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Tim’s on his knees, gasping. Blood is pooling down the side of his face and he can’t breath. Ribs are bruised and cracked and Tim is having trouble moving. The sound of fighting in the background makes Tim stand, stand on trembling legs and he stumbles to Ironman, Tony Stark.When the Justice League got a call from the Avengers demanding help Tim never thought this would, could, happen. Neither did the JL, that’s why they’re not here, they’re not here and people are dying. They’re not here, not helping, they’re letting other heroes be killed trying to save the universe and they won’t come!Tim remembers seeing Bruce, Batman ignore the call for help. Tim knew there was something amiss, the Avengers don’t ask for help, or the Guardians of the Galaxy.So he hacked into Tony Stark’s armour and asked for a debrief. In a short time Red Robin has met the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy he had seen them die, turn to ash or simply be murdered.He’s tried to contact the other heroes to get them off their damn high horse and fucking help but being in outer fucking space is making it a little difficult.Loki, Gamora, Doctor strange, Black Panther, the Winter Soldier, Mantis, Drax, Starlord, Scarlet Wotch, Falcon, Maria Hill, Nick fury all dead, all gone. Half the world was gone. Ash in the air or bodies rotting on the ground. Groot was a freaking teenager! Hell, Tim was older than him. Then there’s Peter, he’s only fifteen and he’s fighting Thanos.Tim stumbles and drops to his knees a couple of feet behind Tony Stark. Tim had been one of the ones to come to Thanos to stop him, or at least slow him down. Tony swirls around and the next thing Tim knows is he’s being lifted up. Gasping for breath he manages to lift one hand to rip the stupid cowl off his face so he can, finally, breathe.Tony looks a little startled, since meeting with the Avengers Tim has refused to reveal himself. Tim guesses old habits die fast. Looking around the dead planet Tim sees Thanos isn’t here. He doesn’t know if it’s a good thing or not.“He’s gone.” Tony’s saying, noticing that Tim’s looking around.“Yeah.” Tim breaths out as little Peter stumbles towards them with mussed up hair and a pale face. Throughout the short time Tim’s been with the two he’s formed a bond. Peter is like a little brother to him and it freaks him out. He’s two, just two years older than Damian and Damian has had training from assassins and compared to that Peter, Peter has nothing. It terrifies him. Then there’s Tony, you either hate him or love him. He’s honestly like an uncle to Tim, it’s a little weird honestly.“Mr Stark, Red, I don’t feel so good.” Tim’s eyes lock on to Peter instantly, he’s terribly pale and he’s looking at his hands.“You’re alright.” Tony says and it’s a terrible lie really but Tim echos it anyway.“I don’t- I don’t know what’s happening-“ he can’t even finish his sentence before he collapses into Tim and Tony and it’s a pile of awkward limbs but no ones letting go.“I don’t want to go, I don’t want to go,” and Tim’s stifling a sob because he doesn’t want him to go, he really doesn’t.Peter keeps mumbling the same lines and Tim’s going to break soon. Together they collapse on the ground, Peter staring at the both of them and Tim doesn’t know what Tony’s doing but Tim’s clutching at Peter and begging to a god he doesn’t believe in.“I’m sorry.” Peter says and Tim wants to sob as the boy slips through his fingers, he chases after dust because god dammit this shouldn’t be happening, yet it is.Tim’s leaning on Tony and vaguely hears him speaking to Nebula. Tim continues to watch Peter fly away with a heart breaking.—————“Tim?” Tim pulls himself from under the ship they’re making. So far everything is up and running from parts except the power source. It’s frustrating beyond belief, then again they’ve been working on it for five hours. With three people knowing how to work machines and create different things it’s not too difficult.“Yeah?” Tim looks up at Tony Stark who has no suit and it’s quite strange.“We’ve found a power source.”Tim gets up and follows him, they’re about to get off the damned planet. When Tim does he’s ripping the JL a new one.—————The ship had crash landed on the outskirts of Gotham and Tim wants to cry, it’s pure chaos. Before a second thought can cross Tim’s mind he’s telling the two to get geared up while he goes get reinforcements. Tony looks bitter knowing who, but he can tell Tim’s just as pissed as him so he lets him leave.Tim’s sprints to the closest safe house and grabs as much as he can before hopping on the spare bike. He’s driving to the cave in ten minutes.——————Tim feels sick, he’s parked outside the cave and he doesn’t even know if the others are alive. Duke, Cass any of them. They might have been gone with a click of the fingers. Swallowing down bile Tim activates the engine and the camera scans him like everything is normal when nothing is.As soon as the secret door closes Tim can hear the rushing water and bats screeching and arguing. Lots of arguing about godamn cookies. Tim’s going to cry, he wonders why he hasn’t already.Tim’s still speeding into the cave and doesn’t bother slowing down, doesn’t bother parking when he’s jumping off the speeding motorcycle and sprinting towards his family. Every single one of them.“What the hell replacement!?” Jason shouts as he sees his bike skid across the platform. Tim doesn’t care, he’s still running to them, he’s opening his arms and hugs the first person to him tightly. He doesn’t care who it is, except Bruce, he’s still pissed at Bruce.“Drake?! Mmphhh!” Turns out it was Damian. Tim’s hugs tighter as the silence echoes through the whole cave, minus Damian’s annoyed shouts.Tim’s up in a second hugging Cass, then Duke, Dick, Jason and finally Alfred.“Timmy is everything alright..?” Dick asks, brows furrowed in concern.“What the hell was that replacement?” Jason grumbles angrily. He’s still pissed about his bike.“Where’s Bruce?” Tim asks and he can’t help but let the venom drip from his lips, he ignores the shocked looks.“Right here.” Bruce says. Tim whirls around to find Bruce in fucking pjs and wet hair. He has the nerve to look confused and concerned.“Tim, what happe-!” Tim’s knuckles hurt and he bets Bruce’s face hurts even more. He’ll have to thank Lady Shiva.“Master Timothy!” Alfred sounds horrified but Tim ignores him and the other numerous shouts.Bruce Wayne also known as Batman looks up at Tim from where he’s on the floor. Tim doesn’t give a shit as he starts snarling like a rabid dog and a pissed of cat. At least he’s getting his point across. He ignores the stares.“How fucking dare you?! You ignored a call of help and here you are sitting in your pjs relaxing! I know for a fact you didn’t check to see if the Avengers even needed help!”Bruce is on his feet trying to reason; “Nick Fury was trying to joi-““Nick Fury’s dead!” The responding shout leaves an echoing silence in the cave before Bruce is pulling on Batman mode.“Tim tell me what you kno-““Shut up, Bruce.” Tim says coldly. He pulls a glare and swirls around walking to the computer to plug his, some how, working gauntlet into it. He brings up the video feed but doesn’t play it so he can explain what’s happening.“Since this asshole ignored a call for help from the Avengers the universe is in danger.” Tim ignores the shocked looks and questions and simply continues, “Thanos has gotten something called infinity stones, with a click of his fingers he’s wiped out half the lives on this world.” Pure silence.“What are the Avengers doing about it?” Tim glowers at Bruce with such hatred that the others flinch.”What are the Justice League doing about it?” Tim quizzes and watches as a muscle in Bruce’s jaw twitches. He doesn’t care.“Most of them are dead, killed or turned to ash,” and Tim’s voice is cracking a little and Dick’s rushing forward and Tim just collapses. Simply leans into a warm chest as Bruce plays the video. He hears the gasps, the shocked eyes on Tim’s and he’s getting up dammit. He’s lasted this long he can last a little longer.“We need every heroes help.” Tim commands looking right at Bruce, he gives a nod and Tim knows he’s burying himself in guilt and Tim can’t help but think, good, he deserves it.“No one fifteen or below.” Tim’s voice has an edge to it and Bruce knows Tim will do something drastic if he doesn’t follow. So he does.“Drake-!” Tim turns to Damian.“No. I had to watch a boy two years older than you with twice as much training turn to ash, you are not going.” Tim’s lying through his teeth but he’ll be damned if he looses someone so young again, he won’t be able to handle it.For once the brat listens and Tim puts the communicator to his mouth, time to get the team together, the whole team.
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Alfred’s leaning against the brown doorway as he watches one of his many grandchildren. He’s bustling around the kitchen with his black hair tied into a messy short ponytail. Alfred doesn’t mind master Tim’s choice, it makes him look younger.It’s Wednesday again, the day the young sir goes around the kitchen making different foods, enough for two, and a couple of hours later he’d disappear. Alfred doesn’t ask, it’s not his place. But at times it’s difficult, sometimes the young mans shoulders will shake and his hands tremble. At times the utensils will drop and the raven haired boy will have to lean against the counter. Alfred manages to stop himself, somehow.The others, well, they simply are too curious.—————Jason is sitting at the kitchen table feeling angsty, so he’s stuffing his face with French toast. Another fight with Bruce, another argument, just another day. Well until the replacement showed up.Jason slowly takes bites of his toast as he watches the replacement take out self raising flour, cream and lemonade. Watching as the replacement mixed and stirred and knead Jason figured he was making scones.Grumbling as he finished the last of his toast he gets up to put his dish away, no need to make Alfred do it. Before stepping past the doorway Jason freezes, Tim’s leaning against the counter while trembling like a leaf. Ever so slowly the shaking stops and Tim, quite pale, is putting the tray in the oven.Finally deciding to wash the dish Jason walks into the kitchen.“I didn’t know you could cook, replacement,” Tim looks up that and sort of half shrugs. He looks exhausted but kinda happy about making the scones so Jason doesn’t comment.“It’s for an old friend.” He finally says and his eyes are watery but he looks.... Jason couldn’t place it. Jason has heard how curiosity killed the cat, but he can’t help it. He’s simply curious.—————Dick’s sitting on the bench and he’s just waiting for Alfred to use his freaky powers to tell him off but Dick’s to busy watching Tim. Timmy who is happily humming to himself as he’s mixing what looks like cake mix in a bowl. Dick didn’t know Tim could cook.Tim’s pouring the mixture into a shaped baking tin when Dick speaks up;“Timmy what are you making?” He quizzes as he hops off the bench, he bets Alfred is just sneaking around the corner, watching and waiting.“A banana cake.” Tim hums as he starts cleaning up the utensils he’s used. Before the spoon or bowl can be rinsed Dick snatched them up and starts licking at them. Mmm it’s good, great actually.“Who’s it for?” He’s asks because he’s never seen Tim bake before so it must be for someone special. Dick wonders if he could have some.“An old friend.” Tim says, and Dick frowns. He says that sadly, like he’s waiting for something to happen, something bad.“Master Dick, I do believe you know you’ll have to clean this mess up, yes?” Dick yells as he spins around. Efficiently dropping the batter covered spoon on the floor, it joins the bowl he hadn’t realised he’d knocked over.Tim snickers and Dick pouts as he starts cleaning the mess up. He wonders who the friend is.—————Bruce is sore and tired, he blames it on that when a clatter from the kitchen surprises, not scares, him. Sluggishly blinking Bruce heaves himself to his aching feet and walks to the kitchen.Calling out; “are you okay Alfred?” Bruce frowns when he gets to the kitchen. It’s not Alfred, it’s Tim. Tim who is curled in a fatal position around shattered glass and milk soaking into black pants.Bruce is bending down and heaving his son up instantly. Wrapping an arm around his back and under his legs Bruce easily lifts his son into his arms as he wrangles him so he’s sitting on the counter. Heart hurting for his child, Bruce tries to understand what’s wrong.He never finds out, all he gets is; “I’m worried about an old friend,”And that’s the end of it.—————Damian’s following Drake. The fool is getting everyone worried and it’s simply annoying. Every Wednesday the moron goes to the kitchen to cook or bake and a hour later he leaves and comes back very late. Every Wednesday he nearly gets himself killed during patrol and it’s not like Drake at all. It’s annoying.Crouching in a bush Damian waits for the idiot to leave. Tim didn’t go to the kitchen today, his routine is different and Damian is determined to find out why.“Jason! Stop pushing me!”“Well then goldy maybe stop hogging all the space! This bush isn’t exactly the biggest!”“Yo-“Before Damian can tell them to shut up or they’ll give their position away a voice cuts him off.“Boys that’ll be enough,” it was father. What was father doing here?“Bruce I can explain!”“No, if you’re trying to find out what’s going on with Tim at least be quiet.” Damian’s smirk matches his fathers.——————Tim pulls his car up at a familiar place. Heart in his stomach Tim’s trying to steady himself before walking in. The old folks home.By now it’s like a routine engraved in stone, Tim knows the place by heart. The people, the patients and the workers. Smiling weakly at the woman at the work bench Tim tries to smile without being sick.Ms. Mac is dying. No medication is helping her and all Tim wants to do is crawl into a hole and die. The only adult that ever cared for Tim as a child is leaving and there’s nothing Tim can do about it. He’s tried, he’s tried so hard and nothing is working and nothings ever going to work. Ms. Mac is leaving and she will never be coming back.Brushing his knuckles against the wooden door Tim tries his best to keep breathing as he heard the weak yet warm ‘come in.’ Swallowing thickly Tim opens the door to reveal the old and sickly woman. Withholding a winch because Tim just knows she doesn’t have much time left on this earth, he greets her with a kiss on the cheek. Ms. Mac is 93 years old today.“Oh Timmy it’s so good to see you.” The elder says in a whispery voice. Her eyes aren’t reaching his face and her own eyes look so dull. Swallowing down a sob Tim takes the wrinkled hand and gently kisses it in response.“Oh I remember when you were a whee child.....” Tim patiently waits for the woman to finish knowing she easily forgets someone’s with her. It hurts but there’s nothing to be done about it.“Timmy don’t cry when I die.” Tim can’t hold back the sob that escapees his burning throat and he squeezes his eyes as the tears come because she doesn’t need this. She’s the one in pain not Tim. So why does he wish he was dying instead?“Oh my boy why are you sad?!” Tim laughs wetly at that and gently tells her that it’s nothing.With hands that won’t stop shaking Ms. Mac picks up a frame next to her bed that she slowly passes to Tim. Tim thanks her as he gently rests it on his lap, he’ll look at it later.They sit there in silence as the woman slowly passes on, the only sound is a soft sobbing. Tim leans forward and brushes the grey hair away from the face of the beautiful woman. Inside and out.—————Dick’s hand is clamped over his mouth as he watches the scene. He remembers the kind lady who frequently called when Tim didn’t come home on time, he was training to become Robin then.He remembers when Tim broke his leg as Robin. Dick had taken him back to his home and the woman’s had swung the door so fast he’d thought he had gotten hit by it. She had took one look at Tim before she rushed them into the kitchen scolding both of them all the while making hot chocolate. Tim had apologised with a face red of embarrassment before he’d kissed her on the cheek. Dick thought it was quite cute.Now his baby brother is curled in on himself as he clutches the picture in pale shaking hands. His gaze never left the woman’s face since she’s passed and like a brick that’s been thrown into his face Dick realises what Tim was waiting for. He was waiting for the unstoppable to happen to the one person that he treasured so much.Trying not to outright sob Dick lets Jason drag him away to seat him down before he goes to one of the workers. This is why he cooked on Wednesday’s.—————Jason guesses Wednesday’s are cursed, so many bad things have happened on these days. It seems to mainly happen to Tim though. Feeling bad for his brother won’t help him now so he tries to stop rewinding the scene of baby bird outright sobbing out of his head as he drags Dick away.When they had been in the car following Tim they had all been messing around. Saying shit about how Tim’s secretly a chef that poisons people, he’s never regretted anything so much before.Feeling his bicep being squeezed Jason quickly scans around for a seat. Easily finding one he sets Dick down and walks off to find a worker or something.He doesn’t know who the women was but it’s clear to see she was very important to Tim. Grandmother maybe? Shaking his head Jason hurried to find a staff member. Praying that Bruce and baby bat know what they’re doing.—————Bruce is feeling awkward and weird and he feels himself closing off but he can’t let that happen. His second youngest son has lost and done to much for Bruce to simply give him the cold soldier. Feeling like an intruder as he walks into the room Bruce gently kneels in front of his son.“Tim, chum, can you talk to me?” He watches as the black haired child shakes his head roughly and Bruce swallows. Tim’s lost so much, too much, this must’ve been the last straw.Directing his eyes away from his sons face (it hurts, he shouldn’t have to go through this) he looks at his hands. Tim’s hands are shaking and they’re going slack, warily Bruce pries the picture out of Tim’s hand and places it gently on the bench beside them.“Father, I’ll stay with Drake. Help Todd, he obviously needs it.”Bruce turns to his youngest. His face is a little paler than usual, he’s never seen someone outright cry before, and he’s staring at Ms. Mac.With a pat to Tim’s knee Bruce leaves the room quietly. Trying not to think of how much it’d hurt if he lost Alfred. It doesn’t work.—————Damian can’t help but study the body. Limbs lay limp and pale and cheeks look hollow. The eyelids are closed and despite the awkward slumped form the elderly looks rather peaceful. Like she’s sleeping. Damian knows she’s not sleeping.Not really knowing what to do as sobs quiet down Damian gently picks the woman’s arms up so they’re resting on her chest. He picks a flower from the vase and places it behind the woman’s ear in respect.Damian may have not known her but Drake respected her enough to show a kind of weakness that most people never see. If that’s enough for his predecessor then it’s enough for him.As he’s about to quietly leave the room his sleeve is pulled. Drake looking at his lap now and he’s speaking so quietly Damian almost misses it.“Thank you Dami, you’ve come so far.” Swallowing thickly he refuses to acknowledge the water in his eyes as Tim pulls him into a hug. To comfort who Damian doesn’t know, maybe it’s a bit of both.As the brothers hug a picture of two Drakes smile at them while a certain Ms. Mac hold a younger Tim. Proud as they’ll ever be.
