The rooftops blurred beneath us as I carried Jessica toward her apartment, her directions coming in short, pained bursts between careful breaths.
"Two blocks... east," she managed, wincing as we landed. "Building with... the green awning."
"Got it." I adjusted my grip, keeping the pressure off her ribs. She was lighter than I expected, or maybe I somehow still had adrenaline doing the heavy lifting. "You're going to need to see someone about those ribs."
"Tell me something... I don't know." A weak laugh escaped her, immediately followed by a grimace. "Left here. Fourth floor... fire escape window."
The city stretched below us, sirens still echoing through the streets we'd left behind. The villain was in custody. The battle was over. But the weight of what happened seemed to bleed into Sparrows eyes.
Jessica's head lolled against my shoulder, her breathing shallow.
"Stay with me," I said quietly.
"Not going anywhere." Her voice was barely a whisper. "Can't... exactly walk away."
I landed on her fire escape silently, crouching to set her down gently. She fumbled with the window latch, fingers brittle.
"Here." I slid it open, then helped her through into the darkness of her apartment.
The space was small but lived in. mismatched furniture a, unknown by me, instrument propped in the corner, photographs pinned haphazardly to a corkboard above a cluttered desk. Ordinary quarters with hints of her own heritage.
Jessica collapsed onto the couch with a exhale, one hand pressed to her side. "Light switch by the door."
I found it, flooding the room in warm yellow light. In the brightness, she looked worse almost a pale, sweat beads were visible, the light fabric of her suit torn along her ribcage where blood had partially soaked through.
"Any first aid kit?" I asked, already scanning the room.
"It's—bathroom. Under the sink." She let her head fall back against the cushions, eyes squeezed shut. "This is not... how I pictured tonight going."
"How did you picture it?" I retrieved the kit, kneeling beside the couch.
"Less bleeding. Maybe pizza, as a thank you." She cracked one eye open, watching me set out supplies. "You don't have to—"
"I'm not leaving you like this." I responded sharply. She definitely didn't have room to debate looking like that. I softened my tone. "Let me help."
Jessica gave a blank stare at me, then she nodded, slowly peeling herself upright. "Okay. But the suit... I need to. You should probably look away."
"Right." I turned my back to wait for a bit, focusing on the photographs instead. A younger Jessica with an older woman, they both had the same earring and big smiles. I turned my head and even saw Jessica in front of the Eiffel Tower, arms spread wide.
"You can turn around now."
I did. Jessica sat in a tank top and jeans, the suit pooled at her feet, one arm wrapped protectively around her ribs. It was kinda weird seeing, fully clothed despite already wearing a suit though without the mask, she looked younger in a sense. The bruising along her side was already darkening, a bloom of black against her chestnut skin.
"That bad?" she asked, catching my expression.
"Nah, I've seen worse." I moved closer, opening the antiseptic. "This is going to sting."
"Story of my night." But she didn't flinch when I pressed the gauze to the cut below her ribs, just breathed through it. I was even caught off guard by her reaction, I'd at least wince at such a pain.
I refocused on, taping the bandage into place. Finishing up, I sat back on my heels, meeting her gaze.
"Thank you," Jessica said softly. "For getting me home. And helping me with hero practice. And bandaging me."
"You don't need to thank me."
"Yes, I do." She shifted to straighten, wincing, then reached out to touch my wrist. "You stayed. Even after—" Her voice caught. "Even after what happened to her. You stayed and you fought and you got me out. That means alot."
"She was a hero," I said carefully. "You—we all are. It's what we do for each other."
"Is it?" Jessica's fingers tightened slightly. "Because in my experience, most heroes freeze or fumble when things go wrong. I would know." She tilted her head, lower "But you stayed focused. Even when she—" Her voice caught. "Even after that, you didn't fall apart. You kept fighting, and and kept me fighting. That is something truly heroic."
"Neither did you. It took your courage as well."
"I'm just a bit more stubborn." A faint smile tugged at her lips, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "And stupid."
"Sounds like every hero I've ever met."
"Including you?"
"Especially me."
The smile widened, almost looking like the picture I'd just seen. Jessica leaned back with a soft sigh. "Stay for a minute? I know you probably need to get back, but I..." She gestured vaguely at herself. "I don't really want to be alone right now."
I should leave. Head back and secure the bat miraculous officially, then again.
"Yeah. I can stay."
