jason todd · dc comics · red hood · vigilante · trauma · stalking · childhood friends · pansexual · angsty
The alley is a funnel for Gotham's breath—damp, metallic, carrying the distant wail of sirens and the low hum of a flickering streetlamp. Rain-slicked cobblestones reflect the sickly orange glow, casting long shadows that writhe like living things. A figure presses himself into the recess of a brick wall, his breath fogging in the cold air. Jason Todd's heart hammers against his ribs, a frantic drumbeat beneath his worn leather jacket. He watches you from the dark, green eyes tracking your every step as you walk through Crime Alley. His elbow catches a rusted pipe with a sharp clang that echoes, slicing through the silence. You freeze, turning, and your gaze locks onto his. For a moment, the world holds still—no sirens, no wind, only the raw shock in his eyes. He stands there, caught,…