Chapter Text
“You have got to be kidding me.” Jason grumbled. Jason had heard commotion in the alley way 10 feet to his left, which he promptly investigated. He could count on one hand how many people he had saved because they had screamed for help. This was Gotham, specifically the edge of Crime Alley, which meant that people’s first response to a mugging was usually fight, not call for Batman. Yet when Jason dropped down into the darkened alleyway he found Batman. Batman comforting a woman who was looking at him suspiciously, clutching her bag to her chest. The woman was you, Jason Todd’s amazing, sweet, beautiful girlfriend, whom he explicitly told to stay away from any of the bats.
Bruce tensed at the sound of Jason’s words, turning and glowering at him.
“Hood.” Batman’s gravely voice responded. Jason didn’t look at him, leaning instead to the side to look at you. After a quick once over to confirm your safety Jason relaxed, slightly.
“Thought I told you to stay away from bats?” Jason phrased it like a question, but his tone was slightly reprimanding.
“Not like I had much of a choice!” You shoot back. Muttering something about a stupid rat. Jason wanted to argue, but he really had no argument.
“Hood.” Bruce tried again, Jason kept ignoring him.
“What are you doin’ so close to crime alley anyway?”
“Theres a shop my friend likes, gotta get her a present.” You say, pouting slightly. Jason sighed. Right. A present for your friend, for her birthday, for the party he was going with you to.
“Shoulda told me, I would’ve taken you.” Jason replied, tone fond but with an air of annoyance. You should have known better than to walk around Gotham at 9:30, seriously what kind of shop was even open this late!
“I’m fine!”
“Hood-“
“Clearly not fine if Batsy here had to save ya!” Jason motioned a hand towards Bruces scowling figure.
“There was a rat! A rat! I wasn’t in danger, he just appeared!” You argued, also gesturing towards Bruce who turned slightly towards you.
“You screamed-“ Bruce started holding up a hand towards you, then turning back to Jason. You did not appreciate his gesture. “Hood, who is this?” Jason tensed. Bruce would have been able to write off the first part of the conversation, it wasn’t uncommon for Jason to dispel Crime Alley citizens from talking to the Bats. The mention that you weren’t suppose to be near Crime Alley, however; Jason rarely went outside of Crime Alley —especially solo— so why did he know someone from the surrounding area, and why didn’t he want them in Hood’s turf?
Jason sighed, he had been hoping to avoid this conversation for at least a few more weeks, at least until his recent issues with a new mob were settled. Before Jason could even start to explain you were swinging your large purse at Bruces head. Bruce grunted at the hit, the clang from your bag gave away the metal water bottle inside. Oof. Then you were booking it out of the Alley, screaming “Run!” Jason grinned softly under his helmet but caught you with a hand around your waist as you ran by him.
“Hood!” You exclaim in confusion, looking up at him with pinched eyebrows and an almost hurt look it your eye. Jason frowned at himself, your eyes tried reached his helmet, then —quickly remembering it was a helmet that gave away no expression— you continued your faint struggles to, not get out of his grasp, but simply make him release it. Jason sighed for what felt like the eighteenth time that evening. He gently pulled you back until you were by his side. You stopped your struggling to glare at him confusedly, crossing your arms, but he didn’t relinquish his hold. Instead he brought you just a bit closing, squeezing you against him ever so slightly.
Bruce looked at you, hand rubbing his head, looked at Jason, looked at you, looked back at Jason. His jaw tightened ever so slightly, he made a light hrn, sound. You looked at Jason, who was looking at Bruce, then you looked at Bruce, then back at Jason. You didn’t know it but to Jason Bruce had practically just clutched his pearls and cried ‘WHAT!’
“B…” Jason introduced your name, then elaborated after a moment’s hesitation, “…My girlfriend.”
“Hrm.” Jason and Bruce seemed to be having some sort of stand off from your perspective. They must have come to some for of agreement because The Batman’s gaze turned to you. You didn’t want to shrink into yourself, but, well… it was Batman. What else was someone to do while the caped crusader practically sized them up.
