#shadowsandsmokeseries

Pairing: Jason Todd (Red Hood) x Reader

Warnings:

Violence and physical confrontations as Jason navigates dangerous situations.

Psychological tension and emotional struggles as Jason faces his inner demons.

Angst, with moments of vulnerability and fear of loss.

Protective behavior from Jason as he becomes increasingly concerned for the reader's safety.

Fluff and comfort in moments of respite.

Mentions of trauma and past experiences affecting current decisions.

Summary: As the city of Gotham grows more perilous, Jason finds himself torn between his desire to keep the reader safe and his need to confront the looming threats that haunt his every move. Old wounds resurface, and with them, the weight of past decisions. With each passing moment, the bond between them deepens, but so does the danger that looms over their heads. Trust is tested, and in the face of looming threats, Jason’s protective instincts kick in—no matter the cost.

[Masterlist]

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The Joker leaned back in his rickety chair, his grin stretching impossibly wide as he admired the chaos he was about to unleash. His lair was a grotesque mix of carnival remnants and industrial decay: broken funhouse mirrors, faded clown posters, and rusting machinery loomed in the flickering light.

"Jason’s always been so predictable, hasn’t he, boys?" the Joker mused, spinning his knife lazily on the table. His henchmen gruff and unremarkable in their mismatched suits nodded nervously, each too afraid to interrupt him.

"Take something from him, and he loses his mind," the Joker continued. "The anger, the self-righteousness... so delicious.And now, with his little damsel in distress? Oh, I can practically taste the anguish!" He threw his head back and cackled, the sound reverberating off the walls.

One of the henchmen, braver or stupider than the rest, cleared his throat. "Uh, boss, what’s the next move? We got the message to him, right? What now?"

The Joker stopped laughing abruptly, his grin vanishing as he turned his sharp gaze on the man. The room went silent.

"Next move?" the Joker repeated, his voice dangerously soft. He stood slowly, twirling the knife in his fingers. "Oh, dear, sweet Marvin, the next move is what makes the game fun."

The henchman gulped, his eyes darting around the room for backup, but no one came to his aid.

The Joker sauntered closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You see, Jason thinks he can keep her safe. He thinks hiding her away in one of his little bolt holes will work. But you know what they say about hiding, don’t you?"

He leaned in close, his lips curling into a menacing smile.

"It just makes the hunt more exciting."

The Joker straightened suddenly, spinning on his heel and throwing his arms wide. "So here’s the plan, boys! We drew him out. We make him sweat. We remind him that there’s nowhere he can go, nowhere she can hide, that I can’t find them."

He turned to the nearest henchman and pointed dramatically. "You! I want eyes on every one of Red Hood’s haunts. Every safehouse, every alley, every scummy little bar he might crawl into."

The man nodded quickly, scurrying off to carry out the order.

The Joker clapped his hands together, his grin returning. "And when we find him," he said, his voice dripping with anticipation, "we’ll leave him a little... surprise. Something to remind him that Gotham is my playground."

Another henchman, emboldened by the Joker’s apparent good mood, raised a hand tentatively. "Boss, what about the girl? You want us to grab her?"

The Joker’s grin widened impossibly. "Oh, no, no, no, my dear boy. Not yet. Where’s the fun in ending the game so soon? No, we let her sit there, wondering. Watching Jason unravel. And when the time is right..."

He picked up a playing card from the table, a Joker, of course and flicked it into the air. It spun lazily before landing face-up.

"...we take her. Right in front of him. That’s when the real fun begins."

The henchmen exchanged uneasy glances, but none of them dared to voice their doubts. They knew better than to question the Joker when he was on a roll.

The Joker walked back to his throne-like chair, flopping into it with exaggerated ease. "Now, off you go, boys! We’ve got a city to terrorize and a bird to pluck."

As the men hurried out, the Joker leaned back, twirling his knife again.

