? @riddlethistome - Tumblr Blog

Please disregard the last three posts. That was unprofessional of me.

" Let the poor boy back on your computer. Sharing his caring, Johnny. "

Absolutely not.

" You're no fun. Let little Johnny #2 have some fun. It gives you time to do..— Whatever it is you do? Let him breathe, boy. "

No. He's an IDIOT. He'll only mess everything up. Really, I oughta put him down, but The Boss wants him alive, and I don't disobey The Boss.

" Hey, I just thought a change of scenery around here would be fun. Your whole dystopian capitalistic life-story is saddening, but I still think a certain someone should take the wheel for a moment. I'll even accept passing along a ' Edward says hello! ' for me. "

...He said, and I quote, "HIIII!!".

Then he crawled up into the vents and I had to chase him down, which caused him to try and scratch my eyes out. Do you see why he shouldn't have a computer or are you too dim to understand?

" . . . "

" Let him have his fun. Bring on the animalistic Johnny clone! I think it would be fun. Don't spoil this for anyone. "

Are you fucking kidding me. Why are you so insistent???

You know what? I need to get some tasks done, anyway. Fine. You'll get what you want. This time.

" Thank you Johnny-boy! See, that wasn't so hard. You're so kind to me. I love you! "

" Mwah mwah! "

You're disgusting. I'm leaving.

I'll go get the clone.

ummmmm.... hi

the other me said somebody wanted to talk to me?????? THAT'S SO COOL !!!!! hiii !!!

" Hello! Hi, Johnny #2. "

hiii. do you want a dead rat?

" . . . "

" No. You keep that to yourself. . . I'll wash my gloves after. Sure, why not. "

ohh... ok!

i'll throw it in the trash!!!! :)

whats a gloves?

#riddler rp #how to introduce a salt lamp

" God. Gloves are what I have on my hands. The purple? Those are my gloves. "

Please disregard the last three posts. That was unprofessional of me.

" Let the poor boy back on your computer. Sharing his caring, Johnny. "

Absolutely not.

" You're no fun. Let little Johnny #2 have some fun. It gives you time to do..— Whatever it is you do? Let him breathe, boy. "

No. He's an IDIOT. He'll only mess everything up. Really, I oughta put him down, but The Boss wants him alive, and I don't disobey The Boss.

...He said, and I quote, "HIIII!!".

Then he crawled up into the vents and I had to chase him down, which caused him to try and scratch my eyes out. Do you see why he shouldn't have a computer or are you too dim to understand?

" . . . "

" Let him have his fun. Bring on the animalistic Johnny clone! I think it would be fun. Don't spoil this for anyone. "

Are you fucking kidding me. Why are you so insistent???

You know what? I need to get some tasks done, anyway. Fine. You'll get what you want. This time.

" Thank you Johnny-boy! See, that wasn't so hard. You're so kind to me. I love you! "

" Mwah mwah! "

You're disgusting. I'm leaving.

I'll go get the clone.

ummmmm.... hi

the other me said somebody wanted to talk to me?????? THAT'S SO COOL !!!!! hiii !!!

" Hello! Hi, Johnny #2. "

hiii. do you want a dead rat?

" . . . "

" No. You keep that to yourself. . . I'll wash my gloves after. Sure, why not. "

Please disregard the last three posts. That was unprofessional of me.

" Let the poor boy back on your computer. Sharing his caring, Johnny. "

Absolutely not.

" You're no fun. Let little Johnny #2 have some fun. It gives you time to do..— Whatever it is you do? Let him breathe, boy. "

No. He's an IDIOT. He'll only mess everything up. Really, I oughta put him down, but The Boss wants him alive, and I don't disobey The Boss.

...He said, and I quote, "HIIII!!".

Then he crawled up into the vents and I had to chase him down, which caused him to try and scratch my eyes out. Do you see why he shouldn't have a computer or are you too dim to understand?

" . . . "

" Let him have his fun. Bring on the animalistic Johnny clone! I think it would be fun. Don't spoil this for anyone. "

Are you fucking kidding me. Why are you so insistent???

You know what? I need to get some tasks done, anyway. Fine. You'll get what you want. This time.

" Thank you Johnny-boy! See, that wasn't so hard. You're so kind to me. I love you! "

" Mwah mwah! "

You're disgusting. I'm leaving.

I'll go get the clone.

ummmmm.... hi

the other me said somebody wanted to talk to me?????? THAT'S SO COOL !!!!! hiii !!!

" Hello! Hi, Johnny #2. "

#riddler rp #YAY

Please disregard the last three posts. That was unprofessional of me.

" Let the poor boy back on your computer. Sharing his caring, Johnny. "

Absolutely not.

" You're no fun. Let little Johnny #2 have some fun. It gives you time to do..— Whatever it is you do? Let him breathe, boy. "

No. He's an IDIOT. He'll only mess everything up. Really, I oughta put him down, but The Boss wants him alive, and I don't disobey The Boss.

...He said, and I quote, "HIIII!!".

Then he crawled up into the vents and I had to chase him down, which caused him to try and scratch my eyes out. Do you see why he shouldn't have a computer or are you too dim to understand?

" . . . "

" Let him have his fun. Bring on the animalistic Johnny clone! I think it would be fun. Don't spoil this for anyone. "

Are you fucking kidding me. Why are you so insistent???

You know what? I need to get some tasks done, anyway. Fine. You'll get what you want. This time.

" Thank you Johnny-boy! See, that wasn't so hard. You're so kind to me. I love you! "

" Mwah mwah! "

You're disgusting. I'm leaving.

I'll go get the clone.

" Finally! Let me know if you want your lunch lovingly packed for work too. "

#riddler rp #LOL

Please disregard the last three posts. That was unprofessional of me.

" Let the poor boy back on your computer. Sharing his caring, Johnny. "

Absolutely not.

" You're no fun. Let little Johnny #2 have some fun. It gives you time to do..— Whatever it is you do? Let him breathe, boy. "

No. He's an IDIOT. He'll only mess everything up. Really, I oughta put him down, but The Boss wants him alive, and I don't disobey The Boss.

...He said, and I quote, "HIIII!!".

Then he crawled up into the vents and I had to chase him down, which caused him to try and scratch my eyes out. Do you see why he shouldn't have a computer or are you too dim to understand?

" . . . "

" Let him have his fun. Bring on the animalistic Johnny clone! I think it would be fun. Don't spoil this for anyone. "

Are you fucking kidding me. Why are you so insistent???

You know what? I need to get some tasks done, anyway. Fine. You'll get what you want. This time.

" Thank you Johnny-boy! See, that wasn't so hard. You're so kind to me. I love you! "

" Mwah mwah! "

Please disregard the last three posts. That was unprofessional of me.

" Let the poor boy back on your computer. Sharing his caring, Johnny. "

Absolutely not.

" You're no fun. Let little Johnny #2 have some fun. It gives you time to do..— Whatever it is you do? Let him breathe, boy. "

No. He's an IDIOT. He'll only mess everything up. Really, I oughta put him down, but The Boss wants him alive, and I don't disobey The Boss.

...He said, and I quote, "HIIII!!".

Then he crawled up into the vents and I had to chase him down, which caused him to try and scratch my eyes out. Do you see why he shouldn't have a computer or are you too dim to understand?

" . . . "

" Let him have his fun. Bring on the animalistic Johnny clone! I think it would be fun. Don't spoil this for anyone. "

Please disregard the last three posts. That was unprofessional of me.

" Let the poor boy back on your computer. Sharing his caring, Johnny. "

Absolutely not.

" You're no fun. Let little Johnny #2 have some fun. It gives you time to do..— Whatever it is you do? Let him breathe, boy. "

No. He's an IDIOT. He'll only mess everything up. Really, I oughta put him down, but The Boss wants him alive, and I don't disobey The Boss.

#riddler rp #imagine ed on his hands and knees begging #<— he would never but its a funny thought

apchipip

Захадко

#What I imagine for my Ed #I love this artist sm #riddler rp

Please disregard the last three posts. That was unprofessional of me.

" Let the poor boy back on your computer. Sharing his caring, Johnny. "

Absolutely not.

" You're no fun. Let little Johnny #2 have some fun. It gives you time to do..— Whatever it is you do? Let him breathe, boy. "

Please disregard the last three posts. That was unprofessional of me.

#riddler rp #// i love you johnny clone

" Let the poor boy back on your computer. Sharing his caring, Johnny. "

RP STARTER I --

Johnny had left the office for the day. All of the quotas were met, therefore he had no reason to stay any later. Unless something quite unfortunate happened, which was strangely rather common. It seemed like every other day there was a catastrophe affecting the company. That was somewhat baffling to the intern in the beginning, but he had accepted it by now.

Today was slow. Surely everything would be fine.

He found himself on the sidewalk, in a grungy button up shirt and tie. His red hair was greasy and his leather jacket hung limply off his shoulders, as he had not been eating well. Work was more important than things as trivial as hunger.

His most precious journal and a disposable camera sat neatly in the bag hanging off his shoulder. Every so often he checked the bag to be sure its contents had not mysteriously disappeared.

He found himself itching for a cigarette or a drink, either would be fine, but payday wasn't until next week, and he lacked an ID. He would need to figure something else out.

It was going so well. So well!

The bombs were ticking beneath the bank. He’d set them right on his own. Edward couldn’t depend on anyone lately. Too many disputes with the other known rogues and double-faced henchmen working for other people, feeding information. He had no option, he needed this done and done right...

That's what he would say if he’d made it. Instead Edward ended up caught. Narrowly escaping the very un-athletic officers that spotted him. He was so irritated already. His temples throbbed, pain pounding itself into his head. The GCPD were stalking around every corner now. He didn’t want to know how they knew where he was going and what he was doing. Damn!

The bag shuffles with each step. Edward speed-walks down the road; hands so tightly wrapped around the bag’s strap, his knuckles were bright. His feet moved before his mind.

Eyes sharp, locked on a man. He seemed around his age from what Edward could tell.— The man rang far too many bells in his head than he’d had liked.— He would work! If he disregarded the bells.

His hands loosen, a wave of relief washing over his tense body. The Riddler— in his obnoxiously green suit— approaches the man. Purple gloved hands snap down at his shoulders. Edward shakes the man slightly, as if his touch hadn’t alerted him enough. Rustling the jacket.

“ What’s your name, sir? “ He smiled. Edward’s voice echoes across the buildings, it surrounds the men. He continues to keep himself behind him. Inspecting the unkempt looks of the younger man.

“ I believe I’ve seen you before. “

“ Haven’t I? “

Johnny has made a mistake.

Instead of being aware of his surroundings after the stunt he'd pulled a while ago, he'd allowed himself to be caught off guard. At least this wasn't the police.

Of course, he is not pleased when the man behind him starts shaking him like some kind of punching bag. In fact, he almost wants to say something about it. Johnny is not stupid, though, he knows better than to do something so impolite.

"It's Johnny," he grumbled.

His shoulders are tense and he finds his hands shaking, itching to turn around and wring the other man's neck like a wet towel. He restrains himself, however, as it would not do to behave so callously in public. Not like before. He could control himself, couldn't he? He was not a mindless, violent beast, despite how much the boss would like him to believe that.

The man thought Johnny was familiar.

That was never a good sign. Yet he figured it was to be expected.

"I don't know," he decided to play dumb. "You might have me mistaken for someone else. Who're you lookin' for?"

A slight southern drawl had slipped into his speech, barely noticeable. But it was there.

The intern figured this man was a criminal, planning to mug him. He needed to play this cautiously.

“ Well, I’m not looking for anyone. You just so happen to look familiar. — “ Edward’s smile widened as he watched the man’s hands shake. “ — Nervous? “

He patted Johnny’s shoulders one last time before pushing and pulling at him to force Johnny and him face-to-face. His face disturbed Edward. He didn’t look right. He had the face of a man drifting through life. One too many.

