Riddle me this....

[ainissesthai]

Setting up in Bludhaven had been a simple matter once he'd dealt with a few locals who hadn't been welcoming of his move from Gotham, no matter how temporary he expected it to be. Once that was handled, Edward had set himself up in a suitable building on the outskirts of the city and got to work.

This was a private game, no need to involve the entire city so the preparations were surprisingly modest for him. He was even kind enough to avoid anything that would call upon the kind of cutting edge tools Batman was always carting around. A true battle of the minds not the wallets.

The first riddle is waiting for Grayson when he returns home one evening, three weeks to the day after their chat. A bright green envelope emblazoned with a question mark sitting propped up on his bed. It's equal parts invitation and reminder of who he's playing games with and just what the Riddler is capable of.

Within the envelope is a simple white card, elegantly penned with the following words:

'Many stories I tell yet within I remain quiet. My uses are changing but the same I remain. Of me Strabo and Plato both are fond.'

Comments

[justlikeacircus]

If Dick was honest with himself, he'd probably spent the last three weeks sorely tempted to text Edward again. Hadn't even gotten rid of the burner phone - despite knowing he should, despite knowing that if Nygma really wanted to get in touch with him he'd be able to do it. He knew it was the worst idea, that he should count himself lucky that the flirting had gone nowhere and he hadn't heard anything more, but the temptation still lingered, at the back of his mind...

So when he arrived home and saw the unmistakable envelope on his bed, the very first thing he did was smile.
And then felt immediately guilty, and a little nervous, because he'd been through the Riddler's schemes more times than he could count and they were never good... but they were, admittedly, often fun...

They said the only way to beat someone at their game was to not play, but something told him that was only going to make Nygma step up his efforts - and, truthfully, he's genuinely intrigued. He checks the envelope over for boobytraps, of course he does, he's not a total idiot, but once he determined it was clean he read the envelope inside and frowns thoughtfully.

He changes out of his uniform while he thinks, and okay maybe he puts on his nicer (tighter) jeans and a shirt he knows brings out his eyes, but they were just the first things he found in his closet, alright? It's a reasonable enough outfit to go traipsing across the city.

He grabs his things, tucks the envelope into his back pocket and heads out the door, hoping that he's figured out the clue correctly.

First stop; the city library.

[ainissesthai]

As much as Edward would have loved to have seen Grayson's reaction to his first clue he does have some respect for people's privacy - call it a side-effect of Arkham where privacy is little more than an wistful fantasy - so he hadn't left any cameras behind when he planted the envelope. That said, he's confident his challenge will be accepted. A man willing to start a game of riddles with the Riddler himself can't be the type to ignore a thrown gauntlet like this.

That confidence is paid off when he spots Grayson leaving his building again through the cameras he's gained access to and the pair of drones he's sent out to plug any gaps. Seated in his temporary base before an array of screens and data-feeds he watches the man make his way through the city. Grayson looks almost pleased and has changed into something that can only be called flattering and well, that is a little unexpected even given the tone of their last conversation. It's a variable he doesn't yet completely understand which makes this all the more interesting.

And it promises to be a very interesting game as Grayson arrives at the library, as intended. It's a good start and a smile spreads over his face as the man continues to be intriguingly capable. Now, whether he'll find his way to the philosophy section - Dewey Decimal 401 - and the next clue sealed in another bright green envelope and sticking out of the uppermost shelf?

Even as he waits, he can't keep himself from picking up his phone and sending a message.

Enjoying yourself so far?

[justlikeacircus]

Once he's in the library he's momentarily stuck, unsure quite where to go from there. He almost pulls out the first clue again to look at it, but remembers the last sentence before he does - Plato and Strabo. Philosophers, he's pretty sure, so it's not long before he finds his way to the philosophy section and spots the next envelope.

He's just about to reach for it when a buzz in his pocket gives him pause and he pulls out his phone first, hoping it isn't somebody who actually needs to get hold of him - he doesn't want anybody to interrupt this little game. He could claim it's because he doesn't know what Riddler would do if he had to stop playing, but he knows that isn't the real reason.

You set all this up for me? I'm flattered

It's not an answer, but he can't keep the smile off his face as he replies and he's quick to reach for the second envelope as soon as he's done tapping out his response.

so sorry this took me so long!

[ainissesthai]

Edward chuckles at the reply, far too pleased that Grayson is enjoying his game. His usual opponents seem to view them as chores rather than an entertaining test of the mind as intended. He's rather enjoying having a willing participant this time. He has to send a quick reply before settling back to watch.

I'm glad you appreciate the work I put in.

The next riddle is a little less obvious than the first with its directions. In the same penmanship as the first are the words:

'500 is at my end and my start, yet 5 is at my heart.
The first letter and the first number make me complete.
My name is that of a king.
Who am I?'

The answer matches the name of a nearby street and a theatre located at number 500 where the next clue awaits if he can figure it out.

No worries!

[justlikeacircus]

Dick smiles slightly at the response before turning his attention to the envelope, reading the clue with a faint frown of concentration.

