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Despite what many people thought (mostly the Bats, and anyone close to them), Tim Drake was not a Wayne. He might've had a brief stint of being pseudo-adopted in both Bruce and Dick's eyes, but no paperwork was ever sent through. And while Dick has called him his baby brother and other younger-sibling-esq nicknames over the years, he would never have the privilege of being his brother.
Cass was the only Wayne he considered a sibling. And Duke, but he'd preferred not to be called a Wayne even as Bruce's ward.
And, don't get him wrong, he didn't hold any true hatred for the Bats and the Birds. Again, he loved Cass and Duke like siblings. Damian and Jason were sketchy as fuck on good days, but he had already been distancing himself from the family before they came, trying to set boundaries, so he didn't really care about their opinions (though trying to murder him multiple times was annoying, but in the norm for Tim fucking Drake). Dick… he had maybe at one point thought they could have something close to a brotherly bond, but that hope had been dashed in his early Robin days. And while he held no such ideas towards Bruce at any point, the way he's been having to be the emotionally stable adult in their relationship instead of the actual adult kind of shattered any idea of them having a relationship beyond just working together.
Even though, over the years, he's heard countless people refer to them as family, mostly the hero community, it wasn't true. Especially not after Dick ripped away his only true connection to them. Not after he wanted to send him to Arkham. Not after he spent countless nights taking care of a grown man for the sole purpose of making sure he never went too far while keeping their city safe. Not after his 16th birthday. Not after multiple murder attempts from not only Damian Wayne, but Jason Todd as well, with no one ever trying to see his side of things. It was always overshadowed by them not wanting to trigger Jason or upset Damian when he was still struggling to adapt to a new way of life. Always them, them, them.
And honestly, Tim had grown up with Janet and Jack Drake. He had never truly expected to be accepted, to be part of their family. His own birth parents had never truly wanted him, why would this random family that he forced himself into even consider it?
Except Cass and Duke, but they knew that. They knew about how he felt towards the Waynes and he made damn sure they knew that he would never expect them to ‘take his side’ or any of that dumb bullshit. They were allowed to have their own relationships, he wasn't gonna dictate their actions, and he would never shit talk their family, especially not with them. They knew how he felt, knew his story, and respected his opinions and decisions. And he did the same in return, he wouldn't try to force Cass to give up the first father who truly loved her, or to make Duke see his side and turn around on the person who took him in after the tragedy that befell his family.
(Not to mention the fact that Bruce had a strict No Metas in Gotham rule, in which Duke was the only exception. Even if, let's say, he did want to do anything mentioned above, Tim would never want him to risk getting on the bad side of B and that rule.)
So, yeah, no, he wasn't a Bat, especially after he had his Robin handed over to a 10 year old without even a mention of it to him beforehand. Tim always knew he was a placeholder in the Wayne family, there to fill a gap until Bruce could get out of his depression spiral and act like an actual Vigilante again and stick to his moral codes. Robin was never permanent. He knew that. It still stung like a bitch, but he couldn't hold it against them.
He even gave WE back to B as soon as he was back and able to take it. He wasn't feeling stable enough to deal with it, and since he wasn't needed anymore, he could finally unstick himself out of the role he'd taken oh so long ago. Yeah, Tim was shit at taking care of himself at times, but he had friends and a therapist that had helped him work through his problems. Especially after losing Kon, Bart, Steph and B all in one setting. He had gone on his quest to bring B back (which Cassie [and Cissie, Anita and Greta even if not there physically] refused to let him do alone while they were still grieving their soulmates), brought him back, and then was promptly thrown into therapy after Ra's al Ghul by Young Justice.
That included Kon and Bart because they were back and while they'd all grown in a sense, became different people, and life had changed so much around them in such a short time, they were still soulmates. Bart and Kon were different after coming back to life, but so were the rest of them. Their deaths had changed them, for better or for worse.
