what jason really wants is to stitch his skin to yours. to be there at every moment that he can, next to you. to worship the suds that grace your skin and envy the way the water gets to touch you. then he’ll ask to put that vanilla lotion you like on for you, and once he’s done he’ll ask for you to do the same.

the man will genuinely drop everything he’s doing to take a steaming hot shower with you. and if you don’t like how hot it is, he’ll stand under the waterfall. if you complain that you’re cold, he changes the temperature to exactly what you like. jason’s hands rub circles at your back with careful consideration while you lather the soap in your head. pulling out hums while you say with barely any conviction that you’re gonna get soap in your eyes. not that he’d let that happen anyway since he likes to rub your scalp next and put conditioner in.

he makes you wait after the gym for him. the grossest part might be when he rubs his face in your neck first, murmuring something about how good you smell when you scrunch your face at him.

“i smell like sweat you nasty.” pushing at his head while he only pulls you closer by your waist.

“exactly” he agrees, placing sloppy kisses up your jaw with a soft touch of his tongue, licking at your skin.

jason follows you into the shower then too. waddling close behind you while his hands are by his waist like he’s afraid you’ll say no even though you never do. he watches you undress with a purse in his lips and brings his hands clutched dangerously close to his crotch.

“jason.” you warn as you step into the warm water.

“mmhm?” eyes not leaving your thighs as water trickles down.

“you wanna join me?”

then he’s already pulling his shirt over his head, sweats somehow already on the ground as he approaches the running shower. “it’s like asking a dog if they want a treat.”

his comment makes you laugh, hands coming up to his shoulders as he slides in front of you. the water dampens his hair and lets it fall like bangs by his brows. gorgeous smile flashing at you through the dimly lit shower, glinting amidst the sheer curtains once he pulls them. you squint.

“you realize you just compared yourself to a dog right?”

taking the bottle of shampoo you liked to use, he squeezed it into his hands while you turned for him like a practiced routine. the smell brings him comfort, the distant scent of you that had his eyes rolling in the back of his head. he loved showering with you cause you’d run it through his hair too, letting the aromas linger through his locks as he goes about his day. letting the air around him remind him of home and reminisce like he didn’t cuddle you through your alarms.

“that’s okay ma,” cooing just above your ear as he runs the pads of his fingers through your scalp. letting your hums rumble from your back to his chest as you lean on him. “i can be whatever you want me to be.”

“i want you to,” you pause as your eyes roll back from the gentle pressure he applied.

“yes?” jason hums you along. “you want me?”

humming back, you complete your sentence. “—to never, ever stop doing this.”

jason chuckles as he turns you around, rubbing circles by your temples now. “why, i wouldn’t dream of it.”

slowly your resolve melts into him as he takes the ability to reason from your thoughts. the only thing on your mind him as he starts reading the bottle of dr bronner on the edge of the tub. as though he doesn’t hone in on it after every shower.

“can you get my back with this after?” he says as he kisses your shoulder. “i like how it cools my skin.”

how could you ever deny him when he’s so adorably sweet?

what jason really wants is to stitch his skin to yours. to be there at every moment that he can, next to you. to worship the suds that grace your skin and envy the way the water gets to touch you. then he’ll ask to put that vanilla lotion you like on for you, and once he’s done he’ll ask for you to do the same.

the man will genuinely drop everything he’s doing to take a steaming hot shower with you. and if you don’t like how hot it is, he’ll stand under the waterfall. if you complain that you’re cold, he changes the temperature to exactly what you like. jason’s hands rub circles at your back with careful consideration while you lather the soap in your head. pulling out hums while you say with barely any conviction that you’re gonna get soap in your eyes. not that he’d let that happen anyway since he likes to rub your scalp next and put conditioner in.

he makes you wait after the gym for him. the grossest part might be when he rubs his face in your neck first, murmuring something about how good you smell when you scrunch your face at him.

“i smell like sweat you nasty.” pushing at his head while he only pulls you closer by your waist.

“exactly” he agrees, placing sloppy kisses up your jaw with a soft touch of his tongue, licking at your skin.

jason follows you into the shower then too. waddling close behind you while his hand behind his waist like he’s afraid you’ll say no even though you never do. he watches you undress with a purse in his lips and his hands clutched dangerously close to his crotch.

“jason.” you warn as you step into the warm water.

“mmhm?” eyes not leaving your thighs as water trickles down.

“you wanna join me?”

then he’s already pulling his shirt over his head, sweats somehow already on the ground as he approaches the running shower. “it’s like asking a dog if they want a treat.”

his comment makes you laugh, hands coming up to his shoulders as he slides in front of you. the water dampens his hair and lets it fall like bangs by his brows. gorgeous smile flashing at you through the dimly lit shower, glinting amidst the sheer curtains once he pulls them. you squint.

“you realize you just compared yourself to a dog right?”

taking the bottle of shampoo you liked to use, he squeezed into his hands. the smell brings him comfort, the distant scent of you that had his eyes rolling in the back of his head. he loved showering with you cause you’d run it through his hair too, letting the aromas linger through his locks as he goes about his day. letting the air around him remind him of home and reminisce like he didn’t cuddle you through your alarms.

“that’s okay ma,” cooing just above your ear as he runs the pass of his fingers in your scalp. letting your hums rumble from your back to his chest as you lean on him. “i can be whatever you want me to be.”

“i want you to,” you pause as your eyes roll back from the gentle pressure he applied.

“yes?” jason hums you along. “you want me?”

humming back, you complete your sentence. “—to never, ever stop doing this.”

jason chuckles as he turns you around, rubbing circles by your temples now. “why, i wouldn’t dream of it.”

slowly your resolve melts into him as he takes the ability to reason from your thoughts. the only thing on your mind him as he starts reading the bottle of dr bronner on the edge of the tub. as though he doesn’t hone in on it after every shower.

“can you get my back with this after?” he says as he kisses your shoulder. “i like how it cools my skin.”

how could you ever deny him when he’s so adorably sweet?

what jason really wants is to stitch his skin to yours. to be there at every moment that he can, next to you. to worship the suds that grace your skin and envy the way the water gets to touch you. then he’ll ask to put that vanilla lotion you like on for you, and once he’s done he’ll ask for you to do the same.

the man will genuinely drop everything he’s doing to take a steaming hot shower with you. and if you don’t like how hot it is, he’ll stand under the waterfall. if you complain that you’re cold, he changes the temperature to exactly what you like. jason’s hands rub circles at your back with careful consideration while you lather the soap in your head. pulling out hums while you say with barely any conviction that you’re gonna get soap in your eyes. not that he’d let that happen anyway since he likes to rub your scalp next and put conditioner in.

he makes you wait after the gym for him. the grossest part might be when he rubs his face in your neck first, murmuring something about how good you smell when you scrunch your face at him.

“i smell like sweat you nasty.” pushing at his head while he only pulls you closer by your waist.

