Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: not mine

Only a 2 or 3 parter

Chapter 1

Dick stared at the file that had just popped up, grimacing as he recognised where it had come from. Just as he was getting Damian more settled the al Ghul’s were reaching out again. He knew Damian had been talking to Talia after Bruce’s death, it was why he’d given him Robin after all but it had been more than a year since then since…since things had fallen apart.

That night had been such a mess and he knew it was his fault, he’d had that fact shoved at him by everyone. He should have talked things over with Tim first, discussed creating a new identity with him, changed the colours up a bit more on the new Robin suit too. Yes, he’d added green back in for Damian, plus the hood, but maybe it had still been too similar to Tim’s, to the suit he had made after his friends died. If he had known Tim would leave that night, he would have held off on patrol to talk to him instead of that last confrontation with Tim in the Red Robin suit…a fight the kid had won. He’d been surprised and proud of that, had let him leave because he’d seen no other way except locking him up and he couldn’t bring himself to do that to Tim. He’d thought Tim would be back in a few weeks top, that he just needed some space and time.

Fifteen months later with no sign of Tim and he wanted to go back and slap himself for ever thinking it was okay to let Tim leave. There had been no sightings, no signs of any kind and not even Kon could find him. Dick had been worried Kon was going to do serious damage to him that day, thankfully Clark had pulled the kid off him and Barry had been holding Bart back already.

“Staring at the screen won’t do anything,” a familiar voice called.

“It’s from Talia or Ra’s,” he answered.

“Well shit. Brat gone to bed already?” Jason asked, removing his helmet, and Dick nodded.

Things between them were better but still tense. When Jason had come back, he’d been so angry when he saw Damian in Robin colours, when he found out Tim was gone. Despite how things had started, Jason respected Tim, had apparently asked him to be his Robin when he’d tried to be Batman. For a while, he’d refused to have anything to do with them, even Alfred. It had gotten really bad when Babs had found footage of Damian breaking Tim’s stuff, just like Tim had said and Dick had brushed him off at the time. But now, Jason would work with them, would come to the Cave if not the Manor.

“Might as well play it Dickiebird, better to see what they want before the brat finds it.”

He nodded, knowing Jay was right, so he opened the file, finding a document first.

This note is being sent as a courtesy, out of my respect for the Detective. The attached video is proof, though with your delicate stomachs you may wish to limit who sees the contents. Know that those responsible have paid dearly and permanently for their actions. You may have thrown the young Detective aside, but I was not so willing. He would have made a wonderful heir. There is a package coming. My daughter believed that when her Beloved returns, he would wish to have the contents and Timothy would wish to be returned home.

Ra’s al Ghul

“No…” No, it couldn’t mean…he hit play and watched as a camera panned across open desert.

“Fuck,” Jason swore and Dick realised there were bodies in the sand…five precisely.

The first was a man with a green top and jeans...long dead, exposure and scavengers having gotten to his body. The next was another man, lighter skinned with a long coat and a very obvious wound cutting deep into his abdomen. Near him was a bald woman, her throat cut, head barely hanging on either from the wound or scavengers using it. Then another body, cowled, with red goggles, outfit fully black from what could be seen and sticking through his body…a familiar bō staff with a small blade. Dick had known Tim’s bō had a retractable blade, usually used for cutting ropes and the like before they could ensnare Tim. But no…Tim woul… Dick stared, unable to comprehend and then he was falling from the chair, heaving into the trash can.

“No,” Jason’s hoarse whisper was barely audible as Dick lost everything that he’d eaten for at least a day.

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Jason should help Dick but he couldn’t tear his eyes from the image of the Red Robin uniform. Should he be thankful it hid the majority of the kid’s face from them? He was sprawled on his side in the sand, a trail of long dried blood behind him leading to a smaller pool. Death had not been instant, he’d had time to drag himself closer to the other bodies, the woman. Had Tim known them? One limp hand was stretched out towards her and Jason wondered if maybe she’d survived for a while as well, if Tim’s last act had been to try and save her. Lying the way he was, cape behind him, the hole in the suit was revealed, he’d been stabbed in the gut, it would have been a painful death. The coverage and armour of the suit meant his body hadn’t been as ravaged by scavengers as the others but it was still bad…way beyond an open coffin.

All of them were long beyond being able to be revived by the Lazarus Pit. It could heal wounds, even old wounds, but with death there was a time limit. Was that why Ra’s was sending his body back? It sounded like Tim had done something to earn the mans’ respective, he had only ever called B Detective. Had Tim been working with the League? He’d been alone, isolated, perfect conditions for Ra’s to try and get him onboard.

His eyes went back to the note, re-reading it. When her beloved returns…Bruce was dead…wasn’t he? And then he realised there were more files, shakily opening them to find what was obviously Tim’s work, documents and images, equations…all of it added up to one thing…Bruce was alive. Tim had been right.

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Barry stared at the mass of data they had been sent by Dick…compiled by Tim. The kid had done it, he’d proved that Bruce was alive and lost in time. Bart had known he would once they told him what was going on. Now they just had to get Bruce back and find Tim, right?

He sent out the messages to those who could help, seeing their shock as they read through the very thorough research but then they got to work. Honestly, there wasn’t much for them to do other than get Bruce, Tim had been his usual self when it came to research.

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Diana stared through the glass at the man sleeping in the bed. It was him; it was really him. Bruce was alive. She had wanted to hear Tim out before saying whether it was possible, but all attempts to contact him had failed. Why had he only sent the data, why hadn’t he come home and brought it to them himself? Did he think he was unwelcome, unwanted? Cassie felt so bad for their last meeting and as far as they knew, he didn’t know Kon and Bart were back.

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Alfred signed for the package and took it inside. “Master Dick, Master Jason,” he called and the two boys appeared, both haggard and older looking. They had locked the video Ra’s sent down very tightly, enough that even Alfred hadn’t been able to access it. Then again, did he want to see? With the postage on the box, it could only be one thing.

Master Damian appeared on the stairs, seeming almost hesitant. He had been quiet since the two had sat them down to explain Ra’s’ message and young Master Tim’s fate. Perhaps he was finally realising what he had done with his treatment of his older brother.

And then the two young women were in the library doorway, staring silently.

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Dick took the package and set it carefully on the table, Jason handing him a knife to open it. Folded on top was the Red Robin suit, obviously cleaned, but with the holes from Tim’s wound there…cutting through both sides, he’d been impaled, not just stabbed. Jason took it from him and set it aside. What had to be some of Tim’s belongings, some photos, his bō, a few trinkets likely picked up in Europe and then…an urn.

He took a deep breath to ensure his hands were steady before lifting it carefully, taking in the exquisite decorations in gold, hearing Dami suck in a breath.

“Damian?”

“Grandfather…named Drake his heir…honoured amongst the League…a leader,” Damian read off, stilted and stiff. “There are accolades, a list of missions with the various teen heroes. It seems Grandfather had watched him for years.”

So, the urn was what Dick assumed…they had cremated Tim. It was probably for the best given the condition his…corpse had been in when found.

“It could be a trick, the video, all of it,” he pleaded, and Damian shook his head.

“If it was, Grandfather would not have bothered with this,” he waved at the urn. “We had no knowledge of Drake…Timothy being named his heir and so no reason to expect such opulence. He would have sent the remains in something simpler.”

Dick closed his eyes, hugging cold metal and stone to his chest as if he could give Tim one last hug.

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Damian couldn’t help reading every mark on the urn, seeing how highly his Grandfather had held Timothy in his esteem. He had worked so hard to get such respect from the man and yet he had named another, one not of his blood, as his heir. Richard and Todd had not given much detail on the older boy’s death, just that it had been in battle, that his killer had died as well. Had Timothy taken his killer with him? That went against Father’s ideals but was something Damian found very understandable.

He felt so torn now, he had done his best to either kill or remove Drake from the family and he had succeeded only for the older boy to then take his place with his Grandfather. Had he become a killer? Had he turned fully from Father’s path? Todd said the files had included everything needed to save Father, that would have taken resources and Grandfather respected Father, so had it been a partnership in order to bring Father back?

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Steph stared at the urn Dick was hugging. Tim…no, she didn’t want to believe…couldn’t …he couldn’t be gone. Was this how he felt when her death had been faked? She hated herself now for letting that last so long, she should have reached out immediately once healed, should have come back sooner.

She numbly reached for Babs hand, feeling her squeeze it, she wasn’t alone. She knew Barbara had really gone after Dick for his treatment of Tim a few months after he vanished, the two rarely talked outside of bat duties anymore. But the two of them had been called for the reveal of Ra’s’ message and then had hung around, waiting for the package. She had assumed a coffin but no, the bastard couldn’t even give them that, one last chance to say goodbye. Instead, he sent some fancy League urn after daring to burn Tim.

They might not have been dating anymore, Tim might have been angry at her over how things had gone…but she still cared deeply for him. She’d messed their last meeting up so badly; she never should have approached him in the base she found out about from Dick. Not when things were tense between those two. She’d deserved that kick to the gut, she’d gladly let him do that again since it would mean he was alive.

Bruce was alive…none of them had believed him but Tim had been right. According to Clark, they should have him back in a few days, he was being kept in quarantine on the Watchtower at the moment. No one else knew of Tim…they were keeping it quiet. Sure, they all suspected but they wouldn’t tell B without proof. So, Dick and Jason would tell him once he was home. How would Bruce feel, knowing Tim died to bring him back?

She’d set aside the Spoiler uniform, just like Tim had asked her to, but he’d never know, never get to see her as Batgirl. And Cass…they didn’t know where she was, was she dead too? Or was she out there somewhere with no idea her beloved little brother was gone?

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Kon floated above Wayne manor, able to see Dick clutching an urn…and the ashes it contained. No…Not Tim…No! He turned, flying away, he had to get away. He couldn’t see as tears blinded him, sobs breaking free until eventually he fell from the sky, curling up on the ground as he cried. He didn’t stop even as a cape was wrapped around him and he was lifted into strong arms.

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Clark had just stepped out of the Zeta when he froze, hearing heartbroken sobs, a body tumbling from the sky to hit the ground. He took off, racing towards where the sounds were only to stare in shock at the sight of Kon curled up in a ball, body shaking with the force of his cries. He floated down, gently wrapping Kon in his cape before lifting him and heading for the farm, he wouldn’t want Jon to see him like this.

Ma froze when she saw them but quickly opened the door and then headed upstairs to pull back the covers of Kon’s bed for him. “Clark?”

“I think I know, but I need to confirm,” he answered softly.

“Tim?” she whispered, and he nodded. She leant down and kissed Kon’s forehead before sitting beside him.

Clark headed downstairs and then out of Kon’s hearing range before calling the Manor. He returned to the farmhouse fifteen minutes later with a heavy heart. Tim… if only he had given Tim the time to explain rather than simply take Dick’s word for it. When pressed, Dick said death had not been immediate so why hadn’t Tim called to him? Or even Kon, sure Tim hadn’t known he was alive, but while dying it wouldn’t be odd to call out to a friend.

One look at his face and Ma knew, reaching out for his hand. Ma and Pa had loved Tim as much as they loved him and his family. He was Kon’s best friend, had fought for him from the moment they met. And he’ never shied away from helping out on the farm, despite being a total city boy and needing a bucket or two of sunscreen to keep from frying in the Kansas sun.

Kon was asleep but tears still fell, he was crying in his sleep. He would call Barry and Diana, let them tell the other two rather than make Kon tell them. Then the rest of the Titans would need to be told, but only once Bruce was home and informed.

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Barbara hesitated but then opened the video file, digging it out hadn’t been easier but she was far better than him. The only one of the bats who was a challenge was…was Tim. She pressed play and stared at the scene, taking it all in, glad she’d taken anti-nausea meds first. She could see it, how Tim had died trying to help another. She didn’t care if Tim was the one who had impaled their killer or if one of the others had simply used his weapon to do it. If Tim had survived, it would have been a clear case of self-defence and defence of others. She wasn’t as stuck on the no-killing rule as some, not with her Father being a cop and working with the Birds of Prey.

Still, seeing Tim’s corpse weeks after he died…she closed her eyes in grief. She would miss him a lot. He had been her hacker buddy for years, she’d tried to make contact after he vanished, had left little messages everywhere she could think of, but there’d never been an answer. Why hadn’t he reached out even after she made it clear she didn’t side with Dick? Had the League kept him away from computers to keep him from contacting them for help? Or had he chosen not to?

She forced herself to focus, running every check she could on the video to ensure it was real. She studied it deeply, looking for any sign that there was something wrong with it or the body in the Red Robin suit. She wouldn’t put it passed Ra’s to dress someone in Tim’s suit to trick them. Dick and Jason were too distraught to do it, so she had to, before Bruce returned.

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As soon as he stepped into the Cave, it hit him, home. He was finally home. There was Alfred, standing stiff and proper but with tears in his eyes, and Bruce pulled him into a hug before he could say anything.

“Welcome home, Master Bruce,” Alfred murmured, voice thick.

“It’s good to be home,” he pulled back and smiled, but there was something…a sadness still to Alfred. But then Dick was there and he hugged his eldest before being swarmed by the rest, having to pull Damian in when the boy hung back, seeming unsure. He looked between his children and then frowned. “Where’s Tim and Cass?”

And then Stephanie sobbed and Bruce felt a bolt of terror, no…

“Dick?”

“B, I…I’m so sorry. Tim, he…” he glanced to the side and Bruce’s gaze followed to see an urn.

“No,” he whispered. Not Tim…not his precious son. He walked over, reaching out to trace the golden decoration, recognising the markings…League of Assassins…he’d let his skills with the language and symbolism slip a bit but he could make out enough. “This urn…”

“Tim…he was alone, vulnerable…and Ra’s offered help. We don’t know what exactly happened but they…they sent a video as confirmation. Ra’s said it was respect for Tim and you that he sent his…his remains back to us,” Dick explained shakily.

“I went over the video, there’s no evidence of tampering and the cor…body…it looks like Tim as best I can tell,” Barbara added.

“What do you mean?” he asked, latching on to the fact she didn’t seem entirely sure.

“The body is in fully gear and…it took time to find them, exposure to a desert and scavengers…you don’t want to see it Bruce,” she explained gently, looking haunted. How many times had she seen it to authenticate it?

“And Cass?” he asked, fearing the worst, surely, she had been with her brother.

“We don’t know, she left within days of your funeral,” Jason answered this time, he didn’t seem entirely comfortable but he was standing near Dick without any tension between them. “It was Tim’s research that found you, Ra’s sent it with the note and video, package with the Red Robin uniform, urn, and a few of Tim’s things arrived a week later. We’ve been trying to track Cass but she vanished.”

“I think she stowed away on a flight to Asia, China maybe,” Babs added.

One child dead and the other missing…wait. “Red Robin?” he asked in confusion, seeing the flash of guilt on both Dick and Alfred’s faces, the way Damian wouldn’t quit meet his eyes.

What had happened to his family?

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Kon stood with Bart and Cassie, watching as the headstone was placed. Timothy Jackson Drake Wayne, beloved son, and brother. He felt sick just looking at it. It wasn’t meant to be like this, he wasn’t meant to finally make it home only for Tim to be dead. They’d been talking about telling people and then he’d died, he’d been so desperate to get back once he woke in the future, to see Tim again and now…

He hated Dick and Damian; they were why Tim had felt driven from Gotham and cut off from any help. He just wanted Tim back but there was no way. Bruce had told him that from the evidence of the video, Tim had been too long dead for the Lazarus Pit, not that Kon would want Tim to go through that but…at least he’d be alive.

Bruce said he’d watched the video, said he agreed that to the best they could tell, it was Tim. The ash was too thoroughly…to thoroughly burnt to get any DNA. He wanted to believe that meant that Tim could still be alive but it hurt to hope.

Tim was officially dead and Kon felt so lost.

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Timothy’s…remains had been placed in a new urn and buried with the Wayne family. The urn his Grandfather had supplied had been left in the Cave along with the Red Robin uniform. If he could see the older boy one last time, he would apologise for what he had said that night. Not for the previous attempts to kill him, after spending time in the League, he would understand. But Pennyworth was correct, he had been very cruel to Timothy that night, and his…brother had not deserved it.

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Bruce sat on Tim’s bed, holding his pillow to his chest, imagining he could still smell his son on it, but any scent had faded while Bruce was lost in time. The room had been left exactly how Tim had left it, except for the basic cleaning Alfred did. Another room kept as a shrine to a dead child…a child dead because of him. Jason’s return had been a miracle, one that could not be repeated.

Part of him wished he’d listened to Barbara and not watched the video, not had his memories of Tim tainted by the sight of his body ravaged by the elements and animals. He didn’t care if Tim killed his killer or not. All he wanted was his baby boy back.

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Jason checked the intel and it was solid so he acted on it. He had an informant out there somewhere, technically he had quit a few, but this one was different. Their intel was way better, always anonymous, and delivered by email. Most people with info on the Alley didn’t send it by email, especially one that not even Babs had been able to crack yet. And she’d admitted to having a few of the same types of emails delivered to. Someone had even hacked the Watchtower simply to expose a weakness and alert them. It was all very suspicious and he suspected the one person or group rather than several so-called good Samaritans popping up at the same time. Hell, whoever it was, had even slipped Lois and Clark some very juicy intel on one of Luthor’s new schemes.

B had been back for six months now and things were better, not perfect, that wasn’t possible, but they were better than they had been even before Bruce had ‘died’ between the two of them. Bruce had stopped commenting on the guns or when he killed and had taken back the cowl as quickly as he could. Dick was back as Nightwing, Damian was Robin still and a lot better than he used to be. Something about Tim’s death and Ra’s’ reaction to it had really affected the kid.

