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[The pause between texts makes him smile because it means Oswald took a moment to think about those kisses.]
That's fine.
Now that I'm up I'll probably just stay up till morning.
[A pause on his side and then:]
I'm done hammering so you can go back to sleep.
That's fine.
Now that I'm up I'll probably just stay up till morning.
[A pause on his side and then:]
I'm done hammering so you can go back to sleep.
[Oswald, the light sleeper than he is, lurches upright in a sweaty, wide-eyed panic, barely able to tell up from down but convinced he's under attack when he staggers out of bed. He grabs a loaded shotgun from the closet, no time for texting.]
Ed?? [He cries out down the hall.]
Ed?? [He cries out down the hall.]
[Nothing is okay until Ed's safety is confirmed. Scratch that - nothing is okay, full-stop, when he stumbles, panting, into Ed's room, disheveled, jacked with adrenaline, and ready to pump some lead into the first non-Ed human being he lays eyes on. Except...
...they appear to be alone.]
...they appear to be alone.]
Edited 2024-01-21 00:54 (UTC)
[They are indeed alone, the house now blessedly quiet and still. The surface of Ed's work desk is smoldering slightly and after a second Ed lifts a hand up from under it.
Waving at Oswald.]
Hi!
Sorry!!
[Slowly he peeks over the edge of the table, his hair is disheveled and there's a small cut on his cheek.]
Just a small explosion.
Waving at Oswald.]
Hi!
Sorry!!
[Slowly he peeks over the edge of the table, his hair is disheveled and there's a small cut on his cheek.]
Just a small explosion.
[He blinks back at Ed, taking in the injury and the singed desk, none of it quite registering for the longest second of his life. His shotgun lowers, finally. It's shaking faintly in his grip.]
Soooo... we are not under attack? {He manages, his voice low and scratchy with sleep. Barely controlled.]
Soooo... we are not under attack? {He manages, his voice low and scratchy with sleep. Barely controlled.]
Edited 2024-01-21 16:52 (UTC)
[Chest heaving, he stares like he's been slapped - or like he's about to cuff Ed and give him more of a reason to bleed. Any relief he feels swiftly drowns in the rage surging through him, filling him top to bottom.]
All I asked for was a few hours of peace and quiet, [he rasps, his voice still dangerously quiet by Oswald-standards] and what I get is idiocy and reckless endangerment! [Accident, schmaccident.] Tell me, what have I done to deserve this abject lack of consideration and basic respect? [He demands.] I let you stay here, do I not?? Do you not have everything you need at your disposal?
All I asked for was a few hours of peace and quiet, [he rasps, his voice still dangerously quiet by Oswald-standards] and what I get is idiocy and reckless endangerment! [Accident, schmaccident.] Tell me, what have I done to deserve this abject lack of consideration and basic respect? [He demands.] I let you stay here, do I not?? Do you not have everything you need at your disposal?
Edited 2024-01-21 18:27 (UTC)
[He lurches closer, nearly bumping Ed's chest with his chin.]
This may come as a surprise, but that does not entitle you to being an ass!
[With a sharp, huffing breath, he breaks eye contact and half turns, as if in disgust, scrubbing a hand down his face. A fat, harried vein pounds in his forehead.]
...all of this could have been avoided if you had just listened to me, for once! [Oswald whines.] But of course you had to go and... [he motions to the desk in a gesture charged with helpless frustration, letting his hand slap back to his side] nearly blow your head off with whatever it is you're doing.
This may come as a surprise, but that does not entitle you to being an ass!
[With a sharp, huffing breath, he breaks eye contact and half turns, as if in disgust, scrubbing a hand down his face. A fat, harried vein pounds in his forehead.]
...all of this could have been avoided if you had just listened to me, for once! [Oswald whines.] But of course you had to go and... [he motions to the desk in a gesture charged with helpless frustration, letting his hand slap back to his side] nearly blow your head off with whatever it is you're doing.
Edited 2024-01-22 00:19 (UTC)
[The temptation to dig his heels in and just go back to work is tempting but the fact that Oswald came rushing in with a shotgun to protect him is kind of sweet. Ed knows how much it hurts his leg to do that and he sighs and scrubs a hand over his mouth and jaw.]
Oswald.
Wait.
I'm sorry.
I really didn't mean to scare you like that or to wake you up.
[His hand sweeps across his work bench and then flops down at his side.]
I'm avoiding sleep because I don't want to have another nightmare.
Oswald.
Wait.
I'm sorry.
I really didn't mean to scare you like that or to wake you up.
[His hand sweeps across his work bench and then flops down at his side.]
I'm avoiding sleep because I don't want to have another nightmare.
[Halfway across the room, Oswald slows to a stop, his back to Ed. He says nothing, still charged with adrenaline, with anger, his pulse slamming his eardrums. But there’s a slight softening of his shoulders the longer the apology sits with him. He’s here and he's listening, his continued silence inviting an explanation from Ed.]
Edited 2024-01-25 04:18 (UTC)
[Ed goes over to his work table, talking softly as he slowly starts cleaning up all the bits of pieces, the act helping to put his thoughts and emotions in order.]
I fully understand that dreams are nothing more than the minds way of doing some daily house-keeping, of sorting and cataloging memories. They don't mean anything and it's foolish to be scared of them.
But.
I...had a dream that Hugo Strange got a hold of me again. [He admits and swallows thickly.] And that he made me hurt you.
I fully understand that dreams are nothing more than the minds way of doing some daily house-keeping, of sorting and cataloging memories. They don't mean anything and it's foolish to be scared of them.
But.
I...had a dream that Hugo Strange got a hold of me again. [He admits and swallows thickly.] And that he made me hurt you.
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