Chapter Text
Being an immigrant would never be easy, even though your parents succeeded in finding a good job and even a cute apartment in Metropolis, all their worries were set on your college degree. You applied for a lot of scholarships near your city, and it was your dream to get into Metropolis University but the results came… A little different from the expected, and yes, you knew that being accepted to any other College was an option but getting a Wayne Scholarship for Gotham University never crossed your mind, never thought that they would accept someone from another city and you applied just in case.
So there you were, standing with all the boxes in your new little room in Gotham. Your parents were very concerned about you being all alone on that… Merciless city, of course they had heard about all the atrocities that happened day and night, they only let you stay there because they managed to contact an old friend of theirs, a sweet woman who lives in Crime alley, the name of the zone wasn't comforting at all but she assured that you would be fine with her, even more since they had this vigilante with a red helmet. You found a bit funny the fact that his name was just about his red hood but it should have a deeper meaning that you didn't know.
You tried to convince them about finding a job so you could help a bit more with the bills but they insisted that you should keep your mind on your studies and being back home safely.
“Well, honey. I don't really have a lot of rules but the only thing that I can ask you for is to be here on time.” The lady started talking with a soft look in her eyes. “I know that you'll be making a lot of friends in college and that they'll be inviting you to some places but please, never stay out till too late. Gotham doesn't have mercy with anyone, the bats could be around and even Hood could be near but It's not worth risking your life for just a few hours of fun”.
Those words were carved into your mind, you knew that, you read news about a lot of people missing, bodies found in horrible conditions, human trafficking and a lot more. To be dead, all you have to do is be alive, and for a girl who's just nineteen years old, being a victim of some kind of crime wasn't that difficult.
“I know, Mrs. Wright. My mom always told me to be careful, even in Metropolis.” You chuckled while shaking your head. “We could have Superman but it's better to be careful and not need him than to need him for being careless”.
Your words seem to get a weight off of her shoulders, knowing that you weren't the kind of girl who thought the world is hers and nothing bad could even happen to, was very relaxing.
“I'll let you unpack your things, honey. Just call me if you need something, later I'll teach you to lock our door properly.” The sweet old woman was about to leave the room when she turned your way. “And like I told you parents, you don't have to worry about the windows. A few years ago, before my husband passed, he installed bars, he wanted me to be safe”.
A tender smile took place in her face, her eyes sparkling just for the thought of the man. You nodded with a little smile, you could only pray to get to be loved like that someday, that someone would care for you —besides your parents, of course— even when they couldn't be physically by your side anymore.
With a deep sigh and dreamy thoughts all around your mind, you dropped yourself onto the bed. You never had a lot of wooers, at least not that you know, you can even count them with your hands. One of your dreams was meeting someone special at college, maybe someone from another career, or even a neighbor but one never knows how the things would happen.
From time to time, when things get a little off with your circle of friends you really doubt that somebody could ever… Stay by your side that long to fall in love with you.
You furrowed your brows when a bad feeling started to set in your chest, you knew that your friends from Metropolis were going to forget you in a few months because it always happens but it wasn't the moment to be down. You're in a new city, a new apartment and you had a lot of new memories and experiences waiting for you! If your friends never reach out again, then they were never worthy… You'll always care for them but you can't force someone to be friends with you if they don't want to.
Taking a deep breath, you took your phone to play some music at a moderate volume —you didn't want to bother anyone— and started to unpack all your things. A new life is in front of you and you'll try to get all the good things from it.
[...]
Your first outing was with Mrs. Mary Wright, she took you to have some lunch in a little place near the apartment, she said that it would help you meet some of your new neighbors. The lady walked you through some tables, introducing you as her niece, letting them know that you'll be staying with her for a few years and that they better be taking good care of you.
If you had to tell the truth, you wasn't so sure that telling all of them about you was good, but well, you're not a gothamite, and never before you put a foot on that town, so if she —who had live in there her whole life— was doing that, must be for the better.
“Her parents trusted me their only girl and I trust y'all to help me take care of her.” The lady scanned the restaurant looking for someone who didn't agree but everyone nodded firmly, even the cooks. That made you smile a bit.
Crime Alley was one of the worst places to live, you couldn't trust no one but, for what you can see, the few you can count on were truly committed with taking care of their people, and since no one there could rely on the GCPD, they only have themselves… And of course, the Red Hood.
That guy really intrigued you, well, all of the vigilantes of Gotham intrigued you. You get that somebody like Superman or Wonder Woman risks their lives to save others but the Bats and that Red guy impressed you. They really had courage to be fighting all those atrocities every night, there was more than just mafia gangs or small criminals, that city had plenty of psychopaths and mutants trying to make Gotham a real hell on earth… Although it already was hell, it had something really rotten deep down and it was like nobody could ever get rid of it, just mitigate it for a few hours before it came back stronger, angrier, starving for more suffering.
