Chapter Text
Literature was something Damian enjoyed. At least that’s what he thought, but the literature teacher was proving him wrong. The woman read like she was dying and from all the things to read, she chose poetry. If Damian was being honest, she butchered everything she ever read to the class, so he wasn’t even trying to pay attention anymore. The boy ignored the teacher completely now that he saw something far more interesting. Damian let out a small gasp at the sight of snow falling outside. It was a strange sight, considering it was May. He couldn't help but furrow his brows in confusion.
"Snow? In May?" He muttered in disbelief, leaning his chin on his hand. "That's odd..."
The woman stopped reading and stood up to walk to an open window. Damian watched the teacher close it and observed her reaction to the snow. He noticed the surprise and confusion etched on her face, mirroring his own disbelief. He couldn't help but wonder what was going on with the weather. Right at that moment a cracking noise came from the window. It wasn’t the glass shattering, it was a thin ice layer that crackled on the outside of the window, covering the glass, and blocking the view.
"What the-" He leaned forward in his seat, his eyebrows furrowing as he tried to make sense of what was happening.
The teacher excused herself and left the classroom, only to return a few minutes later, to a chattering and confused class.
“Children!” She called out. “Pack your things and get your bags then come to the front of the class.” She said in a hurry.
Damian's confusion deepened at the teacher's rushed directive, and he was perplexed by her nervous demeanor.
He grabbed his bag and stood up cautiously, watching as the teacher made her way to the front of the classroom. He overheard some of his classmates talking as the kids shuffled to the door. One kid shifted closer to another; his voice lowered to a whisper. “What's going on, why is she acting like that?" he asked, genuine curiosity in his tone. “Come on, it's Gotham, what do you think why is it snowing in May?” said the other. A girl turned to another and spoke, her voice concerned. "Do you think it's some kind of villain attack or just a weird weather anomaly?” “I think it's Mr. Freeze.” she got the answer.
The teacher led the class to the school hall right at the main entrance. It seemed like the whole school was there already.
“I will call your families to come and pick you up.” She said, taking her phone out. “Behave while I make the calls.”
Damian gave a subtle nod to the teacher, acknowledging her instruction. He took a seat on the nearest bench, positioned close to the entrance. He leaned back, feigning a casual demeanor, all the while his mind was racing with thoughts.
He let out a soft sigh as he looked at the snowy sky outside.
"Mr. Freeze, huh?" He whispered to himself. He also had a suspicion that it must be the work of one of Gotham City's notorious villains.
Damian's eyes wandered around the school hall, taking in the sight of the ice-covered windows. The thin layer distorted the view to the outside world, creating a surreal and cold atmosphere within the building. He shifted slightly in his seat, a hint of irritation in his expression.
"This is just great," He muttered under his breath.
“The roads are still fine, so far it's only the buildings.” A teacher announced from somewhere within the crowd.
After making the calls, the literature teacher walked to every student, to tell them whatever she had been told on the phone.
“For you, your older brother will come.” She told Damian.
Damian's heart sank at the mention of his older brother. Of course, it had to be one of his brothers who would come pick him up. He tried to hide his disappointment and frustration, nodding obediently at the woman's instructions. Damian clenched his jaw as he considered the possibilities of who would be picking him up. He mentally ran through the list of his brothers - Dick, Jason, Tim - and silently hoped for the best.
Ten minutes had passed, and some kids had already got picked up by their various relatives, but the weather was getting worse.
Damian as watched his last classmate’s, who was still there with him, mother arrived and whisk him away, a sense of jealousy and irritation bubbling within him. He wished his brother would hurry up and pick him up so he could get out of there. He cast a glance towards the windows, noticing the worsening weather. The snowfall was getting heavier, and the temperature was dropping further. He shivered involuntarily, trying to keep his composure.
Maybe after another 2 minutes, just after the classmate and his mother left, Tim appeared at the main entrance. He shook his head, snow falling from his hair, then the teacher, just like with every other relative, immediately swarmed him.
Damian's heart sank as he caught sight of Tim walking into the school hall. The sight sent a pang of frustration through Damian. Of course, it had to be Tim.
