Work Text:
It’s not that Tim would. He wouldn’t. It’s just that. If he did. If he did he’d need to have everything planned perfectly. He wouldn’t but once he starts thinking about it his brain goes in circles and circles and circles latching onto every detail and every contingency that he might need. Calculating bodyweight and milligrams and schedules and timelines. Tim’s not that strong so he’d have to have a way to move anything over a hundred pounds or so.
And it’s just— it’s just a thought exercise, really. So there’s no harm in planning it out. Doing his research. Sedatives and anesthetics. Ropes and locks. Syringe preparation and proper usage. Where he can buy them, how to be untraceable.
It’s all just... it’s a game. It’s a game he can play in his head to work out all the kinks of this hypothetical when he gets bored.
But then he buys some Propofol. He figures out how to get it, how to pay cash for it and then he—
He stores it in the back of his closet. In a little lock box after memorizing the use-by date.
Why did he—
He’s not going to do anything.
He’s not. It’s just... Now that he’s started, he can’t seem to stop.
The thing is this is Robin. Robin should have the proper training to tell if he’s being tailed or not. Even if neither he nor Batman have ever noticed Tim at night before this is different. This is broad daylight. Tim is sitting on the same bench he’s sat on for the past week watching Jason Todd get off of a bus and then walk the four blocks to the public library. Tim gets up and follows about ten meters back. He’s not even trying to be sneaky! Not really. But Jason doesn’t seem to notice him at all even when he trips over his own two feet and stumbles into a utility pole.
Jason never notices him, not even once. Not when Tim sits at a nearby table in the Library watching him for hours, he never looks up, too engrossed in his pile of books.
Tim doesn’t even know why Jason goes to the library. Surely Wayne Manor has its own library. Surely Bruce Wayne would buy any book Jason could ever want.
Still he finds himself grateful that Jason still visits the public library after all these years. It allows Tim hours of uninterrupted time to watch him. To just witness Jason Todd existing in a space. In some ways he’s nothing like the Robin Tim sees at night. In others, they're exactly the same.
Robin is full of movement. Tapping fingers, quick eyes, swift hits. He can still himself, of course, when the time calls for it but it’s nothing like watching Jason hunch over a book.
He’ll sit still for hours, hardly even breathing. The only movement to turn to the next page. Entirely enraptured by the story on the page.
Tim loves to watch him come out of it. Jason will reach the end of a chapter, or the end of a book, and roll his head back and forth before stretching his arms up to relieve his spine of the tension. He’ll blink owlishly at the change in lighting outside before moving to collect his things. Tim understands the feelings. Sometimes he’ll get so lost in projects that when he looks up it’s the next day. Morning sun streaming through his window.
He likes to think that’s something they share.
Still, Batman should really talk to Jason about not having such a predictable schedule. Tim himself had been victim of a few kidnappings and close calls because he became complacent in his everyday. After boarding school his parents had to set up private drivers for him and warn him from taking the bus. They were too high profile, he had to be more careful.
Of course, what they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them.
No one had to know that Little Timmy Drake was out in the dead of night following around The Bat and his Robins. He was as careful as he could be and took the proper precautions. The Bats had only spotted him a handful of times and he’d been able to spin those meetings in his favor, minimizing the suspicion. At least he hopes. For all he knows Batman has a file on “Rooftop Kid” buried deep in his supercomputer.
Tim hasn’t been going out as much, he has Senior finals and internship applications to figure out. He’s had to be content with only seeing Jason at the library or in town. He’ll have to make some time soon, though. Tim honestly isn’t sure how much longer Jason is going to even be Robin. Jason is nearly twenty, already in his second year of college, and Tim has seen who can only be Damian Wayne out and about in how own Robin costume more and more. The two seem to be sharing the mantle at the moment, but Tim can tell Jason is ready to spread his wings.
He’s going to be beautiful when he does.
