Yeah Chapter ten! this has been my longest fanfic and i thank everyone for reviewing or just reading it. This isn't as long as i wanted it to be but there you go, this might be a bit AU but i'll say why i wanted this afterwards though i think you've guessed who i've used. Now on with the chapter!

Crane sat quietly at his usual table and sure enough it wasn't long before Scarecrow got bored. He the annoying pest which Crane couldn't seem to get rid of had been teasing and harassing him since Alice had left, saying that everyone had been harassing him. No one cared about how he felt since her departure, everyone thought he was content she had gone but that wasn't the case at all. Ever since Crane had told her about his troubled past she had seemed more than a friend, Crane had now figured out the confusing feelings that had been out of his control… she was like a little sister, she was his sister. She understood everything, why he had killed his naïve father, why he hated his whore of a mother, she understood. The Mad Hatter had become paranoid since Alice had left and had to be taken to solitary confinement numerous times, which in many ways was making Crane uneasy.

'You uneasy?' Scarecrow's mocking voice was a not-to-happy continuum.

'If Hatter is paranoid then he will want his 'Alice'. If Joker comes up with a way to break us out… We all know who he will look for. Alice doesn't know the true extent of the murders Hatter committed to the girls he thought weren't his 'Alice' that is what makes me uneasy.' Crane snapped not needing his input in the situation. It was clear that Joker would make a break out eventually and knowing him he would let Hatter go after Alice; Crane wondered if any of the other rogues would stop him. He himself wondered whether he would stop him, would he really risk his life for Alice. Could he?

'Speaking to yourself again Crane? Very unhealthy, for the mind that is.'

'You know very well I don't speak to myself Edward, plus you know exactly who I talk to.' Crane watched as an amused Riddler sat in Alice's seat across from him, he let out an annoyed sigh as Riddler tapped his index finger on the table. Riddler stopped and held his hands up defensively.

'Whoa sorry Crane and everyone calls me touchy. You want to hear a riddle?'

'If it will shut you up then get on with it.'

'Riddle me this! It is greater than God and more evil than the devil. The poor have it, the rich need it and if you eat it you'll die. What is it?' Crane carelessly replied not even bothering to figure it out.

'I don't know, what is it?' Riddler smiled and answered immediately revealing his geekyness.

'Nothing! Nothing is greater than God, nothing is more evil than the devil, the poor have nothing, the rich need nothing and if you eat nothing you'll die! How about another one? To redeem yourself.'

'Fine… riddle away.'

'Riddle me this! The more you have of it, the less you see. What is it?'

'That Edward is easy, it is darkness.' Crane's bored like tone and his use of words made Riddler's face turn pink with anger, which only meant extremely hard riddles ahead.

'How about another?' Riddler mumbled through gritted teeth.

'If you must.'

'Riddle…me…this. what is the beginning of eternity, the end of time and the beginning of every ending?' Crane thought for a few minutes this time but he knew the answer anyway, he didn't let the smirk that was twitching in his head escape onto his lips until he answered.

'My dear Nigma, the answer to your riddle is the letter E.' Crane kept a straight face but he could hear Scarecrow chuckle in the back of his mind as Riddler's mouth was gawping like a fish.

'How did you know that?! That's impossible!'

'Edward that riddle was easy, fact. Even though you thought it would be difficult it was in fact easy. There is only one reason why it was easy.'

'Why?!'

'You have already asked me that riddle before. Thus it was easy once I remembered the answer you willingly gave to me after I got it wrong the first time.'

Riddler slumped in the chair much like the time Alice one the chess game, the last time Crane had seen her smile. She had become depressed at the thought of leaving though he guessed she was happy once she had got the Gotham air into her much needed lungs. That reminded Crane of the previous dilemma with The Mad Hatter.

'Edward once we get out of here, you know Hatter will go after Miss McGuiness… would you protect her from him?' Riddler slowly straightened up as Crane's tentative words sunk in and he scratched the short ginger hairs that protruded from his chin.

'Even though I didn't mind the girl, I wouldn't risk my skin for hers. You know the rogue's code Crane; once you're out, you're on your own. I'm not saying I wouldn't be completely guilty that I didn't help her but I for one, will stick to the code if the time comes… and the time will come eventually. You're not thinking of helping her are you? I know she was kind to you but that's a bit… Drastic isn't it? I mean before you would have jumped at the chance to hear her scream.'

'I know that it isn't my usual thing to act the hero, but I can't let her die at the hands of hatter. If I knew that I had others to help me then I could find a safe place for her, somewhere where Hatter wouldn't find her. That's why I'm asking you in the first place, to see who would help me.' Riddler moved his hand away from his chin and rested it on the table and tapped his finger, his other hand in his lap. He seemed to let the names of the other rogues go through his head and made a list of the people that might help Crane.

'I know Harley would defiantly help but it depends whether the clown would let her or not. Joker wouldn't care really and would probably point Hatter in the right direction. Plant girl might help you, she seemed to like Alice but other than that you got no one. The only other people that I could think of would be, Jerry and that guard that Alice is staying with. They wouldn't let you anywhere near her though Crane, more likely just lock up back up in here.'