He couldn't help but let out a sigh, resigned to the fact that he would have to endure the long car ride home with his least favorite brother. As the teacher rushed over to Tim, Damian leaned back against the wall, awaiting the inevitable interaction.
But to Damian's surprise, the older boy quickly got rid of the teacher, to the woman's distaste, and walked to Damian with his winter coat in his hand.
“Sorry, it took so long, I wanted to bring a coat for you.” Tim said he himself was in full winter attire and still shivering.
Damian's eyes widened in surprise, he had expected Tim to be annoyed at having to pick him up due to their strained relationship. But here was Tim, apologizing and bringing him a coat to keep warm. It was not at all what he had expected.
"Uh, thanks." Damian replied, his voice a mix of confusion and gratitude. He took the coat from Tim and quickly put it on, the warm fabric enveloping him and helping him to fight the chill.
“Alfred also insisted on, me bringing you a thermos full of hot tea, it's in the car.” Tim looked out the window at the worsening weather. “We should go.”
Damian raised an eyebrow at the mention of a thermos of hot tea, another unexpected gesture from Tim. The thought of his beloved butler's tea brought a small smile to his face, but he quickly regained his cool demeanor.
He followed Tim's gaze out the window and took in the sight of the snowstorm outside.
"Yeah, we should get going." He agreed. "This weather isn't getting any better."
After the teacher stopped pestering Tim to drive safe, after all they are both so young, Damian followed Tim outside, cursing inwardly as the heavy wind whipped cold snow into his face. The harsh weather conditions only added to his already sour mood. He pulled the winter coat tighter around himself, trying to shield himself from the biting cold.
"Why does it have to be so damn cold?" He muttered under his breath as they made their way to Tim's car.
The wind was blowing with full force from Damian's left side. Tim, who was walking in front of the other, slowed down to walk by Damian's left side, blocking some of the wind. The younger stole a glance at the other’s face, searching for any signs of annoyance or irritation. But he found nothing except a focused expression on Tim's face, navigating through the snowstorm. Damian remained quiet by Tim's side, his eyes still wary and his guard still up, but the unexpected protection from the wind was a small comfort.
“I didn't want to stop the engine; wasn't sure it would start again.” Tim said as they got in the car.
Damian settled into the passenger seat, appreciating the warmth and safety of the car. He was grateful to finally be out of the cold and the snowstorm. He adjusted his seatbelt and looked out the window, watching as the snowflakes continued to fall heavily. It was a stark contrast to the warm car interior.
Tim started to drive, but due to the snowstorm, in the middle of May, people were panicking. The traffic was jammed, and the drivers were starting to get aggressive. Damian noticed the situation outside and clenched his jaw, his irritation rising as he observed the chaos.
"Great, just what we needed." He muttered under his breath. "Stuck in traffic in a snowstorm."
Tim sighed as he had to stop, stuck behind a line of honking cars and their shouting drivers. Of course, because of the weather, no one got out of their cars, they were just yelling from inside. Damian rolled his eyes at the display of impatience and frustration from the drivers outside. The honking and shouting filled the air, creating a chaotic cacophony. He couldn't help but feel a sense of annoyance at the whole situation. He glanced over at Tim, who looked equally frustrated behind the wheel.
"They're acting like a bunch of toddlers." He muttered, shaking his head.
“It was a bit better on the way to the school. But I guess people started to fled home from work and stuff, or I don't know.” Tim tried to explain the situation, he sounded annoyed but tried to keep himself in check.
Damian leaned back in his seat, trying to make himself comfortable as they waited in the gridlock. He could sense Tim's irritation at the situation but appreciated his effort to keep calm.
"Yeah, everyone's probably trying to get home before it gets any worse." Damian replied. "Not that they're actually getting anywhere in this traffic."
“Yeah...” Tim sighed. “Would you have ever guessed that it isn’t Mr. Freeze’s doing by the way?” The older asked.
Damian's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"Wait, what?" He asked, turning his attention fully towards the other.
