The Bargain

Author's Note: Some time has passed since I wrote last time, so I bring you another fic: Poison Ivy and Scarecrow come to deal in which they ensure that they have a successor that can follow in their footsteps. This plot is my own, and I hope that this is an original idea. None of the characters belong to be, but to Warner Bros and DC Comics. Only the child is my creation. Enjoy!

Icabod and Alice sat quietly in their place when Jack came back. The Joker's son narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

'You weren't that quiet when I went to the kitchen,' he said,' what gives?'

Alice shrugged,' Perhaps we decided to be quiet for a while.'

'Yeah right. You have decided something behind my back,' Jack cocked the gun threateningly,' so you better tell me about it so that I won't hurt you….now.'

Icabod thought quickly and then said in his most innocent voice,' That is just the reason why we decided to be quiet: so that you don't hurt us. Maybe we could discuss about something?'

Jack laughed. It was obvious that he was convinced because he now felt "the boss". Icabod just had to distract Jack as much as he could until help arrives. Time was running out, and so was their captor's patience.

'My dad is now going throughout the city and teaching the rogues that didn't obey him a lesson. He didn't go so hard on my mum, because she is my mum….. but I can bet that the next idiot on the hit list is someone whom he hates a lot,' Jack's eyes glinted with taunting,' maybe that ugly Two-Face or that green face Poison Ivy.'

Icabod realized that his parents could be in great danger. He needed to get out of here as soon as possible! Who knows what Joker could have done with her?

It was then he noticed that something or somebody was moving close at the window. A surge of hope ran through him. Could have help arrived?

'What would Joker do to my mother?' asked Icabod.

'Maybe he would melt her face with acid,' pondered Jack,' or he would make her laugh to death. Dunno, both of these choices sound tempting.'

'I hope that these choices backfire,' Icabod said calmly.

'What?' snarled Jack, his smile wiped off his face.

'I too am wondering what would happen to the Joker if the acid falls onto his own face,' Icabod pressed on,' is it going to melt and reveal his rotten body or it going to make his big mouth fade off?'

Alice stared at him. Icabod must have finally gone mad, unless there was a reason he was doing it.

'OK, that's it!' roared Jack, pointing his gun at them, 'I was going to be merciful by letting you live longer, but I guess that you retards are just asking for it-'

There was a sudden crash, followed by Alice's scream of fright. Jack gave out a cry of surprise as he was thrust onto the floor and the gun knocked out of his hand. Jack turned around, and what he saw made him give a squeak of fear. Looming like a dark shadow of vengeance, was Batman.

'You alright?' he asked Alice and Icabod.

Alice was too shocked to speak and Icabod barely managed a nod. Batman went over and untied them. He then turned around, grabbed Jack by the collar and brought him close to his face.

'Where's the Joker?' growled Batman.

Jack could hardly speak, but he managed to whimper out,' I dunno.'

'He's at my mother's!' exclaimed Icabod.

Batman looked sharply at him and asked curtly,' Address?'

Icabod told him the address and Batman nodded. He went to the window and took out one of his gadgets. He pointed it towards a nearby tree and pressed the trigger. Instead of a bullet coming out, rope shot out of it and wound itself around the branch.

'I want to come with you,' said Icabod quietly.

Batman stared down at Icabod's large green eyes and said, 'No chance of that, Crane.' He went off.

Icabod then knew that Batman saw Icabod as if he's a copy of his father, with no chance of being different. He suddenly felt very neglected and misunderstood for he sadly knew that later in life many people would have the same view as Batman when they saw him.

A came up and parked in front of Harley's house. Icabod peered into the darkness and made out that the person who just came out of it was Pandora Nygma.

'You Ok?' she called.

Alice joined Icabod at the window and called out, 'It worked! Pandora, you figured out the riddle!'

If Icabod saw correctly, Pandora rolled her eyes at that,' Oh, come on! It was so simple that it insults my intelligence! "Gotham's protector" as if no one could solve it!'

'It was supposed to be easy,' Icabod stated.

