Chapter Text
___9 MONTHS AFTER THE INCIDENT ____
Dick
Dick flops onto the sofa. Wet hair sticking to his forehead. Fresh comfy clothes of track suit bottoms, black Canary t-shirt, and his signature elephant slippers. It taken a while to waring them again. He could sometimes still pitcher Jason passing him the badly rapped gift his last birthday at the manor. He hadn’t celebrated his birthday this year. Dick feels a small, strained smile pinching at his cheeks. He felt the familiar sense of warmth and gut-wrenching pain that accompanies every thought of his little brother.
Bruce should have told him. Dick feels his face begin to scowl. His body beginning to tense. He deserved to know his baby brother had died. Jason. He couldn’t even attend his funereal. It happened before he knew. Thank Barbara from stopping him from doing more than shouting at Bruce.
“Dick you still there?”
Kori’s voice, braking through his own brooding thoughts, Crackled up from the phone in his hand.
“Yep, yeah still here”
Dick sits ups a more reassuring smile forming. Even if his girlfriend couldn’t see it. His eyes fall back to the elephant slippers.
“Was just thinking of…Jay” his voice tapered off. His smile dropping again. Kori let out a small hum of understanding. Another ping of grief settles in his chest. Kori had been there when he found out. He doesn’t think he would have been able to keep it together without her and the rest of the titan’s being there.
“How was patrol?” Kori changes the subject. Dick crosses his legs leaning into the back of the sofa. Mind already recalling the wired patrol.
“I could always tell you about it when you get back and you can share how your mission went?” He asks. She’d been on a mission with the rest of the titans. He’d stepped down as leader so he can focus on the Bludhaven. He was also in no mindset to lead. Not yet anyway. “You know trading battle stories”
He can hear Kori’s small laugh on the other end.
“How about we give brief outlines for now. Kor”
“Right okay. Brief out lines. Want to go first?” Dick shifts into a more comfortable position.
“Sure. The mission went as expected. We were able gain the Intel on cobra’s group and stopped them from trying to pollute Jump city’s water supply.”
“that’s great Kori. What intel were you able to gather.” Dick asks enthusiastic. Already interested. He might have skimmed their mission report before patrol. But nothing supplemented the first-hand detail of a mission. He heard Kori let out a small chuckle.
“Fill you in later”
“Alright, alright. I’ll wait Kori”
“Your turn Wonder”
“So…” Dick starts to rack his brain for the briefest outline of patrol. “Well, it was peaceful until Mad Hatter chose to wreaked havoc on Green Lane. It was over fairly quick”
Dick contemplates as something else seems to be missing that he should be motioning. A red hoodie pocked in the corner of his memory, and it clicked into pace.
“Oh, the kid pops up again” Clicking his fingers as he recalls. A small smile emerging at the memory. The kid had been sassing one of Mad Hatters goons, who’d been holding the kid’s skateboard.
“The same kid as last time?” Kori asks. Her interest instantly peeked. Dick had noticed the little Bird a week ago following him on patrols. sticking the shadows. The little Bird was very good at avoiding him. He had gone to the manor once to check Bruce hadn’t given him another sibling to replace Jay so quickly.
He hadn’t seen Bruce, but Alfred confirmed that the kid had nothing to do with Bruce. So, the running theory that their a kid from Bludhaven getting too close to the vigilante action.
“Yep, the same.” Dick leans back crossing the legs as he did. A pleasant smile resting peacefully on his face.
“Were you able to talk to the little Bird?” Kori asks using the little nickname she’d given the kid the first time he’d told her about them.
“No. He disappeared before I could get a word out.” Dick flicks his hand to twist around the fabric of his track suit bottoms. His face forming a frown. His brain going over the interaction. The kid had realised he was close by before the goon had. He was either getting rusty on the bat sneaking or the kid could sense when he was close. The kid had looked at him with startled eyes. But it also looked like the kid was looking around him than directly at him in the eyes. The kid had despaired as soon his back was turned fighting the villain. And, before that the kid had been radiating confidence when facing the goon. He’d seen the kid try to hit the goon with his skateboard. Only to become shy and scared when Nightwing showed up. It was a confusing puzzle he was trying to piece together with only a quarter of the pieces
A knocking comes from the door. Cool his and Kori’s takeout is here. Dick jumps up from the sofa. Kori’s inquisitive voice crackles from the phone.
