Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Hey B. I haven't seen the Replacement in a while. Where's he been?"

"Red Robin? Why?"

"I, I need to apologize. I never apologized for Titans Tower, or… everything else. I need to do it in person, but I realized I didn't know his civilian identity somehow. Do you know where he is?"

"..."

"What?"

"... I'll let you know when he comes into contact with us."

"What is it B?"

"..."

"What are you not saying?"

"I made mistakes… I made a lot of mistakes with him."

“What does that mean?!”

“I… Red wore disguises from the beginning, but I never cared about learning who he was until he had already learned to hide completely from me. As hard as I tried, I never did find out who he was behind the mask. He didn’t… I. I didn’t try, hard enough.”

"So you don't know who he is or where to find him?"

"No."

"... well darn B, it looks like we both have some apologizing to do."

____________________________________________________________________________

The day that Tim decided that Batman needed help, he made plans. He could put his photos together and make an argument showing how Batman needs a Robin… but would that work?

Batman was already acting unstable, there’s no telling what he would do to Tim in his anger. He hadn’t hurt kids, but if he registered Tim as a threat? Tim couldn’t chance that.

So he needed to be registered in Batman’s head as untouchable before physically interacting.

He could do that. He… could do it. For Robin. For Jason.

____________________________________________________________________________

Blackmailing Batman wasn’t easy. Tim didn’t have any other choice though. He went through Alfred first, letters and messages explaining what he had: proof who Batman was, pictures of the blood and violence spread each time Batman patrolled. He explained exactly what he was going to do if Batman wasn’t quelled.

Alfred sent messages back, at first angry. Demanding he leave them in their mourning. Tim continued explaining over the course of a week, multiple messages sent a day, until finally Alfred agreed.

For two whole days, Batman didn’t show up. Tim was relieved at first, hoping that it would be taken care of.

Of course, things could never be that simple.

Batman went back out the next day, Thursday night. Tim nearly cried that night. Batman was once his hero, but heroes aren’t infallible. Normally Tim would stay in the shadows, never show himself, never be seen. When Batman walked away from a man bleeding from multiple wounds on his head and a gash in his stomach, Tim couldn’t stay back.

The 911 operators recognized his voice as the Seer, and he tried to stay calm as he begged them for instructions. Begged them to help him save this man. Bandages and stitches, Tim breathed through it all, trying not to shake as he followed instructions. And when the ambulance finally came their way, he ran.

Hyperventilating and shaky, Tim raced home and sobbed. When he had cried all he could, he called Alfred. He would only give them one more chance.

Hoarsely, he gave his terms to Alfred. Alfred, shaken, agreed.

A com connected to Batman, a link to Batman’s cowl cam. Both without anything to trace Tim, or the blackmail would be used.

The next time Batman went out, he heard a new voice. A voice telling him when to stop, when it had to end. If Batman passed that line, the voice would begin explaining, in detail, what blackmail he had.

Batman listened.

____________________________________________________________________________

Things were getting better. Not good, not even close to how it was before. But better.

Tim stayed awake every night, watching the camera feed and putting a stop to things if Batman was losing control. At first, it took minutes of arguing. After three weeks of doing this every night, most of the time it only took a sharp “Batman!” to stop him. Batman would just growl and back off, moving on. Tim breathed a sigh of relief every time.

Then a night came where Batman was trapped. Poison Ivy often wasn’t thought of as the most vengeful villain, but she was deadly. Toxins of every kind, she knew them all. She embraced plants as her family, and Batman had destroyed many in his paranoia and anger.

Batman was trapped, but Tim wasn’t. Alfred asked, begged Tim to go. To stop Ivy. Because nobody deserved the pain those toxins were causing, because Ivy was angry and didn’t leave out bystanders.

At first, Tim refused. With no suit, no armor, he would never stand a chance. Alfred told him about the Robin winter suit, a special one that covered every speck of skin.

Tim agreed.

Stealing a blond wig from his mothers room and chopping the hair to be barely longer than his current style, changing his clothes, adding a hat to ‘cover’ his hair, and a mask on his face, he snuck through Wayne Manor and entered the Batcave.

Alfred’s face grew grim as he looked at the young man in front of him. Tim grabbed the suit and went to change.

____________________________________________________________________________

Ivy was back in Arkham, and Batman was out of action for a full day. Tim kept the suit. Villains wanted revenge for the pain caused during Batman’s ‘mourning’. Alfred begged, Tim became Robin again. And again.

Batman eventually insisted that he get training if he refuses not to leave them alone. Says he can’t stand the incompetence. Batman sends him to Paris to work with someone, Tim went with his brown contact lenses and slightly auburn wig. Tim knew Batman wanted to patrol without the eye over his shoulder, and tasked Alfred with keeping him from losing control.

Lady Shiva was a much harsher mentor than anyone Tim had ever known. He spent four months training with her. He used his saved money to fly back to Gotham as needed when he needed to be Timothy Drake.

Lady Shiva asked, as he was leaving, who he was. She meant his civilian identity, he knew, but he didn’t care. He laughed. “I’m Robin, don’t you know?” And gave a dark smirk.

She shook her head, looking at him intently. “Robin? You don’t seem entirely like a Robin, boy.”

Tim looked down at his hands, still seeing the blood from that one night. “This Robin has red on his hands, and it never seems to go away.”

Shiva looked at him seriously. “It never goes away, not completely.”

She turned away and walked. As they walked their separate way, he heard her call out one last thing to him. “Goodbye little Red Robin!” He barely heard it, she was so far away. He raised a hand back, and left without a second glance.

He hadn’t killed anyone directly. He didn’t leave many injuries. That didn’t mean he didn’t see the blood of each person he patched up since that first night. His own injuries, his own blood, never showed. But he saw all of them still, their blood, but mainly the first.

George Clements passed away due to severe internal bleeding

He went back to Gotham with a staff in his hand, and the knowledge of dozens of different immediate takedowns in his body.

You want to know how to take people down without causing injury? Where’s the fun in that?

Best way to teach is to do, they say. Better learn quickly, hm?”

He wasn’t the light that Dick or Jason were, but he could hold the dark back. He trained, he fought, and he grew. He treated his own injuries, never allowing them the chance to identify him. Bruce trained him in hacking. He learned quick and added it to his lessons outside the Manor.

Oracle established her place as the eyes of the city. Dick started dropping by as Nightwing. Tim avoided them.

When they got upset about him using the name ‘Robin’, he only laughed. When Dick yelled at him for using Jason’s title, Tim shook his head.

“Don’t you know, Dick? This little Robin is Red.”

Silver tips on black hair flickered and swished in the wind as Tim left that night, green eyes flashing. Tim hadn’t cried since that night, but sometimes he wanted to.

They began calling him Red Robin, Red for short, and that was fine by him. He still saw it, and couldn't wash it off.

And at the end of the day (night) he walked back home. A cold, empty house. Took care of his wounds. Went to sleep. Woke up for school.

And he was happy with what he was. He knew he wasn’t the Robin that they were. But he was what was needed, and he did it.

He was forcing Bruce to start therapy. Dick reconnected with Bruce, and Bruce seemed happier. Alfred was less stressed. Barbara came around occasionally.

Tim didn’t stay at the Manor for anything other than for cases. Eventually, Dick started inviting him to play games or watch a movie. But Tim saw the look on Bruce’s face and knew he needed to stay away. He see’s me as Jason sometimes… if I were to play upstairs with Dick, would it remind him of his lost son?

So Tim shook his head at each invitation. Only occasionally took the food offered by Alfred.

I’m not the Robin they wanted. But I did what was needed.

Chapter Text

"Hey Dickwing, I gotta talk to you for a minute."

"Sure thing, Little Wing! What's up?"

"'Was talkin' with B earlier 'bout Little Red an wasn't sure where he was at. You know where the kid is?"

"Nope, haven't seen Red in a while. We never really got that close…"

"Wha-how in the world did Replacement not like you?! Everybody loves you!"

"It was more in how we met… I wasn't too happy to find out about a new Robin through the newspaper. It wasn't his fault, I was… not the nicest to him in the beginning."

"How the heck did this kid become Robin without any support?! Why weren't you better to him?!"

"He walked in wearing your suit Jay! He wore your title and I hated how much he looked like you! It felt like someone was trying to replace you and it took me too long to figure out that he never wanted to do that."

"Who is he? Outside the mask, I mean."

"I never did find out. I tried, at first. He used disguises and always lost me before going home. Eventually I stopped, planned on letting him tell me when he trusted that with me. But then…"

"Yikes. Just, wow."

"Yeah."

Tim didn't get to meet Dick as Robin until about five months after his first outing, and a week after he finished training with Lady Shiva.

At the next bad mission, Alfred called both Tim and Dick in as backup, but by the time Dick got there from Bludhaven, Tim had already gotten Batman out and back to the cave. Two-Face had gotten a good hit on his side, and he wasn't sure if his ribs were broken, but when Tim saw Dick, there was no way he was going to be staying there any longer than necessary, so the moment Alfred and Dick got the unconscious Batman off of him he walked quickly to the stairs.

He made it to the stairs before Dick called out. "Wait just a second!" And Dick ran over to Tim, eyes blazing. "Who are you?! What are you doing in Robin's suit?!" Dick snarled, grabbing hold of Tim's arm and pinning him against a wall.

Tim looked at him coldly. "I only came to help. Let go." Tim yanked his arm away and ducked under Dick's arm, moving quickly out of sight.

It would hurt so bad if the past Robin hated him, but he wasn't doing this for them.

Tim took his usual route home, going in and out of the sewers and through tunnels until he was home. Even though Batman didn't care who he was right now, it was better to be safe, and this way he wasn't caught by any cameras.

He stripped out of the Robin suit and collapsed in his bed, groaning at the sudden pain in his side.

Looking at his side in the mirror, he could see the dark purple bruising along his ribs. Which… wasn't optimal, but he could handle it. He would just have to be careful for the next couple weeks and keep it wrapped.

____________________________________________________________________________

That night, out of habit Tim grabbed the com and stuck it on his ear as he worked on homework. He wasn't expecting to hear the crackle that indicated use.

Frowning, he flipped through the options until he heard a voice.

"-the warehouse a mile away from where he was keeping everyone earlier. He's that confident in his abilities?" Nightwing said into the comms.

Tim raised an eyebrow. It had been months since Nightwing had patrolled in Gotham. What triggered it this time?

"I do suppose he might have been injured. If I recall correctly, that is near where his favored doctor lives." Alfred's crisp British accent rang through.

"Did Batman have time to injure him? You cannot convince me the pipsqueak managed to do anything. I can't believe he even managed to carry B." The sneer in his voice was clear, and Tim flushed in embarrassment and shame.

He HAD gotten a few hits in when Two-Face had unexpectedly come back into the room where the hostages were being held. First to the throat, then the shoulder nerves to make him lose feeling in his arms, and then his head to knock him out. If they went nearby to recover than that probably means he hit the shoulder nerves a bit too hard, making him lose feeling for longer than intended.

"The young master has done quite well. He normally takes to the shadows and retrieves Batman."

"Alf-A, why is he wearing the Robin suit?" Dick's voice was raw.

Alfred’s soft sigh was heard. “The young master needed protection. It is not a slight against anyone.” His tone was sad.

“I just, who is he? Who did B pull into this? Why didn’t he tell me?” Dick choked out.

Tim flinched. He should probably stop listening… Nightwing was not in danger of losing control.

“Batman did not ask him to do this.It has been made clear to us that young Robin will not be controlled by Batman or myself.” Alfred replied. “As for why Batman did not tell you… I’m afraid I cannot say why. Perhaps he was hoping Robin would not reappear.”

Dick sighed. “Maybe.” His tone shifted to more serious. “I’m at the warehouse.”

Tim took out the com and set it on the desk. No reason for him to be listening to it when he could work on his homework in peace.

He ignored the emotions that tried to swirl through him, instead focusing on the numbness. After all, Dick has every reason to be upset with him. Tim was upset with himself, just not for the exact same reasons.

Before he went to bed, he checked the coms one last time. Nightwing had managed to catch Two-Face and was in the process of passing him to the police. Good for him.

He continued checking everything, his nightly routine, and noticed he needed to buy more standard bandage wraps. He reached out to his notepad to write it down, barely flinching when he saw red in his peripheral vision. He didn’t look where he was writing, instead focusing on his computer screen. Tim tossed the notepad onto the desk and waked into the bathroom to scrub his hands. Focusing on the counter.

After scrubbing his hands (Not enough, it never goes away) he finally collapsed into bed and slept. Sometimes, if he was lucky, the nightmares wouldn’t even wake him.

"lemme go!"

"Kid, those guys over there are traffickers. Shut your mouth before they hear ya."

"And you're better?"

"I don't do nothin' with kids. You're too tiny to be out here in the open alone, where's ya parents? Ya practically five!"

"I'm nine!"

____________________________________________________________________________

Batman was kept out of commission for three whole days. Tim was surprised that Bruce allowed that to happen, but he guessed with the combined power of Dick and Alfred that it made sense.

He kept the comms on him out of habit, despite Batman not being out. It buzzed ever so slightly any time it was used, not a big enough buzz that you could feel it unless you were looking for it though.

When it chirped at him on the third day, however, he got slightly irritated. It was daytime, and Bruce was at work giving a speech. It had been on the news.

Still, he went to his bedroom and pulled it out. “What?” Tim snapped.

“You’re the new Robin, right?” Dick’s voice responded.

Tim glared at the wall in front of him. Alfred must have told Dick how to trigger his alert. The alert which was only supposed to be used when he needed to speak to him.

“This is only supposed to be used when it is needed.” Tim growled back. “This is not an emergency. Goodbye.” And he pocketed the small piece of tech.

He continued about his day. It was a lovely Saturday… cloudy skies, the wind blowing, the repeated tweeting of the birds in the trees… Tim continued his stretches in the grass. As he moved on to the katas that Lady Shiva had shown him, the chirping changed tone to be closer to a honk.

“Inner peace….. calm. Listen to the lovely, peaceful chirping." Tim said through gritted teeth.

The honk quickly became a siren.

Tim growled and snatched the comm up. “What?” He snapped.

"Don't ignore me when I'm talking to you!" Nightwing snapped back.

Tim was not impressed. "Are you dying."

"What does that have to do with anything?" Nightwing asked, irritated.

Tim rolled his eyes and pushed back a sigh. "Batman is well, Agent A is well, if you are not dying either then there is no reason for me to listen. "

There was silence for a minute. He would just get back to training, but he could still hear Nightwing's breath in the background.

Finally, he spoke up again. "Who are you?" Nightwing sounded furious. Tim would be nervous, but dealing with Batman so much had kind of gotten him used to fury

"Someone trying to go about their day in peace " Tim growled out. Was voice something he would try to track?

Nightwing was silent for a moment. "You're not Robin." He finally said.

Tim waited a moment. "No, I'm not." He replied softly.

"Why are you doing this then?" He choked out.

Tim tried too keep his eyes from tearing up. "I… I'm sorry. It was the only way I could think of." Tim's voice cracked halfway through, tears breaking through for a moment before he blinked them away.

Nightwing laughed harshly. "Of course it was." His voice turned serious. "I don't think I can call you Robin though."

Tim nods even though he knows the man can't see. "I understand." And he did. He couldn't even think of himself as Robin.

"There shouldn't be another Robin." His voice said darkly.

Tim just shook his head. Nightwing didn't understand. But how could he when he wasn't there? "Goodbye Nightwing. This alert will only be used for emergencies from now on."

And he immediately clicked it off. It didn't chirp again.

He started the next kata. He flinched when he felt water on his hands, flinched at the blood that still shined bright against his pale hands. Tim took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The tears kept coming for another minute, finally fading as he continued the exercise.

Chapter Text

"Oh thank goodness, someone with brains."

"What's up Jay?"

"I was looking for Red. Bruce and Dick say they haven't seen him in two months, an I was gettin' worried. Know where he's at?"

"Nope. Red Robin hasn't been on the main line since the last big breakout."

"Oh come on, you're Oracle, you can find him easy, if you don't already know where he is."

"Sorry Jay, I honestly don't know. I don't keep tabs on him."

"Siiiigh… alright then. Can you at least lemme know his civilian name? B and Dickie somehow didn't know it."

"..."

"... you cannot be serious. The kid was practically in diapers when he became Robin! There is no way he could have hidden from you!"

"For your information, he was Red for several months before I became mobile enough to do much of anything. Oracle wasn't a reality until just a bit after I found out about Red."

"And since ya still don't know his identity?"

"The little twerp learned hacking from somewhere. Maybe Bruce at first, but he definitely didn't skip on lessons."

"..... and he never told you either?"

"I mean, to be fair we didn't meet in person for a while…"

"Barbs, Barbie, are you actually ashamed? What the crap!"

"I don't know what to say. I did make… mistakes. I wasn't as bad as some people, but I was not kind.

"The more I learn, the more I wonder why he stayed."

"Oh, did he never tell you?"

"...?"

"He always made it clear, him being Robin wasn't for us. It wasn't for us, and it wasn't for him. He… he told us that it was for Gotham. For the spirit of Robin. Or rather, the Hope of Gotham."

______________________________________________________________________________

Nightwing patrolled Gotham for a couple weeks after that. Tim always made sure to check his situation before climbing into bed.

Alfred had made a couple comments in his messages to Tim. Apparently, Nightwing wanted to meet him in person. Tim snorted when he read that message.

At least Nightwing was taking advantage of his time in the city. There was waves of gossip attempting to guess why he was here.

Reportedly, he was in Gotham to help his father while Bruce recovered from falling down the stairs. But he was also seen visiting his ex-girlfriend who just got out of physio.

Tim spun a pencil idly as he read the words on his laptop. Alfred had messaged him again, informing him ever so politely how Dick wished to meet with him.

Tim ignored the request.

______________________________________________________________________________

Tim smiled, actual joy breaking through him. Barbara may not be Batgirl anymore, may not be able to walk, but she was still as epic as ever.

Nightwing has been patrolling in Gotham for two weeks now, and Tim always made sure to check on him for a minute before going to bed every night.

But tonight, Tim was intrigued when he heard Nightwing ask Oracle something. And then he heard Barbara respond!

"Oh my gosh I can't believe Batgirl is back!" Tim felt giddy at the revelation. She was so cool!

______________________________________________________________________________

Three weeks after the Two-Face incident, Batman was back on the streets. Tim scowled in irritation when the first fight ended, and was ready to throw something at Batman by the third.

"Batman! That is enough!" Tim hissed, furious.

Batman flinched midswing against the unconscious drug dealer. He growled in annoyance before giving in and putting handcuffs on the man.

Tim wanted to make a comment about how Batman did not have the right to be irritated here, but he was mature enough to not say it. Take that you overgrown child.

"Batman? Who was that?"

Oh crap, okay. So Barbara heard him, that's lovely. He knew she didn't know much about Batman's decline, she had been in the hospital for a long time.

"Nobody Oracle." Batman's gravelly voice answered.

Pft, like that was going to do anything. She already heard him, Batman could at least try to answer.

"Batman, I have ears. Who was that?" Her voice was irritated now. Oh goodie, they could all be irritated together now!

"Hey, I'm the one who got B out of that mess the other day." Tim figured it would be better to let her know now rather than later.

"You're the new Robin? B, what the frick is he doing on our comms?!" Tim flinched at her furious tone.

"I am not the one who gave him access, Oracle. He gave that to himself." Batman's voice cut in flatly.

"Kid, why the crap are you doing this? Is it fun? Is it fun to take a dead child's costume and play like you're him?!" Oracle's fury cut into him, causing him to flinch once more.

Why was he doing this? Well obviously Batman hadn't told his coworkers much about the situation.

"This isn't about you, you know." Tim could barely hear himself, could barely recognize his own voice. "It isn't about me, it's not about you."

"How is it not about—"

"The only reason I am using the Robin suit is because it was the only one that would work. This was never for me, for you, for Batman, for any of you! It was for Gotham." Tim laughed hoarsely.

"Robin never dies, I'm fighting for him, I'm fighting for the spirit of Robin. I'm not doing this for fun. Robin was Gotham's Hope. That's what I'm fighting for. And nobody can tell me to stop."

Batman sighed in the silence after his statement.

Oracle responded eventually, as they watched Batman continue patrol. "You know, Batman might have accepted you. But you will never be Robin to me. You don't even deserve the title." And she dropped off the comms.

They were left in silence. Tim watched the cowl-cam, but Batman didn't have any more incidents that night.

Tim closed his eyes as he took off the comms. Tears leaked through still, but he just blindly wiped them away.

He already knew they were right. How could he not? Jason would have been better. Jason was better. Tim was just a dam, stopping the waters from destroying the city.

He had enjoyed the last three weeks, not needing to follow along after Nightwing. Batman did good work, but sometimes Tim didn't want to be jumping around the city behind him, patching people up.

Despite Batman mainly using his fists, Gotham always managed to create bloody situations.

Tim had decided that he hated the sight of blood. He used to be fine with it, but seeing it now, trying to bandage it up, he always got it on him. It was Gotham, it was bound to happen. But there was always so much red and even when he wore gloves (which was most of the time) he could still see it after the gloves were gone.

No matter how hard he scrubbed at his hands, he could always see the blood on them.

______________________________________________________________________________

"Why do you help them when they tried to hurt you?"

"Well kid, some people lash out when they're hurt. Ya still gotta protect ya'self, but that dont mean ya gotta let them stay hurt, ya got it?"

"But why?"

"Siiiigh… cause, cause everybody got their own issues, and when I can do somthin about the issues in the world, I do. It ain't always about the person I'm helpin. Sometimes it's for the people THEY could help."

"Says the drug dealer, thief, and smuggler."

"Now you shut your mouth, you pipsqueak."

"I'm eleven!"

______________________________________________________________________________

Oracle refused to call him Robin. That was fine, it didn't matter so long as he knew they were talking to him. Nightwing did the same most of the time as well. It was pretty obvious when they were talking to him though. They didn't like him, and they didnt appreciate him taking their brother's place. Which Tim wasn't trying to do, but whatever.

Their disregard eventually came to a head, however.

______________________________________________________________________________

"Robin, the hostages are in the abandoned restaurant two blocks ahead." Alfred said crisply.

Tim ran faster. "Has anyone located Batman?" He asked urgently.

