Disclaimer: Don't own DP or DC

My book is done! So exciting. Except it ended up bigger than originally planned so now I have to ask my cover designer very nicely to resize everything…about 5 times thanks to the different publishing sites all having different templates. Ouch.

So, you get a new story, it's not going to be a long one.

Chapter 1

Tim knew what he was doing was insane…so no different to most of his life really. But what was happening was just wrong. That no one else seemed to see it… He missed Jason, his brother…no one had seen him since the start of the war but Tim knew where he was, where he had to be. Everything had gone wrong a year ago and no one else seemed to care how wrong what they were doing was. The Justice League was not under the control of the US government but you wouldn't know it now. They'd rolled over and gone to war, the governments attack dogs. Well, most of them. Diana had walked away and refused to come back. No one had seen Deadman, though they all assumed they knew where he was and it was a good assumption. Captain Marvel had left too, apparently the wisdom of Solomon was really all it was said to be. He'd tried at least to talk sense into everyone. Zatanna, Tim had tracked to Italy but it was Constantine he had reached out to. The man had returned to Britain and when they tried to get the British to force his involvement…well, the US and Britain were no longer allies.

The rest of the world didn't want to know. They didn't want to fight and it seemed that, so far anyway, they were being left alone. American arrogance. And he sounded like Damian and yet the kid was fighting. It made Tim so angry and sad, bad enough to turn him into a vigilante with his upbringing. He'd deserved the chance to learn how to be a normal child, not exposed to more violence. And his own arrogance and desire to please Bruce had him fighting an enemy they couldn't defeat.

He gripped his bō as a portal opened into his Nest, relaxing when a tense John Constantine stepped through.

"You've got my attention Red, for now," he warned, and Tim nodded, setting his bō aside. Dressed in civvies and now unarmed, he saw the man's eyes widen slightly in surprise.

"The US government is insane and the Justice League has somehow gone just as crazy. This war…" Tim shook his head, running a hand through his lank hair. When was the last time he'd showered?

"Nice to see a sane bat," Constantine had relaxed a bit, hands in his pockets as the portal closed, leaning against the wall.

Tim snorted. "Not sure I am," he muttered. "This war has to end and there's no way for the US to win but they won't back down. For now, their leaving everyone else out of it but how long till something happens that makes taking the planet, hell this dimension, out the best option?"

"I'm following you kid, but not even a Flash time travelling can fix this."

He nodded. "You've made deals with just about everything possible over the years. You know better than anyone how to word them. Do you think they would be willing to make a deal to end this?"

"Red…Tim…that kind of deal, if they did accept it. Do you know what would be needed? You'd have to…wipe all knowledge of them from the world or something. The price…" he swallowed, and Tim nodded.

"See, not sane," he pointed out. "But can you honestly think of any other way to stop this? Even taking out the government won't do it; it's taken on a life of its own."

And he'd actually considered it, he had the skills, they'd never see it coming. He'd beaten Ra's, compared to him, taking out the government would be a piece of cake. But the vast majority of the population was behind the war, they'd just elect a new government and it would keep going. He'd considered breaking Bruce's most concrete rule…though part of him whispered he'd broken it already…how long did it take to evacuate a base of assassins?

"Our world…our dimension has to forget the Infinite Realms," Tim whispered.

,

John looked over the kid's research, impressed. He glanced over at the cot where he was finally sleeping. He didn't want to know when the last time he'd slept was. He was pale, thin, his eyebags had full on luggage happening. The kid was lucky he hadn't died given he was missing a part of his immune system and didn't seem to be looking after himself at all.

And John felt a twinge of guilt, he'd seen the look on Red's face that day, even with the cowl on. He should have grabbed him, gotten him out of the hellhole the US had become. Should have paid more attention to what reports there were, realised he was never seen on the battlefield. The kid…but he wasn't a kid anymore…he was completely alone. His family torn apart by the war. Bats might stubbornly cling to the idea that Hood was being kept hostage but John knew the truth and it seemed so did Tim. He really had become a greater detective then his one-time mentor.

His plan was audacious, crazy…and likely the only chance. John had heard the whispers, the High King hadn't wanted this war, had been pushed into it by his Council once the 'death toll' began to rise. How many Ghosts had the GIW Ended before the war began? For every Ghost ended now, at least three more were made as the attackers were killed. How did they think they could win when every death just added to the Realms forces? Idiots, the lot of them.

He'd honestly expected better from the Justice League. He'd tried, they'd all tried, but the others hadn't listened. They had listened to the so-called experts and the Fenton's had led them to this.

