Monsters Create Monsters

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters here (unfortunately), except for my OC in this story.

Note: Okay so this is an AU Origin story for Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow, so it doesn't take place in any film, comic or series continuity, however you may see some references. Anyway, the real reason for this fic being written is as a birthday present for a good friend of mine, Aivia. Happy birthday, and hope you enjoy.

What is the cure for fear?

There isn't one. Because not only does fear make us mortal, it makes us wise. We know what are limits are and how far the human mind can go before the sense of danger is too great to comprehend, that fear can protect the ones we love, but it may also destroy the ones we despise.

I've known all my life how powerful fear really is; I was its victim and its Shepard. I still am both even now, how is this possible you ask? How can one dread fear so much and yet thrive on it to the point it consumes them and turns them into something else? Well that's because I now know…I'm no longer one.

You want to know where I learned the meaning of fear…it was from when I was weak and small, when I couldn't defend from the rapid minds of tortures who feed off the sorrow of those weaker than them. School was a nightmare I could never wake up from or escape. My parents never took notice, the teachers never helped; I just eked my way through life dreading what was behind the next hallway corner.

Those…thugs, that can be my only way of describing them without profanity, that was another weapon they would use on me. Along with the violence, the threats and taunts and the embarrassments. And it only got worse as I grew older. I was once picked on simple because I was the small one, the young piglet fresh for the slaughter. But in High School and University, it was because of my meek and scrawny stature they knew they could have their way with me, as well as my habit of my nose always being in some kind of book.

I studied Chemistry, Biology and Psychology at Gotham University; I was always a smart child, but few ever took notice…no, there wasn't a single soul that took notice…at least not until she did.

I was 19 at the time; late for my next Psychology class as I was up all night studying, that was another aspect that bullies love to have fun at, I would rather find a good book and finish it in one night then go to their drunk induced parties and orgies. Anyway, I was late and so I was rushing to my next class not taking the time to see where I was running as I was still trying to organise my books stacked under my arm. My glasses slipped for the brief second to the edge of my nose, and that slight lose of vision caused me to miss the girl standing in front of me and crash right into her.

Let's just say my physical presence was limited at best, so naturally I was the one that crumbled to the ground. ''Oh, I'm sorry I wasn't watching…'' I stuttered in fear, yes fear, I may have been the one who took the fall but it was just nature that the person would still take advantage over me and lay thick on the humiliation. But she didn't, instead all I could hear from her was apologies.

''Oh my God I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have been standing there, here let me help you!'' Those words being spoken in that order of a sentence, it was like a foreign language to me. At first I thought she was just fooling, that is until she grabbed at least half of my books and papers in her petite hands and stood up. ''I'm sorry about that I hope I got everything.''

I finally had the time to look up and finally take in what I thought at the time was the world's only true beauty. Long fiery red hair tied back, cute freckles planted along her cheeks and nose. A confident, yet sympathetic posture. And that smile…a smile that almost made me forget I was still on the ground until she held out her hand. ''Here, let me help.''

''Huh?'' I blurted out still not really sure what was going on, was this some kind of trick she was playing? I hold her hand and then she'll let go causing me to fall again? I didn't want to in case of that, but I was hypnotised and lost in her light green eyes, like mine. Reaching out, she took a firm grip of my hand and lifted me up.

''Are you okay?'' She asked with a great degree of concern, I hadn't said anything coherent to her yet; she must think I have concussion or something. Say something Jonathan Crane, say something.

''Yes I'm fine, I just…wasn't looking where….''

''No it was my bad,'' She cut in. ''It was dumb of me to stand in the middle of the hallway.''

''No it wasn't! I mean, not for you anyway…I mean…'' Once again, I make myself look like an imbecile and hear the laughs that follow. But her laugh wasn't in harsh tone, it sounded playful. That's not how others have laughed at me. I wanted to stay and listen to her laugh all day, but then I remembered why I was in a rush. ''I need to go!'' I rushed off before something else happens that will crush my ego more than it already has.

