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For a long time now, Dick desperately wished his younger brothers would just get along with each other. Tim and Jason had worked things out. Jason and Damian had a weird unspoken agreement of some sort but, Tim and Damian just never seemed able to work things out. He was lucky they could put aside their differences as Robin and Red Robin. He thought things would be better if they just got along for once.
Now, he wanted nothing more than to see them fighting with each other. Whatever happened to them while they were both missing these past two weeks was not worth it. He tried to push down his feelings, it was not the time to wonder what led to this point. He finally found his little brothers after weeks of searching, and they needed medical attention. The problem was, Damian refused to move from his place in front of Tim, and he was too out of it to recognize Dick.
Jason was doing his best to stand still, knowing if the kid wasn’t letting his guard down for his favorite brother, then he would just escalate things. Dick signaled to Jason to back off a bit, hoping that it would help the younger boy feel less cornered.
“Damian, it’s okay. It’s just me and Jason." He moved a bit closer to the boy but, that just made him tense up more. He tried to make his voice as soothing as possible, "we’re here for you now, you don’t have to fight anymore.”
Damian held his stance, holding a broken piece of glass in front of him. Ignoring the blood trickling down the palm of his hands from griping it so tightly. Tim was still unconscious, laying so still Dick worried he might not be breathing. He tried to peek around Damian to see what condition Tim was in and what he saw painted a picture he refused to let his mind to finish. He was missing his suit and covered by what looked like Damian’s cape. He had a feeling that was probably the only piece of clothing covering his younger brother right now.
He looked back at Damian and was relieved that the only thing missing was the cape from his suit. He had had a feeling that Tim protected Damian the best he could and took the brunt of it instead. Dick was at a loss for what to do, not wanting to hurt either of his brothers more than they were but, if he had to knock the youngest out to get them to safety he would.
Before he could make his move, Tim let out a small groan of pain. Finally waking up from whatever they gave him, and the movement distracted Damian enough that Dick could disarm him. Jason didn't hesitate and took his chance, quickly making his way to Tim’s side. Kneeling down so he could start checking over his injuries and calling for transport on comms. Jason’s hands shake as he lifts the cape to assert the damage and can’t stop the gasp he lets out at what he sees. Dick freezes for a second at Jason's reaction and it gives Damian the chance to escape Dick's hold.
“NO!” the younger boy yells lunging for Jason, but Dick pulls him away before he could get far. “He already did a session today. He can’t take another round, you’re breaking the deal. Take me instead! Why won’t you take me instead? He had enough!”
He is shaking as he sobbed and repeated the phrase, take me instead over and over. Dick quickly pulls him out of the room, the younger boy howling in despair at being separated from Tim.
Dick hugs him, trying to console him, knowing his words won’t reach him in this state. He can’t help but agree with Damian's pleas, wishing he was taken instead so he could save his brothers from this nightmare.
He supposed he got his wish. The two of them finally found a way to get along. He just didn’t mean for them to pay the price for it to happen.