Oswald
I was silent for a little bit just as I watched Nygma tear his apartment apart. After destroying a picture frame and ripping up the picture it contained, he came over and offered offered me a hand up as I couldn't really get up of the floor, because of the cast.
"I forgive you Neg." I replied back softly and smiled warmly at him. "I am just glad to be here with you."
He went to grab us drinks, and he brought me a glass of water. I would've preferred something stronger, but this was Nygma we were talking about. I doubt he had anything stronger in this apartment that was drinkable.
Would you stay...here... tonight? I...can't be alone right now.
Did I just hear him right? Yes, he did ask me to stay. I mean he looked right at me. What can this mean? Could this mean that he was finally falling for me? For real? Or am I the rebound man?
I tossed all of these questions aside and just decided to see how the night went. I gave up on making anymore moves on Nygma tonight after being pushed away again and seeing him having something resembling night terrors.
"I am just happy to be here with you, Neg. I will always be here with you when you need me.'
"We will take on the world together. Facing each others demons together. Maybe even rule Gotham together." I placed the left side of his face gingerly in my right palm and turned his face to look at mine. I was half tempted to steal another kiss from him, but I thought better of it.
Until Nygma starts accepting me fully as a potential lover, I'll have to hold my urges back. I vowed, because now that I had him somewhat hooked, I didn't want to scare him off by going too far.
"So how is this sleepover going to work? Do you want me to make up a bed for myself on the couch, or better yet the table in the spare room?" I said this all sarcastically to try and lighten dark gloomy mood of the room. I added a small laugh
Nygma
"I'll leave the ruling to you," I chuckled softly at that comment. "I'm not a leader."
I looked at him quietly as he held my face in his hand, it was still slightly bruised from Gordon's wailing on me. That man had a hell out a right hook.
I shook my head at his bed comment. "You can have my bed," he nodded. "What kind of host would I be if I made you sleep anywhere else? I don't even know if I will sleep myself. I have to go back to GCPD tomorrow and have to shake Gordon's hand like everything is alright and get back to work."
I sighed deeply at that.
"I guess Gordon tried to come see me at Arkham but the Doctor wouldn't let him. Said I was too vulnerable to see the man I attacked. I'll laugh if it was for another case."
Inside I wasn't ready to go back there, I felt happier that I was out. But, I had to remain at GCPD until further notice.
Oswald
"Why thank you, Neg. " I smiled and gave him a small seated half bow. "Will you be joining me in the bed?"
He just blinked at me a bit stunned.
"Calm down, I'm not planning on doing anything to you tonight. Since you were the one who asked me to stay over, I thought that, we could just spend sometime together. It wouldn't be fair if I was sleeping and you weren't. I am here to chase away your demons not assault you. You understand?"
He nodded at me, still a bit hesitant. I pushed myself off of the couch and offered a hand to Nymga. He took it and I tried to lead him to the bedroom, however with my cast, Nygma was more supporting me as I walked.
I sat down on the side of the bed and gestured for him to join me sitting there shyly avoiding my gaze.
"Listen Nygma, Gotham's a mess right now and someone's going to have to take control of that mess. That person I always thought to be me, but I think we might be even more powerful combining forces! Your massive intellect and my ability to seem trustworthy. No one could stop up or even get close to us! However if you join me it will mean that you'll have to face Gordon some day on the opposite side. Are you alright with that?"
I have no idea where this impassioned speech came from all of a sudden, but as the words flowed out I liked the sound of each one, and I started to believe them and that we could accomplish what everyone thought was impossible.
"Though we can't plot a full take over of Gotham without some rest."
I laid down on the bed and Nygma hesitantly followed suit. I held him from behind.
Just as I thought about drifting off I asked, "Neg, I'm tall when I'm young and short when I'm old. What am I?" I chuckled and kissed him on the back of his neck,"Pleasant dreams, dear friend."
Nygma
"You're a candle," I chuckled softly having finally solved that riddle a while beforehand.
I inhaled deeply, I felt comfortable there with Oswald holding me. It was definitely a new feeling, I'd never really been embraced by someone. I thought about his words of taking over Gotham. I don't know if I could face Gordon in a threat. I mean, at least not any time soon. I hated him for what he had done to Oswald, and what he consistently had done to me, but I was still on the honest side.
The fire inside me that I have begun to face however was the complete opposite. It favored Oswald's words, it favored destruction. Most of all, it favored Gordon's death.
I knew that the battle that would begin inside of me would be an uphill battle. I just wondered what part of me would win? The good Edward Nygma or the voice in my head that I referred to as Riddler?
I eventually slept, it was a short light sleep but it did come. My internal body clock woke me up reminding me it was time for work. I sighed weakly and de-tangled myself from Oswald's arms not wanting to disturb him and went to my closet taking out a pin striped green suit.
I slipped into the bathroom to shower and change. When I came back to the bedroom, I slipped on a tie. Black with a green question mark near the bottom. I had always been partial to the symbol, never understood why exactly.
I stood in front of the mirror as I tied my neck tie and tried to brace myself for the day. There would be lots of looks and whispers, something I was never used to. It was usually that everyone ignored me, now I would be under this weird spotlight. Most of all I didn't want to face Gordon. I didn't know how I would feel when it happened. Numb? Angry? Pleasant? Guess I was about to find out.
I looked to Oswald still asleep in my bed and went to my nightstand writing down a little note for him. That I had gone to work, he could stay as long as he liked. I signed the bottom with the letter N and placed it on my pillow before slipping out. I grabbed my lab coat and bag, and I left the apartment locking the door behind me.
I stood just inside the doors looking around once I reached GCPD. The officers walking by didn't look at me or anything. I wished it would stay that way. I approached the stairs to my office and the Captain was standing at the top of them, Gordon at her side.
I swallowed and adjusted my tie before walking up.
"Captain," I breathed. I knew I had to play wounded and innocent.
I kept my eyes lowered, purposely avoiding Gordon's stare.
"Welcome back Nygma, I do hope you are feeling better." she smiled resting her hand on my arm in comforting manner.
"I am, the pills have helped." I lied.
"Gordon..I'm so sorr..." I started, but he shook his head and patted my arm as well. "Don't worry about it, Ed. I've dealt with what you have been dealing with. It's not easy getting shot and having all this stress on your shoulders. I tried to come to Arkham to talk with you, and get you out of there but they wouldn't even let me get you a message."
Gordon was awful forgiving, he's sort of a pushover. I mused to myself.
"Thank you, Gordon, I do appreciate it." I smiled taking his hand in my own and shaking it vigorously.
"Of course, now get to your office we are backed up on forensic science stuff like you wouldn't believe."
I nodded. "Of course."
"Yeah, and no more time off work Ed!" yelled Detective Bullock from his desk.
"Only to find more riddles for you," I responded on a whim looking to him as I passed his desk.
"Ah fuck." he grunted.