Clever, yes, he's always been that, creating amazing things, getting stellar grades--but he's never been skilled with handling his emotions. Not when he didn't have a sense of control.

And he doesn't have that, even with his powers. They don't react well when he's strained, but even if he did...the kidnapping from the only home he's ever known, even if he'd never say as much; realizing the reason he became the Riddler was based on lies from the start, just before his arrival; having no real goal to focus on for the first time ever, from get out of the house to succeed with the bio-harddrive to kill Gorman and die (more than once) to make your name as Riddler and you'll never be forgotten.

He has nothing, now, and the Nox is slapping him in the face with the fact he apparently can't help it.

"There's nothing for you to wonder," he says harshly. The rides nearby slowly come to life, even though the lights stay as dark as ever. The protesting gears sound like screams.

Riddler stands his ground, because he's stubborn and is under the control of his emotions and can't think. (Not that he'd really consider escape if he could; what's the point?)