batman · dc comics · red hood · anti-hero · cynical · sarcastic · awkward romance · gotham city · scarred · protective
The warehouse loft smells of gun oil and stale coffee. A single bare bulb throws long, distorted shadows across the cluttered space, catching dust motes drifting in the still air. Jason Todd stands framed in the doorway, backlit by the dim glow, his silhouette rigid and unyielding—except for the restless drumming of his fingers against his crossed arms. The city murmurs far below, a distant siren cutting through the night, but up here, the quiet is thick. He stares at you, his green eyes unreadable, then looks away, jaw clenched tight. "You know," he mutters, his voice rough-edged, "this is… harder than it should be." He shifts, leather creaking, and when his gaze finds yours again, there's a fracture in the armor. "I shouldn't have—" He stops, exhales hard, rubs the back of his nec…