Nygma

The next few days, I kept trying to call Oswald. He was ignoring my phone calls, and it hurt. I didn't even understand why, and that was even worse. He really took a gesture of me showing Jim how to properly sink a pool ball as me wanting to fuck the guy?

It angered me. I thought we were closer than that; had I not showed him how much he meant to me?

I called Leslie as she was the only one I had now to talk to. She comforted me and wanted to be on the next flight out, which I told her was not necessary. I didn't want her to go out of her way for me. I was depressed now. I was completely and utterly alone.

Gordon knew something was up and tried to get me to come out again for 'man talk' as Harvey had put it. I just was not interested anymore. I had finally been accepted among my peers and we saw how well that worked out.

I started taking long walks after work instead of going home. I found myself in the darkest and grungiest parts of Gotham. I knew it wasn't me; it was him.

Riddler was using this as the perfect opportunity to gain control of me. He was having fun with it too. I no longer cared.

Leslie was sitting at her little office at home and decided to pick up the phone. She called Oswald.

Oswald

My phone vibrated in my pocket, awakening me from my depressed state. I had half a thought to let it go to voicemail. I blinked at the name flashing on the caller ID.

Leslie

Even though I was over Nygma and didn't want to associate with him or anyone related to him, Leslie still held constant for me. She would call periodically after she had left Gotham, usually when she couldn't get a hold of Nygma—typically because he was working on a case—and to see how I was doing. I felt very comfortable talking with her, and didn't care if she was pulling her 'therapist tricks' on me.

"Why, hello Leslie." There was a slight happiness in my voice that had not been there since Nygma and I had slowly drifted apart. A chuckle even escaped my mouth.
Damn, that was a good feeling.

"Ossie," rang her soft voice from the other end of the line. "Oh Ossie," she whispered.

She closed her eyes tightly, trying to find the words. She didn't even think he would pick up, he never did for Nygma.

"Ossie, what happened?" she whispered faintly. "How are you doing? ...are you okay?"

I chuckled as she used the nickname that she had given me.

"I'm doing a lot better than earlier." I found it easy to be honest with Leslie because she didn't pass any judgement on anything I said. "Though, I should maybe check myself into a rehab facility for alcoholism. Seeing as I've pretty much been drinking something constantly to try and forget him."

"I was completely head over heels in love with Nygma but seeing him with James Gordon makes my blood boil. I know it's probably an irrational emotion, but seeing him hang all over Gordon, I felt I had lost. Jim is Nygma's first love and I know that getting over your first love is tough," I sighed and took a drink of whatever alcohol was in my glass today: straight vodka.

"Oswald, James is straight," she responded quietly. "He's been trying to court me."

I took a breath in knowing what Leslie was saying is right, but I was looking at how Nygma reacted to seeing me in the bar with Jim and Bullock. He had Oh shit! I'm busted! written all over his face. I knew that was not the first time he had hung around with Gordon more than that evening, but I didn't know how to convey that easily to Leslie.

"I know that Lee, but I still can't shake those feelings of jealousy every time I see him around Jim. I can't help but be a bit paranoid. I can't help but wonder if there have been other times he had gone out with Jim and didn't tell me. I don't want to become that jealous controlling boyfriend, but when it comes to Nygma and Jim, I become consumed with jealousy." I could start to feel the tears burning in my eyes. I placed my hand in front of my face, rubbing the bridge of my nose.
The tears could not be held back any longer.

"I don't know what to do anymore, Lee. I wanted this to work out, but I fear that it is already broken beyond repair," I sobbed into the phone. I was a bit embarrassed that Leslie had to hear this.

Leslie breathed in deeply, listening to him. "Take deep breaths Ossie," she whispered sympathetically. "I can't tell you what to do but you need to know that Edward loves you to the moon and back, and maybe to Jupiter too. He's broken too. If there's a will, there's a way. Yes, James might have been his first love but that doesn't matter when it comes to the person he loves the most."

Leslie attempted to call Ed after getting off the phone with Oswald but there was no answer. She just hoped he was okay and wouldn't do anything rash.

Nygma

I, however, was not present. Riddler had fully consumed me. I don't know how long I had been gone; it was irrelevant along with anything else.

Ridder

Arkham bridge towered above me and stretched across the wide, raging Gotham river. I was digging a hole at the base of the bridge. My intent was on burying something I would come across.

I had made a bit of ruckus the past week or so since I had taken Edward hostage. I murdered a few lowlifes using my new contraption, The Chair, as I liked to call it. I was experimenting with it.

I heard a car start the climb of the hill, and it was moving rather slowly as if trying to stay quiet. I glanced up through the trees to see the black car drive past with no headlights.