“exactly” he agrees, placing sloppy kisses up your jaw with a soft touch of his tongue, licking at your skin.

jason follows you into the shower then too. waddling close behind you while his hand behind his waist like he’s afraid you’ll say no even though you never do. he watches you undress with a purse in his lips and his hands clutched dangerously close to his crotch.

“jason.” you warn as you step into the warm water.

“mmhm?” eyes not leaving your thighs as water trickles down.

“you wanna join me?”

then he’s already pulling his shirt over his head, sweats somehow already on the ground as he approaches the running shower. “it’s like asking a dog if they want a treat.”

his comment makes you laugh, hands coming up to his shoulders as he slides in front of you. the water dampens his hair and lets it fall like bangs by his brows. gorgeous smile flashing at you through the dimly lit shower, glinting amidst the sheer curtains once he pulls them. you squint.

“you realize you just compared yourself to a dog right?”

taking the bottle of shampoo you liked to use, he squeezed into his hands. the smell brings him comfort, the distant scent of you that had his eyes rolling in the back of his head. he loved showering with you cause you’d run it through his hair too, letting the aromas linger through his locks as he goes about his day. letting the air around him remind him of home and reminisce like he didn’t cuddle you through your alarms.

“that’s okay ma,” cooing just above your ear as he runs the pass of his fingers in your scalp. letting your hums rumble from your back to his chest as you lean on him. “i can be whatever you want me to be.”

“i want you to,” you pause as your eyes roll back from the gentle pressure he applied.

“yes?” jason hums you along. “you want me?”

humming back, you complete your sentence. “—to never, ever stop doing this.”

jason chuckles as he turns you around, rubbing circles by your temples now. “why, i wouldn’t dream of it.”

slowly your resolve melts into him as he takes the ability to reason from your thoughts. the only thing on your mind him as he starts reading the bottle of dr bronner on the edge of the tub. as though he doesn’t hone in on it after every shower.

“can you get my back with this after?” he says as he kisses your shoulder. “i like how it cools my skin.”

how could you ever deny him when he’s so adorably sweet?

what jason really wants is to stitch his skin to yours. to be there at every moment that he can, next to you. to worship the suds that grace your skin and envy the way the water gets to touch you. then he’ll ask to put that vanilla lotion you like on for you, and once he’s done he’ll ask for you to do the same.

the man will genuinely drop everything he’s doing to take a steaming hot shower with you. and if you don’t like how hot it is, he’ll stand under the waterfall. if you complain that you’re cold, he changes the temperature to exactly what you like. jason’s hands rub circles at your back with careful consideration while you lather the soap in your head. pulling out hums while you say with barely any conviction that you’re gonna get soap in your eyes. not that he’d let that happen anyway since he likes to rub your scalp next and put conditioner in.

he makes you wait after the gym for him. the grossest part might be when he rubs his face in your neck first, murmuring something about how good you smell when you scrunch your face at him.

“i smell like sweat you nasty.” pushing at his head while he only pulls you closer by your waist.

“exactly” he agrees, placing sloppy kisses up your jaw with a soft touch of his tongue, licking at your skin.

jason follows you into the shower then too. waddling close behind you while his hand behind his waist like he’s afraid you’ll say no even though you never do. he watches you undress with a purse in his lips and his hands clutched dangerously close to his crotch.

“jason.” you warn as you step into the warm water.

“mmhm?” eyes not leaving your thighs as water trickles down.

“you wanna join me?”

then he’s already pulling his shirt over his head, sweats somehow already on the ground as he approaches the running shower. “it’s like asking a dog if they want a treat.”

his comment makes you laugh, hands coming up to his shoulders as he slides in front of you. the water dampens his hair and lets it fall like bangs by his brows. gorgeous smile flashing at you through the dimly lit shower, glinting amidst the sheer curtains once he pulls them. you squint.

“you realize you just compared yourself to a dog right?”

taking the bottle of shampoo you liked to use, he squeezed into his hands. the smell brings him comfort, the distant scent of you that had his eyes rolling in the back of his head. he loved showering with you cause you’d run it through his hair too, letting the aromas linger through his locks as he goes about his day. letting the air around him remind him of home and reminisce like he didn’t cuddle you through your alarms.

“that’s okay ma,” cooing just above your ear as he runs the pass of his fingers in your scalp. letting your hums rumble from your back to his chest as you lean on him. “i can be whatever you want me to be.”

“i want you to,” you pause as your eyes roll back from the gentle pressure he applied.

“yes?” jason hums you along. “you want me?”

humming back, you complete your sentence. “—to never, ever stop doing this.”

jason chuckles as he turns you around, rubbing circles by your temples now. “why, i wouldn’t dream of it.”

slowly your resolve melts into him as he takes the ability to reason from your thoughts. the only thing on your mind him as he starts reading the bottle of dr bronner on the edge of the tub. as though he doesn’t hone in on it after every shower.

“can you get my back with this after?” he says as he kisses your shoulder. “i like how it cools my skin.”

how could you ever deny him when he’s so adorably sweet?

you almost got home but then something stopped you. that was the extent of what you could recall. the next thing that happened was that jason was sitting over you. the worried look on his face starting to melt as you fluttered your eyes open. stinging slightly at how bright the lights were, and how loud the pattering of the rainfall suddenly became.

whispering your name, he kisses your cheek.

“you scared me you know,” placing his palm on your forehead, “you’re so cold i thought you froze out there.”

you squint at him, slowly sitting up as the scent of his skin began to draw you even closer. hands moving to touch his perfect face. warm and soft. he furrows his brows at you, putting his hands over yours on his cheeks, chuckling softly.

looking around the room, you see his gear along with your boots, wet from being outside. his mask tossed on the bedside table along with his phone and handgun.

but the smell of him, sweet musk and heavily him, it was intoxicating.

“you okay ma?” he asks as you start to pull him fully onto the bed next to you.

nodding at him, your lips part and you stare at his lips. the pinkish hue making them look all the more delectable and almost entirely edible. you wanted to grab at him right now. something was taking over all inhibitions as you licked the corner of your suddenly too dry mouth. soft pants escaping you as your body moved at its own will, moving into him.

you settle up on your knees, blanket pushed down the edge of the bed and out of your way. jason gently takes your hands off of his face and holds them. his words just barely being heard as the thumping of his heartbeat shook your eardrums.

“why’re you looking at me like that?”

“like what?” you vaguely questioned, taking your hands from his and unzipping your sweater. letting it pool behind you.

“like you’re gonna eat me,” he questions, instinctively moving backwards but your newfound strength drags him back with less distance between you. he mumbles a surprised woah, as you pull him in close.

your eyes never leave his lips, “i dunno jay, i just need you.” you admit, a newfound sense of desire emanating off of you.

of course he sees it. jason todd is an intelligent, diligent man, especially when it comes to his beautiful girlfriend.

he laughs softly, watching you tug at his shirt for him to remove it, “you’re really needy tonight huh?”

“off,” you say, “take this off.”

he shakes his head at you, “ma, i just found you passed out in front of our apartment—”

“off,” with more finality this time.

searching your eyes, watching how your pupils dilate, he nods. making quick movements to tug his shirt straight off his back. he doesn’t even get a chance to think about it before you’re tugging at his sweats and dragging them low enough to reveal his v-line. distant thoughts of biting him there, leaving a mark on his hip that could scar. you wanted to prove he was yours. you needed to.

