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WST: Chapter 13

Happy Wednesday dears! We've reached the middle ground! I will be taking a break after this chapter because I have a vacation happening and I need to have a bit of breather. I should be back at the beginning of April and we will pick up the story from there. Take care everyone and be kind to each other *hugs*

Chapter 13: Forgive Me

Summary: Jim gets sloshed, Harvey throws down some common sense, Victor is weird, and a stranger from Oswald's past could change everything.

“I give up, I give up on it all. You know, that whole thing about love making you whole or some shit?” Jim swallowed the last of his beer. “Load of total fucking bullshit. I mean, hey, I’ve been in love and you know what, it sucks. I mean, it sucked.”

“Alright, I think you’ve had enough there, bud.” the bartender pulled Jim’s empty glass away from him. “You need to pay your tab and get out.”

“I’m not done!” Jim patted his pockets until he found his badge, holding it up to the bartender with a smile. “See, I’m a cop. A detective. I detect that you’re gonna give me another beer.”

“I don��t care if you’re Sherlock Holmes brought to life. I’m kicking you out of here.” Grabbing Jim’s badge, he waved it at him. “Pay up and you get this back.”

“Fucking people,” Jim said with a noticeable slur, digging out his wallet and throwing the first card he found on the counter. “Can’t you tell when someone’s in pain?”

“Yeah, you’re not in pain anymore,” the bartender said with a smirk. “You probably don’t remember why you came here in the first place.”

Jim plopped his head on the bar and pain exploded in his forehead, but he ignored it. “She lost the baby, and it’s my fault. I couldn’t save her.”

A pen slowly rolled across the bar, the scrape of plastic on wood reverberating in the silent room. With a resigned sigh, the bartender slid another full beer under Jim’s hand.

“Last one, alright, buddy?”

Jim couldn’t look up, his head too fuzzy to nod, but he took the glass and gulped down its contents. Murmurs started as he drank, but he didn’t care.

Fucking city with its shitty people and too much rain and everything is awful.

As he finished his beer, two arms wrapped around his middle and dragged him out of the bar, holding him hostage as he twisted to see who was manhandling him away from his alcohol. The person released him and Jim fell to the sidewalk, holding his stomach and groaning.

“Where’s the boss?”

Jim blinked and tilted his head as two Gabes stared at him with hands on their hips.

“I didn’t know you were a twin.” With shaky arms, Jim stood and wobbled over to the nearest garbage bin, throwing up everything still in his stomach until his throat burned.

Resting against the cool metal of the bin, he moaned. “You and your brother can suck it.”

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WST Chapter 12

Hello and welcome to Wednesday! I hope everyone had a good week and if not, maybe wait on reading this chapter? *hugs*

Chapter 12: I Wanna Be Sedated

Summary:  While Jim and Oswald try to figure out where they are with each other, Jim takes Oswald to the hospital to get his brain checked out and they pay a visit to Lee.

Drinking tea with Oswald in the kitchen wasn’t strange, but the way he kept flinching whenever Jim came near him started to wear on what was left of his calm. This wasn’t the simpering Oswald from the past with his flickering smile and scheming eyes, but a character so far from Oswald that Jim felt like an impersonator sat in his kitchen instead. Whatever fight kept Oswald moving was gone, replaced with tearful apologies and the damn flinching.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” Jim said at last, his voice harsh in the quiet of the room. “You’re safe here, with me.”

“I’m sorry,” Oswald said, playing with his cup and keeping his eyes down on the table.

“Don’t be sorry, tell me to go to hell or something.” Jim drank his own tea, a blend of black tea and orange that he found soothing, and tried not to growl when Oswald shook his head.

“I couldn’t say that.” He looked up at Jim from under his bangs, his long lashes brushing his cheeks with every blink. “Why are you being so nice?”

“Do you not remember what happened right before we killed Galavan?”

“We shouldn’t have done that,” Oswald said with a frown. “Killing is so ugly. I’m so ugly.”

Jim shoved his chair back as he stood up, walking over to Oswald and kneeling down in front of him. “You’re not. Stop that right now.” Throwing his caution out the window, Jim leaned in and placed a soft kiss to Oswald’s lips. “Remember this?”

“Kissing you?” Oswald nodded, but his look of shame didn’t disappear. “I remember manipulating you into feelings that you wouldn’t have otherwise, using your pity against you.”

Jim wanted to throw something, preferably an axe straight through Dr. Strange’s forehead. “That’s not how I remember it, and whose brain should we really trust right now?”

Oswald tilted his head. “What do you remember?”

Running a hand through his hair, Jim sat down on the floor next to Oswald. “I remember you being annoying and ridiculous and cleaning my house and cooking for me. I remember you saving me from Galavan and I remember kissing you because I wanted to, not out of pity.”

Oswald shivered next to him, his eyes flickering from Jim and back to the floor. Shame flooded through Jim’s mind.

He’s been through so much and I’m attacking him. When will I stop being an asshole?

“Come on, you’re tired. I’m tired. Lets get some sleep and we can talk more tomorrow.” Jim stood up and held out his hand. “I promise I won’t hurt you, Oswald.”

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WST Chapter 11

Happy Wednesday everyone! 

