Disclaimer: not mine

Hope you enjoyed the first chapter!

Chapter 2

He curled up in the dark, glad she wasn't interested in him for once, leaving him alone to sink into self-hate. He could feel it, the threads in his head, one to her and one to…no, he couldn't think about him, even as the thread was pulled tighter…distance. Had he made it out of Gotham? He would never forget the soft gasp of shock and pain, the feeling of flesh parting so easily to claws, the spill of so much blood…but he'd always been so smart…must have used one of the techniques to slow his heart and they'd left him for dead.

If only he hadn't found the blood trail, he could have passed peacefully instead of being trapped in a nightmare. For one second, blue eyes had stared up at him with love and hope…before realisation had kicked in and terror had replaced it, Tim fighting weakly against him. His baby bird…he'd killed him, warmed his own body with his little brother's lifeblood… had forced his own down the kids throat. Leaving him there had been hard but it had been the only way to give him a chance. He'd wanted to hold him, to sooth his pain, help him through it, but he couldn't and so he'd run. The forming bond had been the only way he'd had to know the kid had made it through the change but…it had felt wrong for so long, too thin and wispy like…had he managed to not feed that entire time? But then it had started firming up and Dick knew, Tim had given in. But every time she made him reach for his Childe; Tim fought him with the same stubbornness that had worn down Batman himself.

Batman…Bruce…Dad…he pressed his hands to his mouth, smothering the cries of grief. No matter how often they'd fought, they'd been partners, family and now he was dead because Dick hadn't been strong enough. He was never strong enough when it was really needed. Bruce had fought to the end when their eyes met, there'd been confusion and betrayal but then…it had softened into sad understanding even as Dick had fought to reach for his Dad, to beg for forgiveness. He'd led them to the Cave!

He'd seen Jay throw Damian over his shoulder, had healed the burns caused by Duke lashing out with his powers, watched Cass pull Steph clear. They'd all made it out, all but Tim who had somehow dragged himself to one of the bikes once the Cave was empty. How much pain had he been in?

Alfred and Babs should be okay, they had to be. He'd done everything he could to make sure they would be nowhere near the Manor when the attack came. Being turned would give Babs her legs back but she would never want this, none of them would and yet he'd turned Tim. If Tim had made it out of Gotham, hopefully he could get word to the Justice League. For now, Sire was content taking over Gotham but would that last? Would they listen to Tim if he did reach out? Would he want to if he'd…part of him had hoped Tim would be able to resist but then that would have been a slow, painful death until his body gave out and turned to dust, according to Sire anyway. How much of what she said could he…he blinked slowly, thoughts become hazy and he stood, she wanted him.

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Tim lifted Ber and then leapt from the boat, landing easily on the ground. "Alright?" he asked, relieved that his pulse was beginning to slow, and Bernard nodded shakily. They'd made it across to the mainland and Tim could feel it, his bond to Dick stretched tight enough to almost hurt but then he felt something else…almost… run Tim the words whispered through his mind. Dick?

He shuddered, leaning against the boat. Dick knew…and wasn't trying to pull him back. Maybe…maybe Dick did have moments of being himself? Maybe he'd left Tim to turn alone in agony to give him a chance at freedom.

"Tim?" Jason called his name as the rest of them reached the ground.

"I'm okay," he promised, straightening up, Bernard tucking himself into his side. As much as he loved it, it also terrified him since it meant if he snapped, Bernard was too close. And yet he couldn't help pressing his nose to soft hair, inhaling his scent. "don't suppose you stashed a car? Kind of need to get under cover before sunrise."

They'd left early in the night to give themselves as much time as possible to find shelter or fight if necessary but still, they needed shelter…well, he did.

He was surprised when a gloved hand gently rested on his head before ruffling his hair, no one but Bernard really touched him, he didn't blame them for that. But it felt nice and he couldn't help leaning into Jason's touch.

"Got a truck stashed," Jason told him, leading them to it. Thankfully, the battery hadn't gone flat and the tires were good so they were soon driving through the trees, headed for the nearest road.

