I got back on my seat, and he sat next to me, ordering a drink.
He quested, 'So we're good?'
'No,' I answered and explained, 'you have to stay here and listen until I'm done complaining about the you that dumped me last week.'
'And then, we're back together?'
'No. I also need the other eleven grands I have to give away because you showed up and a get-back-together gift, not counting the drink you will have to pay for me and the cracked floor you have to repair,' I continued the list.
'Then, we're back together?' he questioned, increasing his questioning voice.
'No,' I simply answered.
'What else do you want me to do?!' he shrugged his hands and shoulders like it was impossible to have any more.
'Other terms and conditions may apply later,' I did not know what else I wanted him to do, too, but just in case.
'Fine, I got it. Why don't we start with the first one a bit later? I want to know if,' he reached his hand over.
I cut him off and pulled my hand away from him, 'Oh, you thought, I won't start the complaint, now?! God knows, I've been holding back for a week!' I took a deep breath and rapid fired, 'You are a narcissistic, neat freak with bunch of daddy issues who wears leather jacket even in July just to be cool. You didn't even bother to stab me from behind and then dumped me when you knew I was fine. Heck yeah, I was fine until you send this young lady to give me an hour lecture, so I can get over you. Do you think, I'm that dumb to not notice who was the fat man three tables away? Also, how drunk were you last night to step in the house with those muddy boots?! Now, you're here asking me to get back together with you! Seriously, at last, you're just one of those unintelligent human being.' I ended and finished the drink from thirst, forgetting that alcohol would make it worse.
'... Wow,' he uttered speechlessly. 'That's the most creative complaint, I've ever heard.'
'What do you mean?'
'I was expecting one of the words like asshole, jerk, bastard, dumbass, or even son of a bitch at least once, but you didn't say any of it,' he extended.
'Oh... I just didn't want to state the obvious.'
He choked on his drink and looked up at me.
'This is your chance to run away, Jason,' I looked down with a smirk.
'Who said, I'm going to?' he replied with doubt and his voice half an octave higher.
'Well, you got the chance,' I remarked.
There was a moment of silent until he puzzled, 'Can I say something?'
I gave him a questioning look, 'Of course. I'm not gonna stop you, if you really have to tell me the excuse you've been practicing all day.'
'I got no excuse for what I did. I just really want to know if it hurts?'
I got upset and yelled at him, 'You're asking if it hurt when you dumped me? Hell, it did! So, if you're going be here to make me feel worse, then don't be!' I took off, but he got up and held my wrist back. I tried to get him off, but he would not let me go.
'Wait, listen! Listen to me first!' he insisted, controlling my shoulders.
My eyes bursted into tears as I shouted, 'What do you want from me, now?! Isn't this already enough?!'
He shouted back, 'Come on! I just want to know if your hand hurts!'
I was stunned for three seconds. Maybe, I was just a bit too bitchy and jumped too fast to a conclusion of my own. But, 'Oh, my God! You got to be kidding me!' I face palmed myself and discreetly let out a small smile.
'No, I'm not kidding,' he pulled up my hand that punched him and continued, 'Look, it's red.'
I wiped the tears away and said, 'It's fine... What about you? You didn't even dodge the punch.'
'I deserved it,' he admitted, feeling his jaw.
I gently brushed my finger on the spot. He flinched and fell back onto the chair. 'Are you really okay?' I concerned.
'I'm fine. There's just some cuts.'
I asked for some cold cloth and applied it on the swelling area, 'Well, that hit suppose to knock people out. It just didn't work on you.'
'It almost did... I can't even remember when was the last time I got punched this hard.'
'Why would you get any, if you're fast enough to block it?'
'Ha. You're right,' he smiled and focused on me.
We stared at each other, and my heart started to race. I wondered when was the last time I could feel my heart beating, but I was glad to hear it again... I really missed him, the way he looked at me, the color of his eyes that changed with the light, and everything about him.
'Love,' he chimed, 'I don't think, I'll have eleven grand to give you back, but how does free rent and a full-time butler for a year sound?'
'Sound as good to me,' I smiled, stepping closer.