Today’s chapter is brought to you by a lack of sleep and hours of listening to video game soundtracks. A quick shoutout to @butterfliesandresistance who’s my beta superhero! Last note: I will be heading overseas on the 22nd of Feb and I won’t be posting chapters while I’m gone. Once I’m back, I should be back to the normal schedule. Thank you for reading!

Chapter 11: How Do I Help You Say Goodbye?

Summary:  Jim finds a cause with Bruce Wayne and a chance to help at a time when he feels helpless. Lee is still in the hospital, Harvey is anxious, and Alfred gets beat up too often for a butler.

Bracing himself against the dashboard of Harvey’s car as they splashed through potholes, Jim sipped on his coffee and stared out the window at the passing brick walls. Three days had passed since Selina had dropped off his new clothes and he hadn’t heard a word about whether or not Oswald had received his gift. The mood around the station swung between frantic and depressed while everyone waited to hear about Lee and the baby. With the clashing moods, Harvey had jumped at a chance to help Jim track down Selina.

“Why do you need to see her again?” Harvey asked, munching out of a bag of corn chips while he drove through the back alleys of Gotham.

“You don’t want to know, remember?” Jim sighed and took another drink. “You know, when I started this job, you were the one saying shit like that.”

“I knew you wouldn’t last if you didn’t toughen up,” Harvey said with a laugh. “Now you’re testing my limits with this Penguin shit.”

“I haven’t begun to reach your limits, Harv,” Jim said, giving his partner an exasperated look. “I haven’t even found the edge of them.”

Harvey shrugged in obvious agreement and pointed to a low-hanging fire escape. “You know she’ll hit the roofs if she can.”

Nodding and slipping his coffee into the cup holder, Jim hopped out of the car and climbed the fire escape. Across the rooftops, he could see a small figure running and dodging around chimneys. He walked to the edge of the roof and looked down and then across to the next building with resignation.

Fuck.

Watching Selina jump and slide across the rooftops of Gotham, Jim shook his head at her fearlessness. Climbing back down the fire escape, he found Harvey on the phone, saying his goodbyes with a worried wrinkle between his eyes.

“What’s up?” Jim asked as Harvey hung up and started the car.

“We have a situation. Alfred Pennyworth just called from the hospital and says Bruce is missing.”

Fear slid into Jim’s veins as they pulled out into the street. “Again? The kid got a sign on his back that says ‘please kidnap me’?”

“Don’t know. The butler seemed to be in a bit of a snit.”

“Did he say what happened?”

“He didn’t elaborate, just said to get to him as fast as we could,” Harvey gave Jim a look of disbelief. “I don’t think he wanted to tell me what really went down.”

Jim sighed and shook his head. “Then step on it.”

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WST Chapter 10

We Shine on Wednesdays! I am starting to reach the end of my pre-written chapters so, yeah, no big deal (sweats).Double digit chapters, can you believe it? Hope you enjoy and please let me know in the comments, they make my day!

Chapter 10: Learn to be Lonely

Summary:  As Jim flounders with the Mr. Freeze case, his mind is distracted with thoughts of Oswald in Arkham and he ends up putting people he cares about at risk.

“Faster, we’re going to miss him again!”

The car swerved around corners as fast as Harvey could make it while still holding onto the steering wheel and they reached Ace Chemicals in a squeal of tires. The place looked empty and Jim groaned as they entered the building and found a man frozen in place with a message from the now known Mr. Freeze.

“Release his wife.” Harvey shook his head at the message. “Yeah, when you surrender yourself, bucko!”

Jim threw an exasperated look at Harvey and searched the rest of the building, figuring out how much liquid helium the man had stolen, as well as what equipment was missing.

“This is going to get bad for everyone if we don’t find a way to stop him,” Jim said as he made his way back to his partner.

“How do you stop a guy with the power of Antarctica strapped to his back?” Harvey asked, gesturing to the frozen man on the floor.

Jim stared around the warehouse. “We need to lure him to a defensible location.” Jim looked up at Harvey and grinned. “And I know exactly where.”

Harvey slapped his forehead. “Don’t say it, Jim. Don’t say it.”

“We should get him to come to Arkham.”

“You said it.” Heaving a big sigh, Harvey turned and surveyed the ice covered room. “How do you propose we get him there?”

“That’s easy.” Jim put away his gun, the plan already clicking into place as he talked. “What’s the number one way to manipulate anyone?”

“Offer free shit?”

Jim laughed and shook his head. “No, it’s love. We tell him that’s where his wife is.” Jim wrapped his scarf tighter around his neck and walked out of the building.

“How in the hell are you going to get Barnes to sign off on this?” Harvey asked, following him out. “You know Barnes doesn’t want you anywhere near Arkham.”

“I’ll worry about that. You worry about how you’re going to get Lee to sign off on bringing Mrs. Fries to Arkham.”

Harvey winced and ducked his head. “Damn it.”

*******

“You want to do what?” Barnes walked behind Jim and closed his door. “I thought we talked about this.”

“This has nothing to do with The Penguin, sir. I know he’s exactly where he needs to be.” Jim kept his voice steady and his hands behind his back. “This is about having a place away from the innocent public where we can trap and hold someone like Mr. Fries.”

Barnes scowled, but looked at the map of Arkham with interest. “The medical facilities only has one entrance and we’d be using his wife as bait. What if he figures out it’s a trap?”

