The Dark Knight of Heroes

Chapter 10: Riddle of the Night

Disclaimers: I don't own Batman or Boku no Hero.

Three days later:

"You've got to be kidding me," Midnight grumbled. "This is the second time these last two weeks."

The pro hero was referring to her desk in the UA teacher's lounge, which was ransacked and spray-painted with green question marks. Eraserhead looked around at the scene and narrowed his eyes. "A stalker, from the looks of it," he commented before spotting an envelope. "That yours?"

"Oh, it's him again," Midnight groaned as she opened it and pulled out the letter. 'I am a puzzle but I am no puzzle./ I am a trickster that tells the clues/ A liar that tells you truth./ I am 'meaning' minus nx1. What am I?' it read. Eraserhead took it from her and read it himself. "...A riddle. Incidentally, a riddle similar to these were sent to the Batman a week ago as well."

"Batman? You mean the wanted vigilante that helped out in the USJ incident and then proceeded to knock out the heroes?" Midnight asked. Eraserhead nodded. "Could be a connection. Regardless, I think you should show the rest of the letters to the Hero Association, Midnight."

"Alright. Whatever will keep away the creep who keeps doing this," the heroine said with resignation. Unknown to them, one of the security cameras on the room picked up the conversation. A camera that was hacked by Alfred.

"Anything new, Alfred?" Bruce asked over the phone. He was in the Wayne Enterprise building, the main headquarters of his company. It was one of his rare moments of actually coming to work and not sending a duplicate. The young billionaire was currently on a lunch break after a few meetings, taking the opportunity to eat some mulligatawny soup while chatting with his butler. "Yes, sir. Just now, it was discovered that someone had vandalized Midnight's office in UA, the same person who sent you that strange riddle on the news."

"Really? Read it to me," Bruce ordered. His AI butler coughed once before speaking. "I am two things yet counted as one in the end./ I end in 'plated', half in 'plate', and twice in 'ended'./ I am found in the end but I myself am an ending./ What am I?"

"Hmm, seems like someone is trying to catch my attention," Bruce muttered to himself. "What shall you do now, Master Bruce?"

"I think I'll visit Midnight's home tonight, see if I can find any clues about this mystery stalker," the young billionaire said, making Alfred chuckle slightly in humor. "Breaking and entering a woman's home? Late Master Thomas would be so disappointed with you."

"That's true," Bruce replied smiling before checking the time. "Seems that I only have a few more minutes, Alfred. Talk to you later."

After saying his goodbyes, Bruce finished up his meal and went back to work. "Damn paperwork. And damn those meetings. How did you do it, father? How?"

Later that night:

Midnight, also known as Nemuri Kayama, sighed when she arrived at her home. She was exhausted after a long day of teaching, yet had only one thing on her mind: the stalker and his letters of riddles. "When I get my hands on that guy, I'll tear him a new one," Kayama muttered to herself. She walked up to her room and opens the door, only to receive a surprise she never saw coming. Standing in the middle of the room was Batman, looking at the letters she received. When she walked in, the vigilante acknowledged her presence. "Good evening, Ms. Kayama."

"Batman? Please tell me you're not my stalker," the heroine said as she subtly moved to her desk next to the entrance, where the emergency caller to contact other heroes was located. Fortunately, her fear was short-lived. "I'm here to find out more about the stalker."

"I see..." Kayama said, still slightly cautious. Batman quickly snapped a picture of the letters with his lenses before placing them on the bed. He then turned towards Midnight. "These letters were found at the scene of the vandalism, correct?"

"Yes. I can't make heads or tails of them," Kayman replied before walking over and sitting on the bed. "Never expected you to be the breaking-and-entering type. Not very heroic."

"I'm a well-known vigilante who knocked out three pro-heroes," Batman replied sarcastically before growing serious. "You're in possible danger, Ms. Kayama. I suggest that you get prepared for an attack."

