It took some convincing, but Oswald managed to get Jim to drive him back to Ed's apartment before they parted ways. But as soon as he was out of the car Jim stepped on the gas and tore off, desperate to escape Gotham with Lee before the focus turned on him. Oswald didn't mind; he didn't have anywhere to go that was better than simply vanishing in the streets. But first, he had to visit Edward Nygma.

He pulled his fur coat tighter about him and hurried inside; keeping his head down in case anyone inside recognized him. The fewer witnesses there were to his latest whereabouts, the better. Luckily he didn't meet anyone on his way there and breathed a sigh of relief when he made it to the eighth floor without incident. Whatever happened to him he could take, so long as he thanked Ed for what he'd done to help.

Oswald wasn't sure why he was so determined to see him again. Sure the man had saved his life; given him a nice place to stay for no particular reason and did a lot to help him after the unbearable loss of his mother, but he had never shown kindness to people that had done that before. Even when Jim spared his life he didn't do anything in particular to thank him for it. Heck, he had denied his only request; that he leave Gotham forever.

But he felt different about Nygma, somehow. He wanted to make sure that Ed knew he was safe, at least so far. And somehow he knew that if Ed had made the same request for him to leave Gotham, he might have obeyed his wishes. Was it because he no longer had his mother or a growing empire tying him down to this city? He didn't think that was the case, and the idea scared him. Why did he—the widely feared Penguin—want to go out of his way just to thank someone for helping him, and why would he be willing to leave this city if he asked? Someone who had annoyed him from the very beginning, no less. But Ed hadn't asked, so he ignored the thought.

After a short while he arrived at the oddly familiar door and suddenly felt nervous. Was he really willing to be that vulnerable? Was he really going to admit that someone had helped him, and that he appreciated his help? Looking back on his time at Ed's, he realized suddenly that he had behaved rather childishly the whole time. The thought made him very self-conscious as he knocked three times on the heavy door, listening to the metal ring beneath his fist and echo quietly throughout the hallway.

It wasn't long before he heard footsteps shuffling closer to the door, and remembered suddenly that it was just past midnight. But of course he didn't care that much if he woke Ed up. At least, that's what he told himself. And yet it came as a relief to him when Ed slid the door open to reveal that he was wearing all of his normal clothing and apparently wide awake.

"Mr. Penguin? I wasn't expecting to hear back from you," Ed asked in obvious surprise. Then he frowned. "Is something wrong? Did Galavan get away?"

Oswald allowed a small smile as he answered, "No, Ed, I killed him. Or Jim did, anyway."

Why did he so readily admit that James Gordon had killed Galavan? He had already agreed to take the fall for Galavan's murder. Hopefully no harm done.

"James Gordon kill-"

"Not so loud!" Oswald hissed, glancing around to make sure no one was around to hear.

Ed nodded once in understanding. "Right, of course. Would you like to come in to talk about it?"

Oswald had no idea why he nodded.

"No one's supposed to know," Oswald began to explain once Ed had closed the door. "He likely would have died of the injuries I gave him...but James Gordon pulled the trigger."

"Why are you telling me this?" Ed asked with an intrigued expression on his face.

For that Oswald had no answer. But he replied calmly, "You were concerned with the events of tonight and I'm doing my best to explain. Bruce Wayne was also saved, if you were wondering."

"Right, good. Although I really was more concerned about Galavan," Ed told him.

Oswald lifted his hands in a happy shrug. "My work is done. My mother is avenged, my most dangerous enemy is dead, and I suppose I'm free to do as I please."

"So what is it that you plan to do now that you're free?" Ed asked with a warm smile, sharing Oswald's half-hidden enthusiasm.

Oswald looked off to the side a bit as he answered, "In a few hours it will be discovered that I murdered the mayor of GothamCity and there will likely be a city-wide manhunt for me. What can I do but hide?"

"Of course; you're welcome to stay as long as you like."

The offer surprised Oswald. It hadn't crossed his mind for a moment that he might run to find shelter in Ed's home again. The sudden offer was sorely tempting, and he glanced around the room as he thought of the possibility. He could use Ed to hide, possibly for a few weeks. But with a glance outside at the city he was pulled back to reality and remembered who he was talking to.

"No, that's not what I meant," Oswald answered with a soft chuckle, "I wouldn't risk your freedom. If they find out you were sheltering me you would be sent to Blackgate."

Ed shrugged, "Why would that matter to you?"

Once again, Oswald truthfully had no answer. He gave the best excuse he could, but it still didn't feel right, "You saved my life; I owe you at least this much."

