Chapter Text
It was late at night when the call came.
“Bat’s, I've got news.”
Batman raises an eyebrow, “Harley, is it about Red Robin?”
“Yeah,” She lets out a shuddering breath, “Mr J has ‘im… you’d better get here quick. I managed to slip away for a moment.” She rattles off an address, “I'll do what I can to stall, but it ain’t pretty.” With that she hangs up.
Within moments, Nightwing is in the batmobile and the two of them are heading to the location.
“I’ll send RH a message,” Nightwing pulls his comm out, “Tell him to go to the cave and prepare the med bay with Agent A.”
Batman doesn’t respond but the tightening of his grip on the steering wheel is all the confirmation Nightwing needs to send the message. Of course Red Hood isn't happy about being told to hang back, but he does as he’s told. They can't afford to waste time by arguing.
Running into the warehouse they freeze.
It’s disgusting.
And not in the jokers normal way. It almost looks downright normal. Like one of those typical 1950’s homes.
Harley’s hyenas are circling a small form sitting on the ground, some drug or chemical dripping from an IV into his arm. Colorful band aids scattered up and down his arms and legs.
Nightwing takes a step towards him and the lights shut down. Batman’s by his side in a moment and the hyenas giggle as they stalk forwards.
“JJ, come to daddy,” The Joker laughs. Footsteps patter forwards, small child-like footsteps.
Batman’s grip tightens on Nightwing's arm, “Robin.” He whispers.
The lights come back on with a clang. And the Joker starts giving his spiel about how he wants a family. And the best way he could do it was to take Batman’s. JJ-Red Robin standing perfectly still with the Joker's hand on the back of his neck.
Then the laughter starts. Hands coming up to cover a mouth that’s been painted red, stretched and stitched open in a grin. Skin far to pale for the two weeks he’s been missing. And topping it off, green hair.
“No.”
“Yes,” Grinning the Joker jumps down and stalks over to Batman, “Harley, you deal with Nightwing.”
“A okay Mr.J,” She grins, popping out from behind a door and charging towards Nightwing.
She chases him out of the room and takes her hyenas with her, the moment they’re out of earshot she slows down, “I couldn't stop him.”
“What did he do?” Nightwing asks slowly, “I thought you were done with him.”
“I tried to be rid of him,” She sighs, “So abouts two weeks ago he called me and tells me he caught one of Bat’s baby birds. Then he asks me to help him. I told him I was done working with him and hung up on him. I went and tried to get your attention to tell you that Joker had him… but he sent some goons to stop me. Then he took me here. I was able to slip out and call you.”
“How’d you get the number?”
“Baby bird had it.” She answers.
Nightwing winces, “What did he do to him…”
_________
“Well Batsy, I suppose you’re wondering just what I did to your precious little baby,” Joker laughs as he beacons JJ down to him, “I decided that I needed someone to take over as Joker. And who better than Robin. I'm afraid we won't be needing you any more… JJ be a dear and kill Bat’s won't you?”
JJ’s, no Tim’s, that’s Tim, laughter intensifies. As he draws closer. The gun goes off, no bullet, this time, instead a flag with the word BANG printed on it in bright chunky lettering, something changes in his eyes as he lines up the next shot. Batman reaches out.
The gun fires.
Joker drops to the floor.
“Dad?” Tim maneges to murmur before dissolving into hysterical crying, dropping to the floor clutching at the suit he’d been dressed in, tugging at his hair.
Wrapping his son in his cape, Bruce walks out to where Nightwing is waiting in the Batmobile.
“Where’s Harley?”
“Gone, she decided to leave before the cops got here. Is that?...”
“Yes,” He moves the cape to the side so Dick could see his brother, “Could you hold him in the back?”
Dick nods and quickly moves to the back seat, Tim lets out a whine of protest when his arms are pulled away from Batman’s neck.
“Hey baby bird,” Dick coos, softly pulling Tim over.
“Dick?” Tim whispers, eyes not focused on anything.
