Nygma

The funerals for both Flass and Barbara were held a day after each other. It definitely made the department a dreary place. Everyone had urged Gordon to stay home but he refused to leave his desk.

I don't think he went home anymore, he was there every morning before I got there and way after I left at night.

He would confide in me a lot, probably because I was there when she died. I did feel that he needed an actual therapist.

Confiding in the one who actually killed your fiancee was a bit backwards.

An investigation had been launched into the disappearance of Kristen when she did not appear for work for a while. When interviewed about the fight between me and Flass, I just talked about the fight and nothing else.

When I was not dealing with work, I was trying to find a new place to live. I half considered asking Oswald to just stay with him but I didn't want to be intrusive. I had just went and saw a couple places but god I was so picky!

Oswald was definitely busy seeing as he was the new head of the Maroni family so I didn't bother him often.

I did however drop by the club to see if he was there to see him since I missed him. Plus I was going to scream if I had to throw tissues at Gordon again.

Oswald

As the days rolled on, my daily duties tripled. When I wasn't ordering different members around, I was busy managing my club. I could probably have an underling run my club, but I just couldn't give it up.

I saw Nygma from time to time, usually at small meet ups at my club. These interactions didn't last as long as I would've liked. But at least it was something.

At the latest meeting the two of us, he had confided in me that he needed a new place to live. I couldn't blame him. I wouldn't want to stay in a place where someone was murdered.

It seemed like he was still looking and I was surprised that he hadn't asked to move in with me yet. I thought things were going well with us.

I put away my pride and came out and asked him up front.

"How about moving in with me, Neg? What do you say?"

Nygma

I looked up to him at his question. I blinked, "Oh no, I couldn't intrude." I responded shaking my head.

"Besides, I think that would put a strain on our cover," I added with a point. "I've been entertaining, well, not really entertaining but forced to have guests of the GCPD kind at my place as of late. I think that would be a damper on things so to speak. But that's very generous and kind of you."

It was true though, I couldn't count how many times I had answered my door to fellow officers in the last week. Mainly for questioning, and I knew that would die down at some point but Gordon still lingered from time to time.

After everything I had done to the man, he still confided in me. It was highly uncomfortable, I didn't like him in my presence, but what was I to tell him?

Jim, you might need to see a therapist? Perhaps one that is not a certified killer. Oh by the way, I killed Barbara..so there's that.

He hadn't come to my apartment, but I was afraid he would. I really didn't want to put Oswald in that position. That would be a new can of worms I didn't want to open.

"Is there any openings in your building perhaps?" I asked with a smile. "That...isn't Flass's...that would be strange."

Oswald

"Oh," the excitement drained out of my face hearing Nygma's response.

"You are quite right, as always, Neg."

I grabbed his hand and looked at him with a serious expression on my face.

"I'll see what I can do to find you a place. Just please don't choose being homeless over staying with me, even temporarily. You wouldn't survive a night on the streets, Neg."

I held his hand a while longer from across the table that we were sitting at.

"I'll be here taking care of the club late, but if you want to head up to my place I'll meet you up there when I can."

I smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

"Sorry, duty calls." I winked at him as I got up from the table.

There were many questions burning inside of me that I wanted to ask Nygma but I was afraid it was either too soon to ask or too sensitive a subject to ask.

'Who exactly was this Riddler that had possessed Nygma that night?' was the main question that consumed my thoughts, but I doubt I'd ever receive an answer to that question.

I picked up a tray and a bottle of champagne and returned to making my rounds of the club.

Nygma

I smiled softly as I watched after him and looked to the glass of water in front of me.

I definitely couldn't imagine being homeless. I think I could last in the place I was in until I could work something out. I debated whether I wanted to stay when my phone started to ring. I picked it up and sighed heavily before answering it.

It was the captain. I talked to her for a few minutes before hanging up. I glanced around the club and my breath caught in my mouth. There she was standing by the bar. Kristen Kringle.

I jumped to my feet knocking myself into the table causing the glasses that sat on top of it to crash into the floor.

She's dead idiot, the voice grunted.

I let out a breath and grabbed my jacket and just took off out of the place. I was wheezing by the time I reached the curb.

Oswald

I heard a loud crash coming from behind me. Turning around I saw Nygma looking to the bar in fear and running out of the club. I handed my tray and bottle to the nearest employee, and rushed out to catch up with Nygma. I gestured to Gabe that I was heading out for the night and to take care of the club for me.

