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My bag dropped from my hands and my mouth hung slightly open as I stared at the tall man. I couldn't believe my eyes, not but 10 feet away from me, stood none other than Jason. He wore a dark grey t-shirt with a thick, red flannel over top along with some jeans. He, too, could do nothing but stare at me. My chest heaved as I struggled to take a breath, my heart pounding. I didn't know how I felt in that moment. Scared? Nervous? Happy? Nauseous? What ever the feeling was it was too overstimulating that I found myself frozen in place. After months of separation, months of me fearing this moment. Yet, I couldn't help but feel curious as to what would happen and what I was feeling.

Jason found his voice first, "You look great." I licked my lips and my mouth felt as dry as a desert. My tongue felt like a giant cotton ball. I still couldn't say a single word. Roy noticed this and decided to butt in at that moment.

"Uh, well.... So as you can tell, there's been a slight miscommunication in this weekend's plans." Roy chuckled nervously, anticipating whatever my reaction would be.

'Slight' my ass.

I blinked a few times to register that this was Roy's doing. Then I spoke to him, so quietly and calm you could cut the tension with a knife.

"Roy?"

"Yes?" he gulped audible.

"Where is your luggage?"

He stayed silent for a few moments before mumbling quietly something about him 'forgetting it'. I clenched my jaw and closed my eyes, shutting the image of the redhead's overly anxious face.

I don't know what was worse; being 'surprised' with Jason being here, or the 'coincidence' that Roy didn't have any luggage. Either way, it didn't settle too well with me. I had to blink away black spots in my vision for a moment, refusing to faint. I wasn't the same scared girl that Jason found that night in my apartment.

I don't know what came over me, for before I knew it, my fist was suddenly flying in front of me. Towards Roy's almost healed face. Roy reacted just in the nick of time, and dropped down in a squat, avoiding any further damage.

Cheeky motherfu-

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(Third Person POV)

Roy finally told (Y/n) what was actually going on. He was very vague, saying that it was the perfect opportunity to talk things through, and was very quick to end the conversation. As he was standing and heading for the door (Y/n) quickly rushed forward and grabbed onto Roy's sleeve, stopping him. He looked over his shoulder at the small girl and felt bad for tricking her into this weekend long meeting/ retreat. But he knew exactly how the two felt, and that this was the best for them both.

(Y/n) was starring wide eyed at the ginger, looked almost terrified. Roy sighed and was about to turn to comfort his newest friend, but stopped when he spotted his best buddy's tall figure a good distance away. The black and white haired man stood off the the side still in the bedroom doorway. Roy saw the rigid tension in the other man body language. Roy followed his gaze the the small hands grabbing onto the back of his jacket, shaking in their tight grip on him. Roy knew exactly what this whole picture looked like to his troubled bud. So with extreme awareness and caution, Roy turned to the girl and placed a hand on top of her head and ruffled the already messy locks.

"I'll be close by, not like I'm abandoning you in the middle of the mountains," he smiled kindly at his friend "Where's that bad bitch from before?" (Y/n) released her hold on his jacket and finally raised her eyes to him. Her brow was set and a smirk stretched across her face.

There was that stubborn girl again, head held high, ready to take on any challenge that she faced. She was done running away. She was done with letting others monitor or control her life. She was here to make something out of her life.

Right now, that something was none other than the Red Hood, and she sure as hell wasn't backing down now. She'd go out with a bang.

______________

Jason had decided not to test his luck right now, seeing how she was extremely uneasy. But ever since his friend left, he was the uneasy one. He didn't miss the way she reached for him for comfort. The way she shook at the idea of his departure.

He was jealous.

He wanted to be the one she turned to for comfort. The one she'd reach out towards when she needed to feel safe, or when she needed help. Instead, she reached for Roy. He was starting to think this whole 'fake boyfriend' thing was becoming something more to her. And it infuriated him. He felt like a used napkin. Only good for cleaning up the messes.

