Tim Drake oneshots

The Breaking Point (3)

Title: The Breaking Point

Setting:
Bruce Wayne, Batman, has died. The Batfamily is fractured, Gotham is lost in chaos, and Tim Drake is spiraling. Unlike the others, Tim doesn’t believe Bruce is truly dead—he's convinced Bruce is out there, somewhere, waiting to be found. But no one else believes him. His obsession is growing, pushing him away from the people he once called family, leaving only one person who understands—Noctis.

Noctis has always been there for Tim, watching and waiting in the shadows. Now, as Tim’s world crumbles, Noctis steps in once more, ready to tighten his grip.

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Scene 1: The Funeral

The Batfamily stands together, somber and grieving, in front of Bruce Wayne’s grave. The sky is overcast, the weight of Gotham pressing down on them like a suffocating blanket of sorrow. Dick Grayson, the new head of the Batfamily, stands tall, but his eyes betray his pain. Damian Wayne, Bruce’s biological son, is by his side, looking cold and detached, his expression unreadable.

Tim, however, stands apart from the rest, his eyes fixed on the gravestone but his mind far away.

---

Dick Grayson: (placing a hand on Tim’s shoulder, his voice soft)
"Tim… we need to accept it. Bruce is gone. It’s time to move forward."

Tim Drake: (pulling away, his voice strained)
"No. He’s not dead. I know it. I’ve been following the clues—there’s something we’re missing."

Dick’s face tightens with frustration. Tim has been like this for weeks—refusing to accept Bruce’s death, throwing himself into conspiracy theories, chasing shadows.

Dick Grayson:
"Tim… you’re not thinking straight. We all want Bruce back, but we have to face reality. He’s gone. It’s time to rebuild."

Tim shakes his head, his hands clenching into fists.

Tim Drake: (more determined)
"You’re wrong. He’s out there, Dick. I know it. I just need more time—there are clues I haven’t followed yet—"

Damian Wayne: (cutting in, his tone sharp)
"Enough. Father is dead, Drake. And you’re embarrassing yourself with this nonsense."

Tim glares at Damian, his temper flaring.

Tim Drake:
"You don’t get it, Damian. You never knew him like I did."

Damian smirks, crossing his arms.

Damian Wayne:
"And yet, I’m the one he chose as his heir."

---

Tim feels a sharp pang of betrayal. Dick has already started treating Damian like Batman’s successor, like his replacement, and now that Bruce is gone, it feels more real than ever. And with every passing day, Tim’s obsession with finding Bruce is making the others pull away from him.

Dick Grayson: (sighing)
"We’re all hurting, Tim. But you’re chasing ghosts. We need to focus on Gotham, on keeping the city safe. I need you with us."

Tim Drake: (defiantly)
"I am focused. But if you won’t help me, I’ll find Bruce on my own."

Without waiting for a response, Tim turns and walks away, leaving the rest of the family behind. He feels their stares on his back, the weight of their doubt crushing him. They don’t believe him. They think he’s losing it. But Tim knows he’s right. Bruce isn’t dead. He can’t be.

---

Scene 2: Noctis’ Mansion

Later that night, Tim returns to Noctis’s mansion, his mind racing with thoughts of Bruce, of the clues he’s been piecing together. He feels like he’s so close, yet so far. As always, Noctis is waiting for him, seated in his dark, lavish study, a glass of wine in hand.