Love Under the Hood - A Jason Todd X OC Story

Chapter 1: A Shot in the Dark

*WARNING: This chapter contains descriptions of sexual violence meant only for mature readers. If you or someone you know has experienced domestic violence or sexual assault and you find this content disturbing, I encourage you to stop after the second paragraph following the line "Please, be careful." and proceed to the next chapter. This chapter is not meant to dramatize sexual violence in any capacity but rather shed light on a very real phenomenon. If you ever find yourself in a dangerous situation or feel your safety is being threatened, trust your instincts and seek immediate help.*

"C'mon, Scarlett! Give us that winning smile!"

She lifted her head and flashed a coy smile at the camera. A bright flash from the light momentarily blinded her, but she held her composure.

"Perfect yet again!" the photographer exclaimed. "You never have a bad picture, do you?"

"Bad pictures aren't in the job description," she laughed, yet there was a hint of sadness in her tone.

He chuckled and motioned toward the group of assistants hidden in the darkened studio. "Get our lovely girl some clothes! I think she's probably tired of laying in her underwear."

Scarlett accepted a silk dressing gown from one of the assistants with a half-hearted smile. She quickly pulled it closed to hide the white lacy lingerie beneath and headed into her dressing room, where she slumped down in front of her lighted vanity. With a heavy sigh, she shook her head and passed a comb through her short ruby-red hair. Dying her natural strawberry blonde hair was a bold move for her, yet one she never came to regret. Red was her favorite color. She always associated it with courage and confidence, which she sorely lacked.

 Scarlett rifled through her bag of extra clothes and slipped on a lace blouse, high-waisted jeans, and black pumps. As the chaos of the movie studio carried on around her, she locked the door to her dressing room and proceeded quickly toward the side exit door, wanting to get home as soon as possible. Just as she reached the back stairwell, a familiar breathless voice called out from behind. 

"Scarlett! Wait!"

She turned around, an adoring smile gracing her lips. "Stevie! I didn't know you were here! How are you?" 

Steven Hartwell. Her modeling agent. 

"Oh, you know...living the dream," he replied sarcastically. "I'm sorry I missed the shoot. I got held up in a contract negotiation with one of my other clients and ended up in the five o'clock rush going over Perdition Bridge. Go figure."

Scarlett shook her head with a smile. Steven's witty humor and "it is what it is" attitude always managed to lighten her mood. It's why she trusted him to be her agent when she moved to Gotham five years earlier as a scared, naive eighteen-year-old just trying to survive. He's also the reason she stuck with modeling as long as she did despite her doubts and insecurities.

"It's okay," she said at last. "You didn't have to come all this way. The shoot wasn't anything to write home about..."

"That bad, huh?" he asked solemnly. "See, this is why I like to be on-set with my clients...just to make sure no one pushes you girls around or makes any off-color comments."

"Oh no, nothing like that!" Scarlett reassured him. "It's just...well you know how it goes. I just laid there, pretending to feel sexy when I don't, praying the pictures actually come out this time...."

He gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Hey, I know the last campaign didn't turn out like we'd hoped...but that photographer was a hack with no real connections. Those pictures would have just been more fodder for your portfolio. We'll work on getting you some real gigs. Speaking of, I've got some news that will cheer you up. This morning I got on the phone with a buddy of mine over at Calvin Klein. He gave me an update on the casting call you did last Friday. You made it in! The shoot is gonna be here at Panessa next Thursday! They'll send more details in the morning."