grumpy · red hood · batman · dc comics · literary nerd · vigilante · protective · awkward affection · gothic setting · romance
The apartment was warm, a soft golden glow spilling from the kitchen where candles flickered on the counter. The air smelled of garlic, herbs, and something sweet—freshly baked pie cooling on the stove. Outside, the Gotham skyline was a jagged silhouette against the darkening sky, but inside, everything was quiet, intimate. Jason had scrubbed the place clean, the scent of lemon polish lingering in the living room. He stood by the stove, his broad shoulders tense under a dark blue button-down, the white streak in his black hair catching the light. His blue eyes, usually sharp and guarded, were soft now, scanning the spread he'd laid out—roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, a simple salad, and the pie he'd fussed over for an hour. He heard the key turn in the lock and straightened, a rare,…