Fanfic Jason x Artemis
I do not own Red hood and the outlaws
Chapter two: Nightmare
Summary: Jason has a nightmare and Artemis comforts him.
''Aaaah!''
A loud scream can be heard in the otherwise quiet hotel room. It was one of the many that could be heard this night. Artemis began to move. Walking towards the source. She opened the door to Jason's room and saw him moving around. Slowly she walks closer towards the bed. Jason's eyes are still closed, he is still sleeping. But he is sweating a lot and mumbling words Artemis cannot make out. She sits on his bed and swipes some hair out of his face.
''Little one.''
It is not like this hadn't happened before. Sometimes Jason had bad nights. She had them to but not to ..such an extreme as Jason had them. But this one did seems a little bit different than normal. Last time she found him screaming, flinching like something hit him. When she had woken him up he almost started hyperventilating because it was dark around him. He thought he was stuck in a coffin again.
Artemis closes her eyes for a second and then looks at Jason again. When he lets another painful sound out she calls his name.
''Jason.''
No reaction.
''Jason!'' A little louder.
When he still doesn't wake up she takes a hold of his shoulders and shakes him. This is not always a good idea because sometimes he attacks when you try to wake him with physical contact. It depends on the nightmare. But Artemis is strong, she can take it and control her own strength.
It works this time. Jason's eyes open and he looks scared and sad. It hurts her to see him like this. It takes him a second to realise what happened. He looks away as he mutters an apology.
''Don't do that...'' Artemis says. '' Don't apologise for this. It is not your fault.'' Artemis strokes his hair. But Jason still doesn't look at her. Jason always says he's fine. Always wants to deal with it alone. He is stubborn. But Artemis is too.
''Was it about the Joker again?'''
''No...'' Jason says as he sits up.
''Then what was it about this time?'' She asks gently.
''Nothing...'' He mutters.
''Jason...'' Artemis says firmly, using her hand to slowly take a hold of his chin and turn his face so that he looks at her.
''I am here for you.''
At this Jason begins to shake. She can see tears starting to fall. This has not happened before. Jason has never yet cried after a nightmare except for the one time he woke up calling for Bruce.
She lets his chin go.
Jason seems to notice he is breaking down and tries to hide it. Swiping the tears away with his hand. Artemis puts her hand on his shoulder.
''It-it ...'' He swallows.
''You were leaving...'' Artemis raises her eyebrows. ''I was leaving?'' Artemis asks.
Jason nods looking away again. '' You were leaving me alone. I-I was alone again.'' Jason coughs and another tear leaves his eyes. '' You were leaving, just like my father and mother left me. Just like Roy and Kori left me. You and Bizarro will leave me to. I will be all alone. You won't want me anymore, you won't need me anymore just like Bruce!'' Jason broke down crying.
''Oh Jason.'' Artemis mutters as she starts rubbing his back and he burrows his face in her shoulder.
''Look at how much Bizarro cares about you. He won't want to leave you.''
''What if he is forced?''
''Than we will take him back. I also will not leave you.''
''You say that now but Kori and Roy also followed their own paths and left.''
''But you're still in contact right? They are still your friends. ''
''Yeah but... it is different. They all have places they can return to..that is home...but I don't have that. The home I ever had I lost when I was fifteen. '' the last part he spat bitterly. ''I sometimes think even that was a lie. ''
Artemis takes a deep breath. She knows that the relationship between Jason and his family is complicated. She doesn't know everything but Jason has told her bits and pieces.
''And you have your bow...what is keeping you from returning home?'' He asks, looking her into the eyes.
''Home...'' She repeats. '' My home vanished when Akila died. The others can do without me. Things change.'' She says. ''And if my ''path'' ever forces me to leave you, it won't have to be forever and you can always come with me.'' She smiles.
''I won't leave you all alone. But you shouldn't let yourself be left alone either. Reach out.'' She whispers as she takes his hand is her own.
''But what if you don't want me around anymore. If I am not needed?'' Jason moves away from her shoulder.
''It is not about needing Jason. It is about liking having your company round.''
She moves her head closer to his so that their foreheads are touching.
''And I do like having you around.''
With her free hand she wipes his tears away. '' You don't have to worry, we are friends, partners. I will not leave you all alone, okay?'' Jason doesn't seem entirely convinced. Artemis supposes he cannot help it. A lot of times people have left him alone. But she isn't planning on doing that. She wishes she could help him. Get him some professional help. But that is easier said than done.
She moves her head up and kisses his forehead. Jason blushes.
''You should try sleeping again, okay?''
She then kisses his nose. Jason looks like he wants to say no and argue but in the end it seems like he changed his mind. Arguing with her never proofed successful after all. He lays down again. Artemis rubs her thump along his cheek, wiping the last tears away. But before she can leave and let go of his hand he tugs at her. She looks him into the eyes.
''Do you want me to stay with you?'' She asks.
Jason nods. Artemis smiles a little and climbs into his bed, getting down beside him. As she closes her eyes she can feel Jason shifting after a while. He turns his face towards her and embraces her while burrowing his head in her chest, listening to her heart beat. Artemis wraps her arms around him.
''Goodnight little one..''
''Goodnight.''
Author's note
I really like Jason's character. He has so much potential. Especially his relationships with his family and friends. I really would love another clash between him and bruce and bruce finally really helping him. I want him to be happy! I am planning to write more Jay X Artemis stories and will probably all upload them under this name. I won't me writing a M story though, not because I don't want to but because I can't.
