Chapter Text
Tim didn’t want to delay anything; the quicker he got the kids checked out, the sooner he could fix anything Joker might have injected into them.
He knew that once he told TJ they were going out, JJ would make an appearance. After meeting JJ, he understood that JJ was the protector—the one who emerged when TJ needed shielding. What he hadn’t anticipated was JJ showing up the moment they stepped outside his apartment.
“You know, Tim, you haven’t told me where we’re going,” JJ asked as Tim buckled him into the car. I’ll need to get a car seat for them soon, Tim thought absentmindedly.
Tim frowned. “I told TJ.”
“Yeah, well, Timmy threw me to the front without explaining anything. So where are we going?” JJ pouted, crossing his arms.
“To see Bruce.” He said as he started the engine and began driving.
“Who’s Bruce?” The question caught Tim off guard. He thought JJ would know Bruce was Batman, but he realized that just because TJ knew something, it didn’t mean JJ did. He also figured he would know who Bruce was simply because he was such a large prominent figure in Gotham.
“My… dad?” Tim replied a bit uncertainly. He’d been living with Bruce for years, and Bruce had officially adopted him at 15. Saying it out loud felt strange, but he realized he didn’t mind—it was true after all.
“So, does that make him our grandpa?” JJ asked, tilting his head like a curious puppy.
Tim paused, unsure how to respond. It implied a lot he hadn’t yet processed. “I guess so…” he said, surprised as to how JJ’s even made that connection.
“Why are we going to see your dad?” JJ asked, fidgeting with his seatbelt, clearly uncomfortable.
“We need to make sure there’s nothing harmful inside you. If there is, the cave has everything we need to clear it out.”
JJ went quiet, and for a moment, Tim thought TJ might reappear. But each time he checked the mirror, JJ was still there.
As Tim started unbuckling him, JJ held his face, saying, “You aren’t allowed to leave me alone.”
“Of course not. You’re sticking with me,” Tim said, kissing JJ between the eyes, making him giggle brightly. He carried JJ to the front door of the manor. Normally, Tim would have just walked in, but he figured he’d let Alfred open the door to save himself the trouble of tracking him down.
“Master Tim, it’s good to see you,” Alfred said as he opened the door, glancing at JJ before turning back to Tim. “And this is?”
“JJ!” JJ exclaimed, giggling into the crook of Tim’s neck. “JJ, meet Alfred. Alfred, this is JJ. Is Bruce in his study or the cave?”
“It’s nice to meet you, Master JJ. And yes, Master Bruce is in his study,” Alfred replied without batting an eye at the unusual introduction.
“Alright, thank you.” Tim put JJ down so he could walk, and the young boy immediately took Tim’s hand, which Tim gave a light squeeze.
“I’ll prepare lunch for the two of you,” Alfred said.
“Thanks, Alfie,” Tim replied.
He knocked on the study door and waited for Bruce’s usual “Come in.” Upon entering, Bruce’s lips pressed into a line. Tim didn’t say anything, but JJ was already giggling. Tim sat down, adjusting JJ on his lap.
“Hi, Bruce. This is an alternate version of me who was tortured by the clown prince of Gotham,” he explained, avoiding Joker’s name, remembering JJ’s earlier reaction.
Bruce didn’t say anything, his eyes fixed on the giggling 8-year-old.
“His skin—it’s permanent?” Bruce asked, curious.
Tim nodded. “I think he was dunked in the same batch of chemicals as him and Harley.”
“She was nice,” JJ said wistfully.
“Really?” Tim asked, surprised that Harley was involved. “She tried to help me escape, but then he found out and took her away. I don’t know if she’s still alive or not,” JJ said, frowning a bit before shaking his head and clinging tightly to Tim.
Tim kissed JJ’s cheek before looking at Bruce. “I don’t know if he was injected with anything,” he said, playing with JJ’s hair. “I wanted you to take some blood samples, to check just in case he needs any antidotes.”
Bruce sighed and nodded, asking, “How’d you find him?” as they headed toward the cave.
Tim just shrugged.
"He just showed up," Tim says, looking at Bruce. Bruce, sensing the lie, raises an eyebrow but says nothing.
As they enter the cave, the distinct clashing of a sword hitting a dummy tells Tim that Damian is practicing nearby.
“Timothy,” Damian greets, briefly pausing.
“Damian,” Tim replies. Usually, Damian would go back to his training, but instead, he narrows his eyes at JJ, his confusion apparent. “What… is that?” he asks, sounding a bit rude.
JJ turns, looks at Damian, and laughs. “Hey, Timmy, when we’re done, can I play with the sword?”
“No, I don’t want you hurting anyone,” Tim replies sternly. He knows JJ would do anything to protect TJ, but he doesn’t want to risk anyone getting hurt.
JJ turns back to Damian, undeterred. “I can just hit the dummies like he is,” he says, pointing.
“We both know that’s not what you’d do.” Even though JJ is a protector, he’s picked up certain habits from the Joker. Tim’s noticed a few telltale quirks in their short time together.
JJ rolls his eyes but then shifts his focus to Bruce, studying him intently. After a moment, he giggles and whispers into Tim’s ear, loud enough for Bruce to hear, “He wanted me to kill him. That’s why he gave me the gun. He gave it to me just before Batman showed up, so I shot him instead.” JJ plays with the hem of his shirt. “I wonder if he knew I was there or if it was just another manhunt,” he says, his tone shifting to something more serious.
Bruce looks like he has a hundred questions, but Tim isn’t about to let Bruce interrogate either JJ or TJ.
Tim sets JJ down to help Bruce gather the necessary supplies. When Bruce grabs the needles, Tim feels a tug on his sleeve.
I want you to do it , TJ signs. Bruce frowns, confused by the sudden change.
“Alright,” Tim says, holding out his hands so Bruce can give him the needle.
“You’re good with him,” Bruce observes.
Tim scoffs. “I’d hope so—that is me, after all.”
Bruce nods in acknowledgment. “How do you plan on sending him back?”
Both TJ and Tim freeze.
“I’m not,” Tim declares confidently. “He’s staying with me, whether you like it or not.”
“Tim, I’m sure he has a family that’s looking for him.” Bruce says softly.
No, I don’t, TJ signs, looking close to tears.
Bruce frowns, ready to say something, but TJ continues signing, If I had a family looking for me, I wouldn’t have been kidnapped and tortured for weeks.
He starts sobbing. Tim pulls him into a tight hug, his glare fixed on Bruce. “He’s staying with me. End of story.”
“I’m sorry,” Bruce says quietly, he looks like he’s about to say more but ultimately decides not to.
The only person who would’ve looked for me is the Joker, TJ signs, and he’s dead.
Without another word, Tim lifts TJ, his gaze on Bruce unyielding. “We’re leaving. Call me when you get the results.” Tim says leaving in a huff.
Bruce and Damian watch the two leave, stunned.
“There’s something wrong with him,” Damian states bluntly. “You saw how he completely changed.”
Bruce nods, looking at the vials of blood. “Tim didn’t even flinch. This must have happened before.”
“We’re going to try and send him back, right?” Damian asks, recalling that those who are dimensionally displaced should ultimately be returned home. That’s what they’ve always done.
Bruce hesitates, glancing at the door. “I... I don’t know.”