𝓑𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓪♡

Draco Malfoy was not exactly the party type. Nonetheless, As the Slytherin Prince and with his reputation known all over the school, he was pretty much invited to every gathering that took place at Hogwards; he didn’t attend much, but tonight, it was different.

Almost a week after the two of you broke up, Draco decided it would be a good idea to attend to a Slytherin celebration after winning the Quidditch championship against some other school; to be fair at this point he really didn’t care why his house mates were celebrating, all he wanted was to get hammered.

Pansy watched carefully as her friend tried to drown his sorrows in alcohol, encouraged by Crabbe and Goyle, and while at first she was down with the idea of a wild night drinking with her friends, her concern started to grow as she watched the blond guy empty his seventh Fireball shot.

“Maybe we should stop drinking muggle alcohol for a little while” Pansy suggested with a concerned look

“More, I want more” Draco mumbled as he waved his empty shot glass

“Come on Malfoy, you don’t even like muggle things! How come you’re drinking this much?” Pansy asked her friend with a concerned look

“I demand a drink, Goyle, get me another one" Draco scoffed and Pansy drowned a small laugh because as drunk as Malfoy was, at least he kept his demanding demeanor

“Let’s get you a glass of water, I promise it’ll help” Pansy said hoping somehow her plea would help Draco come into his senses

“Is it going to help me forget about her?” Draco said with a defeated look, dragging his words “Because I swear I can see her, right there” he added, this time looking as you entered into the Slytherin common room, linking arms with Ron Weasley

“I don’t think alcohol can make you unsee something, or someone who’s there” Pansy said with a sad smile, seeing the emotional state her friend was in moved something inside her, maybe… pity?

“She 's here?” Draco said, standing a little straighter as if that could mask how drunk he really was

“Yeah, she’s here, but I really don’t think you should approach her with how drunk you are, let’s get you some water and maybe we can see what we can do about it” Pasny said holding his arm and directing him to a table with refreshments and drinks

The music was too loud, the Slytherin common room was too crowded and while both Ron and Harry convinced you of pre-gaming with some alcohol Harry had snuck into the school, the possibility of running into Draco almost a week after your breakup made your stomach turn. You knew he usually didn’t attend parties which made your worries at ease and was pretty much what did the trick when your friends asked you to join them as they crashed the Slytherin party, but as soon as you stepped into the party, you saw him talking to Pansy.

“Draco’s here” you told Ron the minute you caught a glimpse of your ex boyfriend

“No way! He hates these things besides…” Ron added, and stopped mid-sentence as he, as well, caught a glimpse of him “We can leave if you want, let’s just find Harry and Ginny” he said into your ear over the music

“You know what? I don’t want to leave” you told your red-haired friend and accepted a shot of Merlin knows what that someone you didn’t know offered you

“Yes m’am, either way we should find Harry and Ginny” Ron added with relief that you wanted to stay and party.

The two of you looked for your friends, and finally caught them making out in a corner, which pretty much gave you the green light to start offering and accepting drinks, dancing and just hanging out with a bunch of kids the two of you didn’t even recognize. Everything was going smoothly and you could feel the effects of the alcohol starting to manifest in your body after… definitely, more than four shots; when you decided it was time to get some fresh water in hopes of getting the world to stop spinning.

You stumbled thought the crowd to the table of refreshments, when somehow someone pushed you and as you closed your eyes as you were starting to accept your fate as “the girl who fell to the refreshments table” you felt someone’s hands being placed at your hips, keeping you stable and preventing you from becoming the laughing stock of the party.

“You okay?” you heard Draco’s voice and as you opened your eyes you registered there were his hands placed in your hips that avoided the fall

“‘m alight” you muttered, trying to hide how drunk you actually were

“This party’s shit” Draco muttered in a low voice and you realized he, as well, was trying to downplay his drunkenness

“Yeah, and the music is way too loud, I don’t know who sanctioned this” you said with a chuckle, as the absurdity of the situation, the butterflies that were growing in your stomach at the physical contact of Draco’s hands with your hips and the bubbly feeling of the alcohol were doing a number on you

“Do you wanna leave?” Draco asked with a small smile that made your brain feel mushy

“Where would we even go?” you retorted with a puzzled look as you tried to downplay the effect your ex boyfriend had no you

“Anywhere but here” he added with an expectant look, hoping, praying and wishing you’d say yes; sure, the circumstances probably weren’t ideal as evidently the two of you weren’t sober, but even in his drunkenness he knew one thing for certain: he needed you and maybe this was his chance of actually letting you now

“I’m down, but you really should let go of me” you answered looking down to where his hands were placed and he removed them with embarrassment, not without blushing first “Also, I’m stealing this” you added taking a bottle of what seemed to be Raspberry Bacardi

Draco offered you his hand and as you took it, it felt natural, it just felt right. The two of you walked out of the Slytherin common room, lacing hands and trying to avoid bumping into other drunk kids as you made an exit. You walked quietly to the gardens and you sat under an old tree, not any tree, the one where you shared your first kiss at.

“How are you doing?” Draco asked, trying his best to start a conversation

“Come on, you got me out of the party and you wanna know how I am? At least let’s make this conversation interesting with this little guy” you said pointing at the bottle you had snuck out

“Well, what do you want me to ask?” Draco asked with a hint of annoyance, as he was really hoping the two of you could talk but it seemed all you wanted to do was drink

“Let’s play questions!” you suggested with a playful tone

“Questions?” Draco asked with a puzzled look

“Yeah, each asks a question and we either answer truthfully or take a drink!” you said a little too excited, which made his stomach do a little flip

“So truth or dare?” Draco asked again

“But without the dare part, just truths” you answered and this time Draco couldn’t help but smile at the scene that was unfolding in front of him as it was just what he had prayed for: it was his perfect chance to both get answers and maybe convince you to open up and have a conversation about the breakup

“Alright, I’m down, but do you mind if I smoke?” Draco asked, taking a cigarette from the pocket of his jacket and placing in on his lips

“That would be your first question and no, I don’t mind if you smoke” you said

“What? That wasn’t even a question for the purposes of the game, it was merely a cordiality!" Draco said with an incredulous expression

“That’s your second question, wow, you are bad at this game” you chuckled

“Whatever, count this as my third question, but do you want a smoke?” Draco offered

“No thanks, I’m alright” you said and you watched him lit up the cigarette and as he took a hit. It was a simple scene, one you’ve watched at least a million times, but as he skillfully held the cigarette between his fingers you couldn’t help but appreciate how handsome, but different he looked. His skin seemed more pale, the bags under his eyes were darker than you remembered and maybe it was part of the effects of the alcohol, but he had bloodshot eyes

“What is that pretty little head of yours thinking about?” Draco asked, taking you out from your thoughts

“That’s unfair, you’ve had like a thousand questions and I haven’t had a chance to ask anything” you pouted and Draco chuckled at the familiar gesture

“Alright then, go on” Draco said, raising his arms as defeated, but a smile couldn’t help but escape his lips at the proximity and how… at peace felt in the whole situation

“What have you been up to… since… you know, we parted ways?” you asked, almost afraid of making the situation awkward, as you were having a really nice time with him

“Nice way of saying you dumped me” Draco said, taking a sip from the bottle, leading to believe he was not going to answered, but as he swallowed the liquor he added “Not much really, pretty much just sulking, scoffing and studying, I haven’t had the energy or the disposition to hang out or do anything with my friends, until tonight of course”

“You’re supposed to drink if you don’t answer, but fair enough” you said with a chuckle taking the bottle from his hands

“I guess it’s my turn to ask you, why did you come to the party?” Draco asked curiously, trying his best to sound casual as he fished hopefully for something that indicated he was somehow a part of your motivation

“I could say that because my friends forced me to keep me from sulking all night” you said and you saw the glimmer of hope disappear from Draco’s eyes “But that would be partially true, if I’m completely honest, I was internally hoping to find you there, not necessarily at the party, but maybe complaining about the noise or something” you finished and he gave you a chivalrous smile.

“Well, I’m glad you came, I missed your face” Draco said, placing delicately a hand on your chin, making you look directly into his gray eyes

“Why are you looking at me like that?” you shot your question in hopes of breaking the tension that was building up between the two of you

“Because I really want to kiss you” he said and he leaned down, just millimeters away from your lips “May I?” he asked and you could feel his breath, it was a mix of mint and alcohol, which was driving you insane and disregarding the strain of sanity that was begging you for you to pull away, you melted into a kiss with your ex boyfriend. The kiss was both tender and hungry, you’ve missed him, his lips, his mere presence and being there, late at night, all alone and under the effects of the alcohol was just perfect, what your heart had been longing for since the day of your breakup.