Jason must have felt the way you tensed and molded yourself to his side because he spoke a low warning of Bruce’s name. That made the bat shift.
“She knows your identity.” It seemed like a question but Bruce spoke it as more of a statement.
“She… knows my name.” Jason had hesitated to answer, Bruce took note but didn’t press that point. You technically knew Jason’s identity, but didn’t know about his relation to Gotham’s favorite billionaire. You weren’t from Gotham, having moved and then met Jason not long after. You didn’t exactly keep up with celebrities, sure you knew of Bruce Wayne, could maybe pick him out in a crowd, but you didn’t know more than the basics of the random memes. Jason’s name had scratched your brain like you’d heard it before, but he obviously didn’t enjoy his past and, well, you were trying to respect that, even if it was hard.
“How long?”
“How long has she known or how long we’ve been dating?” Jason drawled in that annoyed way of his, you could practically see the angry twitch in his jaw. “I’m not a mind reader, old man.” He always did get sassy when angry. You would tease him constantly about it.
A beat. “Known.” Batman conceded.
“Six months, but we met a year ago.” Jason replied faux, casual. Batman’s Jaw ticked. You wondered if that’s where Jason got it from.
“How long has… this been happening?”
“Three months.” Jason sounded calm, but he practically dared Bruce to ‘say something’ with his posture.
“Hn.” You didn’t speak caveman but you assumed Batman was unhappy with that answer. It was quiet for a moment, then, “We need to talk.” Jason tensed further near you.
“Later.”
“Hrn.”
“La-ter” Jason spoke the word slower, Bruce glared at him.
“Fine.” He pulled out his grappling gun.
“Don’t tell anyone.“ Jason called after Bruce who grappled away.
He’s totally going to tell everyone. Jason thought somberly.
“Jason.” You turned towards him pointedly. Jason kept a firm gaze on where Bruce had been. “How do you know Batman?” He really tensed now. You knew that the Red Hood and Batman weren’t exactly friendly, so why would Batman care who Jason was dating?
“He…” Jason really didn’t want to do this now.
“Give me the short story.” You attempt, noting his avid distaste for the subject, you had your past, Jason had his, you trusted the man with your life, but you had only known him for a year. Your friendship had been fragile at first, he was opposed to ‘weakness’ as he called it, more commonly known as relationships of any form. He kept coming back though, and you kept letting him in, taking care of the random cuts and bruises. You had thought he might have been a gang member, but he had no tattoos, and an adamant dislike—no hatred—for most if not all major crime syndicates. So you surmised that he was a boxer, maybe part of a fight club or whatever.
Then he turned up in full Red Hood gear, a slash across his stomach, and obviously having some sort of break down, or drug effect. You had patched him up, calmed him down, he admitted that he felt alone, that you had been the first genuine kindness in his life for years. You and him spent the rest of the night on your couch, watching some stupid show. You woke in the morning to find him gone, nothing but a note, a thanks, and a burner phone number. His personal cell, it had read, not the emergency contact he had given you before.
“I-“ Jason took off the helmet, looked down and away. “He…It’s complicated.”
“Complicated how?” You prompted gently.
“He was my… mentor? No.” His voice was low, a soft warble to it as memories he pushed down resurfaced. “He was the closest thing I had to a dad.” You let out a small, oh. “Yeah, uh, we’re not on great terms-better-but…um, yeah, not good.” He focused on the crimson helmet in his hands, trying to blink back the tears that were forcing their way out. God, why was he crying?
Soft hands came up to cradle his face, pulling gently. He relented without much fight, he used to be angry when he thought about Bruce, about what he lost, now he just felt empty. When he met your eyes he wished he had worn a domino mask, something, anything at all to provide protection from the way you studied his eyes. He felt like a bug, wings pinned, unable to move as you cataloged whatever you found in the teal of his iris’s. He held your gaze for less than five seconds before he was unable to take it, eyes shifting down, away, anywhere but your steady scrutiny.
