Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Prologue

Tim fumbled with his camera for a moment, trying to zoom in far enough to catch the yellow shine of Robin’s cape. He had taken his gloves off to properly work the shutter, but it may have been for naught considering how shaky his fingers were. Curse gotham winters. 

Batman practically flew out of view, but before Tim could follow gunshots hit the brick wall below him. He peeked down through his camera at a small group of gangsters? Robbers? Tim didn’t know but that didn’t matter as much as the kids their guns were pointed at. Where was Batman when you needed him, or even Cat-woman- she had a hobby of taking in stays didn’t she? But no, now it was just 10 year old Tim, a few granola bars, and his camera stranded on a roof overlooking active crime- Tim was so stupid sometimes, it’s a miracle he’s stayed alive this long. 

Digging out his burner phone (kept for entirely reasonable reasons, and definitely not paranoia) he called the cops. Was this the first time he had called something in? No. Would it be the last time? Tim hopes not that would be a really boring way to live.

“Who is this?”

“Mr. Gordon…. Hi!” When Tim said ‘cops’ he really meant ‘cop’. One cop, who was actually a detective who was now the commissioner, but that wasn’t the point.

“Kid? How did you get this number-” Ouch. Tim was not a kid.

“There’s a… gangster-y shootout thing um I think Batman would want to know, they look kinda like those goons from scarecrows last break out remember that? Yeah that was a weird night for me as well…” Tim, who was a very practiced individual at all forms of social interaction, did not ramble at all before rattling off the street name and immediately hanging up, gripping his hair with a silent yell of embarrassed anguish. 

The shooting (could it be called a shooting if no one was really shot?) had quickly dissolved into a fistfight (again, Tim was slightly confused but you know. Gotham). After a couple minutes of yelling, the two teens were left alone while their assailants got away. But no one was dead. Yay!

He was about to call it a day and make a poorly executed jump across rooftops when a whimper echoed below him. 

“Becca stop– it’s not helping.”

“What? You want me to let your arm bleed out?”

Tim layed back down on the roof, pulling his camera out to zoom in on two teenagers crouched in the Alleyway. The smaller one had a nasty gash that ‘Becca’ was trying to tie off with some weird cloth. Tim didn’t know a lot, but he was pretty sure that dirty cloth on an open wound didn’t come highly recommended. 

Tim practically hopped down the fire escape, stopping in front of the two teens. The girl– Becca– had dark brown hair tied back in a ponytail, and an old band hoodie on. The other kid had a choppy haircut and was clutching his right arm. 

Was approaching the two kids who just got in a fight the best idea? Maybe, maybe not, but he had yet to get stabbed.

“Hi, I’m Tim, it’s nice to meet you.” 

The boy looked up at him, not at all impressed by his outstretched hand. 

“Oh yeah sorry you probably don't want to shake my hand, you look pretty busy. With your wound and everything- do you want a granola bar? My mom got them for herself before she left but she forgot them and they’re actually pretty good even though the box is a little old.” 

The boy looked a little closer to passing out than before, dark skin pulled into a confused expression as he started muttering about hallucinating. Tim would feel offended if he wasn’t watching the boy literally bleed out. 

“I am not a hallucination,” and to prove his point he opened his bag, pulling out the food bar. “Here.” Tim crouched holding it out, partially unwrapped.

The boy continued to stare at him for what felt like an eternity before croaking a thanks and all but inhaling the offering.

“The cops will be here soon, if you were worrying about that.”

Becca, who had been watching this interaction quietly turned to him sharply. “Excuse me?”

Tim looked at her, suddenly sheepish as she explained she would, under no circumstances, be talking to the cops.

“Hospital?”

“Absolutely the flip flap not.”

The guy sitting on the ground laughed a bit, before wincing. 

It only took 10 minutes and Andy (aka bleeding guy) passing out, but both teens decided to simply come home with him, and skip the cops, and the hospital, much to Tim’s displeasure. Tim was only 60 percent sure they wouldn’t rob him, and only 30 percent sure he was still in charge here.

Becca carried Andy most of the way, and Tim paid double for the taxi driver not to ask questions. When they arrived Tim layed Andy down in a guest room (the pre-made bed was a surprise since he wasn’t aware of the drake estate ever having guests) and bandaged his freshly disinfected arm. 

Tim turned to Becca. “So….. instant noodles?”

— — —

Three weeks later, Andy and Becca were practically family, if any of Tim’s family actually hung around that long. So by that reasoning, Andy and Becca were better than family. 

Neither of them felt comfortable stealing Tim’s house, until he explained Ms. Mac only worked a couple hours on Wednesday, and that his parents wouldn’t be back for months. Becca had gotten a weird expression on her face and looked at Andy before they both agreed to stay.

They shared a lot of weird looks.

Tim kept the family wing all to himself, which was good because sometimes they would stop talking when he was walking by, or whisper to each other in their rooms, and he needed a space to go think. For some reason, felt worse than when his parents pretended he wasn't even there. 

He found out Becca was 16 and Andy was 15, somehow making him the baby of the group. But considering it was his house, and he had basically saved their lives, he liked to believe he was top of the friend pyramid. (That was something people had right? Or was that mean girls. Maybe he shouldn’t be basing his friendships off movies he fell asleep during.)

Now they were all sitting in the yard, trying to play some dumb game Tim had seen online, when Andy kicked the ball a bit too hard and Tim had to run into the forest line to grab it. Andy was more of a reader, so this may have been an attempt to end the game. Tim would have to think about it later.

If it was anyone else, they would have found the ball and returned. Because it was Tim, he never found the ball, and instead fell through a soft covering of moss into a weird… cave?

Tim pulled out his phone flashlight, rubbing the elbow he landed on. When he sat up, he realized there was a little ledge he could use to get back out…. Or… he could go on an adventure. All memory of the ball lost, he started walking along a surprisingly human friendly path. Tim made his way in the direction of the Waynes estate, aka Batman's hideout, until he came across a small tunnel in the wall, climbing upwards. It was a dark gaping hole about the size of a child, and the walls were covered in dried clay and little pebbles.

