Please may I kindly request something to do with Eddie and computers? Or him building one of his riddling contraptions perhaps? That would be very lovely, thanku 🖤
Contains: blood licking, shotgunning, making out, autistic reader and riddler, codependent relationship, murder and torture mention, spoilers for The Batman, both are absolutely whipped for each other and can't express it
A/N: faaaaaa –□– this was alot. But was fun. Anyway, prisoner riddler x prisoner reader? Yes please!
"Grrrr!!"
You groaned and slammed the rubix cube on the metal table, after almost an entire week of trying to solve it. You were getting frustrated, and starting to consider trading it with another inmate for a card game. One that you had noone to play with. But would be better than the cube.
You were too caught up burying your face in your hands to notice the figure approaching you.
"Excuse me?"
A gentle voice asked.
You parted your fingers to look at him, he was. A tummy?
You looked up further and the man was looking back at you.
"Are you struggling with that? I can help."
Okay. He was clearly new here. He looked well put together, soft hair, voice soft, friendly offer, face is fine but for a cut on his cheek, and a small crack on his glass lens.
Whatever, he was kind-looking with no ill intention. And you were too frustrated with the cube.
"Sure. Take your shot." You pushed the cube his direction and scooted to make space for him on the bench.
He sat next to you and took the cube, every row side a jumble of different colors.
You looked away for a few moments, not expecting him to do anything.
"Done."
What?
"Excuse me?"
You looked back and the cube was. Done?
"WHAT?" You snatched the cube from him, it was perfectly done?! You didn't look away for more than ten seconds?!
He giggled seeing how confused you were, resting his hand on his cheek.
"How did you do that!? What witchcraft?!" You laughed with him, the shock reducing to humor. It was too good to be true.
"Many years of puzzle books and riddles."
You huffed and admired the cube a little more before setting it on the table.
"Now what would a puzzle genius like you be doing in arkham prison?" You inquired, he seemed slightly shook by the question.
"Huh. You didn't hear the news at all?" You shook your head, seemed like a was important. Maybe he was in for something big.
He cleared his throat and put his hand out, thinking it's a proper way to introduce himself even in a prison.
"Edward. Edward nashton. Or "The Riddler"."
...
"Come again?"
"Edward nashton. The Riddler?"
You felt like you were gonna pass out.
"T-The Riddler? The one who planned to take out Falcone and blow up the dam?"
He giggled again, confusion painting his face.
"Already happened? A week ago?"
Your face suddenly flushed, you covered your face again. Your idol revolutionary, right infront of you, and you didn't even know his plan carried out because of a stupid rubix cube!?
When you looked back to him, you couldn't even look him in the eye (not that you usually do). Your mouth just opened and closed like a fish.
"So what are you in for?" He asked.
"Ah... killing a high ranked politician. One of Falcone's wingmen, main arm in corruption." He smiled, agreeing with you. "I- I got the information from you!! Your livestreams- I carried against him too early and I missed the rest of our plan!!"
"O-Oh? You...were one of my followers?" His face flushed like yours, the color spreading through his cherbic cheeks, his nose and ears.
"Yes. I loved seeing someone finally fight for Gotham. Like the bat..."
His expression did dim at the mention of Batman, but he knew you haven't followed up with what was happening.
"I see you've missed alot. As your- ahem... "idol", I think I should educate you."
-----------
A good half an hour of retelling missing events, and you now hate the bat. The one hero that was willing to do something, put down another revolutionary.
Not only that but the bat has completely ruined the plan. It seems like he was another enemy to be out down now.
"I'm so sorry." You replied instinctively.
"There's nothing to apologize for. If anything, you did plenty. Killing Falcone alone wouldn't have done much, and you took down another major pillar." His hand hesitantly hovered over your shoulder, you gave him a nod and he pat you.
"I can only respect it."
"Thank you, Edward..."
Maybe, in this cruel prison, you can find solace in each other.
"Alright, time's up!! Everyone up and back to their cells."
The wardens voice boomed through the break room. Way to interrupt the moment.
You and Edward quickly snapped back to each other.
"Can we meet again tomorrow-?"
"Can we meet again tomorrow-?"
You cut each other off, earning a laugh out of both of you.
