baby daddy (j.t.)
Pairing: Jason Todd x Reader
Warnings: Some blood and stuff
Word Count: 7.1k
A/N: I'll be so honest, this was way better in my head lol my execution needs work because aint no way this is 7k words and im still not satisfied perhaps this would be best as a series? but tbh i dont think i can write much more than this
It's based on this post from @batbusiness-schooldropout
"Alright, who the hell snitched?"
Jason stormed into the Batcave, helmet tucked under his arm, pissed.
Tim barely looked up from the Batcomputer, "What are you talking about?"
Jason gestured wildly, "I just had a fun little run-in with a couple of GCPD officers who very politely informed me that I have an outstanding legal matter that needs my attention. Which is news to me because I don’t exactly file taxes or have jury duty, so what the hell are they trying to pull?"
Tim blinked, "You have a warrant?"
"That’s what I’m asking you!" Jason snapped.
Tim, now curious, spun back to the screen, "Alright, let’s check."
He typed in Red Hood and cross-checked it with Gotham’s legal system. A few minor infractions came up—nothing serious—but then…
There it was.
Tim frowned, "Huh."
Jason narrowed his eyes, "What?"
"It’s… not a warrant," Tim said slowly, "It’s a summons."
Jason crossed his arms, "For what?"
Tim clicked on the file. A scanned document popped up, the words 'LEGAL NOTICE' at the top.
"Looks like someone filed you as a legal guardian," Tim muttered, "Gotham’s courts have been trying to notify you for a while now. They probably flagged it to GCPD just to get it on your radar."
Jason scoffed, "Guardian? Of who?"
Tim clicked again, "A kid named Aria (L/N)."
Jason frowned, "That name means nothing to me."
Tim went still.
Jason’s stomach sank, "...What?"
Tim very slowly turned the screen toward him.
Jason stared.
Child’s Name: Aria (L/N) Mother: (Y/N) (L/N) Father: Red Hood
His brain just stopped working.
Dick, passing by with his coffee, glanced at the screen, "Oh, damn. Jay, you finally settling down?"
Jason whipped around to glare at him, "I don’t know this woman! I don’t have a kid!"
"Legally, you do." Tim pointed out.
Jason turned back to the screen, rubbing his temples, "Why is my life like this?"
Tim scrolled further, "Looks like the mother put your name down instead of the real father’s. And since Gotham courts don’t do DNA tests without permission from both parents… that guy got screwed out of custody."
Jason clenched his jaw, "And now they’re trying to find me because I’m on record as the dad."
Tim squinted at the file, then choked.
Jason looked at him warily, "...What?"
Tim covered his mouth, trying so hard not to laugh, "There's a comments section."
Jason leaned over his shoulder, eyes scanning the document. Then he saw it.
Additional Comments: "He kept the helmet on the whole time."
The Cave went dead silent.
Jason stared. Tim bit his lip. Dick was turning red trying not to lose it.
Then—
Tim wheezed.
Dick howled.
Jason smacked his forehead against the Batcomputer, "I hate everything."
He then exhaled sharply, cutting off his mental breakdown before muttering, "Okay. Fine. I’ll go find the mother and figure this out."
Dick snickered, "Tell Aria Daddy’s coming home."
Jason threw a batarang at him.
***
"Hi, honey, I'm home."
The distorted, robotic voice from his helmet made you freeze in place. Your pulse thundered in your ears, dread settling like a stone in your stomach. You knew exactly why the Red Hood was in your apartment.
You turned slowly, keeping your hands in sight as if that would make a difference, "Please, don't. My daughter is in the next room. She only has me."
"Don't you mean our daughter?" He bit out, sarcasm cutting through the voice modulator.
Despite whatever anger he held toward you, he hesitated, feeling pity. You must have looked terrified.
"I'm not here to hurt you," He said after a beat, "I just want an explanation."
You swallowed hard, forcing yourself to stay calm, "Her father is an asshole. I couldn’t let him have any rights over her, so I wrote your name down on all her documents. Gotham has no way of verifying, so they just had to take my word for it."
You met his gaze, your voice steady despite the situation, "I’m sorry if I made things complicated for you, but this was the only way I knew to keep his hands off her."
Jason exhaled sharply, shifting his weight, "How long did you think this would go unnoticed?"
You hesitated before answering, "Well… 'our' daughter turned five last month, so I figured you weren't going to find out anytime soon. Guess I was wrong."
