Chapter Text
Tim’s POV
When Dick, Barbara, and Martha came back, there was something wrong that they weren’t telling us about, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. And dinner was incredibly awkward, but Armonía joined us, which made for a little brighter conversation. In the middle of the meal, my phone went off.
“Excuse me.” I murmured, excusing myself from the table. I felt my heart speed up at least 30 paces. I knew it was Steph, and she was calling to tell me the results of the appointment. I didn’t know what I felt, but it wasn’t pleasant. As soon as I was in the hallway, I picked up the call.
“Steph?”
“Tim! How are you?” Joker cackled on the other side of the phone. I felt my body stiffen. He had Steph. Steph was probably pregnant with my child. And I was on the other side of the globe.
“What have you done with her?” I growled into the phone. He laughed devilishly, taunting me.
“Well, if you ever want to see your girlfriend again, you might want to hightail it back here.” He sneered. I felt my heart stop, ice water in my veins.
“I’m coming for you, Joker. If you so much as lay a finger on her—“
“Yes, yes, I know. I will finally taste the sweet release of death.” He chuckled. I quickly ended the call, dialing another number.
“Lucius?”
“Mr. Drake? How’s the island?”
“I need the jet to be in Athens as soon as possible. Joker has Steph.”
There was a moment of silence.
“Pack your things. I’m arranging a ride for you. And by ride, I mean The Bat. Let’s just hope that the autopilot can travel across the globe.” He murmured.
“Dad built it. It can do just about anything.” I sighed.
“Be safe, Wayne’s.” Lucius warned. I simply hung up the phone and sprinted back into the dining area.
“Pack your stuff. We are leaving now.”
“What?” Dick almost spit out his food.
“Joker has Steph. And we have to get back to her. I already had The Bat arranged to come pick us up at the nearest spot to the pier at the mainland.” I sputtered.
Everyone got up quickly and sprinted to their rooms, but not before the doors to the palace opened.
“Hope I’m not too late to the party.”
Martha’s POV
Great. Just wonderful. When everything comes crashing down, and we have two family crises at the same time, he shows up. Why does everything have to have horrible timing?!
“Connor!” I jumped, everyone else going back to their rooms and began packing. Connor flashed over to me, using his father’s ability to run like The Flash. He crashed into me, pulling me into his buff chest and kissing me. I wasn’t expecting the kiss, which made for a little bit of an awkward encounter.
“Martha, God I’ve missed you.” I pulled away from him, frowning a little.
“Listen Connor, you came at a really bad time. We were just getting ready to head back to Gotham.” I sighed, trying not to hurt his feelings. He smiled.
“Good, I don’t think the women like me here, anyway.” He said with a happy-go-lucky attitude. I groaned internally, trying not to offend him too much.
“Why don’t you come help me get my stuff together?” I offered, leading us up to my room. He nodded, looking intently at all the intricate decorations in the palace.
Moments later, we found ourselves in my room, Connor helping me pack my bags. It didn’t take us long, considering his super speed. He graciously handed me my luggage and tried to kiss me, but I pulled away quickly. He stood back a little, looking really hurt.
“You know what, Martha? I’ve tried to reach out to you, I’ve been nothing but an incredible boyfriend, and I—“ he started to get on a soapbox, but I gently set my hand on his shoulder.
“I know, I know. I’m just—“ I sighed, looking for the right words. “I don’t know. I am caught up in this stuff right now, and I just—I don’t know.” I murmured, walking down the steps. I didn’t know how close behind Connor was, or if he was even following me. Right then, I didn’t care. I had a job to do, and I couldn’t let myself get distracted by some boy.
But he’s not just some boy. He’s Connor. Your Connor.
I willed my brain to shut up, trying to let myself off the ‘guilty hook’.
It wasn’t working.
“I’m surprised the international police didn’t come get us for landing this thing anywhere near the harbor.” Damian smirked, climbing up in the aircraft. We all followed suit, including Connor, as Dick made his way to the front of The Bat. The inside had been modified to look more like a minivan instead of a militarized plane.
