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Jason was suspicious, and maybe that last conversation with his brother had been handled like a mallet to a vase, but he had every right to be suspicious!
When Jason last spoke to him, Tim mentioned he hadn’t intended to text their group chat. The way he was speaking was familiar, and once Jason had scrolled through the texts on his phone, he realized why. In addition to receiving calls from kids, they also texted him. In fact, most did. A lot of them were just texting to blow off steam or have someone listen to them or give advice (Jason was always careful about asking which they wanted). Recently, there was a younger boy who called himself Dominic that had been texting with Jason; their conversations had an oddly similar tone to the one Tim's had taken, albeit on different topics. And, when Jason had called Tim short stack, which was the nickname he’d given ‘Dominic,’ he’d left the chat entirely.
What left was there to prove?
He pulled out his phone, determined to handle this with a little more tact than the last time. He texted Dominic . Just a hey , nothing too crazy. And then he realized that he needed to send more than that, because why would the Red Hood suddenly text you hi out of nowhere?
So, he typed out, I haven’t heard from you in a few weeks. I just wanted to make sure you were okay . Not a total lie.
His messages were sending, so Dominic hadn’t blocked him. At least, not yet. The messages weren’t seen yet though, so he had some time to wait. He decided to scroll up and read through the conversation.
Dominic: hi… I think I have the right number. is this the Red Hood?
Red Hood: Yep. It’s me.
Red Hood: So you have my phone number now.
Dominic: yea
Red Hood: So here’s the deal:
Dominic: Okay..??
Red Hood: You dont need to tell me anything. I won’t report you to anyone. You don’t need to explain anything to me, unless you want to. Anything goes on here - Idgaf if you swear. You can vent, ask me dumb shit, drunk text me, ask for advice, whatever. ALL TIMES OF DAY. I naturally read into things so if I think something is sus I will follow up. And if you call, I will pick up or call you back as soon as I can. I challenge kids to be as annoying as possible.
Dominic hadn’t responded to the text, but about two weeks later, he had sent a series of texts.
Dominic: this seems dumb.
Dominic: But, whatever.
Dominic: My dad… he fking sucks. Like, actually.
Dominic: I’m not in any danger. He just… blows me off. All the time.
Dominic: Not that I want attention or anything. Really. I’m not like that.
Dominic: But… I just… I’m so tired of him pretending that I don’t exist.
Dominic: He’s ALWAYS on biz and then when he’s around he’s angry and lecturing me and making me feel like I’m inferior and that PISSES ME OFF! HE HAS NO IDEA the shit I’ve handled! He has NO IDEA what I deal with EVERY FKING DAY!
Dominic: Anyway. Thanks for listening.
Jason hadn’t been able to respond right away, but he had gone back after a few days and affirmed what he said.
Red Hood: Hey kid. Your dad doesn’t treat you right and I’m sorry. Do you want affirmation or advice?
Dominic: Affirmation
Red Hood: Alright. You’re not who your dad says. You’re better than that and you’re better than him. I hope that you’ve got people in your life who are better than him too. Do they know?
Dominic: They’re better in some ways and worse in others. Yeah, they know.
Red Hood: Okay. That’s good. Take care of yourself, please.
Dominic: Thanks. I try.
The next conversation, a few weeks after that, was more worrying. And importantly, it sounded similar to what Tim had put in the group chat.
Dominic: I AM FKING SHAKING I AM SO MAD
Dominic: THIS SI SO UNFAIR THIS IS SO NOT OKAY!!!!
Dominic: MY BOSS
Dominic: MY BOSS JUST FUCKING
Dominic: I DID MY BEST I WENT ABOVE AND BYEOND AND GAVE HIM MORE THAN HE ASKED FOR AND HELPED THE SITUATION E N O R M O U S LY AND HE YELLED AT ME FOR IT!
Dominic: I cannot! I’M DONE! KDALKFD ALJFDAZ KFFAAA KKKKK
Red Hood: Alright. Alright. That IS unfair. Are you still there at work?
