Fear's Finality [Bullock]

[Jonathan Crane - Scarecrow]

There was far too much in this world that had been yet to be accomplished. It was his fault. As Dr. Crane walked down the east side on a mildly lit sidewalk near main he pondered to himself about this realization. He knew why he was out, why he had come and what he had to do tonight. He had told VerMillion everything she needed to know and nothing more and he had told Miss Gleeson everything she needed to know and nothing more. Now wasn’t the time for her to arrive however, she would only be after the fact had already happened. The people that had stood in his way, for so long from accomplishing what he needed to would be there no longer. There would be nothing that they could do and by the time they understood what was happening it would be far too late. He took the blame, for avoiding it for so long. He couldn’t face what had happened in the past, though he’d never admit it aloud.

As he turned the corner he came across the dimly lit Diner in the distance. It had large bay windows, a few lone people inside. It was the way it always was at this time of night but tonight he knew someone would be there. It was the same person that was always there at this hour. It made Dr. Crane wonder, which was more of the truth about a man exposing himself to that much consistency? The fear of being there? Or the fear of not? Both were equal possibilities for the man that was often so wrapped in his job. He knew how the man worked though and how he operated. It had been a long time since they both had been on the street.

His collar was turned up to hide his face and he wore oversized sunglasses, far too dark for the current state of night. But it was always bright in Gotham City, just not in this part of town. Dr. Crane’s face was far too well known for him to leave without covering it. Most of the time he wouldn’t have cared, but in this particular situation he didn’t want attention until he needed to capture it himself. He crossed the street when he got closer to the diner and made his way inside. He immediately took the seat next to the man he knew would be there, as he was every night.

He made no point to look at him at first. Instead he focused on the woman that approached him and asked him if he wanted something to eat and drink. “Coffee.” He stated plainly. She said if he wanted cream or sugar, but he didn’t answer her. Annoyed she turned around to pour him a cup and then handed it to him. Dr. Crane let the cup sit in front of him for a moment before he brought his fingers to lace around the sides. It was hot to the touch but the smell rising from the cup already made his stomach turn, he wouldn’t be drinking it.

“I wonder, detective Bullock. Do you sit here because you are afraid that you will be here when you need to be, or you won’t be when you were needed?” He asked rather cryptically before he would get into the reasons as to why he wasn’t going to cause an immediate scene. Dr. Crane had never made any type of deal with bullock or any of the GCPD as he’d heard was possible before. Leave the useless diplomacy to the mob and those beneath him. Dr. Crane felt that most professionals had their own ways in mind, though he wouldn’t elect himself with them. “But before you decided to make that synaptic choice in your brain about what you’re going to do with me sitting here I just want to tell you about the situation you’re in. I have a proposition for you whether you choose to take it or not doesn’t matter to me but it will matter to those around you.” He threatened him quietly with the safety of everyone around them.

[Deleted]

The Gotham City Diner. Not exactly the most creative name in the world, but who needed-- hell, who even wanted-- creativity in a diner. The ability to sling hash was what Harvey Bullock was looking for. He didn't need his supper served in a Michelin Star restaurant. He didn't need Foofoo food in which uppity chefs practiced molecular gastronomy or served trendy items like uni & avocado smoothies. "I gotta tell ya, Elaine..." he said while bellied up to the counter.  He was repeating to his waitress a bit of commentary he'd offered several times before, "I keep comin' back because I know I can get a good plate of eggs and a bottomless cup of coffee any time a' day." Depending on what he was in the mood for, that "good plate of eggs" would be substituted for "a nice, juicy burger" or "the tastiest Reuben in town" or "meatloaf as good as Mom's."

Besides the grub, Bullock also chose the Gotham City Diner for another reason: the solitude.  No one bugged him.  His work day was filled with one annoyance after another.  Same thing when he went home too early... one call after another from bill collectors and telemarketers.  At the diner, the only one who spoke to him was Elaine, and she'd figured out long ago that he wasn't there for chit chat.  She took his order, then let him stare into that bottomless cup of coffee for as long as he liked. 

