#robin is magic

[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.

[ghost-bxrd]

(“the weather warmer, he is colder”)

— Army Dreamers, Kate Bush

[dc-gotham-instincts-wild]

Of Skateboards and Robin Magic. (DC Fanfic)

Summary: Jason steals a skateboard. He gives it to Tim. Dick is looking for his brothers.

-------

Jason didn’t mean to steal a brand-new skateboard.

It just kinda… happened.

The Outlaw mission was supposed to be simple—some arms dealers, a couple of explosions, maybe a car chase that maybe had multiple driving laws broken..

Nothing that warranted a -technically- stolen skateboard.

But there it was, tucked under his arm as he made his way back into his Gotham apartment at dawn, still wearing his gear.

He found it occupied.

Tim was perched on his kitchen counter like a baby gremlin. His laptop was open beside him, and there was an empty coffee cup near his foot.

Breaking into each other's places was pretty normal for the Bats. Jason's seemed to be a favorite of Tim's, though, to be fair, the little gremlin had been spending more time with the second-eldest brother than Dick ever since the whole Bruce-in-the-time-stream incident. 

Jason had tried to pretend that he wasn't worried about Tim during those days, and right after he'd come back. He'd failed.  

 

Jason sighed. “Hey there, little crow.”

Tim looked up, tired ice-blue eyes locking onto the skateboard. “...That for me?”

Jason blinked at him. Looked at the board. Looked back at Tim. “…Yeah, I guess.” Tim beamed, hopping off the counter, giving the elder a quick squeeze before grabbing it from his hands.

“Sick.” He flipped it over, inspecting the design. “Where’d you get it?” Jason dropped into a chair, rubbing his face. “Some idiot tried to hit me with it after grabbing it from a store.”

Tim paused. “And you stole it?”

“I confiscated it, little one,” Jason corrected. “Kept it 'cause I heard your old one broke. You can paint it, too. It’s a crime-fighting skateboard now.”

Tim snorted. “That makes it better.” He set the board down and stepped on it, testing the wheels. “Man, I missed my old one. I think this one's better quality though...”

Jason leaned back, watching as Tim carefully rolled back and forth in the middle of the kitchen. He still looked exhausted—probably hadn’t slept at all���but there was a small, genuine smile on his face.

One Jason hadn't seen for too long. 

Jason huffed. “You better not break your neck.”

Tim grinned that gremlin grin of his.. “No promises, big brother.”

~~~~~~

Dick was getting real tired of this.

Jason and Tim had a habit of disappearing together lately, and it was weird.

Not bad, necessarily—just weird. He was glad that his little brothers were bonding, though.

Jason barely tolerated anyone on some days, and Tim was usually off doing his own thing, but for some reason, the two of them had been hanging out a lot. And by "a lot," he meant they were practically glued together when they weren’t working solo. '.....Must be a middle child thing.'

Dick had checked all the usual places: the Manor, Jason’s apartment, the Cave—nothing. Even Bruce had no idea where they’d gone, which was just insulting.

Finally, after way too much searching, he decided to do what he probably should’ve done first.

He called them.

Jason didn’t pick up, obviously. But Tim? Tim answered after three rings.

"Yeah?"

"Where are you?" Dick asked.

A pause. Sounds of.. wheels on concrete? Then, in the background, Jason’s voice:

"TIM, DON’T—"

A loud crash. A yell. Tim started laughing. It was a nice sound to Dick. Dick pinched the bridge of his nose. "Tim. Timmy. Where are you?" Tim, still laughing, finally answered, "Uh. Nowhere?" "Timothy Jackson Drake-Wayne." "Okay, okay, jeez. We’re at the skatepark." 

Dick blinked. "The—what."

"The skate park," Tim repeated.

".....I thought your old skateboard broke? Dad was planning to order a new one-" "Someone on Jason's Outlaw mission tried attacking him with a completely new and unused skateboard from a shop, so he, um....... took -I mean confiscated- it."

Dick took a second to process that. Then he sighed. "Stay there."

Tim snickered. "Sure, sure.”

In the background, Jason’s voice rang out: "I swear to God, if you hit me with that—"

Another crash. Laughter.

Dick started moving faster.

Crazy little brothers.

