Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Jason hesitated at the stairs that led up to the family wing of the manor. It wasn’t because he was scared of getting caught. He knew he was allowed to be in the manor. Bruce, Dick, and even Alfred, each made that clear several times in varying levels of desperation for him to acknowledge and accept their statements as invitations back into the family. Getting anyone in his family to speak plainly was like plucking teeth. And he'd know. Tim had ‘okay’ed the possibility of him returning to the manor with far less enthusiasm but no lack of sincerity, at least not that Jason could detect. 

Jason sighed and looked up at the ceiling with his eyes closed. A short, choked laugh escaped him. 

I wanted this. He thought to himself. I’m the one that started joining Dick on his patrols when he was back in Gotham. I’m the one that started using the Batcave. I’m the one that sent Tim a three page letter apologizing for nearly killing him. I wanted back in the family. 

“Do you need me to show you your room again?” Jason jerked his head toward Dick’s voice and breathed in through his nose hard enough to make him want to sneeze. “I know it’s been a while. Don’t worry, memory tends to go as you age. Completely normal.”

“You’re older than me.” Was all Jason could think to respond. He knew Dick wouldn’t judge him for having trouble with this. They’d just spent the last hour in the Batcave and the four hours of patrol before that discussing all the reasons Jason was hesitating to return home, even just for nights after rough patrols, but knowing Dick understood didn’t change the fact that looking weak in front of his big brother, the golden child, was embarrassing and upsetting.

Dick shrugged. “Do you want me to go up with you?” His voice was completely sincere.

Jason shook his head. “Just…” He cut himself off. He didn’t know exactly what he wanted to say. 

Wait for Bruce to get back and tell him I’m staying the night so that I don’t have to, because if I do he’ll try to talk about his feelings and I think he and I will both cry.

Tell Alfie I’ll be here for breakfast so he doesn’t fret over having made too few crepes when he sees me at the counter.

Warn Tim I’m here.

Fuck

“Where’s the bird?” He asked.

Dick looked a bit confused at the topic change but answered quickly. “He should be asleep in his room. It’s the one next to yours. He’s benched for a concussion right now and making it everyone’s problem.”

Jason recognized the teasing note in his brother’s voice at the end of his sentence as an olive branch to make the tense atmosphere lighter, but Jason didn’t take it.

“Are you sure he’ll be okay with me sleeping in the room next to his?”

Dick looked both pitying of Jason and concerned for Tim at the same time. Jason often wondered how his eyebrows handled such dramatic acrobatics. Probably comes with being attached to such a dramatic acrobatist. He nearly rolled his eyes at his own joke.

“I told you, Bruce and I have both talked to him about you spending more time at the manor. He’s watched you patrol alone and with others, he’s spoken to you in the cave, he knows you see Leslie in a therapeutic capacity, and he was really appreciative of your apology letter. He trusts that you’ve changed and have control over the Pit in all aspects of your life. We all do. It’s been almost a year now, Jay.” A year since he nearly killed Tim. “You’ve shown a lot of growth.” Jason could tell Dick was hesitating. “I’m not blind to the risks of this though. If it makes Tim too uncomfortable having you sleeping in the family wing I’d expect you to sleep in the guest wing instead when you stay the night.”

Fear. Rejection. Replacement. Anger. 

A burning pain started in his stomach and radiated rapidly through his veins. 

Fuck adrenaline. 

He closed his eyes and took a slow, deep breath. When he opened them he felt emotionally calmer, but a bit physically unsteady. His body was slightly warm from the rush of emotions.

“That’s fair.” He replied to Dick. His brother’s posture rapidly changed from guarded to relaxed again. 