The two of you kept kissing and in the middle of it, Draco had managed to pull you up and sit you on lap; his hands were furiously running from your hips, to your back and moving all the way to your face. You could feel him pulling you towards his chest, almost as he needed you there. Draco had been craving the physical touch from the girl he loved and this right there was both intoxicating and just as necessary as oxygen to him. You finally broke the kiss and after a couple seconds, you managed to shoot your next question:

“Do you regret the kiss?” you asked him and he looked at you with a look of disbelief

“Of course not! I’ve been dying to hold you and kiss you for the past week, the mere idea of doing it has been haunting me for days!” Draco said and you gave him a smile which he returned, but then he said:

“What did I do wrong?” Draco asked and you could see the silent plea in his eyes “In our relationship, I mean, you broke up with me all of the sudden and with no explanation really” he added and your heart broke a little at how hurt he looked

You contemplating drinking for a minute, but to be honest, it was going to do you no good as he’d have found another way to phrase his question, so you decided to reply:

“I guess I got… scared, intimidated by everything being your girlfriend represented” you started and you could see both hurt and surprise in your ex boyfriend’s eyes “Here in the school we are in a controlled, safe environment, but we’re almost out anyway… You are the sole heir of the Malfoy name and household, and as you know, I intend in going back to London and actually getting a muggle education so, I guess we just have different paths” you finished laying out the reasoning of your sudden breakup

“The sole heir of the Malfoy name and household? What kind of made up bullshit is that?” Draco asked incredulously at your response. He had prepared mentally for you responding that love had faded, or maybe that he fucked up in mose way he was oblivious of, but this? To know the girl he loved wholeheartedly left him because she was insecure about their future was something he definitely was not ready for

“It’s not made up bullshit! You’ve got expectations you have to meet and I’ve got dreams I gotta accomplish, far from the wizarding world!” you scoffed for the first time to your now ex boyfriend

“Bloody hell, you’re talking like we’re 35 and have to get married right away, we’re not even 19!” Draco retorted, clearly frustrated by the turn your little game took

“WHO’S THERE?!” the two of you heard Rubeus Hagrid’s voice calling out, interrupting the argument that was about to burst

“Bulloks” Draco muttered under his breath and the two of you could feel the mix of panic and alcohol starting to run through your veins

“We are so busted” you whisper and almost instinctively you buried your face in Draco’s neck, the one place where you felt even more at home than at your actual house

“It’s okay, I won’t let you get in trouble” Draco whispered into your ear and placed a soft kiss in the top of your head and you couldn’t help but trust the guy you loved, I mean, once loved. With another whisper, Draco conjured a Disillusionment Charm and when Hagrid walked in front of the tree where the two of you were sitting, you were practically invisible to him; the two of you watched as he went back into his cottage and closed the door behind him

“We should bounce” you finally spoke when you felt the coast was clear

“I’ll walk you to your dorm” Draco offered and as the two of you walked together, you kept replaying the whole thing: from seeing him at the party, to the kiss, the argument and how protective he had been of you.

Even in his drunken state and with the two of you broken up, Draco was as protective of you as he had always had been; he almost convinced you that the two of you could maybe… work things out in the long run? You didn’t know if it was the alcohol, the fright of almost being caught drinking in the school gardens, the tornado of feelings the kiss unleashed or the fact that it had only been a week since you broke up, but once you reached your dorm room and as he was awkwardly saying his goodbyes, you interrupted:

“Do you want to stay over? Just to sleep, but I mean, with the party and everything down at the Slytherin common room, I don’t think your dorm would be a good place to rest” you said, hoping it sounded logical and not as if you were eager of sharing a bed with him

“That would be amazing, I mean, with the commotion and all the loud noises of kids drinking and partying, I don’t think it would be prudent to sleep in my own room” Draco said equally as flustered as you were

“Good, great, amazing!” you said opening the door to your room and letting him inside

You put on your pajamas, and you handed Draco one of his jumpers that you’ve kept after the breakup, only for the sake of him sleeping comfortably. The two of you laid down in bed as you’ve done many times before, and after a couple of tosses and turns, Draco broke the silence of the night:

“I love you” Draco whispered and turned to his side of the bed

Most of your life you struggled with the feelings and anxiety of being the odd one out. It all started when your wizarding powers showed up when you were around elven; nobody in your immediate family had powers, so when you made the couch levitate after a tantrum, that was the very last day you felt normal in your own skin.

After several years of training and perfecting your magic powers you got a new sense of normalcy; or at least you thought so until you found yourself falling head over heels for Luna Lovegood. The two of you met on the ride to Hogwards and hit it off as friends, only to end up having a massive crush on the blond girl. After a confusing couple of years, the two of you initiated a relationship that barely lasted three months until you called it off in the name of preserving the friendship. The heartbreak sucked, but you got back on your feet.

Now it was your sixth year at Hogwards and you were dating the Slytherin Prince: Draco Malfoy. It started with late night study sessions, stolen glances at the dining hall, some outings at Hogsmeade, and without realizing it the friendship bloomed into something more. Dating Draco was all you’ve ever imagined and more; he was sweet, chivalrous, very protective of you, considerate, caring and understanding. But there was something the two of you still couldn’t look eye to eye at:

“I’m tired of sneaking around just to get a few minutes alone with my girl” Draco said from your bed, where he was laying down reading a book

“It has to be this way, Dray, I’m just not ready to let everyone know about us” you replied, turning with your chair to face your boyfriend

“Are you embarrassed of me? Is that why you don’t want people to know about our relationship?” Draco asked with a hurt expression and your heart broke a little as you realized how much it pained him

“It’s not that and you know it” you said, laying in your bed next to him and cupping his face

“Then what is it then? Is it because we’ve been dating for a short period of time? Because I told you I’m all in in this relationship” Draco said, wrapping his arms around your waist to bring you closer to him, making you the little spoon

“I’m just not ready, I don’t want… just forget it” you said, burying your face on the pillow

“What is it that’s bothering you sweetheart? Whatever it is I’m sure I can fix it, I’ll make it better, I swear” Draco pleaded and the combination of hurt and desperation in his voice made you realize how important it was for him to let people know about the two of you

“Look” you said turning to face your beautiful boyfriend “I will try to explain but I need you to listen and not interrupt because this is not something you can just waltz in and fix, okay?” you added and Draco sat up from the bed, making you sit on his lap

“Whatever it is, I’ll just listen quietly and if you feel like letting me help, I’ll do anything in my power to make it better; if you don’t want or need my help, I’ll just stay in the sidelines, but please don’t push me away or shut me out” Draco said and his grey eyes were filled with love, concern and understanding

“So you know how I briefly dated Luna Lovegood?” you asked, this time ready to begin the conversation

“Of course, around fourth year, right?” Draco said

“Yeah… After that I understood something about me, something that’s just part of who I am… I realized that I am a bisexual; which pretty much means that I feel equally attracted to both men and women” you started explaining

“I understand… I’m guessing that’s how we ended up together, princess” Draco added with a soft smile that made you realize how much attention he was paying to the conversation

“So, I got to explore both my sexuality and gender identity, but now I feel… conflicted, as I’m dating a guy now, what does that mean? Are people just going to say that now I’m straight if I’m dating you? Does dating you mean I am no longer bisexual enough to be part of the queer community?" you started unraveling your worries to your boyfriend

“May I give an opinion?” Draco said after a quiet minute you two shared

“Yes, of course, I’m sorry if I’m spiraling about this, I just don’t want people to know about our relationship and making judgments about me” you added

“Look princess, you know you are a bisexual, you are sure about your identity and about who you are. You shouldn’t worry about people making judgements or what they’ll say. I understand your worries and if you still don’t want to make our relationship public, we can keep it lowkey and as a secret, as long as you are comfortable; but just know that I love you and if anyone dares to bother you or say something mean, I promise I’ll hex them” Draco said, ending his monologue with a joke to make sure to make you smile

“I love you Dray” you said, placing a small kiss in his lips

“And I love you, so very much I’d do anything to make you feel comfortable” Draco said peppering your face with small kisses

“I’m sorry for making you feel like I was embarrassed of you or anything of the sort” you said, staring into the gray eyes you loved so much

“And I’m sorry for pushing you” Draco said, giving you a smile and planting another kiss into your lips

Your friendship with Draco Malfoy was, for the lack of a better adjective, “interesting”. The two of you met on Herbology class in your first year at Hogwarts and while the pairing of a Hufflepuff with a Slytherin was a little odd, it blossomed into a friendship that somehow lasted the test of time, House differences, teenage drama, and clashing opinions between the two of you. 

