Chapter 107

From Ed's bedroom, I watch the slow sprinkling of snow, as flakes land and melt against the window. Hopefully Montoya and Allen are doing alright with the investigation. I'm tangled in the covers, covered up to my neck in the warm, dull green quilt. Exhausted, I'd slept through most of the afternoon.

"Cozy?" Ed peeks into the room, carrying a metal tray with both hands.

I nod, "Yeah. Thanks."

He opens the door just enough for him to slide through with the tea tray. On the tray contains a steaming cup of tea, a plate of biscuits, and the jar of ointment he'd gotten that morning.

"Oh no, you're not going to run my back, are you? Ed, I really appreciate you trying to help, but-"

"No, no more excuses, Nat, you've been holding this off long enough. You want a speedy recovery, correct? Then let me help you," he tells me as he sets down the tray on the nightstand next to the bed.

I groan, rolling over, "Fine."

With my back now exposed, Ed sits down on the bed and lifts up my shirt, "So...remind me how you came by these wounds again?"

"It was work-related. Nothing major."

"Tell me, how does a police officer receive several moderate burns and lacerations? We're in the modern age, twenty lashes is no longer an acceptable punishment," he asks, dipping both hands into the jar of ointment and rubbing them together.

I cringe as he starts to rub my lower back, avoiding my bra. Should I come clean? Lying to Ed never works, not in the end. He'll know something's up if I try to fool him. Dammit...he knows me too well.

"That 'admirer' who wrote me that poem? ...he whipped me with a belt."

Ed's expression goes completely cold, as he backs off and seats himself in his chair, "...was it for romantic purposes?"

I scrunch my eyebrows, "Wh-what? No, Ed, he did it because...because he wanted to. It wasn't romantic at all."

"And yet you're still romantically affixed with this man?" he questions, striking a thinking pose.

I shake my head, "No, no! I-...I...I don't know, okay?"

Ed leans back in his chair, "Fascinating...after all he's done to you, there's still a hesitation as to what your feelings are for him. Instead of automatically reverting to hate, you respond with uncertainty."

"I don't need a psycho-analysis, Ed," I grumble, getting back under the sheets, "I just want to go to sleep."

"But-...there's still so many questions that need answering!" he argues, "Like: does he feel remorse for his actions? What motivated him to take these actions against you? Is this ointment I bought for you truly effective, or just a well-labelled snake oil-"

I quiet Ed with my index finger pressing against his lips, "Shush. You're suppose to be taking care of me. Now let me sleep."

After a pause, he brushes my hand away, and gets up to turn off the light. After a little bit of shuffling around, he gets into bed beside me. Placing his hand around my shoulder, he tilts his head toward me.

"Everything will be alright, Nat."

I sigh, and smile. That's all I needed to hear.

I'm rudely awaken by noise coming from Ed's living room. Looking up, the bedroom door's closed, and I have no way of seeing who, if anyone, is outside that door.

"Nat, were you awaken by that disturbance as well?" Ed whispers, his tone conveying neither fear nor concern.

I nod, "I'll investigate-"

Ed grabs my wrist, "No, you're in no condition to investigate a possibly dangerous threat!"

"And you are?"

He keeps my wrist down, using it as an anchor as he stands, "It's fine, statistically speaking...yeah, actually it's very likely we're being robbed right now, but...for the sake of happy thoughts let's just pretend it's very likely that it's a stray cat outside."

I get up from the bed, ignoring the hint of remaining headache as I watch Ed slowly open the door. I don't have my knives, or any of my weapons on me.

Once Ed has the door's halfway open, it's flung open from the other side. Two shots are fired as I hit the floor, rolling under the bed. A pair of shiny black shoes creak against the wooden floor. Glancing beyond the intruder, through the darkness I spot Ed's tall figure backed against the wall, hidden by the fully opened door.

The assailant makes his way around the room, as I slowly start to crawl out from under the bed. His feet switch position, pointing toward Ed. No!

Sliding out from under the bed, I grab the man's foot and yanks back, pulling him to the floor. The man slips, firing an accidental shot into the kitchen. Ed jumps out from behind the door, grabbing a vase from the nearby dresser and smashing him over the head. I use this opportunity to snatch the gun from his hand and raise it in front of him.

