Everything is fine...is what Tim tells himself the entire cleanup mission.
Everything is okay. And for a while it was.
He was in Star City, the active leader of Team B. It was a simple clean-up mission, at least that's what he told himself. That's what he told the team. Ignore the bodies. Ignore the blood. Ignore that nagging thing in the back of your head. Figure out everything else later.
Focus on the city, focus on the mission.
Everything is fine.
He had yelled at Beast Boy to stop goofing off, shot a Batarang at Ion to keep him focused. Tried his hardest to ignore Zatanna's concerned "where is Nightwing questions" and even managed to somehow still keep an eye on Team A, D, and E while he worked.
Sure's he tired, and maybe he's a little worried about everything...but he's fine. Dick is fine. Wally's fine. Tim is….
"Watch out", Bumblebee yells, shooting a beam of light to a block before it can reach the red-clad boy. It crumbles, leaving bits of dust in its wake. To the left of him, Tim sees Beastboy sheepishly smile.
"My bad bro. I was trying to pick the building back up but I guess a T-rex wasn't the best choice". Beastboy notes while waving his still abnormally small arms. To the left of him, Ion laughs.
"Bb you and Glowstick here go to the left sector, clear it out before any reporters show up", Bumblebee declares.
Instantly both boys sour.
"But the left sector is Hyde park", Beastboy whines, when Bumblebee doesn't even look in his direction he adds, "Helloooooo, animal changing boy, scary hunters. Does that seem like a problem to anybody else".
Bumblebee glares, "Bb go, now".
Ion sighs, but wraps a bit of his energy around Beastboy's leg, "Come on Beasty I'll make sure no one skins ya". He then takes off to the sky all while dragging a still sour and reluctant Beastboy.
"Probably shouldn't leave them alone" Tim mutters once the two of them are out of his line of vision.
"They'll be fine, two idiots are better than one. Besides, Mayor Tuckman issued a statement no residents should leave their homes, that includes hunters" Bumblebee replies.
Tim scoffs, "Because that's stopped people before". He then shuffles around Bumblebee attempting to grapple his way over to the demolished building. But before he could, a sparkling gold hand was pursed on his shoulder.
"Oh no you don't, little bird, we are not finished yet. Next time tell me beforehand if you're going through something. I like to know when a teammate might start buggin".
Tim blinks, that whole sentence made no sense, "I am not..buggin. You're overreacting and wasting my time".
He tries once more to grapple away, but yet again he was stopped. This time a giant glowing gloved hand was pursed in front of him.
"No, she isn't. You've been snippy this entire mission. What's up with that", Zatanna said as she flies over to the duo.
Tim groans, he really doesn't have time for this.
"Zatanna go back to your post, we need you to transport all the damaged goods", Tim tiredly replies.
He closes his eyes for a bit and hopes the giant hand will disappear when he opens it. He hopes Zatanna and Bumblebee will have enough sense to realize this really wasn't the time.
But of course, they didn't.
"The rubble isn't going anywhere, I think we can spare a few minutes for you to explain what all this is. That blackout was different, the League won't tell us what's up. There has to be a reason they're forcing us to play cleanup while they sit around in a stupid meeting" Zatanna exclaims as she gestures around them. She then hunches, her face turning angry for a moment. "Hundred of people have died! Do you know how many bodies I've had to transport in between the rubble? Despite what Batman thinks, we deserve to know, so tell us what's going on ".
"Nothing going on! Go back to your post and make yourself useful or go home. I don't have time to cuddle you if you're bothered by the casualties go home. No one here needs you", Tim said through clenched teeth.
To the left of him, he hears Bumblebee gasp, and he feels Zatanna's rage.
Cause yeah, that was a low blow. He knows that was a low blow. He knows but, he's too tired. It's 4 am he is running purely on fucking caffeine, he doesn't know what's going on, Batman doesn't even know what's going on.
So excuse him, if he doesn't exactly have the patience for Zatanna's hissy fit.
But at the same time, Zatanna is tired too.
She's so tired, so sick of the hush hush that comes with the League. She's so annoyed with all the cliques and the covert information and fucking secrets.
She can't begin to explain her frustration with all these secrets.
So against better her judgment, against her budding relationship with Robin, she decides to be just as harsh.
"Neither one of us are the type to be cuddle, orphan mentality right", she bit.
And while that hurt, while that did make Tim inwardly cringe with memories he'd rather not address, Robin had appearances to keep up.
So instead of glaring, instead of huffing at her words, Tim simply nodded over to the beautiful magician, "Right".
That wasn't the retort Zatanna was expecting, it was the last one she needed.
He was so different, so unlike her Robin, that she didn't really know how to talk to him. She had faced this problem before, with the second Robin. And time had told her, that even though she knows Nightwing she doesn't know them.
