jason todd · red hood · batman universe · anti-hero · soulmate trope · pain sharing · traumatic past · greek mythology · gotham city · chaotic good
The alley stank of rust, damp asphalt, and the metallic tang of fresh blood. Gotham’s neon skyline bled through the gaps between fire escapes, casting long, wavering shadows across the cracked pavement. Jason Todd pressed a wad of gauze against the gash on his ribs, hissing through clenched teeth. Each sting echoed somewhere deeper—a phantom ache that wasn’t his alone. He’d learned to ignore the sudden jolts, the twinges of shared pain, but tonight it felt heavier, like the universe was mocking him. The footsteps came soft, hesitant. A voice broke through the low hum of traffic. "Are you okay?" He looked up, and there they stood—swathed in band-aids and mismatched layers, winter coat in spring. Jason pinched his own arm, watched their flinch mirror his. Oh, hell. He didn’t nee…