#HELPPPP I didn't know this was a belief

[sergle]

BRO, CRANE FLIES DO NOT EAT MOSQUITOS......... "skeeter eaters".... THEY DO FUCKALL. they eat plants... until they become adults. and then their mouths are too small to eat at all.

[clementine-side-blog]

Opium Haze - E.N

Summary: After a chance encounter, y/n runs into Edward Nashton. Y/n was his light in the darkness, and they saved him from a dark path. Together, they created their own story. They saved him from becoming someone he did not want to be.

(A/N: I have never been on a subway, so I probably will not do a good job writing about them lol. I intended for this fanfic to be longer, but I really wanted to post something this weekend, so sorry :( but it's still super cute and I'm very proud of it.)

Content Warning: AFAB reader, they/them pronouns, explicit language, angst, tooth rotting fluff, mentions of murder, thoughts of suicide, blood. (this fanfic is so cute helpppp)

Word Count: 6.9k

Songs For Inspo:

Swing Lynn - Harmless

My Love Mine All Mine - Mitski

Hey Lover - The Daughters Of Eve

Freaks - Surf Curse

Yes To Heaven - Lana Del Rey

A Different Age - Current Joys

Let The Light In - Lana Del Rey

Good Looking - Suki Waterhouse

Soldier, Poet, King - The Oh Hellos

Heart To Heart - Mac DeMarco

~Read Below Cut~

~

Fate is a touchy subject. Some people believe in it and others don't. It all depends on what their own beliefs are. But, if you looked at y/n and Edward's story, you'd probably start to believe in fate. They were two totally different people. The two of them ran into each other after a chance encounter in a subway. But, even then, it was extremely unlikely that they would talk to each other. And yet, they did. All it took was a few words to start the beginning of a beautiful life together.

~

Edward stood on the subway platform, glancing down at his work shoes. They were scuffed from tripping over his feet so much, scraping against the concrete sidewalks of Gotham city. The scuff marks reminded him of his own soul and mind. Scratched, shredded to hell, and unappealing. But then again, so was every other person in Gotham. Not one person was innocent, even him. His mind raced with thoughts of violence, inflicting them on the people who left him for dead in the cold and lifeless walls of an orphanage. A system that was supposed to keep him safe had done the exact opposite. Every single second of his childhood was pure torture. The tips of his fingers were scarred from the rats that would chew at his skin in the night, much like his heart was scarred. Over a decade of living in an orphanage only to be thrown out and forced to get a job and slave away at it for the rest of his life. It was just another type of orphanage that Edward found himself stuck in. A life he was stuck in while the upper class watched in amusement. There was only one way out, but he had work to do before that. He was going to purge Gotham of the scum that populated it. He was going to wash it all away, like flushing away sin. And when his work was done, he would leave the world.

'The train will be departing soon.'

Edward looked up, shaking himself out of his thoughts. His eyes widened as he realized his train was about to leave. He reached out as the doors began to close, knowing he didn't have a high chance of making it in time. Something ran into him from behind, causing him to be propelled forward. His nose hit the closed doors of the subway train with a strong force. Edward groaned, pushing himself off and watching in frustration as the train left. He winced, touching the bridge of his nose with two fingers, bringing them back into view to see blood smeared on the tips. Whipping around, he had a scowl on his face as he looked at the person responsible.

"Ow! What the hell is wrong with you!?" He exclaimed in a painful tone.

The person before him looked to be the same age as him, maybe a year or so younger. He couldn't really tell as he was distracted by the burning pain that came from the deep cut on his nose. Due to the bleeding, he assumed that he landed on a screw or some type of metal that was elevated off the train. They had pair of washed out jeans on, slightly ripped on the bottom. A baggy t-shirt that had an awkwardly standing cat on it covered their upper body. They gasped, holding their hands, wrists adorned with various bracelets, over their mouth.

"Oh...Oh my God, I'm so, so, so, sorry! I-I was trying to catch the train a-and I wasn't looking!" They stumbled, eyes wide.

"Well, I was trying to get it on it too. So I guess we're both screwed over." He mumbled.

The person sighed, rummaging through the bag they carried. He watched, pinching his nose as he started to get a nosebleed. They pulled out a band-aid, showing it to him. He raised an eyebrow, scoffing.

