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Somewhere along the lines, your mind drifted off to a daze. Eyes eventually drooping from the words in the page you were on, arms giving out to stillness, slowly sinking. And given how quiet Wayne Manor's library was right now, especially with your lying position, resting on the couch with a blanket, it didn't take much time for you to begin nodding off to sleep.
Daylight peaked through the gap of the curtain windows, showing off one of Gotham's less gloomy days. You weren't sure how much time had passed, but you knew from going in and out of consciousness that 20 minutes went by until you felt a shift of movement near you. Which came from who else but your boyfriend, whose thigh you used as a pillow as you two read your own respective books.
It was a mundane activity you'd both partake from time to time. Given how much of a bibliophile Jason was, you considered him to be the most knowledgeable one on the English subject than the others.
In the quiet atmosphere, a soft and low chuckle reached your ears, faint, but noticeable. A trace of a finger brushes very lightly over your cheek, pushing an unwanted strand of hair away.
That was when you felt the pressure of lips slotting against yours. It was chaste and gentle, the intent clear in the loving pace the kiss has set. In your hazy mind from slumber, you aren't sure if you're reciprocating the action back, but it's only fleeting for a few seconds before you break apart, though you can still feel his lips brushing yours.
"Still with me, Princess?" Jason whispers, voice mellow and soothing. The sound made
"Mm... Jay." you mutter out, blinking your eyes to clear the drowsiness from your vision as you gazed up at your boyfriend.
"There's my girl." he cooed, tone light, brow and mouth quirking upwards as he stared at you fondly and with a hint of mirth.
You gave a small groan, stretching your back a bit before turning to face his direction, resting on your side, body curling up a bit.
"And here I thought the whole wake up kiss would work." Jason quips, running a hand through your (h/c) locks, leaving you to sigh in content. "Just not my Briar Rose, huh?"
"Can't help it.." you mumble, snuggling your cheek against his thigh more. "Lost focus."
"That's okay, baby. You're adorable either way." he says, grinning at the light blush spreading over your cheeks before his smile fell. "You did take a pretty hard fall last time." the man said, tone softly low. Carrying an expression of concern and solemnity; mind going back to the night he witnessed you crash landed to the ground with a loud thud, body laying still from the painful impact despite your protective suit. Jason went on full panic and concern when it happened, instantly making his way over to you to assess and help with any possible injuries.
Patrols never end up predictable, and in a city as grim and dangerous as Gotham, Gothamites knew that just as well as the Batfamily. It may not deal with the amount of Metahumans as the Flash, or otherworldly as Superman, but you could never let your guard down in a city like Gotham. People could attest clearly when they'd witness Batman or his mentees, former and present, take a rough beating.
So when you and Jason were paired together for patrol a few weeks back, the night didn't end as steady when you had some bruised ribs and sore spots. And you can definitely bet Jason turned into a mother hen in your healing process. Getting ice or warm pads for you, making sure you weren't in strainable positions, delivering pain meds, cuddling or simply touching you when you wanted it. Though your boyfriend: the well known elusive son, so called black sheep of the Waynes, the Red Hood, was subtle and very private about his emotions, including expressing his own concerns over his adoptive family when something would happened, he never held back with you.
You mean everything to Jason, his whole world, his home, the one good constant thing in his life. Through all the pain and hell he's lived passed, you were there through all of it, staying by his side no matter the ugly and messy parts that came with the aftermath of his resurrection. Part of what he loves about you. You made him feel heard, and that his feelings mattered no matter what. Wrong or right.
It was prominent fact to everyone, including his friends and other heroes, that both Jason Todd and Red Hood never mess around when it came to you and your well being. It was obvious to anyone how quote-unquote "whipped", worded by Roy Harper and Tim, the former Robin is with you. Of course you were just as smitten with him in return, but it was something else to anyone's eyes to see the complicated and dangerous man be a real softie.
What could he say? You are his princess, the center of his life, in charge of his heart, and he'd be damned if he didn't love you with everything he's got.
Even after all these years, Jason still wasn't all that expressive, didn't know how to talk so openly with his heart. He only knew how to do any of that with you, gentle and sweet. But he at least made sure to get his point across, and the people who knew him well understood the easiest.
Green tinted blue eyes darkened with worry and gentleness as Jason peered down at you. "Hurt anywhere, Princess? Need anything?"
You mildly shake your head, choosing to take the other hand that wasn't petting your head to cradle against your chest. "'M fine, just sleepy." your eyes open again to look back at him. "Was worried about you last night, though."