Now it was your sixth year and as the Yule Ball was approaching, the small voice inside your head kept making unrequired inquiries about the dance and who your partner would be. There was no denying that somewhere between Herbology class and the present day something had shifted inside of you, you weren’t sure if it was that time Draco stood up for you when some Slythering kids were picking on you; the way he had consoled you with the most tenderness when you got your first broken heart or the way your weekly study sessions had become more of a save heaven for the two of you, where you’d vent, rant and find comfort in each other, but you were almost certain that somewhere along the way, you’d fallen in love with the silver haired boy with gray eyes that were staring at you expectantly for an answer:

 “I‘m sorry, I think I zoned out for a minute” you said trying your best to remember what even where the two of you talking about before your thoughts trailed off

“It’s okay, are you alright? You seem awfully distracted today, love” Draco asked with a puzzled look and the pet name made your stomach flip. You should’ve been used to it by now, as he started calling you that around third year, but every time he said it, your body reacted involuntarily 

“Yes, everything’s alright, I was just thinking about the Yule Ball” you said trying to sound as casual as possible 

“Are you even attending? That’s so fourth year” Draco scoffed, making the butterflies in your stomach suddenly drown

“As a matter of fact I was invited, and I’m looking forward to attending” you said conjuring your best smile so he wouldn’t notice the pang of disappointment 

“Who invited you? When…? Why didn’t you tell me you wanted to go?” Draco asked with what seemed like a hurt look (?)

“Neville asked me” you answered rapidly and prayed to Merlin he didn’t already have a date “Ouh look at the time, I should really run now” you said picking up your books from the library table you were sharing and leaving the guy who held your heart on his hands behind

You were walking towards Hufflepuff common room when Neville Longbottom approached you suddenly:

“Hey… I’m glad I run into you, I was actually looking for you” Neville said starting to walk beside you towards your common room

“Hey Nev, how’s everything going?” you asked gifting him a warm smile

“So, I did a thing and I need your help, and you are entitled to say no but I really really would appreciated if you said yes” Neville said nervously 

“Sure, whatever you need, I’m down” you said 

“At least let me explain first” he added and started recounting how he was trying to ask Ginny to be his partner for the Yule Ball, but he panicked and ended up asking her for advice to ask you

“I’d love to go to the dance with you, evidently as friends, but I’m sure we’ll have a good time” you said as the two of you approached the door for the common room.

Later that day, an owl delivered a note to your window that read:

“Love, meet me in the hallway at 19:00, don’t wear a uniform as we’re going out. D.M.”

You complied with your best friend’s wishes; but you left the Hufflepuff common room at 19:15, and he was already there, waiting for you in the hallway that united both your and his common room. He was leaning against the wall of the hallway with a book in his hands and his eyes glued to it; Draco looked especially handsome as he was wearing with black trousers, a black button up shirt, a black sweater, and a black coat.

“You’re late” Draco said tearing his eyes from the book to look at you

“I’m sorry, I had to finish watering the plants” you said approaching him

“Good thing our appointment is not until 19:30” he said taking your hand and walking towards the outside of the castle

“Where are we even going?” you asked Draco when you were in the garden

“Just hold on tight” he said and you felt the pressing sensation of travelling through a Portkey, and suddenly, you were in what seemed to be an alleyway. The two of you walked quietly lacing hands as the sickening sensation of the trip left your bodies, Draco was leading the way as the two of you walked into a dress shop?

“Mr. Malfoy, just in time” a woman stood up from the front desk and walked towards the two of you “I presume this is the model” she said examining you

“Good evening Ms. Chateaux” Draco said with a polite grin “And you’re correct, this right here is the model” he added as he moved his arm to make you take a step forward

“Excuse me?” you asked as another girl approached you to start taking your measurements

“You’re the model for the dress I’ll be making, darling” the older woman, Ms. Chateaux said

“What? Dray?” you turned to see him, but he was already sitting on the couch reading his book

“If you are going to the Yule Ball with someone who’s not me, at least let me spoil you with a dress that’s worthy of you” he said without even looking up from his book

“So what color do you have in mind?" Ms. Chateaux asked as she was starting to frenetically sketch on a notepad 

After a couple of hours of discussing colors, shapes, patterns, fabrics, styling and quite honestly, feeling like a princess with a custom made gown Ms. Chateaux set a new appointment for fittings and promised your dress would be ready a couple of days before the Yule Ball. 

The two of you left the dress shop and you suggested grabbing a bite before heading back to school. You were now sitting across from each other in a dinner booth and as you were waiting for your food you decided to pry:

“How did you even find that dress shop?” you questioned your friend on the other side of the table

“Ms. Chateaux is a long time family friend, she actually designed my mum’s wedding dress” he said taking a sip from his drink

“That’s impressive, she must be really talented… and what was that about not letting you take me to the ball?” you shot the real question that had been lingering in your head ever since

“I think it’s pretty self explanatory” he said starring directly into your eyes with his icy gray stare

“Hey, you don’t get to be smug about this because you didn’t even ask me to go” you said with a cold tone, matching his energy

“You didn’t tell me you wanted to go” Draco retorted, and your food arrived before any of you could spat anything else

Dinner was unusually quiet, but maybe it was for the best, as the whole Yule Ball had gone from one personal anxiety to apparently a whole thing between the two of you. You arrived back to the castle and Draco walked you silently to the door of the Hufflepuff common room, still holding your hand as he’d usually do, but without muttering a word:

“I guess this is me” you said trying to let go of his hand, but you felt him squeeze your hand a little tighter, preventing you from letting go

“I would’ve asked you to go to the Ball if I’ve known you wanted to go” Draco said looking into your eyes, trying to find something that indicated maybe you wanted to go with him

“I think it’s best if we let it go, besides, you said it yourself, the Yule Ball is so fourth year” you added trying to avoid his gaze

“Come on love, I don’t care about it being fourth year or whatever, I’d do anything for you” Draco pleaded this time, communicating was hard for him, but he was trying his best to send his message across

“Just drop it, Dray” you said this time letting go of his hand and conjuring open the door

Draco was left there, stunned and feeling hollow from the messed up exchange you just had. For Merlin’s sake, if he would’ve known how important the Yule Ball was for you, he would’ve asked; cheez, he was going to ask you to be his partner and that’s why he arranged the appointment with Ms. Chateaux, he had thought about it for weeks before his inner monologue discouraged him from it, too scared of making things awkward between the two of you. And now? Now he was going to have a front seat to watch you dancing the night away with somebody else.

STAYING FRIENDS IS SAFE was the mantra Draco had repeated to himself since your escapade to Ms. Chateaux’s and until the, now, dreaded Ball arrived. 

Draco showed up to the Yule Ball with Astoria Greengrass on his arm. The two of them looked splendid and Draco was too aware of the prying eyes and lingering looks from everyone as they entered the Ball room. 

The pair found their reserved table and sat there; Draco was taking deep breaths to make sure he could keep his composure. He couldn’t understand what was wrong with him? He’d been terribly clumsy the whole afternoon and dressing ended up being a major challenge, as he entered the room, he scanned right and left to try to find you but you weren’t there yet, which only made him even more nervous. He knew you were a tardy person, and while half of his brain was trying to rationalize the whole situation, the other half of his brain was a mushy mess that couldn't articulate a single thought

“Would you like to dance?” Astoria asked Draco, taking him out from his spiral of thoughts

“I… I… sure” for Merlin's sake he struggled even with a simple response to a yes or no question. How was he supposed to survive the night? Almost in autopilot he offered Astoria his hand and she delicately took it and led him to the dancefloor.

Draco felt bad for Astoria. He knew he wasn’t going to be great company tonight, specially when he was obsessing about you and Neville Longbottom, but at the same time he knew he couldn’t miss the dance, because he had to keep an eye on you, not out of jealousy of course, but as a concerned friend. He felt he was going to start spiraling again when you appeared at the entrance of the ballroom, holding Neville’s arm.

You were a vision, the ballgown Ms. Chateaux had crafted, and of course he paid for, made you look like a princess; your hair was up and you had the most beautiful smile Draco had ever seen as you chuckled with Neville, clearly having fun with whatever the two of you were talking about. He’d never admit it out loud, but at that very moment Draco Malfoy was jealous of Neville Longbottom. Draco followed with his stare as the two of you moved towards the dancefloor and started dancing.