“who’s at the door Dick?”
“Oh, probably the takeout I order for us.” He says as he saunters over to the door. A small spring in his step. Nothing is better than takeout after a partially draining patrol and mission. Maybe a move night to boot.
“it’s from Alf’s Plaza” Kori asks.
“Yep, good old Alf’s Plaza. They had your favourite in again” He fills in as he picks up the keys by the door. Another knock rings on the door. He puts the key into the lock.
He opens the door to see, well not a delivery driver. Instead, he saw a kid with a red hoodie, cheap Halloween robin mask, a pitch-black bandana fallen around his neck, and a net of messy black hair. The kid’s ice blue, verging on silver, eyes focus on the area around him. Not meeting his eyes. The dubbed the little Bird was standing at his door.
“Dick? Are you still there” Kori’s voice ripples from the phone. The kid’s eyes dart quickly to the phone in Dick’s hand then to the area around him. The only other sign the kid is moving is the fact the kid shuffles back a few inches. No. he can’t have the kid bolt again. Not when he’s, Dick is assuming the kid is a he, came to him directly. There is also a high possibility the kid knows he’s Nightwing. Dick puts the phone to his ear again.
“Yeah, I’m okay Kori. The takeout is here. I’ll call you back later.” Dick finishes. Kori lets out a small sound of shock as he then adds. “bye”
He clicks the hang up button. He’s going to explain big time. But for now, the kid is coming first. His eyes land back on the kid. He noticed a little tremble rippling from the kids’ hands. It was a surprisingly chilly afternoon. Dick feels a small bit of worry stir in his gut. Why is the kid here?
Cautiously Dick asks as more and worrying conclusions started glinting in the back of his head. “Can I help you at all?”
The kid eyes dart to the floor as he nods.
Okay that probably isn’t going to calm his worries but at least he knows the kid is looking for help. With whatever he needs help with. Something at Dicks core yells at him, that this might not be a simple fetching a stray ball kind of help.
“What do you need help with?”
Bird seems to be contemplating Dicks questions before looking at the surroundings. Before looking at Dick again. Dick feels like the kid’s ice eyes are piercing him to his core. As if seeing every motion of his soul. The kid then steps forward and in an almost quite whisper.
“It’s Batman. It’s an all-bats problem”
Dick can feel his heart almost stop for a sec. Yeah, he’d tempted the idea the kid might know his identity, but it was such a low probability. Right. If most cops and detectives couldn’t work out their Identities. A 10- or 11-year-old kid shouldn’t know right.
Even with Dicks mind wearing he notices the kid look more nervous. And begging to step away. He can’t let the kid go. Not till he knows what the kid knows. His mouth works before he can think.
“Wait kid.”
Bird stops moving back slightly frozen. Dick takes a small, controlled breath. He mimics from one of Bruce’s many breathing techniques.
“Want to come inside and talk about it?”
Dick forces a calm easy smile. The same he would use on panicked civilians when Nightwing. Bird takes a few seconds before nodding.
Dicks feels his shoulders slacken before opening the door wider and gestures for the kid to come in. Hesitantly the little Bird slips in.
The kid looks around at his slightly messy flat as Dick shuts the door behind him. Dick on an almost forgotten auto pilot heads towards his kitchen cupboards and starts to get two mugs out and puts instant hot chocolate powder into the mugs. He then robotically flicks the kettle on.
Dick’s gaze flicks back to the kid, who stands still like a toy solider waiting for their next order. He was staring intently at a green book abandoned on the kitchen. Bird’s ice blue gaze moves fix onto him. Dick Just gestures to the table seat. Hope for the kid to sit down laced their way into the gesture.
The kid sits down at the table one hand repeating a small hand flicking motion. He seems to be examining Dick entire flat from where he’s sat. Dick texts a quick message to Kori to explain what really happened.
‘wasn’t take out. It was little Bird.’
He tries not to look at his phone as Kori responds.
