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Chapter Text

Jason and Bruce were arguing again. Jason had been working more and on better terms with the bats in the year that Bruce had been back from being lost in the time stream. But the Joker had escaped Arkham again, killing a room full of hostages to spite the Bat who ‘would always be too late.’ It happens everytime the Joker escapes. He kills scores of innocent people only to be toted back to Arkham which might as well have a revolving door on it. Then Jason and Bruce fight over methods and what to do about the clown which ends in a lot of angry words and shouting. Both storm off in the end, Batman deeper into the cave, and Red Hood tearing out of the cave on his motorcycle. Everyone feels the tension for the following week as Red Hood gets rougher on patrol and Batman gets snappier about the little things until both cool down.

Honestly, Tim thought this was getting ridiculous. Jason and Bruce cared deeply for each other and the only thing standing in the way of that was the Joker. Batman couldn’t kill, wouldn’t, because Batman wouldn’t survive that line being crossed. Jason couldn’t kill the Joker no matter how much he wanted to or claimed it needed to be done. There was too much trauma and fear for Jason to be able to do it. Other than the issue of the Joker, Jason got along just fine with everyone and had been working towards being better the past year.

So, as the shouting match ended and Jason stormed off, Tim thought on it. The only issue here was the Joker. The Joker who has tormented them all and honestly needed to be taken out for the sake of the Bats and the innocent lives that kept getting lost everytime the Joker got out. That meant there was only one solution to this. The Joker needed to die and Tim would make sure it happened. So Tim set to plotting.

Entering the nest, Tim walked towards his computer set up to do a count of his responsibilities. Tim had thought about it and he knew that if he offed the Joker then he would have to leave Gotham. Batman would never accept him once he kills. Which would be a ridiculous notion since he accepted Damian, Jason, and Cass but he always expected more of Tim. Especially after he almost killed Boomerang. Bruce’s scrutiny has been more harrowing than ever, as though he expects Tim to just let go and start murdering people for no reason. But things hadn’t been the same since then, with Batman only reaching out to Tim when he needed something no matter what Tim was currently doing. Batman came first and that’s how it’s been for the last year.

The same with Dick. After Bruce got lost in the time stream and Tim knew he wasn’t dead it drove a rift between them. Dick took Robin and gave it to Damian, someone who had tried to murder Tim and was still trying at that point while giving some speech about being equals. Especially since Tim would be okay. Because Tim has to be okay since Dick could only handle Damian not being okay. And Tim, he understood. He did. It’s just he wasn’t okay and the one time he said that, said he wasn’t okay Dick just told him he would be like it didn’t matter. Then he also refused to listen when he said Bruce was alive. Wouldn’t even hear him out, but insisted he go to a therapist so he could be heard. It was ironic given that Dick wanted him to go talk to somebody when no one would listen to him. So, it drove them apart and they still haven’t talked again since then. Nothing more than casework and passing information with Dick trying to just gloss over it and pretend nothing had happened or was wrong.

Jason and Damian have wanted him gone from the beginning as well. Both of them would be happy to see him gone. Tim doesn’t know what they would say about him killing though. Probably nothing good from Damian. Jason would probably just be grateful that the clown was gone.

So, no. Staying in Gotham is not an option at this point. Looking through his computer, Tim decides he’ll clean up his cases. Finish what he has opened.

Then he can hand his position as CEO of WE back to Bruce who was supposed to have taken it back anyway but hadn’t. Bruce had immediately set off on opening Batman Incorporated. Then he just never took the position back, just leaving Tim with it for the past year even though it was meant to be temporary.

His patrol routes can be divided up amongst the bats since there are plenty operating now; they can handle a bit of territory being added since Tim only covers Coventry and a block of what once was Park Row but is now Crime Alley that he’s sure Jason will claim.

Cassie can take over running the Titans, and Damian will probably end up in his spot as the Robin on the team. Which will be fine since he hadn’t really talked to the Titans in a while, busy between WE and Gotham. Plus, Cassie had never really apologized for refusing to believe him about Bruce as well. He hadn’t talked to Kon in a while and most of the time it still leaves Tim thinking that he’s dead, stuck in a state of relief and grief. Though Tim has heard from Bart, frequently. He either calls or texts him pretty regularly so Tim will make sure to explain to Bart what is going on and what’s going to happen. Otherwise, the Titans will pretty much take care of themselves.

So that covers pretty much everything. His cases, patrol routes, WE, and the Titans. All the other little things can be made into notes to be sent to whoever it will be relevant for or he can just leave them for Babs. He’ll probably set them up to send out to the relevant person just to save Babs some work. He’ll also have to leave everyone a note or a letter explaining just a bit.

Now, he just needs to figure out how to kill the Joker and what exactly he’s going to do when he leaves Gotham.

Tim always wanted to travel the world like his parents did. Though not for archaeology but to see the sights. Maybe he'll make a vacation out of it. A long vacation with a boat. He could travel the world like that. Living on a boat and going from port to port would be fun and he wouldn’t have to give up crime fighting because honestly Tim couldn’t imagine life without crime fighting. Though he wouldn’t be able to do it as Red Robin. RR is a bat associated alter ego. He’ll have to come up with something else as well.

