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Timothy Jackson Drake is known for many things, by many people.
Being CEO of Wayne Enterprises at the age of seventeen. Being the third Robin, then Red Robin. A teammate of Young Justice, one of Gotham’s vigilantes, Bruce Wayne's adopted son, nepo baby (two times over), highschool dropout, etc, etc.
Point is, many people know and see him as many different things.
One of the few commonly shared viewpoints, however, is that Timothy Jackson Drake is an ominous, cryptic little fuck.
~
Of course, not everyone knows this right away. It used to be small details that were rather easy to ignore, but ever since Tim brought Bruce back from being lost in the timestream, it has been ramped up to eleven almost constantly.
The first to really notice is Jason. Despite being at odds with each other in the past - understandably so, really, Tim had a right to a grudge after the Tower incident - the two worked together well on the field, and would team up fairly often for patrols for various reasons. Often to tag team a case together, but sometimes for simpler reasons such as passing the time on slow nights, or shit talking whoever pissed one of them off at that moment.
Jason had noticed the way Tim seemed to occasionally stare off into the distant shadows at seemingly nothing, but had brushed it off as him being lost in his own head. It wasn’t exactly out of character for the kid to zone out when brainstorming answers to a case, or a problem at WE.
It only really got weird when he asked him about it once.
It was a quiet night, not much to do. A few muggings to interrupt, a few drunks to help walk home. Red Hood had been just about to wrap up when he’d noticed the kid standing alone on a rooftop a few buildings from where he currently stood, staring quizzically at what, to Hood, looked like nothing.
This time, curiosity took hold, and Red Hood made his way over to the younger vigilante.
“Hey, baby bird!” Hood called as he landed on the rooftop Red Robin stood on. “Whatcha thinkin’ about? You look like the wall personally offended you about a case or somethin’.”
Red Robin didn't answer him immediately, staring for a few more seconds that seemed to only drag on longer with every one that passed. Finally, he slowly turned his head to Red Hood, then stared at him for a few long seconds.
Hood was starting to feel uncomfortable, grateful for the helmet to hide his wary expression as the silence dragged on. When he finally tried to open his mouth to say something else, Red Robin spoke.
“Do you…see them too?”
What the fuck.
Hood looked at Red Robin like he was insane. “What the fuck,” he eloquently repeated his thoughts aloud. “Red, who the fuck are ‘they’?”
Red Robin again didn't respond immediately, then slowly turned back to the wall he had been staring at. It was a normal wall, draped in shadows and looking creepier by the second in this current moment.
Red Robin nodded his head towards the wall. “Them. They see all. Few seem to see them.”
Red Hood instinctively creeped one hand towards his gun, staring at the wall with - not fear, he wasn’t fucking scared of a wall, but…wariness. Yeah. He was just keeping his guard up.
“Kid, there’s nothing there,” He said, even as he doubted his own words. However, as he turned back to glance at Red Robin again, the kid had fucking disappeared as if he hadn’t been there in the first place.
Hood hightailed it the fuck out of there faster than he’d ever admit.
~
“Dickhead, wake up!”
Dick jolted awake with a shout as he was forcibly tugged out of his bed and onto the floor. He groaned, blearily squinting up at where Jason stood, still holding his ankle. “Little wing, what-?”
“There is something wrong with the kid.”
Well, that woke Dick up fast. “What? Which kid?” He asked, voice urgent as he scrambled to sit up as best he could with his leg forced in the air. “Is someone hurt? Missing? Dying?”
Jason dropped his leg and gave him a look. “The fuck, no, that’s not- you need to get your anxiety checked out, Dickie, no. It’s the baby bird, he’s being fucking creepy and I dunno if he’s being mind controlled or just hasn’t had a proper sleep in too long.”
Dick pulled himself to his feet, gathering the fallen blankets and sheets to toss back on his bed. “What do you mean? Did something happen?”
“He kept talking about a ‘them’ watching.” Dick paused, turning to look at Jason with new concern.
