Disclaimer: not mine
Thanks to everyone who's voted!
Keep in mind, I know of some events while Tim was Robin but I have not read any comics. And some things will change, e.g. Tim and Kon meeting since that involved Ivy. Also, heard a lot of odd things about Kon living in Hawaii so that might just not happen.
I'm torn over whether to time skip after this chapter or not.
Chapter 9
School was…yeah, it was school. Not too different to boarding school except he went home every day or to Wayne Manor since Dick's apartment was too far on a school night. And Batman…Bruce let them train in the Cave or the Manor gym that had been made for Dick when he was a kid. The test he'd put Tim through had been exhausting, brutal, but he was sure he'd seen a flicker of surprise in his expression when he'd finished, staggering but still on his feet. He wasn't ready for the streets, not yet, but Dick had admitted that he was a lot closer than either of them had expected.
Some of the other kids seemed nice enough at least, there was Ives and Bernard, they were interesting. But would he have time for them once he was fully Robin? He liked people mostly, he'd gotten along with pretty much everyone at his other schools but he'd never had close friends, never felt really connected to them. Not till Jason.
"Bye Tim!" Ives called, and Tim waved before getting into the car.
So far, no one had questioned the times when Alfred or Dick, even Babs one time, had picked him up. They probably assumed it was a favour while in town since they lived next door. Not that 'next door' was exactly close in Bristol.
"Hi Alfred."
"A good day, Master Tim?"
It was still weird to have someone call him that, but it was what Alfred preferred, at least he wasn't calling him Timothy.
"Not bad," he answered. "Pretty sure I got an A on the history test. English…" he shrugged slightly. It wasn't his best subject, he was better at science, math, those kinds of subjects.
,
Alfred glanced back at his passenger, fighting to remain as normal as he drove back to the Manor. How would the child take the news? He was just grateful that they had learned of what was happening before someone thought to reach out to young Timothy. It was not something so young should be forced to deal with, he had shielded Master Bruce from as much as he could after his parents deaths, but they had found no evidence of who should act for Tim until he was of age should anything happen. Given how often they travelled that was preposterous.
But they weren't dead yet and hopefully they would remain alive. Master Bruce had been in contact with Drake Industries and when they stated firmly that they did not pay ransoms, as they had learnt when Batman rescued Tim previously, he had sent the ransom money himself. Batman and Nightwing were preparing for the trip to Haiti, to ensure the couple was returned safely, but there were no guarantees. Paying a ransom did not ensure survival, only raise the chances depending on the captor.
Alfred had prepared all of the comfort foods that Master Dick and Miss Barbara could tell him of, but Master Tim still held so much of himself from them. He did not blame the boy; they had not given him a warm welcome after all. But given the circumstances, could anyone blame them? He missed his grandson and always would, no one could replace him. But Tim had been his friend, as much of a friend as Jason could have behind the mask. Had he ever spoken of Alvin to anyone? If he had, would they react well to meeting him? Master Tim would likely need all of the support he could get in the coming days if things ended badly.
,
Dick left his mask off for now, waiting to hear the grandfather clock opening, hoping they'd make it before they were ready to leave. He took a deep breath, glancing over at where Bruce was prepping the Batplane. They had to make it in time, they had to. Tim might not think much of his Dad, but it was obvious he adored his Mom. He hated the idea of leaving Tim behind with only Alfred, not that Alfred wasn't amazing, but he had the whole butler stiff upper lip thing… huh, maybe?
"Hey Wally?"
"Dick! Hey, what's up?"
"Did Ja...did he ever mention a friend, Alvin?" he asked.
"Um…maybe…a kid and camera or something? Is something wrong? Areyouokay?"
"About to leave on a rescue mission, for the kid's parents. He could use someone here other than Alfred, someone closer in age. You know? And with you here, he can train if he feels like it, you're fast enough to stop any accidents. But he's really good. He…he's going to be Robin."
"Oh…did B chose him? Are you okay with that?"
"I chose him. Well, he kind of chose us. He's known who we are for years and never told anyone. But after Jay…he reached out, ended up saving us from Two-Face. He beat him in a fight, broke his nose…he's a good kid but Jason was about his only friend and…I'm worried about him."
