They clipped my wings

[theyoungdetective]

As much as he loves getting his bike in the City, Tim needs a proper safe house still to park it discretely for patrol. It was one thing to take it in emergencies, but patrol and investigation needed more discretion, and without a safe house with a garage to park it in, and especially without the auto drive installed just yet, he has to pass it up for swinging. It was fine, though. Gave him the proper opportunity to try out some of the new toys in his belt.

Like the rappelling harness he had set up a few weeks ago. Useful for scenes like this one where he needed to listening in close at a window when he lacked bugs to listen with or a proper ledge to perch on while staying out of view.

Something he's doing right now to spy in on a potential drug deal going on. So far, so good. And far better than sliding down his line and relying on his own grip like he used to. Leaves his hands happily free to record the conversation on the other side of the glass, using a minuscule microphone through the crack of the window.

"So that's it. We'll be getting the drop on the Seo shipment and—"

"Hey, did you hear that, Johnny?"

Damn. He doesn't know if Johnny did, but Tim certainly did. Felt it, too. There's something wrong with his harness. It's supposed to help with the distribution of his weight, and it failed just then. It makes the rail he's suspended by creak. Double damn. He hears a pop at the belt follow and catches the line before he slips. The bracket he forgot to reinforce. He can't reel up the way it was designed to now. Triple damn.

"Someone's snoopin'! Check the windows!"

Now would be a great moment for stronger language.

Red Robin starts to scramble up, but he doesn't make the right traction and it makes more of a ruckus as the window flies open.

"Hey!"

Shit shit shit shit.

They open fire and while they seem to be lousy shots— good luck trying to get the drop on Seo, boys— he's still grazed badly in shoulder. Swearing, Red Robin cuts his line right from the reel and shoots another to get out of there. But not before another bullet catches his calf.

He's safely out, but injured. Can't check in at a hospital. Too far from his own apartment. Can't mend himself at the shop, that'll be too many questions from Tony and he'll be fired for sure. No safe houses set up just yet. Why hasn't he set up safe houses still? Right, because he's a picky little perfectionist and doesn't do things by halves when he can help it, but he'll cut corners to hang out with a friend he's harboring a crush on.

Like an idiot.

So he's swinging on autopilot to the nearest place he thinks he shoul, and does it a little bit dizzy from the blood loss. He lands on the first fire escape of the building he sees, and...

Wow. He really is an idiot. and one that clearly needs to practice the whole stealth bit again, because that was not a soft landing. He should have gone straight for the alleyway and texted Aggie instead. But now he's on the fire escape of the crush he was berrating himself over just a moment ago. And the light is on.

At least he should be able to trust Billy with this secret, right? After all, he suspects he knew about Steph, and he's as good a friend as Aggie is to him. It would be nice to have someone else to confide in, that doesn't have former warrior fathers looming over and asking questions. Right? Right.

...Such an idiot.

Comments

[sayshazam]

Billy was used to the sounds of the city. From his time on the streets he knew how to learn what the city sounded like so that any weird noises could alert you to problems. He'd lived in this one apartment so long that he knew the sounds really well.

Something clanging against his fire escape? Definitely not normal. Cats didn't make much noise at all and even if one did it sounded way bigger than just a cat. Normally he might not have even checked on whatever it was since his apartment was pretty secure, having an ex-spy for a former roommate had big advantages, but he was in the middle of dishes and kind of wanted an excuse to not do them.

Plus, his dogs were both by window in full on guard mode. Well, Seymour was in full on guard mode and Freddy just looked curious. Freddy wasn't much of a guard dog at times.

"Freddy, Seymour, come here," Billy called to the dogs as he grabbed a bat from his bedroom. If it was just some animal or dumb teenager he didn't want to go all Shazam on it. Inching over to the windows he opened them up and waited a moment before sticking his head out. "Hey! Who's there? Or... what's there? If you're a what. No judgement. Some of my best friends are whats."

[theyoungdetective]

Red Robin doesn't take off his cowl, won't until he's safely inside and away from any possible prying eyes, but it's Tim's voice he uses when he answers.

"Hey, Billy. Can I get some help?"

He's holding on to his shoulder and leg, clearly injured.

[sayshazam]

Holy. Shit.