Looking at the list he’s compiled of things to do, Tim is honestly feeling a little giddy over this. This will be something that he does for him. Well, killing the Joker is for the family, but that doesn’t really have anything to do with him since he’s just the info guy, someone who can do stuff for them. The rest of it though, taking off to explore is just for Tim and no one else. It’ll be his choice what he does, where he goes, when he does things. No one to disappoint and no one to judge him for it. Plus it’ll make him harder to track down if he’s skipping around on a boat instead of using a plane like everyone is assuming he’ll do.

So, smiling, Tim sets to work on knocking out his list of things to do and he also might just have a plan that will take out the Joker. Maybe a little poetic justice will be in store.

—------------------------------------------

A few weeks later and Tim has everything ready to roll. His cases are finished, letters are ready, tasks are ready to be sent out, and the paperwork at WE has been lined up and is awaiting Bruce’s signature while Lucius is aware that Tim is taking off.

Tim bought a boat under the name of Theo Draper. Well, it’s more of a used yacht, a 2006 Mainship Sedan 43’ yacht. It’s a one bedroom, one bathroom boat with a living room, kitchenette, laundry, and outside patio area on the back. Tim set it up special with his own brand of tools and gadgets for vigilante work. It’ll get satellite internet service that’ll be difficult to track since it’ll ping through various satellites and is set to give different coordinates for each. He also set it up with comfy chairs and couches and the like. Things he couldn’t really have before with the expectations that were placed on him to act a certain way and to have certain things. But now, this boat is tricked out in the comfiest furniture he could find in warm colors to be homey instead of fashionable or showing a certain level of ‘rich.’ It’s honestly a dream haven for him and he’s really proud of how it turned out. But it’s decked out and ready to go, just waiting for him.

Now, it’s time for the ultimate trial of the day. Killing the Joker.

Tim came up with a plan, much like he did for Captain Boomerang. Except this time, one of the rogues won’t be helping him inadvertently. No, Tim is going to make sure that the Joker dies from his own hubris. Joker believes no one will ever try to kill him because everyone is either afraid to or is too much of a hero to do it. Though he’s never thought that if someone would, it would be subtle and subterfuge that would in the end make it look like the Joker did it to himself. That he was killed by his own folly.

So, Tim set it up. The Joker would escape Arkham. He’d get a tip from one of his guys about some explosives that Tim himself had rigged up. Something meant to cause ‘a lot’ of damage being sold by one of the underground. Now this is where it gets tricky. Tim can remotely detonate them if it looks like the Joker will go straight to plant them somewhere despicable and begin his show of horrors all over again, or they go back to base with them where they’ll automatically go off. Faulty explosives.

Which is why Tim follows them as Red Robin from the rooftops. He makes no point of hiding from the cameras or Oracle. This isn’t something he’s trying to hide.

Luckily for him though, Joker has decided on the latter, and Tim follows just close enough to watch and make sure. Joker enters the warehouse, laughter ringing into the night as he carries the bombs inside, sending the goons away. The doors all lock, and so do the windows. Every available exit is blocked. The clock ticks down…5, 4, 3, 2, 1… BOOM!

The entire warehouse shakes and goes up in flames. Tim watches as it falls, a heap of rubble. The fire department shows up trying to put it out with police on their tails. About an hour later with the fire out Tim watches as the rubble is searched and a body is pulled out, the purple suit on it singed and frayed. It goes into a body bag and the call goes out on the radios. “The Joker is dead.”

It is silent, disbelief spreading through the air, then relief echoes as Gotham seems to shout with joy. Tim smiles, no regrets to be found. Not when the relief of Gotham echoes the streets so sweetly as everyone celebrates the end of Gotham’s Clown Prince. The news spreads fast, like wildfire and by daylight everyone will know. Tim watches from the rooftop, content in the swelling relief.

Until his comm blips. An emergency meeting in the cave. One Tim will not be attending as he swings off towards the marina to change and get settled into his boat. This time, he is sure to avoid the cameras and Oracle’s watching eyes. He will leave in the morning on his boat and it will be good.

Tim Drake will vanish in the morning, melting into Theo Draper, and the only one that might actually find him will be Bart since he’s stuck around and checked in with Tim frequently. His letter will tell how to find him in the cryptic way only he and Bart know. But to anyone else, Tim will vanish, besides it’s not like they cared much anyway.

Chapter Text

His father had called an emergency meeting for everyone in the cave. Which was fair, as Batman and Robin had been patrolling in the batmobile when the news had gone over the police scanner. It was still a shock that the Joker was dead. It was also ironic that he had gone in a warehouse explosion. Damian thought it fitting, though it had unnerved his father Especially as the Joker was a formidable opponent in the face of his unpredictability. For someone to have gotten the drop on him was either a long time coming or the foreboding of some new horror they will have to endure.

Batman and Robin were the last to arrive since they had been farthest into the city. Sitting between his father and Richard, Damian waited patiently, observing everyone else. Richard looked worried, a slight frown creasing his face; the same could be said of Brown as well. Cain was observing everyone else as well, but Damian could not get a read on her. He was surprised to see Todd was there seeing as he and father had argued again just days ago. Though Todd looked pensive. No one else must know, he realized. They must not have heard the news go over the scanner. Though how they could miss the amount of people smiling, relieved, through Gotham was the real mystery.

“Where is Red Robin?” Batman asked, glancing around the table.

Everyone else looked confused glancing around because Tim was always here the fastest. He was usually the first to the cave for an emergency meeting. Damian watched his father sigh as though disappointed, but he seemed to brush off the fact that Drake was not here. There had once been a point where that thought would have brought him glee and Damian feels a flash of guilt for that. Mostly he is perplexed that his father would simply brush off one of his sons not being where he is meant to be, especially the amazing Drake.