And, despite all the ups and downs with each of their own families, they had each other. They were each other's family, no matter the risk they would always have each other's backs. When Tim thought of family he thought of flying in Kon's arms, getting disoriented when Bart would randomly drag him places, Cassie's calming voice during a particularly bad bout of overthinking. Home was playing truth or dare and laughing at Anita's very pointed statements during never have I ever. He never thought of the Batcave, or Wayne manor. Hell, even though he spent most of his childhood in Drake manor, it was never even a blip on his radar.
Tim Drake was not a Bat and he was finally going to officially, at least in the hero community, be able to prove it.
-
“You’re finally setting your rebrand plan into place?” Cissie asks excitedly, her voice sounding a bit staticky over the TV she’s currently displayed on.
“WefinallycanstartcallinghimCrimsonCardinalI’msoexcitedCissie-!” Bart starts, already through a full sentence before anyone can process the first word, vibrating between the different sides of the room in an endless loop.
“Crimson Cardinal has been in the works since before we were even on the team,” Anita remembers, a fond look in her eyes that’s barely perceivable through the pixelated screen.
“Because I knew I was just a placeholder until someone else could come and truly fix the problem,” Tim replies easily, fingers flying across the keyboard in front of him.
Thankfully, his setup in the nest was equipped nearly as well as the different bases of the JLA, Titans, etc. He could portray the call on the giant screen while also running different programs and doing research as well. It was perfect, especially since-
“Okay, but logically,” Kon starts, walking back from the kitchen area with a bag of chips. “They’re idiots if they think that fucking Damian al Ghul can do half as good a job as you.”
“Preach!” Greta exclaims, before chuckling at how loud she was. “Sorry, sorry.”
“No, you’re right, preach Kon!” Cassie reiterates. “They were fully capable without you, and they can still function even with you gone, but you did a lot. They relied on your consistency way too much.”
“I mean, I got what needed to get done when they asked me to. I never truly said no to them unless it would put someone in danger. I am willing to admit that I might be the best detective on the team, though you know how well that would go over with most of them,” Tim pauses to shake his head, and stretch his fingers.
“What exactly are you doing, Rob?” Cissie asks, leaning closer to her own screen as if it’ll help her see better.
“Making sure Babs knows I’m off limits after I move out of Gotham, and I’ll only come back if she deems it necessary. Or if Duke or Cass asks for it. And then I need to make sure all of my contingency plans left actually in Gotham stay exactly where they are. Plus I told Cass and Duke that I’d plan one last day just for us before I head to our new apartment permanently,” he explains, going back to his keyboard.
“I don’t hear Oracle, is she in your ear?” Cassie leans forward, inspecting both ears and finding nothing.
“Nah, we’re just messaging, don’t worry. She can’t hear anything in here ever. She agreed to it. This is my safe space and she understands.”
“Well, I’m glad. I trust you and you trust her, but the transitive property only sort of applies,” Cissie replies.
“I’m glad you guys take some of my lessons to heart, at least,” Tim teases before finally settling his hands palms down on the table.
“Areyoudonecanwefinallygohome!?” Bart bursts out, speeding to stand beside Tim.
“Yeah, the Zeta in your new place is already set up, so we could all be there within 10 minutes,” Cissie points out.
“I mean, I still need to-” Tim starts but Kon cuts him off.
“Nuh uh, you promised that we could go back today and we’re slowly reaching the end of the day,” he points out, arms crossed.
“Plus, if Bart speeds out to get food, then the whole Batclan will know there’s metas here and that’s against the rules, then we’d get in trouble.” Cissie points out oh-so-helpfully.
“And it's not permanent yet, you already said you can't launch Crimson Cardinal until after your current case with the Bats is done. That means Cassandra and Duke can't get mad at you,” Cassie adds.
“Fine, fine,” he relents. “But I do need to come back tomorrow, I need to finalize a few more things for the sting before we head out tomorrow night.”
“That'sfineletsgo!” Bart grabs his arm excitedly, helping him stand.
“No super speed!” Tim reminds before he can dart them both off. “It's just the roof, we can walk,” he insists.
