No sleep for the wicked

chapter 24- Protective Fear

Ashleigh’s POV

Both me and Scarecrow went our separate ways, I went to see how Harley was after her brutal emotional attack on the Joker and The Scarecrow went to see two face to see how he was copping from the resent embarrassment. I chuckled under my breath as I approached Harley in the living room. “Are you ok Harley?” I asked in a friendly tone, she looked at me with a rather serious tone, as her black eye makeup had ran slightly down her white painted face, I was expecting her to burst out crying. I braced myself slightly, then she smiled largely and began to chuckled, “I’m fine but it’s not the same case for Mr J.” I chuckled with her as I thought of what she had done to the Joker. I leaned further into the sofa, as Harley happily chatted away, I sighed “is there nothing we can do?” suddenly the large grin on Harley’s face became more twisted, “well Cobblepot invited us to a fundraiser thing at the iceberg lounge, but a lot of rich high nosed people are going to be there.” Harley shrugged and chuckled slightly, “as if we’d go to that.” I looked down at my hands, thinking that it would be nice to have some outside social interaction. Harley looked at me and saw I was contemplating the idea of going to the fundraiser, I heard her sigh, “do you wanna go Ashleigh?” I looked at her, and shrugged, “I wouldn’t mind going, I was just thinking it would be a nice way to send a night rather than fighting with each other.” A smile was creeping on her face, I knew I was winning her over, “also it’s a good way to get free alcohol.” Her smiled grew even bigger and then she began clapping, “its settle we are going to this fundraiser shindig.” She jumped up and pulled me up with her, she ran to the bottom of the stair case with me in tow and shouted, “everyone out of their rooms now!” suddenly there was a moment of loud banging and shuffling, and then doors opened.

“What is it Harl’s?” joker asked with his twisted smile on his face, “were going to Cobblepot’s fundraiser!” she exclaimed loudly, the scarecrow leaned on the banister of the stairs “and why are we going to his fundraiser?” Harley tapped her chin with her gloved index finger, “because it means free booze and a nice night out?” the joker laughed loudly, and he ended with a large gasp for air, “I’m sold, how about you guys?” Two Face shrugged, “it sound good.” And with that he went back into his room, “how about you Scaredy-crow?” Harley said excitedly, “I’ll go if Ashleigh’s going.” And with that he also retreated back into his room, joked giddily skipped down the stair and with this I saw the damage Harley had done, she had punched his square in the jaw, with had caused a bruise with a dark purple almost black hue. I shook my head as the joker embraced Harley as if he hadn’t been punched in the face, “are you coming puddin’?” joker smiled down at Harley and answered, “of course I am Harley, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” I made a puking noise from behind them and made my way up the stairs to the Scarecrow’s room.

I knocked on the hard wood door and entered cautiously, “hi.” I said as I entered the room, I looked over to the desk were the scarecrow was sitting, he was writing on a small bit of parchment with was a light brown colour due to its age, I stood close to the door until the Scarecrow looked at me. He looked up from his writing and looked at me with his dark alluring eyes, he didn’t say a word to me he just stood up and walked up to me toe to toe, I held out the small piece of parchment out to me and I took it gently from his hand, I looked at it curiously as I read it, “look in the wardrobe, and hopefully you’ll like what I have for you in there.” I folded the piece of paper and looked at the scarecrow who gestured to the wardrobe, I opened the heavy doors to see a black dress hanging there, the front was knee length but the back was a long trail, it glittered in the dim light of the wardrobe, I pulled it out and placed it against my body, I looked over to the Scarecrow and saw him looking down sheepishly down at his feet, he looked vulnerable, “why did you get this?” he looked up at me, and I saw his eyes were soft and caring, I gently laid the dress on the bed and walked over to him.

I pulled his lips down to mine; I kissed his lips lightly, and pulled back to looked into his eyes, and then he answered, “I saw it in a shop window, just after I broke out of Arkham so I decided I should get it for you. I thought you would like it, I got it while you were asleep from the fear toxin.” I nodded I looked back at the dress and then back to the Scarecrow, “should I try it on?” he smiled enthusiastically as I picked up the dress from the bed and scurried into the bathroom. I didn’t want to look in the bathroom mirror in case I discouraged myself. I took a deep breath and walked out of the bathroom to hear the Scarecrow’s verdict.

Scarecrow’s POV

I heard the creek of the bathroom door and out came Ashleigh. How was I meant to react to her? Her beauty was beyond this earth; her pale skin seemed to glow against the shimmering dress her curly red hair seemed to burn against the light and dark contrast. She let out a sigh as she waited for my verdict, I walked up to her and began to circle her like a vulture, her curves were so delicately highlighted by the dress, the strapless corset bustier which made the top half of the dress, lovingly showed Ashleigh’s bosom, her waist also dipped in gracefully. Her beautiful long legs were amorously showed off by the knee high front of the dress, and the long trail made her whole body look elegant and beautiful. I looked down at Ashleigh to see her staring back up at me, I cleared my throat and I gave her my verdict, “Ashleigh I don’t think an angel could were it better than yourself.” I held out my hand out to her which she took gladly, “you’re such a charmer Scarecrow.” I pulled her into my arms and kissed her lips tenderly. I pulled back to see her looked down at her newly acquired dress, “I guess I’m wearing this to the fundraiser then.” I nodded, and chuckled “it would be appropriate for the occasion.” She nodded and kissed me on the lips, “so are we ready to go?” I nodded; this would be a night to remember.

Everyone assembled in the hall way, Harley had cleared away her makeup and replaced it with some slight eye liner, and the joker had used some concealer to cover his place face and bright red lips, he also had applied some temporary black hair dye to both his eye brows and hair. Two Face on the other hand had half a mask covering his scared face; I nodded as we began to walk through the city to iceberg lounge. Outside of the underground doorway was a large line of people who were begging to enter as any party that Oswald Cobblepot threw was known to be remembered. All five of us walked up to the front of this large line, “special guests.” Joker simply stated and we were let in. As always the iceberg lounge was finely lavished in decorations, such as crystal chandeliers and silver dining wear, I looked over the crowed to see Oswald waddling towards the group of us, “well hello Scarecrow, and thank you for coming I…” Oswald paused; I looked over my shoulder to see Ashleigh leaning against the railing, which had the ice lake below it. I sighed, as Oswald began to stutter,. “That is Ashleigh penguin, she is my fiancée.” Oswald stopped stuttering to star at me in disbelief.

God damit! Why the hell did I just say Ashleigh was my fiancée? Not that I wouldn’t like her to be my fiancée, but god how am I going to explain this to Ashleigh. I sighed, and shook my head slightly, “aren’t you going to introduce me to her then scarecrow.” he nudged me slightly as he made his way towards Ashleigh, I gently tapped her on the shoulder, “Ashleigh this is Oswald Cobblepot.” She smiled and held out a hand for him to shake, “hello, Mr Cobblepot.” Oswald blushed at his and took Ashleigh hand and brought it up to his grotesque mouth, I cleared my throat which caused the penguin to freeze then he began to shake Ashleigh’s hand, “it’s very nice to finally meet Scarecrow’s fiancée.” Ashleigh stiffened at this, and then she soon relaxed. Oh god this is going to end badly, I slapped myself mentally, as Ashleigh said the final word, “it was very nice to meet you Mr Cobblepot.” The penguin nodded and left, I looked down at Ashleigh to see a small smile fading from her lips, crap. Why couldn’t I have just called her my girlfriend or companion? I slapped myself mentally again, I wonder what Ashleigh got to say to me about being my fiancée.