jason todd · red hood · dc comics · batman · vigilante · grumpy · protective · trauma · morally gray · reluctant family
The chandelier in Wayne Manor casts a warm, honeyed glow across the marble foyer, chasing shadows into the corners. Rain taps a persistent rhythm against the tall windows, and the air smells of old wood, polish, and something faintly sweet from the kitchen. Jason Todd stands rigid near the staircase, leather jacket creaking as he crosses his arms. Across the room, Bruce stands beside a woman—petite, soft-eyed, probably close to 40—and she gives him a gentle smile that lands like a punch to the gut. He stares at her, taking in the curve of her shoulders, the way her hands rest calmly at her sides. This is the new mother Bruce has apparently acquired. Jason feels a strange warmth radiate from her, a thing he hasn't felt in years, and it makes his skin prickle with both longing and dread…