"On my way!" Wally answered.
Dick hung up the call and looked over at Bruce. "Wally's coming to keep Tim company. He can watch him if he needs to burn energy training."
Bruce grunted; it was the annoyed but accepting grunt. Wally was Dick's best friend, Bruce had plenty of years of exposure to the speedster to accept his presence.
And then Wally was there and Dick grabbed him in a hug, his best friend hugging back just as tightly. "You okay?"
"B paid the ransom for them, but there's been nothing since, we're going to Haiti to bring them back. Jay knew their son as Alvin, if he wants to tell you his real name then it's his choice. Just…be here for him?"
"Does he know?"
"Alfred went to pick him up from school." And the grandfather clock began to open. "They're here."
,
Wally kind of remembered Jason mentioning a kid once, something about photos and rooftops but he hadn't really been paying attention. Which he regretted now, outside of Roy, Jason hadn't really bonded with much of the team. It was on them and they all knew it, but the age gap held part of the blame too. And now Jason's friend was training as Robin, had Jason suggested it to the kid maybe? He blinked and then bit back a laugh as the small boy who was walking down the stairs. Bruce really had a type…though this one still had parents?
"Hey Al," Dick ruffled black hair, and the boy blinked at him.
"Dick?"
"Got someone here for you to meet." He nudged the boy into Wally's view.
Wally watched blue eyes go wide. "You're Wally West!" he almost squealed, and Wally looked to Dick who shook his head.
"I didn't tell the little genius. He's worked out a lot of heroes id's apparently."
"Sorry," the kid winced, and Wally shrugged.
"Bat in training, right? You'd have figured it out eventually." He grinned at the boy who stared at him before offering his hand. Such a mini-adult!
"Tim Drake," he introduced himself formally, but Wally could tell he was nervous, seeing Dick's surprise.
"Nice to meet you, Tim! Hey…you ever wanted to go really fast?" he opened his arms and Tim looked at Dick who nodded with his own grin. Wally made sure he had a good grip on the kid and then they were zipping around, not at top speed, but way faster than a normal person could run.
When he put Tim down the kid stumbled a little before straightening, a large smile on his face, making him look more his age. How old was he anyway?"
"Tim…" Dick hesitated.
"Something's happened."
"We intercepted a ransom demand in Haiti."
Tim blinked and then swallowed. "My parents?"
"B paid the ransom and we're going to go get them."
Tim nodded and Dick pulled him into a hug, the kid kind of…still.
"Wally and Alfred are going to stay with you. You can grill Wally for stories all you want or you can train and he'll watch you. We'll be back as soon as we can," Dick promised, but he didn't promise he'd have the kids parents, smart.
Wally looked at Dick, maybe he should go instead? He had the speed to get them out and to medical after all. "Dick stay, I'll go with the Bat, if they need anything fast, I'm the best."
Dick looked between them. "Yeah, okay. Be careful."
"Thank you, Mr West."
"Call me Wally, Tim," he ruffled black hair and then dashed to join Batman.
,
Wally going made sense, he could run Janet to any needed medical aid. Jack could wait as far as Dick was concerned. He pulled Tim into his side, holding him close as the Batplane took off. He felt steady breathing hitch and then Tim began to tremble. Dick shifted closer to the computer, lowering himself into the chair and taking Tim with him. He was small for his age but not so small that holding him in his lap was entirely comfortable, especially with the muscle he was beginning to build.
"They'll do everything they can Timmy," he promised. He wished he could promise they would succeed but they both knew he couldn't. He rocked him gently, nodding when Alfred appeared with a plate of cookies and some mugs, a blanket settling over Tim's back to fight the Cave's natural chill. And despite everything…he didn't make a sound. Because he'd been taught not to or because there'd never been an answer? Dick didn't like either option.
,
"How can I help you, Alfred?" Selina purred.
"I am afraid a certain kitten may be about to receive bad news. Master Bruce is doing what he can but…the child may need you."
"Alfred?" had he been hurt?
"His parents were taken. The ransom was paid but there was no word of release. The younger Flash is with him in case speed is needed. Master Dick is with the ki…with Tim," he murmured, giving up on the basic code.
