So, my timeline for this story is different and I wanted to put out a little clarification here for it. :) In this version, poor Martin is only captured by Sofia the one time. She doesn't give him back immediately, Oswald doesn't blow him up and Jim doesn't arrest him for it.
He's arrested by Jim for the murder of Don Falcone and stays because Sofia still has Martin.
We'll still do a car bomb, but it's going down differently. Got a little twist of my own here, we'll see how well it goes. ;)
When Oswald's cell door creaks open late into the night he's not that surprised to see Jerome stroll right in.
Things are in motion for their escape and Jerome tells him all about it with pride. Oswald is so thankful to have someone as insightful as Jerome helping them in this, able to put together the mad genius pieces that he and Edward couldn't. They'd pulled this plan together quickly; Jerome, Edward and Oswald's combined powers of planning and hindsight made for a truly terrifying force. They'd actually make a really great team if they were all capable of setting apart their differences for an extended period of time.
But something like that would take some real magic.
The plan is to leave tomorrow (just after supper when everyone is happy and sated) and while Oswald is excited to be getting out of Arkham, to get back into the familiar grime of Gotham's underworld and to get Martin back safely, he can't help but feel a little regret. He already knows that he'll miss Jerome.
Jerome looks... decidedly off to Oswald as he finishes summing up the whole of the scheme. Oswald frowns at him, extending his arm to offer up a seat to Jerome with a concerned, "What's wrong?"
Jerome looks surprised by the question, and maybe it's just that no one ever asked him that before, but he's hesitant. He takes the invitation after a pause and sits himself down of the edge of Oswald's bed with a sigh, "Ya know... I think I'm gonna miss you, bird brain." he finally huffs out.
Oswald is flattered, really. He figured he'd be the only one to regret their parting, but it looks like Jerome will too. He sets himself down beside him cautiously and lets his hand slip over the top of Jerome's, "I'm really thankful for all you've done for me, Jerome," he says, "All you're still doing for me. When you find what you're looking for in here and you escape for yourself... let me repay you somehow."
Jerome huffs out a half hearted chuckle, "That's not why I did it, Ozzie, baby," he shakes his head once, laughs again, then adds, "but I'll keep that in mind."
Oswald squeezes his hand and Jerome lets a hearty chortle slip from his mouth before leaning over to kiss him in reply.
It starts out slow enough, Jerome only pressing his lips against Oswald's, but then Oswald sighs, tipping forward and into it, and Jerome suddenly has his hands on either side of his face. Their soft touching quickly escalates to nips on his bottom lip, a tongue flickering over his teeth and Jerome pushing him down onto the mattress with a low groan in his throat.
He's rough, quick to rid Oswald of his pants and crawl between his naked and splayed legs, jarring his bad one on accident, but Oswald doesn't mind the pain. Who knows when he'll see Jerome again? A little pain seems trivial. Oswald wraps his arms around Jerome's neck and tries to push that thought away-that he's leaving Jerome-choosing instead to revel in the safety of Jerome's arms while he still can.
Safe, only here.
Oswald moans when Jerome wraps a hand around him, slipping two fingers inside in quick accompaniment. It's nothing new, they've done this dance plenty of times before, but when Jerome pulls himself out to jerk off, Oswald takes a leap and changes the song. He carefully slips his hand over Jerome's, cautious and new. It's not quite the same as actually touching him, but it's more than Oswald has ever done before. If Jerome's appreciative groan is anything to go by, he certainly doesn't mind. In fact he makes a play in return and switches the tempo of the dance altogether, slipping his own hand out from underneath Oswald's before re-wrapping it around the top.
And Oswald can suddenly feel the heat of it...
He's never touched Jerome like this before, and he finds himself curious as he experiments with different movements, Jerome's excited noises above him spurring him on. He's thick and warm in his hand. The sounds he makes are amazing, and Oswald isn't sure why he hasn't done this before.
Jerome moans low in his throat, shoves his fingers back into Oswald with a hard thrust and has Oswald twisting, writhing in ecstacy and then cumming in a short burst of time. He must be a real sight; lazy, post-orgasm eyes, a little sexed out and panting beneath him... because Jerome stares at Oswald with awe as he gets close to the end himself, leaning forward with a rumble and biting roughly on the lobe of Oswald's ear.
