Chapter 106

With police cars surrounding the apartment building, I sit on the street curb as medical staff roll Marsha out on a gurney, her body entirely covered by a white sheet.

Ed comes shuffling up to me, "...I got you your ointment."

I chuckle, looking up, "Thanks Ed."

"What situation are the police handling in your apartment building?" he asks, sitting down with me.

I sigh, wondering whether or not to tell him the truth, "Well...I'm not quite sure. I must have been asleep for most of it."

He starts to nod, "Ah, I see. Well, I'm sure it's nothing. Another murder probably."

I can't help but be unsettled by Ed's comment, he's never referred to murder so lightly, "Yeah...I'm sure...it's nothing."

Just then, Renee and Crispus walk up to us, "Natalie, are you alright?"

I look up at them, "Yeah, I'm alrigh-"

"Natalie need not be disturbed right now. Please," Ed interrupts, standing in front of the two detectives.

"Hey, we just need to talk to her for a couple of minutes Nygma, okay? Go...do something else for a little bit, okay?" Crispus uses a much softer tone as compared to Renee's sharp tongue.

Ed fidgets in place for a moment or two, before standing up, his hands folded in front of him, "I will leave Nat for now...but I will return within ten minutes. I-...I need to keep track of your well-being."

He pivots at precisely one hundred eighty degrees and shuffles off, his feet only slightly leaving the ground.

"Ha...strange guy Ed...sweet, but strange," Crispus chuckles, "...does he have a thing for you?"

I shake my head "No, nothing like that. You've seen how he flirts with Kristen, I don't stand a chance."

"But then why shack up with a criminal like Oswald Cobblepot? That seems like quite the flip from Nygma," Renee chimes in.

I lean over and spot Oswald, standing by the doorway to the apartment building, just hidden out of sight, "Yeah...he is quite different from Ed. Although at this point, I consider Oswald more of a...business partner than a romantic partner," I confess, "for...obvious reasons."

"I mean, I trust your judgement but...watch yourself, okay?" Renee warns, putting her hand on my shoulder.

Crispus smiles, putting his hand on my opposite shoulder, "Yeah, there's already a shortage of good guys in Gotham, wouldn't want to lose any more."

Her hand massaging my shoulder, Renee grasps my elbow with her other hand, "Barbara, Crispus, and I will handle things while you recover. Now that Marsha's dead we just have to squeeze info out of her henchmen. If Marsha was involved with the Court of Owls, they have to know something."

After another pat on the back, Renee and Crispus get up to leave. My right hand has been kept in a tight fist this entire time, and I finally open it, revealing the piece of paper Oswald had stuck in my hand. I open up the crinkled paper, and read the cursive writing scrawled on it.

And to my love my heart be entwined

For love's grip is stronger than steel

A love that could be so divine

Yet you will never understand how I feel

With your warmth the sun seems to shine

Like a queen you force me to kneel

But your king has returned to his land

And he refuses to kiss your hand

For love can only be forged with swords and sticks

And though your devotion is rather betwixt

You will soon find in time

Love's only barrier is how hard one can press his heel

For if there be a reason or rhyme

One day, my love, you shall be mine

It's very...Oswald.

Ed peers from behind a parked ambulance truck, "...Whatcha reading?"

I look up as he prances to where I sit, "Oh, something a friend wrote for me."

Sitting down, Ed leans his entire upper body towards me, adjusting his glasses as he leans over to read along, "...someone's a fan of the Shakespearean sonnet. From your admirer, perhaps?"

"Yes, it's from him," I smile playfully.

"You know, I myself have been dabbling in the art of poetics. I've been thinking about composing something for Ms. Kringle."

I look away, "Oh, yeah, that's great."

Frowning, Ed wraps his arms around me, "Well, you still have your man. You are happy with him, right?"

Ed has enough to worry about, he doesn't need to be even more aware of my problems.

"Yeah...yeah."

He squeezes me further into his hug, "I'm sure you're tired. You can tell me about it later."

My eyes widen. He didn't buy it, but...he's letting it go? I don't know if I should be relieved, or worrying that he'll come prodding about it later.

Ed gets up, "I'll speak to an officer about when we can get you back in your apartment. If not, you can stay at my residence."

"Thanks Ed," I smile, as I curl up into a ball on the edge of the sidewalk.

Just as he disappears out of sight, Oswald finishes his conversation with the officers and starts hobbling over to me.

"You will not be allowed back into your apartment for a day or two. Even if these unis are in Don Falcone's pocket...the apartment is still a crime scene," he informs me.

I stand, "Fine, I'll find somewhere to stay-"

"Y-...you haven't been to my apartment in quite some time."

I raise an eyebrow. He's not seriously suggesting I stay with him? After what happened last time? And his mother, what would she think?

I shake my head, "That's probably for the best, Oswald. I have somewhere I-"

"With whom, huh? Who'd be so eager to offer you sanctuary?" he questions, taking a step toward me.

I push him back, "That's none of your business."

