Define Close [Nygmobblepot]

Ch15: This Ache In My Chest

Oswald's POV

I get startled as I wake up to the sound of the phone ringing. I look around in confusion and realize two things: I have fallen asleep on the couch and it's almost midnight.

I frown, feeling irritated but pick up the phone anyway. "Do you have any idea what time-"

"Ozzie!" Barbara's voice says cheerfully and I sigh. "Before you hang up, I know you'll want to hear this so listen up."

"I don't want anything from you, thank you. Goodbye." I'm about to put down the handset down until I hear her voice.

"We have Nygma!" She yells, obviously suspecting I'm about to hang up the call. I feel furious as I bring the speaker back to my ear.

"I highly doubt that." I hiss at them. "And even if you did, how am I supposed to believe he's not in on it? You can't blackmail me with him, I don't care about him."

"Are you so sure?" Barbara asks with a teasing tone. "Because I have him right here, say something, Eddie." I hold my breath as I wait for the proof of him even being there and wonder what is he gonna say. I hate myself for thinking I might go there, trap or not, if he asks me to. I just hope I can tell if he's really in danger or teamed up with them again, I considered myself good with detecting lies but obviously I am not.

"Don't bother, Oswald." His voice says, sounding kind of quiet and I listen carefully. "Like you said, you don't care about me." He goes on and I close my eyes as I sigh quietly. "And I don't want to see you anyway. You're an ungrateful, sensitive brat and I don't want anything from you and definitely don't need your help."

I'm unable to get a word out at first. "Excuse me?" I ask, feeling furious. What exactly gives him the right to be mad at me?

"You heard me." He says and then it hits me. He doesn't mean any of it, he's saying it to piss me off so I wouldn't risk anything coming to safe him, so they couldn't use him against me. I feel a sad smile pulling up the corners of my mouth but keep my voice steady and angry.

"I never offered my help in the first place so no need to worry." I tell him. "You're on your own."

"He'll die!" Barbara insists on the phone next. "If you'd like to get him back unharmed, come to The Sirens."

"You really think I'd risk my life for one person who already betrayed me once?" I ask them. "He means nothing to me. Stop calling me." I say before hanging up and then getting up so fast I feel a bit lightheaded, just praying in my mind they won't hurt him because he didn't turn out to be useful after all.

I need to go get him, I think to myself. I need to help Ed.

Edward's POV

"Told you he doesn't give a damn." I mumble once Oswald has hung up the call as I expected, leaning back on the chair I'm tied to. "Now you know how furious he is at me. He doesn't even want to see me, why would he risk everything, including his own life, just to get me back?"

"Dammit!" Barbara shrieks, ignoring me as she slams the phone on the bar. "What are we going to do?" She asks from Tabitha and Butch who look kind of lost.

"Who cares?" Butch asks. "I suggest we get a good place to hide before Penguin gets us killed. We have no power over him! No leverage! And who's fault is that?"

Barbara looks almost as furious as Oswald sounded. "Are you suggesting it's my fault?"

"You didn't have to piss him off!" Butch argues.

"You think you could've dealt with this better?" Barbara asks with a mocking laugh. "Please, you don't have the intelligence to follow simple instructions even if they were written down for you! How do you expect to manipulate or blackmail anyone successfully?"

"Can you both just shut up!" Tabitha yells. "It's his fault." She gestures at me and my hands stop their movements as I'm attempting to get free of the ropes around my wrists. They all look at me as if waiting for me react. I can't really argue, I guess I did ruin the plan but I think I've payed for it already, I mean I gained nothing, lost Oswald and eventually got dragged out of my apartment in the middle of the night and am currently tied to a chair.

"We could've had everything." Barbara hisses at me as she walks up to me. "You could've had everything."

"Maybe I don't want everything." I reply. I want Oswald.

"You selfish, traitor." She spits out and I look away with a small smile.

"Yeah, I'm the traitor." I mumble.

"Let's just get rid of him." Tabitha says with a sigh. "Can I do the honours?"

"It's a shame, he's a smart one." Barbara says with a smile before turning to me. "But she has a point. You're no use for us so..." She shrugs and I stare at the floor, reminding myself I made this decision. I wasn't sure if it'd come to this but it was a possibility. They're going to kill me. "Don't worry, we'll make it quick." Barbara goes on, simply teasing me.

"I never promised that." Tabitha points out.

The end result is the same, I don't care what they do, really. Honestly? I feel at peace. For days I've thought about how I hurt Oswald, how I let him down. Well, now I'm paying the price for it, hopefully redeeming myself. Oswald might never know I did this to protect him but I will. Or I would if it wasn't for the fact that soon, or in a while considering how long will they drag this out, I won't have knowledge at all anymore.

"Let's just put a bullet in him." Butch's voice snaps me out of my thoughts. "You told Penguin where we are, he'll have this place surrounded and kill all of us now that he's not concerned about Nygma's safety. I suggest we get out of here."

"Fine." Tabitha agrees, pulling out her gun and it happens so fast it catches me off guard even when I tried to prepare myself. She pulls the trigger and they walk out in hurry while I feel pain like never before.