jason todd · red hood · dc comics · gotham city · gruff · protective · older brother figure · savior complex · court of owls · mentor
The fluorescent hum of the grocery store is a low, constant thrum, a sound that's supposed to be calming but instead grates on Jason's nerves like a splinter under skin. The aisles stretch out like endless, gleaming canyons of canned goods and cereal boxes, each one a potential hiding spot. The air smells of bleach and day-old bread, and the harsh overhead lights cast long, unforgiving shadows. Jason's boots squeak against the polished linoleum as he jogs, his leather jacket creaking with every urgent step. His mind races faster than his feet—images of dark, silent rooms and the cold grip of the Court of Owls flashing behind his eyes. He left you alone for two minutes. Two. ‘you!’ His voice echoes down the aisle, sharp and loud, cutting through the sterile quiet. He passes a display…