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Oswald sighed, he was sitting at the table in the main dining room of the house, which was full of food and dishes cooked by the lady of the house, Olga (As the penguin did not know what Ed might want exactly, he decided to order a wide variety of things). He was a bundle of nerves, he had dressed up in his favorite suit and combed his hair too, slicking his hair elegantly. He had never felt particularly attractive, but that night he left his insecurities aside, he had something important to do, he felt butterflies in the stomach. He wasn't stupid, he knew his friend liked women, but there was a small hope that men to, Edward could be bisexual, right? At the end of the day, the connection they had was undeniable, even on occasion it seemed that they were going to kiss directly, but it never came, that was exasperating. He had emptied the house, not a single male or female employee, not even someone from security, as dangerous as it might seem, he didn't care in the least, he just wanted to be with Ed.
But where was Ed?
They had agreed to meet at 8:30 p.m. , but it was already 10:00 p.m. and he had not arrived.
Poor Oswald hadn't even realized how long he had been waiting, he knew it was late, but he didn't have the courage to look at the clock.
Edward...had he stood him up?
No, it couldn't be, it would arrive at any moment, for sure...
10:30 p.m....
He wasn't going to come, was he?
Oswald adjusted his jacket, he stayed still, sat on his chair, he wasn't going to give up, maybe he had had an unforeseen event, nothing he couldn't solve, then he would get home and they could have dinner.
The penguin was not stupid, he never was, deep down he knew the truth, he had been left alone.
On the verge of tears, he blinded himself to the reality that had touched him, it wasn't fair, if love was as beautiful as his mother used to tell him, why did it hurt so much?
He deigned, in his denial, to go through the speech one more time, the speech that was meant for Ed, recited to an empty chair, in a cold room.
Before this, around 9:00 pm, a certain hitman was at his house, it wasn't a big deal, but it wasn't bad, you could say he was upper-middle class, which for Gotham was an achievement.
It had been a tiring day, it was undeniable, but he had energy, he was a difficult man to exhaust.
He sat on his sofa, he had been wandering in his mind for a while, he didn't seem like it, but he could be a very... philosophical man?
He turned on the television, rubbish, there was nothing interesting, he began to zap, nothing had caught his attention until a piece of news, one about the new mayor, apparently that day he had visited a school, he laughed a little, he had known that man for a long time time, in fact, since he worked with Fish Mooney, they didn't talk much at that time, of course, only in some meetings, He saw him holding the lady's umbrella, he always had his head up, everyone in the group seemed to have a certain appreciation for him, as if he gave them tenderness, normal, he was a thin, skinny, soft, accommodating, rookie boy... Surely everyone saw him as an innocent child, but Víctor always saw potential. He had noticed how she sought to strike up conversations with the powerful and the ease he already had for manipulation, perhaps others did not, but he saw the hunger for power in his eyes. When he sold out Fish Mooney and not only survived, but managed to outwit Maroni and become an ally of Falcone, he was not surprised at all. That's when he started talking to him more, nothing special, just sporadic small talk, usually he started it himself, Oswald used to present himself as friendly, but always respectful, it was obvious that he was a little afraid of Viktor, he couldn't deny that he certainly found it adorable. When he took the city after Falcone's withdrawal, he had to admit that he was stunned, those were big words, he didn't hesitate for a second, he presented himself to offer his services, the other, of course, accepted, he knew his effectiveness. It was when they established a kind of friendship, even beyond work, sometimes , after a murder, they would sit down to have a few beers, Osalwd lost his fear of Viktor little by little and turned it into complicity. When they locked up the penguin, Viktor felt a certain anger, it was annoying, for some reason he felt very comfortable with Oswald, what the hell, he was the person he felt most comfortable with, besides Falcone, but that was different. It didn't take him long to understand the possibility that he liked the black-haired man, and when he did, to tell the truth, he wasn't worried, people saw him as a womanizer, few knew that in fact, he was bisexual and proud of it. On the return of the penguin, he went back to work with him, each step he took made him more impressed, he was mayor, the boy with the umbrella had reached the top. He didn't really like his new friend tho, Edward Nigma, he seemed weird, annoying, clingy, believed, repressed and disruptive, but he had to put up with it, he worked with his boss, and he seemed happy, besides the play with the "red hoods" was, he had to admit, outstanding. Jealousy sometimes killed him, it was obvious that there was something between them, everyone saw it, in his opinion the penguin was blinded because someone had given him a minimum of attention and Edward was unhappy incapable of overcoming their previous relationship (He gave the coincidence that he was right in both cases).
