AutumnFroste

Tim: …? We did meet?

Jason, genuinely confused: what? No, no, I would have remembered meeting your scraggly ass-

Tim: First of all, you once told me you refused to remember rich people’s name because they ‘aren’t really people at that point’.

Jason: this is true.

Tim: secondly, we literally talked for like, an hour? Do you really not remember?

Jason, lowkey feeling a little bad now but refusing to admit it: Maybe you just weren’t memorable.

Tim: we talked about Frankenstein!

Jason: why were we- OH MY GOD THAT WAS YOU?!

Tim: yes! I thought it was a good conversation :(

Jason: YOU EXPLAINED HOW YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD DO EXACTLY WHAT VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN DID BUT BETTER.

Tim: YEAH CAUSE HE SHOULD HAVE USED ELECTRIC EELS INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR A STORM.

Jason: DUDE. I only kept talking to you because I deadass thought you were gonna be a future Rouge.

Tim: huh?!

Jason: dude, you even told me about how easy it is to steal bodies from hospitals in Gotham.

Tim: yeah that… I wasn’t always the best at keeping my cards close to my chest, so that’s on me.

Jason: the only reason I didn’t tell Bruce about you is because I was worried he’d try adopt you and I was worried about getting kicked out.

Tim: I appreciate it.

Jason: if I had he probs wouldn’t have made you Robin.

Tim: that’s… unnerving to think about.

Tim, fiddling with his sleeve: Do you… wanna hear about my new take on how to reanimate the dead to create a whole new person?

Jason, fully aware that Tim could one day be a bad guy and he would have more of a chance if he had Tim on his side: As a reanimated corps, I am more than happy to listen. Have you actually read the book yet though?

Tim: No- so, first thing your going to need is a alibi-

Why, you ask? Well, pure contrarian spite, on one level. This administration looooves fomenting fear - not just because they're sadists who thrive on it, but because they honestly think that there's no difference between authority and coercion. More fool them. Anyway, that's reason enough for me - not giving them what they want.

But on a deeper level, it's for me. My feelings affect nothing in the world, no matter how strong they are. They only affect me. And I'm not going to hurt myself again and again for nothing.

Decades ago, in another existentially terrifying time, an incoming President said in his inauguration speech that we have nothing to fear but fear itself. And he was right. Fear paralyzes and leads to shitty cowardly choices. It feeds itself, making every shadow into a monster and every threat into a guarantee. This administration acts the way it does because they're afraid, all the time.

If you think that humanity is essentially selfish, greedy, and power-hungry, and that only coercion brings order - well, what makes that kind of person get up and behave like a member of society every morning? Just fear, all the time. No trust, no love, no connections, no beliefs. No values or morals. And the only safety is power, and power, to them, means having someone beneath you and all the coercion you can bring to bear.

Which is why nothing drives them more batshit than those queer immigrant disabled brown liberal freaks being happy and unafraid. Obviously it's threat to their "power", which they think is dependent on the fear of those "lower" than them. But it's really deeper than that.

In their world, the fearlessness of the people who are supposed to be afraid isn't just a threat; it's an impossibility. It instantly turns the entire system to dust. And without that system, where would these bullies be? Floating in air, utterly alone, because they decided that connections don't matter. Powerless, because they don't know any other mode of power exists.

And worse: You know the bullies got their life philosophies from somewhere. Their parents, their churches, their schools. If human civilization is somehow possible without a violent pecking order, then what was it all for? If it wasn't to teach you reality and survival in the world, well, there's another word for that kind of "education." Starts with an "a". Not something you want to think about your loved ones. (Almost like love matters after all...)

Anyway. If the world was the way they think it is, I would never have been born. It's there in the holidays I celebrate each year: they tried to kill us; we survived; let's eat. The ritual of joy over fear, every single year. I'm alive, motherfuckers. I'm beautiful and strong and unafraid.

KFJFJDKDHDHDJ

AU where Tim has known who the Batfam are the whole goddamn time and pretends all his life not to know.

And the family all love Tim and will only go to the galas and shit if he's there because he's Nice and Sincere and seems to always give good advice as an observant third party. And if they ever need a favor or whatever from him he's all "No problem!" Doesn't ask too many questions. Gives them the benefit of the doubt. Just a true friend. One time Cass said "cause a scene" and Tim didn't even ask why, he just comically tripped and knocked over the nearest ten foot ice sculpture.

