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themoonandotherslikeit · 5 years

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The Daughter of a Righteous Man- Chapter 31

*SEQUEL TO THE LOOK IN HER EYES*

After her husband is drug to Hell, Ava Winchester and her brother in law Sam try their best to do right by Dean and raise her daughter, only to find that good intentions aren’t always enough. Loving someone isnt always enough.

Chapter Thirty-One, We Would Always End Here

Ella

About sixteen years later

I walked through the bunker after leaving Dads room. I didn't know how I was supposed to do this. How I was supposed to let this go? I made my way into the kitchen to make myself a cup of chamomile tea. Sam sat, leaned over his books, scratching his head.

"Hey," I said to him.

Clementine was curled up in his lap, fast asleep. I smiled a bit. Bunch of softies.

"Hey,” he grunted. He had a solid beard growing, and his eyes were bloodshot.

"You look tired," I said, grabbing his empty coffee cup. I started a new batch.

"Feel tired,” he admitted.

"Any leads?"

"Not really,” he sighed. "He still trying to go in the coffin?"

"You know he is," I sighed, crossing my arms. I pulled my robe closed over my pajamas and wiped a tear off my cheek. "He insists its the only way."

"It can't be," Sam said, burying his face in his hands. "After all we've been through, after all he's done, this isn't how his story ends."

I nodded. "Definitely isn't," I agreed. "We will find something. We always do."

I poured his cup of coffee and handed it to him.

"Thanks, El."

"Welcome," I said. I put the tea kettle on the stove and plopped down next to him. "He was talking about Mom."

"He was?" Sam glanced at me. "What about her?"

"The first night they spent together. After some werewolf hunt where she saved you guys."

Sam smiled a bit. "Yeah, she did that fairly often."

I rested my chin on my palms and looked at him. "Why don't you guys talk about her?"

"Just hurts, ya know?"

"Still?"

"No matter how much time passes, it never dulls the pain you feel when you lose someone you love."

I winced. I will miss Dad for the rest of my life. I will be heartbroken forever. I wanted to throw up.

"Hey," Sam said, reaching for my hand. "He's gonna be fine. He's Dean Winchester. We have fought the devil, survived the apocalypse, Hell, Purgatory. He isn't going to let some Arc Angel take him down. No way."

"I'm going to choose to believe you," I said slowly. "Because the alternative is too damn depressing."

"I'll say," Sam said with a smile. "Hey, come here." He pulled my chair to him and turned me around. He gathered my long hair in his hands and french braided it down my back. I closed my eyes. Dad and Sam were both really good braiders. They never would say who taught them or why they knew, but there was something calm about it.

"Did Mom teach you guys how to braid?"

"Yeah," Sam said with a soft chuckle. "We were pretty whipped. Yours is a lot easier, though. She had these wild curls."

"How did she die, Sam?"

He tied off the bottom of my hair and patted my shoulder. "Not for me to say, kid."

"Dad is going to die before he tells me. I'll never know."

"Some things are better not knowing,” he said seriously. The tea kettle whistled. "Get it before it wakes up Jack. You know that kid barely sleeps."

"Right," I said, weakly, standing up. I poured my tea into my cup, and dropped the bag in, letting it steep.

I lived in a house of lies. I gripped my cup tightly. I just didn't know why they were lying. Something happened to her, and maybe if I had all of the information I could help my dad. I couldn't lose another parent. I couldn't spend my life missing another person.

Ava

Present

I sat in the rocking chair, my heels raising and hitting the ground on repeat trying to rock Nel to sleep, but she just stared up at me. Her fingers were twisted in my hair, tugging, but I didn't care. Her bright eyes looked at me in wonder. She had so much ahead of her. I could feel it. She was destined for greatness. "Your Daddy will save the world."I promised her, kissing her tiny fist. "We will raise you to be a great woman. You will have everything..." It was impossible to describe how much I loved her.

She cooed up at me and my heart melted. If the world wasn't burning around me, I would just do this. I would die in this chair, staring down at my growing child.

"But for now, princess, you have to sleep." I touched her nose, causing her to sneeze. So fucking cute!

"No luck?" Lacey asked me, coming back in from the kitchen.

"Not really," I admitted.

She handed me a bottle and I tried offering it to Nel. She took it, although she looked bored as she suckled. Her eyes were scanning the room.