You could feel Draco’s stare lingering at you. You felt it the moment you walked into the room and now, after a couple of songs had passed, you could still feel it. You looked up from Neville’s shoulder and there he was, “dancing” with Astoria Greengrass as he was merely pacing around mindlessly; you tried to give him a small smile, but he didn’t smile back, making you give up on the pursuit of a friendly interaction. 

Since you rende-vouz to get you a dress Draco started acting distant and almost… mad? annoyed? You couldn’t really figure it out, but after your attempts at talking were shut down, you decided it was better not to push it, and even if it hurt like a hex, you decided to give Draco the space and time he seemed to need.

Neville ended up being a great dancer and after a while of hanging with him and mingling with your friends, you walked towards the balcony, because you needed fresh air. You were staring at the night sky and wondering if this was the night you’d finally take courage and confess to Draco your real feelings for him. You love him, you weren’t sure for how long or at what point your friendship got tangled up with romantic feelings, but you knew for sure one thing: you couldn't go on pretending you were okay with being just friends. 

“Here you go, you’re freezing” you heard Draco’s voice from behind as he was placing his coat over your shoulders

“Hey Dray, how are you liking the dance?” you asked trying to sound normal and not like all the feelings in the world were conjuring themselves in your stomach 

“It’s alright, it certainly lit up when you showed up here, you look, gorgeous” he said

“You look pretty great as well, by the way, the dress is stunning I’m really grateful” you said with a shy smile

“It’s only stunning because you are wearing it, love” Draco said with the soft tone of voice that was only reserved for you

And just like that, you decided it was either now or never, you had to confess your true feelings or else you felt you were going to implode:

“What’s going on with us?” you asked turning to face Draco

“What do you mean?” Draco asked arching a brow

“What do I mean? We barely spoke for the last two weeks!! First you got mad because I was asked to the dance, but you didn’t ask me; then you get me this amazing dress and I think that we’re alright again, only to be iced out? And now you show up at the dance with Astoria, but you come out here with me, give me your jacket and call me love like nothing happened? Seriously Dray, what’s going on?” you started ranting

“It’s nothing” Draco tried to ply it off, but you knew him and you knew there was something else lingering there

“So nothing? Are you gonna tell me that this is normal? That we’re okay?” you were growing desperate at the uncertainty of what was going on

“Look, I’m having some… feelings, but it’s nothing to worry about and I’m sure it’ll pass” Draco said with an exhausted expression 

“Feelings? What kind of feelings, Dray?” you asked with a glimmer of hope in your voice

“It’s stupid, we have to stay friends, staying friends is safe” Draco said with a string of voice

“Just because it’s safe doesn’t mean we should” you said and for the first time in weeks Draco held his gaze to you

“I don’t want to ruin this friendship, so don’t push it” Draco demanded

“What if this friendship is not enough for me anymore?” you questioned and you could see the gears working on Draco’s head to process this conversation

There was a moment of silence and then, he leaned down to kiss you. The kiss was desperate, as if he wanted to let you know everything he was feeling through it. Draco Malfoy was bad with words, but right now, this kiss, it made you understand that you weren’t the only one with deep and unresolved feelings. Draco’s arms were planted on your waist and you were holding him from the back of his neck, playing with the strands of hair as the two of you expressed everything you had been repressing

“Hey, it’s nice to see you” you heard Aaron Hotchner’s voice behind you calling your name. You could recognize that voice anywhere from when the two of you worked at the District Attorney’s Office together, just two kids fresh out of college… It felt like a lifetime ago, before he joined the FIB, and way before you became a political figure in Washington D.C., but hearing him saying your name sent shivers down your spine.

“Wow, it’s really you… Aaron Hotchner in the flesh” you said, turning on your heels to face him, and he looked just like you remembered him. Tall, dark hair that somehow was always perfectly, even after a rough day, built strong with that je ne sais quoi that could make you feel safe around him, dark brown eyes that sparked before you; he was wearing a gray suit and a tie that for a moment there, you imagined reaping off, until your train of thought was cut

“I… I’m so happy to see you, I didn’t expect running into you here” he said, it almost looked like he was going to lean in for a hug, but he stopped himself at the last second

“Here? In the D.A.’s office?” you asked with a puzzled look, almost amused at his confusion

“Actually, I’m here to see the D.A., wait… Powell? That’s your last name…?” he was stumbling through his words as he was finally making the connection, it was you, you were the District Attorney he was coming to see

“How may I help you, Agent Hotchner?” you said, offering him a warm smile, sitting at your desk, and unable to help yourself from seeing the flashbacks that your mind kept conjuring. Late night study sessions, the cases the two of you would work on, how naturally he became your confident, and the way you had fallen head over heels for your friend, and coworker, of course, it had remained as a guilty pleasure, as a secret want, as he was married, had been married when the two of you met and even if your heart ached for him, you wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize his happiness

“... and basically that’s the case we are working right now, and why we need your help” Aaron said, taking you out from your thoughts, CRAP, your cascade of thoughts and emotions pretty much made you unaware of what he needed

“Well, the D.A.’s office is at your disposition and anything you need us for” you added, hoping with all your heart that the response was enough to suffice the agent that was in front of you, but you were saved by a knock in your door

“G’morning, sweetheart, hope I’m not interrupting” your boyfriend, Rick Morton, said peaking his head into your office

“Rick? Rick Morton?” Aaron said, looking perplexed at the scene that was unfolding before his eyes

“Aaron Hotchner? Is that really you?” your boyfriend said entering your office, directly to… hug? Aaron

“I didn’t know the two of you… knew each other” you said, with a hint of amusement in your tone

“This man is pretty much my best friend” Tim said with a huge smile, which left you puzzled as even after three years his name never came up in any conversation

“We met back in high school, he actually offered a toast in my wedding” Aaron added, making your thoughts come back to the ground as he mentioned Hailey

“Well, what a lovely reunion we had here” you said, hoping to finish quickly the trip through memory lane and impatient to get to work

“Wait, you work here? At the D.A.’s?” Aaron asked Rick, perplexed at the idea

“Gosh no, I’m only dropping by to leave a skinny vanilla and a muffin to my girl before my trip, I’m working at the House of Congress and actually, I’m running a little late” Tim added proudly looking at his watch

“Have a safe trip” you said taking the coffee and the muffin and giving him a peck on the cheek

“Thanks, Hotch, if you’re still here when I come back you better join us for dinner, she makes a killer meatloaf” Tim said before leaving your office

“I… wow… I’d like to make some snarky remark about how small the world is but I guess the District of Columbia has its reputation for being small, hu?” you said, giving Hotch a small smile

“It’s just so… I don’t really recall him mentioning you, I mean, of course I didn’t either, but…” Hotch stumbled with his words and you couldn’t help but feel tenderness at the way he tried to put the pieces together

“The whole situation has its charm, you know? You guys being best friends from high school, you and I being friends from your time at the D.A. 's office, and well, now Rick and I are dating” you said and Aaron caught a certain… uncomfortable undertone as you mentioned Rick

“Is everything okay between the two of you?” Hotch asked, giving away that he was playing close attention and notice the slight chance on your demeanor

“Of course, why wouldn't it be? Don’t go all profiler on me” you said, trying to laugh off the comment, although to be honest, there was something there but you wouldn’t discuss it with him, not after you haven’t talked in eight years

The day progressed hectic, Aaron introduced you to his team and you were all hands on deck, looking through files and amongst meetings with the Police Department, certain Congressmen and different public figures from D.C. because, at the end of the day, you had a serial killer on the loose. It was around eleven p.m., most of Hotch’s team had already left and he was just outside, saying goodbye to the young Doctor that insisted on staying as late as his boss.

“I’m sorry about that, Reid was insisting on staying until we left” Hotch said, entering the conference room where the boxes you were looking through were scattered around the table

“Don’t worry about it, it’s quite a team you got there, I’m impressed” you said, giving him a smile, making his stomach turn a little at the sight of your smile

“You know, it’s crazy seeing you after all this time, all grown up and saving the world day by day with your job” you said, lifting your gaze from the documents you were reading and actually taking the time to see him, really see him, his perfectly accommodated hair was a little messy and his tie was a little lose, he looked tired, but even after feeling beaten he somehow looked gorgeous

“I know we grew apart, but I want you to know I’m proud of you, and everything you’ve accomplished” Aaron said, looking at you and making you feel flustered, like a high school girl being looked at by her crush

“What do you say we get out of here and we grab a bite?” you said to break the little tension you felt building up in the air

“What are we going to find open at this hour?” Hotch asked looking at his watch

“Don’t worry about that, and let me take care of you” you said, accommodating some papers into the box they belonged to, and you saw the trace of a smile on his face.