He squeezed into it, shuffling up by pressing his elbows and knees to the sides of the tunnel, until he fell into a small cave. Tim stood up, walking towards the light shining from around the corner. There was a small opening in the rock– one Tim could possibly fit through if he squeezed– overlooking a room. Tim almost shrieked. The batmobile was right there . He was in Batman’s hideout. Tim cursed himself for forgetting his camera, swearing to come back later. He sat there watching the silent room for a minute before deciding to come back later. He had to see how far the tunnels led. Tim turned back, sliding down the weird tunnel tube, getting a whole pant leg full of dirt.

One hour and a worried call from Becca later– and wasn’t that strange, someone noticing?– and Tim was climbing through an entrance to Gothams sewer system. Crazy. Tim got all the way to Crime Alley, popping up through a sewer grate, before turning back. He may stay out parkouring every night, but his legs were still growing and he was getting sore. 

On the way back, he immediately got lost, and quickly learned how dodgy service underground was. He turned his phone flashlight off, attempting to save battery while he walked down the more straightforward sections, when a green glowing light caught his eye from a small hole in the wall.

Upon further investigation, Tim discovered he could push away the dried dirt and open the wall enough to clamber through. Was climbing towards the mysterious glowing green stuff in underground Gotham the best idea? Maybe. Maybe not.

A large pool of glowing green liquid greeted him. It smelt weird, which is as far as he was willing to think about. Maybe later. 

Tim crawled back through the hole, onto the main path. He used a little rock to carve a message into the wall next to the opening.

GREEN POOL

Tim gave the wall a self satisfied pat, promising to come back with sample tubes, and continued on his trip back home. 

Only 2 hours, 12 carved tunnel names, and one small break down, and Tim was safe in his yard again. Thank god.

— — —

Andy and Becca were not amused to find he had been walking around underground by himself, but agreed to check it out with him. 

Besides the general apprehension, they were both acting really weird. Weirder than normal– as if all of their weirdness had been slowly building up until they spent the whole walk looking vaguely sick. Tim kept asking and getting brushed off, something he was all too familiar with, before Becca snapped.

“We’re just worried about our friends okay?” Tim tried to move past the intention that he wasn’t their friend to show the appropriate amount of understanding for their life. He still kind of wanted to cry.

The high powered flashlight didn’t seem so high powered any more, and Tim thought the shadows were collapsing on him. He muttered an apology, resigning himself to walk in silence. Maybe he wouldn’t show them all the cool rooms– just the tunnels to Crime Ally. Just in case he needed a place to hide feel cool and important.

“Sorry Tim, I didn’t mean to snap just… Me and Andy got this great spot to stay with you and… beside the debt we owe–”

“You don’t owe me anything–”

“ Besides that, our friends are still in some pretty shitty situations, and we’re worried, is all.”

The tunnel was silent for a while. The sounds of they’re footsteps echoing slightly before Tim had the greatest idea of his entire life. Greater than when he discovered Dick Grayson was Robin, or when he found the batcave or– okay maybe not that, but close. Very close.

Besides, Batman was too busy stopping Rouges and fighting crime to uncover every abusive orphanage and foster home. And he couldn’t possibly take in every street kid, even if he did get Jason.

Tim wasn’t busy fighting crime, therefore, Tim could help them. All of them.

Chapter Text

Tims idea had gotten a little out of hand. Turns out using secret underground tunnels to ‘kidnap’ children from orphanages got you in trouble with the law. Sending hard proof of what really went down in those establishments directly to Commissioner Gordon had not helped as much as he thought, but earned him a dumb nickname “Sparrow”. He wasn’t sure how that one came about, but now everytime he tried to talk to a ally kid in his new costume (goggles, a balaclava, and a black hoodie with little bird wings– sue him, it was a gift from Andy.) they would ask him if he was The Sparrow and he would have to deal with Becca’s poorly concealed laughter. 

Besides, kidnaping was kind of extreme. He was simply contacting them and offering to get them properly adopted, or set them up with a new job and point them in the direction of scholarships. 

The problem was, for every kid he helped get adopted, another wanted to stick around and help him. They were pretty good informants actually. And it did help him stay on top of rogue attacks, so he couldn’t complain.

(“I heard there's something going on at the docs, Scarecrow might be involved…”)

(“That creep from Crime Ally keeps hanging around my old group home…”)

(“Somethings going on at the old pizza place.”)

With so many mouths to feed, he also had to hire an adult who drove groceries back and forth without getting the cops called on them. If that adult was actually an actor he bribed with funds stolen from Lex Luther (that was a whole different story, honestly) then so what. Edward – the actor– was mainly in charge of grocery shopping, but ended up doing a lot of reading to the little kids since he lived on the new estate.

“Kid?” Speak of the devil. 

“Yeah Eddie? What can I do for you?” Tim spoke through the buzzer at the front door, only feeling a little guilty for not supplying Eddie a key. Then again, his parents were bound to come home some time.

“Just wanted to give you a couple files from the newcomers, they’re both set up in the med bay getting treatment from a minor scuffle with… A window. Apparently.”

The med bay was one of the first things he requested be built when he bought an old apartment complex/warehouse. (He loved siphoning funds from Lex Luther, it was practically enrichment for him.) He was only still in the process of moving everything into the recently refurbished apartment complex/warehouse he had bought, but it was mostly up and running, with more than 10 people staying there already, and 6 more moved out to new families, or schools. 

Tim had spent a couple weeks staking out a construction agency– ironically the same one Batman used for his cave– until he caught the company owner kissing some lady who was not his incredibly pregnant wife. If that wasn't enough, Tim had proof of illegal drug use.

Since then, his plans had been completed in a timely, quiet manner. The change in location promised a med bay, multiple apartments and rooms for temporary guests, and hidden access to the tunnel system. Beside the obvious features, Tim also requested lead lined walls, and a state of the art security system. Honestly, besides the incredible stress this whole endeavor was causing him, Tim thought it was going pretty well.

“Kid?” 

Tim startled, looking back at the front porch camera (the only camera that actually worked on the drake estate). “Yeah I’ll be right out, meet in the tunnel?”

Tim met Eddie back in the safety of the tunnels, Eddie already had his flashlight on, holding two papers out for Tim. Right. The files.

By ‘file’ Eddie meant a sheet of paper with a couple things so Tim could sort out adoption and housing and allergies, everything else about them would have to be encoded and filed by Tim personally for their safety. For now, everything he knew about them was: 

• their first names (Joey and Sam), 
• no allergies (that they knew off)
• brought in from word of mouth (Louis)
• sustained minor injuries (from climbing out an abandoned building's window– for some reason…). 