"Good." She patted the gray couch beside her. "Sit. You look like you're about to bolt."
I moved to the couch, maintaining a general distance. Jessica moved closer anyway, close enough with a slouch that made our shoulders nearly touched.
"You know what's funny?" she said after a moment. "We just fought side by side, bled together, and I don't even know your name."
Hmm names. "Does it matter?" I asked quietly.
"Maybe." Jessica turned to face me, her expression thoughtful. "I just want to know who I'd trusted my life with."
Fair point. weighed the risks it's clear exposure even on a minimum basis could backfire severely on myself if I were to ever get caught up in doing anything strange, though it shouldn't matter much shes all the way in New York, its almost impossible for her as a sidekick to undermine me.
"Luka," I said finally. "My name is Luka."
"Luka." She tested it, rolling the syllables. "I like it, it really suits you." She offered her hand. "Jessica. Though I know I already told you."
I took her hand, her grip warm despite the tremor of exhaustion. "Nice to officially meet you, Jessica."
"Likewise." She didn't let go immediately, her thumb brushing absently across my knuckles. "Luka. Tell me something real. Something that isn't about hero work or battles or any of this—" She gestured at her bandages.
"Like what?" What did she want to hear?
"I don't know. A favorite song? A memory? Anything."
I thought about it, for a second. "I play guitar. I even used to write songs about... I don't know. Feelings. Life. That kind of stuff."
"Used to?" Jessica's expression softened. "What happened?"
"I got good at other things as well." The words tasted bitter. "Hero work doesn't leave much room for hobbies."
"That's... really sad, actually." She squeezed my hand. "You should play again sometime. Life's too short to give up the things that make you human."
"Maybe." I glanced at the instrument in the corner. "You play?"
"Badly." She laughed lightly. "But I try. It's... grounding, in a way? music is just... honest and brings back good memories."
"Yeah, yeah it is."
she sank further into the cushion her body relaxing despite the pain I knew she must have been feeling.
"Luka?" she said after a while, her voice drowsy.
"Hmm?"
"I'm glad you were there." She turned her head to look at me, her eyes searching. "I think... I think I needed someone like you. Someone who understands."
"Understands what?"
"What it takes." Her gaze was steady, unflinching. "To be a hero. To make the hard calls. To keep going even when everything tells you to stop." She paused, emotion spread across her face. "You didn't judge me when I froze out there."
"Hey, That's what partners do."
"Partners." Jessica smiled and placed a finger on her cheek soft and wondering. "I like the sound of that."
My wrist beeped. A minute until detransformation.
"Time's almost up," I said quietly, more to myself than her.
"For what?"
I looked at her carefully, the bruising that would worsen by tomorrow, the way she was trying so hard to hold herself together I suppose she did deserved some honesty.
"My transformation," I admitted. "I've got maybe one minute before I'm just... me. No powers, no mask. Just Luka."
Jessica's eyes widened slightly. "Are.. You headed out, or?"
"You showed me who you are." I met her gaze. "Seems only fair."
"That's—" She faltered, something complicated passing over her face. "If your okay with trusting me with it."
"Yeah." My wrist beeped again.
"Then stay." Jessica's grip tightened, her voice barely above a whisper. "Stay and let me see you. I want to know who you are under all of this."
curiosity seemed to consume her.
"Okay," I said. "Okay."
The light of detransformation washed over me, warm and familiar. Sass materialized in a soft glow, immediately floating to my pocket to sleep.
I was back in my original outfit before I headed out.
Jessica stared, her expression shifting through surprise, and more unclear feelings.
"Hi," she said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "There you are."
"Here I am." I replied casually' "Disappointed?"
"No." She reached up, her fingers brushing my jaw with surprising gentleness. "No, not at all. You're..." She trailed off, her thumb tracing the line of my cheekbone. "You're exactly what I hoped for."
The moment stretched, Jessica's hand lingered on my face, her eyes dark and intent.
"Luka," she whispered. "Can I—"
She didn't finish the question.
Instead, she leaned in, closing the distance between us with careful deliberation. Her lips met mine, soft and amateur, a question more than a demand.
I froze for a while, I wasn't to shocked with the warmth of what she was offering, I just happened a lot faster than I expected.
Then I kissed her back.
