Fear's Cure (Two-Face x Riddler)

Edward Nygma liked to think of himself as a rational man who could tackle most problems to the best of his ability. Even if the solution had him betray someone he trusted, Edward would always think of himself as a survivalist. Sad to say those very instincts were his downfall as Scarecrow took his revenge after being caught by Batman due to Edward fleeing just in time. He watched as the man strapped to the table went lax, the fear toxin now flowing through his veins turning his emerald eyes a straw-gold as his mind became affected. No longer twenty seven years old, Edward now saw himself as an eleven year old with hands clasped behind his back. He could see as clear as day the grand living room in his dead father’s home, fire crackling as a distorted version of the dead male came into view. Scarecrow grinned when the man let out a horrified scream, struggling in vain against the leather straps as his “father” picked him up and began to beat him. Edward’s screams only grew in volume when a twisted Joker joined in on the fun, holding the now teenager Riddler down as he mercilessly raped him over and over with his vicious laughter. Scarecrow started taking notes as tears poured down the red-head’s face, begging to unseen foes as he continued to bear psychological tortures over and over. The other male merely shook his head and gave him a more potent dose, the scrawny man’s body starting to act as though the attacks were real. He smirked when Riddler began to gag, body flailing wildly as something or someone was choking the life out of him ever so slowly. So intent on watching his victim slowly dying Scarecrow didn’t notice the bullet flying towards him until his leg suddenly buckled from underneath him. In seconds the place was swarmed with thugs, a man quickly going to Edward’s side and jabbing a needle into his neck. The green suited man jerked before falling limp with a breath escaping him before he grew deathly still, a mixture of emerald and gold eyes staring out at the room unblinkingly. It was a tense few seconds before the man gasped and began to breathe on his own, sounding raspy and weak as the subdued Scarecrow was dragged away for punishment.

Slowly dragging himself to consciousness, Edward groaned weakly and slowly forced his eyes open, staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling as he tried to orient himself. A beep of a machine roused his attention, growing tense when he saw various IV’s attached to his arm with a steady stream of medication flowing into his body. Nigma had a phobia of medicines he either didn’t know or had never heard of entering his body, ready to rip the tubes out had a scarred hand stopped him just in time.

“Relax, the names are on the bags.” A gruff voice murmured, watching Riddler read them before relaxing back against the soft pillows behind his head. Two-Face nodded and returned to his seat, the book Count of Monte Cristo propped open on the bedside table. Edward let a brief smile cross his face, knowing that Harvey only read the book when he was seriously worried about Edward or when he had a hard time getting to sleep.

“How long?” The red-head asked, sipping from a cup of water greedily as Harvey gently cradled his head.

“Almost three days, we were going to call Harley if you didn’t wake today.” Riddler cracked a brief grimace, not wanting to see the blonde with his weak condition even though he knew she was probably the one to patch him up.

“You’re too kind Harvey, you really are my best friend.” The ex-attorney gave a brief smile and made sure the other was comfortable. Edward eventually drifted back to sleep, only to find himself awake a mere hour later from a terrible nightmare, doused in cold sweat as he panted. Throwing back the covers Edward slowly got to his feet, shakily grabbing the medicine stand to counter his weight and started walking. Even though he felt a headache coming on Edward didn’t stop walking until he reached a door that was normal on one side and roughed up on the other, sighing as he quietly knocked. The red-head turned so his back faced the door as he felt the head-ache grew worse, ready to call it quits when the door opened and felt a strong pair of arms support him to the dual-sheeted bed.

“You should be in bed.” Two-Face grumbled, clearly irritated as Riddler crossed his arms.

“I couldn’t sleep, so I came to you.” Two-Face couldn’t help but compare the man to a pouty child, sighing in fake irritation as he climbed back into bed and comfortably held the male close. He watched Nygma fall back into sleep before closing his own eyes, sighing softly as he drifted back into sleep himself, a soft smile playing on his lips.