Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was late at night and already the fall chill began to creep into the air. Jonathon Crane was walking cautiously back to his safehouse after having enjoyed a couple of old-fashioned’s at the bar. He had a pleasant buzz but still had his wits about him. You had to be in these streets, especially in the narrows. There was never any telling when some drug addict in an alleyway would pull a gun on you, or worse when the bat would decide to drop in. Crane had escaped from Arkham over a month ago, and after being beaten by halfwit security guards, drugged barely conscious and having to stomach the grime they called food he wasn’t looking forward to returning. That and his safe house apartment while in the worst neighborhood imaginable was starting to feel like home again, and he was starting to feel more and more like himself. That was either the truth or the alcohol talking.

As he walked home a chill breeze blew through his skin and bones, and he tugged his overcoat closer letting out a breath. It was only September but fall was giving way to winter fast, and it wouldn’t be long before they had their first frost. He was almost home, and luckily very few people were out tonight so he didn’t run into any company other than himself. That’s when he heard the sounds of a cry coming close by. His ears picked up but he continued walking, living in Gotham as long as he had, you learned to mind your business and trouble usually followed those who stuck their necks in where they didn’t belong. He was no hero after all, quite the opposite. Still, as he continued on the crying seemed to grow louder and as he listened he recognized the shrill wail of a baby crying. That was enough to stop him in his tracks, I mean it was a baby after all. He wasn’t completely heartless. He listened to the sounds before taking a corner towards the back alley of a row of apartments.

There crawling on the filthy ground, outside of a stoop was a small child. As he looked at them, their eyes immediately welled up with tears and they let out another wail. He was stunned, what on earth was a baby doing alone out here. It was nearly 2 in the morning, freezing out and there was not an adult in sight.

“What should I do,” he thought to himself, stunned, and halfway waiting on the Scarecrow to give him an answer. As he stood, contemplating his next actions the child picked themselves up on their feet and made very slow and wobbly steps toward him. They stuck out their arms wailing again. Without thinking a second more, Jonathon ran over and scooped up the child, shielding them in his coat from the frigid air.

“Shhhh, it’s okay now. I’ve got you,” he said looking into the child’s large hazel colored eyes. He wiped away a big glob of messy tears, trying hard to calm the baby down. That’s when he noticed just how dirty the baby was, and felt how damp they felt even through their diaper. The child was less than a year old but old enough to at least wobble. They had a short curly mop of brown curls, and they were dressed in nothing, but a onesie and their skin felt icy against his. Smudges of dirt and a few scratches covered their face, and their legs felt grimy and sticky. He gave the child a few more shhh’s staring sweetly at their little round face, and eyes as big as saucers. Suddenly the child stopped crying, and looked at him completely stunned, its little mouth open to reveal a couple of perfect front little teeth.

Crane looked back at the child and gave an equally stunned look. What was he going to do with a kid, and more importantly where on earth did they come from? He looked around the alley way before finally suddenly opening the back door to an apartment.

Normally he wasn’t the kind of person to just walk unannounced into a stranger’s apartment, but then again, he also wasn’t the kind of person not to either. He thought about it for a second longer, before giving a shrug. He had a canister of fear toxin with him if he needed it, or if he felt like it either way and this was the closest lead they had.

When he walked into the apartment he almost covered his nose at the smell, and he pulled the child in closer to him as if to shield them from it as well. Piles of garbage sat on the kitchen floor and flies buzzed about. He shooed them away with the back of his hand, as he walked quickly throughout the place. Most of the lights were off, but a light shined off down the hallway.

“Hello? Anyone home, are you missing a baby,” Crane called out, hoping that if someone was home he wasn’t about to take a shotgun to the face. The child seemed calm as they walked down the hall, maybe this really was where they belonged. Jonathon grimaced as he passed through the living room, seeing another stack of dirty dishes and an overflowing ashtray on the coffee table. He continued down the hallway, and a bead of light shone under the door of a bedroom.

He opened the door to what appeared to be functioning as a nursery. The room was covered in flies here as well though, and the trash can next to the door appeared to be overflowing with dirty diapers. A changing station and a mattress on the floor seemed to be functioning as a crib. Jonathon felt a tug in his chest as he imagined this kid crawling across this dirty floor, no wonder they were so sticky. He looked at the wall, and there was a sign that read “Ruby Lee.” He supposed that was the girl's name, and he shuddered thinking what rednecks thought of that corny name.

Still no sign of anyone though, could it be she was left home alone. She was much too young to be left by herself, but Jonathon also was starting to think this girl's parents were probably pieces of shit. So, maybe they did leave her home alone.

“Hello, I’ve got Ruby,” he called out again, before opening the last door to the other bedroom. As soon as he opened that door however, he immediately wanted to close it.

Laying in the middle of the bed was a woman on her back with a thick sludge of vomit covering her lips and chest. Crane could tell from one look that the woman was dead, and from the spoon and syringe next to her it didn’t take much guesswork as to why.

Crane immediately shut the door on Ruby’s mother, or what was left of her shielding the child’s eyes. It made him think of his own mother’s death and no one deserved to see that, much less someone so innocent as this little girl. Without another thought he walked back into the nursery. He very quickly grabbed a couple of diapers and stuffed them into a bag before heading back into the kitchen. There he snatched a couple of bottles off the counter, trying hard not to feel the grease on them as he tossed them into his bag. He opened a couple of cabinets, before quickly finding a container of formula. Ruby needed to eat soon, from the look of it her mother had died hours ago. He tried not to think about what that must have been like for the poor girl.

Jonathon stepped quickly out of the apartment, pulling the girl in close to him. The child was just staring at him, mouth hung open to show her front baby teeth, but she wasn’t fighting being held either. If anything she seemed to have already accepted his presence, as he quickly made his way towards his safe house.

Luckily, he only lived a few minutes away so Ruby wasn’t out in the cold for too much longer. Without another thought or hesitation, Jonathon threw open the door to his apartment, flicking the kitchen light on. His apartment was much smaller than he was used to, but it was a palace compared to Arkham. He had only been staying here for the past month, but he had managed to outfit it with just enough furnishings for it to appear cozy. He had even managed to put up a couple of early Halloween decorations inside, his open personal way of making the place feel like home. Ruby was looking all over the place, taking in the sight of the apartment. She lifted her arms and thumped them in the air a couple of times. Crane wasn’t sure what that meant, but maybe she liked it.

First things first, he needed to get this girl fed and cleaned. He walked over to his stove and turned the gas on the kettle, starting to heat a bottle up for her. Without warning she reached for the stove, and Jonathon had to quickly shift backwards to keep her hands from grabbing it.

“No Ruby, that’s hot,” he said, taking her away from the stove. He wasn’t used to dealing with someone so chaotic, at least physically. He walked over to his couch and gently placed the girl on her back as he reached to prepare her a fresh diaper. As he began to change her, he realized that he forgot to grab wipes, he was in such a hurry to leave that infested place. As soon as he tried to put her diaper back on, Ruby began to kick and arch her back. She began to wail, trying to flip herself out of his fold. As soon as she did the diaper came tumbling down onto the floor, landing with a wet plop.

Jonathon closed his mouth, trying not to pay any attention to the smell. She clearly had not been changed in a while. As she wiggled her poopy butt got close to smearing against his couch, he wished that he had remembered wipes. Without another thought he snatched her up again, moving very quickly towards the kitchen. He placed her as far away from him as possible in the kitchen sink before turning the water on. He checked the water, making sure it was a reasonable temp before he began hosing her off. The whole time Ruby thumped her arms in the air, motioning for him to pick her back up.

“Sorry, but no, just no,” he said, spraying her bottom clean. That’s when she began to wail again, motioning even more for him to pick her up. He gave her another good spray, making sure she was clean before picking her up with a hand towel. He dried her as quickly as possible, as he made his way back to the couch and finished changing her into a fresh diaper. The girl was still filthy, but it was an improvement, he would give her a much better bath as soon as she ate.

Just then the kettle went off, and Crane sat her down to finish preparing her bottle. He looked at the girl and thought to himself just what on earth was he doing? He had no idea what to do with a baby, he had a hard enough time taking care of himself to be honest. He supposed he could take her to the police, but he immediately shook that idea off. He knew firsthand how children were treated in the system, and with her mother dead from an overdose there was no telling where she would wind up. He doubted that she had any decent relatives, given her mother and the state of their home.
It was moments like this that he wished he knew what Scarecrow would do. It had been over a month since he had heard his voice, not since he left Arkham. Part of him wondered why after now, the voice had suddenly grown silent. It made him feel isolated and alone, but no matter how much he tried talking, Scarecrow wasn’t answering. He thought of the only other person who might have an idea what he should do, and before he knew it, he was messaging Harley.

“Need your help with something, come when you can,” He typed and sent, before making his way back to the girl.
Jonathon reached down and scooped her up as she began crawling across the floor, before taking a seat on the couch and putting the bottle in her mouth. He had never fed a baby before, but it couldn’t be that difficult, he thought. As soon as the bottle was near her, Ruby wrapped her mouth around it and began greedily sucking it down, you could tell how hungry she was. She had the bottle finished within minutes and her little eyelids were closing towards the in. As she finished the bottle, she popped the nipple out of her mouth and gave him a little sideways smile. Jonathon felt himself giving one back.

After her bottle, Ruby was much calmer and less wiggly. Afterall, it was way past any normal child’s bedtime. Jon had filled up the kitchen sink with lukewarm water, it would have to be a quick bath. He finished changing her out of her onesie and tossed it in the trash when he was done. He wondered how many times she had worn that outfit, as it was covered in stains and still smelled like the alleyway. He would have to make a trip and get her some more clothes tomorrow, and wipes after earlier he would never forget wipes. As he placed her into the sink, she thumped her arms a bit, splashing him in the face. Overall she seemed to accept the bath as well. That and he could tell by looking at her that she was getting tired. She let out a couple more soft baby chirps as he scrubbed her head with a little dish soap. He figured if it was soft enough for baby ducks, it was good for real babies too. As he scrubbed her hair, he was amazed by the amount of dirt that was coming off. In fact, what he thought was brown hair was actually a strawberry blonde. It saddened him to think about how long it had been since she had a proper bath. The girl had obviously not been properly cared for in a long time, but she was adjusting well to being clean.

At the end of her bath, Ruby was shining and brand new. Her soft blond curls were nice and clean and she looked like a little cherub. Crane dressed her in a shirt of his, it was obviously much too large, but it would be good enough to sleep in tonight. As he picked her up and turned off the lights, he could feel the girl growing much heavier as she was already beginning to nod off. He didn’t have anywhere to stick her for the night, but that was a problem for another day. He took a couple of pillows and laid them on one side of the bed so she couldn’t roll off, before placing her directly in the middle of the bed. She was already asleep, her little mouth wide open as he laid her down. He laid down next to her pulling the quilt just enough to cover her body, but far enough away from her head.

“Just don’t snore,” he said as he closed his eyes as well.

Chapter Text

The morning came just a little too fast and Jonathan and Ruby were both still fast asleep. Light peaked through the blinds of his window, shining across both of their eyes but they were both too tired from the long night last night to even register it. Crane had fallen asleep on his side and Ruby was curled up in the space between his arm and his chest, sleeping with her mouth wide open making the softest of snores.

Suddenly, there was a commotion on the other side of the door, and the sound of a loud obnoxious woman prancing about. Then without warning Harley, flung open the door to his bedroom literally busting in.

“Heyyylo,” She said in her thick Jersey accent, flinging her arms in the air as she opened the door. Pamela strolled in beside her, giving the room a vacant stare.

Crane’s eyes immediately popped open and he sat up with a start. After last night’s craziness he supposed anything could happen, but he hadn’t expected Harley to literally break into his apartment.

“Damn you couldn’t have come later,” He said, wiping the sleep out of his eyes, before he looked down and saw that Ruby was still sleeping. Her face scrunched and then her arms gave a little wiggle before settling back down.

“Shhh keep your voice down,” Crane said, tucking the little girl back in. She looked so peaceful and sweet there, he didn’t even notice the smile on his face.

“Holy Shit!,” Harley loudly exclaimed, dropping her bag of breakfast sandwiches on the floor.

“Is that what I think it is,” She said suddenly, remembering to whisper.

Before he could stop her, Harley had practically climbed onto the bed and was looking Ruby up and down, as if she had never seen one before.

“Yes, Harley. It’s a baby and if you haven’t noticed, she’s still sleeping,” Jon said, before quietly taking a step out of bed, trying his hardest to make as little noise as possible.
“What are you gonna do with it,” Harley whispered, finally grasping the concept. She sat on the bed wearing her brightly colored plastic jacket, staring at the child like it was some sort of alien species.

“Where the fuck did you get a baby,” Pamela asked flatly, crossing her arms in the doorway. Crane had always enjoyed Harley, he had ever since the two briefly worked together in Arkham, but he wasn’t sure about her new girlfriend. Pamela always seemed a bit standoffish, like she thought she was better than the rest of them. Still she was a huge improvement compared to the Joker.

“Did you kidnap her?” Harley whispered.

“What! No! I found her in the alley last night,” Crane whispered back. While he wasn’t above kidnapping, he certainly wouldn’t target a child. Even he had limits.

“Well, maybe you should put it back where you found it. Someone might be looking for it,” Pamela said with a soft laugh, flipping her long red hair out of her eyes.

“Can’t, and they won't, her mom is dead,” he whispered.

“Stop! Did you take care of the mom,” Harley asked, before acting out a series of strangling motions.

Jonathan very quietly explained the series of strange events that led up this morning, explaining finding her mother and their disgusting house. Somehow during the explanation Ruby wiggled herself awake, sensing that she was no longer getting any snuggles. While Jonathan was busy explaining his story, he didn’t notice the girl plop herself up and roll herself onto her belly looking at Harley and Ivy with the same open mouthed expression. She examined them both before letting out a sharp squeal and giving them all a mischievous grin.

“Oh great, now you're up,” Crane said, going to scoop the girl up. She looked comically small wearing his t-shirt like a tent, but at least she was clean.

“Harley, Pamela this is Ruby Lee,” he said, feeling her wiggle against him.

“That is the cutest baby, Oh my god!” Harley squealed. “Come here, come here. Auntie Harley wants you.” Harley said, shaking back and forth. Jonathan looked down at her perfectly round face and her large hazel eyes, and her perfect point of a button nose. She really was the cutest baby in the world. He gave her a soft grin, back before carefully passing her off to Harley.

“You can’t really be planning on keeping her,” Pamela said, watching Harley squeal with joy over the little girl.

“Oh really, and what should I do? Like I said, her mom’s dead and I doubt from the state of their place that anyone decent is going to be looking for her. If I take her to the police she’ll just wind up in the system. She will sit and wait in a shelter, and then if she’s lucky some foster mom in need of a paycheck and a meal ticket will stick her in a group home, where if she’s lucky they won’t abuse her. She’ll wind up like every other fucked up kid in this city,” He said with a frown, remembering his own upbringing.

Jonathan thought back on his life remembering his abusive father, his father’s heart attack and then the years in the detention center that followed. He knew first hand how ugly it would be for her, thinking back on the insults and physical attacks from the other children just as damaged as he was. He may have absolutely no idea what to do with a child, but there was no way he was going to condemn her to that.

“Come on Pammy. Jonny could be a good daddy. We don’t know,” Harley said, bouncing Ruby up and down in the air playfully.

“Are you both crazy? Wait, I know the answer to that,” Pamela said with a laugh. “Well I guess, you can’t be any worse than she’s used to.”

“Yeah Pammy, besides we’ve all had bad daddies, and look at how good we turned out,” Harley said sticking out her tongue.

“I’m not going to be a bad dad,” Crane said. Well, at least he was going to try not to be.

“Of course not,” Harley said with a giggle. “How can we help?”

“I need you to go pick up some stuff for her. This place isn’t exactly ready for kids, and I can’t exactly go by myself. I’ll make you a list,” He said, stepping into the kitchen to grab a notebook.

“Yay shopping!,” Harley said, following him into the kitchen. She carried Ruby with her on her hip, and scooped up her bag of breakfast on the way. “Oh we got you a breakfast sandwich on the way. It’s from Sal’s,” Harley said, tossing him one from the bag.

Crane took one look at the grease seeping out of the wrapper, and grimaced. He wasn’t much for eating breakfast, well to be honest he wasn’t much for eating. He basically went as long as possible between meals, and after the food at Arkham he had a hard time eating anything overly processed and greasy. His clothes had all begun to feel loose on him, and he wouldn’t be able to find anything any smaller.

“Come on, you gotta put something in your mouth besides a dick,” Harley said with a laugh, before stuffing a sandwich into her own mouth.

Ivy snorted with laughter as well, and Jonathan gave them both a hateful glare. It had been a while since he had hooked up with anyone, and he most certainly did eat something besides dicks. That and who were they to make comments on his sexuality, when they had the same lifestyle.

“I won’t be slut shamed by you two,” Jonathan said before taking a bite of his breakfast as well. It was actually better than he thought, still beyond fattening but he liked the little kick of hot sauce on the eggs. He let the girls play with Ruby, and they were taking turns passing her around while he worked on their shopping list. Crib, high chair, diapers, clothes and the works. He thought he had it all just about there before he remembered, wipes! He wasn’t going to make that mistake again.

“Here you are, that should cover it,” Crane said before handing them the list and a credit card. Crane had just enough money in place to cover things like this, but he would have to find a way to get a hold of some more cash soon. He supposed he could always rob a bank.

Harley snatched the list from his hand, before planting a bright red lip stain on the side of Ruby’s cheek.

“Seeya soon, my lil puddin,” she said before walking out the door with Ivy. Crane looked over towards the door, and saw the handle was very obviously busted in. “God, why couldn’t she just have knocked?” he thought to himself. He watched Ruby crawl around the kitchen as he started himself a pot of coffee, and a bottle for her. It was going to be a long day.

Chapter Text

Harley and Ivy currently had two carts full of baby supplies and they still had a ways to go on their shopping extravaganza. Harley was stopping every two feet too look at another set of baby clothes, and their baskets were filling up quick.

“Oh my god stop! Look at this one, it’s got little hoot owls on it,” Harley said, tossing it in the basket.

“Do you think he likes owls? Crows like owls don’t they? Oh my god, what if that becomes her thing. She could grow up and we would all call her like Nightclaw or something and she could dress up like an owl.” Harley squealed.

“I think Gotham has enough bird related super villains, but sure why not,” Pamela said, checking another item off the list. So far on their shopping spree, Ivy was the one making sure they actually got the items on the list. She was happy to let Harley have all the fun though, and it made her smile to see the blond screaming over baby clothes. Maybe the two of them would find a baby one day.

They quickly filled up both cart’s before making their way to the register. Luckily the store was pretty empty at this time, and everyone steered clear of the brightly colored clown girl, and her green skinned friend. As they walked up to the register a pimply faced teenager was staring into his phone, he didn’t even bother to look up as he started scanning their carts.

“Total comes to $1287.15,” he said, smacking his gum before suddenly locking eyes with them. The teenager suddenly had a look of fear and recognition as he recognized who he was dealing with. That’s when Ivy turned on her pheromones. The smell of jasmine and honeysuckle filled the air, and his eyes suddenly became very low and heavy.

“Mommy,” He said, staring at Ivy, his eyes swimming and his body swaying back and forth with confusion.

“Oh we haven’t got any money. Is that okay,” Pamela asked, taking a step closer to her puppet.

“Yes, mommy, I mean ma’am. I’ll take care of it, we would be more than happy to,” He said, drool forming in his mouth.

“Good, now be a good boy and help us load up our car,” Ivy said, pushing her cart forward. Harley followed behind her proudly, she loved watching her Pammy work.

“It’s so nice of you to give us this stuff for free. You’re a real sweetheart,” Harley chimed in.

** **
Jonathan was currently pacing his apartment balancing Ruby on his hip. He had already fed her a full bottle but the girl was turned up to eleven. She refused to be put down for even a second, wailing the second her butt touched the floor. When he held her she wiggled the entire time and he kept thinking she was going to crawl out of his hands. He was already getting tired and the day had only just started.

Bouncing the girl softly on his hip he made his way to the counter taking a sip of his already cold coffee. As soon as the liquid touched his lips Ruby reached for the rim of the cup knocking it on the floor.

“Okay, fine, no coffee for me,” he said with a sigh. This day was already starting to wear on him. Part of him though maybe Pamela was right, what was he doing with a baby? However he wasn’t ready to throw in the towel yet, he owed it to the little girl to at least try and make it work. Besides shittier people than him were parents and sometimes those people made it look easy.

He thought he just about had her calm before he felt her little hands wrap around his shoulders. “Ooh she's hugging me,” he thought with a smile. All of a sudden Ruby bit down on his shoulder sinking her two buck teeth into his skin.

“Ouch, no,” he said, pulling her away from him. Ruby lifted her head and gave him a happy smile, her front teeth sticking proudly out of her gums. That’s when he noticed the pool of saliva that hung on the outside of her mouth, and he wondered if she was teething. Maybe that could explain her overall fussiness.

He also wondered if she was onto solid foods yet, hell he didn’t even know how old she was. He supposed that with her teeth though she might be at least trying solid foods. Crane made his way over the fridge balancing her on his hip, while she made several happy baby chirps.

Sadly, it had been a while since he had gone shopping and he didn’t see much in his fridge besides a bag of salad and some old takeout. He definitely would have to grab some groceries once Harley and Ivy were back. She suddenly let out a high pitched whine and began to bury her face in his chest. He wished he knew what she wanted.

“Let’s try just sitting, will that be okay?” he asked, taking a seat on the couch. He pulled Ruby in close to his chest, soothing her hair with gentle strokes. He remembered his courses on childhood psychology but they rarely focused on children this young. He would have to brush up on some books when he had the chance. If he had the chance, so far it seemed like the girl only wanted to wiggle and be held. He couldn’t blame her though, given her life’s circumstances so far she probably only needed a safe presence. She had started to relax in his arms and finally began to tuck her head underneath his chin curling up. After several minutes of her just staring at him, she finally began to shut her eyes and she let out the tiniest yawn. Within a few moments the girl was in a deep sleep, maybe all she needed was a nap. Crane decided it best to just let her sleep on him, rather than risk waking her up again. Besides, she seemed so peaceful.