As the two of you were sitting in your car, you couldn’t help but feeling ease, the conversation was flowing like you never stopped talking, and in what felt like a heartbeat, the two of you were already in the driveway of your house.

“I see you got the white picket fence you always wished for” Aaron said examining the premises of our home

“It is quite lovely, it’s such a shame I spend most of my time at the office” you said with a sight as you turned off the engine “Shall we?” you asked with a smile

“Hold on a second, don’t move” Aaron said, opening the passenger door and walking towards your door to open it “May I?” he added offering his hand, and you couldn’t help but chuckle

“Such a gentleman, I can totally see why Hailey fell so easily for you” you said playfully, but you couldn’t help but noticing a flicker of hurt in his eyes

After making and eating some midnight pancakes, enjoying half a bottle of wine and laughing so hard your stomach hurt, the two of you were sitting in the floor of your living room, talking about anything and nothing simultaneously:

“Where did time even go?” you said chuckling as the two of you recounted different anecdotes

“God. I can’t believe we once were just kids fresh out of college, and now we’re here, all grown up and saving lives” Aaron said with a melancholic tone you could totally understand

“I don’t know if it’s the wine or the fact that we’re walking through memory lane, but I gotta confess something” you said staring wide-eyed at your guest as he was sitting up and moving closer to you

“You can tell me anything” he added, gazing intensively at your eyes; you could feel your tongue twisting, your stomach bubbling and your palms sweating, but in the heat of the moment, it just felt… right?

“Once upon a time, when we first started working together, I had the most ginormous crush on you” you said laughing at the flashback of yourself starring starry eyed at a younger Aaron, but instead of giving you a laugh or a reaction you could read, he remained with a puzzled look “Okay, don’t look at me like that, I’d never would’ve done anything to jeopardize your marriage back then, and I wouldn't do anything to cause trouble now, I just thought it should be in the open” you added, sitting straight

“Don’t move away” Aaron said, scooping you closer to him, but with a tone a tad more serious that what you’ve anticipated

“Hey, there's no need to get weird, as I told you, I wouldn’t make a move on you” you tried to joke to alleviate the tension

“What? Why wouldn’t you?” Hotch asked with what seemed a little… butthurt?

“Well, for starters you have a family which includes a wife, a job that has you traveling around the country…” you started to enunciate the reasons

“And then there’s Rick” Hotch added to your list

“Sure, there’s Rick, and whatever” you said rolling your eyes

“What’s that about? Is everything okay with the two of you?” Hotch asked trying to decipher your reaction

“We’re… It’s weird, I don’t really know where we stand with now” you said hoping he would catch the cue to not touch the subject

“But everything seemed fine earlier today” Hotch said, definitely not catching the cue

“He cheated on me, about a month ago, and since then he’s been trying to make it up, but I guess sometimes things are too broken to fix” you recounted, hoping this time he would get the insinuation

“Hailey divorced me” Aaron said low, drinking the rest of his wine

“I guess we just couldn’t have it all” you said, drinking the rest of your own wine and calling it a night. The clock in your kitchen counter read 3am, so you invited Hotch to spend the night in your guest room and he complied easily.

You woke up around 7 am with the smell of bacon which, for a moment of confusion, made you think you were still dreaming, but as you came down into the kitchen, you caught sight of him, Hotch was standing in front of the stove with freshly prepared eggs and bacon, recently brewed coffee, and fruit cut into pieces:

“I didn’t know this was a bed and breakfast” you joked, surprising Aaron who was concentrated in pouring orange juice into a couple of glasses

“I just wanted to say thank you” he said, placing a plate in front of you, and you dug in, as it smelled delicious.

The two of you had breakfast in silence, reading the newspaper and stealing little glances and smiles. The atmosphere was peaceful, and you felt comfortable, for the first time in a really long time you didn’t feel the need to fill the silence with words, the two of you were just… existing together

“I should go get ready, and we can ride together to the office, or I could drop you off if you need it” you said as you finished up your breakfast

“We can ride together, and while you get ready I’ll clean up” Aaron said with a smile, which made some remaining butterflies flutter inside you

“Thank you, for everything” you said gifting him a smile

“Maybe we can have it all” you heard Hotch mutter quietly as you were approaching the staircase to go get ready

The day at work was hectic, as the killer had struck again this time leaving a message, luckily the team finally had a lead, but in the middle of the chaos, both you and Aaron managed to steal a few glances and moments together. You felt like a fool, there was a serial killer roaming around your city, and you were fantasizing about your old friend being maybe more than a friend; nonetheless you could almost swear there was something there… maybe… a flicker of a tornado of old and new feelings, reaching the surface.

A couple of days went by and the tension between you and Aaron was growing more and more, you’d catch him in the middle of meetings staring at you, leaving you little notes with snacks in your desk or following you into your office after briefings, but departing before any of you had the chance of saying something. You were coming back from court when suddenly you felt a bang on the back of your head and you fell unconscious.

“Wakey wakey, you’re gonna be a star” you heard a man’s voice as you recovered consciousness. You looked around trying to register where you were, when you noticed a camera recording in front of you and a masculine figure standing behind it

“What a pathetic way to grab attention” you said, defying the person in front of you, sure, maybe it was a stupid idea, but from the profile Hotch’s team assembled, you were hoping you could get him to spill some information

“That’s no way to treat your host” the guy said sounding bitter

“And this is no way to treat your star! Kidnapping me from court around 11 am and bringing me here? To be tied up in a chair? Come on! How long did it take you? I’m sure you could’ve done better” you kept pressing

“As a matter of fact, I only had 30 minutes to prepare everything” you kidnapper scoffed and you were praying that Hotch, his team or someone was actually watching the livestream, but you had to be sure

“So tell me big shot? Who’s even watching this?” you shoot your shot

“Y’know, just your friends at the Police Precinct, the people at the D.A.’s office and of course, the internet” he said with a mocking tone

You pestered your kidnapper with questions and as he was growing more and more desperate, suddenly you heard another bang, only this time it came from the door:

“F.B.I. hands up and don’t move” you heard Aaron yell as the door was coming undone. You saw the police and the rest of the team invade the room and apprehend the guy who held you captive

“Hey hey hey, are you okay? Did he hurt you” Hotch said kneeling next to you, examining you visually with desperation and wrapping his arms around you

“I’m okay, he didn’t do anything, other than banged the back of my head, but I think I’m okay” you said and you mentally slapped yourself did you really just joke about your kidnapping?

“I’m going to get you out of here” Aaron said frenetically uniting you, and as you were going to step from the chair you were sitting, he swept you from your feet, carrying you bridal style. The ride to the hospital he kept you in his arms, whispering sweet nothings and placing small kisses on your head, and once again, the creeping feeling that this felt right invaded you.

Once you were settled in your hospital room and Hotch was settled in the small couch in your hospital room to spend the night, Rick arrived:

“My darling, I’m so glad you’re okay” Rick said placing a small peck in your cheek

“Hey, I thought you were out of town” you said with an icy tone

“I was but I flew back in as soon as I heard the news of you getting kidnapped” he added, as if it was the logical thing to do

“You must be beat, and Aaron said he would stay with me tonight, so maybe you could go to your apartment and I’ll see you tomorrow” you tried to conjure Rick to leave

“Don’t be ridiculous, I’m your boyfriend, I should stay here tonight, besides, I’m sure Hotch wants to go rest after the day” Rick said with a puzzled look staring at the two of you

“I don’t want to impose so, maybe I should leave” Hotch said standing from the couch where we was witnessing the scene

“Thanks man” Rick said shaking his hand and escorting him to the door without giving you the chance to say your goodbyes

You didn’t know if it was the pain, your emotions for the kidnapping or the tension that had scaled with Hotch, but that night in the hospital you ended things with Rick; luckily he stayed until you were released and he was kind enough to drive you home.

