Going to Court [Rachel]

[Deleted]

[Takes place after Edward is captured in China and after the FBI has recently left Gotham]

Edward sat in a metal chair in a white brick room where he usually received his wonderful dose of therapy. His hands were in cuffs to prevent him from doing something ‘violent.’ He rolled his eyes at the thought. His actions were never violent. They were calculated. The unfortunate thing about being handcuffed, however, was that the orderlies lugged him around in a wheelchair. It was degrading. Sometimes he would walk on his bad leg just so he wouldn’t have to deal with the pure pathetic situation. Ugh, he hated Arkham.

How did Batman manage to beat his plan in China?

It was perfect! There were no flaws!

How! It didn’t make any sense!

He gritted his teeth as he swayed in his chair impatiently. Supposedly today, he was meeting an attorney. The idiot orderly named Ralph, who stood in the corner of this room, had only told him an attorney. Edward had asked the man politely to expand his information. Was it his defense attorney? Was it someone from the DA’s office? It seemed like a reasonable question to ask. Ralph response was to slam Edward into this chair and tell him to shut up.

Edward grumbled to himself. Dealing with the courts was always such a waste of time. He was deemed ‘insane’ and then sentenced to twenty more years in Arkham added to his….hmmm 130? He wasn’t certain at this point. He never cared enough to note it. What annoyed him the most was that the State prevented him from hiring his own attorney. Edward had money and could hire the best attorney in the nation with it. Since the GCPD saw the money was obtained illegally he was not allowed to use it. Therefore, the government usually slammed him with some poor excuse of a government appointed lawyer. It was no wonder he always received the maximum sentence to Arkham. He should consider representing himself…hmm, not a bad idea. Did Arkham have any legal textbook in that poor excuse for a library?

The door open and pulled him away from his thoughts. His eyes immediately fell on who would be entering. A woman with brown hair in professional attire walked in with files. She had stern look on her face as she moved to the chair across from him. She placed her files on the table between them. She was pretty, but didn’t look like anything special. She did however look familiar.

Where had he seen her before?

Ah, on the news. She was one of the ADAs. Oh joy, here comes the prosecution to ruin his day.

He smiled at her nonetheless. “If I knew I was meeting someone as beautiful as yourself, I would have worn proper attire,” he smirked, as nodded to his ugly orange jump suit. It clashed with anything. “It’s a pleasure to meet you even under these circumstances. My name is Edward Nigma,” he finished with a full smile.

Edward caught Ralph rolling his eyes in the corner.

[rachel]

Rachel stepped out of the car, and looked at the building before her. She had never liked coming here...it was rather creepy, and she would be far more comfortable in the courtroom with difficult defense lawyers at this moment than walking through the doors into Arkham Asylum. She wasn't sure why they had sent her, except that there was an inmate that the prosecution needed to determine whether this man truly was insane, or if he could indeed be moved to Blackgate Penitentiary.

And no-one else had volunteered. So it was her responsibility, and she took that very seriously. When she walked into the room to meet the inmate, setting her files down on the table and sitting down, she was greeted by the man in a charming way.

Mr. Edward Nigma...this was going to be fun...

"Good Day, Mr. Nigma...a very charming greeting, thank you...It's not often one meets a polite person here.. I am Rachel Dawes, Assistant District Attorney.."
She was not going to be swayed from her purpose here, though, by a charming smile or greeting. She noted the orderly's eye-roll, and hid a wry smile. He had obviously not enjoyed the charming side of Mr. Nigma.

She stacked the papers in the file, organizing them. "So, Mr. Nigma...where shall we begin?"

[Deleted]

Ah, she was far too easy. He smirked, which to most women looked like charming but snarky smile. "In this facility? No of course not, Miss. Dawes," he began, tasting her name on his lips. Yes, the name sounded very familiar as well. He knew it had to do with rumors or facts in the underground. Half rumor? Half fact? Yes, she had something to do with Dent. The man had too many past relationships though for Edward to really care. He never could quite understand how a man with half a face did so well with the ladies. He assumed it had something to do with the man's battered hero complex he presented.

