Chapter Text
It was a very bad idea to go out on the town in the dead of night to take photos of Batman and Robin. A very, atrociously bad idea. Like who would even think of such a thing? But in Tim’s defense, he was absolutely enamored with the crime fighting duo. Especially Robin. Embarrassingly so.
Baby’s first crush.
But Tim is kinda insane, having already uncovered the identity of the first Robin. From there, it was a series of connecting the dots when it came to the others. For some reason, Jason was special to Tim. He was more of a loose canon, out there on the streets of Gotham. He had this devious smirk to him too, always excited to be out on the prowl. He’d kick the absolute crud out of the bad guys, save the civilians, and not to mention, he was even close to Tim’s age! So it wasn’t hard for Tim to imagine himself in Robin’s shoes. Or maybe alongside him and Batman. Oh boy, could you just imagine?
The fast beating of Tim’s heart fills his ears as he carefully looks down at his photo print within his fixing solution tray. He’s slowly sliding up the tray and down. It helps that his parents are always away, so Tim’s pretty much free to use their bathroom as a makeshift darkroom whenever he pleases. Using some tongs, he gently lifts the photo from the solution and examines the image.
Little Timmy’s heart skips a beat.
It’s Robin kicking one of Two Face’s goons in the jaw. Tim grins, remembering being there during the fight. He snickers to himself as he remembers overhearing Batman scold him afterwards for kicking the same man after he was already down.
Yeah, Tim should not be eavesdropping on the Batman Robin family drama. (He also happens to know that Batman and Nightwing are not on good terms at the moment either, but don’t ask him how he knows that!!) But Tim didn’t do it on purpose, he was just too nervous to get out of his hiding spot when he heard Batman and Robin’s footsteps get too close. And yeah, it isn’t good for a father to bring his son out in bright green and red to fight violent crime, but at least Robin gets attention from his father. And they get to save people! Fight the bad guys! And Batman always saves Robin, no matter what. So Tim can tell that Batman cares. Deep down, in an emotionally constipated dad sort of way.
Tim also knows what happened to Thomas and Martha Wayne. All that’s essential Gotham history. And Tim thinks it’s sweet that Batman can still have a family despite losing his parents. All he has to do now is patch things up with Nightwing and then they can live happily ever after.
And Tim can just keep taking photos, he thinks as he looks over another print he developed earlier. Batman and Robin, standing side by side. Tim remembers this was after that bank robbery, and they were walking away after the big fight. Man, what a dream.
—
That night, Tim sneaks out again, his 35mm film camera hanging by his neck. Word on the Tv was that Poison Ivy recently escaped from Arkham and was currently attacking innocent civilians at the site of a new housing development. The housing site was built over a former wildflower sanctuary. Does Gotham not learn?
Tim manages to adjust his aperture in time to get a cool shot of Batman leaping into action. Ivy throws her arm towards Batman, commanding several vines to fly after him. But Batman fights them off, using his Bat Weed Killer Spray.
As several civilians rush in a panic to get out of there, Tim runs in, closer towards the fight. If he’s careful, maybe he can get a shot of both Batman and Ivy in frame! Oh boy, that would look perfect.
Batman gasps in a panic, and shouts “Get away from here!” when a bundle of Ivy’s vines grab him and tie him up.
Tim freezes from where he was adjusting the settings on his camera. He didn’t realize he had gotten this close. Golly, they were RIGHT THERE. Nervous, Tim lets the flash go off in Ivy’s face and she grunts in discomfort. A vine snatches him up by the ankle and lifts him off the ground. Tim screams in a panic.
“Stupid little boy. Taking pictures?” Poison Ivy says, looking at him. She looks back at Batman, still tied up before glancing back towards Tim. “How about an eye for an eye, Batman? This boy for the innocent flowers they destroyed here?”
“No!” Batman lets out.
A vine grabs onto Tim’s wrist and begins pulling him down while the other around his ankle tightens and pulls in the other direction. Oh no! Ivy was going to medieval torture device him to death! Tim grimaces.
Suddenly, a batarang is thrown and cuts the vine at Tim’s ankle. He drops to the ground in an “oof!” and a thud.
