Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Shall we get to work?”

There was a rasped warmth in Edward’s voice. Oswald couldn’t quite read what was in his eyes. He felt delusional that some part of him could’ve sworn he saw affection…maybe even love. But he was a madman to think so. To shake himself out of his own thoughts, he provoked himself to speak.

“So then…where do we start, Riddler?”

When he had finally spoken, something changed immediately. The dark, brown coated eyes baring down into his own taking on an entirely…new intensity. Something dark stirred, and Oswald felt his stomach twist at how jarring the change was.

“Oh, Oswald. Look at you.”

Os felt his chest tighten. What was it? What was he seeing? Sweat beaded his brow, as he shifted.

“Wh…what do you mean?”

“You remembered my name.”

There was a bit of a pause, as Oswald’s face flushed pink. He’d never said the Riddler’s name before without being provoked. Had he let his guard down that much?

“Good boy.”

The words slid smoothly from Edward’s lips, almost smug, and Oswald felt suddenly lightheaded. Oh. He knew exactly what he was doing. He barely registered his next words to his companion, trying to desperately to grasp onto his remaining dignity.

“We’re, allies now it’s, something anyone would do if-“

“You’re so easy, aren’t you, Oswald? When you want my attention so bad, you let your ego starve."

As Ed spoke, he strode forward, and Oswald stumbled backward a bit, his mouth going dry. What on earth was he meant to say to that? Usually he’d have something, anything to spit back but his brain felt hazy. Ed continued to stalk towards him, and Oswald continued to step backwards, until two firm, gloved hands pushed at his chest, and he fell back into the sofa chair he had been sitting in before. He let out a startled grunt, but something kept him from lifting himself back up, as he stared at the looming figure above him.

“…I was going to ask you to stay but it seems like you’ve been waiting for this.”

The Penguin’s breath caught in his throat. He knew Ed could hear how ragged his breathing had become. He couldn’t seem to hide anything at this point. By some shred of fight, he turned his head to look down at the floor, but a squeaky dark glove caught his chin, and brought his vision back up to the man in green.

“Did I really get you this riled up? God, you’re pathetic.” Venom traced his low words. His eyes scanned Oswald, and stayed at his crotch.

Os felt like he wasn’t breathing anymore, that he was just a body, hungering, waiting. What was he looking at? He couldn’t look down, the fingers still propping his chin up. But as he wriggled, he only then noticed the wet feeling crawling between his legs. Shit.

“You’ve made such a mess, Oswald. But you’ll just have someone else clean it up for you, right? Brats like you think they can always get what they want.”

Despite Os no longer denying that he felt more aroused than he ever thought he could in his entire life, he felt a twinge of offense at Ed’s words. A brat? Did he really come off as so childish? He tried to block out the memory of every tantrum he’d ever thrown.

Edward let escape a breathy chuckle. “You know, I was going to say that I’m getting what I want this time, but…clearly you’ve been begging me to have my way with you.” A mocking, small smile shot straight into Oswald’s gut, and he couldn’t even try to surpress the gentle whimper that left him.

Oswald could’ve whined as Ed moved his fingers away from his chin. However, he was quickly replaced with something even more troubling to his…sticky situation when the man in front of him lifted a leg, bringing one of his polished and shined shoes close to his crotch. Oswald gulped as it moved closer and closer, before eventually, it made contact. At first it was a gentle touch, but gradually grew harder, and harder, and harder, until Edward was fully stepping on his soaked privates through the tailored material of his pants.

The sensation against his sensitive parts was overwhelming, and as the pressure was applied, he was practically forced into an arch by his reaction, and let out a high pitched, wailing moan, his hands digging into the arms of the chair.

“Well well well…I expected a lot of things, but not that.” The Riddler mocked so effortlessly, his tone weirdly soft for his harsh words.

What the fuck was happening? Had Oswald started hallucinating? Had he lost so much blood that he’d made up some pre-mortem fantasy? Whatever it was, he could not care less. He didn’t know why, but this was all he ever could have wanted.

