Eight thirty struck, and Jason woke to an empty bed in Bruce's penthouse on Finger and Fourth. Panic struck him until he heard the shower running, along with a female voice singing a sweet tune that he couldn't name.
"We're only liars, but we're the best, We're only good for the latest trends," she sang over the sound of the water.
Jason smiled at the sound of his lover's voice. Lover. Right, he had made love to her that night. He wondered if Bruce would ask about the now blood stained sheets, or if Alfred would let him quietly wash them. Alfred had made it clear to both Jason and Bruce that he would not wash anything with... certain body fluids on them. Jason blushed at the memory. He pulled back on his boxers, and went to the front door. Laying before it was the newspaper. He casually laid it on the breakfast table as he started a pot of coffee, a blend of some sort he couldn't name, and prepared omelets. He laid the hot dishes on the table, and poured two cups of cream filled coffee.
Rozalin entered, wearing nothing but a towel, her hair still wet and clinging to her shoulders. Jason was tempted to take her back to bed, but something on the newspaper caught his eye. He looked closer at the picture in the gossip section and almost choked on the coffee he was sipping.
There, on the front page, was Rozalin and Jason in the Halloween costumes looking cheerful, with the words 'engaged at seventeen?' underneath it. Rozalin glanced at it, and burst into laughter.
"They'll make up anything to get a headline, won't they?" she giggled, and Jason bristled at the thought.
"Whether or not we are engaged has nothing to do with them." he growled. "They have no business in that."
"Birdie, you need to relax. They'll retract the rumor once they figure out that we aren't engaged, and then they'll pick on someone else. Let's take a look at the crime section, shall we?" she rubbed his shoulder lovingly, and he did as she asked.
On the front page of the Crime section was a picture of Red Arrow and Mimic holding hands walking downtown, towards where the ball was. The look in their eyes made Jason wish he was married. They were in a blissful moment, as husband and wife, not as partners in fighting crime at the moment, and it looked perfect. The headline read underneath 'Love among the Heroes seen once again.' Apparently, this was not the first time the two had been caught in an affectionate moment. It warmed Jason's cynical heart to see the two happy. He really needed to keep in touch with those two.
The next week was filled with annoyances. Tabloids 'leaked' fake wedding plans between the two. Bruce teased Jason mercilessly about both the Halloween costumes and the 'engagement' that never happened. Mr. Jenkins was appalled by this, mostly because he didn't fully approve of Jason, and he had kicked Rozalin out. She had found a nice apartment on Gabriel Street, with arched windows and large rooms. Every other day they spent the day there, watching old movies and eating microwave popcorn. They would go out and meet Batman out in the city at night for crime fighting, and occasionally, Bruce would let him spend the night at her place.
But they had caught word of a drug operation over in Bosnia. Jason heard the name Todd dropped quietly. He realized that his mother was not dead. She was working overseas with the drug cartel there. He had to see her. But another thought had been crossing his mind as of late. The engagement ring he bought as a joke at first, became a weight he wanted to give to Rozalin in earnest. To make the fake engagement real. To propose to her. He had planned to do it right after they stopped the drug trafficking in Bosnia, when he still had the rush of a really good success in his veins. He didn't want to screw anything up by stammering or dropping the ring. He kept the ring in his pocket at all times, even when he was Robin. It was a white gold band with a diamond in the shape of a bird on it. Simple, yet classy, just like her.
He spent the last day in Gotham with her, helping her put away the last of her things. After they were done, they relaxed on the couch.
"Are you sure I can't come? I could help you," Rozalin asked for what seemed like the hundredth time.
"No. This is something I have to do with Batman. I hear Joker has something to do with it, and it's best not to be in Bruce's way when it comes to that guy. Besides, we need someone here to protect the city while we're gone. Ollie and Roy can't always drop what they're doing to save our asses." Jason laid a kiss upon her cheek as he got up to leave. "I've got to go. Bruce will be expecting me here pretty soon. I love you. Be safe. I'll be back soon."
"I love you too. You better come back in one piece, you hear me birdie? I'd be heartbroken if you came back with your wings clipped."
He smirked at her bad pun. "I'll be okay. Trust me, you'll be more than happy the next time you see me."
How could he have been so foolish?
