Disclaimer: not mine

So far, I have 2 ideas for a new name for Tim, any Greek themed suggestions?

Chapter 2

Diana was somewhat amused by people shifting to remain out of her way as she walked through the Watchtower. Whispers of her defence of the third Robin had spread and it made those who had said anything against Tim wary of her. Energy had been detected…the kind that indicated time travel and she hoped it was Bruce, finding his own way home. However, the odds of that were rather slim.

She nodded at Kal as she joined him, the muscle should it be an enemy coming through. A bright light flared and her eyes widened slightly at the sight of the two young men standing there.

"Kon?" Kal asked shakily.

Kon-El grinned at his father/brother. "Hey Clark."

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Tim stood in the airport, fighting the urge to pace or leave. Diana wouldn't have given Jason his number unless she was sure he would be okay. His hand drifted to his chest but he forced himself to not touch the wound, it was on the way to becoming another scar, wincing as the burns on his hand pulled. Crazy fire cyborg but it was his fault for catching that punch, that had been a very reckless move. But at least he'd saved the kidnapped girl. It figured he'd practically fall across a kidnapping within minutes of arriving in the city but once he'd realised, he couldn't ignore it, especially when the courier sent to pay the ransom had completely missed the ransom being switched out on him. He might be in some pain but the girl had been safely retrieved and handed over to the police.

Jason had sounded so sincere on the phone, had apologised even though Tim hadn't asked for one…and there he was.

Jason spotted him and headed towards him, pace unhurried even as his gaze moved over Tim, looking for injuries? He stopped in front of Tim and put his bag down, holding his arm out hesitantly. Tim stared up at him, searching his eyes, and then he found himself stepping into the offered hug. "Hey kiddo," Jason murmured.

Tim wrapped his arms around Jason, clinging on briefly, and Jason tightened his hold in return. "I missed you," he whispered.

"I missed you too Timbers," Jason promised as they let go, Jason picking his things up. "So where to?"

"I booked us into a hotel, haven't checked in yet."

"Because of whatever happened for you to be trying not to use that hand?" Jason asked softly.

Tim grimaced but went to the car he had rented once he arrived in the city. He had been using a bike but wasn't sure if Jason would want to ride one as well or drive together.

"I'll drive," Jason took the keys, eyeing his bandaged hand. They got in the car and Jason pulled out of the airport parking. "So…your hand?"

Tim sighed but slumped in his seat and began explaining about the diplomats daughter and crazy fire cyborg amongst her kidnappers, Jason laughing.

"Your luck," his brother snickered.

"Yeah, yeah," he grumbled.

"Seriously Tim, how bad is it?"

"Glove took the worst of it so not third degree."

"So…second?" Jason glanced at him.

"Probably," Tim admitted. He gave Jason directions to the hotel and then went in to check them in while Jason parked.

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Kon caught Cassie, hugging her tightly, feeling her tears soaking into his shirt. "Hey, it's okay, we're back."

She slapped his shoulder and glared at him. "You died!"

He winced, okay yeah, he deserved that. "I didn't want to Cassie, I never wanted to leave any of you."

She hugged herself, looking away. "Everything fell apart Kon. You were dead, Bart was gone…it was just me and Tim left and Tim…"

"Cassie? Where's Tim?" he demanded, terror sinking in.

"Gone. If anyone knows where they haven't told me. He lost it Kon, he…he tried to clone you."

Kon blinked, he what? Oh Tim… he closed his eyes, stretching his senses but from the Watchtower picking out one person on the planet below, even one he knew so well, was almost impossible. "You better not be dead," he whispered.

If Tim was dead, he didn't know what he'd do. That kiss…it had probably been cruel to kiss him and then run off to face Superboy-Prime again, knowing he was unlikely to survive but he'd wanted to kiss Tim for so long…

"I got him to stop but then after Batman died…he's insisting he's alive despite the fact there was a body. I tried to talk to him and he left, I called Dick and…Tim fought him, Kon."

Kon took a deep breath. Okay, so Bruce was dead? Damn it, poor Tim. How many losses did he have to suffer? Had Tim really lost it…or had something made him believe Bruce could still be alive?