Pairing: Jason Todd (Red Hood) x Reader

Warnings:

Violence and dangerous situations as Jason faces more of Gotham’s criminal underworld.

Mentions of trauma and emotional struggles.

Angst as characters confront their fears and vulnerabilities.

Fluff and moments of connection amidst the chaos.

Protective themes with Jason being overprotective at times.

Summary: In the aftermath of the Joker’s attack, Jason is left grappling with the weight of his actions and the fear of losing someone he’s come to care deeply for. As Gotham continues to test the limits of its vigilantes, Jason must confront the darkness of his past while struggling to protect the one person who matters most. Amidst the shadows and smoke, trust becomes their only lifeline—if they can survive the storm that’s brewing.

[Masterlist]

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The Joker didn’t wait long to make his next move. Jason had barely begun to relax when the first threat arrived a box, delivered right to your doorstep the next morning.

Jason had insisted on staying with you, though he didn’t sleep much. You found him in the early hours, perched near the window with a gun in his lap, his eyes scanning the streets below.

When the knock came, he was the first to react. His gun was in hand as he moved to the door, motioning for you to stay back.

"Stay here," he said, his voice firm.

You watched as he opened the door just enough to peer outside. His body tensed when he saw the box on the welcome mat, and without hesitation, he pulled it inside.

"Jason, what "

"Don’t," he interrupted, holding up a hand. He set the box on the kitchen counter and inspected it carefully. The wrapping was gaudy bright purple paper with a green ribbon, unmistakably the Joker’s handiwork.

Jason’s jaw clenched as he pulled out his knife and sliced through the ribbon. The lid popped open with a faint click, and Jason immediately pushed you behind him, shielding you with his body.

Inside the box was a single playing card: the Joker’s signature. Written in black ink across the card were the words:

"She’s lovely, Jason. Can’t wait to meet her properly."

Jason’s grip on the card tightened, his knuckles turning white. "That son of a—"

"Jason," you said, placing a hand on his arm. He looked down at you, his anger softening slightly as he saw the concern in your eyes.

"This isn’t a game," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "He’s escalating. He knows where you live. He’s trying to get in my head."

You swallowed hard, the weight of the situation sinking in. "What do we do?"

Jason’s eyes darkened. "We make sure he regrets ever coming near you."

That night, Jason took you to one of his safehouses, a hidden space in the Narrows, fortified and nearly impenetrable. It wasn’t luxurious, but it was safe, and that was all that mattered.

"I’m not letting you out of my sight," he said as he set up a perimeter of alarms and traps around the building. "Not until this is over."

You didn’t argue. Jason’s protective instincts were in overdrive, and you knew better than to push him when he was like this. Instead, you helped where you could, handing him tools and double-checking locks.

As the hours stretched on, the two of you settled into a tense silence. Jason sat at the small table, cleaning his weapons, while you paced the room, your mind racing.

"Jason," you said finally, breaking the silence.

He looked up, his expression unreadable. "What is it?"

"I don’t want to live like this," you admitted, your voice shaking. "Hiding, waiting for him to make his next move. I can’t."

Jason stood, crossing the room in a few quick strides. He placed his hands on your shoulders, grounding you with his steady presence.

"I know," he said softly. "And I promise, this won’t last forever. I’ll stop him."

"But what if you can’t?" you asked, your voice breaking. "What if–"

Jason cut you off, pulling you into a fierce hug. "I can," he said firmly. "I will. You just have to trust me."

You nodded against his chest, your fingers clutching the fabric of his jacket. Despite the fear gnawing at your stomach, you believed him.

But as the Joker’s laughter echoed in your mind, you couldn’t shake the feeling that this battle was far from over.

Meanwhile, deep within the heart of Gotham, the Joker sat in a dimly lit room, surrounded by his loyal henchmen. He tossed a knife between his hands, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

Pairing: Jason Todd (Red Hood) x Reader

[Masterlist]

Warnings:

Mentions of violence (typical Gotham crime-fighting scenarios).