He had assumed the snow and freezing temperatures were the work of Mr. Freeze, considering the villain's signature ability to create cold and ice. But why was Tim dismissing the possibility?
"If it's not Mr. Freeze, then who is it? Or what is it?" Damian inquired; curiosity piqued.
“I don't know. Bruce... Well… Batman, immediately went to Arkham, but Freeze is locked up tight. He was actually annoyed that someone is stealing his act.” He smiled.
Damian nodded slowly, absorbing the information Tim provided. So, it wasn't Victor after all. It made sense that Batman would check on the villain first. A smirk tugged at the corner of Damian's lips as he imagined Freeze being annoyed at the situation.
"Of course he would be pissed about it." He grinned.
“Yeah, but now we don't know where to start.” Tim admitted. “Batman, Nightwing and Red Hood are all out, trying to find a source for this mess. Especially because the radios and TVs don't work, only phones do. But who knows for how long…”
Damian’s expression turned pensive as Tim provided more information. The fact that even the radios and TVs were affected while phones still worked was strange. It meant there was some intentional targeting going on.
"So, someone's messing with the city's communication system." He mused. "They want to cause panic while keeping the phones functional. It makes it harder to coordinate help."
Tim shook his head.
“That's terrible, considering the fact, that police, ambulance, fire fighters, they are all available, but people keep calling them. Now, we are at that point where there is no ambulance car that isn't stuck in traffic.”
Damian clenched his jaw as he listened to Tim's explanation. It was indeed a dire situation if emergency services were stuck in the gridlock, unable to respond to calls for help.
"So, people are calling for assistance, but there's no one available." He said, his tone filled with frustration. "And the city's resources are stretched thin, with everyone trying to get home."
“And no one can make announcements, because radios and TVs don't work. There is no internet either, so it's impossible to warn people through social media or anything.” Tim added. “It's like someone wants all the help to be stuck or occupied.”
Damian ran a hand through his hair, his irritation growing at the complexities of the situation.
"Yeah, whoever's behind this has thought it all through." He said, his voice tinged with annoyance. "They've cut off all communication channels, leaving people stranded and vulnerable." He clenched his fists, his mind racing with possible suspects. "Whoever it is, they knew what they were doing. They wanted to create chaos and keep anyone from responding."
“People are getting angry, because they call an ambulance and all they get as an answer from the dispatcher is that all cars are out.”
Damian gritted his teeth as he heard about the frustration and panic that must be gripping the city's residents.
"Of course they're getting angry." He muttered. "Being stuck in a snowstorm, freezing their butts off, and then finding out there's no one to come and save them? That's a recipe for a riot."
“Exactly...” Tim said seriously.
Damian let out a deep sigh, the gravity of the situation now fully sinking in. The city was in chaos, with people panicking and emergency services stretched thin. It was the perfect recipe for disaster, and someone was behind it all.
"We need to find whoever is responsible for this." He said firmly. "If we can figure out who's behind it, we can stop them before things spiral out of control."
“First we need to get back to the manor.” Tim said. “You are not dressed for this, I mean I brought you a winter coat, but with the way the temperature is dropping, we need our special frost suits.” Tim chuckled. “Batman is wearing that, he's an albino bat now, his frost suit is all white, and the symbol is silver.”
"Yeah, I get it, I get it." Damian muttered. "I'm not exactly dressed for a snowstorm, and these 'special frost suits' sound like a damn inconvenience." He paused for a moment, trying to imagine Batman in all white. It was a ridiculous mental image. "Albino bat, huh?" He said, a hint of mockery in his voice.
“Yeah, Jason was laughing his ass off when he saw Bruce in that suit. But to be fair, with the whole city white, the black suit would be an inconvenience.” The older admitted. “Oh, the tea, I almost forgot.” He said, getting his backpack from the backseat.
Damian smiled at the thought of Jason laughing at Batman's snowy appearance.
"I bet he was." He said, a smirk playing on his lips. "Black would be a pain in this weather." He raised an eyebrow curiously as Tim mentioned the tea. "Tea?" He inquired, turning his attention towards the backpack in Tim's hand.
