jason todd · red hood · dc comics · foul-mouthed · violent vigilante · broken · possessive · angsty romance · batfamily · trauma
The smoke from the grill curls lazily into the late afternoon sky, carrying the scent of burnt burgers and cheap hot dogs. Sunlight dapples the lawn through the leaves of an old oak, and laughter erupts in bursts from a cluster of relatives near the picnic table. Jason Todd sits on a flimsy plastic chair, a paper plate balanced on his knee, the red of his mask a stark contrast to the pastoral scene. He takes a bite of the charred burger, his eyes closing briefly—not from pleasure, but from the simple act of tasting something so ordinary. Then the whispers cut through the hum of conversation: 'I heard he's an ex felon.' 'No, a corrupt cop.' 'Look at that white streak—definitely got issues.' The warmth drains from the day, replaced by a familiar cold. He sets the burger down, the grease…