Chapter 100
When it's over, I fall to the floor, beaten and in tears. Standing above me, Oswald zips up his pants, "Wasn't that fun?"
The only sound that comes from me is a gurgle as my panting begins to slow. I curl up into a ball on the ground to cover my bare bottom.
Oswald chuckles, as he runs his hand through my hair, and breathes on my neck, "Now...you won't stray again, right? Because you're on my side. You're my little bird."
He kisses me on the cheek, "I'll go run you a hot bath."
I grind my teeth, as my expression turns to a scowl, hidden as I keep my head low, and my hair falls past my face. Tears continue streaming down my face, no matter how many times I wipe them away. I try to get up, but my back, legs, and hips are so strained. Even if I wanted to get up, I don't know if I could.
Oswald walks back into the room and sighs, "You're not going to get into the bath by just sitting there."
I remain motionless on the floor, and eventually he approaches me. Scooping both hands under me, he lifts me up by my back and my knees.
"I won't drop you this time, I promise," he smiles, proud of himself.
He seats me at the foot of the tub, removing the only remaining article of clothing on my body, my undershirt, and discards it on the floor. Grabbing me by my underarms, he hoists me into the tub of water. I bite down on my tongue as the water makes contact with my bruises and open wounds.
My eyes are content to stare into the opaque water as Oswald removes his clothes and steps into the bath. Once in, he immediately pulls me into his arms, holding me tight.
"Aren't you impressed? I can lift you up now. Remember when you came out of the burning hotel, and I tried carrying you home? Psh...I was such a weakling back then, and now look at me. It wasn't even through any sort of exercise, it was about confidence. I had strength in me all along, I was just too much of a pushover to see it."
He looks down at me, as I stare off into space, "...I'm not talking to a wall, am I?"
Leaning back, Oswald examines the darkened wounds on my back, "Oh dear...ha, I went a little overboard, didn't I? But...if wasn't without purpose, now you know. Now you know what happens when you choose the wrong side."
"...a little?" I finally speak. With great pain, I begin inching myself away from him, "I'll do what you ask, just don't touch me."
He grabs my arm, and pulls me back, "No, Trixie, you're missing the entire point here-"
"No, I get it. Just...let me recover in peace," I grumble, crossing my arms.
Oswald wraps his arms around me, nuzzling his head into my cheek, "I love you Trixie."
"I'll see you tonight," kissing me on the forehead, Oswald waves goodbye as he finally leaves.
I carefully seat myself on the couch, mindful of my back. In my current state, there's no way to express my anger, so I sit, waiting for the pain to wear off. Despite the initial pain, the bath really helped, although I'm still bent out of shape.
The phone on the end table rings. Crawling to the other side of the couch, I pick it up.
"Natalie, it's Barbara. Renee, Crispus, and I are going to meet at Renee's apartment. Think you could meet us there in an hour?" Barbara asks in the usual quiet enthusiasm.
"Yeah, I'll be there," I mumble, before hanging up.
I slowly start to stand, lifting myself at the knee to take the strain off of my back. I have to walk in small steps to avoid any severe pain. God, how am I going to take public transportation like this?
By the time I've climbed the stairs leading to Renee's apartment, my pain has become excruciating, not to mention it's exhausted me. I bang my fist on the door and glance up at the clock on the nearby wall. Only fifteen minutes late, in my condition that's probably a record.
Barbara opens the door, "Natalie, there you are-...oh my god..."
Really? I haven't had a chance to look at myself in the mirror, but honestly, I'm not surprised.
"What's wrong?" Renee asks from inside.
Barbara grabs me by the arm and pulls me inside, "Natalie's hurt. Have her lie down on the couch."
Renee's apartment now looks a lot better than it did last time. The broken debris has been swept up, and a lot of the furniture and decorations in the living room have been replaced.
"What happened?!" Crispus cries as Barbara and Renee help me to the couch.
I shake my head, "...accident, nothing to worry about."
They immediately make me lie down on my back, and before I can stop them, I'm crying out in pain as the couch presses against my wounds.
Renee pushes Barbara away, flips me onto my back, and yanks my shirt up, revealing the wounds from Oswald's whipping, "This was no accident."
She gestures to Crispus, "I have ointment and bandages, second counter, middle drawer."
"Why didn't you tell us about this sooner? We would have come to you," Barbara reasons, stroking my shoulder as I lie on my stomach.