"That's a yes." You nodded before a guard came to rip you out of your seat.
"Come on, love birds!"
"Bye, eddi- OOF!!"
And you were snatched by the scruff.
--- -------
You did manage to snatched the cube back before the guard ripped you away from Eddie.
Back in your cold empty cell. Wonderful place.
The rubix cube rotated in your fingers as you inspected every bit. How did he solve this? You needed to talk to him again. Learn more about him! Not just as your hero but as a person.
Maybe. Just maybe. You can have a chance at a genuine connection. Maybe Riddler- Edward, is like you.
You both could barely navigate the interaction, you were sweating the whole time, and the color on his cheeks never fully left.
And God, it looked lovely on him.
All night all you could think was him, you slept with the cube next to you (which you eventually knocked off in your sleep), waiting patiently for the next day to come.
When it did, you felt a buzz of excitement you probably haven't felt in years. Like how in kindergarten you'd being excited to go because you made a friend.
After breakfast that was barely edible, all prisoners were sent to the break room.
You waited patiently by the same table in the far back, and he found you soon enough.
"Hey." He waved awkwardly before sitting down.
"Good evening to you too, Eddie."
You scooted a little closer to him. Is this how normal people start giving hints? Would he understand it?
You felt like a cat laying belly up.
"I got us something." He slid a deck of playing cards on the table, "traded my puzzle. Solved it in an hour anyway." He smiled at you.
"Well, I'd love to know more about you as we play, Edward nashton."
He shuffled the cards and distributed the cards.
"And I'd like to know more about you too. My dearest follower."
As you played -very long turns- you learned alot about Edward. Raised in an orphanage, worked as an accountant, and had zero connections his whole life.
He learned of your life in isolation, impulsiveness, and struggle making connections.
Just like him.
After a few turns, the cards lay forgotten on the table. The games weren't going anywhere.
Instead you sat, mere inches apart from each other, as he told you riddles and watched you try to figure them out.
"What does a liar do when he's dead?"
You rested your chin on your hand to think, he usually was too excited to tell the answer to allow you to think. But the pressure of that limited time only made you more distracted.
"Hmmmm...."
He chuckled and held your cheek to tilt your head upward. Shitshitshitshit what am I doing? Echoing in his mind.
"He lies still."
Both of your faces flushed, and he quickly let go.
"I used that one on the batman. He figured it out quickly."
"It's a good one!"
Silence fell over. He was picking at his fingernails nervously. You were tapping at the tips of your fingers.
There's clearly some sort of feelings between you, but neither of you could navigate, hint, or read through it properly.
"...did you know frogs don't have any ribs?"
"What?" He flinched, but clearly interested.
"Hehe, yeah! Everytime they land from jumping they'd break their ribs, so they just... don't have them!"
Edward inched closer, lowering his head closer to yours.
"Tell me more."
So you did.
"Hippos have 36 teeth, very sharp despite them feeding mostly on grass. But they can also eat zebra and crocodiles."
"They'd be better torture for the rich than crocodiles or sharks." He'd respond.
You shared facts, he shared more riddles. You two barely moved, squished face to face with each other.
For the first time, both of you felt a connection. Like someone finally understands and accepts you.
Respects you.
You decided to take another risk.
"Your heartbeat your whole life generates enough energy to move to the moon and back. That's why it expresses love, you love someone with your whole lifespan."
"I-"
"Time's up!"
God, you were gonna kill that warden.
"...this was fun. I wish to see you again. Tomorrow?" He asked shyly.
"Ofcourse!! FUCK-"
"Sit like this one more time and you're banned from the break room!"
------
Maybe arkham prison wasn't so bad.
For the past month, your time has been wonderful. Ever since that faithful day when you met Edward, you were suddenly looking forward for the break area.
Everyday without fail, you sit with Edward, squished up, sharing facts, riddles, life stories.
You tried flirting. And you think he is too. You can't tell.
Today, you and a couple other were given access to a library for "good behavior".
"Eddie!!" He was there too!!
"My dear!"
You immediately ran up to each other, latching into a tight hug. He was so warm.
"I'm so happy to see you here..." He mumbled.
You hummed and held his hand, "wanna explore with me?"
"Yes please!" His face flushed as he followed you, he was praying his hands didn't start sweating.
