#Tim Drake should stay Robin

[katanahime]

The Tim Drake is Robin Agenda

I'm Robin again! And it feels right! No, even more than right, it feels - glorious. Even though things are truly dire in Gotham, I can't hide the joy I feel at finally being back in the big game. Batman is already too grim. Batgirl's too purposeful. And Nightwing's become haunted. One of us has to cling to the brighter side of things, right? One of us has to be willing to shine a light on all of these shadows.

-Robin (1993-2009) #131 (War Games tie-in)

Hi friends, I'm back, and once again with a different fandom, although this time it's not new, it's old. So old, in fact, it pre-dates my tumblr years.

I managed to find out that Tim Drake was Robin again a few years back, coinciding with the more reported-on news that he was revealed as canonically bisexual (something I was also excited to hear, but not the subject of this particular essay beyond the fact that it's inadvertently the reason I found out Tim was Robin once more and thus started reading DC comics again, my interest in which was dive-bombed by Grant Morrison in the late 00's before New52 was even brought into existence to make it worse (and now it doesn't exist and can't hurt me, so that's good).

So why have I gone through all the energy of finding and resetting several layers of emails and account passwords because I could not remember which one this account was under just to talk about this?

Well

It's because I've all-too-frequently encountered the opinion that Tim being Robin again is some sort of regression or backward development which

WHAT

Red Robin was a bandage over an open wound (both literally and figuratively at times), and something he adapted to, but never actually wanted. And Tim returning to being Robin has the same type of energy as Dick returning to Nightwing from Batman.

Which is to say, overall better for his mental health, goals, and his entire character.

(To briefly touch on "Drake", even though it seems like there are more jokes about it than comics with him using it, I checked out those YJ volumes, and it absolutely has the energy of when my friends back in high school convinced me to date this person from musical theater camp and we went on one date and broke up after two weeks and we never spoke again.)

This idea that Tim needs to "grow out of" Robin is fundamentally rooted in characters that are not Tim. Tim is a character who, from his very inception tried to get an adult person (Dick) to be Robin again, was made specifically to fit the role of Robin and have no interest in being Batman, and repeatedly (REPEATEDLY) views Robin as a role he has to grown into and up with, and not out of.

The only times Tim ever considers not being Robin is when he thinks he will quit altogether and be a civilian. Something he only considers under the idea that he isn't needed anymore, and something he stops talking about completely after he is temporarily forced to be a civilian and it does not work (heroic impulses too strong and he still does vigilante things out of costume and without armor).

Dick Grayson is a character whom I love dearly, but even before the best sibling relationship in all of American comics (Dick & Tim) was torn apart for no goddamn good reason (and believe me I cling to newer bits I've encountered like in Nightwing #80 with all of my heart, but it's not enough to make up for what happened), he had his faults, and one of those at times is assuming Tim is like himself in ways that Tim is not actually.

Dick Grayson has a severe Type-A personality, and although he is an excellent team leader and very personable and funny when he's not super depressed and going through the wringer, he chaffs at anything he views as control and values his freedom and independence very highly. Ironically, in trying to apply this to Tim, he removes the independence and agency that Tim already had.

If you like the idea of someone finding a new role that he feels he excels and flourishes in more than his original, that's great, Dick Grayson already exists, he's Nightwing. I recommend the Tom Taylor run, it's fantastic.

Like many Tim fans that actually love Tim, I entirely adored Chip Zdarsky's take on him and have been spoiled rotten by it. And I happened to spy a particularly bad take about Batman #130 wherein someone had the mistaken belief that Bruce praising Tim's teamwork in comparison to others didn't have a particular basis in understanding Tim and that Tim fans just like seeing him being praised. Which I want to tell you that I absolutely LIT UP at that SPECIFIC praise, not because it was praise, but because it's been so long since Tim had been properly acknowledged as the Teamwork Robin that I could CRY.

Like Dick, Tim makes an excellent team leader, but where he really excels in comparison to other Robins is in being a team player. Tim, even in his solo series, does most of his best work in team ups. (I also want to take a moment to be absolutely devastated at the recent loss of Peter David, who wrote the original Young Justice series, and sadly passed in late May.) And having that be acknowledge specifically felt good, actually. And it's so small, but Tim had come off of spending so long being relatively unacknowledged and/or very badly characterized, that it really doesn't take much beyond that simple kind of acknowledgement.

People largely in fandom don't seem to know who Tim is. And I can barely blame you, because DC lost any sense of him for a decade.

Tim has two main skillsets that I feel are really iconic of him.

The first I will call MacGyvering fights. Wherein he doesn't overpower someone physically, but it's more like "okay I have a stick, some smoke bombs, there's a market stall overhang over there, and snow on the ground, how do I use all this to defeat 3 armed goons?"

The second is talking to people and entrapping them into his found family - despite or perhaps because of having a total lack of real social boundaries. Even if you dislike him or attack at first, if you give him enough of a chance, he will absorb you into his found family and there is no escape.

If you think Tim Drake is a loner, ding-dong, you are wrong, he is the opposite of a loner and craves affection like plants crave the sun. And so much of the Batfamily even existing revolves around him and his run as Robin.

(Side note, I would love to see more of his friends back. #bringbackIves2025)

Additional sidenote, if there's a specific take within the "Tim Drake should move on from Robin" take that I already dislike that makes me hate it even MORE, it's the one where some people think he should leave Gotham and find is "own city". Listen, Gotham IS his city. It's his home. Dick isn't from there. Damian isn't from there. (Jason is and no one says he should leave Crime Alley behind). Tim cares about GOTHAM the entire Tim Drake credo is actually about GOTHAM ("Gotham needs Batman, Batman needs Robin" essentially boils down to "Gotham needs Robin" via the transitive property of Batman, and if it wasn't for the "Gotham needs" part, Batman wouldn't be so important in the first place.) And of course he also cares about the world and the universe at large, but tearing him from his home is not what him or ANYONE needs.

And of course he has always been great with computers and technology, and as a sidenote to that Computer Whiz + Skateboarder = coolest boy ever in the 1990's.

Tim was designed to be Robin in a way the other Robins weren't. Dick was created with Robin, which is a bit different. He wasn't designed to fit a role, that role didn't exist yet. Pre-Crisis Jason was just a badly photocopied Dick, post-crisis Jason was designed to be not that, and only got a year to live. Damian (outside of his initial much older concept which had nothing to do with Robin) was designed to be an obstacle and a threat and then die. (And I don't think anyone was under the impression that Steph was designed to be Robin, but to acknowledge her, she was designed because Chuck Dixon hated Cluemaster.)

Tim was specifically designed to be Robin and to fit the role of Robin and be accepted popularly as Robin (which he was IMMENSELY popular at the time) in the wake of a very unpopular Robin that got voted to die.

I think about that freakin. "In the SQUARE HOLE" meme video. And this is such a weird random analysis, but trust me, it's perfect. Basically, Dick made the hole. Tim is the actual square peg. Everyone else you CAN fit in the square hole if you want to put them there, but Tim doesn't fit properly anywhere ELSE.

Anyway. Tim is Robin. He does his best work as Robin. He's happiest as Robin. He doesn't need to be pushed out of that role. He isn't asking to be pushed. Don't push him.

