Chapter 47

Oswald looked at ease. This was good. The people had to see him as strong and capable, especially in the beginning. In order to build a sturdy house, after all, one had to put good bricks at the bottom before moving up.

Her hands cupping her elbows, Ruby watched him stand in front of the microphone. Cameras flashed. People murmured, mostly with admiration. Good. The little near-homicide incident had been brushed aside. Well, it was to be expected. Humans were always ready to erase negativity in favor of positivity.

Straight as a broomstick, Oswald spoke clearly and firmly. His was the confidence of a king. "It is with a humble heart that I accept the trust placed in me by this great city to become your mayor." His icy-blue eyes scanned the crowd, focusing on each face individually. "The people have spoken, and I have heard their call!" The assembly cheered enthusiastically.

Ruby blew a kiss at him, hopefully unseen.

Oswald, strengthened by the concourse's zeal, spoke up. "And as my first act as mayor, I would like to introduce you to my first deputy mayor and chief of staff," He turned to two faces and thrust his arm out, "Miss Ruby Sinclair and Mr. Edward Nygma!"

Ruby froze as applause erupted around her. She stood there for a long moment, barely breathing as shock seized her brain. Seeing her friend's smile, but unable to return it. Surprise had turned her to stone.

A large, beefy hand gave her a gentle push. Butch's voice tickled her ear. "Go on, Curly. You're up."

Ruby turned to the one-handed thug, who offered her an akward half-smile. Swallowing nervously, she nodded and shyly forced her feet to move. As she neared the spotlight, Oswald offered her his hand. She grasped it like a drowning man seizing a plank. Her skin was still covered in goose-bumps. As more cameras flashed, Oswald brought her hand to his lips and gently kissed her knuckles. A loud, 'Ooooooh' rebounded through the throng. It took all of Ruby's willpower to avoid (literally) melting on the spot. Forcing a close-lipped smile at the crowd, she whispered, "What are you doing?"

"The best course of action that I can imagine." He whispered back. "I can think of no one more worthy for this position."

Ruby blushed all the way to the roots of her hair.

Edward approached them, looking as stunned and happy as Ruby felt. Oswald clapped a hand on the taller man's shoulder. Then, taking both their wrists, he raised them victoriously towards the clique. The loudest roll of applause filled the room like wine in a chalice.

Butch watched it all from the back. For the young woman, who was so clearly in love with Penguin it was kind of sad, he felt something akin to warmth. She deserved this, at least, after everything he'd put her through.

But Nygma? Butch wanted nothing more than to wipe the floor with that smarmy face of his.

He would do exactly that.

The next several days were nothing short of chaotic.

Every moment was spent pleasing the citizens of Gotham and making the most of his victory.

One example was participating in something akin to a parade. Countless celebrating folk went out to shake hands and take pictures of the new mayor. Confetti rained on them like rainbow hail. Ruby and Edward sat in the back of a cadillac, with Oswald sandwiched between them. Edward did not wear his glasses. He whispered in Oswald's ear. The new mayor nodded in understanding. Ruby performed a few clay-based tricks for the entertainment of the crowd, such as turning her hands into fleshy origami.

Butch followed the car, looking at it with envy.

Another stop was the local soup kitchen. Edward and Butch stood aside, with the former adjusting Oswald's chef hat. Oswald served soup and bread to the homeless, even taking photos with a lucky few. Ruby brought them the leftovers from the banquet, with a few hidden gems baked in the crusts.

Yet another event was the auguration of a new school bus. Oswald, with a huge pair of scissors, cut the ribbon tied across the door. The crowd roared their approval. He then quickly called on Edward to pose for the photo with him. Ruby was next. She stood as proud as she could, waving at the cameras. At the corner of her mind, she wondered if all of this publicity would reach the ears and eyes of her parents. And if they would care.

At some point, when Oswald was not in earshot, a reporter tapped on Ruby's shoulder. Winking mischieviously, she asked her if she and Oswald were married.

Ruby felt like the cement has disintegrated beneath her feet. "Wh-what?" She licked her suddenly dry lips.

"Well," the reporter said, "you're the only woman in his entourage. And we've heard that you two have been shacking up for a year and a half now. It would only be the decent thing to do."

Ruby's eye twitched. "'Shacking up'?" She took a step closer to the reporter. The woman instinctively took a step back. Trying her best to control her temper, Ruby held up her right hand. "Am I wearing a wedding ring?"

