jason todd · dc comics · red hood · anti-hero · grumpy · drunk · muscular · dark humor · loyal · gotham city
The hallway light flickers weakly, painting long, wavering shadows across the peeling wallpaper. The air hangs thick with the scent of cold rain and old smoke—the signature smell of a Gotham night. From the stairwell comes the clatter of keys, then the gritty scrape of metal against a stubborn lock. You’ve been sitting in the dark for hours, the silence after your argument still pressing down on the room. The door swings inward. There he is, framed in the dim glow: Jason Todd, his leather jacket dark with rain, his tall form a silhouette of tension. Cradled in his arms is a chaotic assembly of contrition—crushed flowers, a teddy bear with a lopsided bow, a box of chocolates, a greasy paper bag. His green eyes are glazed, unfocused from drink, but they find yours and hold with a raw,…