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————Cass is buried in Jason’s oversized jumper and wrapped in Dick’s scarf, she’s also ‘borrowed’ Tim’s fluffy socks. She munching on some marshmallows as she looks at the newspaper in front of her.She can’t understand all the words but she picks out some names, like; Tim, Cassandra, heir, Wayne, brother and sister. The rest is just jumbled on the page and it’s making Cass frown.The picture is of Cass in her gown at the gala last night with Tim. They’re both dancing in the picture with happy smiles on their faces. Why is that news worthy?Humming to herself quietly Cass heads to the tv, maybe it’s on the news? Sitting on the plush couch Cass eagerly curls on it. It’s very comfortable.Fishing for the remote on the bench in front of her Cassandra switches on the tv and is quite happy the news is already on. It takes a while to get through other news, like the villains latest schemes and the education, but soon after that Cass sees it.“The Wayne Twinsies were spotted happily dancing last night at their fathers gala. The charity going to the sick children’s hospital and young Timothy Wayne and Cassandra Wayne seemed happy to support it.”Cass blinks, what are twinsies?————After some searching Cass finally found a dictionary with the word twinsies in it. Twinsies means two people or things that are extremely similar, particularly in appearance. Cass didn’t know Tim and her looked similar. She doesn’t mind.After doing more research, Alfred said twinsies is a play on word, it’s like twins. Cass had asked what that meant and her grandpa had said it’s two children born at the same time, he said that sometimes their bond with one another is very strong.Cass knows Tim isn’t her blood brother but they can still be twins though, they have a very strong bond after all. When Tim comes back from his mission Cass will inform her twin of it.————Tim’s scrubbing at his face, relieved. The mission had lasted a week and it had, for once, gone without any trouble at all. Except when a man got a bit to close, Caroline happily kneed him where it hurts for that.The others are still out on patrol so Tim tiredly greets Alfred with a half hug and a thanks for the hot cocoa, then heads up stairs.As Tim’s putting the cup in the sink he spies a newspaper sitting on the table open to the Wayne gala a couple of nights ago. There’s a picture of him and Cass dancing with a caption saying; ‘the Wayne twinsies dancing at a gala!’Tim sort of shrugs to himself as he goes to the lounge. Hearing the soft buzz of the tv Tim picks up the remote and switches it off. Before leaving the room Tim pulls the blanket tighter around Cass before leaving the room. He didn’t miss the;“Welcome back twinsie.”
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Tims hands are shaking, shaking badly. Breathes aren’t coming and going as they should be and all Tim can remember is seeing Dick replacing him. His big brother giving his younger brother a role that was not his to take. Especially not Dicks to give.He swallowed down the bile in his throat and winched when it felt like knives. Heh, Tim knows what that feels like, metaphorically and physically.The tears start rushing and he pulls up his hoodie as he slides down his bedroom door. It never really was his, not really. Because Tim was a replacement and now he’s been replaced. Karma always seems to catch up to him.Folding his arms over his knees Tim buries his head in them. Vaguely Tim hears JJ cackling, Tim doesn’t bother to stop his twisted words. They were true after all.Forgettable! Jj whispers,Alone! He cackles.Replacement! He shrieks.Who knew a detective could be a delusional? Jj queriesTim shakes his head and vaguely Tim hears his mothers voice.“Quit whining Timothy,” a statement. It always is, never a command. Tim blinks away the tears and wipes Jj out of his head. He’s a mere voice after all.Besides Timothy has a mission.Bring Bruce back home, before he cracks at the seams.
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He should’ve known everything was just to good. Normal breakfast, at least, as normal as tired vigilantes having breakfast can get. No one was arguing and everyone was calm. He really should’ve known.Now he’s staring pukeface straight in the eye as the rest of his family struggle against their bonds. Everyone was here except the girls but they were in Hong-Kong. Not much they can do.Tim shifted his weight, his old batarang was still in his pocket, he’s got a little leverage at least. Two thugs surrounded them, people who wouldn’t last a day without their big bad boss, with the normal weapons. Guns, bats, crowbars etc, etc.“So little Timmy Drake snuck his ways to the tops huh?” Twoface grumbled as he twirled his coin, face as hideous as always.“You do realise I’m a Drake, right?” Tim quizzes because yes he is a little shit at times. And really, twoface should know this.
Slap!
Biting his lip to keep a sound escaping he grimaces, some things never change. He hears the shout of Brucie to leave his precious son alone. Great, just great.“Precious? Hmm.” Tim didn’t like were this was going.Twoface walks over to Bruce with heavy steps, both of them know what’s coming. After all having a father with two names was never a good thing. Especially if one of these personas is a thug while the other is a man ‘adored’ by the higher ups.Tim hates his life.“Precious?!-“ he yanks his tie, “this boy has his fathers blood in his veins! He’ll grow up to be a two face bastard just like his father!” He drops the man, who’s glaring like Batman and a bit of Bruce Wayne the father, and whirls to face Tim again.Tim might regret this. Maybe.“Saying the man who literally has two faces, or is it pukeface now?” He hears Jason snort and Dicks chocked gasp. He just knows Bruce is begging him to be quiet.Slap!He opens his eyes as he moves his jaw, Damian stares back with with awe? The slap must’ve been harder than he thought.He whirls around to face the villain, blowing a strand of hair away from his face. As the man mutters angrily Tim starts pulling at the rope. The little knife in his watch helps.“It seems that mother-“ his jaw tightens, “of yours never taught you any manners. Since ‘Steven Drake’ or is it ‘Jack Drake’ now?” Tim glare is fierce. “Doesn’t matter does it? He still has a boomerang stuck in his chest,” Tim snarls. He can feel the temperature in the room drop as he catches the cut rope.Twoface turns around humming to himself in that gravelly voice, “quite a disappointment I couldn’t do it myself, it would’ve been so much fun.” Tim’s chest is heaving and all he wants to do is break a limb or two.He walks away. A thug calls out, “what should we do with him boss?” Déjà vu much.The black and white villain take out his coin. He throws it. Catches it. Flips it. Everyone is quiet. “Kill him.” Tim drops the ropes and pounces. Only two thugs, the same ones Tim distracted with donuts all those years ago. Easy.Both charge with a bat and crowbar held high, Tim ducks and suddenly the work is done for him. One has a broken nose, the other is going to have a nice scar. Maybe he can finally be cool. He snorts.Twoface is long gone so he watches in annoyance as the GCPD finally arrive. Dammit.He’ll get him next time, he will.
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“Red Robin!” Red blinks as he looks to the side. That wasn’t there before... He really didn’t want to deal with this. Why was his family like this?Hood was most likely staring through his hood. Nightwing was wide eyed, gobsmacked and pale and Robin was stiff as a board, concealed eyes wide. All in defensive positions.If you looked at Batman you could see he was stiff, arms shaking ever so slightly and he wasn’t actually Batman. He was dressed as a bat but right now he was Bruce Wayne, a worried father. Actually all of them weren’t their hero saving butt kicking selfs right now despite being in their ‘work suits.’Tim guesses thats what happens when you were an inch from being impaled by a sword.Tim blinks and touches his cheek. It come back bloody and Bruce is running to him, arms shaky and fear clear as day shining on his face. The others remain frozen in their positions.He hears the giggles behind him and he quirks a smile, of course, he should’ve known.“B I’m fine.” And B stops just in front of him and Tim can’t help but feel bad. Then again he hasn’t been tortured in so long, he’ll have to thank Wednesday and Pugsley.Red sighs as B ignores him, he grumbles and unclips his utility belts to pass to the giggling children behind him. They smile their creepy smiles and he pats their heads fondly before they run off. B stares at him, incredulously. The others do to as they stand normally.Red rolls his eyes as he yanks the cowl off to become Tim Addams-Drake Wayne.“Gomez our children got hold of your fencing gear.” Aunt Morticia hums as she walks towards them with a smile. Black dress shapes her pregnant stomach perfectly as she walks like a woman on a mission. She pats his shoulder with a cold palm as she glances at the others with interested eyes.She hums at them and them she twirls to him as uncle Gomez skips over. Thing and Lurch lumber behind dragging uncle Fester by his ankles with a rusty bear catcher.B glares and N blanches. Hood and Robin look disgustingly interested and Tim grins slightly. Their so called killing methods were so cute he had to stop himself from cooing at them. He still has to restrain himself from taking Damian’s poisonous tipped katana. Uncle Gomez would adore it and it would hurt him so beautifully. It’s simply a price of art really.Uncle Fester screams and the others are on the move, well they were, until they realised he was screaming in pleasure.This is going to be hard to explain.“This is what you do for a living? My boy you’ve got it good! So dangerous so many chances,” uncle Gomez licks his lips, “to get hurt.”He loops an arm affectionately over his shoulders as he arrives at Tim’s side. The others stare at Thing. Rude, don’t they know they shouldn’t stare?Uncle Festers head lolls to him with a grin as Lurch grumbles something as he drops the chain at Tim’s feet.“Ahh your mother would be so proud! We should wake her up!” Aunt Morticia nods in agreement eyes gleaming in excitement. His mother and aunt loves sharing torture tips. His uncles loves getting tortured by their little sister. They say Tim is a lot like his mother, and he is. He’s just a little warmer and so good at torture.“Red Robin.” Tim blinks at B. Right he might want to explain this.“Uh- Well. Sorry B. Umm this is uncle Gomez and Fester and Aunt Morticia. Wednesday and Pugsley are the kids and Lurch and Thing just went to play with them. Um grandmama is at home, yes?” He directs the last part at Aunt Morticia as uncle Fester is to busy upping his self torture and uncle Gomez is trying to yank the sword out of the wall. No, not by the handle.“Of course, she is after all banned from Bludhaven and every other existing city.” She hums in awe as she twists a ring on her finger.N blinks. He didn’t know that but it does make sense. Wait! Are these people Tim’s family?“Aren’t you guys banned as well?” Tim quizzes because, yes, he remembers that. Apparently when the Addams visit Bludhaven it causes mass panic. Hench, the little situation right now.Fire crackles from a crashed car as Fester heaves a laugh. “You should know boy! We told you the story after we woke you up from the dead! Don’t you know why your as pale as snow?”Hood (and well- everyone) freezes and Tim closes his eyes because maybe if he can’t see them they can’t see him.“Red,” it’s a gravely voice and Tim blinks at B, he forgot he was right in front of him.“Err- N they didn’t mean any harm, really. They just, uh, like to travel every now and then.N blinks at that and he slowly nods. “Ok, just try not to cause mass panic.”Wednesday and Pugsley choose that specific moment to throw a batarang and a dagger at his stomach and neck.Tim blinks as Bruce’s eyes widen behind the cowl, Hood staggers and N pales and faints.“Umm-“ Tim reaches and yanks the weapons out of him and his skin, “Ow?”“Fencing battle anyone?”Uncle Gomez is so not helping right now...
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Red is currently covered head to toe with Clayfaces parts and eww. It’s gross and why can’t villains keep to themselves? It’s not that hard to get a job, seriously. All you need is enough cash to buy your way in.It’s wet and sticky and he can feel it wiggling in his boots and gloves trying to get out because its like a persons limb that somehow is wiggling after death. But this is clayface, clayface who hasn’t showed his ugly and running face since Tim was robin.That also means no one else knows exactly how to deal with this annoying clay that can move like water or be as hard and painful as a rock. No one knows how to deal with this stupid little thing that can shrink like a ant or be as giant as a whale and it’s pissing Red off.It’s pissing him off because N is currently stuck to the roof of a very tall bank and Hood is to busy pissing himself laughing as the clay tickles him. And Robin- wait where is robin?Red wrangles himself up to his feet looking around. The bank is completely covered in clay except for some parts. Clayface is in the middle, hand solidified into a mace.Reds moving without a second thought, kicking at the clay trying to slow him down because Clay is swinging at a coughing blob and that coughing blob is Robin dammit.His breathes are coming out strangled as he electrocutes himself and owfuck it hurts but he has to get the clay off of him now. The clay bubbles and pops and hisses as it flies off him and owfuck his body hurts a goddamn lot but he ignores the pain like a typical bat as he reaches inside his belt.As soon as the freezing pellets are in his ruined gloves Red yells,“Robin, back up!” And throws.Red thanks the heavens above that his little brat of a brother actually listens and curses the hells below that clayface fucking spits the damn things out.He manoeuvres his body to twist and the landing is a painful owfuck as he lands on his side. But he gets right on backup as Hood and N yell at them in worry to get to Robin. His cape is covered in Clay and the little brat is unconscious and goddamn this isn’t good.“Red!”Red wraps his limbs around his little brother and moves, grabble in hand and fired and in the air just as clayface barrels out the window.Glass shatter and Red watches in utter annoyance as there’s a wet squelch from outside. He’s setting Robin down on a desk and throwing a utility belt up to Hoods reach.And then he’s jumping out the window ignoring the shouts.His grabble gun in hand saves him from the drop and lands him in an alleyway, right in front of a pile of clay that’s wiggling in agony?Clayface got away then.Red sighs and pinches at his cowl covered nose because clayface could be anything or anyone by now and no one would know.He flicks at his com and can hear it crackle. Barbara isn’t going to be happy but hey, clayface and his stupid extendable body parts caused this.“Clayface got away, tracking device might be attached still.”Red sighs and yanks his cowl off, the clay in the whiteouts aren’t helping anyone right now so he puts the special glue on a spare domino mask and sticks it on.The whiteouts click on and he’s revealed with all the options his cowl can give him excepts Reds own updates. He should update this for emergency’s.....SquealReds got his bo in his hand instantly, glaring at the medium size of lump of wiggling mess in front of him.Behind him there’s three near silent thuds that tells Red he has backup, so he creeps forward.He runs when a shaky hand claws at the clay and that’s a hand of a little girls! He runs but stops at the pale face that pops out, a small girl with black hair and a pink hair band has Tim gaping.AnnieAnd like some messed up déjà vu Annie looks at him, Annie who looks about nine, and then she’s running at him and Red can hear the safety of a gun click off as the little girl stumbles right on into him.“He’s going to come after me, he’s going to come after me robin! Please help, you did it before! Please help he’s angry,” it comes out in sobs and Red is still to the bone because what.And then he’s moving, wrapping Annie in his cape as pale hands clutch at him because he is not going to fail her this time. He can’t. He won’t.
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Tim’s breathing to fast. Way to fast and his cheek and arms and legs are stinging painfully. Bruises are going to appear soon but right now that doesn’t matter. He swallows in a breath as a shadow glides across the wall in front of him.Dark and daring as the man he’s targeting. Batgirl and Hood are down, beaten brutally and no one has seen or heard of Cassandra since the mission was assigned.Tim swallows thickly. His mask is gone but he’s so high up he knows no one will see him. Oracle will swipe the cameras, if he’s victorious or if he losses the battle.Fwick!Tim freezes. Gloved hands grip at the stone wall that’s slightly crumbled. He’s been spotted. He takes a deep breath, heart frantically beating as he glances up.He spots a domino mask. He grins. Cassandra and Robin stare back at him, determination in their faces and hearts. Tim and Damian make a truce, this is war and they cannot afford to be enemies.No distractions.On three, Cass signs. Tim looks at his last price of amo, it’s not much but at the right spot it could save him.One - he takes a breathTwo - he aimsThree - they fire “Ow! Who aimed for my butt?!”Tim smirks, standing up. Nightwing stands before him, pouting and hand over his bottom protectively.Damian snarls, throwing down his rubber bands in anger. “Next time Drake, I will beat you!” He stomps of and kicks Hood in the shin who is howling in laughter.“Timmy! How could you gang up against me? We’re brothers!” He whines and shouts as Cass takes her shot, right between the eyes.She leaps down gracefully and throws an arm around Tim’s shoulders. The both smirk at the pouting hero.“All is fair in love and war Nightwing.”