Crane relaxed snuggled up with Ruby for the next couple of hours, until he began to hear the sounds of a squealing woman from Jersey outside of his door. He wondered how long they were going to be gone, but was glad it was long enough for the little girl to grab a nap in. Harley burst open the door again, only this time a little quieter because of the baby. Her arms were filled to the brim with boxes, and Ivy was behind her carting even more.

“God damn, what did you buy the whole store?” Jonathan said looking at the massive pile, and this was only the beginning of it. He immediately worried that the card he gave them wouldn’t be enough to cover it. He would have to rob a bank after all. Ruby had begun to stir in his arms again, and when he looked down he saw that her hazel eyes had already popped open. She looked at him with an open mouth, before giving him a mischievous grin.

“Well of course we did, she’s so cute she deserves to be spoiled,” Harley said, holding the door open for Pamela who was doing most of the heavy lifting.

“Yeah, someone went a little overboard,” Pamela said, wiping a bead of sweat from her greenish forehead. She had already managed to cart in the crib and most of the heavier items, but there was still plenty more to bring up.

“Oh here’s your card back, don’t worry all this stuff was on the house,” Harley said, tossing it to him, before moving to scoop the baby up in her arms.

“Now come her lil pudding, come to your auntie Harley,” she said before planting another cherry lip stain on the girl's cheek. Ruby immediately began to root her head around Harley’s chest, and her arms began to pull at her brightly colored jacket.

“Aww, look she’s hungry. Is that mean old crow gonna starve you?” She said cooing at her. Jonathan supposed it was about time for her to eat again. He wondered if he should warn Harley that she bites. He walked over and started heating her up another bottle, as Pamela carted in the last box.

Jonathan looked out at his living room and the sea of boxes and bags they had carted in. He wasn’t surprised that Harley went a little overboard, but he was grateful for her too. Now he could spend the rest of the afternoon, getting the house ready for her.

“Here you can feed her, while I start building the crib,” He said before taking another look at Ruby’s cheek.

“Do you have to cover her in makeup?” He said, tossing her a kitchen towel too. The little girl's face was littered with lipstick marks, but she didn’t seem to mind.

“Oh relax, you sound like my dad,” Harley said, before tipping the bottle into her mouth.

As Crane started opening her crib, Pamela walked over, pulling out a set of screwdrivers from her jacket.

“Step aside Stringbean, I got this,” She said before getting to work. Jonathan knew better than to step between a lesbian and building furniture, and he started work on unpacking the rest of it.

Harley played with Ruby and kept her entertained while Jonathan unboxed and Ivy built. Soon after a few hours you could hardly recognize his apartment. It looked more like a day care center than the fearsome lair of one of Gotham’s arch villains. A playmat lay on the floor already littered with wooden blocks and toy’s. A shining white crib sat in the corner of his room, and the bottom rack of his closet was already filled with rows and rows of dresses and outfits. To Jonathan’s surprise they had gotten the girl a wide variety of clothes and he already had some favorites, the Halloween outfits. A perfectly stocked changing station now sat in his living room, and his kitchen was stocked with several bottles and containers of formula.

“We’ll bring some more stuff soon. Plus your aunties are gonna miss ya!” Harley said as she placed Ruby back into his arms. The little girl had already been changed into a bright yellow onesie that just said “Aunties Favorite,”

“Thank you Harley, but seriously you’ve done enough. She’s got everything she needs now,” Jonathan said, wiping the last lipstick stain from the baby’s cheek.

“Oh please it was no problem. Besides, this is what aunties are for, I’m supposed to spoil her. Now you be a good daddy, and just give this little girl whatever she wants,” She said giving her blond head a little final pat.

Crane said goodbye and thanked Harley and Pamela one more time, before heading back inside. He looked at the time, it was already getting late and he still needed to go grocery shopping.

*** ***

Bruce Wayne was busy into his afternoon workout. His feet thumped against the treadmill as he ran, barely breaking as sweat. The news was playing on the flatscreen of his exercise room, filling the room with all the local events of the day. He always made sure to catch all of the local news, it was the best way to stay informed with a city he was trying to protect.

“And in local news, police are on the hunt for a missing girl. 11 month old Ruby Lee Mcnair, was found missing from her apartment this morning as police responded to a well check in the home. Unfortunately, her mother was found deceased at the scene. We ask our viewers to keep an eye out for this little girl as she is believed to be in grave danger,” the reporter said before showing a photo of a blond baby girl on the screen.

Bruce made a mental note of the girl's picture as he continued his run. Thinking of what could have happened to the girl's mother, reminded him of his own parents' passing. He would try and find her if he could. This city was a dark and horrible place sometimes, and it was his job to protect the most vulnerable.

Chapter Text

Detective Gordan had stepped out of the apartment for a smoke and some fresh air. That place was beyond filthy and he couldn’t imagine that a child actually had to live in that mess. The cleanup crew had already removed the body from the home, but there was no getting that smell out.

He lit up a cigarette, and took a deep drag before he suddenly began to feel eyes on him. He saw the sudden flap of a cape behind him and whipped around, nearly dropping his cigarette with a jump.

“God you’ve got to stop jumping in on people like that,” he said to the Bat. He supposed he should be used to the vigilante dropping in unannounced at this point.

“What happened here?” the Bat asked in a deep and gravelly voice.

“Not much to go on. Apparently no one had seen the mom for a few days and this morning her door was left wide open. Baby’s missing, but it seems like all the stuff was left here,” he said, taking another drag.

“What happened to the mother,” Batman asked, before snatching the file out of the detective's hands.

“Drug overdose if the heroin next to her is any indication. This house is a fucking mess too. CPS should have been out here months ago.”

The Bat took a long look at the file and the crime scene photos before handing the folder back.

“Any family nearby or any suspects,” Batman asked.

“No, according to neighbors she was a single mother. Father’s not in the picture and her folks are long gone. Sad deal,” he said with a frown.

“What will happen to her,” the Bat asked softly.

“Well if we find her she’ll go into an orphanage and then if she's lucky a foster home will open up,” he said plainly. Without a father or another close family member the girl would just become another ward of the state, another sad story for Gotham.

“Someone has surely seen or taken her. According to neighbors the girl can’t even walk yet. But no one has come forth, that's what’s troubling,” Gordan explained before seeing another swish of fabric. Suddenly the bat was gone just as soon as he had appeared.

“You’d think by now I’d be used to that,” Gordon said, taking another drag.

** **
Jonathan had waited until it was evening, and Ruby had managed to squeeze another good nap in. He had just changed her into another one of her new outfits, a yellow dress covered with little white cats and he was putting her into the new stroller Harley and Ivy had brought. He was dressed in an oversized yellow sweater and a pair of black corduroy pants, he hadn’t intended on matching but there was something cute about wearing the same color as her. He had decided to leave his glasses at home, just in case he was recognized. Although most people didn’t recognize him without his mask, he was at least trying to lie low.

The two strolled out of his apartment, heading for the nearest grocery store. Crane had already begun doing some research and it seemed that a child this age should at least have started on solid foods, and maybe that explained why she kept biting him. Ruby was making the low gurgling sounds and turned her head every which way to look back at him as he pushed her.

It was warmer out than last night, and even though the sun was growing low in the sky there was still a glimmer of daylight out. Crane decided to take the scenic route and take her through the nearby park on the way to the store. There was something about their first outing together that made him feel at peace, but also there was the worry that something could happen. These streets still weren't safe, not even during the day. So he would have to remain on his toes.

As they entered the park they passed several trees that had already begun to change for fall, their leaves turning brilliant colors of red and gold. He stopped the stroller in front of a particularly lush red maple, letting Ruby get a good look. The little girl thumped her arms in the air, a motion that he decided meant she was happy.

All of a sudden he felt a tap on his shoulder. He immediately whipped around, and nearly reached for the canister of fear gas he still had tucked away in his coat. An old woman was staring at him with the softest of eyes, her white hair wrapped in a loose bun and a colorful shawl draped over her shoulders.

“Oh I’m sorry I didn’t mean to frighten you,” she said with a soft laugh.

“I just wanted to tell you, you have the prettiest daughter. She’s a doll,” she said cooing at the baby.

“Oh I know she is,” he said softly, lowering his guard.

The woman asked politely to see Ruby, and to Crane’s surprise he had let her. Something about being surrounded by the baby was bringing out a different side of him. Here he was laughing with an old woman in the park, as they both were fawning over Ruby.

After a few minutes they continued on their stroll, the little girl was making the happiest of baby chirps as they stopped at all the flowers along the way.

Finally, they entered the store and to Jonathan’s surprise he felt his stomach begin to ache. He hadn’t eaten anything since that sandwich this morning, but he was more than used to going between meals. Maybe something about thinking of Ruby’s nutrition was making him think of his own. As they passed through the aisles of the store, Crane wondered what foods she even liked. He stopped and grabbed some bags of steamable baby carrots, and a few instant pouches of mashed potatoes. That seemed safe. He remembered reading articles about lead being in baby food, and decided to avoid that all together. Besides, making his own shouldn’t be that difficult, and that way he could adjust the recipes if there was something that Ruby didn’t like. He also remembered hearing that it was very important to offer children a variety of foods.

By the time that he was leaving the store, the back of her stroller was loaded down with groceries. He even grabbed himself a couple rolls of sushi from the deli. The sun was beginning to set and Ruby was already starting to fuss. This time he headed straight back towards the apartment. There wasn’t much time left before the girl had a full blown meltdown and it was getting closer to her bedtime.

** **
Bruce had already begun his nightly patrol. Crime never rested in Gotham and neither could he. He had already busted up a drug ring, and stopped a robbery leaving the criminals broken and mangled while the police arrived. This was a usual start to his night but there would be much more to go. Protecting the city was never easy.

He was currently perched on top of a rooftop surveying the neighborhoods in the narrows. It wouldn’t be long until this area became a hot spot of criminal activity. That’s when he suddenly saw something that caught his eye.

He recognized Crane the second he took a look at his lanky body. His shaggy brown hair and piercing blue eyes exactly as he remembered him.He wasn’t wearing glasses, but even then he could recognize him a mile away. Only now he was pushing a stroller? Bruce wandered what angle the Scarecrow was currently working, but another voice in his head thought about the missing girl.

He watched as Crane passed, heading down another street and began to carefully follow him. Even without the cover of night, the Bat was still the master of the shadows and Crane hadn’t seemed to notice he was on his trail. He watched as he headed into the back of a row of apartments, but Bruce didn’t make his move yet. He needed to know what the Scarecrow was up to, and who he had with him.

** **
Jonathan had already made it home and he had Ruby’s dinner steaming in the microwave, while he took the moment to scarf down his sushi. The girl bounced around in her high chair making the craziest baby chirps while he mashed up a couple of steamed carrots and a side of bananas.

“Okay girl, give this a try,” Crane said, wrapping her neck with a bib. Ruby immediately threw her fork as soon as she got it, but he watched as she started picking up the mashed pieces with her tiny hands bringing the mash to her lips. She was making the happiest smacking sounds as she rolled her hands across her face. She was smearing it everywhere but at least she was eating it.

“Oh is that good?” Jonathan cooed at her. He tried once again to offer her a spoon, only to have her give a laugh as she tossed it at the wall.

“You’re lucky you’re cute, you know. Nasty girl,” Crane said, watching her lick bananas off her hands. At least she was eating, and she didn’t seem to hate her veggies so that was good. Jonathan couldn’t help but smile as she ate and played in her food. He didn’t even mind when she took a handful and splattered it against the wall. Although he made a mental note to try finger foods instead of purées next time.

He let Ruby eat until she began to finger paint with her food, a sure sign that she had finished eating.

After dinner Crane gave her a quick bath, before changing her into a clean pair of pajamas. Ruby was actually playing on the floor, spilling wooden bricks all over the rug. Jonathan was already heating up some water to make her a bottle, as he took the time to finish washing a few bottles. He watched Ruby as she played, paying no attention to the looming black shadow outside of his window.

With a violent crash the window came crashing in, and Crane whipped his head around just in time to catch an elbow to the face. The Batman wasted no time, taking him to the ground immediately. The Bat had a vicious hold on him and was pressing his jaw into the tile of the floor. Crane could feel the bones in his face starting to crack, anymore pressure and he would surely break his jaw.

Ruby immediately started to wail, her voice growing into the loudest cry he had ever heard. Her voice grew in pitch and you could tell that she was starting to panic.

“What are you doing with the girl Crane,” the Bat snapped. Jonathan tried to move against his grasp only to have his brittle arm pinned against him.

“What does it look like to you? Ox,” Jonathan struggled to say with his face pressed hard against the floor.

The bat responded with a knee to his chest, causing crane to cough as pain washed over his face.

Ruby’s cries began to grow and you could hear her begin to hyperventilate as she screamed. Jonathan couldn’t think of anything other than her cries, he wanted nothing more than to comfort her. She had seen enough.

“Please, let me go to her,” Johnathan pleaded, hoping that he could get through to the masked man.

“Answer me Crane,” the Bat roared, smacking him against the floor.

Crane coughed up a mouthful of blood before locking eyes with the Bat.

“Please, you're scaring her. Let me go to her and we can talk okay,” Jonathan said, trying to remain calm.

“Make it quick,” the Bat barked, shifting his weight off of him.

Crane immediately ran to Ruby scooping her up in his arms. Her eyes were shut tight and her cheeks were wet with tears as she continued to wail. She was shaking badly and her face was beat red. Without another moment’s hesitation, Jonathan pressed her against his chest and immediately began shushing her and swaying side to side.

“It’s okay baby girl, I’ve got you,” he whispered to her, trying everything he could to calm her back down.

“Today Crane! What are you doing with Ruby,” Batman said. It was clear the man was growing impatient.

“If you know who this is, then you know what happened to her mother,” Crane started. He detailed the events that led up to him finding her as calmly as possible, and for once it was kind of odd actually being honest to “The Batman.” He just hoped that the man would believe him. Even though they had only been together a short while, Jonathan didn’t want anything bad to happen to the girl. She was so innocent, and if there was even a chance that she could have a normal life he knew he would try anything for her.

“You’re going back to Arkham,” Batman said plainly, taking a step towards him. It appears his words had fallen on deaf ears.

“And where will she go huh? What will happen to her?” Jonathan asked.

The Batman paused, even he knew that there were no options for the girl.

Crane sighed. “Please, if you take her to the police they will just put her in a shelter. I know what happens in places like that. I’ve been there myself after my father died, and what happens there you wouldn’t wish on anyone,” he pleaded.

“Please, she deserves someone who gives a damn about her. I know my track record, and I know you have no reason to believe me, but this is something I care about. She is someone I care about. I just want to take care of her, she deserves someone who won’t give up on her. You can come here day after day and I promise you, that part of me won’t change,” Crane begged. It was a little desperate, but then again so was he.

“We’ll see Crane, We’ll see,” Batman said in response. Then to Jonathan’s biggest surprise he left.

Chapter Text

Sunlight was already pouring in through the blinds and Jonathan finally began to wake. His head was already throbbing but that was to be expected after the beating he took last night. Ruby lay wiggling next to him, already awake as well. After last night, it had taken forever to calm her back down. The only solution was letting her sleep in his bed again, and to be honest Crane enjoyed the baby snuggles as well. After such a traumatic evening, it wouldn’t be right to make her sleep alone. The little girl had already been through so much, he could only imagine how triggering the attack was for her. Crane thought back on the events of last night, and he was still surprised that the Batman had actually left. He had thought that he would be back in Arkham for sure, and that Ruby would be taken from him. He still couldn’t believe that he was actually able to reason with the Bat.

“Thanks for the cuddles last night. Are you feeling better?,” Crane asked her, reaching over and stroking the back of her head.

Ruby was looking at him with her big moon eyes, but her eyes held a look of concern. She reached over and started touching his face, and Crane winced as she began tapping his jaw.

“I know girl, it’s not pretty. Don’t worry about me though, I’ll be okay,” He said, pressing a gentle kiss on her forehead.

Crane groaned as he rolled out of bed, quickly scooping the baby up and placing her on her playmat before she rolled out of bed. He made his way to his medicine cabinet, catching his reflection in the bathroom mirror. His jaw had already started to swell, and his face was covered in already darkening bruises. Dried blood was in the corner of his lips. One of his eyes already looked darkened and bloodshot from the elbow he took last night, as he slipped his glasses over them. He carefully washed the blood off of his face watching as the water turned the color of rust. Then slowly, he began brushing his teeth, wincing from the pain in his jaw. One thing was for sure, if the Bat had pressed any harder he would have broken his jaw. Crane began opening a few bottles, Jonathan popped a handful of ibuprofen before running his fingers over his other prescriptions. Crane had been neglecting taking his medications, in hopes that Scarecrow would return but now that he had Ruby he knew that he had to keep that side of him at bay. He had to at least try and regulate his own mental health if he was going to be any sort of decent parent. He read the labels, Escitalopram, Diazepam, and Buspirone before popping one of each as well.

Ruby had already finished her first bottle of the morning, and was crawling around the rug of his living room making the sweetest baby squeals as she played with her blocks. Crane was still in the middle of sweeping up the remains of his kitchen window, keeping an eye on her as he picked up all the pieces of shattered glass. He would have to go out and find a replacement window today before someone else showed up.

That’s when he heard a hard and impatient knock at the door. Jonathan reached for a kitchen knife holding it behind his arm as he walked over to the door. His first thought was the police, but then again they wouldn’t have bothered to knock. Still you could never be too safe in Gotham, and you had to be careful letting people in these days. He gave a look through the peephole and breathed a sigh of relief, before opening the door.

In walked Edward, wearing a dark green sweater and dark black slacks, his usual colors. The Riddler was trying and failing at being incognito.

“Rough night Crane?” Edward said looking at his face with a mocking smile.

“What are you doing here,” Jonathan said coldly, he was still in the middle of cleaning up shattered glass and he was in no mood for the Riddler’s antics.

"Who would've thought the Master of Fear would be reduced to a glorified babysitter?" Edward said, looking down at Ruby. She had stopped playing and was looking at the strange man with her mouth hanging wide open.

"Seriously. Why are you here, other than to mock me,” Crane said coldly, laying the kitchen knife back in its block.

"Mock? No," Edward replied, setting a bag of books down on the table.

"Well, not just mock. I had to see this with my own eyes. Jonathan Crane, the Scarecrow, playing house. It’s almost… adorable, in a grotesque, upside-down sort of way.” Edward made a little play wave over at Ruby.

Crane’s eyes narrowed behind his glasses. "I don’t need your approval. Or your help, for that matter.”

"Oh, I’m not here to offer either," Edward said, smirking. "I’m here because this is the funniest thing I’ve seen all year. You, a father figure?

“How did you even know she was here?,” Crane asked plainly. His mind went to Harley, he knew that the girl was horrible at keeping secrets.

“Oh please Jonathan, I’m the smartest man in Gotham! I know everything,” Edward said with a grin.

"You still haven’t told me what you’re doing here,” Crane replied, eyeing the bag on the table.

“I’m here to ensure the child has at least a fighting chance at growing up with some semblance of intelligence. God knows what drivel you’d fill her head with,” Edward said walking over to his bookshelf.
Crane rolled his eyes at the comment, he wasn’t going to let Edward get to him.

"You underestimate me, Edward. I understand more about the human mind than you ever could. Including how to nurture one."

"Ah, yes, because fear is such a nurturing emotion," Edward quipped, picking up a book from the shelf and reading the title aloud. "‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar.’ Really, Jonathan? I expected something more… cerebral from you. Then again, I suppose even you have limits."

"It’s for her," Crane snapped, his composure finally cracking. "She deserves a chance at something normal."

Edward paused, the ghost of a smile on his face. "Normal? There’s nothing normal about any of this, Jonathan. But… maybe that’s not such a bad thing." He set the book down gently, his smirk returning. "Just don’t expect me to play babysitter. I don’t do diapers."

"I wouldn’t dream of it," Crane replied with a smile of his own.

“Enjoy the books, and have fun with…,” Edward paused. “What was her name?,” He asked.

“Ruby Lee,” Jonathan replied plainly.

“Oh that is atrocious, did that name come with a shotgun and a pack of chewing tobacco,” Edward said with a suddenly serious expression.

“Blame her mother I guess. Although you know it’s starting to grow on me. Ruby Crane has a decent ring to it,” He said with a smile, looking over towards the little girl.
** **

Bruce was in the middle of his breakfast, eggs and a few pieces of toast as he sat reading the local paper. His eyes scrolled over a familiar article. “Police are on the search for a missing girl, following the death of her mother.” Bruce thought of the little baby girl in the picture, and he wondered to himself if he had done the right thing.

On one hand it actually seemed like Crane was doing a good job and after his speech last night it was clear that he cared for the girl. However on the other hand he was an insane psychopath, with more than violent tendencies. He sighed closing the paper, he wasn’t sure what was right here, maybe he should turn him in. The only thing that stopped him last night was thinking about such a young girl in an orphanage, and somehow she seemed to already have accepted Crane as her caretaker. That and the sincerity of his words.

“Something bothering you Master Bruce?.” Alfred was sitting opposite him, sipping on his cup of morning coffee.

“Do you think people can really change Alfred,” Bruce asked, pinching the spot between his nose.

“Well of course I do sir, people change all the time. Especially if they have the right motivation,” the butler said with a soft smile.

“What about criminals, the worst ones, can they really change?”

Alfred raised an eyebrow and gave Bruce a careful look. “Yes, I suppose so. Although it depends on the individual I’d say. What is bringing this up Master Wayne?,” Alfred asked. After all these years the man could still read him like a book.

Bruce detailed last night’s events, filling Alfred in on everything. He was his oldest friend and after all these years there is no advice he trusted more.

