Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 8

Tim stretched on the medical bed, really looking forward to when they could move upstairs and sleep in proper beds. It was a good thing that he had organised a medical bay that could hold more than one patient since it meant they both got a bed. He'd made the Nest to be able to operate even if the building above was destroyed which meant it had a kitchenette, bathrooms, everything they could need…except bedrooms. Oops?

The other bed was empty and Tim could sense Sora on the bottom level, still empty of vehicles it gave the emptiest space for the energetic training of a Keyblade wielder. He changed into training clothes and simply dropped over the edge, landing easily. Sora grinned at him as Tim began to stretch. The freedom to kind of ignore gravity, at least to an extent, was becoming natural…and that was dangerous in a way. He couldn't come to rely on it since he had to act normal in everyday life and as a vigilante. Only Kon knew about his growing magic after all, no one else was meant to find out.

He summoned his Keyblade, flexing his fingers around it, feeling the surge in magic through his body.

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Bruce watched as Dick moped around, Alfred too was more reserved than usual. He understood Tim's reasoning and honestly…part of him thought they deserved it. They had all failed his second youngest so badly, would Tim forgive them? How long until Tim's return would be made public? He knew Lucius had sent Tam looking for Tim, thankfully she hadn't run afoul of the LoA while searching. He didn't blame his friend; Elliot had been looking to bankrupt the business and Tim was listed as the one to take over should something happen to Bruce.

He loved all of his children, but he honestly didn't know if this was fixable. At least Tim had gone to Jason, letting one brother know he was alive and alright.

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Tim landed silently, working his way through the very impressive security. But his new gauntlet computer was up to the challenge, tech from the visor now built into his domino. He wanted to meet the tech genius teen who had made the tech and his team Big Hero 6. The name was odd but he didn't really have room to say anything.

Bruce said that Babs hadn't known how bad things were or what was really going on till Tim was already gone, that she'd been mad at Dick…had spearheaded the search for him and continued leaving messages for him.

He slipped into the rafters and spotted her at her computers. He swallowed but then whistled a Robin's call. Her chair spun, eskrima in her hands. She quickly spotted him in the rafters, tense since she didn't recognise the new costume.

"B said you've been looking for me," he called out, knowing better than to get into range before she accepted his identity. He reached up and removed his mask, seeing her eyes widen.

"Tim," she whispered, and he flipped down.

"Sorry you've been worried. I'm okay now."

"Now?" she asked warily, searching his eyes, and he knew what she was looking for.

"I don't advise getting impaled on a sword, recovery sucks."

She sucked in a shocked breath. "Tim…"

He moved closer and she put the weapons aside. "I'm okay Babs, really. Still have to be a little careful but I was cleared for most activity." So long as he used magic to help brace himself a little, which he couldn't do away from the Nest. "Nearly ended up," he motioned at her chair. "I kind of got rushed off to an alien hospital but they returned me once I was healed. Bruce and Jason know, and M'gann went through my head, you can call any of them. Them, plus Kon and Clark are the only ones who know."

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Babs frowned as something flickered in her system, was someone trying…and then she heard a familiar whistle, grabbing the eskrima she kept at hand. Everyone who used that whistle was accounted for. She found herself looking up into the rafters, spotting the suited figure, domino in place. They blended well into the shadows despite the red and hints of gold. Colours that made her think of…but that wasn't the RR suit.

"B said you've been looking for me," the voice was achingly familiar and then he reached up to remove his domino. Even in the shadows, she knew that face.

"Tim," she whispered, and he flipped down, landing out of reach, and she studied him. He'd grown and looked healthy if a little pale.

"Sorry you've been worried. I'm okay now."

"Now?" she asked warily, searching his eyes for any hint of green. Please no.

"I don't advise getting impaled on a sword, recovery sucks," he answered almost flippantly, but there was no green.

She sucked in a shocked breath. "Tim…" she felt sick, watching him approach her cautiously. She hesitated, but then put the eskrima aside, he had revealed his presence when he could have attacked before she realised that he was there.

"I'm okay Babs, really. Still have to be a little careful but I was cleared for most activity. Nearly ended up," he motioned at her chair. "I kind of got rushed off to an alien hospital but they returned me once I was healed. Bruce and Jason know, and M'gann went through my head, you can call any of them. Them, plus Kon and Clark are the only ones who know."

He nearly ended up…which meant the blade either nicked or barely missed his spine. How close had he been to death? She clicked on the system for Bruce on a private line, quickly getting confirmation that this was Tim and he was telling the truth. After all, someone brainwashed or sent to replace him would know what to say to get their trust.

She reached for his hand and he reached back, letting her squeeze his hand in support, feeling the warmth and strength. He was alive and back in Gotham. So, she pulled on his hand, Tim squawking as he went sprawling into her lap so she could hug him, even as she was careful, not wanting to risk aggravating his injury.

"I missed my hacker buddy," she whispered and Tim went limp hugging her back, she didn't mention the tears she felt dripping onto her neck. "Never scare me like that again, Tim. I…I thought you were dead. The info drop you had set up was delayed so it was two weeks before we got it. All I could find was your arrival in Iraq."