But maybe it is not all that odd. Drake had been drifting from the family since he brought father back from the time stream. No one else had seemed to notice Drake only showed up as Red Robin and seemed to spend most of his time at the nest. Damian was not sure when he had last seen Drake in the manor or at least in the cave without a mask on. Damian had thought it odd at first, as he watched everyone seemed to simply forget Drake existed until they needed help or information. The only one who had reached out to Drake was Cain, but more often than not she was in Hong Kong. Occasionally she would call or text but it was rare to hear from her when she went overseas. The same must have happened with Drake from what he could tell, they only spent time together when Cain was in Gotham, which was not often. Even Drake’s Titans had seemed to let communication with Drake let go. Except for the speedster. Allen seemed to pop into Gotham to bother Drake at least weekly if he did not do more of it over call or text message.

These were simply what Damian had observed. Though the fact that Drake was not at the meeting was alarming, there was nothing Damian could do. It seemed as though the rest of the family were going to do nothing as well. Seeing as they simply glanced at father to begin his meeting and explain why they were here. Damian wonders, briefly, if there might come a day where they simply ignore him not being there. If they could easily forget Drake, how easily could they forget him? He also wonders how this fits into Richard’s teachings of family and what it means. Like that one movie with the girl and the alien, ‘family means no one gets left behind or forgotten’. Perhaps he should ask Richard about it just to see if he will flounder or to see how he might explain it away. It might be entertaining.

With those thoughts, Damian focused back in on his father who was clearly gearing up to say what he wanted to which did no good when it comes out flat and toneless, “The Joker is dead.”

The room burst into incoherent noise as everyone seemed to yell over top of each other, demanding an explanation. Everyone but Todd Damian notes. Todd has frozen, relief, disbelief, hope flickering across his face in rapid succession. This is also the bluest Damian has ever seen Todd’s eyes be, gunmetal blue compared to the usual teal or jade green seen from the Lazarus. In the end he seems to settle on a relieved wariness just as father gets everyone else calmed down.

“We will need to investigate how this has occurred. If it was merely an accident or if he was murdered. If it was murder, whoever did it may be worse. We will check and see, I-"

“No need for that B. I just got something on my servers for everyone from Red Robin.”

Everyone moved to grab tablets, confused but curious. Curious himself, Damian opened the file he had received from Oracle with Red Robin’s logo on it. Clicking on it, Damian was surprised to find it to be a letter addressed to him from Drake.

As everyone read the letters addressed to them, they all seemed shocked the more they read. Damian’s letter himself seemed to read as a laying out of all he had done to Drake, the acceptance and forgiveness of those things, and how now, Drake was leaving Gotham after killing the Joker. Damian read the last bit again, but it did not change. Drake had killed the Joker and left Gotham, stating he would no longer be in Damian’s way and he had had nothing to fear of Drake usurping his place as the heir as he was merely a placeholder to keep Batman from going too far.

Putting down the tablet, Damian sat shocked. Drake was not just a placeholder in the family. It was an incredulous thought because Father most definitely thought of Drake as a son. Drake’s place within the family was obvious and the reason why Damian had attacked Drake and attempted to murder him. Drake was the perfect one, the perfect detective, perfect manners, perfect business. Drake was everything, the unattainable standard that Damian could never measure up to. Yet, here he was stepping aside in the belief that Damian would be happy. It was an outrage! Damian was supposed to defeat him and earn his place, if not in battle then in mind since both father and Richard would agree to that, but Drake is just surrendering. It should make him happy that Drake is finally gone, but Damian can only feel defeat and guilt. He had noticed Drake was straying away, but figured things would fix themselves. He would be able to prove himself in time and Drake would have to admit that he was superior then. But not like this. This paltry acceptance and disappearance, made after Drake defeated one of father’s worst and most feared foes.

Finally looking up, Damian realized he was not the only one adversed to this, outraged at it, too many things to parse through truly. Richard looked furious with his hands gripping the edge of the table as he stared at his tablet. Todd looked shocked and Damian was surprised to see tears falling down his face as he looked at his tablet with a crumpled hopeful expression. Brown looked hurt and upset, glaring at her tablet as though it would present something different. Cain was indifferent or at least not surprised like everyone else, looking at her letter with melancholy, Damian believed. Most of all though, his father looked stunned, taken aback. It was odd to see so many different emotions on his face when he usually looked on in a stony indifference. Damian would even garner to say he might look a bit panicked or guilty; Damian was not sure.

Richard stood and stormed off, which seemed to shock everyone else back to reality as everyone looked at each other.

“Oracle, can you find him?” Father asked, voice rough.

“I’m trying. I’m running a look through the airport for each of his aliases. As well as face recognition software in case he uses something we’ve not seen before at the airport on his way out. Currently, I have a match for three aliases at the airport for him. One Alvin Draper for London, Miles Walker for Madrid, and Gale Green for Athens. All are set to leave at dawn in two hours. If you hurry you should get there in time to stop him from taking off.”

“I want everyone at the airport to be on the lookout for Red Robin. If anyone finds him, you are to alert the rest of us, apprehend him without making a scene and bring him back here to the cave.”

With that, everyone flew to the airport in order to apprehend Drake.