"I am afraid not. There has been no sign of him yet. Perhaps they put him nearby?" Alfred responded. He could hear the clicks from buttons being pushed.

Tim nodded. "Understood. Oracle, do you have anything?" He jumped onto the roof of the old building and began peeking inside.

"No. I was able to locate Batman's last location before his trackers went down though. Nightwing is headed there now."

Tim surveyed the building. The five hostages were in a line, facing the wall. "Hostages located. Looking for hostiles now." Tim whispered.

He crawled around in the ceiling, trying to find the robbers. In the lobby, he found one of them, but there were supposed to be three. Number 1 was seemingly keeping an eye on the door.

Tim continued searching. Eventually he found the last two arguing in the back kitchen.

"Eddy, what are we supposed to do with the hostages now?! We got the money, but they seen our faces! I didn't sign up to be no murderer!"

The other man, presumably named Eddy, responded. "It ain't a big deal, we'll just hit 'em over the heads an' call it good!"

Number 2 shook his head. "What was da Batman doin there Eddy? What are we s'posed to do with 'im?!"

Eddy sighed. "It was jus' that bad luck o yours. We can jus' leave 'im too!"

Tim sincerely thought about just letting the robbers leave. His job wasn't to catch them, it was to keep the hostages safe.

But then the police got there.

Tim watched as the men panicked and each grabbed a hostage, holding guns to their heads.

"Ya either let us go, or we shoot the lovely pals we brought with us!"

Tim crawled to right above where they stood. "Nightwing I need backup, they are getting jittery" Tim whispered urgently.

"Negative Robin, I am a touch too far away. You can take care of three guys on your own, right?"

Tim stared blankly at the wall in front of him. So no backup then? He thought to himself with some panic.

Taking some deep breaths, Tim surveyed the situation.

The robbers were obviously extremely nervous. The people they were holding at gunpoint were whimpering softly.

The police line outside showed some police officers grouped up looking at the building.

Tim kept watch, waiting for the perfect time to strike.

Then a police officer started walking towards the door.

"Hey!" Eddy shouted, waving his gun threateningly. "Back off or I shoot!"

The officer didn't stop, and might have even gotten faster.

The robbers tensed up, holding their guns at ready. Eddy shouted out again. "Last chance officers!" And shot the floor next to them, causing the hostages to cry out in fear and for number 1 and 2 to jolt the guns away as well.

At that moment, Tim dropped down onto Eddy, jabbing him in a nerve cluster and dropping him immediately. He quickly turned and kicked the gun out of Number 2's hands and hit the nerve cluster on him as well.

With two out of three down and the hostages already racing out the door, Tim jumped over to Number 1, who was still holding his hostage.

BANG

The woman he was holding hostage screamed, grabbing her side in agony.

Tim yelped at the sound and quickly retaliated by twisting the gun out of the man's hands and knocking him out.

Tim stared at the gun in his hands for a moment before dropping it and falling to the ground, frantically trying to help the hyperventilating woman.

"Sshhh it's okay, I got you, you're going to be just fine" he said frantically, trying to reassure her as he tore her shirt by the wound in her side. He was distantly grateful that it was lower, closer to her stomach than chest.

He immediately put pressure on it. "Lay down ma'am, I'm going to stop the bleeding until the EMT's get in, alright?" He tried to smile reassuringly as he spoke, because even though the mask covered 99% of his face, he was pretty sure someone once told him people could tell that kind of thing.

She nodded, still hyperventilating and crying.

The policeman that had triggered the whole thing watched in surprise. The other police officers had come rushing in at the second gunshot and were in the process of rushing in the EMT's.

The paramedics ran in and took over for Tim. Before the woman was taken away, she reached out, grabbing Tim's hand. "Th-thank you." She said weakly. She saw his hands and gasped. "S-sorry for the m-mess."

Tim's eyes went from her face to their joined hands. "You're welcome ma'am. Don't worry about me, my main color seems to be red anyway."

She huffed out what might have been a laugh, and the paramedics rushed her into the ambulance.

Tim raced out after that. No need to be caught up by the police. It was bad enough that so many people saw him.

"Robin to Nightwing, were you able to locate Batman?" Tim asked as he raced along the rooftops, making his way back to the cave.

"Batman has been retrieved, he was held in the building next door to you." Alfred responded.

Nightwing spoke. "What happened on your end? I heard shots fired." And Tim stopped where he was at that.

"You… you were next door? Close enough to hear the shots?" He asked carefully.

Nightwing snorted. "I was evacuating Batman. I knew that a Robin would be able to take care of things without any issue." Time flinched at the pointed comment.

Oracle spoke up. "No cameras inside the restaurant, but from what I can see, one of the hostages was shot." Her voice was cold.

Tim slowly continued his path back to the cave. Just another couple minutes… he thought numbly.

Alfred was the next one to speak up. "How bad is the injury?" His voice serious.

Oracle took a moment to answer, presumably finding the information. "First responders say there is a possibility she might not be able to walk for a while, if ever. It may have come too close to the spine." Her voice was blank. A deep breath was audible through the comms, and she asked. "How did the woman get shot, Robin?"

Tim flinched again at her cold tone. "I took down two of the men, and the third got a shot out before I could get him down."

Nightwing snarled. "Why were they able to get the shot in? You should have had all three down before they could do anything!" The unspoken, a real Robin would be able to was obvious.

Tim walked into the cave, heading for the medbay. "An officer aggravated them, I had to jump in early. I did the best I could." Tim said resolutely. Jason would have been able to do it. But I'm not Jason.

Oracle's disgust was obvious. "How can you call yourself Robin when you can't keep people safe?" A sneer heard in her voice.

Tim walked into the medbay, completely ignoring Oracle's words. And there was Dick, standing next to an unconscious Batman. Or rather, Bruce, because he was no longer in the suit.

Nightwing could only look at Tim for a second before scowling darkly. "You can't call yourself Robin. You are nothing like him."

Tim wanted to cry. His hands were tacky with dried blood from him trying to stall the bleeding, and his hero stood in front of him telling him he wasn't good enough.

"You're right, I am not like him." Tim said in a shockingly clear voice. Tim turned around and walked out of the medbay. "I'm not like your Robin. Because this Robin?" Tim turned to look at Dick from his position at the base of the stairs.

"This little Robin is Red." Tim choked out, trying to keep his voice from cracking as he raised his hands in example.

Nightwing stared at him with an unpinnable expression on his face.

Tim choked out a harsh laugh before turning and walking out.

______________________________________________________________________________

Before he signed out that night, he made sure to send them all a message.

"I'm not the Robin you want. We all know this. But if you ever let that take priority over people's lives again, I will make you regret it.

Sincerely,
Red Robin

Chapter Text

“Master Jason, it is good to see you out of your costume for once.”

“Sorry Alfie, I’ll make sure to visit ya more often.”

“Very good.”

“Hey, Alfie…”

“Yes? What did you want to ask?”

“I gotta be honest with ya, I’m kinda worried ‘bout the answer ya gonna give me.”

“You will not know unless you let me answer whatever this question may be.”

“Red Robin. I’ been askin’ the others ‘bout him. But they don’t know much, and what they do know… I want them ta be wrong. It hurts, Alfie. Was there anythin’ that he was able ta enjoy?”

“.... Please, Master Jason. When you listen to these stories, understand that they have passed. None of us… none of us are proud of what happened when he joined us.”

“Dick mentioned that he only came for emergencies at first. When did lil’Red come ‘round more regular?”

“About a year after the young master came into our lives, he requested that he be allowed to use the computer downstairs.”

“..... That’s odd… why’d he wanna do that? What changed?”

“I do not know. It was then that he began coming more often. He spent all his time in the cave and eventually the Titan’s Tower.”

“Did he act any different? ‘Sides comin’ round more.”

“He was always a serious child. He spoke less, I believe, starting then.”

______________________________________________________________________

Tim stared in shock at the email he had received. Millionaires Mr & Mrs Drake in Hospital Due to Crash

But it was true. Janet was dead and Jack was in a coma they weren't sure he'd wake from. The next day, he was informed that CPS would be taking custody of him until someone suitable could be found.

But thank goodness his Uncle Eddie could take him in, right? Oh gee, dad's will said Uncle Eddie would be taking custody? Good thing he was able to come so quickly.

Over the week it took for Tim to get everything set up and figured out, he only barely paid attention to patrol, only speaking up when he had to. Which was rare nowadays, but did occasionally happen.

Tim continued his daily routine in a daze, causing Ives to worry about him when he visited.

"Hey man, I'm real sorry about your parents." He said to Tim softly. "You know I'm always here for you, right man?" Ives reached out slowly, pulling Tim into a hug.

Tim stood still in the embrace, his arms down at his side, his eyes unfocused. "I'm okay Ives." Tim croaked out, his voice rusty.

Ives pulled back to grab his shoulders and look Tim in the eyes. "I. Am. Here. For you. Y'know you're my friend. You need me, I'm there. You don't have to be okay, Tim."

At that, Tim cracked. "Ives, why'd they have to leave me?" He cried, tears running down his face. Ives pulled him back into a tight hug, patting his back gently. Tim didn't understand what was happening.

"They- they're supposed to come back! They were supposed to be here for my birthday! It was my birthday gift for getting to fifteen!" Tim sobbed into Ives' shoulder.

"I'm sorry Tim, I'm so so sorry."

Tim shook his head slightly, still pressed up against Ives. "It was going to be special… they haven't been home for my birthday since I was nine. Why'd they have to go and miss it again?" His rough voice cracked as he spoke, from mourning or disuse was unknown. "Why… why can't they come back, once more?"

Ives shook his head, trying to keep from crying himself. He needed to support his friend. "I don't know, Tim. I don't know."

"Happy Birthday kid."

"I'm 12! I'm not a kid anymore!"

"Pft, anyone under thirty is a kid to me, kid."

"How old are you?"

"Old enough ta have fought in the war. Two of em'."

"I thought they kicked you out cause you were doing drugs?"

"Ha! That wasn't ‘til after the second one."

Gasp "You-you got me a cu-cupcake?"

"Aw kid, don't you go cryin now. I jus’ happened to pass by Carol when she was tossin’ the leftovers. Thought’cha mentioned ya birthday was round this time."

______________________________________________________________________

He went back to school. People kept telling him they were sorry for his loss, but it was easy to forget that his parents were gone, otherwise. It was still the same routine, he was just going to a different home. He wasn't sure how long the money from his parents would last, and had moved to a small apartment just outside of Crime Alley.

Eventually Tim couldn't handle the constant reminders from classmates. The constant pity on their faces, the consolations. Just because he was basically an orphan didn't mean they had to pity him.

So he quietly asked his teachers if he could be transferred to an online school. They gave in eventually, and he stayed home by himself, completing the homework online and staying home all day.

The boredom got to him pretty quick, especially considering he wasn't needed as much to deal with Batman. Which he was so, so grateful for. But it left him with too much free time.

So he added some more hacking to his lessons.

But as he was buying food one day, he realized. "Crap, I have to get a job, don't I?" Because despite the fact that in record, Uncle Eddie was earning plenty for two, all the money was actually coming from his parents and his accounts.

"What job could I even qualify for?" Tim mused to himself when he got back to the small one-bedroom apartment. It would have to be a legal job, but one that would not look too closely at how young he is.

Looking through job's was interesting, especially when he looked into them to see how many were fronts for some kind of crime. Spoiler, it was a lot.

But then he saw one that looked interesting. "An EMT? I could do that…"

And so began his new job. He was hired quickly, the interview basically just them having him prove his first aid experience. They barely even looked at the fake documents he spent hours putting together.

But he still felt at a loss. So he started working on cold cases. It was an old hobby of his, but he had stopped as he spent more and more time in Gotham.

So he started working on them at night as he watched Batman's patrol through a screen.

Tim began to be curious about the cases Batman was dealing with, and started researching those. The first couple times he cracked a case, he was almost giddy with satisfaction. He sent his findings to Alfred to deal with.

Still though, Tim felt too empty. He pushed himself to learn faster, crack cases faster, and push his body to its limits. He worked part-time as an EMT during the day (okay maybe the afternoon) and homework and cases here worked on while watching Batman patrol.

It was a nice balance for a little while, but Tim kept running into walls on cases because he couldn't access Batman's reports. With hesitation, he asked Alfred if he could come to the Batcave to work on the Bat computer.

When Alfted said yes, Tim slowly pulled out the Robin costume once more. He hadn't had to use it for over three months, because Nightwing and the newly proclaimed Oracle had kept an eye on Batman, not that they knew they were doing that.

Tim put the suit on, as well as a short blond wig and green contacts, and went to the Batcave. He was careful with his timing; Batman and Nightwing were patrolling for another three hours at minimum. Tim sat down in front of the computer and got to work.

It was a lot easier to multitask with the huge screen, Tim thought wryly. It was pretty cool being able to use this computer, and it made things a lot easier when he was able to use the database instead of finding the information himself.

Alfred even brought down some cookies, specifically handing some to Tim and telling him to try them.

Tim beamed in response, humming in pleasure when the taste registered. "Thank you Mr Pennyworth. I'll be out of your hair soon." Tim turned back to the computer and finished putting the information together into a packet to send to the police.

As he sent the information and stood up to leave, he felt Alfred looking at him intently. He turned to look back at Alfred, raising an eyebrow. "Yes?

Alfred looked slightly uncomfortable, and even hesitated before speaking. “I just wanted you to know. I am grateful.” He took a deep breath, closing his eyes. “Thank you for coming to us. You are always welcome to come use the Batcomputer when you need to.” He turned away and walked back to the elevator, back to the manor.

Tim watched blankly. Interesting…

He left before Batman and Nightwing came back.

______________________________________________________________________

There were a few times Tim followed Batman on patrol, for old time’s sake. He wasn’t happy with what he noticed, even if it was better than it used to be.

Two weeks after he visited the cave, he messaged Alfred again, asking if he could come again.

Nightwing returned to Bludhaven after patrol, so Batman was alone when he came to the cave. He hadn’t expected to see that boy sitting at the Batcomputer.

“What are you doing here?” Batman’s gravelly voice asked sharply.

Tim didn’t bother looking at him. Instead, he gestured to the screen.

On it were names, credentials and notes under each. Batman furrowed his brow and growled at him. “What is this?”

Tim finally turned to look at him. “These are doctors. Psychologists, actually. They specialize in villains and heroes. They are a very closely guarded secret. These ones specifically work for the Justice League, and you are going to choose one to talk to.”

Batman actually gaped at him, he was so surprised. Even Alfred was surprised, his widened eyes giving him away. Tim almost laughed at their expressions, but he kept a straight face.

“Batman, you are not well. Losing people is hard and hurts. We need help sometimes. This is you getting help.” Tim gestured to the list of names. “Choose someone to talk to. Anyone on this list. Do your research on them, talk to the Justice League, but I expect you to make an appointment with one within a week.”

Batman stilled completely as Tim spoke.

Alfred spoke. “May I ask what triggered this?” He glanced between Batman and Tim cautiously.

Tim scowled. Looking at Batman, he asked “Do you really feel like it is necessary or even helpful to beat up people who have committed petty crimes?” Tim sighed, standing up and stretching. “Does their crimes really deserve such harsh response? If I did to them what you are, you would throw me in jail. I wonder if I am making a mistake when I give you so many chances.” Tim looked down at his hands, eyes glazing over in memory.

Batman flinched at his words but didn’t respond.

After a minute of silence, Tim looked up again. “That is what triggered this, but it doesn’t change the need for it. You need therapy, Batman.” Tim gave a lopsided smile to the still figure. “I’m sorry for your loss. Please don’t make me do something that would hurt their memory.”

Tim finally made his way out of the cave and went back to his house.

______________________________________________________________________

Batman didn’t go out on patrol for four more nights.

Tim tried to keep from going back to the Batcave, but he was surprisingly lonely. Even the small interactions with Alfred felt amazing. Alfred did say that he could come back, right?

A week passed, and Tim decided to go to the Cave to check up on them.

“Mr Pennyworth.” Tim greeted Alfred as he walked in.

Batman materialized next to Alfred. “Rob-Red. Why are you here?” Batman was irritated? Adorable. Tim almost snorted at his ‘intimidating’ pose.

“Well Batman, I wanted to check in on you and see if you followed directions.”

Shockingly, Batman immediately pulled up an email sent to a Dr McNalin, setting up an appointment for the next week.

Tim nearly wilted in relief. He wasn’t sure what he would have done if Batman hadn’t listened. But he stood straight and nodded slightly at Batman. “Good.”

At the silence that followed, Tim watched, confused, as Batman stood still. “Were you going to patrol tonight?” Tim asked, eyeing his costume that clearly indicated that he was about to go.

Batman hesitated, then nodded. Silently he stalked out of the Cave and began his patrol.

Tim eyed Alfred, who continued to stand there. Alfred offered him a bland look in response.

He internally shrugged, and walked over to the computer. After quickly checking things to make sure that Batman was actually planning on seeing the counselor (which he was??? Legitimately???) he signed out and began to leave.

Tim hesitated as he passed Alfred, remembering how lonely he felt. “Mr Pennyworth?” He asked hesitantly.

Alfred turned to look at him. “Yes?” He had been cataloging items in the medbay when Tim spoke.

Tim looked at him carefully as he asked his question. “Would it be alright if I came here to work on cases? Not every day,” He rushed to clarify, “But every couple days?”

Alfred nodded. “Yes, that would do. I would ask to be informed beforehand, but that is just preference.” As he went back to cataloging, he casually continued. “You are welcome to come over any time.”

Tim smiled slightly, out of sight from Alfred, and nodded. “Thank you, sir.”

As Tim left, Alfred called out one last thing. “Call me Alfred, young sir.”

Chapter Text

"Yo, Steph!"

"Ah, my most beloved Hood! Perfect timing! Can you stitch my arm up?"

"Really Blondie?"

"Hey! Normally I'd have Red do it. You should be honored to be allowed to touch my skin."

"Gross, ya makin it sound nasty."

"Get over here and stitch it up, you big baby!"

"Aright, aright. By the way, speakin a Red…"

"What about him? Hey, when you see him next can you tell him he owes me?"

"Owes ya for what? An' wait, when was the last time ya saw 'im?

"He owes me his presence. I haven't seen him in over a month! I never deprive him of my presence!"

A laugh. "Ya really are somthin, Blondie. How'd ya meet Red, anyway?"

"I hit him in the face with a brick! Truly, fate was calling us both!"

"Wait, ya serious?!"

______________________________________________

Working as an EMT was grueling work, especially in Gotham. But honestly, Tim loved it. He was being paid, and was able to work almost full-time, bringing in even more money.

The other EMT's looked exhausted, almost ancient. Their eyes spoke of the horrors they had seen, and the stress lines on their faces were made clearer by the shadows.

Tim quietly listened as they taught him the protocols. He was also shown how to do everything "properly".

"Where the heck didja learn to do it that way? It works, but it ain't the way you're s'posed to."

Nobody knew him as anything other than Timothy Ding. It was a silly last name, but it made Tim laugh when he heard someone call him by his 'last' name. They thought he was around sixteen; because he was obviously younger than the official papers stated him to be. They didn't ask, he was doing his job and doing it well, so it would only make them lose a good worker from their already shorthanded workforce.

Tim often found himself riding in the ambulance and being the first one out when they got to the emergency.

It was a dangerous job, but it was a lot less busy during the daytime than at night. Tim refused to work the night shift, claiming that he had college. The truth was that he was worried the night shift crew might recognize his voice, which he did NOT need.

Every few days, Tim went to the Batcave and compiled any information he had found. Whether it was something he saw when dodging a punch from a would-be murderer, or from one of the many gang fights they get called to. Normally for those, they would stay a decent ways away until the police were able to take care of the fight.

Tim texted Ives every once in a while, but he didn't want to worry him. Ives kept messaging him though, and asked a few times if Tim wanted to come over and play games. Tim was hesitant to go, and since his parents' deaths he had only seen Ives three times outside of school.

It wasn't that Tim was avoiding him… it was just that, Tim didn't really want to cause a fuss. If he went and played games with Ives, then Ives would worry, and it would take time away from working and classes.

And really, with Barbara working to establish herself as a tech oracle, he needed to work hard to make sure she wouldn't be able to hack his system.

He had been working as an EMT for a month when one night, an hour til the end of his shift, they got a call to a house in Crime Alley for an overdose. Something that was sadly fairly common.

Tim knocked on the apartment door, which was opened by a blond girl about the same age as himself. She was pale, crying as she glanced at his scrubs and immediately grabbed his hand to drag him further into the room, over to where a blond woman lay.

"Sh-she won't wake up." The blond teenager said, crying.

Tim patted her hand, which was still holding onto him, and tried to reassure her. "It's okay, we'll take care of her."

And he turned to the woman and began checking her. His mentor, Cheryl, spoke softly to the girl, asking questions.

When they were done, the woman, Crystal, was loaded onto the ambulance. Her daughter, Stephanie, claimed her father would be coming home and could take care of her. Tim eyed her suspiciously when she said this, however, as she couldn’t look him in the eye.

Tim was pretty darn certain that her dad wasn’t going to be back. Or if he was, he wouldn’t be able to take care of her.

Instead of showing any of his suspicion though, he just nodded and walked out with Cheryl.

____________________________________________________________________________

Crystal was going to be fine. She would be in the hospital for another three days before being allowed to leave. Tim was startled to learn that she was actually a nurse at the hospital. Or rather, she used to be.

Tim slid into the Robin costume and made his way out the door and over to Crime Alley. He was careful to avoid any cameras and people around. It wouldn’t be proper to be seen.

Tim made his way over to Crystal and Stephanie’s apartment. He just wanted to make sure that Stephanie was okay. It wasn’t easy having your parents be placed in the hospital, with nobody else to take care of you. And he wanted to make sure that her father wouldn’t be an issue.

When Tim reached the building, he noticed somebody else leaving. Which normally wouldn't catch his eye, but they were leaving out the window of Stephanie's apartment, and were carrying something odd in their hands.

He decided to observe for the moment, and began following the figure in purple.

____________________________________________________________________________

"Batman, I got a possible tip on the Cluemaster." When Tim had seen that the figure was Stephanie, he made sure she got back safely before picking up the note she had hidden. After reading the puzzle on the note, he tried to figure out who she could be talking about.

