Chapter Text
“ Szétbasz az ideg! I will gut him! I will hang his entrails from the chandelier of his cretinous club! A fene egye meg! ” Oswald grumbled as he paced back and forth in front of the dining table, “ I’ll make sure he’s alive to bear witness to it! I need him to see the blood drip into his precious abhorrent carpet!”
“ As much as I’d love to see that,” Riddler closed the newspaper he was reading and laid it on the table. The main headline was still visible and the words ‘ Roman Sionis Calls The Penguin An Enraged Blood Thirsty Lunatic That Shouldn’t Have As Much Power As He Does ’ glared at Oswald, “ It’ll just spice up his words.”
Oswald groaned as he faced the man, “ You’ve gone soft.”
Riddler shrugged, “ You said Ed and I should work together, and we agree that this wouldn’t be a good look on you. You’d let it ruin everything you built so far? “
“ I can’t let him get away with what he said. The crime families will sense weakness. They won't fear me or trust me enough to protect their assets, so they’ll move to his side. It’s a strategic move albeit stupid and uncivilized.”
“ Then… maybe you can stage some sort of accident. Nothing they can pin against you or….” Riddler said, but then stopped. It was Ed who talked next, “ Hey, remember when I told you I’m not ready to have that date yet?”
Oswald raised an eyebrow, appalled at the sudden change in topics, “ The one we were supposed to have two years ago?”
“ Yes.” Ed said, “ I’m ready now. Let’s have it by the end of this week.”
“ While, um, I’m happy that you feel confident enough for it. We were discussing something else, my love.”
Ed smiled softly, “ I know.”
Then, the smile turned into a smirk, and Riddler’s eyes sparked with mischief as he said, “ Oh, Eddie… That’s cheesy.”
Oswald blinked, hoping that the men wouldn’t play up the dramatics for long, and they would explain what they were scheming in that mind of theirs.
Roman Sionis was a charismatic man. He had a white blinding smile, golden hair that shone under the city lights, and fair skin clear as silk. Oswald had never wanted to rip off someone’s face as he does at this moment.
“ Mr Sionis,” Oswald said politely as Roman joined him in the backseat of his limousine, “ I’m glad you accepted my invitation.”
The man smiled as he shook Oswald’s hand. He leaned awkwardly to reveal the expensive gun he’d hidden in his coat as he said, “ I was surprised you invited me after what happened in the papers.”
Or in other words, he’s reminding Oswald that he’s untouched now. Any wrong move could end Oswald’s career. So, Oswald smiled in return. He could stab Roman swiftly with the knife hidden in his cane, or the one hidden in the leg brace Edward made for him, and he’d die before knowing that something happened to him.
“ Don’t worry about that, Mr Sionis,” Oswald laughed, “ I know that journalists love gossip, and they spice up news to engage readers. I’m sure you meant well, but they paraphrased your words oddly.”
Sionis blinked before regaining his composure, “ They can be cheeky.”
“ That's true.”
“ So, what’s this thing again?” Sionis said as he sat back, more stiff than before.
Oswald tapped his cane, “ We’re holding an event in my club, for the elite members of Gotham. “
“ Yes, I’ve heard some of my friends discuss it. They offered me an invitation that came along with a contract.”
“ Don’t worry about the contract. The GCPD can be quite a hassle, so it’s only a protection against them, you understand.” Oswald waved his hand, “ The Riddle Factory is holding an exclusive show in my club.”
“ The Riddle Factory?” Roman asked curiously, “ This doesn’t have anything to do with The Riddler, right?”
“ He is, in fact, presenting the show,” Oswald said proudly, “ He’s reformed, you see. Haven’t you heard? He’s doing some detective work and expanding his horizons. He’s been experimenting with game shows and reached out to me about The Riddle Factory. It’s an entertaining show of riddles. You’ll love it.”
“ I hope so.”
The show was held on one of the underground floors of The Iceberg Lounge. It’s part of a new project Oswald’s been working on inspired by how icebergs hide most of their structure under the surface of the water. Above the surface, it’s a normal club, but under it is all the fun. On one hand, it’s where he runs Gotham’s underworld and conducts dark deals, on the other hand, people have been using it to polish their network in Gotham’s underworld. It’s a win-win situation except Oswald’s the main beneficiary—In the security of the dim lighting and murmurs, people talk, and talking is precious. Information… well. Information could take you places. Oswald would know more than most.
