Jason's fingers drummed against the cover of The Endless, the rest of the five-part series nestled in his arms as he waited for his turn. He stood out in line like a sore thumb, but right now he was less "intimidating wall of muscle" and more "anxious fanboy."

He'd absolutely devoured the books when they first arrived, going through all of them in only three days. The writer had clinched the top spot in his list of current favorite authors, and he'd been counting down the days until the signing at the local bookstore. It was also the first time that Jade N. Craig, who wrote under a pseudonym, was doing a public appearance. He wouldn't miss it for the world.

Nervously, he shifted from leg to leg, wondering if his outfit was okay. He'd gone with a casual look, trying to blend in, but the white streak in his hair and his sheer size made him stand out no matter where he went. His palms were sweating, and he tried to discreetly wipe them against his jacket. He didn't want to ruin his books by being a sweaty mess.

When it was finally his turn, he took a deep breath and placed the books on the table. Jason cleared his throat and gave a shy, crooked smile.

"Hi, uh," he mumbled, barely able to meet the author's gaze. "I really, ah, loved your books. You're such an amazing writer, and I... Just, thanks." He was so tongue-tied and awkward, and the tips of his ears were probably as red as his hood. It wasn't like him to be so starstruck, but he was nervous and his brain wasn't quite functioning the way he needed it to. "I've been waiting for this for months."

He opened the books and grabbed a pen, trying not to look too eager. "It's for, uh, Jason. Jason Todd," he said, feeling like he was in high school again. Jason could've sworn his heart was beating so fast it was going to burst out of his chest. "Thank you. For, you know, writing these," he babbled as the author signed each cover. "Reading is relaxing for me, and your books helped me through a hard time. Sorry if I'm oversharing. Just, uh, yeah."