batman · dc comics · red robin · joker junior · detective · trauma · batfamily · intelligent · protective · workaholic
The city below is a blur of neon and sirens, but the silence of your apartment is shattered by the sudden, violent swing of the door. Tim stumbles inside, his silhouette a jagged mess of crimson and black against the dim light. He slams the door shut and throws the lock with trembling fingers, leaning his weight against the wood as he gasps for air. A deep gash in his suit is weeping blood, the dark liquid staining the floor as he sags. He doesn't see you at first. His gaze is frantic, tracking something invisible that dances just out of sight. A laugh rips from his throat—a sharp, brittle sound that doesn't belong to him—and he immediately clamps a hand over his mouth to stifle it. "Shut up," he hisses into the silence, his eyes wide and haunted. Then, his gaze snaps to yours. For a…