“So you left the girl with him,” Alfred asked dumbfounded. Even he wasn’t sure this was the right call.

“I watched the two of them together, Alfred. Crane was cooking her baby food, and even smiling as he fed her. His entire apartment is like a daycare center now. He’s honestly great with her, as surprising as that is,” Bruce said, rubbing his temples.

“Sometimes people surprise us, Master Wayne, and I think we all hope that even the worst of us can change for the better. It’s a complex situation, what will you do,” Alfred asked.

"I don’t know yet. But I’ll be keeping an eye on them.”

Alfred took another sip of coffee, before starting again “You know hope is a powerful thing, Bruce. But don’t let it cloud your judgment. Keep a close eye on them.”
** **
Jonathan had spent most of the day caring for the little girl and nursing his busted jaw. He had finished cleaning up the glass and that was just about all he had energy for. Now a piece of cardboard covered the empty pane, but it was enough to keep the cold out. A pot of spaghetti was boiling on the stove as he watched the girl crawl about the floor of the apartment, she was already picking herself up and doing wobbly practice walks. That’s when he looked over and remembered the books Edward had left.

“Let’s see what we got Roo,” Crane said, picking her up and planting a kiss on her cheek. She chirped in response and flapped her arms in the air. He had finally decided on a nickname for her.
His eyes lowered when he saw the titles, Parenting for Dummies, seriously? My Little Book of Logic. Where had he even found these things?

Most of the books that Edward had brought her would be for a later age, but maybe she would still like to hear them, and reading was good for her anyways. He had even appreciated the parenting books, even though they were intended as insults.

Jonathan had finished the sauce, deciding tonight to give her something other than purées, plus she had plenty of teeth. He gave it a taste with the back of a spoon before adding just a pinch of sugar. He made him and Ruby a small plate each, grabbing her a clean bib. Ruby sat up in her high chair grinning and thumping the tray in front of her happily as the plate was set in front of her.

She immediately began digging in, and to Jon’s surprise most of it seemed to be getting in her mouth. She had left her fork discarded and was diggin in with her hands, smearing sauce all over her arms and face. Crane couldn’t help but laugh as he took a bite of his own bowl. He managed to eat most of it, even though his jaw hurt to chew and there was a clicking noise from it the entire time. Suddenly a clump of spaghetti hit him in the side of the face, smearing his lips with sauce. As he looked over at her, Ruby was smiling from ear to ear, squealing with delight as she licked the sauce from her hands.

“You’re lucky you’re cute,” Crane said leaning over, kissing the sauce from the tip of her button nose.

The sun was already down when Jonathan finished giving Ruby her bottle. She was wearing the sweetest pj’s covered in little bees, as he watched her eyes close and her slowly drift off to sleep. They had even read a few books before bed, and surprisingly she only tore a few of the pages. He had enjoyed just spending the day with her. Carefully, with her sleeping on his shoulder he made his way over to her crib.

“Goodnight Roo, love you,” he said, planting a gentle kiss on her forehead. He didn’t think he had ever said those words to anyone, but even after only knowing her for a couple of days he meant them completely.

He quietly snuck out into the living room, closing the door carefully. He listened, making sure she was still asleep before pouring himself a glass of wine. He wanted to unwind a little before bed and he hoped the alcohol would take the edge off his injuries. Jonathan changed into his own pajamas, a loose black shirt and pair of matching shorts as he curled up on the couch with his parenting book.

The house was dark and quiet and Crane had been reading for over an hour, as he polished off the last sip of wine. The book was actually insightful, and had plenty of useful tips. He was actually surprised by Edward’s selection, and he had a new handful of baby food recipes he was going to try. Ruby was still fast asleep, and in her own bed even. He had to give himself a pat on the back, he had done good today. He bookmarked his page, before making his way to the kitchen, going for one last glass of wine.

That’s when he saw the looming shadow standing by the doorway, the Batman had apparently let himself in again. Jonathan jumped as soon as he recognized the shadow. He wondered how long the Bat had been there. He waited for him to say something, expecting him to hit him again.
** **

Bruce had let himself in from the balcony, and he had been watching Crane for a few moments. There was something almost sweet and vulnerable about watching his enemy, curled up under a blanket reading a parenting book. Maybe the man really had changed.

He was surprised that Crane had actually jumped when he saw him, this man was the Master of Fear right?

“Evening Crane,” the Bat said coolly, taking in the sight in front of him. Jonathan’s face was purple and blue in some areas, but the wine had darkened the corners of his lips a deep red. A part of him felt bad for damaging his face so badly, but another part of him couldn’t stop staring at his lips.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Crane asked quietly, moving past him to pour himself another glass.

“I seem to remember someone saying, I could come here day after day and you’d still be doing the same,” Bruce said, repeating Jonathan’s words from last night.

He watched as his eyes lowered into a scowl, his piercing blue eyes giving him a look of agitation. “I didn’t mean literally.”

“Consider this a condition of your parole,” Bruce replied, crossing his arms. If Crane expected to actually keep this girl, he would have to put up with him checking up on her.

“Fine,” the man said with a sigh, taking a sip from his glass. “Do you want one,” Jonathan asked, reaching for another glass.

Part of Bruce wanted to take him up on that offer, but he knew why he was here. “Should you really be drinking with these,” the Bat said, holding up a bottle of Crane’s prescriptions.

“Hmm,” Crane said with a laugh. God why did that laugh sound so good from his lips. “Last time I checked I’m still a doctor.” He raised his eyebrow and took another sip.

Bruce let it slide, at least he was taking his medication. “And how is it going mentally Doctor?”

“Is this your attempt at psychoanalysis?” Crane asked, rolling his eyes.

“You're dodging the question. If you expect me to leave you in charge of her, you’re going to have to be honest with me,” the Bat asked, crossing his arms.

“Wow, I can see you’re no fun,” Jonathan said with a sigh. “Just peachy, that’s what the pills are for. What’s really bothering me is my fucking jaw,” he said leaning towards the bat.

The Bat suddenly reached forward, catching his face in the palm of his hand. He turned his face over in his hands, taking a moment to examine the damage and take another look at his lips. His thumb rolled over Jonathan's swollen chin, giving it a gentle pat. He watched as Crane’s eyes widened, freezing where he stood. “You’ll live," Bruce said letting go. There was slight hint of a smile on his lips.

Crane took a step back touching his own face and for once he didn’t have anything to say. Bruce took a final glance at the man, his eyes wandering up his long skinny legs subconsciously. “Have a nice night Crane, see you again soon,” the Bat said before disappearing out the back.

Chapter Text

Jonathan found himself in the shadowy halls of his childhood home, the air thick with the scent of old books and musty wood. The house was unnervingly quiet, save for the faint creak of floorboards underfoot. As he moved down the halls his blood quickened and he began wandering the halls, looking for the exit. As he turned the corner he saw an open doorway and a sense of terror and familiarity washed over him. He wanted to turn around and run, but with each step forward his body was betraying him.The familiar weight of dread settled in his chest as he reached the end of the hall, opening the door. There his father stood waiting, a syringe gleaming ominously in his hand.

"Ah, Jonathan, my boy. You're just in time. I've been waiting for you to help me with my research," his father said, his voice a chilling blend of affection and detachment.

"You've always been such a willing participant. I'm proud of you, my boy," he said with a smile.

Jonathan wanted to pull away, to run out of this room and far away from his father.

“Now come on, don't you want to help your father?” He asked, the ghost of a smile on his lips. Jonathan knew the warmth in his words was a lie, a cruel mockery of the approval he had longed for as a child. The elder Crane’s eyes were cold, devoid of any true care or concern. He moved closer, the needle poised to pierce Jonathan’s skin.

Jonathan tried to resist, but his body betrayed him, muscles locked in place as if bound by invisible chains. His father’s hand gripped his arm, and with a quick, practiced motion, the needle sank into his flesh. The fear toxin surged through his veins, cold as ice, sending a shudder through his entire being.

"Good boy," his father murmured, as he dragged Jonathan towards the trap door beneath the floorboards.

"Now, let’s see how you handle the dark," he said, flinging him down and Jonathan began to fall. He let out a cry as he tried to reach forward, trying to escape the dark void beneath the floors.

Darkness flooded his eyes, and Jonathan felt his heart pounding in his chest. He reached forward trying to claw his way out against the floorboards, but they seemed to float out of his reach, leaving him trapped in the darkness. The cellar was small, suffocating, the walls pressing in on him as his father slammed the door shut. Everything went black. Jonathan could feel the toxin working its way through his system, amplifying every fear, every terror, until it felt as though his very skin was being ripped apart from the inside. His mind fractured, spiraling into chaos as the world around him twisted and warped.

In the pitch-black void, an image began to form, slowly taking shape in the darkness. His father’s face, impossibly large, loomed before him, eyes glowing with a malevolent light. The giant figure leaned in closer, lips curling into a sinister smile as he laughed, a sound that echoed endlessly, drilling into Jonathan's skull.

"You're nothing without fear, Jonathan," the monstrous figure boomed, and Crane recognized Scarecrow’s voice. "You're mine to shape, to control. Just like always,” he said laughing.

The laughter grew louder, more manic, as Jonathan’s sanity crumbled and he could feel the walls beginning to cave in. The darkness closed in tighter, suffocating, relentless, until all he could do was scream silently into the void.

Jonathan jolted awake a scream still on his lips. His body was covered in a cold sweat and his heart was still pounding in his chest. His throat hurt, and he wondered how long he had been screaming. His cheeks were wet and he realized he had been crying. He immediately looked towards the crib, immediately seeing Ruby staring up at him, her big eyes full of concern. Crane immediately scooped her up, pulling the girl to his chest. Surprisingly she wasn’t crying, she must have just woken up. He felt guilty for having woken her up, poor thing deserved as much sleep as she could get.

“It’s okay Roo, I’m sorry I scared you. It was just a bad dream,” He said, pulling the baby into bed with him. He placed the pillows towards the edge of the bed, and pulled her towards the middle right beside him. “You don’t need to worry though, I’ll be okay.”

Ruby suddenly gave him another cheeky smile and he couldn’t help but smile back at her, wiping a final tear from his eye.

“That’s right, and if you ever have bad dreams I’ll be right here for you,” he promised before kissing her goodnight again.
** **

The morning had come quickly, but Jonathan and Ruby had managed to sneak in a few more hours of sleep, the two sleeping in a perfect cuddle puddle. He woke up, seeing the sun shining outside already and looked down to see a pair of hazel eyes blinking happily at him.

Crane thought back on the nightmare from last night, and he was happy that he had Ruby there to comfort him. Normally, he wouldn’t have been able to fall back asleep after a dream like that, but surprisingly Ruby had chased away the rest of the bad dreams. The girl really was a miracle.

His mind also began to wander as he thought of the Bat’s sudden appearance again last night. He hadn’t expected the Bat to show up so quickly, didn’t he have crime to fight? Still, Crane was happy that he actually seemed to believe him, and he was letting him keep Ruby. That was surprising given his past, but he would happily accept the nightly intrusions if that’s what it took for the Bat to trust him. Last night was still odd though, Crane thought remembering the Bat cupping his face. He didn’t know if the Bat was trying to intimidate him or come onto him, and he wasn’t sure that he minded either way.

** **
A full week had gone by since Jonathan had Ruby, and it was now the first of October. Fall was at its peak, and there was a crisp in the air that was exhilarating. Crane was currently pushing Ruby through the park, stopping to enjoy the beautiful foliage. This was by far his favorite time of year, and he was happy to finally have someone to share it with. Plus kids loved Halloween, he was even looking forward to taking her to some fall festivals soon. He would need to get her a little costume, he thought looking down at her. The back of her stroller was filled with Halloween decorations, and he was looking forward to going home and decorating with her. They were going to have the best day!

As he pushed her stroller, he began contemplating their time together so far. This first week had gone by fast but they had managed to fall into a routine, and Crane was getting more and more skilled taking care of her. She still had her moments of fussiness but he was always able to calm her. He found himself looking forward to spending every day with her. It was odd he had never considered himself a sentimental person, and he didn't have the best track record when it came to his own family, but the little girl was bringing out a softer side to him. This must be what an actually functioning family felt like. They would spend the days playing together, and if the weather was nice they would have a little outing together. Then it was home for dinner and a few snuggles before settling her in for the night. The Bat had been by nearly every night as well, and Crane had found himself almost looking forward to the company.

It was nice to talk to someone who wasn’t a baby, even if that person used to be his enemy. At first, Crane had been certain the Dark Knight didn’t trust him. It was infuriating, being under such close scrutiny, when all he had done was care for Ruby. However as the nights passed, something seemed to be shifting between them. They started talking. The conversations started cautiously, but soon they were discussing more than just the baby's well-being. Crane was surprised to find that the Bat had a keen mind and an unexpected depth of understanding. They talked about psychology, philosophy, and even shared a few darkly humorous anecdotes about their respective experiences in Gotham's underworld.

It was during these conversations that Crane noticed a subtle change in Batman's demeanor. The once icy, detached vigilante began to soften, his tone less confrontational, his gaze less piercing. And there was something else, something Jonathan hadn’t expected—the way Batman’s eyes seemed to linger on him, the slight curve of his lips when Crane made a particularly insightful remark. Sometimes their eyes would meet and there was a charged silence filling the space between them. He had noticed all of these moments, he was a master at reading human behavior after all.

He found himself anticipating those visits, counting down the hours until the Bat would swoop in through the window, his presence filling the room with a strange, comforting tension. It was absurd, Crane knew. He was the master of fear, not some lovestruck fool! Still, he couldn’t help himself. The dark knight's presence had become a strange comfort, and it had been a long time since he had been with anyone. Who would have thought he would actually think of Batman as comforting, maybe he really was as crazy as they say.

** **

Bruce Wayne stood by the large bay window in Wayne Manor, staring out into the sprawling estate, but his thoughts were miles away. He had always known Jonathan Crane as the Scarecrow, a man driven by fear and darkness, someone who had reveled in the chaos he created. But recently, he was seeing the man in another light and these thoughts were consuming him. He had been making nightly visits to Crane’s apartment, cloaked in the anonymity that the night provided. He had told himself it was to ensure that Crane didn’t revert to his old ways, that the Scarecrow wasn’t just lying in wait. But to his surprise, the man was doing an excellent job. As he observed Crane, night after night, the disbelief had slowly turned into something else. Bruce had watched as Crane meticulously cared for the child, feeding her, soothing her cries, and even reading her bedtime stories. The man who once terrorized Gotham now spent his evenings dancing with her and teaching her how to walk. It was actually adorable to see. When the baby was asleep he would see the man curled up on the couch nose deep in a parenting book, trying his best to improve himself.

Bruce found himself mesmerized by the transformation. He kept expecting to catch Crane slipping up, to see some evidence of the man’s darker side resurfacing. But it never happened. Crane was completely focused on the baby, his attention unwavering. The more Bruce watched, the more he realized that Crane wasn’t just playing a role—he was genuinely devoted to the little girl. It was almost as if fatherhood had softened the sharp edges of Crane’s soul, revealing a side of him that he had never imagined existed.

He found himself wanting to know more about the man who had once been his enemy, the man who was now caring for an innocent life with such tenderness. The attraction he felt surprised him, a strange blend of curiosity and something more primal, something that made him want to get closer to Crane, to understand him on a deeper level. The idea of knowing Jonathan Crane, not as the Scarecrow but as the man behind the mask, stirred feelings in Bruce that he hadn’t allowed himself to acknowledge until now. Bruce had always been a sucker for blue eyes, and he couldn’t deny that Crane’s scrawny frame looked damn good in a set of shorts. It wasn’t just the physical attraction however, but seeing this new vulnerable and complex side. This new side of Crane intrigued Bruce, pulling him in deeper with each passing night.

Chapter Text

A heavenly smell filled the apartment, as Jonathan pulled a fresh loaf of pumpkin bread from the oven. He wasn’t much of a chef but he always enjoyed baking, plus it was about the only way he got to use his knowledge of chemistry these days and it was nice to finally have someone to bake for. He had already managed to replace his broken window, and his house was already decorated and feeling very cozy. Ruby bounced up and down on the living room, using the couch to hold herself up. She was getting very close to actually walking, and he had been practicing with her every day. She was able to take a few steps by herself, but she struggled with balance and would quickly drop down with a plop. She was making improvements though, and Crane had learned some techniques to help her along the way. He wondered to himself, why he hadn’t studied more child psychology, it truly was a fascinating subject. He had picked up a few new books on the subject and it truly was amazing so far. On the surface baby’s brains seemed simple, but underneath their minds were making thousands of connections every day. Plus he owed it to her to be prepared, she deserved a home that helped her mind focus and flourish. He watched smiling as the little girl let out a squeal, taking a few steps towards him.

“You’re doing so good sweetie,” Crane said, getting down to her level. He patted the ground encouraging her to continue walking to him. She let out another happy squeal as she wobbled closer, nearly crossing the living room before plopping down again suddenly.

“Wow, look at you, did you see how far you went,” he said, reaching down to scoop her up.

The two shared a bowl of baked potato soup, before sharing a slice of pumpkin bread for dessert. Ruby loved them both, and smacked her lips together the whole time but she went nuts for the pumpkin bread. Her eyes were halfway closed as she brought pieces to her mouth, making happy little grunts the entire time. He ate his own small piece, happy that his jaw was now longer swollen. His face had nearly healed since the attack, leaving only the faintest kiss of a bruise on his cheek. So much had happened that week that he scarcely remembered it at all, plus the Bat had been actually pleasant ever since. He wouldn’t hold it against him.

The two settled in for the night, finishing up their routine with a story for the night. Crane was dressed in an orange and black set of Halloween pajamas, decorated with tiny little jack o’ lanterns. Ruby was wearing a similar set of spooky pajamas, and he had decided that he was going to celebrate his favorite holiday with her as much as possible. This was only the start to all the memories they would make together. He finished reading her story before reaching over and giving her a good night kiss on the cheek. She giggled in response, and his heart melted.

As darkness filled the apartment, Crane carefully shut the door to her bedroom turning on her sound motion to drown out any other noises in the apartment. She was actually turning into a really great sleeper, and managed to stay in her crib at least most of the night.

With it being the first of October, Jonathan was looking forward to starting his horror movie marathon. Tonight he poured himself a glass of whiskey, before starting up “Silence of the Lambs.” It was a classic, and still one of his favorites. He had left the door to his balcony unlocked tonight, he knew the Bat had no problem breaking in but maybe he would appreciate an invitation. The lights from the screen flashed across his eyes as he swirled the amber liquid in his glass, savoring the sharp, smoky scent of the whiskey before taking a slow, measured sip. However, even though this movie was one of his favorites his mind was beginning to wander towards thoughts of the Bat. He had been by nearly every night this week to check up on him, and Crane didn’t see why tonight would be any different. Still, it was hard to pay attention to the movie with his head in so many other places.

When the faint creak of the balcony door finally reached his ears, Crane allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. He didn’t turn, didn’t need to. The presence behind him was unmistakable, a shadow that even the darkness couldn't hide.

“You’re right on time,” Crane said with a chuckle polishing off his glass, before making his way over to the counter to pour himself another. “Come on, have a drink with me,” he said, grabbing an empty glass and pouring a healthy amount into it. He always offered one to the Bat, but he never took him up on the offer, tonight he was hoping would be the exception.

Batman remained silent for a moment, his eyes flicking from Crane to the glass in his hand, then to the new Halloween decorations that littered the apartment. Without another thought the Bat took the glass, but his eyes remained wary, studying Crane with that intense, penetrating gaze that always sent a thrill down the former psychologist’s spine.

“Relax, if I was going to poison you. I would have done so already. Now cheers,” Crane said, clinking his glass against his and taking a drink. The whiskey was already beginning to warm his blood, and loosening his tongue.

“Getting ready for Halloween already,” The dark knight asked, taking a sip of his glass as he moved closer, leaning against the kitchen counter.

“Does this surprise you? It is my favorite holiday after all, and kids love it,” He said thinking of Ruby, still nestled safely in her bed.

The Bat laughed, a smile underneath his cowl. “No not in the slightest, but I am still surprised with your sudden domestic nature,” He said looking at the loaf of pumpkin bread.

“Care for a slice, I baked it myself,” Crane said with a slight smile.

“No thank you, I’m not in the mood for pastries,” The Bat said, before downing his glass and setting it to the side.

“Oh and what are you in the mood for,” Crane asked with a mischievous grin, before knocking back his own glass. The whiskey was already beginning to warm his blood, and loosen his tongue as he locked eyes with the Bat.

"I think you know exactly," the Bat whispered, his voice low and dangerous. Crane felt his heart quicken at the implication, a rush of adrenaline coursing through him. Without breaking eye contact, Batman closed the distance between them in a swift movement, his gloved hand coming up to cradle Crane's jaw before pulling him into a savage kiss.

For a moment Jonathan was stunned. Was this really happening? Then he felt himself returning the kiss with the same passion and fever. His lips opened, pulling the Bat in even deeper as his eyes lowered. The world around him faded into darkness as he began to lose himself in the kiss. Crane could taste the whiskey on Batman's lips, mingling with a hint of danger that made his head spin. It was intoxicating and he didn’t think he could ever get enough of it.

The Batman wrapped his arms around him before shoving him up against the wall roughly as he continued to ravage his mouth. His kiss was as hard and demanding as he was. For a second Jonathan was worried that the Bat was going to wake up Ruby, but then he remembered the sound machine, and he was thankful that he bought it because they were about to make some noise. Crane felt his head slap against the wall as the Bat began to work lower, nipping and biting on his neck and shoulders.

Jonathan couldn’t help himself as he arched his body into his, feeling something large suddenly pressed against him. His hands began to roam over Batman's armored suit, feeling the powerful muscles beneath the protective layers as he felt the man push harder against him. Crane let out a soft moan, before suddenly feeling a pair of teeth as the Bat bit down hard on his collarbone.