Jason shifts and Tim ducks his head to pretend to be looking over his test exams. He’d given it a valiant effort but in the end Jason had won his attention, as he usually does.
Jason cracks his neck side to side before he moves to pack up his belongings; a few textbooks from school and one or two chapter books that look new. Tim will have to download and read them later. Tim wonders if the Wayne family is truly so oppressive that Jason finds it better to come to the public library to read and study. He can’t imagine a house that large doesn’t have at least a few places Jason could hide away in. Even when Tim’s parents are home Drake Manor is large enough to swallow up any sound. Surely Wayne Manor, which is a good size bigger, has quiet corners Jason could curl up in.
Jason stands and pushes his chair in. Tim waits a few beats before quickly gathering his notes and shoving them into his backpack.
As he does his hand brushes against the case holding the syringe. He shouldn’t be bringing this with him. If someone ever had to look inside his backpack for any reason it’d be beyond suspicious. He pulls it out and slides the case in his jacket pocket. Trying to ignore the funny feeling in his gut as he zips his bag shut and slings it over his shoulders.
He’s not going to do anything.
Jason is already outside at the bottom of the library steps by the time Tim makes his way to the front of the building. He’s texting on his phone and Tim can tell from here he’s exasperated. He visibly huffs and rolls his eyes before turning away from the direction of the bus stop and making his way up the street.
What.
Tim scrambles after him, careful not to let the library doors slam on his way out.
Where could Jason possibly be going?
Tim follows him up the street, trying to stay about half a block back but his heart is beating in his ears.
Jason never deviates from his schedule. He goes to the library on the weekends, spends a few hours there reading or working on his college thesis before heading back home. He’s never gone anywhere else.
Tim feels lightheaded as he watches Jason check his phone before turning down a side alley.
Why is he straying from the main streets? Is it a shortcut? Doesn’t he know that's dangerous?
Tim’s hands shake so he shoves them in his pockets, his right hand clenches against the case he’d slid in there earlier.
He turns the corner to the alley only a few beats after Jason.
Jason stands halfway down the alley, head bent over his phone. He’s talking to himself. “No, that can’t be right...” He mutters and he shifts as if to turn around.
Shit.
He’s going to turn around and see Tim only a few paces back. He’s going to turn around and look at Tim and he’s going to know.
Static roars in Tim’s ears. He can’t— He doesn’t—
He loses a bit of time, then.
The needle slides cleanly into Jason’s neck, even though Tim doesn’t remember filling it. What follows is a blur to him later. He’s pretty sure it involves two separate vehicles, a stolen dumpster, and several destroyed security cameras.
He blinks back to himself as he’s dragging Jason down the stairs at his parent’s house.
Jesus Christ. It’s a good thing they’re not home. He can only imagine what Dana would say if she saw him lugging around an unconscious boy. He knows she loves him but whenever he talks too long about one of his projects she starts getting this confused yet concerned look in her eyes.
Jason’s feet thump down each step. Tim has his hoisted up so that he has his arms hooked under Jason’s armpits. Tim isn’t exactly weak but Jason is a good sized guy.
And he’s warm.
And he smells good.
Tim pulls Jason to an unfurnished back bedroom. His mom had always talked about redoing the basement but she’d never gotten around to it. The staff hardly ever come down here, just a cleaning crew once a month to dust and maintain upkeep. Mrs. Mack does her best to delegate on what needs the most attention but with Tim the only one living here 24/7 most of the house doesn’t see a lot of use.
He could keep Jason down here for weeks, and no one would be any the wiser.
He’s already propped Jason against the far wall and gone back to shut the door when his thoughts finally catch up with him.
Keep Jason for weeks? He— what was he—?
Tim turns around and stares at Jason’s unconscious form for a few moments before his breathing kicks up a few notches.
What the fuck?
Did he just—
He just kidnapped Jason Todd.
Robin.
He just took Robin from an alley and drugged him and took him home.
Why the fuck did he do that?
