Oswald
I yawned and stretched, staring around my room still in a sleep filled daze. I shuffled out of bed and stepped into the shower. As the hot water gently pelted my skin, I slowly began to wake up.
My mind began organizing my day for me: a few meetings about the special event going on tonight at my club. Hopefully, Nygma wouldn't be working to late tonight, so that I could fit him into my busy schedule.
I stood in the warm shower a bit longer. I shut my eyes letting the warmth soak in and steam envelope my body.
I shut the water off and let my hair drip dry with my head lowered in the shower.
I stepped out of the shower grabbing my towel and patted my body dry. I wiped the fog off of my mirror and stared at my figure in it. Nothing was different or out of place compared to yesterday other than my hair was still untidy from last night's sleep. I brushed my hair our smoothing down all of the bed head on the back. The last touch was parting my bangs to the left side of my face.
I then went to select my suit for today's Valentine's Day event. Still clad my usual black suit jacket and pants with black dress shoes. My vest underneath the suit jacket was a deep red as was the necktie I selected
I never really cared for this holiday. It was rubbish in my opinion. What was the big deal anyway? Why does everyone go love crazy over just one day? It was a good day for the club to make a lot of money, so I was forced to shrug off my cynicism.
The club was packed full with a line to try and get in. I was busy pouring champagne for all of the patrons. We had a great band playing slow dance music as well as swing tunes and many tables were unoccupied as the dance floor was full of couples dancing themselves silly. As I watched them dance a particularly nice waltz, I couldn't help but wish that I could be out there on the dance floor with Nygma in tow.
I sighed deeply, gave my tray of glasses and champagne bottle to a club employee and excused myself for the evening. I walked outside into the cold winter air of Gotham's holding my jacket close to my body. I reached into my coat pocket and pulled out my cellphone.
"Hey Neg, what are you up to tonight? I was wondering if I could stop by for a bit?"
Nygma
Valentines Day, a day I had always been partial to. I just enjoyed the increased happiness around the police department. Vases of roses being delivered everywhere and things remained cheerful for the most part.
Though down in my office the happiness was dreary as the morgue was not the place for romance.
I skipped out of work a bit early hoping to surprise Oswald at his club. I for once left the lab coat behind. I was dressed in a grey suit with a black shirt underneath and a blood red tie around my neck.
My phone rang and I answered it.
"I just walked inside your club," I told him slightly disappointed he one upped me.
Oswald
I laughed,"I guess we had the same idea. I'm not too far away from my club, so I'll head back." I walked back to my club with a slight skip in my step. Well as much as I could with my permanent limp.
I saw Nygma standing outside my club and I barely recognized him without his lab coat wrapped around his body.
"Hey Neg, dear friend. It's so good to see you." I smiled and embraced him."You clean up well. I almost walked right past you." I whispered in his ear. I released him from my embrace and laughed.
"Come on in. The first drink's on me!"
Nygma
I chuckled seeing Oswald come around me. "Thank you," I nodded. "Same to you of course" once seeing his elegant suit.
I nodded and followed him inside. "It's very nice in here tonight."
"Yeah, it's nice to change up the scene a bit and slow down the pace." he smiled at me and gestured to a booth near the entrance to the club, but far away from all that was happening so that I assume, he wouldn't get pulled away to handle business.
"So what's your poison?" He asked me with a smile still on his face.
"Wine," I responded.
I didn't drink much, but when I did drink I enjoyed some wine. I looked around the club, I should really come in here more often. It wasn't as bad as before.
Oswald
"Ok I'll grab us a bottle of the house red." I pushed myself out of the booth and hobbled over to the bar.
I returned back with our best Pinot Noir and two wine glasses. Tonight the tables were all decorated with a small round vase of red roses and instead of small lamps lighting the table, a few candles did.
I poured Nygma a glass first and then myself. We sat and talked a while while sipping our wine.
