Disclaimer: Not mine

Time skip.

Also, 2 pairings picked so far. Dick/Babs and Tim/Kon

Chapter 5

Ghost dropped lightly to the ground, glancing around before entering the alley and touching a brick. It lit up and he pressed his thumb to it. A few seconds later the Zeta activated and deposited him in Mt Justice.

"Hey Ghost!" Kon called, grinning at him in greeting, and Tim smiled back.

"Hi Kon," Tim let him ruffle his hair, his hood down in the safety of the base though the domino stayed on.

He liked the Young Justice team and was always happy to visit. Sure, Dick took him around the Titans but that was different, they were all so much older than him. But YJ were all around his age or within a few years and they were like him, sort of. While some of them were connected to older heroes they were seen as misfits. He wasn't a hero or even really a sidekick but he wore a mask, so he didn't really fit in. And Dick had done his best to keep him a secret as long as possible.

He wasn't part of the team but they were always inviting him to hang out or train with them, to join them on missions that needed tech knowledge or a medic. He loved living with Dick and Babs but being around YJ was a different kind of belonging. And yet, in a way, he was still on the outside because they only knew him as Ghost. It wasn't like knowing who he was could link back to the others since Ghost wasn't publicly affiliated with anyone, wasn't even really considered a vigilante and Tim Drake had no public link to Dick Grayson or Barbara Gordon either. Dick had told him it was okay to reveal his id to the team and he thought he would do it…maybe.

Kon threw an arm over his shoulders and he leant into it, listening to him chatter about life on the farm. He was glad Clark was finally doing more for him, he did wonder if his threat with a syringe and three types of kryptonite had helped the man get his head out of his ass? He liked to think so. At least the man had finally given Kon a name, Kon-El, Conner Kent (not that Kon knew that he knew about the Kent bit).

"Staying the night?" Kon asked as they entered the main area.

"If you want me to…I need to talk to you, Impulse, and Wonder Girl first, privately." He knew Kon could hear his heart racing. He used their code names cause it was just common sense when in a 'public' space, he only used their real names when it was just them. He didn't really know the other members that well.

"Okay…is something wrong Ghost?" Kon asked, eyes narrowing in concern.

"No," Tim shook his head. Well, nothing except he might lose his friends. Sure he had some at school but they were fully civilians and he could never tell them.

"Alright, want to meet in your room?"

Tim nodded and slipped away. He had a room in the mountain despite the fact he rarely stayed, usually when someone needed monitoring overnight or if movies ran really late. He removed his glove and pressed his hand to the sensor, the door opening to let him in. he paced nervously, fiddling with his domino but in the end left it on just in case.

"Ghost!" Bart called in joy, leaping at him, and Tim laughed but caught him, spinning to help absorb the impact, sending them tumbling onto his bed.

"Take it easy Bart," Cassie chided.

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Kon walked in last, closing and locking the door since it was obvious Ghost wanted to talk to them privately. It was obvious their teammate was nervous, but why? He wished Ghost would officially sign on, would open up more, but then again, no one outside Nightwing and Oracle had even known he existed before Ghost had saved Kon during a battle when Kryptonite had been revealed. He'd met Ghost before the others, he was his best friend…did Ghost realise that? He knew who they were but always hid behind his mask and it hurt but it was obvious there were reasons they didn't know.

Ghost sat up, fidgeting before reaching up, and Kon didn't dare to breath as the other teen carefully removed the black domino, revealing blue eyes. "Tim…my name is Tim," he whispered nervously, domino clutched tightly in his hands.

Kon stared at him, taking in his full features for the first time. He was…wow. No, nope, not going there, they were friends, no way would Gh…Tim ever want something else from him. He stepped towards him and held his hand out. "Nice to meet you Tim," he offered, and Tim slowly took his hand, letting Kon shake them.

Then Bart was hugging Tim and Cassie was ruffling his hair.

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Tim flopped back on his bed, relieved that they weren't mad he took so long to tell them. Then the mattress dipped under new weight and he knew it was Kon. "I'm sorry," he whispered, and he felt Kon move, rolling onto his side.

