Pagliacci worked her way down the skylight into the main exhibit halls. On her descent, she scratched out the idea of making off with the paintings due to bulk. However, there were several ancient sculptures on display that she could steal…
The darkened gallery echoed with the sounds of a woman's footsteps. In a large glass case sat several small figurines of various subjects. Pagliacci rubbed her hands in glee- the combined net worth would be a veritable king's ransom. She slowly began to cut through the glass-
The alarm went off.
"Che diavolo." Pagliacci muttered.
She smashed the case, took the figurines, and ran.
Elsewhere in the museum, a man in a green suit and purple domino mask ran for it. The police cars pulled up right next to the museum entrance. Just then, a woman's hand pulled him into the shadows.
"Smooth move, idiota. You could have at least turned on the Bat-Signal." Pagliacci snapped.
"I am not an idiot!" The man replied.
"Wait- aren't you that trickster fellow, the 'Puzzler'?" Pagliacci asked.
"It's the Riddler!" Riddler answered.
"Bene. Pagliacci- pleased to meet you." Pagliacci replied.
"PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR!" A police officer yelled.
Pagliacci threw a canister of tear gas at the cops. While the police were distracted, Pagliacci and Riddler snuck out the back, fleeing in Riddler's getaway car.
"The play is over!" Pagliacci commented as the two crooks sped away.
Across Gotham, Riddler was hiding at the Nautilus Motel. Pagliacci was with him.
"NO NEEDLES!" Pagliacci exclaimed.
"Judging from what I've seen, you're probably anemic. A shot of Mother Nygma's homemade iron supplement should do the trick." Riddler replied.
Riddler gave his guest the shot.
"You'd think that after being with the Joker, I'd be used to pain." Pagliacci grumbled.
"Why do you stay with that lunatic?" Riddler skeptically asked.
"I've got nowhere else but Arkham to go, Riddler." Pagliacci humbly answered.
"Don't call me 'Riddler'." Riddler replied.
"What do I call you then?" Pagliacci asked.
Riddler paused for a moment.
"Call me Eddie." Riddler answered.
"Bene." Pagliacci replied.
"Now, what do I call you?" Riddler asked.
"Paige." Pagliacci answered.
"Okay…Paige." Riddler responded.
2 WEEKS LATER:
Paige Liccardi absent-mindedly hummed a few strains of Bohemian Rhapsody while Riddler prepared lunch. In the back of her mind, she took note that Riddler's place was a good refuge when Joker snapped.
Edward Nygma wondered why he was letting Pagliacci stay with him. She was one of Joker's bunch…but she wasn't as crazy as Harley Quinn or Joker. She was…methodical, if nothing else. And…vaguely attractive- particularly without the makeup on.
"Cosa da mangiare?" Pagliacci asked.
"Pollo alla griglia e pasta." Riddler answered, in nearly perfect Italian.
"Bene!" Pagliacci exclaimed.
"Godere." Riddler replied, taking his seat.
Meanwhile, at the Joker's hideout, a different scene was playing out…
"PAGLIACCI!" Joker exclaimed, rooting around in his sock drawer.
The Joker was having a rather rough week- the Dark Knight had been working overtime, Harley and Ivy were in Metropolis, and Pagliacci was MIA. Hopefully, the morning paper would provide relief for the befuddled Clown Prince of Crime.
A loud scream echoed across the hideout when Joker saw the headlines: NEW CRIME COUPLE HITS STREETS! And right below the headline was a picture of Pagliacci and Riddler