"It was so much easier when I could breast feed," I sighed. "I hate giving it up."

"Makes things easier, though. When you aren't here." Lacey sat down on the couch, watching me rock her.

"I miss the bond," I sighed, before my eyes met Lacey's. "You can go home, Lace. If you need to."

"I know." She smiled genuinely. "But I'm here to help you. You've got some big shit on the horizon."

"That's an understatement." I laughed, drawing designs on Nel's puffy cheeks. "You're a good friend. I don't deserve it."

"You're saving the world. It's the least I can do."

I smiled weakly.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm worried about Dean."

"Hunky husband. Where is he?"

"I don't know. He disappeared in my arms."

"What?" Lace raised an eyebrow.

"He said the angels would come for him. I hope that's what happened. He left his phone... I can't reach him." I looked down at Nel. Her eyelids looking heavier. "I'm trying to stay calm."

"Are you even human?" Lacey asked, alarmed. "I'd be freaking out!"

"Thanks, Lace. Way to keep me calm." I laughed dryly.

"Sorry, I just... don't you think you should be looking for him?"

"I think I should just wait here. I don't know where to go." I shook my head. "I'm at a loss here, Lace. I know he will call me when he can."

"Will he? Or will he just try to do this alone?"

I considered that, biting my lip. "Maybe. I have to trust him, though. That's what marriage is."

As if on cue my phone rang next to me. I picked it up, standing with Nel, the sound of the phone ringing alerted her out of her impending sleep, and she dropped her bottle. I put her on my shoulder and patted her back. "Hello? Chuck? Is that you?"

"Ave, it's me."

"Dean?"

"I'm on Chucks phone."

"I see that. Are you okay? What happened?"

"Angels. Fuckin angels. Cas helped me escape.. we... we have to get to Sammy. Lilith is the last seal. Killing her is the last seal. He's walkin right into a trap."

"Oh my god," I said into the phone. "Where are you? I'll come right away."

I didn't see it coming. How could I have? At least that's what I'd ask myself later.

I was barely able to react as the lamp from my side table collided with the back of my head. My phone clattered to the floor. I protected Nel in my arms, who was screaming now. I was on the ground, even though I didn't remember falling. My vision was blurry. What is... Lacey stood over me, holding the lamp. "I can't let you go to him. I can't let you stop, Sam."

"Lacey what are you..."

"God, you Winchester's just don't know when to shut up, do you?" She reached down and picked up Nel. I tried to sit up, but she pressed her boot to my mouth. "Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Don't bother getting up. I don't need to hit you again, Ava. That'll do."

"Why are you doing this?" I mumbled against the rubber of her boot.

She tilted her head to the side, her short blonde hair falling into her eyes. "Lucifer must rise," she murmured, her eyes flickering black. "Just as it was foretold."

Sam

Present

My phone rang and Dean's name glowed and danced on my screen. I hit the ignore button before I could be tempted. He was going to talk me out of it. I had to end this. It was my destiny. It was my... I could hear kicking and muffled screams from the trunk of the car. Ruby had a demon in my trunk. An innocent woman being possessed by a demon. What was I doing? Dean had to be right. He always was. He was my brother.

I was coming down from the high that the blood brought, and I was having some serious reservations.

"Are we doing this or what?" Ruby asked, crossing her arms. "Come on, Sam. You know what you have to do. We have to kill Lilith, or we are going to be on the wrong side of the apocalypse. Or did you forget that I was trying to help you."

"I know," I said, running my fingers through my hair. "Your ways are just..."

"Inventive?"

"Something like that."

"Sam this is the way. You know this is the way."

"But an innocent woman..."

"All those demons that you kill with the knife.. what do you think happens to those people?"

My stomach dropped. I didn't.

"You're going her a favor, Sam. Otherwise she would die a long, painful, drawn out death, and the world will be in eternal hellfire, and honestly who wants that?"

"Ruby this is wrong," I said desperately. I knew she was a demon, but after everything she had to understand...

"It isn't easy, but that doesn't mean it's wrong. What is one girl compared to saving the entire world. Don't be stupid, Sam."

"I'm just starting to think that Dean was right."

"About what?" She asked, stiffly.

"Everything," I said, leaning against the car.

"He isn't. You aren't a monster. You're just a man who wants to make a difference." She touched my arm. "Come on, it's now or never."

"Just give me a minute Ruby!" I said, shrugging her hand off.

