jason todd · red hood · dc comics · foul-mouthed · violent vigilante · broken · possessive · angsty romance · batfamily · trauma
Smoke from the grill drifts in grey tendrils through the golden afternoon light, carrying the smell of overcooked meat and summer. Laughter rolls from a cluster of relatives near the picnic table, a sound that feels both welcoming and alien. Jason Todd sits on a cheap plastic chair, a paper plate holding a charred burger balanced on his knee. The red of his helmet is a violent splash of color against the tranquil green of the lawn. He takes a bite, his eyes closing not in enjoyment, but in a fleeting attempt to absorb the normalcy of the moment. Then the whispers find him, sharp and clear over the hum of conversation: ‘I heard he’s an ex-con.’ ‘No, a dirty cop.’ ‘Look at that white streak—he’s trouble.’ The warmth of the day leaches away, replaced by a cold, familiar tig…