'Yeah well….. Batman went off without you?' when the two confirmed it, Pandora snorted,' That old coot never learns. Come down here and get in the car! My dad's driving.'

Icabod and Alice looked at each other and without a word went down. When they got into the car, Icabod immediately said,' We have to go to my house. Joker is going to attack them.'

'I'm sure Batman is already there,' said Alice.

The driver, Edward Nygma, turned around at them, smiling enigmatically, 'Dear children, you underestimate my knowledge of Gotham. How do you expect me to find so many hideouts when I was still a criminal? I know Gotham's streets like the palm of my hand, and no Batman is going to get there before a genius like me.'

Over at Pamela's and Jonathan's home, the two were currently in a crisis. Having your wife at a gunpoint by the Joker was no laughing matter, especially if there were no weapons to defend themselves. Jonathan had created a small amount of Fear Gas and kept it in an equally small canister in the cellar for cases such as these, but there was no way of getting that now.

Harley was knocked out and the Joker, grinning maniacally, pressed the gun harder against Pamela's forehead.

'Tell me, Jonny boy, how you get Ivy knocked off so that the Plant Bitch has a kid with you?' Joker asked innocently, despite the situation.

'Cloning,' snarled Pamela.

Joker face brightened with comprehension, 'Of course! Why haven't I thought of it before? And you did all this work yourself Ivy?'

'Yes.' She said.

Jonathan in the meantime tried to edge closer to the exit but he didn't go unnoticed by the Joker.

'Ah-ah,' the Joker clucked his tongue like a mother scolding her child,' I wouldn't do that if I were you.'

'What do you want, Joker?' Ivy hissed.

Joker smiled down at her and said simply, 'I want to teach you a lesson.'

'Aren't you already teaching it?' Crane bit in.

'Yes kids, but class is not over yet!' Joker laughed, then said casually,' What do you think of me…… burning this place down?'

Ivy eyes widened,' You wouldn't!'

Joker nodded, 'And killing you as an afterthought too.'

'Not over my dead body,' Crane threatened.

Ivy was surprised at such a bold approach by her husband and Joker giggled,' By the time I'm done with her, you will be dead, don't you worry about that. Everybody gets their turn.'

In the meantime, Nygma's car had arrived in front of Icabod's house. Icabod just hoped it wasn't too late.

'Stay here,' Icabod instructed, getting out,' I will handle with this myself.'

'A child handling such a situation?' Edward Nygma snorted,' This, my dear boy, can only be handled by adults.'

'But the adults do not know how to get around in this house, and I am the only one who does,' Icabod replied and went to the front door. He twisted the handle and found it unlocked.

Joker must be here, he thought, now don't do anything rash Icabod. All you have to do is get father's small yet sufficient supply of Fear Gas and you are safe.

Opening the door quietly, Icabod went in. He walked silently though the entrance room and he heard voices coming from the Greenhouse. He recognized the cruelly sharp voice that belonged to the Joker, and that voice seemed to be rather pleased. Even though he couldn't make out the words Joker was saying, Icabod knew that his parents were in deep trouble.

Wasting no time, Icabod went to the wiry stairs that went down to the cellar. They usually creaked when stepped on, so he had to be extra careful of not being heard. He was lucky, they didn't make a sound.

Stepping onto the floor, his left hand automatically fumbled on the wall to trace out the switch for the light. His fingers felt the button and he pushed it. A dim lighting immediately lit on to reveal a room that was dusty as if in an attic. It had boxes neatly arranged alongst the walls which Icabod rarely went through. He approached a box which was put on the side and opened it with ease. The box on the inside was filled with papers. He dipped his hand inside it and through the gentle rustling he came upon something solid. He took out the cylindrical object and peeled the paper off it. It was a canister which had rusted marks that told it hadn't been used for a long time, with red letters stretched across it, writing "Fear Gas".

