-Athena's POV-

I ran up the stairs to Jason's apartment. I skipped stairs, slipping and breaking the fall with my face. The metal on the stair tore open my cheek -- no doubt causing a bruise -- but I pressed on. I continued to run until finally reaching the sixth floor. Jason said there were only three houses on that floor, providing him -- us -- the privacy that we craved.

I tried the key I took, but my shaky hands caused the key to snap when I turned it too hard. I raised my fist and knocked as hard as I could. The whole ordeal with Dick had left me so shaken, that my strength and control were starting to wain.

After I couldn't bear to bang on the door any longer, I crumpled and fell against the door. I pressed my back against the splintered wood, letting my head fall into my hands. I felt like crying. And I never cried. I just sat there, breathing unevenly. The harder I pressed my palms into my eye sockets, the better I felt.

The door opened. I fell back, landing straight on my back like a turtle. Jason's groggy face stared down at me. "What took so long?" He groaned, rubbing his eyes. His hair was messy and tasseled. The apartment was dark except for the single, warm candle near the window. His body was bare, except for a pair of superman boxers. I would've laughed, had I not been so depressed.

I didn't want to stand up. I didn't want to face Jason, or anyone I loved. Dick's words -- all the accusations -- they had gotten to me. After everything I had done to Dick, he still was able to be honest with me. He always told me how he felt, not fearing if I would judge him. I couldn't, wouldn't, do the same. My truth was something I could never tell him.

Jason's hand. It stuck out, staring at me. I looked at it. I refused to take it. I just wanted to lay in the doorway, in the dark, forever. "Come on, stand up," Jason grumbled, shaking his hand around. I sighed, reluctantly laying my fingers in his. Shocking me, Jason tightened his grip with sudden energy and pulled me to my feet.

His fingers gripped the sides of my arms, steadying me in place. I don't know how I felt to him, but to me, my entire body felt like slime. I was limp in Jason's arms like a rag doll. "What's wrong?" Jason asked. I couldn't see his face very well in the dark. His voice was still raspy with sleep, but I could hear the concern in it.

"I--" I tried to speak, but all my thoughts bled together. Everything came out in a jumbled mess. I choked, shoving out of Jason's arms harshly. I didn't deserve him. I didn't deserve anyone.

I stomped through the house, looking around for my things. Jason followed behind, confused. He reached out for my arm. I jerked back, jerking out of his grasp. I wanted to leave. That's all I ever did.

I swiped a pistol mag off the floor and stuffed it into the duffel bag I had packed. I turned towards the bedroom, but Jason blocked the entrance with his muscular body. "Move," I demanded, my voice flat with no emotion.

"Athena," Jason spoke. I raised my eyes to strain to see him in the dark. "What happened?" He asked again. I stayed silent, trying to find the right words, but not being able to.

But, Jason didn't press me. He never did. He stepped forward, breaching the cold defensive wall I had put up against him. He stood there for a moment, in my personal space, demonstrating his trust and care. Once we both felt me soften, Jason reached out and pushed my messy hair behind my ear. His fingers lingered below my ear, cupping my jaw. I pressed my face into his hand, closing my eyes and relishing in the warmth.

When I opened my eyes, Jason's eyes locked onto me. He smiled softly. I held his hand in my own, kissing his fingertips softly. I pulled away, sighing. In the dark, I couldn't see Jason's face. With his back to the candle, my face was illuminated softly but he was completely concealed.

"I...talked to Dick," I admitted, my chest swelling.

"Did everything go alright?" There wasn't a hint of jealous in his tone. Jason crossed his arms, leaning closer to me.

I forced myself to continue to talk. "He broke in and he started yelling and--"

Jason reached for my hand, holding it steadily. "Calm down, kid," Jason reassured, "Just tell me what happened and what he said."

"I'm older than you," I chuckled, feeling my anxiety starting to trickle away. I sobered up. With Jason's tiredness, I figured it would be better for him if I was chirpy over depressing. "Dick and I got in a fight because I refused to tell him why I left. I stormed out. I guess things with Dick and I will never work out. Oh well."

Jason heard right through my faked sarcasm. "Just because things aren't well now doesn't mean they won't work out in the end," Jason said, "maybe you should tell him the truth. He could handle it. He's a big boy, you know."

"Be honest with him like you've been honest with him?" I lashed out.

"Hey, hey," Jason's fingers grazed my jaw, "I'm Jason, not Dick, remember? There's no reason to attack me."