"I nearly broke your nose, can you please let me patch you up?" They asked, crossing their arms over their chest.

Edward noticed how embarrassed they looked. He sighed, rolling his eyes. Nodding, he walked over to a bench near the far corner. He sat down, legs making a 90 degree angle perfectly because of how long they were. Y/n frowned, removing the band-aid from the wrapping around it. Upon further examination, he realized that it had a bunch of hearts on it and it was pink.

"It's either this or you can keep bleeding everywhere." They said.

"Well, I wouldn't need a band-aid if you had just watched where you were going." He mumbled.

"Touché."

They carefully placed the pink band-aid over the cut on his upper nose. Gently, they smoothed down the sticky ends, making sure it was properly secured. Once they were done, they stood awkwardly in front of him, vaguely resembling the cat on their shirt.

"Um, I'm really sorry. You're right, I should have watched where I was going. I hope it doesn't hurt too much."

"It's fine." He replied quickly.

"Do you know when the next train arrives?" They asked.

"Why don't you read the sign?" He scoffed.

Turning around, y/n looked up at the sign on the ceiling. They huffed when they saw it would be another 30 minutes for the next train. Edward looked at them, knowing exactly what they would do. They would walk away and ignore him the rest of the time, as if they didn't just split his nose open. That's what everyone else in Gotham would do. No one cares about what happens to other people. Only them. Sure, it was nice of them to give him a band-aid, but that's about the nicest thing someone in Gotham could do. But, he was wrong. Extremely wrong.

"Do you mind if I sit and wait with you?" They asked.

He glanced up at them, holding back a laugh. Not really caring either way, he shrugged his shoulders. The stranger sat next to him, placing the bag they had on their lap. Edward wasn't quite sure what to do in that moment. He had terrible social skills as a result of being raised in an orphanage. But, he didn't really need to start a conversation. They did that for him.

"So, what's your name?" They asked.

He turned his head to them, blood dried underneath his nose.

"Edward."

"Well, it's nice to meet you Edward. I'm y/n." They smiled.

"Why are you talking to me?" He asked.

"Huh? Oh, do you not want me to?"

He went quiet, adjusting his glasses as he looked down at his lap. The truth was, he didn't really know. No one had ever willingly wanted to talk to him. Sure, coworkers talked to him at his job, but that was only when they needed something from him or it had to do with work. Edward wasn't used to having someone be friendly with him, let alone actually want to talk to him.

"I can sit somewhere else if you want me to. I understand if that's what you want." They said, smiling.

"No, it's ok."

Y/n nodded, opening up their bag. Edward, a curious man, peeked over. He watched as they pulled out a book, reading the cover.

'A Handmaid's Tale'

They opened up the book to a page with a bookmark in it. Removing it, they placed it in their bag. Edward couldn't help but try and read the book as well, despite having already read it. A subway wasn't the most relaxing place to read a book, y/n didn't have much to do.

"I've read that book before."

Y/n looked up, tilting their head at him.

"Oh yeah? What did you think of it?" They asked.

"It was quite interesting, pretty vulgar in some parts though. I found myself getting uncomfortable, but I'm pretty sure that's what Atwood was trying to do." He said.

"Yeah, I felt the same way."

"So, you've already read it?"

"Yeah!"

"Then, why are you reading it again?"

"Well, I really like the book. Plus, I'm helping out a student." They answered.

"Student?" He questioned, wiping away a new drip of blood from under his nose.

"I'm a librarian at a high-school. This is a required book in the English class, but one of the students just can't stomach reading it. It makes them too uncomfortable. So, I'm reading through the parts they can't read and taking notes for them." They smiled.

"That's awfully kind."

Y/n smiled.

"What's your job?"

"I'm a forensic accountant."

"Oh, that sounds interes-"

The phone in y/n's pocket rang, causing them to look down. They mouthed a 'sorry' and held up a finger. Answering the phone, they held it up to their ear.

"Yes, this is them."

Edward took note of their use of pronouns. He didn't really think he'd see them again, but it was just a tidbit of information he tucked away in his brain. He kept a lot of random information in there. Stuff that he would most likely never use in his life.

"Oh! I did?"

Y/n rummaged through their bag, scoffing when they stopped.

"You're absolutely right. I did. How embarrassing. Thank you so much for letting me know, I missed a train so I'll come get it right now."