Tim straightened his winged hoodie slightly, walking forward with purpose. Time to visit the warehouse. 

“You know Eddie, now that we have the new base, you don’t really need to come back here anymore– I still have Ms. Mac on Wednesdays anyway– Not that I’d stop paying you, just you don't need to visit the house anymore. I do have a phone.” He also didn’t want people getting caught at his house, but the same difference.

“Sure, but no one’s seen you in a week. We're getting worried. Also, I did call but your phone was off.”

Tims ears turned red, he had forgotten to charge his burner, getting all caught up in some Scarecrow plot. Between trying to continue his night photography, going to school, and running an underground information empire at the ripe age of ten, he was starting to forget the strangest things. Like charging his phone, or eating. 

His sleep schedule wasn’t great either. 

“These tunnels are pretty cool right?” Eddie hummed slightly. For an ex. Military, aspiring actor, current pro-grocery shopper, he looked alot like a random guy. In a way, he still was, compared to a lot of Gotham citizens. 

“Yeah… yeah.” A lot of the main tunnel routes had battery powered motion lights, but the section leading to his house was intentionally dark. Tim trusted the other kids, but he felt sick even thinking of someone getting that close to finding the batcave. Or the Lazerus pit (he found the name after a 12 hour research marathon). Or getting their hands on that kryptonite mine (Lex Luthor's servers were not secure). There was a lot of secret stuff near his house, apparently. 

Edward and Tim walked in silence for the remainder of the walk, stopping only to climb through a couple weird turns. As they progressed, the tunnel lights turned on, lighting their path, until they reached their stop. There was a little ladder leading up to another trapdoor, with a small Sparrow etched into the wood. Tim straightened his hoodie, pulling up his red and yellow striped balaclava and goggles before opening the door. A small entry room greeted him, removed from the main areas and decked out with a cheap Ikea desk and a weird green rug.

Tim walked through the building, waving at a couple awe-struck 13 year olds, which was both weird and flattering. 13 year olds were so cool– real teenagers – and they were waving at him .

The med-bay door was just a wooden door, painted with colorful flowers and smiley faces from younger kids. Turns out people did not have a good first reaction when waking up in a hospital room, so the previous steel doors had to go, security be fucked. 

The whispering stopped when he opened the door, greeted with two new faces, apparently Joey and Sam, both with bandages covering their knees and various parts of their arms.

“Hi, I’m… ‘Sparrow’ which I heard, um you heard, about me?” Christ Tim. Pull it together. 

Neither kid said anything, just staring at him. He started second guessing wearing the mask. He wasn’t a stickler when hiding his face, but after weeks of worrying what being known personally by a bunch of kids would do, he got Andy and Becca agree to refer to him as his Secret Identity anyway. The upside was he became more of a symbol… like Batman. And people stopped calling him a kid, except for all the people who still called him kid because of his height, and well. It was a work in progress.

“Anyway, your friend Louis brought you in apparently?” He took their silence as a yes. “Basically, I can have him show you around the kitchens and everything, and if you're interested in getting adopted, or you want to report something– anonymously obviously, unless you don’t want it to be an anomaly then that's fine um. then like. Um, I’m here. So is Eddie– he grocery shops, and Becca–” Sh had just walked in, to make sure Tim didn’t scare people with his weirdness probably. “She… kinda does everything.”

Both kids watched him silently, if a little rebelliously. Superb. Becca gave him a look and Tim said his quick goodbyes before leaving the room. For the number of people he talked to, he still sounded like an idiot 90 percent of the time.

Tims next stop was meeting with a couple little kids about adoption opportunities, (they didn’t seem to like the ‘surprise'! You're adopted!’ meetings very much). 

He spent way too long finding genuinely kind, well off people looking to adopt. He knew how easy it was for parents to look great on paper and then forget their kid had needs more complex than the average houseplant. 

The other problem was, that with every kid that wanted a new life, came another who developed some misplaced loyalty to the 10 year old and tried to hang around and help him, even after they got their own apartments.

—

By the time Tim made it back to his house, the sky had completely darkened. 

Tim kneeled on the floor, reaching under his bed to pull out a locked safe. Inside was almost everything to do with his life as Sparrow, all encoded by Tim. He grabbed a labeled file and a spare USB. 

The Mable Home . Aka a front for child labor. It was one of the more unfortunate cases, and Tim knew he had to send the report in, he just never knew for sure what would happen to everyone inside. Would they be properly rehomed? Would some of them get lost in the process, and refuse to reenter the program? Would they even want his help, if he offered it?

When Tim had pulled up their website, it was incredibly out of date and confusing. They probably kept most of their records on paper– not that he believed they would be much better. But he still didn’t know for sure how many kids were there to begin with.

He had already spent too long– a good month now– working away to gather proof. He had also grabbed 3 kids from there, but they seemed to keep everyone within sight most of the time. 

For now he compiled everything onto a single file, decoded it, and sent it to Gordons private inbox. Hopefully he would get Batman involved as well, considering the corruption rate for the Gotham police force, he was more comfortable if they worked together.

Tim spun his chair around, closing the safe, and reaching for something more precious. His camera. 

—

Tim flexed his fingers, Gotham was warming, but he wished it would heat up a little faster. He tightened his hood, a basic grey zip up. He was out at Tim Drake today, not Sparrow.

The bats would be flying past this point sometime soon, hopefully.

And there–Batman, unfortunately unaccompanied by Robin, for whatever reason. Tim snapped a photo of Batman mid-air before having to leap to the neighboring roof to continue his chase.

He liked to believe he was in a documentary– come with me to witness the great Bat in action! Elusive, and certainly difficult to find, especially in his natural habitat.

Batman stopped at a warehouse near the docks, watching from the side of a wall like a great stone gargoyle. Tim followed his gaze down to see Scarecrows goonies. He wasn’t surprised, considering he had called the tip in.

—

“Hello?”

“Hey-o! It’s Sparrow–” The voice changer cracked slightly in the feedback.

“How did you get this number?”

“You ask this everytime… Can we just move on? I have stuff to do.” Tim could hear Gordan’s sigh, and liked to imagine him sitting at his desk, or pinching the bridge of his nose like when he spoke with Batman. “Scarecrow is going to be at that weird warehouse in a couple days… I sent you the address in the file, I don’t know if–.”