“Oh fuck, that’s good,” he said, arching against him. Crane had always liked it rough, and it seemed so did the Bat, a dangerous combination for them both. With one swift motion he felt his shirt being pulled off over his head, as the man tossed it halfway across the room. Suddenly, the Bat lifted him into the air as effortlessly as someone picked up a doll, before sitting him down on the counter and spreading his legs. With one slick motion, Jonathan felt his shorts being pulled off, as his bare skin pressed against the cold countertop. The Bat was still fully dressed and he was making no motion to remove anything other than his gloves. That was fine though, something about the mystery of the man behind the mask made this all the sexier. Crane wrapped his legs around the man, closing the distance between them and pulling him into another quick kiss.

Batman moved his lips lower, pressing hard against Jonathan's bony ribcage before holding out the empty palm of his hand. “Spit,” He commanded harshly.

Jonathan didn’t hesitate for a moment, spitting as much as he could into Batman’s empty palm. The only light in the room was the movie still playing, lighting shadows across the smiles on both of their faces. Suddenly, Crane felt butterflies as a slick finger was pressed inside him, and he arched his body against it welcoming it in deeper. He felt a firm hand on his chest, pushing him backwards, his head smacking the counter as the Bat took him into his mouth.

Crane let out a soft moan, feeling the man’s mouth around his member as his fingers slid in and out of his entrance. He hadn’t expected the Dark Knight to be much of a cocksucker, but there was no denying that he was skilled. He wondered if the man had done this before, as he felt a tongue run against his length. He couldn’t help but moan as he felt another finger enter him.

Jonathan didn’t know how much more of this he could take, and with each lick and each press he found himself panting. “Come on Bat’s, put it in already,” he begged, arching against him one last time.

“You’re not ready,” Batman replied in a low voice. “I don’t want to hurt you,” he said with a twinge of concern.

“Oh come on, at least make it hurt a little,” Crane said with a grin, he knew how to relax his body and he had been fucked with less preparation than this, so he wasn’t worried

The Batman’s lips slid off of his member leaving it wet and shining, and he commanded him to spit once more holding out his hand. Jonathan watched panting as the Bat tore off his belt, tossing it across the room before pulling out his cock. Crane’s eyes widened, the guy was fucking huge. He could see why the Bat had been concerned with preparing him before, as he watched the man slick himself with his spit. He couldn’t help but stare, watching the precum slide off of his massive head. This was definitely going to hurt.

Suddenly he felt a pair of hands on his hips, and he felt the man’s tip slip inside. A flash of pain shot through him and he closed his eyes, before taking a deep breath.

“I told you, you weren't ready,” The Bat murmured, about to pull out.

“Don’t you fucking dare,” Crane said wrapping his legs around him. “You’re sweet, but I said I can take it. Now I just need you to fuck me,” He said, steadying his breath.

The Bat looked at him with a look of concern, before he started thrusting up into him. Jonathan almost cried out as the man began to thrust, and he bit down hard on his hand to keep from shouting. He wouldn’t deny that it was painful at first, but with each thrust and each breath Crane felt himself opening up. Each thrust brought him closer and closer, and he was seeing stars as the Bat continued thrusting into him. He wrapped his legs around the man’s hips pulling him in even deeper. The two locked eyes, each breathing deeply with each thrust as the Batman continued pounding him against the counter. That was when Crane reached forward, grabbing a hold of the Bat’s hand and guiding it to his throat. He arched his neck into his grasp, hoping he would take the hint.

The Dark Knight gave him an unsure look, before wrapping his thick fingers around his bony neck and giving a firm squeeze. Crane closed his eyes and relaxed into his hold but it wasn’t enough for him.
“Harder,” Jonathan demanded, pressing his throat against him. Surprisingly, the Bat gave in to his demands this time, grasping him harshly by the throat. For a moment he coughed and he started seeing stars, but a smile was on his face. Crane moaned softly, there was something so sexy and dangerous about being choked and fucked by his former enemy. If he had known that something like this could have happened he would tried fucking him sooner.

The Bat was thrusting into him with abandon now, and each motion was bringing him closer. Crane was meeting his thrusts with thrusts of his own, as the two melded into one. Then with a swift motion, Batman lifted him into the air again, and began pounding him into the air. This new angle was bringing him even deeper inside and before Jonathan even knew what was happening, he was cumming, spilling himself all across his stomach and the emblem of the Batsuit. The larger man bit down roughly on Crane’s neck causing him to yelp, as he pounded into him roughly, pulling his hips down with every thrust. Then with a shudder the Bat was spilling his seed inside him, filling him up in every sense of the word.

The two took a moment, just breathing and staring at each other afterwards. That whole event felt like a fever dream, and Jonathan couldn’t believe what happened. Jonathan leaned forward, closing his lips against his one last time, just so he could be sure that it was real. He closed his eyes, sighing deeply with satisfaction. When suddenly he heard a flap, and when he opened his eyes the Batman was gone.

Chapter Text

H is for Harley

Sunlight was already pouring in through the window, as Jonathan swung his thin legs out of bed with a groan. Ruby was already up and chirping, standing happily in her crib ready to be picked up. He gave a warm smile to the girl before feeling just how sore he was after last night. His hips gave an awful pop and he groaned as he took a step towards the girl. He hoped that Ruby would take it easy on him today, because moving around was going to be a bit of an issue.

“Good morning little bird,” he cooed at her, scooping her up in his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a hug in return. He gave her a kiss on the cheek before setting her down to play.

Crane took a look at himself in the mirror as he brushed his teeth. His lips looked swollen and there were already a couple of faint bruises from the Bat’s fingers last night forming on his neck. As well as a darkening bite mark. His fingers traced the edges of each of them as a grin spread across his lips. He felt butterflies in his stomach as he thought back on last night's strange turn of events, and he felt a wave of deep satisfaction. He couldn’t recall a time where he had ever been fucked so good in his life.

Jonathan finished his morning routine, wincing slightly as he bent to pull on his clothes. He couldn't help but smile at the lingering aches, a pleasant reminder of the night's passionate encounter. As he dressed, he found himself wondering what this meant for him and the Bat. The memory was still fresh, electric in his mind. The way their bodies had moved together, the way the Batman had kissed him until they were both breathless. He remembered how careful and considerate he had been, taking the time to open his body up. Jonathan didn’t think he could ever recall being so cared for either. His past lovers had been meaningless hookups, and usually they were both too drunk to take the time to care. Who knew the Bat had a soft side. He smirked again, imagining the Bat’s hands still around his neck, pressing down or biting a mixture of both as he pounded him relentlessly. He liked that side of him too.

He wondered what would happen now. Was it a one time fling, a momentary lapse in judgement? The rational side of him screamed that it was a one-night stand, there was no way Batman was going to continue, well whatever this was. He'd been a fool to think otherwise. Although another side of him hoped that wasn’t the case, and as cold as his heart was he was already begging to see him again. Now here he was missing the goddamn batman, maybe he was as crazy as they say. Now in the fragile quiet of the morning, all Crane could do was wonder. He pushed those thoughts aside as he heard Ruby babbling happily from the other room. Parenting duties called, and he needed to focus on the present. Jonathan made his way to the kitchen, Ruby toddling behind him, chattering away in her baby talk.

* *
Crane was in the middle of trying to scoop another spoonful of oatmeal into Ruby’s mouth, when he heard a knock at the door. He cursed under his breath, wondering who on earth that could be. Ruby was fussing in her highchair, trying very hard to wiggle her way out of it. Now that Crane had been practicing walking with her, she wanted nothing more than to run around the apartment and she hated staying still. He sighed, putting down the bowl before making his way to the door.

As soon as he peered through the peephole, he heard an unmistakable voice from the other side. “Come on and open up already Jonny, we are freezing our tit’s off out here,” he heard in a thick jersey accent.

Jonathan sighed and rubbed the spot above his eyes before swinging the door open.

“Helloooo, Jonny, and Helloo to my little Ruby!” Harley squealed her voice loud and boisterous as ever. Behind her, Ivy stepped in with far more grace, giving Crane a calm, knowing smile. “Don’t mind her. She’s been excited about this all morning.”

“Excited about what exactly,” Crane said, shutting the door. As soon as Ruby saw the pair she immediately flung the bowl of oatmeal onto the floor and began waving her arms around happily, while making the happiest of baby chirps. So much for breakfast, he thought with a sigh.

“Oh there’s my little puddin. There’s my favorite girl!” Harley laughed, her eyes sparkling as she planted a dramatic kiss on Ruby’s cheek. “You missed me, didn’t ya?,” She scooped the girl up, planting another crimson lipstick stain on the baby’s cheek. Ruby giggled, her eyes wide and bright as Harley continued to pepper her with affection.

Crane cleared his throat, drawing Harley’s attention away from the little whirlwind of excitement. “Uh huh, and what are you two doing here?” He didn’t even bother to hide the annoyance in his voice.

Harley turned on her heel and stuck out her tongue, one hand still holding Ruby and the other resting sassily on her hip.

“What’s it look like we’re doin? We’re takin’ this lil’ punkin out for a day on the town!” She batted her eyelashes in a mock-sweet way, her grin wide. “Gonna spoil her rotten, give her some much-needed time with her aunties.” She gave him a pointed glance, immediately noticing the bruises and love bites on his neck. “I was gonna say you could use a little alone time, but it looks like you already got some. Who’s the lucky guy?”

Jonathan didn’t even bother to cover up. “Just another run in with the Bat,” He said, crossing his arms.

Harley cocked her head at that comment, giving Ivy a look of confusion. “Are we talking about the same Bat?” She gave his neck another look, and was clearly

Crane’s eyes narrowed, feeling exposed. “You know I never asked for a babysitter.”

Ivy stepped forward with an air of calmness. “Don’t worry, Crane,” she said smoothly. “We’ll take good care of Ruby. Besides, she's been looking forward to this all week.”

Crane hesitated, his protective instincts flaring up. Ruby was his world now, and the thought of her being out without him, even with Ivy and Harley, made him uneasy. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust them, it was just that really no where in the city was safe these days. “And what exactly do you plan to do with her?”

“Oh, relax, Jonny,” Harley said, rolling her eyes as she set Ruby down gently. “We’re not takin’ her to rob a bank or anything. Geez. We’re goin’ to the Botanical Garden and if she’s good, maybe we’ll get her a new stuffed animal or something cutesy.”

Ruby giggled, completely oblivious to Crane’s growing anxiety. He could tell that she was at ease with Harley and Ivy, and he knew that they wouldn’t let anything bad come her way. Maybe he could use the help too, he hadn’t had any time for himself ever since he brought her home. Crane felt his resolve begin to crumble. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Fine,” he muttered. “But be careful. And bring her back before dark, and it’s cold out so keep her bundled up, and.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Harley cut him off. Jonathan reached for her coat and slipped it on over her arms, giving the small child a final look. Ruby looked up at him with her big hazel eyes before giving him a sweet little hug. He gave her a big kiss on the cheek, god he was going to miss her today. As soon as she was dressed, Harley had snatched her up again and was already out the door. “See,ya!.”

Ivy lingered for a moment longer, offering Crane a sympathetic smile. “We’ll take good care of her,” she promised.

**
Harley practically skipped through the entrance of the Gotham Botanical Gardens, Ruby balanced on her hip. "We’re here, Rubes! A day full of nature, just for you!" she cheered, beaming as the baby babbled in her arms.

Ivy strolled beside her, casting a sly smile toward the other visitors, even at this time of year the Garden was still packed, at least for now. Ivy had no intention of spending their day surrounded, as she blew out a cloud full of pheremones from her pursed lips. Within moments, the crowd began to disperse, families and tourists calmly making their way out of the gardens without so much as a sound. The space was now theirs.

"There," Ivy said, satisfied as she turned back to Harley and Ruby. "Now it’s just us. Nothing but the beauty of nature—and your aunties," She leaned over and kissed Harley’s cheek, earning an exaggerated "Mwah!" in response.
Harley spun Ruby around in her arms, her eyes wide with excitement. "You hear that, Rubes? It’s like havin’ a whole jungle just for us!” She gave Ruby a dramatic wink, which made the baby giggle.

Together hand in hand Ivy and Harley, strolled through the gardens. They took their time showing her the most beautiful flowers. Ruby’s eyes were wide with excitement, as she spotted a bed of vibrant tulips. Ivy knelt down by the bed of flowers, her hands glowing faintly with green energy. With a gentle hum, she coaxed the flowers to life, the petals moving and stretching as if they were waking from a deep sleep. Slowly, the blooms began to sway and dance, their stems curling in playful patterns as they reached toward Ruby. A cluster of lilies leaned in, brushing Ruby’s tiny hand, which made her laugh, her innocent glee filling the quiet air.

Ivy watched with a soft smile as the baby reached out for the flowers, her tiny fingers clutching at the moving petals. “She’s loving it,” Ivy said, her voice filled with warmth. She leaned into Harley, their fingers intertwining effortlessly.
“Told ya this was a good idea,” Harley grinned, looking at Ivy. Her playful energy softened, and she leaned in for a quick kiss, their lips brushing sweetly. “See, you would be a great Mama. Maybe we’ll get a munchkin of our own one day.”
Ivy blushed lightly and squeezed Harley’s hand, her eyes sparkling with affection. “Maybe we will, you’re really good with her too,” Ivy said with grin.

The three of them spent the day like that—wandering through the gardens hand in hand. Ruby giggled non stop as Ivy’s flowers danced and played with her, all while Harley provided neverending commentary that had Ivy laughing, even though she'd heard a thousand of Harley's quips before. After they had finally finished touring the gardens, Ivy finally allowed the plants to rest. Harley turned to her with a wide grin.

“Now Ruby, what do you say? Do you want us to spoil you for real?” Harley asked, giving the girl a tickle.

Ivy raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you think, we’ve been gone long enough. Crane’s probably missing her like crazy.”

“Oh, c’mon, no little girl deserves to be cooped up. Plus this widdle puddin, needs some more toys to play with.”

Ivy laughed, shaking her head but giving in easily. “Alright, lead the way.”

At the toy shop, Ruby was wide-eyed, her gaze flitting from one colorful shelf to the next, overwhelmed in the best way possible. Harley plopped her down in front of the stuffed animals and said, “Alright, now the floor is yours. Pick out wherever you want.”

Without hesitation, Ruby wobbled towards a soft, fluffy stuffed goose sitting amongst the animals, grabbing it with both hands and pulling it to her chest. She looked up at Harley, beaming with pride over her new companion.
“A goose?!” Harley burst out laughing. “Of all the animals, you pick the goofy-lookin' goose? Oh, Rubes, you are a silly goose!” She clutched her sides, laughing hysterically while Ivy smiled fondly.

Harley, of course, bought the goose immediately—and then proceeded to pile more toys onto the counter. “Gotta spoil the kid right, ya know?” she told the cashier with a grin, Ruby happily clutching her new goose the whole time.

By the time they left, Ruby had a mountain of stuffed animals and toys, but it was the goose that she refused to let go of, hugging it close as she dozed off in Harley’s arms.
**
As Harley, Ivy, and Ruby were busy enjoying their time at the toy store, they paid no attention to the crowd that surrounded them, or the man in the trenchcoat who was looking at them from the other side of the glass window.
The Joker, his eyes gleaming with a familiar madness. Disguised in a worn trench coat and a floppy hat, he watched them like a predator sizing up its prey.

His lips curled into a twisted smile as he muttered under his breath. "Well, well, well... what have we here? My little Harley playin' house with the eco-terrorist and a... baby?" He almost spat out the last word, disbelief laced with venom. "Now that’s a joke if I ever heard one!"

Next to him, one of his goons, a thick-necked thug named Pauly, in an ill-fitting hoodie, scratched the back of his head, looking puzzled. "Uh, boss, you okay? You want me to—"

Joker held up a gloved finger, silencing him instantly. “Shhhh... Look at her. Just look at my Harley! What happened to my partner-in-chaos, my wild little Harls?! Now she's off playin’ mommy with that stuck up hippie.HA! The punchline writes itself!” He cackled softly, but the laugh was more bitter than amused. His eyes glinted with fury beneath his shadowed hat.

Pauly shuffled awkwardly. "So, uh... what’s the plan, boss?"

Joker’s smile widened, his voice dripping with menace. “Plan? Oh-ho-ho! I thought you’d never ask!” He leaned in closer, his voice lowering to a dangerous whisper. "Here’s what I want you to do, knucklehead: Follow ‘em. Find out where they’re slinking around these days, And then." Joker’s grin grew wider, practically splitting his face. “We’ll pay ‘em a little visit.It would be rude, not to at least pay my respects.”

The thug gulped. “You wouldn’t hurt the baby, would you boss?”

Joker clapped a hand on his thug’s back, his smile suddenly sweet, almost fatherly. “Oh, don’t you worry your little brain about the baby. I’ve got some fun ideas rattling around in this head of mine. See, once Harley gets a taste of the old us, she’ll come running back, arms wide open!” His voice turned into a mocking sing-song as he mimicked Harley’s voice. “‘Oh, Puddin’! I’m sorry I left you for that plant lady!’"

Pauly nodded nervously, still unsure, but he wasn’t about to question the Joker.

“Oh, but before we go...” Joker's voice turned cold as he gripped the thug’s arm tightly, yanking him down to eye level. “You better not screw this up. If you lose them, or worse, if you spook ‘em, you’ll wish I’d just fed you to the hyenas. Understand?” His tone was light, but the look in his eyes was murderous.

The thug nodded quickly, too terrified to do anything else. “Got it, boss. I’ll keep my distance.”

Joker straightened up, his mood instantly brightening again. “Good boy! Now run along I’ve got plans to make. Big, fun plans!”

As Harley and Ivy left the store, unaware of the eyes following them, Joker stayed behind in the shadows, humming a jaunty tune under his breath.

"Harley thinks she can just walk away from me, huh? Not without a punchline, sweetheart! Oh-ho-ho-ho... this is gonna be one for the history books! HAHAHAHA!"

Chapter Text

The night air was icy and thick as Batman soared across Gotham’s rooftops, his cape billowing in the wind. The city was alive beneath him, pulsing with the usual undercurrent of both thrill and danger, but his mind was elsewhere. Every time he tried to push it away, the thought of Jonathan Crane, of last night crept back in.

He cursed himself silently, shaking his head beneath the cowl. What had come over him? That moment had been... unexpected. A slip-up, a lapse in control. He’d always prided himself on his iron will, his ability to maintain emotional distance. He told himself he was merely satisfying his curiosity, nothing more. Still he couldn’t deny there had always been something about Crane that lingered in the back of his mind.

His glasses, and those piercing blue eyes. The way his thin, fragile-looking frame fit his body like a glove. The filthy things that would come from his mouth, and the danger and mystery that surrounded him. Crane had always been intriguing and now there was another side to him. These past few weeks it was like Crane had shifted somehow, softened from a cruel manipulative villain that terrorized Gotham, to this much more domestic and caring person. Now he was starting to see the real Jonathan Crane, and that person was even more amazing.

“Damn it,” Bruce muttered under his breath as he swung across a building, landing silently on the next rooftop. He couldn’t let himself get tangled up with someone like Crane. He was Batman for god's sakes. He didn’t have time for normal relationships, let alone ones with former Arkham inmates.

Still there was a part of him, a part he hated to acknowledge, that wanted to go back. To see if Crane was home. He imagined him bent over pulling an apple pie from the oven, his thin and perfectly fuckable ass just beneath a pair of thin shorts. He would have that smirk on his face and he would be happy to see him. That image flickered in Bruce’s mind, warm and unsettling all at once. When had he even begun thinking of Crane like this?

He sighed, his thoughts tugging at him. He realized how little he knew about Crane outside of his life as Scarecrow. What kind of childhood had he had? What were his favorite foods? What was his favorite movie? What made him smile? What made him sad?

Crane was... sexy, in that broken, dangerous way that Bruce had never been attracted to before. There was a rawness about him, a kind of vulnerability under the madness that called to Bruce. He shoved that thought aside. He couldn't afford to indulge it. He has a city to protect, and he certainly didn’t have the time to get mixed up with anyone let alone someone as complicated as Crane.

Still, that pull gnawed at him, the temptation to show up outside of Crane’s door. To learn what made him tick, to explore what had drawn them together in that moment last night. The desire to see those blue eyes again.

Bruce’s internal conflict raged as he moved through the shadows of Gotham, but his sharp eyes caught movement in the distance. A group of men, huddled near a dark alley in the Narrows, exchanging something under the glow of a single, flickering streetlight. Guns were in plain sight, and the atmosphere around them was tense. A drop-off, and it looked serious.

The familiar surge of focus and determination washed over him. He leapt into action, his thoughts of Crane dissolving into the darkness as his instincts took over. This was who he was, Batman! The protector of Gotham. There was no room for distractions, no room for personal attachments. Especially not with someone like Jonathan Crane.

Within moments, he was moving silently among the criminals, his body a dark blur against the night. His emotions, the confusion, the pull toward Crane—he pushed it all deep down, focusing only on the task at hand.

Batman dropped silently into the freight yard where the drop-off was taking place, his cape casting long shadows in the dim light. He had been expecting a drug exchange, maybe some low-level pushers, but as he moved closer, he realized that this was something much bigger. Crate after crate was being unloaded—guns, assault rifles, explosives. This wasn’t a petty crime. This was an arms deal.

His jaw clenched as he took stock of the situation. There were more men here than he had anticipated. At least a dozen, maybe more. The chatter among them was hushed but serious.
“Penguin’s gearing up for somethin’ big,” one of the men muttered to another as they hefted a heavy crate onto the ground.

The Penguin. Of course. With all the shifting power in Gotham’s underworld, Cobblepot would be making a play. Batman narrowed his eyes. This had to be shut down now.
Without a second thought, Batman leaped into action.

His first strike was swift and brutal, two men crumpled under his fists before they even had time to reach for their guns. A third man turned, startled, raising his weapon, but Batman was faster, disarming him with a quick twist of his wrist before delivering a sharp blow to the man’s ribs. The crack of bones breaking echoed in the air as Batman moved like a living shadow, taking down one man after another with precision and force.

