Anything For You
Title: Anything For You
Rating: G
Word Count:
Notes: I was listening to “Anything For You,” by Evanescence, and this was the result.
Warnings: Based of a song.
Summary: Tim never did react to fear toxin the way everyone else did.
Disclaimer: I don’t own any of the characters, no matter how many comic books are scattered around me right now. Don’t own anything by Evanescence either.
Comments: Yes, please! I'd like to know if you like this, or even just if you read it.
“Tim, there’s something we need to talk about,” Dick said, walking over to Tim.
Tim turned, and cocked his head.
Damian walked in, wearing the Robin costume. Tim froze, then a sad, broken smile crossed his face. “I told you before Dick, I’ll be anything for you. You don’t have to sugar coat it.”
“Tim, it’s not-”
“Shh. It’s alright. If you want me, come and find me upstairs.”
Dick stood statue still. He had seen that smile before. When? Oh.
~Years before~
“Tim?” Dick was shocked to see the teen standing in the Batcave, apparently just waiting for him. Dick had been about to call Oracle to ask for her help finding him. Bruce was going to kill him. First time Batman goes off-world after his new Robin started patrolling and this happens. He was never going to be allowed to Robin-sit again. His comm had been smashed in the fight with Scarecrow, and Tim had disappeared. Dick was fairly sure he had been hit with fear toxin, and Tim had had only a single dose of antidote left after helping the victims they had come across before they found Scarecrow. The new formula Crane had was stronger than usual, it had taken two doses for Dick to stop feeling the effects. Finding Tim already in the cave when he returned was a relief, one that was short lived as Dick realized there was something wrong with Tim’s expression.
Tim smiled a sad, broken little smile. “Hello Dick.” Tim looked small and broken in a way that had nothing to do with broken bones or bruises. “There’s nothing left, so I came home. I hope you don’t mind too much, I promise not to be a burden. You’re all that’s left,” Tim rambled. “If you could, I would appreciate it if you would occasionally pretend, just a little, that you loved me. You don’t even have to be very convincing, or do it more than once or twice a year. Just enough that I could pretend there was reasonable doubt that you held any sort of affection for me. In exchange, I’ll do anything you say, be anything you need.”
Dick stood, stunned speechless. Tim seemed to take this as some sort of refusal. “Don’t worry, I don’t expect you to actually have any sort of feelings for me. I’m not that childish. I was always just the replacement, the place holder. I understand that now, I accept it. I’m sorry I bothered everyone so much with my misunderstandings before. I’ll do better this time.”
‘What?! What on Earth is he talking about?’ Dick thought, moving forward. He scooped Tim into a hug, and was surprised when Tim actually hugged him back, a fast, desperate squeeze before letting go. “Shhh, baby bird, you’ve been drugged. We’ll get you the antidote,” Dick assured him, guiding him towards the examination area.
Tim obediently followed the pressure from the hand on his shoulder, and let Dick draw blood, check his pulse, and give him another dose of antidote. Fifteen minutes later, the slightly glazed look in Tim’s eyes had faded, and he seemed lucid again.
“Hey Tim. Back with me?” Dick asked gently.
“Yeah. Fear toxin? I took the antidote,” Tim said.
“The stuff was more concentrated this time,” Dick explained. “It took twice the normal dose of antitoxin to clear the effects. Can you tell me what was going on for you? You didn’t seem scared, just …not completely lucid, and resigned.”
Tim closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. “I thought you were Batman, and had replaced me,” Tim said quietly. “Replaced me, and told me I was no longer needed.”
Dick immediately engulfed Tim in a hug. “I promise, little brother, I’ll never replace you. I love you, and you’ll always be my little brother.”
Tim stiffened, then slowly melted into the hug. “I believe you.” Dick held his little brother close, and wondered why Tim’s reassurance had sounded more like a promise to believe all his lies. Tucking Tim’s head under his chin, Dick did his best to tell Tim without words that there was nothing pretend about his affection for his little brother.
~Present~
Dick sank down into the computer chair and buried his head in his hands. He had really messed up this time. Batman, Bruce, had thought Tim was immune to fear toxin. He never reacted like others did, if anything, fear toxin made him calmer, more determined, and just a touch reckless. Sometimes he sought Dick out after getting dosed, sometimes he didn’t. Dick was the only Bat to know the truth. Tim’s greatest fear was being replaced, and he had just made that fear come true.
