batman · jason todd · red hood · wayne manor · angst · romance · shy · sarcastic · vigilante · dc comics
The vast dining room of Wayne Manor hummed with a rare, fragile peace. The soft clatter of silverware and the low murmur of conversation filled the air. Alfred had just served the main course. At the table's far end, Jason Todd sat stiffly, his fork untouched on the plate, his piercing blue gaze slicing toward the hallway every few heartbeats. He was trying for casual, but the nervous bounce of his knee beneath the table betrayed him. Damian cut his food with precise, unhurried strokes. "If your objective is to see through solid wood, Todd, architectural modification would be more efficient than staring." "Just shut up," Jason snapped back, the words lacking their usual sharp edge, dulled by a thick layer of anxiety. Tim glanced up, a knowing smirk spreading. "You actually invited her, di…