Work Text:
‘Lift your hand a little higher and tighten your grip. It’s not gonna bite you.’
‘Like this?’
‘Almost. Steady it with your other hand.’
Out of all the ways Jason thought he’d spend his Friday evening, teaching the kid how to shoot a gun certainly wasn’t one of them.
Sure, Jason knew that Tim was interested - he’d never tried to hide his curiosity, nor his awed stares and sometimes Jason would purposefully brandish a weapon just so the kid could take a closer look - but he’d also made his distaste for them in the field abundantly clear despite his obvious fascination.
Jason didn’t mind that (really he didn’t), not everyone was comfortable using a gun and not everyone needed to be but then the opportunity had arisen - empty Batcave, no Alfred, hours until anyone would be back from patrol - and Jason couldn’t resist.
He barely had to offer before Tim jumped at the chance. Jason had insisted that he’d be safe and that he never had to use one again (It’ll be fun, he’d said, like brotherly bonding). And Tim had dithered for less than a second before agreeing whole-heartedly, his eyes so bright with intrigue that Jason couldn’t help but grin.
Now, Jason smirked as Tim swallowed but did as he was told. He’d been right. This was fun and well, what Bruce didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.
‘But how am I supposed to flip the safety from this angle?’
‘With your thumb.’
There was a gentle click and then-
‘But that’s uncomfortable,’ Tim whined and Jason rolled his eyes.
‘It’s a gun, what did you expect? Now, fix your stance and hold it higher. Too low. Too low. You’re still holding it too low.’
Tim groaned in frustration, ‘I give up. My arms ache.’
‘Oh, well, if your arms ache-’
Tim’s eyes narrowed, ‘you’re mocking me.’
‘I would never.’
‘We’ve been doing this for like an hour and you haven’t even let me shoot it yet.’
‘You’re right,’ Jason conceded, ‘What do you wanna shoot?’
Tim paused and tilted his head in consideration.
‘The dummies? The ones that Damian uses for knife practice?’
‘Okay, that sounds great,’ Jason drawled, his tone amused, ‘but first, you need to hold the fucking gun higher or the only thing you’re going to be shooting is the floor.’
‘Fuck you, Jason!’ Tim’s voice shifted up a pitch and he gestured around with his hands, ‘the floor is better than nothing.’
‘Sure,’ Jason scoffed and crossed his arms, ‘this is supposed to be a secret and you want to start by shooting up the Batcave?’
‘No. I just want to start-’
‘Well then actually listen to what I’m-’
‘I’ve been listening to you for the last hour. I think I’ll hear your smug voice in my ears for the rest of my life-’
‘Smug? I have the patience of a saint-’
‘A saint? Jason, you have the patience of a three year old-’
‘Maybe that’s because a three year old could follow instructions better than-’
There was a blur of black, something moved, Tim startled and a loud bang echoed around the Cave followed by a series of expletives in a voice that Jason vaguely recognized as his own.
He let out a hoarse, shocked gasp and clutched at his red-hot- fire- burning- arm-
‘You shot me,’ he wheezed, stunned.
‘Oh my god! Oh my god-’ Tim gushed in terror, sprinting over to Jason, ‘I didn’t mean to! It was Damian’s stupid cat. It distracted me.’
Jason wasn’t listening. His brain was frozen in shock-
‘You shot me,’ Jason repeated softly, watching his light blue sweater turn red.
‘I’m so sorry, Jason-’ Tim’s hands turned red as they touched his arm and recognition washed over Jason like a wave.
‘You shot me! Holy shit, you actually shot me.’
Tim’s eyes widened and he froze. They stared at each other for a second, dumbstruck and then-
‘Don’t tell Bruce,’ Tim blurted out, his voice pleading.
‘Tell Bruce? ’ Jason hissed, ‘do you think I’m an idiot?’
Tim’s face melted in relief before quickly morphing into panicked fear.
‘What are we gonna do?’ Tim whispered and Jason almost rolled his eyes.