"For what?"

"Not telling you before," Tim answered, and then Kon was squeezing his hand.

"Hey, it's your secret identity, Gh, Tim."

Tim turned his head to face him. "Drake, Tim Drake." It felt right giving Kon his whole name.

"Tim Drake," Kon smiled at him.

"I know you can see them, but you've never asked."

Kon frowned in confusion before Tim felt the TTK run gently over the scars on his face. "Everyone in this business has scars Tim."

Right, Kon had never dealt with Gotham, with…him. He grabbed Kon's hand and lifted it, tracing the scars around his mouth. The surgery Dick had gotten him had helped reduce them but nothing could get rid of them totally. Usually, he hated them being touched but the shiver that ran through him was…nice.

"They must have hurt so much," Kon murmured, and Tim nodded, leaning into his hand.

"It was…" Tim took a deep breath, he could do this, he could.

"Tim, you don't have to tell me anything," Kon told him like he was reading his mind, which was ridiculous since that wasn't one of his powers.

"Joker…it was the Joker," Tim got the words out, and Kon froze, eyes wide. Tim broke eye contact, looking away, not wanting to see more.

"This one too?" Kon asked, voice shaking, as he traced the longer scar down his face, and Tim nodded. "I'm sorry he ever got that close," Kon whispered.

"He…he took me Kon and I…I wasn't strong enough."

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Cassie really hoped that leaving them alone would lead to Kon finally admitting to his crush on Ghost…on Tim. Then again, she wished he'd join the team too. For someone who claimed to not be a fighter first, he was great at it. The first time she'd seen him pull out his bō and take out three thugs twice his size…well if he was a girl he'd make an excellent Amazon. None of them knew exactly how old Tim was, but she thought he was about her age, so the fact he had somehow completed paramedic training? Wow. And he could hack just about anything, even alien tech.

But something held him back from signing on with them. She didn't think it was the others on the team. He was nice enough with them and while they were all curious none of them pushed him to answer their questions. There was just something about Tim that always seemed…lonely. They could fix that if he'd let them and maybe now that they knew his name, he would.

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He perched on the rooftop, staring down at the alleys but then he found himself glancing up and across the way, spotting movement. Part of him wanted to go to that window and slip inside, but he knew he wouldn't be welcomed, not now, probably never again.

Bruce had been back in Gotham for over a year and they had spoken once, the day he came back. To say it hadn't gone well would be an understatement. He hated it, B was still his dad, but even after therapy and everything, he wouldn't forgive Dick for going to the Justice League. With the ban on him being a vigilante, Bruce had abandoned the manor for the penthouse, Alfred splitting his time between the two locations. And Bruce had done nothing to stop them from using the Cave or even the Manor, hadn't removed Dick from the will. So somewhere deep down, Bruce knew they had been right.

Dick hated the cowl but, in the end, he had taken it up because they needed Batman's reputation to keep the rogues in line. Sure, some of them had eventually worked out he wasn't the original, but not all. He'd softened Batman's behaviour over time too, made him more approachable for civilians. He was his own kind of Batman and one without a Robin. There was only one kid he'd ever consider asking to wear his colours and Tim was happy as Ghost, content with his role in things. He didn't want to be a sidekick but he still worked with Dick and Babs. He even stayed off the streets whenever Joker broke out or went to stay with Young Justice, which was where he was.

Getting Tim away from the Drakes hadn't been easy but, in the end, they had signed his custody over. It was hard to believe that had all been two years ago. Dick had never dreamed of being even a guardian as just twenty years old, even younger than B had been when he took him in, there wasn't even a decade between Dick and Tim in age which raised a few eyebrows. Thankfully, not a lot of people knew about the change since the Drake's definitely didn't want to advertise it. If anyone saw Tim with Dick then it was easy to assume he was just looking out for the neighbours boy while they were overseas.

Two years and he still missed Jason. He had a new little brother, but one brother did not, could not, replace another.

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Kon held Tim as he slept, face still marked with tears. If he ever saw the Joker… now that he was really looking, he could see the slight shift of skin tone where the makeup ended. No wonder Tim always kept his skin covered, even when he changed out of his Ghost gear, he always wore long sleeves and pants of some kind along with the domino.

