Chapter 40

The next morning was as gloomy as Ruby's heart. The heavens were entirely hidden by huge gray clouds. The incoming dawn barely seemed brighter than the night before. In the aftermath of the rescue, she couldn't help feeling guilty. Oswald wanted Fish to pay for all that she'd done. He wanted to kill her before she could kill him. She'd been right there, within Ruby's reach, and what had Ruby done? Let her slip away in favor of a drowning girl.

The former maid sighed. Rested her forehead against her palm. Sleepiness, perisistent even after a cold shower, a change of clothes, and the wearing of pale pink pearls, tried to worm its way into her brain. Ruby straightened with a loud yawn. Stretched like a cat. Her necklace slipped away from her collar. Refreshingly cool on her skin. Her pink diamond earrings swayed as she turned her head. Ruby's breakfast of tofu bacon and chocolate milk sat untouched beside her. Oswald's was neatly placed on a tray. Ready to be served at seven a.m. sharp. It had all his favorites: tea, slightly burned toast, butter, orange juice, a carrot muffin, and a soft-boiled egg. Making him such a fine meal almost made her feel better for betraying him.

Ruby rubbed her eyes tiredly. Her body longed for sleep, but that simply couldn't happen. Today Oswald intended to confront the GCPD for their failure, knowingly barging in during a press conference. Ruby didn't want to miss it.

The grandfather clock began to chime. Ruby pushed herself up. Her arm stretched the five feet separating her from the tray on the couter. Swiftly picking it up, her arm resumed its normal length. Groggily, she made her way up the staircase. She took a moment to look around during her ascent. Admired the oil-on-canvas portraits that she'd been dusting for nearly a decade. Appreciated the soft, emerald-green carpet beneath her sore feet. Drank in the overall sense of home.

Then, she wondered if Oswald had ever felt this way about his previous home. The one that he'd shared with his mother. Probably so, soaking in melancholy and nostalgia.

Before the last chime faded, Ruby knocked on the door. Then, at a tired, "Come in," she entered. A second later, she wished that she hadn't. Photos of Fish Mooney were strewn across every available surface, from the nightstand to the walls. Some were circled, other crudely crossed out. A huge map of Gotham had been pinned above Oswald's bed. Several locations had been black out, while others played host to question marks. Oswald sat on the edge of his bed, legs and arms crossed, and stared intently at the image. His eyes had dark circles beneath them.

Ruby groaned. Set the tray down.

Oswald turned to her, his arms still folded. "The bright side is, there are hardly any locations for her to hide in now. I've had my men comb through her safehouses, to no avail, as well as every property she once had. That only leaves about five or six hiding places." He was speaking so quickly Ruby had to strain to listen. Running her hands through her hair, she sat down next to him. She took his hand to make sure he'd listen. "Oz," she paused, choosing her words carefully, "I know how much this case means to you."

Oswald sighed and closed his eyes. "I'm sorry, Ruby, but no. You can't. Not fully."

Ruby gave him a look. The girlish color of her jewelry contrasted with her serious expression. "We've literally merged minds. Try that one again."

Oswald bit his lip. Looked away. "I'm sorry."

Ruby nudged him. "It's fine. We're both on edge for this whole thing. We're bound to make mistakes." Her heart began to pick up the pace. Swallowing hard, she spoke. "In fact, er, I need to tell you something." Oswald turned to her. A spark was in his eyes, reinvigorated by the prospect of information. Ruby squeezed his hand. "Just remember...I really care about you."

Oswald smiled a little, genuinely touched by her words. He squeezed back. "As do I." He straightened. "And I promise, whatever it is...I will try not to get angry."

Appreciating the effort on his part, Ruby began to speak. The words gushed out of her like water from a cut-up melon. She found herself talking of how she had been sneaking out every night in search of Fish Mooney, of how little sleep she'd gotten as a result, and how she'd found her last night. She quickly moved on to what happened to Ivy, and how Ruby hadn't been able to leave her in the river. At the end of the tale she hid her face in her hands. Oswald didn't move or speak. She inhaled shakily. "You can be mad. I was a horrible friend. Fish was right there, and I-"

"You did the right thing."

