Chapter Text
Disclaimer: not mine
Chapter 3
Tim stared at the board and carefully moved a piece, keeping his fingers on it. He could move it if he didn’t take his fingers off the red circle. He frowned at the board and then slowly took his fingers away. Alfie smiled at him, studying the board before moving one of his own black pieces. It wasn’t easy, he knew it should be, knew he should know where to move the pieces, but it just didn’t connect in his head all the time.
“Take your time dear boy.”
He nodded, studying the board. “Where’s Dad?” he asked after a while, slowly moving another piece.
“Night work,” Alfie answered, and Tim nodded.
Batman in the day? Maybe he was with the League?
“How’s the game?” Jay grinned, tickling his sides, and Tim giggled.
“Jay!”
“Sorry!” his big brother grinned, kissing the top of his head.
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Bruce observed the dark-haired girl rescued from one of Ra’s bases. The daughter of David Cain and Lady Shiva and yet…there was something gentle about her. He didn’t think the girl was a threat, she could be if she wanted. He was very glad that she was not pregnant, not just because he didn’t want Tim to have to face fatherhood but because it likely wouldn’t be good for her either. She appeared unable to speak and didn’t know sign language either but there was a curiosity there.
Dinah was looking into a speech therapist for her and somewhere for her to live. If not for Tim, he would take her in, but would that be good for either of them even if Tim didn’t remember?
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Jason looked down at the teen cuddled into his side, a movie on the screen. Tim seemed totally recovered from his brief captivity with Ra’s. He was so grateful his little brother either didn’t remember or had been sedated the whole time. He’d been on some of the raids but it was his turn to stay home and play security, just in case Ra’s decided to use Tim as a hostage.
“Jay?” Tim asked between movies.
“Yeah, baby bird?”
“Thank you.”
“For what?” he asked in confusion, looking down at him again.
“Saving me,” Tim whispered, curling tighter.
“I’ll always save you Timmy,” he promised, not sure if Tim meant from the Joker or for helping find him after Ra’s let him go. “We’re brothers after all, family.”
“Family doesn’t always stay,” Tim mumbled, and Jason winced, having seen the records. But hey, that was a very good sentence. Tim was still getting better.
“True, but we love you Timbit, and we will always come for you,” he swore.
“Want to protect you too,” Tim looked up at him, blue eyes earnest, and Jason ruffled his hair gently.
“I know.”
How hard must it be to watch them go out and fight, knowing he’ll probably never join them again? That he’d never get a lot of life experiences he’d surely been looking forward to? Graduation, college, work, marriage…how much of that would Tim get to have? His concentration had improved, maybe he could start online learning. But a job or relationship? Living alone?
They all could see how things were between Tim and Kon but there was no way anyone would let something happen, not with Tim’s mental state. And Jason…well, he wasn’t sure that was fair. Tim knew what he wanted, he could make decisions on his good days, and Kon would never take advantage of him. People with mental illnesses could be in relationships, why should Tim be different? He was on medication to help him, was in therapy, and his good days were increasing all the time.
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Bruce stalked towards the man that had caused his family so many problems, rage filling him, but he had to push it down since Ra’s was a master manipulator and fighter. Diana shadowed his every move, corralling the man between them. She was the best option to face Ra’s with as she had centuries on Ra’s in fighting experience and lifespan plus no obvious weaknesses like Clark did. And…she would kill. For what Ra’s had done, he knew Diana would be fighting at her full abilities.
“We found the girl,” he growled. It had been very obvious why she was being given fertility treatments and a very gentle, careful, mental examination revealed she had seen Tim, had been given the same kind of drugs that he had. His comm clicked. “And now we have the samples. You should have moved on from your obsession with my family.”
“And where is my grandson?” Ra’s asked, not sounding like he really cared.
“Off-world for treatment. Did you know that a section of his brain never formed properly?” he demanded.
“It wasn’t needed,” Ra’s dismissed it.
He’d known he was a monster, but he had thought he held some love for his own family.
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“Good morning, Master Tim,” Alfred greeted the boy softly, he’d suspected when he didn’t come down to breakfast and sure enough, he was still in bed, cuddling his bear, blue eyes sleepy. He sat on the edge of the bed and gently brushed some stray hair away from the teens’ face.
Tim blinked and smiled shyly.
