Work Text:
“You know, when I was younger I dreamed about either you or Robin sweeping me off my feet,” Bernard used his free hand to fiddle with his sunglasses as they walked down the sidewalk, “The fact that both kinda happened within a few days? Absolutely insane,”
“Me just showing up at your house counts?” Tim raised a brow, but kept staring at him, and at his own hand wrapped around the other boy’s. His hand was warm and soft and Tim's mind was still trying to process that this was something he can just... do.
“It’s a figure of speech,” Bernard rolled his eyes, “You said yes, Robin saved my life, those are big moments!”
Tim grinned, “Yeah, I guess,” He regretfully pulled his hand away, but moved so quickly to sweep Bernard up into a princess carry that he doubted the loss of contact was even noticed, “But I can do it for real too,” Tim kept smiling down at him.
Bernard’s eyes were wide, staring up into his own, a blush creeping across his cheeks. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but instead just reached out to pull Tim into a kiss. Their first kiss.
Tim’s first kiss with a guy. Ever.
A guy he was holding closely, who had just been looking at him like he was the most beautiful thing in the world.
His lips were soft, but both of them were so clearly nervous that it was hesitant and brief. Even so, it made Tim’s pulse skyrocket. When they pulled away Tim was sure his face must have been redder than his t-shirt.
“I’m sorry, you just looked so-“ Bernard was turning his head as far as he could in his position, his face equally flushed.
“Don’t be sorry,” Tim started to put him down, but kept contact. He really didn’t want to let go. “Like, at all,” Tim slid his hand all the way up to cup his cheek.
It was weird being taller than him now, when they first met he’d had to look up to meet Bernard’s eyes. But now he had to lean down just a little to press their lips together, with more confidence this time. Bernard tangled a hand in his hair, leaning into it.
Tim remembered a moment with Steph years ago, sitting on a rooftop when he mentioned thinking he’d end up liking Bernard. He wonders if she could tell this is what he’d meant, even if he hadn't known it yet.
He felt restless when he got back to his apartment. Now just his apartment, because living with Steph wasn’t really an option anymore. He still needed to tell her he figured at least a few things out, she'd been nothing but concerned when he started spiraling, no judgement. He really felt like he didn't deserve someone as good as her in his life.
Being more honest was step one to… the new Tim. He’s done hiding from himself, and from others.
Which is far easier said than done. He can’t stop the nagging little voice in the back of his head telling him he’s already screwing things up.
Because he's lying to Bernard. He'd had to, that's... part of being Robin. But does it need to be?
He flopped onto his couch, and stared up at the ceiling. Keeping a secret identity has complicated more friendships and relationships than he could count. But being around Bernard makes things feel… simple. He didn’t want to ruin that.
Knocking on the door to a townhouse instead of the manor felt wrong. The place looked nice, but it’s… it’s just a reminder of how quickly you can lose things to the people in this city.
Bruce not being the person to answer the door felt even stranger.
“We don't want any, get lost kid,” A tall man with deeply tanned skin and a bandana over his eyes stood in the door frame, leaning against it.
“Who the hell are-“ Tim interrupted his own train of thought when he noticed Bruce sitting on the couch just past the door, looking over at them. The television had some old 80's kung fu movie playing, and a two half-empty glasses of wine were on the table. So this was the right place, but…
“Tim! Come in,” Bruce called out to him. Tim took a hesitant step as the man in the doorway moved back, seemingly sizing him up. Once Tim was in he closed the door, and walked over to pick up a bowl of popcorn.
“This one of your Robins?” The man sat with his legs kicked up on the table and held the bowl out towards Bruce. He'd just nodded in response and grabbed a handful.
Robins. He knew about…
“Ghostmaker,” Tim looked between Bruce and his… friend?
“The one and only,” He stretched out his arms along the back of the couch, at a glance it almost looked like his arm was around Bruce.
Tim hadn't been too in the loop on the situation with Ghostmaker, Dick and the Batgirls had been sent out to help when he'd first appeared, not Tim himself. Apparently some figure of Bruce's past come back to haunt him, but they started making amends. That had been going very well, if the scene in front of him was any indication.
“I’m glad you stopped by, I’m sure you want to see the garage,” Bruce had done most of the post-Joker War rearranging of the Batman assets himself, Tim’s only really seen a few satellite mini-caves in the city.
“Not what I’m here for this time, can we uh,” He looked between the two of them, not being able to see Ghostmaker’s eyes felt kinda unsettling, especially with Bruce looking so… unnaturally open while next to him, “Talk. Alone.”
Bruce glanced back at Ghostmaker before standing, “How about two birds one stone?” He gave a smile, something not as fake as Brucie’s but still tense. He probably thought there was bad news. He started walking through the hall and down into the new cave, with Tim on his heels.
He could feel his hands trembling as he thought about what he was going to say. Breathe, Tim. He wasn't asking permission, he was just here as a courtesy. It didn't make it any less stressful.