He often had his apartment invaded by teens but he never kicked them out, no matter how he grumbled. He couldn’t do it so he had to put up with the three Meta’s taking over his living room and eating his food. For Tim’s sake, he would always open his door to the three. And sure enough, there they were sprawled on his couch and floor, the tv on softly as the boys dozed, Cassie scrolling on her phone. Apparently, Tim had really talked him up to the three in those last months and honestly…he didn’t mind them being there.

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Dick crouched on the roof, staring out at Gotham. He was patrolling solo tonight; he usually did unless Dami joined him. Steph refused to work with him unless it was the whole family and Jason tended to stick to the Alley unless really needed elsewhere. He didn’t blame Steph, he still blamed himself as well. He would never forgive himself for driving Tim away, if only he’d listened…

Gotham felt greyer ever since Timmy had left, it had gotten worse once they knew he was…dead. The funeral had been hell, so many blamed him, Damian, and Alfred. Jason and Babs hadn’t been involved; Jason hadn’t even been in Gotham at the time. The remaining Young Justice crew wouldn’t be in the same room as the three of them, not without eyes glowing or objects being moved without them seeing it happen, sometimes something breaking. After seeing how Kon and Bart’s deaths had affected Tim and Cassie, it wasn’t surprising. Tim had been a friend to the Titans once the two teams merged, but never quite as close to them as the original four YJ four had been. There had been others in YJ but Dick wasn’t sure where they were now, though now and then gifts appeared at Tim’s grave that he thought might be from them.

As far as the public knew, Tim had died overseas while travelling through Europe. They made sure it was listed as an accident, nothing that could be blamed on anyone, especially Tim. His old school friends visited his grave from time to time too.

Dick probably spent more time than was healthy at the grave or the Cave ‘shrine’. He’d inspected Tim’s suit, what were the odds he’d been impaled in one of the suits weak spots? The armour on that side had been lighter to allow for freer movement, had his killer seen that or had it been a lucky hit? If he’d been in a suit designed for him…there would have been more armour in that spot since Tim moved differently to Jason who the suit had been made for. Plus, it would have fit him perfectly and not been too big so reworked to make it fit him passably.

The city seemed to know the real Batman was back and had settled a lot. Though being stopped by Ivy and asked where Tim was, well his Robin, had been a surprise, and then Riddler had asked too! To separate Tim and Robin’s deaths, he had told them he had died before the new Robin appeared, that was why the new one was chosen. That put almost a year and continents between their deaths.

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“I miss you Tim,” Kon whispered, placing the flowers down.

Clark kept his distance, giving him space, Jon leaning against him. It was Tim’s eighteenth birthday, he’d turned seventeen after he left Gotham, had he spent his last birthday alone? Clark had tried to reach him that day but hadn’t been able to find him.

Finding out that Kon and Tim had been dating before Kon’s death was a surprise and yet, with how Tim had taken his death, it shouldn’t have been. He wished Kon would get a miracle but it seemed they were all out.

His death had both drawn the bats together and torn them apart. It was obvious Dick blamed himself and that at least Steph did, Babs too to at least an extent. A lot of people in the community blamed Dick and Damian. It would be hard for Damian should he want to join a team, especially since the only one around was the Titans and the trio were part of them. There weren’t many capes Damian’s age though, Jon was the closest and there was a good three years between them, it would be another year or two before he would even consider letting Jon go out. By then, Kon would probably be looking for a more independent callsign as well; Superboy could become a legacy like Robin.

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Babs frowned as she tried to trace the email, again. They were driving her insane but there was something almost familiar about some of the coding, like the base was someone she knew… she’d run comparisons and the closest…was Tim. But if it was, then why not reach out? She knew they all still harboured the tiniest hope that Ra’s had been lying, that the remains sent to them weren’t Tim’s. But if he could send intel the way he did then why couldn’t he respond to her queries? Maybe Tim had taught someone while away and that was why it seemed similar?

If she could get anything on them, a location, something…

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Bruce found an email waiting for him and realised quickly it was the kind that had Babs ready to pull her hair out. Carefully he opened it, reading through the information, searching for anything that would point to who the sender was. So far, all of the intel they provided was correct and they seemed to be on their side. The email was completely impersonal, there was nothing to give even a hint of their identity or location. He knew Barbara had a theory on them but she wasn’t sharing, he trusted her though, she would tell them when she was ready or it became important.

He glanced over at the wall where a picture hung, smiling sadly. Tim never would have been able to let go of a mystery like this. He would have thrived while investigating it, Bruce probably would have had to carry him to bed several times to spare him the pain of sleeping at the Batcomputer…something he did far too often. It was getting easier, to focus on the happy memories, to remember his son as the brilliant young man he had been and not those last images.

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Jason ducked out of sight, breathing heavily. He really hated Africa!! No matter the country, he hated the continent. He had died there once; he wasn’t going to die there again! He’d gotten cut off from the others and they were all under heavy fire. Not ideal at all. Plus he was starting to run low on ammo. Seriously, why would an alien ship want to land in the middle of the Sahara! They didn’t even seem like a desert loving species from the glimpses he’d gotten. He hunkered down as things began blowing up, where was Kori or Biz? And then he was being lifted into the air, suddenly deaf, feeling heat…no…not again….

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Alarms began blaring through the Batcave and Damian raced to the console, well…hobbled. Stupid cast. “Cave to Batman, SOS sent by Outsiders, they’re under heavy fire and…have lost Hood.”

He grimaced, making sure the message made it up to the Watchtower, someone like Superman or Wonder Woman would be able to reach them much faster after all. And he confirmed he had done so when Father told him to.

He remembered Jason from the League, though he knew Jason didn’t remember him. He had allowed those interactions to colour his opinion of the second Robin until after Timothy’s death, it was only then that he had begun to really observe and see he was far more than a brute or the brain damaged youth his mother had taken in.

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He stared at the body on the cot. Why had he done that? He shouldn’t have. His teammates would have found him, would have intervened. It was so stupid but it was done now. He would recover and then he would leave, the other rooms would be locked down to make sure his only way out was the exit. That would work.

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Jason slowly roused, his head pounding and body aching. He kept his eyes closed, breathing unchanging, what had happened? Right, the mission to the Sahara…big missiles…an explosion. But this wasn’t the Cave or Watchtower or anywhere the team used as a base. It didn’t smell or sound right but he was pretty sure he was alone so he cracked an eye, realising his helmet was off…and he’d been given medical treatment. He sat up and looked around, seeing his gear piled nearby, clean and fixed up.

Where was he? He got up and then noticed the camera, he was being watched. The door opened but no one was there, just an empty hall. And there was a tray with food on the nearby counter.

“Hello?” he called.

A screen flickered to life. Hallway leads to the exit. The food is clean, you can eat it or leave it. Your wounds have been tended; no signs of concussion due to your helmet. There is a bike and directions to the nearest town.

“Who are you?” but the words on the screen didn’t change. Africa…but this wasn’t a League base, he’d seen enough of those to know Ra’s’ tech. He glanced at the food; he was hungry but could he trust words on a screen? He picked up the fruit and looked it over, it seemed untampered with so he took a bite. They’d seen his face, had access to him while unconscious so why heal him then hurt him? “Thanks?”

You’re welcome.

So, he or she was still watching. He put his gear back on and then headed into the hallway, looking around. There were doors but they all seemed to be locked electronically, ensuring Jason had to head out. Whoever had saved him, they didn’t want him to work out who they were. But Jason needed to know, they’d seen his face. He was being watched though so how to get into a room and snoop?

TBC…

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 2

He watched Jason make his way down the hall, practically able to see him plotting. It was understandable, he was a bat and bats hated mysteries. But letting him solve this one…his hand hovered over the control that would unlock the doors but his hand dropped limp into his lap, he couldn’t do it.

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Jason carefully checked his equipment; nothing had been taken and it all seemed to be in working order. If he’d had a domino on under his helmet, he had the feeling it would have been left alone. Stupid of him to not wear it but sometimes when away from Gotham he only wore the helmet. If his saviour had checked for concussion and his helmet hadn’t been with the rest it seemed it had taken the brunt of the explosion or something. So, it had done its job and saved his vulnerable skull.

Still, that left him with an unknown who’d seen his face and sure, Jason Todd Wayne had been legally dead for years but someone with access to a base like this would be able to connect the dots and that would endanger his whole family. They’d lost Tim forever, couldn’t find Cass though there were hints she was alive, and he would not be the reason the family was put in danger.

His fingers closed over a new invention of Babs; it might be enough to get a door open. But which one? He didn’t want his host to get suspicious by lingering so he needed to keep moving…that one. There was nothing he could say that made it stand out but it was the same instinct that sometimes led him to turn right instead of left on patrol. He activated the device and sure enough, the light on the lock flickered, and Jason opened the door.

Immediately, the floor beneath his boots changed from cold metal to plush carpet, pictures of scenery from all over the world on the walls. It felt cosy, like a home. So, did whoever was behind the screen live here as well? He came to another door and opened it, entering a large room and the far wall was covered in screens, showing…that was Gotham, a flash of Batgirl leaping across a roof. And that was Metropolis, Superboy landing to hand over a criminal to the cops. Other screens had data scrolling down them. And then his eyes found the large, comfortable looking chair, suddenly reminded of the Batcave by the setup.

His heart was racing, it wasn’t possible…it wasn’t…was it? He moved closer, hearing the faintest sound of someone typing and then one screen blanked before words appeared.

STOP

“Who are you?” he asked.

LEAVE

He glanced at the screens, noticing that one seemed to be tracking Superboy…and a lot of the others were of Gotham. “No,” he answered. “I think…I think I know who you are but that should be impossible. Turn around.”

The same message flashed.

“Tim,” he called gently and the screens went black.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

He gripped the console…he’d been so stupid, he shouldn’t have stepped in, Jason would have been fine… and now… He closed his eyes, trembling.

“It’s you, isn’t it? Please baby bird.”

He slumped forward, choking back a sob, hearing Jason take a step. He couldn’t…he couldn’t let him see.

He was shaking as he reached out, taping some commands, activating the security, the line in front of Jason hopefully obvious enough to make him stop. “Leave,” the mechanised voice said for him.

“What happened to you?” he asked but he wasn’t moving closer.

He stared down at his gloved hands, finding he was gripping his jacket. He reached back, pulling up his hood. He wanted to see him, fine. He turned his chair to see Jason.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bruce frowned when the report came in, there was no sign of Jason except some blood and shattered pieces of his helmet. Not again, they had to find him. The aliens were being dealt with; they hadn’t taken Jason. So where was he?

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

The chair turned to reveal a figure dressed in loose, comfortable clothing with a hooded jacket, the hood up. Very little skin was visible, their face hidden in shadows. Guessing height when someone was seated wasn’t perfect but the figure seemed a few inches taller than Tim’s height but Tim been sixteen when he vanished, it was normal for him to grow more.

The line on the floor was an obvious warning, some kind of security system and he wasn’t going to test it. He tried to get a glimpse beneath the hood, seeing the gloves on his hands, and he was scared. Why be so covered up when alone?

“Please,” he whispered but Tim, it had to be him, shook his head. “Tim…I won’t hurt you, you’re my little brother, my baby bird, no matter what.”

“Tim Drake is dead,” the mechanical voice stated.

“Then take off the hood and prove it,” Jason pressed.

Tim had set up the security well before he reached it, he knew his brother wouldn’t hurt him. He might be more concerned; he knew better than anyone how death or near death could change someone. And he had no clue how Tim could be alive when they supposedly had his ashes so…he might not be the boy Jason remembered. But he believed that at his core, Tim was a good person, no matter how often they joked about him going supervillain or taking over the world.

He didn’t move from his chair and Jason was pretty sure he was staring at him. Everything in him was screaming this was Tim, so why hadn’t he reached…the emails…this setup, Tim had been helping them.

“You’ve been sending us intel, helping…why Tim, why didn’t you come home?”

He took a step closer to the line and Tim stiffened so he stopped, that had been fear…for what would happen if he touched that line…or at him coming close?

“Whatever happened, we can work it out. We all miss you so much.”

Tim shuddered and the hood moved, he was shaking his head, curling in on himself. Did…did Tim think he’d done something that would make them not want him? Had he killed that man in the desert? It had been self-defence, not even B wanted them to just lie down and die, no matter how against killing he was.

“Please Timmy,” he reached out a hand to him.

He shuddered again but then he pressed something on the console and the line vanished.

Jason moved forward slowly, not wanting to startle him. He could see Tim was tense, basically rigid in his chair, and Jason sank to his knees in front of him, reaching for gloved hands. He could feel them trembling as he gently took them.

“It’s okay,” he whispered and for the first time, he heard a sound from Tim, a choked off sob. He hadn’t realised till then just how utterly silent Tim had been. He stayed kneeling, holding Tim’s hands in his, feeling the trembling in one slowly stop but the other didn’t. He gently stroked the back of his hands with his thumbs, hearing Tim taking slow deep breaths.

Tim pulled his non-shaking hand free and reached up to touch Jason’s face. Jason smiled and leant into his hand and then Tim was fumbling with his gloves.

“Let me?” he asked, and Tim held his hands out. Jason removed one glove and then the other, forcing himself not to react to the marks on his shaking hand…burns? He held Tim’s hands again, tracing a familiar scar on the right one from where the kid had fumbled a batarang. And then Tim’s hands gripped his, one stronger than the other. He was shaking again and Jason moved up, pressing against Tim’s legs, letting him feel the pressure through his clothes. “I’m here, I’ve got you,” he promised.

Had Tim…had he been alone all this time? And yet…he was still silent, and Jason felt sick, he’d only communicated with the computer, he’d thought it was to conceal his identity but…what if it wasn’t?

He gently moved Tim’s hands to his shoulders, gently reaching up to hold Tim, tugging him forward and Tim resisted for a moment before seeming to get what he was offering, collapsing forward. Jason was relieved to be able to sink back, taking the strain off thighs and ankles to sit on the carpet with Tim held in his arms. Tim wrapped his arms around his neck, faces pressed to his shoulder, breaths shaking and Jason said nothing as warm liquid soaked into his neck. He rubbed Tim’s back gently.

Finally, Tim seemed to relax, pulling away a bit, keeping his head down so it was shadowed by the hood. But then Tim lifted his hands and slowly pushed the hood off, revealing a head of familiar black hair. He took a deep breath and then lifted his head and Jason struggled to keep the shock from his face.

“Oh Tim,” he whispered. He lifted a hand to cup Tim’s cheek, feeling his little brother tremble. “Who did this to you?”

He felt sick but he wouldn’t let Tim see that. One eye was the familiar crystal blue, watching him, the other…the other was milky…blind. The same marks as on his hands trailed over one side of his face, like someone had thrown acid or something at him. Thankfully, it wasn’t like Two Face, his was a half and half thing, this looked…more natural? If that made sense. And Jason wondered how much his clothing hid, where else had he been hit? Tim turned his head slightly, clothing shifting and Jason saw his throat, was that…was that why he hadn’t said anything?

“Tim…can you…can you speak?” he asked shakily, and Tim shook his head.

Tears slipped from his good eye but not from the blind one. Well, he assumed it was blind. Jason lifted his other hand to hesitantly touch the scarred skin, Tim flinching before freezing in place.

“Oh baby bird,” he whispered. The skin was rough under his fingers and he was glad he’d taken his gloves off, not sure how much sensation Tim had in those areas and not wanting to hurt him. He gently shifted Tim so he was sitting sideways in Jason’s lap and Tim slumped into him, head on his shoulder, good hand tangled in his shirt.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Tim slumped in Jason’s lap, holding onto his shirt because he couldn’t force his hand to let go. If he did…Jay might leave and he couldn’t…he’d thought he was used to being alone, that it was the best for everyone but now the thought of Jason leaving… he hadn’t been disgusted, hadn’t pulled away, had touched that side. There were no mirrors in his nest because he couldn’t even look at himself. He knew it looked better than the last time he’d seen, that he was as healed as possible now and it wasn’t a raw mess but he still couldn’t do it. if he ever wanted to look, he wouldn’t need a mirror anyway, he could just use the security cameras.

But Jason was holding him, fingers now running through his hair, gently massaging his scalp and it felt so good it almost hurt. He knew he was a mess, not just physically, starved for touch after being alone so long. But he couldn’t make himself pull away, not yet, his body would demand it soon enough, the position was going to cause something to cramp eventually. His chair had been a pain to find and get made to his specifications but it cradled his body perfectly, it was even more comfortable for his mutilated body then his bed was.

He knew Jason had questions, he’d already asked who had hurt Tim, and for the first time since he’d woken in that cramped back room with strangers leaning over him, holding him down as he writhed in agony, he really missed his voice. But his vocal cords had been destroyed, he was lucky it hadn’t reached his oesophagus or trachea, that would have made things even worse. The thought of having a hole cut for him to breathe through and another one for liquid food…he’d have probably given up and let death take him, he knew it had been very close multiple times. He hadn’t exactly been treated in a modern hospital after all. But it was still better than letting Ra’s find him and toss him in the Lazarus Pit.

Honestly though, he was shocked that Jason hadn’t doubted his identity for a second. Tim had read his own obituary, knew Ra’s had sent them his ashes, he watched the League of Assassins very carefully after all. All his plans and he hadn’t had any for the bats in his nest and realising who he was, which was a massive oversight really.

He closed his eyes as a gentle kiss was pressed to his forehead, making a soft breathy noise, pressing his forehead to Jason’s shoulder, clinging tighter. His big brother was here, he was safe. For the first time since Bruce ‘died’ he felt safe.

“I’m here Timmy, I’m here,” Jason whispered, rocking them slightly.

