=Chapter Thirty-Nine=
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Jason's pov
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Saturday, 28th of September

I was casually eating Percy's wonderful pancakes, going back for seconds and even thirds.

They were blue, which was so wonderfully and traditionally Her.

Everything I saw was blue.

And everything blue reminded me of Her.

As horrifying as it sounds, my favorite color was turning from red to blue.

Red will always be a strong color to me, it will always represent my past.

But blue was Her. Blue was Percy.

And Percy was my friend. For now.

A friend that I really, really, really liked.

I laid my head back against the couch. I got some answers this morning. Finally.

Percy wasn't normal. And she seemed to be in danger, constantly.

Those weird creatures that she fought months ago... and the huge dog things this morning..

Obviously she was used to it. But I couldn't stand back and watch her get eaten alive. Those things were literally biting her. And somehow she fought them off.

Those dogs were something special that I couldn't quite put a finger on. They didn't even flinch as my bullets pretty much passed through them.

What on earth was she?

She might've told me had I asked, since I technically witnessed everything with my own eyes and there was no way to lie around it.

But this was Percy. And I.. Red Hood or not.. wasn't going to pressure her to tell me. Especially when I was lying to her myself about my identity.

I wanted Percy to tell me. Or rather, tell Jason.

After all, someday I'll tell her about me.

Unless.. she specifically hints she wants nothing to do with me.. romantically.

I was having the time of my life flirting away my worries, seeing her cute blushing reactions.

I was a stranger to her, and yet she had no problem inviting me to her home.

She's got really bad survival skills.

I'm gonna have to tease her about that later.

Oh, and I'm in deep trouble.

Here I was, as Red Hood, in Percy's apartment, where I (As Jason) was supposed to be sleeping over for the night.

Yeah I was tired last night, and yes she was right I shouldn't drive home.

So I stayed. It doesn't take a lot of encouragement to convince me to stay. The closer I was to Percy the more peace I felt in my mind.

It was always a jumbled mess. Memories, hurt feelings, anger. She would wipe it all away with one playful poke.

But I was busy. I needed to track down Bella. She wasn't going to get away with hurting Percy's family.

And hurting Percy herself.

She was truly a horrible person. She literally tortured Percy by making her do all the heavy work when she was INJURED. and because of that, she broke her stitches! Which that alone could've been very, very bad!

Especially when she took Percy's phone and fled, leaving Percy abandoned with no way to call for help, her only choice to walk to the nearest phone or hospital.

Of course I couldn't sleep while that miserable excuse for a human being was running free.

The only thing I didn't expect was Percy leaving the building and getting tackled by a massive dog, let alone four of them.

Watching them attack her with such ferociously sent my anger into an overdrive, my hands were shaking so badly I was surprised to see my shots aimed true.

Anyways, one thing led to another, and as you're probably aware..

Wait who am I talking to?

Uh anyways, I got hurt. Ow, and Percy took me home. As red hood. And now I'm stuck here.

And Jason me was supposed to be here. I in fact, cannot be two people at once, so I'm in a pickle.

The sooner I can get out of here the sooner I can come back as Jason.

Percy is probably worried sick about me.

Well I think she is. Is it bad to hope?

Ugh but these pancakes..

I sank deeper into the couch.

She really knows how to keep a hostage happy.

I stuffed another fork full into my mouth, savoring the fluffy, syrup drenched stack.

She had said something about not being able to drown and neither can her pancakes when I commented on her very obviously drowning pancakes, and I merely blinked and took the initiative to also drown my own.

Best idea of my second life.

I heard the stairs outside the apartment door squeak so I assumed Percy was coming back to check on me, although it's only been like an hour or so.

(Yes she made too many pancakes, measuring is beyond her)

Perhaps she's paranoid, and wants to coddle me like a mother hen.

Let's change coddle to cuddle and then I'd happy accept that burden.

Ok I'm letting myself go too far.

I stuffed another bite in my mouth before I grabbed my helmet and slipped it over my head.

I glanced sadly at the plate with a few drenched pancakes abandoned on it.

As much as I hate to say it, i was hoping Percy would be quick.. cause those were destined to be in my stomach.

Okay I'm gonna have to go to the gym after this.

The door opened slowly, which wasn't normal of her but perhaps she wanted to make sure I wasn't indecent (aka helmet less, aw how sweet)

But when I saw brown hair, an ugly rusty color that I unfortunately recognized all too quickly, I ducked.

Yes, my first instinct was to hide.

But I was glad I did, as I soon realized Bella had a motive, a motive that I'd like to know.

I slumped down to the ground, wincing to suppress a groan as it irritated my wounds.

Bella walked past the couch and into Percy's room. I quietly followed her to see her place Percy's phone in the drawer of her nightstand.

Bella paused when she noticed a notebook lying inside, and picked it up, looking through it.

Bella audibly scoffed at whatever was inside, muttering not so quietly.

"She's such a freak. What language even is this? Ugh I hope she gets fired soon. This apartment is too nice to keep to herself.."

I seethed, stepping inside the room.

Bella froze as she seemingly heard the noise I made pushing the door open.

"Give me a good excuse." I demanded quietly.

She turned quietly, her eyes wide with tears already brimming.

She looked ready to scream.

"I- I-" she stammered.

I took a step forward threateningly.

"Speak." I said coldly.