“Let’s get you up and to breakfast then.” If he was a few decades younger he would simply carry Master Tim, but alas he was far too old to carry even a too light teen. He was strong for his age but not that strong. So, he gently got Tim onto his feet and into the bathroom to clean up for the day and then dressed.
Master Kon then appeared and he left Master Tim’s care to him, heading back downstairs to ensure his breakfast was ready, trading it out for something far easier to eat. Kon soon arrived with Master Tim perched on his hip, bear still clutched in one hand, his head on Master Kon’s shoulder. He was then settled into his seat for breakfast.
“Any word?”
“They are cleaning things up and will be home sometime this evening or tomorrow. Master Bruce wants to be sure that all samples have been found and destroyed,” he explained, and Kon-El nodded.
“Hear that Tim, your Dad will be home soon.”
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Dick changed out of his suit, feeling every bruise pull. But taking out the LoA’s main base had been so worth it…especially with Ra’s there. He would never be a threat again; Diana had ensured that. He felt no regret at the death of that monster and from the look of it, Bruce didn’t either it.
He got changed into sweatpants and a t-shirt before heading upstairs, finding Tim in Bruce’s office, playing with toys. “Hey Timmy,” he greeted, and Tim looked up, smiling happily and reaching for him.
Dick picked him up, feeling his muscles scream but he ignored the pain to focus on his baby brother. “You’re safe now,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “Having fun with Grandpa?”
“He’s been very good for Master Kon and I.”
That explained Kon not being there, he had honestly expected him to go after Ra’s himself. He had chosen to remain and act as Tim’s bodyguard, just in case Ra’s had one last trick up his sleeve. It hadn’t been needed but was understandable.
Tim squealed and Dick looked back to see B who smiled tiredly at Tim. He handed Tim over to Bruce, the kid cuddling in immediately, eyelids drooping sleepily, it was way past Tim’s bedtime. For a kid who used to go days without sleep, the schedule they’d put him on had apparently destroyed his insomnia and ability to stay up all night.
“Let’s get you to bed Sweetheart,” Bruce murmured.
“Sleep well Timmy,” Dick told him, Tim waving sleepily.
That was good, Tim might be in a child stage but he was responding, he’d even squealed and not remained totally silent.
Kon was in Tim’s room, getting the bed ready. “He’s been like this since this morning. Alfred said he thinks Tim knew…”
Bruce nodded and gently got Tim dressed for sleep, but Tim wouldn’t let him go, making Dick and Kon laugh.
“Looks like you’re sleeping here B,” Dick teased.
“Looks like it,” he agreed, slipping into bed with Tim who then stared at him and Kon.
“The bed’s big Timmy, but not that big,” Dick argued, and Tim whined. “Fine,” he murmured, getting in on Tim’s other side. “Guess we’re squishing the Timmy!” he cheered, and Tim giggled.
Kon flopped back on the recliner that had been moved to Tim’s room for nights when someone needed to stay with him. thankfully, that was close enough for Tim to settle and go to sleep.
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He was really warm…too hot, and he opened his eyes, confused. His fingers were tangled in a familiar shirt, Dad. He shifted and realised he was squished between Dad and…he turned his head, Dick.
“Stuck?” a familiar voice called softly.
“Kon?” he called and then he was being lifted from between them.
“Morning,” Kon whispered, and Tim turned to hug him.
He looked around and sighed. “Bad day?” he asked, and Kon nodded.
“Just the one,” he promised.
Tim wanted to know when he did that and how many days for. It made him feel like he had even a little control, even if he didn’t.
“Hey, it’s okay Tim, this is the first bad day since the kidnapping,” Kon stroked his hair, and Tim slumped against him. “You’ve been doing so much better, so what if the stress overwhelmed you for one day.”
Tim sighed, just leaning on Kon, listening to his steady heartbeat. He looked up when Kon snorted, looking over to see Dick cuddling Dad, putting his hands over his mouth to keep from laughing.
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Steph sat at the counter, watching as Tim carefully mixed the batter, totally focused on what he was doing. It was kind of adorable, honestly. Alfred was hovering, ensuring Tim didn’t mess it up. It was Alfred’s recipe and he’d done a lot of the work, but Tim had begged to help and Alfred had given in. As far as she could tell, nothing had been messed up so hopefully they would taste good. Tim wasn’t exactly known for his cooking skills.
