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

Chapter 35: Kneeled bare before me

Jason stood frozen in front of Aubrey's apartment door, his heart pounding in his chest. His knuckles hovered over the wood for a second before he knocked lightly, almost hesitantly. He half-expected the silence he had been met with all these nights before. But then, to his surprise, he heard her soft voice, calm and steady, from the other side.

"Come in."

He swallowed hard, his throat dry as he turned the knob and pushed the door open. The familiar scent of her apartment hit him first, a mix of apple, spice, and something warmer. His eyes swept the room, and there she was, seated on the couch as if she had been waiting for him.

Aubrey looked regal even in her silk pajama set. Her scarlet curls cascaded down her shoulders, framing her face in soft waves that contrasted sharply with the coldness in her gaze. Gypsy, the moody feline, was curled up delicately in her lap, completely at ease despite the tension thick in the air. And then there was Outlaw, the tabby cat somehow now the size of a medium dog. He lay at Aubrey's feet, protective and alert, his amber eyes fixed on Jason as if daring him to take one wrong step.

Jason's breath hitched at the sight of her. She was beautiful, powerful, and in this moment, terrifyingly distant. Her gaze remained trained on him, unblinking, as if she could see right through him. For a second, Jason felt like a child in front of a judge, waiting for a sentence he already knew was going to be harsh.

The weight of her stare reminded him of who Aubrey truly was. She wasn't just the woman he had fallen for, the one who loved all things fall and had an obsession with campfires and good books. She was something more, something dangerous. She was a crime boss, known for being brutal towards her enemies. Her fire burned bright and hot, and Jason knew it better than anyone—if he crossed her, she'd burn him down without hesitation. And he had crossed her. The memory of how he'd spoken to her flashed across his mind, the sharpness of his words, the venom behind them. He had been cruel, and he was lucky to still be standing.

"Can we talk?" Jason's voice came out rough, almost a whisper. He was bracing for impact, knowing he was already on thin ice.

Aubrey's expression didn't shift. She looked him up and down before her eyes flicked to the door behind him, as if pointing out the obvious. "I left the door unlocked, didn't I?"

Jason swallowed again, his throat tight. He nodded, feeling the weight of her silent judgment pressing down on him. "I should have known you'd be aware," he muttered under his breath, already feeling foolish for asking.

She didn't respond. She just stared at him, cold and unreadable. Her silence was louder than anything she could have said, and it made his insides crawl. Jason's heart twisted painfully. He missed her warmth, missed the fire that had once filled the space between them. Now, all that was left was this frozen distance, and it hurt more than he could bear.

He took a hesitant step forward, wanting to close the gap between them. But before he could get too close, Outlaw let out a low, warning growl. Jason stopped in his tracks, feeling the weight of the animal's protective gaze. He sighed softly and dropped to the floor a few feet away from the couch, close but not too close, giving her space.

He pulled off his helmet and the mask beneath it, setting them beside him on the floor. His hands trembled slightly as he ran them through his hair, trying to find the words. But when he looked up at her, sitting there so still, so distant, his throat tightened again. He felt like he was drowning, the words trapped in his chest, choking him.