“Huh?!” Ivy gasps just as Batman manages to escape the vines holding him captive as well. Probably using some escape artistry skills. That’s when Tim looks up and his mouth drops at his savior.
Robin.
“You okay, kid?” he asks, getting on one knee to Tim’s level.
Tim stares awkwardly before nervously nodding. Like holy shit, it’s Robin!
“Then, get the hell out of here! It’s dangerous!” Robin yells, pushing Tim hurriedly away. Hands tightly clutching around the lenses of his 35mm, Tim runs away. Like that brush with death was enough to finally snap some sense into him.
When Tim turns his head back, he stops momentarily to stare for a moment. Poison Ivy is raising her arms, rising a bunch of intimidating vines behind herself, daring Batman and Robin to attack her.
But Batman and Robin don’t back down. They aren’t afraid.
Tim takes another picture before fully running off.
—
Tim lets out several huffs as he finally stops running after what feels like forever. He pauses for a moment, letting everything settle in before snapping into action to check his camera.
Oh good, it isn’t damaged.
“Give me the camera kid!!”
“Huh??”
A pair of arms grab at Tim’s as a large man tries to take his camera. Some guy probably looking to pawn it off or something. Tim struggles to break free, as he wails “Nooo! It’s mine!!”
But then Tim hears a loud SMACK and the man falls behind him, flat onto his face in a loud THUD. Tim turns and looks and sees Robin! Again?! Robin again? Actually Robin??
“You just can’t stay out of trouble, huh kid?” Robin asks, shaking his fist after that brutal punch. He knocked out that man clean!! Drool is already running down his lips. Tim’s eyes snap back to Robin and he stares and says nothing. Because what do you even say here?
“Just making sure you don't run into more trouble.” Robin explains as he puts his hands on his hips. “What the hell were you thinking?! Running towards a fight with a crazy plant lady? What?” Robin grabs the lenses of Tim’s camera. “What? To take pictures??” He lets go of the camera and it swings back against Tim’s chest.
He sounds like his dad right now.
“I…umm…” Tim looks down at his feet briefly before backing up a bit. Okay, he knows what he’s going to say now. He looks up and says, “Dr. Pamela Isley isn’t crazy. She’s trying to save the environment.” And then, Tim grins with his teeth.
The two of them silently stare at one another before Robin lets out a sigh. “She almost killed you just now.” He deadpans.
“I know.” Tim quietly says, tucking his hands into his pockets. “I’m gonna go home now.”
Robin sighs, much more very audibly this time. Timmy blushes as he turns away. He’s covering his mouth to avoid showing off his massive Cheshire’s grin. But Robin keeps following him. Tim looks at him in confusion.
“Since you just can’t seem to stay out of danger, I’m gonna walk you home.” Robin explains. “So lead the way.”
“Oh, umm…okay.” Tim utters. On the inside, he’s trying not to explode.
Robin sighs a third time. “Do you always go out to take photos of costumed supervillains or is it just the ones with doctorates?”
“Umm…I don’t go out to take photos of the villains.” Tim replies, doing an excellent job of not exploding.
“Oh, you don’t?” Robin asks, “So what, you like to take photos of Batman or something?”
“Batman and you.” Tim admits.
“Kid, what the hell?” Jason hisses.
Tim spins towards Robin and smiles and proceeds to explode. “You guys are just so cool! You punch the bad guys like BAM, POW!” He punches air. “And then you save the mayor or whoever and the bad guys get taken away. And then you get to go back to the manor and-“
“The manor? How much do you know?” Jason interjects, looking at Tim, almost scandalized.
“Whoops.” Tim lets out like a guilty dog and takes off in the other direction as fast as he can.
The wind blows through his hair as he runs fast, as fast as he can but Tim can’t outrun Robin.
“Got ya!” Jason proclaims as he snatches Tim up in his arms.
“No, hey!!” Tim cries out, kicking out his legs. Jason grunts and puts him down and turns him around.
“So you know about-“ he begins.
“Yeah, I know where you live. And your secret identity. And your dad’s secret identity. And Nightwing’s. But not Batgirl’s but I’m working on that one.” Tim rambles.
“My dad’s? Huh? You-“ Jason’s face scrunches up.