“Yes I read the file.”

“Great, I’m not always sure because…” Well now Tim felt stupid for calling. Of course Gordan read the file, he probably caught all of his spelling mistakes too. 

“No, Sparrow, thanks for calling. Speaking of, I wanted to ask–”

“Yeah… bye!” 

—

Batman grappled to a window of the warehouse, crawling through the opening.

Tim watched for a few minutes, camera ready, before his boredom got the best of him. Tim was practically a hero-grade informant, he could sneak into one warehouse filled with people who wanted to kill him. Right?

Tim ended up having to walk, like a dumb civilian, towards the warehouse. He snuck around to the back, peeking in the window. Cost was clear. He tried to slide the window up but– he didn't know why he thought that would work in all honesty, and pulled out a set of bobby pins. It wasn’t great, and it took him like 4 tries, but that's what you get from only learning from youtube.

Finally, he was in. He walked down the hall, which was weirdly empty, before finding a large ceiling vent. Getting up to the ceiling took quite a bit of effort, and a stolen office chair, but once he was inside, he realized his second problem. To advance up a floor he would have to scale a practically 90 degree drop of smooth vent lining. Tim kicked off his shoes, tying them together and holding the laces in his mouth, started climbing up by maintaining pressure on both sides of the vent. 

He was reminded a lot of his escapades in the tunnels, and shivered. At least there were less bugs in here (hopefully). The last time a weird beetle had crawled in his sock and he had freaked out, flinging the poor bug a yard away before calming down enough to take a cool photo. 

Tim let out a breath of relief when the vent evened out again, taking a moment to lie there panting. 

He crawled forward for a while, camera secured around his neck. He was starting to hear voices– assuming he wasn’t hallucinating from sleep deprivation and stress. 

“Scarecrow.” And holy cow that was Batman .

Tim scooted closer to the voice, stopping at the grated vent, pressing his face close to look through the slits. 

Below him Batman stood, 10 paces or so away from Scarecrow, whose goonies had either been dropped like dead flies around Batman's feet or managed to get away. They looked like they were two cowboys in a duel. Tim wouldn't be surprised to hear the “There isn't enough room for the two of us” speech. 

Tim lifted the great slowly, shoving the end of his lens closer to the opening.

Click

Tim wishes for a moment he was willing to sell out to a big company or something. This photo would be worth a lot to the morning papers, or even the news. It also wouldn’t hurt his ego. 

Scarecrow started laughing as coloured smoke filled the room. Batman looked unaffected. Which meant that either Batman had taken the cure before coming down somehow, or he was just powering through. Both were insane and incredibly cool, besides all the dumb parts.

Scarecrow said something Tim missed, but it was enough for Batman to toss him against the wall right below Tim. 

He had to crane to see out the vent, and suddenly realized how high up he was. The warehouse room Batman was in had a high ceiling, so in reality Batman was still on the ground floor, but Tim was looking down at him from the roof of the second floor. Fun times. 

Batman was holding Scarecrow in some weird headlock while the guy tried to grab what was most likely another vile of poison gas, when something far more terrifying drew Tim’s attention. 

Something brushed his pant leg, but when he looked back, nothing was there. Then again a moment later– as if it was tugging his pants. He shifted his legs about trying to find the source only to be met face to face with the largest rat he had ever seen. It was like a weird boney cat with yellow teeth the size of his pinky, and Tim had to wonder how it got up here in the first place. 

Tim tried to stay calm, but the rat didn’t seem to have the same idea. If anything, the rat seemed to want him dead, and lunged at his hair. Tim screamed, reaching out to try and shuffle along only to realize there was no venting there. Tim was worried he would fall all the way out, but managed to catch himself. Unfortunately the rat was still in his hair, and the thrashing about wasn’t helping the structural security of the vent. The whole strip of venting plunged down 2 stories, Tim screaming, rats flying through the air, as he all landed directly on top of a dazed scarecrow. 

Tim lay on top of the pile of drywall and human, wheezing, staring up into the face of a confused Batman. 

Tims lungs felt moments from collapse, and every word sounded like some Great Wizardly Frog on his deathbed, but the fact that he managed to speak at all was a win in Tim’s book.

Tim sucked in a shuddering breath.

“H-hey-o… Batman…” 

— — —

Chapter Text

Jason Todd POV— The day Tim fell through the ceiling, slightly before he fell through the ceiling. 

Jason had only been living with Bruce for maybe a year and a few months, and he suddenly misses out on a weird kidnapper/informant/crime boss? Like what? 

Jason believed once an ally kid, always an ally kid, (for better or worse), but hearing all of this news second hand felt like his head was on backwards– suddenly he was looking into his own life from some privileged kid's body. Jason felt like the new star of The Metamorphosis, expert instead turning into a beetle, he was the same kid. The same, but everything was different now.

It was time he looked into The Sparrow. It had taken Bruce way too long to start a case file for someone who might be trafficking children. 

“Bruce, just-”

“I know Jason, but we don’t have enough information, but I’m not going to send you to try and get kidnapped-”

“But he’s taking kids from the orphanages . As if they aren't already shitty as hell.”

Bruce sighed, and Jason could practically hear the scolding about his language through his eyes.

“Jason, people recognize you now, what would they think if they found out Bruce Wayne’s son was living on the street? I’ll call Dick and you two can stake it out together. Someone reported news about Scarecrow and I don't want you out near the docks today anyway.” 

Jason mumbled vague insults but didn't argue (loudly) before leaving the room.

— — — 

Bruce was always saying shit like that, like he was some kid. He wasn’t though, he was 15 and kicked ass on the daily. 

And now, because Dick and Bruce had gotten into a weird, broody fight over the phone, Jason was benched. Entirely unfair– he didn’t need supervision. To prove this, Jason left immediately after Bruce. He didn’t need his suit, but he made a trip to the batcave for his utility belt– just in case.

Jason hopped in a taxi, because who knew how many trackers Alfred had built into the cars, and rode all the way down where he first met Batman– Crime Alley.

He walked around for a while, visiting the apartment buildings of past friends, but seeing no one familiar. Then, right when he had all but given up, Andy walked right past him.

“Fuckin’– Andy!”