Jason continued. “He was staring weirdly intently at a wall on some random rooftop near the Alley, when I went to check on him he was being freakishly slow with his movements and speech. Asked me if I saw ‘them’ too, when I looked at the wall- there was nothing fucking there, by the way- and looked back, the kid just disappeared into thin air. Even Bruce isn’t that quiet!” He threw his hands up in the air, looking more freaked out by the encounter than he was implying.
Dick himself was feeling rather creeped out listening to the story, crossing his arms as he gave Jason his full attention. It didn't sound like Tim’s usual bouts of sleep-deprived, caffeine-induced weirdness. It was normal for the kid to act kind of ominous sometimes, but not that ominous. “Is he still out on patrol or would he be back at his apartment now? Or maybe the Cave?”
Jason shook his head. “I haven’t checked yet, but I came up through the Cave and Timbit wasn’t in there, so I’d hope he got his ass back home by now.”
Dick nodded, pulling out his phone to shoot a quick text to Babara. “Okay, I'm asking Babs to check where he is. If he's home, we can check on him in the morning, make sure everything’s okay.”
Jason huffed in quiet agreement, crossing his arms and moving to sit on the bed.
Babs answered Dick within a minute, confirming Tim was safe at home. “Tim's at his apartment, he's okay.” Dick told Jason. “We’ll check on him in the morning, okay?”
His brother nodded with a roll of his eyes. “Yeah, you can check on him in the morning and tell me what the fuck’s up. I’m going to bed and staying far away from the kid until he quits being freaky.” Jason said, standing and making his way back to the window he entered from.
As he left, he gave Dick one last glance. “By the way, Dickwing, fix your security. It’s shit.” And then he was gone.
Dick groaned and made his way over to shut the window with a bit more force than was maybe necessary. “It’s not, you’ve just been trained by the damn Bat too,” he grumbled to himself as he climbed back under his covers, mentally making plans to visit Tim in the morning. Or afternoon, depending when he woke up.
Everything would be fine.
~
Everything was completely fine.
And Dick meant that, too! Really. He’d gone over to see Tim that next morning - alone, Jason claimed he had plans last minute, apparently. Coward. But nothing was wrong or out of place. Tim seemed confused when Dick mentioned the patrol the night before, so Dick was fairly certain one of his brothers just hadn’t been sleeping enough lately and someone is remembering the events incorrectly.
No matter!
Dick and Tim had then gone out to breakfast together at a nearby cafe the family favored, then headed up to the Manor together - Tim had some casework he wanted to work on from the Batcomputer, and Dick missed his acrobatic equipment down in the Cave. And Damian. And Alfred.
…and Bruce, but the man was currently on his shit-list for the stunt he pulled on patrol a week ago, so.
They were currently in the Cave, Dick going through the familiar twists, turns, and flips on his bars and hoops. He couldn’t keep the small smile off his face as he went through the nostalgic moves, feeling lighter up in the air than he ever could on the ground.
Tim was over on the Batcomputer as he had said he would be, staring intently at the screen that currently showed a murder case that occurred down in East End earlier in the week. It matched the M.O. of a series of cold cases about twenty years prior, and had thoroughly stumped Gotham P.D. at the moment, so Bruce and Tim had been tag teaming it.
A few hours in, Dick flipped off a beam and landed gracefully on the training mats. He grabbed a towel to wipe excess sweat off and made his way over to the computer. “How’s that case coming along, Timmy? Ready for a snack break?”
Tim was silent and unmoving, and Dick felt the hairs on his arm stand up. Something felt off. Tim was normally rather unnaturally still, but this was different.
“Timmers?” He questioned, approaching with some caution this time. He almost jumped when Tim did finally move, turning his head at an unnervingly slow pace to make eye contact.
“They know.”
Dick stiffened on instinct at the chilling tone. His brother's eyes were hollow, yet it felt like they pierced his very soul all the same. Before he could even muster up a response, Tim stood with unexpected swiftness and made his way out of the Cave and up to the Manor.