Icabod handled it as if it were a crystal glass and went up the stairs. When he reached the last step, the staircase gave a sharp creaking sound. The Joker's voice from the Greenhouse halted at the noise. Icabod drew in a sharp breath and clutched at the canister in his hands tighter. Only when Joker's voice continued speaking, he let out the air he was holding in his lungs.

Icabod walked hurriedly, maintaining the silence, to the entrance of the Greenhouse. He peered inside and was met by the sight of his mother held at a gunpoint by the Joker (who was talking leisurely), his father facing the Joker and Harley Quinn knocked out on the floor.

Time was running out and Icabod had to do something. Batman would come any minute now, but that minute could be just a second too late. His father did have Fear Gas stored in his sleeve, yet he can only shoot it in jets at one particular person, and his mother would be the first target. The gas had somehow to hit the Joker and it will disarm him. But how?

There was no passage that allowed entrance to the Greenhouse behind Joker's back, so practically the only way for Joker to be affected by the gas was if it would spread out through the whole room……

The answer hit Icabod sharply. There could have been another solution, but he had no time to think. He took the canister in one hand and started to shake it violently.

It's a suicide plan! Icabod's mind screamed, You're acting like a Kamikaze!

Bracing himself, he stepped inside the Greenhouse. Then he tore the cap off the canister.

The reaction was explosive and nobody knew what hit them. Icabod was fully hit by the green gas that forced itself up his nose and also spread like wildfire throughout the entire room.

Icabod felt it enter his lungs and the toxin spread throughout his system. He felt it pumped throughout his body and it reaching his brain. It is ironic that the son of the Master of Fear never was exposed to Fear Gas before and now he for the first time got the full blow of it.

He saw the room become blurry and he knew that now he was going to hallucinate. In his eyes, the plants became alive and from soft gentle flowers now erupted giant, jagged teeth that glowed menacingly. The vines curled themselves to reveal poisonous ends that reach out towards him. When in reality Icabod was losing his balance, in his state he though there was an earthquake that shook the ground that made the earth crack open and even more vile poisonous plants reached out to grab and strangle him. The plants were approaching closer, closer…..

Icabod shut his eyes in fright, and he heard screaming in the background. This was proof that the others were affected by this too. This provided a moment of comfort hen even with his eyes shut, he saw the picture of the angry plants edging closer and looking more merciless then ever.

'Please….. don't……' Icabod heard himself whimper.

He fell onto the ground and curled himself up into a ball, twitching and the plants around him screaming with anger and tied themselves around him. Icabod couldn't help but scream at the terrifying image.

He heard the crashing of glass, and knew that Batman arrived. He opened his eyes and looked up only to be met by an image of a terrifying bat creature that was coming to him. The creature made an attempt to take him in his arms, and Icabod made a weak attempt to fight it off.

'Don't touch me!' Icabod whined hysterically but the creature, who was in fact Batman, ignored him. Instead of a cruel attack that Icabod expected, he was met by a soothing and an understanding gentle touch of the creature that tried to calm the 13-year-old down.

From all this, Icabod fainted and darkness was all he saw.

Xx XXXXXXXX xxxxx

After what seemed forever, the darkness faded away and all that Icabod saw was the light. He immediately closed his eyes when brightness attacked them, and then opened them again.

Groaning, Icabod turned his head and saw a white, spotless wall. He felt the softness of a bed underneath him and he observed his surroundings. He was in a white room and there was a window at the far end that let the daylight in.

'Icabod? Are you alright?' came the anxious voice of his mother at the side.

Icabod turned his head and found his mother sitting by the bedside. She was dressed modestly, her hair framing her attractive face and her eyes worried.

Icabod smiled,' I'm fine, mother. I cannot say the same for you, though.'

Pamela sighed with relief,' You're calling me "mother". That means you're fine.'

'Where is father?' Icabod asked.

'Your father is just outside talking to the doctor. He's perfectly fine, you know he's immune to Fear Gas. The exposure after many years just shook him up a bit,' Pamela's eyes grew serious,' you know what you did was dangerous.'

'I know.' Said Icabod as Jonathan Crane came in.