You only snapped out of your mind when Linda took you to your table.
“I know Gotham can be really scary, sweetheart, and that's why i want to keep you safe at all cost” her face was full of concern, it made you thought about how many things that woman had to go through. “I- The majority of us knows how it feels to lose someone special for us, to lose a lover, to lose a child. And if we can prevent it from happening to another person, we'll try our best to do it.”
You swallowed heavily, the sadness in her voice was getting to you, and god knows you couldn't hear somebody speaking like that without your vision turning cloudy.
“You don't have to explain anything to me, Mrs. Wright. I know that you care for me and I'm really sorry for concerning you with all this. I promise I'll be safe for you!” You nodded with a bright smile on your face, didn't want to make the lady look more miserable, you were pretty sure that her mind was full of bad thoughts.
The old woman just chuckled and nodded, you had that sparkle in your eyes that only the ones from outside the town had, gothamites loses theirs when they still young and, in Crime alley? They were just born without it.
[...]
Your parents have sent you an amount of money for the week, so you manage to take Mary to the supermarket so you can refill the fridge. The both of you had a lot of fun discussing what to buy and what should be erased from earth.
By the end of the day, you two were back at the building, a lot of bags in your arms, you wanted to carry them all by yourself, they were heavy and you didn't allow the lady to take any.
“I'm okay, I swear. I just have to take a breath for a few seconds, we're almost at home.” Shaking your head you set the bags on the floor while catching breath, in Metropolis you only helped carry them from the car to the elevator, but this wasn't Metropolis and there's no elevator. Only stairs that seemed endless.
“Honey, I'm not that old. I can carry some of them from now on. Please don't be stubborn.” You were ready to refuse again when the face of the woman in front of you lighted up. “Jason! Sweetheart, you came just at the perfect time. This girl doesn't hear this poor lady.”
You only sighed before raising your head, your complaint never left your mouth when your eyes met with the so-called Jason. The boy was… huge.
You felt like you had to look way up to meet his eyes and you were a tall girl. His broad shoulders didn't help at all, his face was relaxed but his eyes were a deep green that made you freeze on the spot. Even though he kept his head slightly bowed, it wasn't hard to notice the J running down part of his cheek. You didn't really want to dwell on it too much; in Gotham, that scar could mean a lot of things.
A man like that must have a voice deep like his eyes.
“Need help with that? You should've called me before, Mary.” Oh, and you weren't wrong.
“I know, I just forgot about it, honey. I was too entertained with her and now she doesn't let me help her.” with her hands on her hips, let out a deep sigh. “But yes, we need help. Just look at her, she's out of breath”
You managed to not roll your eyes before taking a few steps back so the guy could take the bags. Looking away when he carried all of them as if it was nothing.
Your new home girl —as Mary called herself a few hours back— started to go upstairs while talking to the black haired guy, who now that you take a better look, has a white streak, it was curious but you liked that, it gives him more personality —if that's possible—.
“She'll be here with me for a long time, so you better be taking care of her, Jason. Now you have to share my pastries with my little dove right here, I hope you don't mind” the boy only answered with a low sound and a nod. “And sweetie, please don't worry about him being silent. He's more of actions than words.”
“Mary, I'm still here” his murmur sent a shiver down your spine. The familiarity of the conversation let you know that they were close, you still wondering if that was good.
You never were too comfortable with new people around your age and although he didn't look like the guys you prefer staying away from, the fact that he was really attractive to you didn't make it any better.
“Oh, I know. That's why I'm saying it. If it's for you, you let her think that you hate her.” She opened the door of your apartment when you finally got there and got in, Jason and you followed her. The guy leaving the bags on the counter. “I'm really grateful for your help, hun. Maybe tomorrow I'll give you some lemon pie, so please don't forget to check your phone.”
The goodbye was… Imaginary, because he just nodded to Mary before leaving the apartment, you just took your eyes to her with a confused look.
“Don't worry, just how you heard, he's not that talkative. When he's around new people it's even more complicated to hear something from him” she laughed while taking out the bag some of the groceries. “You're lucky that he said two sentences with you being near!”
“Well, I can't blame him. I act like that around strangers too.” you shrug your shoulders walking to the counter to help her with the groceries. “Usually I'm more open to grown ups than people around my age. My mom jokes with that ‘Cause I hide in my room when someone go to visit and they have a child”
You spent the evening between short talks and some questions. Being with Mary was very relaxing and with every tick of the clock, the lady was even more sure that she wouldn't let you hide anytime Jason was around.