That was the only explanation for ⌠whatever this was.
Roy tilted his head back and glared at Jason, who was hovering over him with a tilted smirk. Raven hovered nearby, her expression unreadable. She had been surprisingly quiet for the last few minutes, and Roy wondered if it was because she was assessing the situation. Raven was usually the center of attention during these moments, but now Roy was front and center, and he wasnât entirely certain of his feelings. Â
âThis was your idea wasnât it?â Roy frowned.Â
âRavenâs actually.â Jason gave a one-shouldered shrug and settled next to him on the bed. He nodded at Royâs raised eyebrows. âHonestly, I was surprised too. But she said you needed to be pampered too.â
While sharing an apartment with Jason and Raven had been happening for some time now, this particular aspect of their relationship was relatively new. They were still exploring what this was and what it meant to each of them.Â
Which often led them to instances like this.Â
Roy tugged at his restraints, and felt Ravenâs dark magic spark against his skin with a delightful burn of pleasure-pain. He looked over at her, and a slow smile split her lips.Â
âYouâre always so good to us. We thought we should return the favor.â Her fingers circled his ankle, and she drew her fingertips up and down his calf, leaving a trail of fire where she touched. âUnless you donât want to.â
Oh, he wanted to. Desperately. Roy shivered as he felt Jason nip at the column of his throat, and a low moan escaped before he could stop it. His tongue came out to wet his lips, and he looked up into Ravenâs eyes, offering a slow, affirmative nod. She smiled in response and traced her fingers higher up on his leg, teasing. Jason kissed over his shoulders, his tongue tracing the ragged edge of an old scar, and Roy wondered just what he had agreed to.
âGood⌠it would be a shame if we couldnât take good care of you.â Raven moved to hover over him, swinging her plump thighs on either side of his hips.Â
Roy closed his eyes as he felt Ravenâs wet heat through the soft cotton of her underwear. She was soaked, eager to explore a new facet of their relationship. Jasonâs hands slid over Royâs chest, teasing his nipples. That sharp, electric feeling zipped down Royâs spine again and a curse fell from his lips as every sane thought seemed to leave his mind at once. The restraints on his wrists sparked again, forcing him to cling to calmness - what little he could find of it.Â
âLet us take care of you.â Jasonâs voice was low and sultry, humming along Royâs skin. âIdiot.â
The insult came off as endearing, and Roy felt a smile pull at his lips before he could stop himself. Letting a shaky breath escape his lips, he closed his eyes and eased himself into the mattress, relinquishing control to the two of them. Whatever they had in store for him was going to be delicious and wonderful.
Raven moved back over his body, her hands tracing his abdomen with lazy, invisible patterns, before wrapping her hand around his fully erect cock. She began a slow dance with her fingers, letting the fire grow slowly in his chest. âYou look comfortable.â
He nodded, still not opening his eyes.Â
âGood. Thatâs what we want.â
Roy was about to ask another question, but his words died in his throat as he felt two separate tongues slide up and down his cock. His eyes shot open and he cursed loudly, his body convulsing under their attention. Jason smirked at him before he opened his mouth and took the full length of Royâs cock into his mouth. Raven had started to climb up over Royâs prone form, her fingers curling under his chin to tilt his head up to meet her stare.Â
âHow do you want this?â Her low, rumbling voice was practically a purr, promising him every sin if he asked for it. âWeâll do whatever you want.â
It was hard to think of anything at all when Jason was continuing to give him the best head of his life. Roy shuddered, and his hands twitched in their restraints, eager to touch her pale skin and feel her tremble under his touch. Jason sucked hard, and Royâs back arched off the bed as another cry escaped. Lights were exploding behind his eyes and he felt like his whole body was being ripped apart before being put back together in the wrong way. Royâs hands tightened into fists and he pushed his hips up against Jasonâs mouth, desperate to feel that sensation again.
âPlease.â
Raven leaned over him, offering her breasts. He leaned up and caught a nipple between his teeth, pulling hard. It was as if he could pin himself back down to earth by just offering someone else pleasure. But, Ravenâs breathy gasp made his body shiver again, and whatever control he thought he had disappeared. Roy pulled at his restraints as his mouth continued its assault on her breasts. Jasonâs mouth was continuing to move along his cock, taking Roy deep into his throat with every thrust.
