((A/N)): So, I didn't post anything yesterday for a reason; I was finishing a really fucked-up angst. It's really long, too, like 13 Google docs pages long... my question is, do y'all want it? I really don't know if I should post it on here or not, it's REALLY messed up. Like, gore and Major Character Death and shit. Like, it probably belongs on AO3, but I don't write over there yet... idk, let me know.

Here's a continuation of the last Jason oneshot (Jason Todd/Red Hood 2), so go refer back to that one if needed.

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"That's a pretty color on you, doll", Jason's husky voice breathes in your ear, his warm breath tickling your neck.

The both of you are dressed to the nines, waiting in line for entry to the Iceberg Lounge.

Bruce had sent the both of you on a follow-up investigation after finding out that Black Mask was probably working with Penguin from the goon Jason had killed at the docks.

True to his word, he had taken the full blame from Bruce that night. After the confrontation in your room, you hadn't said much to him, but you seemed to be on better terms, and that was good enough for you.

You felt your cheeks heat up as you glanced down at your red dress.

Of course. Red Hood.

You hadn't meant to match him, but you knew how it looked, catching Jason's cheeky grin.

"Thanks", you responded quickly.

The line pushed you forward, nearly to the door. You nudged Jason harshly when he pulled his lighter and a cigarette from his pocket.

"You're going to draw unnecessary attention and get us caught", you hissed, worried more for your mission than your partner's nasty habit.

Far as you knew, though, Jason had been smoking since his resurrection. There was no stopping him now, that much was clear as he lit up and took a long drag anyway.

"Relax, doll. No one ever minds a little smoke at a club". His little wink makes you roll your eyes in turn as you wrap your coat tighter around your body, keeping the city chill out.

"Maybe at a club like the ones you seem to frequent. The Iceberg Lounge is... well..."

You have a point. There's not a bouncer at the door, there's a host, like a restaurant, and you two already have to dress up to slip in unnoticed.

Plus, Bruce had to make reservations for you in his name.

You're sure there's a lounge within somewhere, but here, out in the open, in the waiting line...

You're one couple away from the door now. You'd never admit it out loud, but the smell of cigarette smoke is vaguely comforting to you in the weirdest way possible. The smell always stuck to Jason's leather jackets and lingered on his skin, underlying the cologne he borrowed from Dick occasionally, and making it a scent all his own.

The couple in front of you enters the building, and Jason nudges you gently forward.

You fix a sweet smile on your face.

"Hi, reservations for two? Under the name 'Wayne'".

The host looks you and Jason up and down before checking his list.

He nods sharply.

"Very well. Welcome to the Iceberg Lounge, Mr. and Mrs. Wayne. Although", he adds, wrinkling his nose at Jason's cigarette as you flush at the "Mr. and Mrs." part, "We don't allow smoking here, sir".

Jason is a surprisingly good undercover actor, you discover. He takes it in stride, flashing the man a charming smirk.

"Of course. My bad, good sir".

Now that's more like him, you think to yourself, mildly amused, as he tosses the cigarette to the ground, snuffing it out with the bottom of his dress shoe.

He doesn't wait for the host to comment about the smear of tobacco it leaves on the club's sidewalk, instead sweeping an arm around your waist and escorting you indoors.

You find an empty table close enough to the center of the restaurant, the heart of the activity. Surprisingly gentleman-like, Jason takes your coat from your shoulders, draping it over the back of your chair. He even pulls it out for you before taking his own seat across the table.

You may be on better terms these days, but gentleman Jason wasn't something you had been prepared for.

You sweep your eyes over the restaurant, keeping an eye out for anything that even slightly resembled suspicious activity that might be linked to Black Mask or the Penguin.

Glancing back over at Jason, much to your annoyance, he's perusing one of the menus lying on the table.

He catches your eye, grinning slowly.

"Aren't you going to order something, doll?" he drawls.

"Jason, we're here undercover. Pay attention", you snap.

He chuckles and shakes his head slightly, leaning forward across the table to whisper something that only you can catch.

