Unexpected Twist #38

The courtyard of the Arkham Asylum felt like a scene straight out of a horror flick, but hey, who am I to complain? I've had weirder days. Walking alongside Harley, who was skipping around like she was auditioning for a circus act, I couldn't help but question the craziness that was now my life. 

"So, I've been following you with my mouth shut, but I gotta ask, you and the Riddler working on a new reality show or something? 'Escape the Asylum' has a nice ring to it," I quipped, earning a half-hearted chuckle from the clown queen herself.

Harley smirked, twirling her mallet with a hint of mischief. "Nah, this is just a little game Riddler likes to play. Keeps him sharp, ya know?"

"Right, because nothing says 'mental agility' like navigating through an asylum filled with lunatics," I replied, dodging a fallen tree branch with an expert sidestep. "So, what's our next stop on this twisted tour?"

Harley pointed dramatically toward the looming structure of the maximum security wing. "That's where Eddie's hiding – in the heart of the loony bin. Follow me, and watch out for the surprises. Eddie loves his surprises."

As we strolled through the eerie courtyard, I couldn't help but notice the shadows playing tricks on the walls. Maybe it was just my imagination, or maybe Arkham had a way of messing with your senses. Regardless, I kept my cool, maintaining the carefree façade that was practically my second nature.

Harley, always eager for a chat, decided it was the perfect time to play 20 Questions. "So, Micah, what's your deal? Superpowers, super gadgety, ancient magic mojo?"

I flashed her a grin. "A bit of everything. I Got a dash of supernatural mojo, some neat gadgets, and a truckload of charisma. It's a winning combo."

She rolled her eyes, seemingly unimpressed with my modest reply. "And what's with that shadow thing? You some kind of ghost, too?"

Ready to dish out another quip to keep the back and forth going, I was abruptly silenced as two distinct growls echoed from the shadows up ahead. Emerging with an air of menacing majesty were Bud and Lou, two hyenas rocking their usually colorful combs atop their heads and piercings all over their faces. 

Harley's reaction was a rollercoaster of confusion, shock, and then sheer elation.

"Bud! Lou! There are my two handsome babies!" she cheered, arms wide open for a bear... err, hyena hug. My attempt at comedy was put on pause as I gripped Harley's shoulder, halting her enthusiastic reunion. She shot me an irritated look.

"What's the big idea, pal?" she snapped, turning to face me.

"Take a closer look at their heads. They're on the Riddler's leash," I pointed out, gesturing at the question mark-shaped pins adorning the hyenas' combs. Harley's joy transformed into outright fury.

"Why, that good-for-nothing, neon-paint-stained, nugget of goat shit! To think he'd even go after my babies!" she fumed, clenching her mallet with a vengeance as if it were the Riddler's neck.

The hyenas, usually untamed forces of nature, now moved with an eerie obedience dictated by unseen strings. It was an odd sight, witnessing these wild creatures that only ever showed obedience to Harley reduced to mere pawns in the Riddler's game. 

Harley's anger shifted to determination. "We gotta free 'em! No one messes with my babies and gets away with it."

Nonchalant at Harley's fiery determination, I responded with a casual shrug. "Say no more," I quipped, activating my Storm Walker Shoes in a flash. Racing toward the two hyenas, I blurred into invisibility, reappearing behind Bud and Lou. Before the dynamic duo of hyenas could even blink, I held the two mind-control devices in my hand.

The hyenas, initially baffled, responded in their own peculiar way. Bud and Lou extended their tongues, acting more like overenthusiastic pet dogs than the savage scavengers they were. With a sprint, they closed in on Harley, showering her in a literal cascade of their slimy affection.

Observing this bizarre display, I couldn't help but chuckle. With a mischievous grin, I tossed the two mind-control devices into the air. Before they could reach the zenith of their climb, the gadgets detonated with a deafening explosion, unleashing a shockwave of flames, I would've definitely felt the heat if not for my trusty guardian veil barrier.

It was a classic comic book move, the good ol' exploding thingamajig catching everyone off guard at a moment of heroic triumph. Except, of course, I could see it from a mile away. All those hours wasted reading comics in my past life were finally paying off. In your face, society!

