Fill My Lungs | J. Todd ✔

[28] Embracing The Past

Valerie had come to the graveyard after a very long time. She did not remember when she had last visited because each time she thought of going there, a sinking feeling would grip her heart and she would abandon the thought.

However, that evening she had worked through that fear and finally came to her parents' last resting place. She hadn't come there alone though; Jason was with her.

Her hand was entwined in his as she led the way that she recalled from a distant memory. They stopped as they reached an old withered rose plant beside a grey tombstone with the words William and Elena Kayes engraved upon it.

"This is where my parents are buried," she spoke in a low voice, putting down the wreath of flowers by the tombstone, "I lost them when I was twelve and my custody was then given to my uncle."

Jason's eyes were focused on her in a gentle and understanding look. He knew how difficult it was to be orphaned at a young age and have to navigate the world all alone.

He felt like she was telling him a part of her past because he had told her about his vigilante identity. But the actual reason she was telling him was that she wanted him to understand her better and knowing about her past was imperative for that.

In all the flings or brief relationships she had had before, she had always closed herself off, not allowing the other person to get any closer to her than the surface level. As a result, whatever she had experienced prior to meeting Jason was meaningless, a no-emotion, no-attachment bond that was never fulfilling.

But meeting Jason had made her realize that she couldn't spend her whole life like that without a single meaningful connection. He made her realize the value of love, trust, and happiness that could be achieved just by being in each other's company.

Being with him made her appreciate the simple things in life such as their late-night talks, his gentle smile, the breakfast he made for her each time she stayed over, and the passionate way he desired her and cherished her. It all added layers to their relationship and deepened the bond they had with each other, something that she hadn't felt with anyone else before.

He was becoming a very important aspect of her life and he deserved to know her fully without her closing herself off from him. After all, he had also told her a very deep secret that not many people knew but he trusted her enough to share it with her.

"When was the last time you came here?" He asked, noticing the sad look she had in her eyes but there were no tears welling up in those wide grey irises.

"I don't remember. I guess I never felt the need to come here, back when I was young Uncle Harold used to bring me here once or twice. But then when he lost his job and things started to get worse at home, we just stopped coming here and I got used to it."

In cities such as Star City where life was so fact-pacing, people tended to move on rather quickly. Jason had felt that earlier as well that most people there saw life as fleeting and tended to make the most of it by not dwelling on the past.

Things were different in Gotham where the past remained a huge influence on almost every person he had met.

"You know how people introduce their partners to their families? I guess I brought you here for that although we can't meet them as such but still..." She spoke up, a soft smile creasing her features at that remark, "I know you said it was fine if we didn't tell each other about our pasts, but I do want you to know."

He nodded, "thank you, I am glad you brought me here too. I'm sure your parents would have been lovely people."

She shrugged slightly, "maybe, I don't remember much."

They left the graveyard after a while but as they were heading back, Jason asked her a question she wasn't expecting him to. "Since we are on the topic of meeting families, how about you come with me to Gotham this weekend?"

She paused, just then realizing that he was actually asking her to meet his family. "Really? You want me to come?"

"My herd of siblings have been pestering me ever since they found out about you," he remarked with a light laugh.

"Herd?"

"Should I have said my flock of siblings instead?" He joked, making her laugh as well.

She had only heard about Richard from him and Kori but he had mentioned in passing that their adoptive father had a habit of taking in as many orphans as possible so their family was quite large and he had many adoptive siblings.

"You haven't given me an answer, Valerie."

She looked nervous as she replied, "I would love to go but I don't want to intrude on your family weekends. What if they don't want me there?"

"They are going to love you but I am worried that they might end up convincing you I am a bad choice for a partner," Jason told her, thinking about Tim and Steph and how they came up with very convincing arguments.

Jason knew full well that his siblings would definitely try to tease him by telling Valerie about all the times he had proved himself to be the family's disappointment.

"Oh come on, you're the best choice for a partner," she brushed that remark off, her hand entwining through his as she turned to look at him.

His smile widened as he pulled her close, capturing her lips delicately in a kiss. Her hand reached up to rest on his chest as she deepened the moment, eyes fluttering shut briefly.

She had embraced her past and let him see it for himself while he had done the same. It was a positive step into their relationship as both of them knew they could trust each other. 

When they pulled apart, she gave in to that adoring look in his eyes as she said, "I'll go with you to Gotham this weekend."

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