Chapter Text
It’s been about two weeks and Tim is still on the sideline, he’s been primarily focused being tech support back at the cave during patrol times and missions. It was wired to say the least, Tim never skipped a mission or any chance to get into his Red Robin uniform and kick bad guy ass. But something has changed, he has changed. Stopped going out, unless he forced to by Dick or Alfred. Even on the rare times he was out of the manor Tim was quiet and withdrawn. The only person it didn’t seem to bother was Bruce but him being the emotionally cut off Batman it was a surprise to no one.
Two weeks back is when it all started, everyone was there on the island. Poison Ivy had escaped from Arkham Asylum and fled to the island not far off from Gotham for sanctuary. She hadn’t expected the entire Bat-family to charge in after her, leading them all to be attacked by killer vines and plant monsters. Together, with only the bright moon light to guide their sights, they were safe and strong, but Tim had gone after Ivy alone, taking him further and further into the island’s vast jungle and away from the action happening on the shore line. He followed Ivy’s vines up towards the dormant volcano, running and running across the rocky structure of a waterfall before blam, Tim lost his footing and found himself sliding down an underground tunnel.
When he landed Tim was dazed and confused, looking around he saw he was in what seemed to an underground cave with a dancing blue light further down the walls. Curious, Tim stood and followed, up the stone steps and around a corner Tim was presented by a body of water, a pool of sorts inside the cave. Something was pulling him towards it, a type of mystic interest that consumed Tim’s mind to step closer. He dipped his hand into the water, warm, warmer than it should be if it was connected to the ocean. He looked up to see an open circle in the roof.
He was inside of the volcano.
His chase for poison Ivy was forgotten in favour of the energy that the pool provided as a new light came over him. The full moon projected light down into the cave and made the pool glisten and start to bubble. How exactly – Tim was lost on that but in his confusion a hand pressed against his back and pushed him forward. He landed with a splash, he twisted to see Ivy there laughing. “Try harder next time, boy wonder.” She purred before her vines took her out the same way Tim got in.
In the water Tim was struggling to keep his head above the water as an unknown force drained his energy and pulled him down, bubbles danced around his body as the moon became the centre of attention in the cave, Tim couldn’t help but stare. It was almost… enchanting. Beautiful. Then it was gone, and the last thing Tim could remember was Jason dragging him out of the moonpool before everything went black.
The rest had reportingly re-captured Poison Ivy and she was on her way back to Arkham. But the damage had already been done.
When it started to happen, he was doing his usual morning routine: getting up, brushing his teeth and… taking a shower. It was scary at first, Tim didn't know what or how, it just happened without any warning. The day it all started Tim was completely locked off in the bathroom on the second floor and long into the next morning. It was Dick’s persistent knocking that got him out, but he refused to be touched.
Present day, again he volunteered to stay on the side-line with oracle, Damian had mocked him. This time Dick didn’t even try to coax him into putting on his mask. It hurt Tim, he loved the gig, Red Robin is his life... or was his life. Until he can cure whatever this is anyways. It had to be possible, had to be, he couldn’t live like this. Red Robin couldn’t continue to keep the people of Gotham safe if he like this. No one in the Manor currently knew and Tim had intended to keep it that way until it was sorted with.
Now Tim stood bare in the bathroom, watching as the tub filled with continuous splashing sounds that sent shivers down his spine. This was the worst part of the night, taking a bath. Now Tim wasn’t gross, he preferred being hygienic, he also preferred the shower but that was physically impossible now. Once the bath wad full and (presumed) warm enough Tim shut the tap off and took a bracing breath… Okay, okay this is fine. Just like any other day for him… Fast steps Tim slipped into the water and sat down. After the few times he’d already fallen today because of this he wanted to save his backside the pain.
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… The seconds went down, Tim held tightly on the rims… 3… 2.. and 1.
Sparkling Bubbles quickly engulfed him all over for about 3 seconds before the dispatched. Opening his eyes Tim saw the… Tail. Yep, scarlet scales grazed his hips, going down to where his legs should’ve been but instead coated a long and lush fish tail with a wide fin that hung over the bath tub. This is what had taken his mask away, why he’s working with Barbara on the side with computers and not his fists. He figured it out, whenever he touched water and ten seconds later, fish.
He wanted to tell them, he really, really did but they wouldn’t understand. Dick and Jason would freak, Damian would definitely be able to kill him and who knows what kind of tests Bruce would do in the name of ‘research’ to help him. He knew what this was, it happened after that stupid run in and dip in that pool. Magic, there was no other explanation, nothing scientific could help him understand this. Tim rested his arms over the side of the bath and breathed a deep sigh, letting the tail fin bounce slightly over the edge. After two weeks he was used to the feel of it although he’s never actually swam in a body of water. Only the tub.
Tim proceeded to clean himself with the old sponge and soap, up his arms, across his chest and finally along the scales. They tickled slightly with each rough scrub and sparkled more with the added scented soap. No matter what Tim thought it was beautiful and graceful the way it always seemed to glitter with every small movement. Hard to believe that this was a curse. Some part of him wanted to go out in the bay and actually use the tail and test how much power it had. Closest he had to that was in the first couple of days when he stepped in a puddle and fell into the pool after transformation, but shocked Tim quickly pulled himself out and dried off, regaining his legs before locking himself in his room for almost a full day, worrying everyone in the manor, especially Dick. No one had seen him, thank god… but still too risky.