“ You don’t strike me as a social butterfly, why do I know you? —Johnny. Cute name. Would you be a lab rat? Or are you too busy kicking rocks and glumly walking down the street. “

Edward continued to smile in his face. Making a mockery of whatever was going through Johnny’s head. The accent strummed itself through his bones. Edward didn’t know how to feel about him. Edward always knew how to feel about people.

“ Lab rat, not in a bad way. Trust me, I’m no threat. “

His teeth clenched in his skull. His eyes flickered across each feature on his face time and time again. Edward could not categorize him. He seemed otherworldly. Almost alien.

Ed doesn’t move his hands from Johnny’s shoulders.

"No, I'm not nervous. Why would you think that?" He almost sounds convincing. The intern has gotten used to playing pretend. Lying was practically his mother tongue.

His face is set into a grimace, shoulders tensing as Edward turns him around. Of course. He's dealing with The Riddler. How unpleasant.

"I'm also wondering why you know me," he said, tone pleasant, despite the lack of cheer on his face. In fact, there's not much emotion in his expression at all. Its as if he's bored. "I don't get out much, you would be correct."

He simply continued staring The Riddler down.

"Lab rat?" He tilted his head. "Whatever for?"

A thought forced its way into his head, unbidden. This man was an annoyance. Johnny wanted to--

Hm. Now was not the time. He needed to remain in control. He was a distinguished member of society. He would not fall victim to his own mind's savage urges.

He made note of how harshly Edward was studying him. It was quite humorous to the intern. But strangely off-putting as well. Johnny simply takes the Riddler's wrists and lifts the man's hands away from his shoulders, before taking a few paces back. His face was set into a stern glare now.

His face twists into disgruntled disgust as his wrists are moved for him. Edward stubbornly takes a longer stride forward. He creeps the man toward the side of a grimy building. His height makes trapping Johnny easier, looking down at him.

“ I need someone. Just for a little help. “ Edwards voice creaks. Johnny’s back hits the brick.

“ Come on. Someone so fragile should at least be a little nicer. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Besides, I’m a tourist here. Shouldn’t you locals be a little more accommodating? “

The green suited man’s hands shoot up. Roughly, bare hands wrangle themselves into messy fabric. His nails scrape against skin beneath the under shirt. Edward pulls the man forward, closer to his face.

Fresh breath boils against Johnny’s face.— “ I know where I’ve seen you. “— He almost whispers.

“ 30. Truly impressive, especially with how idiotic the entire display was. “ Ed harshly pushed the dirty man back against the walling.

“ I figured you’d be up for a little trial.— “ He takes a deeper breath. The cold air assaulted his lungs. The cool soothes the warm, anger simmering down.

“ —Would you be so nice? “ Edward pats his hands by his sides. Politely this time around.

Oh, dear.

How frightfully rude.

Johnny's bored expression does not change even as the Riddler backs him up against a wall and grips him by the shirt. The guy's breath stank.

"Ah." Johnny took a moment to compile his thoughts, despite being in such a precarious situation. "I figured that would get around."

Johnny grit his teeth as he was shoved into the wall once more. He figured he could take this man in a fight, but did he really want to draw the attention? Did he really want to risk losing the fragile control over his psyche? It was already a fraying thread. The massacre had only delayed its snapping.

As illogical as it was, Johnny decided that yes, he'd rather risk it. Allowing himself to be disrespected in this way was unacceptable.

So, he took out his knife-- the very same one that had led thirty victims to their end-- and pressed it up against the Riddler's abdomen. "I would advise you to get your filthy hands off of me. Then we can discuss this trial of yours."

The intern figured this would either end in a fight, or the Riddler would obey his request. Either way, it didn't matter much to him.

This time, he smiles. It's all sharp teeth and contempt.

Edward’s expression dropped. He hunches over, eyes stuck to Johnny’s. He slowly moves his hands up. He stays silent for once in his life. Ed wraps his hands around Johnny’s. The knife’s handle creaking under the pressure of the men’s hands.

“ I can’t say I’m not shocked.— ” His breath huffs out, voice a little more controlled under the threat. “ —About the fact you’re actually threatening it. I was sure I’d get stabbed tonight either way. “

Edward brings his right hand to trail across Johnny. His left hand steady on the other man’s. The sleeve rustles as his hand finds purchase on his shoulder.

“ You are so interesting. Tell me, don’t you think you are too? “ He whispers. “ It’s not too ‘around’. You don’t have to worry. The police file is all one would need to know. Not many people have access to police files, you get it? “

“ I had my eye on you for a moment. Your file stood out, especially for outside of Gotham. It seems like the kind of thing you’d see plastered across the Gotham Gazette.— “

“ —Excuse the trial. It’s not terribly important but the offer still stands if you’d wish to. “

Edward’s hand squeezes Johnny’s shoulder. The other loosens around the hand wielding the knife. “ —The trial offer, not the knife. Do not stab me. “

“ You are a piece of work. Aren’t you Johnny? “

Johnny takes a sick sort of amusement in seeing Edward's reaction, and then he curses under his breath.

How many people have died under his hand? Far too many to count, that was for certain, and over far too many lifetimes. He could not quite remember how old he was, not exactly.

He's supposed to be reformed.

"i'm quite unremarkable, sorry to inform you," he says. though it seems he's not entirely 'all there' anymore. his eyes have gone sort of distant, less focused. "you've been stalking me? that's freak behavior, y'know."

the good news was his stunt wasn't too public, but even he wasn't sure how it wasn't in the papers either.

"anyway, i assume they're keeping it under wraps until they have good news," he shrugs, trying not to think about how the hands on his own hand and his shoulder feel like acid burning through his skin. like shackles chaining him in place. it was really unpleasant! "the good news being my arrest."

he looks down at the riddlers hands.

do not stab me, he said.

but his mind wanted him to. his hands shook with it.

no. no, no, he was... he was good. and a model member of society. and he was rehabilitated. the boss saved him and johnny had already been enough of a disappointment. the intern needed to- to rein it in.

"fine, then," he mumbled, absentmindedly almost. pulling the knife back and returning it to its proper place.

you are a piece of work. it was true. he knew it. the boss knew it. even his coworkers knew it. everyone would know it soon.

"i dunno why.. i don't know why i did that." he whispered this to himself, mostly. then he looked back up at the riddler. "oh. right. sorry. for almost stabbing you."

Edward’s hands stayed against Johnny’s, tracing as he put away the knife. Ed noticed the change. The sudden regret— The look of near guilt. Not a sad guilt. One as if a child caught with his hands tied. It stirred something inside him.

“ You don’t need to apologize. I’ve had my fair share of assaults. Apologizing seems inappropriate if anything.— “ Edward stopped. Skin glides across stiff cloth. Skin meets hair. “ —Especially for someone who’d done way past threatening. 30 times to be more proper. Likely more! Is it more, Johnny? “ He almost pets Johnny's head. His touch forces a drag down the other man’s hair. The question comes out more as a statement. Like Johnny was a scared animal Edward was trying to soothe.

“ You are so interesting. “

The Riddler braces his free hand on Johnny’s shoulder once again. It’s a scene you’d see between a crying child and an adult. Disgust and bile rose with each stroke of his hair. The emotional flicker of Johnny had Edward intrigued. He was going to find out what this man was.

The touch was not for comfort. It was more of a mockery than a statement. Ed bathed in the unfortunate eyes of Johnny, unreal and tense. He wanted to pick him apart.

“ You wouldn’t withstand that trial. Your brain seems too fractured. You’re smart, not smart enough. If you were truly as knowledgeable, you’d have stabbed me then and there. You’d have left me to bleed instead of quivering like an anxious dog. “

"What are you, a shrink?" Johnny's focus returned sharply with the force of his irritation, as he pulled back harshly. "Maybe I should've stabbed you, if you were gonna treat me like some fuckin' dog."

He felt disgusted. It had been.. How long, since someone had laid their hands on him without intent to harm? He could no longer remember. Even the one who used to care for him now looked at him with cold eyes.

"don't touch me," he insisted, his hands growing clammy. "what're you even here for? are you doing this just to fuck with my head?"

his hand reached for the knife. He needed to protect himself. he didn't want to hurt anyone. not anymore. not after what happened to him. But he could not allow this to continue. Could not stand for this disrespect.

"My brain is fine, I'll have you know." A flicker of doubt crossed his face. "Like I said, I am rather unremarkable. Not very interesting at all. Now if you would get to your point or move on, that would be appreciated."

he felt out of it. he couldn't quite remember what he'd been doing here, again. wasn't he supposed to be at work?

right, right, he'd left work for a break. he'd wanted a cigarette. then this man had interrupted him and-

well, now he was here.

but it felt wrong. to him. he wasn't... he wasn't supposed to be here. this place wasn't familiar anymore. he looked down at his hands. he expected blood, but there was none.

"it's fine." he whispered to himself. "it's all fine."

he kept an eye on the riddler, prepared to lash out if the man tried to lay a hand on him again.

Edward retracted his hands. He neatly put them in his pockets.

“ Some person is doubting himself. You’re a lot easier to read than you’d think. Jesus, I’m starting to think maybe you are boring. You seem fragile. I don’t like that. “ Ed’s face scrunched up, disapproval painting his expression. He watched each movement, each mannerism. He felt himself losing interest in the man.

“ You are a dog. What are you? Collared? You act it. I thought there was a challenge here. You’re an open book, a man laid before God’s judgement. Bare to the world. “

Edward thinks for a moment. Is his interest lost? Does he care to continue this? Does he care how this man rots inside? No. Why would he?

He watches the movement to the knife, debating restricting the man. As much as he’d joked about being stabbed, he did not want to be tonight. He just cleaned this specific suit after all.

“ I was thinking you were worth my time. “ He watches Johnny’s hands. Waiting for any movement. Waiting for the dog to bite.

“ Get it together, boy! “ Edward laughs.

Johnny's expression dropped into its familiar deadpan.

"You think you know everything, don't you?" He grit his teeth, his hand wrapping around the knife handle. It was a familiar weight in his hands.

Yes, he had hurt far more than thirty people.

The Riddler would be next.

Before he could stop himself, he was moving. The knife was an extension of his will, and he wanted to stab this man.

So that's what he tried to do.

What are you? Collared?

Get it together.

No. He would not take the disrespect for any longer.

He had been right about Johnny. He was nothing more than a beast, a monster. The intern wasn't sure why he'd tried to hold it back for so long.

“ That's it! “ Edward laughs loudly. Louder than he should, honestly.

The words fly around his head, suffocating him. Eyes see faster than he moves. Edward’s body jolts to the side. In his attempt to move he scuffles forward. The cold, familiar silver catches across his blazer. Crimson blood paints over green. Ed’s hands scramble to the wound, smearing blood across his jacket, staining it a murky color.

“ —And the dog still bites. Here I was thinking your teeth were cracked and forgotten. “ This wasn’t his usual talk. He wouldn’t put up with this, but when had Edward ever been his usual self?

Each breath is labored and heavy. His mind doesn’t register the pain, adrenaline following part in suit. Edward wheezes and whines. It’s a deep, guttural whine. For a man so smart he never knows when to stop. Antagonizing people was fun for him. Not Joker level insanity, but it still gave him a giddy feeling to watch someone grimace and shout.

“ I can be echoed, I can be sung again and again. I will protect you from what you have naught. “

Edward feels blood leave the wound. Each drop feels like a warm threat to lose consciousness. He says the riddle quiet and pitiful, pain slowly creeping up his neck as the high fades.

“ Are you a religious man, Johnny? Do you pray to regain what you lost? Things or otherwise. “ Ed groans. Eyes screwed shut, trying not to water.