On this particular occasion, Bullock had selected a Reuben for dinner.  The fact that it was "friggin' delicious" eased the pain that came from dropping a huge glob of Russian dressing on his tie.  "Son of a..."  He stopped himself before any vulgarities escaped.  He didn't know who these other schmoes were that had stopped into the Gotham City Diner on this particular night, but he still respected them enough not to disturb their peace and quiet with his profanity. 

...Then a mysterious stranger landed on the stool next to him.  For a while it appeared that the guy was just a harmless jackass who didn't share the detective's values where personal space concerned.  But then he spoke: "I wonder, detective Bullock. Do you sit here because you are afraid that you will be here when you need to be, or you won’t be when you were needed?"

Bullock shook his head in disbelief.  His solitude had been corrupted.  It didn't matter what this nutjob was saying, to Bullock it was like getting hit in the face with a ping pong paddle.  Making no effort to hide his annoyance, he did his best to answer the question.  "I sit here because the food is better than I can make at home, the price ain't half bad, and most people have the good sense not to bug me while I'm eating."

Perhaps it was the irritation he was experiencing.  Whatever the reason, the typically observant detective hadn't realized he was seated next to Dr. Jonathan Crane (alias "Scarecrow" or "The Scarecrow").  So he was taken aback when he heard the man say, "But before you decided to make that synaptic choice in your brain about what you’re going to do with me sitting here I just want to tell you about the situation you’re in. I have a proposition for you whether you choose to take it or not doesn’t matter to me but it will matter to those around you."

Bullock wasn't exactly sure who was being threatened.  Did "those around you" refer to the other diners in the restaurant?  Or was the man talking about the few friends or family members that Harvey held dear?  Either way, the man now had his full attention.  And once he had his full attention, Bullock quickly figured out who it was seated in the next stool.  "What do you want, Crane?  Don't tell me a son of a bitch..." At this point he paused, realizing that he had cursed despite making earlier efforts not to do so.  Not really caring, he repeated himself, "Don't tell me a son of bitch like you just happened to plop down next to me.  Tell me what you want, and start talkin' fast.  I'm not interested in riddles or psycho babble or any other mumbo jumbo.  Got it?" 

 


  

[Jonathan Crane - Scarecrow]

For a man that claimed he wasn’t into the theatrics he had certainly dug himself into quite a few holes aside from the one in his stomach. Dr. Crane was aware of how the GCPD ran and they knew exactly how he ran. The only difference between the two was that the GCPD was always predictable and Dr. Crane was never predictable. Which was why he knew that this man would do the “right” thing and do what he says. His role in this didn’t have to be difficult, but it was important.

The long paused that the detective took was telling to his mood. If he thought that he was interrupting his evening Dr. Crane could have said the same about him. They were both currently in a situation they didn’t want to be in. Full cooperation from both sides was the only way out. If detective Bullock did what he would tell him to then everything here would go fine and he would come out the hero.

Luckily for the detective, nothing that he wanted was cryptic, it was quite straight forward for possibly the first time. “I need you to arrest me here and take me to the precinct headquarters, where you will file me for revaluation for blackgate.” He left it at that simply and moved back to sit straight in his position. Of course, it would look strange for him to simply sit here and be arrested for no reason, not that the detective didn’t have one reason after another to do just that. But it was about what the people around them needed to see that mattered. It was something that the detective wouldn’t understand.

“Let me assist your motivation.” He warned him. The detective had no real choice but to go along with what he wanted anyway and if he didn’t he wouldn’t be the only one to suffer the terrifying consequences. The doctor slowly lifted from his stool and pushed it back gently. With one quick blow he kicked the bottom leg of the stool Bullock was sitting on to send it over.

Assault would have been a good enough motivation to get him started.