He cupped my cheek and reached up. The mood changed swiftly like lightning but sweetly, and we...
'Ahem!' the fisherman interrupted us with his loud cough.
He gave me his phone with the pictures I requested, and I contentedly saved them on my database. I handed him the two grand, and he left.
'Okay, where were we?' I asked.
'We were about to kiss, but it's pretty awkward, now. Don't you think?'
'Yeah... you're right. I should still be mad at you because I didn't get the gift yet, too. Let's hold that back, shall we?'
'Actually, you know what, I'll take it back,' he stood up and leaned in.
However, before his lips touched mine, I put my hand in between. 'Sorry, but I'm not taking back my words. Alrighty, I'm going home, now. Don't forget to pay for the bills.'
He rolled his eyes and banged his forehead on the table several time.
That night was my first in a very long long time to walk home with him... A week... Well, it was a very very long time for me.
It was a short walk of five minutes, but because I was enjoying it, the time flew like seconds. We went inside the apartment, and he turned the lights on.
'Wait here for a second. I got you something,' he said, before I stepped inside my unit. 'Here,' he handed me an overall shorts, but the problem was, it was Red Hood fanmerch.
And... Shit, that was a bullseye...
I realized, I was smiling, so I stopped it and ranted quietly to cover it up, 'Man, you think, that's good enough for a get-back-together gift? You're full of yourself.'
He smirked and pointed out, 'So, you don't want it? That's fine. I understand. It must be pretty hard to like someone that stabbed you.'
He acted like he was taking it away as a bait, and it got me. I took it from his hand and proceeded, 'Well, I'll take it. I don't think, you'll be able to find anything better anyway.'
'I won't argue with that,' he agreed sincerely.
'Yeah, yeah,' I bid and closed the door.
Fuck it! I hate knowing that the best gift I would like from him was also part of him which sounded ridiculous. I would not be as mad of that gift, if the anti-hero was not him.
I tried the overall on, and it fit perfectly. The design was simply black background and a red bat sign on my chest, but what surprised me was, there was a custom made sign on the hem of the left short.
A thought suddenly flashed into my mind. How awkward would it be to go up to the counter and give them all the size with no notes for someone that was not even there, especially for your own merchandise... Luckily, no one knew.
The scenario triggered me to laugh hysterically, I could not help it. Because of how loud I was, he broke in and asked if I was okay with a very worried look. Without a second thought, I quickly put a towel over myself because I did not want him to see me with the overall. I did not know why then, but it was probably ego stuff. His worries soon turned into confusions, in which he decided to leave my room without a word.
The next morning, after I used my time to make a conclusion of how to act when I saw him, I opened the door. He was chilling with a cup of coffee at the table in a grey T-shirt and a black sweatpants.
I walked up to him and explained, 'I've been thinking all night, and I know what I want, now... I feel like you were right. It might not work for us. I think, you should take what's yours and leave.'
He dropped the cup and sighed, 'So this is it? I dumped you last week, and I guess, it's my turn... Okay, fine, I'll leave.'
I silently watched him packing up. He filled up a backpack and swung it on his shoulders. I followed him to the exit, and he carried me off the ground.
'What are you doing?!' I exclaimed.
'Leaving,' he simply responded.
'Then, why are you carrying me?!'
'You said to take what's mine and leave. That's why, I'm taking you with me.'
'Oh, my God! Put me down, Jason!'
'You sure?'
'Yes! Put me down, now! Ah!' I screamed when he dropped me in the air and caught me again before I was on the floor. 'Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit... Don't do that, again,' I clung on to him.
'Then, don't do this, again,' he directed.
'What did I do?' I cried all innocent.
'You acted like you don't want me at all!'
'Great! You knew, it was an act, and you still packed up.'
'I just want to know what you're going to do next. What are you going to do, if I'm really leaving?' He closed the door and took me inside; even though, we never actually left the apartment.
'I'll tell you that, you forgot something very important, and that's me,' I smirked at how the perfect plan could work both ways.
'Ha,' he had me against the wall and continued, 'Well, if I ever tell you to take your stuff and leave, don't forget to take me with you.'
