Chapter 2 of Two Rain-Drenched Detectives in a Gangster's Cherry Blossom Filled Mansion 🌸⛈
Gobblepot (=Jim Gordon x Oswald Cobblepot) x reader fluff
Chapter 2: Cherry Blossom Twigs and a Newspaper Article
<-last chapter
Author's note: Me: Hm, it seems like a long time has passed since the first chapter of this spring-oh, of this spring fic. 😂 (Fun fact: I wrote this intro in summer but am now writing this in autumn, that's how long it took me to finish the chapter, which I started immediately after the first one 🤫) In any case, the spring feeling here has more to do with hope & feeling at ease and Gotham is a cold place, so this should work just fine as a fall or winter fic. Or summer fic. 🙃🤭😂 Warnings: discussion of a murder/missing people case Word count: 2’431 Prompts added for this chapter: blanket, spring fever (the positive one) & cherry blossoms 🌸
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Oswald settled down in an armchair after ordering a small buffet for his favorite detectives. Just hearing your voices — and an unusually good-humoured Jim — had made his day after spending all of it ensuring that his businesses' purchases were stored in dry places and that his poorer employees would find a way to survive the weather.
Now all he had to do was wait. He peered outside. No trace of you two, and the wind was already picking up speed. He hoped you would arrive safely. Ah, there! A familiar car at the gate. He quickly hobbled over to press a button to open it.
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Jim's car came to a splashing halt in front of the old-fashioned gate to Oswald's mansion. Peering through the rain-dotted window, you didn't see a doorbell or guard. "I'll call—" The gate buzzed open, surprising you because of its old look. "Well, let's get inside." Above you a window was pulled open and Oswald appeared, shouting, "You can use my garage!"
A minute later you were dripping water onto an old-fashioned rug in the foyer, trying ti stay stil in fear of ruining the warm-toned wooden floor. So this was it. The Penguin's residence. You looked around curiously, seeing multiple interesting paintings and books, and eventually getting distracted by the sound of a cane on the floor.
"Oswald!" "Y/n, Jim!" He smiled. "So good to see you!" The kingpin walked over with two towels in his hand, handing you one. "If Jim's foresight can't keep you dry, at least mine can remedy some of its consequences." He winked at you and gave Jim, who took no offence, a playful nudge with the towel for him.
A young woman in a black-and-white uniform walked into the room, holding a vase filled with light rose-colored flower twigs. "Mr. Cobblepot, sir, where should I put the flowers?" "Ah." He smiled and thought about it, "Put them on the dining table. The smaller room." He nodded and adressed his guests again when she was gone, "I had the gardener come over and cut the cherry blossom tree outside, in case it gets destroyed by the storm."
"They, uhm, look good", Jim surprised you by voicing his opinion on someting insignificant in the present of the gangster, small as the compliment may be. "Yes, they bring some of that spring feeling into the house," you agreed, reckoning that this was the very same reason why Jim was in such a good mood today. Despite the weather being less than ideal for going outside, the change in tone was noticeable, hopeful in a way.
Oswald gifted you both with smiles, "My mother always had an eye for such things. Anyways," he turned around and gestured to the side, "feel free to use the shower, you must be cold." "No, thank you," Jim was quick to decline, then to correct himself to add to his high spirits, "We don't want to claim too much of your hospitality." "Oh," Oswald waved off, "take as much time as you need. Like I said: if it comes to it, you can stay overnight as my guests. There's plenty of space".
"What about you," he adressed you, "would you like to shower first? I'm sure Jim," he raised a playfully admonishing finger, "wouldn't want his partner to catch a cold." Their eyes were on you. "Oh, I can manage. He still has to drive me home afterwards. I don't want it to get too late for him." Jim gave a small smile at that. "Well, alright then," Oswald said, "but I insist on at least giving you something warm. You can hang your clothes up", he gestured to a row of coat hangers and hooks, "and just wait here. Tea should be ready in a minute and I'll fetch you something so that you don't drip on the floor." He disappeared at a quick pace despite his limp, leaving you and Jim looking at each other impressed and slightly surprised.
