Chapter Text
Music blares in the otherwise silent batcave. Tim lies on his back on one of the many mattresses scattered around the cave, staring at the ceiling. He’s had a long day, and an even longer patrol. Stuff just kept going wrong. And this time, it was only partially his fault.
He hadn’t meant to antagonise the guy with the death ray. His mouth had slipped. That was all. It’s not his fault the guy had anger issues. Oh well. He’s in Blackgate now, locked away for the unforeseeable future.
Tim can’t help but nod along to the tune of the song that plays on the stereo. It’s an older song, a properly vintage one by now, but Tim loves it anyway. He hums the tune under his breath, kicking his legs absently to try and convince himself to get up and moving again.
He’s so freaking tired. He’s also pretty hungry. He would eat a horse, except Damian would probably be upset and go after him for that, so he might have to refrain to eating tofu instead. Just for the time being.
“Timmers?” a voice – Jason’s, by the sound of it – calls out. He’s nearly deafened out by the music, but Tim can still hear him over the din. Tim rolls over and buries his face into the mattress with a heavy, tired groan.
The music switches off.
“Tim-Tam?” Jason says, sounding considerably closer. “Are you dead?”
Tim lifts his head. Jason leans over him imposingly.
“Whaddya want?” Tim asks.
“I made raspberry pancakes,” Jason says. “D’ya want some?”
Hm, raspberry pancakes… sounds yummy. Tim makes a noise that’s somewhere between a grunt and a hum and tries to lift himself up, but his arms feel weak and he collapses in on himself. He lets out a sad cry.
“Aw, poor Timmy,” Jason teases, patting Tim’s head. “C’mon, the kitchen’s only like, a minute’s walk from here–”
Jason is cut off by a strange whirring sound. Tim looks up again, catching a glimpse of Jason’s confused face. His older brother is staring ahead, a deep frown on his face as one hand sneaks to the knife sheathed in his pocket.
“Tim,” he says, sounding suddenly very serious. “Get up.”
“Wh–” Tim would like to ask what’s going on, but before he can do anything, he hears voices.
Jason shoves him back down and leaps on top of him. They both tumble behind a conveniently placed desk, out of sight and out of mind. Tim snags his cowl, taking it off and placing it around the side of the desk to catch a view of whoever else is in the cave. He pulls out his phone and opens the footage.
There’s a crowd of people of all ages standing around the cave. They’ve mostly separated into groups. A few of them are giving each other dirty looks. But what’s strangest is the fact that they look almost exactly like people Tim knows. Justice League members, Titans, even criminals… but with slight adjustments. For example, he can spot a ginger haired kid wearing a sort of misshapen pair of goggles who he thinks might be Bart. Except he’s taller than Bart, has shorter hair, and has a completely different suit. Weird.
Jason peers over Tim’s shoulder and pulls a face. Tim can definitely agree with that, because they both know one thing: B is gonna be so mad. He’s not even going to be mad at them, he’s just going to… frown. And they’ll all know he’s upset, but they won’t know why. Tim can bet it’ll be because there are strangers in the cave and the cave’s sensors haven’t even picked them up yet.
“Where the heck are we?” not-Bart says, looking around with wide eyes. “This place is like… huge…”
Someone new steps forward, and Tim mentally trips over himself. It’s Batman. Not his Batman, but some version of Batman. They’re dimension travellers, he’s sure of that by now, but it’s always going to be bizarre to see another version of his adoptive dad waltzing about. Not that this Batman is waltzing. He’s walking fairly normally, actually.
“I’m more concerned as to how we got here,” not-Batman says. His voice sounds off and his suit looks weird. It’s annoying Tim just to look at it.
“Batman,” not-Green Arrow says curtly. Woah, talk about animosity– the tension between those guys is unbearable.
“Green Arrow,” Batman responds with a slight tilt of the head.
Behind Tim, Jason shifts. Tim glances over his shoulder to see Jason signing at him.
What the fuck, Jason signs. Tim sympathizes and gives Jason a morose nod. Jason shoots him a dark look. So much for sympathy, or whatever.
Tim sets the phone down. They’re from another dimension, he signs.
Jason rolls his eyes. Obviously.
Jason is such a brat sometimes. Tim doesn’t mention this opinion of his, and instead keeps his eyes trained on Jason’s hands as he continues to swiftly weave signs.
What do we do? Jason asks.
Tim shrugs. He hasn’t thought about that yet. He was kinda hoping to just watch for now. He says as much – well, he signs it, not says it, but same difference – and Jason pulls a face.