You led him through the isles, looking for something to read.
"Hmmm, so what genres do you like to read?"
"Uhh...politics. economics. Strategy books-"
"Puzzle books?"
He flushed and stammered, "y-yeah those too."
"So let's get some!"
You searched for the puzzle books through the entire library, in the end they were tucked in the far back. Where none sat, the ac ran louder than a breath, and guards focused less.
He skimmed through the books before landing on one and holding it out to you.
"This is a good start. Since you're not the best, no offense."
You took it from his hand and looked back to him.
"Well... maybe you can help me?" Using your best puppy eyes, he nodded and mumbled a "Ofcourse.".
You sat against the wall, book sitting on your lap. He sat close, trying his best to focus on the book and not you.
He helped through a few, but he mostly wanted you to figure the puzzles out for yourself.
Until a riddle came through that you got stuck on.
"Eddie can you help me with this one?"
"I am not seen but can be felt, In every heart where I have dwelt. I bind the weak and strengthen the strong, In every note of a heartfelt song. I am both tender and fierce, A timeless force that will not pierce. What am I?" He read aloud.
You shook your head, "it's not clicking."
He fell silent for a moment, he knew the answer. He knew he could use it.
Shivers ran through his whole body, his throat felt dry- fuck it
"Love."
"Love?" You repeat.
"Yes. Strong affection, for something or someone."
Your hand slid over the book, lingering on the riddle.
"...have you ever... been in love?" You hesitantly spit out the question, avoiding eye contact at all costs.
Edward got a little braver, he slid his hand closer to yours on the book.
"No. I was...alone my whole life. And I never knew why." He felt you deflate slightly at his words, but getting ready to comfort him.
"Until now."
Your head snapped up to him, mouth opening and closing like a fish.
"But this love, must also be reciprocated."
His hand clasps over yours, his face inched closer. His nose pressed against yours.
"This person. Must love me back."
"Eddie..."
"Yes, dearest?"
His other hand came to hold your cheek.
"Can you kiss me, Edward? Please?"
He chuckled, "can't promise I'd be good at it. It's...my first kiss."
"It's mine too. Don't worry."
With that final confirmation, he pressed his lips against you gently, just letting them rest against each other.
You let out a breath you didn't know you were holding and grabbed onto his shoulders.
You could feel his whole body shake under your hands, he broke off the kiss and held a hand over his low face.
"Fuck."
"What? what's wrong?" You asked, still a bit shaken.
He pulled his hand back, a few droplets of blood lay on his palm. When you looked at his face, his nose let a small trail of blood.
"Eddie!!" You whispered, your hands coming up to cup his face. "What happened? Are you okay?!"
"I-Its fine, dearest. Just got too nervous."
You sighed, giggling about how cute it was. And how he looked.
"Let me help you with that..."
You leaned forward, grabbing his jaw to keep him in place. And licked up the blood that escaped.
"fuuuck!!" He shivered under you, grabbing onto your arm. "Please, do it again!"
"Or what, eddie?"
He suddenly pushed you down to the floor, hovering over you.
"do it again." He commanded. Seeing him that serious did get you excited.
You giggled and held him closer, gladly licking up the blood that fell from his nose.
"mmmmh... you taste so good, Eddie."
"Yeah- yeah, just d-don't stop." His body kept shaking above you, his quiet moans dulled by the area around you.
You wanted to try something, so you let some blood collect in your mouth before going back to his lips. And using his mouth being open, you shotgunned him a mouthful of his own blood, and sealed your lips over his.
His moan muffled by your lips, but it was still heard well. His green eyes almost rolled to the back of his head as he grabbed your hair to force you closer.
"Mm- please, please m-more- AH!" You tugged on his hair back, it seems he liked it given his whimper.
"You'll get all you want, eddie..." your other hand slipped downwards, wandering to his stomach and purposely tickling him.
"Hmmg. Please, I can't-"
"HEY!! GET OFF EACH OTHER!"
Edward was suddenly pulled off you roughly by the scruff, leaving both of you disoriented.
"Eddie!! Hey-!!" Suddenly another guard was pulling you up and away from Edward and you both reached out for each other.
"Edward!!"
"Dearest!!"
