Chapter Text
Anna King went to the bank in Gotham to cash out her check. Which was the smartest dumb thing she could have done.
Smart, because rent in Gotham was dirt cheap (see: supervillain activity), but one needed to pay it, anyways.
Dumb, because it was a bank in Gotham .
So, Anna was unpleasantly not-surprised when the bank was robbed. By the Riddler, this week, while she was at the bank .
Anna waited with baited breath with all the other hostages. She might have been new to Gotham, and lucky to have avoided this so far, but the “cooperate don’t fight” campaign to reduce citizen deaths had definitely been drilled into her head. So, Anna was waiting to see if she could pay rent this week or not, in a dingy bank lit by incandescent bulbs, while also waiting to see if she would be alive in the next few minutes.
Her blue eyes scanned the room from where she was sitting on the floor. Her sandy blonde hair was pulled back in its usual ponytail. Her outfit was black, so it would escape from this little escapade unscathed, and she could hopefully go to her secondary job interview without needing to change.
She just hoped one of the BatBrigade would show up soon, or she’d be late.
Suddenly, the green coated bastard (derogatory) started getting antsy. He hauled Anna up by her ponytail, which hurt a LOT, and started asking her some rot about a riddle. His killing cane was in her face and very distracting.
“I’m sorry,” Anna said, a hint of bite in her voice now, “I didn’t get any of that. What?”
The Riddler huffed, then explained again,
“Riddle me this, what item destroys itself to create and contains a death, but isn’t deadly at all?”
Anna hated riddles, but if she solved this one, she might actually live to pay her rent this week. So, she thought about it, thought about it again, then opened her mouth to give a careful guess, when a crash was heard from the ceiling. Some blueish shapes began to coalesce from the falling debris, only to execute a perfect superhero landing with their red cape fluttering in the breeze.
Supergirl stood, then Alpha postured to distract Riddler. Anna took the opportunity to drop out of the Riddler’s grasp and roll to the left side. When Riddler stopped to follow her with his gaze, Supergirl drop kicked him into the nearest wall, and into submission. She pulled out ropes and… Wrapping paper?
Anna stood, shaken, but unharmed.
When Riddler was subdued with ropes, Supergirl turned to Anna.
“Are you alright, citizen?” Supergirl asked, but not unkindly.
Anna nodded, then took a step back, so Supergirl could finish her task.
Supergirl smiled and held out a hand towards Anna. “You were really impressive, with that drop and roll. Could you help me with the wrapping? He’s Batgirl’s Holiday gift.”
Anna nodded again, then replied, “Yeah, sure.” She knew it was a mistake, that Riddler would break out of Arkham eventually, and likely come after her for this slight. But then again, he might do that anyway. Might as well have some fun.
So, Supergirl and Anna wrapped the Riddler in wrapping paper (a job he did not make easy). The wrapping paper ran out before they were done, and the Riddler’s head was still visible, but Supergirl looked pleased with their handiwork.
An inexplicable urge gripped Anna presently. She saw the wrapping paper tube out of the corner of her eye, and suddenly, it was like being a kid on Christmas all over again. Anna pointed to the empty wrapping paper tube. “May I?” She asked Supergirl politely. Supergirl looked askance at her, but gave her the go-ahead.
Not taking her eyes off the Riddler, Anna took the tube, then, very lightly bonked the Riddler on the head with it.
“Bonk!” Anna said enthusiastically. “Bonk!” She hit him one more time.
“That’s probably enough-” Supergirl started, but Anna had other plans.
“If I solve your riddle, can I bonk you again?” Anna asked, in a little kid voice.
“Uh, Sure?” The Riddler said uncertainly, looking at Anna like she was completely insane.
“It’s a pencil, right? A pencil erases itself, so it creates only to destroy itself, and it contains what is called lead, which is deadly, but since it’s only graphite, it doesn’t actually hurt anybody?” Anna said, uncertain now that she was saying out loud.
The Riddler gave a great sigh, then leaned forward in invitation. Wasting no time, Anna leaned forward and hit the Riddler again.
“Bonk!” Anna said, happily. Since she was starting to come down off the adrenaline, she set the paper tube aside.
“Thank you for letting me do that, it was fun.” Anna said, taking a step back. Turning to Supergirl, she continued, “And thank you for saving us, Supergirl!”
Both the hero and the supervillain looked taken aback by the praise, and twin blushes appeared on their faces.
“Oh, Riddler? Have you ever thought about creating an escape room?” Anna asked.
“I’ve thought about it,” The Riddler said, “But ultimately, I decided against it.”
“Oh, OK.” Anna looked down and away.
“But it was a good idea in theory!” The Riddler said hastily, and was rewarded by Anna perking up a bit, smiling even.
“Alight, come on.” Supergirl hefted Riddler’s weight and flew out of the hole in the ceiling.
The bank was silent. Anna went up to one of the tellers, who had been sitting nearby before she’d been forcibly dragged away.
“Hey, uh, Sam,” Anna said, pulling the other woman to her feet, “Can I still get my check cashed, or is there like, a waiting period, or-?”
Sam went behind the counter and up to a teller window.
“Honey, I’ll cash it for you this once. You’re gonna need all the help you can get!”
As Supergirl was flying off with the Riddler, the Riddler spoke up.
“Uh, we’re not gonna talk about that last part, right? Where she bonked me in the head?” He asked Supergirl nervously.
“I won’t tell if you won’t.” Supergirl said shortly.