He couldn’t even comprehend how much his pleasure grew as Edward started grinding his shoe against him, determined to make him get noisier, and of course he gave him what he wanted. He was now consistently whimpering and gasping, throwing his head back as he choked out, “R-Riddler!”

A louder laugh came from Nygma. “Attaboy! Got it right again!”

Ed then went silent again, probably to revel in the struggling sounds of the man below him. The dance continued for a few minutes, and Oswald could’ve sworn he was almost about to finish. He’d never been touched in his life, let alone so hard…or with a literal shoe. He felt a warmth building in his groin, his breaths growing shorter, as he stared with blurry vision at the man glowing in firelight. He was so beautiful. This feeling was so beautiful-

Suddenly, the feeling between his legs changed, and he looked down. The foot was now moved away from his crotch, and over the crease of his tightly pushed together thighs. The pressure then remained there, and Oswald, catching the hint and just as eager as Ed, spread his legs, the shoe landing in between them.

“Following my orders without me even having to use my words, oh you’re so good."

Oswald squeezed his eyes shut, taking a sharp breath. Any progress he’d made getting even a smidge closer to pulling himself together crumbled immediately.

“Now.” The Riddler’s voice was firm, unrelenting, his next words lowered and laced with grit.

“Hump my leg."

If Oswald had been in any other state he would’ve gasped in offense. The thought of a king like himself doing something so undignified would’ve made his blood boil. But right now…he didn’t feel like a king. Or the Penguin. He was whatever the Riddler wanted him to be. If that meant he could get this. So, all better judgement was long gone, and he needed more so bad. He had been so close. More, more, he needed more. And he keep chanting that in his head as he gently held on to Ed’s calf, and lifted himself and his crotch off of the chair, and shifted it onto the top of the hard shoe. He grunted uncomfortably at first, the aggressive rub of his pants mixed with the poking of the leather being a bit too much, but then he adjusted a few times, and sighed, shuddering as he found just the right spot. He hadn’t even moved yet and he felt like he was close again.

“Move, little bird. I won’t be patient.”

The nickname and the slight threat in Ed’s words spurred him on, and slowly but surely, he began to grind himself against his foot. He couldn’t manage a normal breathing pattern, and resorted to panting. “G-God…”

“You’re obsessed with saying my name, aren’t you?” the Riddler teased, running his still latex clad fingers through the spiked hairs on Oswald’s head. The desperate man let out a moan louder than the rest, humping faster and muscles jolting from overstimulation. Another “Good boy.” echoed above him.

As Os lost himself in the feeling, having no idea how loud he was being, he felt a bead of something cold and wet dripping down his cheek. He figured it was just another drop of sweat, until Ed lifted his head, gripping his hair tightly, and staring down at his cheek.

“Oh my.” Oswald shivered as Ed spoke, and drew a finger from his free hand through the liquid, revealing it to be blood. He whimpered, head reeling as Ed licked it clean. Fuck.

Ed continued, tone almost nurturing. “You’re leaking everywhere, Ozzie. Let me help you with that.”

What did he mean by- oh. Oh my god. Edward’s face then glided closer and closer to his own, as he continued his rhythm. Eventually, Ed’s face was closer to his own than it ever had been in all their time together. Only then did he catch on, when Edward’s thick tongue drew out, and he licked a stripe up his cheek, and with it scooped up all the fallen blood. Oswald whined so much tears began falling from his single eye. He would’ve came right then and there if the roughness of the shoe hadn’t been keeping him on the edge for several minutes.

Edward hummed at the taste, smirking down at Oswald as he lifted himself back up. The raven haired man felt some part of his heart ache as he moved his face away, his lips feeling cold and waiting. But he couldn’t yearn right now. He had to finish. So he gripped Ed’s leg harder, nearly screaming as he tried to go faster and faster, wails of frustration streaming from him like a plea. “Please. Please please please.” He hadn’t even noticed himself start begging.

