Chapter Text
Hit
Block
Dodge
Kill.
Breathe Tim. Don't lose your shit now.
The horde of zombie-like creatures ran at Cardinal. He was surrounded and no one would help him- not like corpses would be able to.
The “Awakened” member watched silently from above until they dropped down as the zombies got closer each second while Tim grew tired.
“Glory to our Lord! My Lord! Accept this sacrifice and bring divination to the land!” A booming voice echoed across the warehouse. His heterochromic eyes shined under the harsh lights of the warehouse.
It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts.. Ithurtsutshurtsithurts-
Flesh ripping and a terrified scream tore through Tim's throat.
I can't die- please! Fuck! It hurts- make it stop. Why did it end up like this? What did my family do to deserve this?
-Ding!-
________
𝐆𝐨 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤?
. . .
Yes / No
________
Anything to stop this pain- yes!-
–🕚–
Tim's ears rang as commotion exploded behind him. Where am I?
He blinked rapidly, everything seemed blurry and his head was full of liquid. Was someone yelling at him?
“-Red Robin!” His earpiece chimed as Oracle- no Babs, yelled out his moniker. His head snapped up and his eyes stinged from hearing her voice after so long. Despite his past body, the burn in his throat lingered and splotches of pain where skin tore jolted him.
“What's going on?” Cardinal- Red Robin attempted to assess the situation, looking around as a gang member ran up to him.
“Robin's compromised! He needs back-up!” Oracle sounded annoyed. Tim was messing up by not responding in time. His memory felt fuzzy. Today's the day Damien got seriously injured! Tim realized. He has to stop this. Robin being benched placed a major step back with the events that led to the “Awakened” being created.
Red Robin ignored the lackey's of- if he remembers correctly- Black Mask. Normally, Red Hood would've taken care of this mess but he begrudgingly asked for some assistance because of the scale Black Mask was working at.
Red Robin rushed towards Robin who was clutching his leg while scowling at being held at gunpoint. He can't be hasty. Good thing Red Robin is here to do that for him.
Tim rushed in, at Black Mask who turned the gun towards him and a bullet grazed his shoulder. With little stumble, Red Robin was aggressive and undeterred. The belligerent figure, raged at the thought of his younger brother getting hurt (or worse) just after he had gotten everyone back, hit hard.
A loud curse made Tim turn again- momentarily stopping the brutal hits. It was Jason. He got shot. A familiar glow emitted in front of Tim. The same screen that gave him a chance to go back.
________
Cut your arm. Now!
________
Without thinking, Tim slashes his arm, pursing his lips at his own impulsivity. A bright flash blinds him.
–🕚–
He's mid-hit to Black Mask who isn't as injured. What the hell? Red Robin reacts quickly and abandons Black Mask (after making sure his leg is at least broken so he can't run) to push Red Hood down. The bullet barely hits and Red Robin is checking over Red Hood who gets back up.
“Thanks- How'd you know that someone was going to shoot?” Tim doesn't answer, he's too busy checking Jason's pulse and breathing. Ignoring the fact his arm is bleeding. It'll blend with my suit. It's fine. As soon as Tim makes sure Jason's okay, he turns his attention to the sniper who fired the shot.
He launches at him and hits the scrambling man with his own gun. Blood soaks his suit. Blending with his own.
“Red Robin, stop!” Tim swerved his head around at the voice, Dad. “We will talk in the cave.” Batman's tone was sharp but the underlying Bruce seemed concerned. Tim could burst into tears right now. Not because he's in trouble (well that's more like 5% if the reason) but because he hasn't heard dad's voice in so long. He took in the gnarly sight.
Damien was being escorted by Bruce, Jason was looking at Tim strangely (at least that's what he thinks, it's hard to tell when Jay's wearing a helmet), and Babs, who was half watching over them and half watching over Steph and Cass during their patrol, muttered something unintelligible. Police sirens were screaming in the distance getting closer.
They're alive. I'm alive.. Cass- Cass isn't gone… I need to see them. They need to be breathing- all of them. This isn't a dream is it? No, no. I can feel my heart- it's too fast, it can't be fake. What was that screen? His mind went a mile a minute, thoughts overlapping with each other.
The adrenaline crash hit Tim like a train. He felt his whole body weaken. When was he so weak and frail? His hands trembled and his legs shook. That could partly be because of the blood loss but he trudged onto his bike- God he could collapse. He made his way to the Batcave a bit frantically.