And if anyone so much as thinks the word "birthright" in my general direction, please step on a Lego. I don't hate Damian. I think he can be an interesting character, although I wish someone would actually write development for him instead of alternating between writing him undeveloped, and writing him like he received development that was never really on-panel. But specifically any time he is marketed as the "true" or "real" or god-forbid "only" son of Batman, a puppy or kitten spiritually dies as you have cruel disregard for adoption as a concept.

God, I could say more. I could pull a bunch of comic receipts. I kind of meant to. I might make another post because I wanted to talk about Bruce and Tim because I had an epiphany recently in a conversation with my mom (who fairly recently got a spinal injury and most effective way I've gotten to get her to stop doing things she shouldn't is to go "if I was the one hurt, would you be okay with me doing that?" and it made me think a lot about taking care of parents or parental figures via weaponizing their feelings of wanting to protect or take care of you). And that's basically the vibe, way more than whatever else people seem to think it is.

This will probably not be the last you hear from me.

[tarwis]

About Robin…

Robin is light, Robin is hope, Robin is magic.

Batman is darkness, Batman is vengeance, Batman is justice.

Dick was light, hope and magic. Jason was light, hope and magic. So was Tim. So was Steph, for however short.

Do you know who isn’t light, hope and magic?

Damian f***ing al Ghul.

Damian is dark, broody, full of hate and vengeance. Sounds familiar?

Am I saying he’s evil, tainted, or irredeemable? No. Am I saying he is too full of unaddressed trauma to be Robin? Yes! Every Robin before him had trauma in some shape or form, but his is the one unaddressed by the writers. So, yes, Gotham needs Batman, Batman needs Robin and we already have a perfectly Robin-shaped child to fill the role. (I’ve already reblogged the whole post about that, but for good measure, here:

So, who should Damian be and what happens with my precious headcanon identities Cardinal and Crow?

Robin is Dick’s legacy and Dick’s alone. It was why he was so mad that Bruce gave it to Jason without asking — Robin was Dick’s mom’s pet name for him. Robin’s colours are the Grayson’s colours and the whole Robin identity revolves around Dick’s family, their deaths and his attempt at avenging them. Batman is Bruce’s, Robin is Dick’s, but Bruce forgot that, thinking Robin was Batman's. And he passed it along, making Robin a tainted legacy where Batman is a symbol of darkness. Fitting, yes, and morbidly ironic, just as Gotham likes it.

So now, to keep the legacy, the city keeps spewing children who crawled out of various holes to fight against the darkness, inspired by the hope and light and magic that Robin is. The world tells them to give in to the darkness, to give up the light, and they spit in the world's face in defiance. (Another thing Damian isn’t. He’s a spoiled prince in both worlds, trained to be a weapon. He didn’t have the chance to choose to fight for light and hope, because the choice was made for him)

So, once Robin (Tim) becomes an adult, I think he should break the tainted cycle. Just like Tim was Duke’s Robin, I think there will be other children inspired by him and for whom the only Robin will be Tim, too young to know of Robin's messy history. Children who refuse to back down and it is either train them before they go out to fight, or pretend you can stop them and they go out untrained to die. They may not become Robin, but maybe they can all be robins, if the idea of many street children in bird costumes infesting the streets to fight crime under the watchful eye of the Red mama bird (since I'm sure at least half of them will be Alley kids and everyone knows that Robin and hurting children are not allowed in Red Hood's territory) is appealing to anyone.

Meanwhile, as Robin continues as a legacy, Tim will probably also take a more secretive alias — Cardinal. Where Robin will be loud and funny and a bit cheeky, Cardinal will be invisible and silent. Both will be dangerous, sharp and precise, but Cardinal will be more like a dark mirror hidden in the shadows that Robin’s light casts. Because Tim is both and his work in the underground world cannot be associated with Robin.

Alternatively, Tim could take the mantle of Crow as a secondary occupation and work exclusively as an informant and hacker. A shadowy presence in the internet almost on par with Oracle and her "unofficial rival", if the rumours spread among the Bats’ enemies by O and C themselves are to be believed. Again, no connection to Robin, who will still be active and well in the field.

If Tim decides to create Cardinal, that may leave Crow to Damian if he does not want to be called Batboy, but somehow Crow does not fit him. He could also decide to go all in and call himself Shadow to mock or acknowledge his past. He could be Echo, a silly little reference to the echolocation of bats. There are many names under which Damian can thrive, but I don’t think Robin is one of them.

Thank you for coming to my Ted talk.

[haveihitanerve]

“Bruce no wait- please Bruce you can’t-” Tim begged, chasing after the man. “Please Bruce- hes your son.” Tim pleaded, finally reaching Bruce. Bruce couldn't. They had worked so hard, done so much, Tim couldn’t screw up their relationship. Not now. He’d go, he’d leave if he was the problem, if it meant they would be better, if it would repair their relationship. He’d go. Tim snagged his arm, not strong enough to actually stop the man, or even enough to slow him, but hopefully enough to draw his attention. “Hes your son.” Tim whispered. Bruce whirled, and Tim stumbled back in surprise as Bruce snarled with ferocity. “So are you.” 

idk why i decided to hurt myself like this but ok...

[theflopwonder]

yeah dude tracing dc by publication history is the fastest way to induce a migraine and for some reason BatBooks in particular are just notoriously bad at following or obeying things going on in other books featuring said characters even tho all it would take is a one off sentence to explain it, and ESPECIALLY in Tim’s case. This is why everyone thinks he was dating Cassie and Zoe at the same time. I know it’s meant to be a half baked joke but still, he wasn’t cheating, the editorials just REFUSED to talk to each other 😭😭

[batfambrainrotbeloved]

OH MY GOD I MADE THIS MEME WHILE SICK I FORGOT ABOUT IT-

[sangunary]

BatBoy x Hero Reader.

SYPNOSIS: Being the subject of admiration of kids is a real privilege.

IMP: Reader is only 5 year's older.. Reader do not reciprocate the feelings.

Dick Grayson:

He liked you before he was Robin, before the light were on him just because you complimented his mother. Most Heroes don't really have the time to take personal note of citizens but you did, and he wasn't ashamed about liking you hell everybody knows that the you g boy liked you. The way his eyes would sparkle whenever he saw you or how he was trying his best to impress you like how kods would.

He broke his leg because he was trying to impress you, forgetting about the fact that he jumping through roofs too occupied with making sure you were watching he totally forgot everything he have learnt. It was embarassing for him pretending that his broken leg was just some boo-boo but you saw through him. Gave him a piggy back home which made him promise to you that he would be stronger and he'll carry you like that one day.

Bruce wouldn't stop lecturing him, scolding him for broking his leg for 'validation'. The moment Bruce somewhat insult you the young boy definitely defended you with his whole heart. He did not care who he had to face no one talk about you like that to him. Alfred wouldn't stop passing remarks about you from that day.

Jason Todd.

He started to like you when you gave him food when he was still living in the street. To you it was just giving a poor kid some food but to him... You were an angel sent by God personally for him and luckily he got to meet you again by fate.

He was more reckless than any of your mentee and definitely more ruthless, Bruce already told you about his bad tendency but you treat him like a normal person. With him around you could go through a whole mission while closing your eyes he would take care of everything for you before you can ask. If any thug get a hit on you, boom! A dislocated arm. After each patrol with yoy Bruce would lecture him again and again, and as a result he was permitted from patrolling with you alone.

He took it like a champ and run straight to your house with his belongings, a credit card he stole from Bruce on his hand. Begging you take him and run away somewhere without Bruce. He ended up staying with you for two months before the unthinkable happened.

