"Oh no, Eddie! How could you bring me here?" Dee asked, nervously trying
to back out of his hold as they stood outside Third Degree Swing.
"You said yes when I asked you to go out with me tonight. You never asked
where we were going!" He was enjoying this date already.
The green silk dress she wore made her hair seem more vivid red and her
eyes a brighter green. Dee pushed back against him. He was delighted at
her anxiety. Who would have thought that a dinner and dance club would worry
her?
"Eddie, can we go somewhere else, please?"
"As I'm paying, no."
"I'll... I'll... Tell you about the nickel if you take me somewhere else!"
she begged, gripping his arm and looking up at him, even as she pushed her
back more firmly into his chest.
Edward's eyebrows shot up at this with great interest. From his position
he could see down the front of her dress, and he was distracted by the view.
The little jade coin around her neck rested on the soft flesh of her cleavage.
He found himself reaching to touch her, catching himself in time and cupping
her face instead.
"As interesting as the offer is to solve that riddle, no. Besides, there's
a double chocolate coconut drink they have here that you would just love."
"Chocolate?"
"And coconut. It's like a liquid macaroon." He grinned as her eyes glazed
over at the thought.
Dee had no chance to protest further as he hurried her inside and checked
their coats and his hat.
"I was just beginning to really trust you, Eddie. Now my trust is slipping,"
she grumbled as she slid into the small booth with him.
"Oh, come now. There are better things for your trust in me to slip on."
She merely sniffed and opened her menu. That she didn't scoot away from
him, but closer, let him know she wasn't really mad. They ordered food and
drinks, and then started the process of waiting. An awkward silence settled
over the couple. Dee jumped when he touched her arm, almost spilling her
drink.
"Dance with me?"
"Oh no. That's where the trust falls off. I don't dance."
"You told me that you went with some of your friends to a club like this
before. So I know you..."
"Slow danced once with Manchu. I can barely do that. I'm not really certain
what would have happened if anyone had gotten me to dance with them."
"Then we'll slow dance," he said pulling her up.
Sighing, she relented. "One, Eddie. One dance."
"I should get at least two." He spun her into his arms and onto the dance
floor with ease.
"Two? Why?"
"Because once you order that drink, you'll ignore me."
"How could I ignore you when you'll be sitting there with me?" she asked,
pressing her head to his heart, the beat soothing her.
"I've seen you and chocolate." He smirked at her, adding, "Trust me."
"The way I would trust you with an untouched crossword puzzle after asking
you not to do it."
"Touché."
They didn't speak the rest of the time they were on the dance floor. Edward
Nigma was flying as he remembered snippets from when he had been in his
own little realm. As unwillingly as she had been before, she now willingly
snuggled into his arms as they swayed to the soft swing song. The last trumpet
note died and Dee looked up at him as the next song started.
"Ok, Eddie. That's one. This one's too fast and you are not going to make
me dance to this."
"You'd probably kick me if I did," he chuckled, reluctantly letting her
go and leading her back to the table.
"I wouldn't kick you. Throw you, maybe. But not kick you." Her twisted little
smile as she sat down made him laugh harder.
They had barely settled down again when their dinners came. Once more he
was pleased to see her take such delight in something as simple as a meal.
Knowing now what happened to her if denied food for too long, he made certain
that she had as much as she wanted.
"I'm curious to know what Matthiessen told you," asked Eddie as he sipped
his bourbon.
"About what?"
"About everything."
"Mostly he told me what a conman you are." She sighed and put her utensils
down. "Look, Eddie. What does it matter anyway? Everything he told me was
so far fetched. He even told me that the only reason you could be interested
in me is because I'm a virgin. His exact words were, 'A child again, breaking
the seal on his first jigsaw puzzle.' Told me that right before he made me
watch you get shocked."
Scowling into his drink, Dee watched Edward's knuckles become whiter as
he squeezed the glass. Dee pulled it out of his hand, looking at him with
worry.
"I didn't..."
"He told me that you felt that was the reason I was interested in you."
He shook his head. "Now it's all clear what he was doing. Let me guess,
he told you that you meant nothing to me. You were expendable, and I'll
just bet that at first he thought the two of us were... Well."
"That's exactly what he said." She took his hand and leaned on him. "It
doesn't matter, does it?"
"But it does matter! He..."
Dee cut him off, turning his face to hers so fast, he didn't realize she
was kissing him until she started to pull away. She bit her lower lip, eyes
flickering from his lips to his eyes as she moved to sit on his lap.
"See, Eddie? It doesn't matter. You told me not to listen to him. I care
about you because of who you are. When we first met, I only knew that you
were the Riddler. But out of costume, you're an entirely different person.