“Yeah, the tea I mentioned, what Alfred insisted I bring you.” He got a thermos from his backpack and handed it to Damian, who forgot about it, because of all the new information. “Alfred's classic tea, hot and fresh.”
The warm scent of Alfred's classic blend wafted through the air, and his mouth started to water. He took the thermos and unscrewed the top, the steam billowing out as he took a deep breath of the comforting aroma.
“Why are you surprised?” Tim asked. “While I got dressed, Alfred made this, he thought you would be cold. He gave me a thermos as well, although that's milky coffee, not tea. I don't know how he was be able to whip these up while I was getting dressed, I was lightning quick, promise.”
Damian shook his head, a mix of amusement and gratitude in his expression.
"Of course he did." He said, taking a sip of the tea, the warm liquid slid down his throat, instantly soothing and warming him up, and he took another sip before responding to Tim's remark. "Pennyworth is always two steps ahead. He probably made the tea in the time it took you to step into a single pant leg."
A loud crash could be heard, and Damian and Tim immediately whipped their heads to the front to see what happened. On the side of the road, where a line of parking cars were, one of the cars’ roof was dented, an arm hanging over the edge of the vehicle. Someone fell from somewhere and landed on top of the car. The body wasn't visible, just the overhanging arm. The body had a t-shirt on, and to Tim's and Damian's horror, the bare skin of the arm started to freeze, just seconds after the body landed. The younger’s expression twisted into disbelief as the scene unfolded before his eyes. The loud crash still echoed in his ears and his heart skipped a beat as he realized what they were witnessing.
"What the hell?" He exclaimed, his voice filled with shock. "Did someone just... fall from the sky?" He couldn't tear his gaze away from the skin of the exposed arm already freezing solid.
“Probably from the apartment complex, the car is parking in front of...” Tim corrected quietly, while the end of the fingers, of the victim, started to turn black, frostbitten.
"Someone fell from one of the apartments..." Damian repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. He couldn't help but focus on the body again, noting the frostbite spreading. "They're turning black... They must have been freezing up there for a while."
“It's not that.” Tim said with horror in his voice.
The two boys watched someone get out of their car in the traffic jam to check on the body. The driver, since it was the middle of May, was wearing shorts and flip-flops. The driver’s toes started to turn black, within a minute and the skin on his legs started to freeze. The speed at which the frostbite set in was astounding. He ran back to his car and got inside immediately. The sound of the chaos that was around them in the panicking traffic jam suddenly stopped.
"What... How...?" Damian stammered, his voice trailing off as he struggled to make sense of what he just saw.
The sudden silence in the surrounding chaos was unnerving. It was as if the reality of the situation had hit everyone at once, leaving them all speechless.
“Whatever you do, do not get out of the car.” Tim said seriously while he locked the doors.
Damian's heart skipped a beat as Tim's words registered in his mind. He looked at the older, seeing the serious and urgent expression on his face.
"What are you saying?" He asked, his voice filled with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation. "What happens if I get out of the car?"
“The same thing.” Tim said grim. He pulled out his Red Robin comms from one of his coat pockets and put it in his ear.
Damian's eyes widened as he realized what Tim was implying. The frostbite, the freezing was almost instant. Just a minute outside of the car and the effects were already life-threatening.
"So, we're trapped in here?" He asked, his voice filled with a mix of frustration and resignation. "We can't leave the car, or we'll freeze too."
Tim handed something to Damian.
“Brought your comms too, just in case.”
Damian took the device from Tim and quickly put it in his ear.
"Thanks." He said, the words coming out more seriously than he intended.
He was acutely aware of the gravity of the situation now. They were stuck in the gridlock, surrounded by panicking drivers and freezing temperatures. Getting out of the car wasn't an option, and they had no idea how long they'd be stuck here.
“Batman.” Tim said, the comms connecting to everyone else’s.
There was a brief static before Batman's voice came through.
"I'm here. What's your status?"
“Are you aware of what is happening to the people whose skin gets in contact with the outside air?” Tim asked seriously.
There was a moment of pause before Batman answered, his tone grave.
