Ed shows up and is overwhelmed with memories of when things were better than good. Reminding him how close he and Oswald were.
Edward banged on the door and rang the bell a few times. No one seemed to be answering at the moment. Sure it was late but Edward had that gut of a feeling that he needed to show up sooner rather than later. He couldn't sleep. He couldn't get comfortable. Tossing and turning he was driving himself crazy. He didn't know if it was the thought of this finally being over or the anxiety of not knowing how Oswald was right now. He hated to admit it yet again, he kinda worried about him. Oswald had been hurt so many times. He told him about his Mother and of course what happened to his Father. Edward remembered he also told him a story about a bird that he once had and that wasn't a happy ending story either. The poor guy had been through a lot and if you hung around Oswald you noticed just how alone he was. Even if he was in a room full of his thugs he was still alone. He didn't have any relationships, any friends. Perhaps that's why he was so drawn to Ed? Edward was the same way. He didn't have a lot of friends either. Or any for that matter. Even when he worked in the GCPD he was all alone despite being around dozens of people every day who depended on him, they didn't care. He was a joke. Made fun of. Constantly bullied. And then there was the whole Arkham thing... Anyways! Back on track.
Edward checked the door and surprisingly it was open. Unlocked.. free for him to walk in. Kind of strange but he took it and stepped inside. "Oswald?" He called. "Olga?" He shut the door behind and looked around a bit. "Oswald?" He rounded a corner towards the sitting room and ran into Olga who was raising a cast iron skillet. She started to yell at him in Russian. Ed raised his hands and backed up as she swung at him. "Hey! Stop!" Olga started to shout louder and swung again, practically chasing him back towards the entry way. Almost clocking him upside the head. "Stop! Aye! Cah-russ-key da stop!" Ed shouted in a poor attempt in her native tongue. "Oswald!"
"Hey!" Victor appeared from the shadows. "Lookie Lookie." He was amused as he smirked at Edward. "The one that got away."
"Where's Oswald?"
"Done with you. That's where he is."
"That's an action. Not a place." Ed stated. Hey maybe he really was done? Maybe he was better? Could Ed actually leave now and walk away?
"Go away nerd." Victor said with a bored tone. "We're done with you."
"..." Ed was recalling the calls he received just an hour ago. Didn't sound like Oswald was done... Maybe? Maybe it was okay? He was off the hook? Didn't have to talk to Oswald after all? "He's okay? Right?" Guard let down he was focusing on Victor when Olga swung her arm back and drove the skillet right into Ed's gut. The wind was knocked out of him and he dropped to his knees holding his stomach. "Ow." He coughed out as Victor laughed and winked at the woman. She spat down at Ed and made her way out of the room. "Okay.. Okay I may have deserved that."
"Now. Get out. Before I do some damage." Victor glared down at him. "Why are you even here?"
"I came to talk to Oswald." Ed said pushing himself up to his feet. "See if he was okay."
"A phone call might have been good enough."
"He didn't answer his phone." Ed snapped at him, starting to get really annoyed. "Can I just see him please?" Victor glared at him. "Please? He called me earlier and I just.. Let me see him." There was a pause. "Oswald!"
"He went to bed." Victor snapped. "Shut up. You have such a big mouth." Ed went to move by him and Victor caught him, putting a hand on his chest and shoving him back. "I'm not playing Nygma. Get out. I've been doing damage control for two weeks. If you think I'm going to just let you strut in here like some-."
"I came all this way and I'm not leaving till I see Oswald Cobblepot." Ed snapped at him. "So I'm going up those stairs and I'm going to see him. Shoot me if you want."
Victor was surprised that Ed finally grew a pair and stood up to him. He glared as Ed moved by him and headed up the stairs. Ed came all this way and he wasn't leaving just to turn around and come right back. All of this ended tonight. He would pop in see if Oswald was okay, talk and then leave. Leave. Yeah that's what he would do. Reaching the top of the stairs he made his way down the dark hallway. This house seemed to be getting all the more creepy with every step he took. Maybe he should stop and get some of his stuff as well before he left. He would smack some sense into Oswald, get him focused on HIM and then he would ta ta out of his life. Okay. Stick to your guns Ed.
With every step memories were flooded into his brain. His first night in this house. His first meal. His first shower. His first tour around these fancy halls. The stroll through the garden out back. The first time someone, Oswald, welcomed him home. It was home. It was more home to him than that apartment, more home than the GCPD.. It was home not because of location or how many rooms or the bed he slept in.. but the people here.. Because of Oswald. Ed would never live in a place this big and this nice, but that didn't matter to him. The big question was would he ever have someone like that in his life again?