What about B? He asks.
Tim matches Jason’s grimace, because yeah, they probably need to contact B somehow.
Ping him, Tim signs.
Jason doesn’t look overly convinced by this idea, but pulls out his comm anyway and taps a button on the side that’s meant to ping Batman into a one-way comm line at any time. Hopefully, Bruce should be able to hear everything that they can hear, just without them being able to hear him or anything around him. Perfect for spying.
Tim tunes his ears back into the conversation that the not-Leaguers are having. There seems to be discourse between certain members of the League. Most noticeably, the Bats. The League stray away from the Bats while the crowd assorts themselves into their own groups.
Tim sees a foreign version of himself standing by Batman’s side, eyeing someone who looks like Cassie awkwardly. Ouch, do Tim and Cassie have some sort of beef in this world? It would explain the way Cassie’s pointedly ignoring not-Tim’s attempts at eye contact.
“…I resigned,” Batman is saying when Tim finally starts paying attention. “Our ideals cannot coact.”
Wait, what? Tim looks at Jason, whose confusion is nearly identical to Tim’s. Batman resigned? In what world would that ever happen? This one, apparently.
“Hey, guys?” Steph’s voice carries out from the showers. Tim winces. Oh, shit. He can feel Jason tense behind him. “Can someone help me out? I got homework– oh.”
Steph walks out into the cave’s open area and freezes on the spot as she’s stared down by a couple dozen heroes from a different universe. Tim can clearly see each of the emotions that pass across Steph’s face before she lowers herself into a combat-ready pose. Shock, confusion, annoyance, and then deliberate determination. Despite being still damp from the shower and only wearing a sports bra and yoga pants, Steph’s ready to fight.
Alright, Tim and Jason probably have to do something. Tim nudges Jason, who, in return, elbows him in the ribs, and does so with way too much force, but Tim’s a big boy who doesn’t complain about it. Jason has, at some point, donned a domino mask. Tim grabs his cowl and shoves it back on his face. Tim passes Jason a couple of batarangs and grabs his bo staff. The pair inch out of the shadows, weapons raised.
“Don’t move,” Jason commands. Every single set of eyes in the cave turn on them.
“Er, guys?” Steph says. She sounds painfully unamused. Tim can understand where she’s coming from and gives her his best attempt at a reassuring look. She doesn’t look impressed. “What the fuck is going on?”
“I’d like to ask the same thing,” not-Batman says after a long pause. “You’re… familiar.”
“‘Familiar’?” screeches a voice. Someone pushes to the front of the crowd of invaders. She’s blonde, wears a purple suit, has long-ish curly hair, and– oh God, that’s their version of Steph. “Familiar? That’s literally me!”
But older, thinks Tim, and better trained, by the looks of it. Steph gives Tim and Jason an aghast look, as if to say, ‘what the fuck, boys’ and honestly, Tim has no sane reply to that, so he shrugs.
“Yeah, hi,” Steph says, and as casual as her voice might sound, her guard’s still up and she looks as tense as ever. “Are they supposed to be here?”
“Nope,” Tim says cheerfully, popping the p.
“They’re intruders,” Jason growls. “Let’s scare them off.”
“Now, now,” Tim soothes. “They’re just as confused as we are.”
The look Jason gives him could kill a god. Tim gulps and takes a step back.
“I mean, er, sure. Let’s scare them off.”
Steph snorts. “You’re so wimpy sometimes, Red. Grow a pair and tell him to fuck off already.”
Tim glares at her. She smiles back saccharinely.
Not-Steph, on the other hand, is staring at them with curiosity. “So if that’s me, then who are you guys?” she wonders aloud, pointing at Tim and Jason. She turns on Tim. “Is your name Red? ‘Cause that’s a dumb name.”
“My alias is Red Robin,” Tim boasts.
“Like the restaurant?” Not-Steph sniggers.
Tim restrains the anger bubbling within. He can put up with being compared to a fast-food chain. It’s fine. Everything’s fine.
“Oh my lord, can we stop chatting please?” Jason says. “Are we gonna fight or not? My arms are starting to ache.”
It would probably be best if they didn’t break out into battle in the batcave. But it would be fun. Tim is at a crossroads and he doesn’t know which way to go. Decisions, decisions.
Just as he’s teetering towards pouncing upon not-him to teach his copy a valuable lesson, the batmobile pulls up, its engine roaring loudly as it speeds into the cave. Batman emerges stealthily and gives the scene a visual once-over. He looks at the crowd of dimension travellers. He looks at his sons. He looks at Stephanie, who flashes him a grin.