“Yeah, it’s me.”
With that Tim shoves his face into Dicks chest and starts sobbing again.
“Oh hey,” Dick wraps him in a hug, “It’s… you’re out, we’ve got you. They can't get you here.”
Tim shudders and reaches up, fingers gently bruising the sides of Dick’s mask.
Ripping it off Dick brushes Tims hair out of his face.
“Hey, I need to text Jay, can you let me grab my phone?”
Nodding Tim loosens his grip, “He mentioned him… told me you were going to let me end up like him.”
After a few minutes Bruce speaks up, “I'm sorry.” he says from the driver's seat. “We should have found you sooner.”
“B-” Dick murmurs, carding a hand through Tim’s greasy somewhat matted hair ”he’s sleeping.”
“Oh.”
“And this isn’t your fault. You know that right?”
He gives a noncommittal grunt in response.
“It’s no one’s fault but the Joker’s. Heck, you can blame Harley more then you can blame yourself… it-” He cuts himself off, “B it’s not your fault.”
A sudden kick to his knee startles Dick, “Hey, what was that for?”
Tim only giggles into his sleeves, looking up at Dick with child-like amusement in his eyes.
“Timmy?” Dick murmurs, rubbing his brothers back, “What’s goin on?”
He shrugs, “My head feels weird...”
“Ok.” That was worrying, “We’re almost to the cave… we’ll get you changed into your clothes and see what happened.”
“R- Tim, what do you remember?” Bruce looks back at his boys through the mirror, “You don't need to answer, but if you can, can you tell me some details?”
Tim shudders, “Can it wait for the cave?”
“Yes.”
The rest of the drive is silent, broken only by soft laughter and sobbing from Tim. The manic laughter had thankfully stopped, replaced by something still haunting but at least Tim’s laugh is recognizable. He’s completely latched onto Dick. Who is growing more and more concerned.
The instant they reach the cave Tim is pulled into the showers Alfred and Dick waiting just outside in case he needs help.
______
“Bruce.” Jason starts still staring fixated on the Batmobile, “What happened to The Joker? If he’s not-”
“He’s dead.”
“You-”
“Not me,” He pulls the cowl off, “Tim did it.”
“Oh.” he slumps back, “Oh, how bad was Tim when you found him?”
Bruce shudders, “Bad, I, I’ve never seen Tim like this… he’s clingy... We need to do a blood test, find what the joker pumped him full of…”
______
As they discuss how to proceed in the main room of the cave, Tim watches as milky paint water flows down the drain.
His skin is still there. Far paler than normal, but not unhealthily so… bit’s of green hair dye fall down the drain with the white paint.
Once the water runs clear and the soap is almost gone Tim turns the shower off and stumbles around getting dressed.
When he gets to the sweat shirt he gets his arm stuck and lets out an involuntary whine. Freezing up he looks up at Dick.
“You ok?”
Of course he had been helicoptering right outside the door. He’d probably been there waiting just in case something went wrong.
“M fine.” Tim murmurs as he frees his arm and rubs at the tears welling up in his eyes, “It’s nothing…”
“Uh hu.” Dick sighs and ushers Tim out, “Here, let us start a blood test. Then you can go to bed. That sounds ok?”
Tim shakes his head, “Stay with me?”
“Oh, baby bird. Of course.”
“Dont…” Tim looks away, eyes darting around the cave, his face still sewn into a grin, “Please don't call me that.”
Dick’s heart is about ready to shatter as Alfred pulls Tim away to draw some blood and remove the stitches.
________
“I didn’t think I could hate him anymore then I already did…”
Bruce nods.
Jason simply glares.
“Somethings wrong with him,” Dick starts, “He’s got that look that people get when they’ve just gotten hit by Ivy’s ‘cuddle’ pollen. He’s holding himself back from something… When he and Alfred come back I'm going to bring him upstairs.”
_________
“Master Tim,” Alfred gently takes his elbow and guides him into the medbay, “Choose a seat.”
