Chapter Text
Tim Drake was many things, from his early years he was said to be a smart boy or so the house keeper before Mrs. Mac told him. Then she was fired when Tim caught her stealing some artifacts from his parents private collection but he likes Mrs. Mac. That was okay though his parents liked Mrs. Mac better and honestly Tim liked her more too. After all she was the one who convinced his parents that he was an intelligent child.
She lightly scolded his parents when she noticed they relied on her to take care of him along with the occasional nanny. When he was ten it was a good time for Tim, Mrs. Mac convinced Janet and Jack that Tim needed to spend more time with them.
That's when they saw how smart he really was and they agreed a normal education would waste his potential. It had been decided after some thought he could learn what was required of him through home schooling while they taught him about the business. By then his hobbies of following Batman and Robin on the news and any article he got his hands on since he was four took a hiatus. The few times he went out to take newspapers full of clippings ended within the same week it started during his time outside of boarding school.
He only had five pictures; one of Batman (though he blended in mostly with the shadows), two of the first now former Robin (Richard Grayson-Wayne), one of the new Robin (Jason Todd-Wayne), and a barely visible Batgirl (He's unaware of her identity but he doesn't need to know). Being overseas also made it easier to keep Batman's identity to himself not that anyone knew what Tim knew.
Being with his parents was nice, especially now that he felt less alone. It wasn't bad when they lived in a two story family house in Gotham, but when he was old enough, Tim was about five years old his mom decided she wanted to move back into the Drake manor. The place never felt full and as much as Tim loved exploring up until the point his parents picked him up for trips, he wanted them more than a house too large for one permanent resident. Before that they were constantly in and out the manor.
Once Tim joined his parents in their travels he got to learn more about them than he ever did as a toddler. Mostly because they enjoyed teaching him about Drake Industries and how running the company looked like. It was exactly as agreed upon too, no empty promise and no empty home. After all home was with them wherever they went. There were more words of love and no more feeling like he was put at arms length. No longer was Tim being left behind in his parents efforts of trying to mend each other.
He got to see the world with the two people he wanted in his life the most when he was younger. Tim had more pictures with them than ever before he had pictures of them too. Nothing he would see on a postal card but stuff he took with his own two hands.
This leads him to where he's at right now watching the news with his parents. "Jack, remind me was your favorite Justice league member Superman or Wonder Woman?" Tim smiled as his father entered the living room of the hotel room he and his mother were in. Tim sat closer to his mom peering to see his father dry his hair with a towel.
"Janet, if this has something to do with me mentioning Wonder Woman last week please save it for when Tim isn't in the same room." Tim giggled as his father groaned in a pitiful display of defeat.
He pointed at the TV on the channel that enjoyed to share all gossip of the hero's almost like a bad tabloid with the strangest range of coverage. "Dad, mom's asking because Wonder Woman was spotted with Superman on the news. Look, they were in Gotham apparently no Bat in sight they say he went outside of Gotham for something important."
His dad walked behind the couch standing near Tim and his mom. They listened in on the news anchor speak about the sighting then his dad spoke, "This looks like a bunch of made up conspiracy bogus to me." he chuckled.
Tim looked at his mom who fondly rolled her eyes, "Tim you go off to bed we'll be on the hike tomorrow in the morning for the new digging site." she ushered him off the couch following him not long after.
"Can I open my Christmas presents early?" Tim knew he was a teen, fourteen at that but he's always loved asking his mom that question since joining the worldly travels.
She smiled rubbing his cheek with a small chuckle, at first she didn't understand why he joked around the way he did but his mother was good at adapting. "Tim the earliest I'll let you open them is tomorrow night."
Tim grinned he already knew that but he nodded along running off to the second room inside the hotel suite.
When he made it to the room he looked into his backpack checking if he had everything ready for tomorrow. He happily put the backpack under the bed next to his suit case, Tim honestly couldn't wait for the hike. His parents mentioned how the first time they've been to Haiti was for a vacation before Tim was born. They loved their time here during the original trip and now it was the first time they're back with Tim in hand.
It took some time but Tim fell asleep looking forward to the next day.