He tucks it into his pocket with the other clue as he strolls out of the library, the words running round in his head as he considers what the answer might be. He has to pause once he's back outside again, pulling the card from his pocket to re-read it once more before the answer comes to him - or, rather, he hopes the right answer comes to him.

It doesn't take him long to reach the theatre once he's worked out that's where he needs to be, though he does pause outside wondering where the next clue might be waiting - at this time of day the theatre isn't open, though it's possible there might be someone inside. He decides to scout around the outside, and if he can't find anything there he'll knock on the stage door and see if anybody could let him in.

And if he's really stuck, he supposes he could pick the lock, though he'd rather not if he can avoid it.

[ainissesthai]

Switching back to the feeds from the drones as Grayson steps outside, Edward practically squirms with excitement as he watches the man head in the right direction. He loves lording his intelligence over others but it's so much more fun when they can play the game and maybe even give him a challenge.

There are no clues hidden outside the theatre, though if tested Grayson will find the stage door unlocked. Within it's bustling, a rehearsal in progress to make things more challenging if he wants to go unnoticed. A green question mark is painted high on one wall, hard to spot unless one is looking for something out of place. An intermittent trail of them leads to the stalls and on seat 7N sits another envelope.

The card within this one simply reads:

'Queen to C4.'

This clue is a little obvious, given the chess tournament taking place today. But this is only the first part of the puzzle so Edward can be generous. The real challenge comes later.

[justlikeacircus]

With the stage door unlocked, Dick decides not to bother the actors rehearsing and just find his clue and get out of there - much easier to do when he's in neither of his uniforms. People are surprisingly easy to fool, all he has to do is walk around the place with purpose and nobody seems to realise he isn't supposed to be here, which allows him to follow the trail of question marks (once he finds them) without being bothered.

He takes the envelope outside (taking a mental note of the seat number, just in case it turns out to be relevant) before he opens it, and he's surprised to find the puzzle inside is more straightforward than expected - he knows there'll likely be more to it, but he looks up the location of the chess tournament and heads in that direction as a start.

[ainissesthai]

The chess tournament is in full swing when he arrives. Edward has been splitting his attention between watching Grayson's progress and the games, scoffing occasionally at a move he disapproves of. He's confident he's already picked which of the 74 competitors will win and so returns his full attention to the game.

On entering the hall where the tournament is being held, Grayson will notice that one of the chessboards - the third across and forth up, marked as number 23 - has another envelope just barely sticking out from underneath the table. Within, the last riddle - for this part of the game:

'When I take five and add six, I get eleven, but when I take six and add seven, I get one. What am I?'

The answer lies in plain sight once the riddle is solved and, checking behind it, Grayson will find a hole in the wall containing a glowing green trophy that is his prize if he wants to leave the game there.

Edward is hoping he won't which is why there's another riddle taped to the bottom - a hint, really.

'Instruction manual, to and fro, if it’s wrong you'll still go.'

Now he just has to sit back and see if the pieces of the puzzle are assembled.

[justlikeacircus]

Dick manages to snag the envelope without anybody noticing and tuck himself away somewhere subtle to read the clue - it takes a minute or two to figure out the answer, and then a little time to get to the clock without catching anybody's attention, but when he does so he almost laughs out loud at the trophy.

He can't help but hope that isn't the end of it, so when he looks at the bottom he's delighted to see another riddle waiting for him. He slips back out of the tournament hall and into a cafe across the street, where he finds a quiet corner to spread out all the clues and try and piece things together.

It takes a little consideration before he starts thinking about how many of the clues or locations involved numbers, and he grabs one of the envelopes to start scribbling things down.

401 500 7N (C4) 23

He wasn't sure if the C4 counted, it was in a clue where the others had all been on location, but once he figured out what the numbers meant - if they meant anything - he was sure he'd be able to establish if it belonged or not.

"Four oh one... five hundred... seven N... N for North?" he murmured to himself.

Were these coordinates?

[ainissesthai]

Edward's getting antsy now. He lost sight of Grayson after he entered the cafe - there's only one security camera inside and it's facing the wrong direction. And he can't have a drone hovering outside the window. So he has to wait and see if this is the end of their game and he has to steal something nice to make himself feel better about being ignored or if Grayson has seen the puzzle now that he has all the pieces.

Some of them are more difficult to piece together than others - checking the number of attendees at the tournament, realising that 'Queen to C4' becomes 17 2 34 while the final 23 becomes W but, given time, he should be able to assemble the coordinates needed if he wants to:

40°15'00.7"N 74°17'23.4"W

Entered into a GPS they'll lead to an out of the way little townhouse, currently rented to a Mr A. Wynne.

Edward decides to leave his cameras instead of waiting to see when Grayson leaves the cafe. He wants to be surprised if - or when - the invitation is decoded and accepted. He switches off his monitors, collecting a tablet and settling down on the couch to do some reading while he waits. And, if he gets impatient, maybe start investigating what museums in the city would be worth robbing. Just in case. He does so hate to be ignored.

