Chapter Text
The Batcave was, for once, relatively quiet.
Bruce sat at the main console, reviewing surveillance feeds. Dick was upside down on a gymnastics bar, because he couldn't sit still like a normal person. Jason was cleaning a gun he'd definitely stolen from somewhere. Damian was sharpening his sword with the kind of focus usually reserved for meditation. And Tim—
Tim was just trying to enjoy his coffee.
The whoosh of a time portal opening disrupted this fragile peace.
"Oh, great." Jason didn't even look up. "Look, it's Future Batman again."
Terry McGinnis landed with considerably less grace than Bruce would have managed, stumbling slightly before catching himself. He was wearing the Beyond suit, which meant he was either here for something important or he just wanted to show off. "You know, I hate that that's my name in your guys' heads."
"It's not even a name in your heads," Dick said, flipping off the bar and landing silently. "Bruce wrote it on a sticky note. On our Bat-computer. It just says 'Future Batman (Terry)' with a little arrow."
Bruce didn't deny this.
"Father." Damian sheathed his sword with a sharp click. "What seems to be the issue?"
"Nothing, nothing," Bruce muttered, which everyone immediately recognized as a lie. Bruce didn't say "nothing" unless it was absolutely something.
Terry shifted uncomfortably. "I'm, uh—"
"You don't have to say it." Jason finally looked up, grinning in that particular way that meant he was about to be insufferable. "We know you're here for the Joker."
"It's so predictable every time," Damian added.
"Dude." Tim took a sip of his coffee. "This is starting to become like a hobby for you."
"I'm not visiting for fun. I'm just checking in." Terry crossed his arms.
"You're checking in on the Joker?" Jason raised an eyebrow.
"Yes."
"Literally the same sentence," Damian said.
"Listen." Terry held up his hands. "I'm here for a particular purpose, okay? I'm here to make sure the Joker stays the Joker."
Silence.
Jason blinked. "Huh?"
"What do you mean, 'the Joker stays the Joker'?" Dick tilted his head. "Like, isn't he already the Joker? That's kind of his whole thing."
"In my future, right, Joker is not like a guy." Terry's expression darkened. "He's like a disease. A legacy. Something that gets passed on."
"Okay, so why don't you handle him in your time?" Jason asked, because he was nothing if not practical about murder.
"Because…" Terry hesitated. "Because something happens… and someone becomes the Joker. Someone specific."
"That's horrible," Dick said, genuinely distressed.
Tim set down his coffee. "And I feel horrible for the guy who has to become the Joker."
Everyone turned to look at Tim.
Tim, who was still wearing his coffee-stained Red Robin hoodie. Tim, who had bags under his eyes that rivaled Bruce's. Tim, who had been acting slightly more manic than usual lately, though that could have just been the sleep deprivation.
"Why are you all looking at me?"
"No reason," Bruce said quickly.