"Not like I meant to be stabbed and then abducted by aliens," he grumbled but didn't try to get away.

She ruffled his little ponytail, just relieved that he was back. "I'm sorry Tim, I only found out about everything after you left Gotham. I wish you'd come to me. Dick's had very bad luck with electronics since, so long as it doesn't endanger anyone."

That got a shy smile. "Sorry, I just…I had to go."

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"So, it went well?" Sora asked as Tim finished pulling on a t-shirt, making sure to keep his eyes off the very nice pale skin.

"Yeah, apparently Babs really let Dick have it once he finally told her what was going on. I knew she was looking for me but…I thought she was looking for him. And she kept looking once they realised that I was gone, was leaving messages for me in case I was just in hiding," he explained, moving to grab the plates.

They settled in and ate their meal quietly, chatting about everything Sora was learning. Getting him caught up on tech and pop culture was fun. Sora had admitted that computers and him were…bad. But Tim was determined to help him learn. After all, he'd made sure Sora's suit had the same tech built in as his own.

"Figured out a name yet?" Sora asked, yawning slightly.

"Yeah, Babs added it to the roster, should really confuse those who don't know I'm back," and there was a smirk, not really playful but from what Tim had said about what had happened, he couldn't really blame him. It wasn't like this payback through secrecy would hurt anyone. "You?"

Sora sighed. He needed something totally unconnected to his being a Keyblade wielder. That was hard to choose. "What name did you pick?" maybe he could pick something that would go with it?

"Phoenix," Tim answered as he moved to wash the dishes.

"Oh, I know that one!" Sora grinned. "I heard about them in the Coliseum, they're immortal firebirds."

"Yeah. Coliseum?" Tim glanced at him as Sora moved to dry the dishes.

"It's where I did some of my early training after getting the Keyblade." He explained about Herc and Hades and all the adventures he'd had there.

Tim seemed surprised. "Huh," he murmured.

"What?"

"Well, the Greek gods are here. They're from the country of Greece. There's the Amazons, a nation of female warriors who were made by the gods a long time ago. But I'm pretty sure Hercules is just a myth."

That was weird. Could they be the same gods? "Hope they aren't the same. Really don't like Hades, he's a pain."

That got a laugh from Tim as they cleared up and headed for the medical bay to sleep. He'd had years of sleeping anywhere and on the Gummi ship so it was easy to fall asleep on the medical bed.

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Finding sightings of Tim during his journey home had not been easy, but eventually he managed to find what he believed to be the reports of the two boys as they travelled across the globe. And it meant being able to track down Tim's new companion, Sora Sebori. He found his passport record, taking in the wild brown spikey hair and bright blue eyes. There was something…wild but kind about him even in a photo. Getting into his records wasn't easy, the islands weren't as computerised as elsewhere but he did find death records for his parents a few years ago. Poor kid. There wasn't enough to get any insight into his motivations or personality, Bruce would have to meet him for that.

Tim hadn't said where his new base was and Bruce hadn't dared follow or slip a tracker on him. Tim would have picked up on a tracker too easily and likely if he had followed as well. For now, it had to be enough to know his son was alive and safe. Though it would be nice if he'd stop freaking everyone out…then again, it was a bit amusing.

And a new name was now listed in the system, Phoenix. An interesting name to choose, did Tim think he had changed so much as to have it count as a rebirth? He had come far too close to death so perhaps his healing was the rebirth.

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Alfred observed young Master Bruce, something had changed in the last few days. He was more at peace, happier, and then when running comms he found a new name in the system. His heart leapt with hope, was it possible? But why else would Bruce have suddenly calmed when he'd been spending every spare moment searching for his missing child? Was his grandson alive?

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Tim grinned as Sora wrinkled his nose, trying to get used to the domino. They then moved to the open area, Sora with a spare bō since using a sword was a bit too dangerous when they didn't want to kill. Sora thankfully had a knack for the weapon, despite its difference to a sword or Keyblade. Tim pressed Sora hard, making sure he would fight without pulling anything seemingly beyond human normal and also that he could move in the new gear. It was getting harder for Tim to keep his skills down as well, the magic flowing through him was starting to feel completely natural and it was becoming harder to judge what he should be able to do without it.

Sora was grinning and Tim found himself grinning back as they continued to spar. Sora enjoyed combat and fighting against him, Tim found himself remembering the joy of sparing. How long had it been since he'd had fun like this? Sparing with Dick had been fun once but it had stopped when Damian arrived.

"Ready?" Tim asked when they were done, and Sora nodded, bouncing slightly on his heels.

"Ready," Sora agreed, following Tim to the two bikes that had finally been finished. Upgrading them had been fun and Sora had helped, hands on engineering work was something he could do, from the Gummi ships?

They set off through the tunnel leading out away from where the base was, hitting the street.

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Babs watched as Phoenix's tracker went live, along with another…Tengu. She'd seen Bruce's search into a young man named Sora, had seen the results of his search that showed evidence of the two travelling across Europe together to get to Gotham.

