#4 Don't underestimate the enemy.

Edward sat on the low bench of his cell and brooded. He had no idea how Batman had found him so quickly but he must have cheated. No-one is that good. No-one just barges into a tiny, pokey little flat on the roof of a partially subsided tenement building in lower Gotham, a shed-like add-on that couldn't be seen through the forest of chimney stacks and rusted units without prior knowledge and he damn well did.

Edward was furious about that, far more than being torn out of his blazing hideout thanks to some flammable material, loose wiring and the chaos that comes with a winged vigilante breaking down the door.

He spent some time attempting to correct the abysmal spelling of the graffiti that littered the walls before even that bored him.

This wasn't exactly what he had in mind for his career, even when he became ENIGMA and of course he revelled in his nickname, what man wouldn't? Enigma had such a good sound to it he'd considered using it as his nom de plume. Enigma. E. Nigma. What a witty coincidence. He simply had to use that at some point after his escape. Just as soon as he figured out how he was going to escape. From inside the cell it seemed a mountainous task.

Although, the mountain began to seem far less insurmountable than he'd first thought. Footsteps pounded the uselessly shined tile outside his cell and he heard keys jangling. The turn of tumblers as the door was unlocked dragged his attention away from "Gus's a wanka"

He had expected lawyers and doctors trying to "Assess" him for mental deficiency. Of course, they'd find none but they were always willing to look in any case. The people on the other end of the door, however, weren't academics looking for their next big turnaround. They were all cops and they, each to a man, looked malevolent in their intent.

'Turn around Nashton.' The one with the keys spoke menacingly.

Unrepressed, Edward smirked as he did as he was told. This was so much better than what he'd hoped.

They were going to take him out of the station and beat him to a pulp.

'Are you sure this is such a good idea?' The youngest and by his apprehension, newest recruit asked uncertainly as Edward sat in the back of a police car, flanked on either side by angry uncooperative cops. The newbie in the passenger seat upfront looked pale and worried as he spoke to the driver. 'Someone's bound to find out!' He begged.

'Nobody's going to miss him for an hour or two.' The driver responded calmly. 'Besides, that riddling traitor tried to blow up the GCPD. He has it coming.'

'Yeah but taking him out into the Narrows to beat the snot out of him, is that such a good idea?'

'Shut up, Howard. You don't need to participate, just keep an eye out while we teach Nashton a lesson.' The cop on his right supplied.

'I just don't think taking justice into our own hands like this is-' Howard began again.

'Shut up, Howard!' This time it was a lot more aggressive and the meek man was forced to be silent.

While his right escort raged at the coward in front, Edward gently slipped his hand into the man's pants pocket.

His questing fingers came out without a key but with something just as good. A paperclip.

'I'm just saying-' Howard really was going for gold in the wretched department.

Edward couldn't help himself. He had to antagonize further, purely for his own amusement.'Don't worry Howard, I'll be fine.'

'Shut up Nashton!' The angry cop on his right supplied and pulled his gun from it's holster. Within a fraction of a second he'd pistol whipped him. Blood streamed and pain seared across his nose as the driver noted what was going on in the back.

'Oi Jacobs! Not in the damn car!' The driver snapped.

'He had it coming!' The angry Jacobs snapped back.

Edward bent and laughed himself hoarse as blood steadily spread over the upholstery which only seemed to infuriate his abductors even further. With the cops distracted by all the DNA he was pouring in the car, Edward took the opportunity to unfurl the makeshift pick and ready it. As he'd hoped and expected, Jacobs didn't like his reaction. 'Pull the fuck over Gary, we're gonna do this, now.'

The car screeched to a halt at the entrance to a dead-end alleyway and Edward was dragged out.

It didn't take a genius of his intellect to see where this was about to go. His fingers scrabbled behind his back to insert the pick into the cuffs as three of the four officers advanced on him.

Attacking a man with his hands cuffed behind his back. What cowards. Edward sneered. Still, He could hardly begrudge them their advantage. Temporary advantage. He corrected himself. As soon as I get these damn cuffs off-

He became increasingly worried as they came closer. Nightsticks were pulled from their holsters. One extended fully in swift movement, the other remained sheathed but just as deadly as it's comrade.

'You not scared Nashton? You soon will be.' Jacobs snarled. 'And hurtin' too.'

'What scares me far more than your little stick is your grasp of the English language.' He shot back. Whatever his intentions, it only served to rile his abductors further and with some renewed determination they approached. The pick manipulated the tumblers of the cuffs with increasing speed. He would have liked to have his hands free before they landed a blow but at the rate they were moving towards him and the painfully slow process of tricking the cuffs into thinking he had the key, Edward knew that he'd at least be given one or two blows.

He noted a black shape darting between the tiles of the roof above him as his cuffs finally unlocked. His smirk widened into a full blown laugh as the two corrupt cops came within striking distance. The metal of the extended nightstick whipped across his face and aggravated the injury to his nose just as Batman dropped down on top of them.

The corrupt cops immediately had their attention diverted and Batman had his hands full. When was he ever going to get a better getaway? If Batman noticed Edward legging it around the scuffle and over the bonnet of the car with the cuffs dangling from one wrist, he never indicated it.

'Stop, criminal!' Howard the terrified cop had, though. He'd managed to pull his gun out and was aiming for Edward with alarmingly steady aim.

'Shoot me then.' He laughed and took off at a run in a spirited attempt to get as far from the scene of the fight as possible. The young police officer simply watched him skid around a corner and cursed.

Edward knew the Narrows well; this time he was going to get as far from Batman's last known location as fast as possible. Of course young Howard would never have shot him. Edward knew bent cops and policemen on the take and Howard didn't seem that kind of officer. He was, however, probably on the radio to the GCPD about what had just happened and Edward was determined to be on the opposite side of the city by the time they uncovered the full story and realised they were a criminal down.

Still, the lesson had been learned. Don't underestimate your enemy. This time, he wasn't going to underestimate Batman. This time, he was going to make a conscientious effort to stay ahead of the Dork Knight and avoid capture. He wasn't going to waste a golden opportunity.

Thank god for self-righteous brotherhoods and their deluded sense of justice.

I'm sure we're all thinking the same thing here: Run Edward, run! Ah bent cops. You can depend on scum like that. I think this is the earliest example of the strategy of allowing himself to get a kicking in exchange for freedom, to good effect. Still, Batman doing all the work for him was a nice touch.

A/N: What is this? I don't even- Fail. Here's a tip: There's a difference between editing for improvement and editing the point out. I think I succeeded in the latter. Still, we're slowly starting to see the Edward we all known and love. :D

I love you guys and I love your reviews and I especially love how much you love my crappy version of Edward. I do read and appreciate my reviews but I always forget to reply to them. I'm totally not ignoring you guys! Promise!