The conflict between Tim and Dick at the beginning of Red Robin is accidentally the most interesting thing to happen to their relationship in years but everyone seems to want to simplify it to either "Dick is mean and unfair" or "Tim is a selfish brat" when the BEST batman conflicts (of which this could be one) are the ones where everyone has a point.
But the thing that REALLY gets to me is that, whether they think Dick was right or wrong for his choices, everyone seems to act like it was a logical and unemotional decision on his part??? That choosing to not believe Tim's theory was obvious and immediate?
Imagine:
Tim strolls into the Batcave and gives Dick everything he wants on a silver platter:
Hey, none of this is real; you don't have to be Batman. We can be Robin and Nightwing again, and we can go save our dad! You don't have to move cities and derail your entire life and raise a kid by yourself.
You think Dick didn't want so badly to say yes?
You think he didn't want to throw away everything and run off with Tim, that he wasn't desperate for a way out of the terrible burden Bruce had laid on his shoulders?
But Bruce had entrusted him with everything. His city. His legacy. His kid. His kids.
Dick made the infinitely more difficult choice, because he wanted Tim to be right so badly but would not abandon what he had been entrusted with. Would not let Gotham fall. Would not abandon Damian to fester with no one to care for him.
Would not feed into what very well might be a delusion wrought from grief, no doubt hurting Tim in the process, just so that Dick could avoid reality for a little longer.
1: sexuality headcanon
2: otp
3: brotp
4: notp
5: first headcanon that pops into my head
6: favorite line from this character
7: one way in which I relate to this character
8: thing that gives me second hand embarrassment about this character
9: cinnamon roll or problematic fave?
THE DRAMATICALLY DISTRAUGHT BRIDAL CARRY PANEL, our beloved ❤️
Detective Comics #696 - Contagion part 8
Strategically placed Jason memorial is ominously strategic 👀
Detective Comics #696 - Contagion part 8
😭💔Tim trying to stay light-hearted and cheer up Dick because Tim can see he's terrified (and also because Tim is terrified - thank god for Alfred's stoic British stiff upper lip - even though he's also secretly terrified)
And come on, Dick, you know you wanted to grab Tim and hug him in relief. How dare your manly emotional constipation rob us of this 😤 I want tears and clutching and forehead kisses!!