It took him an embarrassingly long moment to collect himself enough to try and catch up.
“Tim? Timmy, Tim, what- Timmers, wait, what does that mean-”
Everything was NOT fine.
~
“You were right.”
“Oh, what was that?”
“For f- you were right , Jason.”
Jason grinned at Dick smugly, settling into the couch cushions and crossing his arms in victory. “I fucking told you. The kid’s being freaky. But, oh, what did you say? ‘Jaybird, he doesn’t even remember! You probably didn't get enough sleep!’ But who’s laughing now, Dick, huh?”
Dick groaned, propping his arms up on his knees and burying his face in his hands. He had gone to find Jason in one of his safehouses the next day to tell him about the weird incident in the Cave the day before. He was regretting his decision now. “I’m sorry, okay? It was a fair assumption, he was entirely genuine about not knowing when I brought it up!”
“Yeah, well, now you know. I’m right, the babybird’s being fucking creepy.” Jason said with a huff, grin fading a little as he gave an imperceptible shiver, thinking about the weird interaction on patrol just one night ago. “What are we gonna do about it? I vote we call in Wonder Woman.”
“You always vote on calling in Wonder Woman.” Dick remarked, dropping his hands to give Jason a dry look. “Let’s just- I dunno, talk to him. He can’t deny it this time?”
Before Jason could respond, the door to Jason’s safehouse slammed open and a small figure darted in, slamming the door shut behind himself.
Dick and Jason blinked in surprise as Damian stood, pressed against the door and breathing heavily as if he’d ran all the way here.
Dick was the first to speak up. “Dames, are you-?”
“Something is wrong with Timothy!” Damian snapped before Dick could even finish. Jason pointed at Damian with a triumphant shout, pumping his fist.
“I fucking called it!” He exclaimed. “But Dickhead said nothing was wrong, and I was probably hallucinating, but look who’s more right by the second!” He gave Dick a shit-eating grin.
Dick let out an exasperated sigh. “I didn't say that, I said you were probably sleep-deprived. And I literally came here to agree with you!” He said, throwing his hands in the air.
Damian, however, scowled at him as he stepped closer, plopping himself on the armchair (and definitely not pouting). “How could you dismiss Todd’s concerns so easily, Richard? And without proper research?”
Dick pinched the bridge of his nose. “For the last time, I did look into it, and nothing tipped me off until I experienced him being weird myself. I literally agree with you, Jason, for the love of god!”
Jason snickered but settled again. “Yet you wouldn’t take my word for it.” Before Dick could protest, again, Jason turned to Damian. “What did Timbit do to you?”
Damian’s scowl deepened. “We were visiting the art museum together today, and nothing was unusual for the duration of our time there. However, once we arrived at the Manor, he had frozen on the steps. When I turned to question him, all he said was ‘They’re watching,’ before he turned and walked off onto the grounds rather than inside. Pennyworth witnessed the entire ordeal from the doorway, yet didn't say anything about the strange behavior. I have deduced they have been mind washed and must be disposed of immediately.”
Dick and Jason shared a look. Three incidents in two days? And Alfred didn't say anything about it?
“Okay, that’s fucking weird.” Jason states, as if that wasn't obvious.
Dick rubbed his brows. “Firstly, we’re not disposing of Tim and Alfred, Dami. Secondly, we need to alert everyone else about this. I don't know if he’s doing this on purpose, or he’s entirely serious, but we need to warn the others.”
Damian ‘tt’ed. “We must deal with the threat at once!”
Jason gave the kid a look. “Demon, with how Tim is, he could be entirely serious and referring to something dangerous and we don’t have a clue. Or he could be fucking with all of us just for shits and giggles. But either way, chances are, he’s not the threat.”
Damian sat further back in his chair, a shade paler but keeping up his huffy act nonetheless.
Dick, in the meantime, pulled out his phone to ring Barbara.
