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Chapter Text

There are multiple myths about fae and general confusion about them.  The label of fairy has at times applied only to specific magical creatures with human appearance, magical powers, and a penchant for trickery.

 In some myths, they have a queen, on whose name the sources tend to agree: Titania.  According to some, there are two main courts, the Seelie Court and the Unseelie Court, which are themselves divided into factions.  It could be said that this is a modern invention due to novels like Shadowhunters, but the truth was that nothing was known about the fae.

 For the world, it was better this way.  It was better not to fear that the newborn sleeping in the next room was not your real baby ...

Cassandra knew three things: her mother was the queen, her father was in exile, and she was a weapon.

Cassandra didn't want to be a weapon. 

The feel of the blood on her hands disgusted her, the memory of her victims' glassy eyes haunted her.

She had killed twelve fae, and she remembered all their faces.

As long as she remains at Seelie Court, Cassandra can only be a weapon. She was cursed with obscure powers, and Titania knew how to use them. 

But in the human world, she can be free. Her brother lived there, away from the court, and wasn't returned. 

Cassandra also wanted to live like him, without any connection with Titania.

She knew how to open a portal into the human world, she knew how to hide from humans, sinking into the darkness, her natural element.

She could do it, and she had a plan.

But then she overheard a conversation between Titania and her lover, and her plan had to change.

Her brother was returning...

They had lost Tim's signal.  Ra's was in Gotham and not even Oracle could contact Tim.  Dick should be in control.

 He was Batman (he didn't want to be) and Batman didn't lose control.

 Then Damian had commented on his grandfather's interest in boys like Tim and Dick had thrown the control out the window.

 He had called the Titans to help him and to keep an eye on Gotham in case the ninjas at Ra's tried to do something.  Yes, with the cloak came that high level of paranoia as well.

 He had begged to find it before Ra's.  His prayers had been answered, in a way.  Ra's hadn't found Tim.  He had done something worse.

 "Oh, Batman," a woman greeted him as she held an unconscious Tim in her arms, loose blonde hair covering her shoulders.  She was beautiful, but she was a beauty like Poison Ivy: if you got too close, you would end up hurting yourself.

 "Let Red Robin go."

 "Why?  I won't hurt him.  I am his mother. "

 Dick felt his stomach sink, "You look pretty healthy for a corpse, Mrs. Drake."

 The woman frowned, as did Tim when he lost his temper, “I'm his real mother.  That woman didn't even serve her basic purpose of taking care of him. "

 She stroked Tim's hair gently, and it was so wrong it made Dick sick.

 "What nonsense are you talking about?"

 She tilted her head towards Damian, “Wasn't it you who said blood is more important?  You talk a lot about your rights as a true blood child. "

 "I don't understand what you..."

 She interrupted Damian, “Blood counts, demon's heir.  And I came to get my child back. "

 It was a surreal discussion, more than any he had had with the Joker

 " Who are you?" Dick asked.

 "I have too many names, but among humans, I am more known as Titania."

 Dick seemed to have heard that name somewhere before.  It was Damian who took the embarrassment off him, "You are the Fae Queen."

 Fae.  Ok, why not.  Dick had seen stranger things.  This wasn't the time to have a crisis as Tim was about to be kidnapped by her.

 “So you are a fae. But I'm pretty sure Tim is human. "

 "Changelings must seem human - Titania replied, in the tone of someone who was explaining a basic concept to a very stupid child.  - The aim is to integrate them into human society.  Even if his case... oh, my poor son.  Not wanted by either the Drakes or the Waynes.  It must have been difficult for him. "

 The feeling of pain returned, “We want him.  He is part of the family. "

 He saw a flicker of irony in the queen of the fae's eyes, "Are you sure?  You didn't seem to me to consider him your family when you kicked him out. "

 Dick shivered, "I didn't."

 " No?  You told him Wayne Manor wasn't his place.  You were right.  His place is by my side. "

 She stood up and a blue portal opened behind her.  Dick tried to move but felt stuck as if he had boulders attached to his whole body.

 "I should kill you," Titania said lightly.

 “It is a crime to harm a member of the royal family.  One tried to kill him countless times, the other lied to him... now, how could I punish you two? I..."

 A bullet grazed her, breaking whatever spell she put on Dick and Damian.  Like a vengeful shadow, Jason stepped down from the other, and Dick was relieved to see him there.

"You came."

