Chapter Text
He’d chosen this penthouse for a reason; aside from the amount of highly reflective glass he could primp and preen in, it was all about the sheer scope of view. Plain and simple, nothing else to it. With a pair of binoculars one was able to see everything going on in Gotham’s streets with relative ease. Creepy to some, blessedly functional to others. Advantageous, one might say. And if nothing else, it helped with his day job.
But Edward Nygma wasn’t searching for anything in particular tonight, oh no. The swivel chair that was normally seated at his desk was positioned by the ajar French doors leading out to the balcony at this hour, and a cool breeze ruffled his ginger hair. Not too humid, just how he liked it. The stars were clear in the sky at this height, the cosmos dancing above his head in the most enchanting manner. It was a night of relaxation, perhaps even a night to laze around in bed with his significant other and a platter of champagne grapes provided she didn’t fall asleep as soon as she stepped out of the shower. Even the Batman and his brood seemed to have quieted down, though if he asked Selina (or, God forbid, Jonathan. That man rarely had a pleasant answer for anything asked of him) she’d have just said it was wishful thinking on the part of an old man. Gotham never slept, so why should any of its protectors?
He’d always been fascinated by the constellations, although as a child he’d never quite understood just how half of them were supposed to look like animals. Some were clearer than others. Nothing to lose sleep over, though; simply look at things another way, and they began to make sense. Even if only in highly abstract form. Life was but a series of puzzles to be solved, and the thought comforted him. With a half-drank gin and tonic in hand, his emerald gaze roved lazily over Gotham’s skyline. The spectacle of downtown blazed as it always did, the neon signs of hundreds of buildings compounding to produce a sharp white cloud of light to blanket the city. Pretty, if you were into that kind of thing. For Edward, the city just provided a convenient backdrop. It attracted spectacle by nature, and spectacle was what he brought to the table.
And then, as he continued to savor the view from the perfect position on the thirty-fifth floor, things began to change. One by one by one, the lights went out. At first it was only streetlights; then restaurants, then various avant-garde sculptures, then skyscrapers. There was a blinding explosion of blue near the power plant in Old Gotham, what on Earth could that be? Suspicious. Highly so. “’Lina, dear, stay there—” Just as expected, his apartment went completely dark. He pushed himself back to the desk, then set what remained of his drink down. This didn’t bode well, and it wasn’t only because the ice had started to melt.
“Somebody cut the power,” came the answering snarl. Hell hath no fury like a future wife scorned. “And I was just about to blow-dry my hair.”
“Somebody turned off the grid to the whole city, not just us,” he corrected, getting to his feet as if activated by a spring, dusting off his monogrammed pajama pants, and hastily moving towards where his spare equipment was kept in his second closet. This didn’t merit getting punched in the face by a crazed manchild dressed as a flying mammal, but what this did merit was a professional investigation. Maybe the hand of Fate would be kind and he’d run into one of the less scrappy Batgirls. He’d even take Batwoman provided either of them deigned to show up, Ms. Gordon and Mrs. Kane both were at least pleasantly civil.
“And let me guess, you’re going to check it out.” There was a pause, then a heavy sigh from the unseen woman. “Curiosity killed the cat, you know. I’m coming with you. My eyes work better in the dark than yours. Hand me a paw, mi cielito?”
Hurriedly pulling on some freshly laundered clothes and buckling a spare belt, he made his way to the bathroom with a hand-cranked flashlight to spare. “One helping hand, and a bit of light. As requested.”
Upon seeing him in the flesh, Selina let out a scream of a laugh. “Oh, Eddie. Your shirt’s unbuttoned. Otherwise you’re…” She barely managed to stifle a grimace. “You’re fine. You’re purrfectly fine. Don’t worry about it. Wait here while I find my clothes?”
He did just that, watching as her towel-clad, barefoot form sauntered off through the darkened halls of his apartment before sparing a glance at himself. He’d forgotten his vest, and that shirt did not go with that tie. Blue and purple only worked in tandem in certain shades. Tragic. But in this city, it was safer to go out with some semblance of a classy outfit than none at all; believe it or not, you blended in better. In most areas, anyway. And it was doubtful that most of Gotham’s citizens knew what fashion was to begin with. He’d be fine as she’d said, he could live through one faux pas.
It felt like an eternity before Selina readied herself; little issue ultimately, since they both could navigate his dwelling blindfolded and gagged (that day alone had been quite the little social experiment). Then, looping her larger arm in his, they stepped over the threshold together. The door clicked shut behind them.