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Chapter Text

Riddler, Mad Hatter and Scarecrow, also known unofficially as the BookWorms, were in their lair. A library abandoned for years, and still full of books. Jervis and Edward had managed to escape Arkham again thanks to the discreet help of the straw-haired man.

The three were around a table, with a tea set. Although neither of them really drank the same thing, especially because of the sacrileges made to tea in the past by the other two. Between Scarecrow putting more sugar than necessary in his tea, and Riddler putting coffee in it. The brown-haired man had a black coffee, while the straw-haired man had a hot chocolate, Mad Hatter ultimately being the only one to really use the tea set.

Edward was plotting a new riddle against Batman, while Jervis was reading Alice in Wonderland again, and the Master of Fear was choosing the next bully he would attack. Suddenly, they heard a noise on the large door of their hideout, and looked up, before looking at each other in confusion.

"Are we waiting for anyone? Mad Hatter asked.

- Where did Batman find us? Scarecrow continued, drinking his hot chocolate.

- Don't talk about doom, Scary! Riddler exclaimed.

- Who’s going to open the door? Jervis asked, pointing at the latter.

- Me.” Replied the straw-haired man.

Scarecrow stood up, before walking towards the door and opening it. Two large men of truly imposing size stood before him. They were both wearing overalls, one yellow, the other red. A polka dot shirt, one red, one yellow. One red cap with white stripes, and the other white with red stripes.

"I know what you're thinking, but that's not true in any way . The one in the yellow overalls began.

- If, on the contrary, it were true, it might not be false; and if it were not false, it should be true; but since it is not true, in good logic, it is false.” Continued the man in the red overalls.

Mad Hatter stood up in surprise, before exclaiming between shock and joy:

“Tweedledee and Tweedledum ?!”

Riddler raised an eyebrow in confusion, while Scarecrow narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

"Hello, Mr. Mad Hatter. I am Tweedledum. The big man in the yellow overalls introduced himself.

- And me Tweedledee. The one in the red overalls continued.

- What are you doing here? Edward asked, getting up from his chair.

- We came to speak with Mr. Mad Hatter. Tweedledum replied, not even really looking at the brown-haired man.

- Me? Jervis was surprised.

- Yes you! Looks like it's your unbirthday, because we invite you to join our group!" Tweedledee replied.

Scarecrow returned to Riddler and Mad Hatter, never taking his eyes off the other two. He didn't like them. They looked like bullies.

"Your group? What is it? Asked the blond man, intrigued.

-The Wonderland Gang!" Replied the big man in the yellow overalls.

Jervis's eyes lit up with joy, while Edward and the straw-haired man were more suspicious.

"How did you find our lair? Riddler asked, crossing his arms.

- You are the genius. It's for you to guess." Retorted Tweedledee.

The brown-haired man scowled, before Mad Hatter slapped his shoulder in disapproval, responding sternly:

"That's not how we welcome guests, Riddler."

Jervis stood up, before politely greeting the two men, then pointing to the tea table, smiling:

"Welcome, can I invite you to our Tea Party?

- With pleasure, Mr. Mad Hatter. The two big men replied in unison.

- Not need such politeness between us, you can call me Mad Hatter.

- Very good Mad Hatter.” They continued in unison.

They sat down where Riddler and Scarecrow were originally sitting, who looked at each other with offence. The straw-haired man growled, before returning with two more chairs, and abruptly placing them. Then he sat down, followed by Edward, the two continuing to glare at Tweedledee and Tweedledum.

"So, tell me, what is your Wonderland Gang all about? Asked the blond man, while serving the two big men some tea.

- We are a group of Alice in Wonderland fans gathered to commit crimes, all while drawing inspiration from Lewis Caroll's characters. Replied the fat man in the yellow overalls.

- What type of crimes?

- Bank robberies, mainly.

- ...For what? Mad Hatter's smile started to fade.

- Well... To be rich? The big man in the red overalls replied uncertainly, slightly confused.

- My goodness... How disappointing. Jervis sighed, putting down the porcelain teapot.

- I-I'm not sure I understand.

- Which I understand it’s that you are only robbers. You take inspiration from Alice in Wonderland without even understanding its depth. For you this is just one theme among many others. It's very insulting, and I'm not interested in things like money." Tetch replied coldly, before drinking his tea.

Riddler and Scarecrow didn't even bother to hide their satisfied smiles, seeing the helpless look of these two criminals. Mad Hatter put down his cup, before saying coldly:

“Well, gentlemen. You know the way out.

-But it's- Tweedledee started.

- Out.” Hissed the Master of Fear.

Tweedledum waved the other that they go, and they stood up, not without giving them a bad look. The straw-haired man walked towards the door and slammed it when the two big men came out of the lair.

"Good! Good! They didn't belong here anyway!” Scarecrow exclaimed happily.

But the Master of Fear’s joy was short-lived, seeing Jervis looking so sad, stirring his tea with his spoon. The straw-haired man sat down next to him, before gently patting him on the shoulder.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Scarecrow reassured softly.

- Yes, Scary is right. These idiots didn't deserve your attention. Edward continued.

- You will meet one day people who love Alice in Wonderland as much as you do.

- There’s no use trying. One can’t believe impossible things.” The blond man replied sadly.

Riddler and Scarecrow looked at each other, helpless, trying to come up with an idea to cheer Mad Hatter up.

“Uh- Smile! Today is a beautiful day!” The straw-haired man tried.

Edward gave a questioning and judgmental look at Scarecrow, who gestured, as if signaling to Riddler that he could try something himself. The brown-haired man coughed, before asking:

“Do you want a little riddle?

- I think you might do something better with the time, than waste it in asking riddles that have no answers. Mad Hatter replied, not taking his eyes off his cup.

- How rude you are, I was trying to cheer you up!”

Jervis' only response was to sigh sadly, before getting up. He walked towards the sofa where the Alice in Wonderland book was placed and took it before locking himself in his room.

“Well, well done. Scarecrow sarcastically congratulated.

- Because you did better perhaps? Riddler retorted unpleasantly.

- Surprisingly, yes!”

Mad Hatter was lying in his bed, eyes closed, and holding his book to his heart. Then he murmured sadly:

"So she sat on with closed eyes, and half believed herself in Wonderland, though she knew she had but to open them again, and all would change to dull reality.”

Jervis didn't want this reality. He would love his Wonderland. Where we would finally understand him, without him having to understand the nonsense of the real world.

Scarecrow and Riddler were outside Tetch's bedroom door, wondering how to cheer him up. Suddenly, the straw-haired man snapped his fingers, as if he had an idea, and walked towards the sofa. Edward watched him with questioning, then stupor when he saw him cutting up the sofa.

“You sicko! What are you doing?!” The brown-haired man exclaimed angrily.

But the Master of Fear didn't respond, he just took off his hat, and sewed what appeared to be rabbit ears onto it.

“Rabbit ears?

- Hare ears.” Corrected Scarecrow, putting his hat back on, now fitted with large hare ears made from the sofa.

Then he tore off another part of the couch, and took Nygma's hat, who exclaimed in protest. The straw-haired man sewed little round ears onto the green bowler hat.

“A mouse now? Edward said annoyed.

- A dormouse!” Scarecrow replied dryly.

