Chapter 12

Heaven

"You think he will be okay out there?" The words have crossed Ri's lips before he could think better of them. Terry scoffs, lip curling ever so slightly as his arms cross over his chest. "I could care less, Ri."

The acrobat cringes at the pointed way his nickname is uttered. Eddie is the one who came up with it after all. Terry is upset, and reasonably so. He can't think of a single person he knows who would stay with Eddie, or Ed, after everything that has happened. But he isn't most people, nor is his Riddler... Silence stretches between the two boys before Robin breaks it, trying to phrase what is on his mind as gently as possible. "Why'd you take my phone, Terry? You know how I feel about Eddie, and we-"

The jock shakes his head and holds up a hand to halt his best friend's words. "Let's just not get into it. I was pissed off and worried and we'll leave it at that."

"Okay. Listen though, I-" Richard is cut off from his train of thought by a loud crash. Startled both teens jump, blinking at each other owlishly for a moment. Neither boy has the chance to ask the other what is going on before there is a frantic knocking at the bathroom door.

"Ri, Terry, please let me in!" Terry huffs but still crosses the spacious bathroom to open the door. As soon as the wood clears the frame enough the redhead practically oozes through, closing the door behind him quickly. Leaning against it and sighing in relief Eddie offers both boys a grateful smile; gentle green-gray orbs lingering on Ri. "Thank you."

The lanky man coughs into his right hand to clear his throat before continuing. "I was sent to check on you two and let you know dinner is about ready."

Terry gives a clipped response that sounds like a 'thank you,' but could have just as easily been a 'fuck you.' Ri can tell by the look on Eddie's face he caught this as well. What the raven haired teen wasn't prepared for however is the response. The scientist straightens up to his full height, popping his neck before fixing the team Captain with a condescending smile. Robin doesn't have to look up into those hypnotic eyes to know who is in control. Faster than he likely has in the entire time they have known each other Bruce's ward darts forward and grabs Ed's hand. "Food sounds great, I'm really hungry."

Ri all but drags Ed out of the room; leaving a sulking, and understandably distrusting, Terry to catch up. With a deep sigh in the middle of the hallway the brunet smacks the redhead's arm sharply. It is certainly not hard enough to hurt, but enough to get the point across. "Ed, please try to behave."

Electric green clashes with vibrant emerald. "I was only trying to-"

"Protect Eddie and I." Bruce's ward recites the the words he always hears whenever the Riddler steps out of line. "I know and I don't blame you. I just really don't want my best friend and my boyfriend fighting-"

As soon as he is referred to as the teen's boyfriend Ed scoops Ri up, pressing his back against the wall. The hero's entire weight is held easily by the lanky man's arms on athletic thighs. The Riddler leans in close to whisper into his willing captives ear. "You have no idea how much I have missed you."

Richard shivers from the larger man's breath against the sensitive shell of his ear. "God the things I thought about, little Birdie...that wethought about..."

The sound of someone clearing their throat right next to them keeps Ed from completing this thought. Batman's partner can't bring himself to look over. He can feel the scorching look they are being pegged with.

"If you don't mind," Terry grinds out in a way that seems the words themselves are torturing him. "I'd prefer you'd molest my best friend somewhere else, and not at all really."

As the jock stomps past them Ri slumps his head against Ed's shoulder. He knows Terry will get over all of this, but it will take a bit and the collective effort of Cali and himself. Gently patting Ed's arm to indicate he wants down the boy watches the shift of electric back to green-gray. "Sorry..."

"Don't be." Robin states simply once his feet have touched the ground. "He'll get over it."

The acrobat has to resist the urge to laugh as he watches Eddie raise an eyebrow. Clearly he knows that isn't quite the case. "Okay, okay, eventually."

The scientist sighs heavily but seems to calm once Ri reaches out and takes his hand again. As they make their way down the hallway it becomes harder and harder to move Eddie onward. The brunet finds himself practically dragging his boyfriend the rest of the way to the table. All eyes are on them as they take their seats. Richard has to resist the urge to bring slender fingers up to his lips to make sure he isn't drooling. Dinner smells incredible and Eddie's return has made him near ravenous. As the dishes are passed around the brunet takes hearty portions, eating happily with his free hand tightly clasped within the redhead's.

"Oh!"

Devon's sudden exclamation in the relative silence startles everyone at the table. Some more than others as Robin finds himself releasing a soft hiss of pain. The Riddler is crushing his hand in reflex to nerves. The look in Devon's eyes makes it clear the teen isn't going to like this. "We forgot to say grace!"

Grace? Terry, Carl, and Ri exchange equally confused and concerned glances. Grace has never been uttered at the table. At least, not in seriousness.

"I'll do the honors." Devon nods, light shifting over chocolate skin as he smiles serenely.