“I’m not gonna tell anyone! I promise!! I'll even take it to my grave! So yeah, and I promise I won’t turn into a super villain and use it against you. I’m too young to have a doctorate!”
Jason actually laughs at that. For quite a bit. Tim smiles.
“Okay, okay fine, I believe you.” Jason says, smirking. “What’s your secret identity then?”
Tim just stares for an awkward amount of time.
“Come on, if you know mine, it’s only fair I get to know yours. You can’t be Camera Kid all the time, can you?”
“Camera Kid? Oh. No.” Tim shakes his head. “I’m…uhh…Tim. Tim Drake.”
“Tim Drake, huh? Heard of your dad.” Jason replies.
“Neat.”
“Well then, let’s get you home before he loses his head, shall we?” Jason continues, putting his hand on Tim’s back to encourage him to keep walking forward. Tim beams the rest of the way home, not telling Robin that his dad is far, far away.
–
When they arrive, Robin helps him sneak in through the window. Tim turns back around to face him.
“So, you’re not going to tell Batman about this right?”
“No, just promise me you’ll take your photos from a safe distance. You’re gonna get yourself killed, you little psycho.” Jason replies, leaning forward to ruffle Tim’s hair.
“I promise.” Tim smiles.
“Besides, if you keep being out in the open, Batman is definitely gonna recognize you, so keep that in mind.”
“I will.” Tim says.
“Good. How’d you figure our secrets out, anyways?” Jason asks, entering through the window. Tim feels his heart speed up before he starts to ramble.
“So, Dick Grayson can do the quadruple somersault. And Robin initially used to do it all the time. He moved to Gotham after his parents had that accident, and was adopted by Bruce Wayne. Around the same time, Batman started fighting alongside Robin.” Tim explains. “And for you, well, Bruce Wayne took in Jason Todd. You’re from Crime Alley and you fight more like a street brawler. Plus, it makes sense for Bruce Wayne to be Batman. He has the wealth, and after what happened to his parents, he has the motive.” He goes on and on.
Jason stares at him for a moment. “Geez Tim, you’re some detective.”
“Really? You think so?!”
“Of course, you figured that out all by yourself and you’re like six.” Jason gestures with his hands, down at little Timmy.
“I’m ten and a half.” He pouts.
“Aww, but you’re sooo teeny.” Jason says, patting his head.
“I’ll get bigger!!” Tim argues.
“Oh sure you will.” Jason sounds sarcastic.
Tim huffs and says “Hey! Tell me Batgirl’s secret identity!”
Jason’s face scrunches up. “What? No! You’re so smart. You can figure it out on your own.”
“I’m trying, but Bruce Wayne hasn’t taken in any girls! It’s definitely someone super smart though. I’m looking into redheads with doctorates in Gotham at least. Not Poison Ivy though.”
“Of course not.” Jason replies, snickering. “Try looking at the Gotham City Library. You might get the information you need.”
“I’ve already looked at library records of people it could be, but a lot of the women aren’t the right build or age or-“ Tim pauses, looking up at Jason who’s wearing a shit-eating grin. “Just tell me!”
“Nu-uh. You’ll figure it out yourself and then keep it a secret like a good little Tim.” Jason replies.
“I didn’t expect Robin to be kind of a jerk.” Tim complains, crossing his arms.
“Don’t say that to the guy that saved your life twice in one day, you little nerd. Sorry I’m not shiny and sweet like the old Robin.”
“Oh, I’m too young to remember Dick Grayson as Robin all that well. I know him as Nightwing. You’re Robin now anyways.” Tim picks up the courage and grabs the end of Jason’s cape, lifting it. Getting a good look at Jason, letting the ends of his mouth rise. Tim feels like he’s looking at magic. “You’re sooo cool.” He says.
Jason blushes and grins and says “You think so?”
Tim eagerly nods. Jason smirks and leaps onto Tim’s dresser, making a dramatic pose with his bright yellow cape. He’s like sunshine.
“Say Tim, what do you say you get one of my good side?” Jason asks.
“Of course!!” Tim exclaims, getting his camera ready.
—
Tim had the time of his life developing that night's roll of film.