Chapter Text
Tim was floating.
He was warm and comfortable. He just wanted to sleep. But the kid was still here and Tim didn’t know where Hood was.
Tim cracked his eyes open.
The kid was leaning against the foot of Tim’s cot, wrapping a cut on his own leg with one hand, as he typed away at a computer with the other. His brow was furrowed, creasing the top of his domino mask, but he seemed relaxed.
Tim wanted to say something, to ask him who he was, to ask him where Hood was, to thank him. He had had a dream about Dick being there. He wanted to see if the kid could call Nightwing and Batman.
But before he could open his mouth, before he could remember how to use his tongue, there was a low, soul-shaking boom .
The kid’s head jerked towards the bright ring that appeared in the middle of the room.
Tim squinted against the light as a shadow of a figure appeared.
“-obin? Robin!” a strangely familiar voice cried out as the kid rushed forward to greet the figure.
“Robin! Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, Red Robin. No need to worry.”
“I can worry all I want, you were thrown through dimensions. Come on, Wing’s freakin- who’s that.”
Tim was trying to get his arms underneath his body, in order to push prop himself up, but that was hard to do when one of your arms was broken and you were loopy on pain meds.
He could see the shimmering ring of light that hung in midair. In front of it, stood a dark figure in red and black armor, a silver pole or stick glinting in the ring’s light. He registered seeing a black domino mask and gold bandoliers before he slumped back onto his pillows.
“Robin…”
“I’ll explain at home. Wait just a moment.”
“Baby bat-”
“Please.”
The new figure paused before nodding. Then, Tim’s blurry eyesight was filled with the kid’s face.
Robin. Tim’s mind supplied. The other figure called him “Robin.” He wears the colors and has the “R.”
“R-R’bin?”
There was a flash of white teeth as Robin’s mouth quirked into a small smile.
“Yes, Timothy. I am Robin,” his face softened, “But so are you.”
“Wha-Hood?”
“Hood will not hurt you,” a shadow drifted across Robin’s face and his smile faded, “Not anymore. Do not worry, I will leave an explanation for Batman. You should just focus on recovering.”
Batman. Bruce. Bruce would be worried when he saw Tim.
Horrifyingly, a tear escaped Tim’s eye.
Robin tutted and swiped the teardrop away.
“Do not worry, Timothy. Batman will take care of you. You are safe.”
Robin moved to the computer he had been working on and removed a small, metallic flash drive, and pressed it against Tim’s uncovered palm.
“This will explain everything. Sleep, Timothy.”
Tim wanted to say something, but his throat was so dry. His tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth and the pain meds had gotten hold of him. He was being dragged into unconsciousness.
“Robin,” it was the other voice, “We should leave.”
The other figure had stepped forward. Tim could just make out pale skin and a mess of dark hair.
Huh, he liked that hairstyle.
The figure pressed a hand to Robin’s shoulder. Robin nodded.
“Goodbye, Timothy. Get well soon. I love you, ahki.”
Robin’s voice was hushed for some reason, almost like he was worried about upsetting Tim.
But that was silly. Robin, even this new, unknown Robin, could never upset Tim.
There was a moment, right before Tim drifted off completely, when he felt a kiss press against his forehead.
Then there was the rustling of capes, a soft laugh, and a muted boom.
Tim fell back asleep.