“Even if he does, sir. He’ll still come. This has been his goal from day one.” Jim pointed to the medical wing. “There are gates we can lock down as he passes through them and we can crank up the heat once we have him in custody.”

Barnes shook his head. “I won’t be able to send many men with you.”

“I know, sir, but it’s still our best bet. Mrs. Fries won’t give up any information on him while she’s in custody and he’ll want to reach her as fast as he can, regardless of whether it’s a trap.” Jim tapped the map. “I think it’s a shot worth taking.”

Barnes looked at him for a long moment before nodding. “Alright. You’ve got the go-ahead. Any little thing seems fishy though, I’ll haul you out of there so fast, you’ll leave skid marks on the floor.”

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WST Chapter 9

It’s Wednesday morning and I’m wearing my unicorn sweater while the world outside is drowning in heavy wet snow. Time for a new chapter posting! This should be my last week without a personal laptop and I’ll be back on my feet for next weeks chapter :)

Chapter 9: Follow You Into the Dark

Summary:  Oswald is in the wind for his own safety and Jim is missing him. A new case may be what it takes to keep his mind occupied. 

“Can you explain what happened next?”

Jim cleared his throat and looked around the courtroom. ”Mr. Cobblepot hit Captain Barnes in the head with a vase and held me at gunpoint while he and his men took Mayor Galavan and escaped. I tried to follow, but someone grabbed me and must have knocked me out. I woke up in my bed.”

“So you had nothing to do with Galavan’s disappearance?”

“You were there, sir,” Jim said, directing his gaze to Barnes. “You saw him holding me hostage.”

Barnes sighed and nodded at Harvey Dent. “That’s all the questions I have.”

Dent looked between the two of them and pursed his lips. “You’re free to go, Detective Gordon.”

Barnes held up his hand. “Stop by the station to pick up your badge and gun. I’ll have you fully reinstated as a detective when I get back.”

“Thank you.” Standing up, Jim walked through the courtroom and out into the hall to find his partner leaning against one of the stone pillars, head back and eyes closed.

His head shot up as Jim approached. “Well?”

“I’m officially a detective again,” Jim said with a  smile, clapping Harvey on the back. “So how about you treat me to some lunch?”

“What do you say to treating me to lunch?” Harvey shot back as he led the way outside. “All this has given me an ulcer.”

Giving his partner a sympathetic look, Jim pointed to the deli across the street. “Sandwiches, on me.”

“Now you’re talking.”

“Gordon, just a minute.” Barnes walked towards them, a frown on his face.

“Yes, sir?”

“I’ll have plenty for you to do when you get back to the station, so don’t be late.” He held out his hand. “I’m sorry we had to keep you out of the game for so long.”

“Have to follow protocol, sir,” Jim said, shaking his hand. “I understand.”

“Enjoy your lunch.” Barnes walked past them and jumped into his car.

Harvey shook his head. “That man is something else.” Turning to Jim, he waved him forward. “Sandwiches I believe were on the menu?”

Laughing at Harvey’s constant appetite, Jim led the way to the small deli and grabbed a table by the window. It didn’t take long for someone to come by and take their order and Jim laughed as Harvey ordered the largest Reuben sandwich with extra sauerkraut.

“I thought you had an ulcer?” Jim asked.

“Shut it. I eat what I want.” Sipping from his glass of water, Harvey tilted his head and regarded Jim with knowing eyes.

“How long?”

“How long? You’re going to have to be more specific.”

“How long since you and Penguin hooked up?”

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WST Chapter 8

Um, how in the world am I already posting chapter 8? This month has been flying by! I'm still without a computer (except while at work) so I hope you all enjoy the next chapter and please send a few wishes my way that my new computer ships quickly. Thank you for reading!

Chapter 8: Let’s Kill Tonight

Summary: The fight against Galavan comes to a point after he kidnaps Bruce Wayne and a few secrets come slipping out.

He woke to a slap in the face and Theo Galavan standing over him holding a pair of leather gloves, smirking like he’d just won the lottery.

“Hello again, Jim.” Galavan bent down and lifted his chin. “Feeling a little woozy?”

Jim opened his mouth, but Galavan only slapped him with the gloves again and turned to the men behind him. “The great Jim Gordon, scourge of criminals everywhere.” He swung back to Jim. “What a pathetic waste.”

“Fuck you,” Jim said, not caring if it got him another slap.

Galavan laughed and tucked his gloves into his coat pocket. “Such spirit!” Wiggling his finger in Jim’s face, he clucked his tongue. “Too bad you couldn’t use it for something truly worthwhile.”

“What are you going to do?” Jim wiggled against his bonds and felt the rope cut into his wrists.

“Haven’t you figured it out by now? I’m going to change Gotham!” Turning in a circle with his arms spread, Galvan looked like a mad king surveying his subjects. “This city is covered in filth and I’m going to wipe it out and reclaim it from those who’ve been swimming in its muck for too long.”

“Starting with the Son of Gotham?” Jim asked, the words like mush in his blood-filled mouth.

Keep him talking, distracted. Maybe I can get loose.

“You know about that?” Galavan hummed and then shrugged. “I suppose it doesn’t matter. I mean, you’re going to die tonight and The Son of Gotham will die tomorrow, then this city will be free for the taking.”

Jim wiggled in his bonds, searching for any weak spots, but the ropes didn’t budge.