''Hold on,'' She called out to me, and like an obedient puppy I stopped instantly and turned to her. ''I'm new here, and I'm meant to be at Professor Hoosan's Psychology class, but I'm not sure where it is.''

Could this be God messing with me? She's in my class! I was so ecstatic that I forget to even answer her statement as she smiled at me once again. ''Don't worry if you're not sure where it is either, I'll find it.''

''No!'' I shout back at her before she starts walking off, it sounded too loud as it caused an echo down the hallway. She stopped and turned to me. ''I mean, I know where it is. In fact, that's my class too; I was heading to it now. So if you can follow me…''

''That would be great,'' She hesitated and smiled at me once more. ''Sorry I didn't get your name.''

''Oh it's Jonathan, Jonathan Crane!'' I hold out my hand and pray it isn't covered in sweat as she shakes it.

''Jessica, Jessica Cornell…hey how about that? We have the same initials, ain't that cool.''

''Uh, yeah…very cool''. Very cool indeed.

I was over the moon those next few months; excitement, thrill, happiness were just some of the emotions I had experienced, but one that always stayed with me was fear. The fear that this was all just some trick, and that Jessica would leave me soon. But she didn't, we stayed good friends even if all the taunts I had to endure from jocks started on her too, she stayed by my side, and I think that's one of the reasons why I wanted our friendship to become something more.

It was over half a year when I finally worked up the confidence; I was going to ask her that day. But it was how that day started that I thought maybe it wasn't to be. Jessica and I were walking to our biology lesson together, it's amazing that she took that with me also. I wanted to ask her on our way to lesson, but she was such a fast walker it didn't seem right.

''Jonathan Crane, move your butt or we'll be late!'' She called out to me as I tried to catch up.

''We still have five minutes left, we could slow down for a bit!'' I replied and that's when she stopped and looked at me like I had mud on my face. ''What?''

''What's going on? You never miss the chance to be in class early, not to mention this morning you've been extremely quiet.''

She's caught me out, I'm praying that I'm not as red as I believe myself to be as I try to stutter out some kind of reasonable answer. ''I just…have something important I want to tell you. But it can wait until we're in class.''

She scrunched up one eye and smiled at me, knowing I was guilty of something. Eventually though she shrugged her shoulders and proceeded into class. I followed her, but the moment I got into the door, that's when my life changed forever.

Someone must have been hiding behind the door, because once I stepped in, someone jumped out and surprised me. I couldn't tell who it was as they were holding a large cage in front of them, but it was what was in the cage that I was more fixated with…a large black bat.

I yelped and fell to the floor, cowering in the first corner I could reach. The thing was flapping around erratically as if it was trying to get out and attack me. I was so spooked by it that I could only whimper more as the culprit was none other than Bobby Giggs, one of my worst tormentors, holding up the cage and laughing his head of with the rest of the class.

''You should have seen the look on your face twig!'' He smirked at me. ''It was price…''

SLAP! His sentence was cut off as Jessica backhanded the jock across the face. The whole class was in shock at what just happened, and so was I. Never in my life had I seen Jessica's mood so negative, the rage that filled her face scared even me. ''What the hell is wrong with you?'' She screamed at Bobby. ''Are you trying to give him a heart attack?''

Bobby didn't reply at first, instead he placed the cage with that creature in it on the front desk and turned to Jessica, a dark grin plastered on his face. ''You know, you could have had any guy you wanted, instead you hang around with this geek!''

''Yeah well that geek…my boyfriend! Is worth a hundred of you.''

I froze instantly; did she just call me her boyfriend? If I wasn't so terrified I'd be thrilled. Bobby laughed harder now after hearing her words. ''You'd rather that, then me?''

''Wow, I think you're going for a record of most words you've ever spoken in one day!''

