IV.- There's no spoon
Timothy Drake was sitting in front of his computer, surfing through the net, when dad called for dinner.
"One moment, please! I'm finishing something."
Where something was the late teaser from that sci-fi film from the guy behind Wendy, the werewolf stalker. It was downloading really slowly.
But dad was not patient enough and called again.
"Ok, I'm coming." He grunted while he typped in Ari's msn window.
She sended him a heart and a "see ya later" and that was enough to come down the stairs with a smile in his lips.
In his way down the stairs his mouth watered when he recognized the smell of Dana's soup. In a day as cold and wet nothing like a warm and tasty soup to forget about the white mist that was surrounding their house.
Dad scowled him while he sat - "you are not a little boy, I still have to call you twice... bla bla bla"-, but Dana smiled at him simpathetically.
"Let the boy be, Jack." She said while she served the soup. "He comes to this mountain hut every year to spend his time with us. At least let him get in touch with civilization from time to time."
Jack Drake looked at his wife with puppy eyes.
"Don't side with him. It makes me feel old!"
"You are old, Dad!"
That made Dana laugh and Dad throw his napkin at him. And that was really why he went every year to the hut. Because it felt great to be just the three of them, even if he hoped that really soon Arianna will be joining and then they'll be four. Perhaps it was that Dana was a kind of bridge between the two of them, but he felt that, since he had married her, his father was closer to him than ever.
Not that they didn't miss mum. Tim knew they always will miss her. But Dana was a great mother too... and her soup was superb.
They talked about this and that, and they ate until Tim felt his belly was going to explode.
"Want some more pie, darling?" Asked Dana.
"I couldn't eat a single bite, mum. But it was all delicious."
Dad agreed and that made her blush.
"I'm going to make some coffee."
"I'll help you." Added Dad, standing up after her, following to the kitchen.
Coffee was going to be late.
Tim smiled, amused and uncomfortable, when some laughter came from there.
It was weird having to give your folks some space.
"I'll go for a walk to see if my stomach can regain his normal shape!" He said, standing up and walking to the door.
"Take care!" Was the only response he got.
Rolling his eyes, he catched his jacket and went outside, to the cold and misty woods.
Fog was so dense it was almost white and trees were nothing more than grey and dead filaments in it's infiniteness. He began walking without no real aim, but then, as soon as he lost the hut from view, he knew where to go.
He had to find him, show him... let him see the truth. Such a waste...
So Timothy Drake zipped his jacket and, hands in his pockets, began walking to him. It was a weird feeling. He didn't knew him, and still... still he knew him, knew where he was, as if he had some kind of radar. He didn't knew him and still he knew what he had to tell him. Still knew what little they had in common and the big difference between the two of them.
But the weirdest thing of all was that it didn't scared or amazed him. He just knew, and was going to act consequently.
Suddenly, he stopped, because he had to.
There he was.
He had found him. Now he had to let him found him in turn. For he was the one lost.
And indeed he was.
"Jason! Dick!" He was shouting through the mist.
He was worried and scared, but he was not showing it. His stance was as sure and strong as it could be.
"Hey, Robin!" Tim called.
And Robin turned.
He opened his eyes wide and he took a step back.
"What the fuck...?"
"Watch the mouth, Robin. A hero must set example on everything. Name's Tim Drake, by the way."
"No, you..." Robin took another step back while Tim held his hand for him to shake. "I AM Tim Drake."
Tim smiled at him.
"Well, look at it this way. I'm the Tim Drake that never became Robin."
Robin frowned, but stopped.
"You mean... if Jason never died."
"I mean if you never put the cape on. I don't know any Jason, so... whatever."
"And you are here to show me how my life could have been... better?" He said, sceptically.
"I was going to say different, but yes, better really applies."
He eyed him, challenging him.
"So, show me..."
!I know you will expect some weird technicolor fantasy, but... really... I only have my word. Dad is alive, and you are still with Arianna. And well, your relationship has taken a further step... if you know what I mean."
He knew, because he held breath.
"And mum is alive too, uh?"
"No, mum death was not Robin's fault."
"Neither Dad's death."
"Fool yourself, Robin, but you know Tim Drake is smart enough to buy not this shit."
He bit his lip, angrily.
"I know what you are thinking, because I'd be thinking it too. You are doing something greater than any of this with your life. You're making a better world. But, sincerelly, are you really?"
He did not answer, because he knew the truth. As he had said, Tim Drake was smart enough.
"You know you are not. But I am. I'm preparing myself for college, I'm going to study medicine and bioengineery. I'm going to make a better world doing something great with my brain. While you... you jump from roof to roof fighting deluded lunatics with stupid costumes. Wow! Great world you are making, Rob!"
"You are a little late, don't you think?" Robin snapped back, angrily. He was entering defensive mode. "Not in time to avoid picking the cape."
"But you can still quit it. Have a live. A real one, with friends, and classes, and a job. Or do you think you can spend the rest of your life without really working?"
"It's not that easy..."
"I know. It's easier to put on a mask and forget about real responsibilities. Live like an spoiled child forever."
"You don't know what you are talking about."
"Perhaps not." Tim shrugged. "But I know I like my deal. Can you say the same about yours?"
Robin closed his eyes, sighing.
"Really, this must be the weirdest dream I've ever had."
"Me too."
"I'm the one having the dream here."
"How can you be so sure? Perhaps me, plain Tim, is dreaming you."
Again, Robin grunted, agresiveness hiding his distress.
Tim just smiled at him.
"You were looking for someone."
"Jason and Dick" He admited.
"Jason? You said he died."
"He did, or is going to... and I don't even know why I talk to you!"
"Because you are lost, and I know the way."
"You do?"
"What can you loose in trusting?"
Robin just shrugged and Tim, as if it was really a weird dream, guided him through the woods. He had no idea who Dick or Jason were, but sure as hell knew where to find them.
Deep in the woods. Down to the core.
In the heart of it.
------
---Security code aproved---
---...---
---Voice scan aproved---
---Wellcome, Master---
---/Status of subject /report.---
---Subject constants: altered---
---Subject byorhythms: altered---
---cerebral functions: altered---
---checking revealed:---
---cardiac rythm: abnormal---
---adrenaline levels: high---
---subject state: not estable---
---hold experiment---
---/continue---