Bullets suddenly whizzed past him in rapid fire. He spun, dodging the shots. He grabbed a thug by the wrist, twisting it painfully as the gun discharged into the air, and then slammed him into the wall with bone-crushing force.
He was in his element, moving, reacting, out matching each and every one of them, but there were too many. From the corner of his eye, he saw more men flooding out from a nearby building, guns drawn, shouting orders to each other.

The air was filled with the sound of gunfire, but Bruce moved fluidly, dodging bullets as he ducked behind a stack of crates. His grappling hook shot out, latching onto a beam above, and he launched himself into the air, crashing down onto two more henchmen. His fists connected with brutal efficiency, knocking them unconscious.

Just as he turned to face the last group of men, a hulking figure barreled into him from the side. The impact was immense—this guy was easily twice his size, muscles rippling under his tight shirt as he grabbed Bruce in a crushing bear hug, trying to squeeze the life out of him.

Batman fought back, slamming his elbow into the giant’s side, but the man didn’t budge. He felt the air being forced from his lungs, but with a surge of strength, he managed to twist free, using the momentum to land a powerful kick to the man’s chest. The thug stumbled back, growling in pain.

Then, without warning, pain exploded through Batman’s body.

The sharp, searing sensation of a blade slicing through his cowl hit him before he even realized what had happened. The knife had come out of nowhere, and it had cut deep, slipping just below his collarbone. A warmth spread across his chest, blood. Too much blood.

For a second, everything seemed to slow down. The alley spun, his vision narrowing. He looked down at the wound, his gloved hand instinctively reaching up to press against it. Blood poured from the gash, hot and slick between his fingers. The knife had gone deeper than he’d thought, he could feel the familiar pang of fear. Had it hit an artery?

The world felt unsteady beneath him. He staggered back, clutching the wound, trying to stop the bleeding, but the blood was flowing too fast. He could feel himself weakening, his strength draining with every second.
He needed to get out. Now.

Batman gritted his teeth in pain. His eyes scanned the alley, his thoughts hazy, looking for an escape route. With a desperate burst of energy, he shot his grappling hook toward a fire escape, swinging up and away from the chaos below.

He didn’t have much time. His vision was blurring, his heartbeat thudding painfully in his ears. He wouldn’t make it back to the Batcave. The wound was too deep.
Instinctively, his mind raced for the nearest place of refuge, somewhere close. Somewhere he could get help. Crane.

Crane’s apartment was close to this area. He didn’t have another option. He wondered if the man would even help him, if he would be able to even.

Blood trailing behind him, Batman forced his body to move, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, each movement sending fresh waves of pain through his chest. The city below blurred, and with every step, the weight of his decision sank in. He had to hurry.

With a final heave, he crashed down onto the balcony outside of Crane’s apartment, he knew that place like the back of his hand now. He took a deep breath staggering against the wall, his vision going dark at the edges. His hand was slick with his own blood, the world spinning wildly around him. With the last of his strength he reached for the door, stumbling inside.

**
Jonathan sat in the dimly lit living room, the silence of the night heavy around him. Ruby had been asleep for hours, and the only sound in the apartment was the faint churning of her sound machine as he sat in silence. He should’ve been relaxing, or at least savoring the quiet, but instead, his thoughts were churning, restless. His mind kept drifting back to him, the Bat.

He shifted on his couch, his fingers brushing absently against his own skin, tracing over the bruises and tender spots left behind from last night. The ache, the soreness—it all stirred something deep in him, something unsettling and completely arousing. While Harley and Ivy were away from Ruby all day, Crane had tried to take his mind off of it. But the thoughts lingered there. Every time he replayed the intensity of their encounter, he felt a flush of heat creeping up his neck. It was maddening.

There was no denying what he wanted, he wanted the Bat so bad right now he was desperate. That realization made Crane wince. His jaw tightened as he stared at the half-empty glass of whiskey on the table in front of him. What had he become? Lovesick over the Batman, of all people? The very thought made him scoff bitterly.

“You’re a fool,” he muttered under his breath, running a hand through his disheveled hair. He glanced at the time on his phone. It was getting late, the Bat’s visits were always unpredictable but they were never this late. Crane frowned feeling disappointed, a pit already forming in his stomach. Out of all the times Batman had been stopping by, the constant vigilance, and the thrill of last night he wasn’t coming.

Crane’s fingers curled around the glass, gripping it tighter as the frustration bubbled up. He hated the way the Bat had made him feel, how his body longed for more, how his mind craved that same touch. He hated how last night had opened a door inside him, only for that door to seemingly slam shut again just as quickly. His chest tightened at the thought. Had it meant nothing to him?

He threw back the rest of the whiskey in a single, burning gulp, his throat tightening as he swallowed the harsh liquid. The warmth did nothing to quell the growing pit of frustration and sadness inside him.

Of course, it was too good to last. “I'm too broken,” he thought bitterly, swirling the glass in his hand. “That’s why no one will ever really want you, you’re a lost cause.” The thought hit him hard, sinking deep into his gut. He slumped back into the couch, feeling the weight of it all pressing down on him. Last night hadn’t been about connection, it had been about lust, maybe even pity. And now, Batman had likely come to his senses, realized how wrong it all was.

Crane stood, pacing the room now, his agitation building with every passing second. His fingers clenched into fists as he replayed the moment they shared, the intensity of it, the way Batman had made him feel so desired for that brief sliver of time. Then as quickly as it had come, it was gone. Maybe that’s all it had been, a fleeting moment. Maybe that’s all he was worth.

Jonathan poured himself another glass, his fingers trembling slightly as he took a sip. His depression was beginning to set in, creeping into his bones like a familiar, cold weight. He’d been foolish to think it could be anything more. People didn’t stick around for someone as damaged as him. They never had. “Of course”, he thought bitterly, taking another gulp. “Of course, it ends like this.”

Crane’s heart clenched, the pain of rejection sharp and brutal. He hadn’t realized how much he’d longed for someone to see past the mask he wore, to see him for who he really was. Why would anyone want that? The real him was weak, broken, and unworthy of love.

He let the silence stretch on, wallowing in the thoughts that darkened his mind, the alcohol doing little to numb the ache in his chest. It always ended this way. Alone. Cold.

“It was just one night. Nothing more.” He repeated the words to himself, trying to hammer them into his mind, to make them real but that didn’t stop the sting. He felt hollow, his chest aching with the loneliness that had been with him for as long as he could remember.

Just as Crane settled back down and took another sip, he heard a loud crash as Batman flung himself quite literally inside. The sudden crash caused him to jump, and sent his heart racing. He rose quickly, nearly knocking over the glass in his haste as he moved to the kitchen. He expected to see Batman in his usual stoic, imposing form, but what he saw instead made his blood run cold.

There on the white tile floor, slumped and bleeding, was Batman. His cape was torn, his armor splattered with blood, so much blood. His hand was clutching a deep wound just below his collarbone. His face was pale, his eyes half-lidded.

“Crane...” Batman’s voice was weak, barely a rasp.

Jonathan stood frozen for a moment, the sight of the usually indomitable Batman bleeding and vulnerable at his feet shaking him to his core. Then, without thinking, he acted, rushing forward to help.

“Goddammit, what happened to you?” Crane growled. He spared no time running forward, pressing his hands against the wound in a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding. His heart pounded as the dark knight slumped against him, leaving a trail of blood across the kitchen floor. Batman’s breathing was ragged, every breath shallow and painful, and as Crane struggled to guide him to a chair, he cursed under his breath.

“Sit down,” Jonathan ordered, forcing him into the nearest chair, his hands already moving to assess the wound. Blood was pooling beneath Batman’s armor, dark and sticky, seeping through the cracked fabric of the suit. Crane’s mind raced as he grabbed a towel, pressing it hard against the bleeding gash below the collarbone. The wound was deep, he could tell by the amount of blood and unless he acted fast, things were going to get worse.

"I need to see where you’re hurt." Crane reached for Batman's mask, his fingers brushing the edge of it. Suddenly, Batman’s gloved hand shot up, grabbing Jonathan’s wrist in a surprisingly firm grip despite his weakened state.
“Don’t,” Batman rasped, his voice strained. Crane’s eyes flicked up to meet Batman’s. Even through the mask, he could see the fear, the hesitation. He let out a sharp, exasperated breath.

“Listen to me,” Crane said, voice edged with both urgency and frustration. “I need to see what I’m doing. So unless your secret identity is worth dying for, let me help you.”

For a moment, there was silence. Batman was quiet weighing his options. The grip on Crane’s wrist loosened, and after a long pause, he gave a slow, reluctant nod.

Jonathan didn’t hesitate. His fingers moved with purpose, carefully pulling back the mask and until the face beneath it was revealed. Instantly there he was, his secret revealed. Bruce Wayne.

Crane blinked, taken aback for just a moment. It was so obvious now that he could see it, and yet, it still caught him by surprise. His lips quirked into a dry smirk, as he pulled the edges of the Bat’s suit down revealing a large leaking gash.

“Of course you’re Bruce Wayne,” Jonathan said, shaking his head slightly as he moved to grab the sutures. “It’s so obvious now, I should have known. You practically reek of tortured billionaire playboy.”
He let out a soft chuckle, "Honestly, this makes perfect sense. I always wondered how you could afford all your little gadgets.”

Bruce, for his part, didn’t respond. His eyes were half-closed, his face pale from blood loss, but there was a hint of amusement behind the pain. Crane grabbed the sutures and needle, glancing at his whiskey glass sitting nearby. He picked it up, swirling the amber liquid before holding it out to Bruce.

“You’re going to want this,” Jonathan said flatly. “This is about to hurt.”

Bruce accepted the glass, downing the whiskey in one gulp, his jaw tight as Jonathan worked quickly, expertly. His hands were steady, moving with the precision of a surgeon. The needle pierced Bruce’s skin, and his body tensed, but he didn’t make a sound.

"You seem... surprisingly calm about this," Bruce managed through gritted teeth.

Jonathan paused, meeting Bruce's eyes. "I've seen worse," he said simply, before returning to his work. "Though I must admit, I never expected to be patching up Gotham's dark knight in my kitchen."

As he worked, Jonathan's mind raced. The man he'd been obsessing over, the one who'd left him feeling so conflicted and vulnerable, was none other than Bruce Wayne. Billionaire, Prince of Gotham was the goddamned Batman.
“You can’t tell anyone,” Bruce pleaded suddenly.

“Wouldn’t dream of it. Plus I’m crazy remember, no one would believe me anyways,” Crane said, closing a stitch.

“That and you kept my secret, with Ruby. So we are even.” It was true the Bat could have turned him in, taken him back to Arkham. Ruined his and Ruby’s life forever, but he trusted him enough to let him keep her. This would just have to be another one of their little secrets.

“There,” Crane murmured as he tied off the last stitch. He wiped away some of the excess blood with a towel, inspecting his handiwork. The wound was closed perfectly, all that was left to do was clean him up.

Before Bruce could respond, Crane leaned down, pressing his lips against the freshly stitched wound in a soft, lingering kiss, his mouth brushing against the bloodied skin. He felt the warmth of Bruce’s body, the coppery taste of blood staining his lips, and for a brief moment, he allowed himself the indulgence, the intimacy of the moment.

Then, he pulled back, giving a smile to Bruce. His lips were still smeared with blood as he looked up at Bruce, who was watching him now, his expression unreadable.

Crane offered a half-smile, the moment oddly tender given the circumstances. “All patched up, Wayne. You’ll live.”

Bruce answered by leaning forward and pressing his lips against his softly. This kiss was much different from last night's kiss. This was a comforting release for both of them, nothing as hungry or aggressive as last night. Bruce could taste the tinge of his own blood on Crane’s lips, as his tongue swiped across his lower lip, slipping inside sweetly. He wanted to savor this moment.
Jonathan felt himself melting, opening his mouth and allowing him more access. He kissed him back just as sweetly, arms wrapping around Bruce’s shoulders. He was so thankful for this moment, he hated to admit it but he really had missed him today.

As they kissed, Jonathan felt a wave of relief wash over him. All his earlier doubts and insecurities seemed to fade away, replaced by a warmth that spread through his chest. He pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against Bruce's, their breaths mingling in the small space between them.

“Come on, let’s get you cleaned up. Then I would really, really like to ride you,” Crane said with a smirk.

Bruce's eyes widened slightly at Jonathan's bold statement, a mix of surprise and desire flickering across his face. Despite the pain from his wound, he felt a rush of heat course through his body. He nodded, allowing Jonathan to help him to his feet.

"Bathroom's this way," Jonathan murmured, guiding Bruce down the hallway. His arm was wrapped securely around Bruce's waist, supporting him as they walked. The intimacy of the moment wasn't lost on either of them.
In the bathroom, Jonathan carefully helped Bruce out of what remained of his suit. His fingers traced over old scars and fresh bruises. He even recognized a burn mark across his chest, and he smiled fondly, remembering their first meeting and setting him on fire. His fingers danced around that mark. There was a tenderness in his touch that surprised even Jonathan himself.

As Jonathan tended to him, Bruce watched him intently, taking in every detail of his face, the way his brow furrowed in concentration, the slight tremble in his hands that betrayed his concern. It was a side of Jonathan Crane he'd never seen before – vulnerable, caring, almost tender.

"Why are you doing this?" Bruce asked softly, his voice rough with exhaustion and emotion.

“Because I’ve always wanted to fuck a billionaire, and I can’t have you getting blood on any more of my house,” Crane said plainly, trying to mask the truth with humor.

Jonathan's quip drew a low chuckle from Bruce, but his eyes remained fixed on Jonathan's face, searching for something deeper. “Oh is that all,” Bruce asked, cocking his brow.

“We don’t have to make this complicated,” Crane said, trying to sound casual. “It can just be… physical. If that’s what you want. can just be sex.” Jonathan met his gaze, and for a moment, the facade slipped. Deep down, Crane longed for something more—something real, something intimate, but he would take whatever he could get at this moment. That and he doubted that Bruce, billionaire playboy, would want anything different.

Bruce opened his eyes, watching him with a kind of quiet intensity that made Crane feel exposed, like Bruce could see through the lie—could see right into the hollow part of him that longed for something deeper.
“I’m not just here for that,” Bruce admitted, his voice steady but soft.

Crane froze, his breath catching in his throat. He looked up, meeting Bruce’s gaze, and for a moment, neither of them said anything. The air between them crackled with unspoken tension, but it was a different kind of tension now—one that made Crane’s heart race for entirely different reasons.

“What do you mean?” Crane asked, his voice barely a whisper.

“Just that I think I would like to get to know you, the real you.” Bruce stepped closer, his hand reaching out to gently cup the side of Crane’s face, his thumb brushing lightly against his cheek. There was a softness in the gesture, one that made Crane’s defenses falter. Bruce’s hand moved from his cheek to the back of his neck, pulling him closer until their foreheads almost touched.

“Now didn’t you say you wanted to ride me,” Bruce said with a laugh.

Jonathan felt a rush of heat flood his body at Bruce's words. He couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth. "I did say that, didn't I?" he murmured, his voice low and tinged with desire.

Without another word, Jonathan closed the distance between them, capturing Bruce's lips in a searing kiss. His hands roamed over Bruce's broad chest, careful to avoid the freshly stitched wound. Bruce responded eagerly, his own hands finding purchase on Jonathan's hips, pulling him closer.

They stumbled out of the bathroom, a tangle of limbs and heated kisses, making their way towards Jonathan’s couch. As they crossed the threshold, Jonathan pushed Bruce gently onto the sofa mindful of his injury. Jonathan stood above Bruce, his breath shallow as he took in the sight before him—the Dark Knight, vulnerable, unmasked, and looking at him with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine. This wasn’t just some fleeting moment of passion. There was something raw and real about the way Bruce looked up at him, his hands resting loosely on the couch, as if waiting for Jonathan to make the next move.

Jonathan’s heart raced. He felt the power shift between them, the control in his hands, and it sent a thrill through him. He lowered himself slowly, straddling Bruce’s lap, his fingers trailing over the contours of Bruce’s chest, carefully avoiding the freshly stitched wound. The warmth of Bruce’s body beneath his, the rise and fall of his breath—it all made Jonathan’s head swim.

Leaning down, Jonathan captured Bruce’s lips in another searing kiss, this time slower, deeper. His hands roamed over Bruce’s broad shoulders, his fingers threading through his hair as their bodies pressed together, heat radiating between them.

Bruce groaned softly into the kiss, his hands sliding up Jonathan’s back, pulling him closer as if he needed to feel every inch of him. It was a kiss that wasn’t just about lust, but something more—a hunger for connection, for understanding.

When they broke apart, Jonathan’s breath came in short gasps. He leaned back slightly, his eyes locked onto Bruce’s before he began kissing him lower. He began covering Bruce’s body with soft kisses, seeking to kiss every single bruise or scar, marking them as his own. He could already feel a hardening mass growing underneath him, as he felt Bruce press up against him. He could already tell he was rock hard.

Crane dropped to his knees before taking in the sight. Here Gotham’s prince and dark knight was splayed out on his couch, eyes glazed over with lust and rock hard. It was too perfect for words. With a smile he reached forward freeing Bruce’s dick with a single plop. He hadn’t gotten to admire it up close. Last night had been rushed but tonight he wanted to savor their moment together. He reached forward gently wrapping his lips around the head, swirling his tongue over the slit before sucking him in deeper. He began to bob his head, running his tongue along the length with each motion. He loved the taste of sweat on his skin, as he buried his face in deeper, taking his dick as deep as he could.

Bruce groaned, and reached forward wrapping his hands around the back of Crane head, nestling his fingers deep into his hair. “Fuck, that feels good Jonathan.”

Crane smirked, he loved hearing his name on his lips, and he loved tasting him even more. He suddenly had another wicked idea. “You can always try moving too you know, that might feel even better.” He cocked his brow.

Bruce gave him a curious look, and a slight chuckle as he slowly began thrusting into Crane’s mouth. Jonathan opened his lips as wide as possible, moving his own head in rhythm with each thrust. He could feel the tip of his dick ramming the back of his throat, but he loved every minute of it. His eyes watered as Bruce began to pickup the pace, thrusting into his mouth easily. Jonathan was already throbbing, and he hadn’t even been touched yet. Their eyes matched each others as they looked on in complete amazement at the situation.

“You’re so beautiful, and you look even better like that.” Bruce gave a final thrust before letting go of his hair.

Jonathan grinned at the sound of that, before slipping out of his pajama pants, and pulling his shirt over his head. “Be right back,” He said, making a quick dash towards the bathroom. He was back in seconds, with a bottle of lube. Crane had been better prepared tonight. He began smearing the oil over his own fingers as he bent down, slipping a couple of fingers into himself.

Crane breathed deeply, forcing his body to relax as he slipped the fingers in as deeply as he could before wrapping his lips around Bruce’s cock again. He moaned softly as he continued to finger fuck himself, opening his body up more and more as he licked and tasted the sweat and precum dripping from his cock.

“Oh now that’s a show,” Bruce said with a groan.

Crane smirked again, slipping another finger inside. He loved putting on a show. He felt his body start to relax and open up, with each thrust. His fingers brushed against his prostate, and he shuddered before planting a final kiss on the tip of Bruce’s cock.

He reached forward smearing his length with a healthy amount of lube, before they locked eyes. Without another word, Jonathan closed the distance between them, pressing his lips against Bruce's in a passionate kiss before slowly guiding him in. Jonathan let out a low moan as he nestled himself down onto his length.

Jonathan gasped as he sank down, feeling Bruce fill him completely. He paused for a moment, adjusting to the sensation, his hands resting on Bruce's broad chest for support. Bruce's hands found Jonathan's hips, steadying him, his thumbs tracing small circles on Jonathan's skin.

"You okay?" Bruce asked, his voice low and husky.

Jonathan nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "More than okay," he breathed, before slowly beginning to move.

He started with a gentle rhythm, rising and falling on Bruce's length, savoring every sensation. Bruce's hands on his hips guided him, encouraging him to go deeper, faster. Jonathan obliged, picking up the pace, his breath coming in short gasps as pleasure coursed through his body.

Bruce watched Jonathan move above him, mesmerized by the sight. The way Jonathan's head tilted back, his eyes closed and lips parted. He loved watching his scrawny frame rise and fall with every movement. The room filled with their shared gasps and moans as Jonathan gradually picked up the pace. Bruce met each of Jonathan's movements with careful thrusts, with careful thrusts, mindful of his injury but unable to resist the pleasure building between them. Crane’s cock was practically dripping with every thrust. Bruce couldn’t help but reach forward and wrap his fingers around it, milking him in every grasp. Crane’s eyes opened with a groan, as a smile graced his lips.

Jonathan didn’t know how much more he could take. He was getting close, and each thrust threatened to bring him closer over the edge. It didn’t help that Bruce was practically milking him either. He could feel every movement push against his prostate and he was already seeing stars. He looked down at the sight below him, Bruce’s eyes closed covered in dried blood and sweat. He had always thought Bruce Wayne was handsome, but seeing him in this light was breathtaking.

Suddenly he felt Bruce’s cock slam against his prostate and he felt his whole body tense up. He began moving his hips even faster, just as he felt a pair of strong arms wrap around his waist. Bruce began pounding into him from below, and he could tell he was on the edge as well. Jonathan reached forward, resting his hands on his chest as his whole body began to shudder. It took all his will power not to scream out loud, as spurt after spurt glazed Bruce’s stomach. Bruce grabbed a hold of his hips tight enough to leave bruises as he pulled him down in one final thrust. He groaned loudly, filling him up with a few slow final thrusts.

Jonathan’s head rolled back and both of their bodies were slick with sweat. He looked down seeing the puddle he made on Bruce’s chest and laughed. Gotham’s golden boy looked beautiful covered in his cum, perfectly debauched. “I think I like seeing you this way,” Crane said, swiping his finger through the puddle.

A rich chuckle poured from Bruce’s lips as well. “I could say the same about you.”

