I was sick this week and holy fuck I got ADDICTED to the Walking Dead.

So I have a new Walking Dead fanfiction, check it out on my profile!

COVER ABOVE!!

~

When I wake up the morning after I was rescued, possibilities hit me like a train.

However unlike usual I don't feel like the train has physically crashed into me. Instead, when I sit up with Jason still fast asleep beside me, I feel like I could run a marathon.

Regardless, I lie back down and take a deep breath, closing my eyes so I can gather some scattered thoughts. I decide to make a list.

•Kidnapped by Ra's Al Ghul and daughter.
•Healed by Ra's Al Ghul.
•Complimented by Ra's Al Ghul.
•Given shady implications of an alliance by Ra's Al Ghul.
•Attacked by Talia Al Ghul.
•Saved by Ra's Al Ghul.
•Fell into Ra's Al Ghul's fountain of youth pit, ingested some of it.
•Saved by Batman.

Great. Making lists is supposed to help, right? It doesn't. It just confuses me- which is why I can't bring myself to list all of the reasons Talia wants me dead, or Ra's wants to be allies.

I need to distract myself.

I need to work. 

Quietly, I push the covers back and climb out of bed.

Last night after I had a shower Jason kept me in a vice hold until I fell asleep. Despite my state of well-being I still had the shakes. Having him hold me so tightly helped in easing my mind for sleep.

I guess at some point he just let go.

After I take another shower and slip into a pencil skirt and blouse, I find Jason awake and groggy, sitting up in bed. He takes one exhausted look at my attire and I know I'm about to cop it.

"You were literally just kidnapped," he argues, watching me dart around our room.

"Yes, I'll have to catch up," I answer, brushing off the undertone of the question. I should be traumatised...or something. I am in no way injured and feel like I've never been more energised.

"They can survive without you for another day," he says as I put my heels on. He moves to the edge of the mattress.

"They really can't," I say back. I reach for my red blazer that's hanging on the chair. Jay appears out of nowhere and reaches for it first, stealing off me.

"Stop," he whispers, placing a hand on my shoulder. I sigh and freeze my movements for a second. I look up at him. He looks sick; bags under his eyes, pale, bloodshot.

Suddenly I realise I'm a selfish bitch. Everything seems to slow down after that. Perhaps its another pit effect; everything seeming brighter and faster. Jason had been worried; of course he had.

And what have I done to help?

"Looks like you're the one who needs to stop," I smile softly, reaching up and brushing some of his hair off of his face. He closes his eyes, leaning into my touch. It makes my heartbeat stutter. "You don't look well."

He nods a little bit, looking down at the floor. I feel guilty. This put a lot of stress on him, paired with the stress of being Red Hood. I reach for his hand so I can lead him to the bed to lay down.

"I'm fine, Jay. If I get to work I can distract myself from the fact that I nearly died two days ago, okay?" I smile, sitting down and dragging him with me.

He goes slowly, putting one arm around my shoulders and holding my head with the other hand. I cover it with my own and sigh, leaning into his chest.

"Maybe I'll stay until lunch?" I bargain, muffled by his skin. I feel his grip tighten and I know it's futile.

It won't be just him arguing it either. Bruce, Dick, Tim...they'll all have something to say about it in order to keep me from going to work.

"What if it was Sukiyo who nabbed you, instead of Ra's, Ven?" He says quietly. I answer his question internally; I'd be dead.

"Tell me what you want me to do," I stand up, so I can face him. He looks up at me; those green eyes of his are hard not to completely collapse under.

It takes a few seconds, but Jason is suddenly smiling, taking both of my hands in his.

"A week," he offers. I nearly roll my eyes.

"I'm going to earn the title of 'Gotham's most absent DA'. Telysha may as well be the DA. I'm never there!" I argue. He nods, slowly.

"They love you. Your staff, the city. They commend you and would have no argument if you took time off."

"But I've taken time off, Jay," I sigh, trying to give him a smile. "I was built for this. It's my job."

Watching closely, I realise something changes then. He looks down to where our hands are joined, running his thumb over my knuckles.

"Just give me the chance to protect you," he says quietly.

I don't know if that feels more like a punch to the face or an arrow to the heart. It both hurts and feels good. Because he wants to keep me safe, and...

"This wasn't your fault," I say, dropping to his level. "Ra's wanted to meet me. Talia wanted to kill me and neither of those things had anything to do with you." I want to add the as far as we know to the end but that could lead to worse things.

Jason takes a deep breath before standing up and towering over me. He gives me a smile. Tension seems to lift then.

"I'm an idiot. I sound like a baby. You're the one who was kidnapped. Not me," he says. I smile, tucking some of his hair behind his ear. He needs a cut.

"I love you," I say, finality in my tone, "but I also love my job and what I do there. I can't be the District Attorney if I'm always at home, in hiding. I belong in a courtroom fighting for what's right, organising pleas in my office and working with the cops to prosecute the worst. I'm sorry Jay, but I'm going. For you, not today, but tomorrow. You just...have to live with that." 