That's when Bobby's expression changed from amusement to anger; the class was starting to back Jessica now. He was losing his audience, and so he did the only thing any violent Neanderthal would do…

SLAP! I watched helplessly as Bobby knocked Jessica to the ground with a blow twice as hard as hers was. The class was in shock, its no lie when it's a taboo to hit a girl, let alone with that amount of force. And I saw Jessica do something else for the first time, cry. Her left cheek was rosy red and I think starting to swell up.

Blindly, and without any thought of fear or the consequences, I ran towards Bobby and pushed him over with every ounce of strength I had. He tumbled over the desk and slumped to the floor nearby. All was silent now as I kneeled down next to Jessica to tend to her as Bobby sat back up.

''Oh you are so dead now you son of a…'' He stopped himself, his facial expression turned to confusion. He lifted up his arm, the one he landed on, and saw the large cut on it with blood oozing out like a fountain. Panic seemed to consume him as he went into some hyperventilated fit. ''Oh, oh God! I'm bleeding! Someone get me a towel, I'm bleeding!''

Blood? The darkness of my childhood, the man who made me my wiping boy for years was afraid of blood? I was almost another person now seeing him go into a frenzy as the blood continued to pour out; a happy person, one without fear. ''What's the matter Bobby?'' I taunted. ''You've made me bleed all the time, what's the difference between our own bad blood?''

''Oh please I'm sorry, just please make it stop!'' He cried out more. I didn't want it to stop, never to stop. For once I had the power, for once I wasn't afraid, I made someone else fear. That's when I knew the true power fear holds over a person, it was intoxicating.

''What's going on in here?'' Our teacher had finally arrived to the lesson, and was shock to say the least by what he saw.

Before Jessica or I could say anything, Bobby took advantage. ''They attacked me and now I'm bleeding, someone please help me!''

''Crane! Cornell! My office now!'' Our teacher told the two of us as he rushed over to tend to Bobby. I almost wanted to stop him, let the brute suffer in a pool of his one blood, just as he had let me for years. But Jessica pulled on my arm forcing me to look at her, it confirmed my suspicion that her cheek had swollen and that brought me back to reality.

The two of us were sent to our teacher's office; it could be a while before he arrived as he might still be tending to Bobby. Jessica was still whimpering a little as she held a cold ice bag over her swollen cheek. ''Are you okay?'' I asked.

''I'll be fine. Are you okay? You never told me you had a phobia of bats.''

''To be honest, I never thought much about it. They are fascinating creatures but…but they're just so…''

''Mysterious, unknown. You want to know all you can about them but afraid of what you might find.''

''Exactly.'' After that answer there was a moment of silence, neither of us were really sure what else there was to talk about. However, one thing did come into my mind. ''What was that…boyfriend talk then?''

For the first time since incident, Jessica gave a weak smile and turned to me. ''Just wanted to give my support to you, although probably didn't help much considering it was a lie.''

''It doesn't have to be a lie!'' I blurted out before I could stop myself. Now I've done it. Jessica looked at me bewildered; I started it now I might as well finish. ''What I mean to say is…if you really wanted me to be…your…boyfriend, I could if you wanted.''

She smiled at me warmly. ''If I didn't have this ice bag on my cheek I would kiss you.''

I think I almost fainted there and then hearing her say those words. ''S-So is that a y-yes?'' I asked worried that I might have misheard her.

To reassure me she meant what she did, she leaned forward and kissed me gently on the lips. ''Defiantly.''

The years after that were the happiest I've ever been, and most likely ever will be. Jessica and I stayed together even after we graduated which I know for a fact was rare for any couple, she was willing to stick by me and I was too her. I was asked to become the professor of Psychology at Gotham University and Jessica became a psychiatrist at a number of hospitals before she was soon offered a place at Arkham Asylum, something that I was more than a little concerned about.

''Jonathan I promise you nothing's going to happen, there'll be maximum protection.''

