Title: It's Hard to Believe
Prompt: You Have a Temper
Rating: PG
Fandom: Crossover: Batman: Arkham City & Joker/Clover/Heart no Kuni no Alice
Characters: Batman: Arkham City: Edward Nygma (the Riddler) ; J/C/H no Kuni no Alice: Alice Liddell
Pairing: Edward Nygma (the Riddler)/Alice Liddell
Summary: She understood the surprise the others must have felt when she made her decision because, honestly, she had been a bit surprised herself. But now it was starting to become clear why it was hard to believe that she had chosen him. : This is a response to the challenge 1o Little Things… by Katz Go Rawwwrr.
Word Count: 305
Author's Note: We have now reached the halfway point. Anyway, I had a hard time with this prompt. The first time I wrote this it came out a little too dark for my taste.
Warnings: Mild!OOC-ness(?)
Disclaimer: Batman: Arkham City & Joker/Clover/Heart no Kuni no Alice do not belong to me in any shape or form (including characters). Thank you.

Dr. Crane had told her, what felt as long ago, that the residents of Arkham City were all mad. Well… excluding the Black Gate prisoners and the politicians and her too. How they each had their own "hobby", as he had put it. Like there was Mr. Tetch with his sick obsession over her and Wonderland; Harley Quinn with her sick, love for the Joker; Zsasz with his marks; Poison Ivy with her "save the trees and plants nonsense"; Mr. Freeze with his search of finding a cure for his wife; the Riddler with his riddles; him with phobias. And made sure that the warning her was clear: that just because the rogues were all taking an interest in her didn't mean it was for the better.

"Take Zsasz, for an instance." Dr. Crane began as she tried to quell her nerves. "The only reason he has taken an interest in you is to add another of his precious marks to his skin."

At the time she hadn't understood what the doctor meant.

When he finished giving a few more examples he then went on to warn her about how capable they were under different types of circumstances. Just how mad they could go – literally and emotionally – if what they wanted, what they planned for, didn't turn out the way they wanted. It was why they agreed she shouldn't remain alone with Tetch under any circumstances.

But when the day came, when she chose to stay with Edward Nygma, the "good" doctor had pulled her aside to remind her what had said. Her response was a gentle smile and few words explaining that she knew; however, Alice just never knew how badly of a temper Nygma had until today.

And all because of a man, who dressed as a bat, had beaten his complex puzzle.