Andy whipped around, almost dropping the phone he had been absorbed in and… he looked good. Jason remembered him as a scrawny kid, who would not let it go that he was a couple months older than Jason. When Jason would leave the house to try and steal shit from dumb rich people, they would stop and talk about books sometimes. 

“...Jay? What are you doing here?” More like ‘ I heard you got adopted, because it was all over the news for months what the fuck are you doing alone’. But Andy didn’t say that, he wasn’t the biggest talker. 

“I’m ‘round here because….” And this is when Jason had to be careful. If he wanted information about Sparrow, he couldn’t just go asking for it. He needed to be smart, and elegant, and– “I need’ta talk with Sparrow, heard of ‘im?” Fuck.

Andy froze for a moment, finally putting his phone away (and when had Andy gotten a phone?– stolen probably). 

“Yeah, I’ve heard of him. A myth right?”

“Not a myth, there's something going on and– don’t worry about it I just need to talk to him, and I’ll take any pointers at this point. Just, just give me something Andy.”

“I don’t know–”

“I know you know, you got that look on ya face.” 

Andy sighed, “Fine man, if you won’t tell me what's wrong let me take you to dinner.”

“At… 10pm?”

“Do you want to talk or not?”

— — —

They walked into a small diner, the hidden gem of Gothams’ Park Row District. The sign’s neon lights had been knocked out a while ago, but Jason could still make out the name “Eleanor’s Diner”. 

Andy led them to a booth near the back corner, and ordered a coffee and a sandwich. Jason did the same, despite knowing the best thing on their menu was the Bat-burger. 

When their drinks came Jason almost spat. God, he hated coffee. 

“So…”

“So.” Andy replied, opening and closing his mouth a couple times before continuing. “Sorry it's just, strange, I really thought you were living it up with Bruce Wayne. I’m not entirely surprised though, you know how rich guys are.” Andy winced, and Jason was a bit too aware what Andy thought was happening to him.

“Wait it’s not- not quite like that.”

“How is it then?”

Jason was starting to think he should have made a backstory before people assumed Bruce was a pedo. “He’s not… not like that just…”

Andy gave him an understanding look, despite the fact that Jason was sure Andy did not , in fact, understand.

“It’s okay Jay, you don’t have to tell me shit. I can still set you up, no strings ok?”

“Ok…” Hey, at least he was getting somewhere. He could clear this up later–besides, Andy wasn’t a big talker anyway.

Andy got up,  walking towards the door. They made it halfway down the block before Jason asked, “Where we goin’?”

“Finding you a place to stay man.”

“I got a place to stay. I just need ta talk to Sparrow.”

“I’m not lying man, I know a place, you don’t gotta go back to that piece of shit.” And wow, this was getting out of hand. “He frequents where we’re going anyway, it’s your best chance.”

They walked in silence until Andy lead him down a suspicious and fuck back ally. Before Andy stopped him.

“I forgot to ask, are you comfortable underground?”

“Yes…?”

“Nice… nice.” Suspicious as fuck. Jason was starting to think he was being kidnapped. 

Andy lifted a manhole cover and let Climbed down first, mostly because Jason was looking like the hole would eat him alive.

“Sorry about the whole smuggling vibe, the Bats and feds have been cracking down lately, so we’ve all had to take some precautions.”

Jason shifted uncomfortably “We?”

“Myself and the other Sparrows.” Andy took a sharp turn and stopped, moving a section of wall that looked practically indistinguishable to the rest, revealing a dirt tunnel and wooden stairs leading down. “Sparrows, I mean. Obviously we were not The Sparrow but we couldn’t think of a better name…” Andy got out his flashlight, closing the wall door behind him and leading the way down the stairs. “There are two groups, kinda, a lot of people we help are temporary, and it’s easier for them to go to our above ground facilities. I have a feeling you might want to hang around a while though, and we have all these underground areas for more… involved, work.”

“Yeah… Makes sense.” No it didn’t actually, but Jason felt he was a little too deep (literally) to complain. He didn’t remember Andy being this talkative.

Andy led him down a short tunnel path, stopping in front of a wooden trap door. Andy turned his light off, and pushed a little glow in the dark bird by the base of the handle. A small cog could be heard shifting, and the door popped up slightly. 

“Down we go.” Andy switched his light back on, but little green glowing birds could be seen flying the direction Andy was leading him, sprawled across the ceiling of the tunnel like stars.

They descended down the weird winding ramp as the door clicked into place above them. At the end of the strange, Sparrow-filled hall, was a full size wooden door. 

“The door codes are all super simple, and basically the same. They’re often left unlocked anyway, so I wouldn’t worry. Just follow the birds, basically.” Andy opened the door, and walked though. As soon as Jason followed, yellow lights flipped on, all the way down the path.

Andy stopped at a random door, opening it into a large room with plush couches and sofas.

“Usually, we have people chill here for a couple minutes while we sort shit out, but I’m sure you wanna go straight on a tour yeah?” 

“Um, yeah.” Jason was a little thrown off. He was here staking out a kidnapper, and possible human trafficker, and he had to remember that. He had gotten too comfortable with Andy, bit he was clearly deep in this too. Fuck.

 Andy led him down a much nicer looking hall, with wood flooring and tasteful wall paper to a room with a couple desks and a tv. A girl with her hair pulled into a bun, and a David Bowie hoodie on waved from where she was working on her computer.

“Oh Becca! I didn’t know you were coming down from the Nest.”

“Yeah, but I had a meeting with Elliot anyway and wanted to check up on everyone down here personally.”

“Nice.. nice. Anyway, that's Becca, she handles… a lot, everything Sparrow doesn’t do himself basically.”

“And where is Sparrow?”

“He should be back eventually, for now I can show you to a spare room?”

“What happened to the tour?” Jason was getting worried now, he was way too far underground– deeper than the batcave probably, and he wished Bruce was with him. Or Dick. This was all fine. Super fine. He knew how to get out. Kind of.

“Yeah, ok we can head to the main floor so you can see everything.”

Jason almost gasped. “Woah.”