Ruby blinked up at Oswald. A few stray tears streaked her face. Landed on her pearls. Oswald continued. "I know how soft-hearted you can be, Ruby. And in all honesty...that's one of the qualities I most cherish about you."

Ruby didn't answer. Couldn't.

Oswald went on. "You have been through so much, have been betrayed by the very people that brought you into this world, and yet you still find it in yourself to show compassion to others. Even if they may never return it." He cracked a smile. "Am I upset? Yes. But I still believe that you made the right choice." He hesitated before adding, "You have the kind of heart that I sometimes wish I had."

"Oz..." Unable to find a better response, Ruby wrapped her arms around him. He returned the gesture. She stroked his inky hair, breathing in his musky scent, wishing that this moment could last forever. When at last they pulled apart, she spoke. "And don't underestimate yourself, Oz. You have a good heart too, deep down. I've seen it." Her eyes twinkled. "Felt it." She rested a hand on his shoulder. Oswald covered her hand with his. She added, "And don't worry. We'll get her."

Oswald gave a timid smile that didn't dare to hope. The sight lifted Ruby's spirits. She patted his knee. The good one. "Now, eat your breakfast and I'll get a bath going." The dark-haired man gave her a look. "Who are you, my mother?"

"More like guardian angel." Ruby winked at him before disappearing into his restroom. "And don't try hiding the toast under the mattress again!" Oswald stared after her, a soft smile making its way across his face.

Twenty minutes later saw Ruby helping Oswald slip on a jacket. Silk, of the darkest purple. It shimmered during movement like a butterfly's wings. Coupled with the indigo tie, Oswald was the very picture of 'refined'. It took all of her self-control to keep from blushing as she buttoned the jacket closed. Thankfully, the television had been switched on; it distracted Oswald from his friend's reddening cheeks. There were mentions of 'monster' sightings and the usual crimes, but Ruby didn't want to hear about them. Not right now. She'd offered those souls a way out of town, and they'd rebuffed her offer. Harsh as it was, one cannot be helped unless they personally desire it.

Ruby tried to shake off these dark thoughts. Running her fingers over the fabric, she smiled down at Oswald. After generous helpings of soap and a bit of foundation beneath his eyes, he'd left the tired man behind. In his place was a ruler. A leader. A man in control.

Ruby adjusted his collar before giving him a concerned look. "Are you sure you want to go? I mean, who cares what the press writes? It's not like fifty percent of that isn't based on rumors."

Oswald nodded. "Yes. But if the press begins writing about me favorably, then it will mean that I have a certain amount of power on the legal side of the road as well. This will only improve my reputation. Besides, if the press begins writing about Fish Mooney, then she will feel even more trapped than before. This paranoia may lead to her taking some impulsive action."

Ruby nodded worriedly. Seeing that his mind was set in stone. With a sigh, she reached into her pocket. "Let me at least give you this, then."

Oswald's breath caught in his throat. Hanging from a thin ribbon was a gem no larger than a ripe cherry. It was shaped like a teardrop, made from the clearest blue material that he'd ever seen. If he held it up to his eye, he was certain that he could use it as a blue-tinted monocle.

Ruby giggled at his expression. "Close your mouth or you'll get flies." Oswald quickly obeyed as he friend slipped the ribbon around his neck. The stone rested neatly on his collarbone. Oswald fondled it with wonder. Ruby grinned as he looked back at her. "It's a zircon. Basically, it wards off negative energy."

Oswald blinked.

Ruby shrugged. "Thought it might be useful."

The pale man traced his finger over the stone once more. He shook his head. "Ruby, I cannot accept this."

"I'll resent you if you don't." Ruby laughed at his stunned expression. She held up her own stone: the acquamarine, shining in her palm like a twilight star. "You already spoiled me with this. I may as well try to return the favor."

Oswald stared at her. His gaze softened. "Ruby..."

There came a faint knock on the door. Oswald spun his head. "What?!"

Gabe's voice churned through the wooden barrier, slow and deep as molasses. "Time to go, boss."

