Chapter Text
1. Some things are meant to be secret and not to be heard
It’s around midnight, the time when the bat family is usually on patrol, like today. Batman and Robin are patrolling together, and so are Spoiler and Black Bat. Leaving Red Robin alone.
Not that Tim minds - not anymore at least - he likes to be alone. He gets left with his thoughts and no one is there to judge him.
Maybe except Oracle, because she sees all.
Barbara Gordon, the daughter of Commissioner Gordon, used to be Batgirl. Then, long story short; she got shot by the Joker and got paralyzed. Tim winces at the thought. Barbara was so good about it though, she’s the strongest person - mentally - Tim has ever seen. Tim can’t even begin to imagine what it would’ve felt like. Ever since then Barbara has now become Oracle, and she helps the Bat-Family through the comfort of a chair.
Oracle knows that Tim needs some ‘me time’ so she doesn’t judge him. She doesn’t even question Tim when he says he’s going to shut off his comms for the rest of the patrol because she understands .
“Oracle. I’m going solo for the rest of patrol, so I’m gonna shut off my comms” He says through his earpiece. Barbara makes an ‘mhm’ sound, implying that he can, so Tim shuts off his line.
He gets on his bike, trying to think of a place to go. For some peace . He knows he isn't going to get any here since he’s way too close to the other bats. He needs to get away from them. Especially Bruce. He can’t be around him right now. He isn’t ready to face him just yet.
There’s some bad blood between them. It may be one-sided, but it’s still there.
The only place he can get away from them is...
Crime Alley
Too dangerous, Tim tells himself, but he has to. Maybe at the edge, he won’t notice you there, right? Tim decides that it’s fine, there are other places he could be. Maybe he isn’t even in Gotham?
All he can do is hope because the other bats have literally no way of tracking him . Although they can still track Tim, but he can't do anything about that for now.
As he rides to his destination, he feels the cold air on his face, causing his jaw to tighten. His cape flying up in the air.
The only sound that could be heard was the sound of his bike. Surprisingly quiet for a night in Gotham.
It’s strange.
Or maybe it just happens to be quiet because he took care of it.
He shudders at the thought. Be positive Tim, it’s just quiet because people are afraid of even going there.
He arrives at the spot in 15 minutes. Taking out his grappling hook from his belt, he realizes how utterly annoying his cape is. Maybe he should consider going for something without a cape and tight like Dick’s outfit. Tim snorts.
He knows why Dick wears that tight ass outfit, it’s just to make his ass more noticeable because the Robin costume did nothing for his ass.
It’s sort of funny how annoyingly self-aware Dick is. He knows the effect he has on people and because of that, he’s even more of a tease and flirt.
He uses his grappling hook to get on top of one of the highest buildings he can find. He aims it and then shoots as the hook flies up to the top of the building, and once it’s firm enough, he lets himself get up.
Once he’s up there, he decides it’s best if he keeps watching over Gotham while he does what he actually came to do. He sits on the edge of the building, his legs dangling in the air, the cold air on his face. He decides to take off his cowl because no one could actually really see him from this height anyway.
Once he’s sure enough that no one can see him, he takes out a pack of cigarettes .
He grimaces at the pain. He hasn't smoked all day, so he is bound to have a headache.
He sighs, rubbing his temple. It’s been a rough couple of months for Tim. It started when Bruce went missing and was presumed dead. Because of which the other bats had more ground to cover. Dick had come back from Blüdhaven and taken the role of Batman, which meant they could all go back to routine. But, Wayne Enterprises needed a CEO, since Bruce Wayne was missing. Damian, being the blood son, was obviously the obvious choice, but him being unfit and a child, didn’t help, so Tim was chosen. Being smart has its perks. At first, he could juggle being a student, CEO, and vigilante, but then it all became too much.
It was all too overwhelming. So much work, all the damn time. Tim couldn’t handle it anymore.