There was a big elevated stage setup. There were long emerald curtains acting as a backdrop and separating the mainstage from the backstage. On the left, there is a big glowing question mark model and in front of it a gold podium with an hourglass on top of it, The hourglass was filled with green sand. On the right was The Wheel Of Misfortune. Between them was a giant lottery ball machine set up with mint green balls. Lastly, for the final touch, there was a disco ball hanging from the ceiling and it made everything shine and sparkle in a flashy display of greens and yellow. All so very Edward Nygma.
In front of the stage were cushioned seats for the audience. And Oswald sat in the front centre one, the best seat. Next to him sat Roman Sionnis.
Before the show could start, the staff passed around drinks to the audience. They had prepared a discrete mocktail for Oswald. He’s been five months sober by now. Things are still a little hard, but they’re much easier, and he was even confident enough to stop attending the AA meetings. He doesn’t need it anymore now that he has a good support system and generally feels a bit more in control of his ongoings. However, he still keeps exchanging text messages with Mrs Kent.
Finally, it’s time for the show to start, and on cue, Riddler’s voice boomed across the speakers, “ Ladies, Gentlemen, and others!” As gasps surrounded Oswald, Riddler emerged with all big grins and spread open arms as he said, “ Welcome to The Riddle Factory! “
The audience cheered and Riddler’s grin widened. Oswald clapped politely while looking at him with utmost intensity. He wore the suit Oswald tailored two years ago, but it’s been modified across the years. The glitter on his suit and the gold coating on his cane sparkled and reflected the lights. It made him glow, and It was hard to keep your eyes off him. People all around were looking at him with open admiration and The Riddler drank it all in.
Riddler seemed to take Oswald’s pretend disinterest as a challenge as he kept throwing Oswald quick winks and charming smiles.
It’s fun, this little game of theirs.
Echo and Query emerged on either side of the stage waving as Riddler encouraged the crowd to clap for them. The girls wore glitter showgirl suits with biker jackets and police hats. They shined just as bright as The Riddler.
Riddler’s voice was loud and booming as he said, “ The rules of the game are simple. We have three rounds. For the first round, I’ll choose a contestant from the audience. I will give them three questions, and if they fail to answer all of them truly, Echo will turn The Wheel Of Misfortune. In the second round, The lottery ball machine will give us the name of a member of the audience who’d be our contestant. I’ll ask one riddle. If you can’t provide me with the correct answer in thirty seconds, to The Wheel you go. Finally, for the third round, I will take a volunteer from the audience who’d ask me a riddle. If I answer correctly, Echo will have one more spin with the wheel, capiche?”
Murmurs spread between the audience as Riddler walked to The Wheel Of Misfortune, “ Now, The Wheel is my second favourite part of the show. First are the riddles of course. You see, there are countless punishments for the loser, nothing lethal obviously, but it’s pretty unpleasant. “
The Riddler gives it a little spin and stops it. He leans in exaggeration to read it and grins as he looks back at Oswald, “ Getting your ears filled with cream as you’re forced to watch a documentary about cakes for hours. Well, isn’t that fun?”
The audience laughed, but they didn’t know why Riddler chose that punishment. Oswald does. They were up for hours discussing The Wheel Of Misfortune once, and at that point, they were just coming up with ridiculous punishments and laughing at them. This one made Oswald laugh so hard that he sounded like a penguin. Edward found that adorable and kissed him silly. Soon, their project was abandoned in favor of a stabbing session.
Riddler is challenging his composure, so Oswald only offers a small scoff.
“ Now now, let me remind you,” Ed said next as the laughter died down, “ You signed contracts beforehand stating that you’re alright with whatever happens.” he smiled innocently, and the people laughed at his joking demeanour.
“ Let's start round one!” Ed clapped excitedly, “ May I call to the stage Mr Liam Brown?”
People looked around curiously as Liam stood up. He seemed confident as he walked up to the stage and shook Ed’s hand warmly.
Next, Liam was led to the podium, and Riddler leaned on it to talk to him as if he were starting a casual conversation.
“ How are you tonight, Mr Brown?”
“ I’m quite well.”
“ Are you excited to play?”
“ Absolutely.”
“ Wonderful!!” Riddler exclaimed, “ For my first question, Do you know what The Narrows are?”
Liam scoffed, “ Of course I do.”
“ Tell me.”
“ It's a neighborhood in Gotham.”
Riddler squinted and tilted his head, “ That’s a simple answer, but I’ll take it. The rule is to answer me honestly.”
Liam smiled, “ I thought this would be challenging since you’re The Riddler and all.”
