Chapter Text
Martin let go of both men’s hands to clap excitedly. He was grinning from ear to ear and shook Ed’s shoulder before pulling out his notepad.
‘You did it!!’
Below the words was a small drawing of the three of them holding hands while standing on an airplane.
Ed’s heart twinged. He couldn’t believe how much this child had endeared himself to him in the thirty minutes they’d spent together. He’d known this child for less than an hour but if anything happened to him he’d kill everyone on the plane and then himself.
The ‘keep seatbelt fastened’ light pinged and then turned off. The pilot came back on over the speaker to talk about the projected flight length and turbulence level. There was a minor storm system before they reached Metropolis, which made Ed’s blood run cold.
But he schooled his features, trying not to upset the boy. He’d already been a pain. What his father would’ve said if he’d know that Ed had resorted to comfort from a child when he was almost thirty.
Martin seemed bored as the flight went on, so Ed let him read his book. The boy hadn’t seemed grossed out by the morbid topic so he saw no harm in letting Martin borrow it. Ed also let him listen to his tape, since he’d been such a big help during the departure.
The cabin was dark, only illuminated by the sunset through the plane windows and a sporadic collection of lights that passengers had turned on. Outside, the wind and turbines were a dull roar. White noise.
Oswald suddenly sat up, startling Ed. The man’s eyes were fixed on the drink cart making its way down the aisle.
“Finally.” He muttered, massaging his right leg that was sticking out into the aisle. Oswald pulled it back to let the cart pass through cleanly. “One Merlot, if you would.”
The stewardess smiled and poured out the glass of deep red wine. She said something about paying for it later in the flight and Oswald waved his hand. She turned to Ed.
“Anything for you, sir?”
Ed ordered a ginger ale to help soothe his stomach. He glanced down at Martin and ordered a cup of water as well. Oswald’s eyebrow quirked.
With the two drinks in hand, Ed set one down on his tray and handed the other to the boy. Martin glanced up, flashed his bright smile and then dove back into his book, cupping the water with both hands.
The stewardess smiled at them and then tottered off to the next row.
“You know I can take care of my own kid.” Oswald was staring at Ed in an accusatory fashion. He was studying the taller man, trying to figure him out.
“I assumed.” Ed said. “He’s a very nice boy. I’m rather inexperienced with flying so he helped me through the takeoff.”
Oswald looked thoughtful and then looked down at his son. His features softened and he almost looked like a completely different person. It was obvious to anyone that he loved his son immensely.
“Yes, he is a nice boy, isn’t he?” It wasn’t really a question. They both knew the answer.
Martin turned a page and a picture of an eviscerated man stared up at them. Martin didn’t react, his eyes scanning the words on the opposite page. Ed glanced nervously at Oswald, expecting the usual response.
‘Why do you read books like this?’ ’Thats disgusting, Ed!’ ‘What a freak.’
But none came. Oswald seemed intrigued, then angled his head to read the cover.
“A Lifestyle of Decomposition, huh?” He whistled and then took a sip of his wine. “Seems like a good read.”
Ed’s mouth hung open. “You aren’t freaked out?”
Oswald scoffed. “Do you want me to be?”
Ed shook his head swiftly and Oswald chuckled. It was a beautiful sound and Ed was determined to hear it as many times as he could before they landed.
There was an easy silence as Oswald sipped his wine. Ed had nothing to do since he’d given his book to Martin. The only other things in his messenger bag were the clothes he’d grabbed on his way out of his apartment and an empty water bottle that the security guard had forced him to dump out before boarding.
Someone in the back of the cabin started to watch a movie without headphones and Oswald grumbled about flying coach.
“Do you usually fly first class?” The question had left Ed’s mouth before he had even processed it.
“When I can.” Oswald seemed annoyed again as if he had just remembered where he was. “But I booked this flight quickly and the first class seats were all sold out.”
Ed hummed, trying to imagine what it would be like to fly up front. More leg room, pillows, a blanket. But his forensics salary didn’t have room for that kind of opulance. “Shame.”
“Do you usually fly coach?” The dark haired man returned. It almost sounded like an insult but Ed brushed it off.
“I don’t usually fly at all. This is my first flight ever.”
Oswald nodded. “Nasty things, airplanes. If I could go the rest of my life without taking them I would.”
The sound of gunfire filled the cabin as the movie in the back reached an action scene. Oswald raised his hands as if to say ’see what I mean?’
Ed smiled widely. He was enjoying talking to this man who just seemed to grow more fascinating by the minute.
“Well Martin definitely made it more enjoyable. I think this is the best flight I’ve ever had.” Ed said.
“Not a lot of competition.” Oswald muttered and stretched his leg out again. “But yes, he makes everything more enjoyable. I’m lucky to have him.”
Ed was distracted by the man’s profile. He looked even more avian as he stared down. His hair was getting ruffled by constantly getting pressed against the seat. And finally, finally, his shirt was starting to wrinkle. He was no longer intimidating. He was a tired man with an overly enthusiastic child to look after. A man who didn’t find him weird.
“You’re making this enjoyable too.” Ed hadn’t realized he’d spoken aloud until Oswald turned to look at him strangely. “I mean-“
“No, it’s fine. I’m enjoying talking to you too.” Oswald rubbed his leg gently. “I don’t usually talk to people who don’t work for me.”
