all that's done and gone and passed tonight (mix of open and closed)

[overlyprecocious]

Who: Tim Drake overlyprecocious and friends
What: Tim is Coping and it's fine
When: late January, after the Hunger Games mostly
Where: Central City mostly. and Sky High.
Content Warnings: a little trauma related to being kidnapped into space by aliens (twice!! thanks, canon), a lot of anxiety, some unhealthy coping mechanisms like food hoarding and vigilantism

It's not like Tim is traumatized by his experience in the survival games. If anything, he's relieved that he was snagged by the aliens and not, say, a hapless seven-year-old. He has survival training, he has a magic restocking utility belt, he has family he was able to meet up with and work with. It was easy for him, comparatively speaking. It just - being kidnapped to space made him even more aware of the metaphorical sword of Damocles already hanging over his head whenever a Confluence finally brings him back home again. There's an extra cruel sting to being reminded that he's not even safe from being randomly yanked from his home and sent back into danger outside of Confluences.

Being more active as Robin is a reasonable precaution. He was already caught off guard once, and thankfully he at least had a minimum of supplies on him and the utility belt even if he didn't have the benefit of the full Robin suit. What he has on him here won't do him much good when he's yanked back home, but at least he's more prepared for anything that happens in this reality when he's suited up.

Comments

[robintohood]

"Nico, we were taught to be prepared for anything at all times," Jason says, standing up. He's ready get in between the boys if needed. "Realistically, that's not possible but it's a mentality we all wound up with and it's hard to ignore sometimes. But thank you for helping tonight."

[overlyprecocious]

Drakes are not known for being physically affectionate (though he’s gotten better at that, what with Dick being his big brother both here and at home), and yet, watching his friend yell at him about potentially dying, he just.

He hugs Nico?

He’s a little shocked by it himself, but he’s not really sure what else to do and this seems like the right thing.

[demigoth]

He would’ve preferred an argument, but Nico is getting much better with hugs. He does stiffen up, because hugging Tim is new - and because he’s worried about hurting his friend if he hugs him too hard.

But after a second of blinking, he does carefully wrap his arms around Tim. “Hey. You’re okay. You’re still dumb enough to invent flying chainsaws, but it’s okay.”

Nico pats him on the back, but doesn’t let go. Sometimes a hug needs time to sink in.

[robintohood]

Some tension leaves Jason when the boys hug. It's an action neither of them are used to so it's very significant that they're doing so now. It's certainly better than more arguing or yelling.

"Both of you can sleep here tonight," He says. "It's getting late and I'd rather the both of you are here than being out again."

[overlyprecocious]

"I bet you could do something useful with a flying chainsaw." Tim doesn't really know what he's doing with hugging, either, which is why when he remembers that Jason's here, he extracts himself awkwardly. At least neither of them are arguing anymore.

"I told Dick I was coming back later."

[demigoth]

"You don't want to know what you can do with a flying chainsaw," Nico says hurriedly, sensing the time is not right to regale them with the story of Paolo's Unexpectedly Detachable Limbs.

Sleep... sounds good. So does a shower. Nico shakes his head. "I have to go back to the store - I left a Cocoa Puff there. All my clothes are in the apartment at the bar in the winter, too."

[robintohood]

"You can tell Dick you're sleeping over here tonight. I can do it too if you want," Jason says before turning to Nico. "I can fetch some of your clothes. Wouldn't hurt for you to have some stuff here in case the attic stops being an option one day. Would one of those puffs follow me or does it have to be you?"

Jason would rather Nico not return to the scene of the unintentional crime if possible. He knows he'll also have to ask Babs or TJ later if the gas station's security footage can be destroyed later. He still doesn't trust the government to have custody of Nico.

[overlyprecocious]

"I'll do it," Tim says before typing out an extremely detailed message to his guardian about where he is and who he's with. See how responsible he's being, making sure Dick doesn't worry.

"We need to get rid of the security footage, too," he points out because bats are bats and sometimes they have the same priority lists.

[demigoth]

“They’ll probably follow you,” Nico says nervously, “but don’t touch them. They’re… you know. Corporal beings from human darkness.”

From his human darkness. Whenever Nico directly touches them, he gets flashes of emotions and memories. He doesn’t want Jason to have that. “Maybe you should take some candy to bribe them.”

Turning to look at Tim, his tone changes to real worry. “Were there movie cameras?”

[robintohood]

“Babs can pull the footage,” Jason says. “I can ask her.”

He then walks to the kitchen and checks the cabinet where the snacks are kept. They’re certainly not short on chocolate at least, thanks to Sleeper.

[overlyprecocious]

"Unless they're cheap and use fakes, most places like that have cameras taking videos of what's happening in the store in case they need it," Tim explains to Nico. "But we know a lot of people who can steal any physical copies of it and get rid of any non-physical copies."

Babs would be best at it, but he and TJ and Dick are good at it, and pretty much anyone Batman-trained would know what they're doing.

[demigoth]

"What's the point of using fakes? Even if they were real, they didn't work," Nico thinks the whole concept sounds ridiculous, and, for the millionth time, he misses the Mist just forcing a different interpretation on everyone else. He never remembers that it's not going to be there. "They were still robbing the store, and if you get rid of the film, they'll get away with it."