But when he looked into her family, he realized that she had to be talking about her father. The Cluemaster, a less well known villain than some, but dangerous. He had escaped from prison just a week before.

Batman raised an eyebrow at Tim. "How did you get that?" His voice growled out of the suit intimidatingly.

Tim turned to stare it him, deadpan. "Batman, unlike some people, I have a life outside of a man cave. I hear other people… I see other people… and wouldn't you know, by doing that I can learn all sorts of things!" Tim flashed a bright smile, fluttering big, green eyes at him innocently.

Batman didn't respond,but did drop the intimidating pose slightly. Tim watched in fascination at the slight twitch in his neck where he had stopped himself from looking away. Awww did he embarrass the big, bad, Batman?

Tim turned back to the computer, inputting everything he learned about Cluemaster's possible heist coming up.

____________________________________________________________________________

With the tip from Stephanie, thet were able to capture Cluemaster almost immediately.

Right before they had pounced though, Tim noticed Stephanie in her purple outfit and mask, trying to hide and keep watch.

She didn't jump in during the fight, which Tim was extremely relieved about, but he wanted to talk to her. So once Cluemaster was in custody, he slipped away from Batman as the reporters came running.

Stephanie looked to be doing a victory dance of sorts, and was quietly cheering to herself. "Yes! It worked! That ugly old man is back where he belongs, and I helped put him there!"

Tim watched her for a moment before jumping down beside her. "Hello—"

"Eep!" Stephanie stared in horror at the vigilante on the roof in front of her, holding his jaw where she had hit him in the face with her sock brick! "Oh my gosh, I am so sorry! I didn't mean to hit you Robin sir, I thought you were someone else! I—"

Tim repressed a smile at her babbling. Darn, she got him good. He felt where his jaw was, and winced when he realized it was dislocated.

When Stephanie saw him flinch in pain, her babbling became even more terrified.

Tim raised his hands out and tried to reassure her. "Woah, hey miss, it's all fine. You got me good, and if I was someone else it definitely would have been the smartest thing to do. No harm done!" Tim smiled reflexively, and flinched again at the pain. He groaned slightly, should he fix it now or after he gets back to the apartment?

Stephanie was almost hyperventilating by the time he gushed her, but calmed down a bit now. She reached up to his face where she had hit him. When he leaned away with a raised eyebrow, she blushed and giggled, embarrassed. "I-I was just trying to see how bad it is…" she mumbled slightly.

Tim tilted his head. "It's just dislocated. I can fix it up easily, and then it will just be bruised for a bit. I'll be fine."

She looked like she didnt know whether to be relieved or not. "Dislocated?! Oh gosh, you have to go to the hospital for that or else it won't heal right!"

Tim shook his head slightly. "Nah, I can just pop it back into place and keep some bandages on it. No problem!"

Stephanie looked unamused. "My mom is a nurse, and while I havent done it myself, I know it needs proper treatment!" She was glaring at him now.

Tim huffed out a laugh. It had been a while since he had someone so worried about his health. "Nah, the hospital is one way to do it, but there's other methods. I'm just gonna do what the field medics in the military do, and then keep a close eye on it. Okay?" Hopefully the fact that it was an actual treatment would reassure her.

He usually didn't spend too much time talking with civilians, but he wanted to reassure her that it was fine. It was nice talking to someone closer to his range after so long though…

Stephanie looked at him suspiciously. "Fine, but do it in front of me so I can make sure you don't die. And hey, shouldn't you have Batman take care of it?" She asked, seeing him start to pull out some stuff from his belt.

Tim tilted his head slightly, seemingly confused. "No, why would I? I am perfectly capable of doing it myself." He gestured for her to sit down, before doing the same.

They were on the rooftop of some apartment complex(?), and luckily it had sides that came up about three feet instead of just a flat roof.

Tim took a minute to set up everything carefully, and quickly set the bone back in place.

Stephanie watched him, positive that he was lying to her. There was no way he was going to set his own bone! But no, he was setting everything up, and then quickly did something that caused a slight pop to be heard, and then he was closing his eyes and squeezing his staff in front of him, taking deep breaths.

She watched in awe as, in less than five minutes, he had completely recomposed himself. If she hadn't seen him before, she would never have thought that he was hurt. "Where did you learn to do that? Could they teach me too?!" Stephanie asked excitedly. She had always wanted to know how to do that kind of thing…

When she saw him tense slightly at the question, Stephanie mentally smacked herself. This was Robin, so Batman taught him. It wasn't like Batman was going to teach just anybody!

Tim shook his head at her question. "Sorry, they wouldn't be able to teach you. Not because you wouldnt be able to learn!" He rushed to reassure her, "They just aren't teaching anymore. I was learning for a couple years before I picked up this costume."

Stephanie was a little confused at that, but nodded at him. Batman wasn't teaching anymore?

Tim stood up slowly, facing her and helping her stand as well. "Thank you for the tip on Cluemaster, by the way." he said offhandedly, unaware of the absolute shock that statement caused. "It was a huge help, I don't think we would have been able to catch Cluemaster today otherwise."

Stephanie took a step back, frantically speaking. "Note? What note? Did you guys get a tip about this and that's why it went so smooth? Wow that's really awesome but I don't even know who Cluemaster is, so it couldn't have been me! Why do you say it was me?" She babbled out in panic. Stephanie really kind of hated her inability to shut her mouth sometimes…

Tim grabbed her hand. "Hey, it's fine! I was just walking by this apartment building and saw a figure in purple " he eyed her outfit pointedly "climbing out of a window. I was suspicious, so I followed you. I researched a bit about you to figure out who the note was talking about, and here we are. I told Batman that we got a tip, but I didn't tell him anything about you, Stephanie."

"Steph. Call me Steph." She said blankly. Tim watched her visibly decide to not think about any of this. "Can you help me back to my apartment?" Steph was glancing at his grappling hook eagerly.

Why not? "Sure. Hold on tight!" She climbed on his back, and he grappled back to her apartment. When she started squealing in excitement at the jumps, he smiled unconsciously and made sure to do a few more jumps than necessary.

When they got there, Tim set Steph down and turned around to face her.

"You are wearing a mask. It's good, but I hope you don't need it anymore." Tim really hoped she wasn't planning on going out again.

Steph blushed. "I just er… I thought it'd be good to use so that I could help catch my father." She spat out the last word with venom. "And besides, if I had you with me, you'd be able to take care of any injuries I get, no problem! I bet you could do stitches or surgery or anything, Robin." Steph had a teasing glint in her eye, but Tim was pretty sure she was also exhausted.

Tim shook his head, a small smile on his face. "Call me Red. I'm not… not really Robin." Before she could comment on that, he continued. "And while I do know how to do stitches, I would prefer not to have to use that knowledge unless absolutely necessary." He sighed slightly. "I think you could do more good in the world without your mask, rather than with it."

Steph turned pink at his words. "Oh-oh, thanks." She mumbled, turning away from him.

Tim tried not to flush as well. He sounded so dumb. "A-anyway, thank you for the tip. Stay safe!" And with a jaunty salute, he jumped out the window and started his way back.

"Most people didn't survive long. My squad were all trained field medics by the end of the year. "

"Can you teach me to be a field medic?!"

"Is that ALL you got from that?"

"Mother says I have an attention issue. So you'll teach me?!"

"I never agreed to that!"

____________________________________________________________________________

"You were talking to that civilian for a long time…" Tim wanted to sigh at the words. Batman had been glowering over him in silence for fifteen minutes, watching Tim go around the Batcave.

"She was worried. I reassured her and took her to her apartment. " Tim replied in a bored tone. He was curious if Batman was going to try to push the topic any longer.

Even without looking at Batman, he could feel the glare on his face. Tim finished his task, being very thorough in cleaning his staff, double checking and triple checking, before finally looking at Batman. "Yes?" Tim asked, raising an eyebrow.

Finally Batman responded. "Do you know her?"

Tim snorted. "I'm not telling you who I am outside of this, Batman. But if you are worrying about someone else knowing about your identity, the civilian doesn't know me." He watched Batman nod sharply at that.

"Does anyone know who you are?" Batman asked, glower returning slightly.

Tim outright laughed at him. "No. Your identity is safe with me." The for now went unsaid.

Tim had finally finished cleaning all of his tools, and literally everything he could think of in order to push Batman to speak earlier. With the silence returned, Batman not saying anything once more, Tim shook his head and grabbed his stuff.

"I think I'm going to leave now. Enjoy your counseling appointment tonight." Tim waved at Alfred, who had just come down, on his way out.

Home sweet home…

Tim picked up the first aid box and grabbed the bandages. He reminisced about the past as he wrapped his jaw ever so carefully. "There, just like you showed me…" Tim said softly. "I did good, right?"

The silence was his only answer.

Chapter Text

"Hey Old Man,"

"You are still looking for Red Robin?"

"Yup, but so far I ain't havin any luck. Where ya headin?"

"My weekly appointment."

"Oh yeah, that time a tha week 'lready?"

"Yes. I'll be back in a couple hours."

"Hey, old man, I dont think ya ever told me. What are these appointments for? An with who?"

"It's my… therapist. "

"Ya go to therapy?! Tha heck, do I even know ya?!"

A long sigh. "I have been going to therapy for years. Ask Cass if you don't believe me. "

"I might have'ta do that. How long have ya been goin, B?"

"Red required me to go, and I have been going since before Cassandra joined the family."

"Holy fu-udge sticks B, Red gotcha ta go? No wonder Cass came out so much better than tha rest of us."

"..."

"Did Red go too?''

"No, I do not believe so. He acknowledged the value of it, but did not wish to reveal himself. "

"Ya never made im go?"

"I did, but apparently he told them a different backstory each time. I was told he was very convincing. "

A short, then a thoughtful hum. "Maybe I should talk ta ya therapist too…"

"I would recommend it to everyone in this family. "

"Ya actually serious 'bout that?"

"It was… far more valuable than I would have thought possible. Once we found someone trustworthy. "

"Huh…"

_________________________________________________

Tim fixed Batman with a glare. "You have "decided therapy is unnecessary" because… why?" He made finger quotes around the words, emphasizing how stupid he felt this was.

Batman didn't waver though. "I do not need therapy." He said stoicly, refusing to answer the question. Well too bad.

Tim crossed his arms. "Well Bat, if I recall correctly, you agreed to go to therapy. Are you making a liar of yourself?" Hopefully Batman would think about this seriously before being too dumb. Like outright refusing to go to therapy without explaining why.

There was a slight twitch in his face at being called a liar. "I went today. I made no promises to continue."

Okay, now he was just being obstinate. "Going to a therapist once is not going to therapy, Bruce." Tim gritted out, rubbing his forehead with a hand. "You need therapy. You are not mentally well right now, and that isn't something that is going to go away on its own. There is no shame in needing help." Tim looked up at Batman beseechingly. "You need to heal, Bruce." He felt bone tired already from this conversation.

Batman had only gone to one appointment before announcing he was done going. Unfortunately, he had stated this while Tim was in the middle of a series of three online quizzes due that night. So Tim sent a message back letting both Batmand AND Alfred know that Batman had better not be going on patrol that night, and that Red would be coming to the Cave in the morning to discuss Batman's decision.

At Batman's continued silence, Tim resisted the urge to groan. Instead he just stared up at his eyes again. "Why are you changing your mind? Did something happen?"

When Batman continued to stay silent, Tim straightened his arms and took a step closer to him. "Answer me Bruce! I will not change the terms of my agreement with Alfred without a good reason to. Do you understand what you sound like right now?" Tim almost laughed at the confusion that flickered across his face. "A child, Bruce. You are acting like a bratty, petulant, child."

Batman actually flinched at that, and shifted away from Tim slightly. "I do not need to explain myself to an actual child." Batman growled out. And wow, did Tim embarrass him? He'd like to think so, since the thought made him feel slightly justified.

"You don't know anything about me. I could be ten, I could be thirty. Don't call me a child. My age does not determine my maturity, just as it does not determine your maturity. Which is currently the level of a toddler. Actually, I don't even know if it's that! At least a toddler tries to communicate! You can't even communicate this!" Tim snarled out, jabbing Batman's chest with his finger.

After another moment of silence, Tim took a step back and folded his arms once more. "So talk. Explain to me why you will not go, or I will treat it the same as I would a toddler's refusal to eat breakfast."

Tim pretended to miss the slight choking sound that Batman made at being compared to a toddler. He instead raised an eyebrow, giving him an expectant look.

Finally Batman broke. A sigh came from him as he turned away from Tim, looking down at the ground. "I… do not wish to speak to the doctor." He ground out slowly.

Tim nodded slowly. "Do you not feel comfortable talking, period, or do you not feel comfortable talking to this specific doctor?"

Tim allowed the silence this time, because it seemed like Batman was thinking about his answer, rather than refusing to answer.

"Both, I believe." The response finally came.

Tim nodded. "Alright. Make an appointment with a different doctor next time. Find someone you are comfortable with."

Batman turned to face Tim. "And if I do not feel comfortable talking still?" His tone was slightly challenging.

Tim smirked with confidence he didn't feel. "Then you get to talk to me. Since I already know who you are, along with a good amount of what has been happening, you probably can't even tell me much that I don't know already. You can't hide from me." Tim forced a laugh out.

Batman nodded slowly at his response though, as though considering it as an actual option.

Tim scowled at him for that. "I'll make you talk if needed. But I don't think it is the healthiest option to have someone you don't know anything about be your therapist. While I would never tell anyone what you say, I don't want you to be hesitant to talk just because you don't know where I'm going to be going next. I've never told anyone about you before. I don't plan on doing so in the future unless it becomes absolutely necessary." Tim said in the most serious voice he has ever spoken in. He doesn't want Batman to feel trapped by him, or to feel he has to talk to someone he is uncomfortable with. That wouldn't be right.

"Make an appointment with someone else. Figure out how you feel about them. If needed, make another appointment with another doctor." Tim watched as Batman stared off into space.

Tim reached out to put his hand on Batman's shoulder. "You lost a son, Bruce." He said softly as Batman looked at the hand on his shoulder. "You lost a son, and you are driving away your family in your grief. Jason would be devastated if he saw his father become someone who only causes pain." As Tim spoke, Batman became still.

After another moment of silence, right as Tim was about to pull away, Bruce sniffled. Tim's eyes widened as a tear ran down Batman's face, and was soon joined by more.

Bruce's shoulders started to shake from his held back sobs. Tim had literally no clue what to do anymore. Was he supposed to leave? But his hand was still on Batman's shoulder… and it felt wrong to just walk away from the man sobbing in front of him…

Tim carefully reached out with his other hand, placing it on the opposite shoulder. "I'm sorry for your loss." Tim said softly, his voice shaking.

Bruce pulled off the Batman cowl and scrubbed at his eyes, trying to wipe away the tears that were still coming.

Tim felt supremely awkward in his current position. But when he started to pull his hands back…

"I'm sorry." A broken voice said softly, and Tim felt Bruce put a hand on his shoulder.

Tim looked up at Bruce in surprise, which only grew when he realized that he was seeing Bruce right now. No mask covering him, Bruce was facing Tim for the first time. "I-I don't know h-how to survive without him." Bruce's broken voice choked out, with tears still dripping from his face as he glanced down, starting to pull away from Tim.

Which, crap, Tim couldn't let Bruce pull back into a husk again. He reached out his arms, inviting Bruce into a hug.

He was not expecting to be yanked forward by Bruce into a hug, so tight he could barely breath. Also, it was actually not too uncomfortable being crushed against the Bat suit. Well, it wouldn't be if his jaw wasn't still extremely sore from Steph's brick-sock.

Tim carefully put his arms around Bruce, who was shaking with his sobs. "It's okay. It hurts, it should hurt. But you can survive it. You can make it through."

Tim tried not to tense when Bruce put his head on Tim's shoulder, still hugging him desperately and sobbing.

"Why did I have to do it? Why did I make him not trust me? Why did he have to leave? Why couldn't I save him in time?!" Bruce choked out into Tim's shoulder, voice cracking and barely choking the words out.

Tim had to close his eyes, desperately willing himself not to cry. "I don't know. I don't know. But you have to move past it. Don't let yourself make the same mistakes again. Don't tarnish his memory by making the same mistakes with your other son, with your loved ones." And where the heck were these words coming from?! They weren't even helping! They only seemed to make the sobbing worse!

Tim wasn't sure how long he and Bruce were down there for. Bruce sobbed for hours before finally falling asleep, exhausted. Tim was too small to carry Bruce far, and he ended up just sliding him into the seat in front of the Batcomputer. He stole a blanket from the medbay and put it over Bruce before finally walking out himself.

Thank goodness he called in sick to work for the day.

____________________________________________________

Bruce went through four more therapists before settling on one. He went twice a week at first, (the amount tim required him to) but eventually went three times a week.

Bruce seemed almost proud of that decision when he told Tim. Tim had smiled at him and clapped him on the shoulder.

Over the next two months, Batman had started going out less. It had started out as just heading back from patrol early, but by the end of the two months Batman had started staying home on Sunday and Wednesday nights.

Tim's jaw was barely even sore anymore, when one night Batman ran into Steph.

Tim, as Red, had visited Steph a few times to check up on her and reassure her about his injuries. He hadn't visited her in the last three weeks however, and she had apparently decided to confront Batman.

"Is Red okay?" Steph asked quickly, knowing that Batman could and would jump away despite the hand she had on his arm. "I haven't seen him in a few weeks and I just wanted to make sure his jaw didn't get worse, especially since mom is home now and she is actually trying to stay clean this time—" Steph rambled, speaking faster as she saw Batman shift restlessly in her grip.

Tim groaned over the comms. "I'm fine, she shouldn't feel guilty still when I'm already healed. Can you tell her I'm perfectly fine, Bats?" Tim groused into the comms before cheerfully commenting, "oh good, I'm glad her mom's doing better. She seemed like a nice lady."

Batman waited silently until Steph finally stopped talking long enough for him to respond. "Red Robin is fine. He does not usually patrol, which is why you have not seen him. He is happy to hear about your mother." Batman said somewhat stiffly, and Tim could see the awkwardness he felt in front of the exuberant girl.

Steph brightened immediately. "Oh, good! I felt really bad about his jaw, but it was really cool that he was able to just pop it right back into place! My mom said you shouldn't ever try to do that unless you really know what you're doing, and I asked her to show me and now she's showing me first aid and stuff!" Steph continued to chatter to Batman for a minute before blushing a bright red and yanking her hand back.

"S-sorry! Thanks for letting me know about Red, I'm really sorry for interrupting your patrol!" She stammered out, taking a couple steps back as she apologized.

Batman raised his hand to stop her, causing her to stop mid sentence. ''No need to apologize. I am sure he appreciates the concern." Her blush didn't fade, but she had stopped backing away at least. "You should get home to your mother. Do you need an escort?" Batman asked the short girl, eyeing the dark alleys around them.

Steph shook her head. "No, no, I live close by. Thank you Batman!" She said before turning and racing off to a nearby appartment building.

Tim watched curiously as Batman continued standing there, unmoving. "Something wrong, Bats?" Tim asked curiously. His schoolwork could wait a minute.

Batman softly responded. "Did you dislocate your jaw at some point?" Tim tried to identify the tone he was using, but eventually gave up.

"Yeah, it wasn't a big deal though. I popped it back into place and was careful, yadda yadda yadda and all that. There aren't even any bruises left. " Tim said mindlessly as he answered another question in his assignment. "It was a couple months ago, so don't worry about it. All good now." He smiled slightly as he finished up his assignment and turned it in. It was shockingly satisfying to have all the confetti fly across his screen when he turned something in.

Then he frowned at Batman's continued silence. "Something wrong?" Tim asked, quickly glancing through the cameras in the area. Nothing on the cameras…

"No." Batman finally responded. He slowly went back to patrol.

Tim watched with a confused furrow in his forehead. I wonder what that was about…

________________________________________________

Another night later that week, Batman spoke into the comm suddenly. "The doctor suggested that I invite N over more."

Tim jumped at the sudden comment. It was half past midnight, and Batman normally just ignored Tim's virtual presence. "Uhhh, okay?" Tim was very confused. Was there a reason Batman was telling him this?

Batman stared down at the skyline from the skyscraper he stood on. The air was filled with an awkward silence, but Tim refused to be the one to speak first. Batman was babied for too long, and since he expected others to speak first, Tim figured a good way to fight the babying was to make Batman do things that were good for him, like speaking first.

Tim resisted the urge to hum as he went back to his homework while he waited. Five questions later, Batman finally spoke again. "You and he do not get along." And say what now?

"Bats," Tim relished the twitch of annoyance Batman gave at the nickname. He had told him once that he was Batman, not Bats, but Tim was holding out for the day Batman actually asked him to stop. With a please. "Nightwing and I barely know each other. We are barely even acquaintances. If the doctor said you should try inviting him to the manor, then listen." Honestly, this was just silly. If Batman wanted an excuse to not do it, he should at least come up with a good one.

Batman grunted. Hmmm… Tim started drafting an email.

After finishing the email, he saved it as a draft. Tim looked up at the screen and frowned. Batman still hadn't moved. "Something up, Bats?"

Batman shook his head slightly. Okay then… He took a step towards the edge of the roof, but stopped again. "It's been almost a year since you spoke to me." Batman stated.

Tim did not see how this mattered. "Yes? And?"

He was too confused to comment on the irritated growl Batman gave in response.

"I don't know your name." Batman spit out each word as though they pained him.

Tim still didn't understand. "Yeah? That was the deal. You don't need to-" Oooohhhh, Batman finally must have tried to figure him out. "Ah. You tried to find my name? Was it to get out of therapy?" Batman would have looked into every possibility he could find, and Tim could imagine him spending months on it before even attempting to say anything.

The silence confirmed his question. Tim huffed a slight laugh. "Therapy is good for you, and even if you had found my name, it wouldn't have changed anything." Especially now that Tim didn't have to hide it from his parents…

When Batman still didn't speak, and oh my gosh dude, you aren't a statue Tim frowned. But if Batman wanted something, Tim was going to make him ask for it.

Eventually Batman just nodded curtly before leaping off the edge of the building to continue patrol.

When the end of the night came, Tim was yawning. "Goodnight Bats." He said tiredly, forcing himself to keep his eyes open.

Batman grunted in response. Which was routine. What wasn't routine was Batman then clearing his throat to speak.

