OH MY DAYS THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING! I am so sorry my lovelies! Please accept this long chapter as my apology!
I scribble furiously down the notes from Oswald's meeting with Mr Dent aka. Two-Face, avoiding looking up at them both for as long as I could. In another life, or rather time, Mr Dent would have been an extremely handsome man, but due to his … accident … the other half of his handsome face was now extremely scarred. I am pretty sure I could see some bone fragments earlier before he asked for the light from above to be turned off.
Ignoring the cramp in my fingers from writing so fast I push onwards, the small emerald bracelet on my wrist catching my eye. A present from Edward left on my pillow the other night when he promised to return but didn't. Turned out that Batman had foiled another one of Edward's plans. Morally I didn't know whether I should be glad about that or not.
"My Dove, have you gotten everything down? Anything we need to go back over?" Oswald's voice pulls me out of my downward spiralling thoughts.
"I believe I have everything written down ready for both you gentlemen to review, if everything is agreed I can go ahead and create a contract for the both of you ready to be signed tomorrow," I reply, raising my head and smiling at the two men. The unscarred part of Mr Dent's face raises in shock before amusement.
"Well the blonde's more useful than she looks, aye Penguin" he smirks down at me making all sad and pitying thoughts of him evaporate immediately from my mind.
Gritting my teeth I give him my best smile, placing the notepad across the table towards the two men but keeping eye contact: "Well Sir, the first mistake you made there was thinking I was dumb, the second was probably the fact you think I'm a natural blonde. You are wrong on both accounts." My smile might be bright but the annoyance in my tone was as sharp as the teeth on Fluffy.
Oswald gives me a warning look but I keep my eyes on the other man who snorted while reaching into his jacket and pulling out a coin. Uh oh. His smirk becomes feral as he shines it between his thumb and forefinger making sure the dim light catches it.
"This side - you live, this side - you die blondie" he challenges showing me the two different sides on the coin. One a shade of black and the other shining as if it was newly minted. A personification from the man sat in front of me if I ever saw one. A shift from behind the men catches my attention as Harley arrives at the table with Poison Ivy in tow. Having never met the plant lady I give them both a small smile before setting my attention back on Dent.
"Then I suggest you flip it Mr Dent, you are boring our guests," I flick my eyes back to the women. One was looking increasingly concerned, while the blonde was just grinning in amusement. Trust Harley to find amusement in situations like this. Dent's good eye widened for a second before glaring at me. He didn't think I would agree to the challenge, neither did Oswald it seems from his shocked expression.
I hold my breath as he flicks the coin up with his thumb. All our attention was following the path of it as it came back down. If I was to die tonight, at least I know it would be a quick death. Mr Dent wasn't known to torture his victims, merely shoot them. Not that it is much comfort. As the man is literally playing with my fate in the shape of a bloody coin. Said coin smacks back down into his hand. Snarling he shoves the coin back into his jacket and glares at me with his good eye. The other eye always was in a glare anyway. The clean side came up. I live another day.
Tapping my pen on the notepad so both the men look at that instead of me - one glaring and the other smirking happily at the latter – I let out the breath I was holding.
"Perhaps now that is out of the way we should pay attention to what we have been doing for the past few hours and make a decision, gentlemen". I place my pen back in my jacket pocket and give my attention to the two women who were walking around the table as Dent and Oswald go over the notes.
"Pair of balls on you Clara!" Harley teases as Ivy just shakes her head at the blonde but not before sending me a worried look. I take a quick sip of water from my glass to hide my smile as I just knew Dent would be watching me.
"Well my Dad always told me to living an exciting and interesting life, I seem to be doing that more and more by accident recently" I reply sheepishly to the women.
"From what I've heard, you certainly have," Ivy's seductive voice reaches my ears before I even saw her lips move. My sheepish smile turns into a sheepish shrug.
"I've gotta do what I've gotta do". Her eyebrow twitched up in amusement as did the corner of her lips before retaining the stoic expression she had from before. Linking her arm with Harley, she softly tugs her in a different direction.
"Keep safe girlie, we'll be keeping our eyes on you and any more accidents", she winks quickly, leaving me at the table with the two bickering men. Sighing under my breath I take another sip of my water, something tells me this was going to be a loooong night.
