Mama Gotham

Snickerdoodles

A/N: There's some German in this chapter, but I used google translate so it might not be the best. I put the translations in parentheses after its said.

Oswald Cobblepot had never had any friends growing up, he had gotten into Gotham Academy on a scholarship, and the rich kids had no interest in being friends with 'riffraff'. They treated him like dirt.

Which is why he had to restrain himself from sounding too eager when he invited the nice kids over to his house.

"You saved me, the least I can do is invite you over for a snack. My mother makes very good snickerdoodles...." he tried to keep from looking too hopeful, but he was certain he was failing.

"Well now that you've offered sweets..." the boy, Edward, chuckled.

"Quiet you, I love snickerdoodles." Alyssa smacked his arm.

"You love anything with sugar."

"That, is entirely true." she nodded, turning back to Oswald. "We'd love to come over." she said with a wide smile.

Oswald felt his heart soar. "W-wonderful."

As they walked the path back to his house, he kept waiting to wake up from a dream. He had imagined making friends before, but it had only ever amounted to a hopeful boy's fantasy.

He noticed that the two of them seemed very close, though through their conversation he learned they weren't related. They were just best friends – which was clear by the way they could predict the other's reaction to a topic of conversation.

"I can fly but I have no wings. I can cry but I have no eyes. Wherever I go, darkness follows me. What am I?" Edward asked with a grin. Oswald had learned that the boy was very smart and loved riddles.

He could see Alyssa bouncing on her heels, clearly knowing the answer, but she stayed quiet and looked to him. Oswald realized she was giving him a chance to answer.

Grinning, he thought a moment. "...A cloud?" he offered.

Both of their faces lit up. "Correct!" Edward nodded. "You're very clever."

Oswald felt his cheeks heat up. Only his mother had ever complemented him, but she was his mother so she was obligated to do so. It felt different coming from someone else...

******

When they came to the Cobblepot household, which was the bottom half a duplex on 3rd street, Mrs. Cobblepot – Kalbeput – went crazy when she saw her son's injuries. She tried to blame Edward and Alyssa, but Oswald was quick to put an end to that.

Still, it was clear the woman didn't like the idea of her son spending time with a girl.

"Demon hussies trying to take you away from your mother! Und der fleck in meinem Haus!" (And the stain in my house!)

Insulted, Alyssa glared at the woman. "Entschuldigen Sie mich mam , aber ich nur traf nur Ihren Sohn heute. Ich möchte sein Freund zu sein , aber es könnte mit Ihnen unnötig beleidigen mich schwierig sein." (Excuse me mam, but I only just met your son today. I'd like to be his friend, but it might be difficult with you needlessly insulting me.)

Mrs. Kableput blinked, clearly surprised. "You speak German?"

"A side effect of being best friends with a brainic." she nudged Edward next to her, who was still glaring at the woman for insulting her. "There's no need to be rude, Mrs. Kableput. I assure you, I haven't come to steal your son."

Oswald blushed hotly and looked down, embarrassed. The good news was that his mother didn't seem to be scaring his new friends away.

The woman 'humphed', clearly respecting Alyssa a bit more after she had spoken in her native tongue. "Very 'vell. I apologize."

"Alyssa saved me mother." Oswald informed, looking at the girl with wonder in his eyes. "She punched Jacob right in the face and scared him and his friends off!"

All disdain left her face at that. "You saved my boy? Come, come, I make you tea and snickerdoodles."

Tea was more Edward's thing, he said it was enriching. Alyssa was more partial to the snickerdoodles, and her praising only made Mrs. Kableput like her all the more.

When the snacks were gone, the children chased each other around the house playing tag. Alyssa was easily the fastest of the three of them, and she flaunted it, making faces at the boys. However she had to stop to do this, which gave them the chance to catch up to her.

Mrs. Kableput watched them with a smile, occasionally telling them to watch out for the furniture. Really she was just delighting in her son's laughter. She had always known he was smart and charming, and now other people knew it too.

It was innocence in its purest form. Three kids who weren't all that good at making friends were playing like normal children.

They had no idea what the future had planned for their adulthood. If they had, they would have savored this moment more.