John didn't want to do it. To sacrifice the best of the Bats, but Tim had done his homework. To power such a deal…would take a soul. Tim wouldn't just die and join the King's people…he would be wiped from existence. Everything he was and ever could have been used to fuel it. And no one would ever know. To them, he'd just vanish one day, unless of course the memory erasure went back so far that he hadn't even become Robin yet. They'd been neighbours, would Bruce investigate his disappearance without ever knowing the missing boy was his son?

If he could take Tim's place…but he couldn't. He had too many ties to the mystical. For all his long involvement with the capes, Tim had been involved in relatively few magical spells and the like. And despite waking next to a Lazarus Pit, he'd never been truly exposed to ectoplasm. He'd been the heart of several teams…the glue that held so much together even if no one ever realised. His sacrifice would hopefully be large enough to undo it all.

,

Bruce pushed the cowl off, wiping his face down with a cloth. He checked on his children… his remaining children. Jason…Jason was gone, taken by the Ghosts right at the start. And Tim…no one knew. He'd been there for the discussions, for the declaration and then he'd vanished. His apartment had been empty, his Nest scrubbed clean…they'd used the equipment made by the Fenton's but there'd been no traces of anything Ghostly. That had been just over a year ago.

Gotham had been hit hard by the war, the Manor was gone, leaving them basically living in the Cave. They'd expanded further into the system so they could all have some privacy. Tim's building was gone too, WE…a lot of the city was once again a wasteland like after the quake that had devastated the city. But a lot of cities were the same.

Sometimes…he wondered if he'd done the right thing. JL Dark was gone, they'd all left at the beginning and maybe that should have made him stop and think. But they had taken Jason and he couldn't lose his son again. Dick's rage had scared his siblings, they hadn't been there after Jason's death. Tim would have recognised it, but he was gone too.

Wrong or right, it would be over soon, the Fenton's team had found a way to deal with the Ghost Zone permanently. It was no different to fighting any other alien invasion. Except these aliens weren't real beings, they were just echoes bent on destruction.

He glanced at where Cass sat with Stephanie, the two talking quietly. Tim's disappearance so soon after Jason's had hit them all hard but the girls the worst. Steph was his ex and Cass was his big sister, the one person who had never hurt him. Though it could be said her leaving after Bruce 'died' had hurt Tim, had left him too alone.

He wanted his sons back, his city safe…

,

John sipped at some tea, glancing at Tim as the kid read over more research. He was trying to get him to eat more, to take breaks but the kid could out stubborn most demons he'd met. And he did kind of have a point…why bother? It wasn't going to matter soon enough.

Ugh, was this how Bruce had felt with each kid who came his way? What had happened to the man he had thought he'd known. Had Jason vanishing, then Tim, broken something in him? he'd heard the stories of what the Bat had been like after Robin's death… But to stand on the wrong side of a war?

,

Tim changed into the Red Robin suit for the first time in months, finding it loose in areas it shouldn't be but it didn't matter. Either his deal was accepted or not, either way this was a one-way trip, there was no way he'd be let go. But at least there was a chance he'd get to see his brother one last time. Was it weird that the brother who once tried to kill him, who had called him Replacement, had been the one he had become closest too after Bruce returned?

"Last chance to back out," John warned when Tim emerged, no cowl or domino, not for this.

"Can't," Tim answered and then darted in to hug the magician.

John stiffened but then awkwardly wrapped his arms around Tim in return. "Damn it Tim, this isn't right," he grumbled. After months working together, the man had let Tim in more than anyone other than probably Zatanna. They hadn't contacted her or anyone else though, the more people knew what they were planning then the more chances of a leak.

Tim knew the Bats, even if this wouldn't stop the war in the Realms favour, sort of, they would have tried to stop him. Despite what he'd thought for years, they did love him in their own ways. It killed him to leave them, that he was taking away whatever influence he'd had on their lives…if Tim wasn't there, would B remain lost in time till he died? Or would he have died without Tim's Robin to pull him out of his depression and anger after Jason's death? And Steph? He'd been the one to pull her into the Bat's orbit, would Spoiler remain a solo act and die with no backup?

His thoughts went to his old team. Kon…Cassie…Bart… He was pretty sure Cassie had left before things got bad, he hadn't seen any sign of her or her mom anywhere. But Kon and Bart… they probably thought he was dead. His backup Nest had been made for a worst-case scenario, designed to block Kryptonian senses and keep Speedsters out. With no sign of him for something like a year and a half…almost two? What would happen to them without him there?