"If that green goon makes you cry," Jerome starts, cut off with a grunt as Oswald twists his hand, "you tell me. I'll kill em' myself."
Oswald chuckles breathlessly against him, but on the inside he feels a little like crying. His relationship with Ed is such a sensitive subject; having his heart broken like that still holds such a weight over Oswald and he never quite figured out how to get past it. He still loves Ed on some level, but Jerome... Jerome actually cares about him.
He hadn't realized it earlier, or if he had then the idea had just been so ludicrous that he hadn't accepted it, but in his own way, Jerome genuinely worries for Oswald. Nobody worries for Oswald. It feels sort of surreal to acknowledge that Jerome really does care about him. This strange thing between them is no longer an issue of entertainment. Looking back on their time together he really should have seen it happening, should have noticed the change sooner. At what point did the teasing touches become more meaningful? Why hadn't he paid attention?
Jerome cums over his hand with a hiss and fondly mutters out one of his many nicknames against Oswald's neck.
When he's done he plants another kiss on his lips and topples over onto the bed beside him. He pulls Oswald against his side and hums contently, eyes shut and head aimed towards the heavens.
Oswald appreciates Jerome so much. There will probably never be a time that he doesn't. To have someone care about him is something he doesn't take lightly. Ed used to care, once upon a time, but he's not sure where they stand anymore. Edward might have promised to try and forgive him, but that doesn't necessarily mean much.
Jerome is still here, holding Oswald against him with a charming and sedated grin, simply because he wants to be.
Jerome wants to be here with him.
The man in question nudges Oswald over when he sighs, and gives Oswald a meaningful look before pressing him into the mattress and biting a couple hickeys into his neck. When he pulls back, he seems all too satisfied with his work, grinning like the cat that ate the canary as his eyes roam over the fresh marks. Jerome runs his fingers over the reddening skin and his smile shines with a possessive glint that has Oswald shivering in reply. He's been marked again, probably to deter Ed, but Oswald still doesn't get it.
"You don't have to do that, you know..." he finally says, but takes the touch like it's a drug.
Just one more hit and he'll be satisfied...
Just one more...
Jerome snorts, "Just marking my territory."
"I'm not a tree to be peed on." he huffs in reply.
"No." Jerome agrees with an uncharacteristically soft smile, "No, you're not."
Edward notices the bite marks on his neck as they're leaving supper. It's in the midst of their plan for escape, too much going on around them to really ask questions, but the eyes boring into him whenever he's near Ed are almost just as bad, if not twice as distracting.
Jerome has keys to their cells, tells them to sneak out and meet him in the front hall. Honestly it's all insanely simple, and they're gonna waltz right through the front door if everything goes according to plan.
He leads the way to the security box, two men out cold against the controls and the grated door into the booth left unlocked. It's almost too easy.
"It's amazing what a few hundred bucks worth a bribes can do. Drugs in the coffee." Jerome snorts, "Don't they know caffine's bad for ya?"
It's so easy. Oswald is going to try and remember to bribe the hell out of everyone if he ever ends up in Arkham again. They're gonna stroll out of Arkham like they own the place, and Oswald just can't believe it. Jerome could leave at any time.
"You could come with us." Oswald says before they go, deciding to offer even though he knows Jerome won't accept. "We can all walk right out of here."
Jerome grins and shakes his head with a raised hand, "Creme de la crazy, Ozzie baby. I've got the fix to get out some other time."
"But you could-"
"You'd better get goin'." he interrupts quickly, "They'll be up and at it in just a few minutes. Not a lotta time."
Jerome doesn't wait for Oswald's reply, turning to leave before he's got the chance to utter a word. Oswald watches him go with the biggest feeling of regret hanging over his shoulders like weights, wanting to convince him to come with them, to screw whatever plan he's got up his sleeve and just stick with Oswald... to continue keeping Oswald safe... but he can't.
Jerome only makes it about five steps away before he stops, shoulders hunched and muttering angrily under his breath. Oswald watches his head shake, the angry grumbling growing louder and his fingers curling into fists at his sides.