Tim glances down and there’s rope in his hands, he drops it and jumps back from it as if it’s a live snake.
Jesus Christ.
He moves away from the rope and lets himself drop to the floor.
What the fuck.
Tim just kidnapped someone.
Tim just kidnapped someone.
There’s always been something just a little bit off about him. The way he obsesses, the way he fixates.
But this?
Christ.
Jason Todd sniffs slightly and he slips from the wall until he’s laying awkwardly on his side. Tim’s eyes latch onto him.
What the fuck is he going to do?
He can— he has too—
Maybe he can take Jason back to the alley where Tim first— where Tim took him from.
Tim can keep watch and make sure nothing happens and then Jason will wake up and think he just, what, passed out? That’s never going to work!
Maybe he can get Jason to Wayne Manor and in his bed and Jason will just think he magically forgot the rest of the afternoon and also his family won’t know that he came home and also; break into Wayne Manor? Is Tim crazy?
God. Jesus. What the fuck is he thinking? He can’t fix this! He needs to just call the cops now and turn himself in except his parents would be so disappointed and also calling the cops to Drake Manor it’s like he wants to shame his family name. Vicki Vale would have an absolute field day with that one.
Drake Heir kidnaps Wayne Boy because he has a crush and poor impulse control.
Oh yeah, that would go over swell.
Okay. Alright.
Just. He needs to do something.
He can take Jason back out and dump him somewhere. Dump his alive body because Tim is not a murderer. Jason will wake up and maybe freak out but then he’ll go home and Tim can just forget this whole thing.
And then the fucking bats are going to figure him out does he really think he can trick fucking Batman?
Okay, new plan.
Jason Todd’s eyes flutter open.
Tim’s mind blanks and he scuttles backwards. Not stopping until his head is bouncing off the adjacent wall.
Jason Todd groans and rolls onto his stomach, muttering something low that Tim can’t quite make out.
Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ what’s wrong with him?
Tim’s breathing picks up a few notches, and he feels lightheaded. Fuck.
Jason pushes himself up onto his hands and swings his head over to where Tim is hyperventilating. “I— shit my head.” He sits up then, hunching over on himself and pressing the palm of one hand against his forehead. “What the fuck did they give me? Jesus.” He breaths very carefully for a few seconds before sitting fully up and shooting Tim a strained smile. “Hey, you okay? Did you see the guys who nabbed us?”
Tim can’t— Tim can’t breathe. That is Jason Todd. Sitting not ten feet away. His eyes have a sort of glazed quality to them and his hair is swooping dramatically in front of his eyes. He’s absolutely gorgeous. Holy fuck. What the fuck did Tim do? Why can’t he be normal and control his impulses for once.
“I—” Tim tries, but his voice fails and his throat closes up on him, choking his words. Jason Todd is looking directly at him.
“Hey, hey,” Jason Todd says, struggling to his feet and coming closer to Tim. “No worries buddy, it’s gonna be okay. What’s your name?”
Jason Todd is asking what his name is.
They’ve met a handful of times at school and at galas but Tim has never been of the disillusion that Jason Todd would ever actually remember him. Tim’s not important enough for that. Not in the grand scheme of things. Not to Jason Todd and certainly not to Robin.
Jesus fuck. He kidnapped Robin. He’s an actual villain.
Jason stops in front of Tim and sort of slumps down to the ground. Eyebrows pinched but lips still turned up gently. “We’re gonna get out of this. My name’s Jason.”
“I know,” Tim squeaks pathetically. Fuck.
Jason’s beautiful face scrunches up slightly. “Do we... know each other?”
God. Tim could just die.
“No,” he manages, “we don’t, uh— not really. I’m Tim.”
Jason cocks his head to the side. A motion Tim’s seen Robin do a thousand times but to be able to see Jason’s gaze turn calculator and thoughtful is... If Tim could breathe right now it’d take his breath away.