Dominic: YES! And I cNNOT leave!
Red Hood: Alright. Breathe as deep as you can, squeeze your knees with your hands. Eat or drink something. That’ll help calm your body down.
Dominic: I’m so pissed at him I cannot. He has done this so many fucking times.
Red Hood: I’m sure you’re sticking around for a good reason. Does it weigh out?
Dominic: … I guess so.
Red Hood: Bide your time, friend.
Dominic: Been doing it.
Red Hood: Hope you get home soon.
Dominic: Trust me, me too.
It was a few more weeks until he texted Jason again, this time with far less serious implications.
Dominic: Hi… I’m just, really bored. Honestly.
Red Hood: That’s great. Me too.
Dominic: *laughing face*
Red Hood: Can’t believe you just typed that out. But honest, way tf better than SmILe.
Red Hood: Tell me something about yourself.
Dominic: You can call me Dominic.
Red Hood: Okay, Dominic. Cool.
Dominic: I’m short. ish. 5’5.
Red Hood: HaHaHAhAhAhA. I was short once. ONCE. You’ve seen that I’m giant, right?
Dominic: You’re not THAT tall, Hood. 6 foot is tall but you’re not giant - you’re not like, 6’4 and above.
Red Hood: Alright, alright. Whatever, short stack.
Dominic: I’M NOT THAT SMALL
Red Hood: Doesn’t matter, it’s gonna stick!
Dominic: Crap.
Red Hood: So, what did you have for lunch?
Dominic: Um, a burger.
Dominic: Shit. I had to think about that.
Red Hood: Yum. I had brunch. I try for 3 meals, I try for healthy shit, but it doesn’t usually work out.
Dominic: Same. My brothers don’t think I can cook but I cook for myself way more than they know.
Dominic: AND it turns out.
Red Hood: It’s important. Maybe you should cook like shit just for them.
Dominic: Yeahhh… they don’t eat around me that much. My dad makes the food sometimes. It’s alright.
Red Hood: Gotcha
Red Hood: How many brothers?
Dominic: 4, and 2 sisters.
Red Hood: wow. Big family.
Dominic: Tell me about it.
Dominic: shit, gtg.
Then, of course, a little under a week later, there was the conversation about the pranks…
Dominic: Yo! I need some advice!
Red Hood: What’s up?
Dominic: What’s the best prank to pull?
Red Hood: come back to life.
Dominic: What??
Red Hood: Nothing. Well, where do you want the prank to be done?
Dominic: Anywhere?
Red Hood: Fake blood is always good.
Dominic: Hah! Maybe.
Red Hood: gtg! I’ll message you later!
That message never happened. However, exactly four days later, someone at Gotham Prep had filled plastic cups with water and covered the classroom floor of a teacher Tim (and most students) disliked. Jason hadn’t thought anything of it at the time. Two days after that, he had gotten the most worrisome series of texts from Dominic .
Dominic: I HATE MY LIFE! I HATE my life!!! I swear to God!! I keep making GOOD choices and NOTHING WORKS OUT!!! I swear to God I’m going to off myself!! I’m ALWAYS depressed and I’m ALWAYS losing my shit and NO ONE fucking knows about it!! I’m the one who holds the family together!! I’m the one who’s the scapegoat! I’m the one that carries the weight of UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS! It’s NOT OKAY! God dammit! I’m never going to come back home I’m never going to school again I’m NEVER going to help anyone ever again!!
Dominic: I’m LEAVING TOWN!
Dominic: I’m leaving town dammit! I’m not going to fucking kill myself.
Red Hood: Whoa. Okay, I want to come to you. Can I come over?
Dominic: No!!!!
Red Hood: Can I CALL you?
Dominic: No!! No, I don’t fucking do calls.
Red Hood: Can you please make an exception? I’m extremely concerned for you right now.
Dominic: No! I’m fine! I’m fine!
Red Hood: No, you’re not fine. You’re having an emotional crisis. Okay. Okay, I won’t ask again. But I want texts every 15 minutes just telling me you’re alive until this passes. Do you want to talk about it or no?