“See you there!” Anita calls before her face disappears from the screen.
“You better get me some snacks!” Cissie demands before hers disappears as well.
Greta just laughs softly, waves and then the screen goes dark.
“C'mon, Wonder Boy, let's go.”
Tim sighs, but can't help the fond smile that overtakes his face. Soon, he reminds himself. Soon he'll be able to break away from the Bats and be with his family.
-
The first one to finally meet him after he moves out of Gotham, drops the Red Robin shtick and becomes Crimson Cardinal, is Dick. He had expected this, seeing how he would see the Titans more than he saw the Outlaws or any of the Batclan, but it’s also way after when he thought they would notice. He gave them a week before things felt off, but it’s been almost a month. Which, honestly, is good for them in Gotham, that means that the Batclan can, in fact, function without him. Not that Tim thought it couldn’t, but after how ingrained he was into the system he thought they might notice a bit sooner.
It stung a bit as well, some old attachment he had to the clan lingering in his chest, but he didn’t let it faze him. He could admit he had attachment to them, they had all started out as just his heroes who he stalked and dreamed of being a part of. And then Jason died, and shit hit the fan. They’d gotten back some semblance of normalcy for their ragtag group after extracting Bruce from the timestream, but it was time for him to take a step back and finally let himself be his own person.
Anyways, back to Dick!
Tim was doing the final transition from Red Robin to Crimson Cardinal (CC for short) in the systems of the Titans tower when Dick had stormed through the door (thankfully in his civvies). He had locked onto him instantly, watching with furrowed eyebrows as he sat in front of his computer which was hooked up to the main console in the living space. Anyone who saw him and his body language when he entered instantly scattered (Jaime, Rachel, and Gar), aside from Bart, who just continued watching a compilation of shows on his phone.
(Tim had a hobby of taking shows or movies and speeding them up by about 400-500 just so that Bart could sit and watch them at a speed that felt more comfortable for him. He never complained while watching TV with others, but he knew his partner liked everything he watched to be faster paced when it was just himself.)
“Tim!” He exclaims, briskly walking over to stand in front of him.
The way he looms over him might be intimidating to most, but Tim isn’t even phased. He keeps his eyes on the screen, making sure to transfer all the protocols, permissions, and etc in place for Red Robin to Crimson Cardinal. He barely spares him a glance, giving him a quick questioning look so the man can feel as if he cares about what he’s about to say.
“Tim, look at me,” he tries to soften his voice, but he can hear the command hidden underneath.
He wants to refuse, he really does. But when Dick got annoyed, it could get annoying. And heavens forbid he get angry, cause that was a WHOLE new level of annoyance that he didn’t have the patience for right now.
So he looks up at him, pausing his fingers, and resisting the urge to sigh. Thankfully, the guy looks more confused than angry, which is a win.
“How can I help you, Dick?” He asks, head tilted slightly.
“B says you haven’t checked in for a mission in a month! We thought you had a Titans or Young Justice mission, but we quickly realized that wasn’t the case. What’s up with you? If you took a break, you should’ve-” he starts, going into lecture mode.
Tim cuts him off quickly. “O didn’t tell you?” He raises an eyebrow, watching as confusion and shock flit across the elder’s face. “I don’t live in Gotham anymore. I’ll still come help out with anything O, Cass or Duke deem necessary, but I’m not a Gotham vigilante anymore. I’m also rebranding, I’m Crimson Cardinal now,” he explains.
Dick just stares at him for a few moments. He waits patiently, watching as the gears turn in his head, and then a whole new lecture starts.
“Wha- did you even tell dad???” He asks, eyes wide. “Why didn’t you tell anyone, Tim? The family deserves to know, we thought you might’ve died or something! And I thought you wanted to stay in Gotham? Not that I mind, but I don’t want you to move away if you think there’s no place for you, because there absolutely is, and-!”