"Damn." he scowls, "Oz!" and whips around so quickly that even Ed almost jumps.
Jerome strides toward them with purpose, those original five steps shrinking to three large ones, and grabs Oswald's face with both hands. He pulls them together and kisses him. It's fierce, vehement but tender even with his force. They sway for a moment, Oswald desperately hanging onto Jerome by his sleeves, knees going weak as he's swept away with what could probably be the most passionate kiss ever written in any story book, and any doubts he had earlier about Jerome's feelings towards him are swept away with him.
It's a clear goodbye, he knows it, and Oswald allows himself to respond in kind as he acknowledges that this is it. Jerome is giving him a farewell. He's gonna miss the crazy bastard, likely the last time they see each other for a long while. If ever.
They might both be villains of Gotham, but they definitely run in different circles of crazy.
Jerome pulls back with a grin, pressing his forehead against Oswald's and laughing, "Looks like you reeeeally got in my head, bird brain."
The shout of an alert guard breaks them apart. Jerome shoves Oswald back toward Ed by his shoulders and orders them to get a move on. Edward practically drags Oswald away by the arm as Jerome grabs the sleeping guard's gun and starts shooting. His laughter echoes through the hall as he and Ed race towards the door.
The place is going into lockdown. There are sirens blaring as they make it outside, and the sounds of gunshots are only muted once the door behind them closes. A man tries to stop them before they reach the gate but Ed grabs him by the head and knees him in the face before he can lift his weapon. When he falls, grumbling and about to try and stand again, Oswald gives him a swift kick to the gut.
Zsasz is waiting for them on the other side of the large gates, a sporty little black car revving at them in an order to get in.
They climb in and Edward gives out a delighted laugh as they put as much distance between them and Arkham as they can. Oswald doesn't look back as they go.
He does after they're home free. Oswald finds himself always looking back once he's back in the real world.
Oswald is a little jumpy during the first few days. He finds himself constantly checking over his shoulder for fear of danger-maybe capture. Any second they're going to find him and drop him right back in Arkham. Maybe somewhere worse.
He strikes a deal with Jim Gordon, as returning father of the underworld, that if he ignores both his and Ed's escape from Arkham, Oswald will keep him in the loop and even let him snag a few drug dealers now and then. Jim's ready to disagree, Oswald can see the moment his fingers twitch that he wants to reach for his handcuffs. So Oswald mentions the rapist in Arkham, bits and pieces of what he went through, how he was only in Arkham again because of Jim. Jim, and Sofia's blatant lies about how he'd killed Don Falcone.
He hadn't, obviously.
Jim still hesitates, shaking his head and about to open his mouth before Oswald sweetens the deal with some other triviality he can afford to lose. He's piled on a tall platter, but Jim still doesn't seem ready to bite. He makes a few fleeting promises and tacks a few harsh words on the end just for old times sake.
When Jim still isn't completely on board, Oswald finally gives up and mentions Martin.
Jim does give a real pause as Oswald tells him all about it. He can't go back to Arkham, not just yet at least. He has to do this first, has to get his boy back and take down Sofia Falcone, then Jim can come after him-or he can try, Oswald doesn't plan to make it easy for him.
The detective finally caves, and it's publicly announced the next day (with surprisingly minimal outrage) that Edward Nygma and Oswald Cobblepot have been cleared of their charges. Oswald is sure that Jim will find something to pin them with later, but for now, they're both off the hook.
Gordon's announcement is followed up with a statement about Jerome Valeska's involvement with the Arkham breakout, and that in light of this, new security measures have been set into place to ensure it won't happen again. There's a vetting process for new hires and there's going to be a total staff rehaul. Oswald wonders if helping him and Ed escape ruined everything that Jerome had going for him in there... would he still be able to escape in the future like he planned? He tries not to dwell on it for too long, and instead pours himself into his plans for Sofia Falcone.
The set up for Martin's retrieval is frustratingly complicated and Oswald wants nothing more than to just burst into whatever rundown, backwater base Sofia has him captive, guns blazing, and be done with it. It would save the countless hours of preparation and these restless nights of going over it just one more time. They can't afford to mess this up. So Oswald has reviewed, revised and reworked the entire thing at least twice.