The reporter blinked. Swallowed. Shook her head. "N-no, you're not." Indeed, Ruby was wearing a blue diamond, a zircon, and a jade ring. Each stone was no larger than a wild strawberry.

"That's right. Because we are not married, nor are we promised to be married." Ruby dropped her hand. "And I would advise you to watch your language when referring to the mayor and the deputy mayor."

The reporter left out this conversation in the newspaper.

Silence dominated the chamber facing the garden. It was not made of tension or fear, but of something much deeper: sorrow. Oswald, in a black suit and wine-colored tie, stood before a statue. Recently built, with specific instructions from Oswald, a statue of his mother had been erected. Perched on a small altar, she overlooked the luxurious room. She had been crafted not as she had been later in life, with the weight of over fifty years dragging her down, but as she had been in youth. A lovely, friendly woman in a modest dress and fair hair collected in a bun.

Oswald swallowed hard. The hand closed tightly around his cane, burning his palm. He wondered if this was how Ruby felt each time she visited his father's grave. He himself almost never did because the reminder was too painful.

The new mayor swallowed. "There's something I've been wanting to ask you." His eyes brimmed. "Am I a good boy? Have I made you proud?"

The statue stood benignly still, smiling and calm, unable to reply. Oswald's heart stung. His mother never would have stayed quiet. She had always gushed about how happy he made her. She'd clapped her hands at every accomplishment, no matter how small, and had showered him with love from the moment she'd held him in her arms.

Not for the first time, Oswald wondered if his mother had seen his father in him. If only a little.

And what their lives may have been like had Father defied his parents as he'd intended, married his pregnant companion and assisted to Oswald's birth. His childhood. His life.

Oswald cleared his throat. Dabbed at the corner of his eyes.

A soft, deep voice pierced the quietude. "I hope I'm not interrupting."

"Oh, Ed." Oswald quickly dabbed his eyes again. Swallowed hard as his new chief of staff approached him. Icy-blue eyes never left the statue. "You never met my mother." He gave a melancholic smile. "Wasn't she beautiful?"

Edward stared at the statue for about two seconds before giving a reserved smile. "A fine figure of a woman." He moved closer so that he was standing beside Oswald. The mayor kept his eyes on the statue, trying to keep them as dry as possible. "She was my whole world." He said softly. "The only one that was always there for me." Swallowing hard, he tried to rein his emotions in. But they were like wet bars of soap, constantly slipping out of his hands.

Edward pondered over his friend's words before speaking. "Well, I believe the answer is 'yes'."

Oswald turned to him.

Edward stared at him meaningfully. "She would be proud."

Oswald gave a tiny smile. "Do you really think so?"

Edward grinned. "Oswald, look at everything you've achieved." Oswald wiped his cheek as his friend continued. "The people love you. Gangs fear you. And tomorrow night, the crème of Gotham will be gathering to celebrate...you." Edward shrugged happily as Oswald gave another shy smile. "What more could someone ask for?"

Oswald thought about it for a long moment. The answer came to him like a thrown rock in the gut. Swallowing, he stepped in front of the statue. Looking into the stony likeness of such kind eyes, ones always lit up when he entered the room. "Someone to share it with." He replied solemnly. Edward watched him through half-closed eyes. Oswald kissed his fingers, then rested them on the cold stone lips. Breathing shakily.

Okay. She could do it. She would do it. Today, she would ask him.

Admittedly, Ruby had been reciting the same mantra to herself ever since the party had been organized. Day after day, she'd intended to ask Oswald. Yet each day she'd held her tongue. Once, it had been because a long day had seen Oswald going to bed, fully clothed, at seven p.m. Another time had been due to his spending the entire day with Edward and her wanting to avoid the bastard at all costs. There was always a reason.

Especially buried beneath six feet of excuses. The truth was, Ruby could have asked Oswald a dozen times over by now. But the truth was, the idea of asking her made her knees turn to butter. What if he said no? Would that cause a rift in their friendship? Would he suspect that she had feelings for him? And what if he said yes? Oh, God. Anything could happen. Things could truly get weird between them. What if...

Ruby groaned. Covered her face with her first pair of hairs. The other two pairs set down the gems that she had been polishing and filing. She would have been content with staying like that all bloody day.

