Oswald
Our relationship had taken an interesting turn. In bed the other evening just as I was about to drift off, Nygma turned to me.
"I think that I would like your mother. You should introduce us sometime."
"Yes, yes, I'll be sure to do that soon. I'll just have to check in with her first and see when I good time would be." I replied.
It's not that I wasn't happy to have Nygma meet my mother; I was just more worried for what her reaction would be.
My mother was a bit protective of her only boy. I had lived with her for long enough that she had sabotaged my previous relationships. She also came up with theories that I was running off with some Gotham hussy if she didn't see me every few days.
Bringing Nygma over would take a lot of preparation and explaining. I am not sure how my mother will react to me bringing a man home.
It was about that time again anyway to visit my mother. I sighed and walked through the door.
"Hello Mother! How are you today, dear Mother?" I said very warmly.
"What took you so long? You haven't been to see your dear mother for over a week...What if I would've died?"
"Mother, I thought that I had Gabe take care of you. I told him to tell you that I got hurt and needed to stay in the hospital for a little while. This is the first chance that I had to stop by."
"WHO HURT MY POOR BOY? I will make them pay" She seethed.
"Mother, it's just part of what comes with taking over the second largest crime family in Gotham. One day they'll be kissing my feet. I be ruling it all." I replied.
She got quiet and just smiled,"Yes my boy will be something great in Gotham one day." She appeared to stare off into the distance, as if she could see me ruling Gotham through the grime covered windows.
"Mother," I got her attention again,"There is a friend of mine that wishes to meet you. I was wanting see when is the best time for you?"
Her smile was now gone and she pointed her left index finger at me. "You aren't bringing another hussy home this time?"
"No mother, I am bringing a man over." I replied
Now, would be the moment of truth.
"A man?" My mother looked confused,"Like a business associate?"
"Yeah something like that, mother..." I decided to leave it at that. I wasn't sure how my mother would take the fact that I was gay and in a relationship. Personally I didn't want her to sabotage this one.
I didn't think that Nygma scared easily, but with his relationship with his mother being so different mine I couldn't be too sure.
"Tonight." that word brought me out of my thoughts.
"What, mother?" I asked.
"I said 'tonight' were you not listening, Ossie dear. You can bring over your friend tonight to meet me."
"Okay, mother. I'll be sure to let him know." I pecked her on the cheek. "I must really be going mother, I've got the Maroni family to run."
As I left her apartment, I called Nygma to let him know that he had plans tonight.
Nygma
"That sounds great," I responded when Oswald called.
I was rather excited to meet his mother especially knowing he was so close with her. I only wish I had that kind of relationship with my own mom. I always had a want to tell her I had found someone, but she wouldn't care. We didn't speak anymore, it really was a pointless want.
That evening I was humming to myself as I dressed in a nice outfit. I left the suit off, I was going to try something different. I pulled a green sweater over my head layering it over a white button up shirt. I added a tie but tucked it under the sweater but still wore slacks.
I then headed out to where Oswald wanted to meet.
Oswald
I met Nygma outside my mother's apartment building. He had shed his usual suit for a more causal sweater vest. In one hand he held a bouquet of lovely red roses. I could only guess who they were for...my mother
My heart began beating heavily in my chest.
You're going to have a lot of explaining to do, Penguin! a voice chuckled in my head.
I shook off the voice and walked towards Nygma and gave him a great embrace, hoping he couldn't feel my heart practically beating out of my chest.
I took his hand and gestured to the door. "Shall we, Nygma?"
I took in a breath as we entered the building.
I rapped at the door and my mother opened the door with a smile. She smiled even wider when Nygma handed her the roses.
"Why thank you..." She turned and gave me quick glare, that said "/I know you're up to something./" That look paralyzed me for a brief moment.
"Mother, this is the man I was telling you who wanted to meet you. Edward Nygma. Ed this is my mother Gertrude." I braced for what I could only imagine what was coming.
She turned around from the table that she was placing the flowers in a vase to shake Nygma's outstretched hand.
"Ossie doesn't normally bring the men he works with home to meet me, other than Gabe, so this is a great surprise." She smiled warmly.
Ready to do some explaining yet, Penguin? the voice cackled at me.
Nygma
I smiled warmly when she took the roses from me, I could see where Oswald definitely got his features.
I smiled again when she shook my hand, I then took her hand and kissed the top of it to be a polite gentleman.
I blinked however my lips still on her skin when she mentioned me as a coworker. Men he works with? What?
I let go of her hand gracefully and stepped back glancing at Oswald for a moment. I then placed my hands in the pockets of my slacks devouring that information for a moment.
Co-worker? Really? the voice asked in my head. That's kinda fucked up and I don't even like the guy. Can't even introduce you as a lover or boyfriend or anything. Just the man he works with...how low Eddie how low. He's fucking you, you're not giving him work proposals.
I took a deep breath and just played it off. I smiled brightly to Oswald's mom. "He speaks so highly of you Ma'am I just had to meet the woman who he adores so much."
Oswald
Well that could've been a lot worse... I sighed.
So far mother wasn't on her rampage of wanting to do her usual sabotage techniques, but I also hadn't been completely truthful with her.
No one was ever good enough for her Ossie boy, and never would. I shook off all of the constant memories of girls leaving the house in tears or just growing very distant after meeting her.
I knew that it was cruel to Nygma to introduce him in this method, but I was doing it to keep him safe.
Keep telling yourself that and you'll lose him, Penguin. the voice said smugly.
"Ossie dear, what are you doing just standing by the door? We are sitting down to dinner."
I pulled up a chair next to Nygma and placed my hand on his thigh to reassure him of our relationship. I mouthed an "I'm sorry" while my mother's back was turned. I was hoping that he'd let me explain in private later.
