It's after midday, and we're still in bed.
"So, why do you want to see those places in particular?" Riddler asks, lying on the bed next to me. He's looking adorably dishevelled, hair sticking up in every direction. I hate to think how mine must look.
"Not telling." I poke my tongue out at him. I roll over to him, pulling the sheet closer to me.
"Very mature." He rolls his eyes, so I hit him with a pillow. We lie there for a while longer. I trace my fingers over his chest, drawing swirls and patterns, and I can feel him playing with my hair. It's peaceful, and I'm happy. So happy I feel giddy.
I mentally smack myself for acting like a loved-up school girl.
"So much for sightseeing, huh?" I say eventually, breaking the silence.
"There's always tomorrow." He smiles, and that makes me grin again, because I'm still in Gotham. Life is sweet right now.
"Hey, so what were you working on last night? Have you got a way to get all the criminals back on side?" I ask, still lying down on his shoulder.
"A vague idea. Needs to be expanded on, but yes, I have a plan." He responds absently, running his hands through my hair. I wait a beat.
"Well? Are you going to tell me or let me die of suspense?" I demand.
"Wouldn't want you to die. I'd have to clean up the mess." He says sardonically.
"Jerk." I try to swing the pillow at him again, but he grabs it away. "So, what's the plan?"
"All I have to do is kill Batman."
Wait. What?
I wait a few beats for him to say he's kidding.
Nothing.
"Kill Batman?" I screech, sitting up so fast I almost knock him off the bed. He looks up at me, shocked. "Tell me you're not serious."
"As a heart attack." He quips. "It's quite genius, if I say so myself. Not only do I prove to the Rogues that I am one of them, but I am the best of them." He says, a glint in his eye that hints at the crazy bubbling underneath.
"Are you insane?" I shout at him, clutching the sheet against myself to keep some form of modesty. "You can't kill Batman! You can't!"
"Can't? I think you'll find I can." He shoots back, sitting up, eyes flashing.
"Edward, be real. You're not going to kill Batman. He's Batman." I say, lowering my voice, trying to gently talk some sense into him. "People have tried and finished up in Arkham." As soon as I've said it, I know instantly it's the wrong argument for Riddler.
"People like the Joker? Homicidal maniac, couldn't catch Batman even if he actually wanted to. Too preoccupied with the joke. Or Black Mask? Falcone? They can't even run a mob properly. They don't have a hope. I am above all of them, in every way." He seethes, standing up and getting dressed angrily.
"Edward, I didn't mean-"
"Oh, I understood. You don't want your precious Dark Knight hurt. Well unfortunately for you, it's going to happen. I'm going to be the one to rid Gotham of Batman once and for all." And with that, he storms out of the room, slamming the door, leaving me alone and confused.
What the hell just happened? Ten minutes ago we were perfectly fine, and now I'm left reeling. I stand up slowly and get dressed, trying to process everything. Riddler won't really kill Batman, will he? He wouldn't.
I scoff to myself. Of course he would. If only to prove to himself that he can. I have to fix this before it goes too far. I leave the bedroom, slowly padding out to the living room, to where Riddler has his supercomputer set up.
"Edward?" I say. "Hey, I want to apologise. I didn't mean you couldn't. I mean, if anyone could pull it off, it would be you." I try and soothe his ego. "But please, I'm asking you not to. I'm begging you." I say, letting my own ego take a hit. He sits at the computer, back to me, not giving any indication he heard me.
I take a few steps towards him, but as soon as I'm close enough to see anything on the screen he hits a button, sending the screens into darkness. He finally turns to face me.
"Please Edward." I try again. "We can find another way." There's a few moments of horrible, tense silence.
"Why shouldn't I?" He asks, voice quiet and deadly. "What has the Great Detective ever done to deserve my mercy? Break my bones? Beat me unconscious? Throw me in Arkham? Where in all that does mercy come in?"
"He helped us. He helped us send everyone back here. And trusted you to come back after he left." I point out, but I know it won't be enough.
"He helped you. I don't recall a lot of trust being thrown my way." He laughs derisively.
"He's a hero, Edward. He's the good guy. That puts you two on different sides. Of course you clash occasionally. Maybe if you stop blowing up things and setting up deadly brain teasers all over the place, you two would get on better!" I shout, anger spilling out. "Don't play the victim, Edward; it's not a good look on you."