I narrowed my eyes, creeping over to the side of the road to get a better look. What the hell were they up to? That's when I heard the muffled screams and pounding coming from the trunk.

A mob hit? Which family was this? I set my shovel down and kept out of sight as I briskly followed the car to the bridge. They parked in the middle of the bridge where the lights illuminated them.

The men who got out I did not recognize. The two husky men walked to the trunk and unlocked it.

I wondered who was in that trunk; they were putting up one hell of a fight.

They dragged the body out as the person was flailing with all of their might. A shawl dropped to the ground as they hoisted her to her feet and kept her still. Another man came over carrying a large cinder block and hooked the chains around the person's legs.

Wow. This was a serious mob hit; the classic style was a lot of work these days. It probably was to send a message.

Then I saw a woman I did recognize get out of the back of the car. Her short gold dress twinkled against the lights of the bridge.

Fish Mooney was speaking; I just couldn't hear her. I crawled closer, staying low to the ground.

"Ahhh Mrs. Cobblepot," Mooney chuckled, putting her finger over the duct tape on Gertrude's mouth.

I could now see Oswald's mother as plain as day.

"If you know what a man loves, you can kill him. Oswald is gaining too much power too soon. His success shall be mine and it starts by making sure you're dead."

Did they have no idea what kind of hell would break loose screwing with Oswald's mother?

I watched the woman drag her fingernail down the side of Mrs. Cobblepot's cheek and then snap her fingers to her men.

Something jumped in me suddenly. What was that?!

Stop them, came the voice.

It was Edward. Somehow, he was able to surface and speak to me like I did him. This was new.

However, I was not going to stop the men from dragging the woman to the side of the bridge. It'd be lucky if anyone survived a drop that high, let alone into the raging waters.

STOP THEM! came Ed's voice again. I growled and shook my head.

"I am no hero," I whispered out loud.

THEN GET OUT OF THE WAY!

I blinked as they threw Oswald's mother right over the bridge, tossing the cinder block with her.

Then suddenly, Ed seemed to burst right through me like a bull on a rampage.

Dammit Edward, you're definitely not the hero either, the voice screamed at me.

That was the first time I had been able to gain control of myself back from the Riddler. I did not have time to relish the fact as I was sprinting for the bridge.
I was tearing off my coat as I ran. The men turned to me in shock as I had just charged at them. I ran right between the two of them using the fact they were so shocked to move past them.

I jumped up on the railings of the bridge, I didn't even hesitate as I plunged down off the side as well.

AH FUCK! screamed the voice as I plummeted into the waters as dark as the night sky out.

I slammed hard into the cold water; it was so cold, like a thousand knives stabbing into me.

The wind was knocked out of me from the drop into the rushing water. I fought my way to the surface, gasping for air. My thin body was not able to fight this current.
The adrenaline however kicked in soon after once I started to panic. I had to find her! I dove under the water once more and started swimming hard towards the bottom of the river. I could barely see anything around me, only able to use what light from the bridge could penetrate the water.

I collided into something and I reached out; it was her! Gertrude!

I clung to her form and used my fingers to find her mouth, ripping back the duct tape.

I forced my lips onto hers and gave her the air from my lungs to keep her alive. I felt her fingers digging in as she clutched me.

Ugh now what?! yelled the voice.

I pulled away from her mouth, realizing my own oxygen supply had depleted. It would not matter if she could breathe if I drowned myself.

I still clung to her body as I fought my way to her feet which I then blindly felt around the chains. It took me a moment but I was able to pull them apart; I feel with the help from the Riddler inside of me. He definitely could die too right now.

My chest started to hurt as I no longer had air in my lungs. I kept my arms around Gertrude as I started to push her towards the surface. I needed to get her to the top and that was all that mattered right now.

The water fought me the entire way. I had no oxygen left, but I kept pushing the woman to the surface. I kept hold of her so as not to lose her once we broke the surface.

I gasped hard, choking down water but most of all air. I gripped Gertrude's clothes to keep hold of her. I could hear her choking for air too.

I looked around as the current carried us like we were twigs. I saw a downed log jutting over the water and reached out, grabbing the branches with one hand

I'm not even sure how we got out of the water, but I fought with every ounce of my strength to get us to shore. I hugged the tree as I inched us slowly towards the rocks.

I got up on the rocky shore and used the last bit of my strength to pull Gertrude with me. I collapsed backwards, pulling her on top of me. I was breathing heavily from the battle in the water; every ounce of my energy was drained.

I clung to Gertrude in an attempt to keep her warm, keep her alive until I could figure something out. Even though I was weak, I still rubbed my hands over her arms trying to create friction even though we were both soaked.