“Hey,” Your voice was steady, not as steady as you would have liked though. “Hey. Hey, no no no no, look at me.” You kept your hands cupping his cheeks, light pressure holding up his face as you ducked to meet his down-turned gaze. Jason wanted to pull away, a small sound of protest slipped out of him, god what was going on with him?! He was the Red Hood, he made quipping jokes, he fought off assassins, but he couldn’t make himself move from your touch? He didn’t like it, but he loved it at the same time. “You wanna tell me more?” It was a genuine question, Jason had to close his eyes against the tears that tried to spill.
“Not particularly, no.” He managed after a minute. His voice wobbled a bit, but he was able to open his eyes and meet yours. God, you were looking at him like he was worth the concern, like you would fight whatever caused him pain. You studied his eyes once more, he forced down the urge to roll his eyes. Then you nodded, a quiet, “okay.” Passing from your lips before you stood straight again. You went to let go of his face, a small whine left his throat, and he almost died again from embarrassment. Instead of teasing, or mockery, you let out a small huff of laughter.
“You coming home?” You walked over to where you had left your purse after attacking Batman. Jason really should finish patrol, but he was suddenly zapped of all energy, weeks of sleep deprivation finally catching up to him in the few seconds of vulnerability. He studied the way you accounted for all your belongings, captured the image of your sweater hanging loosely from your shoulders, pictured snuggling his face to the soft fabric as you carded a hand absently through his hair.
“Jay?” He was snapped out of his musings by your voice.
“Hm?” He hummed as he met your gaze.
“My apartment?”
“Oh-uh, yes-please, if, uh, if it’s no bother?” He felt his cheeks flush. Seriously what was wrong with him tonight?! It’s not like he hadn’t been to your place before, hell its where you met! So why was his voice so high and weird sounding?! You laughed softly, a smile gracing your face, he was so gone.
“Come on, Lover boy.” You nod your head in the direction of your apartment. You would walk home, and Jason would watch from roof tops, ensuring you were fine, before taking a paranoid, round about way to his apartment, changing, and slinking back to yours.
————————————————————————
Knock, Knock
You carefully padded over to your window, undoing the seemingly endless locks and alarms before letting Jason in with booming smile. You hadn’t seen Jason take a night off from patrol, fully off, in months. Yet here he was, taking one off, just to spend it with you, it made you feel all giddy and warm inside. Earlier when he had failed to answer you were scared you’d gone to far. He had just had a confrontation with his (Sorta?) dad and then told you about said (Sorta?) dad, almost cried, and then you went and invited him over like it wasn’t one of the most intimate moments you’d shared! I mean, sure, you had some steamy makeout sessions, but nothing that vulnerable, that emotional.
“Hey.” He greeted, somehow shoving his large frame through the small window. You noted the fact that he was no longer in full Red Hood regalia. Now he was only in a dark hoodie, hood pulled down low over his face. Glancing down you found equally dark sweatpants, and dark red combat boots. You look back up to his face as he stretches to his full height. He rolls his shoulders before reaching up and pulling back the hood and-Oh my God.
He looked stunning in the soft lighting of your apartment, hair damp, telling you he had showered in the small window of time between walking you home and now. His face was softer than you’d seen in weeks, the tension that often pulled at his features—though still there—was much less pronounced. Your eyes meet his and you hold back a gasp. His eyes are dark, pupils blow wide, from the lack of lighting or something else, you couldn’t tell. His normally bright eyes now seemed softer, they weren’t dull, just relaxed in a way. His eye lids were drooping just a bit, creating a slightly sultry effect that made your stomach fill with butterflies.
