Summary: Snippets of a blossoming romance between Jason Tood/Red Hood and an original character (named Ima), with other DC characters in supporting roles. Jason falls for a waitress at a diner he frequents with his best friend, Roy Harper. When she is caught in the crossfire between him and Black Mask, he is determined to protect her at all costs. What he does not expect is her falling for him, too. And how much she becomes a part of his – and the Batfamily’s – life.
** Not strictly canon. Romance + fluff + minor angst. A lot of Batfamily feels. Title from the Coldplay song. Currently 8 chapters long, each one to be posted separately due to length. Editing may occur, depending on inspiration. 🙂 **
Chapters: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight
Two
Two months ago…
“Anything else?”
He was trying to say “a cup of coffee to go”, but nothing came out. He had ordered the waffles for him and Roy just fine, until he looked up to see… her.
Ima Jiwe.
Two finger snaps. A throat clearing.
“I told her you wanted a cup of coffee to go. You ‘kay, Jay?”
The waitress was gone.
“Um, yeah,” Jason replied, sheepishly. “Thanks.“
"Duuuuude,” Roy said, slapping him on the chest from across the table. “You have got it baaaaad for her.”
Jason swatted his arm away. There was no point denying it now. When he was not busy doing idiotic things, his partner was good at reading people. Or, maybe he was just that obvious?
“Why don’t you just ask her out, man? That puppy dog expression you have every time she passes by our table started out cute, but now it’s just downright pathetic. Plus, you keep insisting that we eat at this dump, and I’m pretty sure it ain’t for their world class instant cups of Joe.”
"Their waffles are pretty good,” he replied dryly, trying to change the subject. “Blueberry. Yum.”
"Whatever. Just admit it. You come here for the view,” Roy said, wagging his eyebrows. He watched as Ima served coffee to an old couple two booths away from them. “I have to say, it ain’t bad. Not bad at all.”
Jason rolled his eyes. “And her voice. And he way her hips swing when a Temptations song is on,” he muttered.
"What was that?"
“There’s something… special about her, Roy.” He sighed. “Like sunshine on a cloudy day. Or, you know, whatever,” he said, eyes trained on the piece of tissue he was folding into a swan. Did he just quote a Temptations song? The things she made him do.
"Ha! Sunshine, your green spandex-covered butt! I always took you as more of a night prowler.”
“Thanks for making me sound like a creep,” he laughed. “She may seem like the quiet type at first. But, man, the things that come out of her mouth? Funny as heck. She’s smart, too. Like, really smart. And classy. Plus, she’s really into books. And not just any kind. The classics, Roy! I mean, you’ve seen my shelves at home. She quoted Art of War once, out of nowhere. Art. Of. War. Come on!” He could barely contain his giddiness at the memory.
"And you know all this because…?”
At seeing Roy’s confused expression, Jason felt guilt gnaw at his insides.
“Wekindaalreadydo,well,youknow,hangoutsometimes.” He spoke so quickly that Roy assumed only The Flash could understand it.
"Excuse me?”
“We, um, hang out sometimes,” he repeated at normal speed. Before Roy could open his mouth to respond, he held up his hands in mock defense. “Only when, you know, we’re not out on patrol, or on a case, or…” He trailed off. Obviously.
“How long has this been going on?”
“Five, maybe, s-six weeks.” Roy rarely used such cold tone with him and it was making him a little nervous.
"Huh,” Roy said simply, crossing his arms. “Six weeks. You mean those weeks I kept asking you to hang out with me? Practically begging you to? You kept telling me that you were headed to the manor for some ‘family bonding time’,” he said, emphasizing the last three words with air quotations marks. “Man, was I such a meathead for believing you. I mean, it was just too damn weird to be true, right? But I did anyway.” He jabbed his finger accusingly at Jason’s chest. “Because you. Said. So.”
In his anger, the redhead’s trucker cap fell under the table. Jason picked it up and dusted if off, using the moment to calm his own nerves. It was hard talking to Roy when he got this way. They were causing a scene.
"Roy, we weren’t exactly on the best of terms. It wasn’t like you were answering any of my calls either – ”
“Did you know that I almost relapsed because I felt so alone? That Oliver kicked me out again?” he said, slamming his fist on the table, startling a mother and a little girl behind them, “All the while, my best friend in the entire world was off playing house with some chick he just met and wouldn’t even bother to tell me about it, you lying sack of -”
Before Roy could finish the thought, Ima showed up at their table carrying a couple of paper bags, a concerned look on her face. “Hey, is everything alright? Some of the customers overheard raised voices -”
“E-everything’s fine,” Jason said, trying his best to sound casual, while Roy continued to scowl.
“Okay, then,” she replied cautiously, looking back and forth between them. “So, the ham and egg sandwich are in this bag, and the waffles are in the other one. I added more blueberries when Mrs. Cobb wasn’t looking. I know how much you like them,” she said, giving Jason a wink and handing them their takeout.
Roy chuckled sarcastically. “Cute.”
“Roy,” Jason said warningly.
“And, of course, the Joe for the road,” she finished, handing Jason the steaming cup.
“Thank you.”
“So, this is goodbye again, huh? Off to a new adventure?” Jason did not miss the sudden shyness in her voice, or the way her eyes looked anywhere but at him.
“Something like that, yeah,” he replied, grinning.
“Well, don’t be a stranger.”
“I’ll do my best.”
He stood up, scratching the back of his neck, and leaned in a little closer to her. “Hey, um…”
Roy obnoxiously cleared his throat, getting both their attentions.
“Bye, Jason.”
He watched as her tiny frame walked – no, swayed – away, like she did in his dreams.
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