Crane visibly relaxed,' You're awake!'

'And he's fine too,' added Pamela.

'The gas could have killed you!' Crane scolded his son,' You are lucky that you are young, for it can cause such stress that leads to heart attacks in older people. What were you thinking?'

'It seemed like that only solution I had in saving you,' mumbled Icabod, his head downcast.

'You could have waited for Batman to arrive,' Jonathan criticized.

'The Joker could have killed my mother in the meantime!' Icabod yelled in anger, 'I had to do something, and I didn't know else I could do!'

Icabod rarely raised his voice at his parents, so they were taken back by his reaction. They knew that he was growing, and confusing emotions were slowly entering his life.

He seemed to realize his odd outburst, for he lowered his head and said,' Sorry.'

'At least you are safe,' Pamela hugged him tightly,' we were told that you were held hostage back at Harley's……. I'm going to kill both Joker and his son! How could I not think of that?' She was angry with herself.

Icabod remembered something,' Joker is responsible for Jervis Tetch's condition. He threw the vase at his head……'

'We know that too,' said Jonathan bitterly,' I should have realized sooner but there was no proof. I should have trusted my instincts: he is married to Harley after all! It was bound to happen.'

'How is he?' Icabod asked.

Pamela smiled,' It's good news. He awoke, and seems not to have major damage.'

'Except that he has blurred vision so he will have to wear glasses for the rest of his life,' Jonathan said coldly,' and he will also need a walking stick. His damaged cerebellum leaves him unbalanced if he stays long on his feet.'

'Oh.' Icabod said,' When will I be allowed out of here?'

'When the doctor sees you, and that will be soon,' Pamela said,' Do you want us to bring you any books to read?'

'No,' Icabod replied.

A doctor entered the room. He looked at Icabod and smiled.

'So you are the young man who meddled with things that you're not supposed to touch. Know in the future not to handle such things son,' the doctor said,' now, I'll have to check you up and if everything's fine you'll be leaving.'

Icabod quietly asked for some privacy and his parents consented.

After a few checks, Icabod found himself standing outside the room in the corridor, fully dressed and ready to go. Before he went, he went to a specific ward to visit someone.

He went to a door and opened it. In the room sat Jervis Tetch with his daughter Alice. He was smiling and being his usual self, except that he now wore glasses. Alice smiled also one of her rare smiles, the one which wasn't shy but expressed joy. Tetch immediately noticed Icabod and motioned for him to come in.

Icabod closed the door behind him and came closer to the bed. Tetch peered up at him and said,' I heard that you helped my girl when she was held captive. I would like to thank you for that.'

'It was nothing,' said Icabod modestly,' we were both held captive and we had to think of a way to set s free.'

'Your father is blaming himself for my accident!' Tetch said amusedly, 'I don't know why, he had nothing to do with this. You try telling him that it is all right.'

'What happened to the Joker?' asked Icabod.

'He's sent back to Arkham.'

'Jack?'

'He's in Gotham's Juvenile Center.' Alice answered.

Icabod noticed one important person missing. He turned to Alice,' Where is your mother?'

Alice's smile fell and she said sadly,' She's also in Arkham. Apparently, just having connections with the Joker is enough to be sent back where you came from, even if you are declared "sane".'

'But she was forced to go with the Joker!' Icabod protested, 'She didn't have any other choice!'

'Sometimes, justice is really blind in some areas, and that is when prejudice takes over,' said Tetch softly,' Harleen had commited many crimes in her past that had her sent to Arkham. Nobody is pleased that she was free to walk around wherever she wanted, because everyone thought that the place she ought to be in forever is Arkham. Now, that they found a pathetic excuse and they bended the rules a bit, they got her back right where they wanted her to: in Arkham.'

Icabod was downhearted. Harley was a bit hysteric and she was slightly mad, but this was absolutely no excuse for her to be punished this way. The Joker threatened to kill her children for crying out loud!

'How is your health, Mr. Tetch?' Icabod tried to change the point.

'Wonderful. Absolutely frabjolous,' Tetch grinned.