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Tim doesn’t really know how to breathe. His fingers are clenching around the edges of his silver laptop and he vaguely wonders how the plastic hasn’t cracked under his fingers.He sucks in a harsh breath, like his throat is burning and no matter how hard he tries he still can’t breathe and it’s loud, too loud in his quiet apartment.Eyes burn and he wonders if he’s blinked at all. Maybe, most probably not but either way he can’t bring himself to tear his eyes away.He’s seeing and he wants to believe, oh it’s a horrible thing, wanting to believe, have hope he hasn’t felt in a long time consume him in a warm embrace. But...But Tim wants to squash the hope because if he told anyone, asked anyone for help he would be called crazy, a delusional and he doesn’t think he could handle that. Not again.Tim tries to stamp it out, blow out the light, he really does but the flame has grown too big, too bright and comforting so Tim makes a decision. People will think, tell Tim, yell at him that it was a horrible decision but he doesn’t care. If this is true, it will be worth it.His fingers move and when he tracks a location his heart jumps into his throat, his skin feels hot and cold because this is real. He smile and a smile couldn’t of felt so right.He closes the laptop, jumps to his feet, throws on his suit and flew into the night. The wind is hot and sticky and Tim, no, Red Robin breathes in deeply, moving on autopilot.Red remembers visiting Dana. How they laughed and joked together in the hospital, how she scolded him for his nightly activities and how how Tim held her when she screamed and cried and struggled. Tim cried those days as well.One day, he remembers, was different. How he walked in, how he gazes as Dana who was staring blankly at the wall, she was rocking. Back and forth, back and forth and then her blank gaze snapped to him and his insides sunk and he prepared for the screaming.Instead she uttered six simple words that had Tim’s stomach flipping. Her gaze had never been so clear. Then the hospital crumbled and people died and Tim cried. Bruce, Dick and Alfred, they thought it was for one. Tim cried for two.For two years Tim hasn’t said a word. Not when Bruce died, not when Robin was taken from him, not when he lost a spleen and not when he bought Bruce back. They didn’t want him in the family so Tim won’t go unloading his problems on them.Red sighs and shakes his head, he need to focus.—It’s hard to securely cling onto the building with all the moss and broken glass but not impossible. Taking a breathe, Red wiggles his foot to get better leverage. Gut tightening he clips the end of the grabble to his belt, gives a tug for reassurance and then fiddles with the device he needs.It takes a second for the device to latch securely onto brick and another second to tune it. Soon enough voices flow through.“She’s getting fistey.” The voice is high and annoyed, a male.There’s a dismissive snort and a huff. “All of them act like that when it’s play date time. You know that, Josh.” Red frowns, double checks that the communicator is recording. Play date? All of them?There’s a whiny grumble, Red twitches at the spoiled child like sound. “We’ve had her the longest though! Nearly two years!”The other man sighs. “And the only reason there’s no investigation is because people think she’s dead. Dana Drake died when the hospital crumbled-“ Red can feel the anger cooling at the bottom of his stomach, “She’s not stupid, she knows if a dead woman is seen walking around people will investigate. We’ll be arrested.”It’s silent for a minute, both men thinking as Red attempts to reign in his anger, fingers itching for his staff.Bang!Red doesn’t startle, instead he hunches in as Josh squeals like a pig. “Oh for the love of-! Hurry up and get her in the truck! She’ll attract the bats!”For the next couple of minutes all Red can make out is feet slapping against pavement and yells. Then there’s a crunch of grass and glass and Red Robin lurches. Dana, it’s Dana!Dana is the same, a little thinner and shorter hair but there is no doubt that this is Dana. His stepmom.Red Robin barley refrains from pouncing, instead he uses all his self will to hide in the shadows as one of the men slips his disgusting arm around her waist. Like a lover. Red wonders is Diana king his arm for life is too harsh.The man leans down, red hair getting in brown eyes, to whisper to Dana. “Try anything sweetheart and little Tommy is dead.” Nope, Red decodes, two arms would be much more satisfying.The man leans to his full height, around 6”3, grumbles to himself before hollering over his shoulder. “Josh, hurry up mate! Me and Diana have to see the kids!” Red scowls, they act so normal.A shorter man runs out, 5”6, rounder in the stomachs with blonde hair and green eyes. “Coming, Toby!” Josh hogs up to them, then past them to the truck under a tree.Toby chuckles, arms tightening around a grimacing Dana and Red really wants to break his nose. Instead he memorises the number plate and snaps a photo of them getting in the truck. The truck drives and Red races after it, hidden in the shadows of the night.The wind is hot and harsh and Gotham’s natural fog isn’t helping matters. All Tim wants to do is move and beat down but he refrains. For Danna and his little brother. Tommy...A shiver runs down his spine and Red jolts in surprise. He can’t help but feel helpless in this situation. Growling he clenches his teeth and snaps his eyes open, this is the power those freaks relish in. He won’t give them the satisfaction.Five minutes later the truck chuffs to a stop, wheels cracking the dry mud. Red frowns, they’ve stopped at a normal street. A brick house, the roof needing a new paint job and chalk lying next to some squiggles on the driveway.Next to that is another, a bat, not the Batman or the bat signal but a bat with little birds around it. Reds heart clenches, it was a cry for help.Red sucks in a painful gasp, barley being able to breathe. He snaps out of it when the trucks doors slam open, Dana stumbling out and sprinting to the house. Toby’s eye twitches.Dana bangs on the door, close to tears and Red watches as lights close to the house flicker on. People are waking up.The door opens and a teenager greets her with a disappointed smile before he looks up, scowling at the sight of the men. He steps aside for Dana and she smiles before a shriek Pericles the air as she’s dragged into a chest. Toby’s smile has frozen in place, more lights flicker on.“Ah, Jackson!” It’s a barley cheerful greeting, for her through clenched teeth and the teen cringes. “Your sibling didn’t cause you much trouble did they?”Josh sidles up, twitching. “Or mine I hope?” It’s a breathy whisper that Jackson obviously didn’t catch at his pale faces confused look. Toby growls.“Answer your uncle boy!” It echoes in the silent street and some curtains are pulled back. Josh looks close to fainting and the Jackson is trembling. Red crouches, fingers around the familiar feeling of his cool staff.“Oi!” Dana cuts in, frail and protective. “Leave him alone!” A couple of curtains close, people reaching for their phones. Toby growls, his arm raises and the force is his slap sends Dana crashing into a potted plant with a cry.“Mummah?” It’s a breathy little whisper but everyone’s head snap to the small boy with raven locks and blue eyes. Toby smirks.“Tommy no!” Jackson shouts, fear leaking out like a river as silver catches in the shine of the moonlight and Red Robin moves.Bang!A sickening crack echoes in the air as skull collided with pavement, Red Robin growling as bone breaks beneath a gloved hand. A whimper escapes Toby’s bleeding lips as Red lifts his head up, smashing it into the concrete.“T-Toby?” Masked eyes connect with wide green. Slowly Red stands up and everything is silent except for the approaching alarms as josh back peddles in a frenzy. “Stay away you freak!”Red stops and so does Josh. A dark smile curls on his lips and a pathetic whimper reaches his ears. “So I’m the freak, huh? If I remember correctly I’m not the one kidnaping pregnant women to feel in control.” Red continues walking slowly and Josh shrieks, stumbles back.“Are you that pathetic? Listening to that man so eagerly, like a slave? For what? Control?” Josh whimpers and Red gazes at the police cars parking up front.Red chuckles. “Cause’ it seems to me that all you are is being used. Controlled.” Josh stills, face darkening and Red internally grins. Gotcha.“That’s not true!” He spits out, not seeing the advancing cops. “I helped kidnap those women! Me and Toby are a team and we’ll continue doing whatever we please!”“Is that so?” Josh shrieks as handcuffs clamp tightly around his wrists. Gordon nods at him and Red nods back as the GCPD gets to work.Suddenly arms wrap around his stomach and Red spins around, nearly chokes on hair but the frail person merely adjusts themselves.“Timmy..” it’s a broken whisper cracked with sobs and Reds breathing hitches, his eyes widen and tears leak at the edges. He doesn’t say anything, makes it look like a hero comforting a victims but in reality it’s so much more.They stay like that, longer that they should but no one utters a word. There’s crying and sobbing and gentle hands cupping wet and red cheeks. Shushing and humming from tired mothers, broken laughter from fathers as Dana pulls back, kneeling to hug a little Tommy.Red steps back as any hero would, distancing himself when he doesn’t want to. Dana gazes up at him, Tommy’s arms tight around her neck. Tommy sniffles and wiggles around, blue eyes widening at Red.“Barba!” He squeals and Red stares in wide eyed shock as Dana nods, giggling as she shushes the squirming toddler.“I know, I know that’s big brother but it’s a secret! Remember?” She brings a shushing finger to Tommy’s lips, laughing as he wiggles around to stare at Red.Laughing in disbelief Red takes a step back, grabble in hand as he gazes at the scene. He fires the grabble with a soaring spirit, today he can actually believe he’s done good. Today he really has.—He basically collapses into his apartment, calculations and improvements impossible to distinguish in his head. He’s going to have to clean up and baby proof the apartment, fix up the guest rooms and he’ll have to go shopping for groceries.So that’s what Tim does. He gets up sluggishly, turns on the tv for background noise and gets to work. He chucks dirty clothes in the waist bin, picks up old takeout and rubbish and he’s in the kitchen when a breaking news reaches his ears.Tim stops, hand emerged in soapy water, as he glances at the television. The news anchor is a blonde woman, painted red lips pulled up into a genuine smile as a live of tonight plays next to her.“Tonight at one in the morning the police were contacted for a domestic violence case that turned into something much bigger.” The photos of Toby and Josh pop up. “Toby McDonald and Joshua Reese have been holding mothers captive, keeping their children away to keep them in order.” The anchor frowns before pulling on a smile, she’s a mother Tim realises. “Jace, any news?”Jace is a dirty blonde with a dash of freckles, she dressed up in a sun dress with a soft smile. “I know a little Tara. As you can see behind me we have the victims reuniting,” she gestures behind with a grin, “lets see of someone wants to tell the story of this heartwarming tale.”Tim quirks a smile, going back to washing the dishes. He’s aware the bats will be informed, he’s aware he’ll be scolded like a child but, frankly, he doesn’t care. He’s got his family back.
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They’re arguing over the radio station. It’s familiar, it’s good and it’s just like the days were Tim was Robin and Dick was Nightwing and it was nice.They’re not arguing over who’s dead or who’s not, not about Batman or Robin and they’re not just spitting heated words out at each other in frustration.Instead, they’re coming back from WE, Dick had kidnaped him so Tim took driving privileges.Dick is as stretched out as he can, hands folded behind his head and legs kicked up on the dashboard of his rusty car. Tim is flicking through the channels and Dick jolts his hands away with his foot just to annoy him.Also, Tim wants to tap into the police station but Dick isn’t haven’t it. He kidnaped Tim so they could hang out, not work, so Dick tells him over my dead body.Tim’s a clever little shit, the cleverest, in Dick’s personal opinion, but he scored the lowest in the bats defensive driving course. The bats are high above average and they’re driving home, relaxed and calm and who would’ve thought they’d need it?A kink of his mouth and Dick watches him laugh, the tire spinning out over a patch of black ice hidden by swampy leaves.The radio keeps playing as Dick blinks awake with a hoarse groan, blood in his eyes and glass in his lap.And Tim says nothing.
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Tim sighed, muscles tight as he stepped up to the Zeta tube. Bruce nodded at him, ever so slightly and Tim sighed again.He didn’t want to do this, didn’t want to see the people who thought he was crazy, who thought he needed help. He didn’t, he didn’t and now he was back with the person who they thought dead.Tim didn’t want to see Dick, didn’t want to see any of them. He didn’t need the pitying gazes, the slight frowns and second glances. He didn’t need Black Canary to come up with a hand on his shoulder, kind eyes and whispered words promising help. He didn’t need help. He was right.He wasn’t ready to see the team that strayed away from him, didn’t want Conner’s frown or M’gann’s hugs or Kaldur’s and Artemis’ understanding expressions. He didn’t want to see Bart, Jamie, Gar, Cassie or Roy the clone and Roy the real.It hurt to see them, it hurt Tim knowing they thought he needed help. That he had lost it. He hadn’t and he feels sick. They didn’t believe him but it didn’t matter anymore. Bruce was alive, Bruce was here and that’s all that matters.As the scanner studied him Tim tried not to think about their reaction, tried not to think about how Damian was Robin now, how Dick was Batman and how Jason was on good-ish terms with them all. Tim didn’t fit in, he was a fill in. They only kept him around when they needed him.A blinding light and then the female monotone voice rang out and Tim, no, Red could feel the eyes on him. He doesn’t care, he turned around, pulled up the screens to let Bruce through. Because two Batman’s isn’t going to do the computer any good and no one in the league was very good at fixing machines. Red didn’t feel like fixing it either.“Tim?” And that was Bart, eyes wide as he was suddenly next to Tim and Tim felt his chest ache but he nodded. Bart grinned, white teeth bright and blinding and he wrapped his arms tight and Tim stiffened, couldn’t help it even if he wanted to.Bart let go instantly, a frown etched on his face as Batman strode forward, gaze disbelieving as the chatter quietened as they stared. It was silent as Tim pressed enter on the screen.The machine swirled, a blinding white light and then Bruce was stepping through, dressed as Batman and scattered gasps were heard. Red stepped back, steps silent as he hid in the shadows, watching.The team was stiff, eyes wide and some mouths open and slack jawed. Dick jitters in place and then he’s moving forward, hugging Bruce with everything he’s got and more. Bruce hugs him back, it’s a quick one but Dick is beaming when he steps back. Red can’t stop the bittersweet smile but it drops soon after.Kaldur steps forward, hand out and Bruce shakes it with a nod. A smile slithering on his face for a second and then it’s gone. The team mutters under their breathes, eyeing Bruce with varying emotions.“What is going on-“ Clark’s voice fades into shock, hovering in the air in disbelief before he’s moving, standing in front of Bruce and Tim can’t make out their expressions. The red cape flaps as Clark rests a hand on Bruce’s shoulder, turning to face the others just as Black Canary walks in.A flash of shock and then she’s smiling, striding forward with a purpose. She stands on Bruce’s other side as other members of the league filters in.“Good to have you back, Bruce.”They don’t mention Tim and Tim nearly laughs but he swallows it and holds it down. He holds down a sob and his breathing goes funny for a second but it’s enough for Conner to turn and glance back at him. M’gann turns around at his movement and then she’s smiling, floating forward as Conner stays in place. No one notices, to busy with talking to Bruce or about him. To caught up with him being alive, being here. Red wouldn’t want to ruin that.M’gann lands in front of him and Red sends her a smile, remembering the time she helped him hide his identity. M’gann has stayed the same, kind smile and kind eyes as her skin changed colour. She’s her own person now, it’s good and nice and it suits her.She reaches out and Red stiffens but M’gann still wraps her arms around him anyway. Wearily Red pats her back, trying not to get attached to someone again. It only ends in hurt.When she pulls back her hands rest on his shoulders as she looks him over. She nods and Tim wonders why. “Thank you.”Red nods, it’s a jerky thing but M’gann just grins before she’s pulling back. She glances at the group and then at Tim but Red shakes his head and she floats away.Conner watches, eyes narrowed and then they’re widening and his head is snapping to M’gann and shit, that isn’t good. Red is moving then, silent and quick as hands begin to move from more people. The League is frowning and starting to look around as the team remain oblivious and Dick is pale in the face.The computer is scanning him and Red is basically running forward, into the blinding white light as Dick cries out, words pained.“Wait!”Red Robin’s steel capped boots skid across the ground as he stops. He doesn’t know why but Dick visibly sags as the team filters out of the room with frowns.He jerks his head, a sign to continue and then Dinah is walking forward, slow and cautious and Red scowls. Dinah blinks before she straightens her shoulders and strides forward with a purpose. The room is silent.“How did you know?” Dinah asks and Tim stares, letting out a snort that has half the group raising their eyebrows.Red doesn’t answer and Dinah frowns as Oliver walks forward. “Why didn’t you tell us kid?”Red stares at him, right past the whiteouts and he shifts, obviously uncomfortable but Red is trying not to bust a liver because this is damn hilarious. Didn’t Dick tell them?“Son.” Clark begins and Red rolls his eyes, turns around and walks away but a grip on his shoulder stops him.“Where are you going?” That’s Dick and Red forcefully shoves his hand off and Dick staggers back, hurt. Tim doesn’t care.Before Tim can go anywhere Clark is in the way, floating and Tim knows that’s an gesture he uses for people being difficult. Red wishes he could get the kryptonite out of his pocket but the movement would make them on edge and Red really didn’t want to wasete his time beating these people. He had other things, bettter things to be doing.“I’m done.” He says and his voice is strong and clear. Dinah starts, walking forward but Tim cuts her off with a look.“Done with what?” Clark asks and Red wants to punch him. Too bad it would only distract him for a short while. Clark wouldn’t even feel it and that annoys Red.“I’m done with the league, I’m finished.”It’s silent and then Barry’s stepping forward with a frown. “You don’t mean that kid.”“I do.” Tim answers simply, crouching and launching over Clark’s shoulders like a springboard before anyone could even move.He eyes them over his shoulder, spots their shocked look and Dick’s pained expression. Bruce doesn’t show any emotions and Tim doesn’t doubt he knew this was coming. He nearly laughs. Looks like Bruce didn’t want him on this team either.“I’m not a dusty thing on a shelf to be polished when needed and put back for next time. Not anymore.”He walks into the light, says his farewell with a closed off expression that sends shivers down their spines.“Do you think I’m still crazy?”And then he’s gone.—Red is in his apartment by the time the words process in their heads. He pulls of his mask and Tim sighs. After all this they still don’t trust him to be a good enough vigilante? Hasn’t he done enough?Tim curses the supers and their cheating. A couple of scars and a bruised body isn’t that big of a deal, he can still do his job. Either way he pulls up his laptop, types a report on how he got Bruce back.As the sun rises the league will have it. They won’t take Red Robin away from him and he makes that perfectly clear in his report. He leaves it at that.Tim is done with the league.
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Damian gritted his teeth, feeling his gut coil in horror and hot burning hate. His hands clutched at his katana and his feet were strong and steady as he stood on broken glass and cold stone.Ras raised his head, a twisted smirk in place as he stared at Damian. He stood up from his throne, walking forwards with long graceful steps that had Damian glaring.Two feet away and he stopped, his cloak wrapping around him in protection. He lifted a hand, staring Damian in the eye as he signalled for the Assassins to stand down. They searched their swords and stood back, eyeing Damian in distrust.A feral growl left Damian’s throat and the masked people left. Ras raised a eyebrow.“They’re no longer yours to lead, grandson.” The words were taunting and Damian’s grip on the katana tightened, the silver flashing from the sun.“I’m no grandson of yours.” Damian growled out. Hate burned his very being and his teeth gnashed at his lips. His green eyes narrowed and Ras raised a brow, looking amused.“Wrong. You will always be my grandson.”
He stated, fingering the knife he slipped from his cloak.“I no longer associate myself with the league. Not since you killed my brother.” Damian snarled, low and angry and Tim’s broken corpse flashed behind his eyelids. Bloodied and broken beyond repair.“It was sick a shame too. He was a good detective. Too bad he had to die because of your foolishness.”Damian lunged with a yell, his katana high in the air when Ras moved. The knife was thrown and sunk into Damian’s shoulder to the hilt. Ras slithered forward and their weapons clashed, sparking in the air.They pushed, sword and katana scraping against each other in fury as the wielders glared at each other behind sparks, muscles shaking as they pushed with all their might.“Timothy was my brother! He had nothing to do with the league and nothing to do with you!” Damian spat, trembling as his Katana slipped for a second. He readjusted himself, snarling as Ras eyes twinkled in amusement.“Oh but he did, Damian. He was smart, a clever boy that would’ve bared my children. He would’ve been twice the heir you would have ever been.”Sparks flashed and Damian was thrown back, shaking his head in fury. His thighs shook and he lifted his katana as Ras ran forward, sword slashing down in terrifying accuracy.“He could’ve been the perfect heir. It’s such a shame your mother had to betray me and hand you off to the detective. Maybe I should’ve went for the street runt instead!”Damian roared, swinging his katana around and sending Ras sword flying. It struck the concrete and clattered onto the ground with a bang that left silence except for Damian’s heavy breathing.“You will not touch Todd.” He snarled out, arms quaking as he staggered forward. “You will not harm my family again!”Damian raced forward, katana slicing and spraying blood everywhere. It splattered against the cream coloured walls and left Damian with a sick satisfaction.Ras slumped against the ground, raising his head shakily to glare at Damian with such hatred. “You will never have a place in the league.”“I never wanted it.” Damian snarled, backing away to the window as footsteps thundered against stone, swords being drawn.Damian was long gone before the ninja arrived to help their master to the pit.Ras whole body shook as he crawled out the pit, panting and spitting out the burning liquid from his throat. He shook before he steadied himself, heaving himself up and letting his pawns dress him.The dark figures stood before him silently, awaiting their orders from their masters. Ras felt a smirk crawl onto his lips.“Dig up Timothy’s grave. He proves to be useful.”—Bruce eyed him with a dead look when Damian entered the cave. His shoulders were hunched, dark bangs under his eyes as he eyed the blood on Damian’s suit. He twitched when his eyes landed on the katana.“Tim wouldn’t have been happy with what you did tonight.” He grunted out and Damian frowned as Alfred wondered over, looking worst for wear.Damian said nothing as Alfred worked on his shoulder. It didn’t take long for the knife to come out and Damian grunted when the stitching started.“Sorry young master.” Alfred’s voice was tired, laced with exhaustion’s as his fingers moved more slowly than usual.Damian shook his head, dismissing the apology as Alfred continued to stitch him up. His green eyes caught at Tim’s Robin suit and Damian flinched.It was covered in blood and pieces were torn up and missing. Damian turned away, eyes burning as he remembered the night.Everyone was in a frenzy. Alfred was working the computers as Cassandra tried to keep Jason distracted. Jason was angry, wiggling in Cass’ arms as he shouted.Damian remembered how Jason wanted to come, how he wanted his favourite older brother back. He wanted to end Ras, shouted it as tears streamed down his face. Damian tempered Brice snapping at him and then storming to the Batmobile and driving off.Damian remembers kneeling in front of Jason who eyed him through teary blue eyes. He promised he’d bring Tim back and Jason said he’d better because Timmy still had to teach him how to use the bo because he was the best at it.Damian had agreed and ruffled his hair in a show of rare affection. Cass has looked at him with scared eyes, terrified to loose Tim and him. He promised her he’d bring Tim back before he left.He did bring Tim back, dead and blood with a sword through the heart and a slit throat. He’s never going to make another promise again.“All done Master Damian.” Damian mumbled a thanks as he walked away.“Damian! You’ve got to stop, tim wouldn’t have wanted this.” Brice roared, voice cracking near the end and Alfred’s form trembled at the corner of Damian’s eye.“Tim’s dead.” Damian responded simply.—He wasn’t dead anymore.Damian snarled as he fought through Ras men, killing the people he once ruled. He broke bones, snapped necks as he fought his way through to Timothy.The last man fell with a grunt of pain, limbs twitching as Damian stepped over him. His grandfather turned around with a frown, eyes skittering over the bodies with dissatisfaction.“I’ll come back for him.” Ras finally said, stepping back as smoke covered his retreating form.“Like hell.” Damian muttered, as he stepped into the lazuras. The green liquid swirled around his form as he walked further to the floating warm.He waded his way through, hands pulling at a pale arm void of scars. The body dragged towards him and Damian felt tears prick at his eyes as blue eyes peeled open slowly.“Dami?”“Welcome back, brother.”
