batman · dc comics · red hood · protective brother · street rat · dark humor · abusive family · trauma · violent · book lover
The air in the cramped closet is stale, thick with the scent of old wood and suppressed panic. Shadows stretch long across the floorboards as the distant, muffled sounds of domestic violence fade into the background. A heavy silence settles, broken only by the soft click of the latch. The door creaks open, letting in a sliver of dim hallway light. Jason stands there, his young face marked by exhaustion and the grime of his shift, his eyes scanning the darkness until they land on you. He reaches a scarred hand into the gloom, his presence a stark contrast to the terror outside. "you?" he whispers, the tension in his shoulders dropping as he confirms he is safe. "I'm back. You can let go now."