Pride

I bolted up in bed, holding my head as a cold sweat ran down my back. The air was still around me, as if I was surrounded by something thick and cottony. But, in my ears, I still heard the echo of the words we said to each other. Or the words she said to me.

"I love you."

I closed my eyes, and tried to block out the sound of my own heart beating in my ears. I never expected those words to come out of her mouth first. Hell, I hadn't expected them at all, and if I hadn't been almost asleep I would have been elated to hear those three little words. I wanted to say them back, to tell her how I felt, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't come up with anything to say, and everytime I tried, I was somehow reminded that this was not how Red X acted. Red X was a womanizer, a thief, debonaire, and sly... he didn't love. That was my reputation, and I had to uphold it.

Right?

And then I woke up the next morning, and it was as if nothing had changed. She stayed with me for the next few days, and I was pretty sure my cock was going to need a sling by the end of it, but then... she left. She never said it again, and although I had been tempted to reciprocate those words, there was nothing from her that indicated she wanted to hear them.

I threw myself back on my bed and groaned. That was two weeks ago, and I hadn't heard from her since.

I knew the team was busy. There were rumors that bits and pieces of the Brotherhood of Evil had survived and were trying to reconvene, but still... I didn't think that would stop her from trying to contact me. Had I royally fucked up? Probably.

My phone rang and I picked it up without even looking at the caller ID.

"Hello?"

"Mm... you sound pretty chipper for three in the morning."

My heart pounded against my ribs in excitement and I fell back against my bed. Raven. I kept my voice calm as I responded to her. "I couldn't sleep. My bed is lonely without you trying to fuck me to death."

I heard her chuckle. "I don't have any control over my anatomy, Jason."

"I wasn't complaining." I couldn't keep the smile off of my lips or out of my voice. "Where've you been?"

"Russia." She sighed and I could hear the exhaustion enter her voice. "Sorry. I've been on a mission for the past few weeks trying to find out if those rumors were true, and I haven't been able to get away from the team long enough to call you. But, I'm fine and safe and all that, and the mission's finally over, so everyone went out sight-seeing... I told them I wanted to peruse the national library... fortunately, I'm the only one that finds that interesting."

"Clever." I let the silence hang between us for a moment, before my brain decided to blurt out my fears. "I was worried you left me."

Good going, Jason. Let her think you're a psychotic boyfriend.

"Left you?" She sounded shocked. "Why?"

"Because I..." I sighed and sat up again. "Look, Raven... I panicked. You lay there, all warm and cozy in my arms, and told me you loved me. I'm Red X. I don't have serious relationships, or girlfriends, or fall in love. That's just who I am... or so I thought. And I couldn't respond." I didn't know why I was telling her this. I know I was letting my pride and reputation get in the way of telling her how I really felt, and somehow I had to make amends, but this wasn't the right way.

And then, she laughed. "You're joking, right?" She laughed again and I could hear something shatter in the background. "Jason, I don't know if you forgot, but I'm an empath. I know what you're feeling before you do. I know what you felt, I know you were confused, and that's fine. I don't expect you to handle my confessions lightly, expecially when I know what kind of reputation you feel like you have to uphold." She stopped laughing and let a moment hang between us.

"Furthermore, I don't need your emotions to qualify my own." She paused again and caught her breath, and I could hear her lean back against the wall behind her. "I love you... as frustrating and annoying as that may be for me, and probably for you. I don't want you to think that I need you to tell me that you love me back, I only ask that you tell me when you don't."

Her words rattled my bones and I swallowed hard. I knew what she was doing, she was telling me that it was okay for me to continue to pretend that I had a reputation to uphold, but I couldn't keep living a lie that revolved around my pride. That was stupid. I finally had something worth working for, and I wanted to keep it. "So, what do you want me to say?"

"I don't want you to say anything."

I took a deep breath and let the words fall from my lips. "I love you too."

"I'm glad." She chuckled her soft, low Raven-chuckle, the one that reminded me of her curled around me as we rolled in my sheets, and I felt my body tighten in response. It had been far too long since I had her in my arms, and my skin suddenly felt itchy and uncomfortable.

"I miss you."

I could hear her slow smile. "I guess I miss you too, Jason." Pause. "Now, get back to sleep. I have word that you have a mark tomorrow night, and I want to make sure you're in perfect shape for me to be chasing you around the city."

I smiled. "Do I get a prize if I get away without being caught?"

She let another moment hang between us before she answered. "Let's just say it's a gift for you and me."

"Kinky."

)O(

I had a really hard time with Pride. I actually had the perfect idea for this chapter and forgot to write it down... so poof. It's gone. I tried to salvage what bits and pieces I could.
Anyway, I hope this wasn't too sappy, and I hope it was a nice break from the crazy sexual romp the rest of this was. Let me know what you think, and I hope to see you read some of my other work.

Thanks again!