But before he could try harder, the glorious stimulation was taken away from him, as the Riddler ripped his leg away, setting it back on the solid ground. Oswald gasped in distress, and in a panic, he moved his hand to try and put it down his own pants. He couldn’t wait anymore-

“Oswald! No!” It was a scold, loud and booming, and it shook Oswald to his core. He didn’t have to listen. He could finish himself. But he stopped…because he didn’t want to finish himself. He wanted, no…he needed Edward this time. He gulped thickly, sighing as he put his hands back on the arms of the chair. Ed beamed at him darkly.

“That’s right. I didn’t give you permission.” Edward paused, then continued, voice dropping. “But even if I had…we both know you’d still be patient like a good boy if it meant I could, help you.”

It was like Oswald’s brain was being prodded with needles. His limbs felt like jelly. He didn’t know how he could be more turned on.

Ed stood a few feet away from him now, still and determined, though one leg was slightly in front of the other, like he was presenting it.

“So…” Ed drawled, a small, dark smile painted on his features. “If you want my help, you’re going to come here. Right now.”

Immediately, like being given some sort of adrenaline rush, Oswald moved to rise to his feet, but was stopped immediately.

“Ah ah ah, no. Naughty boy, I didn’t say you could get up, did I?”

Oswald made a frustrated noise. Why he was indulging this idiot he didn’t know.

Oh right. He was horny.

But, how was he meant to…

Oh.

“…you’re kidding.” Oswald didn’t know how he finally managed attitude while more riled up than ever.

Edward shot him a dead pan look. “After all the desperate things you’ve done, now you give me attitude? No matter what you say to be smart, I know you’re still going to do it because you’re a little bitch."

All his fight gone in a flash. Well he made this much worse for himself. Not that he was complaining. He’d wanted to hear Ed call him that word for a long time. And he was right. Oswald was still going to do it because the thought had him drooling.

“Now shut up. And get on your fucking knees."

An undignified sound left Oswald, and he was growing so very desperate. Now that he’d wanted to hear even more. So, after a long silence, only broken by the impatient, almost parental tapping of Edward’s foot on the floor, Oswald slid out of the chair, and carefully sank to his knees, being sure to not mess up his leg brace.

Crawling on all fours towards the man who had shot him and dumped him in a river was the stupidest, most baffling thing he had ever done as the Penguin. But god was it exhilarating. Eventually, he was finally at Ed’s feet, and looked up at him, with more surety in his position now.

Ed grunted in satisfaction, patting Oswald’s head. “Good.”

Oswald closed his eyes and whined. “P-please Ed-“

Another different sensation struck him. A burning in his cheek. It had happened so fast, but then he felt it, the stinging of a harsh slap to his face. Even if he wished his wetness was getting more attention, this new feeling made him let out a guttural moan, and he anticipated the countless moments Edward would bring this up later in their lives to hold over him. How he’d slapped him in the face and Oswald had nearly came.

“Christ, where did all your manners go? It’s almost like you want me to leave you here, sitting in your soaked pants, with no relief.” His tone was drawn out and teasing, annoyance flickering in his eyes.

Oswald shook his head, grasping desperately onto Edward’s leg. “No no no, please, please I need you please R…Riddler. Please.”

Edward raised his eyebrows, tilting his head. “So now you say it cause you think it’ll get you what you want. I don’t think so, Penguin."

The way the title left Riddler’s mouth felt dirty, and anything but respectful. Like he was degrading him. And it went straight to Oswald’s pants. He gasped, looking up and awaiting instructions.

“You, are going to treat me with some respect. Just your words won’t cut it, not after the attitude you gave me. So…"

Edward glanced down to his own foot, then back to Oswald.

“Kiss my boot.”

Oswald froze, and his mind began wandering back to his days of service. To Fish Mooney, to Falcone, to Maroni…it was a classic. Part of his routine, even. Edward had to have known that. He really was messing with him. And then he remembered how he’d rubbed his wet crotch all over that thing.

“But, E- Riddler, I…I was…on it.”

“And?” He scoffed down at him.

The man on his knees paused for a moment, and decided only then that the way the warmth in his gut was growing again made the thought of listening far more enticing.

