Unveiled in the Shadows {Jason Todd x OC}

Hidden Haven

Ariah quickened her pace, her eyes darting from one dark corner to another.

She found herself finishing late once again, the relentless demands of her 13-hour shift at the nightclub tethered her to cobblestone streets at less-than-ideal times of night. Yet money was scarce, and the need to stay hidden compelled her to accept this new life.

Occasional figures passed by – some collapsed, overcome by revelry, others stumbling along in a euphoric haze. Ariah kept her head down, gaze directed towards her feet.

The air was thick, and the shadows cast by the ornate street lamps only added to the lure of the night.

Ariah reached her destination – a small building nestled in an alleyway. It was an abandoned bar, its windows dimly lit and its exterior covered in graffiti. To most people, it would seem like an uninviting place, but to Ariah, it was a haven.

As she stepped inside, the smell of cannabis and tobacco filled her nostrils. The interior was just as grim as the exterior, with broken furniture scattered across the floor and dust coating every surface. Yet within its decaying walls echoed the sound of laughter. Ariah made her way to the back corner, where she could make out two figures sitting at a small table. Her friends, Luan and Nova were huddled together, their faces illuminated by a dim candle on the table.

Looking up as Ariah approached, Luan raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Ah, there she is," he teased, his voice laced with a sarcastic charm. "Thought you'd never show up."

With his disheveled chestnut-brown hair and soulful hazel eyes, Luan's appearance mirrored a blend of charm with a hint of brooding intensity. He has a tall and lean stature, with a strong, well-defined jawline with skin kissed by the sun.

Ariah chuckled, her breath releasing a cloud of relief. "You know me, always fashionably late," she replied, sliding into the empty chair across from them.

Nova leaned in closer to Ariah, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "We've been waiting for you," passing around a joint that Luan had rolled.

Nova, on the other hand, had raven-black waves cascaded down her shoulders, framing a face adorned with delicate freckles that scattered like stardust across her porcelain skin. Her features carried an otherworldly allure. High cheekbones accentuated the subtle curve of her cheeks, and a dusting of rosy hues adorned her lips.

Ariah took the joint from Nova and inhaled deeply, closing her eyes as she let the smoke fill her lungs. She exhaled slowly, feeling the familiar rush of relaxation wash over her.

The trio shared a silent understanding. It was in a moment such as this, hidden away from the prying eyes of the world, that they had decided to run away together. To escape.

Flashback

Nova was 16 and haunted by her violent and fractured family when she found solace in the rebellious and freeing spirit of Luan. His own home echoed with the silence of unspoken pain, as his twin brother had died from an undetected heart condition earlier that year. The two had dated for 2 years before Luan came to understand his sexuality. This had only brought the two closer.

When they were both 18, in their final months of high school, fate led them to Ariah at the edge of the football field. There, by a tree, they found her carving curse words into its roots and decided to offer her a joint. Thus marking the beginning of a new chapter in their intertwined lives. Ariah however, held the weight of untold stories within her.

One evening, Nova, her curiosity no longer containable, breached the unspoken barrier. "Ariah," she began tentatively, "It feels like there's a part of you that you're keeping hidden."

Ariah's gaze flickered, a subtle play of emotions dancing in her eyes. She took a measured drag from the joint, exhaling slowly before responding, "We all have our secrets, don't we? Some are just better left undisturbed."

Luan, always attuned to the subtle shifts in atmosphere, observed Ariah's guarded stance. "We're here for you, Ariah," he reassured, his voice a soft echo in the dimness. "Whatever you carry, we can share the burden."

Ariah's lips curled into a wistful smile, a blend of gratitude and reluctance. "Some burdens are meant to be carried alone," she murmured, a whisper of vulnerability escaping the wall she had built around herself.

After high school, the trio clung to each other desperately. They lived in a poor neighborhood and spent their time putting money aside. In those initial months, they were inseparable. Switching between houses that were deemed 'more stable' or camping with a single tent they had stolen on a drunken endeavor. Nevertheless, the trio navigated their transition to adulthood together, with unwavering support.

Yet it all came crashing down when Ariah unexpectedly vanished after a year, leaving Luan and Nova to grapple with her absence. It wasn't until they stumbled upon Nova in a small diner a few months later that the full extent of her struggles became apparent.

"Damn it, Ariah! What the fuck happened?" Nova's voice sliced through the air, a mix of anger and concern etched in her furrowed brow. Luan, standing beside her, shot Ariah a look that mirrored the disbelief and worry swirling within him.

Ariah, hunched over in a defensive stance, met their gazes with a mix of defiance and vulnerability. "It's nothing, okay? Just a rough night," she muttered, attempting to downplay the severity of the cuts and bruises that adorned her.

Luan clenched his jaw, frustration simmering beneath the surface. "Rough night? This looks like more than just a damn rough night, Ariah," he retorted, his tone laced with a raw mix of anger and hurt.

Nova, her eyes narrowing with a fiery intensity, stepped forward. "You don't get to brush this one off. We're here for you, but you've got to let us in," she implored, the concern beneath the anger evident in her voice.

Ariah's defenses wavered as she looked into their eyes, the weight of their genuine concern cracking the walls she had built around herself. "I can't stand lying to you," she sighs, tone filled with exhaustion.

In the empty diner, The trio, standing in the harsh light of truth, faced a pivotal moment that had reshaped the course of their lives. That night, they packed their bags with a sense of urgency, their actions fueled by the shared determination to help Ariah escape the turmoil that had gripped her.

End of Flashback