“Dick?”
“Hey, Babs!” Dick greeted with some genuine cheer. “Hey, uh, could you tell everyone to gather in the Cave in say…two hours? Except Tim.”
“Or Pennyworth!” Damian added, glaring at the phone.
“Everyone but Tim and Alfred.” Dick amended with a small sigh.
“...strange request, but sure. Is everything alright? Do I need to be concerned?”
“No?” Dick said, then winced at the uncertainty in his own voice. “Not…yet. We’ll inform everyone at the Cave.”
“Alright, see you then.”
Dick hung up and glanced at his brothers. “Cave in two hours, then.”
~
Everyone was dutifully gathered in the Cave two hours later, except for Tim and Alfred, as specified. Dick had arrived with Damian fifteen minutes earlier, to find only Bruce in the Cave yet. It didn't take long for the others to arrive. Steph and Cass were sitting together on the desk next to Bruce, Jason stood by the weapons table using the spare minute to clean one of his guns, Babara’s wheelchair was parked a few feet beside him. Dick and Damian stood between the two spots together, and Duke sat in one of the spare wheeled chairs they had down here across from them.
“Okay, so, we have something we want to bring to everyone’s attention.” Dick began. “It isn’t really an issue, not yet at least, but it’s certainly…concerning.”
“It’s fucking freaky, he means.” Jason cuts in.
“Language,” Bruce cut in automatically. “What do you mean, chum?”
“And what does it have to do with Tim and Alfred not being allowed?” Barbara questioned, raising a single brow.
Damian let out a soft ‘tt’. “Their minds have been taken over and we must deal with them at once!”
“No,” Dick cut in, slapping a hand over Damians mouth, ignoring the indignant look he got for it, “they’re not. Tim’s just been acting…weird, lately, and Alfred didn't question it when he witnessed it. Dami’s just concerned.”
This did not wipe the concerned expressions off of everyone's faces. “Weird, how?” Stephanie asked next. “Weird like he didn't get enough caffeine, or?”
“Timbits been making creepy ass movements and saying even creepier ass shit.” Jason butted in once more. “Other night during patrol, I stopped by the rooftop he was standing on to check on him ‘cause he was standing weirdly still. He asked me if I could ‘see them, too’, which I obviously had no fucking clue what that meant. He pointed to the wall behind us, I turned to look, nothing. He fucking disappeared by the time I turned around again - not even B moves that silently.”
Everyone looked a little creeped out now. Dick nodded. “I didn't know what Jay was talking about at first, until yesterday afternoon when Tim and I were in the Cave together. He was working on a case while I was training. When I went to get him to take a break, he didn't answer for a solid thirty seconds before turning slowly, saying ‘They know,’ then leaving the Cave faster than I could question him. He was nowhere to be found when I got back into the Manor.”
Duke shivered. “Well, that’s- yeah, no, that’s freaky. Are we sure Damian isn’t right?”
Bruce frowned, arms crossed. “Tim has had a reputation of being unnerving as Red Robin, though it isn’t something I’ve necessarily noticed to these levels before. I wouldn’t write off the idea of someone having tampered with his mind, but let’s not jump to conclusions just yet.” He looked up at Damian. “Damian, chum, you had something to share as well?”
Damian bit down on Dick’s hand to get him to move, which he did so with a yelp and a glare. “Yes, Father. I was with Timothy earlier this morning, we were visiting the art museum together. When we arrived at the Manor, he had frozen on the steps before claiming, ‘They’re watching,’ before turning and wandering off onto the grounds. Pennyworth saw nothing wrong with this despite having witnessed it from the doorway, so I left at once to find Richard and Todd and alert them of the issue.”
Everyone looked suitably concerned and creeped out now. “And he hasn’t elaborated at all?” Stephanie asked. “Like, at all, at all?”
“I’ve only been able to hold a proper conversation with him about it once,” Dick said, shooting one last dirty look at Damian as he wiped his hand off, which was returned with a childish tongue stuck out at him. “About the first time with Jason. He completely denied any knowledge about it, and walked off too fast to be questioned the next two times.”