Riddler grinned, “ I’m just easing you into it. Let’s move on to the second question, Are you aware of what The Fox Glove is?”
Liam raised an eyebrow grinning at the audience as if he was making fun of Edward, “ Mr Riddler we’re amidst Gotham’s elite society...”
“ No discussions! Just answer the question.” Riddler said playfully, but there was an underlying threat in his tone.
“ Um. It’s “ Liam took a deep breath, “ It’s a special club. In The Narrows. It offers… services.”
Riddler gave a thin smile, “ Again. A dopey answer, but not entirely wrong. How about we move to the third question? You did so well so far. “
Liam smiles, “ I graduated at the top of my class.”
“ Of course you did,” Riddler waved him off, “ For my third question, what did you do on the night of the seventeenth of May?”
Liam’s eyes widened, and he looked around nervously, “ I, uh, “
“ Remember Mr Brown,” Riddler said as he hooked his cane around Liam’s neck and forced him to face him, “ I can only take the true answer, or you’ll lose. If you fail to answer, you will lose too.”
“ I..” Liam’s lips trembled as his hands gripped the podium, “ This isn’t like the other questions.”
“ No discussions.”
“ Y-you’re supposed to ask me smart questions.”
“ Then you should be smart enough to not argue with me.” Riddler glared, “ Answer the question, Mr Brown.”
“ I...I was home, I was home with my family.” Liam said.
Riddler stared at him some more before turning to the audience with a frown and an exaggerated shrug. He spread his hands outward before making two thumbs down.
“ Boohoo!” Riddler said as trumpet voice effects echoed across the stage, “ You answered wrong, Mr Brown.”
“ How would you know?” Liam shouted in nervous agitation, “ You weren’t there! Just ask my family!”
“ The family that is too scared of you to defy you?” Riddler said, “ No thanks. How about we ask Butterfly. She was with you that night.” then he gave a dramatic gasp, “ Oh wait! She’s dead!”
Riddler walked to the centre of the stage as he said, “On May the seventeenth, Mr Brown visited The Fox Glove drunk off his head. Already breaking one of the club’s rules, but it’s fine, he had the money for it and the guns. He asked for Butterfly. Later, the other employees heard a ruckus occurring in their booth and not the fun kind. Mr Brown left after half an hour, and Butterfly was never seen coming out of the booth. Upon inspection, they couldn’t even find her inside.”
Here, The Riddler froze scrunching his face. Oswald got worried and gripped his cane. Edward must be going through another cut off. He hoped that Riddler would recover.
Fortunately, It took a moment before Riddler smiled again, undisturbed, “Where was I? Yes, Two days later, her body washed up on shore. The GCPD, of course, didn’t even bother looking into her case, so her friends sought me out instead. The bullet was still inside her body, and after a quick examination, I found out it was specially made for The Browns. So, I guess we’re smart enough to connect the dots and know what Mr Brown did on the seventeenth of May, hm?”
Riddler twirled his cane as Echo and Query clapped. They had stopped smiling here and were glaring at Liam.
“ You may have gotten away with murder, Mr Liam,” Riddler said as Query pulled him to the centre and Echo turned the wheel, “ but you lost the round. Let’s see what we got here.”
Echo stopped the wheel on cue, and Riddler smiled, “ Getting pulled apart by ropes! I Jollity! ”
Seamlessly, Echo and Query tied up Liam’s hands with ropes. They stood on either side of him and pulled as Ed giggled in excitement. Meanwhile, the man screamed as many members of the audience scrambled to try to leave, but the guards wouldn’t let them.
After all, one of the clauses in the contract explained that they can’t leave the event until it’s over.
When the punishment was done, Liam passed out and was dragged away and disposed of next to the stage. Ed clapped his hands excitedly as he said, “ Now!! Let’s move on to round two! I’m going to pull a name.”
Oswald wasn’t aware of what would happen in the first round, but he knows about this one as he was actively involved in it ( except for what the riddler would be ). The truth is, all the names in the machine are the same name. So, he wasn’t surprised when Ed pulled a ball and read, “ Roman Sionis!! Please come up stage!”
Oswald leaned towards Roman as he saw his hands tremble, “ Stage fright, Mr Sionis? ”
“ What are you playing at, Penguin?” Sionis said.
“ Me? I’m not playing.” Oswald batted his eyelashes, “ You are. ”
Roman began sweating under Oswald’s gaze, but he tightened his tie and walked to the stage.