Jason snorted," I'm not such an asshole as to leave Replacement in the hands of a pedophile. Or a bitch who thinks she is his mother. "

 "Red Hood.  - Titania greeted him.  - Did you come here to kill my son? "

 "You are in my territory."

 " You didn't answer."

 “It's a stupid question.  "

 "You hurt him."

 “I apologized,” Jason said stiffly.

 “He has forgiven me.  And he also forgave the demon brat here. "

"Are you sure he has forgiven you? Are you sure you deserve it?"

No, Dick wasn't.

 Dick looks at Jason and Damian's faces.  Worst of all, none of the three of them were sure of the answer.

 Tim was the best of them, wasn't he?  He understood why they had done certain things, why Dick had to take Robin away.

 Understanding didn't mean forgiving, and all of them hadn't even thought about how Tim felt.  It was easier to ignore the feelings.  He would like to say it was Bruce's fault, but that was all of him and the others.

 Perhaps Titania was right in saying that Tim will be safer with her.  Away from Dick, away from his near killers.

 Away from Batman ... safe, protected, with his biological mother and her sisters, in the place he was entitled to by birthright ...

 Jason hit him in the head, “Dickhead, stay with us.  The bitch is messing with your head. "

“What…”

 Damian was holding on to him, white as a sheet.  Jason wasn't in better shape.  Titania hadn't moved.  She didn't deny Jason's accusation.

 He was starting to understand Bruce's hatred of magic.

 "Stop that.  - Jason hissed at the queen.  - Whatever you're doing, stop it.  "

 "I'm showing you the truth."

 Jason blurted out, “We're all three shit brothers!  We know it!  We are assholes and have used Tim as a punching box for years.  He didn't deserve it.  He doesn't even deserve a mother who remembers his existence after sixteen years. "

 “As I said, his place is next to me.  I'm his family.  You are nothing.  "

 "You bitch ..."

 Jason tried to shoot her, but the gun melted in his hand.  He dropped it, as Titania scornfully said, “You're wasting my time.  I don't understand why you aren't happy. You never wanted him. "

 It isn't true. He is our family, Dick wanted to scream at her.

 I want him to know that we're sorry and that he didn't deserve to be treated like that.  I want to tell him that I was wrong, and that ...

 He couldn't say any of this: Titania threw herself into the portal, taking Tim with her.  Jason lunged forward trying to stop her, but he wasn't fast enough.

 The portal closed, and he fell to his knees.

 "Fuck!"

 He saw Jason punch the ground in frustration.

 “She won,” Damian said.  Titania had won.  It was all over.

 Dick closed his fists.  No, that wasn't the end.  He refused to lose another brother.  He had already lost Tim when he chased him away.  Oh, how bitter the remorse was.

 He had made mistakes he couldn't fix.  This, however, was something he could do.

 "We'll bring him back," Dick swore.

 Dick won't abandon him.  Not again.  He had disappointed Tim enough already, ruining another brother.  Dick will bring him home, and he will try to be better.

 If Tim still wants it, they'll be a family. And if not...

 "How, Greyson?  We can't open a portal to the fae realm."

Dick expired, “This is true, we cannot do it.  But we know someone who can. "

It was time to ask Zatanna a favor. 

Titania returned with a boy. He was so young, and he resembled Cassandra.  The queen held him in her arms as if he were precious, her eyes were bloodshot, insane.

 It was evident that mother was disparate.

 She turned to Cassandra, "Never leave your brother alone. I expect you to stop him from doing nonsense."

 Cassandra nodded.  Titania wanted a guard for him, to keep him from leaving and to terrorize him.  It was obvious that she was asking her perfect weapon to do it. Cassandra was flawless. 

 She had made a mistake: Cassandra was no longer an obedient soldier.  Timothy won't be staying a day in the fae realm.

 Tim woke up with a pounding headache, feeling as shattered as after a fight with Bane.  But Bane was still in Arkham, the patrol had been pretty quiet and ...

 Why was he wearing a robe?

 He sat up, almost risking vomiting.  His vision was blurred, his head spinning as if he were on a merry-go-round.

 When he recovered enough to stand up, he leaned against some kind of bedside table.  He narrowed his eyes.  This was not his apartment: it was a room with white walls decorated with delicate golden patterns, Louis XIV-style furniture, and light.  Lots of light.

 He was no longer in Gotham if the view of the white towers outside the oval window was any indication.

 He held on with more force.