Tim Drake.

Being liked by him have to be the worst dream for heros. Not only did he show up at your apartment with a whole binder full of why you were the exact hero he demanded for him to be your sidekick. He even brought a list of chores. He talked about how easy it was and even bringing a presentation on how to hide your identity better cause not every kid deserves to know your identity he needs your validation real bad.

Not only did he not get to live with you he instead got to live with the dark knight. Even during Patrol he wouldn't stop asking you questions which you answered, everything but the 'Can you love a sidekick?'.

Bruce is very sick of your name now, everytime he did something wrong Tim was ready to bring his luggage to your apartment. For Bruce he was learning every random fact about you through his bored kid "Their bathroom is atleast 5 feet by 8 feet", "They're neglecting their school work, especially on friday", "They eat ramen everyday... We should give them money".

Bruce made Tim your contingency plan.

Damian Wayne.

Damian started to 'care' about your presence after you flicker his forehead when he was stating facts. He was amazed by your audacity so much that he ended up at your apartment analyzing everything and memorizing them. It was because if he has to fight you it'll be inside your own home and he'll laugh at you when he ended you in your own comfort.

That never happened he ended up cleaning your apartment out of pity. Gradually he would 'soften' letting you do his hair or let you touch his personal weapon he treasure dearly. To him you weren't just a person you were the embodiment of warmth and he wasn't going to let any one took that warmth from him, they should thank him if they managed to left with only a broken rib.

Bruce saw you as a huge disaster and tried to send you to blüdhaven for your own and his son sake. Damian would always visit you every single night, he couldn't be at ease knowing his trust was so far away so he made sure that you were taking care of yourself not because he love you and only because you were the missing part of him. Being lectured by a kid on how to live isn't fun.

[2tcs]

Day 2 Meeting a new family member and Wire

“My brother has moved to Gotham and I intend to visit them tonight as Robin.” Damian announced as everyone began to eat dinner.

“You have. A brother?” Tim haltingly asked as he looked at Damian.

“Tt. That is what I said. I advise not attempting to contact him unless he invites you into his home.”

“Damian. Why didn’t you tell me you had a brother?” Bruce asked.

“It was irrelevant. Danyal is older than me and had been deemed a failure by the time Mother and Grandfather decided to make me. I had been under the impression that he had been disposed of. In a way, I suppose he was, seeing as he was placed in the hands of some scientists who worked for the league.”

“But he’s back. Do you know what he wants?” Tim asked as Bruce disassociated.

“He would not go into detail but it seems that the scientists who raised him have found a purer and more radioactive Lazarus water. It is why I am meeting him tonight so he can turn over the more sensitive information without the league hearing about it.”

“Damian.” Bruce started before rethinking what he was going to say. “I would like to come with. He may be your brother but he is also an unknown.”

“I am aware Father. That is why I am telling you now. You cannot come with me but I will stay in contact and keep the com channel open throughout the entire exchange.”

“I would still prefer”

“Father. You will not come with. Danyal has expressly forbade you from meeting him.”

“That makes this even more suspicious! If not me then at least bring Dick with you.”

“Richard is in Bloodhaven and will not be able to get here in a timely manner. I am going alone.” Damian said before standing up and walking off.

“Damian!”

“Give it a rest B. He’s on a mission and I have a feeling he’ll go alone no mater what you say. If anything we could try to tail him but I have a feeling he’ll be on the lookout for that.”

“Hn.”

👻🦇👻🦇

“Akhi. You have fortified this place well.” Damian complimented as he walked into the office of the warehouse where Danny had made his base. It had been years since Danny had looked into the child that was meant to replace him after he failed one too many missions for Grandfather's liking. But to see that his little brother had managed to escape the league made Danny’s core hum happily.

“Thank you, Dams. But we aren’t here for pleasantries.” Danny said as he walked over to the single desk in the room and pulled a thick file out of one of the drawers. “In here is a brief rundown of the Fenton's research as well as a law that has recently passed that is in violation of”

Before Danny could finish talking there was a loud crash and a string of expletives.

“What the fuck! Who puts two wire traps mere inches from each other!” The voice shouted before the sound of a body hitting the floor. A few moments later the voice started yelling again as they fell into another trap.

“A friend of yours Dams?” Danny asked while he watched the door.

“A member of our family. Unfortunately. I had told Father not to come and I was hoping the fact that it was in Crime Allie would discourage Drake. I had not counted on Father getting Todd involved.” Damian sighed before walking over to the folder.

“As long as he does not wake up the littles I could care less. Perhaps we should help him out?” Danny asked. Not noticing Damian’s head snapping up to stare at him.

“Littles? You did not inform me of anyone else.”

“Hm. Long story short? You are an uncle to two little ones.”

“ALL RIGHT! WHO SET UP ALL THOSE… Demon brat. I should have known.” Red Hood said as he barged into the office. Causing twin crys to echo from a door on the opposite side of the main door. “Are those?”

“Yes, and your entrance has just woken up my kids. Dams? I have also left a number in the folder if you need to contact me. I will be off now.” Danny said as he began to walk towards the door the cries were coming from.

“There is a family brunch every Wednesday at ten in the morning. I request you to be there so that I can meet the new members of our family. Father would also like to meet you.” Damian said while ignoring Jason’s stuttering.

“I will think about it. Until next time Dams.” Danny replied before disappearing through the door.

[fanfic-obsessed]

Feral Tim

I have found I have a great love for Feral Tim Drake. This is a Tim Drake who has built his own moral code in an echoing, empty house and tracking vigilantes across rooftops. First it should be noted that Tim’s loyalty is tied closer to Robin than it is to Batman.  That his motivation for blackmailing Bruce to become Robin was more toward saving Robin’s Dad and Robin’s legacy than saving Batman. 

Little Tim Drake is Obsessively, Desperately, Dangerously protective of the Robin legacy and his predecessor Robins, particularly Robin #2 Jason Todd.  It becomes well known in Gotham, really quickly that it is not a good idea to insult Robin while Robin #3 is around.  

As always, I have no idea what is cannon here.

Like, if you insult Robin #3 to his face, you will get a laugh and an agreement-He will still stop you from your crimes but you won’t end up extra hurt. If you insult Robin in general, Robin #3 will be more aggressive in taking you down and you will get some extra bruises. If you insult Robin #1, you can expect at least one additional broken bone, which bone depends on the insult. However if you insult Robin #2, Robin #3 will bite and he will bite to the bone; you will be mauled and chances are Batman will have to pull Robin #3 off you. 

Count of Bites, before all of Gotham got the point: 4 low level criminals, 3 civilians (all of which were drunk, belligerent, and woke up the next day confused about their injuries), no less than 16 assorted Goons, and The Penguin. 

I want you to take a moment to picture Batman, who got a bit less violent after getting Robin #3 but got substantially less violent because he had to be a tired dad prying his little gremlin’s jaws off The Penguin. Everyone is distinctly uncomfortable with Batman apologizing to The Penguin. 