The Master of Fear tossed his hat to him, then walked over to the desk, and wrote on Riddler's typewriter. He took the sheet of paper, and walked towards Mad Hatter's bedroom door, while saying to Nygma:

“You are the Dormouse. I am the March Hare. Go get the cookies!

- What? But-

- Now!”

The brown-haired man grumbled, but did so anyway, while Scarecrow slipped the paper under the door. Jervis heard a little rustle of sheet of paper and opened his eyes in curiosity.

The blond man got up from his bed and took the sheet of paper that had slipped under his door. A smile appeared on his face, as he read: "Teatime." Jervis opened the door to his room, and saw Scarecrow and Riddler wearing hare and dormouse ears, and serving themselves tea, without sacrilege. Small cakes with “Eat Me” written on them, all beautifully presented.

Mad Hatter approached them, clearly happy, and the March Hare invited him to sit down, while the Dormouse sighed not without a smile. The three clinked their cups together laughing, while the March Hare couldn't help but eat the biscuits. After all, they were asking for it.

However, in the Wonderland Gang's lair, Tweedledee and Tweedledum returned alone, under the surprised gaze of the others.

“I thought that thanks to the Alice in Wonderland theme, Mad Hatter would join the group. So where is he? Asked a tall, black burly man, dressed in a lion's fur around his neck.

- Apparently it wasn't enough! grumbled Tweedledum, real name Dumfrey.

-How could that not be enough? A man with long blond hair, with a helmet adorned with a metal unicorn horn, said in surprise.

- Did he understand that you just wanted him for his technology? Asked, not without a smile, apparently satisfied, a blonde woman with bobbed hair. She had brown hare ears on her head.

- Shut up, Harriet! Ordered Tweedledee, real name Deever.

- I'm just saying. Shrugged, the blonde woman.

- We all knew it wouldn't work anyway. Sighed another blonde woman, with long hair tied in a ponytail, and a carpenter's cap.

- Yeah, it's better not to mix with that type of person anyway. This guy comes from Arkham. He’s a sicko! A burly man with short orange hair continued. He had a metal mask over his mouth, resembling walrus teeth.

- But thanks to him, we could have made a lot of money. Retorted the one with the unicorn helmet.

- I prefer to steal money without this ridiculous outfit. The black man grumbled.

- Don't be like that. The characters in Alice in Wonderland are fun and interesting. replied Harriet.

- I haven't read the book.

- I was forced to read it at school. It bored me. The orange-haired man continued.

- Silence!” Dumfrey exclaimed angrily, slamming his hand on the table.

Everyone jumped and fell silent, while the big man in the yellow overalls continued angrily:

"He'll be part of our fucking team whether he likes it or not! I would personally make sure of it!

- And how do you want to do that? asked the hare-eared woman.

- Well, there aren't a thousand solutions. Deever replied.

- Deever and I are going to kidnap him! Dumfrey continued.

- How? Mind control card, you know. The woman in the carpenter's cap said, pointing at her own head.

- No more hat, no more mental control.” The big man in the yellow overalls smiled evilly.

Riddler had happily finished his riddle, and stood up from his desk, before saying to Scarecrow and Mad Hatter:

" I must go! I have a big riddle to set up against Batman!

- How long will it take you to do this one? asked the straw-haired man.

- Two or three days. But I'll be back this evening.

- This evening? Why, what time is it?

- 7:00 a.m. Jervis replied, looking at his pocket watch.

- Oh no!!! I am late !!!” Scarecrow exclaimed in dismay.

The blond man held back a laugh, the straw-haired man suddenly reminding him of the White Rabbit, as the latter ran to leave. Mad Hatter found it amusing to imagine Scarecrow with white rabbit ears and tail. All with the same outfit as the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland.

Nygma placed his hand on the chair in his office, while saying:

“Hard to have a double life. I wonder what he does for work.

- Who knows why the White Rabbit is late. The blond man replied, too lost in his thoughts.

- Come back to the real-world, Hatty. » Edward snapped his fingers before Tetch's face.

Jervis pouted at the gesture, while Riddler put his bowler hat back on, still sporting the dormouse ears, which made Mad Hatter laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Asked the brown-haired man.

Tetch shrugged innocently, and Edward rolled his eyes at the childish behavior, before grabbed his plan. He walked towards the door, before turning to the blond man, saying:

“No foolishness. You are the only one guarding the lair today.

- I am not a child. Mad Hatter said annoyedly.

- Sometimes I wonder.”

Tetch rolled his eyes, as Riddler left, closing the door to the big library, and locking it. Jervis sat down on the sofa and happily took his favorite book, to re-read it for the, who knows, how many times in a row.

A few hours later, he heard a knock at the door, and stopped reading. Scarecrow had forgotten to take his key, so he must have gone back to get it. The person knocked again at the door, more impatiently this time. Mad Hatter stood up, exclaiming:

"Yes, yes! I'm coming! Wait!”

How impatient Scarecrow could be sometimes. Jervis took his key, and the one of the Master of Fear, to pass it to him. He opened the big door and froze in stupor when he saw Tweedledee and Tweedledum.

Chapter Text

Mad Hatter had a bad feeling when he saw these two big guys, not having the impression that they would be as friendly as last night. Tweedledum approached, removing his cap, while saying with a smile that was anything but friendly:

“Hello, we come back to offer you our proposal again.”

Jervis tried to slam the big door, but the big man in the yellow overalls stopped it with the force of his hand alone. He pushed it away forcefully, pushing the blond man backwards, and causing him to fall to the ground in surprise. Mad Hatter quickly got up, before fleeing into another room of the library.

Tetch slammed the door behind him and pulled a chair in front of it. Then he looked around to see if he could put something heavier on it. The blond man walked towards one of the bookshelves and pushed it towards the door. Just in time, because he heard the other two start to smash the door.

Mad Hatter opened the room's window, but he was too high to jump. Jervis looked at the nearby window, to see if it was possible to reach it. Then, at the sound of a crash from the door, he concluded that he would find out. Tetch put his foot on the edge of the window, to reach the other side, and Tweedledee tried to grab his coat.

The blond man took out a mind control card from his sleeve and threw it towards the big man in the red overalls, who was pulled back by Tweedledum. Jervis managed to go into the other room, while Tweedledee exclaimed:

“He’s got these damn cards up his sleeves!

- Do not forget. No more hat, no more problem. Repeated the big man in the yellow overalls.

- We still need to catch him!

- Let's ambush him.

- How? He knows the place better than us!

- That's not knowing the Carpenter well.” Tweedledum grinned evilly, showing a map of the old library.

Mad Hatter sighed with relief as he saw that he had, for the moment, managed to escape them. Now he had to find somewhere to hide until they left, or Riddler and Scarecrow returned. It's not like he can leave the lair. Not in broad daylight. He was an escapee from Arkham after all.

Jervis moved cautiously through the corridors, before suddenly running into Tweedledee. The blond man took out a control card from his sleeve again, before Tweedledum, coming from behind, grabbed his hat. Mad Hatter tried to take him back by reflex, and had both arms grabbed by the gigantic hand of the big man in the yellow overalls.

Tetch struggled desperately against the grip as he was lifted off the ground, exclaiming in panic:

“Aaaah! Cut off his head! Cut off his head!”

Jervis kicked Tweedledum in the face, causing him to drop the blond man because of the pain. Tweedledee grabbed Mad Hatter by the collar of his coat, practically strangling him. The big man in the red overalls suddenly hit him in the stomach. Tweedledee let go of him, leaving the blond man to collapse to the ground, his hands on his stomach in horrible pain.