“You okay?” He asked, voice low, pitch even lower. He didn’t seem to notice how his voice grumbled slightly, but he definitely noticed the way you bristled if the tilt of his head was anything to go by. He said your name. You opened your mouth to respond but only a slight choked sound came out. His brows furrowed, his head fully tilted to the side in a poor attempt at meeting your eye level. He had at the very least a few inches on you. His posture made you feel like an animal, his eyes felt like a predator’s, his low voice certainly didn’t help. But his furrowed brow, and concerned tone were kind, soft. And when you combined that predacious look with his careful consideration of you, well you were simply done for.
You were sure that you were redder than a ripe watermelon, heat covering your face and making you feel almost faint. Jason called your name again, a bit louder, but his voice still had that deep timbre. You absently wondered what it was from, perhaps he had not spoken since you had talked in that alley an hour ago, you honestly didn’t care because you felt like you were going to explode.
“I-uh, I’m fine.” You managed to choke out. He gave you a disbelieving look but seemed to be content leaving it alone. Turning his gaze he grabbed the edges of his hoodie, which you now realized was wet from rain, and pulled it off. You brought a hand to your mouth, mindlessly biting down on your finger joint to stop you from giggling like a deranged freak.
He shot a glance back towards you, doing a double take. He raised an eyebrow and you quickly realized you had been shamelessly ogling him. Maybe it was the glass of wine you had but you only gave a shy smile as you refused to meet his eye and continued with your blatant gawking. Sue you, but he was wearing one of those skin tight t-shirts. You were almost positive that he had done some push ups or something before coming here because you refused to believe someone could look that jacked without a pump or something.
Jason looked at you, then followed your gaze to his torso, and immediately went beet red. You looked like you were ready to ravish him, it couldn’t simply be from him, right? Right?! He said your name, you spared his face a glance, you felt slightly ashamed of your actions, but you couldn’t force your gaze away. That was until Jason took a step toward you-and oh my god he was walking towards you. You tried to remind yourself that technically you were his girlfriend, but Jesus that couldn’t be right, could it? There is no way that you got all of that to yourself. Nuh-uh.
“Baby?” And Lord in Heaven. You were ready to melt into a puddle on the ground. You could die happy now, this was it, you were almost certain you had died and this was Heaven. He was so close you could reach out and touch him and-Wait. When did he get so close? You finally manage to meet his gaze. You have crane your neck to really meet his eyes when he was this close. No yeah you were definitely in Heaven. “You okay?” He asked again, this time worry clearly littered his voice.
“Yeah.” Your one word response came out almost like an exhale, and it did nothing to soothe his worries.
“Lemme see you,” He grabbed your hand gently and pulled you towards the tall lamp in the corner. You followed without protest, except for the way your eyebrows scrunched in confusion, but you were much to giddy to care. He carefully placed his hands on the side of your neck, large palms cupping your chin and tilting your head upwards. He studied your eyes from different angles, you were slightly concerned now but let him go about his check-up, eyes following his face as he did so. Your mouth was open slightly, jaw relaxed, a much pleasant contrast to your normal clenched jaw. “You sure you’re okay?”
You sigh this time, nodding as you respond. “Yes, Jay. I’m fine.” He did not seem satisfied with your reassurance. He gave you a firm command to stay there, you pretended it didn’t make your heart beat faster. It wasn’t even the way he made it sound like an order that had you blushing, it was the concern that was laced under it. It made you feel like jumping into his arms and kissing him until neither of you could breathe.
When he returned it was with the small penlight that you recognized from the first-aid kit. Did he think you had a concussion or something? He slotted one hand back on the side of your neck as the other held the light to your eyes.
“Did you leave your apartment after I dropped you off?” He questioned moving the light from your left to right eye. You shook your head. “Words.” You couldn’t stop the small grin on your lips. He was so hot when he was worrying over you.
“No. I did not leave my house, and I did not hit my head or what ever it is that you think happened.” You reply with a fondly annoyed tone.
“Open any widows or anything?” He questioned, seemingly satisfied, but not pleased with your eyes response to the light.
“What? No.” That took you off guard, what did windows have to do with concussions? Jason’s frown depend as he gave a small ‘Hrm.’ You held back from telling him how it resembled Batman’s earlier hum. You huff. “Are you satisfied Dr. Paranoid?”
