Chapter Text
Blood was pouring down Oswald's face and arm. The pocket square he had been using to abate the bleeding was soaked and practically useless at this point. Jim called out for him to hurry up but Oswald had barely managed to climb down the stairs. He nearly lost his balance on the last few steps but Edward had been there waiting to catch him. Oswald promptly slid down to the floor. He's dizzy and shivering from the pain in his eye. Edward was concerned by the amount of blood he was losing. They were several blocks away from the GCPD and time was of the essence.
“Upsy-daisy, Oswald. We're running out of time.” Edward tried to get Oswald to stand but he was too disoriented. Harvey and the rest of Gordon's men had already left them. Jim has also left them behind.
“We have to leave, Oswald. We can't stay here—” Edward's thoughts are interrupted by Oswald's hand on his cheek. His touch is feather-light and hesitant. Ed isn't sure if it's because he's afraid to touch him or if Oswald is unclear as to his surroundings. Edward covers Oswald's hand with his own.
“Ed?” Oswald sounds so small. Edward hitches his breath.
“I need you to stand up so we can—”
“—I have something to tell you... something very important...” A ghost of their past suddenly echoes in the space between then. A long-forgotten and tamped down memory from happier times. A confession left unspoken.
Edward swallows the lump in his throat. “What is it, Oswald?”
But Oswald doesn't speak. Instead, he closed his eyes.
“No no no no... Oswald, open your eyes!”
“Hm?” He looks up, confused.
“You have to stay awake.” Edward resists the urge to shake him.
“But I'm so tired.” he complained, “How long have we been sitting here? Is the fighting over?”
“What? No. We have to move. Now.”
“But it's dark outside.”
Edward blanched. The sun hadn't set yet and there was light clearly haloing the two of them from the window. Edward didn't know how to respond. Oswald was going into shock. Or dying. Or both.
“I'm so sorry...” Edward couldn't help but cry, “I saw the grenade... and I froze. I—”
“Shh...” Oswald's eyes fluttered. His hand was still on Edward's cheek, “It's the least I could do.”
Edward clenched his jaw. Taking a grenade blast was the least he could do?
“What you can do for me now is stand. I can't carry you all the way back to the Green Zone.”
“Mmm...” Oswald was drifting in and out of consciousness again.
“I said I can't carry you. I need you to stand! You can lean on me but I need you to walk on your own.”
“I can't.” Oswald sounded calmer than he had any reason to be
“Yes. You can. You have to.” Ed said, unsure which one of them he was trying to convince.
“Leave me, Ed.” Oswald gave him a sad smile. His hand finally slid down Edward's face and unceremoniously fell to the concrete floor. He no longer had the energy to hold his limbs up anymore.
“What?!” Edward gasped, “Oswald, I—”
“Please. I'll only slow you down.” Tears flowed from his good eye and blood dripped on his lapel. The sound of an explosion echoed through the warehouse, “They're coming. Go.”
“I'm not leaving you!” It was Edward's turn to hold onto Oswald. His hands desperately gripped either side of The Penguin's face. He needed his full attention, “I stayed because of you, Oswald! I lied about the submarine. I could have left but I stayed. Don't you understand? I—”
“I know you lied, Ed. And you were a damned fool for staying.” Oswald's tone conveyed that he was scolding his friend, but the smile never left his face.
“Why didn't you just leave with me? We would be across the river by now.” Edward grit his teeth
“I had to follow my heart.”
“Your heart?” Edward choked out those words
Oswald could see the heartbreak written on Edward's face. Using the last of his strength, he lifted a hand and placed it over his chest, “I had to atone for my mistakes, Ed. I made my decision to stay and fight weeks ago. Months ago, if I'm honest. But, I had to oversee the project and know that you could leave safely.” His hand was on Edward's face again, his thumb grazing over his sculpted cheekbones that he coveted so much, “I love you, Edward. I never stopped.”
Edward leaned in and pressed his lips against Oswald's in response. After a moment of realization, Oswald let out a soft moan and the softest press of his own lips against Edward's. Wet-hot tears were streaming down both of their faces.
“I love you, too.” Ed smiled, pressing their foreheads together, “Which is why I need you to stand.”
“I will...” Oswald exhaled, “Just... let me... rest my eyes... for just a moment longer.” His voice trailed
“No! Oswald, you can't—”
There is another explosion much closer and Ed can hear the pounding of footsteps. There’s no way they can outrun Bane’s Army now. As they approach, Ed wraps his arms protectively around Oswald’s crumpled form.
“Ah, Mister Nygma. We meet again, I see,” Bane’s voice was distorted through his respirator but Ed could still recognize the man underneath. Bane looked around and then took several steps closer to the two men on the ground, “not much without your riddles and traps, are you.”
Ed turned his attention towards Oswald… his eyes were closed and the color had drained from his face. Ed caressed his cheek. It was still warm but the stillness of his form let him know that there was no longer any point trying to get him back onto his feet.
“No. I’m not much of anything anymore.” Ed spoke tonelessly, never taking his eyes off of Oswald’s lifeless form.
“Any final words?” Bane raised an eyebrow. How courteous of him.
“Yeah,” Ed laced his fingers with Oswald’s, “Fuck you.”
Jim made his way back through the barricade into the Green Zone. Barbara had radioed him and let him know that she had managed to escape Nyssa al Ghul and that General Wade had been killed in the cross-fire. He was back to square one and prayed he could find a solution once he re-grouped.
He stumbled and had to catch his breath when he saw the two men slumped over on the unforgiving ground.
“Goddammit…” Jim felt a knot form in his stomach. Oswald was leaned up against the wall by the stairs and, if it hadn’t of been for the damage around his eyes and the stillness of his chest, Jim might have assumed he was sleeping. Ed was on the floor beside him with a bullet wound lodged in his temple. His eyes fell onto their interlocked hands. Their blood seeped into the cracks of the concrete and Jim couldn’t help but feel his chest tighten at the macabre illustration of the Penguin’s declaration about this city and his legacy.
Jim knelt down beside him and placed a hand on Oswald’s shoulder, “I’m so sorry, you two.” He sniffled and rose to his feet, “I’ll make this right. I promise.”
Jim’s boots echoed down the hall leaving nothing but blood and painful silence behind him.