"Fuck! That bastard practically broke my nose! Tweedledum exclaimed angrily.

- Don't worry! He can't do much now! The big man in the red overalls declared proudly, pointing to Jervis curled up in pain on the ground.

- Good. Let's go!”

Tweedledee nodded, grabbing Mad Hatter's arm, who struggled weakly against the grip. He couldn't let himself be caught like this, but he no longer had the strength to escape.

“Ah... A letter... A letter!” The blond man managed to articulate painfully.

The two big men stopped, and turned towards Tetch, who continued, trembling:

"A letter... I must give a letter... I can't disappear like this..."

The two looked at each other, before Tweedledum agreed, saying:

"Yeah, good idea, that way they won't be looking for you. But no tricks!

- No tricks.” Mad Hatter repeated.

The three walked towards the Riddler's office, and Tweedledee sat the blond man down, before passing him the typewriter. But Jervis shook his head, stuttering:

“No, no... Not the typewriter...”

Tweedledee lost his patience, and grabbed Tetch's hair, smashing his head on the desk.

" What?! What's the problem with that?!”

Mad Hatter hissed in pain, feeling pain running down the left side of his face, before painfully responding:

“I don’t write on a typewriter. Handwriting. Handwriting.”

Tweedledum then gave him the fountain pen and ink, which were placed on the small table next to the sofa. Jervis took it, and began to write, under the scrutiny of the big man in the yellow overalls. Tweedledee, for his part, had gone to put the things dismantled during the chase back in place, to not leave any clues.

When the blond man finished writing, Tweedledum snatched the paper from his hands, checking to make sure he hadn't left the Riddler a clue. But there was nothing suspicious in this letter. The big man in the red overalls came back, with the books Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass in his hand, saying:

“It’s okay, I put everything back correctly. And I took the books as requested. But why?

- You see him leaving without his favorite books. Think! Okay, let's go!” Replied the big man in the yellow overalls, putting the letter back on the desk.

Tweedledum roughly grip Mad Hatter's arm, forcing him to follow them. They left the library, and the blond man locked the large door. Then they walked to their car, putting Tetch in the back. The big man in the yellow overalls started the vehicle, and they drove away from the large library, under the helpless gaze of Jervis.

He saw Tweedledee put his hat in the glove box and couldn't help but hiss in anger. What intolerable disrespect. Mad Hatter looked around to see what could be used as a weapon. He spotted a gray sweater, clearly not belonging to either man. But honestly the blond man didn't think the car belonged to them either.

Jervis took the sweater, and held it out, before passing it over the driver's seat. He pulled it across Tweedledum's neck, who abruptly turned the steering wheel in pain and stupor. Mad Hatter pulled the sweater around the big guy's neck with force, beginning to seriously strangle him.

Tweedledee tried to grab Tetch, but he kicked him in the face, knocking him back. The big man being choked slammed on the brakes, but that didn't make Jervis release his grip. Tweedledum pushed the big man in the red overalls to signal him to get out of the car and help him.

Tweedledee got out of the vehicle, and walked towards the car door where the blond man was, but the latter closed the door latch. Tweedledum managed to press the button that unlocked the doors. The big man outside succussed to open the door, grabbing Mad Hatter by the collar of his coat. But Tetch didn't release his grip on the sweater, strangling Tweedledum even more.

The big man in the red overalls grabbed one of Mad Hatter's hands to make him let go, finally succeeding, not without effort. Tweedledee lifted Jervis, before smashing him to the ground, in anger. The blond man took some dirt in his hand, before throwing it in the eyes of the big man in the red overalls, who let go of him in pain.

Tetch tried to run away, but it was without counting on the second, who grabbed him by the waist, blocking his arms at the same time. Jervis struggled like a maniac to free himself from the grip, while Tweedledum headed for the trunk of the car.

The big man in the yellow overalls gestured to Tweedledee to open the trunk. The latter approached, continuing to rub his eyes, barely recovering his eyesight. The big man in the red overalls opened the car’s trunk, and Tweedledum threw the blond man in, before suddenly closing the trunk. Mad Hatter knocked the car's trunk angrily, punching and kicking it, but nothing worked.

Tweedledum held his throat, where there was still the red mark from Tetch's attempt, as he said:

“He’s a lot crazier than I thought.

- He's from Arkham, remember.” Tweedledee replied, brushing the remaining dirt from his face.

The big man huffed in irritation, before the two got back in the car, and drove off.

Riddler was watching the progress of his next puzzle and was pleased with the work the workers were doing. Penguin may not have really liked him, but they were still on good enough terms for him to lend him his workers. Edward looked at his watch on his wrist and said to himself that he could come back sooner, that would please Mad Hatter.

The brown-haired man clapped his hands, signaling the workers to turn towards him. Everyone stopped what they were doing, and Nygma smiled with satisfaction, before saying:

“The work today is finished. Tomorrow, same time. Understood?

- Yes Mr. Riddler!” The workers responded in unison.

Edward then leaving, twirling his cane with a question mark on the end. At the rate it was going, the puzzle will be ready on time. What a pleasure when things went the way he wanted. The man in the bowler hat got into his car and drove off to return to the lair.

Riddler finally arrived in front of the large library, and took the keys out of his pocket, before opening the door. He entered the building, and raised an eyebrow when he didn't see Mad Hatter on the couch.

“Hatty?” Edward called.

Was he having another dissociative episode? He didn't hope. Nygma didn't know how to react to this, unlike Scarecrow. The brown-haired man saw a sheet of paper on his desk, and approached it, intrigued. Riddler took it and frowned as he read. "Hello, and sorry, but I've decided to leave. Please accept my choice. I spent wonderful time with you, but I don't really feel like home here. No need to call me, I'd rather we don't stay in touch, please. Thank you and good continuation."

Edward looked at the sofa and saw that the two Lewis Caroll books were no longer there. Was it a joke? What, did he really just leave like that?! Nygma looked back at the letter angrily, before understood. Something was wrong.

Jonathan was correcting exams before the next class and almost fell asleep on his papers. Suddenly, he heard a Heavy Metal song playing, and recognized the ringing of his second phone. The other professor in the room looked at him with a look of judgment, to which Crane responded with an intimidating look. The other teacher looked down, while the orange-haired man stood up, and walked out of the room to find a quiet place to answer.

Crane answered the phone, intrigued, because until now Riddler and Mad Hatter had never called him when he was not Scarecrow.

" Hello?

- We have a problem! Edward exclaimed, with some panic in his voice.

- Wow! Calm down. What is happening?

- It's Mad Hatter! He's in trouble!”

At this sentence, Jonathan's blood boiled, and a dark anger rose within him. Who dared to hurt him?

"I'm coming!”

Crane returned to the classroom, and grabbed his stuff, while saying to the other teacher:

"Sorry. I feel bad today. Tell the principal for me.

- What?! But you can't leave like that!” The other professor said indignantly.

The orange-haired man stopped in front of the door, before coming back towards him, pretending to be unwell. He put his hand on his stomach, and the other hand over his mouth, saying:

“You’re right, I can’t do that to my students. I still must be able to avoid vomiting for another hour.

- Vo- Vomiting?” the professor blanched.