When I next surveyed the club, it had pretty much cleared out and the band was getting ready to pack up their things. It would be a shame to not at least try and get a dance with Nygma like I had fantasized all night about.
"Stay right here for a second, Neg. I just have some business that came up, but it shouldn't take me any longer than a minute or two." I bent across the table and pecked Nygma on the left cheek.
I met the band backstage and asked if I could trouble them for one more song and flashed $500 dollars at them. They unpacked their instruments and headed back up on stage. I raced back to where I'd left Nygma but stopped a few feet away to catch my breath first.
As the song began, I bowed and reached out my hand to him, "May I have the pleasure of this dance sir?"
Nygma looked to me as I held out my hand and smiled putting his third glass of wine down. "depends who is going to lead?" He chuckled getting up from his seat.
"We'll see as it goes...though with this bum right leg, so it's pretty much like having two left feet." I chuckled. I believe the wine was kicking in for me at least.
Nygma
"I will lead then," I responded walking with him towards the stage.
The wine was definitely helping me to be a bit bolder, I was so shy when I was completely sober. Maybe I could learn to just let it happen.
At least, I knew the man standing before me wasn't there to judge me.
"Did you send me a card at work?" I asked quietly.
I had gotten a plain envelope with my name on it. It had been laying on my desk. I opened it, it was a green card with riddles inside of it. I figured it was from Oswald but it didn't look like his handwriting.
Oswald
"No I'm sorry I was planning to give you the card from me in person. It's not my style to have someone else deliver a personal note from me especially someone as special as you." I smiled up at him, but inside I was conflicted.
Nygma received a secret note...From who? I mean he is attractive in his own way. He could probably have any woman. Why choose me?
I was still lost in thought when the song ended.
Nygma
That was odd, I wonder who sent it. I looked to him gently as the song ended, I had been trying to get his attention.
"Oswald," I called as I stopped. I was looking at him intently.
"What is the matter?"
Oswald
Nygma's voice brought me back.
"Oh it's nothing." I said out of reflex. What am I doing?! I'm lying to someone I consider an ally, friend, and lover one day when he accepts me fully.
"Neg, it's actually not nothing. I was jealous that you had gotten a secret valentine from someone that wasn't me. I became insecure and began wondering why you choose me when you could have anyone your heart desires? I know it's stupid, but..."
Nygma
My eyes saddened at his words but I listened to him speak. I rested my hand on his shoulder and the other against his cheek. His skin was so warm against mine, I swallowed before leaning in and kissing his forehead.
"If the card was not from you, then it doesn't matter to me," I murmured.
"Maybe it's my fault you are thinking this way, I realize I am not as smooth when it comes to us. I am still getting used to it. I never have been involved like this with anyone. If it seems like I am distracted, I'm not."
Oswald
I felt the warmth of his lips on my forehead. I closed my eyes taking in the sensation.
I looked up at him,"Thank for your words of honesty, dear friend."
I grabbed the lapels of his suit, and slowly pulled him closer to me. As our lips made contact with each other, I closed my eyes.
Nygma
I breathed in deeply before kissing him in return wrapping my arms around him. I pulled him close keeping contact with him for a long few moments before breaking to breathe. The alcohol was definitely helping at this point.
"Can I ask you something? Can you stop calling me friend?" I chuckled. "I mean I wouldn't consider us friends at this point."
Oswald
Finally! I celebrated internally.
I could not hold back the large smile spreading across my face,"It's a bad habit I have calling people that. I'll call you anything. What would you like to be called?"
"My name I suppose?" he chuckled softly at that. "Boyfriend, I don't know whatever you'd like to call me." he mused.
"I can do that, but which name, Edward, Nygma, Eddie, Neg?" I began laughing big and loud.
"Anything, but Eddie," he murmured looking away at that. "Anything, but that." he nodded.
"Noted." I nodded, my head was beginning to spin due to all of the wine we both drank, but I didn't care.
"I love you, Edward Nygma." I whispered as I leaned in for another kiss.