The only other members of the Bat-Family who are fit for running the company are either Alfred or Barbara. Alfred can't because the bats are always heading towards trouble, and so they get injured a lot, and because he has to keep watch over the house. Barbara can’t because she has no direct relation with Bruce Wayne. Not unless she wants to expose us all.
Tim hadn’t even realized that he had lit his cigarette, and started smoking. He was so lost in thought. It has become routine for Tim to smoke, so it is muscle memory by this point.
It started a couple weeks ago. Or was it months? Tim has no idea. But the cause of it was of course so much stress. From being a straight-A student, CEO of the world’s biggest company and solving cases as a vigilante.
Tim needed something to cope with. And he found a way, through drugs, smoking, and alcohol. Cliché bad boy much? Definitely, but as if Tim cares. He is logical, but sometimes even his brain needs rest, so he chose this path without thinking and now he can’t stop.
Speaking of Dick, he had gone back to Blüdhaven after Bruce came back. Ah yes, he came back. Yet, he still doesn’t want the media to know he’s back, so he isn’t taking back his company, resulting in Tim to blame his ‘condition’ on Bruce. Again, Tim is being irrational. But it’s the drugs talking. He might not be high right now. But, he’s addicted. And addiction doesn’t go overnight, he needs help, but he’s too afraid to ask.
Too afraid to be judged.
Sometimes, he wishes he could just...
Just...
Go back in time and never become Robin in the first place.
But, his parents would still die. He would be an orphan. At least this way Bruce adopted him. Though, he knows he’ll never truly be a Wayne. And Damian makes sure that Tim knows he’s not part of the family. He knows the Demon brat is just kidding, but he can’t help but take those things to heart sometimes because they are true.
He’s a Drake, not a Wayne.
Again, Tim is too busy thinking that he had completely ignored the sound of someone dropping on the ground behind him.
“Well well, look what we have here, one of the bat brats! I thought we had a deal that ya fuck off from my place and I’ll stay away from yours, so the hell ya doing 'ere replacement? “ A voice snarls from behind Tim. It sounds like it’s modified from a voice filter.
What surprises Tim the most, is that he didn’t even flinch at his voice.
Red Hood.
“Will you stop calling me ‘replacement’?” Tim sighs, not turning back. He grits his teeth.
“Aren’t ya bat brats supposed to be very strict with the law?” He says snorting , completely ignoring Tim’s question.
“What makes you think I’m breaking the law?” Tim snarls.
“You’re 17, even I know that, plus never knew you were such a hypocrite” Hood states. Tim doesn't have to turn around to see that Hood definitely crossed his arms.
Tim’s jaw tightens and his eyes close. An embarrassing memory resurfaces in Tim’s brain.
The last time Tim had an encounter with Hood was basically him trying to kill Tim, you know the usual. He had a dagger pressed against Tim’s throat and he was pinned against the wall. Tim knew he stood no chance against Red Hood, except for maybe Tim was faster, but right then, speed was no option. That’s when Tim blurted out; “You know you shouldn’t smoke, it can seriously kill you” and even though Tim is very embarrassed at the memory, it saved his ass because Hood burst out laughing, giving Tim enough time to escape.
Of course, Tim knew he wasn’t going to actually kill him. The effects of the Lazarus Pit had worn off by then, it was more like ‘get out of my way, but since I know you won't, I’ll make you regret it’ type of situation, Tim just didn’t want any broken bones or anything too serious to worry Alfred.
Tim shudders and then shakes his head back to reality, trying to make the redness on the bridge of his nose go away. “Why do you even know how old I am anyway?” Tim questions, as he pulls his cowl back on. “Thought you didn’t care about your replacement.” He turns around this time.
Hood was wearing his usual attire, a leather jacket, with a Kevlar shirt underneath, with a red bat logo. Wait, he has a bat logo? Tim had never really noticed it until now. Maybe he got a new shirt?
“Had to do some research on the guy who replaced me.” Tim could feel a smug smile forming on Hood's face, but he didn’t know why. “I found some interesting stuff you know, like who knew ya were my fanboy who took pictures of ME. Like, I always wondered who that cute kid was.” Tim’s face instantly goes red.
