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Published:
2021-09-09
Completed:
2021-10-26
Words:
45,276
Chapters:
15/15
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1,833
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11,237
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3,538
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163,296

best laid plans

Summary:

Tim Drake knows that Batman needs a Robin. When Bruce and Dick aren't interested in what he has to say, Tim makes his way to the cemetery to say a few words to the boy he's trying to replace.

Tim has the chance to say far more than he expected when Jason digs himself out of his grave that night. Tim does his best to get Jason home to Bruce. The League of Assassins finds them first.

Notes:

Canon and I are passing acquaintances. Comics canon didn't even give Mrs. McIlvaine a first name. (If you can find a first name on record for Mrs. Mac, please drop it in the comments. I couldn't find a single hint.)

My take on League of Assassins culture is based vaguely on other fictional secret assassin societies and how one with a worldwide presence and a quasi-immortal leader might work.

Content warnings for the story (mild spoilers included): Brief depiction of DC's version of catatonia (Jason), brief mentions of body dysphoria (Jason's voice has changed, he grew taller and doesn't remember, and he doesn't understand some new reflexes from combat he was learning in a year and a half of comic-logic catatonia), single dissociative episode/flashback to Jason's death (warning at start of chapter), long-term kidnapping (Tim and Jason), threats of bodily harm and some actual harm, and general warning for Lazarus Pit rage

(See the end of the work for other works inspired by this one.)

Chapter 1

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

7:28 PM – Outgoing call: Bristol Livery Taxi Services

 

 

 

7:43 PM – Outgoing call: Bristol Livery Taxi Services

 

 

 

7:45 PM – Outgoing call: Bruce Wayne

 

“Bruce Wayne. Leave a message.”

 

“Hi, Mr. Wayne. This is Tim. Tim Drake. I—um—I know you don't want to talk to me, and I promise this isn't about what I was saying before. But I would really appreciate it if I could get a ride home. The taxi dispatcher won't send anyone and that other companies won't, either. He thinks it's a prank but it's not, I promise.

 

“I'm at the cemetery.”

 

 

 

7:46 PM – Outgoing call: Nora McIlvaine

 

“This is Nora McIlvaine. If you're hearing this message, I'll call you back when I can.”

 

“Mrs. Mac? It's Tim. I know that I'm only supposed to call for emergencies and I'm sorry to bother you. If you could come pick me up, I would really appreciate it. Please call me back if you can.”

 

 

 

7:47 PM – Outgoing call: Bruce Wayne

 

“You've reached Bruce Wayne, CEO of Wayne Enterprises. Please leave a message with your name and phone number.”

 

“Mr. Wayne, this is Tim Drake. I promise I won't show up at your door again if I can get a ride home. I'm still at the cemetery and my only other option is the bus, which I can still do, so if you can't leave in the next few minutes maybe you can meet me at the bus stop closer to your house. It's about two and a half miles down the road. Please call me back.”

 

 

 

7:49 PM – Outgoing call: Bruce Wayne

 

“You have reached the Wayne Residence. Please note that all press inquiries should be addressed through the Wayne Enterprises public relations department, the Wayne Foundation media center, or Mr. Wayne's attorney. Please leave a detailed message with your name and phone number. ”

 

“This is Tim Drake. I'm trying to get in touch with Mr. Wayne. It's not about what I said last time. Mr. Pennyworth or Mr. Wayne, if you're listening to this, please come pick us up—yes, Bruce. Yes, I'm trying to talk to Bruce, I promise—at the bus stop down the road. We should be there in about five minutes.”

 

 

 

7:52 PM – Outgoing call: Dick Grayson

 

“Grayson. Leave a message.”

 

“Dick—um. Mr. Grayson? I know you're probably in Blüdhaven but. Um. Would you please try to get in touch with Mr. Wayne for me? I promise I'll stop bugging all of you after this. I don't know how much to say over the phone but please call me back. Or ask Mr. Wayne or Mr. Pennyworth if they can bring a car toward the bus stop down the road. Maybe a car where they won't be mad about the upholstery getting messed up.”

 

 

 

7:55 PM – Outgoing call: Gotham Tip Line

 

“You have reached Gotham's anonymous tip line. Calls are not monitored in real time and your number is not stored in the system. For a fast response, please call emergency services at 9-1-1. You do not need to leave a name or phone number but will not receive a followup message without leaving a phone number.”

 

“This is a tip for Commissioner Gordon. I know that you work with Batman sometimes, sir, and there's a case he needs to know about. It's in Bristol. Please call him.”

 

 

 

7:56 PM – Outgoing call: Bruce Wayne

 

“Bruce Wayne. Leave a message.”

 

“Mr. Wayne? Tim Drake again. I didn't want to call 9-1-1 because. Um. You'll see, I guess, I'm calling them next and those calls are public record. Sorry. We're... um... half a mile from the bus stop and can't go much further. If you could—what?—no. No! Leave us alone, we—”

 

 

 

 

 

 

8:02 PM – Outgoing call: Timothy Drake

 

“This is Tim Drake. I promise I'll call you back as soon as I can. Please leave a message.”

 

“Tim? Tim, this is Bruce. I'm on my way.”

 

 

 

8:14 PM – Outgoing call: Dick Grayson

 

“Grayson. Leave a message.”

 

“Dick? I need your help. Please.”

Notes:

Bruce finds Tim Drake's cell phone almost two miles from Wayne Manor. The phone itself is broken into several pieces but Bruce manages to recover call records and the voice mail that Tim never heard. Bruce collects a recording of every voice mail that Tim left that night. The recordings are just part of a case file for Tim's unsolved disappearance.

 

 

Batman tracks down the taxi driver from Bristol Livery Taxi Services. The man refused a ride to a couple of pranksters at the cemetery, a nervous boy trying to get into his taxi with his mud-covered friend who stood there with a blank expression on his face. The driver told the kids to not try that trick again. His dispatcher agreed that nobody was going to drive all the way to the cemetery for some zombie prank.

 

Jason's coffin is empty. All evidence suggests that he dug himself out of his own grave.

 

There are no ransom demands for either boy.