Wow that's a long chapter for me. I couldn't figure out where to end it. Unfortunately that means that I now have nothing to work off of…oh well. I had so much fun writing this chapter.

Crane finished dressing, not bothering with his jacket, shirt, or sweater vest, sticking with just pants and undershirt. He went to the kitchen and took the chicken out of the fridge and began preparing a stir fry. Once it was simmering, he got out plates and set the table. His apartment wasn't fancy, but it was clean and neat. Strait lines and smooth edges. No decorations, just short, low shelves of books. His books were actually the nicest things he owned. They were all well taken care of, and well read.

When dinner was almost ready, he grabbed two glasses and started pouring more bourbon. He almost knocked over the second glass.

A knife was at his neck.

"Joker."

"Jonny."

Gulp.

"…you're not wearing any clothes."

Snicker.

"You look nervous."

Huff.

"You're not eating naked."

Joker stuck another knife against Crane's stomach.

"You sure about that?"

Crane sighed.

"Alright. Do what you will."

Joker backed off and grinned.

"I'm glad we agree."

Dinner with the Joker was surprisingly uneventful, except for the fact that Crane had never eaten with a naked man before. Joker seemed absolutely tickled. He asked for the salt and pepper politely, wiped the tips of his mouth daintily, and commented on the food courteously. At first Crane didn't know what to think, but he soon understood.

"Enjoying mocking society?"

"Quite."

Crane raised his glass in a toast.

"To housing madmen."

Joker lifted his.

"To blowing up hospitals."

They clinked glasses. Crane smiled and decided to relax. As much as having the Joker around made him constantly alert, it also brought him a strange sort of peace. However, at the back of his mind the question of how long Joker was going to stay unsettled him.

"Joker…"

"Crane…"

Crane gave him a look. He did not enjoy being mocked.

"I need to discuss something with you."

"Oh?"

Crane sighed. It was going to be difficult to have a serious conversation with someone who seemed to take his every word as an opportunity for a joke.

"Seriously. If you can manage."

Joker rolled his eyes.

"Serious serious serious. That's the problem with people these days. They don't know how to have fun. Always so serious."

"Now is not the time to have fun."

"Oh? You think your mind can really handle trying to have a serious conversation while I'm naked?"

Crane blinked. In reality, he had actually forgotten that Joker wasn't wearing any clothes. Nor had he noticed Joker stroking himself. He sighed. Joker was very stubborn.

Joker somehow managed to get out of his chair and next to Crane before he could do anything about it. A knife was at his neck again, only this time Joker's other hand was sliding under Crane's undershirt.

"Heheh. I'll make a deal with you, Jonny. You be a good boy and we'll talk after you've obeyed me."

The feeling of being helplessly controlled by the knife was doing a wonderful job of clouding his mind. Joker pinched one of his nipples and dragged the blade up to Crane's lips.

"You might wanna answer me Jonny."

Crane weighed his options in his head. He could remain obstinate, increasing the likelihood of the 'serious' conversation not going how he wanted, or he could comply with the Joker. Compromise again.

"Why don't we move back into the bedroom and talk there? A change of scenery ought to lower the seriousness of reality for you."

"Bedroom? Bedroom…I was thinking more like…the floor," and he yanked Crane's chair back to unceremoniously shake him onto the floor where he shoved until Crane lay on his back with the Joker's hands on his shoulders and his knee on Crane's stomach. The knife was held in Joker's left hand and the tip was pressed into the side of Crane's neck.

Crane grunted with the impact. He wasn't used to being handled so roughly. True, while working with the insane did mean that once in a while patients got aggressive, he wasn't foolish enough to let any of his patients get the better of him. And while the Joker was no longer a resident of the asylum, Crane still considered him mentally ill and thus in his charge. Being caught off guard this much did not sit well with him.

"Joker I will not tolerate this treatment."

"Oh you won't now? How hard do I have to press this knife into your neck hmm?" he put pressure on the knife. "And how rough do I have to be with you until you realize that you can not control chaos?"

"For someone so chaotic you seem to put a lot of emphasis on control."

"Ah but doc I'm the only one in control. By following my impulses I'm always doing what I want and not being held down by silly little things like rules and obligations. Things that try to control you. You see, I'm free."

"Why don't you exercise your freedom by getting off me?"

"And please you? Oh I said I'd stay but I never said my goal was to keep you happy. Besides, the floor is a good place for you. You look down on people too much."

"I have a right to look down on them I'm 5'11."

"Aha. Ahahahahaha. Was that a joke doctor? And here I thought you were incapable of humor."

"And here I thought you were incapable of doing anything without the aid of a knife. Oh wait."

"Speaking of knife, doctor," the Joker moved the knife to Crane's mouth. "Did I ever tell you how I got these scars?"

