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Naturally things never go well at family gatherings. Tim should know this. Bruce should know this. Steph should know this.
But a family gathering was called for nonetheless so it began.
Dick had insisted on a movie night the first sunday of every month, and despite vociferous protest from a handful of people (the whole family) dick got his way. There’s something about his wet puppy dog eyes and pretty boy face that makes saying no borderline impossible. It might be more possible to break into the pentagon and commit war crimes than tell dick “no”
And so the tradition was born. Every sunday the family trudged begrudgingly to the movie room in the manor, settled into seats that werent assigned but caused the least chaos. Steph curled up next to cass and Tim, duke and dick sat together affably, Jason always managed to smother Damian in one way or another. Babs would wheel her chair closely to the couch and bruce sat in the middle of it all, trying to preserve his sanity and simultaneously enjoy the fleeting moments he has with his children. They are growing up after all, well… maybe not tim, he seems to be perpetually seventeen but bruce didnt have the energy to look into that.
Normally they would put on a cheesy film or one of Bruce’s pretentious black and white cultural films, but dick was grinning when he walked into the movie room. Five minutes late. That had already put everyone edge but his scheming smile was the worst of it all. The silence was uneasy until he cut it
“Plans have changed”
It was an abrupt announcement that left everyone on edge and Steph perked up
“Well what exactly are we doing?”
“I found something very interesting” dick singsonged and held a VHS tape above his head. It looked ancient and frankly on the verge of disuse.
“What… the fuck is that?” An indignant Jason voiced
“B has been holding out on us. Lo and behold, i give you…” Dick paused for dramatic affect “ CHILDHOOD PHOTOS AND HOME VIDEOS!”
Immeadietly there was an uproar. Somewhere between the gleeful cheers of Steph and the bemoaning of Jason. Obviously this would be a very embarrassing experience for the large majority of them, but especially Jason. He had been a bright child and bubbly, any kid photos would ruin his reputation.
This stirred no sympathy from dick
“Shut up! Im the oldest and im saying we do it.” Dick didnt even bother to cast a glance in Bruce’s direction. Simply rummaging around the devices near the screen and popping the tape in.
The screen flickered to light and a picture of dick holding Jason’s hand popped up, an exhausted brotherly look on dicks face, and pure adoration on Jason’s. It was the first of many. Most of the photos features dick and Jason. But after a certain point the photos changed. They were less haphazard, more precise. Practiced and intentional. The subjects no longer realized they were on camera and most of the shots were dramatically zoomed in.
Damian naturally couldn’t resist the moment to comment on the shift in talent, becuase his sole Joy in life was tormenting others.
“Tt. These are significantly improved. Did father take a class?”
Dick shook his head, brows knit and head tilted in the same puzzled expression of a puppy who didnt get a treat for the first time.
“No… i don’t remember any of these and B definitely didnt take them….”
As the others noticed the difference Tim shifted in his seat, skittish and trying not to look at the screen or the others, naturally this didnt escape anyone’s notice and Steph turned to him inquisitively.
“Tim whats wrong?”
Tim coughed and managed to hide his expression with varying degrees of success.
“I.. uh took those ones.”
That shouldn’t have shocked as many people as it did but the others turned to him as if they werent already aware of his stalker tendencies.
Tim continued, “it was a little before i joined up. Just… keep going”
Dick shrugged and continued clicking through. after a while the photos changed again, this time they were darker. It wasnt fluffy and sweet, photos taken out of adoration barely masked or the hero-worshipping photos. No, these were deeply unsettling, they no longer focused on individuals, but shots of people. Sometimes it was crime scenes or a fleeing ambulance, the Blood splattered on the ground. Sometimes it was half profile of a face, squished baby fat in the cheeks redistributed in a painful blossom of bruises. A broken leg in red spandex, clumps of black hair on the ground or a door half ajar and the ground scattered with empty bottles of whiskey.
The photos were haunting and a hush fell over the family. No one could really stomach speaking up, until the second to last photo clicked into place, a child, no older than fifteen, beaten horrifically, eyes swollen shut and skin pale from blood loss. Above the body a crimson message, shakey writing and a handprint making it feel like the work of a sickened toddler “Jason Todd was here”
Jason paled and couldn’t look anywhere but the floor, blood draining from his face, shame written all over his expression. Tim was the same, staring dedicatedly at the ceiling.
The whole family was shocked until dick let out a shuddering sob, turning to a stunned bruce
“What the HELL Bruce? Why are these… what are these even from, why are they here?”
Bruce swallowed before he could reply, the unshakable man shook to his core.
“I dont know.. i didnt add any of these”
To everyone’s surprise Tim piped up
“I did.” There was silence before he continued on. “Bruce was in too deep after he died. I couldn’t imagine anything ever being good again. That i would be accepted. I put them in out of spite.” he swallowed slowly and looked up “i didnt know… i..”
The group stared at Tim in utter shock. One question in everyone’s head… unvoiced until Jason spoke up
“What…. Happened while i was gone..? To bruce.. to.. to you?”
Tim glared a hole in the ceiling. Steeling himself for a moment before he replied. “Bruce was unstable. Chronically drunk when he wasnt in the suit, violent when he was. Criminals… almost died. So many times.. training was hard. Harder than normal, harder than it was for you. He…. tried to end it all one time.. i was just.. it doesnt matter”
Dick, to his credit, tried cutting in “no.. Tim im sorry- WE’RE sorry. You never should’ve had to deal with that. That….. you were a kid.” His voice was rough and cracked with the guilt of an oldest child who failed as the parent they never should have been.
Tim imply shrugged, unable to form words due to the weight on his tongue. Heavy and laden he simply couldn’t bring himself to speak. The uncomfortable silence speaking volumes for him.
Jason couldn’t take the silence, his half attempt at humour, as always, failed miserably.
“Well.. maybe if you’d put up a better fight with me..”
Tim whipped his head in Jason’s direction, casting an icy glare, admonishing silently and laden with rage.
Jasons attempt to backpedal were, at best weak. “No.. Tim im sorry it was a joke. I didnt mean-“
“Shut up”
With that tim stood, grabbing his coat and walking out. Quick Stacatto steps that signified his eagerness to be left alone.
A tension remained in his absence. The couch still indented with his impression, the loss of his presence poignant. It was obvious no one understood the magnitude of his personality in the family. The way he glued the whole mess together silently. And yet no one made an effort to stand or follow, twitching fingers and barely restrained words functioned in the stead of any actual effort. The obvious inability of the whole family to process emotions sans danger or inhibitants.