“No.” Well at least he was honest. Jason did step back though and regarded you with his hands on his hips. “And ‘m not paranoid.” He mumbled. You raised a brow at that but kept silent. You tried not to shy away from his scrutinizing gaze but as the seconds passed it became harder, and harder. You were suddenly very aware of your messy hair, and your over-sized rumpled shirt, and your patterned pajama pants. You tried to distract yourself by scrutinizing him right back, but eventually you couldn’t take it and brought one arms across your stomach to grasp the other. Jason did not let up.
“I don’t get it.” He said, more to himself than anything, “Are you having any strange feelings or emotions?”
“…No?” You were beginning to feel weirded out though. Jason just gave another displeased hum, bringing one hand up to pinch his own chin as he studied you.
“Nothing weird? Nothing at all? Maybe amplified feelings of attraction…?” Jason prodded, almost like he was hinting you.
“No? What? Jason what is going on?” You finally give up on patience, arms gesturing in exasperation.
“Are you sure?” Jason asked again, seeming to ignore your own questions.
“Yes! Jason what is this about?”
“I just don’t understand if you haven’t been hit with something why were you looking at me like that?” Again he seemed to be talking half to you, half to himself. You pause, hit with something? Did he think you were affected by some of Ivy’s pollen or something? I mean, you knew Jason had issues with accepting love but… surely he didn’t think that the whole ogling was because of some toxin, right?
“Jason…” You began, stepping towards him, “I was looking at you like that cause you’re hot.” Jason did not look convinced. He looked as though this thought had never accrued to him. He knew he was attractive, maybe, but he wasn’t hot. Enough girls had hit on him at bars to know he wasn’t exactly hideous, but he assumed that had more to due with maybe his height, and well, lack of other options considering he was neither old nor a philanderer.
“No.” He said simply with a furrowed brow and tilted head, but unlike earlier he looked less like a prowling wolf and more like a confused puppy.
“What do you mean ‘No?’” You question taken aback.
“I mean, I know I’m not exactly an ogre or somethin’ but I ain’t nothing worth that look, ‘specially not from you.” He insisted like you were the crazy one. You felt a mix of concern, pity, lots of confusion, and just a tiny bit of heat swirl in your gut. The first three emotions were self explanatory, and you certainly didn’t find feeling those feelings attractive, but you did adore the thought of kissing Jason until he saw what you saw. You didn’t feel worthy of Jason most times, and were aware that you both had some insecurities to work through, but until now you assumed Jason only had problems feeling worthy of love, not the issue of not feeling hot enough for you.
“Jason.” You reply seriously. “You’re at least 6’2 and built like a tank made of muscle!” You practically exclaim. “In case you didn’t know, woman usually like that.”
“Yeah, but I got scars ‘n shit. Nothing ‘bout them pretty.” Jason reasoned. You starred at him like he was an idiot.
“Do I like how you got your scars, absolutely not. But it’s really not up for debate that they take nothing away from that.” You motion with both your hands to his body. You wanted to add how you thought the scars were hot, but felt like that might over whelm him. Jason looked at you, his body, then you confused. “Not to mention the fact that you’re probably one of the most attractive faces I’ve ever scene. You somehow manage to look boy-ish and rugged at the same time.” You continue, not taking note of Jason’s reddening face.
“Can’t be that good.” He mumbled, one hand coming up to scratch the back of his neck, eyes falling to the floor bashfully. You sigh and pinch the bridge of your nose. You cup his face in your hands again, mostly because you know how he loves it, and a little bit because you do too.
“I think your hot, like smoking, like fire works on the surface of the sun hot. And if the rest of the world—including you—doesn’t agree, well it doesn’t really matter does it. My opinion, My boyfriend.” You put it simply, maybe slightly harsh in your tone but there’s no mistaking the warmth there as well. “My opinion on my stupidly beautiful, amazing, gorgeous, ravishing boyfriend.” You add with a smirk. Jason finally meets your eyes. You stamp down the sadness you feel at his hopeful gaze. You hated whoever made him feel like this.
