Chapter Text
The next morning Oswald was sat at the breakfast table, turning over the events of the previous night in his mind.
He hadn’t expected Ed to just show up in the middle of their conversation, he truly had to give it to Victor for his quick thinking and acting skills (Oswald blushed slightly remembering the feel of Victors lips on his knuckles). While Eds intense anger had taken him by surprise, he wouldn’t deny the satisfaction that he felt causing such a reaction.
“Olga,” Oswald said suddenly as his maid came to clear away his plate.
“Da, mister Cobblepot?”
“What do you think of Victor?” He asked. It didn’t really matter but he was rather fond of Olga and he wanted to hear her opinion. She was silent for a moment while she thought
“Bald man is creepy but takes care of boss. He is good,” she said finally before turning back into the kitchen.
Oswald huffed out a laugh. A very astute observation.
He never really thought about it before, how much Victor actually does take care of him. In all actuality, it hadn’t been that long since Victor came into his employment, only about two years, but it felt like Victor had always been there. Always just out of sight, ready to come in at a moments notice, guns blazing with some smart quip at the ready. He couldn’t think of anyone else that had been so consistently reliable.
It seemed that as time had gone on, Victor has gotten closer and closer to Oswald. No longer only coming when called, now, even before the whole Ed situation, he had been lingering around longer before and after assignments. Oswald hadn’t even noticed as Victor basically moved in to the manor as he was so used to the assassins presence. It was a strange sort of comfort, having someone so dangerous so close by.
He found that he didn’t particularly mind.
——-
“Victor, what is this? Where is the limo?” Oswald asked, no small amount of trepidation in his voice. The man in question smirked from where he was leaning against his motorcycle. Which also happened to be the only vehicle currently in Oswald’s driveway.
“I told him to go on ahead to city hall,” Victor said simply.
“And how exactly am I to get to work, then?” He asked slowly, already knowing the answer but dreading it.
“What kind of partner would I be if I didn’t drive my amazing boyfriend to work?” Victor asked in a mockingly serious tone as he sauntered up to where his boss was standing glued to the porch.
“Victor, I am the mayor! I can’t show up to city hall on a motorbike!” Oswald huffed indignantly, looking every bit of a bird with its feathers ruffled. Victor fought down the strong urge to coo, he didn’t really feel like getting stabbed today.
“Chill, boss. Pulling up to city hall on the back of a sexy mysterious strangers bike? The media will love it, really sells the secret lover narrative.” Oswald could only glare up at Victors stupid smirk. He wasn’t technically wrong in saying that the papers would go absolutely buck wild but he was having a hard time convincing himself that it would be worth actually getting on.
Victor rolled his eyes fondly before grabbing his boss by his shoulders and guiding (read dragging) Oswald over to the bike.
“Don’t worry boss, I’m an excellent driver! I mean, when have you ever known me to be reckless?” Oswald merely raised an unimpressed eyebrow.
Oswald looked between the bike and Victors expectant face before giving a resigned sigh. It’s not like he really had choice.
“Fine but if you brake a single traffic law, I will gut you,” Oswald threatened.
“Promise?” Victor asked salaciously as he handed Oswald a helmet.
Oswald didn’t dignify that with a response.
—
The ride to city hall turned out to be far more enjoyable than Oswald thought it would be. After he got over his initial anxiety he actually found the wind and the sights of his beloved city rushing past quite mesmerizing.
He slowly relaxed, leaning more into Victors back as the ride went on. To his credit, Victor drove very safely, obeying all laws and not making any unnecessary maneuvers just to show off.
Oswald didn’t think he would be getting his motorcycle license any time soon but maybe they weren’t so bad as long as Victor was the one driving.
Victor, meanwhile, was decidedly less relaxed. Taking his boss to work on his bike had seemed like a funny idea but the reality of having Oswald pressed against his back with his arms around his waist was a lot less amusing. Victor was pretty sure you could fry an egg on his face by the time Oswald fully relaxed into him, head resting between his shoulders.
It was the display of trust that really got him, more so even than the physical contact. Now, his boss trusted him with much more dangerous things than simply operating a motorcycle. Oswald had placed his life in Victors hands more than once. But there was something about this that stuck out to him. Maybe it was the intimacy of the situation or the fact that his boss willingly chose to put his faith in Victor when he really didn’t have to.
