Kat's POV:
It was half an hour before Ed arrived at his apartment, I had been on the couch trying to occupy myself when the door knob turned. My heart leapt as I began to think Jerome had found out where I was and had come to kill me. I, stupidly, jumped off the couch and hid behind it as if it would actually protect me if it was Jerome at the door. The door slowly creaked open and I could only see the tall, lanky stature of the person.
It was only Ed.
"Katerina? Are you here?" I heard him call, but not too loud so he wouldn't alert the neighbours. I stood slowly from behind the couch and he smiled as I came into his view.
"Ed!" I don't know why, but the sight of someone other than a member of the MANIAX sparked the confidence for me to run over and hug him. He was a great deal taller than me and seemed uncomfortable with the sudden display of affection but hesitantly returned the hug anyway. "Sorry, you're the first person I've seen after everything..." I pulled away and blushed in embarrassment.
"Oh, I understand." He brushed his suit lightly. "I'm very glad to see you are unharmed." He looked genuine enough.
"I'm so sorry I put you in this situation, you were the only one that would work-" I began to explain but was cut off.
"No, no it is completely ok Katerina, I can't imagine what you went through while you were there and it is my pleasure to help. Plus, now I know you are ok and I won't be one of the many losing sleep over your disappearance." He insisted it was ok.
"People are losing sleep over me?" I asked in disbelief.
"Of course! Jim and Harvey look like they hadn't slept in days and your dad, well he hasn't left the station since you left. The commissioner has been giving everyone overtime trying to find you before they did anything to you." He continued and I couldn't believe the words coming from his lips.
"But people are always dying in Gotham... What makes me so different?" We made our way to the lounge room, him locking the door behind us.
"Well everyone wants to know." He states. Leaving me completely confused.
"Know what?" I asked, needing a bit more detail.
"How you caught Jerome's attention, of course, he saved you twice after all." He exclaimed. "So how did you do it? Survive in a house full of psychos I mean." He asked and my hands began to shake slightly.
"I don't really want to talk about it." I whispered, the mentioning of it making me think about the murderous look I'd seen in Jerome's eyes flashing across my memory.
"I understand. Let's change the topic! Oh, I know how about a riddle?" He offered.
"Sure!" I replied, my mood lightening at the change in the conversation.
"I'm usually black and white but I'm not a newspaper, I have wings but I'm not an aeroplane, I lay eggs but I'm not a chicken, I eat fish but I'm not a whale, I appeared in the movie Madagascar but I'm not a zebra." He recites and my eyebrows furrow in thought.
"Hold on um..." I hummed over the answer before it came to me. "Oh! A penguin!" I answered confidently. His eyes lit up at the answer and I hoped that meant I was right.
"Correct, all this time I thought you'd used the internet to complete my riddles." He stated.
"So you doubted my riddle solving ability?" I questioned, arching my brow accusingly.
"Well, not many people have as bright a mind as you and I, especially those within your age range." He looked somewhat flustered but I laughed.
"I was only kidding, Ed. Don't worry about it." I laughed and he joined, laughing lightly.
"Well as the riddle says, Penguin, or formerly known as Oswald Cobblepot has agreed to help you with your... Uh situation." He tried to word the predicament I had found myself in.
"Oh, I've heard that name before! I thought he died?" I asked. I remember Gotham Gazette writing an article about it.
"Yeah, so did most of Gotham but I assure you he is back and willing to find you somewhere to hide until they catch that psycho." I nodded in agreement to the plan.
"Once again, thanks so much for all of this." I thanked him again, wanting him to know just how grateful I was.
"He owed me a favour anyway so it isn't a problem. Now the plan is that Oswald will come on Friday because he has business to take care of before then. Until Friday you can stay here although I will be at work tomorrow I have scheduled to take the afternoon off and then the rest of the week." He explained.
"I know this sounds really stupid but what day is it today?" I hadn't even thought to check what day it actually was today as I had lost count.
"It is currently Tuesday." Ok, that isn't too long to wait and I should be relatively safe while I'm here.
"Ok, that is perfect, thank you for inviting me into your home. This apartment is so cool by the way." I complimented his style of decor.
"Thank you, it isn't much but it's cosy enough." He replied simply. "But moving on, are you hungry? I can start making dinner." He offered.
"I am actually, thank you." He stood up to enter the kitchen and I followed shortly after. "Is there anything I can do to help?" I asked, not wanting to make him do everything.
"No, no I should be fine. You can shower if you like, the bathroom is the first door on the right." He directed me but then I realised something.
"Ed, sorry to bother you but I didn't bring any clothes with me." I mumbled quietly.
"Oh, um, let me see if I can uh find anything that'll uh fit you um." He spoke quickly and in a fluster.
"I'm really sorry, I couldn't bring anything otherwise Jerome would be suspicious." I tried to explain.
"Never the matter, I'm sure I can find something for you to wear and I will try and get something from the store to fit you on the way home from work tomorrow." He stated as he walked down the hall passed the bathroom and into a bedroom, I hadn't seen this part of the house as I had only stayed in the living room for the half an hour I was here.
"You've done so much already-"
"I insist Katerina." His voice changed the tone slightly but as quick as it had come it was gone again. "I mean you've been through a lot these past couple of weeks the least I can do is get you some clothes." He was back to his awkward, bubbly self like nothing ever happened but I was in no position to judge.
"Well thanks, I really appreciate it." With that, he handed me a polo, a hoody and a pair long pants.
I took the clothes from him and headed to the bathroom, muttering a quick 'thank you' as I passed him.
YOU ARE READING
Gotham Gazette // J.V
Fanfiction"Love your hair gorgeous..." Katerina Ferdine's dad had asked her to do one simple task. Bring his lunch to him at work since she was home sick. That was all, he didn't tell her to get caug...
