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"The cage is too small," the little girl frowned, worried. "Your rats are crammed together inside this thing!"
"It's because I planned on... using them," Edward relativized, not getting Steph's sudden concern for the animals. "They are not my pets, they are... a part of my plan. I trapped them in the sewers, with a follower of mine who showed me how to catch a rat without getting bitten."
While he helped him in the process, Otis Flannegan didn't know Ed will starve the creatures and collect them in a tight cage before... forcing them to eat a dead man's face in a future trap.
Not that any of that mattered anymore.
Eddie stopped his Halloween mission when he met Jason Todd outside, after what he brought the street kid to his home when the boy told him he has nowhere to go and no one to turn to. The tomorrow morning, Ed went to the Brown household, briefly informed Arthur something 'went wrong', not giving the man details when his number 1 follower hysterically queried what happened, distraught to learn the Mayor is alive and Riddler's actions were... cancelled for now.
Edward didn't linger, he asked Art if he could watch over his daughter Stephanie for a bit. Hence... there he was, not knowing what to do or what near future will be made of, with an eleven years old street kid and a seven years old genius in his mess of an apartment.
Naturally, he didn't explain to them what would have happened if he concretized his scheme.
Legally speaking, he did nothing wrong: Don Mitchell is alive and the rest of his plan hadn't occurred yet. Zero victims. He still had... time to turn around. Maybe. If he made an effort. If he really tried to get better.
After Stephie eyed his flat over and inquired "what is wrong with the creepy Bat-themed decoration?", she spotted the rat cage and stared at the depressing sight of the dark furred animals squeaking inside the cramped space.
"That's bad, Eddie!" The blonde girl put both fists on her hips, her reproving expression making her look like a tiny teacher scolding a pupil who said something nasty. "I am disappointed in you."
Edward blinked rapidly, not expecting to be lectured by the kid.
"Hu... I'm sorry?" He tentatively apologized, shifting nervously from one foot to another. "It was... for the Batman. You know, because I love him and I... don't know how to show that to him. So I thought of... something... that, among others, involved rats."
Jason scoffed then teased the adult playfully:
"Lemme get this straight: according to ya, sending Vengeance a bunch of hungry rats was supposed to be a... romantic present?"
"No, I would have introduced the rats in a... setting. To... impress the Bat. I swear it made sense in my head! It was... part of my plan..."
The children shared an unimpressed look.
Next thing Jaybird expressed his opinion via a deadpan:
"Whatever it was truly about, it's clear that yar plan sucks, Eddie. You're terrible at showin' yar feelings."
"Yeah..." Stephie backed-up her new-found partner in crime. "You need to receive lessons on 'how to talk to your crush' without... obsessing over him, making a board dedicated to him in your flat, writing weird love letters and now kidnapping animals to attract his attention! Again, you will scare him off with your tricks."
Edward sighed.
"Okay... let's start by the beginning, shall we?" He proposed, eying those two enthusiastic children who made fun of him with a fondness he never experienced towards anyone else before. "Would you guys... help me return them to their home?"
"With pleasure!" Steph rejoiced instantly.
Eddie felt relieved she didn't stay angry at him.
"But first," the child resumed, a big happy grin plastered on her face, "we must give them something to eat! The poor things deserve a good healthy meal before going back into the wild!"
His Riddler mask remained hidden inside the backpack Edward hadn't opened since Halloween.
Over the incoming hours, he didn't think about Don Mitchell, didn't think about his plan, didn't think about the corruption tearing this city apart, didn't think about his supporters, didn't think about... the Riddler.
The only thing he had in mind was how to watch over two ultra dynamic kiddos with whom he went to the Gothamite sewers after they fed the nine rats in their cage.
Once they found a satisfying spot, they released the animals, who hurried to run away in the underworld.
Afterwards Ed could... bring Steph and Jay to the stores, buy toiletry items and clothes for Jason who doesn't own other garments than the ones he currently wears, have lunch with them at a cafeteria in the mall and... take the two of them out for a funny afternoon together in a public space, why not?
These are typical, sympathetic family activities standard citizens practice with children they freshly bonded with, right?
Everything is totally normal there.