And right about now, she's not so sure she wants to know the third Robin at all.
So she simply glances over at Bumblebee, apparently done with the entire conversation, "I'm gonna go help BB, and Ion. You deal with him".
And with that, the beautiful magician rolled her eyes and in a puff of smoke, she was gone.
Robin didn't even wait for the smoke to disappear before he was back to grappling rubble. He had just finished a major portion when heard buzzing by his ear.
It didn't take a genius to know who that was, and Tim figured because she started that whole ugly confrontation Bumblebee at least deserved a half swat in her small form.
"Ow! Ya tryna kill me" Bumblebee muttered, enlarging herself as she held onto the boy's hand.
"I didn't even make contact" Robin deadpanned.
Bumblebee sways, apparently still not completely use to her normal form. Once she regains her posture she cracks her neck and peers down at the kid, "The wind was enough thanks".
Robin shot her look that said everything but sorry and attempted once more to brush past her.
"Hey, Hey wait a damn minute! Look I don't need all the fine details, in fact, I really don't care about it. I just need you to know I got your back and if you have mine, then let me know when you need help. That's all I'm asking", Bumblebee quips.
Tim sighs. No, it wasn't unreasonable, but still.
He doesn't trust Bumblebee and he doesn't understand how she couldn't know that.
"I don't know what you mean I'm -
"Fine. Yeah, I've heard you tell everyone that for the past two hours. But your twelve and your sleep-deprived and you're leading this mission when your brother is missing and your other brother is missing/ reborn so forgive me if I don't believe you", Bumblebee snaps.
Tim glares, "Nightwings not missing".
His glare much like his obvious annoyance was ignored for the most part.
Bumblebee even had the nerve to glare back before replying, "Yeah sure he's not missing but he's not here when he would be. Now unlike Z, I'm not strung enough on Blue boy to pester, but please don't play my intelligence like that, again. You're not fine, let me help you".
As she said this she edges over towards the smaller red-clad teen. Her voice still hard and serious.
Because who was he kidding.
Robin isn't fine, he isn't okay.
And him acting like it, him being twelve and a genius and snippy was too close in resemblance to someone Karen once knew.
And she'll be damned if she makes the same mistake she made with Gizmo.
But it's too bad that Robin isn't so easily moved. Despite Bumblebee's towering presence, despite her insistent questioning, Tim looked anything but afraid.
He basically scoffed at her, "It isn't your business", he bit out.
He then paused, half expecting Bumblebee to lash out like Zatanna. But instead, she didn't, Bumblebee didn't even seem the least bit upset.
Her face was void of any anger, any feeling really. She simply looked resolved.
Why
Because Karen understood. She knew what it was like to keep a secretes, she knew the load that came with cherishing the unknown. And she knew, more the anyone the damage that comes from sharing it.
So with a soft voice, she replied " Your right, it isn't my business, and so don't tell me what's up. I don't need to know about the League or Nightwing or any of it. What I'm asking is don't lie, you're not fine. You need help, next time let me know. So that way I can know to look out for you".
Tim doesn't know how to answer that. It's not a promise he can really keep.
But he nods anyway, he promises anyways. And the minute he does he feels a bit lighter.
It's strange, the weight that can be lifted by a simple presence. The ease that comes with trust.
The feeling is short-lived though, in the next second everything changes. The few cars around suddenly stop, the animals that were so quiet before are screeching, the light from every post is gone.
The second blackout happened out of nowhere, and it is just as demanding as the first.
"Another blackout", a pedestrian yelps, prompting another one to scream. Suddenly everyone's screaming, and everyone in Star City is up at 4 am.
"This is why no one should be out here, Team A, C, and D. This is Robin do you read me", Tim yells while aimlessly pressing down on his comm, but no one answers.
"Comms are out, it's gotta be the SME again. We should get Z and the others back over here", Bumblebee adds as she sparkles her stingers in the air.
Tim wants to agree but pauses instead.
No one else should know about the SME. Only the League and the World leaders really.
And Bumblebee is new..uh newish.
She hasn't been with the team that long, sure she goes to Gotham Acadamey, and sure she seems nice but there is not much in her file. The most Nightwing could get was that her name was Karen Beecher and that probably was an alias since they couldn't find anything else.
The only reason she's with the Team is because Artemis vouched for her.
He swallows, so how exactly could she know about the SME.
And why exactly did she want him to trust her so much again?
Almost as if sensing his worry, Bumblebee peers down at the kid, her face illuminated in the glowing gold light of her stingers, "Oh come on! You Bats are so paranoid. Look I already told you, I'm not as stupid as you would think, of course I know what an SME is!".
This only caused Tim to frown harder because he agrees.
She's not stupid, she's never given him any reason to think she is. They should've looked into her more. They shouldn't have let her join the Team.
