Eddie tried to avoid being flustered.
He failed. "You were listening?"
Batman's face was impassive. "I needed to make sure my sidekick was safe."
Eddie thought of all the possibilities. How much did he know?
"The entire time?"
"No."
Oh thank god, Eddie thought.
"Nigma..."
The police drove up. Eddie was briefly distracted, watching them take Sally and Edvin away. He looked back and Batman was gone, as per usual. He scowled. No point in sticking around.
He started walking down the road. It was going to be fine. The Plan was just going to be delayed. Find another case to work on and -
Batman was back.
Eddie raised an eyebrow. "Forgot something?"
"Drug dealer. Riddler – we need to talk."
--
Tim had convinced Steph that everything was awesome and fine and that he just wanted to check how Batman's case turned out. As he raced across the rooftops he tried to stay calm. Don't get angry – Batman's just paranoid.
He still couldn't believe he got bugged. He was fuming. If Bruce had wanted to know what Riddler had thought about him he could have just asked.
Tim's thoughts stopped for a second. Wait, that wasn't right. Bruce hadn't known why Riddler wanted a meeting. So he was just worried for his sidekick's safety. Did he stop listenening after he found out Tim was safe? Or did he know about the crush? More importantly, did he know about Plan Icarus? After all, that bug had been on his cape for a few days.
There! Thank god Riddler dressed in green, he stood out. And Batman was with him. They ducked into a nearby alleyway. Tim followed quietly at eavesdropping distance.
--
There was silence, at first. Eddie tried to think but was having a hard time.
He decided to say something. "What is it that you break even if you name it?"
"Riddler- Eddie... I'm sorry."
Eddie's heart was beating so hard he felt it could be audible from space. Since when did Batman apologize.
"Sorry? Sorry for what?"
Batman looked sad, though it was hard to tell under that mask and cowl of his. "I'm sorry I have to turn you down."
Batman paused, and the way he spoke seemed strangely awkward. "The relationship never would have worked. Batman needs to stay alone."
Eddie felt cold all over. He knew. Oh god Batman knew and he was dumping him before anything could even start.
Eddie pushed past Batman, only one thought in his head: don't let Batman pull a disappearing act on you. Leave first. Keep some pride in tact. He didn't say anything – if he had he might have lost his composure.
He caught the first cab that caught his eye and went back to his office. He closed and locked the door behind him, then walked over, made sure the windows were locked, closed and the blinds were down. Eddie didn't want any flying rodents to bother him right now. He slammed his cane against his desk and sat down hard in his chair. His throat burned and he felt more embarrased than he would if Batman had dragged him off to Arkham in his underwear.
He actually had thought for a split second that the Plan might have actually worked. He was an idiot.
Wait – there was a message on his machine.
--
It was morning. Tim hadn't said a word to Batman, though he had stuffed the bug into his mentor's hands with a glare and a "Don't do that again."
He didn't have school today so he slept in. He woke up around twelve when Alfred knocked on the door.
"Master Bruce has a... visitor. I would advise you to get dressed before coming downstairs."
Tim had mumbled a reply. Half an hour later he pulled himself out of bed and put on a t-shirt and jeans.
He wandered about Wayne Manor, curious as to who Bruce's visitor was. Finally he found them having a light lunch in the garden. He stopped in his tracks, exchanging a brief glance with Bruce.
"Tim! Come here and say hello to the Riddler!"
Bruce's grin was wide and only half fake.
"Uh, hi."
"Riddler, this is my adopted son, Timothy. Tim – Edward Nigma."
Riddler stood up, leaning on his question mark cane and holding out a hand. Tim shook it.
Bruce took a bite out of one of Alfred's famous sandwiches. "I was just telling Eddie how impressed I was with his detective work."
Riddler looked a little smug. "Your father is too kind."
Tim questioned Bruce, who ignored him and said, "I was going to hire him for a job but that fell though. To make it up to him, we're having lunch. It's delicious, isn't it?"
"Wonderful."
Tim was trying to smother a grin. He had a feeling he knew what was going on.
"Right. Well, I'll, um, leave you two gushing over each other and I will go do homework or something."
He made a hasty retreat.
Eddie smiled at Bruce. "It is nice but I should go..."
"Well, keep in touch. Actually, are you busy tonight?"
"Not at the moment, no."
"Excellent. Dinner? Seven o'clock?"
"...That would be nice."
"It's a date then."
Eddie felt warm all over. He fingered his bowler hat as he walked out of the mansion, thinking about a night he had pretended to forget. A night where he revealed he had solved a riddle that no one else had.
So Batman needs to stay alone, huh?
Well, apparently Bruce Wayne had no problem with company.
