Riddle 034: We don't need no education [Backdated to the First Day of School]

[questionauthority]

[Well, it's that time of year once again, isn't it? School's back in session. Oh, joy. Throughout the day, there's a good chance you'll bump into the Riddler in a few locations...

A. ACTION - Mayfield High School, Ethics Classroom, Morning

The words "Mr. Nigma" are written up on the blackboard. Yep. You heard that right. Edward Nigma, Ethics Teacher. When his first class has seated themselves, he'll rise up out of his chair and begin to address them:]

Life's just full of questions, isn't it? And in a place like Mayfield especially, you're going to have to ask yourself plenty of difficult questions. 

[He approaches the blackboard, writing up a series of questions, reciting them aloud as he writes:

"Have you ever had to make a difficult decision?"
"Were you satisfied with the outcome, or do you still have regrets?"

He turns to his class, looking at them expectantly.]

Well?

[B. ACTION - Mayfield High School, Teacher's Lounge, Afternoon

He'll be sitting here in between classes, smoking a cigarette and working on a crossword from time to time.

C. PHONE - Filtered to Batman, Shortly After School]

Well, well, Dark Knight. It seems we're long overdue for a little chat, aren't we?

[D. PHONE - Filtered to Ema Skye, Late Afternoon]

Question: What are you up to this evening?

Comments

[glowing-science.livejournal.com]

[Oh, Edward. Just because Ema's realized that she's in love with you does not mean she's magically going to have patience for your evasive bullshit.]

So, that means it's something that'll end up exploding in our faces later on?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[As if being in love with Ema's made him any more tolerant to her nosy behavior.]

No. That means I don't want to talk about it.

[glowing-science.livejournal.com]

If it's bothering you that badly, why not?

[That's not stopping her from pursuing this line of questioning. These two are clearly the Best Couple.]

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

Because... Look. This isn't---this is just another question of mine that I'm sure you'd rather not hear. Trust me. Just drop it.

[glowing-science.livejournal.com]

Part of being in a relationship like this is being open, Edward. If this is going to affect how you behave all night, I feel like I have a right to know what's going through your head.

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[Open, huh? It was tough enough trying to be open with her before they went into a relationship. Sighing, Eddie pulls to a nearby curb and parks the car. Then he turns to look at her.]

There's plenty that we should be asking ourselves right now, you know. [He snorts.] At this point, questions may as well be Mayfield's primary export. Frankly, I'd much rather ignore them. But... it's in my nature to question everything. I can't help myself.

So. Question: If he... if Klavier Gavin ever returns, what's going to happen to us?

[glowing-science.livejournal.com]

[Ema doesn't answer right away. Of course he's thought of that question; she has, too.

Unlike her concerns with Klavier's possible return, which are based in the fact that she's acting on emotional infidelity that has actually been brewing since long before his departure, Edward seems upset by the possibility. That's not surprising; like Klavier felt threatened by Edward, Edward probably feels threatened by Klavier.

Ema's love life is like a high school television drama.]

I don't know.

[She sighs. The answer is an honest one, but she knows it won't be enough to satisfy Edward.]

Can I confess something?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[It really, really is.

Honest as the answer may be, Edward's heart still sinks uncomfortably. It really isn't all that impossible a scenario. Edward had returned from what had appeared to be permanent droning. Klavier could, as well. And where would that leave him? ...Susan's right, after all. It wasn't until after he had gone that Ema had revealed her feelings for him. ...is that how it goes, then? Is he really just a silver medal?]

What is it?

[glowing-science.livejournal.com]

[Here goes nothing. If she expects Edward to be open with her, it follows that she needs to be just as open with him. She twists her hands together, her nerves and sense of guilt making her unable to be still.]

Klavier was incredibly jealous of you, you know. He saw you as a threat. And... he was right. I spoke about it euphemistically. I cared about you. There was something between us. We had chemistry. But the reality of it? It went deeper than that. It still does.

[By now, she's staring down at her hands. If he's able to read between her words, he should be happy at the confession--even if it's being delivered in a package of angst.]

I refused to even entertain the idea. You're... not the easiest person to be around, sometimes. I already had a relationship. I was supposed to be happy. I was happy, at least some of the time. Plus, I didn't want to hurt him. You have to understand: every person he's ever held truly close has betrayed him somehow. His brother. His best friend. And, at the end, me... without my even realizing it. It wasn't until Schuldig pointed out the facts that I realized... what I'd really done. What I am doing. I don't feel like a good person for it.

