#child edward nashton

[fluffyfluffyscarecrow]

2022 Child Edward Nashton Plushie Design

I designed this little guy because I want to hug little choir boy Eddie. HE'S SO CUTE!!!!!!!! Just look at him! My personal favorite parts of this design would probably have to be the little hearts in his eyes, his blush, and of course his soft hair.

I'm going to do an adult version too, but for now just enjoy the cuddly little guy :)

Like to headpat, reblog to hug!!

[linxrouge4life]

"Its mine, dont touch it"

I was looking for some fluff today so heres Riddler holding his kid proteuge that fell asleep.

Why is he angry? Some rouges went by and looked and Riddler is overprotective. Maybe a bit embaressed.

(Dont ask me about the hands, I dunno what went wrong :'] )

I didnt draw or color the kid though so people (if they want to) can draw themselves or their OC's in the kids place! (If you do that please tag me for credit!)

[dentresidence]

My version of riddler lore drop whoa

When your beloved son who ran away from home when he was eighteen years old suddenly appear in the TV out of nowhere and debut himself as the riddler.

From the poem “Start here” Caitlyn Siehl

[nshtn]

oh boy oh boy the riddler's got a scar-l!

[laxi0v0]

Edward's mama. Huyam nashton

A young woman that loves creativity and art, from a traditional Turkish family She ended up in a loveless marriage when her parents betrothed her off to the first man that took her.

Moving to America with him she had nowhere to go and nobody to turn to,

Her sweet baby boy was the only reason keeping her there, and despite all the challenges she faced she still stayed high spirited and cheerful.

And most importantly she loved her child unconditionally and did her best to protect him from his father's abuse.

Eddie's sweetest memories of her was when she spend her mornings tending to her garden, and he would sit by her and play with mud, or catch worms and frogs in the backyard.

Or sit in her lap while she knitted and watched cartoons all day with him.

But his most favourite memory is sitting by her at the table and drawing together all their favourite cartoon characters going on silly adventures, and having to hang all his art on the wall in her studio beside her paintings.

[sodacatz]

Dee's writing info◇

☆I'm new to writing fanfiction so there might be few mistakes☆

☆I do take requests☆

°what I will and won't write about

°What I will write about

☆Fluff, Romance relationship,Platonic relationship, angst, gn reader, Male reader, fem reader, Etc, headcannons, comfort fics and slight nsfw, black or Indian reader, and wlw n mlm

°What I won't write about

☆R3pe/ non con, abuse, death, p3dophilia, weird age gaps relationships, full on smut, s3lf h32m, m9rder, ddlg/mdlg (non of that), ed, a$$ault and anything that has to do with piss☆

°stuff I write about

Spider man across the spiderverse

Marvel

The batman -2022

Jamie Reyes- blue beetle

Cobra kai

To be added to the tag list

♡

[3n1gm4blogs]

You’re just like your father, hurting Edith like how he hurt you

Silence. You know nothing of him! Don’t you dare insinuate and compare me to such a pathetic parent! I’m more than he ever was!

[diddle-riddle]

Dark Angel

[Warning for potentially triggering themes: - implied / referenced: underage rape / non-con (not described or explicit, but stated - NOT between Bruce and Ed) - teen pregnancy - a setting with Alpha / Beta / Omega dynamics (Edward is an Omega in this)]

...... .....

Edward Nashton stroked lovingly the thin blond fuzz covering the top of his baby's head.

Stephanie addressed him a questioning gaze, her Caribbean blue eyes wide open making her permanently resemble a curious bird eager to discover the world, explore her surroundings and have a contact with everything around her.

He smiled, in awe of the tiny creature. The one month old baby petted the soft pale skin of his left breast with her minuscule fists, sucking on the nipple in her mouth.

It's the second time his Omega body goes through this change: his flat chest developed during his pregnancy, until it formed two small but round bosoms, that will entirely deflate post-breastfeeding.

He attested with Jason, whom he nourished up to the Alpha's twentieth month of existence, that the breasts fastly disappear once they don't secrete milk anymore, for him to fully regain his normal masculine silhouette.