“Shit.” Tim curses under the breath.
“Why are ya 'ere?” He says, getting back to business again.
Tim sighs. “I-It’s Bruce… he, well, after he left I became CEO, and being a student and vigilante is already enough, but then also a CEO at 17! Like God damn, it just became too much pressure, and now he’s back and he won’t take back the company, and I’m so fucking pissed at him right now, and life’s just overall shit, I wanna go back to the Titans.” He confesses. “And now I’m here because well, the bats won’t come here. I can be here in peace. I didn’t think you would notice me, to be honest, it’s easy to smoke here on patrol. Trust me, I’d rather get drunk or high but man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.” Tim says, laughing with no humor.
Hood just stares at Tim for a while, before breaking the long silence. “What makes ya think I won’t tell the old man?”
“We have mutual hate towards him, for different reasons of course, but still hate, maybe you have more hate for him than me, but whatever. Plus, I know you know where I’m coming from.”
There’s a long pause again.
“Yeah yeah whatever replacement, I’ll give ya fifteen minutes, any more than that and I will shoot to kill.” He warns before taking out his grappling gun. “But don’t think for a second this makes us friends.” he says before he disappears.
Tim stares at the place Hood disappeared, in shock. That just happened. What the fuck?
Tim returns back to his apartment after patrol through the window he had left open to get in partially unnoticed. It's his bedroom. It's dark and cold, nothing he isn't already used to.
He undresses, taking off his Red Robin suit. He opens his wardrobe, taking out a plain white shirt and some blue trousers. He carefully puts his Red Robin suit in the secret compartment in his closet.
He opens the bedroom door, going outside into the also dark and cold hallway. From there he finds his way into another room. The moon illuminates just enough light from the windows to help Tim find the light switch.
The whole room instantly brightens, revealing Tim’s amazingly decorated kitchen and living room, courtesy of the one and only Stephanie Brown.
He walks into his grey and white kitchen, taking out a plate from a cabinet, before heading to the fridge to take out last night’s pizza. He sets down the box near the red roses on the counter, before taking out the 3 slices of pizza left and microwaving them.
He would’ve had something healthier to eat, like maybe a salad, but right now pizza is the only thing he has in his fridge because Kon was over last night, and he insisted on some pizza because Tim’s fridge was empty. Speaking of which, he needs to go shopping soon.
Taking out his secret stash of beer, he walks towards his couch, with a hot plate of pizza in the other hand. He sits down on the plain white sofa, making himself comfortable. He puts on ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ on his TV and starts eating and enjoying the film.
Sipping his beer, he occasionally replies to the Titans WhatsApp group chat. Something about Bart and this guy. Ed was it? Tim laughs at the erotic comments made by his fellow friends about Bart and Ed.
He is about to reply to something Cassie says when suddenly his phone vibrates, and his screen changes. Someone is calling him. Well more specifically, it's Barbara.
He takes a sip of beer, before replying. “Hey Babs, what’s up?”
“Hi Tim, how are you?” She asks. Tim couldn’t quite get what was going on, but there was something in her voice. Though, he has no idea what.
“I’m good, why?” He inquires. He was becoming weary of her intentions, even though she hasn’t said much.
"I need to talk to you about something.” Instantly Tim’s heart starts pounding. It felt like one of those moments when your parents say they need to talk to you, and you start questioning all your life choices.
Tim gulps. “Right now?”
“Oh no, no rush, don’t worry, maybe tomorrow at Wayne Enterprises?” She asks, calming some of Tim’s nerves, but still not all of them.
“Yeah sure, anyway, is that all?” He asks, impatiently.
“Yeah yeah, go to sleep kid. Bye” She chuckles, ending the call.
Tim sighs. Something is up, even if Barbara said there is no rush. Something doesn't add up. It feels wrong. But, what could it be?
Maybe something about that mission Bruce and Damian went on that made Babs so distraught? Yeah, that has to be it, right? What else could it be?
Tim shakes his head, turning back to watch the movie, and eating his food.