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Selina eased herself onto her couch, freshly-stitched wound screaming in protest. She looked at the man who sat besides her with his head in his hands and arched a brow at him. “Riddler.”
When he did not immediately look up, Selina snapped her fingers by his ear. Despite her aching side, Selina couldn’t help but laugh at Riddler’s startled yelp. “Listening now, are we?”
“...Yes.”
“Good,” said Selina. It had taken all her strength of will to resist adding “boy”; a knee-jerk reaction to a powerless man telling her “yes,” even without saying “mistress.”
“Catwo--”
“Don’t speak,” Selina interrupted, “Unless it is to answer my questions.” She watched Riddler’s shoulders slump, but he nodded. Satisfied, Selina continued. “Do you know my real name?”
“Yes. Selina Kyle.”
Selina smirked. “You’re a fast learner. But I guess that’s to be expected from a man who calls himself the “Prince of Puzzles,” hm?”
“I am a genius.”
He’d stated it so flatly, so matter-of-fact, that it took Selina a moment to comprehend the actual words. “Or so you claim to be,” she said at last.
“I--”
“Do not speak,” Selina reprimanded, lip curling. “Following my orders is the least you can do, so do it. Understand?”
A wince. “Yes. My apologies.”
“Good.” Selina smirked. Oh, this is fun. “Now then, what's your name?” Riddler didn’t look at Selina when he said,
“It’s Edward.”
Selina couldn’t hold back her sigh. “I save your life, and you won’t even tell me your full name. And here I thought you were a gentleman.” Glancing at Riddler--Edward--out of the corner of her eye, Selina could see him biting back a response. With a coy smile, she said, “You’re cute when you’re irritated.”
Now it seemed that Edward’s face was red not with annoyance, but with embarrassment. To his credit, however, he didn’t say a word.
“Let’s try again,” said Selina, sensing the man’s weakness. “What is your name?”
“...Nygma. Edward Nygma.”
That gave Selina pause. “Edward Nygma? As in enigma?”
“Yes.”
Selina threw back her head and laughed until she couldn’t breathe. “Damn...that’s good. Aw, don’t scowl at me like that, I like it! It’s clever.”
Edward rolled his eyes.
Selina was silent for a moment before saying, “Look, Edward. I have a problem with you. Would you like to know what it is?”
“Yes,” Edward said immediately.
“I shouldn’t care for your life, but I’m starting to and it’s becoming an inconvenience. Someone like me shouldn’t--”
“I feel the same.”
“Don’t interrupt--wait, what did you just say?”
Edward closed his eyes. “I care about you, Ms. Kyle. Much as I try to ignore my heart in favor of my head, you cannot be ignored.”
“Well,” Selina said after a long moment. “We are both in quite the predicament, aren’t we?”