He wished he could have met Tim before then, the adorable kid running around Gotham with a camera to take photos of Batman and Robin, but he hadn't even existed back then. Tim back then seemed more optimistic, more open, though not happy since he was so lonely. He was glad Tim had gone to Nightwing and had the support of Gotham's other vigilantes. Though Nightwing hadn't been seen in almost two years and they all figured it was him in the cowl now. The Justice League had never said anything to any of them so Tim filling in the blanks had been a shock. Tim had taken evidence to Nightwing who went to the League because Batman had pretty much lost it in grief for the second Robin.

That Tim trusted him with all that, with his full name and face…it felt good. And he was repaying it by soothing him every time he began to twitch with a nightmare. It wasn't surprising since he'd gone over his past that he'd be having nightmares. Sometime someone would say something about clones and that would be enough to have Kon dreaming of the lab, of the tube he was grown in and yeah…

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He stared at the surveillance photo with a frown. There was something…odd but he couldn't work out what. Batman was out on the streets but there was no Robin at his side, not anymore. But there were also no sightings of Nightwing and that…that made his chest tight. As angry as he was at Dick, he didn't want him dead. But there was also a bad shot of a small, darkly dressed figure racing across a rooftop. Had B learnt not to dress kids up like a traffic light but failed to learn to fully keep them out of things? His hands started to shake and he took a deep breath.

He was going to Gotham and he'd work it all out there.

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Bruce stared at the articles on Batman. He honestly didn't know how he felt about it all anymore. Dick had betrayed him, had taken the one thing that mattered most to him from him. But Dick was his son which was why he did nothing about him using the Batcave or even the manor. It was the whispers of Ghost that intrigued him, had Dick taken on a sidekick? Though, the two never seemed to be seen together, not like Batman and Robin.

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"Morning Alfred," Tim smiled at him, and Alfred smiled in return.

"Good morning, Master Tim, how was your night out?" he set a plate at the table for Tim.

"It was really good," he grinned slightly. Alfred was the best and he didn't hate Tim for what had happened to Mr Wayne.

"Morning Timmy," Dick called, ruffling his hair on his way past.

"Morning Dick, is Babs here?"

"Nope, she stayed at home last night. How'd it go?"

"Good, I uh…I told the three my name but I told Kon…I told him everything."

"I'm glad," Dick smiled softly. "If you want to invite him or the others over any time then you can. Here or Drake manor."

Tim nodded, not sure how he felt like that. Sure, at school he had Ives, Bernard, Zoanne, and a few others but they weren't really close. Tim just didn't know how, ask him to solve a case or crack a computer code and he was fine, but socialising? It was easier with Kon, Bart, and Cassie, because they weren't civilians? But he had had his school friends over to Drake manor once, they usually went to one of the others since Tim was the only one who lived so far out.

"Hey, so…I was wondering if you want to come shopping with me today?" Dick asked and Tim blinked.

"You want to go shopping?" he asked in disbelief.

"It's a special kind of shopping," Dick grinned, seeming nervous…oh!

"Really?" he asked, bouncing slightly in his seat, grinning and even giggling slightly. Before Dick took him in, Tim was very careful to never laugh or giggle but Dick, Babs, and Alfred didn't care. Kon and the others didn't care either but they weren't Gothamites.

"Really," Dick nodded.

Tim got up and ran to hug him, Dick laughing and hugging him back. "I'm so happy for you!"

"She has to say yes first," Dick pointed out, and Tim rolled his eyes.

"She will!" he insisted.

"I'll have to take your word for it," Dick grinned and then snatched him up, settling him in his lap and Tim rolled his eyes but curled into him.

Brotherly cuddles just felt…normal now, they didn't hurt or anything anymore. He relaxed completely as a gentle hand stroked his hair, feeling so safe. He always felt safe with Dick, he was his big brother but also the closest he'd ever had to a real dad. Dick never turned him away and was always there for him, even in the middle of the night if he had nightmares, or…or if he relapsed. No one at the manor was ever scared of him, even if he couldn't stop laughing or lashed out.

