ACE ATTORNEY AU

[enigmaster]

Comments

[agoodname]

[Oswald just...blinks at that, once] ....what for?

[enigmaster]

For... For what I said. Right before I left...

[agoodname]

[....] I...didn't think you said anything untoward. If you didn't want to talk about something, that's your right.

[enigmaster]

No, but... But I don't know why I said that. I didn't want to say that...

[agoodname]

[Oswald presses his lips together]

....did something happen? Yesterday?

[enigmaster]

...Yeah. [He sounds... more open to talking, today.]

[agoodname]

[and Oswald will pull over a chair, sitting next to him, reaching out to take his hand] Do you want to talk about it?

[enigmaster]

...I saw Tommy yesterday.

[agoodname]

[YEP his hand is going to tighten on Edward's just a bit] ...ah. Did he see you, too?

[enigmaster]

I don't know. I kind of... fled into the nearest store and hid there for a bit. Maybe he did...

[agoodname]

You didn't talk to him or anything, then?

[enigmaster]

No. I just... freaked out.

[agoodname]

Better that he didn't, I suppose. [he gently rubs his knuckles at that, trying to soothe] ...what happened after that?

[enigmaster]

I... I, um... [This is where it gets... complicated.] ...Next thing I knew, I was in a... shadier part of town and... I was kind of... antagonizing someone.

[agoodname]

.....[and Oswald swallows at that] ...oh?

[enigmaster]

...Yeah. I... I, um... [Edward's... silent, for a while. But... slowly, reluctantly, he'll... pull the scarf off. So. There's that, Oswald. Out in the open, now.]

[agoodname]

[he can't help but suck in a breath at that, not really able to entirely hide his reaction--] Edward....

[enigmaster]

...I thought... I don't know. I didn't want you to see.

[agoodname]

....oh. [his lips press together then, clearly upset] Well...we should get some ice on that. That will help the bruising.

[enigmaster]

...Okay. [It's a little quiet.]

[agoodname]

[he squeezes his hand, gently, before pushing to his feet. He'll retrieve an ice pack and a broom, handing the former off to Edward before sweeping up the shattered plate with the latter. He just...he needs a moment to think. Because as much as he really deeply feels like he's having a meltdown, internally, he just....he can't think about this now. He can't think about what might've given Edward that bruise. He can't think about if it could've been worse. He can't think about if Edward might not've come home at all. He can't-- --and the noise of ceramic hitting the floor jolts him, slightly. Some of the pieces have dropped from the dust pan that he's been holding. And Oswald sucks in a breath, and quickly finishes cleaning that up, blinking very rapidly, trying not to let his hands shake]

[enigmaster]

[Edward takes the ice pack, holding it against the bruise. The first real relief it's gotten since it happened... He really should've done this himself, earlier, but. Well. Mostly he's just quiet, a little lost in thought as he presses the ice pack against his throat... until that sound. Edward startles a little, looking up quickly. And he looks over at Oswald.] Are... [He pauses and swallows.] Are you okay...?

[agoodname]

[and Oswald dumps those shards into a paper bag before throwing it in the trash. Then he puts away the broom and the dustpan and just...leans his elbows on the counter, covering his face with his hands, his back to Edward] ...you promised. [his voice is quiet, upset]

[enigmaster]

[Yeah... There it is. And there's the stab of guilt through him. No, really... That's been there all along. Now he just can't ignore it. It feels awful. So he can't even imagine how it must feel for Oswald.] I... I know... I'm sorry. [It feels stupid to even say. As if saying he's sorry even matters at all or changes anything.]

[agoodname]

I just--[Oswald's voice wavers, and he cuts himself off. He's silent another moment, trying to get himself under control] ...I'm scared, Edward. [his voice is small--he's still not looking at him]