However, hours later everyone was gathered back in the cave. Unsuccessful in apprehending Drake. He was not at the airport for any of the flights. All of which were cancelled from his accounts last minute. Oracle even confirmed that Drake had not ever entered the airport, not with her facial recognition watching along with the rest of the bats.

There was no luck though, as Drake must have taken another route which Oracle and father were looking into thoroughly. Though, the sun was beginning to appear in the sky and everyone needed to attend to their civilian duties.

With Drake gone, father will attend to Wayne Enterprises as it should be. Father was sure to do far more remarkable things than Drake ever did. They did not need Drake and his cowardice. If he wanted to leave then he could. All the others would get over it seeing as they had not paid any attention to Drake in the past year. Everything would be fine, Damian was sure. Right?

It had to be okay, Damian thought as he went to his room to go to bed. No need to worry about school, as it was summer. Only Drake and his cowardice at fleeing. They did not need Drake. It was a litany Damian repeated as he crawled into bed and fell asleep.

Chapter Text

Jason laid on his bed, staring at the cracked and stained ceiling of his current safehouse. The last six hours had been a trip. The news that the Joker was finally dead was relieving. It felt like a weight had been lifted off of him with the knowledge the bastard was finally gone. Though the knowledge that Tim had been the one to do it was shocking. He hadn’t thought that Tim -the most like Batman- Drake would ever be able to do something like that. Not only that, but he took off after it, leaving letters for everyone. Replacement has fled Gotham and left no trace of where he is.

Sitting at the airport, waiting to see if Red would show was nerve wracking. Jason didn’t know if he should be grateful- nevermind that he is- or what. He had so many questions, especially in regards to the letter the little shit left him. It didn’t make any sense, doesn’t make any. What do you say to the guy who had murdered your greatest nightmare and then left a letter that explained why he did it? Luckily, or unluckily, the replacement hadn’t appeared at the airport. The tickets he purchased refunded and rerouted so much even Babs lost track of it. So, Timmy didn’t take a plane out of Gotham, but that left B and Oracle scrambling to check roadways, his safehouses, and his friends in case they gave him a lift out of Gotham. No dice, last time he checked. Red’s vanished into thin air.

So Jason printed off a copy of the letter Red wrote him in hopes of making it make sense with what he once knew and came back to his safehouse. Though, even hours later, it wasn’t making any damn sense even as Jason pulled it out to read it again.

Dear Jason,
You probably won’t care but I figured I’d give you a letter anyway. I’ll be more upfront here that by the time you read this the Joker will be dead and I’ll be gone. That’s important and you may not read anymore after this but I have a lot that has gone unsaid. So I’ll start:
I’ve always looked up to and admired you. You were my Robin. It might have been Dick that started it, but I got to watch you from the beginning. You were bold and fearless. But what I always admired most was that you always looked after the victims. You always cared more for the victims than you did catching the bad guy and that made you the best.
When you came back, I was ecstatic. You never should have died and I was relieved you would get the chance to live. I had hoped we could be friends, but I guess that wasn’t meant to be. You hate me for being your replacement.
I wasn’t trying to replace you though. When you died Batman went off the rails. I was afraid he was going to kill someone or get himself killed. I couldn’t let that be your legacy. So I stepped in to stop him until he could choose someone to be Robin. I never replaced you Jason. I was a placeholder, a stopgap measure to curb the darkness of the bat. I was a poor imitation of what Batman wanted; which was you. But you came back- angry, yes- but you came back. A miracle in the darkness. Everyone was happy and relieved. Even if you were angry.
I can understand why you were angry and still are to a point. But I never replaced you. I was Batman’s partner and that was all, never his son. The other part. I took care of that too. Batman can’t kill without corrupting everything he stood for, everything he stands for. Gotham would fall without the hope that Batman represents.
You deserved to be avenged though. You deserve to be able to sleep peacefully without having to worry about the man who murdered you. You watched out for victims as Robin and even more so as Red Hood. It’s still a trait I admire about you, even if that comes with death now. But no one else will understand as well as you do in terms of how victims feel. So, I took out the Joker for you because you deserve that peace. You can live your life without ever having to hear about another awful thing the Joker did. I hope it helps.
I do wish you the best Jason. You absolutely deserve it and I hope you chase it. You stood bright as Robin, my Robin, the best one, and you stand proud even as Hood. The true protector of Crime Alley. So thank you, for being a light when I needed one most even if I could never hope to shine as bright as you.

T.D.
P.S. Don’t take any of Bruce’s shit. But do try to work together. The Joker was standing in the way before and he’s not now so go talk to him. You are his son and he does love you.

It still gave him a weird flood of emotions that he was too tired to parse through. But he hadn’t realized the little shit thought that way. He hadn’t known the depth of how Tim saw him. ‘The true protector of Crime Alley.’ Tim was probably the only one who thought so, but it made something warm curl around his heart. Even after everything this little boy that looked up to Jason as Robin still believes in him as Red Hood.

Though, there’s no way what Tim said about B after his death is true. Talia had looked at him and given him proof that Bruce had just replaced him. Though, in a way, it could fit. The way Bruce pushes Tim as Red, holds him to higher standards than the rest. The way Tim only seems to be called on as Red Robin. Though that’s happened a lot more in the past year and even Dickiebird is guilty of that. Jason honestly isn’t even sure when the last time he saw Tim without the mask of Red Robin.

Honestly, nothing was making sense about this. Jason was going to have to look further into this. Who is Tim Drake? Who is Red Robin? Who is the boy Jason never bothered to know beyond the word replacement?