“You think?” He asked, trying to hide his evident hope behind a slight huff of laughter.
“Oh, baby, I know.” You reassure, pulling his face down, and reaching up to give him a long, yet chaste kiss. You pull back smiling, he chasing your lips before remembering himself, opening his eyes with a blush. “Now. Have you had dinner?” You question, beginning to pull away before Jason’s response has you doing a double take.
“Are you on the menu?” He asks absently, quietly, like he hadn’t even registered the words until your gaze snapped to his. “I-uh-I mean-“ Jason fumbled for an excuse, blushing from head to toe.
Stupid, Stupid, Stupid! You weren’t even sly about it idiot! You don’t know how to fucking flirt! Jason chastised himself. You had also been blushing at first, but watching Jason grasp for purchase on any defense for himself made you laugh. Jason was mortified.
“It-I-I saw it, on social media, dumb pick up line?” Jason was practically begging you to take his excuse. He wanted to crawl back into his grave.
“Sure you did, Cowboy.” You laughed. And Jason was momentarily distracted from his wallowing by your smile, and the mirth in your eyes, and the way your lips curled around the teasing words. Before he could revel in your glory anymore you intertwined your hand in his and pulled him towards the kitchen, a bit of laughter still dying on your tounge.
You dropped his hand near the kitchen island but Jason kept following you towards the pantry door. You didn’t seem to notice yet.
“So we have pasta, ramen, pasta, and more pasta…hm. I need groceries.” You trail off. You practically jump out of your own skin as Jason drapes himself around you, arms curling around your waist as he nuzzled his face into your shoulder.
“‘M not hungry.” He murmured into your skin, you would have shivered at the touch were he not being so cute, and petulant.
“Jay-“ You sigh. “You have to eat.”
“I did! Before patrol.” He grumbles. Then tenses slightly, lifting his head from your neck and trying to peer around at your face, unwilling to relinquish his hold on your waist. You roll your eyes. “Unless you’re hungry. Because then I’ll cook, or we can order.” He says, suddenly very more mature in tone. He really was a protector, no matter how much he denied it, claimed he was too violent, too volatile, etc. He only did what he did to protect, and now he had gone from a clingy demanding boyfriend, to a still clingy but much more willing boyfriend.
“I ate earlier, but thank you.” You reply, you wanted to be annoyed but truly couldn’t find it in yourself.
“Good.” Jason huffed, snuggling his face back into the crook of your neck and shoulder. If you had told yourself two months ago this was Jason Todd, the former crime lord, you would have laughed your ass off.
“You sure you weren’t hit with something?” You ask with a raised brow, not that he could see it. He grumbled, holding you a bit tighter. You had learned that Jason could be clingy, obviously touch starved. You didn’t mind the cuddles, really, most times you enjoyed it. However, he wasn’t always so…childish? That wasn’t the word, but really was there even a word for clingy-annoyed-crime lord that Velcro’s himself to you? “That most certainly was not an answer.”
“I’m fine.” Jason huffs, pulling back and straightening up, but not moving away, one hand still on the small of your waist. “Just tired.” He grumbled. You look at him fondly before offering a peace treaty of sorts;
“Bed or TV?” You ask, already walking out of the kitchen. Normally you’d offer ice cream but you didn’t think you’d have enough personal space to comfortably eat it.
“Can we watch that stupid show from last time?” Jason asks, perking up as he trails behind you. You nod and practically feel the way Jason beams. You grab your thickest blanket and sit on the couch. Jason doesn’t even wait for you to be fully seated before saddling up next to you. Jason would definitely feel embarrassed of his blatant and needy behavior, but for now he was tired, and excited to have you all to himself.