''I know, I know, but I still worry about you.'' I replied as I looked over some papers from students in my class. I loved my job as a teacher, people were finally starting to respect my vast knowledge and I was no longer picked on. Jessica walked over and kissed me on the cheek.

''What are you working on?'' She asked noticing another stack of papers under the student's reports. Before I could stop her, she quickly grabbed the sheets and read them over. ''This looks too advanced for a student's report…and is this biology.''

''It's just a little project I'm working on.''

''Your fear projects?'' She groaned knowing full well what the answer already was.

''But if I can understand it, genetically copy fear, we can learn how to suppress it!''

''Jonathan…''

''See right there, worry!'' I babbled on. ''People are constantly worrying and fearing, if I were to some how cure it…''

''That's the thing! Fear isn't a disease.''

''Well it was for me, all those years I was infected with it. Tearing me apart inside, I want to get rid of it. Remember when Bobby cut up his arms all those years ago?''

''How can I forget my hero?'' She teased.

''For a split second I had no fear, watching Bobby consumed in that paranoia it was unimaginable. I want to relive that feeling of not fearing anything.''

''I'm sorry, but that's just impossible!'' Jessica summed up. I couldn't hide my defeat, I even wanted to convince myself that there was a cure for fear, and I hoped to find it before Jessica was sent to work at Arkhum so I wouldn't have sleepless nights fearing for her safety. She must noticed my hurt expression and held onto me tightly. ''Let's not fight, I promise I'll be fine. Besides, Gotham's got a watchful protector for its civilians.''

''I don't trust him.'' I responded. Of course it was no surprise I would be sceptical about a crime fighter dressed up as a bat. But even after the months Batman has been protecting the city I just couldn't see this caped crusader as the hero of this city.

''You don't trust the police, you don't trust Batman, am I the only one in the world you trust?''

''Maybe.'' I half attempted at a joke, in a way she was the only person I truly trusted.

''Well trust me when I say, I'll be careful and we'll see each other in a few weeks that's all.'' I nodded still unsure about the whole thing. I then felt her fingers lace around my own. ''You know, I don't get shipped off until tomorrow.'' She gave me a sly smile before kissing me deeply, how I wanted that kiss, that night to last forever, but nothing ever does…except fear.

I've been told fear is an emotion like any other, but why is fear constantly with us. You feel happiness and sadness temporarily before it leaves; fear is like a shadow that follows wherever you go. It doesn't hide like the others. That fear stayed with me until the day Jessica was due back.

I paced about our home in anticipation for her arrival; I was like an excited little boy on Christmas Eve. The fear for her safety would be gone; she had called me the other night to tell me all had gone well and she would be returning on schedule. That was good, because I didn't want anything ruining this moment, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the small box, opening to check the ring inside one final time before hearing the door knock.

I rushed to the door, almost stumbling over the furniture, maybe in a few years I can work on a cure for clumsiness. I opened the door, the smile on my face disappearing as a gruff man in police uniform greeted me. ''Jonathan Crane?'' He asked me.

''Y-Yes?'' I stuttered praying this wasn't what I thought it was.

''I'm Lieutenant Gordon, were you the partner of Jessica Harley Cornell?''

What does he mean 'were you'? I gulped; my knees were shaking heavily fearing the worst. ''Yes…is she alright?''

Gordon, that was his name, looked at me with sympathy before suddenly finding the ground more interesting. He took a moment before looking back up at me. ''I'm afraid Miss Cornell passed away this morning.''

I had to use the doorframe for support, otherwise I would have just collapsed and died right there, but than again maybe I should have done that. How could she just simply pass away? She called me, she was meant to be fine! She's supposed to be fine! ''What happened?''

''Listen son, I think you've heard enough for the moment, we'll explain more at a later…''

''TELL ME!'' I yelled at him. I don't care if he was trying to stop any more heartache; it was already broken into infinite pieces, there isn't much more he can say that would drive me to the point of breaking down. My love died somehow and I want to know.

