Chapter Text
A surprising calm night of Gotham, two unlikely criminals are currently in the middle of their escape of unforgettable Arkham Asylum. Jonathan Crane a.k.a. The Scarecrow a terrifying man driving by injecting fear into his victims. Jervis Tetch a.k.a. The Mad Hatter a loony man with an obsession of the Alice in Wonderland novel. These two working together is something no one expect, and they knew it, so they waited until the right opportunity arises. A movie night.
Whatever movie it was it wasn’t important, specifically to Jervis as it wasn’t any of the Alice in Wonderland movies. The two went to the bathrooms to “refresh” themselves, escorted by two guards and as they arrived in the room, taking this to take out the two guards. Then making their way into a hole that they’ve been working on for months behind a toilet cubicle. They entered a thin hallway, and made their way down and found another hole, inside was a storage room that had their belongings. Finding what wasn’t discarded, which wasn’t much; A blue coat, a top hat, some cards, a tatted short cloak, a satchel, and sack that would be Crane’s mask.
A little disappointing but took what they had and went back in the thin hallway within the walls. They continued down until finding themselves in a catacomb. It was dark and wet, so they stayed close, hoping that they we’re going the right direction. It was maybe an hour or so when they found an outing of theses tunnels, stand to see a dead tree and a wall of rocks just behind it, not too high. They climbed up and one they reached the top and noticed the walls of the Asylum was at least 10 feet away from them. Quickly but quietly ran into the woods in front of them, leaving that hell behind.
They we’re free.
It must be hours now as they were wondering though one of the many abandoned streets of Gotham . Jervis happy to be , was singing aloud .
“We’re free, we're free, we're free, we're filled with joy~ ”
“We're free, we're free, we’re free, we’ re-"
“JERVIS!” Jonathan turned as his anger was wearing thin.
Jervis gave a little “oops" afterwards and Jonathan sighed .
They approach a house that didn’t look too bad compared to the others on this street , up the stairs and opened the door, which wasn’t locked. Most likely none of the houses are. They are greeted to a cold and dark hallway entrance . They walked past the first door to their left, an empty room that would be the lounge. Soon they approached the next door to their left, a kitchen.
“This place gives me the willies,” Jervis expressed.
Jonathan with his head points over to the kitchen, “Someone is living here,”
Jervis a little worried asked, “How can you tell?”
“There’s dishes,” Jonathan noted as there was in fact dishes that was on a drying rack.
“Hopefully it’s a spirit...” Jervis tried to laugh it off, “Ha, ha,”
Jonathan looked down at his companion, “A spirit that does dishes?”
“Yes,”
After a moment, both heard a creaking sound coming from the staircase behind them on their right. As Jonathan said before there is someone living here. They turn to face their unexpected host. A younger man but not by much was armed with a bat, high up and ready to swing. He was wearing a greed dressing gown.
“Oh shit,” Both Jonathan and the man said simultaneously.
“Edward Nygma?” Jonathan said almost surprised.
Jervis, who was behind Jonathan, asked who, obliviously not knowing the name.
“The Riddler,” Jonathan answered.
“OH!” Jervis now knowing, “The gentleman in the green spandex,”
The man now identified as Edward Nygma a.k.a. The Riddler had previously escaped Arkham a few months ago was now clearly mad by this comment about the spandex, “FINE!” he’s been getting so much crap about it and he’s sick of it, “I’ll wear something else,”
Jonathan chuckled to himself “So you live here,”
“Can we stay too?” was quickly followed by Jervis.
Edward took a moment to think about it as he rests the bat on his shoulder. “You know where I live, so I guess so,” knowing that it be hard to find a different place to stay.
“I already have taken the top floor,” Edward then added, clearly wanting to make sure things were set between the three of them.
“Hay,” Jervis said
“I’ll take the basement,” Jonathan then said as he walks past both men to the staircase that lead to said basement.
“HAY,” Jervis said again, clearly upset, “This isn’t fair,” he crossed his arms to his chest.
“I was here first, you snooze you lose,” Edward shrugged.
And with that was the start to an unexpected alliance, that none of the three gentlemen could see happening at first.
□□□
It was obvious that news will break out about Jonathan Crane and Jervis Tetch escape from Arkham will arise as seen in the Gotham Gazette newspapers.
The three men didn’t interact with each other very often as Jonathan was down in the basement making and testing his fear toxins that he had to make up again. Edward would normally be up on the top floor making new gadgets for his puzzles and writing down innovative ideas on his pin board to test the Batman to new games which sometimes he’ll go and test out and always escaping before Batman can actually get to him. Jervis with his remaining cards were making new ones and sometimes go out to test them on people, causing “accidental” death sometimes.
Jervis was also the more vocal, and tried to talk to his house's mates, Edward was easier to talk to then Jonathan was. He would sometimes interrupt the two with their works as he didn’t need to do much to rebuild himself as he’s already gotten himself some henchmen, well mind controlled that is but none-the-less he had more “free time" then the other two. He believes that the three of them could team up so one night he managed to convince the two to have dinner with him that he made.
Jonathan and Edward were seated at the small table in the kitchen, waiting in silence. Jervis was just finishing off his dish, “I’ve been thinking,” he said aloud getting the other two attention.
As he placed the plates in front of them, he continued “We should team up, like actually and not just be in each other's personal spaces,”
“Your one to talk,” Edward added.
“Let me finish,” Jervis huffed “I purpose alliance! An alliance that will have the people of Gotham scared and begging,”
Jonathan turned to him, “What’s your ideas?”
Jervis smiled and started snickering “We put traps all over Gotham that are specialised with each of our themes!”
Both Edward and Jonathan seem to like this idea, “Now that seems interesting,” Edward said, and Jonathan agreed.
“So, we’re at agreement?” Jervis said excited as the two others agreed with the alliance.
“Now we can eat!” He as he begins eating his made meal, happily.
The said meal was meatloaf with the side of mash potatoes and broccoli... Yeah, it’s not good. The mash is dry and lumpy, and the broccoli was also dry like it wasn’t cooked, while the meatloaf was under cooked in the middle. Jonathan ate it as he could handle it but Edward on the other hand was struggling.
After Jonathan and Jervis were finished eating, they left their plates and cutlery, knowing that Edward would clean up after. Once Edward knew the two of them where gone he threw his dinner out and started cleaning.
□□□
With the next week the three of them started planning exactly what this idea was and soon everything was ready for them to go out and set up their traps all over Gotham. A month later they were finished and now had to wait to see who falls victim first.
And like that it wasn’t long when they read in the Gazette newspaper that many people have fall into a lambent full of traps and puzzles. The police department had found and discovered 5 dead, 2 injured and 1 completely unscathed. With the 3 that lived they described what they had endured, they mentioned difficult to solve puzzles and riddles, if they get wrong something will come out, like axes, high voltage shocks and two types of gasses, later discovered as fear gas and a high enhancement hydrogen drug evidence in the unfortunate victims. One man was crushed.