Riddle 011: Emphasis on CROSS in "Crossword"

[puzzlerprince]

[Edward's busily attending to a crossword puzzle in the kitchen. He muses over it before groaning in frustration and grabbing the phone

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[strike_you_out]

[The moment Eddie hangs up the phone, he will find his not!son sitting across from him at the table.

Slugger doesn't say a word. He just stares.]

[puzzlerprince]

[Edward fiddles some more with his pencil and turns back to his puzzle, but stops mid-turn at the sudden appearance of Slugger. He sighs, annoyed.]

Here to torment me again, are you?

[strike_you_out]

[Still staring and utterly straight-faced.] Am I interrupting something?

[puzzlerprince]

If this crossword were more challenging, I'd say yes, but at the moment, no, you aren't interrupting anything significant.

[strike_you_out]

Is it more challenging when someone is watching? [Psychological experiment underway.]

[puzzlerprince]

...if you've really got nothing better to do. I'm almost finished.

[He glances back down to his crossword and resumes his work.]

[strike_you_out]

[Slugger starts tapping one finger on the table in a slow, constant rhythm.]

[puzzlerprince]

[Edward glances up, briefly distracted. After a moment's pause, he returns to his work. Seven-letter word for Dr. Frankenstein's ghastly creation. "M-O-N-S-T-E-R."]

[strike_you_out]

[Little by little, he leans forward. His gaze dips momentarily to peer at the paper, then returns back to Edward.

The tapping gets slightly faster but remains quiet.]

...Have you met one before?

[puzzlerprince]

[At this point, Eddie's already on 16, down: Six-letter word for a pain in the neck. "B-O-T-H-E---"

He stops before he finishes his answer, glancing up at Slugger.]

Come again?

[strike_you_out]

Monsters. Do you know any?

[puzzlerprince]

[He sits back in his chair, a thoughtful look on his face.]

Yes. Yes, I suppose I do.

[strike_you_out]

[The tapping ceases.]

Who?

[puzzlerprince]

[He takes a long breath.]

I suppose I've never told you this before, but the town I come from is full of monsters.

[He thinks back to all the men and women he knows from Gotham. From his countless sentences in Arkham Asylum.]

For example, a man named Waylon Jones. Cursed with a horrible condition that made him a monster. His skin was almost reptilian. His teeth sharp like razors. By all means, the man was a freak of nature. Soon enough, he began to call himself "Killer Croc." Do you know what he does now?

[strike_you_out]

Takes people apart. [Just a guess~]

[puzzlerprince]

He eats them.