Once Jason had time away from The Bats after his confrontation with Bruce over the Joker went to shit he was able to calm down enough to rethink his choices and then rethink his perspective on—basically everything. He knew Tim was a part of the family now, but he also knew that Tim had never, and would never, replace Jason. That wasn’t how relationships between families, or people in general, worked. The onus was now on Jason to make Tim feel comfortable if they were both going to be active members of the same family. If that meant his childhood bedroom was no longer going to be usable, well, it was a small sacrifice in the big picture of Tim allowing him to stay in the manor at all. “What if Tim needs me to leave the manor to be comfortable?” Jason didn’t know why he asked that. There was no answer he could imagine Dick would have that wouldn’t hurt him or leave him upset on Tim's behalf.

Dick seemed to feel the same way if the downward turn of his eyebrows was any indication. “We’d talk about it. All of us. I hope we'd be able to come to a compromise that suits everyone. No matter what, I love you both. If it does become a problem,” Dick shrugged, “We’ll face it then, but don’t start worrying about it when every response Tim has given about you staying at the manor has been positive.”

Jason nodded. 

“Now,” Dick clapped his hands together but slowed them at the last moment to muffle the sound. 

Jason smiled at the action. He could vividly remember Alfred’s lectures about being quiet inside the manor after patrol. The man did not appreciate being woken up. One notable occasion resulted in Jason helping Alfred with all of his chores the next day. He didn’t hate cooking, but cleaning the bathrooms was the peak of disgusting to 12 year old Jason. “Is there anything you need before going to bed? Alfred’s been keeping your room prepared for you, but if you need more blankets or pillows they’re all in the same closet as before, and your bathroom should be fully stocked.” Jason raised an eyebrow at that. “We’ve been really hopeful you’d stay over.” Dick defended. 

Jason let a small smile show and nodded again. He was feeling a bit overwhelmed by his brother’s support over the last several hours and just wanted to go to bed. 

Dick smiled warmly and placed his hand on Jason’s shoulder. “I’m glad you’re staying. Thank you.” He removed his hand and started toward the kitchen.

“Thanks.” Jason said quietly. If he hadn’t seen Dick’s next step falter he wouldn’t have thought he’d heard him. With that conversation over Jason had to return to his stare down with the steps.

You’ve literally murdered people. You can walk up some fucking stairs.

The banister felt familiar under his fingers even as his steps sounded wrong—too heavy. He could remember the very first time he walked up them. Dick in front of him, not overly friendly at the time, but forced to show Jason his room at Alfred’s request. He could remember Bruce checking on him after patrol, though at the time Jason just thought his WE hours were insane, and his crying when Bruce asked if the room decor was alright. It was better than any kid from The Alley could ever dream of having.

The carpet runner down the hallway was the same. The side table had a different vase. I wonder if Tim broke one too?

The door to his room was unchanged. Logically, that wasn’t surprising, but it was jarring none the less. He’d changed so much since the last time he’d stood in this spot. He’d literally died. It felt wrong somehow that the door hadn’t changed too. He knew seeing his room was about to feel the same. Alfred and Bruce had both mentioned that they left his room untouched after his death except to clean it.

He flipped the lightswitch as he opened the door and froze. The weirdness from the near exactness of his room to how he remembered it was mostly overshadowed by the weirdness of there being a body in his bed. He still noted his math homework on his desk as he quietly closed the door and walked toward the bed. Really guys? My algebra101 worksheets hold sentimental value?

Jason froze as he recognized the boy sleeping in his bed. 

Tim. 

It didn’t really make sense for it to be anybody else in his bed, no one else lived in the manor, but frankly, it didn’t make sense for it to be Tim either. For a moment Jason wondered if he actually did forget where his room was, but the homework had his name on it, the multiple book stacks at the foot of his bed were definitely his, and so was the wonder woman blanket Tim had wrapped himself in. 

Jason noted the boy hadn’t tucked himself in under the comforter. He looked a bit like a sad butterfly stuck in its chrysalis. What is he doing?

REPLACEMENT—RepLaceMent—replacement—SHUT UP

It’s just Tim. He’s not replacing me. He has his own room. I just need to ask him why he’s in mine. He’s an intelligent boy. I’m sure he’s got a really good reason that I just can’t think of and that isn’t stealing my room like he stole Robin.

