Summary: Between medical debts, screaming babies and smashed car windows, newly single mother! Reader has hit her breaking point. It isn’t until she meets the mysteriously handsome mechanic that her luck starts turning up.
Tags: Mentions of pregnancy and birth, babies, Slowburn, hurt/comfort, ooc Jason a bit, fluff, reader is broke, Jason is a softie, neighbour! Jason. Dick is there bc when is he not.
Dividers by : @honeyluvsw
Parings: mechanic! Jason Todd x Single mother! Reader
A/n: this wa supposed to be a one shot but I just couldn’t get them tg by the end of it. I didn’t want to drag it either! So part 2 soon
By the time you got to the mechanic, the screaming had been going on for more than an hour.
This week was really a week from hell.
Kali just wouldn’t stop crying. You thought you had hurt her or maybe she was sick, so you had taken her to the hospital.
$2000 added to your never ending medical debt for colic.
And if you weren’t struggling enough, then you were fired from your job.
5 months, your boss had said, was more than enough maternity leave. Apparently he hadn't been the one recovering from thirty-eight hours of labour while caring for a newborn who screamed through every waking hour.
And now some Gotham hooligan had smashed the windows on your car. They hadn’t taken anything, luckily, but the thought of someone invading the space where you put your baby disgusted you.
Maybe you should get it cleaned once you get a new job.
Money would be the death of you, and poor Kali would have to live with it.
You needed to pull yourself together.
You pulled into the run down shop waiting for the owner to open the garage door. You were met with silence for 5 minutes and you tried your best not to doze off.
Should you have booked an appointment?
you were really just a mess.
The painful creek of the garage door could only give you a second of relief before kali started screaming even louder.
It was like you were killing her.
The man you assumed was the owner stood behind your car as you pulled in glaring intensely at the baby through the window.
You hoped he wouldn’t make a big deal of the crying. But it looked like he already was.
It was only when you got out of the car that you could get a good look at him. He was impossible not to notice. Broad shoulders, scarred forearms and dark hair that looked like it hadn't seen a comb all day.
Under different circumstances you would be flustered, he was very attractive and you were very lonely. But you were too tired to feel anything but exhaustion.
Plus it wasn’t like you had much of a chance l, with your bare face and unwashed hair. Hell, you were wearing the same tracksuit you’d slept in.
Whatever, the last thing you needed right now was a man.
“Hi um, im sorry if this is a bad time, I know I didn’t book an appointment, but um,”
“We don’t do appointments sweetheart. What’s the issue?”
His voice was gruff, husky and it sent a shiver down your spine.
“It’s the front windows,they’ve been..um smashed”
The man scaled the car and then bent down to open the hood. You hobbled around him, peering over his shoulder and pretending you knew what the hell you were looking at.
He looked up at you raising an eyebrow
Fuck, Kali had been screaming and you were just calmly inquiring about your car. Gosh, he probably thought you were a terrible mother.
“Sorry yeah, she-uh has colic, so um, she won’t stop. She’s fine but I’ll just take her out so you can look at the car.”
You opened the door reaching carefully into the back seat.
Kali’s tiny face was bright red, her fists were clenched so tightly, you wondered how something so small could hold so much emotion.
As soon as you lifted her into your arms, she instinctively curled into your shoulder, but the crying didn’t stop.
“I’m sorry” you murmured to both the mechanic and the baby.
“She’s been like this all week, I’m happy to wait outside until your done”
He turned didn’t even look up from the car, replying without skipping a beat.
“Don’t apologise. S’doesn’t bother me.”
Your face involuntarily flushed. His words were blunt but his tone wasnt cruel, more matter of fact.
For a few minutes, only the sounds of rattling tools and Kali’s cries filled the garage.
You bounced Kali gently on your hip to soothe her, but the motion only brought a sharp pain, reminding you that your body still hadn’t recovered from giving birth.
Everyone said that three months would be enough. But the way you were going you don’t think you’d ever recover.
