Outlandish Love (Jason Todd x Male OC)

Ch. 15

Jason Todd P.O.V

I pulled on my jacket with some help from Dani and through much wincing, my body was still battered and bruised.

"Where are we going?" I said as I sat back down on the edge of the bed.

"We've been here for a few days now, Jase," Dani said. "If we don't move soon Bruce is gonna find us."

I sighed and started to slide my boots on. I leaned down to tie them, but stopped as pain shot across my abdomen. I leaned back and cradled my stomach.

Dani gave me a sad smile and kneeled down, tying my boots.

"Ollie's letting us stay at an old family house in Colorado. That'll be our house for the next week or two. Then we'll go from there."

I nodded and stood up after he was done tying my shoes. I felt so helpless, so weak. But, Dani didn't seem to mind at all. In fact, he never made me feel that way.

"Bruce doesn't know the property exists, so it shouldn't be easy for him to find us, but we gotta move. We've got about a days worth of trip to get through."

I nodded absentmindedly again and stood up with much struggling and went to pick up my bag, but Dani grabbed it before I could.

"Try and give your body a break, Jay," he said. "Please. I need you to get better."

"I've been giving my body a break for four days. I'm ready to start pushing myself."

"He brutalized you, Jay. You've got a bad concussion. A bruised lung. A broken rib. And like twenty bruises, you're not better."

"That sounds like a good night for me," I said.

He gave me a look as he made his way into the hallway.

"Where's everyone else?" I said.

"They're out today, going Christmas shopping."

"Oh, wow," I said running a hand through my hair. "It's only two weeks away."

"Yeah," he said quietly. "Yeah, it is."

The next night I sat on a couch staring at the tv as Dani came over and handed me a mug of hot chocolate. I gave him a quick glance as I took it. He gingerly sat down next to me, leaning against my side and folding his legs underneath him.

I watched on the corner of my eye as he sipped his hot own chocolate, then lowered his mug and stared at the liquid.

"I really hope this smooths over with Bruce soon," he said quietly. "I wanna be home for Christmas."

"Yeah," I agreed.

As the thoughts of Sionis, Scarecrow, Joker, and Bruce filled my mind, my chest swelled with anger.

He sighed lightly and shifted to lean back further into the couch, then laid his head on my shoulder.

"I really wish you didn't kill him, Jay..."

At the thought of Sionis being alive, my anger swelled further, to the point where I couldn't contain it.

"What? You'd rather he be alive?" I said loudly as I stood up and turned to him. "So he could haunt us even more and make our lives hell? So he can hurt other people? That's what you want?"

I noticed Dani's composure shift as he became shocked my outburst. He looked scared and confused.

"Th-That's not what I meant..." he said innocently.

"I'm sorry I killed him, okay? Is that what you wanna hear? That's what everyone wants to hear! But it's not true! I don't regret it at all! In fact, I'd do it again in a heart beat! He deserved everything he got!"

"Don't yell at me, Jay," he said without making eye contact.

"Why? Afraid I might kill someone when I'm angry?"

He turned back to me, suddenly angry himself.

"See, this is your problem, Jason. You don't care! You never have! He died, Jason. Horribly and publicly, at your hand. The fact that you don't see that as wrong, is the entire problem!"

"Well, that's who I am. And that's not gonna change!"

"Then we're never gonna get anywhere."

"Listen, I get that you don't have the grit to do what needs to be done to protect me, that's fine. But don't get at mad at me, because I do have the balls to protect you at any cost."

"That's not fair, Jason."

"Isn't it? Because that's the way it is."

"Jason-"

"I go around busting my ass to keep you safe and to keep you out of harm's way, while you-what? Sing songs at your studio?"

"Stop!" he yelled as he stood up. "Thats not how it is and you know it!"

"No! It has been this way for a long time!" I said as I paced across the room. "I've just never had the guts to say it until now. This is one sided and you know it!"

"I work just as hard as you to protect us both!"

"Well, here, I'll make your job easier. Go back to Gotham, live in the apartment, go to concerts, protect yourself. I'm out," I snapped as I tossed my key to the apartment on the ground.

His eyes widened at it and from the distance I was at I could just barely see tears forming in his eyes.

"Fine! I don't want an asshole like you living with me anyway!" he yelled.

"Good! Maybe I'll finally be a better person! Because clearly it was this toxic relationship making me want to kill again! And that's your fault!"

He glared daggers at me as I said this and walked towards the door grabbing my coat on the way.

"Have a Merry Christmas, Dani," I muttered. "I'm sure you'll enjoy it."

"FUCK YOU!" he screamed at the top of his lungs.

Even as I opened the door I could feel the strength  of his voice raking over me and giving me goosebumps. The paintings on either side of the door shook and tilted. I didn't give him another glance as I stepped outside and shut the door behind me.

I scoffed and shook my head at him as I walked out into the driveway, but I couldn't resist looking back at the house. Through the large windows next to the door I could see Dani sitting on the couch with his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking as he visibly sobbed. My heart broke at the sight, I looked away and stared at the sky as I walked for the road.

"Shit."