You of course knew Jason didn't receive any injuries when he went to sleep after his patrol, where he gently pulled you into his chest. He would've told you outright if he did, even if it wasn't anything serious. Because he'd expect the same from you. But that was just part of being in a relationship with a vigilante, technically a superhero. Even more so when it goes both ways, mainly operating in the same city, being a part of Batman's circle. Back in the old days when Jason was Robin and you, his Batgirl. Even under different monikers, Gothamites were quick to realize that the young love between the second pair of former sidekicks still carried on into adulthood.
"Hey, you know I'm all right. Not even a single bruise." Jason reassured, leaning to rub his nose affectionately with yours. "You should think about yourself."
"I know." you sigh, rubbing your eyes before slowly pushing yourself to sit up with Jason's help, who put an arm around your back in support. "How long have I been asleep?"
"About 20 minutes." he answered. "I didn't even realize you were dozing off until you plopped the book down when your arms went limp."
You then picked up the book you were reading that had slipped from your stomach to your lap. In your drowsy state, you had forgotten to mark where you had left off.
You went over the pages to remember where you were at but a small shudder suddenly went down your spine. You felt Jason brushing your hair away to press his lips against the back of your neck, causing you to let out a small yelp in response. A muffled laugh escapes him, making you try to squirm away from the vibration on your skin. Jason only continued to hold you securely while making sure not to touch your sides.
"That was too cute." he laughs softly against your shoulder.
"You know that spot is a no touch zone!" you cry out, trying to squirm out of his embrace, though not putting actual effort into escaping.
"I can't help it when you make noises like that, Princess." chuckled Jason, resting his nose to your cheek, lips ghosting over it. "Makes me want to see what other sounds I can get out of you."
"Save it for later." you playfully huff, trying to keep from giggling at his continuous doting. "I want to know if Marius finds out how he survived."
Jason's mouth goes over to your ear, murmuring "We've done enough reading. A break would do us good. You sure I can't convince you otherwise?"
Your face feels warmer, body stiff from nerves, heart fluttering. You knew what he was really implying behind his words. “Nope.”
Then, Jason lines his lips to your temple, to your cheekbone, before traveling his way down the side of your neck and the peak of your shoulder from his borrowed t-shirt you were wearing. The touch of his kisses were soft and feather-like, causing your body to instinctively lean for more.
That’s when the man aligned his mouth back to your ear, speaking quietly as if he was sharing a forbidden secret. "’I love thee with a love that shall not die, till the sun grows cold and the stars grow old.’"
A giggle immediately slips from you at his antics. Part of Jason’s obvious love of literature was talking in quotes from classics.
“There’s nothing like using Shakespeare to woo a girl huh, you old soul.” you tease.
He exaggeratedly rolls his eyes, “Fine then, how about this one.” he dips you down a little to face him. “‘To love or have loved, that is enough. Ask nothing further. There is no other pearl to be found in the dark folds of life.’”
“Very funny.” it was your turn to roll your eyes, smile easily spreading.
“What my princess wants she shall receive.” smugly grins Jason, the white streak of his bangs falling down his forehead.
“You are a dork.” you snort before grabbing a hold of his shirt, pulling him into a sweet kiss, which he returned eagerly.
"Aww, did you see that..!" quietly fawned Stephanie, crouching on one knee as she peaked through the gap of the library doors, observing your shared laughter and playful kisses. “They’re too cute!”
“Very happy, too.” nods Cass.
"Jason likes to quote Shakespeare..?” Tim inquires in slight bewilderment, eyes wide, wondering if he misheard your previous sentence.
"Uh, guys? Aren't we kinda intruding in on their moment..?" Duke whispered, feeling a sense of guilt and awkwardness.
“To think Todd carried a poetic side.” muses Damian, he too being perplexed at the new information of his rebellious older brother.
“We should leave them alone.” Dick murmured out, not wanting to disrupt you by giving away their positions. It was always a sight to see how easily you could get Red Hood, Mr. ‘Tough Guy and Edgelord’ to melt with just a touch and a few words.
“Indeed.” a familiar voice spoke beside them, making the siblings turn to see Alfred. He looked at them unimpressed, brow raised. “Now please let Master Jason and Miss (Y/N) be, they would certainly not appreciate being gawked over.”
“But–!” Stephanie quietly whines.
“Off you go.” Alfred ushers, tone firm.
“C’mon,” agreed Dick. “before Jason enters guns blazing and (Y/N) brings out the tasers.”