With all the stress of the night, Tim wasn't surprised that Bernard was soon asleep, slumped against him. Duke sat on Bernard's other side while Cass was up front with Jason, Duke in back with him as a defence? No, he had to stop thinking like that. They wouldn't hurt him or Bernard. They were his family and would only do something if he attacked first, Jay had promised to not let him hurt anyone.

He could feel sunrise approaching and he clutched Bernard closer, unable to help the terror. He wondered if he would have actually been able to do it or if instinct would have driven him from the roof before dawn touched him. and then the back of the truck got darker and Duke flashed him a grin, Tim slumping, right shadow manipulation, a newer power but now very useful for helping Tim remained unfried.

"Almost there," Jason called and ten minutes later they pulled up to what looked like an abandoned gas station, but he'd take it.

Tim focused his senses, no heartbeats except some rats, wonderful. Could he? He'd been tempted a few times but was scared to find out if he could drink from animals or if it'd just make him sick again since it had been after the mess with trying food.

"No humans and…I don't think there's any vampires," Tim told them so they headed inside.

Jason cleared the few rooms and then they settled in for the day. Tim and Bernard took the office since there were no windows, settling into a double sized sleeping bag.

"You can sleep with the others Ber, it…it can't be comfortable sleeping with me," he whispered, and Bernard just gave him the look, the one that said for a genius he was being a massive idiot.

And then warm lips were on his and he relaxed back, Bernard settling on top of him, hands slipping under his shirt. He didn't have enough blood in his system to really do much but Bernard didn't seem to mind, content with kissing and touching until Tim drifted to sleep.

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Cass looked up as Bernard slipped out of the office, glad he looked like he'd gotten some sleep. She tossed him a wrapped fruit bar and he caught it, opening it to eat. "Okay?"

He nodded as he chewed, glancing around at them nervously. "I'm a Meta," he suddenly said then flinched as Jason's head snapped up, Duke staring in surprise.

"Really?" Duke asked in surprise. "I can usually pick out others…"

Bernard shrugged. "I just heal faster, it's why I've been giving Tim blood, I can replace it a lot quicker, especially if I eat."

"And here I was hoping Meta blood was bad for vampires," Duke winced.

"With your powers, yours might be," Jason pointed out.

Cass held her arm out to Bernard. "My turn to feed Tim," she told him and he nodded, getting out his medical supplies. He hadn't graduated yet, but it was good to have someone with them with proper medical training. She…she didn't want to think about Alfred or Leslie and where they might be. She'd swung by the Clocktower the first day but it had been empty and that probably wasn't good.

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"This doesn't make sense!" She closed her eyes, massaging the bridge of her nose, relaxing as a weathered hand came to rest on her shoulder, looking up into Alfred's worried eyes.

"Still nothing then?" he asked, and she nodded.

What the hell was going on in Gotham…and what did Dick have to do with it? It couldn't be a coincidence that he'd asked her for a favour, for Alfred to go with her. She couldn't hook into any of her systems back there, the news seemed cut off and she was scared for her Dad, for the Bats…for everyone. She'd put a call through to the Justice League but hadn't received an answer yet, but without Oracle's setup she couldn't just access their systems. That was an oversight she'd be fixing fast.

But then… "Tim," she whispered as the coded message appeared, quickly running it through a program. "Alfred…" she bit back a sob as she read the news. Bruce…Bruce was dead, Dick, Steph…Damian sent away for safety and the rest of them making a break for it. Nothing to contact him in return or even meet up somewhere.

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Bernard felt Tim wake and kissed his shoulder to help remind him where he was, he'd noticed the first night that Tim tended to wake ready for a fight so it was best to reassure him quickly. He smiled as Tim relaxed, rolling over to face him. "Hey," he murmured, leaning in for a proper kiss.

"Hey," Tim replied when they parted, reaching up to gently run his fingers through Bernard's hair. "Everything go okay today?"

"Yeah, taught Cass how to draw blood, we're avoiding Duke's for now given his powers with light."

Tim winced but nodded and Bernard cuddled into his arms, happy when Tim wrapped him up in a hug, he always felt so safe when Tim held him and that hadn't changed. "Love you," Tim whispered against his hair, and Bernard smiled.

"Love you too." He missed the sound of Tim's steady heartbeat in his ear when he laid his head on his chest but he was still Tim.

"We should get up," Tim pointed out after a while.

