Another temporary setback, yet luckily an amusing one. Oswald Cobblepot chuckled lightly at the man bound in the bedroom, muffled pleas escaping his bound lips. "She didn't believe me." Oswald slowly waddled towards the rich man and set the boy's cell phone on the plastic countertop. Straightening himself to his full height, Oswald gave a crooked smile, "You must be quite the scamp." Adrenaline pumped through his veins as he noted the tears welling up in the man's blue eyes. Delving into his pockets, he chuckled again as he clicked the switchblade.
"Honestly, I'm a tad bit disappointed that I couldn't get the money. Although I must thank you for the cash you had on hand." Cobblepot limped over to the man and pulled the man's neatly parted hair until his eyes met his. "It's too bad your mother didn't take me seriously." Slightly trembling, he cut the gag off his victim's mouth with the switchblade, leaving a thin gash down the man's lips.
"Help me!" the man yelled, body seizing in fear. The screaming was quickly silenced as he felt cold, sharp metal pressed tightly against his throat."
"Nobody can hear you but me Tim, I can call you Tim, right? We were friends after all. If I were you I would either be silent or beg for mercy."
"Please, let me talk to her. I can get you the money. My father is the CEO of Hoyt Industries, he can give you more than you asked…" The man hissed in pain as Cobblepot's clammy hand slammed across his face.
"I don't care about the money any longer. Your mother didn't believe me...nobody believes in me. You are just like the rest of the rich. Arrogant and ignorant. Believing that I should shine your shoes and praise you. I've learned from my mistakes. Just as you will now." Bringing the switchblade down on the man's jugular, euphoria swept over him as he saw his sallow complexion in his prey's dimming eyes.
Grabbing the car keys and leather wallet from the counter, Oswald searched his sweater for blood stains and limped front door. "Time to go home."
*Not all those who wander are lost- J.R.R Tolkien*
Mary stirred the stew in the large vat, wiping the sweat off her forehead while her mother was placing rolls in one of the ovens.
"Is the soup done yet? Dinner starts at five." Quickly walking to the counter,Mary's mother smoothed down her stained apron and teasingly snapped her daughter's hair covering.
"Any minute now." Mary stated gently smiling at her worn mother and noting the dark patches underneath her eyes. "Honestly mom, you should relax. The hungry homeless of Gotham will be able to wait for a five minute rest." Her mother simply smirked and walked over to the stainless steel countertop to fold the mismatched silverware.
"I think if your mother ever stopped working she would drop down dead." Mary turned and smiled at Brian, who was giving her a lopsided grin as he pointed his tattooed arm across the room at Mary's mother.
"Yeah, luckily we have you and Snake to work with us. Otherwise, I think she would." Mary muttered playfully shouldering Brian's thick frame.
He rubbed his front gold tooth with his tongue and chuckled, "I think we're the lucky ones. This is as sure as hell greater than Blackgate! Ain't that right Snake!?"
Snake simply nodded sucking his lip ring in concentration as he bleached the dining room tables. "At least I don't have to worry every time I bend down that's for damn sure."
Noticing the soup was finally ready, Mary tucked a stray blonde hair back into her cap and smiled, "Soup's ready!" Her mother whooped and set the wrapped silverware on the counter to be placed in the dining room by Snake.
"Good! We have ten minutes left people!" Mary eyed the entrance warily as the customers began to come in, dirty and in stiff positions. She knew there would be illegal drugs and weapons in their pockets. Luckily, this place had nothing to steal. They had to scrounge up money simply to pay the rent each month. It was dimly lit and use to be one of the many abandoned restaurants with rat poison scattered around the room. All they had to steal was given out freely.
"What's on the menu today Barbara?" a regular laughed, rotten teeth stretched into a ragged smile.
"Soup like usual Joe!" Mary's mother laughed her creased face lightening with laughter. Joe sauntered up to the counter and Mary could notice the track marks on his arms.
"How has Barbara's beautiful daughter doing?" Mary nearly wretched as she smelled the mixture of liquor and nicotine on his breath.
"Great Joe, thanks." she stated politely, pulling away quickly to help her mother start to fill up trays.
"Everyone you know what to do! Form a line!" Barbara yelled while pulling her graying hair out of her face. While Brian and Barbara were filling trays, Mary was tallying the number of people coming in and the drink orders. When the line finally cleared, she slumped onto one of the rickety metal stools on the front desk and rubbed her temples. Then she heard the bell on the front door ring.
"Excuse me miss? Is it true you serve food here?"