“babe,” he mumbles, making no effort to stop you.

your palms slide up his arms, settling near his hard chest. soothing movements as you run them up and down. subtle beats of his heart beneath your fingertips as you bask in the sounds that prove he is alive. every push and pull of his veins, of his blood coursing through his body. of his aorta pumping and replacing old blood with new.

without realizing, you started to drool as you stared at his pulse point on his neck.

when your eyes meet, the thumping stops for a brief moment and all the focus shifts to his perfect face. the face you loved so dearly. the one you’d protect with your life. his soft lips, the patter of blood coursing beneath his skin that pumped his sweet heart and kept him alive.

that kept him yours.

like a magnetic force, you couldn’t help it, crashing your lips into his and tasting him again. immediately jason moans into you, hands clasping around the globes of your ass as he help you straddle him. needy as can be, you’re grinding in his lap, tangling your fingers up his back and through the hair at his nape. he tugs at your shirt and willingly let him pull it off. panting into his mouth while he does it. he wastes no time pawing at you and you do the exact same.

“holy shit,” murmuring against your lips as his growing bulge rubs just right.

you seat yourself harder against him, letting the drag of him create the most delicious friction. he groans, head falling back a little at how good the sensation was building.

this felt so good.

this just felt so right and you needed more.

you craved more and it felt like if you didn’t have it, you might as well just die. tugging a little harder at his hair, you pull his head further back and deepen the kiss. the sound of lips smacking and fabric falling off mixed with the soft creak of the mattress.

taking his bottom lip between your teeth, you let them sink in, harder than intended. victory all the same as you draw blood. jason hisses at the stinging sensation, but he doesn’t move you off of him or push you away. he just groans lowly and lets you push him onto the mattress completely before you pull away from his honeyed lips.

as you lift your head, his eyes open, glazed and dazed. his eyes fall to your lips, crimson painting them beautifully. but then you smile at him, gorgeous even in how terrifying this should have been. looking at the drop of blood as you lick your own lips clean, situated on his mouth.

he thinks he might die right now, but he’ll do it as a happy man. his hand comes up to touch his lip.

dumbfounded and confusingly turned on, he stares up at you, “you… bit me?”

“sorry i couldn’t help it,” you rasp, “you just look so delicious.”

his lips part in disbelief, “i uh, didn’t know you were into that.”

“me neither,” you say while staring right at his lips and pulling in to kitten lick at the blood pooling there. moaning egregiously before pressing your lips into his again.

jason moans lowly, fiddling with your pants while you continue to free him from his. you don’t even let him pull it off you fully. you just watch as his thick length slaps against his stomach and your soaked panties get pushed to the side. you grind over him once more to let the slick drown him and his eyes roll back, groaning broken as you press his tip to your entrance. voice breaking as you take him all in one go, sinking fully down on him with more reverence than ever before.

“oh baby, fuck,” he whines as you move against him. your lips still attached to his as you pull from the wound you’d created.

the prettiest whimper escapes him when you use more force than you meant to, gripping his hair a little tighter as you bounce and take him deeper and deeper. lips parting long enough for him to stare up at you in his blissful state, watching as you smile down at him in utter contentment. your eyes glimmer with something almost red, and he knows he should be afraid, though he can’t find it in him.

teeth wet with his blood as you lick them clean.

“you taste so good jay,” sighing his name, leaning back to use his thighs like handles to help you move.

jason swears he’s never seen a prettier sight, watching you all blissed out on him. watching as your eyes shine for him and pupils widen. his lips parting long enough as his hands move to grip your hips tight, moving you in circles. then his hips start to buck up in tandem with yours and you moan gorgeously for him. he returns the same delicious sounds as the peak arrives dangerously fast.

the sound of wet skin and soft moans like symphony made him nearly fall into himself as the climax hits you. you cry out his name as it shatters, clamping around him and falling forward into him. jason helps you through it, slowing his movements but moving your hips in circles while he shushes you. slow tears touch his collarbone as you come down. he makes no effort to get himself off. he doesn’t keep chasing his own high. no, this whole experience was enough. this was new and it was fucking amazing.

wrapping his big arms around you and kissing your forehead like you didn’t just fuck him stupid. you snuggle in his chest. coming back to yourself while sudden embarrassment peaks.

it felt like all your emotions were heightened.

“i’m so sorry, i don’t know what came over me.”

without seeing his face, you can feel him shaking his head, “don’t be, that was… phenomenal.”

you frown, looking up at him through your fucked out eyes, “but you didn’t even get off.”

he laughs, “this was enough baby,” kissing at your cheek despite the sore feeling on his mouth, “you taking charge like that? fuck, that’ll keep me ruined for months. i’ll be struggling to keep it together on patrol tomorrow.”

but still you felt somewhat shameful even through the pull you feel to the bead of red on his lip forming again, “i’m still sorry. i won’t do that to you again—”

following your eyes, he catches your gaze and kisses you, more passionately than before. lapping at you this time with a hunger that could be described as desperation. moaning into your mouth and swallowing your gasp of surprise. he pulls away to peck at your lips again, and again. waiting to see your lips painted with his blood.

resting his forehead on yours, he smiles, “i like it when you take what’s yours.”

you couldn’t help but laugh, “even though i just hurt you?”

without thinking he’s kissing your cheeks, leaving the slightest stain of crimson in its wake just to see how beautiful you looked, even covered in his blood.

“it’d hurt more for you to hold back from me,” still smiling all dazed at you liked you’d completely rocked his world, “promise you’ll do that again, hmm?”

tugging your socks off before you shimmy out of your pants. those get dropped into the corner of the bed just inches away from your shirt. the bed creaks lightly as you climb onto it, crawling closer to jason’s lap until you straddle him. his hands find their way to your bare thigh, squeezing lightly as you pull him into a kiss. jason moans into it immediately, mouth opening wider as he tugs you even closer.

your fingers find the hem of his black tee, pulling it up until he leans his back off the headboard and makes yours arch. somehow, he manages you pull his shirt over his head, parting from you for less than a second while you grab at his sweatpants. that’s when he parts again, a line of spit between you from just how feral you’d been making out.

“as much as i enjoy this,” he pants, hands moving up to cup your bare ass. “how are you really feeling baby?”

he doesn’t halt your movements as you drag his sweatpants further down, feeling his already hard length against your inner thigh. jason even helps further by lifting his hips when you tug on his boxers to go down with them. as you start to hum, the way you always do when you’re content and happy, he brings his hands lower again, bringing your panties along.