Crane rolled his eyes. "Yes Joker. And I don't believe any of it. You don't remember."

The Joker deflated. "Oh. Right. You know about that."

"Yes. You're not the only one with the upper hand."

"Ah but I am the one with the knife," click click. "Now. I think you're wearing too much clothes. Take your shirt off."

Crane moved to sit up and as Joker pulled the knife away Crane saw his chance. He flipped the other over and pinned the hand with the knife.

Joker smiled. "Oh, back to your little illusion of control are we? Well what makes you think I don't want to be here?"

"Because," Crane pried the knife from Joker's hand. "I now have the knife." And he stuck the blade into Joker's mouth.

"Heh heh heh. You wouldn't do it. You don't have the guts."

"Don't I?" The blade cut into the side of Joker's mouth. "Why don't I reopen the wounds and see if that jogs your memory?"

The Joker pondered for a moment. "Hmm. Interesting theory doc."

Crane's eyes narrowed. "I don't care for torture." The pressure on the knife slackened.

The Joker's face fell.

"But I do."

The knife slashed through Joker's face about half way the length of his scar. Joker screamed once and then started laughing maniacally.

"Scarecrow!"

"That's for coming back."

Joker pulled his wrist out from underneath Scarecrow's grasp and brought it to his face. "Hmm, not all the way. Holding back?"

Scarecrow he's bleeding on the floor. Let me out.

"If I went all the way you'd need stitches. And your blood is already making Jonathan nervous."

Because it's getting on the carpet!

"Heh. Looking out for dear Jonny are we?"

"He looked after me after all."

"How touching."

"Speaking of touching," Scarecrow dragged the knife slowly down Joker's chest, leaving a scratch and stopped above the hardness clearly evident. "I believe we had a deal."

A manic grin spread on Joker's face. He reached up and pulled Scarecrow's face down to give him a rough kiss. Blood smeared on their faces and passed between their tongues.

This is disgusting.

You'll get your turn Jonathan.

I don't want a turn I want him clean!

Scarecrow pulled away and chuckled. "How about a shower Joker?"

Joker made a face. "Why?"

"Oh is the little clown afraid of water too?"

"I'm not afraid of it I just don't like it."

Crane came back out. "Bad experience maybe?"

"Now you're the one messing with things you don't understand."

"I understand repression well enough. I recognized it didn't I?"

"Well I'm not taking a shower. I don't unless I have to."

"At least let me clean that wound."

Smirk. "I like the taste of blood."

"You would."

"So you don't mind messing with people's minds but a little blood and you panic? You didn't seem to mind the blood when you were biting my ear off."

"That was to make a point. And it didn't turn out how I wanted it."

Joker smiled and brought his hand to his face, gathering blood, which he then smeared onto Crane's right cheek to form a smiley face.

Crane looked horrified for a brief second before Scarecrow took over again.

"He's so much fun isn't he?" Said Joker.

"Mmm. Now where were we?" Scarecrow bite roughly into Joker's ear and then grotesquely licked the cut on Joker's mouth. Joker's body seized up and he moaned with abandon.

"Mmm doesn't bother you does it? Do that again."

Scarecrow grinned ferally. "Beg."

"That again? Hmm why should I?"

Scarecrow stuck the knife back in Joker's mouth, this time on the uncut side. He threaded his fingers in Joker's hair and tugged, then darted his tongue against the cut for brief moments, teasing. "Because you're a masochistic bitch and you'll do as I say."

"Mmm, puh-lease."

"Please master."

"Aha! Ahahahaha! Master? Master. I will never have a master."

Scarecrow's expression softened and his grip loosened. The knife fell away and Scarecrow lowered his body to cover Joker's more completely and began lightly kissing his neck.

Joker's eyes widened. "Wh-what are you doing?"

"Not your master am I? Who makes you submit? Who can bring you to stammering? Who knows your only weakness? Who can control you with just a stroke?" He gently stroked Joker's face.

"You—you can't control me."

"Ah but I'm not trying to control you. I'm freeing you Joker."

What are you going on about?

Be patient Jonathan.

"Freeing me?"

"Yes. Making you confront your fears. Only when one confronts their fears can they master it. Now that you've accepted that you do indeed have fear, it's time you learned to face it."

I don't want him to confront his fears! His fear of you is the only thing keeping him here!

"And—and what makes you think I want to?"

"No? Well that'll make Jonathan happy."

Crane sighed in relief.

"Make Jonathan happy?"

Scarecrow twitched his head and gave Joker a light kiss on his forehead. "What did you call him?"

"Cr—Crane. I meant Crane, Scarecrow."

"Very good little clown. You seem to adequately follow orders. Now what was it that you seemed I was unworthy to be called?"

All the while Scarecrow gently stroked Joker's face and left little kisses here and there. His face was relaxed and his eyes were shining.

