Elizabeth's heart was pounding in her chest from a combination of fear and exhilaration. Edward had dragged her several blocks in their efforts to get away from the restaurant and cops and they were currently speed walking down the sidewalk. A few sirens could still be heard in the distance but they were in no danger of cops passing them in the residential area they were now in. Elizabeth wondered how far Edward would make them go her feet were beginning to hurt from her heels. As much as she could push past the pain she could feel blisters forming as she walked. She was just about to ask how much further Edward was intending to go when he suddenly stopped causing Elizabeth to nearly run into him.
"I think this is far enough. Which one?" Elizabeth blinked up at him confused.
"What?"
"Which one?" Edward gestured to the cars parked along the side of the road. Elizabeth blinked again this time in shock.
"You have to be kidding me."
"Do you want to keep running? I don't mind but I've heard that walking let alone running in high heels is painful."
"Well I—" Elizabeth buried her face in her hands trying to gather herself. "This is ridiculous."
"Might I suggest the Audi, it's a very smooth ride with lovely leather seats and is painfully simple to overcome the alarm and disarm the GPS." Elizabeth laughed in disbelief holding the bridge of her nose.
"I can't believe—fine. The Monte Carlo." She said pointing to the silver car next to her.
"Consider it done," Edward said with a smirk. Confidently he pulled a little black kit from his pants pocket, inside all he would need to steal the car. As Edward worked Elizabeth looked around nervously, although the street was quiet it would be just their luck if a squad car decided to come down the road or a Gothamite to glance out their window. Suddenly the car sprung to life and Edward was opening the door for Elizabeth.
"You chariot awaits." Elizabeth slide into the passenger seat and Edward shut the door.
"This is why I don't have a car," she said to herself before Edward got in.
"Don't forget to buckle up," Edward said condescendingly. Elizabeth did so thinking that an unbuckled seatbelt was going to be the least of her worries if anything happened to them a bigger one would be that she was an accomplice in auto theft. As Edward drove away from the curb Elizabeth tensed thinking they were going to be caught any minute but after seven minutes passed with nothing happening she relaxed. It was only then that she realized that she had no idea where they were going; she was completely under the control of Edward's whims. Another few minutes passed before Edward finally said something.
"Did you enjoy dinner?"
"Yes, conversation was decent, food was very good, however, the entertainment was rather bizarre."
Edward chuckled, "agreed, though I would say the conversation was enlightening."
"For you perhaps, so one step closer to solving me?"
"Perhaps, if I am I'm not going to tell you."
"Oh well you're no fun," Elizabeth stuck out her tongue playfully at him.
"No, insulting the driver."
"I'm so scared, where are we going anyways?"
"Someplace," Edward said with a dismissive wave of his hand.
"Someplace? Well that clears that up, thanks."
"Anytime."
"Yes, while we're talking of places, I would advise you not to break into my place again. It appears as though I have lost Batman's trust and he has decided to bug my apartment."
"Congratulations, you've made Batman's constant surveillance list. This calls for a celebration!"
"You're joking right?" Edward didn't answer but flashed her a dashing smile.
"I'll have to break out my good alcohol; we never did finish our wine that was a good bottle."
"Oh dear lord," Elizabeth buried her face in her hands, "I'm not drinking to being bugged by Batman."
"You want to celebrate in another way then?"
"No, I'm not celebrating it at all, just shut up for once and drive."
Edward pouted his lip, "Spoil sport."
"What are you trying to get me drunk?"
Edward glanced over at her a mischievous glint in his eyes, "maybe." Elizabeth scowled at him and the glint faded away. "No, I'm not, just trying to get you to enjoy your journey into villain-hood."
"I'm not becoming a villain." Elizabeth said defensively, "I'm just trying to get justice."
"You mean revenge and so was Scarecrow, so was Hatter, so was Two-Face, Firefly, Babydoll, Ivy, Freeze…" Edward trailed off watching Elizabeth who had shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"Just keep your eyes on the road," she said looking out the passenger side window. Yes she meant revenge and she knew that she just didn't want to admit it. Justice made it sound reasonable, like she had right to do this calling it revenge made it so misplaced. It sunk her down to the same level as the Rogues Edward had listed; and she wasn't a Rogue. Of course even the best laid plans of mice and men…Gotham had decided early on that she was to become a new Rogue if she was ever caught Elizabeth was sure they'd happily stick that label on her.