The two of them hadn't moved for over 10 minutes since Roy closed the front door behind him. With the sudden privacy, he wanted to rush forward and grab her in his large arms and never let go, at first. Though he quickly pushed the thought aside when he saw she wasn't moving from her spot, staring at the door. He turned his attention to her luggage at her feet, and thought he'd at least help her carry it to the room.

*_*_*(READER's POV)*_*_*

I stayed staring at the door where Roy had left. I needed a moment to collect my bearings before facing Jason. But a few seconds turned to minutes and I was still staring at the door. I kept telling myself one more second.

I jumped when I heard someone picking up my luggage at my feet, and spun around to see Jason holding my bag. I forgot how tall he really was until I was right in front of him, staring up at him. I also forgot how huge he overall was. he was more than twice my size.

"I-I can-n take it my-myself," I stuttered, mentally face palming myself.

Jason shrugged and continued to carry the bag to the room, "If I didn't, you'd still be staring at that door for god knows how long." The playful tone in his voice was a familiar comfort. I followed after him and stopped in the doorway to observe the small space. There was a single full sized bed with a wooden nightstand that was made out of raw, unshaven wood, with bark still on the outside. To the left, towards the back wall, was a clothes rack and a small shelving unit. There was a door across the room was a door, which probably led to the bathroom.

Jason placed the luggage on the bed and put his hands on his hips, assessing the small room. I couldn't help admiring the vigilante, a small tug deep in my stomach while looking at him. No one could deny he was a looker, his sharp jaw, piercing eyes, the vast size of his body. I felt my face grow warmth finding my mind wandering towards the times I'd seen him walk about without a shirt, or even in a fitted one.

Jason caught my gaze and was taken aback. He ran his large hands through his hair, messing it up more, making him more rugged looking. Damn his inability to look bad.

Fucking greek god...

"Why thank you," Jason jested "Though I'd consider myself more of a modern day Adonis."

Shit... I'm doing it again.

"Yeah, but it's kinda cute."

"Shut up!" I threw my arms up in exasperation, breaking my calm demeanor.

Jason smiled crooked, "You haven't changed a bit doll face." I grumbled under my breath at his cocky attitude, but it was a nice familiar air. I visibly relaxed and threw a side glare at him.

"I see you're still an arrogant ass," I challenged.

Jason laughed heartily and winked, "And you're still a stubborn prude."

I puffed out my cheeks, and closed the distance between us, ready to retort back. We were now face to face and my fuse suddenly blew out. I found myself not but a foot away from him, and severely unnerved. Jason's playful aura died down just as fast and there we stood. Close enough to touch.

I gulped nervously and never dropped eye contact with him. The hairs on my arm stood tall as I felt his warm hand graze my forearm. A shiver ran up my spine at the strange sensation. I never felt as cold in my life, yet I was burning where his fingers touched.

The feeling was gone as fast as it came. Jason awkwardly flexed his hand and retreated and exhaled shakily. He rubbed the back of his neck and avoided eye contact with me.

"Make yourself comfortable, I'll go see what food there is." And out he went, swiftly making his escape.

I finally let out the breath I didn't realize I was holding.

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*

I ended up hiding away in the room for hours. The sun had already settled down for the night. I knew I needed to leave the room soon enough, but I refused to be subjected to facing him. I wasn't given any warning to prepare for seeing him again, and I sure as hell wasn't expecting to be stranded in the mountains with him. For 3 days! God help me...

Though I couldn't ignore my stomach begging me to feed it. Might as well, I'd have to face him at some point. I got off the bed and slowly opened the bedroom door, peeking my head out into the dark cabin. I looked around and saw no sign of movement.

Carefully, I tip toed past the living room and into the small kitchen. I fumbled about for a bit until I felt a cabinet, I opened it and found a box that could be crackers or something. I grab one or two just in case and prayed it was something edible. I heard something crinkle as my hand touched it. I'd know the heavenly sound of a chips bag anywhere. I triumphantly snuck back out of the kitchen.

