I own nothing but little miss Nicki.

CHAPTER THREE

"He who has injured thee was wither stronger or weaker than thee."

As Oswald stumbled into the club he was expecting a lot of things. An angry scolding from Fish. Judgment of his state of dress. The mockery of Fish's "boys".

But one thing he never expected was to see the cause of his tardiness standing there, still wrapped up in his coat. All he could do was gape at her. Who was this girl, and why on Earth was she here. Was she here? Was he delusional from fatigue after practically running the four blocks to the club?

"Oswald." There was his name on her lips again. She smiled and muttered something to Fish and Butch which he could hear, or didn't comprehend. And then, as if she were a dream, she glided across the floor towards him. Her heels didn't even make a sound, or perhaps they did and he simply couldn't hear it over the blood rushing in his ears as she slipped his coat from her slender figure, exposing the still slightly transparent dress. Now only a foot away from him, she tilted her head up to meet his eyes and held out the coat to him. His clammy hands reached up to take it and he gulped as she took his hand and draped his coat across his arm. "I promised I'd return it," she said, giving his wrist a squeeze before letting go. "I was just telling Fish about what gentleman you were for helping me out earlier."

Glancing up towards Fish he saw a pleased, albeit surprised look on her face and couldn't help the dopey grin from crossing his. The look of appraisal from both of these women filled him with a triumph he didn't experience often. Unfortunately, it was short lived.

"The Penguin?!" Butch guffawed, slapping his hand on the bar and giving a howl of a laugh. "You gotta be kiddin me!"

Oswald's face darkened as he glared at Butch, humiliation washing over him. "I've asked you not to call me that," he said in a low, blank tone, but Nicki could sense the menace in it all the same, compelling her to take a small step back. Butch was oblivious, or more likely didn't care, and continued to laugh. "It's a sad day when the best hero a girl has is Penguin."

Oswald ducked his head and glared at him through his brows, his cheeks turning red. Fish didn't hide the grin from her face as Butch mocked her umbrella boy but called him down all the same. "Now, now Butch. Our little Oswald is full of surprises." Even as she scolded her right hand, she didn't bother to wipe the smirk from her face and condescension dripped in her every word. Oswald raised his head slightly and pressed his lips together tight knowing better than to speak a word against his boss.

"I'll say," Butch continued. "I didn't know the little guy had it in him-"

"Clothes." Nicki's voice cut in. Oswald turned his attention back to her, and saw her face riddled with sympathy. She held his eyes for only a moment before turning back to the now silent Butch. "You said you'd help me find some dry clothes?"

Butch sensed that he was being shut down and sobered up as he nodded to her, immediately becoming all business. "Of course. Right this way Miss."

The room was tense with the sudden shift, and Nicki seemed to catch on to this. "And I get pants too, right?" she added, lightening the mood once again and causing the good-natured grin to return to the man's face.

"Sure thing Nick. C'mon."

Fish shook her head and gave a small breath of a laugh before sauntering off to her office, leaving Oswald alone. He snarled as he shrugged on his coat, frustrated and embarrassed at his treatment in front of this girl. Nicki? Is that her name? He still didn't know who she was but it didn't matter much now after Butch's teasing. And that sympathetic look. It burned into him and made him feel even worse. It was bad enough that he had to be treated with such disrespect, but then for her to look at him like he was some pitiful creature that she should feel sorry for? No, he didn't much care who this new girl was, but he was certain that he hoped she wouldn't be staying around for long.