Steady On Forward

Chapter 8

His blood boiled. Really? Bruce wanted to save face in front of them? Well fuck that.

"No! You're just too chickenshit to admit you're a bad father⁠—"

"You do not get to speak to me that way," Bruce interrupted.

"Well fuck you, I'm going to! You're a bad fucking father⁠—"

"Red, I know you're angry right now⁠—"

"No!!! Fuck you, and listen to me: you don't know how to deal with anything, and you would clearly rather prioritize your fucking secrets over your children's wellbeing like always!"

"And how do you think Nightwing would feel about you telling Black Canary everything that happened without his permission?" Bruce asked.

"I THINK HE'D CARE ENOUGH ABOUT MY FUCKING WELLBEING TO FORGIVE ME!" Tim screamed. "I've been fucking useless all week and you know it, I've been injured way more than usual on patrols because my response time is shit — and it's not just me either, it's most of us. 

"The moment I try to sleep I hear it happening again, the moment there's any silence, the moment I try to even read a goddamn thing I can't stop hearing it. Do you? Or are you too busy going over the same stupid fucking feeds with Oracle to think about your own son?

"Do you even care about everything that's led up to this happening the way it did? How something like this has happened at least twice before, by my count, and apparently none of us fucking knew about it? Do you give a shit? Or was that all just no problem for you to listen to?!"

Tim's mouth twisted, and he continued, his voice harder. "You so badly want to be in charge? Well here's your fucking decision: You either let me talk to Black Canary about Nightwing, or I find some civilian therapist and tell them about your son, how's that?"

"You wouldn't do that to Nightwing, you know those things have a way of getting out," Bruce said calmly.

Tim let out a hysterical laugh. "Really? You really think I wouldn't?! Because right now I'm feeling like I might do just about anything! So how about you let me talk to Canary before this turns into my fucking supervillain origin story!" He whirled on his heel, cape fanning out behind him, and stormed down the hall.

The assembled members of the Justice League were silent.

"So...things not so great at home right now, huh?" Hal piped up awkwardly.

"Shut your mouth, Lantern," Bruce growled, and whirled away in a fashion quite similar to Tim. Clearly that was where Tim had learned it.

"Am I the only one with more questions than answers now?" Hal asked. "Like what the hell happened on Sunday?"

"I think it would be a breach of trust to pry. This is clearly a deeply personal matter," Diana said. "I will make sure Red Robin gets to Black Canary without further incident. Kal..." She sighed. "Go find Batman. Clearly his children are hurting, he must see that."

Clark nodded. "Yes. The trouble is getting him to listen." But he disappeared down the hall after Bruce nonetheless.

When Diana caught up with Tim, he immediately went on the defensive.

"Here to lecture me for making a scene and yelling at Batman?"

"No," She said. "I think you are brave for telling him what you know to be the truth, and seeking the help you need. I'm here to escort you to Black Canary without further incident."

"Oh. Thank you."

They walked the rest of the way in silence.

"Thanks, Diana," Tim repeated when they arrived outside of Dinah's office-of-sorts.