"Rescue plan for the Clown." Jason murmured under his breath as the screen loaded. Just as he'd suspected, Black Mask was already moving to break Joker out—much earlier than Jason projected, but honestly, the timing suited him perfectly. It slid neatly into the window of chaos that Scarecrow's recent attack had created.
Ever since that toxin mess, he'd felt it in his bones—Black Mask wasn't the type to let an opportunity slip. With half the city on edge and the security at Arkham keeping a close eye on Scarecrow, it was the perfect distraction for a jailbreak.
'Good. For a second, I thought I'd have to break out the lunatic myself if this dragged on any longer,' he thought, his lips twitching into a faint, humorless smile. It wasn't relief—more like satisfaction, the quiet click of a puzzle piece falling exactly where he wanted it.
He wiped his traces from the device, fingers moving quickly and confidently across the interface. The soft glow from the screen lit up his face in the dim room, casting faint blue shadows over the sheets, the furniture, and Li's scattered belongings. Once he scrubbed his activity clean, he locked the tab and slipped it back into the exact spot inside the purse where Li had tucked it earlier. Everything needed to look untouched.
The room itself was steeped in late-night stillness—a silence that settles after hours of adrenaline have finally burned out. The faint hum of the AC filled the space, carrying the cool scent of lavender from whatever overpriced air freshener she used. Streetlights leaking through the blinds painted thin gold stripes across the carpet and the edge of the bed.
Satisfied, Jason stretched the stiffness out of his shoulders and walked into the bathroom. The soft pad of his footsteps contrasted with the quiet drip of the faucet inside. A moment later, the flush echoed through the small tiled space, and he emerged, running a hand through his hair as he exhaled a slow breath.
The bed was still warm from earlier, the sheets slightly tangled. Li lay fast asleep, breathing slow and steady, one arm loosely curled near her face. Jason slipped back under the covers, sinking into the mattress with a heaviness that came from far too many days running on fumes.
This time, though, there was no pretending and no planning left to do—at least not tonight.
He closed his eyes, letting the darkness settle in as he drifted toward an actual night of sleep, uninterrupted and finally earned.
- - -
Early the next morning, the soft light of dawn seeped through the thin hotel curtains, washing the room in a warm orange glow.
Dust motes drifted lazily in the air, catching the sunlight as the building settled with quiet morning creaks. The air still held the faint chill of night, mixed with a trace of lavender from the room's diffuser.
Jason stirred, shifting slightly under the sheets as a vague sense of discomfort tugged him out of sleep. His brow furrowed before his eyes finally blinked open.
He found Li lying sideways beside him, her face angled toward his chest as if she'd fallen asleep watching him. Her hair, messy but still graceful in that effortless way, spilled lightly across her pillow.
"Well, that ain't creepy at all," he muttered with a dry stretch of his arms, rolling his shoulders until a soft crack echoed.
Li's eyes fluttered open at his voice. A hint of embarrassment warmed her expression.
"Forgive me if I upset you. It's just… you looked very peaceful while asleep."
"Really now? Well, with a beautiful lady like you lying right next to me, of course I'd be peaceful." His voice softened into a teasing tone, and a small smile ghosted across Li's lips. She leaned forward, planting a gentle peck on his mouth before slipping gracefully out of bed.
"I have to be at work in an hour," she said, crossing the room with measured steps, already slipping back into her composed morning self. Her tone carried an unspoken cue—an invitation for Jason to share what his own plan for the morning was.
Jason swung his legs off the bed, dragging a hand through his sleep-tousled hair. "I was going to grab breakfast at a coffee shop not too far from here," he said with a shrug. "You could have your driver pick you up from there in an hour."
"Okay," she replied. Her voice sounded more formal now, like she'd stepped back into the mental space she used for the office. No alcohol, no teasing energy—just a composed, focused woman preparing to take on her day.
By the time she was dressed in her neat work attire and Jason had showered, pulled on his clothes, and re-tightened his gloves, they headed outside. The air was brisk, carrying the scent of city pavement and early traffic.
Jason handed her his spare helmet before they climbed onto his bike. He adjusted it for her gently, making sure it sat snugly enough to shield her hair from the harsh wind they'd meet on the ride.
The engine roared to life beneath them, and the city blurred past in streaks of morning colors as he drove them to the café.
Inside the coffee shop, warm air and the aroma of roasted beans enveloped them instantly. Sunlight poured through large windows, and soft instrumental music drifted in the background. A steady murmur of conversations filled the space as early risers and office workers tried to wake up for the day, even though it was a Sunday. Well, this was Gotham city.
They ordered their usual—black coffee for Li, milk-and-sugar coffee for Jason—alongside eggs, bacon, and toast. Jason's cup sat steaming in his hand as he dropped one sugar cube… then another… then a third. Li's gaze flickered toward him with an expression somewhere between amusement and disbelief just as he dropped a fourth cube into the cup.
"What?" Jason asked, stirring casually. "Sometimes I like my coffee sweet—with enough cream to make it worth drinking." His tone was unapologetic and honest.
Ever since he returned to Gotham, he had found himself indulging in small pleasures—little things he once brushed aside, now appreciated with quiet gratitude.
Death, then resurrection—those experiences rearranged a man. He'd learned that the small ordinary joys mattered far more than he once believed. He sipped his coffee and felt that reminder settle into his bones like a soft echo.