"The men in here barely know how to feed themselves. Talking to a beautiful woman would be far beyond their intelligence," he remarked while using his handcuffed hands to motions to her looks. He still had not gotten used to not using his hands to describe his words. He was far to expressive with them. It was difficult to keep them still.

He next question causes his brow to rise ever slightly. "You are the prosecution, correct?" he asked, already knowing the answer so continuing on, "I apologize if I do not wish to give my life story when you will only use it against me...unless you are here to offer me a deal. I am an intelligent man, I really have quite a bit to offer to the City."

He leaned back in his chair, attempting to get comfortable but failing miserably. He wondered what the prosecution wanted from him this time. His soul? He chuckled at that one.

[rachel]

Rachel watched Nigma as he spoke. He was going to be tricky talking with, especially since he had a way with words.. With Nigma being the Riddler, one had to be careful, because everything he said could be taken more than one way..and a straight answer could be anything but straight. According to the files, anyway.

Clearing her throat, she stacked the folders again, re-arranging them properly. "As you already know, I am from the prosecution, yes..and as for a deal, I would have to run it by the DA....but the question is, what would you be asking for, if there was a deal on the table..and would it be of use to the city and law enforcement..?"

She waited for his answer, her mind running ahead with all the paperwork and the charges still needing to be read, and to get the evaluation started. Of course, she was no psychologist or psychiatrist, but the papers in the folders were, to her, convincing of mental sanity...he would have to prove otherwise.

[Deleted]

Her statement literally causes Edward to laugh. He couldn't help himself. The idea of prosecution actually offering him a deal seemed so far fetched he doubt anything would ever happen. The Federal Government was already debating taking their case away from the state because technically Edward had been involved in a 'conspiracy terrorist plot.' He knew the Feds would never be able to get a full grip on his case because they were handling their own issue with the failure of the FBI, but the idea that prosecution was even suggesting a deal was hilarious.

He leaned back in his chair causally, shaking his hair out of his face. He brought his hand cuff hands to his chin as if he were really thinking it over. "I would want my suits back," his first thought because he hated this hideous attire, "Followed with all my bank accounts unfrozen. It's quite unkind to take millions of my dollars away from me when I earned them. I would also like the Northside Apartment reinstated into my name. I did buy it." He scoffed. It was annoying that the Feds had taken it from him. It had such priceless artwork in it. "A nice bed, and a ribeye steak."

He smirked.

[rachel]

Rachel shook her head, re-sorting the papers. He knew as well as she did that there was no chance of a deal..it was merely a ploy.
She looked down at the first paper in the file, reading aloud.

"Mr. Edward Nigma, you have racked up quite the list of offenses...robbing a bank with intent to hold the city hostage by use of biological weaponry..robbing a museum, murder, illegal hacking into government databases, document forgery. You have also conspired to commit crime, attempted to shut down the stock market, you assaulted a college student by burning her hair, and kidnapped multiple people..." As she read this, even Rachel was surprised at the list. This man was either as insane as the defense had argued, or an extremely over-achieving mad genius.

"Quite the sequence of accomplishments, Mr. Nigma...and yet the defense is saying you are mentally unfit to be moved to Blackgate, as befits your crimes. Why is that?"

[Deleted]

He sat in his chair, rolling his fingers together as if he had an imaginary candy in between them. His eyes looked down on her as if she was so far beneath his concern or interest. The smirk still played on his lips as she listed off his charges. He had his freedom for over a year at this point, it should surprise no one that he managed to accumulate such a record. Batman merely hadn’t been up for the challenge this time. It wasn’t until he decided to make his plan large did Batman finally decide to step up to the challenge. Disappointing in a way.

He was lost in his success when the snap of the word mentally unfit echoed in the room. He frowned immediately, his hand turning into a fist at his side. Mentally unfit! Ha! His intelligence was beyond anyone in Gotham…or the world for that matter.

