Chapter Text
Eleanor knew she was behind, Eddie was going to kill her for being late to their lunch meetup. But God, everything in her life was so hectic right now! Her job being the only thing she had time for. Everything else had fallen to the wayside her basic needs, communicating with her friends, even hanging out with Edward had fizzled out. She had barley even realized several weeks had passed since she last talked to him until in a brief moment of peace allowed her to check her messages.
Aside from the random check-in texts from her friends and others she had almost a hundred text messages from Edward.
Ranging from just saying a variation of her name, to asking her if she had died, to pleas to stop ignoring him and even the odd threat about coming over to see if she was alright. A wave of guilt crashed over Eleanor and she placed her phone down on her desk and then setting her face in her hands and let out an anguished groan. “I gotta make it up to him, Eddie’s been worried sick. God I’m a terrible sister.” She thought bitterly. Placing the phone back into her hands she shot off a quick response to the others in her inbox and set to writing her respond to Edward.
“Hey, I’m sorry for being AFK! I swear I’m not ignoring you Eddie. Work’s just been kicking my ass 😭😣 I swear I’ll make it up to youuuu!!! XxxX”
She sent it off with a flourish and no sooner had she sent it was Eleanor met with a response.
“You’re okay Elle, I’ve just been worried. What do you mean about work? Mrs. Livingston hasn’t been overworking you again? Right :/“
Eleanor bit her lip and thought about what she could say to clam Edward down before he started getting angry for her.
She quickly typed back to him: “No no no! Its not like that!!! I swear! I’ve just been wrapped up in my own projects lol. Again I’m so sorry for ignoring you Eddie-Bear.”
“There!” She said hoping internally he would buy her lie, technically it wasn’t even a lie. She was wrapped up in her projects, if you counted having to pick up and drive her boss’s stupid kids to and from school. While also getting Mrs.Livingston’s dry cleaning, lunch and a gift for her Mother in Law, all in the same day. On top of that! She had to organize the sample closet and interview models for their upcoming shoot. Repeat ad nauseam for the next fifty years for nothing or finally be rewarded with her own show and spot as a top designer on par with Mrs. Livingston.
Once more shaken from her musings was the droning tone of Edward’s response text:
“Sounds good Ellie, let’s get lunch tomorrow! I’ve been dying to get some pie. We could go to the diner on 43rd Street. :)”
“Fuck!” She shouted Why couldn’t he decide to hangout later! Eleanor did not have time for this shit! Her entire life was falling apart, her sanity was hanging on by a thread and all Eddie could think about was pie! The logical side of her brain argued that he was only thinking about pie because Eleanor has once again refused to let her brother in. She desperately refused to be taken care of by anyone, especially not Eddie! He needed her strong, pushing him to branch out and show the world who he was. So they would finally see him the way Eleanor did. He was charming in his own dorky way, so fucking smart, way smarter than her anyway and overflowing with love. If only he would let himself be loved. Now was not the time to get all blubbery, she had a deadline and it had to be met before the end of the day. So she set to work.
Eleanor swerved her car into the diner parking lot, slightly hopping the curve to come to a skidding halt into the parking spot right in front of the diner. She really hoped Eddie wasn’t watching right now, she did not currently have the time to explain all of that to him. Checking her face and hair over in the mirror of her sunshade. Eleanor let out a dejected huff. He definitely was going to notice the bags under her eyes and the way her hair stuck up in all different directions. “You should have cleaned up before lunch” she thought bitterly with a sigh. But there was no turning back, applying a little more mascara and some fresh eyeshadow to her lids she grabbed her cup of coffee along with her purse and headed inside to face her brother head on.