“Dick! DICK!” He exclaims twice, cutting the man off. “I didn’t tell B cause I didn’t want anyone trying to tell me to stop. I know what I want, I assure you. I also told O, Cass and Duke, O told me she’d tell you guys but I guess she forgot,” technically a lie, but whatever. “I had wanted to stay in Gotham for a bit after we got B back, but I’ve had plans to move out and form a permanent team with YJ for a while now. With Bart and Kon… dying for a bit,” he can’t help but say that word painfully, still feeling that aching feeling of knowing his soulmates were gone, “things had shifted a bit, but since everything’s calmed down, we’re back where we left off.”
“What about-” Dick starts, instantly protesting, but Bart cuts in this time.
“Dudeallhiscasesaredealtwithandyalldidnteveknowforamonth,” he points out, his show paused. “I think you’re fine,” he adds after a second, slowing down a bit so he’s easier to understand.
Dick barely spares him a glance, clearly not having understood the first part, and turns back to Tim. “Are- are you sure, babybird?” He asks, playing with his lips harshly between his teeth. “You always have a place in Gotham and dad-”
Tim is starting to grow frustrated. “Dick, B’s not my dad,” he states plainly. “No paperwork was signed at any time. Also, I got emancipated when Ra’s al Ghul was trying to destroy WE. I don’t regret my time as Robin or Red Robin, but it’s finally time for me to live my life. And it’s not going to be in the Batcave with 2 people who debate wanting me dead at any given moment, and the grown man I had to be a pseudo therapist/best friend/emotional support buddy for since I was 13.”
Dick just stares at him some more, hurt, sadness, anger and a bit of guilt flitting across his face. This time, he can’t hold back his sigh as he closes his computer. He’s gotten most of what he needs to do done, so he’s ready to leave.
“Thanks for checking up on me, Dick, but I’m fine. And the next time we see each other, it’ll be as Crimson Cardinal and Nightwing,” he gives the man a small wave after stuffing his computer into his bag.
“Byebye,tellWallyIllseehimsoon!” Bart gives a small wave, phone already tucked away, and then they’re gone before Dick can even say anything else.
Well, that was 1 outta 5 bats done, yippee.
-
The next one to corner him is Batman, unsurprisingly. If Dick had gone back and informed the team (which he did, Cass and Duke both told him how they and Babs had gotten shaken for answers which the trio pointedly ignored), then he would do his best to corner him. And Tim did try to avoid him, but when Hal fucking Jordan asks for a tech favor, you can’t exactly say no. Mostly because then he’d ask either Wally, Barry, Diana or Clark to talk to him, and he knew that his soulmates could only deal with them for so long. They loved each other, but they all had complicated relationships that were (slowly but surely) becoming better. He was happy for them, and their families loved him, so it was a win-win situation honestly.
So, after doing what the Green Lantern asks, he quickly tries to flee the Watchtower and promptly ends up cornered by Bruce. And Clark + Diana, thankfully, as if things got too uncomfortable or heated, they could help. Both are sporting apologetic looks, and he knows they probably didn’t even realize he was here or that Bruce was going to track him down to corner him. He doesn’t blame them and he hopes they don’t blame themselves.
“Red Robin-” Bruce starts, and Tim is quick to click his tongue.
“Crimson Cardinal now,” he corrects.
The man nods. “Crimson Cardinal,” he starts again. “We need to talk. Nightwing said-”
He sighs, cutting him off again. “If this is about me moving, B, you’re not changing my mind. And if it’s about saying I’m not family, then it’s true. I’m not. 2 outta 5 of your sons have genuinely tried to murder me for the notion, so it’s not really something I want to keep spreading. Also, I've been taking care of myself since I was 8, and I've been taking care of you since I was 13, so you really can't say anything. I'm not cutting full contact or anything, Oracle, Black Bat or Signal will let me know if Gotham needs me specifically, but it's time for me to live my own life, outside of the Bats.”
He can see the gears turn in Bruce's head as he processes everything he says. He sighs after taking that all, somehow looking like a dad to teenagers despite the whole Batman getup.
