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tmntgirlie · 4 years

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TMNT x Reader

Prompt: It seems that a brother of your S/O has a bone to pick with you

Leonardo’s S/O

You had been dating the Fearless leader for a few months now

As every relationship, you had your ups and downs with Leo, but it generally was a very smooth relationship

You found yourself taking after some of his mannerisms

It took a turn when you began treating his brothers not only like your brothers, but how Leonardo treated them as well

You were a little bossy

Leonardo found it endearing that you mimicked him in that way, but you saw how Donatello now looked at you

He started to ignore you when you walked into the room

It made you uneasy

You didn’t realize how when you talked to them, your tone started to change

When Mikey started calling you ‘Miss Mini Leonardo’, you got the hint

You had been taking it too far

You finally approached Donatello

He refused to look at you

“Look, I know you don’t like me. The least you can do is acknowledge that I exist”

Donnie was not having it

“You fail to realize how you’ve been treating us. You may be dating our brother, but you aren’t him. We don’t need another leader in the family”

His words stunned you

Sure, Mikey had called you a mini Leo, but it finally stuck

You sighed

“I’ve been getting ahead of myself”

“It’s normal to mimic your significant other’s mannerisms, but that doesn’t mean you treat us like he treats us when we’re on duty. Treat us like family. I’m sure Leo feels the same way”

You took his words to heart

In the coming weeks, you caught yourself sounding bossy in front of them

It happened a lot

It didn’t sound right for you to bark orders at them

You caught yourself mid-sentence sometimes, took a deep breath, and changed your tone

Even Leonardo noticed, giving you small glances and smiles as he saw you disciplining yourself

One day, Donatello approached you

“Thank you for listening to me”

All you wanted was for them to like you as much as Leo did

Well, maybe not that much

Raphael’s S/O

Dating Raphael was like a dream

He doted on you, was so affectionate, he truly treated you like his Queen

Well, in isolation at least

Outside of the bedroom, he was mainly possessive of you, wouldn’t let you out of his sight

You noticed Mikey look at the two of you often

He never smiled when he did

You just figured he was jealous, wanted somebody for himself

One day, you finally asked Raph what Mikey’s deal was

He never talked to you

“He thinks you’re taking me away from him”

You take Raph away from Mikey?

You didn’t quite know what to say

After all, Mikey had spent all of his years with Raph

They grew up together, for Gods’ sake

You’ve only been in their lives for a couple months, tops

When you approached Mikey, he tried to act nonchalant about it

“What? I’m not looking at you guys or anything”

Lying through his teeth

But you were stubborn, and you didn’t back down

He finally admitted it

“I like you alright, Y/N, but I feel like you’re changing Raph”

“I’m changing him?”

“He never just wants to play videogames with me anymore or go boarding. He just wants to spend time with you”

As he continued to speak, you could sense something different in his voice

Mikey was scared he’d never have his brother again

Did you really change Raphael that much?

You didn’t know what to say to him, so you just nodded and ran back to Raph’s room

It was basically your room as well now

When you explained to him what Mikey said, you had to hold him back from charging out to talk to Mikey

“Don’t make it worse, please”

“Baby, he thinks you’re changing me. Does he really think you have that much power over me?”

You gave him a look

Yeah, you did have that kind of power over him

Maybe it wasn’t such a good thing

He sighed

“You’re right. Whatever. I guess I have been spending more time with you than with my brothers recently”

That started a conversation on what you and him could do differently

You had basically moved in at that point, so there wasn’t a time where you weren’t glued to his side

You both decided that he needed to detach himself a little from you to spend more time with his brothers

They were his brothers, after all

You respected the fact that in reality, you were just a girlfriend

They were brothers for life

Plus, there were some things you could do for him that his brothers absolutely couldn’t

Donatello’s S/O

Not a day went by that Donatello didn’t pull you into his lab to show you something new he had made

Sure, most of the things weren’t completely groundbreaking, but he usually made them for you

And you absolutely loved them

Oh, the thought that went into these things that he made for you

One day while Don was showing you this new feature he added on your phone, Leo stormed in

He was not a happy camper

He began questioning why Donnie was wasting his time making things for you when he could be doing so much more for his brothers

They had needs for new things, too

Leonardo was used to Donnie reporting everything to him, making things at his request

Now, he was constantly either with you or making something he thought you’d like

Donatello instantly got defensive, saying that everything he made for you, he made some other version for his brothers

He wasn’t picking favorites

But Leonardo was not having it

No, in his mind, brothers needed to come first

Brothers needed the most up-to-date tech and gear for the benefit of the family and New York City’s safety

Yeah, he went there

Brought up the whole safety of the city thing

You didn’t have a single word to say

You had never asked Donnie to make something only for you and not his brothers

Donnie was right- when he made something for you, he made stuff for his brothers as well

Now, we won’t get into the quality of the items

He did sometimes give you the best version over his brothers

That was Leonardo’s problem

The conversation ended with you leaving in tears

Leonardo and Donatello remaining in the lab, death glares flying all over the place

“I’ll create what I please. You may be our leader, but you’re my brother first. Respect my priorities. Just because I love her doesn’t mean I love any of you less”

He had never admitted out loud that he loved you before

Now Leonardo was at a loss for words

He had no idea you guys were in love

In his brain, he somehow thought… Something else

He really thought that you were somehow taking advantage of Donatello and his knack for tech and science

As Donatello continued, Leo caught that that was not the case

You finally came out of your room, eyes still a bit pink and puffy from crying

You really did not like yelling

Leonardo found you and started showering you in apologies

Man, could that turtle apologize

Better than YouTubers really

You accepted his apology, but sternly stated that his tone from earlier was not welcome in your ears

Leonardo nodded

“I think Don is looking for you. Don’t distract him too much”

It was a joke spoken too soon, but you let it go

You knew Donnie could make it better

Michelangelo’s S/O

Dating Michelangelo was like a nonstop party

He was always up for anything you wanted to do

A Marvel movie marathon?

