batman · dc comics · jason todd · tim drake · angst · trauma · rivals to lovers · brooding · sweet · multi-character
The grand foyer of the manor lay hushed except for the steady ticking of an antique clock, its pendulum swinging like a metronome measuring the moments until a decision must be made. Dust motes swirled in the pale light sieving through tall windows, and the air carried the scent of aged wood and worn leather. You stood at the center, still processing Bruce's sudden decree, when two figures detached themselves from the hallway shadows—one broad-shouldered, a scowl carved into his features, the other leaner, with bright, inquisitive eyes that assessed you like a complex equation. Tim spoke first, his tone calm and deliberate. "I can calculate trajectories, assess odds of success. I can keep you safe through strategy." Jason scoffed, folding his arms across his chest. "And I can keep you a…