Chapter 3
Dick scowled at the new Red Robin suit's design. He hadn't commented when he'd seen the original, not with Tim being so enthusiastic about it. The modifications he had implemented so the armor would fit him had been minor.
Yet… Dick didn't like it. At all.
"What now?" Damian voice sounded annoyed, which he didn't have much right to be considering he was wearing Robin's color for one last check before the suit being green-lighted.
"Nothing."
Somehow, even at 10, Damian managed to make his silences heavy. Dick sighed.
"It has a dark edge. It doesn't look like Tim at all."
"Well it had been meant for Todd to begin with," Damian commented dismissively.
Dick shrugged. To be honest, he didn't manage to identify what was bothering him so. Tim was growing up and had been forced by circumstances to leave the Robin persona behind him. He had every right to claim darker looks. Nightwing suit itself had been very different from Robin's, even if the first one Dick had worn had been… well, there was a reason why people referred to it as 'Discowing'.
But then, he had been the one to design it. Leaving Robin behind had meant finding his own path, becoming an adult, standing on his own. He couldn't just have stepped in someone else persona at that stage.
Maybe that was the problem. Not that he could discuss that with Damian. The brat had barely calmed down after receiving the title, mocking Tim and asking every day if he was finally ready to leave.
No, it wasn't fair; Damian's his comments had lost some of their bite. Dick was even wondering if him asking about Tim's trip wasn't more to make sure they'd start looking for Bruce as soon as possible rather than because he actually wanted Tim and Jason to leave.
"I thought he'd find a name for himself, is all," Dick finally said.
Damian stared at him, for long enough for Dick to raise his eyebrows in a silent question. The kid scoffed.
"He is doing so. Todd isn't as good as father, obviously, but he has trained with him and with teachers hand-picked by mother. Drake could do much worse than inheriting a name he wore."
"It's not the same as finding his own," Dick protested gently.
This time, Damian looked surprised, his eyes on Dick turning inquisitive. After a few seconds of silence, he finally voiced something Dick had never thought about:
"There is weight in old names. Not everybody wants to make his own."
Dick stared at this kid who had come all the way to Gotham to take Robin's cape, so sure it would be his first step to become Batman – a title he thought would certainly become his when he'd proven himself worthy. Of course Damian would find inherited titles important.
"It's not the same," Dick mused. "Red Robin isn't something most people even heard about."
"Says the one wearing the name of some dead kryptonian myth."
This time, it was Dick's turn to gape.
"How do you even know that!?"
Damian snorted. "I did my research."
"Still not the point, though. I got the idea from Superman himself. Even with Jason helping us now…" Dick didn't finish his sentence, not wanting to voice out loud that Jason didn't bear comparison.
Damian only shrugged, going back to strapping the gauntlet to his small wrists. "Drake could do much worse," he just repeated.
Dick blinked. Because… Damian was actually right, wasn't he? Thinking back, it was easy to remember Tim had looked up to Dick himself back when he'd started wearing the cape, but also to Jason. The dead boy, the Robin Tim had used to follow all around Gotham to take pictures, worshiping Bruce and him from afar. He had even used to talk to Jason's case when he thought nobody was watching.
So maybe even now, after everything Jason had done… Maybe Tim still managed somehow to see Robin in him.
Dick went back to testing his cape fabric, humming softly. Jason and Tim traveling together might not be such a bad idea, in the end.
###
Traveling with Jason was a terrible idea. Tim still couldn't believe he'd gone for it but – well, things had unfolded that way and the relief at Jason believing him weighted in the balance.
Still. His recent losses must have been harder on him than he'd thought if he ended up deciding that the Red Hood was a decent traveling companion.
To be fair, Jason had let him make their travel plan, merely giving some suggestions. It was… weird, somehow. Tim was used to follow people, except with the Titans but – that was different. Jason was from the family, and older, and authoritarian. Seeing Jason Todd follow his lead… Tim couldn't decide if it was odd or gratifying. Probably both.
Jason had still taken the pilot seat without asking him, so. That allowed Tim to review what little leads he had during their first flight. Maybe it was even the reason why Jason had done it; Tim hadn't asked. There was no need to antagonize him for such a detail. He was still the Red Hood, after all.
Tim fidgeted in his new costume. (He didn't have to wear it in the plane, but he had to get used to it.) Red Hood was a name that had some weight. Dick was now Batman, at least until Bruce came back; and Damian Robin, the brat. Tim himself had just become Red Robin. But Jason…
"What is it?"
Tim fought back a grimace. He shouldn't think too hard when in presence of one of his – brothers? They noticed too many things.
"Nothing."
"There is something, though."
Tim refrained from telling him to concentrate on the drive; the autopilot was on and the sky was clear. He'd never hear the end of it if he was the one to start a fight.
"It's nothing, really."
Jason rolled his eyes. "Come on. Spit it out."
