Warnings/Notes: The Reader is anxious about being alone in the dark in Gotham and light teasing.
Summary: Leaving a lecture late, the Reader finds that walking home alone at night in Gotham doesn't feel like a good option. So, they call Jason to pick them up.
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"Are there any more questions?" The voice reverberated through the speakers on the wall. The guest speaker standing behind the small podium looked around curiously. When silence remained, they smiled. "Thank you all so much for coming and…I hope I answered your questions well enough for you to write that paper I'm sure your professor is having you do before their next class."
The audience in attendance in the small lecture room erupted in amused laughter. In truth, most students were there as per instruction. It was not an unusual occurrence.
Everyone clapped in thanks to the guest speaker, and as the lights slowly brightened the room once more, you gathered your belongings.
"I don't remember everyone asking so many questions at the last lecture." Your friend stated beside you, stretching their arms as they stood.
"Hah," you smiled, "did you see the professor giving up trying to hint at everyone that the lecture was going overtime because of it?"
"Yeah, I think I got secondhand embarrassment from that," they squinted their eyes at the thought. "But now that you mention it, I think I'm gonna ask them about next week's project."
"Alright, see you later."
"See yah."
As they trotted quickly toward the professor, you made your way out of the room. Filling out with the others, somehow everyone evenly dispersed out of the door and going their own way. And as you walked down the few steps out onto the sidewalk, you were met with the dark environment of the night stretching out before you in all directions.
"Great," you frowned.
Inwardly sighing to yourself, you set off down the sidewalk. Mandatory lights lined the path every couple of yards, but they scarcely reached far enough into the grass.
The more steps you took, the more the dark surroundings felt more prominent. As if slowly closing in on itself, and you. With a grimace, you glanced behind you and took out your phone. There was no hesitation in who you decided to call. You simply did.
"Hey," Jason Todd responded. He sounded calm and relaxed; you hoped you were not going to be a bother in disrupting his night.
"Hey, Jay. Is this a bad time?"
"No. What's up? Did you need something?"
"Honestly, yeah. I was kinda hoping--if you wouldn't mind--coming to pick me up."
"Pick you up?" He asked, growing confusion lacing around his words. "Where are you?"
"I was attending a lecture--"
"Wasn't that supposed to end over an hour ago?"
"Yeah."
He chuckled. "As long as you're all right…"
"I am. It's just…really dark outside."
"That tends to happen when the sun sets."
The jingle of keys reached your ear as you put your hand on your hip. "Ha…ha."
"I should be there in a few minutes. Will you be all right until then?"
"Yes," you confirmed, hearing a door close through the phone. "How about this, I call someone and talk to them until you're right in front of me?"
"That would make me feel a little better, yeah." An uneasy sigh slipped through his words.
"Okay, see you soon."
"Be careful." Jason's voice lowered, a quieter tone than you were used to over the phone.
"You be careful."
Ending your phonecall with Jason, you swiped to your contact list. Barbara.
After a moment longer than it would for a call to go to voicemail, you ended the attempt. She had to be talking to someone. Or otherwise busy.
As you continued standing under the light of one of the posts, you glanced around. You should not have been feeling a growing paranoia, but sometimes the surrounding darkness tended to heighten your instincts.
Scrolling and internally debating, you selected another contact.
"Hi," the cheerful voice of Dick Grayson answered.
"Hey," a smile seamlessly found itself on your face. "Are you busy?"
"Not at all, just hanging around. Did you need something?"
"Just someone to talk to," you shrugged, walking toward the next section of light on the sidewalk. "I got stuck at a seemingly neverending lecture…and of course it's dark out now."
"Time flies when you're having fun, huh?" He asked, a small thud and quick faint footsteps hardly reaching your ear.
"Ha, my foot went to sleep halfway through the lecture, but that's beside the point I guess. So…I called Jason, and he's on his way to pick me up."
"Oh, okay. Good," he said, his small breaths making it seem like he was jumping around his living room. "I hope he doesn't speed too much."
"Oh, don't tell me that," you gave a nervous laugh. "Now I'm conflicted. I told him to be careful…"
"But at the same time you want him there already?"
"Well…yeah."
It was no mystery. A night in Gotham could be riddled with villainous activities. Even the view of the sun setting acted like an impending event in itself. But even if nothing occurred, the sheer thought of possibilities and what-if's lingered through the night. It's not as if you had a vigilante on speed-dial.
A few short minutes went by. The conversations between you and Dick spanned from dinners gone…not so great, to the latest films you had watched and ones that you just had to see multiple times a year.
By the time the faintest hum of a motorcycle was heard by you, you froze. Whipping your head toward the nearest parking lot, you watched as one solid light weaved closer.
