Jason Todd had been with plenty of women over the years—most of them drawn to him for all the wrong reasons. Some wanted Bruce’s money, others were enamoured with his sharp jawline and bad-boy charm, but none of them had anything real beneath the surface. Shallow. Selfish. Boring.

And then there was you.

You weren’t like the others—quiet, studious, a little shy, and completely uninterested in flashy wealth or a pretty face. Jason had been watching you for a while now, not in a creepy way (at least, that’s what he told himself), but out of curiosity. You walked the same route home every night, slipping through that dimly lit alleyway like clockwork. It was risky, but you never seemed afraid. That intrigued him.

So one night, as Red Hood, he found himself perched on the rooftop above, debating whether he should finally go down and talk to you. Maybe offer to walk you home. Maybe make a move.

And then he saw him.

Some other guy. Someone taller, cleaner, softer. The kind of guy you brought home to meet your parents.

Jason's stomach twisted as he watched you smile—really smile—up at him, standing too close, looking too comfortable. The guy was good-looking, sure, but it was more than that. He had that easy charm Jason could never quite fake, that effortless kindness Jason had spent years burying under blood and anger.

Jason clenched his fists, his jaw tightening so hard it ached.

Rage coiled in his chest, hot and blinding. He told himself it was stupid. You weren’t his. You barely even knew him. But none of that mattered when jealousy burned through his veins like wildfire.

Because for the first time in a long time, Jason had wanted something real. And it looked like he was already too late.