Salecrow relationship headcannons.
(Gender neutral! Terribly long, silly and with bad grammar again.)
-His possessiveness makes him like to be the one to lead the way for when it comes to plans between you two, which has pros and cons. The pro is him revealing his personality out of his ideas everytime he does it and the con is not being able to be prepared for whatever he has in his mind. Don't be afraid - tsc - they won't be dangerous, just peculiarly taboo-ish like a date at 3a.m. with creepy red lights surrounding both of you. (Makes you feel like you're about to be sacrificed but alas it was the chicken for the dinner)
-Surprisingly shy in a way at the first moments of your relationship when it's established. Being vocal about how you were feeling with his approach was the way to break this barrier for him and even allowing his more audacious self to take place.
-Speaking of audacity, you're doomed once the intimacy grows between you two. He likes to press your buttons, see your shocked expression and failed attempts to hide it away. He's a psychologist after all, so studying your behaviour and responses is quite a thrill for him. Still, it's a huge turn off once you realise he isn't actually "interested" in something else 😳but just screwing around with you.
-He is not vulgar. Definitely not. He will never use the "F" word or any of the variants towards you.
-He is an energetic fella. Salecrow is the "alright, let's do it now" partner type. From common necessities to peaks of inspiration, he will be extremely supportive and not measure effort to aid with your thoughts. For example: Oh you wanna dye your hair? He will be the one pouring the colorful product in your head not even five minutes after you said it.
-He is very receptive of gifts, it doesn't matter their value or size. Anything that you make/give to him wins a special place in his heart. Seriously, he even keeps the bow and plastic well kept somewhere in his hideout.
-Don't try to befriend his crows. He finds your approach towards his feathery friends to be cute but discourages you to continue. He doesn't want them to eagerly follow you to your home out of their curiosity. His reason is… well, he is preoccupied that a certain vigilante might find out about you and him because of his corvids.
"They are cute in a way."
Jon perks up with your comment and turns in the chair to see you. He carefully places the flask back to the stand of his amalgam chemistry apparel, leaving his working table as he stands up to calmly walk up to join you.
"I mean, from far away they might seem threatening, especially in numbers, but once you take a closer look, they are goofy." You maintain the eye-contact to the thing you were so invested in: his crow and to be exact, the bigger looking one with its long feathers shining with a healthy deep blue.
Crane tilts his head but doesn't disturb your moment, silently admiring the delicacy you are having with his corvid.
The mischievous little one though keeps watching your attempts to befriend it. Its dark eyes observe your fingers carefully.
Surprisingly, it bows down and puffs its feathers, allowing you to stroke its head.
"Oh my!" You smile and keep stroking it, enjoying how quickly the bird became tame with your first tries.
You jump a little bit at the sudden voice and quickly recompose yourself, recognizing it was just Jonathan behind you. His hideout sure was a reflection of himself sometimes. Chilling silent. However with time you begin to learn that indeed there's nothing to fear when he is around, even when you don't expect to hear anything else besides his crows eventually making odd noises and his rhymes when working.
"She's clingy." You add up and Martha seems to be enjoying the caressing way too much.
"I thought you said goofy." He chuckles and gestures his hand, stopping with his index finger stretched.
Martha doesn't even hesitate and immediately flies to him, completely leaving you behind with an empty hand while standing proudly on his.
You turn around and take your time to admire Jonathan being a gentleman with her. Suddenly he sends her away and Martha flies upwards, blending in with the pitch black at the tall roof that lights couldn't reach.
He turns his attention back to you and is met with your frame with crossed arms and a smirk.
"Is the big and mean Scarecrow jealous tonight?" You tease him slightly.
"No. It's called being precautious. Don't pet any of them anymore."
Your throat goes dry at the thought you did something wrong but his perception is quick to notice your semblant tensing.
"Heh, let me explain better." He is trying to contain his smirk at your frightened face. "Martha is an upstanding crow. The others seem to look up to her and her behaviour, thus leading to them learning from hers, let's say, antics." His teeth are showing in a smug grin beneath the threads. "Therefore she is a great helper when it comes to taming my other adjudants."
"You just said it before. She's clingy. I don't want her to follow you and teach the other crows the same as that'd result into tracing your way back home. After all, that might eventually end in another… figure following you too." He almost spits those last words with a bitter disgust.
It doesn't take much for you to understand what he meant so a simple nod is all you need to respond to his brief explanation.
There's a distant sadness in your eyes, perhaps just a simple disappointment, but that doesn't escape his watching. He makes a mental note about this particular interaction.
Another future time is granted for you to spend time in his hideout again. Gotham can be quite distracting for the Dark Knight when it wants, leaving the fearsome straw man relaxed to loose his tight grip on a few hidden things and enjoy others peacefully, such as you.
Your presence is finally welcomed when the robust wooden door behind you shuts close with a clunk sound. The scene would make your heart tighten if you didn't know him at all but with a reassuring eye contact he sees the trust in your eyes and vice versa.
"Do you remember when we last spoke?"
"Uhm… something about how some fears are practical."
"No, not that. Unless you want me to explain again. Actually, I meant our last conversation about the crows."
"Stay here." He gently places a hand on your shoulder and leaves.
You are not able to hear his footsteps at all since he is silent but can simply see a glimpse of his shadow walking away to another part of the place.
A couple of shrieking sounds can be heard and in a split moment the sound of wings flapping fastly increases. You instinctively duck and feel the murder flying above your stance in a desperate flee. Although the sound is worrying, you open one of your eyes and see the group is not even paying attention to you but rather perching in the wooden beams of the tall roof or leaving for their freedom through the open windows.
“Dramatic creatures.” Jon’s voice echoes right after the uproar. He comes in carrying something hidden between his hands, holding it closer to his chest. “...and you shouldn’t worry that much.” He clearly reminds you that you’re still ducking.
“I guess you are right.” A nervous giggle escapes your lips.
“Hmm, I don’t think I have noted a presence of Ornithophobia before on you, my dear.” He approaches you, still holding the unknown thing in his hands carefully. “If that’s the case then I’m terribly sorry for what I have for you.”
Curiosity together with fear sparks once he brings his enclosured hands closer to you. However, as fast as your anxiety have rose so did the surprise and delight when he finally opens to reveal a small chick.
It looks around alarmed by being taken out of the nest but it doesn't seem to worry much about your fingers caressing the black fluffy feathers that are growing.
"Adorable! Where did you find it?" You ask, still glued to the cuteness of the baby bird in his hands.
"I noticed an unusual routine from a long term couple and decided to investigate further. Expecting the worse, turns out I found the best, hidden among some abandoned remnants of the chapel." He gently hands you the small black fluffy ball that is trying to take shelter in your blouse now. "I cannot hand you my adult crows but I'm sure that you can raise one by yourself."
You look up to him and find his smile to be wider than usual, bearing joy that warms his hidden features behind the mask.
"What if it flies away?" Your question comes out kinda silly.
He brings his hand to caress your cheek for a moment, then resting his thumb in your chin, gently pushing you to look up while reciting a rhyme.
"If I were a bird, I'd sing a song. And fly about the whole day long. And when the night comes, go to rest. Up in my cozy little nest."
Above in the dark tall roof, a number of rubies glow among the void. It was where the crows would perch and observe all. Hypnotizing and sinister, it was almost as if there were a million eyes staring down your soul.
Jon slides his hand back to your cheek and finally you meet his gaze again.
"You will know where to find it if it flies away."