Roy was shaking now, and he released Ravenâs nipple to curse. âIâŚâ
âWe know.â Ravenâs hands buried in his hair, and she draped her body along the length of him. It was soft and tender - a complete antithesis of whatever Jason was doing to him. Raven kissed along Royâs shoulders and up his neck, catching his earlobe between her teeth. âCome.â
That was all he needed. Royâs back arched off the bed and a tight, angry curse escaped with a shout. The world around him shattered in a show of light and color, making him feel as though he had been sent to another plane of existence. Roy shuddered as wave after wave of pleasure consumed him, and Jason didnât stop. He worked Royâs cock until Roy was a sweaty, twitching mess, practically sobbing into Ravenâs hair.Â
With a soft, knowing smile, Raven kissed him, letting his heart ease back to a normal pace. Fuck. He felt amazing. The restraints on his wrists vanished, and Roy buried his fingers in her dark hair, holding Raven close. He drowned himself in her kisses, letting her gentle touch bring him a moment of comfort he hadnât had in a long time.Â
Jason curled up next to them, draping an arm around them both. He kissed Royâs shoulders and muttered into his ear. âDonât worry⌠weâll get her back.â
The shocked expression on Ravenâs face made them both grin.
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Raven had been left in a bad spot all because of dick. No wait, that was and wasnât right. Yes, it was because of Dick and dick; fucking dick! She wanted to scream, she wanted to go beat her head against an old iron lamp post or something.
This was New York City! It was hard enough getting a place, getting the lease, the rent and so forth, but now, now she was fucked because of Dick! Oh she was so mad, and if she wasnât so desperate sheâd be actively chewing out Wally and Kori for ditching her and putting her in this pickle to begin with.
It had all been simple really, theyâd all been friends at NYU and had decided to go in on an apartment after graduation so they could save some expenses. And it was a splendid idea because, they all just got on fabulously, and they were good friends, so it would be a fine arrangement. Also, theyâd all lived together senior year, so this would work in their favor, they knew how to live together. That is until Dick Fucking Grayson came sashaying back into town.
Dick had been Wallyâs best friend, and Koriâs true love, and theyâd both run to him faster than Raven could say âTimbuktuâ, leaving her flat on her ass, with a three bedroom apartment she couldnât afford on her own and only her name on the lease. It made her so mad. The only reason sheâd gotten the apartment was because of the three of them she had the best credit score, so⌠Yeah, she was fucked.
And in an attempt to unfuck herself, she had been interviewing subletters all day, because she was desperate.
Her standards were actually very low at this point, they just couldnât be serial killers, and they couldnât work for organized crime. Or be on parole. As Raven had said, her standards were exceptionally, painfully low.
And thus far, all her interviewees were strikes. One was for sure a hitman, the other was probably an addict, the other two were a very incesty vibes set of twins; she didnât want to know; and then thereâd been a for sure runaway who was so not eighteen it was almost funny seeing this kid try to pass for an adult. Raven was loosing hope, she was really loosing hope. After a week of bad interviews she was thinking sheâd have to move back to Saugerties with her moms and brother, and that was just going to be the biggest âI told you soâ from her aunt. Raven would sell her soul to make the New York dream work, she also might take the hitman as her roommate so she could sic him on Dick fucking Grayson; the dick.
This was her final set of interviews so she might be able to save her ass from moving back to Saugerties and working at the ice cream shop.
âPlease donât be a serial killer, please donât be a serial killer,â she muttered as she opened her door for the final interviews.
âOi, Roy! Hurry the fuck up!â a huge man bellowed as he did his tie up.
âIâm here!â
âThis is all your fault, so get over here,â the other man ordered.
Raven blinked stupidly as the two hottest men sheâd ever seen were standing before her. The first was a massive man, black, curly hair, blue eyes with green rings around then and a smattering of freckles over his nose and cheeks, there was a stubborn white streak in his hair (he looked like Richard Madden who Raven had been crushing on since the Bodyguard). The other guy was a lot leaner, but no less hot; he had long brilliant red hair, sharp features and brilliant green eyes (he looked like Sam Heughan; where the hell did these men get their genetics from!?)