Tim blinks owlishly around the room looking for a seat then drags one of the plush chairs over and perches on it. Nodding Alfred silently hooks up the kit to draw blood.
“Master Tim, may I roll up your sleeve?”
Taken aback Tim nods looking away from the needle, “How bad?” he starts then pauses, “I-i dont know what he gave me?”
“That’s alright,” Alfred mutters, capping off the blood vile.
Tim doesn't seem to hear him, “he gave me j- venom, then something to keep me compliant… whole bunch of other stuff in there…”
Alfred makes a note then scoots over with a pair of tweezers and medical scissors, “Please keep your head still.”
One by one the stitches are removed and Tim slumps down in his chair in relief. Giggles worm their way out of his throat. Flushing he covers his face.
“Tim it’s ok,” Bruce murmurs as he walks into the med bay, “He’s gone, for good this time. You’re safe, it’s ok if you can't… not laugh… we can deal with that later.”
Nodding slowly, Tim walks over to him, “Could I- stay with you?”
“Of course.”
With that Tim practically scampers up the stairs.
“Will you two be staying the night?” Bruce asks.
“Yes.” Jason replies with no hesitation in his voice.
“He needs every bit of support he can get.” Dick nods looking up at the roof of the cave.
They end up in the same room. Tim having plopped himself in the middle of Bruce’s oversized bed sandwiched between Bruce and Dick. Jason’s still in the room but is passed out on the couch.
______
They don’t know the extent of the damage yet. Tim’s overreacting to every emotion. If he’s happy he’s laughing, gets a little sad or relieved he’s in tears, scared adn loving he’s clingy.
It’s over breakfast when the full story comes out.
“Do you think you can tell us what happened?” Dick asks as he puts a bowl of oatmeal in front of Tim.
“Can I have coffee?” Tim asks. A mug is slid over to him. Low caffeine since they don’t want it reacting to anything in his bloodstream, “So after he caught me… he straped me to a table. Drugged me with a whole bunch of stuff… joker venom and something to make me more compliant, don't know what else… then-” Tim cuts off suddenly and takes a deep breath, tears silently slipping down his face, seemingly unnoticed by Tim. “He electrocuted me got all sorts of information.”
“What did he want?”
“Me to be his child. The next joker,” he shudders. Flicking at the green hair in disgust.
“I’ve got hair dye,” Jason offers. “If you want.”
Tim nods, “That would be good.”
_________
Tim sits silently as Jason dyes his hair black.
“They treated me like a little kid.”
Jason freezes.
“They didn’t let me do things, Jay,” Tim turns around to look at his brother, “It was weird… it was so confusing…”
“What did they do?” It’s clear to Jason that Tim wants to talk but needs the prompting.
Tim draws his shoulders in and makes himself smaller, “They put me in a highchair. Cut up my food. Gave me little kid toys. Joker wanted me to be a kid. I'm pretty sure if Harley wasn’t there I'd be a lot worse.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, when he wasn't looking she treated me like a person, and she gave me antidotes for stuff a few times.”
“Timmy,” Jason says as he rubs the last of the hair dye though his hair, “Im glad you made it out of there.”
“So am I.” Tim nods.
“You going to go see Dinah about this?”
“Yeah, B’s asking if we can move my normal appointment up, and if we can do it in the cave.”
Jason nods. Then a knock comes from the door.
“I have the plastic wrap you wanted.” Dick says. Holding it out for Jason.
“You do it, gloves are on the counter.”
“Sure,” Dick grins at Tim, “How are you feeling.”
“Better,” Tim admits, “Uh, do you think B will let me back out?”
“Do you want to keep going?”
“I think so.” Tim murmurs, “This is my life, all my friends are part of this life.”
“Don't you have a friend from school?”
“Well besides him. Once I'm better, do you think I'll be let out? Probably no solo missions though.”
Dick looks at him then shrugs, “Yeah, I can't see solo missions happening for any of us for a while.”
“I can live with that.” Jason looks out the window, “No more dead robins.”