They aren't going to make it. Tim knows they aren't going to make it. In fact, he honestly doesn't expect them to try. Damian is on the other side of the city, and he's the one they'll be going after. Tim knows that he's on his own - once again. He also knows it shouldn't bother him; knows that he should have expected as much, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't still cause a knot to form in his chest at the very thought.
It's okay, though. Damian deserves to be saved, and it's not as though Tim is helpless - even if the chains wrapped around him are far too heavy and tight for him to get out of. He's sure that he'll think of something. He always does. Never mind his splitting headache, the blood gushing into his eyes from the head wound, his cracked ribs, and all of his other injuries, because Tim will find a way out of this. They're expecting no less of him, and Tim refuses to let this be another failure - another reminder that he isn't good enough.
He struggles in his bonds, knowing that it'll do no good; knowing that he's probably not getting out of this one, but fighting anyway, because Tim doesn't give up - at least, not easily. His struggles pause, however, when his vision swims and a sudden intense wave of nausea hits him. Tim doesn't get even a second to compose himself before Dick's voice sounds in his ear. "We're almost to Damian's location. How's your escape going, little brother?"
Tim swallows twice before answering. "Fine, don't worry about me." He's not sure why he felt the need to tack on that last bit. He's sure Dick isn't that worried about him right now, anyway.
"How long until you're out?" Dick huffs into the line almost breathlessly. Clearly, Dick is making his way toward Damian's location as quickly as humanly possible, if he's that winded.
Tim doesn't know how to answer; doesn't know how to tell Dick that he's not getting out this time - that the timer is ticking, and these are going to be their last moments together, so he doesn't bother. Instead, he ignores Dick's question completely. "How long until you reach Damian?"
"We're there now. Are you out?" There's the sound of metal scraping metal and Dick heaving something large and heavy. "Damn, your cell was the same set up, right? How the heck did you move this thing? I can barely shift it with B's help, and I know I bench press more than you, no matter how much you've grown."
"Don't worry about it. Just get Damian." Tim makes sure that his voice is steady and even when he speaks. He doesn't need to make Dick distraught; however, it doesn't seem to help.
"Tim, you are out, right?" He can hear the sudden panic in Dick's voice, and Tim hates himself for whatever gave him away.
He doesn't want to outright lie to Dick…not now, but he also doesn't want to distract them from rescuing Damian. "How's Damian doing? Are you guys clear yet?"
"Tim, answer my question. Are you out yet?"
Tim sighs to himself and watches as the glowing red numbers tick down. He'd laugh and call it cliché, but…well; he's not really in the position to mock their latest adversary. "Focus on the task at hand, Dick. You don't need any distractions."
"You are not a distraction." Dick stresses the word 'not', and it almost makes Tim want to smile. The acrobat is always trying to help Tim's self-esteem. He thinks it's one of the man's best qualities. "Now get out of there!"
"I'm sorry, Dick." Tim keeps the sob out of his voice, though he can feel the sting of tears he won't let fall.
"For what?" Dick's confusion almost drowns out the fear and anguish in his voice…almost.
"I tried. I can't. It's not going to happen this time."
"What? Why…why didn't you call one of us? We could have…"
"No, you couldn't have." Tim immediately cuts him off. He can't sit here and let his last moments with the acrobat be Dick doubting Tim's decision. "You said it yourself. The barricade was too heavy. You know we were too far apart, and it was going to take both of you to save him. It had to be this way, Dick. You know that."
"There's no way…there is absolutely no way you could have known that. Why didn't you call, Tim? Why?"
"Because you would have chosen Damian, anyway. I'm expected to find a way out. I'm always expected to find a way out, and I'm so sorry I failed. I'm sorry I wasn't better, but Damian's safe and that's all that matters."
Tim doesn't get to hear Dick's reply before the bomb detonates.
The End