“You better have a good excuse kid, cause this is really weird.” Jason whispered before gently shaking Tim’s shoulder. “Wakey wakey, you’re fucking crazy.”

Tim made a quiet sound and scrunched himself into a crescent shape. Jason could admit, it was very cute.

“Kiddo, you gotta get up. I need to sleep.”

Tim went from sleep still to scared prey animal still in a quarter of a second.

“I’m not mad.” Jason hurried to clarify. “Confused, but not mad.”

Tim’s body relaxed by a fraction and he sat up slowly. His hair was messy, his eyelids drooping despite his desperate attempts to keep them open, and his face resolutely facing the floor rather than Jason’s curious stare. 

“I’ll get out of here.” Tim said quickly. His voice was so quiet. Jason wondered if it was from sleep or fear. 

“Not just yet,” Jason moved so his hand was splayed palm out in front of Tim, ready to push him back on the bed if needed but not yet touching him. “I’d like an explanation of why you’re borrowing my bed?” 

Tim didn’t speak. He didn’t move either.

“Kid. I’m not gonna forget you’re here just cause you aren’t moving or speaking." Tim made a sound Jason didn’t know how to interpret. 

“I couldn’t sleep.” Tim said. He looked up at Jason and probably thought he did a good job at hiding his flinch. He did not. “That’s all.”

“So you picked my room to sleep in instead? A dead boy’s room is just more relaxing to you?” Jason put more heat behind those words than he intended, but he was just genuinely very confused.

Tim flinched again. This one wasn’t remotely subtle. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I just wanted to sleep and I couldn’t and this room is the closest and it’s not creepy and barren like the other ones. I’m sorry.”

Tim was nearly in tears. 

“It’s alright.” Jason stepped out of Tim’s way and sighed. “Just get back to your own bed and I’ll forget this ever happened.”

Tim nodded rapidly and rushed toward the door.

“Aye!” Jason called. Tim froze with his hand reaching toward the door knob. “My blanket?”

Tim turned, face bright with a rosy blush, and handed Jason back his wonder woman blanket before running out of the room. He didn’t even close the door.

“Weird kid.” Jason said and prepared himself for bed. 

Chapter Text

Jason thought that finding the kid in his bed would be a one time thing. Tim had done such a good job at acting normal the next morning that Jason started to think he’d hallucinated the interaction. His subconscious trying to make him face the guilt of what he did to the child that is now his little brother and all that. Wouldn’t be the weirdest thing to happen to him. Not by a mile.

Except. Tim Drake was in his bed again. And he was crying.

Jason wasn’t planning to stay the night at the manor, but a bullet managed to peirce the back of his body armor and it was too close to his shoulder for him to risk taking care of it himself. So, he came to the cave, and it was basically routine now that if he came to the cave for medical assistance he would stay the night. He told himself it was because it was convenient and it made his family happy, but he could admit to himself that it felt really good to be explicitly cared for and wanted by his family. 

So here he was, standing in his doorway, staring at Tim Drake bawling in his bed. He could hear the choppy breaths and congested sniffles. For a brief second he genuinely considered yelling for Dick and running away, but clearly Tim had some reason for seeking out Jason’s room, and that made this Jason’s problem to deal with. He wanted to improve his relationship with Tim. This was as good a starting off point as any.

“Hey, Tim? You doing alright?” Obviously he’s not doing alright, idiot! He’s crying!

Tim’s breath hitched more violently and Jason wanted to strangle whoever or whatever made his brother feel this way.

Jason stepped closer to the bed. “Tim?” He crouched next to Tim rather than sit on the bed and risk making him feel trapped. “I’m not mad you’re in my room again. I promise. Can you tell me what’s wrong?”

Tim was clearly struggling to calm down enough to speak. 

“I’ll be right back. Just going to get you some water.” Jason moved to pat Tim on the back but stopped himself. He found physical touch grounding when he was upset, but that didn’t mean Tim did, or that if he did he’d feel safe with Jason touching him.