"Oh lord, thank you for this wonderful meal I didn't have to slave over tonight because my husband slayed the beast known as the Grill. Thank you for my beautiful son and his beautiful friend, and thank you for people who will never leave said friend of son ever again. For if they do no one will ever find his body. Amen." Silence permeates the dining room before the initiator of the prayer opens his eyes and a chorus of hasty 'amen' follows. Ri doesn't know whether to laugh or fear for Eddie's safety.

To say dinner was a disaster would be melodramatic, but extremely uncomfortable nails it right on the head. It took the teen twenty minutes of negotiation, and at least half of that time of his trusty puppy eyes, to get Carl, Devon, and terry to all agree to let him leave with Eddie. Although unspoken, well except for the mention at grace anyways, the threat is clear for the poor redhead. The drive back to Edward's apartment is relatively silent until the halfway point. With mild hesitation Ri places his hand over the larger man's. Relief washes away any apprehension he has as Eddie laces their fingers together carefully so he can still shift. A nervous, tight lipped smile crosses the scientist's face as he breaks the silence. "Well that was uncomfortable."

"More uncomfortable than when you first met them and Terry's Dad grabbed your um..."

"Considerably."

The raven haired teen gives a laugh that is more of a disbelieving huff. Shaking his head Ri squeezes Eddie's hand. "Well then, I think uncomfortable is the understatement of the century."

Robin watches the looming buildings of Gotham as they move through the city. The spring rain is more beneficial to the landscape's solemn appearance at night. The light playing across the wet surfaces giving the illusion of something brighter. Gotham has always felt oppressive to many. So much so Batman's partner has often wondered how anyone could smile, how there aren't anymore unhinged villains-

The sound of Eddie's voice jerks the young hero out of his depressing train of thought. He didn't catch all of what was said, but what was caught makes it clear. The Riddler is once again begging for forgiveness. The pain and remorse in Eddie's voice is almost unbearable. He could never hate him. The only chance the Prince of Puzzles has of changing this is to seriously hurt or kill innocent people. Considering so far he hasn't come close, and has even stopped others like Crane and the Joker before, Ri doesn't foresee hate in the future. "I love you too much to ever hate you."

The sincerity of his words earns an affectionate squeeze to slender fingers and a gentle kiss to a wrist that is a bit too thin. It will take some time to get back into fighting shape, but Robin is looking forward to it. He may have lost Alice; her suicide more of a murder in his eyes thanks to Scarecrow's poisoning, but there are still so many to protect. He needs to check on Alistair and Mr. Montiego. Her brother needs it more than their Father but still... Ri sighs in relief as they finally pull into the lot of Eddie's apartment complex. He can't think of a time a drive to the shambling building has felt so long.

Unbuckling his seatbelt the boy all but throws himself out of the vehicle. Ri gets perhaps a step or two away from the car before he is snatched up. A startled squeak is all that can be sputtered as he is thrown over Eddie's shoulder like a sack of potatoes to be hauled off. "Excuse you, caveman!"

The brunet's words would sound more indignant if it wasn't for his laughter. Balled fists beat uselessly at the back of said caveman. Ri is already growing tired of staring at cracked asphalt and the green paisley of Eddie's shirt. "Put. Me. Down!" Each word is punctuated with another halfhearted hit.

"No." Eddie grunts, shifting Ri's weight more for his boyfriend's comfort than his own. "Eddie like pretty Birdie. Eddie take pretty Birdie back to cave. Give pretty things. Maybe make breakfast."

The gangly man pauses in their trek, head tipping to the side as he clearly contemplates something. "Maybe take to breakfast? Eddie don't know. Ed might."

Ri can hardly stop laughing as he's carried up the stairs and into the apartment. Finally put down gently he shakes his head. "Jerk."

A fond smile is the only reply as Bruce's employee locks the front door and hangs up his keys. "You can't deny you were laughing, Ri."

"Mn, but I can. No witnesses and all." Emerald eyes look around apprehensively as the lithe creature removes his shoes. Relief floods Ri as he notes his surroundings. Everything is the same as ever. Same oddly tasteful (yet eccentric) shades of green, same strange figures on the glass table flush against the wall in the main hallway, same silly key rack that could fall of the wall next to the door at any moment... The acrobat smiles, unaware of the quizzical look behind him. He wouldn't doubt that if he goes down the hall, past the kitchen and living room, and hung the familiar sharp left into the side hallway that would be there. That thing. The creepy fortune teller Eddie loves so much has never ceased to freak him out. Especially since the damn thing laughs anytime it is passed. At least when it is on, which is more often than not...

A firm but gentle touch to his back guides Ri towards the living room. Maybe later he'll have questions, demand to know where Eddie went, why he left, and what brought him back. Maybe, but for now he is just overjoyed to have things as back to normal as they can be. Without warning Robin whirls around and throws his arms around Eddie. For a moment the mild mannered aspect is startled, stiffening before relaxing into the embrace. "Oh Ri, it's going to take me years to make up for everything I've put you through..."

The smaller man focuses on trying to calm his breathing, cease the shaking, and maybe untangle his fingers from the fabric of Eddie's shirt. Again he is lifted and moved. This time deposited onto the plush couch. "I can walk you know."

