Chapter Text
Alright, even Tim could admit he had been awake for far too long when a random thug was able to sneak up on him whilst on patrol and knock him out cold because he was too tired to react quickly and prevent it. He can almost hear the lecture from Batman in his head already.
“You must not over exert yourself Red Robin, or else you are a liability on the field. If you cannot be responsible enough to maintain a good sleep schedule, then you are clearly not responsible enough to be a vigilante.”
Blah, blah, blah.
Look, it isn’t his fault he hadn’t been able to sleep! It’s just something that happens when his body is trying to sort itself out and his uterus is ready to do its thing.
Really he should have gotten it taken out years ago, but he… well, he was busy. Not to mention the paperwork, needing to go through countless doctors and nurses, appointment after appointment. He totally wasn’t avoiding it because he hates thinking about his body in any capacity. He was a vigilante for crying out loud! He really was busy.
Well… if he doesn’t get benched when Bruce finds out about this.
He groans at the thought, as well as the pounding in his head as he slowly comes back to, lifting his head and blinking his eyes open, trying to get a good look at his surroundings. In a typical abandoned warehouse, and the smell of sea salt in the air tells him he isn’t too far off the docks. His hands are bound behind him and his ankles tied to a chair. He reckons he can slip them in less than a minute, but he doubts he is in any condition to get himself home. A concussion is a possibility, although he doesn’t think he has one.
Better to get someone else to check.
So, he presses his panic button hidden in the sleeve of his costume before beginning to wriggle his way out of the bindings. They’re tight, that’s for sure, but they are clumsily tied, evidently by someone who doesn’t quite understand what they’re doing and is hoping pulling the knot as hard as possible will make up for their lack of technique.
In a sense, it doesn’t, because Tim can still slip them.
In a sense, it does, because it stalls him long enough to hear the click of a safety being released and feel a cold barrel at his forehead. He promptly stops moving and flicks his eyes up to his assailant.
“You better not be trying to go anywhere.”
Tim cannot help but roll his eyes.
“Well, that was the plan until there was a gun pointed at me. Pretty persuasive method you got there.”
The man pushes the barrel into his forehead a little harder.
“Don’t smart mouth me brat.”
“Ugh, but I’m so bored.”
A cruel laugh.
“Don’t worry, you’ll be busy soon enough. Your ride will be here soon.”
Tim mentally logs that information and compartmentalises it. Now is not the time to be tracking whatever operation this man has going on.
Now is the time to stall.
“Ooh, what will I be doing?”
The man blinks, slightly caught off guard.
“What?”
Tim grins.
“You said I’ll be busy! I wanna know what with!”
The man splutters, before hissing between gritted teeth.
“Shut up.”
“Ohhh I get it! You don’t know what they’ll do with me do you?”
The way the man’s jaw tightens tells Tim he is right on the money.
“I see, I see. You’re just the muscle of the operation aren’t you? Not enough lights upstairs to get to find out the really fun stuff. No, just boring leg work for you. What a shame-”
THWACK!
The man uses the barrel of the gun to strike Tim across the face, and his head violently swings with the impact. He is frozen in shock for a moment, before shaking it off and spitting out some blood. He looks back up at the man, who is glaring down at him harshly.
“Shut. The fuck. Up.”
Before Tim can hit back with another witty retort, the sound of a vehicle can be heard nearby the warehouse. The man whips around, looking in the direction the sound came from. He mumbles under his breath.
“No, that can’t be right. They shouldn’t…”
Tim clears his throat, causing the man to whirl back around to face him, and Tim smiles so widely at the man he is sure he would’ve given Joker a run for his money in that moment.
“My ride is here!”
Guns blazing, Red Hood storms the warehouse, firing his guns and scanning the space for Tim. When he spots him, he doesn’t hesitate to fire a bullet into the man’s leg, causing him to collapse. He stomps over, yanking the man up by his collar, and holding his gun to the man’s head.