He hesitated for a moment before whispering to me. ''We believe she was poisoned by one of the inmates.''

''Poisoned?'' I gasped. How? How could someone do that to such a beautiful creature? She didn't deserve this no one did…no one but the person that caused this atrocity. ''I-I need a moment alone please.''

''Of course, I'm so sorry…''

''Why? Did you know her?''

''No but…''

''Then don't try to feel sorry for my sake!'' I hissed before slamming the door in his face. Once inside I just slumped against the wall, unable to process all this. I told her, I told her not to go! Why did she have to go? Why did she have to put me through that worry and fear? Promising me nothing would happen.

The fear was gone once more, but all for the wrong reasons. All I felt now was emptiness, hurt and pain. This wasn't how it was meant to be; I was meant to propose to her, we were going to have a great life together and beautiful children. And I was supposed to stop all fear, but this wasn't fear…what I felt now was anger.

Someone did this to her, to my beautiful Jessica, and they had to pay. They need to experience the fear of loss that I had felt, having that moment of happiness crushed in an instant.

No, she wouldn't want that! She wouldn't want me to go near that place! She would fear for me in the heavens.

But I can't cure fear up there can I? There is no cure for fear I finally get it. Although, can it be used?

No, it's suicide what I'm considering.

But what if it's possible? To be able to control fear and use it on others, to make them feel what I've felt for years. Bobby, all those years ago, he feared for that split second and I didn't. That sense of empowerment, I needed that and I could avenge Jessica at the same time. I'll use fear to find out who did this, and when I find them, I'll make them relieve every nightmare they've had to endure over and over again until they beg for death.

But Jessica?

Well for Jessica's case…I will be merciful, and when they ask for death, I'll give it too them.

''Well everything here seems to check out Mr Crane!'' The recruitment officer told me as he looked over my statement a finally time. It may have taken agonising months to finally get it ready, but I'm finally here…inside the walls of Arkham, ready to tear this place apart until I find the murderer.

''So when will my first appointment be?'' I asked.

''Once you're ready, we have a line of culprits of your choices to talk with.''

''No worries, the more the merrier. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.''

''No worries, although I'm surprised we got an offer from you.''

''Why's that?'' I questioned knowing full well what he was going on about. That awkwardness he now felt, nervousness, I loved to see that in other people now. It made me feel strong.

''Well…you were close to someone who worked here before and…well, this ain't no walk in the park, we hold some of the most deranged criminals from here to Metropolis. Some of them have even given Batman a run for their money.''

I smirked and leaned closer to him over the desk. ''Well, I'm not Batman am I?'' I could practically see the sweat on his forehead starting to build, I hadn't even used my new experiment on him and he feared me. They'll all fear me, just as I had them. I got up from my seat and was about to leave the office when he called out.

''Oh another thing; we've gone with this new policy where you have to use…like…a nickname for talks with the patients here, keep private information safe. You never choose what nickname you wanted.''

''I know, but I think I have one now…'' I started. I remember on my way to Arkham seeing the children all dressed up in costumes, it was almost Halloween. The night when the scent of fear was so thick I practically lived off it, and there was one thing that I kept in mind. A farm nearby that all the children said was haunted, and you know why it was haunted?

In the field, standing all alone was a scarecrow. The children wouldn't go near it believing the very thing to be alive. Amusing maybe, but inspiring as well. There is a universal fear, and that is fear itself, and what better physical representation of fear than…

''People in Arkham can call me…The Scarecrow!''

Well, what did you all think? Good? Hope it was, I had a lot of fun writing this. And if you want, I can do the next chapter which will show Scarecrow's time in Arkham and him coming face to face with Jessica's killer. You probably all want me to write that anyway LOL. Anway, this fic was a last minute idea as a birthday present for friend Aivia who's right in Batman-fever at the moment. Hope you liked this Aivia and happy birthday! So thanks everyone and take care!