So, he leaned down, placing his palms flat on the floor. He stared down at the shoe, and he was right…there was a sheen of something unnatural over the top of it. But this feeling…being so below Edward, so subservient…a haze brushed over his mind, and he didn’t care. He just wanted to please him. So slowly, he brought his lips down to the shoe, and he kissed it, whining. But that was only the beginning.

“Again." The order came from above him. And he did it again.

“…now lick it. As clean as you can.”

There was nothing stopping him from complying immediately, as he lapped at the shoe like it was a bowl of water set out just for him. His eyes were closed and he let out little sounds at the taste. It wasn’t that bad. He shuddered when Edward praised him again. “Goooood good good.” The voice so high up was warmer now. It was nice. He didn’t hear that side of Ed very often. He was thankful he’d done enough to hear it again.

He’d gotten lost in fulfilling the task so much so that Ed had to stop him. “That’s enough, umbrella boy. Very good.”

Oswald didn’t even pay mind to the nickname, the familiarity of it in his state more comforting than it was confusing.

“Head to the floor, little bird.”

He listened immediately, moving his head to the side of his shoe, and pressing his cheek to the floor, legs tucked against his stomach.

He watched as the shoe left his view, and then rasped out whines as he felt a deep weight on his back. It was the foot again, only the heel of the boot was digging into his spine, and he winced, feeling another spurt of liquid fill his pants.

“Listen to me, boy. Are you listening?”

Oswald nodded rapidly. “Y-yes, yes sir.”

He heard a hum of approval before the weight on his back pushed down harder, making his breathing more of a struggle.

“Call yourself the king of Gotham, sure, but don’t you forget, Penguin. I’m the only one you will never boss around.” He spoke matter of factly, and pushed his foot down even more.

This spurred an “Ah!” from Oswald.

“You can own Gotham, but I…own you. I’m your god, you understand? You answer to me, and I’ll let you have whatever you want. Be a good boy for me, and I’ll reward you.”

Oswald continued nodding, shifting at the discomfort of his pre-cum spreading up his pants and onto his stomach.

“But…if you treat me like you treat your lackeys, if you test me, bird, I will punish you. I won’t miss a single thing…every time, you will be reprimanded. It’s what a brat like you has always deserved. You can’t get away with it anymore, you understand me?” He was now louder, voice dropped low as he possibly could, and the rasp of his voice so harsh it sent chills down Oswald’s aching spine, still being crushed under his weight. It was oddly reminiscent of his tone during his speech…the one that had “riled” Oswald up in the first place. He couldn’t have possibly seen things getting where they were now.

“Y-yes Ed-“

Before Oswald could catch himself misspeaking, Ed caught him first, and he didn’t have to suspect what had happened when he felt a giant splash of warm liquid fall onto his face. The sound of Ed spitting was vile, and as it dripped down Oswald’s face, he caught a little bit of it in his mouth, and whined, taking it eagerly like he was starving. And he was. It was the closest he’d ever get to a single kiss.

“Slut.”, the man almost whispered above him, digging his heel harder into his arched back.

The pain became excruciating, and he howled.

“I said, do, you, understand, me?” He enunciated each word, slightly leaning down.

“Yes Riddler, sir.”

There was a silence that the Penguin prayed was approval, and he gasped in relief, taking in much needed breaths when the foot finally moved from his back and back to the floor.

“Sit up, umbrella boy. But stay on your knees.”

The kneeling kingpin groaned as he started to hoist himself up, his back aching from the torment. But with time, he rose his torso up again.

He locked eyes with the Riddler once again, and noticed how he was studied. He didn’t know what had changed, but a new softness had overcome his partner. The firelight basked over him, shining in his observant eyes, and with the warmth in his gut, there also joined with it a fluttering in his chest, and a warmth in his cheeks. He furrowed his brows as Ed kept staring in silence. “S…sir?”

“You’re such a pretty boy. Are you okay?"