Vi: What the hell-
Viktor turned off the television and got up, he suddenly decided to go see the penguin, have a drink together and talk about whatever, as they used to do, after all they could be considered friends, and who knows what could happen in the future .
He took the keys to the motorcycle and went to the house.
The first thing that struck him was the lack of staff.
Gun in hand, he entered stealthily, he had the worst ideas in his head, if someone had hurt Oswald, they could be left for dead in the most painful way they could think of.
He was searching rooms until he heard a faint voice, penguin's voice. He silently approached the door frame.
He saw the man at a semi-formal table, elegantly dressed, speaking to an empty chair, his voice trembling.
He looked at his watch, 10:30 pm, it was late, It would be expectante expect for him to be asleep, working, ro even drunk, but this?
He didn't have time to hear the speech properly, he would have reached the end, but it seemed like a declaration of love.
Vi: What the fuck Oswald?
The young man turned in shock, instantly recognizing the voice.
Os: Vi-Viktor? What are you-
Vi: I thought I'd come hang out, but now I want to know what's going on.
The tone of the other was calm, he was almost always immutable, not cold, immutable, the difference was clear, he did show emotions, he joked, he laughed, he explained when he was sad, he danced, he spoke with his eyes...
Oswald felt shame and pain.
Os: N-nothing, it's just that I- I just-... It doesn't matter, I had plans and- and they've been cancelled.
He answered without looking at the other, turning his back on his chair, Viktor crossed the frame of The dolor and sat on the empty chair, bringing it closer to the other, thus being next to it.
Vi: Have they stood you up?
The question sounded harsher than he had intended.
Oswald broke down, a single tear falling down his cheek, his face flushed red with anger and humiliation, his breathing quickened slightly and his fists clenched unconsciously.
Os: Yes! Yes, they have stood me up!
Viktor was speechless by the other's tone, he didn't know the right way to react.
After a few seconds, one more tear fell from the other cheek, almost invisible.
Os: I haven't had many people in my life, my mom and dad are dead, Butch betrayed me, Edward stood me up, and you... well, I don't even want to know what you must think of me right now. What do I have left? What good is it to me to be mayor with no one to share with?
Viktor stared at Oswald, he could feel the pain in his voice, the way he looked away and pretended not to cry was burning.
Vi: If you want to know what I'm thinking, I'll tell you, the first thing is that I'm lucky enough to work and be friends with the mayor, and seeing him weak isn't going to change that, and the second thing is how much fun it would be to have Ed here to make him apologize to you in a... vehement way.
The penguin was surprised, he looked at Viktor for a few seconds... He didn't understand anything. Didn't he care to see him collapsed? A giggle escaped his mouth, which infected the other, both light and short.
Vi: What are you laughing at boss?
Oswald wiped away a tear still with a sad smile.
Os: I don't know, the situation is...pathetic.
Viktor smiled, getting up from his chair, standing next to the other.
Vi: Well... I guess wanting to propose to a guy and get dumped without warning, only to be found by a bald guy with two guns isn't the perfect plan, but hey, at least I'm the bald guy with the guns.
Oswald laughed, this time yes, a good laugh, although he kept covering the tears that came out of his eyes.
Viktor looked at him with a smile, sympathetic, loving.
A few seconds of silence passed, Viktor, as usual, kept his eyes fixed on the other, and he did so when he broke the silence.
Vi: What do you see in him anyway?
The question was almost unconscious, he didn't think about it, he was looking at Oswald and bang, suddenly he was talking.
Os: huh?
Vi: In Edward, what do you see in him that you like him so much?
Oswald sighed and looked at Viktor.
Os: I don't know, I guess he's smart, he seems chivalrous and thoughtful too and he's helped me when I needed it.
Viktor turned his head to the side, like dogs do when they don't understand something.
Vi: and me?
Oswald did not understand anything.
Vi: I am also intelligent, as you know, I always complete my missions without loose ends, I am also a gentleman, in fact, more than him, who has stood you up, I am a retailer for a while, in my own way, and I think I have more time helping you than him, right?
The one sitting down had to reflect for a few seconds, coming to the conclusion that indeed, he was right... but why all this?
Os: Yes, I guess.
Vi: So?
Os: So what?