~~~~~~

They were indeed fooling around at the skatepark. 

Jason apparently was right about his Robin being magic, because this was the first time Dick had seen Tim this happy in a while. 

Jason was watching Tim with a half-amused smirk, sitting on a bench with his legs stretched out, arms crossed over his chest.

But it wasn’t the usual teasing smirk. There was something almost... fond, about it.

Tim did a little trick—a kickflip, of all things—and landed it without falling. He pumped his fist into the air, whooping as if he’d just won an Olympic gold medal. Jason’s laugh, deep and warm, followed.

Tim was darting around the park, expertly flipping off ramps and pulling off tricks like he was born on a skateboard. He was laughing, his eyes bright, his whole posture loose in a way Dick hadn’t seen in months—maybe longer.

It was the kind of happiness that had been mostly missing since they lost Bruce, the kind of joy that wasn’t tainted by duty or trauma or guilt. Tim had always been self-sufficient, always the one who buried his emotions under layers of work and responsibility, but this? 

This was something Dick hadn’t seen in a long, long time.

Jason caught sight of him first, raising a brow. “What?”

Dick didn’t answer at first, just stood there watching Tim, who was now expertly riding up and down the halfpipe with the same reckless energy he usually reserved for casework or missions. There was no hesitation in him.

He looked… free. Happy.

“He's never done this, in a while,” Dick murmured, a little caught off-guard by the sight. “Not this much. Not this carefree.”

Jason grinned, just a little smug. “Yeah, well. Maybe I’m a good influence.”

Dick rolled his eyes. “You’re a bad influence.”

“No, I’m a wild influence. Timmy needs to learn how to just... be for once. Relax. Even Robin gets a break.” Jason’s voice softened, but there was a hint of pride behind his words. 

Dick’s heart squeezed. “It’s good to see him like this.”

Jason gave him a pointed look. “Face it, Dick, I can be a big brother, too.”

Dick swallowed, his gaze never leaving Tim, who had just pulled off another trick and was now heading their way, grinning from ear to ear. His eyes were sparkling, bright with something that wasn’t there the last time they’d all been in the same room.

“Yeah,” Dick muttered, a little embarrassed. “I know. Just didn't think he'd take to you that much, considering how scared of you he was after the whole Titans Tower thing.”

Jason shrugged a hint of guilt in his eyes. "Took a while. I had to coax him out of hiding a lot. Got easier once I realized how much of an affection-starved little $hi# he was."

Tim skidded to a stop in front of them, breathless but laughing, hair wild and messed up from the wind. “You should try it, Dick. You’d be amazing.”

Jason gave him an exaggerated side-eye. “Yeah, sure, Dick. I’m sure you’d look real graceful on a skateboard. He's a circus boy after all.”

Tim snickered and pushed Jason lightly. “As if you could do better.”

Jason grinned, his eyes lighting up with that familiar mischievous spark. He jumped up, grabbing one of the spare boards that workers left on the side for people still learning. “You wanna bet, baby-bird?”

Tim immediately sensed his impending doom and bolted, kicking off hard and zipping down the slope of the park’s concrete incline. Jason didn’t hesitate—he followed, fast and fluid, not bad for someone who usually worked with guns and explosives instead of tricks on wheels.

Dick stood there, a smile tugging at his lips as he watched the two of them go.

Tim yelped when he noticed Jason gaining on him and booked it, kicking off hard and shooting down the slope of the park’s concrete incline.

Jason followed, crowing and gaining on the younger..

And Dick—Dick had to take a second because wow.

Both of his brothers were actually having a bit of fun like this. Usually their fun involved speeding on the road, jumping off building and grappling in the last second, dangerous vigilante-fun stuff.

But still, Dick smiled, his heart swelling a little as Tim’s eyes shone. 

This was the kid who could hack into any system in minutes, this was the kid who could plan a mission like nobody else. This was the kid that had saved their family more than once.

