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An escape room.
It makes sense that out of all people Harley managed to convince Edward Nygma that he needed to raise to her challenge, to be able to complete it and of course with his need to show off, to prove himself best, it’s without half of the clues. This is also proving to be more than just a room, considering the large corridor they’ve managed to get themselves trapped in. Practically the same size as the room they started in and firmly didn’t seem like it could have fitted here either but apparently has.
Jonathan has no clue how he was dragged along to this other than the fact he apparently loves and adores his boyfriend – though he’s considering just how much he actually loves him. Trapped in a corridor with seemingly no way out, when they do get out of here he’s going to have some strong words with Harley about challenging the Riddler because of course this wasn’t going to end up going well. That they should have still left all of the clues in there, and Edward could have just ignored using them, and then Jon could have checked and looked and probably ended up pointing the younger man in the right direction but none of that can happen.
Which is why with a deep groan, Jon lowers himself, costume and all to lean against the wall and take a seat. His joints aching almost as much as his head does and he’s really considering the fact he kept a dose of fear toxin on him and if it will be better or worse for him to use it on the other man.
He really can’t help but think this wasn’t worth it, what is he even getting in return for this, he’d say seeing his partner happy but nope, Edward is fuming and sulking. Pacing backward and forth, muttering both riddles and ideas just above his breath and that ridiculous cane of his very nearly smacks Jonathan.
Why they chose to do this in costume he’s not sure, Harley pressed for it but it’s not like any of them have secret identities anymore, well Edward never really tried to have one in the first place but it’s the thought that counts. He guesses the only benefit is the easy ability to have fear toxin on him, but he has that on him anyway, most people just don’t get to find that out.
Though the cane very nearly hits him again, which is why with a snarl, Jonathan grabs and yanks it out of the Riddler’s grip, yearning an upset but also angry huff from the Riddler who turns around to glare at him.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Edward snaps.
Ah yes, Jonathan forgot this would instantly fall into aggression, has no doubt triggered the same broken scripts that appear when the bat is starting to best him at Edward’s own games.
“Stopping you from both knocking me out and making an embarrassment of us.” Jon retorts, trying to keep his voice level but it doesn’t really work.
Not his fault he’s also cranky and unimpressed about the fact he’s also stuck in here, there’s so much more he could be working on and he’s trying to ignore just how jittery the fact he can’t see any door knobs, that he can’t reassure that they’re actual secure in here. No clue who runs the place, it could even be Harley herself and she can be watching through the cameras he has no doubt are here even if he currently can’t see them. A further reason for him to stop Edward from causing embarrassment for both of them.
“Look, just ask for a clue Eddie, I don’t want to spend all day in here. My joints ache and I would really rather be having a strong drink right now, there is no shame in it.”
“No shame! I am the Riddler some badly put together escape room will not defeat me.” The man snaps, hand lurching to grab back onto his cane.
“It’s only badly put together because you made Harley remove half the clues for you. I know you love puzzles but this isn’t helping either of us.” Jon retorts.
Trying to not lean too doctor, knowing all that will do is piss his partner off more, but he also doesn’t want to get too angry, knows exactly what does and doesn’t make the other man tick and an angry older man certainly isn’t one of them.
Not that it seems to calm Edward at all and if anything just makes him worse, Jon really doesn’t know why this is so hard for them, sure puzzle solving isn’t really something he focuses on all that much but this is something else. He’ll be honest it feels like the second Edward started to realise this wouldn’t be so easy without half the clues, well there went any genius both of them had.
Though it gives Jonathan the perfect idea to pivot on, realising that Edward has reeled his hand back into his chest, a nervous rubbing of his wrist, well he uses the solid metal and wood to tug himself back to his feet. Knees complaining but it’s fine, he knows this can hold his weight, especially as he lets his eyes run over the way Edward is twitching a little more, a soft sigh escapes him. All anger about this situation drifting away because the last thing he wants to happen is the pair of them to just remain angry at each other, it’s not going to solve the fact they seem to be stuck.
“Look Edward, why don’t we just sit back and breathe a second. The reason we’re struggling is nothing to do with your intelligence, it is because the people who made this place are not as smart as you.” Jon offers out.
