Chapter 3 - By Accident

A/n: There is smut in this chapter for anyone who might not like smut. Nothing important is said within the smut you'd need later so you can always skim over it if it's not your cup of tea!!

A couple of days later, Bruce informs Jason and Sam he has a Justice League thing so he'll be out of town for the next few days. He mostly just asks them not to get into trouble while he's gone. No joyrides in the Batmobile and no riding motorcycles in the Manor. Jason has a smirk while Bruce said it, as if he does all of it on purpose. But, they agree to be on their best behavior while he's gone. And this first day, they are.

For most of the day, they hang around the manor together. They have a few training sessions, Sam not getting so lucky this time but it's training. And Sam recruits Jason to help her dye her hair. This time, instead of pink, she dyes her hair a shade of cyan. Jason was not nearly as helpful as Rachel was, some of Sam's skin is definitely stained cyan for the next few days. But, it was fun and now she feels refreshed. Jason also likes it on her. He swears it brings out her eyes with the mix-matched shades of blue, though he keeps that to himself.

"So, he just leaves you here alone when he has a thing?" Sam asks, plopping down next to Jason on the couch, practically sitting on top of him.

Jason snaps his attention away from his book to look at her with furrowed brows. "Yeah," Jason scoffs. "Whole place to myself." He stretches out one of his arms, as if to be claiming the manor.

"Sounds boring." Sam states, leaning her head back.

The manor is already big. It already can feel a little less than homey. It's too big for even three people to be living here. Boring wasn't quite the right word, but saying lonely seemed a bit much. But, that's what Sam thinks. It would be lonely being here alone. The tower felt empty even and she had Gar and Krypto, then Conner when he woke up. It just seems a little sad to her.

"Well, you're here, can't be too bored now." The corner of Jason's mouth perks into a grin.

"You're right, I'm very entertaining." Sam lets out a laugh as the sarcasm hangs from her words and she picks her head up.

Jason furrows his brows and he's not letting her have that one. He gives her a shove, not too hard but enough to make her fall to the side.

"Hey!" Sam's laugh reverberates against the walls and the warmest smile comes to Jason's face. "That's my thing."

"No, that was entertaining." Jason laughs.

"Asshole." Sam groans and instead of getting up, she lays on her back and swings her legs over him.

"Fuck you." Jason chuckles and she has this grin that makes his stomach spin. "Hey," Jason swings his arm over the back of the couch, turning to face Sam, careful to keep her legs on him.

"Hey." Sam mocks him and he's got that look. She knows he's about to have a bad idea that she will absolutely go along with.

"Wanna do something tonight?" The right side of his mouth tugs up and he wiggles his brows at her.

"There is something mildly unsettling about you asking me that." Sam blinks up at him and Jason gives her a devious smirk. "What exactly were you thinking?"

"Wanna do a bust? There's a group of dealers near Crime Alley, could take 'em down."

"Mmh," Sam sits up, getting closer to his face. "And why exactly would we do that now when Bruce isn't here?"

Jason shrugs, tilting his head to the right slightly. "Could be fun."

"Oh, for fun?" Sam mocks him. "Because hanging out here with me isn't fun enough?"

Jason glances between her eyes and lips, landing on her eyes again. "You could spice it up a bit."

"Oh, I could?" Sam lets out a booming laugh, leaning back slightly. "Do tell, Jay." She closes more the distance between them this time.

Jason feels his cheeks start to warm. "Got the whole Manor to ourselves." Jason avoids the question, letting her imagine whatever she wants.

Sam smirks at him. "That's forward." Sam lets out a laugh.

"I didn't say shit. I'm just saying, whatever you're thinking is all you, babe."

"Okay, so right here on the couch? Right now?" Sam quips and Jason's heart completely stops in his chest, eyes bugging out of his head.

"I'm not sure how, but that's a fucking trap." Jason states and he wishes it wasn't.

"Maybe." Sam chuckles softly. It's not a trap. "When did you wanna go, Batboy?" Sam's eyes widen and of course she isn't going to turn this down. She isn't ready to get out there fully yet but this is just her and Jason. It will likely be fun as long as this goes better than Deathstroke.

Jason smirks down at her. "Get ready now?"

Sam rolls her eyes. "Patience is a virtue, Jay."

"So is kicking ass, Babe."

Sam lets out a sigh and leans back, swinging her legs off of him. "Fine. Taking the bike?"

"Hell yeah." Jason states watching as Sam gets up. "You should be able to get your license soon. You're doing pretty good."

"Well, if we're going to be doing this shit together, it's a lot more efficient to take one bike rather than two." Sam shrugs. "Less noise."

"Pretty sure you just like holding onto me." Jason offers with a shrug.

"Yeah, that too, I guess." Sam rolls her shoulders dramatically and sometimes she might just like to fill his ego a little.

The two of them get up and head their separate ways to get ready. Sam is actually kind of excited to get back out there. She hasn't dared to ask Bruce if she could tag along during patrol. That seems weird to her and that's Jason's whole thing. Patrolling with Batman. She'd never overstep on his thing. But, this? This is just the two of them and this time, it's on their turf. They know the city. They know the bad guys, Jason a lot more than Sam but they both know. They know all of the ins and outs, how to get away. All of it. This isn't Jerry or Deathstroke. These are dealers who are likely dealing to kids, getting them killed and this shouldn't be too difficult.

Jason and Sam take his bike to Crime Alley and to a warehouse that's currently being used. It's always a warehouse. Can't they get a little more creative? But, the two of them have a plan. They go in and they bust them. Beat them up a bit, tie them up, and call it good. They'll call the GCPD with a tip and be home free. It's a simple plan. Jason's been looking into them a little bit and none of them are master criminals. He's pretty confident and Sam trusts his research.

The two of them use their grappling hooks to access the roof and entire through the rooftop door. They're quiet as they head to the loft, ducking behind some large and dusty boxes. They peek around the boxes and get a look at five men with several boxes around them. There are two men standing at a table, looking to be sorting something. Another man is standing by the door with a rifle. The fourth man is opening the boxes and the last man is standing in front of all of them with his phone in hand.

"Think they're moving it tonight?" Sam whispers to Jason as they duck back behind the boxes.

"Seems that way." Jason nods. "Guy with the phone probably runs this sorry excuse of a business."

"You take him and I'll take the so-called guard?" Sam questions.

Jason shakes his head and he doesn't like that idea very much. "No, I got him."

"You sure?" Sam asks and she's suddenly feeling uneasy about it.

Jason can handle himself, she's positive of that. But, he does come home often enough with bruises that it concerns her. And, if she's being honest, it just seems better for her to go after the one with a long-range weapon. She can shoot acid at him if she needs to, she has her knives and her throwing is accurate. Jason's is too, of course, but she has the extra benefit of the clairvoyance.

"Yeah, I got this, babe." Jason offers her a grin and while a large part of his reasoning is that he doesn't want her to deal with a gun and risk getting shot, he always wants the adrenaline boost.

He wants to face the fear head-on because that's the only way he'll get over it. At least that's what he tells himself. He needs to go out there, feel the adrenaline flow through his blood. Through his entire body. He needs the rush of it all. He's dealt with this before, more than a handful of times. This should be easy.

"Alright." Sam sucks in a breath. "Be careful, Jay."

"Always am. You, too." Jason nods at her and Sam nods in response, Jason getting a glimpse of a smile tugging at her lips. "Okay, I'll walk towards the stairs and when I get there, make a distraction." Jason states. "So that way I don't get fucking shot."

"Will do." Sam whispers.

"Ready?"

"Hell yeah." Sam nods her head and gains a giant smirk.

Jason gets to his feet, keeping his stance so he's still hidden behind the boxes as he walks past Sam. He stays behind some of the industrial equipment as he walks closer to the stairs that are closer to the man guarding the door. Sam gets to a crouching position and watches Jason carefully. She can feel the rush coming over her and she'd be lying if she said she doesn't miss this feeling. Sure, pain makes her feel alive but so does this. The adrenaline rush of being a situation that's just a little dangerous, doing something she definitely probably should not be doing. The helping people because that's what this is all about at the end of the day. The greater good kind of deal. And then there's the added benefit of working with Jason. She feels alive as she watches him get to the last bit of equipment that can hide him properly so Sam grabs a knife from her belt, readying herself to move.

Sam sucks in a breath and pops up from the boxes. Her grip on her knife is tight but she's ready to go as soon as they notice her. Jason is watching her and when he said to cause a distraction, he definitely did not mean that. He absolutely means to knock something over or throw something not be the bait. And if they weren't about to do this right now, he might even be a little annoyed by it. The whole point is that she doesn't get hurt and she throws herself in the way of fire. Maybe it's something he would do.