Good luck. The day he calls you master is the day I gas myself.

"Master."

I'll hold you to your word Jonathan.

Scarecrow's strokes suddenly became rough and he stretched Joker's cut wider so it started bleeding faster. Joker let out the breath he was holding. Many times he had made his victims call him master and he was always spurred on by the power. So when his compliance was met with delicious pain, he decided that maybe Scarecrow wouldn't abuse his power.

Joker groaned and grabbed Scarecrow's head, pushing it down toward his cock.

NO.

What's a matter Jonathan?

No. Don't do it.

Scarecrow chuckled.

"Why should I Joker?"

"Ya know, I don't want you to do it. Bring Jonny back."

Scarecrow grinned and pushed Crane out to the front.

Crane didn't have enough time to grasp the knife firmly before Joker flipped their positions and took it from him.

"As much fun as a little pain from dear Scarecrow is, I'd much rather you do the honors."

Crane grunted. "I told you I'm not into torture."

"You don't have to torture to be a sadist. Your experiments prove that." Joker held the knife to Crane's neck. "Now. I think the usual threats don't mean much to you anymore. SO. Scarecrow, let me take some liberties."

Joker stared into Crane's eyes and saw Scarecrow for the briefest of seconds. Consenting.

Joker grinned maniacally. Without warning he cut the skin beneath Crane's right ear and ground his hips into Crane's. He attached his mouth to Crane's neck, alternatively biting and sucking. Crane's eyes closed and he hissed in pleasure. He didn't know why loosing control turned him on so much, he just knew that it was addicting. The knife wandered down Crane's body, digging into the skin here and there. Crane moaned and moved his hips.

"Now Jonny, I think it's time you called me master."

He sighed in contentment. The idea didn't appeal to him at all but the submission of the situation resonated in him something deep. An instinct to flee. To stay. To fight.

"Do words really mean that much to you?"

Joker cocked his head. "Ya know, I see your point doc. Your body tells me everything I need to know." And with his free hand he undid Crane's pants and grabbed the hardness within.

Crane groaned and shut his eyes in pleasure.

"Ah what have I said about those eyes Jonny boy? Keep them on me."

Crane smiled but kept his eyes closed. "No." He wasn't completely powerless.

"No? No? Looks like you're getting a little bravery from Scarecrow."

"I don't need him for everything."

"Oh? And you really think you can take me on your own?" This seemed extremely funny to Joker.

Why don't you try Jonathan? It's not that hard. Just imagine you're dealing with a patient. You did it once.

You be quiet. I don't need your help. I can handle myself.

"I don't have to prove anything to you. Why would I be afraid of someone afraid of a little affection?" Crane wrapped his legs around Joker's legs and threaded his fingers through Joker's hair, stroking from root to tip. "What happened to you? What is your real name?"

Joker growled and slammed Crane's head into the ground. "Stop it!"

Crane laughed. "Loosing yourself? You may be in control of your actions but your mind is out of your control. I may have an alternate personality but I at least know who I am. I remember my childhood. I know why I do what I do. You don't even know your own name."

"What's in a name? It's what you do with it that matters." Joker tried to bring things back to his comfort level and began stroking Crane roughly.

Crane sighed. "Oh Joker. So limited. All you understand is brutality. You vent your frustrations on others and yet you feel no satisfaction. Constantly looking in the wrong places. You need to look inside yourself to find what you're looking for."

"I'm not looking for anything!"

"Oh but you are. I noticed your expression when Scarecrow called you 'little clown.' It means something. It's connected to your past, so you cling to it and create a persona around it. Tell me, Joker, who called you little clown?"

Joker growled and started slashing Crane's chest. Crane kept Scarecrow back. This was important. This could very well lead to a breakthrough in Joker's memory.

Even though Crane was in a great deal of pain, he managed to start stroking Joker's scars again.

"Shh Joker. Relax. Calm yourself. Clear your mind."

Joker stopped cutting Crane just long enough to grab his shoulder and shake him. He shook him so hard his glasses clanged onto the floor. He was not going to calm down dammit! He was going to remain chaotic for as long as he wanted. And as far as he knew that would be forever.

Nevertheless Crane still held Joker's head between his hands as tenderly as he could whilst being shaken like a toy. Something had snapped in the Joker.

Want my help Jonathan?

I never wanted your help.

"Joker! Joker listen to me. I want you to stop thinking. Clear out any thoughts. I want you to feel. Use your instincts. I know you know how to do that, yes?"

Joker's eyes were wild, but he stopped shaking Crane. Feel huh? He could do that.

"Close your eyes." Joker did.

Good job Jonathan.

Shut up.

"Now, how do you feel? Don't tell me, just focus on it. Focus on the emotion you experience the most. Let that feeling fill you, radiate from you. Try to imagine that feeling as a lantern. Let the flame get brighter and brighter. Let it expand. Can you feel the flame Joker?"