Martin's life is at stake, and theirs could be too if they play their cards wrong. Sofia Falcone is a manipulative, violent bitch underneath her kind and cheery outward persona. Not to be underestimated. Not to be contained. Certainly not to be undone by something haphazard or half-assed.
It surprises Oswald how supportive Ed is throughout the entire process. Ed doesn't even know Martin, but he's there, more than willing to help and even volunteering to act as the voice in Oswald's stead.
It's decided that Oswald can't be present, or at least he can't appear to be, to show just how indifferent he is to Martin's capture. Sofia can't know just how much of Oswald's heart the boy really holds if there's any chance to keeping Martin out of danger in the future. His absence will really just be for show, Oswald will be watching. Be it from the inside of the car, on a monitor or some obscure rooftop, Oswald is going to be watching. He is going to see this through himself and make sure it all goes down without a hitch. Martin is important enough to warrant at least that much.
They agree to meet in a neutral location. Oswald's side had two cars, Sofia's has three. Of course.
Sofia was always the sort to one-up her opponent.
Oswald is seated in the second car, the one not sporting his mayoral license plate (that he knows Sofia will recognize). He's in the car that two of his goons climb out of once they've parked. It looks like nothing more than a backup vehicle, just for transporting the hench people. The other consists of Ed, taking up a window seat in the back, Zsasz behind the wheel, and of course... the boy-sized hole through the bottom that Martin is meant to escape out of.
The others climb out, but Oswald stays right where he is, audio coming through the little microphone attached to the pin on Edward's breast pocket.
It almost feels like a tragedy, having Martin so close but still so out of reach... Even back in the car, looking through the tinted windows Oswald can see how scared he looks. He'd love nothing more than to run over to him, wrap him up in his arms and never let him out of his sight again.
Ed plays his part well, stating simply that he's there acting on Oswald's behalf-that Oswald was too busy with more important things to come.
Sofia starts to fray a little around the edges, "What do you mean he's too busy ?"
"Simple as that." Edward grins, and clasps his hands together in front of him like the gentleman that he is, "There were more important matters at stake."
"More important than this boy's life? " She scoffs, and presses the barrel of her gun just a little closer to Martin's head.
Oswald will kill her for it later, have no doubt.
"If you hand over the boy he'll still meet your demands, with an amendment or two."
Sofia's lips harden into a thin line. She's annoyed, good. But don't push it too far, Ed.
"Part of my demands were to make this trade with him ." She bristles.
"And I am acting on his behalf."
Sofia huffs, "Why are you even on his payroll again? I thought you too went through that whole- breakup of the century thing." She smirks, "What, was the makeup sex just that good ?"
Ed doesn't give anything away, but he smiles, the same smile he would wear before putting on his shows, and tipped his head to the side snidely, "Like you wouldn't believe."
Oswald snorts from his seat in the car, knowing Ed would have loved to say something more graphic, really piss her off, but he's being mindful of Martin. Still standing between them, Martin looks up at Ed with a curious expression. Oswald had no doubt if he had the use of his notepad he'd have been writing a hundred questions for him, he might have to figure out a way for Martin to communicate faster once this is over. Maybe a tablet of some form instead of the notepad.
"If I'm supposed to believe he's really willing to give up his control to me then why isn't he here ? If Martin isn't important then why is he still willing to trade?"
"You don't want your underworld falling to pieces before it even comes into your hands, do you?" Edward tuts in reply, still smiling. "Though, you're right. He might not exactly be worth the whole of Gotham's underworld. Mr. Cobblepot said he would offer you half."
"Half? " Sofia scoffed, "You're kidding."
"Half only because he'd prefer not to see the boy dead." Edward explains, "But if that's not enough, you're more than welcome to go about your business. Mr. Cobblepot will go about his."
Sofia's eyes widened and her mouth open and shut with disbelief, "He'd just let me kill him?"
No. He would not.
But Sofia didn't need to know that.
She scowls, searches Edward's face for any sign of a bluff, but whatever she finds leaves her looking defeated, and she nods, "Fine. Half of Gotham's underworld dealings. I choose which though."
Edward's cool expression doesn't relay the real amount of relief he feels, "Agreeable."
