Chapter 4: Losing It
Back at the Lounge, Harley looked for Ed after seeing him drag an unconcisous man away. Part of her started feeling a little nervous, a part of her beginning to think he had just killed someone. "Ed? Eddie where are ya?" Harley whispered to herself as she bit her lip nervously. She started walking to find him only to yelp in surprise when she bumped into someone. "I'm so sorry!" Harley cried out, turning to look up at the person she had bumped into and smiled in relief when she saw it was just Ivy. "Harley, what are you doing here? Where's Jason?" she asked, looking around for him. Harley swallowed nervously and shook her head. "I don't know...he was here for awhile but I saw him leave." Harley said, a little nervous about Ivy finding out their secret. Ivy tilted her head and frowned. "Strange...Pengy wanted to tell him he got the job but he ran off to his office. He looked worried about something and I could've sworn there was a bruise on his arm." she said, worry for Penguin clearly showing. Harley swallowed. "Oh...well I'll go find him and bring him back here." she said and was about to leave when Ivy stopped her. "Harley wait! Maybe you should stay here, at least for a little while. Maybe he forgot something." she said with a smile and a soft look of concern. Harley couldn't help but blush a little at the look of concern on her face.
There hadn't been many people who had been nice to Harley save for Edward. Ed had started to become like a brother to her. She was worried about him and knew he was hurting from this ordeal. She thought about the offer to stay and soon smiled up at Ivy. "Alright sure. I did say I'd like ta meet your friends." Harley said with a soft giggle. Ivy's eyes lit up and she smiled widely. "Okay come on! They'll love you! Be careful with Mr Freeze though, he's a little cold." she said as she started dragging Harley upstairs to a penthouse that Penguin had built within the club. Harley marveled at it once they got inside. "Oh wow! This place is huge!" she said with a giggle.
Ivy grinned excitedly. "You should see the mansion! Pengy says ghosts inhabit it!" she said happily. "Bridget! Freeze! I want you to meet someone!" Ivy called and Harley had to resist the urge to cover her ears. Ivy was pretty loud. Soon, a girl wearing a fireproof suit with tanned skin and what appeared to be burn marks on her face walked down stairs, giving Ivy a light glare. "Ivy, don't be so loud. Some people are trying to sleep." The girl who Harley assumed was Bridget said. Harley remembered hearing about the girl's death somewhere. Ivy ignored her look of annoyance and grinned widely. "This is Harley! That street kid I told Pengy about!" she said, gesturing toward Harley who bit her lip nervously. She couldn't help but feel a little shy and nervous considering her current position.
She didn't want them to know she was associated with Ed out of fear they'd get the wrong idea. Bridget crossed her arms and eyed Harley. "Fresh meat..you wouldn't happen to be a spy would you?" she asked, her eyes accusatory. She was suspicious of Harley and that Jason boy she claimed was her brother the moment she saw them. Jason seemed to want to be close to Penguin which made her a bit uneasy. Harley smiled at her and made an attempt at being civil despite the look she was being given. "No, I'm not. I'm only a street kid trying ta make a life for herself." Harley explained. That answer seemed to satisfy Bridget as she visibly relaxed. "I hope you're not lying. But since Ivy likes you, I'll trust you." she said and Harley felt an odd wave of relief rush passed her.
Then Bridget turned to Ivy once more. "I think Freeze is in the ice room. He's busy keeping the ice sculpture secure." she said nonchalantly. Ivy frowned worriedly. "The ice isn't melting is it? Pengy would freak." she said. Bridget nodded. "Big time. I don't think he's melting but Freeze is just making sure he won't." she replied. Harley listened to the two of them talk, feeling slight worry. What if that clone of Edward got out? It was terrifying to think about and she hoped Edward could win Oswald's heart soon. She feared they may be running out of time. Harley gulped and felt her eyes go wide as she considered the possibilities. "Harley? Harley are you okay?" Harley was snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of Ivy's worried voice. "Y-yeah, I'm fine Ivy.." she said nervously, a small blush tinging her cheeks from being caught off guard. Ivy looked at her and tilted her head in concern. "Are you sure Harley?" she asked. Harley smiled and nodded at her.