He knew that they needed to head for Metropolis and see what was going on there. Driving, even switching out drivers, it'd take what, two days? Mostly because they couldn't travel in daylight anymore. Unless Duke could keep Tim in shadow for the trip? But if Metropolis was like Gotham, then he'd need to be at full power and surely keeping shadows around Tim would be tiring.

He sighed, relaxing totally as Tim nuzzled at him, that felt nice, different, but nice. "Don't wanna," he grumbled, happy when it made Tim laugh. There wasn't much to laugh about anymore and Tim…it was obvious to everyone he was struggling and for very understandable reasons.

"Ber," Tim whispered, nibbling at his ear, and Bernard bit his lip, trying not to laugh, stupid ticklish ear.

And then his traitorous stomach growled, making him groan in annoyance but he pushed himself up and out of the bag, offering Tim a hand. He didn't flinch from the coldness of Tim's, it still felt startling at times, but he was getting used to it. He used the hand to pull Tim in for another kiss, knowing he could only move Tim because he let him. Even when human, Tim was very good at not letting himself be moved unless he wanted to.

They headed out into the main area of the station to grab some food, Tim sipping at the container slowly. They all knew he needed more blood than he was getting but that would take resources they didn't have at the moment. At least Tim had secured the Wayne family funds electronically before they left. He'd moved it all to different banks in their names to keep it from Dick and his Sire. An account had been left for Alfred since Duke had confirmed he'd left Gotham before the attack and another for Damian even though he shouldn't need it with the resources his Mother had.

"What if we try calling one of the Supers now?" Duke suggested. "Saves the drive."

Calling in the city seemed safer since they could use the buildings and people as cover to run but…would it really matter when none of them knew the city as well as the Supers did?

Tim pulled out the burner phone, staring at it, before inputting the number, putting it on speaker

"Hey," a familiar voice answered, Conner Kent, Kon-El. He sounded stressed and…sad.

"Kon?" Tim asked, and you didn't need super hearing to hear the way Kon sucked in a breath.

"Who the hell is this?" he growled. "Don't you dare."

"Kon, it's me," Tim rushed out.

"Don't lie. Tim…Tim's dead."

Tim closed his eyes, and Bernard held his hand tight.

"It's really him," Bernard spoke up.

"Bernard?" Kon's voice softened a little.

"Yeah. It's…confusing and Tim died, but he's here. Is Metropolis safe?"

"Yeah? Why wouldn't it be? We've been calling the Manor but no one's answered. There's a news blackout but that's not exactly uncommon in Gotham."

They all looked at each other, weighing their options, and then Jason nodded.

"Can you track me?" Bernard asked. "Or Jason, Cass, or Duke? We're all together, outside the city."

"Hang on…found you. On my way."

Tim hung up shakily and Bernard wrapped himself around him. Things between Tim and Kon had always been a little strange to outsiders. They were best friends and so close that it was easy to think they were more and honestly, Bernard thought that if Kon hadn't died then they would be. But he'd been busy trying to get his life back and then Tim and Bernard had reconnected.

The door was pulled open and there was Kon, Superboy. His gaze moved over them before locking on Tim, brow furrowed in confusion at the lack of heartbeat. Bernard glanced at Tim who studied Kon in return before relaxing.

"You're alive," Tim whispered. "They haven't…"

Well, that was very good to know. A vampire Superboy would really ruin their night.

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Kon sat in his room, curled up with one of Tim's hoodies. He felt…empty. He should go to Gotham, check on Bernard, the family…but he couldn't move. He hadn't been there when his best friend needed him and now Tim…Tim was dead. His heartbeat had been there when he left the planet and when he'd come back three days later, silence. He'd flown around the world to make sure Tim hadn't just left America and Kon was missing it but no, there was nothing.

He should call Bart, Cassie…the Titans…they should know. Shit, did the bats know? Tim went off grid and did his own thing a lot of the time, they might not even know…his body could be…

And then his phone rang and he went to ignore it but in the place of a number was a code…one he knew. He shakily pressed answer, not daring to hope.

"Hey," he tried to sound normal and not stressed or sad.

