The Blue Dress
Chapter Twenty: Starry Blue Eyes

Hands reached up for his face and scratched at the skin beneath his ear. She reached her lips up to meet his, her breath barely ghosting past his parted lips.

The sound of his front door opening broke the spell between them. She heard him hiss a curse as another voice entered the space.

"Ugh! I swear that door gets heavier and heavier every time I come over," Raven turned her head to see a red head haired woman, holding two large paper bags in her hand. "Jason, will you come help me with…?"

She trailed off as she saw the pair separate for each other. She blinked at them a little and tilted her head. "Oh, what's going on here?"

Jason sighed and slid his eyes closed. "Babs…"

Raven's eyes widened as her cheeks flushed with complete embarrassment. He had a girlfriend? Never once in their whole… game, did she ever think that he had a girlfriend. No where in their teasing and flirting and kissing and pleasure-filled touches was there ever an indication-

She stopped her thoughts and grabbed her purse, ripping away from his hold on her and trying to make a break for the door. But the redhead stepped in front of her.

"I'm so sor-

"Jason, who is this?" The redhead asked again, her eyes looking between the two.

"Nobody," Raven mumbled, cutting Jason off and trying to move passed her again. No avail. "I'm nobody."

"No, you're not nobody," the girl countered before looking over Jason. "You're somebody. Cause nobody ever comes here."

"That doesn't even make sense," Raven heard him murmur behind her.

"Yes, it does. It makes perfect sense. It makes sense, right?" The girl turned back to her.

Raven blinked in surprise, feeling very unsure once again. "It… It does."

"See?" The girl nodded, hoisting one of the bags higher. "Perfect sense."

"To you, maybe."

"Well, that may be because you're a little slower than we are," the redhead teased, with a mocking smirk.

"Hey!-

"Anyway," the girl interrupted and turned back to Raven. "What's your name?"

Raven's eyes moved back and forth between the two, if she should get more involved than she already was. With a hesitant sigh, she moved her eyes back to the waiting girl. "Uh…Raven."

"Well, it's good to meet you. Raven. I'm Barbara," she smiled before looking over at Jason. "Why didnt you tell me you had a girlfriend?"

Raven's eyes went wide as she shook her head, wildly. "Oh no, we're not… We're not a couple."

Barbara tilted her head and shrugged a little. "Oh, I get it. You guys are doing that whole 'no labels' relationship thing? Is that it?"

Raven opened her mouth to speak but she didn't know what to say. What were they? That they were co-workers that fantasized about fucking each other's brains out? She could only imagine how well that would go over.

He sighed, walking up behind Raven and reaching for the two bags from the other woman. "We're co-workers."

She arched an eyebrow at the pair, a suspicious look in her eyes. "Co-workers?"

"Drop it, Babs," he sighed again, dropping the bags on the counter.

"Can you blame me for being curious about my secretive little brother?" Brother? Well, that explained a lot.

Raven looked between the two and looked for any traces of resemblance in their features but found none. Perhaps they were adopted?

The redhead walked over to him, throwing her arms up. "I never meet your friends. I didn't even know you hadfriends."

"We're co-workers," he emphasized, pulling out a head of kale from one of the bags. "And I have friends."

"None of which you ever bring here, so you will forgive me if I don't believe you when you say 'just co-workers,'" she scoffed, leaning against the counter space beside him and facing Raven. "You know, she's in this now, right?"

Jason glanced at her for a moment with a befuddled expression before realization washed over him. He pressed his lips in a hard line and gave her a stern face. "No."

"Oh yeah…" she nodded, smiling at Raven and making her feeling more uncomfortable than she already was.

"Babs, no."

"Babs, yes," she countered, shifting her to the other leg. "Do you have plans tonight?"

"Um…no?"

"Do you wanna stay for dinner?"

Raven blinked, surprised at the sudden question. "Uh… I…."

"She's not staying for dinner," Jason cut off, turning to face Barbara.

"And you wonder why you don't have any friends," she murmured as she walked back over to Raven.

"I have fri-

"Please stay for dinner," Barbara asked Raven with a smile, ignoring Jason altogether. "He never lets anyone in here, so you being here is sort of a big deal and I'd really like to get to know the only other person he has ever let into his apartment."

"Um…" Raven moved her eyes back and forth between the two, noting the roll of Jason's eyes. She slowly shook her head and started to back her way out the door. "No… I couldn't possibly-

"Yes, yes you could possibly," Barbara pushed, stepping forward and taking her hands in hers. "I insist."