So Gothamites, no matter the type, learned that one does not insult Robin #2 ever. In fact avoid insulting Robins, unless you are specific enough to be insulting Robin #3 (Though they would not have cause to know for several more years, this protectiveness extended to both Robin #4, the girl Robin, and Robin # 5, the Stabby Robin). Batman gets less violent by virtue of now chasing after a child with negative fear responses (Seriously, Scarecrow once dosed him with his latest fear gas and Robin #3 did not even appear to notice). Gotham, as a whole (Goons, Civilians, all of the other Rogues, other vigilantes) and without consulting each other, decides that Robin #3 and The Joker cannot ever meet. There is a herculean, sustained effort by all of the Rogues and Goons to keep the Joker distracted until Batman can send Robin away whenever the Joker breaks out. Consensus is that no one quite knows which will come out victorious, but there would be substantial damage. Also, Robin would end up biting the Joker and no one is sure what the Joker’s blood would do to him.

We fast forward to Red Hood taking over Crime Alley. He does not notice but the first time he ranted about Robin every one of his subordinates, plus the three Black Mask Goons in the room, flinches. They all relax when it becomes clear that the Robin Red Hood takes offense to is Robin #3.   No one quite knows how to tell Red Hood that, for his health, he should stop insulting Robins (there had never been any real discussion about it). Black Mask and Ivy, at separate times, try to awkwardly pass on the warning but did not quite get the message across (there really is no way to phrase “The tiny child in the traffic light colors is dangerous and will do you actual damage if you disparage his personal hero, the dead Robin”). 

As soon as it got around that Red Hood hunts Robins, with Robin #3 specifically being a target, Batman does ship him out to Titan Tower at once, but not for the reason that Red Hood thinks.  It is not actually to protect Robin, not really. It’s because Batman has figured out that Red Hood was once Jason, and he knows down to his bones that Tim’s moral compass stays on this side of the killing line because he believes that both Jason and Dick would have a problem with him killing.  If he finds out that Jason, the preferred of the two, is ok with killing, that line goes out the window.  And then Batman is going to need to put Robin on a child leash. 

So Red Hood goes to attack a Robin far from the nest and it starts about how he expected. He got in a few good hits, and his replacement actually does have some decent moves. Then Jason makes a disparaging remark about ‘the Robin that died’ that, had he been allowed to finish his sentence, would have circled back around to insulting Tim. However he was not allowed to finish his sentence because instead of fighting on human teen, he was suddenly fighting some kind of demon (metaphorically), who in between mauling him (and how the fuck is this kid biting through kevlar, Jason would like to know) is screaming about how Red Hood was not allowed to talk about Tim’s Robin like that. 

For a few moments Red Hood gets to realize Robin is not locked in with him, he is locked in with Robin.  Then one of Robin’s attacks pulls off the helmet (no bombs at this time, thankfully). As soon as Tim sees Jason’s face he stops attacking and hugs him tightly, babbling about how good it is to see him alive and apologizing for attacking him as Tim thought it was just some villain being disrespectful.  Tim pulls him through to the med bay to treat his injuries. 

While Jason is being treated, and they wait for the lockdown to lift, Jason is struck by the realization that if he even implied he wanted it, Tim would go try to collect the Joker’s head for him.  This is quickly followed by the terrifying realization that Jason is 45% of this child’s moral compass (With Dick being about 30% with the remaining 25% being all Tim). 

The Pit Rage is practically running from this level of crazy. 

Jason finds himself escorting Tim back to the Cave, with Jason low key panicking.  While there is some sympathy in the form of Dick, it turns out that Dick and Tim have a similar way of thinking (except where Tim imprinted on the two Robins, Dick imprinted on Bruce and Alfred) and the same recklessness. It’s Bruce that Jason finds himself bonding with (Is Jason weirded out by the fact that, of his siblings, Jason-with his supernaturally enhanced anger and the bag of heads- is the most stable? Yes, Yes it does) as he desperately tries to keep Tim from doing damage (both physical and psychic) other people.

[ghostwritergirl]

DP x DC Prompt: Old Friends And Trust

The moment Sam and Tim saw each other at their first gala when they were seven, they were fast friends.

The two, who’d been bored and miserable, clocked each other and hid out before deciding to cause a little chaos. When the gala ended, Sam and Tim were friends and inseparable, sharing each other’s numbers. The Mansons were greatly encouraging of this, seeing an opportunity for their daughter to marry into the Drake family fortune (though Sam and Tim never felt romantic feelings for each other and only ever see each other as friends)

They continued to see each other at galas and talked over the phone, growing closer, close enough to confide in each other—Tim told Sam about his parents’ neglect and that he stalked Batman and Robin and Sam told Tim about her growing dysfunctional relationship with her parents as she grew older and wasn’t the daughter they wanted and about her friends, Danny and Tucker. Even though they seemed absolute opposites, the two just clicked.

They remained close friends for years… until they were thirteen and Sam’s parents told her that she wouldn’t join them in the galas at Gotham after the death of Jason Todd, fearing for their only daughter’s safety even though Jason didn’t die in Gotham. Sam was pissed and let Tim know, and they promised each other they would try to stay in contact.

It worked for a couple of years, but over the course of time and Tim becoming Robin and Red Robin and co-CEO of W.E, losing his parents and becoming part of the Wayne family and Sam helping Danny with ghost fighting along with Tucker and eventually Jazz and keeping his secret from literally everyone BUT the ghosts, especially his parents and the GIW, and the media blackout the GIW placed on Amity Park after the ghosts started attacking, they fell out of touch. But Sam always kept up to date with what was happening to Tim, that if the worst should happen, then she had someone who could help Danny, that she trusted Tim to help Danny, to help keep him safe. But that was only when the worst happened, when they had no other choices and no other options.

And then it did.

Tim was working in the Batcave when he had heard over the intercom someone was at the front door, asking for him. Expecting it to be his boyfriend, team or anyone else, Tim went to answer it.

Never had he expected to see his old childhood friend standing on the other side of the door, bedraggled and with dark lines of makeup running down her face, an equally roughed-up boy next to her, a practiced wince hiding an injury.

And between them was another boy, who looked to be a prime candidate for adoption, covered in blood and smears of what looked to be Lazarus water, bandaged injuries covering his arms and peeking out from beneath his clothes… and a disturbing injury in the shape of a Y on his chest shadowed underneath his shirt.

Sam had looked at him then, new tears filling her eyes, and said, “Danny’s parents… they hurt him. Bad. And now he’s being hunted and he can’t go to a hospital because he’ll be taken or… or worse. You’re the only person I know who could keep him safe, who could help. Tim, please, help us, help Danny. Please.”

In the face of his childhood friend’s pleading, at seeing the look on his face, how injured the boy was, Tim pushed back all the questions screaming at his mind and did the only thing he could.

He let them in and promised he would help, that Danny would receive medical help. That he was safe—that all of them were safe.

He promised that as he comprised a new case, to figure out what had happened to Danny and what was going on in their hometown—and to make the ones that did that to Danny face justice.

Meanwhile, Bruce’s adoption senses are tingling as the rest of the Batfam feel a disturbance in the force that could mean a new sibling, burning down a governmental organisation… or both.

[flwrkid14]

Tim Drake believes in fate. Danny Fenton does not.

Tim has seen too much not to. He sees how patterns emerge, how the right moments click into place like a perfect equation. How Gotham always seems to shift, to bend, to make room for what it needs—how it made room for him. He sees the way threads weave together, pulling people into each other’s orbits at just the right time. And maybe not everyone notices it, but Tim does. He always does.

