Arkham's nerds.

Jervis knew his good friend the March Hare was always in a bad mood or at least looked like he was in a bad mood, but today he was in a very bad mood, more so then usual.

Jervis watched Jonathan curiously as the older gentleman sat reading, as perusal, that seemed to be the only thing Jonathan would do, unless he would play chess with Jervis sometimes.

The Mad Hatter did not know what was wrong with his friend, he wanted to ask and make sure everything was okay, but doing that to Jonathan was like asking to be killed. He hated seeming weak and… well, Jervis did not see any need to have a close look at Jonathan's sythe to see how sharp it was.

The silence was interrupted as, like always, Edward entered the room, looking rather angry with a huge bandaid over his nose and it looked a little swollen.

"Dormouse whatever happened to you?"

Edward narrowed his eyes before he joined his two companions and folded his arms harshly across his chest. "I do not wish to talk about it."

"My, you are in almost as fowl mood as the March Hare," Jervis nodded to Crane who was sitting in front of both of them, nose in the book he was reading. "He is such a bad mood today."

Edward raised eyebrow before looked over at Jonathan. "Jon, what's got you in such a… 'fowl mood' as Jervis put it? I have to agree, you're usually a little more cheery."

Jonathan sighed and looked up from his book. "It's Luna."

"What about her?"

"She's in the adult ward."

"So?"

"So?" Jonathan repeated with a hint of anger. "So?! So, my little demons all grown up!"

Jervis and Edward blinked at him slightly as Jonathan continued.

"Next thing you know, she'll be breaking out of Arkham without my help and going out on her own! She doesn't even need to come to me for toxin, she'll become the mistress of fear and everyone will forget about me."

"I can't tell if you're jealous or concerned," Edward whispered before he smirked. "Do you care for Luna?"

"Do not be stupid, Edward, it does not fit your character," Jonathan hissed. "The child can look after herself, she'll simply be leaving me here!"

"You're worried about her aren't you?"

"I am not worried."

"It seems like you are," Edward grinned to see just how far he could take this. "It's almost like you see Luna as the daughter you never had. You are sounding rather like a worried father," Edward chuckled slightly and shook his head. "Next thing you know she'l be breaking out of Arkham and you'll be saying 'you can't go out like that young lady, it's far to short!'."

Jonathan growled, actually growled under his breath before glared daggers at Edward. "Luna is my ally, she is hardly my daughter, nor do I see her as one. But I might as well be her parent since I found her and took her in at the ripe old age of six and her brother was only five."

"You have been with them for a long time, March Hare," Jervis interrupted with a nod of his head. "It would not be surprising if you have grown an… attachment to them that could be considered parental."

"Ah!" Jonathan threw his hands in the air. "Don't you get it?! Having Luna move up into the adult suddenly made me realise… I am… getting old," Jonathan swallowed thickly. "I have had those two by my side for twelve years. I even heard that Luna morned my 'death' as it where."

"They care about you," Edward shrugged. "You did take them away from a very bad home and past life and I don't think you're willing to admit it but, you care about them too."

Jonathan was desperate to change the subject. He did not like talking about his feelings, especially with Tetch and Nigma of all people. "What happened to your nose?"

Edward glared. "I don't wish to talk about it."

"Oh? It sounds like it must be a good story then," Jonathan smirked slightly. "Since the last time I saw you, you went charging out of Arkham determined to beat this new Batman, even claimed that you would and well… since I saw reports about him being very much alive on this morning's news I know that didn't happen so… tell me what did."

"Batman… he… cheated."

Jervis blinked before he looked at Edward. "Are you sure he cheated?"

Edward's head slowly turned to glare down at Jervis with a cold look to his eyes. "Of course he cheated. He won the game and the only logical explanation to that is if he cheated."

"Or he simply out smarted you," Jonathan smiled, before he went back to heading his book, hardly bothered by Edward's glare at all.

"How can you even say that?"

Jonathan shrugged and went back to reading as Edward sat in front of him flabbergasted that Jonathan could even suggest such a thing.