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“How is she, Alfred?”Alfred let out a sigh and shook his head. Tim knew something was wrong, not just a broken bone or a gun shot wound, but something worse and that scared him.Cassandra was skilled, moved like flowing water with all the grace in the world. She was deadly and beautiful and she was absolutely brilliant. She’s survived and fought through hell, smiled and loved despite all the pain and horror she’s been put through.Now she was on one of those shit mattresses on a metal table with a bandage wrapped around her head. That wasn’t right and it made Tim’s gut twist in fear and nervousness.“She’s not good, Master Timothy.” Alfred’s shoulders sagged and his back hunched a little as he said the words that seemed to drain the remaining strength the man had. Tim’s gut clenched as Alfred handed over the list of injuries.His fingers closed around the clip board and he skimmed through the list, cringing as the injuries worsened. A broken ankle, cracked wrist, muscle tearing in the calf and damage to the cerebrum of the brain.All the injuries were the standard in this line of work but what particularly caught Tim’s attention was the brain injury. The Cerebrum part of the brain is large and Tim’s gut twists uncomfortably at the amount of damage the hit could’ve caused.“I’m going to go check on her.” Tim mumbled out and he saw Alfred nod in the corner of his eye. He pretended he didn’t see the way Alfred’s shoulders shake as he walked pass the old clock.His foot falls echoed around the cave and the bats flapped their wings in protest and shuffled on the spot. Tim knows Cass on a regular day would just know when he was here, wouldn’t need any loud footsteps or anything. She would just know but Tim didn’t want to risk it, wanted to help her out and he knew she would appreciate it.It nearly made him smile, knowing Cass would appreciate it. Any of the other bats took it as pity, thought it was because they were hurt and that made them weak. Tim was guilty of it and he knew it too but Cass knew it was meant to help her and she appreciated it.Tim wasn’t even half way done the stairs when he noticed the light blue curtains drawn up around the medical tables. Compared to all the bleakness of the cave it stood out like a sore thumb. It was similar to the way Robin stood next to Batman, completely different.Tim wiped his hands on his thighs as he neared the curtains. He wasn’t sure why he was so nervous, scared if he was being honest with himself but something seemed wrong. It made his fingers clench and uncurl as he pulled back the blue curtain.Cass looked at him, a small smile that trembled as her eyes swam with unrecognisable emotions. Her hands were placed in her lap and Tim instantly took notice of how they trembled, shook and flinched on the scratchy blanket.“Hey, Cassie.” Tim whispered, walking forward and dragging the green plastic chair to her bedside. Cass’ smile twitched but she stubbornly held it in place.Tim’s stomach sunk to his feet and twisted around his ribs as he watched his sister struggle and he didn’t even know what was wrong. It wasn’t right and it made his throat clench as he swallowed, Adam’s apple bopping as he took in his sister.He leaned forward, fingers brushing charcoal hair behind her ear. The white bandage was a stark contrast to her locks and it made Tim’s lips twitch up in amusement.He lowered his hand, fingers entwining with Cass’ pale and trembling fingers. He rubbed his thumb over her bruised knuckles, stopping when she flinched ever so slightly.“What’s wrong, Cass?” Tim managed to ask through dry lips and Cass looked at him with her dark eyes. It made Tim’s heart clench and his stomach to roll.Shakily she pulled her hands away from Tim’s, fingers trembling as she began to sign. Tim saw her world crashing down as she did.Her hands shook the whole way through and by the time they thumped against her thighs in exhaustion tears were streaming down her cheeks and leaving trails through the dirt marking her face. Tim’s chest tightened and he stood up, climbing onto the steel medical bed and pulling his sister to his chest.Cassandra cried into Tim’s chest and Tim ran his shaking fingers through her hair as he stared at the ceiling. Tim was good at reading sign language, knew it just as well as breathing, but he’s never wished to be wrong so much before.‘I can’t read, I can’t speak.’Cass has worked so hard with her speech, with her reading and because of some stupid thug who got a little lucky it was all gone. Tim didn’t even know if she was able to learn again, if the hit had caused that much damage.Life wasn’t fair, that much Tim knew as he rocked Cass back and forth. He’d help her, as much as he could and that was a promise. Cassandra Cain deserved so much more than this.
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Tim can feel his teeth grinding harshly against each other, his skin is crawling and it’s making it awfully hard to keep up his press perfect smile. He keeps grinding his teeth because if he doesn’t he’s going to say some not nice things.Cass and Duke are mingling together, the two never one for galas or charity events. They didn’t desire to go but as it was for raising money for children who needed it they decided to come. All night it had been fine, no incidents and nothing staggering that the press would have a field day.This is not the reason Tim’s skin is crawling. It’s crawling because a faceless rich man is red in the face, champagne glass tipping dangerously low and talking to Duke. Tim’s teeth grind as he drops the press smile as Cass’ eyes turn dark and angry. Her hands twitch, either to sign something or punch the idiot in the face.Tim would prefer the second one, knew Cass would too but that cause a big scene even if the punch was desirable.Duke looked mildly uncomfortable but was shrugging it off, used to it and that, if possible, made Tim even angrier. The drunken man let out a little burp, scowling at Duke and eyeing Cass when she took his hands to take him away.His words carried over to Tim who was a few meters away, talking to another faceless stranger. The stranger was looking at him strangely, most likely wondering why his smile was twitching on his face.“How did a black guy like you hit up a girl like that? Come on baby girl, I can give you a better time than this faggot can ever can.”Tim was striding over before he even finished the sentence. Heard the woman he was talking to tut in annoyance but Tim couldn’t care less. His teeth was grinding again and his fingers flexed and curled into a loose fist as he approached the three. The whole room seemed to silence as Tim pulled the two behind him so he could face the man.The man hiccuped, champagne dribbling onto his shoes at the movement. Tim wasn’t fooled, if the man can speak straight than he was sober enough. Sober enough he knew exactly what he was saying.“I’m asking you to leave.” Tim said simply, keeping his voice pleasant despite the anger and disgust swirling in his stomach.“Huh?” The man blinked, completely baffled. “I’ve done nothing wrong, boy!” This caught everyone’s attention and they stopped and stared, reporters bribing out their cameras.“I’ll ask you one more time.” Tim said simply, voice unimpressed and neutral. “Leave.”The mans eyes turned black in fury but he wasn’t drunk enough to consider lashing out on a billionaires son. “Do you even know who I am?” He snapped instead, tumbling forward slightly.“Not at all.” Tim said like he was talking about the latest stock market. “And if you keep harassing my brother and sexually advancing on my sister? I’ll have no choice but to contact our lawyers that on retainer. I’m positive they’re itching for something to do, they must get so bored since our last real legal case.”Tim runs a hand over his slightly crinkled sleeve, smoothing out the fabric before politely clamping his hands together in front of him. He raises a delicate eyebrow to the pale man as the reporters lean impossibly closer.“Is there something wrong, sir?” Tim asked, being polite. He still has an image to uphold after all. “Is it possible that I’m making you uncomfortable?”The man eyes flicker at the people watching and he shakes his head, placing down his champagne class with a loud thud that echoes around the quiet room.He stuffs his hands into his pockets and begins to turn, muttering under his breath. “Fucking whore and her fucking black ass faggot man slut.”Tim’s striding forward, pale slender fingers gripping the mans shoulder harshly. He doesn’t turn him around and the man doesn’t turn either, visibly startled and scared.“Say another word about my family and I will hire the best people to dig up every little piece of trash they can find on you.” Tim says it loud, a warning not only to this person but any one else.“I don’t expect to see you near any of us again, Mr. Wilson.” Tim adds and would you look at that? It looks like Tim did remember him after all. It must’ve slipped his mind.He harshens his grip just slightly, gets a squeak and a nod that has him pulling on his polite and Timothy Wayne smile. “Good.”The man scurries as soon as Tim lets go and Tim watches in upmost amusement as the press begins to follow. Mr. Wilson will finally big enough to be on the news again.Tim turns around, after making sure the man is truly gone. He’ll dig up dirt on the man later, in case he’s foolish enough to take it further.He smiles brightly at the people staring at him. Past Duke’s wide eyes and Cass’ amused ones. Past Dick’s blinking ones, Jason’s laughing form and Damian’s glowering form at the man and Bruce’s raised brow in amusement. He claps his hands, startling a few people.“Let’s get back to the event, shall we? “
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Damian’s brow twitched when Drake made another obnoxiously loud yawn. That was the fourth time in a minute.As much as Damian wished to maim his so called predecessor he knew his father, and Grayson for that matter, would not take it so kindly. Neither would Pennyworth and Damian has learned the hard way that Pennyworth’s word is law. Even father respected him, so there for Damian would show him respect. Maiming Drake would misplace that respect no matter how much Damian wished to.However if Drake yawned one more time Damian may just launch himself across the coffee table to strangle him. Damian was trying to concentrate on his sketch. It was a drawing of Gotham’s buildings skylines with the sunset barley peeking above the building. Drake’s constant yawning was ruining his concentration and Damian would assume the oath would understand that when he jammed his earphones in. Apparently not.Drake let out another large yawn, eyes watering as he covers his mouth. Damian’s toes dig into his thighs and his hand clenched around his mechanical pencil to halt himself from laughing at him.Finally Drake stood up and stretched, yawning as he did. Damian prayed he was going to bed or to the cave. Anywhere away for Damian and his sketching.Instead Drake said, “I’m going to go grab a coffee. You want anything?”Damian was about to snap at him that he didn’t want any of that poisonous beverage when he thought better of it. If he requested Drake to get him something he’ll stay away longer. Hopefully long enough for Damian to finish the buildings.“Tea.” Damian grumbled out. He’d prefer hot chocolate but he didn’t trust Drake of all people to make it. The only acceptable person was Pennyworth and he wasn’t around. Father was at a meeting at W.E because he thought Drake deserved a break. Grayson and Pennyworth were out food shopping. So Damian was stuck with Drake. It was beyond irritating.Drake hummed and nodded, waving a hand as he left. Damian wondered if he even heard him. With the way he swayed on his feet, Damian doubted it. Hopefully drake will stay away long enough anyway.Damian eyed him as he vanished around the archway, releasing a breath when he disappeared. Now to get back to his drawing.He tried to concentrate on his work but Drake’s phone kept buzzing on the coffee table. Damian eyes it in distaste before he let out a growl and placed his sketch in the pillow next to him.He leaned forward and yanked the phone of the table, scowling at the texts from Stephanie. Of course the woman would spam Drake with texts when Damian was attempting to concentrate on his art work. The woman always manages to grate on Damian’s nerves.Damian scowled and swiped the screen up, intending to give the girl a piece of his mind. Instead the camera screen popped up and Damian jumped in surprise as his own face starred back at him, thumb hitting the white circle in his startle.He blinked before he scowled even harder, pressing on the little square box on the bottom left. It filled up the screen and Damian frowned at the surprise in his eyes and his crinkled brow. It looked ridiculous. He pressed the small rubbish bin and was satisfied as it deleted.Damian starred at the white screen that said there were no current photos. If he was correct he had just did a selfie, a ridiculous thing his foolish classmates were obsessed with. Even Grayson took them.He hesitated for a second before he went back to the camera. His own face starred back at him. He stole a look at the archway where he could hear drake grumbling about people not filling the coffee pot up after they were finished it. He turned back to the screen.He bit his lip before lifting his hand on range of the camera and holding up a ‘peace’ sign. He pulled on a neutral face and tapped the button with his other thumb. Damian looked at the little photo in the corner of the screen. It wasn’t half bad actually.Damian stole another glance at the doorway before he turned back to the camera. He pulled on a simple smile and clicked the button. That one was better surprisingly.He thought for a bit before he went cross eyed and took the photo. He had seen many people in his class do this particular pose. He looked at the little box before snorting. It was ridiculous, in a amusing way.He pulled faces at the camera and simple smiles. He even hung upside down on the couch to take one at some point. He wasn’t quite sure why but it was amusing. Don’t get him wrong, the notion of selfies were ridiculous but they were amusing at times.A clank from the kitchen mad Damian sit up and he eyed the doorway. A muttered finally and quiet footsteps had Damian launching his upper body across the table to place the phone back. He stuffed in a earbud and went crossed leg, picking up his sketchbook and mechanical pencil in a hurry.A second later Drake walked through the doorway with a stiff led yawn, carrying to cups. He did hear Damian then. He placed the tea in front of Damian and he let out a grunt in acknowledgment. Drake hummed before sitting in the armchair, taking a sip of his coffee before placing it in the glass table. Damian felt himself go stiff when Drake picked up his phone.Drake didn’t do anything however. Instead he smiled and shook his head and his phone tapped as he responded to, presumably, Brown’s text.Damian relaxed, sinking into his seat as he starred at his sketch. After a while he started his sketching once again, after talking a sip of his acceptable tea. Not as good as Pennyworth’s but acceptable.He should’ve known not to let his guard down however because a minute later Drake let out a surprised hum. Damian peaked over the top of his book before humiliation and embarrassment swim through him at Drake’s starring.“What.” Damian snapped, feeling his face heat up.“Did you,” Drake began, biting his lip and failing to hinder his grin, “take selfies on my phone?”Damian huffed, not answering as he starred at his drawing. Denying would be futile as it couldn’t possibly be any one else. Damian didn’t need to loose any more pride by admitting it however.“You did!” Drake continued and Damian rolled his eyes. That much was painstakingly obvious.Damian scowled as Drake flicked through the photos, grinning wider as he went. It was down really for humiliating.“We should take a selfie.” Drake suddenly claimed, tilting his head in thought.“No.” Damian deadpanned. He curses whoever made up this ‘selfie’ thing.“Oh come on!” Drake exclaimed, leaning forward on his chair. “Just one?”“Will you stop pestering me if I say yes?” Damian snapped, regretting his words immediately as Drake’s expression brightened up.“Promise.” Drake swore before he stood up and flopped down next to Damian.Damian wasn’t about to do it without some conditions however. “Show anyone these photos and I will stab you.”Drake blinked before a genuine smile split across his face. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”He fiddled with his phone before lifting it up with a grin. Damian huffed, looking to the side. Drake’s thumb brushed against the button and it appeared in the box.Drake nudged his shoulder and ruffled his hair in amusement. Damian smiled at the action, it was something father and Grayson would do. He looked up and the phone flashed.“Okay,” Drake smiles. “One more.”“It better.” Damian grumbled before smiling at the camera, noticing the fingers above his head. He smirked before doing the same and Drake grinned, looking amused as he took the photo.“See?” Drake said, pocketing his phone as he stood up. “It wasn’t so bad!”“If you show those to anyone I will stab you.” Damian reminded, huffing and crossing his arms across his chest stubbornly.“I won’t.” Drake repeated with a smile that Damian actually found reassuring. He picked up his empty cup before throwing over his shoulder, “besides, being if I did they wouldn’t mind. If Dick saw it, he’d be thrilled you’re acting like a kid.”“I’m not a child, Drake!” Damian fumed, feeling his chest twinge at the thought of Grayson being proud over something so ridiculous.Drake called back, teasing and grinning in a way that Damian knew was just ‘brotherly’ banter as Grayson called it. “Could’ve fooled me!”Damian forgot about his drawing, launching himself across the table as Drake began running away while laughing. Damian smiled slightly.——Later that night Drake sent Damian the three photos. By the morning all three of them were framed and stashed away in the false bottom of his top draw.Damian also saved it as his screen saver. It would keep his image of being a normal kid after all. Maybe it wasn’t completely ridiculous. Maybe.
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“Can you do that thing you did earlier?”Dick blinked before looking over at Tim who he had previously thought was asleep. Tim laid next to him, face half hidden in the pillow, cheeks turning pink.“What thing?” Dick prods gently, placing his phone on the plastic chair from the bed. Tim had a bad dose of fear gas and Dick refuses to leave his side.Tim is still new. He’s small, smaller than Jason when he was still here. He was even smaller than Dick when he was Robin and that was saying something. He was tiny and Dick refuses to leave his new little brother alone, unlike Bruce who was sulking upstairs in his self pity. Dick would have a word with him if he wasn’t to bust keeping his little brother company.Tim’s cheeks get redder and his nose scrunches up a little, brows furrowing in thought. Dick waits patiently, because Timmy is never the best at talking and even less so when he believes it’s an inconvenience. “You know,” Tim licked his lips, winching when his tongue swiped at his cut lip. “When I was under the dose. That thing with my hair.”Dick frowns in thought. Tim hadn’t been screaming, just terrifyingly quiet with tears dripping down his cheeks. Dick remembers his stomach twisting in fear as he cradled him in his arms, twisting his locks with his fingers and scratching his scalp in a form of comfort.“It was nice.” Tim mumbles, turning away in the bed, legs tangling in the warm sheets. His cheeks were still red and his shoulders were tight in, what Dick guessed, was embarrassment and discomfort.Dick, in slow and careful movements that he knew Timmy would pick up on, reaches his hand out and buried it in Tim’s hair. Tim tenses slightly, flinching in surprise but after a moment his form goes slack. “Like that?” Dick whispered, drawing slow circles against Timmy’s scalp. He smiles at Tim’s sigh of breath and his sluggish nod. Dick watched his eyes flutter and his breathing go even for the first time that night. He’s finally resting.Dick leans back and closes his eyes, smiling as Tim mumbles something in his sleep. He inches his body closer and Dick smiles and cradles him. His little brother is going to be alright, Dick would make sure of that.
