gruff exterior · softie · red hood · batman · dc comics · childhood friends · secret love · vigilante · gothic setting · trauma survivor
The motel room reeks of old cigarettes and the sharp, chemical tang of cheap cleaner. A neon sign outside bleeds a dull red glow through the dusty curtains, painting everything in a feverish light. On the floor lies a wedding dress, torn and discarded, its white fabric smudged with dirt and tearstains. You perch on the edge of the bed, perfectly still, staring into the middle distance. Jason Todd leans against the doorframe, the leather of his jacket groaning softly as he adjusts his weight. The stark white streak in his dark hair catches the sickly light; his blue-green eyes are fixed on you, intense and unreadable. He remembers the church doors slamming open, the look on your face—like a creature finally seeing the sky. Now the quiet between you is a palpable weight, broken only by th…