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Several nights of peace. For normal people, great; but he wasn't normal, he was Batman. And the abnormally quiet city only served to fuel his suspicions that loomed close to paranoia. Catwoman had told him as much when she saw him pacing the floor of the Cave, then she mischievously remarked that Robin had gotten his hyper spirit from him. Whatever that meant.
At the thought of his child, he glanced over his shoulder to find the boy climbing on the building's radio tower, as he had been for the past hour and a half they'd been up here. The boy was currently hanging upside down and looking bored. Very bored.
He turned his gaze back to the street far bellow him and sighed; if he didn't want the boy losing his sanity—and in turn, his—he needed to start moving. But something could happen, couldn't it?
"Daddy," Robin whined, still hanging upside down.
"I know, chum, I know, " he sighed, Robin wasn't one easily given to whining; unless he'd skipped his nap, but that was a different matter. He needed to find something for his son to do; keep his hands busy and his mind will follow, right? "Is there something you want to do?"
"I wanna run," a moment of silence as Robin considered, "rooftop tag?"
Blast. "I'm sorry, Robin, not yet. Maybe in a little bit."
"And you said that a little bit ago," Robin protested, now sounding bored, tired, and annoyed, "if were not gonna do anything, can we please go home?!"
"You are the one who wanted me to take you out," Batman winced at his tone before turning to look at the still upside down boy, "that came out wrong… "
Robin swung slightly but didn't answer, his expression becoming what could best be described as a sad and pained curiosity (and in some recess of his mind that the mantle of the bat hadn't touched, looked like a scolded puppy that didn't know what it did wrong). It was an expression that told Batman he'd just messed up… in only the way he could. Blast and double blast. "I'm sorry, little bird, I had no right to loose my patience with you."
"I understand," Robin responded with a subdued tone, still not making eye contact. But in another moment or so, he met his father's worried gaze and tried to maintain the wounded look, "I think I'm stuck."
Batman sighed and rolled his eyes, there was no mistaking the mischievous sparkle in the boy's eye. That, and the 'I'm stuck' tactic was one Robin used often when he wanted held. A tactic neither of his parents had the heart to discourage.
At the moment he got his child 'unstuck' and settled on his hip, he sensed someone watching them; he sighed then turned, "Don't look at me like that."
Catwoman stepped out of the shadows, "Give me one reason why I shouldn't," she responded, her tone the perfect annoyed mother.
He opened his mouth, then closed it. Whatever statement he would have made—however good—it would have been a losing argument. So instead, he offered an apologetic half smile.
Whether or not she accepted this, he would likely never know. But the teasing smile on her lips had to be a good sign; at least he thought so, until she said, "You're never going to guess who I ran into tonight.”
"Who would that be?" Batman asked, suspicion lacing his curiosity; this was Gotham after all.
Before she could answer, a familiar laugh managed to echo across the roof; followed by a happy voice, "Hello, Bats!"
He groaned, Catwoman grinned, Robin instantly came to full alertness and squealed, "Uncle Edward! Uncle Edward!"
Batman (reluctantly) set his squirming son on the ground and watched the boy run over to the green clothed villain and start to run circles around him; his mouth somehow moving as fast as his feet. And he doubted that even Riddler was able to follow every word.
Apparently, he did; "Ah, yes," Riddler said with a fond look as he knelt to be eye level, "I do have a riddle for you, my little puzzle," he cleared his throat, "Riddle me this: what has six fingers on it's face, yet only tastes sweet when the wind blows from the east, and the clock strikes thirteen?"
The little boy's nose wrinkled as he thought, then a wide grin spread across his face, "I know! I know! It's a lollipop!"
"Perfect!" the villain exclaimed in pure delight, "and here is your prize!"
As much as it pleased him to see Robin happy, Batman scowl deepened as he watched this; Catwoman noticed this and a quiet purr escaped her lips as she put an arm around her husband, "What?" she asked quietly enough so the other two wouldn't hear.
"I don't trust him," he growled, "he must be planning something."
"And why don't you trust him?"
