Crimson X

Chapter 18: Cold

"Are you sure you want to become Warden of the asylum?" Bruce questioned Shar who looked out nervously at the stage they were going to go out on. "You don't have to, you know?"

Shar nodded slowly, "I know…I just don't really want to speak in front of this crowd. I'd rather be in front of all of the patients instead of these news reporters. They'll tear me apart?"

"And the psychos won't?"

"Good point," Shar took a breath before walking onto the stage a fake smile upon her face. Bruce followed closely behind her. "Um…Hello." She cleared her throat as she began to speak into the microphone. "I'm pleased to announce that Arkham City has officially been closed down. The deconstruction of the walls will begin once all of the inmates are safely contained and transported to Arkham Asylum. This is being funded out of the generosity of the Wayne family." She stood the side to allow the audience to applaud Bruce Wayne. Stepping back in front of the microphone she continued, "Now, this brings me to my next point. There needs to be someone to run the asylum. For obvious reason Mayor Quincy Sharp will not be running this asylum."

"Who then?" Jack Ryder shouted as he crossed his arms with a bored look on his face.

"Well, um," Shar's hands started to shake, "I-I will run it i-if that's okay." People laughed at her. Her cheeks became inflamed. It wasn't a good thing to seem hesitant when it comes to something like this. Bruce seeing this stepped up.

"Shar Channing is a psychiatrist that goes about treating her patients differently than what's conventional. Now if we look at Arkham's record just how many patients have been cleared of being insane? The number's low, so why not try something new. She also helped me oppose Arkham City from the beginning. We can obviously see that it was a mistake. Her relations with her patients are credible and they get along with her well."

"What if she turns into another Harley Quinn?"

Shar narrowed her eyes, "I swear I will never become involved in that kind of relationship with one of my patients, let alone a rogue!"

"There have been rumors circulating that you and The Riddler have been along rather well, though!"

Shar blushed, "Those are merely rumors! He did help me in Arkham City, but that's it. I helped the hostages by deactivating the bomb, so they wouldn't blow up!"

"Do you think that The Riddler has any feelings for you?"

Shar shook her head, "No!" Her thoughts flashed back to the last time he saw him, "He thinks I'm an idiot – just like everyone else. Look, Bruce, can you take over?" Shar shook her head and walked off stage. Reporters really were a nuisance that she didn't want to deal with. She rather lead a more private life.

"Shar Channing?" A voice questioned from her left as she walked down the stairs.

"Not now," Shar muttered as she walked past them. "If you want any questions answered just ask Bruce!"

"Even questions from a rogue?"

Shar stopped in her feet and turned around. Her eyes narrowed, but then went back to normal at the recognition of the person standing there with a bored expression, arms crossed.

"Mister Crane?" Shar walked over to him. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, just getting for when it'll tear itself apart with fear," Jonathan watched her with his icy eyes. "I wanted to thank you for helping earlier. I never did get a chance."

Shar raised eyebrows. It seemed out of character for a rogue to thank a person for their help. Then again, Jonathan Crane was more intelligent than most of the rogues and seemed to have a better understanding of manors.