Dick was pacing in his room, periodically looking at the letter Tim had left him. It left him agitated. An itch under his skin that he can’t scratch. Tim had killed the Joker and left, leaving nothing but a letter condemning Dick for things he could have sworn they were past. But apparently not. Tim didn’t trust him; didn’t forgive him after all. The whole thing after Tim woke up in the cave after crashing out of that window was a lie then he supposed. “You're my brother, Dick. You’ll always be there for me.” A load of bullshit given to him while Tim hid how he really felt.

He thought that he and Tim were okay, but Tim refused to talk to him. Dick acted like nothing had changed. He knew things had changed! But that didn’t give Tim the right to leave without speaking to him. Damian wouldn’t do that. Damian would talk to him, just like Tim used to. Honestly, Dick had already explained this to Tim. Tim was the adult, the mature one, Damian was a child that needed Robin after losing his father. Yeah it sucked, but the need was there. Damian needed Dick at that time to be his batman. Tim had said he understood, but then he was throwing everything in his face again and refusing to let him explain it!

Dick grit his teeth and looked at the letter again.

Dear Dick,
I’m not entirely sure what to say. So much has happened between us that I don’t know where to start.
We haven’t talked a lot lately though partially that’s been my fault as I haven’t gone out of my way to see you. Though you haven’t been there either, too busy with Damian and Jason that I guess you forgot about me. At least you do until you need help with a case, but I digress.
I feel I need to thank you, at least because I started down this path because of you. Everything began with you and that night I took a picture with you at the circus as a four year old little boy. You had promised me that you’d do a quadruple flip just for me. I remembered seeing that flip just as I watched Robin do one. The piece that I saw that allowed me to figure out Batman’s and Robin’s identities. I feel like that set me on the path to where I am today. To be Robin and a vigilante, to make a difference. I feel like it all started with you and for that I am grateful. Though I think it’s ironic that it started with you and ended with you.
My tener as Robin ended when you took the mantle from me to give to Damian. I can understand that Damian needed it, and you did a good job with him. But you hurt me. You sacrificed me to do it. You took Robin without a word to me, just let me walk in to see him wearing those colors. Then you said nothing as he told me I had no place in the cave, no place in the family. On top of that, you refused to believe me when I said Bruce was alive. You told me I needed to go to therapy for someone to listen to me. The only person I needed to listen to me was you, but you refused.
All those years we worked together were nothing. I had always trusted you to have my back and when I really needed you too after so much loss and pain, you told me that I’d be alright. You broke my trust and reliance on you after all of that. It felt like you were throwing me away for Damian and you did. You pushed me aside once my usefulness ran out for the true son. Like us being brothers never mattered. Jason putting a batarang in my chest hurt less than that.
When I came back with proof of Bruce being alive and helped bring him back I never got an apology from you. Not an apology or a thank you. You continued on as if nothing had happened. As if there wasn’t a gaping chasm between us now. You get upset when I defend myself from Damian since I’m supposed to be the mature one instead of telling Damian he shouldn’t attack me since I’m family too. You expect me to just deal with it, give Damian what he wants so the peace can be held. Well now I am. I have no more use to you all other than Red Robin, so I’m moving on. No one needs a placeholder or riff-raff hanging around when you have the real son. I had always hoped that you never saw me as a placeholder, but I was wrong. You betrayed my trust and threw me away for the rightful person. I always knew I wasn’t Bruce’s son but I had thought we were brothers. It wasn’t true and I won’t live a lie anymore. I can’t trust you or forgive you either.
So, I’m leaving. I’m removing another obstacle in the way of the family’s happiness by killing the joker then I’ll be gone. I do wish you the best Dick.

T.D.

Tossing the tablet back on the bed Dick continued his pacing. That last bit aggravated Dick the most. Tim wasn’t his brother anymore? He had always known he wasn’t Bruce’s son?

He was going to have words with Bruce for that last one. But Dick was going to hunt Tim down to get it through his thick skull that Dick was his brother first and foremost and he loves him. Then he and Tim were going to talk about what happened when Bruce was missing. Tim was going to understand that Dick did what he had to do.

First though, Dick needed some sleep before he had to go to work. Then, he was going to look through all of Tim’s things to find some trail. There’s bound to be one somewhere.

Chapter Text

Dear Damian,

I’m not sure if you’ll read this letter but I felt I should write it anyway. I know we’ve never gotten along and I feel it was due to a misunderstanding. I’ve never stood in your way or in your place in the family. I was a placeholder, a stopgap to keep Batman from going over the deep end. I was never Batman’s son.

You came here believing I was an obstacle. I see now where you were coming from, but at first it had hurt. I had always wanted a little brother and was ecstatic when you showed up. Then you tried to murder me and it wasn’t meant to be. Just know that I forgive you. I forgave you a while ago. But you also won’t have to worry about me standing in your way even if I was never in it. By the time you read this the Joker will be dead and I’ll be gone. You’re an amazing Robin, and I know you’ll do great things.

T.D.

Chapter Text

Damian sat in his room, staring out the window as he pondered the last few days since Drake’s disappearance.

They had been quiet. It seemed like every criminal was hiding to see what would happen making for quiet, boring patrols. It fills Damian with disappointment and then a bit of guilt for being disappointed that crime was down.

