𝙰𝚛𝚔𝚑𝚊𝚖 𝙽𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜

Chapter Three

"Nygma is just that, an enigma," Hugo explained to Leia as the two walked through the halls of Arkham. "His mind works very differently from mine and yours. He's known for his intelligence and exceptional puzzle skills. I'd even go as far as to say that his mind itself is a puzzle."

Leia nodded, taking in his words and making mental notes as he began to explain the anomaly that was Edward Nygma. She had barely gotten any sleep the night before, too excited and nervous to meet her first ever patient as a psychiatrist at the institute. She was nerve-a-cited!

"He's a strange man, but compared to the other patients here he's actually quite docile. He knows better than to stir up trouble... or at least he knows better than to stir up trouble here," Hugo explained. "That's why I was so insistent on him being the first patient you see."

"So why is he in Arkham?" Leia questioned, her shoes clicking against the floors and echoing off of the rec room walls as they entered it.

"Even though he's well behaved here, he is the exact opposite out in the real world," Hugo muttered. "He uses his knowledge as a weapon. He may seem harmless, but don't let his charming personality fool you."

Leia nodded, glancing around the rec room as they walked. Majority of Gotham's rogues were out again; Two Face was playing a game of poker with Penguin, Scarecrow was mindlessly doodling up some master plan in a notebook, and Bane.. Bane was being Bane.

Bane was sitting in the exact same spot he was last time. It was a bit unnerving, seeing him so distant from the others. It was clear he had some kind of routine, one that he went about in solitude. She didn't blame him for choosing not to become friends with people in an insane asylum, but he was one of them. Didn't it get lonely? Or can someone like Bane even feel alone?

Leia and Bane made eye contact again (presumably, she couldn't quite tell due to the mask), just like the day before. Unlike yesterday, she held it for a few seconds longer this time. If she wanted to make it as a psychiatrist here, she needed to toughen up. That meant she couldn't back down when she was intimidated. These people were expecting weakness, waiting for it. The moment she showed fear, they'd take advantage of it no doubt.

Bane held her gaze, his head slowly turning to follow her and Hugo until they walked through the double doors. It wasn't long before they made it to the back of the asylum again, the halls hauntingly silent unlike the other hallway holding the less severe patients. Hugo brought them to a door towards the front, glancing to her.

"Now, Nygma should already be in there," Hugo began. "Keep in mind that no matter how sweet or charming he acts, this man is a criminal. He may be neutral here, but let me remind you... he'd rather kill you than befriend you."

Leia's eyes widened, nodding in understanding.

Hugo returned the nod. "Ready?"

"As I'll ever be," Leia murmured.

Hugo scanned his card and opened the door, revealing the room beyond.

There sitting silently with a rubix cube was The Riddler himself, his hands fiddling with the colorful cube at a surprisingly quick pace. It wasn't like your average rubix cube; this one had dozens of colorful squares on each side, The Riddler shifting them around swiftly as he attempted to solve the puzzle.

His wrists were bound to the table he sat at, his hands cuffed and the metal chain of the cuffs snaking through a loop attached to the top center of the table. He was rather skinny and pale, the color of his eyes a sharp green and his gaze even sharper. His copper colored hair was combed back, a few flyaways that stuck up from his head and jostled around as he moved his head in concentration.