Chapter Text
Oswald beaten down and hungry and cold. He had been imprisoned for only god knows how long and kept as a slave, barely alive. But yet again the cockroach that he is, he lives still. But they would be on the hunt for him. He needed to find a place to go.
So he crawls through town, barely able to walk let alone get anywhere unnoticed. Everywhere are keen eyes flashing in the dark around him. Seeing him, maybe reporting him to someone somewhere who will want to know. He hobbled quicker now.
A jab in his ribs as lurches forward, a few of those likely broken too, he holds a hand tenderly there as he tries to make progress and not fall to the ground. Which is what his legs are wanting to do. Just fall there and let the crumbs land where they may. But there is fear that guides him on. Fear of getting caught again, and what would they do this time now that he's acted out. Likely make a very painful example of him for the rest to see.
The rest? The others he left behind in his usual selfishness? There big sad eyes down there looking back at him. Please help us, they seem to implore him. "I will try!" he calls back into his head. But they disappear into a heap of smoke.
And then someone else flutters as if on a cloud to him. Someone he had thought of many many times in the dark grime of where he was that got him through the toughest nights. Someone he could find now?! The thought sent warmth into his ears. He finally found an old hiding spot in town, a place he had come to before when he had needed it. And it was there still. No heaters, no warmth but at least protection from eyes and wind. He had to climb though to get to it. He pulled himself up with cold black bars, and with each movement was an ache shooting inside him. Something definitely was not right in there. But still he kept reaching forward. Finally he got to the place and stepped inside. He huddled in a dark corner and slept for who knows how long. He woke so sore he could barely move. But next the need for food was alerting to him. And finally got him to get up.
He went to the bellows with the orphan children. And asked for food. The lady looked at him annoyed. We don't feed adults. You have to go to this other place for that. she had said.
Listen I would love to go all the way to the other side of town, but you see I'm injured for one, and for two that would not be a good idea for me right now.
The other kids around looked at him now, some giggling to each other. Here many of the kids were as tall as he was anyways, and who cared.
"Fine," the lady said with exasperation and got him a portion of food. "But this is no habit. You find somewhere else tomorrow."
"Okay," he said a little disappointed but glad for a meal to eat now. He took the food and thanked her graciously for it. He quickly ate the food up as he was really starving. It had likely been months since he ate decently. A few kids thought about talking to him but they didn't and just left him to his devices.
Now who did Oswald know at this point? Not a whole lot of people really. Finally from out of the shadows someone walked up to him. Who was that? Someone strangely familiar but also wholly different and strange. A man in black and of the night. Someone who as he sees them he feels a sense of fear? But different then what he had felt before. No fear tinged with.. justice? The dark figure comes up to him as the kids slowly dissipate.
What are you doing here?" they ask with a husky voice.
"I have to be here. I was kidnapped."
"I know you." The voice said accusingly. And he had no doubt that the voice did, though he had no idea where from.
"Well perhaps you could help me then.." he inquired.
"I don't usually help criminals." they said.
"Yeah but I'm not just any criminal, I'm a sad pathetic one. Can you help such a criminal? Surely you have a heart?"
"Not really." The voice said with a bit of annoyance.. But he looked the man over and there was a look of pity there. How bad did he even look? "Fine.. what do you want?"
"A telephone!" He shot back. "A private one." The man looked incredulous and then with a sigh, fine! And handed him a cell phone. "Wow!! Does this work?"
"Sure does. Now get out of my sight. I want to turn you into the law and I might in a quick minute." Oswald quickly got lost.
~
Later on:
Oswald stood at the end of a block facing an alley way. a phone pressed into his ear. it was a cell phone. funny thing, just come out recently.
the phone rang and rang to the other end. he'd usually be curling the line on a finger as he waited. but he couldn't do that as there was no line.
and then on the other side.. life. a spark as a familiar voice replied back. Hello? the voice asked warily as if into space itself. Hello! Edward?! Is that you? He asked losing any decorum he maybe should have had.
Umm. yes. Who's speaking? The voice asked unsure.
What do you mean, it's me?! Oswald!
Oswald?!" He could almost see Edwards eyes searching, "But he died." Edward said sadly. "I saw him die.. Now good bye, I am not in the mood for pranks."
"What? No it's not a prank. I'm alive. Come meet me somewhere."
"What are you talking about. Oswald is not alive." His voice said slowly and through gritted teeth. And with that there was a crash of the receiver down. He was hung up on.
He nearly dropped his new found phone letting it break on the pavement for how he was feeling before remembering the value of it and tucked it back in his pocket. The rain started to poor down on him, and he knew it was going to be a dreadful night. Tomorrow he'd risk visiting Barbara.
Though he knew he'd probably deeply regret it.
That night, in Oswald's cold home, that yes did have some wind, he shivered and wondered to himself if there was anyway he'd see Edward again, a tear ran down unbidden, though no one would see anyways, and that was his last thought before sleep finally shakily claimed him.