Jason’s eyes snap to Tim’s face and his eyebrows shoot up. Tim can feel the blood start to pool at his cheeks. God, he bets his ears are even red. “Timmy Drake?” He asks, voice loud suddenly.
Tim feels his face heat up more. What. Did— did Jason really remember him?
“I—”
“We’ve met! Holy shit, sorry dude. I didn’t recognize you. Dick talks about you all the time!”
What.
Tim feels his mouth drop open.
“He—!” Tim’s voice cracks and he bites the inside of his cheek.
Jason slaps a hand on his shoulder, face hardening and eyes going stern. Serious.
Jason Todd is touching him.
“We’re gonna get out of this, Timmy. My dad has like twelve trackers on me at any given time. I bet he’s already on his way.”
Tim knows this. That’s why he took the SIM card out of Jason’s phone and left it on a roof in the middle of downtown Gotham. And removed the tracker from Jason’s shoes. And also ran a short range EMP to knock out any others he might have missed.
He knows the exact roof he left the phone on, it’s the one where Robin takes his smoke breaks that he thinks Batman doesn’t know about. The one with the gargoyle Robin named Heathcliff that he talks to sometimes.
(Tim had read Wuthering Heights in a frenzied haze after that. Not sleeping that night after he’d gotten the epub to download. He hadn’t particularly liked the book, but it was something of Jason’s. Something tangible he could know about the boy. Jason had read Wuthering Heights, and now so had Tim.)
He’d put the phone in a plastic bag in a lockbox so that Jason would be able to retrieve it later. He hadn’t actually... planned for a later. Had somehow failed to plan for what to do once he actually had Jason, Robin, here. All his plans had seemed to stop after: get Jason, don’t get caught.
Now Jason was here, looking at him. The ropes lay off to the side still, unused. How could he even think about tying Jason up? Risk hurting him? Not to mention this was Robin, surely he’d be apt at getting out of all sorts of ropes, all sorts of ties.
Tim really should have gone with the specialty Shibari ropes he'd seen online. But the idea of buying them and putting them on Jason had him flushing red so fast he’d had to sit down. Sure they were safer but thinking about them holding Jason still, trussing him up he—
Tim was flushing again at the thought.
“Hey, you okay?” Jason leans forward, a little unsteady still, tilting his head up so he can look Tim in the eyes.
Tim slaps a hand over his face. “Fine!” He squeaks.
Jason laughs. It’s beautiful. A low but warm chuckle. It’s... charming. Tim’s ears burn.
A warm hand rests on his forearm. “We’re gonna be just fine, Timmy.” Jason Todd is touching him. God, Tim is actual trash. Jason is worried about him— worried about the kidnappers that don’t exist except they do and they’re Tim— all Tim can think about is how warm Jason’s hand is on his arm. How steady it feels on his arm. Christ.
Tim lowers his hands and clenches them in his lap. Not letting himself mourn the loss of Jason’s hand on him.
Jason smiles at him, friendly and soft. “Hey,” he says quietly, “you’re gonna be okay.”
Tim manages a shaky smile back. “I know.” And this is where he comes clean and Jason calls him a freak and hates him forever. This is where Tim admits to drugging Jason and kidnapping him and almost tying him up with ropes even though he didn’t quite manage that. Jason’s going to be so disgusted by him. He’s going to tell his dad and then Batman is going to throw Tim in jail wherever they keep the worst criminals because Tim is the worst.
He takes a breath. Okay. He can do this.
Tim opens his mouth, but Jason stands up.
“Did you see any faces?” He asks, as he starts to walk the perimeter of the room. It’s just an unused bedroom in the basement. Carpet and conjoined bathroom but nothing else. God, Tim should’ve put some chairs in here at least what was he even thinking? The door is closed but not locked because Tim never actually thought about how he would keep Jason here. He doesn’t even know if this door actually has a lock and if it does it’s on the inside of the room.
