Been thinking about for so long and finally decided to write it down.
Okay so: It starts off with Tim, 2 months after he rescues Bruce from the tim stream. Hes arguably one of earth riches adults on eath despite just turning 18 a few weeks ago, I mean hes the CEO of WE not to mention he inherited his parents company, Drake Industries.
He still remebers his birthday, how Duke, Cass, Barbs and Steph had taking him shopping, buying him a new camera. Aunt Kate had sent over some trinkets he could tinker with, along with some cake, Ivy, Harley, Selina and even some of the more taimed/Reformed rogues like The Riddle and Dr Freeze had stopped him during patrol to drop off gifts. He got well wishes from Diana and Clark and some JLA members too. Then after patrol Young Just Us had a sleep over. It was nice really, having so much people wish him a happy birthday, yet nothing from Bruce, or Dick or even Jason, Tim was still at odds with Damian and didn't expect much. It should have bothered him to no end that his supposed family had seemily forgotten his Birthday, but it didn't. If anything he felt relieved he wouldn't have to talk to them.
He think back to his 16th birthday where instead of a typical celebration, Batman subjected him to an elaborate psychological test. Fearing one of his allies would eventually turn evil and betray the team, Batman and Alfred staged a crisis—with Alfred disguised as a future traveler—to deliberately gaslight him. The traumatic ordeal was designed to test his paranoia, leaving him questioning the loyalty of everyone around him and deeply hurting his trust in his 'family' and friends. He had thought it was a punishment for making it that far when Jason, his favourite, never did.
His 17th wasn't any better as he had been looking for Bruce, while fighting the Council of Spiders for the League of Assassins but atleast he had Pru.
So when he gets an offer to help a green lantern not as one of batmans many protegées but as himself? He hesitates for 5 seconds before agreeing
He gives WE to Luisus and Tam to run, he never wanted it in the first place but, Dick was grieving, Jason was unstable and Damion was to young, he tells everyone that mattered, the girls, Duke, Young just us, and even the rogues. He tells them hes going on a break but anyone who knows him knows hes lying because Timothy Jackson Drake doesn't stop, even if the world ends, he'll keep working.
They help him pack, they hug, they cry and they laugh, this isn't goodbye forever, its a see you later, but that doesnt stop them.
So he leaves, he leaves behind Robin, Red Robin, stops being Jason's replacement, Damian's placeholder, Dick's other brother, second best to Bruce and becomes Cardinal, the greatest detective the universe will ever know.
The realization came painfully slow two months after he left and yet it was not the batfamily that noticed it first. No it was the media. The first week nothing happened but the third? People started asking questions, why wasn't he at a Gala? Why hasn't he said anything online? Why wasn't he seen with the Waynes? Where was Red Robin?
The batfamily had brushed it of at first, I mean Tim always disappears days at a time before popping up right? Jason noticed first, not just Tim's absents but the girls and Dukes silence except when on patrol, how Cass looked at them with a mixture of pity, anger and disapointment. How Steph who use to joke with them dispite not being apart of the family had started hanging around less. How Duke who use to look up to them with admiration was quiet and subdued compared to before as if he wanted to be anywhere else.
Damian noticed second, at first he was glad all the imposters where not showing up as often. Then he realized how big, empty and quiet the mansion was, he had no one to take all the steam off on. Dick was at Bludhaven more often than no, Jason would never even give him the time of day and Father would simple take Robin away. Even the criminals would stay away from him but not with fear in their eyes, no with disgust, like how he looked at Tim.
Dick noticed next when he tuned in to comms one night, expecting Tim's tired sarcastic quips, Jason reciting Pride and Prejudice for the nth time, Damian's playfully (It was never playfull but Dick would never hear otherwise) angry voice, Steph's contagious laughter, Dukes cheerful voice as he wished everyone a goodnight, and Cass's soft humms. But there was none of it, just silence, like what he always gave Tim.
The world supposed greatest detective noticed last, a bit ironic ain't it? He watched silently as his once boisterous house became silent, just like him. He knew Tim was pulling away however he thought he needed space. (Cause ofcouse a little boy who was always alone when his parents left on months long trips wanted to be alone.) Tim had always been the kid that need less attention he was mature, smart and responsible, he wasn't loud like Dick and Steph or Violent like Jason and Damian or shut down loke Cass. And Bruce thought- he thought he was doing better.
If anyone knows any fics like this tell me so I can read it plzzz.
