Disclaimer: Batman is owned by DC Comics and whoever else owns it. I in no way claim it as my own; I'm just borrowing. Any OCs are mine and the plot is also mine if it's not stuff from the movies.

A/N: Welcome to the first chapter! Yaaaay!

First of all, thank you to my first reviewer on this fic! Much love to you, .., and I thank you for your compliments. It's great to see someone so enthusiastic about the series! :)

Second of all, I made a liiittle mistake in the last chapter. The singer's name was Jamie Cullum, not Cullen. Oops!

And finally, no, the Joker doesn't just all the sudden love her in this fic. It's just a surprising physical attraction at this point, which is more believable (at least to me), half so because it's so random and he's sometimes random like that, in my view. (And the attraction had to start somehow or I would have just wrote tons of useless chapters of "getting to know each other" crap that's boring, so consider yourself lucky. lol)

As a note, even though someone got so hyped up over my last story to roll out rants about everything wrong with it with a bunch of their personal opinions, I'm going to assume that the reviews where people actually liked the story were sincere.

Thus, I'm continuing with posting this one.

My comment is not to deter you guys from constructive criticism, though. I was glad someone had enough guts to tell me what they thought was wrong and I appreciate that they took the time to review. (I'm not sure what they wanted me to do, though, as the whole scenario of Jonathan/Scarecrow being in a relationship in the first place is totally improbable. I believe it can only happen in an AU where he's more human and susceptible to human emotion, which I kind of stated in the first fic. Maybe I didn't state it right.)

However, please don't take it so seriously that your criticism turns into a rant. That's kind of... sad. My silly fanfiction is insignificant; it's not worth getting hyped up over and having a hernia or anything. lol

And if you're giving criticism, it's good to also say what you like if only to assure the writer that you're not just trying to put them down. It's actually a form of common courtesy. (It does make me sad when people only point out the many things they find wrong.)

For another pointer, try not to confuse personal opinion with fact; there's a fine line, but it's there. Fanfic is much to do with personal opinion and finding like-minded authors; I can't just cater to your personal opinions alone. That would be impossible to do for every reader, and I've learned the hard way that I can't please everyone (and from Ricky Nelson's Garden Party song which lyrically states: But it's alright now / I learned my lesson well / You see, ya can't please everyone / So ya got to please yourself.).

I wish I could please everybody; I seriously do. But, alas, I am human.

But don't be afraid to give me criticism, please! I know some people are skittish about being tough, but I can take it like a big girl. I actually want pointers and stuff, honestly.

But hey, I can't stop you from reviewing however you want. (I just realized I talk a lot. Gawsh.)

Remember: it's fanfiction, not fact.

Sorry for the lengthy A/N. If you read the whole thing, I'm much obliged.

Damn it, Garden Party is stuck in my head now! :anime tears:

Queen Takes Pawn

by Syrenia

Chapter One - Unwanted Attention

The next time for her criminal activities, Crow decided to blow up as much of Gotham's high school as possible, once again appearing with said building in the distance during the day.

Crow turned the camera on and danced across the rooftop where she was safe from the impending doom.

"Today, boys and girls, Crow is going to teach you somethin' new!" she cooed with a feral grin. "See this little high school, sweetie pie? I'm going to blow it to pieces because that's where my lovely, lovely Scarecrow was tormented by his peers. I can only hope that some of said peers' children are in there today, about to be blown to bits! Heehee!"

Turning the camera onto the school, she took her detonator and pressed the button with glee, a huge explosion sending flames and smoke into the air.

"See what I've done, Batty-kins?" she asked, camera still panning over the school. "Find me, or else I'll strike again... and again... and again..."

The woman then quickly turned off the camera, gave it to a thug, and high-tailed it out of there.

The Joker turned off the TV from Crow's latest video; it gave little to go on and only bared the motive of revenge for the Scarecrow he'd heard so much about.

Why was she so obsessed with the Scarecrow?