Jason grabbed the empty cup he left on his nightstand the last time he was over and mentally thanked Alfred for always cleaning and returning it for him before heading to the bathroom and filling the cup with cold water for Tim. 

When he returned to his room Tim looked a little better. His breathing slowed, though it was still far faster than normal, and he wasn’t actively crying. Jason grabbed the tissue box on his desk and handed it to Tim with the glass of water. Tim took the items without comment. It felt like a win to Jason. Brotherly action successful!

Tim blew his nose loudly before looking at Jason with sad, tired, red eyes. Jason was going to need the kid to tone down the kicked puppy look. It made him want to pet the kid's hair.

“I’m sorry.” Were the first words Tim managed to say.

Jason crouched back down so that Tim wouldn’t have to look up at him. “For what?” He was genuinely curious.

“Being in your room again. Crying all over your bed.” His breath hitched. “Existing.” He said quietly, looking back down at the carpet instead of Jason. 

Jason felt his eyes widen. Fuck. I am not qualified for this.

Jason went to speak but paused. “Can I sit on the bed with you?” he asked.

Tim looked suspicious but nodded in acceptance.

“Thank you,” Jason moved to sit next to Tim. It put less pressure on them to look at each other. “I meant it when I said I wasn’t mad. You have nothing to apologise for, but I do want to know why you seem to come to my room when you’re upset? If I can help, I’d like to. I owe you one. I owe you several actually.”

Jason may have seen a slight upturn to Tim’s mouth but it could have just as easily been hopeful thinking. 

Tim blew his nose again and his breathing was nearly normal. “It feels safe.” Tim said. He still wouldn't look up at Jason.

“Oh,” Jason didn’t know what to say. “Okay. You come to my room when you’re upset because you feel safe here?”

Tim nodded. Jason felt like he might cry. He didn’t understand. He nearly killed Tim. This was too much for him to handle.

“Can I ask why my room makes you feel safe?”

“Robin.” 

Jason was still confused. “Robin?”

Tim sniffled. New tears started falling down his face but thankfully his breathing stayed steady. 

“You were my Robin.”

Oh. Oh, fuck. Jason wanted to puke. He was Tim’s Robin. It would make sense that the kid looked up to him. Jason knows he looked up to Dick. He still does. 

He nearly killed Tim. He told him that he hated him and then hurt him in every way he could manage. He’d felt himself justified at the time. He’d been satisfied with how he left Tim barely breathing. He hurt Tim. Meanwhile, Tim found comfort in the memory of Jason’s Robin. Fuck me.

“Fuck, Tim, I’m so sorry kid. I’m so sorry. I should have never hurt you.” Jason ran his hands down his own face. He could feel his eyes starting to water and took a deep breath. “I’m so sorry. I was awful.”

“I already told you, I understand. I know why you did the things you did, and I know you wouldn’t do things the same way now.” Tim sounded sincere.

Jason decided to take a risk. He put his hand on Tim’s shoulder. Tim tensed for a second but didn’t say anything or try to move away. “I hurt you, Tim.”

Tim snorted. He looked at Jason. “No? I had no idea.”

Jason laughed and ruffled Tim’s hair. Successful brother sarcasm and responding hair ruffle complete!

Jason’s expression settled as Tim continued talking. “After the Red Hood attack,” it was Jason’s turn to tense. “I tried to stop hiding in here. It just—” Tim had to pause to blow his nose. Jason would definitely need Alfred to clean his blanket now that it was covered in Tim’s used tissues. “I’ve always been an anxious person, and when I first became Robin it got a lot worse.” Tim looked directly at Jason and tears welled in his little brother’s eyes. “I didn’t know what I was doing.”

Jason grabbed a tissue and wiped at the tear tracts on Tim’s cheeks. He had to do something to distract himself from how much he fucked up when he targeted Tim.

Tim blushed at Jason's babying. “One night, I just couldn’t take the stress. I’ve always had insomnia and it just makes every anxious thought worse.” Jason nodded. “So, I left my bedroom and went in yours. I just wanted a distraction. Nothing else!” Tim looked scared that Jason would react badly. Jason just squeezed his shoulder and gestured for Tim to continue. “You were my hero. I thought I could explore your room a bit and distract myself, and it worked. I went back to my room that night and fell asleep.”