[justlikeacircus]

Once he knows he's looking for coordinates it becomes a little easier - 40°15'00.7"N he's quick enough to put together, so he turns his attention to the remaining numbers, he knows he's looking for more than what he's got, and he equally knows that they'll be related to the chess tournament, because the previous digits ended with the theatre and he was pretty sure Edward had arranged this in order.

It takes him some time to puzzle out where the other numbers come from, but eventually he puts it together - when he finds that those coordinates lead him to a house, he knows he's got it right. So he packs up his things and drops them off at his apartment, taking a moment to freshen up a little after trekking his way across the city following Edward's clues, and then heads to the coordinates in question.

He's kind of nervous, but a little excited, by the time he makes it to the house and knocks on the door, hoping he did get this right.

[ainissesthai]

The knock pulls Edward from his perusal of the local museums and art galleries. Pulling up the feed from the small security camera he placed above the door, he notes his guest with pleasure. The tablet gets tossed back on the couch and he takes a moment in front of a mirror to check himself over, smoothing down the front of his suit and adjusting his hat. Once he's satisfied with his presentation, he snags his cane and heads to the door.

"Officer Grayson." Edward feigns surprise at the man on his doorstep, giving him a considering once over before he steps aside to allow him in. "What an unexpected pleasure. Please, come inside."

He's... not exactly nervous himself, but wary. It's one thing to exchange riddles and follow his clues over the city. But face to face? The man is still an officer of the law, unconventional or not. Edward doesn't tend to see eye-to-eye with them. So he's a little curious how this might play out. He doesn't think he's read the situation wrong, but he didn't get where he is by not planning for the unexpected.

Leading the way inside the obsessively neat townhouse, he turns to face his guest in the centre of the main room. "I take it you enjoyed my game?"

[justlikeacircus]

Dick knows the surprise is fake, of course, but he isn't about to ruin Edward's fun by calling him on it.

"Well I was in the neighbourhood, thought I'd drop by," he replies casually, stepping inside - not without giving Edward an appreciative once-over in return.

He follows the other man through into the main room, trying to convince himself this was elaborate flirtation rather than elaborate trap - at least he very, very much hopes that's the case. None of his instincts are telling him there's anything untoward here, and he really hopes it's not just his wishful thinking.

"I enjoyed it a lot," he confirms with a grin "Thank you."

[ainissesthai]

There might be some cause for concern, given there are defence measures set up in the house - not obvious to the average person but someone familiar with how the Riddler operates will pick up the signs. Bludhaven isn't without its own vigilante and Edward has no interest in drawing that kind of attention for once - or getting shipped back to Arkham.

Despite their presence, there's no indication of any kind of trap being sprung as Edward grins and gives an exaggerated bow. "I'm glad to hear it. I find so few appreciate a proper mental challenge."

Straightening up, he cocks his head and studies Grayson thoughtfully. "I am curious what prompted you to accept my invitation. You do remember who am I - coming here is quite the risk, no?" Holding the man's gaze, he steps closer, searching for an answer to the riddle Grayson presents.

[justlikeacircus]

Dick could claim that he presented a risk in turn, but given that there was no obvious evidence of law breaking going on that wasn't quite so true - besides, it didn't really set the right tone to threaten to arrest him.

Instead, he flashes one of his very best charming grins - he may not have the playboy act down quite as convincingly as Bruce, but he is a little more genuine about it - and shrugs.

"I don't know, maybe I thought the risk was worth it... or rather, maybe I thought you were worth the risk." The man put together a city-wide scavenger hunt just to get Dick here, and yes that was kind of what he did, but it was still... either this was a very elaborate trap (and going to these lengths would only make sense if Edward had worked out his identity, because what did a random Bludhaven cop have to offer him? Even if he was the son of Bruce Wayne) or his interest was more than fleeting, and Dick had had enough of fleeting.

[ainissesthai]

The lack of a threat is a good thing, for sure. It helps that Edward is quite confident his tricks are enough to handle a member of the police force, even one in as good shape as Grayson.

It also helps that the man is undeniably charming and knows exactly what to say. Edward can't help returning the grin, clearly pleased by the answer. He's been called easy to play before but he prefers to think of it as knowing what he likes and what he's worth. And it doesn't feel like he's being played. Which in a way makes the situation riskier. Fortunate he didn't choose his career for its lack of risk. "Good answer. I knew you were smart."

He takes another step closer, getting into the man's personal space now, eyes bright as he studies Grayson. One hand comes up to brush against his chest as Edward muses, "Since you went to the trouble of coming here, I should-" He wets his bottom lip, studying Grayson through his lashes. And steps back to a polite distance. "Be a good host. Can I get you anything?"

[justlikeacircus]

Dick holds his ground, his grin softening into an almost fond smile as he meets Edward's gaze. He's more than happy to have the man in his personal space, and his eyes flick down to Edward's lower lip, his own tongue darting out to unconsciously mirror the move. He leans in the tiniest bit, almost imperceptibly - just as Edward steps back.