Jonathan couldn’t help but blush, as he leaned forward claiming his lips once again. He kissed him softly, enjoying every moment before finally pulling away. His body was spent and he was already beginning to ache. He could tell that Bruce ached as well, although in a different kind of way. The bruises from tonight’s vigilante work were already darkening, and that wound on his chest had been very deep. It would take a while to heal, but that was okay. Crane intended on kissing him everywhere he was sore.

“Thank you Bruce,” He said, planting a peck on his lips. “Now it's late, and I think you have had enough crime fighting tonight. That and there is no way your body could take anymore,” He said tracing the stab wound.
“You know you’re going to have to be more careful. We can’t have something happen to Gotham’s knight or its precious billionaire golden boy. Not when I am having so much fun with him,” He said, sliding off his body.

“Let’s get you to bed, before you pass out on me.”

Chapter Text

Jonathan stirred awake, the early morning light filtering through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. He blinked a few times, adjusting to the brightness, before realizing the warmth beside him. Bruce was still there, his arm draped loosely over Jonathan’s waist, their legs tangled together beneath the sheets. The calm, steady rhythm of Bruce’s breathing was almost hypnotic, and for a moment, Jonathan allowed himself to simply feel the closeness, the softness of the moment, the way Bruce's body seemed to fit perfectly against his.

Jonathan smiled, taking a long look at Bruce’s still sleeping face. Who would have thought he’d be sharing such a vulnerable moment with the Bat. He smiled softly before leaning in, letting himself melt in the warmth. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually been held, he kept most people at arms’ length, even his past lovers had been that way. He’d spent much of his life cut off from these simple touches, and now he couldn’t get enough of them. He slipped his arms up Bruce’s, his fingers grazing over each of his thick muscles. He nestled his head in the crook of his neck, his lips just a hair away from Bruce’s neck.

"Morning," Bruce murmured, his voice still rough from sleep.

Jonathan couldn't help the grin that still tugged at his lips. “Morning,” he replied, leaning down to press a soft kiss to Bruce’s lips. It wasn’t like their heated, desperate kisses from the night before. This was gentle, sweet, almost tender, a kind of intimacy Jonathan wasn’t used to, but found himself craving.

They kissed again, slower this time, lips brushing softly, savoring the quiet moments between them. Jonathan felt Bruce’s hand slide up his back, fingers tracing lazy circles against his skin, and it sent a warmth through him that he didn’t want to end.

Just then, across the room, came a soft chirping sound followed by a series of small, gurgling baby noises that made Jonathan chuckle softly.

"Looks like someone's awake," Jonathan said, pulling away reluctantly, though there was still a playful glint in his eyes. He sat up, stretching slightly before climbing out of bed.

Bruce propped himself up on one elbow, his eyes following Jonathan as he crossed the room. They had both put on a set of Pj’s before going to bed, thankfully. Ruby was standing up in her crib, babbling as she held onto her stuffed goose. “Good morning little bird,” Crane said, scooping her up, and planting a kiss on her nose.

Bruce watched him with a kind of quiet fascination, the way Jonathan moved through the domestic motions so effortlessly. It was a side of him Bruce had never imagined, and the gentleness was surprising. This side of Jonathan Crane was brand new to him, but he found himself desperately longing to know and understand him more.

"Look who’s up," Jonathan said softly, his voice filled with affection. It was almost disarming, how easily Jonathan slipped into the role of loving, attentive father. Bruce locked eyes with Ruby for the first time and he felt his heart melt. The baby girl’s bright eyes were wide and curious, her little fists waving about excitedly as she made soft cooing noises.

Bruce sat up fully now. He let out a groan as the gash on his neck tightened, it was going to be weeks before that healed. His mind immediately went away, focusing on the eyes softening as he looked at Ruby. She was the sweetest thing, he watched her tiny hands reach out towards Crane and the smile that spread across her little face when she saw him. Bruce felt his heart tighten in a way he wasn’t expecting.

Jonathan moved closer, adjusting the girl in his arms. “Ruby, this is Bruce,” he said, his voice low and soothing. “Say hi.”

Ruby’s eyes widened as she looked at Bruce, her arms flailing about as if she was trying to wave. She made a few happy, chirping sounds, clearly fascinated by the new face in front of her.

Bruce couldn’t help but smile, the sight of Ruby’s joyful little expression tugging at something deep inside him. He reached out, scruffing the top of her head in a gentle pat.

“She’s beautiful,” Bruce said with a smile. “You’re doing an amazing job.”

Jonathan smiled down at Ruby, then at Bruce. “She is, and I am” he agreed, and there was a quiet pride in his voice. “I adore her. Who knew I was so good at parenting,” He said with a grin.

Bruce’s heart swelled, watching the way Jonathan interacted with Ruby. There was a domesticity to it, a warmth that Bruce found himself drawn to in a way he hadn’t expected. He had always been the loner, the one who kept his distance from any semblance of a normal life, but seeing Jonathan like this soft, open, caring. It stirred something inside him.

For a brief moment, Bruce imagined what it might be like to be a part of this little family. To come home to this. To Jonathan and Ruby, to the quiet mornings and shared moments of intimacy. It was strange, the pull he felt, but he couldn’t deny how alluring it was.

Then there was the reality of it. He had obligations. The life of Bruce Wayne and as Batman was far from simplistic. He had a city to protect and as much as he longed for something simpler, he doubted that was even possible. His eyes looked over at Crane, the ghost of a smile on his lips. Still, he supposed he could enjoy these moments when he could, and there was no reason he couldn’t at least try and balance it all. He looked out the window, already seeing the sun up. He knew that Alfred was likely worried that he hadn’t come home last night, and he had a morning filled with meetings at Wayne Tower.

“I have to go soon,” Bruce said reluctantly, though his gaze lingered on Jonathan, and then on Ruby, who was happily bouncing in his arms.

Jonathan’s smile faltered just a bit, but he nodded in understanding. “Sure thing Bruce,” he said, though there was a hint of disappointment in his voice. “I know you’re very busy. Businesses to run, worlds to save.”
“But, if you get some free time, we’ll be right here,” Jonathan said, kissing her nose. “Yes, we will won't we.”

Bruce stood, pulling back the sheets, but his mind was already wandering back to the idea of staying. Of giving in to this temptation of something more. He leaned in, pressing one last kiss to Jonathan’s lips, soft and lingering.
“I’ll be back before you know it,” Bruce promised, his voice low.

Jonathan’s heart skipped a beat at those words, and though he hated to admit it, he found himself hoping. “I’ll hold you to that,” he said, his voice softer now, a hint of vulnerability slipping through.

As Bruce made his way out the door, Jonathan stood there with Ruby in his arms, watching him go. Then he smelt a whiff of something in the air. Ruby let out a little grunt, before shooting him a grin. “Oh you are nasty,” he said with a laugh. “Time to change you.”

Jonathan wrapped her in a clean diaper, and a fresh outfit, booping the tip of her nose before lifting her up. He realized that Bruce might need to borrow some clothes, remembering the bloodied batsuit still lying in his bathroom.
“Hey, do you need to borrow some clothes,” He called out, exiting his bedroom. He came out just in time to see his patio door slide shut, followed by a familiar black flash. He wondered if he would ever get used to that.

**

After Bruce had left that morning, Jonathan couldn’t help but feel a pang of longing in his chest. He knew Bruce had responsibilities, a business to run, a city to protect but it didn’t change the fact that he already missed him. He replayed their night together in his mind, the warmth of Bruce’s arms wrapped around him, the tenderness in his kiss, and the promise that lingered in the air. Bruce had said he wanted to get to know him, and Jonathan found himself hoping that maybe, just maybe, this could be the start of something more between them.

He smiled at the thought as he went about his day, a lightness in his step that hadn’t been there in years. He was in a good mood, something that didn’t come easily to him and it showed. Even Ruby seemed to notice. She was sitting in her high chair, her little face lit up with joy as she made happy gurgles, her chubby hands slapping the tray in front of her.

“Day, di, da!” she babbled, her bright eyes focused on Jonathan.

Jonathan felt his heart swell as he moved around the kitchen, preparing her lunch. He turned to her, a gentle smile on his face. “That’s right, Ruby. Can you say ‘dada’?” he encouraged, his voice soft and filled with affection. “Come on, you can do it.”

Ruby responded with more happy gurgles, and Jonathan chuckled, shaking his head. “Close enough,” he said, turning back to the stove. He was just finishing up. He had already cleaned all the blood off his kitchen floors earlier this morning, and the house was looking surprisingly clean even with Ruby flinging stuff everywhere. He finished scoping some tomato soup and grilled cheese strips into a bowl for her, sticking a finger in the side to check the temp.

Suddenly, the front door rattled violently, the sound of splintering wood echoing through the apartment. Jonathan’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly grabbed the nearest kitchen knife, his body tensing. He turned to face the door, ready to defend himself and Ruby.

The door burst open, and Jonathan’s eyes widened in shock as the Joker walked in, his men flanking him on either side. The clown’s twisted grin stretched across his face, his eyes glinting with malicious amusement.
“Well, well, well,” Joker drawled, his voice dripping with a sinister glee. “The scarecrow’s playing house! I just had to see this for myself.”

Jonathan’s grip tightened on the knife, his eyes narrowing. “Get out,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

Joker’s grin only widened, and he cackled, the sound high-pitched and grating. “Oh, Jonny, don’t be like that,” he said, taking a step closer. “We’re just here to have a little fun.”

Jonathan didn’t wait for Joker to make the first move. He lunged at the nearest henchman, slashing at him with the knife. The man cried out in pain, blood spilling from the wound, but before Jonathan could do anything else, another one of Joker’s thugs tackled him from behind.

Jonathan struggled, fighting against the men as they overpowered him, their hands grabbing at his arms and knocking the knife from his grip. He managed to injure one of them, but it wasn’t enough. They were too many, too strong. He cried out in frustration as he found himself being forced to the ground, an immense weight on top of him.

Jonathan’s heart pounded in his chest as he looked up, his eyes darting to Ruby. She was crying now, her face scrunched up in fear as Joker approached her high chair.

“No!” Jonathan shouted, his voice desperate as he tried to free himself. “Leave her alone!”

Joker ignored him, his grin never faltering as he reached down and picked Ruby up, cradling her in his arms. “Aw, look at this precious little thing,” Joker cooed, his voice dripping with mock affection. “Did you really think, you of all people would make a decent father HA! That’s the best joke yet.”

Jonathan’s heart shattered as he watched Ruby cry, her tiny hands reaching out for him. He tried to move, to get to her, but the henchmen held him down, their grips like iron.

“Don’t worry, Jonny,” Joker said, turning to face him, his smile twisting into something more sinister. “I’m doing you a favor. You’re not cut out for this, I’m sure you’ll thank me later.” He looked down at Ruby, his expression softening in a grotesque parody of affection. “We’ll take good care of her, won’t we, boys?”

Ruby’s cries grew louder, and Jonathan’s vision blurred with tears. “Please,” he begged, his voice breaking. “Don’t take her…”

Joker’s grin widened, and he shook his head. “Oh, Jonny, I really thought you’d see it my way.” He turned to his men, his voice cold and commanding. “Knock some sense into him.”

Jonathan tried one last time to pull himself free from their grasp. His arm flew out trying desperately to reach the knife, it was just an arms length away. Suddenly, a boot came slamming down on his arm, and he felt white hot pain shoot through his wrist followed by a sickening crack. Pain shot through his arm, but it was drowned out by Ruby’s terrified wails.

His eyes locked with hers, as he watched the Joker carry her further and further away. Tears were streaming down her face, and her fists were outstretched towards him. He lunged forward, trying anything to get free. One of Joker's men raised a crowbar, before bringing it down with an arch. He felt the blow collide with the back of his head, and he heard a loud crunch as his vision went dark.

**

Jonathan groaned as consciousness slowly returned to him, a dull, relentless throb echoing in his head. He blinked, trying to clear his blurry vision, and realized someone was shaking him.
"Crane!!" Ivy's voice was urgent, filled with worry. "Wake up, come on damn you!"

He blinked again, his vision slowly coming into focus. Ivy's pale green face swam into view, her red hair falling around her shoulders. She looked scared, her eyes wide, and that wasn't something Jonathan was used to seeing. He struggled to sit up, his arm protesting with sharp bursts of pain. His head throbbed and his vision blurred as he tried to look at the clock on the wall. He reached towards the back of his head and he felt wet, bloody hair immediately. His fingers felt hot and sticky and a wave of nausea washed over him.

He looked around, his gaze landing on Ruby's high chair, lying on its side. The sight brought everything rushing back, the Joker, his men, Ruby's cries. Jonathan's heart clenched, and he let out a strangled sound, panic welling up inside him.

"Ruby…" he croaked, his throat dry. "They took Ruby…"

Ivy nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line. "They took Harley too," she said, her voice tight. "She was home alone when it happened. It’s that bastard ex of hers."

Jonathan closed his eyes, trying to steady his breathing. He forced himself to stand, his vision spinning. Ivy steadied him, her hand on his arm. "Hey slow it down, you’re clearly concussed," she said, her voice softening.
Jonathan shook his head, wincing at the pain the movement caused. "I can't just sit here. I have to save her. " he said, his voice trembling.

Ivy's eyes softened, and she nodded. "I get it, but take it easy okay? You can’t do anything if you black out again.”

Crane didn’t have time to argue with her. Ruby was in danger, and every second mattered. His heart ached as he imagined a hundred horrible possibilities. Still Ivy was right, he wasn’t going to be able to rescue anyone on his own.

“What’s your plan then,” He asked plainly.

Ivy’s eyes narrowed, her voice hardening. “"I'm going after Harley. I'm going to find that clown and skin him alive."

Jonathan managed a weak smile at that. "Good," he said. He took a deep breath, before grabbing his stash of fear gas and weapons as quickly as he could. He grabbed what he could, strapping a respirator around his neck not bothering with the mask this time.

He turned back to Ivy, his eyes determined. "I'm coming with you," he said.

Ivy frowned, looking at his broken wrist and the blood dripping down the back of his neck. “Jonathan, you're in no condition.."

"I don't care," Jonathan snapped, his voice harsh. "She needs me and I'm going after her."

Ivy sighed but nodded. "Fine," she said. She led him outside, to her car.

Jonathan's eyebrows shot up when he saw the vehicle—a bright green minivan with "Shirley’s Flower Shop" painted on the side. Despite everything, a laugh bubbled up in his chest, and he shook his head. "Are you serious?" he asked, his voice incredulous.

Ivy gave him a dry look as she opened the passenger door for him. "You want a ride or not, Crane?" she asked, her tone teasing.

Jonathan climbed in, biting back a groan as he moved. His wrist throbbed, and he was pretty sure it was broken. Despite the van he was beyond happy that Ivy was here. There was no telling how long it would have taken him to wake up without her. He was also thankful to have the help. He knew that going after the Joker on his own, and in his current state was nothing short of a suicide mission. While he would gladly throw himself into that kind of danger, he knew he wouldn’t make it on his own. In fact, he doubted that they would fare well just the two of them. He was badly concussed, and there was no telling how many men the Joker had at his disposal. They were going to need as much help as they could get, and only one thought came to mind.

He looked at Ivy, his expression serious. "We need to make a stop on the way," he said.

Ivy frowned, glancing at him as she got behind the wheel. "Where?" she asked.

"Wayne Manor," Jonathan said.

Chapter Text

The drive to Wayne Manor felt like an eternity. Each passing streetlight sent stabbing pain through Jonathan's head, the brightness cutting into his vision like a thousand tiny needles. His eyes squinted reflexively, his head pounding with every flicker of blurred light, and his stomach churned from the disorienting dizziness that settled over him like a heavy fog. Ivy kept glancing at him, her worry evident in her expression.

"You look like hell," she muttered, her voice softer than usual.

"Thanks for the compliment," Jonathan replied, though his voice sounded weak even to his own ears. He could barely keep his eyes open against the assault of headlights, and the dizziness made it difficult to focus. But none of it mattered. Not when Ruby was in danger.

“Are you sure you’re up for this? I won’t exactly be in the position to be playing doctor,” Ivy asked, her voice a mix of worry and irritation.

Jonathan nodded slowly, though it made the dizziness worse. "I’ll have to be.”

As they finally turned into the driveway, Wayne Manor loomed ahead of them, an enormous, gothic structure rising against the darkened sky. The mansion was framed by tall, twisted trees, their branches swaying gently in the night breeze. A cobblestone drive led up to the grand entryway, lit by soft, ambient lights that cast eerie, elongated shadows along the stonework.

The manor itself was an imposing testament to old wealth. Its stone façade was intricately carved, and tall windows stared out into the world like dark, unfathomable eyes. The roof sloped steeply with high gables, while the main entrance boasted a pair of massive wooden doors that seemed almost too grand to touch. Ivy couldn't help but let out a small whistle of amazement as they pulled up near the entrance. Jonathan shared her amazement. He had heard stories of Wayne Manor, but seeing it in person was something else entirely.

As they pulled up to Wayne Manor, the gravel crunching beneath the van's tires, Ivy put the van in park and glanced at him again, clearly still worried. Jonathan ignored her concern, forcing himself out of the vehicle, though his legs wobbled as he found his footing.

As if on cue, the front door opened and an older gentleman dressed in a plain black suit and a tie stepped outside. His gray hair was neatly combed back, and there was an air of elegance about him. However his face immediately stiffened when he saw them, and he almost jumped back losing all of his previous composure. Jonathan had never met this man in his life, but he seemed to recognize him and Ivy instantly.

"You two are trespassing on private property. I suggest you leave before I call the authorities,” Alfred stated, his voice firm, despite his surprise.

Ivy’s posture immediately shifted defensively, her eyes narrowing as she took a step closer to the man. Jonathan suddenly heard the rustle of leaves, as the rose bushes closest to the front door seemed to pop up with a new life. The butler, Crane assumed, took a step back, his hands reaching for something he had hidden underneath his jacket. Could it be a gun? Would Bruce’s butler seriously be packing?

“I suggest you both turn around and leave. Now! This is my final warning,” the butler bellowed, his demeanor shifting to one of wary defensiveness.

The tension in the air grew palpable, and Ivy's eyes flashed with anger. She flicked her hand almost imperceptibly, and immediately the rose bushes lining the front door began to shift and sway, their thorny vines growing and coiling like serpents. "Excuse me, but I think you might want to rethink your tone," Ivy said coldly, her voice laced with venom. The vines began to inch toward Alfred, their thorns glinting menacingly in the fading light.
This situation was quickly getting out of hand, and it was only a matter of time until one of them was shot or strangled by plants. Jonathan forced himself to move despite the dizziness that pounded in his head. He took a step between Ivy and the butler, holding his hands up defensively.

“Hey woah, let’s all just relax here,” he said, his voice urgent. “We don’t mean you any harm, right Ivy.” He turned and looked at her, his eyes pleading.

Ivy hesitated, her gaze still fixed on Alfred. Then suddenly, the vines slowly retracted, sinking back into the rose bushes as if they had never moved. She let out an exasperated sigh, lowering her hand. "Fine, but he better stop acting so high and mighty.”

“Ivy, we don’t have time for this. Look, um whatever your name is,” Jonathan said softly, still trying to defuse the situation.

“We didn’t come to hurt anyone, we just need to see Bruce.”

Alfred's eyes hardened, and he made no move to step aside. "Master Wayne is unavailable. And even if he were, I doubt he'd want anything to do with the likes of you two." His voice was steady, but there was an undercurrent of tension, his eyes flickering towards them both.

Jonathan was getting annoyed with this as well. Ruby was in danger, he didn’t have time to sit and argue with Bruce’s butler.

“Alright, listen to me,” he said, raising his voice.

"We don't have time to argue. My daughter’s life is in danger. I know Bruce’s little secret, and we aren’t going anywhere until you get him.” Ivy suddenly shot Crane an incredulous look, trying to wrap her mind around what he just said.

Alfred's expression didn't soften, but there was a flicker of something, hesitation, perhaps. Still, he shook his head. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said, his tone guarded.

Jonathan let out a frustrated breath, trying to keep his temper in check despite the pounding in his head. “Enough, she could die. Now please just take us to him.” Tears began to slide down his cheeks, just at the thought of what could be happening to her.

For a moment, there was silence. Alfred's eyes scanned Jonathan's face, searching for any sign of deceit. The butler’s gaze then flicked to Ivy, who was watching Jonathan with an unusual mix of concern.
Finally, Alfred let out a slow breath, the tension in his shoulders easing just slightly. He slid his hand away from his jacket, before giving a reluctant nod.

"Very well," he said. "Follow me."

**

Bruce was busy leaning over the newest model of his suit, his eyes inspecting it for any sign of weakness. He had just finished changing the bandage on his knife wound, and he wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice. He was currently dressed in a black t-shirt, and a pair of gray sweatpants, his muscles showing clearly beneath the fabric. The air was quiet except for the sounds of dripping water and the faint flutter of bats. The cavernous space echoed around him and the natural rock walls stretched high into the shadows above.

The suit was laid out across a reinforced metal table, bathed in the cool glow of overhead lights. According to Lucius, this new suit offered several key improvements meant to address the areas of previous vulnerability. The armor plating was sleeker, more compact than previous versions, yet it was still incredibly formidable. The new suit featured a mesh of lightweight titanium-dipped tri-weave fibers, seamlessly combined with Kevlar reinforcement. Most importantly, it had an additional layer of interlocking armor plates beneath the surface. Plates designed to distribute the impact of a knife or bullet across a larger area, greatly reducing the chance of penetration.

As Bruce inspected the suit, his mind drifted to the recent close call. He was beyond grateful to Jonathan for patching him up, and his mind drifted to him as well. All day long today he found his mind wandering back to him. It was an unexpected, yet undeniable reality. Bruce missed him already. He missed the warmth of waking up next to him, missed the way he looked at him with those piercing blue eyes. For the first time in a long while, Bruce found himself wanting something more, something normal. He thought of him and Ruby, and found himself imagining spending every day with them. It made him wonder if there could be a place in his life for that kind of happiness.

