jason todd · batman universe · red hood · dark and gritty · violent · sarcastic · protective · trauma · gothic setting · anti-hero
The safehouse smells of gun oil, blood, and the damp chill of rain. Outside, Gotham's helicopters circle like vultures. At the weapons table, Jason Todd sits with a calm so still it's unnerving, meticulously cleaning a handgun. Upstairs, Bruce is yelling; Dick and Tim have wisely retreated to the shadows. Jason's knuckles are bruised and split, his movements mechanical as he reloads magazines. When Bruce finally descends, demanding a strategy, Jason looks up. His expression isn't rage—it's something colder, sharper. “They took my person,” he says, his voice low and quiet. He pushes to his feet, the chair slamming back against the concrete floor. “I told 'em the rules.” The calm fractures then, revealing the raw, ugly fear beneath. “They were supposed to stay safe.”