You nudged his side. "It's not everyday that a criminal offers you tea instead of a bullet in your head, huh?" You hung your raincoat on a hook. He shrugged, "Could almost get used to it." You turned away slightly. Of course there would be an "almost". Jim would never completely accept the friendship Oswald was offering the two of you. You couldn't even blame him: it was Jim's right to choose not to get close to a crime boss. At least he could joke about it at the moment. He might not be making the biggest exception, but he had never gotten as close to accepting Oswald's innocent-seemming offers as today, and you were happy to enjoy it while it lasted.
"I'm back again! Here you go." Oswald was about to put a big towel on Jim's shoulder when Jim took the soft fabric out of his hands and put it around his back with a "Thanks, no need for that." Oswald eyed Jim's wet blazer. "Are you sure you don't want to take that off?" Your partner scratched his neck and caught the small expression of amusement you tried to suppress. His eyes widened and he turned his gaze from you to Oswald, who noticed his cute abashment, "I...didn't mean to..." He gestured behind himself. "I can lend you a jacket. O-or a sweater, whatever you prefer." Jim gave him a smile and decided to take off the blazer after all. "Thank you, I'll just let this dry for now." He made to hang it up near your raincoat. Oswald stilled Jim's hand. "It will dry more quickly on a heater. I'll have someone take care of it. Now, if you'd follow me."
The house continued to be impressive and Oswald quickly regained his confidence while Jim trailed behind him, still with a faint hint of embarrassment on his face. The hallway was impressive as well, painted pictures lining the walls and the same wooden floor bringing a warm note into the house while raindrops tapped against the windows insistently.
Eventually the elegantly clad man halted in a big living room of sorts with old armchairs and a sofa to one side and a dining table to the other, a more private room, where he usually didn't receive guests. "Here we are. Where would you like to sit?"
You admired the no doubt expensive table and spotted the vase of cherry blossoms Oswald had instructed to put there. They only made the room more beautiful, empathizing the hopeful feeling in the air. Your gaze swept to multiple armchairs and a sofa with a table next to them. There were more than enough chairs for all of you to find something fitting, each looking comfortable, not to mention the sofa, which was looked soft, inviting you to warm up— Jim chuckled. "The sofa or the chairs, it seems." You chuckled. "That obvious?" "I can understand your expression", Oswald agreed, "The sofa is indeed very comfortable. As are the chairs." He turned away from the table, stepped back to allow Jim a better view, and made a welcoming gesture. "Have a seat wherever you'd like."
Not thinking about it for long, you sat down on one of the upholstered chairs and watched Jim take place on the one next to you. Sitting on a sofa with Jim or Oswald would only distract you from the case. The latter was still standing, looking away when you glanced his way eyeing Jim, who awkwardly folded the towel he had used to rub some of the rain out of his hair.
Oswald turned around to grab a bunch of fabric you hadn't even noticed, being too busy admiring the furniture. "If you're not going to take a shower, at least allow me to give you blankets." With a proud smirk he handed you a patterned one in red, orange and lilac and held a similar one out to Jim who felt the need to look away with all this hospitality Oswald was offering him. "No, thanks." Oswald gave him an impatient look that reminded you detectives of the power he held, especially in his own place. Still, Jim insisted, ever the stubborn person, "I'll warm up in no time." "Take it." Oswald gestured to you. "I don't have any use for this many blankets anyways. He remained standing for two seconds and then got seated in one of the armchairs himself. "Have it your way. The blankets are here." He put them onto the low table in the middle of you.
You wrapped up in the one he had given you and touched the fabric, which was surprisingly comfortable for something vintage, or at least something that you assumed was. "Thank you. The blanket is nice." "I'm glad to hear that. They often help with the cold..." Assuming that he was talking about his leg, he must be using them quite often, you mused. "The-they're washed, of course", the man added hastily and Jim gave your flustered host a trusting nod.
"So," you started, "the person we're looking for is a serial kidnapper who goes by 'The Spring Sword'. They've left their mark — a series of slashes on the ground — in front of multiple clubs where people disappeared, and the only witnesses are the three reporters who first covered the case and five people who want to remain anonymous. It w—"
There was a thunder so loud that you forgot what you were going to say and fidgeted with Oswald's blanket. The man gave you a smile and chimed in with a quick look outside, "And now you need to catch this kidnapper or killer before they drag the next person outside after this weather calms down? The weather reports certainly are on your side: the storm will hopefully have calmed by tomorrow but it's still supposed to rain heavily for the next days, so you should at least have less other crimes to deal with." "Yeah." You hadn't thought about it like this before. It was nice to get this positive outlook.