First time it happened it was because of Damian, after the night on the island Tim woke up two days after the incident with Ivy on the island, he was dazed and confused. Walking downstairs to the kitchen for some much-needed breakfast when he came face to face with Damian. Tim and Damian have never had a peaceful interaction and that day was no exception. After several heated words between the two, mostly Damian scolding Drake for his uselessness on the mission two nights back. In his frustrations he tossed his glass at him, soaking Tim before leaving the room.
One second Tim was dripping wet from Damian’s backwash and the next he was on the ground with a shining red tail instead of legs. He was able to hold back the initial panic as to not alert anyone in the manor but when he was dry with his legs back Tim charged straight to his room. It happened three more times that day before Tim was able to figure out the pattern.
But now that’s all past, now he’s just trying to come to terms with it all.
There was a shake on the door handle then a knock that had startled Tim, he had fallen asleep on the edge of the tub (again), usually his fingers would be all wrinkly by now, but he guessed that wasn’t possible anymore as a fish. A few more knocks had him turn to the door, grateful he remembered to lock it.
“Yes? Who is it?” He called, adjusting himself in the tub, making many splashing sounds.
“It’s Jason. Why are you in my bathroom?” Jason said groggily. In the past year Jason had moved back into the manor full time, back into his old room from his Robin days. However, Jason’s connecting bathroom had a tub while Tim’s own bathroom only had a narrow shower. He was already banned from using Dick’s bath until he apparently put the mask back on and Damian would kill him if he was sighted anywhere near his bathroom.
Tim took a breath and fiddled with the edges of the bathtub, “I’m taking a bath!” He called again, hoping that would deter Jason into giving him privacy.
There was a slight knock of Jason resting his head against the door, he sounded exhausted. “Tim you have your own bathroom to get clean.” There was a pause, “You’ve got three minutes to get out before I get my key.”
That sent shivers down Tim’s spine all the way down to his tail… crap. This part sucked. In slow movements, Tim braced both hands along the edge of the bathtub and begun to lift himself over, when he got his tail over the edge, he lost balance and fell out. He hit his side hard as his tail slapped down, Tim let out a small cry of pain. Loud enough that had the knocking come back on the door.
“Shit, Timbers…” He could practically hear Jason smirk behind the door, “Did you just fall out?”
Tim let out a strained “No!” as he reached for his towel, covering scarlet scales and rubbing them fiercely to dry off.
He heard Jason laugh and had to hold back his scowl, “Well clearly you did, I’m coming in to check on you.” From outside Tim heard Jason open a drawer which most likely had his key in it. Panic quickly started to set into Tim, and he began to scrub at himself, fin to head frantically.
“N-n-No! Jason, come on!! Give me a damn minute, I’m naked okay!” He pressed the other towels on the rack against his fins as he proceeded to dry off his arms and chest, desperately trying to get himself back into his human form. He couldn’t let Jason see him like this, no one could know until it was gone… even if then, Tim wouldn’t talk about it.
There was the fumble of the lock, key inserted and the turn of his hand, Jason called out one final time. Jason was giving his final moments of secrecy. “3…” Tim scurried to cover up any red. “2…” Cold ice coursed through his blood as Tim accepted his fate. “And… 1!” A twist and the door swung open.
But the cold rush of bubbles soaking over Tim before two bare human legs took the place of his tail.
Tim couldn’t hold back his sigh of relief, stretching his legs and flexing his toes. “Jesus, baby bird… got enough towels?” Jason asked as he approached him. “Did you even get in the water?” Jason asked, confused, Tim was completely dry. He had at least four towels over his legs and one across his chest, looking almost like a towel mummy. Tim cringed as Jason pressed a gloved hand on his shoulder, he was dressed in his Red Hood gear besides the helmet. They all must’ve gotten home from patrol, damn Tim wanted to go with.
“You’re not bruised or anything after the fall?” Jason asked, seriously however with a gentle tone Tim did not expect from him.
Tim shrugged him off and fumbled to stand, keeping at least one towel around his waist for decency, he took several steps away from Jason and the still full bath, going towards the door. “I’m fine,” He mumbled quietly, a shaking hand gripping the door handle. “I’m going to bed, night Jay…”
Before Jason could process Tim was gone, walking quickly out of the bedroom and down the hallway. Jason shrugged, he knew Tim had been acting strange for a while, Dick made the joke that he was going into puberty, but the kid was seventeen. Turning to the tub Jason pulled the plug and watched as the water drained. But small shimmer of red caught his attention, he picked up the red thing that was the size of his nails… Almost like a fish scale?
Back in his room, stress filled Tim again. He paced around his room, hand shaking as it clenched his coffee, he took long sips from the straw. That was way too close… Jason could’ve walked in when… he could’ve seen him!!
He couldn’t let Jason see. Can’t let anyone know.