Bumblebee sighs, clearly whatever bond of trust she acquired from Robin was gone now.
She waits shooting her stingers at bits of concrete to create a walkway for civilians before replying, "Fine, look here are some details for your little file you and Wingnut don't think I know about. I studied biomechanics and nuclear fission since I was a kid. In that field, you can't really escape the SME lectures. Also if I was a spy or mob boss or whatever weird thing your thinking, don't ya think I would've ratted out your brother at school by now".
Robin's reply is instant, "I- I don't know what you're talking about", he exclaims but it doesn't really stick. It sounds rehearsed and groggy, like a programmed reply with little base. It was far too nervous to be believable.
But shit, can you blame him.
Bumblebee knew. She knew who Dick was. She knew who Tim was.
Fuck the blackout, this is worse.
Bumblebee apparently didn't think so, rolling her eyes fully before replying, "Yeah, I can tell by your hyperventilation. Look if it makes ya feel better, Batman knows I know about it. When he found out he literally had the martian invade my mind for some of my own dirt. The shit he knows...I literally wouldn't be alive if it got out. Plus the only reason I'm not homeless is because of him so safe to say I'm not gonna rat you guys out".
Robin nearly grimaces. That actually didn't make him feel better.
Because what exactly is stopping her from telling everyone.
What is so bad that Batman could hold it over her head?
And why wouldn't Bruce tell him?
Bumblebee sighs, she could almost see the cogs turning in the younger teens' head. "Okay, I get that you're having a midlife crisis over there but may I remind you we have current world-stopping issues. So you should probably table this convo for later and choose to trust me for now".
Robin simply groans, she's right. He hates that she's right.
"Star labs is going to be the first thing thieves hit, I'll need you to guard it", Robin mutters as he aimlessly begins throwing flare sticks to the floor. " I'll light up as much as I can over here for citizens and refuge".
"I got you covered Birdy.", Bumblebee replies, shrinking herself and fluttering away.
Tim nods but it's half-hearted.
Should he really be letting Bumblebee go out alone?
Clearly, she can't be trusted, but still, it's not like he can track her. And with the team, he assembled the only person capable of surveillance is Zatanna.
He then winces, "Great, now I just gotta convince the wizard who hates me to work with me. Gee, that should be easy".
As if hearing his words, a puff of smoke filters right next to him.
Immediately Zatanna smirks, "Usually it wouldn't be but luckily for you, I'm a professional". Her eyes then glow as she mutters "tropsart" and flutters her arms once more.
Instantly both Beastboy and Ion are transported back into the dimly lit street.
Ion groans, "Ugh I think I'm gonna be sick-
"Aye Z the transport stuff is wicked, it makes me feel like I can fly".
Tim sighs, now is not the time to remind Beast Boy he can actually fly.
"It's another blackout, every electronic is down. We don't know for how long but we need to be able to protect every city affected. Beastboy your surveillance and maintenance. Protect Star cities citizens and apprehend any villain in your way, Bumblebee will be here to help you".
"Oh dude, that's easy peasy. I mean me and B, totally got this", Beastboy crows, a green beak morphing on his face as he flies away.
Once he's but a blip in the air Tim simply shakes his head and turns back to the other two. Ion is picking at his ear and Zatanna is glaring at him….hard.
Ugh, he wishes now more than ever Dick was here.
"Alright Zatanna, I need you to beam to Metropolis and help Team A. If all the powers is out we're gonna have a breach in not just Stryker Penitentiary but the 8th precinct as well," he said in his best leader voice.
He hopes the situation will outweigh whatever snark Zatanna has.
"Fine " Zatanna bites back, and Tim nearly smiles as she begins to chant. But, then before she can transport away she shoots a glare, " Oh before I go, quick question what about you and Flashlight over here. Or am I not at liberty to ask", she snips.
Ion perks an eyebrow at that but it is overshadowed by Robin's more than annoyed groan. Of course, of course, Zatanna couldn't just fucking go.
"We're gonna beam to Gotham if everything is down Team C is going to need a lot more help... obviously", Robin murmurs, now over his limit of patience.
Ion blinks, and Tim slightly curses at his slip of anger.
Fuck, please don't argue with him about this. Please don't.
And for once Zatanna doesn't. She simply smiles and waves.
That was the only warning the two get as they are once again engulfed in a puff of smoke. When the smoke clears both boys are falling into Gotham Bay. Robin had enough training to habitually hold his breathe before he hit the murky waters, Ion wasn't so lucky.
"Plaaaaaaa ! Gross, gross! I think I swallowed a leech or something", Ion huffs all while spilling water out of his mouth.
Again Tim sighed, he specifically didn't ask Zatanna to transport them for this very reason, she's petty even at the worst times.
He only hoped that Ion would be better company.