Chapter Text
(Y/n) heard a sharp knock at her door. She quickly glanced at her hands, sticky with bits of garlic from the clove she was chopping. “Just a second!” she called out, rinsing her hands under the faucet. She dried them hastily on her apron before heading to the door.
When she opened it, no one was there. Only her package rested on the doorstep, along with a note that simply read, “Mix up.” She sighed, shaking her head. “Again?” she muttered under her breath. This was the third time her package had ended up at one of her neighbors’ apartments. And just like before, there was no sign of anyone. No quick apology, no friendly wave—nothing.
She picked up the box and shut the door behind her, shrugging off the frustration. Her mood brightened instantly as she remembered what was inside. “Princess!” she exclaimed to her paradox bearded dragon lounging in her tank. “It’s here!”
She hurried to the counter, her earlier cooking forgotten for the moment. Carefully, she opened the box, revealing the final touch for her Jurassic Park-themed enclosure—a miniature replica of the iconic Jurassic Park jeep. She unwrapped it with precision, as if it were a sacred relic, and gently placed it inside the enclosure. Princess tilted her head curiously, then crawled closer, her spiny body brushing against the plastic jeep before settling next to it.
“Look at you my pretty little dinosaur,” (Y/n) cooed, stroking Princess’s head. She quickly grabbed her phone and snapped a picture, smiling at how regal her little lizard looked in her prehistoric paradise.
Once satisfied, she returned to the kitchen and resumed preparing her dinner. The savory aroma of garlic and spices soon filled the apartment, wrapping her in its warmth. After her meal, she tidied up and set the mood for her favorite part of the day—her quiet, candle-lit evenings.
In the corner of her living room, her single cozy armchair by the window beckoned. She lit a vanilla-scented candle, the flickering flame casting a soft glow against the walls. Snuggling into the chair with her book, she lost herself in the pages, the world outside forgotten.
But not for long. About thirty minutes in, a shadow moved outside her window. Her heart jumped as she spotted a figure landing silently on the emergency exit stairs. The flash of red caught her attention. She leaned closer, her breath hitching, and that’s when he noticed her. Their eyes locked.
“…Fuck,” the man muttered, adjusting the red hood that concealed his face.
(Y/n) smiled faintly, more amused than scared. “No need to be alarmed,” he said after a beat, his voice low and gravelly. “I’m just patrolling the neighborhood.”
Her eyes wandered over his broad frame, the way he carried himself with an effortless confidence. “Thank you,” she replied genuinely, her voice soft. “I appreciate it.” Then, as if the thought had struck her suddenly, she asked, “Would you like some water before you go?”
He hesitated, clearly unused to the kindness. “No, I’m good,” he said finally. His tone was curt, but not unkind.
Realizing she might be intruding, (Y/n) nodded and stood. “Alright. Well, I’ll leave you to it. I’m heading to bed soon anyway.” She glanced at the candles, extinguishing them with quick, practiced breaths. “Be careful out there.”
His gaze lingered on her for a moment, unreadable, before he nodded. “Goodnight,” he said gruffly, then vanished into the night, leaving her standing there, her book forgotten in her lap.
“Well,” she murmured to herself, “that was… unexpected.”
____
The morning sun filtered through the blinds as (Y/n) began her workday, the steady hum of her office and the clatter of keyboards offering a familiar rhythm. As a project manager, her job could be both demanding and stressful, but she found joy in the collaborative nature of her team. The office environment was healthy and full of energy, with colleagues who respected her quiet nature, and in turn, she respected their upbeat vibe. Still, after a full day, the introverted side of her longed for a quiet evening at home.
By the time the clock signaled it was time to head home, (Y/n) felt the familiar weight of the day easing off her shoulders. She packed up her things and headed out, already anticipating the comfort of her apartment. But before she went home, she made a quick stop at her favorite pizza place, indulging in a warm, cheesy treat that always brought her comfort.
