A Storm Rising

Chapter 21

Oswald

A few weeks had gone by and tonight I picked up Nygma in my finest attire. I had eve brought a bouquet of roses to this occasion. Tonight was supposed to redeem me from the last horrid dinner as last time.

Mother knew Nygma was coming over again for dinner and she actually seemed very happy when I mentioned the idea. This was the first time he had allowed the same person in her apartment. I did not count Gabe who I gave the duty of keeping her safe.

Again, I did not fully explain the pretense of why Nygma was coming over, but I really wanted Nygma there with me as moral support. That was why I had arrived early to his apartment to pick him up.

I knocked at the door and he let me.

"Nygma, I need to talk to you, before we head for my mother's apartment." I swallowed. "Mother still doesn't fully have the truth about our relationship. Hear me out first, before you judge. I don't think that I am strong enough to tell her alone. I want you right there with me. The fact that she liked the idea of having you over for dinner gives me hope. You are the first person aloud such a privilege."

I stood up holding out my hand, "Shall we go then?"

Nygma 

I nodded as I listened to him, the fact he let me know beforehand made me happy. 

"Course I will be right at your side," I smiled. 

I was also smug at the fact his mother was allowing me over again. 

Oh I can't wait

I was wearing a suit this time, deciding the sweater vest was bad luck. My tie was bright green and purple. 

"We shall," I responded taking his hand in mine.

Oswald

"Hello mother dear!" I said happily as I presented her with the bouquet of roses.

"Oh, you are too kind dear son." She said to me outwardly, but the quick look she gave me said /You are up to something, dear son...I;m watching you.../

"Why it's good to see you again, Nygma dear!" She replied happily ushering him in the door. By 'ushering him in', she practically pulled him through the door.

I'm not sure if that was a sign that he was already taking a liking to Nygma or just pretending to be nice before the claws came out. Nygma had assured me that he could handle her, so I can't chicken out now.

"Mother, I brought Nygma here for a reason. Though it is true that he helped me succeed to become the top of the Maroni family with his Plague serum, he is not my business associate." I turned to look at Nygma for a moment, and he just nodded at me, signaling me to continue. "He is much more than that to me. He is my boyfriend, my lover. It turns out that your dear Ossie boy is gay, or at least bisexual."

I paused to grab Nygma's hand before continuing again."Nygma wanted to meet you a few weeks under this pretense."

Outwardly, it seemed that mother took all of this news better than I thought, but this was just the beginning of the night.

My mother's mouth just hung open for a few moments before she spoke.

"I knew something was odd about that night! What else have you been keeping from me, hmmm? That you have a love-child with some slut living in the gutters of Gotham now? Or perhaps you have been sleeping around the with the whole goddamn city of Gotham...."

I didn't really know what to say back to this barrage of accusations of my sexual escapades. I just stayed silent and took it. I really just wanted to retreat back to my club or apartment, but I promised that I'd make up for the previous shitty dinner. Though this time, we may not even get dinner before getting kicked out...