It's okay… They're alive, all of them are alive. Alfred- Tim choked up. He's alive. Cass isn't missing. I missed them so much. I'm so scared I'll wake up and everyone will be dead again. I feel really light headed- why am I so emotional? Oh I'm at the entrance.
Red Robin entered the Batcave as Tim entered his home. Eyes tinted red. Steph and Cass were already there, putting on their casual cool down clothes. Without thinking, he throws off his cowl and runs up to the two girls to hold them tight.
“Tim! You're still in your suit and you're sweaty! Did you miss us that much?” Steph joked. Yes. Cass slowly peeled Tim off them and held out her hand for his arm. He hesitated but let Cass check his wounds. She rolled up his sleeve and a bloodied arm filled everyone's view. When did those get there.. Oh fuck it was the zombies! Tim's arm had unfamiliar scars engraved into his skin. The ripped skin from the zombies lingered as a reminder. Cass glared at him.
“It was from.. When B was gone!” Tim blurts as an excuse and Steph looks away as Cass' eyebrows furrow. Faintly in the distance, Tim swears he could see Ras confused for an unexplainable reason. She grabs the disinfectant- mindful about the fact Tim's spleen is missing and general cleanliness.
She wraps the arm up and signs: ‘Go change' which he does leave to do but his hand lingers over hers. Once he's changed, Batman, Robin, and surprisingly Red Hood come into the cave. Right- scolding. Tim hasn't been scolded in months and the waves of ‘everyone's here right now' emotions are on an all-time high right now isn't helping.
It hurts. Tim realizes. I keep.. Seeing their painful faces- dying but they kept smiling. Why? Tim knew why. He just didn't want to believe that they wouldn't scream in pain just so that wasn't his last memory of them. The memories feel fresh despite being so long ago. For a moment in the past, Tim had forgotten what they looked like. And for a moment, he wondered. Was anything r̴̨̦͕̝ẹ̿͋̒̕ā̤̓̍͘l̙͖̑̾ͣ?
“Tim, come here..” Bruce ‘terrible at communication but is trying' Wayne strikes again. If Tim remembers correctly, this should be around a month and a half after he rescues Bruce from the timestream (also one of the worst times of his life) which means things are awkward and only Cass and Alfred know about the spleen thing (Cass knows more- obviously). This is gonna go really great. Tim awkwardly goes towards Bruce, brushing past looks from his siblings. He isn't used to this many people in the cave.
“Explain what happened at the drug bust with Jason,” Which translates to: “What's wrong, that's not like you?” Tim's a bit rusty but he could never forget how to translate meanings. I barely even know what happened myself.. Why did I explode like that? I feel so emotional since I came back- what is even the screen thing? Why haven't I been thinking clearly?
Tim realizes he's been silent for too long again. “I was being.. Impulsive, I was worried that severe casualties would occur and reacted accordingly.” Nothing I said is false- I'm just leaving out the parts where I came from the future through a weird hologram screen thing and I think I died??? No way am I being accused of being crazy… again…
Bruce grunts nervously. So Jason steps in. “Why'd you hit so hard, Timmy?” He keeps his voice light and casual. “You're turning like me~” Despite it sounding like a joke, Tim can't help feeling a sense of worry but that would be crazy from Jason.
“Sorry.. I got worried? I didn't want you guys to get hurt,” The ‘again' went unsaid. Tim's eyes darkened. “That was unwise of you, Drake. We can handle ourselves.” Damien remarked. Tim sighed, they aren’t helpless after all. He nodded, a brief look of quiet determination flashing by.
“Next time, don't rush in. The two of you could've gotten hurt.” Bruce says, taking off his cowl. “Of course… is it alright if I stay the night here at the manor?” Tim picked his fingers, not so patiently waiting for the response.
The request came as a shock to the others, ever since B came back from the time stream, Tim had been mostly distant. “Go ahead..?” Bruce managed out. Steph brightens up and swings her arm around his neck. “Let's have a sleepover! All of us!” She gestures to Cass, Jason, and Damien. Cass steps closer to sign, ‘Oldest isn't here,’ Steph doesn't get deterred. “We'll just call him! Besides~ if Dick knew Jay and Tim were here, he would probably get here in a few minutes!” Jason interjects, “I didn't agree to staying by the way!” Cass gives him a look and he grumbles.
Ah.. I'm happy. Tears trickle down his cheeks and he wipes them quickly. Why am I crying? It seems hysterical to cry. A hand steadied Tim. Nobody pointed out his crying- probably because no one really cared other than a few glances.
