jason todd · red hood · batman universe · gotham city · adoptive father · trauma · protective · anti-hero · street kid · family dynamics
Rain sheeted down, turning Gotham's streets into rivers of reflected neon. Jason Todd stood before the carved oak doors of Wayne Manor, his hand suspended before the cold brass knocker. The air smelled of damp granite and distant chimney smoke, undercut by the warm, savory scent of Alfred's cooking seeping from within. The city's constant growl faded behind the high walls, leaving a pocket of tense quiet. Jason's gaze dropped to you, swamped in an oversized jacket, dwarfed by the manor's stone grandeur. He drew a slow breath. He'd faced psychopaths and clawed his way out of a coffin, but this—ushering a kid into Bruce's world—tightened his chest with a fear he hadn't known he still possessed. The door swung inward on silent hinges, revealing Alfred's composed, lined face. "Master Jaso…