Authors note- prompt from koriandrsucker on tumblr.

AU - Where Kori is the best baby sitter in the entire universe.

Disclaimer I don't own anything except the plot.

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"What the hell is this Harper"

"Well I'm pretty sure it's called playing Jaybird"

"No you moron I mean why is Kori here" Jason growled in Roy's ear away from the giggles and laughter.

Roy gives him his signature shit-eating grin and replies "I would have thought Bruce would've given that talk Jay, Ah well seems I have to do it you see young grasshopper when two people love each-"

"Shut up Harper, I meant why is Kori in your house" Jason was seething, to say the least.

"Ok Jaybird listen Lian wanted Kori to babysit her. Jade and I couldn't say no to her she gave me the eyes " Roy said, looking at his girlfriend and daughter chatting animatedly with Kori.

Jason sighed, he knew those eyes pretty well. Lian Harper was one of those very few that could get through the lone wolf that was Jason Peter Todd. The five-year-old knew she had him wrapped around her small pinky finger and Jason, being her godfather, only added to the fact he could not say no to her.

"Ok, whatever she's here to babysit that means I don't have to be here. I'll see you-"

"Uhhh well yeah you see about that-" Roy said sheepishly.

Jason turned his steely blue-eyed gaze at his best friend (if he's being honest his only friend) and said, "What did you do Harper?"

"Well if we are being accurate I didn't do anything it was your goddaughter that requested to you both being here," Roy said while he glanced at his girlfriend getting ready to leave for their date and giving Kori any last minutes things she would need to take care of Lian for the night.

"So, Kori and I are babysitting Lian," Jason looked at Roy in absolute skepticism.

"No...Kori is in charge and technically babysitting Lian you are just here for Lian's entertainment. She said, and I quote, 'unca jay is funny'" Roy said smirking the whole time.

"Why can't I be in charge I can take care of her just fine on my own. I survived the streets on my own until I was 12 so I can handle babysitting her myself for a few hours" Jason protested.

Roy looked to his best friend/brother/partner in crime and replied "I love you like a brother Jaybird and I know without a doubt you will protect Lian with your life but..you can be a walking hazard at times".

"What? How?"

"Well there was the time you burnt water while trying to heat her milk in her bottle-"

"That was years ago Harper, give me a break-"

"Ok, what about last week when you put the toaster on fire trying to make Lian cheese toasties".

"...I still can't figure out how a five-year-old knew how to use a fire extinguisher. In my defense, that incidence speaks volumes about your household Harper".

Jason really didn't want to be alone with Kori.

It's not that Kori was horrible to be around, in fact, she was the nicest person Jason has ever met. Korina Marie Anders was a pleasant girl who he had been acquainted with six years ago at his adopted brother's 21st birthday. She introduced herself to him and Jason found himself lost for words for the first time in his life, much to the amusement of his entire adopted family.

Even to this day he still thought about her but he was always wary to talk to her for many reasons, one of them due to her history with his brother, "Prick" Grayson (no he didn't get his name wrong, in Jason's mind that is the name he had christened his older adopted brother and Kori had a brief dating history, by brief meaning literally under three months. The reason why they broke up was unknown to everyone.

However, Jason was not afraid of his brother. If he didn't approach Kori, it was more the fact that he convinced himself of not being good enough and that she would never see him in that way. After all, if she didn't want Grayson, who all of Jason's life had known to be Bruce's golden child, the best son, the prince of Gotham, and everyone's favorite guy, why on gods green earth would she want him. HIM. Jason Peter Todd, the street kid Bruce Wayne took in, the troublemaker, the dark prince of Gotham.

The only people who he can handle their presence are Roy, Jade, Lian, Alfred, and maybe Tim, on a good day. It's safe to say Jason got rid of any hope to catch the eye of Korina Anders, but that did not mean his crush went away.

He got out his trip down memory lane as Roy spoke again.

"I don't really think your problem is about me trusting you."

"What do you mean," Jason narrows his eyes at his friend.

"The real issue is you can't trust yourself around Kori," Roy replied.

As his best friend, Jason did confide in Roy his crush on the redhead and since then Roy was on a mission to get the two together. Unfortunately, Jason always dodged every plan Roy had. Well, all except this plan. Unbeknownst to Jason, Roy knew what he was doing putting Lian into this. It would make Jason unable to say no.

