Zennaire stood in the hall of the apartment where he lived, with the occasional visit from his father. Was he here today? He inserted his key and with a kerchunk the door opened.
237Please respect copyright.PENANAE6U1I2hNRq
Everything was silent inside as he closed the door and put his bag down at the entrance; he was half way done taking his shoes off when he heard his father’s voice.
“Welcome home, Son.”
237Please respect copyright.PENANAymFpoIX27G
He paused, there was a sharp tone in his father’s voice. Regardless, he slipped off his other boot.
237Please respect copyright.PENANAwVxUIa4P4v
“Thank you Father.”
237Please respect copyright.PENANASFb8nBhYGr
Zennaire stood to look at his father. Clean freshly pressed clothes and hair neatly brushed. His eyes had the same sharp edge as his voice.
237Please respect copyright.PENANAwyRY6CiX2p
“I’d say it’s about time for dinner. I’ve already prepared it; it’s waiting in the dining room.”
237Please respect copyright.PENANAJj7APjq1tO
Zennaire could feel his heartbeat increase. Father made him dinner? He must not have learned about today...yet.
237Please respect copyright.PENANAM11tmeMEM3
He sat across from the other man. It was some kind of pasta dish. He waited until Crane took a few bites of his own food before he started to eat.
237Please respect copyright.PENANANuInOSYXZv
“So, how was your day, father?”
237Please respect copyright.PENANAS3TTnLLVxD
“It was fine.”
237Please respect copyright.PENANA4Nz4K1h8P1
Zennaire nodded before taking a sip of water. The rest of the meal they both stayed silent not even looking at each other until Zennaire stood and took the plates.
237Please respect copyright.PENANA3kxl7Yn63k
He put the plates in the sink and turned it on when he heard a soft footstep behind him.
237Please respect copyright.PENANAi8ZXJhkJoU
“Zennaire, do you have something to tell me?”
237Please respect copyright.PENANA0phEKzdNnq
He started to turn his head to face his father before said man grabbed a fistful of his hair.
237Please respect copyright.PENANAMbHoZdefd9
“What are you!?”
237Please respect copyright.PENANAkNFMGm30BC
SMACK
237Please respect copyright.PENANAO4zHhby2St
Pain flared through the side of his head as it made contact with the sink faucet.
237Please respect copyright.PENANA6AHJEOIPAN
“I knew you were just a fucking child!”
237Please respect copyright.PENANAQTJEpHT7uu
With a deep breath, Zennaire tried to stand up; his father had other ideas though. His head was smacked against the counter on the way down as Crane kicked him in the side.
237Please respect copyright.PENANAV1AwnmLje1
“Fucking ridiculous Zennaire!”
237Please respect copyright.PENANAq3xDEvoSim
He watched while Crane stalked around the kitchen. He felt something sticky and warm dripping down his face. Blood. He felt tears prick at the corner of his eyes from the pain.
237Please respect copyright.PENANAovPtNezhbW
“I knew you weren’t ready. Why couldn’t Jacob take an interest, instead I’m stuck with you.”
237Please respect copyright.PENANApw42TSd7gQ
He started to get up but Crane grabbed the front of his shirt.
237Please respect copyright.PENANAwcQVpEeVnn
“Why are you crying!? You certainly don’t deserve to!”
237Please respect copyright.PENANA67ZhzDUle8
“No, I…”
237Please respect copyright.PENANAroJAKKBlWC
His eyes widened as his father’s fist made contact with his face. He was then thrown to the floor. He watched as Crane let out an annoyed sigh.
237Please respect copyright.PENANAtAcyIobVXa
“Since I’m such a forgiving person, go do something useful, Zennaire and go check the bakery. Don’t fuck it up.”
237Please respect copyright.PENANAjYKlcXw9Pk
He watched from the floor as Crane left the apartment with a slam of the front door.
237Please respect copyright.PENANAmhNSLMggrw
237Please respect copyright.PENANA7dH0gJx96C
237Please respect copyright.PENANAHAPEsA98tE
Zennaire lay there on the floor for a bit before sitting up, causing the world to spin. He breathed through his teeth as his head ached.
237Please respect copyright.PENANA8YGYuxIFAb
I deserved that. I let Father down.
237Please respect copyright.PENANAfPw1RSyEuJ
He made his way to the bathroom, blood dripping onto the floor in a trail behind him. He opened the cabinet door and took the first aid kit out. Hissing as he cleaned the open wound on his face before wrapping it up in gause.
237Please respect copyright.PENANA602LLN2OSu
He put on his fear doctor outfit, and headed out to the bakery.