'It's a risk I'm willing to take, I mean it.' Riddler tsked and shook his head, obviously thinking Crane had a death wish.

'If you die can I have you chemistry set?'

'I won't die and even if I did why would you want my equipment?'

'Oh, If I have a mental break down then I can have something that I don't like to smash.'

'Wonderful, anything else you want to ask me before my agonizing death from boredom?'

'Want to hear a riddle?' Crane let his head slip into his hands as Scarecrow's chuckles echoed through his mind, plus Riddler's tapping on the table. Another day in Arkham Asylum waits…

Tap, tap, and tap. The keys on the computer were smooth under Alice's fingers tips, it had been a month since she left Arkham and she was beginning to underestimate the pressure that was made living in Gotham. She had put off many times the urge to have a cigarette but it was becoming harder, she had twenty minutes left before her work was done for the night. She had typed up twenty-six reports and it had taken seven hours, Alice was quite proud at what she had done in the limited time. Commissioner Gordon had told her the works so to speak and had left her to it, the first couple of days she struggled to type a paragraph in less than an hour but eventually her pace quickened and more work was done. Alice finished her last sentence and printed the report off; she put it neatly with the pile of other reports. She turned the computer off and picked up the large pile of paperwork, she could just touch the pile with her chin. She headed for the reception desk to drop the reports off, just as she placed a foot into the reception a well-timed shoulder banged into her and knocked the papers out her hand and over the sleek floor.

'Watch where you're going! Jesus, I've got to clean this up now.' Alice mumbled as she bent down and grabbed a handful of paper, a shadow bent down by the side of her and male hands gently picked up some of the reports.

'Sorry about that, I was in a hurry. Haven't seen you around before, guess you don't like me a lot now.'

'It's ok I've dropped this stuff so many times I'm surprised they've put up with me this long. So I'm guessing you're a rookie… Blake.'

'Very observant aren't you? It's Tim Blake and I hope I'm not stepping too far by asking your name.' Alice smiled while putting the final paper on the pile.

'Alice McGuiness and I seem to be telling a lot of people my name recently. I think that's it, I'll see you around then Tim.'

'Yeah I'll see you around Alice.' With that he walked off in the direction of Commissioner Gordon's office, Alice picked up the pile and headed for the desk. The receptionist sat there reading a rather disturbing magazine about men, she chewed chewing gum with her mouth open which put Alice off completely. Her black hair was stuck up in a tight bun and she had way too much makeup on that made her look like a Barbie doll.

'Here's the reports Janie, see you tomorrow.'

'hmm' Was the only reply Alice ever got from Janie, she grabbed her grey hoodie and walked out into the night air. She put the hood up straight away and cursed for not bringing a proper coat, it was pouring with rain. She hadn't been out for five minutes and already she was trenched, Alice was getting a lift from Alistair by avenue x. It wasn't that far and Alice was curious about the area, Alistair didn't want to meet her there but she insisted it was easier as it was only seven minutes away from the Police Department. The alleyways openings were unsettling and Alice tried her best not to glance down them, frightened of what was lurking inside them. It wasn't long before she found herself staring at the sign that read avenue x, instead of waiting by the sign she continued until she came to a burned down warehouse. Crumbling debris littered the street outside it and abandoned police crime scene tape, Alice felt the burnt debris crunch under her feet as she entered the unstable building. She pulled her hood down once there was some sort of shelter inside the ruined building, pools of unclean water was scattered amongst the charcoal floor, bricks were strung around the place along with planks of wood. A lonely pillar stood in the centre of the building and Alice risked getting closer to it, a few droplets of water dripped onto her head and down her face. She let one hand touch the rough surface of the pillar and breathed deeply like she was absorbing the pillar's scents. She pushed of the wall and turned to leave, she couldn't risk being in an unsafe environment any longer. A silver glimmer caught her sensitive eyes, she looked down and a coin like object was half buried in the rumble. She gently picked it up and turned it over on her hand, both sides had a posh woman's face on it but one was scratched while the other was clean. The coin vibrated in her hand and made her fingers feel like pins and needles, something was wrong with this coin.

'I think you'll find that coin is mine.' A growl of a voice echoed from the pillar, Alice turned and the sight hypnotized her. A man, she hoped it was a man, leaned against the pillar so she could only see one side of his face. His blonde hair dripped and stuck to it, he looked down but his presence was strong and demanding. His grey suit was tinged from what looked like charcoal stains, his face from what Alice could see was flaked with anger and mourning. It took a while for Alice to answer as her voice deserted her at the worst time, yet again.

'I'm sorry; I didn't mean to barge in… I didn't know anyone was here. Here have the coin I was just looking at it anyway.' She let the coin sit in the palm of her hand and let her hand outstretched towards him, shaking slightly.

'Doesn't it seem…peculiar to you?'

'Well if someone comes here it's their busine-'

'I meant the coin!' Alice swallowed a lump that was forming in her throat and bit her parched lips.

'Yes it is peculiar; it is the same on both sides except one is scratched.'

'One cannot live without the other…and yet here I am. Still bloody alive! If you can call me alive that is, you are scared of me?'

