Unmasked [Riddler x Batman]

(2) stream

Bruce woke up, dazed and confused. The room had light now, the walls concrete as well as the floor. There's a bed in the corner and a desk in the other. He was sat near the desk, still chained to the chair.

"The prince has awakened."

Bruce looked behind him to find an unmasked Riddler gazing down at his face. He wore a smile and gave a little wave as Bruce made eye contact.

"You look bad."

Bruce groaned, closing his eyes again, wishing he was still knocked out.

His eyes burned, the makeup still smeared everywhere, slowly seeping into his eyes. He tried to reach for his face with his hand but failed.

The Riddler grabbed his hair and pulled his head back again. He wiped off the makeup roughly with a wet wipe, probably getting more in Bruce's eyes than there already was. Bruce flinched back in pain.

Once the Riddler was done, he slowly ripped of the duct tape covering Bruce's mouth.

"There ya go! All better now, see?"

"You're fucked up."

The Riddler turned Bruce's chair to face him. He whispered in Bruce's ear, "only for you doll."

Bruce leaned away, slowly coming to his senses.  He heard some 80's music playing from a cheap speaker. A new wall of photos was being built by the riddlers desk. It wasn't that bad of a space, just really. Really. Cold.

He got embarrassed as he contemplated weather to ask for a jacket or not. He didn't want to seem vulnerable though indeed, he was.

"Something wrong?"

Bruce scoffed "I mean this whole situation was not my plan for a Wednesday morning."

He thought some more..

"It's cold."

"Aww can't even take a little fall air. You're pathetic."

Bruce looked down at his lap, his hands felt like ice, there was a chill he just couldn't shake.

"Its gotham, when does it ever get above 60 degrees? Look at yourself. You're wearing a fucking hoodie and big ass coat. You can't be calling me pathetic."

The Riddler shrugged and knelt down to unchain Bruce's ankles.

"I guess sitting can make you feel colder."

"What are you doing-?"

The Riddler looked at Bruce and made a pouty face.

"Well I'm not evil."

Bruce scoffed again, "why the hell am I here then?"

The Riddler got in Bruce's face again, "it's a secret, shhh."

He knelt down again to unlock Bruce's ankles, holding him down so he doesn't kick him.

"You're gonna listen to me, or there's gonna be issues, you hear? You are not to leave this room if you want to keep breathing."

The Riddler smirked and sat of Bruce's feet while unlocking his arms. Bruce tried to push him off, but he didn't have the strength. He was exhausted, The lack of sleep has really built up.

"There's no need to do that doll, you know you can't move me."

Bruce lays his head back, unwillingly waiting for the Riddler to unlock his arms so he can get out of there.

The Riddler held down his hands once unlocked, pinning him to the chair.

"Look at me."

Bruce looked away.

"LOOK AT ME!"

Bruce glared down at the riddler.

"I'm going to let go of you now. Don't do anything that could get you hurt."

Bruce grunted in acknowledgement.

The Riddler cautiously let go on Bruce's hands. He stood up and let his feet loose too.

Bruce stretched, joints popping. Being forced to sit in a chair can be very...

Restricting.

He faced the Riddler who has standing in front of him.

"Do it. I dare YOU."

Bruce gave a light smirk to the taunting before punching Riddler hard in the stomach. He fell to the ground, clutching his stomach in pain.

"YOU'RE GONNA REGRET THAT. BRUUUUCE!!"

Bruce scanned the room, looking for a look concrete plate that could be a door. He had started pushing some that he thought would open, but one never did.

"Where's the door."

Bruce glaced over to the side of the room where the Riddler was.

He wasn't there anymore. "shit."

"Hiya batsy."

Before Bruce could turn he was out on the ground yet again..

"I gave you a chance and you.. Well.. you didn't take it. Now look at yourself. Poor little Bruce wayne, knocked out on the floor of gotham's nemesis. The batman could find you but- OH RIGHT! you're the batman."

The Riddler sat on Bruce's limp body, placing a price of duct tape over his mouth once again.

"pooooor little bruuuce."

(755 words)