Jason looked around his room and tried to imagine it from little Tim’s eyes. He had some photos above his desk that could be interesting to an outsider. One with him, Dick, Bruce, and Alfred. Another with just him and Dick, and one of just him and Bruce. There was one of him and his mom, the one that raised him. He felt his heart pang. He’d been meaning to put it away. There was a photo of him climbing a tree in the back garden, his smile wide, and another of him in the manor entree way looking up at the chandelier in awe. He could remember Alfred taking that photo. It was his very first time inside the manor.

His books were probably flipped through. He would have to ask Tim if he read any of them another time. It’d be nice to have someone to talk about them with. Other than the photos and books he felt like his room was pretty mundane. Bruce had let him paint the walls a dusty blue that Alfred approved as being ‘respectable’ and Jason felt gave his room more character. That was about as interesting as it got though.

“And you kept coming back?” Jason prompted Tim to continue talking.

Tim nodded. “When I got overwhelmed and needed to calm down. No one else in the house would ever check your room. It felt safe. It felt like Robin was protecting me.” Stab me in the heart, why don’t you kid? “ Then it became a habit. When the insomnia became unbearable and I couldn’t sleep in my room it just made sense to sleep in Robin’s. Even after the tower–” Tim paused like he wasn't sure he wanted to keep talking. Jason held his breath. “I know logically that you were Robin and then you became the Red Hood and both were–are Jason Todd, but emotionally it’s like they’re three different people.” Jason nodded. Sometimes it felt that way to him too. “I was having anxiety and panic attacks a lot after the tower.” Jason was going to cry. There was simply no way he’d get through this conversation without tears falling. “I didn’t want to hide in here because I thought it’d make the attacks worse, but I got desperate.” Tim took a deep breath. “I just wanted to feel safe.” He whispered. Jason felt a tear roll down his cheek and grabbed himself a tissue. “It worked. I guess I kind of conditioned myself by always using your room to feel safe that even after you hurt me it still worked. It still feels like Robin’s room.” Tim shrugged. “And I still feel like Robin will keep me safe. However insane and illogical that is.”

Jason took a deep breath and wiped his own tears. “I’m glad that my Robin has helped you feel safe. I’m sorry that me as the Red Hood has made you feel unsafe. But I’m not Robin anymore, you are. And you’re a fantastic Robin. Bruce would quite literally be dead without you, and probably Dick too and half of Gotham.” Tim smiled through his own tears. “And the Red Hood is different now. No more needless excessive violence. No more letting anger control everything. But I’m not really the Red Hood either. It’s just a character I play so that I can help Gotham in the best way I am able.”

Jason took Tim’s chin between his fingers and lifted his face so they could make proper eye contact. “Right now, I’m Jason Todd, and I’m your big brother. Okay?” Tim nodded and sniffled. “I love you. I will never hurt you again, and if I do I will grovel and beg for your forgiveness because you don’t deserve to be hurt Tim. Not ever. Not by anyone. I will protect you, and I will keep you safe, and you can come hide in my room whenever you want, but you can also come directly to me. Okay?” Tim cried harder and nodded before throwing his arms around Jason’s chest and hugging him.

“I’ve got you, kid. I’ve got you. I’m here now.” Jason ran his hand through Tim’s hair and let the kid cry. He still wanted to know what made the kid so upset today to begin with, and he hadn’t forgotten the throw away comment about being sorry for existing, but for now he’d let the kid cry himself out. “You can stay here as long as you want. The bed is big enough for both of us.” Jason kissed Tim’s head.

“I want to stay.” Tim whispered.

“Okay.” I can do this. I can be a good big brother.

Chapter Text

A month had passed since Jason found Tim crying in his bed. He hadn’t caught Tim in his room again, though he did once catch Tim leaving. When he asked the kid if he was okay he just nodded and said he felt better before running down to the cave for patrol. It was alright though, his and Tim’s relationship had improved tremendously over the last month. 