"Thanks, for everything," he murmured, stepping back.

"This isn't something to thank me for birdie."

Tim shrugged slightly. He picked up the scroll with the deal spelled out, literally and figuratively. "This was my idea John, no matter what happens to me, it's not your fault."

He snorted, obviously disagreeing. Sure, what Tim could have made wouldn't have been as iron clad or backed by magic, but it wouldn't have stopped him.

Tim looked around one last time, taking in everything he had brought from his apartment before it was hit. The photos, mementos of happier times… it hurt to give it all up. Would being erased from existence as he was used to power a spell of such magnitude hurt? He hoped not but even if it did, it would be worth it.

"If…if you remember…"

"I'll keep an eye on everyone," John promised. Having cast the mortal side of the magic, there was a chance he would remember Tim.

Tim nodded and carefully stepped into the massive symbol drawn out on the floor, making sure not to smudge anything. They couldn't summon the King and the only other way to get to him would be to die which would make this all pointless. John had reversed the summoning, instead of calling the King to them, it should send Tim to him.

He wrapped his cape around himself, meeting John's eyes, nodding. He had nothing but the scroll and his wits. No weapons, no backup plan, no exit… he closed his eyes as John began chanting, feeling the air becoming cold.

Oh…that was…he felt so cold…strange. Everything was flickering in and out. He opened his eyes, finding everything glowing bright green…like a Pit…he could barely make John out…the chant…and then the icy green rushed into him.

,

He stared at the burnt-out spell work, the spot where Tim had stood seconds ago now empty. "Goodbye kid." He pulled out a magical containment bag and slipped the photos Tim had stared at inside it, that might protect them from what was hopefully coming. It might take a while; Tim would have to convince them that Earth was worth sparing. But if anyone could, it'd be him.

,

The room fell eerily silent as the floor before the dais suddenly lit with runes…a summoning? Nervous and angry looks were exchange but no one felt a pull… and then green flames lit in the symbol and for a second there was rush of noise and light. When it ended, a figure lay on the ground, curled in a ball…and covered by a cape.

Green eyes widened in shock; he knew that cape! He moved without thinking, dropping to his knees beside the figure, yanking off a glove to reach for a pale throat. Thump…thump-thump… he was alive.

"Knight?"

"He's alive," Jason answered, gently untangling his little brother from his cape, confused to find no cowl or domino, Tim's face bare. "Tim?" he called, carefully lifting Tim to rest against his chest. "Come on baby bird, open your eyes," he pleaded, and then Tim moaned softly.

,

He motioned for everyone else to leave the room and there was resistance. That was one of America's 'heroes' on the ground after all, Jason's reaction proved that. But he was also currently unconscious. The pain in Jason's voice as he called to his brother tugged at his heart and Core. The name Tim and red suit suggested this was Red Robin, Jason's second youngest brother. He'd been the one Jason had reluctantly admitted was the biggest threat, not for his combat abilities, but for his mind.

And…there was something magical on him but it didn't feel like a threat.

"Come on Timbit," Jason begged, rocking the limp form in his arms.

Slowly, blue eyes fluttered open, staring around in confusion. The young man focused on Jason, fear growing.

"Tim." Jason called his name and Tim tensed.

"Jason, you're not speaking English," he pointed out, Tim looking his way.

"Oh," Jason murmured. And then the helmet of his armour retracted and Tim froze, his eyes wide.

The keening noise of grief the boy let out…and then he latched onto Jason, whole body shaking.

,

Jason! It was Jason. He felt Jason's arms wrap around him tightly, his brother rocking them gently. "Tim," Jason murmured. "Oh, baby bird." And the familiar nickname, said the way only Jason ever did, made Tim burst into tears.

He clung to Jason, terrified it wasn't real. "Jay," he choked.

"I'm here, I've got you," Jason promised. He whimpered when Jason disentangled him but it was only enough so they could see each other. "Oh Tim," a gloved hand gently wiped at his face. "When was the last time you ate?"

,

Jason was horrified by Tim's condition. He was way too skinny, the Red Robin suit almost hanging off him, his face pale and gaunt. He looked more a ghost then some actual Ghosts. Why hadn't Dick and B been making sure he took care of himself?

"It's okay Timbit, I've got you," he murmured, pulling him back in.

He looked up at his King, the being that had become a good friend, eyes pleading. Phantom approached and Tim shivered in reaction, proving he was still fully mortal. Tim looked up at Phantom, tense in his arms, pressing back against him, and Jason curled his arms around him protectively.