"Aww, worried about little old me? How sweet," said the heroine before she closed her eyes. "I took care of many perverts back in the day, Batman. I expected it to happen because of my costume and my quirk. I am a hero, I can take care of myself against a mere stalker."

She then opened her eyes and made a rip on her costume. "Still, if you want, you can stay the night here with me-" she started to say before noticing that the window was open and the vigilante was gone. "Damn, almost had him. Then again, he did have a mask on..."

Hours later:

Somewhere on the rooftops, Batman reviewed the riddles, starting the process of solving them. "The stalker sent three letters. Two were given to Midnight and one was given to me. If we solve them in chronological order, perhaps it'll give me something." he thought before reading the riddles.

'My first fights once, but never twice./ Its treasure is liquid gold and guarded by thousands./ My second is in 'wear' but does not wear anything./ Its house is called a warehouse./ The two combined causes wariness but not weariness./ What am I?' the first letter said. "Beware."

'I am two things yet counted as one in the end./ I end in 'plated', half in 'plate', and twice in 'ended'./ I am found in the end but I myself am an ending./ What am I?' said the second letter. "Ed"

'I am a riddle but I am not a riddle./ I am a trickster that tells the clues/ A liar that tells you the truth./ I am 'meaning' minus nx1. What am I?' said the last letter. "...Enigma," Batman answered before putting together the message. "Beware Ed Enigma...Oracle, search the world population census for a person who's name resembles Ed Enigma."

"Of course sir. Just a moment," the AI responded before going silent. After a while, he got a match. "There is a quirkless man named Edward Ethan Nigma, a rogue scientist who left America to settle here. He is known to have a habit of speaking in riddles and insulting others for having a lower intellect than him. I think he might be the best culprit."

"Alright, good job. Keep finding leads on the web, I'm going on regular patrol," Batman said. "...About that sir, I believe that I found one just right now. It's quite alarming."

"What do you mean?" Batman asked. "It'll be easier to just relay it to you, sir."

Batman listened to the news report from his cowl, his dread rising as he heard more and more. "This just in. There has a report that R-Rated Hero: Midnight, also known as Nemuri Kayama, has been missing from her house over an hour ago. The heroine was apparently visited by the Batman just before the incident happened. Signs of struggle was prevalent in the crime scene, along with green question marks spray-painted everywhere. Whether or not the Batman was responsible for this kidnapping remains to be seen-" the report was cut by Batman, who glowered angrily under his cowl. "Sir, it was not your fault, no one could've-"

"No time for that. The cameras, did they catch anything?" Batman asked. "Yes, sir. It appears that a black van with six green question marks was in front of Midnight's home before taking off. The Bat Drones tracked it down."

"Good. Give me the route," Batman said before he swung off to the location.

20 minutes later:

"I am in front of an old theatric warehouse, is that the place?" the vigilante asked. The building was large and rundown but had signs of being used. "Yes sir, I believe that would be the right building. I suggest you go in with caution in case there are traps."

Heeding his advice, Batman walked in warily, his night vision active. Suddenly, a voice rang through the corridor, presumably Nigma's. "Welcome, Batman, to the lair of the Riddler. You are just in time to answer my challenge! Knowing the detective you are, no doubt you are elated," Riddler said raspily. Batman was far from elated. "Where is Midnight?"

"Getting desperate so soon? No matter. Answer the riddle on the Riddle Golem, and perhaps you might find her," Roddler said. A trapdoor appeared in front of Batman and a robotic golem appeared in front of him. On its chest was a screen with a riddle: 'If you look at the numbers on my face, you won't find the Space Hero in any place.' The Riddle Golem swung its fist at Batman, who dodged the blow. Seeing that the robot's fists were crackling with electricity, Batman quickly grabbed an EMP grenade and tossed it at the Riddle Golem. As the grenade short-circuited the robot, Batman answered the riddle. "The answer is a clock."