"Tease," he comments good naturedly - it's not like he expected anything else - and resists the urge to drag Edward back in by his tie. If he's going to play it cool, two can play at that game... for now.

"A drink would be nice. Mind if I sit?" he nods towards the couch questioningly.

[ainissesthai]

Given Edward's love of games, he certainly shouldn't expect anything else. Where would they be if the Riddler started taking the direct route? No, that would be far too boring, much as he enjoyed the look in Grayson's eyes.

"Be my guest." Directing a smirk over his shoulder, he saunters into the kitchen, leaving Grayson to make himself comfortable. The main room is well furnished but relatively bare - Edward clearly hasn't been there long. Beyond the few hidden cameras and sensors for security, there's a tablet, a puzzle box on the coffee table and little else.

The sounds of cupboards and drawers opening and closing and the clinking of ice come from the kitchen before Edward reappears carrying a pair of cocktail glasses. Handing the Gimlet over to Grayson, he takes a seat beside the man, leaving his cane leaning against the side of the couch. "I quite enjoyed playing against you myself. I find few enough opponents who are able to play my games. It would be a shame if I never got to match wits with you again." Spoken deliberately lightly as he studies his guest over the rim of his glass.

[justlikeacircus]

Dick settles comfortably on the couch, eyeing up the puzzle box with interest. He's tempted to play with it, but he's also conscious of whose house this is - it probably was an innocent puzzle that would be fun to solve, but it could just as easily be something more sinister and honestly he'd rather not know.

It's not long before Edward is back, though, and he takes the glass with a soft thank you, tipping his glass in a salute towards Edward before taking a sip. This is the point things could go horribly wrong, he knows, but if he can't trust Edward enough to drink something he's prepared then whatever this was between them was never going to work. It's a risk, but he'll take it.

"Oh I don't think you're going to get rid of me that easily, I'm sure we'll match wits plenty of times..." he smirks.

[ainissesthai]

A smart move that - which is what Edward appreciates. The box is one of several he keeps to occupy his hands when stuck waiting - he's left most of the lethal traps back in Gotham - but there is nothing to distinguish it from his own, more dangerous creations. The uncertainty is half the fun.

He watches Grayson take a sip of his drink before tasting his own, smirking faintly. He doesn't as a rule resort to anything so inelegant as a poisoned drink - there's no intellectual challenge there - but he likes to think his reputation is enough to put most on edge. Seeing the man decide to trust him despite it... well, that does something for him. He's also quite sure it's a bad idea even if he has no desire to hurt the, frankly, intriguing man before him.

Laughing at Grayson's answer, Edward leans closer with a grin. "Excellent! That's what I wanted to hear. I'll be sure to think up an even more challenging set of conundrums for you next time." He reaches out, fingers brushing lightly over Grayson's wrist, voice dropping as he looks at the man from beneath his lashes. "In the meantime, I believe you don't have anything scheduled tomorrow." Because of course, he'd gotten access to the department's roster and Grayson's calendar. "And I have no business to take care of. So it would seem we have ourselves an evening to fill as we please."

[justlikeacircus]

Dick smiles, shifting a little closer to Edward on the couch. The fact that the other man definitely hacked into something to find out his schedule should be off-putting and kind of stalkerish, but somehow it kind of isn't. Maybe because he knows Edward, he knows the way he works, so really it's to be expected - and he doesn't mind so much. Maybe there will be a time when Edward crosses a boundary and they have to have a talk, but that time is not now.

"Next time... am I going to have to solve your puzzles every time I want a date? I'm not complaining, just like to be prepared if that's the case..." hey, if he can keep Edward away from a life of crime because he's too busy setting up puzzles for him? That's a win win scenario as far as he's concerned.

[ainissesthai]

Edward is all ready to be offended when Grayson asks if he's going to need to solve a puzzle every time - expecting a complaint about his riddles, that they're fine once, but more than that will be considered annoying as has so often been the case with the people he meets like this. If they even bother with them in the first place. When Grayson says he doesn't mind, Edward blinks at him in surprise, his smile quickly returning, pleased, and almost flattered. This one is definitely something different.

Finishing his drink, Edward sets it aside so he can give Richard his full attention. "Maybe not every time. But I've always found a challenge makes the reward at the end all the more satisfying, wouldn't you agree?" And since Edward does have certain standards to maintain- "Next time I'll organise something a little more upmarket. This isn't usually the first impression I like to make, but I felt the circumstances warranted something different."

He doesn't normally go on dates with members of law enforcement, so he thinks he can be forgiven for not having anything extravagant planned this once. Someone who grew up in the Wayne household must be used to far better surroundings than their current locale.

[justlikeacircus]

"Mmm, I see what you mean," Dick concedes after a thoughtful pause, but he flashes Edward a winning grin as he adds "I do think the reward is already pretty damn satisfying, but it is definitely worth the effort."

He doesn't think Edward needs all the pomp and circumstance for Dick to want him, but it's definitely a fun bonus, and it makes him feel wanted as well.