“ Hello, Mr Sionis! “ Ed greeted him, “ You’re a real-life celebrity! I’m happy to have you here.”
Sionis didn’t shake his hand, visibly shaken, “ Likewise.”
“ Let's play, shall we?” Ed led him to the podium and smiled, “ I’ll ask you one riddle, and you have to answer it correctly in time. Are you ready?”
Sionis looked at the audience nervously, “Yes.”
“ Alrighty then!”
Ed drummed on the podium with his fingers and smiled at the audience. He gestured with wide hands as he told the riddle, “ I sleep most days, except when it rains. When the droplets hit me, I spread with joy. I hold lovers and families, but in the right hands, I could make you bleed. What am I?”
Ed flipped the hourglass and said, “ Your time starts now! “
Sionis gulped as he looked around nervously, he glanced at the sand slipping little by little and licked his lips before answering, “ A house?”
“ incorrect!” Ed said, “Keep going!”
“ clouds?”
“ nope!”
“ jackets?”
“Wrong again!”
“ I know it! it’s—“
“ aaaaaand your time ran out.” Ed said, giggling as he showed the audience the hourglass, “ Can someone tell me what the answer is?”
Oswald smiled, “ An umbrella?”
“ That's correct!” Ed said excitedly, “ Splendid! “
He clapped, and the rest of the audience joined him stiffly.
Sionis, though, stood around nervously and tried to run away. Except, Query stopped him easily and dragged him to the center as he protested loudly.
“ Time for The Wheel Of Misfortune! ” Ed said excitedly as he pointed at it with his cane. Echo cheerfully turned the wheel.
Once it stopped, Ed read, “ A box full of rats! Youch!”
“ What? No!” Sionis said, looking around nervously as Echo went backstage and brought out a wooden box. Ed put his mic on the box and the sound of the rats walking around and squeaking filled the club as the audience gasped and screamed in horror.
Query helped Sionis settle into a chair as Echo put the box on his head. Sionis screamed as the sound of the rats grew louder and more aggressive. Ed waited for the sand to run out twice before finally peeking Into the box.
He cringed and said, “ Yikes! Take him to the back to get him all cleaned up.”
Echo and Query pulled Sionis to the back, and the sounds of his screams followed.
“ Now! Let’s move on to the third and final stage!” Ed said, “ Who wants to play?”
Before anyone else could, Oswald stood up, “ I do.”
“ What?” Ed said nervously, “ Mr Penguin, surely.”
Oswald was walking up to the stage already, “ Are you underestimating me, Mr Riddler?”
“ No, uh,” Ed fidgeted before Riddler took over, “ I could never underestimate you.”
“ Then, let me play.”
“ but you’re going against me. ” Riddler inclined his head towards the wheel.
With his cane, Oswald tapped Riddler’s chest, “ and?”
Riddler smirked, “ Well then. Shall we?”
“ We shall.”
Oswald walked to the podium and Ed pressed the button to close the microphones as he leaned in to say, “ Are you sure about this? “
“ We discussed this, I want to play.”
“ But—“
“ If you're not okay with this, I could pull back.”
Ed looked at the audience then back at Oswald, “ I’m alright.”
“ Then, let’s play. We’re just making date night even more exciting.”
Ed smiled, “ We are.”
Ed turned the mic back on and said, “ Well, Mr penguin, first, I’d like to thank you for allowing me to present my show here.”
“ Your show is delightful. I had to partake in it.”
“ I’m sure you’ll do great, “ Riddler said, “ but you’re going up against The Riddler, so maybe not so great?”
Oswald shrugged, “ When can I ask my riddle?”
“ Impatient, aren’t we?” Riddler teased and Oswald huffed which made him grin. They were apart for too long and now, even though hundreds are watching, it’s like no one else exists, and the light makes Edward look even more alluring up close. It’s hard not to pull Riddler by his tie and kiss that ridiculous grin off his face.
“ You can ask when you’re ready.”
“ I am.” Oswald said, “ Why is a raven like a writing desk? ”
Riddler blinked, “ What?”
“ That's my riddle.”
“ Surely you’re joking.”
“ I’m not.”
Riddler frowned, “ Lewis Carrol invented that riddle. According to him, the riddle doesn’t have an answer. He never intended an answer for it. Therefore, the answer to this riddle is no answer.”
Oswald smiled, “ You answered wrong, Riddler.”
Riddler gaped, a hand on his chest, “ You wouldn’t—“
“ Lewis Carrol himself offered the answer later on. It’s ‘ Because it can produce a few notes, tho they are very flat; and it is never put with the wrong end in front ‘ . Note that never is spelt N, E, V, A, R, which is the word raven in reverse. Ingenious.”