A lot of Ed's anger bubbled not because of a broken heart do to the lovely Isabella getting murdered. It was the betrayal, the lies, the cover ups, the pain of trusting someone so much and letting them in only to have them be selfish and take advantage. To hide things. To lie to your face. Ed stopped in his tracks and brought his hand up to his forehead. Everything was spinning and out of control he didn't know if he could stand it. Maybe seeing Oswald isn't the best of ideas. Maybe he should just leave and let the little bird pick up his own pieces. Ed was set out to destroy Oswald. He wanted to take everything from him. His pride. His sanity. His reason for being. Wanted to show him that he had no idea what real, true love was and how he was not capable of feeling it. Was Ed so hell bent on showing Oswald that he wasn't capable of love or was he just trying to show himself, hide the fact that perhaps Oswald did in fact LOVE HIM. Maybe that scared him? Heck maybe he was just as crazy as Oswald was.
Continuing down the hall he finally stopped in front of the double doors that led into Oswald's room. He was so hesitant all of a sudden. Part of him hoped that Victor was in fact timing him and was going to come up and remove him.
"You have exquisite taste, Oswald." Ed beamed down at his friend. "Everything here screams Cobblepot."
"Stop, you flatter me." Oswald chuckled as he gave Ed a tour around the place. Even though Oswald didn't exactly, completely design this place. It was pretty much the same since he himself first came here. Of course there was little changes. "And this will be your private quarters, Mr. Nygma." He motioned towards the door, just down the hall from his own. "I hope you find it satisfactory."
"A dumpster would be satisfactory compared to Arkham." Ed said as he moved to open the door. It was a warm room. Oswald obviously knew all to well how cold and damp Arkham was, took it upon himself to make everything the exact opposite. Ed still couldn't get fully warm from his imprisonment. Still had a never ending chill running up and down his spine. He stepped inside and admired the fireplace in the corner that was in fact lit and it already was melting the cool from skin. To his right was a sitting area with shelves filled with every book you could even imagine. Pick a topic! Boom. There is was. Ed ran his and along their old leather spines and gazed out the rather large window in the back courtyard. It was beautiful. The wheels in Ed's head were turning with curiosity and excitement. A old marble chess set sat in the corner of the small study and you guessed it! More bookshelves. Ed finally turned his attention back to Oswald who quickly turned his head in the opposite direction. Obviously the shorter man was watching him, observing him while he wasn't looking. "You know that part in Beauty and the Beast when she is given the library?" Ed made his way back into the main room and paused. Okay that was the most teenage girl thing.. "Of course you're not like.. that's not what we are." He gave a chuckle causing Oswald to flash a quick smile. "I'm just.. Amazed I guess." Ed gazed down at him for a moment and brought a hand up to rest on Oswald's shoulder. "That was the most cheesy thing I could say. I'm sorry."
"Perhaps." Oswald smiled up at him before Ed slipped away to the other side of the room. "But I get it."
Ed roamed the walk in closet that was bigger than his cell in Arkham. Then moved on into the bathroom that was bigger than his entire apartment. The shower! Don't get him started on the bathtub. Finally! One that he could fit in! He had a huge dorky smile on his face. He was happy. Gosh was he having a moment right now. He brought his hands up to his face, covering his grin. Keep it together Edward. It's just a room. He turned his head towards the doorway he could sense Oswald still lingering. Why was he being so nice to him?
"Thank you." Ed said emerging from the bathroom. "This is too much."
"But you'll take it right?" Oswald asked with a small smirk.
"Oh I'll defiantly accept." Ed nodded firmly. There was a small pause as they just stared at each other. It was always interesting to Ed when he saw Oswald become shy. Shy was the word right? This King if you will. The King of Gotham. One of the most dangerous men in the city.. Maybe the world? Be so human. It was appealing really. "I want to thank you again. From the bottom of my heart for rescuing me. I couldn't ask for a better friend." Ed stepped closer and carefully wrapped his arms around Oswald's shoulders giving him a hug. Affection was something they both were lacking and what started out as a small hug suddenly meant the world to both of them. Ed rested his cheek against Oswald's temple and gave him a strong squeeze. After a few moments the Penguin relaxed and put his arms around him, finally returning the hug. They stood like that for a few minutes before both exhaled and slowly pulled away. "I wont tell anyone I promise."
"Good." Oswald said brushing his sleeve and giving the taller man a wink. "I have a image to maintain."
Ed smiled softly to himself at the fond memory. It was hard to imagine that just months later they would be where they are right now. "If only he knew how to handle things in an adult manner.." Instead of acting like a spoiled child half the time. "Not attractive."