Believing in fate means knowing he is exactly where he’s supposed to be. That he was meant to see the cracks forming, the absence of Robin at Batman’s side. Meant to put the pieces together before everything collapsed. Gotham needed another Robin, and fate had already set the path before him. He didn’t force his way in—he stepped into a space that had been waiting for him, like the city, the mission, Batman himself had unconsciously left room for him to fit.

Danny, on the other hand, has seen too much to believe in fate. Because if fate existed, then it was cruel. It had given him parents who would love a ghost in a thermos more than they would ever love their own son. It had turned him into something he was never supposed to be, something caught between life and death, something with no guarantee of a future.

Was it fate that made him press that button? That turned his body inside out and forced him to become something new, something broken, something neither here nor there? Was it fate that made his best friends stay, when they could have run? That made his parents see him as a monster?

No. That wasn’t fate. That was bad luck. That was chance. That was human error and circumstance, and the universe didn’t give a damn what happened to him.

Then Tim meets Danny.

Danny, who walks through Gotham’s shadows like they don’t scare him, who stares a Lazarus pit in the eye and doesn’t flinch. Danny, who treats the world like it’s random, like things happen just because they happen, not because some grand design willed them to.

Tim watches him laugh in the face of things that should never be funny. He watches him roll his eyes at the idea of destiny, of meant-to-be, of threads tying people together. Danny thinks fate is an excuse, a way to make people feel better about the things they can’t control. Tim thinks fate is what kept him alive, what made him Robin, what gave him a place in the world at all.

And Tim, for all his belief in fate, realizes that if the universe truly wove things together with purpose, then it must have put Danny in his life for a reason.

Danny, for all his insistence that things just happen, simply sees Tim as another person who happened to cross his path—nothing more, nothing less.

They never settle the argument, not really. But maybe that doesn’t matter. Maybe all that matters is that they’re here, now, standing at the crossroads of fate and chance, and neither of them is alone.

[umbrellajam]

#anyways trust me when i say that none of this is meant in a negative way because this is what i Like about them lmao

#forever thinking of the M/F fight where dick expects that tim will go alone with his line of thinking just because he says so #and is shocked when tim doesn't and instead has his own thoughts and feelings abt the matter #and babs has to tell him that tim isn't him & had a fundamentally different experience to him

#it's like hmmm very realistic to me #the way they do this to each other in a way that almost is depersonalizing but like isn't actually #it's more just that they understand each other so well most of the time that it's easy to forget that they're their own person #with their own thoughts and feelings

#like hm. there is something very realistically siblings about it in that #older siblings do tend to try and dominate the relationship with their thoughts and feelings because #their first memories are of being expected to lead their sibling and the sibling usually comes at a time when the older sib is v possessive #so the older sibling conceives the younger sibling as belonging to them and being kind of a hm extension of them vs their own person

#meanwhile the younger sibling has no knowledge of a life where the older sibling doesn't exist #and the younger sibling's experience is that of observation of the older sibling from basically the very first day of life #so the younger sibling will often see and perceive the older sibling in very interesting ways #they're always learning something with thay observation good or bad #and thus probably develop more instrinsic understanding than even the parents do #and conflict comes because each is their own person but it's hard to see them that way sometimes

#anyways there's also another thread where for dick it's hard to conceptualize tim's family of origin as real compared to them #but that's like mainly headcanon just know i'm right and it's interesting (tags via @scintillyyy)

can you really talk about tim's tendency to idolize and place dick on a pedestal and his semi-entitlement to understanding dick without also talking about dick's tendency to project his own feelings and insecurities onto tim and also his semi-entitlement to his right to try and micromanage how tim should feel and react about things. i, personally, cannot.

[ms-dead-inside]

Okay, but hear me out:

Murder baby Damian, but for whatever reason, his first attempt at Tim's life is put on pause, so they never have that interaction. Instead, before Damian can come up with a new plan, Tim (who's kinda excited he now isn't the baby of the family) offers to train him in detective work for when Damian finally gets the mantle of 'Robin' as a way to bond with him.

"Why train your enemy, Drake?"

"We're brothers, not enemies. Besides, Robin has always been a mantle to pass down. I'm certainly not going to keep it in my twenties or thirties. And other than Bruce, I'm the best detective in the family."

"Very well, Drake, I shall accept your tutelage for the time being."

Damian accepts, of course. Not only can he study Drake for his weaknesses, he will also improve his own skill set. It's worth the wait for Robin. By the time Damian's done, there will be no doubt that he is the superior bat.

Unfortunately, he actually grows fond of Timothy. While he will inevitably get close with Richard, just like in canon, Timothy is a breath of fresh air for when Richard is being too overbearing, especially when it comes to things like 'socializing,' and 'making friends.'

When his father dies, and Timothy declared him actually lost to time, Richard doesn't believe him, can't believe him, because the hope is too painful. Timothy still gives Damian Robin, because, "I'm barely holding on as Batman as it is. I can't handle Robin being gone for potentially months at a time, halfway around the world."

During his partnership with Richard, truly becoming his brother-son, Richard introduces the ideas of pets to him. Damian loves animals, and having and taking care of a creature that could potentially survive on its own, but will have a much better quality of life under his care, speaks to him. He has Alfred and Titus and about half a dozen other stray animals that usually stay for about a week while he nurses them to health at any given moment, but he feels like he should officially have another pet.

Que the whole thing with his grandfather, and Timothy getting kicked out of the top of a skyscraper. He comes home with proof, and the Justice League brings his father home. And as Dick basically refuses to let anyone leave the mansion for the foreseeable future, Damian realizes several facts:

1.) Timothy is a human, and humans are animals.

2.) While Timothy has somehow survived until now, he wouldn't recognize self-care if it slapped him in the face.

3.) Timothy's quality of life will improve if someone is taking care of him because he cannot be trusted to do it for himself. (Is it a coincidence that he loses organs when he is away from the family? Damian thinks not.)

4.) Damian has gotten good at taking care of animals.

Ergo, Timothy is now Damian's pet. Tim doesn't know what to do and simply humors him. Besides, it's nice when someone actually bothers to give him a plate of foods that he likes when he gets hyper focused on work and forgets to eat. That, and while he is exasperated every time Damian tranqs him, those are still the best sleeps of his life.

Jason finds it hilarious. Damian doesn't understand Richard or his father's reactions.

"Damian, Tim can take care of himself."

"Barely. Father, now that I am in charge of his sleep schedule, there aren't as many dark circles under his eyes. Even Alfred has commented that Timothy consumes less caffeine."

"Damian, he can't be your pet."

"Why not?"

"Tim's your brother; he's family."

"So are you saying that Alfred and Titus aren't family?"

[darkstaria]

Yandere Batfam - Soulmate Soul Animal AU.

Chapter 3:

Chapter 1. Chapter 2. Chapter 4. Chapter 5.

Chapter 3 is finally here! Hooray! Hope people enjoy this, cuz I'm going to sleep now zzz

Taglist: @moonchild-artemisdaughter @jjsmeowthie @madine11-blog @xxrougefangxx @hadesnewpersephone @neerathebrightstar @mel-star636 @jaythes1mp @rosecentury @lov3vivian @gaozorous-rex-blog @victoria1676 @vrsin @silverklaus @ryukyuin @kurai-hono-blog @thisisafish123 @isawyourbrowserhistory @ain-t-no-way-bsfr

----

A week had passed since that encounter that had sent you running home, and you could only be grateful to yourself that you hadn’t given Tim your number back. He had probably expected that you would have messaged him back by now. Instead, you were going to avoid that cafe for a while.

