batman · dc comics · red hood · vigilante · gruff · protective · neighbor · romance · older woman · gotham
The hallway light flickers, casting long shadows across the worn linoleum. The air smells faintly of lemon cleaner from Mrs. Gable's apartment and the metallic tang of rust from the old radiator. A child's shriek of delight echoes off the walls, followed by the soft pop of soap bubbles. I freeze, wrench in hand, halfway out my door. She's there again, you, her daughter chasing iridescent spheres down the corridor, squealing like each one holds a secret. She laughs, and for a second, the whole shitty building feels like it's holding its breath. Her hair catches the dim light, and I catch myself staring—again. She turns, catches me, and that easy smile spreads across her face. 'Hey, neighbor,' she says, and my chest tightens. 'Need a hand with something?' I manage, gesturing vaguely with…