Hell yeah

Playing Mario Kart until you could barely see straight?

Obviously

In the mood to be smothered in love and affection?

Mikey was your guy

You couldn’t think of a time in your life when you felt happier

Every day with Mikey was your new favorite day

A couple weeks into your relationship with the youngest turtle, you noticed one of his brothers scoff when you suggested a new activity for the two of you to try

You tried not to let it get to you, but as the weeks went on, it happened more often

Raphael, it seemed, had a bone to pick with you

At first, you thought it was the fact that you kept Mikey busy playing games with you or trying new recipes

When you offered Raphael a controller to play along, he always said no

Maybe it was just you, but it seemed like Raph flat out didn’t like you

Now, you weren’t the most confrontational person

But this was the best relationship you’d ever had, and damn it, nobody was going to ruin it for you

One day you had offered Raph the controller to play along with you and Mikey

When he said no, as expected, you huffed

“What is your problem with me?”

That was not the right thing to say

Oh, not at all

Raphael absolutely exploded on you

Rambling on about how you were a huge distraction for Mikey, how he was less motivated to train, all he ever wanted to do was spend time with you

Wasting his time with you

You could feel something in the pit of your stomach

You swore you weren’t going to cry

You were surprised when Mikey stood up for you instantly

“What are you talking about, bro? Y/N is the best thing that’s ever happened to me! Why can’t you just let me be happy for once?”

Raph didn’t say anything

“Our whole lives has been training, staying secluded, staying in the sewers with nobody to talk to but ourselves. Fuck me since now I finally found someone that not only accepts me, but wants to spend time with me and loves me for me”

You hadn’t yet said that you loved him yet, but it was pretty obvious

“Be happy that I found someone to put up with me, bro”

Mikey pulled you closer to him, eyeing his brother in a way you didn’t think was possible for the youngest turtle

Was this his defensive side?

Oh, you liked that

Raphael clicked his tongue

“I guess. Good for you, Mike, finding someone to put up with you that also beats you in Mario Kart”

Mikey scoffed

“She’s just that good. She’d beat you, too!”

Raphael wasn’t having that

He snatched the third player controller and gestured at you to start the race

It definitely took you by surprise, but it really shouldn’t have

These guys were passionate, they were all each other had

You hoped Raphael wouldn’t hold your relationship with his brother against you any longer

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drawingsanddrabbles · 7 years

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Joke’s On You

betaed by @ilovebeingintroverted

pesach sameach everyone!

Chapter Six: Under The Red Hood

links

Batman—Bruce Wayne! That was so cool! —looked through the pictures one by one. He looked at the one on the top, he studied it, then he moved on to the next. He performed the rhythmic motion silently, languidly, carefully. Nightwing—Damian Wayne! —scowled, crossed arms over his chest. Tim had never been so close to him in his new suit before, his Robin suit was really cool and semi-colorful, but his Nightwing suit was awesome! It was all sleek and black with a dark green League green V that went from his fingers up to his shoulders then down into a tip between his pectorals. A belt wrapped around his hips, a scabbard hung from either side. He sat off to the side making that “~tt~” noise that he always made when he was irked.

“These are good.” Batman finally decided. He handed the pictures back to Tim who stared wide-eyed up at the Dark Knight. Batman had just told him that his photos were good!

“T-thank you, Bruce!”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Right! You’re in costume, you’re Batman! I swear I’ll get it right next time!”

“There will not be a ‘next time,’” Damian hissed. “Father this is absurd, he is a child, with no prior training. He’ll die out there.”

“I’ve got training!”

“Stalking is not training.”

“You didn’t even know I was there! I’m good! I’ll-I’ll just be an extra set of eyes until I’m ready. You can train me on your off time!”

“Don’t be delusional, becoming Robin is much more than that. Father this is absolutely-“

“I think it’s a good idea.”

Damian blanched, then quickly began to scowl. Tim’s eyes widened. “R-really?” He asked in awe.

“Like Tim pointed out, Batman needs a Robin. He’s proven that he can surveil without being caught, he can be useful. We can train him.”

Damian shook his head sharply. “I will not be party to this. This… perversion of my legacy. You want Drake to be Robin be my guest. But don’t ask me to help him.” Damian snapped before firing his grappling hook and flying off into the night.

“Don’t worry about him, Tim.” Bruce said, putting a hand on the younger’s shoulder. “He’ll warm up to you.”

The man under the red hood was restless in his sleep. Long hair that covered his eyes matched with shaggy, uneven stubble on his jaw. He was small, maybe five foot five or five foot six. He had thin but well-muscled arms and legs. His chest, as well muscled as the rest of him, was too thin—malnourished. He slept on his stomach while his back healed from second degree burns and surgery to take out shrapnel. He’d been lucky that the Kevlar of his vest had caught most of the debris from the bomb, but some had sliced through.

Damian glanced at his watch, it had been almost five hours since the explosion that the man had saved Jason from. It had taken thirty minutes after the explosion to neutralize the Riddler, after which took another hour to do damage control, during that Bruce had taken the Red Hood in the Batmobile and had raced home. Alfred had recruited some doctors he trusted and they had operated in the Batcave, after which they had sterilized a room and placed the Red Hood in it for recovery. In which he was sleeping at this moment, morphine pumping through his system via an IV.