As if to spite you, Red was currently fluttering about you. Or should you call him Tim? That might make things too confusing. Red it was.

You had looked at the card Tim had given you, and in all honesty, you regretted it. Mainly because of the name on the card.

Tim Drake.

Tim Drake, who is also commonly known as Tim Wayne. The adopted son of Bruce Wayne.

Tim Drake is Red Robin.

You stared down at Red, who had started dozing in your lap.

Did that mean that the Wayne family all were..? No, surely not. You mean, Brucie Wayne as Batman? That felt a little ridiculous. You could definitely see Robin as Damian Wayne though, he had the right energy.

Richard Grayson had ties to acrobats right? Something about a tragedy. Nightwing did perform quite the stunts.

…

It was way too late in the night for these revelations.

There was one way to know for sure though.

“Wing!” You called out, attracting the attention of the bird that had previously been messing around with your stuffed animal. Wing had way too much of a vendetta against your plushie sometimes. Honestly, if he destroyed one of them, you certainly wouldn't be hugging him anymore.

Wing flew over to you, in a graceful arc that included several unnecessary loops. Showoff.

Wing landed on your hand, and you took a deep breath. Stay calm. The weight of Red in your lap gave you a little comfort, keeping you grounded.

“Richard Grayson.” You said, staring.

No reaction. Not even a twitch, Wing just started tweeting cheerfully as if you hadn't said anything of interest.

Maybe Richard Grayson wasn't Nightwing then? Or was it Richie? Although, he could be called by a nickname instead. What nickname would a Richard be called though…? Maybe..

Dic-

A clutter caught your attention, the sound of a window being opened and slid down. Your window.

Uh oh.

You immediately panicked. What? What could you do? You likely only had about a minute or two until the invader located your bedroom, you needed to make a decision quickly. Even as birds, you knew Red and Wing could defend themselves, but were you willing to take the risk?

If you got robbed, that would be awful, but a robber could do so much worse with the knowledge of a vigilante's civilian soulmate.

You'd take the risk. You pick up Red’s prone form, placing him into an empty bag you had laying around. If your life was in danger, you'd simply free them, and all would be okay.

You turn around, aiming to grab Wing. You reach for him, but Wing evades, darting to the left. Frowning, you try and grab him again, but Wing continues to evade, tweeting in joy.

Wing! You felt like screaming, blood racing to your head and flushing you with panic. This was not a game!

You swipe at him, starting to grab at him in increasingly frantic motions. Each movement is skillfully evaded, with Wing adding a flourish to each dodge.

“Stop dodging!” You hiss, whispering as quietly as you could. It was only when you paused in a moment to calm your frustrations that Wing showed you solace. Landing on your head in a smooth movement, Wing gave a little chirp.

Holding your hands to your head, you felt Wing climb on. You lowered him to eye level, taking a second to glare, before suddenly remembering that you had a literal home invader and stuffing Wing alongside Red in your bag. You had just clipped the bag shut when the creak of your door alerted you to their entrance.

Turning, you were beginning to lament the loss of all your earthly belongings when you locked eyes with a familiar face.

Red Robin.

“What..?” You mumble, horrified. Why was Red Robin here, in your house? The only place you could count on. The one sanctuary you had where you never had to worry about getting caught. Where you were safe.

You didn't feel safe anymore.

“Why? Why are you.. in my home?” The words stumbled out, barely registering even as they left your mouth. You had started shaking. When did that happen?

Perhaps noticing how shaken you were, Red Robin had the decency to look ashamed.

“I’m sorry for invading your house.” He began, with an apologetic tone. “I got quite a bit injured while patrolling, I was hoping I could camp out here for a while.” He gestured to his leg, where a grievous scratch bled. He smiled at you, a polite, small thing, as if it would convince you.

No, was your immediate answer.

“Yes.” Was your spoken response. “I guess that will be fine, but don't linger too long, I don't want to be targeted because a vigilante came into my window.” You tried a smile. It felt like a mask. “And I don't know any medical care. I can offer you my first aid kit, but that's about it.”

“That's fine.” Red Robin seemed reassured, happy to be here. “I have some medical supplies of my own, but I'd appreciate it if I could use your medical kit.”

“I'll go get it. Could you go to the kitchen, please? I’d rather not have you bleed out on my bed.”

He chucked. “Sure.” Then he was gone, headed off to your kitchen. He acted as if it was so simple, as if your life hadn't just shattered to pieces all around you. So nonchalant.

You took a moment to catch your breath. It was difficult. Then, you lifted the clip of your bag, checking in on your soul animals. Wing was cuddled up to Red, the two dozing.

You frowned. Red was fine. He was completely calm, fading in and out of sleep. There was no trace of an injury on him at all.

When it came to injuries, soul animals had some quirks. They only reflect injuries if the soulmate found the wound to be serious enough. Because your soulmates were vigilantes, you were plenty familiar with when they were injured or not. Red was not injured. Not in the slightest.

Red Robin’s wound was intentional. Calculated. If it was a genuine issue, Red would be suffering as well. Which meant only one thing.

Red Robin was on an investigation.

And you were the subject.

You took a couple extra minutes to compose yourself, minutes you didn't doubt Red Robin was utilizing to his full extent. You just had to remind yourself, you were a civilian, you had nothing to hide.

He could look everywhere in the house and not discover a thing. The real secret was already contained in your bag. You could not let him find your soul animals. He can see everything else, but that.

It would be really convenient if both Red and Wing suddenly left to visit some other soulmate of yours, but you knew better than to expect that. If anything you'd be lucky to not have some other soul animal of yours show up. Ever since Spoiler and Orphan showed up, they'd been more persistent than usual. Maybe the new bonds had reminded them that they still hadn't met you.

Well, it was time to face the music. Or the Tim, that worked too. You had already wasted enough time.

Shaken, you slowly stood up. You gathered your bearings, breathed.

You could do this.

Opening the door to the kitchen took much longer than usual, you could only blame the nerves. You locked eyes with Red Robin.

You couldn't do this.

“Hey.” He said. He had his own kit open, taking out some bandages. Despite the illusion of busyness, you didn't doubt he had already skulked around your home. “Did you get the medkit?”

Ah-

The medkit. The kit of medicine you had said you'd bring. The very reason you had your precious minutes of safety in your bedroom. The medkit you forgot. Fu-

You darted back into your room, ripping open a cabinet, and yanking the kit out as if it were the cause of your problems, before dashing back over to him. It was a miracle you hadn't tripped on the way over.

Play it cool.

“S-sorry!” You tried. Your heart was beating out of your skull. Could he tell? Did he already know? Was it over?

“Here.” He took the kit from your shaking hands, laying it across the table and opening it. “You said that you didn't know any medical care. Gotham has clinics, but it's a little dangerous to not have any idea of how to treat an injury, I'll show you.”

You felt yourself nod.

No. It couldn't be over. He’s got nothing on you, and will never have anything. You are a normal citizen, you just need to act like it. You didn't live a life separate from the world, hidden from birth, just to get caught.

You noticed a flutter of movement in the darkness behind his shoulder, and stared. After a bit of squinting, you could make out a small figure in the darkness. A bat.

Uh oh.

A rush of horror gripped you. The bat was smaller and slender than the Bat. It was Orphan. You gave a little twitch, a small shake of the head, begging for it to not move. Orphan didn't react.