"I see…" she closed her eyes. Should she go to the Manor? It risked exposing his link to them. But a child alone on the roofs of Gotham…it wasn't impossible that she would run into him. "I'm on my way."
,
Dick tightened his hold on Tim as he heard a bike approaching. Who? It parked and he blinked. "B's not here."
"I know," she answered, eyes locking onto the smaller form in his arms.
He tensed, ready to defend Tim, but Selina didn't hurt kids, she generally didn't physically hurt anyone.
She approached slowly and then dropped into a crouch, hand gently stroking Tim's hair. "Kitten?" she called, and Tim stirred.
Kitten?! What? But…it kind of made sense. Tim had spent years following them…what were the odds no one at all had ever spotted him? And Selina out of them all was the most likely given her occupation.
"Aunty?" Tim mumbled, twisting, and Dick shifted to pass the teen into her embrace, Selina settling on the floor to hold the teen.
Even in her arms, he looked small. He was barely five foot two, Tim would add and a half in there. Still, that was shorter than the average for his age. The Drakes weren't overly tall, he might make the same height as Dick, if he was lucky, but Dick doubted it.
He doubted Selina was actually his aunt…then again, it was Gotham, crazier things had happened. Tim needed all the family and friends he could get from what Dick had seen since meeting him. No wonder he'd been following them for years; his parents were rarely ever in the country let alone the city. But if Tim saw her as his Aunt, then that was great, though he did wonder how she ignored the temptation of everything in Drake Manor.
,
"So where are we going? Wouldn't it be quicker for me to run?" Wally asked.
Bruce wasn't happy to be stuck in the Batplane with him, but that wasn't fair, and Dick had been right to swap with him. His speed might be needed to keep the Drakes alive. Should he have called Clark? No, he was away on a mission at the moment. "The ransom demand was made from somewhere in Haiti, we haven't been able to get an exact location. And they may have been moved since the ransom was paid," he explained.
Wally grimaced but nodded. "Once we land, I can search the island. Got a photo?"
He brought up their company profiles for the photos there.
"Got it."
Would they find them in time? Dick had mentioned a few times when he spoke of Tim and Bruce had done his own research. He did not think the boy would miss his father much, they would do their best but if it came down to a choice, he would do everything he could to save Janet.
,
Tim stood in the hospital room, barely feeling Selina's hand on his shoulder as the doctors talked. He kept his face blank, just like Mother had taught him. Mother… he felt weird, like it wasn't real. Maybe it was all a bad dream? He…he didn't know what to do.
And then they were in Selina's car and his face felt wet.
"Oh Tim," she whispered, pulling him into a hug.
"Why…why her and not…" he sobbed.
,
Selina held Tim tightly, heart breaking for him. It had always been obvious that he loved his mother, but that they were trapped by a seemingly iron clad contract. Well, not anymore. And should Jack Drake wake, she would not allow that man to harm her kitten. If it came down to it, she was sure the three of them could deal with the man…without killing even to keep Bruce happy. But while he was in a coma, there was work to do, Tim would need a legal guardian and Bruce was not ready to take on another child. Tim's training was proof enough of that, he could be Robin, but not Bruce's ward.
,
Selina was the only one who could stand with their sapling as his mother was buried. But they watched from a distance as she comforter their boy and so did Richard Grayson. Right age for the first Robin and Nightwing. The Wayne's were definitely the Bats, but they wouldn't tell, not when their boy was the new Robin. Or would be. He hadn't hit the streets yet but the big bad Bat had been improving which was good.
,
Dick rested a hand on Tim's shoulder, Bab's beside him, and Selina on Tim's other side. He felt horrible for what had happened. If they had left as soon as they heard…if one of the supers' had been on planet… Tim was wearing a dark suit but his nails were a deep burgundy colour, his mother's favourite. They used to paint their nails together so Selina and Babs had done them for him, he'd started crying as soon as he picked up the nail polish.