Rating: G
Word Count:
Notes: I was listening to “Anything For You,” by Evanescence, and this was the result.
Warnings: Based of a song.
Summary: Tim never did react to fear toxin the way everyone else did.
Disclaimer: I don’t own any of the characters, no matter how many comic books are scattered around me right now. Don’t own anything by Evanescence either.
Comments: Yes, please! I'd like to know if you like this, or even just if you read it.
“Tim, there’s something we need to talk about,” Dick said, walking over to Tim.
Tim turned, and cocked his head.
Damian walked in, wearing the Robin costume. Tim froze, then a sad, broken smile crossed his face. “I told you before Dick, I’ll be anything for you. You don’t have to sugar coat it.”
“Tim, it’s not-”
“Shh. It’s alright. If you want me, come and find me upstairs.”
Dick stood statue still. He had seen that smile before. When? Oh.
~Years before~
“Tim?” Dick was shocked to see the teen standing in the Batcave, apparently just waiting for him. Dick had been about to call Oracle to ask for her help finding him. Bruce was going to kill him. First time Batman goes off-world after his new Robin started patrolling and this happens. He was never going to be allowed to Robin-sit again. His comm had been smashed in the fight with Scarecrow, and Tim had disappeared. Dick was fairly sure he had been hit with fear toxin, and Tim had had only a single dose of antidote left after helping the victims they had come across before they found Scarecrow. The new formula Crane had was stronger than usual, it had taken two doses for Dick to stop feeling the effects. Finding Tim already in the cave when he returned was a relief, one that was short lived as Dick realized there was something wrong with Tim’s expression.
Tim smiled a sad, broken little smile. “Hello Dick.” Tim looked small and broken in a way that had nothing to do with broken bones or bruises. “There’s nothing left, so I came home. I hope you don’t mind too much, I promise not to be a burden. You’re all that’s left,” Tim rambled. “If you could, I would appreciate it if you would occasionally pretend, just a little, that you loved me. You don’t even have to be very convincing, or do it more than once or twice a year. Just enough that I could pretend there was reasonable doubt that you held any sort of affection for me. In exchange, I’ll do anything you say, be anything you need.”
Dick stood, stunned speechless. Tim seemed to take this as some sort of refusal. “Don’t worry, I don’t expect you to actually have any sort of feelings for me. I’m not that childish. I was always just the replacement, the place holder. I understand that now, I accept it. I’m sorry I bothered everyone so much with my misunderstandings before. I’ll do better this time.”
‘What?! What on Earth is he talking about?’ Dick thought, moving forward. He scooped Tim into a hug, and was surprised when Tim actually hugged him back, a fast, desperate squeeze before letting go. “Shhh, baby bird, you’ve been drugged. We’ll get you the antidote,” Dick assured him, guiding him towards the examination area.
Tim obediently followed the pressure from the hand on his shoulder, and let Dick draw blood, check his pulse, and give him another dose of antidote. Fifteen minutes later, the slightly glazed look in Tim’s eyes had faded, and he seemed lucid again.
“Hey Tim. Back with me?” Dick asked gently.
“Yeah. Fear toxin? I took the antidote,” Tim said.
“The stuff was more concentrated this time,” Dick explained. “It took twice the normal dose of antitoxin to clear the effects. Can you tell me what was going on for you? You didn’t seem scared, just …not completely lucid, and resigned.”
Tim closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. “I thought you were Batman, and had replaced me,” Tim said quietly. “Replaced me, and told me I was no longer needed.”
Dick immediately engulfed Tim in a hug. “I promise, little brother, I’ll never replace you. I love you, and you’ll always be my little brother.”
Tim stiffened, then slowly melted into the hug. “I believe you.” Dick held his little brother close, and wondered why Tim’s reassurance had sounded more like a promise to believe all his lies. Tucking Tim’s head under his chin, Dick did his best to tell Tim without words that there was nothing pretend about his affection for his little brother.
~Present~
Dick sank down into the computer chair and buried his head in his hands. He had really messed up this time. Batman, Bruce, had thought Tim was immune to fear toxin. He never reacted like others did, if anything, fear toxin made him calmer, more determined, and just a touch reckless. Sometimes he sought Dick out after getting dosed, sometimes he didn’t. Dick was the only Bat to know the truth. Tim’s greatest fear was being replaced, and he had just made that fear come true.