"Whatever you have in store for me, I'm sure I'll enjoy it," he says simply - he doesn't need it to be fancy. If he cared about that kind of thing he never would have become a cop, he would have stayed in Gotham and broken up his work as Nightwing with fancy parties and public appearances and - and that reminds him. He's got relative anonymity in Bludhaven, but the paparazzi in Gotham still care what he does, or rather who... maybe he should warn Edward about that...

[ainissesthai]

"Oh, you are definitely my favourite member of the force." Edward grins, reaching out again to rest his hand over Richard's. Appeals to his ego are guaranteed to win him over under any circumstances and when they come from someone intelligent and who actually seems to enjoy his riddles? Well, they can agree on the reward being worth the effort.

The paparazzi are far from a concern for Edward. He has the means to ensure his privacy should he need it and as a rule, he adores the limelight. There is the tiny issue of his criminal record - and the fact that his face is rather well-known in association with that record. Something about his propensity for plastering it across screens every time he enacts a plan. But he's never been active in Bludhaven before and it might be enough distance from Gotham that people won't recognise the Riddler.

He hadn't originally planned on staying in the area long-term but it's something to consider. He can always test himself against Nightwing for some variety while he's here.

"Would you care to stay for dinner? I'm not one to brag." He winked, not in the least bit ashamed of the bald-faced lie. "But I consider myself quite a capable cook." A nice, quiet first date seemed best. Next time they might have to worry about the press if he had his way but not tonight.

[justlikeacircus]

"You're offering to cook for me? Bestill my heart." Dick grinned - a little over the top, sure, but look who he was talking to. He was starting to realise that, actually, around Edward he could be as playful and over the top as he liked, because Edward would give as good as he got. It was strangely relaxing - Dick spent so much of his life hiding everything about himself, it was nice to let somebody in a little. Even if it was a terrible idea.

"I would love to stay for dinner," he added, twisting his hand under Edward's to take hold of it and lift it to his lips so he could kiss the back of it. Dick was an incredibly tactile person, so while he was taking things slow and making sure they were both entirely comfortable, the likelihood that he was going to end this evening basically draped over Edward was fairly high.

Some quiet alone time with someone, being cooked dinner, no crises to interrupt him? It's the kind of evening he'd never actually thought he'd manage to get, the fact that he was getting it with the Riddler of all people was... a little wild, to say the least.

[ainissesthai]

Richard was nowhere near being too over the top for Edward - in truth, he appreciated someone who wasn't irritated by his love of drama. Enjoying his riddles, playing along with Edward's more flamboyant tendencies and appealing to his ego? He should be concerned that this might be part of some plan to take him in but it was increasingly difficult to want to be wary of the man before him.

Who was doing nothing to help there. Edward's eyes narrowed at the kiss, fixed on Richard's lips. He was so very tempted to lean forward and claim a real kiss but he prided himself on being a gentleman and that meant not moving too quickly. For however long that determination lasted on both their parts, given Edward's love of physical contact.

"Wonderful." Dragging his eyes back up to meet Richard's, he grinned and grasped the hand holding his own. Getting to his feet, he led the way to the kitchen, glancing back over his shoulder as he went. "I already made some preparations. Keep me company while I finish up."

[justlikeacircus]

Dick stood easily, letting himself be led through to the kitchen with a smile on his face. As strange as this was, he couldn't help but be glad for it, he needed a little normal in his life - and the fact that the normal came from such a strange source was, well, about right for him.

"Happy to," he agreed cheerfully, leaning against the kitchen counter in a (hopefully) out of the way spot so he could watch Edward work.

"So what are you making for me, or is that a surprise?" he asked

[ainissesthai]

Ordinarily, Edward would claim normalcy to be overrated, but there was something appealing about leading Richard into the kitchen and watching him get settled. Opening the fridge to start pulling out ingredients, he smirked over his shoulder at his companion. "I do prefer to keep things a surprise. But you're welcome to guess if you want."

Here, as with most of what he did, Edward preferred to make a show and, no matter what Richard might say he did want to impress the man. He began to assemble the ingredients he'd prepared earlier for the pan-seared duck breast and blueberry sauce with a bed of asparagus, wild mushrooms, pancetta, and shallots and a side of roasted potatoes seasoned with rosemary and thyme. Plus dessert, of course.

As he did, he glanced over at his date for the evening with a grin. "You shall have to let me know who the fare compares to that of Wayne Manor. I'm aware I have quite the competition on my hands here."

Much as he felt he did elsewhere. He'd do some digging to see what might appeal to Richard for future dates - sure, he could just ask, but that was far too predictable and unchallenging.

[justlikeacircus]

"I do like surprises," It was probably a bad thing to admit to his date, given who his date was, but he did - as long as they were nice surprises, of course, he'd had plenty of very much not nice ones, but romantic gestures and secret treats were absolutely the kind of thing he enjoyed. "I'm happy to just watch it all come together."

It definitely looked like it was going to be something fancy, and he had to admire and appreciate the amount of effort being put in for him. It was actually a while since he'd had anything this nice, being in Bludhaven meant he got to avoid most of the charity galas and fancy parties the Wayne heirs were usually called upon to attend, and even when he did visit home he tended to beg comfort foods of Alfie more than luxury feasts.