Everything made him insecure during his first pregnancy: the changes, the waves of hormones of a new kind triggering his male Omega biology, the judgemental gaze of people in the streets when seeing such a young person carrying a life, the crushing anxiety of not knowing how to raise that child he had out of a night in an alley with a female Alpha who took more than she was allowed. Driven mad by heat, at thirteen, he could only spread his legs and beg for release.

Such a dark life period.

Such a... drastic opposition to his current situation, nearly five years later, in which things improved.

"Is something wrong?" The low voice of the symbiote who lives in his body inquired, worried when he felt his host shaking like when he is scared or cold.

A symbiote going by 'Bruce', the name Eddie gave to the extraterrestrial who bonded with him while he was three months pregnant expecting Steph. Touched to be proposed an Earthian appellation, the alien adopted it... and adopted them.

Edward, Jason and Stephanie Nashton.

Bruce learned everything about Ed's story after they became 'roommates', more by accident than anything. He took a sincere liking on the young Omega mother, who raised on his own a little Alpha and was pregnant of a second child, conceived by someone who left him when finding out about the pregnancy.

"Art is not a bad man," Eddie had sighed once Bruce suggested they stop by at the Browns' house and deal with the couple of Alphas, Arthur and Crystal Brown, who cast him out when unveiling the truth. "He simply... didn't want a baby, and he is married. If I chose to get rid of Steph, he wouldn't have asked Jay and I depart from his home. Since aborting from my baby was out of the question... here we are."

And 'here' was good.

Edward rents a modest flat, Bruce protects him and his children, he morphed into their 'extraterrestrial guardian angel'.

"Nothing wrong," Eddie murmured at present, when a smooth hand wiped the tear that rolled down his cheek. "I am just... happy."

"Then why are you crying?"

"Humans do that, sometimes. They... cry because everything is alright, they don't know how to express their joy otherwise."

"Humans are weird."

Yet... one thing certain is that Bruce found a family.

He will do anything to keep them safe and make them feel loved.

...................

Read “Dark Angel” on AO3 here Discover the rest of the DC Symbiotes Series on AO3 here

[bruciemilf]

It’s been exactly fifteen years, two days, 4 minutes, and 33.5 seconds since the Wayne murder. Bruce can feel time crawling under his skin, like filth under fingernail, like it’s a breathing, screaming thing.

It’s an endless, infinite supply. And yet, he feels like he’s running out of it.

The details are carved deep; Alfred’s cologne lingering on both his mother’s Stefano Cabbana fur coat, Snow White and fluffy, and his father’s sharp-looking leather jacket.

The gunsmoke. The pearls bleeding on the pavement.

“Your mother wore Armani, actually.”

The Waynes are known to cheat Death, but this is getting ridiculous.

“You’re not here.”

The Riddler, — Edward. His name is Edward Nashton, 29-years-old, forsenic accountant, Bruce’s former classmate at Gotham University.

He’s just a man, not a monster, — gasps, wide eyes confused, “Who are you talking to?”

Thomas watches Bruce’s, — Batman’s hands tighten around the swamp green jacket with mildly tamed amusement. Almost like Bruce is an infant again, shaking on his first steps.

“Pretty sure I am, chum. Also, you might wanna move Eddie here to a coffee table. That shit looks sturdy. YOU were made on one, I think,—“

He cringes, but does as he’s told. Edward’s coffee screeches when Batman slams him across it like loose change, “I’d rather not think about that.”

“Honey, it’s a very romantic story, and I resent Alfred for not talking to you about it. Now go grab a drill and some duct tape. Oh, don’t make that face, — His adrenaline levels are higher than a fucking drop head.”

Bruce doesn’t want to do it. Something just compels him to. Thomas scoffs but Bruce is too focused on the drill biting through bone to notice. Edward doesn’t feel any pain. He’s just under the illusion of it, which seems much crueler.

“You would’ve KNOWN that if you stayed in school. “

“Why are you here?”

“Now that,” His father’s smile is a serpentine, alluring and full thoothed and stained with Maverick cigarettes. His hair is slicked, crowned by red lensed sunglasses.

He looked for a dead man. “Is a smart guy question.”

—

He doesn’t sleep. He can’t.

“Your father was a hundred different things, “ Alfred sighs at him, stitching up his wounds in a tight, secure pattern. Thomas’. The ghost of the hour. “And I never understood any of them.”