Crow's third appearance during the day was from nearby her target of a chain of stores including a Starbucks, a Hot Topic, The Gap, Fye, and other hot spots.

"Today," Crow began, looking into the camera, "we're going to experience what's called a "domino effect," babydolls. Building by building behind me will go up in flames because Batbrains apparently doesn't want to see me."

She pouted playfully, then laughed, "Why have I targeted the shopping district? Because people covet material things. Money, clothes, CDs, gourmet coffee, etcetera, etcetera... I think they care more about these things than they do one another, you see. Because people... are evil, selfish creatures who play under the pretense of superiority."

Hitting the button without warning, the row of stores exploded, one after another, and she visibly savored the sounds of destruction like a particularly potent aphrodisiac.

Once the noise wasn't so loud, she continued, "How about we all lift the façade, stop the masquerade, and show each other what we really are? Because, dear Gotham, your criminals are more human than your policemen."

Her eyes glinted with an alarming mixture of malice and adoration as she hugged herself tightly with her free arm, "Remember Scarecrow? He wore a mask, but he showed us who he truly was - a beautiful sadist! My poor, poor, poor Scarecrow is all locked up in Arkham Asylum because he didn't pretend to be something he's not."

Chelsie sighed at the agitation she felt coming from her counterpart, 'Calm down, Crow.'

"Ladies and gents, you may not know this about me, but... I have two personalities," Crow announced, wiggling two fingers at the camera. "My host is quite weak and fragile like a pretty little porcelain doll. She was always so, so nice... But did Gotham show her any love?"

She snarled, lips contorting, "No! Gotham threw her into the Narrows and treated her like a third-class citizen. I came about to protect us, you see."

'Crow, hurry up before we get caught,' Chelsie hurried her.

"Well, loves, sticks and stones may break our bones, but your pretty little laced up hate will never break us down," she announced confidently with a grin. "We see the world for what it truly is now and our mission is to spread the message. Fuck the game, fuck the rules, and rise above your shells to be what you truly are - freaks, just like me."

She panted with excitement, "If you agree, show me some love! Get on the web and youtube me your thoughts. Tag it under Crow... Let your freak flags fly, my pretties! For tomorrow you may die, my pretties. Heehee!"

The Joker grinned back at the TV before her feed went static, his fingers twirling around a knife.

Crow, he believed, was a fucked up, beautiful freak - a freak just like he was called, though he wasn't a freak, no. And what's more, her views were so akin to his own and always interesting.

And for the first time since he could remember being alive in his current form, something had stirred inside of him as he saw the way she savored the explosions.

He thought himself to be an asexual creature, but he felt a desire to get closer to the woman. He wanted to see her eyes roll back as she devoured the pleasure of a big, fiery bang.

To his surprise, he felt himself sexually aroused by the way a woman thought, looked, and acted... and it wasn't exactly all that bad.

Unfortunately for Chelsie, Crow attracted some unwanted attention with her little stunts...

Crow and Chelsie were watching the news in their warehouse hideout from their place on the old, black leather couch when the pair saw a new video from another character of interest in Gotham by the title of the Joker.

"Mmm, so, uh... Crow, is it?" he asked his camera, his white, red, and black face paint all smeared in a twisted manner. "I've seen your, ah... wor-k. You like to - what's the word? - destroy things."

"So?" Crow asked the TV, bored with the clown.

"I thought we might... co-llab-o-rate sometime soon?" he said, mostly as a question. "Dying to meet you, doll. I think we... we share a similar outloo-k on real-ity."

"We do?" questioned Crow, leaning forward with a slight interest in him.

The Joker licked his lips, brushing back some of his stringy, greasy, and green-tinted hair.

"Why don't I trac-k you down and we, ah... see how we get along?" he asked, onyx eyes shining at the camera. "Think of it as... an exchange of ideasss - a little powwow over a nice little, ah... bonfire. Name the place an-d... we'll blow it up."

