DISC.: Don't own Jonathan, Eddie, or Gotham.
"Where are we going?" Eddie asked for about the tenth time since Jonathan had physically dragged him from the lair.
"Somewhere far away." was the Master of Fear's only answer.
The second the Scarecrow had gotten the Riddler out the door, he'd instructed Eddie to find a car, break in, and hotwire it. Thoughts spinning, Eddie had done as he was told, and Jonathan had climbed into the driver's seat and driven off before the Riddler could even buckle his seatbelt. Eddie had no idea where they were going, or why, but he suspected it had something to do with why Jonathan had ended up in his lair in the first place. But the Master of Fear refused to answer his questions, replying only with a shake of his head, a firm "you don't need to know", and sometimes nothing at all.
Eddie couldn't stand it.
"At least tell me where in the city we're going." he pleaded.
"City Limits." Jonathan replied without taking his eyes off the road. "That should be far enough for now."
This frustratingly simple answer only brought more questions to the surface of the Riddler's bubbling mind. But just as he was about to ask another, the small jeep they'd stolen jerked, and finally sputtered to a halt just at the edge of city limits.
Jonathan growled something under his breath and slammed on the gas, but it was no use, the engine was dead. Rather than waste time with a few choice words, the Master of Fear opened his door and looked furtively from side to side. Then he motioned for Eddie to join him. The Riddler did, and started to ask another question, but before he could get the words out, Jonathan clapped a palm over his mouth. Bringing his head down so his Eddie's ear was just inches from his face, he whispered, "Nygma, I need you to listen to me. The car's died so we have to walk, but we have to be absolutely quiet, got it?"
"But there's no one here!" Eddie hissed back, pulling his head away from Jonathan's grip. The Scarecrow shook his head impatiently. "No, but there soon will be if we don't get a move on…who knows how many there are…"
"How many there are of who?"
"Never mind. Move."
And with that, the Master of Fear gave the Riddler a little shove and they started walking.
?
Edward Nygma felt like he'd been walking for hours. Jonathan's strength seemed to be returning rapidly, but the Master of Fear still stumbled now and then. Eddie wondered if he could convince him to sit down and rest a while. He doubted it.
Jonathan seemed to notice his companion's discomfort, and said, "We'll be there soon."
No sooner had he spoken the words, than an old, dilapidated barn came into view.
The place looked abandoned and Eddie had a feeling that he wasn't going to be sleeping on silk sheets tonight. But as Jonathan began making the trek towards it, the Riddler sighed and followed him. After all, what choice did he have? Well, truth be told, he could leave the Scarecrow and go home. But then, whoever was after the Master of Fear might be after him to…
A small bead of red liquid fell to the grass at Jonathan's feet.
The cut on his forehead must be bleeding again…
Plucking up his determination, the Riddler followed Jonathan Crane to the barn.
?
The second Jonathan opened the door, Eddie stepped back, amazed. The place only looked run-down on the outside. It was, in fact, a lot nicer than the Riddler had imagined.
The old door opened into a living room of sorts with a sofa, a small recliner, and a television set with a large dark rug in front of it. A door in the back of the room was open, and Eddie could see a counter and a fridge through it. Directly beside the barn door was another closed one that Eddie figured must hold some sort of bedroom or bedrooms and/or a bathroom. He glanced up in the rafters. And old hay loft was accessible by a ladder off to the side, but it looked a bit rickety for Eddie's taste. He looked back down and surveyed the lair again. It wasn't a mansion by any means, but it was tidy and clean, and surprisingly comfortable.
"Well, are you just going to stand there gawking, or are you going to come in and shut the door?"
Jonathan's voice snapped Eddie out of his revelry and he stepped inside, shutting the door behind him.
Ignoring the Riddler once again, Jonathan walked up to a section of wall and tapped on it. Eddie looked at him, one eyebrow raised. Crane grimaced, then stepped back and kicked the wall, nearly falling over as it slowly swung inward. Eddie's mouth dropped open.
"Well! That's certainly interesting! What's…"
"My lab." Jonathan replied, interrupting him. The Master of Fear began descending a flight of steps and called after him, "Food's in the kitchen. Help yourself. And don't bother me."
A/N: Pretty swanky lair, huh? Sorry for the shortness and …blahness of this chap. I'm still trying to figure out how to transition to another part without it being so boring!