[robintohood]

"The cameras also caught your face and Robin's. The priority is your safety," Jason says as he pulls out two chocolate bars. "Besides, it sounds like they're not gonna rob anybody after what happened tonight."

[overlyprecocious]

"Sometimes robbers will see the cameras and decide it's not worth it. Even if they're actually fake."

He considers Nico's objection for a moment.

"We could maybe leave them footage with just the robbers in it? But someone getting their arm chopped off is a pretty big deterrent."

[demigoth]

"That would've been smart. It's not like they were stealing food," Nico says. It wouldn't have been the same, if they were just a couple of hungry kids trying to quiet their stomachs.

They wouldn't have shot Tim. When he got knocked back, Nico thought... no, but it's fine. Tim's fine. He's not going anywhere.

Nico takes a couple steps back, still staring at Tim like he's about to finally collapse in blood or waste away to dust. Nico needs to be somewhere else. "I'm going to get a shower."

[robintohood]

Jason notices how shaken Nico still is but can’t really comment on it for now. There are more immediate tasks he’ll have to take care of first before attempting to mend more of his charge’s emotional wounds.

“You should be safe here but if anything happens or you need me for anything, you know how to reach me,” he says as he heads back to his bedroom to change into his Red Hood suit. “Don’t be afraid to reach for any of the others either.”

The others meaning the rest of the BatFamily.

[overlyprecocious]

"Okay." If they'd been kids stealing food and Robin saw it, then no he didn't. Unless he had the cash on hand to cover it. Either way.

It's kind of obvious that Nico is - not doing great, from the way he's staring at Tim, but Tim's not really sure what to do about that so if he wants to shower off the night, he's definitely not going to stop him. "Are you heading out?" he asks Jason.

[demigoth]

[ They’re busy talking to each other, and Nico takes that as a cue to go unmissed. He turns on his heel and heads down a hallway. They all lead to bathrooms eventually.

Tim is okay. Jason won’t leave unless Tim’s okay.

The bathroom door’s ajar, and Nico locks himself inside. He turns the shower immediately and sits down on the tile floor instead of getting in. Tim’s fine, and Nico thinks he really screwed up. He’s never going to look at Nico the same.

[robintohood]

“Only for a little bit. Where was this gas station?” Jason replies as he catches from the corner of his eye a Nico retreating to the hallway. “I’m coming back right afterwards.”

Jason then faintly hears the shower running.

“If either of you need to talk, you can always ask,” he adds softly. “Feel free to use the kitchen or just crash in one of the guest bedrooms if you want.”

[overlyprecocious]

Tim gets out his phone and sends Jason a pin drop of the location. It's not too far away, which is good since Jason won't have the benefit of Nico's shadow-traveling to get him there practically instantly.

"I'm okay," he says, which he's maybe not totally okay from a certain point of view, but he's... going to be okay at some point, which is basically the same thing.

[demigoth]

[ About a half hour later, Nico finally comes out of the bathroom. Somehow, he looks worse than he went in. His black hair is soaked: what isn’t plastered to his head is threatening to curl.

His clothes are soggy, too, from being spot-cleaned in the sink with hand soap. Nico’s good at that, but Jason’s bathroom doesn’t have a hand dryer.

Nico stops in the hallway, unsure of what to do now. It’s too cold to walk home, but staying’s a bad idea. If he is in trouble, he can’t be here at Jason’s, but they’d worry if he shadow travelled away. ]

[overlyprecocious]

[Tim's still here.

He'd seen Jason off and texted Dick just enough to make it look like this is a normal impromptu sleepover. They're pretty much on their own at the moment while Jason handles the cleanup at the store. Which means Tim's alone while Nico showers.

(He gets in a quick shower of his own in the meantime. It's a penthouse, there's multiple bathrooms. And he wasn't lying to Dick when he said he had some spare clothes here; by the time Nico leaves the bathroom, he's changed into civilian clothing and taken some painkillers for the doozy of a bruise he's getting from the bullet impact.)

He's been keeping an ear out for Nico, though, and when he hears the door open, he peeks his head around the corner.] Hey.

[demigoth]

Hey.

[ Nico shoves his hands into his coat pockets and looks the other way for a second, through the living room to the door. Then back at Tim, who looks smaller out of his supersuit. ]

When Jason gets back, I’m gonna go. I don’t want to leave without the Puff or leave you alone.

[ They should’ve taken Tim to a doctor. Guess they couldn’t without explaining how he got heard. ]

Do you need anything? I can raid the fridge.

[overlyprecocious]

Nah.

[It’s pretty obvious that Nico is - not exactly convinced that Tim is okay. He sighs.] - I really am all right. It hurt, but the armor’s good at keeping me safe. And I’m more, I guess, durable than average? It’s one of my powers.

Jason would’ve called Dick or the older brother with healing powers if he thought it was that bad.

You don’t have to leave, either.

[demigoth]

I don't know what to do at a "sleepover."

[ It's not quite a promise to stay, but it's a reason. Tim can have that much, so he doesn't think it's his fault. It's probably Nico's. ]