Edward checked his watch for the fourth time with a impatient scowl printed onto his features, while his leg bounced repeatedly as he waited for Ellie. She was never late when meeting him, she was almost never late period! Punctuality was a virtue beaten into them by the sisters of the Orphanage. He suppressed his poison coated musings and scanned his eyes around the diner once more for any sign of Eleanor. His long fingers were itching to send her a text, just one to see if she was okay! But deep down Edward knew he had gone overboard texting her when she went AWOL. Still… this was Gotham and there were a million reasons why she wouldn’t be on time. His frenetic mind spiraled as images of Ellie sprawled out in an alley bleeding out as some vagrant thug rummaged around her body for any valuables he could pilfer. The very thought made Edward boil with rage, gripping his coffee mug so tightly the skin around his knuckles was turned the same ghostly white as the cup. He shut his eyes and took a hard sip of the coffee to steady himself. “She’s fine, you’re fine, soon you won’t ever have to worry about her out there ever again.” He thought smilingly darkly as he remembered how Mayor Mitchell had thrashed and trashed until he finally stopped wriggling as he delivered the final blow.” He shuddered and there was a sick sort of glee that coated Edward’s mind as he remembered the act. The memory served to comfort him as he waited and worried about Eleanor.
Shooting his eyes quickly out the diner window, Edward watched in mild horror as Ellie’s Dodge Dart peeled into the parking lot like a bat out of hell. What in the name of God was she thinking??? Worry once more seized him and he began to chew fiercely on the inside of his cheek. His mind began to run over all the scenarios that could cause her to behave so erratically. He was ripped from his spiraling by Eleanor’s bright voice calling him.
“Hey Eddie!” She beamed and Edward steadied himself as his eyes flicked up to where she stood, his worries were then magnified as he took her in. She looked… downright disheveled. He raised his hand limply in a weak wave, as his sister bounded over to where he sat. He quickly got up to greet her, banging his knees on the table top as he shot up. Eleanor quickly pulled him into a hug, arms wrapping tightly around his slightly squishy abdomen , pressing her face into his chest as she looked up at him with a brilliant smile. He finally let his arms respond to her hug and he wrapped them around her upper body and they tightly hugged for several seconds. As they broke away to take their seats in the booth across from each other.
“I missed you!” She said in an overly chipper tone, this instantly made Edward suspicious, she was hiding something from him and it had something to do with how beleaguered Eleanor looked. “Me too Elle.” He said taking another look at her. His quizzical green eyes instantly snapped to the deep bags under her eyes, the pallid skin surrounding them told him she wasn’t sleeping. Glancing around her face he realized her makeup was a muddled mess, clashing browns smushed into a sparkly pink and he wasn’t quite sure where her eyelashes ended and the mascara began. A stark contrast to the sharp precision and perfection Eleanor normally directed her makeup with. She finally broke him from his trance; Eleanor nervously asked if she had something on her face? Quickly attempting to cover his visual snooping Edward attempted to change the subject.
“So, how’s work been? You must have been working on something huge to keep yourself cooped up so long Ellie?” He questioned trying to sound as casual as possible. Eleanor’s round face blanched as she took in what he had said. “So her distress is work related.” Edward mused, as the cogs of his brain began to turn he had a few ideas he was dying to try out. But first, he had to confirm his suspicions.
“Well not really.” She said carefully and Edward narrowed his eyes. She quickly recovered and added on “Nothing big I mean! I’m always working on something when it comes Cygnus.” While saying this Eleanor had placed her cheek on her bawled fist and had a dejected looking pout on her face as she refused to meet Edward’s gaze. A silence fell over them as he held a watchful gaze on Eleanor. She said nothing as her forest green eyes began to droop pathetically and she struggled to keep her head propped up on her first. The sight of his sister looking so disheveled and exhausted made his chest bloom tightly with rage, he took another forceful sip of coffee as different options for punishing Eleanor’s harpy of a boss floated through his consciousness.
Lost in thought Edward was startled out of his plans with a jump as Ellie’s face finally fell from the grip on her palm and she sleepily fell forward onto the table with a loud thunk. Rattling the sliverwear and mugs on the table. He reached a finger out to poke at her, reaching at her scalp he recoiled his hand in disgust at the incredibly greasy state of her hair. “When was the last time she showered?” He thought the rage in his chest began to go from a tiny spark to the beginnings of a massive, destructive blaze. Reaching over the table to gently shake her shoulder Eleanor shot up with a blind look of panic as her eyes darted around the diner. Finally shouting a panicked “I swear I’m listening to you Mrs.Livingston!” A deep, dark crimson blush covered Eleanor’s face, reaching down her neck and to the tips of her ears as all eyes in the diner we’re watching her sudden outburst. “Please, God, Jesus, fucking anything at this point, whatever has the power to kill me right now do!” She screamed in her head as she slid down in the booth.