Bruce is about to ask more, expand a stream of curiosity, when footsteps bang against the cave’s massive interior.

He knows each child by foot, by volume, by rhythm.

He’d know Jason dead or alive.

He’s about to greet him, choosing to ignore his father’s ghost flirting with an unsuspecting Alfred, when his baby bird beats him to it.

“Why the fuck is your dead mom following me?”

[ghostbxne]

a bit self-indulgent edward nashton headcanons bc im going insane and i have to share my though with the world

- he guessed the joker’s riddle wrong. joker didn’t mean to call himself his „friend”, he literally introduced himself as „ the joker” - the card. the less you have the more one is worth (jokers in a deck of cards) (but maybe im overthinking this lol)

- his teeth are not taken care of. the orphanage did not provide proper dental care for the children, so his teeth are crooked and he has a few cavities. he would like to get braces but still can’t afford it

tw: self harm mention in the next one

- he self harms (honestly thats canon, in the year one comic we see him as a child and his hands with very prominent bite marks). he also punches walls (implied in the batman movie when he slaps a wall in his cell in the asylum)

- he stims (in the year one comic he thinks to himself „stop chewing on your glasses, edward”) and is autistic (literally gets called „rain man” in the year one comic) but undiagnosed due to his financial situation and fear of any doctors (my personal headcanon, but also implied considering how the medical staff at the orphanage treated kids)

- cannot cook to save his life. he buys pre-made food or makes really bad watery soups so he can put them in cups and drink them while working

- usually keeps his nails a little longer. he picks at his skin a lot so it annoys him when his nails are very short

- has ocd (implied in the year one comic (intrusive thoughts) and in the movie (compulsive writing))

- has anxiety (pretty much canon)

- doesn’t really listen to music, he prefers podcasts (canonically listens to a motivational podcast in year one) and audiobooks

- usually wears a few layers of clothing. he’s usually cold and also insecure about his body. (i love his year one cardigan)

- really likes animals, especially dogs. he likes how they don’t leave their owners and are always on their side. would like to have a dog but can’t (obvious reasons)

- has very big trouble managing his emotions (canon) and gets incredibly upset when something doesn’t go his way, even the small things

tw: animal abuse mentioned in the next one

- has a fear of water and drowning (might be from that one time when the guy at the orphanage forced him to drown a rat)

- doesn’t really know how to take care of himself due to childhood neglect

- has nightmares every night. after seeing the batman in real life they stopped for a while (he’d just have no dreams at all and occasionally a very distorted fever dream, but still not a nightmare), but he still kept repeatedly waking up in the middle of the night

alright thats it for now, i might edit the post and add more later or idk😭

[mimicmimikyuwrites]

Good Enough - Edward Nashton (The Riddler) x Fem!Reader

Summary: Edward has never felt good enough for anyone or anything. When the self-help resources fail to work and the feelings of inadequacy grow stronger by the day, he begins to doubt that he's even worthy of being loved, but you're there to comfort him and remind him of just how much he matters.

Contents/Possible Warnings: Minor spoilers for Riddler: Year One, a lot of angst, hurt with comfort, fluff, mentions of smut (but no actual smut)

Repulsive. Broken. Unwanted. Not good enough. The words he told himself had buried their way into his thoughts, repeating themselves like a twisted mantra that never ended, even with the constant use of every self-help tip and coping skill he had learned. That same mantra had been there so long that he couldn't remember when it had first started.

Maybe it was never something new at any point; maybe it was just the truth that he kept trying to deny with ledgers filled line to line with positive affirmations that he could never convince himself of. 'You are good enough.' No, he wasn't. He never would be. He was fighting a losing battle against himself.

At least at the end of the day, he had someone to come back home to, someone who told him every day how much she loved him. Before he had met you his only form of salvation was his puzzles, like it had always been since he was a young child. With you here, though, he had more than just riddles and crosswords online and in the local paper to look forward to after a long workday. You were the only good thing that Gotham City had to offer. You were an angel, his angel.

He unlocked the door to his apartment and closed it behind him, a smile making its way onto his face at the sound of your shoes against the wooden floor as you made your way from the bedroom and toward him. You grinned widely as you saw him, your arms outstretched and wide open before you wrapped him in a tight hug.

