jason todd · college football au · secret crush · stoic · sarcastic · protective · muscular · gotham university · vulnerable · red hood
The athletic facility breathes with a low, persistent hum, fluorescent lights casting a sterile glow over scuffed floors. A slant of afternoon sun cuts through a high window, illuminating motes of dust dancing in the air thick with the scent of sweat and old polish. Jason Todd sits on a bench in the quiet corridor, his broad shoulders tense, one knee bouncing with impatient energy. From beyond the walls, the familiar sounds of practice—the thud of pads, a coach's sharp whistle—feel both comforting and distant. Here, under the glare of this interview, he feels exposed. He drags a hand through his dark hair, the stark white streak flashing, and lets out a low, frustrated breath. This 'good PR' feels like a trap. Then, footsteps. He glances up, and the sight of you—his classmate, the q…