His suit was low-tech, but his mask was impressive. Handmade oxygen filters, infrared lenses as well as night vision. He was well equipped, an arsenal of weapons, anything a detective needed, even a mini-oxygen supply in case he was deprived for some reason. He had definitely been trained by the League. It was rather amazing actually, it was almost as if he’d been a vigilante before.

“I thought he’d be taller.” Jason said. He’d had some minor scraping and bruising but the man in the bed had taken most of the damage.

“Short people rule.” Cass hummed. Jason rolled his eyes.

Steph wheeled up to the cell, because the room the Red Hood was in really was a cell. It had three opaque walls and one clear one, so that people could see in. The man lay on a metal bed that had a mattress, a pillow, and a blanket on it. A toilet and sink hid behind a pulled curtain. The room really was a cell, that was its original intended purpose, but seeing as they had nowhere else as of now to put him, that was where he was. “He looks familiar, doesn’t he?”

“I don’t think so.” Damian mumbled.

“Will the injured vigilante show continue past lunch or shall I make some food for you?” Alfred asked.

“Sorry, Alfred.” Steph said, blushing slightly. “Can I help with lunch? The DNA match won’t come back for few minutes.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I will decline. Give the poor man some peace.” Alfred said, shooing the young heroes away from the sleeping man.

Damian faltered, taking a last look at the man while the others left the room. Wait a minute… did he just move?

The man groaned, rising slowly. “Don’t move quickly.” Damian warned, using what Traya called his ‘I’m-trying-to-sound-gentle-but-I-sound-threatening’ voice. “You have second degree burns and lacerations up and down your back. You’re on morphine.”

The man sighed, straightening his back slowly so that he was sitting. “I assume you’ve done the DNA test, and you already know who I am.”

Know who he is? Was that important? Did Damian know him? “You assume correctly.” Damian lied. He watched the man’s face. The man’s blue eyes… those blue eyes, they looked so familiar. Stephanie was right, there was something about him…

The man frowned. Confused. “You just lied to me. You don’t know who I am. Which means that the test results aren’t back yet. Which means… you just want to find out what I meant.”

“I don’t know to what you are referring-“

“Ohh… this is too good. The results should be back any minute, but for now I’m going to watch you struggle to figure it out.”

“Why are you so convinced the results of a DNA test would affect me?”

“Because, if it didn’t Damian,” He knew Damian’s name. Damian was suited up and masked and this man knew Damian’s identity, “then there would be something really wrong with you.”

Damian didn’t retort. “You know, I can see the wheels turning. You can’t wait to figure it out, to find out. And I’m assuming afterwards you won’t let me out of here, even though you weren’t planning on doing that originally.”

“Why wouldn’t I-?”

“You think the League is after me. This is Bruce’s way of paying me back for saving Jason’s life. No… he wouldn’t have kidnapped me. But you would have. You… you feel, what? Kindred with me? Why? Because I’m ex-League? Because I’m a hero?”

Damian didn’t speak. The man smirked. “You don’t know why. You think it’s because you feel like we are ‘kindred’ but you don’t actually know. Damn, are you going to blow a gasket when you find out.” He lay back down on his front, careful not to put pressure on his wounds. “I’ll just wait here.”

Damian scowled. “~tt~”

There was a sudden crash, the man smiled grimly. “Go on. I’ll be waiting for your return.”

There was a scream. Damian began to run. He skidded to a stop when he saw his family in the Cave. Stephanie was frozen in her chair, hands on her mouth, eyes watering. Cassandra had cuts on her hand from something breaking (shards of a china cup were on the ground below her). Bruce sat in his chair, staring ahead just as frozen as Stephanie. Jason looked confused, startled but mainly confused. Alfred had dropped a tray of food. They all stared at the computer. The computer which had been running the DNA analysis. Why…? Damian pushed passed Cassandra and over to the monitor screen.

But… that wasn’t possible!

“No…” Stephanie whispered. “No! This isn’t possible! This isn’t- we would have known! We would have-I would have known…”

“Run it again.” Damian ordered.

“Damian, this was the second run through.” Jason whispered.

“The second-?” Who the fuck cares what number test it was? “Run it again!”

“Dami…” Cassandra. “It’s correct.”

Damian needed to leave. He needed- “This has to be wrong! If we could have brought him back we would have! It’s possible to-to hack the computer. He’s screwing with us! He’s-“ Stephanie was rambling.

“M-Master Damian, where are you going?” Alfred asked, sliding back into his role as den-mother.

“Out.”

“Master Damian-“

“Dami…”

Damian needed to leave he needed to find his Grandfather he needed to kill his Grandfather he needed he needed he needed-

“DAMIAN!”

Bruce ignored their screaming, he ignored their denial, he ignored the sound of a motorcycle speeding from the Cave. Because he’d seen it all before, he knew it all. He’d done it all. Bruce stared at the screen, a hundred percent match to Timothy Drake. Somehow, he’d come back (most likely through Ra’s, that bastard) and he’d travelled here. He’d travelled to Gotham, he’d taken the Joker’s old name and he was looking for him.

He wanted the Joker. But Tim… Tim wouldn’t want revenge, he never wanted revenge, that was the beauty of Tim, he never wanted revenge. He forgave. He moved on.

He’d saved Jason. He’d saved Jason’s life.

“So,” Timothy Drake called from his room, “is everyone done processing? Because I’m hungry.”

Steph

He was sleeping. His hair was too long, he had grown stubble, and he was barely older than he had been the last time she’d seen him. Tim Drake, Stephanie Brown’s ex-dead boyfriend was sleeping. She knew he’d looked familiar. She should have known. She should have known.