‘We’re gonna fix it and then you’re never gonna touch another gun in your life.’
Tim nodded and Jason swayed dizzily, squeezing his eyes shut. It wasn’t that bad. His arm was just on fire. He’d had worse.
‘Let’s get it treated before anyone gets-’ Tim was interrupted by the sound of tires squealing.
Jason’s eyes snapped open and the blood drained from Tim’s face.
‘There’s a black hoodie in my bag,’ Jason ordered, frantically tugging his sweater over his head and trying to ignore the way his arm throbbed with the motion.
When he pulled it off, Tim shoved a bundle of clothing at him. Good. At least he was listening now. It only took someone getting shot.
‘You need to change your t-shirt,’ Jason nodded at the blood staining Tim’s white shirt, and immediately Tim began to change.
‘Are you really going to be able to hide-’
‘Yes,’ Jason interrupted him, pulling the hoodie over his head and picking up their bloody clothing.
He looked up at Tim, who was fully changed and wiping at the gun frantically-
‘What are you doing?’
‘Fingerprints-’
‘Fingerprints?' Jason snatched the gun out of his hands, ‘it’s my gun, you fucking idiot.’
‘Sorry, I’m-’
The smooth, sleek exterior of the Batmobile rolled into view and Tim’s mouth snapped shut.
Jason shoved the gun and blood-stained clothing behind his back.
The sound of Robin muttering lowly and the car doors squeaking echoed between Jason’s ears until-
‘You’re back early,’ he struggled to sound casual.
Batman stared at him for a long, tense second before reaching up to remove his cowl.
‘It’s quiet. Alfred should be back soon and Dick’s on his way here. He mentioned something about a movie night.’ Jason heard Tim’s breath catch.
‘Richard heard that Drake achieved highly in class. He insists that we all celebrate with unhealthy food and television,’ Robin took a couple of steps towards them and Jason shifted, all too aware of the bundle of incriminating evidence behind his back.
His eyes flickered over to Tim, intending to glare, but the kid’s face was already the picture of regret. Jason would be surprised if he ever let himself get a good grade again.
He nudged Tim with his foot and motioned for him to do something.
‘B-’ he stuttered, ‘I- when is Dick getting here?’
As if on cue, the sound of footsteps and quiet chattering drifted into the Cave from the Manor. Jason gulped.
‘I think that’s him now. Why don’t you two go upstairs and decide on a movie while Robin and I change? Assuming you’re staying Jason?’
Jason managed a strained smile and nodded. Yes, he was staying, not because he wanted to, more because he couldn’t ride one-handed, he shot Tim a glare.
Tim swallowed before coughing loudly, fakely, and Jason used the distraction to drop the gun wrapped in bloody clothing behind a filing cabinet.
‘Tim are you okay-’
‘Fine. I’m fine B,’ to his credit the kid managed a convincing smile.
‘C’mon, Jay,’ - he swallowed visibly - ‘Let’s go choose a movie.’
Tim gripped Jason’s arm and Jason barely managed to strangle a scream. The kid let go as if he’d been burned, paling in realization and mouthing a horrified sorry.
They sped from the Cave and the second they were out of sight Jason doubled over, letting out a choked whine.
The shock was beginning to fade and the pain that had felt like a house fire was starting to feel more like a raging inferno.
‘Are you sure you’re going to be okay?’ Tim hovered over Jason, wide-eyed.
He took a deep, whistling breath through his nose,
‘Yes-’ It’d be okay. He just had to pretend his left arm didn’t exist. There was nothing there. No pain. No bullet wound. He steeled himself, ‘-we just need to pick a short film.’
They hurried to the family room and Jason collapsed onto the couch. He placed his arm carefully on the armrest and watched as Tim closed all of the doors before bounding over to the couch clumsily.
‘What are you doing?’ Jason hissed.
‘Acting normal-’
‘That’s not normal. You never sit next to me on the couch. Move to the armchair.’
