-Athena's POV-

"This is so nice," I yawned, leaning back and laying my head on my hands, "I haven't felt this relaxed in years."

A pair of Jason's sunglasses were pressed against my face as a big floppy sunhat protected my nose. I stretched out, wiggling my toes and smiling gently. The sun was a blanket, its rays washing over my body with little warm kisses. The cold, plastic straps that made up the beach chair chilled my bare back. I didn't care. The sloshing of the pool in front of me calmed every nerve in my body.

Thinking of how nice I felt, I glanced over to the chair beside me. Jason wasn't so relaxed. Despite the gorgeous and practically perfect day, Jason was sitting up, crouched over his computer. His swimming trunks were on, but he had a loose Batman t-shirt covering his top half. I smirked to myself, staring at the Batman logo displayed across Jason's chest.

I stood up and sat criss-cross in front of him. He glanced up over his computer screen, his eyes squinted, before looking back down and continuing to type. I gasped. He didn't look up again. Slamming his lap top down, I managed to snag his attention.

"Athena! What the fuck!?" Jason growled, meeting my gaze. It took everything in me not to giggle. Or lean closer.

With a challenging smirk, I pouted my lips. "Sorry, it was an accident." I batted my eyelashes.

Jason's anger smoothed out of his face. His jaw relaxed and he let his lips sigh into place. "Oh, I'm sure it was," Jason said sarcastically, "well, then I guess this is an accident too."

Before I could even protest, Jason's hands were secured on the top of my thighs. He stood up, slinging my body over his shoulder like a rag doll. I would shout at him if we were alone, but we were at a public pool. I instead pounded my fists gently on his back and tried to shout through little hiccup laughs.

"Jason, don't you dar--" I managed to say before he tossed me straight into the pool. I sunk beneath the cold chlorine. It cleansed my skin of all the warmth and heat the sun had gifted me with, leaving me shivering and uncomfortable.

I kicked off the bottom of the pool and resurfaced. Jason's sunglasses floated off of my face and my hat flopped down in front of my eyes. I could hear the deep vibrato that was Jason's chuckles. His laugh seemed to surround me, flowing into my ears and filling me up from the inside. He stood at the side of the pool, bent over and clutching his stomach as he laughed at me.

"Jason mother fucking Todd," I said, folding my hat back and grabbing his borrowed sunglasses, "I will end you."

Jason crossed his arms and smiled cockily. "Not from down there you won't," he regarded, cocking his head to the side and raising an eyebrow.

I clambered up out of the pool. I tossed off my saggy hat and placed Jason's glasses on my chair. "You aren't getting those back, asshole," I said, kissing the side of them like they were a baby. I stood in front of Jason, our bodies a foot apart.

His eyes were staring curiously and intently at me. I tugged at his shirt, a question in my eyes. "It was a gift," he answered, placing his hand over the Bat symbol, "pretty funny, huh?"

"Why do you have it on?" I immediately changed the subject as soon as I heard Jason's tone drop. Bruce and the Bat-Fam was a touchy subject for Jason; they were his family and now they didn't even know he was alive. With everything Jason has told me -- which wasn't a lot -- he wasn't mad at Bruce for not saving him, he was mad at Bruce for not killing Joker. He was mad no one came after him.

Jason just shrugged.

I rolled my eyes and grabbed the hem of his shirt. He gripped my hands with his quickly. I met his eyes, but he slowly lowered his hands, giving me permission. I tugged his shirt off for him, pulling it over his head. His abs sparkled in the sun. He was definitely the most attractive man at the pool.

I could feel heads turn. I glanced around quickly seeing the multiple pairs of eyes that lingered on Jason. But, despite the searing pressure of everyone watching the guy before me, Jason's eyes were the ones burning holes in me. I could feel him watching me watching everyone else. When I turned to look back at him, he was still staring, searching for something behind his green pools.

My eyes darted to lips for a split second. But, it was fast enough for him to notice. The corner of his mouth lifted up as his body unconsciously angled forward. Mine responded almost in the exact same way. I thought back to our little "discussion."

Jason Todd, you are making this "just friends" thing really difficult... I thought, my cheeks starting to flush. Before either of us could react, I reached forward and shoved Jason's pecs as hard as I could. He stumbled back and fell back first into the pool.

Cries of laughter ripped out of me. Jason surfaced, his face confused at first before melting away into laughs along with me. "Watch out!" I called, taking a running jump and crashing into the water beside him. I caused a gigantic wave to smack Jason right in his face. His hands grabbed onto my hips to study us both as we floated in the pool.

"See?" I smiled, ruffling Jason's floppy, wet hair, "Isn't this a better way to stakeout instead of sitting on a computer?"

Jason smiled back, reflecting my expression like a mirror. "Definitely."

-

After our stakeout of Black Mask's second in command, Jason and I took refuge in one of his safe houses. Unlike Jason, I didn't have a network of safe houses and weapons in every single country. We were following Mike Vasari on his family vacation. I was enjoying the sun that Cuba offered and all the parties, but Jason strictly wanted to stick to being a grump.