“Look, Crimson Cardinal, I understand that, I just want to look out for you. I know I wasn't the best during your Robin days, but-”
“Bruce Wayne, need I remind you of my 16th birthday?” He asks coldly.
Ice had been growing in his veins slowly ever since Bruce had stopped him, but his whole body felt frigid now. It's not like he didn't understand where Bruce was coming from during his time as Robin. He'd lost a son, grief was hard, etc. But he had been a child. Even if he forced himself into that position, wasn't someone supposed to watch out for him!? Why was it always one of them first!? Why-
He has to forcefully shut his body down for a moment to restart himself before he just starts yelling at Batman in the JLA Watchtower. That would be highly unprofessional, and it's not like he's a Batclan member anymore. Even with their past, it would be out of line in this setting.
Bruce stares at him, caught off guard. “Tim-” he starts, voice all apologetic and he just-
Tim cannot do this right now.
Let it be known! Tim Drake does not and will never hate Bruce Wayne, Batman, his first favorite hero of all time. However, that didn't mean he could just forgive and forget all the pain. He would never be able to sit there with him and just get over what happened. That wasn't fair to himself. He'd spent so many years suppressing anything negative towards the Bats so that he could survive and make sure Gotham's greatest hero didn't ruin an already falling apart city.
Why couldn't he ever put himself first?
“I don't want an apology, B,” he cuts in sharply. “I'm never going to forgive you, nor will I forget. And I'm not just talking about my 16th birthday. It's finally my life. I don't need to worry about making sure you don't get yourself killed or kill someone else anymore. I'm not some kid looking for a scrap of attention anymore, that kid was dead before you even met me. So back off.”
He turns on his heel and leaves as soon as he's done talking. Tim's like, 80% sure Bruce tries to follow him, but he can hear Clark murmur something and then finally he's at the Zeta tubes.
He had promised the other 3 he'd be home in time for dinner and fuck anyone and anything that tried to stop him.
-
Tim knew, before he even entered the farmhouse, that shit was gonna hit the fan. Which he did not want to happen in front of Ma Kent and Pa Kent, the literal saints, however, he'd be damned if he left. Sunday night dinners were sacred for both the Kent and the Allen families. Today they'd split into two groups, him and Kon at the Kents and then Bart and Cassie with the Allens. They switched up who went where on the regular, but Tim had been looking forward to this meal all fucking week, as it had been lowkey a shitshow.
He would not let Damian fucking Wayne ruin this for him. Not this time.
Thankfully, the kid doesn't blow up at him as soon as he sees his face. His scowl does deepen, but when Jon notices him looking angry, he's quick to grab his attention. Despite being a kid, he could read the room well, and Tim is glad. He didn't know that Damian was gonna be here and clearly Jon hadn't known Tim would be here this weekend or else he wouldn't have invited him. It was an unspoken thing, between the Kent brothers (Jon and Kon), that their respective Batclan members (current or former) didn't get along. Clark and Lois were also aware of it, but clearly no one had known they'd end up in the same house.
Oh well. As long as Damian didn't try to kill him, Tim did not give two flying fucks.
Dinner itself goes well. Tim feels at ease with the Kents, more so than he ever did with the Waynes. Clark might've pissed him off for a while because of his treatment of Kon, but they'd all worked through that and now had a strong bond. Kon was still hesitant to call Superman his dad, but Lois had slotted herself perfectly into the role of his mom and thus Clark followed. Plus, he considered Jon his younger brother. Tim was just glad he didn't need to scare the shit outta Superman anymore, cause that was a bit scary (but he was fearless in front of threats to his soulmates).
The real problem arises after dinner, when they're all chilling on the porch. Damian manages to corner him inside (like father, like son), arms crossed as he looks him up and down.
“Tt. You look weak, Drake,” he snarks, eyes dark.
“I dunno why you're still hostile when I'm not even in your life anymore,” Tim replies without a thought, hands stuffed into the pockets of his hoodie. He feels so incredibly done with this conversation already.