"I don't want to be an inconvenience."

"You won't be. I bought enough food for leftovers. We should have enough for you too."

"Barbara, she doesn't want-

"You're ruining this for me, Jason!" She dismissed over her shoulder before turning back to Raven and holding her hands tighter. "Don't pay attention to him, he's just cranky. So you'll stay?"

Raven stuttered again, her eyes still drifting back and forth between the two. "Uh…"

"Oh, come on. It'll be fun," she pleaded with her. "And Jason is an amazing cook."

He cooks? "He cooks?"

Barbara's eyes lit up as she nodded. "Stay for dinner and find out how good of a cook he is."

Raven's eyes went back to Jason to see him sigh in resignation and go back to unpacking the bags. Raven rolled her tongue in consideration balancing the pros and cons in her head. While the situation is weird and awkward and the air is thick with tension between her and Jason, she couldn't help but be curious about the enigma that was Jason Todd.

Taking a deep breath, she moved her eyes back to the red head in front of her and offered a small smile. "If it's not too much trouble…"

"You won't be sorry," she smiled, letting go of her hands.

"I already am," Jason mumbled.

Barbara rolled her eyes at him as she turned back to face him. "I bought you groceries so you aren't that sorry. And are you going to take a shower before you start cooking? Because you smell."

"What? You don't like the taste of sweat?" He teased with a roll of his eyes of his own and putting down the last of the food.

"No, not particularly," she replied, flatly. "Now will you please go? I can smell you from here."

"I'm going, I'm going. Jeez," he resigned throwing his hands up and turning for the stairs. "No need to say it twice."

"Thank you," Barbara breathed, turning around and facing Raven. She opened her mouth to speak but she stopped, her eyes growing wide. "Shit, I'm double parked!"

Breaking out in a sprint, she passed Raven, grabbed her keys, and ran out the door. "Be right back!"

Looking at the door opening, Raven let out short airy chuckle at the girl, unsure of what to make of her exactly.

"Serves her right," his voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She turned her head to see Jason near the top of the stairs…shirtless.

She felt something inside her break in the greatest sort of way.

Just as the shirt promised, his body was positively fit. His chest was thick and defined, the right pectoral covered in the exquisite detail of his ink that bled up to his shoulder into arm. His arms were toned with the muscles there from the biceps to his forearms while his abs jutted out and constricted slightly as he breathed.

Raven had to stop herself at his navel, seeing the small trim of black hair leading down passed the elastic of his sweatpants that hung low on his hips.

"Will you be okay down here by yourself for a little while?" She heard him ask.

Raven pulled her eyes from his body to his face and forced a straight face. "Yeah… I think I'll manage."

Jason hesitated for a moment, his brow perking slightly before sighing and heading up the stairs. Dear lord, he had a back tattoo as well… "There are drinks in the refrigerator."

"Thank- thank you," she called back, watching his back disappear into the upstairs part of the loft. She waited for a few seconds, making sure she was alone before she let go of the breath she was holding and mouthing the words: "What am I doing?"

She groaned as she put her stuff back down on the counter and buried her head in her hands as she replayed all that happened.

What was she doing?

—-

Hours passed and day turned into night when all three of them finally sat down and broke bread together. And just like Barbara had promised, it was actually quite… Fun.

During majority of their dinner, Raven sat back and watched the two interact, listening to them recount old memories and joke, learning more and more about who Jason actually was.

She found out that the two were not related in any way and that they simply grew up together and viewed each other as brother and sister. She also learned that Barbara was the only "family member" that he allowed to have his keys to his apartment and let visit whenever she wanted but she only came by once every other weekend to buy him groceries in exchange for a home cooked meal and trivial conversation.

She watched as he became more at ease and playful, throwing out genuine smiles and tossing his head back to laugh so loud that it echoed through the loft. She smiled when Barbara mercilessly teased Jason about the gray hair that was beginning to show at the beginning of his hairline, learning that he was actually quite sensitive about the flaw.

It was the first time she had really looked at him and saw who he really was. And she had to say, she really liked what she saw.

"Anyone up for dessert?" He asked, clapping his hands with a smile.

Both the women groaned pleasantly, holding their stomachs and shaking their heads.

"No, thank you. This was delicious though."

"Couldn't eat another bite."

"Good," he stood. "I didn't make dessert, anyway."