"Alfie is a good cook," he agreed with a teasing grin "But you seem to know what you're doing, so you'll probably compare favourably. You're a lot cuter, for a start." he added cheekily.

"Do you like to cook?" he couldn't help but be curious, and he wanted to learn more about Edward.

Some time later

[ainissesthai]

Somehow Edward had found himself spending more and more time in Blüdhaven. It was worth the inconvenience of shifting his base of operations from Gotham to see Richard more regularly. He'd also found challenging Nightwing to his games instead of Batman to be just as enjoyable with fewer bruises. And the former Robin was a much better conversationalist. It was hard to believe someone so cheerful and willing to engage with Edward's riddles had been taught by someone like the Bat.

But it hadn't been all smooth sailing. There were... oddities with Richard that didn't add up to a clear picture. Cancelling plans suddenly, bruises that didn't fit with what Edward had tracked during his workdays. But Edward had been distracted from these concerns as he put together his last plan. It had come dangerously close to failure. He'd been forced to flee without the artworks he'd been planning to steal before Nightwing could catch him. But he was sure the trap he'd left had hurt the vigilante before he made his escape. Almost a shame as the man was undeniably impressive in action. Far more graceful than the brute in Gotham.

All concerns he was putting aside for tonight. Tonight, he had another date with Richard. This time he was being purely self-indulgent, having organised a night at a local - supposedly difficult - escape room and dinner at an intimate little venue. He was waiting for Richard to arrive, idly wondering how much the police force had heard about the Riddler's latest show when he caught sight of the man.

Re: Some time later

[justlikeacircus]

It was difficult to justify to himself, he knew, dating Edward one minute and fighting him the next. He knew he went easier on him than he should, but the longer he spent with him out of costume, the more he liked the man. The weird part was, he wasn't sure if he felt more guilty for dating a supervillain, or for lying to one.

At least this time he'd managed to stop Edward before he stole the artworks, and he could feel a little less guilty about their date that evening (somehow, it was a convoluted kind of logic but he was making it work for him as best he could) - except that in trying a risky flip to avoid the trap left behind he'd ended up twisting his ankle pretty badly (Among other more minor injuries). He'd been ordered to rest by the doctor, but he'd also been given crutches, and there was no way he was missing this date (he'd already missed far too many - another thing to feel guilty about).

He was at least making sure he actually kept off his injured foot, so that was something, right?

Despite the encounter that resulted in the injury, he still can't help but smile when he spots Edward waiting for him.

"Hey."

so sorry for my slow

[ainissesthai]

The sight of the crutches brought Edward up short, surprise flashing across his face before being replaced by a mix of concern and disbelief. It was rare for him to be worried about a member of the force's well-being, but here they were.

"Hey? Is that all you have to say?" Hurrying to Richard's side, he looked the man over critically for other injuries. A few bruises, maybe more but nothing as bad as the injured foot or ankle that had him on crutches. "What happened? I don't recall any reports of injured officers today." He saw no reason to pretend he didn't keep an eye on the BPD's activities both for his own benefit and out of that concern that had become increasingly familiar. If Richard didn't already know about it, then he should have at least suspected.

But this was far from a good way to get an explanation for what had happened. Shaking his head, Edward held up a hand. "Wait. Don't say anything yet." He spun on his heel and stalked over to hassle one of the waitstaff until they were being led over to a table where Richard could put his foot up.

As soon as they were seated and alone he turned an expectant look on his date. "Now, I believe you owe me an explanation."

no worries!

[justlikeacircus]

Dick smiled sheepishly, touched by Edward's concern (even if the injury was his fault, obviously he didn't know that part). He had been about to offer an excuse about an injury at the station, but made some rapid recalculations in his head at the comment about no injuries being reported (he really should have known) - made easier by Edward continuing before he even had a chance to reply.

He huffed an amused laugh and hopped himself over to the chair, settling in it comfortably and propping his ankle up on the chair across from him.

"I never knee you were such a mother hen," be teased gently, unable to keep the fondness from his face - this right here was exactly why it was so hard to convince himself this whole thing was a bad idea. "First of all nothing's broken, it's just a bad sprain, I've got to keep off it for a few days but it won't be long before I'm totally fine again. I..." he gave Edward a carefully cultivated look of embarrassment "I slipped on the stairs of my apartment building and landed funny. I hadn't told work yet."

It made a bit less sense than his original story of tripping on the stairs at the precinct, since he lived in the penthouse and didn't exactly use the stairs that often, but it kept away the questions about why it hadn't been reported.

<3

[ainissesthai]

Edward huffed, sticking his nose in the air haughtily at the accusation of fussing. "Hardly. I'm simply not getting my suit dirty if you fall and can't get back up."