Damian's hands clench. “You've always been inferior to me, Drake. I am the true heir, the blood son. You are nothing.”
He sighs. “Kid, I can't even threaten your position anymore. B's not my dad, never has been, so ya don't gotta be all fussy around me or try to kill me anymore,” he explains.
Damian goes stock still at that, eyes narrowing. “Father said that-”
“Yeah, well, Bruce Wayne isn't a fucking saint, kid. Believing every word he says is just stupid.”
“You take that back, you-!” Damian takes a step forward, a knife having somehow materialized in his hand out of nowhere.
Tim takes a step back, moving into a defensive position, but there's suddenly 3 Supers in the room before anything can escalate.
“Damian!” Jon chides, grabbing his friend by the shoulders and pulling him back a few steps.
Kon is in front of him, eyes narrowing at the kid with a fucking knife. He has his arm out, meant to protect, his TTK sliding over him without a second thought. And like, yeah, Tim Drake can protect himself thank you very much. However! Kon was super hot when he got into protective mode, trust him. Last time someone called Bart stupid, his glare nearly killed the guy before he apologized.
“I think it might be best if we end the night here,” Clark states placatingly, clearly trying to diffuse tension and not make it worse by sending a single party home.
“Jon-” Damian starts, looking momentarily startled before he fixes his face.
“We should go home,” Tim interrupts. “Cassie and Bart are waiting for us, thank you for having us.”
Clark and Jon give him both a look, one more telling than the other.
“Tell them I say hi!” Jon requests, trying to be cheerful.
“Thank you for coming, Tim, I know Ma and Pa love to see you and the others here with Kon-El,” Clark says earnestly, giving both of them a smile.
Kon nods. “See you later dad, Jon. We'll say goodbye to the others then fly out.”
The pair of Supers nods and Tim doesn't even spare Damian another glance as they leave.
-
The first thought that comes to mind when Tim sees Red Hood, AKA Jason fucking Todd through the security camera on the front porch is “What the actual fuck!?”
His second thought is just pure annoyance cause he rings the doorbell. Twice. After already ringing it three times when he arrived. He watches Cassie's annoyance through the cameras as he sits in his little nest in the attic (not an actual Nest like in his apartment in Gotham, his reading nook nest). She's going to answer the door and he knows she'll proceed to go out guns ablazing when she sees who it is, so he takes control of the speakers.
“Cassie, it's just Jason, let me get it. I don't need Batman or the JLA on our ass for killing the previously dead guy.”
He watches through the cameras as she turns and gives the one he's looking at her through a pointed look. “If he attempts to kill you again, I will actually be killing him,” she informs deadpan.
“Noted.”
“Stalker,” she mumbles, before making her way to the kitchen as if she's not about to eavesdrop the fuck out of their conversation from there.
He shakes his head fondly, and reminds himself that he needs to shower her in gifts cause that's what she deserves, before he heads downstairs. During the walk and that interaction, the doorbell had been rung another like… 50 million times. He can tell Jason is getting impatient and an impatient Jason is literally hell on earth. So he hurries.
Only a little bit though, the scumbags that Jason would go on to kill if he grew too impatient and gave up would deserve it.
When he opens the door, Jason has shed his helmet, but his domino is still on. He also doesn't even wait to be invited in, just shoves his way past Tim, taking a minute to just look around.
“Jason, what do you want?” Tim asks as he shuts the door behind him. He had been in such a good mood, it was his day to catch up on some reading and then hang out with Cassie while Bart and Kon were off doing missions with their respective families. It was perfect and Jason was fucking ruining it.
“Relax, replacement," he starts, hands up placatingly. “Not here ta kill ya, promise,” he offers his pinky finger and then seems to remember who he's talking to, for he yanks his hands behind his back.
Tim raises an eyebrow. “Even if you were, Cassie is not-so-secretly eavesdropping and ready to kill you herself if you try,” he informs. “Also, I'm not the same guy you fought back then.”