"Hey, fuckfaces!" Sam calls, getting the attention of the five men. "Come on, it's a Thursday night, don't you have anything better to do than distribute drugs?" Sam quips while the men collectively stare at her in confusion. "I mean, there's a river you could drown in instead. Maybe head over to Amusement Mile and test your luck there."

"Shoot her!" The headman yells while the guard points his gun at her.

The throbbing kickstarts in the front of Sam's head just as Jason pops up, projecting the grappling hook into the door and sliding down the wire, kicking the guy in the chest. Sam uses hers to jump down to the main floor just as Jason makes contact. One of the men at the tables pulls out a gun, aiming it at Sam just as she throws her knife and it connects with his abdomen immediately followed by a second knife just below it. Blood seeps out as the man drops his gun and the other men pull out their guns and the throbbing is located on all of the men as she grabs a knife in one hand and the other hand starts to glow.

Sam doesn't want to use the acid but these are not master criminals. And it's five against two, four of them have guns. She can only throw two knives at a time, the acid can, at the very least, buy her a little bit of time while Jason gets the guard down. Plus, she is here with Jason and she is certain using the acid with him around is safe.

Jason wrestles the guy for his gun as Sam shoots acid at the men with the guns, a good distraction as they try not to get burned. And she uses that opportunity to throw a knife at the man in charge, nailing him in the chest and immediately following it with a knife to his thigh as he goes to the ground. Jason gets the gun away and uses it to knock the guard out and starts attacking one of the other men with a gun.

The last guy holds his gun steady at Sam and she offers him a smile as she moves just before the gun goes off. Jason gets his guy down quickly and moves to the guy who still has a gun pointed at Sam. But this time, the guy turns to Jason and aims it right at his face just as Jason was nearing him. Jason stands just a few inches from the barrel of the gun and Sam expects him to be fine. To do something. But instead, she is watching him completely freeze. He doesn't move. He looks down the barrel of the gun and doesn't do a single thing. Sam doesn't even think he's breathing.

"Robin's got himself a sidekick." The man quips and Sam is thankful this guy seems to be the arrogant type. They're always the dumb ones. Want to have bragging rights and go on this huge speech about how great they are, wasting time. Boring.

Sam doesn't offer him any reaction, instead, she reaches for two knives and throws them both. She hits the man's neck, the knife sticking out as blood spills out and the other his wrist. The tip of the knife hits the main vein and he drops the gun as he falls to his knees and then to his back. Sam swears she can see Jason sucking in a breath as she walks up to him.

"Thanks." Jason mutters. "Let's tie 'em up and get outta here." Jason nods his head but before they can get to the rest of their plan, they can hear sirens in closing in on them.

Jason grabs Sam by the hand, yanking her with him and the two take off back where they came. They're quick to get on the bike and Jason takes off as soon as he feels Sam secure around his waste. The place starts getting surrounded by GCPD as they're trying to escape. Jason veers off, almost a little too quickly to dodge one of the cop cars. Unfortunately, the car does see them and starts following them.

"What if we get caught?" Sam asks through their com system.

"You suddenly worried about getting caught?" Jason quips, swerving around a car.

"No, but you're Robin and in your suit." Sam states.

"We won't get caught, hold on." Jason tells her, pulling back the throttle and kicking the bike up into third. Sam's grip tightens around him, the flashing lights shine behind them.

As they round a corner, Jason spots an alley and veers right into it before the cop makes it all the way around the corner. Jason shuts the bike off in the dark alley, getting off the bike as he takes his helmet off. He walks over the entrance, looking out but still hidden in the shadows. Sam follows his lead and stands opposite him, looking the other way to see if she can see anything.

Jason glances to her and most of her face is covered in the shadows but he swears she is enthralling. Her breathing is rapid from adrenaline and she's standing a little close to him. He can't help but watch her because she really went into this with him. He brings it up and she goes with it, they have a plan and stick with it. And she looked out for him tonight when it never should have been her job. And she can handle herself.

He remembers her first few weeks of training and she was less than good but tonight, she could have taken down all five men by herself and Jason thinks she's incredible. Despite it all, she shows no fear in any of this. Between Jerry and Deathstroke, she goes into this ready to roll and that's the end of it. She does it and gets the job done and if she is scared, she does a great job of hiding it. Jason finds her courageous and admirable and completely and utterly enthralling. All he wants is her. Him and Rose would do this, but Rose kind of did her own thing. They weren't really a team but Jason and Sam work together really well. They look out for each other and they listen to each other. They're in it together, always. And Jason swears she's everything to him.

Sam can feel his stare on her so she looks back at him, and they're almost standing chest-to-chest. The alley is a tight squeeze and they're so close. She can hear her heart in her ears and her stomach swirls. She can see Jason's signature smirk in the low light and it makes her almost laugh. He's here smirking while they're hiding from the cops and she can't wipe the smile off of her face. He gets just a big a kick out of this as she does. No one ever understood it. The running from cops thing. It's fun. Adrenaline-inducing, even knowing they won't get caught. Jason gets it though and he's looking down at her and she feels exposed in a good way.

"Hey." Sam whispers to him, chewing the inside of her cheek.

"Hey." Jason's voice is low and his heart is stuck between thunder and stopping. His breath hitches in his throat and he's so close.

"Hey." Sam repeats and she doesn't know what else to say.

All she does know is that she's happy they did this. They took down some bad men and they did it together. She swears she wouldn't have it any other way. Being a vigilante is cool and it's fun in itself but working with Jason, that's different. It's different because it's him and he makes everything better.

Jason starts leaning his head down closer to her and Sam's entire being completely freezes. She wants to close the distance between them but she can't bring herself to. She wants to kiss him so badly it physically aches the very center of her chest. It's all she's ever wanted to do since the first time she did it.

"Thanks for coming." Jason's voice is so low, Sam barely even hears him.

"I'll always come with you." Sam matches the lowness and she reaches forward, grabbing his cape in one hand.

Jason glances between her eyes and lips, his breathing growing quicker. And for a split second, he finally has the thought of "fuck it". He presses his forehead to hers and Sam brushes her nose against his. Neither of them can even breathe properly. Jason can feel her breath ragged against his lips as his mouth runs dry. And it's as if this is the moment all of this has led up.

A kiss where there are no stakes in it. It's not because one of them almost died. It's because they're running from the cops in an environment where they both feel comfortable and somehow, safe. Safe enough. And Jason's head swims, almost completely oblivious to the sounds around them or the way his hands are inductively coming to her hips. Sam closes her eyes and she wants to exist in this moment for the rest of her life. In this moment where it's just them in a dark alley surrounded by Gotham's humid air of summer. With this lip brushing hers. And that is all Jason wants, too.

But, then they hear the sirens and they're snapped right out of it. They both look to the side, seeing the flashing lights and Jason squeezes her hips, moving her to the side allowing them to be further in the shadows of the alley. Sam's heart sinks and she thinks maybe she should have went for it. It's bound to happen and she knows it. But, she did nothing anyway. And she has never been more disappointed by anything. Jason swears it's hard for him to commit to it. Like, maybe if they just...did it. No need for a discussion or anything. Maybe they could just do it. There really wasn't a discussion with Rose, though and that all worked out so well. But, this is Sam and he thinks kissing her might make things easier. But then he comes back to not wanting his heart broken again. And definitely not wanting to break hers.

"We should get out of here." Jason clears his throat, his voice still a whisper.

"Yeah, good idea." Sam nods her head, grabbing her helmet from the bike.

The two of them get on and Jason drives them back to the Manor neither of them saying a word through the entire drive. When they get back to the Manor, Jason heads off to take the suit off and Sam heads to her room to change. She takes one of her knives from the belt and puts it in between the mattress and bedframe, making sure it's always there, just in case. She puts the rest of her knives on a dresser, laying her belt flat and calls it good before grabbing a change of clothes and heading to the shower.

Jason waits for his turn to shower in his room and his hands are still shaking. He tries to convince himself it's just the adrenaline dump. It happened the first few weeks as Robin. He'd go out with Bruce and he'd be so excited and happy to be there. He'd be out helping, kicking ass with Batman and then he'd come back to the Manor still roaring from the high and his hands would shake from the unfiltered excitement. It's like his body just didn't know what to do with the feeling so it just vibrated. But, he knows this is not that.

He froze and Sam had to bail him out. It sucks and that part scares him even more. What's he going to do if he can't come back from this? He can't be out there being Robin and freeze. He'll get killed, he'll get other people killed. He feels weak and useless.

"Your turn." Sam offers him a soft smile as she walks into his room.

Jason's thoughts dissolve away as he looks up seeing her blue hair wet and draped over both shoulders. She's wearing a light green t-shirt with a white evergreen logo in the corner and black Adidas shorts. Jason thinks if comfort were a person, maybe it'd be her.

