DISC: don't own jonathan or eddie
Edward Nygma slid out of bed and started towards the kitchen. He'd barely slept at all the night before, due to his excitement of finally finding out what was going on with Jonathan. Head buzzing with questions, he was about to enter the kitchen when he heard a scuffling noise. Confused, Eddie flattened himself against the wall near the doorway. The scuffling stopped.
The Riddler stayed against the wall for a moment, then shook his head. He was being ridiculous. It was probably just Jonathan.
Armed with that theory, the Prince of Puzzles stepped resolutely through the door, only to come face to face with a huge thug with a gas mask over his face. Eddie gasped, backpedaling, but his wasn't fast enough. Before he could take two steps, the thug had him by the collar, slamming him up against the wall.
"Where is he?" the man garbled through the mask.
"Where's who?" Eddie choked. He had a feeling he knew who the man wanted, but he decided it was best to play for time.
"Crane." the man snapped, "Where is Crane?"
Without him even thinking about it, the words tumbled out of the Riddler's mouth.
"He's not here."
"Wrong answer." the thug growled, slamming Eddie against the wall again. The Riddler grit his teeth in agony as his spine cracked. He tried to move a hand. Maybe if he could grab the man's mask, he could tell who he was…
Then he looked over the thug's shoulder.
Jonathan stood, still in his pajama pants, in the doorway, eyes wide as he took in the situation. Desperately, Eddie tried to keep the thug's attention focused on himself.
"He's…he's not…here." he gasped. "He had to…go." He put emphases on "go", hoping Jonathan would take the hint. And for a moment it seemed that he did. Eddie saw the Master of Fear disappear around the corner, and was about to start trying to fight the thug, when Jonathan appeared again, his mask over his face and a can of fear toxin in one hand.
He made a few motions to the Riddler, trying to explain his plan. Eddie watched then coughed grimly, trying to arch his neck out of the thug's grip. This had better work…
It all happened in a matter of seconds.
Eddie had let his muscles relax, making the thug let his guard down. Now he tensed them up, wrenching an arm from the man's grip and ripping his mask off. The Riddler shoved the mask against his own face, just as Jonathan jumped at the surprised thug, gassing him in the face with the toxin. The man fell to the floor, writhing around and screaming something about snakes.
And then it was over, just as quickly as it began.
Jonathan looked at Eddie. Eddie looked at Jonathan.
They stared at each other for a few minutes, and then they slowly took their masks off.
The Riddler leaned heavily against the door-frame for support. Jonathan stepped lightly over the man on the floor and was about to say something when his eyes widened again.
"You're hurt!" he exclaimed, pointing to Eddie's back. It was scraped and bleeding from his rough encounter with the wall. "Oh…" the Riddler replied, craning his neck over his shoulder. "So I am…" he was in some sort of daze, he knew, probably shock. Carefully, Jonathan took Eddie's arm and helped lead him to a chair.
"Hold on."
Going back into the kitchen, Jonathan tied up the thug and searched for the first-aid kit.
His thoughts were racing.
This was not supposed to happen. Maybe if I'd told him sooner…no. I shouldn't have even allowed him to take care of me…now he'll be hurt and it's my fault…I led them here…
Shaking his head, which did nothing to clear it, Jonathan dragged the first-aid kit off the shelf and hurried back into the other room.