Ed’s hunched forward over the laceration. Hand braced on Johnny, trying to keep his balance.

The man is laughing. Laughing! It's almost offensive. His taunting is really getting on Johnny's nerves. Perhaps he should silence it forever.

The red is painted across Edward's chest now, like a beautiful landscape. More, his mind tells him. "I'm not a dog," he says.

It's funny. How Edward is calling him an animal when he's crying like one. Johnny almost considers leaving him there to cry, but it protests. The thread has snapped. Johnny cannot bring himself to mend it.

"Quit your rambling," he said, attempting another slash across the chest. It was precise this time. Not wild and angry now that he had the upper hand. "Save your breath."

He notes how the Riddler is trying to hold back tears now. Leaning heavily onto Johnny. Perhaps if he stepped back, Edward would fall. Johnny almost felt bad. Almost.

"No." He never believed in a god, or gods. He never prayed. It was a waste of his time. He knows someone who did. It was strange, how a being made out of metal and wires could find comfort in something that would surely never love it. "I'm sure you'll find out whether they're real or not soon, though."

“ I’m very very scared. Don’t worry your intimidation is absolutely working. “ “ Is slashing and slicing all you can do? You brute. Is attack your first response to offense? “ Edward grits his teeth. The clench of pain scatters across his entire body. His brace loosens on Johnny, body slumping more.

“ I think you’re a dog.— That's what animals do. They attack at the first sight of an, even possible, threat.— I’m simply pointing that out. There's no reason to get violent again. Right, Johnny? “ Ed pats the other man’s shoulder, faintly smiling up at him. His mannerisms slow with each huff of breath. Blinking tears from his eyes, Edward’s hands ball into tight fists. His nails claw into the soft skin.

The greed-clad man was used to this pain.— Everyone in Gotham had to be, that's how the city ran after all. Every Gothamite knew! But this wasn’t Gotham.— Edward, rather, The Riddler staggered backwards. It was this or he fell. Viewing assailants from below wasn’t his favourite. Decidedly, grasping at the unkept bricks behind him was his only other option.

“ You are an idiot. Is there not a single thought, a single marble, bouncing around that cranium? Is there no sense in you? I’d say did nobody beat any sense into you, but considering how quick you are to pull a blade. I’d think not. “ Edward’s voice cracked and winced.

He hunches down into a squat. Hands scramble at the neat hemming of his pant leg, blood smears across his socks as he lifts the pants. A small blade slides out from the garter.

Edward straightens himself upward once again, wound shooting pain down his legs.

The sarcasm was unappreciated. Johnny's face fell into a frown and he breathed out through his nose. "Please, shut up. All you do is go on and on. It's rather boring. You might just kill me by inducing a terrible headache from your constant babble."

Despite his air of disinterest, it was clear Edward's insults had struck a nerve. The Riddler was pissing him off, and Johnny would really like for this whole conflict to be over and dealt with-- preferably, he would like to win.

Maybe he would, soon. Judging by the tears and the fact Edward tried to use him for balance, but stumbled instead. "Feeling dizzy?" He wondered aloud. "Or are you just clumsy?" His eyes narrowed when he noticed the bricks. He took a step or two back. It wouldn't do for him to get knocked in the head with one.

He should've expected the sock knife, really. Of course Edward would have a knife in his sock. Johnny wondered if the knife smelled like socks, too.

"Is that the only thing you know how to say?" He figured that Edward would likely attack him soon, so he got ready to defend himself rather than go for another hit. "It's starting to seem like all you are doing is calling me a dog and an idiot. Shouldn't you get more creative?"

Of course, it hurt.

The Riddler was unknowingly re-opening a recent wound. Not very long ago, Johnny and his... No, the robot had gotten into a similar conflict. The robot had called him similar names. However, the difference here was that Edward wasn't worth caring about. So really, Johnny needed to get over it.

Sure. Maybe the one thing he had loved was no longer in his life-- that was fair-- but Johnny didn't care. He didn't. No, not at all. He was totally, completely apathetic. Trust him. He would never lie to you. Johnny definitely isn't an unreliable narrator, no way.

Edward’s heart pounds in his chest. His ribs rattle and sing with each wince of pain. Hand tightens.

“ I think I’m pretty creative. It takes such creativity to do what I do. No? A dog and an idiot. It’s what you are! You know it too! — “ Edward rambles. His rambles drag on as he moves. Con is all he can resort to now. His words flood out in panicked over-explanations.

The knife perks up in his hand, jabbing to gesture at Johnny.

“ — It’s how things are. It’s how they’re been! Wouldn’t you know? “

Edward shifts back on his feet, using his overbearing chatter as a distraction. His hands scramble against the wall. Fingers graze against concrete and ground. Finally he grasps at a loose brick, firmly pulling it from its space in the wall.

“ You know— I think I can be very creative. “ He begins.

“ Have you ever gotten knocked flat by a knife? A hard, gross, sturdy knife? “ A humorous grin splits Ed’s face. His words giggle out at the ending, curving and stuttering.

Edward hurls up the hand holding the brick. Knife pulled back as the brick flies from his hand,

Before a response can leave Johnny’s lips; the prior brick makes direct contact with his skull, striking his right temple head-on. The brick scrapes his skin before falling to the sidewalk.

“ Ha—h! “ Ed laughs.

He knew he should've paid more attention.

The brick hits him right in the head and he finds himself crumpling to the ground. The knife slips from his hand and away from him, somewhere on the concrete.

"God- fuck!" His hand reaches up and his fingers come away stained with blood. It's dripping down his forehead now.

Lord, he's far too dizzy to move all of a sudden. He fears he may have been concussed, judging by the stars that are now dotting his vision and the aforementioned dizziness.

"I'm gonna fucking kill you," he mumbles. Though he can't quite back up that threat at the moment, considering he's practically groveling on the floor right now. God, that hurts.

“ Huh. I was sure you’d pass out quicker. You just love making things difficult don’t you, Johnny? “ Ed strides toward him, confidence gaining quickly once again.

The wound is clotted and still bleeding. He shouldn’t strain himself too much, or move a ton. But who’s to stop him?

Edward braces each foot on either side of Johnny. He stares down at him, eyes peering above his glasses. Ed kicks Johnny’s knife away from him. It slides somewhere, skidding itself against a wall to be forgotten.

“ Now that this is going how I’d like. I apologize for ruining that pretty face, there was really no other way to get you to come along. You’re going to come with me! No, you do not have a choice this time. Though, I did think you'd be unconscious by now. “ Edward faux pouts, cheeks puffing out immaturely.

“ No biggie. “ He squats down. Shifting his knees, he kneels on Johnny.

A hand comes over the other man’s face. Blood smears between Ed’s hand and his forehead as he lifts his head gently. Fingers tangle deep into Johnny’s hair.

“ So, so sorry. — “ Edward continues his pout. He slams down Johnny’s head against the rough concrete. It’s not ‘brain injury’ force, but enough to rattle the other man. Edward’s frown flips into a smile. Eyes forming into thin lines.

He looms above Johnny from where he’s straddled. “ — You’re one tough egg to crack. Probably not the best metaphor. I’m not trying to crack you, I just need you in a state to comply. “

Edward laughs at his own joke. The laugh cuts short as a groan rips through him, wound pulsing and stinging once again.

He really needs to listen to himself.

Johnny does try to crawl away, though that doesn't really work considering the Riddler has grabbed him by now. "What, y'think I'm just going to make it easy?"

He tries to kick the Riddler off but his legs won't quite cooperate with him. He's dizzy. It's too bright.

"I'm not fucking going anywhere with you."

He tries to bite Edward's hand, like the feral dog Ed believes him to be.

This is all a big mistake. He was starting to regret leaving the office. It seemed that even outside of it, disasters would still happen. Maybe he really was an idiot. God damn it.

Johnny was starting to believe he was cursed.

Before he knows it, he's being hit again. His head slams into the ground beneath him, and he's pretty sure he sees double. His vision goes nearly black for a second, but then he's reaching up, trying to make Edward let go.

It's quite a feeble attempt, unfortunately. He's pretty sure another hit's going to knock him right out. That'd be bad. For him. Not for the Riddler, probably. That was obviously what he wanted.

Johnny tried to think, through the adrenaline and the thick soup of his thoughts. What could Edward want with him? He knew about Johnny's massacre. He'd commented on it. Had asked him for help with an "experiment". He needs Johnny to comply. Comply with what? He wasn't quite sure. Besides, that didn't matter now. He needed to get out of this, preferably without any further injury.

“ — Oh I don’t think you have a choice! “ Edward grits his teeth. A biter, huh? Ed brings his other hand forward, both hands cradling the sides of Johnny’s head.

“ You’re going to come with me. You do not have a choice. Stop being a stubborn little — “ Ed’s breath shocks out. “ — fuck! “

Edward’s hands run up the sides of his head, wrapping around greasy hair. He brings his face to Johnny’s. “ God! Do a man a favor! “

Ed tugs at the hair. He feels a few strands rip from the soft scalp, loosening in his grasp. His firm grip allows him to pull Johnny forward. Edward has to wrangle around, pulling himself off Johnny. A tangle of limbs shoots pain through him. Ed wraps an arm around the back of the other man, pulling his hair back tight. Edward’s own knife pulled up to press against the grimy skin of Johnny’s neck. He brings his head onto his shoulder, breath punching itself against his ear.

“ Come on, behave. “ He scowls. Kicking Johnny’s legs out, pulling both men upright.

“ We’re going to go to my car. You will get in the back, you will not ruin the leather of my seats, and we will be fine. “ The strain of pulling, pushing, and tugging the weight of Johnny opens the clotted, bloodied wound once again.

The men are a mess of bruises, blood and dirt. Trudging along the sidewalk, Edward half-drags the mostly conscious Johnny.

He yelps when his hair is pulled out. His precious hair! He can't believe it. He's going to freak the fuck out if he ends up with a bald spot, or something. He takes better care of his hair than he does the rest of him, so it's important to him that it stays undamaged and on his head, thanks.

"Watch it, stupid!" He complains, trying to somehow get away. But no. It seems like that wasn't in the cards today, because the Riddler manages to get him onto his feet.

He feels the cold steel of a knife against his neck.

Do it.

He goes still, his struggling stopping because of the threat.

Do it, Johnny. Let the blood flow. It'll make all of this stop. Don't you want that?

He ignores the whispering. He doesn't want to go back yet. Doesn't want to see the worry in his "eyes" when Johnny walks through that front door, good as new, lacking all of his current wear and tear. Doesn't want to deal with the inevitable questions, like 'how did you die?!' and 'who did it to you?!' and all of that useless jabber.

He feels his legs get kicked out from under him and then the Riddler is dragging him towards a car. "What's even th' point of kidnapping me?!" His words are ever so slightly slurred. Edward messed him up good.

He doesn't know how he's going to avoid messing up Edward's leather seats when he's actively bleeding out of his head, but whatever.

DO IT, JOHNNY.

"Shut it," he mumbles, mostly to himself, though it could be mistakenly assumed that he's speaking to Edward. He squeezes his eyes shut. It's too bright. The world is spinning. The constant whispering of it is starting to piss him off. Like a little devil in his ear, perpetually whispering and telling him what to do over and over and over and over and over.

He finds it hard to struggle too much so it's relatively simple to get Johnny to the car. He's a bit too out of it to fight much. What a shame.

Edward’s car is neat: Clean paint, green outer coloring, deep leather seats, everything inside kept in prime condition. It seems almost freshly made if not for the smell of cigarettes and overly floral perfume. Dirt is caked on the wheels, he hadn’t a chance to wash it. The smell assaults Edward’s nose, his head pounding relentlessly.