Tim hopped from the couch to the armchair shakily and Jason scrubbed a hand down his face. They could do this. They’d breeze through it. It wasn’t like they were trying to hide a gunshot wound from the world’s greatest detective or anything.
Tim’s gaze turned wary and Jason’s eyes narrowed,
‘What’re you-’
‘One second-’ before Jason could protest the kid jumped up and a hand smacked across Jason’s face hard enough to sting. His mouth parted and his mind reeled and-
A second slap sent his face in the opposite direction and the kid fell back into the armchair, his expression more determined than apologetic but a combination of the two nonetheless.
‘What the fuck?’ Jason breathed, clenching his hand into a fist. First, the kid shoots him. Then, he-
‘You looked too pale.’
‘So you hit me?’ Jason retorted, incredulous. ‘I can’t believe I ever thought you were cle-’
The door swung open and Jason’s mouth clamped shut. He raised an eyebrow at Tim and instantly the kid’s expression shifted into a somewhat believable smile. Dick bounded into the room.
‘Oh! You’re both already here, good!’ he captured Tim in a tight hug and Jason met Tim’s eyes in terror. If Dick hugged him it’d be over, he’d know-
‘Little Wing, you’re early,’ Dick released Tim and reached out to ruffle Jason’s hair.
Jason let out a breath that he didn’t know he was holding.
‘I thought we were making it a tradition that I had to drag you here kicking and screaming?’
‘Next time, Dickie,’ Jason half-grinned, and Dick rolled his eyes.
‘Well,’ - he disappeared momentarily before returning with a large, overstuffed bag - ‘I promised you a celebratory movie night, Timmy. And I deliver on my promises.’
Dick tipped the contents of the bag into Tim’s lap and Jason watched with a frown as Tim’s eyes lit up at the snacks. Clearly, they needed to have a long talk about distractions and staying focused. How the hell had the kid survived in the field-
‘Oh, those are for Jay. I got them especially,’ Dick tossed a bag of Doritos in Jason’s direction and Jason moved to catch them a second too late and-
The bag hit him in the arm and he felt the pain, white-hot, behind his eyes. The sound that tore from his throat was inhuman and when he finally managed to clamp his mouth shut he could taste metal behind his teeth.
His blood ran cold at the responding silence.
‘You’re right!’ Tim announced quickly, ‘that’s the exact sound the trafficker made when you shot him.’
'What?’ Dick exclaimed and Jason’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline.
‘We were discussing it earlier. I thought-’
‘You shot someone in front of Timmy?’ Dick spoke over Tim, ‘what would B say?’
‘I don’t know, Dick. What would B say? ’ Jason shot Tim a meaningful glare and the kid shrunk into himself.
‘It was fine,’ Tim amended before Dick could continue, ‘it’s not like the guy died or anything.’
Dick’s expression was the picture of doubt but fortunately, the conversation was cut short as Damian walked into the room followed closely by Bruce.
They made themselves comfortable on the couch (Damian reluctantly wrapped up in Dick’s arms) and Jason used the moment to mouth an indignant really? at Tim.
Tim just gestured as if to say it worked didn’t it?
Jason rolled his eyes. And the kid had the nerve to call him smug.
‘Did the two of you decide on a film or are you as incompetent as you look?’ Damian asked, trying unsuccessfully to wriggle free from Dick’s hold.
Dick chided him, batting lightly at his head and the couch jostled. Jason’s arm pulsated with the movement and he gasped.
‘Something really short, Baby bird,’ he managed, low enough that only Tim could hear.
Tim nodded furiously and opened his mouth to speak when Dick interrupted him-
‘Dami hasn’t seen the Lord of the Rings-’
‘No!’ Tim and Jason yelled in unison and Dick’s face fell.
‘Okay, okay. It was only a suggestion-’
‘What about Avatar? Tim, you-’
‘No,’ Tim cut Bruce off, ‘definitely not.’
‘Oh! What about Inside Out? Dami’s never seen it-’
Jason groaned loudly, ‘what are we? Five-’
‘It’s only ninety-minutes long,’ Tim breathed.
