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Perhaps it was Dick’s own fault for pushing for a family night with the most dysfunctional group of people on the East Coast.
He had just thought it would be a good way to reestablish bonds after everything that happened when Bruce was gone.
It had started out surprisingly well, Jason had actually turned up for starters. Bruce hadn’t needed to be dragged and Tim had arrived with Duke in tow. Steph was running late, but she was on her way.
Damian and Cass had coincidentally had a mission scheduled on the very day of family night and had gracefully bowed out.
But overall, it was a much better turnout than Dick expected. And everyone seemed to be getting on well enough, Tim and Duke seemed especially close, which was nice to see. It wasn’t so nice for Dick to get his hand slapped away when he went to pat Duke’s shoulder.
Tim glared at him. “Back off.”
“Uh, Timmy?” Duke looked between them both in confusion.
“Is something wrong?” Bruce asked in a surprising display of emotional awareness.
“I won’t let you lure Duke into your trap.” Tim hissed.
“I mean, I get it, Dickhead’s hugs are a little much, but they aren’t that bad.” Jason said. Dick couldn’t help but smile, he knew that Jason had secretly liked the cuddle sessions.
“Oh, I’m not talking about that.” Tim said, moving in front of Duke as if Dick was about to attack him. “I won’t let you hurt him like you did me.”
Dick sighed. “Is this about what I said when you left Gotham?”
“You’re damn right it is.” Tim scowled. “The fact you aren’t even sorry shows just how little I meant to you–”
“That’s not fair–” Dick started.
“I won’t let you trick Duke too, he’s my little brother and I’ll fight you if I have to.” Tim snarled. Duke went up on his tiptoes, peeking over Tim’s shoulder, giving Dick an unfairly suspicious look. “To think I ever trusted you.”
“It's not as if I was carting you to Arkham! I suggested that you go see a therapist." Dick exclaimed.
"In Metropolis." Tim spat the word with the disdain of a thousand Gothamites.
Dick grimaced. He remembered how badly Tim reacted when he brought it up. Within the blink of an eye the bo staff was out and Tim was throwing smoke bombs at him, but they didn’t activate before Dick saw the angry, betrayed look Tim gave him.
"You did what?" Jason’s eyes widened, betrayal and disgust marring his face.
Bruce purses his lips, giving Dick a disappointed look. "Arkham would have been better."
Duke stared at Dick in horror. “That's low, man. Tim deserves better than that.” He clasped Tim's shoulder in solidarity.
Dick threw his hands up in exasperation. "What is it with you guys and Metropolis?"
"We couldn't expect you to understand," Tim sniffed primly. "Splitting time between Gotham and two other cities, like loyalty isn't a thing."
"Even I didn't go that far." Jason added.
Duke gave Dick a mean side eye. "He even named himself after a Kryptonian legend, I don't care if it's a bird, it's still wrong."
"I literally made Robin." Dick said flatly.
No one acknowledged his words.
Bruce hummed. "Dick has always been the rebellious one."
"At this rate he's going to become a Super." Jason remarked.
Bruce went rigid. "I have contingencies for that."
"Same." Tim said, preening at Bruce's approving look.
"I hate this family." Dick sighed.
Jason rolled his eyes. "We hate you too.”
“But really, Dick, Metropolis?” Bruce almost sounded pained.
“There's nothing wrong with Metropolis!” Dick exclaimed.
“I just–” Tim cut himself off, taking in a shaky breath. Duke patted his back soothingly while Bruce gave them both a concerned frown. “I just don’t understand, I know my theory was out there but to threaten to send me there–”
“Hey, hey, it's alright,” Duke soothed.
“He was going to make me head over there in broad daylight.” Tim said fretfully.
Bruce reared back in horror. “Dick, tell me that's not true.”
Dick remained silent, avoiding Bruce's disappointed gaze.
“I wouldn’t have let that happen, babybird. I mean, trying to kill you is one thing, but that–” Jason shook his head. “No, there are just some lines I won't cross.”
“I'm so sorry that happened to you.” Duke glared at Dick. “What next? If I step outta line you'll send me to,” He shuddered. “Star City?”
“I'd never let him do that to you.” Tim promised. “I'd put you in Arkham before letting that happen.”
“Like any good brother would.” Jason nodded approvingly.
“This is disappointing behaviour from you, Dick.” Bruce said.
“Unbelievable.” Dick breathed.
“What's going on?” Steph asked, lingering in the doorway of the living room as if she was reconsidering coming in. Dick wouldn't even blame her for turning tail and leaving at this point.
“Dickwing here threatened to send Tim to Metropolis for believing B was alive.” Jason said.
Steph's eyes flashed, her face flushing red with rage. “You did what?”
Dick groaned. “Not you too.”
“There's nothing that warrants going there.” Steph spat, before whirling round to face Tim with a hurt look. “Why didn't you tell me?”
“I was in a really weird space after our break up and I thought you'd,” Tim's voice broke and his eyes went misty. “I thought you'd agree with him.”
Both Duke and Jason gasped.
Steph flinched as if Tim had struck her. “I know shit was bad, but Tim I'd never–” She cut herself off, covering her mouth as a sob escaped.
