I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING

I am taking requests so please leave prompts.

(I know that the ages are inaccurate, but I am making them like this for the story)

Dick (Nightwing): 21

Jason (Red Hood): 18

Tim (Red Robin): 15

Damian (Robin): 13

WARNING: Jason's potty mouth, again, Self Harm/Self Mutilation, Anxiety, Panic Attacks.

Notes: This is a request for . This is also the prequel for 'Shell', meaning that this story takes place 2 months before 'Shell'. Read the Author's Note at the end for more details.

Panic

Timothy Drake is not necessarily the 'secretive' type. That being said, he does keep some secrets. Some that he should tell someone about. Some that should not stay a secret. Some that if told, could possibly save his life.

For instance, when Tim was eight, he was diagnosed with 'Panic Disorder'. The doctors said that he inherited it, but Tim knew otherwise.

Janet and Jack Drake always expected a lot from Tim, and Tim would meet those expectations, even if it caused anxiety. Massive amounts of anxiety can cause a Panic Disorder.

It's his parent's fault.

Panic Disorders lead to Panic Attacks, meaning that if his parents ever pushed him too far and caused high levels of anxiety, Tim will have a panic attack.

Of course, having any kind of disorder made him 'flawed' in his parent's eyes, so he had to stop it. But how could he? His parents wouldn't let up on the pressure and so he always had anxiety. So Tim did the only thing he could think of:

Tim learned that he could post-pone the panic attack if he caused himself pain.

Years later, Tim still uses that 'method'. I mean, what kind of super hero could he be if he had panic attacks? Tim learned that his attacks normally aren't triggered, but they can be if he is reminded of his parents. After all, they are the cause for the disorder. He has been able to put off the attacks until he was alone. No one has discovered his secret yet.

Then Jason had to screw it up.

#####BREAK LINE#####

Tim sighed as he glanced at the Bat-Computer clock. He has been working on the edit of a case file for four hours now. He subconsciously reached his right hand to his left wrist and dug his nails into the flesh. Tim used the meditation technique that he learned a while ago to calm his heart-rate.

In….

Out…

In…

Out…

"Babybird? You down here?" Jason's voice echoed throughout the dark cave.

Shit.

"Y-yeah." Tim replied, still trying to slow his excited heart.

"You okay, Tim? You don't sound so good." Jason noted from the bottom of the cave stairs.

"W-what? Yeah-yeah, I-I'm fine." Tim said a little breathlessly. 'Damn it, Jason! Go away!'

Jason looked at the back of the chair where he suspected Tim was sitting, "Oh shit, are you watching porn?" He smirked.

Tim, while in the middle of a panic attack, blushed madly when Jason suspected him of…doing that.

"Wha-what? No! I-I'm-" Tim cut himself off in favor of digging his nails into his skin hard enough to draw blood. He won't be able to stop the oncoming panic attack if Jason doesn't go away.

Jason raised an inquisitive eyebrow, "Okay," He drawled. "then what's wrong? Are you sick or something?" He asked while stepping closer.

Tim tried to answer, but his tongue was feeling like sand paper at this point.

Thump

Thump

THUMP!

Jason could hear Tim's breath speeding up and immediately grew worried.

"Babybird?" Jason spun the chair towards him and saw Tim hyperventilating and clutching his chest.

Fuck.

He took note of Tim's appearance and tried to figure out what was wrong.

Erratic heart-beat

Chest pain

Dilated Pupils

Three signs of a very bad panic attack.

FUCK

Jason quickly kneeled in front of his distraught little brother and held him by his shoulders.

"Tim, Babybird. I need you to look at me."

Two dilated blue orbs met Jason's own green eyes.

"Watch me breath and copy, okay? Match my breathing." Jason started to breath slowly. "In. Out. In. Out. Just like that."

Tim mutely nodded and copied Jason's breathing pattern.

Once Tim's breathing was back to normal, Jason brought him into a spine-crushing hug.

"I don't know what caused you to have a panic attack, but I want you to know that you are safe. As long as you are with me, and we are brothers, I won't let anything deathly bad happen to you." He whispered.

It was five minutes later when Jason finally let go and Tim looked at the floor shamefully. Jason looked at him questioningly before he remembered something.

"You knew you were getting an attack. That's why you avoided my questions." Tim nodded. Jason sighed, "You get these often, don't you." It wasn't a question but Tim nodded.

The eldest ran a hand through his hair in thought.

"Why didn't you tell anyone? We could have helped you."

Tim shook his head.

"No? What do you mean 'no'?" Jason asked questioningly.

"My-my parents told me th-that-" Tim cut himself off with a choked sob before continuing. "That it w-was bad to sh-show weakness. T-to them, my disorder is a we-weakness." He finished.

Jason looked at him confusedly, "Wait, disorder?"

Tim blushed and nodded, "Panic disorder." He whispered.

"Fuck. How did we not know about this?" Jason asked himself.

"I could post-pone the attacks." Tim answered.

"How?" Jason asked, "It could be worse if you try to stop it."

Tim mutely showed Jason his bleeding wrists.

"Shit." Jason ran to the first aid kit and sat in front of Tim. He gently grabbed Tim's left wrist and wiped the blood off. "Why would you do this to yourself?" Jason asked once he saw the nail marks.

Tim shrugged.

"You're gonna have to give me a better answer than that, Tim." Jason said.

Tim shrugged again, causing Jason to sigh.

"Babybird, You know that I can't let you hurt yourself." Tim nodded which Jason took as a sign to continue, "So if you ever feel the urge to do this or you know that you're going to have a panic attack, come to me. Please."

Tim looked into Jason's eyes as if looking for something. He must have found it because he nodded and tearfully hugged his big brother. Jason wrapped his arms around Tim and used one hand to rub comforting circles into Tim's back.

"It's okay."

Tim sobbed harder into Jason's chest.

"I'll protect you."

A/N: This chapter (just like 'Shell') means a lot to me. Bunny Moment wanted me to make a second part to 'Shell', so I decided to do a prequel! I hope that was okay. I am thinking about making this into a small series. Just 'Shell' and 'Panic'. It might be like, 5 parts. Please tell me if you want that. I might just make it anyway even if most of you say no. IF YOU HAVE ANY REQUESTS, PLEASE SEND THEM TO ME! Or if you have any ideas. PLEASE. I need inspiration.