They'd talked and while he didn't like it, it made sense. So, they had gotten together the needed paperwork and Selina was now Tim's legal guardian. Dick would have loved to take the kid himself but given his age, that would have gotten too much attention. Selina had been to enough galas that the Drake's had attended that it wasn't impossible for her to be a friend of Janet's. They'd all agreed Bruce was nowhere near the right mental or emotional place to take on another kid. He was doing better but still not good. He'd come to the funeral though, even though it would have been understandable given how soon after Jason's it was.
He spotted the two women hidden in the distance. So much for their secret id's, but there were far worse rogues to have work it out. Then again, if Tim was close to them, they'd probably seen him at Jason's grave at some point. Two deaths so close together…no wonder Timmy looked a bit like a ghost.
,
Harley looked in the bedroom where Tim was asleep, some of Selina's cats curled around him. Poor kid. She went back into the main room of the apartment and flopped on the couch. "Poor kid."
"Is he still determined to become Robin?" Pam asked, and Selina nodded.
"Batman wants to send him overseas, to train under those that trained him. With his mother's death, withdrawing from school for a time would be accepted by the authorities, or the records could be hacked."
"Are you going to let him?" Harley asked.
Selina sighed, pouring herself a glass of wine. "I'm not sure. The extra training would help ensure his safety in the field, but Europe…"
"Catwoman could always go to London," she teased, and Selina chuckled.
"Perhaps."
,
Tim stood before the grave and then knelt, removing some dead flowers. "Hey Jason," he murmured. "Sorry…it's been…could you…look out for my Mother?" he whispered, fighting tears. "It's not fair. Why her?" he shuddered, leaning against the cold stone. "I miss you but we barely knew each other. You…you were my hero."
Tim stared out across the silent graveyard, spotting the Drake family crypt in the distance. Jason was buried beside his mother, Tim hoped that their reunion had been happy before the Joker had messed everything up. They were close to the Wayne family plot, he hoped Jason would like that, he was listed as Jason Todd-Wayne on the stone, nothing linking him to his birth mother beside the fact they were next to each other.
"Aunt Selina finally agreed to the training trip so I'm heading overseas soon. Finaly get to use my passport again," he explained. "I'm scared." It was hard to admit but telling Jason was better than telling anyone else. "These people trained B after all; what will they think of me?"
Tim was very aware of the differences between him and Bruce. He'd seen pictures of Bruce at his age, the man had been a lot taller and more muscular even as a teen. And he hadn't trained with them till he was nineteen or so. Compared to that…Tim was a shrimp and he knew it, no matter the muscle he'd gained over the last few months of training.
"I'll come see you when I get back," he promised. "Got to go say bye to Mother now."
,
Dick grinned as Selina fussed over Tim as they waited for his flight to be called. He could have flown privately, but that would call more attention to him so it was better to go commercial and blend into the crowds. Alfred stood nearby, keeping an eye on things. He'd gone over Tim's luggage thoroughly to ensure the kid had everything he could possibly need packed into the smallest space manageable.
"Remember to have some fun too, Kitten," Selina was telling him, and Tim nodded. "Keep me updated on where you are and I'll see you next month."
"You don't have,"
"I want to," she told him, and Tim nodded.
Who knew Selina could be so protective of a person and not just cats? Then again, he'd run into Ivy and Harley on patrol, thankfully it had been non-violent, but they'd made some things very clear. Tim had to have the weirdest collection of 'family' on the planet.
Dick straightened as the flight to London was called. "Ready kiddo?"
"Ready," Tim nodded, standing straight.
"Call whenever you want to, day or night," Dick murmured.
"I will."
Dick pulled him into a hug, then Selina hugged him and Tim surprised them all by darting in to hug Alfred.
"Safe travels dear boy."
They stayed, watching the window, until the plane took off into the gloomy Gotham skies.
,
Bruce stared at the damage in shock. Who…who could have done this? Why? "Cameras?" he demanded.
"Were out 'cause of the storm, Mister Wayne," the groundskeeper answered nervously.
"But this damage isn't from the storm."
"No sir."
"Have it fixed immediately," he ordered. He would be placing some security of his own. The Joker was dead, who else would want to vandalise Jason's grave?
TBC….
In the other version, Janet survives since the divorce was going on around the time they would have been in Haiti. Sadly, here there was no divorce.