Turning his gaze back on Richard, he listened to the explanation, expression shifting between concern and amusement. He wasn't about to say as much directly, but it was something of a relief to hear that the injury wasn't as bad as it could be. (There was a conflict there as well, given how little he usually cared about the well-being of law-enforcement, be it at his hands or those of others.) Instead, Edward smirked at his date and shook his head. "What happened to the former acrobat who can perform drunken backflips? Are we getting sloppy now, Officer Grayson?"

It wasn't hard to believe that Richard might sometimes take the stairs from his penthouse - the man was... appreciably fit and liable to not take the elevator as any civilised person would. Though given how light on his feet he was, it was hard to picture him tripping down the stairs and not somehow managing to turn it into some fancy flip and land on his feet, waiting for applause. The thought had a frown tugging at his lips.

Re: <3

[justlikeacircus]

Dick laughed, running an awkward hand through his hair.

"Guess I'm out of practice?" he offered - it wasn't true, of course, but he could get away with claiming he didn't get as much practice - he didn't have a full gym set up in his apartment the way he did back at the manor, after all. "Honestly I kind of... did try to flip my way out of it, that's part of the reason I landed so weird."

That part, at least, wasn't entirely untrue - it was just the Riddler's trap he'd tried to avoid with a flip rather than a fall down the stairs, but he had, to his great annoyance, failed the landing.

[ainissesthai]

"Hmm." Still frowning, Edward eyed him up dubiously. He didn't seem out of practise when he'd treated Edward to a demonstration in the past, just the opposite. If he didn't know better, he'd have thought that the man had just stepped out of the circus. But then, Edward wasn't exactly visiting the circus in his free time. Perhaps there was some lack of practice to blame.

It still sat poorly with him, something about the situation feeling off, but he let it slip to the back of his mind to let those feelings slowly coalesce into a clear answer. For now, he smirked again and reached across the table to brush Richard's hand. "So you tripped down the stairs, tried to flip to safety and landed, twisting your ankle? I hope you know I'm going to be watching when you inform your colleagues about this accident." It should be amusing to watch given the amount of ribbing he expected to follow.

[justlikeacircus]

Dick was careful to hide his concern at the frown on Edward's face, trying to project the air of I-am-definitely-telling-the-truth. He honestly wasn't sure if Riddler had seen him get injured before he escaped, but the possibility that he'd seen enough to be suspicious is concerning if he can't pull this off.

It seemed convincing enough, though, and he breathed a little easier at the touch of Edward's hand. He smiled ruefully, shaking his head in amusement at the teasing.

"So you want to watch me suffer for your own amusement? You know torturing your boyfriend is generally frowned upon," he was teasing right back, of course, though the b-word was out of his mouth before he even thought about it and then there was a whole new concern. He didn't know whether to say anything more or just wait for Edward's reaction.

everytime I try and write Nightwing I kept going Nightwong for some reason idek

[ainissesthai]

He had seen Nightwing stumble as he landed whilst making his escape. And more than that, the movements of the vigilante had been almost familiar as he watched the man twist through the air. It was an accepted fact among the rogues that Nightwing had some kind of acrobatic or assassin training. But pursuing that train of thought led him back to a possibility he'd eliminated years ago. One encounter with Bruce Wayne at a fundraiser made it clear the man didn't have the brains to be the Bat. So his ward could hardly be more than an officer of the law...

Besides, he had bigger things on his mind then. Blinking in surprise at the title of boyfriend being used so casually, Edward stared at Richard wide-eyed. Their relationship was... not something he'd been in a hurry to put a label on. He'd been worried that, like others before, Richard would decide he was obnoxious, too arrogant to put up with. (Not true but it had been said before.) All the last-minute cancellations hadn't helped. But it seemed that was not the concern he'd thought it.

Realising he'd been quiet too long, Edward cleared his throat. "Consider it a learning experience. I'd hate to lose my boyfriend after he slipped and broke his neck trying to pull some unnecessary stunt." Trying to pretend he wasn't flushed and smiling with genuine pleasure. "Moving my base of operations wasn't easy, you know. I don't want to have wasted my time."

better than Nightwang I guess?

[justlikeacircus]

As the silence stretched out between them Dick tried very hard not to panic that he'd messed everything up entirely - he had a lot of doubts about a lot of things, but he wanted this, he wanted to make it work, somehow, because he really enjoyed Edward's company and he was witty and charming and fun and yes, a little full of himself, but honestly Dick just found it endearing, he wasn't ready for this to end.

But then Edward spoke, finally, and Dick couldn't help the blinding grin that spread across his face almost immediately, or the way his shoulders slumped a little in relief as the tension disappeared all at once. He grabbed Edward's hand and squeezed it lightly, pleased and reassuring.

"I promise I'll be careful," he said - and he meant it, he just unfortunately had a very dangerous line of work. Two very dangerous lines of work, really, so he couldn't promise this would be his last injury. "Necessary stunts only." he added with a grin.

true that!

[ainissesthai]

Oh, but Richard was dangerous, unlike any of his co-workers. That grin sent his heart racing, smile widening till he must have looked positively foolish. Edward squeezed his boyfriend's hand in return, retracting it after a moment and prodding at Richard's shoulder. "What necessary stunts are these? I wasn't aware the Blüdhaven department listed acrobatics among it's required skills."