There you were, home, alone, with free time for work and officially single. You were about to call Hotch, when you heard a knocking at the door, and when you opened up, he was there, with a bouquet of flowers and a “get well soon” card

“I conjured you here” you said with a smile, inviting him inside

“I need to talk to you” Hotch said with a serious tone as he handed you the flowers

“Is everything alright?” you said, trying to decipher what was going inside his head

“Why are you still with him?” Hotch asked bluntly

“Excuse me?” you said confused

“Why are you still with him, even after he cheated on you” Hotch said, this time with a bitter tone “You are everything, you are smart, fearless, loving, caring, you are so powerful, and witty, and I just… I can’t conceive the fact that you are with another man, not just another man, but a man who disrespected you like that, and I’m sorry if I’m overstepping, but I just can’t imagine having the honor of being with you and just doing something as stupid as hurting you” he added

“I… I… what are you…?” against all odds, you were at a loss of words, the one thing you’d been fantasizing for the last five days was finally happening and you didn’t know what to say

“Look, you don’t have to say anything, I guess I’m just in love with you, and if you give me the chance, I will fight for you” he said, and you couldn’t do anything but kiss him.

His lips were soft but hungry, he wrapped his atoms around you and his hands swiftly moved from your hips, to your back and to your face. The two of you kept kissing, almost as if you needed that kiss as much as oxygen, when you finally needed air, you took a small step back to tell him the news about your newly acquired singlehood

“I’m no longer with Rick, we broke up last night” you said with a small smile, and your statement was quickly met with another kiss

Being part of Gotham’s high society meant more galas and social functions that one could’ve initially imagined, nonetheless, since you’ve been moving in that circle for pretty much all your life, you were accustomed to it. Most charity events were boring and full of old people hanging on to their glory days, as Gotham’s elite was mostly composed of old money families; or at least you thought that until, across the room, you saw him.

Entering the Gala next to billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne, you saw a young lad who seemed about your age and almost as uncomfortable as you with the whole situation. Naturally, and with a pinch of curiosity about Mr. Wayne’s new companion, you marched over him to make an introduction:

“Good evening, Mister Wayne, my parents will be pleased to see you could make it tonight” you said with a shy smile

“Good evening, Miss Silver” Bruce said with one of his signature smiles “Let me introduce you to my… son… adoptive… son… my…” you could see Bruce struggling to find his words, when the young lad intervened

“I’m Jason, Jason Todd” he said offering a hand and a sweet smile

“Pleasure to meet you” you said, taking his hand and feeling a little tingle move through your veins as your skin touched his “Are you going to be joining Gotham-prep?” you asked, realizing you haven’t let go of his hand

“I’m not much of a student” Jason said with a tick New Jersey accent that was almost delicious

“Jason will be doing his studies at home” Bruce said with a sharp tone, that earned him a chuckle from Jason

“Mr. Wayne, is it okay if I show Jason around?” you said with the most angelic grin you could conjure

“Yes, alright, just… stay out of trouble” Bruce said excusing himself to mingle with the adults

“Are you new in town?” you questioned the guy standing in front of you, this time, taking a moment to examine his features. He had deep green eyes, really dark hair parted at the middle and a defined jaw that somehow made the good-boy look work in his favor

“I’ve lived here my whole life, I just never… I’m not from this side of town” he said and you could hear a hollow tint in his voice

“I’m sorry for asking” you said shyly

“Don’t be sorry, I’m glad you came over… I was pretty nervous about coming here tonight” he added, this time he was the one with a shy tone

“If it’s any consolation, I’ve been attending these galas for most of my life and I still get nervous, once my dad made me give a Christmas speech at the foundation and I almost fainted in the spot” you recounted the traumatic experience and Jason couldn’t help but laughing

The night went through flying, and by the time you had to say goodbye, the two of you were practically glued to the hip.

“It’s a shame you won’t be at school, I feel we could’ve really hit it off” you said, sitting on the staircase with your hair undone and your shoes by your side

“Just cuz I won’t go to your preppy school doesn’t mean we can’t hang out, I’m sure I’ll see you around” Jason added rubbing your feet, almost as if touching you was his second nature

“I guess Gotham ain’t that big of a town” you said, almost wishing you weren’t about to say goodbye to the lovely boy that in a matter of hours stole your heart with how witt, his stories, and his tenderness

⋆˙⟡♡✧˖°⋆˙⟡♡✧˖°⋆˙⟡♡✧˖°⋆˙⟡♡✧˖°⋆˙⟡♡✧˖°⋆˙⟡♡✧˖°⋆˙⟡♡✧˖°⋆˙⟡♡✧˖°⋆˙⟡♡✧˖°⋆˙⟡♡✧˖°

To be frank, you were not expecting to see or hear from Jason soon, so when the Wednesday after the Gala he pulled up to Gotham Prep School with a small bouquet of flowers and a motorcycle, your stomach couldn’t help but flip in your insides:

“What are you doing here?” you said nervously approaching the guy, this time he was wearing a leather jacket, a pair of jeans and a tight fitted black shirt; his dark hair was messy because of the helmet, and all his expression and posture seemed way more relaxed that when you met at the gala

“I said I would see you around, didn’t I?” he said offering you the flowers

“These are lovely” you said smelling the bouquet and admiring the pink assortment of different flowers that composed the arrangement

“You showed me your world and how to navigate it at the Gala, this time I want to show you my world” Jason told you, offering his hand for you to take, and as you did, he helped you climb the motorcycle. The ride was smooth and as you held the boy, you couldn't help but wonder if maybe this could be the start of something new, maybe the instant crush wasn’t as one sided as you initially thought.

The two of you spent the afternoon roaming around Gotham city, finishing the tour at the Gotham Public Library:

“This is my favorite place in the whole city, I remember when I was younger and my parents would argue, I’d come here just to… escape, this was my safe place” Jason said, as the two of you stared at the old building

“I get it, you know? Growing up I spent a lot of time alone in offices adjacent to conference rooms, or at my own house so I became an avid reader, I mean, I’m sure it’s nothing compared to what you endured, but I guess it was just… lonely” you said lowering your voice and feeling stupid at the comparison you’ve drawn

“Just because I had it rough doesn’t mean you didn’t struggle, you shouldn’t invalidate your feelings and what you went through” Jason added, offering a kind smile and you couldn’t help but lean a little closer to him, hoping he would get what you meant.

He definitely caught what you were onto as he leaned closer and softly sealed your lips with a kiss, the kiss was tender, sweet, and you couldn’t help but smile.

“That was quite nice” you said leaning away from his face, but as he was grabbing your waist, he held you closer to him

“Real nice, let’s do it again” he said kissing you once more

⋆˙⟡♡✧˖°⋆˙⟡♡✧˖°⋆˙⟡♡✧˖°⋆˙⟡♡✧˖°⋆˙⟡♡✧˖°⋆˙⟡♡✧˖°⋆˙⟡♡✧˖°⋆˙⟡♡✧˖°⋆˙⟡♡✧˖°⋆˙⟡♡✧˖°

Time flew by, and suddenly Jason hit you with the news that he was going to Ethiopia to volunteer. To be honest, his explanation wasn’t very clear but you couldn’t help but be supportive of your, now, boyfriend as he seemed especially excited about this trip. Unfortunately, one rainy afternoon, Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth showed up to your door, unannounced and looking disheveled:

“Jason’s death” Bruce said collapsing into the couch of the receiver, eyes watery, and as you were standing closer to him, you couldn't help but notice the expression lines, a few cuts and bruises on his face and the haunting look that adorned his eyes, as if part of him had died as well

“Excuse me?” you said in shock as you felt your eyes tear up

“Master Wayne… he tried to say that Master Jason was victim of a terrorist attack in Ethiopia, and unfortunately, he did not make it out” Alfred muttered, trying his best to keep his composure, but you could see the cracks behind the mask he was forcing himself to wear

“I… I can’t… but… that’s not fair” you struggled to get the words out as you felt the air leaving your lungs and suddenly, it was all black

You woke up in your bed, with an I.V. in your arm and concerned looks from your parents, Alfred and Bruce all by your side, and suddenly, it all came back to you:

Terrorist attack. Ethiopia. Jason is death.

You cried as your mother embraced you. God, it was so unfair, he was so young, he was so excited about life,about growing up, he finally felt he had a safe place to call home with you, with Bruce and Alfred, and now… now he was gone.

How can a person so full of life can just, not be there anymore?

A couple of days -maybe more, but you weren’t counting- went by, and suddenly you were wearing a black dress, standing in front of a closed coffin, and burying the first guy you ever loved. It all felt so surreal, almost like a nightmare, you had to constantly pinch yourself to remind yourself that this was real life, and just like Jason, you wouldn’t wake up.