"Hi," He murmured in greeting, hugging you back as he nuzzled his face into your soft, beautiful hair. You smiled even wider, looking up at him with eyes that always made him melt with just a single look into his own. "How was work, Eddie?" You questioned, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"It was—" He paused, trying to find the right words. Shit. It was shit. His boss was a condescending, passive-aggressive, arrogant prick who slacked off more than he worked and still managed to be more successful in his career than Edward had ever been. As much as he wanted to vent, he didn't want to burden you with more than he already was by being with you.

"Fine." He finally decided, putting on a fake smile. "Same old calculations and whatnot. Nothing interesting." He lied. It was another day of statements from Zach that were insulting enough to strike a nerve, but not obvious enough to report to HR. Not like it'd matter, it would probably get swept under the rug and forgotten about. Some days Edward wondered if his superior was actually the pompous dick he thought him to be or just an idiot with confidence.

"Oh." You could see right that smile on his face. Something was bothering him like it had been for days now and you could tell. It broke your heart knowing he was struggling and that same struggle left him unable to feel okay confiding in anyone. "Are you sure...?" You questioned, a hand moving upwards to cup his cheek gently, the man leaning into your comforting touch.

He had lied to you. How could you lie to her? You manipulative, disgusting freak. As the thoughts filled his head, guilt washed over him. God, he didn't deserve you. He didn't deserve your affection, and most certainly not your love. Did he deserve any love at all? Was there anything to love about—

"Eddie?" Came your soft voice, the sound like that of an angel. He broke himself out of his thoughts, smiling at you again. "I think I'm gonna go pick us up some takeout for dinner. What do you want?" He changed the subject, moving away from you and back towards the door.

"No." You said a bit sternly, grabbing his hand and pulling him over to the nearby couch, sitting down with him. "You're not getting out of this that easily. Tell me what's wrong, Eddie."

"It's not you, I promise that it's not." He insisted quickly, afraid he had upset you with his earlier lie. She's going to leave you. She never should've been yours to begin with. You ruin every good thing you get. He grew tense as the fears filled him and threatened to consume him whole. You were so perfect, so deserving of every amazing thing the world had to offer and more, and he was just... Edward Nashton.

"Woahwoahwoah!" Your hands shot forward at the sight of tears beginning to well up in his eyes, your thumbs wiping them away as they fell. "I'm not mad, honey. I just—" You stopped, unsure how to phrase things. "I'm worried about you. You can tell me anything, as cliche as that sounds. You're not a burden to me; you never have been, and you never will be."

He buried his head into your shoulder, sobbing into it as your arms came to hold him close to you. "Why? Why do you love me? I–I don't understand..." He cried softly against you. "All of these years you've spent with me and I can't comprehend why. Is it out of pity?" He asked. While to anyone else it would've sounded like a bold accusatory remark, you knew that the question was genuine. He needed to know.

"Look at me, Edward." You commanded gently, him moving so he could face you and meet your eyes with his own. The sight of tears running down his face and wettening his glasses broke your heart. "Three years we've been together. In those three years, I've fallen more in love with you than I have anyone else. We've made love more times than I can count. I even wait for the day you'll put a ring on my finger, no matter which one it is. It could be made out of scrap metal for all I care, as long as it's from you.

You're smart, Eddie. Tell me, does everything I just listed sound like I only pity you? Or does it sound like I'm head-over-heels in love with the man in front of me? You are good enough. I love you, Edward Nashton."

That made him cry even harder, but you were there to hold him, just as you had been since you stumbled into his life. If he wasn't good enough for himself, then at least he was good enough for his angel. You wanted a ring on your finger? He'd get you one in due time. Anything for the one who showed him that he could be loved, that he wasn't some type of vermin in the cesspool that was Gotham City. You are good enough. For once, he believed it.

[danosrosegarden]

Hey ur my favorote Eddie Nashton fic writer, if you're taking requests at all would you write something about reader throwing him a birthday party? I imagine he didnt get many in the orphanage :( Supposedly 7/21 is his birthday!

sweet tooth - edward nashton x gn!reader

{contains: brief mentions of past trauma but mostly fluff/celebrating edward :-)}

Edward got up for work early, when the sky was still a dark, milky blue-black and the air was still chill and silent.