You knew of Red Hood. You knew what he stood for. No matter what, he would never hurt a child. Ever. And if the rumors about him were true, then he would realize that you had only been acting in Aria’s best interest.
He studied you, the lenses of his helmet unreadable, but you could feel the weight of his scrutiny. This was an invasion of privacy—probably illegal, even—but instead of anger, he seemed... intrigued. You weren’t what he expected. You were clever, maybe even reckless, but clearly devoted to your daughter.
And—if he was being honest—pretty. Definitely pretty.
"Why me?" He finally asked, "Why not any of the other Bats?"
You shrugged, "Of all of them, you seemed like the least likely for civil court to track down." That much was true—any time someone tried to drag Red Hood into Gotham’s legal system, he either ignored it or laughed in their face before firing a warning shot.
"You're also the scariest, aside from Batman. And I didn’t want him getting any ideas about recruiting Aria for his next child vigilante project once Robin retires again." You smirked, "Lastly, having a baby daddy without a no-kill rule seemed like a great way to keep that deadbeat asshole far, far away from us."
Jason flat-out laughed at that. The sound, even through the voice modulator, carried warmth.
"You make an excellent argument," He admitted.
You relaxed slightly, "I am sorry. If I knew it was going to bother you, I never would have done it."
He shrugged, completely unbothered, "Doesn’t bother me. You were doing right by your kid. I can respect that."
Relief washed over you, and you smiled. You didn’t push the conversation further—if he wanted to be taken off her documents, he’d ask.
Instead, he surprised you.
"Can I meet her?"
Your breath caught, "Who? Aria?"
"I mean, legally, she’s my kid, right? That means I have visitation rights."
Apprehension prickled at the edges of your mind. Had you just swapped out one danger for another? You had gone to great lengths to keep Aria safe from one man—had you unknowingly invited another into her life?
Jason seemed to sense your hesitation. "You can say no," He said, almost gently, "But I just found out I have a daughter today. I’d like to meet the girl who made you pull a stunt this reckless and brave."
You could say no. You probably should say no.
And yet, as you looked at the masked man standing in your too-small living room, you couldn’t bring yourself to do it.
"...Okay," You said at last, "But you might want to take off the mask. She scares easy."
Jason chuckled, low and amused. You half-expected him to refuse, to make some offhanded comment before declining the invitation and leaving, but instead, you heard the soft click as he unlocked his helmet and pulled it off.
Dark, slightly messy hair with a single white streak. Stormy blue eyes. Sharp cheekbones and full lips.
"Wow," You breathed before you could stop yourself.
He raised a brow.
You cleared your throat, cheeks warming, "I can see where our daughter gets her good looks from."
Jason snorted, shaking his head.
"Aria, honey!" You called, turning toward her room, "Come out for a second, please!"
The door creaked open, followed by the soft pitter-patter of tiny feet. Aria emerged in a pink tutu, a plastic wand in her hands, and a sparkly tiara perched on her head.
She blinked up at Jason with wide, curious eyes.
"This is Mommy’s friend, Red Hood," You told her, "He wanted to say hi."
Aria beamed, "Hi, Mr. Hood!" She grabbed the edges of her tutu and curtsied, just like the princesses in her favorite cartoons.
You glanced at Jason. His expression had softened, the barest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. For a man who had probably seen the worst the world had to offer, he looked completely in awe.
Jason, the Red Hood—the most terrifying name in Gotham’s underworld—cleared his throat, gripping his helmet a little tighter.
"Uh. Hi there." He said, voice definitely shaking.
You bit your lip, looking down to hide your smile.
This huge crime lord, who had probably seen more murders tonight than you had in your entire life, was nervous talking to a five-year-old.
Aria giggled, "You talk funny."
Jason blinked, "I do?"
She nodded, "Your voice is all rumbly! Like Batman!"
Jason made a very undignified sound, "I am nothing like Batman, princess."
Aria gasped dramatically, "You know Batman?!"
***
Jason didn’t know exactly how he ended up in this position.
After that first meeting with Aria, he’d been more than ready to let you both get back to your lives. You had only put his name down as Aria's father to scare off her real father; he had no place here.
And yet.
When he found himself alone in his apartment, staring at the ceiling, or in the rare moments of silence while working on cars, his mind drifted. He’d think about Aria—her wide, innocent eyes staring up at him, the way she had curtsied like a damn princess, completely unafraid of the man Gotham whispered about in fear.
An unfamiliar squeeze tugged at his heart.
He had a daughter.