"Judging by your silence and a certain noise," Dick spoke light-heartedly, "I think that I can safely guess that our conversation has reached it's end?"
"And I appreciate it, and you, very much for keeping me company. In a sense."
"You're welcome. Tell Jason I said hi, for me?"
"I will, see yah." You smiled into the phone, slipping it away as no one other than Jason rolled to a stop a couple of yards away.
"Jason!" You bounded over to his side with the largest grin when he got off the bike.
"Hey," he pulled you into a hug, crushing whatever anxious feelings that still lingered. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," you affirmed, stepping out of his embrace. "You?"
"Yeah," he shrugged. "Not much traffic on the way over, but…uh…who'd you end up calling? I'm still not sure if that smile was for them or me."
"Dick."
"Really?" His face twisted in his disbelief. "You called him? As opposed to literally anyone else."
You laughed. "I called Babs first, but it kept ringing busy so…"
"Just the next one down in the alphabet?"
"I mean…kinda. And I know he's one for conversation."
"Oh yeah," he rolled his eyes.
"He says, hi, by the way."
"Sure he does."
Shaking your head, you watched as Jason retrieved a spare helmet from his backpack.
"And for you," he said, setting you up properly with the safety essential.
"Thank you."
"I wasn't gonna have you not wear a helmet."
"I meant…for the helmet and for coming to get me. I appreciate it."
A smile spread across his lips. "I, uh… You're welcome. I'm not about to leave you out here," he said, looking upward. "But let's get you home."
Jason swung his leg over the bike first before you climbed on behind him. You hastily got situated, but soon found that when you looked back up, he scarcely moved.
"Ready?" He asked, looking over his shoulder.
Gingerly placing your arms around his middle, you nodded. "Ready."
With a short laugh, he tapped the front of his helmet to yours. "In a hurry?"
"Nope!"
A rumble of the engine, and you were both gliding out of the parking lot and into the night. As he took the turn out, your hold on him tightened, leaning with both him and the bike.
Riding on the back of his motorcycle was somehow exhilarating and calming all at once. It must have been the wait. Waiting in the dark and not knowing what was beyond your sight was a little unnerving. Comparing that to your current situation, you had no issue with Jason leading you away from the dark.
The city lights glowed. Highlighting what was important to see. And otherwise, what companies wanted you to see.
By the time you found yourself nuzzling into the warmth of his back through the fabric of the squished backpack, the sights around you were all too familiar. The bike slowed and the rush of the night air eased. Home.
Flicking out the kick stand, silence soon surrounded the pair of you. "Would you mind if I walked you up?" Jason asked.
"Not at all," you smiled, peeling yourself off of him.
"Ha, alright."
Carefully, as to not accidentally kick the other, you both hopped off of the bike and removed your helmets. As you left the curbside and headed up into the apartment building, you could not help but take your time.
"Is this you trying to trick me into doing more cardio?" Jason questioned, following you up the steps.
"No. I still feel adrenaline in my legs so… I'm walking it off."
"Whatever works for you," he grunted. "Can't skip leg day, I guess."
"Looks like you don't."
"I…try to take care of myself," he said, striding up beside you.
"Good."
"Good?"
You nodded simply. "I need you around, and…you…you should anyway."
Jason grinned beside you. "Fair enough."
Approaching your apartment door, you stopped to retrieve your key. With a swell in your chest, you turned to Jason. "Thank you for coming to get me," you said quieter than expected.
His dark brows furrowed. "It kinda sounds like you weren't expecting me to."
You shrugged. "I know that you're busy a lot of the time…especially at night. And I didn't want to interfere with that. Whatever that is."
Jason reached a hand out to hold your shoulder gently. "Hey," he said softly, "if you need me, I'll be there. No questions asked. All right?"
"Thank you."
Chuckling lightly, he pulled you in for a hug. "I think you've thanked me enough this evening."
"Maybe, maybe not." You gestured toward the door with your chin. "You wanna come in? I've got some of those contraband snacks I've heard aren't allowed in Wayne Manor."
Backing away slowly, he shook his head. "Hah, as much as I want to, and believe me that I do, I have to deal with something."
"Leave your brother alone," you teased, remembering his reaction from earlier.
He rose his hands upward in defense, "I can't make any promises on that. But I can promise a raincheck on those snacks, if I'm able."
"I'll save you some," you assured, unlocking the door.
"And thank you for that," he grinned. "Now get inside."
"I am, I am," you laughed, opening the door before calling out to him as you closed it. "Enjoy the stairs!"
His joyful laugh reached you anyway. "Good night!"
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