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

chapter 27: The walls in this house

Bruce sat alone in his office, the weight of the night heavy on his mind. The shadows from the dim light danced across the room, playing tricks on his tired eyes. He leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled under his chin, as he replayed the conversation he'd overheard between Damian and Aubrey. Her voice—calm, steady—had stirred something inside him. It wasn't just the talk about the League that unsettled him. It was the way she spoke of her past, of the innocence she had once known before it was ripped away. It mirrored his own son's journey all too closely.

Aubrey had seen more darkness than most, yet there was a spark in her, a refusal to let it consume her completely. It was something Bruce recognized because he had once had that same resolve. But Damian... Bruce wondered if his son believed he had truly escaped the shadow of the League, or if he still feared the darkness within him. The conversation he'd overheard haunted him now. I'm nothing like them, Damian had said. But Bruce knew his son better than that—knew the weight of those words, the truth hiding behind them.

He regretted how things where handled with Jason in the medical wing, but he knew he was making the right choice. Aubrey was a risk, and she posed a threat to him and his family. He was allowing her to stay solely because Alfred insisted the girl needed help, and because he trusted her sister. Addilyne swore Aubrey wouldn't be a problem as long as she was still recovering. 

A soft knock on the office door brought him out of his thoughts. Alfred entered, his face impassive but knowing.

"Master Jason has insisted he has rested enough, and is returning to Miss Aubrey's side. I thought you'd want to know," Alfred said quietly, the subtle hint of a smile in his voice.

Bruce only nodded, grateful for the update. His mind drifted to Jason, whose connection with Aubrey was deepening, Bruce couldn't decide if he should step in or just hope Jasons own issues with intimacy and trust would take care of the relationship themselves. He let out a long breath, turning his attention back to the documents scattered across his desk, though his mind remained elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Jason made his way down the quiet hallways toward Aubrey's room. He hadn't been able to sleep, not after everything that had happened. He needed to check on her again, make sure she was okay. When he reached the door, he pushed it open softly and stepped inside. The room was dimly lit by the soft glow of a lamp, and there she was—back asleep, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.

Jason leaned against the doorframe, letting out a quiet sigh of relief. Seeing her like this, peaceful and safe, made everything they'd been through feel a little less chaotic. He hadn't realized how much he had been holding his breath until this moment.

Aubrey stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She blinked a few times before noticing him standing there, a playful smirk curling at her lips. "You know," she teased, her voice still soft with sleep, "it's considered strange to watch a lady sleep."

Jason chuckled, pushing off the doorframe. "Yeah, well, it's not the strangest thing I've done."

She laughed softly, the sound warming him in ways he couldn't explain. It felt good to hear her laugh after everything they'd been through. He crossed the room and sat at the edge of her bed, his gaze meeting hers.

"How're you feeling?" he asked, his voice more concerned than he intended.

"Better," she said with a small smile. "A lot better than I did yesterday."

Jason let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "Good. I was thinking..." He paused, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "You want some hot chocolate? Might help with the whole 'recovery' thing."

Aubrey's smile widened. "That sounds perfect." She shifted, attempting to get up before Jason quickly came over and assisted. "I'll come with you, but first... I need new clothes. I don't think the bloody suit is cutting it."

Jason gestured toward the closet with a grin. "Alfred got something for you. He's pretty good at that stuff."

Aubrey raised an eyebrow as she swung her legs over the side of the bed, slowly getting to her feet. She padded over to the closet and opened it, and Jason couldn't help but stare at her backside from the bed. She took out a pair of black leggings, some underwear, a sports bra, and a red cropped tank top. She turned, holding the items up with a mischievous grin. "You've got Alfred picking out my wardrobe, huh? Guess I can work with this."

Jason laughed, a little flustered. "He's got good taste."

Aubrey nodded toward the bathroom. "Give me five minutes. I'll shower and change, and then we can head down to the kitchen."

Before Jason could respond, she grabbed her things and disappeared into the bathroom, the door clicking shut behind her. Jason sat there, staring at the closed door for a moment, his mind suddenly blank. Is she really just getting into the shower with me here? He ran a hand through his hair, feeling heat rush to his face.

He shook his head, trying to focus on anything else. But his mind kept drifting back to her. Aubrey had always been a distraction—beautiful, strong, and stubborn in ways that challenged him. But now, with her so vulnerable, it felt different. She wasn't just some partner on a mission who he found mildly(insanely) attractive. She was a friend, someone he had gotten closer with. Someone who knew him and saw his vulnerabilities. She was also undeniably gorgeous and called to him in ways nobody had, especially not after the pit. Everything about her seemed perfect, and she had tucked under him seamlessly when he picked her up earlier. The skin on her thighs and upper leg had been soft underneath his hands. He wondered what it would feel like if he was running his hands up and down it with her lying underneath him.

He pushed the thought away, not wanting to go down that road, not when she was still healing. Not at all, he couldn't even kiss her, he would never get that far. She deserves someone who could give her everything she wanted, and if the books in her collection were any indicator, she wanted someone who was confident and could give it to her rough. He didn't know if he was even capable of that, let alone comfortable with it.

Still, when the bathroom door opened and Aubrey emerged, clothed but with her hair damp and hanging loose around her shoulders, Jason was left momentarily speechless. She smiled at him, the light in her eyes soft but teasing.

"Thanks for the clothes," she said, gesturing to her outfit. "Not bad for something picked out likely last minute."

Jason nodded dumbly, his mind struggling to catch up as he took in the sight of her. The red tank top showed off her toned stomach and the intricate tattoos that twisted around her skin, as well as the bandage on her upper side. Her damp hair clung to her neck and shoulders, and despite himself, Jason found his thoughts drifting to places they shouldn't again.

"You okay?" Aubrey asked, raising an eyebrow as she caught him staring.

Jason snapped out of it, clearing his throat. "Yeah. Fine."

Aubrey shivered suddenly, pulling the loose crop top down a little, her body still recovering from the poison. Jason remembered she needed to stay warm, cursing himself for getting distracted. Without thinking, he pulled off his red hoodie and handed it to her.

"Here," he said, trying to ignore the blush creeping up his neck. "You need to stay warm."

Aubrey hesitated for a moment, looking at the hoodie before slipping it on. It was oversized on her, hanging down past her hips, but she smiled at the way it engulfed her. "Thanks," she said softly.

Jason's heart did an involuntary flip. She looked good in his hoodie—too good, if he was being honest with himself. He liked how small she looked in it, how it made her seem even more comfortable around him. The thought made him blush harder, and he quickly looked away.

They headed down the hallway toward the kitchen, the soft sound of their footsteps echoing off the walls. Jason kept his hands in the pockets of his sweatpants, trying to calm the storm of thoughts in his head, but every time he glanced at Aubrey beside him, the storm only grew stronger.