 “I'm dreaming… this is a messed up dream.  When I wake up I will be back in my apartment ... "

 As much as he tried to tell himself, he felt awake.  Careful.  And it felt right as if he had come home ...

 He heard a noise behind him and turned around.

 The door was open, and a girl dressed in a purple robe had entered which left her shoulders bare.

 The girl had short black hair and deep dark eyes.  Tim felt naked in front of that look as if she could see into her soul.

 The girl began to make quick gestures with her hand.  Tim's eyes widened.  Sign language.

 “Can you go slower?  I don't understand."

 The girl nodded.  Then she signed I'm Cassandra, I'm here to help you.

 "Help me?"

 She nodded and added You can't stay.  Danger.  Titania will use you. Her powers are down.

 "Use me?  Why?"

 You are important.

 Tim wasn't understanding, and he slowly asked, "Important? What do you mean?"

 You are a part of her.  She wants you here.  You can't stay.

 "I don't even want to stay," the boy commented.

 He wanted to go back… to Gotham.  Not that the others would have noticed his absence, but he had cases to work on, and the work at WE. And he had to find Bruce.

 Cassandra narrowed her lips, You are smart.  You understood.  I will take you back to the human world and...

Tim stopped her, "Why are you doing this? Why do you want to help me?"

 In his line of work, he was used to expecting the worst at any given moment, and not trusting anyone.

 (He still made that mistake sometimes with his family, but he always knew he had a bleeding heart and needed affection. He must have known there was no room for him. It had never been.)

 So, kidnapped and taken to another world, with a person promising him to help out of nowhere, how many possibilities were there to make the situation worse?

 You are family.  Freedom.  I want it too.

 " Family?"

 We are brothers.  Twins.  Light.  Dark.

 Things later got much, much more confusing.

"Can you repeat?" Dick said with remarkable control, while behind him, more prosaically, Jason blurted out what the fuck ?!

On the Batcomputer screen, Zatanna sighed, "I can't help you open a portal to the fae realm and kidnap a member of the royal family."

"Tim is a Wayne," Dick repeated for the umpteenth time that night.

"He was abandoned in the human world. Don't the fae have a child abandonment policy or something like that?"

"The fae have different rules than ours. Channeling is what we call cultural exchange."

"Too bad the human family doesn't know," Jason commented.

"It's abandonment anyway. - Dick intervened. - Titania gave up her rights when she left him with the Drakes."

"Titania has not given up on him. Channelings can be resumed at any time by their family of origin."

"And the human children?"

"That's their choice whether they want to come back or not."

"Very convenient this way."

"Red Hood, as I said, the rules of the fae are different. We can't risk a war with them ..."

To save Tim, war was a risk that Dick would run even with his eyes closed.

But what Zatanna said next made his blood run cold, "Besides, there's the matter of Ra's al-Ghoul."

"What does he have to do with it?"

"Fae are immortal, Dick. And for those seeking eternal life like Ra's, one way to get it is to eat the heart of a fae."

"Ra's doesn't know," he said stiffly. Until a few hours ago even they and Tim himself knew it.
How could Ra's know?

Zatanna explained, "Are you sure? He seems too obsessed with Tim not to have at least an idea of his true nature."

She had a point here. 

God. Dick didn't think he could feel more disgust for Ra's than he already did. Unfortunately, he was wrong.

"We won't let him get close to Tim."

"Dick, you don't know. Ra's has already made it into the manor and won't stop until he gets what he wants."

"But we..."

The sorceress interrupted him, "Can you honestly promise that nothing will ever happen to Tim? That no one will try to kill him?"

The silence was embarrassing because even Zatanna knew damn well that they had not particularly excelled in that compartment over the years.

Among them, Tim was the one who had risked dying multiple times. And most of the assassination attempts came from his own family. He hated admitting that Titania was right about one thing: everyone had messed up big, so much so that not even Zatanna trusted them for Tim's life. 

The sorceress shook her head, "I'm sorry, I'd like to help you, but there are too many risks."

"Zatanna, wait ..."

Too late, she had already logged out. It took all control of her not to bang her hand on the computer controls.

"We're full stop," he said, feeling like a failure. Bruce is known to convince her. Bruce wasn't going to mess up as much as Dick did. Bruce would know-how.

Instead, there was Dick, a pale imitation of the real Batman, his brother needed him but could do nothing. It was frustrating.

"Zatanna won't help us."

"What are we going to do now?" Damian asked. 

"I don't know..."

