[He had briefly thought about including Dick in the message he sent out, but decides against it because of Dick’s age and when he came from. Dick has had enough surprises rocking his world so the least Tim could do is make it a little easier, however marginal it might be.
In the end he decides to ask Dick to meet him, because it might be better to do this in person. He uses video aimed at the ground once more, voice quiet and a little tired.]
Roof, block 6, ten minutes. Please.
[When Dick arrives, he’ll find Tim in civilian clothing, mostly hidden by the garden growing on the roof.]
[ Something's wrong. He knows it from the moment he hears Tim's voice, that he's in trouble. That he needs him there ten minutes ago, not ten minutes from now. He makes it in about nine and a half anyway, losing the line mid-jump and letting momentum and gravity do the rest of his work. ]
Hey, Red- [ -and the name dies in his throat almost too late. Civvies.
He changes direction and drops into the garden instead with a soundless hop, waiting a few token seconds before he slides in between two fronds; still hidden, but visible from where Tim is standing. Robin doesn't know Tim.
[He looks up when his periphery vision catches the flash of yellow, not speaking until Dick finds a spot between the foliage. Instead of giving into the urge to scrub at his face with his hands, he sticks both hands in his jeans pockets, a reassuring smile in place. He knows it's unusual to contact Dick in his civvies, but there's no chance for him to change when Bruce is here.]
[The hesitation clues him in and he immediately feels awful, knowing it's his fault. He showed too much, he should've been more careful with his tone and choice of words. But he wasn't, so he probably freaked Dick out for no reason.
To be honest, the Bruce situation is really overwhelming in ways he can't let himself articulate yet, not even in his own mind. But he shouldn't have let it get to him enough to give it away over the comm, even if it's to Dick. Especially since it's to Dick, who isn't the older brother he knows and is too young and certainly not equipped to deal with any of Tim's issues.
He shoots him another reassuring smile, insistent in willing Dick to believe him.]
You didn't do anything wrong.
[He takes a breath.
Lets it out.
Takes another.
There's no point in stalling or hiding anything, it would only be worse in the long run. He knows there's no good way to break the news to Dick, and that makes him tempted to put it off forever.]
I need to tell you something. It's important, so hear me out?
It's silly but...the hand on his arm is reassuring the same way it would be if Dick had been older, and inexplicably he does feel a little better.]
You and me, right? We got this.
[He plows onward, not waiting for a response to something he isn't sure he can completely believe, because he is in over his head and Dick is too young to be able to deal with this. Even so, the smile he has is more honest than earlier, and then it fades into a more serious expression.]
B is here, [He continues quickly before he can lose the nerve, steeling himself for the inevitable reaction.] and he's about your age.
[ Something in his heart leaps so fast and wild with the first words that the next ones blend right in before Tim's demeanor registers again. Those words... ] B...?
[ About your age. It can't be. It can't be Bruce. Bruce is Bruce, Bruce is Batman. And it's one disappointment he's been through before. Hopes raised and then dashed.
But the way Tim said it... ] Wait, back... back up a few steps. Who's... [ He's desperate for the answer and afraid of it at the same time. ] -Who's B?
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[Video] 11/22
In the end he decides to ask Dick to meet him, because it might be better to do this in person. He uses video aimed at the ground once more, voice quiet and a little tired.]
Roof, block 6, ten minutes. Please.
[When Dick arrives, he’ll find Tim in civilian clothing, mostly hidden by the garden growing on the roof.]
[action] 8(
Hey, Red- [ -and the name dies in his throat almost too late. Civvies.
He changes direction and drops into the garden instead with a soundless hop, waiting a few token seconds before he slides in between two fronds; still hidden, but visible from where Tim is standing. Robin doesn't know Tim.
Something's wrong. ]
...Tim?
[action] Dick nooooo ;A;
Hey, how are you doing?
[action] little big bro :c
It's his cue to move, so he does, cautiously up and out of the foliage. ] Me? I'm, uh. I'm doing okay. [ His nerves are on edge, suddenly. ]
...What's up?
[action] big little bro 8(
To be honest, the Bruce situation is really overwhelming in ways he can't let himself articulate yet, not even in his own mind. But he shouldn't have let it get to him enough to give it away over the comm, even if it's to Dick. Especially since it's to Dick, who isn't the older brother he knows and is too young and certainly not equipped to deal with any of Tim's issues.
He shoots him another reassuring smile, insistent in willing Dick to believe him.]
You didn't do anything wrong.
[He takes a breath.
Lets it out.
Takes another.
There's no point in stalling or hiding anything, it would only be worse in the long run. He knows there's no good way to break the news to Dick, and that makes him tempted to put it off forever.]
I need to tell you something. It's important, so hear me out?
[action]
Hey... [ His blood's running like ice but he edges in a step closer anyway, hand reaching out instinctively to light on his arm. ]
You're my friend. Whatever it is, we can deal.
[action]
It's silly but...the hand on his arm is reassuring the same way it would be if Dick had been older, and inexplicably he does feel a little better.]
You and me, right? We got this.
[He plows onward, not waiting for a response to something he isn't sure he can completely believe, because he is in over his head and Dick is too young to be able to deal with this. Even so, the smile he has is more honest than earlier, and then it fades into a more serious expression.]
B is here, [He continues quickly before he can lose the nerve, steeling himself for the inevitable reaction.] and he's about your age.
[action]
[ About your age. It can't be. It can't be Bruce. Bruce is Bruce, Bruce is Batman. And it's one disappointment he's been through before. Hopes raised and then dashed.
But the way Tim said it... ] Wait, back... back up a few steps. Who's... [ He's desperate for the answer and afraid of it at the same time. ] -Who's B?