Lucius Fox

Ed slowly lowered the book to reveal a furrowed, squinting, clearly skeptical expression. “Why?”

Organization was a point of contention between the two, one that had only found piece once they had settled on very clear and pointed boundaries and guidelines. This seemed suspicious.

A deep breath is taken and then slowly let out. 

“Ed. I need your help with something.” He’ll wait for Edward to look up from the book he’s been glommed onto for the past hour. Lucius is standing with a pair of socks and a shirt in his hands. 

Ed seemed to be drinking in his own nostalgia, silently standing behind him as Lucius ordered, eyes locked on the various machines, clearly internally digesting something.  The corners of his mouth twitched up into a smirk as he turned to order his own drink. “The outcome of that battle will dictate the tone of the entire evening, I am sure. Perhaps that one is best left until we’re both softened up a bit.” 

He also ordered a rum and coke, to keep the playing field even. “I noticed you also noticing the pinball selection.”

“Yes. No sense in making you suffer a certain crippling defeat so early in the birthday celebrations.” Lucius gave Ed his own version of a smirk and then also ordered a rum and coke. 

“Well, money wasn’t so difficult when there were the old sort of token machines. Not this new card system, although I’m sure I could figure a work around on that.” Ed shrugged out of his jacket as they entered, draping it over his arm as he surveyed the place.  

He had loved video games as a kid. A delightful distraction and get-away from home. He never could have afforded or kept a system at home, though, and there was a part of him that knew those old places he frequented had seen through his situation and taken pity on him, probably was aware of his… troubles… and simply allowed his antics so long as they didn’t hurt anyone. 

Although, once he had started tampering with the token converters there had been an odd stern talking to or banning along the way.  

Still, that rush of digital violence or puzzle solving, the positive reaction to those impressed by his skills along the way, had been intoxicating to a young Ed Nygma.  It was a rush of dopamine he supposed he had lost interest in when he had embarked on his own path of puzzles and violence out in the Real World.  

“I suppose I could use a drink,” He said, eyeing a few unfamiliar titles that intrigued him as they made their way toward the bar. 

“That card has ample amounts of funds on it for tonight, and I fear any attempts to try and mess with it or the machines would get us kicked out.” Please Ed. Not on your own birthday. 

Lucius had spent a bit of time in at least two arcades when he was younger, saving up his earned money to spent an afternoon working his way through a favorite. Amazing how you could spend hours there and feel like no time had passed at all. Standing here, amongst the noise and the lights, he felt a bit of nostalgia. 

“Awfully confident, there, Foxy. If you think my lack of playing for some time has in any way diminished my reflexes, you will be sorely mistaken.” Ed kept eye contact with his own wry, challenging smirk, before twirling on his heel to stalk off to get into something less conspicuous. 

As he slipped into the car and reached for the belt, he murmured casually, “You know, I held the high scores at my local arcade consistently from when I was eight until I was eighteen.”

The “barcade” did have some flashing lights, but not as obnoxious as they could have been. Where as the arcades from their youth were most likely dark, seedy looking places with questionable sanitation regulation, this one was clean and lit well. The bar was at the front, with the machines and cabinets along the side, and further on in the back, sectioned off into themes. Another part of the building was dedicated solely to the Escape Rooms.

Ed turned slowly, light glinting off of his glasses as he glanced over his shoulder at Lucius, “Is that so?”

“What sort of topic?” Ed was already striding to shrug out of his green suit and undo his vest to riffle through his meager clothing options for what Lucius had pointed out. “I promise, I will be a civil citizen.” Although the entire affair had gotten him thinking…

“David and Bosco’s! I went there once, in college!” A few times, actually, alone.  Those details were beside the point. He exhaled sharply, staring down at the card in his hands, mouth opening and closing as he tried to find words. “I… should go find something more appropriate to wear- do I even have- This is all extremely unexpected, I’ll just- I aught to-” He looked over the card, practically vibrating with the effort of digesting the entire situation. 

Lucius put hand on Ed’s shoulder and felt him trembling with excitement. “I think maybe those black slacks and a dark toned short sleeved shirt would be just fine for this occasion,” he said, voice gentle. It was good to see Ed like this, brimming with happiness. But as always with Ed, he was already starting to overthink it. It was good to keep him focused. 