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Damian woke with a start with a stab of panic and for a moment he isn’t sure where he is. His muscles and body twinged at the movement and Damian settled down, once he recognises the place, listening to the bats screech above. He realises, rather suddenly, how warm his left hand and right calf are. He blinks, eyes adjusting to the darkness of the cave. Richard is asleep at his beside, chair as close as possible to the cot. His hands are clasped tightly around Damian’s left hand, grip tight. Damian frowns at the purple nail polish on his fingernails before sighing at the Grayson of it all. Damian ignores how the pressure of his palm against the back of his hand is familiar, reassuring.Damian is startled at the next figure and he stared for a second. Drake is laying on the mattress, left hand gripping Damian’s calf as he sleeps. His other hand is curled under his chest, clutching at the sheets. Damian notices the difference of the holds. Grayson’s is tight while Drakes is more loose, if only slightly. Their both just as warm, just as tender.He lets out a huff, shuffling under the sheets slightly to get comfortable. The holds on his calf and hand get tighter and Damian decides it’d be a nuisance to push them off. Besides, it’s freezing in the cave and the body heat the two are giving off is a nice welcome.“You gave us a scare.” Damian curses his slight jump, eyes darting around before he spotted Todd leaning against the medical table a metre away.Todd’s lips twitch up in amusement and Damian scowls and prepares to fight when the giant lumbers forward. He’s quite surprised when all Todd does was ruffle his hair before walking away, steps echoing.“He’s right you know.” Damian didn’t jump this time. There’s a squeak from the wheelie chair in front of the big computer.Thomas comes into view a second later, blankets stacked in his arms. He doesn’t say anything, just gives Damian a tired smile. He carefully places a red fluffy blanket around Drake’s shoulders before tucking a yellow one around Damian.Damian grumbles but Thomas simply gives him a look of amusement, patting his shoulder before walking around the cot to place a green blanket over Grayson. Grayson let’s out a soft sigh, sinking a little lower on the plastic chair. Damian resists tutting and pinching the older boy.“Go back to sleep, Damian. The girls are taking care of Gotham with Bruce.”Damian nods, eyes trailing after Thomas before he exited his view. He lets out a sigh, closing his eyes as the memories of the night begin to comeback. As if they knew the hand on his hand tighter and the pressure on his calf increased before loosening. Damian could sleep in peace. The horrors and memories will be back in the morning but for now all is quiet and at peace.
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Sometimes Jason forgets. Sometimes, when his throat is raw from screaming and his body is thrumming with life he can’t remember.He can’t remember why he’s breathing, can’t remember why his body is larger and his muscles are too big. His eyes are wide and his heart is thumping and he’s breathing and he’s not sure why.His fingers clench at his sheets and his head snaps to the side. A photograph glows in the moonlight. Jason recognises Dick and Bruce but they look different, older. Theres others too and Jason should know them, feel it in his bones and he should remember because Jason is with them, smiling. He has his arms thrown over a skinny boys shoulder and messing a kids hair and Jay should know them because he wouldn’t be doing that otherwise but he just can’t remember-And then it all rushes back in a flood, as if it never was gone and it was always there, and the guilt strangles tight in his chest. They were his family, his assholes of a family and as much as Jason pretended to not need them he did. He forgot them, if only for a second and that’s not right.He hates to admit it, but it’s scaring him. Terrifies him because every time he wakes up it gets that little bit harder to remember.Jason can’t afford to forget because he forgot in the lazuras and it wasn’t pretty. Jason doesn’t want to forget, not again.With shaky limbs he pushes himself up by his elbows. His hands tremble and he clenches them into a fist in stubbornness. A harsh breath is sucked through his chattering teeth and he reaches out for the com resting on the side cabinet.His fingers fumble for a grip and he presses it into the palm of his hand when he gets a hold of it. Jason shakily brings it to his ear, fastening it in and pressing the button with stiff fingers.Instantly the com sparks to life and Jason is assaulted with bickering. He keeps his on mute and slumped against the head rest of the bed, staring blankly at the window.The wind howls gently, singing into the night. The curtain flutters, dancing along to the unsung song. Jason simply stares, knowing one day he might not be able to remember. So he’ll listen to his family bicker as his mind swims, drowning in memories he might not remember.
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Bruce was positive this was going to end in death or severely damaged egos, maybe even broken bones. Either way, it was rather amusing to watch. Not like they needed to know.“Why is my hair pink?” Stephanie drawled out, hands gripping the back of the wooden kitchen chair. A pink strand of hair swaying in her face.Jason guffaws loudly, dramatically and it was clear who had done that particular prank. Stephanie pins him with a stare, pink hair turning rather red in the lighting. “Watch your back, Todd.” She whispers and the table went silent, all eyes on the commotion. Bruce raises a brow, taking a sip from his coffee cup. “Or what?” Jason challenges, eyes narrow and a grin of teeth as he smiles. Stephanie smirks and Bruce is proud to say it looks rather terrifying.She laughs and everyone stares. It sounded like bells and birds and everything nice. Her next words are said kindly and Jason actually gulps.“You’ll just have to wait and see.” “Okay, okay!” Dick cuts in, raising his hands as he stood up. Everyone turned to him. “Can we stop the pranking for a bit? Just so we can have breakfast? Please?”Jason huffs and crosses his arms. Stephanie sends him a sickly sweet smile as she sits down on her chair, eyes promising pain. Dick lets out a sigh of relief, sits down and a loud squeal of air escapes him. His eyes go comically wide and his jaw drops. Jason laughs and Stephanie cackles. Even Tim lets out a quiet laugh. Cass simply smiles.“That is disgusting Grayson.” Damian spat, mouth twisted as he scoots away. Dick blinks slowly before spinning to his left to face Cass, eyes wide in betrayal.“You?!” He squeaks and Bruce is reminded of a tiny Dick who’s voice cracked an awful lot.Cass just sends him a smile, warm and sweet. Tim laughs behind his hand, shoulders shaking. They high five.“Timmy!” Dick whines and slouches in his seat. Tim simply smirks and rolls his eyes. Cass grins just a little. They make a terrifying team, Bruce has to admit.“I can’t believe you fell for that!” Jason snickers, shovelling pancakes into his mouth. He reaches forward and spoons some cream onto his pancakes, looking at Dick as he spoke. Bruce eyed Damian, his eyes were trained on Jason and a barley there smirk twisted at his lips. It seems it was going to be a long day.“It’s the oldest trick in the boo- gah!” Jason chokes and snatches a napkin from the table. He spat into it and wiped at his mouth, face twisted and full of disgust.“You where saying?” Dick questions, a wide grin on his face. Jason shoots him a glare before turning to Damian who was sitting up right and smirking.“You little shit!” He growls but Bruce saw the amusement shining in his eyes. No broken bones just yet. “You ruined perfectly good pancakes!”“You’re the one who put mayonnaise on them,” Damian said simply, cutting off a bit of pancake and chewing on it. Stephanie hugged her waffles to her chest and Tim eyes his pancakes with an air of worry.“You’re the one who switched the cream with mayonnaise!” Jason rebukes, slamming a hand on the table.“Well,” Tim spoke up, “you’re the one who wasn’t paying attention.”“And that prank wasn’t nearly as bad as putting pink hair dye in my shampoo bottles!” Stephanie cut in, glowering at him across the table. “I wouldn’t have done that if you hadn’t wrapped my whole room in toilet paper!” Jason barked back. Dick waves a hand and Jason snaps his glare to him. “That was actually me. I only did it because someone threw out my cereal and replaced it with bricks.”“That wasn’t me!” Jason pouted and Tim and Cass side eyed each other. Everyone turns to them, mainly glaring at Tim and directing a mask of betrayal at Cass.“What?” Tim shrugs, a barley their smirk on his face. “I only did it because someone pranked me. Besides, the real question here is who started the pranking.”Everyone gets quiet and Bruce lets a smirk slip on his face. That’s what they get for painting his batmobile all the time.“Well I sure as heck didn’t go around painting all the suits rainbow.” Jason muttered, scowling at the thought of last nights patrol.“I did.” Bruce said simply. Heads snapped towards him and mortification spread across faces along with betrayal.“Father!”“Bruce!”“Really?!”Bruce lets a smirk cross his face. “Let the war begin.”
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Tim’s hands are slick with blood, his own blood. He’s gasping and blood spurts from his neck and it hurts so bad but Jason is alive.
Jason Todd, the second Robin, murdered by the Joker. Tim’s hero was alive and just tried to kill him.
Tim wondered if he would be alive in a couple of minutes.
His hands are slick and black spots force themselves into his vision. His mouth tastes rich with copper and his body just won’t move and something tells him that isn’t good. He wonders if he’s bleeding out. He wonders if he’s dying.
The faint yelling turns into ringing and he coughs, body shuddering and limbs twitching. The rooms getting dark and he’s so cold but something warm is cupping his cheek and he leans into it.
The darkness continues and he shuts his eyes to make it stop. A spark of pain flashes across his cheek and he blinks, eyes the dark haired blue in front of him. He moves but all Tim can hear is ringing. Should his ears be ringing?
The blur moves and Tim can tell it moves desperately and he wonders why. Jason is back, Jason is alive and he can be Robin again. That’s good, so why is the blue so worried.
Tim ignores the echoing ringing and closed his eyes, a wet cough escaping his lips and the coppery blood chases after. He knows there’s too much blood, he knows he bleeding out but Jason is alive and that’s all that matters. Maybe he’ll be able to see Bruce smile know. That would be nice.
Slowly the ringing stops and all Tim can see is darkness. Darkness, until he can see nothing at all.
——
He’s awake. He can hear the buzzing of machines and feel the hand carding through his hair. He smiles before a frown tugs at his lips. Why is he sleeping?
“Timmy? Are you awake?” The voice is soft and thick with sleep and worry. Tim instantly knows it’s Dick and that only confuses him more.
He lets out a grunt and pauses when something rubs against his throat. The fingers tangled in his hair trail down to his cheek before they leave. Tim wants them to come back, it was warm.
“I’m going to turn down the lights okay? Just go back to sleep.” A hum and Tim bears the fading footsteps.
It’s silent for a while and Tim wants nothing more to sit up and open his eyes but his limbs are sluggish and heavy and he is just too tired to move.
Tim tries to fall asleep but his ears pick up a quiet voice and he can’t help but listen in. He’s a bat after all.
“Yes, he’s awake Bruce.” That’s Dick. Why does he sound so stressed? Should Tim still be asleep? “I just- I know Bruce. I just can’t believe Jay would do something like this. Tim was bleeding out, he could’ve died.”
Tim stops listening then. The copper in his mouth makes itself known and his neck itches with a vengeance. His body aches and his chest rattles with each wheezing breath.
Jason was alive, Jason was alive and he tried to kill him.
Tim wants to cry suddenly and he’s suddenly thankful for the lack of presence beside him. Jason tried to kill him, his hero tried to murder him. Why?
Ras Al Ghul.
The name strikes through his mind like lightning and his fingers twitch at his sides. He hasn’t personally met the man, but with all the records on him it makes complete sense.
He uses the lazuras pit to stay alive. He’s immortal in a way. Would he use it on Jason? But why?
The one thing Tim knows for sure is that it isn’t Jason’s fault. If the pit did bring him back than his actions could be explained. Coming back from the dead is a reason enough to behave like that.
Tim’s wars twitch at the soft footsteps and there’s shuffling feet before a soft creak of a plastic chair. A hand brushes across his right cheek and he peels his eyes open so he can look at Dick.
“Ja-“ Tim swallows and Dick’s face twists in pain and acceptance. Tim doesn’t like it, not one bit.
“I know Timmy.” Fingers trail up his cheek to his hair and Tim sighs at the contact. Eyes closing against his will. “We’ll make sure he never hurts you again.”
Tim hates himself for falling asleep. Hates that he was to tired to tell them it wasn’t Jason’s fault. Tim’s forgiven him so why haven’t they?
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“You weren’t terrible out there tonight.”Stephanie perks up, straightening her spine as she spins to face the big dark scary bat. His face is as frowny as always but he seems more relaxed.A grin crosses her face despite the split lip and bruised cheek. A compliment from the Batman? Now that’s a first.Without a though her left arm comes up and she’s saluting the bat with all the seriousness she can muster.“Thank you, sir.” Stephanie barks back, to keep up the charade and her lips twitch as his frown goes up, just a tiny bit. Her muscles sting a bit from her posture but she refuses to let her salute down until he responds.“Don’t call me sir.” Bruce eventually replies, relaxing in his seat as he changes gear. Stephanie grins sharply. “Yes ma’am. Thank you ma’am.” She says as seriously as possible. She sounds pretty serious.Bruce stills and Stephanie watches in fascination as he smiles. She wonders how he doesn’t have frown marks. Those are a thing, right?“Your welcome, soldier.” Bruce responds simply and Stephanie’s jaw drops before she salutes again, a silly grin on her face. Yes, tonight wasn’t all too terrible.
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“I don’t want to be ladylike,” Stephanie huffs, crossing her arms, “I want to lure men to their death.”
“You can still do that.” Jason happily states, squinting a speck of black fluff on her dress. His frown disappears when he picks it off.
“Maybe not the death part though.” Dick chimes in, adjusting Damian’s tie with a warm smile. Damian hisses and attempts to tug free to no avail.
Stephanie pouts before she perks up, blue eyes shining. “Seriously maim?” She tries.
Jason nods to her question, smoothing out her dress and stepping back with a grin. Stephanie squirms uncomfortably.
“Yes, just don’t let anyone see you.” Barbara pipes up, arms linked with Cassandra’s as they stride in.
Jason whistles obnoxiously and Barbara smirks and does a bow. Cass simply smiles and strides over to hug Damian from behind. He doesn’t squirm and Dick pouts as Cass rests her chin on his head.
“I can turn the cameras offline.” Tim chimes in, tugging resignedly at the collar of his suit. He leans on the arm of the chair with a sharp grin at the group.
Dick sighs as Jason lets out a cackle. Damian smirks and Cass’ smile twists up further.
“Good.” Stephanie agrees, tying her hair into a ponytail. Dick makes a sound of distress at the lack of fashion, like he could talk, while everyone else smirks.
“She’s definitely going to maim someone.” Damian decides, he doesn’t look displeased with the information. Cass pinches his cheek and Dick just droops.
“Oh she will.” Barbara chuckles, folding her arms and leaning on the door frame. Stephanie doesn’t utter a word. She simply smirks.
“Hey, where’s Duke?”
“Getting cold feet.”
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”Your hair is really soft after you wash it.” Stephanie exclaims quietly as her scarred fingers brush through Tim’s hair. Tim automatically leans his head back as her fingers get caught is a stray not. “Are you saying I have greasy hair?” Tim retorts, rubbing his throat as he returns to a better position.Stephanie snorts, resting her hands in her lap and on her crossed legs. “A little.” She admits and Tim smiles.He shakes his hair and a stray raven lock manages to snag him in the eye. Steph grins and Tim happily accepts the hair tie she presents smugly.“You should’ve seen Dick’s,” Tim says as he brushes his hair back into his palm. “He had the greasiest hair ever.”“When you were Robin?” Stephanie asks, fiddling with a spare hair tie as she glances at him.“Yeah,” Tim hums, tying up his hair into a messy ponytail, “and he had the longest rat tail I’ve ever seen.”Stephanie snorts, clamping her hand over her lips to hide her grin. Tim raises an eyebrow and she dissolves into giggles, tipping back onto the plush blankets on the bed behind her.“Careful of your arm,” Tim warns gently, eyeing the white bandaged wrapped around the deep cut. He didn’t feel like getting blood on his bed or Stephanie being drugged again. So far the medicine hasn’t kicked in. She’s just a little droopy and even more stubborn.Stephanie huffs and plops her arms above her head and plays with her hair. Tim smiles at the relaxed girl.Suddenly her eyes widen and she sits up so fast that their foreheads collide as she sails the right way up. “Do you have pictures?!” She exclaims, not even rubbing her very red forehead. Tim groans, fingers pressed against his. He already had a small headache from when he slammed into a wall. Stephanie will never live it down. He nods and groans. Of course, he had pictures of it. Dick had the most terrible fashion sense and Tim will gladly rub it in. Jason pays good money to see the pictures as well. “Yeah.” Stephanie claps her hands, jumping on the spot and the bed creaks and Tim laughs. The medicine will kick in soon and she’ll be conked out like a light. For now, he’ll keep her company, just like years before.
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“Shh. Stop fussing, I’m just braiding your hair.” Dick hums far too happily for Tim’s liking.“That is exactly why I’m fussing,” Tim retorts, winching as a lock gets tugged a little too hard, “why are you even braiding my hair?”Dick chuckles and shakes his head like Tim is an ant underneath his boot. Like he’s a mere child who doesn’t understand the simplest things. Tim scowls.Fingers card through his hair, undoing the messy braid and Tim frowns and holds still, praying to have hair after this. He’s just glad Stephanie isn’t here.“Because,” Tim doesn’t appreciate the teasing tone, “your hair is getting so long and it’s fun to play with!”“That doesn’t mean you have to braid it,” Tim says, pouting. He likes his hair long, but that doesn’t mean he likes his hair being braided. Especially by Dick, the fashion disaster of the century.Dick snorts and stops playing with his hair. Tim smiles in victory before he blinks as warm arms wrap around his upper body and a chin nestles on his shoulder.“That’s exactly what it means, Timmy.” Dick hums and Tim lets a faint smile spread across his lips as he looks at his fingers resting on his lap.“I don’t see you playing with the girl's hair.” He retorts playfully, jabbing his elbow into Dick’s side. A soft ‘oof’ makes him grin.Dick groans out load, flipping himself onto the couch and manoeuvring himself so his head is resting on Tim’s knees and his legs are kicked over the arm of the couch.Tim stares at the puppy pout on his oldest brothers face unimpressed.Dick happily boobs him on the nose and Tim swings his head around, smacking the offending appendage away with a grin.“Because,” He drawls out, “Stephanie would kill me if I even thought of touching her hair and Barbara only let you or the girls touch it.”Tim raises a brow. “What about Cass?”Dick grins widely, mischief sparking in his eyes. His feet thump the chair and Tim sighs. He just had to ask, didn’t he?“Cass is too beautiful. She doesn’t need anything to be changed.” He says smugly and honestly.Tim blinks. The girls are perfect, he already knew that. He blinks again as Dick snickers and quickly sits up. Blankly he watches his brother skip out the room, whistling a loud toon as he goes.Tim blinks. Before he’s knocking pillows off the couch and taking chase. “Are you calling me ugly?!”