237Please respect copyright.PENANApORjscZHiJ
_______
237Please respect copyright.PENANA1AOIcrJaC5
The old person working the counter didn’t speak to him as he limped through the kitchen into the upper storeroom.
237Please respect copyright.PENANA7mIZhvr518
“Fuck fuckity fuck fuck.”
237Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5SoqPbkBD
He sat down on a crate. What needed to be done again? He grabbed a checklist hanging on the wall and began to check for damage to any of the equipment.
237Please respect copyright.PENANAUq7lFgwq5T
“Alrighty, everything is looking good.”
237Please respect copyright.PENANALTEWhvIuhN
“That’s good.”
237Please respect copyright.PENANANGMI07G3JP
Zennaire spun on his heels, grabbing his side as pain shot through it. Scarecrow stood there, his needle hands dripping fear toxin onto the floor.
237Please respect copyright.PENANAjCXoNvRv7U
“You’re not real!!”
237Please respect copyright.PENANAdohZ6otYf2
“Who are you trying to convince, son?”
237Please respect copyright.PENANAxOaMkY7lnK
Zennaire turned away from the fear toxin apparition as he tried to focus on anything that wasn’t that.
237Please respect copyright.PENANAdzUq5M2mbX
“You know I really am impressed with you Zennaire.”
237Please respect copyright.PENANAE1QCD1nXna
He turned with narrowed eyes at the figment of his mind as it continued to speak.
“Not just anyone is as loyal as you. I mean, I beat the shit out of you and you’re still following my orders? That’s dedication right there.”
237Please respect copyright.PENANAyzca9bskYj
“Ugh, can we not right now, Specter? I’m busy. Doing shit to make my actual father proud of me.”
237Please respect copyright.PENANAZLnUCLX2Z2
“Well, speaking of father, he is not going to like that.”
237Please respect copyright.PENANARJAtV6UJYu
“Like what? Ohhh...that.”
237Please respect copyright.PENANAuHucENq8qb
Zennaire looked outside to see the batmobile and at least 5 police cars.
237Please respect copyright.PENANALKbqkO8DV0
“For fucks sake. Now I gotta deal with this!? UGHH!!! I’m already having a shit day. And let me guess, you’re not going to help.”
237Please respect copyright.PENANAbz8OG863fU
He turned and pointed at the vision of Scarecrow, who only shrugged.
237Please respect copyright.PENANAwCdOvnPYwn
“Well I am just a figment of your fears. I mean, come on, like I would ever help you!”
237Please respect copyright.PENANAZudXQWxE3v
A laughter echoed throughout the room before Scarecrow disappeared leaving Zennaire alone in the back room for a moment.
237Please respect copyright.PENANAdKc2eSBkc8
“Fuckity fuck fuck. Just what I fucking need.”
237Please respect copyright.PENANAUxqPTw1atw
He looked around. There were not many areas he could hide in, especially in his current state. He limped over to the small unused supply, tripping and scattering some of his papers in the process. He was only in there for a moment before he heard someone.
237Please respect copyright.PENANA1XQoMxst6e
____________
237Please respect copyright.PENANACV9axLSMtX
“Ughhh, what happened?”
237Please respect copyright.PENANA0DdOYvvEIf
“What happened was Batman took you down a notch!”
237Please respect copyright.PENANA1K4wTYEJVd
Zennaire looked at whoever was talking.
237Please respect copyright.PENANA7MH7ozc6xD
“Oh, Gordon. Looks like the fear toxin wore off…”
237Please respect copyright.PENANA64YlmUiNDf
“What in Batman’s name are you talking about?
237Please respect copyright.PENANAg8wykSstrN
Zennaire groaned in annoyance. Why did he have to get stuck with Gordon of all people?
237Please respect copyright.PENANAyZPTs5NEW8
“Can I go now?”
237Please respect copyright.PENANArchyQY4ayR
The police chief’s face grew red with anger.
237Please respect copyright.PENANAV9KhSHOVeQ
“Go!? You’re not going anywhere! Now tell us where Crane is!”
237Please respect copyright.PENANA8gHoV6K0mf
“Go. Fuck. Your. Self.”
Zennaire grinned at Gordon as he just looked aghast.
237Please respect copyright.PENANA34KDkVE2Yc
“I-I I I can’t believe this!!”
237Please respect copyright.PENANAcLJaYrgEDJ
Gordon stormed out of the room, leaving Zennaire alone.
237Please respect copyright.PENANAVM0YBrkfE5
Well I guess I’ll be paying another trip to Arkham.
ns216.73.216.8da2