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Chapter Nine: Little Wing

-o-

Raven cursed under her breath and tapped her fingers on the counter. Of all the things she could be without tonight, sugar had to be one of them. What a joke. She rubbed her forehead and looked through her cabinets for the sixth time, hoping she might find at least honey or something to sweeten her bitter tea. But, like the other five times before, she found absolutely nothing anywhere in her kitchen. Groaning in defeat, she stood by the window and stared out across the courtyard to the brightly lit window on the other side of the building.

Jason.

Well, she could ask him for sugar.

Watching his window carefully, she could see his shadow against the wall, moving through the room, and something about the sight seemed to comfort her. It was as if knowing he was around seemed to make everything easier. Blushing just a little, she looked down at her tea kettle and took a deep breath, her mind just a little bit messy. What in the world was it about him that made her feel so… scattered and disoriented? Without another word, she resolved herself to see him and walked out of her apartment and down the hall to the other wing of the apartment building.

As Raven moved closer to his apartment, she could hear jovial laughter and classic rock from the other side of the door, the sound of beer bottles clanking down on the wood of a table as a few low-brow comments came spilling out. Raven raised her hand and knocked, and after a moment, the door swung open to reveal Jason, standing in nothing more than a pair of boxer shorts that were just a bit too small.

Blushing brightly, her eyes shot down the length of him in a surprisingly instinctive move, before landing on the bulge pushing against the tight, black fabric. Her heart fell into her stomach and she thought she might suddenly faint. Oh god, why in the world didn't he just wear clothes, like normal people?

"Eyes up here, Little Bird." He grinned and leaned against the door frame.

Her stare shot up to that infuriating grin and she blushed even darker, stumbling over her words before setting on, "Hi."

Oh, she sounded like an idiot. Great.

"Hey." He laughed, locks of his dark hair falling into his eyes. His greeting was broken by a roar of laughter in his apartment, but it didn't seem to bother him. "So, what brings you here? Not that I mind or anything, it's just that you've never taken it upon yourself to see my apartment before. I'm happy to give you the grand tour if you're interested, but you might have to wait a bit, I've got-"

"Dude, are you folding or what?"

Jason winced and rolled his eyes. "-some really annoying idiots I occasionally call friends over."

He shifted his weight and Raven was reminded of how tall he was, practically towering over her as his muscles rippled and curled underneath his skin. Memories of the sight of him completely naked, doing the most inappropriate yoga positions in her living room. Heart skipping a few beats, she lifted her stare back to his face and watched him lick his too-full lips.

"No." She pushed at her hair and looked away again, trying to avoid the sight of him in those black boxer briefs. "I… um… I'm out of sugar and hoped you had some."

Jason pressed his lips together and looked as though he were fighting back a roar of laughter. He rubbed his thumb along his jaw and nodded slowly, as if he didn't quite believe her explanation. "So…" He hummed slowly. "That was the best explanation you could come up with? I mean, really, Raven. You didn't even put any effort into it. I mean, there are so many better excuses for you to use to come and see me, and you thought of a 'cup of sugar'? You could at least be a little original. Say you wanted to see my furniture. You were avoiding your lesbian neighbors with their ten cats-"

"They only have six cats, and it's the truth, Jason!"

"Please, a cup of sugar is the most cliche reason to meet your neighbor ever." He laughed and walked back into his apartment, motioning for her to follow. "But you know, if that's all you came for, I'm happy to oblige. Come on in, meet the guys up close."

Guys? Up close?

Raven walked into his apartment and found herself looking at a table surrounded by a bunch of incredibly attractive men, all in varying states of undress, as a pile of clothes grew in the middle of the table. It took her a few long seconds to put all the pieces together, but eventually she understood exactly what was going on. Oh god. They were playing strip poker… with each other?

"We didn't want to strip… but we're all betting far more than we had, and so we're kind of paying the price." A lithe body with copper-colored hair turned and looked at her, aptly reading her shocked expression. "So… you must be Raven. We've heard all about you."

Jason nodded and motioned to the table. "Wally, Garth, Roy. Guys, this is Raven."

"Yeah, we gathered that much." Roy took a long swig of his beer and offered her a smirk that rivaled Jason's in devilish charm. "So, you're the cute one he writes those notes too." He jerked his thumb to the large pad of paper by the window. "'Little Bird' right?"