"He almost sounds like he's answering on a video dating site," muttered Crow, although she was still intrigued, a smile playing at her lips.

Chelsie laughed at the back of their mind, 'Nothing's what it seems with him. He probably wants to kill us for trying to steal the spotlight and his precious Battoy.'

"Soooo, dollfac-e, just give me a, uh... reply?" he asked, seeming uncertain of himself.

The feed then went static, Crow grinning from ear to ear.

"He wants a reply, huh?" she asked, standing from the beat up couch beneath her.

Crow flicked on her camera after making sure she looked alright, now looking into the lens.

"I saw your video, Mister Joker," she cooed. "Very intriguing... But, I'm not as stupid as I may look, honey bunny. Who's to say you don't just want to kill me for taking some attention off of you and for trying to play with your Battoy, hm?"

She smirked, "I'm not at all assured that your intentions for this "powwow" are innocent, but if you want to find me, go ahead. Just rest assured that I have more than one ace up my sleeve and I'm not as easily manipulated as your average Gotham citizen."

Chelsie chuckled at the back of their mind, 'You tell him.'

"I'm just stating for the record that I don't trust you one bit, which I'm sure you'll find understandable," Crow told the camera. "But from all the work I've seen from you, you seem to be a man of your word, buttercup. Perhaps giving your word that no harm will befall me would reassure me the tinsiest bit? Please respond. Until then, Mister Joker."

The Joker smirked at the TV, turning it off after watching her video response.

He then leaned back in his couch, licking his lips.

She was turning out to be more fun than expected.

A few days later, they got their reply.

Joker smiled at the camera, brushing back strands of his still greasy hair.

Did he ever bathe?

"Crow, Crow, Crow," he tutted, shaking his head. "Kill you? No... no, no, no, no."

His tongue darted over one of his scars before he carried on, "I feel we may be, ah... kindred spirits, if you will. Like mindsss... But I give you my wor-d that, uh, I will no-t harm you. No, no... I wan-t you alive. You... fascinate me."

Crow quirked a brow, "What the hell is fascinating about me?"

"Few people... intrigue me, doll," he told them, cackling merrily. "Soooo, expect a, uh, visi-t... sometime soon? You can pick a place and a, um, time and we'll... blow something up? I awai-t your response, doll."

Crow filmed herself again, though Chelsie was getting tired of these video responses. This time, however, she was in broad daylight near her target of a gas station, which she knew would make an extra big boom.

"Well, Mister Joker, I don't know how like-minded we are, but I must admit, I'm... anxiously awaitin' your appearance, sugarcube," she said, brushing back strands of hair. "I'm sure you won't disappoint... I don't see what you find fascinatin' about me; I'm just another freak on a leash, trying to break free. Hopefully, I won't disappoint any of your expectations."

Crow then grinned, "But I do have a present for you, sweetums! I'm goin' to blow up a gas station! My first hit on a gas station, too... I got as far away as possible while still havin' a nice li'l view... Now, shall we?"

She held up the detonator, pressed the button, and filmed both herself and the explosion.

The flames were terribly, terribly high and the smoke was everywhere, Crow's eyes rolling in pleasure to the panicked screams and chaotic sounds below.

She licked her lips, "How was that for a boom, boom, boom, baby? Heehee!"

'Wrap it up, Crow,' her other half urged her.

"So, Mister Joker, I have a place and time in mind for a li'l... renovation, so... why don't we get out from behind our lenses and meet up, buttercup?" she asked. "I'll be... waitin'."

She then winked, blew a kiss, and turned off the camera.

'That was far too flirtatious for my tastes,' Chelsie chided, Crow just laughing at her.

The Joker replayed the last video response over and over, all the more attracted to this curious woman.

He couldn't recall ever having such an urge to fuck someone so badly and he couldn't help finding himself in the shower, fantasizing about taking Crow and her host by proxy as a bonus with the sound of exploding buildings as their background music.