Tim wanted so badly to respond but his stupid lack of voice stopped him. All he could do was tighten his grip as much as it would go, hating the weakness on his left side. He took a deep breath and shifted back a bit, looking up at Jason and then he mouthed his name and Jason grinned at him. Lipreading was okay for short things but having a talk would be a pain.

And then his leg cramped up and he found himself curling forward, he hated it!

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

“Tim!” Jason called in alarm seeing the flash of pain before Tim curled in on himself.

The kid was panting, reaching…his leg. Jason carefully moved him, laying him on the floor, wondering if that was why the carpet was so thick and soft. He realised Tim’s left leg looked shorter than the righter, and he pushed back the rage at seeing more proof of the horror Tim had gone through.

“Okay, cramping?” he asked, keeping his voice as gentle as possible and Tim managed to jerk his head in a nod. Okay, he could work with that. “I’m going to massage the muscles,” he warned. Tap the floor for too hard and your other hand for harder, okay?”

That got another nod so he moved to kneel over Tim’s outstretched legs, putting his hands on his ankle and Tim’s breath hissed a little. He stayed still, giving Tim time to adjust to the touch and then he began working his way up Tim’s leg. He kept an eye on Tim’s hands, adjusting the pressure as indicated by taps. Finally, he felt the muscles in Tim’s leg relax, the cramps gone, Tim’s breathing evening out as the pain faded.

“That happen often?” he asked gently and a hand lifted before wriggling back and forward a little. “Okay, want to lie here for a while or is there somewhere else?”

Tim patted the carpet so Jason moved, lying beside him, wrapping his arm around his shoulders, being careful of his left side. Was it good that all the damage seemed to be on the one side? He began talking softly, telling Tim about his work in the Alley, even though he knew the kid knew about it but Tim seemed to appreciate it, relaxing, and slowly his eyelids drooped until he was finally asleep.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Dick paced the cave, mask off but the rest of his gear on, ready to move as soon as they had a location, something. They’d lost Timmy, they couldn’t lose Jason, not again. Damian was at the computer, scowling at his limitations thanks to his cast, but working with Oracle to try and get satellite footage of the fight, to see who had taken Jason or even where he’d wandered off to. With pieces of his helmet being found, there was the chance he’d taken a head injury and was confused. Clark, Kori, and Bizarro were searching via the air for any sign of Jay. Roy was on the ground with Bruce and Diana, combing the wreckage in case something was blocking the flyers from seeing him.

It had only been six hours, there was still hope, there had to be.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Tim woke to warmth down his right side, the feeling of carpet under him, and the dull ache in his leg that said he’d had muscle cramps again, fun. But the warmth…he opened his eyes, well used to the limited vision of only one working eye. Oh…he turned his head a little and yeah, there was Jason, watching him, a soft look in his eyes.

“Hey Timbers,” he murmured. “Feel better?”

He nodded, turning on his side to curl more into his warmth. Jason was like a furnace, side effect of his dip in the Pit. Tim had trouble staying warm now days, so it was very nice. Of course, his traitorous stomach chose then to growl, Jason chuckling.

“You better have a kitchen around here somewhere.”

Tim nodded again, not that he really cooked, he had a pretty limited diet with his throat, yes it had spared his oesophagus but not without some damage, plus he’d been stabbed in the abdomen. It had been a miracle he’d survived not just the wounds but the infection that later set in. Sighing, he pushed himself up on his good arm and Jason sat up as well.

Tim got his good leg under him, pushing up, used to the limits of his body and how to work around them. He wavered a bit as he stood on both legs, but a familiar arm wrapped around him, steadying him.

“Lead on,” Jason murmured, and Tim limped towards another door, leading Jason deeper into his nest. “How the heck did you do all this?” he asked and Tim smirked, ignoring the tug of the scars as he did. “Right, genius.” A hand ruffled his hair and Tim leant into it without meaning too.

It would be so easy to get used to being touched again, but Jason would leave soon and he’d be alone again. So, he would take everything he could get and store it away in his memory for those nights when he felt like clawing his own skin off in desperation. They walked into the kitchen and Jason whistled, Tim grinning.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Tim sat on a stool, leaving him to check out the kitchen, it was impressive…and very easy to clean, everything set to Tim’s height so he wouldn’t have to bend or stretch much. Seriously, how had he gotten this place made? Babs had kept watch on his accounts and they hadn’t been touched since he left Gotham, not that there was a lot…sneaky, the kid had set up secret accounts at some point. Must have transferred things slowly so no one realised. With DI bankrupt, no one expected him to have massive amounts outside his allowance from Bruce. But Jason dimly remembered Janet Drake, she had been scary but brilliant, he wouldn’t put it past her to have ensured Timmy had some kind of untouchable trust.

He began looking through the available food, relieved to find the kitchen well stocked…but the types of food were limited. A lot of it was soft and easy to digest and it made Jason feel sick, glad he had his back to Tim so he couldn’t see his expression, forcing his body to remain relaxed.

He turned back to Tim with a grin. “So, anything in particular you want? Can you sign?” he asked.

He knew Tim had learn the basics for Robin training and that he’d been working with Cass on it, but how much use was his left hand?

Tim lifted his hands, singing clumsily but it was understandable. I can eat everything here.

“Alright, I’ll whip something up. Drink?”

Tim huffed slightly but signed for juice and Jason opened the fridge, seeing an array of juices, bottled water, soy milk…all things he hadn’t really drunk before. Well, except the bottled water since only a nut would drink even filtered Gotham water. He grabbed some juice and put it in front of Tim who nodded and opened it.

There was nothing sugary or really processed, not much red meat either, no dairy. He was really not liking that, or the bottles of supplements. Had Ra’s done this to Tim? Or was it all from that battle? But then…who had been in the Red Robin suit if not Tim?

He shook it off, whipping up some omelettes and setting them out. Tim took a bite and closed his eyes, blissful, and Jason chuckled. “Missed my cooking that much?” he teased, getting a look back before Tim settled into eating, very slowly. Jason shifted his chair closer, so their sides were pressed together, feeling the shudder that went through Tim’s body before he relaxed.

Eventually, they finished eating and Jason washed up while Tim watched him.

“Do you know how long it’s been since I was knocked out?” he asked, and Tim checked his wrist before holding up seven fingers. “Seven hours?” he asked, and Tim nodded. That wasn’t good, the team had to be going crazy. “Is there a way for me to contact the Cave and let them know that I’m okay?”

Tim tensed at that, eyes wide…no, eye. The blinded one didn’t move much, the skin around it heavily scarred.

“Hey, it’s okay,” he moved closer, settling his hands on Tim’s shoulders, a thumb moving to stroke his neck, figuring skin on skin was what Tim really needed. “They don’t need to know about any of this, alright? Just a generic check in message.”

Fear…the blue eye was wide with it. Tim was afraid so Jason wrapped his arms around him gently, Tim’s head resting under his chin, and he felt Tim go limp. “You’re okay Timmy, I’ve got you. I won’t let anyone hurt you,” he promised.

He’d fight Ra’s himself to keep the kid safe. It was very obvious that Tim couldn’t fight anymore, not the way he’d been trained to. Maybe he could learn to use a gun, there were non-lethal ammo’s that he could use. He couldn’t patrol anymore, not with that messed up leg, but for self-defence a gun could work. It was pretty obvious he was working as a second, sneakier, kind of Oracle already.

“I love you little brother,” he whispered, and he felt Tim’s body shake with silent sobs.

But eventually they passed and Tim lead him back to the control centre, pulling something from a drawer and fiddling with it for a bit before offering it to him.

Jason nodded and typed in a message, showing it to Tim to prove it was a simple ‘I’m okay, have to go dark for a bit.’ Then a standard bat recognition so they’d know he wasn’t under duress. Tim relaxed a bit at seeing the message and then Jason sent it.

Why? Why stay? Tim signed.

“You’re here Timbit,” he told him, and Tim huffed in frustration before sitting down and typing.

I can’t go back Jason. I can’t. You should go home.

“Why not? Is someone threatening you? Did Ra’s do something? Does he know you’re alive?”

That got a shrug and then more typing. There were two attackers. The second one was about my size, don’t know how I did it but got him into my suit. By the time they were found it should have needed a DNA test to show he wasn’t me.

“So, the attackers were the one who did…this to you?” Jason reached out and put his hand gently on Tim’s shoulder, the kid nodding, not looking at him.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Babs immediately brought up the message, slumping in her chair as she activated the comms. “Coded message from Hood, he’s alright and going dark. Recognition codes are his and giving the all-clear,” she announced.

“Tt,” Damian grumbled. “Why is he going dark?”

“Doesn’t say.”

“We’ll do one more sweep and then stand down,” Bruce growled, obviously not pleased.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Four images appeared on the screen, the three together were the other bodies from the video. Then two grouped together, the one who’d had Tim’s bō through him and another. Under the three were names, Z, Owens, and Pru.

They tracked me down in Paris, blew up my hotel room but then Ra’s had them protecting me. Guess surviving that got him more interested in me. When I went to Iraq, they knew the land, how to get around. We found the dig site, the cave, found B’s message…then we were attacked. Z was impaled, never saw it coming. I tried to get to Owens and Pru but then the second attacker appeared. Tim stopped typing, eyes closed, and Jason shifted his hand to stroke his neck, hoping to help him keep calm.

“That the one that hurt you?” he murmured after a while, and Tim nodded, hand going to his abdomen.

Stabbed me and I. He stopped again.

“You stabbed him with your bō,” Jason murmured, keeping up the soothing stroking, and Tim nodded, silent tears falling. “It was self-defence kiddo. We already thought you’d done it since you seemed to be last man standing. And none of us care. Bruce said it was fine, he just wanted you back. Even if it took a dip in the Pit, we all just wanted you home and safe,” he promised, gently tipping Tim’s head up to make eye contact.

Tim looked away, staring at his hands. So, Jason just petted long black hair, messy from his earlier nap on the floor.

“The stab wound, that’s why your diets changed?” he asked gently, and Tim nodded. “So, the second attacker did…this?” he stroked the ravaged skin.

He seemed normal, used a sword, but when he saw his companion dead and me coming to back Pru up, he…did something. He slit Pru’s throat but it didn’t kill her. He came at me and it, Tim paused, trembling. It burned; suit didn’t stop it. I must have blacked out after that. When I woke up, he was dead and I could hear Pru choking, dragged myself towards her but it was too late. Knew Ra’s would come for us, realised they were why he wanted me. They said thanks for playing the game, called us assassins. Someone was hunting the League. Found out later they’re called the Council of Spiders. I got the second dead spider into my suit to throw Ra’s off, don’t remember much after that. Woke up in a hut with locals cleaning my wounds. I was screaming but…

Tim slumped and Jason drew him into a hug. “It’s okay, you did what you had to, to survive. Come home Tim, please. We know about you and Kon, he misses you so much, he loves you.”

Legally dead, he signed.

“So am I,” Jason shot back, and Tim glared at him. “I’m sure you can think up a way to explain your survival if you want to be alive again, or just take on a new identity.

Can’t. that sign was the surest yet.  

“Why not? And don’t give me the ‘you killed someone’ thing, pretty sure Damian and I have kill counts way higher than yours. Is it Damian? He’s changed, your death and Ra’s’ respect for you, naming you his heir on that very fancy urn he sent, seems to have knocked sense into his head. He even talks to your grave.”

Tim’s eye widened at that.

“Didn’t see that on your cameras?” he teased, and Tim shook his head. “Trying to put Oracle out of a job.”

Two see more.  Well, that was true enough.

“You’ve been sending us the emails, hacked the Watchtower. You’re still a hero Timmy.”

Tim huffed silently and Jason smiled, happy at how much more expressive Tim was becoming with him. He wasn’t hiding his reactions like he’d tried at first, wasn’t tensing or crying.

“We can move all of this to Gotham if you want or make you a new setup,” he promised. “Or another city, Metropolis maybe?”

That got a look and he raised his hands in surrender.

“You think Kon will care about this?” he reached out to touch Tim’s cheek. “He loves you so much baby bird, coming back to find you were missing…he tried so hard to track you down. And B, coming back to hear you found him but were dead, it nearly broke him. Steph blames Dick and Damian, even Alfred, for your death, will barely work with them even for Arkham breakouts. Babs barely talks to Dick anymore either.”

Tim stared at him in shock. Not their fault!

“Well, no one’s going to listen if I say that,” he shrugged, and Tim glared at the obvious manipulation.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Tim stood up, leaning on the console to get his balance. He made it sound so easy, just go home to Gotham, and be welcomed with open arms. But…he wasn’t the boy that had left. His body was a mess and maybe if he’d had proper hospital care it wouldn’t be as bad as it was. His leg at least probably could have been fixed enough so that it’d grow properly with the right one. Maybe the scarring wouldn’t have been as bad either but nothing could have saved his eye or voice.

And Jason didn’t know everything, it wasn’t just the blood of the Widower on his hands or the unnamed monster with him…though Tim wasn’t actually sure he’d killed him or if what he’d done to Tim had backlashed onto him. Yes, he sent them intel but they weren’t the only ones. He sent them to law enforcement, other vigilantes…and people died because of his information. Cops in some countries were very trigger happy and sometimes even with his intel they weren’t prepared enough for what they found. Those deaths were on him.

He'd been honest about not knowing how he’d come too, how he’d managed to strip himself and the assassin to put him into the RR suit. He knew he’d been so lucky to be found by people willing to help the obvious foreigner.

To hear how much they missed him…it was different to just watching them on camera. And Kon…he’d been so shocked when he’d seen the first headline as he was setting up his nest, Superboy stopping Luthor…he’d thought it was a trick, had gone after Metropolis’ cameras first searching for evidence. It was him; he was really back somehow. He’d known immediately when it had been Bruce back in the cowl, and not because he could get into their systems.

Part of him wanted so badly to listen to Jason, to go…home. But he was terrified too. It would kill him if they saw him and pulled back. How could anyone want to be around him and yet…Jason hugged him, touched his scars. He hadn’t recoiled once. Was it possible…the others could too?

A hand touched his shoulder and he let himself be tugged around, wrapped up in his big brother’s arms. He was crying again, so stupid.

“It’s okay,” Jason murmured. “I won’t tell anyone you’re here, just please…give me a way to keep in contact.”

Tim clung to him, lost. He knew what he wanted, what he’d always wanted, but he was so scared. He flattened his hands on Jason’s chest and then drew a B and a K.

“Tim?” Jason asked gently.

So, Tim pulled back and signed Bat and then K and sun, not feeling like finger spelling their names.

“Bruce and…Kon?” he asked, and Tim nodded. “I can tell them?”

Tim pulled out a phone and pressed it into his hand. Call.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Jason’s eyes widened. “I can call them here?” he asked to be sure and Tim nodded fearfully. “Okay,” he agreed, smiling at Tim. “You’re being so brave,” he promised, reaching out to gently brush his hair back. “You want to get cleaned up first, napping on the floor didn’t do your hair any favours.”

Tim wrinkled his nose, glancing down at himself.

“How about a hot shower and clean clothes, then I’ll call cause I’m pretty sure B will let Kon carry him to get to me once I do.”

Bruce wasn’t fond of being carried but to get to Jason after he said he was going dark, after he’d gone missing in another explosion…he would definitely make an exception.

Want a shower? Tim signed and Jason nodded, following him back towards the kitchen the branching off down another carpeted hall to where there was a nice bedroom with a massive bed…and medical equipment. Beside that bedroom was another one, just as nice. Despite isolating himself, he’d still made a place for at least one guest. He wanted so badly to get the kid to the Watchtower where they had the best doctors in the world. Surely, they could do something for him, at least lessen his pain?

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bruce frowned as an unknown number called his ‘work’ phone. “Batman.”

“B, it’s me,” Jason’s voice came through clear and Bruce closed his eyes in relief at getting to hear for himself that his son was okay. “Superboy’s coming to get you and bring you here.”

“Why not Superman?”

“Can’t tell you on the phone. I…found something that was lost, or well was found actually. Just take it slow when you get here, took me forever to convince him.”

Something lost…no, he said him…someone. But they hadn’t lost anyone, not since…since Tim. But that was impossible, wasn’t it?

“B?”

He heard a familiar sound and looked up. “Superboy’s here.”

Kon dropped down in front of him and didn’t even say anything before he grabbed him and took off again. He could feel the young man was tense, almost trembling, and Bruce wondered what Jason had said to him. It wasn’t long before they were landing, Kon looking around. “This is where Jason said, but I don’t see…” he trailed off as a ramp appeared in the sand. “Okay, lead lined.”

Bruce looked at Kon who nodded, and they walked down the ramp, lights flashing to guide them.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Kon’s heart was racing, it couldn’t be, could it? But what Jason said…Jason would never give him false hope. And this kind of creepy yet high tech underground base was very much Tim’s kind of thing. In fact, he’d seen Tim doodling plans for his own ‘nest’ that had similarities to some of what he was seeing. A door slid open and the sound of two heartbeats reached him so he signalled that to Batman. As much as he hoped, he also knew it could be a trap.

One heartbeat was pretty steady but the other was racing, whoever it was, was afraid. He knew Tim by heart, could find him anywhere…and that didn’t sound right, not how he remembered. He looked to where they were, seeing the wall of screens, a control centre of some kind.

And leaning against it was Jason, no weapons or armour, looking relaxed. He glanced at the chair which had its back to them, nodding as if spoken to (though Kon heard nothing) and then he was crossing the room to them.

“How badly did you break the sound barrier?” he teased.

So, what if he had? He had to know…

“Jason,” Kon pleaded, he wasn’t wearing even a mask so whoever was there likely knew his id.

He was surprised when Jason drew him into a hug. “Just take it slow,” he warned softly. “It took a lot to get him to agree to my calling you two. He’s…not how you remember, but it’s him.”