The day passed by and Icabod arrived home. The first thing he visited was the Greenhouse. There was a hole on the place where Batman broke through and the sharp bits of glass were scattered across the floor. The Fear Gas must have also affected the plants because they withered a bit. At the sight of that, Pamela tutted with concern.

'This will take a few days for them to get back into shape,' she handled the leaves of a creeper with care,' I suggest that we should add a bit more fertilizer on the larger plants and then allow nature to run her course.'

'The effects of the gas should have worn off by now,' Jonathan examined,'the plants should be on the road to recovery and any gas in here must have evaporated by now.'

Icabod said nothing. He just sat down on the small rock and held out his hands in front of him to capture the sun's rays. The beautiful, warm, life-giving sun which he missed. It was strange that a person with such an isolated nature such as him loved something so bright and warm. All he wanted to do now was to sit quietly, think about everything that went by and have the warmth restored to him.

Jonathan noticed his son's suddenly thoughtful silence and was about to talk to him. Pamela who understood the peace of the sun, for she herself sometimes did that, stopped her husband's approach and looked at him with her large green eyes. With no words spoken, there was an understanding and they left their son alone.

When the couple were outside and out of ear shot, Pamela started off,' I want to thank you Jonathan, for standing up for me when the Joker was here. It was a gesture of which I'm most grateful of…..'

Jonathan noticed the isolation of her voice and asked, 'Is there anything wrong?'

'No, it's just Harley. She didn't deserve that creep coming back and ruining her life,' Pamela said angrily,' Maybe if we hadn't created Icabod things would have been better and we wouldn't have had an innocent child brought into the wars of criminals. We wanted to have a successor thirteen years ago, and now my only wish is for him to stay away from this business and live a normal life, but that is not what is going to happen.

'The only things that shared my love before were the plants. I wanted them out of harm's way so that is why I planned on having a successor who would protect my "children". But I miscalculated. I had forgotten that my successor would be my child and that I would love him too.' She was miserable.

'Pamela, what is done is done and you cannot blame yourself,' Jonathan tried to calm her, 'it was a decision both of us made, perhaps a foolish decision, but we have to face the consequences. Icabod is will need us more than ever and he will need to learn the way the world built. He will face risks, he will face prejudice and hate of what he is but we must stay united in order to survive. This is not the last threat we face.'

Pamela smiled, 'You were always a loner and a misanthrope, Jonathan Crane. What made you say this corny "stay together" stuff?'

He smirked, 'If you remember, Pamela, you too were also a loner before Harley came into your life. You saw how you immediately improved when you were partners in crime. Let us call this a partnership that helps us to survive.'

'You rarely lose your touch, do you Jonathan?'

'I avoid to.'

Pamela embraced him and everything settled down between them.

Icabod sat in his place and did not move. There were advantages of the situation but there were also negative aspects. Advantages: Jervis Tetch is alive, everyone's alright, the badies are punished. It would have been almost perfect if it wasn't for this negative aspect: the took an innocent with them.

He knew that something wasn't right in here and that the strings of society are soon going to close upon him. It is not enough that in school he is avoided because he is the son of the former Scarecrow and Poison Ivy. The advantage of this family status is that nobody would dare to hurt him because of that (unlike his father, who wasn't so lucky) but even later in life hew could be avoided. He had seen what Batman saw in him: he was only a copy of his father and a pawn of his parents.

Life isn't always fair.

'It is not over yet,' whispered Icabod.

If there were an observer from a distance, they would have noticed that Icabod at that moment seemed to have the aura of nature of his mother and the grim presence of his father. They would have also noticed that he had loneliness; a deeper sense of loneliness than his parents ever had.

THE END

Author's Note: Woohoo! Finally finished! Sorry about the crappy ending, but I was running out of ideas. Did you notice that all this happenings take place in only three days! I was trying to use a technique (which doesn't seem to be so effective) where time travels slowly. Oh well, ladies and gentlemen, move your mouse to the "review" button and tell me what you think!