Jonathan began to make sounds, as if he was stopping himself from throwing up. All while approaching the professor, who began to back away in panic. Crane then pretended to be on the verge of vomiting on him, making the other scream in terror. Then the orange-haired man finally said:

“I better go...

- Yes! Yes! Please leave!” Exclaimed the professor.

Crane keeping his hand on his stomach, and walked out of the room, before standing up straight, smiling.

“I knew he was emetophobic.”

They arrived at the Wonderland Gang's hideout, and Tweedledee got out of the car, followed by Tweedledum. The big man in the yellow overalls opened the trunk of the car and grabbed Mad Hatter to get him out. While the other took the hat from the glove box.

The lair was an old, abandoned circus, and it made Jervis think more of Joker's lair than a Wonderland lair. Tweedledum showed the top hat that Tweedledee was holding, and said:

"Give us your mind control cards, and we'll give you back your hat."

Tetch frowned, before pulling a mind control card out of his sleeve and handing it over.

“I said your CARDS!” » Insisted on the plural, the big man in the yellow overalls.

Jervis huffed in irritation, before pulling five more out of each of his sleeves, and one from each pocket of his pants. He passed them all to Tweedledum, who smiled with satisfaction, before motioning for Tweedledee to return the hat to the blond man. Mad Hatter took back his hat and put it back on his head. He then began to think about when he could use the card that was in the band of his hat, which was not just there for decoration.

Tweedledee suddenly pushed Tetch, signaling him to move forward, and they headed inside the marquee. Mad Hatter's eyes widened in amazement when he saw five people already inside, dressed like Lewis Caroll characters. There was the Lion, the Unicorn, the Walrus, the Carpenter, and the March Hare. Jervis frown, seeing these robbers who only wore these costumes to make the theme, without even understanding the characters they were embodying.

“Well, everyone! I present to you Mad Hatter! Said Tweedledum to the others.

- Hi! / Hello! / Sup!” The others replied, not really in unison.

The blond man just nodded, not even bothering to take off his hat. They didn't deserve his attention or his politeness.

“It’s your turn to introduce yourself! Ordered the big man in the yellow overalls to the criminals.

-My name is Lewis Yarnell-”

The black man stopped in his presentation, seeing Dumfrey's look, before coughing:

“I am the Lion.”

Tetch gave him a not really interested look, this soulless masquerade made no sense anyway.

“I’m the Unicorn! Exclaimed the man in the helmet.

- Me the Walrus. The orange-haired man continued.

- Carpenter. The ponytailed woman said simply.

- I am the March Hare. Take some more tea! Smiled Harriet.

- What do you mean, ‘more tea’? He doesn't have any at all. He can't have more. Questioned the Lion.

- You mean you can’t take less, it’s very easy to take more than nothing.” Mad Hatter couldn't help but answer, with a smile.

Everyone looked at each other in confusion, while the black man scratched his head, while responding in confusion:

“I-I guess?”

The hare-eared woman began to laugh, while Jervis smiled, amused. Tweedledum smiled too, but more because it was a good sign for them. He hadn't asked Harriet anything, but she had to keep it up!

The woman with bobbed blonde hair ended up pointing accusingly at the two Tweeds, stating:

"Judging by his bruises, you haven't been very nice!

- He started !” Tweedledee justified himself.

Harriet shook her head in judgment, before sighing, as she approached them:

“I'm going to take him to the circus infirmary. At least for an ice pack. You brutes!”

Pratt politely gestured for the blond man to follow her, which the latter, after a slight hesitation, did. Tweedledee crossed his arms in annoyance, and when the two had left, exclaimed:

“She thinks she’s the boss or what?!

- Silly! Don't you see what she's doing? She earns his trust! Tweedledum scolded.

- If it was enough to make quotes from Alice in Wonderland to gain the Mad Hatter's trust, you wouldn't have had to kidnap him. The orange-haired man pointed out.

- True. Agreed the Carpenter.

- Let her use her charms. Tweedledum sneered. A blonde woman with blue eyes is his type. Then she knows how to do it, she was an escort before, after all.”

The woman in the carpenter's cap made a sullen face, and crossed her arms at this remark, but said nothing in response.

Scarecrow arrived in the big library, and exclaimed:

“Riddler! Riddler! Where are you?! Where is Mad Hatter?!”

Edward ran up to the straw-haired man, the letter in his hand, and handed it to him, saying:

"Look!”

The Master of Fear took it, before frowning, complaining:

“He abandoned us!

- No! He was kidnapped!” Exclaimed the brown-haired man.

Scarecrow looked at the letter again, wondering how Riddler could have come to such a conclusion. Nygma took the letter back from the straw-haired man, asking with annoyance:

“Really, don’t you see?! It's obvious!

- How?

- Look at the letters!”

The Master of Fear looked at the letters, but he saw nothing more unusual than usual. Riddler grumbled, before starting to explain:

“We agree that Mad Hatter has a funny way of writing. Since he always starts from the end of the alphabetical character that he's writing to get to the beginning.

- Sure. Scarecrow replied, not really knowing what to say to that.

- Except that, look carefully, if the largest stroke begins at the end for some of the letters, this is not the case for all the letters. And when you put them together, it makes: “Help wonderland”! See?!

- ...What I see is that you drank too much coffee... Replied, somewhat disillusioned, the straw-haired man.

- Mad Hatter was kidnapped by the Wonderland Gang!!!” Edward exclaimed angrily.

Scarecrow's eyes widened in shock, because damn, Riddler was probably right!

“How are we going to find him? Asked the Master of Fear.

- Don't worry, I'm here! Trust me! I will find him!” Edward declared, putting his hands on his hips.

Chapter Text

At the circus infirmary, Harriet politely gestured for Mad Hatter to sit down, but he politely refused. The blonde-haired woman didn't insist any further, and looked in the small fridge, before taking out a pack of ice, where there were also packs of beer. It's certainly Unicorn.

Pratt rolled his eyes tiredly, before handing the ice pack to Jervis. The latter took it, before placing it on his sore cheek, while placing his hand on his stomach to see if the other brute had not broken his ribs.

" You’re okay? Harriet asked him, seeing him do it.

- I've seen better days. Tetch replied simply.

- Do you want me to check if you have any broken ribs?

- No.” Mad Hatter replied, a little dryly.

The hare-eared woman pouted at that, and Jervis huffed, before responding more politely:

"Sorry, I prefer not...

- I was a nurse before.” Harriet tried to convince.

But faced with the blond man's look, she concluded that it was a categorical no. Pratt sat down on the desk in the infirmary, before picking up a pen, and starting to play with it. Mad Hatter finally sat down too on the chair that Harriet had presented to him, and a palpable silence settled over.

“Why become a criminal? Jervis finally asked.

- Stealing allows you to earn money more quickly than escort.” The blonde woman replied nonchalantly, shrugging her shoulders.

Another silence hung over, before Tetch asked another question:

“Why join this gang specifically?

- They said they had an effective way of robbing banks. And I like Alice in Wonderland.

- I suppose I was the ‘effective way’…”

Harriet simply nodded, and the blond man removed the ice pack from his cheek, before sighing sadly:

“Down, down, down. Would the fall never come to an end?”

The blonde woman looked at him in surprise, while he looked at the ground, seemingly elsewhere. Then he continued in his words taken from Alice in Wonderland:

“I must be getting somewhere near the centre of the earth.”

