Chapter Text
“Where is he Oswald?” Jim glares at the smaller, impeccably dressed man sitting behind the desk. Oswald glances up him. “I don’t know who you mean, James.”
“Martin. Oswald, where is he?”
“Dead, isn’t that what you all believe?” Oswald snipes.
Jim laughs harshly. “You didn’t kill that kid, Oswald.“
Oswald, for once is rendered speechless.
“Where did you stash him? You need to bring him back here to prove your innocence.” Jim smacks his hands down on Oswald’s desk.
For all Jim’s looming stance and thunderous expression, Oswald doesn’t feel threatened. “I will do no such thing,” he glares back at Jim. His blood running with the thrill of arguing with the handsome Captain.
Jim smirks at Oswald, who realizes what he’s just revealed. Jim turns to get two glasses and a drink out of the bottle on the side table. He makes a face when realizing it’s wine; once it would have been whiskey. He turns away without pouring.
“They’re going to arrest you Oswald. Take you to Blackgate, or Arkham. Again,” he bites out. “Tell me where he is.”
“No. I won’t. I sent him away to keep him safe.” Oswald insists, titling his head at that stubborn, arrogant angle that Jim loves.
“I can’t stop them Oswald. It was too public. I can’t,” he stops choking on his own words.
“Can’t what, James?” Oswald asks with a sneer on his face. “What could you possibly do?”
“I can’t protect you.” Jim says, anguish bright in his eyes and his voice. His hands, he realizes are trembling. He’s revealing too much, giving away too many of his private thoughts. The thoughts that he has repressed, denied and finally heartbreakingly accepted, but it was too late. Far too late for it to do either of them any good.
Oswald looks surprised at his outburst. Not surprised at what Jim said, but that he said it. He knows he’s clever, knows that he’s good at getting away with literal murder, but there have been, a few times, ‘more than a few’ he acknowledges to himself, where he knows he left some tiny bit of evidence. He’d expected to be arrested. Most of the cases were not Jim’s, so he hadn’t been surprised at the sloppy work. He knows Jim though, and Jim has never hesitated to get involved in a case that is not his, or has been closed. It’s the reason he’s been suspended and denied promotion so many times.
It wasn’t until the third time he figured out what was happening. He focuses back on the present and an increasingly upset Jim across his desk. ‘Now of all times, dear old friend?’ he thinks.
“Do what you must Jim,” he says, a clear dismissal for the captain to leave.
“I can’t.” Jim repeats. Then, softer “Please, Oswald. Let me help you.”
Oswald narrows his eyes at Jim. “He would have to be safe. I won’t have him brought back here if he’s not safe. Even if it means I go to Blackgate, or back to Arkham.” he waves his hands in the air to indicate that this is not negotiable.
“So, Jim. What do you suggest?”
“I can’t stop the arrest, or where they take you. I can make sure Martin’s as safe as is possible in Gotham. I can bring him back, and get you out.” Jim says in a rush.
“Why now, Jim?” Oswald asks, a glimpse of a look Jim hasn’t seen in a long time flickers briefly to the surface.
Jim walks around the desk to close the distance between them. He crouches down to be eye level with Oswald, “So you’re safe, Oz.” he replies brokenly. “I need you to be safe.” Jim lets his head fall against his chest, his body rising and falling with deep shuddering breaths.
“I don’t know where he is Jim. I ordered Zsasz not to tell me.” Oswald says soothingly, knowing his words are anything but. He raises his hand, and lays it gently on Jim’s shoulder. He leans closer to add weight to his hand. Jim, he realizes is crying.