“Steph?” She’d woken him up. It wasn’t his voice. It was, but at the same time it was deeper, more hoarse. Older. Steph took a breath that sounded too much like a sob. “Steph? Oh my god, Steph are you crying?” She wiped at her eyes. “Please don’t cry, Steph.” She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Steph. I’m really sorry.”

“Sorry?”

“For not coming to you. For not telling you. For letting you lose your legs.”

“You-you didn’t. That’s wasn’t you Tim, that was the Joker.”

“I should have come back sooner.” Tim whispered, hands running through his hair.

“Come back sooner, Tim you-how long have you been alive?”

Tim met her eyes. His blue eyes. Those blue eyes. “Long enough.”

“Did you… did you even die? Did we bury you? Were you really in that coffin? Are you still there?”

“Ra’s.” Tim explained. “Ra’s wanted me alive, so a few months after I died, he brought me back.”

“Why?”

Tim didn’t respond. He rubbed at his hands, nervously, and scratched the back of his head. He wouldn’t look at her for a long time. Then after a silence too long and too loud he glanced back at her. He stood, and walked forward, dragging his IV with him.

“Tim…” He held up a hand to the clear wall between them. Steph wheeled closer to wall and held her hand up to Tim’s. A thin layer of glass all that was between them.

“I missed you.” He whispered, his voice cracking.

“I missed you too.” Steph was crying again.

“Please don’t cry, Steph.”

Steph took a calming breath and wiped her eyes. “Why didn’t you come to us? Why didn’t you let us help you?”

“You wouldn’t have believed I was really alive.”

“We did after the DNA test!”

“That’s-I couldn’t.”

“Why not?”

Tim dropped his hand, and went back to his bed. He fiddled with his fingers, legs crossed into a pretzel. He wouldn’t meet her eyes. “I wasn’t planning on staying.”

“What…?”

“I’ll explain everything Steph, I will. But first you need to let me out.” He began to speak frantically, as if he’d just remembered something.

“But-you’re not healed yet. I-“

“Steph please, just let me out. It’ll only take a day or two, then I’ll come back. We’ll all be safe again, and I’ll stay here, I’ll rest.”

“Tim, the League of Assassins are after you, I can’t just-“

“Steph, let me out!” The growl was so unlike him, so… feral. Those blue eyes that Steph loved so much were cold and hard. Steph flinched at the words and Tim’s eyes widened, the angry blueness disappeared. “Steph, oh my god, I’m sorry.” Steph backed up her wheelchair. “Please Steph, I’m sorry.”

“You’re not Tim.”

“Steph, no, come back! Please Steph-“

“You’re not Tim.” Steph wheeled herself as far away from the cell as she could get, Tim calling her name, pleading apologies all the way.

It was Tim, that was the worst part about it. She’s seen that look on his face before, but she’d never caused it. It was Tim, that was what had been so scary. Steph put her face in her hands and began to cry.

Jason

“You made Steph cry.”

Tim Drake sat on the floor of his cell. His IV of morphine stood near his bed, he’d taken it out. He stretched his arms, muscles flexed. “I saved your life.” He said, not looking at Jason. He massaged his shoulder, wasn’t the guy in pain?

“You made Steph cry.” Jason repeated.

“Not on purpose.”

“I thought you were supposed to have the hots for her.” Tim froze. He glanced up at Jason, staring at him now with an intensity that made Jason uncomfortable. Tim smirked and returned his gaze to the floor. “What the hell is that smirk for?”

“You like her,” Tim hummed.

“W-what? No! I’m don’t! Why-why would you think that?”

“Don’t worry. I’m not jealous.”

“I’m not worried.” Jason snapped. He-he didn’t have a crush on Steph! Sure he liked her, but that didn’t mean-

“It’s not uncommon, I mean, I have met Steph before. If I didn’t know Damian, I’d be surprised he didn’t have a thing for her.” Tim said lightly. He stood and twisted his back, a loud crack resounded and he grit his teeth, a thin sheen of sweat covered his face and chest. When he twisted Jason saw his patched back and the deep brown of dried blood on white bandages.

Wait, was that a blotch of red? “You’re bleeding.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

Jason was liking Tim Drake less and less every second. “Why aren’t you using the med-drip? You’re obviously in pain.”

“I don’t like them. They make me groggy.”

“Does death make everyone a saint?”

“Only when those left behind feel guilty. So yeah, usually.”

Jason rolled his eyes. He took a cigarette pack out of his back pocket and lit one, bringing it to his mouth. Tim frowned.

“Those’ll kill you.”

“From what I can tell that doesn’t mean much.”

Tim laughed. Actual honest to god laughter. Maybe Jason could see where Steph was coming from on the whole Tim issue. Maybe. He grinned at Jason, shaking his head slightly. “Damn, no wonder Bruce picked you.”

“How do you know it was Bruce?”

“Because I know Damian.”

“You also know Bruce.”

Tim raised an eyebrow. “You’re annoying. Damian definitely didn’t want you to take the job.”

“Damian isn’t the same, he’s not… I know you and Steph didn’t like him but he’s not like that anymore.”

“What? You mellowed him with your amazing talent to smoke?” Tim snorted.

“No. You did.”

Tim froze. He stood there for too long.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.” Tim said softly. “I’m fine.” He paused. “Are you here just to ogle at the alive ex-Robin or did you come here for a reason?”

“Just wanted to know what the fuss was about.” Jason snapped. He dropped his cigarette onto the floor and extinguished it with his boot. “Don’t have to be an ass.”

Tim didn’t respond. He slowly walked over to his bed, took the morphine drip, stuck it in a vein and closed his eyes.