"That is enough Cassie."

He turned to see Diana glaring at her protégé. Okay…

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Jason put his bag down on the bed closest to the window, looking around the room. Nice, very nice. He'd gotten out of the habit of staying in the nicer places when travelling but Tim was not afraid to use his money. "So, what exactly are we doing in Europe and what's next?"

Tim blinked. "Diana didn't tell you?"

"I walked in to Diana ripping Dick apart over talking about putting you in Arkham. She had change of guardianship papers for him to sign," he paused, but Tim nodded so he knew about it, good. "She kept me from beating Dick over that and once we left, she asked me what happened between you and me. Then she gave me your number and said you could use backup."

Tim nodded and went to his bag, pulling out his laptop to set it up on his bed, motioning Jason over. Tim sat with his legs crossed and the laptop balanced on his knees. He sighed but patted the mattress and Jason sat down beside him so he could see the screen. Tim really wasn't scared he'd attack him again…a room with two beds and now letting him sit right next to him. Tim gently bumped shoulders with him as he brought up some files.

"Bruce isn't dead Jay; he's lost in time."

Okay, that was…Tim was watching him, eyes wary now. So, this was why Dick had talked about… Damn it Dick. He wrapped his arm around tense shoulders. "So how do we get him back?"

Tim slumped against him and began showing him the evidence he had so far, including a portrait of one of B's 'ancestors' but Tim was right, that was Bruce. There was no way some ancestor had the exact same nose break and small scar under his left eye. "Did Dick even look at this?" he asked in disbelief, and Tim shook his head, looking devastated.

"He wouldn't listen."

"Well, he's an idiot. Diana and I let him know that but I might just call later and direct him to that portrait to rub it in. So why do we need more evidence?"

"There's some kind of energy signature. We need to track it and Bruce's path through time to work out where he'll be when to get him back. I got this from the British Museum." He showed him the scans.

"You pulled a heist?" Jason teased. His baby brother, all grown up and breaking into museums.

"It's not a heist if I didn't steal anything." Tim denied, and Jason laughed.

"So, what are we not stealing this time?" he asked.

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Bart paced restlessly. He wanted to see Tim! He hated what people were saying about him and knew Kon was just as angry. But it seemed Diana was on their side at least. It really hurt that Cassie hadn't believed Tim, though she had found him trying to clone Kon… but still, it was Tim! Of course, he did something creepy to try and get any part of Kon back he could. Those two were crazy for each other even if they'd never said or done anything about it.

He'd tried calling Tim but his number was disconnected which made sense if he was running from the new Batman.

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Dick stared at the portrait, heart in his stomach. It…it was Bruce. Every line, every scar…and in the corner was a tiny bat symbol. It wasn't possible…it wasn't…

"It appears you have a lot of grovelling to do Master Dick," Alfred spoke up from the doorway.

"Did you know?" he asked, and Alfred shook his head.

"All the times I have dusted in here and I never noticed more than a family resemblance," he admitted. "I may not have harmed the boy personally, but I still did not listen or believe him. And if he was right about this, what else might he have been correct about?" Alfred stared at him.

"No…Dami wouldn't," he denied. "He knows we don't kill, that Tim is his brother."

"Very well."

Dick stared at the portrait sadly. Bruce was alive, somewhere.

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"Hello little ones," Diana greeted as the call connected and she saw the two sitting together on a bed, shoulders pressed together. That was very good, while she believed what she said about Tim forgiving him and Jason being safe it was still nice to have the visual confirmation.

"Hey Diana," Jason grinned at her, wrapping an arm around Tim who melted into his side. "Look what I found rescuing diplomats kids and catching punches from fire cyborgs."

"Jason!" Tim hissed and that was when she noticed his bandaged hand.

"Are you alright Tim?" she asked.

"It's not a bad burn," Tim assured her. "Jason said…you made Dick sign over my legal guardianship to you."

"I did, at the moment I do not trust him to act in your best interest and while the paperwork I sent you should help if you are challenged for travelling without a guardian, having legal custody of you will make it better."