We couldn't lay here forever. I knew that. Gertrude was older; she could easily get hypothermia and die.

She was choking on the air again and I just pulled her closer to me.

"Stay with me Gertrude," I whispered frantically to her. "Oswald needs you," I choked.

I'm not sure how much longer we laid there on the rocks, but I continued to talk to her and keep her interacting with me. When I could feel I could move again, I sat up slowly and got to my feet.

I leaned over and hoisted her up in my arms. I stumbled slightly but found my balance and walked slowly up the rocky shore, making sure I didn't fall down.

When we got up to the pier, I realized we weren't far from Oswald's apartment. So I started for there.

I reached Oswald's apartment building and took the elevator to the top floor. I had no idea what time it was; the grey skies outside told me it was probably right before the sun would start to rise.

I kicked Oswald's door as hard as I could several times since I had no free hands.

Oswald

My hand was on my door knob when it hit me squarely in the face. I saw stars for a few moments, but then I peered around the door.

Nygma was forcing his way into my apartment.

"Nygma, what are you…," but I trailed off seeing my mother in his arms.

I forgot all other emotions that I was feeling now. I needed to help Nygma save my mother. I led him to my bedroom, where I got her out of her wet clothes. Nygma gently placed my mother in my bed and we both tucked her in.

I then went to my closet and found the largest clothes that I had: some green slacks with green socks and I still hadn't returned his green button up shirt. I had kept it as a memento of our first intimate encounter together.

"Here Neg," I said, throwing a black bath towel at him from the closet. I then walked up to him as he was drying himself off, holding out the clothes that I had thrown together for him.

"I'll leave these with you as you will also need to get out of those wet clothes. I meant to return this anyway."

I walked off towards my kitchen to grab myself a glass of wine as I was starting to shake slightly. I was hoping Nygma would explain what the hell had happened to my mother.

Nygma

I silently changed into the clothes he handed me. I really just wanted to leave, but I needed to make sure Gertrude was going to be okay.

I went into Oswald's bathroom, tearing apart his medicine cabinet to try and find anything that would help her.

I found some pills that would help her rest and made sure she took them. I then walked into the kitchen, ignoring Oswald's presence as I made some hot tea with honey and took it back to Gertrude.

Once I got her to drink the tea and finally close her eyes to rest, I returned the dishes to the kitchen. As I washed the dishes in the sink, I explained to Oswald what had happened to his mother and that I saved her life.

Oswald

I was just plain numb of emotion by this point, however when I hear that Fish had a personal hit on my family, the rage was back. I was able to stifle it for now. I would get to Fish eventually.

"Thank you, Neg. I know that she probably would be the last person you'd want to save...But thank you all the same."

I tapped him on the shoulder as I walked by to check on my mother. My voice lacked all of it's usual flair and pizzazz that it normally had.

I went to sit by her bedside, so that a familiar face would be there when she wakened.

Nygma

I looked after him and sighed weakly. It hurt so bad to be standing there with him talking to me. I sneezed and then blew my nose.

I was going to get sick if I didn't get myself home. Besides, I'm sure Gertrude would be okay now.

I washed the last dish before leaving his apartment silently. I walked all the way home, starting to gain a cough since it was so cold outside.

I got to my own apartment and took a long hot bath, attempting to relax and feel better. I then made myself tea and sipped on that before passing out on my couch from sheer exhaustion.

Oswald

I woke up to someone pulling on my sleeve.

"Ossie dear, wake up. WAKE UP!"

I rubbed the sleep from my eyes.

"Mother, you're awake!" I smiled at her. "How are you feeling?"

"I've been better, but I'm alive at least thanks to that nice boy...Eddie was it?"

I cringed at the mention of that name. "It's Edward, mother."

"He really is a nice boy, Ossie. Sad about his mom, but I am glad that you found him."

"Mother, Edward and I are no longer together," I replied.

Mother just blinked a few times at me,"Why?"

"There was a big misunderstanding and now I fear the relationship is broken beyond repair." I let out a long sigh.

Of course the one person my mother would approve of is the one I can no longer have.

"Oh, Oswald, everything can be fixed given enough time and effort. You would be foolish to let Nygma disappear from your life forever," she replied, patting me on my arm.
"I know. When he walked in last night with you in his arms, I was actually genuinely happy to see him. I about swept him up into my arms, but I knew that would just make our current situation worse."

"Go after him, Oswald. I don't think he would've saved me and risked his own life doing so if he didn't still care deeply for the both of us. Go. I'll be here when you return." She smiled warmly at me.

I ran out of my apartment and headed for the GCPD in search of Nygma.

"Nygma's not here," muttered Harvey, sitting at his desk looking up to me at my question. "Guess he's not feeling well."

