"Ed. I know you're upset but please, please come home. We can work this out."

Beep

"Ed are you listening to me? I need to talk to you."

Beep

"ED! This is important! You can't ignore me forever!

Beep

"I'm sorry... Answer your phone. Call me back."

Beep

"Edward I need you.. I'm so sorry for everyth-."

Message Deleted.

Ed hung up his phone and tossed it on the bar in front of him. Grabbing his drink he took a sip and swirled the dark liquor around in the glass. It had been two weeks since he last saw Oswald. Dozens, maybe even hundreds of voicemails. After Ed left Oswald at the docks he vanished into the city, putting himself up in a hotel in his old neighborhood. He couldn't look at Oswald. Hearing his voice only made him sick. He deleted every message that was left and he didn't feel guilty about it. Ed let him live that day. He should've put a slug in his belly and drowned him, but he couldn't do it. The sadness, the broken expression on Oswald's face as Ed left him there in the cold and rain haunted him a little. They went their separate ways and Ed was okay with that. Letting Oswald live with the fact that Edward hated him was payback enough.

Isabella was in Ed's life for a short time but she meant the world world to him. Maybe for the wrong reasons but he had been blinded by his love and second chance he risked it all. Oswald was Ed's life before she showed up. Ed wouldn't lie he had been very confused these past couple weeks. So much going through his mind and he didn't know what to make of it. Everything had been turned upside down. He took another drink. He was surprised no one found him, stalked him, tied him up and threw him in a sack and dragged him back to the Penguin. Oswald was like a little child and not getting what he wants caused a tantrum. A few voicemails would be sweet and calm, then crying and begging and then the next would be yelling and threatening... And then apologetic and sad. He was so bipolar but Ed was impressed he hadn't sent someone out to kill him. It wouldn't be hard to find Ed, he did after all go back to his old stomping grounds. Oswald was a very selfish man so he wouldn't be surprised if he was in fact snatched up. However, so far no one stalked him and no one knocked on the door of his hotel room. He was left alone.

Edward finished his drink and pulled some bills out of his wallet and tossed them on the bar. Giving the bartender a good tip before he left. Stepping outside it was cold, he could see his breath in the night air as the wind blew around him. A soft rain bled from the sky which was typical for Gotham. Ed headed down the street, hands stuffed in his coat pockets and he kept his head down. He was after all a very familiar face in Gotham now. Everyone knew him because of his position as Chief of Staff for Oswald. A position he wasn't too proud of anymore. It was just hitting midnight and he heard the clock tower in the distance ring. It was kind of a beautiful sound but also pretty eerie. He crossed the street to his hotel and went inside. He flopped down on the edge of the bed and let out a frustrated sigh. What should he do now? Part of him was disgusted because it was like he was running away. He confronted Oswald. Almost killed him. Plus Os knew what he was feeling so business was done in his book. He told him goodbye that day... He was done.. So.. Why was he so confused?

"I did it because I love you." The words just kept swirling in his head. He couldn't block him out no matter how hard he tried. "Ed, I love you.. I know you know that now.." Ed tugged at his hair and snarled under his breath.

"If only he talked to me about it." He huffed and pulled the phone out of his pocket. He already had two new messages. He was very hesitant but he hit the button anyways. "Damn."

"Ed.. I can't express how sorry I am. I wish I could erase my feelings. I wish I could.. I don't know." Oswald's voice was low and you could hear just how depressed he was. It kinda made Ed feel a little tiny bit bad but at the same time sick. "I know you hate me. I'm sorry for everything.." The message ended and Ed deleted it like others.

"You were the best friend I ever had. I never wanted to lose you." There was a few muffled sniffles. "Don't forget what we were once. You can't forget.. I know you can't because it meant something to you too.."

It ended. "Urgh." Ed hung up his phone and debated calling back. "No! No. Don't call him. He's not really sorry he's just trying to trick you." Ed set his phone aside. "Don't do it."


Pushing himself up from his chair Oswald drug himself towards the stairs. Eyes puffy, hair a mess, he was a disheveled little bird. He hadn't really taken care of himself. He hadn't showered, he didn't smell amazing. He was living on tea and that was about it. Sleeves rolled up and his tie hanging loosely around his neck. His leg hurt as he barely made it to the stairs.

"Boss." Victor's voice echoed. "Let me go find him. We'll string him up by his ears."

"No." Oswald paused. "You're excused Victor."

"But.. Come on it'll make you feel better. It will take me ten minutes I'll know exactly where he is. I can go get him.."

"I said, you're EXCUSED." Oswald turned his head to look at him. Him and Victor shared looks before Penguin vanished up the stairs.

"Whatever you say." Victor arched an eyebrow, dismissing himself to the kitchen for some leftovers. He wasn't going to actually leave. Not leaving his boss alone because his defenses were down and it was Victor's job to keep an eye on things.