"If I wasn't legally dead and knew what Dick was doing, I'd have had the same papers Timbers," Jason murmured.

Tim nodded slowly, curling even further into his brothers' side. How did so many not realise just how desperate Tim was for affection? She did not know a lot about his life before he became Robin but she had heard enough to know the Drakes were not good parents.

She asked questions about the sights and Tim gradually relaxed though he didn't speak a lot, seeming happy to just listen. Diana smiled when she realised that he'd fallen asleep against Jason who shakily ran his fingers through messy black hair.

"He trusts you," she murmured.

Jason nodded, looking awed at that fact. He carefully shifted Tim who didn't stir, proving just how much he trusted Jason since as a vigilante the slightest movement would usually wake him. He tried to get Tim to lay down but she fought the urge to laugh as Tim had latched onto him. Tim whined in his sleep, hugging tight to Jason's arm.

"I think you've been chosen as a teddy bear."

He just looked at her and she smiled.

"I haven't seen him do that since the first time I checked in on Cassie during a Young Justice sleep over," she told him, and Jason slumped. "Poor Kon looked so overwhelmed and scared that he'd hurt Tim if he tried to pry him off or let him stay in case he rolled over on him or something."

That made Jason chuckle. He gave up trying to dislodge Tim and leant back against the pillows so they kept talking for a while since Jason was still on American time unlike Tim who had been in Europe for almost two weeks now.

She sighed when the call ended, she had promised Kon and Bart to not tell Tim they were back, they wanted to tell him themselves. But Tim hadn't said anything which meant they hadn't contacted him yet, why? From what she heard, Kon was attending high school in Smallville and Bart was also settled back home. Did they think Tim wouldn't want to know…or they didn't have his new number.

That…might be her mistake.

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Tim pulled on his belt, making sure it was sitting right before adding the gloves. He had the cape on but hadn't pulled up his cowl yet. He looked over as Jason left the bathroom, surprised to see what he was wearing. "What?"

"Can't have Red Hood reported over here," he shrugged.

There was no blood red bat on his chest or red helmet. It actually looked more like a suite than his Hood gear, in dark colours.

"It looks good," he offered and Jason put on a black domino rather than the red he wore under the helmet.

"Thanks, use it when I need to get around without being recognised." Jason looked him over. "Needs some refitting, but otherwise looks good," he offered, moving closer to help adjust it before pulling the cowl up for him. It felt good to have his approval given it had originally been Jason's.

"There wasn't exactly time," Tim pointed out quietly.

"True. Cowl makes you look older though your hair has to be very annoying once you take it off."

"Telling me I need a haircut?" Tim asked.

"Nah, it suits you longer." A gloved hand petted at his now covered head. "Let's get this heist started, Red Robin."

"It's not a heist," Tim grumbled.

"Whatever you say Timmy."

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Diana sighed as she stared at the image she had drawn, putting it with the first. It was being hasty. Yes, she had legal custody of Tim but it was only till Bruce returned and Tim was almost an adult anyway. He had a new name and suit already, one more independent of any other hero though still tied to Batman. Tim had become Robin for Bruce, surely, he wouldn't want to change that.

And yet…she kept the drawings.

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Jason sat still and let Tim carefully clean the cut on his shoulder. Seriously, what were the odds? They pull of the job without getting caught and Jason slips on a wet rooftop on the way back to the hotel. He felt like an idiot but Tim hadn't laughed, no, he'd lunged for him and caught his wrist, risking dislocating his own shoulder to keep him from going over the edge. Jason could have fired his grapple once in free fall but it hadn't come to that.

He had not liked how silent Tim was, how panicked he'd been when Jason slipped… of course he'd freak if someone else around him was at risk. Poor kid had lost so many people, if he lost anyone else…

"Talk to me Tim." He grabbed Tim's arm before he could move away.

"About what?" Tim asked, voice tight.

"Hey," he murmured, gently tugging Tim around in front of him. "Look at me Tim," he urged and Tim looked up at him. "I'm fine, you caught me and even if you hadn't, I had my grapple."

