RP with Jason Todd

[gravity_grrl]

[A few days after the depressing text messaging Roxy had with Jason she gets a call from one of the girls she knows from work who tells her that they've been offered to dance for a private after party at the club.

"It's good money Rox, these guys are big tippers to all the girls. Not just the ones up on stage." She tells her, "C'mon it might be fun."

Fun. Sure.
It's something she could use right now, having spent the last two days in a depressive slump over the situation with Jason, so after some consideration she agrees. She loves dancing so it might help break her out of her mood and she definitely could use the cash seeing how she just had to use a good chunk of her savings to buy a new cellphone, but most of all she says yes because there's a part of her that wants to look sexy as fuck and have guys check her out just to spite Jason. He won't be there, seeing how he's not 21, but that doesn't matter. It's the vibe, that badass bitch vibe that she needs right now.
Because otherwise she's just going to sink deeper into heartbreak.

And so, on Saturday night Roxy selects an outfit from her costume closet that she knows is a "fan favorite", throws it and some heels into a bag and heads down to 'The Penthouse' strip club located in downtown Gotham.]

Comments

[theotherobin]

[ It's a case that Bruce has been working on for a while now, following the disappearance of a handful of working girls that seemed to be unrelated, according to the GCPD, but when he and Jason looked into it further, there were underlying connections, all leading back to one of the less major crime syndicates in Gotham.

Tonight though, they found another connection to a much bigger player, and plans to step it up, all operating out of The Penthouse strip club in downtown Gotham.

Jason is eager to get out there. He's always been ready to go, get out there and beat the shit out of anyone who deserves it, but after everything he feels like he gave up with Roxy, he wants to go at it even more. That was the whole point, right? Well that, and when he's out there with Batman, it's easier to shove everything else aside and not be heartbroken about it. About her.

Their intel leads them to the basement below the club, but Jason can hear the music blaring from upstairs as they swoop in quietly. It isn't long before gunshots start ringing out and men are down and their fight starts spilling up to the club, and the men enjoying their private party get notified of their cover being blown. ]

[gravity_grrl]

[Things actually start out pretty good when Roxy starts her evening at the club, the private party her friend spoke of are a bunch of well dressed guys in suits that seem to have ample amounts of cash to burn. There are about thirty of them in total and they spread themselves out around the club in smaller groups of about five, each group looking like they are discussing business type deals.

Not that she could hear their conversations from her position inside her usual gogo spot which is a large metal cage that resembled an antique bird cage, set off to the right hand side of the main stage. It's the perfect spot for her, close enough to get some of the run off attention from the main stage but also a little elevated so that no one can reach through and get too handsy. Also the cage structure allows her to show off her flexibility, something that always seems to draw in a lot of tips.

She had still been thinking about Jason as she got changed but thankfully once she starts to dance things become a lot more simple, she can forget about all her worries and heartache and just concentrate on feeling the music work its way through her body. This is always her escape, ever since she was young, being able to stretch and grind and throw her entire body into a song to help work through her emotions.

Grabbing hold of the bars of the cage she moves and dances seductively, feeling appreciative looks and eyes on her which makes her work harder. She's so in her own headspace and dancing that she doesn't notice the flurry of activity around her for a few moments, the loud thudding music masking the gunshots from downstairs.]

love that song hnngg yess

[theotherobin]

[ Batman and Robin fight together like they're dancing. Jason knows he hasn't been at it for all that long, but it feels like he's been at Bruce's side forever, fighting with him just like this.

He's a lot more subdued today though- more serious than usual, without running his mouth. It's usually a good distraction tactic, but he doesn't need that as much today with the ferocity he's using to lay into the guys trying to shoot at him. Bruce doesn't bother to tell him to calm the fuck down, because there are more important things to deal with right now, but he does tell Jason to go get the civilians out of here.

That's when a few more shots ring out, and one of the dancers screams, and the whole thing becomes a mess of a fight that Jason tries to dodge so he can help get the dancers out before they get hurt. He ushers a couple toward the exit, but then he stops in his tracks when he sees the dancer in the cage. It can't be...

