Violeta27 - I figured they'd all be pretty used to random acts of violence against each other, so they'd get over it easily.

Robot521 - Giggle away, my friend. I'm really enjoying writing the fights between Lina and Jonny. They're both childish, and very, very deadly.

eatingsupernoodles - You're one of the best Batman fanfic reviewers ever! Thanks for the kind words, they'll go straight to my head.

TanithSeh1011 - The beauty of Jonathan Crane is that he is - in fact - a dick! ^_^ But I sincerely love him.

NURSE J0Y - Ah, throwing a little of The Usual Suspects my way...enjoying the reference...

Chapter Four: Vibrations & Tensions

Day Seven

**Selina**

That night she curled up in her bed, surrounded by her cats and struggled to sleep.

Outside Gotham was alive, but in her apartment nothing seemed to live or thrive, it was time had stopped and the only things moving across the polished wood floors were the cats.

Maybe it was the weather. It had been warm all day and ended with a fog rolling in from the bay.

The wind shifted ever so, sliding in her South facing window and caressing her, spilling fresh air over the bed, over the cats and over her form.

Despite all this, she still twisted in her sheets, struggling to find comfort.

There was a long, blindingly white hall.

She supposed she was meant to travel down it, moving for the black door at the end, but Selina ignored it in favour of a plain white door that would have gone unnoticed.

Through the door the world was monotone. Shades of grey and gritty, like an old movie.

She didn't know this part of Gotham, but it was Gotham. For some reason she felt that it was home.

The streets were empty, littered with things that denoted the presence of humans, but devoid of anyone.

She moved down streets with no name on bare feet, her long dark hair hanging loose.

Nothing.

No one.

The more she travelled, the more confused she became. For some reason she was scared. Where was the life, the thrum of Gotham?

Somewhere a mad laughter bubbled up, rising over the empty apartment buildings and forsaken high rises, enveloping the city in the taunting, cruel soundtrack.

And then the street crumbled at her feet and she found herself crouching on that rooftop overlooking Eddie's burning apartment building, only she could see him inside, hear his flesh sizzle.

She could save him. If she moved fast enough, she could save him. He'd be burnt but alive.

Turning, she took a single step, before her legs went rubbery.

Her feet refused to work, she couldn't even stand.

Dragging herself to the edge, she peered over, but the building was gone.

Gotham was quiet once more.

"Eddie!" She sobbed.

A form eased onto the bed at her hip, but with the summer breeze came a familiar scent. One that brought immediate tears to her eyes with the painful reminder of a man who died.

Selina opened her damp eyes.

In the near dark, the figure was silhouetted by the light from the streetlamp outside, giving him a bluish aura.

A slender hand slid up her jaw to cup her face tenderly, while a gloved thumb slipped over her bottom lip.

"Shh," he whispered. "You were having a nightmare."

"It's still a nightmare, isn't it?" She muttered, leaning into his touch the familiar voice putting her at ease.

"Depends." He remarked. "Do you dream about me often?"

She chuckled, before something struck her as out of place for a dream. Namely everything.

As her head cleared of all the thick, wet-cement sleep, she realized that it wasn't a dream. That it was - in fact - very real.

Gathering the sheets to her bare chest, she pushed into a sitting position.

"Jesus! This isn't a dream, is it?" Reaching out with her free hand, she touched his arm, brushing her fingers over the material of his suit jacket. "Eddie?"

The light caught his impish grin as he beamed at her, blue eyes twinkling through his domino mask. "Hello, kitten. Miss me?"

Retracting her hand from his arm, she curled it before her. This had to be a dream. Eddie was dead.

Without much thought, the hand that she had curled struck out and hit him solidly in the gut, glancing off his ribs to hit his stomach.

He tumbled from the bed onto the floor, holding his assaulted stomach. "That's how Houdini died…" he gasped from his new position on the floor.

Touching her bare feet onto the cool wooden floor, she eyed him. "Are you okay?"

He held out a hand. "Yeah, no, that was a reasonable response…and quite unexpected…"

"Good." She snarled, giving his side a good kick with her bare foot. "You son of a bitch!"

