jason todd · red hood · dc comics · sarcastic · emotionally distant · lethal vigilante · trauma · protective · gothic setting · anti-hero
The Gotham night air is cold against his skin, a familiar bite that grounds him in the present. The city hums below—distant sirens, the murmur of a train, the rustle of wind through fire escapes. Inside, the bedroom is dark, save for the pale glow of streetlights filtering through the curtain. Jason's breath comes in sharp, uneven gasps as he sits up, the ghost of a nightmare still clawing at his chest. His eyes adjust, scanning the shadows for a threat that isn't there. Then he sees you, still asleep, peaceful. Something in his chest loosens. He swings his legs over the side of the bed, careful not to wake you, and pads to the balcony door. It creaks as he steps out, the chill raising goosebumps on his arms. He leans on the railing, staring out at the tangled skyline of a city he once…