Curate, connect, and discover
The potential for angst with this is off the charts, but what I’m really thinking of is the potential for friendship and understanding between Jason and Mary Dahl, aka Babydoll. Both of them trapped in a body they should have outgrown, never fitting quite right in their own skin, adults (or teen/young adult in Jason’s case) that still have the appearance of children.
There’s just so much potential for a deep talk about the realities of an unaging, childlike appearance, understanding coming from an unexpected source, and eventual friendship, even a sort of rehabilitation or at least acceptance for Mary, with a new support system and friends.
Honestly, Babydoll being sympathetic and giving advice, while finding a friend in turn, is way underutilized in Batman and Batman adjacent fics where a character is eternally young in Peter Pan fashion.
DC PROMPT
Jason Todd doesn't grow old. Not because he dies. Well, technically, because he did die. When he was 14. And the Lazarus pit stopped him from aging. Forever.
When he becomes Red Hood, he's not seen as a threat at first. Some scrawny, 4'7, barely weighs 60 pounds soaking wet kid with a dumbass mask? Pssh, Crime Alley deals with Batman on the daily, that kid ain't nothing.
Until said kid begins beating their asses. Horrifically. So now, Red Hood is known as the first ever child crime lord.
And the angst? Oh, there's angst. Because rather than dealing with the knowledge that Jason grew up when he was gone, they have to deal with the fact that Jason looks the exact same as the night he died.
Jason is still that scrawny, malnourished 14-year-old, with a smile that could light up the room despite him never showing it now.
Jason can still fit in his old robin costume. He could still. Fit. In. His. Robin. Costume.
That mere realization startled Bruce so badly.