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

chapter 30: sunbeams

Jason woke up to the soft rays of the early morning sun filtering through the windows, casting a warm glow across Aubrey's apartment. For a moment, he didn't move, taking in the comfortable stillness of the room and the feeling of Aubrey's arms still loosely wrapped around him. He blinked, surprised to realize that he hadn't had any nightmares last night—something that hadn't happened in a long time. He usually woke up in a cold sweat, his mind running through a haze of old memories and trauma, but here, in her arms, he felt... peaceful.

He shifted slightly, trying to ease himself out of her grasp without waking her, but as he moved, Aubrey's arms tightened around him, keeping him in place. A soft murmur escaped her lips as she stirred but didn't fully wake. Jason sighed, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He could try to get up—or he could stay here, with her, just a little while longer.

Deciding that sleeping in wouldn't hurt either of them, he relaxed back into his spot, his head once again resting on her chest. Aubrey's breathing was slow and steady, her warmth soothing him back into a light sleep.

When Jason woke again, it was around ten in the morning. He blinked groggily, slowly becoming aware of the apartment around him. Aubrey was still asleep next to him, though she was starting to stir, her body shifting under the blankets. Jason stretched, feeling the satisfying crack of his joints as he sat up. He ran a hand through his hair, and as he stood, he felt a pair of eyes on him.

Looking down, he spotted a small orange tabby cat sitting at his feet, staring up at him with unblinking curiosity. Jason chuckled softly, crouching down to scoop the cat up. The tabby purred, leaning into his hand as he scratched behind its ears.

"Hey there," Jason muttered, his voice still thick with sleep. He stood up, carrying the cat with him as he headed toward the kitchen to grab some water.

As he passed by the couch, he noticed Aubrey watching him, her eyes half-open and a lazy smile playing on her lips. "Morning," she said, her voice low and still tinged with sleep.

Jason turned, giving her a small grin. "Morning. Didn't mean to wake you."

"You didn't," Aubrey replied, stretching her arms over her head before sitting up. Her gaze lingered on Jason for a moment longer than usual, clearly admiring the way his muscles moved beneath his shirt. "Didn't know you were a cat person."

Jason shrugged, still petting the tabby. "Didn't know you had a cat."

Aubrey laughed softly, swinging her legs over the side of the couch as she stood. She whistled, and almost immediately, the tabby jumped out of Jason's arms and darted toward her. Aubrey crouched down, scooping up the orange cat and cradling him against her chest.

"His name's Outlaw," she said with a grin, clearly proud of the choice. "And there's a white one named Gypsy running around here somewhere."

Jason laughed, shaking his head at the names. "Outlaw, huh? That's... ironic."

Aubrey raised an eyebrow, clearly curious. "Why's that?"

Jason smirked but didn't elaborate. "Just is."

She narrowed her eyes at him, clearly wanting to press further, but she gave up with a huff. "Fine, keep your secrets."

Jason just chuckled, heading toward the kitchen to find himself something to drink. He rummaged through the cabinets until he found a glass, filling it with water as he leaned against the counter. A moment later, Aubrey joined him, Outlaw still in her arms.

"You good?" she asked, eyeing him as she leaned against the counter next to him.

"Yeah," Jason replied, taking a sip of his water. "Just... processing."

Aubrey smiled, clearly understanding. "Talking to Bruce will do that to you."

Jason let out a low chuckle. "Yeah, it will."

Aubrey set Outlaw down on the floor, and the cat immediately darted off to another part of the apartment. Jason watched as she moved around the kitchen, opening a few cabinets and pulling out some cat food. She filled two small bowls and set them down on the floor. A few moments later, a sleek white cat with bright blue eyes padded into the kitchen, making a beeline for the food. Jason couldn't help but smile as the cat rubbed up against his legs before settling down to eat.

"Gypsy," Aubrey said, gesturing to the white cat. "She's a bit of a princess, but she seems to like you."

Jason crouched down, gently petting the white cat as she ate. "She's cute."

"Yeah, well, don't get too attached. They're my babies." Aubrey grinned, leaning against the counter as she watched him.

Jason stood up, crossing his arms over his chest. "I dunno, I think Gypsy might like me more than you."

Aubrey laughed, rolling her eyes. "Don't push it, Todd."

The two of them fell into a comfortable silence, the warmth of the morning sun filtering through the windows as they stood together in the kitchen. Jason glanced over at Aubrey, his gaze lingering on her as she stretched, her sweater riding up slightly to reveal a sliver of her toned stomach. She caught him looking and smirked.

"See something you like?"

Jason blushed, quickly looking away. "Maybe."

Aubrey chuckled, clearly enjoying his flustered state. "Come on, let's make breakfast. I'm starving."

Jason nodded, grateful for the distraction. "Yeah, let's do it."

The two of them moved around the kitchen, working together in an easy, natural rhythm. Aubrey pulled out some eggs, bread, and bacon while Jason found a pan and started heating it on the stove. It felt strangely domestic, this quiet morning spent in her apartment, cooking breakfast together with two cats wandering around their feet.

As they cooked, Gypsy took a liking to Jason, circling around his legs and occasionally hopping up on the counter to watch him work. Outlaw, on the other hand, stuck close to Aubrey, sitting by her feet and staring up at her with wide, adoring eyes.

"You know," Jason said as he flipped the bacon, "you've got a pretty good setup here."

Aubrey glanced over at him, her expression softening. "Yeah. It's home."

Jason nodded, understanding what she meant. There was something comforting about her apartment, the way it smelled like apple cider, the soft music playing in the background, the warmth that seemed to fill every corner. It felt like a place where someone could heal, where they could just... be.

Once the food was ready, they sat down at the small table in her kitchen, the two cats circling around them as they ate. The conversation flowed easily, light and playful, and for the first time in a long time, Jason felt a sense of normalcy. It was something he hadn't realized he craved.

"So," Aubrey said, leaning back in her chair as she looked at him, "what are your plans for the rest of the day?"

Jason shrugged, taking a bite of his toast. "Haven't really thought about it. What about you?"

Aubrey smiled, her eyes softening as she looked at him. "I'm just gonna take it easy today. Still recovering, you know."

Jason nodded, his expression growing more serious. "Right. You should take it easy."

Aubrey chuckled, clearly amused by his sudden concern. "Relax, Jason. I'm fine."

He smiled, shaking his head. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"Yeah," Aubrey said with a grin, "but you wouldn't have it any other way."

Jason couldn't argue with that. As they finished breakfast, Gypsy jumped up onto Jason's lap, purring contentedly as he scratched behind her ears. Aubrey watched them with a soft smile, her heart warm as she took in the scene.

For a moment, everything felt perfect. And for Jason, that was more than enough.