Gotham City was literally hell on Earth, it was as if almost everyone in this city had given in to the dark and twisted part of the human mind and soul with crime at its highest and fear everywhere.

It's a haven of inhuman sinners, heathens, and criminals with the few decent people being the victims…or they join in this sick madness…

It all started on a typically gloomy night in the city, it had rained for most of the day which left the pavement stained with puddles of water.

Kristen Kringle stepped into the elevator and pulled out the piece of paper her boyfriend had given her that read, 'Level 8, Room 140, fourth door on the left. Don't forget! Love, Ed'.

She giggled to herself upon reading it and pressed the button that had the number on it. They had been dating for several months now and the two of them couldn't be more than happier with the time they've spent together.

Despite how she felt about Edward in the past, now, she found him incredibly charming, at least that was better than her previous boyfriend who left town with no explanation why.

Edward wasn't at all like those other men she had dated, he was genuinely sweet and cared deeply about her, he even saved her life when the GCPD was under attack by escaped Arkham Asylum patients!

She arrived at the door and stuffed the paper into her pocket, knocking several times. Almost immediately, Edward Nygma opened the door and grinned at her upon seeing her wait for him.

"Kristen, right on time!" He exclaimed while giving her a quick kiss and leading her inside. "Come on in, I made something for us."

Kristen followed him into the apartment which appeared as it normally did when she visited it while music played from a nearby radio. Edward walked with her towards a table and pulled up one of the chairs for her.

"After you, my lady." He told her with a nod.

"Aw, you're too sweet, Ed!" She smiled at him as she took her seat and watched him push the chair in.

"Be right back! Gotta finish up what I made for us!"

Edward went off into the kitchen and began to prepare some drinks for him and Kristen.

Alright, hot chocolate mix…check, marshmallows, check, whipped cream, check, just need the spoons…He thought while rummaging through the drawer for two spoons.

As he grabbed the spoons, he swore he saw his reflection glaring at him from one of the silverware's shiny surfaces, but he shook his head and decided that he wasn't going to let his inner demons bother him on a night like tonight.

Edward stepped out of the kitchen with a smile on his face as he carried two mugs of hot chocolate and placed them on the table before taking a seat across from Kristen.

"I made us some hot chocolate, I hope you like it with both marshmallows and whipped cream, that's how I like it." He said, grabbing his spoon and scooping the whipped cream up with it. "Did you know that some super model died by being stabbed with the top of a whipped cream bottle?"

"Wow, that's unfortunate…and regarding the marshmallows and whipped cream, I don't mind honestly." Kristen told him in a reassuring tone while she began to drink her hot chocolate.

"So…the weather's been pretty glum lately, hasn't it?"

"It's Gotham City, the sun never shines here."

"Right, I forgot. Do you think it's because of all that chaos Cobblepot's group and the Arkham escapees have been causing?"

Kristen shrugged in response: it wouldn't surprise her if the sun itself was afraid to shine down on Gotham. Even before Oswald Cobblepot took over all crime in the city, back when it was just Maroni, Falcone, and Fish Mooney, there was barely a bright, sunny day.

"I don't know, Ed. They say Metropolis has better weather anyways." She said with a sigh.

"Did you like the hot chocolate?" Edward asked her in anticipation, hoping that she liked what he did special for her.

"Yeah, thanks. It was amazing." Kristen answered while nodding and standing up from her seat.

The scientist smiled and took the mugs from the table, so he could rinse them. He stepped up to the sink and began to wash the two cups, unaware that Kristen had walked into the kitchen.

Once he was finished, Edward turned towards her direction and questioned, "You're not leaving now, are you?"

"No, not at all! I was wondering if I could stay the night and we could maybe…hang out a bit more." Kristen replied while scratching the back of her head.

"Go on ahead, I really enjoy us being together."

"You really mean it?"

"Of course, I do! Because…I love you."

Kristen was in shock as she adjusted her glasses, trying to process what he just said. It didn't come as a surprise to her: they WERE dating and she cared for him.

"Uh, do you mind if I set up in your room?" She asked him which broke the awkward silence between them.

"Not at all, I just need a minute." Edward answered in a reassuring tone before the two walked their separate ways.

He went into the bathroom and stared down at the sink while in deep thought, what was he going to do? Was he even ready to have the evening escalate?

Damnit…He thought in fear.

"She didn't say that she loved you back." A familiar voice commented from the mirror.

Edward's head shot up and he found himself face to face with his evil self, a scowl on his face.

"I don't need you to ruin MY night, go away…" He grumbled.

"If she doesn't say that she loves you too, it's not real love." The reflection pointed out.

"Shut up…"

"It's common knowledge, really. She's ruining this night!"

"Shut up."

"I saw it coming from the beginning. She's not your type anyways, remember when she was like everyone else? Throwing insults at you? Calling you a freak?"

"SHUT UP!" Edward screamed before punching the mirror in a rage.

"Ed, are you alright?" Kristen called out from the other side of the door.

"What can you serve, but not eat?" He asked her as he adjusted his glasses in a panic.

"That doesn't really answer my question…" Kristen answered in concern.

"The answer is a tennis ball. And yes, I'm fine. Just needed to use the bathroom!"

He stumbled out of the bathroom and almost fell in front of her, but caught himself on the side of the wall before he could collapse on top of her. They both laughed awkwardly at this moment and they walked over to the doorframe of his room.

Kristen immediately kissed Edward as he wrapped his arms around her. Once it began getting more intense, Edward remembered what his evil self said and backed off which ended the kiss.

"Ed, what's wrong?" She asked with a worried expression.

"It's just…my inner voice says that I think we're moving a bit too fast." He answered nervously.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't know you were concerned about that…"

"No, no! It's fine! I have something I wanted to give you first."

Edward ran to his closet and pulled out a box from it, handing it to Kristen who opened it to find a large stack of papers inside which were written on. It appeared to have some form of poetry written on it as the first piece of paper read:

'I watch her walk pass,

her hair flowing behind her.

Her green eyes gleaming from her glasses.

Perfection does not exist, they say.

My inner thoughts say otherwise.'

"Wow, I didn't know you wrote poetry! This is really good!" She gasped in amazement. "Is this about me?"

"Yeah, I enjoy writing. Before I got into forensics, I wanted to possibly become a poet. I wrote it after we first met. Ever since then, I've been compiling together all these love poems in hopes of giving them to you." He explained happily.

"Well, thanks! I'll keep them in my care."

"Please do, Kristen."

His smile was tight as he avoided glances with his reflection that he saw in her glasses, seeing his evil half shake his head in disapproval.

"Sleep well, Ed." She told him, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"Yeah, you too." He nodded awkwardly before cursing to himself in disappointment as she passed him.

'Yeah, you too'?! That's the best you think up of? Edward thought in annoyance.

He shook his head and decided to prepare for well earned sleep.