Kali was worth it all. You would do it a thousand times again for her.
The man said suddenly, looking up from the engine.
You gave him your name, with a small bashful smile.
“Uh three and a half months”
That was all he said. And for some reason, you appreciated the silence, over the sympathy or advice that everyone else had given you.
“Engines all good, just the windows. I’ll order you some glass.”
That had to be costly. A sharp feeling of dread twisted in your gut.
“How much would that be?”
“About $700, including instillation costs”
You looked to the floor, trying to mentally add the figure to your budget. But between medical bills, rent and utilities, it wasn’t looking good.
If you fixed your car, there was no way you could afford groceries. Especially with formula prices these days.
Your eyes immediately started to burn.
You laughed, it was a terrible sound, hollow and exhausted.
“Yeah um it’s just, I don’t think I can afford that”
You looked down towards your feet.
“I’m really sorry for wasting your time, how much do I owe you for the check up?”
He studied you for a moment before looking at Kali, who was still crying softly into your shoulder.
“You can’t drive it like that, it’s dangerous.”
You sniffled looking anywhere but his face so he couldn’t see the way your eyes were watering. You blinked back the tears.
“I’ll figure it out thank-”
He cut you off before you could continue.
“I’m not letting you do that.”
No. You refused to be indebted to another person. He seemed like a nice guy, but who knows what he’ll ask of you knowing you owed him.
You were crying now, and it was stupid it was all so stupid.
You unlocked your car fixing Kali into her seat before Jason spoke again.
“Ma’am I’m sorry I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“It’s fine it’s not you. I’m-just- it’s me.”
“What about a discount? I can’t let you drive home like this.”
You just couldn’t accept his help. It felt wrong, like you were a failure.
But you desperately needed it.
You squeaked, your voice barely audible.
You frowned. Jason wiped his hands on a rag, completely unbothered.
“That’s no where near $700”
He looked at you like that was the dumbest thing you had ever said.
“It won’t break the bank sweetheart, I’ll be okay.”
You closed your eyes trying your best not to burst out in tears. Again
His lips turned upwards in what looked like the beginning of a smile.
“Really. Thank you. This helps me and Kali so much you don’t even understand.”
“S’nothing. Glad to help.”
You smiled. This was possibly the only win you had this week, or this year.
When you walked into the hallway of your building, you realised there were shoes in front of the apartment next door.
Great, that meant that it was time to browse for a new house.
You had almost gotten evicted because of Kali’s crying last month, thankfully the landlord had some sympathy and gave you some time to figure it out. The neighbour moved before you could.
Unlocking the door, you put Kali down in her high chair making her some dinner. You couldn’t breastfeed, because of the state you were in after the birth. Too weak.
And so you never started. Would’ve been easier though. Cheaper that’s for sure.
After feeding Kali you put her in her crib, and to some miracle she fell asleep immediately. You almost started crying in relief.
You had so much you needed to do, but you passed out before you could even think about it. Better you sleep now and worry later.
Though your peace didn’t last long, only three hours later you were woken up by screaming.
There was no way this was normal.
You gently reached for the baby, checking her diaper, and trying to soothe her, when you felt a spell of dizziness.
Rocking Kali in your arms you opened your cupboards, empty, to no one’s surprise. You eventually settled on a can of beans, which you ate once the baby finally calmed down.
You decided you’d go to the grocery store tomorrow, you just needed some milk and you could maybe bake a batch of sub-par cookies. Hopefully they’ll be good enough to make sure your neighbour doesn’t complain.
You fell asleep thinking about it. Hopefully if imagined having an understanding neighbour, it would happen.
Well he hadn’t complained so far.
The next morning, after your little outing to the store, you started on the cookies, it took longer than it should have, between tending to the baby, and cleaning up here and there. But by midday you were finished and decided to deliver them before they got cold.
Once the baby was napping you stepped outside, nerves twisting in your gut. Surely he would at least appreciate the gesture.