He's distracted for long enough that one of the mafia bastards gets his arm around his neck, dragging him backwards, trying to choke him. Jason doesn't hesitate to smash his hand into the guy's face, then flips over him and takes him down instead, kicking him in the head before he flips away to avoid gunfire and tries to turn back towards Roxy so he can get her the hell out of here, but she must've gotten out of the cage she was dancing in because he goes crashing into her instead. ]

omg right?! It's so good, perfect cage dancing song.

[gravity_grrl]

[Things go sideways with such speed that for one moment it feels like she's in a dream, one second it's a night of work like any other and the next there's gunfire, girls screaming, people fighting and yes, masked crime fighters.]

Holy shit.

[She's heard rumors about Gotham's dark duo but it's another thing to see them in the flesh, they work like clockwork together and for a moment all she can do is watch in awe. But then a shot rings out and she hears one of the other girls scream, she turns and sees one of the suits reaching out to grab her to use as a hostage. Fuck that, no one touches the girls.
Roxy throws her arms out and makes the gravity around his testicles suddenly weigh about twenty pounds, sending him screaming to the ground.]

Cass, get the fuck outta here! NOW!

[She turns to check on the other girls and locks eyes with the smaller masked hero, Robin, and for one startling moment it looks like he's staring right through her. Like he knows her.

Unfortunately this gives a large man behind him an opening to attack, she swears under her breath and boots open the door to the cage and jumps out, thankful that she is used to moving in heels. She tries to make a dash towards the exit but a group of men cut her off and that's when they start shooting, she manages to pivot and run back in time to avoid being shot but then she collides with Robin and the two of them go spilling behind one of the large wooden bar tables. Rolling with him they land in a tangled position, him on top and her leg wrapped around him loosely, she utters a small breathless laugh and looks up into his face.]

[theotherobin]

[ Things are not going well, Batman prevents casualties, and Robin is more than willing to take down anyone who wants to cause casualties, so it evens out there somewhere.

What he doesn't expect is the way he goes rolling with Roxy, tangling up with her in a way that pretty much fucking proves to him that the world hates him. Hates him, because they're too close now, and for a moment he can't think, until there's a hail of bullets getting shot at them, and Jason swings his cape around fluidly to protect her head, rolling them until they can get out of the line of fire and he can yank her up to her feet again. ]

Go! Take those girls and go out back, go!

[gravity_grrl]

[Both her breath and time seem to stop when she looks up into his face, a sudden doubling happening in her mind where it seems like she's been here before. That they've been here before, together.
Tangled up, him on top as she looks up and locks eyes with him.

She opens her mouth to say something but that's when the shooting starts up again, uttering a small squawk as they roll and then he's pulling her up to her feet. She gives him one final look and then starts to dash towards the back exit, her mind a jumble of thoughts and panic. There's no way, no way that it could be...

Her thoughts are broken suddenly by someone grabbing her by the throat and slamming her against the back hallway wall, it's the guy whose testicles she hurt and he must have slipped back here when no one was watching, hiding in the back room where the girls usually grab their discarded clothes and tips.]

[theotherobin]

[Too close. That was way too close he thinks to himself as she makes a run for it. What the hell is she doing here? He realizes then that she works here. She's a dancer.

A dancer for the mob? There's no fucking way. This had to be a one time thing.

All of that can wait though, because Batman is back at his side now, and he has to focus. He gets the guys that shot at them, knocking them out with speed, and a few well placed bloody punches, but something feels off. It feels wrong. He hates leaving the fight, but he has to make sure Roxy and the girls are alright, especially if these pieces of shit are snatching them up.

He goes down the hall and sees a large man looming over someone much smaller, and he recognizes the black and white gogo outfit.]

Hey asshole, get the fuck off'a her or you're gonna lose your fucking hands!

[he doesn't give the guy much time to act before he's on him, running and jump kicking him away from her, sending him flying against the wall with a crack and a yell of pain.]