“ No, it’s— no! ” Riddler said, frustrated. He stomped down with his feet as he gestured widely, “ No no! That doesn’t count!”
“ It does.” Oswald grinned.
“ Lewis Carrol introduced that in a later edition.” Ed rambled, hands moving around, “ It wasn’t there originally. He didn’t intend an answer for it. It’s a riddle without an answer.”
Oswald waved his hand, “ The technicality doesn’t matter. He offered an answer, and that’s it. Besides, you lose either way. No answer isn’t an answer.”
Riddler groaned, pulling his tie loose. He turned the mic off and leaned awfully close to Oswald, “ I need to do things to you so you’d stop being so smart. You’re driving me nuts! ”
Oswald smiled, teasingly fixing his tie and letting his hand linger over his heart. Riddler’s heart beat wildly and enthusiastically, “ Later, you need to address the audience now. Do I get a prize?”
Riddler rolled his eyes and turned the mic on again.
“ Well, I’ve been stumped.” Riddler said bitterly, “ They were right about never underestimating The Penguin.”
Oswald smiled as the audience cheered for him.
The on-stage prize was a green question mark shirt Oswald would wear every day to agitate Edward, but when the audience started to clear out, Edward discreetly pulled Oswald away to the back of the stage to kiss him senseless. When he was finally let go, Oswald felt dizzy and drunk on affection as he struggled to say his goodbyes to the attendants. He does, after all, have a date with the man who makes his lips and heart swell.
The night was going great. The Riddle Factory was a success, Roman Sionis was humiliated in front of Gotham’s elite society, and he and Edward are finally going to have that date. They reserved a table on the rooftop of a small Hungarian restaurant. Just the two of them against the rest of the city. Yet, he still felt nervous. Last time, things went awfully wrong, but not this time.
He’s going to have this date even if it kills him.
Except, as he made his way towards his car, he found Jim Gordon waiting for him, arms crossed over his chest.
Oswald sighed, “ You can discuss whatever you want with my secretary, Mr Penn. I’m busy. I have a date.”
Jim obstructed him, “ It could wait.”
“ Jim—“
“ There was a robbery. “ Jim said, “ At The Gotham museum. Two kids were fighting and they accidentally knocked off the display of The Red Queen’s gem. In the ruckus, the gem disappeared, and in its place was a green card with a question mark on it.”
“ So?” Oswald asked.
“ This happened just now, ten minutes ago, and both you and I know who did it.”
“ I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Oswald huffed, “ Why are you here? You have a robbery to investigate.”
He tried to reach for the door, but Jim stood firmly in front of him.
“ Seriously Jim—-“
“ We both know it’s Ed.” Jim growled, “ He’s back to his old habits.”
“ Edward was just with me in the lounge for the last hour or so. There are hundreds of eyewitnesses.”
“ but the question mark—“
“ Could be a copycat. The man is charming after all. It could be some fan.”
“ Oswald.”
“ Jim.”
The Commissioner groaned and rubbed his face, “ Look, I’m not interrogating you.”
“ Then, let me go.”
“ I’m talking to you as a friend.”
Oswald laughed then, and stepped back, “ Oh! I’d love to hear this! What are you trying to say, old friend?”
“ Ed is trouble.” Jim said carefully, “ He’s. He’s unwell. He’s insane. He needs help or he’ll get himself into very deep waters and pull you down with him.”
“ You have no say on this, Jim.” Oswald was growing impatient.
“ You’re both criminals—.”
“ There are no charges.”
“ You’re both criminals,” Jim pressed, “ But you’re careful. You do things carefully, but Ed... he’s just…”
“ Insane? I heard that before.”
“ Then—“
“ What do you want?” Oswald sighed, “ You have no right stuffing your nose into my affairs. We’re not friends, you and I, and you don’t get to talk so disrespectfully about my kedvesem.”
“ Oswald, just. Turn him in, or convince him to turn himself in.” Jim sighed, hands on his hips.
“ For. What. Charges?” Oswald clenched his teeth and tightened his hand on his cane, ” I advise you to leave, commissioner. Surely you have more important work to do than harassing me.”
Jim sighed as he stepped away, “ I’ve warned you.”
“ You can shove your warning where the sun never shines,” Oswald said before getting into the limousine and shouting instructions at his driver.
