In spite of straightening himself up as if he's facing down a firing squad, the slight tremor in Oswald's body remains. He's not afraid of Edward Nygma in any shape or form, not scared of violence or death or pain, but--
You will always let your base emotions drive you. Hate. Anger. Fear. Love.
Ed had been right about that and out of everything else it's not the possibility of physical harm or backlash that has Oswald unsettled now, it's what will be done with his emotions. And he does, truly, have a lot of emotions.
As Ed approaches, Oswald's stomach muscles tense, but he doesn't look away, doesn't blink or falter as he takes in deep, shaky breaths through his nose. And when Ed breaks the silence he almost wants to throw his hands up and yell That's all you have to say?! is that it?!
He makes no move to stop Edward in his tracks or cut him off, instead letting him close the space between them in some kind of dumbstruck pause, his eyes wide and his mouth falling open stupidly as Edward straightens him out. Just as he's always done. It brings a strange lump to Oswald's throat and a prickling to his eyes.
Nodding, his gaze dips down.
"No. No, you are quite right. You are not that man, but someone else. Just as I am not the man you knew, but someone else."
It feels like such a pithy remark, like a placeholder as they teeter on a knife edge.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2020-06-24 12:49 pm (UTC)You will always let your base emotions drive you. Hate. Anger. Fear. Love.
Ed had been right about that and out of everything else it's not the possibility of physical harm or backlash that has Oswald unsettled now, it's what will be done with his emotions. And he does, truly, have a lot of emotions.
As Ed approaches, Oswald's stomach muscles tense, but he doesn't look away, doesn't blink or falter as he takes in deep, shaky breaths through his nose. And when Ed breaks the silence he almost wants to throw his hands up and yell That's all you have to say?! is that it?!
He makes no move to stop Edward in his tracks or cut him off, instead letting him close the space between them in some kind of dumbstruck pause, his eyes wide and his mouth falling open stupidly as Edward straightens him out. Just as he's always done. It brings a strange lump to Oswald's throat and a prickling to his eyes.
Nodding, his gaze dips down.
"No. No, you are quite right. You are not that man, but someone else. Just as I am not the man you knew, but someone else."
It feels like such a pithy remark, like a placeholder as they teeter on a knife edge.