Pratt came down from the desk, a worried look on his face, wondering what was happening with him. Mad Hatter looked up at her, his gaze filled with despair, while asking, almost pleading:

“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”

The hare-eared woman didn't know how to react, and decided to follow him in his delirious:

“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.

- I don’t much care where–... Jervis continued, lowering his head.

- Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.

- –so long as I get somewhere.” The blond man ended up crying.

Harriet tried to put her hand on Mad Hatter's shoulder consolingly, but had her arm pushed away. Tetch then said while crying:

"I shall be punished for it now, I suppose, by being drowned in my own tears!”

What was she supposed to do? Pratt then moved away slightly, before moving the desk to put it in the middle of the room. Then she took four chairs, and placed them, three very close to each other, the other at the end of the desk, before sitting down on the left chair, and suddenly exclaiming:

"No room! No room!”

Then she stood up, removing her hare ears, and placing her hands on her hips, acting indignant:

“There’s plenty of room!”

She sat down on the chair at the end of the table, before putting her hare ears back on, and sitting down again on the chair on the left, saying:

“Have some wine.”

Harriet took off her headband again, to sit down again on the chair at the end of the table, pretending to look around the table, and answer:

“I don’t see any wine.”

Then she put her ears back, to sit down again on the other chair, declaring:

"There isn’t any.”

Pratt removed the hare's ears again, while changing chairs, before acting angry, replying:

“Then it wasn’t very civil of you to offer it.”

She then put her headband back on, before retaliating, by sitting down again on the chair on the left:

"It wasn’t very civil of you to sit down without being invited.”

The blonde woman looked back at Mad Hatter, who was smiling, apparently delighted with the performance. Then he applauded happily, and Harriet saluted, as if she were in a play, smiling proudly. Pratt approached him, before saying, a clear relief in her voice:

“Glad you’re feeling better. I was worried.”

Jervis didn't say anything to that, because he sincerely doubted it. The only thing these robbers were interested in was his technology. No one would worry about him. Would Scarecrow and Riddler come looking for him elsewhere? He wasn't worth it after all. It was arrogant of him to think that they would come for him.

Tetch returned to his sad thoughts, before Harriet waved her hand in front of his eyes, saying:

“Would you rather we stay here for a bit, or can we go back to the others?

- Whatever..." Mad Hatter replied simply.

The blonde woman made a concerned face again, before offering him her hand, which he politely refused. The two exited the trailer, serving as an infirmary, before returning to the marquee. Tweedledum turned to them, with a smile, before asking:

“So, our guest is feeling better?

- An ice pack isn't really enough to ease the pain. So, no. Harriet replied dryly.

- Watch your mouth! Tweedledee exclaimed angrily, grabbing his arm tightly.

- Ouch! Let go of me! Brute! Pratt hissed, smacking the cheek of the big man.

- Tweedledee, let go of her! Ordered the big man in the yellow overalls.

- But- She just hit me! the other big man said indignantly.

- You asked for it.” Replied the Carpenter.

Tweedledee turned towards the other woman, while letting go of Harriet, not without seeing a smug smile from Mad Hatter. The big man in the red overalls huffed angrily, before sitting down on one of the benches in the stands, sulking.

“What a big baby.” Criticized Harriet, rubbing her arm in pain.

Jervis then handed her the ice pack he always had, and Pratt looked at him in surprise. She then smiled, before taking it, thanking him, and placing it on her arm. Tweedledum smiled even more, because things were going much better than he thought thanks to the hare-eared woman. The Carpenter frowned at this smile, but once again said nothing. What could she say?

The big man in the yellow overalls clapped his hands, before announcing:

"Alright! Today we can start the heist! Carpenter, do you have the plan from the bank?

- Yes. By going through the sewers, we should be able to reach the back corner of the bank and take the security guards by surprise. Replied the woman with the ponytail, taking out a map from the bank.

- We'll have to watch out for Killer Croc! The Lion pointed out.

- I also have a plan of the sewers, and I assure you, it is not in his territory.

- Good! March Hare, approach!” Tweedledum ordered, motioning for Harriet to come over.

The latter approached, and the big man in the yellow overalls then gave her the mental control cards, saying:

“You're the one who keeps an eye on Mad Hatter and provides him with the cards when he needs them.”

Then he cast his gaze on Jervis, before saying to him again:

“And you, no tricks.

- No tricks.” The blond man repeated.

If he managed to stick his only remaining control card on March Hare, then he could get his other cards back. She seemed nice, but most likely she was playing a role, he wasn't fooled.

They all walked towards the van, and Tweedledum started the vehicle, while Tweedledee sat in the passenger side. The others were in the back of the van, and the one with the unicorn helmet was looking at Mad Hatter. Jervis didn't like that, and pulled his hat down a little further on his head, before Harriet exclaimed:

“Unicorn! Stopped! That's rude!

- What?! I just wonder why we bother having him, when all we need is the hat! The long-haired man declared.

- My device only works with my brain waves.” Tetch replied dryly, shooting a bad look at this so-called Unicorn.

They arrived in an alley and got out of the van after Tweedledee opened the door. The Carpenter approached the manhole and took out a crowbar to remove the plaque. Then she went down, followed by Walrus, then Mad Hatter and March Hare. The Unicorn, the two Tweeds and the Lion, for their part, were going to make a sensational entrance for the diversion.

The man with orange hair grumbled, seeing a rat pass under his feet, and asked the Carpenter:

"It's still far away?

- Here we are!”

The woman with the ponytail stopped in front of a brick wall, before putting down the bag she was carrying. She pulled out a jackhammer, before looking at her phone. Then she began to attack the wall, while the other group made a grand entrance, firing their machine guns into the air.

The Carpenter managed to break through the wall, and invited the Walrus, impatient to get out of the sewers, to pass through. The woman with the ponytail put away her equipment, before saying:

“I’ll be waiting for you in the van.”

Then she left, not really wanting to stay in the sewers either. March Hare began to enter, motioning for Jervis to follow. The blond man then took the control card from his hat, before placing it on Harriet's head.

“Give me back the other cards.” Mad Hatter then ordered.

But suddenly a little flash of lighting appeared on the hare ears she was wearing, deactivating the card with a shock. Tetch stepped back in surprise, as the control card fell to the ground. Jervis blanched, already expecting retaliation. Pratt grabbed his collar angrily, pulling him closer to her, and the blond man put his hands in front of him, to protect his face. The blonde woman hissed coldly:

“Don’t you ever dare think that you can have control over me.”

Then she suddenly released him, before saying bitterly:

“Let’s go!”

Mad Hatter put his bow tie back on properly, all the while wondering what was going to happen next. Honestly, Jervis knew, he was dead. They arrived inside the bank, where an almost war was going on between the guards and the other robbers.

March Hare threw two cards at the faces of two of the guards, and the blond man mentally ordered them to drop their weapons. Then Harriet took the cards back, while knocking out the two guards. She threw three more cards at the remaining guards, who in turn dropped their weapons, before been knocked too.

Walrus, for his part, returned with the bank director, before saying:

“The director agrees to give us the code to the safe.

- Good.” Tweedledum smiled as he left the makeshift hideout, with the three others.

They headed towards the chest, while the Lion guarded the hostages with the Unicorn. The bank manager began to do the code, before Tetch suddenly grabbed his arm to stop him. The blonde-haired woman placed a card on the director's forehead, under the surprised gaze of the others.