“Oh, yes. That must be very uncomfortable for you,” Galavan said with a look of fake concern. “Gentlemen, why don’t we make our guest a little more comfortable? Hmm?”

Two men walked forward and Jim recognized them as two of the disgraced police officers, the ones Barnes fired when he first arrived. He didn’t say anything, just let them undo his chains and stand him up. Regaining his balance, Jim thrust his fist into one of their throats and kicked back at the other one.

“So feisty! I really enjoy your spirit.” Galavan clapped and the two men staggered away. “Not truly a fair fight, though. Come on, Jim, you and me.”

Jim put up his fists, his head already reeling from the rush of blood and the mix of drugs still swirling through his system. He swung at Galavan, but he danced away with a laugh. Jim kept his eyes on him, tried to keep his guard up, but Galavan dodged and hit like a professional fighter and the more Jim fought back, the worse he staggered. Finally, he fell to his knees and swayed in defeat. Galavan laughed and patted his cheek, as if the entire thing was a big game.

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WST Chapter 7

Alright, so, my computer finally bit the dust last week. I'm still going to posting from my work computer but it won’t be as early. The plus side is that I can still post chapters. The downside is that I won't be able to make the little picture collages for the titles until my new computer comes in. I'll try to add them later! Enjoy the chapter!

Summary: Jim heads back to work, but he isn't as ready as he wants to be to be back in the field. Desk duty doesn't suit him, but at least he has Oswald to distract him.

Morning dawned and even though Jim still hurt and his back felt like it was on fire, he struggled into his suit and clipped on his badge. Oswald rolled over into the warm depression Jim left on the bed and yawned. "Are you sure you're ready to get back out there?" Oswald asked, his voice low and sleepy. Jim shrugged and winced, grabbing the pain pills from Harvey and shoving them in his pocket. "If by 'out there', you mean being chained to a desk because there is no way Barnes clears me for duty so soon, then, yes." Oswald stuck out his tongue and pulled the blankets over his head. Jim was glad to see his normal mood returning, as well as more movement in his arm. Gunshot wounds were tricky and he was happy to see Oswald recovering. He wasn't so happy to be trudging down three flights of stairs, but the air of Gotham surrounded him as he walked down the street and it felt good to be among people again. Not that hanging with Oswald isn't fun, but that apartment is too small for two people recovering from injuries. Jim wandered into the station with Oswald on his mind and an ache in his back. Harvey didn't help the situation by clapping him on the shoulder to welcome him back to work. He winced and scowled at Harvey's unrepentant face. "You're the worst. I hope you know that." Jim settled at his desk and then groaned as Barnes yelled from his office a few minutes later. "Gordon! Bullock! Get your asses over here!" Standing and stretching out his aching back, Jim followed Harvey to Barnes' office.  Their captain stood behind his desk, scowling down at photos of security footage by the docks. "What is it, sir?" Jim asked, leaning against the wall. "There was a murder at the docks last night. A weird one." He looked up and gave Jim a skeptical look. "You up for a case or am I putting you on desk duty?" "He's barely standing, Captain," Harvey said. "He really shouldn't be in today." "I'm good, I mean, I'll live." Jim stepped on Harvey's foot to keep him silent and looked over at Barnes. "I'm ready, sir, really." "I doubt it, but I can't spare anyone right now," Barnes said. "That Galavan case gave us a few knocks and we're still rebuilding." Jim opened his mouth and Barnes shook his head. "No, the case is over. We got the criminal and he's behind bars." He pointed to the pictures on his desk. "We move on to the next case, got it, Gordon?" "Got it, captain," Jim said, gathering up the photos and handing them to Harvey. "I'll let you know if we find anything." "Are those ninjas?" Harvey asked, pointing at the pictures as they left the office. Jim stared at the spot Harvey pointed out and squinted. In the fuzzy photo, they looked a little bit like ninjas and in Gotham, they could also be time traveling assassins.

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WST Chapter 6

Wednesday came quick this week! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and is ready for a new year! We Shine Together, chapter 6 is here already! I hope you enjoy.

A Little Help from My Friends

Summary: Jim is laid up in his apartment after the fight with Flamingo and the hitmen. He’s in pain with Oswald and his thoughts for company. Harvey decides to pay a visit.

The next day, Jim could hardly move. Everything ached, from his head to the soles of his feet, and he laid in bed and groaned as the light from the window hit his face and blinded him. The look of pity from Oswald didn’t help his mood. He wanted to snap and yell and it was only the memory of Oswald’s recent grief that kept his temper in check. The last thing he wanted to do was drive Oswald away after all the progress they’d made. He grumbled and complained, but he let Oswald get him to the couch, remove his shirt, and place pillows behind his head. The deft touch of those hands sent his imagination into overdrive, but the pain kept his libido in check and he draped a blanket over his lap to keep his body from betraying him. Leaving Jim on the couch, Oswald walked to the kitchen and perused the cupboards and counters.

“Do you have anything in this house that isn’t take out?” Oswald asked, standing in front of the open fridge with a frown.

“I think I have peanut butter and some jelly.” Jim cocked his head. “The bread might bite back, though.”

Sighing, Oswald returned to the living room and tucked the blanket more firmly around Jim. “I’m calling for supplies. This is ridiculous.”