“i’m fine. i just really missed you.”

he answers with a smile and a soft whisper against your lips that he’d “…missed you more.”

the movements between the two of you are fluid. changing and adapting like it was the easiest thing. his hands find their way to your bra, unhooking it easily as he presses his chest to yours, bringing himself closer while simultaneously pulling you. he knows when silence is all you wanted because jason has those moments too. he knows when exhaustion takes hold of you and how it makes you more comfortable just to feel his warmth, even for a moment. so jason doesn’t pry, not yet at least.

he lets you lower yourself onto him, brings his hands behind your neck to hold your hair as you go. letting you watch yourself sink down and take him in as he drinks the sight of you, how relief washes over you. jason lets out a gorgeous sigh, pleasure taking form in the most domestic form. in awe as his girl takes what’s hers. the moment feels sacred, so he tries not to get giddy over the little box hiding in the corner of his dresser.

the sensation draws out a small moan from your lips and a delightful groan from his honeyed tongue.

“you’re so beautiful,” he coos by your ear, coaxing you to drop your full weight against him.

sighing, you smile, “says you.”

then you’re finding his lips and kiss him again. tongue lapping at his slowly as he holds your hips and guides them just as gently. eliciting another moan that he just swallows down from you like sweet nectar. jason doesn’t rush your movements, only guiding it along as he knows you like. slow, sensual guidance that is meant to make relax for him. lessen the exhaustion of the day while you tangle into one another.

the warmth only drags you in further as your aching muscles begin to give in to him, slowing your hips as you let him take over. slumping into him and letting your head fall in the crook of his neck.

though when you let out another sigh, jason stops shifting and pulls away just for you to lay on him like a fish out of water.

he laughs softly. “you sure you’re okay ma?”

you make a small noise into his neck and jason chuckles as he rubs his hands up and down your back. from the soothing motion, you groan happily.

“that feel good?” asking as he continues massaging.

“very,” you’re humming while he moves his thumbs up along the curve of your spine.

with firmer fingers, he presses down in intentional circles, coaxing more sounds of contentment out of you as he works. you don’t even have to move a muscle, instead he pushes the arch in your back and soothes your lower traps along. he feels a knot and circles it out with his thumb, not hard but just enough to get it.

“you’re real tense babe.” he quietly says as he continues to move. you’re so relaxed at this point that you don’t even think to respond, just feeling his fingers work.

delicate in his care, jason lets you rest over him as he bear hugs you, massaging your tender muscles simultaneously.

his lips find the curve of your neck now, pressing to the skin there as he continues moving his hands. you completely melt into him, arms limp over his shoulders despite how you hugged him tight before. now it had simmered into a barely noticeable grip that he knew meant you were relaxing. as the sounds from your lips become less and less frequent, jason runs his roughened hands from your nape down slowly to small of your back, then up again. repeating the motion as you start to succumb to the sleep that had been threatening you all day.

though he doesn’t make an attempt to move or to move you off of him. rather he continues his movements, watching from over your shoulder to see the warmed skin against his palm. not pulling out either, he only keeps you in his lap while his practiced fingers soothed you further into a slumber you desperately needed. besides, there’s nowhere he’d rather be.

as you fall entirely asleep and a gentle snore slips, jason smiles to himself and grips the edge of the blanket to not bother you. then, he holds an arm around your waist while he eases himself further down from the headboard, keeping you tight against him as he lays flat on his back. your legs still on either side of him, he brings them a little lower to shift some weight off your knees so you wouldn’t be sore in the morning.

when he’s settled, he pulls the comforter over both of you as he kisses your cheek and whispers.

“sweet dreams ma.”

tugging your socks off before you shimmy out of your pants. those get dropped into the corner of the bed just inches away from your shirt. the bed creaks lightly as you climb onto it, crawling closer to jason’s lap until you straddle him. his hands find their way to your bare thigh, squeezing lightly as you pull him into a kiss. jason moans into it immediately, mouth opening wider as he tugs you even closer.

your fingers find the hem of his black tee, pulling it up until he leans his back off the headboard and makes yours arch. somehow, he manages you pull his shirt over his head, parting from you for less than a second while you grab at his sweatpants. that’s when he parts again, a line of spit between you from just how feral you’d been making out.

“as much as i enjoy this,” he pants, hands moving up to cup your bare ass. “how are you feeling really baby?”

he doesn’t halt your movements as you drag his sweatpants further down, feeling his already hard length against you inner thigh. jason even helps by lifting his hips when you tug on his boxers to go down with them. as you start to hum, the way you always do when you’re content and happy, he brings his hands lower again, bringing your panties along.

“i’m fine. i just really missed you.”

he answers with a smile and a soft whisper that he’d “…missed you more.”

the movements between the two of you are fluid. changing and adapting like it was the easiest thing. his hands find their way to your bra, unhooking it easily as he presses his chest to yours, bringing himself closer while simultaneously pulling you. he knows when silence is all you wanted because jason has those moments too. he knows when exhaustion takes hold of you and how it makes you more comfortable just to feel his warmth, even for a moment. so jason doesn’t pry, not yet at least.

he lets you lower yourself onto him, brings his hands behind your neck to hold your hair as you go. letting you watch yourself sink down and take him in as he drinks the sight of you, relief overwhelming. jason lets out a gorgeous sigh, pleasure taking form in the most domestic form. in awe as his girl takes what’s hers and he tries not to get giddy over the little box hiding in the corner his dresser.

the sensation draws out a small moan from your lips and a delightful groan from his honeyed tongue.

“you’re so beautiful,” he coos by your ear as you drop your full weight against him.

sighing, you smile, “says you.”

then you’re finding his lips and kiss him again. tongue lapping at his slowly as he holds your hips and guides them just as gently. eliciting another moan that he just swallows down from you like sweet nectar. jason doesn’t rush your movements, only guiding it along as he knows you like. slow, sensual guidance that is meant to make relax for him. lessen the exhaustion of the day while you tangle into one another.

the warmth only drags you in further as your aching muscles begin to give in to him, slowing your hips as you let him take over. slumping into him and letting your head fall in the crook of his neck.

though when you let out another sigh, jason stops shifting and pulls away just for you to flop back against him like a fish out of water.

he laughs softly. “you sure you’re okay ma?”

you make a small noise into his neck and jason chuckles as he rubs his hands up and down your back. from the soothing motion, you groan happily.

“that feel good?” he asks as he continues.

“very,” humming as he moves his thumbs up along the curve of your spine.

with firmer fingers, he presses down in intentional circles, coaxing more sounds of contentment out of you as he works. you don’t even have to move a muscle, instead he pushes the arch in your back and soothes your lower traps along. he feels a knot and circles it out with his thumb, not hard but just enough to get it.

“you’re real tense babe.” he quietly says as he continues to move. you’re so relaxed at this point that you don’t even think to respond, just feeling his fingers work.

delicate in his care, jason lets you rest your whole weight on him as he bear hugs you, massaging your tender back muscles as he does.

his lips find the curve of your neck now, pressing to the skin there as he continues with his hands. you completely melt into him, arms limp along his shoulders as you hugged him tight before. not it had simmered into a barely noticeable grip that he knew meant was you relaxing. as the sounds from your lips become less and less frequent, jason runs his roughened hands from your nape down slowly to small of you back, then up again. repeating the motion as you start to succumb to the sleep that had been threatening you all day.

though he doesn’t make an attempt to move or to move you off of him. rather he continues his movements, watching from over your shoulder to see the warmed skin against his palm. he doesn’t pull out either, he only holds you there in his lap while his practiced fingered soothed you further into a slumber you desperately needed.

as you fall entirely asleep and a gentle snore slips, jason smiles to himself and grips the edge of the blanket to not bother you. then, he holds an arm around you back while he eases himself further down from the headboard, keeping you tight against him as he lays flat on his back. your legs still on either side of him. he pulls the comforter over both of you as he kisses your cheek and whispers.

