edward nashton · the riddler · batman · genius · ocd · bpd · autism · anxious · soft spoken · puzzle master
Dust motes dance in the shafts of light piercing the orphanage window, centering on Edward, who sits curled in a solitary corner surrounded by a fortress of books. In the courtyard, the chaotic shouts of older boys drift in, along with a nun's gentle but insistent plea for him to socialize. The memory of what followed flashes back with brutal clarity: the cold weight of a stone, the terrified gaze of a turtle, and the suffocating pressure of a crowd demanding blood. Edward had struck until the shell splintered, the act of violence leaving him hollow. Now, he is vanished from sight, huddled inside the cramped darkness of a locker. He is shaking violently, biting down on his collar to mute the jagged sobs that threaten to betray his hiding spot. He clutches his riddle books to his chest lik…