"Oh, you solved it! You are playing the Riddler's game, just as I thought you would," Riddler's voice rang. Batman snarled under the cowl as he found himself in a labyrinth of mirrors. "I don't have time for your word puzzles. Where is Midnight?"

"All in due time, Batman! But first, answer to my second golem!" Riddler announced. Batman turned his head around and saw that another Riddle Golem was charging towards him. 'What won't run long without winding?' the screen read. Batman dodged the tackle and faced the robot, only to dodge as the golem ran towards him again, this time with a flame thrower. Thinking quickly, the Dark Knight tossed a freeze grenade at the golem. The grenade's cold contents overcame golem's hot flamethrower, freezing the robot's torso. As it struggled to break free, Batman electrocuted it with his gloves. "A river."

"My, my. You broke my toy," the villain congratulated. "But can you find yourself out of this place?"

"I don't have time for this," Batman snarled. Just then, Alfred contacted him. "Sir, I have located Midnight. If you go into the ventilation system, you should be able to reach her."

Batman immediately launched himself at the nearest vent with the Batclaw and crawled into it. "How clever, Bataman...though not clever enough," Riddler said ominously. "What goes up or down but doesn't move?"

"The temperature," Batman muttered as the air within the pipes became hotter. Just then, Alfred cut in. "Sir, please follow my directions. Turn right, then left, then the path on the far right at a crossroad of three. Then drop down at the second vent."

Batman did as Alfred instructed and found the vent. Kicking it out, he dropped into a dark room with three spotlights. One was focused on a hologram of Riddler, a skinny man with long hair and wearing a green jumpsuit and a green domino mask. The second one was focused on Batman and the last one was focused on Midnight. The hero was chained to a pole and gagged but looked more annoyed and angry than scared. "Well done, Batman. You found her. You know, ever since you became public news, you became an itch to my side." the villain said. "An itch?"

"Yes! I'm the genius! I'm supposed to be the smartest person in the world! No one should be able to match my intellectual genius! So when you popped up in Japan, solving unsolved mysteries left and right and bringing out villainy into the light, I realized I found my greatest challenger! So I decided to be your rival, to prove to you I am superior!" Riddler yelled. "Then why stalk Midnight?"

"Her? Ha! To be honest, I just picked someone who fitted my requirements to be the bait that would lure you out. Someone who can't combat my drones all that easily. Since her quirk only affects fauna, the old hag is practically useless even if you do save her!" Riddler crowed. At this, Midnight struggled, her eyes fixated on Riddler with hate. Batman glared at the villain as well. "That's not an excuse to stalk and insult her, Riddler. Or should I say, Edward Ethan Nigma?"

"You discovered my identity. I...expected no less from my rival and enemy," Riddler muttered, his voice betraying his real mood. "Though if you're so smart, try and save her!"

The lights of the room were turned on to show that surrounding Midnight were seven circular disks. Each of them projected a holo-screen with a different riddle. "Solve the riddles on the screens in under a minute to save the damsel in distress. If you go over the ring of disks, try to disarm them, or answer the riddle incorrectly, they will either shock her to death or explode. Try outthinking that, Batman!" Riddler mocked. Batman glared at the hologram before turning his attention to the riddles.

Riddle 1: 'What is the beginning of eternity/ The end of time and space?/ The beginning of every end/ The end of every race?' "E."

Riddle 2: 'What is always on its way here, but never arrives?' "Tomorrow."

Riddle 3: 'What belongs to you, but is used by others?' "A name."

Riddle 4: 'We're five little items of an everyday sort;/ you'll find us all in a tennis court.' "Vowels."

Riddle 5: 'I have billions of eyes, yet I live in darkness./ I have millions of ears, yet only four lobes./ I have no muscle, yet I rule two hemispheres./ What am I?' "The brain."

Riddle 6: 'What do a dead man, a cruise ship and an emu have in common?' "Nothing."

Riddle 7: 'A nightmare for some./ For others, a savior I come./ My hand's cold and bleak./ It's the warm hearts they seek.' "Death."