"I'm playing the victim am I?" He asks, standing up out of his chair. Suddenly he's standing imposingly half a foot over my head, but I'm still fired up.
"Yeah, you are! Batman comes after you because you're a villain! You hurt people, kill them sometimes. That makes you a bad guy. You know, the traditional enemy of the hero?"
"I'm the bad guy?"
"Yes!" It's a full on shouting match now. I'm on my tiptoes, trying to close the height distance, trying to make myself look more imposing.
"And yet here you are." Riddler sneers down at me. "You got to Gotham, and who did you find? The villain. Why didn't you find your Dark Knight? Why did you run straight to me?"
"Because for some stupid reason, you're the one I want!" I yell back at him. "Though I'm starting to regret that!"
"If you don't want to be here, I'm not keeping you." He says.
"Well maybe I should leave." I say, regretting it immediately. I don't want to go.
"Well, I'm not stopping you." Riddler says after a beat. I don't respond, and he turns around. I think I hear him sigh, and he sits down with his back to me, typing away again.
I stand there in silence for a moment, still radiating anger. I turn on my heel and storm out, slamming the apartment door behind me. I lean against the wall opposite, breathing deeply.
He's being ridiculous, I tell myself. I'm completely in the right.
Comfortable in that belief, I take off towards the elevator and ride it down to the ground floor. As soon as I step outside the building the fresh air hits me. It's cold, just enough to make me wish I'd grabbed a jacket. I rub my arms, trying to heat up, while I try to plan my next move. Honestly, I don't really have anywhere to go. Probably thought I should have thought of that before getting myself thrown out of Riddler's apartment.
Why didn't you find your Dark Knight?
Riddler's words come back to me and, ignoring the sting they leave, I realise he has a point.
I have to go to Bruce Wayne.
?
After studying the tramlines for twenty minutes, I think I've found a way to Wayne Enterprises. Well, a way to a stop two blocks away, but it'll do. I sit alone on the tram, watching the other people go about their afternoons. According to the clock I saw in the station, it's just past four o'clock. I can hear a woman on her phone a few seats away telling her husband she'll be home for dinner. An exhausted looking man a bit further up is trying to convince his two young children to sit still on their seats. And lots of professional looking people are standing and sitting, looking at their phones or reading the paper. For all these people, this is life. Work nine to five, go home, and avoid the super criminals in the city.
It could be my life, if I choose to stay.
I wait out the rest of the trip and almost miss my stop. I quickly dash off the tram at the last minute, and make my way up the block towards the enormous tower stretching into the sky. The security guard at the front door gives me a look, but lets me in. I walk to the front desk, up to a pretty blonde girl tapping away at a computer.
"Welcome to Wayne Enterprises, how can I help you?" She asks, smiling politely up at me.
"Hi. I'm looking for Mr Wayne?" I say, but it sounds like a question.
"I'm sorry, Mr Wayne doesn't typically come into Wayne Enterprises. I can take a message and pass it on next time he's in?" She offers. The saccharine smile on her face tells me my message will be balled up and thrown in the trash as soon as I walk away.
"How about someone in charge? Who's the boss?" I ask, standing my ground.
"You must mean Mr Fox."
"Lucius Fox? Yeah. Can I talk to him?" I ask, excited. Fox would almost definitely be able to help me.
"Did you have an appointment?" She asks, obviously knowing full well I don't.
"No. But this will only take a minute." I say, just as sweetly.
"I'm sorry, Mr Fox is a very busy man. You won't be able to speak to him without an appointment." She simpers, obviously very un-sorry.
"Well can I make an appointment then? For this afternoon?" Annoyance seeps into my voice.
"He's all booked up today I'm afraid." She replies after a few clicks at the computer. I try not to sigh, and mostly succeed.
"Tomorrow then?"
"Hmm... No sorry, nothing available tomorrow either."
"Look, this is important. I really need to speak to him." I plead.
"I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do. Is there anything else I can help you with?" I want to smack the stupid smile off her face, but I force myself to smile back.
"That's okay. Thanks for your help. Is there a ladies room I can use before I go?" I ask, smiling. She eyeballs me suspiciously for a moment.
"Sure. Its back there, to the left of the elevators." She gestures, and looks pointedly at the big silver watch on her wrist. Obviously I'll be getting timed. I nod my thanks and head back.
I walk into the bathroom, count to ten, and poke my head back out. Sure enough, Receptionist Barbie has stopped watching me and is back to playing solitaire on the computer. I push at the buttons on the elevator, willing it to arrive quickly. The doors slide open and I dash in, and they close behind me just in time for me to hear the receptionist yelling after me.
