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English
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Published:
2025-03-04
Updated:
2025-03-16
Words:
1,101
Chapters:
2/?
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71
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Family is the worst

Summary:

Probably 5

If you asked Tim how many cups of coffee he's had that's what his answer would be- along with a few energy drinks and not enough water Alfred would probably say.

pfft who needs water

Tim has been up for almost 24 hours now. Between night patrols and Wayne industries there's been a lot on Tim's plate.
You would think that with Bruce finally coming back after being presumed dead Tim's life would get easier but no.

Something needs to change.

Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Chapter 1

Chapter Text

Tim blinks down at his laptop, eyes blurry from overuse. Multiple tabs open and papers spread across his desk and floor.

His escape plan was almost done.

He could leave soon. This life was never meant for him after all and Robin has officially been passed on to Damian. Not exactly how Tim wanted it to end but it had to end sometime. Now that Bruce is back everythings gonna be fine and…..yeah Tim did that.

He brought Bruce back.

Tim never gave up on Batman. No one believed in him but he did it. The cost? Well, physically Tim will recover because modern medicine rocks, mentally Tim wonders if he'll ever fully feel okay again. That might seem dramatic, Tim's been through a lot.

So why out of everything does this hurt so much?

This knowledge that Tim will always be put second as long as Damian is around.

That he just needs to deal with the fact and get over it. Dick still hasn’t talked to Tim about that night and y’know? Tim gets it.

Things have been busy. But Bruce has been back a week now and Dick still hasn’t reached out.

So Tim is leaving and he knows the family will let him go. Cass is in Hong Kong. Bruce has his hands full with Damian and Dick is continuing to be Batman while Bruce heals.

Staphanie and Barbra will be the first people to notice Tim is gone but he plans and leaves them a note anyways. Steph will try to stop him but Tim needs to break. He needs things to change.

This itchy feeling under his skin that keeps him up at night, when did it start?

Did it start when Dick chose Damian as Robin? Maybe it started when no one believed in him about Bruce being alive.

Or it started when instead of seeing his determination of the fact being based on clues they instead saw him as someone to pity, grief clouding his mind and losing himself to false hopes. Tim being crushed under the weight of Wayne industries and the world.

Looking back on those days, searching for every hint of Bruce. Tim knows that he went off the deep end, just a little.

Going to Ra’s al Ghul was the move of a desperate man and those actions lead to harm befalling Gotham. But in the end? It was worth it.

The world needs Batman.

Tim has always believed in that. So everything should be good now. Bruce is back. The family is together again. He’s just a cuckoo egg and it's time for him to leave. So going back to the plan.

Tim picked up some papers off the ground. It was an article about a small town called Pelican Town.

Tim's grandfather on his moms side actually bought some land in this small town years ago after a fortune teller told him it would bring him good fortune. Tims grandfather was a bit eccentric and not the brightest man.
The farm has been left barren for years, abandoned before Tim’s mother was born. This small town nestled in Stardew valley amongst the Stardrop mountain range is Tims destination.

Chapter 2

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

“You’re still up?”

Tim looked away from the Batcomputer and at Bruce who was looking down at Tim with a slight frown.

“Uhh yeah I got caught up in research for a case…” Tim trailed off and looked at the screen which actually had a ‘How To’ guide on farming. Bruce glanced at the screen and quirked his eyebrow.

“ So the acidity levels in soil are relevant to your current case?”

“Well actually- ” Tim started to respond but couldn’t think of what to say.

Tim had been researching a current case but got distracted. To be honest his mind was distracted a lot these days and he was struggling to stay motivated. Don’t get it wrong. Tim enjoyed this work. Helping people and stopping bad guys is important. It motivates Tim knowing that he can stop people's lives from being ruined by some assholes with a gun and mommy issues/daddy issues(looking at you Jason). But recently things have been different. Tim has been different.

There's a feeling growing inside Tim's heart. There's moments in the early morning when the sun is just coming up. Through Tim's cracked window a breeze flows through, the smell of sweet grass and rain fills Tim up and leaves him aching. Rolling hills and sunlight streaming through tree branches. Waves washing away sand. Seagulls crying and birds singing. Tim quietly dreams of these things.

Of peace.

He wants to take naps under trees without a care and spend his time on silly things like making flower crowns. Waste his afternoon finding a four leaf clover. Spend hours outside getting sweaty and sunburnt and watching the sunset, deep colors of red, orange and purple. To retire at the end of the night feeling tired but content. No pain and thoughts of what-ifs.

“Tim Are you okay?” Bruce’s voice cut through his thoughts.

“Oh, sorry Bruce. Guess I’m more tired than I thought.” Tim smiled sheepishly and ran his hand over his face. Bruce’s eyes followed his movements and Bruce opened his mouth to say something but paused. He reached his hand out to set it on Tim's shoulder and met his eyes.

“Tim,” He said slowly. “If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here. I know I'm not the best listener. I have a track record against me but Tim I'll always be here for you.”

“Oh.” Tim exhaled.

He looked down at his lap, at his nails bitten down, a terrible habit that his mother did her best to stop him from doing. Would Bruce understand? The tight ball in his stomach said no. There's too many emotions inside him.

“It's alright Bruce, thanks for offering. I’m fine. Just a lot of things going on but nothing I can’t handle.” Tim gave Bruce a tired grin. Bruce didn’t look convinced but took his hand away and cleared his throat.

“Well, it really is late. Dawns only an hour away, try to get some sleep.” He turned and walked away, leaving Tim to stare at his back.

He wonders, does Bruce ever regret this life? Probably, right? But if Bruce wasn’t Batman where would he be now? Would he be like Tim? Living the life of a business man yearning for change. Tim chuckles at the thought of Bruce being a farmer. Bruce probably would've ended up as a doctor. That fits him better, still saving people in a way.

Notes:

I've barely written in the last few years so apologies for the slow updates. I'm still putting parts of this story together.
Also how the heck does one write Jason Todd? His characteristics are gonna be my death. Some future chapters are gonna be so hard. Guess my only solution is to binge Jason centric fics hehe

Notes:

Just an idea ive been thinking about for 6 months now.

Thoughts? Ideas? Let me know down below :)