Know what attracted me to you in the first place?"
He shook his head as best he could with her holding his face in her hands.
"Your brain. The creative way you go about a job. Anyone can smash and grab.
You make it into a challenging game."
Eddie couldn't believe what he was hearing. She wasn't telling him to stop
with the riddles; that the riddles were stupid because they always got him
caught. Instead she was praising him for his actions and his genius!
This isn't happening. You're still catatonic and drooling in Arkham.
Oh God! Don't move! Hope she doesn't notice! This last thought came as
he realized he was becoming aroused as she spoke.
"Seagulls screaming," he mumbled. As long as he was still dreaming, he might
as well kiss her with the passion he felt.
Dee easily melted into the kiss and his arms. She ignored the hardening
lump she sat on, interested in it, but knowing he was probably embarrassed
by it. They had just reached that stage in a kiss where the participants
become oblivious to anything other than the kiss, when a flash went off.
They broke apart and looked to find a man wielding an old fashion camera,
dressed as a member of the press from the swing era.
"That's what we like to see here! Great couple! Mind if I get one more?"
"Do we get copies?" Dee asked.
"If you want."
"Then you can take one more," Eddie said, pulling her closer, his hand resting
on her waist. They looked into each other's eyes, reflecting the same shy
smile.
"Wild man!" the photographer said snapping the picture. "A cat and his kitten.
You two look like you were made for each other!" He scribbled down something
on his pad and tipped his hat at them. "These'll be ready in about a half
hour if you want to wait around."
"Sure. I owe him a dance and we haven't ordered dessert yet."
"I'll have your server bring them when they're ready then." With a wink,
the man moved to the next table.
"Now, about this drink..." Dee began, trailing off as she placed a hand
on his face.
"This is a good dream," he mumbled, about to kiss her again.
She pulled back and put a hand on his forehead. "Are you ok? You aren't
dreaming, Tiger."
"Sure I am. It's the only way you would ever sit on my lap and compliment
my intelligence. Plus, you turned that money down a few days ago. I should've
known then that this was all a dream. It's ok. I don't mind."
"Oh, really," she said in a flat tone.
He nearly threw her off his lap one second later as she pinched his chest.
His cry of pain was quiet, having learned to suppress such reactions from
all of his beatings.
"Still think you're dreaming?" she asked, scowling at him as he rubbed the
sore spot.
"I'm not..." Eddie broke the sentence off as she grabbed his lapels and
gave him a challenging glare. "I give! This isn't a dream! But why would
you turn money down and say something like that to me?"
"You fool! I really don't want the money! I've already told you my reasons.
If I want my share, I'll tell you." She sighed and gave the stray lock of
black hair on his forehead a light tug. "And I said what I did because it's
true. I just lucked out and found that you're not only a brilliant man,
but you're sweet and you know how to treat a girl with respect. I promise
I won't ruin your reputation by telling anyone that," she said. Smiling
softly, she added, "Stupid man. Can't you tell when someone genuinely likes
you?"
"I can tell when someone's toying with me to get money."
"Mm." She kissed his forehead and combed his hair back with her fingers.
"You're not as smart as I thought you were then. Because I do like you.
A lot." Taking his face in her hands, she kissed his eyelids softly. "Now
be smart and order me one of those chocolate thingummies. I'll be back in
a few minutes."
Standing up, Dee tweaked his nose with a smile as she walked away. A confused
look crossed Eddie's face as he touched his nose, watching her hips sway
as she headed toward the restroom. Taking a deep breath, he wiped his face.
"Anything else I can get you, sir?" the waiter asked, appearing at Eddie's
side.
"Oh, um. Bring me a chocolate macaroon and a hot apple pie, please."
Dee came back right as the drinks were being placed on the table. "Oh, wow!"
she exclaimed as she slid back into the booth. Before she said another word,
she pulled the whipped cream covered concoction to herself. It was the consistency
of a slushy, but creamy like a shake. "Oh my God! This thing is fabulous!"
Eddie couldn't help but laugh as she took another sip and rolled her eyes.
He sipped his hot drink, watching as she ate the whipped cream with a spoon.
As she always did when she was enjoying something, she danced around in
her seat. Turning his attention to the band on stage, he was quickly absorbed
in the music and the warmth of the brandy running through his veins.
"Hey, I thought I was supposed to ignore you," she said, pulling his arm
around her. "This is really good, but it's making me cold."
"I suppose then, that's the cue for us to take that second dance."
The song was faster than she liked, but he was patient in teaching her some
steps. The alcohol in the drink, as well as the dancing, had both flushed
by the time they returned to their booth. While they waited for their check,
Dee finished her drink.
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