And the more he thought about her, the more he wanted to protect her—to keep that innocence untouched, to make sure she was safe and happy. He wanted to be a father.
Then, inevitably, his thoughts turned to you.
You hadn't spoken for long, but somehow, you’d managed to stick in his mind. Despite it being the end of the day, exhaustion tugging at you, there had been a light in your eyes—something warm, something alive. He found himself drawn to it.
The confidence in your posture, the way you had no trouble meeting his eyes, the sheer sass you had thrown his way despite knowing exactly who he was. And above all, the love and protectiveness you had for Aria.
You were nothing like anyone he had ever met before.
A couple of days later, he found himself knocking at your door again.
He had told himself it was just to check on Aria after a Joker attack. That was reasonable, right? He had to make sure she was safe. That’s all it was.
You had offered him dinner. He declined.
Then, a couple of days after that, he found himself there again—this time after a Poison Ivy incident.
You offered him dinner again.
This time, he obliged.
That night, he sat at your dinner table with you and Aria, listening as she excitedly told him about school. He learned about your job, about the little details of your life, and—much to his amusement—was introduced to what Aria called the greatest meal in the entire world.
Hello Kitty-shaped pasta.
He raised a brow at you.
You shrugged, "It’s expensive, but it makes her happy."
Jason huffed a small laugh, "What’s the special occasion?"
Aria beamed, practically vibrating in her seat.
"I got made line leader today!" She announced proudly.
You glanced at her with a mix of amusement and pride, eyes warm, "It’s a big deal."
Jason turned to Aria, his chest tightening at the way she puffed herself up with pride. Without thinking, he reached out and ruffled her hair like it was second nature.
"Good job, princess," He murmured.
Her entire face lit up.
And just like that, Jason Todd was done for.
It had been two months since Jason first met the both of you, and now, sitting at the dinner table, he was experiencing his first real parental crisis.
It was obvious that Aria was in a bad mood.
She barely touched her food, half-heartedly pushing it around her plate. Even when you suggested ordering takeout—usually a foolproof way to lift her spirits—she just shook her head. You and Jason exchanged a concerned glance over her head.
Something was clearly wrong.
You sighed, resigning yourself to the hope that she’d tell you before bed or at least over breakfast tomorrow.
"I'm just gonna go take a shower, do you mind?" You asked, gesturing toward Aria.
Jason didn’t hesitate before nodding.
You smiled gratefully, pressing a kiss to Aria’s crown before leaning over and doing the same to Jason.
A month ago, that would’ve made him jump out of his skin. Now, after two months of shared dinners—some planned, others happening more naturally—he only sat there, heart racing in his chest, pretending that wasn’t the highlight of his day.
When he heard the shower turn on, he turned to Aria with a mischievous grin.
"Okay, Mom’s in the shower. What do you say to ice cream for dinner?"
Jason liked to pretend you had no idea whenever he and Aria snuck ice cream together. But ever since he convinced you to let him make homemade ice cream with protein shakes and sneaky healthy ingredients, you had stopped putting up much of a fight. Besides, he wasn’t exactly subtle. If he didn’t outright tell you, the dirty dishes in the sink were more than enough of a giveaway.
More than anything, though, he just wanted Aria to eat something.
But tonight, instead of the excited little gasp she usually gave, Aria just frowned.
"Mommy doesn’t like that."
"Princess," He said more gently, shifting in his seat, "is something wrong? You love ice cream. And Mom made one of your favorites tonight, but you’re not eating, and…" His voice softened, "That makes me sad."
Aria hesitated for a few seconds before pushing her plate away and sliding off her chair. Jason tensed, heart thudding slightly faster. Shit, did I upset her? Is she about to cry?
But she didn’t.
Instead, she ran off, returning moments later with her pink Barbie backpack. She unzipped it and rifled through its contents before pulling out a slightly crumpled piece of paper and handing it to him.
Jason smoothed the paper out.
And felt his stomach drop.
Daddy-Daughter Day!
"My teacher told us to give it to our parents," Aria said quietly, her lip trembling, "So our daddies can come visit one day."
She fidgeted, looking down at her hands.
"But… I don’t have a daddy."
And just like that, Jason Todd’s heart broke in two.
***
When you came out of the shower, towel-drying your hair and now dressed in your pajamas, you immediately looked around for Aria.
"She didn’t really want to eat, so I just put her to bed," Jason informed you.
You sighed, sinking into a chair at the dining table, "Do you think I should call her teacher tomorrow and ask if something happened? Maybe someone was being mean to her at school?"
