#redbloom

"I love you, Jason." The words fell gently from Mel's lips, dripping with affection. Of course she was the first to say it. She tended to wear her heart on her sleeve.

Jason was quiet for a moment, obviously taken aback by her confession.

That wasn’t the response she’d been hoping for. "It's okay!” she hastily said. “You don't have to say it back. I know it's difficult."

"Mel…" Jason sighed, his hands traveling from her hips to her shoulder and cheek. She was straddling his lap, face just inches from his. They’d been sharing a kiss before she spoke up, but his gaze fell away from hers now, unsure of what to say.

She felt much the same, blurting out, "I'm serious! Just pretend I didn't say anything."

His silence continued for a few moments longer, heavy as Gotham clouds draped over them. "You know you mean more to me than I thought anyone ever would," he finally said, his voice soft. "I didn't believe I would ever have this."

"Me either," she admitted. "Kinda figured I was too damaged for this. Figured I'd spend my days keeping to myself."

"Just…" Jason paused, considering his next words carefully. "Give me time, sweetheart."

"Of course, Jay. Take all the time ya need.” Mel smiled, cupping his cheeks and brushing her lips against his, the touch soft and reassuring. “I'm not going anywhere." 

A stray bullet tore through Mel's abdomen, hot metal cutting through flesh like a knife through butter. The pain brought her to her knees and then to the cold floor. She’d gotten careless and hadn’t moved out of the way quickly enough.

"Mel!" Jason cried out, putting a bullet in the head of the gunner who’d shot her before running to her side, taking her in his arms. "Mel, baby!"

She let out a cough, then a groan. "Jay…"

"Shh. Don't push yourself, sweetheart." He gently brushed the hair out of her face, his voice soft despite the modulator in his helmet. "You're gonna be okay, all right? You're made of tougher stuff."

She grabbed a hold of his arm, sputtering out, "Don't know about that…"

"Don't you give up on me!" Jason shouted frantically, doing his best to get her bleeding under control. 

A little smile pulled at the corners of her lips as her golden eyes began to fade. She just barely managed to gasp out, "Jay…"

All she could hear in response was his voice calling out her name as everything went black.

It was the squeeze of a familiar hand around hers that pulled her from unconsciousness. Fluorescent lights buzzed above her, and she squinted as she came around, trying and failing to lift a hand to shade her eyes. She was alive, but thoroughly exhausted. Everything hurt. 

"Melantha?” It was Jason’s voice. Even wiped out as she was, she’d know his voice anywhere. “You there, baby?"

"Jay…" 

"Fuckin’ shit, Mel." He let out a nervous laugh, reaching out to touch her cheek. It took a heinous amount of energy, but she turned her face into his palm, her eyes slipping closed. "You had me really worried there for a minute."

"Told ya I wasn't going anywhere," she said with a weak chuckle.

His blue-green eyes were misty when he said, "Good.” His smile was strained, and it didn’t quite reach his eyes, but there was a softness in it that she’d never seen before. “I'm gonna hold you to that."

Teetering on the edge of consciousness, infinitely comforted by his presence, Mel murmured, "I love you, Jay."

This time, Jason pulled her in close, careful of her wound. "I love you too, sweetheart,” he said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I love you, too.”

Thank you @ablushofrobins for editing 🥰

(Dividers are not my creation. If anyone could help me credit I'd be grateful. My dumbass forgot to take note before saving them.)

Named so because 'Red' and 'Kindle' (their daughter) both connote fire, and 'Lightning' has a visual similar to a burst (it also matches Redbloom's bursts of anger). 

Also because it's fun, decided they live in a blackened tree, as if it had been burnt by fire and/or a burst of lightning.

(was originally gonna be FireStorm Family, but one of their kits has the 'storm' suffix and I felt that would make it odd)

Thoughts?

“You.”

Cedarstar looked up from grooming his pelt, his eyes focusing on a certain tortie pelt. Kindlepaw. Her voice was laced with hatred, fear, and her amber eyes were wide like golden moons. “You as well.” The former leader adjusted his position, looking down upon Kindlepaw who glared back. It was a couple of seconds before either said anything, the two just silently staring as the scent of smoke filled the air, burning at their nose and eyes before finally Cedarstar spoke again. “I’m simultaneously surprised and not surprised that you found your way down here.” He said, his gaze narrowed. “It was a mistake I’m here!” Kindlepaw protested as she unsheathed her claws, “I’m a hero- You would’ve ruined Gladeclan!” the she-cat hissed with complete venom in her voice. Cedarstar rolled his eyes at Kindlepaw’s growls, sitting down comfortably. Or at least as comfortably you could be in the Dark Forest. 

“You ruined my life- You ruined Hillpaw’s future, you ruined evERYONE-”

“‘Ruined’ is a strong word, you little arsonist.” He growled as he stood up after such a short rest, taking a couple strides forward. “If anything, you ruined Gladeclan with your little fire plan.” “Wh- You.. Liar! We were the only cats hurt!” Cedarstar’s fur bristled. “Really? Explain that to your mother, because the flames kept her from being able to escape a falling log.” He hissed, watching the apprentice freeze. “Or your brother who nearly burned alive trying to save what was left of her.” He circled around Kindlepaw, who kept a terrified glare. “I…” “What about your clanmates? Did you not hear their screams?”

Cedarstar was normally a very calm cat, but seeing Kindlepaw get so caught up in her hero complex… It made him angry. The she-cat crouched in place, her voice a quiet hiss. Cedarstar glared down at Kindlepaw. “T.. I thought they were just panicking!” “You killed innocent cats, Kindlepaw. You killed more than I ever did.” He crouched down to be eye-to-eye, hissing the words as Kindlepaw covered her face in her paws- Choked sobs starting to come from the shaky tortoiseshell as Cedarstar glared. Quite pathetic for a murderer. “You deserve to be here just as much as I do.-” He finished, but before he could even breathe in- Kindlepaw suddenly screamed, raising her face to the sky with a mournful shriek.

Cedarstar flinched and took a step back, staring at the screaming apprentice before noticing shivering leaves, the sound of rustling coming closer frantically. ‘Whatever happens to you, happens,’ He thought as he turned tail, rushing through the trees. ‘You killed them, and now you’ll pay the price.’

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