Jason grunted, "Zatanna follows the rules. We need someone who doesn't care and can play dirty."

 "I don't know what kind of contacts you have, but I won't ask for Klarion's help or ..."

 His brother interrupted him, "No, Dickhead. I'm not crazy enough to trust Klarion."

 " Who were you talking about?"

 Jason smiled ferociously, "John Constatine, of course."

Tim was a changeling. In the myths, a changeling was believed to be a fae that had been left in place of a human stolen by the fairies.

A changeling may appear sickly and will not grow in size like a normal child ( Tim was very small even at thirteen) and may have notable physical characteristics such as a beard or long teeth ( thanks to God, he didn't have any of this). They may also display intelligence far beyond their apparent years, as well as possess uncanny insight ( this...this is very, very true. )

Replacement said by Jason took on a new meaning.  Tim wasn't human (did Dick know? Did he hate him for it?): Tim had taken the place of his parents' real son, a place that didn't belong to him.

 He didn't even belong to the fae realm, his mother (biologically speaking) didn't hesitate to send him away.

 It was all fucking grotesque that he almost wanted to laugh.  Instead, he had to sit on the bed.  He wasn't feeling well.

 A light touch on his shoulder, and Tim raised his head: Cassandra was looking at him worried.

 His twin sister was worried about him.

 Tim had a real sister, a blood sister as Damian would like to say.  A sister who wanted to help him get out of there instead of trying to kill him for fear that he would take her place.

 Eh.  It was the first time a sibling didn't want to hurt him.  He expected that at any moment that would turn out to be her plan to win Tim's trust and betray him.

 He slowly inspired, "Sorry, I'm fine. It's just a lot to accept."

 Cassandra nodded, then she signed You have lived with humans.  You were free.  I want to live like you.

 "I don't think it suits you. Here you are a princess, aren't you? I ... I run a company that is not mine, my ex-girlfriend is missing, my friends are dead, and in general, everything sucks. My only father figure didn't even want me and my brothers hate me. I ... "

 He was interrupted by a hug.  He tensed, no longer used to physical contact that didn't involve the pain.  Cassandra was hugging him and he felt warmth. 

 He felt his eyes pinch and hated feeling so vulnerable.  The vulnerability could be used against him.

 He tried to get away, and Cassandra made him do it.  She didn't want to force him to accept her (so different from Dick, that made Tim feel at fault for not trusting the brat who wanted him dead, and after two years he hadn't stopped threatening him.)

  I am a weapon.  I can kill another fae.  Titania can't.  She trained me to be her killer.

 "Aren't the fae immortal?"

 I can kill them.

 "Titania ... when did she start to ...?"

 I was nine years old.

 Jesus Christ.  He wasn't surprised that Cassandra believed Tim was free.  Even living in Gotham seemed like a better option.

"Why didn't you run away earlier?"

 You are my brother.  I have waited for you.  I'm not leaving you with her.  She will use your powers as she did me.  I do not want to.

 Tim frowned, "I have no powers."

 Powers would have been useful years ago against a crazy Jason, he would have had the opportunity to defend himself and not remain in a pool of his blood.

 He should have known by that time that he was not human.  A human being does not survive after losing so much blood.

 You have them.  You are the light.  You are life.  Titania needs you.

 " Why?"

 Cassandra hesitated, then signed. I think she is losing her powers.

 "Is it possible?"

 With a curse, it's possible.

 "Who cursed her?"

 Our father.

Chapter Text

Tim rubbed his eyes.  

His biological family was a mess.  It shouldn't surprise him, at that point it seemed like everything about him had to be a disaster.  But Christ.

 Are you okay? Cassandra signed, worried.

 “Yeah… I need a minute.  That's a lot to accept.  It's… it's complicated. "

 It sounded like a Shakespearean tragedy.  His mother had conspired to have the throne all to herself, she had exiled her husband - Tim's father, who may have died.  Great, another dead father figure.  So lucky.  - in the Unseelie Court.

 It was practically a death sentence.  Unable to kill him herself, she had sent him to a place where the very air would slowly poison him and make him sick beyond recovery.

 But Oberon was not going to leave without a fight and had cursed Titania.  An unforgiving curse: it made Titania very sick and week, in need of Tim's powers to keep the throne.

 Powers he didn't have, for the record.  If he had had them, they hadn't been of any use to him after all the assassination attempts.

 He had told Cassandra, but she just shrugged, her confidence not at all affected.

