The air in Wayne Manor felt lighter as Aubrey prepared to head home, her energy finally restored after the chaos of the last few days. She smiled as she pulled Jason's hoodie tighter around herself, the warmth of it comforting her as she said her goodbyes to Alfred and the others. Jason had insisted on walking her to the door, offering a soft, awkward smile that made her heart warm.

"You sure you're good to go back alone?" Jason asked, hands stuffed deep into his pockets.

Aubrey rolled her eyes but smiled. "Yes, Jason. I'm fine. Besides, if I need anything, I know how to find you."

Jason smirked, knowing that was true. "Yeah, well... just call if you need me."

"I will." Aubrey's eyes softened as she looked at him, the unspoken words hanging in the air between them. With a final nod, she slipped out of the manor, her footsteps light as she disappeared into the night.

Jason stood in the doorway for a moment, watching her go. It wasn't until the sound of footsteps behind him made him turn that he realized the boys had been waiting for this moment.

"Well, look at that," Dick said, leaning against the doorframe with an exaggerated grin. "Jason walking a girl to the door, looking all sentimental."

Jason groaned, knowing where this was heading. "Don't start, Dick."

"Start what?" Tim chimed in, his smile wide. "We're just saying, it's nice to see you all... human. I mean, you even look like you care about someone."

Damian, always blunt, crossed his arms with a smirk. "Tt. You're acting like a lovesick puppy."

Jason's jaw clenched. "You little—"

Before he could finish, Dick stepped between them, laughing as he held up his hands. "Easy there, Jay. No need to throw a punch just because we're pointing out the obvious."

Jason's eyes narrowed, his fists balling at his sides as he took a step toward Damian. "You wanna say that again, Damian?"

Damian raised his chin defiantly. "Yes. You're being ridiculous—"

Before they could get into a full-blown fight, a voice cut through the tension.

"Enough."

Bruce's deep, commanding tone silenced the room instantly. He stood in the doorway of his office, his eyes sharp and unreadable as he looked between the group. "Jason, I need to speak with you."

Jason exhaled, his anger dissipating as he turned away from Damian. "Yeah, sure."

"Oh! Jason where did your hoodie go?" Tim asked, a shit eating grin on his face. 

Jason gave him a questioning look before realizing what he meant. Aubrey had left in his hoodie, infact she hadn't gone without it since he gave it too her.

With one last glare in his brothers direction, Jason followed Bruce into the office. The large room was dimly lit, the soft glow of the fireplace casting long shadows across the walls. Bruce moved to his desk, sitting behind it as he motioned for Jason to take a seat across from him.

Jason hesitated for a moment before sitting down, knowing this wasn't going to be a light conversation. Bruce leaned forward, his elbows resting on the desk as he studied Jason.

"Tell me about Aubrey."

Jason blinked, surprised by the directness of the question. He shifted in his seat. "What about her?"

Bruce's gaze didn't waver. "Her past. Her future. What are her plans?"

Jason sighed, running a hand through his hair. "She's... complicated. Her past is rough—League of Shadows rough. She's been through a lot, more than most people can handle. But she's not like them anymore. She's trying to make her own path, burn her own bridges."

"And her future?" Bruce asked, his voice measured. "What does she plan to do now that she's here?"

Jason hesitated, the weight of the conversation settling on his shoulders. "She wants to tear down the criminal empires in Gotham, take out the corruption. She's done it before in other places, but Gotham's different. I think she sees something here... maybe something worth staying for."

Bruce leaned back slightly, his expression thoughtful. "And you're trying to convince her to stay."

It wasn't a question, but Jason nodded anyway. "Yeah. I'm not exactly subtle about it. I don't want her to leave. She's good at what she does, and... I care about her."

Bruce studied Jason for a long moment, the silence stretching between them. Finally, he spoke, his tone more measured than Jason expected. "She's not an immediate threat. But she's dangerous. And unpredictable."

Jason smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Isn't that why you took me back?"

Bruce's lips pressed into a thin line. "Keep a leash on her."

