Nygma

I sat at my desk in my office tapping the end of my pen against the rim of my glasses a quiet smirk on my face as I kept thinking about the last encounter between me and Oswald. I didn't appreciate the Riddler showing up but when I had come to the night got better.

I had finally decided to take my shot and try to find Crane on my own. I was getting frustrated with the lack of GCPD response on the matter especially since there had been deaths.

I was looking through a stack of files on my desk, I had to admit, getting my own files from the file room, now that Kringle was dead, was annoying. The new person who replaced her had everything a mess down there.

I could barely concentrate my mind was elsewhere, on my lover, my partner in crime.

Stop acting like a fucking school girl and get on with it, Ed grunted the voice in the back of my head.

I sighed shuffling back through the files. I was looking for anything at all I could find on this Crane individual. I needed to find him, and Riddler wanted his blood.

I eventually got up and headed out to speak with Detective Bullock and Gordon if he was at work. Everyone seemed to just excuse his random absences because we all knew he was still grieving.

"Detective?" I questioned arriving at the desks that the two detectives occupied. However only one was sitting there, Harvey.

"Yes, Ed?" asked Harvey looking up to me over the rim of his own reading glasses. He was looking at the newspaper.

This is why nothing gets done around here

"I was looking into the Crane case, is there anything at all that might be missing from the notes? Places he's been seen? Anything? I'm trying to find any more cases dealing with his M.O for the Captain."

Harvey eyed me for a moment suspiciously.

"We had been looking into a support group." he finally responded leaning back in his chair. "We think he had been picking up his victims there, seeing as what he needs are people's fears to make his serum."

I nodded listening carefully and making mental notes.

"Anyways, we've been poking about but no movement there. Unless he knows we are cops."

"Very helpful, thank you." I nodded before taking my leave.

Well, you do need help chuckled the voice in the back of my head as I decided I would go blend into this group.

I shook my head, no you're the one that needs help, I mentally jested.

I stopped as I grabbed my jacket remembering that I was supposed to meet Oswald at his club that evening. I sighed grabbing my phone, I was going to have to cancel on him, which was something I never had done. I needed Crane.

I called Oswald and got his voice mail as usual these days, he was extremely busy being the head of the Maroni family now. I never held it against him, I understood what it meant to him. I left a brief voice mail apologizing but something important had come up and asked if we could reschedule our dinner date. I shoved my phone back into my pocket and headed out of the building.

I found my way down to this support group Bullock had mentioned. I found the room in which it would be held, I was in time. I pursed my lips before being tapped on the shoulder.

I turned to see a man standing there who asked me who I was and why I was there.

"Uh, my name is Orion," I lied. I knew I had to make sure I never revealed my name anymore going out my own like this.

"I heard this was a fear support group...I thought it might help." I added quietly.

I was led into the room and asked to join.

I sat down in one of the chairs and crossed my ankles nervously glancing around to people walking about the room. Any of these people could be Crane, and I wouldn't even know it.

Just relax.

I took in a deep breath and clasped my hands in my lap. Once everyone had taken their seats I scanned the room taking in each individual so I would be able to recognize them later if I needed to.

We all went around the circle and stated our names.

I listened to each person talk about their phobias, it actually was interesting to see what scared these people. I could see why Crane was so obsessed with this kind of stuff.

"Orion, what are you scared of?" asked the support leader.

That's you idiot

Oh.

I snapped to attention looking to the support leader. I swallowed and looked to my hands in my lap.

"I'm scared of the voice inside of my head." I explained quietly. "Afraid of what he might do..."

"We're here for you," spoke the rest of the group in unison.

"I'm also afraid of losing the person I'm with." I added glancing up and looking to everyone. "He's changing and part of it is my fault and I'm scared he's going to completely disappear."

I looked back down to my hands which were now cold and trembling.

"That's about it."

Crane

The meeting had just began. I scanned around the circle trying to find the best candidates for my next serum experiment. So far I had not been getting the results I was looking for. Fish Mooney had been right about Oswald. He was the best subject I had gotten to date. Too bad that the police had to show up before I was able to harvest his adrenal glands.

I wondered how the police had found my place and why they would even care about a 'family man' Curious, Curious indeed Who was this Oswald Cobblepot?

A new member caught my attention. A voice in his head? Ooo this is too good to pass up. I think this man many have surpassed Oswald on my list. I must have him, but I needed a way of obtaining him.

When it came to my turn to share, I acted the most pathetic person I could muster, while I was smiling internally.