"Yes, I am. The frostbite is severe and spreading very quickly. It's lethal."
“Your frost suit is keeping it away or is that not working?” Damian asked.
"The frost suit's heater keeps the cold and the frostbite at bay, but the generator is draining the suit's energy at an alarming rate." Batman's voice filled their ears, his tone matter of fact.
Static came through as Nightwing's comms joined.
“Red Hood had to go back to the Batcave, since he doesn't have a frost suit.” He stated.
Static, again, then a gruff voice came through the comms.
“I'm back at the cave, safe and sound, no frostbite nothing, just annoyed.” Red Hood said.
“Did you guys managed to get any information about who's doing this?” Tim asked.
"We're working on it.” Batman said. “So far, there are no leads. Whoever is behind this is using advanced technology to manipulate the weather and block all communications. It's like they're a ghost."
“We are stuck in a traffic jam.” Damian said. “Can we do anything to help?”
"For now, stay put and keep warm. We can't risk you boys getting stranded elsewhere. As soon as we know more, we'll let you know. Until then, stay safe and keep your comms on."
“I have my laptop with me, can I do anything?” The third Robin asked.
Batman's voice came through the comms once again, his tone slightly distracted.
"That's a good idea, Red Robin. See if you can access any security or traffic cameras near your location. We need eyes on the outside."
“Got it.” He took a small laptop out of his backpack; it was the one he sometimes used on missions.
There was a moment of silence as Tim worked, his fingers flying over the keys, the sound filling the car as he accessed the city's surveillance system. Then, suddenly, an image appeared on the laptop's screen, showing a live feed from a nearby security camera. The view showed the gridlock in front of the car, cars packed tightly side by side, their taillights like a sea of glowing red. Snow continued to fall steadily, covering everything in a white blanket. However, the scene was eerily silent, no honking or people shouting. Tim pulled up other cameras’ feeds, his eyes scanning them for any signs of activity or clues.
"I have access to the security cameras, but so far, I don't see anything unusual."
"Keep looking, Red Robin. We need to find the source of this weather manipulation."
Tim hummed in understanding and kept working, his fingers flying faster across the keyboard. He pulled up more camera feeds, switching between different angles and locations, trying to spot anything out of the ordinary.
“Do you think there is a machine or something doing this we could find?” Nightwing asked.
"It's possible. If someone is controlling the weather, they likely have some sort of device or system set up. We just need to find it."
Damian leaned back in his seat; his gaze fixed on the snow falling outside the window.
"Easier said than done." He muttered.
“Keep looking.” Batman said. “Contact us again, when you find something.
Tim nodded; his eyes focused on the computer screen.
"Will do, Batman."
The comms fell silent as Batman and Nightwing signed off, leaving Tim and Damian alone in the car again.
Damian clenched his jaw in frustration, feeling like a sitting duck. The city was in chaos, people were suffering, and he was stuck in a damn traffic jam, unable to do a damn thing. But he knew he can't get out; he would freeze to death within minutes. Damian let out a frustrated sigh, his hands gripping the edge of his seat. He knew he couldn't get out, but the feeling of helplessness was eating at him. He was used to being on the frontlines, fighting and taking action. Sitting still, trapped, was gnawing at his very being.
Tim's car shook as an explosion happened somewhere behind them. The sudden loud sound jolted both Damian and Tim. Their hearts skipped a beat as they turned to look out the back window.
"What was that?!" Damian exclaimed, his voice filled with shock.
A driver, desperate to escape the gridlock, had veered off course and crashed into a tanker truck. The explosion sent a fireball shooting into the air, followed by a cloud of black smoke.
"Bloody hell…" Damian muttered, his hands gripping the seat even tighter than before.
“This is not good. People realized they can't get out of their cars. So, now they are trying to get out of the traffic jam. But it's the middle of May, no one has winter tires.” Tim said quietly.
Damian felt a sinking feeling in his stomach as Tim's words hit him. He hadn't even considered that people would start desperately trying to flee in their cars. It was the perfect recipe for disaster.