"That's the point, princess. We're undercover. So we have to blend in and act normal. If you're not enjoying yourself, what's the point of coming to a club?"

Your cheeks burn again as you realize that he's right.

He chuckles again and pulls the menu back up, hiding his face as you do the same.

You place your orders when the waiter comes and once he takes the menus with him, you realize that now you actually have to talk to Jason, something you haven't really done since the confrontation, or even before that. Jason Todd had always just been the second Robin, the one who died, the angsty one, the cocky, rebellious, bad-boy style antihero who always fought with Bruce.

Luckily, you don't have to say anything, because Jason speaks up first.

"You know, you never did tell me your story", he says casually. "Why you're so afraid of failure. Why you're so desperate for Bruce's approval".

You know he doesn't mean to sound like an asshole, but it's kind of his personality to be one, so his words still kind of sting.

You try not to let it get to you.

"Before Batgirl... before the cape, and the cowl, and patrol and crime-fighting... approval was hard to come by in my life. I couldn't do anything right, no matter what it was, or who it was for".

You rest your chin in the palm of your hand as you carefully pick through the details of your past, what you were comfortable sharing.

"And then Bruce came along, and... he gave me a purpose. He gave me a way to do something right. He took me in and taught me everything about how to be a hero, because Gotham sure as hell needs them. Needs us".

You look up to find Jason's blue eyes watching you intently, listening.

"After everything he's done for me, I can't disappoint him. It's the least I can do", you finish, staring down at the table.

When Jason doesn't say anything, you begin to worry that you've overshared, that he doesn't care, or worse, that he's secretly judging you.

Truthfully, he's not doing any of those things.

Instead, he's contemplating how best to respond.

Jason had never been a social person, unlike Dick. Comforting words weren't his forte.

Still, he knows exactly how it feels to be a disappointment, although he doesn't let it bother him anymore. He's long since come to terms with being Bruce's greatest failure, even if he knows, deep down, that that's not true.

He doesn't get the chance to say anything before your eyes widen, spotting something behind him.

You fix a smile on your face.

"Penguin", you whisper.

Jason glances down, seeing the approaching figure of the bird-themed villain in the reflection of your glass.

He glances up just as Oswald Cobblepot stops at your table, smirking.

"Ah, Y/N and Jason Todd-Wayne", he grins, his accent heavy. "Welcome to the Iceberg Lounge. The service is to your satisfaction, eh?"

Jason opens his mouth to respond but a sharp pain on his shin has him closing it, shooting a glare in your direction.

You lower your heeled foot under the table, smiling at the Penguin as you respond.

"It's lovely, thank you, Mr. Cobblepot", you say, your smile almost sickeningly sweet and completely fake. "Actually, I've noticed business here seems to have increased drastically within the last month! What's your secret?"

You're good, he'll give you that, watching you bat your lashes at Cobblepot directly after your question.

He also notices the Penguin stiffen just the slightest as he answers.

"No secret, Mrs. Wayne", he swears, adding a little chuckle. "A couple opportunities arose, and I took 'em. How I built my empire, heh".

He's nervous, Jason thinks. Good.

Still, you pry for answers, hiding your questions in layers of flattery that you know will boost Cobblepot's ego enough to distract him.

"All on your own?" you ask, incredulously. "That's quite an achievement, Mr. Cobblepot. Congratulations".

"Well, not all on my own", he confesses. "All part of the opportunities, you understand".

You give a knowing smile.

"Of course. Well, pass our congratulations on to your partner, as well".

Cobblepot's posture loosens again as he grins.

"Enjoy your evening".

You let your smile fall as he walks away, waiting to talk until he's completely gone.

"A business partner", you mused out loud. "Think it's Sionis?"

Jason gave a smirk, leaning back in his chair.

"Good chance. Bird man was getting a little nervous there".

The hell was that? He thinks to himself, at the rush of satisfaction he gets when you laugh.

"So we ease the pressure. Flatter him", you wrinkle your nose at that. "The higher his pride, the more he'll brag. He'll tell on himself".

Jason's smirk widens into a grin. He raises his glass up to clink it lightly against yours.

"I like the way you think, doll".