Moving forward.

Chapter 4: A simple, if not flawed, solution.

"Sure you didn't. As if we'd come here for any other reason."

"Stay out of it. I don't read your input" Ed thought viciously, shaking his head minutely in a vain attempt to banish the voice in his head. Yet it did nothing to deter the Riddler who was fighting desperately to gain control.

"It's stupid and pointless to think that he'll ever let you be free again. You dug up his fathers corpse and used it to drive him insane! You know what sort of man he is. Do you really think he's just going to let that go? Do you honestly believe that keeping you on ice was enough for him? He's going to stab you in the back the first chance he gets."

"You don't know that. Besides, it was you who did those things not me."

"You. Me. It doesn't make any difference, we're the same person genius. Except you are weak and useless. It's about time I took charge and sorted things out once and for all. It's the only way we'll survive this."

"You're wrong! And even if you weren't I'd still fight you. I'd still stop you."

 "And get yourself killed by that pathetic and deceitful bird brain?!"

"He wouldn't do that! Now let me ask you this. Even if he did kill me, so what? I don't think I'd want to 'survive', not if it meant living like that. I've had enough of this. So if putting myself in the firing line puts an end to it then I guess that is what I will do. Love is about sacrifice after all."

The Riddler laughed coldly and sneered "You might want to rethink that." He was no longer just a voice in Ed's head but a full on hallucination, his arms folded and an evil grin on his face as he stood far too close to Ed for comfort. Edward blinked rapidly, trying to banish the image without success. "Why?" Ed asked in a small voice, knowing that he would regret it but unable to silence his curiosity.

"Well just look around you. Everyone you have ever loved as ended up dead or damaged beyond repair and it's all because of you."

"That's not true."

"Oh but it is, and you know it. Remember Kristen? Remember Isabella? Sure Penguin was the one who pulled the trigger on Isabella, figuratively speaking of course, but you're still the one who's to blame."

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"

"If you allow yourself to love Oswald then you sentence him to death and there wont be a thing you can do to stop it. Is that what you want? He will die slowly and painfully at the hands of the man he once loved. Weak and in agony with a son that he will be unable to protect."

"NO! I will never hurt Oswald again and I could never do that to that little boy."

"Sure you can and you will. We both know it so why deny it. You're nothing but a monster who is good for nothing except destroying the lives of the people he loves! The world would be better off with out you." 

"Ed! Ed!"

Edward suddenly felt himself being smacked hard around the face and lashed out instinctively. Oswald gasped as Ed's hands tightened around his throat but he managed to grab hold of the mans arm and twisted it forcefully, expertly breaking Edward's hold on him. Ed stared down at Oswald, horrified, then burst into tears. "I'm so sorry" he breathed, his body shaking. He stumbled backwards distractedly. He had no idea what he was going to do but knew one thing, he had to leave before he put anyone in more danger. It was like Kristen all over again. "I have to go" Ed managed finally before staggering out of the door.