Tim grimaced. There was a very fine line between things that would amuse Jason and things that would offend him and, sometime, he felt like an equilibrist trying to figure out which was which.
All right, all the time.
"Just remember that you asked for it," he said in the end, because refusing to answer Jason was also a good way to anger him. Everything was a good way to anger him. He just got less murderous, lately. Or at least he tried. "It's just… Now that you're back – so to speak – not that I have any right to tell you who's family or who isn't since you were there before me…"
Jason waved him forward and Tim continued, carefully. "Anyway, now that you're back in whatever we are. Why stay the Red Hood? I mean. I can understand some of the reasons why you chose the name in the first place. But why keep it now? Why not change it to something less… offensive, I guess? Or more in theme? I'm sure Dick already thought about Jaybird," he finished, holding the joke at the end like an olive branch.
To his surprise, Jason didn't snap something back at him right away. He looked like he was actually thinking about it, which was more than Tim had expected. Jason's first words, likewise, surprised him.
"Do you know why Bruce is Batman? Of all things?"
"Yes of course," Tim answered without thinking. "Because he was afraid of bats."
"Exactly."
Tim's eyes widened. Oh. Of course.
Jason was staring at the sky outside, not looking at him as if he didn't care, as if he hadn't just dropped such a personal piece of information. Tim blinked. He was trying, wasn't he? Two weeks ago, he'd never have answered that question.
Two weeks ago, Tim wouldn't have had any reason to ask.
"Thank you," Tim said, after a while.
Jason nodded. For some reason, Tim felt something unknot in his gut. They weren't any closer to finding Bruce; even if he was alive, finding him would be difficult and could take a long time. Yet… Maybe they'd manage without him, for a little while.
###
Moving around Gotham, Damian found himself almost satisfied. The Robin suit he had modified was much more armored than the pitiful excuse for a costume which had been worn by Drake. In addition to the protection, it had real gauntlets with Batman-like spikes, flexible boots and a large hood, to allow him to disappear in the shadow without constraining his movements.
Of course, he was not working alongside his father, as it should have been. Instead, there was Grayson. He had made Batman's armor lighter, removed some of the weapons, and was still struggling with the cape. Damian knew as much because he saw him train and curse about it in the Cave. Here, out in Gotham, the difference was barely noticeable.
So at least, Grayson wasn't a totally pitiful replacement; he would do until Damian gained enough skills to take the cowl for himself, as was his due.
They stopped on the top of a building, right in front of the Penguin's Iceberg lounge, just to observe it for a minute. Damian stayed poised and silent while Grayson used the cowl to scan the interior of the building.
The Robin title had been his due as well, of course. He had known ever since arriving that it would be his, eventually. It had just taken more time for him to get in than he's initially expected.
Yet for some reason, he felt relieved. And a little bit proud.
"What do you think?" Grayson asked, his too-young, too-cheerful voice contrasting with the Batman persona. "Should we let them see some cape, to put the fear of Batman to their hearts?"
"If they aren't afraid, then they're fools."
"They're criminals in Gotham, I'm pretty sure they qualify as fools."
Damian nodded gravely. "Then, by all means, we should."
Grayson grinned, the fool. But then, when he deployed his cape to glide toward the next building, the smile became predatory – and Damian couldn't help but to imitate him.
Batman and Robin were back. The criminals should better be scared.
###
Jason found the situation rather ironic. When he'd come back from the dead, he'd wanted nothing more than make Bruce suffer – than to kill him – than making him pay for everything the old man had done wrong.
And now, he found himself traveling with a Robin – a Red Robin – his Robin – to help bring him back to life. The fact that Bruce probably was not dead in the first place didn't count.
It should feel wrong. It should trigger him all the way into insanity – and sometimes, it did. Jason could feel his hands tremble, his breathe accelerate. He knew the signs. Maybe he'd manage to stop the crisis before it blossomed, maybe…
"I need a break," Tim declared, closing his computer.
They were in a small hotel room in Cairo where they had retrieved an engraved stone which Tim had been analyzing for the past four hours. From the look of it, there was nothing left to do but to wait for the computer's output, which would likely take a few more hours.
Jason tried to breathe in. his throat felt constricted. The rage was flowing in his vein for no fucking reason. He couldn't just be bored, he was better trained than that!
"Jason," he heard Tim call, and from his cautious tone, it was not the first time.
"Yes."
Fuck. His voice was rough. He swallowed.
"Do you want me to leave?" Tim asked.
Dread blossomed in his chest, constraining his throat further. He could barely rasp in some air. He must have done something, though, because suddenly he could feel a hand on his shoulder.
"It's alright. I'll stay. Do you think you'll need physical exertion, or…?"
"Not. This time," Jason managed, feeling suddenly like laughing. His Robin was carefully not asking if he wanted to break his face. "Might change. Idiot."