Ed shoves Johnny into the back seat. Leather squeaks against fabric as he’s bent and rushed into the car. He kicks Johnny’s foot into the car before climbing in the back with him, his leg propped on Johnny’s thigh. He reaches over the other man and into the passenger seat. Black jumper cables emerge, they’re scuffed and heavily broken beyond its proper use, aluminum wires bursting out of small slits. Edward grabs Johnny’s wrists. He forces him forward and loops the cables around the pole within the seat’s headrest. The cable is sharp and cuts against Johnny’s wrists, it’s tight to keep him bound.

“ I still can’t trust you. I need you on your best behaviour. Hence the anti-escape rope, if you want to call it rope. I just call it my ‘keep-your-ass-in-that-seat jumper cables.’ “ Ed climbs out of the car, his wide smile creeping back on his face now that he’s regained his control.

He slams the door shut, hoping he hasn’t crushed Johnny, he goes to the passenger seat. This time simply walking over rather than stretching himself. Ed opens the door with a grunt and reaches underneath the seat. Holding a small, black case, he shuts the door gently.

Once he’s found his way to the driver's seat, Edward opens the case to reveal an array of gauze, alcohol wipes, band aids and medical needles complimented with other random needs. He reaches inside and pulls out a small band aid.

He opens it carelessly and throws the wrapper behind him, hitting Johnny. Once the protection is removed he twists backwards and sticks it onto the other man’s forehead, missing any injury or anything in real need of coverage.

“ There you go. Aren’t I the sweetest? “ He mocks.

Edward turns back around, hand returning to the case. He grabs gauze and a longer roll of bandages. He unbuttons his blazer and untucks his shirt. Pulling up the shirt he applies the gauze to the wound, gently pressing against it, groaning at the dull ache. The gauze pulls away with its front covered in muddy, half-dried blood. Edward places the gauze back and haphazardly wraps the bandages around his torso, wishing on every star he can name that it will keep it in place.

It’ll work for now. It’ll have to!

Shoving the case back under the seat, Ed fixes his clothes and adjusts himself in the seat.

“ If you’re good enough, you can be treated by Dr. Nygma too. But he doesn’t work with rowdy patients. So work with me here. “ Edward scrambles for the keys, they were somewhere in his blazer. He just didn’t know where.

The ropes hurt, and he could feel the little wires digging into his skin. He figured that if he tried to get out, he'd end up actually cutting himself. Bleeding everywhere. More than he was.

The fact Edward was going through all this trouble told Johnny that whatever it was had to be serious.

Johnny kept his eyes on Ed as the guy moved to the drivers seat, though his vision kept going in and out of focus and the world was spinning. He tried to twist his face out of the way when the other man reached out with the bandaid, but of course, that was useless.

"No." He grumbled. "You are the opposite of sweet."

He also watched Edward treat his own wounds. Since when was the guy a doctor, anyway? Johnny doubted someone like The Riddler would've gone to medical school.

Still.

Edward was offering to actually treat him too.

Johnny was pretty sure he was bleeding out of his head. It wasn't pretty. But he didn't really care too much. He usually always had some amount of blood on him.

Most of the time it was never his own, though.

It killed his pride, having to play nice. To grovel. He wasn't the kind of guy to lick the boots of anyone else.

Yes, you are, Johnny.

He could play nice.

Can you really?

He wanted to lash out at the Voice. To force it to leave. He was better than this. Better than giving into his impulses.

So instead of listening to it, instead of reacting to it, he focused on the present situation in front of him. He knew medical attention would benefit him in the long run. "Fine."

#riddler rp #a non-gay response from yours truly

Edward rustles around in his pockets, eventually a clink leads him to the keys. He pulls them out of his pockets. The blazer falls from his shoulders, neatly folded and placed in the passenger seat. Ed finally rolls up his sleeves, hands returning to the wheel.

The car springs to life once the keys are inserted. The radio sputters and a static pierces the air. Edward scrunches his face, head throbbing, he fiddles with the dials. “ God, I need to fix that. I do not want to buy a new radio, it’ll ruin the interior. “ A soft melody flows out of the small speakers, a small static fuzzing the sounds. Edward continues to babble about car repairs and classic modeling. His words prattle on and on.

Ed finally pulls back. The car’s tires slide across gravel in a less than graceful manner. He pulls around corners. Edward’s hands tap at the wheel to the beat of whatever show-tune song had turned on.

“ You better consider yourself lucky. I was going to strip those cables. Perfect material for crafting my needs, right? I put them to use for you. You’re welcome. “ He holds his chin high, as if being kidnapped was a luxury. His head briefly turns back to Johnny. Hoping to see some kind of annoyance or depravity.

“ Let me reiterate what I need of you. I need you to help me, in a way you likely wouldn’t in any other circumstance, but my point still stands. You don’t know too much of me. I need that in someone! — “ Edward’s voice wavers and his hands clench at the wheel. “ — You are going to be of great help. I doubt someone like you has any say to authority. Typically police don’t like to listen to men with bloody knuckles. “

He hums as they drive. Eyes glance around as they pass through sketchy allies with their only decor being graffiti, litter and rot.

RP STARTER I --

Today was slow. Surely everything would be fine.

His most precious journal and a disposable camera sat neatly in the bag hanging off his shoulder. Every so often he checked the bag to be sure its contents had not mysteriously disappeared.

He found himself itching for a cigarette or a drink, either would be fine, but payday wasn't until next week, and he lacked an ID. He would need to figure something else out.

It was going so well. So well!

The bag shuffles with each step. Edward speed-walks down the road; hands so tightly wrapped around the bag’s strap, his knuckles were bright. His feet moved before his mind.

Eyes sharp, locked on a man. He seemed around his age from what Edward could tell.— The man rang far too many bells in his head than he’d had liked.— He would work! If he disregarded the bells.

“ I believe I’ve seen you before. “

“ Haven’t I? “

Johnny has made a mistake.

Instead of being aware of his surroundings after the stunt he'd pulled a while ago, he'd allowed himself to be caught off guard. At least this wasn't the police.

"It's Johnny," he grumbled.

The man thought Johnny was familiar.

That was never a good sign. Yet he figured it was to be expected.

"I don't know," he decided to play dumb. "You might have me mistaken for someone else. Who're you lookin' for?"

A slight southern drawl had slipped into his speech, barely noticeable. But it was there.

The intern figured this man was a criminal, planning to mug him. He needed to play this cautiously.

“ Well, I’m not looking for anyone. You just so happen to look familiar. — “ Edward’s smile widened as he watched the man’s hands shake. “ — Nervous? “

“ You don’t strike me as a social butterfly, why do I know you? —Johnny. Cute name. Would you be a lab rat? Or are you too busy kicking rocks and glumly walking down the street. “

“ Lab rat, not in a bad way. Trust me, I’m no threat. “

His teeth clenched in his skull. His eyes flickered across each feature on his face time and time again. Edward could not categorize him. He seemed otherworldly. Almost alien.

Ed doesn’t move his hands from Johnny’s shoulders.

"No, I'm not nervous. Why would you think that?" He almost sounds convincing. The intern has gotten used to playing pretend. Lying was practically his mother tongue.

His face is set into a grimace, shoulders tensing as Edward turns him around. Of course. He's dealing with The Riddler. How unpleasant.

He simply continued staring The Riddler down.

"Lab rat?" He tilted his head. "Whatever for?"

A thought forced its way into his head, unbidden. This man was an annoyance. Johnny wanted to--

Hm. Now was not the time. He needed to remain in control. He was a distinguished member of society. He would not fall victim to his own mind's savage urges.

“ I need someone. Just for a little help. “ Edwards voice creaks. Johnny’s back hits the brick.

“ Come on. Someone so fragile should at least be a little nicer. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Besides, I’m a tourist here. Shouldn’t you locals be a little more accommodating? “

Fresh breath boils against Johnny’s face.— “ I know where I’ve seen you. “— He almost whispers.

“ 30. Truly impressive, especially with how idiotic the entire display was. “ Ed harshly pushed the dirty man back against the walling.

“ I figured you’d be up for a little trial.— “ He takes a deeper breath. The cold air assaulted his lungs. The cool soothes the warm, anger simmering down.

“ —Would you be so nice? “ Edward pats his hands by his sides. Politely this time around.

Oh, dear.

How frightfully rude.

Johnny's bored expression does not change even as the Riddler backs him up against a wall and grips him by the shirt. The guy's breath stank.

"Ah." Johnny took a moment to compile his thoughts, despite being in such a precarious situation. "I figured that would get around."

As illogical as it was, Johnny decided that yes, he'd rather risk it. Allowing himself to be disrespected in this way was unacceptable.

The intern figured this would either end in a fight, or the Riddler would obey his request. Either way, it didn't matter much to him.

This time, he smiles. It's all sharp teeth and contempt.

Edward brings his right hand to trail across Johnny. His left hand steady on the other man’s. The sleeve rustles as his hand finds purchase on his shoulder.

“ I had my eye on you for a moment. Your file stood out, especially for outside of Gotham. It seems like the kind of thing you’d see plastered across the Gotham Gazette.— “

“ —Excuse the trial. It’s not terribly important but the offer still stands if you’d wish to. “

Edward’s hand squeezes Johnny’s shoulder. The other loosens around the hand wielding the knife. “ —The trial offer, not the knife. Do not stab me. “

“ You are a piece of work. Aren’t you Johnny? “

Johnny takes a sick sort of amusement in seeing Edward's reaction, and then he curses under his breath.

How many people have died under his hand? Far too many to count, that was for certain, and over far too many lifetimes. He could not quite remember how old he was, not exactly.

He's supposed to be reformed.

the good news was his stunt wasn't too public, but even he wasn't sure how it wasn't in the papers either.

he looks down at the riddlers hands.

do not stab me, he said.

but his mind wanted him to. his hands shook with it.

"fine, then," he mumbled, absentmindedly almost. pulling the knife back and returning it to its proper place.

you are a piece of work. it was true. he knew it. the boss knew it. even his coworkers knew it. everyone would know it soon.

"i dunno why.. i don't know why i did that." he whispered this to himself, mostly. then he looked back up at the riddler. "oh. right. sorry. for almost stabbing you."

“ You are so interesting. “

The touch was not for comfort. It was more of a mockery than a statement. Ed bathed in the unfortunate eyes of Johnny, unreal and tense. He wanted to pick him apart.

"don't touch me," he insisted, his hands growing clammy. "what're you even here for? are you doing this just to fuck with my head?"

he felt out of it. he couldn't quite remember what he'd been doing here, again. wasn't he supposed to be at work?

right, right, he'd left work for a break. he'd wanted a cigarette. then this man had interrupted him and-

well, now he was here.

but it felt wrong. to him. he wasn't... he wasn't supposed to be here. this place wasn't familiar anymore. he looked down at his hands. he expected blood, but there was none.

"it's fine." he whispered to himself. "it's all fine."

he kept an eye on the riddler, prepared to lash out if the man tried to lay a hand on him again.

Edward retracted his hands. He neatly put them in his pockets.

“ You are a dog. What are you? Collared? You act it. I thought there was a challenge here. You’re an open book, a man laid before God’s judgement. Bare to the world. “

Edward thinks for a moment. Is his interest lost? Does he care to continue this? Does he care how this man rots inside? No. Why would he?

He watches the movement to the knife, debating restricting the man. As much as he’d joked about being stabbed, he did not want to be tonight. He just cleaned this specific suit after all.

“ I was thinking you were worth my time. “ He watches Johnny’s hands. Waiting for any movement. Waiting for the dog to bite.

“ Get it together, boy! “ Edward laughs.

Johnny's expression dropped into its familiar deadpan.

"You think you know everything, don't you?" He grit his teeth, his hand wrapping around the knife handle. It was a familiar weight in his hands.