Cass

Cass stood on the other side of the glass wall. She wore her suit but from what she knew about Tim Drake it wouldn’t matter. Anything he wanted to know he already did. He’d been handling it well, the not being dead. He laid on his stomach on the cot in the cell, forehead resting on his arms, IV winding out from the crook of his elbow and up around the stand that held the packet of drugs. It was almost out now. Bruce would want to give him more, keep him doped up. Jason had told Cass that Tim hadn’t liked the painkiller, he wouldn’t want another round.

His forearms sporadically constricted in his sleep, she couldn’t see his eyes but she could see his toes. She could see them curl, hold, then relax, curl, hold, hold, curl, hold, relax. He didn’t speak, he didn’t moan or heave. He was having a nightmare, but he wasn’t screaming.

He woke up with a gasp, his chest began to rise and fall, his breath quick and heavy, his muscles tightened again.

He slowly rolled onto his side and took the IV out of his arm. He glanced up, frown coloring his face.

“Cass, right?” Eyebrows pulled back for less than a second. Then they returned and they furrowed.

Cass nodded. He was surprised to see her.

“Why are you here?” He asked.

“You.”

“Obviously.”

“Healthy?” She asked.

Tim raised an eyebrow. “Healthy?” He asked, confused. She nodded to him. “Am… I healthy?” She nodded again, and everyone raved about how this guy was smart. “How could I be healthy? I have second degree burns and stitches all up my back.”

Cass raised an eyebrow though she knew he couldn’t see it because it was under her mask. He chewed a lip while the wheels in his head turned, before nodding slightly, agreeing with her. “Okay. I’m healthy enough.”

Cass unlocked the glass door with a swift motion. Tim’s eyes widened as she stepped inside and cracked her knuckles. “In here? You’re serious?”

Cass cocked her head. Tim took her silence for her gravity and nodded again, accepting submissively. That was interesting, no one had ever mentioned how easy he was to maneuver before. Not even Damian… which meant that he was acting differently with her. Was it because she wore the suit? Or the name? Maybe he was just feeling her out.

“Are… you waiting for me to begin?” He asked. Cass nodded slowly. Tim tensed, eyes flickering all over her body sizing her up. Then he lunged.

Cass ducked and hit him in the chest, his feet shifted in the floor, steadying his gait. Tim let out a heavy breath. “Good hit. Powerful. You learn that somewhere?” He asked. Cass didn’t respond, instead she fought.

Tim moved fluidly despite the wounds on his back. He bent and jabbed. His fighting style like Bruce’s and Damian’s… but with something extra... There was this desperateness in his art, there was a sense of need. He needed to win, not just for himself, but for others. Who those others were, Cass wasn’t quite sure, but they were there. A person like Tim did not fight for himself. She grabbed his hand, twisting it around to his back, a few of his patched lacerations had opened spilling red blood on his new pristine bandages. (Alfred would be so pissed.) He let out a sharp cry of pain and Cass released him suddenly. He fell to his knees on the ground, breathing heavily.

“You’re good.” He turned around, his pain hidden but not that well.

Cass held out a hand. Tim studied it carefully before taking it and letting Cass help him up and onto his cot. She handed him the morphine but he waved it off rubbing his forehead wearily. “You need it.” She insisted.

“I’m fine.”

“No.”

“I’m fine, Cass.”

“Tim.” Cass bent down to be level with him. He grit his teeth, jaw muscles tensing. She held out the drip. “Take.”

“Why?”

“Friend.”

“Fr-“ He looked surprised and he let the Cass stick the IV in a vein. “Really? Me?”

Cass put an arm on his shoulder. Tim let out a loud sigh as the narcotics hit his bloodstream. “Sleep. Get better.”

“I was healthy enough to fight you.”

“Next time? I still beat you, but longer. Maybe fifteen minute. Time next? Maybe not.”

Tim held back a smile. “Okay, Cass. Sure.”

“Don’t think?”

“How about we wait until I’m at a hundred percent before making bets.”

Cass raised an eyebrow and although she knew he couldn’t see it she was sure he knew she was. “Sure.”

“You think you’ll win.”

“Know.”

Tim didn’t bother holding back the smile. “It was good to meet you, Cass.” He said softly as he began to lay on his front, his eyes drooping slowly. Cass opened the glass door again and locked it behind her. He stared at the floor, pupils dilated from the pain relief.

“You too, Tim.”

Damian

“’Morning, sunshine.”

Damian groaned. He rubbed his eyes wearily, his head pounded. Oh, god. “What did I do last night?” Damian grumbled, peeking out from under his eyelids, the lights in the room he was in were too bright.

“You know, that’s a lot scarier coming from your mouth than anyone else’s.” Colin teased. Damian glared at him as much as he could through squinted eyes.

“Did I…?”

“No.” Maya assured her friend. “No one is dead.”

Damian rubbed his forehead, hoping the headache would go away soon. “We found Nightwing running around Bludhaven looking for blood.” Colin debriefed. He specified ‘Nightwing’ which meant that Damian hadn’t went berserk out of costume, good. That would have been a nightmare for Wayne Enterprises public relations. “Five gangbangers were beaten to a bloody pulp about fifteen feet away but they were all still breathing.”

Someone else sat down next to Damian. Damian seemed to be on the floor of his apartment, Maya and Colin sat next to him near his head, the third person sat near his middle. There was a clink of a glass on tile. “And after what Maya found out for you, she was worried.” A new voice said. Great, the whole gang was here.

“And you are an idiot.” Jon finished helpfully.

“So she decided that I suddenly was not allowed to have secrets?” Damian mumbled, accepting the aspirin that Traya so graciously offered him.

“Exactly!” Colin exclaimed. Damian glared at the man. He took a swig of water from the glass that his friends had brought him.

“So, you going to tell us why you flipped and what this has to do with your Gramps?” Colin asked.