Regrettably, my moment of self-congratulation was short-lived. A spotlight materialized, casting its glow upon us – on me, Harley, and her hyenas. In the midst of this luminous revelation, the final beam focused on a man impeccably attired in a dark green suit. 

A black shirt and tie, both bearing the emblem of a light green question mark, completed his ensemble. The Riddler had chosen this moment to make his grand entrance. Well, that caught me off guard.

In the pulsating illumination, the Riddler stood poised, orchestrating the unfolding spectacle. Adjusting his tie with a self-assured air, he surveyed the chaotic tableau as if savoring the fruits of his ingenious plot.

"Ah, my dear guests," he began, his voice dripping with the smugness of a mastermind. "You've successfully navigated my intricately crafted labyrinth. Bravo! Bravo!" His gestures punctuated the theatricality of his arrival.

Unable to resist a sarcastic remark, I quipped, "You get eight points on the grand entrance, but it's a bit early. I was looking forward to traps, mind-bending riddles, maybe even a surprise quiz. This feels almost disappointingly straightforward," accompanied by a raised eyebrow expressing my bemusement.

The Riddler chuckled, maintaining his confident demeanor. "Indeed. My plans were tailored for a certain caped crusader. Alas, an unexpected guest has chosen to disrupt my narrative. Batman, Batman everywhere, but not a drop of appreciation for my intricate schemes."

Harley, not one to be overshadowed, attempted to assert herself. "Listen up, Nygma! You and your fancy gibberish are about to get a beatdown you won't—"

Her spirited threat was abruptly cut short as a concealed device, ingeniously affixed to one of the hyenas, unleashed a surge of electricity, incapacitating Harley and her pets in an instant. 

The transition from her declaration to a garbled mumble was swift, followed by a collective slump to the ground.

"Now, where were we, friend?" the Riddler continued, seemingly unruffled by the electrifying interruption. "The unexpected puzzle. A deviation from my meticulously orchestrated plans, but as they say, every show must go on, and every enigma must be unraveled."

There was nothing to say after that, and our battle in the dimly lit courtyard began. The Riddler's movements were calculated, and precise, as if he had already choreographed every step in his mind. 

Meanwhile, I relied on my instincts, honed by hours of sparring with Wildcat and navigating the chaos that was now Arkham Asylum.

The Riddler anticipated my every move with unnerving accuracy. It was like he had read the script to our confrontation and memorized every twist and turn. As I lunged forward, aiming for a hit, he effortlessly sidestepped, his cane swirling like an extension of his own body.

"Puzzlingly predictable," he taunted, the question mark on his tie seeming to mock me.

I chuckled, trying to maintain a carefree facade. "Fair enough. I suppose jabs and hooks aren't what you'd call shocking...."

Despite my attempts at unpredictability, he saw through my maneuvers, his movements always one step ahead. It was like trying to outwit a chess grandmaster who already knew the outcome of the game.

Dodging his cane swings became a rhythm, a dance where I anticipated his strikes as much as he anticipated my lunges, though to a less successful degree. The guardian veil barrier absorbed the occasional hit, leaving me unscathed, but it was still frustrating to me.

"I must admit, you're a more challenging opponent than I expected," he conceded, a hint of annoyance tainting his smug demeanor.

I grinned, enjoying the banter even in the midst of our clash despite the lingering frustration. "Glad to exceed expectations, Riddler. Now, any chance you're going to tell me what all this is about? Is trying to impress Batman your only purpose in life?"

Not falling to my provocation, he chuckled, twirling his cane with a flourish. "Information comes at a price, my dear friend. And the currency is your wit against mine."

Our confrontation reached a momentary stalemate, both of us locked in a battle of intellect and skill, which he had more of, though I hate to admit it. I had a rather high opinion of myself and my intellect, but this man was on an entirely another level. 

Just as I was about to make my next move, the Riddler jumped back and with a triumphant grin, retrieved a small, sophisticated gadget from his pocket. "I'm starting to tire of that pesky barrier of yours.... this should level the playing field, don't you think?"

...

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