“I knew it!” Edward blurted out triumphantly. “You’re all bedraggled because of work!” He slammed his fist on the table rattling it harshly with a smirk on his face. Looking more like he had gloatingly beat her in chess instead of blabbing her problem for the entire world to hear! “Yeah, thank you so much for screaming that out to everyone in a one-hundred foot radius Edward!” Eleanor said in a frustrated tone, empathizing the syllables in his name in the manner she knew annoyed him the most.
“I’m not the one who started the screaming in the first place Eleanor.” He grumbled out. Rolling her eyes viciously Eleanor took a hard sip from her coffee cup and stared out the window. Until finally the annoyed looking waitress came to take their orders.
“What can I get for ya’s? She said in bored tone, her lower Gotham accent thick like fog rolling off of the harbor in the early morning. “I’ll have your breakfast burger please.” Edward said politely. “You want a side with that? The waitress said dull blue eyes flicking between him and Eleanor. “I’ll also take a side of fries. Ooh! and some ranch to dip those fries in please and thank you!” He said in a giddy tone, the sound of it ground on Eleanor and the waitress’s already very thin nerves. Eleanor glanced down at the menu in front of her, eyes rapidly scanning the font. “There’s nothing here I can eat!” She panicked and the waitress finally took her eyes off of Edward and turned to her; “What about you huh?” She said with a grimace. “Oh Um, I’m okay really!” Eleanor said awkwardly raising her hands up, while shooting the Waitress an awkward smile. “You sure Elle?” Edward said voice full of concern. “I’m sure” she said rolling her eyes. “Not even a salad or something?” He pushed. “No.” Eleanor firmly responded. Edward turned to glare suspiciously at Ellie and she returned his glare ferociously. “Why aren’t you eating Eleanor?” He said grimly as he turned himself to fully look her in the eye. “Damn, he’s scary sometimes.” She thought forehead beading with sweat. “I-“ her voice cracking as she spoke, taking a moment to compose herself “I don’t think that’s you’re business Eddie.” “I’m pretty sure it is.” He snapped quickly. Eleanor wanted to scream, to cry, to rage out of the diner and never turn back. But she was stuck and she was stuck with her stupid, brilliant, nosy ass brother. They were trapped in an aggressive staring contest until the Waitress coughed loudly reminding them of her presence. “Are you gonna order anything else or can I go now?” She said her tone indicating how truly annoyed she was at their antics.
“Fine! Eleanor said throwing her hands up in the air in frustration as she broke from Edward’s piercing gaze. I will have the fucking chicken and apple salad. Hold the cheese, hold the creamy dressing, hold the chicken, and hold the apples. “You sure you don’t just want a glass of diet air instead?” The Waitress snickered raising an eyebrow. Edward snapped a dark glare towards the Waitress and she clamped her mouth shut with a loud gulp. “I’ll keep the nuts and I’d like light, VERY light olive oil as my dressing okay?” Eleanor said in a incredibly tired tone. “Sure, I’ll come to refill your drinks later.” The Waitress said nervously as she scuttled away.
“What the hell is your problem?” Eleanor aggressively hissed out sending her brother a frosty glare. “You know I was just wondering the same thing about you Elle” Edward mused flatly.- taking a sip from his coffee mug, eyes never breaking contact from her’s.
“I hate you.” She grumbled.
“No you don’t, you’re just overly tried.”
“How do you know what I am?”
“Because I’m your brother and I know you.
“I can’t do this right now, calm down I’m not leaving.” Edward had began to stand from the booth in response to Eleanor shooting up. “Where are you going?” He asked simply. She rolled her eyes at him “Once a petulant teenager, always a petulant teenager.” He thought grumpily. “Not that it’s any of your business I am going to the bathroom. She grumbled pointing a long manicured finger over to the grimy looking bathroom. “Okay, have fun.” Taking another sip of coffee, blatantly ignoring Eleanor. “Again I say, I hate you.” Edward didn’t respond that time so she huffed and stormed off. Conveniently leaving her phone on the table, face down. Edward slid his eyes down to the phone case it’s sparkly pink shell almost blinding him in the harsh lighting of the diner. His eyes shot over to the bathroom. “Good” he thought the coast was clear. Sliding his hand over the vinyl tabletop it finally came to rest on top of the glossy case. He slowly, ever so slowly slid the device over towards himself. He was frantically glancing around the room, making sure no one saw him and Elle wasn’t coming back anytime soon. Taking the phone fully into his hand he flipped it over so the screen was facing him. The screensaver always managed to warm Edward’s heart.