Clambering away from her attack, he laughed, still holding his belly.

Pouncing, she landed on him, straddling his hips and giving him a few more knocks about his head, before grabbing hold of his suit front and yanking him up to address him. "Three months, you ass! You've been alive for three months and I've…"

It wasn't until the reality of it all sunk into her head, that she calmed enough to properly eye him. It was Eddie alright, but with the domino mask, she could only imagine that the Riddler was back. She found she didn't care as much as she thought she would.

Her grip on his suit loosened and she glowered down at him.

"I wanted to wait until things calmed down a bit." He said. "There's a time and place for everything and being a genius I have perfect punctuality when it comes to such things."

She surrounded herself in his voice, savouring it. It didn't matter if what he said was boastful or arrogant, all that mattered was that he still had a voice, that his heart still beat, that he still had a breath of air in his lungs.

Studying a strange device strapped to his right arm, she scowled. "What is this?"

"I don't know, but I can play Tetris on it."

"Looks like something out of a science fiction show." She replied.

"You changed you hair product." He stated, sniffing a strand of her hair gingerly.

"No."

He took another tentative whiff. "You smell different...like...straw and madness."

"You've been following me."

Beneath her Eddie beamed. "A little. I checked in on you from time to time. I just so happened to be trailing you when you hopped aboard Crane's little dinghy."

"I'm going to let that slide for now. But we'll definitely discuss your stalker habits later." She replied coolly. After a quiet moment, she ran her hand over his chest and murmured. "The Riddler's back, isn't he?"

"Mm."

Glancing away from him for a moment, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I'm still on my medication, however." He said. "I like the clarity it affords me."

She nodded. "That makes you even more dangerous."

"Measurably." Reaching up, he tugged the hair she had just tamed free once more puckishly. "I don't care for blowing up city hall, nor do I wish to antagonize the Bat. At least not yet. He and I do have some unfinished business, but it can wait for a while longer." He stated. "I have one goal in mind for now."

"The Joker." She said.

"No." He said. "My goal is to get you to let go of it and just leave the Joker be. People only die when they face off against him."

"He tried to kill you!"

"Just let it go, Selina."

She studied him quietly, the electricity in his gaze, the small smirk at the corners of his mouth. He was up to something.

"If I let it go, will you?" She inquired.

Eddie chuckled. "I'm not willing to make deals yet, my dear. But if you promise to behave, I have a very good deal waiting in the wings for you. For now, let's just enjoy the moment, hm? Tomorrow I'll be gone."

She wasn't sure what to make of that. "Why?"

"Because I need to focus completely on my next move and if you stay out of it and stay away from me for the time being, I can end this once and for all." He smirked then, it was comforting to her. "When it's all over, then you can feel free to do with me what you will."

"I can't stay out of this now, Ed." She growled.

"You will. Whether I have to tie you up and a leave you in a basement somewhere in Little Gotham or not."

"The hell you will." She growled.

"The hell I will, indeed, Selina." He stated firmly. "You can handle yourself, there's no dispute over that fact, but I won't risk having you go after the Joker."

"Eddie, you can't just assume I won't help you."

Pushing up, he pressed his lips to hers, it was quick and decidedly not enough for her, but she allowed it in favour of continuing the fight with him.

"Don't think that will change my mind," she said. "It's not a valid argument and you know it."

With a crooked grin, he settled his hand on her bare bottom, sliding it over the swell of her rear wickedly.

"I'm helping you, Eddie."

"There's nothing to help me with, kitten."

Reaching back, she swatted his hand away and pressed her nose to his. "For now, let's say I'll behave. Just to save the argument for another time."

As they fell silent, she realized that while she didn't want to get emotional, having him there, beneath her was something akin to a miracle. After all, didn't she secretly wish he was still alive somewhere? Didn't she go to his grave on a regular basis hoping to find him perched on it like an imp waiting for her? But then again, she didn't want him to know just how much she missed him. She couldn't put her heart out on the line like she had before. If anything happened to Eddie again, she knew it would hurt harder than ever.