You knocked on the door taking a step back, and trying to quell your nerves.
But when the door opened, to your shock you saw Jason. The mechanic.
He looked just a nice as yesterday, in a grey tracksuit and hoodie. He looked more human somehow.
He replied, leaning against the doorframe.
“I made these for you, to apologise for the noise last night, but I guess I don’t really have to explain”
He paused looking around seemingly for Kali.
“You also didn’t have to.”
“Yes I did, especially now that I know it’s you.”
The corners of his mouth lifted into a smug sort of smile.
“I’m not here most nights so no need to apologise.”
You almost jumped in joy. You didn’t have to find a new house. And you had somehow found a sane neighbour. He might even be better than having no neighbour.
Your luck was finally turning.
“Well still. She cries all hours of the day, and you have to sleep sometime.”
Jason didn’t reply, you had begun to understand him a little. He didn’t speak unless he needed to, and even then it was short, blunt replies no more than two or three words.
Maybe you’d get more out of him as you got to know him.
Jason looked down at the plate before taking it. You felt nerves twist in your gut.
“Don’t expect anything special..I didn’t have much”
“Smells special. Chocolate chip?”
You felt heat rising to your cheeks.
“I ran out of chocolate halfway through”
He let out a low hum, like he understood, or maybe even was amused.
You grinned at that, looking shyly to the floor.
“More like broke, but I appreciate it.”
The second it left your mouth you wished you could take it back.
The last thing you wanted was his pity.
In fact, you were hoping you could be friends. It would be nice to talk to someone who wasn’t a baby.
Though somehow he seemed entirely unbothered by the statement, in fact he even seemed entertained.
“They’ll still taste good.”
“How do you know? You haven’t even tried it?”
His answer was so fast that it caught a smile out of you.
You couldn’t remember the last time someone had made you smile without trying.
A tiny cry drifted out from your apartment.
It’s like she could sense your joy
“Sounds like the boss is awake.”
He continued with a little proud look on his face.
You chuckled at the sight.
“Well thank you again for yesterday”
“I mean it. I won’t forget it”
“I know, just don’t forget to pick it up on Friday.”
“I won’t, thank you Jason!”
Jason watched you hobble back to your apartment and waited until he heard the door click shut.
It was only then that he looked down to the plate in his hand.
The cookies were.. questionable.
Some were slightly darker than others, and they were all incredibly flat, like pancakes.
He chose the ugliest one.
He took a second trying to decide if he liked it or not.
They were actually weren’t bad.
He reached for another without a second thought.
After having his fair share of cookies he placed them on the kitchen bench and glanced at the shared wall.
The baby’s cries filtered faintly through it.
He frowned, they sounded different than they had at the mechanic shop.
Almost like she was uncomfortable.
Damian had colic when he was younger, he remembered not knowing what to do with him.
It was hell, and he wasn’t even his mother.
He wondered if you had someone to help you. He noticed you didn’t wear a wedding ring, and he hadn’t heard anyone come past.
He really hoped you weren’t alone.
The sound of his phone buzzing brought him out of his thoughts.
Dick: Family dinner tonight, Damian is asking for you.
Jason typed back with one hand
Dicks icon flashed on his screen. He declined the call turning off his phone.
From the other side of the wall Kali had finally stopped crying.
Jason found himself hoping that they were both asleep.
When Friday rolled around you found your self excited to leave the house.
You had seen Jason in bits and pieces over the past week, having small conversations whenever you’d see each other.
You started to really enjoy his company.
He just made you feel sane for once.
You stood infront of the mirror trying to tame your hair with damp hands. After five minutes of struggle you decided it would just be easier to let it down. If you couldn’t get it to work now, you weren’t gonna.
You fit Kali in her favourite little cream knitted onesie, pulling the matching hat over her wispy locks.
Her hair was a colour that didn’t run in your family. You had to assume it came from her father. The thought made you cringe.
You loved it because it was her. Not him. You reminded yourself.