His plan was working so far, he only hoped it would work in everyone's favor. Jason's silence was enough to convince Roy that he still had feelings for Kori. With that reassurance, he called over to his girlfriend.

"Hey babe come on, we will have to leave now, our reservation is at 7. Thanks again Kors for the recommendation and for looking after Lian tonight."

Jade turned to Kori gratefully. "We honestly can't thank you enough it's been a while we have been out without Lian."

"I can't believe Roy actually looks fucking decent for once". Jason smirked.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP JAY!"

"ROY what have I said about swearing in front of Lian", says Jade as she looked disappointedly at her boyfriend.

"Babe, please, she knew how to swear in Vietnamese at three years old, and I sure as hell can't speak a word of Vietnamese, so where would she get THAT from." Roy retorted, knowing full well he won that argument and the look on his girlfriend meant she knew it too.

Instead, she rolls her eyes at him and turns to her daughter. "Lian be a good girl for your Aunt Kori and Uncle Jason, ok? Mommy and daddy will be back soon, and Kori, you have both our numbers don't hesitate to call if you need us".

"Ok, mommy, I'll be good me. Aunt Kori and Unca Jay will have buckets of fun, won't we?" As she turned to her uncle and aunt.

Kori answered with, "yes, we will Lian"

Jason was still wrapping around his head that Lian called Kori her aunt.

"Aunt Kori?" Jason whispered to Roy.

Roy's reply was not what Jason expected. "Well, actually, Jade and I were hoping that title will change to godmother if all goes well."

That left Jason lost for words while Kori and Lian waved goodbye.

Lian turned to her uncle and aunt.

"What are we gonna do first? Can we play princesses? Oh, what about pony island instead or how about -?"

Lian Harper was a talker and Jason didn't know how to control, as he liked to call them, Lian's sugar rush mode.

Kori turns to Lian and says "Did you finish your homework from school?"

Lian went sheepishly quiet and told Kori "Umm, no Aunt Kori."

Kori gave Lian a smile.

"Well, if you finish your homework we can do what you want."

Lian thought carefully for a minute and to Jason's surprise, she calmly replied. "Ok aunt Kori, do you pinky promise?"

She stuck out her pinky only for Kori to take and wrap it around her own. Satisfied that her aunt Kori won't break her promise, she moved into the kitchen to start her homework. Kori then turned to Jason who had a blank expression.

Kori was concerned so she asked, "Hey Jason everything alright?"

"How did you do that," he asked still in a daze.

"Do what?"

"Get her to listen to you. She never does that willingly, she usually needs to be bribed."

Kori smiles at him and he feels his knees buckling. He sometimes forgets the effect she has on him.

"I've had a lot of practice with my brother".

"Ah, right." He replies and resists the urge to ask her what's been on his mind.

Instead, she speaks. "Lian tells me you are favorite uncle," Kori says with a knowing smile.

Jason gives her his signature smirk and tells her, "I'm her only uncle that she sees regularly, so there's no competition. Not really".

In a way, Jason has indeed been there for Lian since the beginning and she sees her other uncles, from Dick to Wally, only time to time as Roy isn't hostile towards them anymore but still, the friendship will never be how it once was. Jason knows fully well how burnt bridges are beyond repair.

However, Kori shakes her head "No, I've seen her interact with others. It's not the same way she looks at you. You should have seen her face when Jade told her you'll be coming over. Her face lit up like the Fourth of July."

Jason gives her a genuine smile, something she has not ever seen on the man before her. Always a smirk or a tight smile. So seeing this new smile she realizes it's an expression she would like to see more of. Hopefully.

Before Jason has the chance to say anything, Lian comes back from the kitchen, finishing her work.

They all decided to play some games much to the embarrassment of Jason. Lian made both of them play pretty pony island. Kori thought Jason cooperating with Lian's demands was adorable. Jason thought he might die.

Kori then went to start making dinner for them all.

Lian turned to her favorite uncle and said "I like aunt Kori, unca Jay".

"Me too, kid."

"Can you marry her then?"

Jason didn't think it was possible to choke on air but he proved himself wrong.

"Wait what? Who told- hold on a minute" Jason tried to get his bearings right before answering his goddaughter. "What are you talking about."