Waking up in the morning with a groan Tim slipped out of bed slowly, he got ready then went to the kitchen. "Mornin' any breakfast?" He mumbled to his father who grunted tiredly.
Well that was a clear no. "Tim be a dear and check if room service left the food by the door! I ordered some an hour ago." His mom called out from the room she and father slept in.
"Okay!" He called back making his way to the door. When he opened the door he frowned. There was no food by the door but there was a tape. A cassette tape. Tim picked it up closing the door double checking he locked it. If this were Gotham Tim would have left it there and seen it as a sign to get out... but they were in Haiti so maybe it wasn't bad? Maybe he was being naïve, but his parents did mention that most places outside of Gotham were much kinder. Maybe this was one of those places? "Dad food wasn't there, but I found this tape." He held it up for his father to see.
Jack looked over with a brow raised as he took a sip of coffee he made for himself. "Hm, that's strange. Here pass that over." his dad turned on the TV and placed the tape.
What came next horrified Tim and Jack. One of Drake Industries partners and a long time friend of Jack was shown on the video inside the tape bloody beaten and weak. Tim had a flashback to the Grayson's death and held his father's hand who lightly squeezed it in response. Jack sharply inhaled as his eyes couldn't move away from the screen.
The man on tape was being beaten to death. Janet walked in the living room with a gasp, "Oh- Jack! Is that?" She swiftly made her way to hold him and Tim. She whispered words to them that Tim couldn't quite catch, he was locked on the screaming.
Then a voice spoke up, "Drake Industries if you wish to keep your bosses and their heir safe you will give me eight million dollars by Christmas night."
Tim noticed how both his parents froze. "Shit- Janet we need to leave now." Jack hissed.
His mom nodded taking Tim by the arm, "Tim grab my purse we have our papers and passports there. Everything else we leave behind." A cold sensation made itself known in his hands as he ran to get the purse. Tim felt the pumping of his heart when he made it to the door seeing his parents ready as if they were to go on their hike.
Janet smiled somehow able to hide her nerves taking Tim's hand making sure he was by her side. Jack was up ahead speed walking toward the fire exit of the hotel. They were high up in the hotel but with all the traveling and hobbies his parents picked up Tim never really was too far out of shape. His mom liked martial arts and his father preferred only boxing... Tim never felt so weak and child like until now. Not even when he was waiting at home for his parents to return from their trips made him feel so small.
He had his skateboard and camera yet there were no hobbies he had that would actively help him protect or defend like Batman or Robin.
Jack slammed the door to the exit open as they ran toward the rental car, then Tim felt something hit him from behind causing his vision to white out making him fall. He hit the ground hard as his mom yelled his name now attacking the one who knocked him down. His father Picked him up as he whimpered holding his head in pain.
"It's going to be okay Tim, we'll be okay." Jack reassured him, though it looked like it was more for himself than his son.
Tim weakly held onto his dad who threw him in the car locking the door and going back. Tim watched his father's back as he ran to his mom who was currently on the ground. He kept his eyes focused on the sight before his vision went black.
---
Tim woke up tied to a chair. Arms and legs bound tightly with the ropes digging into his skin. When he looked around to see his surroundings his mom weakly smiled at him muttering an apology for not protecting him well enough. His father was still out cold. "...Mom." his voice rasped weakly. They were in a cave and something felt so wrong in his heart with a flare that spiked out as he took in the facts all around him.
"Tim, I'm so sorry. I should have hired bodyguards. I thought we were safe, this hasn't happened in years. Not since you joined our travels." A tear slipped from his normally well put together mother. An ugly fear creeped up in his stomach, his mom the ever so strong woman looked battered and bruised. Something that he realized came from her efforts in protecting Tim.
"It's not you're fault mom." He whispered as the dull throbbing in his head grew stronger. Man what was used to hit him?
Jack groaned slowly waking up, "Honey- Tim." he snapped awake looking around. Tim smiled weakly almost like his mom did for him. His dad sighed defeated. Looks like he also knew just how bad things were looking...
Yeah.
They were probably going to die here. Not that Tim is at peace with this, he'd rather not die.