Slowly she pushed herself off him and got to her feet, moving towards her vanity pulling on a silk dressing gown from the back of the chair and easing down before the mirror.

Behind her she heard him scramble to his feet. "Missed me that much, huh?" He teased.

Easing down, she went about preening, her hands shaking.

In the mirror she spied Eddie pick up his cane and give it a twirl, before swaying it idly, tapping the side of his oxford with it.

"I got by." She lied.

The Riddler nodded. "Of course. I knew you would."

Behind her she felt him lean down, resting his hand on the back of her chair and lowering himself enough to brush his nose against her neck.

"I also know you're probably just building those icy defences again." He whispered.

She gripped her brush hard, determined not to break. Breaking meant she was just like all the other women in Gotham. Weak willed. Easily hurt. Look at how people reacted to her when they thought Eddie's death would weigh on her? They treated her like a fragile thing. Someone who needed special treatment.

Eddie tossed his cane aside so that he could wrap his other arm around her waist, leaning in closer to her and stroking her hair further back from her face. "I think I can chip away at them once more. Should be fun."

She angled her face towards his, but he was already pushing back to his feet from where he had knelt.

Picking up a bottle of her perfume, he pulled the cap off it and took a tentative whiff, before setting it back and fiddling with some of her other assorted items.

Selina returned to brushing her hair.

Resting his hip against her vanity, Eddie half sat on it, his hands folding on his bent knee.

She knew he was watching her, but she kept brushing her hair. All she wanted to do was wrap her arms around him, but she was afraid that if she did, she'd be betraying herself. It would be admitting that he was more than just a bed warmer. After all, she was already acting stupid for him and it just seemed unprofessional. Wasn't she supposed to just be enjoying his company in bed?

Glancing over, she found him smiling at her gently and despite her resolve not to, she found herself smiling a little.

After a few minutes of her struggling to find something to do at her vanity to occupy herself, he stood up.

"Well, I should go."

Leaning over her, he allowed his head to tilt and his lips to rest a mere inch from hers.

He was giving her the choice to kiss him goodbye or not and Selina was indecisive. It was just a goddamned kiss, but if she did kiss him she would probably never want to stop. And for some reason that scared her.

Goddammit, Lina. Eddie's alive and you're being your noncommittal self?

This was a moment where any normal woman would be showing her gratitude and she couldn't even move. She just studied his soft, pink, thin lips and his three day stubble.

Move, Lina.

He shifted in his spot, before his blue eyes popped open. Eddie made a small sound in the back of his throat. "Well, goodbye, Selina."

Touching the brim of his bowler, he turned from her, scooping up his cane on his way out.

Move.

His shoes moved across her carpeted bedroom and hit the wood floor of her hall. The sound of his even steps jolted her.

Move.

She could hear him at the end of the hall, turning towards the door.

"Eddie? Wait!" She called, turning in her chair.

He was already out of sight, around the corner.

Did the door close? Was he gone again?

His lean form took a step back into sight and he turned to face her from the other end of the hall.

Fuck it. She thought, pushing to her feet.

He waited expectantly at the end of her hall as she raced towards him.

They nearly toppled when she clashed into his frame, but he managed to strike out his arms and grab the wall, cane clattering against the soft, eggshell paint as Selina's arms snaked around his neck and she pulled him downwards.

Eddie held her tightly as they kissed, like a man who actually wanted to keep her right where she was.

He was never the kind of man who wanted her as a trophy, perfect and pristine, he always just wanted her. And she could tell that just from the way he kissed her. It wasn't rushed, it wasn't obscene or lewd, it was a gentle, patient kiss.

As they pulled apart for air, she let her head rest just under his chin.

"I did miss you," she confessed softly.

Pressing his face into her hair, she could feel him smile broadly. "I know."

Once she would have taken this declaration as an act of his extreme arrogance, but she knew now that it was just him pointing out the obvious. Eddie knew she missed him before even she did, because Eddie had a freaky sixth sense when it came to her.

Selina looked down Eddie's body and quirked a brow.