Sofia clicks her tongue and leans forward to whisper into Martin's ear before standing upright again, tall and confident, maybe just a little like her father, "I'll take control of the rest one way or another, you can tell Penguin that. I won't be satisfied with only half of a crown for very long."
The boy comes running right for his car, and for a moment Oswald panics, thinking maybe Martin will jump into the wrong car and the jig will be up.
"Other one, Martin," Ed calls to him, and Martin stops to nod carefully before veering off.
Oswald breathes easy again.
There's a little more banter between them now, and it does get graphic now that Martin is safely out of ear's reach. Ed promises that she'll go down, that she won't have control of Gotham's hotdog stands let alone half of the underworld, that Oswald is too strong to let his heart control him anymore, and then he clicks a button where she can plainly see it.
The car blows up, and Oswald prays Ed stalled enough for Martin to climb all the way down to safety.
Her reaction, the reactions of the other sirens, everyone's are even better than he'd hoped for.
Zsasz starts the shooting, ebbing them back and into their cars while Ed returns to the second car and climbs in. The shooting doesn't stop until they've all driven off, and it's not until his gun is empty that Zsasz finally lowers his arms from their branching hold. He struts over to the second manhole, where the one Martin climbed into would lead out to, and Oswald has never been more excited to see a child covered in grime from Gotham sewers.
His smile is nervous underneath the dirt of the sewers, but it's still a smile, and that means victory. Martin is safe. Zsasz takes him somewhere safe to lay low, and Ed and Oswald return to their planning.
Apparently Ed still has his hand in a few pies. He still owns his old apartment, where Oswald remembered waking up in a cold sweat after Ed came across him in the woods, and that's where they hide out while pieces fall into place for Sofia's demise.
Oswald feels like this is a stupid idea, staying in Ed's old apartment, but Ed points out that no one would think to look here, that Sofia didn't even know this was where he used to live and that the landlord owes him a favor. A couple favors, in fact. They're safe and everything is just fine.
They might be safe... but Oswald doesn't remember the last time he felt secure enough to order Chinese take out right to the door.
It feels like it's been years since the last time he felt this casual around Ed and it makes him a little bit giddy.
And nervous.
Nervously giddy.
They're sat across from one another, eating from little white boxes with snap-off chopsticks in Ed's apartment just like they had so long ago, when Ed says, out of nowhere, "You heard anything from Jerome?"
Oswald blinks, definitely not having expected to be talking about Jerome of all people right now. "No, I haven't."
Ed nods, "You could visit him?" he suggests, not looking up from the box in his hands.
"Not a good idea. Gordon's intervention aside, I doubt Arkham would really let me come and go in there as I pleased... Besides that, we'd have nothing to 'visit' about," he huffs. "Whatever it is that you're thinking Ed, stop it. There's no point to it."
There's a small moment of quiet between them as Oswald takes another bite of his food, pointedly ignoring that Ed isn't eating his.
"...Do you love him?" Ed blurts out before he can stop himself.
Oswald is shocked silent again, and a little bit of noodle is stuck at the corner of his mouth. He's not sure if it's jealousy talking or just Ed's natural curiosity, but a small light of hope begins to bloom in Oswald's chest. Oswald angrily shoves it down. "He's... my friend," he offers, "I... very much enjoyed my time with him. We bonded over some pretty bad stuff that happened there." Oswald pauses, looking down at his food, "but I don't think it will ever quite be like... Well, like it was before."
"You mean when you loved me?"
Jesus Ed. Oswald wants to reach across the table and knock him around a little-just to see if his head is still screwed on right. Maybe Ed's just messing with him, he's played with Oswald's feelings before and it's not that far of a stretch. He's always been a bit of a manipulator. He's not sure how Ed expects him to reply, but he decides to go with the truth.
"Yes," he murmurs, ducking his head so he doesn't have to look at whatever upset face Ed is going to make next, "like when I had feelings for you."
There's still a bitter history between them. Escaping together means nothing ultimately, and even sitting here now, eating Chinese and chatting like this means little more than that.
For a few moments, Oswald manages to keep his eyes trained on his box of noodles. He stabs at his shrimp a couple times with his chopsticks before he can work up enough courage to lift his head. To his credit, Ed's jaw hasn't quite hit the table yet, but it's a near thing.
