Bluish-green eyes fluttered open as the soft sunlight poured in through the room and the sight that met his eyes was one he craved each time he couldn't be with her due to his missions. The beautiful sight of Valerie Kayes next to him. 

She was still asleep, her wavy brown hair splayed out on the pillow and her hands tucked under her head, a peaceful depiction of a nymph put to rest. The more he got to see her, the more he realized why writers would describe their lovers in such detail. 

She was not yet a lover, that thought crossed his mind but he ignored it, they were just a little less than lovers.

But right then as he gently brushed her hair back from her face and saw her snuggle closer to him, he couldn't help but wonder if he had been fooling himself that whole time.

He would keep reminding himself that they were just friends who had agreed to casually hook up but each second he spent with her held a much deeper meaning than that. He was perhaps fooling himself into thinking that he couldn't fall for her.

Perhaps, he already had fallen deep and there was no coming out.

The only reason he would still convince himself that they could not be in a relationship more than what they had was that he didn't want to drag her into his mess of a life. His life as an Outlaw and the Red Hood was far from stable and he didn't want her to come to any harm due to it.

He still remembered the early days of their relationship when he had tried so hard to keep himself away but always failed and gave up in the end. For some reason, he always kept coming back to her, despite his attempts to stay away.

And by then as months had lapsed in that swiveling consistency, he had given up trying to stay away. He had just accepted that Valerie was a part of his existence and each time he needed her, he would reach out to her.

Sometimes, she would be the one to reach out after a bad day at work or an argument with customers or just whenever she wanted to spend time with him. But whatever the reason would be for their meeting, it always ended in the same way. With both of them entangled in his bed, waking up after the sun had risen over the horizon.

He knew what they had wouldn't last forever but just for the time being that she was with him, he wanted to live in that delusion.

"You're awake already?" Her voice shook him out of his thoughts and he looked down to see that she had woken up too, her head resting on his chest as her grey eyes looked up at him.

"Yeah, you want breakfast?"

"Of course. But don't get up right now," she remarked, her hand reaching out to gently touch his face, "stay a while."

"Alright."

She was silent after that, her fingers gently curling at his messy hair. She would always twirl that white streak and it felt quite relaxing to Jason each time she played with his hair like that.

But after some time, she spoke up, "these scars are new. I don't remember seeing these earlier."

She was referring to the scars on his shoulders and chest that he didn't even remember which mission he had gotten hurt that badly on. But her grey eyes were concerned and he knew he had to answer.

"I got into an accident on site," he mumbled, watching her finger gently trace the dents on his skin, "a drill machine was loose and I was in the way..."

"Jason, that's a lame excuse but it's fine if you don't want to tell me," she remarked, sitting up and gathering her hair into a bun.

Jay's arms wrapped around her shortly after as he pulled her back, "I am not giving you an excuse."

"Then you must be lying."

"Val," he sighed, letting go of her as she tugged herself out of his grip, "it's not like that."

The rest of his incoherent words drowned as she locked their lips together until he gave in and deepened the moment.

As she let him pull her close with the kisses turning into a full makeout session, she was pondering on what space she stood at in his life. Was she that important for him to share his secrets with her or if some time was still required to reach that level?

But then was it even required for him to tell her what went on in his personal life? 

When they pulled apart, Valerie's hands gently cupped his face as she looked down into his eyes, trying to see for herself if he would give her an honest answer or not. "You're not endangering yourself, are you?"

"Of course not."

"And whatever it is that you do, you don't do it to get hurt on purpose..."

He shook his head lightly, seeing that she was worried, "Valerie, it's fine. I am not doing anything to intentionally hurt myself."

"You better not," she remarked, emphasizing the first three words, "no matter what you do in your life, there will be people who care for you and who want to see you safe. Don't get so hurt that it ends up hurting your loved ones."

His eyes softened as he spoke, "and are you one of those people who care for me and want to see me safe?"

She hesitated, taking in a shaky breath, "maybe."

"One of my loved ones..." He tugged out a strand from her messy bun, twirling it between his fingers. Her cheeks shaded red, noticing the intensity of his gaze.

It felt as if a lot was running through Jason's head at the moment but he was considering how to voice it out or if he should just leave it unspoken.

At last, he spoke up, "you don't have to worry for me."

"And why is that?"

"Because no matter what happens, I somehow keep coming back to you," he remarked, his hand gently fitting across the curve of her cheek, caressing it softly, "I will find my way back to you even if I am hurt."

"Don't say that," she mumbled, closing the gap between them as she kissed him, "I don't want you to get hurt. Ever."

His hands gently weaved through her hair, kissing her tenderly. When he broke the kiss, he spoke, "come on, Valerie, you're making me emotional too today. I should be in the kitchen making breakfast by now."

She held onto him, refusing to let him go, "no."

"Why not?"

"We'll make breakfast together," she offered, "I am not as good at it as you are but Sarah says I make decent coffee."

He smiled, letting her pull him off the bed, "okay then, you will look after the coffee and I will manage the rest."

***