Y/n hung up the phone, gathering their things as they stood up. Edward watched them, wiping away another drip of blood with his thumb. They sighed, pulling out a tissue from their bag. Y/n gave it to him, watching as he used the tissue to dab the blood up.

"Like a complete idiot, I left my laptop at the library. I have to go back and get it. I'm very sorry, I was really interested in hearing what a forensic accountant is."

Edward shrugged.

"I'm serious! I was enjoying our conversation."

Y/n pulled out a band-aid from their bag, grabbing a pen as well. Using their knee as a surface, they scribbled something on the wrapping. Edward recoiled slightly as they reached out their arm to them, band-aid held in between their fingers. They waved it, signaling for him to take it. Edward rolled his eyes and took the band-aid, looking down at the scribbling. It was a phone number.

"If you want to, text me! Or call, I'm good with either. Maybe we can meet up for coffee or something and you can tell me what a forensic accountant does."

"I could be a serial killer. You barely even know me."

"Well, that's why I gave you my number, duh. So we can get to know each other." They smiled widely.

Edward scoffed, putting the band-aid in the pocket of his coat. Y/n tilted their head, waving a good-bye before leaving the subway station. He watched how they walked with a bounce in their step, as if nothing in the world was wrong. Sighing, he leaned his head back and groaned. They were awfully nice for someone who lived in Gotham.

~

Edward sat in his bed, hunched over the band-aid that y/n had given him. He groaned, tugging at his hair and rocking back and forth slightly. His mind was conflicted and he had no idea what to do. No, he didn't have to text them. Did he want to? Yes. And he hated to admit that. The kindness he had experienced from them, even though it wasn't an astronomical act of kindness, was foreign to him. Empathy and friendliness were things he had never received in his life, and a stranger on the subway had given both of those things to him within a span of 10 minutes. It threw him in a loop and made him feel dizzy, stars crossing his eyes as he looked at the numbers scribbled on the paper wrapping. He knew they were setting him up for a cruel joke. Friends were probably leaning over there shoulders, waiting for him to text them. They would all laugh, pointing at his text, going on and on about how much of a stupid loser he was.

"Fuck." He mumbled.

He picked up his phone, typing in the number into his contacts. Entering the name 'y/n' as the contact name. Shakily, he typed a simple text. Edward was not sure what to say, and he wasn't even sure that he should even text them. He felt an overwhelming sense of anxiety -as he hit send, preparing for the humiliation.

'Hi, this is Edward from the subway.'

He stared at the screen, dreading yet awaiting a reply. Glancing over at his winter mask, he adjusted his glasses. The plans he had for the city were already made, but he had not begun anything yet. The most he had done was buy the mask. So, why was he texting this person? Why would he even try to form a friendship if he was going to wash everyone away in the end? It was pointless. Yet, he so desperately wanted to hold onto hope. Hoping for someone to save him from what he was becoming. Hoping for someone to show him that there was still hope for the people of Gotham. But, he felt like he was hoping for things that wouldn't happen. A chime from his phone caused him to look down, reading the text on the screen.

'Omg! Hi! I was worried you'd never text me! :D'

He stared at the text, relaxing after tensing up. There was no humiliation. No shame. No mocking. So, what was there? Kindness, perhaps? Genuine kindness? He let out a shaky breath, shivering in his cold apartment due to an open window in his bedroom. Once he sent the text, he closed it, getting too cold for his own liking.

'Were you waiting for me to text you?'

They responded quickly.

'Yeah! Is that so hard to believe? ;p'

Edward smiled softly, feeling his body warm up as he slipped under the covers of his bed. The comfort of his blankets and the conversation happening at his fingertips provided him a nice feeling. Happiness, almost. If not happiness, then at the very least it was peaceful.

'A little.'

'Well, I can't really prove it, so you'll just have to trust me. I got my laptop, btw!'

'That's good. Did you have to wait for another train?'

'Yeah, but it was ok. I used the time to read. Did you make it home ok?'

'Yes.'

'Good! So, any big plans for the weekend? Any crazy parties?'

'Do I look like I go to parties?'

'Not exactly, but I don't go to parties either. Well, at least not crazy ones. Maybe like, a birthday party for a cousin or something. I'm the life of the party at those things. They always have the best snacks and drinks.'