âI can only apologize so many times⌠and whoa, hey there cutie,â the redhead said with a bright smile. The black haired man shoved the other manâs face back as he looked at Raven.
âIgnore him, heâs an idiot,â he said firmly. âIâm Jason Todd, thatâs Roy Harper,â he said with a slight smile, but he kept his face serious.
âRaven Roth,â she said as she shook his hand firmly. âCome in,â she stepped aside and gestured for them to come in. They did, Roy gave her a charming smile, Jason grabbed Roy by the collar and pulled him into the apartment.
âHave a seat, gentlemen,â she said, gesturing to her beat up couch. She took a seat on the barstool as she looked at them. âSo⌠I have just a few basic questions,â she started. âUm⌠what do you do for a living?â
âI just signed with the Rangers,â Jason stated.
âThe Rangers?â
âJaybird is a hocky defenseman,â Roy smiled.
âRoy here is a pitcher for the New York Yankees. And weâre here because he fucked up and now weâre both on a time crunch, your listing is close enough to where we need to be and far enough away we can be anonymous,â Jason explained.
âItâs not my fault he came back to town!â Roy muttered.
Jason growled lowly as he glared at Roy. âAnyways, we need a place, we donât smoke, or party, heâs in AA, but I drink, and we keep to ourselves.â
âOh,â Raven blinked.
âWhat about you?â Roy asked with a smile.
âIâm working at the library,â Raven explained. âAnd Iâm writing a book, so, thereâs that, and I do work for my grandfather, managing his business.â
âAwesome,â Jason nodded.
âSo⌠the rules are simple, I mean I like it quiet and clean, but I donât want to baby youâŚâ
âPerfect, we donât need a sitter or a mother,â Jason promised.
âOkay,â Raven nodded.
She asked a few more questions, and they were both happy to answer. She learned Roy was three years sober, Jason was his best friend, they hadnât ever played a sport in the same city and decided to splurge and room together. Theyâd been roommates in college. They had had an apartment, but then something had happened, and Jason had decided they needed to be subletters to keep a low profile. Raven was fine with that. When they had discussed the lay out and the apartment, because they were the most normal people she had met with, she had decided to take them up on their offer, because they were willing to cover the apartment so long as she didnât leak, they lived there. She was fine with that, and when it was all over, she had two roommates.
Jason said heâd make arrangements for their stuff, Roy flirted a bit more with her, which had her blushing a lot before they were gone. Raven shut the door of her apartment feeling a flutter about this, and genuinely excited that she didnât have to move back to Saugerties.
âHello?â she answered her phone.
âRaven! I am so sorry I have not been able to call you,â Koriâs voice filled her ear excitedly. âI have spoken to Dick and he would be most pleased if you came to live with us, his brother refuses to move in apparently, so there is a spare room!â
Raven grimaced at the idea of being a fourth wheel and living with a celebrity; Dick Grayson was an Acclaimed Actor in Hollywood afterall and a big heart throb for all the girls. âNo, thatâs okay, Iâve found someone to sublet,â Raven said.
âReally!?â
âYes.â
âOh, I am so pleased for you, this will be glorious, Raven!â Kori giggled.
âItâll be something,â she muttered. âI have to go, my grandfather is calling.â
âI will speak with you soon!â Kori giggled and hung up. Raven just sighed as she leaned on the door. She was feeling all sorts of butterflies and latent attraction thinking about Jason Todd and Roy Harper; they were insanely hot! But they also didnât seem like bad people, and she was desperately in need of roommates.
She hoped this work, because she needed this to work!
Part 2 from @shewhowillnotbenamed1! =) MWAHAHAHAHAHA!
Extremely late and Iâm EXTREMELY sorry!đ @bluboothalassophile happy belated EVERYTHING! And just thank you so much for being the incredible friend that you are!!!! đĽ°You know what this is đand I hope you enjoy because this is the first of three parts. Three just seemed to fit... I had a ton of fun writing it and hopefully itâs not rubbish.
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It took time and patience with an unpracticed key guided by an unsteady grip. A petite, pale girl caught her lip between her teeth, a tiny grunt escaping as she finagled with the door.