Barbara hit his arm lightly as he reached for their plates, enticing another laugh from him. Raven murmured a 'thank you' to him and smiled, her eyes catching his in a lingering glance that lasted two seconds too long. Breaking the contact, she averted her eyes to the red placemat in front of her, feeling her cheeks pinken with a blush.

She reached for her glass of scotch and held it to her lips. But before she could take a sip she noticed that she was being watched. Looking across the table, she saw Barbara tilt her head with a secret smile on her face.

Her earlier discomfort came back and settled into her bones. Putting down her drink, Raven offered another forced smile. "So-

"So what's going on between you and my brother?" Barbara finished, her voice barely above a whisper.

Raven swallowed guiltily and shook her head. "No, nothing. Nothing is going on between us."

"Really?" Her brow arched.

"Yeah," Raven answered, unconvincingly, as her eyes drifted to the back of her affection on the other side of the room. Picking up her glass again, she took a swig and forced her eyes back to the redhead across from her. "We're just co-workers."

"Uh-huh," she clicked her tongue before sighing and leaning her upper body on the table. "Listen, I meant it when I said that my brother doesn't let just anyone up here. Hell, he doesn't let anyone up here, period. The only reason why he let's me up here is because I don't give up on him and I bring him food, and even I can overstay my welcome if I come here too often.

"Jason is a very private man so the whole 'just a co-worker' thing you guys are trying to sell me is not going to fly. Especially since neither of you can keep your eyes off each other for more than two minutes."

Without meaning to Raven's gaze went back to Jason standing at the sink and she immediately cursed it because he was looking right back at her. She turned her head away sharply and slid her lids closed.

"'Just co-workers', huh?" Barbara lightly jabbed before continuing.

"It's uh…" Raven rubbed her temple as she tried to think of something to say. "Complicated."

"Well, whatever this… Complication is, uncomplicate it, if you can, because I haven't seen him like this since we were kids," Barbara said, desperately. She sighed again, her body sagging a little and that was when Raven realized just how much she cared and worried for him.

"And I can tell that you're just as reserved as he is so I'm sure you understand… For him to have someone that he likes well enough to allow them in his actual apartment… Then, this means something to him. Despite whatever brave face he puts on, he's actually very shy and sensitive. Kinda like a… mean looking big dog…"

Instantly, Raven thought about Atticus and how quickly he opened up to Jason when they met.

"He looks tough but if you care for him, even the slightest… He'll climb in your lap and do whatever you say," Barbara smiled, reminiscently before shrugging her shoulders. Might be grumpy about it…"

The two women let out a small chuckle at the joke.

"But still… He'll care for you all the same."

The corners of Raven's lips turned up in a small smile, nodding her head at the young woman. "Good to know."

"Know, what?" They heard he say as he approached the table again.

Plastering innocent smiles on their face, they shrugged.

"Oh a little blemish trick. Yada yada, girl stuff," Barbara covered with a wave of her hand. "Anyway, it's getting late and you have a dog to get to, right?"

Raven nodded at her and proceeded to stand up from her chair. "Yes, I do."

Barbara stood up as well and bid the darker haired woman farewell, holding her hands. "It was so very nice to meet you, Raven! Promise me you'll come to dinner again."

Raven looked to Jason and saw him nod, a small smile playing at his lips. Feeling a bit of joy well up inside her, she nodded at the redhead. "I guess, it's possible."

"Oh good!" Barbara lit up with a wide smile, squeezing her hands again. Taking a step back, she dropped her hands and flicked her eyes between the pair who had seemed to forgotten about her as they stared at each other.

She biting back an excited smile, she sighed. "Well I'm going to go to the bathroom. Jason, why don't you walk Raven out to her car?"

Jason shrugged, his glance barely leaving Raven. "Sure."

Raven looked at the redhead who just winked at her and patted her arm. "Okay, well, it was nice meeting you again. Don't be a stranger, okay?"

Raven nodded at the kind woman who gave them one last knowing glance before turning away and headings for the stairs, leaving the pair of them alone.

In a matter of seconds, the static electricity between them was back.

Jason cleared his throat at the tension and gestured at the door. "Shall we?"

She pressed her lips together and nodded at him before she went to go gather her things. Slipping on her jacket, she followed him to the metal door and into the elevator.

Her heart skipped a beat when he gave her a smile that made her knees weak before closing the gate and stepping back for the doors to close. Keeping their eyes forward Raven bit her lip nervously as they went down the elevator, watching him out of the corner of her eye. Her stomach fluttered nervously as she felt the ever familiar electricity that surged between them whenever they were in small and closed in spaces.