"Thanks." Jason gets up from his spot on the bed and his tired eyes and slight limp don't go unnoticed.

"You okay, Jay?" Sam looks up at him with gentle eyes.

"All good." Jason shrugs his shoulders. "I'll be back, you wanna watch something when I get back?" Jason dodges the conversation because he can't admit that he's weak to her. He can't say the words out loud and make them real. He can't cement them into the universe and he can't let her know him differently.

Sam nods and offers him a sweet smile. "Yeah, that'd be nice. I'll wait here." Sam walks past him and takes a seat on his bed. "Did you have a preference?"

"Nope." Jason lets himself chuckle, looking over his shoulder. "You have alright taste." He scrunches his nose.

"Shut up. I have a superior taste." Sam holds her head up high.

"Sure, you do, babe. Alright, I'll be back." Jason lets out a sigh before he heads out of his room.

Sam looks around and she thinks it's weird he hasn't made this place his own. There's still a framed poster for the Flying Graysons on one wall and besides a bookshelf with several books and clothes on the floor, it doesn't feel very Jasony. At the tower, he moved a bike into his room, skateboard, and graffiti on the walls. There were things that were his on display. But, not here.

Jason talks a lot of shit about Dick but Sam kind of wonders if he talks shit about Dick for the same reasons she does. His name is literally Dick, he set that up himself. But, also because it's easier. Sure, they have bigger problems and Dick was the first Robin, the first son to Bruce Wayne. Sure, and that's gonna cause it's own drama because they're brothers. But, Sam wonders if it's also because despite it all, despite Dick being an ass sometimes, he'd look out for them.

He let them exist. When they'd pull a prank, he never got really mad. He let them prank each other, let them prank him. If they wanted anything for their rooms or clothes or food or video games or supplies for hobbies, anything, all they had to do was ask and Dick would give them a credit card. He'd join them for movie nights sometimes, never complaining about it. Dick always acted more like an older brother to them than anything else. And Sam wonders if that's why Jason acts like he doesn't like him half the time. It's a lot easier to fight than admit sometimes Dick isn't so bad. That someone is actually making an effort when they're in a position of authority because one day he might leave. He did. Maybe there's a point to that. But, maybe Dick always a point at the end of the day. And maybe it's easier because in a way, Jason is kind of Dick's replacement and that's probably hard trying to fill his shoes.

Jason froze tonight which definitely seems uncharacteristic. Sam remembers when he fought Dr. Light. She held him off for a minute or so while Jason regained himself. But, it was just a few seconds and Jason dove right in to fight at first anyway. Jason didn't miss a beat and once he was back on his feet, Dr. Light should have been done for. He would have been if it weren't for Deathstroke. And Sam has seen the videos. Jason doesn't freeze. But, tonight he did. And she wonders if he's been freezing on patrol and that's why he's coming home with bruises.

Jason is skilled and he's been doing this for a while. She expects him to come home injured from time to time, of course, he's not invincible but the way he talks about it, that they got lucky, it makes her think something is up. He went through something horrible and traumatic and she's not judging him for that but she's worried. He looks tired and he's limping but he didn't take as single hit to the leg. Jason Todd does not freeze and she's worried about him.

"What's up?" Jason asks as he enters his room wearing a black t-shirt and black shorts, his wet hair sticking to his forehead.

Sam snaps her attention back to him, eyes slightly wide and she didn't realize she'd been sitting here thinking for that long. "Nothing." Sam shakes her head. "Just...are you sure you're okay, Jay?"Sam furrows her brows while Jason walks over to the bed, standing in front of her, quirking a brow.

"Yeah, why?"

The shower helped clear his head. The warmth of the steam usually does it but honestly, the only thing he wants to do right about now is lay down with her. Not this talking shit. He's fine. Maybe if he says it enough times, he will be.

"You froze tonight." Sam states, looking up at him.

"I didn't freeze." Jason lets out a scoff.

"I mean..." Sam trails off. "You paused and I had to bail you out which is fine, of course. It was just weird for you. I just want to make sure you're okay." Sam watches his face, the way his eyes dart up to the left for a split second before coming back to her.

"I'm fucking fine, alright? It's not a thing." Jason snips and he goes to move away but Sam grabs his hand.

"Hey," Sam searches his face as he turns back around. "It's you and me, like literally, no one else is even here. What the hell is going on?"

Jason sucks in a breath and he's really good at lying. He doesn't want to lie to her but that seems so much better than talking about the terror he's living through every day. When it's just them, here at the Manor or walking around Gotham, it distracts him. It distracts him from all of it and she makes him feel okay. He doesn't feel scared around her but then he goes out and it's like he's trapped with Deathstroke again. He doesn't get it and it sucks. It makes him feel useless. Broken. Damaged. So, he lies to avoid ever saying those words to her.

"Okay, look, I hurt my back on patrol last night. It's fine."

Sam's eyes narrow and she doesn't believe it. He's been fine, physically. Sam is almost certain she would notice because she notices that after their third training session of the day, he's always favoring his leg. Sam doesn't ask, but she's always a little cautious when she sits with him or lays with him and she offers to get him things more. Jason is good at hiding pain, he's been doing it his entire life but he's also relaxed around Sam and that's why she knows about his leg. If his back hurt, she'd know.

"You seemed fine earlier?"

Jason shakes his head and shakes his hand from hers, resting both of his hands on her shoulders. "I'm fine, Sammy, alright? It's just a pulled muscle, must have aggravated it during sparring today."

He's lying. Jason is really good at lying but he's dodging her eyes and not looking at her lips. Sam's gathering that's his tell. For whatever reason, he's lying to her and it kind of bothers her. But, it's Jason and she's patient with him. He'll tell her when he's ready and she accepts that. She figures she'll keep an eye on him a little more than usual and see how it goes. Sam swears that if she sees him slipping again, she'll talk to Bruce. She'll call Dick, Gar, Kory, she'll call everyone she has to to make sure Jason is okay.

"Did you want me to rub your back then?" Sam offers, looking up at him.

Jason gains a smirk and the back isn't a total lie. It is sore. It's not just the leg pain. Conner caught him which saved his life and saved him from any catastrophic injury but he's noticed his back tends to hurt a bit more ever since. He landed right on top of Conner, on his back. It wasn't exactly graceful or painless. He doesn't think there's anything wrong, but it gets sore.

"Are you flirting with me?" Jason smirks, squeezing her shoulders.

Sam's cheeks start to tint as she sucks in a breath. She's down to play the game again. She tilts her head barely to the right and then back up. "What if I am, Jay?"

Jason lets out a breath, moving his jaw to the left as he grins. "You could be a little better at it."

Sam's eyebrows shoot up as her mouth falls open. If he wants to play that game, she'll play. Sam lifts her hand and slides her first finger into the waistband of his shorts and pulls him closer to her, never letting her eyes leave his and Jason feels his heart come up to his throat as he moves closer to her. Sam bats her eyes at him and she knows that won't be nearly enough to shut him the fuck up. So, she slides her hand from his waistband, to the collar of his shirt and pulls him down to her as she leans back, Jason catching himself with his hand. His palms land on the mattress, on either side of her head.

Jason's breath hitches in his throat as he looks at Sam. She moves her hands to his face, cupping his cheeks and Jason's mind starts to race with the thundering of his heart. He's thinking she's going to actually bring this beyond flirting. He is silently begging to the universe for her to take this beyond flirting. His eyes dart to her lips and he thinks about doing it first, just to win. He thinks about it for a split second but what if she is just screwing with him like always? Just being flirty? So, he doesn't move and instead, keeps his eyes on her lips.

Sam leans up, moving her hand away from his left cheek. He feels her breath hot on his skin and he feels like he's going to combust right into the stratosphere. She makes her way down to his neck and nips at the skin. Jason lets out a soft groan at it, his head dipping and Sam knows she's just won. She comes back to his cheek, and licks him.

"Ah!" Jason groans, scrunching his nose as he quickly moves his hand to his cheek to wipe the spit off but he's laughing while Sam lays back down.

"Was that good enough for you?" Sam quips and she has this proud smile that Jason thinks might send him into cardiac arrest.

This was definitely good enough for him but Jason likes to play. It's his game to win and maybe he's hoping she'll keep upping her tactics until there is nothing else left to do. Maybe they can meet in the middle.

His brows furrow as he places his hand back down near the side of her head. "Nope, I can do better."

Sam lets out a laugh and she loves the way her heart goes into her stomach. "I'd like to see you try."

"Take off your shirt and let me rub your back." Jason's voice is low and Sam feels the rollercoaster starts between her heart and stomach. And she almost does it just to fuck with him.

"You just wanna see my boobs." Sam manages to get out and she hopes he doesn't notice the quiver of her voice.