Warm wood and colourful tapestries made up the walls. Jason was standing on a balcony overlooking what was at least 3 stories of open ceiling, with thousands of strands of fairy lights hanging in some decorative… nest shape from the ceiling. When he looked down he could see a couple people milling around, the room was broken up into multiple lounge spaces, and off to the side he could make out a sign– underground parking? What the hell. Somewhere around the  second floor was a row of gardens, all fitted with little sun lamps. A tall column of at least 4 elevators ran through the roof, and Jason had to wonder how far it went down.

Andy started pointing around the room as Jason stared. 

“– and there’s the computer labs, it's difficult to see everything on purpose, mostly for privacy reasons. I think Sparrow wanted the open feel without anyone feeling too vulnerable– Oh! Over there is one of the kitchens, a lot of the food is brought by request, but there’s always something in storage, we have a couple volunteers to help cook for the younger ones while they get sorted too. We’re still figuring it out– a month ago we only had like… 20 volunteers but now we have at least 100 members, and more counting with all the recent Rogue attacks. Speaking of, we have a couple self defense classes, and a gym I think you might like.

Andy stopped to look at Jason, who hadn't said anything in a while.

Jason opened and closed his mouth like a dazed trout.

“What- What is this place?”

Andy laughed a little, patting his shoulder. “Welcome to the Burrows, man.”

Chapter Text

—

Tim lay on top of the pile of drywall and human, wheezing, staring up into the face of a confused Batman. 

“H-hey-o… Batman…” 

—

Batman looked down at the small child who had just fallen from the ceiling. Somewhere inside of him, two sides were fighting whether to apprehend the child, or take care of it. A voice in his head that sounded suspiciously like Alfred popped into his head, in some cases such as this, it may prove to be the same endeavor.

The small child looked up at him, still wheezing, and raised a hand to shake. Batman raised a brow. He was understanding Afred’s exasperation more with each passing day.

Batman clasped his hand awkwardly, eyes roaming over the child’s appearance. Casual dress, aged 8-9, a digital camera (somehow) still intact and cradled to their chest with their free arm. Most likely male, caucasian-asian or some similar mix, dark hair, blue eyes. Any bruises were harder to make out through all the dust in the air.

“Welp, nice meeting you, you're welcome for the assist, by the way!” 

Batman looked down at The Riddler, who was still knocked out on the floor disapprovingly. The Riddler groaned in tandem when the child shifted to get up. At least everyone was alive.

“Let me take you to the hospital, kid.” 

“No no… I’m perfectly fine, super duper fine.”

“Sure… why don’t you tell me your name and we can get you somewhere safe?”

“My name?” Bruce could feel a headache form between his eyes already. “...Al….”

“Al?”

“Short for- for Alvin. Alvin Draper.”

“Nice to meet you, Alvin. Do you feel ok to stand?” Alvin shoved himself up, almost tripping over a spare piece of ruble.

Batman reached out to steady his arm, and the kid flinched a moment before leaning in with mumbled thanks. Batman led him out of the building as the kid stumbled slightly dazed beside him. They  arrived where he stashed the Batmobile, a little ways away from the building– cursing his decision to make a quiet entrance. He could hear that the police were arriving now, and smirked slightly at the thought of and he had left The Riddler's hands tied together with Bat-zip ties. 

The take down had been easy enough, he had gotten the jump on Riddler before any hostages were taken, leaving most of the traps useless as well. 

What did surprise him was the poison gas– it reminded him a little too much of Scarecrows, and left him dizzy. Were the two Rogues working together? It wouldn’t be unheard of.

“Get in kiddo.” The glare he received was withering. He cleared his throat, “Alvin.”

Alvin practically jumped in the car, wincing but shifting excitedly in his seat. Batman winced internally, he reminded him of Dick when he first rode in the Batmobile. Jittery, but excited, happy.

Batman started the car.

“Is this a kidnapping?” 

Batman grunted.

“I am willing to jump out of this moving car, my ribs might be bruised but I believe in my abilities.”

Batman wanted to ask what abilities those were, but instead let out another sigh. “We’re going to Leslie’s.”

“Nooooo… Batman… What happened to no hospital? The betrayal. I’m wounded.”

“Which is why you are going to get checked up.”

The kid slumped against his seat, looking out the window solemnly.

“I think I’m going to puke.”

Batman reached into the back seat pocket and handed over a couple puke bags. Alvin was not pleased.

“Seriously? I need some- some fresh air– we're going One Billion miles an hour right now let me puke in the wild or something. I don’t want it sloshing around with me….”

Batman pulled into a covering of a mostly abandoned alleyway. He didn’t want a bag of puke thrown on him. “Fine.” He unlocked the doors, swinging his open only to witness the child bolt past him, and slide back-yard-water-slide style directly into a storm drain. What the fuck. Was he hallucinating from the smoke?

With all his years of training, for combat and tracking, he had never seen someone dive head first into a storage drain with so much… gusto. Batman crouched down by the drain, he could hear someone splashing about to the left.

“Alvin… I don’t want you to get lost down their bud…” Some kind of psychotic giggling was his only answer and for a moment he feared he had just lost one of Gotham's newest Rogues. 

Batman wanted to blast through the sewer but thought better of it. He needed more information first. Batman strode towards the car, one thought repeating endlessly. Who is Alvin Draper?

— — —

Tim POV

Tim giggled, a little manically if he were being honest. The Batman was after him. That was so insane. So cool. So– so….

Tim started to cry. He wasn’t really sure why. He was fine, the camera was fine, everything was fine and Batman didn’t know his real identity. He will though– it's just a matter of time, your DNA is all over his car, he knows what you look like. 

His mom’s voice filled his head, Knowing what to look for is the first step to finding it.  

And then his fathers, Can’t you do anything right for once?

Ouch, Tim’s hallucinations of his parents were getting a little too personal with the commentary.

We’re in your head, of course it’s personal.

Shut up, hallucination mom, you missed my 11th birthday and only sent me an email about it a week ago, you have no place to talk.

Tim grit his teeth fuck fuck fuck . If he didn’t keep the Nest and Burrows running– how would he help those kids? And if he didn’t help those kids… He thought about Becca and Andy. They’d been a lot more busy but they were closer now. Kind of. He couldn’t lose that. Not because of some dumb mistake.

Tim’s thoughts were interrupted by a scuttling sound. Tim’s blood ran cold.

Rats

Tim turned a corner, full speed and barely skidding to a stop before kissing the wall. Gross. The price of outrunning his new mortal enemy: Rats.

