ECHO (Jason Todd x reader)

Chapter 5 - Sleeping Beast

"Please, Monica, let me in." She pleads through the door of Monica's apartment. "I'm sorry," she whines.

A neighbor of Monica's exits his apartment just as she bangs her head against the door, chanting, "Let me in." He quietly backs away, already texting his friend about the bizarre scene unfolding. Monica's door swings open abruptly, causing the possibly concussed girl to stumble forward. She glances at the retreating neighbor, offering an apologetic smile, embarrassment creeping in from her friend's wild behavior. Her gaze snaps over to the friend in question.

"Stop it, if you planned to embarrass me in front of my neighbors so I have no choice but to let you in, then you succeeded." She pulls her in by the arm, slamming the door shut.

"You didn't answer my texts or calls. I really am sorry for ditching you."

A tired sigh leaves Monica's plump lips. "I'm not upset about you ditching me; I couldn't care less. I'm upset you didn't tell me what was going on! I mean, you were drunk and left with Red Hood. Also, Red Hood?!" She yells, exasperated, pacing around the room.

"To be honest, I don't even remember what happened." She says quietly, a guilty look crossing her face. "I just remember I left to get some air and some creep pushed me into the wall-"

"What?! This is exactly why I told you to–" the amnesiac cuts off Monica's scolding.

"I know! Okay?! I know, but you're not making me feel any better about this situation by yelling at me. I just remember I was terrified, and after that, I don't remember anything."

She stares at Monica, who stays silent. Monica has always been one to be extremely expressive, she could read her like a book most of the time. However, this time, she can't, which frightens her. "Can you say something, please? I..." She feels a lump in her throat. "I really need you right now."

Monica's brows lift in sympathy at the sound of her friend's fragile voice. Her earlier frustration melts away as she rushes over, wrapping her arms around her in a tight embrace. The girl crumbles, sobbing softly into Monica's shoulder. In moments like this, she wishes her parents weren't so far away, but she's grateful to have a friend like Monica to lean on. Monica gently strokes her hair, murmuring gentle reassurances.

"You're safe now," she whispers. "I haven't seen you so emotional in a while. You must've been pretty spooked, huh?" She asks softly.

Her sobs slowly fade, and a thought dawns on her. "Wait," she pulls back, lifting her head from Monica's shoulder. "You said I left with Red Hood yesterday?"

"Yeah, but we don't need to get into that right now."

"I woke up with him sitting in my bedroom."

"What?!" Monica's eyes widen as she pulls her toward the couch, eagerly seating her down. "Now I have to hear about that."

As she recounts the events, she purposely leaves out one crucial detail—Forman's allegations. The last thing she needs is to make Monica worry more than she already does. She decides this is something she'll handle on her own. All Monica needs to know is that Red Hood dismissed her as a dead end in his private investigation—and acted like a total ass about it.

There's something unsettlingly familiar about him calling her a crybaby, though.

Afterward, she leaves feeling somewhat better, though not by much. Malachi Forman—her boss—might actually be a psychopath. Yet, a small part of her still refuses to believe any of the terrible things said about him. He gave her such a generous signing bonus, and even made sure she had free meals during work hours. What kind of person does all that with malicious intent?