"Kon?" It was Tim's voice and he sucked in a breath, he'd been expecting it but hearing it…

"Who the hell is this?" he growled. "Don't you dare."

"Kon, it's me," the imposter cut him off.

"Don't lie. Tim…Tim's dead."

And then another voice came on the line. "It's really him."

"Bernard?" he couldn't help it, voice softening a little, he could hear Bernard's breathing over the phone, his heart, and it was him.

"Yeah. It's…confusing and Tim died, but he's here. Is Metropolis safe?"

"Yeah? Why wouldn't it be?" he forced himself to sit up and then go to the closet, grabbing his gear. "We've been calling the Manor but no one's answered. There's a news blackout but that's not exactly uncommon in Gotham."

"Can you track me?" Bernard asked. "Or Jason, Cass, or Duke? We're all together, outside the city."

"Hang on," he murmured, closing his eyes to find Bernard's location, "found you. On my way."

He hung up, changing, and then he was in the air. It was stupid, this could be a trap, but Tim had taught Bernard the codes to use if he was under duress and there'd been none of them. Four heartbeats, all of them familiar, and he landed outside the abandoned gas station, seeing a truck hidden from sight of the road.

He pulled the door open and stepped inside, looking the group over and there…tucked into Bernard's side was Tim…but not? Only four heartbeats…it was like looking at a corpse, skin as pale as one.

"You're alive," Tim, or whatever was using his appearance whispered. "They haven't…" He stepped out from Bernard's side and walked towards Kon slowly.

He didn't move exactly like Tim, something almost…predatory. And he stopped out of reach, staring at Kon.

"It's me, Kon." And then he rattled off every recognition code Kon remembered Tim teaching him. But how?

He looked over at the others, seeing the sadness in Jason, the way Cass just stared…

"Tim?" he whispered, was this really him? "How?" he took a hesitant step closer, though the odds this strange Tim could hurt him were pretty low.

Tim reached for him and Conner couldn't do it, couldn't stay back, sweeping him up in a hug, feeling the coldness of Tim's body.

"I've got you Rob," he whispered as Tim clung to him, sobbing. He curled around him, protecting him automatically and he saw the relief on Bernard's face. He picked Tim up and walked over, sitting next to Bernard who rested a hand on Tim's back. And then he listened as Bernard and Jason explained what had happened in Gotham.

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If Bernard had felt hot that first night, Kon was an absolute furnace but Tim just pressed closer, soaking up the heat. For the first time since he died, he actually felt warm. He let everything fade away, he was safe, Kon believed he was him, could protect the others and him. So, Tim just drifted, he could hear voices but didn't even try to listen to what they were saying, Kon wrapped around him and Ber's hand on his back, their heartbeats steady.

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Kon felt sick. How had no one realised? Because…because it had all happened so fast and Gotham was weird, in a different way to the other heroes cities. Sometimes it got cut off and the general rule was to give them a month before investigating. He leant his head on the top of Tim's, happy his body felt warmer now, more like the Tim he remembered. Tim was…he was really dead but he was still here too.

Everything he had memorised about Tim was gone or different now, even his voice sounded slightly changed…smoother. He must have been terrified to feel his body changing, Tim's greatest fear was becoming a monster thanks to their little time travel mess, to become what most would literally call one…but he'd held out for almost two whole weeks. If Ber hadn't woken that morning, Tim would be truly gone forever.

But now he was feeding and had support. Kon knew Tim, he would make them regret turning him.

"We'll have to tell the Justice League, with Batman dead and Nightwing…compromised…" he swallowed, he liked Dick. Or had, till the man turned his back on Tim.

"What if they just lump Tim in with the others?" Duke asked warily.

Kon frowned. "I'll hide him first, till we can explain everything and be sure they won't try to hurt him."

Bernard shot him a look and he nodded; he'd put them somewhere together. No one outside of Cassie and Bart knew about him so wouldn't know to look for him to find Tim.

"Guess I'll need to find blood somewhere to leave there too?"

"Depends on how long it'll take, we've got some on hand and as long as there's a good supply of food, I can keep him fed," Bernard shruged.

"Uh, pretty sure humans can't lose lots of blood frequently," he pointed out and Bernard looked at the ground and then ran his finger over the edge of the counter, cutting it and causing Tim to jerk up, eyes kind of hazy but quickly focusing on Bernard. He'd thought Tim had checked out, seemed he'd been right.

