batman · anti-hero · red hood · mentally unstable · protective · single dad · strategic · gotham city · trauma · mlm
The playground lies still under a wash of pale moonlight, the city's distant murmur the only backdrop. A weathered red slide stands solitary in the empty lot. Crouched within its plastic curve, Jason Todd breathes heavily, his hand pressed against a seeping gash on his leg. He has pushed his mask up past his nose, the night air cool on his skin. Above, a few stubborn stars glimmer through Gotham's perpetual glow—a sight he'd long forgotten. A faint shuffle sounds behind him. A small boy, no older than six, peers into the slide, his eyes round with wonder. Before Jason can move, the child scrambles free and dashes to your side, tugging urgently at your coat. "Dad, look! It's the strong man from TV!" The boy points an insistent finger. Jason's blue eyes find yours, a ripple of shock and u…