Edward was already waiting for him on the table. The place they chose was magical— It was high enough that it wasn’t so loud. The city lights dotted the horizon and it felt like overlooking a sea of stars. There were no other tables except theirs, and it had a candle and a flower decorating it. Edward stood up from his chair to greet him with a soft kiss on his nose. The breeze gently picked up his hair and the light glowed around him like a halo. He was ethereal.
“ You’re a little late,” Ed said, pulling out a chair for Oswald.
“ How did you do it?” Oswald said as he sat down, “ The robbery at the museum.”
“ What robbery?” Ed said with feigned innocence, except he could barely hold himself back from smiling.
“ You were with me the whole night,” Oswald said, “ There was a question mark.”
“ It could be a copycat.”
“ I know it was you.”
Riddler grinned in place, “ Did Jim Gordon hold you back from our date because he suspected me?”
“ He's as clueless as I am.” Oswald shrugged.
Riddler smiled, “ I outsmarted you. “
Oswald sighed, “ Come on. You’re dying to tell me.”
“ I’m not.”
“ We'll see.”
They sat staring at each other waiting for someone to break, and, as expected, Ed was the one to break as he said,” Okay, okay, I’ll tell you.”
Then, he looked to the side, probably talking to Riddler, “ Come on, you were dying to tell him too. “
“ The gem container broke the exact moment you asked me that riddle.” Ed said, returning his focus to Oswald, “ I knew you’d find some clever way to stump me, so I thought, I should stump you too.”
“ So, in some way, you were playing me while I was playing you.”
“ Exactly.”
“ But you were on stage the whole time.”
“And who says I stole the gem tonight?”
Oswald thought for a moment, finger on his lips, before he said,” Two days ago, you came home late. “
“ Yes,” Ed giggled, “ I stole it that night! It wasn’t so hard. The fun part was planting some pieces inside the glass case and a carefully placed light source to create a projection of the gem. Soooo….”
“ The moment the kids broke the display,” Oswald said, “ kids I’m sure you hired or bribed or something, the projection fell apart.”
Ed spread his palms in excitement, “ Exactly!! Isn’t that smart?”
Oswald smiled, “ It is, but where is the gem?”
“ What's the best way to hide something?” Riddler asked mysteriously.
In plain sight.
Oswald looked around. Looking closely at Riddler’s suit and the dinner table, he couldn’t find it. Then, he remembered something as he carefully inspected the tie around his own collar. His tie had a red gem on it, but now that he’s touching it, he realizes it feels different, heavier even…
“ Riddler … Jim Gordon was talking to me while I wore this.”
Riddler shrugged, “ He wouldn’t have known it’s the same. The time frame he suspects wouldn’t give me enough time to give it to you, and for you to put it on your tie. You can do whatever you want with it. Ed brought your older tie too in case you don’t want to wear it.”
Oswald placed a hand on his heart and felt it beat rapidly under his fingers. He looked at Edward with his ridiculous grin and flashy suit and his mind wandered.
Loving Edward Nygma is a unique journey on its own. To call it Love seems very wrong (such an experience needs its own word.) Nevertheless, to love Edward Nygma, you need a romantic heart or a broken mind.
As luck would have it, Oswald Cobblepot was a romantic to the bone with a mind fractured to shards and debris. Every cell of his body was born and crafted with love, his mother’s soft kisses, and his father’s gentle words. Then, time gnawed at him, pulled at the seams, and broke his brain in halves and quarters and… Edward once told him, simple math could string together zero and infinity. ( There was a metaphor there, a riddle mayhaps, but Oswald lost it.)
It’s true, Oswald had fallen for Edward. It was meant to be as it was written into his very bones. Edward taught him both love and hate, but most importantly, he taught him transformation.
The cause of his heartbeat conversed to him, on a night in a dingy apartment where things were simpler, heart too innocent to name a warm feeling— The Law Of Conservation Of Energy says that energy can’t be born out of nothing, and it can't be destroyed into nothing. It can change and transform instead. Love is the same, for how much love he held for the man, he hated him, and for how much he hated him, he loved him.
Another thing about Edward Nygma is that he’s full of surprises. Is he aware that he broke The Law Of Conservation Of Energy? If love is the same as energy, then it cannot be created out of nothing, yet, impossibly so, it keeps growing, expanding, filling up Oswald’s lungs and making it hard to breathe. It flows up to his throat and he can’t find his voice. It flows up to his brain and his thoughts crumble.
It is only in his mother tongue can he convey what he’s trying to say.
Szeretlek.