Jason chuckles, devoid of any emotion. “Right, right.”
“So?” Tim asks, trying to move the conversation along.
“So what?”
Tim resists the urge to strangle Jason. And he hears Cassie's snort, even as she tries to stop it.
“Jason, why are you here?????”
“Oh. OH!” He nods, leaning against the wall. “Right, so. I don't like the demon spawn, you know this. And I'm not really favorable right now in the whole Batman, Nightwing department. Or your department, which has made Duke and Cass a bit more snappy. Not your fault, by the way. But anyways, I wanted to make sure that you left of your free violation and B wasn't being a fucking dick like he is with Dick and I sometimes. Plus-”
“Jason,” his voice is harder than he wants it to be, but he can't help it.
This was Jason Todd. This was his Robin. But this was also the man who tried to murder him multiple times, despite claiming he doesn't hurt kids. Cause Tim never counted as a kid, right? His heart was held together with duct tape and a dream, but somehow HE was the most mature, the most self sufficient, blah blah blah.
“We're not family, hell we're not even friends. You ruined that the day you came into my home and left me nearly dead with writing on the wall in my blood. We can be on amicable terms, sure. But we're not friends. I'm not doing that to myself, not after my childhood hero tried to murder me for something that I didn't even want in the first place.”
Jason takes a moment to look at him, flabbergasted. His eyes flash green, and anger flits across his face, but it's gone as soon as it appeared. Something akin to… pride? takes over his face.
“Good for ya, kid,” he nods, donning his helmet again. His voice is heavily modulated when he starts talking again. “I fucked up, I know that. I'm not apologizing cause I know it means jack shit to you right now. But good on ya, repla-” he pauses. “Cardinal, for taking over your own life.”
Tim feels an unknown emotion rise in him. He feels tears prick his eyes, but ignores them in favor of scoffing.
“You don't get to act all proud of me, Jason Todd.”
He can practically hear the smile in his voice. “Watch me.”
And then he's gone.
Cassie is at his side a second later, one hand on his shoulder. She's steady and grounding presence by his side, which he appreciates.
“Watcha gonna do?” She asks cautiously, eyes flashing.
“Let's go watch Sherlock.”
“Mkay.”
-
Steph, the final Bat who was unaware of everything, hijacks a meetup. With permission, though, at least. Cass had said she was asking if she would help them meet and Tim had given her permission. So on the day he's coming back to town to meet with Cass and Duke, he arrives 30 minutes early. Steph arrives 5 minutes later, clocking him straight away.
“Bro!” She exclaims as soon as she's close enough, her hands on her hips. “You can't just disappear off the face of the earth without letting me know!” He complains, sliding into the seat across from him.
Stephanie Brown was, decidedly, not a Wayne. She had been Tim's girlfriend at one point (though that got fucked up real quick), and now she was Cass's partner. She refused to consider herself Bruce's kid, she had a thing about parents, but she would spend most of her time with them. Mostly Cass, Jason, Duke or Tim. She didn't like how prickly B could be, nor did she like the way Dick got attached to people younger than him as siblings, but she respected them.
Tim cracks a small smile. “Sorry. We never really… talked about our history and I didn't want to tell anyone outside of Cass, Duke and Babs.”
Steph nods, munching on the fries he had ordered earlier. “Fair enough, I'd do the same,” she admits with a sheepish grin. “Still though! At least let me know you're alive, I asked B and Dick where you were and they said a mission, but it had been a month and they looked less sure every day I asked. Eventually Cass and Duke admitted you'd moved, but asked me not to tell the others until you talked to em,” she explains.
“I don't plan on this happening again, but I will,” he agrees easily.
Thankfully, being with Steph felt… easy. There was history between them, and neither of them would forget it, but it felt like they were moving towards forgiveness. Together. Which felt nice, cause he really did like the girl. They had been best friends once upon a time, and he loved that they were finally in a better space.
