Jason looked at the text on his phone, brow furrowing in surprise. Helena had called him to her place urgently.

That could mean only two things; either she was angry at someone and wanted him to team up so they could beat the shit out of whoever had pissed her off, or the person who had unknowingly angered her was Jason himself.

Hoping it wouldn't be the latter because Helena was quite scary when she got angered, he took his helmet and bike keys, heading to her current residence.

She changed places a lot and lived on rent, never trusting a single place enough to live there for an entire month. At the moment, she was living in East End and it wasn't much far from Jay's safehouse.

He rang the doorbell and waited, not long after the door was opened revealing Helena.

"Everything good?" He asked as he stepped in, noticing that she looked slightly tensed.

"We need to talk."

"Oh."

She gestured him to sit down on the couch and it was then he noticed the half empty bottle of bourbon at the table, not a good sign since it meant she was probably worried.

"Jason, I think we need to take a break," she spoke up at last, "look, I know you have a lot of questions but don't interrupt right now. I need to let it all out first and you will listen silently."

"Of course," he nodded though the confusion on his features had deepened, "go ahead."

"I am not saying that I don't feel anything for you, that all we had between us was not worth it. But the truth is that we're bad for each other. We keep coming back for all the wrong reasons. Believe it or not, we have become toxic."

He wanted to object but respecting her earlier request, he kept silent, thinking what had gone wrong so abruptly.

"You've been a very very good friend to me and I don't want to ruin that. I will still be here for you anytime you need my help. But we have to end our relationship. It's only going to hurt us ultimately," her hands gently entwined through his, grey eyes showing that she was going through a conflict.

And it was probably the first time when he had seen Helena Bartinelli be slightly indecisive. He had known her for years and never once had she ever been uncertain of her own decisions. But right then he could see it was difficult for her but she had taken a decision and was letting him know about it.

"Permission to speak now?" He spoke when silence gripped the two it seemed as if she had said all she wanted to. She nodded in reply so he resumed gently, "we were never really in a relationship even before, Helena. You made that quite clear to me the first night I spent with you. Love and commitment doesn't work for us, remember?"

"Yeah but we came far from that point, we became something more."

"Something more that would eventually hurt us, that's what you mean to say?"

"Yes."

His stormy eyes softened and he squeezed her hand, "I respect your decision. If you think we need to take a break then so be it. I won't pressurize you in any way."

She let out a sigh of relief, "and it doesn't ruin our friendship, does it?"

"Of course not," the dazzlingly mischievous smirk was back on his face, "you'll always be my number one partner in crime."

Jason was quite different around her, his snarky facade would melt leaving the kind caring boy not many people saw him as. She was his friend, his partner in crime and he genuinely cared for her and respected her choices.

Because she did the same for him. Their relationship as well as their friendship had always been a mutual agreement, with both being equals to one another.

Such as even then, he understood why she had felt the need to break things off with him and did not oppose it even though initially he had wanted to say something to stop her. But listening to her made him realize that if he did that, it would be selfishness.

And the last thing he wanted to be towards her was selfish.

"Remember that night when you asked me what kind of a relationship we have in between us?" He spoke up, recalling the night vividly.

"And you said it wasn't love and that didn't bother you."

He nodded, "I will be honest with you, there was a time I thought I had fallen head over heels in love with you."

She looked at him surprised, "what? You're kidding, right?"

He chuckled lightly but the look in his eyes was serious, "no I am not. But now I have known you for five years. I know it was stupid of me to fall for you. You're like a glass shard, Helena, whoever holds you bleeds."

"I know that's meant to be a bad thing but it really sounded poetic," a small smile flickered on her face at last.

"I didn't say it was a bad thing. It's admirable. You, my friend, are a beacon of light; light that shines on everyone but belongs to no one. That's the best thing about you. Actually second best, the best is your aim. Hella perfect." He watched her laugh as well, the conflict dissolving from her grey eyes.

"Right when I decide to let go of you, you decide to woo me over with flattery," she retrieved her hands from his though when he looked at her questioningly, she replied, "oh this? I don't wanna make you bleed anymore."

His rumbling laughter resonated once again, eyes sparkling in amusement, "good one. Worthy of making a toast to, actually."

She stood up, fetching a glass for him because she was going to drink straight out of the bottle as usual. Jason didn't object though the look on his face was priceless when she filled his glass then kept the rest of the bottle for herself.

"Thanks Jason," she spoke up when he was about to leave, leaning against the doorframe as she watched him straighten his bike.

"For what? I owed you one for saving me from that blast in ACE chemicals. Now I'm not in debt to you anymore."

A light relieved laugh escaped her, "enjoy your freedom, birdboy."

"Sure will, Medusa. Glad you didn't turn me to stone yet."

"Hey!"

But he had revved up the engine and the bike sped off, the ghost of his laughter still echoing in the alley. Jason Peter Todd was truly a statement and though she had ended one side of their relationship, she was glad the friendship remained.

She wasn't as close to anyone else as she was to Jason and she was relieved that he had understood her and respected her decision.

***