Tim was glad he had spent so much time underground with a dumb glow in the dark paint brush. It was only a few minutes until he found a little glowing sparrow, beckoning him to the wall. The brick hadn’t even been replaced with a door yet, and the hole was only big enough for someone relatively small, but it worked out. He passed through another series of tunnels and trap doors, reading signs stating each level he climbed down.

PARK ROW- 24B

PARK ROW- 24C

PARK ROW-25D

BOWERY-26D

He was only a short way from the main burrow, and he hadn’t had coffee for at least 3 hours now. Everything was happening a little too fast for him to be so under-caffeinated.

He let out a sigh of relief when he made it to the main tunnel. Brightly lit and lined with labeled doors. He needed to get to his room– a nice little freak out proof space with a bed and a desk. The more important part was the secret entrance.  Unfortunately the secret entrance was at the other end of the burrow, and he didn’t feel like walking through any more tunnels today.

Tim pulled his hood up– showered with another layer of dust– and walked to Becca’s office. 

“Tim?”

“Coffee.”

“Hi Coffee, I’m Becca.”

“Har har. Coffee.” Becca handed over her cup, watching him intrigued but appropriately horrified as he chugged it. “Where’s Andy?”

“Showing some new kid around, why?”

“Storm drain entrance near… the 24-A Park Row entrance is compromised. The door there is also unfinished, so either we enforce it or….”

“We close it off.”

“Yeah.” Tim hated closing entrances, it felt like his options were narrowing with each passage, like a roomba trying to vacuum, but the walls kept squeezing in. Tim was the roomba. But with Batman looking for Sparrow and Alvin Draper? There was no chance he wasn't down there tomorrow– if not sooner– looking for evidence against him. 

Tim flopped on a rollie chair by Becca’s desk.

“You’re getting…something on my desk.”

“Drywall.”

“You’re getting drywall all over my desk.”

“You’ve turned so mean since turning 17, I tremble at the thought of you in your legal adult form.”

Becca smiled, ruffling his hair– which only spread the dust further. “You going to bed?”

“No..” Becca looked at him, as if to say Timothy Jackson Drake go to bed and he was annoyed to say it worked. “...yes…. Yes I’m going to bed.”

“Good answer.”

—

By the time Tim made his way to the elevator, clicking B1, he was starting to really feel his ribs. The excitement of running away from The Batman had caused him to briefly forget the aching. It was probably normal, nothing worse than some surface bruising. Tim let out a breath, closing his eyes tightly for a moment. 

He walked past the rows of rooms, stopping at a slightly more secluded part of the hall to punch his door code in and press his finger print to the reader. 

Tim walked inside, almost crying again at the sight of the bed. He could deal with this all tomorrow. He shoved his camera (gently) under the bed, promising to wake up and hide the photos in his safe tomorrow. Until then, Tim gave up to the darkness and let sleep take him. Somewhere far away, I hope.  

Chapter Text

Tim woke up slowly. He blinked the sleep out of his eyes, stumbling to the bathroom to splash water on his face. His clothes were rumpled and caked with weird warehouse dirt, so he shucked them off in exchange for the extra Sparrow outfit he kept here. 

Tim made quick work of hiding his camera, and pulled on his mask and hoodie. He really needed to get a better suit. 

Tim checked his phone, to discover 99+ notifications, ranging from Becca, Andy, to his security system. The number wasn’t out of the normal– the content that concerned him. He only read one before running.

Becca: Your private computer system has been hacked

Tim’s first thought was Oracle– but how? They had only been in contact a few times, and always from a burner or payphone. And if anything, Oracle had been begrudgingly thankful for his help. (He had to start sending more private information straight to her instead of Gordon. He still wasn't sure if the man knew Batman’s identity or not and didn’t want to risk it.)

He ran to the room (annoyed at having to take the elevator down 2 levels) stepping into the computer lab. It was modeled how Tim imagined the Batcomputer to be like, a couple big monitors and 12 layers of coding to try and keep it hidden (from the bats mostly).

Tim made a point not to include any cameras in the private areas, but he kept a couple pictures only stationed at the main passages and floors. He made sure each new member was briefed on this– it was for their safety, after all.

The only things he did keep private were his rooms in the Burrows and the Nest, and his computer lab. He didn’t feel totally comfortable giving just anyone access to half of Gothams working cameras. 

“Who did it? Oracle?”

Becca started pulling up footage halfway outside the lab. “It was done from the main console, they were inside– they didn’t even really hack it, they just… looked up some information and left.”

Andy piped up, looking uncomfortable. “I know who it was… I was meant to watch him. I'm sorry. It was–”

“Jason Todd.” Jason's face filled the camera screen, and Tim felt ice start dripping down his back.  Robin was in his nest.

—

Tim kicked Andy and Becca out, as respectfully as he could. They still didn’t know Jason was Robin- that Batman would be here any moment. First Tim had to see what exactly Jason was looking for.

Sheila Haywood.  

— — — 

Jason had practically sprinted away the moment Andy left him alone in a room. It was surprisingly nice, actually, but Batman would notice he was gone sooner or later, if Alfred hadn’t told him, and he needed real information about what was going on around here.

What surprised him was that he had. Him , Jason Todd . Not Robin– Jason. There was a digitalized copy of his Birth Certificate, for fucks sake. The only problem was, it wasn’t signed by Catherine Todd, like he would have expected.

Who the fuck was Sheila?

— 

Now Jason was power walking through some refurbished warehouse the elevator had brought him too, and planning his next flight to Ethiopia. 

He called Dick– Like 6 times and left a voicemail. Maybe he would hear it and come assist– god knows he needs it but bruce…. Bruce wouldn’t understand. He’s already been cutting him out from easy fights– like the Riddler for god's sake. Still… He could use some back up.

Jason stepped into the street, phone in hand, hovering over the call button.

He never noticed the man in white face paint listening in.

— — —

Batman had been on his way home when he drove by a couple of Joker's goons loitering around, and stopped to look into it. Where Joker's workers were, the Joker was never far behind. 

His night finally ended 3 wrecked cars later to find the Joker hadn't been with them. Apparently, he wasn't even in the country. All Bruce had was a box of paperwork they had left behind. He looked inside, and by the look of the numerous signatures, it belonged to one Willis Todd. 