The man in glasses spoke now with caring, genuineness, concern. His features weren’t so hardened anymore. It was a jarring change from the commanding, leering looks and tones he’d been given just moments before. He seeked to answer his question and ignore how the softness in his gaze made him want to tear up.

“Y…yes, yes I am good.” Oswald spoke quietly. He then hummed as a warm gloved hand rested against his cheek. He leaned into it, closing his eyes.

“Do you want this? Have I gone too far? Tell the truth, baby boy.”

Oswald felt his smile from before their whole fiasco starting to return to his face, so many nice, warm feelings bubbling insides of him at the nickname, at the kind words. He nodded surely. “Yes, yes I want it so much. It’s perfect, it’s perfect please, Riddler.”

His eyes opened and he looked up at him, eyes wide in a plea. The look back into his own changed a bit, a twinge of…maybe guilt, flashing through it. There was a long pause.

“…Ed. You can call me Ed now, Os.”

Oswald tilted his head. What had changed? He’d made such a big deal of it all…but something had changed. Hope stirred in him. Was this affection? Was this….no, no it couldn’t be that.

Oswald averted his gaze, leaning more into the hand on his cheek, and nodded.

More silence lingered, and then, Ed spoke again.

“You may hump my leg again, Ozzie. But be good and don’t cum yet. I know you’ve been waiting so long, you’ve been so patient for me sweet boy, but just try, okay? I know you can do it for me.” Every word came out like honey.

The pain in his back, and in his leg eased at the comfort, and he sighed in relief at the thought of being able to feel something again. He could do it. For him. So he grabbed onto his leg again, gently as he could, and slowly but surely sat back on top of it. The feeling of contact again made him ache with need, and immediately he began to rub against it again, starting at an already rapid pace. Immediately, he was very vocal, but he couldn’t help it. It felt even better now. All that waiting, all the tasks, all those words and filthy, awful things Ed had said about him whirling though his clouded head. He felt like he was high, and all that, mixed with the way he was being praised now made a cocktail of pleasure he didn’t know possible. He barely caught the words spoken from the full suited man through his own loud noises. But he caught a few. Good boy. That’s it, that’s it, you’re doing so well. So obedient for me, you listen so well. Don’t cum, just wait for me, there you go. Good boy good boy.

As these praises rung around him, his hair was being petted ever so gently, and eventually, his head was gently led up from its lolled position to look at Edward once again. He was dizzy when he noticed the hand still on his cheek come closer to his mouth, a large thumb coated in noisy material rubbing at his bottom lip. He inevitably dropped his jaw open, his pleasure making it impossible to keep it closed, and he jolted in shock as the thumb plunged into his mouth. But like second nature, his lips closed around it while he still chased his pleasure.

Unlike the reckless rhythm of his hips, the thumb’s was more steady, as it began to sink in and out of his mouth, little thrusts and rubs into his wetness, another thing that suddenly was bringing him closer to the edge. He began to suck at it, not even sure what to call the sounds he was making as his body begged to keep feeling more, more, more.

“You’re stunning like this, Oswald.”

It was egregious hearing Edward say something so full of affection while his thumb was practically fucking his mouth. But he soaked it in, and unlike earlier, he could no longer stop the tears, and a single drop escaped, streaming down his cheek. No one, not even his mother had called him stunning. Or pretty. Or beautiful. He feared all this being a facade, and was desperate to make it last forever and ever. So even as he was brought closer and closer to release, as he felt the familiar shocks trying so hard to rack through his body, he resisted. Because if this was going to be the only time he ever had Ed, he was going to keep every second he could before he lost it all.

It was becoming too much. The smooth in and out of Ed’s finger, mixed with the gentle stroking of his hair, the rough rubbing of his crotch against his planted foot, and the comforting gaze meeting with his own. He didn’t know if he could hold it any longer. He had to cum.

To warn Edward, he whined loudly, breathing rapidly through his nose.

And to Oswald’s endless relief, or dismay, he couldn’t quite decide, Edward caught on, and commanded. “Now stop.”

