Gotham Imagines and One Shots

Rain - Oswald x Reader

What was it about the rain that seemed to wash all the sins of the great city away? Even though the same wicked people walked the streets. Even though they still did the same wicked things. There was something about the rain that made (Y/n) feel as though not only was a layer of grime being washed away. But also, a little of the corruption, avarice, and ill will as well. It was a strange thing to think that something as simple as rain could wash all that away. But it was something that she had liked to believe. That the rain gave the city a fresh start. An opportunity to change. A chance to start again. Unfortunately, though, it was an opportunity that neither the city, nor its residence ever seemed to take.

It wasn't that she didn't, in a strange way, love Gotham. It was, after all, the only home that she had ever known. She had just always hoped that one morning she would wake up, and things would be a little brighter. That people would be a little nicer. But she had to appreciate that this was Gotham. And that bright and nice were two things that the sprawling metropolis and its people were certainly not known for.

Yet there was something, or should that be someone, that gave her hope. That showed her anything was possible. That proved that there was good out there. And that someone was Oswald. Her Oswald. To her, the sweetest, kindest, most wonderful man to ever draw breath in Gotham.

Not that most people could appreciate him. Most people saw him as strange, quiet, odd. A nervous, apprehensive little creature. Just another face in the crowd, that most wouldn't even see. But (Y/n) saw him. She had managed to break through all his fears and doubts. Managed to persuade him that he was worthy. That he was important. That he deserved to be loved. And she was the one that loved him.

She couldn't pretend that life wasn't different. Couldn't pretend that their association with Fish Mooney didn't make things a little complicated. But between them. Between his little job with the, shall we say, nightclub owner. And her job as a singer at the club. As well as her constant support and encouragement, they managed to make things work.

Suddenly a clap of thunder brought her back from her thoughts. (Y/n) shaking her head as the rain suddenly got heavier. She knew that Oswald would be on his way home now. That the poor thing would be having to make his way through the streets of Gotham as the heavens rained down on him. That by the time he got back to the apartment, the poor thing, despite his umbrella, would look like a drowned rat. Soaked to the bone, and shivering.

Quickly, (Y/n) jumped to her feet, racing to the cupboard where she kept all the clean linen. Her hands feeling for the largest, thickest, fluffiest towel that she could find on the top shelf. Her Oswald might come home soaked to the bone, but she would make sure that he didn't stay that way. Before he knew it, he would be dry and warm. Wrapped up in her arms as she listened to him tell her about his day.

Luckily, she had managed to persuade Oswald to move into her apartment. It wasn't a palace by any means, it was only simple. But it was theirs, and in a good area of Gotham. The move seeming to give Oswald a brand new outlook on the world. And given it was closer to the nightclub, it meant that her poor man's commute at the end of a long day having to put up with the demanding Fish, was certainly less arduous.

Placing the towel on the table next to the front door, (Y/n) made her way to the kitchen to make tea. As soon as Oswald stepped through the door, she would wrap him in the towel, push him to the bathroom with orders to get a hot shower. And by the time he was done, there would a freshly brewed pot of his favourite tea waiting for him.

To others, these gestures would seem like nothing. Tiny little things that lovers did for one another every day without thinking. But to Oswald, it was the little things that seemed to count the most. For so long he had not had positive attention from anyone other than his mother. He hadn't known what it was to be cared for and loved by another soul. So, from the very beginning, (Y/n) had done all she could to show him, that whether he thought that he was worthy of love or not, she thought he was.

The clock above the old fireplace suddenly rang out the hour of six. Another clap of thunder and crack of lightning coinciding with the final chime of the hour. (Y/n) racing back to the window as she waited to catch sight her Oswald, make his way down the street.

It was hard to see anything as the rivers of rain ran down the panes of glass. The sea of umbrellas making it even harder to see one man in amongst all the comings and goings. But suddenly there he was. A beacon of light in an otherwise dark day. (Y/n) believing that a single shaft of light had just descended from the sky. Illuminating the simple man. Singling him out from all the other souls that milled about around him.

(Y/n) couldn't help but chuckle slightly as she saw that his pale face poking out from under his umbrella. His hair seeming to be sticking to his face despite his head being covered. It was strange, but sometimes, Oswald reminded her of a wet silly puppy that had just jumped into every puddle it could find, when he looked like that. Bedraggled, dishevelled, and feeling a little sorry for itself as it shivered. But never sorry for having done what it had done. The fun outweighing the cost of being wet. Though she was always sure that Oswald would not appreciate the comparison. But felt that her description was better than seeing his as a penguin, like everyone else did as he limped around.

As Oswald made his way to the building, (Y/n) moved from the seat by the windows to sit on the arm of the sofa so that she could be looking at him as he entered their home. She wanted to be the first thing that he saw as he got home. The first thing he smiled at. The first thing to smile at him.

"Good evening Mister Cobblepot." (Y/n) chuckled as Oswald pushed his way through the door. A smile suddenly spreading across his lips as he lay eyes on his (Y/n). Oswald knowing that no matter how difficult, or bad his day had been, (Y/n) could always make it seem better. His smile growing even wider as she got to her feet and took the towel from the table next to the door. Wrapping it around his shoulders before brushing his wet hair from his face and placing a gentle kiss to his soft lips.

"Now, go get a hot shower. When you're done, we can have tea and you can tell me about your day." (Y/n) ordered as she pushed him in the direction of the bathroom. Kissing him once again before she shut the door behind him.

Making her way back to the kitchen. A broad smile spreading across her lips as she heard Oswald begin to sing softly to himself. (Y/n) knew that there was one thing that the rain could never and would never be able to wash away. And that was her love for Oswald.