“No, no. I can go shopping.” Jim tried to stand up and cried out as pain shot down his back.

Oswald put his hands on his hips. “Silly, you’re in no position to walk out those doors.” He patted Jim’s arm and fluffed the pillows behind him. “I’ll have Gabe grab us some groceries and pain killers.”

“I hate pills,” Jim said, wrinkling his nose even as he screamed at himself to stop being a whiny baby.

You’re a grown ass man. Act like it.

“Too bad, you need them.” Oswald grabbed Jim’s phone and started dialing. “Anything else you want?”

Jim shook his head and then whimpered at the pain in just that simple movement. The pain management he usually used was sitting in his liquor cabinet, but he didn’t think Oswald would appreciate having to deal with an intoxicated Jim while they were both recovering from injuries.

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Hannigram Christmas Story

Hey, it’s Christmas and I’m posting fanfic! Enjoy the fluff and adorableness :) Happy Holidays Fannibals!

Love at First Branch

(Summary: Hannibal and his adopted daughter went looking for a tree, and Hannibal came back with a crush. Lucky for him, Will Graham is now also caught in the web of a crush and he doesn't know what to do about it. Buster may be a Christmas angel, but who knows? )

"Are we going now?"

"Just a moment. Put on your coat," Hannibal said, pointing to the coat rack by the door.

Abigail sighed and grabbed her pale blue peacock coat, slipping it on while she waited to leave.

"All the good trees will be gone!" She whined as Hannibal patted his pockets and then headed back to the kitchen.

He returned with his wallet, tapping her on the nose with it. "Wouldn't want to forget this, or else we'd have to steal a tree."

Abigail giggled. "That sounds hard."

"Much more work than I'm willing to go through at this moment, yes."

Holding open the door, Hannibal ushered Abigail outside. He smiled at her enthusiasm, something she was just beginning to let him see. It hadn't been easy to gain custody of the traumatized child, especially when he'd been first brought in to consult on her case.

After her father murdered her mother in front of her and then slit Abigail's throat as the police responded to her panicked 911 call, Abigail had been unreachable, building walls faster than people could break through them. Hannibal used every contact he had to bring her home and coax her out of her shell. She'd escaped her father with minimal physical damage, a small thin scar across her neck, and the doctors told her how lucky she was. One look into her blue eyes and Hannibal saw how fragile she was, how easy it would be to break her apart. He couldn't let the foster care system destroy her.

Adopting a young child of only eight years old hadn't been in any of Hannibal's carefully laid plans, but Abigail needed him and he enjoyed the bond growing between them.

"You're driving too slow," Abigail said, crossing her arms as another car passed them.

Hannibal smiled and patted her arm. "I'm going the speed limit. There's no need to rush on a Sunday."

They arrived at their destination, Graham's Christmas Tree Farm, and joined the crowd of people standing outside the locked gate.

Abigail huffed. "Told you."

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

To the lovely and talented @butterfliesandresistance​ because I can’t give you a birthday hug, so this is the next best thing. :) I adore you, dear!

Summary:  Oswald gets a little carried away in the kitchen with his cookie baking frenzy, upsetting their chef and caretaker. Jim decides on the perfect way to distract him.

The last few notes of 'Jingle Bells' faded into the background as Jim entered the large mansion of the Van Dahl estate. He smiled and set down his work bag, a few files from the office sticking out of the top that he was sure Oswald would know to look through and provide much needed information on when the time came. It was a delicate balance, this life they'd built together, but he wouldn't trade it for all the security of a normal relationship.

"Hey, is that you, Jim?"

Oswald's voice called to him from the kitchen and he entered to an array of cookies spread out along the counters, each shaped to match the season. Along the back wall there were Christmas trees and stars and across the island counter-tops, bells and reindeer and Santa Claus lay in lines across the marble.

"Get bored, my dear?" Jim asked, picking up a reindeer cookie and wiggling his eyebrows.

Oswald looked up at him and huffed. "Jim! Those aren't for you, you know."

Jim didn't break eye contact as he bit down into the crispy sugar cookie.

Crossing his arms over his chest, Oswald glared at him. "That's one less cookie for the Gotham Children's Home."

"You'll just make more," Jim said, talking around the food in his mouth as he walked to the stove where Oswald stood. "Besides, someone has to taste test."

Oswald smiled at that and wiped a crumb off of Jim's shirt. "Always so reasonable, huh?"

"One of us has to be," Jim retorted, pressing a kiss to Oswald's forehead. "You've covered our kitchen in enough cookies for the entire population of Gotham."

"Not true," Oswald said with a tilt of his head. "I've baked three hundred and thirty eight cookies and Gotham's current residence sits at just a little over eight million."

Jim chuckled and took another bite of his cookie, loosening his tie as he munched on the treat. A timer dinged and Oswald slipped on his oven mitts, brightly patterned with poinsettias, and took another tray of cookies out of the oven.

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Gobblepot Winter Fic

Happy Holidays to everyone! I followed some of the prompts on the bingo card for this one, but mostly, I just wanted to write a Secret Santa fic. Thank you to @butterfliesandresistance for pushing me to keep writing and being a wonderful beta. :P

GCPD Secret Santa Scheme

Summary:  The Gotham City Police Department has it's first Secret Santa exchange and Jim is amazed by the level of care and detail in his gifts. He doesn't know who this person is, but he can't wait to meet them.