Phoenix and Tengu, two mythical birds. One linked to death and re-birth and the other had less definite traits, sometimes good and sometimes evil. Probably chosen to link back to one side of Sora's heritage. Phoenix was originally Greek…wasn't Tim's family part Greek? She checked and nodded, his paternal great-grandfather.

She watched their trackers, noticing them keeping their distance from the bats, linking their comms into her system. "Welcome to Gotham boys," she offered.

"Thanks O, anything interesting near us?" Tim asked, from the sound of his voice and the speed they were moving, they must be on bikes for the moment.

"A robbery in progress two blocks east."

"Got it. Say hi to Oracle."

"Hi Oracle, nice to hear you!" Another male voice greeted.

"Nice to hear you too, Tengu. Hope you're ready for the madhouse that is Gotham."

That got a laugh in reply. "So do I."

"Come by later so we can meet in person." She clicked off their line to direct Nightwing to an assault.

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Jason heard the near silent engines of bat level vehicles, looking down to see two sleek black bikes speeding down the street, recognising Tim's cape and the other had to be Sora. Then the bikes vanished which was interesting, seemed Timmy's 'Nest' was nearby or at least the vehicle access was.

He quietly checked the bats system and saw the two new names listed. He smirked at that, glad that Tim had moved past his need to be linked so obviously to the bats.

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"Hey guys," Riku grinned at the sight of Sora and Tim leaning together so they could both be seen. "Everything okay?"

"Yep," Sora grinned, and Riku knew he'd made the right choice because that grin was the Sora he remembered and not the quiet, withdrawn teen that had come back to them. "I'm a vigilante now!

Tim's smile was fond, indulgent, and Riku wondered but he wouldn't do or say anything. If there was something growing there then Riku would be happy for them. Sora deserved happiness after the disaster his life had been the last few years. And it seemed like Tim had been through as much and also deserved to be happy.

Riku just settled in to listen to what they'd been up to, pleased with the way Sora was helping Tim learn. He didn't regret standing against Master Yen Sid over the matter, even if Kairi was less sure about the two being alone.

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Dick heard the whispers on the streets on two new vigilantes who'd been spotted all over Gotham. He checked the system and was shocked to find two new id's. Who the hell were Phoenix and Tengu? And it was Babs who added the first who then added who Dick assumed was their partner. And…Bruce had checked off on the additions. What was going on?

And then he spotted movement across a nearby rooftop. He took off after it, frowning as he spotted something familiar. "O, put out an alert LoA ninja spotted."

"Understood, be careful," she answered, voice tight with concern.

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Barbara grimaced; word had spread quicker than expected about the two new vigilantes. But why would Ra's assume one was Tim? Or was this a check to see if they had found him? She'd kept up the digital search for Tim, hoping to keep the immortal creep off his tail but it seemed it hadn't worked. She quickly let B, Jason, and Steph know. They'd finally had word of Cass, she was in Hong Kong and wasn't planning to come back, though that would likely change once she found out Tim was back.

Damian was forbidden from going out until there was proof that therapy was actually working. Still, she called Alfred just in case the ninja were sent to retrieve the kid for his mother or grandfather. She may not like the kid, but no one deserved to be taken by the LoA.

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Bruce got the alert from Barbara and immediately checked everyone's trackers, wishing Jason would wear one since there was the possibility they had come for him given his past with them. Tim and Sora seemed to be heading back to the edge of Crime Alley and he quickly called their comms.

"Any sightings?" he asked.

"Nothing," Tim answered immediately. "I'll be activating the extra security once we're in the Nest. We're almost back."

"Keep in contact," he managed to soften it from an order.

"Will do," Tim thankfully agreed. "We'll be okay B."

"Hello beloved," a familiar voice called and Bruce turned to see Talia.

So maybe Tim wasn't the target. Unless she had come to kill his son but no, she wouldn't come to him first. Which meant this was likely about Damian.

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Alfred kept an eye on Damian, his shotgun ready to go. And then the security system was breached. He activated the emergency alarm and readied for a fight. Would the boy try and go to them or would he choose to remain with his father? Alfred had the feeling he would choose to leave given the fact he was finally facing consequences for his behaviour. He was too young to truly make such a choice and would never have a proper life with the League of Assassin's.

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Tim glanced at the blinking light and swore. "Change of plans, we need to get to the Cave," he called over their helmet comms.

"How fast?" Sora asked in concern.

"Fast."

And then suddenly the wind seemed to slam into him, pushing his bike to extreme speeds, leaving him clinging on tightly. But it was the only chance they'd have to make it. He may despise Damian, but letting Ra's or Talia take the kid was not something he'd let happen. Damian would be nothing but a murderous monster if they got their claws into him again. Here, he had a chance to grow and become a good person, with time.

TBC…

Sora's chosen last name was found online listed as one used by the Ōbeikei Islanders on Chichijima (Savory rendered as Sebori in Japanese).

Tengu – nothing KH related seemed to work without linking to the Keyblade. Since Tim gave him a background of mixed Japanese heritage, he decided to stick to the mythical theme and go for that.