Dominic: You’re fucking pushy. I’m alive.
Dominic: I’m not going to fucking talk about it. I don’t want to talk about it. I just want to move on.
Red Hood: Alright. But sometimes these things can’t be ignored. FYI. What can I do for you?
Dominic: Nothing. Just listen ig
Red Hood: I’m listening.
Dominic: I’m just… I’m tired.
Dominic: I’m really tired.
Red Hood: Tired?
Dominic: Physically. Mentally. Emotionally.
Red Hood: I’m sorry. You need to rest before this gets even worse.
Dominic: i know…
Red Hood: It doesn’t sound like that’s possible.
Dominic: nope
Dominic: but i’m not weak
Red Hood: no, you’re not. This shit overwhelms the strongest folks. Ain’t nothing wrong with that.
Dominic: No I mean, I’m not weak. I’m not weak. I don’t need rest.
Red Hood: no. nope. No no no. You CANNOT fall into that CRAP.
Red Hood: Listen to me, short stack.
Red Hood: DOMINIC.
Red Hood: You are not weak. Needing REST DOES NOT make you WEAK. I cannot imagine the crap you live through, but crap is REAL. And it TAKES shit from us. It takes the best of us. It takes our strength. It takes the will to deal with it. So you listen to your body to your brain and if you need to get OUT, get out. Before it ends you.
Dominic: k.
Red Hood: okay, I hear that you’re pissed at me. I’m not sorry. I’m sorry that you’re believing this stuff, this toxic masculinity crap or whatever this is, but it’s WRONG.
Dominic: i’m alive.
Dominic: I’m alive
Dominic: still fucking alive
Dominic: still hating life
Dominic: still here
Dominic: I missed one, I’m sorry. Lost track of time.
Dominic: alive
Dominic: alive
Dominic: alive.
Dominic: I’m doing better.
Red Hood: I’m really glad. You had me worried.
That was the last Jason had heard from him, and that was almost three weeks ago. The timing lined up, too - Tim had fumbled a case and a test that night if memory served.
Thankfully, it was only another hour before Dominic responded to him.
Dominic: Hey. I’m okay. Thanks for checking.
Red Hood: Yep… hey. So I’m gonna level with you…
Jason started typing. I know that this is you, Tim. I don’t like being tricked. You know that. Why the fuck couldn’t you just come to us in the first place? Why all this game pretending to be someone you’re not? Why text RED HOOD? You’re so irritating and you’re so painfully obvious. I know the timing of your texts lines up with shit that’s happened to YOU. I don’t like that you haven’t told us this stuff and quite frankly I don’t like that you’re Red Robin with all of this going on. We don’t have the luxury of h-
It was exactly then that Jason stopped himself. He read the last line again. And again. And then he deleted the message. That. It was exactly
that,
that mindset that made them impossible to go to with this.
That
was why Tim needed to go to Red Hood; not Jason, not Dick, not Bruce…
Realization settled heavily in his gut.
“Well,” he said to himself. “Points for self-awareness.”
He looked at his phone again and typed out a different response.
Red Hood: you know what? I can be a dick, and I’m sorry about that. I get that there’s power in anonymity. No matter who you are, I just want to make sure you’re okay.
Dominic: You want to see a pic of me?
Red Hood: Sure.
Dominic sent a photo that was most definitely not of him and he chuckled.
Red Hood: You look young.
Dominic: I feel old.
Red Hood: I’m too old for this crap.
Jason pocketed his phone and breathed out. He would let Timmy do what he needed to. He knew that he held him to higher standards than the other kids in Gotham, just like he had been held to higher standards. He felt the weight of the hypocrisy. His brother needed a safe space; one their own family couldn’t provide. Hell if he was gonna let it stand.
…And hell if he didn’t start paying more attention to Tim Drake’s life - because the kid clearly wasn’t about to do what was necessary to make his life a little easier.
There was something Jason needed to say, even if no one was around to hear it. He took a breath. “Tim… I’m sorry.”