Thursday. I'd gotten off work early, and was home earlier than expected. I wasn't sure if Jason was gonna be there or not, but that was just kind of how it was now. I opened the door, leaving it unlocked and took one step inside and saw Jason sitting on the couch looking at me in utter shock, like he wasn't expecting me…to walk into my own apartment?
"Hey," I said, making a face. "Are you alr-" was all I managed to get out before Jason, possibly the most graceful and least physically awkward person I'd ever met unsuccessfully attempt to vault himself over the couch. One of his feet got caught between my couch and the sofa table behind it and tripped him up. He landed and was able to catch himself in a crouch before he faceplanted, then launched himself at me like a sprinter at the starting blocks.
Before I could even react, we were making out. And, DAMN. Full blown, messy, loud, biting, hungry, 'why have I waited so damn long', make my knees weak, if you keep this up my panties will fucking drop, amazing kissing.
Hooooooooly shit. Boy howdy, this man is a world class kisser. WORLD CLASS. Jason had a hand behind my head, gripping my hair and a hand roughly clutching the waistband of my scrubs, pulling me to him. I'm pretty sure I was fisting his hair with one hand and one hand was grabbing his ass.
"Tabs, who's this dude?" A deep voice asked from behind me.
I felt Jason fall utterly still – like, in one moment he was all action, pulling, pushing, biting, licking – then the next moment it was like time fucking stopped. I took a deep breath and sighed, releasing the grip my teeth had on his lip, slowly removing my hands from his (perfect) body.
I turned around, my body blocking Jason's in the event certain…things…had shifted around.
"Benny! Oh boy! This is, uh –" I stopped, because for the life of me, I couldn't remember Jason's name. I was so dazed I was still coming down off the high of him trying to eat me alive.
"Jason." Jason said behind me, chuckling. He put a hand on my waist as he reached around me to offer a hand to Ben.
"Hey man, I'm Ben."
"I've heard a lot about you, it's nice to meet you."
Benny looked at me, concerned. "Tabs, you ok? Your eyes aren't focusing right,"
"We've, uh, that was the first time we've done that," Jason said, rubbing a hand through the back of his hair, self-consciously.
"Damn, son, you must be some kind of kisser, I haven't seen her eyes like this since sophomore year of high school."
"He is," I said dreamily.
I felt Jason's arm around me tighten, and he asked "You need to sit down? You good?"
I had to blink a couple times, and shake my head once or twice, but then I was back.
"Um, God, sorry, that was embarrassing, my spacing out, I mean. So, Ben, this is Jason, Jason this is Ben; Ben's my BFF, which you knew, and Jason's…here," I said not knowing what else to say. I heard Benny chuckle.
"Uh-huh," he looked at me, like he was getting great enjoyment out of this entire situation.
"Back to hugs!" I said enthusiastically. I launched myself at him, much like Jason had at me, but without the whole kissing thing. Benny was so big I wasn't able to wrap my arms around him, so I did my best. It was kind of like trying to hug a solid muscle wall. But Benny was able to wrap his arms around me (at least twice, really) and he did, picking me up off the floor and hugging me hard. Benny gives amazing hugs. When he finally put me down, I started jumping up and down, clapping, saying his name over and over.
"She's been like this all week," Jason said, smiling.
"Well, you seem pretty good natured about it, so that's something."
"Has that been…an issue?" Jason asked, his brows furrowing.
"Yes." Benny and I said in unison. Jason's eyebrows shot up and his eyes got big.
"Doctor Douche, and some of his predecessors, were not thrilled with Benny's one-person over-enthusiastic fan club," I said making Benny snort. I turned to Jason. "So, long story short, Benny surprised me at work with a visit, and here we are. We gotta figure out something to eat, because I have practice tonight, to which I extend an invitation to the both of you, if you'd like."
"Oh, I'm IN, girl." Benny said, smiling wide. "Any chance to watch you and your elbows at work is an opportunity I will not turn down."
"Why not," Jason said, smiling directly at me. "Sounds good."
I told the boys I needed to go put on my uniform before we headed out, so I changed out of my scrubs and into my tights, shorts, sports bra and jersey. Then I pulled on a pair of track pants over the shorts, so I didn't look like either a rogue or a vigilante while we went to eat dinner. I pulled on my green converse, then walked back out to the living room to grab my gear bag. Jason said he'd ride with me, and Benny'd brought his own car, so we were driving separately. Benny'd gotten to pick our dinner destination, and (like I knew he would) he picked his very favorite sushi place that wasn't too far from the rink.
On the way over, I slid my eyes over to Jason while I was driving. "So. You kissed me."
"Noticed that, didja?" He said, a Cheshire cat grin on his face. I noticed he was watching my face intently out of the corner of my eye. "Thoughts? Questions? Concerns?"
"Are we allowed to do that again? Soon?"
Jason laughed at my use of "allowed". "'Are we allowed' oh my God, you are such a dork it's adorable. Yes, my lady, I am 'allowed' to kiss you whenever your heart desires. It would be my great pleasure."
"I would very much like that, yes, please and thank you."
"Enjoyed it, did we?"
"If Benny hadn't been there I probably would have skipped practice, Jason."
"Oh. OH."
"Yeah. I enjoyed it."
"You aren't the only one, Thea. I know there isn't, but I swear to God you've managed to either write or magically procure "The Delicate Art of Making Love to Jason Todd-Wayne". It's like you know exactly what to do – like you have a manual."
I couldn't help the little, happy 'I got a gold star at school today' smile that was pulling at my lips.
We made it to the sushi place without incident, and when it was time to order, I let Benny order for me, because we'd been coming here since we were in high school. Over the years, Benny's traveled a LOT, and as such, has picked up several languages to help him do his job. He was able to order in perfect Japanese for both of us. When Jason went to order, he shocked the shit out of both of us by speaking in Japanese, too.
"You speak Japanese?" Ben asked, his face showing mild interest.
"Indeed."
"You speak Japanese well." Benny stated. It was not a question. They started conversing in Japanese, and I had absolutely no idea what they were saying. I waited.
"Ben asked me how many languages I spoke, and I told him."
"How many?" I asked, so curious I just couldn't hide it.
"Seven fluently. Also ASL. Several others I'm able to converse in, but it's choppy."
"Where'd you learn them?" That was Benny.
"Here and there. School."
"What kinda school d'you go to that taught you Japanese?" Benny asked, looking curious but also skeptical.
"A Japanese one."
It hit me again. "Oh yeah. Ben, I forgot to mention, Jason's a Wayne."
"Huh."
Our food came, we ate and made small talk over our nigri and salmon rolls. Then it was time for me to head to practice. I told Ben and Jason they were welcome to take their time, I'd had roster stuff and other admin duties to do before practice actually started so they had some time. I said I'd catch up with both of them after practice for sure. They said they'd see me there.