Define Close [Nygmobblepot]

Ch7: Tangled Knots

Oswald's POV

I wake up but honestly it feels more like a dream than whatever that stressful scenario was that just played in my head while I was unconscious, sound asleep.

I frown. My back aches, my leg aches and my head hurts when I blink my eyes open. Well, no wonder everything feels stiff and painful considering I have fallen asleep on the floor. We both have.

We're both on the floor, leaning back against the couch which makes me wonder why aren't we up there but on top of that I'm leaning against Ed, my head on his shoulder which I'd be incredibly embarrassed about if his head wasn't resting against mine and his hand on my leg.

I frown harder. How much did we drink? And how on earth am I going to get out of this without waking him up? I'm hoping he drank even more and is currently passed out as I lift my head a bit but my neck feels even more stiff and I manage to wake him up. Apprently not passed out and instead a very light sleeper.

"Oswald?" His voice is groggy, low and rather- I shake my head, trying to clear it with the movement which is of course useless and rather stupid considering it hurts my neck.

"Why are we on the floor?" I just ask, irritated by how uncomfortable it is and how my thoughts feel like loose threads and tangled knots.

Ed looks around, his head now resting back against the couch and his eyes barely open and I wonder if he's fully awake after all. "I have no idea." He admits, clearing his throat in order to get rid of his morning voice. "I think we sat down here."

"You think?" I repeat mockingly. "Well, it does look like it, detective."

He turns to me with a small scowl but seems to realize his hand is still resting on my leg and quickly pulls it away. "Sorry." He mumbles.

I ignore it. "How much did we drink?"

"Your guess is as good as mine." He replies with a sigh and I run a hand over my face.

"Sorry for snapping at you, I'm tired."

"Don't worry about it." He says. "I have no idea what time did we pass out."

"Fall asleep." I correct him. "We did not pass out." I insist but he lets out a small laugh which makes me laugh as well. God, I feel like an idiot but I have to admit that if there's something I remember from last night, it was fun. "But yeah, I have no idea how late we stayed up." I admit. "Wait- what time is it?" I push myself to sit up straight and we both look around for the time before our eyes settle on the clock.

"Seven fifty-five." Ed says out loud and I let out a relieved breath.

"Not as much as I expected." I admit. "Maybe we're more well adjusted than I thought. It's not like last night is entirely a blur." I say as I get up but my legs have partly fallen asleep and I sway but Ed reaches up quickly to steady me, gripping my hand as it looks for something to hold on to and his other hand settling on my thigh. I laugh a bit at myself but know I'm blushing as I turn away from him. "Thank you." I mumble, thinking about painkillers. "Are you hurting?"

"You mean is my head pounding and does it intensify when I speak?" He asks. "Yes."

"I'll get us some Aspirin." I tell him as I slowly make my way to the kitchen but he follows quickly, stumbling a bit as he gets up as well, looking funny due to his tall frame and long legs.

"I'll help." He says and I can't help but smile but once I'm the kitchen, another thought comes to my mind.

"Wait, was it almost eight?" I ask him and for a while he looks confused.

"The time? Yes."

"Olga is gonna be here any minute!" I say and quickly take the painkillers from the cabinet.

"Olga?" Ed repeats frowning.

"She's my maid." I explain as I pour us two glasses of water, handing the other one to him. "The Russian woman who showed you in yesterday."

"Oh." Ed says and seems to think back on it as I hand him the pills. "I did introduce myself but she just mumbled something back, definitely not her name. I don't think she likes me very much."

"Don't be ridiculous, she doesn't even know you." I point out before swallowing the pills. Then again, I'm not sure if Olga is very fond of anyone so Ed's assumption might be right. I look at him as he finishes his glass of water and frown. "What.. what happened there?" I ask, gesturing at his collar that's partly pointing up and missing a tie with the first button open. Fortunately, the tie isn't really missing after all considering it's tied around his upper arm and he now looks at it in confusion.

"I'm not sure." He mumbles. "I think you were showing me how to tie a knot. Seems like a figure-eight knot."

"I don't even know what that is!" I cry out. "I only know the normal overhand knot and that's it!"

"Hmph, I guess I was showing you how to do it then." He says and I stare in utter disbelief as I realize I have no memory of anything related to a knot. "If it makes you feel any better it seems flawless." He tells me and I glare at him.

"Just put it on before Olga arrives, she will have something to say about it." I tell him as I walk out of the kitchen.

"She speaks English?" Ed asks curiously as he follows me.

"Not much." I say, glancing at him over my shoulder. "But trust me, she has very judgemental looks to give." I tell him before stopping to look at myself from the mirror. My tie is crooked and loose but at least it's still around my neck. I tighten and straighten it, pulling at my waistcoat and jacket but it still kinda looks like I just slept in them. I let my hair be even though it's pointing in every direction and turn to Ed who has gathered himself quite well and managed to untie the knot from his tie and put it on properly.

We hear the frontdoor open and closing after someone, of course, Olga. I sigh. "I'll go tell her to go make breakfast and get rid of the bottles myself."

"The bottles?" Ed repeats. "I didn't even see them. Were there many?"

"Me neither." I admit. "But there must be some." I point out before walking as quickly as I can at the moment to greet Olga. "Good morning." I tell her but suddenly trip on something as I walk around the couch and hear the clink of glass falling over. Well, I found the bottles. And to answer Ed's earlier question, there are several.

Olga looks at me with wide eyes before glancing curiously at Ed who's standing behind me.

"I'll take care of those." I say, kicking them aside. "Would you go make the breakfast ready?" Her tone is disapproving and she's glancing between the two of us several times as she walks past us to the kitchen.