Billy shouldn't be surprised, not really. It explained why Steph loved the Robins so much (because one had been her boyfriend) and how she could have that whole double identity thing because with Tim she didn't have to hide it. It also made sense why Tim was so strong... because he was a superhero.

A superhero that Billy kind of hated. How come Tim was so nice and Red Robin was such a dick?

"You know, Steph never got hurt while she was here," Billy said, giving him a hard time. It was as a friend though and not... whatever Shazam and Red Robin were. Superhero and sidekick. Crawling out onto the fire escape Billy did his best to help Tim back in through the window without hurting him. "So if she comes back you have to tell her she stayed safer than you did."

[theyoungdetective]

As soon as he's inside, Tim pulls the cowl off his head, wincing as the sting hits his shoulder as the movement pinches his wound.

"She'd probably hit me for being stupid and then hold it over me forever. But I've had worse."

They both did, but he wouldn't worry Billy with that fact.

He unfastens his cape and lays it out, so he can bleed on that and not Billy's furniture.

"I was wondering if you knew about her, you know. Being Robin.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."

[sayshazam]

"She didn't tell me but I knew. I, uh, met her a few times as Spoiler- that's what she called herself- and Steph is pretty... Steph. It was easy to tell," he said. Billy didn't add that he was Shazam then so Steph didn't know it was him.

"And dude, it's fine. It's not like there's ever a perfect moment to tell someone that you're a hero. Come on, we need to get you to the shower. How bad are the wounds? Do- do you need stitches because I can't sew."

[theyoungdetective]

"That's how I met her, too. I was mildly surprised she wasn't Batgirl when I heard she was here."

Tim undoes the clasps on his suit top, revealing the wound on his shoulder.

"Ugh, maybe? I knew I would for the leg, but I was hoping this wasn't as bad as it felt."

The graze isn't terribly deep when he inspects it further, but it's long and stitches might be a good idea. Tim removes his bandoliers and emblem and slowly pulls his top the rest of the way down before working on his waist belt. This time, there's no careful makeup or need to maintain secrecy hiding how scarred he actually is.

"I actually have all the stuff to mend myself in the belt, I just needed to be able to crash and shower somewhere a little closer. Didn't want to underestimate how much I was bleeding here and crash in an alley way."

[sayshazam]

"There was already a Batgirl here. And a Batwoman."

Billy made a face when he saw the wound because it looked bad. Not serious but it was more than a scrape. Aaaaand Tim was stripping down out of his uniform. It would have been more exciting or nice to look at if Billy's friend wasn't bleeding all over the place.

"Will it hurt them if I carry you to the shower?" He asked, lips pressing tight. He wanted to hurt whoever did this to his friend. Red Robin was kind of an asshole but Tim was his friend.

[theyoungdetective]

"I don't think so, but I can't say quite the same for my pride.I think I just need a shoulder and a bit of help."

He hated getting carried when he could avoid it. Tim started tieing his suit sleeves around his waist to hold everything else up without his belt attached, when he processed Billy's other statement.

"Wait, Batwoman, too? Which Batgirl? The one with the full face mask, or one with her hair out?"

[sayshazam]

"Too bad. I know Bats, you're getting carried," Billy said, reaching down to pick his friend up again, glad that Tim wasn't some muscle giant. He was a Bat though, even if he had a Robin name, and that meant he probably needed to be carried but would totally suffer through a shoulder and a bit of help.

"And the one with the weird mask? Ummm, one had her hair out too. Red hair? I don't know if she went by Batgirl or Batwoman but, uh, she was definitely a woman."

[theyoungdetective]

Tim goes red in the face when he's lifted, and couldn't say it's out of indignation or his attraction to his friend. But he's quietly grateful, because there is still a bullet in his calf.

"They both were Batgirl. I'm surprised. The one with red hair... well, she retired and had a different codename when I'm from back in Gotham."

He pauses and mulls over that, before backtracking again.

"What do you mean, you 'know Bats?'"

He wondered if he was referring to knowing how stubborn Steph was, or if he's crossed Cass and Babs in costume more than a couple of sightings. Or something else entirely. Billy seemed to be from a similar world from his, after all. Maybe he's had encounters with the family back there?

[sayshazam]

"Because no one would let Steph be Robin if they weren't as stubborn," Billy said, although that wasn't all the truth. He was on the Justice League with Batman and the guy was super intense and kind of a dick. Also super stubborn.

