#dc zero year

It really depends on the Ed we’re taking about here. Because let’s be honest:

BTAS would be frustrated, but also keeps trying, looking more and more like a sad, kicked puppy every time he gets rejected because he doesn’t get that his ego is the problem

I think Arkham would just give up, because what’s the point of being with someone who can’t fully appreciate his genius?

Zero Year gets pissed, and, uh… it’s not going to be pretty, he might pull a Jervis, or way worse

I don’t write TWOJAR bc it made so many cool characters I liked useless props that just sit there, so apologies. The real villain in that story was Batman, anyway.

Zero Year!Riddler:

Okay, he’s definitely fucked up so big to the point that apologising probably won’t bring his S/O back, which is the only reason why he’s going to attempt anything even resembling an apology

And, well, what he’s mustering up isn’t anything special, just… a bland and empty sorry

Which, as mentioned before, is in the face of something so horrendously offensive nearly nothing will bring his partner back to him, so not exactly the best plan there bud

God, for one of the cleverest conscious beings out there, you really can be a dumbass sometimes.

Arkham!Scarecrow:

Depending on the severity of what he’d done to rightfully offend his S/O, the number of words coming out of his mouth varies; if it was something small, he starts rambling a tiny bit in his apology, but if it was something he was almost sure he couldn’t come back from, there would only be a quiet ‘sorry’, because he knows he doesn’t deserve more time to speak

Notice I said rightfully- if he’s done something he thinks was completely justified, instead of trying to argue with his S/O on it, he would willingly calmly discuss the matter with them, but they’re not getting any form of an apology either

In both scenarios, he’s calm and almost monotone, because he’d prefer to not raise his voice towards the person he loves, but this could easily be misinterpreted as rudeness and lack of caring

Damien: I mean, them being with the Riddler doesn’t automatically make them a criminal… it just means they’ve got questionable taste.

Zero Year!Riddler:

S/O’s chill personality means that they’re cool with him, which is good

But them being chill with the Batfam? Ha! No

He tries his best to get his S/O to stop interacting with the Batfam, because right now? They’re a liability

What if they accidentally leaked his plans to Batman? What if Batman uses them against him? What if- god forbid- they actively betrayed him to the Bat?

He doesn’t trust anyone but himself because of his ego, so him being with someone is a huge milestone in itself, meaning instead of immediately breaking up, he’ll try and get them to see his side (character development?)

But make no mistake, if they are still adamant on being such a nuisance, he will not hesitate to drop them like a fly (never mind)

HQ!Riddler:

Man lacks chill (does a canon chill Riddler even exist?), but in a funny way, so his S/O is a perfect fit for him; the flamboyant and the chill

Shit goes down in Gotham on a minutely basis, you either get used to it or die, so though he is initially surprised, he gets over it pretty quick

Hey, all it means is that his S/O won’t get their ribs broken by the Bat and his kids

Sometimes his S/O acts as the middle person between Ed and the Batfam, from things like riddles part of one of Ed’s schemes to simple trash talk messages

Random/General Zero Year!Riddler HCs:

For coffee, as long as there’s some form of sugar in it, he’ll drink it

He’s a morning person, but only if he’s got his coffee. Otherwise, he’ll stay in a bad mood for the next few days straight (as in, sulk and refuse to sleep)

Publicly vilifies DnD, but loves volunteering as a DM at Adventurer’s League (y’know, one of those people)

He’s also both a great storyteller and role-player with excellent pacing, so the tables he host love him

Bisexual disaster and is not afraid to show it

Once ‘solved’ a Rubik’s Cube by dismantling it and putting it back together again

Zero Year!Riddler:

RIP his ego

He would’ve tried to get along with them if they hadn’t made it so blatantly clear that they don’t give two shits about him

So, he always ignores them under the claim ‘I don’t have time to waste on such children; as if they’d ever understand my brilliance’

And he keeps the superiority act even if his S/O tells his to knock it off, because the way he’s acting is just… honestly, pathetic

He basically pretends the kids don’t exist, like the crazy man child he is

HQ!Riddler:

Pathetic? Him? Have they seen his quads?

He’s actually really good with kids, but only if he wants to; he can be really petty, which, usually makes him even more popular with kids

He doesn’t really care that the kids aren’t afraid of him, and it’s not his schtick anyway

He loves challenging the smart one to different puzzles and riddles and keeping the boisterous one busy with physical activity