Finally the edges of that stiff mask Ed tended to wear cracked as his smile became more genuine, reaching to put a hand on Lucius’ arm to give it a squeeze. “We don’t have to, I do appreciate the offer. There’s no need for any fuss,” he didn’t seem to be trying to be demure about it.  Honestly, his birthdays had always been non-events.  A group-signed card and a cookie left on his desk at the precinct, or a quiet evening alone in the kitchen, making himself something special for the night.

Even so, there was something in the man in green’s expression, a humanity bubbling to the surface.

“Gosh, I don’t think I’ve been to an arcade in years! I suppose I would want to change into something more inconspicuous…”

“Hey. I made these plans for a reason, and birthdays are a good reason.” He knew from the bits and pieces of Ed’s past that there really hadn’t been very many “good” birthdays for him. Which made this doubly important. 

mr-lucius-fox‌:

@akillerconundrum

“I took off of work early today, so that we could get a jump start. I have us booked at a new escape room, and with some time first at the adjacent arcade, with time for dinner in between or at the arcade itself. There is also the option of laser tag, but if you aren’t interested, that’s fine, it’s just another offering at the arcade location.

Happy Birthday, Ed.”

Ed stood, stunned.  He had certainly never mentioned his birthday, and Lucius had mentioned his being banned from showing up at his apartment that day. Having stayed back at his hide-out to tend to business as usual, Ed assumed, like every year, this birthday would be spent alone. This sudden development with Lucius shown up on his doorstep and the clearly thoughtful agenda laid out…

Clever, clever Foxy must have taken a page out of Ed’s book and done himself some snooping. 

He was touched. 

“I…”

It took several moments for him to regather himself, clearing his throat and straightening his glasses. “We are not eating at the arcade, that is the bottom most heap of garbage food and a surefire way to contract the Norovirus.”

Another hesitation, as though still unsure how to process this change of events before he added, “I’ve never done an escape room before… you had always said no.”

Lucius laughed softly, of course Ed would try to cover his surprise with some comment like this. 

“Well, I thought that perhaps it would be best if we tried one out together, with you ... experiencing one, not creating it.” He didn’t think the world was ready for a Nygma Themed Escape room. 

Ed gave that watery sort of smile he got in moments like these, the one by the man behind the mask, or was this the mask, he didn’t know, but the only way to sort it all out was with… well, not the Arkham staff, that was for sure. He had a rare opportunity here.  

The point was, nothing was going to happen to Lucius if he had any say about it.  Even if that meant… putting himself through something insufferable, it would be worth it. 

Gently, he leaned in to meet Lucius’ lips. 

Ed’s expression was a mixture of things, and was hard to read. It was like a kind of a mask that he threw on in uncertain moments. But ... progress was progress, and Lucius reminded himself to focus on that in this moment.

“Good,” He breathed with the relief of someone who had just finished ripping off a bandaid.  Something more seemed to flicker behind his eyes, expression softened as he took in Lucius’ proud face. 

You think I might hurt him. Plant another bomb, maybe? A quick phone call and-

“I really want this to work. What… we have here. I’m… how did Oswald put it?” His voice dripped a bit with irritation, “A troubled man. But I like… this. What we have. It’s changed everything, Lucius.”

Only a mad man tries to repeat the same thing and expect different results.

This time was different. He’d see to that. 

“Facing your troubles with honesty is good progress. And even better progress is what you suggested just now.” His smile grew. “This is good, Ed. Be content with that. Enjoy this moment, you’ve earned it.”

“Listen, I have never had an accident with that thing, and it’s just marginally better than getting one of those cigar lighting pocket torches! I was going to surprise you when we finished settling in.” Ed moved about to investigate what he had to work with, pausing for a moment. If you’d like some help… “I was thinking… Maybe I aught to… find someone to talk to. Properly. An impartial third party, so I don’t feel like… well, it shouldn’t all lie on you for my… my troubles.”

He almost didn’t believe what he’d heard. Tiny steps suddenly turned into a giant leap, without any gentle nudging. 

Ed gave a long sigh, expression difficult to read as he stared down at nothing.  He continued to stay quiet for some time before giving Lucius’ hand another squeeze and shifted to stand, “How about I get started making dinner.”

That was enough opening up.  It was a slippery slope to deal with, a can of worms he had no interest in, but Lucius had been insistent this sort of thing would be good for him…

Like it’ll make any difference in the end. Something flickered green in the peripheral of his vision, but he ignored it, stepping toward the kitchen. 

And just like that, the mask fell back into place. Ed was done with making progress. Repressing a sigh, Lucius let him go. Tiny steps, he reminded himself.