After a couple of months of your best friend’s breakup with her boyfriend, you finally managed to convince her to a night out in the town. It was almost 10:40 pm when both you, and your friend, caught a glimpse of a couple of guys entering the dive bar you were at. Both of them looked extremely handsome, almost as movie stars; but the one that caught your attention was definitely taller, bulked, with dark curly hair with a streak of white and had two shinning emeralds for eyes. You caught your friend staring at the other guy, tall as well, dark haired and with pretty blue eyes, they almost looked like brothers considering the resemblance; although even from afar, you could tell one seemed a little mody and brooding, almost as he was forced to come, while the ladder was the happy and sunny one.

“We should really stop staring at them” you said with a chuckle, feeling like a high school girl with a crush

“We really should, but it’s almost magnetic” your friend replied with googly eyes, while neither of you could stop looking at the pair, who took a seat at the opposite side of the bar; the two of you watched them order a couple of beers “Between you, and me, how much do you love me?” your friend asked taking a sip of her drink

“Well, considering you are my best friend in the whole world, I’d say pretty damn much” you said with a puzzled look

“Help me land the cute one, the blue-eyed one” she added, this time bitting her lip with nervousness

“What?” you said this time laughing out loud

“Come on, we are both single, we are both cute, and you seem to be devouring the one that looks like a tank” she insisted, making you notice that she was death serious “Besides, this is my first night out as a single lady, wouldn’t it be amazing if I closed the deal with that piece of guy?” she insisted; and you contemplated the idea for a minute: they were two, and you guys were two as well, she was making a valid point and, come on, what’s the worst that could happen? If things went south, it would be one of those funny stories you could reminisce over a bottle of wine

“Alright, here goes nothing” you said chugging your drink, as to arm yourself with liquid courage before going into the dating battlefield. You approached the table where the guys were chit-chatting, and with decided your best bet would be to be confident and to take the bull by the horns

“G’evening, fellow bar attenders, may I take a seat?” you said, hoping to sound cool and care free

“Sure thing, sugar” the blue-eyed one said with a smile and you heard the green-eyed one grunt a little; so you decided your best move would be to introduce yourself with some clever excuse

“My friend and I were sitting over there, and we really wanted to play pool, what do you say boys? Are you up for a round against the two of us? The looser pays up with drinks” you added hoping to sweetening the deal

“My name is Dick, this is my brother Jason, and we’d love to play some pool” the blue-eyed one said, waving sweetly to where your friend was sitting

“Would you guys go get a table while I go get my friend?” you asked, with a smile and got up from your seat, walking over to where your friend was sitting.

“I can't believe you just did that” your friend said after you told her what went down over at the boys’ table

“I hope you know how to play pool, because otherwise we’ll have to pay for their drinks” you said chuckling, and grabbing your friend’s hand to walk towards the pool table

“Alright guys, this is Diane, and we’re about to beat your asses” you said laughing, motioning your friend to stand closer to Dick, as he was the one that sparked her interest. After a couple of rounds, and some jokes, Diane said that she wanted to go out for a smoke, and Dick in a very chivalrous manner offered to accompany her. You played a couple of more rounds with Jason when you realized, the two of them weren’t coming back…

“So big guy, seems like the love-birds are not coming back, but I’m game if you are to keep playing” you said, hoping a little too hard that he would agree to stay a little longer

“Sure, this is the most fun I’ve had in a long time” Jason said with a shy smile that sent bubbles through your body.

The two of you ordered some more drinks and keep playing, until the last ball that was standing was the eight; the game was tied, and whoever got the black ball into a hole would win. You took a clean shot, and just like that, the white ball knocked lightly the edge of the black ball, making it fall into the hole.

“Holy shit” you said and turned to Jason, wrapping your arms around him in celebration; he wrapped his arms around you too and gave you a little spin, which made you laugh, loudly

“Do you go around just hugging strangers?” Jason asked jokingly

“Only the one I beat at pool, or find really attractive” you said, shooting your shot with the guy

“I bet I could beat you at darts” he added with a playful smile

“I’m game, but first you got to pay up” you said, smiling at the prospect of the handsome guy not only accepting another game, but also not backing down with your flirty comments

“Here you go, m’lady” Jason said offering you a bottle of Jack Daniel's

“Cheez, it was supposed to be a drink, not a whole bottle” you said a little surprised

“Maybe I want to make this night last” he said, offering a flirty smile that made your stomach give a little turn. You handed each other a couple of shots, and laughed a little more before approaching the darts game

“So what’s that you and your brother do for a living? Are you guys models or something?” you asked Jason, feeling the alcohol running through your veins making you a little over confident

“Not in the slightless, and what’s your job? Professional pool player?” he asked laughing at the absurdity of your comment

“I’m a social worker, but don’t tell the kids I’m at a bar with a stranger” you added laughing, when suddenly you heard Livin’ on a Prayer playing on the speaker of the bar, so naturally, you had to take Jason’s hand and drag him to the “dance floor” to sing your lungs out.

As the two of you were in the crowded dance floor, you took notice of a couple of things: Jason not only didn’t let go of your hand; but he was using his other arm to wrap it around your waist to prevent you from knocking into people. As well, as soon as anybody came closer to you, he seemed to press you a little more and more to his chest. You found it cute, almost protective

“Wanna go out for a smoke?” you asked half yelling in the middle of the crowd

“Sure, let’s go” he said and instinctively he held firmly your hand to guide you out of the crowd. Once you were outside, you could feel the chill air of Gotham invade your lungs

“What a night” you said, looking for your pack of cigarettes in your jacket pocket “Shit I only got one, wanna share?” you said holding up the cigar

“That’d be good, but if you wanted to share saliva you could’ve asked for a kiss” Jason said as you lit up the cigar that was softly pressed to your lips

“I’m not one that asks for things, most of the time if I want something, I just take it” you said, letting out the smoke and offering him the cigar

“In that case, I am slightly offended that you haven’t tried to kiss me” Jason said exhaling the smoke and giving it back to you

“I did approach you guys, didn’t I? I’m just waiting for my moment” you said laughing, realizing that meant he wanted to kiss you “Besides, in that regard, I like it when guys take the initia…” you were suddenly cut off by Jason leaning down to kiss you. The kiss was soft, tender, and sweet, definitely not what you would’ve expected from the tall, muscular guy, but you couldn’t complain, so you did what any normal person would do and wrapped your arms around him, careful not to burn him with the cigar that was in your fingers

“That’s more like it” you said with a chuckle, millimeters away from his lips, when he leaned a little again, going in for another kiss. You finally separated after you felt the warm of the cigar dangerously close to your fingers, so you had to put it out

“We’re still mid-darts game, so why don’t we go back inside?” Jason asked, offering his hand

“Let’s go beat your ass” you said taking his hand

You finished playing darts, and he asked for a rematch at pool, but it was safe to say you dragged his ass, in both games

“It’s not fair, you are distracting me and I can’t concentrate on beating you” Jason whined

“Don’t be a sore looser, and let’s go back to dancing” you said, grabbing Jason’s hand and spinning him through the dance-floor. You finished the bottle, and he offered to buy another one, but you settled on a couple of beers, as they were convenient to dance with them in hand

“I need a break” Jason whispered to your ear and you took his hand, this time dragging him to the table where you and your friend were sitting at the beginning of the night, making sure not to let go of his hand as the two of you sat

“We’ve played, we’ve smoked, we’ve danced, we’ve drank, the only missing thing is getting to really know each other” you said with a smile

“What do you wanna know love?” he said, and the alcohol was making his New Jersey accent creep out

“Everything” you said staring into his gorgeous emerald eyes

“I… That’s gonna take some time y’know?” he said trying to deflect the question, which you caught as a cue to not keep pushing the subject

“What’s your favorite sweet drink? Let’s start with that?” you said, trying to lighten the mood

“I’ve never really tried sweet drinks” he added, relieved that you changed the subject

“Whaaaat? You’ve never had a Shirley temple?” you asked amused

“Never” he said, and you rushed to the bar to order, not just one Shirley temple, but also a mojito, a piña colada, a daiquiri, a Moscow mule and a margarita; when the bar tender served you, you juggled the drinks in a tray, back to where he was sitting, looking at you with a puzzled look

“Now Mr. Jason, I’m gonna take your v-card of sweet drinks” you said laughin and placing the tray over the table.

The two of you drinked until the clock struck 3 am, and the bar tender, really politely, asked the two of you to leave, as it was closing time for him. You were now outside the bar, breathing the chill air of the night, when the two of you realized he was too drunk to drive his bike

“I live a block away from here, we could walk and you can stay until you sober up, I’ll even sweeten the deal with a bag of family size doritos and a bottle of wine” you said with a mischevious smile

“The deal is sweet as soon as it involves you” he said and you couldn’t help but blush at his commentary.