"Raven, is that you?"
But she was starting to get used to this.
There was a concluding click as the key's metal ridge caught the groove in the last lock of the six panel apartment door. When it opened, in wandered a wearied Raven Roth.
And Raven would have liked to think she wandered in gracefully, but she knew she was dragging. It was impossible not to while wearing shoes so abhorrently impractical they should have been illegal. So violent was the aching in her heels, that by the final stretch of half-block, they were nearly numbed. Gods and her backâit was practically killing her.
If she was being honest, Raven felt like something one of those city sweeping trucks scraped off the sidewalk at four-thirty in the morning. One could only hope she didn't look like it.
"Roy," Raven winced, eyelids squeezing shut as she spoke. "I'm aliveâbut barely."
"Jay?" Roy called out from somewhere in the foreground. "Where are you?"
As expected a low, disembodied grunt ushered out in lieu of a response.
"Didn't you hearâRaven's back!"
The door slid closed and a gust of air entered the foyer behind her, carrying with it the heady notes of brown sugar, nutmeg, and melted butter. And like a Pavlovian response, she forgot the discomfort and led herself up by the nose. Spine straightening, legs lifting, then posture rising. It was like her whole being had been revitalized in an instant. Who knew the promise of a home-cooked meal could do that? A wistful smile steered into her face as Raven thought about how evenings after work used to transpire.
Weeks ago, one foot in the door usually meant bra optional. And flattening into a decompression on the couch was a non-negotiable.
Needless to say, a welcome like this one would never not catch her off guard.
"Something smells like you've outdone yourself again," Raven spoke loudly over the faint sounds of sizzling, curiously craning her neck and sniffing the air distractedly.
And then Roy appeared. He was peering out into the foyer, red hair bleeding out against the backdrop of a white walled interior. "Dinner will be ready soon," he supplied and beamed at her. The brightness faded in increments as his deep pine eyes floated downward and he took what she was holding.
"Again?"
"Yep." Raven gave a single solemn nod and Roy let out a dramatic sigh.
"But it's Friday. Those bastards..." he muttered in disbelief and Raven smirked. Suddenly, he inclined his head toward the other room and inhaled suspiciously. "Do you...smell that?" Roy went rigid in realization. "It smells like I forgot the flip."
Red eyebrows raised, clearly impressed. "Right." He marched back briskly toward the kitchen, only pausing to point at the heavy bag full of file folders teetering on her shoulder. "You'll have to tell me and Jaybird all about...that."
"Yes, please." Raven let out a huff, lower lip quivering. "You're an angel..." Roy winked at the pout topped by pleading purple and disappeared.
"The irony," a low drawl called from just around the corner. "Are you always such a sight for sore eyes?"
It was Jason walking over with arms out as wide as his grin. Even without the sarcasm, his aura and footsteps were distinctâa dead giveaway. They were oddly as heavy as they were silent.
"WhoaâŚ" he looked as concerned as Roy had moments ago. "Or are you just sore?" Strong, steady hands removed her bag from her shoulder. "That's better." Raven rolled her stiff arm muscles.
It was a relief, to hand off her burden for a moment, to no longer be dragged down by the weight of her workâand the world.
"How was our day?" he pressed like a man who knew the answer.
"Roughâand long..."
Quickly Jason knelt down, hand reaching out for her calf. "I've got you, Princess." And Raven placed a balancing hand on his shoulder while he undid her shoes, a grateful half-smile stitching across her face.
"Come, come."
He took her hand, twirling her around past the living room to deposit her right onto a stool next to the island. "Sit. Harper's making crepes." Jason pulled her stool close and spun it around, so he was faced with the back of her.
"Take it from me, they'll help with the tension. Of course... I also believe in a hands-on approach." Jason then cracked his knucklesâmostly for effect, because boy did he know what he was doing. His hands slid up her arms, to her shoulders and worked them over, then dug into the surrounding muscles with his fingers and kneaded hard with his thumbs.
"Mmm..." Raven's tension began to ebb and wane. "Well, that helps a little..." Jason turned up the pressure a few more degrees while his breath grew heated on her neck.