"What is your name?"

Tim's eyebrows shot up at the question. "My name? You are asking me for my name?" He knew what he heard, but still, Tim felt like he needed to make sure he heard right, because Batman never asked. It was always demands that sometimes sounded polite.

"Yes. What should I call you?" And Tim could see slight red along his neck now. Embarrassed?

"You call me Red. Red Robin." Tim said slowly.

Batman shook his head, sighing. "Outside the mask. What is your name outside of the mask?"

Tim sat stock solid. Wow. Uhhh… "Uhhh…" Tim really didn't want to give him his real name, but what should he give him? "Alvin. Alvin Draper." Obviously a fake name, but it was something, right?

Batman nodded. "Alvin. Goodnight." It was said roughly, obviously not comfortable for the man.

Tim watched, confused and in almost shock, as Batman made it back to the Cave and took off his mask, dis activating the camera.

When the screen went black, Tim slowly took off the comm and stared at the computer. "What just happened?" He asked in confusion.

"I have a name, you know."

"Nuh-uh-uh! I don't wanna hear it! Don't you dare tell me your real name. I am not a good person kid, I do drugs and steal and I don't know why you keep ending up with me!"

"Stop calling me kid! I have a name and I'm almost eleven now!"

"Fine, you can be Alvin. Like the annoying little chipmunk."

"Grrr… it's better than kid. And it isn't MY fault you keep stopping me! I'm just taking pictures!"

"Oh my go-gosh, kid, it's dangerous! I don't know how you are even still alive!"

"It's just pictures…"

"...sure it is."

________________________________________________

Nightwing visited Gotham a week later. Tim felt proud when he realized Batman actually asked Nightwing to visit.

Then he listened to the comms that night and scowled.

"B, you said that you needed help with this case."

"Yes."

"... is this a test? B, you could have taken care of that mess in less than an hour!"

Tim smacked his head and groaned. Seriously? He asked Nightwing to come for a case?!

"Are you mocking me? Geez Batman, why'd you bother asking me to help with this when you clearly had it handled? Are you not satisfied at my performance? Are you gonna try make me leave Blud?!"

Okay then, Nightwing was taking it completely wrong. But really, with Batman still not speaking, it was understandable why.

Tim continued listening for only another minute before deciding to jump in. Nightwing was shouting at Batman by now, looking ready to tackle him at the rooftop they were standing on together.

"Enough." Tim's voice whipped out coolly. The vigilantes froze, a slight flinch from Batman at his tone. Batman had become well acquainted with it since he had started.

Nightwing flipped around, searching around them with his back to Batman. Tim was confused, glancing at the cameras for a moment before realizing that Nightwing had forgotten his voice.

"Batman. Nightwing. Return to the Cave now." Tim growled out, irritated by their lack of communication. They had almost started a fistfight on the rooftop for goodness sake!

While Batman sighed and nodded slightly indicating his concession, Nightwing grew stiff. "B? Who is that?" He said pleasantly, eyeing Batman.

Batman gestured for Nightwing to follow him, jumping in the direction of the Cave before answering. "Red." He answered, tightlipped and stiff as well.

Nightwing growled. "And why am I listening to him?" the sneer wasn't as prominent as it was before Tim's name change, but it was still there.

Tim answered his question. "Because if you are not both standing in the Batcave, calm, by the time I get there, then I will be speaking to Mr Pennyworth about both of your actions tonight. And while he will be hearing about tonight regardless, you will be making the decision of whether it is through my mouth or your own."

Nightwing may have said something rude in response, but Tim had yanked out the comm to slip into something new. The screen showed that Nightwing had followed Batman, and they were both on their way to the Cave.

Tim slipped the top portion (shoulders and up) of his costume on, but didn't bother changing out of his generic t-shirt and pants. Then he put the boots from the suit on and a hoodie and made his own way to the Cave.

Marching in from the front door of the Manor to the office, through the clock, and then down the stairs, he thought about what exactly he was pissed about.

When he entered the Batcave, he found Batman sitting at the Batcomputer with his suit still on, and Nightwing sitting at the Medbay, glowering at the blanket next to him.

Tim stepped onto the stone floor with a clunk clunk clunk, making sure to step louder than normal as he slowly made his way over to them. The sound caused Batman to look up and watch him cautiously, and Nightwing to turn the glowering at him instead.

When Tim stood in front of them by a few feet, between the medbay and Batcomputer, he spoke in the frostiest tone he had. "Batman. Nightwing." Tim inclined his head slightly towards Nightwing in greeting.

Stiffly, Nightwing greeted him in return. "Red."

Tim gestured in front of him. "Please, do join me in standing."

Seeing Batman obey, Nightwing slowly did the same.

Tim sighed, looking at the two in front of him. "Batman. Why did you invite Nightwing here tonight?" He said icily, staring into Batman's eyes.

Batman tensed under his gaze, Nightwing turning to watch him as well.

After a minute of silence, Nightwing angrily huffed . "He obviously wanted to te-!"

Tim turned sharply to Nightwing and pointed at him. "No." His voice cut through the Cave.

Tim glared at them both. Nightwing being startled, then indignant, and Batman refusing to look at them.

Tim crossed his arms, eyeing Batman still. Batman who was still refusing to speak. "I was asking Batman. It was his turn to explain. However, seeing as how he does not want to, " Tim glared at Batman again, "now you can answer. And Batman won't interrupt or speak until it is his turn." Tim's irritation was practically an aura around him, coming in waves.

At his words, Batman's head snapped up to finally look at Tim. But it wasn't his turn anymore, and Tim was now gesturing to Nightwing. "Go ahead. Why did you come to Gotham?"

Nightwing seemed irritated by Tim, but angry enough at Batman that he was willing to talk. "Batman told me he needed help with a case. Said I should come to the manor and stay for a couple days so we could work on it." He glared at Bruce. "Obviously that was a lie."

Tim nodded at his answer, and then looked at Batman again. "Are you ready to talk now?"

When Batman continued to stay silent, Nightwing snarled. "He wanted to test to see if I could solve his stupid case as fast as-"

Tim's glare being directed at Nightwing stopped him from finishing his sentence.

Once Yim was sure Nightwing was done, Tim took a step towards Batman. "Speak, Batman." He hissed, pissed. "Do you want me to tell him? If you make me become your mediator, I will be telling him everything. So are you done with your tantrum?" Nightwing didn't know about Bruce's tantrums. He didn't know the extent of Batman's violence. And if Batman couldn't learn, couldn't move on, then Tim would be sure to make sure that Nightwing knew the danger.

Batman slowly met Tim's eyes before he nodded. "My doctor told me to invite him to Gotham. You said I should listen to my doctor. So I did."

If Nightwing were a bird, he would have been fluffing up his feathers angrily. As a human, he somehow gave off a similar impression. "Your doctor told you to invite me here? That's the only reason you talked to me?!"

Tim growled at them. The sound came out through the voice-changer sounding almost deadly, causing them both to stand alert. Which was good, cause Tim was so done with the lack of communication. Maybe he should buy a book on Psychology.

"Batman. Nightwing." Tim looked at them both analytically. "Take off your masks."

They both twitched in surprise, but it was Batman who protested first. "What? Why would we-"

"Masks. Off." Tim stated coolly, stepping back to stand between them again. "This is not a conversation between Nightwing and Batman. It should be a conversation between Dick and Bruce."

They slowly peeled off the masks and cowl.

Tim turned to face Dick, whose face was still streaked with blue and black from the oil and mask. "Why did you come to Gotham?" At the scowl that Dick sent him, he sighed. "You told us what Batman said to you. Why did you come?"

Dick glanced between Tim, and Bruce. He sighed, looking at the ground before answering. "I thought it would be a good chance to talk with Bruce again. I haven't really… seen him . Haven't heard from him or seen him in a while. Not since before… Jay. I miss them both, so much, and I thought I could try to maybe… talk. Like we used to." Dicks voice cracked a couple times in the last couple sentences, and he wiped at his face to try to keep from crying. "But I was wrong, right? I always seem to have too much optimism with Bruce." And Dick huffed out a wet laugh, still wiping his eyes.

Tim nodded once, his scowl not quite as angry as it was before. He looked at Bruce. Bruce, whose face had black streaks, but that couldn't hide the devastation in his gaze as he looked at Dick.

Good.

"Bruce." Tim said, causing Bruce's gaze to snap to him and his eyes to widen slightly. "Why did you invite Dick here tonight?" Tim was going to kill him if he tried to be obstinate right now.

Bruce seemed to sense the homicide in Tim's gaze. He chose life. Bruce cleared his throat a couple times before speaking. "My doctor-my therapist- " Tim could hear a small noise of surprise from Dick at hearing about the therapist. "Told me to try to reach out to… the people that I love. He… told me I should find something to do with someone. An activity. I needed… I wanted. To do something with Dick." Dick was looking up at Bruce with wide eyes, his face still wet with tears. "I decided to use the most recent case I was working on. I hadn't done much research on it, however, and when we did the research it was shown to be easier than expected." Bruce stood stone-faced, staring directly in front of him.

Tim felt his anger ebb away as they spoke. It wasn't gone, but he didn't feel quite homicidal anymore.

Dick looked up at Bruce, reaching to tap him to get his attention. "You, you wanted to see me?"

Bruce's expression cracked. "Y-yes." Bruce grabbed Dick's hand and stared him in the eyes. "I always want to see you. I-I didn't mean to make you upset."

Dick closed his eyes and shook his head. "You-why? You never talk to me. You never call, you never ask me to come back. Why do you want to see me?"

Bruce choked. "You're my son."

Tim watched as the father and son finally hugged. They continued to mumble words to each other, but Tim knew his work was done.

He quietly walked out of the Cave and back up the stairs.

Walking by Alfred, he waved goodbye, but then stopped. "Mr Pennyworth?" Tim called out, stopping the older man.

Alfred frowned at him, but did stop walking. "It is Alfred, young sir." He reminded Tim.

Tim waved his words away. "Talk to Batman and Nightwing later. They will be telling you about tonight's patrol."

Alfred's eyes widened slightly, and he nodded. "I did wonder why you arrived. Have you already spoken to the Young Masters?"

Tim snorted. "Yep. They are finally talking to each other now, so you should probably wait a bit before talking to them." Tim smiled slightly at Alfred before continuing his journey back to the apartment.

"Thank you." Tim thought he heard Alfred say softly, but he brushed it off. Why would Alfred be thanking him for anything?

________________________________________________

Dr. Patira,

Hello, this is an acquaintance of your client, Bruce Wayne, aka Batman. I believe that therapy is doing him well, but I would like to point out some issues that you may wish to speak with him about.

His lack of communication with anyone, about anything, causes severe problems in both his personal and professional life.

While I will not provide any specific instances, I will say that Bruce uses the minimum words for every possible thing, and most often phrases questions as demands or statements, which causes anger and frustration in his friends and family.

You may show Bruce this message as you wish, if you believe it will help in some way.

I only ask that you speak with him and work with him on communication.

Sincerely,
Red Robin

Chapter Text

"Wing, what are' ya doin' here?"

"I'm flying with you tonight, Hood!"

A scoff "No ya ain't. I gotta case I'm workin, an' my people won't talk if they see ya."

"Oooh is it the people who got you the info for the Dover case?"

"None of ya business. Don't go lookin' for my people, 'Wing. My sources are mine an' mine alone."

A laugh. "You know, it's funny. We were talking about Red earlier, and you just sound so much like him there."

"Whatcha mean?"

"He was always super protective of any information about himself and his sources. Never could figure out where he heard half the info he got."

"What, an' B let that stand?"

Silence. And then a sigh. "Red had been working with us a while before we started asking questions. It would be unusual now for us to not question it immediately, but for him? He wasnt asked any questions about it until much later, and at that point it just seemed like we were…"

"Tryin ta get info 'bout him?"

"Yeah. Something like that."

"Huh. That's… I didn't know that."

_________________________________

Tim sat at the Batcomputer, slowly typing in more info he had learned from his day job as he thought about what was currently happening.

A week had passed since Bruce and Dick had talked, and it was the first time Tim had been back since then. Nightwing had been seen around Gotham throughout the week, and there was even word of Batman and Nightwing taking down a drug deal together.

All in all, Tim was extremely satisfied with how things went.

Which is why he was confused by the icon that appeared on the screen. "Barba-Oracle?" Tim glanced around, wondering why she would be calling now.

Seeing nobody else in the Cave, he turned back to the glowing green screen and accepted the call.

"Hey Red." Barbara's voice rang out clearly from the speakers. Curiously, she sounded casual. Calm, even.

"Hi Oracle…" Tim responded slowly, still glancing around, confused. He knew she could see through the Cave's cameras. Was she checking something? "Did you need something?" He asked eventually.

Tim was so sick of the awkward silence. He got enough of that around Batman. But eventually Oracle spoke up. "Nope, I was actually wanting to talk to you." She was still speaking casually, but her words caused Tim to stiffen slightly.

"Is that so. What about?" Tim asked neutrally. He was frantically trying to figure out what triggered this, but was drawing a blank. There was no reason for Oracle to speak with Tim, much less question him!

"Well, I realized I don't know much about you. You've been helping us out" Tim snorted at her phrasing "for a while, but I don't even know who you are outside of Red Robin." Tim was impressed at her restraint; Oracle didn't sneer at his name.

Then what she was asking for hit him. "I'm sorry, you are asking about my civilian identity?" Tim felt the need to clarify. Did Batman really get her into this? If so, this was a pretty pathetic attempt at subtlety.

A short was heard through the screen. "No, I'm asking about Bruce." The sarcasm was practically tangible. "Yes, I'm asking about your civilian identity. What should I call you outside the mask?"

Tim started to laugh. "Oh wow. That was the best he could do? Look, I understand that Bats is trying to figure out my identity, but knowing who I am wont change anything." Tim shook his head and sighed. "I won't stop what I'm doing. Therapy is good for him, and I don't see Mr Pennyworth allowing him to stop until it becomes unnecessary or unhelpful. Whether I'm here or not, that won't change."

The sound of typing filled the cave as Tim continued working.

After a couple minutes, Oracle spoke up. "Just to be clear, Bruce does not know who you are? And he is trying to figure it out so that he can get you to stop working as Red Robin?" Huh. Her voice seemed to be edging more to 'coolly neutral' than casual.

Tim nodded at the nearest camera. "Yup, sounds about right. How'd he get you into it? I didn't think he'd pull you or Nightwing into it. Maybe therapy has been doing more good than I thought if he's actually asking for help when he doesn't know something…" Tim hummed in thought, whirling around in the spinning chair.

"Uh, wait, no! It errr… Bruce didn't ask me to talk to you."

Tim shook his head. "I'm not going to play technicality games. It doesn't matter what he said to you about it."

"But that's the thing! Bruce didn't say anything to us! I'm not talking to you because of Bruce!" She sounded slightly panicked, or flustered? As she tried to correct him.

"Me and Dick were talking and we realized how little we know about you…" Oracle sounded sheepish now.

Tim was still confused though. "Why does that matter? If Bruce didn't say anything, which I still doubt, then you have no reason to ask?"

"Of course we do. We've been working with you for months! But we don't know your name, your favorite color, or even what your hair color is! I tried to look through camera footage, but you are constantly changing your disguise, you never take off your mask, and you always manage to lose the cameras when you leave." Oracle's frustration was clear in her voice. And to a degree, Tim could understand.

"If I didn't know for sure it was you each time, I would think it were different people. Your disguises are so thorough that I only know your approximate height, and nothing else!"

Tim shook his head. "I'm just a coworker, if even that. We have barely spoken to each other, and it's the same with Nightwing. We are honestly closer to acquaintances." Tim actually had to stop to think about that for a minute before nodding. "Yup, acquaintances is more accurate. And you have no need to know my name. All that other stuff isn't important either."

Tim heard her huff. He quickly finished up his report and started grabbing his stuff as he spoke. "It's like how the Justice League don't all know who Batman is. You don't need to know me to acknowledge my work." He finished his work and started walking out of the Cave. "Anyway, I've got to go. I am doing some recon on a couple things, so you'll have to talk to me some other time."

Tim ignored her protests as he left the Cave.

"What the he-heck kid?! I told you to go home!"

"How do you know I even have a home?"

"You think I'm stupid? All I have to do is look at you. Your clothes, hair, camera, it screams of money"

"So if I changed that, you wouldn't be able to tell?"

"You would still look like the craziest kid I keep seeing, you can't change that."

"..."

"Don't even think about it."

________________________________________

It was supposed to be simple reconnaissance… but of course it become something more.

It still wasn't that big of a deal, honestly. Red Robin took out the gang leaders, and then worked through any of the others who stayed to fight rather than run.

Tim was slowing his breathing after everyone was either paralyzed or unconscious, when he heard a thud behind him.

He whirled around, staff held defensively, and saw a figure kick one of the downed men. The figure slammed the man's head down, and then reached over to his hand.

Tim watched cautiously as the figure twisted a gun out of the man's hand, before… handing it to him?

The figure walked up to Tim slowly with the gun held out to him. Tim reached out carefully to grab the gun, studying the figure as they approached.

They were short: shorter than him, even. They were covered head to toe in black clothing, with a hood over their head shadowing their face to make it impossible to see.

After a moment (with the gun safely in Tim's belt) the figure reached up to flick their hood back. It was a girl, her black hair barely touching her shoulders. Her face showed delicate Asian features, but her eyes were a deep blue.

Tim studied her, and she studied him in return.

Why did she stop the man from shooting him? She seemed to be some kind of ninja, or assassin. She hadn't killed the man though.

Finished with his examination for the moment, Tim spoke. "Why did you do that?" He asked curiously, gesturing to the unconscious man, and the gun.

She frowned in response, staring intently at him. "Kill… bad. No… kill." Her words were carefully spoken and sounded rough with disuse. Or possibly from unfamiliarity?

Tim glanced at the unconscious man and back at the gun. "Oh! He was trying to kill me, so you stopped him?" Hopefully that was the case, anyway.

She nodded at him.

"Thanks. I didn't really want to deal with a gun wound tonight." Tim spoke lightheartedly, but eyed the girl cautiously.

"Anyway, thanks for the help. I'm gonna leave now though." Tim said, already moving away from the scene. The police were already on their way, judging by the sirens.

Tim slunk away, doing his beat to melt into the shadows. But… what was that?

He leapt over to where he had seen motion. To his surprise, he grabbed hold of the girl from before.

She stared at him with wide eyes, seemingly confused by his grasp on her wrist.

"Why are you following me?" Tim asked, confused.

She cocked her head slightly, but didn't answer.

"Where are your parents? Do you have a home to go to?" After listening to him and watching him intently as he spoke, she slowly shook her head.

Tim sighed. "Well, where do you want to go?"

To his surprise, she pointed at him in response.

Tim frowned. What did that mean? "You want to come with me?" He gestured as he spoke.

She brightened at his question though, and nodded her head quickly.

Tim closed his eyes and took a breath, thinking quickly. "Alright. Let's get you to the police station, and we will get you to a safe home, alright?"

The girl nodded, still seemingly pleased.

Tim nodded back, letting a small smile of his own come through at her happiness. "I might have to go, but I won't leave until a friend of mine gets there, okay?" He spoke cheerfully as he started them moving in the right direction.

The tattered cloak she wore flickered in the lamplight of Gotham as they made their way to the station. She kept up easily to Tim, making it a quick trip.

When they got to the outside of the police station, Tim stopped them. "Wait just a minute, okay? I've got to call my friend." Tim motioned for her to stay, and then took a couple steps away from her.

Tim glanced at his pocket, where an old phone sat. But he couldn't explain the situation to the police properly with it without revealing too much information…

"Hey B, I've got a situation." Tim was well aware that it was unlikely Batman would be at the Cave at this moment, which made him thoroughly unsurprised when it was Alfred who responded.

"Red Robin? What do you need?" Alfred's crisp accent rang clear through the comm.

Tim met the mysterious girl's eyes as he responded, the two of them just examining each other. "I need someone trustworthy to offer to foster a girl I'm bringing to the station."

Alfred tried to speak, but Tim interrupted, seeing lights coming closer to their position. "Sorry, I've got to move. Send him to the station when you have a minute!"

Tim turned the comm off and smiled at the girl reassuringly. "Alright, let's go inside!" He held his hand out to her.

She had been watching him curiously as he spoke to Alfred, and when he held his hand out she smiled back at him, albeit somewhat awkwardly, and grasped his hand with her own.

Tim walked her into the station, and prepared to be questioned. It was hopefully worth it, though.

Chapter Text

"By the way, Black Bat told me to give this to you."

An amused snort. "A smiley face sticker cause I baked her some food? Here I thought it was worth a heart…"

"Nah, bake her dessert and that will get you a heart."

"I would ask if you speak from experience, but I'm well aware that the great Nightwing is too good for the kitchen."

"I'm offended. You are absolutely correct, but I'm still offended."

"..."

"OH, funny thing, did you know that Red is the one who started using the stickers?"

"What? That seems… out of character."

"It's true! It started at some point after Black Bat came."

"Okay, but why?"

________________________

Okay, so maaaybe Batman wasn't happy about being coerced into fostering a random child Red picked up off the street. But he still did it! And had continued and gotten her all the stuff she would need, and extra!

In the two weeks that passed since he met the girl, she had made a good amount of progress with the speech instructor.

Her name was one of the first words that she spoke to them.

"Caaa-sh" She had frowned, frustrated by her pronunciation. But they were able to work with her, and she could speak much clearer now, but she preferred not speaking whenever possible.

Tim was happy to help Cass learn sign language when he could. It meant he spent more time in the Batcave than before, but as long as he got his homework done beforehand, he was usually fine.

Tim had been shocked when Batman had actually requested his presence in the Cave a couple days after Cass arrived. Apparently she had wanted to see him? Tim was just happy that Bruce asked.

When he went to the Cave, though, he and Cass just ended up looking at pictures. Tim had put some pictures around the Batcave previously to encourage Batman to talk to Dick, mostly older ones he had taken of Batman and Robin. Both Robins, as well as some with Batgirl.

He enjoyed showing someone his photos more than he thought he would. Cass was fascinated by the photos and the explanations Tim gave for each of them.

So Tim tried to spend some time with Cass when he could, helping her with sign language, speaking, and just talking.

It was… fun. Refreshing, even, to spend time with someone who seemed so… free.