Jason chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, about that... she's the one with the leash on me, not the other way around."

Bruce raised an eyebrow, but didn't argue. He simply grunted. "Just make sure she doesn't cross the line."

Jason stood up, feeling the tension shift slightly. "That's not up to me, I don't control her."

With that, the conversation ended, and Jason left the office, his mind still buzzing. Bruce didn't see Aubrey as an immediate threat, but he wasn't blind to the potential danger she could pose. Still, Jason knew there was something more to her, something worth fighting for.

Later that night, Jason found himself standing outside Aubrey's apartment. He had been here before, but tonight felt different. The conversations with Bruce had left him feeling raw, unsure of how to process everything. He had come on his own, without her invitation. He knocked lightly, and a moment later, the door opened to reveal Aubrey, her hair tied back and her body draped in a loose sweater. She looked up at him, her expression softening.

"Jason," she greeted, stepping aside to let him in. "You okay?"

Jason walked in, taking in the warmth of her apartment. It smelled like apples and cinnamon, a soft instrumental tune playing in the background. He let out a long breath, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I just... had a talk with Bruce."

Aubrey raised an eyebrow, moving to the couch where a book lay open on the armrest. "Ah, I see. That explains why you look like you've been run over by a truck." She smiled sympathetically, laying down and grabbing the burnt orange blanket she had likely thrown to the side to get the door.

Jason smirked, leaning against the side of the couch. "Talking to Bruce does that."

Aubrey chuckled, but there was sympathy in her eyes. "He always has a way of making everything feel heavy, doesn't he?"

Jason shifted his feet, feeling the weight of the conversation with Bruce start to ease as he looked at her. "Yeah. He does."

Aubrey shifted, moving her blanket aside and gesturing for Jason to lay down with her. "You look like you could use some comfort."

Jason hesitated, glancing at her with a raised eyebrow. "Are you sure? What about your gunshot wound?"

Aubrey rolled her eyes and lifted her sweater, revealing the fully healed skin where the wound once was. "I heal fast, remember? This doesn't have to mean anything if you don't want it too, but we both could use somebody right now. Lay with me? Just for a little?" She held her arms out in front of her for him to climb into.

Jason's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he sighed, the exhaustion finally catching up to him. "Alright," he muttered, pulling off his sweater and tossing it aside He was in a thin black teeshirt underneath, and he knew she would likely benefit from the body heat he gave off. The pit seemed to alter his natural temperature, so he ran a few degrees hotter anyway.

He settled down on the white couch, laying his body over hers and resting his head on her chest as her arms wrapped around him. Aubrey's body was warm, her heartbeat steady beneath his ear. For a moment, he didn't know what to say, the comfort of her embrace enough to keep him grounded.

"Am I too heavy?" Jason asked quietly, his voice soft.

Aubrey smiled, her fingers running through his hair. "No. You're perfect."

Jason closed his eyes, letting the tension in his muscles melt away as the warmth of her body surrounded his own. Aubrey picked up her book again, holding it with one hand while the other rested on his shoulder. Her hand would occasionally run up and down his back in a soothing motion he loved. She continued reading, her soft voice occasionally breaking the silence to mutter something quietly to herself about the story.

Jason could feel himself relax more and more, the steady rhythm of her breathing and the faint country instrumental music in the background lulling him into a sense of peace he hadn't felt in a long time. Her apartment was filled with the scent of warm apple cider, a cozy atmosphere that made him feel like he belonged there, wrapped up in her world.

As the minutes passed, Jason's mind wandered, drifting between the present and the future. He couldn't stop thinking about how much he wanted her to stay—here, in Gotham, with him. He didn't want to lose her, didn't want to let her disappear into the chaos of her own life. He needed to find a way to convince her that staying wasn't just a good idea—it was the right one.

As he drifted off to sleep, his last thought was of Aubrey—of her smile, her strength, and the hope that she might stay for good.

Authors Note: Some fluff for you all. Enjoyyyyyyyy.