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2-guns-b1tch · 4 months ago

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Talk To Me

Arkham! Riddler x FemaleReader

+18 Minors DNI!!!

I’m so embarrassed to be posting this after almost a year. Lol sorry guys

Masterlist

CHAPTER 5 / AO3

When Edward takes his seat across from you, you can’t help but glance twice at him. Unlike other days, his hair is combed back, the stubble that covered his face is gone, making way to smooth skin with the exception of one small fresh cut on his chin. He looks nice, despite the fact that he still has that dark circles under his eyes and the patient’s clothes don’t fit him quite right.

You put your clipboard down, a smile spreading through your lips as you wonder if he did all this for today’s session.

“You’re looking good, Edward. Did you shave?”

He makes a dismissive gesture with his hand, even though you sense that he wanted you to notice from the way the tip of his ears turn pink.

“Oh, this? Well, the staff offers to shave the inmates from time to time and i thought I could take the offer this time around.”

“They need to be more careful though, they cut you.” You say, gesturing to the scratch that would be healed in just a few days.

“I can’t complain much, I suppose. It’s like reciving a trim from a primate with a dull blade, but at least my neck still in one piece.”

He’s starting to look a bit more like the photos you have seen of him on the news. The ones in which he is wearing a bright green suit, a bowler hat and a purple mask. More put together, cleaner… charming.

Your eyes move to your notes, not wanting to make him uncomfortable from the way you’re staring at him. You need to focus on your task ahead, today is an important day.

In this last few weeks Edward has been showing improvement during the sessions. He’s more receptive to your questions and pleasant to be around. So the last thing you would want to do is spoil his good mood, even though you need to explore this subject sooner or later.

“I would like discuss your obsession with the Batman today.” You say, before you can back down.

Something quick appears in Edward’s eyes. You’re not sure what it is, because it disappears in a blink. However, one of his usual smirks crosses his lips almost immediately as he fixes his posture and tangles his fingers over the table.

“Hardly an obsession, Doctor. I simply feel an obligation to expose him.”

“So you know who he is?” You ask, arching a eyebrow at him.

“More important, I know what he is.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s obvious. The mask, the weapons, the scare tactics. He’s a criminal. No different than Joker, Two-Face or myself.”

“Most people consider him a hero.”

“Most people are idiots!” Edward snaps, his chair sliding back with a screech when he gets up in a quick motion.

You knew this could happen, specifically during such a sensitive topic. So you offer him your best calm face and brace yourself for the storm.

But to your surprise Edward takes a deep breath, clearing his throat before continuing in a calmer voice.

“What I mean it’s that most people can’t see the bigger picture. Not the way I do.” He starts pacing around the room “Riddle me this, Doctor. How did he get his car and gadgets?”

You press your lips into a thin line. “Well, I don’t know.”

He turns in your direction, his index finger raised in the air. “With the money stolen from the criminals he ‘defeats’. Why does Gordon turn a blind eye to his antics?”

“I presume it’s because Commissioner Gordon believes that he is good to the city. He protects the people and-“

“Oh, please, Doctor. You’re smarter than that.” He sits again in the chair, the metal creaking under him. “No sane, law-abiding man does those things! No one’s that selfless! Batman is as vile as they come!”

“I understand that it’s hard to find true altruism nowadays, specifically in Gotham. But what makes you think that Batman doesn’t really want to help?”

Edward leans over the table, his voice dripping with something acid. “Everybody has their limits. And no one who has gazed into the abyss as many times as Batman can come back intact.”

You note down the phrases “Skeptical of people’s kindness. Paranoia. Distrust of authority figures.” And then a big arrow pointing down on the words “Difficult relationship with his father” circled up and written in big letters.

“I can see where your animosity towards Batman comes from, but let me ask you this. Was there ever a time when he didn’t solve one of your riddles to save someone?”

Edward crosses his arms, his lips pulled tight as he stares down at his lap for a moment. “No… but that doesn’t mean he isn’t hiding something. I will unmask Batman and show Gotham who he truly is.”

“What really bothers you, Edward? Maybe it’s the fact that he could be as smart as you?”

His head snaps back and Edward stares at you like you had just slapped him across the face. “Smart ?! One of my neurons means more than his whole brain! How could you even-“ he takes another deep breath, clutching his fists over the table before letting go. “What I can’t stand is celebrating mediocrity. Everybody thinks he is so clever, even though I know for a fact that he is merely lucky or even cheats in my riddles.”

“You don’t need to waste your time proving something to anyone. You’re a genius, Edward. We both know this.”

There’s a hint of a red flush spreading through his cheeks as Edward runs a hand along his hair. You can’t help but feel satisfied in the way you got such a reaction from him with something so simples as stating his intelligence.

“Well, I… of course I know that. It’s obvious, anyone with half a brain should see that.”

