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Tim’s always the one left on the edge, left out, left behind.
When the Batmobile’s all full up of shoving vigilantes, Tim’s the one who ends up taking a motorcycle.
When some miracle happens and there’s a group hug, Tim’s left standing awkwardly away, no room in Bruce’s arms.
When they’re having dinner, and things get heated with Jason or Damian, Tim’s the one who leaves to keep the peace.
It’s there even in the smallest things - if he’s walking with two of the others, he’s the one who ends up at the back end of the triangle, unable to hear properly and participate in the conversation, just a half-wanted tagalong.
And he’s okay with that, really. He’s used to it. He’s accepted it.
Tim slinked silently to the door of the first cell. It was Nightwing’s. Tim put a finger to his lips and unlocked the cell. Before Tim had a chance to unlock them, Nightwing shrugged off the handcuffs that had been around his wrists and stood, following Tim out.
Tim ran down the row, opening doors. Red Hood was the only one who needed his handcuffs unlocked, for which he’d probably be teased later. They gathered together at the front of the holding area.
Tim signed. “The guard here is asleep. I can get you all to an escape pod. I’m going to have to activate it from outside because they’ve all been disabled, but I’ll be right behind you into the pod as soon as I have it activated.”
He received nods all around. He led them carefully through the halls, past the sleeping guard, to the escape pods, and gestured them in.
Then closed and locked the door.
He headed to the controls, ignoring Batman signing at him through the escape pod’s window.
He set the coordinates, ignoring Nightwing banging against the pod’s door, barely audible.
He pressed launch, ignoring Red Hood failing to yell through the alumino-silicate glass.
He finally looked up, as the pod began to launch, and alarms began to blare, and raised his hand, thumb, pointer finger, and pinky extended. I love you.
Guards poured in through the door, but it was too late. The pod had launched, and Tim’s family was safe.