I saw him catching his breath a few blocks down. As he started to run off again I grabbed his arm and pulled him into me. I held him there.

"Hush, it's alright, Neg" I stroked his head,"I'm here."

I stayed for a while just holding him silently as the moon skirted behind the clouds.

When he looked up at me, I said, "Let's go home Nygma."

I hailed a cab and we sped away from the club and off to my place.

I opened the door to my apartment letting Nymga step in first. I had him sit on my couch as I went to grab myself a drink and I brought one for Nygma.

"Neg, is everything alright?" I stared up at him with concern written all over my face, handing him his glass.

Nygma shook his head just silent as he held the glass firmly in both hands to keep it from dropping as he was shaking. "She was standing there...plain as day." Nygma muttered. "Kristen, except she was dead. Her face mottled and decomposing. " he choked.

"Oh, Neg, she is long dead. Gabe assured me that he threw her in to that chemical plant. Not a scrap of her will be found, as you had suggested." I reached out and touched his face."I promised you that I would stick with you and protect you. Protect you, I shall consider me, white knight!" I chuckled at the thought of being dressed up in white armor.

"Is there anyway I can help you through this, Neg?"

Nygma

I smiled softly at his touch and his words. He was always so kind to me, no matter what.

"I know she is dead...but I don't know why she haunts me. I killed Barbara...I don't see her popping up."

I sighed. "I don't know what can be done. But I think I know who the Riddler is that you met. " it was weird talking about it like The Riddler was some other person when in fact he wasn't.

I sighed heavily taking a swig from the glass staring at it. "I created him."

"What do you mean, 'you created' him, Neg?" Oswald asked.

I let out a breath at his question, it was hard to explain. I took another drink and sat the glass down clasping my hands together.

"I was a slow developer when I was a kid," I told him quietly. I was staring a hole in the floor and I straightened my back as I let the memories wash over me. My feet balanced on my toes.

"I had trouble as a kid, I was the last one to start talking, last one to walk, last to read, to learn numbers, my ABC's" I rattled off.

"So..I didn't have any friends in daycare, kindergarten, and so forth. No one wanted to play with the weird kid. My father started to tell me riddles as I started to comprehend words, to get my mind to think about one thing. I loved his riddles, he came up with very clever ones."

I closed my eyes hugging myself at that point.

"When I was seven...I had an imaginary friend...he would come to me and talk to me and teach me things. Most of the kids I was around had them, I felt normal to have one. I named him The Riddler, he would help me with fathers riddles. When the other kids got too old for imaginary friends..I hid him away. He never really left though...he stayed. He became my voice of reason...always there just under the surface directing me. When I started high school, that's when my parents began to push me. I had to be the best or it wasn't acceptable. I had trouble learning and they would make me sit at my desk until I learned it. Even if that meant staying up all night long, going without meals. They forced me to learn it. It worked, I guess. Was top of the glass at graduation." I explained quietly leaning my head back.

"College was the worst, all of my classes were advanced, I was so helpless." I breathed. "But he came back for me. He kept me awake, he wouldn't let me sleep. He disciplined me when I got it wrong. Scream at me call me a failure. He would make me hurt myself if I failed a test."

I twitched as I remembered the memories.

Oswald sat just listening to me tell my story of Riddler's creation. When he believed that I was done telling Oswald my story, Oswald let all of the information just sink in for a few moments before choosing to speak.

"I see. He has been present with you for a while. Do you know what triggered his emergence the night he murdered Kristen?" Oswald inquired.

"He's never taken full control of me before," I murmured quietly. "I think it was because she was calling me the name my mother gave me, Eddie, and kept pushing me and pushing me until I snapped. Some people walk away at that point, I guess instead of being rational at that point Riddler takes charge."

I rubbed the bridge of my nose as I adjusted my glasses.

Oswald could see that all of this was stressing me out.

"It's alright, Neg. I accept all parts of you, even Riddler." He pulled him in close.

"Look if he takes over again...Don't anger him" I whispered. "He feeds off of anger and fear and I can not control him."

"Thanks for the advice, Neg. I'll be sure to keep that in mind." as Oswald leaned in for a kiss.

I kissed him gently when he leaned in. "Good"