And despite every muscle in his body screaming at him to keep going, he didn’t know but he managed to stop his movement. But before Ed removed the thumb from his mouth, he pushed it in one more time, the deepest he had, so much so that Oswald gagged, and with that it left his mouth, leaving him gasping and coughing as Ed continued to pet him.

“You did it, Oswald. You’re such a good boy." There was almost a smile in his voice, and he looked at Oswald fondly.

Os stopped coughing, and let a small smile creep in, his face going somehow redder than it already was as he breathed heavily from all the effort. He didn’t try to ignore the butterflies fluttering around anymore. His voice was rasped from the sucking, but quiet. “Ed…”

“I know, I know. I’m going to help you now. You’ve been so patient for me, my little umbrella boy.”

His head swam as the familiar nickname was back again. His vision was fuzzy, but he could see Edward slowly sinking down, nearer and nearer to his level. Finally he was face to face with him, just slightly above, propped on one knee. His head was lolling around again, and he felt a hand under his chin again, only…he no longer felt any material…but skin on skin. His heart ached. Warm. It was so warm. And soft. He hadn’t even noticed Ed removing his gloves. Why had he done that? He didn’t have to, even if Oswald..ached to feel him.

“Ozzie, can I touch you?”

He talked so quietly, so softly. It was as if he was being wrapped in a big, all encompassing blanket. He felt his mind sinking into it all. Despite that, he managed to use his words.

“Yes, yes please. Please. Want it to be you, Ed.” He grasped onto his forearm weakly, wiggling more and more as he thought about Ed’s fingers on him.

Edward nodded in confirmation, moving the hand under Oswald’s chin to the back of his head, stroking the hairs now sticking out.

With his head now free again, the Penguin watched as Ed used one hand, and nimble fingers to unbutton his pants. He suddenly felt a wave of shame come over him when he remembered, Edward had no idea he was wearing nothing under. It has been so routine for Oswald, and he never thought it would be something anyone else would have to become aware of, let alone Ed. To his relief though, if he could even feel any feelings other than need, Ed didn’t comment on it. Or, the arguably bigger possible surprise, his anatomy. More shame washed over him.

“E-Ed, I…I’m..” What if Ed wouldn’t understand? What if he scared him away? Sure, Ed had to have felt that he didn’t have something big down at this point in their situation, but him seeing it was an entirely new fear that sank Oswald’s stomach.

“I know. You’re perfect. Okay?”

Perfect. Perfect perfect perfect. Oswald felt himself almost about to cry again. He bit his lip trying to hold it back. Never in his life had he ever felt perfect, ever thought anyone, especially in this sick city, could look at him and see anything perfect. His heart was beating out of his chest now, reaching for Ed’s wantingly. Hoping to be seen, to be felt. But Oswald swallowed down any other things he wanted to say, and let out a small. “O-okay.”

His most vulnerable parts were out now, as Edward pulled his pants down to his knees. Ed was so close to him now, he could feel his gentle breath on his face.

“I won’t be going in, okay? It’s just going to be a touch.” Ed made eye contact with him, looking for assurance.

Oswald wondered if Ed knew he was his first. First with something in any capacity close to this. He nodded, losing breath at the sight of Ed, and seeing how close his fingers were to his wetness. “Yes sir, I-I mean Ed, I mean-“

Ed chuckled. “It’s okay. Now just breathe for me. I’m going to make you feel so good, baby boy.”

Oswald didn’t have time to nod before his fingers finally made contact, their first destination being his sensitive clit. It stuck out like a sore thumb, and Oswald gasped in awe at how good it felt. Over and over again. And then he writhed. Little flicks, and pinches, all his special spots lighting up like fireworks. “A-ah! Ed! Ed!” His voice was breathy, harsh.

He could feel Edward’s own breath quickening against his skin, as he watched his reactions, listened to his sounds. There was a silence now, and Oswald found it mesmerizing.

But the touching didn’t stop there. He watched as Ed twisted his hand almost upside down, thumb staying it’s course on his clit. But then, he pressed his palm firmly against his labia. The sounds it made alone made him moan loudly, and more and more began to be maneuvered from him, all at their own volumes as the palm began to rub and thrust up and down, first slowly, and then very very quickly at a brutal pace. He grasped onto Ed’s shoulders for dear life.

