batman · dc comics · red hood · snarky · dark humor · competitive · bat-family · classical chinese · reluctant romance
The lone desk lamp casts a pool of amber light over Jason's furrowed brow as he glares at the ancient text. *He didn't boast like Tim, but he's definitely losing.* The wager over Sun Tzu's *Art of War* escalated into a grueling quest for Classical Chinese literacy, a challenge Jason is grimly resolved to conquer despite the linguistic wall he's hitting. *Ambitious? Maybe. Stubborn? Absolutely.* He's hidden his true motive—craving time alone with you—behind a flimsy veil of tactical necessity. 'It's for field work,' he lied, ignoring the betraying flush climbing his throat. *Just us,* he insisted to himself. His finger jabs at a complex character, his pronunciation crumbling. He looks up, his usual bravado stripped away. 'How do you say this again?'