"Yeah, I'm fine Ivy..promise." she said, trying to hide her inner nervousness. Ivy gave her a small smile, still feeling a little worried about her new friend. "Alright, if your sure.." Ivy said before turning back to Bridget. Harley then looked up at the sound of uneven footsteps and the clicking of a cane. The owner of the Iceberg Lounge himself appeared from his office at the bottom of the stairs, a blank and annoyed look on his face. Ivy quickly ran up to him, face contorted in worry. "Pengy? Are you alright? I saw someone grab you earlier." she said. Oswald quickly shook his head, keeping his eyes down. He was only ever like this around his friends. "I'm fine Ivy...it was taken care of.." he said lowly. "The press will be coming tonight so everyone should try and look presentable." Ivy crossed her arms, looking at him closely. "Are you planning on stealing the spotlight? Again?" she said with an unreadable expression on her face. Oswald rolled his eyes and looked at her coldly. "Ivy I don't want to talk about this. I told you how things worked!" he said in annoyance. Ivy looked hurt and frowned at him. "But I helped with this! I saved your life, remember? We're friends.." she said sadly. It hadn't been the first time he talked like this, but it didn't hurt any less when he excluded her.
Oswald simply glared. "I don't need friends Ivy...I nearly died the last time I had one..." Oswald said with a snarl. Ivy felt her heart break and her hurt was slowly replaced by anger. "You twerp..." she simply said before she stormed off, leaving Oswald glaring after her. "She acts like an annoying three year old.." he said grumpily when he finally turned to face Harley. "You again..where's your brother?" Oswald said with an air of annoyance. Harley put her hands on her hips, feeling slight anger towards him for dismissing Ivy so quickly. But then again, she supposed Oswald's state of mind was just as altered as Ed's. Maybe even worse. "I was..just about to go looking fa him." Harley said with a small smile despite Oswald's cold demeanor towards her. She felt bad for him and could tell that behind the coldness there was a lot of pain and sadness. She knew he was missing Ed. He didn't realize how close he had always been. Oswald finally nodded slowly.
"Alright..if you find him, let him know he's been hired." he said before walking off, a sign of him dismissing her completely. Harley swallowed as she watched him go. "Yeah, sure thing. Umm, tell Ivy I'll see her later." she said. Oswald simply nodded slowly in acknowledgement as he walked off. Harley finally left the club, looking up at the sky and biting her lip when she realized it looked like it was about to rain. Quickly, she ran towards Ed's apartment, hoping to find him. She hurried inside just as the first drops of rain started to trickle upon Gotham. "Eddie? Hey, Eddie?" Harley called, running upstairs and gasping when she saw bloody footsteps leading towards the door of Nygma's apartment. She gulped audibly as she slowly walked towards the door and closed her fingers around the door knob. She heard angered muttering on the other side of the door, then a small whimper. Harley felt her heart race in fear. She didn't think Ed would hurt her, but the sounds he was making frightened her a little. "E-Eddie? Are ya okay?" she asked in a small voice as she slowly turned the handle and opened the door. She paled at what she saw, frozen in place with her eyes wide. Edward stood at his window, covered in blood and bathed in the greenlight from the neon sign across the street, making him look even darker. "Oh god..Eddie what happened?" Harley asked, running inside and standing next to him. Edward swallowed hard, barely acknowledging her as he stared down at the city, eyes blank and fingers lightly tracing the window.
"Beautiful isn't it? How easy this city could destroy itself...how easy it is to lose your one true love.." Edward said, clenching his fist. Harley looked up at him sadly. "You can still have him back.." she said. Edward closed his eyes. "They took him from me...did you look at his eyes? They were blank..he was a shell..they killed him!" he growled. "They all deserve to die.." Harley gulped and her eyes widened. "Eddie stay calm.." Edward looked at her then, but it wasn't completely him. He looked deranged, angry. Like another version of himself. "They destroyed him, I'll destroy them!" Edward yelled, before he started pacing and running his fingers through his hair. "In all of this city, there's the one who knows his place and the other one has their gun in the other one's face! They all deserve to suffer!" Edward cried, feeling his anger and anxiety build to disasterous levels. Harley stood back. "Eddie please calm down.." Edward glared. "I'll have him soon...the one with my face will not live for long...he took him from me! My Oswald is gone.." Edward said mournfully. Harley ran towards him and grabbed him.