“What,” he starts, his growl deeper than ever, “is going on.”
Damian stalks out of the batmobile, and behind him, Jon hops out with a wide, cheery smile on his face, like he can’t seem to contain his excitement. And finally, Billy wanders out, freezing on the spot when he sees the newcomers.
“Uh oh,” one of the invaders says. Tim doesn’t bother to check who. “Two Batmans…”
“They just showed up,” Tim explains.
“There was a weird sound,” Jason adds.
Bruce – no, he’s Batman when he’s like this – practically glides over the ground, inspecting Jason, Steph and Tim closely.
“Are you hurt?” he asks, peering at a gash on Tim’s arm that’s since been stitched up.
“It’s from patrol,” Tim says quickly. As fun as it would be, he doesn’t really want to start an all-out war in the batcave. “Just some thug who got a lucky hit in.”
“Hn,” Batman grunts, and turns back to look at the newcomers. He doesn’t say a word as he stares at them, his gaze meticulously picking apart each of their flaws with just one look. “Who are you?”
The other Batman seems to take the lead, stepping forward and offering B a hand to shake.
“I’m Batman. It appears that we may have–”
“Travelled dimensions?” Tim guesses. “Yeah, looks like it.”
The other Batman looks totally caught off guard. Huh. Maybe he’s not used to his kids interrupting him.
Bruce takes a moment to look around, surveying each of the invaders. There’s everyone from villains to heroes. Tim’s almost surprised the batcave isn’t overflowing. He spots a few familiar villains: Deathstroke’s definitely there, and so is Cheshire, by the looks of it. Tim wonders why they haven’t acted out yet. Maybe they’re scared, or maybe the reality of it all hasn’t kicked in yet.
Steph and Jason are still holding themselves battle-ready. They’re anticipating a fight. Tim feels oddly relaxed, and out of the corner of his eye, he can see Damian wielding at least two of his katanas.
“Perhaps we should take this to the Watchtower,” B says after what feels like a millennia of staring.
Other-Batman tilts his head in agreement. Okay, so they have a watchtower in their world. Tim wonders how far along they are – maybe this is both dimension travel and time travel, or maybe not. But he can’t for the life of him find half his siblings in the crowd of people, and some of their appearances confuse him. Like, Beast Boy has a taper fade, Cyborg looks like a teenager, there are at least three redheads who may or may not be Roy Harper, and other-Tim looks so plain it physically hurts Tim.
“Excuse me, but if I may–” Ra’s al Ghul pushes forward.
Well, fuck Tim sideways. If it isn’t Damian’s crazy grandpa. Tim risks a glance at Damian. Damian is practically shivering, and Tim doesn’t know what it is: anticipation, anger, anxiety… or maybe he’s just really, really confused. He wouldn’t be the only one.
Half of the newcomers jump into action. They all leap into battle poses, while the other half remain dumbfounded. The few villains immediately go into a protective self-defense mode.
Ra’s laughs airily. “Now, now, children,” he says, and his voice sounds so uptight, just like always. A shiver goes down Tim’s spine. He hates old people. (Except Alfie. Never Alfie.) “Calm yourselves. I’m not looking for a fight.”
“Ra’s,” B greets as if he’s just another guy on a street full of people.
“Batman,” Ra’s says. He glances between the two Batmans…
Batmen? Tim doesn’t know. In his opinion, there should only ever be one Batman at a time. So he’s never really had to consider what the plural of ‘Batman’ would be. He dropped out of high school, why the hell should he care anyway?
“It appears you’ve multiplied.” Ra’s puts on a creepy grin. “Double the fun.”
Jason makes a gagging sound. “Gross, dude,” he says. “You make it sound– ew, gross.”
Tim glances Jason and Steph’s way. Steph is struggling to contain her laughter. Jason looks utterly disgusted. Tim rolls his eyes at their antics. But to be fair, they totally have a point. Ra’s sounds like he’s flirting with Batman. Both of the Batmen.
Ra’s’ eyes swivel over to focus on Jason, Steph and Tim. “And who might you three be?”
“What’s up, my name’s Jared, I’m nineteen, and I never learned how to read,” Tim says before he can help himself. In hindsight, it wasn’t the best idea. But whatever, who cares? It’s funny.
Except, no one laughs. Tim bites his lip and tries not to cringe as the cave descends into silence. How awkward. Every time he opens his mouth he somehow manages to humiliate himself.