I nodded, another piece of me falling away. Why did I always lash out at everyone who cared about me?

"You're right. Maybe I should. It's just..." I let my chest heave and fall, releasing a huge gust of air in despair, "Dick is so...passionate. And honest. He has always been so truthful with me. But I can't bring myself to even tell him the smallest things. I just can't."

"Not everyone can just let their feelings out like that. Especially people like me and you. We were forced to tuck away our emotions and that's okay," Jason was like a whole new person, "Maybe you are honest with him. In your own way, you tell him everything he needs to know. He just doesn't know how to listen."

The realization rocked me all throughout my body and mind. Jason and I existed on the same wave length. He knew what I had been through because he had gone through the same thing. "And you do?" I asked with a smirk, already knowing his answer.

"I'm not Dick," he answered, cockily.

I frowned, trying to hide my grin. "Maybe if you were Dick, I'd fuck you," I teased. Jason gasped, a muscle in his jaw ticking. He lunged forward, grasping my hips tightly.

"That's it," his voice was filled with energy, but the roughness was still prevalent. My heart started to pound in my chest. The sorrowful fight that Dick and I engaged in had left my mind. The dark was now restricting to me. I needed to see his face. I needed to see his full lips, his sharp jaw, his intense emerald eyes.

Suddenly and harshly, Jason pulled me against his chest. A soft gasp escaped my lips. Jason kissed down my neck, nibbling the soft spots above my collarbone. Even though Dick's jealously was annoying the majority of the time, the intense jealously that came from Jason was like a riptide.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and head, pulling him closer. I wove his hair around my fingers and tugged his head up. I shoved my lips onto his, matching his passion. I bit his lip, drawing a low growl out of him.

Jason moved his hands down underneath my thighs, picking me up and off the ground, shoving me into the wall. I giggled with excitement, but Jason claimed my mouth before the sound could get out.

He gripped my thighs. Kissing down my neck again, he ripped apart my Nightingale uniform. The candle was right beside me, lighting up Jason's gorgeous face. The fiery look on his face made me shake. He was the epitome of male beauty. He was the man artists based their sculptures on. I don't know what it was, but being raised a Robin just made a boy grow up to be the holy grail.

"Jason," I said out loud, smiling down at him. The fact that my little remark had gotten him so riled up was a tad bit funny to me. I couldn't help but laugh. This drew his attention.

"What?" Jason said, stopping and glancing up. The passion was still in his eyes, but the anger had started to drain.

I smirked. "Jealous, huh?"

"No," I tilted my head, "Ok, fine. Just a little. It's the fact that Dick is the protegee child. He always has been. When I was Robin, Bruce would still drop everything to be with him or help train him. And now he's fucking with your life again? It just made me think--"

I grabbed his jaw this time. The slight stubble on his cheek scratched against my palm. "Hey, hey. Calm down kid," I joked, "I care about you. Nothing will change that. Not even Dick motherfucking Grayson."

A small smile grew on his dimpled cheeks. He slowly let me down. My Nightingale uniform dangled around my hips in a ripped mess. In the candlelight, I saw a blush appear on Jay's face. "Sorry about that."

"It's alright," I shrugged.

After we both changed, we headed out. Jason drove us both to a private airport. On the terminal, there was a small, private jet waiting. A pilot was already waiting. He nodded to Jason and I.

"Mr. Todd," The pilot said, his wrinkles crinkling as he grinned, "We will arrive around eight AM. You two can sleep on the plane." Jason nodded and pressed a few bills into his hand before climbing the steps inside. I followed after him.

We both sat down in the white seats. Leaning back, I stared up at the orange florescent lights. My shoulders were tense and I felt clouded inside. I wasn't sure if it was about Dick or about Jason or about Jason's plan, but everything felt impending.

Seeing Jason, I felt a sense of relief. "Hey Jaybird," I called his attention.

"Yeah?"

"I still owe you a chance to get rid of my worries," I said casually. Jason sat up. One of his eyebrows raised in a silent question.

Deciding to show instead of tell, I stood up and sat on his lap. Draping my arms around his neck gently, I leaned in and gently pressed a kiss to his lips. As the plane took off, I unbuttoned Jason's shirt.

~~~~~~~Surprise everyone! An update not on Saturday! You know what that means ;) DOUBLE UPDATE WEEK!!! See you all on Saturday! Songs: Electric - Alina Baraz feat. Khalid. Silicon Valley - Anderson .Paak~~~~~~~~