Light angst as Jason confronts his past and his vulnerabilities.

Protective themes with Jason shielding the reader.

Fluff and emotional bonding amidst the chaos.

Summary: The Joker’s schemes come to a head, placing the reader in the crossfire of Gotham’s dark underworld. Jason faces the ultimate test, confronting his greatest fears and deepest anger to protect the one person he refuses to lose. Shadows and smoke linger in the aftermath, but even in the darkest corners of Gotham, there’s room for hope and healing.

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The night was supposed to be over. Jason had promised you a quiet walk back to your apartment with no detours, no distractions, just the two of you. But Gotham had other plans.

It started with laughter.

Not the kind you’d hear in a bar or at a comedy show, but that twisted, bone-chilling cackle that could only belong to one person. Your stomach sank as the sound echoed through the alley, growing louder with every step.

Jason froze beside you, his entire body going rigid. His hand immediately moved to his holster. "Stay close," he said, his voice low and commanding.

Before you could respond, a figure emerged from the shadows, his bright purple suit and painted white face unmistakable.

"Well, well, if it isn’t Gotham’s favorite corpse," the Joker drawled, his grin wide and menacing. His green hair gleamed under the dim streetlight as he twirled a crowbar in his hand. "And look! You brought a plus-one! How sweet."

Your breath hitched as the Joker’s eyes landed on you, his grin somehow widening. "Is this your new sidekick, Red? Or just someone to keep your bed warm at night?"

Jason stepped in front of you, his body a solid wall of protection. "Don’t," he growled, his voice like thunder.

The Joker laughed again, delighted by Jason’s reaction. "Oh, touchy, aren’t we? Don’t worry, I’m not here to play with your little friend. Tonight, I’m all about you."

Jason pulled his pistols, aiming them squarely at the Joker’s chest. "You’ve got three seconds to disappear before I put you down for good."

The Joker’s smile didn’t falter. "Oh, Jason, you know you don’t have it in you. You’ve tried before, remember? And yet, here I am!" He gestured to himself, mockingly presenting his unscathed body.

Your heart pounded as you gripped Jason’s jacket from behind, trying to steady yourself. The Joker’s presence felt like a physical weight pressing down on your chest.

"Jason," you whispered, your voice trembling.

Jason didn’t move, his focus locked on the Joker. "Don’t worry," he said, his voice steady. "I’ve got this."

"Do you, though?" the Joker taunted, taking a step closer. "Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re a little... distracted."

In one swift motion, the Joker swung the crowbar, aiming it directly at Jason’s head. Jason dodged with ease, his movements fluid and precise. He fired a warning shot at the Joker’s feet, forcing him to leap back with a theatrical flourish.

"Temper, temper!" the Joker scolded, his grin never wavering. "You’ve got to learn to relax, Jason. Maybe your little friend can teach you. What’s your name, darling?"

Your blood ran cold as the Joker’s attention turned to you. Jason fired another shot, this time grazing the Joker’s arm.

"Say her name again, and I’ll blow your head off," Jason snarled, his voice filled with a fury you’d never heard before.

The Joker clutched his arm, his grin faltering for the first time. "Touchy, touchy," he muttered, backing away slightly. "Fine, fine. I’ll leave the lovebirds alone for now. But you know I can’t stay away for long, Jason. You’re just too much fun!"

With a mocking bow, the Joker disappeared into the shadows, his laughter echoing behind him.

Jason didn’t move for several seconds, his breathing heavy and his guns still raised. Slowly, he lowered them, turning to face you.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft now, his blue eyes searching for yours.

You nodded, though your hands were still shaking. "I’m fine. Are you?"

Jason exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah. Let’s get out of here."

He wrapped an arm around your shoulders, holding you close as he led you out of the alley. The warmth of his touch steadied your nerves, and for a moment, you allowed yourself to lean into him.

"Jason," you said quietly as you walked.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

He looked down at you, a small, tired smile tugging at his lips. "Always."