Mazes Of Red

CHAPTER 9 : Peace

LAURENS POV 

the thick air of Gotham as well as the cold left from the rain hit fast making me shudder as we stand outside pennys.

"here" Jason holds his coat to me his eyes glued to the pavement beside him.

"take it then" he nags shoving it into my hands.

I put the well-worn green coat that's looked like the vibrant hue faded by time and wear. Soft fur adorned the collar and cuffs, offering a cozy embrace against the chill.

I  hold my arms both melting into the remaining warmth and gushing over the coat.

"thanks" I whisper fighting the blush coming to my cheeks.

Jason mutters as he shoves his hands in his pockets and carries on down the street without me.

Together we meandered through the labyrinthine streets of Gotham, our footsteps in sync.

As we walked home together, I couldn't help but feel a growing curiosity about the person by my side. Jason's demeanor seems closed off, his eyes always guarded, his responses differing on emotions. an unyielding determination swelled within me, urging me to uncover the layers beneath his seemingly impenetrable bad boy façade.

With each step we took, I carefully chose my words, aiming to strike a chord that would unravel his guarded exterior. I start with simple questions, hoping to ignite a spark of interest.

"what's your favorite food" I ask my voice laced with genuine interest.

Jason glances down at me with a disinterested look  "cookies" he cocks an eyebrow "you"

"hard one ummm lucky charms" i excitedly say.

Jason nods and continues walking we stay silent.

Undeterred, I continued to tread cautiously, trying to find common ground my mind filled with wanting to know about his favorite hobbies, interests, and dreams.

"favorite color" I drum up the questions again with enthusiasm.

"light blue" he informs me looking a little longer at me before quickly looking back to the street in front.

"cool mines purple" I inform him as skip ahead backwards just watching Jason as he walks.

I stick my tongue out at him  and he laughs a little at me before rolling his eyes.

I drop back and start to walk in pace with Jason again.

 he glances at me with a mischievous grin  his  green eyes twinkling before  shoving my shoulder lightly.

my face turns to one of fake shock as look up at him before  I shove him back with as much force I can muster.

he laughs zig zagging onto the road with a stagger narrowly avoiding the person passing us.

"ass" I mutter  laughing at him as he joins my side again.

"you look tiny in my coat" Jason comments with a snicker as he takes in my drowning figure.

" not my fault your a 6 ft giant" I sarcastically say back as I flap the sleeves that hang over my hands in front of me.

"fine ill have it back" he puts his hands on the front of the coat and pulls it towards him.

i push him away and run further up the street " never its mine" I run further  away from the now approaching Jason with a frightened laugh.

Jason runs after me full speed causing me to dash like a manic  both laughing.

Jason catches me in matter of minutes and gives me one last push almost landing me on my face.

we both laugh uncontrollably for ages and fall into a comfortable silence for the rest of the walk.

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Laurens building comes into sight making Jason's  mood sour and Lauren to fall silent.

Reluctantly, the two children stood at a bittersweet crossroad, their eyes reflecting a mutual resistance to part ways. Lauren lingers at the entrance of her apartment building, a small hand clutching the doorknob as if rooted in place. Jason a few steps bellow on the stairs, gazed at her with a mix of longing and sadness, their minds entwined in a nervous grip.

With soft-spoken voices, they exchange their light yet heavy hearted goodbyes . Each syllable carried the weight of their unspoken wishes to prolong the moment, to defy the inevitable separation that beckoned.

from the door Lauren on  intently, her eyes tracing Jason's  every movement as he reluctantly began to walk away. Step by step, hid tiny figure receded, disappearing around the corner and into the unknown. And yet, Lauren on the stairs remained, her gaze fixed upon the now-empty path, etching the image of Jason's smirk that  hide his sadness as he departed  into her memory.

A profound ache settled within Jason's chest, a yearning to preserve the warmth of their new found growing  connection for just a little while longer. now as he makes the distance between them , he silently wished for time to rewind, allowing them to relive the shared laughter, sarcasm, and adventures that had woven to fabric  their friendship.

still  on the stairs Lauren stood there, a poignant mixture of longing and acceptance washed over her. she knew that parting was an inevitable reality, a temporary pause in their intertwined lives. And so, she musters the strength to turn away, her gaze lingering one last time upon the empty space where Jason had once stood.

she goes to open her door a sudden realisation swept over her—a gentle touch against her shoulder, a weight that hadn't been there before. Her eyes widened, and she glanced down, finding herself still adorned in the well-worn green coat, a familiar scent lingering in the air.

A mix of emotions welled up within her. She couldn't help but smile, feeling a comforting warmth envelop her, as if Jason's presence lingered within the fabric of the coat. It was a tangible reminder of their shared moments, an unexpected connection that bridged the physical distance between them.

With each step she makes to her apartment , the girl's heart embraced the coat's embrace. She felt a sense of comfort and familiarity, as if her Jason's essence lingered in every stitch and thread. It was as if the coat carried a piece of their shared memories, a symbol of the bond they had forged and a reminder that their connection transcended the passing of time and space.

As she continued on her way, the Lauren couldn't help but cherish the unexpected gift of wearing Jason's coat. It wrapped her in a sense of closeness and companionship, as if their friendship had left an indelible mark upon her, even in their physical absence.

that left her with a smile and new found feelings.

authors note 

boom double update.

:)