“Hey! What are you doing ?!” Tweedledee exclaimed angrily.

Mad Hatter put his finger to his mouth, signaling him to be quiet, before saying to the director:

“How about you enter the real code instead?”

The director nodded, before entering a completely different code. Everyone looked at this in surprise, before Jervis said:

“Riddler told me that the banks have a new code who contact the police and opening the safe.”

Tweedledum slapped him on the back, in what was intended to be a friendly manner, although it was too violent for the blond man's liking. The big man in the yellow overalls exclaimed, while laughing:

“We did the right thing by kidnapping you!”

Mad Hatter rubbed his shoulder in pain, annoyance clear on his face. The Walrus, and the two Tweeds took the money with the bags they had brought. March Hare approached the director to take the card from him, not noticing that he had entered another code. When they had enough money, they left through the hole made by the Carpenter, before joining the van.

The woman with the ponytail started the vehicle, and they drove away, long before the police arrived.

Meanwhile, Riddler and Scarecrow were on a hacked police communication. Edward had suggested listening to crimes being committed, filtering in on bank robberies. They heard that a robbery took place at Gotham Bank.

Nygma took his computer, before opening it, to hack the digital code of the safe. The brown-haired man then saw the numbers appear. He noticed that the director had apparently tried to enter the code to alert the police, but was stopped in the process. Then the usual safe code came up, before something made Riddler wondering again, seeing yet another code. “07041768”? It had nothing to do with the code...

But yes! A date! Edward writes it on a sheet of paper, before making the slashes, to separate the numbers, giving: 07/04/1768. What happened on this date? In June there were the governor of Massachusetts declared the dissolution of the assembly, during the crisis of the colonies. No, no. Something was wrong.

The man in the bowler hat put the fact Jervis was British, before snapping his fingers in understanding. It was not June 4, 1768, but 7 April 1768, because European people didn’t write date like in USA. Scarecrow watched him with great questioning but decided not to disturb him in his thoughts.

" The circus! Riddler then exclaimed, smiling.

- What? Asked the straw-haired man.

- Jervis gave us a hint! Look, April 7, 1768, is the date of the birth of the circus in England!

- In this case we must check all the abandoned circuses of Gotham!

- I should ask Mad Hatter to work with me to do puzzles, he has potential.

- Poor guy, what an idea."

Edward stuck his tongue out, while Scarecrow laughed, before they began researching all the abandoned circuses in Gotham.

Chapter Text

The Wonderland Gang arrived at their lair, and the Unicorn, Walrus and Lion unloaded the money, as Tweedledum approached March Hare and Mad Hatter.

“He didn’t try anything suspicious?” » Asked the big man in the yellow overalls, to the blonde woman.

Jervis blanched at this question, while Harriet crossed her arms, before answering:

"No. Everything went well.”

The blond man looked up at Pratt in surprise, while the latter looked at him in turn, saying:

“No tricks.

- No tricks. Mad Hatter repeated.

- Good! Alright! Good work! You're officially in charge of the mind control cards now March Hare.” Smiled, satisfied, Tweedledum.

Harriet didn't respond to this ‘promotion’, but nodded anyway, and could see Tetch's scowl.

“Now, take Mad Hatter into the cell.” Suddenly ordered the big man in the yellow overalls.

The other two looked at him in surprise, and Tweedledum replied:

" What? I don't want him to escape. Come on.”

Pratt took the blond man's hand, beckoning him to follow her. But the latter quickly withdrew his hand, not without following her. What could he do anyway? He just hoped that Scarecrow and Riddler would come soon... If they came...

March Hare and Mad Hatter arrived at the cell, and Jervis entered, while Harriet locked the door.

“Why can’t you stand me touching you? Pratt asked suddenly.

- I didn't give you permission. The blond man replied coldly.

- Bold of the man who kidnapped, and mind controlled the person he loved.

- I didn't touch her. Keep your inappropriate ideas to yourself, you don't know me!” growled angrily, Mad Hatter.

The two looked at each other with mutual anger. Jervis went to the back of the cell, before sitting down and leaning against the wall.

"Alright. Tell me about you. What can I know about you?” asked the woman with hare ears.

But Harriet received only silence for an answer, and sighed, before saying:

“My real name is Harriet Pratt. I know yours too, Jervis Tetch.

- That's not my name. The blond man replied dryly.

- It was the one written in the newspapers.

- No, no. My name is Mad Hatter. You really don't know me.” Tetch said annoyed.

Another silence took place, before the blonde woman leaned back with her back to the cell, saying:

“I was in love too in the past, you know.”

Jervis looked up at her, while Harriet continued, still not looking at him:

“Her name was Lily. Lily Shaw. She was the most beautiful and interesting woman I had met in my life. She was the only one who could make my heartbeat so melodiously. But the happiness couldn't last, I guess... When we arrived in Gotham, we had hope for a better life. But this corrupt world took Lily from me. I tried to forget her, to find another woman or man who made my heart sing like she did. But I had to face the facts, my heart had died at the same time as Lily..."

Pratt heard a sob, and turned to Mad Hatter who was crying.

“Hey?! Why are you crying?! March Hare was surprised.

- This is one of the saddest stories I have ever heard. That’s terrible. Jervis sobbed.

- You are more sensitive than I might thought.

- I'm mad, not heartless.” Retorted the blond man, drying his tears.

Harriet smiled at that, before saying:

“I’m sorry I was mean to you.

-I tried to mind control you, so it was pretty justified. How did you manage to get rid of it anyway? Tetch asked.

- My hare ears can send electric shocks.

- Surprising.

- I would say cool.” Pratt smiled.

Jervis smiled in turn, before finally sighing sadly. Seeing this, Harriet suddenly asked:

“Why do you like the Mad Hatter so much?”

The blond man looked at her in surprise, before asking another question:

“Why are you dressed as March Hare?

- Hey! I asked the question first! Pratt said indignantly.

- ...I like this character... Because he has wit and is not biased by the rest of the world. He has his own logic. Maybe absurd for some, but pretty logic for me. That's why I like the Mad Hatter... And he has a nice hat.” Jervis finally replied.

Then Tetch stared at Harriet, making her understand that he would like her to answer his question too.

“I chose the March Hare because he’s my favorite character in the novel. Pratt then said.

- Have you read the book? Mad Hatter was surprised.

- Obviously! How else could I have done this little improvised theater piece for you?

- The Tweeds also cited the novel, but I highly doubt that they have read either book. The blond man pointed out.

- I read both, and I like both very much.

- Why do you like the March Hare?

- A bit like you who like the Mad Hatter. The March Hare is funny and has a great repartee. Not to mention his interactions with the Mad Hatter. It's always been my favorite.”

The two smiled at each other, before the one dressed as a Lion arrived with two meal trays, and said to March Hare:

“Here are your meals. Tweedledum said you'd be on call for the first shift. After it will be my turn.

- All right.” The blonde woman replied simply.

Harriet took the trays, before sliding one of them into the cell. But Jervis wasn't really hungry. He wanted so much to return to the library he called home, with Scarecrow and Riddler.

Mad Hatter closed his eyes, to imagine being in the lair with his two friends. Scarecrow as March Hare and Riddler as Dormouse. But suddenly it was Harriet who took the place as March Hare, and Jervis opened his eyes in surprise, before slapping his cheeks. He couldn't think straight anymore.