He watches me carefully as I speak, green eyes flickering with the different words. It's not just because I don't want him to hold me back, but because I need him to be there for me.

"Okay," he says softly, not looking me in the eye. His gaze is on our intertwined hands. He's unconvinced, but that's too bad. I wish he wasn't a vigilante someone in my position is suppose to prosecute, but I don't say a word of it.

Different situations with the same outcome; we have to accept each other.

I look at my set of draws. I suppose I better change into something else. Slipping from his grasp I walk across the room.

"Doesn't it hurt? Adding to the pressure of being pursued?" He says. There's no arguing tone there, so I understand that he's at least accepted I am going back.

I stop and look over his shoulder, "It's a beneficial pain. You know my tattoo," I remind him. Pain is weakness leaving the body.

Not to mention my rep as a sadist. 

~

Sukiyo stares out on the city of Kyoto, with her son asleep in her lap. They are on the little balcony jutting from her mother's house, in the cool breeze of the Japanese night.

Softly, a little bird lands on the railing. It stares at her, waiting for permission. She glances at her son again to make sure he is asleep, before nodding to the little colourful creature.

It bursts in a cloud of black, twinkling smoke, revealing a girl in its wake.

The girl responsible for torturing Venus Meadow with the memories of the Joker, killing her boyfriend.

"What do you have for me, Tori?" She asks, watching as the 13 year old got to her knees across from her.

"The Russian Mob leader, Anton Salvore and his daughter Menolly are hiding something they fear will destroy Skylar Salvore AKA Venus Meadow," she explains, straight to the point.

Sukiyo smiles at the words, finally achieving what she has been waiting for.

"And, the secret?" Sukiyo can smell fear on the teen, even if her blank expression does not show it.

"I am not able to see it, milady. The Salvores use their powers to hide such things. This is why their mob leads."

Disappointed but not dissuaded, Sukiyo leans forward, cradling Nakamo in her arms.

"We will have to get them somewhere you can extract the information," Sukiyo says. 

The girl is obviously shocked, even scared, of the proposition. "Y-You want to kidnap one of the big three?" She asks seriously, almost out of place.

The big three; the biggest mob leaders in the world.

Sukiyo tuts her slave, leaning back into her seat.

"Not him," she says calmly, "the daughter."

~

"What about you? Have any critical requests concerning my wellbeing?" I call out across the cave.

Bruce doesn't even tense up. Of course, he knew I had come in. 

"I could go on about how you need rest and a break from this life, but that would be hypocritical," he responds, without looking over his shoulder.

I laugh as I reach where he is, hunched over the Batcomputer and staring at a case I'd probably know about if I were at work.

"Surprised you're not fighting your way back to your office," Bruce says.

"I did, I was. Jason just...I don't know. Tomorrow, I told him," I say, not wanting to delve into our relationship. "Do you think he's okay?" Bruce stops typing. "And Damian, Tim, Dick...even Alfred. They all seem shifty."

Maybe that's part of the reason I am down here; to see if Bruce is acting the same.

"No. Not after everything," he says darkly. Okay, talking to him really is like talking to a cold cobblestone wall.

I decide not to say anything, abandoning my plan of asking about what Ra's might want for me. I begin a walk back to the exit, when Bruce calls out to me.

"You changed everything for him." Once again, I look at him. "I see more of who he was before this, in him now. Like I told you. You brought light into his life. You changed it...And that changed us. I know this is your job and I know you're used to being shot at and attacked. But we're not used to someone close to us being so willing to have it happen."

"I'm not willing. I understand. You know better than anyone that your own pain is the city's gain. I was taught that if you're not being shot at as the DA, you're not doing your job right."

Every ounce in me wants to flinch or jump when Bruce suddenly storms towards me. I want to defend myself when he raises his arms...

...only to hug me. 

Batman is hugging me. Batman is hugging me. Batman is hugging me. 

"We're all afraid of losing you."

I can't. "Bruce," I say, backing away. "This is silly. Pointless. There's no argument to it; last year I was getting threatened and shot at-"

"There's a difference between being shot at and being kidnapped twice in a month. We lose you, the ripple effect will start with Jason. He'll destroy everything including us and in turn, the city."

I could see that. Him, losing control.

"You're being reckless and you know it. You go back to work expect a heavier guard and more restrictions. But don't expect Jason to get use to you being in danger easily. Don't expect us to, because we care about you." 

I can't tell if my storming away is a sign of anger at everyone for not realising I am capable, or guilt for acting like everyone would be as fine as me.

All I know is being DA is a job that comes with all the dangers Gotham has to offer.

But really, what job in this city doesn't?

~

EDIT: To the person who just messaged me to say I had spelt 'Confident' wrong on the chapter title, BUY A DICTIONARY. 

ALSO: EXTRA BIT ADDED SOMEWHERE BETWEEN CHAPTERS 42 AND 45!!! VERY IMPORTANT!!