“Jay,” Bruce growled.

“Ditch the cowl B, he doesn’t need the Bat…he needs his Dad.”

“I…I know Tim’s heartbeat,” Kon whispered.

Jason grimaced. “It’s him Kon.”

“Why is he scared?”

“Not of you…but how you’ll react once you see him. Don’t you dare hurt him.”

Kon nodded, he would never hurt Tim but now he was kind of terrified. He moved closer to the chair, hearing the heartbeat quicken even more, realised he could see them. “Tim?” he called out shakily.

He stopped as the chair turned around, breath catching in his throat, unable to comprehend what he was seeing at first. “Tim…” he took a step and Tim flinched into the chair. “You’re alive…” he reached his hand out to him. Tim’s heart was racing even faster, one eyes wide and the other… “Tim please…say something.”

“He can’t,” Jason spoke up. “He can’t talk Kon, his vocal cords…they’re gone.”

Kon forced back a sob at hearing that and then he was kneeling in front of Tim who jerked back, shaking. “Shh, it’s okay Wonder,” he whispered.

“So much for going slow,” Jason muttered across the room.

Kon slowly lifted his hand, resting it on Tim’s knee, feeling him shiver slightly. “It’s alright Tim, I’m here,” he kept his voice soft, not wanting to scare Tim. A shaking hand lifted, gently tracing over his features before resting against his cheek and he leant into it. Tim lips moved silently but Kon still recognised his name, nodding in response.

Kon carefully lifted his hand from Tim’s knee to copy him, starting on the unscarred side, his touch feather light, scared of hurting him. His throat looked the worst, like the skin had been eaten away. The scars on his face, the throat…had someone thrown acid in his face?

“You can, see?”

Tim nodded, tapping the one eye that was still blue. So, he was blind in one eye then. He looked away, trembling.

“I love you Tim.”

That had his head jerking back up, brow furrowing.

“I love you, no matter what. I…I thought you were dead; I’ve missed you so much. Don’t push me away, let me stay with you.”

Tim frowned, waving a hand at the ruined side of his body.

“You think I care about that? That I’m so shallow as to care about looks? You are beautiful Tim, to me you always will be, no matter what.”

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bruce stared at Jason, he wanted to believe him. His second son was suspicious by nature, he wouldn’t be easily fooled. But Tim? They’d been so sure… he looked at Jason and then watched Kon begin to walk towards the chair, calling Tim’s name. The chair began to turn and Bruce removed the cowl. He saw Kon freeze, then beg Tim to say something.

He couldn’t speak? And then Kon was kneeling and Bruce saw his son…saw…he couldn’t help it, mind flashing to Harvey.

“He’s himself B, it’s not like Two Face. He’s not half and half, he let me see. The burn scars are from a type of corrosive spider venom, they mostly stop around his shoulders. There’s some on his hand and arm from where he tried to shield himself, some splattering on his chest and then a large patch on his left leg. It damaged the growth plate; he limps because the leg hasn’t grown properly like his right one. But his mind is fully intact. It hit his throat bad…ate through his vocal cords, hurt his oesophagus some but he can still eat. He was also stabbed in the abdomen. His diet is limited but he eats well. This place has everything he could need.”

He listened to Jason’s explanation, taking in the visible scars, seeing the tender way Kon-El touched his face, and then the way Tim leant into his touch,

“He’s been alone B, ever since he left the villagers who found and nursed him. He had this place built so he could still help, he’s been watching over all of us. He was just too scared to come home.”

“Did he kill that man?” Bruce asked woodenly, and Jason glared at him.

“Bruce,” his son growled, and Bruce shook his head.

“That trauma and his injuries, they would have influenced his reactions. He knows our troubles when you came back,” Bruce explained, and Jason relaxed a bit. He couldn’t blame Tim if he had killed his attacker, especially after seeing what had been done to him. But so much trauma in such short a time, it was no wonder he fixated on them not accepting him.

“He killed him. B…the one in the RR suit, it was another attacker, the one who caused most of the damage, the one Tim killed was the one who stabbed him. Tim said he blacked out, doesn’t know who killed the second assassin, said it might have been him or it could have been him getting caught up in his own attack on Tim. Somehow the kid managed to get out of the suit and the dead man into it, arranged him to seem like it was Tim and then staggered into the desert.”

Tim should be dead, with those injuries the fact he’d come too was a miracle. But to have made it far enough to be found? To have not died of a massive infection?

He stepped past Jason and walked slowly towards the reunited couple. The scarred side of Tim’s face didn’t seem to have as much movement which meant the burns had gone deep. Tim looked up and he realised the eye on that side…oh Tim. “Sweetheart,” he whispered, and Tim bit his lip, tears slipping from his good eye.

Kon stared at him and then moved out of his way, letting Bruce kneel before his son, opening his arms, and Tim fell into them. Bruce wrapped him up in a hug, holding him gently, scared of causing him pain.

“My son,” he choked out, pressing a kiss to soft black hair. He smiled as he heard the soft tapping of Tim’s fingers against his armour, morse code for his name. His clever boy. He tapped in return, gently on the right side of Tim’s back. ‘love you Tim.’ He heard the soft breathy noise, Tim clinging on tight. “I love you Tim,” he said it out loud.

Tim carefully pulled back, looking up at him. And then his hands came up to sign. Can I really…come home?

“Of course, Tim. Anything you want or need to help you,” he swore.

Even though I broke the rule?

“You are my son Tim and I’m so sorry you thought anything could stop that. I know I messed up with Jason, but we’ve been working on it. You are so missed sweetheart.”

Tim was crying silently but he slowly nodded.

TBC…

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: still don’t own them.

Chapter 3

Tim clung to his Dad, unable to stop the tears, trembling as he was held to an armoured chest. He closed his eyes as a hand gently ran through his hair, soothing him.

“It’s going to be alright Tim, we’ll take things as slow as you need to feel comfortable,” Bruce promised. “You can come home now, or stay here to get everything organised for transport and whoever you want to stay with you will. We also won’t tell anyone unless you say it’s alright.”

Tim was shocked. Bruce was never so…flexible. He pulled back to look at him, looking for signs of how serious he was, getting a sad smile.

“I messed up so much with you Tim, the way I treated you was wrong.” Bruce had removed his gauntlets while holding him so it was his bare hand that gently cupped his face. “When I came home and you weren’t there… organising your funeral was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I just want you to be safe and happy. We can set up a bedroom on the ground floor of the Manor for you, your old room is exactly how you left it but I get the feeling the stairs won’t be good for you,” he explained, and Tim grimaced, no, stairs were bad.

“Aww, can’t I just carry him up and down?” Kon offered, his smile a little shaky, and Tim reached for his hand. Kon’s smile strengthened as he took it, squeezing it gently. He could feel Bruce giving Kon a look over his shoulder even as Jason chuckled.

Tim forced himself to leave Bruce’s arms, taking his seat, feeling his body aching, wincing. Kon took his arm, helping him into the chair.

“Cramping?” Jason asked, and Tim shook his head.

Aching, no cramps, he signed before beginning to type. I want to stay here while everything’s set up. Batman’s needed in Gotham but Jason and Kon?

“Of course I’ll stay,” Kon agreed.

“Count me in. I can make sure you two keep well fed and check over the medical equipment so B knows better how to set up your room.”

“You still rely on equipment?” Bruce asked carefully.

Only for sleeping or if I’m sick, Tim quickly typed to assure them. I get sick easy, it’s why everything’s metal, easier to keep clean and it’s more sterile. I lost my spleen, a kidney, and it damaged my stomach a little. So, my being alive without a hospital is a medical miracle, pretty sure the surgery was done with a kitchen knife and hot water.

He didn’t look at them, not wanting to see their reactions to that. He knew he owed a lot to the people who had found him, he kept a close watch on that village and had funnelled funds to them, the kids were getting better schooling now, one was headed to university to study medicine. Tim was pretty sure he remembered him helping hold him down to have his burns cleaned.

“Tim?” Kon called shakily, and Tim turned to him hesitantly. His boyfriend? Ex? Tim didn’t know what they were since they’d both thought the other dead. But Kon was reaching for him, and Tim raised his arms, letting Kon pick him up, holding him close. Kon was as warm as Jason, maybe warmer thanks to soaking up the suns’ radiation. A hand began playing with his loose ponytail and Tim closed his eyes, just soaking up the touch.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bruce let Tim hold onto Kon, wondering what would happen between the two now. He may not be good at relationships but he could see they loved each other. Would that be enough? They had each grieved the other, believing them dead. They’d been apart for years now and Tim… could Kon deal with the changes in Tim? He’d been permanently disfigured, isolated, had killed someone and obviously carried guilt for it despite it being self-defence… he would need a lot of support once home.

Finally, Tim tapped at Kon’s arm, obviously wanting to be released, and Kon gently set him back in his chair. Bruce inspected it, seeing how it cradled Tim’s body, offering gentle support to his limbs as well. The soft, thick carpet that would be comfortable to lie on if necessary… how much pain was Tim in every day? Just walking had to be painful and he could see how Tim’s left arm shook.

He wanted to call every doctor and scientist he could think of in order to begin looking at ways to help heal his son. They had confiscated the cloning tech that Tim had stolen from Luthor, could that be used to replace his spleen and kidney, maybe even his stomach if it couldn’t be repaired further? His leg could prove tricky, amputating and then giving a prosthetic was extreme but if it couldn’t be treated and the pain eased then…it would remain an option. Skin grafts could maybe help the burns, but they seemed to have gone deep so they might need more. The arm suggested possible nerve damage… and his eye…could they make a cybernetic replacement? He just wanted Tim to be out of pain, to feel good about his body and it was very obvious he didn’t from the way he huddled into his clothing, would tilt his head to try and hide the scars.

Bruce wasn’t ashamed of his son for how he now looked, he would love him no matter what. He just wanted Tim to be comfortable and healthy, to live his life and be happy. He was proud of Tim for surviving it all, he should have died from his wounds and yet he had made it through. And he’d created this place, somewhere he would be safe and not at risk of catching illnesses from others. He knew the family would be fine with whatever extra cleaning needs would be necessary to help keep Tim healthy.

Tim appeared mentally stable, despite the nightmarish similarities to his old friend. But Jason was right, Tim’s scars were different, not such a straight-line divide and the whole left of his face wasn’t damaged, there were patches of unharmed skin. The thought of Tim driven mad…

And then Tim grimaced, curling in on himself and Jason moved. He swept Tim up in his arms and then gently laid him on the carpet.

“Leg?” he asked, and Tim managed to nod so Jason began massaging the limb even as Kon took Tim’s hand.

“Squeeze as hard as you need,” Kon murmured.

Bruce finally forced himself to move, removing his cape to place under Tim’s head, getting a surprised blink from his son. “Do you have pain medication?”

“This took care of it last time,” Jason commented as he worked, watching Tim’s free hand. Tim tapped the floor and Jason adjusted the pressure. “Do you want something?” he asked, and Tim shook his head.

Bruce accepted his answer, Tim would know his limits and…he was probably worried about becoming addicted to painkillers if he took too many. Too many society children ended up addicted to something and he knew about how Jason’s mother died. He gently stroked some stray strands of hair back from Tim’s face, watching as he slowly relaxed, the pain passing. “Better?”

Tim nodded, offering a small smile. He lifted a hand to Bruce’s face and Bruce let him, letting Tim trace his features. He knew there were some new wrinkles there, some caused by the grief of losing his son. Then Tim tugged his hair and grinned. Dyed? He signed cheekily, and Bruce laughed. There was the sassy boy he remembered.

“No,” he denied. He was not going grey yet, thank you very much. Though honestly, he wasn’t sure how considering what his children got up to.

Tim rolled onto his side and then pushed himself to his feet, catching his balance quickly, obviously used to such movements, the rest of them following him up and then down another hall. He really had created a home for himself, even if it felt a bit industrial at times. It still felt like Tim though with the photos on the walls. Bruce was surprised by the lack of coffee machine or even instant coffee, any highly caffeinated drinks actually. Getting used to that must not have been fun, though he did have tea which had some caffeine.

Jason shot Tim a glare that had Tim sinking into a chair, leaving Jason to get them all drinks and set out some snacks.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Jason was relieved that so far, things were going better than he could have hoped. He’d figured things would be fine with Kon, it had been Bruce who was the wild card. He could have denied Tim’s identity, could have refused to accept he’d killed now that Tim was shown to be alive, he could have recoiled from his damaged body…but instead he had embraced Tim and was working on bringing him home.

He understood why Bruce had been worried about Tim’s mental state, honestly, Jason was too. He’d been so badly hurt and then isolated, just having him and Kon in the base while the move was organised was going to be stressful for Tim. Moving back to the Manor? Tim was going to need therapy and he was going to make sure Bruce kept his mouth shut on his usual opinions about it. Being unable to speak would make it harder but there had to be therapists who worked with the mute.

Kon sat beside Tim but so far was being good about not crowding Tim, asking before making contact or letting Tim initiate it. Tim would reach out and brush a hand against Kon, as if assuring himself the other was real and there. Not a surprising reaction considering everything.

Jason would ensure Tim had whatever he needed to adjust and he knew Bruce was already considering the options for healing him in some manner. But any treatment would be up to Tim, it was his body. Hopefully he’d agree to something though, he didn’t want the kid to live with so much pain…was it a way of punishing himself for killing and staying away from them? Seeking treatment would have been hard since there were few who would be able to deal with so much damage.

And…Tim looked exhausted, today would have been a lot for him, physically and emotionally. Thankfully, Kon spotted it too.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Kon could tell that Tim was fading, it wasn’t surprising. He would have a routine and saving Jason then everything since would have been exhausting. He held his hand out in offering and Tim slipped his into it, tilting his head curiously. “You’re exhausted,” he murmured.

Tim looked away, shrugging slightly.

“Hey, it’s okay. It’s been a really big day for all of us. Got enough beds for all of us?”

Tim frowned slightly, but then stood and tugged at him so Kon followed him. He opened a door to reveal a comfortable appointed bedroom with a bed big enough for at least two fully grown adults. And then he pulled Kon to another door and Kon knew, this was Tim’s room. The bed was bigger and there was medical equipment set up. There was oxygen, a monitor of some kind, an IV stand and a few other things. Tim pointed at him and then at the bed.

“You’re sure?” he asked gently. “It’s been a long time since you’ve shared a bed with anyone Tim.”

Tim nodded, stepping in close, lifting a hand to his face. Trust you, he mouthed. And Kon nodded, he would do anything to help Tim feel comfortable. If Tim wanted to share with him then he’d do it. And if it got too much for Tim then the carpet would be more than fine. It was just as nice here as it had been in the control room. Sorry, he mouthed, and Kon frowned.

“For what?” he asked gently.

Tim frowned, obviously frustrated by his inability to communicate the way he wanted to.

“Hey, it’s okay,” he murmured, wrapping an arm slowly around Tim’s waist, giving him time to say no or get used to it, whichever he wanted. Tim was stiff but didn’t try to stop him and he slowly relaxed, leaning into him. “I love you Tim,” he pressed his lips to Tim’s temple, the roughness of the scars feeling strange but they were part of Tim now.

Tim traced a heart over Kon’s chest in reply.

“If you’re apologising for not letting me know you were alive, it’s okay. Thinking you were dead…it hurt, more than anything. But you had to do what was best for you and I’m guessing you didn’t even know I was alive at first.”

That got a small nod.

“I know what it was like for you before you left to look for Bruce. Cassie told us some and I might have threatened Dick to get more. Babs reached out too, she was so sorry for not realising what was happening with you, that she didn’t reach out. If anyone blames you for anything, just send them my way, I’ll deal with them.”

Tim pulled back enough to look up into his face, searching. Tears slipped from his good eye and then he leant in and Kon easily realised what he was hesitantly asking for. Kon cupped Tim’s cheek in his hand and leant in as well. The kiss was so familiar, soft, and tender, but neither of them moved to deepen it. They loved each other but it had been years, he would never risk hurting Tim by pushing or moving too quickly. And…Tim might not be able to have a physical relationship anymore, not with how damaged his body was. Kon didn’t care, he would stay with him forever even if they never did more than hold hands.

“Want a shower or just bed?” he asked, seeing the exhaustion weighing Tim down.

Tim pointed at the bed, so Kon guided him over, pulling back the covers for him.

“Pyjamas?”

Tim went and got a pair of short but no shirt. He was hesitating and Kon touched his hand again.

“Hey, it’s okay Wonder. I know there’s scars under your clothes. They don’t change anything, you’re still Tim.”

He nodded shakily but then grabbed some clothes and handed them to Kon who nodded. Tim went into the bathroom so Kon quickly changed into the shorts and t-shirt, smirking when he realised it was a Superboy shirt. He sat on the bed to wait for Tim, figuring it might take him a while to get the courage to come back out plus there were probably things that he needed to do like clean his teeth.

Finally, the door opened and Tim stepped out, revealing the majority of his body. He was paler than he used to be which made sense though he’d seen the SAD lamps throughout the base. He was thinner, less muscled, but that was also to be expected. The scars actually weren’t as bad as he’d thought they’d be. His arm looked bad; he’d probably tried to shield himself so that made sense. Tim shifted restlessly and Kon held his hand out to him.

“You’re still beautiful to me, Tim.”

Tim shook his head, disbelief clear. Kon moved closer and lifted his hands and slowly lowered them onto Tim’s shoulders, stroking the skin. He kept a close eye on Tim’s reactions even as he gently traced his scars, some he knew and some were new. Tim was trembling, crying silently, but he wasn’t scared.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Tim lingered in the bathroom, scared how Kon would react to his body. He never used to think twice about being undressed in front of Kon, not after years of tending each other’s injuries and having to change in front of each other at times. But now? He did his nightly routine and forced himself to leave.