"Well can I at least get you something? Some tea? A sandwich for the road?" Ed asked.

His generosity was touching. He may be turning into a murderer, but at heart there was still the nerdy, gentle little Ed that Oswald remembered meeting in the GCPD. At least the criminal wasn't becoming his sole personality.

"I suppose if you're offering...I could use a different coat," Oswald said. "Mine is much too recognizable if I'm going to try to blend in on the streets."

"Of course, one moment," Ed said with a smile before running off into a different room.

Oswald took this time to shed off his own fur coat and weighed it in his hands carefully as he looked at it. It wasn't anything special to him, just something he had bought not long ago when he had first started to feel a nip in the air. What would he do with it now that he had to disappear?

When Ed came back there was no longer any question.

"Ed, I know how you so love to keep mementos," Oswald said with a sly smile, "Would you like to have my coat, to remember what you did for me? It's the only way I can really think of to thank you for helping me."

"This better not mean that you're planning to die," Ed said simply in answer. His voice sounded serious but his face a second later betrayed that he was teasing. "No I would love to have it, thank you. And of course, you're welcome to have it back anytime you want."

Oswald smiled and stepped forward, traded coats with Edward. Their fingers brushed and he felt something in them. The warmth they exchanged in that one gentle touch made it suddenly hard for him to breathe somehow. He didn't want to say good-bye to Ed now, not with something so simple like this. Oswald looked up at Ed slowly, pausing for a tiny breadth of time to look into his eyes.

A riddle formed suddenly in his mind, and he found himself saying it to this great lover of riddles before he could think to forget it.

"Green as forests or blue as oceans, often a soft brown. I see the most beautiful, where your soul can be found."

Nygma frowned for a second as he thought over the riddle, but brightened up after a moment and exclaimed quietly, "Eyes! Wait, but you're looking at me. My eyes?"

Oswald started panicking when he realized what he'd said and felt heat rise to his cheeks. He realized it at about the exact same time that Ed did; he thought the man was beautiful. Maybe he always had and refused to admit it to himself, or maybe this was the first time he really thought so. But he couldn't lie at this point: Ed was beautiful.

Before he could ponder the consequences, Oswald raised his free hand swiftly to the back of Edward's head and pulled him down into a kiss. It seemed like all at once everything was made clear; he cared about Ed because he really, genuinely cared for him more than he did with other people. He had regarded Jim as a good friend once, but this—this was something more.

He soaked in every brief moment of the kiss, waiting with a heavy heart for Ed to break out of his shock and push him away. It came as a great surprise when only a second later a warm hand wound around his back and pulled him closer. There was a soft thump and then he felt another hand on his back, holding him firmly in place. Some distant part of him realized the sound had been the coat he had given to Ed, and without a second thought he discarded his own new coat and placed the newly-freed hand on Edward's hip.

In return, Ed pulled Oswald closer to fill the gap the coats had left and pressed their bodies together, making Oswald gasp into his mouth. The closeness of their bodies, the intimate touch as their lips slowly began moving together, even just the feel of Ed's soft, silky hair on his fingertips made Oswald's heart soar.

Just when exactly had he started to want this? When did Ed? Did it happen slowly as Ed cared for him? When they found each other in the forest? Or even before, right after they met all those months ago in the GCPD?

"Please, stay with me," Ed whispered, breaking apart the kiss and giving them both a chance to breathe.

"Ed I...I shouldn't," Oswald answered. A moment later he corrected, "I can't. I can't put you in danger."

In answer Ed whispered, "I'm certainly intelligent enough to ease my situation if we get caught. In Gotham I could face a year in prison at the most, if I can talk to the right people."

"And if you can't?"

"I'm more worried about you," Ed responded with a faint smile. "You don't understand how long I've wanted this...how long I've wanted to be with you. Every day I get to spend with you is worth five years in Blackgate."

Oswald took a moment just to breathe. He focused on Edward's scent, the sight of him, his warm breath blowing gently over his lips. He had to leave this behind. He knew he had to keep Ed safe. But how could he?

"Stay with me," Ed repeated, his hot breath teasing Oswald's lips.

All at once Oswald's strength vanished. "I'll stay. But as soon as things get too dangerous I'm leaving."

"At least until then?" Ed asked, to be sure.

After a brief thought Oswald nodded and whispered, "What can you keep only after you give it to someone else?"

"Your word," Ed answered almost immediately.

And then Oswald went on tiptoes to kiss Ed again. Edward Nygma; the man he loved. And the man who undoubtedly loved him back.

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