Oops, its been a month since I updated. I got distracted by my other endeavors and school started recently so I've been busy with catching up on that stuff. I also got COVID tested today.

Fun times y'all. :)

"...and go!" Jason hit the start button on the stop watch, watching as Selina started on dismantling the frame on the practice painting. He watched her intently, trying his best to absorb her technique into his memory. He looked at the way her hands danced across the back of the canvas as she unattached the painting, rolling it up. She placed the frame back on the wall and turned to Jason with a thumbs up. He hit stop on the watch. "Not bad, not bad."

Selina smirked, walking up to him. "I am considered the best at what I do for a reason, kitten."

Jason rolled his eyes good naturedly. "Yeah, yeah. Just wait until I get in the game."

Selina chuckled, ruffling his hair. Jason scrunched up his face, swatting her hand away, which only made Selina chuckle more. "You think you'll be better than me?"

"Of course. The student always surpasses the teacher. Its like, a rule or something." Jason shrugged in a noncommittal way. Selina scoffed lightly. "What? I'm not making this stuff up. You can look it up if you don't believe me, its a law of the universe. I think it was one of Newton's laws, but don't quote me on that."

"Newton was a physicist and discovered the laws of universal gravitation and motion. I highly doubt he said that. I think who you are looking for is Lao Tzu, a Taoist philosopher." Selina draped herself over the couch, her feet dangling off the back as she looked up at Jason, who was staring at her with thinly veiled surprise. "What? Why the look of shock?"

"No reason."

Selina sat up, gasping dramatically. "You're surprised that I know that."

Jason's eyes widened and he shook his head. "No."

"Yes, you are!" Selina grabbed a pillow off the couch and tossed it at Jason. "You little jerk. Just because I'm a thief doesn't mean I'm not educated."

Jason ducked under the pillow, raising his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright, you got me. I was just surprised that you knew the name of the philosopher, not the other stuff."

Selina narrowed her eyes playfully. "Yeah huh. Sure."

"Honest! Swear on my training, no, swear on my life." Jason placed a hand over his heart and raised the opposite hand in the air.

Selina smiled at him, patting the spot on the couch next to her. Jason walked over and sat down next to her. She pulled him into a side hug, squeezing gently. "You know, after my job, I could definitely go for a movie marathon. I'll even let you pick the genre."

Jason looked up at her in disbelief. "Really? But I thought you said I was banned from picking the genres after I made you watch Donnie Darko."

Selina groaned. "That movie doesn't even make any sense and does not count as a super hero movie no matter how you try to spin it, Jason."

"Donnie sacrifices his life to save the universe and keep intact the timeline that was disrupted by him being kept alive! It is a superhero movie!" Jason flung his hands up in frustration. "The fact that you can't - or better yet, refuse to - understand the deep complexities of the film boggles my mind."

Selina laughed. "You're very passionate about film and books, aren't you?" Jason got quiet, looking to his feet. Selina sensed the change in mood and placed a hand on Jason's shoulder. "Kitten, what's wrong?"

Jason shook his head. "Its nothing."

"Its obviously something."

Jason sighed. "Its just...movies and books were what I used to pass the time while I watched over my mother. She...she was a drug addict. I had to stay at home most of the time to make sure she didn't overdose. I couldn't get her off the stuff, so I had to at least make sure she was safe. I had to do something while I was at home and my neighbors knew of my situation, so they lent me books and movies to watch. And that's how I spent my days, reading and watching movies, and making sure my mother was still alive." Jason steeled his jaw. "I came home one day, a little later than normal, and she was gone. Well, she was there, but - you know what I mean. She was dead. There wasn't anything I could do for her. I was too late."

"Oh, Jason, I'm so sorry." Selina pulled him into a hug. "What...what about your father?"

Jason scoffed. "What about him?"

That was all Selina needed to hear. She hugged Jason closer for a moment before pulling back, leaning down to press a chaste kiss to his forehead.  When she pulled back she smiled a small smile at him. "Well, this has certainly been an eventful evening. We covered the training, talked about philosophy and physics, debated Donnie Darko, and discussed your past. What do you say we call it a night, yeah?"

Jason shrugged, a sheepish look on his face. "I...I was kind of hoping we could discuss my options for my costume?"

Selina nodded. "Of course we can, kitten. What did you have in mind, if anything?"

"Do you have a piece of paper and a pencil?" Jason watched Selina stand up and walk over to one of the kitchen drawers, rummaging around for a moment before returning with a pad of paper and a pen. "Thanks."

"'Course. Now, let's see what your mind has come up with." Selina sat back down next to Jason, watching as he hunched over the pad of paper. His hand and wristed flicked back and forth as he sketched out his design, translating it from his mind to paper. Selina kept trying to sneak glances but Jason would glare at her and she would shrink back, hands raised in surrender. "Alright, I'll be patient."

Jason stuck his tongue out slightly as he put the finishing touches on his design before he held the pad of paper close to his chest, design side facing him. "Okay, are you ready?"

"Born that way."

Jason turned the pad around and Selina looked the design over, taking in the carefully sketched lines and little notes Jason had scribbled along the edges. Jason bounced his leg in anticipation. "Well? What do you think?"

Selina looked from the design to Jason, her face breaking out into a grin. "I'll call my tailor in the morning."

Jason let out the breath he didn't even know he was holding. "You like it?"

Selina nodded. "You did a nice job, Jason. I really like it."

Jason grinned, a swell of pride bubbling up in his chest. "Well, I'd hope you'd like it. After all, I took inspiration from your costume."

Selina grinned at him, lightly punching his arm. "Copycat."