Chapter Text
“Your city is in ruins. You are-” Red Hood stopped, gloves half off, and raised an eyebrow. “You’re wearing my jacket.”
Swaddled in the thick fabric and leather, only Ladybird’s face was still visible, her expression trapped between a scowl and a pout. “Well you asshat, it’s cold down here, and you left it in my reach. If you weren’t too tight to heat your lair while keeping me prisoner down here, I wouldn’t have had to resort to thievery.”
“You look adorable,” Red Hood said, forcing a sneer into his voice. Because she did. She looked adorable and warm and perfect.
Ladybird’s pout was a little more defined than her scowl now, her bottom lip poking out. “I am not adorable. And you're my worst enemy. My nightmare man. The guy who destroyed my city. You of all people shouldn’t say I’m adorable.”
Red Hood blushed and turned around, as if she could even see it with his helmet on, and just walked away without saying a thing.
It wasn’t until a few hours later when Ladybird’s team managed to break in and rescue her, did Jason think about how small and cute Ladybird had looked. And just so kissable.
Wait.
Did he like Ladybird?
Jason groaned at the realization. He liked someone who thought of him as their “Nightmare Man.”
His revenge plan just got a little more complicated.
Chapter 2: 2
Chapter Text
It was the dead of night with only the light from the moon to light the area around them, but Jason could see her face perfectly without the light, thanks to his mask’s night vision feature.
It had been about two months since he realized that he had feelings for Ladybird and he was right. It had just made his revenge plans much harder.
They had been fighting for more than an hour now, both covered in scars and bleeding in numerous places, all non-lethal.
“If you want me,” Ladybird panted, “come and get me.”
Red Hood paused, but only for a second. “Want you in which way, darling? Don’t get me wrong, both involve ropes, but it’s an important distinction to make before we proceed.” Truthfully, there was only one way he was planning on using the rope, but he had to at least make her think he was contemplating killing her.
Ladybird scoffed in disgust. “You’re a disgusting creep,” she said, right before launching to attack him again.
They fought until Ladybird was called to retreat.
Chapter Text
Jason walked down the halls, making sure everything was alright. He had gotten an alert earlier that night about movement in an area that was closed off to his men.
He heard heavy breathing from the last room. He slowly made his way to the room, his gun off the safety and ready to shoot. He walked into the room only to find Ladybird crouching in pain.
"I need help," she said, breathing hard. Red Hood, kneeled down by her side.
"Why is that?"
"Because there is someone worse out there I need to deal with. Contrary to what you might think, you aren't the worst person I've had to face. And I..." Ladybird trailed off, glancing away.
"And you what?"
"I-i-i," She made a choking sound, her shoulders sleeping forward. Crying, Jason realized. Ladybird was crying. He leaned closer, taking a good look at her face. The cuts on her forehead and cheeks seemed shallow enough, but now that Jason looked, Ladybird's eyes seemed pale, cloudy, and unfocused. Jason felt his blood run cold.
"They blinded you?" Jason gritted out. Ladybird nodded. "Who did this?"
She didn't respond for a while, but she eventually said, "Joker."