“𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙮 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙬…𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙬…”
✧─── ・ 。゚★: *.✦ .* :★. ───✧
𝘑𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘺𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦
𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘨𝘨 𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘺𝘺
“Getting flowers can always be cute! But personal preferences vary widely…”
Jason sighed, the words glowing back at him from his phone screen as he sat on a rooftop. The dim light caught the edge of his mask, casting a shimmery glow across the red mask. It had been a slow night for Gothams criminals,plenty of time for his brain to torment him.
Tomorrow. He wanted to surprise you tomorrow morning. Show up at your apartment door with a bundle of flowers, bright and colorful, just to see your smile. He could already picture it,you, standing there in those cute little pajamas you wore when the two of you FaceTimed late at night. The striped ones he thought about way too much.
Ughhh. Yeah. He thought about pulling you close, burying his face into your hair, and finally falling asleep with your soft scent wrapped around him. It made him ache, how badly he wanted it.
But… would flowers be TOOO much?
You’d only been talking for a couple of months. And you didn’t even know about him being Red Hood—yet. The thought made his stomach twist. You were too precious, too good. If you ever got caught in the crossfire of his world just because of what he did… he shook the thought away before it could choke him
Jason dragged his eyes back to the screen, rereading the search results for the tenth time.
Do you even like flowers?
“Fuck… think, Jason, think” he muttered under his breath
His mind wandered instead to the sushi place you’d brought him to, swearing it had the freshest rolls in Gotham. You’d sat across from him, telling him about your day, and he’d barely heard half of it because he couldn’t stop staring at you.
Your hair, always so effortlessly perfect,like it belonged in one of those slow-motion movie shots. Your eyes, shimmering when you laughed. And god, your lips,glossed and soft, putting every lipgloss ad to shame. He couldn’t wait to taste them, and just the thought of it had his chest tightening.
Jason found himself smiling, lost in the thought of you, before snapping back to reality and glaring down at his phone.
Jason hadn’t expected it to be this stressful,picking flowers for a girl.
But you weren’t just any girl. You were THE girl. Unique, perfect for him, and somehow everything he didn’t know he needed. So yeah, it felt like an impossible decision, because he wanted the flowers to actually mean something. He wanted them to represent you.
He stood in front of the glass display, running a hand through his hair in frustration as his eyes darted between endless options
“I think… I’m gonna do these ones” he muttered finally, staring at the bright, bold flowers that practically radiated energy. Beautiful. Just like you.
He pulled out his wallet while the guy behind the counter retrieved them from the back, carefully arranging the bouquet before placing it onto the counter. The florist raised an eyebrow at Jason, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips
“Special lady in your life?”
Jason froze for half a second, distracted mid-motion with his wallet still in his hand. His throat went dry, but he managed a low reply
“Very special…” he tumbled, deep voice quite but certain
Even as he said it, his mind betrayed him,what if she’s allergic?! What if I show up with these and she breaks out in hives or I end up rushing her to the ER because I wanted to be sweet?
The florist slid the bouquet across the counter with his change
“Here you go. Flowers for your lady”
Jason hummed a quick thanks, shoving his wallet away before staring down at the bouquet. They smelled sweet, almost too sweet, but not even close to the way you smelled when you leaned into him on your walks home after dates. The scent of yours clung to him long after you left, the kind of sweetness he swore he craved like air
The bell above the shop door jingled as Jason stepped out onto the street, bouquet clutched a little too tightly in one hand. The morning air hit him, cool and sharp, but it didn’t do much to clear his head
What the hell was he doing?
You weren’t even official. Not really. You two had been talking, sure,grabbing dinners when his schedule let him breathe, staying up too late on FaceTime, sharing pieces of your day like it was the most natural thing in the world. But no labels. No big talk. Not even a kiss.
For all he knew, you could’ve been seeing someone else. Maybe there was another guy you laughed with, another guy you let walk you home. The thought twisted in his chest like a knife, making his grip on the flowers tighten until the paper crinkled.
Was he jumping the gun here? Showing up with flowers like some lovesick idiot when you hadn’t even called him your boyfriend?
Jason sighed, running a hand down his face as he walked. He admired what you had,God, he admired it. The way you made space for him without ever asking for more than he could give. The way you didn’t push when he went quiet, didn’t pry when he deflected. It was easy. Safe. Something he’d never thought he’d had
But he wanted more.