Not dying is a thing. Even if its outside of his current set of choices.
A man showed up but Tim's head hurt too much to listen but when his parents began shouting Tim looked up to see the man looming over him. He clenched his teeth right on time as the man punched his jaw. "LEAVE OUR SON ALONE!" His mom's voice shouted in a powerful yet desperately raw volume.
The man didn't stop hitting him though, and that's when it clicked. First the jaw, over the heart, the gut then a kick to his legs. Tim couldn't stop screaming this was just like the tape sent to them. He was being recorded in this moment. Disgust burned his whole body knowing he was just going to be another victim on a tape. Is this how people will remember him? Tim Drake the victim of a brutal kidnapping...
Slowly cracking an eye open he watched his mom weep and his dad grit his teeth shedding tears. Tim's head tilted back on the chair then the man pulled his hair lifting his head to face the attacker and kidnapper. He spat some blood soaking his gums into the face of this man who ruined his day and probably his life in the next few hours. Maybe it was the wrong thing to do... being helpless and all but he'd rather have something he could do against the perp within his control than just take things as they are.
His face got socked badly near the temple and over his eye. Wheezing as his vision danced Tim cried in pain. When would it stop? The man spoke to his parents but Tim couldn't understand in that moment either he had to be focused on breathing.
Next thing he knew a knife was being dug into his arms. He tried to move them but they stayed planted on the arm rest still bound tight. His parents were unable to help him as they shouted at the man with profanities he knew existed but never knew they would ever come out of his parent's very own mouths. They were very prim on keeping up images with people outside the family. The kind where you keep everyone at arms length but the people who are meant to be held close. Tim used to be at arms length...
The sharp pain made him screamed trying to move out of the chair to no avail. "Shut up brat!" The kidnapper lowly growled slapping his face.
Tim wailed unable to control his voice anymore. It didn't help his face got sliced twice by the cheeks then his mom shouted, "STOP! PLEASE- WE CAN GET YOU THE MONEY! WE ALREADY AGREED, JUST STOP!"
His eyes widened tears wetly flowing down his cheeks his vision blurring once more. No! He wanted to cry but he was gasping for air his chest rising and falling miserably. The man grinned and untied Tim, "very well. One wrong more and I'll finish him." The guy probably had henchmen that would be watching them.
Tim knew it didn't matter if he was correct because as soon as he was loose the man kicked Tim off his chair making him land face first into the dirt. He wasn't able to move though his leg numb and weak from who knows how many kicks and his arms far too bloody for any use. The man at least let his parents go to be by his side releasing them right after him from their very own binds. He groaned at the numb and raw feeling that felted etched into his skin.
His mom held him tightly her voice dry and crackly from all her shouting, "Tim. I'm so sorry." she cried out, "I love you so much. I should have held you much closer as a baby and never should I have left you alone in that manor." she weakly sobbed caressing his cheeks giving his forehead a kiss. "You are so important to me, I wish I known that sooner."
Tim felt a void form in his stomach, no. No, this sounded like a goodbye- why did this sound like a goodbye? He looked at his mom in tears. Her hands were growing cold as they shook. Her skin was more pale than it ever has been in years, not even in sickness had she looked like that. Tim hugged her back with weak arms while looking up, his mom had bloodshot eyes. They weren't like that before. They weren't like that. He knows because they've never been like that.
"Jack, ple-ase don't leave our son alone."
"Janet- dear," his father was on his hugging both of them with his chin resting over Tim's head, "Honey-" his voice cracked.
"Promise me Jack, don't lose sight of the mo...most im-important things in our life." she wheezed he felt her arm hold onto his father as he was squished between them.
"Mom." Tim choked out. They were fine earlier- what happened? She was alright earlier, did this happen because of Tim? No- no, no this was something else their kidnapper did something. He did something to her!
His mom placed a kiss on his head, "I... wish I could have seen y-ou grow up a....and see you be-become an adult. Tim, my wonderful baby boy. N-no matter wh..where you go o-or what you do I....I'll sup..port you all t...the way. I- I love yo-you ...b-oth s-so m-m...much." her gasps were wet as she sounded like her breath was running out.