Silently, Dick pulled the aircraft up into the air and sent us shooting West, towards Gotham. The trip was silent, each of us thinking about our personal ties to this situation. Dick and Barbara were probably thinking about the fact that their child just died, and now they have to pull themselves up by the bootstraps and go save lives. Jason and Cass were probably thinking about how we managed to ruin a nice honeymoon that they wouldn’t have otherwise gotten. But it wasn’t difficult to make the world come to a complete standstill if your last name was Wayne. Tim was probably worried about Steph. Damian was probably sad that he’d never get to see that girl again. As I looked at Connor, I was thinking about how broken this relationship was. There was no way that I could maintain monogamy and faithfulness when my mind was always only halfway there with him. The other half of my brain was always running at full speed ahead, carefully calculating every move I make and every word I say. That’s what my father taught me. It’s what my brothers taught me. We all did it. And the only reason any of them were in stable relationships, is because their spouses and significant others were trained in that same curriculum. None of us actually had a whole heart to care for people with. Dick and I came close, but even then, it was only 50% genuine caring and 50% masking what’s actually happening in our minds. It’s was Bruce’s way. But something told me that Diana was like that too. Maybe taking a visit to her old home was enlightening. It showed me kind of what my mother was like. I think she would have taught me the same thing. And in times like these, my father’s example and Dick’s example were the only things I had to examine when I was scared or had to put on the costume. My father used to have a saying.
“Always watch your back, and never give your whole heart to something, because when they break it, you’re left with nothing.”
Tim’s POV
My heart was racing. I barely hurdled out of the plane fast enough to open up my high-tech watch.
“My watch says she’s about 10 miles from the manor.”
“The ACE building. I thought we cleared Joker out of that a long time ago?” Jason fired back. In moments like these, you never really knew who was talking, but it didn’t really matter. People were drawing conclusions, and it was a lot faster than just one person.
“Apparently not. This watch doesn’t lie. It was—“
“Made by Dad.” They all replied at once.
“So what’s our plan? Do we have one? We can’t be flying blind, I—“
“No plan. It’s just him and some toys. We can handle this. Open your damn eyes and don’t set anything off. We’ll get Steph, grab Joker, and take him with us all the way down to Arkham. Then, we’ll figure it out from there.” Dick said firmly. He looked down at his own watch and pressed a few buttons. “Babs, you stay here. You’re set up in The Bat. Marthat, Damian, Tim, and I will be in the Batmobile. Jason and Cass are taking The Batcycle.” He assigned. Jason and Cass gave each other a high five, grinning. I couldn’t even focus on the comedy because my heart was about to explode. Steph, and possibly my child, were in Joker’s custody.
“Alright. Let’s rollout.”
Damian’s POV
This sucked ass. Like, really? It’s like 10 degrees outside! I missed the warm salty air of Theymescaria. And I missed her.
All I could think about was Armonía.
It seemed selfish that my brother’s girlfriend was in the clutches of the most dangerous man we know, and all I could think about was my almost-girlfriend.
I told her I’d come back for her. That I’d never forget her.
Suddenly, I was sleepy, and soon I was completely unconscious.
Tim’s POV
I don’t know how, and I don’t know why, but I woke up in a dark and musty cavern. There was a single oil lamp in the corner, and it smelled like moldy circus food. I realized quickly that I was tied up, my hands tied to a wall that I sat up against, and my legs banded together. I heard crying next to me, a woman’s crying. It was too dark to make our her face, but I immediately tried to get answers, logically going through every scenario that could’ve happened, or every scenario that could get us out of here. It’s what I did. I overthought.
“Hey, hey, do you know where we’re at?” I whispered to the girl. Her crying immediately ceased, and she sniffled.
“Tim?” I knew that voice.
“Steph?”
“Oh God, Tim. I’m so sorry. He took me, I didn’t—“ I felt my heart leaping out of my chest.
“No, no—this isn’t your fault. It’s my fault for leaving you in Gotham.” I interrupted her, trying to reach out to her, but I couldn’t, I could barely move.
“Please, Tim, you have to get us out of here. I don’t know how it’s even possible, but please. Please get us out. I heard him throwing other people in the room next to this one, so if by some stretch of the imagination, your family can break out, we just have to buy enough time for them to figure something out.” She explained. I nodded, taking in the new information. I immediately scanned the room a few times, looking for anything within the reach of my feet. There wasn’t much to choose from, but I got an idea.
“I have an idea.”
Dick’s POV
My head throbbed, as I tried to regain consciousness. The room was dark, but I could see everyone’s faces. I quickly took a headcount, but my heart stopped, ice water flooding my veins, when I realized we were missing someone.
Tim.
I pulled at the restraints that I was bound by, trying to get out, but nothing was working.
“Guys, guys!” I yelled, but still whispering. I didn’t want to draw attention to us. One by one, people slowly started to look up, taking in their surroundings. I did another headcount, affirming my anxieties.
“Somebody better start talking.” Jason growled. I had my head on a swivel, trying to think of something. This was quite possibly the most horrible situation I’d ever been in, especially with my family. The only other situation that I could think of that was this terrifying, was Bruce’s death. I was there. And because I couldn’t think of anything and couldn’t get us out, or rather both of us, I was left with crippling self-esteem, and the thought that I wouldn’t be able to save my family
You can’t save everyone.