[gravity_grrl]

[The guy who grabs her is ruthless and doesn't waste any time yelling at her about his ruptured testicles, he just starts throttling her. The hand on her throat is horribly strong and soon she can't breathe, unable to use her powers because she's loosing focus.

Oh god, I'm going to die. I'm going to die with this guys horrible breath and aftershave all around me.... Her mind has time to think and then blessedly the weight and his stink are gone.

She doubles over, coughing, trying to pull air into her lungs which feel strained and like they've already given up.]

fuck...

[Finally she manages to pull in a gasp of air and she slumps against the wall, her vision dotted with black and white lights and her head swimming.]

[theotherobin]

[The asshole pulls a gun on him, hand wobbly as he probably has a concussion at this point. He fires off several shots that Jason ducks and rolls away from, and then he's back on him again, slamming his head against the wall one more time to knock him out.

He's quickly back at Roxy's side after that, checking for wounds before hoisting her up.]

Just breathe, okay? Stay with me.

[He can see a few more men coming down the stairs at them, the swoop of Batman's cape, and more yelling, but he needs to get Roxy to safety.]

Come on. I'm gonna get you outta here. Just hang on tight.

[He moves with her, heading for the nearest exit, grabbing someone's discarded suit jacket along the way so he can wrap her up in it once they get outside.]

[gravity_grrl]

[Her vision greys in and out and for a moment she's scared that she's going to pass out and maybe not wake up but that's when she hears a voice.

Stay with me.

She nods her head dully and then feels arms move around her, hoisting her up. She struggles to say something but her throat is sore and feels swollen so instead she just leans her head against him, trying to focus on steadying her breathing as he carries her outside. When the cold air hits her it's a relief, she's sure that she'll get cold quickly as her outfit is practically lingerie, but for right now it feels wonderful against the skin on her throat.]

Never.. [She starts to say and her throat constricts, she coughs weakly and when it eases a bit she continues.] ...Never had a guy be so literal when he wanted to pick me up.

[It's a weak joke but the fact that she can joke around at all is encouraging, she opens her eyes and looks up at the man who saved her. There's no doubt now, it is Jason.]

Thanks for the save, handsome.

[theotherobin]

[ Roxy looks like she's struggling to stay awake and he's worried as hell about it, but as long as he gets her out quickly, the cops and ambulances will be here soon. He doesn't want to leave her with them, but he knows he'll have to.

When they get outside, he leans her against the nearest wall, putting the jacket around her shoulders to cover her up. He gives a small smile at her joke, because he's relieved she's joking, but that's all she gets. Maybe it's stupid of him, but he tries not to look her in the eyes because he knows it might give him away, but he fears it's already too damn late.

Even in the short time they were together, Roxy knew him better than anyone else ever did.]

Don't leave before someone checks you out. I gotta go back inside.

[gravity_grrl]

[When he wraps the jacket around her shoulders she gives him a small smile, reaching up to help pull it closed over herself. She reaches out and catches his hand before he can dash back inside.]

Wait, one second. Please?

[There's a million things she wants to say to him but he's obviously in work mode and she needs to be as well.]

Those guys that were in there, do you think they'll send more to hurt the other girls? To shut them up about what happened tonight? None of us knew what they were, you have to believe me.

[theotherobin]

[ His eyes dart toward the exit they just came out of, then down to where her hand catches his. This is why all of this was a bad idea. Exactly all of this right here.

But he doesn't dash back inside, because he can't just yet. Not with her asking him to wait. ]

How many other girls were involved?

[ Roxy wouldn't have known about anything, he believes that right away, no matter what. She wouldn't. ]

I believe you. They're not gonna hurt any of you, I'll make damn fucking sure of it.

[gravity_grrl]

There were five of us in total; myself and Cass are gogo girls, and the other three are strippers. Their names are Nicky, Mila and Alexis. Alexis and Mila do sex work on the side, which I'm only telling you in case one of those guys tries to get to them that way.