It has been odd as well. Everyone has struggled to fit Red Robin’s patrol route into their usual routes. Father had to ask the Birds of Prey to help since Red Robin covered more than anyone realized. A few blocks were easily integrated into everyone else’s patrols, but it still left twenty blocks that someone had to cover heading down towards the harbor. It was frustrating how difficult it was to begin to cover as there are also many cases cropping up in those areas. Damian watched as everyone else struggled to add the load from Drake’s territories and the cases there on top of the search for Drake himself which was bearing next to nothing.

It was discovered that on top of the plane tickets which were easiest discovered there were also train tickets going out of Gotham in every direction from different aliases of Drake’s. Those had not been refunded like the plane tickets leaving Oracle and father to search each destination to see if Drake ended up there. The only issue was that there were at least twelve separate places that could have taken Drake out of town and numerous more that he could have gotten on, stopped somewhere, and then got on a bus or other transportation. It was a lot to parse through and took a lot of time that no one had to spare meaning little to no progress was being made.

Richard had work during the day at GCPD and he was struggling at night to add the five blocks he got from Drake’s patrol to his own with the two different smuggling cases that cropped up there alone.

Todd had added an extra seven blocks to his own that already had another smuggling case and a possible human trafficking case as well. Todd was also considered a crime lord and had to take care of his own affairs in that matter as well.

Brown had taken in an extra three blocks and was already dealing with the beginnings of a power struggle between two different crime bosses. On top of her own cases and her college work.

Cain had claimed an extra ten blocks and was easily patrolling them but was having issues with what appeared to be a money laundering front. Though Cain also seemed to be having the least amount of trouble with the added burden. Damian was pretty sure she was sad about Drake leaving, but understanding of it. Granted, Cain was very difficult for Damian to read so he was not entirely sure.

Father seemed to be suffering the most though. With his added duties at Wayne Enterprises now that Drake was no longer taking care of it. Father was gone all day now dealing with CEO duties then he was coming home to immediately retreat to the cave to look for Drake before patrol. Patrol had added an extra seven blocks as well which was difficult on top of what they were already patrolling. Patrol was also the only time he was seeing his father too. Before his father had time to speak with him about his art or animals or everything. Now, his time was being consumed by Wayne Enterprises and Batman.

Damian had thought everything was going to be the same and his father would efficiently take on what Drake did. Because Drake did not do anything. He was the weakest running around with little to no sleep and not eating, never taking proper care of himself. Damian had attributed it to poor time management and Drake depending on others. Damian was having to reevaluate that though as he watched his father struggle with everything Drake did by himself.

It brought a new light as to who Drake is as a person, seeing everything he did by himself while everyone else struggled to pick it up with the work being divided among various individuals. Though Damian could respect Drake’s work ethic and ability to carry all he did, he could not help but resent him just a bit. Damian has been left to his own devices within the manor as everyone else is too busy to pay him any mind. If Drake had stayed this would not be happening. Richard would have taken him out for bonding like promised yesterday and his father would be spending time with him by spending lunch together or walking Titus. It was not fair that in their haste to find Drake, Damian seems to have become an afterthought. Richard still made sure to have dinner with him and father asked about his hobbies during patrol breaks but it was not the same. He was no longer the first person they reached and checked on, too busy with other endeavors.

Damian had to wonder if this was how Drake felt. This creeping loneliness. An afterthought to everyone else. Granted, Richard and father still checked in on him which was nice, but Drake had not even received that. Damian was realizing he did not know enough about Drake to tell much about him. But he wondered if this loneliness is what finally drove Drake away. Pushed him to leave as no one paid any mind to him as he gave and gave. Finally leaving with one last act of service to the family in the form of taking out father’s greatest foe then disappearing to be lonely elsewhere. Well, probably not lonely elsewhere, Damian amended, but to live life without the crushing responsibilities he held here.

Damian sighed in his pondering before moving out of the seat in his window. He was going to check all of the files on one Timothy Drake and he was going to figure out who his predecessor was.

Jason had been busy the last few days. What with getting things in line from taking in some of Red’s old territory and setting up counter measures to keep the Alley in line once people realize what the Joker being gone means. This was the first time he had free time. Which was why he was heading for the cave. He’d read Tim’s letter again and again until he’s got it memorized word for word. That still don’t help it make a lick of sense though. So, he’s gonna look through the files on the replacement and see if he can’t figure anything out. There’s gotta be some other clue as to why the perfect little kiss ass the pretender is decided to off the Joker. There is no way he did it just for the guy that tried to kill him. Jason Todd doesn’t get nice things like that and with no way to ask Tim…well he’s just gonna have to look through the records.

Pulling into the cave, Jason was relieved to find it empty as he beelined for the computer. Getting into Tim’s files was easy, and Jason was ready to bunker down and begin at the beginning of Tim’s training to see if he could figure out just how he started.

“Todd. What are you doing?” Interrupted none other than the demon brat.

“Looking through old records. What are you doing brat?”

“I was about to do the same as you.” Damian scowled, glaring at him with meadow green eyes before sighing and dragging another chair over. “Scoot over and share Todd.”

Jason snorted, “No need to be so pushy kid. Why are you looking through Replacement’s records anyway?”

“Why are you?”

“Touché. But I asked first brat.”

“I am attempting to understand.” Damian admitted reluctantly before raising an expectant eyebrow at Jason.

“Same for me. I’m tryin’ to understand the replacement better too.”

“Then let us get on with it then.” Damian said before clicking on one of the earliest training videos listed for Tim before he went out as Robin officially.

