Author's Note: So I have to apologize because I wrote this too hastily and hadn't thought through what I wanted to do initially but now I've mapped out the story so this had to be re-written. Tonally it's a little less comedic and quick that it was originally which I think fits better. Anyway as of 11/7/2018 this chapter was rewritten. Thank you to anyone reading and hopefully you'll agree this fits better and helps the flow of the story as I continue.

While it was true that the Riddler preferred to work alone, he didn't like being left out either. Currently he read on a park bench, trash and debris scattered around him, waiting for a certain redhead to come slinking into view.

"Nygma." Came a sultry voice. "Nice to see you, I guess."

As he stood his lips turned downward slightly but he attempted to recover from the slight with a grin. "Actually, it's the Riddler, but you already knew that."

"Sure. Sorry." She didn't sound sorry at all.

"How have you been?"

"Since when have you been interested in that?"

"It's considered polite to make small talk before jumping into serious conversation." He shrugged and pulled off his bowler hat.

"I've never considered myself to be a polite girl." She started into the park and he trailed behind, the density of the trees and bushes on the outside covered everything from view but inside was full of small house-like structures made from living trees and vines. He saw the shadows of what looked to be children running in and out of his view. It smelled amazing inside, fresh and sweet – nothing like perfume. It made him feel eerie calm despite the fact that it was dark in the mess of trees.

They walked into one of the larger structures where he saw a large flower, big enough to sit on, which is exactly what Ivy did. She motioned for him to sit on a smaller flower so he did. He was still smiling when she asked him what he wanted to meet for.

"I want to be partners." He said, trying to focus, but his head felt oddly cloudy.

She laughed, a light breathy giggle.

"Partners in what? Everything is a free for all. Rob whoever you want, kill whoever you want. Humans finally able to treat each other the way they've treated the Earth. It's quite poetic."

His smile turned to a grimace, but he flipped his hat back onto his head in a flourish. "I disappear every time you say my name – what am I?"

"Silence."

"So?"

"We've heard nothing about or from Valeska, Crane, or Tetch. They started of all this and now what – silence?" He shook his head. "They are out there planning something, obviously. Wouldn't you rather be ahead of it and gain than be behind and possibly be killed?"

"Who would bother me out here?" She gestured around. "I'm well protected from whatever is planned for that grotesque city unless he's planning on blowing this park up for no reason." She shook her head.

"Jeremiah Valeska is a maniac. Who's to say what or who he'll be trying to destroy?" He spoke quickly, waving his hands around in a way that seemed to amuse Ivy more that worry her. "I've already been turned down by Freeze and Firefly. Please." He added, pressing his lips together in a tight line.

"What about that little twerp, Penguin?"

Edward visibly stiffened. "Oswald? He is a last resort. Besides," he leaned in and whispered, "no one else has your particular…skill."

"What about your girlfriend, the 'Doc'?"

"Do you want to figure out what Jeremiah is planning or not?" He sneered, folding his arms and ignoring the question.

"I'll think about it." She shrugged.

"That's not a good enough answer. I need a commitment so I can work on a plan." He pushed.

"Then no."

He stood up angrily, and felt a prick on the back of his neck. His head swam even more than before.

"They really don't like you. I've never seen them so worked up without me being angry first." He saw one of the shadows step into the light and a small blonde girl came into view with a dart gun. She sat on Ivy's lap.

"That wasn't necessary Pamela. Give me the dart gun." The girl handed it to her and two more children can into the light before Edward was unconscious.

When he woke up again he was back on the same bench, head pounding. His glasses were neatly folded up next to his he put them on and looked back at the park, the entrance he had walked through just hours earlier was now completely gone, and a seamless wall of plants remained.

He walked in a huff, mind whirring, planning as always and undeterred by circumstance.

He stopped short when he saw Oswald, red faced, scurrying out of a lower level apartment and looking suspicious. He quickly ducked behind an abandoned car and looked through the windows to see Jim Gordon standing in the doorway, equally flushed.

If you have me, you want to share me. Once you share me, you won't have me. What am I?

Oswald's car drove off, and Jim closed the door.

When the shock of seeing them both wore off he scowled a little, wondering what those two possibly had to talk about. Jim Gordon was as boring as a bag of rocks and certainly as smart as that same back of rocks. Irritably, he stood up and shook his head. What business was it of his anyway? They were probably playing the same cat and mouse game they always played. Jim promising to lock Oswald up (what a joke these days) and Oswald smirking up at him.

He continued his walk home, passing a few people on the streets trying to go about their day with normalcy. There was an old woman with a bag of groceries walking around in the rubble that littler the sidewalk. He probably would have been more taken with the juxtaposition if not for his foul mood.