Wordlessly, Jason slid a folded piece of paper across the table toward you. You furrowed your brows and picked it up, unfolding it to read.
Your face immediately darkened.
"This can’t be right!" You hissed, voice sharp with anger. "I thought schools had outfashioned practices like this! What happened to inclusivity and all that crap? What about kids with two moms? Or no parents at all? I’m calling up the school. I’m gonna be a full-blown Karen. I’m gonna—"
"(Y/N)—"
"No, Jason, this isn’t okay!"
Despite your fury, you kept your voice down for Aria’s sake. Jason wasn’t sure if you were about to explode or just strain your vocal cords with your whispered screams. But then, just as suddenly as your anger had flared, you seemed to fizzle out.
You slumped back into your chair, rubbing your face with trembling hands.
"I’ve done everything I can to make sure Aria never feels the absence of a father," You murmured.
"I’ve tried. I’ve—" Your voice cracked.
You let out a shaky breath and shielded your face with your hands, "My poor baby. I can’t believe she held onto this all day without telling me."
Jason think twice before he pulled you into his arms, letting you rest your head against his neck as you composed yourself.
After a moment, he spoke, "Look, I know it might not be the same, but… I was thinking. What if I attended the event with Aria?"
You stiffened, then slowly pulled back, meeting his eyes. Your expression wasn’t hopeful—it was guarded.
Jason’s stomach soured.
"Jay, I know we’ve been having a good time lately, but you can’t do that to Aria," You said, shaking your head, "If you go to this event as her dad, she’s going to see you as that. And you can’t—you can’t do that to her."
Jason swallowed hard. His voice was quieter when he asked, "What if I wanted to? To be seen as her dad? Would that really be so terrible?"
You didn’t answer.
You just stood up from the table and walked away.
Jason almost would have laughed at how much you resembled Aria in that moment if he didn't feel his stomach sinking to his feet.
But just like Aria, you also came back.
Clutched in your hands was a camera. You placed it in front of him, watching as he stared at you with unsure eyes.
"I record all of Aria’s school events," You said softly. "Don’t miss a second of it."
Jason blinked. Then, slowly, a grin spread across his face.
Before you could react, he grabbed you and twirled you around the kitchen.
You let out a surprised squeal before bursting into giggles, clinging onto his shoulders. But then, realization hit.
You were definitely not wearing a bra.
Your giggles faded, and Jason froze as well, both of you suddenly very aware of how close you were. You stared at each other, identical blushes creeping up your cheeks.
You cleared your throat.
"You can—um—you can put me down now."
***
It was almost comical how small the classroom was.
Jason had to duck his head to step inside, barely squeezing through the low doorframe. The room was packed—about fifteen other dads crammed into tiny plastic chairs that looked like they could barely support one ass cheek. Jason didn’t even bother trying. Instead, he just lowered himself to the floor, crossing his legs as he settled in.
The dads around him nodded politely as they all waited for the teachers to finish setting up and taking attendance.
"I don’t think I’ve seen you around before," A man beside him said, shifting his son in his lap, "I’m David."
"Jason," He replied, shaking his hand with a firm but polite grip.
"This is Harry," David continued, gesturing to the little boy who peeked up at Jason shyly before quickly burying his face in his dad’s shirt. Jason chuckled.
"So, which one’s yours?"
Jason glanced across the room, "Over there, in the book corner."
David followed his gaze. In the far corner, a little girl in denim dungarees rifled through a stack of picture books with a very serious expression, clearly determined to find a specific one. Jason had picked out her outfit today—he’d even let her wear the tiara she refused to take off, despite your insistence that it was an inside toy.
No doubt, she was making a mess that her poor teacher would have to clean up later.
David frowned, "Who?"
"The one with the tiara," Jason said.
David's confusion deepened, "Aria?"
Jason’s brows furrowed, "Yeah."
"Aria (L/N)?"
"Yes."
David blinked, "I—I didn’t know you were—I thought (Y/N) was single."
Jason’s expression darkened. A phantom of a scowl flickered across his face before he forced himself to relax. He wasn’t about to scare off the other parents at an event that was supposed to be important for Aria.
"She isn’t," He said simply.
David paled, "Oh. Uh—sorry." He quickly bowed his head, clearly embarrassed.
Jason smirked, barely hiding his haughty attitude. So what if he told a little white lie? It wouldn’t do any harm for Dave—or Dan, or whatever his name was—to keep his sights off you.
