Chapter Text
It all started because Tim tripped. He was out following Batman and Robin, taking pictures as usual when he timed one of his landings wrong. He tried covering it up and hiding behind a duct in hopes Robin would just move on.
Tim watched as Robin said something in his comms. He pressed his back against the duct waiting for Robin to keep moving. After about 5 minutes he peeked around to see if Robin had left yet. Instead he let out a startled scream falling to the ground. Smiling down at him was Jason Todd himself.
"Hiya! What are you doing out here kid?"
Tim tried to respond but his words refused to come together. He shrugged listlessly. Robin tilted his head looking at Tim before he spotted the camera around Tim's neck, "Is that a camera?"
Tim shook his head, "No." He said. Like a liar.
Jason grabbed the camera to Tim's protests and looked through the photos. His brows raised and a grin fell on his face, "Woah, these are really good. Did you take all of these?"
Tim swallowed and nodded his head. He was anxious to get his camera back. Jason ignored Tim's swipe to snatch the camera back, "Man, I didn't even realize you were there. How long you been following us for?"
Tim shrugged and mumbled, "Few months."
Jason's eyes widened, "Months!? Man you're like a little ninja."
Tim eyed his camera, "Thank you? Now can I get my camera back? I promise i don't share the pictures, I just like having them for myself."
Jason handed the camera back to Tim, "You're should keep up with photography, you've got a talent for it. Although maybe be careful if your going to be out at night, it's dangerous out here."
Tim beamed nodding vigorously. Jason gave him a two fingered salute and ran to swing off the building and catch up with Batman. Tim couldn't believe it, Robin had seen his pictures and liked them. Tim yawned, he hadn't realized how late it had gotten. He headed back home.
Tim crawled through his window into his bedroom. The house was empty so he could have just used the door, but he liked the window. Acting like he was sneaking in to the empty house made him feel more like a normal kid. Most kids wouldn't get away with being out so late unless they snuck out, so Tim took the window. He uploaded the photos to his flash drive and went to bed.
The next night Tim was more careful but somehow Robin had caught him again. This was how he found himself faced with Robin staring him down, hands on his hips, "I really should tell you to stop doing this."
"How did you catch me?" Tim blurted out.
Robin smirked, "Well now I know to look for someone on my tail. You did give me the slip a few times I'll give you that. Got any cool pictures from tonight?"
Tim flipped through pictures on his camera until he found a picture of Robin crouching on a rooftop. The sunset was backlit behind him with a beam of light shining across Robins eyes. He showed Robin this photo, nervous of what he'd think.
Robin looked at the picture and grinned, "That is sick! Can I have this picture?"
Tim shifted on his feet, "Um, it's digital. And I haven't edited yet, this is just the raw image."
Jason shook his head in awe, "Even more impressive then. Look, I know you'll be out here again, so next time do you think I could get a physical copy of this?"
Tim's eyes widened, "I can do that."
Jason smiled at him, "Can't wait! Until next time!" He gave Tim a two fingered salute running off.
When Tim got home he immediatly got to work editing the photo. When he was finally satisfied he printed it out and went to bed.
The next time Tim went out when Jason found him Tim nervously held out the photo for him. Jason's eyes lit up, "You got it? Thank you so much! This is so cool!"
"I can get you more."
Jason looked from the photo to Tim, "Can you really? That would be awesome! You're a neat kid, you know that?"
Tim giggled, unable to hold back his giddiness at his hero loving his work so much. Robin pursed his lips, "Hm, I really should tell you to stop going out at night like this... but your a good kid. And your never really that far from me and B, so I guess its okay. I can look out for you. Just don't do anything too stupid okay?"
Tim nodded dutifully, "I promise. I just like to watch."
Jason's head tilted, "Okay? You're a bit of an odd one. Oh well, I'm the one running around in spandex punching bad guys so whose really the weird one here."
Tim laughed as Jason ran off, giving Tim his two fingered salute. This continued for weeks. Tim would bring Robin photos, and they would talk before Robin had to run and catch up with Batman. At one of these meetings Jason finally asked the question, "Say, I never got your name kid."
Tim wasn't expecting Robin to ever want his name, "Uh, Alvin Draper."
Jason looked at him skeptically, "That's the fakest name I ever heard. I'll figure out your real name eventually, but if that is actually your name I apologize that your parents gave you such a stupid name."
Tim couldn't help but laugh as Robin saluted and grappled away.
A few weeks later Tim was the one to find Robin. He was alone, sitting on the edge of a building swinging his legs. Tim sat cross legged next to him. Robins voice was distant, as if he was distracted, "You shouldn't sit so close to the edge."
Tim didn't move, "Your sitting here too."
"I can catch myself if I fall."
Tim considered Jason's words, "I trust you to catch me too."
Jason laughed shaking his head, "Alright, but don't fall."
Tim smiled, "I don't plan on it."
They settled into a comfortable silence until Tim asked, "No Batman tonight?"
Jason's face darkened, "We got into a fight. I found my mom, but she's in trouble and needs my help. I want to go help her, but B thinks it's a bad idea."
Jason let out a frustrated sigh, "Which I mean, I get it, I guess. It's just- That's my mom. She wasn't... good. But she's still my mom you know?"
Tim thought about his own mother. Janet was not an affectionate woman, she was strict and cold. Often times she wasn't even there. But she at least awnsered his calls, she wasn't happy about it and usually scolded Tim for calling, but she never hung up like Jack. She let Tim speak before reprimanding him again and ending the call. She made sure he had money enough that he didn't have to worry about food or clothes. He understood Jason's feeling, if Janet needed help Tim would do it.
"Yeah, I get it. It's easy for people to pass judgement on your parents when all they hear is the bad parts. They don't think about the moments that are good, even if there aren't very many."
Jason gave Tim a curious look, "Yeah... hey are you okay?"
"I'm the one that found you up here. I'm fine, I can take care of myself."
Jason sighed, "I think I'll go. She needs me. I can't just abandon her."
Jason stood up. Before he left Tim made a decision, "Tim."
Jason turned back, "What?"
Tim stood, "My name, it's Tim."
Jason smiled, "Well, it's been nice talking to you Tim. My mom is out of the country, so you might not see me for a while. Stay safe out there okay?"
Tim nodded, "You too."
Jason looked back at Tim with a smirk and gave his two fingered salute, "I always do."
Tim didn't know that would be the last time he would see Jason Todd as Robin. A week later the second Robin had yet to come back. Two weeks passed and Batman started going out alone. After a month the announcement was made that Jason Todd was dead. What wasn't announced was that Batman was left without a Robin.
Tim could see how poorly Batman was reacting to Jason's death. He was clearly in a dark place and there was nobody to bring him any light. Tim was the only one to see this, but there was nothing he could do. He was just a lonely kid that lived next door. Batman didn't even know he existed.
Two months after Robins death Tim awoke in his empty house. Someone spoke, "Hiya again! Listen, Batman needs your help."
Tim turned over in his bed and was met with the sight of Robin. His domino was half gone, his suit in tatters and his bloody face smiling. Tim reacted like any reasonable person, and screamed.