“So, what’s is this all-bats problem?”
Bird’s head snaps straight to him. He then looks down at the table again.
“You need to talk to Bruce”
Hell No! He struggled to speak to Bruce with outfighting when Jason entered the family. Jason had been his reason to fix his relationship with Bruce. Hadn’t stopped fighting with Bruce full but it had been getting better. It had until Jason died. No, he could hardly get a sentence out before starting a fight with the man. Double hell he could hardly survive full 15-minute conversation with the man when he was trying. He still owed Barbara an apology for having to break the argument up at the gala a month ago.
“No”
Little bird eyes fix on the table. Eyes drifting to the green book. The kids face seems to swirl in thoughts. Dick feels himself add on out of curiosity.
“How is my relationship with Bruce matter anyway?”
Little bird seemed to shuffle a bit, moving his hands under his legs to stop his hand fiddling. He then fixes Dick with a serious look.
“Batman is going off the deep end. He’s sending more and more people to the hospital.”
Dick scoffs. “that’s not new?”
Sure, Bruce could be violent when crime fighting. A few do end up in the hospital. Most fugs that do are dealing with nothing more than a bruised hand or small concussion. What could Bruce being to make the kid worried.
“it’s not but most are ending in the hospital with multiple broken bones.”
Oh. That is bad. He knew Jason's’ death had affected Bruce, even if the man hardly expressed it. His little brother’s death had affected everyone in the family. The manor had fallen dark without his brother’s light. Dick should ask more. He’d avoided anything to do with Bruce and the manor. A part of him wants to ask more about his adopted parent.
“What does Batman have to do with me and Bruce?” Dick says instead.
The kid removes his hand from under his legs to begging do the small flicking motion Dick sees an unreadable emotion close to anxiety settle on the kids face before despairing. The kid takes in a deep breath letting out a couple seconds later. The kid then yes to meet him in the eyes. Though quickly moved to the space around him. Ice eyes narrowing with determination.
“Your Nightwing. the first Robin. He needs a robin now more than ever.” The Little Bird states like a direct fact.
Dick inclines his head. Ignoring the small panic of having his secret identity found out.
“Yes, I am. How did you-?”
“These a video of you performing the (inset the flip move) at the circus. There not on any more don’t worry.”
“okay”
“You preformed that exact move every night on patrol as robin.”
Dick lets this information wash over him. Leaving a small gap of silence before the kid them continues.
“I Saw the video. It then saw you do the exact same move when,” The kid looks a bit embarrassed before continuing. “When following you and Bruce on pratol to take photos I saw you do that exact move. More than once. It was easy to put it together after that. Bruce Wayne is batman. You’re the first Robin and now Nightwing. Jason is the second Robin.”
Dick moves to poor the kettle as it begging to whistle.
“I’m not going to tell anyone.” Little Bird adds before continuing with. “It’s just I’ve noticed that Batman is getting more violent than before. He’s likely going to cross his no kill rule. He’s getting closer and closer …”
The kids’ words fade to the background of Dicks mind. The words ‘since Jason died’ were left in the open.
Like all the other hero and friends had left in the open. Treating the fact like it would shatter the whole reality in two. It properly has. Except Bird doesn’t leave those words in the open.
Instead, He finishes it off with. “Since Robin disappeared”
That doesn’t make sense. Jason is dead.
Dick turns his back to the kid. His heart feeling like it is breaking. As, I restate the fact that fractured his life for a second time.
“Robin is dead. The Joker killed him!”
Dicks hands grasp the counter for a couple of seconds. Breath. Just breath. He when the small fragments of anger seem to calm down.
“He’s not dead.”
“He is. Kid…He’s Dead” Dick tries to say calmly.
“NO! he’s not. Jason is not dead”
“Jason is dead” Dick almost whispers. Cause it was the truth. The painful bitter truth.
He slowly turns around hands regrasping the countertop. He’s greeted at a glare of pure frustration gracing the kids features. Anger, and frustration seeming to be rolling off the kid in waves. Dicks words get lost in his thought as the kid adds.
“he’s missing. not dead.”