It wasn’t uncommon for them to watch TV in the manor, or spend time in the library together. Jason was usually reading for fun while Tim worked on homework. Jason particularly enjoyed helping Tim with his English assignment on The Crucible. 

They even patrolled together occasionally. Jason was trying to show Gotham that The Red Hood was really more of an anti-hero than a regular crime lord, and being seen helping out some of the Bats was good for his PR. 

Tim seemed to find comfort in hanging around Jason, he just needed to get more comfortable explicitly asking Jason for support rather than chancing upon the opportunities.

The kid wasn’t hiding the fact that he was still spending time in Jason’s room, though. There were obvious signs of Tim’s presence. The photo of his mom that he took down was replaced with one of Jason at his first gala. Tim must have been a baby when he took that photo. Jason looked ridiculous trying to keep a proper posture while hiding behind Bruce. There was another one of him later in the night, clearly more comfortable, shoving his face full of chocolate covered strawberries while Bruce stood far off in the background smiling at him. 

Jason gave Bruce a hug that night when the man returned from patrol.

“What was that for?” Bruce asked.

Jason shrugged. “Just cause.”  ‘Tim gave me an old photo that reminded me you’ve always loved me as I am.’ Was a bit much for a random Wednesday night.

Bruce looked bemused and hesitant. “Can I hug you sometimes, ‘just cause’?” He asked.

Jason thought about it. Part of him wanted to say no, and reject the idea of letting Bruce have free access to his affection again after he hurt him, but more of him just wanted to move on from the past and let himself be loved. 

Jason nodded. “Yeah, that’d be nice.” He said quietly.

Bruce hugged him immediately. 

The photos weren’t the only addition. Tim had left his own annotated copy of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World on Jason’s nightstand along with a rubric for his next English assignment. He’d been enjoying rereading the book with Tim’s thoughts scrawled in the margins. They’d definitely be able to get him another A.

There was also a second cup on the other nightstand for Tim. Jason had briefly wondered why Alfred left it before he realized Alfred probably always knew Tim spent time in Jason’s room from the altered bedsheets alone.

There was another blanket. The Nightwing theme made Jason suspect it had been a gift from Dick to Tim, probably as a joke, but it was kind of nice to have a reminder of his big brother with him. He’d rather get shot than tell Dick that, though. 

The newest Tim addition was clearly a joke. It was a bat plushie. It was cute. It had big wide blue eyes and pitch black fur. Kinda reminded him of Tim if he was being honest, and it was the first thing to make Jason laugh all day. 

It had been a rough day for Jason and his family. They learned Bruce had a biological son today, and Damian was interesting to say the least. His presence was clearly stressing Bruce out and making the rest of the family uneasy. It didn’t help that Damian kept targeting their insecurities by declaring himself the “Blood Son”. 

Dick seemed torn between trying to welcome Damian into the family as his cool big brother and throttling Damian when he declared them all second-rate place holders that were no longer needed. 

Bruce kept trying to parent Damian and explain that they were all his son’s, but Damian just scoffed and said it was ‘sweet’ of Bruce to feel that way but it didn’t make it true. 

Jason was worried about Tim. He hadn’t shown much emotion with Damian present, just kind of took what the kid threw at him. Jason had worked hard the past year to not give into his anger, but even he had given Damian a piece of his mind when the demon child tried to say they weren’t a real family. Jason had worked hard to earn his family back, thank you very much, and he knew Dick and Tim were his brothers. Bruce was his dad, as complicated as their relationship still was, and Alfred–well, he was Alfred. Jason saw him as a grandfather figure, and he suspected Dick and Tim did too. Found family is still family!

All's to say, Jason wasn’t surprised when Tim opened his door and poked his head in. He made no move to enter Jason’s room.

“You can come in.” Jason said. He sat up in his bed to better face his brother. “You’re always welcome in here.” He reminded.