Yes, he had hurt far more than thirty people.

The Riddler would be next.

Before he could stop himself, he was moving. The knife was an extension of his will, and he wanted to stab this man.

So that's what he tried to do.

What are you? Collared?

Get it together.

No. He would not take the disrespect for any longer.

He had been right about Johnny. He was nothing more than a beast, a monster. The intern wasn't sure why he'd tried to hold it back for so long.

“ That's it! “ Edward laughs loudly. Louder than he should, honestly.

“ I can be echoed, I can be sung again and again. I will protect you from what you have naught. “

Edward feels blood leave the wound. Each drop feels like a warm threat to lose consciousness. He says the riddle quiet and pitiful, pain slowly creeping up his neck as the high fades.

“ Are you a religious man, Johnny? Do you pray to regain what you lost? Things or otherwise. “ Ed groans. Eyes screwed shut, trying not to water.

Ed’s hunched forward over the laceration. Hand braced on Johnny, trying to keep his balance.

The man is laughing. Laughing! It's almost offensive. His taunting is really getting on Johnny's nerves. Perhaps he should silence it forever.

The red is painted across Edward's chest now, like a beautiful landscape. More, his mind tells him. "I'm not a dog," he says.

"Quit your rambling," he said, attempting another slash across the chest. It was precise this time. Not wild and angry now that he had the upper hand. "Save your breath."

He notes how the Riddler is trying to hold back tears now. Leaning heavily onto Johnny. Perhaps if he stepped back, Edward would fall. Johnny almost felt bad. Almost.

He hunches down into a squat. Hands scramble at the neat hemming of his pant leg, blood smears across his socks as he lifts the pants. A small blade slides out from the garter.

Edward straightens himself upward once again, wound shooting pain down his legs.

He should've expected the sock knife, really. Of course Edward would have a knife in his sock. Johnny wondered if the knife smelled like socks, too.

Of course, it hurt.

Edward’s heart pounds in his chest. His ribs rattle and sing with each wince of pain. Hand tightens.

The knife perks up in his hand, jabbing to gesture at Johnny.

“ — It’s how things are. It’s how they’re been! Wouldn’t you know? “

“ You know— I think I can be very creative. “ He begins.

“ Have you ever gotten knocked flat by a knife? A hard, gross, sturdy knife? “ A humorous grin splits Ed’s face. His words giggle out at the ending, curving and stuttering.

Edward hurls up the hand holding the brick. Knife pulled back as the brick flies from his hand,

Before a response can leave Johnny’s lips; the prior brick makes direct contact with his skull, striking his right temple head-on. The brick scrapes his skin before falling to the sidewalk.

“ Ha—h! “ Ed laughs.

He knew he should've paid more attention.

The brick hits him right in the head and he finds himself crumpling to the ground. The knife slips from his hand and away from him, somewhere on the concrete.

"God- fuck!" His hand reaches up and his fingers come away stained with blood. It's dripping down his forehead now.

Lord, he's far too dizzy to move all of a sudden. He fears he may have been concussed, judging by the stars that are now dotting his vision and the aforementioned dizziness.

"I'm gonna fucking kill you," he mumbles. Though he can't quite back up that threat at the moment, considering he's practically groveling on the floor right now. God, that hurts.

“ Huh. I was sure you’d pass out quicker. You just love making things difficult don’t you, Johnny? “ Ed strides toward him, confidence gaining quickly once again.

The wound is clotted and still bleeding. He shouldn’t strain himself too much, or move a ton. But who’s to stop him?

“ No biggie. “ He squats down. Shifting his knees, he kneels on Johnny.

A hand comes over the other man’s face. Blood smears between Ed’s hand and his forehead as he lifts his head gently. Fingers tangle deep into Johnny’s hair.

He looms above Johnny from where he’s straddled. “ — You’re one tough egg to crack. Probably not the best metaphor. I’m not trying to crack you, I just need you in a state to comply. “

Edward laughs at his own joke. The laugh cuts short as a groan rips through him, wound pulsing and stinging once again.

He really needs to listen to himself.

Johnny does try to crawl away, though that doesn't really work considering the Riddler has grabbed him by now. "What, y'think I'm just going to make it easy?"

He tries to kick the Riddler off but his legs won't quite cooperate with him. He's dizzy. It's too bright.

"I'm not fucking going anywhere with you."

He tries to bite Edward's hand, like the feral dog Ed believes him to be.

This is all a big mistake. He was starting to regret leaving the office. It seemed that even outside of it, disasters would still happen. Maybe he really was an idiot. God damn it.

Johnny was starting to believe he was cursed.

It's quite a feeble attempt, unfortunately. He's pretty sure another hit's going to knock him right out. That'd be bad. For him. Not for the Riddler, probably. That was obviously what he wanted.

“ — Oh I don’t think you have a choice! “ Edward grits his teeth. A biter, huh? Ed brings his other hand forward, both hands cradling the sides of Johnny’s head.

“ You’re going to come with me. You do not have a choice. Stop being a stubborn little — “ Ed’s breath shocks out. “ — fuck! “

Edward’s hands run up the sides of his head, wrapping around greasy hair. He brings his face to Johnny’s. “ God! Do a man a favor! “

“ Come on, behave. “ He scowls. Kicking Johnny’s legs out, pulling both men upright.

The men are a mess of bruises, blood and dirt. Trudging along the sidewalk, Edward half-drags the mostly conscious Johnny.

"Watch it, stupid!" He complains, trying to somehow get away. But no. It seems like that wasn't in the cards today, because the Riddler manages to get him onto his feet.

He feels the cold steel of a knife against his neck.

Do it.

He goes still, his struggling stopping because of the threat.

Do it, Johnny. Let the blood flow. It'll make all of this stop. Don't you want that?

He doesn't know how he's going to avoid messing up Edward's leather seats when he's actively bleeding out of his head, but whatever.

DO IT, JOHNNY.

He finds it hard to struggle too much so it's relatively simple to get Johnny to the car. He's a bit too out of it to fight much. What a shame.

#riddler rp #luv u johnny #LOL

“ There you go. Aren’t I the sweetest? “ He mocks.

It’ll work for now. It’ll have to!

Shoving the case back under the seat, Ed fixes his clothes and adjusts himself in the seat.

RP STARTER I --

Today was slow. Surely everything would be fine.

His most precious journal and a disposable camera sat neatly in the bag hanging off his shoulder. Every so often he checked the bag to be sure its contents had not mysteriously disappeared.

He found himself itching for a cigarette or a drink, either would be fine, but payday wasn't until next week, and he lacked an ID. He would need to figure something else out.

It was going so well. So well!

The bag shuffles with each step. Edward speed-walks down the road; hands so tightly wrapped around the bag’s strap, his knuckles were bright. His feet moved before his mind.

Eyes sharp, locked on a man. He seemed around his age from what Edward could tell.— The man rang far too many bells in his head than he’d had liked.— He would work! If he disregarded the bells.

“ I believe I’ve seen you before. “

“ Haven’t I? “

Johnny has made a mistake.

Instead of being aware of his surroundings after the stunt he'd pulled a while ago, he'd allowed himself to be caught off guard. At least this wasn't the police.

"It's Johnny," he grumbled.

The man thought Johnny was familiar.

That was never a good sign. Yet he figured it was to be expected.

"I don't know," he decided to play dumb. "You might have me mistaken for someone else. Who're you lookin' for?"

A slight southern drawl had slipped into his speech, barely noticeable. But it was there.

The intern figured this man was a criminal, planning to mug him. He needed to play this cautiously.

“ Well, I’m not looking for anyone. You just so happen to look familiar. — “ Edward’s smile widened as he watched the man’s hands shake. “ — Nervous? “

“ You don’t strike me as a social butterfly, why do I know you? —Johnny. Cute name. Would you be a lab rat? Or are you too busy kicking rocks and glumly walking down the street. “

“ Lab rat, not in a bad way. Trust me, I’m no threat. “

His teeth clenched in his skull. His eyes flickered across each feature on his face time and time again. Edward could not categorize him. He seemed otherworldly. Almost alien.

Ed doesn’t move his hands from Johnny’s shoulders.

"No, I'm not nervous. Why would you think that?" He almost sounds convincing. The intern has gotten used to playing pretend. Lying was practically his mother tongue.

His face is set into a grimace, shoulders tensing as Edward turns him around. Of course. He's dealing with The Riddler. How unpleasant.

He simply continued staring The Riddler down.

"Lab rat?" He tilted his head. "Whatever for?"

A thought forced its way into his head, unbidden. This man was an annoyance. Johnny wanted to--

Hm. Now was not the time. He needed to remain in control. He was a distinguished member of society. He would not fall victim to his own mind's savage urges.

“ I need someone. Just for a little help. “ Edwards voice creaks. Johnny’s back hits the brick.

“ Come on. Someone so fragile should at least be a little nicer. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Besides, I’m a tourist here. Shouldn’t you locals be a little more accommodating? “

Fresh breath boils against Johnny’s face.— “ I know where I’ve seen you. “— He almost whispers.

“ 30. Truly impressive, especially with how idiotic the entire display was. “ Ed harshly pushed the dirty man back against the walling.

“ I figured you’d be up for a little trial.— “ He takes a deeper breath. The cold air assaulted his lungs. The cool soothes the warm, anger simmering down.

“ —Would you be so nice? “ Edward pats his hands by his sides. Politely this time around.

Oh, dear.

How frightfully rude.

Johnny's bored expression does not change even as the Riddler backs him up against a wall and grips him by the shirt. The guy's breath stank.

"Ah." Johnny took a moment to compile his thoughts, despite being in such a precarious situation. "I figured that would get around."

As illogical as it was, Johnny decided that yes, he'd rather risk it. Allowing himself to be disrespected in this way was unacceptable.

The intern figured this would either end in a fight, or the Riddler would obey his request. Either way, it didn't matter much to him.

This time, he smiles. It's all sharp teeth and contempt.

Edward brings his right hand to trail across Johnny. His left hand steady on the other man’s. The sleeve rustles as his hand finds purchase on his shoulder.

“ I had my eye on you for a moment. Your file stood out, especially for outside of Gotham. It seems like the kind of thing you’d see plastered across the Gotham Gazette.— “

“ —Excuse the trial. It’s not terribly important but the offer still stands if you’d wish to. “

Edward’s hand squeezes Johnny’s shoulder. The other loosens around the hand wielding the knife. “ —The trial offer, not the knife. Do not stab me. “

“ You are a piece of work. Aren’t you Johnny? “

Johnny takes a sick sort of amusement in seeing Edward's reaction, and then he curses under his breath.

How many people have died under his hand? Far too many to count, that was for certain, and over far too many lifetimes. He could not quite remember how old he was, not exactly.

He's supposed to be reformed.

the good news was his stunt wasn't too public, but even he wasn't sure how it wasn't in the papers either.

he looks down at the riddlers hands.

do not stab me, he said.

but his mind wanted him to. his hands shook with it.

"fine, then," he mumbled, absentmindedly almost. pulling the knife back and returning it to its proper place.

you are a piece of work. it was true. he knew it. the boss knew it. even his coworkers knew it. everyone would know it soon.

"i dunno why.. i don't know why i did that." he whispered this to himself, mostly. then he looked back up at the riddler. "oh. right. sorry. for almost stabbing you."

“ You are so interesting. “

The touch was not for comfort. It was more of a mockery than a statement. Ed bathed in the unfortunate eyes of Johnny, unreal and tense. He wanted to pick him apart.

