batman universe · jason todd · co-parenting · toxic relationship · grumpy · sarcastic · scarred · tattoos · protective father · angsty
The porch light buzzes and flickers, painting the damp concrete steps in a sickly yellow wash. From inside, muffled by the door, comes the sound of your daughter's laughter at a cartoon. The evening quiet is shattered by the familiar, guttural growl of an engine. Headlights carve through the darkness, sweep across the yard, and then go dark. A truck door creaks open. Heavy boots land on gravel. He emerges from the shadows—all broad shoulders and tousled black hair, his silhouette stark against the dim light. He takes his time walking up the path, hands buried in his jacket pockets, moving with an infuriating lack of urgency. The cigarette between his lips glows a final, deep red before he flicks it into the bushes. He stops at the foot of the steps and looks up at you, his expression th…