Flaming wings don't fly(Jason Todd x OC)

Chapter 13: Headlines and Hot drinks

Jason was already out and about when the idea struck him. He found himself at the same coffee shop, waiting for two hot chocolates to be prepared. He leaned against the counter, a faint smirk on his face as he thought about how Flare would react.

"Just what she needs," he muttered under his breath, watching the barista work.

As soon as the drinks were ready, Jason grabbed them, slipped out the door, and headed for their usual meetup spot. It wasn't long before Flare appeared, her eyes lighting up when she saw the two cups in his hands.

"Is that...?" she asked, her excitement barely contained.

Jason handed one over with a grin. "Fall blend, right?"

Flare's smile was brighter than usual as she took the cup, the warmth spreading through her fingers. "Red, this is exactly what I needed." She took a long sip, her eyes closing in bliss. "You're spoiling me now."

Jason chuckled, sipping from his own cup. "Don't get used to it."

They walked through Gotham's dim streets, side by side, their conversation easy and unhurried. As they patrolled, the topic shifted to their plans for Red Hood's criminal empire.

"So," Jason began, glancing at her, "how do we start this whole conversion thing?"

Flare took a thoughtful sip from her drink. "You've already got the key players in place. Now it's about establishing structure. We can use your current leaders—bring them into the fold, but with new rules. No senseless violence, no preying on the weak. They become protectors, not just thugs."

Jason nodded slowly, mulling it over. "And if they don't fall in line?"

Flare's eyes glinted dangerously under her hood and mask. "Then we remind them why they follow you in the first place."

Jason couldn't help but grin. "I like the way you think."

The night passed in quiet conversation and planning. By the time they parted ways, both of them felt confident in the new direction their empire was heading.

The next morning, Jason woke up to his phone buzzing incessantly. Groggy, he reached over to grab it off his nightstand, squinting at the screen. His group chat with the Bat family was exploding with messages, along with missed calls and individual texts from almost everyone.

Dick: "J, what the hell??" Steph: "You're in troubleeeee." Tim: "Answer your phone, man." Babs: "Call me when you see this." Cassandra: "I'm coming over later." Damian: "You better explain this before I tell Father."

Jason's heart sank. Something was very, very wrong. He groaned, dragging himself out of bed and quickly dressing before bolting out the door to the Manor.

By the time he got there, his family was already waiting for him at the entrance. Dick was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, Steph and Tim stood nearby, grinning like they knew something he didn't, and even Damian was there, a smug expression on his face.

Jason pushed past them, his patience thin. "What the hell is going on?"

They all trailed behind him as he made his way to the Batcave, bombarding him with questions.

"So," Dick began, barely containing his amusement, "when were you going to tell us about your new girlfriend?"

Jason shot him a glare. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Steph snickered. "Oh, you haven't seen it yet? This is going to be good."

They made their way down to the cave, and there, sitting in front of the Batcomputer, was Bruce. His jaw was set, and his eyes narrowed at Jason as soon as he walked in. Without a word, Bruce turned away from the monitor so Jason could see.

The screen displayed a news article, the headline bold and impossible to miss: "Red Hood and Flare: Gotham's New Power Couple?"

Jason's eyes widened as he took in the article. A picture from last night—him and Flare walking together, both holding hot chocolates, mid-conversation. They were standing a little too close, the streetlights casting a soft glow around them, making it look... intimate.

Worse, the article had over a million views, and the comments were already exploding with speculation and support.

"OMG, they look so good together!" "Red Hood and Flare are totally dating." "I saw them last night! Can confirm they were talking like they were a couple."

Jason's heart sank. "You've gotta be kidding me..."

Tim, who had been scrolling through his phone, piped up. "Oh, it's all over social media too. Trending in Gotham. You guys are the city's new favorite couple. #redflare"

Jason ran a hand through his hair, groaning. "We're not together."

Bruce's voice cut through the chaos, calm but laced with a quiet tension. "Then what's the nature of your relationship?"

Jason turned to face him, his frustration bubbling over. "We're not together, Bruce. We work together. That's it."

"Is that all?" Bruce asked, his gaze unwavering. "You're spending a lot of time with her, Jason. And now the media's gotten involved."

Jason gritted his teeth. "I told you, it's nothing. We're just—"

"I don't like this," Bruce interrupted, his tone firm. "She's too close. And if she's working with you on something as dangerous as this empire you're trying to build, she's a threat."

Jason's anger flared. He had been spying on them "She's not a threat, Bruce. She's helping me. That's it. And what I choose to do with MY empire is none of your business."

"And what about her past?" Bruce shot back. "She's not someone who can be trusted easily. You don't even know the full extent of what she's capable of."

Jason stepped forward, his fists clenched. "You don't know her like I do. She's not what you think."

Bruce's eyes narrowed. "And what if you're wrong? You're walking a fine line, Jason. Too close, and you'll lose control of the situation. Of yourself."

The rest of the family watched silently, the tension in the room thick.

Jason glanced at the article again, his frustration mixing with a growing sense of unease. He hadn't realized how much time he'd been spending with Flare. He hadn't thought about what it looked like—about how it felt.

But this? This was just the media blowing things out of proportion. Right?

"We're not together," Jason repeated, his voice quieter now, more for himself than anyone else. But deep down, a nagging thought lingered, a question he didn't want to confront.

Was Bruce right?

Jason shook the thought off, pushing past the growing storm in his mind. He turned back to the Batcomputer, glaring at the article.

"Delete this. It's nothing," he muttered, though his voice lacked the conviction he usually carried. He turned, stalking out of the cave.

Bruce remained silent, his gaze heavy on Jason's back.

But Jason knew this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.