But as he sat there, he couldn't keep his mind from drifting into darker corners. What was next for him? Once Joker was dealt with—permanently—and Black Mask followed suit… what then? What life existed for Jason Todd outside the hood, outside the mission? Was there even a version of that life he was allowed to have?
He doubted it. Vigilante work wasn't a hobby; it was a devouring lifestyle. It demanded secrecy, distance, excuses, and half-truths. Even if he tried to build something normal, everyone around him would have to be kept at arm's length. Lies would pile up. Trust would get thin.
His eyes drifted toward Li as she quietly enjoyed her breakfast, sipping her coffee with a serene expression. He watched her for a few seconds, wondering if what he had with her—whatever it actually was—was temporary by design. A connection with an expiration date.
She felt his gaze and looked up, catching him in the act. The corners of her lips curved faintly, a small amused expression softening her features. She probably assumed he was admiring her, lingering in the morning calm before they both jumped into their separate lives.
Normally, she found unsolicited staring uncomfortable—even irritating. But something about Jason's green eyes, sharp yet warm when they locked onto hers, stirred a strange mix of excitement and curiosity in her. Maybe it was because he didn't look at her the way others at the office did. Maybe it was because his presence felt unfiltered, unpolished, real.
She didn't quite realize how relaxed she'd become around him—far more than she ever allowed herself to be with anyone else. At her workplace, the staff had affectionately dubbed her "the ice queen," a title born from the cool, composed professionalism she always displayed. She rarely said more than necessary, never let her guard down, and kept her emotions neatly folded away.
Yet here she was, sharing breakfast with a man who made her forget that persona even existed.
Catching something in her peripheral vision, Li shifted her gaze toward the café window. A sleek black sedan had just pulled up at the curb outside, its tinted windows reflecting the morning light.
"Oh. My ride's here," she said, her voice even and controlled, almost emotionless on the surface. Still, Jason could catch the faintest dip in her tone—the subtle disappointment she tried to hide behind that cool exterior.
"I see." Jason followed her gaze, nodding slightly as he looked through the window. Then he leaned back casually and held out his phone toward her. "How about you give me your digits, and next time we actually go on a proper date? You know… instead of just meeting up as drinking buddies."
Li raised a brow, a teasing smile curling at one corner of her mouth as she reached for the phone. "Is that what you think of me? A drinking buddy?"
"Absolutely," he teased. "Who else am I going to drink with?"
She tapped her number into the burner phone and handed it back. Before he could pocket it, she asked, "Why do you use a burner, anyway?" Her tone was curious, but her expression looked like she halfway expected another outrageous answer from him.
Jason paused for a breath as if debating how honest he wanted to be, then shrugged with lazy nonchalance. "...Because I'm a weirdo who tries to live a peaceful, drama-free life—one that's somehow even more private than the life of an introvert."
Li let out a short, surprised chuckle, caught off guard by the blend of truth and absurdity in his answer. "Says the guy who started a fight with a biker gang."
Jason scoffed lightly. "Some people just need a good beating every once in a while. If not, they get all high and mighty, start treating everyone else like they're beneath them. And if fate throws them in my path, who am I to say no? Might as well drag them off that high horse."
As he said that, Li couldn't help thinking of her boss who strutted around like an untouchable king but had been living in quiet terror of the Red Hood for months.
"So you believe in fate?" she asked, adjusting her coat slightly.
"Not at all. That was just an excuse." Jason didn't even hesitate. "But as much as I hate drama, sometimes I can't help crossing paths with guys like Morgan."
Her eyes flickered with understanding, though she said nothing about her boss. Instead, she smoothed her hair and rose from her seat. "Maybe next time you'll tell me where you learned to fight."
"No promises," he replied with a wink. That earned him a small, genuine smile from her—one of the few she didn't bother hiding.
Jason stood as well, slipping his hands into his pockets. "I have to say… working even on a Sunday? Your boss must be working you to the bone."
"You have no idea," she answered with a quiet sigh, reaching into her purse to pay for their breakfast out of habit.
Jason gently raised a hand to stop her.
"Don't worry about that. It's on me."
Li paused mid-motion, her hand frozen for a second before she slowly withdrew it from her purse. Something softened in her expression—something appreciative, something she didn't voice.
"Okay," she said quietly. "See you around."
Jason returned a relaxed half-wave. "See you."
She walked toward the exit with her usual graceful stride. As soon as she stepped outside, her driver—dressed in a crisp black suit—hurried around the sedan to open the rear door for her. Li slid in seamlessly, returning to her composed work persona as the car door closed behind her.
Jason watched the sedan pull away, the engine humming as it merged into the street traffic. He exhaled slowly, sinking back into his chair and signaling to the barista.
"Another cup," he said, enjoying the rare luxury of time as the day stretched quietly ahead of him.
The barista refilled his mug, steam rising in thick curls. Jason added milk, dropped in a couple more sugar cubes, stirred it until the colors blended into a warm caramel, and took a slow, satisfying sip.
'Of course she'd be working on a Sunday,' he thought, leaning back with a contemplative stare at the street outside. 'She has to make sure everything's in place. Black Mask is finally breaking Joker out of Arkham tomorrow night.'
His eyes narrowed slightly as the thought settled. The edges of his mind stropped—anticipation, focus, and something darker simmering in his chest.
His preparations would be handled later tonight. Every tool, every route, every contingency plan. Everything would be planned to perfection.
His revenge was finally within reach, almost tangible.
And Jason Todd intended to savor every quiet moment of this calm before the storm—because once he had Joker in his hands, there would be no turning back.
- - -
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