Disclaimer: Batman does not belong to me. I make no profit from this. Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger.
Author's Note: I just felt like writing some sort-of-almost-we-could-get-there-if-we-tried-a-little-harder bonding between Jason and Tim and this came out.
It's a nice day when Tim graduates from college. Everyone's there, Stephanie, Kon, Bruce...
Even Jason.
And Tim doesn't ask Jason why he's there, because he wants to just enjoy the moment. Maybe Bruce made him go, maybe it's one of those times that Jason genuinely wants to share a moment with Tim. He doesn't know.
He doesn't need to know.
Later, when Harper's passed out on the couch while Steph and Cass attempt to move her, Tim goes outside, his hands in his pockets and his eyes to the stars. Jason is there, too, an unlit cigarette hanging between his lips. Tim doesn't say anything, because he feels a sense of camaraderie being there with Jason, a feeling that he's almost certain to ruin with words.
And then Jason speaks up.
"So...Timbo."
"Don't call me that Jason," Tim chides, but he says it with a smile.
"Yeah, sure. You didn't think I would come, did you?" Jason is looking at Tim now, with one eyebrow raised curiously.
"No...I didn't."
"I wanted to. You know, to support you."
Jason moves closer to Tim, facing him and clasping one hand on Tim's shoulder.
"I know that I haven't really been...close to you, Tim," Jason's grip on Tim's shoulder tightens, and he shakes his head, "but it's not because of you, you know."
"Oh, I know. It's a lifetime of pent-up frustration combined with an intense hatred of Bruce caused by his refusal to share important personal information with you, leading to an overall unwillingness to interact with me in any capacity, especially personal."
"...Yeah, that's...kind of it, I guess."
"I mean, there's more specifically concerning Bruce's relationship with you as well as your reaction to seeing that I had taken over as Robin and-"
"Tim."
"Yeah."
"Shut your fucking mouth.
Tim notices the sound of crickets, suddenly, and shockingly, in the absence of words.
"That was kind of harsh, wasn't it?"
"Yes."
"I'm working on it."
Jason lets go of Tim's shoulder and walks away, pulling a lighter out of his pocket.