"Well," he cleared his throat. "What did you expect, kitten? Pressing your body against me like this was bound to get a reaction. And though I will be in absolute pain, I feel I must go." Unwinding himself from her arms, the Riddler smiled broadly. It was almost a lustful, wolfish smile. "I'll see you around, kitten."

With jerky movements,he turned towards the door, but stopped just short of turning the doorknob. "Oh, wait…I have…" he went through his pockets, before pulling out a sealed white envelope and holding it out to her. "If I actually die again, I thought it was the least I could do for you."

She eyed the envelope, but refused to touch it. "What is it?"

"My confession," he replied, dangling the thing at her temptingly. "I killed the Romanov's."

"Eddie."

He chuckled and set the unwanted thing on the side table in her front hall. "Well, it's there should anything happen."

Selina eyed it like it was a bomb, something violent and dangerous.

Pressing one final kiss to her temple, Eddie smirked down at her. "You're quite possibly not going to listen to anything I've said tonight and go headfirst into battle with the Joker. But just remember, if worrying about you distracts me from my own goal, I'll wind up dead for real. Do you understand?"

"Don't distract you." She replied simply. "Got it."

He laughed.

Never had Eddie's laugh made her feel so much better than hearing it after so long of thinking him dead. Reaching out, he pulled her in close to him, holding her fast and tight to his body, arms around her waist.

"There's never been anyone quite like you, kitten." He exclaimed.

"And don't you forget it." She purred using this final embrace to move towards her own goal. Getting Eddie back into her bed, if only for one last night. Pressing her breasts against him, she flashed him a feral grin and slipped her hand in between them, running down the course of his firm stomach wickedly. "Think you could free up two hours for a hungry kitty?"

Eddie winced. "I...well, kitten...oh what the hell. It can wait."

Beaming, she reached up and snatched his mask off, putting it over her own eyes. "Are you sure? I wouldn't want to be a distraction..."

Calmly placing his cane aside, Eddie reached up and removed his bowler, hanging on the peg near the door. "Oh, now you're worried..." Smirking, he flicked his cufflinks out of their little places and set them on the table in front of the envelope.

She took a little, playful step backwards. "Am I supposed to be a little scared right now, Ed?"

Slipping his tie free of it's knot, Eddie continued to eye her with electricity in his eyes. "Scared of me? Hardly." He stated, quirking a brow as he slid his jacket off. It was hung beside his hat.

"Good, because I'm usually not intimidated by elves." She went on, smiling softly.

Pulling off his gloves, he set them by his cufflinks. "Well, that's not very nice..."

Selina lit up at his tone and took another small step backwards.

Pulling the duvet over them completely, she swam about in the soft fortress, searching for Eddie to settle on top of him. She figured if she lay down on his chest, he wouldn't be able to sneak off and she wouldn't have to worry about waking up to a world without him.

"Ever know an Elf to do that?" He growled as she slid across his torso, draping herself over him almost possessively.

Fingering the scar she gave him, she sighed. "Eddie?"

"Hn?"

"What was that device strapped to your arm?"

"I stole it off the Clock King, he made it for Crane and I figured I could hide out better if I could just go wherever I needed to go without ever risking a chance of being seen. I waited for him to finish it, then I crept into his office and stole it."

"That's how you broke into those pharmacies?"

"I needed refills of my meds and took what I needed to make my own Serolithadril, then stole other random items to confuse the police."

"Clever."

"Well, I am brilliant."

They fell silent again.

"Eddie?"

"Hn?"

"Let's be honest. Can you really fight? I mean, do you think you can physically take on the Joker?" She had noticed that his body was harder, more toned than the last time they had been together, so she knew he was preparing physically, but being fit and being good in a fight were two completely different things.

"I can assure you, kitten. I'm not lying when I say that I'll never lay a hand on the Joker." Kissing the top of her head, Eddie smirked into her hair. "How little faith you put in me, though."

"I just want to know the odds, Ed. In case you do find yourself faced with him."

"Odds are that I know how to fight or I don't." He replied. "I guess we'll know if I ever come up against him."

"You're planning something. Just admit it." She snarled.