He does and he gains the most devious grin she's ever seen. "I'm not opposed." Jason chuckles from above her.

"Keep dreaming, Jay." Sam grins at him before she clears her throat because if they stay like this, she'll cave. She is so certain of that because she's looking up at him and whenever they're this close, she gets to see just how green and pretty his eyes are. She's almost certain she'll never get tired of the shade of green. "So, uh, I think I won that one. Got a pretty noise out of you." Jason swears he just swallowed his own vocal cord with the comment. It was a pretty noise and Sam kind of wants to see what else she can get out of him. But, that's not her place. They are friends, despite the fact they both know they are not. "Seriously," Sam sucks in a breath. "I can rub your back if you think it'll help. I don't mind."

Jason lets out a chuckle and then what seems to be a sigh of mixed relief and disappointment falls from his lips. He pushes himself up, Sam sitting up with him. "Thanks." Jason nods his head with a soft smile and gets on the bed.

Sam beams and she reaches for the remote on his nightstand while Jason tugs his shirt over his head. He lays on his stomach, facing the TV while Sam turns on Never Have I Ever. She takes a second, looking over at Jason and his back is nicely toned. His shoulder muscles are stretched as he has his hands under his chin to hold his head up and she'd be lying if she didn't find it very attractive. But, she can't just stare so she moves to sit on top of him so she can rub his back. And that's when she sees it.

She moves to look over to his right side where she can see a large blotch of deep maroon peaking around to his back and her entire heart sinks. It doesn't matter that he's Robin. That's not the issue. That will never be the issue. The issue is that she's seen all of these videos, of him as Robin, barely taking hits. Sure, he gets knocked around sometimes, but this seems bad.

"Jay?" Sam calls her voice soft and Jason can tell by her movement she's found the bruise.

"It's fine, Sammy." Jason assures her.

"Is it?" She asks. "It looks pretty bad. I mean, I would know." Jason can hear the worry in her voice and he hates worrying her.

"I'm fine, I promise."

"Was this from last night or the night before?"

"Night before." He thinks about lying to her but that's not fair. She doesn't lie to him.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Jason looks over his shoulder to see the look of unfiltered concern across her face. "Didn't want you to fucking worry. I'm fine." The left corner of his mouth twitches up and he always does that when he's trying to convince her he's fine.

Sam narrows her eyes at him. "I think I'm gonna make you a swear jar but instead it'll be an 'I'm fine' jar." Sam quips.

"You know we get hurt out there sometimes. It's not a thing." Jason gives her a fake cocky grin.

She knows that's true. Maybe it was a bad night. She's uneasy about it but he makes a good point. And maybe she's just worried because it's him and she's so sure about her feelings. And tonight happened where he froze and maybe she's overthinking it. She hopes she's overthinking it.

"Yeah, okay." Sam nods her head. "Did you want like ice though? I mean...it is bad."

"No." Jason chuckles, turning his head back forward. "I'm alright. Thanks, though."

"Yeah, okay." Sam lets out a sigh as she rests her hands on his back, lightly rubbing over his warm skin. She looks over his back where she notices a few old scars. There's one up on his shoulder blade and another down by his left kidney. Her finger traces over the one on his shoulder blade. "Where's it hurt?" Sam's voice is so gentle it sends a rush of goosebumps down his spine.

"All over." Jason has his eyes closed and he doesn't even realize he answered so easily but it makes Sam smile softly.

"How'd you get the scars?" She asks as she starts at his shoulders.

Jason lets out a groan, no one's ever done this before. "Uh, shoulder was a fight. Fucker had a knife and I had my fists."

"Ouch." Sam's brows furrow. "Before Robin?"

"Yeah, first year on the streets."

"How long were on the streets for?" Sam keeps working on his shoulders.

"Four years, in and out of foster care." Jason lets out a sigh as Sam works out a knot.

"Wow." Sam says quietly and she didn't realize he was on the streets that long. "That's a long time."

"Yeah, it's alright though." Jason sucks in a breath. "Worked out, didn't it?"

"Yeah, but that's still rough. When did you find that school?" Sam asks and it warms Jason's heart that she remembers.

"I don't know, after two years I think. Uh, it was winter, cold as shit outside. But, the school was open. It was somewhere warm with a roof. No one to bother me."

"I'm glad you found that place."

"Yeah, me, too." Jason lets out a sigh because he knows that winter would have been tough if not.

The shelters aren't always a good place. They don't have a lot of space and there are rules. Jason doesn't like the rules very much and then you have bad people who don't have kid's best interests at heart. The school was safe.

"Wasn't all bad, I did like that place."

Sam gets a soft smile as she slides her hands down his back. "Good, I'm glad you had a place to go at least. And it sparked an interest." Sam lets out a soft laugh and she feels Jason chuckle under her. Sam taps the other scar gently. "This one?"

"Fight with my dad." Jason clears his throat. No one knows about that. He really hates talking about it.

Sam stiffens and she knows his dad sucked but she didn't realize it was like that. Sam leans over, looking at his face and his eyes are open now, distant and sad. "What do you mean a fight with your dad?"

"Mom and me were better off without him." Jason clenches his jaw and Sam gets it, her heart breaking for him. And she wonders if he's ever had a break in his entire life.

"I'm really sorry, Jay." She traces the scar gently before going back to rubbing his back. "You deserved better."

Jason laughs softly from under her because that's a lot easier than letting the world know it hurts. "I'm Robin, babe. All good."

"You always do that. Something bad happens and you say it's good because you're Robin." Sam finds a knot in his back and starts to work on it, Jason groaning from under her. "I mean, it's great but, uh..." Sam pauses for a few seconds, Jason listening closing. "You just... remember that night with Jerry?"

"Of course."

"You asked if I felt better and I said no. Do you remember why?"

Jason could never forget what she said. He remembers her entire rant because in her rant about Jerry, he's the one that felt seen. Because she let him see her. "Because it happened to you."

"Yeah, like...it didn't matter if I ran from it or into it because it still fucking happened. I don't know. You, uh, you just...you got that. You didn't expect me to be fine about it or okay with it. It happened to me and you accepted that as a part of me but not in that traumatic way but just that it was a part of my life. I don't really know how to phrase that." Sam laughs awkwardly but she has Jason's undivided attention. "Like, uh, it matters because it happened to me and there's nothing I can do to erase it but it doesn't have to matter in a huge way because I have you." Sam shrugs and she keeps her eyes on her hands, trying to get the knot out. Jason can see her from the corner of his eyes. "It matters because it happened to me but it's not my defying quality and it doesn't need to be fixed. Just worked through when I'm ready and in a way I feel comfortable with. You, uh, you taught me that." Sam clears her throat. "So, I guess the point of that run-on sentence was that you don't have to do that. Like, brush it off and shit. Not with me anyway. It happened to you to you, too and that's okay. It's not your defining quality and you don't have to be fine or okay with it. With anything bad that happens because you'll get through it, one way or another and you'll have me."

Jason turns his head to look at the TV and no one gets him like she does and he can't even understand it. His chest physically aches because it means almost too much to him. It's something he knows he'll never be able to comprehend. He'll never understand why he matters to her. Or why she cares so much about him. He'll never understand why she's like this with him or how he'd ever be good enough for her. He swears he doesn't deserve her or her kindness and understanding. Sam went through hell and Jason has seen it. She's snarky as hell, a fire he can't put out. He almost thinks if he looks at her too long, he'll turn into ash. But, here she is, rubbing knots out of his back with gentle fingers and gentle words.

"Thank you." Jason finally says. "Yeah, I don't fucking talk about. Never told Bruce. I'm sure he fucking knows but I never told him or Alfred."

"I won't tell him." Sam assures him. "Dads are the worst."

"Yeah, fucking right." Jason shakes his head. "What about you? You were on the streets a year, yeah?"

"Mhm." Sam hums. "Mom died and two days later CPS showed up so I bailed. Bounced around shelters and slept under one of the overpasses sometimes."

"I'm sorry." Jason says quietly. She really had no time to grieve. She was thrown right into the thick of it. Jason was shipped off to his uncle and then into foster care when his mom and uncle died.

"It's alright, got a lot worse." Sam lets out a laugh as the sarcasm drips from her words. "No, but, uh, Gotham ya know? It's home whether I'm on the streets or in fucking Bruce Wayne's Manor, I guess."

Jason laughs from under her. "Takes getting used to."

"No shit, it's fucking weird." Sam smiles softly. "But thank you for asking him to take me in."

Jason looks at her again. "I'd do anything for your ass."

"I'd do anything for you." Sam repeats back.