His smirk slowly reappeared as his eyes took in the woman across from him. “Ah you see, my defense attorney is incompetent, and does not understand brilliance. Because of this handicap he has, he does not know how to prove that I am innocent in a court of law, so he has taken the easier way out. If I could represent my self, I could easily prove that all the charges under my name are completely uncalled for. Merely self defense,” he chuckled softly before continuing, “Yet convincing a judge to allow me to represent myself when I am labeled with this quite atrocious title is not something society seems to allow.”

He paused for a moment, as he now understood why the woman was here. They were trying to label him sane to put him in Blackgate and more likely death row.

…how kind.

He agreed with them that he certainly was sane, but he also had no interest in having his life taken away from him. “It is quite admirable that you are trying to clear my name,” he commented, “I must repay you with dinner sometime.” A smirk followed his flattery.

[rachel]

Rachel noticed Nigma's reactions to the words. He clearly didn't like his ability questioned.. It made sense, though..he was the Riddler, after all. And who liked having their sanity questioned to begin with?

She shook her head, watching him. He certainly was something else, that was for sure. Different from the other inmates she had seen in court. Although at this point, he was in the same boat as they were when it came to the Prosecution. They wanted him to be moved to Blackgate. And the list of charges could benefit both sides of the courtroom..the Prosecution could argue that Nigma was sane because all of these actions would have been planned.. while the Defense could argue that Nigma was merely a homicidal maniac, who should remain in Arkham for everyone's safety.

Rachel watched the smirk on Nigma's face, and tried to figure out what he was thinking. When he mentioned dinner, she had to smile, just a little. He was still using the charm and flattery..

"Mr. Nigma...while I am sure that you would be the best gentleman ever, I think you have more pressing concerns with the judge and the hearing. The Defense argues that you are simply a man with a drive to do Riddle-based, insane homicidal acts...this list, they say, only proves how far your mind has gone..

But I don't think you're crazy...I think you're a mastermind genius who simply wants to sit here in Arkham..." She waited for his response, her fingers tapping the papers in front of her.

[Deleted]

Reading body language was second nature like analyzing a riddle. He caught the movement of her head that stressed disbelief, the smile that expressed just a mild amount of interest, and the tapping finger that showed her nervousness or lack of patience. Her body language was far too loud that in some ways it silence her words. He barely took note to them because they were things he had heard before.

The only thing that screamed louder then her body language was the compliment he received at the end of her words. How he loved when people realized how truly totally brilliant and amazing he is! It’s the truth, and everyone should know the truth. He smirked though recognizing it as manipulation. The tapping finger gave it away, but the fact that it left her mouth at all still gave him the ego boast he needed.

“I assure you dear, I have far more pressing concerns then the judge and the hearing,” he remarked offhandedly. The decision would go the way it always went, even if she tried for a different result. She wouldn’t achieve it. He had no need to worry about the judiciary process. No, he would rather focus on his plans for after Arkham…because there always was an after Arkham for him.

“For example, determining whether you are a flower, chocolate, or diamond girl holds far more interest,” he said with a smirk.

[rachel]

Rachel was momentarily pre-occupied. She was acutely aware of her surroundings, and her tapping fingers were merely a physical manifestation of her nervousness and not-quite-fear of being in Arkham. She had never liked closed spaces; not as small as this room was, anyway. And sitting with Edward Nigma, a criminally masterminded genius, was not helping. What had the court been thinking, sending her? How was this going to help....?

Rachel realized that she was distracted from her current task at hand. She shook the confidence issues away, and re-focused on Nigma. He seemed pleased, and he was confident. She had a brief wish that she could have the confidence he seemed to be feeling. But he was on the other side....he was the one on trial. She needed to focus...

"Surely something like that wouldn't be hard to figure out, given your skills, Mr. Nigma." she said, with a small smile. She needed to think..and she needed to consult with her partner. But what she really needed was air...so she could breathe.