He froze as Kon’s gaze wandered over his body, unable to help tensing, shifting restlessly. But then Kon held his hand out to him and Tim hesitated.

“You’re still beautiful to me, Tim,” Kon told him.

Tim shook his head, unable to believe him. Kon moved closer and then his hands rested on his shoulders gently. And then his hands began skimming over his body, learning his scars. He was trembling, feeling tears fall from his good eye but he felt so safe. There was the hesitant press of TTK, something he’d almost forgotten the feel of, and he closed his eyes, letting his body relax, knowing Kon would never let him fall.

And then he was being held close, warm hands gently rubbing his bare back. He pressed a kiss to Kon’s collarbone, wrapping his arms around him. Kon didn’t flinch from the feel of his scars through the thin t-shirt Tim had leant him. He’d bought several, unable to help himself, needing the comfort even if they were new and not ones that he’d snuck from Kon.

Kon watched him set things up, knew he was memorising it and Tim knew it was so he could help if Tim wanted or needed him to. Tim lay down and Kon got in the bed once he was settled, obviously not wanting to get in his way. He wanted Kon to hold him but he also knew he couldn’t take it, his skin crawling from how much he’d been touched even as he craved more. It would take time to get used to it again, and Kon could obviously tell since he just touched his hand briefly and smiled at him before closing his eyes.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bruce set out plates of freshly cut fruit as well as juice and water. He wasn’t going to risk setting Tim’s kitchen on fire by trying to actually cook. He’d peered into Tim’s room to check on the boys, seeing Kon curled on his side, one hand extended towards Tim who was sleeping on his back, something he never used to do. But it was probably due to the oxygen canula and monitor leads, he’d been glad to see the IV wasn’t connected.

Jason soon walked out, hair damp from the shower and he got to work cooking some things. “You leaving today?”

Bruce nodded, he hated to do it but the sooner things were set up back home, the sooner Tim would be with them. “Once I have a list from Tim on what he’ll need and how much of all this will need transporting.”

“You know he might not want to stay at the Manor after living alone? His last memories of Dick and Damian…even Alfred aren’t exactly good.”

“I know,” he admitted. “And if he really wants that…he’s an adult now, I can’t stop him. The Penthouse is an option if the Manor’s too much, the bunker under it could be altered with his equipment. If he’s worried about being spotted there, we can always buy a building and refurbish it to fit his needs.”

“My own nest in Gotham?” a mechanised voice asked and they turned to see Tim standing there, holding a tablet.

“Nest?” Bruce asked, and Tim shrugged.

“My nest,” was the answer.

“If you want that, then we can sort it out,” Bruce promised.

He walked over and gently brushed Tim’s loose hair back from his face, it was damp from showering, hanging down past his shoulders now. Tim was holding himself stiffly and Bruce could see why, he was wearing loose pants and a t-shirt, a lot less coverage than what he’d worn the day before, revealing more of the scars. He pressed a soft kiss to his sons’ forehead.

“Wear whatever makes you comfortable Tim. You have nothing to be ashamed of,” he promised. “I’d like you to stay at the Manor for at least a week, to get reacclimatised to civilisation. After that, if it’s too much, you can move to the Penthouse and either live there or stay till we get something more to your liking set up.”

“He could always come to the farm for a while too if the city’s too much,” Kon offered as he joined them. “Ma and Pa would love to see you,” he told Tim.

Tim shrugged slightly. “Wait and see.” He typed and a second later the voice spoke.  

Bruce nodded, glad that Tim was willing to try going home. Tim handed him his tablet with a list of medical equipment, food, hygiene levels, and Bruce sent it all to his own email accounts, his Bat account to be safe. “Is there anything I can take with me now? I summed the batplane overnight with very strict orders for no one to come or track it.”

Tim nodded and they went to work.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Dick barely kept from leaping up the ramp as it lowered, Bruce emerging. “B?”

“I’m fine Dick and so is Jason. He’ll be home soon and he won’t be alone. Call the others.”

“B?” he asked in concern, shocked as his father smiled.

“It’s good news chum.”

Dick nodded numbly but quickly got everyone gathered. It was a small group and it still hurt to have the holes where their brother and sister should be. Dick would never forgive himself for what had happened.

Bruce joined them and looked from him to Babs, Alfred, Steph, and Damian. “Jason was saved from the explosion and his wounds tended, he woke up in an underground base and was given food before being shown the way out and offered a bike to get to civilisation since his helmet was destroyed,” he explained. “But he’d picked up a few things that had him suspicious and with his helmet gone he was worried about his identity being compromised.”  

Dick tensed, worried that they had been compromised but…Bruce had said it was good news.

“The person who saved him is the same one who has been passing on intel and hacked the Watchtower to expose the weaknesses.”

Okay, it could be worse, whoever they were seemed to want their own id to be kept secret and had only helped so far.

“Bruce, just tell us,” Babs crossed her arms.

“It’s Tim, he’s alive.”

Dick froze, the cup of tea he’d just picked up falling from lax fingers. He…he couldn’t have heard right…he…Timmy? Dick tried to get a deep breath, shaking. His baby bird…alive? Why…why wouldn’t he have come home?

“Dick breath!”

He gasped, realising Bruce had him by the shoulders, shaking him gently.

“Easy, you’re alright,” Bruce murmured, and Dick felt the warmth of Damian pressed into his side.

“Dad…he’s…”

“He’s alive Dick. Jason and Kon have stayed behind to help him get ready to come home. But you all need to know…he’s changed, you can’t crowd him. He’s been in total isolation since shortly after the fight in the video we were sent. It wasn’t his body but another attacker in his suit. Tim knew Ra’s was after him so he made it look like only one attacker.”

“Why didn’t he come home?” Steph asked shakily.

“He couldn’t at first. He barely made it away from that fight alive, honestly…he shouldn’t have come too again.”

Dick felt sick, tugging Dami closer, feeling Alfred’s hand gripping his shoulder.

“He was found and help by a local village; they did what they could for him. And then he went underground in Africa, close enough he could watch Ra’s’ actions without being too likely to be tracked, then created what he calls his nest. A fully underground base created for his needs. But he’s been watching all of us, helping. Part of why he never reached out was because he killed and was scared how we’d accept it.”

“It was self-defence!” Damian exclaimed, obviously angry, and Bruce held his hands up.

“I know Damian. Tim told us about the fight, he did what he had to in order to survive and he was defending the woman, Pru, she was wounded. But she died before he could get to her. The medical care Tim got somehow kept him alive but…you all need to be prepared and do not stare.”

“Scars?” Dick asked tentatively, and Bruce nodded, something in his expression that Dick didn’t want to understand.

“We’ll be setting up a downstairs room for him, I’ve got a list of necessary equipment. He also has a very structured diet.” He passed several sheets of paper to Alfred. “We need to be very careful of germs because he’s immunocompromised. Anyone with any hint of illness can’t be around him or has to wear a mask. The scarring is…bad,” Bruce paused and Dick was struggling not to throw up or scream. It was obvious Bruce was only telling them the very basics, the rest would be up to Tim if they found out or not.

“What else, Master Bruce?” Alfred asked quietly.

“He…he can’t speak and is blind in his left eye. He’s traumatised obviously, I’d say that influenced his reluctance in returning. Don’t crowd him or press for answers. He’s agreed to remain here for at least a week but if it’s too much I’ve offered him the Penthouse and Kon the farm. I’ve told him we can set up his own place wherever he wants. It’s going to take time for him to adjust to being around people again.”

“Master Bruce, his injuries…can anything be done?”

“I’ll be contacting the Watchtower to speak with the medical staff and whatever it takes to help Tim live without pain, I’ll see to it.”

“Timothy will never be a vigilante again, will he?” Damian asked.

Bruce sighed. “Not on the streets, no.” he held his hand out to his youngest who moved to him, Dick watching. Bruce loved Damian, that was obvious to him but sometimes they were too similar and missed what the other was really trying to say. “He’s proud of you Damian, he’s watched you a lot when Robin’s out there. He’ll be wary of you at first given how you parted, but he knows you’ve grown a lot since then. Just take things slowly with him. He’s understandably skittish given how he left and being alone for so long. He even flinches from Kon at times and they were best friends.”

“You can admit they were lovers,” Damian answered, and Dick choked on his drink.

Bruce closed his eyes and Dick was so glad it wasn’t him having to respond to that. “They were dating, yes. I have no idea if they had gone that far and I don’t need to know. Neither do you, any of you. Bringing that up will do nothing but hurt them given Tim’s condition.” That got nods of agreement.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Kon easily grabbed Tim, steadying him as he staggered. “Easy,” he murmured, cradling Tim’s tensed form, feeling him slowly relax. “There’s no rush, no time limit,” he promised. He gently rubbed his hands up and down Tim’s bare arms, glad he wasn’t trying to hide behind clothing with him anymore. Tim shivered before turning to look up at him, studying his face before nodding, leaning against him, and Kon wrapped an arm around his waist. “Love you,” he whispered, dropping a quick kiss to the top of Tim’s head.

He might have been embarrassed to say that so much before but now he could never get enough of being able to say it and have Tim right there to hear him rather than a cold headstone. Tim’s arms wrapped around his neck, tugging gently and Kon leant in to kiss him softly, hearing Tim sigh softly.

He was brushing up on his sign language knowledge so when Tim stepped back and his fingers formed words, Kon grinned. I love you; Tim told him.

“Love you more,” he teased, and Tim rolled his eye, huffing at him. “It’s okay to be scared Wonder, going back to Gotham…especially with how things were when you left, it’s a huge change. If you need more time, that’s okay. We can stay here longer or go somewhere else. I meant it, Ma and Pa would love to have us. I finally got a bigger bed so we could set things up for you in my room.”

He reached out to gently stroke Tim’s hair, he kind of loved the extra length, glad Tim had let it grow rather than hack it all off himself or shave it or something. He’d spotted a few scars hidden on his scalp, no hair grew there but with the thickness and length those spots were well hidden. When Tim shivered, he stopped, recognising it wasn’t a shiver of enjoyment. Tim had always had iron control over himself, he’d lost a lot of that while alone, making him a lot easier to read. Which was good since Kon now had to rely a lot on his body language and reactions to judge how he was feeling, he never wanted to make Tim feel bad.

He saw the flicker in Tim’s eye, the way he tilted his head away and he really hated Ra’s, hated that the presence of his people had led to this. But…Tim had considered the trio his friends, would have chosen to fight for them even if the attacking assassins had given him an out since he wasn’t one. Except they had thought Tim was League too so had tried to kill him.

“Hey, it’s okay Tim. Whatever you need,” he promised. “I can tell being touched at times is uncomfortable and there’s nothing wrong with that,” Kon assured him.

Tim huffed again, obviously frustrated but Kon kept calm, listening to Tim’s heart, the sound of air moving through his lungs, all of it, re-learning his signature so he’d be able to find Tim anywhere. With the amount of damage, it wasn’t at all surprising that Tim’s body rhythms had changed, though he was worried about the change to his heartbeat. If they could lessen the pain, hopefully that would help by lessening the strain.

Tim closed his eyes and took several slow, deep breaths, and then he stepped forward, pressing himself to Kon’s body. He relaxed, eyes closed, one hand lifting to grip Kon’s t-shirt.

“Not going anywhere,” Kon promised.

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Jason worked with Kon, prepping Tim’s equipment for the move to Gotham. It was all top-of-the-line tech, as good as and sometimes even better than what the bats had. It was obvious Tim had made a lot of it himself and Jason was glad Tim had old hobbies to keep up with while healing in solitude. It had probably helped keep him sane. All of the photos were taken off the walls and carefully packed to be shipped. Some of them were obviously Tim’s work of the surrounding landscape and he was very glad he’d found a way to keep up that hobby as well. He knew the kid had won awards at school for his photography and had hoped he’d continue with it.

He could see the growing nervousness in Tim the closer they got to leaving but wasn’t sure what to do about it. It was as bad as when they’d waited for Kon and B and they still had several days till they’d be leaving. Tim had always had the tendency to catastrophise and he doubted his experiences since leaving Gotham had improved that any. So he made sure to stay close to the kid, ready to help in any way he could whether it be cooking or letting Tim curl up against him to try and get used to being touched. Hopefully B would warn the others, especially Dick, there was no way Tim would be able to handle his octopus hugs for a while yet.

At the moment he was sprawled on the very comfortable couch with Tim lying on top of him, soaking up his body heat. It wasn’t surprising that Tim had issues keeping warm, he’d never been overly warm and it was worse now. The heat seeking at least was helping him get used to contact quicker than it might have happened otherwise. Still, Jason held a book up with one hand, the other at his side, waiting for if Tim indicated he wanted more of a proper hug. Though he doubted that since…yep, the kid had fallen asleep.

“Kon,” he called softly and Kon appeared to carefully pick Tim up to take him to his room. It was safer and Jason knew every room in the Manor where Tim might fall asleep would be refitted with oxygen and monitors. It had been almost a week since B had left so those changes were probably well under way.

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Steph put the paintbrush down, looking around what used to be an guestroom. She’d taken inspiration from what she knew of Tim and what she’d gotten out of Bruce about how his nest was decorated to begin prepping his new room. She really hoped he’d like it and if he didn’t then they could always change it. Everything was in soft colours and the new carpet was the softest they could find. A big new bed had been put into the room, support bars in the bathroom, a chair in the shower…and there was medical gear just waiting for them to be done before it was moved in.

Once the pain was dried, they would hang some of Tim’s favourite photos, but only scenery. Bruce had said no people, they didn’t want Tim to feel pushed to reach out to anyone until he was ready.

She hated to admit it, but she was scared. All of this…how different would Tim be? From what Bruce had said, his physical appearance was going to be a shock but she was determined that she would not flinch or pity him, Tim would hate either reaction. She wanted to fix things with him, to go back to being good friends. She’d dug out the books on ASL and begun going through them since she hadn’t really used it since Cass… She didn’t want to have to rely on texting or something to communicate with Tim.

She was going to do better this time, prove to Tim that she was on his side and trustworthy.

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Clark was worried about Kon but he was with Bruce and his family, they wouldn’t let any harm come to him. And being around them, mainly Jason, had helped him process his grief for Tim. Still…something had changed with Jason vanishing; he just didn’t know what and hoped it would be a good change.

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Dick forced himself not to pace as the batplane settled into place. His heart was racing with fear and anticipation, longing to see his baby bird again. Jason soon emerged and Dick grabbed him up in a hug. “Never scare me like that again,” he whispered.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to. But at least I brought back a great gift?” he offered, and Dick choked on a mix of laughter and tears.

“He’s really in there?” he asked, and Jason nodded.

“Yeah, the flight was hard on him though so they’re taking it slow. Give them a bit.”

Dick nodded and took deep breaths. After what felt like an eternity, Kon appeared on the ramp and his arm was around a shorter figure. Slowly the two made their way down and Dick could see the way Tim limped, leaning to the left…one leg was shorter than the other. They reached the end of the ramp and Dick took in the sight of his beloved baby brother. Tim was turned towards Kon, shielding the left side of his body and it hurt to have him hiding.

“Tim?” he called softly, taking a step towards them. “I’ve missed you so much Timmy.”

Tim shivered, and Kon gently rubbed his back, whispering something to him. Tim nodded and then slowly turned to face him. Dick immediately saw the milky white eye and then the scars covering the left side of his face. He held his hand out to Tim, hoping that Tim would come to him, not wanting to pressure him. Tim stared at him, taking in his expression and body language.

“Please Timmy,” he pleaded, and Tim slowly moved away from Kon, limping towards him. Dick moved closer so that he wouldn’t need to walk as far. He opened his arms and Tim hesitated before slowly moving into his embrace. Dick wanted to hold on tight but also didn’t want to upset him by clinging too tight.

“Oh Tim,” he fought the urge to sob. “I thought you were dead…I’m sorry, I’m so sorry for everything.”

He felt Tim’s arms slowly lift to wrap around him, relaxing against him.

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Bruce watched as Tim relaxed in Dick’s arms. He was very relieved to see their reunion going so well, he’d been worried that seeing Dick would bring up everything that had led to Tim’s near death. He stayed in the shadows, just in case he was needed.

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Tim found himself tightening his hold on his big brother, clinging to him. Dick…Dick said sorry. Dick’s grip was firm but not overwhelming, supporting him, taking the pressure off his bad leg a bit. Finally, he let go, tugging a little, and Dick let go, letting him back up a bit. Dick slowly reached out to touch his scars and Tim forced himself to stand still and let it happen, unable to see once his hand got close. Dick wouldn’t hurt him, he wouldn’t, and Kon was there, he would keep him safe. He felt calloused fingers against the unburnt skin but when his fingers passed over the scars there wasn’t much sensation.

“Oh Timmy,” Dick whispered sadly.

Tim lifted his hands to sign. Missed you.

“I missed you too,” Dick choked out. “Thinking you were dead…it hurt so much. I’m so glad you’re home now.”

Tim looked around the cave and Dick stayed at his side as he cautiously walked towards the cases holding their uniforms. He froze as he spotted the Red Robin suit, he should have expected it but then…the urn. He’d learnt enough to translate it, shuddering at being called Ra’s’ heir, he did not want that. He shivered, grimacing, and Dick’s hand hesitantly landed on his shoulder.

“We won’t let him get near you, Ra’s knows better than to step foot in Gotham, especially with B back.”

Tim nodded slowly, surely Ra’s wouldn’t want him now? Though…he got the feeling the immortal wanted him for his mind more than anything and that was undamaged.

Nothing else really looked different and he was starting to feel really tired.