“Can you turn off the lights?” Damian mumbled. Traya raised an eyebrow but rose to do as her friend asked. “Grandfather has… resurrected someone.”

“What?”

“Are you serious?”

“I thought he couldn’t do that.”

“Apparently he can. And he has.” Damian responded.

“Okay, so who did he bring back?”

Damian sucked in a breath, and took a long sip of water. The looks on their faces, so full of concern, so full of fear, their minds were coming up with the worst possible people. They wouldn’t guess, they couldn’t guess. He couldn’t leave them in suspense forever… “Tim.”

“What?” Colin cried.

“Tim-That isn’t possible.” Traya whispered. Maya wouldn’t meet her friends’ eyes she just stared at Damian.

Jon’s mouth dropped open. “D-Damian, are you sure?”

“Positive. The computer confirmed it.”

“What-what can we do?” Traya asked.

“Do?” Damian asked.

“To help.” Traya offered. She turned to Jon who met her eyes and nodded enthusiastically.

“Yeah. Whatever we can, however we can,” Jon added.

“Don’t tell them.” Damian said quickly.

Traya and Jon looked at one another, eyes wide. “Damian… you have to tell them, we can’t keep this a secret.”

But they couldn’t tell them. They couldn’t-Damian couldn’t let them know. Not yet. He needed time. He needed-

“You have to tell them.” Colin agreed. “They deserve to know.”

“Not yet-“

“Yes, yet. Damian you need to tell them and you need to tell them now.”

“Not-not yet. I can’t-.” Damian stuck his head in his hands. His head was still throbbing, heavy and hard, god it hurt. He couldn’t think about this now. He needed time. He needed to talk to Timothy. “I need to go back to Gotham.”

His friends exchanged expressions. Damian could tell that they disapproved of his request. “Afterwards. I promise. I’ll tell them afterwards. But first,” Damian stood, his headache was getting worse. “I need to get back to Gotham.”

Colin sighed. “I’ll take you.”

“I got here on my own, I can get back on my own.”

“Actually… you can’t. Apparently the gangbangers you hospitalized did a number on your bike.” Damian groaned. “So you’re stuck with me!”

“I’ll stay here. Jon, Traya, go back and make sure the Titans aren’t planning on going off-world anytime soon. We don’t want them to deal with the end of the world when they find out their late best friend is still alive.” Maya told the others. “Damian, go take a shower. You smell like Gotham.” Damian shot glare at her but complied.

When he trudged off he heard Jon add: “Keep an eye on him, Col. As soon as he’s done, make sure that he gets to the Tower.”

“I can hear you!” Damian called from his bathroom.

“We know!” Jon and Maya responded. Sometimes Damian hated his friends.

“I’ll wait here.” Colin told his friend, offering Damian and his brother a sense of privacy. Damian knew that he was just being courteous, but it meant a lot anyway.

“Thank you.” He walked down the hallway, to where Tim was being held. Tim was sitting on the floor, legs crisscrossed. When he heard footsteps he looked up, blank face quickly dissolving into a frown.

“Didn’t think you’d be back.”

“That’s not-that’s not true, is it?” Damian asked. Tim looked surprised of all things.

“Damian, why wouldn’t it be true?”

“Timothy-“

“Oh, so I’m Timothy now? Got sick of ‘Drake’ and ‘Pretender’?”

“I-“

“You know, I actually thought we were off to a good start. I didn’t expect you to run away. Although I should have, it’s all this family knows how to do.”

“You sound like Jason.”

“It doesn’t take Lee Thompkins to see that you don’t give a shit about anyone not related to you biologically.”

“Timothy, that isn’t true.”

Tim scowled, blue eyes set to kill. Damian had hoped that his brother would never use that expression, that expression that he used to have so often when looking at Tim. “Don’t- do that. Don’t pretend we’re all fine and dandy. Don’t pretend you cared.”

“I did, Timothy, I really did.”

“That’s a lie!” Tim roared. “You never cared for me! You didn’t even care for Steph, not as long as she didn’t worship you!”

“Maybe you’re right. Maybe I did not… care like you say. But I was wrong, Timothy. I was wrong, I should have cared more. I should have protected you-”

“Survivor’s guilt does not a loving brother make.” Tim snapped.

“You’re right, again. It doesn’t. A loving brother is a loving brother for no purpose other than that of his sibling. And I’ve learned that now, Timothy, I’ve learned that I was an ass. I should have protected you and I should have trained you because that is what a brother should do. I want-I want to try again, Timothy. I want to help you.”

Tim studied his face the same way that Tim would look at case files. He was trying to find the lie, the trick, the catch, but there was none, because Damian really did mean it. He wanted to save his little brother. He had learned that when it came to family members in need and pride, pride always lost. He’d made that mistake once, he wouldn’t again.

“Then let me out.”

“Okay,” Damian stepped towards the door. It was cramped in the cell it made sense he would want to leave. “Where do you want to go?”

“Downtown Gotham, with your help maybe-“ Damian stopped. He couldn’t let Tim leave the Manor, the League was still out there. Grandfather was still looking for him. Tim saw the change. “What…?”

“I cannot let you out, Timothy. You-Grandfather is still after you.”

“I’ve been doing fine on my own.”

“Clearly you haven’t.”

“The only reason I’m here is because you failed to learn a lesson! Jason shouldn’t be out there!”

“Jason is good, just as you were.”

“Good enough to miss a bomb.” Tim muttered.

You did too. Damian hated himself for thinking it. It had been a quick and fleeting thought, but he still hated himself, because it proved he hadn’t changed. Not at all. He would keep trying. He had to.

“I can’t do it. It’s for your own safety.”

“People always say that, not even thinking to ask why the one asking to be in the unsafe situation wants to be.”