"don't touch me," he insisted, his hands growing clammy. "what're you even here for? are you doing this just to fuck with my head?"

he felt out of it. he couldn't quite remember what he'd been doing here, again. wasn't he supposed to be at work?

right, right, he'd left work for a break. he'd wanted a cigarette. then this man had interrupted him and-

well, now he was here.

but it felt wrong. to him. he wasn't... he wasn't supposed to be here. this place wasn't familiar anymore. he looked down at his hands. he expected blood, but there was none.

"it's fine." he whispered to himself. "it's all fine."

he kept an eye on the riddler, prepared to lash out if the man tried to lay a hand on him again.

Edward retracted his hands. He neatly put them in his pockets.

“ You are a dog. What are you? Collared? You act it. I thought there was a challenge here. You’re an open book, a man laid before God’s judgement. Bare to the world. “

Edward thinks for a moment. Is his interest lost? Does he care to continue this? Does he care how this man rots inside? No. Why would he?

He watches the movement to the knife, debating restricting the man. As much as he’d joked about being stabbed, he did not want to be tonight. He just cleaned this specific suit after all.

“ I was thinking you were worth my time. “ He watches Johnny’s hands. Waiting for any movement. Waiting for the dog to bite.

“ Get it together, boy! “ Edward laughs.

Johnny's expression dropped into its familiar deadpan.

"You think you know everything, don't you?" He grit his teeth, his hand wrapping around the knife handle. It was a familiar weight in his hands.

Yes, he had hurt far more than thirty people.

The Riddler would be next.

Before he could stop himself, he was moving. The knife was an extension of his will, and he wanted to stab this man.

So that's what he tried to do.

What are you? Collared?

Get it together.

No. He would not take the disrespect for any longer.

He had been right about Johnny. He was nothing more than a beast, a monster. The intern wasn't sure why he'd tried to hold it back for so long.

“ That's it! “ Edward laughs loudly. Louder than he should, honestly.

“ I can be echoed, I can be sung again and again. I will protect you from what you have naught. “

Edward feels blood leave the wound. Each drop feels like a warm threat to lose consciousness. He says the riddle quiet and pitiful, pain slowly creeping up his neck as the high fades.

“ Are you a religious man, Johnny? Do you pray to regain what you lost? Things or otherwise. “ Ed groans. Eyes screwed shut, trying not to water.

Ed’s hunched forward over the laceration. Hand braced on Johnny, trying to keep his balance.

The man is laughing. Laughing! It's almost offensive. His taunting is really getting on Johnny's nerves. Perhaps he should silence it forever.

The red is painted across Edward's chest now, like a beautiful landscape. More, his mind tells him. "I'm not a dog," he says.

"Quit your rambling," he said, attempting another slash across the chest. It was precise this time. Not wild and angry now that he had the upper hand. "Save your breath."

He notes how the Riddler is trying to hold back tears now. Leaning heavily onto Johnny. Perhaps if he stepped back, Edward would fall. Johnny almost felt bad. Almost.

He hunches down into a squat. Hands scramble at the neat hemming of his pant leg, blood smears across his socks as he lifts the pants. A small blade slides out from the garter.

Edward straightens himself upward once again, wound shooting pain down his legs.

He should've expected the sock knife, really. Of course Edward would have a knife in his sock. Johnny wondered if the knife smelled like socks, too.

Of course, it hurt.

Edward’s heart pounds in his chest. His ribs rattle and sing with each wince of pain. Hand tightens.

The knife perks up in his hand, jabbing to gesture at Johnny.

“ — It’s how things are. It’s how they’re been! Wouldn’t you know? “

“ You know— I think I can be very creative. “ He begins.

“ Have you ever gotten knocked flat by a knife? A hard, gross, sturdy knife? “ A humorous grin splits Ed’s face. His words giggle out at the ending, curving and stuttering.

Edward hurls up the hand holding the brick. Knife pulled back as the brick flies from his hand,

Before a response can leave Johnny’s lips; the prior brick makes direct contact with his skull, striking his right temple head-on. The brick scrapes his skin before falling to the sidewalk.

“ Ha—h! “ Ed laughs.

He knew he should've paid more attention.

The brick hits him right in the head and he finds himself crumpling to the ground. The knife slips from his hand and away from him, somewhere on the concrete.

"God- fuck!" His hand reaches up and his fingers come away stained with blood. It's dripping down his forehead now.

Lord, he's far too dizzy to move all of a sudden. He fears he may have been concussed, judging by the stars that are now dotting his vision and the aforementioned dizziness.

"I'm gonna fucking kill you," he mumbles. Though he can't quite back up that threat at the moment, considering he's practically groveling on the floor right now. God, that hurts.

“ Huh. I was sure you’d pass out quicker. You just love making things difficult don’t you, Johnny? “ Ed strides toward him, confidence gaining quickly once again.

The wound is clotted and still bleeding. He shouldn’t strain himself too much, or move a ton. But who’s to stop him?

“ No biggie. “ He squats down. Shifting his knees, he kneels on Johnny.

A hand comes over the other man’s face. Blood smears between Ed’s hand and his forehead as he lifts his head gently. Fingers tangle deep into Johnny’s hair.

He looms above Johnny from where he’s straddled. “ — You’re one tough egg to crack. Probably not the best metaphor. I’m not trying to crack you, I just need you in a state to comply. “

Edward laughs at his own joke. The laugh cuts short as a groan rips through him, wound pulsing and stinging once again.

He really needs to listen to himself.

Johnny does try to crawl away, though that doesn't really work considering the Riddler has grabbed him by now. "What, y'think I'm just going to make it easy?"

He tries to kick the Riddler off but his legs won't quite cooperate with him. He's dizzy. It's too bright.

"I'm not fucking going anywhere with you."

He tries to bite Edward's hand, like the feral dog Ed believes him to be.

This is all a big mistake. He was starting to regret leaving the office. It seemed that even outside of it, disasters would still happen. Maybe he really was an idiot. God damn it.

Johnny was starting to believe he was cursed.

It's quite a feeble attempt, unfortunately. He's pretty sure another hit's going to knock him right out. That'd be bad. For him. Not for the Riddler, probably. That was obviously what he wanted.

#riddler rp #sorry tails if this looks gay to the viewers #again

“ — Oh I don’t think you have a choice! “ Edward grits his teeth. A biter, huh? Ed brings his other hand forward, both hands cradling the sides of Johnny’s head.

“ You’re going to come with me. You do not have a choice. Stop being a stubborn little — “ Ed’s breath shocks out. “ — fuck! “

Edward’s hands run up the sides of his head, wrapping around greasy hair. He brings his face to Johnny’s. “ God! Do a man a favor! “

“ Come on, behave. “ He scowls. Kicking Johnny’s legs out, pulling both men upright.

The men are a mess of bruises, blood and dirt. Trudging along the sidewalk, Edward half-drags the mostly conscious Johnny.

RP STARTER I --

Today was slow. Surely everything would be fine.

His most precious journal and a disposable camera sat neatly in the bag hanging off his shoulder. Every so often he checked the bag to be sure its contents had not mysteriously disappeared.

He found himself itching for a cigarette or a drink, either would be fine, but payday wasn't until next week, and he lacked an ID. He would need to figure something else out.

It was going so well. So well!

The bag shuffles with each step. Edward speed-walks down the road; hands so tightly wrapped around the bag’s strap, his knuckles were bright. His feet moved before his mind.

Eyes sharp, locked on a man. He seemed around his age from what Edward could tell.— The man rang far too many bells in his head than he’d had liked.— He would work! If he disregarded the bells.

“ I believe I’ve seen you before. “

“ Haven’t I? “

Johnny has made a mistake.

Instead of being aware of his surroundings after the stunt he'd pulled a while ago, he'd allowed himself to be caught off guard. At least this wasn't the police.

"It's Johnny," he grumbled.

The man thought Johnny was familiar.

That was never a good sign. Yet he figured it was to be expected.

"I don't know," he decided to play dumb. "You might have me mistaken for someone else. Who're you lookin' for?"

A slight southern drawl had slipped into his speech, barely noticeable. But it was there.

The intern figured this man was a criminal, planning to mug him. He needed to play this cautiously.

“ Well, I’m not looking for anyone. You just so happen to look familiar. — “ Edward’s smile widened as he watched the man’s hands shake. “ — Nervous? “

“ You don’t strike me as a social butterfly, why do I know you? —Johnny. Cute name. Would you be a lab rat? Or are you too busy kicking rocks and glumly walking down the street. “

“ Lab rat, not in a bad way. Trust me, I’m no threat. “

His teeth clenched in his skull. His eyes flickered across each feature on his face time and time again. Edward could not categorize him. He seemed otherworldly. Almost alien.

Ed doesn’t move his hands from Johnny’s shoulders.

"No, I'm not nervous. Why would you think that?" He almost sounds convincing. The intern has gotten used to playing pretend. Lying was practically his mother tongue.

His face is set into a grimace, shoulders tensing as Edward turns him around. Of course. He's dealing with The Riddler. How unpleasant.

He simply continued staring The Riddler down.

"Lab rat?" He tilted his head. "Whatever for?"

A thought forced its way into his head, unbidden. This man was an annoyance. Johnny wanted to--

Hm. Now was not the time. He needed to remain in control. He was a distinguished member of society. He would not fall victim to his own mind's savage urges.

“ I need someone. Just for a little help. “ Edwards voice creaks. Johnny’s back hits the brick.

“ Come on. Someone so fragile should at least be a little nicer. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Besides, I’m a tourist here. Shouldn’t you locals be a little more accommodating? “

Fresh breath boils against Johnny’s face.— “ I know where I’ve seen you. “— He almost whispers.

“ 30. Truly impressive, especially with how idiotic the entire display was. “ Ed harshly pushed the dirty man back against the walling.

“ I figured you’d be up for a little trial.— “ He takes a deeper breath. The cold air assaulted his lungs. The cool soothes the warm, anger simmering down.

“ —Would you be so nice? “ Edward pats his hands by his sides. Politely this time around.

Oh, dear.

How frightfully rude.

Johnny's bored expression does not change even as the Riddler backs him up against a wall and grips him by the shirt. The guy's breath stank.

"Ah." Johnny took a moment to compile his thoughts, despite being in such a precarious situation. "I figured that would get around."

As illogical as it was, Johnny decided that yes, he'd rather risk it. Allowing himself to be disrespected in this way was unacceptable.

The intern figured this would either end in a fight, or the Riddler would obey his request. Either way, it didn't matter much to him.

This time, he smiles. It's all sharp teeth and contempt.

Edward brings his right hand to trail across Johnny. His left hand steady on the other man’s. The sleeve rustles as his hand finds purchase on his shoulder.

“ I had my eye on you for a moment. Your file stood out, especially for outside of Gotham. It seems like the kind of thing you’d see plastered across the Gotham Gazette.— “

“ —Excuse the trial. It’s not terribly important but the offer still stands if you’d wish to. “

Edward’s hand squeezes Johnny’s shoulder. The other loosens around the hand wielding the knife. “ —The trial offer, not the knife. Do not stab me. “

“ You are a piece of work. Aren’t you Johnny? “

Johnny takes a sick sort of amusement in seeing Edward's reaction, and then he curses under his breath.

How many people have died under his hand? Far too many to count, that was for certain, and over far too many lifetimes. He could not quite remember how old he was, not exactly.

He's supposed to be reformed.

the good news was his stunt wasn't too public, but even he wasn't sure how it wasn't in the papers either.

he looks down at the riddlers hands.

do not stab me, he said.

but his mind wanted him to. his hands shook with it.

"fine, then," he mumbled, absentmindedly almost. pulling the knife back and returning it to its proper place.

you are a piece of work. it was true. he knew it. the boss knew it. even his coworkers knew it. everyone would know it soon.

"i dunno why.. i don't know why i did that." he whispered this to himself, mostly. then he looked back up at the riddler. "oh. right. sorry. for almost stabbing you."