“Um,” says Tim, “no. But, Jason—”
“I don’t see any cameras,” Jason interrupts, “but that doesn’t mean they’re not watching. Did they say any demands? Do you know what they want?”
“No. Jason, there’s not—”
“It’s gotta be about money,” Jason muses as he examines the window looking out at Tim’s back yard. “Or maybe the companies? What do your parents do?”
“Uh, medical supplies,” says Tim. “Or, actually, they mostly do archeology. The company is more to— that’s not the point. Jason—”
Jason hums. “I wonder if it was more a crime of opportunity. We just happened to be at the right place at the wrong time. Or maybe it was—”
“Jason.” Tim doesn’t yell, doesn’t actually know if he’s capable of yelling at Jason Todd, but he does raise his volume and his voice does crack embarrassingly. Jason snaps his mouth shut and blinks owlishly over at Tim. Tim fists his hands tightly in his shirt and takes a shaky breath. “There are no kidnappers, or, well. There’s just one. I guess.”
“You saw them?” Jason asks, his head tilts to the side like it does when he’s Robin and it’s adorable.
“Yes,” says Tim, “well, no. I—” he feels his face grow hot so he moves his hands so he can hide behind them. “It’s me. I’m the kidnapper.”
Jason is silent for a long moment. Long enough that Tim spreads his fingers to peer between the cracks.
Jason’s face is scrunched up in confusion. He’s so darn cute that Tim thinks he might have a conniption right then and there.
“You kidnapped us?” Jason asks eventually. “How do you kidnap yourself?”
“No,” says Tim, still peaking out from between his fingers, “I only kidnapped you. This is my house.”
“Huh,” says Jason.
“I’m so sorry,” Tim tells him, and then closes his fingers back together and hunches over on himself. God. He’s such a— why is he like this?
“Uh,” says Jason, “sorry if this is insulting or anything, but I don’t really believe you?”
Tim rips his hands from his face and sits up straight. “What?” He asks. “What do you mean you don’t believe me?”
“Well...” Jason gestures to him. “You’re just kind of... small and pathetic.” At Tim’s face Jason throws up his hands placatingly. “Pathetic in a cute way! I just can’t see you— I mean. I’m pretty, uh, strong? I take self defense, I mean. It seems... unlikely? That you could, uh, catch me by surprise.”
“I’ve been following you for months.” Years, he doesn’t say. “You have a very standard schedule and you rarely deviate. You’ve never once noticed me. I’ve had ample opportunities to do— I don’t know. Terrible things. You need to be more aware, Jason! What if— What if someone else had noticed and— and—” Tim feels short of breath.
“... Kidnapped me?” Jason asks, a smile playing at his lips.
“This isn’t funny!” Tim snaps. “You could get seriously hurt! I disabled your trackers so easily and if I had wanted to hurt you I could’ve! Do you— Bruce would be devastated if something happened to you. You need to take this more seriously!”
“Sorry,” Jason says, still smiling. “It’s hard to take something like this seriously when a twink is having a panic attack in my general direction.”
Tim feels his face flush, probably bright red. “That’s— I’m not—” He covers his face again with his hands. “Please leave,” he says, miserably.
He hears Jason shift and then an arm lands around his shoulders.
“Chill, Timbo,” Jason says, “it’s okay. I’m not mad, I’m not hurt. I’m okay.”
“I could’ve done anything to you,” Tim says morosely into his hands.
“But you didn’t!” Jason jostles him, knocking his hands loose and bending down so he can grin right in Tim’s face. “It’s all good, man.”
Tim is not going to cry. Not in front of Robin. He’d never let himself live it down. “There’s something wrong with me.”
Jason makes a face. “Well, I mean, maybe. Probably. But like, there’s something wrong with everyone, don't feel bad.” Tim gapes up at him.
“I sedated you,” he hisses, “I kidnaped you!”
Jason shrugs. “You apologized.”
Tim buries his face in his hands. “Ohhhh my God. I’m gonna go to prison.”