Really, you deserved better than some average, boring guy who probably filed his taxes early and grilled chicken without seasoning. Someone like that wouldn’t know how to handle you. He wouldn’t know how to make you laugh when you were stressed, wouldn’t know how to handle your sass, wouldn’t know how to love you the way you deserved.
No, you needed someone confident. Someone strong. Someone who could protect you and Aria. Someone with a soft side, sure, but also someone who wasn’t afraid to fight for you. Someone who would go to hell and back if it meant keeping you both safe.
Someone like…
Oh.
Jason's smirk faltered for half a second before he recovered, clearing his throat and forcing himself to focus on Aria, who was still knee-deep in her book hunt.
Well. That was something to unpack later.
***
"Now, all together, everyone! On the count of three—one, two, three!" the teacher announced cheerfully.
A chorus of tiny voices rang out.
"I love you, Dad!"
It was loud, chaotic, a jumble of high-pitched shouts that somehow blended into something warm and sweet. Parents chuckled, kids giggled, the room filled with laughter and joy.
But Jason’s heart sank.
While the other kids beamed up at their fathers, Aria clutched the handmade card in tight fists, her knuckles white. She kept her head down, lip wobbling, shoulders trembling as she struggled to say the words.
Jason knelt in front of her, his heart twisting. God, she’s so small. Both of her tiny hands barely covered his palm as he gently took them in his own.
"You don’t have to say it if you don’t want to, Aria," He told her softly, "I’m not going to force you to do anything. Just know that I love you very much, princess. That’s enough for me."
She finally looked up at him, somehow seeming even smaller despite the fact that he was kneeling. Her big, glassy doe eyes searched his face.
"You really love me?" She asked in the quietest whisper.
"More than anything, baby."
The words slipped out before he could stop them, before he could think about the weight they carried. About what it might mean for a little girl who had spent her whole life without a father.
For a moment, she just stared at him. Jason barely had time to register the emotion in her eyes before she launched herself at him, tiny arms wrapping tightly around his neck. She burrowed against him, her small frame pressing against his chest as she whispered into his ear—
"I love you, Daddy."
Jason felt his breath catch in his throat.
Oh. Oh.
He squeezed her tighter, pressing his face into her soft curls, "I love you too, princess," He murmured, voice thick with something he wasn’t ready to name.
And for the first time in a long time, Jason Todd felt like he belonged.
***
Aria had been absolutely beaming after Daddy-Daughter Day, her excitement carrying her through the evening—especially since Jason had taken her to the park afterward. She had barely managed to get through telling you about her day, slurring her words sleepily as you tucked her into bed.
You pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, smoothing down her hair before stepping away, only to find Jason waiting for you in the doorway.
You smiled at him, reaching for his hand and leading him back to the living room. Without a word, you poured him a glass of wine, knowing that, even though he wouldn’t admit it, the day at her kindergarten had probably exhausted him. The proof was in the way he let out an almost comically heavy sigh the second he sank onto the couch.
You settled beside him, resting your head on his shoulder like it belonged there, both of you staring at the very much off television in comfortable silence.
“She has a lot of energy, doesn’t she?” You murmured, amused.
Jason huffed out a laugh, “Yeah. I like to think I’m somewhat athletic, but Aria put me to shame today.”
You smiled, tilting your head slightly to look up at him, “Thanks for going today. It meant a lot to her. And to me, too.”
There was a beat of silence before Jason reached for your hand, his fingers threading through yours like second nature. His grip was warm, grounding.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
***
Living in Gotham, you considered yourself one of the lucky ones.
Sure, you weren’t immune to the constant calamities that plagued the city, but you had managed to avoid being caught in the worst of them. Your bank had never been robbed while you were there. You had never been held hostage. You were one of the few people left who had never fallen victim to Joker venom.
Sure, your house had been broken into before—before Aria—but you were never home when it happened.
Really, you should’ve known your luck was going to run out eventually.
You had gotten too comfortable with Jason’s late-night visits, so when the knock came at your door, you didn’t even hesitate. You didn’t check the peephole. You didn’t ask who it was. You just…opened it.
Rookie mistake.
The man standing on the other side was a stranger. Tall. Built. And he made no effort to conceal the gun in his pocket.
Your blood went cold.
A smirk curled at his lips, sending goosebumps crawling up your skin. Your throat tightened.
“Hello, sweetheart. Did your baby daddy stop by?”
Your voice barely came out, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
The man tsked, stepping forward, making you instinctively press yourself against the doorframe.