Our eyes were glued to each other, and finally, our lips connected passionately. I tasted the coffee in him, and that only increased the excitement.
'I love you,' he said between the kisses.
'I love you, too,' I echoed, using the gap he gave me to catch my breath.
Every bad turned good rapidly, but my outer most layer of clothes did not make it to the bedroom, again. Not that I minded.
By the time we decided to take a shower, I already missed my breakfast. It did not matter much to me, as I gleefully search for ice-cream. I thought, I bought two more buckets, but I did not apparently. I opened the cabinet and pulled out a pack of Oreos.
I sat down, beginning to eat, and the first row vanished.
"Okay, Andy, you got to stop eating," said my Superego.
My Id shrugged its shoulder like it did not care, so I decided, "One more. Just one more."
"Yeah, just one more... row," the Id sassed.
"Indeed, just one more row with chocolate milk," my Ego agreed.
I poured the milk in a glass, and my better half wrapped his arms behind me. He kissed my neck, and I greeted, 'Hi, there, Sleepyhead.'
'Hey,' he replied and fondled my breast. 'I've been thinking,' he continued, 'your boobs got bigger.'
'That's a bubble thought. You didn't have to say it.'
'Are you pregnant?' he asked casually with no choice of tone.
I was a bit confused, so I puzzled, 'Why do you ask?'
'No reason. I saw the calendar, and it said, today is your second day. So, it got me wondering,' he explained.
'It's probably late. These two weeks had been pretty stressful for me.'
'I'm sorry for giving you such a rough time,' he paused like he wanted me to say something. I did not, so he continued it himself, 'It's fine, Jason. You're here with me now, Jason, so everything is going to be fine.'
I added to it after he was done, 'Yeah, everything is going to be fine until random assassin drops by our balcony.' Right when I finished the sentence, there was a knock on the window. I rolled my eyes and checked it out, 'Oh! Hi, Damian!' using my second voice.
I let go of Jason and let the boy in. He was at least an inch taller since the last time I saw him as Damian, and he jumped in with a large hand bag grumpily after the window was wide open.
I queried, 'What happened?'
'Nothing,' he denied, 'I just want to be here for several days.'
'Did you fight with your dad?'
'No,' he said, but his face got red.
I hugged him and soothed, 'Let it all out, Damian. Don't beat yourself up with those words he said to you.'
He hugged me back unexpectedly and angrily whispered a name, 'Grayson.'
It was not loud, but both of us heard it. Jason looked at me from behind the bar counter and shrugged his shoulder, acknowledging that this was not the usual problem.
My problem was not usual too when I felt the urge to vomit. I covered my mouth and gently pushed away from the hug, 'Sorry, just give me a second.' I rushed to the bathroom and slowly breathed in and out.
'Love, you're okay?' Jason came in, examining me.
I took another deep breath and answered, 'Not really... Is there lemon around here?'
He covered the back of his neck and responded, 'Yeah, I think so, in the fridge.'
I ambled and searched for what I wanted in the fridge. I grabbed it and cut it in pieces. I did not know why, but I just wanted to taste it.
'Umm... You're going to eat that?' he quested in amazement.
'Err... Yes,' I confirmed, shifting my eyes left and right. I ignored him and bit on it, and the sourness hit me full on. 'Oh, my God!' I cried satisfyingly.
'Not sour?' he puzzled.
'It is. That's why, it's good.'
'Alright, I give up,' Jason turned away, not brave enough to watch me devour that sour lemon in one go.
A little later, I felt better, so I got back on task, 'So, Damian, what did Dick do?'
'It's nothing,' he closed the door, not letting anyone in.
My mood swung to the bad side within second and bashed, 'Boy, we're going to your house, right now!'
I dragged him and Jason with me, but then, Jason stopped me, 'Wait, why are you dragging me into this?'
'For God's sake, you guys are brothers!'
'He's adopted,' Damian stated.
'At least, he chose to have me,' Jason roasted the boy to ash.
'Okay! I'm sorry for not being specific enough. You guys are "legally" brothers, so can we go, now?'
'No!' Jason resisted.
