Unmasked [Riddler x Batman]

(1) black out

He can't sleep. When can he ever? With the layers and layers of reoccurring night terrors, restless legs, and just pure insomnia, bruce Wayne found himself sat criss cross at his desk. The faint sounds of a 90's rock band playing through overused speakers.

He sits bundled up in a hoodie and sweats. It's always cold in the bat cave, except for when he runs the bat mobile. The heat from the engine is like a big heater which can be nice and shit at the same time. The smell of burning fuel can be enough to induce nausea onto anyone who steps foot in the cave.

Bruce glances at the clock in the corner of his monitor, 4:42 a.m.

He groans.

He's tired.

He can't sleep.

He can't think.

He just sits there until, eventually, he puts on the suit that makes him feel invincible, and rides into the night.

-

He's sat next to the unlit bat signal.

Waiting.

Watching.

After the riddler escaped police custody the GCPD has been keeping a heavy look out for him, causing most small thugs and gangs to hide in the shadows. They don't want to be affiliated with the riddler and his motives.

No one does.

He's a crazy psycho killer who will do anything to prove a point.

Sounds familiar..

The bat signal remains un-lit as the search for the riddler continues. They don't want the kid gettin cocky knowing the Batman is out searching. Bruce has been told to lay low and let the police handle the 'situation'.

"Where could riddler even hide? He can't go back to his apartment, he doesn't have any acquaintances that I know of."

Audio logs are good. Saying your thoughts can cause you to remember them. you can also just listen to the recordings if need be.

"November 17, still no sign of the riddler. In fact, there is no one on the street at this hour, which is strange."

Bruce gazes of into the distance, soaking in the neon view of a half lit city. No one yelling, no police sirens. Something doesn't feel right, it's never this quiet.

"Mmm very strange indeed."

Before the bat could turn to find the source of the voice, he had already been stricken in the head with a metal object.

Blacked out.

-

Bruce wakes up chained to a chair, his suit off. His eyes were puffy and his cheeks were sore. He had a loose grey long sleeve shirt and black sweats on, both not his originally.

He shifted in the chair, trying to come to his senses when a hand roughly grabbed his chin.

"Looks like the bats awake."

Bruce groaned at the pressure on his jaw. He tries to pull away from the unknown hand, but his strength has faded to soreness.

"Who are you."

The man giggled obnoxiously at the whisper.

"I'm difficult to understand, but once figured out I can trick your friends. I'm a tool, I'm a game, what am i?"

.
.
.

Bruce though for a second before whispering "a riddle."

The man beamed "ding ding ding!! You are correct!"

The man, now identified as the riddler, threw Bruce's chin back, causing him to growl in pain.

"Oh were gonna have some fun, just you and I bats. You just wait"

The riddler rips of a piece of duct tape and sticks it harshly to Bruce's face.

He closed his eyes as the riddler fiddled with what he presumed was either a camera or a light. Or both.

Bruce thought about how to approach this 'predicament'. He decides to just let the riddler do what he wants, he won't talk, he won't even open his eyes.

If his identity gets leaked, who knows what would happen..

__

"Hey everyone" the riddler waved to his web cam. "So I have a special guest for you all this morning. Give it up for the one, the only, Bruce Wayne!!"

He clapped slowly as he reveals the chained Bruce behind him, his eyes still closed, his mouth sealed.

The chat was going wild.

'OMG THAT'S THE REAL BRUCE WAYNE?!'

'how did you even do that??'

'WINNNINGGG HERE'

'riddler 1, Batman 0'

'Why does he have makeup on?'

"Come on brucey, say hi to your fans, they'd love to talk to you!"

Bruce didn't flinch. He looked asleep, though his mind was running on full speed. Thinking, plotting, on how to escape.

The riddler scoffed and forced one of Bruce's eyes open, causing Bruce to open the other. He looked up to make direct eye contact with the psycho. The riddlers eyes glossed with mischief, while Bruce's showed a flint of fear. Vulnerability. He hated it.

He hated this.

Bruce gave up and glanced into the camera pointed right at his face. The chat was going so fast he couldn't focus on one message for less than 3 seconds before the next one took it's place.

"This is it guys, our peak!!"

And with that, the Riddler turned off the stream and knocked Bruce out yet again...

(844 words)