Red Robin began explaining how to properly cleanse and sanitize wounds. You did your best to pay attention. Somehow, he was a decent teacher. He then moved on to explaining how to properly bandage. You assumed that he was just going to talk you through it. This assumption was broken, as Red Robin instead took your hands in his, and guided them through the correct technique. Once you seemed to have gotten it, he then let you apply them to his leg.

“A little tighter, just like that.”

“Like this?”

“Perfect.”

Why would he let you do this? Aren't the bats supposed to be paranoid? Your thoughts were interrupted by a ruffle of your hair. You looked up, locking eyes with Red Robin. He smiled.

“Well done.”

What the hell was going on.

The only good thing about today was that Orphan still hadn't moved. You almost forgot about it, since Orphan had stayed in complete darkness the whole time. Perhaps Orphan was content just watching?

Ah, but you're getting distracted. Red Robin received his medical care just like he wanted, now it's time for him to leave. And never come back.

“Are you doing any better?” It was a tentative question. Unfortunately you didn't think a ‘get the hell out of here’ would work any better, as much as you wanted to say so.

He nodded. “Yep. I'll head out now, goodbye.” Red Robin stood up, gathering his medkit up and placing it in his utility belt. He vaulted up to your kitchen window, sliding it open once again and climbing up to it. Now you knew what window it was, you were absolutely fixing that shut.

A glance in Orphan’s corner told you that it was still there, still watching. In that aspect, the soul animal was rather like the Bat. A stalker. Still, you'd take it.

You had never been so glad to watch someone leave before. He didn't let you enjoy your happiness for long, however, as he turned back to you at the last moment. “Oh, by the way”. He began, as if you weren’t screaming inside.

“I'll be coming over again in a few days, possibly next week.” He glanced at some gadget you didn't care about as he said this, nonchalant.

What.

“W-why?” You stuttered, completely bewildered. He had definitely checked out your house, there was nothing to be found! For what insane reason would he be coming back for?!

“It’s not safe for any Gothamite to lack basic first aid training. Your parents should have taught you better.”

The world was becoming red, you hid a clenched fist behind your back. “That's nothing that a first aid course wouldn't teach me, really, it'd be fine if you didn't come over.”

You wanted to outright protest, you really did. But you couldn't. Drawing any excessive attention would be your downfall. It'd be much easier, if Red Robin would pick up that you clearly didn't want him here!

And besides, your parents were busy enough, paying to keep you safe, hidden from the world. They have done enough.

“A course can't teach you like a hero can. I'll know when your in, so, keep an ear out.” Of course. Thanks Tim, so much.

So now you had the choice between staying at home wherein Red Robin could show up at any moment and find out your soulmates, or you could leave home and get caught with having vigilante soul animals outside. Great, what wonderful options.

You're about to protest, give a better argument, at least something. But you're interested by a squawk coming from your bedroom. You realised what happened immediately. One of the robins had finally woken up.

He needed to get out. Now.

“Okay fine, but please leave. Having a vigilante hanging out of my window is even worse than being inside my house.” You gave up. It didn't matter what concession you had to give, you needed him out immediately.

Red Robin had the audacity to chuckle, as if you had made a joke. He lifted his hand in a wave, before vanishing with a swoosh.

As if he had never been there to begin with.

A shaky sigh left you, your knees losing strength. But you snapped back to attention a second later. It was time to attend to your soul animals.

Orphan landed on your shoulder as you made your way over to your bedroom. You reluctantly petted it, sapped of your usual enthusiasm. At least it knew of subtlety, unlike certain soul animals you had.

Maybe it was time to finally get some sleep.

[invincibledc]

WATERBORNE

SUMMARY: a young waterbender who appears in Gotham gets the attention of a few birds a big bat. But one bird seems more interested than the others. Leaving them to be captured.

PAIRS||Yandere! Tim drake & Platonic Yandere!Batfam x Waterbender!Reader

“Nah fuck that!” Y/n yells, they immediately arises both of their arms. Water moves with the flow of his arms in the sewer. A figure with a big blue on his chest steps back. Eyes widen at rings of water surrounding the small bender. “You’re not taking me alive dick head!” Nightwing, aka Dick Grayson, nervously chuckles while putting his hands up.

“Aw cmon, how did you know my name—”

Immediately the vigilante gets hit with a wave of water, knocked onto his back by the pressure. Nightwing soon sits up coughing, shocked by the pressure knocking him back a few feet. He hasn’t even notice the hydro power house had taken off before he shook his head. Y/n, running with only an over coat and work out sneakers. They didn’t wish for these powers, they didn’t wish to be found. They didn’t wish to be anyone’s obsession! Nightwing finally got his bearings minutes later. “Damnit..” Nightwing puts two fingers to his ear, pressing down he talks.

“They’re on the run again. Tim it’s your turn.” Nightwing opened up a hologram map of the tunnels from his forearm.

“Got it.” Says another voice.

And that was Tim drake, aka Red Robin. Tim nods at the sound coming from his coms. He also had his map up as he readied his bow staff. It was electrified on the tip of it, ready to stun the young bender. He stopped pulling the map up when hearing loud footsteps and heavy breathing.

Tim grips his bow staff, leaning Against the side wall, he gets ready to swing only for him to drop his staff. He dropped it with a loud clank! There stood the hydro power house, y/n. Y/n had anger in their eyes as the other was engulfed by a hand shaped of water. Y/n held one hand out. “Won’t you damn people leave me alone?!” Tim tries to get out of the water, only for it to tighten. “I don’t know what you want from me, but I’m in no need for help. I don’t need anyone! I don’t need you, or anything!”

Tim frowns, he knew the water bender needed help. He looked about his age. Seventeen. Y/n look fatigue, not enough on their bones, messy hair, baggy eyes with reddish eyes. Before Tim could speak, he couldn’t even try.

Instantly the water bender swung their hand harshly, making Tim hit the other side of the tunnel harshly. A crack was dented there with Tim’s body. The young boy fell onto his stomach, groaning in pain. He tries to stand before gushes of water hits him, over, and over again.

“Leave. Me. Alone!” Y/n swung their hand, it was a undertossing motion as if throwing back a baseball. Y/n kept walking towards their enemy, each swing gets harsher and harsher. Tim tries to take a deep breath, but he’s practically drowning. He lays unconscious now, y/n breaths heavily. Their arms weak, sore, tired. His breathing starts to slow down, but not in the way he wants.

He leans against a wall, balling up his hands.

“Why..why am I so tired. My eyes, they’re heavy. What the hell??”

Y/N’s vision is slowly turning black, not noticing Tim standing up. Smiling widely as he walks towards the drugged water bender. “I see the narcotic worked.” Y/n tried to move their dominant arm, only to just stay limp. “What…did you do to me..”

Tim frowns, leaning towards the waterbender. “What I had to do. You need my help. You need me.” A sick grin reaches the boy’s face as Tim cups the hydro’s face. Y/n glare harshly at Tim who could only smile.

“You.. you and your damn hero complex! You should drown, drown like anyone that dare try to capture me!” Anger filled y/n’s soul. But Tim ignored it, seeing this aggression as a result of not being able to save them earlier. Tim frowns and lifts y/n over his shoulder.

“It’s okay. I’m here now, The others and Batman will help you! You won’t need to survive anywhere else.” Tim says lastly as the anesthesia kicks in fully now. Knocked out over the teen boy’s shoulder, the boy couldn’t help but smile more. When his bow staff fell, it released the drug only for you to specifically breathe in. And it worked perfectly, just like Tim knew it would.

