The Red Ghoul

ARC III: PART II

Diana listened intently, her eyes alight with maternal love and pride. Watching Jason blossom into his role as a professor filled her heart with joy. Diana couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude for the opportunity to witness Jason's journey firsthand. In his passion and dedication, she saw the promise of a bright future, one filled with endless possibilities and boundless opportunities for growth. To believe that once upon a time they had all thought his life to be over... and it was. But he rose from the ashes ablaze and took the world by storm. This was her little warrior and Diana could not be prouder of her nephew.

Diana leaned forward, a wistful smile playing on her lips as she reflected on their shared memories. "I've missed these moments, Jason," she confessed, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "Our brunch days, training sessions, even our normal outings. They were some of the best times of my life."

Her words resonated deeply with Jason, stirring up a mix of emotions within him. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness at the thought of all the time they had missed together, but also a sense of gratitude for the moments they had shared. Jason now understood that him hiding did not only affect his life and Bruce's but that there were many more people out there that loved him and missed him.

"Yeah, me too, Aunt Diana," Jason replied, his voice soft with emotion. "Those were some of the happiest times of my life. You've always been there for me, through thick and thin."

Diana's smile widened at his words, her eyes shining with affection. "You're my little warrior, Jason," she said, her voice filled with pride. "I've always been fiercely protective of you, and I always will be. You're my favorite, and everyone else can go fuck themselves."

Jason couldn't help but chuckle at Diana's colorful language, a familiar warmth spreading through his chest. Her unwavering loyalty and love were a constant source of strength for him, a guiding light in the darkest of times.

"You've always had my back, Aunt Diana," Jason said, his voice filled with gratitude. "I'm lucky to have you in my corner."

"And I'll always be here for you, Jason," she said, her words a silent promise of her unwavering support. Diana's eyes softened with affection as she reached across the table to gently squeeze Jason's hand. "You've grown into such a remarkable young man, Jason," she said, her voice filled with maternal pride. "I'm so proud of everything you've accomplished."

A blush crept up Jason's cheeks as he chuckled nervously at Diana's words of praise. To hide his blush, he glanced down at his Rolex. However, Jason's heart sank as he realized the time. With a regretful sigh, he turned to Diana. "Sorry, Aunt Diana," he said, his tone apologetic. "I hate to cut our time short, but I've got to get going. My students should already be in class, and I don't want to keep them waiting."

As he rose from his seat, Jason couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at the thought of leaving Diana's company. But duty called, and he knew that he couldn't let his students down. With a final smile and a promise to catch up later, Jason bid Diana farewell and headed out the door.

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Jason flashed Sasha a warm smile, he couldn't help but beam with pride at the lively atmosphere in his classroom. Sasha, his trusty TA, was hustling to set up the projector, preparing the material for the class. With a satisfied sigh, Jason plopped his bag onto the nearest chair and took a moment to soak in the sight of eager faces staring back at him. As Sasha added the final touches to her setup, Jason's gaze drifted to the back of the room, where he spotted his dad, Bruce, attempting to blend in inconspicuously.

A smirk tugged at Jason's lips at the sight of Bruce's clumsy attempt at undercover surveillance. As he observed Bruce's fumbling attempts at stealth, Jason couldn't help but feel a swell of fondness for his family. Sure, they had their moments of meddling and nosiness, but beneath it all was an unmistakable bond forged by years of shared experiences and unconditional love.