"People are going to get themselves killed trying to break out." Damian said, his voice filled with frustration. "And for what? They're just going to get stuck again or freeze to death."
15 cars in front of them, a delivery truck started to reverse. The driver was trying to push the line behind him with his car.
"What is he doing?!" Damian exclaimed; his voice filled with disbelief. "He is going to cause even more chaos."
Of course, the other cars had no space to move to, so the driver decided to change direction. The two boys watched, their eyes wide with horror, as the driver shifted gears and started plowing through the cars in the adjacent lane. The metal grating of vehicles and the shattering of glass filled the air.
"This guy is going to cause a massive crash." Damian said, his voice filled with dread. "There's no way this is going to end well."
“Like this, he will cause other cars' windows to break. People will freeze inside their cars.” Tim said in disbelief. “Does he not care?”
Damian shook his head in disbelief, anger and frustration replacing the horror.
"He's either completely clueless or completely heartless." He growled. "Either way, he's going to bring more chaos and danger to an already messy situation."
Suddenly, a burst of static came through their comms as Batman spoke up.
"We've received multiple reports of dangerous and reckless drivers. It seems people are resorting to desperate measures to break out of their gridlock." He said, his voice urgent and serious.
“Yes, we are witnessing one right no...” Tim couldn't finish, as the car behind his suddenly pushed into them, jolting them forward. Tim's head slammed into the steering wheel, a sharp stinging pain shooting through his skull.
"Damn it!" Damian exclaimed; his eyes widened in concern. "Are you okay?!"
“What is going on?” Batman's serious, but worried voice came through the comms.
Damian quickly reached out, helping Tim sit up straight. Tim winced, rubbing his forehead.
"It's madness out here, father. Drivers are getting panicked and reckless." Damian said, his voice filled with urgency and frustration. "People are trying to break out of traffic, causing crashes left and right. We witnessed a delivery truck crash into multiple cars."
“And we just had the car behind us push into us. At least slowly not with full speed.” Tim said, as he rubbed his forehead.
Damian let out a breath of relief as he saw that the older was relatively unharmed, just a minor bruise on his forehead. He clenched his fists, his veins popping in anger.
"Goddammit." He gritted out. "Why are people being so damn stupid? They're going to get themselves and others killed!"
“Because they are panicking.” Nightwing's voice came through the comms. “The whole city is like that.”
Damian sighed, his frustration giving way to resignation. Nightwing had a point. Panic and desperation were driving the chaos unfolding outside.
"Yeah, I get that." He said. "But it doesn't justify putting everyone's lives in danger."
“No, but panic and fear are not a good combination with this weather and with people not having winter tires.” Jason said, joining in.
Damian nodded bitterly, agreeing with Jason's words.
"You're right, Hood. It's a recipe for disaster. And it's only a matter of time before things get even worse out here."
The car behind them pushed into them again. The sound of metal grinding against metal sent a shiver down the younger’s spine.
"For crying out loud!" He exclaimed. "How many more times are they going to bump into us?"
“I will take your frost suits to you.” Batman said finally. “If the car behind you does this enough, he will cause the back window to break. You two will freeze.”
Damian and Tim exchanged a glance, realizing the gravity of what Batman was implying. The constant bumping could very well shatter the car window, exposing them to the freezing temperatures outside.
"Understood, Batman." Damian said, his voice carrying a hint of concern. "We'll be ready."
“Will you get to them in time? You have to pick up the suits and then reach them.” Nightwing asked.
The car behind them steered to the side, and tried to drive off, scraping the side of Tim's car the whole way. There was a pause as Batman likely calculated the logistics in his mind.
"It will be tight, but I should be able to reach them in time." He said, his voice calm and confident. "I'll pick up the suits from the Batcave and make my way towards their location as quickly as possible."
As the comms fell silent, the window of the driver's seat cracked. Just a hair thin crack, for now.
"Drake." Damian said, his voice urgent. "Our window's cracked."
“Yeah.” Tim swallowed; he grabbed his laptop again. “I... I couldn't find anything on the cameras. Maybe the device that the villain is using to create this weather is not on the ground, or on a roof.”
