10. Game

"The new moon always waxes first."

Batman paused the television before rewinding and listening again. Unfailingly, the weatherman repeated, "...with a seventy-percent chance of rain. So, remember Gothamites, the new moon..." A confused look crossed the forecaster's face as he read his script, invisible to the camera. "...Always waxes first...?" Rewind. "...waxes first. Always waxes first." An awkward pause followed before the camera switched to news reporter Vicki Vale and her footage of the local greenhouse, which was overgrown with strange-looking flowers.

Barbara Gordon fixed her father and Batman with that same, stubborn glare she'd been giving them for the past day and a half. Well, she'd only given it to Batman for the few hours she'd seen him. Mostly, the glare was for her dad, who thought Edward Nigma was her hero. "You see? It has to be Riddler."

The Dark Knight nodded curtly. "It's just like him. He's leaving us another clue."

Commissioner Gordon clenched and unclenched his fists, trying to cope with the stress of his job as both policeman and father. Another clue. From the man who'd saved his daughter's life. "Can you solve it?"

"Yes."

"So, what is it, Batman?," the commissioner asked eagerly. "I'll send the entire police force out. We'll have cars all around the place. We'll be armed and ready, with all our newest weapons and cars. We can take down Scarecrow. We've gotta rescue him; I can't let Scarecrow win after what Nigma did for Barbara."

Barbara groaned in irritation. "Dad, I'm telling you, the man doesn't need rescuing..."

"He saved your life, Barbara!"

"Only after putting it in danger!" She looked desperately toward Batman for help. "Tell him, Batman! You know! No one knows the criminals like you do!"

The Caped Crusader shook his head with a reserved sigh. "We don't have any evidence linking Edward Nigma to anything. No witnesses claim to have seen him at the bank; there wasn't a death-trap set up to kill you if we couldn't pass some test of riddles. Everything just points straight to Scarecrow."

"But, I saw him, Batman. I know I did."

Jim Gordon put a hand on his daughter's shoulder. "You might have, Barb, but how do you know he wasn't another hostage, like you? Can you really remember that well?"

"I just know, Dad... He had a look in his eyes. It wasn't sane. I just... I know. He and Scarecrow, just - you've got to believe me."

The commissioner turned to glance at Batman, hoping to get some support, but the vigilante had disappeared soundlessly out the open hospital window. Jim frowned, kissing his daughter on the forehead. "I believe what you think you saw. But, the last time you came back from Scarecrow, you kept crying that Batman was dead. It's that damned fear poison..."

"But, Dad..."

"I can't take action based on what you think you saw, sweetheart..."

"Dad, something big is going to happen tonight. You can't ignore it - something bad."

"I know, Barbara; I know. I can feel it, too."

"Then promise me you won't underestimate him."

"Never. I'd never underestimate Crane."

"Crane isn't the one planning anything yet."

Jim furrowed his brow, thinking it over. "Do you really think Edward Nigma is behind all of this?"

"No. But, I think Scarecrow wants Nigma to think so."

"So, you do think we need to save Nigma?"

"Not from Scarecrow. From himself."

"When did you get so good at reading people, Babs?"

Barbara put a hand on her dad's arm. "Let's just say I've had practice."

"Look, Batman! I figured out the riddle - well, with a little help from Alfred!," Robin shouted proudly as The Dark Knight jumped out of the Batmobile and approached the large computer that rested in the center of the Batcave..

"So did I. 'The new moon always waxes first.'"

Robin nodded in disappointment. For once, he had thought he might have figured something out before his mentor. Ah, well. He'd try again next time. "Yeah, after the moon waxes. It 'wanes'."

"Wayne. The 'new' Wayne building."

"But, why would Riddler target your new building?"

"Or, Scarecrow."

"Yeah, him, too. But, it isn't a chemistry laboratory or anything. It's not a bank. It's not a museum; there's nothing unique really there... It's just an office building, right?"

"Mostly."

"And, they didn't hit during the day today, so that means tonight - when no one will be working. It doesn't make any sense, Bruce! There won't be people to target or money to steal! What kind of costume criminal goes out and hits a place where there isn't loot to take or havoc to cause?"

"Maybe they just want our attention. Scarecrow might be looking to trade off his hostage for something."

"You mean, if Riddler's a hostage. But, if that's the case, and he's just using Riddler to make us show up, shouldn't we not show?"

"If we're not there when Scarecrow decides to hit, he might decide his hostage is useless. And, dispose of him." Batman checked on the status of the Batmobile's fuel supply before continuing, "So, we'll be better off if we get there soon." He took off his cowl to replace it with another, identical one.