'What now?!'
'We're not going out dressed like this, are we?' he asserted with his black T-shirt and brown shorts.
'I have grey tank top and a short jeans on, and you have your clothes on. We both are dressed, so what's the matter? It's not like we're going to a gala!'
He raised his hand in defeat and grabbed the key to the car.
'I'm not going,' the teen boy stood firm.
'Give me a good reason why,' I commanded with my arms crossed. If he had one, I would not force him to.
'She said, she doesn't want me there.'
'Who is she?'
'Grayson.'
'Not specific enough. I want her first name, too, and how dare she kicked you out of your own house?!'
'It doesn't matter anymore,' he answered listlessly.
'What do you mean, it doesn't matter anymore? I. Want. A. Name. Damian,' I intimidated him.
'It's Mar'i, Mar'i Grayson,' he gave in, annoyed.
I looked ever his attitude and quickly went through the list of names I remembered from the family, but apparently, I've never met this one.
'Alright, I got no idea who she is, but we need to talk,' I stepped out of the apartment with no intention of getting stopped by anyone... except my own body. 'Just a second. I need to use the restroom. Wait right here, and don't move an inch.'
Once I was done, we all left to the manor. My mood got questionably calm when we reached the gate.
What the heck was happening with my temper? Could anyone's moods change this many time in an hour?
We entered the Manor, and Alfred was standing by next to the door and greeting in the order we came in, 'Good afternoon, Miss Albertsons, Master Damian, and Master Jason. How may I assist you all, today?'
'I'm looking for Mary Grayson,' I said, pretty sure that was her name.
'Alfred, who's that?' a girl about ten-year-old popped her head out of the living room and stared at the main door, where we were, excitedly and sadly. She had coppered skin and shoulder length black wavy hair, and her eyes were abnormally glowing green. She flew across the hall, passed me, and hugged Damian, sobbing.
She fucking flew across the hall! What the heck?
I watched them as Damian tried to push her away like he did not what anyone to see him with her, but she resisted, 'I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! I just didn't want to lose!'
'TT,' he got rid of her and stomped to his room.
The girl remained on the floor crying, so I picked her up. She flicked her arm from me and ran away.
'What the hell? Now, I don't even understand what's happening,' I murmured.
'I don't what to say this, but I told you so. We didn't have to come here. This family is far beyond comprehendible,' Jason commented, pulling out a cigarette.
I snatched it out of his hand and lectured, 'I'm already back with you. You don't need this to ruin yourself.'
He grinned and teased, 'Cause just you alone can already ruin my whole life.'
I glared at him and advised, 'You better have a good meaning to it.'
'Of course, I do... I'm addicted to you, and there's no way of quitting that.'
I felt my face redden, so I shifted my attention to Alfred and interrogated, keeping my cool, 'Do you know, why they are like this?'
'Yes, I do, and would you like to talk about it over a cup of tea?'
'I would like to! Thank you,' I placed high hope on the cup to make me feel better.
'Mint Majesty?'
'Yep, you remembered!'
'Of course, Miss Albertsons. I'll prepare it for you right away.'
'Ahem,' Jason interrupted once Alfred left, 'When did you guy become so close?'
'I think, it's pretty long ago. Before you're gone, before you brought me here for dinner, but after you brought me to the gala.'
'The only time I remembered between then was when you called me though the coms.'
'Yeah, we became friends that day.'
'So, you guys met for the Riddler's case?'
'... Yes,' I realized, I did not tell him anything about it.
He smirked and remarked, 'I didn't know you were also good at solving riddles.'
'I'm not that good. The riddles are just cliche,' I did not denied.
'I see,' he shrugged his eyebrows like he half believed in me, but not the other half. However, he did not ask me any more question, knowing that he could look it up.
'The tea is ready, Master Jason and Miss Albertsons,' Alfred came back to usher us.
We went after him and sat down on a round table facing the park. He poured us tea, and we chatted a little before getting into the main subject.