Raven blushed, and even Jason looked a bit sheepish. His friends knew about their little secret? She wasn't sure how she felt about them knowing. Part of her was a little offended that someone else found out, and yet there was still a part of her that was glad to know that he shared. It meant that their friendship wasn't something hidden and secretive.

Jason rolled his eyes. "Good job with that tact, dude."

"You're the one leaving the evidence all over your damn apartment. Your little notes all over the damn drawing pad open for everyone to see." Roy took another swig of beer and grinned up at Raven, his eyes bright and playful. "So, tell me, Little Bird, what in the world do you see in this guy? It's just because he can't keep his clothes on, right?"

Raven's blush darkened. Well, Jason's state of undress didn't exactly hurt their friendship.

"Roy, jeez. You're scaring her. Back off just a bit, man." Garth shook his head and flung a t-shirt from the middle of the table at him. "Calm down." He rolled his eyes and stood up, offering her a bright smile that reminded Raven of someone from the cover of a romance novel. "It's nice to meet you, finally."

Raven's cheeks blushed a little more and she . "I… I know you? Somehow?"

"Eh." He shrugged. "You've probably done bodyshots off my abs."

"I…" Raven's face flushed brightly and her eyes widened. "I think I would have remembered that."

"You didn't, Raven, but your friends did. I distinctly remember that. These guys work at the bar." Jason was grabbing a container and the sugar from the cupboard, rolling his eyes as each of his friends were trying to fill the room with conversation with his "secret" friend. "I'm ashamed that sometimes I have to call them friends."

"Awe, come on, you know you love us." Wally grinned and shoved a handful of potato chips into his mouth. "You couldn't imagine what your life would be without us."

"Easier, that's for sure." Jason snorted.

"Lonelier too." Roy took another long drink of beer and set it back on the table with a smack. "No one else is gonna put up with your shit."

"Yeah? Well, I hope you're using a goddamned coaster, Roy."

"What the fuck, mom? I'm a grown-ass man, I'm not gonna use a coaster. What's next, doilies?"

"It's called respect, damnit! If you're gonna be drinking in my house, using the furniture that I slaved over, then you're gonna use a coaster, or I'm gonna shove one so far up your-"

"Guys! There's a lady present!" Garth rolled his eyes and flicked a penny at the back of Jason's head. "At least show some amount of respect."

Jason sighed and turned around to look at Raven, offering her a sheepish, apologetic grin. "Okay, sorry. Didn't mean to upset." He handed her the small container filled with sugar and shook his head. "Come on, Rae. I'll walk you back to your apartment."

Raven's cheeks flushed and she shook her head. "I think I'm okay, Jason. It's literally two hundred feet down the hall."

"Please let me come," he half-pleaded, his smiled teasing. "I need anything to get away from these three idiots for at least two minutes."

"Hey!"

Jason laughed and ushered Raven out the door, nudging her shoulder just a little as they both ignored the cackling from his friends inside. Shaking his head and muttering about them under his breath, Jason walked by her side as they made their way down the hall. Her heart suddenly felt sort of strange and light, and she could feel his warmth spreading over her in spite of his lack of adequate clothing. Shaking her head, she lifted her eyes to his own and sighed.

"Thanks for the sugar, I guess?"

He shrugged. "Yeah, well. Thanks for putting up with my friends. I know they're kind of jerks."

"They're just being friends." Raven laughed. "I just wished I didn't intrude."

"You didn't. Don't worry." Jason paused outside her door and looked down at her, rocking back on his heels with a soft smile playing over his lips. He shifted a bit and there was something in the way that he suddenly carried himself that made Raven's heart skip a few beats. Being around him was easy and fun and playful, and she hadn't felt this genuinely happy in so long she'd nearly forgotten what it felt like. Her heart sort of fluttered and trembled in her chest like a bird and she found she liked it.

Jason leaned over her a bit, reminding her of his height yet again. "So… sugar."

Her cheeks flushed. "I really did need it."

"I'll believe you this once." He smiled and pushed a lock of hair behind her ear with a chuckle. The touch was comfortable and friendly, but there was just a bit of tenderness behind it. His smile widened again. "Come by tomorrow if you need to borrow flour. I'll make sure I've got it ready for you, Little Bird."

Sorry for the wait! I hope it was worth it!