Good luck with that! the voice replied.
Nygma
I just shot him a glare at his mouthed apology. How dare he let me walk into this blind! He could have stated a few words outside the building and I would have at least been prepared for this.
I wasn't okay with being his co-worker to his mother that he claimed to be so close to.
We refused to tell others about our relationship to keep the killings under the radar and to keep Jim looking other ways. BUT THIS? To his mother?
I expected more out of Oswald to be honest.
Yeah let that anger flow the voice told me.
I shook my head slightly and looked to my plate then to the dinner being brought to the table.
Oswald
"What is it you do, Edward, was it? I mean you look hardly the type to be part of a mob family."
I jumped in before Nygma could respond, "He developed that one serum that killed Don Maroni. Remember me telling you about Plague? The drug that kills people with flu like symptoms."
"Oh you're the brilliant one! I can't say how appreciative I am that you helped my dear Ossie succeed as the new head of the Maroni family. My boy makes me so proud." She gave my nearest cheek a squeeze.
This dinner was going from bad to worse. I was starting to hate listening to Nygma's request.
Nygma
"Well I wouldn't say brilliant, but thank you!" I smiled warmly at her words.
At least I was being the genuine one in the room. Unlike the other one grunted the voice.
"Of course anything to help my friend out. Gotham is in need of a new world order, I think." I added.
As dinner went on, I ate everything that was offered to me within reason. I didn't want to make myself sick by eating too much.
"The food has been absolutely delicious Ma'am," I complimented his mother as I placed my napkin down on the table after finishing.
Part of me just wanted to leave already. There was a bubble of angry emotions building up in my chest. I was angry with Oswald, angry at myself for being angry over this, and the Riddler was angry because he was always angry.
I wanted to go get in a cab and go home and take a long bath as I thought about what just went down tonight. None of these actions entertained the thought of Oswald being present.
About time you stand up for yourself, Eddie, I mean normally you would just cower at the thought of confrontation. I like where this is going
Oswald
My mother turned to me. I could tell by the look she gave me where the turn that the conversation would be taking.
I misspoke earlier this dinner could and will get a lot worse.
Let the games begin, Penguin! the voice snarled at me.
"Ossie dear, why are you not eating your mother's cooking?" She said noticing I was mostly just pushing my food around on my plate.
"You aren't forgetting to tell your mother any important happenings in your life, hmm?" She paused and took my silence as my answer,"I knew it! You were seduced by another Gotham hussy and that is why you haven't seen your dear mother in days!" She pointed an index finger at me in a scolding manner.
All I heard was laughing in my head that continued to get louder.
Nygma
I blinked at her words, holy shit this woman was bold. I guess Oswald would have to get it from somewhere.
Hussy? What? Who even says that anymore? the voice laughed.
Wait...that would mean his mother didn't even know he was gay.
You have a point there...
I glanced to Oswald again at her words just wondering if I was actually dreaming. Not only did his mother not know that I was his current lover, she didn't even know he was gay!
This is pure gold! the voice laughed.
It's ridiculous is what it was, I wanted to leave. I glanced to my watch and rubbed my fingers on my napkin.
"I am so sorry Ma'am but I must be going. It's late! I had no idea, time must fly when you're in great company. Thank you so much for the food, it was delicious. You should cook for Oswald's club, much better than the food they serve there if I do say so myself." I spoke softly and kindly.
I got to my feet and pushed my chair in.
"See you at work," I commented evenly to Oswald. Though my eyes were not so forgiving. "Also, you should probably dump that tramp you've been seeing, she was never good enough for you to bring to your mom." I added.
I'm not sure why I had to chime that in, but it felt great.
NIIIICCEEE came the voice. I like where your head is at my boy.
I turned on my heel and promptly walked out of the apartment grabbing my coat on my way out. I heard the door slam behind me and I headed down the stairs and then out of building into the cold Gotham night.
I let out a growl once I was outside and kicked an empty can that lay at my feet. I started walking off before I could allow myself to be caught at that moment by Oswald. There was nothing he could say right now that would calm this anger. I didn't want to hear excuses, I didn't want to hear anything.
"He's such a liar" I snarled out loud.
Yes, Eddie, just let it all out
He said he was close to his mother, last I heard people who were close to their parents didn't keep that big of a secret from them.
You have to admit, his mother was a lovely woman though.
Oswald
My mother had a look of horror on her face, but I didn't stay for the lecture that I knew would be coming. I was racing to catch up with Nygma.
See you've done it now, Penguin! the voice continued laughing.
I caught up to Nygma grabbing him by his coat sleeve.
"Wait! I know tonight did not go well."
Nygma shot me a sideways glared that said it all. I had fucked up big time. I am not sure I could fix it now, but I sure as hell was going to try.
"Look Nygma, there is a reason I wasn't completely honest about us with my mother. She considers me her pride and joy. And no matter who I bring home, they will never be good enough for me...her words not mine...I mean who knows what she told all of my previous lovers before..."
Nygma
I swallowed holding up my hand as a cab came nearer to me, I hailed it with my other hand looking to Oswald.
"I can put up with whatever is thrown my way, I will take it in stride. But that?" I grasped at the words.
"That was low, below the belt. You didn't even have the decency to tell me before I walked in there with flowers and a nice sweater to make a god damned fool out of myself. It's like you're ashamed of me or something!"
I took in a deep breath opening the cabbie's door looking to him one more time. "I never expected something like that from you, just wow."
There it is, let it go
I shook my head just looking to Oswald sadly. I was hurt by his actions tonight way more than I was angry at them.
"I will speak to you later, perhaps." I murmured getting into the cab.