"Do you... still love me?" Ed asks, breathy and light, like he doesn't even really mean to ask, he just can't help it.
"I... " Oswald starts hesitantly. There are definitely still feelings there, he'll probably never be able to completely get over Edward, but he can sure as hell try. He's been burnt before and he'll be damned if he lets it happen again even if Ed is suddenly seeming more on board with the idea. He doesn't owe Ed the answer. Oswald shakes himself out of it, jostling his head from side to side as he returns to stabbing at his Chinese. "I'm trying not to think about it."
Ed's adam's apple bobs when he swallows. "And Jerome?"
"I don't know." Oswald huffs with a curt and mirthless laugh, realizing the absurdity of this conversation. "What happened in Arkham... it's different. Our relationship was different. I'll always consider him a good friend but-"
Ed scoffs across the table. "Friends don't kiss like that, Oswald." he says with some flare of finality, "I'm pretty sure you're not just a 'friend' to him."
"...Maybe not," he admits, and continues to poke at his food, "but does it really matter right now? Who knows when we'll see him again."
Oswald waits to see the soft smile come over Ed's face, corners of his mouth upturned just so as he speaks, "I guess it doesn't."
"Good." Oswald nods before tutting towards the little pile of onions Ed has sitting on a lid. "Don't pick out the onions. Eat them too."
"Yes mother," Ed taunts, smiling as he puts one of the onion bits he'd taken out back into his box obediently.
Oswald sticks out his tongue and all of a sudden they're back to those first few months together when Oswald was running for mayor; easy, free, and fun. They talk a little bit about what Ed had been up to while Oswald was in Arkham. He listens excitedly to Edwards heist stories, laughing at some of his antics and scoffing at his bloated ego. Oswald wants to ask him to play some music so they can sing together again. He wants to ask if everything is going to be alright between them. Wants to know whether or not Ed feels the same way about him as he does about Edward.
In the end, he can't bring himself to ask for any of it, so he stabs a shrimp with one of his chopsticks and grins when Ed chides him for his improper use.
When Sofia Falcone finally goes down, Oswald doesn't feel the moment of finality and resolve that he'd been expecting. He doesn't get to pull the trigger himself and that eats at him. Lee fucking Thompkins had done it, if you could believe it. It doesn't quite feel like he finished it.
But it's still done, Sofia is dead and all this scurrying around is over with. He can feel at ease again.
...but for some reason he doesn't.
There's still something nagging at him, still making him poke his head around corners before he steps around them, still making him look over his shoulder.
Those feelings fall far far away for a blissful when they go to collect Martin.
He's smiling at Oswald as he climbs out of the car, Zsasz close behind, bald head shining almost as brightly as Martin's little grin.
Oswald falls to his knees to wrap him up in a tight embrace, not even caring about the pain of the fall. His leg sings with injury and he's definitely going to pay for it later, but he can't bring himself to care just now. He laughs, smooths down the tousled fringe in Martin's hair and kisses the top of his head.
"Hello again," he's says, grinning like a madman and crying just a little bit, and Oswald finds himself blissfully unaware of the people around them, watching.
Martin's small arms wrap around him in reply and he buries his face in the fur lining of Oswald's coat. Oswald has his boy back. All the hesitation he'd felt in Arkham, wondering if he was really ready for something like parenthood simply melts away under Martin's hug, and Oswald knows that this boy has become the most important person in his world without his knowledge. Whatever weird feelings he's going through with Edward and Jerome are back burner to this. This is what's really important. He will dedicate his everything to this boy. It's too late to turn back now, and Martin will probably always take priority in his life decisions from here on out, but Oswald is glad for it, come what may.
Ed is smiling at the two of them with something that looks incredibly genuine when he turns to look at and thank him. Martin grins at Ed and holds Oswald's hand as they make their way back to Oswald's new stretch.
Martin spends the entire ride home excitedly scribbling out questions and answering the ones that Oswald has for him.
When Martin holds up his pad, a neatly printed [I knew you would come for me] written on the current page, Oswald has to try really hard not to cry before he can reply, "I will always come for you, Martin. I promise."