You smiled tapping her nose
“Now you look prettier than me”
Kali rewarded you with a sleepy little coo.
That was definitely a lot better than crying.
The door creaked as you stepped inside. You were immediately greeted with the scent of grease and oil.
You cringed gently pressing Kali’s face into your shirt.
Jason was underneath a truck only his legs showing another mechanic greeted you from the reception desk.
“Hey gorgeous can I help you?”
You flushed at the pet name
“I’m here to pick up my car”
Before the man could answer Jason was right infront of you.
He wiped the grease off his hands on a rag before nodding at Kali.
You looked down at her smiling.
The other mechanic looked between you too with raised eyebrows.
He disappeared into the office.
The other mechanic leaned back on his chair, a painful groan filling the air.
“Didn’t ever think I’d see Jay smiling”
Jason appeared Back from the room holding a piece of paper.
He really had kept the price the same.
“Again, I’m happy to cover it”
“I think a $450 dollar discount is enough”
You pulled your wallet from your bag.
All the cash you had before your final pay check.
You slid the notes into his hand.
Jason didn’t bother counting them, just waved the keys in Kali’s face.
She let out a little giggle.
You tried not the cry at the sound.
“I can’t thank you enough Jason, really.”
You followed him outside.
The new windows glistened in the sun, it was cleaned and polished.
There was no more glass in the seats.
You let out a laugh of astonishment.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“It’s done, you have to take it”
You were gonna cry. You were gonna cry for the second time in this stupid store. You were in his debt. Greatly.
“I don’t know how to thank you.”
“Finished them in a day, had to hide them from my brothers”
His face was completely serious.You burst out into laughter.
“I genuinely cant tell when you’re joking.”
That only made you laugh harder.
Jason watched you for a second.
A small genuine smile etched onto his face.
It left you before you could even think. Jason’s smile disappeared instantly.
“I don’t know it suits you.”
He looked away his ears going a subtle shade of red.
You immediately regretted saying it.
He blurted, Kali let a squeak from her carrier.
When Jason got home from his shift it was nearing 4:00am.
He couldn’t stop thinking of you.
He felt a strange sense of protectiveness around you that he couldn’t understand.
He kept listening for the baby near the walls. Though he had heard it less lately. She had been sleeping more.
It was none of his business.
He decided he need a distraction. His bike was perfect for that. He 100% wasn’t allowed to have it in here, but the scrawny landlord was too scared to say anything when he carried it in.
As soon as he began he was interrupted by two frantic knocks on the door.
He already knew who it was.
Jason reluctantly opened the door. Dick stood there holding a takeaway bag.
“Why didn’t you pick up my calls?”
Jason nodded to the bike raising his eyebrows at Dick.
Dick gave him a skeptical glare
He walked through the door, slamming into Jason’s shoulder in the process.
“You know you tell me your fine, but a fine person would reply to my texts”
Dick fell back onto the couch, pulling a burger out of his bag.
Jason tolerated Dick but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being tested. That Dick would take one look at the unpacked boxes, and the barely organised furniture and report it back to Bruce.
Maybe he was just paranoid.
Dick kicked his feet up on the table.
“You know we can afford to get you into a better apartment. This place is a shithole at best.”
Jason huffed, Dick wasn’t wrong. But he hated cushy. What was the point of having some mansion when he spent more time at the shop anyways.
He liked the noise too. It relaxed him in a way the manor never did.
Dick laughed, throwing the rubbish from his food at him.
“Hey who am I to yuck your yum?”
A shrill cry echoed from behind the walls
“Mhm” jason hummed in between bites of his burger.
Jason paused, thinking of what to say without giving too much away.
Dick noticed his hesitance immediately.
“You’ve actually spoken to her”
Jason tried to act like he hadn’t been thinking about you right before he had arrived.
It was the truth as much as he didn’t like it. Though, Dick didn’t look too convinced.
“And somehow you know she lives alone?”
Dicks grin widened, he had a look on his face like he had won the lottery. Jason couldn’t stand it.
