Chapter 8
Edward sat at a table at the outside cafe, fidgeting with his silverware restlessly and checking his watch. The man he was meeting was supposed to have been here by now. Of course, it was entirely possible that he might not show. He had every reason not to. But, Edward was hoping he had sparked his interest enough that he wouldn't be able to resist finding out more. In either case, it didn't matter. If he didn't show up today, Edward would just keep trying.
Looking up, he saw his lunch companion weave through the small crowd on his way over to him.
"Your choice of venue surprised me," Edward began. "I thought you would have preferred somewhere more private."
The man didn't take off his sunglasses as he pulled out the chair and sat down.
"I have no merchandise on me, so the more public the better. There's less chance of an ambush around innocent civilians."
"Paranoid as ever," Edward commented with a smirk.
"I prefer the term cautious. But, I'm also curious."
"A trying combination I'd imagine."
"Can be. But, a man tells me he wants to purchase my materials so he can host a little party for the Avengers.... I've got to find out more."
"How did you know it wasn't a trick?"
"I didn't. But, I think they're too smart to play the same move twice, so either you're working by yourself or you're on the up and up. Either way, I can handle you."
Edward grinned broadly and laughed. This was so much fun.
"I got lucky when that bitch got shot," the man continued. "I wouldn't have gotten away otherwise. Does this have something to do with that? I remember you being there."
Edward's grin faded and he grasped his glass dangerously hard. His hand itched to reach for the switchblade in his jacket pocket. It would be so quick and so easy. But, he resisted the urge to spill the man's blood all over the white tablecloth. He needed him, for now. Besides, he had plans to deal with him soon enough.
"What gets broken without being held?" Edward asked.
"What?"
Edward repeated himself, slower this time.
"Are you asking me a riddle?"
"Yes."
"I don't know. I don't have time for this."
"A promise," Edward said. "She was one of them, and that came with a promise to protect her, which they failed to do. I'm going to make them pay for it."
"And what about me? You could say I'm responsible, too."
Edward lied smoothly when he said, "She knew what she signed up for. It could have been you, or it could have been any of the dozens of other missions she went on. They're the ones I blame."
The man leaned back in his seat and chuckled, "You have an unusual way of looking at things. I respect that. I'm going to make that deal with you, as long as you've got the money that is."
"It won't be a problem."
"Good, I'll contact you," he said, standing up.
"You didn't give me your name."
"No, I didn't. For all you know, I don't have one. What about you?" the man asked, looking over the green clad buyer in the bowler hat as a Cheshire cat smile spread across his face.
"Me? I'm The Riddler."
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The Avengers watched as Hugo Strange walked around your frozen body, studying you like a lab rat in a cage. The way he looked at you made your teammates uncomfortable.
"I have a bad feeling about this," Tony whispered to Steve.
"So do I, but what choice do we have? It's our only chance of getting her back."
"Mr. Freeze, please begin the thawing process," Professor Strange said.
"How long will this take?" Tony asked.
"Awhile. I'm going to need time....and space," Strange said in a manner that suggested that they needed to leave.
The Avengers looked from one to the other. None of them wanted to leave you alone with this man.
"We'll be downstairs," Steve said with a tone of warning in his voice.
Once they were gone, Strange traced his finger along your now-thawing arm.
"An Avenger....such promise....such potential," he said to himself. He was startled when someone grabbed his wrist.
"I hired you to return her to her original state. That means no experimentation," Penguin stated firmly. "Otherwise, you'll have to answer to them, and to me."
"It was not meant to be, my dear," Strange said when he was finally alone with you. "Let's get started."
Downstairs, some of the Avengers paced nervously while others sat and stared absentmindedly at the TV. They had stayed by your side at Wayne Manor the past few weeks just as Steve had said they would. Now that the day they'd been waiting for was finally here, they were more worried than they had been yet. Your fate was in someone else's hands, and there wasn't anything they could do but wait.
"Hey, look at that," Sam said, motioning to the TV. There was a news broadcast on about another Gotham City bank robbery. It was the second one in a week. There was little physical evidence to go on, with the only clue being riddles left at the scene.
Oswald let out an annoyed huff and rolled his eyes. Riddles....there was only one person that it could be, and he was sure the cops knew it too. When he accused Edward of shooting you, he had never imagined he would go down this path. He had had so much promise when he was mentoring him. Now, Edward had adopted this ridiculous persona....The Riddler. It irritated Oswald to no end, but he said nothing.
"How is she?" Steve asked, jumping to his feet when he saw Strange finally come down the stairs.
"Alive, but her body will still have to heal from the injury. She should be back to normal in a few weeks, though."
As sighs of relief filled the room, Steve sincerely said, "Thank you for all you've done."
Strange nodded his head slightly.
"I'll come back to check on her tomorrow," he said before taking his leave.
The Avengers, Penguin, Bruce, and Alfred made their way upstairs to see you.
"She looks the same," Sam said as he watched your gentle breathing. "I was afraid it would be some of that Pet Sematary shit."
Clint sat down on one side of your bed and took ahold of your hand.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I'm supposed to have your back and I let you down. I know you'll forgive me, but I'm never going to forgive myself."
Penguin stood on the other side, watching the pair of you carefully. He had seen the two of you giggling together that night at dinner. He'd tried not to think anything of it at the time. But after hearing of Edward's encounter with you down at the warehouse, he couldn't push the thoughts out of his mind. It made him feel angry and jealous....even though he couldn't put into words why.
Looking at you now, he knew that he shared a bond with you that no one else did. You had saved his life, and he had saved yours. You were bound to him, and he enjoyed the way that thought made him feel.
Oswald suddenly experienced the urge to interject himself into the moment. After all, this was all thanks to him. But, he held back. There would be time enough for that once you awoke.
For now, he would simply watch, and contemplate the new problems that would soon arise. If Edward found out about you....if he discovered the truth....things could get very messy for Oswald. The Riddler was dangerous, and unpredictable. Penguin didn't know what the bank robberies were about, but he was sure that there was another purpose behind them. This situation would have to be handled quickly and quietly, or all of his careful planning would be for nothing.