The angst of the Red Robin

Chapter 6

Tim shook his head.

"Absolutely not. I just saw them earlier. I already told you, Bruce, you can take my car. Go see your family. Take Jason." Bruce sent him an odd look.

"Tim, you're also part of the family." Tim's eyes flashed dangerously.

"No, I am not. Those people aren't my family. Alfred, sure. Jason, absolutely he is. You, I don't know yet, but Dick is not my brother. Damian is..... actually alright to be around for once." Tim muttered. Bruce closed his eyes tightly.

"Don't make me do this, Tim. I will tranq you." Tim rolled his eyes.

"Hit me with your best shot. I'm immune." he cheekily smirked, and started up the coffee machine. Bruce deadpanned, and tossed a tranquilizer dart at his son, and Tim just stared at it in amazement before he pulled it out, and placed the empty dart on the counter. "Wow, I never thought you would actually do it. I'm shocked. But they don't work on me anymore." Jason walked up behind him, and stabbed him with another dart, but it was a different color. Tim yawned. "Jay, I think you were right. The coffee has a defect." Jason sighed, and he collected the pile of a teenage boy in his arms.

"Bruce, it took me four months to make that. I say you have an hour and a half before he wakes up. You ready to go?" Jason slung him over his shoulder. Bruce watched Jason pull out odd things around the living room, and stuffing them in Tim's small duffel bag, boy still over his shoulder. He stood by the door. "Oh shit, umm go in Tim's guest room, not the messy one, and in the closet there should be a bag full of clothes that are mine. They should fit you so you're not in your furry suit." Bruce narrowed his eyes.

"What is a furry?" Jason snorted, and walked out the door.

"We'll be in the car, get dressed and meet us down there. And don't forget to lock up." Bruce rolled his eyes, and wandered into the guest room. He opened the bag Jason told him to, and Bruce sighed in aggravation. A black t shirt, with a prominent, bright red familiar 'S' on the front. Also inside were a pair of worn blue jeans, and a black leather jacket. Bruce scowled at the outfit he had to work with, and changed in annoyance. He locked the front door behind him, and followed the basic apartment floorpan, and Jason was sitting in the driver seat of the dark red convertible, sunglasses on, and Tim was drooling in the backseat, with a pair of sunglasses to match Jason's. Bruce almost chuckled, and slid into the passenger seat.

"Jason, are you sure you don't want me to drive?" Jason scoffed.

"Yeah right, old man. Also, nice outfit." he smirked. Bruce scowled darkly. Jason analyzed his face. "Y'know, Demon spawn makes that face almost 24/7. It's adorably hilarious. And you couldn't wear Timbo's clothes, since they would be way too small on you." Bruce ignored the insults.

"How is Damian? And Dick? And Alfred?" Jason whistled.

"Well, Alfie is trying to take care of everyone, Dickface, I don't even know what's wrong with him. You need to talk to him about that. And Demon Spawn, well, he's definitely your hellspawn, that's for sure." Bruce knit his eyebrows.

"What's wrong with Dick? You both seem to be at a loss with him." Bruce pointed out, Jason rolled his eyes, and slammed on the brakes, barely missing the red light. He sighed.

"Well, I think he just suffered way too many loses at one time, and it really messed with him. Timmy was just the icing on the cake." Bruce looked out at the city. He felt like he had failed as a father when he was there. Jason cleared his throat. "Look, it's not your fault, well I mean, parts of it are, but you couldn't help that since the way you deal with your emotions is complete and literal shit, but it was bound to happen. Stuff happened right under your nose, and this was all while I was...... angry." Bruce laid a hand on Jason's shoulder.

"While that may be true, it is my fault. And I'm going to fix it. Today. And if I mess it up any further, I-" bruce dropped his hand. "I'm sorry." Jason groaned, and pulled in the driveway.

"The new Bruce seems to be a lot more like his oldest son than he'd like to admit." Jason hopped out of the drivers seat, and pulled Tim to a sit up position, and tore open a packet with his teeth. He didn't dump out what was in it, just put it under Tim's nose for a second. Tim shot up, glasses went flying. He rubbed his eyes in confusion.

"What the hell, Jay?" he muttered, shielding his eyes from the rare sunlight he never sees. Jason just pat him on the back, before he hauled him out of the car.

"Alright, kid. Let's go." Tim glared at Jason, looking at the Manor.

"Jason, I said no. What the hell makes you think I will-"

"Tim." Bruce started. "Go in. I'm right behind you. They'll stay quiet. Alfred's there." Tim scoffed in a very Jason-like fashion.

"Didn't stop them before." Jason shoved him forward.

"Get your scrawny ass in there, babybird. Let's go. I'll make you a cup of liquid death." Tim glared at Jason.

"I trusted you, you self pretentious asshole!" Jason rolled his eyes.

"Wrong brother, dipshit. Go in." Tim went in behind Bruce, hiding between his father's large figure, and his brother's. Jason put his hands on Tim's shoulders and steered him in the door with a tight grip. Alfred walked over to the door, and stared at Bruce, both men saying nothing. Bruce walked over, and swept his father into a hug. Alfred rigidly returned the hug, an odd look on his face. He looked behind Bruce to Tim.

"My boy, you've done it." he whispered, with a small smile. Bruce released him, and shoved his hands in his pockets, also smiling at Tim.

"Master Bruce." Alfred sternly started. "For one, where were you? How dare you leave me like that! And for two, why do you look like you just walked through Master Jason's closet?" Bruce chuckled, and pat Alfred on the back.

"I'm sorry. I was stuck for a bit. If you don't mind, I'm going to go get changed. My clothes are still in my room, correct?" Alfred nodded mutely, still in shock. Bruce walked up the stairs, and disappeared behind the walls of the manor. Damian peered out from another wall down the hallway.

"Drake? Todd? What's going on?" Bruce returned, seconds later, silently walking back down the steps, in his casual suit. Jason rolled his eyes.

"B, don't you dare ever insult my fashion sense, you wear the same thing every day." he snarked. Bruce shrugged in amusement.

"You're never overdressed, just the best looking person in the room." His youngest son turned away from Tim, and stared at his father in both horror, and amazement. Bruce's breath caught in his throat, seeing how much Damian has grown.

"F-Father." Damian sputtered out, posture growing rigid. Bruce walked over, and enveloped Damian into a hug. Damian shoved him away roughly, raising a dagger to Bruce's throat. "HOW DARE YOU DOUBLE AS MY FATHER? HAVE YOU NO DIGNITY?" the youngest roared, tears welling up in his eyes. Bruce knocked the dagger out of Damian's shaking hand, and hugged Damian once more, ignoring the punches, and kicks he was receiving to the stomach and chest. He clutched Bruce's shirt in his hands, and silently cried, letting Bruce hold him. Bruce pulled away slightly.

"Damian." Said boy, looked up, scared of what was coming next. "Where is Dick?" Bruce said in a soft, but stern voice. Damian swallowed.

"He's downstairs in the cave. Why, father?" Bruce released Damian.

"Because it's time we had a talk."