“So what’s going on?” Bruce’s uncanny ability to code-switch at the drop of a pin never gets less weird. Batman’s mask may not have been on but that’s who was speaking.
“Calm down, it’s not… You don’t need to do that,” Tim waved a hand around Bruce’s face, “I just… need to talk for a minute, okay?” He took a deep breath and leaned against a countertop.
“I’m listening,” Bruce matched his posture, arms crossed but his gaze softer than before.
“You know how Steph- Spoiler and I broke up,” Tim looked up and got a nod in response, “Okay, so I’ve… I’ve kinda started seeing someone else, now,”
He hasn’t actually told anyone, yet.
He wanted to tell Conner or Dick first but he’d stared at his phone for hours trying to figure out the right words and gave up. Once… Once Bernard could know, know everything, this would be… easier.
“Is she also in… our line of business?” Bruce looked over to where his suit was displayed.
Tim stood there nervously biting his lip, before finally making eye contact.
“H.. He,” Tim paused, letting that hang in the air before actually answering the question, “He’s not. That’s… kinda what I wanted to talk about,”
Bruce’s expression didn't really change, which is what Tim expected, but the way he seems to be at a loss for words for a moment… it tells Tim that none of this is what Bruce was anticipating. Throwing Batman off with just a few words does absolutely give him a certain sense of pride. “I’m still listening,”
“Keeping… this,” Tim looked around the room, gadgets and armor and technology, “Whole thing a secret has messed up a lot of relationships for me, Bruce. I’ve spent so much time pretending to be someone else,” As soon as those words came out, he realized in just how many ways they applied, “He makes me feel like I don’t need to pretend anymore,”
“Tim, are you trying to qu-"
“I’m still in this life Bruce,” Tim sits up a little straighter, “I don’t think I could ever really leave all this behind,” He turned his head, his gaze resting on a screen displaying a map of the city, “I just don't want to keep it from him. He's met me as Robin too now, he’ll figure it out some time anyways,”
“Is this… the friend from the Chaos Monster case, then?” Bruce uncrossed his arms as he stood.
Tim nodded.
“I’m proud of you, you know, for saving those kids,” Bruce took a step closer, reaching out to clasp his arm, “I’m proud of you for so much, Tim, I always am.”
It’s not like Tim thought Bruce wouldn’t accept him… questioning things. Being with another boy. Tim still didn’t know what he was, what he was trying to come out as, but he didn’t really need to.
Tim launched himself into Bruce’s arms, and it felt like reuniting on that rooftop after he’d been lost in time all over again.
“I’m going to tell him. I’m not asking, I just wanted to let you know before I did it.” Tim spoke into Bruce’s shoulder, almost hoping he wouldn’t really hear and the moment could just end there.
“Do you trust him?” But of course he heard.
“I do.”
“Then I’ll trust you,” Bruce pulled back, and smiled down at his son.
The moment was interrupted by the door swinging open, revealing Ghostmaker standing there in gym clothes with boxing gloves in hand, he tilted his head peering into the room.
“I figured you’d be sparring by now, isn’t that normally what happens down here?”
“I thought we made it clear this was a conversation,” Bruce sighed and shot him an unimpressed look.
“Conversations lead to plenty of fights,” He stepped into the room, setting the gloves down, “You of all people would know that,”
“If I didn’t know any better I’d say you just got bored waiting,” Bruce challenged, turning to face the other man.
“Maybe I just couldn’t stay away,” Ghostmaker flashed a wolfish grin, and Tim suddenly felt like he was intruding. He glanced over at Bruce with a questioning look, but he just flashed an unreadable smile back.
“Well then,” Tim looked between the two other men, “I need to go talk to my boyfriend, so I’m gonna-“ He cut himself off as he started heading toward the stairs, “Nice meeting you,” he called back towards Ghostmaker.
Once Tim was out of earshot, he leaned closer in and wrapped his arm around Bruce’s waist, “He’s got a boyfriend? Why were you so worried about telling your kids-“
“This was news to me, but this is his moment, I’m not making it about me,”
“Heh, maybe age has made you wiser,” Ghostmaker leaned in to give Bruce a quick kiss, before pulling back and grabbing his gloves, “Anyways, shall we?”
“The key’s under the mat,“ Tim’s voice came out distorted through the phone, but Bernard could have sworn he sounded nervous.
Which felt a little odd when Bernard's the one who has no clue what's going on. The ‘hey can you come over to my place?’ text he received less than an hour earlier was sudden and had zero context. He figured it probably wasn't a breakup, especially not if he was getting invited over for the first time… but he just didn’t know what to think.
