up. We've plans to bring to fruition and a decaying body is not conducive to that end."

They instantly began to clean up the body.

Nadia went to stand by Jonathan's side.

"How did you get tonight off? You said you enjoyed working for him." Jonathan asked in a low voice only Nadia could hear.

She smiled. "Told him you needed me just in case any of the henchmen got an idea and thought they could overpower you and turn you in to one of those who we've been stealing from. He thought it might be a good idea for me to come, too." she replied just as softly.

Jonathan nodded and watched the henchmen.

Two hours later, he gave each one a job.

He and Nadia had already done most of the plot themselves over the past two weeks between Nadia working for Ozzie and trying to figure out how to make a small device that would turn Jonathan's toxin from liquid to gas form without having to spend years building one. They'd even carefully moved everything related to their plots to the warehouse in order to keep the apartment safe.

The henchmen were just needed to strategically place the containers so that Jonathan could hold the city for ransom.

Nadia had, in the interests of showing Gotham that they were serious, rigged each device to be usable through a different sequence of buttons on her remote. She grinned and bounced on the balls of her feet as the henchmen loaded the containers up on some trucks.

Jonathan was directing them. He turned to Nadia. "Why don't you go upstairs and get the broadcast ready, Ragdoll? It's almost time to greet our captive audience."

"You got it, Scarecrow." She tossed him a toxin doll. "Just in case you need it." She skipped up the stairs, acting much like a child.

As she was hooking up the computer network needed, the lights went off.

Both Jonathan and Ozzie had realized that Nadia had a gift when it came to appliances, particularly computers and used that gift (Ozzie because his computer liked to freeze on him and get strange viruses).

Now Nadia could see just fine in the dark, so when she saw a large shape run quietly by the office window, she knew that she was about to have an encounter with the Batman.

Downstairs, Jonathan had just come to the same conclusion.

He squeezed the middle of the doll Nadia had given him. He wanted to make sure it was ready to be used.

The auxiliary lights came on and two people stood six feet away from Jonathan and the henchmen.

"You should give up now, Crane." the one wearing a black cowl told him.

Jonathan smirked behind his mask. "I don't think so, Batman. Get them."

The henchmen shared a look.

"GET THEM!" Jonathan roared at them.

They instantly went after Batman and his sidekick Robin.

The two crime fighters had them all knocked out in about five minutes. They turned to face Jonathan.

"You're not going to escape, Crane." Robin told him. "We've already taken out all your henchmen."

Jonathan chuckled darkly. "We'll see about that. To borrow a pun of the Joker's, I might happen to have an ace up my sleeve. I have something you've never seen before." He threw the doll at them.

Batman caught it and both men looked down at it in confusion.

Batman looked up at Jonathan. "A doll? What can a doll do?"

Jonathan smirked. "Quite a bit actually."

Nadia, from her hidden position at behind some crates, pressed the button that released the toxin contained within her doll.

The two 'heroes' were instantly paralyzed.

"Did we get 'em, boss?" Nadia questioned as her masked head popped out from behind the crates.

"Come see for yourself." Jonathan told her.

She skipped over to the two frozen people. "Oh, look. They can't move." She turned to Jonathan. "I did good?"

He walked over to stand next to her. He patted her head. "You did wonderful. Batman, allow me to introduce my second-in-command and partner-in-crime, Ragdoll. Ragdoll, say hello to Batman and Robin."

She waved at them. "Hello. Whatcha think about my dolls? Aren't they just precious?" She giggled.

If looks could kill, both would be dead from the daggers Batman's eyes threw at them.

Nadia grinned behind her mask. "We should take attendance. There's the Ragdoll, the Scarecrow, the Bat, and the Bird. Yep, everyone's here."

*~*~*~*~*~*