[Deleted]

It was far too easy to deal with a woman. They were easily distracted by a few compliments and attention. To hook a woman and have them following you like a pathetic abandon puppy was to give them attention and then take it back. They then start to wonder what they did wrong and will do anything to make it up to you. Ah yes, women were never difficult.

He sat back. This wasn't really worth his time, but he had heard rumors that this woman had attracted attention from the Bat on occasions...now that could catch his interest.

He smirked, "You're quite correct. I already deduced you are not a diamond girl. Diamond girls are far too interested in money and class, while you seem far more focused on actually making a difference. You seem like a girl who enjoy a chocolate on occasion, but no overly obsessed with it. Hmm, I think I see you as a flower girl. Particularly a single flower. A man standing outside your door holding a single rose would probably be perfect." His hands tapping on chin before he nods in conclusion.

"While we are on that topic," he starts and leans in over the table as if telling a secret, "What type of man does catch your interest?"

[rachel]

Rachel was caught off-guard by Nigma's question. She completely lost her train of thought for a moment, simply staring at him, trying to read him. What game was he playing now? There had to be something behind the question. Everything done by people in Gotham had another motive. She had been in the law and politics long enough to know that. Information was everything, whether in the right hands or the wrong hands.

She pondered this, then she looked at Nigma, resting her chin in one hand, eyes meeting his. His interest was intriguing.. What had made him ask this question?

"Well, someone who protects the innocent, is friendly, caring, and understands that my job is not something I take lightly. That is who would attract my interest."

Rachel met Nigma's eyes squarely. "But you know as well as I do that my job puts anyone I show interest in or am friendly with at risk, as a target or liability. If some crime boss discovers that I might have a friendship or romantic interest in anyone, that puts leverage in the hands of those who think they can use it, whether to press me into dropping a case, or to use in court to prove that I have emotional attachments. I cannot allow someone to take the blows for the work I do."

[Deleted]

He laughed. Women were so self centered, and while she was correct on a double meaning she was far off. His hands still cuff certainly limited his movements, but he moved his arms above his head and behind his hair, leaning back in them.

He wore a large grin. "Do you really believe you are so important that anyone would want to use someone against you? You certainly can be taken out of the way in a much easier way," he couldn't help, but shake his head.

The guard in the corner stood straighter. "Nigma," he muttered giving a threatening step forward.

Edward merely rolled his eyes. "I wasn't threatening her. Merely pointing out a fact," he stated then looked back at the woman, bringing his hands back to the table. "If anything dear, you are the liability."

[rachel]

Rachel stared at Nigma, trying to figure out what kind of game he was playing. What riddle was he speaking this time? There had to be more to his line of questioning, that was obvious enough. But she couldn't quite place her finger on it. What game was he playing?

His next statements, however, were what really stumped her. Liability.... That was a word no lawyer ever wanted to hear. A drawback, disadvantage....weakness. And there could be no weak links when presenting a case. Anything that could possibly jeopardize the validity of the presented argument was ironed out, everything scrutinized to be sure of every last detail.

Details...that was all it ever came down to. It was like a game..but she didn't want to play games. They never ended well. And she had always strived to believe that she was strong, that she could do her work without doubt or reason to question herself.
But Nigma's words struck something inside her...could it be true? Was it possible that, while she believed that others were liabilities..that she was in fact, a liability herself?

Rachel studied Nigma, her eyes never leaving his. What was his goal? And how had this gone from a simple court-ordered interview to ask Nigma questions to her being asked questions by the defendant?

She shook the nagging questions and doubt away. She knew who she was, and she was firmly set in her job and what she did. He would not get anything inside her head, and she was not going to play his games. She was here for one thing, and she was almost sure that she had it.

"For the record, Mr. Nigma, liabilities are not accepted in court, and I most certainly intend to be there with the prosecution with the evidence to prove you are sane."