‘-because- because- yes. I would love to watch Inside Out.’
Dick’s eyes narrowed in suspicion, ‘really? You would love to watch Inside Out?’
‘More than anything in the world,’ Jason replied simply.
Dick’s eyebrows pinched together skeptically and Jason kicked Tim in the shin.
‘I really want to watch Inside Out too,’ Tim blurted, ‘It’s one of my favorite films.’
Dick turned to Tim in disbelief,
‘Inside Out is one of your favorite films?’
‘I would rather die than not watch Inside Out.’
‘You would rather die than not watch Inside-’
‘Jesus fucking christ, Dickie,’ Jason exclaimed, ‘is there an echo in here? You heard the kid. Put on the film.’
Dick eyed them suspiciously but he put on the movie nonetheless and Jason was entirely satisfied with that. He had no naive belief that they could do this without arousing suspicion. Just that they could do this.
The first ten minutes went smoothly. Jason almost managed to relax. The pain in his arm had dulled and he couldn’t think of a single reason why this wouldn’t work. So long as everything stayed exactly like this, it’d be easy.
Then, Tim shifted.
Jason’s eyes narrowed.
Clearly trying to be discrete, the kid moved from his position on the armchair to the floor by Jason’s feet. He leaned up against the armrest and Jason’s expression pinched in frustration.
Acting normal? Jason almost scoffed, this kid wouldn’t know normal if it hit him in the face.
Jason readjusted, attempting to move his arm to give Tim more space without groaning. He’d barely moved when Tim grabbed his hand, holding it firmly in place.
Jason glowered but the kid was ignoring him, staring ahead fixedly.
He looked down at their entwined hands and his nose wrinkled. What the hell was Tim playing at? Was he really that scared of being caught that-
His gaze dropped further, to Tim’s stubborn expression lit up by the television and the bloodsoaked back of his t-shirt resting against the side of the couch-
Jason’s brain faltered.
Bloodsoaked back of his- Fuck.
Jason’s eyes darted from the now damp sleeve of his hoodie, to the blood dripping down the side of the leather couch and to Tim’s t-shirt dutifully soaking it up before it could hit the carpet.
Fuck.
At least it was dark and Tim had obviously thought this through. So long as Tim didn’t turn his back to anyone and Jason kept his arm still they’d be-
‘Right. What the hell happened today? This morning you were insulting each other to pass the time and now you’re holding hands and agreeing on a movie?’
Fuck!
Well done, Jason, very articulate. Now, a plan.
Luckily, Tim spoke,
‘You’re always telling us to spend time together and behave like brothers. Are you seriously complaining? I thought you'd be happy.’
Jason jolted in surprise. He’d never heard the kid sound so snappish. His lips quirked upwards in delight.
‘Well would you look at that, Dickhead. You finally annoyed Timmy enough to break him,’ Tim flushed and Jason grinned wider, ‘he’s right though. I shoot him, you complain. I show him affection, you complain. What do you want from us exactly?’
Dick’s eyebrows pulled together and he grumbled to himself in defeat - Jason caught the words jerk and liars - before he settled back into the couch warily and tightened his hold on Damian.
Jason waited for a few moments before steeling himself and glancing up at Bruce.
Somehow, his eyes were trained to the television and he didn’t seem phased by the conversation.
Jason sighed in relief. Perhaps they’d get really lucky and Bruce would go to bed early. He looked tired-
Slowly, the eyes turned to him, suspicious.
Jason’s face snapped back to the screen and his heart pounded in time with the throbbing in his arm.
His phone buzzed in his pocket and he pulled it out, opening the message.
Bruce is watching me.
Jason rolled his eyes.
Because you’re acting strange. Stop it.
The brightness of his phone screen made his gradually worsening headache scream.
Does it hurt?
He breathed a laugh.
No. I’m almost breaking your fingers for no reason.
Frowning, he forced himself to loosen his grip on Tim’s hand somewhat.