She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Why'd you ignore his call if you are all team Dean all of a sudden?"

"I don't know," I admitted, pulling my phone back out. I opened my voice mail and selected for it to play. My hand shook, as I yearned for my brothers voice. My confidant. My mentor.

"Listen to me, you bloodsucking freak. Dad always said I'd either have to save you or kill you. Well, I'm giving you fair warning. I'm done trying to save you. You're a monster, Sam...a vampire. You're not you anymore. And there's no going back." Beep.

It was all fucking over.

My eyes flicked to Ruby. "Get the knife."

Ruby tossed me the knife, and I popped the trunk. The blonde nurse struggled in her restraints. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She looked terrified. You're a monster, Sam. He was right.

I grabbed her, and pulled her into my arms. "Please,” she murmured against the gag, sobbing.

"I'm sorry," I said, before pressing the knife to her corroded artery, and pressing my lips to her open wound, bleeding her dry.

Dean

Present

"Ava? Ava? Fuck! Something is wrong Cas we have to..."

"We have to get to Sam," Cas said flatly. "You have to stop him. You're the only chance, Dean, I wasn't lying when I said that. You know where he will be, go to him."

I looked around, clenching my fists. "Fine, but you have to find Ava. Make sure she's okay."

"Yes,” he said with a nod. "I will."

"And Cas?"

"Yes Dean?"

"Thanks."

"Don't thank me yet, Dean," Cas said, before disappearing.

I jogged out of Chucks house and hopped into the Impala. I dialed Sams number as I drove toward the convent where it was all going to go down. I didn't have much time. "You've reached Sam's other cell. Leave me a message." Beep.

"Sammy," I sighed. "I'm sorry. I was wrong. Listen, man. You aren't a monster. You're doing what you think is best. It's all we can do, but they're liars. Sam they're all liars. Whatever you do, don't go to the convent. Don't kill Lilith. It's a trap. She's the last seal. Please listen to me, Sammy. If you've ever trusted me it's time to trust me now. Poughkeepsie man, Poughkeepsie."

I hung up the phone and drove as fast as I could. Wind and rain howled around me. It was like a fucking lightening storm. Omens. I thought to myself as I gripped the steering wheel. "Cas!" I shouted out a prayer. "Tell me Ave is okay! Christ, man!" How was I supposed to keep going, to fight the good fight if I didn't know if she was safe.

"Fuck!" I shouted, hitting the steering wheel.

The Impala climbed up the hill to St Mary's. It looked almost Victorian, which didn't make a lot of sense for where we were at. I pushed my car to the max, rushing as quickly as I could up the hill as I could. I had to make it to Sammy before it was too late.

Ava

"Ow," I whispered, touching the back of my head. My hand was covered in blood. Great. I blinked a few times. Where am I? It looked like a church, or a convent. There was a large cross with Jesus nailed to it, he was weeping.

I tried to stand up, but I couldn't move.

"Sorry, sweetie. I can't let you get up."

I turned my eyes up to see Lacey cradling Nel. "What a little cutie, isn't she?"

"What are you doing?" I hissed. "Give me my daughter back.”

"Is she even your daughter? You've barely been home." She gasped dramatically.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Lacey." She smiled. "You thought you made a friend that easily? Oh honey. It was torture being your friend, and I've been to actual Hell. I know all about torture." She laughed darkly. "You said it yourself. This little one has a big destiny. I'll make sure of that."

"What are you saying?" I asked, desperately fighting against the invisible restraints.

Lacey rolled her eyes and snapped her fingers, removing my voice. I gasped and tried to scream to no avail.

"God you just keep talking. Come here little Eleanor. I won't make you listen to her anymore."

I closed my eyes, tears rolling down my cheeks. I didn't know how, but suddenly I knew that this was the end. Dean, wherever you are... I love you and I'm so sorry I couldn't protect her. I let her do this. I let her into our lives... and now... now it's all over.

"Is this her?

"Yes," Lacey said in response to another female voice.

I opened my eyes, but everything was blurry from my tears. From the air. There was a darkness in here. I could feel it to my core. Whatever just entered the room was evil. It was like how the air changed right before a storm. I shifted a little against the pressure on my body from Lacey holding me down.

Who are you?

"Sam should be here any minute,” the woman said. "He is coming to kill me."

Lilith.