Tim had always been a weird guy, so to some degree he knew what he was signing up for here, but still. “Aren’t you like, super rich and well known these days?” Bernard lifted the little doormat and picked up the apartment key, “Having this in plain sight feels like a bad idea,”
“Don’t worry about it, I’ve got plenty of security,” It sounded like Tim was rushing through wind, running around outside or something, which was really weird if he was supposed to be… meeting him inside his apartment.
Bernard turned the key in the door, and stepped into the mostly empty room. He knew Tim and his previous girlfriend, the same girl he’d been dating back when they’d first met, just broke up and she moved out, and it looked like she took a lot with her. A few notebooks scattered around, some mugs with teabags still left in them, and mismatched throw pillows being the only real points of interest. “So where am I going here?” Bernard stood looking at the two small hallways he could go down.
“Go to the right, the last door,” Bernard didn’t even bother questioning it, this was already so goddamn strange and he was going to see it through. The hall had a few framed pictures, lots of Tim with all the siblings he got when he was adopted by Bruce Wayne, or with these three other teens he didn't recognize. He knew Tim had gone through a bunch of schools, he can only imagine the different people he's met.
He reached the door and opened it, finding a messy bedroom but no Tim. More of the mugs, more papers and books, a few CDs stacked on the desk next to an old stereo system. The window was open, and a breeze came through.
“Tim?” He called out, putting his phone down and looking around, “Seriously, what’s going on?” Bernard’s brain started going over possibilities, maybe Tim had been kidnapped and this was some trap the Chaos Monster cult had set up to bring him back in, or maybe the Joker or Scarecrow were attacking the city again and this was-
He heard something land just outside the window. Someone? When he'd been walking into the building he saw there were small ledges outside, but not with enough space for like a person.
“Bernard, I need you to promise you can keep a secret,” Tim’s voice came from out there regardless of how little sense it made. Bernard stepped closer, to make sure he was heard.
“Oh I totally can, absolutely. Us enigmas are trustworthy, aren’t we?”
Tim laughed. Enigma, that’s what Bernard had called him the day they met. There’s no way he could have known how right he was.
He took a deep breath and climbed in through the window, being careful not to get his cape stuck on the frame.
“Tim?” Bernard stepped back to give him space, “What are you wearing-how are-“
Tim unfolded himself as he properly entered the room, and just smiled, “Hi,”
“No way,” Bernard narrowed his eyes, “There’s no way you’re actually…” His mind was racing. Robins were impermanent, practically everyone knew that in Gotham. They’d all seen how many clearly different kids went through those costumes. Sure, not everyone had the 'secret government graveyards full of Robins' theory Bernard had gotten really into back before the gang wars, but it was still an understood thing. Batman always had a Robin, and when one Robin went away another was in their place within months. They're disposable.
Tim is not disposable.
“I am,” He reached up to remove his mask. There was a cut on his forehead, dirt and sweat and the grime of the city visible on his costume. He’d been out fighting, just before this.
Bernard hesitantly stepped closer, “How do I know you’re really Tim, and not just some clone made to look like Tim? Or-or that you’re not brainwashed, and- oh god am I gonna be taken next? I wanted to learn to fight and all but I don’t wanna be part of this-“
“Hey, my best friend is a clone, don’t judge that,” Tim interjected, "But no brainwashing here, I promise."
“Tell me something Tim would know,” Bernard crossed his arms and gave a pointed look, “Where did we meet?”
“Louis E. Greive Memorial High School,” Tim started to remove his cape, it was heavy and dirty and he got the initial shock value of the costume over with already, “On my first day, you tried to figure out which clique I fit in, and ultimately decided I was an outsider like you,” He laughed a little, “And you were very right about that.”
“Holy shit,” Bernard flopped down onto the edge of the bed, head in his hands “My boyfriend is a superhero, my boyfriend is Robin,”
“I didn’t want to keep it from you,” Tim sat down next to him, their thighs just barely touching, and started taking off his gloves, “I’ve tried to live the double life like that before and it… I really just don’t wanna mess things up with you,”
“You won’t,” Bernard placed his hand on one of Tim’s, lacing their fingers together, “Thanks for telling me, but honestly? Now I'm just really embarrassed about the whole thing I said when you saved me,” He laughed nervously, but Tim just leaned in closer.
“Don’t be… Bernard, you…” Tim felt himself being drawn in by his presence, “It made things click, you just… you make everything make more sense,” Tim felt a surge of confidence and made the move to kiss him again. Bernard immediately wrapped his arms around him, and pulled him backwards onto the bed as he kissed back. Tim could practically feel his heart beating out of his chest as they lay there pressed together, but he didn't care, this moment was too good to feel worried about it.
He didn't have to hide anymore, he didn't have to hide anything around him.
Tim pulled away first just to look down at the other boy, the dim light flooding in from the streets outside made him look etherial. Bernard stroked his cheek, over remnants of the glue that held his mask in place.
“You’re a wonder, Tim Drake,” He smiled, “But also go take a shower, like, right now, you’re getting your bed dirty and not even in a fun way,”