40 today. He would rather not think about it.

He was perfectly fine with you forgetting. He could count on one hand the amount of happy birthday letters he had received in his four decades. He was fine without a stupid cake or colorful candles or glittering balloons. He was a fully grown man, not a selfish little child. Who needs them.

But while you're still sleeping in bed and he's putting on his jacket, getting ready to head out the door, he sees something shining on the kitchen counter. He walks over and sees a card. Sweeping, cursive letters and a drawing of a cupcake decorate the front.

It's Your Day!

The counter is bejeweled with small, glittering pieces of rainbow confetti. He doesn't notice that his hands are trembling as he opens the card.

Happy birthday, sweetheart. I hope this year is the year you flourish like never before.

I can't wait to celebrate you when you get home.

His stomach is churning as he places the card back on the counter and it stays twisting and turning throughout his day at work.

Not a single happy birthday, Edward! Not a card or confetti decorating his desk.

But you. You remembered.

He scoffs a laugh as you practically tackle him in a hug when he walks through the door.

"I'm so glad you're home, darling."

It takes genuine strength to blink back his tears as you shove a gift in his arms. It's wrapped in glimmering green paper.

He thinks of the orphanage as he tears it. He thinks of the children he shared a room with. He wonders where they are. How they could've bloomed like neon flowers in the beating summer sun if only they had been given a chance.

You looked worried as he peers at the gift: a thick book of crosswords.

"It's kind of stupid, but I thought you'd like it. It's supposed to be harder than the New York Times. I know you love a challenge."

He shakes his head and says nothing as he envelops you in a quiet, warm hug. You can feel his smile against your cheek and suddenly, it all is worth it. The nightmares that keep you both up and make your stomach cave in worry. The times you have to run your fingers through his hair and pat his back as he dry heaves into the toilet. The days where the world is too loud for him and his voice is far too quiet to fight back...it all is worth it if it means he could blossom with you. It wasn't easy, but getting to be a part of him would always be worth it.

You think of him, him in his entirety. His high, trembling giggle as he stumbled his way through a dumb joke. His compassion and dedication, the times he'd pick up market flowers for you or write you long, handwritten letters just because. The truth of the matter was that despite everything he had weathered, Edward Nashton was sweet. He was kind to you. He was yours, and there was nothing you'd trade that for.

Edward did not look forward to his birthday. He hardly remembered it when it rolled around each year. But then there was you. God, he never could've imagined that this would be his life. A life where he's celebrated, not crumpled like a piece of ruined paper and thrown away. A life where he's thought of and cared for, not just another number.

He is loved. That's all he could've wished for.

[connorntofficial]

okay Ed backstory and childhood stuff!!! TW- mentions of abuse and ableism‼️

so Edward Nashton was born April 1st 1954 in Connecticut. around the age of two he was diagnosed with autism after his mother noticed a few developmental delays. his father didnt take the diagnosis well, blaming Eds mother for it, thinking it was a result of poor parenting. Eds father also became harsh towards Ed, feeling like he was robbed of a child. Eds grew up spending most of his time with his mother, she homeschooled him, taught him to do things like sew, and cook, and fix things in the house. Eds favorite thing to do with her was solve puzzles and riddles though! he would spend hours putting puzzles together, trying to solve riddles, it was his favorite thing! he loved having a problem in front of him that he could just solve! and he loved asking riddles, he loved knowing the answer to something snd seeing people be completely lost trying to figure out the answer. when he started going to school at the age of 12 riddles became even more of a comfort. people often thought he was dumb, and would either be antagonistic or infantilizing towards him. telling riddles gave him a leg up of sorts, he put people in a situation where he was the smartest person there! and they had to see that he was smarter then them! he knew the answer to these riddles and delighted in seeing people struggle to think of what it is!

he always loved feeling smarter then people, he loves watching them squirm under pressure. he loves seeing people get agitated when they realize they dont know the answer to such a simple question!

[arabriddler]

before Edward Nygma there was Salim Nashton, and Salim, as his name says, was safe for some time while staying with his mother.