There was only one law enforcement job - of sorts - in the city that required those skills. And vigilantism would be even more dangerous than police work with an injury.

Frowning briefly at the thought, Edward shook it off again and refocused on Richard. "Given you are incapacitated I will change our plans and you can make it up to me another night." He wasn't going to ask Richard the walk around all night, the man would be doing that enough the following days at his work. Instead of taking time off to heal like a rational person. "We can eat at your apartment. After taking the elevator." Said with a pointed look.

Re: true that!

[justlikeacircus]

"You know, acrobatics isn't just about jumps and flips, it's also about being very, very flexible." Both tone and expression were entirely innocent, but mischief glittered in his eyes and he doesn't doubt for a minute that Edward will take his meaning. Admittedly following through on the innuendo might be difficult with his current injuries, but he's nothing if not up for a challenge.

He smiles apologetically when Edward decides the plans had to change - he, of course, would have made the most of it and tried to get along without that pesky healing time, because, well, he isn't a rational person, he's just very good at looking like one from the outside. It's sweet, though, to have someone - to have his boyfriend - looking out for him like that.

"Alright, my apartment it is. Elevator and all."

[ainissesthai]

Tipping his head back, Edward laughed at the comment. He was grinning when he looked back at Grayson, lashes lowered. "Hm, I don't know that I believe that. Not without a demonstration." Reaching across the table, he brushed his knuckles down Richard's cheek. "You need to prove it to me."

Possibly when he was healed, but there was plenty of extra motivation to ensure Richard didn't push himself too far too soon if he needed it.

The rogues had always had the advantage over authorities there. They could rest and heal up at Arkham without needing to be running around the city dealing with whoever had made a move the next night. It was a fact they'd used to their advantage against the Bat more than once. And he knew it could be similarly useful against the GCPD, making them overstretch themselves. Not that he was going to voice those thoughts, but it meant he considered himself able to ensure Richard took the time to heal before he went back to his usual work and acrobatics.

Nodding in approval, Edward got to his feet and offered his arm. "Shall we be on our way then?"

[justlikeacircus]

"Oh don't worry, I'm more than happy to prove that to you." Dick grinned at him. God he loved the way Edward could make his heart skip a beat with a look like that, loved the sound of his laugh... yes, okay, he was head over heels, but the fact that he was so happy to see the man only hours after fighting with him was sort of already testament to that.

He just really, really wished he didn't need to keep lying to him - but it was more than just his secrets at stake.

"We shall." He agreed, taking Edward's arm and standing carefully before grabbing his crutches. It wouldn't take them long to get to his apartment, and it would be nice to actually rest - he didn't have to keep trying to prove himself if Edward was making him sit down and relax.

"I warn you now, though, it's a mess, I wasn't expecting company."

sorry again for slow, work has been crazy

[ainissesthai]

"I look forward to it." The look in Richard's eyes banished any thoughts of trouble caused for law enforcement in the past. Edward basked in the undeniable affection that he saw there. It alleviated his concerns about all the cancellations in the past. Even if he did still wonder about all the excuses to cancel - and now an injury - at moments like that, he couldn't believe it was because Richard didn't genuinely care about him or was just seeking to catch him somehow. Although the latter was also unlikely given how slow he was going about it if that was his plan.

Edward kept an eye on the limping man beside him, ready to... well, try and catch him if he stumbled as he led the way out and towards his car. "I'm sure I can manage..." Hopefully, it wouldn't be too bad, or he might end up tidying it himself. "If it's not filthy, it will be fine." Another worry, but maybe having an injured boyfriend would help there.

The car he stopped by was considerably more expensive (and greener) than anything his boyfriend might normally drive, despite Wayne's collection. And would save Richard another taxi, as he assumed had been taken to get there. Edward quickly got the door for him and gave an exaggerated little bow as he waited for Richard to climb inside. Closing the door once he and his crutches were settled, Edward slid into the driver's seat and started them moving.

"You could have called me earlier, you know. I would have come to see you once I finished working." He wasn't sure how much of this 'work' Richard was aware of, but Edward wasn't going to lie about what he'd been doing.

No worries, happens to us all!

[justlikeacircus]

"It's not filthy, just a little untidy." he reassures. He's not unclean, he's just not very neat, between work and work and spending time with Edward, he doesn't get a lot of chances to tidy up.

The care Edward takes, Dick thinks, is one of the many reasons he's fallen so hard for the other man. He can see the way Edward is watching him for any kind of misstep, the way he holds the door open for him and that silly little bow to make him laugh, he's just so unexpectedly sweet, and Dick hasn't actually had a whole lot of sweet from the people in his life (which sounds terrible, probably, but is still kind of true).

"I didn't know how bad the injury was," he admits - which isn't strictly true, he's learned enough about first aid that he knew right away what he'd done "and I didn't want to worry you, I thought if I showed up you'd at least be able to see that I was okay before I told you I'd had an accident."