And that scared the hell out of him.
He glanced down at the bouquet, bright petals brushing against his arm as he carried it. They felt heavy now, heavier than they had in the shop. What if you thought it was too much? What if you laughed it off? What if you looked at him with those perfect eyes and told him you weren’t ready for this—for him?
Jason clenched his jaw and kept walking.
Jason’s thoughts were so loud he almost didn’t notice the person he’d walked straight into. His jaw clenched, ready to throw a glare and mutter something sharp,until he looked down.
And there you were.
The golden morning sun caught your face, making you look even more unreal than you already did. His chest tightened instantly, all that frustration evaporating in a rush of heat
“Jason! Hi!” You greeted, bright and warm, like the morning itself. “I was just gonna call you! Wanted to invite you over for breakfast! I’m getting bagels!”
He opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, your eyes dropped to the bouquet in his hands
“Oooo! Flowers!” You gasped, your smile wide. “They’re gorgeous. Who are they for? Decorations?” You teased, tilting your head
And Jason—stupid, overthinking, panicking, Jason,snapped before his brain could catch up
“They’re not for you! They’re for someone else.”
The words hung heavy in the air.
You froze, the sparkle in your eyes dimming as the smile slowly fell from your face. “Oh…uhm. Okay, well then…” your voice cracked as you trailed off, looking anywhere but him.
Jason’s stomach dropped. Nausea clawed at his throat, guilt flooding him so fast he swore his knees might buckle. He wanted to sink straight into the ground, erase the words, take them back. But it was too late,you were already stepping away.
Jason stood frozen, the words still hanging between you like smoke he couldn’t clear.
He wanted to punch himself. Hard.
Because you’d look so damn happy when your eyes lit up at the flowers in his hand. You’d look at him with that sweet, curious smile that always knocked the air right out of his chest. For a half second, he’d actually pictured you holding them, smiling brighter, maybe throwing your arms around his neck
And then he went and ruined it.
Now that smile was gone. Your voice cracked as you tried to cover the sting, and the sound of it gutted him. You turned away, hugging yourself against the morning chill, and Jason felt nausea coil deep in his stomach.
Idiot. Absolute fucking idiot.
He tightened his grip on the bouquet, the paper crinkling under his fist. He’s never hated himself more for running his mouth without thinking.
The only thing he wanted in that moment was to shove the flowers into your hands, to beg you to believe they were for you, that they’d always been for you. But his throat locked up, guilt and panic battling in his chest as he watched you walked away.
By the time Jason made it back to the manor, the flowers were still clutched in his hand, their bright colors mocking him with every step. He hadn’t even realized how tightly he was gripping them until the edges of the paper dug into his palm.
“Heyyy, look who decided to come home,” Dick called from the hall, leaning against the doorframe with that smug grin that always made Jason want to roll his eyes. “What’s that, little bro? You finally got yourself a secret admirer?”
Jason didn’t answer. He didn’t even look at him. Just brushed past, jaw locked, and kept walking.
“Woah, nothing? Not even a grunt?” Dick laughed, trailing after him a few steps. “C’mon, Jay, don’t tell me you’re going soft—”
The slam of Jason’s bedroom door cut him off
Inside, Jason dropped onto his bed, bouquet still in hand, staring blankly up at the ceiling. He felt hollow. Numb. Every time he blinked, he saw your face,how bright it had been when you spotted the flowers, how quickly it had fallen when he opened his stupid mouth.
Hours blurred together in silence.
When he finally turned his head to check the clock, his stomach sank. Night had already fallen. Time for patrol.
Jason sighed, dragging himself upright. The flowers lay across his lap, untouched. He hated how they still smelled sweet, like something meant for you.
But instead, they sat with him,silent proof of his screw-up,as he pulled on his gear and readied himself to face the night.
Jason’s fists ached under his gloves, knuckles bruised from hitting harder than he needed to. Every criminal he put down tonight felt less like justice and more like punishment for himself. Rage simmered under his skin, burning through him in sharp, reckless bursts
But then…he froze.