The kids body seemed to shake as he breaks his gaze landing back on the green book. Silence drapes over them, a suffocating blanket holding them tight in this moment. What could this kid mean.
Jason is dead.
Despite the obvious Dick’s heart seems to burn in sparks of fractured hope. He turned to the hot chocolate. Giving them a quick stir. ‘missing’ seeming to create its own fractured rhythm in his head.
The hot chocolate continues to steam as he picks them up and places them on the table. He slides into the seat opposite to the kid. Dick’s hands rap around the mug. Successfully hiding his begging to shake hands.
The kid looks at him in shock before rapping their own hands around the mug.
Dick lets out a breath he didn’t know he was holding before asking.
“How are you so certain?”
***********
Tim
He shouldn’t have snapped at Nightwing Dick Garyson, but he didn’t see why he should lie about the fact Jason is alive. Cause he is. The book on Dick’s table was from Jason. It leeks with traces of Jason aura. Orange and red rippling around like smoke. Something it wouldn’t do if Jason was dead.
Batman Bruce wasn’t listening. He thought Nightwing might listen. And he sort of was listening. Even if he repeated the old argument of Jason is dead. But now Dick’s asking for an explanation.
An explanation he wasn’t certain he could. Not without explaining that he’s meta. Tim tries to ignore the building dread that ignited at the thought. Tim can feel how his own aura wrap tightly around himself, as if it could protect him from the hero Infront of him.
The hero that is standing waiting for an answer. Despite himself Tim begging to speak.
“I..I”
The words get lodged in Tim throat. Dick just watches. Deep blue eyes lessening as Tim contuse to struggle. The rich deep blue and purples of Dicks aura ripple towards him. The warm feeling of reassurance and hope spread through Tim. Tim averts his gaze to the book. The gold embossed title of Pride and Predigest gleams in between the red and orange smoke.
Tim takes a deep breath. He keeps his focus on the book as he finally says something.
“I just have a hunch.”
Tim feels Dick’s aura’s presence retreats to its owner. Tim feels his own aura splinter off his hand. He takes his gaze from the green book. The clue that robin is alive.
Tim feels his own blood cool as he sees familiar yellow, red and orange sparks dancing around his hands. In a flash Tim raps his hand around the hot chocolate. Please disrepair. He wills to the sparks. The swirling sparks begging to fade. Tim feels his shoulder sag in relief.
Tim sends a quick glance to Dick his face not revealing any sign he noticed the sparks. The hero’s aura reveals the truth. The deeps colours rising and lightening ever so slightly. Tim feels his own heartbeat quicken. His aura rapping tightly around him again. He almost doesn’t here Dick’s quiet.
“alright”
Tim clasps his hand around to warm mug. Hoping it can hide his hands trembling. Avert the situation. A voice sounding like his mother whispers. Tim mouth obeys.
“Are you going to stop Batman?”
Dick looks at him owlishly. Before fixing his expression to something soft. Taking a long sip of his hot chocolate before replying.
“Maybe. But Nightwing isn’t a robin anymore.”
Tim forces himself to stay quite as Dick shifts into Nightwing. A melancholy contemplation expression falls on the hero’s face. Nightwing’s eyes drift back to his steaming hot chocolate couped in his hands.
“And Bludhaven needs a protector.”
Tim lets those thoughts settle in his mind. His mind filing this way in an imaginary folder of his mission to find a way to bring the bat in. Nightwing can’t fill that role, so it goes back to him taking that role. Which he won’t be able to do if he can’t get proper training.
“Then train” Tim begins licking his newly drying lips before continuing carefully. “You could train me?”
“What?”
Nightwing lets out as hot chocolate falls back into his mug. Tim waits for the man to stop spluttering before repeating.
“Train me?”
Nightwing looks directly into to Tim’s eyes. He stares as if he was the one who could see Tim’s aura. Tim feels an unsettling feeling settle in his stomach as he breaks the eye connection. Choosing to focus on the now swirling aura behind the hero.
“You want to become Robin? Even after what happened to-“Nightwing ask in a voice devoid of any warmth.
