Riddlebat Oneshots

Punishment

Bruce gazed into the mirror groggily. He'd been out all night and he just wanted to get some rest before the sun came up. He wiped the dark smudges from around his eyes unlatched his armor to let it all fall to the ground. It was like a great burden was being taken off. But only temporarily, it will always be there.

He stretched his tank over his shoulders and wandered into the bedroom of Edward's dumpy apartment. It pained him to stay there but the riddler was helping uncode a lead on his current project and he wanted to keep an eye on the progress. Nashton was currently at the computer typing away with glazed eyes. His lips were pursed and he seemed to be in concentration. Good that meant he wouldn't bother him. Whenever he did bother him Nashton's enthusiasm gave him feelings he didn't want to have.

He spun the chair around suddenly noticing Bruce "Hiiiiiiii!"

Bruce sighed inwardly blushing and tried to ignore him but the tone of Nashton's voice was off. He sounded less enthusiastic and more tired. Bruce walked over to see what he was working on, hands on the back of his chair. Nashton seemed to shrink under his huge body leaning over to read the text on the screen. It didn't appear to be work on the case instead it looked like some chat room on the internet.

"What's this?" Bruce said roughly.

Edward twisted to look up at him while slamming the laptop shut. His eyes were teary, his mouth was quivering, and his cheeks were flushed. These all pointed to him feeling emotion strongly. And not in a good way. 

"It's... it's my social worker." He giggled nervously and Bruce ever so slightly raised an eyebrow.

Obviously this person had upset him in some way. Dampened his overly animated character that Bruce found so interesting. It reminded him of how this city had dimmed him down. Dimmed him until all that was left was darkness. He refused to let this happen to anyone else.

"They upset you." He growled.

Edward's face flushed as he looked up at Bruce with bright eyes, "They say I'm not..." He pushed his glasses up his soft nose, "I'm not trying hard enough. They think I can do better. That I'm being superfluous."

He paused for a moment breathing loudly before looking back up again with an excited smile to mask his pain, "Superfluous is a good word."

~~~

Bruce lay in bed half asleep. He was tired but sleep wouldn't come, only a fitful fever dream state. Sleep was the only escape from this wretched city but the world has taken that from him too. He wouldn't let it take anything else.

Upon that thought he noticed Nashton wasn't in the bed they were sharing. He was probably working at the computer. He would have gone back to Dreamland if he hadn't heard someone moaning a cry in the corner of the room. 

Bruce jerked himself up in bed his tired eyes searching the dimly lit room for a sign of who was hurting. He saw Edward in the corner. His body was racked with sobs. Bruce gracefully leapt out of bed and came to where he was hovering over Nashton.

There was blood on the floor. Bruce's eyes followed it up to his arms where Edward had cut numbers and letters into his skin. The blood glistened in the light from the street lamps. 

In a fury Bruce easily hefted Nashton up to press onto the bed and fling the knife across the room. It flattered against the window sill and fell into the street below. 

"What are you doing." Bruce demanded looking down at the flushed and wet face of Edward. 

"Puh-punishing myself." He sobbed rolling away as to not make eye contact with him, "I wasn't trying hard enough. I must try hard... Harder. HARDER."

He slammed his fist into where he cut himself screeching the word harder in a frenzy. Bruce got a hold of both his arms to hold him down. Edward's face flushed with embarrassment and his squeezed his eyes shut. 

"Listen to me." Bruce growled dead serious, "I'm the one who tries hard. I'm the one who suffers. I suffer for all the mistakes of this city. I bleed for it. Not you. Never you. Don't make my sacrifice in vain Nashton. I'm the scapegoat for every rotten thing that goes down in every rotten alleyway. I do this so the rest of you thrive."

With that Bruce released him to head over to the computer. He was going to track down this social worker and he would tell them. Tell them what he thought. He had anger that needed an outlet and he chose his target.

Before he could even get to the computer Edward grabbed at his arm. Bruce turned momentarily which gave Edward enough time to encase him in a hug. Bruce didn't move and neither did Edward. They stood there like that. Two orphans who bled for this city. Felt the pain for this city. Took the blame for this city. And it never gave them anything but scars.