People always said I was cursed.
Gwen Stallone is a Realm Walker with a lot of family drama and a mysterious connection to Jason Todd. They share a terrible secret, but one that will draw them together.
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I sighed and looked up at the sky, going over my conversation with Talia. Do not make me let you down. Her threat if I failed to protect her son. My mouth parted in awe as I looked up. A couple stars twinkled, and I grinned. For the few months I'd live in Gotham, it seemed to be perpetually stuck in a twilit urban hellscape, that looks like the Art Deco movement had a one-night stand with a Soviet Brutalism in a wrought-iron-and-gargoyle factory. Light pollution, and passive aggressive red skies scared most the stars away, but way out here in the boonies, Wayne Manor was far enough removed that the stars shone as bright as they please, and the moon glowed like a happy mamma next to them.
"What was that?"
I jumped as Jason's voice came from behind me. I glanced down and didn't look back.
"I could ask you the same thing."
"Oh, really. I would never have guessed that," he said sarcastically. "You know what I mean, Gwen. What are you doing with her?"
I scoffed, just something in the way he called me Gwen, which he hardly ever did, it was always Blue or Bluey. I didn't know why, but it made my skin crawl with shame and my eyes begin to sting. "She just wanted to talk, and we cut a deal."
"Did it ever cross your mind that she could be manipulating you!"
"Oh, and she's never manipulated you, Jason?" I snapped back. "I promised to protect you and Damian, that's all. Nothing I wouldn't have done on my own."
Another breeze kissed the back of my neck and froze me over. Then I remembered that Damian had taken my jacket and gravitated towards the heaters.
Jason jacket fell across my shoulders as he sighed. "You drive me crazy, do you know that?"
I could feel my emotions becoming volatile as I tried to choose the appropriate one to react with. This whole night had been I like a rollercoaster, throwing me out of balance and Jason certainly hadn't been helping. His overprotectiveness felt so smothering it was like I couldn't move.
"Jason, you iced me out back there," I said flatly. "Y'know, I always thought you'd be the last one to ever do that to me. If our roles had been reversed, I would've done nothing but talk out of my arse about how great you are."
"I'm sorry," Jason said quietly. "I should have introduced you as my girl and held your hand the whole time."
He tipped my chin up and ran a thumb across my cheeks. I leaned into his touch, feeling the pleasant trail his rough, calloused skin left against mine. I hummed because this felt nice. The fabric, the makeup, and hair, the perfume that wasn't just axe body spray. I still felt like an imposter, but I could play that game for a while, pretend to be one of the yuppies, one of the beautiful people.
Because I was only nineteen. And in that moment, I felt it. I felt pretty. I felt young. I felt free.
