"I don't dance," Cobblepot said looking up from a set of papers in front of him to his friend across the table.
Edward tilted his head, "That's not what I asked about. In fact, I didn't even ask a question."
Oswald huffed, "No, you didn't."
"Exactly, I said you have a banquet to attend next Wednesday. Many important people, many strings to pull to get you the votes needed," Edward said standing from the table and moving towards Oswald. Oswald ground his teeth as the man leaned against the table right next to him, "Is it because you wouldn't have a date?"
"No," Oswald snapped, "I don't dance. So that means I'm not going to a banquet where people will require dancing."
"It's more likely they will expect you to have a date than dance."
Oswald stood up suddenly, "I'm not going and that final," Oswald said walking away from his friend and to the kitchen.
Ed spun to watch the back of him prepare himself tea. The was his first riddle to be solved, his feathered friend has never once done something like that for himself. He was overcompensating for something, "Why don't you dance?"
Cobblepot froze and Edward knew he'd won. His voice wavered as he answered, "I just don't."
"You can't dance, is that it?"
Oswald spun to face him, "I can dance just fine," Edward raised an eyebrow at the answer. It was obvious there was more to the answer than simply that. Oswald sighed and continued quietly, "I simply can't dance with others, due to certain reasons."
"Your leg."
Oswald flinched and Edward immediately cringed. He knew that was brash of him to say but he couldn't help it, "Yes because of my leg, Ed. Now can we please drop this ridiculous discussion so we can get back to work."
"Of course," Edward replied moving to sit back down as the shorter man returned, tea in hand.
-
Edward waited until Oswald was out of the mansion to place the record on the turntable, the soft notes started drifting around the room and Ed fell in step to the song. Oswald simply had never had the correct partner or someone that cared enough to learn to dance with him. Edward was positive he could do it, he simply had to favor his right side in each step. Pathetic, no one had bothered to do this before.
No bother now, he could do it just well enough. Edward fell in step to the music and moved his hands to hold an invisible partner, taking into consideration that his partner was also shorter than himself.
Once, he was satisfied that he could dance for his particular partner he went about his day waiting for Oswald's return. He had some papers to get in order for the mayor before he returned, Ed thought to himself as he left
-
Oswald walked into the house. He had hated this house at night. During the day, it was a rush of people. In and out they ran helping him with his mayoral activities and other things but at night it was silent. Just himself and the memories of his dead mother and father, at least it was until Ed moved in. He had been godsent, now even in the silence, he knew someone else was here, breathing. The house didn't feel haunted by the memories of his past but instead held hope for his future. Whatever, that may be.
Oswald made his way to the kitchen, it was late and Ed was likely asleep or doing something in his room. Ed would often disappear into his room, Oswald didn't think he slept but he was silent so Oswald never asked.
The formal kingpin opened the fridge and smiled. Ed had once again left him some food to reheat. Before he use to come home to find a meal prepared by his mother but lately he had simply returned home to nothing and didn't usually have it in himself to prepare food and opted to instead go to bed hunger, promising himself he would go out for a large breakfast.
