.Good!

This made me want to laugh one minute,then think more deeply the fluffy,but enough of a bond between my boys to good!

BTW,Jay's his usual sarcastic-and- rebellious-but -still- sexy-and-loveable YA.

That's why Jason is awesome. Empathy not sympathy.

Okay, so I’ve been sitting with this story open all day trying to put into words how I felt about this one-shot, but I’ve realized I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get it right. So, here’s my attempt.

Right from the very first sentence you got me: “He shouldn’t have left the field.” It gives this impression that Tim just flat-out feels guilty about /something/, and it hooks people right from the get-go. It was a super smart way to begin a story!

Then, you give us a situation that is simply an ordinary night’s patrol. But that’s just it: It’s often when things are the easiest that people have the most time to reflect. It’s nothing over-dramatic, and that’s what makes it perfect. There IS nothing dramatic like bombs or explosions to push these emotions out of Tim, its just an ache that is omnipresent. Everyone who knows anything about Tim Drake knows that this is the way he always hurts, silently and continuously—sometimes without him even knowing it—until finally it comes to the forefront and he pushes people away before they can see it, too.

Dick cares but to him, like you stated, the night wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. He wouldn’t have any real reason for concern, so he lets Tim go and just has Jason check on him. Even later on, you excuse Dick of blame by mentioning that if Dick didn’t have Damian to worry about, “then he’d be here.” It removes all animosity from his character, and we’re stuck in the same situation as Tim: one without an antagonist, without anyone to vent our anger on. And so, it just sits there and eats at him.

With this last part in particular, you do such a good job. This is actually how the situation was when “Robin” was ripped away from him. There was no solution, no bad guys. Just a problem that tears at him that he can do nothing about. You really highlight this, and that’s a large reason why I enjoyed this so much.

Then Jason comes!

If you have a 100% grasp on Tim’s character, then you have to have at least a 1000% grasp on Jason’s! All of the lines and actions are so in character it hurts! He still has the harsh edge he’s known for and the flippancy he has with the Bat family, but you also make sure we know he’s older, wiser—not just some cold-hearted killer; he maintains his signature devil-may-care attitude while showing that he cares, and that is a hard thing to do!

Then there’s those last two paragraphs. I just—THAT was the part that made it so hard to write any review. You see, I like to think that I can read things without getting too emotional (especially with one-shots). But you—you SHATTERED me! I’m going back through rereading this to try and say exactly why I get a little teary-eyed every time I see this ending, and I really can’t put it into words. I think the hard truth that both Jason and Tim will always carry that hurt with them, is what gets me. At the end of the day, they’ll never truly really get over it, but there is solace in “Robin”; there’s a family there.

And how you end this story on the symbols of shadows and smoke is perfect. I don’t know if this is what you were going for, but I see a lot of Tim and Jason in those two things. Tim hides everything he feels, knows it’s there and ignores it like its hidden in darkness. And Jason admits that those feelings exists, basking in them for a bit before they vanish like smoke and instead uses it to fuel him—even if it may kill him in the end. It’s sad but beautiful. And most importantly, it’s true.

I hope my rambling helps give you an idea of how genius this was, because it really, really was. This was a top-class one-shot if I ever saw one. Stellar job!

like like like 3 :)

Such a great story. Thanks for posting! Blessings, Sophia the Scribe

I'm not ready to forgive Dick. We don't expect much better from Bruce, but HIM doing that to Tim at one of the lowest points of his life was beyond the pale. It still feels like Damian has usurped Dick's affection and Bruce's regard. I'm still bitter on my favourite Robin's behalf.

Wow, I love your Jason. Everything he said was perfect. He knew exactly where Tim was coming from. "The problem is that every time you see Damian, you see what you still think is yours. And it is yours. It's also Damian's, and Dick's, and mine."

"our favorite rabid ten year old" :)

Omw the angsty Tim and the philosophical Jason, perfection, seriously. Loved it

Aaaaaaaaaaawwwww, da feels are reeeaaalll! :3
That was so sweet!
Jason, you straightforward little snot, you XD
Gah, poor Timmy... Why does this fandom love torturing him so? Including me, I suppose XP
The dialogue, the emotions, and the characters were played out to perfection! I LOVE batbro bonding fics, especially involving the one's that "hate each other" like Tim and Jason :D
Beautiful. Just beautiful :)
Keep up the ASTOUNDING work!

Awww! Great job :) it was cute and fluffy and I really like the way you did it . write more~!

It turned out very well. Keep writing.

I don't normally read Tim based fics because I have a hard time understanding his character, but I think you portrayed him in a way that's raw and true. I think what he's feeling now is what Jason and Dick had to go through at one point. I like how that pain binds them all together, even though the circumstances were different.
I also like Jason's character here. It's nice to see that he didn't call Tim "Replacement" like most people have him do in their stories. He's more on equal ground with Tim here and I like that. His point about their identities out of costume being the important thing was good, and it makes me wish that he would have taken his own advice when he was so bitter about Tim replacing him haha.
Anyways, I thought this was written well and the character portrayal was good. Nice job.

Awesome story!

*round of applause* I like the imagery at the end with the cover of darkness and cigarette smoke. So well done!

thanks for the write! enjoyed it