Edward Nygma sighed happily, laying back on his beach towel. "This vacation was such a good idea…"

Jonathan Crane didn't look like he was sharing in the Riddler's high spirits. He huddled miserably on the hot sand, trying to cover himself with his towel. Eddie turned to him and shook his head slightly. "Jon…you aren't naked."

The Scarecrow scowled. "This flimsy swim-wear and a t-shirt is hardly adequate covering. Smell that? It's my skin-frying."

The Prince of Puzzles rolled his eyes. "I highly doubt that. You put on half a bottle of sunscreen five minutes ago…"

"Ten minutes."

Eddie laid back down. "Why don't you go stand in the water? That'll cool you off."

There was a silence for a moment and then Jonathan said quietly, "You…know I can't…swim…"

The Riddler blinked and quickly sat up, hugging the Scarecrow. "I'm sorry…I could teach you, you know…and there's plenty of lifeguards…"

Jonathan shook his head. "Not now…I…I'm fine."

Eddie slowly let go and sat back, keeping a hand on the Scarecrow's arm as he thought.

"I know!" he said finally, grinning.

"Wha-"

But Eddie had already taken the Scarecrow's towel, tossing it aside and pressing Jonathan back onto the sand.

"Eddie-"

"Shhh…relax. I'm going to make it all better…"

?X?X?X?X?X?X?X?

Jonathan squirmed slightly. "Eddie, I have sand in places sand was never meant to be."

Eddie smirked. That's what happens when somebody buries you in sand." he brushed some of it from the Scarecrow's hair. "Don't tell me you haven't cooled off by now…"

Jonathan allowed himself a small smile. "…Yeah."

Eddie grinned. "Good. Now, if you'll excuse me, I see a tide pool that looks interesting."

Jonathan sighed and nodded, as well as he could, anyway. It was hard to nod when you were up to your neck in sand.

Closing his eyes as Eddie ran off to look at yet another seashell or whatever was in the tide pool, the Scarecrow relaxed. Eddie had been right. The sand may have been hot on the surface, but below it was nice and cool. Plus, this way no one could see his inadequately clothed body. He could just close his eyes and listen to the waves…and the seagulls…the occasional tourist chatter…the clicking sound of…

Clicking sound?

Jonathan's eyes snapped open and he sucked in a breath, finding himself suddenly face to face with a very disgruntled looking crab.

It stared at him with beady black eyes, slowly clacking one of its large claws open and shut.

The Scarecrow blinked, thinking quickly.

He couldn't move…he was buried far too deep for that. But, maybe the crab wasn't going to do anything. Maybe it was just…looking…

And if he laid really still…

The crab inched closer and Jonathan held his breath.

It wasn't…

Was it?

The cranky crustacean slowly, almost deliberately, reached out one jagged claw.

Uh-oh…

Desperately, Jonathan blew at it.

It flinched and then began moving forward. Apparently, it didn't like being blown at…

As it advanced, Jonathan decided to just close his eyes and accept the inevitable.

Clack…

Clack…

Clack…

"YAAA!"

Jonathan's eyes snapped open as, in a flash of green swim trunks and suntan lotion, Eddie dove at the creature, smacking it away from the Scarecrow's face. Even buried as deeply as he was, Jonathan still felt the impact as Eddie landed on top of him.

"Phew!" the Riddler exclaimed, fixing his hair. "That was a close one…look! I found a starfish!"

He pointed to his arm, where a large orange starfish was indeed attached. Jonathan looked from the starfish, to Eddie, to the dazed-looking crab lying on the sand a few yards away and suddenly found himself laughing from the sheer absurdity of it all.

"That's great, Eddie…" he chuckled. "Thanks for saving me…"

The Riddler beamed at him, petting the starfish. "No problem!"

?X?X?X?X?X?X?X?

Jonathan stretched, feeling pleasantly sleepy. Beside him, Eddie bounced along, seeming to have recovered from the blow of the Scarecrow telling him he couldn't keep the starfish he'd found. They were almost to the hotel, only a short distance from the beach, and Jonathan was looking forward to a refreshing shower and maybe a nap…

Suddenly, he heard a sharp gasp and turned, thinking it was Eddie. But the Riddler was staring in the same direction.

A young woman dressed in well-worn overalls and a bright pink t-shirt beamed back at them brightly with a gap-toothed grin, straw-colored hair straggling out of her lop-sided ponytail in long wisps.

"Wee-ell, I nevah!" she exclaimed in a thick Southern accent. "If it ain't Jonny Crane!"