On the corner of a quiet street, you sat on a bench under a flickering streetlight, swinging your feet lightly as you waited for the bus. The sight of you knocked the air from his lungs
Before he could stop himself, Jason leapt down from the rooftop, landing with a thud that made the bench rattle. He straightened quickly, stupidly planting his hands on his hips like he was Superman
“Hello!” His voice came out too loud, too awkward. “Uh—I came here to ask if you’re okay. Don’t want you… y’know, in danger or anything!” He tried to lower his tone, make it sound smooth and commanding, but instead his voice cracked, betraying him
You blinked up at him, startled at first, but then your shoulders slumped. You looked down at your lap, picking at your sleeve
“Just… a bad day,” you murmured, your voice soft, breaking. “I really liked this guy—” Your words wavered, lips trembling, and you couldn’t even finish before a tear slipped free
Jason’s heart shattered.
“I thought we had something amazing” you whispered, your lips pouting in that way he’d memorized, the same lips he dreamed about kissing. “It was nothing I’ve ever felt before… only to find out he’s talking to another girl.”
Jason felt his throat close up, guilt clawing at every inch of him. He wanted to rip his mask off, fall to his knees, and tell you the truth,that the “guy” was him, that there wasn’t another girl, that the only thing he was guilty of was being a coward who said the wrong thing.
But all he could do in that moment was stare, silent, torn between his secret and his desperate need to fix what he’d broken.
Jason swallowed hard, forcing down the lump in his throat. He wanted to rip the helmet off, to spill every truth, but his chest was locked tight.
Instead, he crouched down in front of you, his bulky frame lowering until his glowing red eyes were level with your tear-stained ones.
“Hey” his voice softened, no fake bravado this time. “Whoever this guy is… he’s a damn fool. You deserve better. Way better.”
You sniffled, wiping your cheek with the back of your hand. “Doesn’t feel like it right now.”
Jason’s heart twisted, but he pushed a little closer, resting his hands on his knees. “Want me to beat him up for you?” he asked suddenly, tilting his head like it was the most casual offer in the world.
You blinked at him, startled, before a small, watery laugh slipped out. “What?”
“I’m serious,” he said, voice playful but earnest. “Name, address—I’ll make sure he regrets it. Nobody makes some one pretty like you,cry on my watch.”
You shook your head, laughing again, and the sound loosened something in his chest. “You’re ridiculous,” you murmured, though the smile tugging at your lips was real this time.
Jason smirked under the helmet, though you couldn’t see it. There it is, he thought. That smile. The one he’d do anything for.
And for just a second, the guilt didn’t feel so crushing.
“I’ll… I’ll walk you, uhm, home” Jason mumbled, still trying to drag his voice lower, like Red Hood should sound.
You gave him a side glance, lips twitching. “Yeah, uh… just don’t rob me. I don’t need a more horrible day.”
Jason let out a sharp breath that was half a laugh, half a groan. Even when your voice was shaky, you still had that spark
You both stood from the bench, and Jason instinctively took a step forward, ready to lead the way. Then it hit him like a brick
Red Hood wasn’t supposed to know where you lived
He froze, boots heavy against the sidewalk. His mind scrambled for an excuse, anything that would cover his slip without raising suspicion. He couldn’t just march you home like he knew the exact street, the exact apartment door. That wasn’t supposed to be part of the mask
His throat tightened inside the helmet, panic crawling up his neck.
Your steps slowed, your voice small and trembling. “I still really like him,” you whispered, each word dragging another crack through Jason’s chest. “He was so handsome… and everything I could ever ask for.”
Jason’s stomach churned, nausea clawing at him. He wanted to scream that it was him, that he was the idiot who screwed it up. Instead, he forced out a shaky breath, trying to keep his tone steady
“Are you sure you don’t want me to beat this guy up?” he asked softly, crouching his head to catch your eyes through the tears. “Because I know Batman. I can get Batman”
The words slipped out half-serious, half-desperate attempt to make you laugh again.
You hiccupped, blinking at him through wet lashes. “You’re silly…” you whispered, but there was the tiniest curve of a smile on your lips despite the tears
Jason smirked faintly behind the mask, though his chest still ached. He’d take it. Anything to make you smile again, even if you didn’t know it was him.
The walk was slow, quiet—your shoulders still tense, his every step measured like he was balancing on glass. Jason hung back just enough to look like he was just escorting, not leading, biting back the instinct to walk the familiar path home to you like he’d done a hundred times before.
Finally, you stopped in front of your apartment door. The golden glow of the hallway light spilled across your face, softening the traces of tears still clinging to your lashes. Jason swallowed hard, the flowers still heavy in his memory, guilt pressing down on him like armor.
