Koraz/Gotham

Chapter 1: Riddle Me This (AKA, Batman Regrets Everything)

"What are they doing?" Batman asked, staring at the huddled group that five minutes ago had been surprisingly fearsome allies and were currently excitedly whispering teenagers.

"Remember how I told you that Mages have a thing for math, physics, that sort of thing?" Paige asked, idly twirling Riddler through the air with her powers.

"Yes?"

"Well, Spiripa" she jerked her head towards the group "are known for heightened observation skills, perfect recall, and being easily bored. Puzzles are a preferable pasttime for those people, Homo Sapien Chiroptera. The fact that the riddle you broke was a language based one? We might nev- actually, wait up."

Paige turned to Riddler, who currently couldn't decide whether to be happy at the attention his riddles were getting, excited at real life magic, or absolutely terrified at being held at the mercy of said magic. He settled for all of the above, leaning more towards the last as he felt that confounded 'truth spell' take hold of him again.

"Riddle me this, Ridley, if the Bat fails to stop this puzzling plot, will the body count raise?"

"No, no one will die if my plan succeeds or fails." Riddler answered, a little angry at being mocked.

"Okay then." Paige nodded, turning back to her friends. "Well, sorry Bats, but we aren't getting out of here until they solve it."

"The Greek god of death!" Eric shouted suddenly, jumping up. "That's why the chicken crossed the road!"

"Is he right?" Paige asked.

"No, but shockingly close." Riddler replied.

"Oh yeah, we're gonna be here for a while." Paige stretched. She snapped her fingers, conjuring a teaset. "Tea?"

"Ooh, yes please!" Riddler clapped his hands, sitting cross-legged midair as he graciously took a little green teacup. "Thank you. Quite a nice flavor, almost as good at Jervis's, but don't tell him I said that."

"My lips are sealed. So glad you like it, it's home grown." Paige laughed like tinkling bells. She held a black teacup out to Batman. "Tea, Chiro?"

Batman, in an uncharacteristic display born from having dealt with this nonsense for three days straight, groaned and held his head in his hands. "Fine."

He knew better by now than to argue with a Mage, even if that did mean that was drinking tea with the Riddler while a devious plot unfurled. It was easier this way, really.

"The Egyptian cat goddess?" Eric asked.

"Getting colder." Riddler replied, sipping at his tea. "Unlike this tea. Is there a warming charm on it or some such?"

"Possibly?" Paige shrugged. "My magic sort of does what it wants. Which isn't the safest thing in the world, but I've learned to live with it."

"Oh? Sounds fascinating." Riddler leaned closer. "Tell me, how does that work? Your magic, I mean."

"Well... How good a grasp of physics do you have?" Paige asked, going into a lecture on the logistics of magic.

Meanwhile, the huddled group has just gotten into a heated debate on whether avians being dinosauria made chickens dinosaurs or dinosaur relatives, and whether a Viking fertility god was related to a pagan war goddess (or merely adopted).

Batman, sitting on the floor with his little cup of admittedly delicious tea, was questioning all of his life choices. At least Joker wasn't here to see this.

"Hey, Eddie! I thought we agreed I was robbing this place toni- Batsy?!"

So much for that.