Chapter 9

Several years ago

"Oswald, I have to thank you for letting me wash this dress over at your place." I formally thank him as we walk along the street back to my own apartment.

He chuckles, "Trust me it's nothing. It's the least I could do after you...stood up for me back at the bar."

"Your mother is wonderful by the way. She's so nice, I've never had someone make me breakfast before."

"Yeah, she's great. And she likes you too." he states, stuttering a little in between.

"You really think so? Usually when I meet a guy's parents, things don't tend to go over well." I admit.

"Well...I don't usually bring people over, so I think she must have been pleasantly surprised."

I nod, looking up at the dull gray building where my apartment is located, which is only a block away now, "Well, I think we should definitely do this again sometime-"

The early morning sky becomes jet red as an explosion rockets from the building. Oswald and I jump back and find cover in an alleyway as debris flies at us.

"Was that…?"
"Yeah." I mumble as the aftershock of the explosion settles.

We come out from behind and see the building is now completely ablaze. I watch as several people run out of the building, their skin and clothing scorched from the flames. How did this happen?

I glance over at Oswald. I could blow my cover if I tried to rescue the people in the building...screw cover.

I charge for the building, and I hear Oswald's footsteps not too far behind, "What are you doing?!"

"There are still people inside, I gotta help them!" I explain, running to the side of the building, scale a drainpipe, and I look in for just a second before jumping in.

Present Day

The moment Ozzy unlocks my cage I think about escaping. I could easily overpower him and make a run for it. But then, what would happen to Dr. Leland and Whistler? I don't need more blood on my hands, that's for certain.

"There we go. Free as a bird." he smirks, taking my hand.

"Not really." I mumble.

He leads me out of the cage and into the room. There are an intricate pair of high heels set on the floor for me. He lets go of my hand and gestures to them. I bend over and slip into them, wiggling each foot a little so they could slip past the decorative straps. I also take some time to adjust my mask, since as Trixie, I always keep it on. I look up just in time to see an umbrella slam into my face, throwing me off of my feet. I leap up, ready to block the next blow, but all I see is Ozzy, standing proudly above me,

"That was for leaving me." he declares, before bending down and forcefully grabbing my jawline, "I didn't hurt you too bad, right? ...no bruise, good. You were always so very durable."

"Should I get use to that?" I ask cynically, practically spitting in his face.

"Only if you misbehave." he grabs me and pulls me up by my arm, "Now come, onto this evening's plans."

I catch up with him to the point where he's no longer pulling me along, and with his umbrella, he sticks it into a key hole and it unlocks the door. Pushing it open, he reveals the balcony overlooking an expansive ice-themed restaurant, with a private table on the balcony, a small table for two set up with bread and wine.

This place use to be a restaurant called Angelo's. I remember when he first bought it. And when I came back, I'd heard it was now a restaurant and casino known as the Iceberg Lounge, but I'd never seen it until now,

"Ozzy...this place is beautiful."

He squeezes my hand, "I'm glad you like it."

He walks over and pulls out the seat for me, so he's still a gentleman, at least a little. I sit down and he pushes me in, and before he seats himself, he bends his head down and kisses me on the forehead. Of course his nose gets in the way, as it always does, digging slightly into my head.

"So, where exactly have you been, all this time?" he asks, opening the bottle of wine.

"In Central City, working with Trickster." I lie.

"Oh, you mean discount Joker? No wonder you came back." he snarks, "But seriously, where have you been? You didn't just leave me to run off with some C-list scum, I know that."

"Well, what if I am that cruel?" I ask, feining disinterest.

He chuckles, "Heh heh...you're not. I know who you really are...you're a kind-hearted, caring person, you can't hide that from me. And now...I know how to use that to my advantage."

I lower my eyes until they become slits, "You are not the man I fell in love with."

"No, I'm the man you knew I could become. You told me I could be so much more than what I was, and now...now look at me, my dear. You were right."

A waiter comes in from a small employee door with two silver platters, placing them in front of us and lifting the plates reveal two generous servings of calamari. Damn, he remembers I like calamari. Well, if I'm going to be his captive for a while, I might as well enjoy myself a little.

Out of the corner of my eye I see him pouring me a glass of wine, "You know I don't drink Ozzy."

"Oh, but you must try this Sauvignon Blanc, I've been saving it for a special occasion." he insists.

"And how is this a special occasion?"

He puts down the bottle, "Why, it's your homecoming, of course." he raises his glass, "To us, may we rekindle our relationship, and sustain it for many years to come."

Reluctantly, I raise my glass, and when the glasses connect, our knuckles graze for just a moment. Ozzy sips from his glass, while I stare at mine intently. Could I honestly drink to something like that? Do I want to drink at all?

I throw my wine off of the balcony, leaning over the glass railing to watch it splash onto a poor patron below. Ozzy looks over as well, and the patron looks up, and I realize it's Matches Malone, the insurance fraud guy.

I can't help but giggle a little, and I hear Ozzy chuckle as well. We turn to each other and our giggles turn into rambunctious laughter.

Several years ago

I stumble out of the burning building with three more residents, two of which are being supported by my arms and shoulders. They run away the minute we're out and I fall to the ground. I feel two hands catch my head just as it's about to hit the concrete. I then feel my entire body being shakingly lifted, as two hands that can just barely handle my weight attempt to lift me up. I cough up a fair amount of smoke before I manage to speak,

"Put me down...I...I can walk-"

"No, no, you've done enough. Let me carry you." Oswald insists, his voice warm and comforting.

I smile at him, "You're gonna drop me."

"I'll manage."

I look back at the burning building, "Where are we going anyway?"

He sighs, "Well, Mother does like you, and after what you did, I'm sure she won't have a problem with you staying over for a while."

He reaches out with one hand to comb his hand through my hair, but this causes his support to slip, and I hit the ground, landing on my posterior. He reaches down to help me up, and I take his hand, smirking at him, "Told you you'd drop me."