Upon seeing who was in the door way The Riddler smirked. His hands tightened on his cane as he tapped it against the floor. Despite his happy appearance, rage boiled within him.
"Oh you knew?" The Riddle quirked an eyebrow. "How did you know?"
"Your behavior changed ever since you were hit over the head again. It's not uncommon for a certain injury to bring back memories that were lost," The shadow moved towards him. "Now you're planning something."
The Riddler chuckled as he momentarily glanced back at his riddles, "True, but all super villains are always planning something. I – the greatest super villain – am most planning the greatest scheme of all. Bruce Wayne will fall once everyone finds out his nasty little secret…Your nasty little secret."
Batman came into full view as he threw a batarang towards The Riddler. The Riddler hit the batarang carelessly to the side with his cane as he took a step back. He grimaced as his legs met the desk. He was out of room to back away from the caped crusader. A single bead of sweat trickled down this man's face.
"It's over Nygma," Batman growled, "give up."
"Oh," The Riddler clicked his tongue. "It isn't over, you shaved monkey!" The Riddler raised his cane at the Batman. "Not exactly my style, but survival of the smartest, I suppose. I'll have to give my thanks to Cobblepot."
A trigger popped out of the cane. Batman's eyes widened as he realized what was happening. The Riddler's finger pulled the trigger. An explosion sounded. A bullet blasted from the fire and smoke. Batman leapt out of the way and behind the couch. The dry wall splintered from the bullet.
The Riddler sneered. He fired at the couch. Batman shielded himself as more bullets fired. Quickly, he reached into a pocket and his fingers snagged a pellet. In a snap, smoke rose from the air. The Riddler nearly scoffed as he fired at the higher part of the smoke.
"Have you forgotten, Batman?" The Riddler taunted and an amused look grew. "I've watched your every move while the Joker attempted to take over the asylum. I've watched your every move while you were at Arkham City! I know everything that you will do!" The Riddler's eyes widened as he was in a state of ecstasy. "There is no escape!"
His shoulders shook. A malicious grin stretched his lips. It was so wide that even the Joker would be envious of it. His pupils were widened as they processed every single movement in the room. Only when he felt a batarang's blade against his neck did he begin to turn that form of malevolent joy to a venomous rage.
"So you remembered!?" The Riddler growled.
"No, he didn't," A voice shook. "He didn't remember, Edward."
The Riddler's head turned slowly to the person behind him. His eyes turned into fear realizing just who exactly the one was holding the batarang against his neck was. His lips parted as if he was going to try and say something, but no sound came out.
"Why?"
It's funny…How a single word can do so much more damage than a whole stream of words. All he wanted was for her to burst out in fit of fury. To scream at him for everything wrong that he's ever done. He wanted her to scold him from the very moment it started; when he snuck into the school to cheat on the puzzle. He wanted her to do anything so much as it displayed how angry she was – not this. Not this single word that destroyed his very being.
A single tear rolled down his cheeks and onto the floor below. Why? Why was he doing all of this? Were those doctors actually right? Was he really sick? That would mean there would be something wrong with his mind – his perfect mind! No, it couldn't be. They…Were right. But still doesn't excuse everyone from an idiot! It doesn't excuse those idiots calling him the idiot, the moron, the imbecile! What gives them the right to do something like that when he's superior to them?
"Well?" Shar looked at him, awaiting an answer.
This time The Riddler didn't have the answer.
Shar bit her lower lip in disgust, "I'm sorry…"
She slammed a sharp object into the Riddler's neck. His eyes widened as he looked down at her hand. His vision blurred and then it grew dark. With a thud The Riddler hit the ground. It was over. All of it was over. His madness would be locked up in the asylum.
Shar stepped over his unconscious body. Some liquid dripped from a needle projecting from the batarang. Her eyes landed on the couch which was in dire need of replacement. Sighing, she sat next to the masked man.
"You were right," Shar held her knees close to her body. "The Riddler is back, Edward's gone."
Batman glanced over at her, "You were the one that noticed the signs."
"Still," Shar sighed, "I was in denial…I didn't want to believe that he was bad again. What can you do, though?"
"Move one," Batman blinked. "Move one past the ones you've lost and look to the future. Think of everything you can do for others. Survive not for tomorrow but for the next minute. If you can survive just one more minute, then it won't be difficult to survive the next."
Shar watched him as he stared out into the distance. Her grip on her legs tightened as she took in the information. If she were to survive with her sanity intact she'd have to leave Gotham.
Standing up she glanced at Edward, "We should bring him to Arkham."
"Right," Batman stood as well and picked the man's unconscious body up. "Will you be okay?"
Shar avoided eye contact, "No…" She looked at him. "I'm leaving, tonight. I'm not coming back. If I do I'll go insane and I might commit crimes that I don't even want to think of. I have uploaded information on Firefly onto the computer, I'm sure you can figure it out."
Shar walked into her bedroom and came out with a packed suitcase, "Ever since Edward hit his head I was prepared to leave." She smiled up at Bruce, "Thank you, Bruce, for everything."
"Are you sure you want to leave?" Bruce looked at her.
"Positive," Shar nodded, "Besides, my hometown has had a little run in with crime of its own. After a couple of months of moving back I'll go and beat them up."
Shar opened her suitcase and pulled out an envelope, "If you could give this to Edward."
Sighing, Shar held Riolu's leash in hand and gave Bruce a quick hug before fleeing from her apartment – never looking back.
Green eyes opened in an all too familiar cell. The man groaned as he sat up holding his head. Being induced by drugs such as that never has fun side effects the next morning. A piece of paper hit the ground. Looking down a man picked it up.
A hand covered his mouth as the paper fell to the ground. Memories of what he had done the previous night flooded his mind did an adequate job of explaining it. The man laid back down and faced the wall, blocking out the rest of the world. The girl's voice – of whom he had fallen for – echoed in his mind.
Edward,
I suppose I should call you The Riddler if you're reading this. Your behavior has been off lately, which has made me gone mad with paranoia. Every day I fret if you are The Riddler, if The Riddler has returned. Indeed he has. I've been working with Batman in case something should happen. When I leave he's there to make sure you're still the Edward I've grown attached to. Though, since it's not the case, Batman discovered that you are The Riddler. Now, you are in Akrham, because of his batarangs that have been filled with a tranquilizer. It pains me to say it, but I'm leaving Gotham forever. I'm leaving, and we'll never see each other again. I cannot be your psychiatrist any longer. Please, forgive me. Maybe, if you get better and give up your life as a rogue we can see each other again, but I doubt it will happen.
Love,
X
-A/N—
Alright, I'm done! No more! _ I was completely out of inspiration for this fan-fiction! Gah! I know, I know, crappy ending, but I don't care! You guys can think of a better ending, but I didn't want Shar and Riddler to end up together, because well…Uh…I just don't know how to write romance. ;_; Forever alone! Anyways….Hope ya guys likes my series and I'll probably write something for Fullmetal Alchemist soon…I don't know…Maybe some original fiction…Yeah…_ Thanks for reading~!