You wonder if the riddles and all his criminal schemes are also a way to make him feel seem. Maybe he just wanted to be adored and cherished just like the Batman is. You can picture a younger Edward, trying desperately to get his parents attention, begging for the slightest glimpse of affection. And now, his older self, trying to find something he never had, but not quite sure what it is.

Is something you know well. When you first cut contact with your mother you would devour any crumbs of love – or at least you used to think it was love – that anyone had to offer. Even when it didn’t feel good or right. Back then, exist under someone’s gaze was enough.

“Have you ever thought about helping people again? Maybe come back to work on computer engineering, or even something new, like as a detective?”

Edward huffs, rolling his eyes. “Why though? The most interesting thing I would do as a detective is go after cheating husbands. You see, Doctor. It’s not hard to play by the rules when the game is fun. I can be a good citizen that pay taxes and behaves well. But it gets boring after a month or so .”

You hum, tapping your pen against your clipboard. “What I’m trying to say is that your intelligence shouldn’t isolate you from the rest of the world. Have you been interacting with any of the other patients lately?”

“You know I rather not.” He says with a sneer.

You check through the list you had made of potential patients that Edward could be inclined to talk to, the least dangerous and the ones that had show the best chances of improvement.

“Let’s see… Have you met Dr. Victor Fries before? He does group therapy on Mondays and maybe-“

“No group therapy. Besides, I don’t want to talk to Victor and I’m sure neither does he. His research is interesting, I must admit, but nowadays he spends most of his time babbling about his popsicle wife. So no, thank you.”

“First of all, Dr.Fries is dealing with his own problems and we should be respectful about that. Second, let’s keep a open mind about this. But if he doesn’t interest you then let’s see someone else. How about Jonathan Crane? I found him quite polite and smart when I talked to him the last time.”

“Crane? Oh please, he- what do you mean you talked to him?”

The way his eyebrows squeeze together and his eyes dart at you make you feel like being exposed to a bright light in a interrogation room. It’s your turn to clean your throat before speaking again.

“Well, he’s not currently my patient, but I had one session with him back when I started working here.”

Back then you had to talk to a few patients, just to find which one you would work better with. Of course you only interacted with the less dangerous of them and thank god for that. You can feel your shiver run down your spine with just the thought of sitting in the same room with someone like the Joker or Waylon Jones. In the end, Jonathan Crane was assigned to Dr.Combs.

“I presume he spent half of the time babbling about fear and the other half bragging about how he used to work here.” Edward comments while he checks his own nails, feigning a mask of disinterest that you can see right through.

Crane did, in fact, talk about both this things. Although, its not something you would or could tell Edward.

Although, you can understand how someone could find Crane unsettling. He used do be a psychiatrist and was well versed in the area of phobias, but he didn’t manage to get under your skin in particular. You were new and he probably didn’t know much about your personal life and career, so he didn’t waste too much time trying to spook you.

“You know I’m not allowed to talk about this, it would break the confidentiality code I have with patients.”

“Well, then who else you talked to? Dr. Isley? Harvey Dent ? I hope not Jervis, he is a creep.”

“I’m not telling you. We’re diverging from the main point. And besides, why does it matter?”

“It doesn’t ! It just- well, I was just.. curious. It’s my nature, after all.”

You don’t quite buy it. Was he feeling threatened by the possibility of you having other patients? Maybe it’s the idea of having to share the attention he has from you with other people. It’s not a behavior you should encourage, but this is something for another day. Today you can feel he needs this.

“If it means something to you, I just had one session with a few of them and you’re my only patient at the moment. So you have my full attention.”

There’s a hint of a genuine smile spreading through his lips before he starts throwing more questions at you.

“Am I the most interesting? I’m sure the others had boring problems. Nothing complex and thought-provoking like mine. I must be your favorite right?”

All you can do is shake your head at him in disbelief, not being able to contain a chuckle.

“Yeah, I bet I am.” He says in a satisfied tone.

———

His eyes are blue. It’s funny. You always thought they were green, like everything else he wore. But no. They are sky blue. The kind you could lost yourself into, nothing like the dark, polluted skies of Gotham.

This time, when he looks up at you through half lid eyes, you can’t contain the need to touch him.

First you run your fingers through his hair and to your surprise is soft. Then, you move your hands down his face to caress the smooth skin of his cheeks and jaw, tracing the shape of his lips with your eyes.

You stop to brush your thumb on the small scratch on his chin, still slightly red. He doesn’t flinch from the contact, just keep staring. Waiting. Expecting.

So you lean down and lick the cut on Edward’s skin.

———

You wake up with a gasp, the air being pushed into your lungs like a punch. Your sweaty skin feels sticky and hot under the blankets so when you fumble into a sitting position you kick them away from you. Meg, whose sleep you just disturbed, gives you an annoyed look before rolling to her other side and ignoring you.

You run a hand through your damp forehead, the dream still burning on the back of your head.

What the fuck was that ?!

#batman rogues #batman villains #batman #batman fandom #rogues gallery #arkham riddler #the riddler x you #the riddler x reader #edward nygma x reader #edward nygma

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