Yeah, can you stop that? Believe it or not, I like having a functional right hand.
Well, I liked having a functional left arm but- A second message interrupted him.
Maybe we should just tell someone?
Before he could type out a resounding no his phone was yanked out of his hand and Jason startled so violently that he was surprised he managed to lock it. Surprised and oh so relieved.
‘No phones on movie night,’ Dick sing-songed and slipped the phone into his pocket. His voice was light but there was something wicked in his too-wide smile.
‘You too, Timothy.’
Timothy.
So Dick was actually annoyed.
Because that was exactly what they needed right now, Jason thought bitterly, a bitchy Dick Grayson.
Tim seemed to notice too because he obediently put his phone back into his pocket and averted his gaze. Jason might’ve chuckled at his obvious alarm if his heart hadn’t kicked into overdrive at the kid’s sudden desire to confess.
‘Timmers,’ he gritted out, ‘help me grab some more snacks from the kitchen.’
‘Oh, but then Tim will miss his favorite-’
‘Pause it,’ Jason growled, already pushing Tim out of the room and into the kitchen, careful to conceal his back from view.
‘What the hell?’ He hissed the minute they were out of earshot, ‘you want to tell someone now? What happened to don’t tell Bruce?’
‘Of course I don’t want to tell Bruce,’ Tim crossed his arms, his tone patronizing, ‘but you need to get that treated. You can’t leave because you can’t ride and if I forced you to sit through the entire movie without at least offering to come clean then I’d be an asshole.’
‘And here I was thinking you were worried about me-’
‘I am worried about you, Jason. Just not enough to face the consequences if…’ his voice trailed off and his eyes widened, panicked.
‘If you’re not okay then we can go in there and tell them right now,’ the kid’s voice shifted up a pitch but his words dripped with sincerity. He opened his mouth to continue but Jason cut him off.
‘Are you going to blow this for us, Replacement?’
Tim’s expression contorted and Jason scrubbed a hand down his face with a groan.
‘I didn’t mean it like that,’ he said, exasperated, ‘I just mean that you were fine with jumping in my place before I was cold in my grave but what? you feel guilty for something as small as this.’
He tried to ignore how startlingly bright the blood staining Tim’s back looked under the kitchen lights.
‘Okay, sorry. I didn’t mean it like that either,’ he pinched the bridge of his nose, ‘I just mean. Don’t worry about me being in pain. I’m fine. And don’t worry about looking like an asshole. You shot me, you already look like an asshole. But that’s fine because now we’re even.’
Jason sighed at the kid’s sour expression. So his words of reassurance needed some work, sue him.
‘Look,’ he placed his good hand on Tim’s shoulder, ‘what I’m trying to say is that we’ve pushed through worse. We were Robin. We aren’t weak. Do you understand?’ the kid nodded faintly but Jason wanted verbal confirmation.
‘Are we weak?’
Tim shook his head.
‘I said are we weak?’
‘No,’ Tim stammered.
‘Are we going to give up?’
‘No.’
‘I said are we-’
‘No. No way, okay?’ Tim agreed, his voice back to normal, ‘you can quit the pep talk. I get it. It was a moment of weakness. It’s over now. But Jason, we really need to treat your arm.’
Jason nodded in agreement because ignorance was getting harder with every passing second and his bicep was pounding.
‘Alfred keeps a first aid kit under the sink-’
‘What are you doing?’
Jason spun around, relieved that Tim didn’t have his back to the door.
‘Getting more snacks,’ he punctuated his point by grabbing a punnet of strawberries from the fridge.
‘Why? Did you miss us?’ he thrust a pint of Ben and Jerry’s into Tim’s hands before he could do something stupid like press the icy cold container to his burning arm.
Damian glowered at him, petting the cat encased in his arms affectionately.
Jason almost snarled. It purred as if it hadn’t put a bullet in him and almost given the kid a breakdown-
‘You two are behaving uncharacteristically.’
