Today’s idea: Tim isn’t sure who would make a better dad and husband out of Dick or Jason…
Jason would be a great dad but he’s indifferent when it comes to Tim. On the other hand, Dick would make a great and doting husband but what about to their kids.
Basically he thinks Dick would care too much for him while Jason would care too much for the kids…
He sets up small tests to determine their reactions to each scenario. It’s harder to test Jason than Dick but he makes do.
Eventually they corner him. They caught on. They ask what it’s all about and he says he wants a child. They’re stunned. They make it their mission to fulfil his wish.
(Technically he gets both a great husband and father to his kids… idk. Take the idea and make it into whatever you want!!!)
Hiiii Pastel! AGAIN I apologies for late answer I was d e a d plz don't think that I was ignoring u 'cause I WASN'T First of all, it is such A COOL TASTY IDEA OMG thank you for sending me this lol I SEE THE VISION I SEE IT Tim quietly running a relationship experiment on Dick and Jason is already comedy gold. I know you want those two sweetie but couldn't you find someone more normal lmao I imagine Tim having a spreadsheet with "Dick Grayson - Potential Husband???" and "Jason Todd - Potential Father???" It's not that he's choosing between them exactly okay His relationship with both of them is… complicated.
But if he's going to bring kids into this? He needs data. Tim Drake does not make life decisions without data. Tests are simple but Tim writes down everything. Every reaction, every facial expression because HEY he is a professional. He needs all of this for his... let's say... PowerPoint presentation. Tim mentions casually over breakfast how unstable schedules affect kids, and they spent almost an hour discussing it. "Are you saying I'm unstable, Jay?" - "You once left for patrol halfway through cooking pancakes. They fucking BURNED." - "Better a father who burns pancakes than a father who is a crime lord!" - "At least it's fun." - "FOR WHOM?!" He creates a hypothetical scenario during their movie nights something like "What if your kid gets bullied at school?". Dick naturally suggests a conversation or a self-deffence classes while Jason with a smile does not reject the idea of threatening a fourth grader himself lmao. So... Dick is emotionally attentive while Jason is violently supportive. Both useful. AND LISTEN Tim has never doubted that Dick can handle kids. After all, he grew up in a circus, where a bunch of kids were happy to stick to the young acrobat. Tim was one of those kids himself. Dick collects people. Tim doesn't doubt Dick could be a father. But that's also exactly the problem. Dick gives himself to everyone. Dick's love is enormous in his try to fit everyone in, and that's why it’s also diffuse.
Dick would love him fiercely as a partner. Tim has felt that warmth before, the way Dick focuses on him, listens to him, pulls him back from his worst spirals, looking at him with wild adoration. Dick would be an incredible husband. But as a father? Tim fears Dick might become everyone's dad, not just their kids'. BUT Jason and children are different. Jason doesn't have this effortless charm. Jason doesn't melt into silly games the way Dick does. Yet Tim has seen something else: Jason doesn't like children being scared. Jason doesn't like children being hungry. Jason absolutely does not tolerate adults hurting them. Tim once watched Jason spend twenty minutes crouched in an alley talking softly to a runaway kid. Jason knows what it's like to grow up with nothing but fear and anger and survival so when he sees kids, he doesn't see fun, he sees his responsibility as an adult. Jason takes responsibility seriously even if Bruce would not agree with this conclusion. Tim can imagine Jason as a father easily. The kind of father who makes the world feel safer simply by existing.
Jason as a husband tho? That's where Tim hesitates. Jason loves like a wildfire but Jason is also restless. He disappears for days 'cause yeah he has a job to do, men to control, a turf to protect. He carries this frustration behind his ribs, inside his chest. He doesn't always believe he deserves happiness. Tim's love. Tim's affection.
Tim worries that Jason's love would eventually turn toward protecting their child until Tim himself fades into the background. Jason would die for his kid. Tim knows that. But loving a partner every day? Tim isn't sure Jason believes he's allowed to do that. So Tim imagines Jason pouring everything into being a father, and leaving Tim to navigate the emotional space around them all alone. AND HEAR ME OUT Tim doesn't afraid to be a single parent. Nothing to feel shame about. They live in 21th century, and Tim has enough money to support himself and his future children. But his kids deserve better. Tim knows how hard it can be to be completely alone, yearning for attention. His children deserve a full family. So who would be better with kids? Tim already knows the answer. They both would be. But if he has a child… Who will still look at him first? Who will love Tim Drake not just as a parent, not just as part of a family, but as someone worth choosing every day? That's the problem his spreadsheets can't quite solve. He's can't write BOTH. That would be fucking ridiculous.
Turns out Tim forgot one critical thing. Dick Grayson is a good detective. Jason Todd is a paranoid crime lord. They notice.
They corner him in the cave. Jason leans against the Batcomputer, while Dick is holding Tim's notes (you can't really put a password on a piece of paper u know). Tim closes his eyes. He considers several options: lying, running to Europe, suicide. None seem good enough so he says the truth.
"I want a kid." Tim keeps talking before they can respond. "I just wanted to know if one of you would be good at it. I didn't want to ask unless I knew it-"
Dick suddenly hugs him, and Tim squeaks like a dog toy. So... at least Dick isn't mad with him, right? RIGHT??? Dick turns to Jason. "We're doing this." Jason blinks. "We? Are you French now?" - "Timmy wants a kid! Obviously we help!" Jason looks at Tim. Then back at Dick. Then back at Tim. "…Yeah, okay. Sure." Tim blinks. "That was easier than expected."
Jason smirks.
"Timmers, you've seen the shit we deal with in Gotham. Raising a kid sounds relaxing." Then Tim eventually realizes something important. His experiment failed miserably but not because the data was wrong. Or he did a mistake somewhere during it. The premise was wrong.
Dick is a fantastic father too: soft, patient, encouraging. Jason is a surprisingly good partner: steady, protective and loving. And when the baby finally arrives… Tim watches Dick rocking them while Jason unloads groceries. "I bought your favorite liquid chemicals, Timbo." - "He can't have it yet, Jay!" - " Well, he has already snatched a bottle. You can fight him if you want. Also the baby is drooling on your tits, loser."