The reply is another neanderthal grunt before Eddie disappears around the corner. 'Looks like he's headed towards his room. What the...?' There isn't long to contemplate the action. Just as quickly as he had left the redhead returns with something in his hand. Ri watches curiously as Eddie takes a seat next to him and hands him the small bundle. The adorably confused look is met with a laugh and more chopped speech. "Pretty thing for pretty Birdie. Eddie no lie."

Rolling his eyes hard enough it should hurt said Birdie shakes his head. "You can stop that anytime now."

The responding smirk is impish. "You started it by calling me a caveman. More importantly though..."

A polite tap to Ri's hand draws his attention back to the crudely wrapped gift. "Please open it. I won't be offended if you don't like it. I wrapped it myself by the way."

The joke isn't lost on the brunet. Whatever it is is small enough that it was easily folded into the brown paper bag it was placed in. As the paper is opened the item in question falls into Ri's lap. A bracelet? Dropping the bag onto his legs and picking up the bracelet dexterous fingers and quick eyes inspect it. Its adjustable, the black and pale purple woven cord soft. The most striking thing about it is the varying shades of small green stones making the simple design. "Is it okay? The gentleman I bought it from said it's good luck. The stones are jade, and if I remember correctly you love Asian designs-"

Again Eddie finds himself with an attachment. "Thank you Eddie, and Ed, its great. I love it."

A chaste kiss is pressed to the acrobat's hairline as he is pulled into a tighter hug. "You are very welcome, my Birdie."

It is a rare occurrence, but every once in awhile both aspects of Edward agree and speak as one. Unnerving to say the least, but kind of nice. A quick glance up to the other man's eyes confirms it. Green-gray is surrounded by an electric green rim. Steadily the more startling color is receding.

"Something wrong, Birdie?" Instantly feeling bad for staring so long Ri smiles sheepishly and looks away.

"No I-" The smaller of the two cuts himself off as another realization strikes. At the same time his boyfriend stiffens and looks distinctly uncomfortable. Somewhere in the midst of their hug Ri ended up straddling Eddie's lap. The catalyst to the understanding of their position an innocent shift of Robin's legs.

"Oh..." Ri's cheeks flush in acknowledgment of the hardness pressed against him. Ed would have no qualms about using this to his advantage, his more noble counterpart however..."Eddie-"

"Save your breath, Ri." The tone is soft but brooks no argument. No resistance is put forth as the slender teen is carefully lifted off and placed back on the couch. Despite the clear lack of effort to move Ri the scientist's jaw is clenched; face a blank mask. 'He's upset. Great.' Eddie is across the room in seconds, messing with some DVDs in the entertainment center surrounding the large TV. "Would you like to watch something? Something mindless would be good for us. Relaxing even..."

Biting back a scoff Ri nods, resigning himself to let the subject drop. He still feels guilty for panicking the last time things got a bit more intimate in the apartment. It's his fault really, if he hadn't freaked out... "Sure, pick whatever you want. You know I haven't seen much."

With thoughtless ease Eddie sets everything up and returns to his seat. Ri never ceases to be amazed with the speed of it. After all, he has three remotes. How does he keep track of what's what?! The grin on his face as he settles onto his side of the couch makes it clear Eddie sees the dirty look he's being given. With a 'hmph' Ri flops against the redhead's right side, the arm that wraps around him slightly curbing his annoyance. "So what's this movie about?"

"Not a movie, Ri. A TV series." Eddie patiently explains the plot as the teen watches in mild interest.

"So this guy is a super math nerd and the cops recruit him to help solve murders?" The answering laugh dissipates the remaining disgruntled pout.

"To sum it up, yes."

"How does that even work?" Ri is trying to pay attention, but he can feel his eyes burning; getting heavier, and the edges of sleep tugging at him insistently.

"Oh just watch and you'll understand..." He doesn't realize he fell asleep and slept through the episode until the sensation of being pried off of the couch comes. Ri whimpers, one hand smacking gracelessly against Eddie's shoulder as he's picked up. At least the sensation of cold is brief, just a moment between leaving the body-warmed furniture to being pressed to Eddie's chest. The snarky little comment the sleepy creature has for his boyfriend comes out more as an unintelligible mumble. Left turn, around the corner, down the hall, thank God that stupid fortune teller is off and not laughing at their passing- right turn into the bedroom. Eddie almost seems afraid Ri will break as he places him oh so carefully onto the huge bed. Another mumble, senses rapidly declining again... The ridiculously comfortable bed smells of spearmint and something distinctly the scientist.

"Sleep now, beautiful. You can attempt to wound my pride with your sharp little mind in the morning." Words that are playful the last conscious knowledge...

A/N: Hello Lovelies! I live! My apologies for taking so long to update. Again I want to thank everyone who is still with me on this. Thank you for the reviews, the PMs, the favs, and the follows. I really appreciate it! I hope you all had an amazing holiday, and here's wishing you a very joyous and prosperous new year! 3