"Just as it was foretold, the first demon will be the last seal," Lacey said proudly. "And here I have the next generation. Consider it an insurance policy."

"It was the right move," Lilith agreed. "Plus." She smiled. "If the child is in danger, there's nothing Sam won't do to protect her. His honor will be his destruction."

Oh, Sam. Please don't... don't walk into a trap. But I knew, from all of my time with the Winchesters, that that was exactly what he was going to do.

Lacey looked toward the door. "Lilith it's time,” she said softly, before walking to me, and laying on the floor next to me, Nel sleeping innocently in her arms. I thrashed again, trying to reach her, but my own body betrayed me. I couldn't reach, I couldn't move, all I felt was pain. My chest ached and cried out. My throat burned from the sobs that wracked my body.

The doors to the sanctuary flew open and Sam stepped into the door with Ruby at his flank. Thunder rolled, almost shaking the room. It seemed like it was storming heavily outside. I could hear the rain and hail slam against the large stained glass window at the peak of the sanctuary.

Sam put his hand out, palm flat and Lilith flung across the room, slamming into the alter. He hadn't seen us yet.

"Sam!" Lacey cried out before she faked silence as well.

"What the?"

Lilith flicked her hand, pushing Sam back. He reacted quickly and put his own hand out, pushing her back against the alter and holding her there. I watched her strain and fight against him, much like how I was fighting. I heard the sound of boots on the stone floor and I squinted through the door, and for a second he was there. I thought we'd made it. If he was here it would all be okay. It always was.

Dean.

Ruby grinned and flicked her wrist, the doors slamming shut right in front of him. "No!" He screamed, but they were immediately muffled but the wind whirling angrily outside the church.

I closed my eyes tightly again. He will find a way. He always does.

Sam walked toward Lilith. "Don't worry, Ave. I won't let her hurt you."

It's not just her! I wanted to scream, desperately, but nothing came out.

"I've been waiting for this... for a very long time, he said early, his fingers curling into a fist.

"Then give me your best shot,” she hissed.

He held out both hands and shouted, focusing everything he had. His eyes were clamped shut before they flung back open. His pupils had taken over the white of his eyes. Demon black. He opened his fists and shouted out as a pulse of white light came from him and stroked Lilith. She screamed out in pain, but only for a second.

"Sam!" Dean screamed through the door, his fists slamming against it. He didn't see us. Maybe it was for the best.

Sam turned to look at the door.

"Sam! Sammy!"

"Dean?"

Ruby stepped to him, putting her mouth near his face. "What are you waiting for?! Now! Sam, now!"

Lilith spit out blood and laughed, her teeth red. "You turned yourself into a freak. A monster. And now you're not gonna bite? I'm sorry, but that is honestly adorable."

I hoped she was right.

Sam turned, and I saw the look on his face. The blackness of his eyes and the smile on his face. He was going to do it, and fuck, he was going to like it. He held out a hand, and effortlessly sent a ball of power, of light, of energy right into Lilith chest. She convulsed, and yowled out in a way that was almost animalistic. The burn marks on her chest from the energy lit flame, and she combusted into a poof of smoldering, black ashes.

The fire came out, igniting her blood from before in a pattern, a circle and then it twisted in on itself. Oh no!

"What the hell?" Sam asked, stepping back. His eyes were his own again, and he looked freaked.

"I can't believe it," Ruby murmured.

"Ruby, what's going on?" He turned to her.

"You did it. I mean, it was a little touch-and-go there for a while, but... you did it."

"What? What did I do?"

A smile grew on her face, her eyes lighting up in the flames. "You opened the door. And now he's free at last. He's free at last!"

Sam covered his mouth. "No, no, no. I stopped her. I killed Lilith!"

"And it is written that the first demon shall be the last seal. And you bust her open. Now guess who's coming to dinner?"

"Oh, my god."

"Guess again."

"You lying bitch!" He held his hand out, and nothing happened.

"Don't hurt yourself, Sammy. It's useless. You shot your payload on the boss."

I thrashed against my restraints that still held well. My breathing was getting more difficult, like the air in the room was getting sucked away by something.

"The blood... You poisoned me."

"No. It wasn't the blood. It was you... and your choices. I just gave you the options, and you chose the right path every time. You didn't need the feather to fly, you had it in you the whole time, Dumbo! I know it's hard to see it now... but this is a miracle. So long coming. Everything Azazel did, and Lilith did. Just to get you here. And you were the only one who could do it."