Aroma clouds were wafting around their heads, while Roy flipped another crepe in slow motion. And in an instant, Raven was transported to some sort variant of a Jason and Roy spa she didn't know she needed.
"Okay, that helps a lot." And she moaned in spite of herself. All her stress was melting away, turning into liquid and evaporating off of her, faster than the French butter Roy was melting on the stove. He tilted the bright red crepe pan in all directions, getting an even gloss of sweet, golden goodness in every crevice. And Jason's hands continued to manipulate each one of hers, until all the tightness in her upper body unknotted itself.
"Hmm, where elseâwhere else? Ah." Jason's rough hands took hold of the chevron patterned lace covering her ankles and he began to massage away. "Did I tell you, how much I like these stockings?"
Raven seemed not to hear him. "Harder," she whispered. His knuckle pounded gently down her arches, then ground fixedly into her heel and, painstakingly along the sides. By the time he took her other foot into his lap, she was practically cooing. "Did I tell you how good you are at that?" The tip of Jason's tongue edged over the corner of his smile.
Gods.
"That really is a shame..." he said and Raven lifted her head towards him in question. "About your day? How rough and hard it was..." His hand was lowering, slowing, but lingering. "Normally when you put those two adjectives together... It could be a good thing."
"Okay...!" Roy had come over suddenly with his spatula proffering a piece of crepe, still steaming hot from the pan. "I'm testing something out tonight, so I've added a special ingredient to this batch."
"Oh good. Raven did have one of those days. She could use some..." Jason pantomimed a flippant gesture. It could have been taking a long drag or it could have beenâ
"Not that kind... A different kind of special..." Roy shot Jason and Raven a long once over. Something in the way he said special made the air around them begin to bristle with titillation, anticipation. "A few drops of...lavender extract..." His voice dropped another octave. And he began to blow on the bite while Raven and Jason watched his full lips. It seemed cooling the steam from the crepe had an opposite and equal reaction. As if each breath was fanning the flames rising between them, like a bellow into charred embers in the hearth of a fireplace.
"Let me know what you think of it." Gently, he fed her piece from his fingers and Jason leaned his face close to hers, like he was attempting to steal it straight from her lips. Just before the point of contact, Roy clicked his tongue playfully.
Almost like he was calling him off.
"If you want some you'll have to wait." Dazedly, Raven blinked at Roy. He shook his head of chin length crimson hair, half of it was up in a bun with the rest hanging in his face. "I'll be back with the rest." Teasingly, Roy waved the spatula like a stake to ward off his dark-haired, undead roommate.
"Jason..." The brunette inched nearer to her at the sound of his name. She kicked his stool with her foot so it swiveled further away. Ultimately, it only caused him to move even closer. "Aren't we in rare form tonight?" she sighed.
"Don't know what you're talking about," Jason insisted bemusedly, doing his best to appear impassive. "I'm always like this." He examined her wrist with his forefinger and thumb. "As for you... That office of yours must be working you damn near to the bone. Did you somehow manage to get tinier, Raven?" The left corner of his lips curled up.
She tore it away and glared at him, aghast. "Insufferable, patronizing," Raven muttered under her breath, nursing her wounded forearm. "Ass."
"But this ass speaks the truth," he raised an eyebrow loftily. "If you would just join our firm..."
"Your firm?" Purple orbs narrowed to slits. "Just because you guys are mercenaries for hireâ"
"Mmm... We really prefer the term 'vigilantes,'" Jason punctuated with air quotes. "Actually, from a branding perspective, it's Heroes for Hireâ˘âRoy's got a whole...thing..."
"Whatever you're calling your 'backwoods operation'." Raven's air quotes didn't disguise the disdain in her voice. "The point is, I like my non-profit just fine... And I am not tiny."
"Alriiight." Roy arrived with a huge ceramic serving dish full of crepes with powdered sugar dusted on top. "Eat them while they're hot. Raven..." He slid a plate over to her. "Eat up."
"I thought I would always get the first bite," Jason teased. Then quickly lunged forward, stopping short of Roy's smirk, hip cocked toward his. "What've you got for me, Harps?"
