Even in the darkness, there are friends- DC AU
Pretty sure someone's did this but... ~ Imagine that not long after the arguments and the fights that drove Dick away, he went missing. Even with all of Bruce's connections, his detective skills, his abilities, his money and threats, there's not a trace of him. Not even Superman could find him. And during his mourning, Bruce stumbles upon Jason and Jason-his sweet, brilliant boy-is the first person to make him laugh, having all the damn audacity and courage to steal his tires from the Batmobile. He aches for his eldest even if they never officially had it on paper, Dick would always be his son and he was still searching, but now it helps to have Jason at his side. And Tim Drake, resident amateur detective and mini stalker fan, loves the new Robin too even if he misses Dick Grayson. Jason Todd was a lot of fun and he helped to ease some of Batman's darkness that had crept in while Robin I was first announced as missing. But all good things have a conclusion, and a new Robin was lost but at least a body was found to mourn properly. Tim, even if he never knew them personally, liked to visit when he could. He went before or after his picture taking, talking to Jason, admitting how much he admired him and missed him, how much Batman misses him. And it's during these late nights that he finds a guest of sorts. He's tall, much taller than Tim (Tim rues his biology for a late growth spurt!), broader, wearing almost all blacks and browns and golds, with inky blue-black hair, and- "Robin?" Tim sees the slight head tilt, blue-gold eyes focused on him as an ashen face considers him. Tim would like to say it was the power of friendship that helped him communicate with Dick Grayson, but Tim knows it was all the other's decisions that had him at Tim's side. Dick didn't speak, didn't quite outwardly emote though Tim swears he saw emotion glitter in his eyes. He spent most of his time at Drake Manor with Tim, caring for him and watching Wayne manor from a distance. Tim wonders what went through his head but never felt the courage to ask. He likes being friends with the first Robin. And it's another night, the skies breaking out in tears and even the Joker hiding away from it all, that Dick and Tim see Jason Todd burst out of the ground with snarled teeth and blood stained fingers.