He wasn’t sure why having Oswald on his bike felt so significant but whatever the reason, he was just glad his boss couldn’t see his face.
To Victors absolute delight, when they finally pulled up to of city hall Nygma was standing on the front steps, waiting for Oswald. Victors helmet completely covered his face so the press wouldn’t be able to identify the mysterious stranger dropping off the mayor, however, judging by Nygmas expression, he knew exactly who was behind the helmet. Delightful.
Oswald gracefully disembarked from the bike, taking off his helmet and shaking out his hair, dutifully ignoring the many wide eyed stares he was receiving. He paused, deliberating for a moment, then pressing a delicate kiss to victors helmet. He was fairly sure he heard the distinct sound of a camera before he turned away up the stairs of city hall as Victor rode away again.
“Good morning Mr.mayor,” Ed greeted with a too sweet smile. “I hadn’t realized you enjoyed motorbikes,” he added on as they walked into city hall together. Oswald smiled.
“I don’t,” he smiled, “Just the people who ride them.”
—
“Your one o’clock is here, mister Mayor,” Eds head poked into Oswald’s office.
“Thank you, send him in,” he replied without looking up from the paperwork he was pouring over.
“Is there a reason you called me here Mayor Cobblepot?” Oswald finished what he was writing, finally looking up and giving a saccharine smile.
“Hello, James, Lovely to see you.”
“Hello, Oswald,” Jim Gordon smiled sarcastically. Oswald shoved down the spike of irritation that always rose when Jim rebuffed his attempts at friendliness. Or even just plain politeness.
“Please have a seat, there are some matters I wish to discuss. Nothing illicit, I assure you,” he tacked on when Jim shot him a dubious look as he took a seat.
“As I’m sure you’re well aware, crime rates have been rising recently. As a detective I was wanting your input on how you think city hall could help the GCPD do their jobs more effectively,” Oswald said, getting right down to business.
“You want to help the GCPD?” Jim looked confused.
Oswald couldn’t help rolling his eyes.
This man, honestly.
“Shocking as it may seem detective, I love this city very much. I didn’t become mayor simply for power, I genuinely want to help Gotham,” Oswald answered simply.
Jim looked him up and down like he was sizing him up before letting out a small but genuine smile.
“Alright, but shouldn’t you be talking to captain Barnes or even the commissioner?” Jim asked.
“Oh, please,” Oswald smiled condescendingly. “If anyone cares as much about Gotham as I do, it’s you. I know that no matter what you will have the citizens best interest at heart. Not to mention you will end up doing whatever you want anyway so I thought I might as well cut out the middle man,” Oswald smirked.
Jim huffed out a laugh and rolled his eyes but didn’t bother denying it. Everyone knew detective Gordon was a loose canon, just an effective one. In his experience, it was always best to have Jim Gordon working with you instead of against you
“Okay then, mister mayor, what did you have in mind?” Jim asked, sounding distinctly more friendly than when he first walked in.
Oswald smiled as he began laying out the different ideas he had for reducing crime rates around the city, Jim chiming in with various ways the police could be helpful on the streets as well as improvements he thought could be made inside the GCPD. The pair discussed a plan for the next couple of hours before Ed interrupted, announcing that Oswald needed to be getting to his next engagement. Oswald walked Jim over to the office door
“I truly thank you for speaking with me today. Your input was absolutely invaluable, I’ll keep you updated as we move forward,” Oswald said sincerely, holding out his hand.
“Thank you for listening,” Jim smiled, shaking his hand. “I look forward to hearing from you.”
Oswald gave a finale nod as Jim turned out the door. It was only then that Oswald noticed the strange look Ed was giving him.
“What?” He asked, reaching up to touch his face self consciously.
“Nothing, sorry,” Ed said quickly, blinking. “I just didn’t realize that you and detective Gordon were so…amicable,” Ed smiled almost convincingly. Almost.
“James and I don’t always see eye to eye but we both want what’s best for this city,” Oswald answered plainly. “Now where am I needed today?” He quickly changed the subject.
“Another school tour and the opening of a new urgent care facility,” Ed answered, quickly switching into chief of staff mode.
Oswald could already feel a headache coming on at the thought of touring, yet another, loud, echoey school building.
“Fantastic.”