plot! jason todd had a talent for digging his heels in. once he decided something was beneath him, pointless, or just plain stupid—forget it. you could argue, nag, bribe, threaten, and he’d still fold his arms, lean back in that way of his, and let that smug little grin of defiance stay plastered on his face. but there was one, and only one, exception.
a/n: i have like a LOT to write but i had to write this drabble that popped in to my mind arghhh
That was exactly the look he was giving you right now.
“Absolutely not” Jason said, his arms crossed over his chest, his leather jacket creaking faintly. “There are many things I’ll do for you, babe—hell, I’ve done most of them already, but this?” He tilted his head, voice dripping with mock horror. “This is where I draw the line.”
You were standing in the middle of Wayne Manor’s living room, holding up the offending item. A neatly folded tuxedo. Alfred had laid it out for Jason earlier with quiet insistence that he wear it for Bruce’s charity gala tonight. Jason, naturally, had laughed and tossed it aside like it was a cursed object.
“Jason” Your voice had that patient, measured tone you always used when he was being deliberately difficult. “It’s just a tux.”
“Just a tux” he echoed, like you’d suggested he dive naked into a shark tank. “Babe, this thing has a bow tie. I don’t wear bow ties. I don’t even wear ties. You know what I wear?” He spread his arms and gestured at himself, black jeans, boots, leather jacket, the usual Jason Todd uniform. “This. This is me. Suits are—” he wrinkled his nose, “—Dick’s thing. He lives for that penguin look. Not me.”
You set the tuxedo carefully down on the couch, then turned to face him fully. “Jason. This is important.”
“Not to me.” He plopped down on the arm of the sofa, lounging like a cat that had just won an argument. “What’s Bruce gonna do if I don’t show up, huh? Glare at me across the room all night? He already does that.”
You stepped closer, your eyes narrowing just slightly. Jason smirked, ready for round two of the debate, until you leaned down, put your hands on his knees, and said softly:
The words weren’t demanding. They weren’t bargaining. They weren’t even stern. Just quiet. Simple. They hit him like a sucker punch.
His mouth opened, closed, then opened again.
For once in his life, Jason Todd, the master of sarcasm, of smartass comebacks, of flipping every situation on its head, was speechless.
“Babe…” His voice was different now, lower, a little rough. He stared at you like you’d just spoken magic. “That’s… not fair.”
“Please?” you added, tilting your head in that way you knew melted him.
Jason groaned dramatically, dragging his hands down his face. “God, you’re evil.” He stood, pacing a few steps like he was preparing for battle. “I swore I’d never let one of those penguin suits touch me again. They’re itchy, they’re stiff, and you can’t even breathe in them. But you…” He pointed at you accusingly. “You just had to play the card.”
“What card?” you asked innocently.
“The do it for me card” Jason said, as if it were sacred law. “You know I can’t say no to that. I’d rather walk through hell in gasoline-soaked boots than tell you no when you ask like that.”
You tried not to smile too widely. “So you’ll wear it?”
Jason stopped pacing. He looked at you, at the tux, back at you.
He ran a hand through his hair like a man preparing for his own funeral. Then, with the air of someone signing away his soul, he muttered “…Fine. But if anyone laughs, I’m shooting them.”
You laughed, stepping forward to press a kiss to his cheek. Jason froze for half a beat, then leaned into it despite himself.
“Thank you” you whispered.
Jason sighed like a martyr. “You owe me. Big time.” But the corners of his mouth tugged upward, betraying the faintest, softest smile.
Later, in the grand hall of Wayne Manor, Jason was indeed in the tuxedo. Black and perfectly tailored, bow tie and all. He looked like he’d stepped out of some GQ spread, even if he sulked like a kid forced into sunday best.
Dick, of course, nearly doubled over laughing when he saw him. “Well, well,” Dick teased, elbowing Tim. “Look who finally joined the rest of civilization.”
He was two seconds from storming out, until he caught your gaze across the room.
You were watching him, that warm, proud smile lighting up your face, and Jason felt his chest unclench.
Damn it. You were worth it. Every second of discomfort.
He muttered under his breath, “Do it for me, huh?” and shook his head, half amused, half helpless.
Because for you? Jason Todd would do just about anything.
When he came back to you, he muttered loud enough for only you to hear “There. Happy? You better be, ‘cause that’s the last time i'm wearing this”
But when you smiled, soft and proud, his scowl cracked into something more helpless.
He shook his head, biting back a grin, and whispered, “You’re the only damn reason I’d ever do that.”