Cassandra hummed softly to get everyone's attention before signing. ‘We bring L-E-A-G-U-E?’
Bruce slowly nodded. “Maybe. I think we should conduct our own research first, but we’ll keep at least a few of the League on standby to be called in if the issue is supernatural.”
“If what issue’s supernatural?”
The air in the Cave froze, as did its occupants. Slowly, they all turned to where the voice came from, to see Tim sitting on top of Jason’s old memorial case.
Sitting on top of the damn memorial case.
Tim gave them a grin. “Hey, guys. Did I miss a memo about a meeting? Who’s being suspicious enough to call the entire family?”
Everyone shared a few panicked looks. “Uh, Timmers, when…did you get here?” Jason asked, valiantly hiding his freaked out expression.
“Like, thirty seconds ago?” Tim offered, hopping down off the case. “Not long. Someone wanna update me on what’s going on?”
Before anyone could speak, Damian stepped forward with a scowl. “Tell us, Drake. Are you being mind controlled? How do we fix you? I demand you tell us, now!”
Dick buried his face in his hands. So much for not telling him.
Tim blinked in confusion. “I’m…not? Mind controlled, that is. You would know if I was, I’ve set up several contingencies for it.”
Jason steps forward and lightly shoves Damian back. “Christ, kid, jumping the gun a little. He means to ask why you’ve been so creepy lately, Timbo. The freaky stillness, and ominous comments?”
Tim tilted his head. “Oh, those? I didn't think I was being creepy. What was creepy about it?”
Dick let out a slightly incredulous laugh. “Everything?” He says, staring at Tim as if he’d grown a second head. “You kept pointing things out that no one else understood or saw, then would just disappear on us for hours on end- you just snuck up on the entire family. Including Cassandra. Timmy, baby bird, please elaborate.”
“Oh!” Tim grinned. “I’ve been practicing my new training. And I can explain everything I’ve said, too.” He pointed at Jason. “The other night, we were being tailed by League assassins. Well, I was. You just kind of interrupted them? I was wondering if you spotted them too, since you came over, but I guess not. You provided a nice distraction, though, thanks! Ra’s is annoyingly persistent.”
Jason looked helplessly confused and concerned. “I…you’re welcome?”
Tim pointed at Dick next. “I was working on a case when you came in, was too preoccupied to realize what you were asking me about. Then I realized that the ‘victim’ of the crime that we had in witness protection was actually the murderer, and had pulled an honestly ingenius scheme to try and get away with it by painting themselves as the innocent one- I dealt with it, but they were moving that day so I couldn’t stay to chat.”
Dick floundered for a second. “That- that makes sense, but can we circle back around to the assassins-?”
Tim didn't pause, pointing to Damian instead. “And you…that one was just a prank. I just wanted to mess with you. Alfred was in on it. I didn't realize the others thought I was being ominous earlier, which is actually really funny seeing how that tied in, but yeah, no, I was entirely just messing with you, Dames.”
Damian stood silently for a moment before throwing himself at Tim with a cry of rage, only stopped by a laughing Jason who grabbed him mid air. “You-! You were pranking me , Timothy?! The wellbeing of this family is not to be toyed with! How dare you mess with me like that! I will end you for this!”
Stephanie was howling with laughter, leaning on a giggling Cass’ shoulder. Duke had slipped to the side to film, biting his lip to hide a grin as Damian managed to slip out of Jasons hold and began chasing Tim around, shouting threats and insults as Tim laughed and dodged his attacks with ease.
Bruce sighed wearily, even as he cracked a small smile. “It truly was just Tim being Tim then.”
Dick snorted, watching the chaos unfold. Damian managed to get one up on Tim and had the older boy pinned on the floor now. “Apparently. Why’s Ra’s sending him assassin messenger pigeons, though?”
A pause.
“Tim-”