Cass wasn't innocent; she had seen and done so much.

But… she took so muchjoy in learning new things. She looked around herself and was in awe over the good and the bad things.

Tim watched her and Bruce interact carefully. While Bruce was better than he was a year ago, Tim knew better than anyone (except maybe his therapist) Batman's mistakes. Tim was going to make sure that hurting Cass wasn't one of them.

It was interesting, seeing how cautious Bruce was around the girl. Cass always knew when Bruce was close, and could tell when he was feeling no matter how hard he tried to hide it.

Fear Cass had whispered to Tim one day. "He looks at me, fears." She had looked so ashamed as she spoke.

Tim and Cass had been laying on the ground in front of the TV in one of the smallest living rooms. He had his costume on still, he always kept it on when he was at the manor no matter how odd it may seem.

Tim felt his blood boil, how could Bruce upset Cass just because she exists? He took a couple breaths, suppressing the irritation, when Cass tensed as she watched him.

Calm, he could stay calm. "Sorry Cass, I'm not mad at you. I'm upset with Bruce cause he made you think he was scared of you." As he spoke, she untensed slowly until she was back in her original position.

Even though she looked relaxed once more, her eyes showed her wariness and curiosity. "Don't… understand." Her voice was a whisper, smooth but light and almost inaudible.

Tim smiled softly at her. "Even though I might feel angry, sometimes it isn't because of something in front of me, and in some cases it might not even be related to what we are talking about." He tried to think of a better way to put it.

"Sometimes I see something that reminds me of my parents." Tim said suddenly, flinching as he realized this might not be the best way to explain, but Cass was looking at him curiously, so slowly, he did.

Tim looked down at his hands, red and dripping, and repressed a flinch. "My parents… my parents were gone. A lot." Tim whispered.

Memories swirled around him in this dark room they sat in. Tim could hear their voices, even though the room was completely silent.

Something touched his hand,causing Tim to jump and shake his head, returning to the present. Cass was sitting up and staring at him in open concern, her hand still covering his own.

Carefully, she lifted his hand and traced the glove patterns. She frowned, however, after a minute of doing so. "Your glove… means sad?" Cass asked him, still studying the item in question.

Tim let out a shaky laugh, gently tugging his hand back, ignoring the urge to hide his hands. Can't she see the blood? Doesn't she know? "Nah, that isn't it."

He took a breath before continuing. "Sometimes, looking at my hands reminds me of something that happened a long time ago. When I remember that, it makes me sad." Tim could still feel the heaviness as he finally looked up into Cass's eyes.

Her eyes widened at whatever she was seeing. Which was probably a lot, considering Tim had lowered the protective glass over his eyes. It left the mask in place, but gave her an unobscured view of his eyes.

Tim could feel every emotion connected to that memory bubble to the surface. Instead of pushing them down, as he normally would, he let them come.

Cass stared at Tim, watching as a tear slid slowly down his face, quickly joined by more. Tim let her look at him, silently crying, unmoving, until he felt a sob building up.

Immediately, he shut his eyes and began to take deep breaths, trying to slow the tears.

He felt Cass hesitantly grab his hand. He squeezed her hand back gently.

After a couple minutes like that, Tim felt in control of his emotions enough to look up at her again.

"I'm not sad because of you. I'm not upset because of you." Tim smiled slightly at Cass's expression, her brows furrowed. "Bruce isn't scared of you. He's scared of hurting you."

Tim leaned back, tugging his hand out of hers, and flicked his lens back over his eyes. "If you wonder what we are feeling or why we are feeling something, ask us, okay? You can see through us pretty well, but you can't see it all until you know us better."

Tim stood up and brushed himself off before reaching a hand down to help Cass up. She didn't need it, but the gesture usually amused her.

Cass was studying him as she took his hand. She stood up with him and didn't let go of his hand. Instead, she grabbed it with both hands and traced his glove with her fingers again.

Tim stifled a laugh at her irritated frown. She looked like she wanted to murder his gloves. At his laugh, she looked back at his face and released his hand.

Cass huffed, crossing her arms. "Emotions… are hard." Oh, one hundred percent accurate.

Tim grabbed his stuff to leave. Cass didn't move from her spot, staring at the floor with a small frown. At least, until he was walking out the door.

Something yanked Tim's shoulder back, which he automatically responded to with a punch before realizing it was just Cass.

She flipped him around to face her, easily dodging his punch, before putting her hands on either arm. "Gloves. No more sad. Red is good. Red's gloves, same. Good."

Her grip was firm, matching her eyes. She stared at him with conviction. Tim could feel the emotions that ran too close to the surface trying to bubble up again.

Cass watched him shakily smile at her, visibly shoving his emotions down. She frowned at him. "No." And lightly tapped his face.

Tim jumped at the touch, and then tilted his head in question at her.

Cass spoke hesitantly. "Emotions… emotions are good. You say, no hide."

Tim nodded slowly at that. They had explained to her that she could and should have feelings about things. She should always feel that she can express herself.

Cass nodded, sure of herself again. "You say, not do. Bat say, not do. Why?" She looked slightly confused now, curious.

And oh, that was complicated. "I think that we do it automatically, sometimes. We are so used to doing it, that we don’t notice.”

Cass frowned at him. "No. You stop. No good."

Tim huffed a laugh out at her blunt order. "Okay, I'll try." He didn't hide his smile.

Cass nodded. "Good."

'"I'm back aga-!"

A startled glance shifted to fury in the middle of the sentence.

"Sorry! I'm sorry, I can go back home and you don't need to worry about it, I just thought I'd come walk around but I didn't mean to bother you!"

"Woah, woah kid, cool it. Why ya freakin out?"

"I made you mad… I'm sorry sir…"

"I'm not mad at'cha kid, why'd ya say that?"

"...? But you got mad when you saw me?"

"Aw kid, it ain't ya I'm mad at, I jus' thought'cha would be with ya parents today."

"Then why'd you get mad when you saw me???"

Sigh "I got mad, but not at ya. I'm mad at'cha parents cuz they shoulda been with ya today."

"..."

"Happy birthday, kid. Glad ya came."

Cass brandished a paper towards Tim. "What this?" She gestured to the gold star by the top.

Tim had just barely walked into the study, coming up from the Batcave, and reared back slightly. He frowned in confusion. "Isn't that your homework?"

Because David Cain was such a great father, they were teaching Cass to read and write. Because Cass was a freaking badass, she was working hard and making amazing progress.

She had asked Tim to help her learn faster, and so he offered to help make some homework for her. Previously they had worked on it together when he was there, but this way she could work on it while he was gone.

The paper she was holding was one that he had 'graded' for her, and he had stuck stickers to it to show what she did well on and what needed work. Honestly, Tim had thought she'd enjoy the variety of fun stickers he'd used. (Look, he had a phase and he had a LOT of stickers. Of course, that phase was a long time ago cause stickers were childish but he couldn't just waste them!)

Cass nodded, but still looked confused. She pointed at the various stickers across the pages. "What these?" She repeated

Tim reached out to take the paper from her. "You mean the stickers?" He asked.

Cass nodded. "Stickers. Why stickers on page?"

Aaah. "Well, I thought that the stickers might be easier to understand. Cause you can see if it's smiling and good, or if it's sad about a mistake. And sometimes it is more fun to see the different kinds of stickers." Tim felt heat rise in his face at the last bit, but isn't it true?!

"See, they make some really fun stickers." Tim pointed to a sticker with a black cat purring happily on top of the words, 'Good Job!'. "It can also make mistakes not as harsh. The sticker tells you that it isn't good, but it's encouraging you to do better." Another sticker, with a little golden retriever wagging it's tail with the words 'You got this!' on it.

Cass studied the stickers with sudden delight, lighting up when she saw a new one. Tim relaxed at that. He had used more normal stickers too, like gold stars and smiley faces, but it he had thought that the other ones would help too.

Cass finally nodded her thanks and beamed at Tim before disappearing.

Tim laughed when he heard papers being taken out of the box he had made for the new homework he made.

Tim groaned, collapsing dramatically into the chair in front of the Batcomputer while covering his face and starting to spin the chair.

"I don't know how to get it across to Bruce when he is messing up without it sounding condescending." Tim bemoaned to Cass, who was examining the acrobatic equipment in the Cave.

Batman had left just minutes before after informing Red Robin that Nightwing would not be coming to Gotham.

Tim knew that Bruce was going to ask Dick if he wanted to stay at the manor over the weekend to hang out and catch up, but that apparently wasn't going to happen.

Tim had asked Bruce what happened, and Bruce had pointedly not looked at Tim when he responded.

"Cases! He messaged Dick asking to help with an undercover case for the weekend! And when I tried to tell him he should just ask Dick to come for dinner instead of a case, he huffed and walked out!" Tim ranted to Cass, who was spinning in the air on one of the bars.

It was nice being able to talk to someone about some of this. Mr. Pennyworth always seemed like he was judging when Tim talked with him, and more often than not he would either stay silent or attempt to fix things alone. Which wasn't what Tim was looking for.

Tim sighed. "He did great a couple weeks ago. What changed?" Tim scrubbed his eyes and leaned back in the chair, still spinning.

Cass flipped over on the bar she was on, hanging upside down with just her legs jolting her up. "Does he think he did good last time?" Cass signed at Tim, before continuing exploring the mini aerial playground.

Tim had to think about it. "I mean, I don't know?" He glanced at Cass, who was now sitting like a gargoyle from a horizontal bar that was maybe two inches thick. She had no issue keeping her balance, though, and dramatically widened her eyes to mimic a gargoyle they had seen next to a bank in the Narrows

Cass huffed a laugh and began moving once more after signing, "Maybe he does not know. You should tell him when he does good and when he does bad." at which point she began a complicated series of flips.

Her suggestion had merit, but it went back to the fact that it would come across as condescending. "He's a grown man and is already irritated with me for busting in here and keeping an eye on him. There's no way he would be happy with me telling him when he does well." Tim muttered, scrunched his forehead as he thought about it.

Cass materialized in front of him. She pouted when he didn't jump and instead raised an eyebrow at her. "Stickers." Cass stated.

What? "Stickers?"

Cass nodded. "Stickers fun. No make mad. Grade Bat, give stickers, he know." She smiled, clearly pleased with her conclusion.

Tim stopped spinning and sat up to look at her properly. "You want me to grade Batman?" He said incredulously.

Cass nodded again. "Not number, give grade. Give ah-, ah-hd…" She trailed off, looking frustrated as she tried to figure out the word.

It took a moment before Tim figured out what she was saying. "You mean, give him advice? Like on your homework?" He always tried to give her advice when she messed something up to try to help her do better next time.

Cass smiled, happy that Tim figured it out. "Yes! Give advice, give stickers, he learn!"

Tim wasn't sure if it would be helpful, but Cass was clearly really excited about it and was convinced that it was a good idea, so he might as well try it. "Alright, let's see what he thinks of it."

Cass nodded again, and then grabbed Tim's hands to drag him over to the equipment to join her.

A smile crossed his face as he let her guide him.

Tim messaged Bruce's psychologist first to see what he thought. With the doctor's approval, he wrote up a report (by hand, due to Cass's insistence, even if he was super careful to use different handwriting) and handed it to Bruce at the end of the night.

Bruce had gotten out of his costume and was about to leave the Cave and enter the manor when Tim shoved the paper in his face.

Bruce reared back and eyed him warily before speaking. "What is that?" He said in a gravelly voice, not as low as his Bat voice, but lower than his normal tone.

Tim shook the papers a bit when Bruce didn't take them. "It's your monthly report." Tim stated, shaking the papers more until Bruce finally took them.

The moment Bruce had the papers in his hand, Tim booked it out the door and out of the manor.

Just because Cass and the doctor approved didn't mean that Tim wanted to watch Bruce flip out when he realized what the papers were.

Bruce watched in confusion as Red practically ran after handing him some papers.

When it became clear he was not going to receive an explanation, Bruce studied the papers now in his hand.

They were just regular lined paper, with three holes in the side for easy placement into a binder. They were stapled together on the left side, and the front just had the words 'Red's Report' handwritten in large letters in the center of the page.

Puzzled, Bruce turned the page.

Alright, so on the 10th when you messaged Dick and asked him if he wanted to join you for dinner, nice job! *party emoji sticker* *thumbs-up sticker*

Even if Dick had said no, it was good. You stated clearly that you wanted to hang out with him, *smiley face sticker* you offered times that you were available, and you offered to go visit him. *heart*

This told Dick that you didn't care where you guys met up, and that you just wanted to see him and catch up. Which is what you actually felt. You told him how you felt in such a way that it actually came across the way you wanted it to. *cheerleader throwing pompoms sticker*

Good job! *gold star sticker*

Bruce felt his eyes widen. This was a critique. This was a critique using the information he had discussed with Red Robin when he first sent the messages.

Flicking to the next page, Bruce flinched when he saw the stickers. Sad and crying emojis, even some angry ones.

After reading it, Bruce felt frozen.

Some time later, he finally moved, feeling his legs cramp from the sudden movement after standing still so long.

Bruce silently climbed the stairs to his study, still staring at the papers in his hand.

Cass peered out at him from the shadows, and he distantly recalled the writing on one of the pages saying that avoiding the girl out of fear of hurting her was not healthy.

He walked by her, but tried to give her a small smile as he made his way to the kitchen.

Alfred was there, heating up a plate. Bruce guiltily realized it was his; he had missed dinner again.

Bruce made to leave the kitchen before the elder man saw him, but froze when another paragraph flashed through his mind.

Alfred loves you so much. And while he is aware that you have trouble showing it, that you love him too. But it might be good for you to show it a bit more. Show that you appreciate his love and help. Thank him.

He hesitated. Closing his eyes for a moment, Bruce stepped towards Alfred.

"Master Bruce, I see you have deemed us worthy of your presence at last. I have your food here, but I'm afraid it isn't as fresh as it would have been." Alfred handed Bruce the plate.

Bruce took it and opened his mouth to speak. "..."

Alfred raised an eyebrow at him, likely wondering why he was standing there with his mouth open like a fish.

Bruce cleared his throat and tried again. Why was it so hard to say? "Alfred…"

"Yes?" Alfred stood there, waiting.

"... thank you." Bruce was finally able to croak. He felt a slight flush of embarrassment as he spoke, but carefully kept it from showing on his face.

He wasn't expecting the reaction he got.

Alfred gasped, a hand to his mouth and tears in his eyes.

He wasn’t expecting the hug Alfred gave him.

“You’re welcome, my boy.” Alfred said softly. He reached out and patted Bruce’s hand.

After a moment, Alfred turned back. Bruce watched him closely for any other changes, but Alfred arched his eyebrow at him. “Yes?”

Bruce flushed and shook his head. “Nothing. I’m going to eat now.”

Alfred nodded, and Bruce could have sworn he saw him suppressing a smile. “Very good, sir.”

Bruce ate his food. You don’t lie to Alfred if you know what’s good for you after all.

While he ate, he reread the papers that Red had given him. He studied the stickers that lined the pages, carefully memorizing them all.

Then he pulled out his phone. He needed to talk with Dick.

Chapter Text

"Red Hood!"

"Sergeant Montoya?"

"I've been trying to flag a Bat down all night."

"-why the -"

"Oh, be quiet. Where is Red Robin?"

"Why ya askin?"

An irritated huffed. "Because he said he'd be getting me some info, but never made it? And that was over two weeks ago! He's never done this before."

"Red probably got caught up in something. It happens, ya know?"

"..... Red Hood, I have known Red for years.He always lets me know, somehow, when he gets caught up in something. Five years, and only one other time this happened. There is something wrong."

"He's been meetin with ya for that long?"

Scoff. "Hood, I may not be a Bat, but I'm not stupid. Little Seer stops calling information in a few months after a new Robin showed up? Heck, Red Robin even sends information packets in all the time. It wasn't that hard to make a connection."

Silence. "We are looking into it. I currently do not know where Red is."

A nod. "When you find him, send him my way, will you?"

"Sure thing Sarge."

"B, who the crap is Seer?"

___________________________________________

Tim hid behind a broken door as the two gangs fought outside. He had been looking for evidence against the first gang. They were definitely traffickers, but he wanted more evidence before he sent the packet to the police. And yet, they decided it was the perfect time for a gang war.

Tim scowled. He had gotten the pictures he needed, but it was still irritating that he had gotten caught up by the fight.

Tim glanced around carefully, and scrambled into an alleyway the opposite direction from the fight. From there, he climbed up a rusty fire escape and carefully leapt away.

Once he got far enough, Tim dropped back down to the street and walked.

Before he was out of earshot from the gang, he heard police sirens on their way. Tim smiled slightly, relieved. There were a few cops that he had spoken to (over the phone, he wasn't stupid) from his constant 911 calls that always came when he called them.

It was nice, honestly. He normally didn't even need to call 911 anymore, but if he saw something big happening then he might as well, right?

Since the fight had disrupted his information gathering, they definitely deserved the combined wrath of Officers Palin and Montoya. They were good on their own, but together they were the best pair that Tim had ever seen. The fact that they were so irritated by each other only made that fact even funnier.

After reaching his apartment, Tim ran up the stairs to throw the Robin costume on. He checked his reflection in the mirror, satisfied when he saw his hair completely hidden.

At 10pm, Batman always went out on patrol. Even with Cass at the Manor now, he kept the schedule as much as possible. So it was at 10:15 that Tim would make it to the cave and get to work.

At first, Tim would just send the packets to the police. But Batman had seen that and made a comment about messaging Commissioner Gordon directly, so for the last two cases Tim had sent them there.

Tim clicked into the messages, and froze when he saw a message from Gordon there. It was a direct response to the packets he sent in the last two days.

You are not the Bat. If you have anything to say, send it to the station. For emergencies, please call 911. Have a pleasant day.

Tim flushed slightly in shame. He hadn't realized the Commissioner wouldn't listen to his message. Or perhaps he read it and decided it wasn't a big enough deal to warrant his direct attention?

Either way, obviously Tim had miscalculated. He slowly wrote out a response.

Understood.

Even after sending the message, Tim felt frozen. Messages sent to the police station aren't considered urgent, and will often sit around for days before they are seen. There are too many fake warnings sent each day for them to be able to make it through, and even then, they wouldn't be seen as a real warning for another few days when they investigate. Tim closed his eyes and put his hand on his face, sighing deeply.

He didn't trust Batman to take care of certain things properly, and Batman already had his own cases to deal with. Not to mention Cass. But how could he get his information taken seriously by the police?

Tim slowly spun in the seat while thinking. Would Palin or Montoya look into it? Or would they think it was a trick? They were probably his best bet though.

Making up his mind, Tim saved the information and left the Batcave. Alfred nodded to him as he left, Cass was already in her room, but other than that there was nothing to indicate he had ever been there.

At midnight, Tim sent the info packet separately to Palin and Montoya. They normally checked their messages before leaving the station, so they would likely see it before 3am.

Tim settled down in his bedroom with his homework and computer, watching Batman's patrol on one screen and doing his homework on the other.

When 3am came, Batman was headed back home for an early night (most likely due to Alfred's pushing, seeing as how it was a Sunday) and Tim took the comms off and set it down on the desk.

He held a phone in his hand. It wasn't his usual phone, that one was on the desk. No, this was a burner phone that Montoya had given him months ago.

Tim had avoided using his own phone to call the police, but that meant if he couldn't find a phone nearby that he had to go farther to find one. Tim had always made sure to stay with the victim until the last minute, only leaving when emergency services came close.

Montoya noticed him before he could leave, once. She had called out to him, and when he had responded, she recognized his voice. Seer, here. She tossed an object at him. He made no move to pick it up, causing her to snort and continue, "It's a burner phone. I swear, there are no tracking devices in it. Use it to call us, okay? We can't track it though, so make sure to describe where you are." he was pretty sure he heard a muttered as though you don't already after that, but by that point he had snatched it and raced back out.

He had taken a risk, hoping that she was telling the truth that night. The phone, once shiny and new, was now splotchy and dark, stained from the many uses it had seen. He made sure to clean it every time he used it, but there was only so much cleaning solutions could do against Gotham grime and blood.

Tim pushed a few buttons and waited.

"...Seer?"

Tim smiled slightly. It was funny hearing himself be referred to that way, even now. "Hi Montoya."

"Hi kid. What do you need?"

A hug. An adult. Someone who could see the blood and make it stop. Someone who knew about Batman and could take over for Tim.

But he couldn't say any of that. "There are traffickers by the Bay tonight. In that fourth warehouse, I think. They were working with one of the gangs you arrested today."

Tim heard Montoya moving around through the phone. "The meth warehouse? Are you sure?"

He almost snorted at the reminder of the past mission. "Yup, I'm sure. That one or one immediately around it, anyway."

Through the phone, Tim could distantly hear Montoya calling out to someone around her. It took a minute before she spoke to him again. "Thanks kiddo. We got a tip saying the same thing, but you know Gotham. Woulda been another hour before we were able to confirm. You're amazing, kid. Lemme know if you need anything, okay?" and Tim felt so relieved at that, the fact that she would have listened to the message alone even without his call.

"Thanks Montoya. Talk to you later." He said softly, trying not to tear up. For some reason, he wanted to cry. He sniffled slightly as he kept the tears from falling.

"Hey, you okay kid?" Montoya's voice rang out, worried.

At that, the tears broke through. They ran down his face steadily even as he tried not to let her hear. "Y-yeah, I'm good." He cursed his traitorous voice for cracking.

Montoya was quiet. She knew he wouldn't say though. "Alright Seer. If you need help, let me know. I'm here. Okay? Talk to you later, kiddo." Her voice was soft, almost even fond.

"Bye." Tim croaked out before hanging up and breaking down. He sobbed into his pillow until he finally fell asleep.

___________________________________________

"Hey, you okay kid?"

"....."

"Woah! Woah! Whatcha cryin for?! I didn't do nothin'!"

"I-I don't kn-know, I-its o-okay, just g-give m-me a m-minute…"

"Where'd ya get da bruise?"

"......"

"Ah man, come 'ere kid. It's okay."

"I-I don't understand."

"Sshhh I'm comfertin' ya."

"....."

"Naw kid, it's okay ta cry sometimes. I got you. You're okay. I gotcha."

___________________________________________

Barbara was extremely irritated. And confused.