December 1st

“Alright, everyone has a name and I’m done holding this bucket. Merry Christmas, get back to work.” Harvey stepped down off the chair and handed the bucket to the closest officer. “Thanks, Johnson.”

“Merry Christmas, sir,” Johnson said and tipped his hat as he walked away.

Jim pushed himself off the desk he’d been leaning on and met Harvey halfway across the bullpen with a scowl. “Secret Santas? Really, Harvey? This is how you plan to bring everyone together?”

“Don’t you start with me, Jim.” Harvey pushed him over into a corner. “This station is set to explode at the slightest touch and I’m not about to see someone go ballistic on Christmas.” He gave Jim a pat on the back. “Besides, everyone loves gifts.”

Jim kept his arms crossed, but couldn’t fault Harvey for trying to bring a little of the holiday spirit into the station. “You love gifts, you mean.”

Harvey grinned and walked backwards towards his office. “I like peace and quiet, but this is Gotham. I’ll settle for a real nice watch.”

Shaking his head, Jim settled into his work and put the whole idea out of his head.

December 5th

A plainly wrapped package sat on Jim’s desk when he arrived, a simple white envelope sitting on top of it and his name written in block letters. Turning around, Jim frowned at the slow stream of police officers filling the bullpen, but no one met his eyes and he returned to the package. He opened the envelope and a small card fell out, his name on one side in the same blocky lettering and on the other side were the words ‘From Your Secret Santa’.

He rubbed a hand over his face and groaned, the holiday gift exchange finally popping back into his head.

Shit, I’ve gotta find something for Brandie .

With his suspicions put to rest, Jim popped open the box and stared down at its contents. Nestled among green and red tissue paper, sat a pair of leather gloves and a long woolen scarf. Jim pulled out both items and saw that the lining of the gloves matched the understated blue and black checkered pattern of the scarf. From the feel of the wool to the supple bend of the gloves, Jim concluded that the gift was not only practical but quite expensive.

This is way too much.

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We Shine Together Chapter 5

Happy Wednesday! Does it feel like time is going faster, hurdling through to the end of year for anyone else?

Anyway, I’m getting ready for the Holidays and writing Holiday stories, but this story is still on my Very Important List. A big thank you to everyone reading and commenting!

Chapter 5: Running out of Reasons to Run

Summary:  Jim gets back to his apartment, bruised and bloody, and Oswald's there to take care of him.

Speaking with Barnes about the attack and explaining how Zsasz put a bullet between Flamingo’s eyes (and then waltzed away) only made Jim’s headache worse. At last, Barnes threw his hands in the air and sent him home, telling him to get some rest and take the next day off, because there would be a whole flock of questions waiting for him when he got back. Jim giggled at the ‘flock of questions’ speech and then gulped in horror.

Barnes shook his head and pointed to the door. “Get out.”

Not trusting himself to speak, Jim nodded and exited the building before he made any sort of pun that got him demoted back to traffic cop. Flagging down a taxi, he threw himself into the back seat and rattled off his address. The drive was silent except for the normal buzz of Gotham and Jim watched the tall skyscrapers turn into squat apartments until the taxi pulled up to his building. Paying the driver, Jim opened the security door and groaned as the stairs loomed in front of him.

I should get a ground floor apartment. Screw the security risks.

He straightened his shoulders and climbed, pulling himself along by the railing and counting the steps to keep his mind focused. As he reached the second landing, his thoughts turned to the night's events and what might have happened if Zsasz hadn’t been there to help. The hitmen were ruthless and it helped to have someone just as ruthless on their side for once. He might not have liked the careless killing of Flamingo, but Zsasz still saved his life and the life of Barnes. Putting his hand to his head, Jim groaned at the lump forming on his temple.

If Zsasz gave me a concussion, I’m going to tell Oswald on him.

The thought made him laugh, the absurdity of tattling on a world class assassin to the man currently spending all his time cleaning Jim’s apartment. The laughter gave him the strength to bound up the last few steps and collapse outside his door. His back hit the wall with a loud thump and he winced, hoping he didn’t wake any of his neighbors. He heard the lock turning on his door and he stood with a whimper. Even with all the pain coursing through his body, Jim wasn’t about to let Oswald out into the hallway and risk getting caught. When the door cracked open, he waved Oswald back and then stepped inside, closing and locking it in record time.

“You look awful,” Oswald said as Jim slumped to the floor.

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We Shine Together Chapter 4

Notes: My computer cord has still not arrived so I’m a little late with this chapter, sorry! Enjoy and please, comments are more than welcome :)

