Chapter Text
When Tim became Robin, he was never meant to become a member of the family, merely a colleague. He never complained, barely talked, he trained and trained and trained. Dick was apprehensive, Alfred was distant and Bruce was straight up cold. So naturally, Dick was the easiest to be curious around. He would answer things that Tim hadn’t even asked, patrolling with him was better than with Bruce, but, Dick seemed reluctant to do that. Tim never questioned it, he knew his place after all.
Then Dick came back home. He started living in the Manor again, which was shocking considering his constant arguments with Bruce. Alfred started warming up to Tim more than he already had, making new treats for Tim to try or helping him with his homework. Dick started insisting on movie nights and friendly scuffles, they ever patrolled together for months. Dick would cuddle with him, take him out for post patrol milkshakes, they named all of Gotham’s Gargoyles together. For once in his life, Tim didn’t feel lonely. Even Bruce was doing better now, he would constantly check-up on Tim before and after patrol. He even apologized for the way he treated Tim.
Then Dick had to leave. He went back to Bludhaven.
Even though everything in Gotham was better now, Dick not being there left Tim feeling like something was missing, he just, he just wanted his big bro-
No, they were just colleagues.
Dick became distant again, he still called and texted Tim but he didn’t tell him things. Did he think Tim would rat him out? There was this once that Bart told him that Wally and Dick had started dating. Tim had expected this, he had seen how they both looked at each other but he had hoped that Dick would tell him such a thing on his own and that he would not have to learn about this from his friend who slipped up.
“Shit, did you not know?” Bart had asked, a grimace had formed on his face.
Tim had shaken his head and smiled, “He will tell me when he is ready.”
Dick didn’t tell Tim. Tim had cried about it. He knew it was stupid, Dick didn’t owe him anything and it was such a stupid thing. Tim didn’t need to lose sleep over this. Dick was trying his best. Then Red Hood came back. He attacked Tim in the Titans Tower and no one saved him. When Tim was in recovery, Dick came back. He used to sit with Tim for hours, they used to cuddle, and he started telling Tim things about his life, he started listening to Tim. He even called him his brother, multiple times.
And Tim? He almost trusted Dick enough now that he wanted to tell him about the ghosts, he almost did. He wanted to tell Dick about his parents. But even after months of Dick treating him better there was something that was holding him back, perhaps it was the fear that Dick would think he was crazy and then Bruce died. Dick thought he was crazy anyway.
Things at home became tense, the air was always grief heavy and Tim couldn’t even sleep properly wondering when Damian would stab him again. Things got so bad that Tim preferred staying away from the manor, hiding away in The Nest with Jason or in Kent farm, longing for Kon. He worked overtime, making documents for his emancipation while running Wayne Enterprises. The board of directors made his life hell, telling him he was not good enough to run a company, but he worked with Mr.Fox and tried his best to prove everybody wrong while simultaneously worrying about Bruce, who he was sure was stuck in the time stream but Tim couldn’t leave Gotham right now, the company would fall in the hands of Ra’s, Dick, Damian and Alfred would suffer at the hands of the Board, and worst of all, with no proof he would have no back-up to save Bruce. So he spent his days working at WE, nights patrolling the streets of Gotham and searching for more evidence. He didn’t have time for school, so he dropped out.
Dropping put from school was difficult because Tim actually liked it. He didn’t have friends there or anything, it just, he liked the certainty of it, the classes, the lunches, the school bell and the people. But he didn’t need it, so he left it behind, like most things he liked. After dropping out, he went to the cave, he thought he could talk it out with Dick with takeout, of course, try harder to not fight, he would tell Dick about his plan with the league and how WE would be fully functioning for a whole year without any intervention.
He was determined not to fight, to tell Dick the real reason why he though Bruce was not dead.
Tim hadn’t seen Bruce’s ghost.
He entered the cave and his heart dropped. Damian stood in front of Dick in full Robin costume and Dick was smiling because right now he looked like Big brother Dick, not Batman, even though Dick was in the suit. There was a soft smile and a crinkle in his eyes that he remembered from this days of stalking Nightwing and Robin, he remembered it so well, because till a few weeks ago, that smile had been reserved for him.
The takeout bags feel from his hands and the cave fell silent. Damian and Dick turned to look at Tim and he saw Dick’s smile fall from his face. For a full minute, the cave was silent and then Tim started to laugh. Not cruel just at the absurdity of it all, because now he final understood how Jason had felt. He would call Jason and apologize. At least Jason had been dead.
Tim laughed with no emotion in his voice, he shook his head, “I should’ve expected this.” He said as he left.
“Tim!” Dick called out as Tim turned to leave, Tim didn’t stop even though Dick kept on calling for him. As he was about to open his car’s door, Dick caught up with him and slammed him hand on the door, “Tim listen-“
“I don’t want to. I have always listened Dick, but I guess I have outlived my usefulness. Robin was mine, it was mine to give away-“
“Tim, Robin was always Batman’s choice.”