"That makes two of us. Let's sit on the ground, maybe? And I can take us a blanket?"
Jason didn't decide consciously to grip the replacement's wrist, yet his hand closed around it all the same. It took him a couple of seconds to realize he was squeezing it, and a few more to manage to let it go. He left a red mark behind.
"Just the ground then," Tim commented philosophically. "Is that ok?"
"Just shut the hell up," Jason growled.
They slipped to the ground together. It helped, somehow, feeling it underneath him. He blinked and found himself lying down entirely, Tim alongside him. He was still clutching his wrist.
It had to hurt. It was so thin, frail looking; with that pale skin it would bruise for sure. People had to underestimate the kid all the time. He'd grown, lately, and Jason knew that slim frame hid hard muscle, but other people didn't. Tim had narrow shoulders and it was now clear he wouldn't get much taller.
"You're staring."
Jason flinched. He forced himself to blink, slowly. Then, remembering faintly his previous train of thoughts, he managed – not to let go but – to loosen his hand's grip.
"Concentrating is hard," he said, the admission hurting less than he'd expected.
"How long does it usually lasts?" Tim asked, efficient as ever, not a trace of judgment in his voice. A good little Robin. Red Robin. His Robin.
Jason snorted. Good. Amusement was a good sign.
"Jason?"
"It varies. This one doesn't seem too bad."
Tim loudly did not answer.
"What?" Jason inquired.
"Nothing."
"We went through this already, birdie."
"I'm wondering what would be worse," Tim sighed. "Pissing you off with my answer or pissing you off by not answering."
"Just spit it out already."
His capacity of concentrating was coming back, thankfully. Jason didn't like to have a conversation with someone like Tim without it. Besides, the – wildness – had not drawn blood this time.
"I can't believe that I'm saying this but I'm glad you're here," Tim said. "Without you, Dick would never have listened. I mean, the demon spawn helped but… You gave me a name and everything. Thank you."
Jason squinted. "This isn't what you were thinking about."
"It's part of it. I didn't think this could be possible," Tim explained, waving his free hand around.
"You calming me down?" Jason spat.
"Us working together for any length of time," Tim corrected.
Jason observed him silently. He felt better, now, but it would easily come back. yet, he couldn't resist the need to press against his wound.
"Where are you getting at?"
"Right now, I need your help," Tim admitted easily – which was not an answer. "Until Bruce is back. If you didn't, if you don't, I guess I'd be the one getting… moody. After Kon… my father… And now Bruce." The shaky breath Tim took was not faked.
Jason paused. Right – he had known about those events of course but – all of those happened quite close to each another, hadn't they? No wonder the kid had been jumpy back at the manor. And since their trip started, he'd been entirely mission-focused.
Jason had taken that for normal Tim behavior, and it was, but it was also an easy escape from darker thoughts. And didn't he know that feeling?
"Your point being?" Jason still kept pushing.
"Asking for help is an option," Tim finally dropped.
Jason tensed all over. He was not – he didn't need – how dare he!
"You insisted," Tim reminded him, his voice coming from far away.
Jason tried to focus on the words, not to think about – fuck him. He had no right. No right.
"Jason? Are you alri… no, fair enough, that's a stupid question. Can you still hear me?" He must have managed to nod, because Tim kept going. "Fine. That's good, I mean. I'll just keep talking, alright? Just tell me if I have to…"
"Shut up."
Silence fell. Not entirely, though; there was still the sound of the two of them breathing. In. And out. Jason blinked. The rooftop was white and dirty. The floor solid below him.
"Maybe next time I shouldn't insist," he forced out.
"I meant it, you know," Tim answered, suicidal little shit. Surprisingly, Jason felt endeared rather than furious, this time. "You know that something is wrong. And you know not acting on it is stupid."
Well at least the little red robin hood didn't think Jason was unintelligent. Or willing to lie to himself. He might believe more in Jason than Jason himself. But then, wasn't that his role?
"I'll consider it," Jason heard himself say, and quickly added, not to dwell on it, "after this shitstorm with Bruce is over."
"Obviously," Tim answered. "I told you. I need you, here."
Jason closed his eyes. Maybe if the kid said that often enough, he'd believe it.
###
Sorry about the very long delay. I didn't write at all in 2017/2018 and only managed to finish this chapter because I wanted to post /one/ thing before the end of the year.
It's not really an ending, but I don't think I'll manage to get this fic further and, in any case, we already know how Bruce comes back. Let's be honest, I never knew where I was going with this XD I just liked the idea.
In the end, I think it's fitting that a fic about a relatively short period – the Battle for the Cowl – is relatively short, itself.
I wish I'd managed to balance the last chapter a bit better between the four characters but, well, Jason's issues are more complex than the others', except maybe Damian. But again, the comics themselves cover how Dick manages to reach out to Damian and how Damian himself really becomes Robin, so I don't feel like I should rewrite it.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the fic!