Chapter Text
"It's oddly quiet tonight." Tim said sitting on the edge of an office building.
Deep down Tim always knew he should never say those simple words aloud, but he was exhausted and couldn't think for the best of him. He went back to the Bat Cave and got some much needed rest.
If only he knew how much he was going to need it...
---
Waking up was slower today than it normally was. It was rare not being kept up all night from either the various projects he has been working on or the nightly terrors he tends to have. He makes his way down the manor stairs heading towards the kitchen.
"Master Tim, you're up later than normal, are you feeling the best."
"Yeah, actually, I'm feeling pretty well." Tim says while pouring himself a cup of coffee.
Dick walks in chirpy as usual talking about nothing in particular. Tim was content just letting him exist there. At least until lunch.
---
Everyone is at the manor for once. There is no empty seats, or awkward small talk, it actually feels genuine for once.
Alfred brings out an elaborate meal of meatballs, bread and a million other sides, with a vegetarian option for Damian. Things were going well for approximately 5 minutes. The Bruce's phone starts blaring. A news report starts playing. Although this doesn't happen often it typically means that there is a high priority case to look into. That's what everyone thought. Everyone was listening to the audio not looking at each other. Tim was completely still, sweating even. Flashbacks maybe, or even panic, fear.
He never thought that this could happen, and even more never wanted this. He keeps thinking why, why him, why them, and most importantly, who and why now of all times.
The audio was repeating the same phrases over and over again.
Ashlyn Banner, 16 year old female, taken from her home at approximately 4:45 a.m. PST on June 7th. Tyler Hernandez, 16 year old male, taken from his home along with his twin sister Taylor Hernandez, 16 year old female, at around 3:15 p.m. PST on June 10th. Logan Fields, 16 year old male, taken from his home at approximately 2:00 a.m. PST on June 16th. Ben Clark, 16 year old male, taken from his home at approximately 7:25 p.m. PST on June 16th.
After the message finally stopped, that's when they noticed Tim. Tim was lost, he couldn't hear, couldn't see, couldn't feel. When everything finally calmed down the uttered 2 words.
I'm...Next...
---
Everyone froze because of this. Questioning if Tim knew them, and why he thought he was next. Nothing was making sense. It was like a puzzle that was missing all of the edges. There were too many questions that are being left unanswered.
Dick was the first to react, then Damien, Steph, Cass, Babs, Jason, and finally Bruce.
"Tim, what is that supposed to mean!"
"Do, you know them?"
"What"
"Why"
"How"
Tim couldn't comprehend anything with all of the noise. After a minute Alfred is able to calm everyone down and convince the to more to a seating area.
Tim takes a few deep, steady breaths before addressing the room.
"Before you ask, I do know all of them, in fact they were once the closest thing I had to a family, at least until they all went radio silent a few days ago. I thought they were upset, I never thought this would happen again."
Everyone thought Tim was rambling nonsense.
"How do you know them though?" Dick asked trying to be calm and patient.
"I suppose to tell you that I should start from the beginning, but before that I should tell you..." Tim trains off mumbling the last words too quiet for anyone to make out.
"If you're going to explain you have to do it so we all can hear." Jason said impatiently while pacing.
"...Well..." Tim says rubbing his neck, "Tim isn't my real name..."
As soon as the words left his mouth everything stopped for a brief second before it exploded.