“And here I thought you were trying to break a cycle.”
Tim turned away from his car, and took the motorcycle that was in the garage and left before Dick could do anything.
Tim left Gotham that night, he didn’t need back up, he would do this the hard way. He changed his number and only Jason, Cass and Tam had it. He was going to make sure that Bruce comes back alive. During the entirety of his quest with the League, he made friends and then lost them. He trained brutally and lost his spleen, blew up a few bases. Jason kept on texting. He kept on telling him that Dick was looking for Tim and that it wouldn’t take long before Babs eventually found him.
But they both knew that Tim would only be found when he wanted to, even though Barb was incredibly skilled, Tim was smart too, he knew he could get away. When Tim was in Paris, stuck with that creep’s sister, who was even creepier, he wished more than anything for Dick to find him, even though he knew that he made it impossible.
Then Cass saved him, she usually found ways to save Tim.
“I told you to lean on me, Little Brother.”
“How could I? You left.”
“I left Gotham, not you.”
“Didn’t feel that way.”
“I am sorry.”
“I am sorry too.”
Tim hugged Cass, and he cried, she made it easy to let go. “Go home.” Cass ordered.
“You’re not coming?” Tim asked.
“I need to finish some business in Hong Kong then I will come.” She reassured.
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
On his flight back, Tim thought about how he had never seen Kon or Bart’s ghost either, but then he removed that thought from his mind, he had held Kon as he died, he had seen as Bart lost the light in his eyes, they were gone, and Tim hated that, he missed them. Now he had to deal with a 600 year old fossil to get his Dad back, he wished he was dead. He knew Ra’s will await him at the building and will try to kill him, he should probably check his utility belt for his grapple and batarangs but he is tired, if he can’t fight it, he can die, he is not needed now. He got the proof, sent it to justice league and the cave. They will get Bruce.
Tin didn’t turn on his trackers in Gotham but he didn’t disable any cameras around him either, if they were still looking, now was the time to find him. Tim entered his office at WE, Ra’s was waiting.
“You come here often Ra’s?” Tim questioned, a smirk forming on his face as he saw the fury Ra’s was emanating.
“Not unless I have to kill detectives.” Ra’s replied coldly and walked over to Tim and began to choke him, but Tim came prepared, he stabbed Ra’s, where his spleen should be, with a league-grade knife. His hold on Tim faltered, but it didn’t leave his neck. “A spleen for a spleen or whatever it is that they say.” Tim joked. Tim stabbed him in the arm next. Ra’s didn’t even flinch, instead he raised Tim above the ground.
“Someone’s sensitive.” He had the audacity to say.
“The games are over detective. Now you die.”
“Is it because you are in a checkmate with barely anything left?”
Because Ra’s is rude, he didn’t answer instead he threw Tim out of the glass wall and off the 90th floor.
Tim saw the ground approaching, “Well, that’s gonna hurt!” He yelled, when he checked his utility belt and found that he had indeed, lost his grapple. He closed his eyes and got his breathing in check, then suddenly someone grabbed his waist and swung upwards, Tim opened his eyes, it was Batman. For a second, if Tim didn’t look closely, he could pretend it was Bruce…that his dad was back, but he knew it was Dick.
They handed on a roof and Dick immediately hugged him. Tim was angry but he didn’t fight it because he was also selfish. He didn’t like Dick right now, but he did love his elder brother. Tim cried silently because after months, he felt safe, “I still hate you.”
“I deserve it, Babybird.” Dick replied as he held him even tighter, a hand wrapped around the back of his head. “I’ve got you baby, I am right here. I am so sorry.” It was a chant that Dick whispered to him while Tim calmed down.
Suddenly Tim came to it, “Ra’s-“
“Jason got him, Babybird. They are taking him to Justice League headquarters.” Dick informed him, after a few minutes, he began to speak again, “Let’s get you home Timbo, we have a lot to talk about, yeah?”
When Dick stood up, he immediately stumbled forward. He had been shot, a few roofs away, stood Slade Wilson. Tim stood up immediately and caught him before he fell. “Dick?” Tim was not sure why he called out his name. He knew the rule, no names in the field, even more so, they were losing time. Tim checked for the wound, the bullet had hit him right below his shoulder, dangerously close to his spine, the blood was flowing out very fast. Tim pressed his hands to the wound to put pressure on it, he needed to stop the blood. “Timbo, I am so-“
“Shut up.” Tim ordered and grabbed the grapple and swung them down, towards the ground where he spotted the Batmobile, he put Dick in the backseat, “Stay awake Dickhead!” Tim yelled, Dick dignified him with a groan. He put the car on autopilot and joined Dick in the backseat, his head automatically fell into Tim’s lap while Tim continued putting pressure on the wound.
“Computer call Alfred!” Tim yelled at the artificial intelligence in the car. He was not sure why he was yelling. “Hello-“
“Alfie, call Leslie, he’s been shot near the spine, we need to get to her clinic ASAP!”
