The Knowhere Girl

[14] The Rebel and the Loner

[Jason Todd]

Jason hadn't told anybody about it, but ever since he was brought back to life, he has felt cold. Constantly cold. A deep-rooted bitter cold, that turned your blood to ice, and chilled you to the bone. In his apartment or Wayne manor, when he was there, he was always dressed warmly in sweatshirts and sweatpants, swaddled in blankets and thermostat was set to highest it can go in his room.

That's why he loved summer. It was always hot, and Jason felt something other than the bitter chill in his bones.

He felt the bed move as Blue rolled on her side, her back facing him. For the first time in years, Jason enjoyed waking up.

It might not be a popular thought - but not everyone wanted to be alive. He remembered that feeling - waking up... feeling like he was going to drown even as he was being reborn. Feeling like he had no right to come back to this world.

And... Jason never remembered until now. Bobbing to the surface he saw Talia's expression - just for an instant. It was fear. But over what she had done? Or what he had become?

"Gwen." The voice came from the hallway, followed by three knocks on the mahogany door. "Gwen." Knock, knock, knock. "Gwen." The knocks repeated again.

Jason was about to get up and beat the interloper into next week when she kicked off the covers and marched over to the door.

She knocked back. "Smarty-pants."

Tim was on the other side of the door, his face turning red when peeked over Blue's shoulder he saw Jason lying in bed. Maybe Jason should say something and serve as a middleman. Or at least man of the people that he adored, like Blue. Replacement didn't quite fall under that category, still it depended on if Jason was feeling generous. Reestablishing dignity through gentle negotiations would be appropriate, mature thing to do.

Which was exactly why Jason did not do it.

He stuck his arm out from the warm sanctuary of the blankets and gave Tim the finger.

Tim scowled at him before turning back to Blue. "I didn't realise you were... busy, but you left you sketch book in my room."

She took her sketch book back and glanced at Jason, who at least for her sake tried to look as innocent as possible. Then she turned back to Tim. "What? I can't take a nap without people assuming things?"

"Sorry. Also, Alfred's making breakfast if you want some," he muttered and shut the door.

The silence between them was comfortable. Jason took in the way her red hair hung about her face, messy and tangled from the pillow. Sweatpants tugged her hips, and a tank top rose up to hug her waist as she got back under the covers and faced him. It'd been too long since Jason's kissed a girl, and this was proof. He couldn't even remember the last time he got laid.