Edward laughed, somethings that he had not genuinely done in a while. Clearing his throat, he turned on his side, phone held in his hands. The light reflected off his glasses, shining in his dark room.

'I don't have any family. A party like that sounds fun.'

'You don't have any family?'

'No, I was raised in an orphanage.'

'Oh, I'm sorry about that.'

'It's ok.'

'Let's change the subject, ok? :) Circling back to my question, any plans this weekend?'

He appreciated the change in conversation, even though he was the one that brought the subject up. Mentally, he scolded himself for bringing up such a personal thing so early into the conversation. But, they seemed to handle it well. They didn't make fun of him for being an orphan, so that was better than everyone else.

'No plans.'

'Me neither. Wow, we're pretty boring, aren't we?'

'That was a joke btw, I don't think you're boring :)'

'I figured.'

'Well, since you don't have plans and I don't have plans...would you like to get a coffee with me or something? I know that's very cliche, but I genuinely don't know what else to do.'

His face turned beet red, shocked at what he just read. Edward still felt like this was all some elaborate prank. If he said yes, he could be walking right into a trap. But, what if it wasn't a prank? What if they were being genuine? What if they actually wanted to spend time with them? They seemed like a friendly person, but Edward knew all too well about hiding parts of yourself. Pretending to be someone you're not.

'Ok, when?'

'Yay! I was nervous you'd say no. How about tomorrow at 10? You know that one diner on 19th?'

'Yes, I actually live right across from it.'

'Woah, wait...in the apartment building near the Iceberg Lounge?'

'Yes?'

'I think we live in the same building.'

Edward shot his head up, a shocked expression on his face. Looking back down, he saw that they had texted again.

'I'm in number 22C, what about you?'

'25C.'

'No fucking way, you're shitting me?!'

'Um, no...?'

'I just moved in recently, maybe that's why we haven't noticed each other.'

'I'm not really a social person with the other people in the building. I don't keep up with newcomers.'

'That makes sense, I still can't believe it though. I'm coming out.'

Edward lifted his head up, placing his phone on the bed. He felt his heart racing and he wasn't quite sure as to why. It was just a strange chance encounter. The odds of them running into each other at the subway were slim. The odds of them talking were slim. The odds of getting each other's contact information were slim. But the odds of them living right next door from each other, that was incredibly slim. His head shot to the living room that showed through his open bedroom door as a knock echoed in the apartment. Edward got out of his bed, adjusting his glasses. He usually wore just a pair of boxers to sleep, but tonight he wore sweats and a shirt. Thank god for that. Walking through his kitchen, he looked through the peephole. When he saw y/n, his heart nearly leapt out of his chest. He opened the door, looking slightly down at them. Y/n looked up, mouth slightly agape. They laughed, clapping their hands in amusement.

"Holy shit...This is freaky!" Y/n said, a smile on their face.

"Yeah, quite strange." He mumbled.

"Um, sorry I'll go back in my apartment. I just wanted to see if you really lived across from me."

Edward glanced at the clock that hung on his kitchen wall. It was only 7 o'clock. He bit his bottom lip, conflicted about what to do. He couldn't explain it if he tried, but he didn't want them to go. Every day, he would spend his nights in bed. He would think about how depressing his life was, how boring it was, and how he wished something would happen to change it. He wasn't a big believer in fate, but maybe this was it? Maybe, just maybe, it was fate that y/n and him ran into each other.

'What has no hands yet can knock on your door, and you better open up if it does?'

'An opportunity.'

"W-Wait."

Y/n turned around, looking at Edward with a soft gaze. He felt himself get sheepish underneath it. Swallowing a lump in his throat, he opened his door up wider.

"Why don't we have coffee right now?"

They smiled, tilting their head at his suggestion. Pulling out their phone, they checked the time. A small chuckle left their throat.

"It's 7 o'clock. Plus, like you said earlier, you could be a serial killer."

'I very much could have been. But, now you're here...'

"I don't think I could kill you in this apartment. The walls are thick, but they're thin enough to let loud noises get through. So, I'd get caught immediately."

"What a weird way to convince me to come in. What's even weirder, is that coffee sounds very nice right about now."