“I’m just Steph,” Steph says, earning a glare from B, who was still very much trying to keep up the ‘no-names’ agenda, despite the fact that the strangers know who they are.
“I’m not telling you my name,” Jason growls, and oh, right, Jason was a victim of the League of Assassins, wasn’t he. He probably has every reason to despise Ra’s, just as much as Tim or Damian.
Ra’s gives Jason a once-over. His eyes land on the strip of white in Jason’s hair. He frowns.
“Boy… who are you?” he asks.
“He literally just said he wasn’t gonna tell you,” Steph reminds Ra’s.
Tim looks back at B, and then behind him, to where Jon is standing protectively in front of Damian. Aw, cute. They’re adorable.
Ra’s hums cryptically. He doesn’t ask any more questions and returns his focus to the two Batmen.
“I don’t have any intention to go to the Watchtower any time soon,” Ra’s says politely. “I’m afraid you’ll have to excuse my absence.”
With that, he strolls off. A laugh slips from Steph’s lips. What the fuck is happening?
Ra’s is about to disappear into the shadows when he’s kicked away, tumbling across the cave. Cass appears, wearing her Orphan uniform with the stitched-up mouth. It’s sorta creepy, so some of the shocked reactions of the invaders make sense. Ra’s scrambles to his feet, growling and grumbling under his breath.
“You won’t leave,” Cass says quietly, her voice barely more than a whisper. She sounds deadly serious. “You will listen to Batman’s instructions.”
“Who do you think you are to order me around?” Ra’s snarls.
“Black Bat,” Cass says, offering Ra’s a hand, but Ra’s slaps it away, clicking his teeth.
“Red Robin, Red Hood,” B says lightly. Tim glances over, and finds B staring the other-Batman down. “I want a list of names. Spoiler and I will handle contacting their counterparts.”
“What about us, Father?” Damian says, stepping forward.
An eerie hush falls over the crowd.
“Father?” one of them says incredulously. It’s Nightwing, but he has more padding than Dick usually does, and his skin is a few shades too pale.
Damian’s lenses narrow as he stares other-Nightwing down. “Yes,” he says, puffing his chest up to make himself seem bigger than he is. “I am the sole blood son of Batman.”
Other-Nightwing stares at other-Batman.
“Hey, Batman? Is there something you’d like to tell us?” he asks.
“As far as I’m aware, I don’t have a ‘blood son’,” other-Batman says firmly. “What’s your name, boy?”
“Robin,” Damian says.
Other-Tim reels back in shock. At least half the invaders glance his way.
“Not important,” Jason says. He’s produced a clipboard from somewhere and has a ballpoint pen. “I need your names.”
“Robin, Superboy, come with me,” Batman commands, stepping towards the changing rooms. A few confused glances are exchanged at the use of the name ‘Superboy’, but Tim ignores it in favor of the flash of yellow that rushes forward.
“Hi! I’m B–” other-Bart cuts himself off with a glance to the bad guys in the cave. “I mean, I’m Kid Flash!”
“Cool,” Jason says, scribbling it down on his clipboard. “Next?”
Reluctantly, the rest of the heroes begin to trickle forwards, giving in their names. Tim mostly tunes them out, but his ears prick up at a few of them.
“Red Arrow,” one of the redheads-that-might-be-Roy introduces himself as.
Behind him, another redhead-that-might-be-Roy calls himself, “Arsenal.”
Jason pauses with his pen hovering above the paper. “And… you’re different people?” he says casually.
Arsenal’s shaved head puzzles Tim. Of course, he can still identify the tell-tale red hair, but… he’s practically bald. It’s weird. He looks oddly young, as well, whereas ‘Red Arrow’ looks unexpectedly old. Or maybe that’s just the beard doing it for him.
A third redhead steps forward. “Uh, I’m Guardian?”
“Is that a question?” Jason says.
‘Guardian’ seems to think about it for a moment. “No,” he says eventually. “I’m definitely Guardian.”
“Rad,” Jason says. “Step aside.” He glances over his shoulder at Tim, who’s decided to sit down. “Oi, double R, I hope you’re keeping track of all this.”
Oh right, Tim probably should be doing his job. He scrambles to get his notepad out and starts hurriedly noting down everything he’s already noticed. From differences in appearances to completely new people or lack thereof. He notes how several people are missing but several other people simply aren’t recognisable.
It’s weird. Tim elects to ignore it as the line moves on and the next person steps forward.