“Now, now. Don’t lie,” He murmured, “It won’t end well for you—or the little runt back there.”
Your heart stopped.
Aria.
Terror clawed at your chest, your breath shuddering. Tears burned your eyes.
“Please,” You whispered, “Don’t hurt her. She’s just a child.”
“The child of the infamous Red Hood.” He tilted his head mockingly, “You can’t possibly think that means nothing.”
You shook your head violently, “She doesn’t know anything. I don’t know anything. Please.”
Your hands were iron on the doorknob, but it meant nothing.
With a single sharp shove, he flung the door open.
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
***
Jason had been having a good night.
He had just finished his patrol and was on his way to your place, eager to see you and Aria. Maybe he’d bring her some hot chocolate, tuck her into bed, and spend the rest of the night with you, pretending—for just a little while—that the world outside didn’t exist.
Then he saw the door.
Wide open.
His blood ran cold.
Jason didn’t think—he moved. Gun drawn, he stormed inside, heart hammering against his ribs like a caged animal. The second he stepped into the apartment, his stomach dropped.
The place was trashed.
Aria’s toys were scattered across the floor, your coffee table overturned, and the framed pictures on the wall had been knocked down, the glass shattered.
There had been a struggle.
Jason’s throat tightened as his eyes landed on a streak of blood smeared across the hardwood floor.
His world tilted.
No. No, no, no, NO.
His hands shook, but his grip on his gun only tightened. His pulse was pounding in his ears, deafening, drowning out everything but the rage that ignited in his chest like an explosion.
His vision blurred with fury.
Someone took you. Someone took Aria.
His family.
Jason turned sharply and stormed out of the apartment, his movements lethal and precise. He going to hunt down the bastards who thought they could take his girls and live to tell the tale.
They were going to pay.
***
"I need you to find two missing people."
That was the first thing out of Jason’s mouth the second he entered the cave. His urgency didn’t seem apparent enough to anyone, judging by the way Dick and Bruce didn’t even look up from sparring.
Tim, who didn’t bother glancing away from the Batcomputer, simply asked, “Who?”
“(Y/N) and Aria (L/N).”
At this, Dick perked up, “Your fake baby mama and kid? She might not be missing, Little Wing. Maybe she’s just at Superman’s baby shower.”
Dick wasn’t expecting boisterous laughter, but at least a huff of breath or a chuckle would have been appreciated. Instead, he suddenly found himself grabbed by the collar, yanked forward until he was forced to look Jason in the eye.
Jason’s expression was thunderous—fury on the surface, but something even more unsettling lurked underneath.
“The mother of my child and my daughter are missing, and you want to make jokes?”
Dick raised a brow, forcing himself to stay calm, “I thought you didn’t know them?”
Jason’s grip tightened for a second before he let go, stepping back. His voice was low, unwavering.
“I do now.”
***
The world felt like it was spinning in slow motion. Every breath was a struggle, your head pounding from the blow you’d taken earlier, your body screaming in pain with every movement. You tried to focus, tried to tell yourself it was going to be okay—that Aria was okay—but you weren’t okay.
You had been firm in your resolve, refusing to reveal anything about the Red Hood, willing to die on the hill that you knew nothing. But you didn’t know how much longer you could keep it up. So far, they had only hurt you—because when they had turned to Aria, demanding answers, she had wailed and sobbed until she peed herself. The memory made tears well in your eyes.
Your poor girl might walk out of this untouched, but she wouldn’t leave unscathed. This would haunt her for years to come.
And you knew—the second they turned back toward her, the second they so much as raised a hand in her direction—you would break. It didn’t matter how much you loved Jason. You couldn’t, wouldn’t, ever put anyone above Aria’s safety.
Her terrified little eyes stayed locked on you, watching as a trail of blood ran down the side of your face.
Then the door slammed open.
The sound echoed in the empty space, sharp and deafening. Your body tensed, your breath catching in your throat. The man holding you captive turned toward the entrance, a sneer curling his lips.
“Well, well,” He drawled, his voice sickeningly amused. “Looks like Daddy's finally joined us for the party.”
Your heart leaped in your chest. But you couldn’t show it. Not when Aria was still in danger.
With the momentary distraction, she crawled into your lap, and despite the blinding pain searing through your body, you pulled her in. She trembled against you, clutching onto you as if her life depended on it—and in a way, it did. You shielded her, wrapping your arms around her tiny frame, covering her eyes with your bloody hand.