And the two of them fall into a comfortable silence while Sam works on his back. He's tense all over and Sam doesn't think he should be. Jason Todd deserves to relax, let his guard down. He doesn't need to be so stressed all of the time. He's too good for it. Life has not been kind to him and she makes a silent promise to herself that if life is going to keep treating him so cruelly, she never will. She'll fight every horrible, terrible, bad thing that comes near him because he should have a break. And she really likes him. She really, really, likes him.

"You have a nice back." Sam blurts out.

Jason lets out a booming laugh almost unsure if he heard her correctly. "What?"

"You have a nice back." Sam repeats, this time with more confidence.

"Thanks?" Jason questions, unsure what else he's supposed to say. In their friendship this far, they've never really complimented each other's appearances. It's something Jason didn't realize until now. There was that one time the first day they met but other than that, they've never said anything to each other. "You've got a nice ass."

Sam pauses, laughing from above him. "Thank you? I guess?"

"You're welcome." Jason answers confidently.

Sam rolls her eyes. "Shithead."

"Babe." Jason clears his throat and that was a deep conversation. Time for some fun again. "Anything else nice about me?" The sarcasm drips from his words like honey.

"Are you digging for a compliment?"

"Nah, but you're the one sitting on my ass and complimenting my back."

"Alright, fine." Sam lets out a sigh and decides to just take the bait and see where it goes with no one home. "I do like your face." Sam admits and Jason twists his head, nearly shifting his entire body to look at her. "What? I literally told you that the first day I met you."

Jason remembers her doing that to try and distract him. "Thought you were fucking with me."

"Eh, that too but it's true." Sam shrugs. "You gotta nice face." Sam smiles softly, keeping her eyes on his back almost nervous to look at him.

Jason chuckles and she has a nice face, too. "Sit up for a sec."

"Uh, okay?" Sam questions, sitting up on her knees and Jason shifts under her, turning around to face her. She feels her stomach flip and her heart start to race. "Yes?" Sam tries to play it cool as she sits back down on him. She suddenly has no idea what to do with her hands. She's never so unsure of where to put them or aware of their existence until right now.

"You have a nice face, too." Jason mocks her and she rolls her eyes.

"I'll take it back." Sam defends because she's almost certain he's just teasing her.

"You can't take it back." Jason defends as he rests his hands on her thighs and Sam's breath catches in her throat. "It's true though."

She finally decides to place her hands on his chest and he's so warm under her. His skin is smooth here, unlike his hands that are always calloused and rough. And he's tough, the muscle under his skin. He's so sturdy and it's not all that surprising. He trains a lot but it is very attractive. And it's making Sam a little nervous.

"Taking it back." Sam taunts him but there's a fire that's fallen in her words and Jason raises a brow at her.

"What's up?"

"Huh?" Sam shakes her head. Her eyes are wider than usual and she isn't sure where to look. His chest and abs are a little distracting. But so is his face while she's sitting on top of him. His hands are on her thighs and she's ready to explode into a million pieces. "Nothing. What?"

A sly grin paints itself across Jason's face. "You look nervous."

"I'm not nervous!" Sam rushes her words, putting pressure on his chest in defense. He can't know she's nervous.

"You sure?" He's taunting her but she is nervous. He makes her nervous sometimes and it's different. This is a lot different because he's facing her and she's sitting on him. His hands creep further up her thighs, goosebumps spreading over her skin. What the hell is he up to?

"What're you doing, Jay?" Sam shakes her head at him and it's as if she's been glued in this exact position.

"Nothing." Jason smirk up at her. He's wondering how far he can push this until she moves or makes some quip that'll make him burst into a fit of laughter. Payback for earlier.

"Oh, nothing? Not trying to pull some shit?" Sam raises a brow at him, narrowing her eyes and he is always up to something. That is one of his defining characteristics.

"Nope." The smirk stays steady on his lips but he's holding back a laugh.

"Liar." Sam raises her brows at him and she's begging for him to just do it. Do something.

"What shit do you think I'm pulling?"

"I dunno." Sam shrugs, her thumbs rubbing over his skin softly. "Playing chicken."

"We're always doing that."

"Uh-huh, but I'm on top of you now." Sam offers him a grin, trying to swallow her own nerves.

Jason lets out a breath and he isn't sure how to commit to this. He doesn't know how. When he tried with Rose, it blew up. She avoided it until she couldn't anymore. Jason doesn't want to do that to Sam but he doesn't know how to go about it. What if she leaves? What if being more than whatever the hell they are is too much? He doesn't know how that could be the case but maybe it is. That's when Rose decide to come clean. She used him. Sam isn't Rose but it's still a fresh wound and he can't wrap his head around someone sticking it out with him. But he wants her to. He doesn't know how to fully commit to it besides their game so he sits up and decides to push the game a little further.

"Is that an issue?" Jason is sitting on the way up, hands now on the bed to hold himself up.

Sam can't help but notice how cold her thighs are without his hands on them anymore and she's already wanting to yank his hands back into place. But, instead, she looks to his lips and she thinks maybe this is easier than committing to it. They don't have to talk about it, if something happens. They had to at the tower because Gar was involved, too many people around. It was complicated. It doesn't have to be now because it's just her and him.

She shakes her head. "No." Her voice is quiet. Sam moves her hands to his shoulders and she can't breathe. But it always feels cathartic with him. "Issue for you?"

"No." Jason's voice is low and he hasn't stopped looking at her lips.

Sam can see his chest moving with every breath, as if he can't decide if he should do it so Sam decides, she'll make the move. She won't chicken out this time because what do they have to lose at this point? She'll leave the door wide open for him and it's up to him what he does with it.

"Nervous?" Sam asks and she closes some of the distance between them.

Jason's heart plummets in his stomach. "Fuck no." His voice is groveled as he swallows thickly glances to her eyes and his breathing quickens just enough for Sam to notice.

"Really? Cause you seem a little nervous." Sam taunts him and Jason looks back to her eyes and his eyes are darken than usual.

He will never let her think he's nervous but he's also a little worried she can actually hear the thundering in his chest. It's almost deafening to him.

Jason grabs her hips and pulls her closer to him and he hears Sam gasp, her grip tightening on his shoulders. "Not a fucking chance, babe."

Sam sees her opening. "Prove it." Sam bites back without missing a beat. Jason's eyes widen and he swears his heart just stopped beating. "We don't have to do that talking shit after." Sam rests her forehead against his. "Prove it, Jay." She taunts and Jason can't take it anymore.

Jason grabs her face and slams his lips against hers. Sam completely melts against him. She slides her hands up his neck and into his hair. She gives the strands a light tug, Jason letting out a groan into her mouth. Jason lets himself get lost in their kiss. It's even better than their kiss from before. This is so much better because it's because they both want it and not because he almost died. It's led up to this moment and they don't have to have that talk. There is no feeling of being too exposed or the consequences of their actions. It's him and her. And she tastes like a Sunday morning sunrise.

She tastes bright and warm and calm. She is a Sunday morning sunrise. The start of a new week, where nothing else matters from the other seven days. She tastes like a fresh start where none of the horrors that took place on a Saturday night could ever matter because he made it to see the sunrise. He made it one more week and one more week next to her. She tastes like the feeling of his bed after a long day of patrol. Her mouth moves with his and he swears he feels like he's been given a second chance at this life. She's just warm and comfortable and he thinks he might be able to do this all night if she'll let him He doesn't feel so damaged or broken, he just feels safe and alive.

He's intoxicating in the best possible way. She is so enthralled by him. He's pretty and smart and funny. He's a smartass and strong, physically and mentally. He's kind with a little bit of a roughness to that kindness. He looks out for people and wants to protect strangers. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks of Jason Todd but to Sam, he is good. He is enough and he is perfectly flawed in a way that makes him perfect. And being with him, makes her feel so alive again.

In that basement, getting tortured, she couldn't remember what it felt like to be alive. To breathe with ease, to not feel endless dread and despair, to not feel numb to everything. She didn't remember what it was like to feel anything besides rage and sadness. But, she meets him and everything that happened to her, matters but in a way that has never made her feel like damaged goods. He sees her at her worst and instead of being mean or cruel, or running, he stays. He reads to her and trains with her. He smirks at her and flirts but never crosses that line because that wouldn't be fair. He accepts her for everything she is today and who she'll be tomorrow. Jason Todd is this bruised masterpiece of a person who deserves far more than he has ever been given.

Jason pulls away, catching his breath and he takes a second to rest his forehead against Sam's. His hands are still in her hair. A lazy smile dances gently onto his face and his mind is so clear right now. His only thought is her and the way his lips are tingling and his cheeks are aching in a way he wants to feel for the rest of his life. That drug bust today, means nothing because this is the happiest he's been since before Deathstroke. And when his eyes open, Sam's barely looking at him, her eyes half-lidded. He's never felt this way about someone. He didn't even think he was capable of it.