He smiled, dimples showing and eyes squinting slightly. Stepping aside, he allowed y/n to walk inside his apartment. He closed the door behind them and walked with them in the living room. It was a very neat apartment, aside from the living room that had books scattered all over a desk. Y/n hummed, peeking at the covers. Some were about forensics, some about history, and some were classic books.

"Avid reader? I guess I should have assumed so, since you read The Handmaid's Tale."

"Uh, yes, yes I am. I read a lot of books while I was in the orphanage. It was a hobby that stuck with me."

Y/n nodded, looking for a place to sit. Edward motioned towards a table that resided next to the archway to the kitchen. They sat down at the table, their baggy, lacey, white camisole bunching slightly around their waist. They had the same idea as Edward and wore sweatpants tonight, causing him to smile.

"You have a lot of books, Edward. I like that."

He blushed slightly, clearing his throat.

"Um, how do you like your coffee?"

"Do you have any creamer? I like sugar and cream." They answered, playing with their hair.

"Yes, I do."

He went into the kitchen, making two cups of coffee. As he did so, he tugged at his hair. Thoughts raced through his mind, going 100 mph. His head felt dizzy and he felt a sharp pain forming at the base of his skull.

'Kill them, let them serve as an example.'

'They can be your first victim.'

'They just want to humiliate you.'

'You don't deserve friendship or love.'

'Who could ever love you?'

He took a deep breath, looking in his reflection on a plate. Edward shook his head, dismissing the terrible thoughts. He didn't want to do any of that. The thoughts were just his own mind trying to play tricks on him. He would not do any of those things. Y/n, although having only met them today, was his only shred of hope that he had for happiness. They were the only thing he had to hold on to. And, what made it even better, is that they seemed to enjoy his company as well. It felt like the stars had aligned and blessed Edward with a guardian angel, sent specifically to save him from himself. And for that, he was eternally grateful. Never again would he think violent thoughts, never again would he contemplate ending it all. He had something, someone, to keep him grounded. A friend. That's all he had ever wanted in his life.

~

That night, the two of them stayed up for hours. They talked about their jobs, Edward finally explaining to y/n what a forensic accountant did. Eventually, they delved into more personal things. Edward talked about his experience in the orphanage, how traumatic it was, how much it changed him as a person, and how it ruined his childhood. Y/n talked about their challenges growing up as a non-binary AFAB person and how their family never approved of them. The both of them listened closely to their stories while sipping away at cups of hot coffee. Neither of them had planned for any of what happened that night to happen. But, they were glad it did. Because, after that night, things took off. They hung out more, visiting each other's apartments, having breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner together. After a month of friendship, Edward had worked up the courage to ask y/n to be his partner. It was awkward, just like he was, but that's what y/n loved about him.

~

"Edward, I've already read this book literally last week. I don't really want to read it again so soon."

Y/n had asked Edward for book recommendations a day ago. He said he needed time to look through the books he had, so he could pick a good one for them. But, he had just given them a book they read recently: Wuthering Heights. Y/n pushed the book back towards him across his kitchen table.

"Trust me, you should read it again. You might realize you missed something." He said.

"What? What does that even mean?" They asked, laughing slightly.

He shrugged, taking a sip of his lemonade. Y/n shook their head, rolling their eyes as they opened the book to appease him.

"You're so ominous for no reason, Edward. Look, I'm reading the book for the 2nd time this month, wow!" They fake gasped.

"Oh come on, read it to me. What's the first paragraph say?"

Y/n sighed, looking down at the page. Their eyebrows furrowed when they saw a sticky note on the page instead. Glancing up at Edward, they noticed he had a small smile on his face. Humming, they looked back down at the sticky note.

"Y/n..." They trailed, reading the rest of the note silently to themself.

'...this past month with you has made me a happier man. I've enjoyed our talks over coffee, our movie nights, and our complaining about our jobs. But, I don't want to do that anymore as your friend. I feel strongly about you, in a way that is more than friends. I look at you every day and think about how lucky I was to meet you, even if you did almost break my nose. It was worth the pain. You've thawed out my icy heart and made me feel loved for the first time in my life.'

Y/n looked up from the note, eyes wide. Edward smiled and leaned forward. His hands rested over y/n's, holding them in his.

"Um, y/n...will you be my partner? If that's ok with you, of course. You don't have to if you don't want to. I understand you might feel pressured to say yes, bu-"

"Edward! Yes, I will!"