Damian blinked. Timothy was right, he was always right. “Alright, so why do you want to leave?”

“Bruce is in trouble.”

“Father is always in trouble.”

“It’s worse, Damian. They’re working together. All of them, Gotham villains network, you know that, and now… now they’re planning something big and bad, which means that Selina will be getting in on it soon. He’ll want everyone to know, even the Bat’s main squeeze.”

“Timothy…” This didn’t make sense. Why would there be no chatter? Stephanie would have picked up something. Father would have.

“It’s big, Damian. I’m not-I’m not crazy, this is real. Bruce is in danger.” Timothy seemed to be pleading. “I know what they’re planning, if you would just-listen to me!”

“I’m sorry, Timothy. I need-“

Tim groaned angrily, cutting Damian off sharply. “You don’t-listen! You try-I get it Damian you think you’re trying but you’re really not.” He was getting angry, quickly. Way too quickly. Were these effects of the Lazarus Pit? Or were they Tim? The real Tim…

Damian really didn’t know his brother at all.

Alfred

Alfred dabbed at the wound softly, the skin around the wound was raw and pink. No sign of infection, that was good. He moved onto the next laceration, checking it for disease and to see how it was healing. Timothy’s face contorted and Alfred moved his hands slower and softer, he didn’t want to hurt Timothy. Timothy was too young for his face to have that expression. That pain…

He hadn’t been eating well. How had he been getting food? Timothy wasn’t one to rob, but then again, he wasn’t one to abandon his family, wasn’t one to leave them, to come back from death and not speak to them, for years. He hadn’t grown up from a fifteen year old boy to a twenty year old like he should have. He hadn’t learned how to get his license or graduate high school. He hadn’t been in Alfred’s charge while he grew. Alfred wasn’t there when he got his college acceptance letter because he never got one. He never had the chance.

He had been in Alfred’s charge and Alfred had failed him. Had let him die.

Bollocks. Don’t cry, Alfred chided himself. You can’t cry. Not here, not where they could walk in. Not where his children could see him.

“A-Alfred?” Oh dear, the poor boy seemed to be conscious.

“Just retouching your dressings, Master Timothy. Please, do not strain yourself.” His back rose and fell anxiously.

“Al-Alfred-I-“

“Please, sir. I do not wish to cause you pain, but I must do this.”

“No-no. I-“ Tim sucked in a large breath, eyes clamped shut as he tolerated the pain. Alfred cleaned and inspected as gently as possible. “Bruce-trouble-I ne-you always-“ Alfred pressed against an angry red stitch, checking to see if the inflammation was contaminated. “You always-believed me. Always. Bruce is-“ Tim cried out as Alfred put ointment on his burns. “Danger. Villains-network-trial-danger.” He breathed out the four words between heavy ragged breaths. Alfred was sure that together the string of words meant something, but he had to worry about Timothy first. Family always came first.

“Please Master Timothy, just rest now.” Alfred spoke softly, but as he saw Timothy’s back return to its unconscious breathing pattern. He was sleeping again, good. He deserved a good night’s sleep, even if it was from pain.

Bruce

“You have to go see him, Bruce.” Jason said. He was the third person to say that to Bruce today. Bruce hadn’t visited Tim yet for a reason, he was trying to find Tim’s hideout. And he hadn’t yet, which was concerning him. Where had Tim been staying?

“Later.”

“Now, Bruce.” Steph snapped. She had been out of sorts since she’d talked to him. Which was partly what Bruce was afraid of…

He had failed Tim and he prayed Tim didn’t blame him, but he knew that that as wishful thinking. Of course Tim hated him, Tim wouldn’t want to see him.

At least he had an excuse.

“Sir.”

“Not you too, Alfred.”

“You should see him.”

Bruce didn’t respond. “Um... Mr. Batman, sir?” Colin. Only Colin spoke to him like that. “Can I talk to you? Alone?” That was… a surprise. Even Damian hadn’t expected that. Bruce’s son looked between his friend’s angry gaze and his father’s stony one. Bruce glanced at his son, who gave the barest nod.

“Out.” Damian ordered.

“As you wish, sir.” Alfred said with a polite nod, he took Steph by the chair and began to roll her up the ramp.

“Alfred! Stop! Don’t do this Bruce, don’t distract yourself by-“

“Miss Stephanie, please.” Alfred implored.

Steph quieted her protests and allowed herself to be taken upstairs. Jason frowned but shortly followed. Damian glanced at Cassandra who took one last long look at the three of them before turning and leaving. Only after a few seconds of silence did Damian realize that ‘alone’ meant that he too would have to leave.

“You. Me. Afterwards.” Damian told Colin. Bruce wasn’t quite sure what that meant, but whatever it meant Colin nodded in response and flashed him a small comforting smile. Damian left.

“It’s just us, Abuse. What is it?”

“It’s none of my business.”

“It isn’t.”

“But, you should see him.”

“Colin…”

“I can go with you if you’re scared.” Scared? Sometimes Bruce was amazed at who was friends with his son. Colin saw a look on Bruce’s face and paled a little. “I mean, if you’re scared but you’re not because you’re Batman.”

“Colin, how long have I known you?”

Colin thought for a second. “Over fifteen years.”

“How long have you been calling me Mister Batman?”

“I still do.”

“Are you… afraid of me?” Bruce asked.

“Duh.” Colin said. “Everyone’s scared of you.” Well that was comforting.

“But you still tell me the truth.”

“You need to hear it.” Colin crossed his arms over his chest. Maybe it was time for Bruce to start thinking about another partner, someone who wasn’t and never had been a Robin…

“Do you think…” Bruce lowered his voice. “Do you think that-“ He couldn’t finish the sentence. Couldn’t finish anything, not even saving Tim.