"My name is Todd...and...I...am afraid of failure. I think it came from my father always pushing me to be my best and I am now afraid that I am passing this fear on to my son. I now drill him like my father drilled me. I..I..I'm sorry I need to leave." I got up to leave grabbing my jacket and pretending that I was going to collapse into sobs very soon.
Here, outside the meeting hall, I would lie in wait for that new member. Orion, was it?

Nygma

I looked after the man named Todd as he rushed from the room. He looked extremely upset, no one followed after him. I felt I should, after all, I knew what it was like to deal with failure, and then having a parent who pushed and pushed.

Don't fucking do it came the voice.

Why not? I asked myself. I could come back in and continue looking for Crane.

That guy is shady as shit

I just shook my head and got up from my seat and walked out into the hallway looking around for Todd.

"Todd?" I asked gently after I stepped out into the hallway. "Todd you won't fail your son...just don't push him too hard."

Crane

From my hiding spot behind a pillar, I saw Orion and heard him call for me. Oh luck was on my side today! I wasn't going to let this chance pass me up.

I moved very silently pulling a cloth out of my jacket pocket, pouring a liquid on it making sure it was fully saturated. Reaching up I held the cloth to his face and restrained Orion with the other arm. Since he was slightly taller than me I had to use a bit more force with him than with Oswald.

When I felt him go limp, I dragged him the van I had parked in the back alley. I drove to my old house. Upon seeing it from the drive way, I took in a breath and shook off the memories of what happened that night so long ago. The night I lost my wife.

I opened the doors to the van, and carried Orion with my arms interlocked in his and his back resting on mine. His feet still dragged along the ground as I carried him toward the house. I was careful to pick him up a bit more when I reached the porch steps.

Once we reached the sitting room that had also held Oswald in the beginning, I dropped Orion into the chair and tied him to the chair in the same fashion as Oswald had been.

While waiting for Orion to wake, I began prepping my serum for injecting. A few minutes later, I began to hear Orion stir.

"Good. You're awake." I smiled at him.

Riddler

My eyes snapped open and I quickly surveyed the room. My eyes lit up with wild tendencies, oh yes, I really couldn't get angry with Ed walking us right where I wanted to be.

I gingerly tested my bound hands. He thinks he had me secured anyways.

"Hello, Doctor Crane," I responded darkly in a deep voice unlike that of Ed's.

Crane

I recoiled from my approach of Orion at the mention of my real name. I had been careful hadn't I? I used my pseudonym, of Todd. How did Orion know my real name?
"Who are you? I am guessing that you are not called 'Orion'?" I asked the man bound to the chair.

"Riddler is my name, killing is my game!"

He chuckled at that me watching him. He tilted his head to the side his eyes widening as he took everything in.

"What's that syringe for?" the man asked coyly and then plastered a huge grin across his face.

"Are you going to inject me with that? What is that? Ah right, Eddie boy said something about that. What was it? OH a fear serum. You make it out of adrenal glands. How clever. Well Ed wants some of it, I'm here to collect."

He laughed throwing his head back. "Oh and I really wouldn't use that on me if I were you."

What is happening?

This man seems a bit different than the one that was in the support group. He even called himself "Riddler". I had so many question rolling through my head that I was frozen in place for a few moments.

"What do you mean 'I shouldn't use this on you'?" I asked looking at the syringe in my hand.

"You're not going to like what happens afterwards" the man who called himself Riddler responded the smile falling from his face.

Not going to like what happens? I wonder what means.

I cocked my head to one side observing the man tied to the chair. He appeared almost like a different person from the 'Orion' man at the support group meeting. He called himself Ridder. Could that mean that this man had a split personality?

I wanted to know more about how this was possible. What brought out this personality? Did the 'Orion' side know of the presence of this entity? If he did could he control the Riddler side, or was it the reverse?

I had no time for the answer to all of these questions. I began my approach towards Riddler. I began rolling up his left sleeve. Surprisingly he did not stir, or seem to get nervous as I was about to inject him. I smiled wide.

I have just found the one to score the highest on the Crane Scale. Luck in on my side!

Riddler

I let out a low growl as I felt the needle inject into my arm. The serum leaked from the syringe and into my blood stream, I could feel it's burn.

I groaned leaning my head back after twitching for a few more minutes. I gripped the arms of the chair I was in before pretending to pass out.

Crane

Just like the others...No one was able to stay awake during the injection process.

I sighed a bit frustrated at this result. Perhaps this man was no different than Oswald after all.