“sweet dreams ma.”

tugging your socks off before you shimmy out of your pants. those get dropped into the corner of the bed just inches away from your shirt. the bed creaks lightly as you climb onto it, crawling closer to jason’s lap until you straddle him. his hands find their way to your bare thigh, squeezing lightly as you pull him into a kiss. jason moans into it immediately, mouth opening wider as he tugs you even closer.

your fingers find the hem of his black tee, pulling it up until he leans his back off the headboard and makes yours arch. somehow, he manages you pull his shirt over his head, parting from you for less than a second while you grab at his sweatpants. that’s when he parts again, a line of spit between you from just how feral you’d been making out.

“as much as i enjoy this,” he pants, hands moving up to cup your bare ass. “how are you feeling really baby?”

he doesn’t halt your movements as you drag his sweatpants further down, feeling his already hard length against you inner thigh. jason even helps by lifting his hips when you tug on his boxers to go down with them. as you start to hum, the way you always do when you’re content and happy, he brings his hands lower again, bringing your panties along.

“i’m fine. i just really missed you.”

he answers with a smile and a soft whisper that he’d “…missed you more.”

the movements between the two of you are fluid. changing and adapting like it was the easiest thing. his hands find their way to your bra, unhooking it easily as he presses his chest to yours, bringing himself closer while simultaneously pulling you. he knows when silence is all you wanted because jason has those moments too. he knows when exhaustion takes hold of you and how it makes you more comfortable just to feel his warmth, even for a moment. so jason doesn’t pry, not yet at least.

he lets you lower yourself onto him, brings his hands behind your neck to hold your hair as you go. letting you watch yourself sink down and take him in as he drinks the sight of you, relief overwhelming. jason lets out a gorgeous sigh, pleasure taking form in the most domestic form. in awe as his girl takes what’s hers and he tries not to get giddy over the little box hiding in the corner his dresser.

the sensation draws out a small moan from your lips and a delightful groan from his honeyed tongue.

“you’re so beautiful,” he coos by your ear as you drop your full weight against him.

sighing, you smile, “says you.”

then you’re finding his lips and kiss him again. tongue lapping at his slowly as he holds your hips and guides them just as gently. eliciting another moan that he just swallows down from you like sweet nectar. jason doesn’t rush your movements, only guiding it along as he knows you like. slow, sensual guidance that is meant to make relax for him. lessen the exhaustion of the day while you tangle into one another.

the warmth only drags you in further as your aching muscles begin to give in to him, slowing your hips as you let him take over. slumping into him and letting your head fall in the crook of his neck.

though when you let out another sigh, jason stops shifting and pulls away just for you to flop back against him like a fish out of water.

he laughs softly. “you sure you’re okay ma?”

you make a small noise into his neck and jason chuckles as he rubs his hands up and down your back. from the soothing motion, you groan happily.

“that feel good?” he asks as he continues.

“very,” humming as he moves his thumbs up along the curve of your spine.

with firmer fingers, he presses down in intentional circles, coaxing more sounds of contentment out of you as he works. you don’t even have to move a muscle, instead he pushes the arch in your back and soothes your lower traps along. he feels a knot and circles it out with his thumb, not hard but just enough to get it.

“you’re real tense babe.” he quietly says as he continues to move. you’re so relaxed at this point that you don’t even think to respond, just feeling his fingers work.

delicate in his care, jason lets you rest your whole weight on him as he bear hugs you, massaging your tender back muscles as he does.

his lips find the curve of your neck now, pressing to the skin there as he continues with his hands. you completely melt into him, arms limp along his shoulders as you hugged him tight before. not it had simmered into a barely noticeable grip that he knew meant was you relaxing. as the sounds from your lips become less and less frequent, jason runs his roughened hands from your nape down slowly to small of you back, then up again. repeating the motion as you start to succumb to the sleep that had been threatening you all day.

though he doesn’t make an attempt to move or to move you off of him. rather he continues his movements, watching from over your shoulder to see the warmed skin against his palm. he doesn’t pull out either, he only holds you there in his lap while his practiced fingered soothed you further into a slumber you desperately needed.

as you fall entirely asleep and a gentle snore slips, jason smiles to himself and grips the edge of the blanket to not bother you. then, he holds an arm around you back while he eases himself further down from the headboard, keeping you tight against him as he lays flat on his back. your legs still on either side of him. he pulls the comforter over both of you as he kisses your cheek and whispers.

“sweet dreams ma.”

tugging your socks off before you shimmy out of your pants. those get dropped into the corner of the bed just inches away from your shirt. the bed creaks lightly as you climb onto it, crawling closer to jason’s lap until you straddle him. his hands find their way to your bare thigh, squeezing lightly as you pull him into a kiss. jason moans into it immediately, mouth opening wider as he tugs you even closer.

your fingers find the hem of his black tee, pulling it up until he leans his back off the headboard and makes yours arch. somehow, he manages you pull his shirt over his head, parting from you for less than a second while you grab at his sweatpants. that’s when he parts again, a line of spit between you from just how feral you’d been making out.

“as much as i enjoy this,” he pants, hands moving up to cup your bare ass. “how are you feeling really baby?”

he doesn’t halt your movements as you drag his sweatpants further down, feeling his already hard length against you inner thigh. jason even helps by lifting his hips when you tug on his boxers to go down with them. as you start to hum, the way you always do when you’re content and happy, he brings his hands lower again, bringing your panties along.

“i’m fine. i just really missed you.”

he answers with a smile and a soft whisper that he’d “…missed you more.”

the movements between the two of you are fluid. changing and adapting like it was the easiest thing. his hands find their way to your bra, unhooking it easily as he presses his chest to yours, bringing himself closer while simultaneously pulling you. he knows when silence is all you wanted because jason has those moments too. he knows when exhaustion takes hold of you and how it makes you more comfortable just to feel his warmth, even for a moment. so jason doesn’t pry, not yet at least.

he lets you lower yourself onto him, brings his hands behind your neck to hold your hair as you go. letting you watch yourself sink down and take him in as he drinks the sight of you, relief overwhelming. jason lets out a gorgeous sigh, pleasure taking form in the most domestic form. in awe as his girl takes what’s hers and he tries not to get giddy over the little box hiding in the corner his dresser.

the sensation draws out a small moan from your lips and a delightful groan from his honeyed tongue.