I figure Fox's office will be on the top floor, so that's where I head. I'm the only person in the lift, so luckily, it goes directly to the top without stopping. I take a few seconds to collect myself before the doors open, smoothing my hair and tucking my shirt in a bit. Well, Riddler's shirt. No wonder the security guard gave me a weird look. I must look a bit odd. Skinny jeans, mens button down shirt and messed up sex hair. Probably should have fixed that on the train. I do the best I can with it in the elevator, and then the doors ping open into a foyer with several closed doors. There's a security guard up here too, who looks like he spends every spare minute lifting weights. Big ones.
"Mr Fox's office?" I ask, trying to give off a professional aura.
"That one." He points, nodding at me. I thank him and walk over to the door on the left. I knock twice.
"Come in." A deep male voice sounds from inside. I hear the security guards radio crackle to life behind me and a distressed female voice speak over it, so I hurry inside. No doubt it's the receptionist calling to have me thrown out.
"Mr Fox?" I say and he looks up from behind his desk. He's an older man, and the first thing I notice about him is his kind eyes.
"That's me. What can I do for you?" He asks, looking mildly surprised at having a dishevelled young woman barge into his office.
"I'm about to be thrown out of here by security, but this is super important. I need to speak to Bruce Wayne. He knows me, and I need him-" The door busts open, cutting me off.
"Ma'am, you need to come with me. You shouldn't be here. Sorry Mr Fox." Mr Muscles nods at Fox before grabbing me roughly by the arm.
"Mr Fox, please, it's important!" I shout as I'm being forcefully directed out of the office.
"Just a minute, Walsh." Fox holds up a hand and Muscles pauses. "I'll speak to the young lady. If there's trouble, I'll call you." The guard looks at me suspiciously.
"I'm harmless." I promise, holding up my hands. After a moment the guard nods again and leaves the office. I turn back to Fox. "Thank you."
"You've peaked my interest, miss...?"
"Mitchell. Belle Mitchell, sir." I say, and a sudden look of understanding comes over his face.
"Ah."
"You've heard of me?" I ask, surprised.
"Yes. A mutual friend of ours did mention you too me. Your story was quite interesting."
"You know all that?" I ask, and I realise I must sound like an idiot. I've barely formed a full sentence. "It's just that this whole thing is a bit... unusual."
"To say the least." Fox says, almost smiling. "Have a seat. What can I help you with?"
"Well I've found myself back in Gotham again. Obviously." I say, sitting down in one of the fancy looking chairs on the other side of the desk. He sits back down too. "And I really need to speak to Wayne. I have to give him a heads up on what's coming." I don't really want to say that my homicidal boyfriend is gunning for him, but I think Fox gets the message.
"I know enough to read between the lines, Miss Mitchell. I can get a message to him if you like?" He offers.
"Actually, I'd like to talk to him myself. To explain it all. And possibly find a bed for a while. My, um, current living position isn't working anymore." I explain awkwardly. Thankfully, Fox doesn't push the issue.
"I can drive you to Wayne Manor at the end of the day if you like. I have a few things that need my attention before I can leave for the day, but if you don't mind waiting, I'd be happy to take you."
"That would be fantastic. Thank you, Mr Fox." I say gratefully. This has turned out far better than I'd hoped.
"Lucius, please. I'll try not to be too long."
"Thank you Lucius. I'll wait downstairs in the lobby?"
"That would be fine." He smiles, and I return it with one of my own. I smirk a little at Muscles on my way to the elevator, and smirk a lot at the receptionist as I take a seat in the incredibly comfy chair in the lobby. I'm petty like that.
I spend the next hour people watching through the enormous windows, watching an average afternoon on a Gotham street pass by. It looks like any other city in the world. So normal. So real.
Eventually I feel a light tap on my shoulder.
"Ready to go, Miss Mitchell?" Fox asks, smiling down at me.
"Call me Belle. I'm ready." I jump up, shooting one last look at the receptionist. She glares back, and I follow Fox down into the underground parking structure.
"This is mine. Hop in." He invites, unlocking a dark sedan. We both settle in and he starts the ignition and looks over to me. "To Wayne Manor." He says. I grin. This is going to be awesome.
A/N: Thank you to all my readers and reviewers! You people are fantastic. Let me know what you thought!