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Their mission was a success, Arsenal gladly summarised. There were no casualties on the side of humanity, though the aliens had taken a massive blow to their whole species. She hoped they would leave Earth alone for at least the next year; she really could do without this whole "all hands on deck" kind of crisis.
It was one thing that humanity had just come close to extinction because once again somebody decided to invade their planet. There was another, slight fact that she might have forgotten to tell everybody about her transition.
It wasn't like the Titans didn't know.
Back when she was Speedy, Donna had always let her try on her hero costume and she rocked that shit. It had been clear as day and yet it took her years to realise. The more she looked back, the more obvious hints she saw. She was sure the Titans had a betting pool on when she would come out.
They’d had one for Raven and Nightwing as well, both of which came true.
She didn't mind, not them at least. The League was what she was more worried about. She knew they should be openly supportive, since blatant transphobia would impact their public image significantly. Yet they could say anything they wanted in the corners of their cosy Watchtower.
She threw off her top, checking the messages on her phone. Lian was spending the week with Jade, her real mother , something whispered in her head and she shook it. Her daughter took the change from "daddy" to "mummy" surprisingly easy, considering the cult she had been raised in. The thoughts were irritating her. She was as much of a mother as Jade was.
"Hey Arse, any injuries I need to know about before you collapse?" She turned, looking at Red Hood leaning against the door frame. His arms were crossed on his chest and she remembered she was standing topless in the middle of her room.
Fuck, some habits die hard. Hood didn't seem bothered. Of course, she couldn't see where exactly he was gazing, the helmet covered his entire face.
"Nothing you should worry your pretty head about," she answered with a smile. Fuck.
She figured she was a lesbian and even if she could appreciate guys being objectively attractive, she knew the relationship with one just wouldn't be built on the right foundations. She suspected she could live as a married woman, but what kind of life would it be?
"You haven't seen my head," Hood retorted. She blushed. Hood walked away, leaving her alone with her thoughts again. She put some salve on her bruises, bandaged her wrist and put some civies on.
Kori was already sitting on the couch, munching on some snacks, waiting for dinner to be ready, if the smell was anything to go by. The blush still hadn't left her face, especially when confronted with the idea of Hood cooking. Kori raised an eyebrow in a quiet question.
"Zoe…" she whispered to her and she understood. She should either ask him out, have yet another sexuality crisis or look for somebody else to date. Not that she and Kori hadn't tried. They were just better off as friends.
She mentally checked every other queer woman in the capes community. Looking at the already small pool of people, she didn't have many options.
"I forgot to put a top on," she whispered back. This time both of Kori's brows met her hairline. She wasn't pleased.
Unfortunately, Hood chose this exact moment to bring their food to them. Kori threw the pack of peanuts at him, glaring slightly. Zoe just turned redder than his helmet.
Hood stood in place for a second, dumbfounded. He looked between the two of them and tilted his head.
"I take this is not about the chicken," he said with a slight irritation. Or at least that's what she thought it was. The voice modulator was never very clear at portraying emotions.
"Why would you go into a woman's room when she is undressed?" Kori asked.
She sighed internally. Both of them knew that Zoe didn't mind much, it's not like she was ashamed and in their business accidents happened. Especially accidents where somebody was stabbed and needed stitches. Or was shot. Or broke something. Besides, both of her teammates had already seen her naked, that one time when she was kidnapped and they needed to get rid of her clothes quickly, so they couldn't be tracked. She made her way back in a spare pair of boxers Kori had on hand and Hood's jacket.
"I… Why is it even a big deal? It's not like I haven't seen her tits before?" Hood said.
Which… Was an answer.
A great one even.
He seemed to realise that this was definitely not what they were expecting to hear.
"What do you want me to do? Show her mine so we're even?" he teased.
"Why do you think any of us —" Kori gestured dramatically between them" — would want to see your man boobs?"
Oof , Zoe thought, shots fired .
Hood stood there for a moment before taking the helmet off. She almost choked. They had an agreement. No peeking inside to try and catch Hood without his helmet and when he was sure he could trust them, he would do it himself.
Though, it was more of an unspoken agreement, but one nonetheless. One just didn't go searching for others’ secret identities. There were those freely shared, like hers and Kori’s and those given in a time of crisis. She always assumed Hood would fall into the second category.
If she choked at the sight of the helmet sliding off, the face underneath might have just killed her.
When somebody asked her to picture how Red Hood would look like she had a vision in her head. A white man. Dark hair and eyes, strong jawline, small lips and a nose that had been broken one too many times. Maybe the hair colour was different. Maybe the ethnicity varied.
Not in a million years would she say that Red Hood was a damn gorgeous woman.
Her jaw was literally on the floor and a quick glance at Kori told her it was the same for her.
"I'd take my chances," a high pitched voice that somehow belonged to Red Hood sounded in the room, while he she smirked.
Why would she never correct them on her pronouns? What even were her pronouns?! Fucking shit, what if Hood was in the same boat as her and just not out yet?
"Name's Jane by the way," she? clarified.
"So… You're a woman?" she stuttered out, trying to at least pretend she was composed.
"Yep."
"Why haven't you corrected us?" Kori asked, she sounded a little hurt, all things considered.
"Easier to keep your identity a secret I guess. If people are looking for a man, they'll never look my way. Easier to get shit done," which Zoe had to say sounded reasonable.
Jane grabbed her plate as well and joined their little gathering, eating with them for the first time. The more Zoe looked at her the more she realised how fucked she was.
Though at least her sexuality crisis wouldn't be happening anytime soon. The whole asking out part? She would do her best.