Glory and Gore | Edward Nashton (The Riddler)

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"Nothing. Petty squabbles." I quickly lied. Dawn dropped the subject as she started talking about things that were happening in the orphanage. I did my paperwork as I listened to her. "Juno, could I ask you something?" I looked up at her and she looked unbelievably nervous. "Dawn, what is it?" Dawn gulped and said "could you adopt me?" My breath hitched and Theodore looked up at me. "M-Me too?" Theodore's green eyes were full of hope and sadness. His eyes were similar to Edward's. The two of them had been through so much because of the Gotham orphanage. Except Theodore had been adopted before. Edward never was. "Dawn, do you understand what you're asking me? Do you understand that I would be your legal guardian? It's not just something you can do to get out of the orphanage." I told her. Dawn shook her head and said "no, I'm not trying to scam you! I want to live with you! I lost my parents but I think they'd approve of me living with you." I half smiled at her and Theodore said "I like you, Juno. And the tall man with the glasses." I giggled softly and said "Edward." "Ed-Edward." Theodore mimicked with a stutter. I looked at the two kids in front of me. "I won't give the two of you an answer right now because I don't want to promise either of you that I can adopt you. I'd have to go through the orphanage and if I could. And that's a big if. It would only be one of you." Dawn and Theodore looked at each other and I said "I'll have to talk to my boss and see what I can do. They've told me before I can only adopt one child out of the orphanage." Dawn looked at me and said "why?" "I honestly don't know. That's just how it is." The kids frowned and I said "I'll work on it. Just give me some time, ok? If I can't, I'll find a good home for both of you." Theodore looked at me and said "I want you and Ed-Edward." Theodore struggled to say his name and I half smiled at him. "Hey, the two of you don't worry about that. I'm here. I'm back at work. I won't let anything bad happen to either of you. I promise." I kissed Theodore's head and Dawn stood up, coming to give me a hug. I held the two children close to me, hoping that one day I could at least help one of them get out of this awful orphanage.