“Now, we could do this the easy way, or the clean way. Whadd’ya think Red?”
Tim hums.
“I don’t know, I only recently got the blood out of this suit from last time. I don’t really want to deal with that again.”
The man looks relieved for a moment, so Tim continues.
“Then again… he gave me a pretty hard whack. Definitely going to bruise.”
The man’s face is overcome with panic, and Tim cannot help but feel a little pleased at that.
“You know what Hood? I’m feeling generous. Your choice.”
Tim can see Jason weighing up his options underneath the helmet, before he makes a silent decision and knocks the man out cold with the barrel of his gun, and the man collapses gracelessly to the floor.
Tim lets out a quiet breath, and resumes trying to get out of his bindings. He manages to get his hands free by the time Jason gets his legs free. Tim goes to stand, but finds his balance is not quite as it should be. Jason catches him before he can hit the ground.
“Woah, easy. You good there Red?”
Tim hums his agreement.
“Fine. Possible concussion, but no other injuries. He knocked me out before taking me here clearly. Someone is apparently coming to get me, so we need to get out of here fast.”
Jason nods, and guides Tim out of the warehouse, leading him to his bike.
“My safehouse isn’t too far from here. Hang on tight.”
Tim wordlessly acquiesces, and the two speed off into the night. Tim can’t really feel the cold air given the insulation of his suit, but Tim always liked night time. There was something so calm and still about it.
Thinking about that makes him… oddly emotional?
He chalks it up to the adrenaline from combat, but he doesn’t let any tears fall. He just tightens his grip on Jason slightly, resting his head against Jason’s back, and allowing himself to be lulled into the rhythm of the motorbike’s engine.
Jason was correct, his safehouse was hardly any distance at all. Jason helps Tim off the bike and guides him inside, and Tim collapses onto the couch without hesitation whilst Jason begins taking off his helmet and gloves.
“Don’t go falling asleep on me, replacement. Gotta check you for a concussion first.”
Tim groans.
He knows that obviously. He was just so tired, and the couch was so comfy-
“Oi. Replacement. Look at me.”
Jason snaps his fingers right by Tim’s ear, so he startles slightly. He glares at Jason, and does his best not to wince at the light being shined in his eyes. He tolerates Jason checking him over, and then double checking just to be sure. Eventually, Jason puts away the light and nods.
“No concussion, but evidently you’re dealing with brain damage. How did you let such an amateur catch you?”
Tim doesn’t dignify Jason with a response, instead just giving him the middle finger as he closes his eyes once more. He hears Jason huff a laugh.
“You’re welcome, asshole.”
Tim only grumbles, before opening his eyes once more. Now that he’s somewhere safe, the adrenaline is really wearing off, and his suit is starting to grow uncomfortable. So, he sits up and removes his cowl, rubbing his eyes and getting up off the couch.
“I’m using your shower.”
“Knock yourself out.”
“Already been knocked out today, don’t fancy doing it a second time.”
“Whatever you say repla…”
Tim had been heading towards the bathroom, but stops as Jason trails off. Jason is just standing in the middle of the living room, staring at the couch. Tim follows his eyeline and quickly notices what Jason is staring at, and Tim feels his heart plummet into his stomach.
He bled through onto the couch.
He started.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Jason doesn’t know he’s trans.
Tim didn’t have any injuries.
He wasn’t going to be able to play this off.
Fuck!
“Tim?”
Tim’s spiralling is suddenly halted by Jason’s tone. It’s… careful. Quiet. Dare Tim say gentle. And that’s not even accounting for the fact that Jason just called Tim by his name.
Jason approaches slowly, his hands held up in a placating gesture, as if to show Tim he isn’t going to do anything. He crouches down in front of Tim so they’re at a more level height. Tim stares at Jason, and watches as Jason scans his face. He has no idea what Jason is looking for, so he tries to remain as passive and neutral as possible.
Based on the frown Jason gives, he isn’t sure he managed it.