Bruce’s voice rang in my ears, and I started panicking. I felt my world imploding around me, and my heart rate quickening.
“Dick--?” Martha asked gently, but I didn’t hear her. Her voice was white noise, as I started to sweat profusely and take staggering breaths.
“Dick, come on buddy, we’ve gotta figure something out.” Damian reasoned. I shook my head, my whole body trembling.
“I—I c—I can’t.”
I slipped into a flashback, forgetting where I was. All I could see was the circus. My parents and I.
“The Flying Graysons!” the ringleader shouted, as my mother and I swung from the ladders and ropes at the top of the dome. “I have a special treat for you folks today! The Graysons are going to perform their new program, complete with crazier tricks and larger leaps!” he got the crowd riled up, people loosing their minds. We were kings. Standing up at the top of the platform, I felt like I was King of The World. I had everything. We weren’t rich, but people came from near and far to see us, and the place that we held in people’s hearts was rich enough for us.
My mother and father swung from the tops of the dome, graceful and incredible. It was only a fingertip length away. That’s how far my mother was from grasping the edge of the platform.
My father flew backwards, awaiting the grip of his wife, who had already plummeted to her death. Silence and gasps fell over the crowd as I was left standing on the high platform, my parents’ bodies lying lifeless and dead on the sandy ground.
I felt many emotions. Sadness, defeat, and anger. But nothing topped the debilitating fear and terror that I was filled with. I slowly sat down on the platform, letting tears flow freely. My sobbing was the only noise that you could hear in the entire tent.
Fear.
Horror.
I all of a sudden couldn’t move, and I couldn’t find the words to speak as the ringleader hurried up the ladder to help me down. I remember being completely silent, just staring at the cheap sand, now stained with blood. I let my mouth hang agape, unable to do anything.
I realized I was still sitting in the restraints, tied to the wall behind me, and I was shaking. Just like I was back then. I was just a scared little boy, who by playing in a costume and being over-confident, had gotten himself in trouble.
And I had to pay the consequences.
Martha’s POV
I looked over at Connor, his restraints glowing with a greenish tint. He looked incredibly weak and frail.
“Connor?” I whispered. He raised his head a little, his eyes a little droopy.
“Martha—I—it’s kryptonite.” He breathed heavily, obviously sick. I shuddered at the thought of kryptonite. It meant that the best weapon we had was disabled. And I knew that if that kryptonite touched him too much longer, he would die. My mind was racing at 1000 miles per second, and I was trying to make up a plan. Dick was staring off into space, shaking like a cold and wet dog. I had to think of something, and I had to think of it fast.
“Martha, you’ve got to do something.” Damian whispered. I looked at him incredulously.
“Like what?”
“Like, use your powers.”
I let silence slip between us, thinking about the possibility that I was just as strong as Connor. And I was the alternative.
“You know I can barely hover off the ground, and I can’t break out of these restraints! I can barely lift the couch in the parlor. I’ll break my wrists.” I whined. Jason snapped his head over to me.
“Listen, you’re the best we’ve got, so get going Wonder Girl.” He quipped. I sat there for a second, trying to harness a power that I barely even knew. I figured that if Mom would have been alive, she would have taught me how to fly around with ease, and how to lift buildings like she did, but she hadn’t been there. And I feel like Dad was different after she died. I can only assume that he was a different person before Mom died.
I tried to remember what Dad had tried to teach me before he died. He used to tell me stories about how Mom would move entire buildings, and how she was the most powerful member of the team, right next to Superman.
“Martha, we don’t have a lot of time.” Cass reminded me, bringing me back to reality. I tried to pull on the restraints, but I couldn’t break them, I’d ruin my wrists and hands.
“Please, Martha!” Damian whisper-shouted. Cass, Jason, and Damian started all jumping on me at once, trying to get me to hurry. I felt my anxiety at an all-time high. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t save my family. Then, I heard a voice. It was Dad.
You can’t save everyone.
I took a staggering breath, not believing a word of that sentence. I couldn’t let my family die. I took another deep breath and closed my eyes, gripping the restraints for dear life, praying to every God that I knew.
And I pulled.
Tim’s POV
When I saw him, my stomach did a flip-turn. I couldn’t stand his repulsive sight, and I could barely sit with the thought that this man had our lives in his hands.
“What’s your plan?” Stephanie whispered. I just stared at Joker, a scowl on my face.
“I don’t have one.”
He walked up to Stephanie, cackling.
“Glad to see you here, Tim!” he laughed, quickly grabbing Steph and putting a knife under her throat. I felt myself thrusting against the restraints that held me in my spot.