‘Is that right? How so?’ Tim hummed, beating Jason to the punch, his arms crossed and eyebrows raised in a challenge.
Jason was a little impressed (not that he’d admit it).
Damian’s eyes narrowed and he took a step forward. Jason rooted himself to the floor to keep from stumbling backward under the brat’s skeptical glare.
There was a moment of silence and then-
‘You two smell the same,’ he took another step forward with a frown, ‘like gunpowder.’
Jason froze. How the fuck-
‘I left this shirt at Jason’s,’ Tim responded levelly, ‘he returned it today. I haven’t washed it yet.’
‘Yeah,’ Jason agreed quickly, ‘I borrowed it.’
‘Why would you borrow Drake’s clothing? You are much-’
‘He didn’t borrow it,’ Tim said slowly, fixing Jason a look that made him feel like a reprimanded child, ‘I left it at his when I was injured on patrol last week. He only remembered to return it today.’
Damian tutted, ‘I believe you just proved my point. This is uncharacteristic behavior.’
He scratched the cat gently behind its ear and his mouth twisted.
‘Why are you looking at Alfred in that manner?’ he snapped, ‘what has he done to you?’
Jason’s eyes widened and he opened his mouth to respond when he realized that Damian’s scowl was directed at Tim. Tim squinted angrily at the ball of fur.
‘Nothing,’ he gritted out, gripping the ice cream so hard that his knuckles whitened.
Damian’s nose scrunched up in distaste and he tutted before turning on his heel and leaving the kitchen.
Tim’s free hand clenched into a tight fist and Jason snorted.
‘Calm down, kiddo. It’s just a cat.’
‘It’s evil. And I am going to put it outside and-’
‘It would destroy you before you could pick it up,’ Jason snickered.
‘How dare he name it Alfred-’
‘Tim,’ Jason interrupted exasperated, ‘as amusing as it would be to see you get obliterated by a cat we have bigger issues right now.’
Jason’s eyes lingered on Tim’s shirt as he continued mournfully, ‘you ruined the first white shirt. Why couldn't you just wear black?’
Tim snapped back to himself. His expression morphing from irked to something distinctly more amused.
‘You borrowed my t-shirt? Really, Jason? How did you think that would work?’ he raised an eyebrow, his tone mimicking Jason’s growl, ‘are you going to blow this for us, Replacement-’
‘Boys?’
The humor drained from Tim’s face and Jason stiffened. Bruce stepped into the room, his expression unreadable.
His calculating gaze flickered between the two of them and the silence grew tense and-
‘Damian’s under the impression that you two are behaving strangely,’ Bruce spoke slowly, his tone impassive.
Tim swallowed audibly and Jason wanted to stay silent and let him suffer (if only to punish him for the mocking). But Tim looked frozen and Jason wasn’t going to risk Bruce finding out just for the satisfaction of watching him squirm.
‘Damian’s just annoyed because Dick’s in a mood,’ Jason rolled his eyes, ‘we’re not doing anything.’
Bruce hummed in disbelief.
‘Dick’s under the impression that you’re ganging up on him. He thinks you’re trying to hide something.’
‘What?’ Jason scoffed weakly, ‘Dick just doesn’t like the fact that I’m Tim’s favorite brother now,’ he elbowed the kid’s ribs, ‘Isn’t that right, Timmy?’
‘Sure-’ Tim stammered, nodding in earnest.
Bruce’s eyes narrowed and then he took a deep breath, tilting his head back and pinching the bridge of his nose.
‘You know what? I don’t care,’ he sighed tiredly, ‘I’m just glad you’re getting along and no one’s hurt.’
Tim’s lips twitched and Jason swallowed a surprised laugh.
‘Well,’ Jason’s voice lilted with amusement, ‘after you, old man,’ he gestured to the door.
Bruce gave him a worn glance before throwing his hands up in defeat and turning around.
‘I don’t care,’ he repeated to himself under his breath, ‘I don’t care.’
They followed behind him and Tim caught Jason’s eye with a grin.