You were now, captured.

A/N: Ayo new series? Jk.. or maybe not? Anyone wants this to continue or what? Cause I actually enjoyed writing this

[iconicname]

What I hate most about fanon woobie Tim drake is that he has to be the center of Jason's world. It literally doesn't matter what type of dynamic they have.

If they're acquaintances jason will be dumbed down and has to ask Tim for help, putting Jason in his debt.

or worse Tim will just insert himself without any social repercussions (as in no one fucking likes it when they're boundaries are violated even if they "need" it).

If you're going with the family routes where everyone is brother or sister, Tim has to be Jason's favorite brother (Dick Grayson who?). Because of how "nice and cool" he is or alternatively because tim is some poor wittle baby who needs big strong jason to take care of him.

Or jason and Tim are just "best friends" but it's never shown, jason just takes one look at this expensive saltless cracker and gets hit with the "omg child soldiers are bad! This poor kid 😟" but it only applies to Tim and Tim only.

If they're angst in the dynamic, there's never any nuance. Because they lovvveeee to hammer in the "titans tower incident😱😰😨😱😭😢😥😩" but never how tim was speaking so nasty about jason (a dead kid he did. Not. Know.) Because he was insecure.

It'd be nice if it was a story about how Tim was insecure ( not in the cutesy uwuw baby kinda way i mean the i shit on the dead because i can't handle feeling inferior to my predecessor) and Jason just didn't like him, but they work their differences and they wouldn't exactly be friends or anything but they were least acknowledge each other in a positive way through being Robin and stuff but that would never work because Tim is a character who can never be lifted without bringing others down. Because outside of Robin, he literally has nothing for him, and he knows it.

And like it's one thing if jason was like Dick. (Got fired. Had a crisis. Moved on.) because at least Jason would have the ability to defend himself/prove tim wrong whatever. But he wasn't. He was tortured to death for the cause.

The total lack of empathy from Tim is astonishing. It reflects a lot on his character. Forget Jason for a second. what type of hero shits on the lives lost to your villains?

Imagine your crying because your loved one died in a villain attack and Superman is like "ummmm they died because they fucking sucked and were inherently inferior. Not me though, I would have survived I'm better than them"

Yall don't think that attitude didn't stay when jason got revived? It definitely would, jason is the pariah, and if Tim felt safe enough to shit on a dead kid who at that point has not directly "defied batman" you think he wouldn't say that type of shit to the other robins, around jason or to his face?

Even if he didn't, jason would know because let's be real 🙄

But no, there's no nuance. Instead, jason has to grovel at Tim's superior feet, while Tim gets to feel benevolent and magnanimous with every godamn interaction.

(Also Canonically jason was basically testing Tim's mettle as Robin which Tim supposedly succeeded, thats why Jason left instead of idk knocking Tim out or something. If Tim is truly traumatized and can't be in the same room as someone who aggressively sparred with you, what the fuck are you doing out in the streets in tights you bitch baby go back home.

And if Tim isn't traumatized, the flinching and godforsaken whimpering just reeks of someone using their higher status "elite class robin" to get someone of lower class "street rat, pariah" into trouble. Like Tim going, " All I have to is flinch and act scared to get Bruce and other vigilantes to hurt you. It doesn't matter what you do, they'll never take your side. "

Which sounds ridiculous, but I've seen fics do this many times, and it's never acknowledged outside of "jason should stop being evil and keep apologize over and over"

Because fanon woobie Tim is never with fault. Even if he does something that might hurt someone, it's always overruled because he was "right" or too socially inept to understand what he did wrong thus instantly forgiven (a trait Bruce shares)

Fanon woobie Tim's feeling and conforts is always the priority, it doesn't what any other character is going through, Damian, Jason, Dick, Stephanie, Tim is automatically more important, and if another character has conflict with him that means they're in the wrong.(another trait Bruce shares)

Fanon and Canon Tim is defined by his insecurities, and he refuses to acknowledge or overcome it.

Which is why even in "jason centric" stuff Tim is always there in his face, and jason HAS to have a good opinion of him, he HAS to say you're a good robin. He HAS to say you're my favorite brother. He HAS to constantly affirm that Tim is smart and a good person. It doesn't matter if the titans tower Chapter is included or tim was on a victim blaming spree. jason has like/admire him anyway and should feel so stupid for not seeing it sooner.

[dclovesdanny]

Version two

Jazz Smith has made Lex Luther cry on three separate occasions, though she will remain adamant that the first and third time weren’t her fault. The first time, he cried because she thought he was an old man who was lost and he had to explain in detail who he was. The third time was firmly on Bruce Wayne’s shoulders. He was the one who had bumped into him, spilling his drink on his suit. Jazz was just trying to clean up the mess. How was she supposed to react when she saw the bomb strapped to his chest? Panic?

No, she simply made a fuss and used her minor tech abilities to make it look like the juice had turned off the bomb, leading to her loudly wondering why he was stupid enough to strap a fragile bomb to his chest. She just wanted to shake him, not make him cry.

(After that day, Oliver Queen hired her to work for him. Dinah quickly adopts Jazz emotionally, with Roy acting as a big brother. Lian adores her auntie Jazz)

Samantha Drake was a problem child, according to almost everyone who met her. She was a goth child who hated acting prim and proper like their parents wanted. Tim was the only one who understood her, supporting her veganism and later helping her prank Batman. (She and Bruce were rough and angry with each other in the beginning, but they still stayed in contact. Bruce grew to admire her stubbornness and conviction, while Sam could begrudgingly admit Bruce was a good man when he wanted to be.)

(She and Bruce never spoke about the night where they sat side by side on the clock tower. It was Jason’s death date, the first one since she and Tim had debuted as Robin and Crow. They never talked about how Sam admitted she knew grief, and she let herself tell Bruce a little about Danny. Only Alfred knew that the two spent the night reminiscing, sharing stories and anecdotes, until they arrived in the cave. None of them talked about the brief hug, the first hug Bruce had ever given her. They never acknowledged that night again.)

Tucker Thomas never left the Narrows, forging a birth certificate that labeled him as 19, even though he was barely 15. Duke didn’t call him on it. He visited often though, always keeping a suspicious eye on Bruce. He didn’t trust the man.

(Damian was the only one who bluntly asked him why he glared at Bruce. Tucker couldn’t figure out how to explain it at first, so he channeled his inner Danny. “He gives off fruitloop vibes. Gotta make sure he doesn’t start going all crazy with things like cloning or becoming obsessed with green goo.” Tucker immediately noticed how much Damian stiffened at that, but he didn’t say anything.)

Dante Constantine was only a child in demon years, though he looked like he was a teenager. He was doing home schooling for the time being as John worked with the bats to get papers made. He was a social and happy kid, smiling and chaotic but nothing cruel or barbed.

(John noticed how his son stared at the stars with a longing nothing seemed to satisfy. He noticed how warily Dante stared at the toaster, and how the terrible nightmares that caused his son to sob for hours often involved names like “Jazz” “Sam” “Tucker”. Most of all, he never forgot how his ex mentioned that Dante’s soul had been older, much older than it should be. John saw it too. He was more concerned in the slowly healing cracks in his son’s soul.)

Tonight, all four of them would be attending a party thrown by an old friend of Constantine’s.

Let the fun begin….