But now, here he was—just a kid, a little out of breath and laughing because he was having fun, like the weight of the world wasn’t on his shoulders for a moment.

This was so weird.

Not bad, though. Not bad at all.

It was awesome, actually.

Just—he’d never seen Tim -or Jason- this happy in a while.

Tim didn’t look as tired or overworked or too-grown-up as usual. He looked happy, just a kid doing kid things.

Jason didn’t seem angry or closed off. Hell, nowadays he even seemed to be working things out with Bruce. Right now he was just a big brother. 

Dick hadn’t realized how much he needed to see that.

The younger Robins had always carried their scars, but this was a side of them that Dick had almost forgotten. Seeing them together like this—light, carefree, alive—was a reminder that maybe, just maybe, there was a way forward. Even after everything.

Tim totally nailed another trick (While escaping Jason’s clutches) and looked up at Dick, ice-blue eyes sparkling with the kind of joy he hadn’t seen in far too long. “C’mon, Dick, try it! I promise you won’t break anything. Well... maybe just your pride.”

Dick’s smile widened, though his heart still felt a little tight. “You’re lucky I love you, kid.”

Jason, glancing over his shoulder from a ramp, shot Dick a cocky grin. “Face it, Grayson, me and Tim are too good for you. We know more than the basics, even if you’re a circus boy. It’s fun.”

“In a minute,” Dick called back with a shake of his head, but the fondness in his voice couldn’t be missed.

Jason laughed, then pushed off with a smooth motion, zooming down the incline after Tim. The two of them weaved together in perfect synchrony, grinning like they didn’t have a care in the world.

It had been so long since he’d seen them like this.

....

Maybe Robins were magic.

Jason had been right about that all along.

Maybe it just took two Robins together for that magic to show itself.

[ilostmygenderalongwithmydignity]

Read a fic where Jason got hit with a spell that essentially split him into Robin!Jason and Red Hood!Jason, and the direction the author took was really interesting, but now I want a fic where they don’t immediately figure it out and fix things, and after about a year of working with the Bats suddenly Red Hood is back to how he first came to Gotham— murderous, and angry, and the type of vigilante that has anyone who might’ve done anything wrong doing their best to go to ground. But even though he’s back, for some reason he’s being followed around by Robin of all people, and those who were around for his tenure absolutely swear that it’s the second Robin, even though everyone knows the Joker killed him. And this Robin seems more resigned to the slaughter than disturbed by it, more tired than anything else even though he still makes quips and swears up and down that Robin does make him magic.

And all that Alfred can see is Tim trying desperately to bring Bruce back from the edge when Jason died the first time, and all he can do is hope that things work out just as well in the end.

[weirdheadcanons]

Fic Idea

Okay, I kinda ended up stumbling into another Batfam series idea...

Love the Baby Robins trope, but of course, if you actually think about it it is horrifying to have a twelve year old investigating serial killers in Gotham...

So currently I'm more or less coming up with Supernatural Batfam ideas to cancel out the child soldier angle of Robin.

I wanted a series idea where Bruce is actually doing the right thing - or at least, choosing the least damaging option - by making the kids Robins.

So, this one.

In Indian folklore, it is believed that those who die an unjust death can come back as Other.

Which flavor of Other can vary, going from vampiric ghosts to local gods.

The usual pattern in the lore is that, those who die unjust deaths - especially if they died young - come back vengeful, dangerous.

Deadly. Not just to the ones who wronged them, but to everyone. They are furious, destructive, lashing out at every living thing.

So when someone comes back like that, the local people begin to try and pacify them. Give them offerings. Pray to them. That goes on long enough, the Other becomes benevolent. Becomes a local guardian spirit instead of vengeful demon.

Basically you deal with a destructive Other by literally taming them with love.

Thinking about how this can fit Gotham Rogues.

A lot of them had tragic pasts. Pasts that could very well have killed them.

So the Rogues can be the vengeful Others. Jack Napier who died falling into that chemical vat, Harleen Quinzel killed by a trigger happy cop during an Arkham Breakout when she was trying to protect her patients, Harvey Dent dying after the acid attack, etc.