Dick had called her in a panic the day before, telling her about how odd Batman was acting. Upon further questioning, he explained that Bruce had apologized for how his words came across, and even invited Dick to get lunch with him, explaining that he wanted to talk with Dick and catch up.

Barbara wasn’t sure what to think. She hadn’t met the new kid that Bruce was fostering, maybe it was her influence?

And on a similar note, Red was hanging around the Manor more now, wasn’t he?

Babs had watched the cameras carefully the first few times Red had gone up, but was disappointed when he was just as vigilant as ever in remaining disguised. It was irritating that she couldn’t figure out anything about him. Even his age was ridiculously obscured.

She and Dick had discussed it and their best guess was that Red was in his early twenties. It felt like he was older than them, but looking at his features (which were constantly changing) they guessed he was still young. So around their age, if a bit older.

Why wouldn’t Red ever answer questions about himself? Babs could understand his wish for anonymity, but they were allies! It was frustrating to try (and fail) to learn more about him. Learn who Red was under the mask.

Dick felt as strong about it as she did. But he was avoiding Gotham, and when he was in Gotham, Red usually stayed away. His interactions with Red were short and limited. That, and Dick had mixed feelings about the new Robin.

At first both Babs and Dick just felt angry. They were furious at this random stranger walking in and taking Jason’s place. But… Red made it clear, after multiple incidents, that that was not what he wanted to do.

When they thought about what incidents led to Red losing his temper with them, Barbara just felt guilt. They were horrible to Red, whether they felt he deserved it or not. And when looking at his actions… did he really deserve it?

No.

Nothing could excuse their pettiness and selfishness. They had gotten people hurt in their refusal to help Red.

Babs sighed. There was nothing to be done about the past. All they could do now was do their best in the present.

Which brought her back to Dick and Bruce.

With a groan, Babs reached over to her phone to type in a response.

Do you want to talk to him?

Dick: That isn’t what I mean! Why is he suddenly saying all this??????

Does it matter? Maybe the new girl is making him rethink his life choices, maybe he’s going to ask you for something. What do you want to do?

Dick:Uuuuggghhh whyyy does this have to be sooo confusing…

Just go talk to him. You won’t be able to understand him unless you guys talk.

And with that, Babs put her phone away. It was weird that Bruce was finally saying the right things, but only time and effort would tell if it would stay that way.

Now if only she could figure out the little loner…

Chapter Text

"Soooo Jay"

"What."

"I heard you tried calling Superboy earlier?"

"An' so what if I did?"

"Why were you calling Superboy about Red?"

A heavy sigh. "He wouldn't answer, so it don't matter. Too many people ain't seen Red lately, and I been gettin' a little concerned. I forgot the lil brat hates my guts."

"..."

"Oh don'tcha start. I know I messed up, an I wanna apologize, but I need ta 'polagize to Red first."

"I think… even if you're right, I don't know if we're going to be able to find Red without Superboy. Red's… too good at hiding. If someone nabbed him, they'd have to be almost as good to have kept him this long."

"Well, crap."

____________________________________________________________________________

Young Justice… turned into the only place that Tim felt like he could be a kid again.

He may have become the semi leader of their little group, but Connor, Bart and Cassie just didn't seem to have the same expectations of him as everyone else.

They didn't know anything about him outside the mask. And…. They were pretty chill about that for now.

Connor seemed to be distrustful of Tim, but he's pretty sure that's because of the mask. The mask that he had lined with lead inside so that the Supers wouldn't be able to see his face.

Between the team and Cass, Tim felt more connections with people than he had in years.

Barbara and Dick were still suspicious of him and kept trying to pry details about himself from him. Other than that, they seemed fine with him.

Batman… Bruce… they weren't friends. Their relationship felt odd to Tim, in all honesty.

Because… Bruce deferred to him. When Tim clicked his tongue watching Batman beat up people, Batman would freeze, and then end the fight quickly. Which had shocked Tim the first time it happened.

And the sticker critique he gave Bruce? Bruce never yelled at him for it. He seemed to be listening to Tim's advice, albeit a bit awkwardly, but the way that Bruce carefully considered his words both in and out of the mask was a shock.

Tim occasionally sparred with Batman, as Red.

Red was nowhere near as experienced as Batman. But, Lady Shiva had taught him too many tricks for Batman to take him down easily.

Tim knew how to fight before, of course, but he mainly liked to try practicing what Shiva taught him, rather than use the methods that he'd been taught on the streets.

And perhaps having his day job as an EMT helped with some things. Tim was far too familiar with the amount of time it took to heal from various injuries. When sparring with Batman, he tried not to let himself feel guilty for using that against the man. So long as he didn't make the injury worse…

The moment he had Batman down, the reflexes he'd gained from Shiva and from being an EMT in Crime Alley always helped him snap handcuffs or something similar around Batman's arms and/or legs.

He didn't always win, but the fact that he won against Batman more than once using that? Was pretty impressive, let's be honest here.

And it had given Batman that much more respect for Red… somehow. Tim sighed as he spun around in his chair at Titans Tower. Bruce was weird.

"Yo Red, whatcha sighing about over there?" Cassie called out from the kitchen, pulling out a bowl of popcorn from the microwave and walking over to him.

Tim shook his head, a slight smile on his face. "Nothing, Cassie. I'm just thinking."

Cassie snorted and plopped down on the carpet in front of him. "Dangerous thing there. We need to get the boys?" She raised her eyebrows mockingly and took a huge handful of popcorn.

Tim laughed. "Nah, wouldn't want to make it harder on ourselves." He spun in the chair, watching Cassie go in circles around him.

Cassie gave him an evil grin. "When do we ever not make it harder?" She jumped up and raced out, shouting.

Tim felt his eyes widen and leapt out of the chair, but slipped and fell and had to watch as Cassie ran out.

"BOYS! RED'S THINKING AGAIN!"

Tim groaned this time, hearing the thumps coming from another part of the building towards them. He didn't bother getting up from the floor when two blurs materialized in front of Cassie, and instead dropped his head down.

"You guys suck." Tim mumbled into the carpet.

And then he let out an "oomph" when a heavy weight dropped on his back.

He glared at the red head that was now sitting on his back. "Baaaart…" Tim whined.

"Reeeed." Bart whined back and flopped across Tim's back, going limp. "What are you thinking about? Is it bad? You know you're too serious right? Sooo serious, you need to chill bro."

Tim just stayed there, face smooshed into the carpet with the redhead sprawling out more and more on top of him.

Connor started laughing. And then suddenly Tim was not on the ground anymore.

"Connor…" Tim growled out. He was suddenly being carried, lifted above Connors head like it was nothing.

Bart giggled from his position on Tim's back.

"Yeah, Red? Something wrong?" He could hear the smirk in Connors voice.

Enough was enough.

Tim flipped out of Connors hold and kicked out his legs to knock him down before sliding handcuffs over his arms.

Bart giggled maniacally the entire time, somehow having held on the entire time.

Connor groaned from the ground. "Really Red? You know I can just break these."

Cassie was watching from the doorway looking incredibly amused.

Tim crossed his arms. "I'm making a point. I could have used the kryptonite laced ones." He stuck his tongue out at them, being careful to stand up straight even with the monkey on his back.

Tim eventually took the handcuffs off of Connor, who had glared at him until it was off.

Cassie snorted. "I dunno Red, you still have your thinking face on."

Tim glared sharply at her at that, but the tightening of the arms around him signaled an ambush, and he quickly reacted.

Some time later, Tim had managed to subdue Bart and Connor, and then Cassie who decided to join in on the fun game they liked to call "let's get the idiot to sleep" which Tim took offense to, as he was not an idiot.

In the end they were all left panting and laughing on the ground in front of the TV.

"Dude, you've got to show me how to fight like that." Bart panted out, smacking Tim on the shoulder.

Cassie shook her head. "I learned from actual Amazon's, I've never seen anyone fight quite like that. Where did you even learn?"

Tim just smiled. "I've been trained by multiple people. How I fight just came out to be a mix of it all."

Connor was scowling at him again. Tim raised an eyebrow at him in response.

"You aren't poor, you clearly aren't lacking in food or home, so why did you have to learn how to fight?" Connor looked annoyed. "You never talk about who your teachers are, just that you had them. You never talk about your parents, and even though you are clearly affiliated with Batman, you never talk about him like he is your mentor."

Tim tensed more and more as Connor spoke. Bart and Cassie were glancing between them cautiously.

"And, I heard Superman talk about how the only reason they let us work on our own is cause you talked to the League, and because you are with us. Who are you? Why do the League trust you so much, and why do they only let us be a team if you are here?"

Tim felt his eyes widen. That was news to him. "They said what?!" He felt his voice go up a pitch in shock. He scrambled off the floor to stand.

Connor was watching him suspiciously, cautious.

Cassie and Bart looked confused. "Hey, wait a sec. Red isn't the bad guy, Connor. He's just another person. Let s not judge before we know the whole story." Cassie said.

Connor scowled again. "He's spying on us for them! That's the only explanation!"

Tim waved his hands, shaking his head. "Woah! No, I'm not spying on anyone! I didn't know me being here had any sway over the League, I didn't even know they cared about my presence at all!" He was so confused. This was not where he had anticipated the night going at all.

Connor was practly spitting the words out now. "Why should we believe you? We don't even know who you are! The League clearly trusts you, whoever you are, and you trust them but not us?!"

If Tim looked deep, he could see the hurt that Connor had buried deep inside his words. But Tim didn't understand.

"I mean, I trust the League I guess, but they don't know who I am under the mask so I don't really know why they'd trust me so much. And of course I trust you guys! Why would you think I don't?" Tim was honestly very confused.

Bart suddenly popped out in front of him. "Wait, the League doesn't know who you are?"

Tim glanced between Barts curious gaze, and Connors now confused expression. Cassie was just staring.

Tim cleared his throat and shook his head. "Well, no, nobody knows who I am under the mask. Batman is kind of irritated about that, but it doesn't matter to him any more than it does to anyone else."

Cassie reached out to grab his arm and tug him back down on the ground. "Okay, wait. Then why does the League trust you so much?"

Tim shrugged. "I don't know. I've worked with them a few times with Batman, but I don't feel like I'm close to them." He glanced at Connor again before saying "I walked in on them talking about you guys and they said that they were worried. I told them that I was part of the team and that I'm making sure we don't die, and they agreed and we moved on. That's the only time I can think of that I talked to them about the team."

Cassie was nodding slowly, but Bart leaned forward again. "You've worked with the Justice League?! Wha-" Cassie slapped a hand over Barts mouth to stop him.

Tim nodded. "You guys have worked with them too. It isn't anything special."

Bart ripped Cassies hand off his mouth "what do you mean—" he got put before Cassie grabbed him again.

"I think I understand now." Cassie said calmly. "Hey Red, I have a question for you."

Tim raised an eyebrow at her, watching as Bart struggled in her grip. "Go ahead." He said, bemused.

"So, the Justice League doesn't know who you are. Batman doesn't know who you are. You said nobody knows who you are. Does that mean that your parents don't know either?" Cassie asked just as calmly as before. Bart finally stopped struggling as she asked her question, turning to watch Tim as well.

Tim shrugged. "Well, yeah, they're kind of dead."

Cassie nodded. Barts eyes were wide for some reason as he stared at Tim. "Okay Red, I have another question. Who taught you, if nobody knew who you were?"

Connor, who had been staring at the ground for the last couple minutes, looked up at Tim finally. "Yeah, you keep mentioning your teachers, but who are they?"

Tim blanked. "Uhhh…"

He glanced at the three of them, all looking at him curiously. Did he trust them enough for this…? No. That wasn't the right question to ask. Was he comfortable sharing this with them?

"I… well, it depends on what you are asking about." Tim slowly answered. "I had two main teachers who taught me how to fight. One was a man who taught me how to defend myself on the streets. The other was Lady Shiva. I train with Batman nowadays, but I wouldn't necessarily say that he is my teacher…"

He chewed his lip as he thought about what else to say. "There was a couple other people, but i wouldn't really say that they taught me a ton."

Connor spoke first. "So Lady Shiva knows who you are?!" He burst out, eyes wide.

Tim shook his head. "Nah, she didn't really care too much about finding out who I am beneath the mask. She's actually the one that gave me the name Red." Tim smiled slightly at that, refusing to flinch at the memory of why she called him that.

Cassie blinked. "Huh."

Bart jumped away from Cassie in her moment of distraction. "Wait wait wait Red I wanna know now, what color eyes do you have?"

Cassie smacked Bart but it was too late. He grabbed ahold of Tim's arm and tugged repeatedly. "Red, Red, we all know you are constantly in disguise, I wanna know what your eyes really look like! Can you tell us what color your eyes really are?"

And Tim… laughed. Tim laughed, because Cassie and Connor were looking at Bart in such horror, it was like he had broken taboo.

"It's alright, I don't mind if you guys know."

Luckily he had worn the domino today, choosing to forgo the colored contacts.

Tim carefully peeled the domino off his face, blinking at the difference in light. He then turned to look at Bart and the others. "Blue. My eyes are blue."

The utter shock on their faces brought a smile to his face, and he laughed a bit more before sliding the mask back on.

The others, now slightly pink, looked away as he laughed.

"Oh, by the way, I'd really prefer if you not tell anyone about any of this." Tim said to them seriously.

They nodded back, agreeing.

It was nice, they were able to watch a movie and chill for the rest of the night. It was unexpected that Tim was able to feel so relaxed around others who simultaneously knew too little and too much about him.

Cassie, Bart, and Connor, on the other hand, were in shock over the revelations they had learned that night. Red had shown them his face, which not even Batman had seen.

This was only one of the things that shocked them (but also made them feel so warm, because Red trusted them) but really it was the thing that meant the most. Especially since apparently the Justice League didn't know who he was either, so they weren't the exception. .

"If ya gonna run round like that, yer just askin to be beat up. Skinny kid like you doesn't have any muscle!"

"Well what am I supposed to do?"

"Go pick some fights? Woah! I ain't serious, dont getcha self killed."

"Do you know how to fight?"

"Do I know- of course I know how ta fight!"

"Yay! You can teach me!"

____________________________________________________________________________

Connor was a lot less suspicious to Tim after that night. They became closer, and honestly Tim would consider Connor one if his closest friends at this point.

A few months went by, Tim worked his day job every other day and worked with the Titans on the days in-between. At night he'd go and help out Cass at the Manor, or join Batman on the streets. Except he was quieter and sneaker than Batman, thank you very much.

The last few weeks, a new crime Lord had appeared. He went by Red Hood, which had immediately made Batman tense.

The man murdered a lot of people, but overall it felt almost like revenge of a sort.

When Batman tried to gear up and hunt the Red Hood down, Tim stopped him with a glare.

"The Red Hood needs to be stopped." Batman growled at Tim.

Tim was unimpressed. "So does Black Mask. We've been working on his case for two weeks, and his kill sheet is quite a bit larger than Red Hoods. Along with that, Red Hood doesn't appear to be going after innocents yet, so right now Black Mask and his lieutenants are our first priority."

Batman stood stone still.

Tim watched for a minute. "Bats?"

Batman breathed out suddenly, his shoulders drooping. "The Red Hood… that was the name the Joker used once." He said softly.

Tim nodded. It made more sense now why Batman fixated on the man now. "How about this. You do the bust with Black Mask, and I'll do some research on Red Hood." He waited a moment for Batmans nod before continuing. "But Bats, you need to remember that this is not the Joker. Whoever it is, they aren't the Joker, and they aren't even close to following his footsteps. This guy is being careful, not only to kill quickly and mercilessly at times, but he is also being careful with his victims. The Joker doesn't care who he kills. This man is only hurting other criminals. They aren't the same."

And while the Red Hood going around killing people wasn't a good thing, he was doing some good. But Tim wasn't going to talk about that with Batman just yet. Maybe after some more research.

"Okay. Thank you, Red." Batman spoke once more, gravelly voice back in full force, before turning and leaving the Cave.

Thank you? Wide-eyed, Tim slowly turned back to the Batcomputer to continue his work.

Red Hood made moves on the different gangs around Gotham, and killed off some of the leaders. He seemed to have completely claimed Crime Alley, going so far as to shoot at Red when he was noticed.

Interestingly enough, Red Hood was being extremely careful and protective of children.

All in all, Tim’s report on the Red Hood for Batman was favorable. Definitely not someone they needed to be working to put away yet, with the good he was doing. They should definitely keep an eye on him, but as of right now? He was helping.

____________________________________________________________________________

Tim was at Titan’s Tower for the night, finishing up his homework while waiting for the others to get there. He had come a few hours early, just to get set up and finish homework. They had planned on doing a movie night and sleepover.

Tim was excited. It had been a while since he had done anything like this, and being able to do it with a group would be fun.

It was 10pm when he heard the alarms start going off. Tim frowned. The others weren’t supposed to get there until midnight, and they wouldn’t set off the alarms.

Carefully, he pulled out his bo staff and locked his bedroom door. He quickly exited out of the tabs previously on his computer and pulled up the security footage.

Tim cursed lowly when he realized that the alerts had been blocked and wouldn’t be seen from the outside. Same for the cameras. He could still see them on his computer, and it confused him when he saw the Red Hood stalking through the dark halls. Why was the Red Hood there?

“Oh Pretender…” A sinister call echoed through the computer. Tim felt his eyes widen. What was going on? Who was the man looking for?

Watching the Red Hood continue to stalk through the halls, clearly searching for someone, Tim made a decision.

He turned on the microphone. “Red Hood. This isn’t exactly your usual turf. What are you doing here?”

The helmet jerked to look at the nearest camera, startled by the sudden noise. “Tha’ you Replacement?” Anger was palpable in his tone and body. Tim fought back a shiver as he watched the man.

“I am Red Robin. From what I understand, you are doing a lot of work in Gotham. Why are you here?”

The man stood up straight. “I’m on a important mission. I needed ta talk to ya face ta face. Wanna come outa your hidy hole an’ talk somewhere I can actually see ya?”

Tim furrowed his brow. What in the world? But Red Hood didn’t hurt kids… He had never shown an interest in heroes before either. How was he here though? Why didn’t he talk to Red back in Gotham?

He wouldn’t be able to answer those questions unless he talked with Hood though. Cautiously Tim guided Red Hood to the meeting room. Once Hood was settled there, he started making his own way there.

He looked carefully for traps as he made his way to the meeting room, but found nothing. This whole situation was unnerving. When he had investigated the area to his satisfaction, he entered the meeting room from the opposite side of Hood.

“Hood. I would say welcome, but I really wasn’t expecting visitors.” Tim said coolly.

Red Hood was standing, leaning against the wall and facing Tim. Tim shifted when the man didn’t say anything, and relaxed when the man moved to sit down.

At the last moment, Red Hood moved to shoot Tim with a hidden gun. Tim jerked back on reflex, panic icing through his veins when he realized that it wasn’t a bullet the man had shot, but a needle. It nicked his throat, just barely, but Tim could already feel a slight numbness setting in.

He yanked his bo staff in front of him, turning on the electric pieces in the end. It wouldn’t spark until it hit something, so if he needed a surprise it should buy him a couple seconds.

Hood laughed, the mechanical edge making the sound more eerie. “Ya know, when Talia an’ Ras tol’ me that my Replacement was a mystery, I felt a bit better bout bein replaced. But if ya can be taken out by somethin like this? Very disappointing”

Tim found himself breathing deeply to try and stay focused. Hood started walking over to him, boots clinking with every step.

“If this is all it took ta get’cha, I don’t understand how Ras an Talia don’t know who you are. Who’s underneath that mask there, huh Red?” There was a glee to his voice, mixed in with the disgust and malice.

Tim didn’t speak. Instead, he eyed the man as he came close enough to touch him, and then watched as he reached out. Tim didn’t have the energy to move away, or even to speak. So instead he waited for just the right moment.

When Hood’s hand came closer to his face, he finally struck. Using all of his strength, Tim forced his arm to move just a bit to smack his bo staff into Hood’s hand, electrocuting the man enough that he collapsed, convulsing for a few moments on the ground.

Unfortunately, the motion also caused Tim to collapse. But he was still conscious. Not a sedative, but a paralytic. He realized.

After some time, Hood stopped convulsing and shot up from the ground. Tim couldn’t hear everything that he was shouting, but the man was furious.

Tim flinched when the man kicked his ribs, the steel toe definitely breaking something. But in his anger he seemed to have forgotten his original goal of removing his mask.

The beating Tim received was bloody, but not the worst he had ever received. The paralytic was probably the worst part though. Tim couldn’t do anything to defend himself in any way. And that? Was a nightmare.

Tim tried his best to stay conscious through the pain. He watched as Hood, red with Tim’s blood, yanked off his helmet. “-ahsom…” Tim heard himself slur as he stared at the revealed Jason Todd. It suddenly made sense why he was calling Red his Replacement.

Jason grinned wildly and continued his rant. Unfortunately the ringing in Tim’s ears prevented him from hearing the monologue, but Tim was sure that it was a very good speech!

Tim felt himself fading, but was jerked back into focus from the blinding pain in his leg. Hood had shot him. Tim felt his eyes widen as he felt the wound. It was too close to the artery. He was going to bleed out if he didn’t get medical attention quickly.

Hood (he ouldn’t think of him as Jason, not right now.) was dipping his hand in Tim’s blood, laughing at the cries of pain Tim let out. He started writing something on the wall, but Tim didn’t care enough to look. Instead, he took a couple deep breaths to gather his strength.

"CONNOR!" Tim screamed, only to almost black out again at the return of the white hot pain in his ribs.

When he opened his eyes next, there was Superboy standing in front of him, with Red Hood diving through the zeta.

Connor was here now. He didn’t have to stay conscious. Connor would take care of him.

“No, no no no Red you have to stay awake!”

No he didn’t don’t be silly Superboy. He wanted to say that, anyway, but the words wouldn’t come.

Instead, he finally blacked out.

____________________________________________________________________________

Jason could not BELIEVE the audacity that his replacement had to not even listen to his speech! He had worked hard on that!

And now that he was back in his safehouse, he felt irritated with himself that he hadn’t finished taking the mask off of Red. He had been looking forward to holding it over Talia, who was furious that she couldn’t figure out who the man was.

The shock had surprised him. Jason hadn’t been expecting there to be electricity running through the metal staff, enough to take down a man at that. When he had come to, the Pit had surged and the next thing he knew he had beat up and shot the kid. And then shot him again for not listening to his speech.

