Chapter Text
Oswald came back home. He hung his coat and hat on the stand, and placed his umbrella next to it, swapping it for his cane. Noise coming from the dining room startled him, but as he was approaching it, he began to notice the sound didn't sound like a robbery or any other assault. It sounded more like... placing dishes?
''Ed?'' he called.
He didn't expect his friend to be back home by now. Sure, it was getting dark, but the Riddler often was busy till late night.
''Oh, Oswald!'' Ed looked at him surprised. ''I thought you'd be back later.'' He gave him polite yet a bit awkward smile.
Oswald was about to tell Edward the same could be told about him, but he bit his tongue seeing contents on the table. A bouquet of roses in the centre. Meals whose scent made Oswald's mouth water. Table neatly covered. Candles in candlesticks. He sighed pained and hoped Ed didn't notice that. He knew that this dinner wasn't for him, that he was not supposed to take part in it and probably wasn't even supposed to know about it in the first place.
''Uh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you'd have a guest.'' His voice was thin and small, and he wanted to kick himself for that.
Why it was so hard to say 'you' instead of 'we'? Following the time after the reunification they were almost inseparable. 'What are we having for dinner tonight?', 'What are our plans for today?', 'Where are we going?' and all other things they did together. He started slowly backing off, apparently Ed needed some personal space. And Oswald would give it to him. Like a good friend he was trying to be. Like a good friend that Ed deserved would grant him. Ed hasn't mentioned he had new, Oswald thought with dread, girlfriend. He hasn't got any since Lee. Or so Oswald had thought. Being honest with himself, Oswald could see why Ed decided against it and kept it in secret. Jealousy was an ugly beast and even though Oswald got better at keeping it at bay, he couldn't make it go away. It always stung and made him do things he regretted.
''I'm sorry.'' Oswald repeated. ''I'll let you be.'' He added with a smile, almost too painful to perform. He knew sorrow painted his face, he wasn't good at hiding emotions. And how he wished in moments like this he was! It would have spared him and his friend embarrassment. Maybe Ed wouldn't notice? Maybe he wouldn't recognise emotions behind it?
Ed noticed. This was sure. His expression turned into warm and sincere smile.
''No, please stay.'' Ed reached for Oswald. ''We don't have any guests tonight.'' He added nervously.
We.
''Then why...'' Oswald was at loss at words and pointed at the table unsurely.
''Oh! This? I-I, um.'' Ed fidgeted with his fingers. ''Please, take a sit. I'm sorry. I thought you'd come back later. It's not ready. The cake is still in the oven. It was supposed to be a surprise.'' He was rambling.
''Well, I certainly do feel surprised.'' Oswald felt like he was regaining the ground under his feet. He found enough courage to speak normally again. And he spoke the truth: he was surprised. ''It's really nice of you, my friend.''
''I'm glad you like it.'' Ed seemed to be relieved.
''But why?'' Oswald couldn't contain himself from asking this question.
''Why not?'' Ed shrugged, but Oswald he he was hiding the answer.
Oswald looked Ed in his eyes and there was something... the peculiar way Ed's eyes shined, like a glimpse of admiration, longing. But it was simply his wishful thinking, Oswald was sure of that.
''I know you, Edward. You don't do things without some reason behind it. You like to have everything planned out.''
''Alright, you are right.'' Ed gave up. ''I simple wanted to do something to make you happy.''
You make me happy, Oswald thought and then he felt arising panic for even thinking those words.
''To thank you... for everything.'' Ed looked away like he couldn't bear to look into Oswald's eyes in the moment like this.
''I'm sure you don't want to thank me for everything.'' Oswald voice broke a bit in the middle of the sentence.
''Yes.'' Ed's voice was absent, almost empty. ''My bad. I'm just... I'm not good with words when it comes to conversations like this one.'' He admitted. ''You're my best friend, Oswald, and I wanted to thank you for that.''
''There's nothing to thank for, Ed. I think I should be the thanking one.'' Oswald chuckled. ''Well, look at us! You put all your efforts into this dinner and we behave like it was a funeral. I'm such a killjoy.'' He joked in hopes of clearing the air from brooding.
Still, it occurred strange to Oswald that Ed chose roses and candles for his thank-you-for-being-my-friend dinner. On the other hand, Edward Nygma wasn't a person who completely understood the meaning of gestures between people. He could be oblivious to those, so probably the double meaning of the dinner with roses slipped Ed's mind. Ed's explanation didn't exactly convince him. Not that he thought Ed had bad intentions. No. If Ed wanted something to happen to Oswald (and Oswald had no idea why would he want that now), he wouldn't have used dinner for this. Maybe it was out of guilt? He has seen it way too many times on Ed's face since he had shielded him from the grenade. He kept telling him it was nothing, that he shouldn't feel guilty about it, but it seemed to have the opposite effect on Ed, making him seem smaller like he was trying to hide away.
''Anyway, cake should be ready in an hour.'' Ed changed the topic.
''An hour can be quite a long time. Let's eat then, shall we?'' Oswald offered with a smile.
Ed took his chair and sat on it.
''If the cake burns, it's all on you.'' He lightheartedly pointed at Oswald.
''Guilty as charged.'' Oswald raised his hands.
''Just don't say that when Jimbo catches you.''
''I'm not stupid, Ed.'' Oswald rolled his eyes.
''I know.'' Ed said too softly for Oswald's liking.
Or rather it made Oswald too excited, leaving him to remind himself it wasn't the way he wished it was, making him feel disappointed again. He wasn't disappointed with Ed, he was disappointed with the fact that his dreams were naive. That he was naive. He was disappointed with himself. He felt he would never catch up with reality indulged in his dreams. Oswald raised glass of wine to his lips, hoping it would stop this feeling of emptiness. Ed followed his movement and raised his glass as well.