"What do you think I mean?" Oswald sighed and gave Edward a look. Was he really asking? He was pretty tipsy now and the secret was blown so why even try to be subtle about this. "I love you, Ed. Not as a brother, not as a friend but as something more. Something special. Love is useless when one-sided and I just had to tell you. That's how this works. True love. You just say it and hope the person feels it. And if you don't, you don't and I can get over it, I can but my feelings that are. You're the one I love." And that was about it really. He could have done this better, grander, maybe with nicer words but what was even the point now?
"Ah." What did he even do with this? His mind didn't entirely seem to want to compute it. "Cool." Maybe he could pretend not to have heard him again? Probably not. So he just smiled vaguely and wished he had cue cards. He thought he was on top of things. Butch was gone, mayor business and crime was well organised and he was still legally sane, they pretty much ruled Gotham. Now there was a new variable and it was an unknown. It was his move but this wasn't chess, this was a game with rules that made little sense to him. "Shouldn't you know better, given my track record?"
"I suppose given my own track record, you're entirely my type." There was no denying it, the last time he felt like this over a man, he'd also wanted to kill him so if Edward decided one day to choke him to death, at least he was consistent. Jim had tried that himself more than once. It was strangely arousing actually... or maybe that was the wine talking. "Also you're 'track record' is one girl. One girl who made you who you are today, who was important to you but nevertheless, doesn't define you entirely. Nor how you could love or act in love. She isn't all you are." Hopefully. At least he hadn't rejected him, played the straight card or laughed. Though he wasn't entirely sure how he felt about the 'cool'.
"That's awfully masochistic of you, my friend." He also didn't like to hear him talk about Miss Kringle. He didn't like anyone talking about her, especially not talking as if they understood. But he supposed if anyone had earned that right, it was Oswald. Edward wasn't under the delusion that Oswald knew him as well as he knew Oswald, but if anyone in the world came close, it had to be him. "My love was my weakness. Realising that was part of what defines me now."
"Love doesn't always have to be a weakness, Edward. Look at what it did for me. People loved me and they gave me this power, they made me their mayor. Love can sometimes be a weapon, a tool, it can help us grow and make us more secure." And as far as Oswald was concerned, it wasn't all bad. Through the love of his mother, he'd always had the drive to do better and to want more, through the love of the city, he had been motivated to try for the position of king once again and through Edward's love... well, anything was possible. That was how he saw it now. Though clearly, Edward did not. Friend? That was what he was going to stay, he was sure of it. At least he tried.
"I will always love you but you're under no pressure to love me that way. As friends, as allies, as whatever we are, just know that your faith in me and your support has made me stronger. And, dare I say, happier."
"Happier. Yes. Yippee." What was he going to do now? He hadn't prepared for this and it wasn't a situation where quick thinking seemed to work in his favour. There wasn't the time to analyse his own feelings either. Edward lifted his hand to right his glasses. He cleared his throat and then took his glasses off so he could clean them, not that they were smudged. This was going so well.
Well. This was awkward. And clearly going nowhere he wanted so it wad a good thing he was back to drinking because the way Edward looked right now and the way he was acting, it all painted a picture of a man who wanted out. Perhaps this had been a mistake. What if Edward left him? What would he do then? He needed him. He had helped him get all this way, he was the one who made all the right calls, he couldn't lose him. "I'm sorry, friend." There. Hopefully that put some platonics back into it. "I know you hate such sentiment. I shouldn't have said anything. We should just ... forget this." It hurt but it was easier to stamp it out now before he lost him forever.
"Friend." Edward repeated the word, polishing his glasses for a moment longer before putting them back on. He pushed his chair back and stood up, looking at Oswald for a few moments before he started to walk around the table toward him. He wasn't quite certain what he'd end up doing, but as part of him knew, being unpredictable had its own charm. He stopped by Oswald's chair, putting a hand on the back of it as he leaned down. "But what you were talking about, it's love."
Oswald swallowed hard as he watched Edward walk towards him and he knew enough about life not to expect too much from that. He knew from experience it was more likely to be hurt and loved, that the better option was usually the rarer option. He kept his guard up, ready for anything, knowing that no matter what Edward did to him next, he had people he could rely on, he had ways of getting revenge. He took a deep breath and nodded. "I was, yes. Love. As a strength, not as a weakness. Nothing we could do together could ever be weak, dear Ed. We're unstoppable. Together."
Edward wasn't sure, entirely, what it was he was about to do, which was exhilarating in its own way. He pulled Oswald's chair backwards and shook his head slowly. "You're not the best at it. Setting a scene."
It was worth pointing out. What would make for a better scene? Edward straightened up and then, after a moments thought, he gripped Oswald's arm to pull him up with him. He ended up holding his hand instead, looking around before sidestepping the chair and pulling, no, yanking Oswald with him. He started out walking backwards a few steps, critically checking the lighting, then he suddenly turned them around, so he could push Oswald back against the wall. He put a hand on his shoulder as he caught his eyes, the critical expression giving way to something softer. "The lover's privilege."
