The angst of the Red Robin

Chapter 7

Bruce clicked the three familiar piano keys, and walked through the secret door with a smile. He looked down at the cave, frowning slightly. Dick was barely awake, as he scrolled on the bat computer for a case. He shut the door behind him.

"Damian, I told you, we have to give Tim time to figure it out." he tiredly stated. Bruce cleared his throat. Dick froze.

"Jason? Weren't you at-" Dick turned around in confusion, and dropped his ceramic mug. The mug shattered on the concrete floor and the coffee spilled across as well. Dick just stared at Bruce, face going pale. Not saying a word, both men watched each other until one of them said something. But both said nothing. Dick broke the silence. "I thought you were dead." he whispered. Bruce kept his emotions under control and he shook his head.

"No, I was just stuck. Tim found me this morning." he spoke. The breath was knocked out of Dick's lungs. Tim was right. Bruce was alive. And he had said all of those horrible things to him. He covered his mouth with his hand to muffle his sobs. 

"But how-what-why-" Dick stood up, and pointedly did not look at Bruce. Silently, he walked out of the door to the cave, and treaded upstairs in search of his younger brother. The one he cast aside. Tim was happily sipping tea next to Alfred at the dining room table. Tim looked at Dick, and his smile dropped. He jumped up quickly, ready to fight.Dick walked over to Tim, and just dropped his head, and weight on Tim, arms tangling around his small form. He buried his face in Tim's neck. "I'm so sorry Tim." he cried out. Tim stood there, and just held up Dick, face, expressionless, and eyes closed. "I-I said all these terrible things, and I-I'm just-" Dick's breaths were ragged. Tim rested his chin onto Dick's shoulder, but still said nothing, face blank, eyes, spaced out on the wall across from him. Pressing down every emotion he ever knew. He could feel Jason, Bruce, and Damian's presences entering the room. Jason watched Tim worriedly.

"Tim, you ok over there? Dickie, give him some space." Dick pulled back, eyes red and puffy, and Tim was still staring over Dick's head at the wall. Jason cursed. "The little fuck is disassociating. C'mere, shithead, let's get you some water." Jason muttered, and slung an arm around Tim's small shoulders, all but pushing him out of the dining room. Bruce placed a hand on Dick's shoulder.

"I don't know what you did, but we will fix it. We will fix all of this. What matters is that you see what you did wrong, and we can work from there. Otherwise, let's just go one day at a time, kid. Alright?" Bruce himself was tackled in an octopus hug. Bruce just hefted him into his arms, and continued to talk to Damian and Alfred.

"Why is it that you all think Tim died as well?" Bruce bluntly asked. Damian flinched, and Bruce felt Dick's breath hitch. Damian closed his eyes tightly. Alfred walked out of the room.

"Drake disappeared right after you did, and we thought he was gone as well. The only difference, was that he would come back, but he didn't. We had no contact, or idea whatsoever whether he was alive or not."

"I-I drove him away Bruce. He was so obsessed with finding a lost cause, I didn't know what to do, I thought he was insane!"