Tim wailed in her arms as he stuck his head into her chest desperately keeping check of her heartbeat. This wasn't real- it couldn't be. It just couldn't be real.
When he stopped crying Tim didn't care, all he knew was that his dad wasn't responding to him after a while but he still felt his heartbeat over his back. "Dad..." He tried to call him again, no response.
Tim's eyes were closed hoping to feel his mother's warmth... But that was long gone along with her heartbeat. She was no longer breathing either, the air she gasped for desperately with a rattly wheeze much earlier had completely stopped... Tim also felt something in his hair. It smelled bad and it felt wet, but his own blood smelled strong enough to make his thoughts not stick around to think about the what's and ifs.
He had reason to believe it was vomit and a mix of blood when his thoughts were coherent enough to let the information sit with him. He squeezed his eyes together as the tears slowly fell. Everything hurt. Tim was sore. He wanted to cry more than he already did but he was so tired he swore his tears were going dry.
Then he heard shouting. Lots of shouting. Tim tried to get up but he was stuck in his mother's stiff arms and his dad's heavy arms. He whimpered maybe he should stay here. Who knows what was going on over there.
"B- I found them! I found the Drake family!" Tim frowned glad his face was hidden by his mother. The feminine voice wasn't familiar. Steps that were relatively quiet if not for the cave's echo made Tim self aware of the presence now much closer. "Shit-" she muttered. He felt his father's receding warmth slip away as he was no longer holding onto Tim, his dad was being pulled away.
He tried to find his voice to protest the action, please don't take my dad too. His heart squeezed from the agony, not him too.
"B! B! You have to get here now!" Tim's eye cracked open as he felt a finger on his neck. He took a sharp inhale at the out of place touch. She sighed in what sounded like relief, "Oh good you're alive kid."
Tim was too scared to move but a familiar albeit gruff voice spoke up, "Batgirl report." Batgirl? With Batman?
"Found the Drakes huddled around their child. I didn't want to assume the worst since I smell a lot of blood and there's quite a few puddles, but the situation I saw wasn't looking good B. The kid is alive, so is the dad albeit unresponsive and I haven't checked on the mom yet."
Tim looked up at Batman and Batgirl who were standing over him, his voice was weak, raspy and sore but finally he had found his words again. "She's dead... has been for a while." Both of their heads snapped down to see him with a flinch. Batgirl kneeled down slowly pulling him away from his mom he reached out trying to go back. "Please don't take me away from her." he dryly sobbed his tears no longer forming. "I want to stay with her."
He tried to get out of Batgirls grip but his body was far too weak for anything. Batman's usual voice sounded soft when his gloved hand took off some dirt on Tim's face, "Timothy- you need medical attention. You and your father need to go to the hospital."
His face contorted full of despair, "I don't want it." He knew what Batman stood for. He did and he knows very well not everyone can be saved.
But in this moment as Batgirl took him away he wondered; Why didn't Batman save his mom on time? Why was he too late for her and not Tim?
"It's going to be okay Timothy." Batgirl comforted him as his head draped over her shoulder. "we're going to help you." Her voice was gentle, "We stopped the man who got you. He won't be back, not under my watch."
Tim felt the pressure in his chest lighten, "Thank you." He muttered before he blacked out.
---
Looking out the hospital window was one of the most depressing things he has ever done. A police officer wanted to talk to him but the doctor taking care of him refused any visitors on the first two days. Christmas eve went by then Christmas day was almost over, Tim was alone for until Bruce Wayne showed up. He somehow was allowed in despite the doctor's orders. His mom would say the man threw his money around to get his way.
"Timothy Drake?" Tim looked up at the man with a neutral face. His hands gripped the hospital bed sheets that gave even less warmth to his body than his mother's cold corpse.
"Yeah that's me... it's good to see you Mr. Wayne." He muttered quietly. "Mom used to tell me how you two were good friends."
"Yes... that we were... Timothy, I was informed of your current situation and I flew over as soon as I could." the man paused with a frown so deep as he stared into Tim's eyes, seeing something that Tim couldn't. "I went to pick up the stuff in the hotel you and your parents were in, I found this in their room." He lifted two decent sized boxes wrapped in a green and gold paper.