"I am planning something." He said. "But it doesn't involve the Joker."

"I'm just worried your arrogance might mask a weakness."

"There's only one weakness I have, kitten. And if she keeps away from the Joker, I won't have to worry."

Moving up his body, she bridged herself over top of him and peered down, nose to nose with him. "I could be a strength, you know."

"You are." He admitted after a moment. "Believe me when I say you are my strength, Lina. I just…I don't want you to get anywhere near Crane when he goes after the Joker. It's going to be a highly explosive scene and I want you miles from it when the fuse is lit."

Inside their little world, she still arched over him like Nut the Ancient Egyptian goddess of the sky, long black hair pooling around his head, secluding them even further from the world outside. She smiled, because their world smelled of Eddie and it comforted her in a way that forced all worry out of her mind for the moment.

"Gee, Eddie, talking like that makes it sound almost like you care."

Both of his elegant eyebrows rose and he looked shocked. "Oh…well, let's see here, I'd better say something nasty then…wouldn't want you to think I care." He mocked deep concentration. "Hmm…throw her off the scent…um, I don't much care for your refusal to knit."

She tried hard not to feed his mockery, but a laugh escaped her and she found she couldn't help herself. "My refusal to knit?"

"Don't start that with me, Miss Kyle. You don't knit and you know it!" He argued playfully.

Getting into the act, she sighed. "Well, what can I say, Ed? Knitting is a fool's game."

"Darn you, Selina Kyle." He growled.

Groaning, she buried her face into his chest and fought not to laugh at his terrible pun.

Eddie's laughter shook her. "My how you missed me!"

"No, I rescind that statement. You're a hopeless geek."

Beneath her Eddie's face shifted from amusement to confusion. He wriggled a little in place, brow furrowing.

She peered back at him curiously.

Twisting his arm up and beneath his the pillow under his head, he withdrew her joy-toy.

He quirked a brow at it, while she flushed deep red.

Flicking it on, Eddie tilted his head like a curious dog and smirked wickedly.

"That…I…" she was flustered. All girls did it and most girls had their little toys, but…well it was weird when someone found it, wasn't it? For some reason, Selina Kyle - a woman unafraid of sexuality- was horribly shocked to have Edward Nygma manhandling her little vibe. Sex with the Riddler was one thing, but having him freely examine her toy was…well it was discomforting. She reached for it, but Eddie was faster than her for once and tugged it away with a laugh.

"Well, this isn't an electric toothbrush…and yet it vibrates." He teased, looking it over. "There must be a place for an attachment…"

Selina fought for the right words, while beneath her the Riddler enjoyed her embarrassment like the cruel bastard he was. Finally she gave up trying and buried her face deep into the bed at his side.

The soft hum of her joy-toy was turned off and she felt her companion squirming around to replace it where he had found it, before strong arms gathered her up almost roughly and pulled her back against him.

"I've never seen you blush before." He snarled in her ear. "It's an intensely arousing sight."

"I liked you better before you were this comfortable with my person." She stated coolly, trying to regain a small shred of her dignity.

Day Eight

**Selina**

Outside the early morning air had a bit of a tender bite to it, as the warmth of the growing sun heated the dew and sent up the sweet scent of freshly mowed grass into her apartment from the park just down the way.

Smiling at the sensation of a night well spent, she slid her hand over the sheets towards the side of the bed Eddie usually slept on.

It was devoid of any warmth.

Cracking open an eye, she peered over at the area where the Riddler should have been.

The only things that remained were his mask and the lingering scent of him.

He must have left his mask perched pointedly on the crisp white pillow as a reminder that he wasn't just a figment of her imagination.

Reaching out she took hold of the mask and drew it in close to her, before curling up on her side and going back to sleep.

Later that morning as she stood over her sink sipping on her coffee, she went over the list of things that needed doing. She'd need to figure out just what Eddie was planning and she'd need to figure out just how to help him without getting in his way.

Are you really going to respect his wishes, kid? That feral cat she kept locked deep within her asked. Since when do we do that?