He'd been terrified the first time it happened at the manor and Alfred saw it, but he hadn't been scared of him, just for him. He'd been so gentle as he talked to him, trying to calm him down, and it had helped. Tim had been so scared after but Alfred had just wrapped him in a hug, rocking him gently until Dick had rushed in to check him over. That had been when Alfred found out about JJ. He had agreed it was best to not let Mr Wayne find out about his past with pa...Joker, not that he'd met Mr Wayne. Dick was very careful to keep them apart.

"You sure you're okay with shopping Casper?" Dick asked gently, and Tim nodded, half dozing.

"Good day," he murmured. School was hard enough, going into shopping malls and the like could be impossible on some days. Even his school attendance wasn't the best but Dick had arranged something with the school so he could work from home, Dinah had signed off on it too.

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Dick kept a hand on Timmy's shoulder as they made their way through the shops for the one he wanted. The kid was in the middle of a growth spurt that would likely bring the top of his head to the bottom of Dick's. Sometimes he wished Tim could stay little forever, let him have years of childhood to make up for the neglect and then torture of the one he had had. He'd put on weight and muscle over the last two years but he was never going to be a large man. Too many years of not eating enough or the right foods thanks to having no one there to tell him what to eat.

He was surprised Tim had agreed to shop today since he'd just gotten back from Young Justice and telling the core group a few things. He was glad he finally had; he couldn't tell his school friends everything after all. He wanted Tim to have more friends, to have support.

He moved his hand to have his arm around his shoulders, feeling Tim press closer to his side as the crowds increased. "Okay?" he asked softly, and Tim nodded.

They made it to the store and Dick pushed the door open, letting Tim in first. Thankfully, there was only one other customer in the store and he could see Tim relax. How had he managed for two years with no support? Tim had to be the strongest person he knew. They headed for the right display case and began browsing, Dick making sure to get Tim's opinion on each ring.

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"Hey Mama."

She smiled and waved at the figure above her, watching him easily make his way down. Two years of proper training and he was even better at navigating the city. She was so proud of her baby boy. He landed easily and she grinned, high fiving him. "Ten-point landing kiddo," she praised, seeing his cheeks pink up despite the shadows of his hood. "Ice cream?" she offered, and he nodded.

She took his hand, swinging them, and he giggled as they made their way to the diner where Nightwing had met them. She laughed and danced down the street with him. Harley was so proud of her Timmy; he'd come so far since turning Batman in to the Justice League.

They got smiles from the staff as they entered the diner, going to their booth, their usual orders soon being delivered and Tim handed over cash since he was rich. She knew he was the reason money kept turning up for her and Ivy.

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He watched as Harley danced down the street with a slim figure in obvious gear. Eventually his hood was pushed back to reveal black hair almost to his shoulders and a black domino mask. He'd heard rumours that Harley had left the Joker, was it true? And who was the kid? Was that the figure that had only a bad photo?

He'd been listening on the streets since he arrived, not making any moves yet. There were whispers on the streets of a darkly dressed figure who helped people on the streets. They called him the Ghost. Was this him? There was nothing on his gear that indicated any ties to the bats which was interesting.

And then Ivy walked in to join them, cordial with the boy despite being known for not liking males…then again, he still seemed to be a kid. So maybe Harley and Ivy were together and she'd really left the Joker?

The two women seemed…protective of the boy. Eventually the three left, the boy waving before taking to the rooftops. He followed him, watching as he dropped down to help some kids, passing out some food to them and getting smiles in return. The kid was accepted in Crime Alley, somewhere Batman was watched. He'd been the only Robin accepted because they'd realised, he was one of them.

He didn't fight…scratch that, he was good. Ghost slammed a bō into a traffickers' ribs, hard, before spinning to get another upside the head as two children cowered against the alley wall. He could see a bit of the bat in his moves but also Harley and other things he didn't recognise. The kid took them down and then ushered the children away and to safety.

He hated to admit it, but he was impressed. If he wasn't a bat, would he be willing to work together?

TBC…