Until there came a deep-throated groan. "Oh, yuck."

Ruby dropped her hands and turned around. Standing at the entrance of the saloon was Butch Gilzean, an expression of disgust printed on his face. His watery-blue eyes stared at her extra limbs as if fearing they'd attack him. "What the hell are you doing?"

The deputy mayor sighed. "Taking a break." She admitted.

"By playing with rocks?"

Ruby rolled her eyes. "They're semiprecious gemstones." Seeing Butch avoid eye contact, she repeated the action. Then, the four additional arms shriveled, sinking back into her waist and ribcage. Rubbing the spots slightly, she winced. "Can't believe some busted ribs are bothering me so much."

"Oh, I know all about 'bother', Curly." Butch muttered as he finally looked at Ruby. "I haven't been this busy since I first started workin' for Fish."

Ruby cocked a brow. Leaning back in the armchair, she asked, "Why? Did you have to do some rite of passage or something?"

Butch looked surprised. "As a matter of fact, yeah." His eyes flitted from her to the armchair across from her. Uncertainty hovered in his gaze like a stormcloud. Ruby drummed her fingers against the armrests before smirking. "Come on, park it. You afford a break, just like I do."

The guard blinked, then nodded. "Thanks." He all but crashed in the chair. Looked around in an attempt to ignore how awkaward he felt. The chamber, like every other room in the house aside from the broom closet, was finely furnished and saturated in elegance. This room was mainly grayish-green, with faint traces of fuschia. The walls were painted that particular shade of green, while the fuschia manifested itself in the curtains and carpets. The furniture found a middle ground, residing in shades of white and gray. Even though the only pieces of furniture were the two armchairs, a coffee table between them, and a few cabinets filled with china cups, the entire place still radiated weath.

Butch eyed the coffee table. It was littered with shining stones of various colors, what appeared to be eyeglasses with several magnifying lenses, and tools that Butch did not recognize.

He gestured to them with his metal hand. "What's all this?"

Ruby blinked, then gave the shadow of a smile. "They're grinding stones, rubber hand backers, and sandpaper, which are used to help refine and polish gems. As for the gems themselves, heh..." She smirked. "Interested in a crash course?"

Butch thought about it for a second. His secret thoughts churned in his mind. Travelling to that dark place that no one could know about it. The guys were all set, right? They were meant to act this afternoon, right? So he had some time to kill. And spending it with the clay mutant had to be better than risk running into Nygma.

Sighing, he nodded.

Ruby brightened. "Great!"

For the next twenty minutes, she held up each stone on the table and spoke of their name, use, and symbolism. Butch wasn't sure how much he heard or understood, but it was kind of nice to see each unique gem and hear the facts surrounding them. He found himself liking the brightness of the topaz, the fractured surface of the diamond, and the tiger-like patterns of the malachite.

At last, the grandfather clock gave a gentle chiming. Bringing them back to reality and all the hardships within it.

Ruby leaned back with a sigh. Grinning at Butch. "Not bad. You're actually pretty attentive...for a thug."

Butch nodded. "Thanks. And you're pretty cool...for a mutant."

Ruby stuck her tongue out at him as they both stood. "I've got to be better company that Edward."

"Oh, God, don't tell me." Butch groaned. "He's such a...a..." He halted, unable to find the words.

Ruby certainly did. "...An under-muscled, self-indulgent, egotistic, stingy, prissy, narcissistic jackass!" She and Butch both barked with laughter. Butch slapped her back, nearly knocking her over. They probably would have laughed until dusk had a knock on the door. They both turned to see Edward and Oswald standing there. While Edward's expression was neutral, Oswald was smiling with fondness. "I'm so pleased you two are getting along!"

Ruby chuckled. Ran a hand through her hair. "Guess so." She cocked her head at her friend, ignoring Edward completely. "Wow. Is it time for the speech already?"

Oswald spread his hands out. "I'm afraid so."

"Awww," Ruby was at his side in an instant, "don't worry. They'll be eating from the palm of your hand...again." She looped an arm around his hunched shoulders. Oswald's arm snaked around her waist. The two disappeared down the corridor, with Edward in close pursuit.

Butch rubbed the back of his neck, feeling uncertain for the first time in a while.

He could only hope that, when his men entered the field, the curly-haired mutant would not get hurt.