FURRY NEW BEGGINGS
navigation ; masterlist.
pairing : jason todd ✗ gn!reader.
summary : In which the cat distribution system catches up to you and Jason.
warnings : no serious warnings, just alot of fluff and a short lived (or not) rivalry between the cat and jaybeans.
word count : 1k.
notes : switching up the theme a bit, can't always find those pretty headers. wE NEED A NAME FOR THE CAT!!!
The first time he saw the cat, Jason was returning home from patrol. The rain was pouring down in streets, and he hurried through the storm, eager to get back to you as quickly as possible. The weather made everything difficult—the buildings blurred together, neon signs became unreadable, and the sounds of the city were muffled through his helmet.
But despite the downpour, he didn't miss the small spot of light orange in the corner of his eye. It stood out against the dark, murky colors of the alley it was huddled in. Nestled in a small, soggy cardboard box between two trash bags, something shifted.
What's that?
Jason knew he needed to get home. He was freezing and bone-tired, but his curiosity got the better of him.
What's the worst that could happen?
Turns out, the worst that could happen is making a new, vicious enemy out of a stray cat.
Jason landed swiftly in the dark alley, the shadows swallowing up what little light there was. He approached the cardboard box cautiously and gently lifted the lid, unsure of what he might find inside.
The first thing that caught his attention was a pair of greenish-brown eyes staring back at him, followed by the sight of ginger-striped fur. The creature let out a small, plaintive mewl.
Oh, it’s a cat.
In the box sat a big, angry orange tabby. A very angry orange tabby, actually. The cat gave him a fixed, piercing stare, its fur and tail puffing up as it let out a throaty, warning meow.
Jason instinctively raised his hands, palms open, to show he meant no harm, but it was too late—the cat swiped at him with a paw, claws fully extended!
"Alright, I got the hint! No need for violence, little guy. Well—not so little. I mean, just look at you." Jason chuckled softly, trying to diffuse the tension.
The cat's ears swiveled backward and flattened against its head, its body puffing up even more as it attempted to make itself look bigger, more intimidating.
"Okay, okay. I’ll leave you to... whatever you’re doing."
*****
The second time he saw the cat was when he was with you, just returning from a grocery run.
"Who even says that to a worker? It's not like they set the prices," you huffed, recounting an incident at the 7/11 you both had just visited. An old lady had been loudly complaining about the cost of a few products, taking it out on the poor cashier behind the counter.
"I know, baby, but you put her in her place." Jason wrapped his arm around you, pulling you closer. "So, don't worry about it anymore."
"You're right, it's just—" Jason’s ear tuned out your next words as a familiar spot of light orange caught his eye. A pair of greenish-brown eyes glared at him menacingly.
No way... it can't be the same cat...
"Honey? Jay? What's wrong?" you asked, turning to him, trying to catch his attention.
"Huh? Oh, yeah? Sorry," Jason replied, snapping back to reality with a smile. "Something just caught my eye." But when he turned to look again, the cat was already gone.
Annoying little bastard...
"What did?" you inquired, glancing around to spot whatever had distracted him.
"An orange tabby cat that I’ve apparently started a rivalry with." Jason deadpanned.
"You started a what with a what..?" you stammered, clearly confused by his response. But Jason just grabbed your hand and quickly led you away.
*****
The third time he saw the cat was in his apartment. In his goddamn home.
Jason dropped the bag of snacks he’d just bought from the corner shop out of sheer shock. How did the cat find him? Had it followed him? Was this how it spotted him last time near the grocery store? What was this cat’s plan?
Just then, you rounded the corner, emerging from the kitchen with a small bowl of wet cat food in your hands.
Your face lit up when you saw him. "Welcome back!"
"Hi, baby. Who’s this?" Jason pointed to the cat, now holding its tail high with a slight curl at the top. The cat purred softly as it rubbed its head against Jason’s boot.
"Awh! Look, he likes you!" You beamed, your face lighting up with a smile. "Is this the tabby you were talking about? I can’t imagine him being evil at all, isn’t that right?" You squealed with delight, setting the bowl down near the cat.
The cat slowly blinked at you before cautiously approaching the bowl and taking a tentative bite of the food.
Jason tried to ask how the cat got in, where you found it, and why you let it in, but you shushed him.
"Did you just shush me?" he muttered in disbelief, half-laughing.
"I think it’s fate!" you exclaimed. "You found him, he found you, and now he’s here! He belongs with us. Please, Jay, can we keep him?"
Now that was something he never thought he’d hear. Usually, it was Damian asking Bruce to keep some random animal he’d found—not as a pet, of course. Oh no, not at all.
Jason stared at the tabby for a few moments, then at you, with your big smile and pleading eyes staring back at him.
Crap, this is hard. No wonder Bruce never says no to whatever Damian drags into the house. Jason still remembers the cow...
"...Fine."
"Yay!" You celebrated with a little hop.
"How did it even find us?" Jason eyed the cat suspiciously.
"I’m not sure. But you’ve got to get used to him. I think he likes you!" you said as the cat wobbled back over and rubbed its head against Jason’s boot again. "See? Isn’t he adorable?"
Jason sighed softly, then gave you both a small, reluctant smile. "Yeah, he’s a little bit cute, I guess."
"Oh, I almost forgot! We need to name him."
Jason grumbled under his breath. This was going to be a long week—but maybe, just maybe, it might be a tad bit happier than the previous ones.
© ROBINSFILM ﹕ I do not give consent for my writing to be posted or used on any other platforms without my permission and proper credit.
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I don't know if this was always mentioned, but I personally headcannon Daroach, being the charming gentleman thief he is, likes to playfully flirt with Susie from time to time. Either to steal something from her, or just to mess with her.
Gentleman thief vs Business woman just seems like a fun dynamic to play with!
Anon, I am shaking your hand...!
Yes, I think they have a potentially wonderful dynamic and ought to interact WAY more than they do! Red and Pink. Grey and White. Rich business woman and literal RAT MAN. (Both "ice" themed too.)
...Not to mention that before she was a CEO, Susie fashioned herself as a "corporate spy" working against her father! Spy vs Thief, anyone? She may know some tricks of her own from that particular skillset! And boy, wouldn't THAT be a fun conversation to listen in on!
(And yet you can see how they would have completely different outtakes on life, too! Business and order versus the free life of a phantom thief! A woman who is always looking centuries forward technology-wise vs a rat man who acts and dresses like he's from an 18th century crime novel, including fantasy steampunk tech.)
Now, I'm one of the odd ones who sees *most* of the cast as adults, including those that others don't (it's a personal attachment / investment + wanting to see more spectrum-coded adults in fiction thing) but I can appreciate the fun of having the ones who feel the most "inarguably adult" have a little playful "strictly business" flirting!
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Not that the ask was specifically about shipping as much as simply how Daroach talks to her (and lets be honest, guy probably flirts w/ MOST people) but when it comes to actual -interest-/sexuality HC, I enjoy me some (Dark) Metaroach and ZanSusie, but those two are at LEAST bi! I feel they can have a little ship tease!/lh
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Edit: Right as I was sending this post to the queue, my brain whispered “Why do they need to be messing with EACH OTHER when they could COOPERATE?” And floated me a mental picture of some one-shot evil corporation that Daroach and Susie have BOTH infiltrated separately (in disguise) to get dirt on, only to run into each other, recognize each other, and are encouraged to cooperate to get what they need!
…Kirby expanded cast animeeeeee…
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