Glad people are reading this. Like I said before, still haven't read the series nor played the game, but there's a five year time jump. We'll just assume nothing dramatic happened on the boys' end for a while. To others though, a lot has happened. *snicker* Enjoy the feels!
2
Five years later
Tim rubbed his forehead, trying to get rid of the headache that came with his eyes inability to focus lately. He needed to get glasses, more than the corrective lenses in his cowl. He still had plenty of money left over to take care of that, but things had changed a lot since Superman's régime began. Every single hero who did not side with him were wanted felons. Red Robin hadn't declared a side, but he never went against Batman's orders either. Mostly he kept to himself, occasionally making appearances every once in a while. Proved he wasn't dead at least.
Batman and Batgirl were hard to get in contact with these days, same with all the underground crime fighters. The Arrows were barely holding their own, gathering as many freedom fighters as they could while the Bats worked as intelligence officers. Well, the Bats that were left.
Black Bat was seen once in a blue moon, giving them details on certain 'gods' goals, but she took risks no one else could so she didn't stick around for very long. Stephanie had retired, completely. No more cape and cowl, she was a refugee volunteer. Batman and Batgirl were in the war head on. Catwoman participated for her own ends of course, but she was still an ally. Pretty much all their other clan members were dead, including Alfred.
Jason was MIA.
Tim pulled himself from his gloomy thoughts and tried to remember where he was in his project. He'd been working on it for five years, and he was certain he was almost done. The technology was experimental, but after comparing it to other people's tools and going over the theorems and equations a thousand times, he couldn't see a way it could fail.
Unfortunately there was one piece missing for this to work. And it was in the heart of Superman's territory.
A groan escaped his lips as he ran his hands through his hair. This was not happening. So close to completion and the big bad was blocking him. "What a headache..."
"Then maybe you should take a break."
Stiffening slightly, Tim jerked around and spotted the source of the voice. A small smile accompanied by a great deal of relief, came to his features. It was Bruce, outside of costume. It'd been a long time since he saw him in casual wear. Not since...
"I'd like to," he admitted, "but I'm nearly done. When did you manage to find me?"
His adoptive father walked up to his work table, glossing over the numerous other projects he had worked on. Boards and papers were littered with numbers and possibilities, but none directly revealed what he was planning. "Were you really trying to hide?"
A smirk played on the edge of his mouth. "Maybe not from you, but I doubt Superman and his posse would let me go around unchecked. So, what brings Bruce Wayne to my humble hole in the ground?"
Bruce's still face as he looked away started to scare him. Why was he here like this anyway? Because no one thought of him as a threat? His identity was known to the regime. Only the common folk didn't know who he was. They even forgot the famous Bruce Wayne in all the struggles going on around them.
"Batman's being hunted," he explained simply. "Bruce Wayne isn't, at least not at the same level. I couldn't risk you being discovered by someone else on accident."
"And..." Really, it was pulling teeth getting this man to open up. And this was after over a decade of knowing him. Still, even though they'd reconciled and were on the same side most of the time, Bats just didn't open up to people anymore. Dick had been the last to really know him. Selina was a close second, which made Tim and Barbara a joint third. It was so much easier talking to him before Metropolis, even when Red Robin was in preverbal exile.
Bruce still wasn't looking at him, proof he had bad news. Eventually he spoke. "I ran into Damian."
Hearing this, Tim's blood froze. Damian. The true black sheep of the family. No, he wasn't family anymore. After Dick's death and the kid ran off, Bruce completely disinherited him. Jason had a chance to return to the family if he wanted to, but that road was completely gone for the demon.
"I see." He leaned back into his chair, waiting for the entire story. Bruce wouldn't have risked anything, let alone Tim's life, just for that smidge of information. "His status?"
"Grown up. Superman's zealot. And..." Carefully controlled rage entered his voice. This was the part he hated most. "He calls himself Nightwing."
If his insides were ice before, they were forever solid now. The nerve of that kid...
"Nightwing was originally a Kryptonian legend," the man tried to reason, but he was clearly upset. "His costume design is similar to... It's red instead of blue, and better armored. His methods are lethal."
"He's still alive I take it." That was something he questioned for years. Was the demon still alive? Where was he now? He hadn't made an appearance they knew of for years. Cass was trying to find out what happened, but some secrets were very well kept in the conclave.
Reluctantly, his father nodded. "Our fight was interrupted. All I could get from him was that Superman raised him. He's completely brainwashed Tim. No hope left."
"If things hadn't happened back then," Tim questioned out loud, "do you think we could have turned him from that way of life? Talia did a real number on him growing up."
A contemplative silence perforated the room before Bruce smiled bitterly. "I guess we'll never know."
He looked at Tim in the eye for the first time since his arrival. "I thought you should know in case you happened upon him. Keep your head down until we can figure a way out of this mess."
A slight smile graced the young man's features as he reasoned things out. "So that's why you don't beg me to join you in the field or get upset about not seeing me for weeks at a time. You want to keep me safe, your last remaining male heir you trust to uphold your castle when you're gone."
"In part. Tim." He leaned over, placing a hand on his son's shoulder as he spoke to him, eye to eye. "I trust you more than anyone else in this world. I have a feeling things are going to escalate further soon. I don't know what is going to happen next, but soon this nightmare is going to end. Please, stay out of sight and stay safe until it does."
The young man watched his father calmly, letting in the warmth of his subtle love seep in. They were so similar even if they weren't related by blood. Both were surrounded by tragedy. Both had suffered greatly. Both still kept their morals and fought the good fight. And even though they kept their distance to protect themselves and each other, both relied on the other's existence to keep going.
Slowly Tim nodded. "I'll do what I can Bruce."
This seemed to be enough for him. For a brief moment it felt like they would hug, like they once had many years ago, but neither moved to do so. Hugs reminded them of Dick. Thinking of him hurt. They didn't want to hurt anymore. Instead Bruce gave his shoulder a tight squeeze and turned to leave.
Slightly amused, Tim spoke. "That's it? No asking what I've been working on all this time? No ultimatums?"
"You're old enough to know what's right and wrong Tim," he stated as he walked away. "And I stopped asking about your projects years ago. Not worth the headache. I'll send over a new pair of glasses and some aspirin in a few days. And get some rest. You look worse than me."
Chuckling lightly, the young man turned back to his work. One piece left. Superman had it. Damian, the new Nightwing, was probably guarding it.
Well, that suited him just fine. He'd been wanting to settle things with the demon for a long while now.
A/N: Just as an FYI, I started writing this before the rumors of Batgirl appearing were out there. She's not in the comics (yet) but she is in the game and I had made BG Barbara before that. Sometimes I love predicting their next move. Doing the math, I placed Tim at 24-25 here, making Jason in his late 20s. Bruce... pushing 50? Who knows. Hope you're liking it and leaving reviews. *bats eyes* Poll's still up. Until tomorrow!