He shifted awkwardly, scratching at the back of his neck through the helmet. “Alright… uh. Here you are. Safe and sound.” His voice cracked at the edges despite his best effort to keep it low and even.
You looked up at him, giving a small, tired smile. “Thanks… really. For walking me.”
Jason’s chest tightened, the words he wanted to say screaming in his head, but all that came out was a gruff, “Have a good night.”
He lingered a moment too long, then turned sharply, the red glow of his helmet fading as he disappeared into the shadows of the hall.
Jason vaulted up the fire escape two steps at a time, his boots hitting metal hard enough to rattle. By the time he pulled himself onto the roof, his chest was heaving—not from the climb, but from the storm inside him.
He tore the helmet off, running a hand through his hair as the cool night air hit his sweat-damp skin. The city stretched around him, restless and glowing, but all he could see was you. The way your voice cracked. The way your smile dimmed. The way you’d sat on that bench and said you thought he was everything you ever wanted,only for him to blow it.
Jason squeezed his eyes shut, bile rising in his throat. I’m such a fucking idiot.
He dropped down onto the ledge, elbows braced on his knees, helmet dangling from one hand. The other dug into his hair, tugging at the roots. He’d hurt you, the last thing in this world he ever wanted to do. And for what? Because he was scared? Because he thought flowers were “too much”?
No. No more of that.
Jason stood abruptly, jaw clenched, determination snapping into place. He wasn’t going to let that be the ending. Not with you.
Those damn flowers were still sitting in his room at the manor. He pictured them—bright, sweet, mocking him every time he looked at them
Tomorrow, you were going to have them
No more hiding behind Red Hood. No more half-truths. No more letting fear choke him. You were worth every risk, every fight, every ounce of his screwed-up heart
Jason Todd was going to make it up to you.
Starting with those flowers.
Steam curled out of the bathroom as Jason stepped into his room, towel slung low on his hips. His reflection stared back from the mirror above the dresser,haunted eyes, clenched jaw, hair damp and messy. He dragged his hands down his face, muttering, Don’t screw this up.
He dressed carefully, slower than he ever had for patrol. Black jeans. Clean shirt. Jacket zipped just enough to show effort without looking like effort.
Then came the cologne. His cologne. The one you’d once told him made you dizzy,in the good way,when you leaned into his chest after dinner. He sprayed it twice, then paused, hesitated, and sprayed again, grimacing. “Too much” he muttered, waving his hand through the cloud. But deep down, he knew it never mattered. Your sweetness always drowned out everything else.
The bouquet sat on his nightstand, still fresh, still bright, like it had been waiting for this exact morning. Jason picked it up, adjusting the paper once, twice, like it needed to be perfect
By the time he stepped outside, the sun was just beginning to climb the horizon, streaks of gold spilling across Gotham’s gray skyline. The city was waking, and so was he.Heart pounding, palms slick with sweat as he walked
All the way down the block, he rehearsed. Just say it straight. Tell her the truth. Tell her they were always for her. Tell her you’re a jackass but you’re her jackass if she’ll have you
He repeated it over and over, but when he finally stopped, blinking up at your building, his stomach dropped.
He was already here.
Flowers in hand, Jason stood frozen at your door, his broad shoulders tense, one big, sweaty palm hovering inches from knocking. His chest ached, his pulse deafening in his ears.
This is it. Don’t screw it up. Please, don’t screw it up.
“I swear, if I need to put a no soliciting sign up, I will! I don’t want your produc—”
Your words cut off the moment the door swung fully open
There he was. Jason. Tall, broad, shoulders filling the doorway, and somehow making the bouquet in his hand look almost small. The same flowers you’d seen yesterday.
“J–Jason!” Your voice faltered, the air catching in your throat. “What… what do you need?”
You scrambled, heart racing, trying to sound collected, trying to defend yourself against the wave of emotions crashing over you. But Jason wasn’t really listening to your words,he was staring.
Your lashes. Still damp. Red at the edges, just enough to betray you.
Jason shifted his weight, the bouquet trembling slightly in his grip. His throat felt dry, but the words burned behind his teeth. This was his chance. His only chance.