When Salim came into the world, his mother started understanding things about his father. He snapped whenever Salim wailed and more often than not he had clenched his fists. Salim’s mother is smart, she was after all studying abroad on a fully-paid scholarship when she met her current husband. When she started to worry about this behavior, she put up an emergency plan, and when her husband crossed the line, she executed it. Salim and his mother lived in a run-down apartment in the Narrows where they will be untouched. It was one of the happiest periods in Salim’s life where they’d spend evenings calling up radio game shows with a burner phone and nights burning through Arabic poems and riddle books.

This, unfortunately, didn’t last long. His mother knew she couldn’t keep hiding for long, especially if she wants a bright future for her intelligent son. She sought out the help of lawyers to file for divorce and take custody of Salim. Except, when the case was taken to court, the judge found it so easy to side with Salim’s father. She was, after-all, a middle-eastern woman who kidnapped her own child. No matter how much evidence and dirt she digs up, nothing could sway the judge because her identity has more weight than anything else in this corrupt system. Salim was five when he was taken from her. He doesn’t remember much of that period. He remembers the riddles and the poetry. He can speak Arabic fluently. He remembers the songs she’d sing him, but never her face.

[cr0wsink]

idk if anyone’s ever talked abt this but the fact Edward Nashton/Dano! Riddler never actually did all that well in school and went to community college is very refreshing to see

i think most versions of the riddler he’s some child genius and it’s kinda reassuring that there’s a version of him that’s still stupidly clever and didn’t “achieve” what most of the other riddler’s achieved

[clementine-side-blog]

Everlong - E.N

Summary: Edward Nashton visits his lover.

Content Warning: Explicit language, GN!Reader, they/them pronouns, lots of angst, autistic!Edward (so basically normal Edward), autistic!Reader, thoughts of suicide, this is depressing why tf did I write this...

Word Count: 2.2k

Song For Inspo:

Everlong - Foo Fighters (long live Dave Grohl my pookie bear)

~Read Below Cut~

~

Edward sat on the damp grass, not caring about getting the seat of his pants wet. His back was hunched over, a result of him having poor posture. It was a cloudy day in Gotham City, and it showed signs of rain, much to Edward's dismay. He wanted it to be sunny. Not necessarily for himself, but for y/n. For some reason, he thought that if it was sunny, it might keep them warm. It can't be too comfortable in the ground. At least he was able to bury them with one of their favorite blankets. Hopefully that was keeping them nice and cozy down there, and preventing them from getting cold. Edward let out a soft sigh, picking at the verdant blades of grass below him.

"I never got that promotion at work, angel. I thought I would, but I guess I just didn't do a good enough job."

There was no response. Of course there wasn't.

"I know, I know, if it didn't happen then it wasn't meant to be. That's what you always tell me...told me." He smiled weakly.

He looked like a child pouting at a playground. Not able to play with his friend because they were put in time out. But the time out was forever. He could never play with his friend again. He could never see his lover again. The person he was going to marry. God, he had already gotten a ring. They had already gotten engaged just a few weeks before it happened. Before those lowlifes shot them dead in that alley. All for what? $20? Knowing y/n, they probably tried to talk them out of it and reason with them. They were too nice for this world.

"I still haven't gotten rid of your things..." He admitted.

It had been three months since y/n was buried. His apartment was still riddled with things that reminded him of them. But how was he supposed to get rid of them? Was he supposed to just toss their things in the trash and forget? Fuck that. But y/n and him did have a conversation about a scenario like this before. It was around a year ago, but they had told him to donate their clothes to an orphanage or a charity if they passed. And they also did that when they outgrew clothes.

"...I mean, I've donated some of your clothes, but I just can't let go of anything else."

Edward chuckled lightly, recalling a fond memory.

"Do you remember when we first met? How I, um, solved your crossword? That was...that was funny. I really thought you were going to hit me or something."

~

The person next to him on the subway train was focused on the newspaper below them. Their eyes were narrowed, concentrating on solving the puzzle. Edward, who was already enthralled with how stunning they were, couldn't help but peek over their shoulder. It was the crossword from this morning. He had already solved it, and rather quickly, during his lunch break at work. When he noticed how stuck they were, he decided to chime in.

