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

Chapter 47: past and present

The sunlight streaming through the curtains warmed Aubrey's bare skin as she stirred, nestled against Jason's chest. She blinked groggily, memories of the previous night washing over her like a calming tide. He hadn't wanted to continue, and not wanting to push him she said okay, even though she felt awful leaving him unsatisfied. Jason had carried her into the shower, cradling her gently, as if afraid she might shatter in his arms. They had washed each other, both the grime of the city and the tension between them rinsing away in the steamy warmth.

Her tattoo, a pair of black dragon wings that curved elegantly down her back, had caught Jason's attention as he admired it in the low light. He'd run his hands over the intricate design, tracing it with a mixture of reverence and curiosity. She had smiled at him, feeling as though in that moment, she was bearing not just her skin, but her soul. After the shower, they had collapsed into bed(After she made Jason change the sheets), with her draped in one of Jason's shirts and him in his usual sweatpants.

Now, her head rested on his bare chest, rising and falling with the rhythm of his steady breathing. She blinked against the morning light, listening to the soft purrs of Gypsy and Outlaw curled up at the foot of the bed. Jason stirred beneath her, his arm tightening around her waist before he woke, his lips brushing against her forehead.

"Morning," he murmured, his voice thick with sleep.

Aubrey smiled against his chest. "Morning."

Their quiet laughter settled into a comfortable silence as they lay together, sharing small touches, whispers, and lazy kisses that Jason wished would last all morning. But after a while, Aubrey sat up, tucking her hair behind her ear as she nudged him gently.

"We should probably get up," she murmured, her eyes alight with a hint of mischief. "I actually wanted to show you around today. Introduce you to my side of things."

Jason arched an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh, yeah? Got a whole empire to show me?"

Aubrey hummed before snuggling back into him, muttering that a few more minutes wouldn't kill them.

For a long moment, they simply lay there, tangled together in the quiet of the morning. But as always, Gotham waited for no one, and soon they were up, reluctantly preparing for the day ahead.

Aubrey changed into black leggings and a dark gray tank top that exposed her red sport bra. Jason didn't bother changing, just throwing a gray muscle shirt on that went with the black sweats he was sporting. The two made breakfast and fed the cats, before Aubrey dragged him into her office.

"This is basically the plan," Aubrey explained, walking him over to the maps on the wall. Her fingers traced pathways that led across Gotham's sectors. "My goal's to bring control and order to the streets, especially when others fail."

Jason looked closely at one map, noticing markings that pointed to locations he'd recognized from his patrols. "You've got eyes everywhere," he noted with admiration. "You do this all yourself?"

She smiled, a glint of pride in her eyes. "I give the orders from here, and my people make sure it all works. And see this sector?" She pointed to a marked area near the river docks. "This was an area that had a high number of dealers who got Waterkindle. The guy from the clinic? He works for me now, rounding up those shipments and burning them. He's now leading the cleanup crew, and he's doing a surprisingly thorough job of it."

Jason whistled softly, impressed. "You pulled that off from up here? In just a week?"

"Pretty much," she said with a casual shrug, though her eyes sparkled. "He can't go back home, but i can still give him a life similar to the one he knew. My kind have a system of families and alliances that run our politics, and thats outside of the central capital area. He is used to the tactics I use that are taught back there, and he also is helping me look for any more refugees that may try to escape from my homeland."