I know I promised these really often,but life has this plan to fuck up all my plans.
Sectumsemprae: You are so sweet! Thank you! And you are way too good at reading between the lines!
And thanks to everyone else who has even looked at this!
I always to forget a disclaimer so here: I believe the only characters I own are Mr. C and Dahlia. The rest belong to DC.
Chapter 8:
Riddler's meeting with Catwoman had started with business and turned into it's usual pleasurable experience. Afterward, he thoroughly showered to hide her scent from Dahlia. He didn't even know why he even considered her. It wasn't like him to be considerate of others feelings. He figured it was only logical to not upset such a territorial creature. He felt proud that he was so intelligent as to be making such clever decisions subconsciously. On his way out of Catwoman's apartment he even felt so generous as to grace one of the cats with a quick scratch behind the ear. He locked her door on the way out since she had already left.
He lazily strolled through the streets and back alleys that lead to his place of operations. He even took the time to paint a couple of question marks on the dingy, brick walls of abandoned buildings.
As he approached his home, he noticed how the back door was open. He cautiously entered to see his recently ransacked kitchen with a body lying in a pool of drying blood.
"Tsk, tsk," he scorned the body, "let me see. Penguin goon and cute little puncture to the jugular. What a painful way to go. And so obviously Dahlia's handiwork. Dahlia, I think you may have missed a spot!" His clever comment received no response, and, at first, it made him angry, then he realized he didn't even hear her. He looked around and saw bloody footprints leaving through the back door.
How had I missed that? Why did I decide to go to Catwoman today? God damnit! Stupid fucking Penguin! My day was fine until he messed with my Dahlia! He pulled out his phone and called Joker to make sure it truly was Penguins fault. He was too flustered to analyze anything at the moment.
"What ya want, Eddy?" giggled the shrill voice of Harley. Riddler heard the muffled noise of a cough, and then the chilling cackle of Joker.
"Do you by any chance have Dahlia over at your place?" casually queried Riddler. He didn't want to upset Harley because she loves having a goddaughter, but Joker would be furious that his newest weapon would be missing.
"What?! Why?! Is she not with you?!" Harley's voice could indeed become even more shrill. Sudden movement could be heard in the background then Joker switching between yelling orders and coughing fits. Harley started babbling incoherently sounding as though she was on the verge of tears. Riddler was fed up with their stupidity.
"Penguin has her then!" His yelling into the mouthpiece caused Harley to go silent. "Give me a couple of guys and I'll go get her from him. Penguin only cares about gain, so I just have to offer him something better then whatever he thinks Dahlia is worth. If that doesn't work, I'll just threaten him."
"Okay, Eddie, but there was no need ta shout. Jus' get ma little maniac back, okay?"sniffled Harley. He heard her tell Joker something then him giving orders to whoever else was there. "The boys will meet ya at penguins place." Harley hung up the phone. Riddler straightened up him suit then grabbed his cane and left. It didn't take him long to get to the Museum. Jokers imbeciles were hanging around outside giving looks to Penguins men who were guarding the doors.
"Alright, Neanderthals, follow me, don't pick a fight, and keep your useless mouths sealed," commanded Riddler. He turned toward the now staring Penguin goons, "Now you guys will take us to Penguin. I have an appointment." The Penguin guys whispered into their walkies. They opened the door and one guy walked in. Riddler followed him with the Joker guys trailing. They walked in throughout the first hallway, took a left and headed down the stairs observing the mostly empty display cases. Penguin stood with his one-armed giant overseeing the design of a new display. It sat behind the T-Rex, and it seemed to have a Asian decor.
"Ah. Mr. Nygma. To what do I owe the pleasure of your early visit? I believe our meeting was scheduled for tomorrow," said penguin. Riddler walked closer and they shook hands.
"Unfortunately, I am low on time, so excuse me for skipping formalities. I have come here to retrieve Dahlia. I know for a fact you have her. Harley and Joker will be rather... distraught if you do not return their goddaughter immediately." said Riddler. Penguin looked deep in thought.
"Walk with me," told penguin, and they slowly strolled further into the hideout," I'm sure we can come to an agreement of fair payment for Dahlia, but, I'm afraid, she seems to me to be extremely valuable."
"Her only purpose is to lure Croc out of hiding. Both me and Joker wish to finish off the detestable beast. After our plan is completed, you can have her if she isn't yet dead. So, you see, she really isn't that valuable, but I'm sure we can find you something to exchange her for equal value until then." offered Riddler. Penguin twisted his hands around his umbrella in thought. They had gone past one room and were moving into a side room via a long hallway. Posters covered the walls.
