My Ghost

twenty-three

"Welcome to my humble abode," Jason mutters as he throws open the door. The apartment is old and relatively small, but an impressive technological set up in the corner probably makes it feel smaller than it is. A laptop sits in the center, with a larger than normal keyboard. It's surrounded by screens, all linked to cameras around the apartment. I step inside, and Jason follows behind me, shutting the door quietly.

"You can just set your stuff wherever, I don't mind," Jay states, walking over to the computers and screens across the room, draping his jacket over the chair and dropping his belt on the floor. He sets one gun with it but keeps the other on him. Did he always do that? Or is it because I'm here?

"You can come in, Ray," he repeats, and I snap out of my trance. I walk over beside Jason and slide my boots off, leaving them beside his equipment. I drop my belt but slide a knife up my sleeve... just in case.

"I'm going to shower. You can shower after me, or with me if you want. Not that I'm just trying to have sex, I just want you to be comfortable." I giggle, kissing him lightly on the cheek and he smiles at me. "My room is right down the hall there, the bathroom is right next to it. You can steal some of my clothes if you want, there might be some of your stuff there, too."

"Thanks Jay," I say softly.

"I won't be long, you'll be okay by yourself, right?"

I nod and he smiles at me, kissing my forehead before walking down the hallway. I follow him quietly, I haven't said much since we left Bruce in the street. What was I supposed to say?

I sit on Jason's bed and watch as he gathers his clothes before exiting the room. I sit quietly, crossing my legs underneath me and doing my best as to not disturb anything.

As I hear the water begin to run in the bathroom, I slowly rise to my feet and begin to undress, tossing my outfit lazily on the floor. I didn't want to even think about it right now.

I wander over to the dresser pressed against the wall and slide open the top drawer, my jaw dropping. Inside was an old sweatshirt of mine that I had left with Jason years ago, and here it was. He still had it, he still thought of me.

I grab one of Jason's t-shirts instead and slide it over my head. It falls halfway down my thighs, and I decide to just relax in it. I set my knife gently under the bed, just in case. I take a seat back on the bed and inhale deeply, trying to simply let his memory come back to my mind. His smell is the same. A lot has changed, but that hasn't.

The water stops running in the bathroom and I open my eyes, waiting for Jason to walk through the door. Waiting for him to come question me; to distrust me, maybe. I'm not sure what I expect.

Jason comes back in the room and smiles when his gaze falls on me. He drops his clothes on the floor nonchalantly and turns off the light, walking over to the bed and pulling down the covers. I feel the weight shift as he lays down next to me, stretching his legs up past me.

"Did you want to shower?" he asks, and I shake my head no. I didn't want to be alone right now.

"Do you want to sleep in here?" he asks innocently, and I can't help but smile to myself. "If not, I can go clear off the couch, I just thought-"

"Of course," I interrupt him, and he smiles slightly. I pull the covers down and crawl into bed beside him. I feel his arms instantly wrap around me and he pulls me closer to him. I rest my head on his chest and listen to his heartbeat.

"You don't want to talk about tonight?" I ask him, my voice quiet and soft.

"We can talk about it another time," he mutters in my ear.

"You're sure?"

"Yes," he answers, burying his face in my neck.

"It doesn't scare you?"

Jason immediately leans up on his elbow, and I turn around to face him. His eyes are hard and his face forlorn.

"Nothing about you scares me, Ray. Nothing. You saved my life tonight, when I was least expecting it. Should you have stayed at the manor? Maybe. But that doesn't change the good that you did," he states firmly, resting his hand on my cheek. "You are beautiful and strong and Bruce was wrong. I believe in you, I believe in the good you bring to the world, and I believe in the good that you helped me realize was inside of me."

"But-"

"There are no buts," Jason interrupts me. "I love you, and everything about you. We are going to figure everything out together, okay? I'm not leaving you behind, and I'm damn sure not letting you sleep on the couch now."

I chuckle a little at the last bit and nod my head. "Okay."

Jason leans his head in close to mine and kisses me gently. It's short and sweet, and he smiles at me as he leans his head back. I lay my head on his chest again and Jay runs his fingers up and down my back, relaxing me.

"I love you," I whisper.

"I know," Jason replies, and he smirks as I swat at his arm.

"This isn't Star Wars," I giggle.

"I saw my chance and I took it, Han Solo's a badass!" Jay argues.

"So are you," I tell him, still laughing slightly.

"Did you not see what happened tonight? You just stopped bullets mid-air with your hand. Ray, if anyone is the badass here it's you."

I shake my head slightly, my lips curling into a small smile, he always knew how to cheer me up.

"I don't even know how I did it. I... I don't like it," I tell him honestly. "I'm exactly what Luthor and Sionis were hoping for."

My body begins to tremble and Jason brings his hand to the back of my head and holds me tightly, his thumb rubbing the back of my head gently.

"You aren't anyone but who you decide you are," he tells me. "Fuck Bruce and Sionis and Luthor and everyone who has tried to decide for you."

"What if I hurt you?" I ask, my heart beginning to race. I squeeze my eyes shut, attempting to calm the panic attack brewing inside of me.

"You could never hurt me," Jason mutters in my ear. "All I feel is your arms around me while we watch the stars tonight."

I smile into his shoulder. "Thank you for believing in me."

"It's what we do," he whispers. "When everyone else gives up on us, we don't."

I lean back to look into his eyes again and rest my hand gently against his cheek. He smiles at me and places his hand over mine, leaning forward and pecking me on the lips.

"Now let's get some sleep," he tells me, and I nod. 

Eventually, I drift off to sleep with Jason's arms wrapped around me, his breath tickling the back of my neck and his voice echoing in my ears. 

"When everyone else gives up on us, we don't."