"Yes, yes!" Oswald waved him off. "I'll be there in a moment." Turning back, he didn't hesitate to embrace Ruby. The former maid hesitated for a mere second for returning the gesture, blushing madly all the way. When they pulled away, Oswald pushed a rebellious lock out of her eyes. "I will see you this evening."

Ruby, trying to avoid swooning, nodded with a smile. "I'll make you lasagna."

The moment the door closed, however, Ruby's fatigue kicked in. She fell backwards in the covers. Inhaling Oswald's minty scent, she felt her eyeslids seal themselves shut. Sleep gently took her by the hand.

Lazuli Square was normally a relatively quiet place to be. With only a few bookstores, a Latino dance club, and an H&M, it often escaped criminals' notice due to its mundane nature. Even Oswald, who deemed himself the king of Gotham, had only been there once or twice - both times when Ruby had dragged him to the bookshops. But it was abuzz that afternoon, alive with energy, curiousity, and suspicion. And corruption, of course. There wasn't a corner in Gotham free of it.

A stand had been built to accomodate the board of directors. They were, to the public's eyes, variations of the same divinity: slight differences here and there did not erase their unquestionable power. People of every age had swarmed the stand, occasionally pushing past the journalists to get a better view. Flashing lights and clicking cameras rippled within the herd. Aubrey James stood above them all, his voice booming across the piazza. Dozens of microphones protruded from the stand like diseased plants.

"Friends, this city is in desperate need of leadership. Experienced, seasoned leadership at that! And this is why the board of directors persuaded me, much against my will, to resume the position as mayor until elections can start in the spring." James yelled over the journalists' questions and the blinking cameras, determined to get his point across. He was regal in this position, far beyond the scared imp who'd gotten his head stuck in a box. In that moment, in the warm glow of the lights and the pale sunlight, he felt untouchable.

Until a voice called out, "STOP!"

All heads turns. Eyes widened at the sight of a pale, black-haired man with a cane in his hand and a smirk on his face. Weaving his way through the crowd, with his lapdogs behind him, he spoke calmly and firmly. "This entire event is. A. Sham!"

"Security!" James yelled to hide the cold stab of fear. "Remove this criminal!" The cops didn't move a muscle. Too captivated by the surreal vision.

"Criminal?" Oswald echoed incredulously. "I was imprisoned by a corrupt system. A system that was ruined by that man!" He pointed at Aubrey James, who stretched his neck out like a turkey. Oswald spun around to face the crowd. "Monsters, yes, monsters have been parading through the streets for months, and the police has done nothing. It is I, Oswald Cobblepot, who drove them out." While he might have seemed confident to the average observer, he was cringing beneath the surface. Silently begging for Ruby's forgiveness.

"Oh, please!" James yelled.

Oswald spun around. Jerked his chin up at the man before the microphones. "Where were you when I faced peril at the hands of those abominations?" He scoffed. "How can anyone in their right mind elect you? How could they bring you back to the position that you brought so much shame and dishonor to?" Several people yelled their approval.

James' jaw tightened. "How dare you?!"

"No, how dare you!" Oswald stepped forward. "Waltzing up there and announcing yourself mayor? The people demand to have a say in who will represent them, who will protect them!"

A journalist called out. "Sir," Oswald spun around, "are you challenging Aubrey James for the position of mayor?"

"I most certainly am!" Oswald answered with a wild grin. More people called out joyfully. Their voices rose like songbirds in the muggy air. Strengthened by their vigor, Oswald climbed his way atop the stand. His cane thumped against its velvet draping. Many of the board members shied away from him, horrified to be in the vicinity of a criminal. He swiped one of the microphones free and held it close. "To be mayor, one must be legally elected." He glanced explicitly at James. "And that is why I, Oswald Cobblepot, demand that an emergency election be held," his voice grew stronger and more confident with each word, "and a suitable mayor be found forthwith!" His speech ended with a raging round of applause. Clapping as they would during a circus act, the cameras flashed while journalists scribbled busily away. Oswald's name began to rise from the pleased mouths of the public, rising in volume like a bird taking flight.

Oswald drank it all in. Turned to Aubrey James to ensure that he realized what this victory meant.