“ You are so interesting. “

The touch was not for comfort. It was more of a mockery than a statement. Ed bathed in the unfortunate eyes of Johnny, unreal and tense. He wanted to pick him apart.

"don't touch me," he insisted, his hands growing clammy. "what're you even here for? are you doing this just to fuck with my head?"

he felt out of it. he couldn't quite remember what he'd been doing here, again. wasn't he supposed to be at work?

right, right, he'd left work for a break. he'd wanted a cigarette. then this man had interrupted him and-

well, now he was here.

but it felt wrong. to him. he wasn't... he wasn't supposed to be here. this place wasn't familiar anymore. he looked down at his hands. he expected blood, but there was none.

"it's fine." he whispered to himself. "it's all fine."

he kept an eye on the riddler, prepared to lash out if the man tried to lay a hand on him again.

Edward retracted his hands. He neatly put them in his pockets.

“ You are a dog. What are you? Collared? You act it. I thought there was a challenge here. You’re an open book, a man laid before God’s judgement. Bare to the world. “

Edward thinks for a moment. Is his interest lost? Does he care to continue this? Does he care how this man rots inside? No. Why would he?

He watches the movement to the knife, debating restricting the man. As much as he’d joked about being stabbed, he did not want to be tonight. He just cleaned this specific suit after all.

“ I was thinking you were worth my time. “ He watches Johnny’s hands. Waiting for any movement. Waiting for the dog to bite.

“ Get it together, boy! “ Edward laughs.

Johnny's expression dropped into its familiar deadpan.

"You think you know everything, don't you?" He grit his teeth, his hand wrapping around the knife handle. It was a familiar weight in his hands.

Yes, he had hurt far more than thirty people.

The Riddler would be next.

Before he could stop himself, he was moving. The knife was an extension of his will, and he wanted to stab this man.

So that's what he tried to do.

What are you? Collared?

Get it together.

No. He would not take the disrespect for any longer.

He had been right about Johnny. He was nothing more than a beast, a monster. The intern wasn't sure why he'd tried to hold it back for so long.

“ That's it! “ Edward laughs loudly. Louder than he should, honestly.

“ I can be echoed, I can be sung again and again. I will protect you from what you have naught. “

Edward feels blood leave the wound. Each drop feels like a warm threat to lose consciousness. He says the riddle quiet and pitiful, pain slowly creeping up his neck as the high fades.

“ Are you a religious man, Johnny? Do you pray to regain what you lost? Things or otherwise. “ Ed groans. Eyes screwed shut, trying not to water.

Ed’s hunched forward over the laceration. Hand braced on Johnny, trying to keep his balance.

The man is laughing. Laughing! It's almost offensive. His taunting is really getting on Johnny's nerves. Perhaps he should silence it forever.

The red is painted across Edward's chest now, like a beautiful landscape. More, his mind tells him. "I'm not a dog," he says.

"Quit your rambling," he said, attempting another slash across the chest. It was precise this time. Not wild and angry now that he had the upper hand. "Save your breath."

He notes how the Riddler is trying to hold back tears now. Leaning heavily onto Johnny. Perhaps if he stepped back, Edward would fall. Johnny almost felt bad. Almost.

He hunches down into a squat. Hands scramble at the neat hemming of his pant leg, blood smears across his socks as he lifts the pants. A small blade slides out from the garter.

Edward straightens himself upward once again, wound shooting pain down his legs.

He should've expected the sock knife, really. Of course Edward would have a knife in his sock. Johnny wondered if the knife smelled like socks, too.

Of course, it hurt.

Edward’s heart pounds in his chest. His ribs rattle and sing with each wince of pain. Hand tightens.

The knife perks up in his hand, jabbing to gesture at Johnny.

“ — It’s how things are. It’s how they’re been! Wouldn’t you know? “

“ You know— I think I can be very creative. “ He begins.

“ Have you ever gotten knocked flat by a knife? A hard, gross, sturdy knife? “ A humorous grin splits Ed’s face. His words giggle out at the ending, curving and stuttering.

Edward hurls up the hand holding the brick. Knife pulled back as the brick flies from his hand,

Before a response can leave Johnny’s lips; the prior brick makes direct contact with his skull, striking his right temple head-on. The brick scrapes his skin before falling to the sidewalk.

“ Ha—h! “ Ed laughs.

He knew he should've paid more attention.

The brick hits him right in the head and he finds himself crumpling to the ground. The knife slips from his hand and away from him, somewhere on the concrete.

"God- fuck!" His hand reaches up and his fingers come away stained with blood. It's dripping down his forehead now.

Lord, he's far too dizzy to move all of a sudden. He fears he may have been concussed, judging by the stars that are now dotting his vision and the aforementioned dizziness.

"I'm gonna fucking kill you," he mumbles. Though he can't quite back up that threat at the moment, considering he's practically groveling on the floor right now. God, that hurts.

#sorry tails if this looks gay to the viewers #riddler rp

“ Huh. I was sure you’d pass out quicker. You just love making things difficult don’t you, Johnny? “ Ed strides toward him, confidence gaining quickly once again.

The wound is clotted and still bleeding. He shouldn’t strain himself too much, or move a ton. But who’s to stop him?

“ No biggie. “ He squats down. Shifting his knees, he kneels on Johnny.

A hand comes over the other man’s face. Blood smears between Ed’s hand and his forehead as he lifts his head gently. Fingers tangle deep into Johnny’s hair.

He looms above Johnny from where he’s straddled. “ — You’re one tough egg to crack. Probably not the best metaphor. I’m not trying to crack you, I just need you in a state to comply. “

Edward laughs at his own joke. The laugh cuts short as a groan rips through him, wound pulsing and stinging once again.

He really needs to listen to himself.

RP STARTER I --

Today was slow. Surely everything would be fine.

His most precious journal and a disposable camera sat neatly in the bag hanging off his shoulder. Every so often he checked the bag to be sure its contents had not mysteriously disappeared.

He found himself itching for a cigarette or a drink, either would be fine, but payday wasn't until next week, and he lacked an ID. He would need to figure something else out.

It was going so well. So well!

The bag shuffles with each step. Edward speed-walks down the road; hands so tightly wrapped around the bag’s strap, his knuckles were bright. His feet moved before his mind.

Eyes sharp, locked on a man. He seemed around his age from what Edward could tell.— The man rang far too many bells in his head than he’d had liked.— He would work! If he disregarded the bells.

“ I believe I’ve seen you before. “

“ Haven’t I? “

Johnny has made a mistake.

Instead of being aware of his surroundings after the stunt he'd pulled a while ago, he'd allowed himself to be caught off guard. At least this wasn't the police.

"It's Johnny," he grumbled.

The man thought Johnny was familiar.

That was never a good sign. Yet he figured it was to be expected.

"I don't know," he decided to play dumb. "You might have me mistaken for someone else. Who're you lookin' for?"

A slight southern drawl had slipped into his speech, barely noticeable. But it was there.

The intern figured this man was a criminal, planning to mug him. He needed to play this cautiously.

“ Well, I’m not looking for anyone. You just so happen to look familiar. — “ Edward’s smile widened as he watched the man’s hands shake. “ — Nervous? “

“ You don’t strike me as a social butterfly, why do I know you? —Johnny. Cute name. Would you be a lab rat? Or are you too busy kicking rocks and glumly walking down the street. “

“ Lab rat, not in a bad way. Trust me, I’m no threat. “

His teeth clenched in his skull. His eyes flickered across each feature on his face time and time again. Edward could not categorize him. He seemed otherworldly. Almost alien.

Ed doesn’t move his hands from Johnny’s shoulders.

"No, I'm not nervous. Why would you think that?" He almost sounds convincing. The intern has gotten used to playing pretend. Lying was practically his mother tongue.

His face is set into a grimace, shoulders tensing as Edward turns him around. Of course. He's dealing with The Riddler. How unpleasant.

He simply continued staring The Riddler down.

"Lab rat?" He tilted his head. "Whatever for?"

A thought forced its way into his head, unbidden. This man was an annoyance. Johnny wanted to--

Hm. Now was not the time. He needed to remain in control. He was a distinguished member of society. He would not fall victim to his own mind's savage urges.

“ I need someone. Just for a little help. “ Edwards voice creaks. Johnny’s back hits the brick.

“ Come on. Someone so fragile should at least be a little nicer. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Besides, I’m a tourist here. Shouldn’t you locals be a little more accommodating? “

Fresh breath boils against Johnny’s face.— “ I know where I’ve seen you. “— He almost whispers.

“ 30. Truly impressive, especially with how idiotic the entire display was. “ Ed harshly pushed the dirty man back against the walling.

“ I figured you’d be up for a little trial.— “ He takes a deeper breath. The cold air assaulted his lungs. The cool soothes the warm, anger simmering down.

“ —Would you be so nice? “ Edward pats his hands by his sides. Politely this time around.

Oh, dear.

How frightfully rude.

Johnny's bored expression does not change even as the Riddler backs him up against a wall and grips him by the shirt. The guy's breath stank.

"Ah." Johnny took a moment to compile his thoughts, despite being in such a precarious situation. "I figured that would get around."

As illogical as it was, Johnny decided that yes, he'd rather risk it. Allowing himself to be disrespected in this way was unacceptable.

The intern figured this would either end in a fight, or the Riddler would obey his request. Either way, it didn't matter much to him.

This time, he smiles. It's all sharp teeth and contempt.

Edward brings his right hand to trail across Johnny. His left hand steady on the other man’s. The sleeve rustles as his hand finds purchase on his shoulder.

“ I had my eye on you for a moment. Your file stood out, especially for outside of Gotham. It seems like the kind of thing you’d see plastered across the Gotham Gazette.— “

“ —Excuse the trial. It’s not terribly important but the offer still stands if you’d wish to. “

Edward’s hand squeezes Johnny’s shoulder. The other loosens around the hand wielding the knife. “ —The trial offer, not the knife. Do not stab me. “

“ You are a piece of work. Aren’t you Johnny? “

Johnny takes a sick sort of amusement in seeing Edward's reaction, and then he curses under his breath.

How many people have died under his hand? Far too many to count, that was for certain, and over far too many lifetimes. He could not quite remember how old he was, not exactly.

He's supposed to be reformed.

the good news was his stunt wasn't too public, but even he wasn't sure how it wasn't in the papers either.

he looks down at the riddlers hands.

do not stab me, he said.

but his mind wanted him to. his hands shook with it.

"fine, then," he mumbled, absentmindedly almost. pulling the knife back and returning it to its proper place.

you are a piece of work. it was true. he knew it. the boss knew it. even his coworkers knew it. everyone would know it soon.

"i dunno why.. i don't know why i did that." he whispered this to himself, mostly. then he looked back up at the riddler. "oh. right. sorry. for almost stabbing you."

“ You are so interesting. “

The touch was not for comfort. It was more of a mockery than a statement. Ed bathed in the unfortunate eyes of Johnny, unreal and tense. He wanted to pick him apart.

"don't touch me," he insisted, his hands growing clammy. "what're you even here for? are you doing this just to fuck with my head?"

he felt out of it. he couldn't quite remember what he'd been doing here, again. wasn't he supposed to be at work?

right, right, he'd left work for a break. he'd wanted a cigarette. then this man had interrupted him and-

well, now he was here.

but it felt wrong. to him. he wasn't... he wasn't supposed to be here. this place wasn't familiar anymore. he looked down at his hands. he expected blood, but there was none.

"it's fine." he whispered to himself. "it's all fine."

he kept an eye on the riddler, prepared to lash out if the man tried to lay a hand on him again.

Edward retracted his hands. He neatly put them in his pockets.

