Eeeek! It's been a while, huh? I'm sorry! It should be a little steadier going now, in the new year. This one probably isn't my best. Is probably a little rushed, but I haven't had much time to write lately. But happy new year to you all! Our small child has returned to us, and I couldn't be happier about it. What an end to a shitty year. Potentially they only bright spot, eh? haha
This would take place between Batman&Robin 34 & 35.
He sighed as he swung between buildings. Maybe he should call it a night early. He was too distracted to be of any real help anyway. Hearing that your little brother's stolen dead body was currently being shipped across the world, in both an attempt to play keep-away with Batman and resurrect the young soul it used to house… It's a lot to take in, even for him.
And for Bruce to refuse their help…it was rough.
Jason and Barbara didn't seem to be doing much better. He'd already run into Batgirl, taking her frustration out on some repeat offender who thought it'd be funny to use the Joker's likeness. And Jason was doing his best Batman impression, brooding on the wall that surrounded Arkham Asylum.
But just as he thought to twist, to reroute his swing towards his apartment, he spotted them. Faint in the bright lights below them, opaque in the city's smog. They were standing on his target building's roof, holding hands and staring at him blankly, like something out of a horror film.
And he knew he couldn't run from them, as much as he didn't want to deal with them right now. They were ghosts, after all. They'd just follow him. Appear in his flat like they owned the place. Heavens know they've done it before.
He exhaled for a second time, arcing over the ledge and planting his feet on the tar roof. Aris smiled and waved. Damian just blinked.
"Father has returned from his travels." Damian called without preamble. Always straight to business with these Waynes. "And it appears he was…empty handed."
"Mission's not done." Tim shrugged. He rocked on his feet before leaning back to plop on the roof's ledge. The ache from his heels echoed up his legs. "Where's Nightwing?"
Damian hummed, but didn't answer the question. Aris released his hand, trotting over and climbing onto the seat next to Tim, staring up at him with that curious way of his. Damian just crossed his arms.
The three remained in silence for a few seconds, Aris and Damian staring at Tim while Tim stared at Damian. Just by the boy's face, the older could tell the younger knew. Knew about the meeting, knew about his father's actions. Tim didn't want to say anything, but he knew Damian wasn't going to ask. He was too proud, too stubborn, just like his parents. He expected Tim to give the information freely, like it was his right to hear it.
Ever the little prince.
Tim sighed. "He just wanted us to know. Be on a level playing field in case things went bad."
"He doesn't want your help." Damian stated.
"I think it's more he doesn't want us to get hurt. Doesn't want to risk losing us too. Not after…" Tim cleared his throat. "Not after you and…and Dick. And I get that. I do. We all do. But, still."
Damian didn't respond.
"You're a little shit." Tim continued. "But you were our little shit. And there's not much we wouldn't do to keep you safe, even if we were mad at you. Just as, there's not much any of us wouldn't do to bring you back, either."
Damian remained silent.
"You get that, right?" Tim whispered. "You knew that? That…as much as we never said it, Dick wasn't the only one who thought of you as his little brother. Or hers, in Cass's case."
"I knew!" Aris bounced on his spot, patting excitedly at Tim's arm. "I knew that! Even before Mother killed me. I saw it!"
"I bet you did." Tim chuckled. "You've got your mama's brains."
"I was always a little jealous. Always wished I had siblings like Damian did." Aris admitted absently. He turned, giving Damian his brightest smile. "Now I do. And it's better than I imagined."
Damian returned a softer smile, but not for long before continuing with the conversation at hand. "So…you wanted to go with him, but you agreed to his demands to stay behind anyway?"
"We didn't agree. We didn't have a choice." Tim emphasized. "You know Bruce. He didn't say 'Please, will you stay behind?' he just said 'Stay here. I'll be back later. Hopefully.'"
"That's never stopped any of you – any of us – before." Damian mumbled, stepping forward.
"I know, I…I know." Tim sighed, glancing down at the city behind him. "And I want to say it's because this time is different. This whole situation is different, because-"
"Because it's family." Damian finished.
Tim nodded. "But then, wouldn't that mean we'd fight harder? It's different, but a different kind of different. Not different in that we would back off, different in that it's more important, more necessary to battle for what we want."
"And what is that, Drake?" Damian asked. But it wasn't harsh, like it normally would be. It was gentle, encouraging. "What do you want?"
"My family back." Tim looked up at the child. "Every part of it. I want Bruce and Cass home, I want you and Dick alive."
As Tim spoke, Aris quietly reached out and took Tim's hand. Tim felt it, but he couldn't say what it felt like. It wasn't hot or cold, and there was no weight to it. It was just a sensation of being touched.
"And right now, it seems like we…we might succeed in one of those. We might have a chance to get you back. And then it's the domino effect. We get you back, Bruce comes home, then maybe Cass will come visit for a while. After that, only…only one person from our family isn't here." Tim found that once he started, he was having trouble stopping. "But it's dangerous. We get you back, we get Bruce back. But…there's a chance we don't get Bruce back at all. That he never comes home. Then you don't either. If we were able to go with him – or if he allowed Clark or Diana or even Arthur to accompany him – then maybe the chances of him being safe, of succeeding in bringing you back, would rise. The probability of a happy ending here would be higher."
Damian barked a laugh. "Always statistics with you, eh, Drake?" He shook his head, but glanced down at Aris. "But…you always have the capacity to change your mind. Go against Father's wishes."
"Would if I could." Tim pursed his lips. "He's already left for Apokolips. And we have no way of following."
Damian smirked as he repeated. "That never stopped us before."
Tim watched him for a second, then matched the grin. "You think we can?"
"I have no time for your fit of pessimism, Drake. Gather our remaining brother, gather Gordon. Put your brains together, you'll figure it out." Damian assured as Aris nodded vigorously.
"Watch it, squirt. Almost sounds like you have faith in me."
"Hah. Maybe I do, Drake." Damian mumbled, looking up towards the muddy stars. "Maybe I do."
Tim smiled at him for a few seconds. "Will you…will you be there too? Backing us up?"
"If I can be." Damian agreed. "I can't guarantee it, though."
"That's enough for me." Tim promised. He let go of Aris's hand, ruffling at his hair before slapping his own knees and standing. He opened the communicator on his arm, and Aris watched as he quickly located both Jason and Barbara, setting coordinates for the three to meet. "Beat you back to the cave?"
Damian clicked his tongue, already disappearing from view. "You wish."
"Brother!" Aris squawked, lunging across the rooftop to where Damian had just been, he too already fading into nothing. His voice lingered behind him. "Damian, wait!"
Tim snorted a laugh, opening a line to both Barbara and Jason. As he waited for them to answer, his eyes drifted to the sky. "See you soon, brat."