“I’m not going to be Robin.” Tim interrupts. His own questioning thoughts filling the small silence left around them. Isn’t that why he’d chased Batman all those nights ago? Hadn’t that been the reason he’d asked Nightwing? But what he said does make some sense. It was the truth. He couldn’t be Robin. Jason was Robin. Dick was Robin. They were chosen by Batman. He most certainly not being chosen by Batman. He couldn’t be Robin. Well not The Robin at least. That was still Jason’s mantle to pass.
But he would be the sidekick to pull Batman, to pull Bruce, away from edge he is balancing on. To get Nightwing and Batman to talk would likely be a good thing to do too.
He could do that.
Tim bites his lip before beginning to voice his thought to the vigilante.
“I can’t be The Robin. That is still Jason’s mantel till he comes back, or he’s passes it to someone else. I will be the person to remind Batman of his morals and stop him from tarring apart Gotham while Jason is missing.” Tim moves his gaze to look straight into Nightwing’s deep ocean eyes.
“That is what I want to do”
*********
Dick
Dick keeps staring at the kid like he has grown an extra head. Dick can feel his mind racing to match the situation his was now in. Dick eventually breaks his own gaze to stare at Jason’s book. His right hand beginning to rub his temple.
He should have not answered the door. He had not prepared for that answer. He hadn’t been prepared for this whole conversation.
Dick could feel his own anxiety building as the silence stretched on. Ghosh the kid is probably going to do his plan no matter what.
“So can you train me?” The kids voice whispered in the silence, completely shattering Dick from his thoughts.
The kid eyes have drifted to his hot chocolate. The kids hand repeating that small flicking motion again. He looked so small in that moment. Dick felt a small pang of something like nostalgia and worry. As he watched the kid in that moment Dick decided.
“Okay I’ll train you”
He can’t let the kid get hurt. die like Jason had. He can’t have the kid enter the field untrained. This kid won’t face the same fate as Jason if he can help it.
The kid blinked in shock before smiling a wide grin. Dick would be lying if the smile didn’t seem to make the room feel brighter. He moves his gaze to his own hot chocolate. As he does, he can’t help but spot some yellow and orange sparks drift around the kid’s hands. So, the kid is likely a meta. He can probably adapt a training schedule to that. Maybe ask Garff or Kori, or maybe a lantern if it ties to making physical light structures, for how to better adapt the training schedule. That will probably depend on what the kids’ meta-abilities are.
Was this what Bruce felt like before he let him and Jason be Robin’s?
Dick is pulled from his planning movement as the kid moves his hand to tactfully hide the sparks. The kids smile dropping to a more panicked expression. Dick could feel his own heart plummet. That could possibly be a whole another can of worms for another day. Focus on the now.
“I do have some conditions for if you are going to become B’s moral reminder.” Dick pushes. The kid’s eyes snap to him. The little birds shoulder stiffening in alertness, waiting for what Dick is going to say.
Dick takes a small breath in as the list in his mind readies itself.
“Well first you will only patrol with me or B.” The kid nodded. And Dick took that as his clue to continue.
“When on pratol with B you will give updates to ether me or Oracle over a privet com line.” The kid nods but confusion washes over his face. Whatever questions the kid has seem to not be too pressing. Dick makes a mental note to ask when he’s finished laying out the conditions.
“Third, when out of the suit I would proffer it if you carried an emergency beacon.”
The kid face squints in confusion but nods.
“The last is most important okay.”
The little bird nods.
Dick looks the kid dead in the eyes. Eyes that reflect coldest light blue Dick thinks he’s ever seen. Dick lets the last condition like a bullet form a gun. Knowing it will shatter whatever comfort the two of them had settled into.
“Never under any circumstances go after the Joker.”
The words do what he predicted. The air drops to chill. Dick keeps his eyes on the kid as the kids’ eyes drop to the book on the table.
The silence feels like it stretches for eons. The Kid must agree to this. He can’t end up like Jason.
Dick didn’t think he could live with another kid dying under his and Bruces wings.
Finally, the kid nods.
“I can do that.” The kid confirms. Dick lets out a sigh his shoulders sagging in relief.
“Got any questions kid?” he asks.
“a couple”
Little bird keeps looking at the book. Dick cold practical see the kids gears turning. Dick chose to take a sip of his cooling drink while waiting.