The walk home was short, just 12 minutes, and she enjoyed the fresh air as she meandered through the quiet streets. She wasn’t the slimmest person and had always been on the fuller side, but she had embraced it. She liked the way she looked, and she especially loved walking—each step felt like a small victory for herself. When she reached the building, she unlocked the main door and entered, hearing the familiar hum of the elevator. The doors were about to close when she quickly jogged forward, thrusting her hand in between them just in time.
“Thank you,” she breathed out, a little out of breath, but feeling a sense of accomplishment.
She didn’t immediately look up at the person already inside the elevator, but as the doors closed, she inserted her key into the panel to press her floor button. To her surprise, it had already been pressed. Looking up, she saw a tall, broad-shouldered man standing silently in front of her. His dark blue eyes met hers, and immediately, her face flushed.
She smiled shyly, but he didn’t return it. Instead, he simply nodded in acknowledgment. (Y/n) found herself trying to look anywhere but at him, unsure of what to say. The elevator’s hum was the only sound until it jerked suddenly, making the lights flicker. She instinctively grabbed for something to steady herself, and, by chance, her hand landed on his arm.
Before she could even react, he reached out, steadying her with surprising gentleness. “Are you alright?” His voice was low and calm, a stark contrast to her racing heart.
(‘Y/n’) nodded, trying to regain her composure. She was just about to say something when the intercom buzzed to life, announcing that a technician had been called to resolve the issue. As the voice continued, she glanced at the man beside her and noticed the way his gaze had turned icy, staring deathly at the intercom speaker.
“Thank you for letting us know,” (Y/n) said, pressing the button to acknowledge the announcement. She could feel her heart rate slowing down, but she was still a bit shaken. She’d never been stuck in an elevator before, and the sudden panic had taken her by surprise.
Noticing her discomfort, the man shifted. Without a word, he gently guided her to sit on the floor. “It’s best to take off your jacket,” he said quietly, his voice still calm, almost comforting.
(‘Y/n’) complied, slowly peeling off her coat and setting it beside her. She looked at him and noticed his subtle concern. “Do you have any water?” he asked, his voice still soft, but insistent.
She nodded, pulling a bottle from her bag and taking a sip. Slowly, her nerves began to ease. “Breathe slowly with me,” he instructed, and without thinking, she followed his lead. It was strange how easily she could trust him, even in such an awkward and unsettling situation.
As she calmed down, she smiled at him. “I’m (Y/n), by the way,” she said.
His eyes softened for a moment, and he responded, “I’m Jason.”
They began to chat lightly, and (Y/n) was surprised to discover that they were neighbors. She laughed softly when Jason admitted that, for weeks now, she’d been receiving her packages at his door due to some mix-up in deliveries.
“Well, that’s kind of embarrassing,” (Y/n) admitted with a smile.
“It happens,” Jason said with a shrug, his tone polite but not particularly talkative. She got the feeling he wasn’t one for idle chatter, but he wasn’t unfriendly. They continued their conversation as the time passed. As they spoke, she offered him a slice of her pizza—an invitation that made him hesitate.
“I don’t want to interrupt your dinner,” Jason said, his reluctance clear.
But (Y/n) insisted, “Please, it’s just pizza. It’s nothing special.”
He agreed after a moment, and they shared an easy meal while they waited. It felt natural, their conversation flowing with ease despite the oddness of the situation. (Y/n) noticed that Jason wasn’t exactly the type to speak much, but he was always polite, and there was something kind in his demeanor.
As the hour passed, they chatted about small things—nothing too deep, but enough to make the time feel less oppressive. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the elevator jolted back to life, the lights steady once more.
They both stood up, and (Y/n) gave him a grateful smile. “Thanks for everything. If you ever need anything, just let me know.”
Jason nodded, the same reserved expression on his face, but this time he seemed a little more relaxed. As the elevator doors opened, they parted ways, each heading to their own unit.
____
Jason stormed into his apartment, slamming the door shut behind him with enough force to rattle the frames on the wall. His temper was at its boiling point, and his voice cut through the room like a whip.