Tim nodded, looking minorly more relaxed, and let himself into the room. He closed the door behind him before walking closer to Jason and pausing again, unsure where to go.

Jason opened his arms expectantly and Tim’s shoulders immediately untensed as he ran to hug his brother. 

Jason pulled him up onto his bed and lied back down so that Tim was laying over his chest. “How’re you holding up, Timmers?”

Tim groaned, the sound muffled by Jason’s shirt and sternum. 

Jason laughed. “That bad?”

“You met him. He’s evil. He hates us.”

Jason hummed as he scratched Tim’s scalp. The boy hummed back, pleased. “He’ll come around in time, hopefully. You know I did.”

Tim lifted his head enough to let him look at Jason’s face. “You had the effects of the Lazarus Pit messing with your emotions and you’d also literally died. Violently.” Jason snorted at Tim’s delivery. “I’m just saying, obviously I wasn’t a fan of your actions, but they were somewhat understandable. We could all follow your logic. Damian has a superiority complex and is just mad to be mad and–” Jason cut Tim off.

“He’s a kid, Tim. He’s in a new environment, his only parental figure right now is the father that didn’t even know he existed yesterday, and he has to accept that that same father has been raising three sons that aren’t his own blood instead of him. That makes his behaviour kind of understandable, I’d say.”

Tim sighed. “Fine, you make good points.”

“Course I do.” Tim scoffed. Jason was polite enough to ignore it. “And he was raised next to those damn Pits. It’s probably fucked with his DNA or some shit.”

Tim laughed, but Jason could tell there was still something serious on his little brother’s mind. He rolled them over so they were lying on their sides and he could see Tim’s face better.

“Now, what’s really brought you here? Cause I know it’s not just Damian being a bigger dick than Dick.”

Tim didn’t answer immediately, just stared at Jason’s shirt. “I’m scared.”

Jason nodded. “Of what?”

Tim took a deep breath. Jason subtly checked that there was a tissue box by his nightstand. This looked like the start of a crying session.

“I’m not like you and Dick. Bruce didn’t choose me.” Tim paused, evidently trying to hold off his tears as long as possible. “I…I just showed up. And I know he loves me, I do, but I’m just scared that he’s going to realize how much more he loves Damian. And then…then he’ll realize he doesn’t actually see me as his kid.” Tim sniffled. The tears were winning now, but Jason was frozen in his movement to grab the tissue box by Tim’s next words. “I was a replacement and then apparently a placeholder and now…now I don’t know what I am?”

It was Jason’s turn to take a deep breath. “You were never a replacement, okay? You took on the mantle of Robin because someone had to, and you never tried to be my Robin. You made it your own. It wasn’t like I was using it at the time, anyway.” 

Tim made a sound at that. Jason couldn't tell if it was a laugh or a reprimand. Tim could make jokes about Jason’s death, but he didn’t tend to like it if Jason made reference to it himself. 

Jason continued to speak. “And you didn’t replace me as Bruce’s son. I know we’ve talked about it already, but I’ll say it as many times as I need to. I know you didn’t replace me.” Tim nodded. “And you definitely were never a placeholder for a son Bruce didn’t even know existed. Okay?” Tim nodded again.

Jason grabbed the tissues and after giving Tim a few moments to calm down and blow his nose he gave him another hug. 

“Bruce loves us all, even the new little demon child, and he did choose you. He gave you a room here, he lets you work with WE, he stays involved with your schooling. That’s him choosing you, Tim. It’s him trying to be involved in your life and let you into his because he loves you and you are family. That's what you are.” It took Jason a lot of time and therapy to understand how Bruce showed his care for them all. He was glad he could help Tim see it, though he would be pushing Bruce to be more direct with Tim about how much he loved him moving forward. 

Tim was crying again, but it was okay. He just needed to get the strong emotions out of his system. 

“Thank you.” Tim hugged Jason tighter. “I’m really glad you’re my brother.”

Jason felt his eyes water. “I’m really glad I’m your brother too.”