"Because he," Batman shut his mouth before he would say something that would likely get him on his wife's bad side.
But Catwoman knew him too well, "Because he's a villain?"
Blast. He ground his teeth together but otherwise didn't reply.
So he was surprised when he heard a light chuckle, "People can change, Batman; why can't Edward?"
Now for this, Batman didn't have a good answer, so he sighed, "Because his whole thing is using riddles to confound me."
She giggled, "I think he's doing that right now."
They watched as the two brightly clad Gothamites giggled and ran around each other in some game. And for Batman, it was confusing… just a little, though.
He was particularly surprised when the younger man easily picked the young child up. Sure, they were both a little on the small side; but surely his child couldn't be that light. He shook his head to try and bring clarity before he turned to look at his wife, "Why did you bring him here, anyway?"
"I told him he could babysit Robin for the night," she dropped casually.
"You WHAT!?!"
All eyes turned to him as he fought to keep his composure, his voice dropped to a threatening low, "Why, in all the multiverse, did you think that would be a good idea!?"
She arched an eyebrow, "Because, unlike you apparently, I believe that past actions don't define who you are and what you can be," there was a coldness in her tone that he'd never heard before.
"That's not what I… " he stopped and turned to look at his son; the boy's previous smile disappeared, now held by a worried and confused frown. Who was he kidding, that child was a light in a world of darkness; but that didn't mean he didn't like this. And he didn't, not one bit; that much was evident in his tone when he said, "Fine, just take care of him. And Riddler, I swear if you try anything. … "
“I won't," the villain tried to reassure, "but mostly because it would just be criminal to make this boy cry," a wide grin slowly spread across his lips, "and because I love my adorable nephew to much." He bopped the mostly still confused boy on the nose, "Now ta-ta, farewell, and all that!"
With a giggle, the two disappeared into the shadows; Batman had no idea what to think about this, "Nephew? Where did he get that idea?"
"Probably the same place Robin got the 'uncle' idea from," Catwoman replied, the earlier coldness in her tone having been replaced by amusement, "and, no, I didn't give it to him."
"Right," he said slowly as he peered into the shadows where the two had disappeared, then he ruefully shook his head, "You're nervous leaving him with Alfred, but perfectly fine leaving him with Riddler? I don't understand."
Catwoman chuckled, "Neither do I, dear; but it obviously will all work out."
He sighed, "Of course," he turned to face her, "but why tonight?"
"One because of how you've been acting lately, I believe it would only be a matter of time before you do or say something to my son that you would deeply regret," she grinned coyly as she looped her arms around her husbands neck, "two, we have the rest of the night to ourselves."
"And what is it you have in mind?"
Another very coy grin as she backed to the edge of the building, "Wouldn't you like to know?" She leaned back and laughed. And right after, Batman laughed and followed.
People in Gotham were used to seeing things that weren't normal, but this, this went a step to far. Who would have ever thought, that one of the City's once terrors; would be seen walking down the street hand in hand with their protector's young son. But this was still Gotham.
Robin looked around, "Where are we going?" his tone a little quieter than it had been, and he still wasn't smiling.
This won't do, "Oh, here, there, everywhere," Riddler giggled, "maybe even nowhere!" He frowned when the boy didn't laugh, "say, is anything the matter, my little puzzle?"
The little boy considered for a moment, then he quietly said, "Daddy's mad."
"I see," Riddler responded with a slight cock of his head, "and do you believe he's mad at you?"
"He-he could be," was Robin's oh so quiet reply.
Awww, "I doubt he is, little puzzle," he said softly, "and even if he were, you're to sweet to stay mad at for long." He ruffled Robin's surprising soft and fluffy jet black hair, "Are you hungry?"
Robin made a noise that was suspiciously close to a whimper, "Can I get chicken nuggets?"
"Of course!" how was he supposed to say no to those beautiful blue eyes and adorably round cheeks? This child was going to be so incredibly spoiled, and he would never even know it.