Elizabeth barely registered Edward making twists and turns as he brought them to wherever they were supposed to be going and she was only drawn out of her reverie when Edward stopped and shut off the engine. She looked over at him, he was grinning playfully and Elizabeth raised an eyebrow.
"Well come on," he said nearly jumping out of the car. Elizabeth stepped out her feet giving a painful throb and followed Edward around the corner. He was fiddling with an electronic door lock that he opened just as Elizabeth stepped up behind him. Elizabeth tried to peer around Edward's shoulder but he was purposefully blocking her sight.
"Hang on there," Edward said turning around and holding the door open with a foot, "can't ruin the surprise."
"What surprise?"
"You'll see," Edward said enigmatically pulling something from his pocket.
"Is that a blindfold!?" Elizabeth squeaked taking a step back.
"Yes, now are you going to let me put it on nicely or are you going to fight?" Elizabeth ran a hand through her hair, she knew she wouldn't be able to run away and there wasn't really any reason for Edward to hurt her as far as she knew.
"Fine," she said turning around, "but do anything thing inappropriate and I'll knock that smirk off your face permanently." She could almost feel Edward's smirk grow wider as he wrapped the blindfold around her eyes cutting out any source of light and then finished it off with an expert knot.
"I can tell you've done this before," Elizabeth said half-joking, "you naughty boy."
Edward chuckled. "More times than you know." He turned her around slowly and took her hand guiding her forward. "There's a step up." Elizabeth stepped up and through the door, Edward lead a couple steps away and then told her not to move. Her heart jumped and sped up when Edward shut the door and reset the lock. Though she didn't think she was in any danger with her eyes no longer there to help here Elizabeth focused her other senses trying to figure out where she was. The air in the room was musty but under the smell of dust was the scent similar to brown sugar that she had identified as Edward. The same smell washed over her as Edward moved back in front of her.
"You're going to find it difficult to walk with high heels; I'm going to take off your shoes."
"Alright, no looking up my dress though." Edward chuckled and Elizabeth heard him crouch down in front of her.
"Right foot." Elizabeth raised her right leg and gasped slightly as Edward's cool hands touched her sensitive ankle skin. He was taking his time undoing the small buckle that held the shoe to her foot. Finally he undid the last one and tossed away the shoe.
"Now the other." Edward took just as long getting the other shoe off. He stood allowing his hands to trial slightly on her leg on the way up.
"Finally, if you'd spent any longer down there I'd have told everyone you have a foot fetish."
"And I would have told everyone you didn't wear panties tonight." Elizabeth gasped in outraged and tried to slap Edward she missed his face and only managed to brush his shoulder.
"I didn't look," he said grabbing both of Elizabeth's hands and pulling her forward, "but going by your reaction I'd say I was right."
Elizabeth's face flushed a deep red, "only because they would've shown through my dress."
"I suppose it is rather tight around your…hips but that does make me wonder if you're wearing anything under that dress."
"You're not going to find out either way."
"I'm sure I won't. We're going to go down a flight of eleven steps now. There is a railing to your right hold on to it with a hand." Edward guided one hand to the rail and they slowly made their way down the steps. Elizabeth was counting in her head. 'Eight…nine…ten…ele—!' She let out a brief scream her foot fell farther than she expected and Edward quickly caught her in his arms.
"Oops, I guess there we're only ten."
"Bastard," Elizabeth growled as she pulled herself from Edward's arms.
"Don't worry we're almost there."
"Better be." They were in an unfinished basement now, the cold of the concrete rather soothing to Elizabeth's aching feet. Edward opened a door and pulled her inside, she heard a light switch flick on and went to remove her blindfold.
"Not yet," Edward said grabbing her hand. "Now if you remember when I visited our dear Scarecrow last week, I asked him for some chemicals."
"Yes, I remember, you said they were for an investment."
"Very good, you see I had just read the journal of somebody who is surprisingly inventive though only moderately intelligent. One thing in particular I found very interesting, they had discovered a polymer similar to Kevlar but lighter and more breathable; and tonight I was thinking that if you are going to put yourself in danger you're going to need a more suitable outfit." Edward undid the knot and the blindfold fell away from her face.
"Oh this is…" Elizabeth was lost for words, in front of her was a near complete chemistry set along with enough chemicals to make almost 20 yards of her polymer.
"The chemical I requested from Jonathan hasn't arrived yet, when it does I'll bring it here for you."