“Bed?” Kon called, and Tim nodded, looking at Dick apologetically.

Dick smiled and carefully reached out to ruffle his hair. “You look exhausted, get some sleep Timmy. If you need anything, there’s a call button beside your bed to alert whoever’s around.”

Tim blinked; they’d gone that far to help him? He turned to Kon and lifted his arms, Kon nodding and lifting him to carry him. Sure, the Cave had an elevator but there were stairs in the Manor. He rested his head on Kon’s shoulder, smiling when he spotted Bruce, waving at him before closing his eyes.

He opened them when Kon stopped, looking around in confusion and then over at Dick who had followed. “Figured the ground floor would be easier for you to get around on your own. We’ve moved a lot of your things down from your room and Steph organised painting it for you. We can change it if you don’t like it.”

Tim looked around, seeing the waiting equipment, the thick and soft carpet, biting his lip to keep from crying. They’d done this for him, they…they really wanted him back. Tim reached out to Dick who moved closer and hugged him. When he stepped back, he signed, thank you.

“Anything for you baby bird,” Dick smiled and then left them alone.

Tim realised his bags were already in the room and he looked around, seeing some of his old photos on the walls, laughing silently when he spotted an old poster. He pushed open the door to see the ensuite had been altered to make things easier for him too.

“Like it?” Kon asked, and Tim nodded. “Shower?” that got another nod.

He was really tired despite just sitting in the plane, but the seat had not been at all comfortable or good for his aching body. Hopefully, a hot shower would help but he wasn’t sure he’d have the energy to stand up.

“Let me help?” Kon asked gently.

Tim hesitated but then nodded, the two of them going into the bathroom.

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Kon gently helped Tim strip out of his clothing, stripping down as well, feeling Tim’s eyes tracking over his skin. He turned the shower on, waiting for the water to warm up before helping him into the stall. “Just relax,” Kon murmured, “I’ll take care of you.”

Tim nodded, closing his eyes, and leaning against the tiles. He got the soap and a washcloth, beginning to carefully wash him down, keeping it gentle but making sure not to linger, not like he would have once. They couldn’t just jump back into that kind of thing and…he honestly wasn’t sure if Tim was capable of a physical relationship anymore, not after seeing the full extent of the damage. But he still dropped the occasional kiss on wet skin, especially over his scars, to make sure Tim knew he still found him attractive. By the time he got Tim out of the shower, he was practically asleep on his feet. He got Tim into shorts and then settled him into bed, setting up the oxygen and monitors, Tim watching through half closed eyes, smiling sleepily when Kon got it right.

Tim was quickly asleep, Kon lying beside him, watching over him. He was hoping the exhaustion would help Tim sleep but was wondering if being in a now unfamiliar place would counteract that.

Bruce and Jason checked in soon after Tim fell asleep, then Dick did as well. Part way through the night, it was Alfred who appeared and Kon motioned him in, signalling that Tim was asleep.

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Alfred moved to the bedside, staring down at his grandson, seeing the scars littering his face. He looked peaceful in sleep but he could see the subtle signs of pain as well. If only he had done more, perhaps Timothy would not have been so alone, would have felt able to reach out. The monitor was beeping quietly, monitoring heartbeat and oxygen levels, neither where he’d prefer to see them but Tim did not appear in distress.

He nodded to young Master Kent and then slipped out of the room, keeping the alert close at hand in case they called for help during the night. He worked in the kitchen, ensuring there would be a wonderful welcome home breakfast, all of Tim’s favourite foods that he could still eat.

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Damian took his seat at the table, nervous to see Timothy for the first time since that fight in the Cave. He had been tempted to check the security footage of the previous night but had forced himself not to. He would not react badly to seeing Timothy, he would not. He had seen people badly wounded in battle before, there were plenty within the League after all. But the way Father had talked… and then the door opened to allow the clo…Kon-El enter and with him, was Timothy. Timothy stood frozen, staring at him. Damian remained still; his hands flat on the table to appear as harmless as possible.

He took in the scars and eye… and he felt pity but also awe. Timothy was incredibly strong to have survived, to have kept going even alone.

“Welcome home Timothy,” he spoke softly, and Timothy jerked slightly. “It is good to see you.”

Really? His brother signed.

“Yes, I…I have greatly wronged you. I thought I would never be able to apologise for everything I did to you, because you were dead. I understand if you do not believe me and feel unsafe near me. I treated you as a threat as was normal in the League, despite everything Father and Richard said. I was wrong. We are brothers and I will never harm you again.” He bowed his head to Timothy.

A hesitant hand touched his and he lifted his head, finding Timothy studying him.

Timothy Drake, nice to meet you, he signed slowly.

Damian blinked in surprise before realising what he was doing even as he held out his unscared hand. Damian reached out to take it. “Damian Wayne, I am very happy to meet you, brother.” He was being given a second chance and he would not squander it.

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Bruce was relieved to see Tim and Damian speaking peacefully when he joined them for breakfast, Kon hovering. He walked inside and gently stroked Tim’s hair, making sure he saw the move coming, and Tim looked up at him, smiling. “Good morning boys.”

“Good morning, Father,” Damian returned.

Good morning, B, Tim signed.

“Morning Bruce,” Kon offered as he sat beside Tim.

“A good first night?” he asked, and Tim nodded.

I love the room, thank you.

“Your siblings had fun setting it up,” he told him, watching Tim’s face turn slightly pink even as he stared down at his cutlery. From the slight movement Kon made, Bruce thought he’d taken Tim’s hand or put his hand on his leg.

Then Tim lifted his hands again. Where?

“No one wanted to overwhelm you Tim, that’s why only Dick was in the Cave last night and Damian is here this morning. Barbara is out with Jim this morning for their normal weekly breakfast and Steph is at school. Cass…” And none of them had told him yet.

Hong Kong, Tim signed, and they all stared at him.

“You know where Cassandra is?” Damian asked, shocked, and Tim frowned.

Send her intel, he shrugged.

“Does she know it’s you?” Bruce asked as gently as he could. If Tim would have reached out to anyone, it would be his beloved big sister. She might be Jason’s age but the two acted like twins most of the time and she had been just as small as Tim so many people had thought they were twins from a distance.

Tim nodded. Didn’t tell her. After third message she replied, said thank you little brother. See her on cameras, she lets me so I know she’s okay.

Bruce relaxed at the knowledge his daughter was alive and well.

“Why hasn’t she come home?” Damian asked. Other than Dick, Cass had been the one he respected most back then, mostly because she could take Damian down with her eyes closed and both arms tied behind her back.

She’s happy and doing good work. Told her B is back, she was happy to hear that.

“Thank you, Tim. Not even Babs has managed to find her, though she had narrowed it down. I’m very glad to know she’s alive and well.”

“That is good news indeed.” Alfred’s voice had Tim stiffening slightly, head dropping…hiding his scars.

Bruce watched as Alfred approached with breakfast, setting it out and then he moved to Tim’s side.

“Dear boy,” Alfred murmured, a gloved hand brushing over black hair that had been left loose. And then Alfred slowly moved to kneel beside Tim’s chair, reaching out to cup his face, Tim’s shoulders hitching. “Welcome home Master Tim.”

Tim was shaking now but he lifted his arms and Alfred drew him into a hug. Bruce didn’t try to hear anything Alfred might be saying to his son and he was pleased that Damian wasn’t either. Kon obviously couldn’t help overhearing but from the soft smile on his face, it was all good.

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Tim walked into Bruce’s office, finding it unchanged except…those were his photos. Sure, he’d given B some over the years but it seemed he’d printed out more after he’d returned from being lost in time. And there on the desk…that was a photo of them the day his adoption had been made official. Seeing how much they’d missed him; it made him feel bad for staying away. He tightened his grip on Kon’s hand, feeling him squeeze back.

They sat on the couch, Tim leaning against Kon and he knew they were going to have to talk about things. Were they together? Could Kon still want to be with him? He shook those thoughts off for later as Bruce sat in the armchair closest to Tim, a hand reaching out to squeeze his knee briefly and Tim smiled at his dad. He knew why they were there; he just wasn’t looking forward to it. But the idea of less pain…

“I’ve got an appointment with the Watchtower doctors this afternoon to discuss possible treatments. Do you want to come or should I just take information.”

Tim knew it would be best to see them but…he tensed, shaking slightly at the thought of all those people staring. And then he was in Kon’s lap, his ear pressed over a steadily beating heart as fingers ran through his hair.

“There’s no rush on anything Sweetheart,” Bruce’s voice was soft and then his hand was on Tim’s back. “Unless there’s something wrong that needs immediate attention?”

Tim shook his head; he was healed so not in danger of dropping dead. It wasn’t like he’d had no medical care. He’d limped into a hospital after his first growth spurt, they’d been the ones to realise his leg wouldn’t grow and he’d slipped away before too many questions could be asked.

Cave scans? He signed, knowing Bruce would understand and not feeling like using more words.

“We can do that; it’ll help them see what needs the most immediate treatment to help with the pain.”

Because that’s all it would be, trying to manage his pain. They couldn’t give him new organs or a new voice. Maybe they could come up with a better drug cocktail for his immune system though. Tim had been relying on civilian research for that after all.

They headed down to the Cave and Alfred joined them, setting up the x-ray machine first since it was quickest, the CT would need time to warm up and was a new addition. They x-rayed every bone in his body it seemed like before he lay down for the CT and it definitely scanned him from head to toe. He didn’t want to see the results of either scan, he didn’t need to see the proof of how messed up he was.

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Diana nodded to Bruce as he walked down the hall. “How is Hood?” she asked once closer.

“Fully healed, it was mostly bruises from hitting the ground.”

So why was he heading for medical. “Are you injured?” he was very good at hiding injuries after all.

He chuckled and shook his head. Something was different, he seemed…lighter. “something has you happy. Dick finally making you a grandfather?” she teased and he paused, considering.

And then he waved her into a room. “Don’t spread this around yet, he isn’t ready,” he warned and she nodded, had she actually been right?! “It’s Tim…Diana, he’s alive and at the Manor right now.”

She stared at him, unable to comprehend for a second. “Tim?”

He nodded. “He’s the one who took Jason, he was watching and saw the explosion, panicked, and grabbed Jason to ensure he was alright. He wasn’t going to reveal his identity but Jason worked it out, convinced him to call Kon and me.”

“He’s alive…” she closed her eyes, offering up a prayer of thanks. She had always liked Tim and she had been there to try and help Cassie through her grief, made all the worse by their last meeting. “Kon knows?”

“He’s with Tim at the Manor. Tim…he’s been living in isolation so it will take time for him to adjust to being back. I’m here to speak to the doctors for Tim. It…it’s bad Diana. Honestly, he should have died, how he didn’t is beyond me. But he’s in pain all of the time and I’m hoping they can work out a way to help him.”

She nodded numbly. She knew battle wounds, knew how brutal such things could be. “If you need someone with you.”

“Thank you, but for now Tim doesn’t want anyone else knowing just how bad it is. We took full x-rays and CT in the Cave for them because Tim isn’t ready to even come here. The kids are mostly staying out of the Manor for him too. He’s seen Dick, Damian, and Alfred but that’s it. But Cass is alive and well, he’s been in contact with her. She worked out who he was when we didn’t.”

She frowned in confusion, when they… “The hack?” she asked, and he nodded.

“As well as the anonymous intel several of us have received. He’s been helping us all despite everything he went through.”

Despite how they had turned their backs on him, Bruce didn’t need to say it. He’d made his opinion on their actions very clear once he’d learnt what had happened to his son. She hadn’t been involved but she hoped that had she been there, she would have listened to Tim, let him show her his evidence.

“Tell Tim that I am very glad to hear he is alive and home. And that I won’t tell anyone until he is ready, even Cassie.” With that she left, mind spinning. She would contact Themyscira to see if there was anything they could do to help him.

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Bruce watched as Tim’s scans were examined thoroughly, as well as the images taken of the external damage. He answered their questions to the best of his ability but eventually he had nothing more he could tell so was sent away to let them work.

They reached out to Star labs, to Cyborg, anyone who might be able to help. More detailed scans would be needed, but they had enough to begin working on a treatment plan.

TBC…

So one more chapter by the looks of it.

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 4

Babs took a deep breath and then wheeled into the room, spotting Kon on the couch, a smaller figure curled into his side. “You two look cosy,” she kept her voice soft, not sure if Tim was awake.

Apparently, he napped a lot but he wasn’t hooked up to the nearby oxygen so she thought he was probably awake. Sure enough, tension ran through his body when she spoke but he didn’t move otherwise.

Kon ran his hand over loose black hair and then down a tense back. “It’s just Babs, Tim.” Kon looked up at her, eyes dark with worry and she wondered just how stressed Tim had become since arriving at the Manor. Maybe he would be better off at the penthouse or farm for a while.

She wished Tim had let her know it was him, she would have stayed quiet until he was ready to reach out to the family. But she also understood, she’d locked herself away in those early days after her own injury, not wanting anyone to see her weakness. And then Tim slowly sat up and lifted his head and she saw just what those assassins had done to him. Bruce’s words did nothing to soften the shock of seeing the damage for herself, if anything, he’d minimised what had been done. She wheeled herself to the couch and held her hand out to Tim who stared at her, searching for any sign of disgust or fear.

“I missed my hacker buddy,” she smiled at him and slowly he smiled back, taking her hand. “I’m so glad you’re alive and home.” She drew him into a short hug and then gently tapped him on the back of the head. “And that’s for that hack!”

His shoulders shook with silent laughter. Not sorry.

“Of course not,” she shook her head. “Brat,” she teased and he stuck his tongue out at her.

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He was surprised to find an email from the Watchtower medical team but what he found inside were scans of…someone, he assumed someone at least attached to the Justice League in some manner. The scans revealed a useless eye, some damage to the bone around it, mentions of severe skin scarring as well. And then he realised the message he’d received was only part of a much larger medical file being sent to Star Labs. Accessing it wasn’t very hard, the name was redacted but the scans…no one deserved that!

They had confiscated cloning tech from a lab somehow under Titans Tower and he had his suspicions given the timing on that but names had been kept out of things. The messages were talking of attempting to clone new organs for transplant but transplanting an eye? That would be a lot more difficult and apparently, they were not an easy organ to clone, too delicate and complex.

Hence the message to him, to see if a cybernetic alternate would be less risky. Creating a cybernetic eye wouldn’t be too difficult, integrating it with a human brain and getting the mind to accept its input would be more challenging. He would need to know who the recipient was to tailor the eye to them and see if they were even a good match to such technology.

Victor hadn’t heard of anyone being so badly injured, so who was it?

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Bruce stared at the old building he had spent years mostly avoiding. Finding an old idea of Tim’s for it…it would be perfect. And it was something his Mother would have loved, she hated seeing old buildings rot away. He looked over the paperwork his lawyers had arranged and then signed them. He would need to arrange everything; it would be a surprise for Tim. All of his equipment was in storage at the moment since Tim had been busy settling in and getting used to the family again.

The old Monarch Theatre would be given new life as an apartment building, with a new nest for Tim underneath and the penthouse in his name. While he hoped Tim would remain at the manor, he was a young adult and needed space as well. And the theatre was on the edges of Jason’s territory so well placed for any bat to reach in an emergency.

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“Shh Tim, it’s okay, you’re safe. Just let the meds work.”

He struggled to open his eyes, hot…so hot…he thrashed weakly.

“Cold bath?” another voice.

“Give the medication a little longer Master Jason.”

They sounded so far away…familiar?

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Jason watched as Tim finally stopped struggling, hopefully because he recognised their voices. The fever had come out of nowhere and skyrocketed so quickly. None of them were sick though, but Alfred had said they didn’t need to feel sick themselves to be carrying something. And now Tim was fighting a dangerous fever because of his lack of a spleen.

How much longer till they heard back from the doctors about ways to maybe help him? Could they enhance his immune system somehow? It really brought home to all of them just how fragile their baby bird now was.

And then Tim began weakly thrashing again, Alfred’s expression tightening. Thanks to Kon, ice wasn’t needed to make the bath cold since he could just breath on the water to make it cold enough. For the first time, Jason was glad Tim was mute since it was obvious he was screaming as he was put in the water.

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Dick gently adjusted the ice packs, checking Timmy’s temperature. It had dropped some, thankfully. Leslie had been worried about brain damage if it stayed so high for any longer. He felt horrible since he was the most likely to have brought something home due to working with kids at the gym. At least he hadn’t needed a third ice bath. If he had, Leslie had wanted him moved to a hospital or the Watchtower.

Bruce was talking with the medical staff; they had called him about the files he had taken to them on Tim. So now he was filling them in on Tim’s current status. It meant anything they wanted to try would have to wait till he’d recovered.

Steph was hovering nearby, the only one yet to have seen Timmy and reconnected with him. She was obviously scared she wasn’t going to get the chance and with how sick he was, Dick understood her fear.

He reached out and gently brushed sweat-soaked hair back from Tim’s face, freezing as Tim moved. “It’s okay Tim, you’re safe. You’re really sick, just try and sleep,” he murmured, not sure his brother could hear him or not.

Kon was falling apart with Tim so sick, B had sent him to the farm to get some sun and air for at least a few hours. Hopefully Ma and Pa could give him some support. If Tim had to be moved, people would learn he was alive pretty fast. So, letting those two in on it earlier was fine, besides, they would have found out if Tim had decided to go to the farm.

The whole Manor was just…tense, everyone waiting to see if Tim would recover.

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His eyelids felt so heavy, his body leaden. Everything ached, sounds echoing, and he stayed still, not sure what was happening. Where was he? What…what happened? He was scared and confused but then a large hand rested on his forehead.

“Tim? It’s alright sweetheart.”