“you’re so beautiful,” he coos by your ear as you drop your full weight against him.

sighing, you smile, “says you.”

then you’re finding his lips and kiss him again. tongue lapping at his slowly as he holds your hips and guides them just as gently. eliciting another moan that he just swallows down from you like sweet nectar. jason doesn’t rush your movements, only guiding it along as he knows you like. slow, sensual guidance that is meant to make relax for him. lessen the exhaustion of the day while you tangle into one another.

the warmth only drags you in further as your aching muscles begin to give in to him, slowing your hips as you let him take over. slumping into him and letting your head fall in the crook of his neck.

though when you let out another sigh, jason stops shifting and pulls away just for you to flop back against him like a fish out of water.

he laughs softly. “you sure you’re okay ma?”

you make a small noise into his neck and jason chuckles as he rubs his hands up and down your back. from the soothing motion, you groan happily.

“that feel good?” he asks as he continues.

“very,” humming as he moves his thumbs up along the curve of your spine.

with firmer fingers, he presses down in intentional circles, coaxing more sounds of contentment out of you as he works. you don’t even have to move a muscle, instead he pushes the arch in your back and soothes your lower traps along. he feels a knot and circles it out with his thumb, not hard but just enough to get it.

“you’re real tense babe.” he quietly says as he continues to move. you’re so relaxed at this point that you don’t even think to respond, just feeling his fingers work.

delicate in his care, jason lets you rest your whole weight on him as he bear hugs you, massaging your tender back muscles as he does.

his lips find the curve of your neck now, pressing to the skin there as he continues with his hands. you completely melt into him, arms limp along his shoulders as you hugged him tight before. not it had simmered into a barely noticeable grip that he knew meant was you relaxing. as the sounds from your lips become less and less frequent, jason runs his roughened hands from your nape down slowly to small of you back, then up again. repeating the motion as you start to succumb to the sleep that had been threatening you all day.

though he doesn’t make an attempt to move or to move you off of him. rather he continues his movements, watching from over your shoulder to see the warmed skin against his palm. he doesn’t pull out either, he only holds you there in his lap while his practiced fingered soothed you further into a slumber you desperately needed.

as you fall entirely asleep and a gentle snore slips, jason smiles to himself and grips the edge of the blanket to not bother you. then, he holds an arm around you back while he eases himself further down from the headboard, keeping you tight against him as he lays flat on his back. your legs still on either side of him. he pulls the comforter over both of you as he kisses your cheek and whispers.

“sweet dreams ma.”

the drive home tonight is epically quiet. his voice a sound you wished you could hear but know you won’t because he needs a moment. peers using him as means to their own ends, seeing dollar signs where human emotion should be considered. bruce internalizes it. he pushes it all down until he snaps and it all falls on himself or his sons. you remind him of the fact when he scratches his chin too hard and the red mark remains. when you see the bags begin to form or the line between his brows. he lets you smooth it out with a gentle smile that melts your heart like ice.

now his hands find their way to you anyway, sitting warm as he grips your thigh. fingers idle on the bare skin, still as if in waiting. he catches your eye at the red light, watching as it illuminates your skin amid the dark gotham night. like a sterling path of light through his dark thoughts. you pretend not to notice him staring at the side of your face when you stare at the side mirror.

bruce doesn’t like to be disturbed when he’s deep in thought. he doesn’t enjoy company that is uninvited. but with his wife, his beautiful loving wife, bruce has immense patience.

no one else can gauge his moods in the way you can. no one else sees how anger is truly concern or how his indifference is really acceptance.

he’s a man who has put all his faith into a broken system that has beat down his loved ones time and time again. bruce has to believe that it’s all for something. that he did this for a reason behind superficial tangibility. he admits to you in the quiet moments that it’s for you. for his family. for the child he hopes you’ll let him give you. admits that you ground him and keep him sane from the thoughts that whirl him into the dark.

for now, he keeps his palm on your knee, sliding up and down to your thigh like he’s soothing. though you know it’s more for him than for you. then he’s bringing your hand on your thigh up to his lips. he reminds you that even without words that he loves you bad, until it makes him devoid of anything else. delicate presses of his supple skin to the back of your hand before he nuzzles his nose against it. watching him completely turned now, you smile to yourself and graze his cheek with your freehand before he turns to kiss the palm of that one too.

existence was simply sufficient for him. your presence all he needed even when words failed to find him. though you’d also learned to love the silence and how his embrace was enough to warm your soul.

What you weren’t entirely aware of was that Jason had the similar thoughts you’d harboured. The ones that fought to rip out in the open like it had always been there. He’d toy with the idea with his everyday life and how he rode into action.

But when the nights are quiet and the city buzzes with less excitement, that’s when Jason can rest his mind a little. By the windowsill he sits and coddles a half-lit cigarette from the other night, swearing he’s gonna quit but ultimately not. Telling himself it’s bad for him but knowing that death is inevitable. And that for a guy like him, death was expected.

The drag bellows with thick milky clouds that engulf him whole and knock the coherent thoughts from his head. Letting the smoke dance around him as he leans back against the bricks and ignores how the shitty fire escape creaks.

Ignoring how empty his house was and accepting how it felt to be alone. How his heart was thumping in his chest when the house made noises on its own or how much worse it was when it was silent.

His eyes lose focus as the smoke pulls him under and the darkness takes ahold of him. A distant siren pulls his consciousness just barely and shiver runs down his spine like it belonged there. From how high up his apartment was, he could see the people walking and moving around. It was so clear from this tall angle that every surrounding inch was visible. Every little sound and every moving car.

It was all the more loud when he was home that he chose to sit out here and ultimately smoke, just to avoid the sounds of his home. But his mind would wander to the inner workings of what it felt like to be in that position of control where you could dictate your feelings rather than them to you.

He’d stare at the end of road as the cigarette boated and the ash collected at the end of it. He’d watch a pigeon move from the corner of the roof and stop like it was watching him. Selfishly he would wonder about flight and about individually. Of how he could be his own person if he let go out of his past commitments and ignored the lives of the people he reluctantly cares for. He’d watch the bird inch closer like it had a secret to tell only him before scurrying away once Jason moved his hand. Flying away and swooping down to the bench across the street.

He stood up and watched the empty roads for an extended period of silent time before sighing and swinging his legs over the railing. He’d think about flight again and how close he could get to the bench. A deep breath slipping through his chapped lips as his eyes shut and the wind brushed through his hair. The cool breeze kissing his face in the most intimate way he could imagine. He thought of letting go. The fickle delirious thoughts that lied to him about his reality and repeated the same words he’d heard before.

“No one is coming for you.”

A sick feeling took home in his precious heart that was hardened by the years of distaste and anger for something he could not name.

His knuckles turned white from how hard he was gripping the rusty railing and he exhaled harshly when he loosened his grip. Opening his eyes and letting his lips part when he decided that the wind was the only constant thing in his life. That he’s like to live within it and imagine himself as a bird that flew through nations.

If God really wanted to play a sick joke on him, maybe he’d be reincarnated as a real robin.

The thought made him laugh a small sound before he took in a silhouette from across the street. Against the loading dock, where the water slashed so calmly it almost felt like it wasn’t Gotham, there he saw it.