Suddenly, the sound of a news broadcast grabbed his attention. His eyes flashed to the large computer screens, displaying different feeds of Gotham’s CCTV network as well as several news broadcasts. The headline running across the bottom suddenly caught his eye: "Amusement Mile Park Closes Amid Bankruptcy Scandal."

The screen showed live footage of Amusement Mile, an old, run-down amusement park on the edge of Gotham. It was notorious for its shady past and questionable safety. Brightly colored rides, once bustling with children and families, now stood still, their faded paint chipped and rusted, casting eerie shadows in the waning sunlight. Bruce couldn’t describe it, but there was just something off about seeing that place, and he immediately felt a prickle of suspicion.

Suddenly, Bruce heard the sounds of footsteps echoing across the cave, but he didn’t bother to look up from the screen. He was used to Alfred just popping in, usually to offer some wisdom or remind him to be careful.
Suddenly, he heard the sound of Alfred clearing his throat, a moment of hesitation in his voice. "Sir... it appears we have some unexpected guests."

Bruce turned from the screens, his eyes widening in surprise as he turned and saw Crane standing next to Poison Ivy. His heart clenched at the sight of Jonathan. He was clearly distressed and his eyes were red, and he looked to be in rough shape. Then Bruce’s gaze shifted to Ivy, and a pang of unease struck him. If he brought her here, then she had figured it out as well. His most kept secret, suddenly didn’t feel like a secret at all anymore.

Before Bruce could say anything, Jonathan's expression caught his attention. The look on Crane's face was one of pure worry, almost panic, and Bruce's anger melted into concern. Something was wrong, deeply wrong. Without a second thought, Jonathan ran towards him and Bruce instinctively wrapped his arms around him. He held Jonathan close, immediately noticing the dried blood and the gash on the back of his head. He scanned over the redness of his eyes, the unsteady way he moved, almost wobbling in his arms noting the signs of a concussion. Bruce wrapped a steady arm around him, before tilting his head to try and get a look at the gash.

Jonathan’s hand flung up, slapping him away. “Leave it, there’s no time. We have to go now. They took her, Bruce...Ruby’s been kidnapped!” His voice broke, and tears gathered at the corners of his eyes. The desperation in Jonathan's voice cut through Bruce like a knife.

Alfred stood to the side, his eyes wide, clearly struggling to process what he was witnessing. Ivy, too, seemed taken aback, her gaze flicking between Bruce and Jonathan, both trying to comprehend what was going on between them.

Bruce tightened his hold on Jonathan, “What happened? Who took her.”

Jonathan looked up at him, his face pale and anguished. "Joker and his men... they broke in, they took Ruby," he repeated, his voice cracking. "We have to go now, Bruce. We can't waste time."

Suddenly Ivy took a step forward and Bruce caught her eyes, still trying to understand her presence here. "They took Harley too," she said, her voice full of a mixture of anger and fear.

Jonathan looked up at him, his blue eyes as wide as dinner plates. Bruce nodded, understanding now why Jonathan had brought her. Surprisingly he was thankful that Ivy was here ,he was still recovering from last night’s stabbing and he could appreciate the backup. Having Ivy on his side in a situation like this could make all the difference.

Bruce placed a hand on Jonathan’s back, rubbing gentle circles as he spoke. "We’ll go after them, Jonathan. I promise you, I’ll get Ruby back."
He glanced over at Alfred. "Make up one of the guest rooms. He needs to rest."

Jonathan shook his head almost immediately, his eyes fierce. "What are you talking about? I'm going too."

“Like hell you are,” Bruce said firmly. He couldn’t risk something happening to Crane too.

“You can’t stop me Bruce, and don’t talk to me like I’m a child,” Jonathan suddenly snapped, pulling away from him.

Bruce sighed, the worry in his expression deepening. "Jonathan, you're in no shape to fight. If something happens to you…"

"No. She's my girl, and she needs me," Jonathan interrupted, his voice trembling but firm. "I'm not going to sit back and do nothing."

Bruce's hand moved to the back of Jonathan's head, brushing gently over the still-bleeding wound. His heart ached at the thought of Jonathan getting hurt any further but he understood, he would do the same if he was in his position. He knew better than to try to argue against him, still he hoped he would be able to talk some sense into him.

"You're really in no shape for this," he said softly. "If something happens, you need to think of Ruby."

Jonathan shook his head before giving him a small, almost defiant smirk. "Well I suppose you’ll just have to protect me, then."

Bruce looked at him, a mixture of exasperation and admiration in his eyes. Jonathan’s determination to protect the girl was unshakeable and while Bruce hated the idea of putting him in more danger, he knew that keeping Jonathan away was impossible. There was no way he’d stay behind, not with Ruby's life on the line.

Bruce pulled Jonathan closer, pressing his forehead against his. "Fine," he relented, his voice barely a whisper. "But you stay close to me. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“Sorry to interrupt you two love birds, but we don’t even know where he’s at,” Ivy said, crossing her arms, her voice edged with frustration.

Bruce nodded, thinking quickly. There had to be something, some clue that could help them track Joker down. His thoughts flashed to the recent broadcast he'd seen about Amusement Mile. The mention of its recent closure had seemed off. A nagging suspicion formed in his mind. He moved swiftly to the Batcomputer, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he brought up the footage of the amusement park. The giant screens flickered to life, displaying multiple camera angles of the dilapidated, darkened amusement park.

Bruce scrolled through the footage, his eyes narrowing as he zoomed in on different sections of the park. The flickering neon lights, the deserted rides, the crumbling attractions it all had an eerie stillness that seemed almost too perfect. He cycled between screens, analyzing every detail, hoping to spot anything that could lead them to Joker's location.

He paused, his gaze locking onto one of the screens showing the old Ferris wheel. There was something off, barely noticeable in the low light. He zoomed in, enhancing the image. A chill ran down his spine as he suddenly noticed a bright red smiley face painted on the ride. The next screen showed the same. Wide, maniacal faces adorned several of the attractions, the funhouse, even the bumper cars..
"There," Bruce said, his voice sharp with focus. He pointed at the screen, his eyes meeting Jonathan's and Ivy's.

Chapter Text

The office break room of the abandoned amusement park had been transformed into a living space for the Joker and his men. Mismatched furniture now cluttered the room, and the walls were covered in various posters all advertising the park during happier times. Joker was leaning back in one of the plastic chairs, his feet up on the table with a newspaper in hand. He appeared grotesquely comfortable, his pistol resting on the table within easy reach, its barrel pointed in the direction of Ruby’s high chair.

Ruby was strapped in a high chair on the opposite side of the table, as her small cries echoed through the space. Her wide eyes were filled with fear, glancing at the strange, threatening man across from her, and squirming for Harley to pick her up.

Behind her Harley was at the breakroom’s stove, stirring a pot of mac and cheese with her back tense and her eyes darting nervously to Ruby, then to Joker, then to the gun that lay on the table. Joker’s men were sprawled out in the small living space, lounging on mismatched chairs and benches they’d dragged in from elsewhere in the park. Their weapons lay strewn about the room, but just in reach. They were gathered around a flickering television blasting some old reruns of cartoons at a volume far too loud for the cramped space. The sound of manic, exaggerated laughter from the TV blended unnervingly with Joker's own sinister cackling.

Joker let out a maniacal laugh, slapping his hand on the armrest of the chair. He gestured around the dimly lit room. "Ain't this just the life Harls? The family life you always wished for?" His voice was dripping with a twisted cheerfulness.

Harley took a deep breath to steady herself. “Sure it is puddin’. It’s just perfect,” Her eyes darted towards Ruby again.

“You know I never considered myself much of a family man. But look at you Harley, you’ve changed me.” He said leaning forward, a wide grin plastered on his face. “If this is what my girl wants, then this is what she’ll get!”

The only thing Harley wanted was to get Ruby and get the hell out of there. She watched another tear slide down the baby’s cheek, as she squirmed for her to pick her up. She wanted to snatch her up then, but one look at the gun on the table stopped her in her tracks. Whatever twisted fantasy this was, she would have to play along.

“There’s nothing I could ever want more,” Harley said with a soft laugh, her mask slipping back into place.

Harley began carefully ladling his food into a bowl before slowly stepping over to Joker. She placed it in front of him, her hands trembling slightly. Joker’s eyes narrowed, and he grabbed her by the arm, pulling her closer.
"Yeah and how about some sugar for your puddin?" Joker's grin stretched across his painted face, his eyes glinting with danger.

Harley forced another smile, before leaning in and pressing a quick kiss against his lips. As their lips touched, Harley felt bile in her stomach and a wave of disgust. She couldn’t believe she ever actually enjoyed being with this creep. As she moved to pull away, he suddenly grabbed onto her arm keeping her close for a moment longer.

Harley’s eyes widened as they met his, and she fought the urge to pull away. She could feel him studying her with every gaze, searching for any sign of weakness.

"Oh! Mistah J," she said, forcing another smile, though her eyes were full of fear and doubt.

Joker let out a chuckle, releasing her with a sudden, sharp jerk that sent her stumbling back. He watched as she steadied herself, amusement dancing in his gaze. "Oh Harls, it's so good to have you back. I missed my little lady," he crooned, his voice dripping with condescension.

Harley stood up straight, trying to keep her composure. "I missed you too Puddin'." She forced a giggle, trying to keep up the facade. Another wail poured from Ruby’s lips, and the girl's cries were quickly starting to drown them out.

Joker leaned back, a smirk playing on his lips. "There’s my Harley,” He said with a final laugh.

“Now you better hurry up, the baby’s crying.”

**
The Batmobile roared to life as Batman took the wheel, the sleek black vehicle surging forward with a powerful hum. Inside, it was a tight squeeze. Ivy had been the last to climb in, and with the narrow confines of the front seat, she had to wedge herself against the door, Crane awkwardly settling onto her lap.

“Unbelievable,” Ivy grumbled, rolling her eyes as she tried to make herself comfortable. She shot a glare toward Crane, who looked more embarrassed than anything. “I’m not a chair, you know.”

Jonathan gave her a sheepish look, shifting slightly in a futile attempt to make it more bearable. “You think I want this?” he muttered, trying to avoid eye contact. It wasn’t exactly dignified, but they didn’t have time for anything else.

Bruce remained silent, focused on the road ahead as they sped off into the night. The Batmobile weaved through the streets of Gotham, its speed relentless, with each twist and turn taken at breakneck velocity. Crane could feel the pressure building in his head, the lights from passing street lamps blurring together, making his dizziness worse. He closed his eyes, trying to keep the nausea at bay, but it only made him feel more disoriented.

His breathing became shallow, and he felt Ivy's arm wrap around him to keep him steady. Bruce glanced to the side, taking in Jonathan’s pale face. He could see that he was struggling, and he reached over, his gloved hand resting gently on his shoulder.

“Breathe, Jonathan,” Bruce said, his voice calm despite the urgency of the situation. “Focus on my voice. We’re almost there.”

Crane nodded, trying to do as Bruce said. He took a deep breath, focusing on the feeling of Bruce’s hand on his shoulder, the grounding presence that made him feel just a little bit safer. Ivy muttered something under her breath about the lack of space, but she kept her arm securely around Crane, offering support in her own way.

The Batmobile raced toward Amusement Mile, and soon, the towering silhouette of the abandoned amusement park came into view. The twisted shapes of roller coasters and a large Ferris wheel looming against the night sky. Batman pulled the Batmobile to a stop, parking just far enough from the entrance to keep them hidden.

“We’re here,” Bruce said, retracting his hand from Jonathan and turning his attention back to the mission. He glanced at Ivy and Crane. “Stay close, and keep quiet. We need to move fast.”

Jonathan took a shaky breath and nodded, feeling Ivy’s arm move as she nudged him, prompting him to climb off her lap. As they all got out of the Batmobile, Jonathan steadied himself, his head pounding, but his determination unwavering.

Batman led the way, moving swiftly but silently through the shadows, Ivy and Crane close behind. The sun had already set as they crept through the darkened alley just outside the gates. The once-bright carnival lights were long dead, leaving the theme park in a perpetual state of shadowy ruin. Bruce took the lead, his cowl blending seamlessly with the darkness, while Jonathan and Ivy followed close behind, their footsteps muffled by the overgrown grass and cracked concrete beneath their feet.

“We’re almost in,” Batman whispered, his voice barely audible. He raised his gloved hand, signaling them to stay low. Ivy and Crane followed his lead, ducking low and following just behind the bat as they moved forward. As they approached the gates, they suddenly stopped in their trail spotting Joker's men standing guard. This was a small group of them, but Bruce knew there would be more once they got inside.

“They're close, keep quiet” Bruce whispered, his eyes narrowing. His body tensed, ready to spring into action, as he saw the moonlight reflecting off of their guns. Batman was already preparing to move. They could hear the guards footsteps crunching on the gravel, their casual banter masking the real threat they posed. Bruce’s instincts kicked in. He moved low, his steps silent as he prepared to slip behind the guards and take them out, one by one. Before he could make his move, Ivy stepped forward, her lips curling into a sly smile.

“Wait,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, but dripping with confidence.

The guards, oblivious to the danger lurking behind them, walked by one of the few trees that still stood, its gnarled branches twisted and ancient. Ivy's eyes glinted, suddenly flashing a neon green as she raised her hand. Bruce paused, watching her carefully.

Suddenly, the ground beneath the guards rustled as thick vines, hidden within the shadows of the tree’s roots, shot up and ensnared them. The men barely had time to react, their eyes going wide as the vines wrapped around their legs and torsos. Their weapons clattered to the ground as the vines tightened, pulling them up into the tree’s branches like prey caught in a spider’s web. They struggled for a moment, but the vines silenced them swiftly, choking out their panicked grunts with a few sickening cracks.

Just like that, the park fell into eerie silence once again, the only movement being the swaying of the branches as the men were swallowed by the canopy.

Bruce, still in a crouch, looked up at their unconscious bodies, then over at Ivy, who stood there looking smug. He shook his head slightly, his lips curving into a rare, faint smirk. “We should’ve teamed up sooner,” he muttered under his breath.

Ivy shrugged playfully as she walked past the tree’s, letting her fingers graze lovingly against the bark. “Just as long as you don’t leave all the work up to me,” she teased,

Bruce stood, his usual serious expression returning as he signaled them forward. “Let’s keep moving. You two stay close”

With the guards dealt with, the trio pressed on, slipping past the rusted metal gates and into the park. As they entered the park, it was hard to imagine that this place had ever been cheerful. The air smelled of damp metal, and you could smell the wood slowly rotting. Everywhere they looked, the grinning faces of cartoon mascots stared back at them from crumbling walls and faded attraction signs, their eyes wide and manic. The paint was chipped and peeling, but someone had added their own touch. A smeared red smile had been freshly painted over every face, giving them a grotesque, mocking expression that made the mascots seem more like demons than cartoon characters.

The night was thick with silence, broken only by the scuff of their footsteps as Bruce, Ivy, and Jonathan made their way deeper into the park. Bruce was at the front, moving with his usual precision, his cape blending into the shadows. His eyes were sharp, scanning every corner, every flicker of movement. He knew there would be more of Joker’s men, and they would have to be careful to avoid being spotted.
Without a word, he gestured to Ivy and Jonathan, signaling them to follow as they slipped behind a row of already broken down carnival booths.

As they turned a corner, Bruce suddenly spotted two more of Joker’s thugs. He listened to their chatter as they lazily patrolled the area, their automatic rifles slung over their shoulders. They were clearly expecting no one. Then just as suddenly as they appeared, Batman disappeared into the shadows, moving like a wraith. Before the guards even realized he was there, the Bat struck. His fist connected with the first guard’s temple in one fluid motion, dropping him instantly. The second guard turned, but he never got the chance to raise his weapon as a gloved hand shot out, delivering a swift blow to the man’s neck, rendering him unconscious.

Both men hit the ground with barely a sound.

Jonathan and Ivy watched as Bruce dragged the bodies into the shadows, hiding them among the debris. Jonathan was still amazed by how quickly and silently Bruce was able to attack, seemingly disappearing and reappearing in an instant. Between him and Ivy, they actually seemed to stand a chance so far, which was lucky because he truthfully was in bad shape.

“Lets keep going,” Bruce said, reappearing from the shadows.

They continued to press on, slipping past the silent game booths, and abandoned food stalls. They moved swiftly, staying low as they crept past. Bruce’s sharp eyes scanned every corner, every flicker of movement, but the derelict park seemed utterly lifeless. Only the sound of creaking rides and the distant whip of sagging banners flapping lazily in the wind. They crossed behind another stall, seeing the rollercoasters in the distance when suddenly it happened.

A quiet click echoed from above, followed by a sudden flash.

Bruce stopped dead, every muscle in his body tensing as a small, mechanical whir sounded. Above them, high on a rusted lamp post, a camera whirred, its lens turning directly toward them. It had been perfectly hidden behind a blind spot, and now that they had seen it it was too late.

Bruce's heart sank as the camera captured their image. He reacted instantly, throwing a Batarang with precise force. It hit the camera dead-on, shattering it into pieces, but the damage was done.

Suddenly, a burst of static crackled from the nearest loudspeaker. Then, with a grinding hum, the park’s lights flickered on, casting everything in a sickly, pale glow. The once silent rides began to churn to life, their gears screeching in protest. The Ferris wheel, barely functional, began to turn, its cabins swaying precariously. The sound of distorted carnival music blasted from the loudspeakers, filling the park with a jarring and twisted melody.
Then came a voice unmistakable and cruel.

“Ahh, I see the guests have arrived!” The Joker’s cackle echoed over the intercom. “Welcome to our grand reopening! I promise, tonight will be one for the books! Lots of fun in store. Just you wait!” His last words hung in the air, laced with venom before a thunder of manic laughter filled the space.

Chapter Text

For a moment there was a brief, tense pause between Bruce, Ivy, and Crane. The three looked up at the loudspeaker, before locking eyes with each other. They were all aware of the sudden danger all around them, and the threat that hung in the air. Of course the Joker would be expecting them, the clown was always two steps ahead. Suddenly, they heard the sound of distant boots on asphalt, before the silence was broken.

Joker’s men swarmed in from every direction as if on cue. Each had their guns raised in the air, and suddenly the trio was surrounded. Immediately automatic weapons roared to life, bullets ripping through the air and splintering the stalls around them. Rounds ricocheted off the rusted signs, kicking up sparks and sending shards of shattered wood flying.

Bruce reacted first, his hand flying to his belt. He tossed a smoke bomb at their feet, and it burst with a sharp hiss. A thick cloud of gray smoke erupted, swallowing them whole but hiding them from view.

“Run!” Bruce shouted over the chaos, his voice sharp and commanding.

Crane stumbled forward, the smoke burning in his throat and making him cough violently. Fumbling with trembling hands he slid his respirator into place just as a spray of bullets whizzed past, splintering the stall beside him. He dropped to his knees, ducking low as the wood exploded above his head.

Jonathan pushed himself forward through the suffocating fog. His head pounded with every step, but he couldn’t stop, he had to get to Ruby. He staggered behind a crumbling game stall, pressing himself against the warped wood just in time. Crane pressed himself into the shadows, inching along the edge of the stall. As he rounded the corner, something caught his eye, a door.

He hesitated only for a moment. There was no way to tell where the door led, but with gunfire rattling behind him, it was the only option. He turned around expecting to see Bruce or Ivy, but he couldn't see anything but smoke. It was impossible to tell where anyone was, and with bullets raining down on them he didn’t have time to sit and wait. Maybe Bruce and Ivy had made it inside but if not maybe it would lead to Ruby.

He gripped the rusted handle, pulling the door open, and slipped inside, closing it silently behind him. The sound of gunfire muffled as soon as the door clicked shut. He crouched low, still expecting danger or a hail of bullets. The room was still, the air heavy with the scent of mold and decaying paint.

He rose slowly, taking a cautious step forward and instantly regretted it. The walls around him were lined with towering mirrors, their cracked and fogged surfaces reflecting his image back at every angle. Suddenly there are dozens of versions of himself staring back, distorted, twisted, stretched, and fragmented. His reflection swam before him, morphing into jagged shapes that seem to move of their own.

The mirrors mixed with his concussion were beyond disorienting and the throbbing pain in his skull intensified . Jonathan leaned against the wall for support, squeezing his eyes shut as nausea rolled over him. His head was swimming, as the reflections blurred into nightmarish shapes, some tall and gaunt, others short and wide, each one twisted into impossible shapes.

“Focus…” Crane muttered under his breath, gripping the edges of the wall to steady himself. He took a shaky step forward, trying to ignore the overwhelming vertigo. The mirrors twisted his every movement, making it impossible to tell where the room ended or where he was headed. He needed to find an exit quickly, before he passed out here. With every step, the mirrors seemed to close in tighter, the reflections warping into faces and shadows that hadn’t been there before. He couldn’t tell if they were just tricks of the glass or if something else was watching him from within.

Crane stumbled further into the maze of mirrors, each reflection twisting his sense of direction and pulling him deeper into the funhouse’s labyrinth. His vision swam, the world bending as the jagged lines of his distorted reflections shifted and pulsed. He stopped, trying to steady himself, but the walls of mirrors pressed in from all sides. Every reflection was different, some looked frightened, others malicious. One of the reflections even smiled back at him in a way he knew he hadn’t.

And then just for a moment one of the reflections moved out of sync. His heart lurched, and he spun toward the mirror, ready to strike, but there was nothing. Just his warped reflection, standing perfectly still. Was it a trick of the glass? Or something else entirely?

Then, without warning, a screen flickered to life in one of the mirrors. Jonathan froze staring at the static screen, before suddenly the screen cleared up and a figure stepped into view.

“Ohhh, look who wandered into my fun house. Are you having fun Jonny?” Joker’s voice cackled through the speakers, his laugh sharp and shrill. He pressed his painted face closer to the camera, his grin stretching wider than seemed humanly possible.

Crane gritted his teeth, forcing himself to look away from the screen. He tried to back away, but every turn led him deeper into the maze of mirrors. The reflections seemed to multiply, Joker’s grinning face appearing in every mirror, his voice bouncing off every surface.

