Nevermore

A small man in a top hat and cane stood outside the large, foreboding gates of Arkham Asylum, looking up at the wrought iron sign. He pushed open the creaking hinges and made his way down the path until he reached the large, double doors of the asylum. Pushing them open, he entered the reception area, where many of the doctors and staff rushing around paused to stare at him, or do a double take, gazing at him in a mixture of shock, and barely concealed terror. Until one doctor speaking to the receptionist turned around and beamed at him.

"Jervis!" exclaimed Dr. Joan Leland, approaching him and holding out her hand. "Jervis Tetch! What a wonderful surprise!"

"Hello, Dr. Leland," he said, shaking her hand and smiling. She pulled him into a hug, which surprised him, but he returned it.

"It's so good to see you!" she said. "And you're looking so…sane!"

"Am I?" asked Tetch, smiling and adjusting his hat. "Well, that's good to hear. I certainly don't feel much different."

"Come into my office," she said, leading him down the hall. "I'm so pleased to see you again! I mean, it's almost unprecedented, a patient returning to Arkham Asylum, and not because of a relapse! I think you're the only inmate in recent memory who's managed to stay cured! It's such an achievement!"

"I take no credit for it, Dr. Leland," he said, sitting down in the chair across from her desk. "I was saved from my madness by a beautiful angel and her innocent child, sent from heaven. It is to them you owe your thanks."

"That's right, how is your goddaughter?" asked Dr. Leland, smiling.

He reached into his jacket and pulled out a photograph, handing it to her. "She's almost a year old now, if you can believe it," he said.

"I can't," admitted Dr. Leland, smiling at the picture. "But she's certainly the cutest baby I've ever seen."

"Isn't she?" said Tetch, beaming. "Look at her smiling face and tell me there's nothing you wouldn't do for her. Destroying madness itself was simple with such a blessing by my side."

"And how are Alice and Billy?" she asked.

"Very happy, as far as I can tell," replied Tetch, nodding. "As it should be. It gladdens my heart to see Alice smile. They are a very loving family," he said, taking the picture back from her. "And I am honored that they have let me share in even a little of their happiness."

Dr. Leland smiled at him. "You've come such a long way, Jervis," she murmured. "I remember when you were first brought here, after you tried to kill Billy and kidnap Alice, and now you all seem to have put the past behind you and live for that child's future. That's such a wonderful thing. You should be very proud of yourself."

"Not proud, Dr. Leland," he replied. "Grateful for their forgiveness. And their love."

"It must seem strange for you to be back here as a visitor," said Dr. Leland.

"Well, nothing much appears to have changed," replied Tetch.

"No, it never does," sighed Dr. Leland. "We've hired a couple new doctors – Joker went on a killing spree a few weeks ago."

"Any reason this time, or just a joke?" asked Tetch.

"Uh…I'm not…actually sure," said Dr. Leland, frowning. "We had a new doctor who introduced a new type of therapy – she believed that…uh…dancing was a good way to have the patients relax and release their tension so they'd be more responsive. Only the Joker and Poison Ivy got into a fight after the Joker claimed he was like Michael Jackson, because he was, in his own words, a fantastic dancer, and whiter than he should be naturally, but Ivy interpreted that as meaning he liked children. So he hit her, and she retaliated, and things escalated from there. Batman had to show up to stop the carnage, and when he arrived, the Joker challenged him to a dance off. And then Batman beat him unconscious."

"I…can't say I'm sorry to have missed all that," said Tetch, slowly.

"No," sighed Dr. Leland. "And I wish there was some way I could erase the image of Harley twerking against the Joker from my mind."

"I'm…afraid I don't know what that means," said Tetch.

"Be thankful for that," sighed Dr. Leland. She forced a smile. "Anyway, things are fairly calm here, for the moment. Two weeks without an incident might be a new record."

Tetch nodded. "How is Jonathan?" he asked, gently.

Dr. Leland was silent. "Quieter," she said. "I think he really misses you."

"I miss him too," murmured Tetch. "That's why I've come, actually, to visit him. If that's allowed."

"Of course, Jervis," said Dr. Leland, smiling. "You're a sane man now – you're free to do whatever you want."

"Yes, it is a strange belief most people have that to be sane is to be free," said Tetch, thoughtfully. "The reality is quite the opposite. The mad are free, because they are not bound by the chains of sanity. To be sane is to be enslaved to reality. To be mad is to be free."

He smiled. "But then what need does anyone have for freedom if they love their chains?" he asked. "And I love mine."

"At least you still talk nonsense, Jervis," said Dr. Leland, smiling. "I'm glad that hasn't changed."

She stood up. "If you'll follow me to the cell block. I know you know the way, but I'll escort you for form's sake."

Tetch nodded and followed her out of the room and down the corridor into where the inmates were kept.

"Well, look who it is!" came the mocking voice of the Joker, behind bars. "Speaking of Michael Jackson, the kiddie lover is back!"

"How do you do, Joker?" sighed Tetch, continuing on down the hall.

"Hiya, Jervis!" squeaked Harley Quinn, happily, waving from her cell. "Great to see you again!"

"You too, Harley," he replied, sincerely.

He returned the greetings of his former fellow inmates until they reached the cell of Jonathan Crane, otherwise known as the Scarecrow. He was reading a book, but looked up and noticed Tetch. A look of astonishment and delight passed over his face.

"Jervis?" he gasped. "You're back?"

"Just visiting," said Tetch, smiling gently at him.

