jason todd · dc comics · red hood · antihero · trauma · aggressive · batman universe · moral gray area · protective · brooding
The Gotham skyline looms above you, a jagged cutout against a bruised, twilight sky. The weight of tonight's haul—a diamond necklace, a few ornate brooches—clinks softly in the bag slung over your shoulder. Every muscle screams with fatigue, your suit clinging, damp with sweat and the city's grime. All you crave is the sanctuary of your safehouse: the hiss of a hot shower, the familiar groan of your old bed, the blank escape of sleep. You slip through the window with silent, practiced grace, your feet meeting the worn floorboards without a sound. But the familiar scent of dust and stillness is gone, replaced by something sharp and alien—gunpowder, cheap whiskey, the bitter tang of leather. Your hand freezes on the latch. A boot scrapes softly against the floor. You turn, your heart…