"Ber!" Tim grabbed his hand and then licked the blood away…yeah…that was weird. But the cut was gone.

"No worse than a papercut," Bernard was assuring Tim.

"Just because you heal…" Tim shook his head.

Oh. "Meta?" he asked in surprised, and Bernard nodded. Huh, he'd never even suspected that.

"Sorry," Bernard murmured and Tim finally detached himself to sit and pull Bernard into his lap, nuzzling at him and that was kind of adorable.

Sorry? Oh, for not telling him before. "You live in Gotham Ber, you guys have good reasons not to let anyone know. So just healing?" He asked curiously, and Bernard nodded.

"Means I can donate more and more frequently," he offered, reaching up to stroke Tim's hair.

Was Tim…purring? It was barely audible to even him but…he grinned.

"Kon?" Jason asked.

"Tim's purring."

They all stared at Tim who stared back with wide eyes and he'd be blushing if he still could.

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Tim clung to Kon's back, Bernard curled in the Super's arms as they flew to Metropolis to beat the sunrise. He hadn't expected this, for Kon to be so accepting once he knew everything, to be willing to hide him from the Justice League! They eventually landed in the city and Kon led them around, dodging cameras to be safe until he flipped up a pin pad and opened a heavy door.

"What is this?" Bernard asked as they walked in, the door closing behind them.

"A Tim sponsored hideaway, Kryptonian proof and everything," Kon was smirking.

Oh, this was…well, Kon had spent the money well. He'd given all of the YJ members funds to create somewhere to hide in their home city in case it was ever needed.

"Stocked with enough food to last me three months, just don't turn the UV lamps on, they're all marked with the yellow strips. There's a computer system set up all on Tim's recommendations, movies, books…even a full kitchen and bedroom plus bathroom. Clothing in the closet will be a bit big or small on you Bernard since it's in our sizes. I don't mind you using my stuff, just roll the hems or something."

"Thanks," Bernard grinned at Kon who nodded.

This place was perfect, no windows, able to keep Superman out, even computers he could make sure were secure and then use to try and get an idea of what was going on, maybe track Damian to make sure the kid really was okay. Going back to the LoA wasn't exactly safe but he understood Jason's thinking at the time, Talia loved her son and would do her best to keep him away from Ra's and if vampires were attacking en masse then bases full of ninja would be safer than pretty much anywhere else bar the Watchtower and Tim remembered vampires between them and the Zeta so that hadn't been an option.

"Stay here till I come back or call," Kon told them.

Tim darted in for another hot hug, Kon holding him tight. "We will, be careful."

"Always am Rob," Kon promised, smirking.

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She smiled, running her hand through thick black hair. She had chosen very well. At first, she had wanted the younger bird, the Red Robin, for his intelligence, but it had turned out that the very first Robin was the best choice. No one had even realised he was hers. And he was all hers now, oh, there were still moments of resistance but they were fading. He had even killed his own brother, or thought he had. The boy surviving that blow had been a surprise. But then he had resisted her command by turning the boy but leaving him as he changed. She hadn't been too upset; the new Childe would come at his Sire's command…except somehow, he hadn't. So, it was very good he hadn't been the one she chose, that level of resistance would have slowed things down too much.

"Sire," he murmured sleepily, utter love and adoration in dark blue eyes, and she leant in to kiss him as he went still in sleep.

The city was cut off, no help was coming, she would rule it for eternity. And Richard would be at her side, her loyal mate. Timothy would be found eventually, he had begun to feed and would soon see the truth, that he needed his Sire. The other birds were proving difficult to find but that was not unexpected. One by one they would fall.

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Clark stared at the earth; he hated when Gotham went dark but he had promised Bruce years ago to stay out of Gotham issues unless asked. And then the Zeta activated, surprising him with the idents called out…Kon, Signal, Black Bat, Red Hood?! He left the observation room and froze as he took in the condition of the Gothamites and the grief and fear in Kon's eyes.

He broke his promise to Bruce, searching for him…nothing.

TBC…

Hope you liked the look in Dick's head. He's still fighting as much as he can.