Chapter Text
Jason often finds himself lost in memories of the old Tim, the one who was warm and kind-hearted. However, the Tim he knows now seems cold, cruel, and ruthless. He's aware of his own hypocrisy, realizing that he and others played a part in pushing Tim towards this demeanor, slowly draining him of his inherent goodness.
One particular memory haunts Jason—the day when Tim reached his breaking point. It all started with Damian's relentless insults after an exhausting patrol. Jason had gotten used to tuning out the brat when he unleashed his vitriol, but what unsettles Jason is the complicit silence from everyone else. They let Damian's hurtful words assault Tim without intervention.
Everything changed when a sharp crack filled the air. Damian held his reddening cheek, shocked by the unexpected slap from Tim. In that moment, Tim's usually impassive expression transformed into an unbridled fury. Time seemed to stand still as everyone, including Bruce, froze in response to Tim's unprecedented reaction.
"Go ahead, attack me," Tim taunted Damian, challenging him. Despite Damian's fearlessness from his upbringing in the League of Assassins, he somehow found the wisdom not to retaliate, to stay still. Even Jason, usually fearless, couldn't move; such was the intensity of Tim's emotions that day—a side of Tim they had never seen before.
In the tense atmosphere, Dick mustered the courage to speak up and try to intervene, but Tim's wrathful outburst silenced him.
"SHUT UP!" Tim's voice thundered, taking even Dick aback. The sheer rage etched on Tim's face left everyone stunned, further cementing this incident as an unforgettable turning point.
"I've reached my limit. Listen carefully, all of you. Starting today, if you treat me badly, I’ll treat you worse," Tim's gaze bore into Damian, a deadly intensity emanating from him. "If you ever cause me harm, I won't hold back. I might even kill you if I'm feeling particularly upset."
Tim's eyes then shifted towards Jason. Seeking any sign of doubt or playfulness, Jason found none—only an unnerving calmness. He nodded in acknowledgment.
Turning to Dick, Tim's tone turned stern. "And you, Dick, will say nothing. You'll remain silent just as you've always been when Damian verbally and physically abuses me. If you utter a word, I'll walk away. I'll leave this family, relinquish my role as Red Robin, and vanish from Gotham forever."
The wisdom Damian momentarily possessed seemed to evaporate as he continued his provocations. "Go ahead, Drake. Leave. It's not like you're wanted here; you're just a pretender-" Damian's words trailed off as Tim flashed a disturbingly sinister smile in response.
"Oh, Dami, deep down, you know that's not true. I am wanted here—more so than you ever will be, because I surpass you in every conceivable way. It's common knowledge, Bruce acknowledges it, Talia acknowledges it—wasn't that the reason your mother wanted you to eliminate me? She knew you'd always be overshadowed by my presence. Even your grandfather, whom you desperately sought approval from, took one look at me and decided to make me his heir because he, too, recognized my superiority. So, Dami, ask yourself honestly: who's truly more desired—the perfect soldier or the killer?" Tim's words cut like a blade, seemingly providing Damian with undeniable evidence of his deepest insecurities.
Damian rushed away from the scene, revealing a vulnerable expression that Jason had never seen on him before. Tim observed Damian's departure, his smile still there, but for a fleeting moment, it seemed to waver—though it was so quick that Jason almost doubted he had seen it.
Dick appeared visibly conflicted, struggling to keep his composure. Tim hadn't mentioned Bruce during his speech, and Bruce saw an opportunity to speak up. However, before he could say anything, a batarang zipped through the air, aimed at Jason. The projectile was so swift that Jason had no time to react; he stood frozen as it narrowly missed him, and it became evident that its intended purpose was to serve as a warning from Tim.
With that same eerie smile still lingering on his face, Tim addressed Bruce's unspoken thoughts, "No one will get hurt as long as everyone remains civil." His message was clear, and the implications were ominous.
Bruce could only nod in response. Tim left the cave, retreating to his own space. "He can't be serious, Bruce. Maybe something happened to him during patrol. He wouldn't actually follow through with it," Dick's expression turned desperate, almost frantic.
Bruce's response was measured, "Tim is a resourceful person, and I believe it's best for us to heed his words."