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It had been a few days now; Ed had been locked up by Kathryn. He’d spent that time listening in to conversations and trying to figure out how to escape, but he hadn’t learnt much.
He heard more people enter the room, but he paid no mind to it, expecting it to be the regular people coming to check on him. That was, until he heard a familiar, angry voice.
“My name Is Oswald Cobblepot! You cannot do this to me; I demand to speak to the person in charge!” Oswald screamed at his captor as they locked him in the bird cage-like cell next to Edward, clinging to the bars.
Ed’s heart skipped a beat, it couldn’t be, there was no way he could be alive, and here of all places.
“Oswald?” Ed turned around, and Oswald slowly followed suit. Ed gasped as he saw his face.
“You’re alive?” Ed almost couldn’t speak, trying to process how he felt. Relieved. That was for sure, ever since that night on the pier he hadn’t felt the same without Oswald.
Losing him had broken him, knowing he somehow hadn’t seen how he felt for Oswald, and that he had felt the same way for him. He had ruined everything, but he blamed Penguin, in his blind rage after he had killed Isabella. However, now he knew Oswald had been right, all he felt for her was infatuation, his relationship with Oswald was real, he couldn’t deny it any longer.
Ed moved towards the bars, towards Oswald. “Is it really you?” Ed croaked, trying not to tear up.
“Yes Ed, who else would it be.” Oswald spat, hobbling towards the bars as well.
It couldn’t be another hallucination surely, the guard had brought him in. Oswald grabbed the bars as he stared at Ed, waiting to see what he’d do. Stunned, Ed just continued to stare at him, trying to see if there was anything to indicate it wasn’t really him.
Suddenly, he reached out, grabbing Oswald’s hand. It was him; it was actually him. Ed started shaking. Tears finally started to run down his face, dripping onto their hands. Oswald was too shocked to react; he didn’t know what he’d expected but it definitely wasn’t this.
“I- I’m so- so sorry… Oswald” Ed sobbed, voice wavering. He didn’t want to let go of Oswald’s hand, but he couldn’t continue to stand, knees buckling as he held onto the bars.
Oswald didn’t know what to say, he had been planning to get revenge but, this just didn’t seem right anymore.
“You were right, Oswald. About- about everything. You were right, I’m sorry. Please, please forgive me, Oswald.” Ed looked up at him from the floor, tears still streaming down his face. Oswald slowly sat down, to be at Ed’s level, deciding he’d play along for now. He’d definitely get revenge later, just, when he was less… pathetic looking.
Oswald held Ed’s hands through the bars. “Ed, it’s alright, I’m here.” Ed shuffled closer to the bars trying to get as close to Oswald as he could, just to ensure he was actually real, and that he wouldn’t leave him. Oswald did the same, but, out of pity, definitely. Not for any other reason, it’s not like he still loved him.
Ed was squeezing Oswald’s hands, still trying to make sure he was real, trying to ignore it Oswald spoke again. “Ed… I thought you wanted me dead?”
Quickly, Ed shook his head, squeezing his hands harder, a terrified look on his face.
“Ok, ok calm down… Just try to relax, ok?” Oswald spoke quickly, trying to get Ed to loosen his grip on his hands.
Ed nodded slowly, loosening his grip and letting go of one hand, wiping the tears from his face with his arm, Oswald moved the free hand to the floor to support himself. They were silent for a while before Ed finally spoke up.
“…sorry, I was- I thought you- you were-” Ed looked down at the floor, sniffling. He felt so pathetic, not being able to get out a single sentence.
“Ed… I do not speak gibberish, if you want to tell me something, speak in sentences, or wait till you’ve calmed down.” Oswald acted like he was indifferent to him but truthfully, he couldn’t stand seeing Ed like this, it felt so wrong.
Ed looked back up, staring into Oswalds eyes, he grasped Oswald’s hand again, with both of his hands now.
“You were right, Oswald. I-“ Ed paused, trying not to cry again, trembling as he spoke.
“I love you, Oswald.” The colour drained from Oswald’s face, not that there was much to begin with. This had to be some sort of trick he thought, an act of some kind, a joke, surely.
“You- you’re lying.” Oswald choked out, trying to pull his hand away from Ed, but he wouldn’t let him go.
“Oswald please don’t, don’t leave me again, please, please, please, please-“ Ed kept repeating himself, whispering as he rocked back and forth, holding onto Oswald’s hand as if it were the only thing keeping him alive.
“…ok, ok Ed, I’m not going anywhere. You- you’re really not lying, are you?” Oswald spoke softly to him, accepting that this wasn’t an act. Seeing Ed like this was too much for him to handle.
“No Oswald, I’m not lying, I wouldn’t lie to you, Oswald, never again, please, please believe me, Oswald.” Ed spoke manically, not picking up that it was a rhetorical question.
“It’s alright Ed, I believe you, ok? Please calm down, you’re- kind of scaring me…” Oswald said the last part quieter, not wanting anyone else to hear. He moved his free hand to Ed’s, rubbing his thumb across it gently, trying to comfort him.
This seemed to make Ed relax a little, no longer shaking as much, he nodded slowly. He let out a breath he hadn’t realised he was holding and slumped down a little against the bars of his cell. He was exhausted.
Oswald positioned himself so he could lean against the bars and still hold Ed’s hand, deciding to abandon the conversation for now, to let him calm down.
Oswald started to hum quietly, a melody Ed recognised immediately, the song he had sung while Ed had been nursing him back to health. Ed’s panicked breaths started to slow down as he focused on the melody, closing his eyes as he recalled the lyrics in his head.
I light another candle,
Dry the tears from my face.
Nothing will protect me more,
Than my mother’s warm embrace.
Before he knew it, he had fallen asleep, his head dropping slightly.
Oswald came to the conclusion Ed had suffered enough from his ‘death’, revenge would not be necessary… He gently rubbed Ed’s cold hand. They’d escape soon enough, leaving their pasts behind them so that they could start a new life. Together.