Chapter Text
The wind rushed past Tim’s ears as he swung to the next building. He barely gave himself time to gain his footing before sprinting to the edge and leaping for the next. Batman had been unable to fully crack the Riddler’s riddle, giving four different possible locations for the bomb. The bomb that was set to go off in thirteen minutes. He didn’t like sending Robin alone, but with the timer counting down, searching separately was the only option.
Tim dropped to the roof of the adjacent building and paused to catch his breath. The warehouse next to him seemed empty, no goons waiting around to stop Batman and Robin before they foiled the Riddler’s plan but he couldn’t be sure.
“Approaching building number two,” he said into his earpiece. “Seems quiet, I’m going in.”
“Do not engage if you see anyone.” came Batman’s reply. “And leave immediately if you see the bomb. Do not try to disarm it yourself.”
“Understood,” said Tim as he swung across to the fire escape and entered through a broken window. Glass crunched under his feet as he landed on the floor and he winced at the sound. So much for a surprise entrance if there was anyone in here. It was almost pitch black in the warehouse, the only light from the broken window that Tim had just entered through. The other windows were too grimy to let the diffuse light from the street lamps into the building. Tim had landed on a rickety platform above the main floor, a perfect place for surveillance if he could see anything.
He carefully made his way across the platform, grateful that it was small for there was little to search, and then made the decision to turn on a flashlight. He could barely see the ground in front of the window, there was no way he could search the rest of the building with that little light and he was sure that there was no one on the platform with him. If there was anyone waiting for Robin on the ground, he was close to the exit and far enough away that he would have time to react. Just as he was about to descend the stairs, Nightwing’s voice crackled through his earpiece.
“The building by the docks is clear. Moving onto the next building.” Batman merely grunted in acknowledgment.
“There is now a 33% chance that you are in a room with a bomb,” whispered Tim’s traitorous brain. Tim shook his head to clear his brain. It didn’t matter. This was his job. He was Robin. He needed to protect Gotham. He needed to protect Batman. And that meant he needed to be in a building with a bomb instead of Nightwing. Bruce couldn’t handle losing another son.
The warehouse was a maze of broken glass, upturned shelves, and loose wires. Tim picked his way through carefully, sweeping his flashlight across the ground. The layout of the abandoned furniture made it impossible to search quickly. There were too many dark corners that The Riddler could have hidden the bomb. The longer he stayed in the room, the more Tim felt exposed. He kept glancing up at the broken window, expecting at any second one of the Rouges to jump through. He didn’t like being on the ground with nowhere to quickly jump to, it made him all the more conscious of his height and stature. He couldn’t win many fights on strength alone. He was exhausting himself with every training but it wasn’t good enough, and soon Bruce would see that and fire him. And then he would just be left alone in that cold, empty house again, watching his only childhood hero still alive slowly kill himself once again.
At some point Batman spoke through his earpiece, stating that his building was empty too, and icy dread spread through Tim’s veins. There’s a fifty percent chance that Dick Grayson was in a building with a bomb in it. Tim stumbled as he tried to work faster and just as he righted himself from tripping over a chair, he saw it. The counter glowed slightly as it read 2:13.
“Batman,” Tim rasped. “I’ve found the bomb.” His reply was immediate.
“Robin, leave the area immediately.” Batman barked out. Tim could hear the wind rushing as Batman grappled across the buildings. “I will disarm it.” Tim shook his head as he crouched down in front of the bomb.
“You’re over five minutes away, there isn’t time.”
“Leave now, I or Nightwing will handle the situation.” Fuck, Nightwing was closer. He might be able to get here in time. Tim could not let another Robin die.
“I think I can disarm it.” 1:59
“Robin, no! Wait fo-” Tim muted his earpiece and focused on the bomb. Bruce had been training him, gruffer and more demanding than any of his other trainings and Bruce was never easy. Despite the training regimen, Batman always sent Robin home when he got word of a bomb. All except tonight. Tim had to prove that he was worthy.
Tim tried to focus and ignore the steadily decreasing time on the counter. He couldn’t afford his hands to shake. His vision tunneled down to only the wires in front of him. Batman would make him run drills for letting his awareness drift away.
“Robin!” Tim started and in horror saw that Nightwing was running toward him.
“Get out!” 00:17 “Please,” Tim begged. “Batman can’t lose you.” Dick refused to listen and ran forward, gripped Tim’s collar and dragged him backward. Tim fought, simultaneously trying to rip himself out of Dick’s grip and shove Dick backward away from the bomb.
“Tim please!” begged Dick just as Tim finally wrenched himself free. He only got a few steps away however before an overwhelming boom overtook his senses and he succumbed to darkness.