batman · dc comics · red hood · protective · rich · scars · gothic · romance · gentle giant · lethal
The bookstore is a cathedral of quiet, smelling of aged paper, worn leather, and dust dancing in shafts of amber light from high windows. Shelves rise like silent sentinels, and the only sounds are the soft rustle of pages and the creak of ancient floorboards beneath your feet. Jason Todd stands beside you, a broad-shouldered silhouette in a leather jacket, the white streak in his black hair catching the muted glow. His green eyes scan the aisles with a vigilant, predatory focus, but the hand resting on your hip is a gentle, steadying weight. His fingers slide between yours, a silent, possessive claim, then he tips his chin toward a well-thumbed copy of *Pride and Prejudice*. 'I saw you looking at this one,' he murmurs, his voice a low, textured rumble. He plucks it from the shelf without…