So of course the batfam all secretly want him to know the truth. Like, yeah. It's against the rules but Tim is their friend! He deserves the truth! He's so trusting and honest with them and it makes them feel so guilty. Like everytime someone cancels lunch plans w/ him cuz of crime, he's always so cool and understanding?? And they all feel so bad lying over and over to poor Tim who just naively believes them

So then individually all the batfam have the idea to "accidentally" let it slip who they really are.

One time Dick got "caught" wearing his Nightwing outfit and Tim was just like "Holy shit! Nice outfit! Way better than my Halloween costume" "Halloween? Tim, it's August." "Right? So cool that you're into it enough you'd plan so far ahead" "uh. Yeah. Okay. Halloween. Sure"

Damian is at a gala when he curses and walks off to the bathroom, dragging Tim along with him, telling him he needs help resowing his stitches

Damian's shoulder has a bite mark taken out of it courtesy of killer croc. Damian tries to explain, come clean about why he has this horrible wound,

"Drake. I'm sure you must be wondering why I have-"

"Oh, no. No need to explain. I know you love animals. And if you happened to break into the Gotham zoo to try and free the alligators and accidentally got bitten? Well, I'm sure Bruce doesn't need to know"

"...yes. that is... exactly what happened. Truly, Drake, your detective skills are adequate. Even impressive"

"Don't go all sappy on me here, Damian"

Tim stares for a second and Jason scrambles and tries to explain

"The truth is, Tim-"

"Save it Jason. I know."

"You do?"

"Yeah. I know untested government tech when I see it. What are you? FBI? CIA? It all makes sense. Ever since your faked 'death' and disappearance... No, don't tell me anything. The less I know the better. Point is, I didn't see anything. I know that whatever you're doing is for the benefit of everyone. And don't worry. I won't even tell your family about this. I'll hold your secret to my grave"

"Thanks, Tim"

"Of course. It's what friends are for :) You're a good person. Jay. I trust you."

It was just Tim, Steph, and Babs. (He was kindly escorting them to their rides home) And the muggers pop out and without even hesitating Steph and Babs take 'em down. Babs practically lifts one man over her head with one arm. Steph even does some hella fancy flips and stuff, showing off to the point Dick would be proud.

The two are so fucking pleased with themselves and now Tim has to know, right? They puposely put on a show so it'd be obvious. He would have to connect the dots- there's no other explanation-

But Tim wasn't looking. As soon as he saw movement he had shut his eyes and curled in on himself like he was expecting to be, y'know, hit or shot at.

He plays dumb and claims he blacked out from panic. He asks what happened and marvels that Stephanie and Babs knew such amazing self defense and they must've had an amazing teacher (wow babs your dad must've taught you that, huh!) and wow he should probably learn some too because that was so scary and he thought he was going to die and god he couldn't do anything and what if Steph and Babs had gotten hurt while he just cowered behind them doing nothing and-

Tim profusely apologizes over and over and starts crying because he felt so ashamed and scared

And, well, Steph and Babs both felt guilty freaking him out like that and spent a good minute trying to calm him down and assure him everything was fine

The night ends with tim vowing to never feel helpless like that again and that he's gonna learn how to fight

Steph says "I know a great teacher who's emotionally constipated but would actually Love to teach you-"

And Tim's like "That's okay. Steph. I already have a place in mind off of 22nd st."

"Okay but this guy is, like, the world's greatest-"

"I'm sure, but my guy is a close family friend so"

Bruce takes him to his study. Shows him the secret grandfather clock entrance

(At this point Tim knows what's happening but he's not gonna stop it because holy shit he's gonna see the batcave)

The whole family is gathered there, all dressed up in costume with their masks off, all waiting for him. Bruce speaks.

"I thought long and hard about this. And we feel you deserve to know. Tim... I'm Batman" Then he pauses. The room is quiet. They wait to hear his response

"Whatttt? No way! That's so cool!" Tim fake gasps "wow i am so shocked. Look at my shocked face right now. Did not see this coming. I'm positively shook."

"...You already knew?"

"Yeah." And everyone nodded because that made sense. They were purposely being as obvious as possible, of course he caught on eventually- "Since I was nine."