Crispus hands Renee the ointment and bandages, "Was it a Talon?"
I shake my head, and the three glance around each other in silence. Finally, Barbara speaks up, "Nat...was it Oswald?"
I initially shirk my head away, but eventually, I turn my head to her and nod.
Renee and Crispus look up, "Cobblepot? Why would Natalie be involved with him?"
Barbara turns to me, "Can I tell them? Or do you want to-"
"Tell them. They deserve to know," I admit, shifting my head slightly.
With concerned expressions, Renee and Crispus stand along with Barbara as she folds her hands and tells them, "She and Oswald are...involved. When she and I were caught by Don Falcone he convinced him to spare her life."
"Involved? With that creep? You've got to be kidding me," Crispus shakes his head in disbelief.
"That's what I say. How valuable does an ally have to be to let him pull this kind of crap?" Renee questions, as she starts applying the ointment to my wounds.
Barbara shakes her head, "Don't ask me."
"Can we not gossip about my love life?!" I demand, "What was it that you originally called me here for?"
Crispus smirks, "You gotta admit, she's a tough cookie."
"A member of the Court of Owls let it slip that they have a secret room of sorts," Barbara explains.
I raise an eyebrow, "Really? How'd you get them to reveal that kind of information?"
She shrugs, "I know my aunt, she'll spill anything once you get a few drinks into her, it's how I found out I was a 'surprise'."
I couldn't help but notice the sharp edge in her off-color joke, but I brush it off. A quick glance around the room shows that Renee and Crispus are uncomfortable as well, with Renee looking the most concerned.
Renee breaks the silence, "In any case, our objective is to find that room. It has to contain incriminating information."
"Plus, we've got to find out where all these Talons are coming from," Crispus chimes in, "our previous case points their origin to Haly's Circus. You know Natalie, those photos you snooped through?"
I sink into a guilty expression, as he smiles, "You thought I didn't notice? You, Barbara, and Renee solving the case without me, I'll be out of a job before I know it."
I look up at him, "I-I'm sorry Crispus-"
"Nat...I was just joking. You sure everything's okay?"
Renee glances around once or twice, "...Crispus, get out."
His eyes bulge out, surprised, "...what? Was it something I said?"
"No, just...we're just going to have a little girl talk, okay?" Barbara tells him.
He makes a slow nod, before walking out into the hallway, closing the door behind him.
Renee stands over me, her doe-like eyes giving a softness to her otherwise harsh features. She gets down on her knees, and looks me in the eye, "What did he do?"
My fingers dig into the leather fabric of the couch, as I squeeze my eyes shut. I tell them.
She gestures to Barbara, "Get the Vitullo kit. It's hidden behind the bookshelf-"
"No, no kit. I took a bath right after, most of the evidence is probably gone," I confess.
"There could still be DNA samples that could be used as evidence. Plus, the cuts and bruises on your back are already damning evidence as it is," Renee counters.
Barbara grabs Renee's arm, "Renee, she's right. Most of the evidence is gone, these cases are almost never looked at, you know that. It would be a waste of effort to put a kit together, she's already exhausted as it is. These things happen, I say we just...help her move on."
"I don't care if the case goes in backlog! It's the most we can do for you short of burning that son-of-a-bitch alive," she shouts, pulling away from Barbara.
"I know your kind of people are content to sit and shut up, but I've seen this happen too many times to one of us on the force. Now get me that damn kit!"
Barbara bows her head down, and starts walking to retrieve the kit. From behind the bookshelf, Barbara pulls out a large white package as Renee helps me sit up.
"You feeling up for this right now? We could wait a little bit, take a break-"
"I-I'm feeling better," I nod, "I just really needed to get that out. But...I'm not going to report something "Yes you are," Renee interrupts, "you're a police officer, if you don't self-report this, who will? Oswald is not important to the Court of Owls, if he's hauled away it won't interrupt our case."
Should I tell Renee and Barbara about the book I found in Don Falcone's mansion? The one about the Court considering Oswald as a future member? But, would that make him important enough that he's under protection? I don't think so.
"...alright," I nod, as Barbara hands me the kit.
"Birds of a Feather" Chapter 100 Bloopers (Part 2 of 2)
Amanda (holding Trickstress' metal marbles): And these are small metal capsules. They can hold a variety of properties, but for obvious reasons, I did not mark them. For example…
*throws marble*
*marble does not go off*
Natalie (chuckling): Well...I see why they weren't marked. We could still play Mancala.
