Chapter Text
A heavy silence reigned in the Watch Tower, a silence broken only by the muffled sound of Tim Drake aka Red Robin's footsteps echoing through the deserted corridors once filled with life. Each step was a silent, desperate prayer for a miracle, a glimmer of hope in the darkness that had engulfed the world since the arrival of the virus. Tim could only replay the death of Bruce, his father and mentor, and the rest of his family and friends. Yet now he's standing in front of the door to the infirmary, but he's struggling to move forward to open the door. The 23-year-old is afraid that Clark will refuse or deny his claims again, like when Tim told the entire heroic community that Bruce was lost in time and not dead. He was taken for a fool by everyone. It took losing his spleen, destroying Ra's Al Ghul's entire base and nearly being killed by Ra's Al Ghul for people to realise that Tim had been right all along. Mustering up all his courage, Tim makes his way through the empty infirmary and continues walking until he reaches the solitary confinement area. Arriving at the last isolation cell, Tim took a deep breath, gathering his courage before pressing the control panel to open communication with the cell's occupant.
Inside, he discovered Clark Kent, once the living symbol of hope and justice, now weakened and scarred by the disease that has ravaged the entire planet. Tim's gaze fell on the man before him, an icon fallen from his pedestal, but still imbued with dignity and resilience. And despite all the wrongs Clark had done to Connor, because he couldn't see that Connor was as much a victim in Lex Luthor's plan to clone Superman as Clark was, Tim still respected the hero.
‘Tim...’ Clark murmured, his voice weak but full of determination. ‘I didn't expect to see you here.’
Tim offered him a strained smile. ‘I had to see you. I had to... talk with you.’
Clark nodded slowly, understanding Tim's motives. ‘I assume you want to talk about what's going on over there.’ He pointed out the window, where the wasteland stretched as far as the eye could see, a silent witness to the ravages of the cataclysm.
Tim approached the cell, staring intently at Clark. ‘There must be something we can do, Uncle Clark. We can't give up now, not after everything we've been through. I refuse to let this continue... Bruce... Would have found a solution by now.’
Clark sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly under the weight of the burden he was carrying. ‘I understand your desire to keep fighting, Tim. But it's too late. Too many lives have been lost, too much suffering has been endured. This world is doomed.’
Tim shook his head resolutely. ‘I refuse to believe that. There has to be a way, a chance to make things right, even if it's in the past.’
Clark's eyes darkened slightly. ‘Changing the past isn't something to be taken lightly, Tim. It could have unforeseen consequences, repercussions we can't anticipate. You should already know that from all the times Barry's given presentations on the consequences of playing with time.’
Tim moved closer to the energy bars of the cell, his gaze burning with intensity as well as dismay. ‘I'm willing to take that risk, Uncle Clark. If it means there's a chance to save this world, then I'll take it.’
Clark stared at him for a long moment, gauging the determination in Tim's eyes. Finally, he nodded slowly. ‘All right, Tim. If that's what you want to do, I'll support you. But remember, even with this chance, nothing is guaranteed.’
Tim nodded, acknowledging the support of his mentor's best friend. ‘I know that, Uncle Clark. But I have to try. For them. For everyone who's been lost.’
Silence fell between them, charged with a palpable tension as Tim mentally prepared himself for what was to come. He knew he'd only get one chance to change things. After all, it was Tim with Connor, Bart and Cassie who'd brought back the machine he was going to use.
‘I'm going to do it, Clark,’ he declared firmly. ‘I'm going to change the past, whatever it takes.’
Clark gave him one last look, one of confidence mixed with concern. ‘Be careful, Tim. And remember, the future depends on you now.’
With one last determined smile, Tim left the room and set off for the storage room in the Watch Tower where the machine was located. Yet as he walked, Tim was overcome by memories of his time with his family. How Bruce pretended to be exasperated by Stephanie and Jason's constant pranks on the rest of the family. The fact that Damian always found a way to bring a new pet to the manor every week. Dick's love of wearing ugly Disco outfits. Duke joining Tim in his room when the chaos of the rest of the family becomes too much to bear. Cassandra's constant scaring of the whole house because she doesn't make a sound. Harper bullying Cullen into doing his homework. The time Tim spends with Barbara updating the Bat-computer system. Or Alfred commanding the whole gang of vigilantes in the house with a master's hand. Tim feels so alone, more alone than he's ever felt even before he was adopted by Bruce. He feels like he's back at Drake Manor before he was Robin. The young man's gaze turned to the Earth visible from the window.
‘It looks similar to the other times I've been here with Bruce. Still...’
Finally, after ten minutes or so, he arrived at the storage room Tim finally found what he was looking for. The time machine, an imposing mass of futuristic technology that represented his only chance to change the course of history. Tim made sure to take a bag with lots of cash, a change of clothes, some non-perishable food, medicine and camping gear. He took a deep breath before starting to calibrate the machine. Once this was done Tim stepped up to the time machine, ready to face the unknown in the hope of saving the world from imminent destruction. Unfortunately, or fortunately for Tim, as he left the machine's control panel he unknowingly changed the date of his arrival in the past. With a thud, the doors of the machine closed behind him, plunging him into the meanders of time and space, where only the future could determine the fate of humanity.