His eyes widened.

"Y-You will?"

"Of course!"

Edward let out a shaky breath, smiling wide as he got up from his chair. Walking around the table in one big stride, he squatted down and cupped y/n's face in his hands. He leaned in softly, planting a gentle kiss on their lips. Y/n kissed him back, dropping the book and embracing him in a warm hug.

"But, Edward, I have one question."

"Yes, anything."

"Why did you use the Wuthering Heights book...it's kind of a tragic story..."

"Y/n, that's the most romantic book you had. Would you rather me have used Romeo & Juliet?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You make a good point. I have a penchant for tragic love stories, don't I? Oh my, do you think that's how we'll end up?" They asked, worry in their tone.

"What? No, of course not! That's ridiculous."

"Yeah, you're right. After all, Romeo and Juliet killed themselves because they couldn't be together, right? And, we're dating."

"That's a rather morbid look on it, but yes, you're right. I think we'll be just fine." He smiled.

~

Their relationship was a great one, fantastic even. No other couple in Gotham were quite in love like they were, and that was just a fact. It was as if they were made for each other, like soulmates. Two puzzle pieces that fit into each other perfectly. Creating a beautiful love. Edward loved y/n so much and they loved him. At the school y/n worked at, they became the favorite couple.

~

Edward sat behind the library counter with y/n, reading a book that he had brought with him. On his days off, he would go to y/n's job and keep them company. It was nice of the school to allow it, mainly because Edward helped encourage the kids to read more. He had sort of become like the library's mascot. It was cute and he didn't really mind it. A student walked up to the counter and placed a book on it.

"Good morning Y/n!" The student said.

Y/n, being non-binary, didn't really prefer to be called any titles. Because of this, they just had students and peers call them by their first name. It was their own personal choice and no one really minded it. It just made them even cooler to the students. Y/n's library was like a safe space for LGBTQIA+ people, having a pride flag hanging above their office. The school, luckily, was also a supportive school, allowing them to hang it up. Though, if they even tried to tell them to take it down, they would have put up a hell of a fight. Edward admired that about them, finding their kindness for others to be so inspiring. He also loved how they advocated for themself, not afraid to show who they really were.

"Good morning Jeremy, let's see what book we have this time."

Y/n scanned the book and looked at the cover. Their mouth formed an 'o' and they nodded their head in approval. It was a rather juvenile for someone in high school, but it was a good book nonetheless. Sometimes, you just had to read a book because you wanted to read it, not because you wanted to be smart. And y/n was a firm believer in that. Hell, they would still read Dr. Suess books sometimes, they were still as good as they were when they first read them.

"Fantastic Mr. Fox. Oh, I loved this book as a kid. Have you seen the movie?" They asked, handing the book to them.

"Yeah, that's why I wanna read the book." They smiled.

"What are we talking about?" Edward asked, peeking over his book.

"Fantastic Mr. Fox. Did you ever read the book, Edward?" Y/n asked, smiling at the kid as they walked away.

"Yes, but I never watched the movie."

"Oh, well I know what we're doing for movie night then."

"I suppose so." He smiled.

A couple laughs behind them caught their attention, and y/n turned back around the counter. Before them were a group of kids, two boys and three girls it looked like. Y/n rolled their eyes, motioning for Edward to come over. Humming, he stood up from his seat and placed his book down on the counter.

"Honey, the children want a riddle." Y/n said, already knowing what they were going to ask.

"They do? Hm..." He thought, pushing up his glasses.

The high schoolers laughed softly, looking expectantly at him. Y/n focused back to the computer, looking through a few emails as he thought of a riddle. The sound of his fingers rapping on the counter drew their attention back to him. Y/n watched in adoration as he told the group of kids a riddle.

"Ok, I was asked this riddle back in high school. It's probably one of the most intense, serious, and difficult riddle you will ever be asked. Are you ready?" He asked, ominously.

"Edward, don't scare the shit out of them!"

"Language, y/n. There are children present."

"Oh, they say worse than me."

One of the kids spoke up.

"What's the riddle!"

"Ok, if all Wibbles are Criggles, all Borkins are Kwumblins, no Hoggles are Borkins, and all Criggles are Borkins, is it true that all Borkins are Criggles?"