“ You are a dog. What are you? Collared? You act it. I thought there was a challenge here. You’re an open book, a man laid before God’s judgement. Bare to the world. “

Edward thinks for a moment. Is his interest lost? Does he care to continue this? Does he care how this man rots inside? No. Why would he?

He watches the movement to the knife, debating restricting the man. As much as he’d joked about being stabbed, he did not want to be tonight. He just cleaned this specific suit after all.

“ I was thinking you were worth my time. “ He watches Johnny’s hands. Waiting for any movement. Waiting for the dog to bite.

“ Get it together, boy! “ Edward laughs.

Johnny's expression dropped into its familiar deadpan.

"You think you know everything, don't you?" He grit his teeth, his hand wrapping around the knife handle. It was a familiar weight in his hands.

Yes, he had hurt far more than thirty people.

The Riddler would be next.

Before he could stop himself, he was moving. The knife was an extension of his will, and he wanted to stab this man.

So that's what he tried to do.

What are you? Collared?

Get it together.

No. He would not take the disrespect for any longer.

He had been right about Johnny. He was nothing more than a beast, a monster. The intern wasn't sure why he'd tried to hold it back for so long.

“ That's it! “ Edward laughs loudly. Louder than he should, honestly.

“ I can be echoed, I can be sung again and again. I will protect you from what you have naught. “

Edward feels blood leave the wound. Each drop feels like a warm threat to lose consciousness. He says the riddle quiet and pitiful, pain slowly creeping up his neck as the high fades.

“ Are you a religious man, Johnny? Do you pray to regain what you lost? Things or otherwise. “ Ed groans. Eyes screwed shut, trying not to water.

Ed’s hunched forward over the laceration. Hand braced on Johnny, trying to keep his balance.

The man is laughing. Laughing! It's almost offensive. His taunting is really getting on Johnny's nerves. Perhaps he should silence it forever.

The red is painted across Edward's chest now, like a beautiful landscape. More, his mind tells him. "I'm not a dog," he says.

"Quit your rambling," he said, attempting another slash across the chest. It was precise this time. Not wild and angry now that he had the upper hand. "Save your breath."

He notes how the Riddler is trying to hold back tears now. Leaning heavily onto Johnny. Perhaps if he stepped back, Edward would fall. Johnny almost felt bad. Almost.

He hunches down into a squat. Hands scramble at the neat hemming of his pant leg, blood smears across his socks as he lifts the pants. A small blade slides out from the garter.

Edward straightens himself upward once again, wound shooting pain down his legs.

He should've expected the sock knife, really. Of course Edward would have a knife in his sock. Johnny wondered if the knife smelled like socks, too.

Of course, it hurt.

Edward’s heart pounds in his chest. His ribs rattle and sing with each wince of pain. Hand tightens.

The knife perks up in his hand, jabbing to gesture at Johnny.

“ — It’s how things are. It’s how they’re been! Wouldn’t you know? “

“ You know— I think I can be very creative. “ He begins.

“ Have you ever gotten knocked flat by a knife? A hard, gross, sturdy knife? “ A humorous grin splits Ed’s face. His words giggle out at the ending, curving and stuttering.

Edward hurls up the hand holding the brick. Knife pulled back as the brick flies from his hand,

Before a response can leave Johnny’s lips; the prior brick makes direct contact with his skull, striking his right temple head-on. The brick scrapes his skin before falling to the sidewalk.

“ Ha—h! “ Ed laughs.

RP STARTER I --

Today was slow. Surely everything would be fine.

His most precious journal and a disposable camera sat neatly in the bag hanging off his shoulder. Every so often he checked the bag to be sure its contents had not mysteriously disappeared.

He found himself itching for a cigarette or a drink, either would be fine, but payday wasn't until next week, and he lacked an ID. He would need to figure something else out.

It was going so well. So well!

The bag shuffles with each step. Edward speed-walks down the road; hands so tightly wrapped around the bag’s strap, his knuckles were bright. His feet moved before his mind.

Eyes sharp, locked on a man. He seemed around his age from what Edward could tell.— The man rang far too many bells in his head than he’d had liked.— He would work! If he disregarded the bells.

“ I believe I’ve seen you before. “

“ Haven’t I? “

Johnny has made a mistake.

Instead of being aware of his surroundings after the stunt he'd pulled a while ago, he'd allowed himself to be caught off guard. At least this wasn't the police.

"It's Johnny," he grumbled.

The man thought Johnny was familiar.

That was never a good sign. Yet he figured it was to be expected.

"I don't know," he decided to play dumb. "You might have me mistaken for someone else. Who're you lookin' for?"

A slight southern drawl had slipped into his speech, barely noticeable. But it was there.

The intern figured this man was a criminal, planning to mug him. He needed to play this cautiously.

“ Well, I’m not looking for anyone. You just so happen to look familiar. — “ Edward’s smile widened as he watched the man’s hands shake. “ — Nervous? “

“ You don’t strike me as a social butterfly, why do I know you? —Johnny. Cute name. Would you be a lab rat? Or are you too busy kicking rocks and glumly walking down the street. “

“ Lab rat, not in a bad way. Trust me, I’m no threat. “

His teeth clenched in his skull. His eyes flickered across each feature on his face time and time again. Edward could not categorize him. He seemed otherworldly. Almost alien.

Ed doesn’t move his hands from Johnny’s shoulders.

"No, I'm not nervous. Why would you think that?" He almost sounds convincing. The intern has gotten used to playing pretend. Lying was practically his mother tongue.

His face is set into a grimace, shoulders tensing as Edward turns him around. Of course. He's dealing with The Riddler. How unpleasant.

He simply continued staring The Riddler down.

"Lab rat?" He tilted his head. "Whatever for?"

A thought forced its way into his head, unbidden. This man was an annoyance. Johnny wanted to--

Hm. Now was not the time. He needed to remain in control. He was a distinguished member of society. He would not fall victim to his own mind's savage urges.

“ I need someone. Just for a little help. “ Edwards voice creaks. Johnny’s back hits the brick.

“ Come on. Someone so fragile should at least be a little nicer. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Besides, I’m a tourist here. Shouldn’t you locals be a little more accommodating? “

Fresh breath boils against Johnny’s face.— “ I know where I’ve seen you. “— He almost whispers.

“ 30. Truly impressive, especially with how idiotic the entire display was. “ Ed harshly pushed the dirty man back against the walling.

“ I figured you’d be up for a little trial.— “ He takes a deeper breath. The cold air assaulted his lungs. The cool soothes the warm, anger simmering down.

“ —Would you be so nice? “ Edward pats his hands by his sides. Politely this time around.

Oh, dear.

How frightfully rude.

Johnny's bored expression does not change even as the Riddler backs him up against a wall and grips him by the shirt. The guy's breath stank.

"Ah." Johnny took a moment to compile his thoughts, despite being in such a precarious situation. "I figured that would get around."

As illogical as it was, Johnny decided that yes, he'd rather risk it. Allowing himself to be disrespected in this way was unacceptable.

The intern figured this would either end in a fight, or the Riddler would obey his request. Either way, it didn't matter much to him.

This time, he smiles. It's all sharp teeth and contempt.

Edward brings his right hand to trail across Johnny. His left hand steady on the other man’s. The sleeve rustles as his hand finds purchase on his shoulder.

“ I had my eye on you for a moment. Your file stood out, especially for outside of Gotham. It seems like the kind of thing you’d see plastered across the Gotham Gazette.— “

“ —Excuse the trial. It’s not terribly important but the offer still stands if you’d wish to. “

Edward’s hand squeezes Johnny’s shoulder. The other loosens around the hand wielding the knife. “ —The trial offer, not the knife. Do not stab me. “

“ You are a piece of work. Aren’t you Johnny? “

Johnny takes a sick sort of amusement in seeing Edward's reaction, and then he curses under his breath.

How many people have died under his hand? Far too many to count, that was for certain, and over far too many lifetimes. He could not quite remember how old he was, not exactly.

He's supposed to be reformed.

the good news was his stunt wasn't too public, but even he wasn't sure how it wasn't in the papers either.

he looks down at the riddlers hands.

do not stab me, he said.

but his mind wanted him to. his hands shook with it.

"fine, then," he mumbled, absentmindedly almost. pulling the knife back and returning it to its proper place.

you are a piece of work. it was true. he knew it. the boss knew it. even his coworkers knew it. everyone would know it soon.

"i dunno why.. i don't know why i did that." he whispered this to himself, mostly. then he looked back up at the riddler. "oh. right. sorry. for almost stabbing you."

“ You are so interesting. “

The touch was not for comfort. It was more of a mockery than a statement. Ed bathed in the unfortunate eyes of Johnny, unreal and tense. He wanted to pick him apart.

"don't touch me," he insisted, his hands growing clammy. "what're you even here for? are you doing this just to fuck with my head?"

he felt out of it. he couldn't quite remember what he'd been doing here, again. wasn't he supposed to be at work?

right, right, he'd left work for a break. he'd wanted a cigarette. then this man had interrupted him and-

well, now he was here.

but it felt wrong. to him. he wasn't... he wasn't supposed to be here. this place wasn't familiar anymore. he looked down at his hands. he expected blood, but there was none.

"it's fine." he whispered to himself. "it's all fine."

he kept an eye on the riddler, prepared to lash out if the man tried to lay a hand on him again.

Edward retracted his hands. He neatly put them in his pockets.

“ You are a dog. What are you? Collared? You act it. I thought there was a challenge here. You’re an open book, a man laid before God’s judgement. Bare to the world. “

Edward thinks for a moment. Is his interest lost? Does he care to continue this? Does he care how this man rots inside? No. Why would he?

He watches the movement to the knife, debating restricting the man. As much as he’d joked about being stabbed, he did not want to be tonight. He just cleaned this specific suit after all.

“ I was thinking you were worth my time. “ He watches Johnny’s hands. Waiting for any movement. Waiting for the dog to bite.

“ Get it together, boy! “ Edward laughs.

Johnny's expression dropped into its familiar deadpan.

"You think you know everything, don't you?" He grit his teeth, his hand wrapping around the knife handle. It was a familiar weight in his hands.

Yes, he had hurt far more than thirty people.

The Riddler would be next.

Before he could stop himself, he was moving. The knife was an extension of his will, and he wanted to stab this man.

So that's what he tried to do.

What are you? Collared?

Get it together.

No. He would not take the disrespect for any longer.

He had been right about Johnny. He was nothing more than a beast, a monster. The intern wasn't sure why he'd tried to hold it back for so long.

“ That's it! “ Edward laughs loudly. Louder than he should, honestly.

“ I can be echoed, I can be sung again and again. I will protect you from what you have naught. “

Edward feels blood leave the wound. Each drop feels like a warm threat to lose consciousness. He says the riddle quiet and pitiful, pain slowly creeping up his neck as the high fades.

“ Are you a religious man, Johnny? Do you pray to regain what you lost? Things or otherwise. “ Ed groans. Eyes screwed shut, trying not to water.

Ed’s hunched forward over the laceration. Hand braced on Johnny, trying to keep his balance.

The man is laughing. Laughing! It's almost offensive. His taunting is really getting on Johnny's nerves. Perhaps he should silence it forever.

The red is painted across Edward's chest now, like a beautiful landscape. More, his mind tells him. "I'm not a dog," he says.

"Quit your rambling," he said, attempting another slash across the chest. It was precise this time. Not wild and angry now that he had the upper hand. "Save your breath."

He notes how the Riddler is trying to hold back tears now. Leaning heavily onto Johnny. Perhaps if he stepped back, Edward would fall. Johnny almost felt bad. Almost.

He hunches down into a squat. Hands scramble at the neat hemming of his pant leg, blood smears across his socks as he lifts the pants. A small blade slides out from the garter.

Edward straightens himself upward once again, wound shooting pain down his legs.