"23 down is handbag." He said simply.

The person lifted their head up, giving him a stern stare.

"What?"

He pointed at the crossword.

"23 down. Seven letter word for purse. Handbag."

They huffed, filling out that part of the crossword before mumbling a soft "thanks". He beamed with pride, and then pointed to another part of the crossword.

"Parasol."

"The fuck is a parasol?" They chuckled.

He raised an eyebrow at the comment.

"You're not that smart." He blurted out.

The stranger turned to him slowly, looking insulted. He was quick to raise his hands up in defense.

"Why would you say that to someone?" Their eyebrows knitted in irritation.

"I-...I don't know. Sorry. I have a bad habit of speaking before thinking. I...I didn't mean generally. I meant like...like when it comes to crosswords. I-I bet y-you're a really smart person." He stuttered out.

They crossed their arms over their chest.

"You autistic or something?"

Edward turned red instantly, but he nodded.

"Yeah, I can tell. Me too though. And if we're just saying what we're thinking, then you look like a pervert." They smiled at him, cheekily.

He huffed.

"I am not!"

"Doubt."

"You don't even know me!"

"You don't know me either, so maybe we're both wrong about our assumptions." They tilted their head, putting him in checkmate.

Edward sighed, fidgeting with his hands.

"Touché."

They giggled.

"I'm y/n, what's your name?" Y/n suddenly asked, holding out their hand.

He looked caught off guard by the personality switch. But he was quick to take their hand and shake it.

"Edward Nashton."

Y/n nodded, and let go of his hand. They rummaged into their bag, and pulled out their phone. After pulling something up, they turned their phone around and showed it to him. It was their contact information.

"Call me sometime?"

His eyes were wide, stumbling over his words as he input the information in his own phone. Y/n watched with a soft smile before putting the phone away. Edward nodded frantically, as if he was a bobblehead.

"O-Ok..."

~

He ran a hand through his hair, sniffling softly.

"You kind of scared me then. But you were a sweetheart once I got to know you. What did you think of me?"

It was silent, and he sobbed.

"I'm talking to your grave. This is pathetic, isn't it?"

He sighed.

"No, it isn't. I'm...I'm grieving. Maybe you can hear me, somewhere. Yeah, yeah maybe you can..."

Edward looked down at the ground, seeing a ladybug. He gasped softly, and held out his finger. The colorful bug hesitated, but eventually crawled onto him. He lifted his hand up.

"Good luck, right? Isn't that a thing? I think you told me it meant good luck..." He smiled.

The bug flew away.

"...it's a little too late for it, though."

A shiver ran down his spine.

"Oh, um, again I'm not really sure if you can hear me, but I thought I might play our song. Well, not 'our' song, it's the Foo Fighters, but you know what I mean."

Edward pulled out his phone, and opened up Spotify. With a few taps, he played the song. He turned his volume up, and placed his phone on their grave.

Hello, I've waited here for you.

Everlong.

Tonight, I throw myself into.

And out of the red, out of my head, she sang.

He buried his head in his hands, suffocating a few meek cries. Tears streamed down his cheeks, but he wiped them away. The music carried in the breeze, and he could almost feel it in the air. In this very moment, the song felt more literal, and a little too similar to his situation.

Come down, and waste away with me.

Down with me.

Slow how, you wanted it to be.

I'm over my head, out of her head she sang.

"Oh God..."

Edward reached out for his phone, but he hesitated. He wanted to turn the stupid song off, suddenly hating it. But he didn't. He didn't turn it off. What if y/n was listening to it? What if they were happy? Edward retracted his hand.

And I wonder, when I sing along with you.

If everything could ever feel this real forever.

If anything could ever be this good again.

The only thing I'll ever ask of you.

You gotta promise not the stop when I say when.

She sang.

He looked up at the sky, trying to prevent anymore tears from falling. His cheeks were already stained with them. With a deep breath, he exhaled and looked back at the grave. Specifically, their name on the tombstone.

"You always loved this song. Sometimes when you were sad, you'd lay in bed and listen to it on repeat. I don't know why you did that, because it only made you cry more."

Breath out, so I can breathe you in.

Hold you in.

And now, I know you've always been out of your head, out of my head I sang.