"Never mind, Dormouse," Jervis chirped up. "Chin up, lad, there is always next time."

"Yes there's always next time to get your nose broken again," Jonathan muttered sarcastically, earning a glare from the Mad Hatter.

"There may not be, actually," Edward whispered slightly gaining shocked looks from the other two.

"What are you talking about Dormouse?"

"Yes, as Jervis said, what are you talking about?" Jonathan asked with a raised eyebrow. "You're actually quitting?"

"Not quitting!" Edward hissed. "Quitting would imply I have lost and he has won, no I am considering retiring. Ah, you see myself and Mist are actually… slowly patching things up between us."

"You? Leaving behind a white picket fence?" Jonathan asked skeptically. "Forgive me, Edward, but I am struggling to picture that."

"Of course you are," Edward smirked slightly. "Green and purple fence of course, Jonathan, white? What on earth where you thinking?"

"Yes… what on earth was I thinking… that's too bland for you," Jonathan mumbled slightly. "Anyway.. you're retiring?"

"Considering it," Edward shrugged. "You said it yourself, non of us are getting any younger. You're grey streaks and wrinkles is enough to see that."

"They're natural highlights," Jonathan protested slightly as he ran a hand through his hair. "I get them, usually after I have spoken to you."

"Funny," Edward bit out with a bitter look before he frowned. "But no… I am seriously considering it… especially after last night."

"What happened last night, Dormouse?"

"Where you two not surprised that I only had a broken nose?"

"We were slightly surprised, yes."

"Well… that is because I only got punched once, by this new Bat and my nose was broke so… I naturally went to run away."

"And?" Jonathan prompted.

Edward bowed his head slightly. "And as I went running… I had to slow and rest a little bit when I knew it was safe and… I honestly had not traveled that far, but I was breathless and then I ran again but…" he sighed and shook his head slightly. "My leg gave out from under me and I fell to the floor and couldn't get up to run again. I guess all my time of playing rough with the Bat has come at a cost," he bit his lip and looked up at his two friends. "The cartrolidge in my right knee is about gone. Basically that knee has just about shot it. I'll need a cain to walk once it's all gone."

"Oh…" Jonathan whispered slightly and Jervis gasped in shock.

"Oh my poor Dormouse, I am so sorry my friend! Is there anything I could do to make it up to you?! To make you feel better."

Edward shook his head and raised his hand. "There's nothing anyone can do… the only thing the Doctors can do is give me a cain so I can walk but that's it… the rest will probably be pain killers."

"You always did go full on, Edward and I did tell you to be careful," Jonathan shook his head. "The knees are always the first to go."

"Yes well.. I only feel sorry for dear Selina or even my Mystery… can't imagine it."

"Hah," Jonathan shook his head. "It's funny… we're all… old."

"I'm getting there, I'm not there yet, unlike you," Edward grinned before he frowned. "But my nose really hurts."

"I have some pain killers," Jervis offered with a smile.

"No offence Jervis but.. I'm not taking any pills you have to offer me."

"Of course, Dormouse, no worries."

"I am not surprised your nose still hurts," Jonathan smirked. "It is rather big."

"Oh is it now?" Edward growled. "Well guess what spooky, I had a treat while I was on the outside wall," Edward smirked coldly as he leaned into Jonathan's personal space. "I had a… pumpkin," Jonathan stared at him. "Spiced," Jonathan's eye began to twitch in anger, he knew what was coming. How dare the pompous man before him have Jonathan's favourite drink! "Latte'," Edward grinned at Jonathan's scowl and slight twitching eye. "And I savoured even single drop of it."

Jonathan snapped his book closed.

THE END.

Note: YAY! Next one is done and I gotta say I enjoyed this one, especially the pumpkin spiced latte part of it :) Anyway I hope you guys enjoyed this one! :D

Up next: Don't rain on my parade: Summary: Music makes the world go round keeps people sane. Funny how the most insane love to sing. Music Meister and Harley are only the beginning and it seems that there is a rather unexpected rogue with them who can sing quite a few good notes.

Keep up them requests guys! :D