"I win." Jason's voice is graveled and raspy as he lifts his forehead from hers, lettings his hands fall from her hair and down her back. But he's careful not to let his hands off her because the idea of letting go entirely almost makes him nauseous.

Sam narrows her eyes, daunting a smirk. "Did you though?" She quips but her voice is so much softer than usual, it's almost like velvet.

Jason tilts his head to the right, raising his brows. "Told me to prove it and I did so yeah." It's a nervous laugh that leaves his lips.

Sam nods her head and she doesn't care what she has to do, but she'll do anything right about now to keep kissing him. "Remember I told you that one day I'd commit to your little game and you wouldn't know what to do?" Sam laughs softly and Jason deadpans. "You said you would still win because I would cave. Hey, Jay," Sam vibrates on top of him as a laugh comes through her throat. "You committed to your own game so by your own logic, I just won."

Jason tilts his head forward, touching her forehead for just a second and he's so crazy about her. "You played me!" A laugh rips through Jason's chest as he tilts his head back and Sam nods quickly.

"Well, to be fair, I didn't think you'd do it." Sam's cheeks hurt from laughing and she wants to play this game. This game is more fun. "I will say though," Sam lets her laugh subside as Jason shakes his head and he can't believe she beat him at his own game. And that's why he likes her. "You were right, that's a win-win."

Jason's chest blooms with her words. "Yeah? And how's that?" Jason smirks at her, playing dumb as he shrugs his shoulders. He wants to hear her say it and she knows that's what he's doing by the devious smirk on his face.

"I know what you're doing." Sam's eyes widen and she tilts her head side to side slightly, mocking him.

"Don't know what the fuck you're talking about." The smirk splits his face this time and he thinks he could do this all night with her. Back and forth, going for it again and then back and forth. Never having that talk that would change things a little too much for right now.

"Okay," Sam lets out a scoff and rolls her eyes. She decides she'll go ahead and just say it. The worst that can happen is he'll laugh and then she'll laugh with him. But, the best thing that can happen is that he'll kiss her again. "Because kissing you is kind of sort of fun, I guess."

"Oh, you guess?" Jason mocks her and he thinks the smirk might have nailed itself to his face. His heart is booming and all he can feel right now is absolute joy. "Think it's more than kind of sort of by your face being red as fuck right now."

"Shut up, it is not!" Sam defends as she squeezes his shoulders.

"You look like my suit." Jason tilts his head as he glances to her lips and he's just waiting for a good opportunity to go again.

"Shut the fuck up." Sam leans forward, resting her head on his shoulder and Jason laughs.

For a second, she wonders if this is what it would be like, if they had the talk. They're both terrified of the talk changing things too much and putting too much pressure on this thing they have going. But, she wonders if maybe it wouldn't be so bad and this is what it would like. She'd say she likes him and he'd say he likes her, too then tease her about it. And she'd tease him back before kissing him. And maybe it would work. Maybe they'd be happy...together. But, she brushes the thought away because she said they wouldn't have that talk.

She picks her head up after a few seconds and Jason was never this happy in San Francisco. She can see it across his face. It's the way his eyes are crinkled at the corners and the softness that glosses over his sea-green eyes.

"Okay," Sam sucks in a breath. "What are we doing now?" Sam asks and Jason almost pauses, thinking she wants to have the talk they said they wouldn't have to have. "Like, for the night." Sam clarifies.

Jason shrugs and maybe this is kind of nice. His eyes look up as a smirk dances over his lips and he decides to go for it. "More of this?"

He offers it and he's completely serious despite the smirk. It's fun and he likes her, adores her. Sam is everything he has ever wanted and never deserved. But, he thinks that committing to it, wholeheartedly with a conversation, is too hard. Too much pressure. This way, it's kind of like they get a trial in it. See how it goes, where it goes. Maybe they can fall into something more by accident. Everything between them this far has been some sort of accident. Accidents seem to work for them.

Sam narrows her eyes slightly and she can't tell if he's messing with her or not. It doesn't seem like he is but a part of her thinks he might be. While she might be certain there's more between them, there is that sliver of doubt that she's imaging it. She likes him so much so maybe she's making it up to fill some part of her ego. Maybe having clarity there would be a lot more painful than she's willing to admit.

"Hmm." Sam hums, Jason wiggling his brows at her and he's trying not to let on just how nervous he is for her answer. "You fucking with me?"

Jason lets out a chuckle. "Nope." Jason sucks in a breath that has the slightest quiver.

Jason's hoping she says yes because even though this wouldn't be anything serious or filled of commitment to each other, it would hurt if she said no. He has a lot of self-doubt. He doesn't think he's worthy or deserving. He'll never understand her kindness for him but a part of him, deep down, knows she feels the same way. So, he's hoping against every bad thought he's ever had, she'll be willing to do this by accident with him.

Sam taps her thumbs against his skin, thinking of how she can ask for clarity without having that conversation. "So...what? Friends with benefits kind of deal or?" Sam grins at him and the flush of Jason's cheeks comes right back in full force.

Jason's thumbs are rubbing her sides lightly. "Could be fun." He tries to keep his calm despite the fire that's raging through his chest.

That's enough clarity for her and she thinks it might actually be a good idea. "Yeah," Sam lets out a soft laugh. "Could be, make the game a bit more fun."

Jason lets out a laugh and it's so easy with her. "Could."

He's feeling a little more nervous, waiting for her to say she's not about something like that. He's waiting for her to back out of it but he's hoping she doesn't. Jason knows Sam likes to run when things get too good but maybe this can be good for her, too because friends with benefits is basically a no strings attached thing. Maybe she won't feel like she needs to run.

Sam shakes her head and she thinks this is good because she fell for him by accident. She's not exactly sure when it even happened, not for sure, but she knows it was an accident. And then she picked him on purpose. So, maybe this will let them both do that, by accident at first and then on purpose.

And maybe she won't run and maybe he won't push. Maybe, just maybe, falling into this on accident and then on purpose, gives them a chance at survival.

"Okay, Jay." Sam chews the inside of her cheek. "But it stays between you and me."

"You and me." Jason nods his head, inching closer to her.

Sam slides her hands from his shoulder to his neck before she closes the distance and this time the kiss is softer as she tangles her hands in his hair. Jason lets out a breath as he smiles against her. She is everything he has ever wanted.

Jason deepens the kiss as his entire body erupts into a state of catharsis. She didn't turn this down. She didn't turn him down. He gets to kiss her and kiss her and kiss her again. It's like his days have blurred into one between patrol and nightmares. It's all become a deep dark blur of blues and reds but right now, it's as if everything is coming right back onto focus in perfect color. Nothing else besides her even matters in this exact moment because she picks him, in some way, she is picking him and maybe he can be worthy of her. Because he has never felt so happy and cared for than he does when she is with him.

The kiss grows sloppy and hungry, teeth clacking against each other as their hands grip for every part of each to bring themselves closer together. Sam's hands settle to tangling in his damp hair and he tastes like Friday nights. It's those nights that are filled with neon lights and fireworks late at night on a beach where they are definitely not legal. He's the taste of roasted marshmallows over a warm bonfire and a lemon shakeup from that one booth at a carnival that gets them just right. He tastes like late Friday nights of staying out all night, running purely on adrenaline. He's the graffiti on the side of buildings and rush of getting caught. Jason tastes like freedom.

Jason bites her bottom lip, tugging softly and Sam groans against him, grinding down against him. She can feel Jason's rock-hard length growing under her and she can't help but grin to herself.

"Didn't know I get you going so easily, Jay." Sam's voice is dropping and low against his lips before she kisses him again.

"So, why don't you do something about it?" Jason asks, kissing her lips to her cheek and then to her neck.

Sam's eyes close as she melts against the soft kisses he leaves behind. "Don't threaten me with a good time."

Jason bites down on her neck, sucking a deep purple circle against her skin as she lets out a soft moan. Jason grins against her skin. He could listen to her all night.

"Wouldn't be a threat." Jason mutters moving up her neck, coming back to her lips and slamming his against hers.

Sam slides her hands to his shoulders and pushes him back against the bed, following the motion down. Sam kisses down his cheek to his neck and it's her turn to leave a mark this time. She nips at the area, teasing him as he shifts under her. She bites down and sucks a mark right into his neck. She makes sure it's in a spot he can cover...if he wants to. Jason groans under her and she loves hearing him. And she decides to just go for it.

Sam starts kissing her way down his chest and Jason feels his stomach flipping while his heart stutters. He watches her, pupils lust blown as she reaches his shorts. She tugs the band, kissing around his waist as Jason's breath catches in his throat and he flexes his stomach.

"You're a fucking tease." Jason groans and Sam snickers against his skin.

