Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 14

Tim sat on the couch, buir gently undoing the last of his armour for him, setting it down for the moment. He was so tired…his body ached all over but his injuries had been seen to before he'd been released back to the family quarters of the compound, thankfully they had been untouched in the battle. Obi-Wan was with Ba'jurir Koon in their connected rooms, probably just as sore and exhausted as Tim was.

"Think you can stand long enough for a sonic?" Buir asked, and Tim blinked, realising he was only in his kute now.

He just wanted to sleep but he knew it had been several days; he stank and his skin itched. So, he staggered to his feet and then Buir had an arm wrapped around him, guiding him to his room and the attached fresher.

"I'm so proud of you Tim'ika," he murmured as he guided him into the fresher.

"Buir…" he mumbled, hearing him chuckle.

"I am Tim, I am so proud of you ad. And I love you so very much."

"Love you too, Buir." He leant against the wall of the sonic, letting it clean him off, too tired to do a more thorough job.

Then he was dressed in sleep cloths and helped to bed. "So much…to do," he slurred, unable to keep his eyes open.

"And plenty of us to do it, sleep ad."

,

Jaster entered the main council chamber, it had taken only some mild damage in the explosion that had hit the command centre.

"How is Tim?" Myles asked as soon as he had.

"Sleeping and he'll likely sleep for quite a while. Injury wise, a few mild cuts and some deeper bruising. Nothing dangerous thankfully."

"That fight was sent all over the planet, there are calls…for Tim to either be named Mand'alor or at least the main heir."

Jaster closed his eyes, that was what he'd been worried about. "Tim has no interest in ruling. He'd make an excellent second but Mand'alor?"

"And Jango has no patience or gift for diplomacy," Kal pointed out. Jaster glared and he huffed. "I'm not agreeing with them, both boys have their own strengths and weaknesses, like any Mando. Tim hasn't even undergone his Verd'goten yet."

"Let's table that for now, we need to focus on securing the planet and routing out any forces that may remain loyal even with Tor's death," Jaster told them all.

If people got too focused on Tim holding the Dha Kad'au, perhaps they could arrange a ceremonial battle between them where he could 'defeat' his ad and claim it. Or would that just make the talk worse?

For now, they had far more important work to get to.

,

Jason let Dick push him back a step, trying not to shake. He had thought he could deal with it but…maybe he'd been wrong. After hearing about how much his death had affected them all, suddenly being face to face with B again…it hadn't gone at all how he'd originally planned, which was good, or in any way that he'd been considering because he'd planned to approach Bruce, not get ambushed by Batman. The green was trying to surge and he was fighting it, not wanting to fight Bruce.

But now Dick was between them, showing utter trust in Jason by having his back to him. It…it felt good. He'd been planning to call Dick after patrol if he didn't spot him, he'd heard back from a contact he'd reached out to about Tim. While it wasn't concrete news, it was something, a lead at least.

"B stand down,"

"You're compromised," he growled and then he looked past Dick and right at Jason. "What have you done to him?" he demanded.

"Nothing!" Jason snapped back, grateful for the voice modulator.

"Batman, just back off, this doesn't need to be a fight," Dick soothed. "You don't want to hurt him, not if you knew…"

"He's not T…Robin!" Bruce growled.

So, they really had wondered if he was Tim. Of course they had, no body meant Tim might be alive but they had buried Jason.

"I know that!" Dick snapped back. "Damn it B, the clues are all there."

"You didn't know till we talked," Jason pointed out, remembering the raging fights the two had had when he first moved to the manor. He had to stay focused; he couldn't let the green take over or he might hurt Dick.

,

Obi-Wan came out of the shared meditation, leaning into his Master's side like a Youngling.

"You did very well Obi-Wan," Master Koon assured him gently.

"I was scared Master. It was different to the fighting with the Young," he admitted.

"Every conflict will share similarities and differences. But you did well in adapting and watching Tim's back, as a Jedi on protection duty should. Once the situation has calmed, I would like to return to the Temple so that you can take your next set of exams."

His eyes widened. "Senior Padawanship?" Obi-Wan asked in shock, and his Master nodded.

"And perhaps, we can sneak your friend in to take them as well," he suggested, and Obi-Wan laughed.

Wouldn't that set the strill among the tooka? But he would love to show Tim the Temple and he knew he would love the Archives. Tim was brilliant and they always enjoyed studying together. Despite Tim's skills as a warrior, Obi-Wan thought that he would have followed the diplomatic path if raised in the Temple, or he would have left the Knight path to work in the archives, maybe with the Orders ships even. But Tim was happy with the family that had found him and Obi-Wan was happy for him.