Vi: Then why him and not someone else, why not me?
Oswald had to think again, he was getting more and more confused, and yet he felt somehow, that he was getting his head in order.
Os: Well- I- I don't- I don't know, I guess it's irrational.
Viktor knew that if he kept insisting, the penguin would end up realizing what was happening, but to tell the truth, he was tired of seeing the penguin hurt, besides, he had the phrase "what starts, ends" tattooed on his mind, and he had already started this conversation, he had to finish it.
Vi: Maybe, but that doesn't mean that one is always right in love, sometimes we think we want something or someone and deep down it's just an illusion.
Os: What are you implying!?
Oswald got up from the table, he was angry, how dare he question his love for Edward? What stupidity... right?
They were both facing each other, close, but not too close.
Vi: Easy Oswald, I'm just saying you can't be left swimming in shit and tears just because some idiot who wasn't even that special decided he has "more important things to do" than have dinner with the goddamn mayor. Besides, you're worth too much for that, you've gone from being a gofer to being the leader of Gotham, don't lower yourself.
Oswald was left without a response, it took him several seconds to react. Those were not the most beautiful words that had been said to him, or rather, they were not the most decorated words, however, they were the most real and the ones that they needed the most.
Os: T-Thank you Viktor.
Viktor moved a little closer to Oswald intuitively. There were several very dense seconds in which they both stared at each other, everything was so... intimate.
Oswald felt a tear fall, Viktor caught it with his fingers, gently.
Vi: W-what happens now?
Os: I don't know what I want, dammit! Why does it always have to be so hard?
Viktor laughed, not because he found the situation funny, obviously, but because he understood Oswald.
Vi: You feel like you're going to be alone forever, that nothing you do is going to make you find the right person.
Oswald looked at him, surprised by the exact answer.
Os: Y-yeah, I guess that's it.
Viktor smiled, whether it was going to work out or not, he was going to make a move, maybe he would return home with a broken heart like Oswald, or maybe they would both heal together, in any case, he had reached the point of no return.
Vi: Well, I'm going to give you some advice, from experience, stop searching for love, you won't find it that way. Love goes two steps further, like a good assassin, do you understand? It is always closer than it seems, sometimes you just have to look back and find yourself face to face with it.
Oswald felt like if his heart was going to jump out of his chest, Zsasz's words fit together like a puzzle, a puzzle much better than any Nigma had ever done, no, this was better.
Memories came to his mind like a movie; The electric current when they first saw each other, the times they had gone to murder together, how good he looked doing it, how he laughed at their jokes, how their serious conversations made him think, the emotion the first time he heard from his mouth the phrase "I'm impressed, Oswald", the way he had protected him, whether for work or not, how safe he was with him, the way he sometimes hummed ditties... all this in question of milliseconds.
Could it be that this love was actually Viktor Zsasz himself?
Os: Vi-Viktor I-
He was silenced with a kiss.
Both Oswald and Viktor had received and given kisses on the mouth more times, one more than the other, but it doesn't matter, the point is that this one was different.
They couldn't describe in words what they felt, they couldn't do it, but from that moment neither of them had any doubts.
The world didn't matter because they had decided it.
That short kiss led to a longer one, or rather, others.
Viktor, little by little, was kissing the face, lips and neck of the penguin, who imitated him from time to time, holding on to the other's shoulders and jacket to avoid falling.
Like smoke, the words that most damaged both of them vanished, like broken memories that no longer served and had to be discarded; "Loneliness" "Shame" "Failure" "Edward" "Rejection" "Evil" "Grudge" "Pain" "Weakness" "Alert" "Betrayal". All that was left was them, Zsasz's mind only repeated "Oswald" while Cobblepot's only contained "Viktor". That's how their names were said, the room changed the cold for the passion of their voices, which also added little "I love you" from time to time.
At one point, becoming unbearable, Zsasz scooped up Oswald, who used to hate being grabbed, but was too ecstatic to react, and carried him into the main room.
The next morning, Zsasz got up in Oswald's bed, hugging him.
He looked at his face, it was perfect.
How could someone hurt him indirectly or directly?
Then he made a promise, he would not allow anyone to take his little bird's smile away again, no matter what.
"I love you" Oswald murmured, half asleep and awake. The work of the mayor and/or criminal could wait.
"I love you too" Viktor whispered back.
They both understood that they would never be alone again.
No more cold nights for them… ever.