Elizabeth turned around grinning, "This is wonderful Edward, thank you. I suppose you want some of the polymer too."
"All part of the investment. Though…" Edward walked back out the door beckoning to Elizabeth, who followed him still grinning. "In this room," Edward pushed open another door, "you can use whatever you need without needing to repay me." This room was covered wall to wall with different tools and supplies. Taking a quick inventory Elizabeth guessed that there was enough equipment in here to build several of Edward's famous death traps.
"This is one of your workshops?"
"Yes, but I won't be using it for some time, so until then feel free."
"Thank you, Edward; I really don't know what to say."
"Say, you'll come up stairs with me and have a drink."
Elizabeth laughed, "Okay, fine you win one drink."
"Whatever you say, right his way." Edward turned and led her back up the stairs. They were almost as the top when Elizabeth grabbed Edward's jacket stopping him.
"There's someone else here," she whispered, "in the corner." Edward withdrew is gun from his coat pocket and crept up the final two stairs. Elizabeth followed behind him her trying to adjust her eyes to the darkness if she could only see who it was…From the darkness corner Elizabeth could pick out a tall lean form it was wearing a dark suit slightly ragged around the edges. She heard Edward cock his gun and the figure froze, blob shaped head leaning forward, arms rising with the wrists up bringing with it the smell of rotting pumpkins.
"It's Jonathan!" Elizabeth yelled grabbed Edward's arm and pulling it down.
"Scarecrow!" Edward snarled wrenching his arm out of Elizabeth hold and angrily turning on the lights. "What the hell!? Were you trying to…well you know."
"Scare you?" Jonathan asked lowering his arms and pulling off his mask, "perhaps. Good evening Elizabeth, I'm glad to see the necklace matched."
"Good evening, Jonathan. Yes, it worked out quite nicely, thank you, again." Edward looked between the two of them as though trying to figure out why Jonathan would have given Elizabeth a necklace to wear.
"What do you want, Jonathan?" He asked stiffly going over to a cupboard and pulling out a bottle of what appeared to be whiskey.
"I came to collect my money."
"What money?" Edward poured two drinks and hand one to Elizabeth.
"The four hundred you owe me after losing our bet."
"I haven't lost."
"Yes, you have. You lost tonight."
"No, I didn't.
"Edward, I know I said "I bet you four hundred bucks that you will end up with her by the end of the year." Her meaning Elizabeth and tonight you took her out to dinner, I believe that qualifies as ending up with her."
"That does not, when we were talk—"
"Hang on a minute," Elizabeth interrupted a decidedly sharp edge to her tone. "You guys made a bet over—" Elizabeth stopped herself short as though she just realized something. "Do know what I don't care, you boys have fun working out the details, I'll be downstairs inventorying chemicals." Downing her drink she pushed the glass angrily into Edward's hands as she passed. The two men watched her down the steps and then turned back to each other.
"One dinner that's not a date does not constitute getting together."
"I disagree, the terms of getting together are very vague and technically tonight the two of you got together."
"Getting together means a romantic or sexual relationship, which we don't have and I don't ever intend on having with her."
"I find that hard to believe."
"All she is a puzzle I'm going to solve, I haven't even thought of her sexually."
"Yeah right," Elizabeth's voice rang from downstairs and Jonathan laughed. Edward's face went a light pink and he slammed the door to the basement shut. Although Elizabeth could still hear Edward and Jonathan arguing she became distracted by the sound of a generic ringtone from a cheap untraceable cellphone that only one person had the number to.
"You still haven't won the bet Crane." Edward determinedly said after several minutes of arguing.
"But I will." Edward's lip twitched into a half snarl. Ignoring Jonathan's renewed laughter he opened the basement door to get Elizabeth. She was apparently waiting for him because she exited the room while he was only halfway down the steps.
"You guys come to a resolution?" She asked.
"Of sorts," Edward said, "it's getting late, I should bring you home."
"I didn't know 10:30 was late but it has been an exciting night." Edward waited for Elizabeth to pass him before he ascended as he wanted to ignore Crane for as long as possible. Elizabeth was gathering and re-buckling her shoes while warning Crane not to break into her apartment anymore. Bent over at the wait like she was Edward was having a hard time not looking at her rear. Jonathan, it seemed, was having no such trouble as he was giving Edward a smug self-satisfied look that Edward usual wore. Resisting the urge to give Crane "the bird" Edward opened the door and held it open for Elizabeth.