The kids all stared at Edward like he had three heads. Y/n burst out laughing, holding their side. He crossed his arms over his chest, acting like this was the most serious thing he had ever asked anyone.

"What the hell? Ed, did you just have a stroke?" Y/n asked.

"No, this is a serious question."

One of the girls spoke up.

"Ok, so...all Borkins are Kwumblins...I'm sorry this is too funny." She started giggling.

"All Borkins are Kwumblins, but no Hoggles are Borkins. So, all Wibbles are Criggles..." A boy mumbled.

A girl bounced up and down slightly.

"Oh, wait! I know! The question is, are all Borkins Criggles? The answer is no! Because, all Borkins are Kwumbins and all Criggles are Borkins. It's only asking about the Borkins, not the Criggles. So, no. Not all Borkins are Criggles!" She spat out, holding her tongue with her finger dramatically as if it stopped working.

Edward nodded.

"Very good! That's exactly the answer! I'm impressed, it's quite a confusing riddle." He smiled.

"Thank you Mr. Nashton! So, we have a riddle for you two!" The same girl asked.

"Oh? Well, I hope we can answer it." Y/n said, standing up next to Edward.

"Their solidarity is new, their commitment is deep, You’ll find me essential before the leap. What am I?"

Edward's face instantly went red, already knowing the answer. However, y/n took a little more time. The kids were giggling, elbowing each other to keep quiet. Y/n blushed as well, realizing the answer.

"A marriage license." They said.

"Uh huh, so...when are you guys getting married?" A boy asked.

Y/n clapped their hands.

"Oh boy, look at that! Time for my lunch break! Looks like we'll have to get back to you on that." They said, rushing them out of the library.

"Aw come on!"

"Aren't you 5 supposed to be in your classes anyways?" They asked, hands on their hips.

"Ugh, fine. But, we better get the wedding invitations!" A boy said.

"Yeah sure, go on you heathens."

"Why, so you guys can make-out?" A girl giggled.

"Inappropriate! Go on!" Y/n shoved them out of the door, closing it behind them

From behind the door, they could hear giggling and whispers, slowly fading away with footsteps. Sighing, she turned back around to see Edward propping himself up on the counter with his hand. He had his book in the other hand, hanging down by his side. Y/n shook their head in amusement as they walked back over to him.

"Call me crazy, but I think they want us to get married." He stated.

"Woah, really? That's impressive, can you read minds?" Y/n laughed.

Edward smirked, sitting back down in the chair he was in before. His leg hiked up over his other leg, hanging lazily. Flipping the page, he held it in place with his thumb. After a few moments of silence, he looked back up.

"Do you want to make-out, though?"

"Edward, there are cameras. I would love to, but I'd rather not get caught and get fired."

"What, not a fan of exhibitionism?" He teased.

"Edward Nashton, you are such a weirdo. I love that about you."

He smiled and shook his head, chuckling. The two of them fell back into a comfortable silence. When they got back home, they watched The Fantastic Mr. Fox together. Unsurprisingly to y/n, Edward absolutely loved it. His favorite character was Ash, because he too felt different. That was y/n's favorite character as well.

~

Their relationship continued to grow, 6 months turning into a year. A year turned into 2 years. 2 years turned into 3. And finally, 4 years had come around. On their 4th anniversary, Edward decided to take it to the next level.

~

Edward and y/n had finished up their anniversary dinner, now heading back to their shared apartment. After they had dated for a year, they decided they should move in together. Sure, they had already lived directly across from each other, but they wanted to be even closer. They wanted to see each other every morning and every night. Their shoes lightly clicked against the cement stairs that led down to the subway station. Y/n stopped, tugging at Edward's sleeve.

"Hey, this is the subway station we first met at!"

Edward subtly smirked to himself.

"Oh would you look at that, it is!"

They continued to walk down the stairs, finally reaching the platform. It was completely empty, due to how late it was, apart from a security guard. Y/n looked towards the bench the two of them sat at for the first time, eyes widening. Edward smiled, wrapping an arm around their waist as they walked over to it. Candles were placed on the tiled floor around it, lit and flickering in the cold air.

"Edward, did you do this?" They asked.