Bruce placed them next to Tim and watched him expectantly. Tim looked at the man then back at the gifts, he picked up the one with his mom's writing on it. He carefully unwrapped it making sure not to ruin the paper, this is one of the last things his mom bought for him. He didn't want to lose it.
He smiled softly as the box made itself known, it was a tool kit for skateboards. Tim knew his mom wasn't a huge fan of his skateboarding but she allowed for it to continue since it was one of the few physical activities he was willing to take up for a hobby. She held out the importance of maintaining a clean image so he didn't get to do many tricks but... she still bought him this... He picked up the note that she left on it telling him to not go crazy with his modifications here on out and to not get permanent visible injuries as he was a Drake and there was a name to uphold.
He smiled wistfully she finally let up on the strict ridiculous safety standards... Dad probably had some influence for that one.
"You like skateboards?" Bruce's awkward voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Ah, uh yes Mr. Wayne I do." Tim not for the first time since waking up in the hospital wished he bled out in his mother's arms. He could easily take out the tubes connected to him to start the process too. However he ignored those thoughts to tend to the next gift.
He grabbed the box with the gift his father left for Tim and unwrapped it with just as much care as the first box. When he saw what was inside his smile grew. A camera, a newer model too. Not like his current camera which was his father's that he found in a storage room one time they returned to Gotham for the Gala season. Predictably the note his father had written was how he was getting much better with using a camera and it was about time for an upgrade.
Tim refused to cry over this. As much as it meant everything to him to have these gifts. "Thank you Mr. Wayne."
Bruce nodded awkwardly clearly unsure what to say. Tim knew his mother taught him how to read people for the sake of being a good heir, but honestly the stiff air around the older man made Tim really wish he was put into a coma instead of his father.
"Mr. Wayne... I'd like if you take the stuff from the hotel back to the Drake manor please along with these gifts... And as soon as my father is more stable I'd like to transfer him into a hospital in Gotham." This was a tall ask for someone as short as Tim in this moment, but really he'd rather be anywhere else in the world than being here in Haiti right now.
"Yes of course, Timothy I'd be glad to help you in any way that I can." The man sounded almost eager that Tim nearly shuddered. As much as he admired Batman this Bruce Wayne public thing was not it. Especially that Tim knew of that man's night life and his pre dropout era through stories his mom would share.
"Thank you Mr. Wayne."
A few beats of silence were broken by Bruce, "Tim do you have anyone to stay with?" Tim blinked. This man... This man was not the smooth man his father would talk about. He was currently the stiff man his mom would laugh over their conversations of her time in school.
He cringed internally as he lied through his teeth, "Yes I've contacted a few people yesterday. Once I'm out of the hospital I'll return to Gotham with them." Tim actually planned to go back alone, hold his mother's funeral then figure things out from there. A solid enough plan, plus his mom and dad had some documents in the Drake manor he had to go through. Stuff they left him in case of a situation where they were no longer around.
No one could have known it would be so early.
"I see if you need anything-" Bruce's phone began to ring, "Oh sorry," the man checked his phone before giving Tim a stupid gala smile. "I have to take this."
Tim groaned into his hands after the man left. He's fourteen and all this is happening so suddenly, there's no way he isn't emotionally repressing himself at the moment but damn did he want to start yelling. He looked at his heavily bandaged arms, he was told most of the cuts were going to scar. The doctor mentioned the slices on his face weren't going to scar as badly but they likely would be noticeable at a conversational distance.
Bruce entered the room as Tim poked at a loose part of the wrappings, "So sorry for the wait Tim. Looks like I need to head back to Gotham." He held out a card for Tim that he reluctantly took, "If you need anything do call me and I'll make myself available as soon as I can. Merry Christmas." Tim nodded thanking the man as he rushed out.
The room's cold setting made itself present once again. He felt so pathetic and incapable. His dad was in the next room over, so close yet unavailable with his current state.
He needed to get out as soon as he can.
Wait- Did Bruce (Batman) just wish him a Merry Christmas?
Tim laughed bitterly. Oh the irony.