Disclaimer: I own a very pretty orange-and-black dress. I own several very nice story plots. I don't own these characters.

Scarecrow

He scares me, you know. Batman. Most people are scared of him, especially criminals like me, but almost none will admit it. I don't know why; it's so beautiful, fear. And he's the only thing that scares me anymore.

But I also like scaring other people. Although it's gotten easy recently. Much easier than being scared, that's for sure. That's why, you see, that's why, and I have to….I won't let anybody kill him, not if I can help it, all that fear, all that fear—

I need it so bad it hurts.

And now I've broken out of Arkham, again, this time with Poison Ivy. We're not really allies, it was just a coincidence. Ivy is boring anyway, I don't want to be her friend, so easy, so easy to scare, just take away the plants—

Or don't, it really doesn't matter. The important part is that if she thinks that all the plants, all her babies are gone and dead, if you make her believe that they have been buried in concrete, if you make her believe that she's alone—

It's so easy it's boring. Not like the dark one, though. Not like Batman. I've never scared him, y'know that? Never, not once. Nobody else has, either, well of course not, if I couldn't do it—but that's neither here nor there. Right now I have more important things to think about.

Like how to scare the Bat. I've been trying, trying so hard, but lately I haven't had any inspiration. Or I didn't, until I found out—but slow down, Jonathon, don't be premature, don't be hasty. You don't know yet, not for sure—

See, I think I've found Batman's weak spot. I can't be certain (yet), but yes, I think so. Nothing else has worked, I can't scare him, I can't scare him, why can't I—but wait. I couldn't scare him. But now, now just maybe…

When I started fighting Batman, I tried everything I knew to try to frighten him. Nothing worked, and I—he's the only one, okay? You hear me?! The only one! I scared all the others, all of them—I'll scare you, too, I'll terrify you, show you your deepest, darkest—

And I was intrigued. Gradually, I changed my strategy, modified my plans and my fear toxin. It was—not exactly a game, more of a—a cycle, an endless cycle of fear, the heady rush as I watch them scream, and then my own when he comes, and he always—it's a cycle.

But still, I was (for the first time ever, mind you, the first time ever) unsuccessful. And I began to get frustrated. But now, now, I have another chance. A better clue than all the others put together, useful, yes, I can use this—

But I should just get to the point. See, there's another one. Smaller, (younger too from what I hear, a lot younger though accounts do vary), and very. Much. Un. Tested.

This is what I've been wanting, for so long—a chance, just one time, can I just scare him one time—and now this boy, he's young, they say he's Batman's son, heir, beautiful, who cares, it all means the same thing.

I don't know if Batman loves this child. But I know he cares about him. Now it's time to find out exactly how much.

A.N. When Scarecrow calls Robin 'beautiful', near the end, he's saying that some people think Batman likes him, like romantically likes him. I'm not planning to have all of the villains reference this, but it really was such a common belief/popular speculation (still is, a bit), and I felt like I should put it in a couple, just in passing. Bloody stupid belief, really. If Batman was into that sort of thing, he never would have let Richard become Robin in the first place.

Also, another chapter without an actual meeting…it's really just his thoughts. . Sorry, I didn't mean to false advertise…I will do better next time, promise. :( Probably the Riddler, I'm thinking, or Two-Face, as per request. They're both so much fun, I'm having trouble deciding. :)