“Do they think we can't see them or sumthing?” Steph asks, gesturing vaguely behind him with a fry.
Tim laughs, already knowing she's gesturing to Duke and Cass in a booth somewhere behind him. “They know better than that, I guess they wanted to make sure we didn't start fighting.”
Steph's eyes glint. “Timbo, how would you feel about starting a good ol’ fashioned bar fight?” She asks, rubbing her hands together with a mischievous grin.
He knows a twin grin splits across his face.
“Yes.”
-
“I have something to tell you.”
“And it couldn't have waited until after I was done sleeping?” Bernard's voice is warm through the phone, and slightly rough from just waking up.
“Nope!” Bart replies enthusiastically, vibrating in his seat.
All 4 of them can practically hear the gears turn in the other's brain through the phone.
“Tim, Timbo, love of my life-”
“Hey!” Kon starts.
“One of the loves of my life,” he corrects quickly. “What is happening?”
“Okay, so, remember how you got accepted into that culinary school you've been working your ass off to attend, but didn't have a solution quite yet on how you were going to move across the US and all that jazz?” He asks, practically buzzing out of his seat.
“...yes. Why?”
“So, hypothetically, if I told you that Cassie, Bart, Kon and I all got a place in San Francisco for just us that we were hoping you'd move into with us, that is close to your University, how would you feel?”
Kon can hear, not through the phone but across the US, as Bernard's breath hitches. He can hear his heart speed up, as if flustered. He can hear the loud, sudden sound he makes that he hides from the others by (most likely) muting himself.
“You guys are insane. Did you do this only for me? I don't-” he pauses, making a strangled noise. “Please say there were other defining factors in you moving to San Francisco.”
“Well, we all wanted to move out anyways, together of course, and when you mentioned your school, it wasn't a hard decision,” Tim replies honestly.
“We're outgrowing the Titans, and we need a space just for the 4 of us, 5 when you join us,” Cassie adds.
“Plus, Tim wasn't staying in Gotham either way, as he finally transitioned from Red Robin to Crimson Cardinal. We already had planned going back to being a 4 person team, maybe more if Anita, Greta or Cissie ever wanted to come back or if we absolutely needed them, so staying at the Tower was a no-go. Plus, Nightwing, Robin, etc have access there so it wasn’t practical when it comes to Tim's safety.”
“Alsowejustreallywantedtolivewithyouifthatsokay?” Bart adds, which Tim slows down for Bernard. It was harder for him to process the Speedster through the phone, sadly.
Bernard lets out a relieved sigh. “I'm just glad you guys didn't completely uproot your life solely for me,” he admits.
“I mean, we'd do that anyways,” Tim replies honestly. “You're one of our soulmates, Bear. We'd move heaven and earth for you, and we'd actually be able to do that.”
“Just say the word, I'd move them any day,” Kon adds cheekily.
“Cheesy!” Bart exclaims, speeding over to him to give his cheek a kiss before he's back in his spot on the couch.
Bernard groans, but they can all practically see his grin. “It's too early for you all to be this sappy.”
“Bear, it's 3pm,” Cassie points out.
“Night classes,” he replies simply and she winces in sympathy.
She's the only one who has (currently) attended college so she feels his pain.
“So? What do you think? You willing to come live with your soulmates?” Tim asks.
“My dumb, silly, ridiculous soulmates, you mean? Yeah, of course I will.”
“YAY!” Bart speeds around the room in excitement, before his mouth starts following, but he's going too fast for any of them to process it.
“I still don't understand why you guys can't say partner or boyfriend or girlfriend like normal people,” Bernard teases through the phone.
Bart seems to stop at that, zipping over to the phone.
“Soulmates. Are. Forever.” He states simply, forcing himself to pause and take a breath between each word, so everyone can distinctly hear his meaning.
“Awwww, you're going to be stuck with me forever!”
“Kon, get off of me! Cassie!”
“You're on your own, Wonder Boy!”
“LMAO!”
“Guys-!”