It makes Edward narrow his eyes through that domino mask, just slivers of those bright green eyes as he looks Jonathan up and down.
“Are you saying I’m over-thinking this?” Edward questions.
There’s panic and upset in his voice, which is why Jonathan reaches out, even if he can’t feel anything through his gloves, hand softly brushes against his jaw.
“A touch of that, and a touch of them simply not expecting us, people of our calibre my darling.” Jon croons out.
That seems to work, brightening Edward back up, eyes widening and a bright grin starting to spread across his face, as if an idea has struck him. Jonathan’s a little worried about what this idea might be, especially as Edward leans in, closing the gap between them both and meeting their lips, not that Jonathan will ever mind or be upset about being able to kiss him.
When Edward pulls away though, he doesn’t move his face very far, instead so he can hiss into Jon’s ear and hopefully not actually be overheard by the microphone because he knows there has to be one somewhere, considering the whole asking for clues thing you can do.
“This is not me admitting help.” Edward starts.
“Of course not.” Jon tries to bite back a laugh.
“But how about we do a Batman on them, they’ll have to open the door forward if one of us needs medical help.” Edward grins.
Pulling his face back and watching Jon’s scrunch in slight confusion, only just visible through the mask thanks to plenty of knowledge of his partner at this point.
“If one of us needs…”
Jon isn’t able to respond, not able to finish his words before the cane is tugged out from him. That’s bad enough as it makes him stumble, made worse as Edward cracks him in the shin, hard with it and he crumples, cursing as he hits the floor.
“What the fuck Nygma!?” Scarecrow snarls out.
Shoving Jonathan from front as he doubles over in pain, hating how much the body itches and aches anyway, he’d like to firmly ask him why he thought bringing them out of bed was a good idea. Let alone joining Edward in, whatever this really is.
Edward just grins a little bit.
Especially as the door forward suddenly clicks open, though no person has appeared just yet.
“Oh come Spooky, I was just getting one step ahead and taking a leaf out of our least favourite rodent’s book.” Edward grins, heading towards the open door.
“He’s not even a rodent.” Scarecrow snarls out.
Though does manage to pull the body up, ignoring the throbbing pain in his leg but firmly still limps through the door and into another room. At least this one seems to have inbuilt puzzles and stuff to work on that Edward’s lack of clues aren’t going to hinder them all too much.
“You could have at least hit us less hard.”
“Had to make it realistic, spooky. Now are you going to bitch with me the rest of the time we’re here or can I have my boyfriend back?” Edward queries.
Heading straight over to the first thing that interests him.
“You get him back when you use that one brain cell that was apparently left in that hallway to apologise.” Scarecrow huffs.
Doesn’t even bother looking at any of the puzzles and instead drops himself into the rather comfy looking chair that this room seems to contain. Edward just tilts his head over and looks at Scarecrow, who has leaned down and is rubbing against his pained calf, and okay yes, he admits that he shouldn’t have hit them all that hard.
Not that he wants to apologise about it, he doesn’t like doing that, especially not as he flits to the shelf he’s now spotted, especially as Scarecrow doesn’t appear to be ready to bite him or anything. He might still get out of this with all of his digits. Just goes back to focus on solving this room, the sooner they get out the better especially if Scarecrow’s going to stay front and Edward doesn’t want to ruin Jonathan’s routine anymore than he already has.
“Scarecrow I respect you want to sulk about what I did, but can you at least shift your ass a little bit so I can get us out of the room.” Edward turns to stare at them.
Scarecrow stares back, he knows Edward can’t see the way it’s eyes narrow but thinks it’s still worth it, especially as he continues to croon around the Jon tugged into his lap. Let it deal with the pain right now, as well as the other pain – he hushes Jon, that pain can be meant fondly if he really wants to.
‘Well I do want to, I love him – you love him too.’
‘I tolerate him more than other people,’ Scarecrow hisses back into Jon’s hair.
Jon who just hums with soft humour, it will sink into Scarecrow’s skull at some point, though directs him back to the fact that Edward is still looking at them expectantly, what looks like two different halves of a book in his hands but not quite the same ones from a quick glance.