Superboy bursting in was not part of the plan, but hey! He had already done what he wanted to do, even sign it! (He tried not to think of the amount of blood he had used to do that. It hadn’t been part of the plan, he hadn’t actually wanted to kill the kid, but he had gotten so angry-)

Since Superboy had appeared, Red would probably be just fine. So Jason didn’t need to feel guilty at all, he had done exactly what he set out to do in the end. Injure the bird, show Batman that he shouldn’t have made a new Robin. (But this one went by a different name, he wasn’t Robin but he was Red)

And now Batman would know that the Red Hood was actually Jason Todd, his failure of a son come back to haunt him. Jason had planned on giving the old man hints on his identity in the last few weeks, but Batman had been avoiding him. Which was unexpected, what with him taking on the Joker’s old name. But hey, that stuff wasn’t necessary, it just would have been a nice touch. He could still move forward with his plans.

____________________________________________________________________________

Tim woke up in the medbay of Titan’s Tower, only to see Batman standing with Wonder Girl, Kid Flash and Superboy.

He blinked again. “Wha?” Tim said elegantly.

Connor was the first one to him. “Red! You’re gonna be okay, Batman got you stitched up and everything, so you have to rest for a while.”

Tim turned his head slightly to look at Batman in alarm. Did Batman take off his mask…?

Batman stepped over to the bed. “Red. I apologize for not reaching you in time. I have gone through the footage, and despite your injuries, your identity remains safe. I treated your wounds and would advise you to take the next few weeks off, if not longer.”

At Batman’s words Tim slumped with relief. His identity was safe. But why did Hood…?

Batman continued. “The Red Hood… Jason. Seems to be under some misconceptions. It appears as though the League of Assassins had something to do with his revival. They were most likely the ones who triggered this.”

At that, Batman fell silent. The others just watched them silently as Batman seemed to slump over Tim. Looking at Batman’s face, he seemed so lost.

Tim spoke up softly. “Tell… Nightwing. Don’t hurt anyone. Don’t hunt yet. Talk to Doctor…” he murmured, but ran out of strength by the end. Instead he just watched Batman nod, seemingly strengthened now that he had an order.

Eventually Batman left. Only after Tim reassured him nonverbally that it was okay.

In the end, Tim did end up spending the night watching movies, even if he was hopped up on pain meds the entire time.

Chapter Text

“Superman!”

“Dick? What’s wrong?”

“Me and Jay have been trying to find Red. Do you know where he is?”

“Oh, sorry, I haven’t heard anything. Why? Does he need something?”

“We’re getting worried… we can’t find him anywhere. Can you find him through his heartbeat?”

“Dick, I know you’re concerned, but Red is probably fine. He’s proven himself to be incredibly competent; even Batman listens to him. If he didn’t call for help then he’s probably fine.”

“Wait justa sec here, are ya telling us that Lil’Red, Red Robin, tells Batman what ta do?”

“Not quite. It was the weirdest thing when he joined his first few missions with us, though, cause if he said something to Batman, Batman always listened. And once, we saw Batman glare at him, and Red held his ground and gave him a look and Batman backed down. Honestly, that’s probably when he earned our respect.”

“What.”

“Yup, Red’s our idol some days.”

“‘Wing…”

“Yeah yeah. Let’s go find Superboy and see what he says.”

Tim was not having it.

“No, I will not be staying at the Manor.” He growled at Batman, who was standing next to his bed in the medbay at the Cave.

“Red, you are severely injured. Do you have anyone to help you if you leave?” Batman was glaring at him, and darn if he didn’t have a point. But still!

Tim carefully sat up. “Why are you doing this? I’ll be fine.”

Tim had insisted on staying at the Titan’s Tower all night after Red Hood. He had been high on painkillers, but it was still a fun night. The Titan’s had been concerned, but when Batman signed off on it (after Tim forced him to) they were pretty chill about it. Well, if they were freaked out they didn’t show it while Batman was peering into the room. Tim had told him to go, but he definitely did not actually listen.

When the others were finally asleep (at 6am) Tim motioned for Batman to get him out. At which point Batman scooped him up, You were just supposed to help me walk! and carried him to the zeta’s where they went to the Cave and Batman got Tim settled on the bed and booked it out of there to fetch Alfred.

Hours later, Tim woke up. Woke up to Batman asking him to stay at the Manor at least for a little while, just until he is a bit more healed.

Which. NO. Dick was finally making regular weekend trips to the Manor, visiting with Bruce and getting to know his little sister and teach her acrobatics. Cass was picking it up quickly, and lately when Tim came over she was super excited to show him whatever Dick had taught her last.

If Tim stayed at the Manor, there was a good chance Dick would be pissed and probably not talk to Bruce for a while or teach Cass. Even if Dick had been trying to learn more about Red, he wouldn’t be happy about him living there. Excusing that, by upsetting Dick, how would Barbara react?

The possible downsides outweighed the benefits.

Tim sincerely did not look forward to attempting to take care of his injuries while alone in his apartment. But when it was either that or pissing off the vigilante’s of Gotham? Yeah, Tim knew the right choice.

Batman shifted awkwardly next to the bed. “You are severely injured. You shouldn’t walk until your leg has healed. If you stay here, we can help you until you are healed enough.”

Tim stared. “Batman. I don’t plan on revealing my identity to you right now.” There. That should explain and give enough reason, right?

Batman shook his head and sat down. “No, you don’t need to. You can wear your masks or whatever you like. I would like for you to stay here temporarily though.” He seemed to hesitate before slowly grinding out, “I would… like to make sure that you are okay.” The words were quiet, but loud enough for Tim to hear clearly.

Tim felt his eyes widen. Batman must have seen the shock on his face because he turned to the side when he continued speaking. “I spoke to my therapist, as you suggested. I have also spoken to Nightwing. They recommended that I request you stay at the Manor, with or without your mask.”

Nightwing??? Nightwing. Dick wanted Red to stay at the Manor? Tim couldn’t get this through in his mind. He glanced around Batman to see if there were any flying pigs. Maybe this whole thing was a hallucination? Hood might have hit his head…

Batman frowned at him. “What are you looking at—!”

“Red!” Someone shouted, Tim heard footsteps against the stone floor getting louder as someone ran closer.

The curtain providing the similitude of privacy to the medbay was flung aside, and Dick stood with the curtain in hand, eyes wide as they flicked over the beds until reaching Batman and Red.

What the heck was happening? “Nightwing? Is something wrong?” Tim felt so lost.

“Red! I heard what happened, are you okay? Are you feeling any pain? B said you might stay at the Manor for a while. Are you okay with that?” Dick rapidly asked while examining his wounds, and then grabbing the papers Batman had filled about the incident.

“I’m… fine?” The words came out as a question. Maybe if Tim weren’t injured and drugged then he’d be able to put this together faster, but right now? “What are you doing here? Did something happen?”

Dick scowled at Tim before going back to the papers. “You are not fine. You are severely injured and you’re too skinny.” He put his hands on his hips and stared down at Tim.

Which. What? “I am not too skinny.” Tim scowled at Dick. “I eat enough food. I work out. I am not too skinny!” He was indignant at the very thought that they might think he was weak.

Eyebrows raised, Dick poked Tim’s exposed leg. “You don’t have any fat on your bones at all! Sure, you have muscle but clearly you aren’t getting enough food from Alfred!” Dick turned to face Batman with a scowl, as though blaming him for… not telling Alfred to give Red food?

“Why would I get food from Alfred?”

____________________________________________________________________________

Okay, so maybe Red was a bit more affected by the drugs then Dick thought. He seemed fine, but Red was normally pretty quick at figuring out what Dick was saying.

“Exactly! When Bruce told me that you were injured, I told him you needed to stay at the manor to recover, that way you can eat Alfred’s food and heal that much faster!” Dick tried to express how desperately he wanted Red to stay with them. He was too skinny, and recently had been working himself even more.

While Dick would never say that Red being injured was a good thing, it did present them an opportunity to try to get Red to rely on them and trust them.

Red seemed to be drawing a blank. The domino covering his eyes kept Dick from properly seeing his entire face, but he could still see the confusion emanating from him.

It made sense… as much as Dick hated it. He’d been a jerk to Red the first several times they had met, and so Red had rightfully been suspicious when he was ‘suddenly’ nice. It hadn’t been a sudden thing; Dick had joined on comms for weeks before approaching Red again, but each time he had tried to say anything, it got stuck in his throat. In the end, he only spoke to Red when he came back to Gotham and saw him on patrol or in the Cave. Which was rare.

Even still, there was Bruce and Babs too. Dick wasn’t sure about Red's relationship with Bruce, but they definitely weren’t best friends. But Bruce definitely respected Red quite a bit. Dick was a little jealous.

And Babs… well. She had tried to talk to Red over comms, but Red always ended up flipping the conversation around to be ‘professional’. Told her to stop trying to find his civilian identity. The first time she had tried to get to know Red, she had called Dick afterwards crying.

“He thinks that I’m just trying to find info to blackmail him. Dick, I’m a hero and he doesn’t trust us. More than that, he has so many reasons not to.”

“So we were jerks to him… that doesn’t mean that we’ll blackmail him! Why does he think that?!”

“Dick. That mission where you went to Batman and Red went to the robbery… do you remember that someone got shot?”

“... yeah. Not. not one of our better moments.”

“Dick. We refused to help him. And when someone got hurt, we blamed him. We blamed him when he did everything he possibly could, everything, to help the woman.”

“Babs, calm down. We messed up, but we can apologize. We can fix this!”

“That woman will never walk without pain again. We blamed Red for hurting her, when we were the ones at fault. If we hadn’t acted that way, then she might have been okay.” She might have been able to walk away, but now she’s just like me. Dick heard Babs’ hitched sobs over the phone.

“It-it’ll be okay. We can work on this. We have to try.”

Dick wanted to show Red that they were different and that they weren’t going to betray him. But so far he had been careful to never give them any chances. It had been over a year since they had met, and they knew a shockingly small amount about their accomplice.

They were in a position where they could just take some blood and run a DNA test. But at this point, they had no reason to doubt him. It would just break what trust Red had in them.

So they would work to earn his trust.

Well, Dick amended, they would try. If the confusion that Red was showing them right now was any clue, they were in for a long ride.

Red finally spoke. “You… you want me to stay here?”

Dick tried not to react to the sheer confusion in his voice. “Of course! If you stay here, we can make sure that you are taken care of and heal. Not to mention that Cass would love it if you stayed!”

Batman glanced at Dick at the mention of Cass. Dick widened his eyes innocently. He definitely hadn’t been teaching his new little sister acrobatics.

Red was glancing between Dick and Batman. Which reminded Dick. “Bruce, take off your costume. You look stupid.”

Bruce snorted as he reached up to take the cowl off.

Red dropped his head onto the pillow. “I can stay for today. My brain is foggy right now. But when I can think again, we can discuss this again.” His words were slurring slightly as he spoke.

Internally cheering, Dick smiled and nodded at Red. “That works! Get some rest, and when you wake up we’ll have a room ready for you!” As if Alfred hadn’t already made up a room.

Red nodded, and finally he seemingly nodded off.

Dick sighed, rubbing his neck. They had a long way to go before he would trust them.

____________________________________________________________________________

Tim was panicking. He was in the manor. He was in the MANOR, was going to stay there for weeks and he needed to keep his identity hidden the entire time.

How the heck was he supposed to manage that?!

Dick had decided that he would stay at the manor full-time to help Red out while Bruce was busy, that way it wouldn’t just be Cass.

Tim would prefer just Cass.

“Red Bird! You awake yet?”

Tim groaned. He was in bed, in a guest room inside Wayne Manor. “Give me a minute.” He grumbled at the jerk who was pounding on the door.

After Dick left, Tim forced himself up and grabbed his disguise kit and got to work.

After the first couple of days at the manor, Tim had convinced them to grab one of his stashes to keep in his room. The box that he had them pick up was in a “safe” house that he used, which was more of a fortified basement than anything. But the main thing was that the box had enough disguises to last a while. And it was in a box that he had secured so that if anyone opened it it would burn.

Once he was properly disguised, the day started.

____________________________________________________________________________

Dick was great at this. Sure, Red was super suspicious of him, but he was doing fantastic at bonding!

The trick to getting Red to join in activities was to have Cass there. If Cass was there, then Red was willing to join them, whereas if it was just Dick then Red was hesitant.

Dick would be more concerned about the fondness Red showed to Cass if it wasn't abundantly clear that he viewed her as a little sister. He had watched Red help Cass with her linguistic lessons, and it was so sweet Dick felt himself getting a cavity.

"Hey Red! Wanna join us for movie night?" Dick gestured to himself and Cass, who looked up at Red with eagerness clear on her face.

"Join for movie? Watching…" Cass frowned as she tried to recall the name of the movie.

"Phineas and Ferb, right?" Red asked softly, glancing at Dick for confirmation.

Dick nodded. "Yup! There's some movies that have crossovers, so we were going to choose one of those to watch." Hope sprang up in his chest as Red hummed thoughtfully.

"Maybe. If you can get through your homework for the day." He said with a small smile at Cass, who scowled at the papers in front of her.

"Fine." Cass said petulantly, getting back to work.

Red snorted, but leaned over to help her with it.

After a couple minutes of watching Cass speak through her homework, Red turned to glance at Dick. “So, what's the plan for Red Hood?” His tone didn't give away any feelings he might have about the subject.

Dick shifted awkwardly before answering. “We aren't sure yet. It's A… complicated case.”

Red snorted. “Well of course it is. but there has to be a plan for it, no?”

Dick sighed. “I don't think that we have a specific plan to capture Jason. None of us really want to… But, if he attacks us again, then we won't hold back.”

Red hummed thoughtfully before turning back to Cass, dropping the subject.

They spent the rest of the day helping Cass with her homework and then watching Phineas and Ferb. It was fairly quiet overall, and Dick was happy to see that Red was less tense as the day went by.

Maybe he could make this work, after all.

____________________________________________________________________________

Chapter Text

Tim was incredibly relieved that he wasn't fired from his job.

It took a while to get to his phone, almost two weeks after the attack, and the only reason he made it out of the manor undetected was Cass. Has he mentioned how amazing Cass is???

After some stern words from his supervisor, “Really Tim, just let us know FASTER next time.” He reassured Tim that he still had a job and to let them know when he'd be coming back.

Dick still wouldn’t leave him alone, but he was hopeful that his leg would be healed up enough to leave soon.

It was just so… loud. How did people focus when there was so much noise in the house? Sure, there were only three (four if you included Bruce) in the house, but there was always noise. It was overwhelming.

Cass seemed to sympathize. But she also thrived on it. She also wouldn’t let Tim keep his gloves on.

She loved being around Dick, asking him questions in all subjects. If he was bothered by her questions, he didn’t show it. Instead, he answered eagerly with a huge smile on his face.

Tim was glad that Dick was so supportive of Cass. Bruce too, was trying to be better with her. They both would spend nights with her, playing board games and watching movies, always being patient when she didn’t understand something.

Something inside Tim ached when watching them, for some reason. He was happy that they were healing enough to support her, though.

Now that Tim was able to move (with help) without too much pain, he insisted on being on comms for patrol. “Even if I am not with you guys physically, it isn’t like I was doing much anyway, before. I was usually watching from the cameras. My injuries do not make me incapable of working.”

Bruce frowned at him. “That isn’t what we are worried about, Red. You should rest, not strain yourself for our sake. If we need the help, Oracle will watch the cameras.”

They were in Bruce’s office, Bruce sitting behind his desk, and Tim (brown wig and his natural eye color) with his crutches standing in front of him.

Tim sighed. It was great that Bruce was getting better at actually talking and expressing emotions, but it also made it harder to tell him ‘no’ when he was trying so hard. Honestly, just hearing Bruce explain something (whether true or not) instead of just trying to order Red to stay made Tim feel accomplished inside.

Eying Bruce shrewdly, Tim sighed once more as he decided to ask again another time. Or just go to the Cave himself. Instead, he changed the topic. “How are things going with Dick? And the others?” He was honestly curious. Dick seemed a lot happier with Bruce, and Barbara was consistently on comms and talking with both Bruce and Dick in and out of comms. She had come over to the Manor two or three times already, and Red always avoided her by staying in his room.

Cass was always ecstatic when she came.

Bruce smiled. Well, it wasn’t quite a smile, but Tim knew Bruce. “We are going to try to get lunch together, once a week. Just to… catch up. Dick is planning on inviting Barbara without telling me.” There was amusement in his voice at the idea.

Tim smiled. “That’s good. Are you planning anything with Cass? It would mean a lot to her if you wanted to do an activity with her.” Specifically, if he wanted to do something with her. She would know if he was only doing it out of obligation, and if that were the case then it wouldn’t mean anything.

A quick nod was directed at him as Bruce pulled out a planner. “I was thinking of taking her to the zoo. I am coordinating with Dick and Barbara just in case she would prefer to go as a group, rather than just the two of us. Once we work out a day, I will ask her.” Bruce looked at Tim expectantly.

Tim raised an eyebrow. What was he waiting for? Ah, wait. “That is a good idea. Perhaps midweek would be best, that way it isn’t too busy. If you go during school, it should be almost empty of other people.” Bruce nodded, writing notes into the planner.

With a smirk, Tim pulled out a star sticker from his pocket and slipped it on the desk, hopefully in a way that Bruce wouldn’t see it until after he left. “Also, you can ask her before coordinating with the others. That way Dick isn’t tempted to crash your trip if she decides to go without him.”

A slight smirk. Wow, Tim was on a roll today. Bruce smiled almost three whole times in one sitting.

The silence was peaceful. But it couldn’t last forever. It came to an abrupt end when Alfred knocked sharply on the door announcing dinner.

Bruce stood up and quickly walked around the desk, reaching out a hand to grab Tim’s arm. “Allow me to help escort you to the dining room.” And with a gentle tug, they made their way out.

____________________________________________________________________________

Dinner was some kind of alfredo linguine, which tasted absolutely amazing and was much richer than Tim was used to.

Everyone currently at the Manor was sitting around the table. While breakfast and lunch were more casual, dinner was always eaten together.

This time it was quieter than normal. Dick was grumpy because Red had gotten out of the Manor on his watch, with the help of Cass, but even when Tim explained that he had to contact his civilian job it didn’t get rid of his funk.

Tim felt Dick’s eyes on him throughout the meal, but steadfastly ignored him in favor of the meal.

Finally, after what felt like years later, Dick spoke. “Red, I have a question.” The food had been finished and put away, the only reason they were still sitting was for the dessert, a raspberry lemon tart of some kind.

Tim looked at Dick blandly. No duh. “Yes?”

Dick hesitated a moment before plowing on. “There’s a lot of stuff we’ve noticed about you that we are a little worried about.”

Tim felt his body freeze. He turned to face Dick fully. “Like?”

Dick blew out a sigh. “Uhm. I just want you to be completely honest with us about this,” glancing at him for confirmation before continuing, “are you homeless, Red?” Dick was trying to do the big, sincere, sympathetic eyes and failing miserably, in Tim’s opinion.

“No.” Tim said bluntly.

Dick nodded, seemingly relieved. “O-Oh! Good. Good. We were just confused, because like, you don’t seem to have anybody looking for you, outside of work. And your mannerisms… you definitely grew up with money, but it doesn’t seem like you have been living that way for a while. Am I wrong?” The concern changed to an analytical gaze as he tried to see through Tim’s disguise.

Tim met Dick’s analytical gaze with his own bland disinterest. “I am not homeless. Yes, I grew up without worrying about money. No, I don’t have many people who would look for me, and even fewer who would know where to look.” What in the— where did this question even come from??? Did Red give off signs of being homeless? What kind of signs made him think that? And now Tim was trying to figure out who would know where to look for him. Maybe the Titans??? But they only have his first name and face… His coworkers don’t know anything outside of his work life though, and the Bats don’t know anything outside of Bat stuff, so maybe the Titans do know the most?

Tim was going to celebrate when he was finally able to leave the Manor. Hopefully with his identity intact. Maybe he should cause some trouble for Dick to distract him from snooping?

Tim’s gaze snapped up from where it had fallen when Dick tried to say something else, but was stopped by Cass.

“No more questions. Game time. We play games.” She stated firmly, tugging Dick’s arm and giving Tim a look. Fine. No sabotage. Yet.

With a hop, Dick was out of his chair and already over to Tim helping him up to play games, already shouting out board games they could play.

Tim sighed as he was ‘helped’ to his feet and drawn over to the sitting room.

"What the he-heck kid?! I told you to go home!"

"How do you know I even have a home?"

"You think I'm stupid? All I have to do is look at you. Your clothes, hair, camera, it screams of money"

"So if I changed that, you wouldn't be able to tell?"

"You would still look like the craziest kid I know, you can't change that."

"..."

"Don't even think about it."

____________________________________________________________________________

So maybe he couldn’t get to the Cave like this, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t just use his laptop to get into the systems!

Except… it kind of did.

”Go get some rest, Red. I’ll take care of the idiots until you are in the field again.” Said the mechanical voice of Oracle when he connected to the comms.

Tim growled in irritation on his bed. He technically could get around her blocks. BUT. It would be really annoying, and really wouldn’t accomplish much besides distract them both.

But what to do instead…

A smile slowly spread over Tim’s face. Opening his laptop again, he began typing. Every few minutes his paranoia brought him to look at his still-locked bedroom door in the Manor, and his smile grew wider as he came closer to his goal, until…

“Finally!” Text flew across his screen, Tim internally cackling.

He made it into Red Hood’s server.

Chapter Text

“Uuuuuuuugggghhhh…..”

“Shut'cher mouth, Dickwing.”

“How is he so. Hard. To find info on?!”

“Always has been. I remember tryin’ta find anythin'bout ‘im when I started. Just ‘bout impossible.”

“Even recordings or surveillance? We're just trying to find anything with him from the last three months!”

“’Specially that. ‘E must have some program or something.”

“Like this? Even from the beginning?”

A laugh “Was worse, back then”

Jason was somewhat annoyed. The Bats had been acting extremely different from what he had been expecting.

Maybe he should have looked into it when Batman hadn't reacted to him being the Red Hood. Jason probably gave him too much credit, assuming he had just hidden his reaction.