I guess what I'm trying to say is... the answer to your question is incredibly complicated. This... this has been coming for a long time. I wonder if it might have happened if Klavier had stayed. And part of me really hopes... [that Klavier doesn't come back. There's a sting in her eyes, so she cuts the sentence short to try and keep them at bay. She falls quiet, looking around at everything except Edward.]

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[Edward just stares for a moment or so. Ema had mentioned to him before that she had to argue against Klavier's desires for her never to speak to him again. But to know he actually had a reason to be wary... If he's hearing her correctly... Ema's admitting that their relationship reaches a far deeper level than it would appear. It isn't just chemistry. It's something stronger than that. ...love? Is that it? Is she saying that she loves him?

...then she keeps going. And though she doesn't finish her last sentence, it doesn't take a genius to understand just what she's implying. What can he say to that? Well, he isn't going to argue against her. Though droning wasn't exactly a fate Edward would have wished upon Klavier, the fact remains that he isn't particularly hoping for the rock star to return anytime soon. Though he's managed to redeem his actions over this past couple of months of captivity, a good person he is not.

Her talk of betrayal reminds Edward briefly of something she had said to him months ago. She'd demanded that he not act as though she doesn't understand how a dog-eat-dog world works. She'd resolved to be better than that. And in the end, Ema had come to realize that she was willingly betraying Klavier just by considering this. All thanks to Edward.

Just like a malignant narcissist, right? Not even realizing until just now that he isn't the only one in pain. And in some ways, her pain's even worse than his. He almost feels foolish, bringing a question like this to the forefront of what should have been an enjoyable evening. Still... better to get this out into the open now than to wait.

Eddie reaches out, placing a hand on her shoulder.]

...I really have made things difficult for you, haven't I? [His tone's apologetic, sympathetic, and self-deprecating all at once.]

[glowing-science.livejournal.com]

[The hand on her shoulder surprises her enough that she looks at Edward. He's comforting her. More than that, he's acknowledging and taking responsibility for the fact that he puts her through hell on a fairly regular basis.

This isn't an insignificant development with him. Ema's aware of his malignant narcissism, having suffered it first hand on more than one occasion. Him being able to admit this is a major step; suddenly, she's feeling pretty good about this relationship. No less guilty about how things have ended with Klavier, but... hopeful.

Maybe, just maybe, this is the right path after all.]

You have.

[She wraps her arms around him and buries her face into his shoulder.]

But I'm still here. Love makes us all a bit stupid, I guess.

[You can almost hear the smile in her voice, even if she isn't exactly being kind with her words. There's not really any venom behind them.]

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[The Riddler's acknowledged that he makes her life plenty difficult, yes. But does that mean he's going to stop being difficult? Probably not. Not for some time, anyway. At the end of the day, he's still Edward Nigma. Knowing the two of them, they're likely bound to squabble over some other idiotic matter soon enough. It's who they are. Yet still, they've managed to make significant comebacks from complicated messes and poor life decisions.

But right now? This doesn't feel like one of those poor decisions at all.

Edward's arms snake around her in return, and he plants a soft kiss against the side of her head.]

I love you, Ema.

[This isn't like the first time he's admitted it to her. This isn't a forced confession, dredged up from some compulsive need to be honest. He isn't saying it because he has to. He wants to say it.]

[glowing-science.livejournal.com]

[Ema doesn't expect Edward to stop making her life difficult. It's who he is, and to be perfectly honest she makes his life difficult in turn. Hurdles and complications have been a hallmark of their relationship so far, but somehow they keep being drawn back to each other. If Ema was a believer in fate, she might have thought that they were destined to be together or some sappy nonsense like that.

As things are, she's simply content with knowing that they have each other's back. Most of the time.]

I love you, too, Edward.

[She pulls back from him, wiping her eyes with the heel of her hand.]

Now can we actually have a date? Please?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[Eddie likewise pulls away, far more reassured now than before.]

Of course.

[And off they go to Casa Nigma.]

[glowing-science.livejournal.com]

[Ema spends the time pulling herself together, a task that is much easier to do now that she and Edward are no longer having that painfully uncomfortable conversation. She supposes he was within his rights to ask, but... well, she couldn't have expected much different, really. He's Edward, and she had insisted he ask the question.]

So, what's the plan exactly?