"Why? W-why me?"

"Because... because it had to be you, Sammy. It always had to be you. You saved us. You set him free. And he's gonna be grateful. He's gonna repay you in ways that you can't even imagine."

I turned to Lacey and she winked at me making a shh motion with her fingers.

A cracking sound came from my right and I turned in time to see Dean kicking through the doors. He looked stressed, his eyes wild, a statue in his hand that he was obviously using to break down the door.

"You're too late," Ruby said with a grin.

"I don't care,” he said, holding the demon knife up to her. She was so cocky, so happy with herself that she let her guard down enough for Sam to reach around her and hold her in place, just long enough for Dean to stab the knife into her chest.

Electricity seemed to roll through her as she convulsed, the creature under her skin dying and turning to dust.

"I'm sorry," Sam said, his voice breaking.

"I know," Dean said, before turning his head. He must've felt me watching, begging inside of my mind. "Christ! Ava!" His hand left Sams shoulder and he broke into a run after me. "Lacey! Ave! Can you move?"

Lacey sighed, sitting up a bit. "Killing Lilith must've broken her holds on me."

"Are you okay? Is Nel?" He asked, desperately.

"Oh, sweetie, she is so much better than okay."

"What?" He asked, frowning.

Sam ran to my side and tried to pull me up, but I still appeared bolted to the floor. I tried to dart my eyes to Lacey, to warn him. Sam PLEASE! I begged.

The flames were still circling, but the pattern looked close to completion. We had to leave, but I had a feeling this was far from over, and not all of us would walk out of here. I just wish I could warn them.

"She's magnificent."

"Dean she can't move,," Sam said, trying to pull me off the floor.

Deans eyes went from me to Nel. "Give me the baby, Lacey."

"I don't think I'm going to do that, Dean,” she said sinisterly.

"Give me the fucking baby." He took a step toward her, and Nel sniffled, and began to cry in Lacey's arms.

"Ohh, shes hungry. Aren't you little one? I'm sure you don't mind, do you Dean?" She flicked her wrist, sending Sam and Dean to the floor, trapped just like I was.

"What the fuck?" Dean asked as he hit the floor hard.

"Well I have been feeding her, you know. I'm sure she would prefer it if I just made her dinner." Lacey walked to the alter, stepping around the flames and laid Nel down. She pulled a knife out of her boot and sliced her palm open, squeezing the blood right into the open mouth of our child.

"No!" I screamed out, breaking through her compulsion. Seeing what she was doing was enough for me to overpower her, to rip myself out of her hold for just long enough for me to charge her. Blood rolled down Nel's lips, and the sudden noise made her scream out again.

I grabbed ahold of Lacey, knocking her to the ground. "You fucking bitch!" I screamed, and she just smiled up at me.

"Ave?" Dean called out desperately.

"You Winchesters," Lacey said, looking up at me. She pushed a curl out of my face. "So emotional."

Then I felt it all at once, the pain in my back. In my spine as she twisted her knife, severing my spine. I coughed out blood, tears of shock rolling down my cheeks. Lacey pushed her off of me. "I'll be back for you, kitten,” she whispered, placing a kiss on Nel's cheek before smoking out, her dead host falling to the floor next to me.

Dean

"Ava!" I shouted. Once Lacey smoked out Sam and I were released from her grip. I ran to her, pulling her into my arms.

Sam jogged over, pulling Nel off the alter. He quickly wiped her lips.

I held Ava in my arms as she convulsed, her eyes rolling back in her head. "Shh, it's okay. Ave it's okay. It's not that bad," I said, gripping her clothes. Tears were still rolling down her cheeks, even then. She was here the whole time. Cas didn't get to her. Lacey... fuck we left Lacey with Nel. Who knew how long she'd been feeding her that shit.

I held her against my chest. I could feel her lose consciousness. I could feel her slip away against me. With every beat of my heart she was further and further away. "It's going to be okay, Ave. I've got you. I won't let you go," I said into her hair. "You're the one, sweetheart. It's always been you. From the second I walked into that bar. It'll be okay, because everything with us is right. You're the only thing that's right." I rocked her slightly as she went limp in my arms. I reached down and kissed her lips. I felt her breath mingle with mine one last time.