A line that likely meant little to Oswald, but no matter. Edward simply kissed him.
"I-I tried but everything kept going wrong and I..." He trailed off as he was pulled to his feet. It was hard to keep up the pace and stay upright at first, especially when his leg threatened to give out under the sudden pressure. Swooning onto his knees would have definitely done a lot for Edward's ego but little for his own pride. He clung onto Edward as he was lead around the room and usually he'd be protesting but he was so curious, so hopeful in this moment that it could be leading somewhere he wanted. He stumbled back into the wall and looked up as well, trying to see what Edward was looking for.
When he looked at down as Edward spoke the words, he barely had chance to comprehend them before he was kissing him. Oswald at least knew how to take his cue, he kissed back excitedly, fingers worming out and into Edward's suit jacket, gripping onto it so he couldn't get away easily.
As they broke apart, Oswald grinned. "Oh. Edward."
"You suck at riddles." It had to be said. Not that he could say anything right now without a bright smile. "As for your proposal, my dear friend. My lover. I am honoured." Which was still ambiguous enough for his tastes and also a short enough speech to allow him to just get back to kissing him again, his hand relaxing its grip on Oswald's shoulder. He didn't intend to hurt him, the man's masochism notwithstanding. At least not right this moment.
"I never really was one for riddles. I'm better at knock-knock jokes." Oswald laughed nervously and shrugged his shoulders ever so casually. Lover? As in his love? Oh. God. This was definitely going where he wanted and a part of him was still kind of sure this couldn't be happening. It was almost unreal. He got to be happy for a change? Since when? With a grin, he practically bounced. "I'm so glad! I was afraid for a second then that you might not be as impressed by my display of emotions as I hoped. I'd hate to lose someone like you, Edward. You really have changed my life."
"Yes, well, you started freaking me out when you carried on about wine choices for a solid minute." Which he personally considered understandable. Edward was very unsure where to take things from here, because he most definitely had not planned for this and now that he had taken the lead - so to say - Oswald was looking at him with such expectation and the last thing he ever wanted to do was disappoint him. His only friend. His lover? He supposed so. Lover. Someone who loved. Someone who loved him.
"I wasn't sure what else to say. Though I stand by it, you do make excellent wine choices. Today's was as perfect as always." Though now he was regretting drinking so much because he was worried he'd say the wrong thing or making the wrong move. And that was a little unsettling, the fear of blowing this just as it started. "We don't have to do anything different, you know? Well, not overall. We will do some things different but I like what we have already. The way we work. We just fit! I think the rest is just a bonus." He liked what they had already but throw in some kissing, cuddling and dates and it was pretty much perfection.
"You're wrong. Given all this, it was most decidedly not the right wine choice." Damn that. A lot of pieces short of perfection, but nothing he couldn't work with. Because Oswald was right about something else. They did just fit. He leaned in to kiss him again, softer this time, slower. To give himself time to process it happening and to pay attention to whether any desire to hurt him was stirring inside him. Not more than usual so far. Good.
Oh, more kissing? He liked that. He definitely liked the kissing. He moved a little closer and snaked his arms around Edward's waist so he could get even closer, drawing the other in. The kiss was longer this time yet sweeter, making Oswald's heart positively melt. He loved Edward, he really did, he knew that it was still so early and love was a complicated beast but the way he felt about him as unmistakable. There was no denying it. As he pulled back from the kiss, he leaned forward and rested his head against the other's shoulder, holding him properly now. Like lovers could. "You have made me so very happy. I only hope I can repay you in kind."
"I believe that in this case we are dealing with basic alchemy." Wait, that was one of these references that only made sense in his head, wasn't it? "The laws of equivalent exchange apply here, Oswald. You do not need to repay me. This isn't a favour I'm doing you." That said he looked around, his smile widening into a grin as he made sure nobody else was to be seen or heard. He lowered himself to his knees slowly, since he knew how to take a cue, even if he was the one giving him. "But I could do you one, if you wanted."
Said, kneeling in front of and looking up at him, his hands gripping Oswald's hips.
"I guess it was the wrong words. Less repay and more share. I want us to feel the same. Loved. Happy. I want those things for us." Yes, he was sentimental at heart but it didn't detract from what he was. He was still a brutal man, a murderer and a kingpin, he was still enough of a draw that he knew he could keep Edward but he cared enough to be invested in him too. As Edward slipped down onto his knees, he naively thought it was some strange gesture, a play about with the whole 'king of Gotham' thing, a mock bow perhaps.
And then he saw that smile, the way he looked, those hands on his hips and -- oh. "You don't have to do a single thing for me you don't want to do Edward but if you insist..." He let the sentence trail off with a smirk as he let his hands go down, running them through Edward's well tamed hair, ruffling it free of all the gel that slicked it back.
