Chapter Text
Hood could feel the back of his helmet start crack as he was repeatedly slammed into a brick wall by what looked to be like a giant mutated gorilla-lizard hybrid. The thing hadn't stopped to introduce itself before rampaging around Gotham and officially pissing off Jason by destroying one of his favorite food carts. The monster's skin was thick enough that Hood's bullets were not doing any damage and blades did not even stand a chance. If he wasn't worried he'd lose his hand in the process, he would have stuck his gun in the thing's mouth and see if its palate was bulletproof, too.
His helmet gave in and maybe it'd be worth the risk to lose his hand if it meant not having his skull bashed in.
“Hey! Ugly!”
Hood's lips quirked under his helmet. The gorilla-lizard roared and threw him head first into a wall. He stayed crumbled on the ground and watched as Red Robin danced around the creature, smacking it with his bo staff. The object of Red Hood's desire figured out much quicker than he had that the beast seemed to have Kevlar for skin, and he changed to a different tactic.
Red, as Hood liked to so affectionately call him, was too fast for the monster to grab onto, so when he allowed himself to get caught, Hood let out a strangled noise of panic. Red Robin didn't have the armor Hood had that would protect his skull from being smashed against a wall. The monster roared and Red actually stuck his fucking arm down its throat. He was insane.
The gorilla-lizard was just as surprised by the action and Red Robin had enough time to yank his arm back before it had time to react. Red pulled his cape up, wrapping it around his head, and Hood was slightly confused by the motion.
When the monster's neck exploded, he understood. Red gave the thing a few kicks to make sure it was staying down, then came to check on Hood.
“'m not ugly.” Red laughed and it made all of the pain Hood was in go away.
“No, you're not. You can even be attractive in the right light.” Red Robin helped Hood up and wrapped an arm around his waist to steady him. “Can you walk?”
Hood's world was turning upside down. “Only if you carry me...” He managed to mumble before everything went dark.
~*~
Jason didn't know what to expect when he woke up. He had not passed out after a fight in a long time. Not since a bomb went off a few feet in front of him almost a year ago. He looked around and smiled as he saw where he was.
Jason had changed to a different safe house when he returned to Gotham. The loft held too many memories, too much emotion.
“You're lucky you don't have a concussion. Drink this.” Tim, the stealthy bastard, appeared out of no where with a mug of steaming liquid and shoved it into Jason's face.
“What is it?”
“Do as I say.” Jason pushed himself up into sitting and took the mug.
“Yes, sir.” Tim rolled his eyes and sat on the end of the bed, facing towards the large window. He brought a knee up and rested his chin on it. Jason took a long sip of the hot tea as he watched Tim watching something outside. He was still small and buff as ever, but something had changed about him since the last time Jason had seen him shirtless. There was a confidence that hadn't been there before. It made Tim even more attractive.
Jason set aside his mug and moved carefully to sit behind Tim. He knew Tim knew he was moving, but was still cautious as he wrapped his arms around Tim's middle and rested his chin on Tim's shoulder. These rare moments of touching were what he lived for. Sometimes Tim would shrug him off, and sometimes he would let Jason pretend everything was right in the world.
“S'okay?” Tim hummed in approval and Jason leaned more against Tim and looked out the window, trying to figure out what Tim was watching. It had started to snow.
“Jason?” Jason brushed his lips against Tim's skin, silently asking him 'what?'. There was nothing sexual behind the move. “I think...I'm ready to try.” Jason could have sworn his heart stopped in his chest.
“Yeah...?”
“Yeah.”
Jason kissed Tim's shoulder properly and gave him a squeeze around the middle. Everything would be okay now. His little bird was no longer broken. His little bird was really his now.
Jason looked back out the window, searching through the snow to try and find what Tim was watching. He finally saw the little red and white blinking light across the harbor and smiled.
The snow wasn't so bad after all.