Bruce returned to the cave agitated. Alvin Draper's disappearance and The Joker's recent break out were eating at him. If Rogues were teaming up, maybe Sparrow had finally switched sides. He didn’t even know if Sparrow was on his side to begin with. A total unknown. 

And the box of paperwork signed by Jasons birth father– a box he apprehended from Joker's gang. There was something going on, he just had to find what.

He returned to the face of Alfred, and suddenly regretted ignoring his calls. Alfred was not happy.

“Are you all right, Master Bruce?”

“Yes.”

“Then I should inform you I have called you numerous times, Master Bruce. Jason left this evening– and now that I see he didn’t meet up with you, I know I am correct to worry.”

“Jason’s gone?”

“On the plane right now sir.”

Bruce's phone started to ring. Jason.

“Jason.”

“Hey–”

“Where were you?”

“I– On a goddamned walk. To clear my head or whatever. There's something we need to talk about.”

“Hn.”

“I- found… some evidence that Catherine– she's my step mom. I have– my birth mom is out there, alive , and I've tracked her down. She responded pretty fast actually. I’m going to visit her.”

“No.” Bruce thought back to the box of papers… This must have something to do with that. It had the smell of a trap written all over it.

“What do you mean ‘no’.”

“I know you took the death of your parents hard– but you can’t just fly across the country on a whim.”

“It’s not a whim! This is– it's important to me. I need– I have to find her. And I will, with or without your help.”

Jason hung up.

— — —

Tim booked a very expensive series of flights. He didn’t have all of the information, but he knew Jason was headed to Ethiopia. He also knew Joker was headed to Ethiopia. 

Jason had a head start, but Tim had enough connection to hitchhike his way and possibly, if everything went right, beat him there.

In the meantime, he needed to make a call.

Chapter Text

Tim stepped out of the helicopter, waving to the pilot. He had helped his son when he decided it would be a great idea to solo trip as rebellion to Gotham of all places.

“Stay safe Sparrow!”

Tim nodded with a thumbs up.

He unmuted his comms, a direct channel to Oracle he had set up on his trip. It was risky, but there was no time to worry about her right now. Besides, he had already threatened his security by hacking into Batman's tracker system to find Jason, what was one more.

“Okay Oracle, I’ve made it.”

“Can I try one more time to convince you this is a bad idea?”

“You can try, but I’d recommend you save your breath.”

“Batmans on his way right now and I’d prefer it if you didn’t try to fight the Joker.”

“Batman’s probably still like– half an hour away. Who knows how long Jason has.”

Tim crept through the asylum, surprised to find it unlocked. He made his way to the nearest vent, and slid up it with some difficulty. You’d think with all the practice he had it would get easier–no, only more annoying when he started sliding down.

Tim followed the sound of creepy laughter, something he did not enjoy crawling towards . The things you do for your idol to stop manhunting you across Gotham.

“Oracle, I have eyes on Jason.”

“ How does he look? ” Tim hesitated. Jason was bloody, and his right eye was purple and swelling up. A crowbar was laying a couple feet away from– of shit.

“There's a bomb.”

“ What? Tim explain. ” Tim couldn’t hear what Joker was saying, but he turned away and left. Tim could track him down later, for now Jason took priority. 

Tim dropped down as quietly as he could– significantly quieter if he counted the last time.

“There's less than a minute left on the clock.” Oracle was saying something but Tim wasn’t listening anymore.

He tried to undo ropes, but Tim hadn’t watched enough videos about knotts on youtube, apparently. 

“Jason, Jason you're okay I’m going to get you out. Can you hear me Jason?”

Jason looked at him through one eye, blood was dripping down his mouth and the side of his head. Tim saw the J carved there and almost puked. 

“ ar’ you… sp’rrow? I’ve b’n try… try’n’ reach you”

“Yeah, yeah I’m Sparrow. Sparrow and Robin. Funny right? Two birds. Gotham must have a thing for wings.”

Jason laughed under his breath, wincing. Tim inspected the bomb. He had no idea what to do.

“Oracle, are you there? How do I- there 20 seconds left, how do I stop it.”

“ Get out of there Sparrow  you can’t– I don’t– just get out .” 

Tim shut his eyes tight for a moment. He couldn't stop the bomb but he had a knife. Knife beats rope. 

Tim hacked away. “You're gonna be fine Jason, your dads on his way you can meet up ok?”

10

9

8

Jason was crying now, silently. He was saying something Tim couldn’t hear. He was so close.

6

5

Just a little more–

3

Tim leapt up, scooping Jason into his arms as best he could, and ran the opposite way of the bomb.

2

“I’ve got Robin he’s–”

BOOM  

— —

“ Sparrow– Sparrow respond!”

—

Fire raged around Tim. He was crying, open mouthed, all he could hear was a high pitched ringing. Jason lay beneath him, limp and covered in blood. Tim couldn’t tell what was broken from the crowbar, and what was damaged from the bomb.

Tims comm had flown off somewhere, along with his mask and half of his clothes. The other half melted into him by now. The skin on his arms was gone- blackened flesh and little shrapnel scratches. Tim's chest felt tight, and he couldn't tell if it was the smoke or heat or the 2 inch metal bar sticking out of his... spleen area. 

That didn’t matter now.

Jason was dead. 

—

Batman ran towards the smoke. He had seen the building explode– now all that was left was smoke and small flames.

And Jason.

Batman knelt before his boy. His boy. His boy was dead. 

Jason's head rolled limply towards him as he picked him up. The J on his face is almost hidden against Batman's chest. 

Bruce couldn’t bring himself to move. 

“Jason… Jason I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry Jason.” There was a hole opening up inside of bruce. Everything was being sucked away until he couldn’t breath, couldn’t speak.

“ B… ” Batman tore his comm out, throwing it across the room. 

A moment passed where time stood still, and for a moment Bruce could convince himself Jason would wake up. He was asleep, or pretending too, and Bruce was carrying him in from the car. Jason always worked too hard– he was tired–

Robin was dead. There was nothing Batman could do. He could take him home.

Home home home.

Batman stood, slowly, cradling Robin to his chest. He walked over to his comm, it had landed on something soft. The red caught his eye. A piece of Robin's uniform?

He picked it up. It was some kind of face covering, covered in soot and blood, but he could still make out the silhouette of the bird in the corner.

Sparrow.