"So, let me get this straight." The Cat wonders. "This Doctor is like some ancient alien time guy?"

"Time Lord." The Riddler corrects her.

Basking in post-coital bliss, both Edward and Selina lay together on the couch. He, sprawled out on his back with one arm propped behind his head, and she, curled up right alongside him.

"Right. Time Lord." She continues, popping a dark chocolate truffle in her mouth. "And he travels around space solving crimes and saving people from these other alien bad guys?"

"Mhhmm."

Edward hums as he shovels another forkful of chocolate cake into his mouth from the paper dessert plate sitting on his chest.

"But what I don't get... If he's supposed to be this super genius, know-it-all, smartest man in the galaxy, why does he need some British bimbo following him around, pretending like she's even slightly useful?" Selina wonders, choosing between a strawberry crème and an almond praline from the box of chocolates she'd bought for herself with his money.

"Well, for starters, she's not just some bimbo, she's his companion." Edward points out, motioning with his fork towards the TV. "And second, her purpose is that she humanizes him. Being as advanced as he is, should he travel alone for too long, he'd lose all touch with humanity. Without someone to connect with, he becomes cruel and... ah... I see what you did there."

Mouth shut and cheeks full of chocolate, Selina smiles up at him proudly.

"You think you're so clever." He smirks back at her.

"Oh I know I'm so clever." With a full mouth, she returns slyly, examining the key on the inside lid of the box to figure out what flavor to pick next.

Maybe she's right. Maybe being alone for as long as he has has made him a bit of an ass, as Selina is so prone to pointing out. Humans are not solitary creatures. People need other people. They need to make connections and build relationships. And so does Edward. Otherwise, he tends to border on the psychotic if left to his own devices for too long. Or so his therapist had tried to explain to him just before he'd threatened the man's loved ones.

"This is really good cake."

Swallowing the last bite, Edward licks his fork clean. He removes the plate from his chest and places it down on the floor before brushing away all the crumbs caught in his chest hair.

Of course it isn't easy connecting with others when you're so much smarter and better than they are. Edward finds it hard to relate to all the simple, boring, mindless, everyday dullards all around him. The normal people.

And then there's Selina.

"Mmmm." The Cat purrs as she plants a kiss to the scar on his chest. "Thank you for the chocolates, by the way."

She makes him feel normal. Still very much himself, only better. More calm and clear-headed. Like he's the very best version of himself. With Selina by his side, Edward just feels... happy.

"Don't mention it." He returns with a kiss to the top of her head.

Just look at them. Staying in on a Saturday night, relaxing on the couch, watching television and eating junk food after what was quite possibly the best sex he's ever had in his whole entire life. Just like any normal couple.

Couple... As in a duo or team. A pair of close friends or lovers, perhaps? Or maybe something more.

Edward angles his head, straining his neck for a better view of her face. That lovely face he's had the pleasure of locking lips with on and off for the past couple hours. The same face of what had previously been his enemy on and off just a few hours before that...

"You want one?" Selina asks, realizing she's being watched.

Figuring that's why he's staring, the Cat offers him the last of her chocolates. Edward shakes his head no so she closes the box and tosses it onto the table right next to her gloves.

With a satisfied moan, the Cat stretches out her tired muscles and grabs the green checkered throw blanket from on top of the couch. She drags it atop her and snuggles in extra cozy to Edward, resting her head to his chest, just beneath his chin.

Edward smiles as her hair tickles at his lips. He combs the rogue tresses away from his face before gently stroking at her soft, silky hair. With a purr on her lips, Selina responds by leaning her head back and nuzzling her nose into the crook of his neck, causing Edward's stomach to twist into knots again.

"I can make people happy, I can make people cry. I can make people want me, and I can drive people crazy. What am I?" Edward softly whispers into her hair..

"Hm? You say something?"

Selina shifts her whole body so that she's now belly to belly with Edward. Arms folded beneath her, she rests her chin atop her hands to provide him with her full, undivided attention. But as Edward looks deep into her dreamy, verdant green eyes, he feels a pang of panic.

"I... I was just wondering if you were warm enough." He lies.

Words come more naturally to Edward when presented in the form of a riddle, while speaking plain and direct has always been difficult for him. Especially when those words he longs to say come from the heart.

Laying her head back down, Selina nods, rubbing her cool cheek against his chest.

"Could you imagine us like this in Rome?" She grins against his flushed skin.

"With your strict no touching rule?" Edward laughs. "Not a chance."

"That didn't stop you from trying." The Cat purrs playfully in return.

"You were much more interested in that banal blond fellow." He shrugs, staring blankly at the TV.

"Is that jealousy I detect?"

Legs entwined, Selina runs her toes up and down the length of his calf, playing with his leg hair much like a cat swishing its tail.

"I can't be jealous of someone who's no longer breathing." Something dark in him replies.

As soon as Edward says it, he regrets it immediately. Not that Christopher "The Blond" Castillo is dead. That he doesn't regret one bit. In fact, Edward's more than happy with that little nugget of information.

Selina's brutish bodyguard in Rome was a complete and total meat head, so it's little surprise that Edward never liked the guy. Not only did he have chiseled good looks, but the man was built like a linebacker. Worst of all, the Italian Stallion was always by Selina's side. He never took his eyes off her. Not that it's any of Edward's business who Selina chooses to fool around with. And yet, every time he saw the two of them together, Edward couldn't help but feel a bit betrayed somehow. Which is silly. Or maybe his feelings for Selina go back further than he'd thought.