,

Danny knelt down, examining the young man before him. It had been a while since he had seen a truly living human. Jason had been the closest but he was becoming more Ghostly all the time. He did his best to pull in his aura, knowing the effect it had on the living even when he wasn't trying to be threatening. "Tim Drake-Wayne, Red Robin," he murmured, forcing himself to speak English, seeing blue eyes go wide.

"He's unarmed," there was a pleading in Jason's voice, and Danny nodded, accepting his word. He trusted Jason, his brother or not, his Knight would not betray him.

"You carry something magical though."

"Not a weapon," Red Robin answered. "An offering."

"Tim?" Jason sounded alarmed and Danny was intrigued.

"Red Robin has never been seen on the battlefield," Danny murmured.

"No one but John's seen me since the start of the war," he admitted, surprising them both.

,

"John?" Jason asked in confusion.

"Constantine," Tim clarified. "He did the reverse summon to send me here."

Huh. JL Dark had gone…well, Dark. There had been none of their magic in the war, they apparently had the single brain cell left among the heroes.

"Why did you come here?" Danny asked, and Jason knew he had to ask.

Tim looked away from Danny, which was very impressive given his effect on the living. He looked up at Jason, eyes sad. "I would have come with you," Tim told him, and Jason's eyes widened.

Yes, things had been good between them for ages before he was pulled to the Realms for the war but for Tim to say that. "Tim…what's happened to you?"

His brother curled more into him and Jason shifted to sit properly. He could just float or something to make that position comfortable but he didn't want to freak Tim out again. Tim could technically stay, over time he'd become liminal, he could have one of his siblings with him. If Danny agreed and he thought he would, for Jason. So long as Tim with truthful and really hadn't come here for anything bad.

"It's like they all went mad," he whispered. "Why can't they see their wrong? This whole war is pointless and stupid but no one will listen. So, I left. Hid away in a backup Nest no one knew about, designed to hide everything from even Kryptonians. I knew what they'd want from me and I couldn't. And I think that finished breaking them," he flinched slightly. "They lost both of us."

Tim took a shaky breath. "Others left too, Captain Marvel, JL Dark…Diana and Cassie, Aquaman…the Lanterns…but the others. Kon and Bart they…" he shuddered, and Jason tightened his grip, knowing how close Tim had been to those three, but the other two boys especially. I didn't know what to do," he admitted.

Jason gently ruffled too long hair. Had he totally given up on self-care? This…this wasn't the strong, brave Tim he remembered from before the war. They kid who stood up to Ra's and any other threat with nothing but his wits and bō, plus that giant brain of his. He said losing them both broke the family…but it seemed cutting himself off, losing Jason, watching the country go mad…had broken his little brother.

"I'm sorry Timmy, I'm so sorry," he whispered. If he could go back, he'd beg Phantom to let Tim come too, he wouldn't have had to be part of the war since he was fully human. He could have lived here, there were liminals in the Realms, they would have accepted Tim as one of them.

,

He felt safer than he had since the war had started, held tight in Jason's arms. Jason was…different. He'd been speaking something that wasn't English and his armour felt…strange. He'd been here for what, almost two years now? Had it changed him? But he still treated him gently, called him the silly versions of his name. His eyes were green but there was no madness, no rage. He could see the grief…pity. He knew he was a mess.

And this was going to hurt Jason so much. He'd wanted to see his brother…but he didn't want him to know the plan. He pulled out the scroll and offered it to the Ghost…the King. Glowing green eyes seemed to stare right through him and then the scroll was taken.

Tim turned away, curling fully into Jason. Would Jason forget about him too? Or would being in the Realms mean the spell didn't affect him? Would he be the only person to grieve for him? He didn't want to cause Jason that pain.

,

John sat at his desk, staring at the bottle of whisky. He knew it'd take time; the King would be crazy to not question Tim…he just prayed it didn't involve torture. He'd sent the boy there…unarmed…unprotected…

He hated himself.

,

Danny opened the scroll, recognising the magic on it now that he was holding it. Constantine. The man had remained apart from the war for the most part, but his magic had been on several portals that had returned his people home. So, he opened the scroll, only to stare in horror at the contents. This…this was…and he hated himself, because it would work, it was the way out that he hadn't been able to find. He looked up at Tim, the young man was curled fully into Jason.

How could he agree to this? How could he rip Jason's brother from him again?

TBC…