The guards pulled away. Separated you from each other.
Everyone was pulled from the library because of the incident. A small interrogation followed. But for you and Edward more specifically.
You felt like a kid being sent to the principal's office. You didn't like it, so you kept silent most of the time.
"Dove. We need to know if it was an assault. For your own safety. He won't hurt you again." Well. Atleast the officer asking you these questions was kind enough. But it wasn't true. You loved Edward.
If you lie and say it was an assault. Edward would get hurt and you'd get separated.
But if you told the truth, you wanted this, you both suffer consequences, and you'd still be separated.
You'd carve through your own cell wall with a single plastic spoon if it meant Edward would be safe. And you'd rather suffer with him and risk never seeing him again, if it meant he's safe.
So you stammered, "N-No...it was all consensual, I wanted this, Edward wanted this."
The guard let out a deep breath and got up. You knew what was coming. You just wished you would've been able to say goodbye.
"Alright. You'll be assigned a new cell, and your banned from socializing areas for 2 weeks. Same goes to Edward nashton. Dismissed."
You desperately tried holding back tears on the way to your new cell, but as soon as they shut that door you collapsed.
You find someone who respects you, accepts you, loves you for once, and this is what happens?!
You didn't even bother moving to your bed, instead curled up on the floor with the cube that they oh so mercifully let you keep. And now your only reminder of Eddie.
"Edward...oh Eddie what are we gonna do now...sniff."
----- ----------
The weeks went by in a blur.
You didn't even want to go to socializing areas when you were allowed.
You barely had an appetite.
All you did was lay in bed, holding the cube tightly to your chest.
Most nights you'd cry to sleep, your eyes were practically begging for mercy from how puffed they got.
But it didn't matter anymore. Nothing registered in your brain anymore.
All you could think about was Edward.
Edward...Edward...Edward...
You laid on your small bed. Not awake, not asleep. The rubix cube in your hand.
You'd revisit the memory if him often. His gentle voice, soft dark golden hair, his green eyes... the way he whimpered when you played with him, the way he got so rough when you threatened to stop.
bang!
Your body snapped upwards. That one bang got followed by a serious of violent noise.
Guards shouting, prisoners, irons doors sliding open and shut, and gunshot.
Oh no no no no, you just killed a high ranked politician, you weren't ready for a full blown prison riot!!
Shitshitshit!! you whispered to yourself. There was nothing you can do, nowhere to go.
In a last resort as the noise got closer and more concentrated to your door, you hid under your bed.
slam!
Footsteps followed and you crouched deeper under the bed.
"Dearest..?"
Wait, that's-
"EDDIE!!" You immediately jumped out and ran towards him, slamming him into the ground as you threw your full body weight on him.
"Dearest!! You're safe!!" He grabbed your face to get a better look at you, but both of you just started tearing up.
"I thought I'd never see you again, eddie..."
He huffed and pulled back a piece of your hair, his fingertips playing atop your cheeks.
"I'd never let that happen. I'll always come back from you, my dearest." He sat up, adjusting so you sat in him comfortably.
"I love you too, Eddie." You responded with a giggle, before leaning forward to press a kiss on his lips.
He sighed before kissing you back, separating to take a breath.
"We were made for each other. It was no accident..." He pressed you closer by the waist, kissing up your jaw and to your ear. "I'm not letting you go again. Never."
"We were made for each other." You repeated like a parrot, rubbing your faces against each other.
"Um. Boss. We have to go." Someone mumbled from behind, clearly uncomfortable by the scene.
Eddie got up and pulled you with him, holding your hands and leading you through the chaos outside.
"We will never be apart again." He whispered in your ear, almost like a threat. But it was a reciprocated feeling.
In rainbows update: gotten some writing done! about a page and a half. Nowhere nearing the end of the chapter, though. I'll try and get it done by friday, but i can't make any promises.
As compensation, please take a hint (2 photos) and a little paragraph! Please note that these photos are from ebay, not my own. And they're relevant to the story. (PRESS READ MORE FOR FIC SPOILERS)
"You feel a little sick. A lot sick, actually. Your ears feel like they’re plugged, and you can feel your blood pumping through your fingers and face. You look to the other side of the card, where there’s more writing scrawled in the same messy script as the envelope."