 Was it too much to hope that as soon as Titania realizes Tim is 100% normal, she will send him back?

 It was?  Damn.

 If Titania thought Tim was the solution to her problems, escaping will be difficult.  Limited freedom of movement, eyes on him wherever he goes.  Even with Cassandra at his side, he will not be left alone.  Titania could trust Cassandra as she was his bodyguard, but she wasn't stupid.

 “I don't understand a thing.  If I was so important to her, why did she send me away? "

 Cassandra assumed a hesitant expression.  She then she signed She didn't know your utility.  Fae tradition.  No twins.  Brings bad luck.  According to ancient customs, you shouldn't have returned.

 "Instead, here I am, the package has been returned to the sender," he said, trying to ignore the bitterness of another family who had just taken a look at it and didn't want him.

 What was wrong with him?

 Cassandra looked at him in confusion, and Tim said, “Don't worry, it's just a human saying.  Um ... do you know what happened to the real Drake son?  Is he still alive? "

 He is alive and happy with a family chosen by the queen.

 Tim should take him home.  It would have been the right thing to do.  But would the other boy have wanted it?  If he was happy to be here, wouldn't Tim have done him an unforgivable wrong?

 He had a family.  Of the people who loved him.  Maybe Titania had lied to Cassandra (could le fae lie? Hell, there were too many myths, he couldn't remember) and the real Timothy was with terrible people.

 But what if he wasn't?

 He hated uncertainty.  And he hated not being sure about something.  If he brought the real Timothy Drake back to the human world, who would he be?

 Cassandra put a hand on his shoulder to get her attention.  Brother.  You have to prepare yourself.  Soon mother will want to talk to him.

 “Oh… sure, I can't miss the mother-son's reunion of the century,” he said softly, putting his thoughts aside.

 Cassandra continued You must make yourself immune.  Her voice is powerful.

 "Yes, I suspected it," he said, remembering their unpleasant first meeting.  He hated how a fae word was enough to put him to sleep.

 He hated magic.

 Cassandra handed him a purple bag, and Tim opened it.  Inside there were strange herbs with a strong smell.  His stomach closed.

 You will have to keep them in your mouth for as long as you are in our mother's presence.

 "Isn't there another way?"

 No. These nullify the magic of the fae.

 "How did you get them?"

 While on a mission for our mother, she signed, and she didn't seem willing to say more.  Tim looked at the herbs again and suppressed his disgust.

 "I hope it's worth it," and he put some in his mouth.

 Unsurprisingly, the taste was awful.

 Constantine showed up at the cave an hour after Dick's call. 

 He was walking around with his hands in his pockets, whistling, "I see you still kept your dad's old stuff."

 "I didn't want to refurbish," Dick said as Jason and Damian were preparing their weapons.  It seemed to him that they were exaggerating, but he never knew what threats he would face.

 Unless they want to use them on Tim.  It would not be the first time.

 He stiffened.  Where did that thought come from?  He trusted them.  Damian was learning to control his impulse.  Jason… at least he wasn't shooting at them as soon as he saw them.

 Besides, he had responded to Dick's call for help.  He cared.

 He was probably looking for an opportunity to hurt Tim.  Don't be naive, you know how much he hates Tim.

 “Hey, boy - Constantine caught his attention.  - I open the portal to the kingdom of the Fae, and after that?  What's the plan? "

 "We'll break into the royal palace and kidnap Tim," he said.

 Here, is a simple plan.  Nothing too complicated, but certainly successful.

 Ah, do you trust them not to try to hinder you?  How much do you bet that at this moment they are agreeing on who will distract you while the other will slaughter Tim?

 “… Batboy?  Are you with us? "

 Dick raised his head.  Constantine was staring at him.  There was a kind of staring contest for a few seconds.  Finally, the blonde said, “Your plan is stupid.  Your old man wouldn't have gone so unprepared ... 

 "We can't all be tactical geniuses!"  Dick exclaimed offended.

 Constantine ignored him and continued, "And he wouldn't have gone while he was still under the influence of a fae's magic."

 "What?"

 “The voice you are hearing in your head?  It's Titania.  It's one of her powers.  The duration may vary.  "

 Fuck.  Dick clenched his fists, "Can she do it even from a distance?"

 “A little trick for her.  "

 "Damn ..."

 Great job, Batman.  You let yourself be subjugated by the fae bitch.  The next thing that will be, to bring Darkside back to life?  Why not let Lex Luthor kill Superman?