“Continue to put pressure lad, Dr. Thompson will be informed immediately.”
Tim wondered if Alfred had a camera in the car or if he was an all knowing presence because how did he even know that Tim was putting pressure on the wound. They reached the clinic in record time, Leslie and Alfred were already waiting by the entrance, Tim helped transfer him into a gurney and then they took Dick to the Operating Room. Tim stood outside, waiting, hoping, he couldn’t lose Dick just yet. He had lost enough, his parents, his dad Bruce, Kon, Bart, he wasn’t ready to lose more, he wouldn’t survive it, he just wouldn’t.
Just when he was about to spiral more Dick came out of the Operating room, no that wasn’t right. He was translucent.
“Tim?”
“No, no, no,no,no, go back. GO BACK INTO YOUR BODY YOU MANCHILD!” Tim shouted at the translucent figure. He was not going to lose Dick to. He would go crazy, probably put him in the Lazarus pit or something. Then suddenly Dick disappeared, for a second Tim was sure he hallucinated Dick but he couldn’t sit still, he wanted to enter the OT, but he knew, Alfred and Leslie would have come out by now if something terrible had happened.
Then Jason came, with Damian and Steph following. Jason immediately jumped to hug him where he was on the floor. Steph joined in, Damian didn’t join the hug, but he sat down with them and didn’t say anything, but the fact that he was sitting on the floor of a waiting room was a dead giveaway that he didn’t want to feel left out. At that moment Damian looked so much like a child, that Tim decided that if Damian apologized to him, he would forgive him right away, now that he had been with the league, he knew Damian must have been traumatized enough for a lifetime and Tim was not going to add to that, but he would not be lenient enough to welcome him with open arms.
The just stayed like that, no words were spoken, the silence was tense it also comfortable, then Alfred came out, “Master Dick if going to be absolutely fine, he flat lined for a minute, but he fought through, he is a strong lad.” He said, while throwing away his mask.
Tim slumped into the hold he was in and cried silently, so Dick had died for a minute, that’s why he was there. This was going to haunt him forever. “Who was it?” Jason asked, his voice filled with unbridled rage.
“Slade.”
Jason nodded then excuse himself to make some phone calls. It was likely that Slade Wilson was not going to survive the week. Alfred approached Tim, bent down to ruffle his hair and the held his face in his hands, “We have missed you, my dear boy. I hope you will never leave in such a way again. We are going to talk about that once Master Bruce gets home.”
Tim was still crying silently, so Alfred, very gently wiped him tears away, “When Dr. Thompson has had her rest, we will get you checked out yes?”
Tim nodded. He would deal with the consequences when Dick woke up.
Dick woke up early in the morning with Tim holding his hand, Damian snuggled on his other side, Jason on the sofa and Steph and Alfred sitting in nearby chair. He looked at Tim, “So, Manchild?” Dick teased, his voice cracked. Alfred made him sip water from a straw.
Tim huffed and rolled his eyes, “It was the first thing that came to my mind. It’s very fitting though, I am sure Wally will agree.” He answered
Dick winced, “Have you told him?”
“Couldn’t reach him, he’s with Kara, right?” Jason answered.
“I’ll owe all of you a favor if you promise not to tell him.”
Jason, Tin, Steph and Alfred looked at each other, since Damian was still asleep and couldn’t capitalize on the deal, “We will take it.” They answered in unison.
“Are we gonna talk or-“Dick gestured to Tim.
Tim nodded, “Everybody, out!”
Everyone groaned, but left except Damian who was still asleep, although Tim had a suspicion that he was still awake, “Hey Dami, You are included.” He ordered, but Damian snuggled closer to Dick without opening his eyes, “Oh come on, Timbo, he is asleep.”
“He is not, but you know what, I’ll let the Demon Child in on the secret since I am feeling generous.” Also, because he looked adorable like this but Tim would only admit that over his dead body. He narrated the tale for the third time in his life, “Is this why you were so convinced about Bruce?”
“Yeah, it just didn’t make any sense.”
“You know what, maybe I was given the name Dick for a reason, since I behave like one. I am so sorry Tim. I am. You were probably already terrified about telling me about this and them I went and threatened Arkham? Fucking Arkham? You could’ve- Fuck.”
“Fuck indeed.”
“Tim I-“
“Stop apologizing Dick, Its done, we will learn to communicate better now, yes? We will work on it, we will talk about it. For now, we both need rest and therapy. Although I am still mad about Robin and this doesn’t fix anything, we are going to get through it. It will involve less lashing out from your side and less running away from mine.”
Dick nodded, he was silently crying, “I love you Timbaktu.”
“I love you too Dickie.”
“You are both imbeciles who need to learn how to communicate better. Somehow, I am fond of you.” Damian said.
“I told you he was awake!”
“Damian I defended your honor and you betray me like this?”
“I guess I am just superior!”