Oswald had been fun to watch though. I never expected his fear to be that of being left alone. The way he experience that fear was astounding! Everyone he cared deeply for brutally murdered the last victim baked into a meat pie...

Who was it again that he kept blaming for the action...? I thought as I bent down to untie 'Orion' from his bonds.

I remember it distinctly beginning with an 'R' and was only one word...I began untying his legs now. As I had released 'Orion' from his bonds it came to me. RIDDLER?!

Riddler

I felt Doctor Crane released my bonds. Oh he was quite the sucker! I waited until my legs were untied before my eyes snapped back open again.

The wildness had gone and in it's place my pupils were completely dilated. I stretched my neck before speaking.

"I told you not to do that fucker," I growled lowly.

I looked at his movements and chuckled lowly standing up from the chair. "You made a couple mistakes Doctor Crane. First, you chloroformed my Eddie boy. Second, you blatantly disregarded what I said and injected me anyways. You must be a terrible house guest. Well, and finally...you untied me. Maybe Oswald couldn't fight back, but I can. You see, the serum doesn't affect me. It's a fear drug, I don't have fears Crane." I started to ramble as I got down on my knees staring him right in the eyes. "I feed on fear." I laughed.
"Oh Riddler what are you doing?" I asked in high pitched voice. "Oh Doctor Crane, I'm so happy you asked."

Crane started to move away from me, I allowed it. I got to my feet and grabbed the ropes from the chair he bound me with and chased after him slamming him into the wall. I tied his hands behind his back, and then his legs and left him struggling on the floor.

"See, this is the part where I kill you." I added simply. "And since there's no one around I think I'm going to pay Gotham a lovely visit. This is so awesome!" I grinned madly.

I then started humming to myself as I walked across the room and grabbed the syringe off the floor that Crane used to inject me. I pulled the stopper back collecting air inside of it.

I then started to move my arms like I was a composer at a symphony as I danced around the room. I was humming the Mozart song that was playing during my first murder.

"Oh Crane," I whispered as I bent down next to him. I looked him in his eyes, "What you do is amazing. If I had my choice I would work with you, really." I nodded.

"You made the mistake of fucking with Eddie. So I have no choice, see, he's my host. Without Eddie I can't have fun. So I got to kill you. Which is sad."

I looked at the terror in Crane's eyes and leaned in closer. "Isn't so nice now is it bird man?" I asked before piercing his juggular with the syringe in one fluid movement and plunged the stopper.

The air would enter the vein and reach his heart and kill him instantaneously.

"Say Crane, can you tell me what is so delicate that saying its name breaks it?" I paused seeing the light drain from his eyes. "You're right! It's SILENCE!" I began to laugh.
I stood up eyeing what I had done, I then grabbed the needle and shoved it into my pocket. I would dispose of it later.

I then looked around the room seeing a briefcase on the other side. I ran over to it and opened it, it revealed the vials of fear serum. I closed the case and then took it with me as I exited the house.

I walked with a bounce in my step as I headed out into the streets of Gotham. This was my time to shine as Ed wasn't around to stop me, and neither was Cobblepot.

"Hello Gotham City," I gave a shout into the air as I walked to the edge of the hill staring to the city below.

I threw my head back with a laugh, and then headed down the hill at a jog.

I found the Cobblepot "clinic" pretty easily and slipped inside. I stashed the case in the clean room as I found it.

All of Ed's stuff had been set up here, and he hadn't visited it in a while. I suspect we would be in here more often now that I had collected what he needed.

I sat down at the counter just looking over the many different instruments laid out. I picked each one up looking at it in amazement.

The wheels began to turn in my head. I was smart like Eddie, crazy, and sadistic. I could create things, things the city of Gotham needed to witness!

I was in that place for days, working on things, trying them out. Nothing in stone yet; but it was amazing what I could get done without sleeping.

Outside of the quiet clinic however, the city of Gotham bustled about. No one really knew that Edward was missing, except James Gordon of the GCPD.

He would stop into the office periodically and had asked multiple times to the Captain if anyone had heard from him.

Finally, he made a pit stop to the apartment. When there was no answer he sighed heavily going back to the department and asking Bullock to accompany him somewhere.

Jim drove to Oswald's club. If he had any other choice he would have chose it. He walked inside looking around for Oswald, approaching the bar.

"I need to speak to Oswald." he stated to the person there. "Immediately. Tell him it's Detective Gordon and Bullock of the GCPD. We haven't seen Edward Nygma in three days."