“Will the emergence beacon be consciously sharing my location?”
“no. only when it’s activated”
Little bird nodded accepting it as understandable before asking, “where and when will we start training?”
Dick let his mind jog through his mental calendar for the week. The kid was probably in school so a weekend maybe.
“We’ll meet up here. On Saturday, at- “
The lock in the door clicks through the room. Dick turns to the door to see Kori opening the door with bags of take out in hand. Dick shoots a glance back at the kid as he gets up. Except the kids not there. And a window is open to the fire escape.
Great. The kid is already taking after Bruce.
___9 MONTHS AND 3 WEEKS AFTER THE INCIDENT ____
Tim skips speedwalks down the drive path. Pushing the last of his Red Robin outfit into his school bag. Dick had passed him the outfit at the end of their training section. He had also said to wear it tonight and to meet by the library clock tower. Dick hadn’t explained why but it was Friday night so whatever it was wouldn’t impact with his schoolwork. If Tim’s grades did drop his parent are going to notice. If they notice they would get more suspicious and demand what he was up to for his grades to drop. He could lie of course. He was prepared to lie, even if lies seemed to make an aura gleam a bit less and make an off key not when said. They can’t see that. No one can. Only Tim could. He’d proffer to not lie though.
Tim did find it funny that grades where the only things his parents ever noticed. Not the bulling he sometimes had to deal with or the fact since they moved him up a grade, he hasn’t made any friends.
Which in this case is good as he would have a lot more to consider before he could become Red Robin. Yep, Red Robin as he can’t be The Robin, not with Jason still being alive. However, Batman needs a Robin, so Red Robin was made. Red like some of Tim’s sparks. Red like the end of Jason’s aura.
Tim feels satisfaction build in his chest, mixing with excitement. He’s so close to being able to keep his Robin’s family safe. Their city safe from completely falling apart.
So close.
Tim reaches the Drakes mansion door. He pulls his hand into his pocket to fish out his house keys. Tim notices something glinting between the neatly cut hedges. Tim turns his gaze to see that the glinting thing was the hood of his dads black Mercedes. Huh. Didn’t they take that car to the airport a couple months ago? Tim puzzling Tim pulls out his phone. Clicking his parents’ messages. He hadn’t missed something important what he? Nope just the average stopping by Drake industries then leaving soon after for another trip. So, they must have left it in the turnaround for the meeting.
Slipping the phone back in his pocket, Tim turned his attention to the door. Along with the search for his keys. A small tune hums in his head as Tim enters the Mansion.
The tune contuses as he slides over the wood varnished floor to the stairs. The tune only dies as he sees the beeping light of land line, signalling a recorded message, on the side table by Jannet’s bookcase. Slowly Tim steps towards the bookcase. Towards the the land line. He presses play.
‘You have 2 recorded messages’
The robotic voice relays into the silence.
‘Message 1, Friday. 1:40pm.’
Tim feels his eyes wonder the bookcase. It was all for show obviously. Only one or two books had actually been opened. The rest had been left to collect dust and reinstate the idea to any guest that Jannet Drake is simply better. The recorder beeps as the first message plays.
“Hello this is Miss Glibly of the preserve the written event gala.’
Tim starts to tune out the rest of the message. An event his parents were planning to attend next month. They will probably listen to it again when they get back and confirm for the third time they are still going. Tim kept his eyes on the bookcase. His eyes trailing the titles on the spine. Only stopping when he saw a small metal shaped blade poking out between Pride and produce and the detective calls. Tim slowly pulled out the R shaped batarang.
Tim silently curses himself as the memory of a few nights ago stashing some Batarang’s here as the once-a-month cleaner chose to try and clean Tim’s room (even when he said He’d do it instead). How many did he stash here again?
Was it 5 or 6?
Letting out a small sigh Tim gets to work shifting through the bookcase. He reaches 5 when the landline beeps to signal the end of miss Glibly.
‘Message 2, Friday. 5:00pm’
Tim slips the Batarangs into his bag with his suit. He sees the 6th batarang poking up from in between Oliver twist. Tim reaches up to pull the book out.