I was almost home free to the safety of the bedroom, when I was startled by the sound of a man's yell right next to me on the couch.

"Come back!" He screamed.

I was grabbed by the wrist and lost my balance as I was yanked forward. I landed on the couch which was pulled out as a futon. I was laying perpendicular to a body, the one which held my wrist tightly in it's grasp. Panic washed over me as I tried prying the fingers away one by one. I stopped when I saw who held my arm.

"Jason," I whispered urgently. His face was lit only but the dim light of the moon that leaked in through the window. I recognized that all too knowing look on his sleeping face. I reached out and gently touched his arm, his skin was scalding. I was suddenly brought back to those night he'd wake up in a fright, and I'd just listen to his whimpers and self soothing. I don't know what I was thinking, but all I knew was that I wasn't gonna just sit back and do nothing. Not to mention he had quite the grip on my arm right now. I pushed myself further onto the futon and sat on my legs and leaned in closer to him.

"Jason," I repeated. His grip was iron strong and starting to hurt a bit, but I didn't mind.

I deserved this.

I never should have left.

I shouldn't have been so cold and detacted, especially when he did so much to allow me some happiness in that apartment of his. I was so horrible to him. I ran away at the fair, thinking it was all about me, but the things he said.... He went through so much hell, and still was able to stay that sane? It was remarkable. He kept me safe and content to the best of his abilities, even if it meant his crude jokes. Sure he was a jackass, but he was my jackass.

Wait what?

Did I just say-

"(Y/n)? What're you do-" Jason groggy voice spoke up "Fuck. Why are you crying, doll?" Through blurry eyes, I looked down to see Jason was sitting up now. His blanket by his waist and skin pale in the moonlight. I sniffled and quickly wiped away any signs of tears.

"I'm fine. You woke up yelling for someone to come back..." I dropped my gaze down at my wrist in his big hand. Jason caught my gaze and quickly retracted his grip. He didn't know how to react to what was happening and honestly neither did I. I thought to make a speedy departure, but Jason took things into his own hands. Almost literally.

He reached out and pulled me into his chest, his skin burning mine through my long sleeve shirt. His arms engulfed me in an embrace, which I couldn't find the strength to resist. I don't think I even wanted to, if I was honest with myself. I felt like I had to do this. Like if I didn't do this, then no one would. And that was ok, I wanted to be the one.

"I'm so sorry for everything," he mumbled into my hair, his face burried into the locks. (If no hair than the crook of neck) "I didnt mean to make it all go so horribly wrong." He wasn't crying but his voice was strained like he was upset or angry.

"It's ok," I shushed softly tracing small circles along his back "I'm the one who should be sorry."

Jason pulled back and held my shoulders at arm's length, brows furrowed intensely, "Don't you dare. You have nothing to-"

"That night on the ferris wheel," I interrupted "I was being selfish and thought it was all about me. Thought you were hitting nerves to test my temper. But I didn't think to stop and listen to what or who you were really talking about."

Jason stared at me, a look of...was that fear? "I never wanted you to find out about that..."

"Tough shit, what's the point in moping if I know? Either way I'm still the idiot here."

The corner of his mouth twitched up in amusement at my tone "What a woman," he snorted. I noticed the tension he still held and I knew I couldn't leave just yet. I pulled away to sit cross legged next to him on the futon. He leaned back and put his arms behind his head.

"Jason?" I asked. He hummed in response. "Do you ever... Wonder what would have happened if my dad never made that deal? If you never had to go to my home that night and intercede. Or if we never met."

Jason rolled over so he lays d on his side and stared up at me, his arm propping up his head. His intense gaze made it a bit uncomfortable under his scrutiny, but he never looked away. Out eyes met and he said quietly, "I'd probably just be doing jobs as usual. Live life the same as I did."

"Oh..." I didn't mean to sound my disappointment. But it wasn't exactly anything I'd anticipate in his response. My knees were pulled up to my chest and I burried my head in my arms.