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

Chapter 22: One step closer, 4 steps back

Authors Note: Im so sorry in advance...

The world seemed to pause in the moment between them. Jason could feel the warmth radiating from Aubrey as they hovered on the edge of something neither of them had quite acknowledged until now. Just one more inch, one small movement, and the space between them would vanish. The night air was crisp, but he felt none of it, only the pull toward her.

But then, as if reality came crashing down around them, Jason blinked and pulled back slightly, his mind rushing to catch up with his body. What was he doing? He couldn't...

Laughter started ringing in his ears and his breath hitched, his body tensing up. 

The instant he withdrew, Aubrey froze, her expression caught between surprise and concern.

"I'm sorry," Jason muttered quickly, stepping back, his pulse racing. His thoughts spiraled as he tried to make sense of what just happened. Had he really been about to kiss her? Was he losing control again, letting his emotions get the better of him? That familiar guilt crept up, tightening in his chest.

Aubrey's face softened, and she reached out, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "You don't have to apologize, Jay."

He looked at her, searching her eyes for any sign that he had overstepped. Any sign that she didn't want him here anymore. But all he found was the same warmth, the same understanding that had drawn him to her in the first place. She wasn't upset. In fact, she seemed... patient.

Jason let out a slow breath, grateful but still unsettled by his own feelings. "I didn't mean to... I just—"

"Hey," Aubrey interrupted, her voice calm and soothing. "It's okay. You don't have to explain anything. I get it."

There was no judgment in her gaze, only quiet reassurance. She stepped closer, though this time she kept the space between them. He wished it was gone again. "I know you've been through a lot, Jason. You don't have to rush into anything you're not ready for, and you don't have to do anything that doesn't feel right."

Her words sank in, and Jason felt the tightness in his chest ease just a little. She understood more than he'd ever expected, and that made things both easier and harder. He wanted to be close to her, but the fear—the memories—still clung to him like a shadow. Intimacy was a battlefield he hadn't navigated in years, not since the pit had warped him, made him feel like he didn't deserve that kind of connection.

But with Aubrey, it felt different. She made him feel... safe.

Jason let out a shaky laugh. "You're way too understanding for your own good."

Aubrey chuckled, shrugging. "You could say I'm a bit of a professional when it comes to patience."

They stood in silence for a moment, the city still alive below them, the noise of traffic and distant voices grounding Jason just enough to pull him back from his thoughts.

"Dinner was great," he said, changing the subject, trying to lighten the mood.

Aubrey smiled. "I'm glad you liked it. My cooking skills are one of my many charms."

"Definitely," Jason agreed, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Silence filled the air again. Aubrey seemed to get lost in her thoughts, her eyes hardening as she glanced at him again.

Aubrey took a deep breath, her gaze shifting toward the city skyline. "You know, Jay... I wasn't planning on staying in Gotham forever." Her voice was quieter now, more serious. "I told you before, once I'm done setting up the foundation for what I need here, I'll be gone."

The words hit him harder than they should have. He knew it was coming, knew this was her plan from the beginning, but hearing it out loud still felt like a punch to the gut. Jason glanced at her, his brow furrowing.

"You don't have to leave," he said, the words slipping out before he could stop them.

Aubrey looked at him, a mix of surprise and curiosity on her face. "I've got things to take care of elsewhere, Jason. This isn't where I'm meant to be long term."

Jason clenched his jaw, feeling a surge of frustration he couldn't quite explain. "I get that, but... you've done so much here already. Gotham could use someone like you. I could use someone like you."

Aubrey blinked, taken aback by his admission. Jason hadn't planned to say it—hadn't even realized he was thinking it—but now that the words were out there, he couldn't take them back. He didn't want to.

Aubrey's gaze softened again, and she gave him a small, sad smile. "I appreciate that, Jay. I really do. But you don't need me to protect Gotham or build something good here. You're already doing that."

Jason shook his head. "It's not just about Gotham."

There it was. The truth he hadn't been ready to confront until now. It wasn't just about her staying to help with his empire or fight crime. It was about her. He didn't want her to leave because, for the first time in a long time, he felt something real, something he didn't want to lose.

Aubrey studied him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Finally, she stepped closer, placing a hand gently on his cheek. "Jason, I—"

Her phone buzzed, breaking the moment. Aubrey sighed and pulled it out, glancing at the screen. "It's my sister. I should probably take this."

Jason nodded, though part of him wished she'd just ignore it. Screw her sister, he finally had time with her outside of work! This could be his only shot at getting her to stay! "Yeah, go ahead."

Aubrey gave him an apologetic look before answering the call, stepping to the side. Jason took the opportunity to gather his thoughts, trying to rein in the emotions that were threatening to overwhelm him. He wasn't used to this—wanting something so badly and feeling so conflicted about it at the same time.

As Aubrey talked to her sister, Jason wandered back inside the penthouse, his mind still reeling. He moved to the bookshelf again, scanning the titles absentmindedly. His eyes landed on a framed photo of Aubrey and Windy, both of them smiling, arms around each other. For someone who claimed she and her sister weren't close, she sure seemed to care a lot. 

He thought back to that night when she first opened up to him a little. She had said family doesn't change, despite the mistakes they make. He wondered if she would say the same about him if she knew everything. 

Aubrey rejoined him a few minutes later, slipping her phone back into her pocket. She looked at him, her expression thoughtful.

"Addi says hi," she said with a soft smile. So Windy's real name was Addi. 

Jason chuckled. "Tell her I said hi back."

There was another pause, one that stretched out just long enough to feel heavy again.

"So," Aubrey began, "about what you said earlier... about me staying."

Jason turned to her, his heart pounding in his chest.

"I'll think about it," she said quietly. "But I can't promise anything."

Jason nodded, feeling a strange mix of relief and uncertainty. It wasn't a no, but it wasn't a yes either. It was something, though—more than he'd expected.

For now, that was enough.

As they stood there, the night stretching ahead of them, Jason felt something shift between them. The unspoken truths were still there, hanging in the air, but they didn't feel as heavy anymore. They didn't feel impossible.

Aubrey looked at him, her eyes soft. "You want to stay a little longer? I think there's a movie I haven't watched yet."

Jason smirked, the tension easing. "Yeah. I'd like that."