And Obi-Wan was happy now too. He'd exchanged a few messages with his friends in the Temple since coming to Manda'yaim and he kept in contact with the Young too, even those who had scattered to Naboo or Alderaan. Master Koon was so different to Master Jinn and he had felt horrible at first for being so happy with him. Surprisingly, it had been Jango who had helped him see that it was alright to accept that Master Jinn had failed him, to be happy with Master Koon. He may not be a Mando, but they accepted him among them. The armour pieces he wore proved that.

,

Tim stared down at the deactivated sabre in his hands, he could sense it, hear the thousands of Mando marching. It was strange, but he knew it was tired, that it hadn't liked what Tor had done.

"It talking to you or something?" Jango asked with a smirk as he sat opposite him.

"Or something," he agreed, setting it down. He relaxed as Buir rested a hand on his shoulder before sitting beside him.

"How are you feeling?"

"A lot better," Tim promised, smiling at his family. They were his family; he missed Dick, Babs, even Bruce but after two years he had come to accept that he would never go back to Gotham. Even if he could, Bruce would never accept that he had killed, war or not. He loved his buir and ori'vod and to defend them, to defend their people, he would do what he had to.

A good night's sleep had him feeling a lot better. He hadn't realised how exhausted he was until the fighting was done. Two solid meals had done their job as well. His bruises ached still but they'd be better soon enough. Considering that he wasn't wearing beskar, he'd come out of the attempted invasion in very good shape. Likely because he was well trained in sneaking around from years on the roofs of Gotham, and Obi-Wan had made a very good partner for that. If he'd had Jango with him…yeah, that would not have gone well.

"Buir, what happens now?" Tim asked, glancing at the Dha Kad'au.

"While Tor's followers believe that is the decider for the title, very few elsewhere believe it. If there is a push for you to take the title of Mand'alor, we can put them off with your age for some time, despite the fact you are almost adult in the eyes of the law."

"A mock fight where you win it off him? Unless you want to be Mand'alor?" Jango teased and Tim shot a hand gesture that was not part of any battle or civilian sign language.

"Boys," Jango warned, sounding exasperated but Tim could feel his amusement.

Tim lent into his side, just basking in their familiar love. He'd honestly thought that he was a hard person to love given his birth parents behaviour. Given the way he'd forced himself into things, he'd never expected it from the Bats but…he thought they at least cared for him. Sometimes he wondered if he'd shown signs of the Ka'ra when he was little and that was why his parents left him alone, had they thought he might be a Meta?

"There's still a lot of work to do to end Kyr'tsad properly, but without Tor at their front, it should be easier."

"And there's Tim Verd'goten too," Jango pointed out.

"Some of the council think the defence of Keldabe could and should count."

They both stared at their Buir.

,

Bruce stared in shock at the face revealed, still covered by a domino yes, but…he knew those features, that hair, though he remembered them younger.

"Get it now?" Hood snarled, an unnatural glow coming from the eyes of the domino.

And from Dick's non reaction…he knew. That was why he'd gotten between them.

"Found out a few days ago," Dick murmured. "It's really him, B."

But how could it be? He recognised the signs of a Lazarus Pit but Jason had been dead for far too long for one to work. How long had Jason been back? Why had Talia kept it from him? Or hadn't she known? What had Ra's been planning?

Hoo…Jason scoffed but reached up and yanked out some hair, handing it Dick. "For Mr Paranoia." And with that he was gone.

"Great going B," Dick glared at him and then launched himself off the roof.

When Bruce returned to the Cave, the hair was waiting to be run through analysis but Dick had not started it, obviously leaving it up to him. As much as part of him screamed to believe, that he could have one of his sons back…he hit the start sequence. He had to be sure, if it was a trick and he believed…it would break him utterly.

,

"You want me to go to Coruscant?" Tim looked between them, and Ba'jurir Koon nodded.

"I believe it would do your training good to spend some time at the Temple around others your age with similar skill levels and other Masters. Master Yoda himself has agreed to this. While you will never officially be a Jedi, the Council has accepted that it is better for you to be trained and secure rather than left easy prey to a Darksider. I believe the history your people have with the Sith is what pushed them to agree, despite the fact that they are extinct."

"Are they?" Tim asked, and they stared at him.

"Ad'Alor?"