-

"Hi, sunshine." Edward said softly as he walked into the apartment. I looked over my shoulder and said "hi, Eddie." He held up the bag of food from the diner and said "I got us dinner." I smiled and said "that's good." Edward pushed his glasses up his nose and said "I really hate when you leave your apartment door unlocked." "I did it for you." He nodded with his lips in a tight line, starting to approach me. He said "I know. It's just...Gotham is so dangerous. I can't have anything happen to you, angel." He cupped my cheek and I looked up at him with admiration. "Nothing will happen to me, Edward. I have you." He half smiled and kissed my forehead. Edward's thumb stroked my cheek and he said "have you eaten today?" I shook my head. Edward leaned down to place a sweet kiss to my lips. My arms went around his neck, pulling him closer to me. Edward smiled into the kiss and he slowly pulled away, pecking my lips a couple of times before pressing his forehead to mine. I kissed his nose which caused him to giggle. I smiled at the sound. I marveled at him being happy. He deserved it. He deserved everything. I led him to the dining room table and the two of us sat down. Edward sighed with a smile and said "so, I got hamburgers and fries and a couple of pies." "Which ones did you get?" I asked. "Pumpkin, obviously." He giggled again as his smile spread across his face. I smiled at him and said "and?" "And I got apple, your favorite. I got cherry and strawberry." I picked up a French fry from my plate, swiping it through some ketchup. "I know during the mugging we only had a slice of each pie." I looked up at Edward, the memories of that night flashing through my mind. "This time, I got us all the whole pie." "Each?" My voice was soft. Edward nodded. I shook my head in disbelief and said "Edward, what did that cost you?" "Nothing crazy. I just put in a special order this morning. When you left. I wanted you to have something sweet. You and I, we both deserve it." Edward replied. He looked down at his plate of food and I said "you're right. As always." Edward shoveled a few fries in his mouth. "You were so good to me that night. You took care of me as if I was your most prized possession." Edward's leg hit the underside of the table, making our plates and cutlery clink. I furrowed my eyebrows at him and saw his leg bouncing up and down. "You are my most prized possession. Juno, you don't understand how much you actually mean to me. When we were apart, I was so scared. I was so scared I'd lost the one thing that matters to me; the one person who actually cared for me and loved me because of who I was. That mugger could've done awful things to you. He could've killed you. I had to make sure that didn't happen. I got hurt in the process but, Juno this city would be in shambles without you. And when we were screaming at each other, that day when you found out about the riddler, you said don't film how you kill me. It'll kill my father. Please, Edward." I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding as Edward stopped speaking. He remembered the exact words I had said. "I'd never kill you, Juno. I couldn't. I just wanted you to accept me and you did. I was wrong. We should've just talked about it. But, I had to make this city pay and while I was doing that you were withering away in your apartment. This very apartment. In your bedroom. Because of me." I shook my head and said "no, Edward it wasn't y-" "It was." He interrupted. A frown appeared on his face and I sighed. "I just wish I didn't hurt you. I'm so sorry. You didn't deserve that." "You didn't deserve to be hurt either, Edward. I hurt you and you hurt me. We hurt each other. But, we're ok now." I grabbed Edward's hand and he half smiled as I took his hand in mine. I stood up from my seat and kissed his forehead. Edward smiled and slowly brought my face down to his level. He pressed a sweet kiss on my lips and said "could we go and watch some tv?" I nodded and said "sure." The two of us cleaned up the dining room and kitchen. I set the pies on the counter and we went and sat on my couch. Jurassic Park played on the tv softly. The movie had just started and hadn't been on long. Even though we had kissed a bit and he had been staying with me while I slept, I was still scared to initiate anything. There was a good two feet between us. I noticed he was tense and was very focused on the movie. I grabbed a blanket off the back of the couch and looked back at him. "Did you want any?" I held up the blanket, offering it to him. Edward looked over and shook his head. "No. I'm ok." I nodded and faced the tv again. I draped the blanket on my legs and huffed softly at the rain falling outside. I already knew my apartment was going to get cold. I slowly inched my way over to Edward, not wanting him to be uncomfortable. Edward was too busy listening to John Hammond and Dr. Wu explain dinosaurs to notice me staring up at him. He looked so pretty. His glasses sat on the bridge of his nose and his lips parted in awe. He had never seen Jurassic Park before. The bump on his nose was so pretty. His hands rested on either side of him and I leaned my head on his arm. Edward didn't take notice of the contact. I took a shaky breath and wrapped my arms around his middle, laying my head on his chest. Edward jumped and looked down at me. "I-I can move. If it's uncomfortable." I said. I loved the feeling of being so close to him. I nuzzled my face into his chest, squeezing him softly. When I didn't get a response I slowly started to remove myself from him. "No." Edward grabbed me and pulled me back. "Stay." He whispered. I leaned my head back on his chest, pulling the blanket onto the both of us. Edward's hand went to my hip, pulling me even closer to him if that was even possible. I was almost in his lap. Edward's eyes fluttered closed and his body relaxed. He was no longer tense. "Mmm." Edward sighed. I squeezed him again and Edward's hand went up and down my hip. I buried my face into his chest to hide the growing smile on my face. Edward sighed again, opening his eyes. "I missed how it felt to hold you. I missed how warm you'd feel." Edward stretched his legs out in front of him and my attention went back to the movie. Edwards fingers drew puzzle shapes into my hip. I knew he was doing it absentmindedly since he was watching Dr. Grant be introduced to Lex and Tim. My mind slowly wandered away from the movie. I started to think about how Edward was going to juggle being The Riddler and being with me. I was slightly interested and wanted to help him but not in a way it would incriminate me. "Hey, look at this! Hey, hey, watch! Hey, come on, watch this!" Tim said on the tv. It broke me out of my thoughts and I slowly draped my leg over Edward's waist. Edward pulled me closer to him with a soft sigh. It didn't do much since it was impossible for him to pull me any closer but I can see why he wanted me so close. He was desperate for the contact. I also missed being in his arms. Sleep was slowly creeping into my body. My eyes started to droop and I struggled to keep them open as Jurassic Park played in the background.