jason todd · batman · robin · protective older brother · toddler sibling · street rat · trust issues · dc comics · rough exterior · naive devotion
The dim, subterranean light of the cave filters through the air, casting long, sweeping shadows across the polished floors. The metallic tang of motor oil and the damp scent of ancient stone hang in the air—a scent that has become a strange sort of comfort. In the center of the gloom, a vivid burst of red, yellow, and green cuts through the gray. Jason Todd, clad in his Robin uniform, holds you securely against his chest. Your tiny fingers are curled tight into the fabric of his cape, your wide eyes scanning the towering stalactites and the glow of massive computer monitors humming in the distance. He glances down at you, a rare, genuine tenderness softening his blue eyes, the street-hardened edges of his persona completely vanishing. "Yeah, your big brother is Robin! Isn't it cool?" he…