Tim took a deep breath. "Since meeting Ob-Wan I've done research into our history with them and the galaxy at large. I find it very hard to believe that they are truly gone. And with the way the Ka'ra feels darker now than it did even two years ago when I began learning to consciously listen to it… the trap on Galidraan felt like someone else was moving the pieces, so have several other events here and elsewhere that I've read about. Maybe it's not the Sith, maybe just someone strong in the Dark side. But something is moving."

,

Plo stared at his student in shock. The Sith…was it possible? He wanted to say no and yet something stopped him. "I will have to meditate on this," he finally said. "Please, discuss the trip with your buir and vod. I would advise not openly travelling as the Ad'Alor though, for your safety. The Senate is not pleased with us attempting to better relations with Manda'yaim. And of course, you would not need to come alone either, I am sure Jaster would insist on a guard of some kind."

Tim nodded and they parted, Obi-Wan going with his friend for blaster training. He didn't like the weapon but acknowledged that being a good shot could be useful if ever separated from his sabre or undercover.

,

He scowled at the news coming from the Mandalorian Sector. Death Watch was on the run and Tor Vizsla was dead. There were even whispers of Jedi involvement. He would need to find a way to use that in the Senate. He had put effort into ensuring the man would win and now it had all gone to waste. Mereel's position was stronger than ever.

,

Billy sighed, running a hand through his hair. Should he tell Batman? But if he didn't and the man found out later that he knew something… All the power he had, and he was scared of a fully normal human being. But who wasn't scared of Batman? Wisdom of Solomon or not, he was still just a kid. Letting him know he might have found something about Robin's disappearance but that there was nothing he could do to actually track it…was that smart?

How had Robin even been taken there in the first place? It should be utterly impossible! That dimension was so far away from their own that travel between them… He'd go after Robin if he could, but he couldn't. The Rock of Eternity was the centre of the multiverse, but Robin was in another multiverse entirely! If Billy tried to go after him…he could end up powerless and as stuck there as Robin was.

Batman was busy with some new crime lord, maybe Billy could wait and look into things a bit more. Who knew, maybe he'd find something before Batman had the time free to listen?

,

Jaster sat at the front of the room. He honestly thought the throne was way too much, but it was very old which meant it was just another way of proving his position as Mand'alor. He couldn't help the anticipation and excitement that he was feeling. Today, his youngest son would swear the Resol'nare and take his place among their people as a full-fledged adult. The Council had all agreed that Tim had proven himself during the invasion and so it had counted as his Verd'goten.

Usually, he would be with his ade, helping Tim put his armour on for the first time. But as Mand'alor he was meant to see Tim in the throne room. So, it was Jango alone helping his Vod.

The hall was packed, everyone wanting to see the Ad'Alor swear his oath. At least it wasn't being transmitted across the planet, Tim had been shocked by the idea which had been amusing. The only aruetii attending were Ba'jurir Koon and Obi'ka. They had earnt the right to be there as Tim's teacher and best friend. He wasn't sure about Tim going to the Temple but Ba'jurir Koon thought it would be safe and Tim had said he would like to go.

Jango entered the hall and took his place below Jaster and then Tim entered, his helmet hooked to his waist. His new armour looked a lot like the durasteel set though there had been some alterations. It took some inspiration from the old Jetii styles that Ba'jurir Koon had sent for information on, but it was still Mando in style. It was more articulated than standard, to allow for the acrobatics he and Obi-Wan favoured. The kom'rk were more streamlined than normal which meant less hidden weaponry and electronics, but Tim was very good at hiding such things on himself. He liked to have things where others wouldn't expect them to be.

His paint had changed as well. There was still a lot of red and black but also blue, green, and orange. The mythosaur on his shoulder was now in bronze on the right bes'mabur. The stylised 'bat remained in black as well but the R was no longer grey but yellow. The t-visor was no outlined in orange rather than white as well. Honouring of a parent, justice, duty, reliability, lust for life, and nobility. Very fitting colours.

Tim knelt at the base of the stairs and smiled up at him before taking a deep breath to steady himself.

"Timothy Drake, clan and house Mereel," Jaster spoke, projecting his voice. "We will hear your oath."

"I swear to adhere to the Resol'nare. The core of what it means to be Mandalorian. A sacred law giving us direction and purpose. Education and armour, self-defence, our tribe, our language, our leader—all help us survive. We must educate our children as Mandalorians, obey the commands of Mandalore, speak Mando'a and defend our clans."

As he finished, there seemed to be an unnatural stillness for a second and then a whisper through the air. Jaster fought back a shiver, he very, very rarely felt the Ka'ra so strongly. It seemed the kings of old and their people were pleased.

A cheer rang out and then the party began, Tim grinning as he was pulled around by his vod.

TBC…