Fill My Lungs | J. Todd ✔

[03] Unexpected Meeting

With the help of Roy and Kori, Jason reworked the plan for his mission. And unlike earlier, he was able to get the information he needed and get the crime lord arrested for his wrongdoings although his team had remained undercover and was not brought up in the mainstream media.

It took them less than a week to get done with that mission and finally, Jay was able to breathe in relief.

Those days, the Outlaws worked discreetly for a select few and although their motives weren't completely noble contrary to the Bat vigilantes, they completed their missions for the right price.

Their foremost priority was that no innocent people got hurt during their missions, other than that, they focused mostly on taking tasks to keep the crime world in control by eradicating drugs and illegal trafficking mafias.

However, as their methods were not falling right under the moral compass of Batman and his vigilantes, they named themselves the Outlaws and worked independently.

After completing that mission, at last, Roy and Kori were supposed to stay over at Jay's safe house for the night. He knew that his food supplies were running out so he had to stock up on a few things. He seldom stayed at that safe house so it was very bare and the last time he had been there was when he had unexpectedly brought back an equally drunk guest for the night.

A considerable amount of time had passed since then and he hadn't crossed paths with Valerie again.

But that was about to change.

He had given his keys to Roy so that he could take Kori to the safe house beforehand while he would come after a short stop at the supermarket. He knew the two would reach the house easily as Roy had already been there several times before as well.

So he went to the supermarket and took a basket, stocking up on only the necessary food and daily usage items. By the time he got to the payment counter and placed his basket, he was surprised to see a slightly familiar pair of grey eyes.

"That would be 30 dollars and 25 cents," she told him, packing his stuff and putting them in a recyclable bag.

Her face was covered with a mask but he had no doubt that those eyes and that gentle voice belonged to Valerie. She was dressed in the blue and white uniform with a name tag attached on which the words V. Kayes were written prominently.

Valerie Kayes, his brain connected the dots. He had come to the same supermarket he had dropped her off at that morning although he hadn't known prior that she worked there.

He paid the amount and got the receipt from her but then she spoke again, "sir, you forgot a package the last time you were here."

He didn't recall coming to the supermarket and meeting her there earlier but didn't contradict as she fetched another bag that she gave to him. 

He looked in and saw that it contained his hoodie and his cheeks tingled slightly as he took the bag, "thanks."

"No problem. Have a nice day," her eyes crinkled slightly as she was probably smiling under the mask but then moved on to the billing for the next customer.

He placed both the bags in his car and got in from the driving seat but then checked the one that contained his hoodie. The hoodie had been washed and ironed and a piece of paper was sticking out from it. 

Curious, he took the note out and it read Thank you in dainty cursive writing. He placed it back, not seeing that the piece of paper had something scribbled behind it as well.

By the time he got to the safe house, Roy and Kori were already there. Kori was watching television while Roy had been checking the empty kitchen cabinets in disappointment.