From behind him, Oswald flips out his pocketknife, and I recognize the familiar switch of the blade. My head is already starting to feel light, there's no way I could take him now-

"Excuse me, is there a problem here?" Crispus asks, stepping in between us.

Oswald hastily puts the weapon away, as Crispus stares him down with a wary eye.

"Yeah, bad idea trying to pull a knife around a bunch of cops, Cobblepot," he reminds him, gesturing to the scene around him.

"Of course Detective Allen. But remember, the mob still owns the cops."

Turning around, Oswald limps away, his waddle more forceful than usual.

"...you sure he's worth the trouble? Because...I say we take him out for another trip down the river," Crispus cracks his joke with a smile.

I cross my arms, "Watch, he'll survive that one too."

From behind a group of officers, Ed reemerges and sneaks up behind Crispus. I try not to smile as Ed peers right over his shoulder, before speaking in a clear tone, "Conversing with Ms. K, are we detective?"

Crispus jumps, "Woah, Nygma! Caught me off guard there. Haha…"

Ed steps back so that he's standing next to him. He turns to me, "Your apartment will remain a crime scene until tomorrow morning. Unfortunately the uniform officers won't let you back in to collect some clothes and toiletries. No need...you can just borrow mine."

Crispus bumps my shoulder, "Have fun with that."

I chuckle, before bumping him back, "I'll cash in that coffee meet-up once I'm feeling better, alright?"

"Alright," he nods, as I walk off with Ed.

From a black car parked across the street from the apartment building, Oswald leans against the back as Gabe and Eel get out from either side.

"Look, I get it boss, but don't you think you're focusing too much on this one broad?" Gabe suggests, "I mean, the boys and I could just take you down to a joint in Park Row and buy you-"

"Hush, Gabriel," Oswald interrupts,

He watches from afar as Trixie gets into a light green car along with a tall, dark-haired man. There's that elusive, oh-so-great womanizer whom she's taken with. While he can barely glimpse his features from across the street, Oswald knows exactly the kind of man he is. Tall, dark, handsome, charming...hmm, perhaps Oswald will have some fun with him before killing him.

He gestures to his men, "Eel, I want both of them tied up and in one of Maroni's warehouses by morning. Gabe, you will stay with me as I conduct...business."

"Yes, boss," Eel nods before heading off into the separate black car behind the other one.

Oswald and Gabe head back to their own car as Eel drives off. Getting into the driver's seat, Gabe starts up the car as Oswald slams the back of his head into the headrest.

"Gee boss, you're really set on this girl, aren't you?" he asks.

Oswald closes his eyes, "Gabriel, I'd have thought out of all my men you'd understand. You have children of your own, correct?"

He nods, as the car pulls out of its parking space and onto the road, "Yeah, two young ones. Raised 'em all by myself. But boss...you're not saying she's your-...I mean, she definitely don't look like yours-"

"No Gabriel, she's not my child!" he corrects, "...although, I must admit, it feels like it sometimes. She's just...in need of guidance. Protection."

Gabe shakes his head, "I don't know boss, I think you might be barking up the wrong tree. She doesn't look all that in need of help-"
"Just keep driving Gabriel!" he snaps, slouching and crossing his arms.

"...while Eel takes care of our friends, you and I will be taking an inventory," Oswald informs him.

Gabe scratches the top of his head,"What, of all the cash we'be been writing off of Maroni's book? Yeah, bad news Penguin, that money isn't going to be enough to buy all the guns and men you've been asking for. The Russians have been holding a monopoly on guns ever since that police raid on the docks."

Oswald rolls his head to the side, "I'm aware. That's why I'll be raising taxes on Maroni's fishermen. They're the ones that let it slip about Maroni's guns in the first place. Who better to punish?"

"Oh...I see," he nods, "but the we'll actually be keeping the money all to ourselves."

"Yes Gabe, you're finally seeing things my way."

He turns to Oswald, "One more question boss-"

"Make it quick," he grumbles.

"What do ya need all the guns and men for anyway? You've already got me and Eel, isn't that enough?" Gabe wonders, his dumpy voice holding an air of innocence.

Oswald can't help but chuckle, "Gabriel, you really think any respectable mob boss has only two men? No...I need more manpower. So when Fish's inevitable demise is at hand, I'll be ready to strike."

Gabe shrugs, "Still don't make much sense to me."

Author's Note: Greetings (once again) from the Ashland Oregon Shakespeare Festival! I'd just started this story when I went last year, and it's amazing to see how far I've come. I'll be posting as normal, but I might be a bit sluggish considering the hectic schedule

davinaxo: Thanks, and no problem, happens all the time.

It's kind of glossed over, but in this chapter Ed comes back when the police have already cleared out the room. Oswald's talking to officers in the doorway and therefore Ed can't see him

Langley21: It's hard to say how Natalie's relationship with Crispus will go. Gotham didn't really establish much about him, which leaves me a lot of wiggle room to work with. How Oswald will react...well, we'll just have to wait and see ;) And yes, more love for the '66SS! It's cool you got a chance to see the episodes with the Bookworm, some of the last chapters were named after Batman '66 episodes

Thanks! :)