Chapter Text
“I want to join you.” Robin said, his voice shaky. He didn’t look up at Kon. Or as he was better known by the public, Kryptonite. Superman’s greatest enemy and a villain to the world.
Tim’s best friend.
“You what?” Kon asked, surprised, and Tim sighed, finally making eye contact.
“I want to join Anti-Justice.”
Before he even had time to react, Kon had scooped Tim up and grinned as bright as the sun, making his breath hitch. He couldn’t remember anyone ever being this happy to have him around. Even Dick.
“Dude! The others are gonna be so freaking excited!” He beamed, ruffling Tim’s hair and messing it up. “What made you finally change your mind?”
He thought back to Bruce’s dead body and took calming breaths. He managed a small smile up at his friend. “There’s nothing for me there anymore.” He said sadly. Kon frowned and pulled him into another half hug.
“Don’t worry, man. You’ve already got your own room at the mountain and everything. We’ve been waiting for you for forever , you know? You have a place with us. Forever.”
Tim couldn’t help leaning into the touch and relaxing. His friends, evil or not, wanted him. They had a place for him when he had no other. Carved it out specifically for him, which contrasted to everywhere else where he had to bend and twist himself to fit. He sighed and surrendered himself over to this new life.
Maybe it would end up better for him.
“Kids! I’m home!” Kon called in a cheery voice, stalking into the mountain like he owned the place. He technically did, Tim supposed.
A blur of black and yellow crashed into his friend at the speed of light, stabilizing into someone Tim recognized. “Kon!” He chirped, before noticing Tim looking a little awkward. His eyes went comically wide and he gasped dramatically, moving to give Tim a handful of speedster. “Robbie!”
Tim rolled his eyes at the nickname but threaded his fingers through Bart’s hair anyway. Kon had given the annoying term to him way back when they first met, and it rubbed off on the whole team. Now they call him all sorts of things that sometimes he wonders what they even have to do with his name. He doesn’t mind it much anymore; it's almost amusing, even. But still acts annoyed for them.
“Hey, baby flash.” He said fondly, a smile twitching at his lips. Bart grinned up at him and Kon’s warm hand ruffled his hair.
“Bart, no costumes inside.”
Bart groaned, sticking his tongue out in annoyance. “Okay, okay, mom.” He grumbled. In a flash, he was changed into a too big shirt and some shorts. “Better?”
“Is that my shirt?” Kon squawked. Bart ignored him, grabbing Tim by the hand and dragging him deeper into the cave. Kon sighed and followed, hands in his pockets.
“C’mon! The girls are in the kitchen ‘cuz Cissie’s cooking lunch. Are you hungry? I am.” He rambled. Tim nodded along when asked a question because he honestly only got half the information, but allowed himself to be dragged along.
In the kitchen Burning Star and Scarlet arrow were both in casual clothes, talking brightly about what seemed to be random chatter. The smell of food filled Tim’s nose and he was suddenly hit with how hungry he was.
Leaving Gotham that morning wasn’t a last minute decision, not by a long shot. He had everything perfectly planned to make the transition of his absence as seamless as possible for the others. Made sure everything was covered, every case was closed. Decided on the day he was going to call for Kon weeks in advance.
But he still had managed to forget breakfast that morning.
Cissie turned away from the stove and noticed the boys. Her eyes lit up when they met Tim’s, and Cassie turned around as well. “Robbie-boy! Hey!” She beamed. “What’cha doing here? Finally joining us?”
“Uh, yeah.” Tim said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped, but it quickly turned back to joy.
“That’s great!” She said brightly, jumping up to pull him into a tight hug. “Welcome to the team, wonder!”
“Yeah, welcome!” Cissie added, her smile genuine. Tim waved back and muttered a thanks to both of them, head getting fuzzy with nerves. Kon bumped their shoulders together and Tim felt himself relaxing, somehow. His heart rate evened back out and he offered a grateful smile.
He’d thought a lot about leaving before actually doing it. Even before Batman died.
He’d met the group of teenage villain misfits early into his career as Robin. Back when the job was more work than play; he’d trained his ass off to get to that point and it wasn’t as fun as Dick and Jason made it look. That didn’t mean Tim was going to give up, of course not. Batman needed him–who knows what would have happened to him and Gotham. That didn’t make it less wearing, though.
Meeting a group of villains his age who matched his level and added a pleasant chaos to his life that made the days different and the days a little brighter. It gave him something to look forward to. They would bicker and compliment each other and Tim usually ended up covering for them. Then they’d go out as civilians and do random kid stuff and Tim had never felt more accepted.
They had to grow up, though, eventually. There wasn’t time to be kids anymore. They still found time to hang out on rooftops together and talk and help each other out. Tim covered their tracks still, occasionally. Not that there was anything too bad to cover up.
Nobody on the Anti-Justice killed.
Kon mainly just annoyed and inconvenienced Superman. Messed up Metropolis, helped out villains, and helped out the others with whatever they needed. Bart mainly just did what the group needed. He was attached to them, and as far as Tim learned, didn’t have any motives outside of being attached to Kon. He came from the future without any ties to his family, so the team became their family.
Cassie lost her mom as Wondergirl. Tim knew her a little back then, but being so busy with Robin training made him a bit isolated from the rest of the hero community. Her and Arrowette joined Kon and Bart, forming their own team. The girls are more against the Justice League, having their own personal problems with the members. They do what they can to hurt them.
And Tim knew he wouldn’t be able to kill. Ra’s Al Ghul tried to convince him a few times, when he got to low points. But he always managed to push through. Turning to the other side wasn’t going to change that. Luckily, he knew his friends, his knew team, would support that. Agree with that. Help with whatever he needed.
The feeling was nice.
“Here. Bats gotta eat too.” Cissie said insistently, setting a plate of food at the counter and guiding Tim to sit in the chair in front of it. Tim didn’t argue; he was starving after all. And the food was really, really good. Tim hummed in delight and didn’t blink an eye when Bart wriggled up into his lap, or when Cassie sat next to him, or when Kon ruffled his hair.
“Thank you.” He said genuinely. “All of you.”
“Of course.” Cissie said warmly.
“We’re just glad to have you here, Rob.” Cassie grinned, elbowing him. Tim winced internally and rolled his eyes externally.
“Not Rob anymore. I don’t know who I am.” He mumbled, trying not to sound bitter. He took another bite of food to avoid speaking again. More arms wrapped around him and he felt warmth from all sides, squeezing him just barely too tight.
“That’s okay.” Cissie said softly, squeezing his hand. “We can figure it out together.”