On a delay, the redhead drew back, as if he just remembered Raven was in the room. "Don't be greedy, Jay," he said at last.
The ebony haired man, raised an eyebrow, but began to unload fresh food onto his plate. Once every inch of real estate was covered in crepe, Jason started to attack with his fork.
"So, when have I ever been greedy?"
Was that besides the fact that his plate was loaded up with most of the food the archer had just cooked? And besides the fact that he hadn't really helped?
But then... neither had Raven. Unless licking the batter and 'testing out' a crepe or two counted.
"Well, Raven's barely eaten a crepe and you're drifting into seconds. Where's your hospitality? Shouldn't you share with our guest?"
"I can be hospitable..." He chuckled. "I'd rather just...share our guest."
Roy shot him a warning glare on his way back to the stove. Jason shrugged before closing in another crepe and filling his mouth with another forkful.
"You're amazing," Raven deadpanned.
"Aren't I? But I've got nothing on the food. I have to say, this is the best batch by far," he announced. "Roy, do you have any more of those blueberries you got from the farmer's market over the weekend?" Jason started to smirk at Raven. "Or strawberries? I know how much you enjoy them."
"Try the table," Roy yelled over his shoulder, mild irritation edged in his tone.
"Well..." Raven shrugged, her expression coy as she reached over for the blue container. "They are in season..." There were few things that could enhance Roy's crepes, except fresh berries. Raven puffed out her cheeks as she rifled through an almost empty berry basket. "And... there are only three left... You sure helped yourself," she accused heavily under her breath.
"I didn't see your name on them," Jason returned. "So it was fair game, like anything else in this apartment."
Raven folded her arms. "I thought Roy got them for me, didn't you Roy?" He glanced up at her as he moved around the open kitchen.
"Sorry, we're low, Rae," Roy said regrettably. "I should have picked up more. You'd think after a couple weeks, I wouldn't still be acclimating to having an additional mouth to feed. What can I say?"
"Yes, we're very sorry." Jason pinched her stocking-clad leg, eliciting a gasp.
Raven cut knife-sharp purple eyes at him before the redhead came around to her stool. Roy wiped a hand across the words Banging Redheads & Banging Brunches printed in a large black font on the apron.
Probably a Christmas gift.
And one for which Jason must have been responsible.
He ruffled the purple strands at Raven's crown with his spatula free hand. "I hope that's okay."
"Don't be ridiculous." She brushed the strings fastening the charcoal colored apron and tugged. "Now go take that off and come eat with us." Roy planted a kiss on the top of her head, and shuffled out of the kitchen.
"Hmm...I guess I could have blueberries..." Raven mused. "Now that I think about it, they'd really compliment the lavender. I don't know that strawberries would in the same way."
"Do you know that for a fact?" Jason took a small sip from his cup, eyes trained on her through the glass. "Or have you ever considered...both?"
With a startling scowl, Raven looked up from the melted whipped cream atop the remaining crepes on the granite counter. "Have you ever considered why I like Roy more?" She retorted. "It's this."
"Really?" And Raven pushed his stupidly handsome, smirking face away from her own. "Little bird, don't tease," Jason moaned, dragging out the last syllable. "I promise to be good, I'll shareâI certainly don't mind sharing with Roy." She rolled her eyes, popping a blueberry in her mouth and chewing thoughtfully.
Jason was mostly euphemism on a good day, but this was different. He'd been dropping these odd hints all week. But Raven told herself it was another unexpected caveat about living here. She didn't think she should breach the subject or even read too much into them.
After all, she was only crashing with Jason and Roy for a little while longer.
This was purely temporary, until the super in her building got around to fixing the circulation unit in her water closet of a studio. Or that was what she told herself at first. She was quickly growing accustomed to the perks of living with them.
Being spoiled was... Well, it was nothing short of wonderful.
Gone were the days of scrounging up sad boxes of cereal for breakfast, schlepping together leftover takeout for lunch, or unearthing bags of nearly expired popcorn for dinner. Roy and Jason worked out a ton and ensured their fridge was always stocked. Even on the off-chance that it rained and the farmer's market wasn't open in the park so they could do locally-sourced organic.
That, and they could actually cook.
