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The first time you tried to confess was on a quiet night, with the cold wind cutting through Gotham’s streets, but Jason’s presence beside you warming everything. The two of you were standing atop a building, watching the city below, while the moon hung lonely in the sky. You looked at him, his profile traced by the silver light, and your heart raced, pounding hard, like a storm about to break.
“Jason, I…” The words were a whisper in the night air, light, almost swallowed by the wind.
He turned to you, his expression concerned but gentle. “What is it?”
For a moment, you were sure it was the right time. Everything seemed to align — the silence, the city, his gaze. But the fear... the fear was like an invisible hand squeezing your chest, stealing the breath from your lungs. And then, what should have been a confession turned into an empty sigh.
“I… nothing,” you lied, diverting your gaze to the city lights. “I was just thinking how things never change around here.”
And once again, you swallowed the truth, suffocated by the fear of losing what you already had.
The second attempt was even harder. At the secret base, you were taking a break, Jason cleaning his weapons with an almost meticulous focus. The soft sound of the cloth sliding over the metal echoed in the room, while you watched him from a distance. The words were there, so close to the surface, ready to explode.
You took a deep breath, walking towards him. “Jason, I… I need to tell you something.”
He looked up, surprised by your sudden seriousness. “Tell me.”
You wanted to say he was everything. That every look from him disarmed you, that every smile, as rare as it was, lit up your world. But the fear of losing everything you already had was like a constant shadow.
“I… was thinking of ordering pizza. Do you want some?”
Jason shrugged, and you felt the crushing weight of another missed opportunity, once again. The silence that followed was no longer comfortable; it was a bitter reminder of what you didn’t have the courage to say.
The third time was during a training session. You were both exhausted, sweat dripping down your faces, breathing heavily. But in the middle of that physical exhaustion, there was a closeness that made your heart beat even faster. Jason always had an overwhelming presence, but in the moments when he looked at you, unguarded and sincere, you could almost feel the world stop.
Between laughs and exchanged blows, you saw the opportunity. “Jason, I think that…”
He raised an eyebrow, the playful smile he rarely showed lighting up his face. “Are you going to tell me you’re in love with me?” he teased, not knowing how close the joke was to the truth.
Your laugh came out forced, almost painful. “Of course not.” You hid what you felt with another laugh.
Once again, the chance slipped away, like sand through your fingers.
The fourth attempt came on a quiet night, on the way back from patrol. Jason’s car cut through Gotham’s empty streets, the lights flashing quickly past the window, but your mind was racing, thinking of how to say what your heart had been screaming for so long. The sound of the tires on the asphalt, the low hum of the engine, everything seemed to conspire for a perfect moment.
“Jason, I…” The words came, hesitant but with a quiet urgency.
He glanced at you, his eyes attentive but relaxed. “Hm? You hungry? Want to stop for food?”
You closed your eyes for a moment, fighting the sense of impending failure. Once again, fear spoke louder. “No, just… I’m tired.”
And the rest of the ride was made in silence, as you wondered if you would ever have the courage.
The fifth time was the most painful. Jason was lying in a hospital bed, still recovering from a battle that had almost taken him away from you forever. You were by his side, holding his hand, and at that moment, with him so vulnerable, you knew you couldn’t wait any longer. The fear of losing him had become too real, and the weight of everything you felt was about to explode.
When he opened his eyes, weak but conscious, your heart almost stopped. “You stayed here the whole time?” he asked, his voice hoarse but full of gratitude.
“Yes,” you said, without hesitation. “Jason, I… I need to tell you something I’ve been trying for so long. And after all this… I can’t hide anymore.”
You felt tears threatening to fall, but before you could continue, the doctor entered the room, interrupting the moment. You let go of his hand, and all that remained was the heavy silence, like a door closing in slow motion.
.
.
.
It was a strange night, after another mission. There was something in the air, something you couldn’t explain. Jason was quieter than usual, as if carrying an invisible burden. You were walking together down a deserted street, the silence between you different, almost charged with something unsaid.
Suddenly, he stopped, removed his mask, and ran a hand through his hair, seeming unsure for the first time in a long time. His gaze, usually so firm and confident, was lost.
“I… need to tell you something,” he began, his voice lower than usual, as if each word was a struggle.
Your heart leaped in your chest, but you stayed silent, waiting, the fear present once again, but now mixed with expectation.
“I’m not good at talking about this,” he continued, looking away to the ground. “But… I can’t keep pretending I don’t feel it. I… I think I’m in love with you.”
His words were like a shock, a truth you had wanted to hear for so long, but that still took you by surprise. He was vulnerable, more than you had ever seen him. Jason Todd, the man who never showed weakness, was standing there, unarmed before you.
“I know I’m not the right guy for you,” he murmured, almost as if he were apologizing. “But I can’t hide it anymore.”
You felt the world stop, the words you had rehearsed so many times disappearing from your mind. And there, in the charged silence of that unexpected confession, the two of you stood, two broken hearts trying to find a way to fit together.