You whispered sweet nothings into her ear, pressing weak kisses to her temple, hoping—praying—that it would be enough to comfort her.
Then came the first gunshot.
You didn’t dare look. You knew what was happening. You could hear it in the crack of bone, the dull thuds of bodies hitting the floor, the sharp gasps of dying men. Jason was swift. Merciless. Tearing through the people who had dared to lay a hand on you and his daughter.
He was here.
He was going to save you.
Another body collapsed nearby, and your breath hitched. You felt yourself slipping, your limbs numb, your eyelids growing heavier by the second.
Then, his voice cut through the haze—low and desperate, but still gentle.
“Sweetheart?”
You wanted to look up at him, to reach for him, but your body was betraying you. Your vision blurred, the pain making it impossible to move.
His hand cupped your face, his warmth seeping into your skin, grounding you. You tried to focus on that, tried to hold on.
“Talk to me, baby,” He murmured, his voice tight with worry.
But you couldn’t. You could barely breathe. The only thing keeping you tethered to consciousness was the familiar scent of leather and gunpowder—the scent of Jason, of safety, of home.
You felt him shift, carefully lifting you into his arms, cradling you like you were the most precious thing in the world. You instinctively leaned into him, letting his presence surround you.
Aria clung to him just as tightly, her tiny voice muffled against his chest.
“Daddy!”
Despite everything, despite the agony consuming your body, your heart swelled at hearing her call him that. When had she started calling him Dad?
Then Jason’s fingers brushed against your cheek, his thumb wiping away a stray tear you hadn’t realized had fallen. His voice was softer now, almost breaking.
“Stay with me, sweetheart.”
You forced your eyes open, locking onto his—those intense, unwavering blue eyes that had pinned you to your place the first time you had met in your apartment.
That day you had been apprehensive at best when he had asked to meet Aria, second guessing every choice you made but in the end choosing to follow your gut when it said it had a good feeling about him.
Now, you were sure of it.
“Jason,” You rasped, barely above a whisper. His head snapped down toward you instantly, his grip tightening as if he were afraid you might slip through his fingers.
“I need you to promise me something,” You murmured, your breath shallow, your chest tight.
His brows furrowed. “Anything,” He said, but the hesitance in his voice told you he already knew where this was going.
“I need you to promise…” You swallowed thickly, forcing yourself to keep going, “If something happens to me… you’ll take care of Aria. Promise me, Jay.”
He froze.
For the first time since he’d stormed in, tearing through your captors like an avenging angel, he looked terrified.
His lips parted, but no words came out. You could see the battle raging inside him—the part of him that refused to believe he could lose you and the part that was too afraid not to make that promise.
“Don’t you dare say that,” He finally whispered, voice trembling, “I’m not losing you. I won’t—”
“Promise me,” You urged. You barely had the strength to grip his jacket, but you pulled weakly at the fabric anyway, needing him to understand.
His eyes glistened with unshed tears, his breath coming out in uneven bursts. But he wasn’t crying. Not yet.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he swallowed hard and nodded.
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” He swore, his voice breaking. “I won’t let her grow up without you. I promise.”
The relief that washed over you was instant. Even as your vision darkened at the edges, even as your body started to give out, you felt… safe. At peace.
With your last burst of strength, you reached for Aria’s tiny hand, wrapping it in your weak grasp. You gave her a faint squeeze, managing the smallest of smiles.
“I love you,” You whispered, barely loud enough to be heard, “Both of you.”
Jason's breath hitched. His grip around you tightened, as if he could physically keep you here, tethered to him, to Aria, to the life he couldn't bear to lose.
“No, no, sweetheart—stay with me," He pleaded, his voice cracking, raw with panic. He pressed his forehead against yours, his breath shaky, "You don’t get to say that like it’s the last time. You don’t—Please (Y/N)—" His voice broke completely, and for the first time in a long time, Jason Todd was afraid.
Because he knew what loss felt like. Knew it too well.
And he couldn't—wouldn't—survive losing you too.
Aria let out a whimper, squeezing your fingers with her tiny hand. "Mommy?" Her voice was so small, so scared, and it shattered something inside him.
He shifted you in his arms, holding you closer, keeping you upright even though your body was limp.
“I love you too, sweetheart," he whispered, but the words felt hollow, like a plea rather than a promise.
Aria began to sob loudly, little hands grabbing at your sleeve, trying to shake you awake, “Mommy, wake up! Please!”
