A\N: Thanks for the lovely feedback, kittens. ^^
DISCLAIMER: Nothing is mine.
Jason Todd isn't cold hearted. He just doesn't like talking how he feels. Because of this, he's got these invisible walls around him, that he doesn't let down for anyone. But he once allowed Bruce in, when he was small, stealing tires off the bat mobile. He thought that maybe Bruce believed in him; thought that Jason was worth more than a messed up street rat who had the gall enough to steal from the infamous Batman himself.
And when he was handed the Robin costume, Jason deduced that maybe life was taking a better turn for him. He finally had a home, a family and a goal to achieve. He didn't need to fight for living anymore. But he was young, naïve and stupid. Foolish to think he'd be as great as Bruce or Dick one day.
Of course, he's aggressive and a bit hot tempered, but everyone expects him to be like the first Robin. He tries at first; to be like his predecessor but it doesn't work simply because Jason is Jason. He can't be someone he's not.
So as he grows older, as himself and as Robin. He comes to realize that nobody really likes him. All they see in him is a boy bursting with anger, put in a place where he doesn't actually belong.
At first, it had hurt a lot.
But then he thinks it through, coming to the conclusion that nobody in his whole life ever cared for him. His father was a criminal, his mother a drug addict and Bruce— the only person he looked up to, expected to make proud, was just tired of him and his aggressive behavior; lecturing him all the time and absent mindedly comparing him to the original Robin.
So since nobody showed any concern to him, he didn't either. But Kate was making his angry façade cripple, causing cracks to appear on his protective shields and fuck, it was messing with his brain.
She just had to use those three words. Just had to play with his emotions. Just had to make him think that if he admitted them too, he would somehow wind up hurting her.
He was afraid that he couldn't live up to her expectations. Hell, he couldn't fulfil the expectations of Bruce and his so called teammates. He was just an angry young teenager who everybody scolded and jabbed at.
But when school started the next day and Kate came in with her usually happy demeanor gone and slumped into her seat, before continuing to fold her arms over the desk and burying her face in them, he couldn't help but feel like as if someone had kicked him in the gut.
Did he love her? Maybe he did. Maybe he didn't. Shit. It was complicated.
Chewing on his bottom lip, he neared her a little, asking that if she was alright. The only thing he got was a muffled 'I'm fine' which really didn't sound like she was telling the truth.
The day goes on, a strange knot in his chest that continued to tighten after each passing second.
Nightwing's on east side, Batgirl's in the west, and Batman's busy with a case involving the Riddler and Poison Ivy so as Robin's appointed south of Gotham, he finds himself tapping the glance of a window, his thoughts and decisions tangled in a mess.
The window gets pushed open and he slides in the room, Kate offering him a smile that doesn't reach her eyes as she searches for any cuts or bruises on his form.
"Are you hurt again?" She inquires softly, again poking his forearm. "And how's the cut from yesterday?"
Instead of answering, he licks his lower lip, holding out his hand. "I... need to talk to you,"
Blue eyes glance at his open palm, then look towards him. "You can't talk here?"
There's this strange numbness in his chest but he ignores it, tossing a smirk, acting nonchalant. "Better if we talk out," He replies smoothly, "And don't you wanna smell that fresh Gotham air?" By fresh, he sarcastically means filled of smoke and industrial excrements.
She stares, curious and silent. He assumes she's deciding whether to accept or reject his offer. But just as he starts to tap his foot impatiently on the floor, she shrugs, his heart skipping a beat because she steps forward, coiling her arms around his neck.
"Just don't drop me," Kate advises and he grins, nodding affirmatively as he fishes out his grapple gun, shooting out and the floor has vanished from beneath their feet.
Her breath is hot against his exposed neck, making goosebumps rise on his skin as he swings them forward, until they land on top of a building because he thinks that if they had stayed in the air any longer, his grip would've loosened on the grapple gun.
"We are so high up from the ground,"
Robin blinks, realizing that Kate's somehow standing near the building's edge, peering down. He instantly clasps an hand around her elbow, yanking her back.
"Shit, don't stand there. You could fall!" He hisses, the blonde stumbling back into him with surprise.
Releasing her, he purses his lips, then lowers himself to the roof. As he crosses his legs, Kate watches him before crouching down beside him, tucking her own legs beneath herself.
The moon isn't visible in the sky, only stars that twinkle whenever the drifting clouds don't cover them and Jason's stomach is twisting with nervousness. Before Kate can break the unwelcomed silence, he beats her to it.
"I wanted to apologize," He begins, swallowing the lump forming in his throat. "For tomorrow. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left like that."
Kate deflates, "You don't have to say sorry, Robin. It was kinda my fault to say tha—"
"No, it wasn't your fault." He quickly interrupts her, "I'm-I'm..." He sucks in a shaky breath, trying his best not to tangle up his words. "Sorry. I'm really sorry I hurt your feelings and made you feel awful."
He thrusts a hand through his raven locks, the corners of his lips pulling downwards. "I just don't wanna hurt you."
A hand strokes his shoulder, but he keeps his gaze fixed on the cemented floor of the roof. "You know..." Kate pipes up silently, "We don't have to be together if you don't want us to be." Her voice is slightly breaking, but she steels it with a clear of her throat. "I'll understand."
The thought fills his stomach with bees. Not butterflies, but bees that sting really, really painfully. "Fuck, no." He shakes his head before dropping his face in his hands. "I want us to be together,"
Everything is just so messed up; his words aren't cooperating and his chest feels sore as he throws his head back, leaning back a little onto his hands while his eyes squeeze shut beneath the domino mask.
"And I love you too,"
The words make his face heat up, making it hard to breathe and damn it, why can't he just easily accept it like she did.
Robin let's out a breath he didn't know he was holding until petite arms wrap around his shoulders, Kate burying her face into his chest as she scoots closer to him. She smells a lot like sweet lemon tarts and maybe she tastes like them too.
He responds by returning her embrace, arms circling her upper torso as he pulls her closer, placing her chin on top of her head as he hears her release a small whimper. He's going to let her in; tell her about everything, from his name to how he sometimes really wishes his mom was alive so he could gift her on mother's day.
But he doesn't get a chance because as soon as the blonde pulls back, she presses her lips to his, causing his muscles to relax as her finger dig into his dark black hair, tugging at it slightly as he leans forward, attempting to pour all his emotions in the kiss.
A low, grave growl rings in the atmosphere, "What. Are. You. Doing?"
Cold chills run down Jason's spine, his throat going dry like sandpaper because Kate's blue eyes flare up with surprise, both of their heads snapping in the direction from where the voice had came.
And Robin's heart definitely leaps to his throat because Batman stands there, jaw tight and the whites of his cowl narrowed into slits.
His mentor looks anything but pleased.
A\N: Aren't cliffhangers amazing? ^^ Feedback is greatly appreciated~