"That was stupid. I'm sorry." Edward mutters an apology. He didn't mean to bring up her ex right after sex. "To answer your question, yes, I suppose I am being a little jealous. But in my defense, I don't think you liked me very much back then."

Edward finds himself fidgeting again. Twirling her hair around his fingers and busying himself by combing through all the tangles made from their lovemaking.

"I liked you just fine. That's why I came to you for help in the first place." Selina pokes at the question mark on his chest. "Although... Maybe I could have been a little more nice and a little less... catty."

Edward cracks a smile at her word play.

"I was going through a lot of personal stuff at the time and I guess I took it out on you." Selina admits. "Although it probably didn't help that you were drugging me the whole entire time. Jon's fear toxin does weird things to my head."

"Yeahhh... Sorry about that." Edward cringes. "If it's any consolation, I spent the entirety of the nine hour flight home locked in the lavatory terrified that clowns were going to get me. Pretty sure an air marshal had to break down the door and wrestle me out of the plane when we landed."

"Yes." Selina sucks in a giggle. "That totally makes me feel better."

Her warm laugh makes him feel a little better inside, but not quite enough. Not when Selina was right. She had come to him for help and he took advantage of her. Because of him, she'll never find the answers she was looking for. And that makes him feel horrible. Which is strange since he never feels bad about anything.

"Anyway, if you ever trust me to do business with you again, I promise not to act like a total heel." Edward offers sincerely. "It doesn't even have to be work related. If you ever need help with anything or you just want to... I don't know... get away from Gotham for a bit? We can travel around together. Maybe give Rome another try? But this time no fear gas. No hitmen. No tricks. We can even ditch the no touching rule..."

His hand slips beneath the blanket, gently caressing her bare back in a slow rhythmic motion.

"I'm over Rome." Selina purrs, leaning in to his touch. "But I'll take palm trees and little umbrella drinks any day."

"You got it."

Holding her warm body to his, Edward smiles. He hasn't a clue what the future has planned. A day? A month? A year from now and he could easily be back in Arkham. Maybe even Black Gate this time. Who knows? But just the idea of him and Selina far away from all the dirt and grime and disease of Gotham City is enough to make him all giddy inside.

"And, I suppose... If it makes you feel any better, I also have a confession." Selina confides.

Interest piqued, the Riddler raises an auburn brow.

"Oh?" He inquires.

"Nothing ever happened between us. Christopher and me." Selina replies candidly. "I mean, sure... I kissed him. But that's as far as it went. So you have nothing to be jealous about."

Well, Edward certainly wasn't expecting that.

"Nothing?" He wonders in disbelief.

"Nothing." She assures him.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Edward insists, "Are you sure?"

"I think I'd know!" Selina laughs.

"But he was all over you." Piecing together the events of their doomed business trip, Edward recalls, "I caught the two of you in bed!"

"Because he was trying to kill me, Eddie!" Selina laughs. "Something the two of you have a lot in common, actually."

Thinking hard on the subject, the Riddler becomes quiet again.

"Huh... So you never?"

"Nope." Selina grins as she lays a trail of kisses along his chest.

"But you and I?"

"Yup."

"Huh..."

The more pieces of the puzzle he puts together, the more Edward realizes just how many pieces are still missing. He was so sure they were off playing Gumby and Pokey behind the scenes and under the sheets. Not that he cared. Okay... He cared. He cared and he was jealous. And hurt. So hurt that he hurt her back. Just goes to show how much he actually knows about the Cat. If he was wrong about Rome, what else could he be wrong about?

"And what about the Bat?" Edward inquires.

"Nuh uh. We are not going there." At the mere mention of Batman, Selina freezes all over.

"So you have!?" Ed feigns surprise in a very Riddler sort of way. "You've slept with him, haven't you?"

"I already told you." She growls out a warning. "Do NOT go there, Ed."

"Well, why not? Come on!" He insists childishly. "Tell me. I promise I won't be jealous."

Even though he's playing, the thought of her and that muscle-bound idiot makes him feel sick inside.

"We're not doing this, Ed." Selina says in a serious tone.

"Fine. Then just tell me who he is." Ed offers, only half joking.

"I'm leaving."

Just as soon as she says it, he holds onto Selina tighter to keep her in place.

"Fine. Fine. Fine... No names." He coos to calm her back down. "But tell me... Am I at least bigger than him?"

Anticipating the blow, Edward flinches, and as expected, Selina elbows him right in the ribs. Not hard, but just enough for him to really feel it. Still, he laughs at his little triumph of riling her up.

"I mean, after you consider all the steroids that bloated Bat must be on, I have to be, right?"

Another jab, this time to the gut, knocking the wind right out of him, but still he howls in mad laughter.

"Fine! If not bigger, then surely I'm better!"

Playing along, Edward grabs the edges of the blanket in order to capture and contain the crazed Cat. Or at least stop her from hitting him. The pair begin to roll around on the couch and before either of them know it, they're all wrapped up in the blanket, just a tangle of limbs on the floor.

Pinned beneath him, Selina joins in the laughter. That cheerful lilting tune that fills his heart near to bursting.

"I can't be bought, but I can be stolen with a glance."

Brushing the hair from her face, Edward looks deep into Selina's eyes. Eyes he's looked at so many times before, but never truly seen until now.

"I'm worthless to one."

Their naked bodies entwined, he can feel the cadence of her heartbeat quicken as he enters her again.

"But priceless to two."

Slow and gentle, her hips rise and fall to meet his.

"What am I?"

Edward cups her face in his hand and seals the answer in his kiss.