Disc: don't own Jonathan, Eddie, or Gotham
"No…no, please…"
Edward Nygma shifted in his sleep, trying to block out the voice intruding on his slumber.
"No…why? Why…no!"
Eddie blinked, sitting up slightly. The room was pitch-black. The Riddler felt something move beside him and he rolled over. Jonathan Crane lay on top of the blanket, limbs contorting slightly as his hands clenched and unclenched, his face set into a deep grimace of…pain? Anger? …Fear?
Whatever it was, Eddie could tell that the Master of Fear wasn't getting a good night's sleep. The Riddler watched him for a second, confused. So, the Scarecrow had nightmares, huh? Interesting.
Jonathan curled up as if recoiling from a blow, but uncurled just as quickly, moving a hand up as if to ward something decidedly unpleasant off. Carefully, Eddie shook the Master of Fear's shoulder.
"Jonathan….Jonathan, wake up…"
Jonathan muttered something in his sleep and twitched.
Eddie shook the Scarecrow's shoulder again. "Wake up, Jonathan. It's ok…it's just a nightmare…"
Suddenly the Master of Fear sat bolt upright, breathing hard, his eyes wide in terror. Then he turned and saw the Riddler.
"What…why did you…" he began, trying to regain composure.
Eddie swallowed. "You were…you had a nightmare. And I…I woke you up."
Jonathan looked at the Riddler for a second and then averted his gaze and ran a hand through his hair, looking embarrassed.
He'd had a nightmare. Great. And in front of Eddie, too…What if the Riddler told someone? They'd say he was a fake. Master of Fear, indeed. He had nightmares! 'What about?' they'd say. 'What does the so-called 'Lord of Despair' fear?' And then they'd laugh…
Suddenly, Jonathan felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning back, he looked at the Riddler. Eddie gave him an awkward half-smile. "Hey…it's fine. It's not like I'm going to tell anyone…we all have nightmares."
Jonathan blinked, then, hesitantly, smiled back and lay down again.
"…thanks, Eddie."
"No problem."
?
Jonathan Crane woke up realizing he'd forgotten to shut the blinds as sunlight began streaming into the hotel room. Blinking sleepily, the Master of Fear glanced at the clock. He gasped. It was eleven o'clock in the morning! They should have been on the move hours ago…
Reaching over, Jonathan tapped the Riddler. "Eddie."
"mmmm…yeah, I'm a genius…"
Jonathan rolled his eyes, realizing that Eddie was just mumbling in his sleep.
"Edward."
"…sure, I'll solve your puzzle for you…hehehehehe…"
"Nygma!"
"What, where? Whozatt?" Eddie yelped, jerking awake. Jonathan sighed. "Will you calm down? It's just me! We slept later than intended, so get moving. We should have left a long time ago."
The Riddler nodded and rubbing his eyes, slid out of bed.
"You know, you talk in your sleep." Jonathan said, offhandedly.
Eddie turned to him. "What did I say?"
The Master of Fear bit his lip. "Something about…puzzles…." The Riddler grinned slyly. "Oh yeah…puzzles…hehehehehe…"
Jonathan rolled his eyes. "Just get ready."