"You're so needy." Sam teases kissing up his abs again, staying in the spot as she feels him flex against her lips.

Jason bites down, clenching his jaw. Sam kisses back down to the waist of his shorts and he ruts his hips up, desperate for her to do something about it. Sam decides he's had enough and tugs his shorts, Jason helping to pull them down. His cock bounces against his abs once it's released, rock hard and even bigger than Sam thought it'd be.

Sam takes his length in one hand, giving it a few pumps before licking from the base to his red tip.

"Fuck." Jason groans with the action, his eyes shut.

Sam takes him into her mouth, wrapping her lips around his shaft. Jason looks down and the sight alone makes him nearly burst. He slams his head back against the bed, tangling his hands in her hair. Sam takes as much of him as she can in her mouth as she falls into a steady rhythm against his cock.

She can hear Jason grunting softly from above her and his hips jerk forward every few seconds. Sam uses her free hand to push his hips down and keep him steady. She licks the very tip, her tongue sliding in the slit as she tastes him. Jason lets out a hiss as his stomach churns.

Jason is ready to combust in a million pieces. His head is swimming and spinning. His cock throbs in her mouth. And he can feel himself inching closer, trying to buck his hips into her mouth. His grip on her hair tightens as his breathing quickens. Sam can feel it, too and she's not letting him get off that easily. She sucks the tip before popping off, Jason swears in through gritted teeth as she smirks up at him. He swears he's getting her back for that.

"You make pretty noises, Jay." Sam climbs back up his body and the smirk she's wearing makes Jason nearly lose the rest of his sanity.

Jason meets her halfway, sitting up as she straddles his lap. He collides his lips against hers in a desperate and heated kiss. Jason's hands slide to her ass, giving it a squeeze and pulling as close to him as humanly possible. Somehow, it still doesn't feel quite close enough. Jason slides his hands to the hem of her shirt, trying to slide it off but Sam stops him. Jason pulls away, furrowing his brows. If she doesn't want to, that's fine. But he's a bit confused by it given their current state.

"Don't make it weird." Sam says through a heaving breath, her lips kiss-blown.

Jason's chest rises quickly, scanning her face for an answer. "What do you mean?" Jason raises a brow and they're friends, she just gave him a blowjob. He's pretty sure they're passed the weirdness of it all.

Sam chews the inside of her cheek and she trusts him with everything in her being. It's him. It's always going to be him. She is certain this cute boy with more trauma than an ER is it for her. But, it makes her a little nervous anyway.

"Just...don't make it weird, okay?" Sam nods once.

"Okay..." Jason nods his head, pulling her shirt up and over her head, a lot more gently than originally intended.

He gets it once he has her shirt off. Jason notices everything. He's very observant and he notices the way she tugs the sleeves over her hands when she's nervous. He didn't know her before so he could never figure out if it was because of the ligature scars or if it were a nervous tick. She doesn't do it as much around him anymore so he chalked it up to a nervous tick but now he's realizing it's just because she's comfortable with him. He found the scar on her hip and he swore he didn't care about it and he'd protect her. But, he didn't see it. And now he's getting the full view.

There's a scar from the very edge of her shoulder where her collarbone starts that goes down just above her breast. There's another one hugging her ribcage and then there's the one that hugs her hip. They're harsh reminders of the hell she went through and she wears hoodies usually because at least she's guarded by more fabric. And Jason can feel rage filter into his blood.

"Jerry?" Jason ask through gritted teeth.

Sam chews the inside of her cheek and she hates those scars. They're reminders, every single day, they're reminders of what happened. And it's like he won. He didn't, she escaped and lived and he's rotting away. But, then she looks in the mirror and it's like he still won because she's the one still dealing with the scars of it all.

"Like I said, he did all sorts of shit to try and get my powers to show up." She doesn't feel nearly as ashamed of them as she did early today even. Jason has one from someone he was supposed to trust, too. He has scars. But she feels a little exposed anyway because no one knows. Just him and her. "There's more, too." Sam hangs her head and Jason is not letting her do that to herself.

"Hey." Jason cups her face, making her look at him. "I don't care." Jason shakes his head. "But I'll kill any fuck that tries to do this shit again to you, alright? I told you, they'll have to go through me."

Sam offers him a soft smile. "Awfully nice of you, Jay."

Jason offers her a grin. "I can be nice." Jason chuckles. "The scars are hot anyway." His voice drops and that signature smirk of his replaces the grin.

Sam lets out a laugh, her nose scrunching. "So are yours."

Jason slams his lips against hers and he steals the air right from her lungs. Sam has never felt more comfortable being so exposed. He makes her comfortable. He makes her happy. He makes her feel alive again. She can breathe with ease around him. The world is light and airy with him around. He is this flawed perfect piece of graphite and she adores him with every fiber that makes her, her.

Jason undoes her bra, tossing it to the side before moving to her breast, pinching one of her nipples between his fingers. Sam lets a quiet whimper, her hands holding his nick between her hands. Jason doesn't mess around long there before coming back up to her mouth. Jason pushes her back, switching so he's on top. With Sam flat on her back and her hands tingled in his hair, Jason slides a hand in her shorts, under her underwear. He gains a devious grin.

"You're soaked." His voice is rough and groveled.

Sam feels her cheeks burn. "So do you something about it." Sam quips against his lips.

Jason teases her opening before sliding in one finger. He pumps her a few times before sliding in a second finger and using his thumb to circle her clit. Sam is unraveling right under him. She tries to keep up with kissing him and it's filling Jason's ego. Her entire body is on fire and it's because of him.

He feels her clench around his fingers so he pulls out. Sam barely lets out a frustrated whimper against him, clenching her jaw together.

"Shithead." She hisses against his lips.

"Babe." His voice nearly sends Sam into a tailspin. "Look who's needy now." Jason says into Sam's mouth so she bites his bottom lip. Jason's arms nearly give out with sensation.

He slides his fingers back in and goes slower this time. She swears he's the biggest tease on the face of the planet. And she wouldn't have him any other way as her head spins and her stomach does a hundred backflips.

"You have a condom?" Sam manages to ask against his lips.

Jason chuckles against her, sliding his hand away from her. "Course." Jason shifts towards his nightstand, opening it to grab a condom while Sam gets under the blankets, discarding the rest of her clothes.

Jason gets the condom on before sliding under the blankets himself and on top of Sam. He lines himself up with her entrance before slowly sliding in. Sam whimpers under him as he fills her up. Once he bottoms out, he takes a second to kiss her this time more gently than before allowing her to adjust to him. Then he starts pumping into her with smooth and steady strokes. Sam is writhing under him and he wants to hear more of her. He grabs her thigh with one hand, lifting it up and towards her to give him more leverage and Sam swears under her breath.

Jason rests his forehead against hers. "Let me hear you." Jason's voice is so groveled Sam nearly explodes right then and there.

She lets out a moan, louder this time and Jason thrusts grow sloppier. He thinks he could drown in the sounds of her. Sam digs her nail into his back, tugging him closer to her. She bites his bottom lip so hard she nearly draws blood and she feels Jason stutters against her.

"Jay." Sam moans out his name, her nails scratching up his back.

"Shit." Jason hisses, stalling inside of her for a split second. "Keep doing that." Jason picks up his thrusts, quicker and harder this time.

"Jason." Sam's voice is louder this time, more desperate, her nails digging in deeper. Sam feels dizzy under him while Jason feels like he's bursting into flames.

"Come on, babe. Cum for me." Jason urges her and he's about to come undone.

"Jay!" Sam screams out, feeling the rubberband finally snap in her stomach as she shakes against him. Her eyes roll into the back of her head and Jason pumps harder and faster into her.

"Fuck." Jason groans, feeling his own rubber band finally snap as he stalls inside of her, the two of them riding out their orgasms together.

Jason rests his forehead against hers with a hearing chest. Sam opens her eyes and Jason's skin is glistening with a sheer layer of sweat and she thinks he's never looked prettier. She puts a hand on his cheek and Jason opens his eyes. They're completely lust-blown and love drunk. Her hair is a complete mess against his pillow and her cheeks a pretty shade of rose pink. Her lips are swollen and Jason thinks she looks beautiful.

Jason turns his head, kissing the palm of her hand before he rolls off of her, laying beside her. He gets rid of the condom in the trash can beside his bed before looking back at Sam. Her chest is still heaving but she looks happy. Content. And Sam looks back at him, and he looks happy, too.

"Well, that was fun." Sam lets out a soft laugh.

"Have to do this more often." Jason gives her a toothy grin.

"I'm definitely not opposed." Sam leans over, poking the purple bruise she left him.

Jason's brows shoot up and he kind of thought this would be a one-time thing. "You fucking with me?" Jason asks.

