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

Chapter 36: I love you too

Jason rested against Aubrey, feeling a strange mixture of vulnerability and relief. His confession, raw and painful, had brought them closer together in a way he hadn't expected. Yet now, sitting on the floor, leaning against her couch, he became acutely aware of the stiffness of his armor, the bulk of his jacket, the weight of his weapons still strapped to him. It felt like a barrier between them that he needed to shed. He had already stripped away the emotional armor—now it was time to remove the physical layers.

Aubrey seemed to sense his discomfort, her hands gently resting on his chest for a moment before she began to undo the clasps of his jacket. "Let me help," she said softly, her voice tender.Jason didn't argue, letting her slowly peel the armored jacket off his shoulders, the familiar weight dropping away as she set it aside next to his helmet. She moved with careful precision, almost reverence, as she unclipped his utility belt and holsters, arranging them neatly in a pile. As she worked, she glanced up at him, her gaze warm but thoughtful.

"You're safe here," she said, her lips curving into a small smile. "I can shade the windows. Nobody outside will be able to see in, so your identity's safe."

Jason nodded, grateful for her foresight, but also for the way she handled him—carefully, patiently, like she knew how fragile he felt in this moment. He leaned back against the couch, the tension in his body slowly easing as the armor was removed. Now, it was just him—no mask, no weapons, no walls between them.

Aubrey sat down next to him on the floor, her back against the couch, and for a moment, they sat in comfortable silence. But Jason's mind wouldn't stop turning. He glanced at her, his green eyes searching hers, still caught in the aftermath of their earlier conversation.

"Why did you think I didn't care about you?" Aubrey's voice was soft but direct, her gaze steady as she asked the question.

Jason sighed, his eyes dropping to the floor as he tried to gather his thoughts. "I don't know," he muttered, rubbing a hand over his face. "I guess I just... you felt distant. We weren't talking as much after patrols or missions, and I started thinking maybe I'd pushed you away without realizing it."

Aubrey's lips curved into a small smile, though there was a touch of sadness in it. "I wasn't distant, Jason. I was giving you space."

Jason frowned, looking at her with confusion. "Space?"

She nodded, her fingers gently brushing through the curls of her hair, as if trying to find the right words. "That night when you pulled away... I thought maybe you weren't ready for more. So I didn't want to push you or make you feel like you had to explain yourself. I wanted you to come to me when you were ready."

Jason blinked, the words sinking in slowly. He had been so caught up in his own fears, his own insecurities, that he hadn't even considered that Aubrey might have been trying to protect him.

"I never wanted space from you," he admitted, his voice quiet. "I just... I've been scared."

Aubrey's expression softened, her hand gently reaching out to touch his arm. "Scared of what?"

Jason took a deep breath, feeling the weight of everything he had been holding back for so long. "Scared of intimacy. Scared of being close to someone like that. After everything that happened with the Joker, with the pit, I don't feel like... like I'm all there. I'm afraid I'll hurt you or that I won't be able to handle being close to someone, even though I want to."