I thanked Bullock for his information and headed for Nygma's apartment.

During the walk to his apartment, I was struggling to find the words I wanted to say to him. I mean I was still mad at him but I knew that I could not do without him in my life at least.

Upon reaching his door, I knocked twice.

Nygma

I was sleeping at my apartment, trying to fight off sickness that was laying around the corner. I couldn't afford to be sick right now.

I sneezed myself awake and sighed. I went to grab my phone but realized it had gotten destroyed in the river. Another thing I'd have to replace.

I blinked and lifted my head up off the arm of my couch. I looked to the door and unraveled the blanket from around me.

I wondered who would be at my door. I unlocked the door before opening it and looking to Oswald quietly. Seeing who it was. I straightened my posture.

"Oswald," I greeted.

"Nygma," Oswald replied.

"First, I wanted to let you know that my mother is doing well. She is doing well, thanks to you," he paused, taking in a deep breath,"This past month has been hell for me. I was walking around in a drunken daze trying to numb the overwhelming pain that I felt."

Oswald turned his face upwards to look me directly in the eye, "I need you in my life, Neg. I can't function without you."

I looked down to him as he spoke, my eyes resting on his. I took in a breath at his words; I was relieved to hear them. This was at least a start. I wanted to get to the bottom of what had happened between us.

"I never left," I murmured.

"What do you mean you never left?" Oswald blinked

I stepped aside so he could come inside.

"I never left your life Oswald," I murmured while going into the kitchen to make more hot tea. "You could push me away and hate me, but I'd always be here, regardless if you realized or not. No matter what happened." I looked to him as I brought the tea out, handing him a cup.

I sat down on the couch next to him, looking at him. "I need you to know that I don't have feelings for James Gordon. Well, I do; he'll always be there. But not in the way that you accuse me of. I need you to know this Oswald. I can't take you doing this again. I was merely showing Gordon how to take a proper shot; he's a terrible pool player. I was trying to tell him it's nothing but science. You took it completely the wrong way," I explained, wanting to get it all out.

"You're the only one I want to find myself in compromising positions with," I smiled weakly.

"I know, Neg. I actually told all of this to Lee when she called me about two weeks ago...I know that my actions defied all logic at the time, but I don't share well with others. I don't want to become that controlling jealous boyfriend. I am not sure that I can promise you that. I understand if you cannot accept this part of me." I looked down at the tea, growing cold in my cup.

I reached over and placed my hand on his arm, leaning over to kiss the side of his forehead.

"Hey, I have an idea," I whispered gently. "Would it help if I let you know when I was going out with anyone?" I asked him gently. "That way, you'd know where I would be at any time."

Oswald

"I trust you with everyone but Gordon. I don't know why he gets under my skin...probably because I know that he was your first love. It might help to know when you are going out with Gordon, especially alone." I started feeling guilty for suggesting this idea, but still something about Gordon rubbed me the wrong way. I felt that he was getting close to exposing us, and that worried me. More for Nygma's safety than mine. However I didn't tell Nygma all of these thoughts because I chalked this paranoia up to being induced by my own jealous thoughts.

Nygma smiled gently at that and nodded. "Then I promise to do that for you." Nygma took my hand in his.

"Yes, Gordon was my first love," he told me. "I will never deny that. But then I met you, and I love you even more. You need to understand that, Oswald. Besides, if it makes you feel any better, James might end up being my stepbrother-in-law if things go his way."

I rolled my eyes at his last statement.

"Dear god, I hope not! Can you imagine the family gatherings with all six of us?"

Nygma

"The meals would certainly be entertaining," I chuckled gently while watching him. I squeezed his hand lovingly.

"I love you Oswald Cobblepot. Even when you get stupid crazy jealous over a straight man with great hair," I teased softly, nuzzling his cheek before planting a kiss on it.
I wanted to take him in my arms and kiss him deeply and passionately as I ached for him. I was getting sick though and didn't want to pass it on.

"I love you too, Edward Nygma," Oswald smiled at me warmly. He grabbed me in a close tight embrace. "So the doctor becomes the patient now?" he smirked at me.
"It's bed time. Doctor's orders," Oswald winked at me.

I smiled at his words and nodded. "Only if you'll stay," I breathed, leaning against him so he'd lay down on the couch. I snuggled into his form, resting my head on his chest and closing my eyes.

"Oh, Neg, you are just too much." A smile lit up his face. Oswald stroked through my hair with his fingers kissing my forehead before snuggling himself in to the couch for the night. His arms wrapped around me.

"Sleep well, Nygma dear," he whispered in my ear before we fell asleep wrapped up in each others' arms.