She heard him clear his throat again. "Did you have a good time?"

"I did," she nodded, keeping her eyes trained on the steel doors in front of her. "Thank you for having me."

He waved her off, a gentle smile still on his face and she couldn't help but stare at him. He was so at ease now, so calm as if his harden mask had been lifted up so she could see the gentleness that lied beneath it. And it was so…

Alluring.

She folded her lips, she breathed out through her nose as she tried to calm her buzzing nerves while the elevator opened in front of them. Fiddling with her fingers, she walked out with him beside her, both of their strides small and slow as if to linger in each other's presence a little while longer.

"Your sister is quite nice," Raven commented as they walked through the lobby, thinking of anything to break the tension.

"A pain in my ass is what she is," he scoffed, playfully. "Can't deny her anything though."

"No?" Her eyebrow raised, looking up at him.

He shook his head. "No. And she knows it. I let her get away with everything."

A smile played at her lips as they walked outside, the cold night air breezing lightly by them. Raven looked up to the heavens, seeing the dim twinkle of the stars above them beyond the city lights.

"I hope we didn't ruin your plans for tonight," he changed the topic, clearing his throat again.

She snorted as she walked towards her car. "Yes… How dare you ruin my plans to go back home, climb back into my sweatpants and bed with my dog, and alternate between watching Netflix and reading a book while drinking copious amounts of tea. Shame on you."

He laughed at her sarcasm and dug his hands in the pockets of his jacket. "Oh, I am so sorry. I bet you had a fantastic meal planned too."

"Oh yes," she kept playing along, reaching for her keys and approaching her car. "A chicken TV dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy."

"Ooh… Fancy," he smiled, turning to her and gesturing to the car. "Is this you?"

"It is," she sighed, fiddling with the keys in her hands.

"Right," he nodded, clearing his throat again. "Well, I will take a look at those files and send you my findings sometime tomorrow."

"Alright," she murmured with a nod, her stomach fluttering wildly.

"Okay then. See you on Monday, Raven," he smiled, slowly turning away from her back to his apartment building.

"See you…" She trailed as something in her soul tugged at her to him. "Jason?"

He turned around and arched his brow. "Yes?"

She opened her mouth to speak again but her words failed her, getting lost somewhere between her throat and her tongue. She stared at him and took all of him in. Her heart thudded loudly in her chest and before she could stop herself, she sliced the space between them, reaching for his face and planting her lips softly on his.

He stilled under her touch, no doubt surprised by her actions but her lips kept moving against his, coaxing him back to their reality. She felt him sigh into her mouth and moved his lips with hers in slow drags. His arms wrapped around her waist and backed her up to the side of her car, pressing his body to hers. She hummed as he nudged her mouth open with his and his tongue sliding in to met hers. Her fingers dug into his hair and arched her back, pulling him as close as she could to her, wanting, needing to be closer.

This kiss wasn't like the others, filled with heat, lust, and desperation. Their hands and teeth clambering for any bit of flesh within reach as they burned for each other. No… This was different. This was slow and soft and passionate and sweet and… Romantic.

It filled them up and lifted them to a place above the clouds. It made their chests swell with deep breaths as they drank each other in with every slide of their lips. The world faded away until it was only them and the contact and the passion.

Something between a few seconds and an infinity passed before a dull but familiar ringing was heard, dragging them back to the ground with an icy claw. It was then Raven realized who was calling:

Gar.

Feeling his lips part from hers, she opened her eyes and what she saw made her stomach drop.

His green eyes were hard and his slightly swollen lips were pressed into a hard line as his jaw set with a sickening click. The mask was back on. She opened her mouth to speak again but he beat her to the punch.

"Your King is calling you," his voice low and gravelly that sent a nasty shiver down her spine. "You should answer him."

"Jas-

"Good night, Miss Roth," he growled, ripping away from her with blinding speed.

She gasped, suddenly feeling very cold as she stood there against her car, the world slamming into her like a billion bricks. Finding her voice again, she stood up. "Jason!"

He turned around again but didn't stop walking. "Don't worry about me, my Queen. I'm just a pawn, remember?"

His words rendered her speechless, cutting her deep like a hot blade to her gut.

"Have a good weekend, Miss Roth," he sneered, turning away from her and walked back to his apartment, never once glancing back to see the pain she held in her eyes as she let the phone in her purse ring on and on.