At a moment's notice, Roy could whip up an amazing French toast, or a hearty stew. If they were feeling wild he'd make them breakfast for dinner or vice versa. Even Jason's most experimental chili recipe could be redeemed by a few generous grates of cheese or a dollop of sour cream.
And clearly business was great, because their apartment was fantastic. It was spacious, but had all these homey touches, like a handcrafted breakfast nook Roy and Jason built together.
But tangible things aside, Raven found she actually didn't mind the company. So gone were the days of being alone.
The moments where he wasn't an insufferable tease, Jason loved attending their two person book-club. They talked books, trashy to classic and everything in between, often punctuated by an impromptu neck or foot rub.
When Roy wasn't working out, planning a job, or doling out heaps of domesticity onto her and Jason, he was a hopeless romantic. He reinvigorated Raven's secret love of rom-coms. But he also liked to learn from her. So he played chess, scrabble, even backgammon, and once in a while they were able to rope in Jason for monopoly. Roy was a very graceful loser at board games, but he was amazing when he got his hands around a deck of cards. And Raven was finding, she had a lot to learn from him.
But Raven's favorite nights were the ones where they could all just be. Listening to something old or indie in the background and talking until the three of them simply passed out.
The apartment just felt fullâof fun, of food, of friends. Of laughter and love.
It was a wonderful life, but it was a shame it wasn't her life. Raven was a realist, she knew she'd have to go back.
But for now, she was going to enjoy every single second of it.
The city was in ruination, the places were burning, the bodies were falling, the streets were painted red with blood, and he looked at the monster who was responsible for the carnage. A Lazarus Pit enhanced human, revived from a point of death, returned to life, uncontrollable, rabid, monster who had been tagged and set free upon the public. He hated that creature! It wasnât even human.
Levelling his weapon on the man before him he prepared to kill the creature.
âNO!â his father-in-law and commander shouted shoving his wrists up which had the shot going up and wild. The monster looked stunned as Gordon shoved him aside. âGet Out Of Here Jason!â
The monster took a step towards them and Dick struggled to re-aim his weapon. Gordon though shoved him back shouting again for Jason to go, which had the monster nodded as he took off into the ruins of what remained.
âWhat the hell Jim!â he shouted as he shoved his father-in-law aside. âI had him!â
âYou Are Not Killing Him!â Jim shouted shoving him back.
âHeâs a monster!â Dick shouted as he was pinned against the remnants of a wall.
âHeâs Your Brother!â Jim shouted back. âAnd That Man Has Done More For These People Than We Ever Could!â Jim snapped.
âH-H-Heâs what? Not possible,â he whispered.
âThe Outlaws are the only truly neutral party in this forsaken city, they take jobs that no one can or will, from babysitting to hits, people canât come to the police they go to the Outlaws! Doesnât matter your work, your profession, or the job, you got a problem you take it to them! Pimp beating the shit out of hookers, doping them up so they canât consent, Outlaws handle it,â Jim snapped.
âGarfieldâŚ?â Dick sputtered.
âTheyâre cases to us, but those boys take the jobs, bring safety to the folks asking for safety!â
Dick looked past Jim at the carnage that the monster had unleashed.
âHeâs⌠Iâm not⌠no way!â Dick sputtered. âIâm not related to that!â
âYou think you the only bastard Bruce Wayne sired? Difference is, he was sold, or bought, or whatever the fuck is done to the Lazarus enhanced, took a long while for me to figure it out though,â Jim smirked. âIâm not letting you kill your brother.â
~~~*~*~*~~~
Raven looked up when Jason appeared, bloodied and burned, holding his shoulder with a deep scowl on his face as he limped into the small office building. She felt her jaw drop at the sight of the damage, she knew she should ring Leisley or Lian, but she reacted by hurrying towards him, keeping herself in his line of sight as she cursed Royâs earlier disappearance. Jason growled a bit in pain when she slipped under his arm to take some of the weight, but the larger man staggered on her, which was stunning as she stumbled slightly,
They both found equilibrium though as she guided him to the bathroom.
âOh Azarath,â she whispered to herself as she inspected the visible damage, knowing that he was likely sporting more injuries beneath Royâs shirt, and more than her untrained eye could see.