‘Tim… this is Jill.’
Tim stops. Why is his dad ‘s secretary calling. Jill’s broken voice ricochets out of the tiny land line speaker.
‘Your…’ Her words broke off with what sounded like a sob.
‘Jannet Drake was in an accident. Jack is with her now at Gotham general…’
Jill brakes off. Probably to brace herself for whatever she has left to say. Tim feels his blood turn cold. The book starts to shake in his grasp. This can’t be real.
‘she’s not in good shape… Your farther says the doctors don’t think she will~’
What ever Jill was saying got lost in the roaring of Tim’s own heart and screeching of his own aura. THIS CAN’T BE REAL!
The book clatters to the floor as Tim’s feet drag him to the kitchen. The kitchen where he turns on the radio. Franticly turning it to any station currently reporting the news. The chant of PLEASE BE ALRIGHT AND THIS CAN’T BE REAL, mixed and matched in his head. Was it the radio screeching or his aura?
‘Recent pile up has claimed 3 victims and 4 are in critical health as Gotham general. One of the patients’ taking treatment is one of the heads of Drake industries Jannet Drake.’
Tim felt the world feel like its tilting. Can’t be real. Kept its’ beet in his head. She has to make it. Tim forces himself to take a small, controlled breath. He can’t panic now. Not yet.
Tim starts looking for anything that could prove that his mother was okay. That she would be alright. He notices faint Burgundy like thin smoke trickle out form around a pair of gloves ink black gloves and keys. Jannet’s aura. They were her gloves. The gloves she almost always wore. She must have left them in the turn around. Tim snatches them up like a vulture.
The Burgundy smoke is too small to weak for it to be normal. But she is alive. That is something. Tim watches the aura flicker and twists up from the gloves. His hands clasping them like a lifeline.
Stay alive.
The smoke gets fainter.
Stay alive please.
Tim Aura circles him and the gloves like a guard dog. Like his own aura can stop the burgundy from disappearing. The aura feels like steam and garden hedges. The garden his mother loved.
Stay alive. Please.
The aura flickers and spits like a flame on a birthday cake.
Please.
The aura sparks up. A glimpse of hope forms in Tim’s chest as the Aura seems to get stronger.
Please.
The aura gets brighter. Larger. Tim feels his breath catch.
Please.
Please.
Please.
Tim can feel his own aura getting more frantic as the seconds ticked by. Jannet’s aura gets louder.
Please stay alive.
Tim blinks and the burgundy smoke blows out. Like a candle dropped in a bucket. It was gone. Tim was just clasping soulless black gloves. No speck, spark or crumb of his mother’s aura.
No.
Please no.
Tim feels his eyes begin to sting. As his hands and legs begins to shake. Tim can feel his lip begin to tremble.
He steps away from the counter. The radio still blaring some song Tim can’t seem to distinguish. Everything feels like it’s been dosed in water. Like everything else is under water. Everything comes off muffled even his own aura.
Tim feels his legs slowly give way slowly sitting himself on the cold tiled floor. The cabinets carved wood digs into his back. Tim pulls his knees in as his hands still clasp the traitorous gloves. As wet salty tears stain his face. As the tidal wave of grief hits him with all its force. Tim's head finds itself berried into his arms.
His sobs sending miniature shockwaves through his own darkening aura. The aura that both wraps around him in comfort and suffocation. Forming physical pools of orange, red and yellow stars that slowly themselves like shifting armer and walls.
Tim was lost in it all. So lost he didn’t notice the sky darkening. He didn’t notice the car engine stopping.
Or the key’s into door.
He didn’t take note of any of it until.
“Tim”
It was too late.
Tim looked up to see a silhouette in the doorway. Smoking grasping, fuming tendrils of his father’s aura. Of Jack’s aura.
His was a grieving to but it was replaced with a stronger emotion for the mean time. Shock.
Why? Tim questioned as he got up to notice the swirling sparks of his aura in physical form. Tim stumbled to his feet trying his best to pull the sparks in. Tim locked eyes with Jack to see shock turn to blood curdling rage. For the second time that day Tim feels panic grip at his heart turning his blood to ice.