He knew that voice, realised he could hear a heart monitor racing. Without thinking, his lips parted, trying to speak.

“Can you hear me?” dad asked softly, and Tim pressed into his touch. “It’s okay, I’m here. You’ve been very sick.”

He finally managed to open his eyes, finding Bruce leaning over him, face creased with concern.

“There you are,” he smiled, and Tim managed to get his muscles to cooperate enough to smile back. “Water?” he asked, and Tim got his heavy head to move, nodding slightly.

Bruce’s arm slid behind him, lifting him enough to drink. He wanted to ask what was going on but his fingers wouldn’t move. “Go back to sleep Tim, we’re all here for you.”

That…that was nice…

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Bruce watched as Tim’s eyes closed, already asleep again. But it had been a relief to have him awake and responsive even briefly. His eye had been clear, had tracked him, and Tim had seemed to recognise him, all good signs. Tim had already been through so much, the thought of him being damaged by a fever…

The news from the medical staff was encouraging at least, they seemed to think they could clone at least a new kidney, hopefully the spleen as well. His leg and eye were more complicated but they were working on it.

He looked up as Kon walked in, seeing him deflate at the sight of Tim seemingly unconscious still. “He woke up very briefly and was responsive,” he assured the young man, seeing the relief at the news.

Kon moved to gently stroke lank hair back from a pale face. Tim had lost weight in the days of fever, weight he couldn’t really afford to lose. “If Tim agrees, I want to take him to the farm once he’s stronger. The fresh air will do him good and there’s less people to expose him to more germs.”

Bruce nodded; the farm would be a good place for him to convalesce. He hated the idea of Tim being so far away but if it was better for his health then that was what mattered. He just wanted all of his children to be healthy and happy.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Damian carefully ran the damp cloth over Timothy’s arms, cleaning him up. He’d woken once for Father but not again since, so they took turns caring for him. Doctor Thompkins wasn’t worried, not yet, she said his body was likely taking the time to recover further from his original wounds since he was now in a safe place with others to care for him. Thankfully, it wasn’t a coma or anything like that, simply a deep unconsciousness and he would wake when ready.

Still, it was affecting the family negatively and he wished Timothy would wake up soon. He lay the arm he had washed down and moved on to his chest, sponging the skin clean. He stopped as a shaking hand wrapped around his wrist, his head snapping up to meet a confused blue eye, ignoring the blind one.

“Timothy?” he called softly, and his brother frowned.

Dami, he mouthed before coughing.

Damian picked up the cup of ice chips on the table and moved to lift his head so that he could take some. Timothy was limp against his arm, making no effort to help hold himself up which was not like him.

“Shall I call for Father or Kon-El?” he asked as he lowered Timothy back to the bed.

He shook his head, not looking at him.

“Timothy?” he reached over and picked up Timothy’s tablet, pressing it to his hand. “Is something wrong? They are both very worried for you, we have all been. You were sick for five days, you had to be given two ice baths to bring your fever down. It broke well over a week ago but you’ve been asleep since. If you didn’t wake soon, you would have had to be moved to the Watchtower for tests,” he explained, assuming his brother did not realise how long it had been.

He was relieved when Timothy looked at him, frowning slightly. Both hands were shaking as he sluggishly typed. “How high?”

“One hundred and six, though you may have peaked a little higher before we realised as you were asleep alone. You appeared to be hallucinating at one point and were very confused, trying to fight even Kon-El off,” he needed Timothy to realise how bad it had been. “They were talking about emergency measures,” he whispered.

Timothy reached weakly towards him, and Damian tool his hand. Dad, he mouthed, and Damian nodded, summoning their Father.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bruce saw the alert from the medical bay and ran, terrified as to why Damian was calling for him. He practically skidded into the room and then froze as he took in the sight of his youngest sons. “Tim?” he called, and Tim turned his head.

He looked weak and exhausted but he was awake, tablet resting on the blankets. Bruce crossed the room and took Tim’s hand in his, staring down at his son. The blanket had been tucked over him, the cloth in the bowl of water showing he’d woken mid bath.

“Welcome back,” he murmured, using his free hand to stroke Tim’s cheek. Tim turned his head to press into his hand, looking sleepy but he was awake and aware. “You really gave us a scare kiddo.”

Sorry, Tim mouthed.

“Not your fault,” he assured him. “I’ll call Leslie to look you over then we’ll see about food, okay?” he asked, and Tim nodded.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Martha held Jonathon’s hand tightly as they waited for their arrival. Bruce had been at the farm the day before and set everything up in Kon’s room as well as bringing Tim’s luggage. Seeing the equipment…she was scared for Tim. Conner had warned them that Tim was different, that he had been heavily scarred and could no longer speak. She had always suspected they were more than just best friends but it had only been confirmed after Tim was declared dead. Kon had never recovered from that news but then he had vanished for a while and returned so much happier than he had been since his own return from the dead. She had hoped he was beginning to move on but him telling them that Tim was alive was even better.

And then Kon was landing, another figure curled against his chest. Kon said something and then slowly, carefully, set Tim onto his own feet. He kept an arm around Tim’s waist as they approached the porch and she got a clear look at Tim, fighting down a gasp of shock. The paleness was likely from his illness but…the poor boy.

He ducked his head shyly, his hair falling forward to cover his scars more. She stepped forward, reaching for his hands, and Tim slowly lifted his own to take hers.

“I’m so glad to see you Tim, when we were told you were dead…well, I’m very happy that was wrong. Now, let’s get you inside, I’ve got lunch cooking and don’t worry, Alfred sent me all the information on your diet.” She squeezed his hands, and Tim looked up at her, revealing his blind eye and ruined throat.

He pulled his hands free and signed, Kon grinning.

“He said he’s been looking forward to your food since we suggested he come here to recover,” Kon translated.

“We’re glad you came, son. You are always welcome here,” Jonathon told him, and Tim nodded, singing again.

“Thank you,” Kon said. “He’s got his tablet but it’s in his bag, hang on.” He pulled a bag off from his bag and dug out a tablet to give it to Tim. He got Tim up the stairs and onto the porch then they went into the house, Tim’s limp very obvious but he was walking unaided, if slowly.

She smiled as Tim looked around, taking in the changes since his last visit. There weren’t a lot, mostly new photos, some new throw rugs and the like. He tapped at the tablet.

“I missed this place,” a mechanised voice said. “It’s always so warm and safe feeling.”

“Thank you, sweetie.” She slowly wrapped an arm around him and he leant into her briefly. “We missed you and I am glad you’re home.”

He smiled at her and then fully hugged her which she returned, watching him for signs if it was too much.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bruce checked up on the construction. It turned out the Theatre had been built over the remains of an older builder which came in handy as it meant there was a large space beneath it. He had it cleaned out and shored up, the ‘civilian’ company believing it had been filled in for site stability. In reality, it was the perfect space for Tim’s nest. So he called in the trusted firm to begin work, using records from Tim’s first nest to help them with what was needed.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Jonathon peaked into Kon’s bedroom on his way downstairs to start his chores, seeing Tim lying on his back, hooked up to oxygen, an IV, and a monitor. He at least seemed to sleeping peacefully. Kon was lying on his side beside Tim with a little space between them but…his hand was on Tim’s wrist, assuring himself even in sleep that Tim was there and alive. He moved away before Kon could wake, he’d told his grandson to sleep in today, his priority while Tim was there was Tim. They’d handled the farm before he came to them after all.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bruce smiled when he saw Tim sprawled in Kon’s lap beneath a tree. He looked much healthier now, the colour back in his skin, his eye bright.

B! He signed as he spotted him approaching.

“Hello boys,” he smiled at them, kneeling down to gently ruffle Tim’s hair, nodding to Kon. “How are you feeling Tim? You look better.”

Tim nodded. I feel better, not as tired.

“That’s good.” He shifted to sit with them and Tim shifted so his legs were in Bruce’s lap and he began gently massaging the left one. Massaging the leg helped keep it from cramping up the way it had that day in Africa. He never wanted to see Tim in that much pain again.

“Clark’s here?” Kon asked, wary as he cradled Tim closer, Tim tensing.

“Yes, if Tim allows it, he’d like to speak with him about what happened before he left Gotham,” Bruce explained.

Tim was obviously considering it.

“You don’t have to Tim,” Kon murmured, and Tim nodded.

Will. He shifted around to get up and Bruce stood to help him up since the ground was uneven.

“Inside or out?” Kon asked.

Outside, Tim decided.

“Clark, you can join us,” Kon called, wrapping an arm around Tim who smiled and leant up to kiss his jaw.

Overprotective.

Kon just shrugged even as Clark walked towards them.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Clark walked towards the three, not wanting to startle anyone by moving quickly. He knew he had some grovelling to do and hoped that Tim would forgive him. He hadn’t found out the teen was alive until three days ago when he’d called Ma to say they were coming to visit. Pa had explained and Lois had agreed to stay away for Tim’s sake. Living in isolation… permanently scarred… he felt so much guilt. If he had supported Tim then maybe his injuries would have been less severe because Clark would have been keeping a closer ear out for him and Tim would have known he could call for him if in trouble.

“Hello Tim,” he greeted once he was close enough, taking in the changes, feeling grief at the sight of his injuries.

Hello, Tim signed, left hand trembling badly so Kon moved to gently massage that shoulder.

“I’m sorry Tim, I made a big mistake. I should have let you talk to me and show me your evidence instead of just believing everything Dick said.”

Tim stared at him and then slowly nodded, holding out his right hand. Clark took it gently and they shook. Forgive but not forget.

Clark nodded in understanding.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

She frowned and checked again. There’d been nothing for a while now and she was worried. Was her little brother, okay? Not even she knew where he was, just that he’d send her information and she’d occasionally cross one of the cameras he used so that he could see she was alright.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Tim tugged his hood more firmly over his head, pressed close into Bruce’s side as they made their way down the halls. He could feel the occasional eyes on them, obviously wondering who it was with Bruce since Tim was taller than Damian but shorter than his other siblings.

“Bruce,” a familiar voice called. “Is this?” she asked softly.

“Yes,” B agreed.

Tim felt a soft touch across his shoulders, fighting not to tense up.

“Welcome home little warrior,” Diana murmured. “May you find healing and comfort.”

He shivered, feeling a little better, blinking in surprise. Had she? She’d blessed him?! he peered out from his hood, watching her walk down the hall.

“Come on,” Bruce murmured, and they started walking again.

Soon they entered the medical area and then a private consultation room. Tim was relieved to find only one doctor in there and not a whole team or anything. He let B guide him to a chair and the doctor smiled gently at him.

“Hello Mr Drake, I’m Doctor Palmer and I’m the head of the team your father called on to look after your recovery.”

My name is Tim, he signed, wondering if the doctor could understand.

“Very well, Tim.”

Good, he could understand sign language, that would make things easier.

“We’ve anonymously consulted every possible expert and we’ve found a few options for easing your condition.”

That had Tim leaning forward, eager for the pain to be less.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

“Cass!” Dick called excitedly, and the others rushed over. Sure enough, clear in front of a camera on Tim’s tablet, was Cassandra, a look of concern on her face. The image was a few days old but it was their sister.

Tim huffed at him and took his tablet back, opening a program no one recognised, typing away. Sent message, let her know I’m back in Gotham with the family. Asked her to visit.

“Thank you,” Bruce kissed the top of his head, and Tim smiled.

Dick really hoped she’d come, then they’d all be under the one roof, at least for a while. He missed her, knew they all did. But finally having visual confirmation of her being alive and well was a good start. To have all his siblings home and safe…it was a dream he’d thought he’d never have. He knew he didn’t deserve it, not after what he’d done to drive them away. Well, not as much Cass, but Tim…but his baby bird had forgiven him, mostly. Dick had noticed that Tim could accept more contact from B and Jason than him but it was okay. They’d talk it over and he’d apologised, Timmy would even hug him. It would just take time for things between them to heal fully.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Vic stared in shock at the younger male sitting on the medical bed. It couldn’t be… “Tim?” he asked in shock, and the boy flinched from him. “You’re alive.”

That had Tim peering at him and he instantly spotted the milky eye and facial scarring…and his throat!

“Well, you definitely have the kind of thought processes that could deal with a cybernetic eye.” The kid was smarter than some computers, very logical in his thought processes and that would help.

A cybernetic eye? Tim signed, and Victor nodded.

“Not everyone could adapt to it, which was why I insisted on meeting you, to make sure you would be a viable candidate,” he explained, and Tim nodded.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Tim lay still as the scanners ran over his body, taking even better and deeper images then the ones done in the cave. He could feel B standing nearby, offering silent support. It just felt like test after test and he was so tired. And he was scared because any treatment would include surgery and all he could do was remember waking, screaming silently, as the remains of his spleen and kidney were removed. He knew it wouldn’t be like that, he’d be anesthetised properly and monitored. But he couldn’t help the fear.

The scans finally ended and he sat up, Bruce gently gripping his shoulder in comfort, and Tim leant against him. He got up and went to change out of the gown, following B to the cafeteria, trying not to shake. He sat at a table and Bruce went to get them food. Tim doubted there would be much in the Watchtower that he could eat but there should be something at least. Bruce returned with a bowl of fruit and some water. Fun. But he’d had to fast for the scans and food was food.

“Alright?” Bruce asked gently, and Tim nodded.

Sure, people kept glancing their way but they weren’t being cruel or anything or even demanding to know who he was. And then Clark and Diana joined them, blocking him from sight. It was nice to just listen to them chatting while he ate his food.

And then he froze as Bart walked in with Barry, his friend chattering away at his grandpa. Sensing his reaction, the other three glanced at the door.

“We can head back to medical,” Bruce murmured.

“Breath Tim,” Clark whispered. “You need to slow your heart rate.”

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Clark looked at Bruce, confused. “Is Kon the only one who knows?” he asked quietly, and Bruce nodded.

“Only the family and now yours. He’s struggling and can’t even be with all the family in one room to just watch a movie.”

Clark looked at the hooded teen, he hadn’t realised it was that bad. Then again, Tim had spent how much of his childhood alone in that manor, his time with the Wayne’s was tiny compared to the years alone only to then end up totally isolated. So it wasn’t surprising that Tim was struggling with integrating back, even without his scars and lack of voice it would be difficult.

Barry and Bart spotted them and Clark looked at Tim, seeing through the hood.

“He misses you Tim, they all do, but it’s your choice,” Bruce murmured.

Tim was getting his breathing under control, heartbeat dropping to more reasonable levels, though still faster than it used to be. That was thanks to all of the stress his body was under basically all the time though. And then Tim nodded ever so slightly, pushing to his feet and Bruce looked to Clark who nodded. They left and Clark approached Barry and Bart.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bart held onto Tim has hard as he dared, he was alive! He was really alive and safe and right there! He was also sad, hurt, and different, but he was still Tim. Still their Rob! He let go when Tim began to stiffen a little, Clark and Barry had drilled it into him before letting him see Tim, that he couldn’t handle a lot of touch but they were working on it. Bart would help! Kon was already helping apparently and he needed to trip his friend for not telling them Tim was alive!

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bruce stared at the options, feeling Tim tense beside him, overwhelmed, not that he blamed him. Between all the tests, his reunion with Bart, and now this… he offered his hand and Tim grabbed it, holding on tight as they stared at Doctor Palmer.

Any solution meant a lot of surgery and recovery time but…after analysing Tim’s DNA and Star Labs working on the cloning tech confiscated from Tim’s attempts at cloning Kon…they were fairly sure they could at least give him a new spleen. That would have to be the first surgery, to ensure his immune system was strong enough for the following ones. Cyborg had come through with a cybernetic eye, it hadn’t been manufactured yet but it would be matched as best as possible to Tim’s organic one. He was even working on a replacement larynx to allow Tim some level of vocalisation.

“The scarring we can use skin grafts to help lessen and we’re hoping we can clone a kidney, perhaps even a stomach as well. If not, then it is possible we can repair some of the damage to the stomach and oesophagus. Those surgeries will depend on the success of the cloning program. We do have you on the donor list as a backup, normally you wouldn’t have been a priority given your age and previous good health but with the other injuries, it bumps you up the list for a spleen.”

“And his limbs?”

“The nerve damage to the arm is difficult, we could do more damage than good if we attempt a surgical repair. However, Kal-El has been going through the Kryptonian database and discovered a kind of light therapy that looks promising. It may not be a full recovery but it looks like it will improve things. As for the leg, we have two possibilities. The more extreme would be amputation and a prosthetic, which Cyborg and Kal have agreed to help with. The other option would be to surgically lengthen the leg using internal supports but we would have to wait until sure Tim has stopped growing before doing that.”

Which would be better? Tim asked shakily.

“Well, it would depend on the kind of recovery time and how self-conscious you are over the end appearance. The prosthetic would be obvious if you wore shorts or anything that revealed the leg while the surgery would need a lot of therapy after and would leave some large surgical scars.”

Bruce was finding it all hard enough to take in and a glance at Tim showed he seemed completely overwhelmed.

“Either way, you’re looking at years of surgeries and therapy but in the end, you should be mostly out of pain. You won’t be cleared for field work though.”

Tim flinched but nodded. And if I don’t do this then I’m looking at a shorter life, right? From the stress on my body and the fact a cold can take me out.

“Honestly, yes. Not all of these attempts would be needed to get you back to healthy enough to take the pressure of your heart. I’d say the new spleen and skin grafts, then the leg would do the most good there. There are more people than you think who live normal lives with only one kidney.”

“It’s your choice Tim but I know the family will be willing to help you go over the options if you want,” Bruce assured his son.

