My birthday is coming up and I have a lot of feelings about it, so Tim's sixteenth birthday should be a recurring theme in the coming weeks.
As always, idc about eng grammar, so ignore if something wrong.
"Any plans for your birthday?"
Duke's question catches him off guard. They're getting ready for patrol, and Signal is dressed for bed. Tim blinks, confused, for a second before remembering that yes, he's turning another year older next week.
He senses the other vigilantes paying attention to the conversation. Tim knows the reason well; every year they try to throw a surprise party or something like that. Duke was just the spokesperson this time, testing the waters to see if there was even the slightest chance of it working.
Tim feels a wave of anger. He's said many times that he doesn't celebrate his birthday, and every year they try to get him the same way. Duke has nothing to do with it, just a victim of the Waynes' machinations. So, for the sake of good relations, he smiles at his fellow vigilante and says:
"I usually leave the city during the week to rest a bit, you know? I haven't celebrated my birthday in Gotham for years, and I intend to keep it that way." Remembering something, he adds, "I also don't like receiving gifts, so don't worry, just remembering the date is enough for me."
"Man, that's kind of sad."
"Do the Titans know about this? I swear I heard Rose talking about a party for you, since you said you don't celebrate, I better let you know." Duke stopped talking and frowned. "She said they do this every year?"
Ah, so Duke wasn't a family infiltrator, just someone curious. Well, now that he mentioned the cave, everyone knows about the annual party at the Tower. Tim shrugged.
"Yeah, they do it every year, on my birthday. Someone comes to pick me up at the party and I leave the next day to celebrate. Come this year, it's always a lot of fun if you ignore the general craziness."
"I thought you didn't celebrate…"
"In Gotham. No, I'd rather shoot myself than do anything involving my birthday here." Tim calmly explained, "A horrible trauma involving that date, so I don't celebrate it, but my friends do things every year. I let it go, as long as it has no connection to anything or anyone here."
Duke stared at him, clearly awkward. Around them, the cave fell silent, and he felt the tension rising, the questions, but Duke only nodded affirmatively.
"Then I guess I should stay home."
"No, it's okay, come on, you're too good to trigger me." Tim laughed, patting the boy on the shoulder. "Talk to Rose, she'll give you the information. I'll talk to her to clear your way in."
He headed towards his motorcycle, determined not to let this atypical moment cause him to spiral again.
It was so strange. Tim didn't think Duke would agree to participate in any mental test, but maybe he didn't know he was participating? Hm, that's a good line of thought. Perhaps every year the supposed surprise party was a test, and since it wasn't carried out, Bruce changed his method?
He shakes his head; he refuses to go crazy again.
His birthday is next week; he won't give anything a chance to happen. He changes the motorcycle's route, heading towards the city exit, the exit that leads directly to Metropolis.
Barbara receives a message as soon as he finishes crossing the bridge and enters the City of Tomorrow.
It's a simple message warning that he'll be away for two weeks and shouldn't be disturbed unless the city is in mortal danger.
He sends a message to the family group chat saying he's leaving for two weeks, doesn't say where he is, only that he's with friends and has his phone if they need him.
He takes a shower, puts on his pajamas, orders takeout, sits on the sofa, puts the TV on in the background, opens his laptop, tracks the bats.
His phone vibrates, he ignores the messages, someone calls and he ignores that too, he receives messages on his laptop through social media apps and ignores them, he replies to Cassie who asks why they're asking the Titans about him, she says she'll type something vague to make it seem like he's in San Francisco.
Cassie says she'll arrive as soon as her shift ends, asks him to order food from the downtown restaurant, he does, and takes the opportunity to restock Conner's refrigerator with drinks.
Krypto arrives through the window, curls up on the sofa next to him and rests his head on Tim's feet, who puts down his laptop and snuggles up to the dog.
The bats are in Gotham and Tim is safe.
(He only completely relaxes when the sound of Conner's key comes from the door, when Bart's voice follows and Cassie's exhausted footsteps drag inside.)