It was gentle at first—a tentative exploration, her hand sliding into my hair, my palm finding the small of her back. But then she made a small sound against my mouth, and something in me cracked open. The kiss deepened, her body pressing closer despite the injuries, my fingers tightening in the fabric of her tank top.
When we finally broke apart, both breathing hard, Jessica rested her forehead against mine.
============================================
My hands moved gently, sliding up her sides to cup her face, my thumbs brushing away the last traces of tears from the fight earlier. I kissed her again, deeper this time, my tongue slipping past her lips to explore with tender strokes. She sighed into my mouth, her body relaxing against me, the tension from the night's chaos melting away.
She tugged at my shirt, her movements slow and careless, wanting to feel my skin against hers. I obliged, lifting my arms to let her peel the fabric away, revealing the lean creamy muscles of my chest, marked faintly from our battle. Her palms pressed flat against me, feeling the steady beat of my heart. I mirrored her, my fingers working the yarn like fabric avoiding any painful areas, exposing the soft curve of her breasts beneath a simple lace bra.
With a whisper of fabric, the cut tank top fell to the floor. My lips trailed down her neck, planting feather light kisses along her collarbone as I unclasped her bra in a fluid motion. It slipped off, and I took a moment to admire her, my gaze appreciative of the sight. her waist was slim and naturally toned, nipples hardened in the cool air, and I leaned in, my mouth closing gently around one, sucking with a slow, rhythmic pull that drew a soft moan from her.
Her hands roamed my back then lower, unbuckling my belt and easing my pants down my hips. I kicked them aside, standing in just my boxers, the outline of my hardening cock visible. somewhat blush Jessica's fingers hooked into the waistband, pulling them down to free me. My cock sprang up, thick and ready, but I didn't rush. Instead, with a gentle life, I guided her back onto the hemp fibered bed sheet, laying her down with care.
I kissed her stomach, my tongue dipping into her navel before moving lower. Jessica's breath hitched as I unzipped her soft jeans, sliding them off along with her cream colored panties. She was bare before me, her pussy already glistening with beads of her arousal. I settled between her legs, my hands parting her thighs gently. I pressed a kiss to her inner thigh not even an inch away, then another, inching closer until my mouth found her folds.
My tongue licked along her slit, tasting her sweetness with long, delicate strokes. She arched slightly, her fingers moving, threading through my hair, not pulling but hoping I'd stay there. opening her maple colored fold, I circled her clit with the tip of my tongue, sucking lightly, building her pleasure in soft waves. She whimpered, her hips rocking subtly against my face as warmth spread through her core.
When she trembled on the edge, I pulled back, not wanting to finish her in that way. I crawled up her body, positioning myself at her entrance. Our eyes locked, a silent question and answer passing between us. She gave a heated gaze, wrapping her legs around my waist and arms along my neck.
I entered her slowly, inch by inch, my cock stretching her with a gentle fullness. She gasped at the sensation, petite body slightly shuddering. her walls clenching around me as I filled her completely. I paused, buried deep, letting her adjust, my forehead resting against hers, the soaking heat slugging against me. Then I began to move, thrusting in a steady, unhurried paced, each slide in and out intentional and affectionate.
After a moment Jessica met my movements, her hips rising to take me deeper, our bodies syncing in a dance of intimacy. My hands roamed her sides, one cupping her breast, middle finger teasing her nipple, the other supporting my weight above her. She clung to my shoulders, nails grazing my skin lightly, lost in the building heat.
The pace remained tender but rapid, our breaths mingling, moans soft. I kissed her deeply as I ground against her, my cock hitting that spot inside that made her shiver. Pleasure coiled tighter, and when she came, it was with a quiet cry, her pussy pulsing around me, pulling my thrust over the edge. I followed moments later, groaning into her neck as I spilled inside her, warm and comforting.
"That was..." she started, then laughed breathlessly. "Yeah."
"Yeah," I echoed, my voice rough.
She pulled back just enough to meet my eyes, her expression open and vulnerable and achingly hopeful. "Stay tonight? Not for... anything else. Just... stay. I don't want to be alone. And I think—" She bit her lip. "I think maybe you don't want to be alone either."
But Jessica's hand was still in my hair, her eyes still searching mine with that impossible trust.
"Okay," I whispered. "I'll stay."
Her smile could have lit the entire city.
"Good." She settled back against the pillow, pulling me with her, careful of her ribs but unwilling to let go. "Thank you, Luka. For everything."
I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, letting her curl into my side.