"Who are you!" She said starting to cry.

"Stop crying you worthless pig. I'm Red Hood." I stepped closer again, and she stumbled back against Percy's nightstand.

"Red Hood?!!" She shrieked.

"Yeah. And I'm giving you a chance to excuse yourself. Not that it will do anything." I stood over her now.

"I was purely helping Percy! I found her phone but I knew she hates me so I thought maybe I'll put it somewhere she might find it herself so she won't have any reason to believe I was the reason for it being lost!"

I scoffed, noticing her tears stop flowing for her performance, probably because she can't even multitask like the rest of us. She can only do one lie at a time.

Oh I'm sure she's scared. Good.
But I don't scare people to tears.

I'd be stupid to believe those were real.

Those are purely to attract any mercy.. if she could obtain it.

"And what about what you just said a moment ago? That Percy was a freak? Honestly how do you expect me to believe you have Percy's best intentions in mind?" I crouched down to her eye level when she slumped further down the nightstand after realizing she wasn't getting away with it.

"I.. I was just joking around..." she smiled awkwardly.

"And telling her family she died was a joke too?"

Her eyes widened.

"Yeah. I know that too. You're toast, Isabella Hailey laTuer."

Her mouth fell open. "H-how do you.."

"I know everything about you. Enough to know nobody would care if you disappeared off the face of the planet. Your own parents disowned you, your siblings hate you. All your friends left you. You did that to yourself, with your narcissistic and selfish behavior."

I leaned closer and closer with every second, hoping to get an answer out of the witch.

"And now you plan to hurt Percy? What did she do to you to deserve that? She's never treated you badly. In fact she tried to be friends."

Finally Bella stopped fake crying. She glared. "Shes too perfect. She has a family, a job. A free apartment! Friends! People who love her! She has men who gape at her just from seeing her walk by them! It's not fair!"

I raised an eyebrow from underneath my helmet.

"It's not fair? Have you given the thought that perhaps she worked for all of that? Maybe she deserves it! You don't know her, and you never will. You are jealous because you ruined your chance to have a life like hers. It's nothing but your own fault."

I stood up and Bella watched me nervously. "It's not my fault.. they were incompetent.. Percy probably did nothing important in her life to deserve what she has now.."

Bella stood up and crossed her arms, probably feeling invincible.

"Why try to take it from her. Do you really feel pleasure from taking happiness from others?" I demanded.

"Ha. Of course. I've never seen anyone have such a wonderful life. Wouldn't you want to put a nail in the glass?"

"..no!" I said in shock.

"Then you're incompetent too." She shrugged.

I slapped her.

So hard she reeled back down to her place against the nightstand.

"Ow!" She hissed in anger.

"You're pathetic. You're not even worth the effort to kill."

She laughed nervously. "Kill..?"

"Yeah. I fully intended to kill you. But now.. I think that would be too much of a mercy." 

I turned the moment I felt someone else walking into the apartment. I saw this time it was actually Percy, and she looked like she could actually murder someone.

She saw me and sped up to stand beside me.

"Bella." She greeted.

"Percy." She hissed, not hiding her disgust.

"Red hood.. what happened." Percy asked me, eyeing the very dark bruise on Bella's face.

"This woman's intentions are nothing but evil.. she's got it out for you." I summed up.

"I think I know." Percy muttered.

"Bella, I'd personally love to beat you up." Percy sighed. "But I have a better idea."

"Oh wow, yes let's discuss my assault in front of me!" Bella exclaimed sarcastically.

"You're fired." Percy said disinterestedly.

Bella scoffs. "You can't fire me. Only May can."

Percy raised an eyebrow. "I don't care. You're fired."

Bella glares. "Okay. Fine. I'll leave.."

Percy shook her head. "Nope. I got somewhere to take you."

I watched curiously, not sure what Percy had in mind.

"Red Hood.. thank you for all your help. I'll be back soon." Percy grabbed Bella's arm and started dragging her away.

"Where are you bringing her?" I asked.

"I'm taking her to a museum." She said.

Bella laughed. "A museum? You've gotta be kidding me! Oh no! Don't torture me with paintings!"

"I think you'll like it," Percy responded with a smile. "I think you'll find a friend there."

"Bye I guess." I waved.

As much as I'd like to go see what Percy had in mind.. this was her battle to fight. And I think she's pretty capable of doing it herself.

Now I think this is my moment to escape and come back as Jason..

Percy tugged the still laughing Bella down the stairs as I eyed my pancakes.

Lemme just..

I made sure to wait until the door closed before I bolted for the plate and threw off my helmet, scarfing down the remaining pancakes.

"I really hope I marry this girl." I sigh quietly as I made sure that was the end of the pancakes.

"Mmmm..Okay. Escape time.."

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lol hi again!
(Yes I wrote this between now and the moment i released the last chapter lol)

2k words chapter lets goooo!

I'm very excited because we are finally eliminating Bella from the book! One more chapter and she is out like sauerkraut!

Of course Bella isn't the main villain in this book, so we're not close to over
(And they haven't even kissed 🫢😫)
So don't worry about the end coming too quickly lol.

I am enjoying this so far lol.

Anyways, love you all,

Have a doubly *phonetastic* day cause Bella sure won't when she sees what Percy has got coming! lol

Toodles!
💙🍪