Jason’s grip on the flowers tightened, his pulse hammering in his ears. He couldn’t stand another second of silence, of you staring at him with those tear-bright eyes
“They’re for you,” he blurted, the words tumbling out too fast, too rough. “The flowers—they were always for you. I was gonna bring ’em yesterday but I… I screwed it up. Said the wrong thing. Made it sound like they weren’t. But they are. They’re yours”
He exhaled hard, shoulders dropping, his chest rising and falling like he’d just run a mile
“I didn’t mean to hurt you. Hell, I’d never wanna hurt you. You’re… you’re all I think about.” His voice cracked, and he shook his head, trying to keep it together. “I like you. Way more than I should, probably. And I’m not good at this,saying it, doing it,but I couldn’t just let you think I was with someone else. There’s no one else. Just you”
Jason thrust the bouquet forward, almost shoving it into your hands like he couldn’t stand to hold onto it any longer
“They’re yours. Always were”
You didn’t move right away. The air between you hung heavy, filled with the smell of his cologne and the sweetness of the flowers.
Slowly, carefully, you reached out, your fingers brushing the paper wrapping as if you were afraid they’d vanish. Jason’s big hand loosened its grip, letting you take them, though he looked like he’d rather choke than let go.
You stared down at the bouquet, lips parting but no words coming out, waiting…needing…to hear more. To know he meant it.
Jason’s throat bobbed, and for once, he didn’t look away. “I know I don’t deserve a second chance after the crap I pulled yesterday,” he muttered, voice low and raw. “But I’m asking for one anyway. Because I can’t stand the thought of you thinking you’re not enough for me. You’re… you’re everything. The only thing I don’t wanna screw up.”
Your grip tightened slightly around the stems, your heart hammering against your ribs as you studied his face, searching for a crack, a lie, something.
But all you saw was Jason,nervous, messy, and painfully sincere.
“Y’know… you’re actually a goof ” you muttered, a laugh slipping past your lips as you finally looked up at him
Jason blinked, stunned for a second, then let out the faintest breath of a laugh himself,like he couldn’t quite believe you weren’t throwing him back down the hall
You shifted to the side, opening the door wider. “Well? You just gonna stand there, or are you coming in?”
For all his broad shoulders and cocky attitude on the streets, Jason hesitated. His boots stayed planted on the threshold, his eyes flicking from the doorway to you, like he needed that last ounce of permission before stepping into your world.
You gave him a small smile and a quick nod
That was all he needed.
Jason stepped inside carefully, bouquet still clutched awkwardly in one hand, his other shoved deep into his jacket pocket as if to keep from fidgeting. He looked around your cozy apartment, taking in the warm clutter, the faint scent of your favorite candle still lingering in the air
Behind him, you closed the door softly, the click echoing in the quiet room
For the first time in days, Jason felt like maybe—just maybe,he hadn’t ruined everything
You moved toward the kitchen, the bouquet cradled against your chest. Jason trailed behind a step, watching as you pulled a tall glass vase from the cupboard, filled it with water, and carefully placed the flowers inside.
They looked perfect there,bright, alive, filling your cozy apartment with color. Jason couldn’t tear his eyes away. They belong here. She belongs with them. No, she belongs with me.
“You didn’t have to get me flowers” you said softly, adjusting the stems, not looking at him.
Jason exhaled through his nose, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah. I did.” His voice was low, almost rough. “Because you… you don’t get it. You’re the first thing in a long time that makes me feel like I’m not just—” he stopped himself, jaw clenching, searching for the words. “Like I’m not just a mess. You make me wanna be better. And I’m scared as hell of screwing that up.”
You finally turned, leaning against the counter, arms crossed. Your brows arched. “You’re such a sap, Todd.”
Jason huffed a laugh, shaking his head. She doesn’t get it. She doesn’t get that she’s got me wrapped around her finger. That I’d go through hell twice over just to see her smile again.
You rolled your eyes, but the smile tugging at your lips betrayed you.
Before Jason could overthink again, you stepped forward, sliding your arms around his broad frame. He froze for half a second, then melted, his hands coming up to cradle you gently against his chest.
And then, slowly, you tilted your head up and kissed him.
It wasn’t rushed. It wasn’t messy. It was perfect,soft, warm, unhurried. Just like everything Jason had ever wanted but never believed he’d have.
His heart slammed in his chest, his thoughts a blur. Don’t wake up. Don’t ruin this. Don’t ever let her go.
When you finally pulled back, your lips still brushed his, and Jason let out the smallest, shaky laugh. For once, he wasn’t overthinking. He was exactly where he wanted to be.