She was gone. There were no trades. No swaps. There were no take backs. She was gone, for real. There was nothing I could do. Not this time. I was completely helpless. I should've known that we would always end up here. This was always the end for us. It was written in stone. No matter what, she was destined to die in my arms, and I was destined to spend my life without her.

About sixteen years later

My bed creaked next to me, pulling me from the nightmares that plagued me every night. This one was particular. Talking to Nel earlier brought that night back up. The night I lost her. The night that I worried that we would be constantly reliving the past. Making the same mistakes.

Ever since that night Sammy and I watched Nel, worrying that she was going to develop abilities like Sam had. A taste for blood, like Sam had. He'd only had one taste of the demon blood, and she probably had countless feeding sessions with her demon nanny, but so far everything was fine. She was a great kid.

I opened an eye to catch her crawling into bed next to me like she had when she was a child.

"Hey, kid," I yawned. "You good?"

"Just a bad dream,” she admitted, curling up next to me under the covers. I put an arm around her and kissed her head.

"Me too." I rolled onto my back and looked at the ceiling. "Want to talk about it?"

"I don't remember much... but there was an old church. Fire. You were screaming. It was horrible." She yawned. "Mind if I stay here tonight? I always sleep better when I'm not alone."

My blood ran cold, my heart pounding in my chest. "Yeah, kid. Sure."

"Thanks, Dad,” she said with another yawn. "I love you."

—————

Authors Note:

And that’s all folks! Part 2 is officially complete! I cannot think y’all enough for your constant support of me and my writing. This series has had a big place in my heart, since it’s the thing that got me back into writing after my deep depression. Inspiration is an amazing thing. I want y’all to know that every single reblog, like, and comment gives me so much joy. There aren’t enough words for it. Mostly, though, I just wanted to say thank you so much. Keep an eye out, I’ll start posting Part 3 here in a day or so. I have about 19 chapters done already, and it’ll have a masterlist like the two previous parts.

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darkstarsshinetoo · 7 years

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TL;DR - an untitled Jason Todd fic