The air was being knocked out of him now, as his body jerked with the rhythm of Ed’s hand. His head fell back, and he arched as far as physically possible, his breath hitching in shock as somehow, through all of this, he was met with one more brand new feeling, as lips pressed to his neck.

Warm, wet, eager. Sucks, bites, gentle kisses, licks, up and down the side, near his Adam’s apple, closer to his chin. He was completely gone, floating in a place he didn’t know he would ever be back to. Suddenly he could barely breathe and he thought it was just from how overwhelmed he was, but then he felt a squeezing around his windpipe. Fingers wrapped from front to back around his exposed neck while the other hand was unrelenting on his crotch. When he realized he was being choked, he lifted his head to look at Ed again, and a harsh chill ran all the way down his spine, even to his toes as he saw the look in Ed’s eyes. His pupils were blown possibly just as wide as Oswald’s, his thumb digging into Os’ Adam’s apple, his face mere centimeters away from his own. He felt lightheaded, as his warmth was finally coming back again. Heavier, harder than ever. So close to that beautiful, beautiful edge. Ed squeeezed harder, his esophagus feeling hollow as he begged “E-Ed-“ his voice sounded like almost nothing. The rubbing grew faster and faster. Harder, faster, harder, faster, louder, louder. He was screaming, aching, needing, feeling, falling apart. He was right there, right where he needed to be.

A final command came from the man in sunken glasses, low, but now gripped with desire, unstable.

“Cum for me, Oswald.”

And he did. Even if he hadn’t been told to, the final squeeze on his neck would’ve sent him over the edge whether he wanted to or not. It burned, it waterfalled out, every muscle inside him squeezing like it depended on it, gasps and his hands clawing at the shoulders in front of him, trembling and writhing as the feeling racked through him violently.

He had never came so hard in his life. And it felt never ending, as he screamed Ed’s name over and over, sweat streaming all around him, twitches and wetness and harsh breaths. His vision was white. It felt like forever and ever, just like he’d wanted. He didn’t want it to stop. Please don’t stop. Please don’t stop. But then, that long, magical push over the edge, it began to pass.

The fog in his mind started to clear. Very, very slowly. First he felt his hands grasping at back of a suit jacket. Then, he felt a chest against his forehead, then gentle fingers carding through the hair on the back of his head. Cradled. He was cradled against Ed. He was still convinced none of this was real. It was only then that he even noticed Ed had been speaking to him. For quite a bit.

“Oswald? Os? Hey, hey are you here? Can you hear me? Can you squeeze my back a little bit if you can hear me?”

He fluttered his eyes, and gave his back a gentle squeeze. “Ed.”

“That’s it. That’s it, that’s very good. You did so good for me, little bird. Such a good, good boy. You did so well. So well."

The gentle affirmations were his lifeline. Ed’s voice was his lifeline…Ed, was his lifeline.

At a snail’s pace, the Penguin lifted his head to get a look at his companion again. But before he could get a good look at his face, his lips were met with a warmth, the warmth he’d been aching for all this time they had together…since the moment he fell in love with Ed.

Ed pulled his face close with the hand on the back of his head as he kissed him, and Oswald, not knowing what to do with his hands, in shock, simply continued to grab desperately at Ed’s suit. His eyes fluttered shut, as his aching heart finally felt like it could soar. Years and years of love sitting in the shadows. Of trying everything and everything to erase that awful awful awful thing he did. His selfishness, his greed to be loved. He didn’t even know if he deserved this. But he accepted it like a long lost friend, gasping and sobbing as tears flowed down his cheek, it all being more than he could’ve ever imagined. He loved him so much after all this time. And he could’ve stayed with his lips on his til the end of time.

But, as they both grew desperate for breath, they separated, gasping onto each other, exchanging air and hot breath, cheeks pink and eyes sparkling with what festered between them.

“Ed…I…”

“Oswald I love you.”