“You each have three seconds to explain yourselves before I drag you out one by one!” he snarled, his glare sweeping across his three brothers, who were scattered in his living room like they owned the place.
Tim, sitting on the couch with his laptop, raised his hands defensively. “Whoa, not my idea! Dick promised me a new camera lens to help!”
Jason’s eyes narrowed, and before he could respond, Damian dropped silently from the ceiling like a shadow. “Tch. I didn’t need bribery,” Damian said flatly, folding his arms. “I just enjoy watching you squirm.”
And then, as if on cue, Dick walked out from the kitchen with a sandwich in hand, grinning like the cat that caught the canary. “Seriously, guys? Selling me out like that?” he said, raising an eyebrow at Tim and Damian.
Jason’s growl deepened, his eyes darkening as he stepped toward Dick. “You. You’re the one who’s been messing with her packages, aren’t you?”
Dick’s grin faltered for a moment. “I mean… I might’ve redirected a few. But come on, Jaybird—how else was she supposed to notice you? You’re not exactly Mr. Approachable.”
Jason’s hands clenched into fists at his sides, his anger barely contained. “You what?!”
“Relax,” Dick said, holding up a hand as if that would calm Jason down. “It was harmless! She always got them back, didn’t she? And it gave you a reason to talk to her.”
Jason’s voice dropped into a dangerous growl. “I told you to stay out of my life, Dick. This is exactly the kind of crap I don’t need.”
“Come on, little brother,” Dick said, unfazed. “You’ve been living next door to her for months, and you’ve barely said two words to her. I just gave you a little nudge.”
Jason’s eyes flared, his voice rising. “A nudge? You sabotaged the elevator! You hijacked her packages! This isn’t a nudge—it’s you sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong!”
Tim and Damian, sensing the growing tension, began inching toward the door. But Jason’s sharp gaze snapped to them. “Don’t even think about it,” he growled. “You’re not getting out of this.”
Tim froze mid-step, his hands still raised. “Hey, I just did the tech stuff. Blame Dick for the why.”
“Yeah, and I didn’t even need to be involved,” Damian added, crossing his arms with a huff. “This entire operation was amateur at best.”
Jason turned back to Dick, his patience worn thin. “You. Explain yourself. Now.”
Dick shrugged, unfazed by the hostility radiating from his younger brother. “Look, I saw the way you looked at her. You’re always so grumpy, but when you talk about her, you actually seem… I don’t know, human. So, yeah, I meddled. Sue me. Someone had to.”
Jason’s jaw tightened, his frustration boiling over. “I don’t need you to play matchmaker, Dick. What happened in my life isn’t your business, and neither is my neighbor.”
“Jay,” Dick said, his voice softening slightly, “I’m not trying to mess up your life. I just want you to be happy. And maybe—just maybe—she’s part of that.”
Jason took a step back, running a hand through his hair as he tried to process the situation. His brothers—relentless meddling—had orchestrated everything. From the missing packages to the elevator “malfunction,” it had all been part of their plan to push him toward (Y/n).
He turned to all three of them, his voice low and firm. “Listen closely, because I’m only saying this once: stay out of my life. No more packages, no more sabotaging elevators, no more ‘nudges.’ Got it?”
Tim nodded quickly. “Crystal clear.”
Damian smirked faintly. “Whatever you say, Todd.”
Dick, however, gave him a small, knowing smile. “Alright, alright. I’ll back off. But, for the record, I still think she’s good for you.”
Jason shot him a warning glare before pointing to the door. “Out. All of you. Now.”
The three brothers shuffled out, Tim muttering something about needing a refund on his lens and Damian mumbling about wasting his time. Dick, as always, was the last to leave, throwing Jason a wink as he closed the door behind him.
Jason leaned against the wall, exhaling sharply. His mind drifted back to the elevator—the way (Y/n) had smiled at him, the warmth in her voice, the quiet connection they’d shared.
Maybe Dick wasn’t entirely wrong… shaking his head “I should stop hanging out with Dick”