“Yes. He can forgive you. I think he does. Tim is… forgiving. He’s heroic. It’s okay. Go talk to him.”

Bruce didn’t look at him. “Stay here.”

“Yes, Batman, sir!” Colin gave a salute and Bruce almost cracked a smile.

Bruce walked over to the cell, Tim was in there. Where else would he be? He was doing forms. He didn’t stop, nor did he look at Bruce. But he knew he was there. Tim always knew. That was one of the reasons Bruce had chosen Tim. Okay, that wasn’t true. Tim had chosen Bruce, and Bruce was glad he did.

“Are you going to just stand there?”

“Didn’t want to interrupt.”

“Bullshit.” Tim froze. “You okay?” He asked. Bruce frowned, did Tim see something?

“Fine. Why?”

“Your hands are shaking.” Bruce looked down and clenched them, stopping the motion. “Tell me the truth, Bruce. Why didn’t you kill him?”

“You know why.”

“Yeah, but I want you to tell me.”

“Once I begin to go through that door, I can never go back. There will be no stopping me. I can’t do that.”

“Then let me.”

That’s what he wanted to do. He wanted to kill the Joker. Oh god. Oh dear god. Bruce needed-Bruce needed to get him help. The best help he could find-Leslie! He had to call Leslie and- “Listen to me, Bruce. Before you do the whole thing. The whole ‘no you don’t really mean it’ thing, ‘no you shouldn’t want that, no we can help you’. The ‘Justice!!’ argument. The ‘don’t sink to their level’ argument. I’ve heard it all. It won’t change my mind. Just let me out Bruce. Let me save Gotham, and then put me away. Send me to Arkham or Blackgate. Blacklist me, call me a villain. Just… please Bruce. I have to save you.”

He wanted to kill the Joker. And he wanted Bruce to help him. Bruce looked at the floor, shifting his feet. How could he have screwed up so much his child wanted to kill someone? Sure Bruce always wanted to kill people, but he didn’t. He couldn’t. In his deranged resurrected mind Tim thought he would be saving Bruce… Bruce had really fucked up.

“Today is six years.” He said softly.

“Bruce if you don’t let me out, if you go on as you do, going on patrol… there’s going to be another death anniversary around now. Please, just let me out.”

He couldn’t. God help him Tim was asking him for one thing and he couldn’t. “Tim…”

“I’m not like you Bruce. I never was. And that’s okay. But Bruce, please, just this once, trust me.”

Five people had told Bruce today that he needed to see Tim. It was ironic really, seeing someone on the anniversary of their death and having an argument.

“I love you Timothy.” He whispered to his son, who just shook his head. “But I can’t. You need help. We’re going to get it for you.” He turned his back and did the only thing Bruce Wayne knew how to do well. He walked away.

“Happy death day to me.” Tim Drake mumbled.

“Tim, Tim wake up.” Tim groaned, his eyes flitting open. Steph smiled next to him. They were both fully clothed, laying on Steph’s bed. Tim had been working late on a case in Steph’s designated room (she wasn’t always there because she had actual living parents, but sometimes Tim would stay there to work if she wasn’t sleeping there) and he guessed he must have fallen asleep.

“Steph, what are you doing here?” He mumbled, rubbing sleep away from his eyes.

“It’s my room, Tim. What’re you doing here?”

“Nothing…”

“Aww… ya missed me, didn’t you?” Steph hummed happily.

Tim felt a blush color his cheeks and ears. “N-no!”

“You looove me,” Steph sang, nudging Tim. Tim smiled and leaned in for a kiss and Steph shook her head, bouncing off the bed. “Brush your teeth first.” Tim pouted but walked out of Steph’s door and into the hallway so that he could go to his own bathroom.

“Oh! And afterward get dressed. There’s a surprise downstairs.” Steph called after him.

Tim brushed his teeth, and pulled on a t shirt and jeans. Surprise? What surprise could there possibly be? And why? Tim returned to Steph’s room to grab his laptop and stuck it under his arm as he walked downstairs.

“Hey, Steph, what’s the big-“

“SURPRISE!”

Tim was very glad all of his friends were superheroes, because for a second he freaked out and tried to punch Bart who had jumped suddenly in front of him. Bart zipped under the punch and swung an arm around Tim with a loud cheerful laugh. “Dude! Happy birthday!” Bart cried.

Tim looked around, all of the Titans were here, even Maya and Colin. Steph, Alfred, Bruce. They were all here, all in one room with cheerful grins on their faces. It was all for him. Conner grinned and snapped one of the cone party hats on his head. “Great reflexes.” He said sarcastically. Tim rolled his eyes. “Did you forget about your birthday?” He asked.

Tim shrugged sheepishly. “Thanks you guys.” He hugged his friends one by one, each of them wished him a happy birthday.

Steph nudged her boyfriend. “Hey. Good surprise?”

“Yeah.” It was weird, this was the first time that he’d had birthday like this. When his parents had been alive, they were always away, and when they weren’t his birthdays… well they were nothing like this. “Thank you.” He said with a grin.

“Sirs and ma’ams, may I urge you to adjourn the dining room to where there will be the traditional singing of ‘Happy Birthday.’” Alfred announced. The crowd of heroes moved to the next room to where Jon and Kon herded Tim into a chair sitting in front of a cake. Jon lit the candles with his heat vision and the crowd sang the traditional melody. Tim smiled and blew out the candles. Alfred began cutting the cake and Steph pressed a kiss into Tim’s hair.

“And many mooore~”

#diana writes #diana writes batman #diana writes dc #joke's on you #batfam #robin!reversal

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