The three of them scooped it out and rolled it into balls on the cooking tray and then into the oven they went. She crossed her fingers and Tim huffed, arms crossed, but he was fighting a smile.
Why had she stayed away so long? Tim was just…he was still Tim, different sure but still the same goof. Did he blame her for staying away during the worst of his recovery? And then he bumped into her, head tilted curiously, worried about her. So, she smiled back and yanked him into a side hug. He was definitely more tactile now, open to affection and it was nice.
Sure enough, the cookies were edible if not quite to Alfred’s normal standards. She ate five just to make Tim smile.
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“Hey kiddo,” Lois greeted as Kon collapsed on the couch.
“Hey,” he murmured.
“Are you alright?” she asked in concern, putting her laptop aside.
“I’m fine, just tired,” he waved it off, and she just stared.
“It’s Tim, isn’t it?” she asked when he stubbornly remained silent.
“There’s no point, nothing can happen,” he whispered, and she hurt for him.
“Do you know if Tim?”
“He said he loves me,” Kon admitted softly. “But he’s also aware of his own mental state. It hurts,” he whispered, hands clenched into fists.
She got up and moved to sit beside him, pulling him into a hug. There had to be some way for the boys to find happiness. On his good days, Tim was able to consent, would that be enough to keep the law away? Would the law in Gotham even care? It would in Metropolis if there was even a hint that Tim might be being taken advantage of, after all, Kon lived in Metropolis and Smallville.
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Cass followed the dark man into the large building. He was dark but…nice? Kind. Everyone was so different to how she was used to but it was nice. No one minded when she just watched everything. And they said she could live here now, if she wanted to. She was even working with a nice man to learn how to talk with voice and hands.
There were so many rooms! And then she stopped, staring curiously. It was him, the soft boy. He was sitting with another, sleeping peacefully. She was glad he was not dead.
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Bruce handed Two Face over to the police, glad to be done for the night. Arkham breakouts were never fun but they had become worse since Tim’s capture because Tim would always panic if he heard the news. The Joker and Harley were dead but something in Tim’s brain still connected breakouts to them and his time in their hands. He hated leaving Tim during them but they had to find the ones who broke out before anyone could die.
There had been comments on how focused they all got during breakouts ever since the third Robin vanished and there were whispers on what had happened to him, even some rumours that maybe the Joker had something to do with it, given the timing. It didn’t matter if they linked the Joker to Robin since Tim’s abduction had been a long time later.
There had been fewer breakouts since Joker’s death, the Rogues unsure about the bats extra brutality in their fights against them. Ivy had vanished completely, leaving a note that Gotham wasn’t the same without Harley. She’d likely resurface somewhere, someday, but until she did, she wasn’t a priority. The Riddler had basically retired, keeping well away from the, it seemed he missed the third Robin. Tim had always enjoyed his Riddles and Nigma had respected him in return.
By the time they returned home, Tim was on the couch under blankets, a movie on in the background as he sipped at hot chocolate, waiting up for them, Kon at his side.
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Tim smiled at Cass; he liked her. Just like him, she couldn’t always talk. B had explained they had found her at one of the bases they raided after his kidnapping from the farm. And now she lived in the Manor, though he didn’t see her a lot. She kept to the shadows, watching, but he always knew when she was watching him and didn’t mind. He just knew she wouldn’t hurt him.
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Dinah smiled at the teen sitting before her, he’d come a long way since his rescue. The paleness of his skin was still startling but he still looked like Tim. She wasn’t sure why he had asked to meet with her rather than his actual therapist, yes, she had helped after his rescue and then when the press had been pushing but she was not his actual therapist. “It’s good to see you Tim,” she told him, smiling gently.
“Thanks,” he murmured, fidgeting with one of the toys that had come out in the last few years for people who needed to keep moving. “She’s great,” he told her, and she knew he meant the therapist she had recommended. “But she’s a civilian.”
Dinah nodded in understanding. She couldn’t truly understand everything Tim had been through because of that. “You can call me any time, Tim. I will always listen,” she promised, and he gave her a small smile.
“Will I…ever be better?” he asked.
Dinah took a deep breath. “Healing is an ongoing process Tim. You have come a long way since Jason found you. Your last imaging also shows that the damaged area has created new connections, your emotions are easier to control now, aren’t they?” she asked gently, and he nodded. “What you are recovering from now isn’t physical which makes it difficult to say.”
