As Oswald took another drink from the bottle of brown liquor that sat on his table, he grimaced at the taste and the burning sensation that it made as it flowed down his throat. He didn't normally drink this much, but the pain was getting too much, and the thought that whatever alcohol he was consuming might help him forget, even if for a short time, had spurred him on to consume the vile tasting liquid.

He had been (Y/n)'s friend for so long, been with her through thick and thin, she had helped him whenever he needed anything, and he had always told her that she was his one true friend; but things had begun to change when he had come on the scene.

Victor was everything he wasn't, a cool, calm, confident and charismatic assassin, all the things that Oswald thought (Y/n) wanted. He had been an umbrella boy under the control of Mooney, nothing but one of those men that seemed to blend into the background, and he knew that he couldn't compete.

Oswald had first met (Y/n) when she had come to work for Mooney, and the new club singer had made quite an impact on him; unlike others, she had always been good to him, always been concerned about him, and she always had a smile that seemed to be wider whenever he was around, her bright green eyes speaking of a gentle soul that he couldn't help but find himself drawn to.

He would spend most nights in the club, listening as her melodious voice filled the venue, his heart pounding violently in his chest as she would wink at him if she ever saw him in the crowd. Whenever he got a spare moment, the two would meet for coffee as they talked about books, their lives and dreams; Oswald felt that he had finally found someone that he could be himself with, a true friend, and he couldn't be happier. (Y/n) was kind and helpful, she was always there when he needed her, and she would be for so long.

                                                           >>--------------------------------------<<

As he remembered that first meeting Oswald poured himself another glass, swallowing the brown liquid down in one gulp. Refilling his glass, he remembered the first time (Y/n) had told him about Victor, how she gushed over how much she thought of him, and he also remembered how (Y/n) would come and see him less and less, something that Oswald could only put down to Victor.

Suddenly Oswald turned, throwing the empty shot glass at the wall, smashing it into a million tiny pieces, he had get out, he needed a walk; he knew that the streets of Gotham were no place to take a late night stroll, but as the alcohol coursed through his veins and muddled his mind, he didn't care. Picking up the bottle, he took it with him as he ventured into the night.

                                                           >>--------------------------------------<<

(Y/n) was surprised by the knock at door, she was even more surprised when she noticed it was 2am; she cautiously peered through the little peephole, not knowing what to expect, no normal person in their right mind would just be making house calls at this time of night, not as though there were many normal people to speak of in Gotham, but she had let her curiosity get the best of her and she had to know who her visitor was.

Her eyes grew wide as he saw Oswald leaning against the door frame; hurriedly she opened the door.

"Dear god Oswald, how did you get here." (Y/n) asked, noting the empty liquor bottle in his hand, and the smell of alcohol on his breath. (Y/n) knew that Oswald didn't normally drink so much, so something had to be really wrong.

"How did I get here? I FLEW!" Oswald told her, trying to straighten himself as he slurred his words.

If it had been under any other circumstances, (Y/n) would have laughed, but instead she dragged him into the apartment, taking the bottle from Oswald's hand, and sitting him down on the sofa.

"Are you ok Oswald?" (Y/n) asked, hurrying off to get him a glass of water.

"I'm absolutely fine. I love everyone, especially (Y/n)!" A worse for wear Oswald declared, a wide beaming smile on his face.

(Y/n) spun around, nearly dropping the water as she looked at him wide eyed, unable to believe what she had just heard

"Did you just say you love (Y/n)? Which (Y/n)?" (Y/n) spluttered out, as she shakily handed a wobbly Oswald the large glass of water.

"Do you always ask stupid questions? There's only one (Y/n), (Y/f/n) (Y/l/n), DERRRRR! And of course I love her, have you seen her? She's beautiful, and funny, she has a voice like an angel, and have you seen those eyes? WOW!" Oswald hummed happily, as his foggy mind thought of her.

(Y/n) sat next down next to Oswald, it was obvious that he had no idea that he was professing his love for her, to her, and it was also apparent that he didn't even know that he was at her apartment. (Y/n) was so used to Oswald being quiet that this drunk version was a bit of a shock; but despite wanting to just put him to bed to let him sleep it off, she found she wanted to know more.

"So, you think (Y/n) is beautiful?" (Y/n) asked nervously, as she sat, smiling at Oswald, who himself was grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"No! I think she's gorgeous. Oh...... did I say she's beautiful? I can't forget to say she's beautiful." Oswald slurred, as (Y/n) helped him drink some more of the water.