Following impulses definitely seemed to be the way to go then - as long as none of them were killing impulses - so it was with a certain air of smugness that he kept looking up at Oswald as he undid his belt, opened his trousers and then let his fingers roam. Hard, because of him. Eager for him. There was a rush to this knowledge, a powerful feeling, knowing he could command such desire. "I do insist."
Oswald had never really do anything like this. He'd had people try, they always tried. When he was king of Gotham, many girls hit on him and got nowhere. He never had the interest. He didn't date, he didn't want girls and until now, he'd never really known why. Now, looking down at Edward, on his knees and wanting him, he knew exactly what he'd wanted all along. Someone like Edward. Handsome, smart, vicious and brilliant. His prince charming. This was the most turned on he'd ever been and that really wasn't a hard contest to win. "You might quite a sight on your knees like that. So ... dashing."
What could he do at that but chuckle? Dashing. Well, if he said so. No, Edward didn't know how to do this, not based on experience, but if so many uneducated idiots could, why wouldn't he be able to? It really couldn't be all that difficult, based on all the research he had been able to do over the years.
His suspicion was proven right when he touched Oswald in the ways he knew felt good to be touched in and when he took him into his mouth and he felt him shudder and even heard him. Oh, he had no idea why all those men he used to work with didn't realise how vulnerable they were in this moment. Idiots, the lot of them. But Oswald, like this, so helpless in his desire? He loved that.
Edward was indeed skilled, even if Oswald was an easy target, he knew what he was doing even this first time. The way his tongue worked, the way his lips moved, the subtle vibrations every noise made. Oswald couldn't remember the last time he felt like this. He moaned at every touch, every move, he was so easily manipulated by his lust. He fingers gripped hard into Edward's hair and he looked down at him the whole time, just enchanted by the sight.
When he came, his legs almost gave out from under him and he gripped onto the wall to stay upright, out of breath and struggling to catch it. "Ed." He managed to get out before he laughed nervously, letting go of the other's hair.
Edward noticed how Oswald's legs buckled and he was on his feet immediately, his arms going around Oswald so he could help keep him upright. This could definitely go down as a success. He couldn't help the smugness, but there was a warmth that came with it. He really did care for Oswald then. Good to know, he hadn't wanted to play him. So he really was with the one he loved now.
"God, I'm sorry. That was just -- that was just a lot." Oswald laughed as he put his arms around Ed once more and pulled him into a kiss. Why not just go for it, why not steal a kiss while he could? He earned this. He earned Edward. And he was going to keep him as long as he could. Edward was his now, he belonged to him and he belonged to Edward. That was just how it worked, there was no other way around it.
Leaning into him once more, he used one hand to try and get his trousers back up and buttoned. "You're awfully skilled, Edward."
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"I will always love you but you're under no pressure to love me that way. As friends, as allies, as whatever we are, just know that your faith in me and your support has made me stronger. And, dare I say, happier."
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It was worth pointing out. What would make for a better scene? Edward straightened up and then, after a moments thought, he gripped Oswald's arm to pull him up with him. He ended up holding his hand instead, looking around before sidestepping the chair and pulling, no, yanking Oswald with him. He started out walking backwards a few steps, critically checking the lighting, then he suddenly turned them around, so he could push Oswald back against the wall. He put a hand on his shoulder as he caught his eyes, the critical expression giving way to something softer. "The lover's privilege."
A line that likely meant little to Oswald, but no matter. Edward simply kissed him.
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When he looked at down as Edward spoke the words, he barely had chance to comprehend them before he was kissing him. Oswald at least knew how to take his cue, he kissed back excitedly, fingers worming out and into Edward's suit jacket, gripping onto it so he couldn't get away easily.
As they broke apart, Oswald grinned. "Oh. Edward."
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Said, kneeling in front of and looking up at him, his hands gripping Oswald's hips.
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And then he saw that smile, the way he looked, those hands on his hips and -- oh. "You don't have to do a single thing for me you don't want to do Edward but if you insist..." He let the sentence trail off with a smirk as he let his hands go down, running them through Edward's well tamed hair, ruffling it free of all the gel that slicked it back.
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His suspicion was proven right when he touched Oswald in the ways he knew felt good to be touched in and when he took him into his mouth and he felt him shudder and even heard him. Oh, he had no idea why all those men he used to work with didn't realise how vulnerable they were in this moment. Idiots, the lot of them. But Oswald, like this, so helpless in his desire? He loved that.
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When he came, his legs almost gave out from under him and he gripped onto the wall to stay upright, out of breath and struggling to catch it. "Ed." He managed to get out before he laughed nervously, letting go of the other's hair.
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Huh.
"Oswald."
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Leaning into him once more, he used one hand to try and get his trousers back up and buttoned. "You're awfully skilled, Edward."
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