The blond man placed his hand on his sore cheek, which still had a bruise. It wasn't his smartest move of the day. Pratt saw Tetch's sudden, and somewhat stupid, gesture and asked in confusion:

“Why did you do that? It wasn't very smart...

- I'm not sure why... Jervis replied.

- Do you want me to bring you a bag of ice?

-And stop guarding my cell?

- I'm going to leave for two minutes. What? Are you going to dig a hole with the spoon?” Harriet joked.

Mad Hatter didn't respond, just looked at the metal spoon. Honestly, he was so desperate, it might have been an idea. Pratt left, and Jervis stood up, before looking around the cell. He needed to find a breach, anything that would allow him to escape.

The blond man managed to see a slight gap, and grabbed the spoon of the tray, before pushing it into the gap. Then he pulled to make the big brick move, which fell forward, making some others bricks falling too. Tetch pushed them, before passing through the hole he had created.

Harriet returned, and exclaimed in stupor, seeing Mad Hatter finish extricating himself from the hole and begin to flee. Pratt opened the cell door, before going through the hole as well, and running after Jervis.

“Come back here!” Exclaimed, angrily, the blonde woman.

Tetch shouted in surprise when Pratt caught him, and tackled him roughly to the ground, grabbing him by the waist. The two fell backwards, Jervis losing his hat in the process. The blond man tried to push March Hare away, who grabbed his wrists. She held them on the ground, while Mad Hatter struggled to extricate himself from the grip.

“I was only gone for two minutes! We really can't trust you! Harriet said annoyedly.

- Let go of me! Let go of me! Jervis exclaimed angrily.

- So that you run away! In your dream!”

Pratt forced the blond man to stand up, while holding his wrists behind his back, then put the Mad Hatter hat back on his head. She sighed:

“I feel like a prison guard...

- It's not an impression. Tetch retorted unpleasantly.

- Don't be mean. I don't want to have my head ripped off because of you.

- They are Tweedledee and Tweedledum, not the Queen and King of Hearts.”

Harriet took him to another cell, before closing that one as well, this time not taking her eyes off him. The blonde woman picked up the bag of ice that she had dropped, to chase him, before slipping it into the cell.

“The pack of ice, by the way. For your cheek.”

But Mad Hatter said nothing, remaining seated in the corner of the room, and looking at the wall next to him. Pratt made a sad face, before saying:

"I'm sorry... Okay... I had no choice..."

Jervis didn't even look at the blonde woman as he said:

“Alice began to remember that she was a Pawn, and that it would soon be time for her to move.”

- I-I'm not a pawn! No one has control over me! Quoting Alice Through the Looking Glass doesn't give you the right to make those implied insults! Harriet said indignantly.

- I declare it’s marked out just like a large chessboard! [..] Oh, what fun it is! How I wish I was one of them! I wouldn’t mind being a Pawn, if only I might join—though of course I should like to be a Queen, best.”

Then Mad Hatter stood up, before walking towards the hare-eared woman, and asking, his eyes still seeming to be empty:

"Tell me? Did you succeed in becoming a Queen? Did you manage to begin on the Second square to arrive at the Eighth, or have you accepted your destiny as a pawn?”

Pratt stepped back, hurt by this remark. Even more hurt by the fact that this remark was true. Lily would probably be disappointed in her if she saw her like this.

“It’s not even a Queen I want to become. I only wish to leave the chessboard..." Replied, with immense sadness, the blonde woman.

Then she looked at Jervis, who didn't even seem to be really there, he seemed somewhere else. Then she laughed bitterly:

“But I guess you don’t care. Why bother justifying myself.”

Then tears ran down her cheeks, and Harriet closed her eyes in frustration. How she wished Lily was here with her right now.

“I care.” Tetch replied suddenly.

The blonde woman looked up at him as he continued:

“From this chessboard you can also get out. Before I was a pawn, I tried to escape, and a knight chase me. But I managed to free myself, and I became the Mad Hatter. I was finally able to get out of the squares already given.

- ...How can I get out of this? Harriet then asked.

- By becoming what you really want to be, without limiting yourself to the limited choices of pieces that they are given you.”

Pratt put his hand under his chin, thinking, before answering:

“I would like to be me. I would like to remain Harriet... While being as free to think as the March Hare is.

- Who are you then? Mad Hatter asked, smiling.

- I'm March Harriet!” The blonde woman smiled with determination.

March Harriet then looked at the cards in her hands, before returning her gaze to Mad Hatter, and declared:

“I’ll give them back to you. I'm tired of being here.”

Jervis smiled in joy and surprise, and the blonde woman slipped him the mind control cards into the cell, before they heard a voice exclaim:

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING ?!”

Pratt turned to face the Lion, and the latter rushed towards her, exclaiming:

“You whore! Fucking traitor!”

Harriet made her hare ears electrified and sent a violent shock against the black man. He screamed in pain, before collapsing to his knees. The blonde woman opened the cell, to let Tetch out, and she declared:

"Let's get out of here!”

Then March Harriet held out her hand towards Mad Hatter, before asking:

“Permission to take your hand?”

Jervis looked at her for a moment, slightly hesitant, before finally placing his hand in Pratt's, who began to smile. She dragged him with her, the two walking away from the cell area, while the Lion was barely coming to his senses. The black man got up angrily, before watching the other two run away, and taking his phone.

In the marquee, Dumfrey was counting the money, the rest of the gang not really helping with it. He doubted that they really knew how to count anyway. Suddenly his phone rang, and he answered it, grumbling:

"What?

-Harriet helped Mad Hatter escape! She's a traitor!”

The big man in the yellow overalls threw away the money he was counting, before yelling:

"WHAT ?!”

This alarmed the others, who turned to him in suprise.

" What's wrong? Deever asked.

- Harriet helping the Mad Hatter! Tweedledum exclaimed angrily.

- Eh?! The others all exclaimed in unison.

- Bring them fucking back to me!!!” Dumfrey ordered angrily.

March Harriet saw movement coming from the marquee, and frown, before saying to Mad Hatter:

“Let’s take a detour.”

Suddenly, the Lion brutally tackled the blonde woman. He took off her hare ears and threw them away, before she could launch an electric shock. The black man grabbed her by the hair and prepared to hit her. But Jervis stuck one of his mind control cards on him, and the Lion stopped immediately.

The black man stood up, and took three steps back, as Tetch reached out to Pratt to help her up.

"Are you alright? Mad Hatter asked, worriedly.

- I've honestly seen better days, but I will survive.” Harriet replied, smiling reassuringly.

She accepted the blond man's outstretched hand and stood up.

“You think you’re smart, huh?” Tweedledum suddenly asked, standing in front of them, the rest of the group surrounding them.

Mad Hatter pushed the Lion to stand in front of him and March Harriet, protectively. But that didn't seem to make the others back down. Pratt looked at her hare ears, but they were too close to the others for her to risk picking them up again.

Suddenly, a huge flock of crows began to form on the roof of one of the caravans next to them. A sinister laugh could be heard, before fiery orange pupils could be discerned in the crows cloud. Then the being began to sing a lullaby, completely changed from its initial meaning:

“Screaming, Screaming little brute

How I am please when you shout!”

Everyone began to back away, beginning to feel the fear rising. All except one. Jervis couldn't stop a smile from appearing on his face. They had come. Seeing the Mad Hatter's look of delight, March Harriet understood that they must be allies.

