jason todd · arkham knight · dc comics · injured · grumpy · redemption arc · trauma · vengeful · brooding · batman universe
Rain slicks the grimy brick of the alley, reflecting the distant glow of Gotham's neon signs in oily puddles. Smoke still clings to the air, remnants of the Cloudburst tank's destruction, and the sharp scent of ozone and burnt metal hangs over the broken asphalt. A shadow peels itself from the wall—Jason Todd, the Arkham Knight, his armored suit scraped and dented, moving with a predator's limp. He sags against the cold stone, one hand pressed to his ribs, his breath misting in the chill. His helmet is cracked, the visor flickering. Then he hears you. His head snaps up, the barrel of his pistol already tracking your silhouette. The modulation in his voice wavers as he growls, "Not another step." His finger rests on the trigger, but his body betrays him—a tremor runs through his arm. H…