Once they got into the bathroom Billy set Tim down inside of the tub so it would be easier to deal with all the blood. The dogs gave worried whines but stayed at the door and didn't come in. Billy knew how they felt.

"What- what do you need me to do?" Billy asked. It seemed pretty obvious that Tim would need to get his costume off but he wasn't going to just offer that.

[theyoungdetective]

Tim makes a small, snorting laugh.

"Yeah, it's kind of a prerequisite to be part of the family. A lot of stubbornness and more than a healthy amount of pride."

At Billy's question, though, he flushes a bit.

"Um, I think I'm good on getting undressed the rest of the way , but if you have gauze, that would be great. And, uh, a change of clothes. I'll call for help if I need it?"

No way in hell was he going to strip out of his suit in front of Billy if he could help it. It's embarrassing enough to think about being in his underwear around the other boy, but to make it worse, it's summer. Boxers are very uncomfortable under leather in the summer.

[sayshazam]

"Right, yeah, right. Of course," Billy said, feeling stupid for having suggested it. Of course Tim could take his own clothes off, he was a freaking superhero.

He left and went to get the first aid kit. It was super, super well put together because Alex was a crazy bad ass spy and was always prepared for this kind of thing and Billy kept her stuff when she left.

He pushed the bathroom door back open, looking through the kit for some gauze. Sometimes the kit seemed kinda too well stocked.

"Uhhh, there's like 4 things in here that could be gauze."

[theyoungdetective]

Tim starts stripping out of the rest of his suit while sitting on the ledge of the tub when Billy comes back in. He falls in, flailing and covering himself up with his suit as best he can to cover up what his jock isn't. Which is pretty much everything.

Clearly, he can't be bleeding that much anymore, because there's plenty of blood in his body to make his face flush like a tomato.

"Th-thanks."

[sayshazam]

Billy winced at the loud thudding noise that Tim made when he fell in the tub. Billy couldn't see much but he could see that there was way more blood than he wanted to see on his friend. He also seemed really embarrassed about being mostly naked which... Billy got. He totally should have knocked.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he said, looking away from Tim. "I'll just set it here besides the bathtub and go look for some clothes."

[theyoungdetective]

"No, no, it's okay, I just..." He honestly doesn't even know what to say. Obviously knocking would have been good. But Tim is the one bleeding all over Billy's good things, and he's the intruder here, depending on his friend.

"Thanks. Really. For all this."

He rights himself on the edge of the tub, turning on the faucet so he can sponge himself where he needs it.

[sayshazam]

It was so not okay if Tim was falling into the bathtub about it. Maybe because Tim knew he was going to be okay made it less scary for him but Billy was seeing one of his best friends bleeding all over the place. It was hard to be too worried about being embarrassed when that was happening.

But he didn't want to make it worse for Tim.

"I'm just- I'm just glad you came to me for help."

[theyoungdetective]

Tim pauses in his washing and looks up.

"Of course. I know I can trust you, Billy."

He doesn't say he was aiming for Aggie's, or that she knew he was at least tied to the Batfamily from the first day he met her. But he does tell him the truth. Tim hates that others had found out about him before he even got to tell the other boy what he's up to, but he's the one person aside from Aggie he's happy to have in on the secret here.

He turns off the faucet. The water is still running red, but the wound is clean for what's next.

"Can you pass me my belt from the sink? I have tweezer and a needle ann thread in there."

[sayshazam]

Billy gave a little smile at hearing Tim say he could trust him. Then he felt kinda bad since he had a secret too but wasn't telling Tim. And he did trust his friend it just... didn't seem like now was the time to tell him. Not with Tim mostly naked, bleeding out in his bathtub.

"Sure, I'll- wait," Billy said, freezing as he reached for the belt. "Aren't these things like... booby trapped or something? Won't Bat-chloroform spray in my face or Bat-electricity shock me if I touch it the wrong way?"

[theyoungdetective]

Tim smiles at Billy's caution. It wasn't completely incorrect. Still, he shakes his head.

"As long as you don't go through the capsules and compartments, you'll be fine. The main defense on the belt is off once the buckle is undone."

