Chapter Text
Tim was ready to go through the boom tube.
It would take him into another Universe but Tim really didn’t care, he had lost everything here anyway. The time stream had entirely collapsed while on his crusade as Red Robin.
This phenomenon is believed to have instantly killed more than half of the world’s population. It was a weird reality-bending experience, as though reality fell through.
Luckily Tim managed to survive this purge, but calling it luck was…a bit..
He never got to reunite with Bruce.
Never got to reconcile with Dick.
Never got to bond with Damian.
He’d never see Jason, Cass, and Alfred ever again.
Of course, Tim had to be the only one left. He was always on his own anyway, the universe made it pretty clear it wanted it to stay that way.
Permanently.
But Tim Drake couldn’t give a fuck.
He didn’t know if this was only his universe thing or if it was preventable in other universes. Tim had to take the chance, if there was a chance he could be happy with everyone in at least one dimension.
Tim wanted to preserve that version of himself.
And so he took a step inside the boom tube.
- Find Bruce
- Explain where he is from and why he’s here
- Help research
- Stop the Time stream from collapsing entirely for all other universes.
- Go back home.
Simple and short.
Tim took along his gear and a few t-shirts, he wasn’t sure if the other universe him would like sharing.
His body felt weird as it warped and twisted. Normally boom tubes didn’t feel this nauseous, he guesses it's because of the distance. An increase in distance means an increase in nausea…
Suddenly, he appeared in the boom tube located in the Batcave…not his Batcave.
Looks like he came at the perfect time, Bruce, Dick, Jason, Damian, and Alfred were all in the cave. It was probably a patrol debrief if mainly everyone was here. Just missing Cass and him.
Everyone was in their civvies which probably wasn’t the smartest idea. Tim’s Bruce never let anyone wear civvies in the Cave, he almost snorted when he eyed Jason in pajamas.
“Bruce..he just walked out of the boom Tube…” Dick’s brow was raised
“...he did…”
Tim awkwardly shuffled out, it was pretty embarrassing since he was the only one in full gear.
“Hello, I’m Tim Drake from another universe.” He gave a forced smile and waved stiffly. He hadn’t seen any of them in so long…
“Who is this Tim Drake? Do you know him, Father?” Damian crossed his arms his eyes furrowing in suspicion
“You..you don’t know me?”
“Can’t say I've heard about you..” Jason gave a low whistle “What? you suppose to be a hotshot or something?”
Bruce stood up from his chair and walked over to Tim gently as if he was approaching a frightened animal.
“Let’s let him explain, would that be okay Tim?”
Tim’s eyes softened, he was untensed.
Oh how much he missed Bruce, His life had truly gone downhill ever since his adoptive father was lost.
“Of course. You all deserve an explanation, seeing as though you have no idea who I am.” It kind of stung to admit Tim wasn’t a part of the Bats in this universe, guess he was never essential.
He collected himself, straightened his back, and started to explain. He explained that the Time stream had collapsed, and then the aftermath.
Everyone disappearing. Everyone is probably dead.
The other’s eyes widened and their mouths opened but closed quickly. Bruce had been the one to break the long silence.
“That’s a lot to take in..are you positive the same thing could happen here?“
Damian interrupted with a scoff
“Father, how can we trust this fool? He could be a villain from another universe for all we know.”
It was a fair assessment, they didn’t know Tim anyway. They probably shouldn’t easily believe the brief description he gave of himself.
“ I used to be Robin, I now go by Red Robin. I’m associated with Batman…at least in my universe..”
He told them but it would be hard to believe. He understood that. It was a logical point.
But Tim could still feel the sting in his heart.
“Brat’s right, What if it’s some kinda facade?” Jason added but Dick was suspiciously quiet.
“You’re not showing up on the Batcomputer.” Bruce’s eyes gilded through the many searches
“My full name is Timothy Jackson Drake…” Wayne.
“Still nothing.”
“Do you have neighbors?”
Dick finally spoke up “We don’t have any…” his eyes then met Tim’s. It looked..soft.
Tim ignored the warm feeling and furrowed his eyebrows
“Then I guess I don’t exist at all. At least here. In my universe I live at Drake Manor, it’s right next to Wayne Manor.”
Damian rolled his eyes “How believable, you just happen to be our nonexistent neighbor from another universe.”
Fair.
“Look, I'm telling the truth. Is there any way I could prove I’m associated with you guys?”
An odd silence filled the air.
Tim shifted uncomfortably, he tried not to look suspicious under the analytic looks.
And like always, Alfred came to the rescue.
“Which one of us are you closest with? Maybe you could tell us something only family members would know?”
Tim’s eyes burned at family members. Was he one?
“That’s a good idea, Alfred.” Dick smiled sheepishly
Jason and Damian both gave approving nods.
Bruce grunted in response.
But Tim stood there mouth agape.
Who was he the closest to??
He should say Dick right?? But he couldn’t bring himself to. Not after their last interaction.
Dick calling him insane. taking away Robin.
It didn’t feel right anymore.
His eyes fell and with a low whisper, he answered.
“I…I don’t know if she’s here or even in this universe..”
“Just give us a name, enough with the theatrics.” Damian huffed
“Cassandra Cain. I’m closest to her.”
“Cass? Well you’re in luck, she’s coming to Gotham tomorrow morning” Jason yawned
Of course, Cass would be here, she was important.
“It is quite late, therefore you should all go to bed. We’ll continue this with Miss Cassandra tomorrow.” Alfred reminded
“Who’ll take the first watch?” Damian eyed Tim with suspicion “We can’t possibly let him roam around.”
“Let me.” Dick gave Tim another soft look which made his face warm-up
Bruce opened his mouth to offer himself instead but quickly became tight-lipped when Alfred gave him a look.
“Alright, let us know if anything happens.”
Tim forced himself not to frown. It was like he was a prisoner, he knew they were being cautious, and rightfully so but it still hurt.
Dick nodded and waved everyone good night as they all headed upstairs.
“The med bay has some beds we could crash at.” Dick yawned and stretched walking right over there
Tim looked at him. Dumbfounded.
“What? You don’t actually think I’m gonna stay up all night watching you right? Hey, the others might be skeptical but I trust you.”
“You do?” Tim’s voice was quiet and in disbelief, Dick looked at him warmly with a nicely placed smile
“Of course, the way you look at us with relief and hope…I at least knew you cared for us. You’re my brother, whether you’re from another universe or not.”
Tim’s face must’ve flushed because Dick chuckled.
My brother.
How long since he’s heard anyone say that? It felt nice.
“I do have a question though..” Did Dick look shy? He awkwardly scratched his nape shuffling around.
“Go ahead.” Tim tried to give him a reassuring smile
“Were…were we close? I know you said you were the closest with Cass but…”
“Yeah, we were, after Cass I think…I think I trusted you the most.” Tim hid his face, he didn’t want Dick to read the uncertainty on it
It was probably true though. I mean the other options were Jason and Damian, and both of them disliked him to an extent. They tried to kill him for fucks sake.
Dick looked like he wanted to ask more questions but he could see how tired Tim looked. Dark circles underneath his eyes, messy hair, and grim-looking face.
Not the signs of someone willing to be interrogated
“That's good to know, but Tim get some rest okay? Like some serious rest, you look…”
“Horrible I know.” Tim genuinely snorted and bit back a chuckle “Don’t try and pull your punches, Dick.”
Dick rolled his eyes “Just get some sleep Tim, good night.”
“Good night Dick.”