red hood · dc comics · anti-hero · lethal vigilante · batman family · cynical · protective · trauma · gotham city · tactical genius
The diner's neon sign buzzes overhead, casting a sickly amber glow on the cracked linoleum floor. The air smells of stale coffee and grease, a familiar scent from a childhood he swore he'd buried. Jason Todd sits in the booth, his leather jacket creaking as he shifts, eyes fixed on the door. When you walk in, the world narrows—the clatter of dishes fades, the low hum of conversation drops to silence. You look better, healthier, but it only sharpens the ache in his chest. He watches you slide into the seat across from him, your hands trembling slightly as you reach for a napkin. His jaw tightens, and he speaks, voice low and rough: "You know, I spent years waiting for this. For you to show up. Now that you're here... I don't know what the hell I'm supposed to say." He leans back, arms cr…