Tim looked away again, tugging free to put away the first aid kit.

He hated this, he was not good at pep talks, not anymore. But he hated seeing Tim withdraw like he was. He sighed and changed out of the rest of his gear, Tim in the shower. He called down for room service then set up with the laptop with a movie he knew Tim liked. When Tim emerged, the food had arrived and the movie was ready.

"Come on kiddo."

"But…" yay, he spoke!

"Nope, no arguments. You need to relax and destress."

Tim hesitated but then gave in and sat on the bed beside him. Jason made sure Tim ate as the movie played, relived when Tim began to nod off. He didn't move as Tim slumped against him, falling asleep. He left the movie running but turned the lights off and tugged up a blanket. He had the feeling it was not going to be a good night and he was right when Tim woke within an hour, screaming and fighting something in his dream. Jason soothed him back to sleep and ended up staying up, working to calm him before he could wake whenever he noticed a nightmare starting. The pleas to not leave him broke Jason's heart, Tim crying in his sleep. It wasn't surprising his slip had given the kid nightmares.

Honestly, a session or five with Dinah would probably help, but he doubted Tim would agree thanks to Dick.

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"KRYPTO?! What are you doing with Scavenger -?!" Kon stared at the very proud looking dog. "King Shark too? Oh, come on," he groaned as he took in the third figure. "You went around the world to Hawaii and Metropolis and who knows where else and fetched my rogues gallery?"

In response, Krypto barked happily.

"Bad dog!" He sighed, realising it wasn't just three of his rogues. "I think Silversword reformed, and last time I checked, Stinger was locked up at Blackgate. Did you break him out?" he demanded only for Krypto to bark in agreement. "And then you brought them all here? Do you have any idea what you're jeopardising, Krypto?" he paused to take a deep breath and try to calm down.

"If someone figures out my other identity then they'll figure out Superman's and then Ma…You know what happens when they know who we are. Look at what Brainiac did. Pa died~ Don't you UNDERSTAND?!" he snapped, but then stopped at the look on Krypto's face. "Oh…oh, Krypto," he slumped, running a hand through his hair as the dog dropped onto his belly in the dirt.

"Krypto, buddy, I know you were only trying to help me. I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry." He knelt down and stroked the white head. "You're a good dog," he promised, smiling when Krypto licked him. "Yeah, you are. The best dog in the world."

And hopefully, he could help him. He had two people he wanted to find, which one to look for first. Tim's number was disconnected…Diana said he was in Europe tracking down evidence of when Bruce was. Should he interrupt that?

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"You have got to be kidding me," Tim groaned, Jason laughing as an armed robbery literally happened right in front of them.

"Well?" Jason asked even as he was already grabbing his gear.

Tim grumbled under his breath as he changed as well, rushing out of the hotel for his bike. They'd ended up going back to bikes for speed and manoeuvrability.

"Seriously, we've been here for twenty minutes, max," he was glaring at the car they were chasing. By the time they'd gotten to the place, three people were dead but they'd gotten four more out before the robbers ran.

He heard Jason laugh over the comm and then they were ducking low over their bikes as bullets flew towards them. Tim glanced back to realise that their robbers had back up. "I've got this," he called. He shifted on his bike and then threw himself up into the air, the bullets missing him as he twisted through the air. It was good to see that gangs and automatic weapons were a worldwide phenomenon. He landed on the hood of the car, knife flicking out of the end of his bō as he lifted it and then slammed it down into the car, going all the way through before he leapt clear.

He landed easily in the street as Jason shot out the tires of the lead car. The one Tim had attacked had flipped and he walked over to retrieve his weapon.

"You have a knife in your bō?" Jason sounded shocked, and Tim laughed.

"Of course I do, everything needs to have multiple uses." He shrugged, and Jason shook his head.

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Diana smiled as she read the article in Le Parisien, armed robbers taken out by two masked figures. It was good that they weren't just searching but also taking the time to help people and also have fun, even if Jason had to drag Tim into it. She hoped they would have a good time in Paris, she had always liked the city.