"It's possible." Damian said, his voice tinged with irritation. "If the device is airborne or hidden from sight, it would make it that much harder to find and disable."
The hair thin crack got longer.
"Damnit." The younger muttered under his breath, his eyes fixated on the crack. "We need to hold out until father arrives with the suits. We can't stay here much longer."
“We didn't calculate the window starting to crack, before he even starts his journey. He has to go back to the Batcave then come to us.” Tim said, his eyes also glued to the crack.
"You're right..." Damian said, his voice filled with dread. "The crack in the window is a major complication. We don't know how long it will take for Batman to reach us, and by then, the damage might be irreversible."
With the situation growing even more dire, Tim turned on the car's heater to maximum. The warm air slowly began to fill the interior, providing a small sanctuary against the chilling outside temperatures.
"This will only buy us a little time." Damian said, his voice laced with a hint of resignation. "We need Batman to arrive sooner rather than later."
Tim undid his seatbelt and climbed to the backseat. He dug around to reach into the trunk from the inside and pulled out a blanket.
“Come to the backseat, Damian.”
The other raised an eyebrow, a mixture of surprise and confusion on his face. He hadn't expected Tim to move to the backseat, but the situation warranted drastic measures.
"Alright." he said, unfastening his seatbelt as well and crawling over the center console into the backseat. "What now?"
Tim pulled Damian closer and wrapped the two of them in the blanket, then grabbed his laptop to continue. Damian's eyes widened slightly as Tim pulled him closer. The gesture caught him off guard, but he found himself oddly comforted by his presence. The heat from the heater and the warmth of the blanket enveloped them, creating a cocoon of relative comfort amidst the chaotic situation outside.
“Even if the window cracks more and the cold will get in, the heater is on max and with that and the blanket, we should be fine, until Bruce gets here.” Tim explained.
"Yeah... That should buy us some time." He agreed, grateful for Tim's quick thinking. "Just hurry up." He muttered under his breath, aiming his words at Batman despite knowing he couldn't hear them.
The window's crack got bigger and they were able to hear people shout outside. The windows had a thin layer of ice on the outside now, making it impossible to see through them.
"Damnit." He muttered under his breath. "The situation outside is only getting worse." His eyes met Tim's, a mixture of concern and determination in his gaze.
They were able to hear people shout, and it sounded like they were hitting a car or something with metal stuff or baseball bats. Despite the situation they were in, he couldn't help but notice the way their bodies were pressed against one another, the warmth of Tim's side against his own. It was oddly comforting; in a way he hadn't felt in a long time. He tried to concentrate on Tim’s laptop but found himself distracted by the other’s unexpected closeness. As the shouting and banging outside grew louder, Damian's attention was drawn further away from the screen. The cacophony assaulted his ears, making it almost impossible to focus on anything else. He could hear more voices joining the fray and the sound of something heavy being dropped on the ground. His body tensed as he prepared for the worst.
Someone hit the roof of Tim's car, and the boys froze. They were both instantly on high alert, their senses heightened in anticipation.
"What the hell are they doing out there?" Damian hissed, his voice barely above a whisper.
Tim grabbed his backpack and put his laptop away, he quickly stuffed the two thermoses in the backpack too.
Something hit the car again.
“They will take this if they see it.” Tim whispered as he got the blanket off them and stuffed it into the backpack too.
The sounds of people hammering on the car continued, getting fiercer with each passing moment. He understood the urgency in Tim's actions. If the attackers outside saw the valuable items, they would surely take them. The last thing they needed was to be robbed in this chaotic situation.
The sudden shattering of the windshield sent a violent shiver through Damian's body. The cold air sliced through the car like a blade, its icy tendrils snaking through every crack and crevice. He felt Tim flinch next to him, and he tried to suppress his own involuntary gasp. The sudden change in temperature was almost overwhelming, and he could feel his body starting to shiver uncontrollably.
Someone broke the window right next to Tim, and in a matter of moments, the person opened the car door through the broken window and the two boys were dragged out of the car. Damian only barely managed to grab Tim's backpack.