The Replacement being such a mystery, he had assumed was because Batman was taking so much care to protect him. But now that Jason was looking into it, it was clear that was not the case.

Honestly, if Jason hadn't met Red Robin himself, he might not believe he was real. There were next to no photos of him, no video surveillance, and from all accounts Batman was alone when patrolling. Unless Dickwing was around, but that was different.

Jason growled as he clicked around the screen, trying to find some kind of info on the Replacement. Only to pull back with a curse when the screen started sparking, turning a dark red color before Jason could yank away and grab a heavy blanket, which he threw over the computer before it could burst into flames.

You know. Like the last four computers.

Jason cast a dark glare over the pile of dead computers in front of the couch. A week ago, all of his computers had been working fine!

It had been three weeks since Jason had ambushed the Replacement, and the first week was a bit of a green haze, but Jason was sure that he hadn't had any computer issues the second week.

But week three? Almost every day, his newly set up computer system not only crashed, but literally blew up.

Thank goodness Talia was still helping out, even if he didn't explain what he needed the money for.

He was trying to run a criminal empire! He didn't have time to keep rebuilding computers!

With a groan, Jason rubbed his head. He may have to stop trying to research Red Robin for the moment. The Bats must have upped cyber security because that was the only common thread between the four!!! Separate!!! Computers!!! Blowing up!!!

It only happened when he tried to look into that brat.

The brat who tasered him. The brat that the Al Ghul's knew nothing about. The brat. That Jason could find absolutely. Nothing. About.

This called for some desperate measures.

____________________________________________________________________________

“How'sa broken birdy? I havn't seen'im in a while, I hope E's okay.” Red Hood called out from the dark alley up to Batman, who straightened from where he had been watching from the roof.

With a quick motion, Jason landed on the rooftop a few yards away from Batman. “O'course, ‘e may've figured he wasn't wanted ‘nymore.” He laughed sinisterly. “Maybe ‘e shoulda figured tha'out when tha big ol'Bat never wanted ta be seen with'im.”

Batman just turned to face him, silent.

Jason sneered, even though it was hidden behind the helmet. “He shoulda known better than ta take a dead kid's place.”

Honestly, Jason was just trying to get any kind of reaction from him. Ideally Batman would give him some kind of info on RR, and maybe even give Jason a reason to shoot him. (Oh who's he kidding, he doesn't need any more reason to shoot)

But when Batman spoke, it was a hoarse whisper. “Is it really you?”

Jason frowned. What did that mean? He eyed the Bat warily, but he hadn't moved. “Am I really who?”

But whatever spell had held Batman was soon shaken off. He shook his head, only to look at the ground beneath Jason's feet before speaking again. “You… I know. We tested your blood left at the tower, we checked everything. Talia brought back my son… and you came back to kill us in revenge.” Batman slowly raised his head again to look the Red Hood in his “eyes”.

“I understand why you hate us. I hate myself, too. Less now, since…” He sighed. “A part of me wants to let you kill me. But, there's people I need to live for right now. So please, hate us if you want, but I won't allow you to kill me.”

Jason was grateful for his helmet. The shock and horror he was sure was written all over his face was hidden from view. “Batman—”

“But no matter how much you hate us, don't put that hate on Red, or anyone else. They didn't do anything.” Batman continued seriously.

Any other emotions Jason had felt before were swept away in a flood of green. “Nothing?” He hissed. “Red Robin took somthin’ that don't belong ta'im. Stole from a dead child an’ you let ‘im!”

At some point, Jason had pointed a gun straight at Batman, finger on the trigger. “Then ya hid'im so well, nobody knows who he even is! And every time I search, my computer! Blows! Up!” Jason shouted, and okay, maybe the computer thing upset him more than he realized.

Batmans head tilted, frowning.

Waves of green pulsate over Jason's vision, breath ragged in his rage.

It was only a moment later when Batman spoke, hesitant, “As far as I'm aware, we have nothing to do with your computers.”

The concern in Batman's voice was the final straw, and Jason blew up.

With a wordless scream of rage, he shot Batman in the leg before racing away.

____________________________________________________________________________

Later, Jason would watch the recording and analyze what happened.

What the absolute— why is he treating me like a child?! What made him think I want HIM dead?!

After the fifth (or sixth) time watching, he realized what threw him off so much about the interaction.

”Talia brought back my son

”-wants to let you-”

”-if you want-”

Batman cared about him. Him, as in, as Jason. The only reason Batman didn't let Jason kill him (which he wasn't going to do!) Was because he felt that he had people to live for.

Was Red Robin one of those people?

____________________________________________________________________________

“Hey, I know I'm not supposed to come down here right now, but you didn't come up on time and Mr Pennyworth is asleep so—” Red Robin stopped abruptly when he saw Bruce sitting in the medbay, watching blood flow on his leg.

Red sped forward using the crutches, only to drop them when he reached the bed. He pulled himself next to Bruce and quickly began treating the bullet wound.

“Bruce! What happened? Why didn't you treat this already?” Red shot out questions as he numbed the area, using the utensils Bruce had already set up on the table beside the bed.

Bruce watched, numb, as Red pulled the bullet out of his leg and began to sterilize the wound. “It… isn't that bad. Barely a scratch.” He mumbled, mind to busy recalling the interaction with Jason.

“It's a bullet wound, Bruce.” Red responded with a snort. “Most people would go to the hospital for that.”

Bruce hummed, eyes focusing on the bloody bullet on the table. “Where… where did you learn to do this?” He gestured to where Red was now wrapping his leg. “We didn't… we didn't train you this. We didn't teach you… this.”

Red snorted again, focused on finishing the wrapping. “No, I've known how to do this for a long time. He refused to call me by the name I gave him, so as payment I made him show me how.”

Every thought in Bruce's mind came to a halt. “He? He who?”

Red glanced at Bruce from where he had scooted over to wash his hands. “The guy who showed me how to take care of bullet wounds? That guy.” Instead of the previous distracted tone, Red was suddenly wary.

Bruce scanned Red, looking for some kind of tell. But finally gave up and nodded. “Right. Him.”

Red gave him a small smile. “Come on, you've got to head to bed.”

With the crutches Red made him use, they both made their way to the elevator.

“Hey, at least we match now!”

“...”

"Hey! You weren't in your normal spot and you didn't even try to stop me from taking pictu- oh my gosh, are you okay?!"

"Oh shush kid, it's just an arm wound."

"You're covered in blood! And there's a bullet next to you!"

"Yeah. A bullet in the arm. An arm wound. Go away, I gotta stitch it up…"

"Can you show me how?"

"..."

"You said back then you'd call me Alvin instead of kid. You have to teach me now cuz you lied!"

Chapter Text

“Kon finally called me back!”

“What'd he say?”

“He said… to ask around the alleys for last sightings.”

“...”

“I'm serious! That's what he said! And he said he'll check some stuff on his end, and we should stay out of it…”

“Montoya ‘ready told us ‘bout word on the street. Who does ‘e expect us ta ask?”

“Uhm… he said to ask the people on the streets. Street kids, working girls, the homeless. Them.”

“What the he-, why would they know anything ‘bout Red?!”

“Red worked in the bad parts of town pretty often. Maybe he got close to them?”

“If we weren't tryna find the brat, I'd kill ‘im. But, now thatcha mention it… they had'a strong reaction ta me after the Tower…”

Jason was losing his mind. He had been doing pretty well at getting along with people in his areas before beating up the Replacement, but since then, it seemed like he was getting dirty looks wherever he went.

He wasn't sure when exactly it started, but it got more obvious as time went by, as people who previously ignored him would pointedly stop talking when they saw him, and would glare at him until he left.

Normally he would consider that behavior a sign that they were about to do something against his rules… but it wasn't just one or two people. Heck, it wasn't even just a few people. At least 75% of the people he would pass would treat him the same way!

And any contacts he previously had made amongst them suddenly went to ground. Except for a select few that were overly interested in money, but seriously! It didn't make sense!

The graffiti popping up wasn't unusual, but suddenly there was a huge spike in graffiti showcasing the Red Hood, and not in a good way!

“Red Hood Sux” somehow became one of the most common ones to see overnight. It wasn't very creative, but it got their point across. Three quarters of the graffiti he saw were always in the same color of purple, a bright eggplant color purple that he now hated.

Thankfully it didn't interfere much with his actual work… it just added extra levels of annoyance on top of it all.

One night, Jason was out patrolling. It had been a good night overall, he'd gotten to shoot a good amount of people already, so he was in a pretty good mood.

But then. He saw that bright purple paint.

It was fresh, and he could hear someone shaking a can of spray paint close by.

Rage pulsed through him. Jason quickly stalked over to the source of the sounds, and found a small figure in a purple hoodie, matching the color of paint.

Jason shot the can before he could even think about it.

The figure let out a scream as they whirled around.

With a start, Jason lowered the gun as he realized that the figure standing in front of him was a teenager at most.

“Why are you -!” Jason started to ask, but was cut off when the girl threw the broken can at him, and proceeded to grab any debris around her before violently throwing it at Jason's head.

If Jason hadn't been wearing a helmet, he was certain he would have had a concussion. The thunks he could hear as the debris hit his helmet was impressive, and it still hurt even though it wasn't making physical contact.

“Woah! Hey, chill out! I'm not gonna hurtcha, I don't hurt kids!” Jason grunted out, trying to dodge the rocks the girl was throwing now. How she was finding so much to throw, he didn't know.

Jason got a look at her face for the first time. She looked furious, not scared like he had thought. Her arms were trembling, but whether in rage or exhaustion, he wasn't sure.

“You hurt Red!” She screamed at Jason, throwing another rock for good measure. “He hasn't been out on the streets in weeks! I even hunted Batman down, but all he'd say was that Red was alive!”

Oh? This was about the Replacement? Jason felt the rage start bubbling up in his mind, green blending with the purple in front of him.

“Why does that little brat matter? He hasn't been coming through here long enough to matter.” Jason hissed furiously at her.

She just glared again, her grip on the rock tightening. “He has been coming through for years. Much longer than you have been. And his disguises were much more entertaining, too.” She sneered at his helmet.

Jason took a step forward, a growl starting deep in his chest, only to be snapped out of it by the loud CLANG that rang through his helmet.

Jason stumbled back, arms coming around his head to defend himself, even though she hadn't thrown anymore yet. “That's enough! I ain't doin nothin to ya, so stop it!”

She snorted. “You don't hurt kids. Unless you get really angry. But’cha sound like someone who lived down here, so I dunno why you're hurting people that help us.”

Excuse him? The Replacement? Helping?

“Replacement Red ain't ever lived in the Alleys, how's a brat like ‘im know ‘nything bout us?”

The girl folded her arms, glare still steady. “Yer an idiot. Stay away from Red, cause if you hurt him again, then I'm gonna come for you.” The girl spat those words out at him before grabbing a bag hidden by some trash cans and disappearing.

Jason could only watch her sprint away, only tossing a single glare back at him before she disappeared.

His head hurt now. What was her deal? The Replacement must have made a big impression on her. Honestly, some people were just stupid.

But her words stuck in his kind, whirling around with everything Batman had said the last time they met. He shoved down the guilt that was attempting to bubble up. It wasn't like he had done anything wrong…

What in the world happened while he was gone for those years?

"Why do you live on the streets?"

"Oh my g-gosh, why won't you leave me alone?" "

"Because!""

"Argh! Fine, lemme just tell a kid I've known for three months how I ended up homeless. Happy?""

"Three months?" "

"Ya can't fool me kid, ya might have changed ya looks but I still recognize ya.""

"Darn…"”

"Might help if ya, ya know, stopped coming back."

Tim had managed to get out of the Manor to freedom!

Well. Kind of.

“Yo Red! We shut down the Zeta's, so you're our prisoner now!”

Tim glanced over at where Connor was cackling maniacally, bemused.

“We captured a Bat!” A red blur zoomed into the living area, jumping on the couch next to Tim's couch, also cheering.

Tim snorted. “How was this a capture? I asked you guys to get me, and I'm the only reason this plan succeeded!” It was a lot of work, too. Honestly.

A hand patted Tim's head, and he turned to find Cassie had snuck up behind him. “Sshhhh Red, captives don't get to give opinions.”

Bart jumped over to his couch, grinning maniacally. “Yeah Red! And it doesn't matter how we got you, just that we did! You're ours now!” The giggling resumed.

Tim shook his head, resigned.

The motherhenning and lack of privacy at the Manor had been driving him insane, so he grabbed his fancy phone (the one used for Bat business) and begged the Titans to rescue him.

It took them a few hours, but they successfully infiltrated the Batcave, (with Tim's guidance, obviously) snatched Tim, and raced back through the Zeta’s before turning them off with nobody the wiser.

It was the perfect heist… except now they weren't letting Tim do anything.

“So is there a reason why I can't work on security while we are here?” Tim asked with raised eyebrows.

Cassie shook her head. “Nope, prisoners don't get access to the security.” She folded her arms in front of her, glaring at Tim to get the point across. “You already updated the security a couple weeks ago.”

Connor let out another evil cackle. Was he learning it from Luthor? “Oh how easily we caught you, little bird. And now we will be able to use you as a hostage against the great Batman himself!”

Connor shifted to join the other two in front of Tim, still monologuing. He was really getting into it too, with Cassie and Bart nodding along with everything he said.

“-and then once he has escaped his doom by spikes, we will present him with you! He will be utterly incapacitated, and will surely fulfill our every wish!”

“What am I being ransomed for?” Tim asked, actually slightly curious.

The three glanced at each other for a moment. As one, they turned back to Tim, really pulling off the evil mastermind thing they had going on.

“We want…” Connor started.

“A new wardrobe!” Cassie cried.

Bart nodded eagerly. “And a million donuts!”

Connor smiled. “And I… will demand that he punch Superman!”

They all turned to look at Connor, raising an eyebrow.

Connor scowled. “Obviously, he'd do it with kryptonite. That's why it has to be Batman!”

Well. At least they had their priorities straight.

Chapter Text

“Alley says they ain't seen ‘im in a few weeks.”

“Did anyone have a specific day they remembered seeing him?”

“Nope. Last sightings were weeks ‘go.”

“That's great… oh, Kon messaged!”

“What'd ‘e say?”

“He said they don't know anything, but he's going to follow up with some contacts.”

“That's it?”

“Maybe we could ask the girls? Red was always pretty close to Steph and Cass.”

“Guess it's better than goin'ta the brat.”

“Let's save him as a last resort…”

_______________________________

It was only a couple days later that Batman and Nightwing had successfully “negotiated” with the young heroes to let them have access to the tower again. They just weren't allowed to take Red.

Sure, they could have taken him back by force, but it was clear that Red was more relaxed with the kids at the tower, and they were definitely not letting him get away with overworking himself.

Cass disappeared at least once a day for a few hours, somehow getting into the tower with them. Bruce tried to talk to her to figure out how she was doing it, but to no avail. She just giggled before disappearing into the shadows.

Bruce sighed. It had been a week since Red went to the tower, and he still needed to figure out how to approach the Red Hood.

Dick was still staying at the Manor, despite his disappointment in Red leaving. He drove to Bludhaven and back, taking the extra 45 minute drive because he was worried about Red, worried about Jason and what he was doing as Red Hood, worried how they were going to deal with him.

Bruce's therapist had recommended really thinking about what he wanted before approaching Jason again. Apparently being shot in the leg was not something he should be okay with in the line of healthy communication. And maybe, MAYBE that was a good point.

But what Bruce wanted was to see his son again, and hug him. He wanted to see his boy all grown up without the helmet. He wanted to get to know who his son is now, and help guide him to a better path.

That might not be an option, however. His therapist had emphasized that even when you love somebody, they aren't going to change unless they want to, and that he shouldn't force Jason into doing something ESPECIALLY if it would put himself in danger.

Then there was also Red. Red had discouraged him from running into the situation while emotions were running high. Red, who had been severely injured by Jason, told Bruce not to rush in. Red had also advocated for the Red Hood to a degree, not approving of his methods but appreciating the results he was getting.

Jason was doing so many horrible things, but for a good cause. Was there some way to show him the ends don't justify the means?

_______________________________

Thank goodness the others had let him leave the tower. Tim thought he was going to go crazy being coddled so much. Cassie had enforced bedtimes for goodness sake!

He was only allowed to leave during the day for work, and had to be back by curfew. (Which, excuse me???)

That meant he'd miss Cass's visits to the tower, but he'd still get to see her other times.

Walking into the hospital for the first time in weeks was like taking a huge breath of fresh air. His supervisor was ecstatic to see him, and Cheryl scowled when she saw his limp. They promptly took him off of active duty and assigned him to the back of the ambulance. Which was better than nothing!

After a couple days back to work, Tim was finally able to relax back into a routine. It was weird having people waiting for him after work, but was also kind of nice? Having people say goodbye in the morning and welcome him back after work, it made him strangely happy.

Bruce and Dick were constantly messaging him too. They wanted to know how he was, how his wounds were healing, and when he would come back to the Cave.

The thought of Bruce actually paying the “ransom” made Tim laugh in the middle of organizing the equipment.

“Something funny, kid?” Cheryl called from the front of the ambulance.

Tim shook his head. “Naw, just thinking of something my friends told me the other day.”

Cheryl snorted. “Ya actually have friends? Since when? Or are they tha ones that broke ya leg?”

Tim actually laughed at that. “Oh gosh, no. They nearly killed the guy who did that.” The story that he had told everyone was that he got mugged, which explained the bruising and bullet wound. There was always going to be some suspicion about it, they were EMTs after all, and had seen plenty of all kinds of abusive relationships.

Thankfully, nobody pushed him for more info.

Cheryl nodded her head approvingly at his comment. “Good. What kind’a dirt bag shoots a kid?” She fixed her gaze on him, shrewdly looking over the visible wounds. Which wasn't many, he made sure that anything not hidden by clothes were either wrapped or covered in makeup.

He then sighed in resignation at her calling him a kid. There was no escaping the designation, it seemed.

After a long shift, Tim finally started making his way home. He had insisted on going to his own apartment for the night to grab the rest of his stuff, only convincing them after he did a health evaluation in the medbay, the machine showing how much he had healed.

The sun had only just started to go down when he finally lef trhe hospital, the natural smog of Gotham making it darker than it would be in San Francisco but still providing plenty of light.

Tim had almost made it back when he heard an odd sound. It sounded like… spray paint?

Curious, Tim glanced into the alley where the noise was coming from. He carefully peered around the wall, and was surprised to see a familiar face.

“Steph?”

The girl in the purple hoodie whirled around, pointing the paint can straight at his face. Her blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and strangely she had a pouch at her waist that was holding… rocks?

“Who are you? How do you know my name?” She called out quickly, threateningly shaking the can.

Tim raised his hands disarmingly. “Woah, it's okay, my name is Tim. I'm a paramedic, I answered a call for your mom a while back.” He resisted the urge to wince at the confusion on her face. It had been a while ago, but he couldn't exactly tell her that he had met her several times since as Red Robin.

Steph frowned at him. “Kay? Whatcha want with me now, then?” she still held the can, but was no longer as tense or scared.

“Nothing. I just heard something and was curious.” Tim slowly lowered his hands. He glanced at the wall behind her, trying to see what she was painting. And then raised his eyebrow at the artistic, “Red Hood Sux!” on the wall. “Got a grudge against the Red Hood? Did he do something to you?” Tim asked, cautious.

Steph scowled even harder and crossed her arms angrily. “We thought he was good, but then he hurt Red! We dunno if Red is still alive, cause Batman says he ain't dead, but we haven't seen ‘im come ‘round since the Hood hurt him!”

Tim felt a bolt of shock shoot through him at the actual tears in her eyes.

“Hood says he wants ta help round here. But he hurt Red, and he ain't guilty about it!” Steph shouted, clearly upset.

Tim raised his hands, trying to calm her. He took a step closer, only to stop when she raised the can again. “Hey, it's okay. I saw Red the other day, I think he had a limp but he seemed to be okay besides that from what I could tell.” Tim said reassuringly, hoping that would be enough to calm her.

Her eyes shot up to stare into his face. “You saw him? And he's okay?”

Tim nodded, making a split second decision. “Yeah, I came across him a couple days ago when I was heading home. His leg seemed kind of hurt, but I took a look and he should be healed up pretty quick, so don't worry about it.”

Before he even finished the sentence, a blur slammed into his chest. Steph hugged him tight, crying as she said “thank you so much, thank you” before seemingly realizing what she was doing and lept back, bright red.

Tim just stood there, stunned.

Steph wiped at the tears on her red face, avoiding his eyes. “Seriously, thanks for telling me. I've been… really really worried.”

And with that, she grabbed her bag on the ground and raced out of the alley before Tim could even think to respond.

People actually noticed he was gone? People cared that Hood hurt him, and were worried about his health?

Was this what it was like to have people care about him?

“No! Go home!”

“But I'm tired! Let me take a break here for a bit?”

“Nice try kid, but I'm still gonna make ya go home in a lil bit.”

“But it's so faaaaar…”

Snort “ya endurance is awful. And you got no muscle!”

“I'm trying to work on that, but I keep hurting my knee!”

“Hurtin’ ya knee? Ya ain't doing it right!”

“What do you MEAN I'm not doing it right?”

“It ain't s’posed to hurt like that, didn't anyone ever tell ya? Geez, ya gotta stop getting hurt ‘fore ya scare somebody…”

_______________________________

Barbara sighed, her screens not acknowledging her suffering.

Should she reach out to Jason or not? Out of everyone here, she wondered if she was the one who would understand him best.

They had both been irreversibly changed by that man. And both now had to live watching the Joker continue ruining lives.

But at the same time, had Jason become someone they needed to put behind bars? Normally she would say yes, because he had attacked a hero and killed tens of people. But at the same time, he hadn't actually killed Red. And the people he had killed had been horrible people.

Red had given as good as he got, the man electrocuted the Red Hood even after being paralyzed and was even able to call for help. It was impressive.

But she was getting off track.

Babs sighed again, glancing at the trackers showing Bruce and Dick on patrol, finishing up for the night, then at the cameras showing Jason entering a safe house. Red wasn't in view of a camera, he was staying the night at his own place instead of Titans Tower.

It was only the second time since Red was attacked that he was sleeping elsewhere, and it was making Babs nervous.

She had a feeling something big was going to happen soon.