Title: Such Deliberate Disguises
Author: Annie Oates
Fandom: Batman Begins
Pairing: Batman|Scarecrow
Rating: G
Archive: ATW site.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Warnings: Experiment in the style of "dialogue only".
Author Notes: For a_thousandwords's 'quidam' challenge.
Feedback: Any and all.
Summary: Tell me, does the mask come off?

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"Why do you?"

"Do what?"

"Do what you do. Do this."

"I have to."

"No, you don't."

"Yes, I do."

"No. You don't."

"If I don't, who will?"

"It is likely you are the only sane man in Gotham."

"You would know."

"Would I?"

"You're the doctor."

"Yes. Or rather, I was. Not that I'm bitter or anything."

"It was your choice, Crane."

"Yes and this, this is yours."

"Back to that are we?"

"Did we ever really leave it? Can we?"

"If you would just stay in Arkham, let them help you..."

"Help me? There is no help for me."

"There is if you'll let them."

"Some of us are beyond help, Bat Man."

"I don't believe that."

"Fact does not require your belief. Tell me, does the mask come off?"

"It isn't glued on."

"Yes, yes. It can be removed, but does it come off?"

"You're one to talk."

"Touché. Now answer the question."

"I...don't know."

"Interesting."

"What do you care?"

"I? Why, I don't. Mine is only filled with straw."

"Alas."

"Alas, indeed. And you."

"What now?"

"Falls the shadow."

"Enough, Crane. Time to go."

"It's a sad, sad thing."

"I know I'm going to regret this. What is?"

"A crazy man in a bat suit."

"I thought I was sane?"

"We always do."

"So I'm a nut case, now? Like you?"

"No. You're perfectly sane. And yet you choose this path, this destiny."

"Sometimes destiny is made before the choice."

"You choose this path."

"No. Someone else did. I just walk it."

"Ah, but you make every. Step. Count."

"Analyze me all you like. You're still going back to Arkham."

"I'll escape again."

"I'll take you back. Again."

"Why? You could just kill me. Save yourself the trouble."

"Crane, I'm not going to kill you."

"Why not?"

"Because it would be wrong."

"And that, my dear Bat, is what makes you sane. Or...?"

"Or?"

"The maddest mind among us. No. Too terrifying to contemplate."

"Say goodnight, Crane."

"What...?"

"A mild sedative."

"Jerk..."

End.