Thank you, Tim signed and then they left to return home.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Kon sat against the headboard, fingers gently running through Tim’s hair as he slept. He was exhausted from everything up on the Watchtower but Kon was glad Bart knew and Tim had agreed to Diana telling Cassie. He was so proud of Tim; he’d handled it all so much better than he would have a few months ago.

Part of him wanted Tim to get every treatment, to be as healed as possible, but he was also scared of Tim having so many surgeries. There were risks with any surgery, even for a healthy person and Tim was far from that. Still, they had time, the spleen had to be the first which meant waiting for them to manage to grow one from Tim’s DNA or for a compatible donor organ to become available.

Tim stirred, head pressing into his touch as his eyes opened to slits, well, the blind one was pretty much still shut.

“Didn’t mean to wake you,” he murmured, and Tim rolled carefully onto his side, Kon grabbing the leads to make sure they didn’t get tangled.

He smiled as Tim rested his head in his lap, hand on his bare leg. Tim liked feeling skin so Kon tended to sleep in just shorts like him now. He radiated enough body heat for the both of them anyway. His fingers caressed the skin and Kon shivered.

“Tim?”

Asked doctor when Bruce not there, no physical reason I can’t, he motioned a hand at his lower body. Probably due to pain.

“Not to mention raising your heartrate probably isn’t all that smart. Tim…I don’t care. I love you and that’s enough.”

Want to do this, Tim signed, sitting up to remove the monitor leads, turning the machine off.

“Do what exactly?” he asked, he would not risk Tim’s health.

He got a cheeky smile in response. Make you feel good, was the answer. And then Tim was reaching for Kon’s short, oh.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Jason watched over Tim as the surgeries began, the new spleen and kidney being placed at the same time to save them re-opening his abdomen. They also did some reconstructive work on his stomach while they were in there. It was a very long surgery and even once it was over, only Bruce and Kon were allowed to see him, wearing full hazmat gear basically to ensure the room was kept sterile. They could not risk an infection, weakened from surgery it would likely kill him. The rest of them could only wave from the windows and use the intercom to talk to the kid as he slowly healed.

He was kept in the room until the stitches were removed, his blood tested daily for any sign of rejection or infection. Made with his own DNA, rejection was a slim risk thankfully. If they could work the kinks out of the process, they could really help those on the transplant list but for now, it would be far too expensive for an average patient.

He slept a lot even once home but the doctors had warned them to expect that. The next surgery was scheduled for six months’ time and would be to place the prosthetic larynx. Tim had chosen that for the first since he had one functioning eye still plus the amount of time it would take to begin using the larynx.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

She stared down at the boy sleeping in the bed. Tim…her little brother…what had happened to him? Why had she stayed away so long? She should have gone to him when he said no to coming to Hong Kon, this was obviously why. She could have helped him.

Then his eyes open and only one was blue, the other milky white. He tensed and she turned the low lamp on, watching his eye widen and he lifted his hands. Cass.

Little brother, she returned.

He pushed himself up, the sheets falling to reveal more scars, monitor leads. His throat! He reached out to her and she moved closer, hugging him carefully, smiling at him, pressing a kiss to his forehead. He was hurt, badly, but he was alive.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Alfred stared as he entered the room before smiling softly at the sight of the two curled together, careful of Tim’s IV, monitor, and oxygen. Master Bruce would be very pleased to find Miss Cassandra was home. Whether for good or simply a visit, it would help cheer everyone up. And of course she had hunted Timothy down first, the two had been thick as thieves from the moment they met. He would need to change the menu for breakfast, ensure several of her favourites were included. If she did not wish to join them at the table then he’d bring her up a tray to eat with Tim.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bruce embraced his daughter, leaning his head down against hers. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“Missed you all,” she answered.

He was glad the years along hadn’t caused her to stop speaking again. “Are you staying?” he asked.

She shrugged slightly. “Little brother?”

“Tim? We’re doing everything we can to help him heal. He’s already had one surgery and has several left.”

“How was he hurt?”

Bruce sighed but they left for his office where he explained what had happened to Tim to her. Sure enough, she felt guilty for not being there with him, for not reaching out more.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Damian sat by his brother’s bed, reading quietly to him as Timothy drifted in and out of sleep. Three months post op and he’d caught a cold and the difference was very noticeable. There was no life-threatening fever, just a lot of sleep, cold medication, and grouchiness. Yes, it had hit him worse than it had Dick but even with a functioning spleen, his immune system was still rebuilding itself. His isolation meant his body hadn’t been exposed to and adapting to anything for a while and even once home they’d all been very careful when ill to not expose him.

He looked up as Tim tapped his leg, signing for water, and Damian picked up the glass, holding it as his brother drank.

How is eye?

“It’s fine, the hit was not that hard,” Damian assured him, touching the skin under his right eye. He’d missed a block last night, thankfully the mask had absorbed some of the impact at least. It was a bit bruised but thankfully not a full black eye. “Do you feel any better?” he asked, and Tim waved his hand back and forth, so about the same. “Try and sleep more, you will heal faster.”

Tim gave him an unimpressed look but closed his eyes and was soon asleep again.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bruce checked over construction, pleased with the results. The nest was three levels with room for vehicles, a med bay, training area, and of course the massive computer systems that Tim had designed with room for them to grow with time. Tim may never be a field vigilante again, but he still needed to keep his body as fit as possible to remain healthy and even with a new spleen it would be safer for him to use his own facilities.

The light therapy was helping the nerves in his arms, the trembling was much less noticeable now, to a civilian at least. But the damaged nerves would likely never fully recover. Still, he was moving and using the arm more easily now, his occasional pain meds at a lower dosage even as they used various creams and treatments on the scars, holding off on the skin grafts for now. No, Tim was determined to get some kind of voice back next and so they larynx implant would be surgically placed next month.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Tim sat at the Batcomputer, fingers flying over the controls, missing his own setup. He could hear the others on comms, the Justice League too. He was sending intel as he found it, helping direct teams to fights as well as rescuing civilians. The first major invasion since B had gone missing…and the first Tim was having to sit out. He felt antsy, on edge, adrenaline pumping with no real outlet. It sucked more than he’d imagined.

Alfred appeared at his shoulder with a tumbler, straw already in it, so that he didn’t have to free a hand to drink the shake. He grimaced at the taste but under the circumstances it was quick, easy, and nutritious. Plus, there’d been two hits far too close to the Manor. It was in full security lockdown and a few irreplaceable valuables and been moved into the Cave for safety, mementos of their families mostly.

He hated not being able to help, to be out there and at least helping to evacuate people. And then he lost the satellite connections, screens going dark except for in Gotham. “Hnnng…” the noise he made wasn’t speech, wasn’t close yet, but it was a noise. Adjusting to the cybernetic larynx would take time and patience, something he didn’t really have at the moment.

“Easy Master Tim,” Alfred murmured, hand resting at the back of his head, and Tim closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. “We must trust that they will succeed and come home.”

He nodded, understanding far more now what Alfred had suffered for years as he watched them go out night after night to throw themselves between the innocent and danger. And it was made worse when the comms began to fritz out ten minutes later.

What else could they do? It was all hands-on deck so while they still had access to Gotham systems, they had no one to send out to deal with the issues they could see.

“Get some rest,” Oracle told him after a while and he glared at her through the camera. “You know what the doctors said,” she chided.

The more he rested the quicker he’d heal and adapt to the new larynx. He hated wasting time sleeping, he’d gotten more sleep since his attack then he’d had in his whole life! But finally, he signed off and went to sleep on the bed that B had made sure was in the Cave for him when the Manor had to host people for Galas since Tim didn’t want to risk someone seeing him. He couldn’t deal with the circus his being announced alive would cause, not now, maybe not ever.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Kon stepped out of the Zeta and Tim was in his arms, clinging on tight. He understood why, the last two invasions…he’d lost Kon and then Bruce, though did Superboy Prime count as an invasion? “I’m okay,” he promised, shifting them away from the Zeta to allow the rest through. He gently ran his hands up and down Tim’s back as Tim’s hands curled into his shirt, their bodies pressed close.

Comms had failed during the fight, satellites interrupted…how bad had it been for Tim stuck in the Cave and cut off?

“No fatalities,” he promised, not amongst the capes anyways.

There had been civilian deaths though, the cities had been hit hard and fast, too fast for them to defend fully. He’d been terrified when it had come through about Gotham being hit but Bruce had assured everyone the Cave was very well protected and with the mechanised voice that was Tim’s only vocal way of communicating on his comm, he’d been assured of his safety, till comms had gone down. He’d been so busy fighting that he hadn’t been able to spare even the tiniest bit of concentration of listening for Tim, hadn’t known if the Cave had been hit or if it was just the system that had gone down. As soon as the fight had ended, he’d stretched his senses and heard the familiar rhythms of Tim sleeping, the soft hiss of the oxygen canula and beep of the monitor.

The clean-up from this invasion was going to take time and he knew it would drive Tim insane to not be able to be out there helping. He just didn’t have the physical capability anymore, even with his strengthening immune system and recovering arm nerves. His leg was too much of a liability though…maybe he could man a desk at one of the aid centres? Somewhere where Tim wouldn’t risk being recognised?

And then Bruce appeared and Tim moved to his dad, checking him over for injuries, Bruce allowing it with good humour. Tim had always been a bit of a mother hen post battle and Kon had the feeling it was getting worse with Tim now out of the field.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Dick glanced over at where Tim sat, face concealed behind a specially designed domino and hooded cape, hands covered by gloves. The kid…he wasn’t a kid anymore though, not with his twenty-first approaching. He seemed very happy as he worked to take down peoples details and hand out packs of supplies. No one question the strange cape, not post an invasion and in the company of Nightwing and Wonder Girl. No one questioned why he didn’t speak either, a few kids had lit up when Timmy signed to them and now were hanging around, helping him out.

He was glad Kon had brought it up, he’d been right, having to stay behind had been driving Tim nuts. But now he could help. The domino had been carefully designed to not aggravate his scars and with the whiteouts, no one could tell he was blind in one eye.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Vic nodded as Tim lay down on the surgical bed. “Alright?” he asked, and the younger male nodded. “When you wake up, your leg is going to hurt a lot, no matter which way this ends up going,” he warned, and the look Tim gave him made him chuckle.

He wasn’t a surgeon but he had been there for the larynx surgery and would be there when the eye was implanted as well. He was present in case they had to amputate, to help prep the leg for a prosthesis. He hopped it wasn’t necessary, that their other plan worked. It was going to be hard enough for Tim to learn to use the new eye when the time came and he was still undergoing speech therapy to try to relearn how to talk.

This surgery was happening sooner than originally expected but the latest scans and tests had shown the growth plates in his bones were fused. He was done growing and honestly, it was surprising he’d hit 5’11” with everything he’d been through. He’d had a last growth spurt which had made walking almost impossible and was likely down to the better rest and more varied diet since the first surgery had given him back the ability to eat some foods that he hadn’t been able to since the attack.

Vic stepped back as Tim laid back, an IV being placed, and soon his eyes slid shut as the anaesthetic put him under. He watched as they opened up Tim’s leg, cutting into the bone. Everything had been precisely measured to ensure the best outcome. The damaged bone was removed and to replace it was a perfectly shaped section of metal, it looked like bone other than its colour. It was carefully attached to the femur and then the knee replacement was put into place to put his leg back together. Metal supports were placed into the limb to help support it as well and then they sealed it all back up.

The surgery took almost twelve hours to complete but it all had to be perfectly placed. Now it was up to Tim’s body to accept the repair. If it failed, then the prosthesis would be needed, bit the surgeons seemed happy with their work. Victor was glad that the surgery had gone well so that he didn’t have to go right to a prosthetic leg.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bruce held Tim, stroking his hair as Tim panted through the pain. He could only have so many painkillers and Tim didn’t like taking them. Sadly, a massage could not fix this pain. He hated seeing any of his children in pain, especially when nothing could be done for it. But then Doctor palmer injected his IV and Tim’s eyes slid shut, body going limp.

“Is this concerning?” he asked.

“Not yet,” was the answer. “This was a very traumatic surgery and will take time to heal, even once the sutures have been removed. Thankfully, the scarring won’t be too obvious and the metal won’t set off metal detectors. It was a very physical procedure, everything in the leg has been handled and shifted around, it needs time to settle down and heal. I’d say another five days and we’ll know if he will heal or if the leg is better off amputated. Cyborg has the prosthetic ready to go.”

Bruce nodded, picking up a damp cloth to gently wipe Tim’s face. He didn’t want to leave but then Jason appeared in the doorway to take over. Sadly, the Commissioner wanted Batman himself for something and that was one ally who could tell when it was someone else in the cowl.

Bruce gently lifted Tim and Jason slid into his spot.

“He’s sleeping?”

“Sedated due to the pain,” Bruce admitted, and Jason winced. “I’ll be back in a few hours.”

“Take a break old man, Steph and Cass are coming to sit with him next.”

Bruce sighed but nodded and headed back to Earth. Tim had plenty of siblings and friends who wanted to look after him as well.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Kon watched as Tim slowly rose to his feet, hands gripping tight to the bars. He was in shorts, revealing both legs, Kon easily able to see the surgical scars though they were fading thanks to the scar treatments being extended to them. Tim met his eyes and Kon smiled at him, standing partway down the space between the bars, he was the goal.

“You can do it,” he encouraged.

“Rrrright,” Tim stammered out, he could speak now, to a point, but it was improving. It wasn’t Tim’s voice, not the one Kon remembered, but Cyborg had done his best to get it as close as possible to what Tim would sound like now as an adult.

Tim’s good leg moved forward and then his left leg dragged forward. The new knee was apparently odd feeling to use, not that he could feel the knee itself since it was artificial but getting it to respond properly was taking work. Kon helped with Tim’s physio whenever he could, helping him bend and straighten the leg.

And with each step, his leg moved that little more naturally.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

“Morning baby bird,” Dick greeted, ruffling the top of Tim’s hair, annoyed it didn’t move much thanks to the braid.

“Good mmmorning Dick,” Tim answered, grinning at him, and Dick froze, staring at him in shock. He’d…that had been an almost perfect sentence!

This was what he got for taking a two-month mission off world! He grinned and reached out to hug Tim who stood up to make it easier, standing firmly on two feet. Dick stepped back to hold Tim at arm’s length, looking him over. He looked so different to the boy who’d left but he also now looked different to how he’d been when he came home. The scars were lighter and now he was standing up straight, only a slight tremor in his left arm.

“You look amazing Timmy, I’m so proud of you,” he praised, Tim blushing slightly in response.

“We all are,” Damian stated from his own seat.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

“You sure you’re ready for this?” Jason asked as Tim moved slowly but steadily through the penthouse apartment. It had been adjusted since Tim was more able now, but Jason could still see the similarities to the nest he’d had in Africa.

Honestly, B having the Monarch Theatre turned into all this had been a shock, it wasn’t surprising that he’d been following Tim’s plans though.

Tim nodded, running his fingers over the back of the very soft looking couch. “Need space,” he murmured.

“Kon moving in too?” he asked, and Tim shot him a glare before nodding. “Good, the two of you should have space and privacy. Never want to walk in on that again,” he teased and the kid went red, making a hand signal that was not sign language. They should have closed the door fully or something, it wasn’t his fault!

But he was happy for them, they both deserved all the peace and happiness they could get.

“Knock next tttime.” Tim glared and it was very effective with two blue eyes, even if the shades didn’t quite match, maybe especially because of that?

The cybernetic eye didn’t quite pass for natural but that was alright, it was his only visible prosthetic so Tim wasn’t too shy about it. It had been carefully designed to sit flush with his skull bone, under his skin and inside the eye socket. Tim was still learning to adjust to the input from it but he hadn’t tripped in a while due to misjudging distance or where a step was. They were discussing whether or not he wanted to go through the pain of skin grafts or not, the scars had improved considerable over time with treatment after all.

“Going to do it?” he asked, taking a seat as Tim sank onto the couch.

Tim shrugged, not looking at him.

“Don’t look to me as an example here, kiddo. The ‘accident’ was the kind where there wasn’t 100% proof it was you. Explaining your survival is a lot easier than trying to bring me back. And no one would question the family keeping you in seclusion during your recovery.”

“Maybe.”

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Kon listened to Tim’s heart, revelling in the slower, steadier beat. As the pain diminished and his body grew stronger, every life sign improved. He didn’t need the monitor or oxygen when sleeping anymore unless he was sick. Tim could even manage a short jog now, though he probably wouldn’t get back to running.

He didn’t love Gotham, but he loved their apartment. Officially living together as a couple was amazing. Sure, they didn’t agree on everything and little squabbles happened, but that was normal. Tim now worked for the Justice League from his nest, leaving Gotham to Oracle unless he spotted something she’d missed. He even went out with a mask to help with recovery from disasters. He would pass out supplies, handle paperwork. Not traditional hero work but Tim was so much happier now. His gear was plain, heavily armoured, but without looking bulky or scary so he could be approachable without drawing attention like Robin.

Tim stirred in his arms and Kon dropped a soft kiss onto his lips, blue eyes fluttering open, a lazy smile forming on Tim’s lips.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Lois smiled as the two sat opposite her, Bruce making sure Tim was settled and comfortable. Thanks to Clark and Conner, she’d known he was alive but injured badly but she hadn’t seen him. Tim Drake Wayne at nearly twenty-two was very different to the sixteen-year-old she remembered. “Are you ready for this?” she asked gently.

“Yes,” Tim answered. “It’s good to see you again Lois,” his speech was careful, his voice slightly off sounding due to the artificial nature of his larynx, but it was still Tim.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Timothy Drake Wayne, Alive!!

That’s right, the young heir to Drake industries and adopted son of Bruce Wayne has been found alive years after being declared dead.

He smirked, closing the article as he finished reading it. Very well-done Detective.

The End.