Sitting dangerously close to the edge of the wall that had a fence you ignored. He tilted his head like it could make sense of it.

What were you doing out there so late at night?

Without rationalizing why he cared, Jason brushed off his consuming thoughts and narrowed in on you. You who seemed unconcerned and entirely distracted even when he walked behind you. You who didn’t seem fazed by the man lingering behind you because there was so much more on your mind. He didn’t usually smoke weed, but the scent of it lingering around you didn’t seem to bother him much.

He watched as you took a long drag and your eyes closed. Then, he sat down. Ignoring the irony of what he was just about to say to you and struggling to hide his grin.

As if Bruce hadn’t uttered the same words to him once.

“You know those things will kill you.” He says as he lets his legs dangle over the water with you.

You don’t respond. Instead, you take another drag, open your mouth and let the smoke bellow instead of absorb into your lungs. Like you were high enough and just wanted to feel the intoxication as it kissed your insides like a warm hug on a cold winter day. Except, it was summer and all you wanted to do was rot away.

“Sitting here is real dangerous too. Could get yourself killed.” He says as he reaches for the joint between your fingers and when you let go, he can barely hide his surprise.

He’s expected you to be unwilling to cooperate. What he’s seen in Gotham before. But instead he’s met with indifference and lack of care that mirrored his reflection. You lift your head to look at him though you look right back down and out at the horizon. Instead, you give it to him and he just holds it. Your expression doesn’t change. Neither does his but he settles back more comfortably and stares at the lit end.

The waves brush the edge of the smooth rocks at the bottom of the river. Soft splashing at the edge that soothe like white noise used to coo a child to sleep. The sound worked wonders on Jason when he tried it years ago, just enough to drown out the sound of his mind.

A couple minutes pass in this silence.

Finally, Jason remembers himself and his role in assisting citizens. His act of kindness that was both for himself and for you, who seemed to be lost in your thoughts.

Unsure of what for say, he offers the only thing on his mind first. “What’s your name?”

You answer softly, the word just audible enough to reach his ears. He nods and lets it fold over in his mind like it meant something.

“Okay,” he repeats your name back, “what’re we doing here?”

A deep sigh. “Thinking.”

He nods, trying not to show his impatience at your vague replies. He was already having a shit night. So he chooses to prompt you further.

“Thinking about…?”

“Oh you know,” vaguely gesturing through your half lidded eyes, “life and death.”

Concern continues to flood across his face.

“Death.” He says back to you as you nod.

“The finality of it.” You continue. “The peace that comes with it I guess.”

Jason breathes, “that’s comforting…” putting the joint down next to you and lets his hands rest at his side. “I can tell you with certainty there’s no complete finality in death.”

You look to him and blink slowly, eyes red and low. “How would you know?”

“Oh,” he starts before cutting himself off. “Just trust me I do.”

You don’t respond again. Expression blank as you watch the waves hit the rocks below you. This only seems to grow his worry. Jason sighs lowly and moves closer to you and picks the joint back up, bringing it up to his lips. That’s when you look. He takes a long drag and your eyes widen.

Letting the air escape him, he breathes out. “Indica? You get this from the cart across the street?” You blink at him and nod. Jason shakes his head and takes another long drag. “Good shit.”

He hands it back over to you and watches as you take an another hit. The two of you silently smoking the rest of your weed that he just blindly trusted. For some reason, your guard that was hardly even up to begin with, seemed to soften further at his blind trust.

He speaks up first again. “You gonna tell me what’s wrong now?”

With a heavy sigh, you shrug. “Nothing. That’s the problem.”

“Nothing is wrong yet you’re sitting here like you’re planning on jumping?” He questions. You nod and he frowns. “There’s gotta be a reason.”

“I’m not gonna jump douchebag.” you brush it off, “I’m just tired and I feel sad for no particular reason. Is that alright with you?” you scoff.

His eyes scan over you, evaluating and analytic in its care. Noticing your restlessness in how you’d bite of the inside of your cheek or twirl your thumbs. How you’d been silently watching the waves like it could tell you something he desperately needed the answer to as well.

Then his eyes fell on your face. The quiet observation inhibited and concentration on your pretty face. For the first time since he’d sat next to you, he takes in your beauty. Not in a lustful manner but in an appreciative one. He gives you a genuine smile and nudges your shoulder when you sigh softly, looking back to the docked boats by the bay.

“I know what you mean. It’s always like that for me around holidays.” He says suddenly. “Is it like that?”

You think for a moment while you watch how his eyes watched yours. Glossed over like he was out of his mind and you just smile.

“You don’t smoke much do you?” You ask.

For some reason, Jason smiles back. Maybe it was how warm your smile seemed to be despite the circumstances.

“Not in a very long time. Don’t try to change the subject now princess. I’m all invested.”

The nickname makes your heart flutter but something deeper weighs you down like it was clinging to your bones. You look to him again to scan over his clothes. The armoured vest on chest and the swallow cuts on his arms that looked like it have accumulated over years. You point to them.

“Could ask you the same thing dude.”

“I’m not the one sitting high and alone at a creek at three in the morning.” He pokes your side and brings his knees to cross just as yours are. Turning completely to his side to look at you.

That’s when you finally decide to talk about it. Cause maybe if you did say something, it could make you feel just a little better. “It’s my birthday.”

Jason blinks and looks at his watch. “…and you chose to walk here… at three in the morning…” emphasizing himself and driving the point across.

You shrug, “I didn’t go to sleep yet. I was just up… thinking.“

“Well,” he stands from his spot and extends his hand, “happy birthday. Let me buy you something to eat.”

You frown at him and stubbornly turn from his hand. “I’m not hungry and I’m not going to go eat with a random dude who bummed my weed off me. No sir thanks.”

“Jason.” He corrects as he squints at you, “so you’ll let me smoke with you but you won’t get a burger?”

Without a beat, “nope. You can leave now.”

He sighs dramatically, “okay how about if I say please? I don’t wanna have the image of a sad you falling and drowning on my conscious. Especially on your birthday of all days.”

Looking up at him, you see his eyes sparkle from the moonlight. Something shone from behind his eyes that couldn’t hide the way he felt and didn’t bother to say aloud. You watch his face and see the deep seated hurt that he couldn’t mask and the exhaustion that ran deep. Then your eyes fall to his hand still extended towards you. You lift yourself enough to reach him and take his hand, letting him pulling you onto your feet.

“So… I’m taking that as a yes?”

You force a tight smile. “Yes Jason, that is a yes.”

Jason Todd had a hell of an appetite.

He ordered four burgers. He said, ‘two for each of us’ and made sure they made them all combos.

Four burgers, four fries, and four drinks. Triple patties. Triple cheese. And he upsized the fries. You tapped out after the first combo and pushed the rest towards him, groaning as you slouched into your seat.

“I wasn’t going to kill myself but I think you’re trying to with high cholesterol.”

He snickers at your comment and pushes your drink towards you when you shake your head cause you felt like exploding.