Dick was exhausted. He had been busy with work at the GCPD which was in an uproar due to the death of Joker which everyone was attributing to a mistake on the Joker’s part since he got faulty bombs and mishandled them. Something caused them to go off on Joker so it’s being written off as an accident. Though Dick knows the truth. Red Robin set that up. His little brother who was always so good killed the Joker. That was still baffling to Dick.

Tim who was always the number one follower of Batman’s rule. The one who advocated for Batman constantly and what he stood for. Timmy, who was sweet and used to smile so brightly, killed the Joker. It was odd and Dick had to wonder when that change occurred. When Tim lost that bright smile. He thinks it was around the time that Kon and Bart died. It made sense, but nothing else did. That was fine though. Dick wasn’t too worried about Tim killing the Joker, no he wasn’t upset about that. It’s everything else and Dick was going to find Tim and make him explain why he was throwing up the past and being upset about things they were long past.

The first step to that would be checking Tim’s apartment and safehouses. There was bound to be a clue somewhere. Dick hadn’t had the chance to check any of them since he got those extra blocks added to his patrol route and those cases popped up with it. It was definitely a bit of added strain, but he could handle it until he got Tim to come back and explain why he was still upset. Everything would be okay.

Which was why Dick was breaking into what used to be Tim’s apartment. The Nest…which was bare of everything. The furniture had been covered in sheets but otherwise it was empty. No clothes, electronics, food, nothing. Dick was about to give up when a piece of white hidden under the couch caught his eye. Bending over to pick it up, it was a piece of paper with Tim’s handwriting on it.

Excited, Dick unfolded it to realize it was basically nothing. There were some names written on it and crossed out that didn’t make any sense. Crow, Dawn, Jackdaw, Blackbird, Phoenix were all crossed out and nothing but Charlemagne remained. It didn’t make any sense until it did. Dick smiled, he had a lead! He’d have to tell Oracle to look and see if she could find any new vigilantes running around named Charlemagne as it must be Timmy’s new identity. It was an odd one, Dick had to give him that, wrinkling his nose in distaste, but if that’s what Tim wanted then he could have it.

But he had a lead and now they were a step closer to finding Tim. Once they found him then everything would be okay because Dick would fix it. He and Tim would talk and everything would be okay because Tim would be home and he would be his sweet little brother again. Just like things were before.

Jason and Damian had finished only a few of Tim’s earlier training videos before Jason had to stop it. Both were shocked at what they found. Bruce had been, not brutal, exactly, but it was bad. Jason was shocked because there were no ‘are you okay?’ or ‘you did good’ it was a round of Bruce pushing Tim to the limit again and again telling him to be better. It was Bruce pushing until Tim couldn’t stand, the twelve year old sprawled on the mats heaving for breath as B just stared before telling him they were done and for Tim to go home for the day.

It was a complete one eighty from the Dad that had helped Jason and told him not to push too far. It was a vicious cycle of rough training and cold glances, and that was only a few videos in during the beginning. It was difficult to watch and some of Tim’s neuroses about being perfect were beginning to make just a bit of sense to Jason.

Damian was similarly shocked. His father had never been so harsh to him. He pushed Drake around like an object, like Drake was something unpleasant that father wanted nothing to do with. It was disconcerting given the care his father usually showed during training. He was strict, yes, but never harsh nor cold. If this is what Drake started with, it must be no wonder he does not see himself as father’s son. Drake was not afforded such care. Damian wonders if it gets better over time, it must right? He’s not sure. The next file has Drake training in Europe. There are no videos in it, just a report written by Drake.

Before they can click on it, both done with Tim’s early training videos, the Arkham alert goes out. There’s been a breakout and it seems everyone is finished lying low for the time being as now there is a chance to grasp more territory and resources. A space to fill left by the death of the Joker and no one showing up to claim it. There is a power vacuum and Gotham’s underground is rushing to fill it.

Jason sighs, “We ain’t gettin’ back to this for at least a week now babybat. This is about to be hell as everyone fights for what the Joker had.”

“TT. Those fools will not gain anything but another trip back to Arkham.”

Jason smiles sharply before they both head to change to deal with Gotham’s chaos.

Meanwhile, floating on his boat, The Charlemagne, in the middle of the Atlantic and enjoying the chatter of his friend Tim smiles, unknowing of the chaos he has wrought in Gotham and enjoying himself for once.

Chapter Text

Tim was having a good time. He had spent a week relaxing on his boat -The Charlemagne- as he crossed the Atlantic Ocean until he reached the Netherlands. Bart had come and visited him around three days into his travels. He had loved the boat and the fact that one room meant he had free permission to claim the cuddles Tim had often been a bit wary to give with everyone present.

Bart had stayed about two days, but had to run off to Titan’s Tower when the Titan’s called an emergency meeting about the retirement of Red Robin from the team. Bart had snickered, promised to visit soon, and then he was off. Tim had smiled, brushing off the worry at the mention of the meeting. He had lined the boat with lead and had made a device that would allow him to disguise his heartbeat.

For the most part though, Tim had been enjoying himself. He hadn’t realized how much stress he carried until he had dropped it all. Even if it meant ignoring the pang at the thought of the Bats, though he’d had plenty of practice.

