I'm back! Sorry, I've been so busy lately, plus this is a long chapter.
First chapter that's not in Dick's POV! Like, at all! That's a change.
The poll will be up for another day or two, then I'm closing it and writing the chapter. At the moment, the gala's winning, 7 to 5 including review votes. Feel free to vote via reviews or vote on the actual poll on my profile.
Enjoy the chap!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own nothin'. I also don't know grammar, apparently.
Tim stared out the window as the streets of Gotham rolled past. He had been on a trip to DC with his school for the past week. They had gone to all the popular tourist attractions and historical sites- including superhero related ones. He had to hold back snickers and comments when they took the tour around the Hall of Justice. Diana had winked at him as she was passing through. After, he had to blink back tears when the tour guide explained about the missing Robin. There was a small exhibit dedicated to the Robins. Most of it was about the original, although there was some about Jason, the second Robin -although nothing was mentioned about his rebirth- and a tiny corner dedicated to himself. Despite the small size, Tim was honored that there was anything at all.
Now, he was almost back home. He would be relieved to get off the bus filled with screaming, immature kids and into Alfred's waiting car. He had missed the butler, and was looking forward to seeing him. The first thing that Tim would ask him, always, was if there was any news about Dick.
There never was.
Alfred would smile sadly and then ask him about his day. It had been routine for the past three years, and Tim had almost given up hope that it would change. He still asked though, every day. Maybe he hadn't lost all hope.
At long last, the bus groaned to a stop. Tim waited until everyone else had filed off the bus, not wanting to get caught in the inevitable bottleneck that would form at the door as everyone rushed to leave. As he stepped off the bus, he scanned the crowd of parents waiting, looking for Alfred.
No Alfred.
Huh. Weird. Alfred was always punctual. He scanned the crowd again, certain that he had just missed Alfred the first time. Maybe he was in the back, or hidden behind someone taller or something.
Instead of Alfred, however, his gaze lit on a young man, wearing sunglasses, leaning against a familiar car- one of Bruce's- and wearing an oddly familiar shit-eating grin. Tim blinked, looked again, blinked another time. The man waved at him, his smirk growing wider as Tim didn't move.
The man rolled his eyes behind the sunglasses- somehow, it was obvious that he had, even if his eyes were hidden- and then reached up and removed said sunglasses. Brilliant, crystal blue eyes sparked mischievously at Tim, full of amusement and laughter.
Dick's eyes.
Tim felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. Yes, those were Dick's eyes- they were unmistakable- but Dick was missing, had been for three years. That couldn't be Dick. Tim knew that at that point, the chances of Dick returning, unharmed, was slim to none. All the facts pointed to the conclusion that Dick was not coming back. It wasn't, couldn't be Dick.
Could it?
Slowly, Tim walked towards the maybe-Dick. He stopped in front of him and eyed him warily. Maybe-Dick laughed. "I know that look. You're doubting me. I'm hurt, Timmy, I really am. Can't you recognize your own older brother?"
It looked like Dick. It sounded like Dick. But Tim wasn't convinced just yet.
Possibly-Dick sighed and glanced around. He leaned down to whisper, "I'm proud of you, Baby Bird. You've done Robin proud. Just don't die, ok?"
Tim's eyes widened. The only way that he would know about the nickname, about Robin, about Jason was if-
He finally let himself believe that it was Dick.
He lunged towards Definitely-Dick, clinging to him in a huge hug. He felt tears leaking out of his eyes. Dick's arms wrapped around him and pulled him close, and Tim felt like a kid again, being comforted by his older brother. He vaguely heard Dick mutter something about the amount of hugs he was getting lately before pulling back from the embrace. There was no doubt in Tim's mind now. He looked up at Dick, eyes streaming.
"What happened? Where were you?" Tim whispered. Dick smiled sadly. "You know about the arguments. I had to leave."
As they talked, they got into the car so they could talk without worrying about eavesdroppers. "As for where I've been…" Dick glanced at Tim, settling into the passenger's seat next to him. "Do you know about The Titans?"
Tim nodded enthusiastically. "Of course. I'm a huge fan of theirs- it's great how a bunch of kids banded together to kick bad guy butt, without the League or mentors. Plus, Bruce's been ranting about them, how he can't access much of their info, they should have some sort of supervision, blah, blah. Are you saying you're an honorary?"
"No, I'm saying I'm the leader. Don't you remember Uncle Clark's stories about Nightwing?" Dick's eyes sparkled as his face split in a smug, semi-evil smile.
"WHAT?!"
Dick smirked. "Yup. Who needs the League?"
"You.. you…" Tim was speechless. "Let me get this straight. You left Gotham and YJ, ditched Robin and became Nightwing- which I so should have realized-"
"Yes, yes you should have. I was disappointed you didn't."
"-and formed a new team, and then made the largest superhero organization ever? I mean, the Titans have more honoraries than the League has members. How could we not have realized it was you?"
"Honestly? I have no clue. I dropped enough hints."
Tim leaned back, amazed. "I can't believe your Nightwing."
"Well, I am. Want an autograph? I can sign your cape." Dick chuckled, enjoying teasing his little brother again.
Tim shook his head and laughed. It was nice to have Dick back. It had certainly been quieter without him.
AAAWWW! Timmy! In my mind, Tim's very logical, fact based, and wouldn't believe Dick unless he had sufficient evidence. And he like the Titans :)
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