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Part 4 of Timothy Drake and the Case of Not Dead Uncle Hal
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Published:
2025-11-08
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1,079
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1/1
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A Spark of Robin Magic In Bat Burger

Summary:

Tim sipped his drink, staring down his uncle. He had agreed to a lunch. Well more accurately Tim sent a demand to meet up and then threw the phone across the room and fell on his bed freaking out. But he did get a message right after.

Tim just wants to know the version of his dad that his Uncle Hal knew.

And Hal Jordan just wants to know the version of his brother that his nephew knew.

Both wondering of they ever knew Jack at all.

Notes:

I tried posting this part THREE TIMES yesterday and my phone wouldn't let it post. Enjoy them finally talking for once

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

 

Tim sipped his drink, staring down his uncle. He had agreed to a lunch. Well more accurately Tim sent a demand to meet up and then threw the phone across the room and fell on his bed freaking out. But he did get a message right after.  

“So....” Hal Jordan the major Green Lantern idiot said, “What do you like doing in your free time?”  

Tim just stared at him.  

Hal swallowed nervously.  

“Photography,” Tim said, leaning back in the Bat Burger booth, eating a fry casually  

“Oh that’s cool,” Hal said, “Your dad used to like taking pictures.”  

Tim blinked. His dad did what?  

Tim once again, is struck with the reminder that he never knew his dad. He was the man who left over and over again, only to try and stay just to be murdered in the manor that he never really lived in. He didn’t know he was from Coast City, or that his brother was Green Lantern.  

He didn’t know he liked photography.  

“He did?” Tim said, voice quiet  

Hal smiled softly, “Yeah. He was amazing. He had our dad’s, your granddad’s, camera. He carried that thing everywhere. He used to yell at me and Jimmy for never staying still for a picture.”  

His dad sighed tiredly sitting across from Tim. It was dark, the manor dimly lit by the kitchen light as they sat at the dinning table. In between them sat the Robin suit, alongside the discarded rifle gun with photos Tim had taken so long ago, scattered around the table.  

“You remind me of him. Your Uncle Hal,” He said, fists clenching staring at the domonio mask, “Too reckless but always wanting to help people.”  

Tim felt tears falling down his face. The grief that hung around his father was so akin to the grief Tim had fought off around Bruce. He wanted to explain he wasn’t reckless. He wanted to explain all he had ever wanted was to help. To find a place where he belonged. To find a family that wouldn’t leave. To find a dad that wouldn’t leave like him.  

“I wish I could’ve known him,” Tim said instead, voice cracking with the unsaid words  

Jack scowled, “This suit. This mask. It’s going to kill you Timothy.”  

Oh how Tim hated his name. Timothy. It was a reminder over and over that his own father didn’t know him. He was Tim. He was Robin. He was magic.  

“Batman needed a Robin,” Tim said raising his chin and straightening his back, trying to imagine how his mother would stand    

Hurt flitted over his dad’s face.  

“I need you my son.”  

They both knew that was a lie.  

Hal smiled sadly as he saw the kid look down at his food.  

He had been so happy when the kid texted him asking for a meet up. His plan was coming to a starting point. Get Tim to trust him. Get Tim to slowly let him in his life. Completely insert himself into the kid’s life and make sure he never has to live alone ever again.  

And make sure he doesn’t find out about the whole Green Lantern thing.  

“I think you knew him better than I did,” The kid whispers  

Hal’s chest ripped in two.  

This kid, his brothers son, the last living legacy of Jack Jordan –well Jack Drake.  

Hal didn’t know a thing about his brother. He didn’t know he was married. He didn’t know he lived in a mansion. He didn’t know he had a child. He didn’t know he had been in a coma. He didn’t know he was dead.  

Oh how Hal didn’t know his brother. His older brother who had shielded him from so many things and protected him a million times over growing up. He had never known him. He had always been reaching for a version of his older brother Hal knew didn’t quite exist.  

“I would say the same to you,” Hal said, voice hoarse with the memory of Jack ruffling his hair as they walked to the bus stop before school  

Hal wondered if Jack did that to his own kid. He wondered how many times, if at all, Jack hesitated over a phone, wanting to call him. He wondered if another life, Hal was his godfather. If Tim would’ve grown up with his actual Uncle Hal. If in another world, Tim would never have faked his presence in his life just so he wouldn’t be put in the system.  

Tim nodded. 

“Was he a good brother?” Tim asked  

Hal laughed, hand brushing away tears.  

“The best,” He said, “You were a lucky kid to have him as your dad.”  

The kid looked away guiltily.  

“What was your mom like?” Hal asks instead of pressing why guilt seemed to hang around his nephew, “I never met her. She love Jack?” 

Tim laughed, and Hal noticed he had tears falling too.  

“Mom loved him more than anything in the world,” Tim said, grabbing his drink and sipping it, “Father gave her the world. And that meant everything to her.”  

Hal nodded, looking down at his ring.  

Barry had given him the world. He could run him anywhere and appear to him in seconds.  

Iris had given him a home. A place he could land and be safe.  

Those meant more than anything.  

The kid shook his head, clearing his throat, “Enough sappy stuff. I have to deal with that enough from my br- from my friend. Where do you live?”  

Hal made a mental note of the slip of tongue.  

“I live in Central City, but I do have a apartment in California,” Hal said, munching on his fries  

Tim nodded, “I have some friends I stay with out in San Fransico.”  

Hal laughed, “My partners...cousin has a bunch of friends over there.”  

Hal chose not to explain how Bart was technically from the future and Barry’s grandkid and speedster hero named Impulse.  

Tim let out a laugh, bright and loud. It filled the entire empty Gotham Bat Burger joint. Hal smiled at the sound. It was the first time he had seen the kid laugh. It was a free laugh. Loud and magical. The laugh of a child and the laugh of freedom.  

The kid leaned forward, elbows on table, eyes alight with so much mischief it reminded Hal of Bart actually.  

“So...Who is your partner?” The kid asked with a shit eating grin  

Hal paled slightly.  

 

Notes:

Tim: *sipping drink* so do they...run?
Hal: *unaware Tim knows everyone's identities* w h a t ?
Tim: or save lives?
Hal: *sweating* what do you mean?
Tim: *internally cackling*
Tim: you just seem like the type to attract that

Ty for reading! If you liked pls leave a kudos or lmk your thoughts and predictions down in the comments! I absolutely love hearing them!