A Light in the Dark
A/N: Told you I wasn't done. Shout out to Alex Skywalker my wonderful beta!
Chapter is a little bit shorter than the others but hopefully still just as good. I made up the Previso laptop name.
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Chapter 10
Tim stood in Jason's doorway in shock. His dark eyes scanned the room once, twice, even three times hoping to see something indicating that Jason was still there- or at least he was coming back. Jason couldn't be gone.
Dick watched Tim from his own doorway. He saw the excitement and even the hint of a smile on Tim's face as he opened Jason's door only for the boy's shoulders to slump, the color in his face drain, and that hint of a smile all but disappear as the door fully opened and Tim saw Jason had left.
Dick approached Tim slowly, unsure of how the younger boy would take his presence at this time. Tim heard Dick's footsteps approaching behind him, Dick making no attempt to be stealthy.
Dick put his arm around Tim's shoulders, not saying anything, just letting his physical presence be there for Tim. He would let the younger boy make the first move…..and he did.
"He's gone," Tim said shakily, trying not to cry. Tim's mouth hung open at the shock, as if saying it made it more real. His lower jaw started to tremble, fighting a losing battle to keep his calm. Tim blinked rapidly, fighting whole-heartedly to keep the tears in.
"He left earlier," confirmed Dick.
"Did he say anything?"
"No, he didn't even know I saw him leave."
"Maybe he's just going to get a change of clothes and come back?"
Dick squeezed Tim's smaller shoulders in support, resting his head sideways atop the shorter boy's head. Tim could feel Dick shake his head against his.
"No, I'm sorry, he took his bike as well as some personal items that haven't left this room since he died. He left."
"Is he coming back?"
"I don't know Tim."
"He got me a laptop."
"He did?" Dick straightened a bit, not knowing Jason had that in him to make things completely right.
"Yah, it's the brand new Previso, all the bells and whistles on it. It's not even out yet; I have no idea how he got it."
Dick chuckled, "I'm not sure I want to know." Dick decided to leave the laptop issue at that, hoping Jason got it through legitimate contacts. As the sons of Bruce Wayne they were all used to getting things before they were released - the latest video game consoles, the latest movies; some big wig trying to get in good with Bruce by getting his kids something cool. Then, of course, there were the times that Bruce used his own position to get those same hard to find, not- yet- released things as birthday or Christmas presents, or even for his multiple charities.
"I was just coming to thank him but…he's gone…..and it's my fault."
Dick removed his arm from Tim to face him, totally confused why Tim would think that. Dick was ready to face the boy, prepared to set him straight, only for Tim to jerk out of Dick's grasp and sprint to his room, the door slamming before Dick even knew what had happened. Dick shook himself out of it, determined to see this through with Tim.
"Tim?" Dick called as he entered Tim's room. Dick slowly looked around. It had been a while since Tim had allowed Dick to see his room and Dick marveled at how badly Tim had trashed it. This was no longer the Tim he knew. The obsessive compulsive cleanliness kid, determined to see his way through anything without anyone. When did his room get trashed? When did Tim start to cry? When had Tim gotten this bad? Why couldn't he have seen it? Dick's eyes finally settled on Tim who sat on the window seat enclave staring out the window. He heard sniffles and noticed Tim was trying to control his crying, but couldn't.
"Tim, why would you think Jason leaving is your fault?" Dick made his way to Tim and sat opposite on the same seat facing Tim. "Why Tim?"
"I pissed him off; pissed him off so badly that he did what he did, and felt guilty enough about it to leave. If I hadn't-"
"No. No Tim. Look at me." Tim kept his gaze out the window. Dick clasped Tim hands in his. "Tim, look at me," Dick said more forcefully. Tim finally looked at Dick.
"Look, Tim, Jason had a lot more issues going on, that was evident from what happened in the alleyway that night. Jason needs to figure out some things. Bruce dying brings up a lot of old wounds from his past that he needs to figure out, ok? This isn't you, this is him."
"How do you know?"
"I just…..do," Dick said unwilling to divulge Jason's secrets or what he did to find out those secrets.
"Sounds like what Jason told me yesterday: 'It's not you, kid, it's me, I'm just an asshole," Tim mimicked Jason's voice, bringing a smile to Dick's face. "I tried telling him he wasn't an asshole. Guess I wasn't convincing enough. I failed."
"Hey, stop," Dick said grabbing Tim's chin and turning his face back to him when Tim tried to look out the window again. "You didn't fail. I think maybe Jason heard what you had to say and it gave him more to think about. And that's a good thing. And, if I know Jason, he won't be gone forever, he always comes back…..literally," Dick chuckled. Finally Tim's laughter followed, knowing what Dick meant. Not even death could keep Jason Todd from this family.