 “That's why you won't go.  You are still under the influence of Titania.  Who knows what mess you could make. "

 Dick was offended and opened his mouth to argue.  Constantine teased him, “Don't protest, batboy.  The last thing you need is for Titania to use you as a puppet."

 “I can't stay here and just send them.  What if ... "

 "Are you afraid they'll try to kill Red Robin if you're not there to hold them back?"

 Dick was silent.  That wasn't what he meant, but heck, it hit too close to home.  Damian stared at him as if he expected him to deny it.  Jason, on the other hand, did not grant him that privilege, taking the worst for granted.

 Well, they couldn't completely blame him given their history with Tim.

 As if you were different, Grayson.

 Constantine smirked that indicated he saw beyond other people's bullshit, “Don't try to lie, batboy.  Titania's magic grows stronger when there are real doubts.  She plays with people's fear and uses it against them. "

 He paused, then continued, “I'll go to the Fae realm.  You have problems in this family.  And if I say so, it's something big. "

 Jason blurted out, “No, shit Sherlock.  The demon's brat and I will go.  This is a family matter. "

 The man looked at him with a raised eyebrow, "Since when do you feel part of this family, Todd?  And since when do you consider Red Robin your brother?  Did I miss any steps? "

 “Fuck you, asshole.  "

" Jason..."

"Do you want to help us or do you want to lecture us?"  Jason asked, ignoring the major.

 Constantine shrugged, “You called me to help.  I'm doing it.  I don't think it's a good idea for any of you to go to Seelie Court.  Batboy here is under the magic of Titania.  You and Al-Ghoul have a history of violence there.  You want to bring him back, don't give him any other reasons to decide to stay. "

 "Do you think we are so stupid?"  Jason glared at him.

 “Boy, in the fae realm you can only tell the truth.  The fae were born to manipulate words.  The human beings?  Not so much.  Do you want your family back together?  Sorry, but you would do more damage."

 Dick closed his eyes.  He saw where he wanted Constantine to go.  Jason and Damian had hurt Tim.  And while Jason had the excuse of the Pit's fury, Damian just wanted to get rid of a rival, as he had been taught by Talia and the League.

 Part of him wasn't sure Jason cared about Tim.  Or any of them, for that matter.  If he is unable to lie, what could he say to Tim?

 What other irreparable damage would they do together?

 Same as you would, Grayson.  You are a hypocrite.

 He wanted to pull his hair out.  It won't help silence his mind, but it might give him relief.

 Regardless of the mess that was taking place in Dick's mind, Jason looked at Constantine deadly serious, “Is that all?  We can go."

 Constantine arched an eyebrow, “You understand you can't lie, don't you?  The Lazarus Pit hasn't made you immune to the magic of the fae. "

 “Look, asshole, we're wasting time.  The whore may have already brainwashed Tim.  So either hurry up or we'll call Dr. Fate. "

 “Dr. Fate would never help you.  "

 Jason didn't give up, “We know a lot of magical users.  It won't be difficult to replace you.  "

 “Oh, my dear pride.  "

 "So?  Will you open the portal? "  Damian intervened, impatient.

 “Well, since I haven't been able to convince you it's a bad idea… but don't blame me if Red Robin doesn't want to come.  "

 Jason loaded the gun, “He will come.  "

 Ah yes, that's what method he wanted to use: gentle persuasion.  He was official.  Tim will never go home again.

The walls of the throne room were blinded white.  Everything around Tim was white or blue, including his clothes.  He felt ridiculous wearing the robe, but he had been wearing more absurd disguises.

 There was a lot of light, but not even a shadow.  The only dark note was Cassandra, who stood respectfully behind him.

 Titania was seated on a gilded seat, located on a slightly raised podium.  Her gaze lit up as she saw him enter.

 "My son…"

 Titania was beautiful.  He had barely seen her in the darkness of the alley, but now, in her natural environment, he saw the queen in all her splendor.

 Her hair was brighter than gold, long and wavy.  Her eyes were sapphires, her skin white and pale as the moon.  It seemed the portrait of innocence.

 Under that ethereal beauty, however, the rottenness was hidden.  Titania surrounded herself with light, but she was a woman who would do anything to keep power.

 Tim kept his back straight, shoulders straight.  The herb tasted bitter and she wanted to vomit, but he forced himself to let her expression remain neutral.