Batman starts out hunting the vengeful Others, wanting to lock them away forever (Arkham has special units which work better than normal cells would but not good enough), but his method of dealing with Others has to change when he sees the Graysons die.

Dick falls too. And unlike his parents, he won't move on, becoming an Other... on the way to becoming one of the vengeful Others, one of the demons.

Bruce can't lock a child away in Arkham - even an Other child.

So he and Alfred basically calls in every contact they have, trying to figure out some way to prevent the kid from turning into one of the haunters.

And finds out it is possible for an Other to become a guardian spirit, if enough positive emotions are directed their way. Love and worship.

Hence, Robin.

The Light of Gotham. Adorable, popular. Hero-worshipped.

Turning from vengeance to Guardian spirit...

[magnoliasandarson]

cold hands

Jason had been loud and spiteful. That was how Dick remembered him when he was angry. Jason hadn't listened, and he had been reckless. That was how Dick remembered his brother when he couldn't stomach the loss that carved a hole in his chest.

Jason had stolen Robin from Dick. That was how Dick remembered him when he dreamed of burning warehouses and laughter. Jason had taken Dick's legacy and taunted him- saying that he could take Robin back from his cold, dead hands.

Well, Dick didn't want Robin back anymore. He couldn't give less of a damn about the little gold cape in his hands.

Kneeling at the foot of a small grave, Dick wanted to dig through the dirt and place the cape back where it belonged. Robin is magic, you have to be brave for the magic to work.

Jason could keep Robin and all of its magic, he could have anything he wanted, he could take the very heart from Dick's chest as battered as it was...

Jason was Robin, and no one could take it from him- not even from his cold, dead hands.

[101maverick]

Jason Todd Headcanons

Robin Jason edition!

This is just a little something to keep you guys entertained while I keep working on all the requests you’re sending in! You guys can’t understand how happy they make me, how happy it makes me that you enjoy my work and entrust me with writing down your daydreams! I’m honoured, truly🥹

My dude shows so many borderline traits it’s not even funny

He goes from idolisation to demonisation so fast it gives me whiplash

You can’t tell me he didn’t spend like half his time in the Manor inside a blanket fort/“nest”

After having lived on the streets so long you just know he refused to roam the hallways without a sherpa blanket around his shoulders like a cape

Whenever I think of him in the Manor’s library I envision a cat in the sun, especially if the library has reading nooks next to the windows

He wears funky socks. He was out with Alfred and passed by a shop with some in the window display once and saw Andy Warhol-style Skulls on a pair and fell in love with Funky Socks™️ for the rest of his life. No convincing me otherwise sorry.

As much as he enjoys the library’s hardcovers, I think ratty mass-produced paperbacks have his heart in a chokehold. They’re pragmatic in format, super easy to keep hidden and just on hand in your hoodie pockets, yet they can hold the most beautiful and ethereal messages

I say this because I think on the streets he kept some thin paperbacks, and the cheapest books are always classics because the stories are public domain.

Since the books are thin they are also most likely plays, think Shakespeare or even Euripides

On this topic I don’t think he has a favourite Tragedian, but I do think he has favourite tragedies: Sofocle’s Antigone and Oedipus King, Euripides’ Medea and Aeschylus’ Theban Cycle.

This is it for now!! I really love Robin Jason, I think he’s a sweetheart that deserved a lot more time to just be a kid without having to worry about crimefighting or clowns in purple suits. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoyed :)

[needsleep-ls]

I finally wrote another chappppp, yippee

Jason: *just exist*

Robin: Awwww, what a cute birdie

Gotham: *blinks*

Robin: Awwww, what a cute birdie I have :3

https://archiveofourown.org/works/64938247/chapters/170595157

[skelebab]

So tired but au where the Robin mantle is literal magic plsplspls

[hayruteles]

Give us our precious baby boy back, please

I love how people are like Jason Todd was a demon child and all the other robins were angels compared to him like lmao robin!Jason was a fucking delight what do you mean

Dick showed up at the manor with a blue stuffed animal elephant and the rage of 100 men and the only thing thats changed is that the elephant is grey now

Tim showed up with blackmail on the fucking Batman and bullied him into accepting him as robin

Damian popped up on the doorstep holding a fucking katanna

Meanwhile robin!jason was jumping from building to building squealing robin magic! and would spontaneously hug Batman. he loved reading shakepeare knowledge and literally screamed golly jee willickers as the highest curse word in his vocabulary.

