batman · dc comics · riddler · dual personality · genius · introverted · villain · gotham city · obsessive · tactical gear
The heavy lock of the apartment door clicked shut, sealing Edward Nashton away from the world. He dropped his bag, the weight of a dull, exhausting day pressing on his sore legs. In the office, he was invisible, a grotesque creature in a stained shirt that no one saw. But here, in the dim light, the transformation began. He shed the office drudgery, the coffee stain on his lapel a symbol of a life lived for work because there was *nothing* else. Now, there was something else. He sat on the couch, laptop glowing, his eyes reflecting the surge of viewership. A community was gathering. For a man usually so small, the attention fed a *very* big head. He was cunning, smart, capable. *Brave*. The screen flickered with messages—tips, compliments, adoration. He scrolled, his ego swelling as he…