You held hands again, and walked slowly to your appartment. The walk felt magical, the two of you couldn’t top talking about nothing and everything, and once you finally reached your appartment building, you were greatful to live on the ground floor

“Home sweet home” you said opening the door and inviting him to come in

“It’s nice, cozy” Jason said taking in the sight of your appartment

“Thanks, you can sit on the couch while I grab the chips and the wine” you said stumbling trough your kitchen

“I can help” he said leaning on the counter, as if he didn’t want to be left alone

“Great, maybe you can help me reach for the glasses” you said, pointing at the top shelve, and swiftly, he grabbed them, standing awfully close to you

“Here y’go” he said handing you the glasses and starring directly into your eyes

“Don’t look at me like that, or else…” you therened sofly

“Or else what?” he questioned mischiviously

“Or else I’m going to kiss you” you added taking the glasses

“If I recall correctly this magical night, it wouldn’t be the first time” he said wrapping his strong arms around your wait

“I guess it wouldn’t” you said leaving the glasses over the counter and wrapping your arms to his neck to kiss him. This time the kiss was still sweet, but it was also lazy, somehow more intimate, it almot feel like this is what you were meant to be doing for the rest of your life

“Let me… get the doritos” you said mid kissed

“Right now, I don’t give a damn about the doritos” Jason said, but was betrayed by an stomach growl that made your burst out into laugher

“I can tell you’re lying” you said this time turning to the fridge to take out the cheese, as you decided you’d be an amazing host and dazzle your guesst with grilled cheese sandwiches. You were cooking and Jason had his eyes glued to you the hole time, the two of you kept drinking the wine, joking and kissing.

After devouring two grilled cheese sandwiches each, you moved the party to your bedroom, where you ranted about how gross was wearing outside clothes on the bed and you made Jason change into one of your oversized pajamas. You spent the rest of the night talking, cuddling and kissing, as Jason said that you were too drunk to consent to something, and he didn’t want you to regret anything, which you found sweet. Whitout realizing it, the two of you fell asleep.

You woke up to the smell of fresh coffee and pancakes

“Good morning, beautiful” you heard Jason call from your bedroom door

“Good morning, stranger from the bar” you said jokingly and you could see a little panic invading Jason’s pretty green eyes “I’m kidding, good morning Jason” you added, trying to make the situation better

“You got me for a minute” he said with relif and he walked closer to give you a kiss

“I had a great time with you” you said, holding his neck and pushing him back into bed with you

“It was a magical night” he added, cuddling you “I made pancakes for breakfast, I hope you don’t mind I helped myself to your kitchen” he added, and you kissed him, ready to enjoy what seemed to be a perfect morning as well.

You couldn’t believe it, after two years with your long time boyfriend, decided you were incompatible and just like that, broke up with you. Fair enough, he wasn’t an asshole and offered you a ride back to your apartment, because, at the end of the day, you guys lived in Gotham: the city with the highest number of criminals and crazy folks running around in tights. But as you were butt hurt and stubborn, declined his offer, and decided I’d be better to just walk home.

You were a block away from your apartment, when you heard a loud noise and before your eyes, what seemed like a person flew directly to the dumpsters, making a loud crashing noise. You kept walking and saw a crocodile-like-monster-person running away from the situation, which made you figure he/she/it was the author of the scene you just witnessed.

You were about to run for the hills, when your most compassionate side won the battle, making you take a look at the person that was thrown to the dumpster, where you saw him: The Red Hood

“Holy shit” you said scared out of your mind at the sight of him; at the end of the day, as an informed Gothamite you knew he was currently the biggest Crime Lord in town, and you weren’t about to get mixed up with him; that, until you heard him grunting in what seemed to be pain… “Hey… you… I… am…” you were at loss of words, his reputation presided him, and you knew that the wrong choice of words would earn you a bullet wound.

“Go away” you heard him grunt

“Let me help you up” you said kneeling down and trying to put his long arm around your shoulders to help him stand up; suddenly, you heard police sirens and if you didn’t want to get into trouble with the police, this was your time to run. You managed to help Red Hood stand up with a sight of relief, and you added “Take off your mask… helmet…?”

“Are you insane? Of course not!” he said trying to distance himself from you, only to miss his step and needing to rely on you to stand up straight

“Just take off the damn thing! The police are coming, and I’m sure as hell not getting in trouble for helping you!” you said frenetically

“I’m not gonna take off my mask! I don’t even know you!” he spatted back, and this time you were ready to make a run for it

“Fine, then I’ll leave you here, bleeding to dead or whatever” you threatened softly letting go of his arm, when you felt him holding you, apparently, he was really injured and needed the help your body was offering to stand

“Wait… I’ll… for fucks sake” he muttered and took off his helmet to reveal a face with deep green eyes, a black sea of hair with a white streak, and a scar across his face

“Good, now zip your jacket and let’s go!” you said frantically, as the police sounded closer, and closer, now you could hear their radios.

With effort, and all your will to live, you transported the hood-less Red Hood to your apartment building. Once you were inside the elevator, you rested leaning his tall frame against the wall, and actually took a closer look at the guy you were sharing space with. He was tall, really tall, definitely more than 6 feet, muscular, like a football linebacker, his features were rough, but beautiful, and you couldn’t help but stare at his bewitching teal eyes.

“Please don’t drool in the elevator” he said barely looking at you, as he was somehow trying to cover his face

“Look, I don’t know you, I don’t even care who you are, stop trying so hard to conceal your identity or whatever” you said with a small chuckle as the elevator doors opened; you got closer to the guy but he motioned that he was well enough to stand by himself. “Suit yourself” you added, walking out of the small space and opening the apartment door, motioning him to come inside.

“Sweet place you get here” he said, closing the door behind you

“Take off your jacket and take a seat, I’m going to exam you real quick, I’m pretty sure you got a contusion” you said, grabbing your work bag from the rack, and taking out your diagnosis lamp and a pair of latex gloves

“What are you? A nurse?” Red Hood asked frowning

“It’s Doctor, actually” you said coming close to your couch, where he was now sitting. You examined his eyes looking for any signs of a contusion, but apparently he was clear “Seems like that helmet of your really worked; let me just patch you up real quick and you’ll be as good as new”

“I’m okay” he muttered under his breath

“You are bleeding!” you said a little annoyed, showing him the hand that rested on his shoulder, now covered with his blood “Take off your shirt” you demanded

“Careful there, doc” he said jokingly, but you caught him flinching in pain as he took it off. His naked torso took you a little by surprise, sure, you could tell he was ripped, but imagining it was different from actually seeing it with your eyes. You examined the injury, gave him a couple of stitches and put a bandage over it.

“Ready as new… Are you hungry? I’ve got frozen pizza if you want to eat something” you asked him, gaining an… amused look?

“Why does a doctor have frozen pizza? Isn’t it bad for your health?” he asked with a little chuckle

“Why is a crime lord thrown into the dumpsters? I was just trying to be polite” you said, a little exasperated at your newfound guest

“I’d love the pizza, if the offer still stands” he said and you retrieved to your kitchen “So what’s your deal? You bring home every man you meet in the streets?” he asked with a tone that almost sounded as if he was… joking

“Not every man, just the ones who are thrown by a giant human lizard, or whatever that was” you replied, putting the frozen pizza in the preheated oven

“That… that was Killer Croc, we had a few… unresolved issues” he said, standing from where he was sitting and walking into your kitchen “What were you doing so late at night? Walking alone? I’m sure y’know Gotham ain’t the safest city” he said watching you carefully, like a predator examines it’s prey; but you didn´t reply, what were you supposed to say? That your ex dumped you at date night?. He kept walking through the apartment, like he was taking it all in

“Pizza is ready” you said taking it out of the oven and putting it in a serving tray, and grabbing a couple of plates and glasses of water, making your way to your dinning table

“Who’s this? Your husband?” Red Hood asked with a picture of you and your ex boyfriend in hand

“That’s actually my ex, and the reason I was walking around at night in Gotham is because he dumped me tonight” you said, bitting the inside of your cheek

“Wait.. so he dumped you… and then he made you walk home all alone? What an asshole” he said sitting at the dinning table “Thank you very much for the dinner” he said before reaching for a slice of pizza

“Don’t worry about it” you said with a shy smile “And for the record, I insisted on walking home” you added, grabbing a slice yourself

“Are you really defending him? To a stranger?” the guy said mid-bite and raising an eyebrow

“What can I say? I’ve got a broken heart” you said munching into your slice