Of all the things Riddler had expected to happen in his life, none of them included a small boy dressed as a traffic light who could easily match (if not, then surpass) his level of energy. And that was saying something.
But that wasn't the point, the point was that this happy little bird had changed his life forever. It was an unexpected change, (and one he didn't think he'd ever want to go through) but now, as he chased the squealing little bird around the park; he was more than certain that the change was the best thing to have ever happened.
He just wondered how long it would take for Batman to realize he'd changed paths; mostly just because he wanted to spend more time with the emo man's sunshine child. And because he didn't exactly like still being thought of as a villain.
A bought of panic started to work it's way up into his heart when the bright yellow cape and happy noises vanished… and remained missing—
Until he heard a very soft thud and a not so soft, "Boo!"
tartled, he jumped and span around, relaxing at the sight of the energetic boy, "Ah, there you are!"
Robin giggled, "Did I scare you?! Did I?! Did I!?"
"You did," he chuckled at this small child's enthusiasm, "and you gave it to me quite well!"
"YAY!!" the boy squealed happily as he started to bounce around, "I scared somebody! I scared somebody! I can scare bad guys if it's dark and they're not expecting me, but I think that's because they're more afraid of Daddy. And I can't scare Daddy because he always knows I coming no matter how quiet I am. It's really annoying. And. . ."
His sentence trailed off as Robin yawned wide. Riddler chuckled and beckoned the boy to come close, "It is impossible to sneak up on big ol' Bats, isn't it."
Robin plastered himself to the Riddler's side, yawned again, then nodded, "Yep," he yawned again, "I sleepy now."
"So you are, my little puzzle," Riddler chuckled with a fond smile as he picked the small boy up, "so you are."
To say he wasn't sure what to do once the boy fell asleep was an understatement. He had the distinct impression he was supposed to hold onto the boy until tomorrow morning, which he wasn't against, not at all. Again, he wanted to be able to spend more time with this precious boy; but he didn't have any clue what to do with a child. (He was surprised he'd succeeded this far; but he wouldn't ever tell that to Batman)
So he took the boy to his new downtown apartment; nothing special, quite modest, and scarcely furnished (he just got it several weeks ago and it was rather hard trying to find a job as a former villain!) but it was home.
He tried throwing some blankets and pillows on the couch, adjusted them, adjusted them again. Then finally gave up, sat down, thought about it, then adjusted the various blankets and pillows again. Rather impressed with himself he was able to do all this with a tiny sleeping child on his hip.
And then he tried to lay Robin down on the makeshift bed, only to straighten in surprise when the boy wouldn't let go.
"I see," Riddler mumbled to himself, his eyebrow raised slightly. He tried several things, several times; only to stop his attempts when Robin would whimper sadly in his sleep.
This, this he could do nothing about; how on earth could anyone not give in to that adorable, sad, little whimper. He decided to lay back on the makeshift bed, finding it surprisingly comfortable.
That is exactly how Batman and Catwoman found them two and a half hours later as they stood on the rooftop across from the Riddler's apartment building.
"I told you they'd be all right," Catwoman purred teasingly.
Batman harrumphed, "Your point?"
"My point is that Riddler is going straight."
"Impossible."
She put an arm around him, "Why?"
It was then Batman realized he didn't have real excuse, "It just, doesn't seem possible."
Catwoman looked her husband in the eye and purred, "Have you realized that when someone comes in to contact with our son, they're never the same?"
"I have," his tone was hesitant and it took another moment for him to say something, "he's the brightness this City needs. I just," he sighed, "I just don't understand."
"And maybe you never will," she offered a smile, "but have you considered: you are who you are because of your childhood trauma; but Robin doesn't have any of that. He is the light to your dark; he balances you like no one else could. He keeps you from doing things you'd regret and teaches you to look at things from a different perspective." Her smile grew a little bigger, "Besides, would you really prefer to have another you running around."
He shivered playfully, "No. I don't think we—or Gotham, for that matter—could handle it."
"Hmm," she giggled, "why don't we go home?"
"Fine," he cast a final look through the window, and they both disappeared into the cool night air.