Edward hummed along, but it was shaky and out of tune. His hands trembled as he picked at the grass. Part of him hoped that he would wake up, and find out that it was all a terrible nightmare. He hoped that when he woke up, y/n would be right next to him in bed. They would be asleep, and they'd turn over to rest their head on his chest, just like always. He would synch his breathing with theirs, and their chests would rise and fall together. All he wanted was to hold them once more, and feel their heartbeat.

And I wonder, when I sing along with you.

If everything could ever feel this real forever.

If anything could ever be this good again.

The only thing I'll ever ask of you.

You gotta promise not to stop when I say when.

She sang.

He didn't say anything. What could he say? What could he possibly say to change the situation? Absolutely nothing. There was nothing he could do or say, and he felt helpless.

And I wonder, if everything could ever feel this real forever.

If anything could ever be this good again.

The only thing I'll ever ask of you.

You gotta promise not to stop when I say when.

The song ended, and Edward grabbed his phone, turning it off. He sniffled, sitting in silence as the breeze ruffled his hair. Rain started to drizzle just barely, but he paid it no mind. His eyebrows knitted, and he let out a frustrated sigh.

"I'm so mad at you."

He looked down.

"I know it's not your fault, but I'm still just...I'm angry. Why did you have to be nice? Why did you walk home alone at night? You knew better than to do that..." He trailed.

Edward's mind was swirling, and it felt like he was in a funhouse. Mirrors distorted everything around him, and he couldn't even tell where he was. He felt like he was in a foreign land. He was navigating a world alone.

"Maybe I should just join you."

Their voice practically rang in his ears.

Don't do that, Eddie.

He cupped his hands over his mouth, and let out a muffled scream as he tucked his head in his lap. His chest heaved as he continued to cry. Both of his hands moved up to his hair, and he tugged at it harshly. He rocked back and forth slightly, groaning and whimpering in anguish.

"I don't want to be alone. I was alone my entire life, up until I met you. And now you're gone, and I don't know how to continue."

No response.

"The song, the song said it! 'Come down, and waste away with me'. I w-want to do that!"

Frustrated, he stood up and paced back and forth. His hands rested on top of his head. Thankfully no one else was in the graveyard, because they'd definitely give strange looks. Or maybe they'd understand. Maybe he wasn't alone with how he was feeling.

"You're...you're selfish! You left me!" He spat, pointing at their grave.

It was quiet.

"Why would you leave me? I'm not strong enough to deal with this..." Edward slowed his pacing.

The rain came down a little faster. Waterdrops hit Edward glasses, and he took them off aggressively. Using the hem of his shirt, he cleared the lenses before putting them back on.

"This was not how this was supposed to go! I did not ask for this to happen!" He yelled.

Edward sighed, and sunk down to his knees. He brought his head down to the grass, and wept.

"But you didn't either..."

The song repeated in his head over and over, and it was making him sick. He loved it so much, but he hated it at the same time. His throat closed up from crying, and he felt like he was suffocating.

"You're not selfish, I'm sorry. Y-You were the most selfless person I'll ever know. I mean, you gave me a chance, that says a lot, right?" He chuckled, lifting his head back up.

He shook his head.

"No, I know you don't like that. Don't poke fun at myself. I'm...I'm worthy of love, I know that."

Edward sat in silence, trying to calm himself down. The rain had picked up a bit, and it was now a decent sprinkle. His hair was no doubt damp, but it didn't really matter.

"I didn't bring flowers, because you never really liked the idea of it. They die after a bit. But maybe I can visit every week, and we can listen to music?" He suggested to no one.

He nodded.

"Yeah, I think that's a good idea."

He leaned down, kissing the tombstone. After a few seconds, he planted his hands on his knees and pushed himself up. A shiver ran down his spine, the cold weather seeping into his bones. He swallowed thickly, and pinched the bridge of his nose before rubbing his forehead.

"I don't want to leave, but it's raining a lot, and..."

He trailed off, looking at his wristwatch. Blinking harshly, he exhaled and sat back down. Edward let out a soft sigh, turning into a fog in the chill air. It was freezing outside, but he could care less. Reaching down, he placed a hand on the grave, rubbing it gently.

"I can stay a little longer..."