Her wails were raw, desperate, but Jason had to hold her back, had to keep her from accidentally hurting you any further. His grip on her was gentle but firm, even as his own body trembled with barely restrained terror.
He buried his face in her hair, biting back the sob threatening to claw its way out of his throat. He held you tighter, as if he could physically keep your soul tethered to him, as if just holding you close would stop the light from fading from your eyes.
He had never felt this helpless.
Jason Todd, the Red Hood, the man who had clawed his way back from the grave, who had survived horrors most people couldn’t even imagine—he was useless when it mattered most.
He was holding the broken pieces of this family.
A family that had been good, that had been safe before he came into the picture. A family that had welcomed him with open arms, treated him as though he had never been missing in the first place.
And what had he done in return?
He had ruined it.
He had brought his war, his bloodstained hands, his cursed existence into your lives, and now you were paying the price for it.
If he had never been selfish enough to stay, to want this, to think—even for a second—that he could have something good, that he could deserve you, this never would have happened.
This was his fault.
It was always his fault.
His mother’s betrayal. His death. His resurrection. The people he killed. The people he couldn’t save.
And now you.
Jason clenched his jaw, his breath coming out in ragged, uneven gasps. His heart slammed against his ribs as guilt and fury warred inside him. His hands, hands that had broken men, hands that had torn Gotham’s underworld apart, could do nothing but hold onto the only two people in the world who had ever made him feel like he was worth something.
But what was he worth now?
What good was he if he couldn’t even protect the people he loved?
Jason let out a shaking breath, pressing a kiss to Aria’s head, squeezing his eyes shut as he whispered, “I’m so sorry.”
He never should have stayed.
***
Jason kept his head down as he exited your hospital room, feeling his heart break under the weight of his own resolve—to stay away from both of you.
He spotted his father waiting at the reception, handling the paperwork and payment. As much as Jason felt like the lowest he had ever been and didn’t want anyone to see him like this, he was a little relieved. At least Bruce was here. At least he could leave knowing you were taken care of. He could go home, lock himself in his apartment, and spend the next few weeks trying to forget you. Trying to convince himself that he had been an idiot for ever thinking he had a place in your family.
Because thanks to him, your family had almost been destroyed.
With his head down, he walked up to Bruce, hands stuffed in his pockets. His father gave him a sympathetic pat on the back, but Jason didn’t want to talk. If he opened his mouth now, if he let himself breathe wrong, he knew the lump in his throat would break, and the tears would come pouring out.
"Daddy!"
The sound of Aria’s voice snapped his head up just in time for her to crash into him, her tiny arms wrapping around his neck in a desperate grip. Before he could even think, he was holding her, hugging her tight, feeling her little body shake.
"Daddy, don’t leave! Mommy and I need you! Please don’t go!"
Jason looked at her tear-streaked face and felt something deep inside himself crack. He beat himself up for even considering walking away. How could he? How could he leave while you were still lying in a hospital bed? How could he abandon Aria when she needed him most?
His baby girl.
She needed him. And the truth was—he needed her just as much. He needed both of you.
Right then and there, he made a promise to himself. He would protect you both more than anything. He would love you both more than anything. And he would stop at nothing to make sure you were happy and safe.
Pressing his nose against Aria’s wet cheek, he kissed away her tears, "I’m not going anywhere, princess. Daddy’s not going anywhere."
He stole a glance at Bruce, who gave him a small smile and a nod. With a steadier heart, he carried Aria back to your hospital room.
The second she saw you, Aria gasped, "Mommy!"
You gave Jason a tired smile from your place on the bed, the cut on your lip making it painful to do so, but you still reached out for his hand.
"I thought you would’ve left, wallowing in your guilt. Your masochistic streak and all that," You teased softly.
Jason let out a shaky breath, giving you a glassy-eyed smile before pressing another kiss to Aria’s temple.
"Our girl knows how to keep me grounded."
You grinned at that, exhaustion clear in your features but warmth shining in your eyes.
"She’s her father’s daughter, alright."
***
State of New Jersey Department of Family and Child Services Official Adoption Certificate
This document certifies that on 17/03/2025, Jason Peter Todd has legally adopted Aria (L/N), hereafter known as Aria Todd, and is recognized as her father with all parental rights and responsibilities.
Adoptive Parent: Jason Peter Todd Child’s Name (Amended): Aria Todd Birth Mother: (Y/N) Todd Previous Father Listed: Red Hood (Alias) — Amended
Additional Comments: "I’m not the stepdad. I’m the dad who stepped up." — Jason Todd
***
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