#half right

Batman: The Enemy Within ||| Edward Nigma/Danny Fenton ||| one-shot

POV Edward Nigma

Before the events of Episode one "The Enigma"

Words: 857

Our apartment is quiet tonight, the low hum of Gotham’s ever-present chaos muffled by the heavy curtains that covered the windows. I sat in my usual chair, a book open in my lap, though I’d read the same sentence at least five times. My attention wasn’t on the text at all but on the scene unfolding across the room.

Danny was sitting on the couch, his sky-blue eyes alight with laughter as he chatted with someone I vaguely recognized—a friend from his time at The Dark Roast. A barista, if memory served. A perfectly harmless individual, I told myself, though I couldn’t suppress the irritation bubbling beneath the surface.

It wasn’t the conversation that bothered me. It wasn’t even the way Danny’s voice softened when he laughed at some joke his friend had made. No, it was his hands. His slender, pale fingers were combing through the other man’s hair, playfully tousling it while the friend pretended to swat him away. It was a gesture so casual, so meaningless, yet it made my jaw tighten.

I forced myself to remain seated, to keep my expression neutral. I wasn’t the kind of man to be undone by jealousy—or, at least, I didn’t want to be. But the sight of Danny giving that kind of attention to someone else, even innocently, made my stomach twist.

I turned my gaze back to my book, my fingers gripping the edges of the pages a little too tightly. It doesn’t matter, I told myself. Let him have his fun. You’re not some insecure fool who needs constant reassurance. And yet, the words on the page blurred as I glanced up again, watching Danny’s hands ruffle the other man’s hair one last time before his friend stood to leave.

“See you around, Danny,” the man said with a wave.

“Take care!” Danny replied, his smile warm and genuine. He had no idea how much that expression of his could undo me. As the door closed behind his friend, the room finally felt like it belonged to us again. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

Danny turned back to me, his smile softening into something more intimate. “Hey, Ed. Did you need me for something?”

I shook my head but didn’t respond, instead standing and making my way over to him. He was perched on the edge of the couch, still oblivious to the way my mind had been churning. Without a word, I stepped behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist, pulling him against me. My head dipped down, and I buried my face in the crook of his neck, breathing him in. His scent was clean and faintly sweet, a comforting contrast to the storm in my head.

“Ed?” he asked softly, his fingers lightly brushing my forearm. “What’s up?”

“Nothing,” I murmured, my voice muffled against his skin. “Just felt like holding you.”

He chuckled, the sound vibrating against me. “You’re clingy tonight.”

“Can’t I enjoy the company of my partner without commentary?” I teased, though the words lacked their usual sharpness. My lips brushed against his neck, a featherlight touch that I knew would make him shiver. Sure enough, he leaned back into me, his body relaxing as if he belonged there.

“Do you want to cuddle?” I asked, my tone as casual as I could manage. It wasn’t a question I asked often—physical affection wasn’t something I usually sought out—but with Danny, it felt different. He made it easy, natural even.

He tilted his head back to look at me, his sky-blue eyes sparkling. “Always.”

I released him only long enough to guide him down onto the couch, lying beside him and pulling him close. His head rested on my chest, his fingers tracing idle patterns along the fabric of my shirt. I held him tightly, one hand stroking through his black hair, my fingers brushing the white streak at his temple. That small splash of color was one of my favorite features, a reminder of everything he’d been through—and everything that made him mine.

The jealousy still simmered beneath the surface, but I buried it beneath the warmth of his body against mine. I wouldn’t admit it aloud, wouldn’t tarnish this moment with petty insecurities. Instead, I pressed a kiss to the top of his head, letting my actions speak where my words wouldn’t.

“You okay?” Danny asked after a long silence, his voice soft. He tilted his head to look up at me, his expression gentle but curious.

“Of course,” I replied smoothly, my hand cupping his cheek. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

He smiled faintly, as if he didn’t quite believe me but didn’t feel the need to push. Instead, he leaned into my touch, his eyes fluttering shut. “You’re sweet when you’re like this, you know that?”