"...Eel? What are you doing here?"

Ed gets up, still holding a shattered shard of the broken vase, "You know this man?"

Eel has his hands up in the air, "Look, it's nothing personal. Penguin sent me after you guys after he saw you running off with him."

"'Penguin'? As in the flightless bird associated with cold temperatures?" Ed asks.

I keep the gun trained on Eel, but I crack a smile, "All's forgiven. It's not like you were the one wanting to get it done. It's just a job, right? Nothing personal, but...just to be safe, you got anything else on you?"

"Just some cloth ties, an-and a couple of trading cards. In my jacket pockets," he looks down, gesturing to his pockets.

"Oh! Trading cards, what kind?" Ed asks, alight with enthusiasm.

Eel looks up at him, before turning to me, "...you hang around a lot of freaks, you know that?"

I shrug, "It comes with the trade."

Giving the gun to Ed, I empty Eel's pockets and discover only the ties and trading cards he'd described.

"Well, you're honest, I'll give you that," I grumble, dumping his stuff on the floor in front of him, save the gun.

"I wasn't instructed to kill you, just bring you to one of Maroni's warehouses. Penguin would've dealt with you there."

I raise an eyebrow, leaning against the bedpost, "And by that you mean kill us?"

Still on edge, Eel fumbles in place, "I-I, I don't know. Probably. I don't ask questions, I just get the job done, and get paid. Look Trixie, I am so close to getting out, okay? Just let me off the hook, and I swear, I'll never get in your way again."

"Trixie? There is no Trixie here," Ed corrects, and I cringe.

"Ed, I'll explain that later."

I turn back to Eel, my eyes in small slits, "You can't go back to Oswald empty-handed, he'll kill you."

"Then what am I supposed to do? He's gonna find me! Godammit, I'm this close to Gotham U!"

Bending down, Ed picks up one of Eel's trading cards, "...Gray Ghost trading cards. I see you're trying to collect the entire set."

Eel turns to him, confused, "Yea-I mean...no! Look, those are just...cards I collect from bubble gum packs."

Putting the card down, Ed adjusts his glasses, "...how old are you? Around our age? Mid to late-twenties perhaps? You mentioned wanting to attend Gotham U."

Still bewildered, Eel slowly starts to nod his head, "Uhuh...what's it to ya?"

"Well, you see, I graduated from Gotham U summa cum laude. I could talk to administration for you, if that's what you'd like," Ed smiles, "if, of course, you'll give me your Gray Ghost cards."

Eel's expression lights up, "No kidding! Gosh, this is almost too good to be true!" he approaches Ed and clasps his hand, "I take back what I said about you being a freak, you're one cool cat, man!"

"I like bolstering potential when I see it," Ed replies, as he collects the cards from off of the floor.

"Eel, how about I find you a motel room in the morning? You can lie low there until this whole thing blows over," I suggest.

"Of course," he nods.

"Until then, how about we get some sleep? Patrick, you can sleep on the couch," I tell him, gesturing out to the living room.

Ed raises an eyebrow, "...Patrick now, is it? Natalie, you must get me up-to-date on all of these alternative names."

I pat Ed on the back as Eel exits the bedroom, "Oh Ed, you wouldn't be able to keep up if I tried."

Author's Note: Gotham Mondays are back! Sorry this post is coming late, I just finished watching the Season 2 premiere of Gotham. For those of you guys just jumping on for Season 2...I applaud you for reading so fast

Guest: The OswaldxNataliexEdward threesome fluff is for the BOAF one year anniversary, which is in two weeks. Get hyped! :D

davinaxo: Oswald's starting to move into the point where his work is done by henchmen, and not himself. Rest assured, he's still pissed. Also, I hope you enjoyed the Season 2 premiere of Gotham!

Langley21: Thanks, I never thought of myself as a good poet, but I'm glad you enjoyed it. While Ed will remain protective of Natalie, his protectiveness may lead to some frustration (Natalie does get herself into a lot of dangerous situations after all). From the previews for future Season 2 episodes, Ed's turn will be interesting to write indeed. And thanks, I had a lot of fun, and I got home just in time to watch the premiere

Thanks! :)