“Tim, what… did… do you…”
Jason trails off, and Tim is too deep in his own mind to respond. Jason runs a hand down his face in frustration.
“Fuck I’m no good at this. Look, Tim, you don’t need to tell me anything. But… if something happened in that warehouse, then we need to get you to Leslie.”
If… something happened in the warehouse?
Tim thinks on it for a moment.
What would have happened in the-
Oh.
OH.
It clicks in Tim’s mind, and Tim is quick to take a step back and rushes to explain.
“Oh my god, Jason no. No, you’ve got the complete wrong idea. Oh my god. I swear it’s not- nothing like that- nothing happened. I swear nothing happened. It’s not- jeez, it’s not what you think!”
Jason raises an eyebrow. His expression is still careful, and it’s making Tim feel so much worse.
“Okay, if it’s not what you think I think it is, then what is it?”
Tim hides his face in his hands, completely and utterly mortified.
Jason lets him hide.
“Tim, if you’re hurt-”
“I’M NOT HURT!”
Jason doesn’t flinch, doesn’t move, doesn’t react to Tim’s raised voice. He simply insists on being… nice.
“Tim, why are you bleeding if you’re not hurt?”
Tim groans, and drops to his knees on the floor. He mumbles into his hands.
“What was that?”
Tim repeats himself a little louder. He hears Jason exhale quietly.
“Tim, I can’t hear you if you talk into your hands.”
Tim drops his hands and whips his head to look at Jason, feeling tears in his eyes.
“I’M ON MY FUCKING PERIOD, OKAY? I’M TRANS AND I AM ON MY PERIOD.”
Tim curls in on himself protectively, unsure if Jason is about to lose his mind or try to kill him for one reason or another. He doesn’t know how Jason feels about this sort of thing. All he knows is that he’s probably just given Jason another reason to not like him. It had only been a couple of months since the last time Jason tried to kill him. And now all of that progress is going to be undone. He barely notices as tears roll down his cheeks. He doesn’t notice that Jason has gotten up and is moving about the safehouse.
Tim isn’t sure how long he sits there for, and he is certain he has now also bled onto the floor of the warehouse too. But he flinches away when he feels a touch on his shoulder. Despite this, he looks up. Jason is looking down at him with a small smile on his face.
“Hey, it’s okay. You’re not alone here.”
Tim raises an eyebrow, sniffing.
“What?”
“I’m trans too.”
Tim blinks.
Then blinks again.
And then blinks one more time.
Then, he giggles.
It’s sudden, and he tries to cut it off. But now he has started, he finds himself unable to stop. He breaks into a complete fit of laughter as he is filled with complete and utter relief. He just about hears Jason join in his laughter too. He wipes the tears off his face and looks back up at Jason, who is holding out his hand to help Tim up. Tim accepts.
“I’m… sorry about all that. I didn’t know if you…”
Tim trails off, and Jason shakes his head.
“Don’t worry about it, I get it. You never know who’s on your side and who isn’t. It’s a scary thing. But thank you for trusting me. And I guess… I’m sorry too? I just kinda assumed the worst and…”
Tim waves him off.
“I understand. It’s easy to jump to conclusions.”
Jason nods.
“Yeah, yeah.”
Tim smiles and nods.
“Thanks for… this.”
Tim gestures vaguely, unsure how to word everything he is feeling, but Jason seems to get it well enough.
“No problem. I’ll sort things out here. You go hop in the shower. There are supplies in the cabinet underneath the sink. I’ll see if I have any casual clothes that might fit.”
Tim nods once more, before heading off into the bathroom and stepping into the shower. He allows the warmth to seep into his skin, and revels as the muscles in his body begin to relax.
He didn’t think that tonight would end up like this. But it was good to know that he had someone else. He hadn’t met any other trans people in person before, so it was refreshing to know that he had someone who understood. Even if the two of them hadn’t always been on the best of terms, Tim felt that this was certainly a step in the right direction.
Silver linings, right?