What if.

A bird with clipped wings.

Warning: this chapter includes mentions of self harm. if you're sensitive to that kind of stuff, please proceed with caution.

Ed had recovered fairly well physically, but his mental health had decreased immensely over the few days he had been trapped with his dad. So Kristin had decided to go for a walk and a picnic in the woods "Lead the way" Kristin chirped. She had let Ed decide where they would walk, he had decided on the forest. They had gotten to a small secluded area when Ed sat down, Kristin sat beside him. Before they had started dating she'd always thought a quieter Ed would be great, but it just seemed weird, sad. she looked up at his face, he looked upset "hey, you okay?" she asked softly "yeah, just thinking" he'd been saying that a lot recently, he was so quiet, it felt wrong to see him like this, his expression just seemed so solemn. Ed was always so happy, but now, he was just distant, like his brain was far off leaving his physical body to wander elsewhere. Kristin felt him lay down, laying his head in her lap, she reached down and messed with his hair"You've been so quiet lately, it feels weird" she said softly, Ed closed his eyes "sorry, it's just that-" before he could finish he was cut off by a loud noise, Ed sat up "what was that?" he whispered "i don't know" Kristin said in a hushed voice. Ed stood up and started walking over to check it out "for a secluded forest this place sure has an awful lot of foot traffic" he muttered as he walked.

they came across a trailer, they heard someone groaning in pain inside. Ed went to check it out, the door swung open hitting Ed in the face knocking his glasses off his face and sending him falling backwards onto his back. Kristin rushed forward and grabbed the glasses she then pulled Edward up by his arms. Someone came stumbling out of the trailer. it was Oswald Cobblepot  "Mr.Penguin?" Ed whispered "C'mon let's get him to the car he needs medical attention" Kristin said in a quick, panicked tone "uh, right, yeah okay" Ed muttered. Kristin and Ed waked over to him and picked him up, they than started the track back through the woods to Ed's car.

They had managed to get Penguin back to Ed's apartment, and Ed (with some difficulty) got penguin's wounds tended to.

They sat on Ed's couch, Ed had is head laying in Kristin's lap as she played with his hair messing it up. Kristin spoke "Are you okay Ed?" that's a good question. Was he okay? no, not really. Kristin had no idea to what he'd done in private. With a small blade he'd sliced into his forearm and then covered it up with his sweater sleeve, he felt bad about keeping it from Kristin, maybe he should tell her about it "She wouldn't understand" his inner voice argued, he ignored the voice, opting instead to come clean "Kristin, I-" but he was cut off by penguin waking up "wha- where am i?!" he shouted, Ed hurried over "It's alright Mr.Penguin, we're not gonna hurt you" Ed said, it took a while, but Penguin finally started to calm down "who are you?" he asked still sounding slightly panicked "Edward. Nygma. And this is my girlfriend, Kristin"

Kristin waved politely at Penguin "We've met before, at the GCPD, haven't we?" Penguin said, Edward nodded "you're not a cop?" Penguin asked "oh no" Ed laughed, since they had started dating Kristin had noticed he does that when he's nervous "no, no, no, I'm in forensics" Ed smiled nervously, Penguin rolled his eyes ad scoffed "if you're going to kill me, just get it over with" Penguin said dejectedly, he sounded so sad.

"oh no no no, i have zero ill intentions towards you" Edward said in, what he hoped, was a reassuring tone "then what are you're intentions" Penguin snapped. Ed blanked, what were his intentions? he had no idea, they had brought him here simply because Penguin had needed medical attention "uhm...i..we uh...we really only brought you here because you were in desperate need of medical attention" Edward paused for a moment "other than that we have no actual reason..." Oswald scoffed, he then stood up and hobbled over to the window "well, than this little visit, is over" Oswald walked about a foot forward before passing out and falling to the ground.