There For You ||Edward Nygma|| [4]

Chapter Twenty || I am vengeance

"What if this is what it's gonna be like for the rest of my life?

Fight after fight

barely getting any room to recover.

What if I'm gonna have to for the rest of my life act stronger than I am?"

- Cez

"Come on, where is that brat?" Edward Nygma asked impatiently.

Half an hour had gone by, perhaps more, and everyone was still waiting for billionaire Bruce Wayne to show up at the inauguration of the Wayne Tower. His butler, Alfred Pennyworth, went up to the stage and made a speech about the future of Gotham City, hoping nobody would notice just how late his Master was.

"His middle name is Crane?" Ed asked incredulously after the butler introduced himself. "Really?" He chuckled amused.

"Seriously, where is he?" Charlotte asked looking at Mayor James, their hostage. He mumbled something, probably saying he had no idea where Bruce was, but obviously, Charlotte knew that. However, messing with the Mayor's head was all she and Ed had to entertain themselves at the time.

"Hello, Ed," came a familiar voice. Charlotte recognized it as belonging to Barbara Kean. The sudden voice made the couple spin on their heels and point their guns at her. "Charlotte, it's always lovely to see you".

After giving birth to her daughter, Barbara changed and abandoned her criminal career to aid in the reconstruction of Gotham. She had even changed her visual as if the old Barbara had died and a new one had emerged from the ashes.

"Barbara Kean, in red," Ed chuckled having noticed that the former blonde had painted her hair. "Oh, no. Please tell me you are not here to stop us. Barbara, do you even remember how amazing you used to be?"

"Annoying, but..." Charlotte eyed her up and down, "better than whatever you are now".

Those words didn't bother Barbara. "Honey, I'm still amazing. I just made a choice".

"Choice?" Charlotte asked incredulously in return.

"Some of us don't get to make choices," Ed spoke, anger starting to rise. "I'm The Riddler. And tonight Gotham will remember that". He looked at Charlotte and grabbed her free hand. "They will remember us both".

"Aw," Barbara cooed mockingly. "You two are adorable. So let me see if I got this right, you two plan to get back at the people of Gotham by blowing up this ding-dong? Didn't you do that already?"

 "It's a callback!" Ed snapped at her before letting go of Charlotte's hand and turning to the TV. Bruce was still nowhere to be seen. What could he possibly be doing that was more important? "I was waiting for Bruce to begin his speech. You know, come out, present a riddle. Only Bruce doesn't seem to want to show. So I think I'm gonna have to imp..." Before he could finish his sentence, something hit Ed in the back of the head and he fell on the floor unconscious.