Joker nodded. His breathing was quick and his heart was beating fast. He could completely buy in to the whole flame thing. He liked fire. Related to it. Once lit, it was uncontrollable. But it wasn't always destructive. Fire could illuminate things in life that evade us. It was hypnotizing, captivating, and colorful. And once it touched you long enough, you remembered it forever.

"Ok Joker, tell me, what are you feeling?"

"Elated."

Elated? Well it certainly fit his constant cockiness.

"Elated about what?"

"I'm alive."

"And why is being alive so great?"

Joker opened an eye.

"Never pegged you for the suicidal type doc."

"No Joker. Why are you so happy that you're alive? In particular."

"Well I wasn't always alive."

So Joker was just thankful for life? That couldn't be it.

"Did you have a near death experience?"

"No I actually died…" Joker paused. "What the fuck? What did you do doc, I don't remember ever knowing that."

HA! Finally.

"So you died and were brought back. Do you remember what killed you?"

Joker scrunched up his face for a second, then, frustrated, he stuck the knife back under Crane's neck.

"Enough! Keep the analysis for your actual patients doc."

"I analyze everything Joker. We were getting somewhere. Don't you want to remember?"

"NO! I'm happy the way I am. And you're happy the way I am too cause once I start remembering things I'll be even more unstable then I am now! And I know you crave stability Jonny."

The Joker had a point. Might as well bring up the 'serious' conversation now.

"Fine Joker, if you won't work on your memory then we can work on your logistics."

"Oh is little Jonny boy afraid to just speak his mind? That doesn't seem at all like you. You know how do you expect me to give you what you want when you won't tell me? At this rate for all I know you're perfectly happy with me stopping by every few weeks—"

"DAMMIT JOKER STOP PLAYING GAMES WITH ME!"

Crane shoved Joker off him and tried get away but Joker grabbed him and pinned him against a wall.

"But games are what I do best doc. Gettin' you all worked up. All nice and bothered. And before I tell you I'm gonna move in with you, you gotta do something for me first mkay?"

Looking an awful lot like how Joker usually did with eyes wide, hair disheveled and breathing rapidly, Crane nodded.

"You gotta pick up some stuff for me."

Crane found his voice again.

"What kind of stuff?"

"You know, meat, lighter fluid, and some Charlie Chaplin movies. The important stuff."

Crane blinked. Joker wanted him to go shopping for him?

"Charlie Chaplin? Seriously?"

Joker rolled his eyes.

"There you go again. Got any problems with my list Crane?"

"No. I don't see anything wrong with it. I fail to see why you would need those things, but I can procure them easily enough."

"Well that's easy. The meat's for eating, the Chaplin's for fun, and the lighter fluid's for business."

"Business? You're not setting anything in my apartment on fire Joker."

"Oh don't get your panties in a bunch Jonny. I'm gonna be staying here so it has to be in once piece yes?"

"You're…you're actually gonna stay here?"

"Isn't that what you want?"

"NO—yes—I—I don't know." Crane shoved Joker away from him and retreated toward his bedroom. "I need to think about it."

Joker stretched.

"You do that doc. I'm just gonna—" Joker followed after Crane.

"You're going to what Joker?"

"—get my clothes. Yeah. Get my clothes. Got a problem with that?"

Crane didn't believe him for once moment. Only one way to find out.

"Of course not Joker. I wanted you clothed from the beginning."

"What's that? You prefer for me to roam around the house naked? No problem."

Crane shook his head and sat down on his bed. Meanwhile, Joker was rummaging through his coat pockets.

Crane was wary. He couldn't tell exactly what Joker had, but it was made of metal, judging by the shiny quality. And before he knew it Joker was on top of him again, only this time his hands were being handcuffed to the bed frame.

"JOKER!"

"Aha! Ahahahaha! Been wanting to do that for a while Jonny."

"Uncuff me this instant!"

"Eheh. No."

Crane thrashed and bucked and all the while he could hear Scarecrow laughing inside his head.

He got you there Jonathan.

"Let. Me. Go."

"Now Jonny, nothing says humbling like helpless."

Joker then worked Crane's pants off his bony hips, leaving him in his boxers and undershirt.

"Well, now don't you look ready for bed."

Joker got up and made for the lights.

"Joker you can't expect me to sleep like this."

"Oh relax doc, I'm solving all our problems here." Joker succeeded in turning off the lights and crawled back into bed next to Crane. He made sure Crane's head was on a pillow and that he was as comfortable as his position afforded him. Then he settled down, wrapping his arms around Crane.

This way, Crane got his little intimacy issues dealt with and Joker didn't have to feel uncomfortable about it. In fact, he felt quite the opposite. He felt elated.