"How do you have time to keep up with the weather?" Jim blurted out. Oswald's eyes flitted down to this leg for a split second and he contemplated on what to say. The truth would bring him your sympathy but if Jim ever decided to use it against him... "It's your leg, isn't it?" Jim felt stupid for asking. "...Yes. It is. But don't worry, we're at home." Jim nodded and wondered how many times he'd barged into Oswald's club and made him stay there for longer than his leg could take, pushed Oswald against a wall when all he wanted was to sit down.
The two of them were quiet, Jim looking away and Oswald trying to decipher his concentrated look. You rose to speak, "It is a lovely home. Fits your style." "I try my best." So he had decorated a part of it. Then you're not just good at putting looks together. The words were at the forefront of your head but saying them would be too much. If Oswald got closer to you, which he most certainly would if you allowed it, you'd prefer him to get closer to Jim at the same pace. Okay, enough with the yearning. You were a detective.
"So, you've never heard of the 'Spring Sword'?" Oswald raised his index finger. "It didn't ring a bell at first. But..." He grabbed a newspaper from the table, perfectly prepared. "While you drove here, I had some time to freshen up my memory. It didn't actually read it in the news but it reminded me of something an... acquaintance asked me a few days ago." Jim grumbled, "And what was that about?" The gangster didn't let it deter him, "He wanted to know whether I was involved in the kidnappings. Because when his grandmother told him the news, some things didn't match his information." Oswald pointed to the new's article. You leaned forward, fingers brushing with Jim, who'd done the same thing. Both of you retracted your arms and concentrated on what Oswald explained.
"According to the news, faint slashing sounds could be heard from outside all clubs around the time the abductions or killings must've happened. If you ask the regulars though? No one heard a thing, not even from friends." "And you didn't deem it important to investigate?" Jim crossed his arms. "I—no," Oswald tried to defend himself, "well, it wasn't that long ago and at the time not many people had been kidnapped. But I assume there are more victims now?" You nodded. "The Spring Sword is a serial kidnapper or killer now, and the numbers have kept growing. At least until the weather started changing."
All three of you listened to the strong raining sounds from outside, the patter of droplets against the glass windows, and the wind making the trees bow. Turning to Jim, you wondered whether he really wasn't cold. With him being stubborn again, it could take some time until he took another offer from Oswald, and currently his hands were covering his arms pretty suspiciously. If only you could warm him up... Jim noticed your attention and relaxed his arms, now crossing them defensively. No, hugs weren't on the table right now, the newspaper was.
With three people having disappeared so far, the so-called Spring Sword may not seem like a special criminal, but they're a force to be reckoned with, having managed to kidnap, probably kill, multiple people in a busy spot of this city, and possessing more style than your average murderer. Follow our column to stay up to date. We're sure: there's more to come — and it will be thrilling.
"It's oddly sensationalist, isn't it?" you asked, making Oswald lean towards the newspaper and consequently you, who pointed towards the end of the article. Jim came closer too, brushing against both of you, seemingly too focused on the article to care. "Yes", Oswald figured, still waiting for your partner to finish reading. When Jim was done, the kingpin spoke again, "I know how the press can be: one day you're interesting because you're a criminal, the next, they try to appeal to your sense of mercy," Jim sent him a dirty look at that, "but no matter what, they try to make it entertaining. They need to, in Gotham. Everything's so unusual, the readers want to know the articles they're reading won't just all be the same. But—"
Someone knocked on the door. "Mr. Cobblepot, sir, the food plates are ready. Can I bring them in?"
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Author's note: Here you go, the next chapter before December starts ❤️ (most of you will probably see this in December 🤭) There's one more chapter planned, which will probably be published in 1.5-3 months. Keep in mind that I have other projects (not just ones for my blog) and that I always edit my works, before and after publishing them (hopefully before anyone reblogs it 😂). It's astounding how many mistakes I can miss even after reading through something at least ten times, often much more often. Before publishing the second chapter, I found and edited a total of 14 mistakes in the last one! 🤫 With that being said, what did you think of this chapter? 😊
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