It was a picture of him and Eleanor smiling like idiots at the State Fair. She had some how convinced him to get his face painted with her. Her rosy cheeks covered in a sparkly pink butterfly with green accents and his a green one (albeit with far less sparkles) with pink accents. The photo was taken on the Farris Wheel and they were high above the glittering fairground below. The memory of that night made him smile tenderly as he easily opened her phone. It was the same code she had been using since she was a teenager. “24601” Edward cringed as he remembered their shared Le Mis phase. But now was not the time to get sentimental over the past, he was a man on a mission and a tight deadline. He was there to get in, get out and save his sister.
Flicking through her cluttered homescreen he checked her various social media accounts, nothing that would cause Elle to be as disheveled as she was. Some DMs on her Instagram showed promise. But unfortunately they were mostly from the sort of thirsty mouth breathers that Elle had learned to handle on her own. Not worth the trouble and far beneath his work as the Riddler. Beginning to switch to her Twitter a text pinged across the header of the phone screen. Focused green eyes zeroed in on the message. As he read a slender pointer finger pushed the clear pair of glasses further up Edward’s nose.
“Where are you???? You were supposed to be back with my latte and the Debosaay sketches 20 minutes ago? Stupid little thing. 😒”
Interesting way for a boss to speak to an employee he mused. Tapping on the message app Eddie began to scroll through the exchanges between Eleanor and Ms.Livingston. As he read further and further the rage that had sparked in Eddie’s chest began to spread into a full forced inferno. Texts berating Elle for everything from her weight to the quality of her designs flashed before his eyes. The smoke from the bonfire of indignant rage began to power the gears and cogs of his brilliant mind.
A wicked smile began to curl onto Edward’s lips. The pieces of his plan falling into place. Livingston tended to “work” nights if the texts between her and Elle were anything to go from. The building would be empty… He decently knew his way around, as he had eaten lunch once or twice with his sister in the very building. Eyes flicking to the bathroom once more he noticed Eleanor looking slightly better than she had before trudging out of the bathroom. She hadn’t noticed Eddie fiddling with her phone yet and he planned to keep it that way. Shutting it down and placing it back into the spot she left it Edward had to regain control of his manic grin, lest Elle sniff out his plans.
“Are you done throwing your tantrum?” He quipped as Eleanor plopped back down into the booth. Bright green eyes framed by significantly more manicured eyelashes set him with a harsh glare. Shooting a wiry grin off at Elle’s pouting and she sighed in a defeated tone- “Yeah I’m feeling better, sorry for snapping at you.” A mood of deep exhaustion was rolling off of her in waves and if he hadn’t come up with a solution for Eleanor’s little problem it would have crushed his stony heart.
Pushing the second mug of coffee that had recently been replaced by their surly waitress to Elle he urged his beloved baby sister to partake in the concentrated caffeine. Crinkling her nose at the beverage Elle puffed and picked the beverage up and took a long sip. Once she finished, Edward was rewarded for his prodding with a gentle smile from her. Okay
“Thanks Eddie..” trailing off Elezaanor’s gaze drifted down and she became almost entranced by tracing her fingernail against the grimy table beneath her. A comfortable silence overtook the siblings and they sat in tranquility, which was quickly pdisturbed by the sound of dishes clacking on the plastic of the tabletop. Grimacing as her plate of oily chicken leaves was placed in front of her Eleanor looked across at her brother and hissed “Don’t you say anything.” In a joking tone. As the waitress refilled their coffee mugs Edward just smiled and plopped a small pile of fries on her plate.