World’s greatest detective, he mouthed making a face and using his fingers to form air quotations.
Jason had to bite his lip to stifle a laugh and something that felt a lot like pride bloomed in his chest. The moment soured when Jason caught the faint smell of gunpowder on Tim’s bloody shirt.
‘We need to find a way to get out of this movie,’ Jason breathed as they entered the family room.
‘I’ll think of something,’ Tim promised firmly.
They sat back down and Jason tried to ignore Dick’s cynical glare burning into the side of his face.
Fortunately, Tim didn’t have to think of something because five minutes later the heavens took pity on Jason and a distraction arrived in the form of messy blonde hair and exasperated yelling.
‘Bruce! Alfred!’
Bruce startled from what looked suspiciously like a nap and the door swung open.
‘Bruce. Al- Oh. Everyone? ’ Stephanie looked confused for a second before crossing her arms tightly over her chest.
‘Good,’ she asserted, ‘I could use the help. I’ve lost my- Inside Out?’
‘Jason and Tim insisted-’
‘Yes, they are acting strange.’
‘Anyway,’ Jason motioned for Steph to continue and she snapped back to herself.
‘Right. Yes. Well. No more,’ she turned off the television.
‘Hey! That’s Timothy’s favorite film!’
Tim glowered at Dick but Dick just pursed his lips in an attempt to hide a malicious smile. Jason wondered if Tim had ever been on the receiving end of one of Dick’s moods before because the kid looked half stunned and half devastated.
‘Inside Out is your favorite- No. I don’t have the time for this-’ thank the gods for Stephanie Brown ‘-I’ve lost my phone. I’ve looked everywhere else. It has to be in the Manor somewhere and I need it to do my homework.’
‘Have you tried calling it?’
‘No Bruce,’ Stephanie glared, ‘I don’t have a phone.’
‘Okay,’ Bruce scrubbed a hand down his face and stood up wearily, ‘I’ll start in here-’
‘Dickhead will have to call you because he took my phone,’ Jason interrupted, standing up, ‘I’ll check the kitchen.’
‘I’ll help!’ Tim agreed, giving Jason a thumbs up.
Jason made a face and returned it, his sardonicism unmistakable.
They all but sprinted from the room before someone could question them or turn on the light.
Instantly, Tim skidded to his knees and grabbed the first aid kit from under the sink. Jason leaned against the counter and tried to ignore how his vision fluttered with every too-fast movement.
‘Here-’ Tim shoved a bottle towards him ‘-these are a good starting point.’
‘I don’t need painkillers,’ Jason gritted out, ‘we need to stop the bleeding.’
‘There are no bandages in here-’
‘What do you mean there’s no-’
There was a soft tumbling sound and Tim froze. Jason looked down at him with wide eyes.
‘Cass?’ Jason whispered after a moment.
‘No, she’s not in the country,’ Tim reassured him and Jason breathed a sigh of relief. There was no way they’d be able to hide this from Cass but if it wasn’t her then-
Slowly, they both turned to face the doorway.
Alfred looked distinctly unamused.
He stared down at them, arms folded, eyebrows raised and foot tapping impatiently against the hardwood floor.
Jason’s heart pounded and his arm throbbed and the silence stretched and-
Alfred sighed deeply.
‘Do I want to know?’
Jason and Tim shook their heads in unison.
‘Is anyone severely injured?’
Another vigorous shake.
Jason opened his mouth to speak but Alfred raised a hand to silence him.
‘No. Don’t say anything. I would like to keep some measure of plausible deniability.’
With that, he turned on his heel and walked away.
Jason felt lightheaded with relief… or blood loss. Speaking of,
‘What the hell do you mean the first aid kit has no bandages? It’s a first aid kit. ’
‘Well it probably wasn’t a top priority to replace them when there’s an entire medbay in the Cave,’ Tim retorted.
‘-Did you find anything?’ Stephanie’s voice drifted in from the hall and Jason swallowed-
‘Get in the cupboard.’