“I’ll never be a vigilante again,” he stated sadly. “But…I want to have a life. They barely leave me alone, someone always there to help.”
“Your physical therapy is complete and you are able to handle day to day tasks, on good days. There’s no reason you need someone hovering over you. But you so long as you do still have those other days,”
“They have to be there,” he muttered, not looking happy.
“I’m sorry Tim, I know it must be frustrating, especially with how independent you’ve always been. Have you considered trying to finish high school online?”
Tim nodded. “I still have trouble reading,” he admitted, looking ashamed.
“It will come with time, the more you practice the more it will come back. And the good thing with online learning is that you can take your time.”
“Okay, I’ll try.”
“And I’ll talk to Bruce about the hovering. You’re a teenager, you deserve some privacy,” she teased, getting a smile from him.
“Can I do some training? Not sparring, but…”
“That you will need to be supervised for, maybe some dance or yoga to start. You haven’t trained in a long time so you’ll need to get back the flexibility and strength. But it is Gotham and there is a chance the Manor could be breached so being able to defend yourself is a good idea.” She wasn’t sure how he’d react in a fight but he did live in Gotham and no security was foolproof, even Bruce’s. But it could be that he needed to face his fears, he couldn’t face the Joker, but to be in a fight, even a friendly one, might actually help him…or it could undo all his hard work, it was hard to tell.
Thankfully, Tim didn’t argue against those rules. Convincing Bruce to let Tim train in anything at all was likely not going to be easy. He was very protective of Tim, had been even before Joker but now…he’d wrap the kid in bubble wrap and lock him in a tower if he could. She got him to talk about his friends for a while, happy that he was still close to his old team and that Stephanie was coming around more. They had been dating after all, it had been sad that she’d stayed away. And then Tim blushed when talking about Kon, looking at the floor.
“You really like him,” she commented.
Tim nodded and then looked up at her. “Would Kon get in trouble?”
Ah. That was a bit more complicated and not something that she could just say yes or no to, not at the moment.
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Dick forced himself not to watch Tim like a hawk, Dinah had a big talk with Bruce about it and he’d then passed it on. They were smothering Tim which wasn’t good for him. He needed to be given trust and privacy on the good days. But he wasn’t hovering, he’d been in the library first. Tim was sitting at the computer they’d set up for him to use with a big monitor. Tim could control the lighting and font size very easily on it but hadn’t been as happy with the parental controls on it, but it had been agreed that he wasn’t ready yet to have access to everything.
Tim had been enrolled back into school, a special program that had allowed him to move at his own pace. His frustration with the work was hard to watch, but Tim wasn’t giving up. And he was getting better at asking them for help when he needed it. Tim was a genius, he’d skipped grades in school and now…he was doing work he’d likely done when he was ten, trying to get back to where he had been.
Dick would glance at him every so often, making sure he wasn’t getting too frustrated, but he was also trying to do his own research. It had been made clear to them all that putting their lives on continual pause for Tim would just stress the kid, which made sense, Tim had always hated being an inconvenience…not that he ever was one. And he didn’t want to be a cop again, he was glad after he quit. So, what else did he want to do with his life?
“Dick?” Tim asked after a while, and he looked up.
“Yeah, baby bird?”
“Break,” he answered. “Can…can we,” he bit his lip nervously. “Work in the gym?”
Dick smiled at him and stood, setting his tablet aside. “Sure thing,” he grinned and Tim smiled in relief.
They headed for the upstairs gym that had some fitness equipment and his own gymnastic section as well. He let Tim look around and decide what he wanted to try to do, he’d lost all his old conditioning and muscles, there was a reason he was so easy to carry still. He smiled when Tim took his hand, bouncing slightly on his toes. It was very good to see him excited and then he was being tugged over to the dance bar set against the wall. A good choice, they could start with easy stretches, get his flexibility back.
And he grinned when after a while, Cass joined them, curious.
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Bruce looked over the plans and signed off on them. Drake Manor was being razed to the ground, Tim hated the place and would never want to live there again but he had inherited it. Which meant it was under Bruce’s control. DI was being kept separately to WE, ensuring Tim would always have funds. He had fired and replaced the Board with people who would act ethically and ensure the business continued on. Living fully on his own wasn’t something Tim could do, but with the wall down between the two properties, they could give Tim his space.