Her hands were shaky as she attempted to sign with him, but he closed his eyes as a ragged breath escaped his lips. Biting her lip, she darted off to grab the meager first aid kit with its safety scissors before she rushed back to the bathroom. Snagging a towel on her way. When she entered the bathroom again Jason was struggling to get out of the dress shirt.
He didnât see her, and she knew he couldnât hear her, which had her making him feel her as she purposely made heavy footsteps, he looked tiredly up at her. Setting aside the kit she went to work undressing him, that was easy for her, and once he was down to skin, she started cleaning up the blood. His head fell back as he sighed and let her work.
Cleaned up she knew he had been a bad fight. Satisfied he wasnât going to bleed out on her though she ran to the phone and rang for Leislieâs clinic.
~~~*~*~*~~~
Roy looked up when Jim was coming towards him.
âHe was alive,â Jim stated, which was enough to have Roy sagging on the ruins.
âThank the gods,â he muttered. âI managed to get a few people out, Diana and Kori took care of most the women and children.â
âThatâs a relief,â Jim muttered.
âIâm going to go find him,â Roy stated as he stood up. His side throbbed, and his back felt like heâd been dragged across glass, but he would make it home to see if Jay was there.
âMy son-in-law will be after blood,â Jim warned. âI had to keep him from shooting his own brother.â
Those words stopped Roy in his tracks as his head swiveled around to Jim. No one, and Roy meant NO ONE, knew who Jason was. Roy had taken great pains to erase them both, and he knew that Bruce Wayne wouldnât give a fuck one way or another about his monster child living and breathing. However, other factions of the city would care to know that tidbit of information.
âYeah, I know, Iâve known almost as long as Iâve known you two,â Jim huffed.
âDoesâŚ?â
âNo one knows except me, and now Dick,â Jim stated.
âIs that going to be a problem?â Roy asked icily.
âNot as much of one as Lian could be,â Jim answered. Now it felt like Roy was doused in ice as he glared at the older man.
âIf you so much asâŚâ
âRelax, Iâm not hurting my only grandkid, Iâm warning you,â Jim stated.
âGrandkid?â
âYeah, been looking after you two knuckleheads so long I have a claim to your kid,â Jim said smugly. âGo check on Jay, Iâll swing by later when things arenât so hot.â
âJim,â Roy called out as the older man turned to leave. âIt was Doom Patrol,â he said before he took off running for Outlaw headquarters.
âJay!â he shouted.
âIn here!â came Ravenâs soft voice, Roy navigated his way to the bathroom and peered in to see his whole world there safe and sound. Lian was tending to Jayâs wounds, Raven was handing his eight-year-old supplies as she asked for them, and Jason was sound asleep. These three people were the only three people who mattered to him, and the relief which swamped him seeing them had him gripping the sink.
âYouâre hurt!?â Lian exclaimed.
âIâm fine, kid,â he assured her. âTend to Jay,â he ordered. He had never had a close relationship with his and Jadeâs daughter, leaving Lian in the care of Doctor Leislie Thompkins before keeping distance with her. He sent funds to keep her clothed, fed, sheltered, off the street, he sent Jay to her to keep her safe too. Jason had taken to Lian like a duck to water, he was her protector, big brother, uncle all wrapped up in one, and she was unaware of who he was in relation to her.
âWhat happened?â Raven asked. She kept hands on Jasonâs bare thigh as she sat between his legs in an uncomfortable position.
âDoom Patrol,â he answered as he walked over and clasped his partnerâs shoulder. Jason groggily turned his head, a tired eye slitted as he looked at him. Roy was stunned at how green his partnerâs eyes were.
âYou good?â he asked.
Jason held a thumbs up before closing his eye and letting his hand fall to tangle in Ravenâs long hair.
âI gave him downers,â Lian whispered loudly, Roy snorted.
âHeâs not going to like that when he wakes,â Raven said as she rested her cheek on his thigh.
âNo, heâs not,â Roy mused. âIs that my shirt?â
âIt was,â Raven answered.
âDamn it Jason!â Roy seethed. He was simply happy his three people were safe here, and not out in the hell that was enveloping the world.