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"I think I found something," Tim called as soon as Jason had stepped into their room.

He sighed but slipped out of his shoes and jacket before joining him. "What have you got?" he asked rather than chide him for overworking himself, he had taken the day before yesterday off at least. He'd already sent Diana the picture of Tim being attacked by a flock of birds for his lunch and another of the two of them at the top of the Eiffel Tower.

"A lead on a Mother Box."

"What the hell do you want with that?" he asked in alarm.

"It's a tangible link to the Fourth World Jason."

"You think it could help find Bruce?" he asked, and Tim nodded.

"Alright, what have you got?"

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Kon hovered above Paris, Krypto at his side, and then they both dove. Kon grinned as he spotted the caped figure on a motorcycle, he knew that heartbeat anywhere, even racing with adrenaline, especially then really considering all the fights they'd been in side by side.

As if sensing them, Tim's head turned, taking his eyes off the road. Kon saw his jaw drop slightly in shock even as he pulled up level with him.

"So…I tried calling but your number's disconnected," he offered.

"Kon?" Tim whispered, perfectly audible with his hearing though.

"Bart tried calling too."

"I…had to get a new phone," Tim stammered. "It's really you?"

"Yeah Tim, it's really me. So, who are we chasing?"

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Tim heard silence on the other end of his comm, Jason remaining quiet. Was it really Kon? It had to be; Krypto would know if it wasn't. How…how was this possible? He took a deep breath and forced himself to focus on the mission.

"A con man named The Funky Flashman. He used to be Mr Miracle's tour manager."

"And you're after him because?"

"Somehow he came into possession of an old Mother Box. With Mr Miracle and the other New Gods gone, that Mother Box is the only tangible connection to the Fourth World I've got. And it could lead me to Bruce," he explained.

"Krypto," Kon called and the dog barked. "Fetch."

Tim slammed on the breaks and watched as Krypto fetched…in a manner of speaking. He caught the Mother Box as it fell from the now airborne car and sighed in defeat. Damn it.

"Good Dog!" Kon called and then grinned at him. "You see Robin, problem solved."

He'd really missed that grin. "The problem's not solved. Not unless I can fix it…and I can't." He was good with tech, but a Mother Box? "And I'm not Robin anymore," he whispered. He nearly flinched when a familiar hand landed on his shoulder, looking up into Kon's concerned eyes.

"You'll always be Robin to me," Kon smiled sadly at him.

He heard the soft taps of code in his comm, Jason heading back to the hotel to give them time alone.

Tim glanced around at everyone watching and then at Kon who offered an arm. He nodded and then they were airborne, flying over Paris until Kon found a secluded rooftop. They landed and Tim just stared at him, taking it all in.

"Tim?" Kon asked, beginning to look concerned, and Tim reached out, pressing his hand over Kon's heart, feeling it beating steadily, his chest rising and falling with every breath.

The last time Tim had seen him…it had been too late, Kon was already gone. Tim had searched desperately for any sign of life even as Cassie had attempted CPR, her strength needed against a Kryptonians' enhanced body. But the wounds had been too severe, there was nothing anyone could do. "How…how is this possible?" he asked, and Kon reached out to touch his cheek, Tim leaning into the warm touch. He reached up and yanked his cowl off, letting Kon see him too.

"I woke up in the 30th century and Bart was there too. They sent us back a few days ago. When you didn't show up on the Watchtower, I thought…then Cassie said you were gone."

Tim flinched slightly at the mention of their teammate…and the fact Kon had been on the Watchtower. Did…did he think Tim was crazy like everyone else?

"I was so relieved when Diana explained," Kon whispered, stepping closer. His fingers caressed Tim's cheek and he shivered.

Kon…that kiss had featured in his dreams and nightmares ever since. He'd tried to convince himself it had been because of the situation but…maybe it was more than that? He hadn't dared to think that while Kon was…gone.

"Kon?" he looked up at his best friend, knowing his eyes were wide, his heart racing, and he couldn't do a thing about it.

"Tim…" he leant in. "Can I?" he whispered.

Tim nodded and then warm lips pressed to his own.

TBC…