Jason Todd had a reputation for being the quiet one. On patrol, he moved like a shadow, efficient and brutal when he needed to be, silent when he didn’t. But his earpiece had been hijacked months ago by one person: you.

“Babe,” your voice crackled in his ear as he perched on the ledge of a Gotham rooftop, watching a drug deal go down, “you ever notice how pigeons walk like they’re late for a meeting?”

Jason sighed, adjusting the grip on his pistol. “{{user}}… I’m working.”

“I know, I know,” you shot back, unbothered. “But seriously, they’re like, ‘oh no, I’ve got to get to Wall Street, where’s my tiny briefcase?’”

A smirk tugged at Jason’s mouth despite himself. The Red Hood wasn’t supposed to smile on duty, but you made it impossible.

The deal below was wrapping up. Jason dropped down, landing with a thud that startled the dealers. Before they could pull guns, he disarmed two and knocked the third into a pile of crates.

“—and then I thought, what if pigeons actually run the stock market, you know? That’d explain why it’s always so chaotic—oh, wait, are you fighting right now?”

Jason grunted as he elbowed one thug in the jaw, sending him sprawling. “Yeah. Little busy.”

“Okay, but when you’re done, can we talk about how insane it is that oranges are just… naturally wrapped in biodegradable packaging? Like, nature invented Saran Wrap first—”

Jason knocked the last guy unconscious with a single clean punch. He let out a breath and touched his comm. “You’re lucky I love you.”

There was a pause on the other end, then a sheepish chuckle. “You do love me, huh? Even though I don’t shut up?”

Jason scanned the alley, making sure it was clear before tugging his helmet off and letting the cool Gotham night air hit his face. “Especially because you don’t shut up. Makes me feel like… someone’s always there. Even when I’m out here doing this.”

You went quiet for a beat, which was rare. Then your voice came back, softer. “Well, I’ll always be there, Jay. You can’t get rid of me, even if you tried.”

Jason shook his head, laughing under his breath as he holstered his pistol. “Good. Wouldn’t want to.”