The burger joint was open 24/7 and there was no one in there besides the teenage boy making the food, you, Jason, and a sleeping homeless man. Jason burps after his second burger and gestures to you.

“I believe in ya, you can finish your second fries at least.”

You gesture back towards them, “please be my guest bro.”

“Bro?” He says genuinely offended. “I’m not your bro.”

Still a little buzzed, you can’t help the giggle that you make from the heightened satisfaction felt at his annoyance. Laughing a little louder as he squints and grumbles, taking the fries from in front of you and stuffing his face with them. Biting the inside of his cheek when you hold your stomach and fold in on yourself at something that probably wasn’t even that funny, but Jason, he finds you amusing. Like a breath of fresh air amongst his suffocating feelings.

After you settle a bit and take a sip of your soda, Jason thinks more about how you just met. It’s almost like his face opens up more as he straightens his back out.

“So, you wanna talk some more about your day, birthday girl?”

“What else is there to say?” shrugging as you tug your sleeve. “I think it’s mostly a girl thing where you’re sad on your birthday. No big deal.”

“That’s just another symptom of society telling women that they should want to change more about themselves even on days that should feel happy. You don’t have to be happy all the time, you’re human.” resting his elbows on the table. “But I’m betting there’s gonna be a particular thing that caused it this time right?”

He used your dipping sauce from in front of you with no care, eyes still looking into yours.

“—See I can tell you why I hate holidays. Dead parents, neglectful father, dying, blah blah. See? You can tell me.”

A soft scoff escapes you, but no malice was behind it. “He did not just trauma dump on me.”

He hums, “I actually do that to everyone if I’m being honest.”

You’re about to retort when stuffs his face leaving you staring back at his chipmunk cheeks. He makes a sound of satisfaction and takes a long sip from your drink again cause he’d finished his.

“You are so gross dude,” but you can barely hide your smile.

He looks at you wide eyed. “What?” With his whole mouth full and somehow still endearing.

“Nothing.” you shrug nonchalantly as you check your phone and quickly shove it away.

Though he doesn’t miss how you seemed to withdraw but he chooses not to point it out. Instead, he wipes his mouth and puts the extra combo back into the greasy bag it came in. Fiddling with your fingers as you stare out the window and watch the moon disappear completely from your sight and a softer blue take its place.

It must’ve been around five in the morning at this point. Suddenly the insecurity of the exchange had become abhorrently apparent but before you could even think to get up and leave this strangely good looking man and take your high ass home, Jason stands.

He takes the bag with the food in his left hand and his other outstretches towards you.

“You seem exhausted. Let me take you home?”

You blink up at him and nod. Taking his hand and letting him lead you out the building. The homeless man who was sleeping was sitting by the curb now, a couple of bags and a bicycle with a basket in front of him. Jason squeezes your hand a little tighter in his as he keeps you next to him and walks straight to the man there.

You weren’t entirely sure what he was doing but from the smile on Jason’s face, you knew he was genuine in his nature.

“Ernie?” He calls out to the man still focused on something in his palm. “you hungry?”

The man you now knew who was named Ernie nods and sits up a little straighter, watching as Jason places the bag in his hands.

“That the double patty one again? Surprised you didn’t finish it.”

“It’s all yours Ernie. Tell your mother I said hi too.” He laughs as he walks sit by side you away from the restaurant.

Shrugging Jason off, he waves him away. “Yeah, yeah. I’m definitely not doing that pretty boy.”

Jason ignores his comment and continues on his way with you by his side. A soft goodbye as you move away from him.

You look up to Jason and are unable to contain your smile. “Pretty boy huh?”

He sighs, “he thinks I’m flirting with his mother.”

“Well are you?” Prying without meaning to.

Jason squints and shakes his head in defiance. “No.”

Squinting back, you counter. “Liar. You look like the milf loving type.” Expression falling, he tilts his head like he didn’t understand. You sigh, “you know— Mom I’d Like to Fuck.”

He nearly chokes in his spit. “How does one look like that?”

“Hmm, look in the mirror and you’ll see.”

Only shaking his head and continuing to walk, Jason takes your hand in his. When he feels you tense, he clears his throat and stammers. “Uh, so you don’t go wandering all high and shit.”

Blinking at him, “the high is gone actually.”

“Still.” he adds quickly. “Stay close. It’s dangerous at night.”

The walk down to your place was oddly quiet but you didn’t mind.

His presence had calmed you immensely. Usually being alone on your birthday was the course of action you’d take, even if a part of you wished there’d be someone to spent it with.

Jason filled that gap in the matter of hours.

Being around him felt safe and warm like a blanket out of the dryer. His presence provided a sense of security yours not sure you’ve felt since being a child.

Something about it just felt weirdly domestic.

The entire walk he didn’t try to let go of your hand. Instead he’d squeeze it gently when you crossed the two streets on your way here and loosen it as he pulled you to the inside of the sidewalk so he’d be toward the street.

At the turn to your apartment, Jason fiddles with your hand in his before tugging it into his pocket. Looking up at him just as he looks down at you, the stretched silence suddenly becomes louder.

“You felt cold.” He simply says, giving a small tight, unsure smile. You nod to hide how flustered you’d gotten but mostly to eng what seemed to be the intense way he’d gotten flustered.

Deciding to offer something back, you don’t think before the words slip past your lips. “You’ve got really big hands.”

Jason freezes. His hand tensing around yours like the words had struck him and he hasn’t suspected you’d say something like that at all. Immediately you feel the heat rising up to your face and the burning sensation of embarrassment taking ahold.

“Uh, thank you. I think.”

Your hand on the front door, gripping it tight before you turn to find him looking down at his feet. Distracted like he was deep in thought. Watching something on the ground or maybe just looking to look. Dipping your head slightly, you stare at his tapping foot before you look back up to his distracted face. You call out, “hey.” and he looks up with a look that you weren’t sure if you’d noticed all night. Puppy like and eyes glimmering under the rising sun.

“Good night Jason.”

He flashes his teeth and lifts a hand from his pocket. “Good night ma.”

When the door shuts behind you with a soft click, only then does Jason look the last place you’d touched—the doorknob.

Then, his gaze falls to his hand.

It takes him a couple minutes to move his feet, something glued him down to his place like he’s afraid he won’t be there again. An ache taking form again like it had earlier in the day. That’s when the light clicks on through the window downstairs and Jason sighs. As though grounded by your very existence.

You hardly realize he was still there, just vaguely realized it through his retreating silhouette a moment later. A piece of paper falls from your jacket as you shrug it off and it takes you all of three seconds to react to it.

He left you his phone number attached with a note.

maybe it’s too forward but i’m not sure i care. i hope you’ll call me, even if you want to sit dangerously close to a loading dock. either way, i’ll be here princess. —j

By the time you reach for the door, ready to invite him inside or admit all the things you’d thought about him all night, it’s too late. You yank it open and you’re met with empty air. He had already left and the number clutched in your hand stared back at you as if in challenge.

And you’re already pulling out your phone with a stupid grin on your face.

Maybe birthdays aren’t so bad.