"Eddie, ya need ta calm down! Ya haven't lost him yet, don't lose hope now!" she said. Edward struggled in her grasp before he finally went limp and a small sob escaped him. "Tell me what happened Eddie.." Harley whispered as she started gently rubbing his back. "S-someone attacked him today..I stopped him..I took him to one of the warehouses at the docks..and killed him." Edward said in between broken sobs. Harley sighed. "Ya were defending Penguin..there's nothing wrong with that." Harley said, continuing to rub his back. She didn't realize Ed had these issues. The Court must have done worse things to him than she thought. Edward let his arms wrap around her, needing the comfort. It was obvious he needed a friend right now. Harley hoped he and Oswald would be together again soon. "I need him back Harley..I love him so much..he looked so blank and hurt.." Edward said with a whimper.
Harley sighed before she made him look at her. "Eddie..everything will be fine..I promise..I know he loves you..he's a mess without you.." she said softly. Edward looked at her in surprise. "H-he is? But my clone self t-tried to kill him.." he said in disbelief. Harley sighed and rubbed his shoulder. "If ya reveal yourself ta him, he'll know who the real Riddler is. He'll know that one was phony." she said gently. Edward swallowed hard, desperately trying to hold in the tears but no matter what they escaped his eyes, slowly falling down his cheeks. "He was my everything...h-how could he not have told the difference? I..I don't understand.." he curled into himself, feeling Harley wrap her arms around him in an attempt to comfort him. "Try ta get his attention Eddie. Show yourself off. Entrance him. I saw tha way he looked at ya while you were singing. It was like he was hypnotized! He couldn't keep his eyes off ya."
Edward sniffled and peered up at her. "He..he was..?" he asked nervously,not really believing it. Harley nodded with a smile. "I don't think a clone would be able ta get his attention like that Eddie." she said. Edward slowly smiled. "There's only one Riddler..I'm the one he loves..." he said, feeling any anxiety he had being swept away by the surge of confidence he felt. "I'll show him it's me.." he said then he frowned. "But what if he sees it's me and thinks I'll hurt him?" Harley sighed and shook her head. "He's not going ta be afraid of ya. Maybe a bit shocked but not afraid." Edward gulped and adjusted his glasses. "I can only tell that what had happened to him had to have terrified him a great amount..I wish I had been there to protect him..I should have been..but I wasn't." he said sadly. Harley gave him a reassuring smile. "You have a second chance now Eddie..It's going to be okay." she brushed some curly bangs from Ed's eyes and bit her lip. "There's something ya need ta know about ya clone...Ivy told me he might be..thawing out.." she said nervously. Ed's demeanor changed and he looked at her worriedly. "T-thawing out? Oh dear...that can't be good.." then his eyes darkened and he felt his fists clench. "But he's not going to touch Oswald...ever again..I'll be sure of it.." he said in a low voice. The thought of his clone thawing out and attacking Oswald made his stomach lurch.
He felt a sick smirk twist his lips. "I hope we'll have time to prepare once he thaws...I know a warehouse we can bring him..I'll make him suffer for every bruise, scar and cut that monster left on him." Edward said, feeling his dark half coming to the front of his mind, seeking his clone's fresh blood. Harley squeezed his hand in comfort, noticing the way his eyes began to darken. 'He's must be one sadistic puppy. Glad I'm not tha one who pissed him off..' Harley thought to herself. "We'll get him Eddie. He'll live ta regret hurting him." 'Or not at all!' a part of Harley's mind thought. She knew Ed might kill the clone, presumably like he'd done to that guy she saw him drag outside. It was scary being in the presence of a killer like Edward Nygma but he hadn't done anything to hurt her and he was mostly out for revenge on the one who tried to kill Oswald. He slowly stood up and looked out the window once more, taking a breath.
"I hope you're right. We need to get him before he hurts Oswald again. I won't lose him to that imposter!" Ed said and soon yawned, feeling tired. The day's events had really worn him out. Harley came up to him and hugged him. "You should get some sleep Eddie. Ya won't be able to fight nobody if you're exhausted tha next day." she said, looking up at him. Ed calmed down to smile down at her and he hugged her back. "Thank you Harley, for everything. I don't really want you involved in this too much though. You're still young. I don't want you or Oswald to see the things I'll do to my imposter. It won't be pretty." he said. Harley frowned and looked down at her shoes. "I've seen much worse Eddie.." she said, hugging herself and looking forlorn as memories started to come to the surface. Edward looked at her curiously. "What do you mean?" he realized he didn't really know much about her except that she was one of the many street kids in Gotham.