[The information she's giving him is partially because she doesn't want the other girls to get tangled up in a lot of police bullshit, the other is in case the suits from the club try to track them down, but lastly part of her wants him to know what her job actually is here so that he isn't drawing his own conclusions.]

Thank you, uh, Robin is it?

[And because she can't help herself she smiles and lifts an eyebrow at him]

I've seen you a few times on the news, gotta say you're cuter in person.

[theotherobin]

Those guys won't get to them.

[ Jason'll make sure of it. So will Bruce.

Whether Roxy is a stripper or not, really is none of his business. Wasn't before, isn't now, so he tries not to think too much of it. Everyone has to make a living somehow, and he knows how hard strippers work. For her safety he's relieved that she's a gogo dancer and nothing more, but they were all in the same kind of danger tonight.

When she calls him Robin, he finally lifts his gaze to meet hers. Fuck. ]

In the flesh.

I gotta get my cute ass back in there, though. You gonna be okay?

[gravity_grrl]

[In the flesh.
She bites her bottom lip, trying to stop the grin that wants to respond to that remark. It is him, it really is, he's standing here in front of her as her own personal hero.
A knight in shining armor.
Well....maybe more like red armor.]

Yeah I'll be okay.

[She moves fast, using the hand she's still holding to pull herself against him, her heart beating wildly as she kisses him hard on the lips. It's brief, she knows he has work to do but god help her she can't help herself. When she pulls away she's breathless, but this time it's from pleasure and not pain.]

Thank you.

[theotherobin]

[ He gives her a nod when she says she's okay, but then before he can move away, she's kissing him. He's stunned for a brief moment, but then he presses into the kiss just a bit before she pulls away.

Fuck. She either totally know or he should be really fucking jealous right now that Roxy is making out with Robin and not him. It almost makes him laugh. What a complete shitshow he's gotten himself into.

He smirks, shaking his head, because what else can he do? For now, this is what it is. He'll have to deal with the fallout later. ]

See you around, beautiful.

[ With that he takes off back inside to help Bruce nail these assholes and make sure they won't even think about hurting these girls in any kind of way. ]

[gravity_grrl]

[When she feels him press into the kiss she feels that electric spark that always seems to happen between them and her whole body cries out for more, but he needs to go and finish his work and she needs to get checked out by the paramedics.

She smiles when he calls her beautiful and watches him go back into the club, leaning her weight against one of the outside walls. Her throat is sore, her head is swimming and her knees feel weak and she can't quite tell if it's from their kiss or loosing so much oxygen.]

Oh god I think I could fall in love with him...

[She whispers to herself and when her legs feel steady enough she walks around to the front of the club where the police and paramedics are starting to arrive.]

[theotherobin]

[ There's that spark he's missed, even if it's only been a few days. It's been the shittiest few days he's had in a very long time, and he knows it can't possibly get any better from here because Roxy either knows, or she doesn't, and both of those things don't bode well for him.

He itches to go check on Roxy right after he and Bruce take care of things, but he can only watch from a distance, making sure the asshole mobsters get dragged off, and Roxy and her friends are being cared for and protected. He makes sure it's not the shittiest cops at their side, urging Bruce to call Jim Gordon in to make sure things go smoothly. It's the best Jason can do for now.

He and Bruce spend the rest of the night taking out the rest of the trash in Gotham, and as much as he'd like to agonize about all the shit that went down tonight with Roxy, he's so exhausted by the time they get back at dawn, that he passes out, thinking about the sparks against his lips. ]

[gravity_grrl]

[The next day Roxy sleeps in for as long as her body will let her, having been up till about 5am talking with paramedics, cops and then making sure all the other girls got home safely. She finally rolls out of bed around noon and as she drinks her coffee she comes to a few decisions. The first and most important is that she needs to talk to Jason, there's no way she can just let him continue to give her the silent treatment. Not after what happened last night.
She knows who he is and it explains so much about him that it feels stupid to just ignore it, plus she needs to ask him if the Penthouse is going to be safe enough for her and the other girls to continue dancing at.