Alfred revealed, 'Master Damian was furious because the little girl suddenly showed up as Master Dick's daughter not long ago, and she tried to replace him in every form. About three hours ago, they made a match, and whoever loses will have to let the winner do whatever they pleased. The result was, Master Damian won. However, Miss Mar'i did not like the outcome, and accidents happened out of her rage. Master Damian might have seen his old self in her, so he decided to leave.'
I leaned forward with my hand cupping my face, feeling a bit proud of the boy, but then, why did he do that to her when we got back? Why would he want to push her away that much?
I thought to myself, "This could make a good love story, but they're only sixteen. Things could change, and getting into it would make me a bit too nosy of their business. Hmm... I'll just keep my interest close but not too near."
'Andrea!' Jason shouted, and I was startled by it.
'What?!'
'What were you thinking? I've been calling you so many times.'
'Nothing.'
'Tell me. I saw you smiling,' he tried to squeeze it out.
'I'm just happy. I think, we should go,' I answered and started packing up.
'Where to?' he puzzled.
'Home.'
'Home?'
'Uh huh. There's nothing for us to do, now.'
'What about them, the reason you dragged me all the way here?'
'They'll figure it out,' I smiled.
He took his time to catch up with my emotion state, and he mentioned about my moodiness, 'You are all over the place, today.'
'I agree, but sweets will make everything better. I really want some chocolate fudge from that restaurant.'
'Sure, but first of all, promise me not to complain when you got sugar crash,' he made it clear.
'I promise, I won't. I'll just make myself high all day.'
I turned to Alfred to say goodbye, and I saw him with the sign of happiness all over.
'Have a save trip, Miss Albertsons and Master Jason,' he waved at us.
Everything just seemed abnormally good. It made me doubt how long would this last, but I took it for grant and just live it like every other days.
We left the Manor, and he took me to the restaurant. We ordered some food for actual lunch, and I asked for the cake to be served first.
I dug in out of the abrupt hunger, trying to ignore his stare until I could no longer endure it, and pouted, 'Don't judge. I'm hungry.'
He chuckled and picked up the napkin to wipe the corner of my mouth, 'Hi, Hungry! Will you marry me?'
His hand went behind my head, and he pulled out a plain silver diamond ring. I was too shock to say anything, but then, he just took it back when a waiter served our food.
'Jason... What just happened?' I buzzed.
'Nothing, I'm just wondering if you want to go out on a date tomorrow.'
'Sure... Are you sure that was nothing?' I doubted.
'It was nothing,' he assured.
'Okay,' I let it slid.
Was that my own hallucination?
The next day, he drove us to an amusement park. It was pretty far from the city, so the place was not so crowded.
We went to the play station, and the situation just got uglily competitive. We spent about three hours there alone because I was replaying the game several time to win his score. He was nice, or arrogant, enough to let me try in those hours, but I still lost. Even though I lost, it was still fun...
I swore, that last sentence was a total lie.
The last game we played was Whack the Mole, and we were one point apart. I was so mad, I got emotional.
Why the emotions? I had no idea, and I was finding it more irritating that my health was not that great, too.
'One point! Only one!' I sobbed loudly and dramatically fainted on him.
'Aww... Honeybun, there's always next time, but I won't guarantee that you will win next time,' he proclaimed.
I playfully pushed him away and challenged, pointing on the biggest roller coaster of the park, 'Let's go on that ride. Whoever throw up first losses.'
'Challenge accepted,' he smirked and took my hand.
We waited in line for about thirty minutes to reach the second to top floor. It was one of those spots that we could see the whole ride, so I decided to film it when the ride passed by.
I used the front camera and began recording with myself in frame, before pulling him into it. About two seconds in, the roller coaster passed behind us, and we caught the riders screaming their voice out.
'Will you marry me?!' I heard him shouted in the middle of the screams, and I saw the ring from the reflection of the video.
I turned around to see him, and he acted like nothing happened, again. Although, this time, I was sure, he said it because I got the whole thing on tape.
I rewatched twice for certainty and answered him, 'Yes, I will.'
'What?' he quizzed me with no guilt.
'You asked me a question, so I answered.'
'I didn't ask anything, yet,' he simply lied.
With nothing to lose, I went with the flow, 'If you say so.'