I practiced my fighting techniques and moves silently as Jason did research on his computer. "Vasari is going to make his move soon," Jason said to me, "he's been on vacation for almost a month and hasn't said a peep."

I continued to practice, tossing a punch into the face of my invisible adversary. "Well, he does have his wife and five kids with him. Business is probably not on his mind."

"We've been on stakeout for a week. I can feel the tension heating up," Jason's fingers tapped the keys in quick strokes, "We have to be on high alert from now on."

I stopped what I was doing. I turned around, hands on my hips, and glared at Jason. "I am always on high alert."

"I didn't mean it like that," he replied, still staring at his computer. I knew he was aware I was facing him.

"Just because I'm enjoying myself doesn't mean I'm not focused," I ignored him and continued on, "In fact, I have been trained in these sort of missions. You are potentially destroying our cover every time we go outside of this safe house. Who goes on a vacation to gorgeous Cuba and sits outside on their laptop all day? You look suspicious."

He rolled his eyes. "Every time you talk, your Spanish destroys our cover."

"We're supposed to be tourists!"

"Yeah, and I'm guessing Ra's only taught you tourist Spanish."

"So you want to measure dicks, then?" Jason was finally facing me. I straightened my spine and pushed my chest forward, ready to fight.

Jason stood up and glared at me. A spark zipped through me. I was excited at the thought of fighting Red Hood. Right when I thought he was going to charge me, he turned around and put on his helmet. Behind his hidden, white eyes he said, "I have to go. Don't wait up."

I allowed him to push past me as he left.

I worked on Jason's various dangling punching bags while he was gone. I didn't really care to track or follow where he went, but the longer he was gone, the more curious I became. We were supposed to be partners. Jason never left on a mission without me, no matter how angry he got. The only time he had done work without me was in Bludhaven weeks ago and the awkward period after we kissed. Other than that, I was always involved.

Deciding not to hang up on it, I slipped off my uniform and stripped down to my bathing suit. The air outside was warm and smelled like oranges. I stepped out into the night and walked straight down to the beach.

I resisted the urge to zone out while watching the waves. The last thing I needed was to have a PTSD induced flashback with how frustrated I was. I was still a little cynical about Alfred's diagnosis of my psyche, but it was a very likely possibility.

Laying down in the sand, I let the ocean lap at my toes. The stars twinkled above me as a group of teens had a 'last night of summer' bonfire a little ways down from me. My phone buzzed. I grabbed it, answering.

"Hello?"

"Athena," the other end answered, "how's everything been going?"

Despite the obvious drop in tone of his voice, it was undeniable who it was. "Timmy!?"

"I know you didn't need to ask," Tim laughed.

"Where have you been? Are you okay?" A deep seeded and unfamiliar sense of motherly protection kicked in. No one had seen Tim in months. I hadn't seen him since the first week I got back in Gotham.

Tim chuckled again. He sounded like Bruce. And Dick. And even Jason. Even without the blood, the Bat boys were like brothers. "I've just been doing some of my own work with the Titans and just generally by myself. I've been reconsidering my connection to Bruce and Robin and all that."

My heart sank a little. "Are you going to go solo then?"

"Maybe...I don't know," Tim sighed slowly, "It's nice to talk to you again. Is Dick still being an asshole?"

"I'm not really working with them anymore. So..."

"Oh, I totally get it," Tim said, "That's why I'm reconsidering my options. Bruce can find another Robin. It's not like it's very hard for him."

I laughed, sadly. It was true. "I fully support you no matter what, Tim. I just hope I get to see you again."

"Thank you for the support, Athena. I'll try to call more often."

"I can't wait to see your new costume. Are you going to go by a new name, too?"

Tim sighed again as the noise began to pick up in the background. "I got to go, Theeny. Call you later! Take care of yourself!"

"Wait, Tim. Wa--"

He hung up. A feeling of loss and loneliness flooded through me. Tim, to me, represented my childhood and happiness. And now, he was grown up. He was becoming his own hero. He was no longer the younger Robin that was so excited to help and so trusting.

I stood up and walked back to the safe house alone. The breeze was now frigid and cold.

When I entered, Jason was bent over the sink. He was furiously scrubbing his hands. His helmet was off as was his jacket. His head snapped up when he heard me. I made eye contact with him. Crimson blood splattered all over his face and neck.

"Jay," I said, looking him up and down. His entire uniform was coated in blood. I raised an eyebrow, opening my mouth to ask the question on both of our minds.

Before I could say anything, Jason came forward. The closeness of our bodies took my breath away. His eyes met mine, coaxing me to drop the subject.

"I'm sorry," he said, wrapping his arms around me. It was a kind gesture that made me feel all bubbly inside, but I was still confused. He had never hugged me before.

When he pulled away, he returned to the sink like nothing happened.

~~~~~~~A chapter update finally! Yes! I hate school! SO much! I guess my English class is actually really fun and I'm thinking about taking Creative Writing, so my writing will be next level. How's everything going for you guys? Thank you for the support!~~~~~