A Storm Rising

Chapter 17

Oswald 

Within a few weeks, word had gotten around of Maroni's death and the news of my succession as the head of the family soon followed. 

Falcone was practically beaming at the news. Now his spy was the head of the rival family. Life couldn't be better for him. Little did he know I had even bigger aspirations for Gotham than playing second fiddle to him for the rest of my life.

Fish Mooney, on the other hand, had it in for me every chance she could. I was always getting roughed up by some of her thugs. This began to worry Nygma, so to assuaged him I now had Gabe and a few other men with me wherever I was out.

The attacks stopped after the first few attempts. With that I dismissed my entourage of bodyguards to get some privacy. This may have been foolish of me to do so, but I was fucking tired of my only moments alone were in my own apartment and I was getting stir-crazy. 

I put on my coat, grabbed my umbrella, and left to disappear into the night for a walk in the moonlight.

Elsewhere in Gotham 

"Welcome Dr. Crane," I heard a female voice say,"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me."

I looked around the darkly lit room that I stood in. The room looked to be an abandoned theater. Woman sat in a chair on the stage. She had dark skin that she almost blended into the shadows, with even darker hair with red dyed tips on her bangs. She wore a red dress to match her hair and gold hoop earrings.

She sat in that chair, a confident air about her. I was curious as to why she would be interested in my research, but I was equally intrigued in was the fact that this woman seemed to fear nothing. 

I walked up the stairs to where the woman sat, careful to avoid the rotting floorboards of the stage as I approached the open chair across from the mystery woman.

"Do you know why I asked you here today, Dr. Crane?" She asked with a warm smile. 

"I have somewhat of an idea. Your associate mentioned that you think you have a good test subject for my fear serum. Someone who would have the highest score on the Crane scale. Do tell, Miss..." I trailed off as I had not yet caught her name.

"It's Mooney, Fish Mooney." She held out her hand that I accepted with a firm shake. 

"You are correct, Doctor. I, do in fact, know someone whom you'd be interested in using as test subject, and his name is Oswald Cobblepot."

Oswald 

As the moon was at it's highest point in the sky, I decided that I should be heading back to my club to check in. I continued past the warehouse district and cut down an alley. I felt a presence following me.

Damn, why was I so stubborn about my privacy? Fish knew I'd be dropping my guard as soon as she laid off.

I tried weaving my way in and out of different alleys to get away from my pursuer, but with my bum leg, I couldn't move very fast.

I almost was to my club when I felt a firm arm grabbing me and another hand placed a cloth over my nose and mouth.

My last thought was of Nygma as my vision faded to black.

Nygma

I had found myself a new apartment, it was closer to work. It was smaller than my place before, down to one bedroom, but it would just have to do for now. I moved all of my equipment I had in my clean room to the clinic to downsize. I lived on the top floor and had a clear view of the entire city through large windows. I loved my new place, it actually helped that I left the old one. I seldom saw Kringle lurking around.