Amanda (shouting to crew): Is this going to be done in post?
*crew laughing off-screen*
Director: No, let's try that again.
*piano music plays*
Oswald (singing): We're soaring, flying. There's not a star in heaven that we can't reach.
Natalie (singing): If we're trying, so we're breaking free.
Oswald (singing): You know the world can see us, in a way that's different from who we are-
Natalie (singing): Creating space between us, till we're separate hearts.
Oswald and Natalie (singing): But your faith, it gives me strength...strength to believe…
Oswald: We're breaking free!
Natalie (singing): We're soaring!
Oswald (singing): Flying!
Oswald and Natalie (singing): There's not a star in heaven that we can't reach!
*Oswald and Natalie break down laughing*
Director: Okay, that's enough.
Oswald (still laughing, gesturing to Natalie): I-I didn't know that song. It was her idea.
Natalie (talking to Oswald and Ed): Well, of course I come up with everything-
*Tando peeks from out of the Writer's Room*
*Natalie turns and notices Tando*
Natalie: ...oh, and she helps too sometimes.
Oswald (to Natalie): You don't understand how much I love you. My heart burns with...with...something. Heartburn maybe? Too many meals at Bamonte's! Damn you Maroni!
Music Meister (singing): I'm the Music Meister! I can't help but bo-
*music stops*
Music Meister: I'm sorry, I got off. Is it suppose to be "can't help", or "can not help"?
*Natalie bangs on door of Writer's Room*
Natalie: Yo! We need the script for the next chapter!
*Tando opens door, staring blankly at Natalie*
*Tando throws up into her own hands, upchucking nothing but sticky notes and several sheets of paper*
*Tando presents papers to Natalie*
Natalie (taking papers): Uhm...okay. There's at least some romance, right?
*Tando nods*
Natalie: Then it can't fail, right? Thanks, keep up the good work!
*Natalie walks off, Tando gives a tired sigh before slamming the door shut*
*Natalie chases Oswald around while holding a pair of cat ears*
Natalie (holding out cat ears): Please?
Oswald (running away): No!
*Crispus twirls around in a dark green cape*
Crispus (gesturing to cape): Oh...this? This is just something I stole from costuming. Doesn't mean anything, no, not at all...
Robin (out of costume, waving to crew): See you guys tomorrow!
*Robin passes by the Writer's Room to head to the exit*
*Tando peeks head out of door*
Tando: ...senpai?
*Robin leaves without acknowledging Tando*
*Tando closes Writer's Room door*
Tando: *cries*
Author's Note: Happy official 100th chapter! Did you guys enjoy the bloopers? If so, would you like to see it return in part of the Standalone Special lineup?
Song Oswald and Natalie sing in the bloopers: "Breaking Free" from "High School Musical"
Guest: I might finish/release it one day. But it is extra content, and it takes even more time on top of writing the regular chapters, so I don't feel bad about putting a review-barrier over it. The chapter didn't meet its review quota, but there will be other opportunities. Thank you so much for your support :)
Narutoske: Thanks :)
I'll come clean, I've never read/watched Fifty Shades of Grey all the way to the end. I could only get through two chapters of the book, and half-hour of the movie. It just wasn't interesting to me (although there is a Film Theory on it that's much more interesting). I do have to wonder though why you think Oswald believing that there's hope for Natalie is Natalie's fault
It will be interesting to see Ed's reaction if he finds out. Although yeah, I don't think Ed would kill Oswald at this stage (I still have to stay within the parameters of the show). Thank you so much, school always complicates my time to write
HungerGamesHarryPotter7887: Well, as a former CIA agent, I would think Natalie has been through some interrogation situations before, and has been trained for those kinds of encounters. But on the other hand, she's still human, and she masks some of her fear with sarcasm, especially in a stressful situation
Langley21: It's good to hear you like bloopers, hope you like this new batch! And no, Natalie will not let this slide. Whether or not she will try to cover this up will also be covered, with Ed being a major factor in that. You're the only one who brought up a trigger warning, I'm not the biggest fan of them as they can also be seen as an unwanted spoiler, and would only use it if I have to. And thanks1 :)
PresidentOfTheBadGuyFanClub: I've been told that I handle Oswald's character well, and while I take liberties with the character, I'm pretty satisfied with the interpretation. In his mind, Oswald is always the victim, only occasionally stopping to admit his own wrongs
Thanks! :)