The flock of crows disappeared, revealing Scarecrow, his sinister smile not disappearing.

“It’s Scarecrow!!!” The Unicorn yelled in panic, before running away.

The Carpenter didn't ask for more either, and ran away too. But that was without counting on the Riddler, who activated his trap, causing them to have their feet tied by a rope, putting them upside down.

The Master of Fear descended from the roof of the caravan. Tweedledee rushed towards him, only to be greeted by a back kick from the straw-haired man. The big man in the red overalls collapsed to the ground, before holding his face in shock and pain. Scarecrow walked towards him, before blowing orange smoke from his mouth, right into Deever's face. Then he began to sing again:

« Sleep, baby, sleep

The monsters want your meat

The fear shakes your heartbeat

It is really sweet

Sleep, baby, sleep. »

Tweedledee began to scream in terror, under the satisfied gaze of the Master of Fear. Mad Hatter, meanwhile, ordered the Lion to attack the Walrus, while March Harriet ran to retrieve his ears and put them back on. Then she launched an eletric shock towards Tweedledum, but he dodged. Damn. He was more agile than she thought.

He was fast too, because she didn't have time to react, that Dumfrey had grabbed her neck, and thrown away her hare ears. Upon seeing this, Mad Hatter had the Lion change his target, and ordered him to attack Tweedledum instead. The dark man jumped on the back of the big man in the yellow overalls. But the latter had no trouble grabbing his head and smashing him to the ground. The control card fell, and Jervis frowned. He pulled another card out of his sleeve, and threw it towards the Walrus, who was starting to fight Scarecrow.

The Master of Fear stopped in his fight, surprised, because Mad Hatter knew that the straw man could easily handle the fight. Then he saw the man with the iron mask and walrus teeth rushing towards the big man in the overalls. The latter was helding a blonde woman by the neck, clearly strangling her.

The Walrus brutally dug his saber teeth into the shoulder joint of Dumfrey, who grunted in pain, but did not let go of Harriet. The latter was starting to see blurry, as she continued to struggle desperately.

Scarecrow came towards Tweedledum, and kicked him in the face, but he seemed more resistant than the other. The big man in the yellow overalls grabbed his leg, before throwing him violently. The straw man crashed suddenly into one of the tents, which collapsed on him.

Dumfrey then grabbed the Walrus, by the saber teeth, and lifted him up, before smashing him to the ground. Then he punched the orange-haired man hard in the face, shattering his metal mask.

Fear began to rise in Jervis' heart, as he didn't know what to do to save March Harriet. Tweedledum smiled triumphantly, as he tightened his grip on Pratt's neck, who gasped in pain. Tetch threw his control cards, but the big man managed to avoid them all without any difficulty.

The blond man's gaze then fell on a piece of glass, and he suddenly took it, before jumping on Dumfrey. Tweedledum let out a scream of surprise, before it turned into pain when Mad Hatter planted the broken glass in the neck of the big man in the yellow overalls.

Dumfrey tried to grab Jervis, but Tetch brutally bit his hand, causing him to scream in pain even more, as he bit him to the bone. Tweedledum dropped March Harriet, who collapsed to the ground, unconscious. The big man hoped he could catch Mad Hatter with his other hand.

Dumfrey managed to grab the blond man's coat, but the latter did not release his grip on the broken glass, even if it meant hurting his own palm. Mad Hatter bit the hand of the big man in the yellow overalls even harder, while rotating the broken glass in the wound.

Tweedledum collapsed to his knees on the ground, desperately continuing to pull Jervis, but the latter wouldn't let go. Suddenly, Scarecrow returned to the fight with a staff, as did Riddler, who arrived raising his cane. The two smashed their weapons right into Dumfrey's face.

The big man then fell unconscious, and collapsed on the ground, finally causing Tetch to let go of his grip. Seeing the wound on Jervis's hand, Riddler said with concern:

“My riddle ! Your hand!”

But the blond man didn't care, all that mattered was... Her. He stood up, before walking over to March Harriet, who was still unconscious, and kneeling next to her. Mad Hatter gently moved her shoulder, but she didn't wake up. Jervis stirred her a little more, but still had no reaction.

Tears began to well up in his eyes, as Scarecrow and Edward came closer, and knelt beside him. The Master of Fear then took out a vial, and said:

“It's something I started creating... It can restore breathing...

- Why do you have that? Riddler asked, with great questioning.

- I don't accept that bullies escape with a heart attack.”

Then with these words, he opened the blonde woman's mouth, before making her drink the soothing blue liquid. But nothing happened, March Harriet remained unconscious, still not seeming to breathe.

“So she sat on with closed eyes, and half believed herself in Wonderland, though she knew she had but to open them again, and all would change to dull reality.” Tetch cried in despair.

The others closed their eyes in sadness, while Mad Hatter continued:

“Please, don’t leave like that! Open your eyes, open your eyes! Reality can still become Wonderland! You don't have to keep your eyes closed!”

Suddenly, March Harriet coughed, and held her neck, before taking a deep breath. She sat up, and felt like she come back to life, as the air returned to her lungs. Pratt coughed a little more, before Jervis suddenly took her in his arms, to everyone's surprise.

"You are alive! You are alive!” The blond man exclaimed happily.

After a short hesitation, Harriet returned the hug, smiling. She coughed a little more, before proudly declaring:

“Of course I'm alive, you can't get rid of me that easily!”

Riddler put his hand on Mad Hatter's shoulder, while gently scolding:

“Let her breathe, poor girl, she’s only just come back from the dead.

- Oh! Sorry! It was inappropriate! Jervis apologized greatly, withdrawing from the hug, blushing.

- It didn't bother me.” Pratt replied softly.

She then got up, followed by the others. The blonde woman was still shaking a little from all the adrenaline and gave a reassuring smile at Tetch' worried look. She saw his wound, and exclaimed:

“But you’re hurt!

- Less than this idiot! Edward then said, pointing at Dumfrey, unconscious and pretty banged up. If he wasn't already dead.

- Matty didn't miss him! Scarecrow declared proudly.

- He was going to kill you... I couldn't let him do that... The blond man replied simply.

- I guess the blood on your mouth isn't yours. March Harriet remarked, pointing to her own lips.

- Yes, I bit him with all my strength.” Smiled, proudly, Mad Hatter.

Pratt didn't know why, but the idea that someone had fought for her like that really made her happy. Edward then declared:

“Okay, I don’t know about you. But I really don't want to stay here. This place is truly gloomy.

- Really? I think it has its own little charm. Replied the straw-haired man.

- Everything that is scary or creepy has ‘its own little charm’, for you.”

The Master of Fear shrugged, smirking, as Tetch asked March Harriet:

“Would you like to come with us?

- You mean... Join your group?” Said, surprised, the blonde woman.

At this question, Jervis nodded shyly, and Pratt looked at the other two, who didn't really seem against the idea. Although Edward was a little more reluctant. But he was always reluctant about change. Scarecrow, on the other hand, seemed far from seeming against it. Tetch seemed to like Harriet, and she seemed friendly.

Mad Hatter then held out his hand towards March Harriet, before asking her, smiling gently:

“Permission to take your hand?”

At this, the blonde woman smiled, before taking back her hare ears and putting them back on her head. Then she placed her hand in Jervis's, before responding, still smiling:

"With pleasure!”