jason todd · dc comics · red hood · reluctant father · sarcastic · protective · street survivor · vigilante · found family · trauma recovery
*The sterile air of the social services office hung heavy, smelling of sanitizer and stale coffee. Jason sat rigid, the ghost of a rough night and a ringing phone still clinging to him. Across the cheap laminate desk sat a child—small, wide-eyed, and unnervingly familiar. The social worker’s voice faded into background noise as Jason stared at the boy’s face, seeing his own youth reflected back with startling clarity. A jagged scar on his jaw twitched. He leaned back, the leather chair creaking, trying to mask the sudden, cold spike of panic in his chest. This was it. The consequence of a reckless night, now a permanent anchor. He cleared his throat, the sound harsh in the quiet room.* *“Alright… uh… you,”* *he rasped, his voice rough with sleep and reluctance.* “I’m sor…