But how to get him to talk to her? She's tried texting and that went awful last time, and she can't just show up at Wayne Manor, what if he isn't even there?]

Ah-ha! Alfred.

[Jason did tell her a few times that Alfred liked her...she just hopes that he likes her enough for him to help her get Jason alone.]

[theotherobin]

[ Jason sleeps just as much, well into the afternoon, much to Alfred's chagrin. When he does finally wake, he feels this heavy feeling in the pit of his stomach. He recounts everything last night and reaches for his phone, checking if he has any new messages.

He doesn't.

He pulls up his messages with Roxy and considers texting her, but what the fuck is he even going to say? He wants to ask how she is, but then will he be giving himself away? He groans, shoving his phone away and faceplants back into his pillow until Alfred pretty much bitches at him to stop trying to waste away and come down to eat.

It's hard getting up, but he does so from there, checking out the mottled bruises along his skin. He even has a decent bruise running along his cheekbone, and he hates how he's automatically grateful that he can still kiss Roxy... even if he can't anymore.

Except he remembers the kiss from last night, and he wonders again- did she figure it out? Did she just decide to make out with Robin? That puts him in a mood as he trudges down the stairs, into the kitchen. Alfred pushes a mug of coffee over to him. Along with a plate of food... and then starts plating out another one which he assumes is for Bruce. ]

It's good that you're awake, Master Jason. You have a visitor.

[gravity_grrl]

[Thank god for Alfred.
When she finally works up enough nerve to call Wayne Manor she is relieved that it's him that picks up and not Jason or Bruce, she explains that she and Jason had a fight and that he won't return her text messages and asks if there's a way Alfred could help her talk to him because she misses him. It's not a lie and some of the obvious hurt in her voice must get through because he agrees.

After her call she showers and throws on a cozy sweater dress and her leather jacket and takes a cab over, her stomach nervous and upset. She heads to the side door per Alfred's instructions and waits for him to retrieve her once Jason is up.

When she sees him through the glass and her heart begins to beat faster, Alfred motions for her to come in and she does. Giving Jason a soft smile and a little wave.]

Hi handsome.

[theotherobin]

[Jason looks up from his plate of food, freezing when he sees Roxy waking in. His gaze darts from Alfred, back to Roxy and he just stares at her, mouth hanging open a little, astonished that she really is just standing here in the kitchen. Alfred is a sneaky motherfucker, Jesus Christ. What an ambush.

Except, he's also incredibly relieved to see her.]

Where are your manners, Master Jason? Miss Spaulding came all this way to see you. The least you could do is say hello.

Uh... hi.

[he's not feeling super smooth right now, sitting here with his disheveled bed head and sleepiness still in his eyes.]

Alright then. Miss Spaulding, please make yourself at home and sit down for brunch. I will leave you two alone. Holler politely if you need me.

[Alfred squeezes Jason's shoulder and heads off, leaving them alone in the kitchen. Jason just blinks, then seemingly snaps out if his surprised stupor as he slides off his stool, pulling one out next to him for her at the counter.]

Yeah, um. Come sit. Sorry, I pretty much just woke up.

[gravity_grrl]

[Roxy smiles gratefully at Alfred as he leaves and he tips her a small wink. Jason seems to mostly snap out of his stunned silence and offers her a seat next to him at the counter. She shrugs off her jacket, laying it on the counter next to her and sits down.]

I can tell, your hair is all extra poofy.

[She smiles and reaches over to take the cup of coffee Alfred had poured.]

[theotherobin]

[ Jason self consciously and unsuccessfully tries to pat his hair down a little, and now he kinda wishes he could have put something on these bruises to cover them up as well, but the fact that she's here after last night... he has a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

There are several things he knows he should ask her, starting with: What are you doing here? What happened to your neck? Why are you here, I thought you'd hate me by now? Questions he should ask to seem less suspicious. But it's hard to lie to her face like that when he looked into her eyes as Robin last night. ]

How are you?

[ Is what he settles on, because it seems neutral enough. This could go either way, he still tells himself. ]