'I admit you are shocking but you don't scare me; I have met and seen worse things…and people.'

'You haven't seen what is shocking about me yet… would you really not find this scary?' He shot his head up and Alice couldn't help but let a muffled whimper escape. The other side of his 'face' was burned right down to the skull. His lip or lips were in half, one was a normal pink while the other was burnt away showing growling teeth. He would have been handsome if the other side of his face wasn't injured and his lack of patience, Alice had been right before. The side of his face that was normal was full of mourning while the other savaged side showed anger and aggression, Alice composed herself and spoke with forced calmness.

'I'm not scared of you, I feel sorry for you. Who are you?' The man let what sounded like a chuckle escape his normal lips and turned his head to the side again, he looked normal again.

'Some would say I was the saviour of Gotham, while others would call me a thorn in their side. I wonder what people would think of me now if they knew what I had done, what I had done here. You are brave I'll give you that, you remind me of someone I once knew… someone I used to be.' Alice's hand was still outstretched though it hand drooped a little, he stumbled from the pillar; he stood in his full height and snatched the coin from her hand and turned his back on Alice. He held it up above his head and studied it; he turned it in his fingers.

'Everything is fifty/fifty… even if you live or die.' He turned to face Alice with a gun that magically appeared out of nowhere, Alice stared at it…no fear.

'I know how you feel.'

'No you don't! You have never had anyone taken away from you! No one has told you in their dying moments everything is going to be ok! Nice try kid, that isn't going to save you!' He growled and saliva dripped from his burnt lips, Alice still stared, unfazed at his words.

'Yes they did… I heard them die… I heard their final cries. I know your angry but killing people won't help; it will just make you angrier. I killed someone and I regret it every day, I thought I was in the right but I wasn't. I know how you feel, let me help you.' The normal side of his face softened and he let the gun drop down, he closed his eyes briefly then pointed the gun at Alice's forehead.

'As I said…Fifty/fifty.' He flipped the glimmering coin of death or life, it took an eternity. He let it drop into his hand and he stared at it, his hand bawled into a fist hiding the coin from view.

'You get to live another miserable day kid… I was the white knight of Gotham.' He walked away leaving a shaking Alice behind him, he walked into the gloom at the other end of the warehouse. Alice waited until he was out of sight before she breathed in, his final words spinning around her head.

I was the white knight of Gotham

'Harvey Dent… at least someone knows what happened to him; at least someone knows Batman is innocent.' Alice didn't move or rather she couldn't, even when she heard the horn of Alistair's car. She was paralyzed; the thoughts in her head were heavy and annoying. After the tenth beep of the horn Alice finally stumbled out of the warehouse to meet a worried Alistair inside the rusty vehicle. Alice opened the car door and sat gently staring out onto the road ahead; closing the door she still stared.

'Where the hell were you? I thought you'd been mugged or worse!'

'I just went exploring and time got ahead of me.' Alistair sighed and drove off the curb and into the less busy streets of Gotham, Alice didn't say a word again until they reached the Narrows.

'I think my theory on ghosts might be wrong.' She mumbled.

'What was that?'

'Nothing… just me talking to myself.'

'I wondered how long it would take.'

Crane watched as Bolton took a very annoyed Mad Hatter away from the table, Hatter struggled under his captor but it was no use as Bolton was ten times the size of the young man. Crane hadn't touched his food as his throat felt sore. Joker was laughing hysterically and didn't eat his food either, Harley Quinn looked shocked and an amused Riddler shook a knowing finger at Crane. Everyone had their eyes on him, even Victor Zsacz stopped talking about his cuts to glance at Crane. Crane kept his calm demeanour and ignored everyone's hawk like eyes.

'All I said was Hatter was getting slightly paranoid; he didn't have to lunge for my throat.' He spoke in a sharp whisper so only the other rogues at the table could hear him.

'Ya shoulda known not to say anything Dr Crane!' Harley shot back, unable to whisper.

'Please Miss Quinn be a little quieter, I don't need everyone knowing my business. The longer Jervis is in solitary confinement the better off everyone will be, plus the longer I will be able to eat without worrying about being strangled.'

'Scarecrow you can't wish for Hatter to be in Solitary! How will he find Alice when I break us all out mmm?'

'That, clown is why I want him in solitary, so he can't find her.'

'Alice was a right laugh but you know me, I love anarchy!' Joker sung in a sing-song voice.

'Ya can't let Hatter hurt Alice puddin! When we get outa here I wanna protect her… that is if you let me Mistah J.'

'My dear Harley Quinn, you know the rogue's code.'

'Yeah I know, once you're out… you're on your own.' Harley mumbled.

Two-face i personally think was killed off too quickly, i know it was for the best for TDKR but still it was too quick. It still carries on that he died but i just thought while gordan and batman are talking Two-face could of escaped as the fall could hve been small. The ending of this chapter isn't my best but it was easier to end there and i might have an explosive chapter next... schemming eh? I have recently become a Loki fan, i only watched thor a couple of days ago but i instantly got a crush on him. WHY ARE ALL THE BAD GUYS HOT! Still love Scarecrow but i think Loki is my second fav bad guy now. Drabbling on a bit... pls review!