“Just say it so I can kick you out.”
“You like helping strays”
Jason rolled his eyes. What the hell did that even mean? He didn’t like that word, stray. If anything you were taking him in.
His smile widened if that was even possible. Jason was disgusted at the sight.
“Nothing. Just, you seem pretty defensive over a customer”
The apartment was quiet for once.
Usually you’d take that opportunity to sleep but you needed to finally face your financial dilemma.
You needed to find a job.
Scrolling through the possible workplaces you couldn’t find anything that suited you.
You couldn’t be on your feet for that long.
You saved the tab for that one
You were brought out of your search by a knock on the door.
Please don’t let it be the landlord, please.
Standing in your doorway was, Jason, holding a stack of pizzas.
He scratched the back of his head before speaking.
You replied, eyes flicking in between him and the food.
“My idiot brothers ordered 12 pizzas to my house as some sort of prank, I was wondering if you were hungry?”
You let out a hearty laugh.
You couldn’t remember the last time you had a real meal. Living off of various canned food and toast.
Your mouth watered at the thought of pizza.
He sighed at that his brows furrowing.
“The fuckers only put olives”
You burst out in laughter at that. It wasn’t just the prank, it was more so the astonished look on his face.
“What? how can you not like olives?”
“Well I can’t get through 12 pizzas on my own so take them.”
He pushed the boxes into your arms and you took them stepping to the side. Couldn’t hurt.
“Did you want to come in?”
He paused giving you a curious look.
“As long as it’s ok with the boss”
“Shes asleep. So as long as she stays that way, we’re fine”
He paused like he was pondering saying something before he spoke.
“Haven’t heard her cry in a minute, been doing better?”
You tried not to cling to the tone in his voice. He just sounded like he cared.
“She definitely still cries, but yeah, better”
You leaned into him like you were gonna tell him a secret.
“And get this, she slept through the night last night. It was beautiful”
His eyebrows rose, as an almost celebratory grin etched onto her face.
“You gotta watch out for her, you may be raising the next Batman.”
“If shes anything like her mother, not happening.”
You made a gesture for him to come in and he followed you into the kitchen, looking around the crowded apartment.
“Sorry it’s not very clean”
That was a lie, it was actually the cleanest it had been in a while.
He took a second sitting down in your dining room. The sight was almost comical. He looked like an action figure in a dollhouse. Hunched over to fit into the small chair.
You rummaged through the cupboards before producing two similar-ish plates.
He chuckled, looking between the plates.
“You always so practical?”
He thought about it for a second before shrugging
You snorted looking down at the pizzas
“You serve yourself because I don’t know how much you eat”
“I think I could eat the whole thing, minus the olives”
“Maybe 12 was an understatement from your brothers then”
He rolled his eyes at that.
“Don’t remind me, what am I gonna do with all this food?”
He paused, a smirk etching onto his features.
“You think big boss can help us?”
You started laughing at that.
“Pizza infused formula sounds pretty good to me”
He cringed, opening his mouth to say something before your stomach cut him off with a loud growl.
You froze heat rising to your cheeks
And breakfast, but you kept that to yourself.
He nodded in understanding before putting half the pizza on your plate.
You smiled ripping off a piece, but before you could take a bite, a loud wailing sound rang out from your bedroom.
You sprang up a little too quickly, the room tilted in response.
You hand shot to the back of Jason’s chair to steady yourself.
He was already on his feet
You weren’t. Gosh. You needed to get a hold of yourself. He probably thought you were the biggest mess.
“I’m okay, you don’t need to worry about me”
You forced a smiled, though the look on his face told you he wasn’t convinced.
But before he could say anything else, Kali let out another cry, a louder one. And you quickly stumbled into her room.
Jason watched you disappear down the hallway. Once you were gone, his eyes drifted to the kitchen.
Sitting beside the sink was your pantry you had left open.
His eyes lingered on the shelf.
And half a loaf of bread.
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