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”If you steal the blankets, I am going to put my cold feet on you.” Tim threatens, curling into his cocoon even further as he glares at Jason over the fluff.Jason snorts, looking far too amused. He doesn’t say anything, just lets gravity take him so he’s flipping on Tim’s legs. Tim lets out a quiet grumble, wiggling his feet closer to his person. “I can’t believe you’re sick.” Jason comments and Tim doesn’t appreciate the amusement laced in his words. He presses his feet against Jason’s thigh and shoved him. He smirks at Jason’s squeak as he knocks into the hard armchair. “That was uncalled for.”“It was uncalled for you to mess up my cacoon and tease me when I’m sick.” Tim retaliates. He’s proud before a kitten sneeze has him groaning. Jason laughs and Tim curls in on himself.“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you get sick before.” He muses and Tim sniffles at him. “Maybe cause’ you were dead,” Tim says spitefully.Jason freezes as he blinks. Ever so slowly he shakes his head, a smirk splitting across his lips.“You can be quite crude, Babybird.” His voice is filled with amusement and Tim relaxes and kicks his feet on top of Jason’s legs as he snuggles deeper into the warm couch.Jason raises a brow.“If you’re gonna bug me the least you can do is deal with me using you as a footrest.” Tim counters, tugging the stitched hand made blanket closer to his chin.“Those are big demands there,” Jason teases, “sure you’re up to it?”“You are my new pillow.” Tim deadpans, wiggling as his shoulder goes half dead. “I could always make you massage my feet.”Jason snorts and his right dimple makes itself known as he grins. He shakes his head. “You are demanding, ain’t ya Timmers? I wouldn’t have taken a day off if I knew that.”Tim eyes him over his mountains of blankets. “Vigilantes don’t get days off.”Jason grins, a spark in his eye. “Those are B-mans rules. I don’t follow his rules. I thought you were the smart one, Timmy.”“You’re a very annoying footrest.” Tim decided after a while, rolling his body so he was facing the tv screen. He wiggles his pillow and got comfortable, going lax as Jason rubbed at his ankles.“Now shut up. We’re having a Star Wars marathon.”Jason snorts. “Nerd.”Tim happily applies his cold feet to his stomach. His reaction was worth the sacrifice of allowing his toes to meet the outside world.
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“Did I ever tell you about the time I started a cult?”Dick chokes on his spit, blinking dumbly at the pile of floppy human in his arms. Tim’s eyes are mere slits but they still manage to bore up at him through his charcoal bangs.“Did you now?” Dick answers after a while, praying this was only a faze from the pain killers. Tim never did like pain killers and he put up one hell of a fight.“Mhmm.” Was the slurred response and Dick smiles, readjusting his grip on his little brother.Tim’s bangs tickle Dicks shoulder as rubs his head against it. It reminded him of a kitten. Then again, Tim did get awfully clingy when half asleep. His sleeping form unconsciously seeking out the touch he never got from his parents.“Are you going to tell me what it’s about Timmers?” Dick asks softly, tightening his grip around Tim’s pale legs.“Coffee.” It’s barley mumbled and Dick has to lean in to hear it probably. He’s not too surprised honestly but it doesn’t make him laugh. Tim snuggles deeper in the warmth in response.“I shoulda’ known.” He whispers, kicking open his door with his foot. He kicks it closed as he gently put Timmy on his bed.Tim blinks, rolling his head lazily around to gaze at the room. He blinks at Dick quizzically and he smothers his laugh in his hand. Timmy really was like a lazy kitten when he was tired.“S’ ain’t my room.” He murmurs and Dick nods, grabbing his tv remote and jumping onto the bed and over Tim.He watches in amusement as Tim bounces with it, not even stopping his limbs from hitting himself.“Nope!” He cheers, dragging his brother into his side. Tim’s head easily rests onto his shoulder as Dick winds his arm around him. “You are staying with me and we’re going to watch Disney movies for the rest of the day.”“Kay’,” Tim mumbles, blinking as the tv turns on. Dick laughs and hugs his human teddy bear closer. “You’re comfy.”Dick laughs softly at that. He cards a hand through his brother's hair and ruffles it gently. “And I love your hugs.”Tim smiles rather proudly at that and Dick grins as Mulan plays in the distance. Tim’s knocked out soon after and Dick watches him in amusement.“You know,” Dick says, eyes on the screen, “You are very endearing when you are half-asleep.”He just hopes Tim was kidding about the cult thing.
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Terror. Disgust.Tim didn’t really know. It’s kind of a toss-up when you wake up covered in blood. Everything hurt so much it seemed to numb out the pain. It didn’t really make sense, not to Tim at least. It didn’t make sense why he was laying in the green flush of bush and flowers and it didn’t make much sense why he was staring up at Wayne Enterprises. A cough rattled his bones and blood spurted from his lips. His back really hurt. He sniffed and his eyes stung. There was beautiful sent of sweet copper in the air. It must be the flowers and blood. That’s a strange mixture.Tim blinks before he notices the cracked whites of his cowl eye lenses. So he was on patrol? He scans his surrounding the best he could but sees nothing except green leaves covered in blood. A groan has blood bubbling from his mouth and he squeezes his eyes closed for a second. Everything hurt. A whiz catches his ears and Tim attempts to crane his neck. Pain bursts out and ringing and white spots appear. He feels light-headed for a second and all he sees is black.Blearily he opens his eyes. A figure hovers over him, a worried and panicked look stretched across there face. The figure was black.“-That’s a lot of blood, Timmy.” Figure mumbled and Tim blinked. Dick? He shouldn’t be worried when he’s dressed as Batman. He’s not supposed to be worried. He’s supposed to frown. Why is he worried?“right’” he slurs and Dick has a hand on his cheek in an instant.“Shh, Timbo. No talking okay? You’re going to be alright.” The voice was soothing and Tim hums, closing his eyes at the warmth. “Hey, hey. Keep those eyes open for me? Okay?”Tim groans and blood bubbles passed his lips. He wishes the copper in his mouth was as sweet as the smell around him. That would taste nice.“Jeez. How’d you fall from the top floor, Timmy?” Dick whispers and Tim’s eyes widen.The top floor! Ras! He groans again and tries to move, body screaming in protest. Ras, he had to get to Ras. He had to protect them, protect the people Bruce cares about. For Bruce.“Woah!” Dick exclaims and pressure against his shoulders makes a strangled short scream escaped his lips. “Tim you can’t move! Help is coming okay? You just got to stay still, alright? No one's going to hurt you.”Tim went limp, finally understanding. It was okay, he had defeated Ras. He had one and the people Bruce cared about would be alright. He won. He wonders if he made Bruce proud.“-on’,” Tim slurs, willing Dick to understand. “I -on. Ras won’t come after you-“ a cough rattled his frame. “I won. I made Bruce proud.”Black dots settles along the edges and Tim panics. He might not make this but he hasn’t bought Bruce back. Desperately he grabs Dick’s gloved hand with his bloody slick one. Dick’s eyes are wide, face pale and fingers trembling.All Tim can see is white and black. “-e, he’s ‘live. Bruce is ‘live.” Tim splutters and his vision is obscured into an empty abyss.The feeling of pain vanishes and he goes limp.
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“Hmm, I’m hungry.” Red Hood groans, joints popping as he stretched his arms above his head.“You have officially reached dad bod.” Nightwing snickers and ducks under an armour covered elbow.“Shut it.” Red Hood warns. He did not want to be compared to Bruce in any way and Dickie saying he has a dad bod is just wrong. He is not a dad, so therefore he has no dad bod.“Just wait, Hood. The food will be here soon.” Red Robin pipes up, leaning against the plastic sticky chair with a sigh. Left-arm kidnapped by Robin as his over rubs at his neck. “It better not be greasy,” Robin informs them, wrapping a bandage tight around Red Robins wrist. “Thanks, Babybird.” Red Robin says, a smile on his lips as he gently lays his right arm on his lap.Robin snorts. “Stop being reckless.” Are all he says and Red grins, reaching out with his good arm and ruffling his hair, pulling down his hood in the process.“I’m hungry.” Red Hood whines again and everyone can basically see Nightwings eye roll.“Hold your horses, we only ordered a minute ago.” He chides and Red Hood eyes him.“You say I have a dad bod and yet you’re acting like the dad here.” He deadpans and Nightwing blinks.“Is that supposed to be an insult?” He asks, genuinely curious. Red Hood snorts and a thin eyebrow escapes Robins mask as he raises it.“Knowing him, it most likely is.” Red Robin pipes up, gripping onto Robin's hands to stop the boy playing with the salt and pepper shaker. Red Hood grins. “He’s correct Bigwing.” A soft whistle cuts off their conversation and Red Robin releases Robins hands as they all reach for their weapons. The janitor with the greying hair spins into the room, eyes closed as he dances with the mop.Red Hood blinks and Robin smirks. Nightwing relaxes with an amused grin as Red Robin shakes his head. “Looking good, Lawrence!” Red Hood hollers, hands cupping around his mouth. Lawrence trips, moo flying into the air and bucket splashing. He stares wide-eyed at them, like a deer caught in the headlights, with a hand over his chest.Red Hood bursts into laughter and Lawrence chuckles, shaking his head. “Here we go again,” he says, rolling his eyes good naturally. “One day,” he says, struggling to his feet, “you boys are going to give me a heart attack.”“It’s not our intention,” Red Robin speaks up, elbowing Robin as he smirks, “but some people just can’t help themselves.”“I feel like that last bit was aimed at me.” Red Hood hums, perking up as Lily comes in with their food.She gazes at Lawrence and the knocked over bucket and mop and shakes her head with a smile. “Stop harassing my employees or I’m kicking you out.”“You love us too much!” Nightwing cheers, happily taking the trays off the tall brunet girl. “Love is a strong word!” Lawrence teases, starting to mop up the kitchen. “That’s why he’s using it!” Red Hood retorts, happily taking his burger from the pile of food. Nightwing rolls his eyes and places Damian’s pumpkin soup in front of the boy. Red Robin happily accepts his chocolate smoothie as Nightwing munches on a chip.“Boys.” Lawrence tuts and Robin gives him an affronted look. Red Robin shakes his head as Lily snickers.It’s quiet after that, Lawrence and lily cleaning up as the boys eat their food. It’s quiet until there’s a sigh from Lily as she walks back out from the storage room.“Lawrence managed to tick off some local muggers.” She huffs, hands-on-hips. “They’re threatening him with a gun.”Nightwing laughs as he happily jumps up from the table. Red Hood quickly uses the vacated spot as a footrest.“Let me guess,” Red Robin hums, “Lawrence is threatening them with his singing skills right now?”Nightwing snickers as he disappears into the storage room. “You bet.” Lily grins as grunts and screams come from the room. “That man is a hooligan.” Robin declares as Nightwing comes back out, clapping his hands in a way to tell Hood to budge over.Hood lifts his legs and Nightwing slides under, happily going back to his chips as Lawrence comes out the storage room, swinging his mop around.“That’s what they get!” He happily cheers. Lily shares a look with the boys.”Good job, Lawrence.”
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Dick was close to laughing, watching Jason and Damian argue like a pair of cats and dogs. Over a chair. A chair that Jason was already clearly sitting on. Jason didn’t seemed fazed by that fact, palms pressed on his knees and sitting on the edge to poke and prod at Damian. Damian was pouting, frowning if you asked the boy, right back. He was basically cuddling the arm rest, sitting on his thoughts that only kids seemed to be comfortable doing.A bubble of surprise laughter escapes Dick’s throat as Jason decides poking his tongue is the right thing to do.“Real mature Jase,” Dick teases, resting his left arm on the back of the chair and crossing his legs. “He started it!” Was the echo he receives, from both adult and child. He snickers.“Uh, Dick?” Came a questioning voice and Dick grins, swivelling in his seat to look at Timmy as Jay and Damian continue to bicker.“Yeah Timmy?” Dick hums in question. Wasn’t Timbo supposed to be as WE soon?“Could You Hell me out with something?” Tim asks, voice dropping nervously as he glances at the two others who’ve stopped bickering. He licks his lips. “...it’s guy stuff.” Dick blinks before nodding at his baby brother. He seemed embarrassed and Dick didn’t really want to make it worse.Like a true acrobat he vaults over the couch, swinging an arm around Timmy’s shoulder to steal him away from the room.Jason blinks. And he grins.Without a though he launches himself into Dick’s space and wrestles with the baby bird of the family. “Move, Jay!” Damian whines and Jason is tempted to hug the little baby. Ew, Dickie is running off on him.“I thought you wanted the other chair.” Jason teases and Damian huffs, cheeks slightly fished before flopping on his back, hair ticking Jason’s brown jeans.Jason crosses a leg over the other as Damian pouts, thinking. “What was that all about?”Jason has wondered that too and an awful devious thought flashed in his mind. He grins. “Maybe he grew his first pube?”The reaction was even better than what he was hoping for. Damian gags and his face scrunches up, fingers going over his ears as he scowls at Jay. Jason cackles.“Jaybird?” Jason haunts his laughter, chuckling as he turns to face Dickie. “A little help here?” He blinks, now Dickie was looking embarrassed. With a dramatic sigh he gets to his feet, ruffling Damian’s hair as he goes.“See ya, Baby bat but the men are calling.” A pillow hits the wall as he turns the corner. “Real mature Jay.” Dick says, again. Jason just grins.“What’cha need Bigwing?” Jay hums, eying Dick’s sheepish look. “Er,” Dick coughs into his fist. “Timmy needs help with his tie.” He rushes out.Jason barks out a laugh. “Yeah, no. I can’t help you there Dickie. I don’t do ties. Have you tried watching a tutorial or somethin.’”Dick lets out a sigh. He shakes his head with a small grin. “Yeah, but I don’t think the tie is supposed around the head.”Jason bursts out laughing, his frame shaking as he sees Tim’s struggling with a black tie tangled in his hair. “Ey, Stop your fussing.” Jason admonishes, whacking the pale hands away. Timmy pouts and Dick looks way too amused. “Ya’ll make it worse.”A couple or re-runs later and the tie is back around Tim’s head. “That’s it.” Tim finally says, waving his hands around and ducking away from the two. “Get Damian.”Jason raises a brow and grins. “Now I can do that at least.” He struts alway from the two, whistling as he does. “Dames!” He hollers as he enters the lounge and a little head pokes up from behind the couch. “C’mere, you’re out only hope.”Damian blinks before looking at him in disgust. “Ew, I don’t wanna see a pube!”Jason stares before shaking his head slowly. A snort escapes him and with a shaky hand he waves Damian toward him. “It ain’t a pube, I was just yanking on your leg.” Damian goes slack in relief and Jason really wishes he had video camera with him.When they get back to the other two birds, Timmy is slothing against Dick’s shoulder. Dick pats hums awkwardly, looking rather sheepish at Damian.“You do realise I don’t use ties?” Damian finally asks. Tim whines and Dick blinks. Jason sighs. “Just use a clip-on.” He decides, crossing his arms. “That’s not right.” Dick sighs as Damian hangs off of his frame. “Play the video again.”Tim whines. “I’ve seen you two disarm bombs faster than this.”“What are you four doing?” They all turn and smile awkwardly as Bruce strides into the room, a thick eyebrow raised. He looks too amused to not know what they were attempting to do.The others part and Bruce untangles the tie from Tim’s head. “How in heavens name do none of you know how to tie a tie?”“Why would we?” Jase pipes up. Bruce raises a brow at him as he does a loop with the fabric. “When you always do it for us?”Bruce shakes his head and looks back at Tim, hands culling his shoulders when he finishes. Tim smiles, looking sheepish and grateful. Bruce expression softens. “Thanks dad.”
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Tim didn’t understand the looks he got. His parents always looked at him strangely when he was young. One time his mother’s eyes shone in worry, glancing at his father with a look of fear. Tim remembers that day all too well. That’s the day they stopped loving him. He was four when it happened. He still doesn’t understand, not really. What had he done?He didn’t talk much after that. He didn’t want to get in the way. The only thing that gave him joy was watching Batman and Robin souring through the sky, like they were born to do what they did. Born to save others and risk their lives. He was a Fan boy when he was younger, that he had to admit. It only got worse when he figured out their identities. Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson, two people making a difference. When Tim was ten Nightwing, once Robin, went away. He couldn’t admit it to anyone, but he was crushed. He admired him, which that much was true. Then Jason Todd appeared, a new Robin. He was good at what he did, maybe a bit brutal. He got the job done though. Then he died and Batman went down a dark world of turmoil. It was hard to witness and Tim knew he just had to do something.He thought them, thought Dick to become Robin again. Begged it. It didn’t work and then he was in the Robin suit, rescuing them. Tim had never felt so content before, even as adrenaline course through his veins. He trained for his place, even as Mother and Father got worried about him. Second glances, frightened whispers. Tim thought they were scared; the company was getting worse as the days passed. They must’ve been worried there wouldn’t be a company when Tim was grown. That had to be it.Then mother died. Tim was crushed and he was broken. Father was in a coma and Tim thought he’d never wake up. Thankfully he did and he got married. Tim liked Diana, she was nice. Then father died, and then Diana went missing. Tim’s world was crumbling and he didn’t even realise how much.It was ironic really. And he would never even know.“I can’t take this anymore!”“Mrs Drake, please you need to calm down.”“No I don’t! Tim may only be my stepson but I’m still his mother! He’s got Schupak for crying out loud! What are you even doing to help him?” “Ma’am, there isn’t much we can do. Timothy has experienced many traumatic events at a young age and he has created a world to escape from that.”“Is he ever going to come back, back to me?”“I apologise ma’am. At this rate it doesn’t seem possible.”He would never know. The world he loved, despite its troubles, wasn’t even real. He wasn’t even real, not really and he would never know. He didn’t know.