This time (Y/n) couldn't help but laugh, the thought that someone as sweet and wonderful as Oswald could think that she was beautiful sounded so funny; she had thought that Oswald was handsome since the first day she had seen him in the club, and as they had become friends she realised that he was as beautiful on the inside as he was on the outside. She had always hoped that their friendship could become something more, but things had always seemed to get in the way of her telling him how he felt, and with her bother, Victor, coming onto the scene, his eyes always seeming to watch her every move, (Y/n) had been afraid of what the feared assassin would do if he ever found about her feelings for Oswald, and she also feared that an unreciprocated declaration of love, might do to the wonderful relationship that they already had; but now here was the object of her affection, telling her that he loved him.

"Why don't you tell (Y/n) that you love her?" (Y/n) asked, as she watched tears form in Oswald's eyes.

"Because she loves someone else, and I don't want to ruin her life by telling her. (Y/n) deserves to be happy; she deserves to be loved, and if that means she wants Victor instead of me then so be it. (Y/n) being happy is all that matters." Oswald told her, wiping the tears away on his sleeve.

(Y/n) couldn't believe it, her best friend, the man that she cared for beyond words, was willing to sacrifice his own happiness to ensure that she was happy, her heart not knowing whether to break or fly, as the tears rolled down her own cheeks, as she watched the man next to her.

"You know, I think that (Y/n) might love you too; if I were you, I'd tell her." (Y/n) said, smiling as Oswald raised his head so that he could look into her eyes.

"You know something, you are very clever, whatever your name is." Oswald said, a small smile spreading to him wet cheeks.

"(Y/n), my name is (Y/n)." (Y/n) said with a chuckle, as she helped Oswald up and made for the bedroom.

"Hey! You have the same name as (Y/n), she's called (Y/n) too. And you're nearly as beautiful as she is." Oswald said as he nuzzled into her, the two making their way through the apartment.

"Come on Oswald, let's get you to bed, and you can sleep it off." (Y/n) told him, as she placed him on the mattress and pulled the covers over him.

"Ok (Y/n) two." Oswald mumbled as his eyes slowly closed, leaving (Y/n) to contemplate how she would fix all this in the morning.

                                                        >>------------------------------------<<

As the sunlight streamed through the curtains in the bedroom, Oswald began to move, his hands quickly finding a pillow to cover his head, shielding his eyes from the bright light.

He groaned loudly, his head throbbing and his body aching as he attempted to sink further into the mattress beneath him. Slowly he removed the pillow, his eyes creeping open, presuming that he had somehow managed to find his way to bed the night before. Tentatively raising his head, he realised that he was in a room that he had never seen before, in a strange bed, under someone else's covers.

Before he could contemplate his current whereabouts any further, the door to the room opened and there stood (Y/n).

"Good morning Oswald, I think you might need these." She said, handing him a glass of water and a bottle of aspirin.

"How did I get here?" Oswald asked hoarsely, as he swallowed down two tablets.

"You knocked on the door at two in the morning, I'm afraid you were drunk, and I couldn't let you leave, so I brought you here so you could sleep." (Y/n) explained, as she sat on the side of the bed.

"Oh god, I am so sorry (Y/n), I hope I didn't cause you any trouble." Oswald said apologetically, dropping his head into his hands and rubbing his temples.

All of a sudden, his head shot up. "I didn't say anything stupid, did I? I mean...... I didn't say anything I shouldn't have, did I?" Oswald asked, sighing loudly as he saw the look on (Y/n)'s face.

"Oh no, what did I say?" Oswald enquired, his eyes falling to the floor, desperate not to meet (Y/n)'s gaze.

"Well, you told me that you love me." (Y/n) said, as Oswald fell back onto the mattress, pulling the covers over his head, hoping that the earth would swallow him whole.

"Did you mean it?" (Y/n) asked hesitantly, as she cautiously reached up her hand and gently pulled the material from his head.

"I er....... well...... I ......." Oswald began, trying to say something, anything, but as he seemed to have lost the power of speech, he resorted to a simple nod.

"Good. Then I can do this." (Y/n) said, as she leaned in, placing her lips on his.

As she pulled away, Oswald let out a soft moan, as the warmth of her soft lips left his, and then a groan as his head reminded him of the hangover that was pounding the inside of his skull.

"B-b-but........but what about Victor, I thought that you loved him?" Oswald asked, confusion evident in his tone.

"Of course I love Victor, he's my brother, what else would you expect?" (Y/n) told him, chuckling as Oswald's eyes flew up to meet hers.

"Brother? Victor is your brother!" Oswald spluttered out, (Y/n) laughing, as she lay his head back down onto the pillows.

"Yes silly, my brother, and the next time you feel like telling me that you love me, I'd suggest trying it without the alcohol, its less painful that way." (Y/n) said, leaning down to give Oswald another kiss.

As the two looked into one another's eyes, Oswald knew that it might not have been the best way for him to tell (Y/n) how he felt, but with a little Dutch courage, he finally had his girl.