A long night indeed. When both Dent and Oswald finally agreed on all the points they had first made, added some more and then rejected others I finally was able to write up their contract and give them both a copy to look over before tomorrow night. Of course, before I could leave Oswald gave me a complete ear trashing about not tempting fate or Dent again. And yes I agreed because how could I argue or disagree with my boss. Not my fault Dent is sensitive and doesn't like being told when he is wrong.
Sipping of my glass of wine I look out over the bar. No, I hadn't gone home just yet. It was too quiet at home and reminded me of Jason and it made me miss my family back home. Plus missing another certain person who I shan't name.
A few couples were seated around my table. Chatting, laughing and being so darn cute it was making my jaw ache from gritting my teeth. I am not usually such a gloomy gus but they just reminded me of what I haven't got at the moment. Finishing off my glass of wine I question whether I should stay for another. Shrugging to myself I go over to the bar and order another one. Hell, why not. I get free drinks being Oswald's receptionist, so it'll not cost me a dime. Every job has it's perks I suppose.
"So, you come here often?" Crinkling my nose at the off-putting and totally overused pick-up line I instead choose to ignore the man who's decided to invade the little space I have at the bar. Thanking Joe when he hands me a full glass of wine I give him his tip (just because the drink is free doesn't mean you do not tip) and walk back over to my table.
My faith that the man would just accept that I blew him off and go annoy someone else – preferably one of those women with a gun – was crushed as I hear him lumber behind me. I slide back into my chair, glad that my table only had one and that the idiot would take another hint that I wanted to be left alone. Wrong again.
"Oi, didn't you hear me? I asked if you come here often lady," he snarls leaning across the small table invading my space once again. Where's a bloody psycho with either fear spray or a flipping coin when you need them?
"Oh I heard you. I was just so embarrassed by the crappy line for you that I kept quiet in hoping that the shame wouldn't hit you. Never mind. Next time I'll make sure to call you out on your shitty lines in front of your so called friends who by the way are all laughing at you behind your back". I reply sassily while taking a sip of my wine.
"Listen here you bi-", a smack of a cane on the table made me jump as well as stop the man's tirade. Following the golden question mark on top of the cane down to the green gloves and up to that charming smirk that I loved so much I bite my lip in amusement. I swear that man must have a radar whenever another man attempts to flirt with me.
"Now I know you weren't about to insult this fine young lady were you, sir?" His silky voice shook slightly, glancing down I can see the grip on his cane tighten. Oh dear. I suppose it is a good job Oswald has dark carpets.
"Here now why don't you just butt out freak, this ain't nothin' to do with you!" The man snarls and starts to square up to Edward. Ah mistake number … three … maybe four of the night he has made?
Edward starts to darkly chuckle as he steps towards me, gently grabbing my hand (which has my emerald bracelet attached to it) he raises it to his lips giving it a quick kiss before glaring back at the man: "oh you see, it does have everything to do with me when you are insulting MY woman". I smirk across the table while squeezing Edward's fingers. This was the first time I have seen him be possessive over me. It shouldn't be as hot as it was really.
Slowly the realisation starts to hit the man the longer he glares at Edward, taking in his green attire, golden cane and green hat. You can almost hear the light bulb click on when he finally realises who he is talking to. "Listen man, I didn't know she was your girl! I swear! Look I'll leave right now, sorry man!" He takes a few steps back, straight into Rozzo and another henchman's arms.
"Riddle me this… What gets bigger and bigger?" Edward asks, smirking more and more as the man cowers down shaking his head. Leaning forward across the table, Edward snarls: "a hole. Take him away boys".
Without muss or fuss the two henchmen haul the man away quickly without anyone looking around at the altercation. That's the one thing at the Iceberg, no one gets into anyone else's business. Not unless they were looking for trouble of course. A gentle thumb rubbing my cheek calls back my attention to the Rogue in front of me who had a soft smile that replaced the smirk from before.
"Well hello my knight in shining greenery," I tease while kissing the palm of his hand. He chuckles before swooping down and giving me the softest kiss, I believe we've ever had. The gentleness of it takes my breath away for a moment. He kisses a path across my lips, cheek and to my ear whispering a sweet hello before giving it a quick nip.