"Bye Jonathan," Elizabeth said as Edward hurried her out the door. They were both silent as Edward drove. Edward was angry over the idea of losing a bet to Jonathan especially on one he had such control over. All he had to do is listen to his head more than his hormones until New Year's and he always used his head. Edward glanced over at Elizabeth under the traffic lights he could see the scars that peppered her upper arms and shoulders. A few were just peeking out of her dress by her collarbone. His eyes followed the neckline down to the, decently covered yet still, tantalizing swell of her breasts.
Edward swore under his breath as the lustful tingling in his stomach started for the third time that night. He wouldn't be lying if he said he had forgotten about the bet he had made with Jonathan weeks ago in Arkham. If Crane hadn't shown up he didn't know how far their drinks would have taken them. His intentions towards Elizabeth were still undecided; it was something he was hoping to figure out tonight. He wanted to help Elizabeth complete her revenge he knew that satisfaction of getting revenge and wanted Elizabeth to feel it as well but what Edward didn't know is what he wanted from her. For once in his life Edward wished he didn't have so many questions.
Elizabeth shifted in her seat and his eyes glanced over again. She had pushed her hair behind her ears revealing the tips that were gnarled to a point. The soft tissue of the ears had been destroyed by the chemicals, Edward found himself wondering if any other soft tissue had been ruined by her accident. The soft tissue of her nose was intact as were her lips.
"Right here Edward," she said pointing.
"We're still two blocks away."
"And I don't want anyone to see you dropping me off."
"Too bad, I'm driving and I'm going to let you out at your apartment and walk up with you."
"You're not coming in."
"No, just coming up." Edward pulled off to the side right in front of the building doors. Elizabeth was out of the car as soon as he cut the engine trying to beat him to the door and lock him out but she wasn't fast enough and Edward we behind her before she even unlocked the door. Grumbling she let both of them in. They were both silent as they ascended the stairs Elizabeth was trying to move as gingerly as she could so as not to hurt her feet anymore and Edward was watching her carefully. It was a good thing too as for on the third flight Elizabeth mis-stepped. She went down face first and was saved from breaking her nose by Edward catching her.
"That's the second time I've needed to catch you tonight." He chuckled.
"I guess I'm not friends with the stairs today."
"They can be mean sometimes." Edward helped Elizabeth back on to her feet and they continued to climb up to Elizabeth's floor. Soon they were standing outside her apartment door.
"Wait here for a second; I might as well give you this now, since you're here." Edward stood outside confused as Elizabeth ducked inside her apartment. She came back within a few seconds a large manila envelope in her hands.
"These are my records from Wayne Enterprises everything documented about my injuries and my mutations from the accident to the incident. I just received it from Wayne today, I haven't looked inside yet, but I thought you might like to read it. Might help you solve me."
Edward took the folder, all most hesitantly. "Elizabeth, about the bet—"
"Don't worry about it, boys will be boys." Elizabeth smiled up at him that half smirk, half smile that always made Edward wonder if she was serious or not; that smile that drove him insane with questions. In an attempt to look away his eyes landed on her necklace, the necklace that Jonathan supposedly gave her.
"Take off that necklace."
"Why? Its mine."
"Because Jonathan gave it to you," Edward reached behind her neck and undid the necklace for himself, "and I don't like the idea of you wearing something that another man gave you."
"I'd only allow you to be that jealous if we were dating." Elizabeth pulled the necklace from Edward's hand that was still on her neck. She felt his hand tighten on her neck and she looked into his eyes.
"Damn it." Edward swore just before he pressed his lips against Elizabeth's. It was a harsh short kiss and Elizabeth didn't have time to react before Edward had pulled away. A maelstrom of emotions hit Elizabeth the main one being confusion as Edward pushed away from her and marched down the hall. He disappeared down the steps and Elizabeth ducked back into her apartment.
Back out on the street Edward was driving furiously away from Elizabeth's apartment. He was breaking every speed limit and running every light somehow though neither Batman nor the police caught him. In record time he had made it back to his hideout. The door slammed as he entered, his eyes landed on Jonathan who was leaning against the table. Reaching for his pocket Edward pulled out his wallet and retrieved four-hundred dollars. He shoved the money into Jonathan's hands. Even under his mask Edward could tell Jonathan was smiling.
"Get out." He growled before turning and storming upstairs.