"Daddy said you like her, so if you marry her she can come round all the time with you right?" She asked innocently and again she used those eyes.

Jason sadly replied, "I don't think she likes me like that, kid."

"Why not? your the best unca ever"

She ran over to him to give him the biggest hug she could give. Jason had a habit early in life not to live up to people's expectations because he felt he always fell short on those expectations. However, with Lian, it seemed he could do no wrong and with that, he hugged her back as much as the five years could handle.

That's how Kori found them and she didn't want to split them until they did themselves. They both turned to Kori as she explained dinner was ready.

Dinner surprisingly went smooth Lian didn't make a fuss. It was then time for bed and Lian wanted a story.

Jason knew her favorite story was Robin Hood, so as he read the story animatedly to her, Kori watched on the sidelines, smiling the entire time.

Lian then got put to bed as Kori left the room Lian turned to her uncle.

"Unca Jay, Aunt Kori is the best babysitter in the universe but you're the best unca ever. I love you unca Jason," and she drifted to sleep.

Jason smiled, kissed her forehead, and slowly crept out the room.

To his surprise, Kori was right outside the room.

"I told you, you're her favorite uncle. Not that I blame her," she said with a smirk.

Is she flirting? Jason can say he wasn't sure, so he tested his theory.

"Oh really," he said.

"Around the people you love, you don't pretend to be something you're not. It's clear as day how you feel about them. You don't hide behind a mask" Kori replied.

Immediately, Jason had the answer to his question about her and Grayson. This must be why they broke up. Grayson was known to hide behind a mask, he portrayed one image but had another behind closed doors. As friends, it would not be as much of an issue, however, in a relationship, it's another playing field and with a relationship with Korina Anders, who wears her heart on her sleeve, Jason was sure it caused them to clash.

"It's difficult to show emotions when you're being raised by Bruce Wayne," he isn't sure why he was sticking up for Grayson or maybe it was for himself.

"Well you seem to be doing alright for yourself," she said shyly.

"I won't lie to you it's not like that every day. Some days are better than others," he admitted.

This is why he didn't want to be alone with her. Stupid Harper.

"Why won't you lie to me, I wouldn't be offended if you did," she said looking confused.

Without his brain's permission, he blurted out "You're too good to be lied to."His face sure turned the color of Kori's hair.

Kori smiled at him and admitted, "I heard what you said to Lian about me not liking you in that way. I wasn't eavesdropping, I promise."She suddenly turned, ashamed of Jason thinking the worst of her.

However, Jason just wanted to crawl in an imaginary hole. Anywhere, please, Lord Almighty, but here with her.

"Please Kori just forget you heard that" Jason pleaded.

"Why" she whispered.

"Because I'd rather forget than you reject me."

"Who said I would reject you" Jason looks at Kori stunned. Kori is looking at her feet because she, like him, spilled her feelings.

"Are you serious? Since when?"

"Remember last summer in Gotham? You came back for a visit. I tried to go up to you but it was hard, I didn't know if you saw me in that way, you always had that too cool for school vibe since I met you. I'm a nerd with an Astrophysics degree. Like I said I didn't think u would look my way".

Jason was floored. He never thought this would ever be a conversation but now it's out in the open. He can't help but wonder what if.

So right then and there he decides to throw caution to the wind and take the risk.

If anybody knew Jason Peter Todd, they would know he loves to take risks.

He moves closer to Kori until there are barely inches apart and whispers to her. "Trust me, I've been seeing you that way for six years, I'm pretty sure I won't change my mind".

Kori now was blushing and she couldn't fight it down. This man in front of her could bring out emotions she never knew she was capable of but she accepted it.

"Me neither."She whispered back, afraid if she talked any louder their moment could break.

And so with that, reassuring him, his feelings were reciprocated he went in for a chaste kiss. However, the moment his lips landed on hers, Kori turned it more passionate. Even if he was not expecting that from her, Jason allowed Kori to explore all she wanted, after all, he thought she might as well get used to what will be hers and hers alone.

So Jason could agree with Lian that Korina Marie Anders was indeed the best babysitter in the universe.

Now he owed the smug Roy a huge favor.

Hmm, maybe playful revenge is how he'll show his appreciation.

After all, he can't lose his touch now, can he?

The end