 Titania expected suspicion.  She was not silly, his immediate sympathy was beyond question.  Tim had grown up in the human world with other parents (alone, always alone, he did not remember with certainty Janet Drake's face. He did not remember the last time he had considered her as his mother).

 He had to be consistent with that.  Make her believe she has the game in hand.  Don't make Titania suspicious.  He will be in her presence no longer than five minutes.  It was time for the queen to mess up his head and then get Tim to do the rest.

 He won't let her brainwash him and convince him not to run away.  Tim wasn't a weapon.  Above all, he won't be her weapon.

 It will be the longest five minutes of his life.

 “You look like me.  - the queen said she, looking at him thoughtfully.  - You have my face and my eyes.  Compensation for the unfortunate color scheme, I guess. "

 So Oberon had black hair.  He and Cassandra had inherited them from him.  It was a useless piece of information, but Tim held it tight.

 Why?  Great question.  Maybe he wanted to know about his biological father.  Not that it was of any use to him when the man seemed no better than his wife.  Cassandra had not known him, Titania was pregnant when there was the coup.

 She had heard stories about him, and none of them were flattering.

 " Come here.  Make yourself look better. "

 It was unexpected.  Tim obeyed (remember, it's like being undercover. Do whatever she tells you) and walked over.

 Titania took his face in her hands and Tim felt as if his heart could come out of his chest.  She hadn't noticed it before, did she?

 He could hear his ears flapping, Titania's gaze was intense.  It was as if she saw his soul. The fae put a lock of his hair behind the ear, “Let your hair grow.  It is the custom of the Fae principles. "

 Ah, so she's starting like this.  He could hear Titania treading the tone on the last part.  She wanted to remind him who he was.  Or who she thought Tim was.

 She continued, “This is your home.  Not the terrible human world.  Here you will be treated as your rank requires. "

 He shuddered internally.  The house she had sent him away from without a second thought.  Titania hadn't cared about him until she needed Tim.  She now posed herself as a worried parent.  She was very careful about the words she used, carefully calibrating them to say whatever she felt was right.

Hell, he got it from her.

 “Humans won't hurt you.  Here you will be safe from them. "

He tensed.  He was afraid to know who she was referring to (he knew, but the magic of herbs helped to deny it).  He didn't want to investigate that too much, it would lead to awkward accomplishments and Tim didn't want any obstacles to his escape.

 Titania spoke, her voice as sweet as a song.  He listened to her, his mind was elsewhere.  He didn't know if it was for herbs or an all-human effect of not paying attention to an adult while was talking.

 Titania must have loved the sound of her voice, she liked to talk.

 The proximity allowed him to observe her better.  It was like looking into a distorted mirror.

 Suddenly, Titania let him go, “Cassandra, show him the gardens.  I'm sure your brother will love them."

 It was finished.  Thanks, God. He allowed himself to breathe, almost not aware that he had been holding the air.  The tension had subsided, but this was no time to relax.

 The first part of the plan was gone.  Now they could proceed with the second.

Constantine, Jason, and Damian were on the roof of a building, below them a mega blue hole that gave off the wind.

 The wind was strong and Jason put his arm in front of his face.

 "Are you fucking kidding us?"  Jason yelled at Constantine, the wind ruffling his hair.

 The man just shrugged, "If you wanted to travel comfortably, you had to ask Zatanna.  This is the fastest way.  "

 Nice idea, too bad that Zatanna didn't want inter-space incidents with the fae! They had had to settle for the asshole occultist.

 "Do you want to help, throwing us down from a fucking building?!"

 "Throwing yourself off buildings isn't something you bats do regularly?"

 "We don't even know where we will end up!"

 “You can still pull back, you are in time. "

 Jason clenched his jaw.  It was a messed-up way to get them not to go.  Constantine didn't trust them.

 Not that he could blame him, given his history with Tim.

 No time to get sentimental.  If he thought about all the things he had done wrong, he'd end up worse than Bruce and Dickhead.

 He had made a mistake (many mistakes actually), but he could fix it.  

The brat was less sentimental than he was, "See you on the other side, Todd."

 And he jumped, disappearing into the vortex.

 Jason turned to Constantine, “Is that enough for you as a leap of faith?  "

 He gave him his middle finger, then jumped too. Constantine whistled.

 "Crazy bastards."

He had to admit, they were brave.  Did he think they would make it?  Eh, his confidence didn't go that far.

 The portal remained open, and the exorcist lit a cigarette.  

Now it was a matter of waiting.