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The silence was thick in the small room. A fire flickers and patterns dance across the shadows of the cream coloured walls in a quick and deadly tango. It would be beautiful in any other situation.“It’s your decision, detective.” Ras drawls, poison green eyes shimmering in amusement. The gold on his robes sparkle in the dimness of the shadows. Tim tilts his head, blood escaping between clenched teeth and clamped lips. He resists snarling, puts on a face of stone. Ras may this game but he sure as hell won’t see how it affects him. He’s stone and nothing more. An empty abyss with no emotions to be seen to the open or exploited.“You’ve made that well aware.” Tim indulges, swallowing the copper taste down his throat. He licks his teeth, cringing internally at the taste of his gums.Ras moves forwards and it’s irritatingly elegant. Gold glimmers and dances with the flames and the flames flicker against the silver of the katana. His robe falls over him perfectly and the sleeve travels up as his fingers travels against Tim’s cheek.Tim swallows up the copper in his mouth, spits it out. The gentle brush of fingers turn sharp, stinging against his face, emitting a strangled shout from across the room. Fingers cradle his jaw, wrench it towards him with a warning snarl. Tim glares right back with hatred in his eyes. “Make a choice detective and make it soon.” Ras spits and it’s clear he’s done playing games. Funny since this whole thing is just a big fat game.His robe flares behind him as he wrenches the paper door open, slamming it shut. His figure shakes behind it and Tim watches with satisfaction at his loss of elegance and composure. His feet echo on the wooden flooring.“Drake,” Damian croaks and Tim hates how small and terrified he sounds. He glances at him, lifts his lips up in some resemblance of a smile. He never was good at this part. Dick was and that’s what Damian needed right now. He will be with him soon.Tim works his jaw, swallows down more saliva mixed with the coppery taste of blood. “I’m fine, Dames.” He attempts to reassure. He doesn’t think it works.“You’re bleeding and in chains!” Damian retaliates with a wrecked cry. He looks close to tears and his chin wobbles and crinkles up just like a child’s. He is a child, Tim reminds himself.“So are you,” Tim reminds gently. He lets out a slow breath, releases it and tugs his arms forward. The shackles around his wrists make a deadly song as they clink together in the quiet room. Tim takes another breath, intending to reassure his baby brother that he is fine, that he is alright and that he will get Damian out of here when the door slides open. Talia Al Ghul’s heels click as she steps into the room. She clicks her tongue, eyes as poisoned green as her fathers trained on Damian with sharp disapproval. “Worrying is a weakness my son and it will not be tolerated in the league.” He clamps his mouth shut at the poison dripping from her tone and watches as Damian lurches forward in frenzy desperation. “Mother, help us! Get us out of here, please. We can escap-“ the slap bounces of the walls and Damian’s pleas fall short. Tim’s wrists and ankles burn as he strains himself forward with a snarl reverberating within his chest.Talia doesn’t even so much as look his way. Her eyes are dark, angry. Her hand is still in the air, a warning.Damian shrinks back, looking so hurt and small that Tim’s chest aches with so much hatred for that woman. How dare she, how dare she!“What did I just say?” Her voice is cold in her anger and Damian curls into himself. “This behaviour will not be tolerated-““He will not be staying.” Tim cuts in, fierce and angry. The chains hold him back but he still struggles. His wrists bleed red and his ankles bruise and scrape. He couldn’t find it in himself to care. Talia stops. Her hand lowers. “Ah,” She turns around slowly, green eyes captured in the dying flames of the room. “It seems you have made your choice.”She nods to herself and then she’s advancing towards Damian. Damian tenses and do does Tim. A key glimmers in the middle of the room before it’s plunged into the chains tied around Damian’s wrist. They click open, clank onto the floor with a dull thud.Talia straightens herself, pickets the key and walks away. Her heels click and she leaves without a glance back. Tim knows he’s been played but he knows he made the right choice when Damian sinks the slightest in relief. They won’t hurt him again.The door shuts and Damian scrambled forward, throwing his arms around Tim’s shoulders and buries his face into his chest. Tim can feel him trembling so he buries his face in dark soft hair. The trembling doesn’t stop but neither of them move. They know it won’t be long until Ras is back again.“Timothy, you can’t.” His voice is wrecked and quiet. “I can,” he replies. “And I have.” The tears begin and spill over cheeks still round with baby fat. He shakes and he shakes because he knows what game his grandfather is playing. They both do.Ras steps into the room, lips curved into the smile. Tim hates how accomplished he looks. Ras will win this time and Tim is letting him. He doesn’t mind, not really. But it does hurt that he’s putting his family through this pain. “Are you sure that’s the decision you want to make?” He asks and Tim’s heard this line before. With Dick, Duke, Cass and Steph. And he replies just like he does every time that questions hits his ears. “Yes.” Even as Damian shakes his head widely, whispering out a mantras of ‘no’s.’Ras nods. Just like before. “Very well.”He doesn’t regret it as Damian screams as he’s ripped off of him. He doesn’t regret it when he’s dragged away by the chains on his wrists and the ones trapping his ankles. He’s limp, taking pleasure in making Ras’ life as hard as possible. He knows he won’t regret it even when Jason’s crazed screams ricochet through the hall, drunk on a flashback that wasn’t real. This time.He doesn’t regret it because he knows the rules of this game. Ras gave him his word, his promise that his family would be released if he chose it. Tim knows the ending of this particular game and he doesn’t mind it. He won’t regret it.Ras wanted to know if his loyalty and stubbornness would get him killed one day. That’s the game. And today Ras would know the answer.And just before he’s thrown into the room of his next ‘test’ the words leak out into the open. Smug and quiet. “Are you sure that’s the decision you want to make?”It would always be ‘yes.’ “Yes.”
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“Seriously?” Red Robin asks and Damian really doesn’t appreciate his tone.His elder brother eyes him tiredly through the white lenses and Damian really doesn’t see what’s wrong. The heathen that attempted to kidnap him is whimpering over a broken nose and a twisted ankle. Damian was doing him a favour really.“Yes,” he replies because maybe he feels like being a little shit.Red Robin pinches his nose and sighs. He looked a lot like father after Todd has done something particularly stupid that day. Damian keeps that thought to himself.“And why are you in the alleyway? Everyone knows not to follow someone into an alleyway.” Red grumbles and Damian clasps his lips shut, turning his head away defiantly and telling the redness in his cheeks to go away. It’s silent for a few seconds and Damian can feel the stare so he coughs into his fist, staring at Red Robin’s neck when he answers. “He claimed there were sick puppies in here. I merely wanted to know if they were alright.”“Really?” Red Robin mutters and Damian scowls. He only listened because this man had an worthy and manipulating excuse for him to follow him. It was diabolical. “I swear you were out on this earth to give me a headache.”Damian pouts. First of all there were no puppies and then this moron tried to kidnap him. He really didn’t need the sass coming from his elder brother right now. Besides, Tim would’ve followed anyone if they promised caffeine. They even tested it.So he smirks and simply says; “I don’t think father had sexual intercourse just for that. You aren’t that special.”Red stares at him. “I’m leaving you here for putting that image in my head. Goodbye.”
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Bruce watches Jason from across the cave. His boy - his son - is frowning, frustration shimmering in his eyes as Alfred cleans up the small split on his lip. He understands that Jason is more sensitive, he understands that its more personal when it comes to fighting people on the street. Bruce has let him take down that thug tonight, could see the rage in Robin’s stance as soon as he recognised who it was.Bruce had let him take his revenge and he sees how it doesn’t satisfy Jason at all. The man got the beating he admittedly deserved but that didn’t lift the boys spirit at all.Bruce isn’t surprised.Alfred tuts as he puts the cotton balls away and Bruce stands up. “Come bake with me,” he says as Jason blinks up at him.“Baking?” He asks, tilting his head. He’s giving Ace a ru with his money with that confused and interested look.“Yes, baking.” Bruce hums. “I’m thinking muffins or cupcakes. How about something savoury too?”Jason blinks before twisting his face up in thought. Cute. “Corn dogs?”“Corn dogs,” Bruce agreed and Jason’s smile lights up his whole body, even if his lip most likely stung with it.“If you burn down my kitchen one more time,” Alfred trails off the threat and Bruce has the audacity to look at least a little bit guilty. So maybe he can’t cook, Batman can’t do everything it seems.“B burnt down the kitchen?” Jay asks and Bruce can’t even pretend to be mad when those green eyes light up even more and a teasing grin twists onto his lips.Alfred hums and pats his grandsons shoulder. “Oh yes. Four times in fact. Keep him in line Master Jason or I might just ban him from the house all together. I’m sure the bats would love the company.”A snort escapes Jason and he grins as he stands up straight with a bounce. He salutes Alfred with a straight face. “Yes sir! You can count on me sir!” He boldly claims.“As expected from an excellent cook,” Alfred nods, a small smirk as he plays along. Jason breaks his facade and smiles brightly.“I don’t need to be baby sat,” Bruce grumbles because he’s a grown adult dammit and he didn’t appreciate that jab thank you very much. Alfred gives him a look that says shut it and that he clearly does and Bruce mumbles out a quiet sorry ma’am under his breath. Alfred contemplated murder while Jason cackles. “Sure ya’ don’t, B!” Jason sings, winking cheekily and dodging Bruce as he attempts to grab him and mess up his hair. “Can’t catch me!”He races up the stairs and Bruce smiles softly. That’s better.“I’m not joking,” Alfred warns. “If there’s even a scratch in my kitchen then you’re sleeping in the cave without any food tonight.”“Yes sir!”
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Bruce didn’t think he knew what family meant, not really. He knew this was his family though, this was his home. No matter how crazy and hectic it always seemed to be. Family was this. Family was Dick sliding down the banister and slamming into a very not morning person Jason. Family was Stephanie and Cass playing with Tim’s hair as Barbara filmed them with that sly smile of hers. Family was Duke resting his head on top of Damian’s as he watched the boy draw Titus once again. Family was Alfred shaking his head at the chaos and refilling Bruce’s coffee. If anyone one asked what Bruce thought family was, well, Bruce wouldn’t be able to describe it. He would look at the chaos his kids create and simply say; this. This was family.It was different for everyone though yet they all had one thing in common. Each other.Family for Cass was people with loyalty, unyielding trust and honesty. Family was the people around her who let her blood stained hands run though their hair and smack their shoulders and pinch their cheeks. Family was trust and honesty, people who cared and who would never lie to her. This was her family she decides as Jason let’s out a curse mixed with a pained grunt.Jason groans from under his elder brother and threatens to stab him. Dick simply snickers and runs of, not before doing a summersault, of course. He rolls his eyes and looks at his family. These people - stupidly - trusted him, pulled him back and refused to let him go. They wanted him, his family wanted him no matter what he did. He died and he has killed and yet they never stopped bringing him back, dragging him right back to this chaotic place. This was his family. He’ll never admit it out loud, he’d rather die again before that happens.Stephanie cackles and wonders if she should get make up to complete Tim’s look. She gets a pouty face in return but simply grins and winds her arm around his shoulders as she pulls her phone out for a selfie. She lets go and snickers at Tim’s confused startled look in the photo and her glittery lipstick shining bright with her grin. She swipes her thumb across the cracked screen of her phone to see the others and simply smiles.Her family was crazy and they fought. They argued but they never ever meant any of the mean words. They were never meant to truly hurt after all. They cared for each other and for her and that’s all Stephanie could ever ask from her family.As Tim pouts and demands to see the picture Barbara adds the video to her blackmail folder. She really should just rename it to The Batfam and Their Antics. It was what the folder was full of after all.She was lucky, Barbara would admit that. She had two families. She had her father, her intelligent and loving father. She had this family too. This family who was crazy and just a little bit stupid but that was okay. No matter how far apart they become they were always they’re for each other and that’s what truly mattered.Tim gives Barbara a look and he knows she’ll send him the video. So what if he looked like a fool. He didn’t care because his family was here. His family was always right there or a call away. They always came back, no matter what. The never lied about that. Never.Duke wisely burrows his snort into Damian’s hair as Dick crashes into the kitchen, shortly followed by a grinning maniac called Jason. Damian doesn’t bother hiding his smirk and Jason flips him off before spear tackling Dick.Duke didn’t think he deserved this. How did he deserve this magnificent family when he was still waiting for his own? He didn’t think he did, he knows he doesn’t but they never fail to prove him wrong again and again. He truly didn’t deserve these people. He doesn’t think he ever will.Damian rolls his eyes at his family, specifically the eldest rolling around in the floor. They were far from blood and Damian was proud to say he doesn’t have their idiotic DNA running through his veins. They are family nonetheless. He learned harder than the others. He grew up believing family was blood and nothing more. This group of morons proved him wrong, and they proved him wrong hard. That was the only time Damian didn’t mind being proved wrong.His blood didn’t mean family but he would forever be grateful for it running through his veins. If it hadn’t he would have never met this band of misfits and Damian has never heard of a worse crime to ever exist.For each of them the term family meant different, but in the end it always led to each other. Every single time.
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“You’re freakin’ kiddin’ me aren’t ya?” Jason deadpans as Nightwing licks at his wounds like a wounded cat on his bed.“Nope,” He says, popping the ‘p’, cringing as he pulls off the mask and the glue clings to his face. He blinks before shaking his head and Jason’s snickers. “So you’re telling me,” Jason begins, moving over to perch on the bedside table to stare Dick in the eyes, “B got stuck in a tree because of his cape?”Dick must find his face hilarious because he takes one look and full on snorts, raising his hand to stop the boogies from escaping his nose. Jason ‘ewws’ and scoots away. “He really did. It was hilarious and then Supes came because he was worried why my heart beat was going funny and then he saw Bruce stuck in the tree like an angry cat and I swear it was the best day of my life.” Dick can’t even finish the story he’s wheezing so hard and Jason just face plants the bed. It’s uncomfortable with his legs sticking up because of the wood she he wiggles forward. He’s laughing as he does cause’ that’s really funny and he might be smiling right now.“Is that why you don’t wear a cape anymore?” Jason asks, laughter and sheets muffling his words.Dick guffaws before using Jason as his pillow, head resting comfortably on Jason’s back after a few squirms. “Oh no, I learnt the hard way.”He waits a second, then another before reaching a hand and blindly patting for Dick’s face. He finds a nose and a cheek and brings his hand up only to smack it back down. “You can’t just start a story like that and not finish it dummy,” Jason exclaims as Dick whines about annoying little brothers and this is why no one should ask for siblings. Jason simply smirks.“Jeez, you’re a fierce little bugger.” Dick grumbles, rubbing his cheek with a pout. Jason smirk widens. “And a little shit,” he adds.“Yes,” he agrees before rolling over. Dick grumbles and adjusts himself so he’s using Jason’s stomach as a pillow once again. Jason pokes his brothers cheek to encourage him. Dick snorts again and swats away his hand. “Okay, okay. You’re rather impatient, you know that Jaybird?”“Well you’re being a tease so I reckon’ you deserve my short fuse.” He snarks back and Dick, the dummy, simply grins like a madman. Stupid butt is enjoying this.“Fine, fine, jeez.” Dick sighs and Jason swears he’s the most dramatic person in existence, and he thought B was bad. “Okay, picture this. Wally has me in his arms, all bridal style and everything. He’s running, like super fast and there’s these doors like slamming down behind us. My cape is going crazy behind me and you know these doors are faster than Wally, so they’re mostly shut before he reaches them. Somehow he passes it by sliding on the floor and everything but it shuts and my cape, my cape, gets caught! He goes flying while I slam back into the metal door-“Jason’s laughter echoes throughout the manor that night. No one minds one bit. (Bruce is positive it’s about him. He’s not wrong.)
