Cold-Blooded

Haze

So fucking pissed off.

Jason marched his way through his safehouse, nothing but red blurring his vision as someone he had called a brother thought it was okay to bring up such a sensitive topic. His death would always be something that followed him, but who killed him and who didn't save him would instead be marked on his skin in the form of scars. He never asked to die, but he pleaded and pleaded for Bruce to save him. Even when the barbed wire pierced through his costume and dug into his skin, even when that crowbar came swinging down on him, even when that hot rod of iron was pressed against his face...Bruce, why didn't you save me?

He had flung the door open when he noticed that Alias wasn't in her bed, and the light to the bathroom was on, and sighed as he carefully closed the door behind him. Alias. Has to be her, huh? "You alright in there?" he asked, nothing but her presence alone easing away his rage as he made his way to the edge of the bed and collapsed onto it. That's when he realised his mistake. Getting angry around a Meta who specialised in sensing heat was stupid.

"I could say the same about you, hot head," she called from the bathroom. "Your signature's hotter than usual. Even your face and fists are red. Don't tell me you two fought again?"

"Verbally."

"That's still fighting. Words hurt more than actions."

He almost laughed, "Can't agree with you there, Alias."

"But you're still angry, aren't you? What did Grayson say that got you so vexed?"

"What he said was irrelevant so just forget about it."

"It's not irrelevant if you want me to just forget about it." The door was pushed open and Jason tilted his head to watch her exit the bathroom with her hands patting at her cheeks, her kimono loosened around her waist so that her cleavage was on display. She combed her hair back and cocked her hip to one side, staring down at Jason with a suspicious look. "You're...you're not jealous, are you?"

"What kinda question is that?" he snorted.

"A very serious one considering the circumstances. You don't think I wouldn't notice? Every time Grayson is around, you're either passive aggressive or aggressive-aggressive." She sighed, "Jason, please...just tell me what he said."

"I said it's nothing for you to worry about," he spoke more assertively this time and she rolled her eyes before moving towards him. Since he wasn't looking at her he almost flinched at the sudden weight at his hips and glanced down to meet Alias's cloudy eyes; she was straddling him, her hands firm around his wrists, but for reason.

She remembered when Jason got her in this exact position, pressured her emotions to expose themselves by only using his voice and his hands. The strength on her wrists were scary and his voice even more, but she wasn't going to shout him to oblivion. If she couldn't get him to speak up, then she'll just use his own methods against him.

"Alias, what are you doing?" he asked, a smirk stretching onto his lips but he let it fade when he noticed she didn't exchange the look. Oh no, she's gone all serious. For some reason seeing the scorn on her freckled face made his heart stutter, and he wasn't sure how to take that.

"Jason, I'm going to be very honest with you," she started. "I'm glad we're both aware of where we stand in this relationship, but even as I'm talking to you I know you're hiding something from me. I don't know what it is, but if you can't even say what Grayson said about who knows what, then you'll never fully open up to me."

"Alias―"

"I'm not done, Jason. You haven't told me what you did when you left...why you left..." She fidgeted and released his wrists from her hold, resting her hands on his chest as his stayed where they were, "You'd think that the first person you'd reach was me...instead you're out there as the Red Hood because all you see is red. You're gonna tell me exactly what he said to you, or I'm not moving."