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

Chapter 18: Unspoken Truths

The night was cool and crisp as Jason and Flare patrolled the streets of Gotham. The city's neon lights flickered against the shadows, casting an eerie glow over the urban landscape. Despite the usual adrenaline of their nightly activities, Jason found himself preoccupied, his thoughts swirling with the recent discoveries about fire drakes and their influence on Flare.

Flare, with her hood pulled up and her usual air of composure, shot him a sidelong glance. "You've been acting strange tonight. What's going on?"

Jason glanced at her, his face a mask of indifference. "I'm fine. Just a lot on my mind."

She arched an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "You're usually not this distant. If something's bothering you, you can talk to me."

Jason shook his head. "It's nothing. Let's just focus on patrol."

After a few more blocks, Flare abruptly changed direction, heading toward a discreet entrance to the safehouse. Once inside, she closed and bolted the door behind them.

Jason looked around, puzzled. "Why are we here? I thought we were patrolling."

Flare's voice was calm but firm. "So no one can overhear us. I know you've been doing some digging into my past. Windy filled me in about you knowing who I am. I also know about your research."

Jason's eyes widened. "Windy?"

Flare nodded, pulling her hood down to reveal her long, blood-red hair. "Yes. And my system monitors situations like these. It flagged your recent searches about fire drakes and my history."

Jason said nothing.

Flare sighs. "I also know who you are. And who everyone else is. Once i knew you and Damian, plus my sister and her connections, it wasn't hard to figure out. You also are the only 6 foot person in Gotham who smells like campfire smoke and likes hot chocolate."

Jason took a deep breath. "Alright, yeah. I didn't know what I was getting into. I just saw someone who seemed like they needed help, and I wanted to offer it."

Flare's expression softened slightly, but her tone remained serious. "I appreciate your concern, but I don't need it. I've been controlling my powers for years now. I'm not in any more danger than you are."

She took off her gloves and the arm sleeves she wore, revealing intricate tattoos that spiraled up her right arm. Jason's eyes widened as he saw the symbols etched into her skin. Flare's eyes met his as she continued.

"These tattoos," she said, "are marks from the bargains I've made. The ones on my arms are for favors and safety measures I've arranged since I left the League. The original one that made me who I am is on my back."

She turned slightly, revealing a band around her upper left arm. "This one is from Ra's al Ghul. In exchange for striking a bargain with one of his enemies, I secured his promise that the League would stay clear of me and my operations."

Jason's shock was evident. "You made a deal with Ra's? Why?"

Flare's gaze was distant. "It got me free. What the person wanted from me was worth it for my freedom for Ra's. The issue is there was a loophole in the bargain. Ra's has given up some of the League to his daughter, which allows the league to still go after me so long as it's the portion under her command."

Jason's mind raced as he processed this new information. "Which is why you don't want to settle down anywhere. Why come to Gotham in the first place then? You know Talia has a vested interest here cause of the Demon brat."

Flare nodded, her eyes meeting his. "Because Ra's is the one who wants the kid, not her. In other words Damian is currently serving as my shield, and im serving as his. Ra's can't operate here and come after him as long as im here, and Talia won't do anything to endanger her kid even if it puts her at odds with her father. At least for now, i don't know how long her affection for Damian will last. Once my operations are set up and running smoothly, I'll likely move on and continue managing things remotely. I want to make things difficult for the League, but my presence here is only temporary. "

Jason stared at her, trying to reconcile the image of Flare he had with the reality she was revealing. "You really have to leave after all this? You fit here. The work you've done to help me with my empire, you just leave that all behind?"

Flare's expression was a mix of resignation and resolve. "It's not that I want to leave. It's that I need to. My past tends to catch me the longer I stay in one place. But I will have done what I set out to do—create a foothold that makes it harder for them to operate in Gotham. Ra's can't come here himself as long as i have a foothold in the city."

Jason's mind was racing, torn between admiration and concern. "Does Damian know any of this? And what if you gathered a team? Found people to help you so you don't have to move around all the time."

Flare's gaze flickered. "No, he doesn't. And the nature of my work means I have to keep my distance, stay under the radar. The League will eventually catch up if I'm not careful. My goal is to set up a system that will endure even after I'm gone. As far a team goes, that won't be a possibility."

The room fell into a contemplative silence as they both processed the weight of Flare's words. Jason could sense the walls inside her head coming up and shutting him out.

"Alright," Jason said finally, his voice steady. "But I really do think you should stay. And if you ever need help across seas just let me know."

Flare gave him a small, appreciative smile. "Thank you, Red. Your support means a lot."

As the two of them stood in the quiet of the safehouse, the complexities of their lives and choices loomed large. The night outside was still and waiting, just like the future that lay ahead for both of them.

"Should we talk about the article?" Jason tentatively asked.

Flare turned to him again. "What article?" she asked, feigning innocence.

Jason seemed taken aback, but then just shrugged his shoulders.

"Never mind, I just saw something the other day about people wondering if what we are doing is good for Gotham or not." He lied, stomach curling inward for some reason. Had she really not seen it?

Flare laughed and walked up to him, putting a hand on his chest. He was hoping she couldn't feel how much his heart rate sped up when she did.

She smiled up at him, and he could see her whole face now, admired the tan skin and pouty red lips. Her rust colored eyes looked at him from behind the mask with what he hoped was admiration and fondness, but he knew likely wasn't.

"Don't pay attention to what others say. Nobody is going to know the full story, or understand every detail. They aren't us, and they don't see what we do. Let them speculate and critique, or cheer us on if they choose too. Dont let anyone ever tell you its not enough, or too much. I think your amazing Jason, and Im a pretty harsh judge of character." She said, her voice low. She smiled wide at him before stepping back and exiting the safe house.

Jason stood there for a second, processing what had just happened. Aubrey had touched him. She was close to him. She called him Jason.

That was gonna be ringing in his head for a while. He loved the way she said it. It sounded perfect coming from her.

He was screwed.