multifandom oneshots/preferences

lxxv. taking a break-- jason todd (DC)

It's a breezy, chilly night in November. Your roommates are at a party or a bar somewhere, and you've chosen to stay in. Too much on your mind, or something. 

You look out over the ledge of your apartment building and place the third empty beer bottle back in its place in the six pack. 

"You thinking about doing something stupid?" a voice asks behind you. 

"Whoa, fuck-" you turn abruptly and see a man in a red hood slowly approaching you. "No, why? Who the hell are you?"

"Had a bit to drink, hm?" he steps a few feet closer and looks down at the half of the six pack still left to drink. 

"Are you a narc?"

"Not even close."

"Then what?"

"You live in Gotham, and I wear a mask, but I haven't mugged you yet. So what can you, even drunk, glean from that?"

You look more closely. Even with a jacket on, he's clearly muscular with multiple weapons tucked away. It's safe to assume there's even more you don't see. You tense a little bit and resolve to act more together.

"You could definitely mug me sober."

"Well," the stranger nods and tucks his hands in his pockets. "Fair. But I don't need to mug you. I help out people who need it. Maybe not in perfectly savory Superman fashion, but I get it done."

"No doubt," you straighten your back. 

"And you know it's not a good look to be drinking alone out on the roof of a building. That's no way to spend a Saturday."

"Oh, I wasn't going to do anything like that. I'm fine, I mean, for the most part. And I wouldn't jump to do that anyway," you speak as clearly as you can as the man leans on the ledge next to you. "Sorry, that didn't help my case. I really came out here to think."

There's no way to read his expression through his mask, but he watches you as you speak before he laughs a bit in amusement. "I believe you. I come out here to think too."

"You get it."

"Course I do," he leans his forearms down on the ledge and looks out over the street. "You live in this building?"

You nod and slowly reach for another beer bottle. Your companion glances over at you. Confused, you extend the bottle up to him and get another for yourself. He takes the bottle.

"Now it's my turn to ask you. Are you a narc?" he has a note of a joke in his voice.

"Oh, god no. ACAB and all that."

He reaches up and unlocks the red headpiece he's wearing, then pulls it off and places it on the roof beside him. "I'm Jason. Nice to meet you."

You pause. "Uhm, I'm Y/n. Likewise.."

"You have a bottle opener?"

"I pop the caps off by lining up the lip of the cap on the ledge here and slamming my hand down on it, like this," you demonstrate and the beer cap flies down onto the roof.

"Oh. Cool," Jason hums. He follows your instructions to pop the lid off. "Hey, it worked."

You hold out your bottle for Jason to tap his against. "Cheers, man."

"Cheers."

A few moments of silence pass by as you both take the initial sips of beer. They don't feel uncomfortable. On the contrary, something about him really enhances your alone time. It's at least a fun story. 

"So how are you this evening, Jason?"

He takes a deep breath, his forearms leaning down on the ledge. "Just trying to see where I'm needed."

"I hear Batman usually takes the night shifts," you shrug.

Jason's grip on the bottle tightens. "Let's not talk about him."

"Sorry."

"No, no, you didn't know. Me and him do pretty different things, anyway."

You nod. "Understood."

You're quiet again as a wind comes through.

"So, if you live here, do you go to Gotham University? This is a dorm building, right?" Jason breaks the silence.

"Oh, yeah. I do."

"You like college?"

"Y'know, yeah. It's not a bad gig," you nod after a few seconds of deliberation. 

"What's your major?" Jason takes a sip of his beer.

"Anthropology."

"Any work in that?" he chuckles.

"I want to work in museums, so hopefully."

Jason quirks an eyebrow. "Crossing my fingers for you."

"Hey, thanks," you smile a bit. "You in college? You look about my age."

"Well how old are you?"

"Just turned 20."

Your companion pauses mid sip of beer before nodding. "Me too. Not in school, though. I don't think it's quite for me."

"School really isn't for everyone," you nod as well. 

You end up talking to Jason for another 3 hours. It's comfortable talking to him. He's certainly been through a lot, and he seems quite wise from it. But he's still easygoing and funny. The conversation moves intuitively with him. 

It's been a while since you've met someone like that. Maybe you've just had a bit to drink. 

Soon, the first flickers of light creep up onto the horizon. You and Jason both know what that means. 

He takes a deep breath and reaches down for his mask. 

"Well, come by anytime. Good talking to you," you place the last empty bottle into the 6 pack and pick the carrier up. 

"You too, Y/n," Jason gives you a flash of a smile before he pulls the hood back on. "You grab me if you ever need anyone beat up."

"Of course."

Jason grabs a small grappling hook from his belt and throws it to latch onto the ledge of a building across the way. You both exchange another nod, then go your separate ways. 

...

c.ai got me. trying to at least type something, even if it's not great. chatbots are one hell of a drug.