Sultry eyes flicked to the table where that white envelope rest. She had her reasons. But that didn't mean she couldn't give him some form of back up. Of course, the small, evil part of her brain interjected, you wouldn't have to worry about Eddie if someone killed the Joker first…

Dumping her coffee into the sink, she set the mug down and hurried to her bedroom to change.

**Crane**

Nose to nose with the black cat, Crane scowled.

He was sure this one was new, but where it came from he couldn't safely say. It was just one of many who now inhabited his lair, eating rats and leaving dead birds on his floor.

About to admonish the cat for all the fur that was now clinging to his suit, Crane's words died in the air as Catwoman strolled through the door to his lair as calm as a spring morning, dressed in full Catwoman regalia.

Dropping the cat, he turned on her.

"Well, this is a pleasant change of pace from your usual frumpery." He greeted.

She quirked a dark, well shaped eyebrow at him. "It's a shame your costume can't compete, Jon."

Pocketing his hands, he circled her quietly.

She followed his path.

"What's wrong with you today?" He demanded.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing."

"Same here."

They stared at each other for the longest time, before Selina sighed. "How's the work coming?"

"It's progressing."

"When do you think you'll be ready to move on the Joker?" She asked.

"A week more or less."

"Not good enough."

"Well, it'll have to be." He growled, moving back to his workbench. "If you rush these things you'll always miss one of the more important, finer points."

Smirking, she approached him and leaning over his table, she purred in his ear. "I know you can do better than a week, Jon."

Gazing directly into her eyes, before taking in the amount of flesh her suit revealed, before returning his eyes to hers, Crane blinked. "Thanks for the light show, but you're still going to have to wait a week."

Standing up, she zipped herself back in calmly and nodded. "Then I'll do it myself."

"All the power to you." He growled. "When he kills you, I'll be sure to remember which plot it is they bury you in..."

**Edward**

"What we've got here is a failure to communicate."

He got a sick sense of amusement out of appearing out of nowhere, especially when the Master of Fear, jumped a little in mild fright at his friend speaking directly in his ear. He had been lounging around in the shadows of the large room, eavesdropping shamelessly when the little exchange went down.

For three months he had been following Selina here and there, now and then, just to keep an eye on her. It wasn't because he thought she needed someone to watch over her, but that his own obsession with the woman was appeased whenever he was near her.

Jonathan Crane turned on his intruder and Edward leapt back with a smile, holding up his hands.

"Easy now, Professor!" He greeted jovially.

"I thought I hallucinated you last night!" Crane snarled.

Edward tipped his chin down. "Which would explain why you ignored my warning about encouraging Selina's bloodlust and ogling her striking form."

"I make no apologies. She knew exactly what she was showing. Why don't you scold her for flashing me some flesh?" He growled irritably.

Edward chuckled and wagged his finger at his friend. "Asking Selina Kyle not to be sexual is like asking Killer Croc not to play in the sewers. Asking you to stop peeping at her is much easier."

"Given your obsessive personality," Crane replied, pushing the purple finger out of his face calmly, "I'm not shocked that you're the jealous sort, Edward. I just wish you wouldn't aim your green eyed monster my way."

The Riddler chuckled. "You're a delight!"

"So you're alive and well, what the hell do you want with me?"

Twirling his cane once as though testing the weight of it, Edward made a curious sound. "A partnership?"

Setting down his pencil, Crane turned from his work and eyed his old friend. "Oh? And just what can you offer me? Selina and I have a steady deal made already, so you'd better be bringing something more to the dance than just your cummerbund."

"Fred Astaire." Edward said quickly, it was the tone he used when he was about to sell something big. "The Fred Astaire of all plans!"

Furrowing his brow, Crane pushed to his feet and removed his glasses to clean them. "Ah, another of your ill-fated schemes. No thank you. Between your brain and Selina's brawn, my money is on the kitty who can fight."

Grabbing hold of Crane's thin arm, Edward beamed brilliantly. "Ah, but my plans were always made behind the misty glass of insanity before…not this time."

"Alright, Edward," the Scarecrow said, moving across the room to take a seat in his chair like royalty taking to their throne. "I'm listening."