Care
Jonathan does not care about anybody other than himself.
Not at all.
[Just trying to get back into writing these two, I feel I’ve kinda forgotten how.]
Care
Jonathan Crane has never been a man to worry about others. His life had been years of having to rely on himself, care only for himself and the only person he’d ever had any concern about was himself. Other humans were disgusting unreliable creatures who would only burn, hurt and gut him alive were they let close. No, Jonathan Crane was better left alone and human kind would be a better species in his opinion if everyone followed his lead and only cared about themselves.
Being in Arkham only strengthened his theory. In here there was no safety in numbers, only a fleeting chance that you may not get killed by those you spend time with. Jonathan stretches out on his bunk, listening to the usual sounds of twilight in the Asylum. Doctors giving out the final bits of medication, the guards shutting down lights and various patients giving a final fight before settling in to sleep. He and Jervis converse for a while across the hallway, talking about the events of the day, any new research the two had seen on their last trip out of the asylum before they each say their goodnights and settle to sleep.
Not an hour passes before suddenly the lights are on and he’s deafened by a shouting so loud he’s sure that it’s a screaming child. He’s only ever heard toddlers scream and bawl this loud and long in succession. Covering his ears he gets to his feet, storming up to the Plexiglas wall and scowling as the new inmate is dragged down the hallway, wondering who he’s going to have to give nightmares to for the next few weeks.
He’s not one to worry about others, but seeing Edward being dragged down the hall by Arkham guards and followed by a flustered Doctor makes something inside of him wriggle in discomfort. The Riddler wasn’t fighting, at least not with his body, in fact it seemed as if he’s given up on everything except screaming. His words are jumbled, crammed together quickly, repeated incessantly and driving Jonathan crazy as they echo off the walls. Edward is taken to his usual cell next to Jonathan’s own, still screaming as he hears the straps of the bed being tightened over a body.
Jonathan leans on the adjoining wall of their cells, trying to focus in on hearing what the guards and Doctors are discussing rather than the garbled yells of anger coming from Edward. There’s a few words of worry from the guards, the want of sedatives and a way to stop Edward from riling up the other inmates and keeping them from sleep. Jonathan smirks to himself as he hears the Doctor’s reply, one which he himself has given many times before to the stupid hired muscle. “He’s too worked up, I don’t like his stats and I’m not going to risk giving him sedatives right now. He’ll calm down in his own time, just ignore him. With Edward that’s the best medicine.”
He rolls his eyes and watches them walk away, leaving Edward to yell to himself in his cell, the Plexiglas smothering his volume a little. The lights flick off again, Edward continues yelling.
“Tell me! Somebody tell me! How did he do it? It’s not fair! He’s a cheater! He cheated! He must have! I’m a genius, I had him trapped! I know I did! Please! Please! Somebody tell me! Please!” Jonathan can hear the stress in his voice, the tears that catch in his throat and the rough quality to his voice that means he’s close to damaging his vocal chords. Shifting closer to the wall he slides down to the floor, getting himself on level with where Edward’s head would be in his own cell.
“Come now Edward, there’s no need for such noise.” He does not raise his voice, there is no need, should Edward wish to listen he will be quiet and listen, should he not then he will carry on and Jonathan will go to bed. It is of no surprise to him that Edward quietens immediately, snuffling to himself in his cell and hiccupping on his angry sobs. Everyone seems to forget that he was a Professor of Psychology and unlike the Doctors here, he can actually see what the patients need and give it to them. Of course, only to the patients that he wishes to help. Not that he cares for Edward, but even he finds it difficult to sleep through screams.
“He cheated. No one will tell me how.” Edward coughs, probably wriggling on his bunk to try and get comfortable. Jonathan leans a little closer to the vent that joins their cells, listening to him as he whines. “I need to know the answer. I need it. He’s a cheater, I need to know how.”
He tuts, keeping his voice low as he speaks, almost soothing some would say, if he cared of course. “No you don’t. What you need is sleep. Without sleep you cannot think clearly, if you cannot think clearly than you cannot solve this puzzle that Batman has laid before you.” Edward is an interesting subject for him, always so needy for attention and yet not wanting anyone to push too close and see the insecure child inside. He’s so wonderful to play with but right now, pushing too hard will break him, patients can only be broken once.
“He cheated. I know he did Jon, he cheated.”
Jonathan nods, despite the knowledge that his conversation partner cannot see him. “And tomorrow after you have slept, wiped away the tears and calmed down enough to think clearly you shall realise how he cheated.” He hears Edward sigh, nuzzle himself closer to his bed sheets and the screaming, the yelling, the stress finally stops. “Good boy. Now get some rest.”
He does not care for anyone but himself, Jonathan reassures himself as he creeps back over to his bed. Flopping on top of the thin mattress he manages to settle into a semblance of rest. He does not care about Edward. He just cares about getting some sleep, if Edward is soothed in the meantime then so be it, it’s just a side effect. He does not care about Edward.
Jonathan falls asleep to the sounds of Edward’s calm and heavy breathing.