Robin!Jason was a goddamned fucking delight and all the other ones were the little demon children lmaooo

[ghost-bxrd]

“We’re still Magic”

Rough sketch ✍️

The finished version of this is included as a small photograph in every order for the Acrylic Charms 💚

[abcdfghjklmpqrobin]

Damian becoming the Doctor of the family, treating the Bats when they're injured, and taking care of them... But doing so in the most evil unhinged ways possible.

Damian, injecting something into Bruce's arm: I'll give you an anesthetic but you are in no condition to fight, Father. You'll be on bed rest until I clear you.

Bruce, already standing up, no fucks given: Thanks, Damian. But I really need to catch these people, they are– They–

Bruce: *Begins to stumble in place* They– y-you–

Damian:

Bruce, falling to the ground: W-what did you–?

*Evil boss music starts playing in the background*

Damian, slowly approaching: Oh, sorry, did I said I would give you anesthetic? I meant to say a paralyzing agent.

Bruce:

Damian: Don't worry, Father, Black Bat will take care of the case...

Damian, carrying Bruce back to bed:And you, as I said, will be on bed rest until I clear you.

*Evil music intensifies*

*After training*

Damian: I made limonade.

Dick, reaching for a glass: Thanks, Dam—

Damian: Not that one. That one is Drake's.

Dick: Oh–

Damian, handing Dick a glass: This one is yours.

Dick: Oh.

Damian:

Dick:

Dick: Did you- Did you put something in Tim's?

Damian:

Dick:... Did you put something in mine?

Damian:

Dick:What did you p–

Damian: Drink it, Grayson. It's good for you.

[bloomeng]

core 4 magical girl set finally reunited

[weirdheadcanons]

Halloween Thoughts

I want Dick practicing magick - nope, not Zatanna superpower or show type magic, just the real life version of witchcraft practice.

Stuff like cleansing, candle magick, affirmations, stuff that real life witches do.

He picked it up from the circus, where there would be a mix of different practices, from New Age to traditional. And once he got involved in the Bat business and realized the supernatural was very real, he did a more detailed study on it.

Bruce, on the one hand, doesn't want to encourage 'superstitions' (Dick would later point out the hypocrisy of a guy who hangs out with at least one goddess calling witchcraft a superstition). On the other hand, he doesn't want the kid to feel cut off from his past life - after all, he wouldn't have considered forbidding the boy from attending Church if that was the superstition involved, right?

So Bruce basically opts for the 'don't ask don't tell' approach when he finds out Dick is a practicing witch. And, this being DC universe where magick is very real...

[magnoliasandarson]

hoax

Tim was doing his absolute damnedest to project calmness, but he was losing his mind. Two feet away, munching on some cheesy fries, was the Red Hood—the prodigal son, the dead golden boy, his childhood hero, his Robin. The insane man who once beat him half to death, now the guy who occasionally dropped by the cave with a frankly worrying number of bullet holes. 

He’d been patrolling for an hour or so when he noticed the lack of gunshots, screams, explosions, etc., and tracked Hood to the gargoyle Dick took him to once when he was feeling sentimental. It was strange finding him without his signature explosive bucket on, with a bag of Batburger in his lap.

Tim didn’t know what to say, but he knew he needed to say something. Jason apologized for his actions weeks ago and explained that the pit had taken no dead Robins and turned it into all Robins must die, but there was still a weight between them. A clear line that said do not cross; luckily enough, Tim lived to cross those lines, “Takin’ a day off from murder and mayhem?”