Dick had remained in the cave.  It was better this way, according to Constantine.  The risk of him meddling in the creation of the portal was too high.

 Sure you would.  Constantine is sending the worst possible people to save Tim!

 Dick groaned.  He had to trust Damian and Jason.  He didn't have it already, but he had to believe in them.  Trust was important.  At least to reduce Titania's hold on his mind.

 He sighed and rubbed his eyes.  It had been a long night, and it wasn't over yet.  Ra's ninja had been neutralized, but there was no trace of the leader of the League.

 Part of Dick wanted to believe that he had walked away with his tail between his legs.  Another part, more realistic, knew that the man had a plan.

 “Good evening, Richard. -   A familiar voice said from behind him, pressing a dagger to Dick's throat.  - It's been a while."

 He hated being right.

 "Ra's," Dick said, staying calm.  It was depressing how many times such a thing happened to him

 The man smiled, and pressed the blade to Dick's neck, "You have decreased security since the last time.  The real Batman wouldn't have done that. "

 Here it is, hitting a sore spot.  Bastard.

 “I'm less paranoid than Bruce.  I don't think anyone is my enemy. "

 "Too bad it is - Ra's pointed out.  - All the Rouges of Gotham are your enemies.  Some know a lot about Batman.  "

 "Like you."

 "Like me," Ra's conceded.

 "What do you want, Ra's?  Your ninjas have been knocked out. "

 Ra's leaned close to his ear, Dick felt his warm breath caress his neck, "I just want one thing.  I'm not here to fight you.  You are not worthy of my attention. "

 "Wow, this is good for a boy's self-esteem."

 The pressure of the blade on his neck increased, “Don't waste my time.  Where is Timothy? "

Jason woke up feeling like shit. It had become habitual since he had started his vigilante life (perhaps even earlier) and stayed awake until dawn.

But that wasn't his bed, it was branches and leaves, and that wasn't Gotham.

He sat up, wiping the dirt from his face.

It was in a sort of forest, the trees were tall, so tall they covered the sky.

Everything was gray and brown, with no other hints of color.

"How disgusting..."

"You finally woke up, Todd."

Damian was not far away, in front of a bonfire that he had lit. He looked at Jason in annoyance, "Welcome to the fae realm."

"Are you sure it's not Hell? This place sucks."

If Constantine had screwed them, as soon as they get out of there (and they will) Jason will personally go to him to thank him.

"I'm pretty sure it's not Hell."

"Don't you feel at home?"

"Very witty, Todd."

Jason stretched, "You're too serious, brat. It's annoying to see you do that thing with your forehead, it reminds me of your dad."

He broke off. Damian looked at him. He looked back.

"I didn't mean to say that," Jason asserted.

"It is the truth?"

"Yup. "

"Do you feel like saying other uncomfortable things?"

"Oh, you have no idea."

The boy snorted, "I mean things you wouldn't usually say even under torture."

"Ah ... even those, I guess."

"Tt. We are really in the fae realm."

"Are you an expert on the supernatural now? Who tells you it's not like that in Hell too?"

Damian frowned at him, but Jason was making a good point there. He opens his mouth to retort, but an arrow passes by his side, brushing his cheek and thrusting itself into the ground behind him.

Jason drew his guns, "It doesn't matter. Here's the welcoming committee."

Damian is put in position too, ready to fight.  A male voice rang out, "Are you two human?"

 "Any problem with that, dude?"

 Silence.  Then the voice said, "This is no place for humans."

 "Look, we have to save our brother from Titania and then we will return to our world," Jason said, being looked at in a strain by the brat.  He didn't pay much attention to it.

 It boomed, "He's lost. Titania won't let go of her new toys."

 "Oh, this time she will."

 A hooded man appeared in the trees, a quiver on his shoulders and looking in pain. 

 "If you go to Titania, I want to go with you."

 Jason snorted, "Yeah, sure. Why should we do this?"

 He took off his hood.  He was pale, with sunken cheeks and deep dark circles. Jason noticed a detail: the man had black hair. 

The man said, "Do you want to face the fae queen alone? Either you are powerful beings or you are insane. You need help."

 Jason wanted to laugh.  Did he believe they are so stupid?

 "Why would you want to help us? For the goodness of your heart?"

 "No, for revenge. Is that enough for you?"

 "Mhm ... no. Who are you?"

 The man's eyes lit up with a soft green, "I am the exiled king. I am Oberon. And you are my only chance to get out of here."