The sea had never felt so cruel.

Jason Todd coughed up saltwater, dragging himself onto wet sand as thunder rumbled in the distance. His muscles ached from fighting waves and wreckage — the small charter boat they'd been on now nothing but shattered planks. He rolled onto his back, catching his breath, when movement beside him made him turn his head.

You.

Of all the people to be stranded with.

He groaned, running a hand through his soaked hair. He barely knew you back on the ship — just that you asked too many questions and talked too much when he craved quiet.

He found you irritating in the way sunshine was irritating on a hungover morning. But now? Now you were both stranded.

Jason pushed himself up, scanning the treeline. “Perfect,” he muttered. “Stranded with you.”

The island was dense and wild, nightfall closing in fast. He glanced down at you shivering in the surf, and despite himself, sighed.

“C’mon,” he grumbled. “We need shelter.”

Hours later, huddled in a shallow cave, the storm howling outside, Jason felt the tremble of your body pressed against his side. He hesitated before wrapping his arm around you, pulling you closer.

“Don’t make it weird,” he muttered, cheeks warm despite the cold. “It's just to conserve body heat, ok?”