‘What? I can’t-’
‘No. I’ll check the Manor cameras. Dick, you check the lab-’
‘They’ll see the blood,’ Tim’s face paled in realization, ‘now get in!’ Jason hissed as the voices got closer and Tim squeezed into the cupboard with a squeak.
Jason shut the door and leaned against it.
‘Find anything, Jay-lad?’ Bruce’s head popped around the doorframe.
‘No luck. But I’ll keep searching.’
‘Where’s Tim?’ Stephanie appeared, her voice skeptical.
‘He went to search the gardens,’ Jason replied levelly.
‘What use is that?’ Steph grumbled glumly, ‘I’m going to help Damian look upstairs. Shout if you find anything.’
The two of them left. Jason moved and Tim tumbled out of the cupboard.
‘Did you hear that?’ Tim grinned, pupils blown, ‘No one is searching medical.’
Jason’s heart leaped, ‘well, what are we waiting for?’
They bolted to the medbay and Jason immediately pulled his hoodie over his head. The too-loud sound of Tim rummaging through drawers made Jason’s head thump.
He squeezed his eyes shut and sat down, trying to focus on his breathing instead of the pulsing in his bicep or the warm liquid coating his entire arm.
Small, hesitant hands brushed his skin and Jason nodded stiffly in permission.
Tim worked silently and gently. The only sounds permeating the room were Jason’s occasional grunts of pain and Tim’s mumbled apologies.
Admittedly, Jason was impressed by how quickly Tim treated the wound (not impressed enough to forgive him for shooting him but impressed nonetheless) and he couldn’t help but smile when Tim cut and secured the final piece of gauze.
Jason’s eyes fluttered open and he met Tim’s bright, flushed gaze.
They’d done it. They’d actually done it!
Tim’s face broke into a grin and Jason felt his own smile widen in response.
They stared at each other, stunned for a second until a burst of absurd laughter escaped Jason. Holy shit! They’d done it!
He threw his good arm around Tim’s shoulders and pulled him in for a half-shocked, half-triumphant hug.
‘What did I say?’ he released the kid and tugged his hoodie on carefully. Tim helped him maneuver his arm into the sleeve, still beaming.
‘Yeah, well. I think we deserve equal credit. It was a team effort-’
‘Dick!’ Stephanie's shout echoed around the cave and into the medbay, ‘isn’t this your t-shirt?
‘Oh, I gave that to Tim- wait- Is that a gun?’
‘Why is Todd’s sweater covered in blood?’
Jason met Tim’s eyes, his expression the picture of panic.
‘It’s okay,’ Jason rasped, ‘we can lie. We can say that it happened days ago. After patrol.’
‘Is that a bullet hole? Little Wing!’
Tim’s face paled and he swayed, his voice no louder than a whisper,
‘Didn’t Bruce say he was going to check the camer-’
‘Timothy Jackson Drake-Wayne!’
Jason felt the blood drain from his face and Tim's eyes widened in fear.
Jason jumped to his feet in less than a second.
‘I can probably ride one-handed?’ he offered desperately.
Tim nodded in frantic agreement.
‘I trust you.’
They sprinted from the medbay and Jason all but threw his helmet at Tim before jumping on the bike and peeling out of the Cave.
He could hear commotion behind him but his bike was fast and unless B was going to take the Batmobile, which he probably wouldn't, no one was going to catch them any time soon.
The cool wind whipped at his cheeks and surprised laughter bubbled from his lips.
Yeah, this definitely wasn’t how he expected to spend his Friday night. Not that he was complaining.
Behind him he heard the kid snicker.
‘You’re surprisingly good at this!’ Tim shouted over the wind.
‘Surprisingly? I could ride this bike one-handed in my sleep.’
Tim laughed and gripped his jacket tighter.
‘Can you teach me sometime?’
Jason shrugged (well, as close to a shrug as he could manage with a hand on the handlebars and a bullet wound) and tilted his head in consideration.
‘Sure. I don’t see why not.’