There was an awkward silence as Ed silently yelled at himself for being so stupid. People don’t usually talk like that. It was an abrupt change of subject. Stupid. Stupid!
Oswald finished his drink. He seemed bored, scanning through the meager reading material that every flight had available. Diagrams of where to go in the case of different scenarios.
He chuckled as he stared at the small distressed drawings. “One would think if the plane crashed into the sea there wouldn’t be anyone to deploy the life rafts.”
Ed didn’t respond until Oswald turned to him. “Don’t you think?”
“At the speed this aircraft would fall, crashing into water would be like falling onto a large sheet of concrete.” Ed muttered. He glanced up at Oswald. “Minimal survivors, if that.”
The man seemed impressed and looked back at the pamphlet. “Good to know. I’ll add crashing a plane into the river to my list of murder methods.”
There was a slight inflection that almost sounded like Oswald was joking, but his thoughtful expression told Ed he was being serious. He should’ve been scared, but he wasn’t.
It seemed his new friend had a taste for the morbid as well.
“What are some of your favorites?”
Oswald looked up. His eyes flicked to Martin before looking back at Ed. “I beg your pardon?”
“Y-you said your list.” Ed stammered. “That implies you have multiple options. I was asking for your favorite method.”
There was a beat of silence before Oswald readjusted himself. “You know, I’m starting to think we might have a lot in common, mister…?”
“Nygma. Ed Nygma.” Ed thrust out his hand, being careful not to disturb Martin. A purple gloved hand stretched out and they shook hands.
“I’m Oswald Cobblepot. But you already knew my first name. Most don’t.”
“What do they call you, then?”
The man seemed to bristle. “I have a professional name but we don’t have to get into it. Nasty business.”
“I’m fine with nasty things.” Ed’s face flushed red as he realized what he’d just said.
Luckily Oswald pretended not to hear and was fixing his tie. The only tell that he’d understood was the pink tinge to his cheeks. Or maybe that was just the wine.
Ed spent the next five minutes trying to figure out how to open one of the emergency doors and jump out of the plane. The only issue was how to keep Martin safe…
“Stabbing.”
Ed’s head whipped over to stare at the man. He seemed thoughtful and was playing with the cane in his hands. He looked up. “You asked for my favorite murder method. It’s very effective.”
They stared at each other and suddenly the cabin felt very warm. Ed could only manage a strangled “O-oh.”
He’d had plenty of experience with knives. Med school had contained a lot of dissections. Some in class and some Ed did… outside of school. He had a favorite switchblade at home that he’d used to-
“Do you have any experience with this sort of thing?” Oswald hadn’t broken eye contact. His green eyes were mesmerizing. They’d suddenly become Ed’s favorite color. They said to trust the man in front of him with his biggest secret.
“I killed my parents.”
There. No one else knew about this. It was the first time Ed had ever said it aloud.
Oswald whistled, suddenly impressed. He didn’t recoil, in fact he leaned further towards Ed.
Martin was slumped over the book, seemingly asleep. His back rising and falling slowly with his deep breaths.
“It seems I’ve underestimated you, Ed Nygma.” Oswald’s voice was low and Ed suddenly realized how close their faces had gotten. There were only a few inches between them if only he could lean forward and-
“Excuse me?”
Both men jumped away from each other. A stewardess was standing next to Oswald and was clutching a red blanket. “I saw your son fall asleep and was wondering if he wanted a blanket?”
Oswald’s face was the same color of the fabric. He grabbed the blanket angrily.
“Yes, thank you.” Ed added quickly to cover up for the man’s rudeness. Although he was pretty sure he knew why Oswald was so embarrassed.
Ed had never considered himself attractive or very outgoing. But for some reason with Oswald… things were different. He felt like he’d known him for much longer than an hour and a half. The word soulmate bounced around his head.
The stewardess didn’t seem offended though. If anything her smile got wider. “So how long have you two been together?”
Oswald squawked and Ed froze. He’d been carefully placing the blanket over the sleeping boy. Martin remained oblivious.
“Uhh…” Ed’s mind returned to the emergency exit. He was sure he could make it there in 20 seconds and be free falling in 30.
“Not very long.” Oswald supplied, looking anywhere but at Ed. The stewardess seemed to accept this answer and sighed.
“Well you guys look cute together. Your son is very lucky to have you.” She smiled again and then puttered off down the aisle.
For about fifteen seconds it was dead silent. Then-
“If Martin weren’t here she would’nt be alive right now.” Fury looked good on Oswald.
Ed felt his mouth get dry. “How would you have done it?”
Oswald casually glanced over, making eye contact with Ed. The empty wine glass danced between his fingers. “Most underestimate how sharp glass can get.”
The idea of Oswald killing a stranger just for daring to interrupt them… suddenly Ed wished the drink cart would come back. He needed some water. Ed swallowed dryly.
“Too bad she interrupted us,” Oswald mused. He licked his lips. “I had something I wanted to discuss.”
Ed checked his watch before glancing out the window. The sky was pitch black. “Well we do have another hour left before we land.”
“Excellent.”
The movie in the back of the cabin was playing an orchestral, romantic song. Ed suddenly didn’t hate whoever had forgotten their headphones.
Their lips crashed together and Ed’s mind exploded.
He forgot his fear of flying.
He forgot how everyone back home treated him like a nobody.
He forgot his parents and all of his traumas.
For the rest of the flight, there was only Oswald.
Perhaps flying wasn’t that bad.