“No! Take these back!” She whined attempting to put the fries back where they came from. “Keep them! They need a good home! They’re orphans Ellie! Just wee little taters all alone in this harsh world!” Moaning dramatically as he delicately laid a wrist over his forehead, slightly smudging the top frames of his glasses. “You’re such a dweeb.” Eleanor laughed popping a fry into her mouth. “I am, but unfortunately, it’s genetic and you are too Ellie-Jelly!” Rolling her eyes she then proceeded to dip two fingers into her glass of water. Eleanor raised the digits and flicked water onto Edward’s round face. “Rude.” He scoffed before beginning the eat the burger before him. Eleanor began to pick at her pathetic salad. She had desperately needed this, even if Livingston would be blowing up her phone and the deadlines would be a little short. Getting to spend time with Eddie always made life a lot better.
“So-“ pointing her lettuce free fork at her brother “What have you been up to? I noticed you’re not on Discord as much anymore.”
“Oh well… I’ve been caught up in a lot of projects. Lots of preparations to make and just general planning. It’s all really work things.” Edward said in a hurried tone, waving a hand. “Just a lot of boring numbers Elle! Nothing you’d find interesting.”
Raising her eyebrow, his sister looked unconvinced but dropped it. “Okay.. if you’re sure-“ quickly interrupting her he spat out “I’m sure! Trust me.”
Suddenly Eleanor’s phone began to chime. Text after text began to flood in rapid fire. Dropping her fork and shooting her hand out to the phone the texts kept pinging like the ringing of church bell. Struggling to put in her code as fingers shook and a grimace marred her features. “Everything alright Ellie?” Edward asked quietly, trying to keep his tone as casual as possible. He knew exactly what was wrong, who was calling and who would be paying for being so weak minded and brain dead as to not see the brilliance and latent abilities of his sister. “Yeah, no I’m okay! Just I gotta take this okay!” Spitting out her words Elle popped up from the table and headed outside to the front of the diner. Stumbling, almost dropping her phone as she rushed out.
“Hello, Mrs.Livingston I-“ she began before being harshly cut off by the shrill voice of her boss. “Where the jHjELL are you? I give you as a task so SIMPLE a child could do it and you can’t even follow through! Livingston screeched her voice peaking through the speakers on Eleanor’s phone. “Yes ma’am, I’m sorry.. It’s just I asked for my lunch hour today to spend it with my brother and Cassidy approved my request.” She sputtered, trying to keep herself collected and from breaking down. Remembering the time she made the mistake of crying in front of Livingston and how she almost took joy in eliciting pain and misery in her victims. Silence ensured and Eleanor almost breathed a sigh of relief until the bitter cackles of Marta Livingston spring to life. “Oh you truly are a card Eleanor! With the way you’re badgering on about food it’s like you don’t even want your spot in the show. You’ll put everything ahead of your career. I saw promise in your shows at school and that measly little independent showcase of yours. You know I hate to be wrong.” Threatening edge seeping into the honeyed words
“Again I’m sorry Ms, i care about this show, it’s everything to me. You’ve done so much for me, I just… I’ll be back in the office soon. Eleanor sighed her tone utterly broken. I just have to say bye to Eddie and pay the check.”
“That’s a good girl! Livingston cooed. “And don’t forget my latte or we’ll really have a problem.” With that she ended the call leaving Eleanor Nashton washed away of all the warmth and security given by her brother.
Back in the diner Unbeknownst to his sister or even the harpy woman Elle was employed by Edward sat in the bathroom shaking with rage. Beside him the dingy wall of the bathroom had a new indentation where his fist had connected with the wall. “How dare she, how dare that spoiled, monstrous pig speak to her that way. A riotous anger brewed inside of him. Livingston had gone far too long without being punished for her sins and her cruelty. But judgment day would come, Edward would make sure of it. He shouldn’t be surprised, corruption festered and contaminated everything in Gotham, it especially preyed on those that were innocent and untainted by it’s rot. Eleanor would be freed from it as soon as he could clean everything for the both of them and all the lost souls of the orphanage. He protected Ellie then, he could protect her in the present as well.
Unlocking the stall, Edward stepped out taking a deep breath as he walked to the sink. Placing both hands on either side of the bowl of the sink, shutting his eyes and exhaling as he looked in the mirror. Face painted a bright red he began to splash water onto it. Once Edward was satisfied that he looked under control the mad genius took hold of the door handle and walked back to the table where his beloved little sister was waiting.
The die was cast, retribution was in his hands and Edward couldn’t wait for it to come to fruition.