“You know,” Joker mused, tapping the screen with a gloved finger, “I’ve always liked you, Jonny. The fear you spread, it's a riot! But then you never learned to control your own, did you?” he said before letting out another string of laughter.

The mirrors reflected Joker’s face endlessly, turning the hallway into a grotesque gallery of grinning clowns. The sound of Joker’s laughter echoed through the room, each mirror warping it into something more haunting.

Crane tore himself away from the screen, sprinting down the corridor. He didn’t care where it led, he just needed to get out.

Joker’s voice cooed softly, playful and menacing: “Where are you going? We were just getting started.”

As Jonathan sprinted down the hall, spinning between mirror after mirror, he finally spotted a narrow gap, an open panel. He burst through the sliding panel, finally escaping the mirror maze only to find himself on a narrow metal platform bridge suspended above a black pit. He wasted no time, and began to sprint down the platform. Dim lights flickered along the walls, casting distorted shadows that swayed and twisted as he ran. As he ran the platform groaned under his feet, and with every step, it shifted, throwing his balance off.

The metal was slick with rust, and the floor tilted unpredictably, forcing him to stumble forward in a frantic attempt to stay upright. His head throbbed, the concussion making it feel like the entire platform was spinning beneath him. He gripped the railing, but it swayed dangerously, threatening to collapse at any moment. His weight shifted wildly with the movement of the platform, the surface tipping from side to side like an unstable bridge.

Crane’s vision swam, the world a dizzying blur of metal and lights. He fought the nausea clawing at his throat, forcing himself to stay focused on the unstable path. The platform shifted under his feet again, tilting sharply to the right. He stumbled and nearly went over the edge, but he caught himself just in time, fingers gripping the slippery railing. Below him, the darkness yawned like an endless pit, and the creaking platform didn’t offer much reassurance that it would hold. He pushed forward, legs shaking beneath him, feeling the strain of every unsteady step, the corridor narrowing and bending in unnatural ways, forcing him to lean hard into the shifting path.

Jonathan followed the walkway down, his eyes scanning the dim, flickering lights along the crumbling walls. The narrow path offered no way forward, just a small tunnel at the end. With no other option, he pushed his body through the tight tunnel, rust scraping against his clothes as he wiggled through. After a few agonizing moments, the cramped space opened into a steep metal chute, and his body slid forward.

He slid down the rusted metal slide, the surface groaning beneath his weight as he plummeted through the dark, twisting tunnel. The air whipped past him, cold and stale, until he hit the bottom with a jarring thud that knocked the breath from his lungs. Before he could recover, rough hands grabbed him.

"Gotcha," a gruff voice sneered as Crane was hoisted into the air like a rag doll by one of Joker’s men. Pain shot down his arm as a pair of large hands wrapped around his broken wrist, slamming him back. He fought back a cry, as fingers dug into his wrist and his back was pressed against the wall.

Jonathan stared forward and immediately recognized the man in front of him. It was the same man who had smashed his skull with a crowbar earlier, but he wasn’t alone. A group of Joker’s henchmen gathered around him, all ready to tear him limb from limb.

"Oh look what we got boys. Did ja miss us?" the man said, a nasty grin stretched across the man’s scarred face. His grin widened as he grabbed Crane’s fractured wrist and wrenched it hard. Agony shot through Crane’s arm, and he gritted his teeth, a pained hiss escaping from his lips.

The thug sneered. “Something bothering you, Scare—”

Before he could finish, Crane’s good hand shot forward. A sharp hiss escaped his glove as a cloud of fear gas sprayed directly into the man’s face.

Suddenly the man’s sneer twisted into a look of wide eyed terror, as his gun clattered to the ground. "No! NO! Get it off! Get it OFF!" he shrieked, clawing at his own skin as if something invisible crawled all over him. His pupils dilated, as panic consumed him.

Jonathan twisted free as the man let go of his arm, and without hesitation, he unleashed another burst of gas into the faces of the other henchmen gathered nearby. The effect was immediate.

They each stumbled backward, choking on their hallucinations. One of them whimpered, staring into the shadows as if seeing phantoms, while another waved his gun wildly, his breath coming in frantic bursts. "Back! Stay back!" one of them screamed, aiming his weapon at the others.

"You, you’re one of them!" another shouted, pointing his gun at his comrade.

"What the fuck are you!" the first man howled in return, his finger twitching on the trigger.

Crane gave a quick look of satisfaction as Joker’s men devolved into chaos, but he didn't stick around to watch. Their minds were unraveling under the influence of the gas, and this was quickly becoming a dangerous place. He spun on his heel, cradling his throbbing wrist, and bolted toward the nearest exit. His body slammed against the metal floor as he ran, knocking it open in a flurry. It was just in time as gunshots suddenly erupted behind him. The last thing he heard as the door swung open was one of the remaining henchmen screaming, "Stay away! Stay AWAY!", followed by the sharp pop of another gunshot.

Crane leaned against the doorframe, heart pounding in his chest, allowing himself only a brief moment to catch his breath. His head spun, and the pain in his wrist was sharp, but he knew he had to keep moving. He had to catch up to Ivy and Bruce but more importantly he had to find Ruby.

As Crane stumbled out of the funhouse, the air hit him like a slap, thick with the scent of damp earth and crushed flowers. He paused, catching his breath, and noticed the ground beneath his feet was no longer solid. Vines, dark and bristling with thorns, had erupted from the cracked pavement, sprawling like veins across the ruins of the amusement park. They twisted over booths, coiled around old rides, and wove between rusted beams, giving the place the eerie look of a jungle reclaiming the bones of the carnival.

Weapons littered the ground, discarded by those unfortunate enough to get too close. His eyes scanned the area, as he spotted Joker’s men tangled in the vines like flies caught in a spider’s web. Thick tendrils wrapped around their limbs, holding them fast. He winced as the vines constricted further and he heard their bones begin to pop and crack.

Ivy had been busy.

Crane followed the trail of carnage, weaving through walls of vines that pulsed as if alive, subtly shifting underfoot. The deeper he went, the denser the vines became. All around wildflowers and clovers began to mark a trail. As he rounded a corner, he finally spotted her. Ivy stood in the heart of the chaos, her posture regal and predatory. Her green skin gleamed under the dim light of a flickering carnival bulb, and her red hair fanned out like fire, wild and untamed. Her hands moved with fluid grace, coaxing more vines to rise from the earth, responding to her commands like obedient serpents.

Two more of Joker’s men rushed at her from behind, guns drawn, but she didn’t flinch. A vine snapped upward like a whip, striking one across the chest and sending him flying into the air. The other didn’t get far, thorns coiled around his legs, dragging him to the ground as he screamed in terror. Ivy didn’t even turn to look as the vines yanked him back into a thicket.

Crane stepped forward cautiously, before suddenly he saw a vine flying towards him. “IVY! Stop it’s me,” He said ducking out of the way. He heard the vine slap hard behind him, before he heard it slowly slither away.

She turned, her eyes narrowing as she saw him. The fury in her gaze flickered, replaced by something more controlled. "I was wondering where you went. Glad to see you made it out," she said coolly.

"Remind me never to get on your bad side," Crane gestured to the writhing mass of tangled vines that surrounded them.

She arched a brow, unbothered. "Noted,” She said with a smile.

Before Crane could respond, another explosion of gunfire echoed in the distance. He immediately thought of Bruce, and he hoped desperately that he was okay. Ivy must have heard the shots as well, as she turned and sneered in their direction.

"Let’s finish this," she said, the vines around her rippling in anticipation.

Crane glanced back toward the direction of the shots, "Lead the way."

Without another word, Ivy flicked her wrist, and the vines parted before them like curtains.

**

Bruce moved through the shadows like a phantom, silent and precise, picking off Joker’s men one by one. Each takedown was swift, a pressure point knocking them unconscious, a brutal twist of an arm to disarm another. All the while, he dodged bursts of gunfire, his cloak snapping as bullets whizzed past his head, far too close for comfort. Every narrow miss left his pulse racing, but he pressed forward.

Bruce crept past the ruined rides, the sound of rusty metal groaning in the breeze. One of Joker's men stood near the entrance to an old Ferris wheel, scanning the area with a shotgun. Batman silently descended upon him from above, yanking him into the shadows without a sound. Another guard didn’t notice his approach until it was too late. He was already unconscious, his body dangling from the rusted spokes of the wheel, bound by steel cables. Several others had met the same fate, swinging limply from the rides.

As Bruce continued he spotted the guest center up ahead. It was the most central building and the only one large enough to be a hideout for the Joker. “Almost there,” Bruce thought as he entered the courtyard. Suddenly, as he entered the courtyard he stopped dead in his tracks.

A spotlight swung toward him, catching him mid-step. “There! It’s him!” Joker’s men shouted. They wasted no time, pointing their weapons straight at him.

Bruce cursed under his breath and dived for cover behind a low brick wall just as a storm of gunfire erupted. Bullets hammered the wall, chipping away bricks, sending dust and debris raining down around him. The sound was deafening, and each volley came closer to breaching his cover. He crouched low, his mind racing, scanning for a way out. But the courtyard was wide, and Joker’s men had him pinned down. Bruce was trapped, there was no way he could push forward, they would see him right away.

Suddenly, out of the shadows the ground began to shake. Just as thick vines began to burst from the ground. Bruce turned his head around the corner just in time to see a wall of vines burst through the courtyard. Joker’s men had barely any time to react, before thick vines exploded from the earth, curling upward like serpents all around them. One man let out a startled shout, but it was cut off as a vine wrapped around his leg and yanked him off his feet, sending him crashing into a forgotten popcorn stand. Another tried to run, but the vines were too fast, they snaked around his waist and squeezed until his ribs cracked. Bruce’s jaw hung wide open as he watched the plants tear into them. The air filled with screams and the sickening crunch of bones being crushed.

And then he spotted Jonathan, leaping into the fray.

Bruce watched in a mixture of amazement and horror as Jonathan jumped on top of a henchman knocking him to the ground. He heard the hiss from a gas canister as thick clouds of fear toxin engulfed the man's face. Within moments, the man was convulsing with terror. His eyes widened, pupils blown, as unseen horrors tore at his mind. Another of Joker’s men stumbled through the smoke, clawing at his own face as if trying to rip his skin off to escape the hallucinations.

Bruce’s stomach twisted as the carnage unfolded before him. Joker’s men were tearing themselves apart in a frenzy of fear, their minds shattered by Crane’s toxin and their bodies trapped by Ivy’s merciless plants. A man’s scream cut short as a vine flung him high into the air. Another stumbled blindly into a thorny bramble, crawling at his eyes to escape the visions.

Suddenly, Bruce saw a muzzle flash out of the corner of his eye, one of Joker’s men had taken aim at him from across the courtyard. Bruce barely had time to move.

The shot rang out.

Before Bruce could react, Crane darted forward, gassing the man in the face. The thug gasped, stumbling backward as the toxin took hold, his gun falling from his hands. He was screaming at phantoms only he could see, before he ran screaming straight for Ivy’s vines.

Crane turned to Bruce, surprised to see him. "Bruce," Jonathan whispered, voice breathless with relief. Without thinking, he rushed toward him, grabbing Bruce’s arm as if to confirm he was really there. “You’re okay.”

The genuine happiness in his voice caught Bruce off-guard. Jonathan’s grip was light but insistent, his relief almost childlike, as though everything had hinged on this moment on Bruce being safe.

Bruce’s gaze shifted back to the ruined courtyard, the bodies tangled in Ivy’s vines and the broken minds left in the wake of Crane’s fear toxin. The violence surrounded them, brutal and unrelenting. He should have felt horrified, and part of him did. But another part of him was just happy to see Jonathan.

Bruce gave a subtle nod, the smallest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I’m okay.”

Jonathan’s eyes crinkled as he lifted his respirator, a grin ghosting his lips. "Good," he murmured. "Because I’d hate to do all this without you."

Bruce shook his head, torn between exasperation and fondness. “Let’s finish this,” he said quietly, his gaze flicking toward the guest relations office.

Jonathan gave a mischievous chuckle, his voice brimming with dark amusement. "After you."

Bruce didn’t hesitate. With Ivy and Crane at his back, they moved toward the main building, ready to face whatever horrors Joker had waiting inside.

**

Together, the three of them slipped inside the guest center, every step deliberate, every breath held. The building was eerily quiet, yet there was a creeping sense that they were being watched. Jonathan’s instincts screamed at him to leave, but he knew he had to be here, for Ruby.

The main lobby was dark, the only illumination coming from dim emergency lighting that cast long, twisting shadows across the walls. The room was empty but had been decorated with the Joker’s twisted flair. Balloons flew high in the air tied to overturned desks, and they spotted a large “Welcome,” banner covering the walls. He was expecting them.

As they exchanged looks they spotted a crudely painted arrow in red pointed deeper into the building, dripping as though it had been drawn moments ago. Bruce frowned, unease gnawing at his mind.

“I’m starting to really hate amusement parks,” Ivy muttered, her voice low and tense.

Jonathan locked eyes with Bruce as they looked at the arrow ahead, silently debating whether to follow. But what choice did they have? Harley and Ruby were depending on them, and it was clear that the Joker wanted this game to continue.

One by one, they followed the red arrows, winding deeper into the building. With every turn, the narrow halls seemed to tighten, and they could feel the tension mounting between them. The silence was deafening, broken only by the echo of their footsteps and the occasional, distant creak of old pipes. They passed through empty rooms, former offices stripped bare except for the graffiti on the walls, but there was no sign of Harley or Ruby.

Up ahead the arrows pointed towards a metal door. They couldn’t see what was on the other side, but there was no other way forward. Quietly they opened the door and slipped inside, all taking a look around the darkened room. They entered what appeared to be a maintenance room, the walls were lined with electrical equipment, and machinery.

Suddenly, the door slammed shut behind them with a metallic clang. Ivy rushed to it, yanking on the handle, but it was locked tight.

“We’re sealed in,” she said, frustration lacing her voice.

Bruce’s gaze darted around the room, taking in every detail. Above them was a glass platform connected to the management office, overlooking the entire space like a cage for an audience to watch what would unfold. Wires coiled across the floor like metal vipers, some humming with electricity. He could hear the electricity sizzling in the air.

Bruce’s jaw tightened. This was a trap. They were sitting ducks, caught right where the Joker wanted them.

Instantly they heard a familiar, grating laugh echo through the maintenance room from above, sending shivers down their spines. Joker stood on the glass platform grinning wildly down at them. His purple coat swayed as he leaned against the railing, the lights from above casting eerie shadows on his painted face.

“Oh goody, you're all here and just in time!. Although color me surprised, that the three of you are working together. I did not see that one coming,” He said with a laugh. Joker’s grin widened as he placed a hand theatrically over his heart “And I thought we had something special, Batsy.”

“Well come on and greet our guests, don’t be rude Harley,” Joker said with a wave of his hand, and just then they spotted the pistol in his hands.

Harley stepped forward from the shadows, wearing her signature red and black jumpsuit. In her arms she cradled Ruby, her posture tense and protective. She was whispering soothing words into the child’s ear. Ruby clung to her, little hands wrapped around her neck but her frightened whimpers echoed through the chamber.

Jonathan shifted beside Bruce, as soon as he saw Ruby. His heart ached for her, he couldn’t bear to see her cry and there was nothing more he wanted then to just take her home. Beside him Ivy’s eyes narrowed and flashed green, as she clenched her fists in fury.

“Ivy, no!” Bruce hissed, already seeing her intention, but she was too fast.

Vines burst from the floorboards, snaking up the walls toward Joker, their thick tendrils reaching for the glass platform. But before they could reach him, Joker raised his pistol and fired.

The sound of the gunshot rang through the room, and Ivy staggered back with a sharp cry, clutching her side.

“Tsk tsk,” Joker said in mock disapproval, twirling his smoking pistol. “I can't have you spoiling all my fun. That would be such a disappointment.”

Ivy's knees buckled as the pain overtook her. She tried to summon her vines again, but the effort was too much. With a soft gasp, she collapsed, unconscious before she hit the ground.

Harley let out a heart-wrenching cry. “Red! No!” The sound of Ivy’s pain seemed to cut through Harley, and in that moment, Ruby began to wail, her high-pitched cries filling the room. She squirmed in Harley’s arms, sobbing, as if sensing the danger pressing in on all sides.

Jonathan’s heart sank at the sight of Ruby terrified. His breath hitched in his throat as his eyes locked onto her tiny, tear-streaked face.

“Let her go!” Jonathan roared, his voice cracking with desperation. He surged forward, but Bruce caught him by the arm just in time. He couldn’t let Crane do something foolish and get himself shot too. The Joker had the upper hand here.

Joker threw his head back with a gleeful laugh, savoring Jonathan’s anguish. “Ahhh, family reunions! Warms my cold little heart!”

Joker waved a hand dismissively. “And what a reunion it's gonna be. Tonight's gonna be…” He paused dramatically, glancing between Bruce and Crane with a wicked glimmer in his eye. “Electrifying.”

With a dramatic flourish, Joker yanked down a rusty metal switch beside him.

A harsh clanking noise echoed from deep within the maintenance walls, and suddenly Bruce and Jonathan heard the gurgling rush of water.

Jonathan’s eyes darted to the floor. Water began pouring into the room through hidden vents, pooling at their feet with alarming speed.

Bruce’s gaze flicked to the live wires strewn across the floor. He could hear the sizzle of electricity coursing through some of them, just waiting to mix with the water.

“Damn it,” Bruce muttered under his breath. This was a death trap.

The water was already creeping higher, lapping at the edges of his Every splash brought them closer to disaster, the wires hissing and crackling ominously as the room filled.

Joker cackled, watching from above as the water climbed, before throwing his head back with glee. "Well isn’t this shocking”

Bruce’s mind raced, calculating their options as the water crept in closer.

“Well do something Batman,” Jonathan pleaded moving closer to Bruce, stepping away just as water began to touch his boots. Bruce could see this panic flickering in his eyes. He had to move, had to act fast. The water was getting closer to the wires, and they were running out of time.

Then, suddenly, Harley moved, her face twisted with fury. Before the Joker could react, she shoved sat Ruby down before launching towards him.

"What the—?" Joker barely had time to finish the sentence before Harley tackled him to the ground, her fist slamming into his jaw with a brutal crack. His gun clattered from his hand, bouncing uselessly across the glass platform. "This is for making me wear this stupid outfit!" she snarled, her fist colliding with his face again. Blood sprayed from his nose.

“And this is for kidnapping Ruby!” Another punch, sharp and furious. Joker yelped, trying to shield his face, but Harley was relentless.

“This is for scaring her!” Another blow, more vicious than the last. Joker’s grin faltered as Harley’s anger boiled over, years of pent-up rage spilling out with every hit.

"And this is for kidnapping me!” Her knuckles cracked against his cheekbone, sending his head snapping to the side.

Joker coughed and tried to wheeze out a laugh, but Harley didn’t give him the chance.

"I ain't your puddin' no more!" she spat, slamming her knee into his gut, winding him.

"This is for bein' a creep!" she hissed, smashing her elbow into his ribs with brutal force. Joker coughed again, gasping in pain, as Harley straddled him like a boxer in the final round.

“And this—” Her voice cracked with raw emotion as she pulled her fist back for the final blow. “This is for Ivy.”

With a roar, she drove her fist into the Joker’s face one last time, knocking him cold. He slumped against the platform with a dull thud, unconscious, his twisted grin finally wiped clean.

Harley panted, her chest heaving with exertion, before standing up and flipping the switch back to its original position.

Jonathan and Bruce stared up at her, momentarily stunned, before glancing down at the water. The water had stopped just in time.

“What? Ya didn’t think I was gonna let him get away with it, did ya?”, Harley said bending down and scooping up Ruby.

Batman gave her a brief, approving nod, one that said more than words ever could, before reaching down and scooping Ivy up in his arms.

Bruce and Jonathan climbed swiftly up the stairs leading to the platform, their boots clanking on the metal stairs. Harley barely waited for them to reach the top before sprinting across to Ivy’s side, worry etched across her face. “Oh, come on, baby, talk to me,” Harley murmured, dropping to her knees beside her. She hovered her hands over Ivy, too afraid to touch her, afraid that any contact might make things worse. Ruby clung tightly to Harley's side, still shaken.

Bruce knelt beside Ivy, inspecting the wound. “She’s still breathing,” he said, his voice steady but low. He peeled back the fabric of Ivy’s shirt, revealing the bullet wound, only to watch in amazement as Ivy’s green skin began to shift.

The bullet, slick with blood, began to push its way out of the wound, dropping to the floor with a faint clink. The torn flesh stitched itself back together, the jagged edges smoothing over with every passing second until only a faint scar remained.

“Holy Shit..” Harley whispered, her voice breaking with relief as she brushed Ivy’s cheek with trembling fingers. “You scared the shit outta me, Red.”

Jonathan stood a few steps away, Ruby in his sights. The moment their eyes met, Ruby let out a happy wail, squirming in Harley’s arms.

“Dada!” Ruby cried, her tiny arms reaching for Jonathan.

Jonathan’s heart nearly burst in his chest. He swept forward and scooped her up, holding her tight against him. Ruby wrapped her little arms around his neck, pressing her face into his shoulder as if she never wanted to let go.

“I’ve got you, sweetheart, I’ve got you,” Jonathan whispered, his voice shaky with emotion. He pressed his lips to the top of her head, clutching her like a lifeline. "Oh and you said Dada too, did you guys hear her?" Harley glanced back at Bruce, her brow furrowed in confusion. She blinked, still trying to make sense of it. “What the hell are you doin’ here anyways Bat’s. Why’d you help us?”

Bruce stood tall his expression unreadable. He flicked his gaze briefly to Jonathan, then back to Harley.

“It’s complicated,” he said simply, his voice low but certain.

Harley arched a brow, sensing more beneath the surface.

Bruce’s focus shifted back to the task at hand. “Let’s get out of here.”