It was my turn to laugh at his gesture as I wrap my arms around his shoulders and kiss the tip of his nose quickly before anyone could see. He has his image to keep of course.
"I leave you for a few days and already the men are fawning around you, I think your next present needs to be a bigger statement than that bracelet". He taps the item in question, those green eyes of his harden before softening when kiss his cheek.
"I never did get to say thank you for your gift honey, I love it! Though you didn't have to go through the trouble of getting me anything, I am happy just having you" I smile up at the rogue who was smirking down at me.
"Only the best for my girl, now how about you finish your drink and I take you home?" He points to the drink before reaching into his jacket and tapping away on his phone. Biting my lip I sigh gently as I look back out at the couples. "Songbird?" Fiddling with the stem of my glass I take a moment before looking back up at Edward.
"Could we stay for a while? Just me and you?" I ask quietly, knowing he didn't always like being out in the open. Confused he furrows his brows at me before gazing around us. A soft tug at his mouth he picks my hand up again and kisses the back of it.
"Of course, we can my sweet, but perhaps a better table?" Letting me step out of the chair, he hands me my wine before slipping my free hand into the crook of his elbow. He leads me across the room, doing my best to ignore the fleeting stares I hold onto him. My lifeline in this new life. Because that is what I've had to come to face is, there is no turning back to my old life. Taunting Dent, falling in love with Edward, working for Oswald and being friends with Harley Quinn … I am as far from my old life as I could get. And I loved it.
Pulling out a chair for me I allow Edward to seat me as he pulls a chair around the table to sit next to me. I link my fingers through his and can't help but smile at him. Yes. I definitely loved this new life.
"So, my darling Clara, anything exciting happen while I've been away?" He asks before ordering a whiskey from the waiter. Wetting my lips I go to take a sip: "not a lot, think I irritated Dent as he pulled his coin out on me, but apart from that nothing out of the ordinary".
His choked-out cough amused me though I hid the smile as his burning emerald eyes focused on me.
"Would you like to repeat that love?" The softness in his voice was gone now, goodbye Eddie hello Riddler.
"Eddie, you heard me. The man was being rude and ignorant, I wouldn't stand for it. If I don't gain their respect while I'm working here then they'll simply push me around and that's when I will possibly get hurt because they don't care about me. Dent was put in his place and he may not like it but he won't do it again". I finish off by squeezing Ed's hand.
He sighed while pinching his nose. Funny. Out of the two of us, really it should be me doing that more than him. I lean over and lightly remove his hand from pinching himself before caressing his cheek. Those emerald eyes look back into mine, less burning hate in them and more gentle love. "Do you really think I'd challenge him just to be stupid, I knew the risks. But I am now working and living in your world Eddie. You can't protect me from everything and everyone –" placing my fingers on his lips as he goes to interrupt I smile and continue: "as much as I love you doing it you cannot always be here or around me as you have your own life and agenda. So, trust in me like I trust in you. We are partners, right?" Chewing on my bottom lip I remove my fingers from his lips but not before he kisses them.
The hand that our fingers are linked he grasps with his other and holds it tightly. Rubbing his thumb back and forth across the top of mine he then nods slightly.
"I trust you Clara, more than anyone else. But don't think I will not protect you with everything at my disposal if I can help it. You're to be my Riddle Queen, as such I'll protect you. But I respect what you're saying, just excuse me if I get to be a little hostile when I do see people disrespect you" and with that statement he pulls me forwards by my hands, catching my chin with his fingers and delivers a scorching kiss on my lips.
Blushing I kiss him back with everything I had, even ignoring when the waiter appears with Edwards drink. After a moment we pull away, both breathing heavily but grinning. Me glad that Edward would allow me to explore my new role in this life and him because I had accepted that role.
"So my darling Riddle Queen?" He tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear, tracing down my jaw before tapping my lips. "What would you like for dinner?" Grinning at him I kiss the tip of his finger before looking down at the menu that the waiter must have left while me and Ed were in our own little world.
"Well I'm not sure what I want for my main, but I definitely know what I will be having for dessert". I smirk at the rogue and allow my eyes to rake down his figure as he chuckles darkly and winks at me.
"All good things come to those who wait my Clara".
That they do. That they do.