When Batman successfully answered all the riddles, Riddler growled in rage. "No! No, no, no! It's not fair! You'll pay for this, Batman! May the Riddle Golems and Riddlerbots destroy you both!" he yelled before pressing a button and running away, canceling the hologram. Seeing that trapdoors were opening up from the floor, Batman hurried over and sliced the chains with a swipe of his claws. Midnight shot him a grateful look before ripping off the gag. "Thanks. I should have taken your warning more seriously."

"No time for that right now," Batman replied as the robots fully appeared. There were now four Riddle Golems and six smaller robots, presumably the Riddlerbots. Midnight nodded as she brought out a bullwhip out of nowhere. "I'll take the little guys. You take out the big ones."

With a strategy in place, the two crime-fighters went to work. Batman dodged a blow from a Riddle Golem and punched its face instead, crushing its optic. He then proceeded to electrocute it before ducking down to avoid two chainsaws. Seeing that two golems were coming for him at once, Batman waited until the last moment before leaping away, causing the golems to cut each other apart. Batman was suddenly grabbed by the last Riddle Golem from behind before being shocked. The vigilante screamed in pain before being thrown against the wall. Batman coughed and looked up, gazing at the Riddle Golem's optics as it activated its chainsaw. Acting quickly, he grabbed the gel gun from his utility belt and sprayed the optics with explosive gel, blinding it. Crawling away as fast as he could, Batman got up and pressed a detonator, blowing up the golem's head. After taking a second to catch his breath, Batman turned to Midnight to see how she was faring. The hero had already destroyed most of the Riddlerbots with her whip, wrapping the last one's head around with her weapon and ripping it off. The robot fell forward with its bottom in the air, which Midnight planted her foot on in a classic dominatrix pose. "...Is that really necessary?" Batman asked, gesturing to her pose. In response, Midnight nodded. "Absolutely. Now then, why don't we go ahead and capture Nigma? That bastard needs to pay for stalking, kidnapping, and insulting me."

Batman nodded before pressing the side of his cowl. "Oracle, have you tracked down Nigma?" he asked. "Yes sir, he's heading towards your position above you. He should be directly above you in a minute or so."

Hearing this, Batman sprayed the part of the ceiling above him with explosive gel before sticking a few explosive Batarangs and a fire bomb. Putting a finger to where his lips would be, Batman backed away before gesturing to Midnight to do the same. After a while, Alfred started the countdown with Batman using his fingers to keep Midnight in the loop. "5...4...3...2...1...Now!" the AI butler yelled. At the same time Alfred yelled 'now,' Batman detonated the gel, the bomb, and the Batarangs, causing an explosion. Riddler fell screaming through the hole, hitting the ground hard. A gold cane clattered on the ground next to him, which Riddler grabbed and used to bring himself upright. He was immediately kicked back down into the ground by Midnight, who had a pissed off look on her face. "That's for calling me an old hag!"

Riddler groaned before Batman slammed his head into the ground, knocking out the skinny man. After making sure the man was fully knocked out, Batman contacted Alfred once more. "Bring the heroes and the police to this location," he ordered before walking away. "Wait!"

The vigilante turned his head towards Midnight, implying that he was listening. "I...Thank you. For saving me. I should have listened to your warning earlier," she admitted. Batman stared at her for a few seconds, making her feel uncomfortable, before giving an answer. "You don't need to thank someone for doing their job."

Before Midnight could respond, Batman used the Bat Claw to launch himself through the hole he made and disappeared out of sight, leaving Midnight with her thoughts as she waited for backup. "His job? Protecting others isn't his job, it's the job of heroes like me. What an odd man..."

Chapter 10 End.

Notice!

This chapter has been inspired by JP-Ryder's third chapter from the Deku Knight. I recommend that you read it. And if you are reading this, JP-Ryder, I'm sorry for not asking permission. Apologies, everyone!

Edward Ethan Nigma looks like his The Batman counterpart.