[For Jason] Christmas

[illuxinated]

She keeps it together until she's absolutely certain Baze isn't following her anymore. She tamps that emotion down, shelves the total rejection of the past two months until she knows for sure she's alone, and only then does she let go, a petite girl in hastily-donned winter wear over her pajamas, plunked down onto a tree stump in the middle of the

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[prodigaljaybird]

For once, Jason's on foot, fists shoved inside his coat pockets, collar turned up against the cold. He's been walking since sunrise, awake when he'd normally be chasing sleep, though he's not sure he could dream up anything more surreal than this mysterious island on Christmas morning.

He passes the tiny homes, all of them too pink and whimsical, and tells himself to ignore the happy sounds from within, even as he does his best to soak them up, padding his own unhappiness with borrowed joy from others.

It isn't the worst Christmas he's spent, and Jason wastes no time feeling sorry for himself, just walks, on and on until he hears something in the near distance. Something like tears, and Jason's heartrate spikes, even as his stomach drops when he recognizes the voice calling out.

LuxCursing himself for not seeking her out sooner, Jason's batline finds its mark immediately in the branches, Jason himself flying through the trees to land in the snow behind her

[illuxinated]

Not surprisingly, despite Lux being somewhat prepared for his entrance, Jason scares the crap out of her and she nearly falls completely off her stump in reaction, one foot sliding out to steady herself. On any other day she might chastise him for startling her, but under the circumstances, she bites back her instinctive retort.

"I…" she begins, faltering, her red-rimmed eyes briefly rounding. "Yes? I thought that was what was happening. If you're not, I seriously need to reevaluate this entire jumping out of trees dynamic."

Only after that's out does she notice that he's carrying a knife, and her eyes widen again.

"Looking for a gang fight, Riff?" she asks, and the words are flippant but she doesn't take her eyes off the blade.

[prodigaljaybird]

"Riff?"

With a flick of his wrist the knife is gone as quickly as it'd appeared, and in the same breath Jason moves forward, sweeping her for injury. There's none that he can see beyond angry streaks of tears, which ought to be a relief, but...Jason finds it hurts him to look at.

"What happened?" Framing her face carefully in his hands, he swipes his thumbs beneath her wet, red eyes. "Are you hurt?"

[illuxinated]

"I'm fine," Lux whispers, feeling suddenly abashed and childish under Jason's attention. She curls the chilled fingers of one hand around his wrist, but doesn't try to pull his hand away.

"Could I stay with you?" she asks, uncertainty flickering across her features. "Just for a day or two?" The way her chin trembles then probably says more than any long explanation about what had happened with Baze or why she felt the need to leave on Christmas, of all days. "I just, um." She swallows hard against a throat threatening to close up. "I can't stay at home right now."