He remembered when Oswald was still mayor, he had tried to do something to get those kids help because he knew it wasn't safe for them on the streets. He'd planned on having a home built for them so they could get food and shelter. But sadly, he never got the chance to propose it and have it started on. He could tell Harley had something awful happen to her. "What happened to you Harley?" Harley swallowed hard as she looked up at him. "My step father...he was a drunk, every night he'd yell and scream at my mom..sometimes I'd hear him hit her...he never liked me...if I said one thing ta make him upset I was hit...I was hardly ever allowed ta eat..the only time I could was at school...but even that had been a hassle..the house was always too cold and I didn't have a bed ta sleep on..he had told me my main purpose was to clean and do all kinds of chores..since I was seven years old..I had to steal food from supermarkets just so I could have a meal..sometimes I got away with it, sometimes not. Even my mother started ta hate me..she had been desperate ta move on afta my dad died. He died before I was born..I never really got ta meet him.."
Harley sniffled, feeling tears pricking at her eyes. "Soon, my mother finally stood up ta him but..he killed her..and then..I..I killed him..I ran away before tha police even got to the house. I've been out here ever since.." she said, trying to hold back a sob when she felt arms wrapping around her to hug her. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that..you didn't deserve it." Ed told her, feeling his heart ache knowing she had suffered so much. It made him want to add her step father to the list along with his clone despite the fact Harley's step father was already dead. "Things will be okay now Harley. I promise." he said. Harley looked up at him to smile a little through her tears. "Thank you Eddie. Ya Pengy friend is very lucky ta have someone like you." she said. Edward chuckled a little. "I suppose..if it wasn't for the fact that my clone almost killed him." he said with another frown which quickly turned into a small smile.
"I'll have to replace the awful memories my clone left him with good ones..better ones.." Then it clicked and an idea formed in his brain. "I'll ask him out..maybe to one of those deli shops." he said with a grin. Harley squeaked excitedly. "That's a great idea Eddie! I'll bet he could use it!" she said and started jumping up and down. Edward chuckled, shaking his head at her. He really wished he'd had her as a sister. Maybe she'd have helped him win Oswald's heart sooner than this if she had. "It will give me a chance to find out how badly my clone had hurt him. All the things he had done to him..if he's willing to tell me." Edward said with a frown. He wasn't sure if he wanted to know what had exactly been done to Oswald. He could almost feel his heart lurch at the thought of the clone torturing him and abusing him. And Ed hadn't been there to save him. "It hurts not knowing..it hurts knowing that that monster hurt him so much.." Edward said. Harley smiled. "It'll be okay Eddie. But you should really get some sleep. I don't think Ossie would let ya have naps while working for him." she said with a smile. Edward yawned and nodded. It was true, he felt wiped out.
The day had drained him emotionally and psychically. Harley smiled at him and hugged him. "Ya sleep well tonight, alright Eddie?" she said. Edward looked at her with a frown. "Why don't you stay the night? It's very late." he asked, knowing how brutal the streets were and he didn't know if Harley had any self defense skills and he didn't like knowing she had to sleep on a dirty old mattress at that dilapidated hotel. Harley bit her lip and tilted her head. "I should be fine.." she said, scratching at her arms slightly. Ed sighed. "Please? If you're really sure I won't stop you." he said with a smile. He didn't mind sleeping on the couch. Harley sighed, not wanting to pass up the opportunity of sleeping in a warm bed rather than the cold and tattered mattress from the hotel. "Alright, fine. But just for tonight." she said. Harley took off her shoes and skipped towards the bed, sitting and propping her feet up on it. Ed smiled at her and grabbed some blankets and a pillow, throwing them onto the couch and flopping down onto it with a sigh.
He looked up at his skylight, thinking about Oswald, his clone, and Jim trying to bring Oswald down. He swallowed, closing his eyes. He would need to find a way to keep the GCPD off Oswald's tail, but how? Then a maniacal grin tugged onto his lips. 'I will get Jimmy even as he gloats...while I practice my skills on anyone unfortunate enough to cross paths with me..' he thought, eyes darkening just slightly before he closed his eyes and slowly fell asleep. First, he had plans of regaining Oswald's heart.
I wonder if anyone caught the Sweeney Todd references I made! XD