“Woah, hey. Nobody’s going to prison. No harm no foul.”
Tim turns to stare up at him, unblinking. “I drugged you.” He feels like Jason has somehow ignored that crucial fact. “I took you to a secondary location.”
“And you did a real good job, too.”
“I don’t—” Tim stutters over his words, “I don’t think you’re taking this situation as seriously as you should be.”
Jason shoots him a crooked grin. “That’s what dad says, too.”
“Oh my God.” Tim’s heart drops. He shoots up to his feet, dislodging Jason. “Oh my God.”
“Huh?” Jason asks. “What’s up?”
“Your dad,” Tim gasps, “he’s going to be freaking the fuck out. Oh God. Oh shit.”
Jason grimaces. “Oof, yeah. Now that you mention it I’m surprised he’s not blowing up my phone by now.”
Tim looks away. “I left your phone on a rooftop,” he says very carefully.
“What!?” Jason stands. “What the hell, man! My phone?”
“It’s fine!” Tim says, waving his arms. “I left it in a waterproof lock box. I only took out the sim and turned it off! I know exactly where it is!”
Jason slugs his arm. “You better, dude. My whole life’s on there.” He deflates, shoving his hands deep in his pockets. “I guess you’re lucky you took care of the phone and the other trackers. Otherwise my dad would be breaking your door down right about now.” He laughs.
Tim stares at him, horrified. “Do you honestly think that’s enough?” He asks.
“Hmm?”
“Jesus,” Tim says, mostly to himself, “Batman is going to skin me alive.”
“What?” Asks Jason.
“What?” Asks Tim.
“The— sorry. What’s this about Batman?” Jason finally looks a little nervous. Maybe he’s finally understanding the situation.
“When your dad finds out,” Tim tells him. “The Batman? He’s going to— well, I guess Batman doesn’t kill. But he’s probably going to disappear me like the CIA.”
Jason stares at him, slack jawed. “The— my dad. Batman, my dad.”
“Yes?” Tim asks. “What are you— holy fucking shit you didn’t know I knew.”
“You know!?”
“No!” Tim screeches. “I don’t know anything! I actually don’t even know what a Batman is! Who’s that? No one I know!”
“How do you know?"
“I don’t!” Tim insists, scooching back only to have Jason follow him. “I don’t know anything I swear.”
“Clearly you know something. You said you were following me— did I slip up? What gave it away?”
“What? No, Jason. You’re perfect! You’ve never done anything wrong!” Tim’s brain helpfully provides him with an image from half a year ago. “Oh, except for July 16th of this year when you took off your mask that one time after fighting Condiment King. On the roof of that bank off of 18th street. But who could blame you after all that mustard?”
Jason stares at him. “You— I mean. You remember the exact day?”
Tim feels the blood drain from his face. “No! I mean, yes. I mean— I took a photo and I always label and date all my pictures after I develop them so I can remember timelines better.” Not that he really needed that when it came to Jason, but the system was already in place so he hadn’t bothered to stop.
“Pictures?” Jason asks.
“Yeah, the pictures I take of Batman and Robin I always date just in case something ever—” His brain catches up to his mouth and he chokes on his words. “I mean what? What’s a picture? I’ve never even seen a camera once in my entire life and I’m going to stop talking now.” He bites his lips hard to keep the words from spilling out.
Jason is back to looking mostly amused but still a little concerned. He stands, and when he holds out his hand Tim takes it without thinking. He hoists Tim to his feet and says, “What do you say you show me some of those pictures while we go pick up my phone? Then I can personally introduce you to Batman.”
Tim blinks down at their still conjoined hands. “I mean, I, uh, sure?” He lets Jason pull him from the room. “Wow, I’m gonna meet Batman.”
Jason yanks him up the stairs even as he stumbles over his own two feet. “Wait, I’m gonna meet Batman? Jason, maybe this isn’t such a good idea.”
Jason just laughs at him, warm hand tugging Tim along.