I'm sorry for the delay and for the crap-ness of this chapter but I've been having a truly horrible time, I promise the next chapter will be better and will not take me 3 months to write.
Batman trudged into his room after the meeting, once most of the people had left, the few remainder now standing in the kitchen talking and laughing. Bruce had tried his best not to talk during the meeting, to simply listen and find out what was happening.
Jervis had approached him at the end and asked if he would like a cup of tea, he declined, and Riddler called him away.
He didn't know what to do. If he wanted to find out what was really going on then he should stay with them, but it was so draining.
They could be talking about him now, gloating about how they had pulled the wool over his eyes and deceived him.
He should go back. He didn't want to miss anything, he didn't want to give them the opportunity to plan anything.
He redressed the wound on his leg and went back to the kitchen, it was getting better, his leg, it seemed to be healing and it didn't hurt quite as badly if he put weight on it.
It seemed so odd, as he entered the kitchen, they were chatting between themselves as if they were friends, they kept looking at Bruce as if they wanted him to participate. They didn't acknowledge him though, probably under Riddler's instruction.
Batman poured himself some water and leaned against the kitchen counter, watching them talk, it all seemed very mundane and… domestic. It made his skin crawl.
"Bruce," Riddler started with a smile, "Would you like some tea or something? We have pineapple juice I know you like pineapple juice-"
"-We're out of pineapple juice," Ivy interjected with a smirk, turning the empty bottle upside down and shaking it in example.
"For fuck's sake Pam," Riddler sighed, shaking his head, "…Tea then? It's ok I supervised Jervis, it's not tainted or anything."
Batman shook his head, placing his cup back on the side, "No thank you. Where's Joker?" he asked gently, looking around the room, unable to see him.
"Uh, he's still upstairs I think," Riddler answered, his teeth gritted slightly, "I think I'd rather you didn't talk to him too much yet, he has a habit of trying to involve you a bit too soon. He doesn't let you adjust."
"I'd like to talk to him," Batman huffed, walking away, meaning to go upstairs.
"No, Bruce," Riddler pled, trotting after him, "Please, Bruce, we need you, if he freaks you out. I just don't want to have to go through this again."
Batman stopped at the base of the stairs, "Then I won't let him 'freak me out'. I'm going to talk to him, you know you can't stop me."
Riddler huffed, his hand on the kitchen doorframe, "It's not as if this has happened before and I'm trying to stop it happening again is it? I know you don't want help, but you need it, you need to listen to me and do what I say."
Batman swayed slightly, a soft growl coming from him, if this had happened before then maybe he should listen. He couldn't trust himself any more than he could trust anyone here.
"What's he doing up there?"
Riddler shrugged, "Sulking? I don't know, best not to ask. However, if he starts laughing, that's when you go up to see."
"What does laughter mean?"
"It means he's figured something out and is simply amazed with his own genius. Some of the stuff he comes up with is pretty good," Riddler shrugged, "But I've done better."
Batman smirked, letting out a huff of amusement.
"I did make most of our equipment," Riddler added.
"I designed it, I recognise some of it," Bruce added.
Riddler nodded, half shrugging, "Yeah fine you've got me there… We're off topic. Don't go talk to Joker, ok?"
"I've been talking with him until now and you've had no problem with that," Bruce frowned, suspicious of the sudden change of attitude.
Riddler rolled his eyes, crossing his arms, "Yeah, but I don't want you to listen to his over romanticised bullshit version of what's happened. That would freak anyone out."
Batman nodded, he'd heard Joker talking about them before, that weird idea he'd got in his head that they were playing a game. It was nice to know he wasn't the only one who thought it was bull.
Riddler smiled, uncrossing his arms and pulling himself away from the doorframe, "Are you sure you don't want a cup of tea? You should try to socialise it might help your memory come back quicker."
Batman stepped away from the stairs, back towards Riddler, he gave a small nod; that idea made sense at least.
"I know how you take it," Riddler said with a smile and a tiny nod, he stepped back into the kitchen and waited for Batman to follow him, holding the door open for him.
Batman glanced quickly back up the stairs, still not sure if it would be best to talk to Joker or not, two equally loud voices at the back of his head shouting opposite things. It was probably best to leave him and stay with the bulk of the group.
He wished he had surveillance equipment so he could bug the rooms. He was sure there were supplies to make some amongst the junk throughout the house, though making them and having no one notice would be an issue.
Riddler turned his back to Batman as he made the tea, leaving the vigilante to look over the group of chatting rogues with quiet intrigue.
He still couldn't believe how weird it was to see them talking like this, now discussing installing a heat-lamp in Ivy's temporary house so she could begin to grow the plants that would produce the toxin needed to complete this ridiculous plan of theirs. He didn't see how it would work, or why they were so set on breaking in to the justice league headquarters, it was something they'd not tried to do before, or at least not with this kind of enthusiasm.
He thanked Riddler for the tea as it was handed to him and cautiously began to drink it, it was made almost exactly as Alfred made it. He frowned, continuing to internally debate what he should do.
I hope you liked the chapter, if not I am really sorry.
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