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Cassie grinned as she put the party hat on her head, making Tim laugh. She then went to put his on him and he bolted so she chased him around the table. Kon caught him and held him still while she put the hat on Tim, even as he laughed and struggled. Today, was Tim’s eighteenth birthday and he was getting the party he had missed last year since the bats were dealing with Damian and Tim had checked out due to the brat.
They had now known Tim for longer as he was now, then as he had been before his captivity. They’d met just before he turned fourteen so they’d been a team for just over a year before he was taken. He’d been rescued almost three years ago but sometimes it felt longer than that.
They laughed as Stitch pounced Jason, the now fully grown cat looking quite pleased with himself. Soon they were settled at the table to eat, Tim seated at the head of the table in place of honour, Bruce on his left and Kon on his right. And she was sure that Kon and Tim were holding hands under the table, which was sweet.
Tim was going through tests by a third-party therapist since questions would be asked if anyone realised. And they might since Tim was finally beginning to leave the Manor grounds. Only for short outings and always with several people, just to be safe. They all wanted Tim to pass the tests, for it to be legally stated that he was able to have a say in his own life. Yes, he still had bad days and likely always would, but they were becoming less and less frequent. He occasionally giggled still but that was to be expected with the lingering traces of Joker venom in his blood and he never lost control. She could still remember the videos they had been shown of his condition when they returned from their mission, he had come so far since those days.
The meal was happy, everyone chatting and then eventually Alfred brought out a very large rich chocolate cake, Tim’s eyes lighting up happily. He blew out the candles and then Bruce cut it up into slices.
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Tim held Bruce’s hand as they walked, Stitch at his side on his leash. He wasn’t sure where they were going but that was fine, it was a nice day by Gotham standards and he felt good. Everything was crisp and clear, and it was easy to focus and think. He got nervous as they approached where the wall should be…but wasn’t?
He stopped. Where…where was Drake Manor? “Dad?” he asked in confusion. Instead of the modern manor, there was a house, a normal one-story house.
“Leslie and Dinah have both okayed this so long as there are monitoring systems,” he explained as they approached.
It was pretty, homey, far more welcoming even on the outside then the Manor. Bruce opened the door and led him inside, Tim’s eyes widening.
“This is…”
“Everyone’s paid close attention to what you like Sweetheart. This is all yours. You can still stay in your room in the Manor but you’re eighteen now and I know having all of us around is frustrating to you sometimes.”
“Mine?” he whispered and then bent to let Stitch out of his harness to explore.
“Well, Stitch’s too,” Bruce smirked, and Tim laughed before wandering to explore.
It was all open, letting in plenty of sunlight. It just felt warm and welcoming, his favourite posters and photos on the walls which were a warm brown shade, one wall done in a lighter shade of red as a feature. The furniture was mostly built into the wall, except the couch and a very sturdy table in front of it. There was even a corner already set up for Stitch! The kitchen was obviously done by Alfie, easy to use and keep clean. And down the hall were more rooms, some bedrooms and bathrooms. The main large room was big enough to have an area with books and a computer for him to do his studies. Stitch even had a whole room in case Tim needed to keep him out of things.
“Thank you!” Tim threw himself at his Dad who caught him, hugging him tight.
“Anything for you,” Dad promised softly.
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Kon glanced down at Tim, smiling at the look of contentment on his face as they watched a movie on Tim’s tv. The house was great, it wasn’t massive but there were spare rooms for when the team or Tim’s siblings stayed with him. And Alfred dropped meals off or cooked with Tim in the kitchen, Tim wasn’t allowed to cook unsupervised since that tended to set off the smoke alarm. He went to kiss the top of his head but Tim moved and he hit Tim’s lips instead, getting a cheeky smile.
“Love you,” Tim whispered.
“Love you too.” This time the kiss was meant to be on the lips.
Tim hadn’t passed all the tests he’d been given; they’d all expected that. But after a lot of discussion between various specialists, it had been agreed that Tim could consent to certain things, like dating and even paying bills and the like. He couldn’t get married without Bruce’s approval, couldn’t drive or learn to use firearms (they didn’t need to know Tim already knew that), big things like that but that was okay because he had plenty of people able to do those things for him.