Chapter 4: Friend Like Me

Summary: Jim fights with his growing affection and then with some hit men and all in all, he's had a really rough week.

~~~~

The drive home was quiet and Jim reflected on the notion that his brain accepted that word for his grimy little apartment a little easier, now that he had someone to go home to. The twisted and strange relationship he had with Oswald, no matter how one-sided he tried to make it, propped him up in this city and gave him strength. He could breathe easier with Galavan behind bars, but walking into his home, that was only a home because of Oswald, made his heart race.

As he opened the door to his little apartment, Jim stared in shock. His boxes were nowhere to be seen and the living room glowed with freshly cleaned surfaces and the smell of lemon filled the air. There was a bouquet of flowers on his coffee table and his bookshelves held actual books, not just random coffee cups and forgotten ornaments of his youth.

“Oswald?”

“In the kitchen.” The voice floated out into the space and Jim felt his heart pound in his chest.

He knew, of course he knew, that Oswald thought of him in terms outside the realm of friendship. The long looks, the eagerness to please, he’d used that knowledge on more than one occasion to get what he wanted. The idea that those looks, those moments of standing just a bit too close, could manifest as something soft and pure, hit him in the chest and he couldn’t breathe.

He walked into the kitchen and found Oswald leaning over a skillet on the stove, the smell of meat sizzling hitting his nose at last.

“You… cleaned. “ Jim put his bag on one of his rickety dining chairs and looked around the kitchen.

Signs of cleaning were clear in this room as well, his microwave looked white, instead of the faint yellow color it had collected over time, and the counter-tops gleamed in the soft light.

Oswald turned around and the force of his smile hit Jim like a wrecking ball. “It’s not good to leave me bored, Jim.” He brandished his spatula like a knife. “Or worried.”

“I’m sorry about that,” Jim said with a sigh, willing his heart to calm down and stop sending his brain messages it didn’t need. “It’s been an interesting day.”

Oswald nodded. “A kidnapping is an acceptable excuse for not calling.” He turned back to his skillet. “Who kidnapped you? How did you escape?”

Jim told him the story, leaning against the counter while Oswald shuffled around the kitchen, even accepting a bottle of beer from the newly cleaned fridge. He reached the end and watched Oswald carefully as he told him about Galavan’s arrest. Oswald stared at the food in the pan, reaching down and shutting off the stove as his face crinkled in thought.

“What’s going to happen when he gets out?”

“He won’t get out,” Jim said, hoping his confident tone would be the end of it.

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We Shine Together Chapter 3

Welcome to WST Wednesday! I hope everyone had a glorious week, even with the holiday season upon us. I hope you’ve been enjoying the chapters so far and a special shout out to @butterfliesandresistance and her constant cheering!

                                  Chapter 3: Can’t Get a Man with a Gun

Summary: After leaving Oswald in his apartment with strict instructions to stay put, Jim heads back to work for a day of paperwork, only to discover Barbara waiting for him in the interrogation room.

Sleeping on his couch was not working for Jim, the springs dug into his back and the blanket kept slipping down onto the floor. He'd moved the boxes from the hallway into the living room and the space felt cramped and too cluttered for his taste. It would have to do until he could sort through everything and throw out what he didn't need. After dinner, a late night show with the volume turned down, and two too many refills of his scotch, Jim had curled up on his lumpy couch and tried to sleep. He woke up in the middle of the night to hear Oswald climb out of bed and scurry to and from the bathroom. By the time Jim could fall asleep again, the sun was peeking through his curtains. His alarm buzzed a few hours later and he woke up cranky and sore. The bedroom door stood open and when he looked in, Oswald lay sprawled across his mattress, mouth open, hair a mess, and a line of drool across the pillow.

Lucky asshole.

Jim stretched and sighed at each crack of his spine, heading to the bathroom for a shower and a shave, hoping for a better day. The hot water eased his tired muscles and a fresh shave made him feel more like himself. Jim walked out of the bathroom in his old sweatshirt and pants to the smell of sweet dough and strong coffee. Gabe stood in his living room, holding a drink carrier and glaring like Jim had insulted his family.

"What?" Jim asked, running a towel over his head and scowling back at the bigger man. He wasn't going to be intimidated in his own home.

"You had me bring him here, to this mess?" Gabe's chastising voice filled the room.

"You wake him up and I'll kick you out of here," Jim said, pointing towards the door.

"I'm already awake."

Jim spun around to see Oswald standing in the bedroom doorway, rubbing at his eyes and hair and scowling at Gabe. "Where's my tea?"

Gabe held out a steaming cup, a waft of spices hitting Jim’s nose as he passed the cup to a delighted Oswald. "Sorry, boss, Ms. Lowery says the bag might have steeped too long."

Oswald took a sip and squinted at the cup. "She's right. But it's fine." Turning to Jim, he waved him to the table. "Ms. Lowery makes the best waffles in Gotham and you look like you've been sleeping on the floor."

Jim stared at him, at the table of goodies, and at Gabe standing next to the couch with two cups of cofee in his carrier and a scowl, and walked into the bedroom, stopping only long enough to grab a box marked 'Clothes' from the pile by the wall. He closed the door, put his box down, and leaned his head against the cool wood, hoping for some kind of epiphany to strike and tell him how to deal with his life.

This is insanity. And yet, it feels normal and that's scaring the shit out of me.

Digging through the box, he found a shirt and pair of pants that didn't look too wrinkled and slipped them on, thankful at least that the moving company had labeled everything. He put yesterday's tie on and slid his shoulder holster into place. Once his badge and gun were in place, Jim looked in the mirror and was surprised to see that he looked normal.

