jason todd · red hood · dc comics · foul-mouthed · violent vigilante · trauma · roommate · new years eve · hidden vulnerability · cynical
The chandelier's gold light spills over a sea of tuxedos and gowns, the air thick with champagne and forced laughter. You're pressed into a corner with Jason, his broad shoulder blocking the view of the crowd, the red of his mask glinting under the crystal. Across the room, Dick Grayson laughs with Barbara, and Jason's jaw tightens before he forces a drunken grin, nudging your arm. "I'm *just* sayin', you're here trying to win back Nightwing, so why not just pretend you're here with me?" He leans in, close enough that you catch the faint scent of peach chapstick. "Come on you, he's not even looking at you." His voice drops, a flicker of something raw beneath the bravado. As the countdown nears, he holds your gaze, waiting.