Tim walks into the kitchen the next morning, and nearly bolts straight out again.
The teen wants it known that he could have made it if Damian hadn't precipitated that reaction and blocked off Tim's primary route of escape. Judging by the way Jason is leaning casually against the door to the pantry, his brothers have herded Tim here for a reason.
If that reason is a simple meet and greet with Commissioner Barbara Gordon, he is going to … something. It may take time to come up with a sufficient punishment, but Tim will have revenge.
"Tim," Babs breathes out, shifting forward in her chair.
Tim offers a reluctant nod, and retreats in the direction of the counter and Benjamin. For reasons that no one is willing to discuss, the youngest al Ghul is still in the Manor. As the only other person in this room under six feet in height and without a say in the proceedings, Benjamin is clearly the best company to be had.
Benjamin passes him an apple, and Tim tries to ignore the redhead's stare.
His guardian seems equally discomforted by Barbara's obvious disbelief.. "Surely you didn't think I was joking, Gordon."
"Believing you and grasping the concept are two different things," Babs counters. "Out of the million things I expected you to say this morning … Timothy has been revived didn't make the list."
"Quinzel is making a nuisance of herself," Damian turns to include Tim in the conversation. "She's passing along rumors of a new Robin—a meta, which I presume was the reason for your unusual tactics last night."
Tim raises one hand expectantly, but clearly high-fives are not in the al Ghul lesson plan. Benjamin stares at the offending limb in confusion before abruptly passing Tim the knife that the other boy was using to peel his own fruit.
"The Robin rumors and Psyche's renewed interest in her old persona brought the Commissioner to our door," Damian continues unbothered by failed social interaction. "She had concerns."
"Has concerns," Barbara corrects Damian, fixing the Batman with a dark look. "If you think I'm going to let it go just because Timmy's under the mask, think again, Damian Wayne. What on earth were you boys thinking?!"
Tim flinches.
"Hn." Benjamin hops off the counter in a smooth movement. "Robin and I will be sparring in the Cave, Batman. I trust you will properly educate your Commissioner in the meantime."
Damian nods and Tim follows Benjamin. He manages to loosen his grip on the knife in time to pitch it in the sink on his way past, but it's close.
"Hurry up, Robin."
Sparring apparently isn't code for 'eavesdrop shamelessly.'
Tim makes a mental note to correct that oversight in the other Titan at a later date, and waves Benjamin ahead. Then Tim ducks back into the dining room and takes advantage of the dumbwaiter to eavesdrop more efficiently.
Old manors like this one have larger than average dumbwaiters, and this one opens both into the kitchen and the dining room on this floor through the shared wall—for ease in serving. Even granted these improvements and Tim's small size, the teen finds it to be a very close fit.
It's also dirtier than he expected. Then again, the dumbwaiter saw the most use when a Robin was in residence and it has been years since Damian would have been small enough to fit inside.
Tim will work his way up to the first floor later and see if his mentor had added his initials to the interior wall the way that his predecessors had. Right now, the teen settles in to listen to the hushed voices in the kitchen.
Surprisingly enough, they seem to be discussing Harley-Quinn/Psyche rather than Robin. Tim is reconsidering whether or not this is information he wants to acquire when the door to the kitchen is yanked open.
"I," Jason announces, "am onto you, kiddo. Out."
Tim somersaults free of the space and surreptitiously surveys his audience. Jason looks proud. Damian is resigned. Barbara seems to be an odd mixture of bemused and pained.
It's complicated.
Jason sticks his head back in the dumbwaiter as if he expects Tim to have stashed Benjamin away as well, but before he can report his lack of findings … three phones go off at once.
Saved by the bell.
Jason is answering a communicator, and he has to talk over Dick in order to get the man to slow down. Damian is rapidly demanding information from someone named Harris on his cellular, and Babs silences everyone within hearing distance when she snaps at the unfortunate detective on the other line:
"Why am I only hearing about this now?!"
Daylight is no Bat's friend, but Damian is pacing in agitation at cross paths with his cat while they wait for Dick and Barbara to return with actual information. Tim wisely stays out of the way, situating himself in the window seat.
The others remove themselves from the line of fire—also a wise decision.
The fact of the matter is that five men attempted to rob a jewelry store last night, and were thwarted by two of Damian's friends in the masked community. This morning four of the men are dead and the fifth remains a softly gibbering mess in protective custody.
"I was conversing with them throughout the encounter, Gordon. They were never out of my sight—I spoke with Proxy on one screen while watching Shadow and Spoiler restrain their prey on another, Gordon. The fools were alive and conscious when the van drove away."
Batman's testimony generally doesn't stand up in court.
Now Damian is currently brooding over the fact that the jewelry store robbery was the first petty crime in Gotham since the Hounds of Hell had first appeared not quite three weeks ago.
And the Batman had missed the connection …
… because he had been distracted by Tim and Tim's own demons.
Tim runs his fingers over the worn brocade cushion cover, feeling the pattern of a fern under his fingertips. A lifetime ago, Tim had done the same thing while waiting for Dick to return to the Manor.