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“I don’t get it. Why are people so interested in us? We’re just angsty characters wearing colourful costumes punching people in the face.”Duke blinks as Tim mumbles into his coffee cup, staring rather intensely at it as everyone continues like this was normal. He prays this is not normal.“What is happening?” He asks the group as a whole, slightly creeped out and inching away from the muttering boy.Jason looks up from the floor, bullet in hand as he polishes is swiftly. He follows Duke’s creeped out gaze and snorts, returning to inspecting his many weapons laid out before him.“Tim’s sleep deprived, had too much coffee mixed with red bull. This happens,” he shrugs casually, like Tim wasn’t muttering about how they were fictional characters and that’s just not right. “Ahh,” Dick hums, vaulting over the couch and wrapping a arm around Tim’s shoulders. Miraculously Tim’s head stays pressed against the ring of the cup and no coffee spills. Or is it red bull? “Timmy you really should sleep.”“No point. Once this story is done we cease to exist until the next.” Tim grumbles into the cup and Duke gulps as Dick’s joyful laugh echoes happily.“What the-“ he mutters, creeping further away as Dick tucks Tim into his chest, ruffling his hair and saying how that was a good one.“Well then if this is a story then why not say ‘hi’ to the the audience!” Dick hums and Duke is so not dealing with this right now. Nope. Not happening.Dick starts waving, smiling widely and kicks Jason when he rolls his eyes. With a grumble he does a two fingered salute before reassembling the gun. “Nope, this is not happening,” Duke says but apparently he doesn’t exist right now because he is being ignored. Thanks.“Like the fandom does to you,” Tim mumbles and Duke whimpers. What does that even mean?“Hey Timmy,” Dick sing songs and Tim mumbles something into his cup. “Why don’t you show your face to the audience? I’m sure they can’t see it when you’re squishing yourself into the cup.”A bullet is thrown at his head and Dick blinks, eyeing Jason who raises an unimpressed brow at him. “He just said this is a story, dumbass. They can’t see any of us anyway.”His mouth opens in an ‘o’ shape before nodding his head in understanding. Duke wonders why they’re encouraging this. Because they definitely shouldn’t be encouraging this. Not at all.“Silly me,” Dick chirps, turning to the sleep deprived boy suffocating in his mug. “What kind story is it Timbo? It’s not a comic book or they’d be able to see us. So what else could it be?”There’s another mumble aimed into the cup and Dick’s eyes widen before grinning. Duke is really glad he doesn’t understand Tim’s sleep deprived mug mumbling anymore. He doesn’t want to know what is said.“Fan fiction? That sounds cool! What is it?” He asks, manhandling Tim so the boy was on his lap. Duke wondered if the mug was stuck to his face at this point.Jason perks up at that, casually putting his gun - which wasn’t on safety by the way - on the floor before swivelling around to face Dick.“Fan fiction writers are like book writers but different. They write about characters they like and post it on some social media platform sometimes. They create many scenarios or add in scenes they wish they could’ve seen in the thing they’re interested in. They do it on their own free will and others read them.” He explains, quickly and precisely. “Okay, now that’s cool.” Dick declares and Jason nods. “Whoever’s writing this thank you! Also thank you to the readers! You’re all amazing!” He shouts and Jason snorts, tilting his head in agreement.“Hell yeah they are,” Jason nods his agreement, crossing his arms defiantly.“Wait,” Duke begins, “if we’re fictional characters and this is a story isn’t the author forcing us to say this stuff and do it. So they’re technically praising their selves?”Jason blinks before shrugging. There’s a mumble into the cup that they all strain their ears to hear. “The writer is just putting it in the dialogue cause they reckon it’s something they would say.”“They were right!” Dick chirps once again. “I did say that!”“I just enjoy a good book. Besides fan fiction writes don’t usually ask for money. Just comments on their work and appreciations for what they do. Again, pretty cool if you ask me.” Jason returns and Dick grins at him.“Aww who knew Jay had a heart?” Dick teases and Jason stands up, expression calm. He picks Tim up by his armpits and deposits him on the floor, patting his head before launching himself at Dick.Duke lets out a scared noise, slowly backing out of the room. He’s just going to go to bed. Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.Tim peaks his head up from the coffee cup. “Bye,” He says with a wave.It wasn’t aimed at Duke.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Brucie Wayne barges into the school with an over sized coat and a basket swinging at his side. He gets everyone’s attention but he rushes right up to his son, who is standing next to his teacher with an angry pout and arms crossed, and pulls him into an exaggerated hug, spewing apologies.“This is ridiculous.” Damian states into his chest before tugging himself out of his arms. His hair is a mess, uniform skewed and cheeks flushed. Bruce simply chuckles and ruffles his hair, reviving a piercing glare and an angry pout in response. Damian swats at his hand as Bruce sends an apologetic smile to the teacher. “I’m so sorry that I’m late! I slept in and then I had a shower and y’know how kids are. The others just wanted some attention!” He exclaims and he hears Damian gag behind him as his persona turns to Brucie Wayne big time. The teacher flushes and shakes her head, arms flinging around and disoriented. “It’s no problem Mr. Wayne! Please take a seat wherever you would like. After the picnic we’ll get to see the children’s work!”Bruce’s smile is a little less fake as he nods to the flustered woman. He pulls Damian to his side and hides a smirk as his son grumbles against his leg and attempts to free himself. “That’s wonderful! I’m sure Damian has done excellent in his classes,” He says with confidence, true confidence, and the teacher nods before gesturing them to the door.The picnic is outside as the sun shines on them. There’s clouds of course, lots of them for that matter, but the sun is warm enough to keep them heated up and comfortable. Parents and children are scattered along grass and tables, food layered out before them. Their own food of course.“So, do you want to be on the grass or the table?” Bruce asks, letting Damian go but keeping a warm palm on his shoulder.Damian sends a ruffled pout at him, puffing up his cheeks. “This is stupid,” he repeats, “the grass will be fine. The tables are filthy.”“Is that right?” Bruce asks in amusement, taking his hand back to him and putting down the basket of Alfred’s homemade cooking. Working together they manage to unfold the blanket and lay it across a patch of mostly green grass.Damian huffs in a way that it should clearly be obvious and Bruce simply smirks. It’ll never get old annoying his children. “Of course! Theres paint and pencils scribbled on them. Disgusting words carved into the wood and love confessions. There’s gum stuck under the table and who knows what else.”With a hum he begins unpacking the basket. This might be a private school but kids are kids no matter how privileged they are. It’s bound to happen. “It is,” he agrees because that is gross, “tell Alfred. He’ll come marching down here and demanding for proper hygiene and discipline.”He meant it as a joke but the way Damian puffs up his cheeks and his eyes scrunch in concentration meant his boy took it literally. Well Alfred wouldn’t mind, at least he doesn’t think he will. Probably. Maybe. Yeah no.“Very well,” Damian confirms his theory. Bruce is not getting away with this unscathed. “I’ll ask him when we return.”“For now,” Bruce cuts in because his son is casually talking about his demise without even realising it, “let’s eat.”Bruce swears his back cracks as he sits down and the way Damian eyes him is only another confirmation. He’s not old dammit, it’s all the fighting. Damian gives him a look that says he doesn’t believe him one bit.They lay out the food and Alfred has overdone himself once again. There’s sandwiches, fruit, homemade burgers and even cake for dessert.“I swear he’s trying to fatten us up like the witch from Hansel and Gretel.” Bruce mutters to himself, a fond smile on his face as he shakes his head. Alfred never changes.Damian blinks at him, peanut butter sandwich in his mouth. Bruce waits for him to finish his bite as he takes a swig form a water bottle. “What are you talking about?” He asks and Bruce tries not to sigh. It wasn’t Damian’s fault he didn’t know these tales where and Bruce wanted nothing more than to be able to give Damian the chance of a normal childhood.“How about I tell you, yeah chum?” He says and settles in. He doubts he’ll only be telling one story after all.Damian leans forward, just like a little kid and Bruce thanks the teachers for this chance. “Those tails don’t sound real,” Damian mourners after he finishes telling him about Beauty and the Beast. Bruce simply smiles, his boy was entranced but he knew he’d never admit it.“I don’t see why they can’t be,” Bruce replies, placing an empty container back into the basket. “Science exists and you know how people can be.”Damian hums, screwing the lid on his water bottle. “It’s magic father. You can’t deny magic doesn’t exist anymore.”Bruce pulls a face and Damian actually smirks at him. If there’s one thing in common in this family, it’s the pride of not being able to admit when you are wrong. Besides he isn’t wrong, magic is just advanced science he hasn’t been able to figure out yet.Before Bruce can make a retort the teacher claps her hand and calls everyone to the classroom. It’s time to see the kids’ work. “Well let’s agree to disagree,” Bruce tells him as they pack up, folding the blanket after he yanked it from under Damian. The boy scowls at him and refuses to help Bruce pack the rest of the stuff up. Rude.“I can’t wait to see your work.” Bruce tells him as they walk down the hill. Damian simply smiles to himself.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
“Okay, what’s up with you?” Tim asks as he barges into the room. It was unlocked and maybe that meant that Damian finally learned there was no locking yourself away in your room in this family. “You’ve been hauled up in here ever since you came back from school. Titus wants attention.”
He stops shorts and blinks. Damian is at his desk, laptop open and paper messily ordered around him. He’s resting his head on his palms and is tiredly glaring at Tim through his bangs as Alfred the cat whines at his feet.
Tim didn’t need to do much investigating to see what was up. The only thing that ever seemed to bring the Bats to their knees was school. That and the familiar assignment sheet with Gotham’s school logo shined on the computer.
“What subject?” Tim asks, closing the door behind him. He kicks of his shoes and uses his toes to peel off his socks.
Damian simply sighs and grumbles under his breath before leaning back in his wheel chair. “Research.”
Tim ‘oofs’ his sympathy, leaning down to scratch Alfred under the chin before walking over and plopping himself on the desk.
“Have you picked a topic yet?” He asks, wiggling his toes and moving his feet as Alfred attempts to capture them. Damian stares at him flatly.
“What are you doing?” He demands, to put it simply, and reaches down to pick Alfred up and put him in his lap.
Tim shrugs as Alfred purrs, running his face against the breast pocket of Damian’s school uniform. Has he seriously not changed form his uniform yet?
“I’m helping,” Damian raises a skeptic brow at that, “don’t give me that look. School is stressful. Punching criminals in the face and figuring out cases the FBI can’t are honestly easier to deal with then school.”
Damian snorts and shakes his head but he doesn’t deny it. Taking that as permission Tim scoots himself so he’s facing the laptop and crosses his legs. Alfred attempts to bite his toes once their in his vicinity.
“Have you picked a topic?” He asks again and quickly finds out that’s a no at the empty lotus diagram he finds as he scrolls through the assignment sheet. “Okay rephrasing time. What are you interested in?”
Damian pets Alfred distractedly, pulling him back when he got too close to falling off the chair in an attempt to assault Tim’s toes.
“I like art,” he admits quietly and Tim smiles to himself. That was the only time that Damian has ever admitted it out loud. This assignment really must be stressing him out.
“Anything else?” Tim asks as he types out interests in the middle square. He quickly adds art into one of the boxes around it.
“Animals,” He says in response, boiling Alfred in the nose. Tim chuckles.
“Of course,” he agrees. “How didn’t I ever know that?” He teases and types it into the next box as Damian aims an angry pout at him. “Next?”
“Vikings are an intriguing topic, as well as acting,” he murmurs after a short pause. Tim smiles at that and types it up without a comment. No need for the kid to get embarrassed.
They manage to pick out two more topics, mainly just to fill up the diagram, and flesh out his interests in the topics. It takes a while but eventually the lotus diagram is full and Damian looks just a bit accomplished. Alfred does too, but that’s just because he managed to get Tim’s toes at one point.
“Okay,” Tim claps his hands and clampers of the desk, suffering from pins and needles as he does. “Food time and then video games.”
Damian blinks at him before scooping Alfred into his arms and following him to the door. “Food and video games?” He asks and Tim nods defiantly.
“Its break time. We did a lot and trust me when I say this, half the people in you class wouldn’t have even done the lotus diagram yet. Let alone filled the whole thing. I say we deserve a break.” Tim hums as he skips down the stairs.
Alfred jumps out of Damian’s hands and slides down the banister. He flings off and lands on Jason’s head, yowling and sticking his claws in his face.
“Yes, a break would be good.” Damian agrees, both of them dodging a yelling Jason and his limbs as they head to the kitchen.
They end up having a few sandwiches and crackers and playing minecraft. Tim swears the creepers were hacked and going specifically after him as he runs away. Damian just builds a house with a farm as Alfred purrs in his lap, Tim’s sock in his mouth.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Alfred was not invincible or god like. He wasn’t immortal either. He was human, an elderly one at that.
No one else saw him as that though and that was how Alfred was planning to keep it. They didn’t need to see the slight struggle it was to get out of bed, they didn’t need to watch as he grunts every time he bends down. They didn’t need to witness old age drag him down like a vice. No one should ever have to be a witness to that.
Logically he knew one day he would have to leave, wether he wanted to or not. He didn’t want to of course. God knows this family would not take it well. He need to be their for these, his, kids. No matter how much they denied it.
But no matter how much he fights it, there’s something in his stomach telling him he doesn’t have long. His gut has never led him wrong before.
He’s not scared, not really. He’s lived a long life full of hardships and struggle but it was a good one. He can’t help but feel concerned though, concerned for his son and his grandkids. Who knows what’ll happen when he’s gone.
Alfred tries to get them in one place. It’s difficult and these children are as stubborn as a mule. He tells them that too as he fixes their wounds and over the comms. They seem rather proud of that achievement however. It doesn’t surprise him in the slightest so he merely shakes his head and tells them it was far from a compliment.
Alfred wouldn’t say he hated death. Death was something that happened, no matter what you did to try to prevent it. It takes and it takes and it has no care of who you are, or were.
He may not be afraid of death but he knew the others had mixed feelings about it. Bruce, for one, was terrified of death and loathed it with his whole being. He blames death just as much as he blames himself for all the people that have been lost to it.
As for the kids, they were more difficult to figure out. Jason has faced death before, he makes constant jokes about it as well but he is oh so scared of it. Not dying, he had admitted to Alfred one quiet night. No, he was terrified of being alone again.
Damian was the same as the older boy. He didn’t want to be alone, he wanted to keep going and hated how death could put a stop to it. Both of those boys were far more similar than they knew, or wanted to be.
As for the others? Cass, Tim and Dick welcomed it. They understood that death will come no matter what and welcomed its embrace when they’re time would come. They also loathed it, loathed that it could take the people they cared for away to a place they couldn’t reach just yet.
Alfred didn’t want to die, but that wasn’t his choice. Not really. He lets out a sigh before shaking his head and straightening up. He will not have his last days wallowing in self pity.
He had stuff to do after all, like getting those kids off the streets and into their warm beds for one. He didn’t care how much they were going to protest, they had school and work in the morning after all. He was also guilty, knowing he could finally relax when all of them are asleep in their respective beds.
He starts down the stairs, pointedly ignoring the creak in his legs. His lips pull down as a pinching sensation travels between his shoulders. He goes to roll them but stops when that same sensation travels down to his heavy arms.
His skins feels clammy now that he thinks about it through a foggy mind. He shivers as he takes another carful step down, feeling phantom needles stab into his jaw.
A voice whispers today is the day as his upper abdomen tingles all over. His heart hammers against the fist clenching around his heart as the world blurs and tumbles around him.
A cry escapes his mouth and he falls, hard and fast. It’s painful and squeezing and he wants it to stop, begs it to stop. It does eventually.
Alfred Pennyworth is already dead when it does.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
“That is a dog.”“Yes,” Dick agrees as if this is the most normal thing on earth. It wasn’t. Normal is aliens ambushing earth, normal is fifty story buildings blowing up on a Monday morning, normal is catching Harley Quinn and Pamela Isley making out on a giant red rose during Valentine’s day in the middle of Robinsons Park. A puppy with three legs chewing on a sock still attached to Dick’s foot is not normal. It was pretty darn cute though.“A dog,” Jason repeats, trying to get his brother to see reason, “there’s a whole dog in your lap.” Well, it wasn’t a whole dog, not technically. It’s lost a bit of weight but Jason wasn’t going to be the asshole to point it out. Being an asshole to people is easy, being an asshole to animals is just illegal.“There is,” Dick agrees again, dimples popping out as a large smile crosses his lips. He coos at the puppy in his lap, fingers gentle as they scratch against grey fur. Apparently the grey and white pup enjoys that, little tail wagging so fast it was just a blur of motion.Jason blinks, shrugs and tosses a glock 17 onto Dick’s pizza-stained couch. There was no way he was just going to stand there when there was a perfectly pet-able puppy right in front of him. The puppy yelps, the sound adorably pathetic as she trips, snout connecting to cream coloured carpet. Jason winches in sympathy and Dick is quick to cradle the thing in his arms, rubbing his cheek against a fluffy belly as the girl immediately forgets her distress, instead going for his hair with little white teeth.“I think you’ve been spending too much time with the brat,” Jason says, lowering himself to the floor slowly as to not scare the poor thing away. He hadn’t needed to worry, as the puppy just continues to wiggle is Dick’s grasp, nipping at his ear playfully.Dick opens his mouth, brows furrowing in a way Jason knows is a lecture. “Jason, he isn’t-” He doesn’t get far, as a pink slobbery tongue worms it way into Dick’s mouth, quickly followed by a curious snout. Dick guffaws, spluttering and face scrunching up in pure disgust. The puppy lands in his lap, stump of the tail wagging excitedly as Dick wipes at his face with his shirt, muttering under his breath.Offering no form of support, Jason just cackles, hand on the left side of his chest as he wheezes. God, he already fuckin’ loved this dog. Wheezing he pulls the mask covering his eyes off, skin pulling at the act. Ouch. And that was exactly why he wore a hood. He didn’t have a chance of loosing his fuckin’ eyebrows that way at least. He better haggle Timbers later, but right now, it was puppy time.“Com’ere girl,” Jason croons gently, holding his backhand out for the girl to sniff. He doesn’t miss the slight whimper at the action, and he frowns internally. He has a feeling he knows exactly how Dick managed to find this girl. Animal abusers or a dog ring. None of them were better than the other.With trembling hind legs Jason and a now calmer Dick both watch the girl meekly making her way across to Jason. Her legs tremble and Jason smiles encouragingly, easily noting the slight struggle it is for the girl to walk with her three legs.It takes a minute of Jason’s soft croons and Dicks encouraging whispers for the pup to finally sniff Jason’s hand, but it only takes less than ten second for the pup to scamper onto Jason’s lap and paw at his stomach. Grinning he pets the pup, fingers carding through her thin fur in victory. Nothing was better than an animal accepting your affection and Jason would fight anyone who said otherwise.“She likes you!” Dick grins and Jason smirks, puffing out his chest in victory. The boasting effect was surely affected with a puppy sticking it nose under Jason’s tank top and sniffing at his skin but hey, you win some you lose some.“Of course she does, she has good taste after all.” Jason praises, gently prying the pup from under his shirt. The small puff of breaths were starting to tickle and there was no way he was going to let Dick know he was ticklish of all things. “Now let me name her.”“What?” Dick cries, “How do you know I haven’t already named her? Besides she’s my dog!”Jason rolls his eyes. “You are the least organised person I know. And I live with Roy. Besides if on the off chance you have actually named her I’m changing it immediately. This girl has been put through enough without your hideous name making skills to scar her further.”Dick levels a glare at him. “Name one time I’ve named something something stupid!”Internally he snorts. Seriously? “Easy. You called yourself Robin. You named everything Batman related bat something. You also called yourself Disco-Wing when you went through your rebellious faze. I’m not letting you name this precious fuckin’ pup something stupid.”Dick doesn’t argue, which is slightly surprising. Instead he just pouts, folding his arms across his chest and giving Jason the puppy dog eyes. Well jokes on him, there’s a real puppy right in front of him and it’s easy to see which set of eyes were cuter. So Jason dramatically rolls his eyes, holding the girl by her belly and lifting her to his face. A pink tongue wets his nose and Jason scrunches it up in reflex, glaring playfully at the wriggling puppy.“None of that now. This is an important naming ceremony!” His voice is an octave higher than usual and he can’t even be bothered to be embarrassed about it when Dick laughs at him. “Hmm Jessie? Nah, that doesn’t really suit ya. Rachel maybe?”Dick scoots forwards, stealing the pup from his hands to cradle her on his lap. Jason sends him a scowl. “Like Rachel from friends?”“What about it?”Dick shrugs, burying his face into grey fur. “I dunno,” his voice is muffled with fluff, breaking between giggles as the pup tries to twist in his grip to lick at his face. “Doesn’t seem to suit her.”Jason sighs, rolls his shoulders and grimaces at the crack that follows it. God he was getting old. Couldn’t he age gracefully like Alfie? “Yeah, I guess you’re right. What about Haley?”A small yap escapes the pup and Jason grins at the butt shaking dog. “Haley huh? Is that your name little girly?’” Haley barks again, the sound as small as her. Dick and Jason share a grin.Dick lifts Haley to face him, full on grinning as Haley laps at his cheeks. “Welcome to the family Haley!”“Its batshit crazy girl but you’ll fit right on in.” Jason tells the wiggling pup, scratching under the chin. “Damian is gonna love you and I just know Timbers is gonna take one look at ya and get right onto making a prosthetic for that stump you have there.”Dick nods very seriously, cuddling Haley close. “Cass will love you and Stephanie will steal Bruce’s credit card to buy you everything you need and more! Ace and Titus are going to be so excited to have a baby sister! Let me tell you this Haley, they are big as a horse but as goofy as, well, Goofy!” Haley yelps, physically shaking with excitement. As Dick brings the pup closer to his chest, leaning down to murmur to the girl, Jason smiles. “Everyone’s going to love you Haley!”Jason doesn’t even mind that his helmet is going to be put on the back burner.