Son of the Monster - Chapter 2

 'Oswald. Can we go home already?' I ask him as we are attending one of those gatherings that none of us like but for some reason Oswald always claims that these are good for building connections. Well, I don't know about that anymore, but if it makes him happy then sure.

'Be more patient, Sam, we haven't been at any of these parties for a long time.'

'Okay, Oswald, but please don't turn around.' I say as I see the newest guest arriving.

'Why not? What happened?' Oswald asks, but before I could answer the new attendant notices us. It's Ethan with none other than Barbara Gordon at his side.

'Father? Is that you?' Ethan asks when he approaches us. This makes Oswald flinch, then he turns around. 'This is me, Ethan, your son. You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this moment.' he looks happy, although I am not sure if this happiness is genuine.

'Oh, uhm, hello Ethan.' Oswald says as he is trying to stay calm.

'Oh, how rude it is from me, I almost forgot to introduce my girl… I mean, my newest friend. This is Barbara.'

'Hello, Barbara.' Oswald says through his teeth, trying to repress his anger. I think I need to take over.

'Uhm… hello, my name is Sam... uh... Sam Hyde. I am Osw… I mean Mr. Cobblepot's assitant.' I look at Oswald. He looks like he is about to blow up, I need to get him out of here. 'Uhm… If you would excuse us, we were about to leave because Mr. Cobblepot doesn't feel very well.'

'Uh... okay.' says Ethan. 'Good luck for the remaining of the night then.'

'Good night.' says Barbara then they turn around and walk away. 'Hehe, did you almost introduced me to your dad as you girlfreind?' she whispers to Ethan.

'I don't know, maybe? Why, what do you think, are we dating?'

'Well, I think two dates can count as dating, heheh.'

And they are continue flirting with each other like this as they leave us which makes us glance at each other. It is really embarrassing to hear. It's about time to leave I think.

When we head to the door, Oswald takes a final look at Ethan as he is chatting with the other guests. Then he takes a deep breath before we leave the party.

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'The brat is really getting on my nerves!' Oswald yells in anger as we walk home. 'I bet that he is dating the Gordon girl only to piss me up.'

'Yeah, that could be possible.'

'And did you see how effortlessly he blended in with the Gotham elite? It should have been me.' oh, I should have known. He is jealous of Ethan.

'Oswald. It's okay. Just because those twits couldn't see how great you are, doesn't mean you are worthless.' I start rubbing his back to try to console him.

'Sam, my son can't be more succesful than I am.' he looks so lost and desperate as he is saying it.

'Of course he can't.' then I embrace him. I would like to tell him how much he means to me, but sometimes I'm afraid that he doesn't feel the same way for me. That I'm just a toy to him, and he takes me for granted. But most of the time I try not to think about it for the sake of my peace of mind.

I hold him for a couple of moments then he mutters a thank you into my chest. 'I am starving, can we get something to eat?' he asks finally.

'Yes, we can.'

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'Are you fucking kidding me?' I wake up to Oswald's cursing.

'Hn, what's wrong? Is it night yet?' but soon I find out why he is mad. I can sense someone in the living room and I think I can recognize who it is. It's Ethan.

'How could he come up here?' then he rushes outside. I quickly pick up something to cover myself before I follow him. 'Ethan, what the hell are you doing here?' he shouts at the younger man.

'Wow, Dad, did you really sleep all day?' then he notices me. 'Oh, hehe, now that's something I didn't expect. You have a bad habit of bedding the help.'

'Watch your mouth!' Oswald snaps at him. 'Now tell me, how could you bypass my security?'

'It's easy, I hacked it. Now my fingerprint is in the system.' he grins. 'Are you impressed?'

'Not really.' Oswald answers bitterly. This makes Ethan's face falter.

'You know, Dad, it wouldn't hurt you to say "Nice job, kid" or something.'

'What did you expect? You broke into my home!' this is true, but I have to admit, it was really impressive.

'What's wrong, it is not a big deal.'

'Yes, it is, now get out!'

'Okay, fine, I go home now.'

'No, I meant from the city! Get the hell out of here!'

'What? Oh, now I can see, it wasn't enough for you to be absent when I was a kid, you don't want to see me as an adult.'

'It's because you had to come here and ruin everything. You have everything that I couldn't have!'

'Yes, exept a father.'

'My father had beaten me, you don't know how good you had.'

Ethan looks like he is about to blow up, but tries everything to stay calm. 'Alright.' he says finally. 'If you decide, that you have something nice to say, then call me.' then he puts a businesscard on the coffee table. 'Until then good bye.'

'Sure. I would show you the way out, but you already know it.' Oswald notes bitterly. Ethan without any word turns around and leaves. Then Oswald grabs the piece of paper and coldly tosses it into the trash. It breaks my heart to see him fight with his own son like this, even though I barely know Ethan.

'Now I have to go to get ready.' Oswald says and walks back into the bedroom.

'Yes, I'll go in a minute too.' I say, but first I have to fish the card out of the trashbin. I have an idea.

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It's kind of weird that this is the second time I have snuck out during the day because of Ethan, but here I am, in the same coffee shop I first met him. At first he wasn't a fan of the idea, but I was able to convince him.

Finally he arrives and sits opposite to me.

'So?' he asks with an indifferent face. 'What do you want?'

'I... khm… I was hoping that I could make peace between you two.'

'Why? You barely know me. Is it because you are dating my dad? What does it make you to me? My stepparent?'

I just shrug as an answer. Honestly I have no idea either.

'Anyway.' he continues. 'What does my old man have that makes him to be able to bed everyone he wants?'

'Well, he can be very charming.'

'That was a rhetoric question.' he says with a bemused face. 'I don't want to know about my dad's tricks.'

'Oh, I'm sorry I went off-topic. So I was thinking that I could convince you two to talk it out. In a calm way.'

'And how do you plan to convince him?'

'I thought maybe I should try.'

'Okay.' he sighs. 'And why do you think we would be able to talk it out? He is stubborn as hell.'

'I know. And because of the bad life he had he works teeth and nails to get what he wants. Just like you.'

'I'm not like my father.'

'You have no idea how much you are like your father.' I smile.

'Oh god.' he rolls his eyes. 'You are down bad for him.' then he sighs. He seems like he is contemplating. 'Alright, I'm going to think about it. But now I have to go.'

'Okay, good bye, Ethan.' I get ready to go as well because I need to hurry back home.

'Good bye, Sam.'

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My phone is ringing again. It is Ethan. Why is he calling me now? I hope he made up his mind.

'Hello.' I answer the call, but to my shock an unknown voice starts talking.

'Hello? Who is that? I am sorry but I called this number because this is the last one Ethan Cobblepot was talking to.'

My heart is in my throat. 'Why? What happened to him?'

'We had to take him to the hospital. He is badly injured.' I feel like I need to sit down. But I can't, I need to find Oswald.

'Oswald!' I rush into his office.

'What happened?'

'Ethan is in the hospital.'

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