“I know that now.” Tim reassured.
“I'm sorry you ever thought I would.” Steph reached out and pulled Tim into a hug.
Dick stared at the pair, stunned speechless. He understood that they were all weirdly attached to Gotham, something about being born and raised in the city inspired a possessiveness, of sorts. But Dick never thought that it ran this deep.
“Metropolis.” Bruce growled, giving Dick a sharp look. “You could have ruined his life.”
Dick groaned. “What was I supposed to do? Send him to Arkham?”
“Why are Metropolis and Arkham your only two options? You could have just let him repress his emotions like a normal person.” Steph scoffed.
Tim nodded, his hair bouncing with the motion. “Right?”
“It's scary to think we almost lost you to that place.” Duke shuddered. Jason wrapped an arm around him and pulled him into his side, glaring at Dick as if he was going to snatch Duke up and hand him over to Clark. Duke stared at Tim with wide eyes, whispering. “How did you get away?”
Tim took in a shaky breath, turning away from them all with a dramatic flair he definitely picked up from Bruce. Dick valiantly refrained from rolling his eyes, trying to remind himself that this was a big thing for his precious pie.
It was a stupid thing, but big all the same.
Bruce was looking at Tim with unmasked concern. Steph grabbed Duke's hand, clutching onto it like it was the only thing keeping her together. Jason had honest to God tears in his eyes, his arm tightening around Duke who was staring at Tim with an unwarranted amount of worry.
Steph took a step towards Tim, but stopped when Bruce raised his hand, shaking his head at her. He moved forward, putting a comforting hand on Tim's shoulder. “What happened, sweetheart?”
Tim bowed his head. “I had to fight my way out.” He said hoarsely.
Dick's eyes widened in disbelief. “I barely touched you–”
“That's enough outta you.” Duke scowled, looking angrier than Dick had ever seen him.
“What did he do?” Steph asked, her face darkening.
“I was on my way out of the city when he started chasing me,” Tim's voice shook. “Saying we could talk about it.”
“Talk about how you tried to rip a core part of his identity away from him?” Jason asked snidely.
Dick winced. “Robin?”
“Gotham.” Bruce growled.
“I tried to outrun him, but I was running on fumes and he's always been better with the grapple, I did everything I could.” Tim whispered.
“It's not your fault.” Duke said fiercely.
Dick sighed. “You're making it sound way worse than it was.”
“Don't gaslight him.” Steph hissed venomously.
“I'm not gaslighting him–”
Tim glared. “So you didn't chase me down? Try to trap me?”
“I hugged you.” Dick said. His hugs weren't traps. Usually. Tim had no right to look at Dick as if he'd tied him up and tossed him in the back of a van.
“Like a true Metropolis brat.” Jason sneered.
“What happened next?” Duke questioned, giving Dick a dark glare.
Dick was starting to realise that Duke wasn't as normal, stable or sane as he initially believed. He would even go so far as to say that Duke wasn't even nice. He was just as diabolical as the rest of them.
“There was a struggle.” Tim's voice was grave. “He must have got me with something because I almost fell asleep in his arms–”
“You had been awake for thirty four hours at that point.” Dick said. No one even had the decency to pretend to listen to him.
“But I was terrified that if I did, I'd wake up in that city.” Tim whispered fearfully. “So I fought, with everything I had–”
Dick didn't bother hiding his eye roll. “You wriggled like a worm and bit me.”
“Everything I had,” Tim emphasised. “But he was too strong. If it wasn’t for Damian creating that diversion–”
“He decapitated a man.” Dick said. And it certainly hadn't been for Tim's benefit.
“Then I don't know if I would have made it out.” Tim's eyes welled up. “I think he was going to make me stay with Clark.”
“Oh God.” Steph stumbled, catching herself on a nearby chair.
“He would have left you alone there? With him?” Duke reared back in horror.
Jason sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I'm so sorry, babybird.”
Tim wiped his eyes. “I don't blame you.”
“I should have been there.” Bruce murmured, a pained look on his face.
“No, B, for once this isn't your fault.” Jason glared at Dick. “How could you?”
Dick sighed. “I was–”
Duke stared at Dick as if he'd shot him. “You're supposed to be our brother.”
“I am–”
“You might as well have killed him.” Steph hissed.
“Tim, come on, surely it wasn’t that bad?” Dick gave him an imploring look.
Tim sighed, shaking his head. “I just can't see you the same way anymore.”
“You know what? Fine. Next time, I'll just set Alfred on you and be done with it.” Dick threw his hands up, utterly done with the conversation and stormed out the room.
“Alfred would have left me to spiral, like a good grandpa!” Tim called after him.
Dick was relieved to get out of the Manor. Finally free from the cacophony of condemnations making his head pulse. It was no wonder Damian and Cass decided not to come to Family Night, they had an uncanny sense for danger.
His phone rang. “Babs, you would not believe the day I've had–”
“Metropolis, Dick? What the fuck were you thinking?” Barbara yelled.
Dick wondered if Wally would be willing to let him crash in Central City for a few days. He was suddenly feeling very unsafe.