Tomorrow

Tomorrow: part three

Oswald had been up for hours sitting in his father's old armchair staring out the window. Every so often Ed would make a sound in his sleep as he dreamt, but Oswald found his otherwise steady breathing oddly soothing, as he sat in the quiet living room. Concern for Ed had kept him awake most of the night, along with an unsettling feeling of being in someone else's home, now so accustomed to living in the criminal infested black gate. As he sat there, he allowed his gaze to drift over to Ed, his now dry hair falling messily over his eyes. Not wanting to wake him, Oswald had left him to sleep in his wet clothes but had been unable to resist draping a thick blanket round his shoulders, which Ed had drawn closer and closer to himself throughout the night so he was now curled up inside it. As he watched his friend he noticed how peaceful he looked, almost as if -

"AAAAAAHHHGHH!" The scream Pierced the silence, startling Oswald so deeply that he physically fell off of his chair, smacking his head onto the coffee table "fuck!" He yelled, rubbing the back of his head as a stabbing ache spread through his skull. Ed, who had jumped up as he screamed, stood there, a look of complete befuddlement on his face, his mouth turned down in a pout and his eyes too wide. "Ed what the hell are you doing?" He shouted, moving over to stand face to face with Ed. As his eyes met Oswald's, he seemed not really to see him. Placing a hand on Ed's arm, he whispered his name, a growing sense of unease filling him. After a what was barely a moment, Ed's eyes snapped into focus, his sight clearing as he looked at Oswald. Slowly his mouth shut and his body relaxed, as he realised where he was. "S-sorry" He said clearing his throat and straightening his tie in embarrassment. "Used to waking up in.. In that place" he tried a weak chuckle but it couldn't disguise his feelings, as he hoped it would. Looking around he asked "where's my jacket? Thanks for letting me stay but erm, I must be going" 

"Going where? Ed you have nowhere to go, you said so yourself last night."

"Well that may have been true last night, but today I plan to find a new place to stay. And then I have plans to think through."

"Plans?" Oswald echoed dubiously.

"Yes, plans. Plans of villainy and vengeance I'll have you know." 

"Ah, of course" Oswald mocked, "But first you're going to sit down and tell me what the hell is going on with you!"

"Nothing!" He insisted, trying to move past Oswald who stood in his way "Ed you're covered in blood!"

"It's not my blood!" He shot back in exasperation, as if that settled matters. Rolling his eyes Oswald said seriously "Ed, you knocked on my door at 3 in the morning, soaked and shivering, with blood all over you. Not only did I let you in but I let you sleep on my brand new couch, which is now soaking wet by the way-" They both looked round at the dark stain on the couch where Ed had slept "- Now you're going to sit there and we will work through whatever's going on, together!" 

Sheepishly , and after a moment of thought, Ed moved over to the dining room and pulled out 2 chairs, one for him the other for his companion. "It's not my blood. I was attacked last night", a heat spread up his face as he recalled the humiliation of the night before to Oswald, a growing concern bringing his brows closer and closer together as he listened. "Afterwards, I just started walking. I didn't know where and I didn't know why but when I looked up I realised I had been walking to you. I remembered you saying, all those years ago, that the first thing you would do would be to get your old home back, so I assumed you must be here. I don't know why this is where I came, I just... didn't want to be alone"
Oswald tried to hide the smile growing on his face as his insides melted at Ed's words. "Well don't be ridiculous! You're welcome to stay with me as long as you want" Oswald, unable to hide the growing smile said, sitting down opposite him. "I have plenty of room here, and this way we can work together!" Ed allowed a small smile at Oswald's own obvious excitement , softening to the idea "with your brain and my money and my skills of manipulation... and my brain! We could take down that bat-man in no time". This enthusiastic optimism was something Ed had rarely seen on Oswald before and as heartwarming as it was, it was abundantly clear he was just  trying to make Ed feel like less of a failure. "Thanks Oswald" he said, looking him in the eye "I've missed this".