Man Up

132 10 21
                                    

NOVEL: Born To Fly
TIMELINE: Late season 1
WHY IT DIDN'T FIT: Originally, Born to Fly was going to be all from Oswald's POV. This is one of the first scenes I penned, then scrapped when I changed the POV to Sera.

OSWALD'S POV

Sera disappears behind the hallway, and I finally feel like I can breathe. I take a deep breath in through my nose and exhale from my mouth. One look to the bartender instructs him to pour me the fifth drink of the night.

The club runs itself during open hours. Butch handles most of the low-level employees and issues. I handle the more nefarious side of operations. We're a good team, he and I. I know Sera doesn't approve of the means which have granted me his loyalty, but I've truly grown to think of him as more than a lap dog.

Perhaps I should re-think that sentiment after this drink.

"You look like a particular kind of mess this evening, boss."

I roll my eyes. "Do I? Pray tell, Butch."

"I've seen the way you look at the doc," he chuckles, ordering a round of drinks for himself. "You'd have to be blind not to see it."

"I don't know what you're implying," I retort.

"Sure you do. You're crushing on the new girl."

A snort fills the space between us. "Just because Doctor Gordon—"

"No, no, no. Don't play coy, Penguin. You know and I know you've caught feelings."

"So?" I work my jaw and straighten my shoulders. "So what if I have— though, it's still a far stretch from the truth."

"Then I suggest watching your back and hers. If anyone suspects that you're in with her, they'll use her against you. I've seen it happen time and time again with all of Fish's lovers."

I sold out Nikolai and Fish to Falcone. I've seen what kind of damage it does. I've calculated the risks, yes, but I did so long before I met Sera. When I measured the risk and reward of a significant other, I had taken everything into consideration. Well, I thought I had. I never accounted for how much I would care for the other person.

"It doesn't matter, anyway," I mutter. "There is no way Sera Gordon would find someone like myself a suitable partner."

Butch frowns before downing a shot. "Now why's that?"

"I'm everything she hates. She hates this life and everything about it, if you haven't noticed, includes you and I."

"Does she, though?"

No, I've seen the way her eyes light up in the heat of danger. I've watched her grit her teeth and face the bloodiest of thugs. I've seen glimpses into her heart, and that's what intrigues me, so. No matter how much she actually claims to hate this life, she loves it, too.

"I suppose not. Do I look like her type, Butch? She's so— so—"

"Normal?"

"Exactly, and I'm so not. I don't belong in domestic life, or around family dinners, or holidays—"

"Know what I think?" Butch asks.

"What?"

"I think you should just tell her how you feel."

I scoff. "Haha. Very funny."

"I'm serious."

"Why on Earth would I do that?"

"Because you might just find that she feels the same way. I know her too, Oswald. We talk."

"You talk?" I raise a brow. "About what, exactly?"

"Nothing like that." He shoots me a pointed look. "We're just friends; friends that happen to talk about you."

"What does she say?"

"Not much, directly. She's definitely into you. Whether she realizes it yet or not, I couldn't guess."

My heart flutters. Such a childish reaction, I thought I must've done away with it years ago.

"Oh, I suppose that changes things. Perhaps I should talk to her. Perhaps I could make reservations for dinner next time she's—"

"Don't over-complicate it. Sera's not a—"

"I'm not a what?" Sera's voice fills my ears. I couldn't visibly cringe hard enough.

"A—" I'm stunned.

"A complicated woman," Butch saves my ass. "Penguin's just thinking about getting dinner for us. I said pizza would be fine. Does pizza sound good to you?"

She smiles, and I feel as though the clouds may open up. "Sure. No olives, though. I can't stand them."

"Perfect. Pepperoni then," I say, correcting my posture. "I'll place the order."

Deleted Scenes [BtF Series]Where stories live. Discover now