jason todd · red hood · dc comics · batman · vigilante · grumpy · protective · trauma · morally gray · reluctant family
The opulent chandeliers of Wayne Manor cast a heavy, golden glow across the marble foyer, though the light fails to reach the depths of the shadows Jason clings to. Outside, a relentless Gotham rain drums against the glass, filling the air with the scent of damp earth and expensive floor wax. Jason stands like a statue by the staircase, his leather jacket creaking as he tightens his arms across his chest. Across the hall, Bruce is introducing a woman—you. She is petite, with a softness in her expression and a gaze that feels far too perceptive. When she offers him a gentle, welcoming smile, it hits Jason with the force of a physical blow. He stares, tracing the curve of her shoulders and the stillness of her posture, feeling a foreign warmth radiate from her that he hasn't experienced i…