"Nope." Sam laughs. "Completely serious. Like I said, you needed to get laid." Sam teases him and a part of her thought it might be a little awkward after because friends don't do that. But, nothing about this feels awkward. It feels, somehow, so normal.

"Fuck you!" Jason's laugh fills the entire room and Sam can't help the way she beams with the sound. 

"I just did." She lets out a laugh and there's a prideful smile at her lips. Jason almost grabs her and pulls her for another kiss.

"Round two?" Jason raises.

"Okay, Energizer Bunny, not letting you get too lucky. Fuck knows your ego doesn't need it."

"It definitely does." Jason gives her a fake pout.

She wants to kiss the fake pout off his face. "Shtihead." Sam rolls her eyes with a smile that might be permanently glued to her face.

"Babe." There's a softness to the way he says it this time. 

Sam shakes her head, turning away from him and leaning over the bed to grab her clothes. Jason watches her as she gets dressed, not facing him. He gets a sight of a few more scars across her back, up near her shoulders. He remembers that day in the training room when he saw the bruise of a boot print on her back. She kept her shirt just above the bruise and only on that side. He didn't think anything of it. He accidentally hit the bruise he didn't even know about it. She was in pain. But he sees these five scars in lines by her shoulders and he knows. He hates that piece of shit more than he hates anyone.

"You staring, Jay?" Sam asks, not liking Jason being silent.

"He do that, too?" Jason asks and Sam looks over her shoulder at him before picking up his shirt from the floor.

"Mhm." She hums, tossing his shirt over her head.

There is nothing in this world Jason won't do to make sure that never happens again. He is pissed. Furious. Almost wishes he would have let her kill him. Just almost. Sam is one of the most incredible people he's ever met. She didn't deserve that shit. She doesn't deserve those scars and the pain she goes through. It's not fair. She deserves better.

"I'm fucking serious, anyone tries any shit with you, they're gonna deal with me." Jason's jaw is clenched and he swears it. No one ever lays a hand on her again.

Sam grabs his shorts, turning back to face him and she's never seen that look on his face before. But something about it, brings her comfort. Her mom is the only one who's ever looked out for her like that but that was her mom. That was her job. This is not Jason's and he'll do it anyway.

Jason gains a soft smile looking at her in his shirt. He could get used to that.

Sam climbs back on the bed, resting on her knees as she hands him his shorts. "Same to you, ya know?"

"I don't think I need your help, babe." Jason chuckles, sitting up.

Sam thinks it's not about whether he needs the help or not but rather, about knowing someone would do it anyway. And she would, it's not a lie. He's Robin and that's awesome, it's cool, and he's good at it. But he's also Jason Todd. And anyone that hurts him, is gonna have a hell of a bad day when she finds out.

"Mhm, I know. But I mean it anyway. You being Robin is great and all, but if someone tries to hurt you as Jason Todd," Sam pokes his chest gently. "They'll have to go through me."

Jason lets out a soft laugh and he can handle himself. But, he also knows Sam is serious. He'd protect her from anything and everything and she would do the same for him. No one has ever looked out of him like that. Ever. Not until Bruce anyway. It's always just been him and while he never wants her to do that or expect that of her, his heart warms and he adores her for it.

"And I will melt their faces off." Sam grins widely at him, flashing her hands as they glow green and Jason lets out a booming laugh.

"How do you do that?" Jason asks, jerking his head up. "I mean, so easily."

Sam shrugs. "I dunno, Dick asked that, too. I can just do it." Sam opens and closes her palms, the glowing going in and out with the movement. "Think about it and it happens."

"That's kind of sick." Jason offers her a grin. "Does it hurt?"

"Nope, just warm. I showed Gar, want me to show you?" Sam offers with ease. Jason's never really asked about her powers. Jus the combat clairvoyance. She got the idea that Jason isn't a fan of the powers thing. She gets it, she definitely isn't either. But he doesn't seem bothered now.

"You gonna melt my face off?" Jason quips and he's a bit unsure of it. Rachel tried to kill him.

"Of course not." Sam chortles. "Who would I have to look at if I melted you?" The sarcasm fills her voice as her eyes widen.

Jason lets out a nervous chuckle, red creeping onto his cheeks. "Alright, show me."

Sam lets her right hand glow, feeling her palm grow warm. She makes a fist, making sure her entire palm is covered by her fingers before she rests her fist, fingers against his skin, to his chest. The spot right above Jason's heart grows warm with the touch. It doesn't hurt or burn or even tingle. It's just a warm like a heating pad. There's something incredible about it and the control she has over it. Jason will never fully get the powers thing but this is something he does find interesting and cool. Sam didn't get the whole cape thing until Jason told her about it, he's wondering if this is what that was like for her.

"See, that's it feels like it for me even when acid is literally dripping from my hands. It gets warmer but you get the idea." Sam pulls her hand away, the glowing fading.

"That's awesome." Jason gushes. "Got your own set of hand warmers."

"Exactly!" Sam lets out a laugh.

Tonight has been fun. It's some of the most fun Jason's hand in quite a while. Between the bust and being here with her, and everything that followed, it's just fun. And he feels free and alive and so genuinely happy. He finds himself not wanting to go to sleep or get ready for bed but not because he's worried about nightmares, but because he doesn't want this to end. He doesn't want her to go to her room.

"Hey," Jason starts. "You wanna sleep in here?" He asks. "I mean, we turn on one of your movies and shit." Jason catches himself, they're still friends.

"That is a very tempting offer." Sam smirks at him and she was hoping he'd ask her to stay. "Might as well." Sam shrugs before getting off the bed. "I'll be back. Turn on Tangled, Disney Plus."

"You're making me watch a Disney movie after that?" Jason chortles as he gets up to get dressed.

"Yeah, I'm in the mood to watch the lantern scene." Sam holds her up with confidence.

"I have no idea what that means." Jason shrugs, turning to face her once his shorts are on.

"It's the way Flynn looks at Rapunzel. And then what happens after." Sam gives him a pout and he almost laughs because she's so serious about it. It's the cutest thing in the world.

"Oh, so it's that serious?" There's sarcasm in his voice but he's still smiling gently at her.

"Jason, she was his new dream, you don't understand." Sam vibrates as laughter rips through her.

"I still have no fucking idea what that means." Jason laughs with her, looking to the floor and back to her. He wants to keep it going because the way she's talking about this makes him fall harder for her.

"You'll see. I promise, it's great."

"You've said that about every movie you've made me watch."

"And I've been right about all of them."

"Yeah, okay." Jason lets out a fake huff before he sits back on the bed, reaching for his remote. "Hurry up then or I'll start it without you." Sam's eyes narrow at him and she opens her mouth as Jason tries to beat her to punch. "Shithead."

"Babe." Sam says his line at the same time he says yours.

"Okay." A chortle escapes his lips. "You're proud of yourself for that one, huh?"

"A little yeah." Sam gives him a cheeky smile, turning on her heels. "Do not," Sam turns around as she gets to the door. "Start without me." She points a finger at him before darting out of the room before Jason can say anything else.

While Jason waits for Sam, he sits back on his bed, getting comfortable with the movie paused. And all he can think about is how much he likes her. His head swims with every detail about her and he doesn't even notice the corners of his mouth perking up into an adoring smile. And he thinks about how maybe the manor did feel a little lonely when Bruce would leave him alone but he swears tonight, it doesn't.

He's spent a lot of his life feeling lonely. Sure, some of that he brought on himself with pushing everyone as far away from him as he possibly could. But, some of that was just his circumstances. And he's thinking, just this small part of him, thinks maybe life isn't supposed to feel lonely. It's just the only thing he's ever known. But, he doesn't feel lonely when he's with Sam.

When Sam comes back a few minutes later, she has her gloves on and Jason lets himself smile. He's glad they work, he wasn't sure if they would or not. But clearly, they do. And it's kind of like she has a part of him when she sleeps. Not really but kind of. It was his idea. Using the same fibers in his cape for the gloves. It's his thing. Sam slides into bed with him, resting her head on his now-clothed chest.

"You stole my shirt." Jason says as he slides his arm around her and he thinks she fits perfectly in this spot.

"You have plenty." Sam states, watching the opening scene with Mother Gothel.

"Oh, so you're gonna steal my clothes now?" Jason chortles as he moves his head to get a look at her face.

"Comfy." Sam hums against him before looking up at him. She can't tell, but he's never looked at her this way before. His eyes are soft, lacking of any devious plans or intentions. They're just soft and gentle, completely adoring of her. "Do you mind?" Sam asks and for a second, she worries his does.

He would never mind. And it looks better on her anyway. "No." Jason's voice is soft this time and butterflies explode through Sam's blood. Maybe liking him isn't the right word.

"Good." Sam snuggles closer to him, while Jason slides his hand under her shirt, rubbing her back gently.