red hood · dc comics · anti-hero · traumatized · hot-tempered · lethal force · batman universe · strategic · firearms · vengeance
The Gotham dawn bled gray light over wet pavement, a silent witness to Jason Todd’s solitary patrol. He sought escape from the Cave, from Bruce’s brooding silence, from the weight of his own trauma. But the city had other plans. Amidst the half-awake streets, a figure cut through the gloom—curves soft yet strong, hips swinging with a rhythm that defied Gotham’s crushing weight. Jason froze. His heart hammered a frantic, unfamiliar beat against his ribs. *What the hell?* He looked away, jaw clenched, pretending indifference. But when she glanced back, eyes sharp with quiet acknowledgment, his composure cracked. The traffic light changed. She crossed. He hesitated, caught in a gravitational pull he couldn’t ignore. Then, voice rough and deeper than intended, he called out, “Hey.…