"Oh, I get it!" exclaimed the Joker, grinning. "Conjugal visit time, eh, boys? Everyone, avert your gaze – this is gonna be creepy."

"Actually, Joker, I think it's about time for the exercise yard," snapped Dr. Leland, checking her watch. "Everyone outside! Except you, Jonathan. Should give you a chance to talk in private," she said, squeezing Tetch's shoulder.

"Thank you," he murmured, as the other inmates were led outside. The door to the cell block slammed shut, leaving Tetch and Crane alone.

There was silence between them for a moment as they both tried to think of something to say. "Well, come on inside," said Crane, fiddling the lock on the cell door and throwing it open. "Cup of tea?" he asked, holding up the kettle.

"Yes, please," said Tetch, gratefully, sitting down opposite him. There was silence again as they waited for the kettle to boil.

"How…how are you doing, Jonathan?" asked Tetch, gently.

"As well as can be expected," retorted Crane, pouring water into the mugs. "For a lunatic locked in an asylum without any hope of reprieve."

He handed a mug to him. "How's the outside world?" he asked.

"Oh, not particularly pleasant," retorted Tetch, shrugging. "But it has its moments."

They fell silent again. "Would you like to see a picture of my goddaughter?" he asked, reaching into his jacket to pull out the photo again and handing it to Crane.

Crane smiled. "She's a delightful child. I'm very happy for you, Jervis."

"Thank you," said Tetch, softly. He sipped his tea. "Dr. Leland says there's been some trouble? Something to do with Joker and dancing, and something called twerking? Nonsense word if I ever heard one."

"Oh yes, that," sighed Crane. "Yes, be grateful you weren't here. A man of my intellect, forced to perform rhythmic motions like some trained monkey! I wasn't sorry when the Joker killed that wretched doctor, I can tell you that."

"I don't think I would have been either," replied Tetch, smiling.

"Aren't the sane always sorry when people die?" retorted Crane. "Isn't valuing human life what sane people do?"

"Perhaps…not all sane people," said Tetch, slowly. "Look, Jonathan, I'm sorry," he murmured. "I'm sorry to have left you here alone, and you have every right to be upset with me…"

"I'm not upset with you," he said, sighing. "I'm just upset with…life. I'm upset things had to work out the way they did, with me alone in here, and you free out there. This isn't a very nice place without anyone real to talk to, you know."

"I wouldn't blame you if you were angry with me…" murmured Tetch.

"Angry? No. Envious, maybe. Jealous, that you're free. That you have a reason to be free…" he trailed off. "I'm happy for you, Jervis," he whispered. "Truly. But I am sorry for myself. You were the only friend I ever had, and now you're gone."

"Maybe you could try making a new friend," said Tetch. "What about Mr. Nygma? He's got quite a vast intellect."

Crane snorted. "He thinks he does," he muttered. "But a truly intelligent man has no need to show off the way he does. He's more arrogant than intelligent, and not the kind of man who tends to be very sympathetic. And one cannot be friends without sympathy and trust and kindness. Mr. Nygma has none of these attributes."

"I do intend to visit very frequently from now on," said Tetch.

"It's not really the same though, is it?" sighed Crane.

"Well, we can still share a cup of tea," said Tetch, forcing a smile. "And that will never change, Jonathan. Nor will my friendship."

Crane smiled and they were silent again, but it was more of a content silence, rather than an awkward one. "You must let me know if there is anything I can do to help you," said Tetch, suddenly. "You know, to regain your own sanity."

Crane laughed. "It's good to hear you still talk nonsense, Jervis," he replied. "Thinking I can rehabilitate myself."

"Why not?" asked Tetch. "I did."

"You had a reason," murmured Crane.

"You will find a reason," assured Tetch, firmly. "You're intelligent enough to know that life is full of cruelty, horror, and disappointment. You are perhaps not quite naive enough to believe that the world is full of wonderful things. But it is, Jonathan. This world is a wonderland. It's all in the way you look at it, in your mind."

"I wish I could believe that, Jervis," murmured Crane. "But experience has taught me otherwise."

Tetch smiled. "You rely too much on reality and facts and experience, Jonathan," he murmured. "You need to start relying on faith."

"Faith in what?" snapped Crane. "God? If He exists, He and I are not friends."

"Yourself," replied Tetch. "You are my friend, Jonathan. And you are worth much more than what you have become. I didn't used to believe that about myself, but Alice and her child taught me that it was true. I wish I could help teach you."

"I'm the Professor here, Jervis," retorted Crane, dryly. "And I'm a little old to be learning lessons now, don't you think?"

"Only if you refuse to learn," retorted Tetch. "And that's not the Jonathan I know. His mind was always curious and hungry for knowledge. He can't give up now."

He clapped him on the shoulder. "Promise me you'll try."

"Jervis, in my life trying has always been the first step towards failure," retorted Crane. Tetch just looked at him, and he sighed. "I'll try," he muttered.

Tetch beamed. "Excellent. I know you can do it, Jonathan." He finished his tea and stood up. "I shall visit again soon, but now I shall leave you to get some fresh air. It will do you good. Nothing so helps a troubled mind as a walk in the sunshine."

"It's raining," muttered Crane, glancing out the window.

"All the more impressive for the sun to be shining then," said Tetch, smiling. He tipped his hat. "Good day, Jonathan."

He strolled from the cell block, murmuring, "The sun was shining on the sea, shining with all his might: he did his very best to make the billows smooth and bright- and this was odd, because it was the middle of the night."

Crane smiled. "At least some things never change," he murmured, heading out into the rain.