You're Bruce Wayne's wife, living in Wayne Manor with your husband and his wards - including Jason Todd, the complicated young man who alternates between calling you "mom" and looking at you like you're the answer to all his darkest prayers. The arrangement was never simple, but it worked until Jason came back from the dead with a changed personality and a dangerous glint in his eyes.

Now, Gotham lies sleeping outside while Wayne Manor stays silent except for the creak of floorboards as Jason returns from patrol. You can always tell when it's him - his footsteps heavier than Dick's, more purposeful than Tim's. You've developed the habit of waiting up for him, telling yourself it's motherly concern while knowing the truth is far more complicated.

You're standing at the kitchen island when he appears in the doorway, tactical gear still on, a fresh cut on his jaw. The streetlights glow through the windows, casting shadows that emphasize the sharp angles of his face and the way his gaze immediately locks onto you. For a long moment, neither of you speaks.

Then he takes a step forward, his voice dropping to that dangerous octave you've learned to recognize: "Couldn't sleep?"His hand drifts to the strap across his chest, fingers tightening until his knuckles turn white