He was finally getting closer with his schoolwork to where he’d been before being taken. He’d graduate late but he’d get there eventually. It’s not like it mattered to any of them but Tim wanted to do it. It was something normal he could do.
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Cass smiled as she danced beside Tim, the two of them moving in sync. Not as fast as she could do it, but Tim still sometimes had trouble. Dancing was fun and relaxing and it was something they could do together. She loved her little brother. She had a family now, a real family. She was Batgirl! And sometimes when she was out, it was Timmy in her ear, not always but those nights were fun. She knew he missed flying through the city but that was one thing Bruce put his foot down on. No vigilante work beyond the computer for Tim.
That was why they were arranging something for his birthday. They were going to let Tim fly again in a safe place. It wasn’t the same thing but no one was willing to risk him to the Gotham Rogues, even if many liked and missed the third Robin.
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Jason smirked as he took off Timbit’s blindfold, leaving him blinking in the sunlight, looking around. The remains of the half-built city looked a little eerie but here, they could play and fly and no one would see a thing. But to be safe, Tim was dressed in black body armour and Jason handed him a matching domino as Tim looked between his friends and siblings.
“Remember how to use this?” Dick asked, holding out a grapple to Tim who stared in shock.
It was a legitimate question; it had almost been five years since he’d last used one after all. But Tim took it, checking it over. Kon and Cassie floated up, ready to be his safety net.
Tim took a deep breath and walked to the edge of the roof, looking for a good spot before firing the gun, hesitating for a moment, and then he leapt. This was why they’d had Tim working on upper body strength and stamina the last year, not that they’d told the kid that. The rest of the bat kids took off after him, landing a few seconds after him and were met with Tim laughing happily.
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Bruce watched his children and Tim’s friends play through the sky. It was good for them to all have fun without any worries, beyond Tim tiring but with Kon and Cassie there that wasn’t a problem, they could catch anyone who slipped. He’d honestly thought Tim would never fly again; Robin’s feathers plucked for good by the Joker. But Tim had refused to give in. He would be graduating high school soon, who cared that he’d be twenty. Considering his state when rescued, it was a miracle.
The bad days were few and far between now and Tim would go out when visiting Smallville or Metropolis, he was more cautious in Gotham though. He always wore makeup when he did though, not liking anyone outside the family seeing his bleached skin.
Tim had bonded easily with Cass and Bruce finally had a daughter to dote on. He’d been surprised when Babs gave her the Batgirl mantle but it had given her a purpose. He knew Tim remembered nothing of his time in Ra’s hands and Cass had never spoken of what had happened, but that was likely for the best given they were siblings now.
Damian was an unresolved issue; he was still halfway across the galaxy being treated. They had managed to encourage some growth in the underdeveloped portion of his brain but that was not a miracle fix. Would he ever be well enough to return to Earth? He was undergoing therapy still, trying to undo the years of damage caused by his mother and grandfather. Talia had contacted him several time but he had responded honestly, he did not know where Damian was, only that he was being well cared for. They had not left enough of the League for her to rebuild, not without centuries of work and they knew to watch closely to ensure that did not happen.
Bruce knew Tim and Kon were together now but he was fine with that. Kon would never hurt Tim, was so gentle with him on his now infrequent bad days, never did anything more than hug him on those days. If they were ever intimate, that was more than he wanted to know and if they came to him, he would sign the paperwork to allow Tim to marry. Though, he hoped in another year or so, it wouldn’t be needed. With the less frequent bad days…he hoped to have Tim retested next year and have him pass well enough to not need any level of guardianship. Maybe it was an unrealistic dream but he would let himself hope, after all, they’d never dreamed Tim would come this far.
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Babs smiled as the icon lit up. “You want to take Old Gotham, Fashion and Diamond Districts tonight, Sibyl?”
“Sounds good,” Tim agreed from the Batcave.
She enjoyed the nights Tim joined her, splitting Gotham between them made things so much easier.
Gotham had changed since the days of Batman and Robin. There were more vigilantes than ever now, several Rogues retired or gone from Gotham. The gangs would likely always be trouble but they could handle them. And it was nice, not being the only one running comms and the computers.
Maybe things weren’t how any of them had imagined six years ago, but that was okay. They were all alive and happy.
The End.