Jason twisted his head to look over, his scowl somehow threatening, even with a fry hanging out of his mouth. He finished chewing, looking menacing the whole time, “Fucks it to ya, bird boy?”

Tim plopped down on the ledge; if Jason was going to shoot him, he would’ve already. He stared out at Gotham, at the empty streets and windows glowing with warmth and light. For once, the city was quiet, “Just making conversation, Hood.”

“What made you think I wanted to talk?” Jason’s tone was harsh, but it was about a five on the Jason-rage-meter, and Tim didn’t get fidgety till a seven. 

Tim kicked his feet out, idly drumming his fingers on the cement ledge, “Maybe I wanted to talk.” And in a weird way, it was true. This was Jason freakin’ Todd; the boy wonder that made Batman laugh. He oddly wanted to know everything. 

Jason sighed like he was accosted by young, costumed teens all the time, and, to be fair, he was. Stephanie had taken to showing up at his apartment at odd hours with waffles, and she had only been shot at twice, “Fine, traffic light. Whatcha wanna talk about.”

“Y’know, you wore the suit, too. ‘Least mine has pants.” Tim spoke, then immediately hunched away. Robin was a sore spot for Jason- Tim was stupid to bring it up. 

For some reason, Jason didn’t immediately pull a gun; he just cocked his head and laughed quietly. Tim straightened back up and tried to muster up a glare, but that just made Jason’s little laughs louder, “Ooh- baby bird’s got jokes,” he rolled his shoulders and offered a thing of fries from the bag, “want some fries, Tiny?”

Tim groaned; why did everyone make short jokes about him? He snatched the fries sharply in protest, “You were short too-”

“Yeah, then I took a dip in poison snot,” Jason cut him off, “Ya wanna do that too, short stack?”

Tim immediately jammed some fries in his mouth- he was incurably dumb. He’d managed to bring up Robin and the Lazarus Pit with Jason. He should hang up the cape, “You got any advice? As a former short king?” Honestly, he wished Jason would just shoot him now. There was something wrong with his brain on a fundamental level. He’d been hanging out with Bart and Kon way too much.

Jason tilted his head like he was buffering and inhaled deeply through his nose like he was trying to calm himself through sheer force of will, “Whatcha wanna know?”

Tim chewed his mouthful of potato slowly; he hadn’t thought this far ahead. What did he want to know from Jason? He could ask about crime-lording, but Jason would probably snitch to Dick, and then Bruce would lecture him for at least an hour. Oddly enough, there was only one safe topic he could ask about, and it would still likely result in him leaving with lead in his body that was not there before, “You got any, uhm, Robin-ly advice?” Lightning should strike him down.

Jason didn’t kill him, which was a plus; just lit up a cigarette and took a long drag, which was objectively hilarious, but Tim would die if he laughed, so he just ate another fry, “Robin was a different kid,” he blew out smoke rings like the cool guys in movies, and if Tim wasn’t acutely afraid of lung cancer, he’d be tempted to try, “Dickwing use’ta say, “Robin is magic, you have to be brave for the magic to work.” I used to believe that shit.”

“You don’t anymore?”

Another cool ring of cigarette smoke floated out through the sky, “I stopped believin’ when I dug my way outta my grave.”

Noted. Tim cleared his throat; this was not a conversation he was equipped for, “Oh.”

Jason snorted, “Yeah- oh,” he took another deep drag of his cigarette, making Tim’s chest twinge, “The thing is- Robin will make you believe you can be- make you think you can be a better person.”

“Then why aren’t you better?” The words left his mouth without Tim’s consent, and his whole body tensed to jump, his fingers finding his grapple gun at his waist. 

Jason gave a wry smile and stubbed his spent cigarette on the gargoyle to his right, “Because Robin isn’t magic.”

[ditzybat]

jason in titans tower staring at bruce: how’d you know i was alive old man?

bruce: robin - tim - is an avid follower of your tumblr blog that has mysteriously updated after years of you being deceased

tim: mhm, at mrsbennetluvr88 started quoting hamlet and titus andronicus after years of radio silence, it was the only rational conclusion

jason: … at least you know your shakespeare…