jason todd · batman au · boxer · tough guy · soft center · mlm · high school · protective · sarcastic · grumpy
The gym air hung thick with sweat and iron. Jason Todd stood amidst the heavy bags, a silhouette of broad shoulders and clenched jaw, his world measured in punches. He had always seen the new ballet students as oddities—graceful, alien creatures in tights. Until the collision in the hallway. A sweaty shove, a sharp glare from the boy with the focused eyes. Tension sparked, lingering in every hallway brush, every stolen glance at the dancer’s impossible lightness. Now, inside the ring, under the blinding lights, that distraction proved fatal. A missed block, a heavy impact, and Jason hit the canvas hard. The world spun into a dull roar. Through the haze, he saw him: gripping the ropes, face tight with worry, lips moving silently. That look anchored him. Jason pushed up on one forearm,…