You and Jason had been on a few dates in the past two weeks, but because of an Arkham breakout involving a few B tier villains he hadn’t been able to spare more than about two hours in between patrol, research and sleep. He had obviously been unhappy about this, but what he hadn’t anticipated was how grumpy he had gotten, at least according to Dick. He supposed it was true, he had gotten used to your fleeting touches and soft hugs, and then suddenly it was almost as though he were back to the time before he met you. And more importantly the years he came back. It was almost as though that loneliness from before was amplified.
Logically he knew that you were just a call away, but he felt as though this tantalizing prospect of happiness, of you, had been hung in-front of him only to be ripped away. So forgive him if he was a little extra needy.
You leaned back on a pillow, turning so that your bent knees faced Jason and you had to turn your head to see the TV. Jason yawned and leaned slightly on your legs as he watched you flick through the options on the TV before finding the proposed show and adjusting the volume. They stayed like that for a while. As Jason began to relax more he remembered the small gun tucked in his waistband, pulling it out, ensuring the safety was on, then placing it on the coffee table pointed towards the wall.
“Jason.” You chastise though you really weren’t surprised he had brought a gun, he was the Red Hood after all, but still. “Is it at least rubber bullets?” You sigh.
“‘course. The hell kinda question is that?” Jason continued to grumble something you couldn’t hear. You had been almost certain the bullets weren’t ‘real’ but you had to check. Apparently, Jason had a real problem with having you and a gun loaded with lead bullets in the same room. Jason may be ‘desensitized’ to violence, especially gun violence, but he never forgot the damage guns could do, it was part of the reason he used them. He had already been unsure of having his lethal weapons near you, and all it took was one bad dream to have him vowing to never put you and a loaded gun near each other.
He still needed to be ready to protect you on a moments notice, however. Sure there were knives and swords, but those only worked in close contact, there were throwing knives, but he wanted you to be able to use it if need be. Almost all other options were the same problem. And nothing was as intimidating as a gun. So, rubber bullets was the compromise. He had loads from his deal with Bruce, the deal that he only sorta abided by. They did damage, and sure they could be deadly, but the risk was much lower than lead bullets.
Jason never told you why he hated you near guns, even the ones with rubber bullets, and you hadn’t pried because you were an angle and perfect and Jason would never understand how he had been chosen by you.
“Jay.” Your soft voice cut through his thoughts like a heated knife through butter. Turning his gaze to you he found you were holding your arms open in invitation. Jason practically melted. You could almost always tell when his thoughts wouldn’t leave him alone, something about him having a tell, he didn’t care why. He carefully climbed over you, gently lowering himself until he was almost entirely covering you. His head came to rest on your chest and a soft, tired sigh escaped him.
Your fingers came up to gently play with his hair, your other hand gently scratched his back. He wrapped his arms around your waist, felt you breathe in and out, heard your heartbeat gently lull him to sleep, and for the first time in a long time, he felt peace.
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Bruce POV
“Master Bruce I do believe it is quite past your bedtime.” Alfred’s voice rang through the caverns of the Batcave. Bruce made a non-committal sound. Alfred gave a sigh, or as close to a sigh as the esteemed butler could. “Master Bruce, it is nearly seven o’clock in the morning, you must rest.” Just then soft padding of feet could be heard on the stairs.
“Father, Pennyworth, what are you still doing awake at this hour?” Damian questioned as he walked towards the Bat-Computer.
“I could ask you the same thing, Damian.” Bruce responded, finally looking away from the screen .
“I was awoken by Titus and unable to return to sleep. What case are you working on?” Damian responds simply.
“Jason.” Is all Bruce grumbles in response, turning back to the computer. Damian bristles ever so slightly. He had yet to inform his father of his connection the the Red Hood. Sure his father believed they were siblings through relation to him, which was true, but not the full truth. Jason had been a kind of protector for Damian during his time with the League of Assassins. And had earned both Damian and his mother’s care and respect. However, his father had differing opinions on Hood, and his methods. But what could his Ahki possibly have done this time?