Sour Candy | T. Drake ✔

[03] Torn Wings

Utter silence gripped the cave as Bruce or rather Batman entered, his eyes sweeping over all his children ready to go out on patrol, suited up in their vigilante attires. However, the sweeping gaze stopped on Red Robin who had just emerged from the changing rooms, strapping his bo staff on his back.

"You won't be going out on patrol," the elder man remarked in a flat tone, ignoring the surprise that had settled on Tim's features.

Even though the cowl covered most of his face, the fact that he was shocked was quite evident. "What do you mean I won't go out on patrol?"

"You heard me the first time, Timothy, I'm not repeating myself. Put your suit back in the case and go back to your room. You won't be operating in Gotham as Red Robin anymore. I won't allow it."

"But you can't take my suit away from me," he protested, frustration dropping from his tone, "what have I done that you're not letting me operate as Red Robin anymore? What reason do you have?"

Deep down, due to the fact that he always respected Bruce and subconsciously obeyed each word he said other than keeping his own self out of danger, he removed the cowl, blue eyes piercing through the black of Batman's cowl.

"The basic reason that you are unable to follow orders," Bruce remarked coldly, "in case you forgot, I had clearly ordered you not to risk your life for this case. And you did the complete opposite."

Tim's blue eyes flashed but then a dangerous calm swept over him, "there was no other way."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Neither do I but you're not letting me be a vigilante anymore without any specific reason," he unhooked his cape as well but the calm he was radiating was nothing short of a tempest raging inside, "you can't take my wings away from me, Bruce. Not after all I have been through for you guys."

"We didn't ask you to go through any of this," Bruce replied, turning away from his piercing gaze, "you almost died and this is unacceptable. I had warned you I will take your suit away if you didn't follow my orders but that's exactly what you did so all I am doing is keeping my end of the bargain."

His jaw clenched slightly but as always, he willed himself to remain calm, "I have not taken to the sky as Red Robin for a year... For one whole goddamn year... Don't force me into retaliating right now."

"Go change," he ordered but Tim folded his arms defiantly, staring back at him as if challenging him to make him do so.

Richard could sense the thick tension settling around them but before he could intervene, Jason spoke up, taking Tim's side not too surprisingly, "Bruce, don't pressurize Babybird. He needs a break."

"That's exactly what I am telling him."

"Not from patrol," he emphasized, "let him go out with us. We'll look out for him."

"I don't need anyone babysitting me like an absolute toddler," Tim snapped back but gradually his expression softened towards Jay, "but thanks for sticking up for me either way."

"Bruce, Jay's right," Richard intervened as well, "we can talk about this later. Let him go out tonight. Just tonight."

"No."

"Father, if Drake really wants to go then..."

"Damian, I said no," his tone had turned slightly harsh and Damian shut his mouth up instantly, a slightly hurt look crossing his emerald eyes.

Tim had sensed that, feeling the sudden urge to comfort the boy but resisted it because it was no wonder that Damian wouldn't like the gesture. But by then, it was clear to him that Bruce wasn't going to listen to anyone who took his side so he took in a deep breath and finally stepped back.

"Fine, I won't go out as Red Robin anymore," he agreed at last, kicking off his boots and taking the bo staff back to its case, "but on one condition."

"What condition?"

"None of you are going to stop me from working on the cases you guys get," he replied, a resigned look sweeping over his face, "I will stay in the cave and I will work. If any of you stops me from doing that, I'll pack my bags and leave. And trust me when I say this, none of you will ever see me again if I take that route."

"But Tim..." However, Richard didn't complete the sentence noticing the cold stares exchanged between Bruce and Tim.

"Fine," Bruce nodded at last, "stay in the cave and work on any cases we get but no field work for you from now on."

"I heard you the first time, no need to rub it in my face," he retorted but said no further despite the irritation flickering in his eyes.

Tim picked up his boots and walked back to the changing rooms, his resignation evident from the slight stooping of his shoulders and the stubborn tapping of his feet against the floor.

With Tim gone, Richard finally addressed Bruce, "look, I know you care for him and are only grounding him from patrol because you don't want him to get hurt. But he's already been troubled and forcing him to do something he is not willing to won't work at all. It will only make him more frustrated."

"I'm not just banning him from patrol because of the reason you gave," Batman gestured the others to leave however, Jason stayed stubbornly, "he needs to be taught a lesson. I have warned him multiple times before to take away his suit if he doesn't listen to my orders yet he always does the complete opposite. So this time, I took the warning to completion, that's it."

"He had our safety at priority," Jason added.

"Not talking to you."

His lips pursed into a frown, hand running through his hair clearly irritated, "bonus points, Bruce, for excellent parenting skills. You do know that by being so shut out you're pushing all of us away from you, right?"

"Jason..."

"You stay out of this Dickiebird," he put on his helmet but even then it seemed as if his bluish green eyes would burn Bruce down, "I can't understand how you've not realized it till now, B. You will end up pushing all of us away, all thanks to your I work alone mantra. You hardly ever listen to us once you've decided something, you shut us all out and in case you didn't notice, Damian too felt hurt when you cut him off like that. Y'know, me and Dickie are used to it by now. But Tim and Damian... Stop treating them just like you treated us. For once, just once, think of those two as your children. Trust me, you need to do that much more often."

Without another word, Jason stormed off leaving both Bruce and Richard alone in the cave. Being the peacemaker, Richard tried to say something to cool him down but Bruce held up his hand for him to stop.

"Think of them as my children... That's exactly what I am doing ever since I accepted them as my family," his voice was quiet, slightly guilt ridden but not accusatory towards the others.

"Bruce, you know Jay is a hothead, he surely didn't mean to say it that way."

"Join me at Gotham Tower," he spoke before closing the door of the Batmobile, "and I don't want to hear any of you talk on this topic again."

Richard sighed softly, watching the Batmobile speed out of the cave. He took up his Escrima sticks and adjusted his mask as well.

Barbara, who had just come down to the cave to take her position as Oracle, noticed that he looked troubled so she asked, "all good?"

"Peachy," he mumbled, but by the look in her eyes it was clear she could see through his lie. He sighed yet again, about to leave but stopped as he quickly kissed her cheek, "will tell you when I get back home."

"Stay safe," she nodded.

"As long as you're at our surveillance, that's a given."

***