“Fine, we’re moving, what do you even want?” Scarecrow groans.
The body almost groans as he gets up, really not appreciating it. Though Edward does, as he grins and practically bounces at the picture Scarecrow was mostly blocking from where he was sat. Seems that the chair wasn’t just for comfort as Edward clambers up to stand on it.
“I really don’t think you should be doing that.” Jon forces himself forward, even as Edward laughs softly.
“Nothing says I can’t! Plus this way I can reach the top of the picture, we’re not all freakishly tall Jonathan.” Is cooed back.
‘Great, hurting us and now insults.’ It just sulks.
Though doesn’t slink away from co-hosting right now, firmly keeping his claws in the reins knowing that Jon’s not feeling the best even if he won’t admit it. That he’s also twitching at the door that has latched itself but only partially closed, bad enough the corridor had nothing but the fact that the door now won’t close properly, Jon’s jittery.
“You’re being an ass today, Edward – is the only brain cell in your head being cruel?” Scarecrow prods.
“As are you, Spooky.” Edward retorts.
“Regretting calling you our boyfriend.” Scarecrow snipes lightly.
“No shush, we’re not going there – we don’t regret you like that.” Jonathan retorts.
Edward seems to contently brush it off though, especially as he comes away with something else sorted out, a bright grin across his face and the twinkle in his eye that’s normally only spotted when he’s in the middle of a ploy.
It stays like this for a few more minutes, Edward folding down to route through one of the lower drawers, Jon just shifts and Scarecrow has taken to a rather sarcastic running commentary just for the pair of them. Though there is something nice in the bounce Edward has going on, and what it could mean.
“Does this mean you’ve solved this room without having to resort to injuring us again?” Scarecrow croons a little bit.
Edward laughs, it’s bright and makes something in Jonathan light up.
“Can be just a little easier this time, though that is the fastest way for us to get out of here.” Edward teases back.
“I thought you hated when Batman resorted to that kind of cheating.” Jon does choose to push it a little bit.
In response, he gets one of those half books tossed at his head and a raspberry blown out, incredibly childish but Jon guesses his response did sort of earn that.
“Well I’m not cheating, and I don’t need that back, clearly it can just be used for tossing at useless partners.”
“Ouch.” Scarecrow raises a hand to his chest, though it’s a faux reaction.
He knows what Edward meant but it doesn’t mean it especially cannot tease when it comes down to it, that Edward knows that he’s teasing right now which is why, no doubt, another half of a book gets tossed at him. This time they manage to catch it though, and tactfully manage to toss it right back.
“I feel they would especially not approve of this Edward, now hurry up, I really want to get home.” Jon twitches out slightly.
Hating that he has no form of watch on him, that was one thing they made them leave outside, ironic considering that they did not check nor remove Scarecrow’s fear gas but god forbid they actually can tell the time. That they can know how long things have been going on, instead of just relying on the occasional chime the microphone lets out to tell them when certain lengths of time have passed, none of which overly actually helps Jonathan out. From the twist in his gut though, he knows he’s possibly going to be late for the lunch he wanted to have out with Edward, considering the fact that they both need to get changed first. Maybe it will be easier to cook something simple back at home, but then Jon isn’t all too sure if that will lead to some of his supplies being out of order.
It makes his hands visibly begin to twitch, even as Scarecrow shifts so they’re holding their own wrists.
While subtle, the movement is enough for Edward to spot it, his expression softening, getting closer and he too carefully wraps his hands around Jon’s wrists for a second. Knowing what he really should and shouldn’t say, especially when they can be overheard by someone.
“I’ll get us out really shortly, Jon. Though we can always resort to…” He tries to make it more light-hearted.
Seems to work with the way Scarecrow’s chuckle breaks through a little.
“We’ll be the one injuring you if it comes down to that.” It retorts with a faint purr.
Hopefully though, the two geniuses will be able to finally put all of their brain cells together to be able to get out of this, and that Harley will kindly chose to not use any of this as blackmail material, or she’ll get a very up-close introduction to a new strain of Fear Toxin.