"Lunch will be ready soon, and Tim, I need you to be at that table, please?"
Tim paused as if to ponder the question then nodded. "Ok. I'll be there."
Dick smiled and leaned forward and hugged Tim. Dick stayed like that until he finally felt Tim's small arms embrace him back. Dick pulled back with a smile on his face, happy to see a smile returned on Tim's face. It may not have been a one hundred percent genuine smile, but Dick would take the fifty percent genuine smile for now. It was better than nothing.
"I mean it Tim: if you're not there I'll come up here and carry you down."
"Jason tried that once when he first got here. The threat worked." Tim chuckled at the memory.
Dick clasped his hands on either side on Tim's smiling face, wanting to keep that face there forever. "Everything will turn out, ok? We're getting there, you'll see." Dick stood and made his way to the door. "See you at lunch in about ten minutes," Dick threw over his shoulder as he exited the room, closing the door behind him.
The talk with Dick left Tim feeling uplifted, like maybe everything would be ok. Tim reached into his pocket and pulled out a flashdrive. He was preparing this news for Jason. He wasn't sure how Dick or Damian would take it, but Dick seemed to have a lot of confidence in him just now. He could do this. He could tell Dick what he knew.
About an hour later the boys were finishing their lunch. The meal was mostly filled with Dick telling them about the goings on at Wayne Enterprises and that it was getting harder keeping "Bruce" away and that they may need to think of something soon. Tim started fingering the flashdrive in his pocket, wondering if this was the right time to bring it up. Dick spoke first though.
"I've come to a decision, and, I'm going to take up Bruce's mantle. I'm going to be Batman."
Damian kept eating as if nothing had been said; clearly Damian knew this already. This troubled Tim. Why wouldn't Dick tell him first? Or at least at the same time as Damian? Alfred merely smiled and patted Dick on the back giving him his approval.
"When?" Tim asked.
"Either tonight or tomorrow night, depending on when I can finish tailoring the suit to fit me."
"I can help you with that Master Richard."
"Thanks, Alfred," Dick replied smiling back at the older man.
"Actually…..Dick…..there may not be a need for that," Tim said uneasily.
"Hmmm? Why's that?" Dick asked, slightly chuckling, scooping more food onto his plate.
"Because, Bruce is alive," Tim said quickly.
That got a reaction: it was as if time stopped. Alfred stopped mid-stride away from the table, Damian froze, his fork mid-way between his plate and his open mouth. Dick froze as well, staring at Tim until his eyes slowly lowered.
"Look Tim-"
"I know it sounds crazy-"
"It is crazy," Damian spoke up.
"Damian! Look Tim, I know we all want Bruce to be alive but-"
"But he is-"
"Tim, you've lost so much it's easy to want to hold on to that hope-"
"But if you listen I have-"
"Tim, it might be good if you talked to someone. We know someone who-"
"Look, there are things I know that-"
"Tim! We saw the body! Clark even said-"
"But Dick, listen! I have worked and have pro-"
"Tim! Enough! I know it's hard to accept, but Bruce is gone! Don't disillusion yourself with this, it's only going to prolong your pain."
"Excuse me!" Tim stood and left the table, going to his room. His meal was left mostly untouched.
Tim spent the next two hours in his room, still fingering the flashdrive in his pocket. He thought to himself as he paced the room. 'Is Dick right? Am I just disillusioning myself into a false hope that he is still out there? Could I be crazy? No! No! No! I've worked too hard on this! I have to make Dick hear me. I can't give up on this. Bruce wouldn't give up on me.'
Tim went downstairs to find Alfred tidying up the room. The old man never once said a thing to Tim about his…..revelation.
"Alfred, have you seen Dick and Damian?"
"I believe, Master Timothy, that they are in the cave training."
"Again?" Tim asked angrily as he headed through the clock entrance. Tim had noticed how much training time Dick was spending with Damian and not with him and he didn't like it at all.
Around five minutes later the clock entrance opened with a bang, the chimes of the old clock clanging together as Tim ran through and straight upstairs, slamming his bedroom door.
"My word, Master Timothy, are you alright?" Alfred called after him with no response.
Dick came running through right after, heading up the stairs as well.
"Master Richard, is Master Timothy alright?" The butler called but again didn't receive an answer.
Dick reached Tim's bedroom door, banging on it instantly. "Tim! Tim! Come on let's talk about this! Please! Come to the door! Tim!" Dick tried the door, surprised to find it unlocked. Tim never left his bedroom door unlocked. He slowly opened the door with caution, worried about what he might find on the other end.
But as Dick opened the door he found the room empty. Tim's bedroom window was open and his backpack that he kept on the shelf was gone.
Tim was gone.
"Oh Shit!" Dick exclaimed, running to the window. Tim, however, was nowhere in sight.