“Let go of her, you dirty bastard!” I spat. He just threw his head back laughing, completely blowing me off.
“Steph has something to tell you, Tim!” he laughed, digging the knife deeper into her skin, just barely not drawing any blood. “Tell him what you told me!” he shouted at her. She was obviously scared, her face looked completely terrified. I felt my heart and stomach sink deep through the floor, knowing what she was going to say. “Tell him!” Joker yelled again, after he moment of silence. She looked like she was about to cry, and that broke my heart.
“I said, ‘Don’t hurt me. I’m pregnant.’” She whispered, trying not to cry. I felt fear and anger flood my mind, completely becoming an animal, ready to rip Joker’s head off.
I wasn’t expecting the door to completely collapse.
But I really wasn’t expecting the purple rubber boot that I saw in the crumbling stone.
Steph’s POV
There. I’d said it. It was out there.
And thank God someone came to our rescue, because I knew that Tim didn’t have a plan before he said anything about not having a plan.
Joker immediately jumped off me, going on the offense against the troupe of heroes that had broken through the wall.
“You’re done for, Joker.” Martha grinned, a completely different person than I’d known for 17 years. I saw Joker’s eyes slowly squint, a smile plastered on his face.
“I don't think so.”
Martha’s POV
Dick rejoined our circle out front of the ACE building, having turned Joker into Commissioner Gordon. He wished us well, as the police left the scene. Morning was just starting to break, and we all stood silence, waiting for Dick to say something.
“We can’t do this anymore.”
“Dick—“
“Listen to me.” He shot me a glare for trying to interrupt. “Dad wouldn’t be proud of the decision I’m about to make, but in order to honor his wishes, and keep this family safe, I have to do this. We need to separate, lead separate lives. We can’t be heroes anymore. Hell, we can’t even be siblings. When we’re together, bad things happen, and people put on the cowl. We can’t do it anymore. We just—can’t” he sighed, running a hand through his hair. “So everyone needs to get their stuff out of The Bat, and leave. Barbara and I are going to stay up with Jim for a while until the manor gets refurbished. Jason and Cass, I’ve got an up-scale apartment leased for you guys, starting tomorrow. Tim and Steph, same goes for you, only yours in in Central City, and Jason and Cass’ is Starling City. Damian, you’ve got the jet to go back to Theymescaria. And Martha—“ he stopped, looking like he was sad and conflicted. “You’re going to stay with Connor and his family. I’ve already called Clark and Lois. They are going to give you a room.” He finished.
“Dick you can’t—“ Jason tried to combat him, but he put out his hand, shaking his head.
“Yes I can.” He murmured. “It’s over. It’s been over since the Justice League disbanded after Bruce died. It’s been over for a while.” He muttered. “Go out, live your lives, and never look back. You’ll be safe that way. And this will be easier if we just go and don’t have ‘last words’. Now here are the keys—“ he hurried, handing each person a few respective keys. “And I hope that you live full lives, away from this—vigilante business.”
One by one, people got their stuff off The Bat and headed away from the manor, until it was just Dick, Barbara, Connor and I. Connor and Barbara were gathering up our things off the plane while I stood, staring at Dick.
“Please don’t do this. You don’t have to do this! We can call everyone back and tell them to come home!” I cried. “This is all I’ve known, Dick. This is my life, my home!” I sobbed. “Please—“ I became a mess, trying to get myself together.
The look on Dick’s face said it all. He didn’t want to do this, and it physically hurt to have to make this decision, but he truly believed it was right. He thought this was what’s best for us. Connor loaded our stuff into his truck that he’d parked at the manor before he left for Theymescaria. I heard the engine turn over, indicating that I had to leave. Barbara kept a safe distance, as I gave Dick a firm stare.
“Don’t do this.” I begged one final time, setting my jaw.
“I have to.”
A moment of silence fell between us, and all you could hear was the rather distant hum of the truck engine.
“I’m gonna miss you, Dick.” I whispered, tears coming back full-force.
“I’m gonna miss you too.”
“You’re being awful brave.” I snickered a little, trying to lighten the mood. I didn’t want to leave with him upset and me upset.
“I have to. People count on me. But you kind of saved the day in there. I don’t know if you’re one of those people.” He smiled sadly. I gave a watery chuckle, tears flowing freely.
“You remember what I said at the wedding, before it got ruined?” I asked, my voice straining against the guttural sobs that I wanted to let out.
“I think I do.” He sighed, tears now gracing his cheeks. “But I can hear it again.” He set his jaw like Dad used to, and let more tears flow.
“I will always need you.”