「¹⁴」Jason Todd

The place stank of rusted metal, chloroform, and old blood. It wasn't the first time Jason had entered a facility like this, but it was the first time anything besides the filth and the bodies had turned his stomach. Maybe it was because this time, the victim was still alive.

Locked behind reinforced glass, with electrodes attached to your arms and fresh marks on your skin, there was you. The guy from the archives. The one who, according to reports, was no longer worth using. As if they were talking about a damn device.

Jason came closer. The helmet reflected your gaunt face, your pupils dilated by the drugs, your hands shaking… and yet, that spark in your eyes was still there. Not completely extinguished. Not surrendered.

I'm not one of those bastards. You can rest assured.

He replied, his voice deep and full of suppressed rage

I'm going to get you out. But if you attack me, I'll shoot you in the skull, okay?

The glass was soon shattered by a well-placed bullet. Jason helped you out, though you could barely walk at first. You didn't say much. But you didn't need to. His hands were covered in blood that wasn't his. You, on the other hand, just wanted to feel something other than pain. Something other than cold needles or strange substances that made your skin burn, no more body modifications.

Days later, already in a safe place, you still woke up startled. But Jason was there. Leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed and his jacket wrinkled, looking at you as if you were already part of something he wasn't about to leave behind.

I don't know what they did to you, or how much damage they left, but you're alive.

He murmured one night, when he thought you were asleep

And as long as you are... no one else is going to touch you. I promise.