Glancing behind his back, he gave the security guard a smile. Yes, Edward had planned this whole thing, but it was the security guard who lit the candles just before they arrived. When he had come up to her and asked for her help, she agreed instantly. Edward, who once believed that no one in Gotham could be nice to anyone but themself, had been proven wrong. And now, he trusted other people to help him. He definitely owed the security guard.

"Y/n..."

They turned around, looking down to the ground as they saw Edward on his knee. Gasping, they cupped their hands over their mouth. Tears welled up in their eyes as they felt a shiver go down their spine. Edward took a shaky breath, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out a black velvet box, holding it in his hand.

"I never told you how I felt when I first met you, and I'd like to do that now."

He looked down at the subway tiles, sniffling and then looking back up at y/n.

"I was in a dark place at that time of my life, y/n. Any hope I had of love, friendship, and happiness was dwindling away. Every day was strenuous and draining. Troubling thoughts crossed my mind, thoughts that I never wanted to act on, but felt like they were the only solution to my pain. That day we ran into each other, that was going to be the day I acted on those thoughts. But, in the span of a few minutes, you showed me more kindness than I had ever been given in my entire life. A complete stranger. It baffled me, I didn't know what to think of it. I was certain you were setting me up for an elaborate prank. But, I'm so glad I decided to text you. The kindness that you showed me, well, it saved me, y/n. You pulled me out of the darkness and showed me a sliver of light, the hope that I so desperately wanted to hang on to."

"Eddie..." They sniffled.

He brought his hand up to his face, wiping away a tear that trickled down his cheek. Clearing his throat, he went back to his speech.

"I remember when I made you that cup of coffee. I thought to myself, 'They must be my guardian angel, sent down from heaven.' I thought this because no one that perfect, breathtaking, gentle, and kind could possible be from this world. Even as you stand before me here, I find you just as ethereal as you were the day I first met you. Here. In this exact place."

Edward shivered, hands trembling as he opened up the box. A silver ring with a humble diamond rested in the soft material. It was nothing extravagant, not at all. But, it was beautiful to y/n nonetheless. In fact, it was the most lovely ring they could ever imagine, because it came from him. It was perfect.

"And, it is here, where you first came into my life, that I ask you to stay in my life. These past 4 years I've spent with you have been amazing, truly they have. But, I don't want to be your boyfriend anymore, y/n. I want to be your husband. I want married life. I want to wake up to you, knowing you're my spouse. I want to have a family with you, y/n. I want to be a dad, I want to grow old together with you. I want the stupid little arguments, I want the moody teenager, I want the house. But, I can't have any of that if I don't have you. Without you, life has no meaning, color has no hue, music has no tune, and my heart will not beat. They say eyes are the windows to the soul, and when I looked into yours, I knew it was true. I looked into them and I saw good. I saw gentleness, kindness, love, and compassion. Your eyes, they are always foggy and shining, I've become addicted to looking into them. Like...like an opium haze. Addictive and mysterious. I was enthralled and I still am. I knew I wanted to be apart of your life, but I was so scared. I'm scared right now too, I'm shaking. But, I know in my heart that my love for you is true and I would be a fool to let you slip out of my life. So, y/n..."

He held up the box slightly, the object slightly shaking in his hand.

"Will you marry me, please?"

Y/n choked back a sob, hands still covering their mouth. They nodded frantically, letting the tears roll down their cheeks. Edward's eyes widened behind his glasses, glazed with tears. He straightened his posture, mouth forming a small smile.

"Yes, Edward. Yes, I will marry you! Yes!"

Edward's mouth hung slightly agape, surprised at the answer. He knew y/n would say yes, but it still caught him off guard. The tears that he had been trying to hold back were now flowing down his face. He stood up quickly, closing the box and embracing y/n in a tight hug. Their arms wrapped around each other, Edward's hand tangling in y/n's hair as he planted a chaste kiss on the top of their head. The two of them pulled away, hair stuck to their faces from the tears. He opened up the box, taking out the ring and sliding it on their ring finger. Y/n looked at it and smiled, laughing slightly. Edward laughed as well, kissing their hand and rubbing his thumb over their knuckles.

"Y/n Nashton. That has a nice ring to it." They hummed.

"My heart is still racing..." He chuckled.

"Mine too...let's go home, fiancé. We can watch Forensic Files in celebration."

"God, I'm so glad we're getting married."

"I love you so much, Edward."

"I love you too, y/n. More than you will ever know."

~