Crane was working in his apartment, filling canisters for their job next week. Nigma was sulking somewhere downstairs, after they had left Sid's apartment she two weeks ago she had done a vanishing act. The kid said she was working on getting invited to the party, and that they were still able to use the shower per her request. Of course Nigma still ate there, as her kitchen was much cleaner than his.
Placing the last canister on the table he heard a noise coming from the fire escape. Looking over he saw a figure open the window and silently entered, and pulled her black hood of her sweatshirt down before she shut the window. Walking over to his, he stood up, curious why she would make an appearance after two weeks of no contact.
"Preparing for a full assault?" she asked, nodding her head towards the canisters of fear gas.
"Of course," he stated, moving away from the table. "May I ask why you are here?"
"Complications," she stated as she walked over to the door, and poked her head out it listening for a moment before closing it and walking back over. "Making sure Nigma wasn't out there, he creeps me out. Always looking like I'm some jigsaw puzzle that needs to be put together and solved."
"Indeed," he replied cracking a smile and trying not to laugh at her. "So what is this complication you were speaking of?"
"I have gotten myself invited to Wayne Manor for this party you two are busting up," she said as she sat down on the arm of his beaten up couch. "But how I am getting in I really can't sneak in a gas mask. I have a breathing apparatus I've used against knock out gas," she said as she pulled out a mouth piece with two red cylinders on either side no bigger than her palm. "But I don't know if the filters will work against your fear gas."
"So you want to try it out," he asked walking over and picking up a small canister, ad she nodded her head. "We can do it up on the roof. What if your device fails?"
"I have a stash of weed in my apartment," she replied as she stood up. "No time like the present so let's do this."
He grabbed his scarecrow mask, led her out of the apartment, and up the stairs to the roof access. Walking out into the cool night air, he walked over to a spot where if the bat was flying around he wouldn't notice them right away. Grasping the canister, he stared at her as she placed her breathing gadget in her mouth. Place his scarecrow mask on he stared at the female before him, this was a first for him. No one ever asked him to gas them, it was always the opposite, and they begged not to be gassed.
"You sure about this?" he asked his voice distorted by his masks, and she gave him a thumbs up.
Pulling the pin on the can he threw it at her feet as it began to release the gas. He watched as the gas went up in a greenish yellow smoke and curled around her face before being blown away by the gentle breeze in the air and dissipates. They stood there for about two minutes while the can emptied its gas. Finally the can discharged all of its gas, and Sid waited for a moment before removing the device from her mouth.
"Did it work?" he asked as he removed his own mask, waiting for her to freak out.
"It did," she laughed as she put the device back in her pocket, a smile on her face. "I knew it would work but I'd rather make sure before the whole plan went to shit because of me not making sure my equipment works."
"That is a very good idea," he replied as he held the door opened to the stairwell and finding Nigma standing in there.
"Well now isn't this interesting," he said, as he twirled his cane. "Here I am about to go out for some last minute prep and here are the two of you meeting on the roof at night. How sensual with the starlight and the smog in the air, now what are we doing up here?"
"Making sure I don't get gassed," she huffed as she stormed past him and tried to make it down the stairs but he grabbed her arm.
"Well we should at least discuss where you have been these last few weeks," Nigma said as he linked elbows with her and hauled her back into Crane's apartment.
"Doing my job," she huffed as he tossed her onto the couch, furious she wasn't giving her the full answers he was inquiring about. "I told you I don't just show up to a job I get invited, I go there like I belong there not make a scene!"
"Well I wouldn't be so apprehensive of you if you would at least tell me exactly what you were doing and how you were getting into this party," he told her as Crane entered the apartment shutting the door behind him.
"Just because I agreed to work with you doesn't mean I am going to tell you how I do everything," she hissed at him as she stood up only to have Nigma push her back down.
"I am the boss here and you will tell me everything," Nigma demanded of her, and Crane watched as she clenched her fist and gave Nigma a glare, her blue eyes shimmered with murderous intentions.
"Edward isn't there somewhere you have to be?" Crane asked trying to defuse the situation; he did not want blood all over the couch he slept on.
"Undeniably I do," he stated, a frown on his face before he snapped his fingers. "You maybe better at getting answers from her Johnny boy. If not keep her here I'll be back before the sunrises."
"Are you really going to try and keep me here?" she asked, as she crossed her arms after she was sure Nigma was gone.
"I do not follow Edward's orders," he stated as he walked over to her. "Furthermore I do not believe you will freely give him the information he seeks. I do not want blood on the couch I sleep on nor the annoyance of you two squabbling, so no I will not try and keep you here."
"Why are you working with him?" she asked as she stood up facing him. "I mean you seem more like the work alone type."
"Normally I am," he replied as he followed her over to the window she entered. "But both of us have a disdain for Bruce Wayne, so we have started an alliance for this one plot."
"I think your work is much more tactful," she responded as she opened the window. "This is my first team up with rouges. You must understand why I am nervous. None of the rouges have ever proven themselves trustworthy, except for Harley to the Joker but not vice versa. Just be forewarned I do not take betrayal lightly."
"Betray us and I'll make sure I gas you enough you could smoke the entire weed supply you own and it wouldn't help," he retorted, causing her to smile.
"I wouldn't expect any less from you Scarecrow," she stated, before pulling her hood up and exiting the apartment, making sure to close the window behind her.
The nerve of her expecting him to betray her, as if he didn't prove himself by helping her escapes the dirty cops. If anyone had anything to prove it was her, she was the one making secret plans. Grabbing a canister, he hid it in the floor boards under his couch. He planned to use it on her if she did decide to betray them he would make sure she knew fear.
Waiting for Nigma's return, he had fallen asleep on the couch sitting up. Hearing his door slammed, he looked at Nigma still dazed from his nap. Nigma walked over to him and just stood in front of him trying to look intimidating, but Crane could only laugh at his attempt.
"It appears you let her leave," Nigma stated as Crane stood up and stretched.
"You weren't going to get the answers you sought," Crane yawned, as he walked away from her. "Why waste the effort she will be there."
"You are soft towards the girl," Nigma noted, as he picked a canister off the table.
"Can you go five minutes without touching my things?" Crane huffed as he carefully yanked the canister away from Nigma. "Also I am not soft towards her."
"You are the Crane I know would have tied her up and demanded answers like I do," he replied, about to grab another canister only to have his hand smacked away.
"I do not need you accidently releasing fear gas in my home," Crane sneered as he put the can gently back down on the table. "I also I do not need answer to your questions, the girl will do what she will."
"You worry too much," Nigma replied, waving a dismissing hand at him, before he laughed at him.
"What's the big joke?" Crane asked as Nigma continued to laugh wiping a tear away from his eye.
"Oh you'll find out," Nigma replied, still laughing. "You may love fear but is there something you fear to love?"
"Stop speaking in riddles," Crane ordered as Nigma laughed louder as he left. "You're crazier than the damn CLOWN!"
Thank you to my two reviewers Booklover1498 and Chronic Sandman.