"What? Already? It's not even dark out yet!"

"It's better to be three hours early than to be a minute late."

"Riddler didn't leave you a time or anything? He couldn't have been, like, 'Oh, and by the way, Batman, if you could be at the building where 'the moon waxes first' between the hours of seven and eight, that would probably be in everyone's best interest...?," Robin whined, checking his watch. "It's barely even five-thirty!"

"We're lucky he could leave us what he did."

With a bit more whining and and a lot more protesting, the Boy Wonder suited up in his red, green, and yellow super-suit, strapping his utility belt around his waist. He loaded the belt with his batgrapple, a batclaw, and several batarangs. "What else do you think we should take, Bruce?"

"Gas masks."

"Oh, right, I almost forgot!" Robin ran over to the specialized supply closet, which was filled with weapons and defense mechanisms for specific villains. He tossed a winter coat to the side... And, a heat ray he wasn't sure anyone had ever actually used. He found the gas masks toward the back; it'd been a while since they'd faced Joker toxin or fear toxin. Robin fastened the mask to his utility belt and closed the closet, turning away. "Alright, I'm ready."

Robin hopped in the specialized, tank-like car, and the duo took off toward the heist site. They parked the Batmobile in an alley several blocks away and positioned themselves on top of a building near Wayne Enterprises Office #6. The rain poured down from the sky above, pelting the superheroes and obscuring their vision.

Robin tapped his foot on the rooftop, looking through his binoculars at the tall building that was decorated with a giant 'W'. He groaned in annoyance, reaching around to wipe the raindrops off the lenses of his 'second pair of eyes'. "You don't think it's weird that Scarecrow let him leave us the hint?"

"Nigma's careful. Scarecrow might not have known."

"He isn't careful enough to escape, though? Don't you think that's a little suspicious?"

"Of course. It's all suspicious."

"So, what if it's a trap?"

Batman shook his head, and drops of rain flew from his cowl. "If it is, it's not a trap for us. Otherwise, Riddler would have seen to it that the message was personally delivered - not given in a slip-up on the local news. The risk would have been too great. What if we hadn't seen? He just wanted to get someone's attention. And, probably hoped it'd be us."

"So, who do you think it's a trap for, then? Scarecrow?"

"I'm almost positive."

Robin sat down on the edge of the rooftop they were hiding out on. "You don't believe Babs, then. That Riddler's on Scarecrow's side."

"And, you do?"

"I just don't think she'd lie about that."

"She wouldn't. She knows what she saw. But, what her eyes saw and what her brain saw could be two different things. Crane's hallucinations are strong; I would know. I've experienced them."

Robin raised his hand, catching sight of a car. "Hey, Bruce. I think it's Riddler o' clock, sharp."

Gotham's Guardian watched the headlights of the car move down the street; the lights were the only visible part of the vehicle in the dark and the rain. The yellow-white glowing lights slowed to a stop and then disappeared altogether. "Looks like it."

"Do we pounce now or wait?"

"Wait. If we go now, Crane might use his toxin as a bargaining chip. He breaks a few vials on the ground, and the rain carries it straight into Gotham's sewage system. Straight to the river. We wouldn't be able to catch him."

"Well, what do we wait for? An invitation?"

"Yes. We'll know when it's time."

Robin squinted through his binoculars. "Are you sure? I can't even see anything now that the car's lights have gone out..."

"Give it time."

Robin waited as patiently as he could, watching the building. The rain gradually increased in speed, and water began to pool in the streets where it couldn't enter the sewers quickly enough. That wouldn't be fun to drive in. After a few minutes of wordless waiting, a light came on at the very top of the building - the top floor. "Batman!"

"That's it," The Dark Knight said, drawing his arms up into his cape and jumping, gliding down to the street below. Robin shot a grappling hook to the office building and used it to swing himself down to the ground. By the time they were on the street, all the building's lights had turned on. "The top floor's light came on first. The rest all came on at the same time."

"You think that's a hint?"

"I think it could be. I'll check from the top floor down. You check from the bottom then go up."

The Bat's sidekick nodded. "Alright, but call me if you find them. I want in on the action! Oh, and, don't take the elevator! Scarecrow'd be the one to rig it with toxin or something."

"Be careful, Robin."

