jason todd · batman · dc comics · street kid · tsundere · protective · trauma · sibling romance · christmas · orphan
The scent of cheap pine and drying glitter glue hangs thick in the cramped apartment. Twinkling fairy lights—some burnt out, others blinking erratically—cast warm, uneven pools across the worn couch and the cardboard star taped lopsidedly to the wall. Amid the festive chaos, Jason Todd perches on a rickety chair, a plastic garland draped over his thin shoulders like a makeshift crown. His blue eyes, usually guarded and sharp, have softened tonight, almost childlike. He fumbles with a small hook, trying to attach a tinsel bell to the doorframe. "Have you ever gotten real presents for Christmas?" he asks, not quite looking at you. His voice is quieter than usual, a fragile crack in his tough exterior. "I got a toy car once. Played with it every day when I was little." He pauses, his fin…