Two days after Bart left Tim landed in the Netherlands and had spent a week exploring the country. It was beautiful, with fields of tulips and windmills that Tim got beautiful shots of with his camera. Amsterdam was filled with many historical sights and museums which he visited. Tim marveled at all the things he would have skipped over had he been there for business or a mission and reveled in the fact he had the time to see what he wanted. It was an amazing feeling. He hadn’t even come across anything that would require him to run as a vigilante. Though he did solve a few cold cases for fun, delivering them to the police using his new callsign, Rook.

It was a nice change of pace, and after that week, Tim was heading for Germany to sightsee.

Germany was beautiful too with its forests and scenery. Tim was planning to spend a lot of time hiking and taking pictures of the scenic views. He visited one of the castles close to the ocean- which was amazing to see- and from there he headed to a nearby park to continue his viewing.

Tim was really enjoying himself and was even messaging with Bart to talk about what he had seen and gotten pictures of. A few days passed like this, Tim peacefully meandering through Germany, content with nothing to worry about. He was planning to go see another castle to the south before heading back, but of course this was where he ran into trouble.

The forest nearby was overrun with what looked like goons. They were all wearing matching uniforms of black jumpsuits with purple and white accents. They also had crowns embroidered in gold on the hip of all of the uniforms.

It was odd and suspicious, so Tim used his camera to get a few pictures of the goons with the crates they carried which had the same crown on it. He had never seen that symbol before though, which was odd as the operation was too organized for someone new. Tim sighed, he was going to have to call the docks and request an extension for his docking. It looked like Rook had a mystery to get into.

—--------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile, in Gotham, after dealing with the uprising of the underworld for over a week now, Jason and Damian had finally sat down to finish going through Tim’s run as Robin. It was crazy, honestly, and Jason was very impressed with Tim. Damian could begrudgingly admit his admirance of his predecessor. Though both had to agree, Bruce was an ass to Tim and treated him as an object. Sure, it got a bit better after the first few months, but Bruce was rough on Tim, always demanding better even when Tim did the best he could. It was appalling. Dick wasn’t much help on that either. Seeing them hang out, Dick seemed to come around when he had time, but he was focused on other things, leaving Tim on the backburner. It was odd to see since both Jason and Damian were used to Dick giving them his full attention, even when it wasn’t wanted.

Jason had thought Tim was some perfect new model that got everything he had and more. Watching this though, he realized that wasn’t the case. Tim gave and gave and gave to those he looked up to and accepted what he got back, never asking for more. He powered on with a sarcasm and wit that Jason could appreciate. Tim was a spitfire in his convictions and set to do what was right. This was the boy who gave his attempted murderer the freedom from his killer that he needed to work better with the family. The ability to bridge gaps now that his biggest obstacle is out of the way. Jason wished he had bothered to get to know him sooner rather than later. Guilt and regret warred within him, but as he watched Red Robin take out a large group of goons with fluidity and grace, Jason couldn’t help but think he was just a bit breathtaking.

Damian found it odd as well. The dynamics between everyone is not what he thought they originally were. He had assumed Drake was simply given everything that was his by birth. That Drake was the absolute example and pulled off his perfection as easily as breathing. Watching his past and looking into it, it was disturbing that Damian’s past perceptions were being shattered. His father had been rough and cold to Drake, simply expecting him to be better. His expectations seemed to be set with failure in mind and he seemed almost despondent when Drake met them. It was disturbing to compare his father, cold and distant with Drake during his Robin run to the warm mentor figure that sternly but kindly corrects Damian as Robin. The dissonance between those two figures is odd.

Then Richard’s actions make no sense either. Damian is used to Richard always being there. He drops everything if Damian needs him or if Todd needs something. However, Richard had not afforded Drake the same courtesy. He came around when he could, but he seemed preoccupied on many occasions, giving Drake half the attention he could afford. Yet, Drake still seemed to give his all in everything he did with father and Richard, knowing he would not get the same in return. Maybe it was little wonder why Drake left if that was what he faced. However, Damian thinks of his father’s and Richard’s searching, Brown’s and Cain’s worrying, he realizes that many things have changed from Drake’s run as Robin. Perhaps things are nowhere near as bad as they once were if everyone was as torn up about Drake’s disappearance as they were. Watching Red Robin take down a group of imbeciles with fluidity, Damian knew he would try to help bring his brother home. Drake was theirs and it was clear that everyone missed him. Drake would come back and perform his duties and be family and everything would be okay again.

—-------------------------------

Dick popped into the Clocktower to speak with Barbara about what he found. She had seemed a bit excited and had promised to look out for a "Charlamagne" running around. She had thought the name a little odd as well but it was a lead. They didn’t have any others. Bruce was still sorting through train and bus station footage, but was having no luck on finding Tim.

Dick wasn’t entirely sure what Damian and Jason had been up to since all of this started. Plus, that Arkham breakout had shown up at the worst time, leaving a gap for Tim to get further away. But it would be okay because Dick was going to find his little brother and reiterate the fact that he was his little brother while berating him for running off. Tim should have come and talked to him because Dick was one of the most trustworthy people around. Dick would get Tim back and they would talk and everything would be okay again. Granted, Dick wasn’t having much more luck on the finding leads front.

He had finished checking all of Tim’s safehouses but he found nothing else. Everything had been cleaned and only had the usual staples they keep stocked. The paper with the names is the only lead and Barbara would watch that one. However, Dick could go and check with the Titans. One of them was bound to know something about Tim, they were his best friends for crying out loud. Dick had a new lead and he was going to get answers. He smiled to himself before getting his things together. He was going to San Francisco.