The Boy Wonder walked into the building cautiously, taking in his surroundings. It was lucky he'd been in the place a few times with Bruce: it was like a maze of office cubicles... He ran through the first floor without checking into several rooms and without examining any of the cubicles too well. It wasn't that he was careless, but - what were the odds that he'd actually run into the villains? Batman was the one who was going to do that. Always. And, then he'd call and tell Robin, but, by the time Robin got there, the criminals would get away... Or, Batman would have won already. Either way. Robin took the stairs to the next floor, checking the time again. He was always late for everything. Always missed all the action. It just seemed like he was always in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Robin stepped out from the staircase onto the second floor and turned a corner, batarang in hand. His eyes searched the corridor, looking for any sign of Scarecrow or The Riddler. He frowned. He could have sworn he'd searched ten floors of the building, and nothing. Well, granted he had actually only searched about half a floor, but... Still! The place was a huge maze! No wonder Riddler would have wanted to pick it as a destination from crime! Where was Riddler, anyway? Shouldn't Batman have found him by now? He tapped his headset, starting, "Any luck, Batman? There's no sign of th-" Robin froze.

Something was on his shoulder.

"Lost?"

Instinctively, Robin reacted, turning to throw a punch, but the Scarecrow slipped out of range easily. "Scarecrow! Where's Edward Nigma?"

"You're in no position to be asking questions, little bird."

"I'm not scared of you!"

"Aren't you?"

Robin swallowed a breath, watching Crane with careful eyes. What were his chances of landing a punch if he tried a second time? Not good. That'd just give Scarecrow a chance to strike back. Great. Just great. He reached up to tap his headset again, hoping to send Batman a distress signal; yet, just as his hand reached above shoulder-level, a cold, metallic object pressed against the side of his head, just behind his ear.

"Well, well, if it isn't the Boy Blunder. Worried about me, are you?"

Robin cursed his own bad luck. Surrounded. He opened his mouth to address The Riddler, even though the criminal was invisible - hidden from Robin's line of sight. "Riddler. You're working with Scarecrow!"

"Yes," Edward said evenly, keeping the steel of his pistol firmly against the Batling's head. "We make quite the admirable team - don't we, Jonathan?" Crane stayed where he was, not affirming or denying the statement, but Edward Nigma continued, anyway. "How's your little girlfriend, by the way? You didn't bring her along? Shame. If you had, perhaps you wouldn't be in this situation, hm? It's odd, isn't it? How things go like that. It's all just so puzzling. Absolutely enigmatic. "

Robin frowned in confusion. At first, he'd thought Nigma was trying to make him angry by insinuating that Batgirl was his girlfriend - which Edward had done, certainly. But, The Riddler just kept talking and talking and talking, like he was trying to talk himself into some sort of purpose. Robin noticed Scarecrow tilt his head to the side ever-so-slightly. So, it wasn't a rehearsed thing. Crane was just as confused. Well, that was good, at least. Nigma wasn't acting according to plan. The two were out of sync. Maybe Robin had an advantage...

"Relationships," The Riddler drawled on, "are so important in making things go smoothly. Right, Jonathan?"

The Scarecrow raised his head, just enough to be noticeable. And, even hidden behind the mask, Robin thought he saw something like recognition in Crane's eyes. Dang. Riddler and Scarecrow were back on the same page. Well, there went that moment of advantage out the window.

But, then the gun fell away from the side of Robin's head.

The Riddler was in front of Robin. Yet, not facing him.

Walking toward Crane. Still holding the gun.

Definitely not part of Scarecrow's plan. Robin heard Batman's voice in his head. A trap for Scarecrow? "I'm almost positive." The Dark Knight's sidekick reached up and tapped the side of his communicator to call Batman to him, but he didn't dare make another move.

Edward Nigma reached a hand up, pulling the Scarecrow's burlap mask off. Robin clutched a batarang in his fist, feeling its uselessness. This was not what was supposed to happen. He was supposed to be able to protect Gotham City, but he wasn't supposed to kill people. And, he wasn't supposed to let people be killed! It was his job to stop things like that from happening. Batman, hurry... He couldn't risk any movement; it might startle The Riddler into firing...

The barrel of the gun made its way under Crane's chin, but the Professor of Fear retained a calm expression. Robin stared in horror and confusion. What? Why? Why would The Riddler even want to kill the Scarecrow, if they'd been working together? Did something..? He found his voice just to shout, "Riddler, don't!"

Edward smirked, turning to eye the Boy Wonder with an amused look. "Don't what?" And, then he turned back to Jonathan Crane. And did exactly the last thing Robin expected.

The Riddler kissed the Scarecrow.