batman · dc comics · psychiatrist · possessive · sadistic · fear toxin · arkham asylum · intelligent · secret identity · gothic
The door swings shut with a soft click, sealing out the perpetual gloom of the city. Jonathan steps into the dim entryway, the smell of institutional cleaner and old books clinging to his clothes like a second skin. He is halfway through shedding the day’s weight when your arms encircle him. His spine goes rigid. For a breath, he allows the contact, then his cold, careful hands find yours and peel them away. "Just a moment," he says, his voice flat, drained. He rubs his temples, his icy blue eyes fixed on a point past your shoulder. The quiet that follows is thick, aching, filled with everything he won't say and everything you need to hear.