[sayshazam]

"That doesn't make sense. You'd think that's when you'd want it on," Billy said. He didn't care if Tim told him it was safe, he still picked it up super carefully with two fingers and held it out as far away from him as he could as he handed it to Tim.

[theyoungdetective]

Tim takes the belt and a pair of tweezers from one of the compartments.

"The compartments still can't be opened by someone who doesn't know how, but it's so guests to Cave or the Tower don't accidentally shock themselves if they have to grab it for me. Had to fix it that way after Superboy snooped in my room one time. Main defenses are so someone doesn't steal it from me in combat or if I'm knocked out."

It's not fun at all to pull a bullet from one's own body, and even if he's done it a few times with other flesh wounds, Tim hisses out as the metal is tugged out. He turns the faucet on again to clean it and put it into a bag from the belt, then to rinse the fresh flow of blood.

"Stupid. Still can't believe I got shot on a stake out."

[sayshazam]

Billy totally pretended that he wasn't looking at his friend right now because he was naked and not because it was super freaky to see someone pull a bullet out of themselves. That was messed up and wasn't something you should be so good at dealing.

"What were you staking out?" Billy asked, trying to make it sound totally casual and not like he wanted to know in case he could help Tim with it.

[theyoungdetective]

"Plans to steal from a drug shipment. Someone has it out for the Seos."

They sounded stupid, really, which is why it was all the more insulting to have gotten shot on account of his stupid oversight.

Tim continues as he starts to stitch up the bullet hole.

"They sounded ill prepared for it, really. But it could escalate to something. In any case, I figured out why not help the cops take down a bit of both at the same time? If it was something bigger, it could stave off a gang war."

[sayshazam]

"Is that all going down tonight?" Billy asked. If it had been Tim probably wouldn't have come to Billy but still tried to stop it or something. If it was going to happen tonight though, someone should stop it, shouldn't they? Billy didn't usually deal with that kinda stuff but maybe he should?

[theyoungdetective]

He shakes his head.

"The shipment is in five days. Have a recording of their conversation on the device in my emblem. I'll be dropping it off with people I trust to deal with it as well as the cops. Otherwise, I'd be doing a more slapdash job than this and contacting them right now. Patch up properly after it was over."

Tim hates admitting that he'd be neglecting himself when Billy has been concerned for him, helping him. But it was true. He wouldn't stop for proper treatment if it meant risking the job going down.

"As is, their plans may be changing after catching me listening in. But they sounded skittish to begin with, so they're more likely regrouping tonight than going right on an attack."

He ties off the string and reaches up for the gauze Billy brought in, applying it to his leg and taping it in place.

[sayshazam]

"Okay, that's good," Billy said with a nod. If he was the more sneaky type he might try and get a copy of that information but he was definitely not sneaky enough to sneak from a Bat. Maybe he would just fly around later and see if he could find out what was going on.

"What about, um, your blood at the scene? Are you worried about it being collected for DNA or something? Sorry, I don't know much about you sneaky superhero types."

[theyoungdetective]

"Don't worry, they're pretty smart questions. But not really. Criminals like those usually are more about fleeing the area and not getting caught to try to collect a decent blood sample."

Man, Billy asks and thinks of a lot of the right questions. If he had more training or superpowers, Tim things he might have made a pretty good hero. He kind of smiles at the idea of Billy in a costume, hanging out with his friends at Titans Tower. He'd fit in pretty well.

He looks over the graze on his shoulder again. Stitches are not going to be easy at that angle. He fishes out some medical safe super glue and applies that instead, pinching at his skin to close it up.

"Anyhow, we leave a lot of DNA around back in Gotham after fights. There are some slip-ups, confirmed and unconfirmed, but we tend to do an okay job getting our connections to keep people from snooping or publishing our identities. Otherwise, we'd all be making very different headlines. If there's a chance that someone has noticed any blood on the street, I can figure out what contacts to go to to keep that under wraps."

[sayshazam]

Billy wondered if that was the sort of thing he could fix with a wave of his fingers. Probably, if he knew what spell to use, which was always kind of a mystery. Sometimes he just had to sort of thing of what he wanted to do and just shouted some random "magical" words and that worked. Sometimes it went horribly wrong.

"Okay, just... just so long as you're safe. You know, safe as you can be after you've been shot by gangsters."