Time to face the music.

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We Shine Together Chapter 2

Starting my regular weekly posting of this story, and I’m sticking with Wednesday for now. :)

Chapter 2: Taking Care of Business

Summary: Jim gets Oswald settled in at his apartment and heads to work, which becomes a lesson in misdirection.

The apartment was a small one bedroom with a tiny kitchen and it was filled with all the things Jim hadn’t had time to take over to Lee’s, random clothing and boxes full of childhood memorabilia. It had been easier to simply stay at Lee’s, instead of traipsing back and forth between the two locations. He hadn’t noticed because he never noticed when it mattered with Lee, or Barbara for that matter. Now that he was on his own, he cursed the fact that all his belongings weren’t in his own place. Even his clothes for work were at Lee’s apartment. Oswald didn’t comment on the clutter, or the dingy wallpaper and dim lighting; he limped into the living room and collapsed on Jim’s ragged couch. Gabe stood in the doorway, fidgeting and looking around the apartment as if he expected police to pop out of the cupboards and arrest him.

“You sure about me leaving, boss?” Gabe asked, his glare towards Jim strong enough to melt iron.

Oswald shot Jim a look of playful mischief. “Yes, I’m fine.” He closed his eyes and leaned his head back, holding onto his side while he rubbed at his temples.

“Leave him with me, I promise to keep him safe,” Jim said, holding out his hand and hoping the man could look beyond that fact that he was cop, focus on the fact that Oswald trusted him.

Gabe stared at it, as if shaking Jim’s hand might infect him. “I ain’t worried about those looking for him. I’m worried about you.”

“I’m a man of my word,” Jim argued. “I’ve said I’ll keep him safe and I mean to do just that.” He lowered his voice, and stepped close. “Even from himself.”

The words seemed to register with Gabe and he nodded, at last grasping Jim’s hand and squeezing tight. “She was a real nice lady and she was always nice to me. You make sure he don’t do something that he might regret.”

“I’ll look after him.”

“How wonderful it is to be talked about like I’m not here.” Sarcasm coated Oswald’s words and Jim grinned at Gabe’s guilty flinch. “Gabe, go away.”

“Have a good day.” Jim waved to Gabe as he left and turned back to his cranky guest. “Shower first, then I‘ll check that wound, and then you can sleep and I can figure out what everyone’s been up to today.”

Oswald’s answering huff only made Jim smile, a gentle reminder that he wasn’t dealing with The Penguin right now, he was dealing with Oswald and his peculiar mix of endearing and annoying mannerisms.

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We Shine Together

Notes:  When I started Nanowrimo this month, I had no idea I would be throwing myself into a Gotham season two rewrite. Thankfully, at the last minute, I decided that I would write this idea and see how far it took me. *insert maniacal laughter here* It's now over 50,000 words and still going. I said I'd start posting chapters once I "WON" Nano so this is IT! I plan on posting a chapter every week and even though this is bring posted on Friday (because I am impatient) the normal day will be Wednesday. Please read and enjoy and drop a comment! *HUGS*

We Shine Together

Chapter 1: Just a Little Change

Summary:  After Oswald tries and fails to kill Galavan, resulting in a bullet to his shoulder as he runs off, Jim looks at Galavan and realizes that he has an ally against the corrupt mayor. He takes off to find Oswald, patch up his wounds, and offer an alliance. A single decision changes the course of Jim Gordon's life, forever.

“Jim, this isn’t worth it!”

“I have to try, Lee. He’s hurt, but if I can find him, I might stand a chance at taking down Galavan.” Jim stuffed more bandages into his old gym bag and moved to the living room, grabbing a bottle of whiskey from the liquor cabinet on his way to the door. “I’m not being irrational, alright? I’ll need allies against Galavan. He might be, well, Penguin, but he’s smart, a hell of a lot smarter than me.”

Lee rushed ahead of him and blocked the exit. “You have allies! Me, Harvey, Ed, Barnes, people who aren’t dangerous maniacs!”

Jim shook his head and settled his bag over his shoulder. “Exactly. Galavan is going to require dangerous, ruthless people.” He took a deep breath, as if his next words were painful. “I need Penguin.”

“Don’t do this, please. Jim, there’s another way.” Lee stepped back against the door, her eyes pleading with him to see reason, to see things her way.

“Lee, move, please.”

“If you walk out this door, we’re done,” Lee whispered, her fear and anger settling over her like a cloak. “If you can’t see sense, then I can’t do this with you.”

Jim moved forward and wrapped his arms around her, feeling her melt into his embrace as he placed a small kiss to her ear. “Goodbye, Lee.”

Pushing past her, Jim left the apartment before he could change his mind about leaving, about finding Penguin.

He didn’t hear Lee call after him, or the slam of the apartment door.

*******

The city rushed around him as Jim walked the streets, looking for anyone with a connection to Peng - to Oswald.

This is insane. I’ve got no idea where he is or where he would go.

Three hours dragged by with no luck, every hidden space in Gotham seemed closed, boarded up, and silent. He was tired and the bag on his shoulder grew heavier with each block, but Jim wasn’t giving up, he needed to do this. There was a flickering thought in his mind that, no, he didn’t HAVE to do this. He could go back to Lee, beg for forgiveness, call Harvey about work tomorrow, talk about how they could bring down Galavan without Oswald Cobblepot.

He kept walking.

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New graphic means a new post!

All In A Summer

Summary:  Jim and Oswald meet in the summer before Jim's senior year of high school. Striking up an unusual friendship, the two boys grow close and their friendship evolves into something much stronger.

25 Parts 40,401 words A whole lot of fluff!

Link to Chapter 1: A Little Rescue, A Little Revenge

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