Oswald's uneven steps made their way down the hall. He looked at Ed's door and debated going inside. The past few nights he found himself wrapped up in the blankets on Ed's bed. Swimming in his scent as he tried to sleep. Hoping he would come home but he never did. He went through his closet, his hands brushing over the fabric of his expensive suits and shirts. Going into the bathroom, just the sight of his toothbrush caused Oswald to bubble with emotion. Tonight however he went into his own room to sulk.

Crossing his room he entered the master bath and leaned against the counter. Eyeing himself in the mirror almost not recognizing who he was. His eyes were red and his skin was blotchy from crying. It was pathetic. He was so pathetic. Here he was the Mayor, the King of Gotham and he was crying like a little girl. He's only ever loved one person and that was his Mother. Love was something he never thought would be in his life. It made people weak and that was something he couldn't be. He couldn't afford to be weakened. Yet here he was. He never thought Ed, the blubbering nerd he first met, someone he was NOT impressed by would be the one to destroy him.

His first love... Edward Nygma. A chuckle left his throat. Oh God how ridiculous! This was a joke! His laugh only grew louder as he slowly slumped down. Banging his head against the marble counter top. Bang. Bang. Bang. BANG. He started to see stars as he spun around and dropped heavily to the floor. Sitting with his legs out in front of him, he wiggled his feet. His leg hurt so damn bad. The pain shot up through the bone all the way to his hip. He winced. Not sure which pain was worse right now. He reached upward and blindly for the pain meds he had on the counter. Struggling to open the bottle due to the child proof caps and the weakness from being emotional didn't help.

"Damn it!" He shouted and winged the bottle across the room. Pills flew everywhere and scattered the tile floor. He brought his hands up to cover his face. A dry sob caught in his throat. "Why? Why? Why?" He mumbled slamming his fist down onto the floor. His hands were already bruised from putting his fist through the door downstairs when he finally managed to walk all the way home.

That was a cold and wet walk from the docks. He felt so guilty and upset with himself that he didn't think he deserved a ride. Despite being soaked from head to toe Oswald was still wearing the same outfit. His lack of motivation prevented him from changing his clothes. His soggy shoes left prints all over the house. He was frantic and frozen as he stormed around from room to room, despite Olga yelling at him to stop. Tossing in some curse words here and there that he actually could understand. He had little concern for anyone else at the moment and a huge tantrum took over.

"He left me!" He snapped at her. "He LEFT!" He kicked a chair out from under the dining room table and it crashed to the floor. "He left! He left! He left!" Oswald's shouting shook the house as he slammed his fists over and over on the table. Knocking over the candle sticks and the flowers that sat upon the surface. "I did everything for him!" The anger of the whole situation finally boiling in his chest as Olga rushed to steady the table. He stomped out of the room, he was chilled to the bone. "I created him! I gave him life!"

There was a loud crashed as he brushed all the dishes off the counter in the kitchen. Grabbing a glass he threw it across the room, shattering against the wall. He stormed down the hall and finally lashed out. He threw himself against the nearest door and then over and over slammed his fists against it. Keeping up his attack till the wood split and his hands went numb from the abuse. His hands flew to his hair, covering his head as finally a low cry left his throat. Olga listened to him cry, feeling bad for him. Oswald had been boasting about Ed and love for many days now. Obviously he's never had a relationship before. He would bounce back eventually.

Now here he was. Crying all over against. Falling over onto his side Oswald scooted himself across the floor. Reaching out he managed to grab a few of his fleeing pain meds. It was hard to take them without water but he choked them down. Oswald had lost everything. There wasn't anyone else for him now. It was just him. Everything was blurred. Even his power. It didn't matter anymore. Nothing mattered.


"It's voicemail. You know what to do." Beep.

"... Oswald... I.. I think maybe we should talk." Ed said softly. "I think we should have a final talk. Without weapons... Now it's my turn to say, call me back."

Ed closed his phone. Yep. He gave in. He couldn't help it. There was something eating him that was telling him that he needed to call him. He needed to at least know he was okay. He might have had closure but Oswald obviously didn't. He had a job to do. He was the Mayor and it was on the news he was missing from a fundraiser yesterday. Ed might not work for him anymore but Oswald had a job he had to do. He didn't want him to throw away his opportunities. It would be embarrassing towards himself as much as Oswald. Ed was a nice guy. It was a pain in the ass at times but he was nice. As much as he wanted Oswald to be destroyed the longer they stayed away from each other and he had time to think without any outside influence.. He just couldn't stand to see something happen to him. The others, that little witch, Barbra really wanted Ed to push over the edge and kill the Penguin. Ed couldn't bring himself to do that. He just couldn't. He didn't want anyone to hurt him or for him to hurt himself. Which led Ed to calling him. There was a plan that was sure to hatch at any given moment from those who wanted Oswald's power. Who were aware that he was weakened right now. He needed one of Ed's pep talks and that's what he was going to get.. and then Ed would close the door. Walk away... Yeah that's what he would do. He would walk away once and for all.