He brought his hand up and knocked on the door gently at first and then more firm. No answer. Taking in a deep breath he pushed the door open slightly. "Oswald?" Silence. He stepped inside, leaving the door open slightly. "Oswald?" He stepped further into the darkened room. The fireplace had gone out leaving little red coals in the ash. The light from the bathroom was on allowing some sort of light to enter the dark cave. Ed felt this crunch under his shoe and noticed he was stepping on broken glass, and busted picture frames and who knows what else. His eyes adjusted enough to peer into the shadows of the room. He was glad the light was off. He didn't' want to see all the destruction that scattered the place. Obviously Oswald had been going on a two week long temper tantrum. Everything would have to be replaced. Moving further in he noticed Oswald's outline in the middle of his bed. Ed let out a deep sigh. Perhaps he was fast asleep and not waiting for him with a gun? You never knew.
"Oswald?" Ed said more firmly as he finally stopped at the foot of his bed. The little Mayor / Crime Boss / Life Ruiner was on his side, still in full attire, his arm draped over his head. Still no answer. Ed wasn't sure how he was even breathing without inhaling his pillow. "You are alive right?"
"Psst!" The hiss made it's way from the bedroom door. "Pssssst." No answer. Ed finally just shoved the door open. More comfortable with Oswald after a couple weeks of living together. Light from the hallway shined into the room before he closed the door behind him. The snap and pop of the fireplace reminding him of the snapping of bones and little hails of gun fire. Nice Ed. Wearing a white t-shirt and green flannel pants, in quick strides he was suddenly sitting on the edge of Oswald's bed. He knew Oswald suffered from a source of trauma so he was always delicate when it came to waking him up. He reached out and gently took his hand, giving it a squeeze and then a gentle shake. "Oswald." His voice was soft. His other hand reaching up to pet his disheveled head before turning the lamp on low. The soft dim light caused him to stir a little and finally his eyes popped open. "Hi." Ed tried to sound not so creepy.
"What... What is happening?" A confused Oswald looked up at him.
"Shh. It's okay. I wasn't watching you sleep or anything like that.. I was just.. I'm.. Nevermind. I got an idea."
"An idea?" He brought his free hand up and rubbed his eyes. He noticed Ed was still holding onto his other wing and raised an eyebrow. "Uh... What kind of an idea?"
"For your campaign!" Ed said proudly.
"Oh." Oswald let out a sigh of relief and sat up a little straighter. Ed slowly let go of Oswald's hand and shifted his eyes a little bit looking suddenly very embarrassed. To Oswald it was kind of appealing really. Oswald knew Ed himself, suffered from low self esteem and his own trust issues so, he put on his enthusiasm. "Okay! What is it?"
"You are going to love this." Ed said scooting closer to him and letting all the excitement spill into his words. Ed loved this. Having someone to share his ideas with. Someone to be excited with. Someone who wanted to hear him speak. Someone who wanted him to have a platform, a stage. Rather than telling him to shut up and deem him a weirdo. Hell Oswald even attempted to answer his riddles! He allowed him to ask riddles! No one did that! They spent the next hour and a half in discussion. Edward spoke and Oswald listened. Ed chuckled at Oswald's poor jokes and Oswald gave him his attention.
"Are we even?" Ed asked throwing his arms up and looking around the dark room. "I don't know if we are. You killed someone I loved. In return I destroyed your empire.. Your father is still resting in peace in some landfill. You're welcome." Ed shook his head. "I always believe in an eye for an eye, Oswald. I learned that from you. Someone puts one of our guys in the hospital we put two of theirs in morgue." There was a pause. "I need to walk away. I should walk away. I'm walking away!" His voice was getting louder and louder as he headed for the door, but stopped and turned. "But why can't I?! I can't! I can't walk away from this! I can't walk away from you and I." Ed stepped closer again. "I can't... I can't for the life of me figure out WHY. WHY am I still here? Why am I still dealing with this? Why are you in my thoughts? You're like this microscopic creature that has invaded my brain and you just wont get out." Ed paused to catch his breath. "And you're ignoring me." Rude. "I ask myself every second of every day if I should've just killed you. I replay it in my brain over and over and over."
"I wasn't sure why I even came here. Maybe the thought of you doing so poorly and being a hot mess was appealing and I wanted to see you hurting. Maybe I wanted you to ask me to stay?" He paused. "I don't regret letting you live anymore. I did but I don't. You're right. You're the only person that can see me for who I am... and for what I can become. I want to become that.." He sat down on the edge of Oswald's bed and looked down at him. "I don't blame you for not wanting to look at me.. Not wanting to engage in me right now. You let me down in many ways but... You also brought me up. I guess you actually did pass." He paused and reached out to put a hand on his shoulder. "Can we just go back to how things were?" Ed gave Oswald's arm a squeeze. "Oswald?" He pulled his arm away from his head and allowed it to drop limply. "Oswald?" He leaned closer and shook him. "Oswald." He rolled him onto his back, lacking any sort of life as the little bird just lay there. Ed leaned down to check for any sort of breath and there wasn't any.