"I have many plans for her that do not end with her dead, so would it be possible for me to hold on to her until your plan is ready for action?" asked Penguin. Riddler knew this would happen, for once he had hoped he was wrong. He stopped next to the Penguin and looked around. They were in a room with memorabilia of Croc. Posters from his time in the circus, x-rays, records, and pictures from his hospital records. A huge display case sat in front of them. Designed to look like a swamp with "Killer Croc" painted in red on the background.
"I'll have to discuss the terms with Harley, but I'll see what I can do. Now, what are you doing with a display case for Croc?" questioned Riddler. Penguin smirked and did his signature breathy laugh. He lit a cigar and offered one to Riddler who declined.
"Wait for it. Now, sweetheart, Where are you hiding in there, huh?" yelled Penguin at the supposedly empty case. Riddler stepped closer to the case, but came to a halt when he heard a familiar voice that was filled with malice.
"Why the fuck would I show myself to you?" growled Dahlia. She wasn't trying to hide, but the fake weeds hid her small body. "You know, I can hear everything that's said in this fucking pervert palace?" She slowly sat up and looked at Mr. Cobblepot, refusing to look at the liar in green.
"Pervert Palace?" asked Cobblepot," Now, my dear, whatever could you mean?" His suspicious tone concerned Riddler. He knew Penguin was notorious for being a pervert, but he didn't think Penguin would try anything with Dahlia. Her obvious refusal to look at him bothered him slightly, but he knew it couldn't be because she was angry with him.
"You know what I mean! I have been here for several hours now and all you do is try to get under my dress! How can I trust anybody here? I can't trust you, Mr. Cobblepot, nor can I trust you, Riddler." Dahlia looked at Riddler, who's face was contorted in shock and ... hurt? She almost regretted making him feel pain, but she remembered he wasn't her ally. She knew not to trust anyone, but she had let her guard down. As soon as she does, she overhears him talking about her as an item, as bait. She was done with them, with all of them. She had slowly walked towards the glass until she was distanced 6 inches from it. She stared Riddler down until he averted his gaze.
"I-I believe its time for Dahlia to leave here. Penguin, let her out of there." ordered Riddler. Penguin sighed and called his henchmen to open up the hatch on top. As soon as they opened the hatch, Dahlia grabbed one of the goons' collars and pulled him into the case. She bit into his jugular with a crunch then a gushing of blood. Her teeth and claws were elongated. The other two henchmen scrambled to close the hatch but Penguin ordered them to stop. "Dahlia, if you do not remove yourself frrom this case, Joker and Harley will be forced to come and get you. Trust me, they won't be as lenient as me, nor do you want to stay here with Penguin." Dahlia jumped up and grabbed the edge of the hole and pulled herself out. She jumped off the top of the case and landed in front of Riddler. She kept her face looking downward, so they couldn't see how defeated she felt.
"Goodbye, Mr. Cobblepot. Mr. Nygma, I want to go home, now." She turned and walked toward the hallway they had come from. Dahlia walked in front of Riddler the entire way home. The Joker men followed them back to the hideout to remove the body from the kitchen. Dahlia cleaned the kitchen up while Riddler repaired the door and set all the locks. "I'm going to bed."
"Do you want to talk about what happened at Penguin's?" asked Riddler. She stopped in the entry of the kitchen. "You can trust me Dahlia. What I told Penguin in there was a lie."
"I can't trust anyone. Not even myself." She turned around to see a look of confusion on Edward's face." You are not mine yet I was upset that you went to Catwoman for sex. You did lie in there. You lied about Joker being in on your plan to kill my father. Well, he might be in on it, but it definitely wasn't his plan. You want to kill my dad. You want to take away my chance of happiness because you think your friend is dead. Are you really gonna build a plan around what Batman, the cheater, told the police?"
"You're right. I have sex with Catowman. I ,also, planned to kill your dad, but it was a deserved end. Scarecrow hasn't contacted anyone, so he has to be dead."
"Or he realized none of you are to be trusted." Dahlia walked up stairs to her room. She stripped and showered. She nearly scrubbed her skin raw. She put on a tank top and shorts and got in bed. She slept in her own room tonight. Dahlia shallowed her breathing to pretend to be asleep and waited for Riddler to fall asleep in his work chair downstairs. As soon as he did, she silently dressed in her prisoner outfit and stuffed a couple of clothing items in a bag. She crept downstairs and slid out the back door. She quickly decided she wanted to be by the water, so she started her walk to the docks while staying hidden from anyone's sight.