Everyone thinks Jason’s issues are all just because he remembers the torture that led to his death. And yeah, that was horrible. Sometimes he wakes up in a cold sweat remembering the pain of hard metal hitting him - everywhere - and painting the floor in his blood, the shattered bones, his rope-burned wrists. In darkened rooms he can see the crazed grin like it’s still right in front of his eyes. The laughter echoes in empty alleyways, the voice asking him if the curved side or the sharp end of the crowbar hurts more (and the truth is that they hurt differently but equally), his own voice cutting through it all as he sobs. But that’s not the end of it. Jason remembers things that no one thinks he does. The cold, damp darkness, the sudden biting fear. The rotting stench inside the coffin. The feeling of bugs, some he’d never seen before because they don’t venture above ground, confused and crawling across his newly re-animated flesh. The horror when he discovered that his autopsy scars remained even after he exited the Lazarus Pit. He remembers it at the most random of times, and he leans against the kitchen sink, squeezing his eyes closed and gripping the edge of the tiled counter top so hard he might break it as the images flash behind his eyelids, as the ghosts of creepy-crawlies criss-cross his skin. And she scares him almost back to death when she places her hand on his shoulder. He whips around much faster than she expected him to, and his hands have found a dirty kitchen knife from the sink of their own accord, but she doesn’t look afraid. Her eyebrows are drawn in worry and her eyes study him with unspoken questions, but she doesn’t look scared of him. His fingers loosen around the handle of the blade and she takes it from him, leaning around him to replace it in the sink. “Your kettle has been whistling for a few minutes now,” she says, almost conversationally, as she nods toward it, but she just continues to look at him quizzically. They both know there are things he hasn’t told her. He suddenly feels guilty for even being there. For always evading her worry with “maybe I’ll tell you someday"s. He moves and takes the kettle off the stove. He switches off the burner, but then just stands there until she takes it from him. She rips open a new box of chamomile and puts a teabag in her second favorite mug, then pours the hot water over it. She dips the teabag a few times to make it seep faster, but then replaces it and simply stands, watching the color steadily leaking into the water. He admires her patience. Anyone else might have left, or demanded answers, delivered an ultimatum. Even Jason himself has grown frustrated with his own secrets. But she takes it all in stride. She spends long nights up reading until he gets home, and patches up his injuries with a drawn brow but no questions. She tucks him into bed and kisses his forehead just below his white streak of hair in the front. She makes him tea at four in the morning after being woken by the emptiness on the other side of the bed and the shrill screech of a hot kettle. If anyone deserves the truth from him, it’s her. "I’m sorry,” he begins. “I…” “You don’t have to say anything, Jason,” she tells him, turning and handing him the warm mug. She touches his cheek gently and says, “Not until you’re ready.” She goes to take away her hand but he holds it there. She smiles a small, sweet smile. He hadn’t noticed before, but there are dark circles beneath her eyes. She looks dead tired. Still, she broadens her smile into a sleepy grin. “Come back to bed,” she says. “We can watch Saturday Night Live reruns.” She wants to make him feel safe. She falls asleep against his side almost immediately. She still succeeds. The next night, Jason doesn’t ditch his gear before climbing in through her unlocked window from the fire escape. He locks the window behind him, then stands in front of her in all his armor for a moment, steeling himself before he removes his helmet. She doesn’t say anything. She marks her page in the mystery novel that she’s been reading this week and stands from the sofa, then looks him over silently for a moment before turning on her heel. He thinks she’s angry, or afraid, that she’s going to shut herself in her bedroom and yell at him to leave through the door. But she returns a moment later, her slipper - clad fret padding across her linoleum flooring. She opens a first aid kit on the coffee table and helps him out of his jacket. He lets her push him down onto the couch and watches her face for a long time as she cleans his cuts and scratches. She’s already closing the first aid kit by the time he speaks. “You’re… not mad?” He sounds sheepish, even to his own ears. She smiles faintly and says, “I’m not surprised.” She brews two mugs of sleepy time tea, and as he watches her he realizes that he isnt, either. She hands one to him, again her second favorite mug, and then curls the fingers of both hands around her very favorite one. She snuggles into his side on the couch and they watch their favorite show until she dozes of, her half-empty drink forgotten on the coffee table in front of her. He downs the last sip of his, then switches off the television. Jason scoops her up off the plush cushions and carries her into the bedroom. He deposits her gently onto her side of the bed, and she nuzzles into her pillows with a small, sleepy moan. Jason takes the covers and tucks her in. He leaves a lingering kiss on her forehead before he strips off what remains of his armor, switches off the light, and climbs into bed beside her. It’s a few more months before he works up to telling her more. She stares at him over her bowl of corn flakes and says, “You were the Robin with the curls and the pixie boots?” Jason nods, and he can tell from the look on her face that she’s about to pick on him for that, before a thought occurs to her. “The one… that the Joker… murdered?” He takes a deep breath. He nods again. “What��?” Her eyes are big and filled with confusion, but there is empathy in her gaze already, and her hand hovers halfway in the space between them. It takes him an hour to explain the events that led to him becoming the second Boy Wonder. It takes him almost another to explain the events that led to his untimely demise. It takes him another two hours, between the natural complications of the story and her questions, to explain how in the world he came back from the grave, and finally it takes only a half hour for him to recount the more recent events that led to him staying over most nights in her apartment. She takes all this information remarkably well. Jason knew she would, but he still finds himself a bit surprised. He also finds himself lying mostly on top of her in bed. His head rests on her bosom, and she’s running her fingers through his hair and letting him cry. Jason feels loved. And he feels in love. So he finds enough breath between his sobs to tell her. “I love you too, Jay,” she whispers. “I love you too.” One night a few weeks later, there’s a spider in the apartment. She doesn’t like the eight-legged creatures either, but after watching Jason scramble away from it in terror, she’s the one who steels herself and kills it with a boot. They both ignore the boot print on the wall and sit cross-legged on the bed. He tells her about the bugs. He feels a bit lighter after he tells her that, and he likes the feeling. So he tells her about the coffin and the darkness and the terror. And when she goes to comfort him with her embrace, he evades her capture. He takes her wrist and their hands disappear beneath his shirt. He runs her fingertips over the raised lines from his autopsy scars. Her eyebrows draw together. She doesn’t realize what the scars are from, so she doesn’t know the significance. Jason takes off his gray t-shirt, and her eyes widen with understanding, and she tears up as she tentatively touches the scar tissue again. His breath hitches but he lets her continue. “Oh, Jason…” she whispers. And he lets out a breath that he feels like he’s been holding for years.

#jason todd fic #fluff #jason todd

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