Someone had "It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas" playing. It was, Victor Fries recalled, one of Nora's favorite holiday tunes. Many times he'd find her humming it as she hung decorations or wrapped presents. That was before doctors told them there'd be no more Christmases, Thanksgivings or New Years.
No more birthdays or anniversaries.
No more anything's.
He stopped celebrating holidays after he placed Nora in cryogenic stasis. There was no reason to celebrate. Not without her beside him. The number of holidays missed didn't matter. All that mattered was finding a way to restore her to health. His latest attempt at developing a cure, however, met with failure.
And resulted in his being incarcerated in this specially designed cell deep within Arkham Asylum.
Frustration mingled with the guilt chilling in his veins. Anger pulsed beneath his skin, mixing with the blame and recriminations. Some, he aimed at himself. Much of it, though, he aimed at Ferris Boyle, and the man standing outside his cell.
"Have you ever watched something beautiful, so full of life, just collapse, and slowly rot from within?"
"Victor..."
"I promised her I would find a cure." The weight of his failure bowed his shoulders. Hardened his already cold heart. "I told her I would save her. I failed to do that. My beautiful Nora. Forever frozen in time." He lifted his head to gaze at the man in the dark cape and cowl. "Imagine it, Batman. To never again feel the warmth of the sun against your face or the touch of your husband's hand on your cheek."
"You can still save her." The quiet conviction in Batman's voice almost made him smile. Almost. "I promised you I would help you find a cure for the disease killing your wife. I still mean that."
"No." He shook his head. "My work, my equipment, it's all gone. Ferris Boyle took it from us after he revealed his true purpose for funding my research."
What Ferris didn't take got destroyed in his fight with Batman. The only thing that survived their battle was the cryotube his beloved Nora slept in. I don't even know where they took her, he thought, fists curling atop his knees. Batman restored her cryogenic status as officers arrived. He got taken into custody and transported to Arkham while they took Nora somewhere else.
"He didn't take away your knowledge or your memories." Batman folded his arms across his chest. "You're a brilliant man, Victor. You can start again. You can still find a cure for Nora."
He isn't wrong, he realized, a spark of hope igniting in his breast. He could rewrite his notes from memory, rebuild his equipment with Batman's help, and finally fulfill the promise he made to his Nora before freezing her with his freeze gun. Victor wasn't a fool, though. The Dark Knight had an ulterior motive for offering to help him with his research. Curing Nora of her disease meant curing others who suffered the same fate she did, as well.
It was a small price to pay for having his wife healthy and happy beside him once more.
"I will accept your offer, Batman." He lifted his head to look at him. "For Nora. Because nothing means more to me than finding a cure for the disease robbing us of our time together. Make no mistake, though." He pushed to his feet and padded to the door. "This does not make us friends."
"I didn't expect it would."
Batman left him alone with his thoughts.
Not that they were far from his beloved wife.
"I will save you, Nora," he whispered as he turned to walk to the small desk they allowed him. He needed to plan. To make lists. To sketch the items he needed to resume his research. "I promise."
And this time he wouldn't stop.
Not until he found the cure.
A/N: Hello, all! I hope this finds you well!