Hurriedly regaining his composure, Tim and the others (including Damien who had surprisingly waited) headed up to one of the main living rooms. Steph left for blankets and pillows to build a fort.
“Now I do hope you all will clean up after yourselves,” An older British voice pipes. “I'm far too glad the both of you are staying for the night.” Alfred calmly places his hand on both Tim and Jason. “It's nothing, Alfie. Side's, I've missed your cooking.” Jason softened.
“Hurry along then, lads,” Alfred slightly nudged the boys towards the living room. Tim's eyes were glossy and distant, as if he was seeing something else from everybody else.
Once the fort was built, Steph called Dick who was so offended he wasn't invited, demanded they all stay for the next day so he could also hang around. Bruce silently watched from afar every now and then, a smile on his face.
As it got later, they all eventually fell asleep. Tim was underneath Steph's arm, Jason sleeping nearby with Damien next to his side, and Cass next to Steph.
-💤-
“Tim!” A voice jolted Tim. “Tim! You have to run!” Her voice grew more distant. Steph, he realized, was pushing him forward as he stumbled. Ash and smoke covered his vision. It felt like he was some spectator in his own mind. “Steph!-” He tried to yell.
!ǝɯ ǝʌɐǝן ʇ,uop
His hands were stained red, his vision blurry. Burns over his body ate away at his skin. His hands shook as he saw Steph's body in the distance.
Heavy breathing,
Rough footsteps.
Rubble everywhere.
When he reached her body a faint pulse sparked hope in him. She coughed violently. “Tim- you have to live. Okay? Embrace the pain, the frailty, and the moments so unbearably shameful. You have to forgive yourself. Again and again, endlessly… Because everything begins from there."
His hands lifted her head, charred fingertips and blistering red burns all over Steph's face. She was still smiling. His ears rang and he heard screaming in the distance, Tim's throat hurt. “I'm sorry. I'm sorry.. I'm so sorry… this is all my fault..” He muttered.
-💤-
Tim woke with a gasp. Sweat and tears clinging onto him. He glances at Steph who stirs. A flash of burns on her face appeared over her sleeping figure. Snap out of it. Still alive… He lets out a breath of relief. He checks the clock, only 6am.
He quietly gets up, careful not to wake the others. I need some water. He heads to the barren kitchen and carefully takes out a cup with a small cardinal painted on it. Filling it up with cold water, he turns and gets startled by Cass.
The glass cup shatters and Tim quietly curses. “Sorry- didn't notice you coming.” He bent down to pick up the jagged edges. Cass drops beside him to help as well. The two make sure no glass is left for anyone to step on and Cass takes the glass pieces away and leaves which Tim assumes she just threw in the trash.
After getting a new glass of water, he sits himself down after grabbing a random notebook laying around to get his thoughts in order. Tim writes:
Events in order-
●Died?
●Stopped major injuries
●… ?
Tim paused, how did he come back? What was that screen? On cue, the same blue screen pops up.
________
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬! (≧∇≦)/
𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰 ‘𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝’ 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟
t̲̂̓ͩ̑ḣ̖̻͛̓ẹ̿͋̒̕ s̠҉͍͊ͅy҉̃̀̋̑s̠҉͍͊ͅt̲̂̓ͩ̑ẹ̿͋̒̕𝐦̬́̏ͤͅ
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐬:
???
𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐚𝐥
________
Tim was startled. The system? The supposed god of the ‘Awakened’? This ‘god' killed my family. And it's acting like nothing happened? He gripped the table hard enough to whiten his knuckles. As if it could read his mind, it went on.
________
𝐖𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲.
𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝?
（๑ ᷇ 𖥦 ᷆๑)♡
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐬:
???
𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐚𝐥.
________
Tim let out a short huff. The ‘system' was right after all. If this… entity can do something like turning back time easily and giving powers- they could most likely return me or hurt my family again.. Tim raised his arm towards the screen, he hesitated as his finger hovered over the stats. This feels like a video game… He presses the screen (hoping nobody comes in while he looks c̶r̶a̶z̶y̶ stupid.
________
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐬:
Ability control: C Tier
XP Bar-
■□□□□□□□□□ 10%
Lvl: 1
Sanity: 89%
Health:
♡♡♡♡♡
Items:
????
𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞
________
Sanity… ? Why is that a stat?- I'm not even going to question it. Tim clicks on the ability control. Oh.. This explains a lot.