Sour Candy | T. Drake ✔

[05] Brotherly Concern Gone Wrong

Patrol hours had ended and all the vigilantes had returned to the cave. Bruce had retired to his room, visibly exhausted after the confrontation with Tim and the others as well as the fatigue of the patrol.

But the rest of them changed out of their suits and gathered in the cave as Richard asked them to stay back.

"I think we should check up on Babybird," he spoke, "he wasn't in a good mood earlier and I am worried for him."

"Yeah I half expected him to be in the cave working or half asleep when we came back," Jason added, "but he's not here."

Damian spoke up, "I swear if he has done anything stupid to himself, I will kill him."

"Easy Dames," Jay mocked him but got kicked in the shin as a result.

"Alright guys enough goofing around for now," as usual Richard was the one to tear them apart, "we've got something very important to do."

They trudged up the stairs to the third floor with Jason complaining the entire way that they should have used the elevator instead. It was so early in the morning that the sun wasn't fully up in the sky, very faint golden rays diffused through the deep blue horizon.

They stopped at a distance from the door to Tim's room and the youngest brother turned to face them, "what happened? Chickened out already?"

"Yes, you're going inside."

"What? Me?" Emerald eyes flickered in irritation, "I am not stepping into that trash can."

Richard took in a deep breath, "Dami, if we went inside he would kick us out."

"And he won't kick me out?"

"No, because you threaten him so much that he considers twice before retaliating at you," Jason added.

"Fine," he huffed, "but never again am I going to do this. Keep that in mind."

"Yeah yeah, we don't expect that much from you either way."

Richard shot Jay a stern look at which the latter shrugged carelessly. Damian finally tried to open the door but it was locked.

"The door is locked."

The amused smirk vanished from Jay's face instantly, "shit..."

"Calm down," Richard spoke up, "there's a high chance he has just locked the door to keep us out. He's not stupid to hurt himself."

"I don't trust him," Damian remarked.

Silence engulfed the room and even though Richard was the most optimistic of the three, at that moment, he too was worried. He had seen Tim dangerously calm the second they had left the cave so he couldn't be so sure of his own words either.

"Alright," he took in a deep breath, "Jay, fetch Alfred's keys."

"What? From the first floor? No..."

Blue eyes flickered slightly, "your brother is at stake here."

"I'll bring the keys," Damian spoke up and vanished down the stairs.

"Don't you think he has started to care a lot for Timmy?" Jay stretched while they waited for Damian to return.

"Yeah, at least he isn't as heartless as you are to refuse going down a few stairs to get the keys."

"Oh wow, now you got another opportunity to show me down. Excellent!"

However, Damian returned and put the keys in the lock, twisting it open. He pushed open the door and utter darkness met them as he stepped in. The curtains were drawn shut to block out the sunlight and for a second Damian felt as if Tim was just asleep.