Chapter Text
“Shh, it's okay, keep breathing- that's it.” The Scarecrow cooed, brushing back Edward's red curls, plastered to his forehead with sweat and blood, not his own luckily. He shook violently, twitching every few moments as the toxin ran through him, lighting his nerves on fire. As it was made to do.
It had been an accident. Their thorough plan to steal from ACE Chemicals had gone wrong. Jonathan's careful hand slipped. Luckily, he managed to escape with a terrified Riddler, though Jonathan couldn’t help but observe. It had all been going so well, none of the alarms had been tripped, no one alerted. But he couldn’t just continue with Edward in that state, it wouldn’t be fair.
But Jonathan Crane was not a fair man. Not at all.
The fear was beautiful. This display was fascinating. Edward's pupils were blown, lips bitten and bleeding, having been gnawed on. The toxin showed a person’s response to fear, each different and varying. It showed how a person ticked, movements to comfort themselves like clockwork.
He wish he knew what the man was seeing, what was causing him to cry out and curl up, what it was he truly feared. It seemed selfish to make a guess. Edward was staring at the wall, seemingly trying to shrink himself into the corner where Jonathan sat with him, messy notes and scattered books pushed out of the way to make room. Edward had burst into tears earlier, fearful sobs wracking his body, but Jonathan just watched, hand on his back. He noticed how his tears clung to his long eyelashes. For now he had stopped crying, face hidden.
They were in Jonathan's run down safe-house. It was the only place close enough for him to carry Edward. He practically went limp as Jonathan ran them both through the city. Even though the doctor was lanky and weak looking, he had spent enough time both now and in his youth doing physical labor. It was barely any trouble.
Jonathan felt Edward grip weakly onto his sleeve, burying his face against his chest, and started crying again. “Please make it stop.” Edward sound so in pain, utterly terrified. But there wasn’t anything Jonathan could do. There wasn't any anti toxin made to stop the effects. He kept a gentle hand in Edward's hair, spidery fingers carding through it. “It'll be over soon.” He had never been this gentle with the man, or with anyone in that case, but this was different for some odd reason. Jonathan boiled it down to morbid fascination with the fear being shown in such a way.
Just that, nothing else.
But there was something in the way that Edward clutched onto him like a lifeboat that made Jonathan feel something, a strange protectiveness over him.
If only Edward was able to see himself right now, Jonathan doubted he would have the same admiration with how he was scared, maybe, but heavily doubtful.
Eventually, the crying stopped again and his breathing calmed slightly. He was still shaking, which was to be expected. Jonathan went to move the hand which was in Edward's hair, but the other grabbed it to keep it there. “Please don't leave, don't-” “I won't.” How strange. Edward always boasted how he was independent in dealing with his troubles. Jonathan overheard a few conversations the other had with Harley, ones he was for sure wasn’t for his ears. But here he was, reduced to this. So absolutely human.
Even though the main effects of the toxin were over, the strain of toxin used was enough to put Edward out of order for god knows how long. Jonathan noted this and carefully stood both of them up, both hands on the other's face. “I'm going to get you water okay, can you stay here?” A shaky nod. “Good.” He brought him over to the couch, which was threadbare and old, the metal legs rusting. “Don't try to stand.” Jonathan didn't want to risk him collapsing.
He brought back a glass of water. Seeing Edward curled up with knees to his chest made his own hurt. He almost felt pity. Almost.
“I got pain killers, how's your head?” He never really made sure any was okay when working with others in the past. Jonathan didn't want to question it right now, internalize it for later. Edward didn't answer, just sipped on glass, eyes darting around the room. No doubt he would be experiencing minor hallucinations still.
Edward felt horrible, nauseous and cold- but hot at the same time. Probably one of the worst fevers he ever had. His eyes met Jonathan's, pupils dilating, becoming huge then small. “I see why people react like that now.” Okay, yeah, that made Jonathan laugh, a soft noise. “It does what it is intended to do.” Edward smiled. “You're really fucking scary, did you know that?” “So I've heard.” He couldn't help himself, the strand that had fallen back onto Edward’s face distracted him. So he moved it back, carefully tucked behind his ear.
It was such a soft gesture, it made Edward confused but he wasn’t in the right state of mind to question it, maybe when this horrible drug wore off.”I don’t even want to think about the long term affects of this.” He hadn’t blinked at all, his eyes watering. Jonathan shook his head, offering him pills. He declined, Idiot.
“Not the strain I used, you should be alright.” He offered the pills again and frowned when the other didn’t take them.”You sure? You’ll feel like shit tomorrow.” “I don’t take pills unless I see them from the box.” “I’m not drugging you.” “I didn’t imply that you were.” Edward waved his hand in a dismissive way, his focus returning to the wall behind Jonathan, eyes widening in horror.
Ah fuck.
The younger man had fainted. At least he had been on the couch and not standing up, Jonathan was not in the mood to deal with a concussed Riddler, that would be too much effort.
More than he had already gave. Maybe he was selfish, or maybe just tired.
Too much effort, he thought as he tugged the thin blanket that was kept on the couch over Edward’s shoulders. Surely he could used this as blackmail, it was technically his fault, he walked into the needles.
Okay, maybe that wasn’t true, but he didn’t have it in him to admit he was in the wrong, he should’ve been more careful.
With a long sigh he went to the kitchen, he needed coffee. Jonathan grabbed the bag left by the table as he waited for the water to boil. He frowned deeply. Three out of seven canisters had been smashed, he would have to dispose them.
What a waste.
But the four remaining were in perfect condition.
He could work with that, he had to, no choice.
But then came a thought. An anti toxin, just in case this happened again, unlikely but after tonight Jonathan didn’t want to take that risk. Moving over to the archway in his kitchen, he looked out to the living room.
Even though he was asleep, Edward looked panicked or in pain. Jonathan frowned, he couldn’t fathom why he cared so much. In front of him was an egotistical, impulsive man. But he was smart, intelligent and capable and Jonathan couldn’t help but admire that.
He shook his head and carried the bag down the stairs. This could be dealt with later, but for now it could be brushed off.
Jonathan had a project that needed to be started.