Work Text:
September 2022
Tim has been staring at the meme in front of him for the better part of an hour. “Eat The Rich,” it says.
He’s done the research. The choice is obvious. The question is, how should he go about making such a big change in his life - and so many other people’s lives too? He has some ideas. He’s been thinking about the pros and cons for several months now, and he knows that he’s wasting time at this point.
He was born into privilege. The American Dream is a myth. There are too many people who are working for the minimum wage who are forced to work harder just to survive than any millionaire ever chooses to work for amounts of money that are hundreds or thousands of times the size of the minimum wages in the U.S. Tim hasn’t stooped low enough to pay any of his millions of employees minimum wage in years, but it’s still not enough. He knows that he could be doing more . Too many people are barely scraping by. The charities that Tim runs and donates to are a start, but still not enough - and Tim is going to do something about it.
June 3rd, 2020
Tim is horrified when the police show up with tear gas to the BLM protest that he’s observing as Red Robin. There have been protests every day, all across the world, since the video of George Floyd being murdered by a cop went viral. Tim was pleasantly surprised when he realized how many people were protesting without violence - that is until he realized that the cops have been treating even peaceful protests the same way they treat riots.
The police’s reactions to the protests are just proving the point that the protests are needed. Tim is going to have a long talk with Dick pretty soon.
“All cops are bastards!” the crowd had been chanting.
And so, Red Robin becomes an enemy of the police when he and the Red Hood team up to stop the cops from doing any more damage to the protestors. Unfortunately, this takes a few hours, and by that time the crowd has thinned and everyone in it is in need of medical attention.
Tim is grateful that he and Jason are on good enough terms to work together now. Ever since April of last year, when Jason apologized for (repeatedly) attacking him, they’ve been pretty civil with one another. Tim doesn’t know if he would consider Jason a friend per se, but he can at least say that he trusts Jason to watch his back in a fight now.
Tim is amazed at Jason’s control over the Pit right now because, honestly, Tim is feeling some unhealthy urges himself, and he’s never been in a Lazarus Pit. Of course, he doesn’t give into said urges, but the fact that they are there at all speaks volumes about what’s been going on these days.
Tim spots a black teenager having an asthma attack, despite having just taken her inhaler. She has a bloody gash on her forehead and bruises all over her. He rushes her over to Doctor Thompkins, who’s been finding herself very busy at night these days.
For the next several months, the social media pages of both Wayne Enterprises and Drake Industries will be riddled with posts advocating for the Black Lives Matter movement. Red Robin is on the streets every night, protesting.
July 7, 2020
Dick messages Tim with a link to a post that Tim shared on one of his anonymous social media accounts. It’s a meme that says “All Cops Are Bastards” with a picture of a hideous pig wearing a police uniform. “Really?” Dick says in the message with the link in it. Tim didn’t share it on Drake Industries’ social media page, for publicity reasons, but in a few months, he will end up sharing ACAB posts there too, anyway.
“Yes, really,” Tim replies to Dick’s message. He’s been obsessively researching the topic ever since he saw the video of George Floyd’s murder. To the message that he sends Dick, he attaches several links to articles, including scholarly peer-reviewed ones, that discuss the corruption of U.S. police forces, as a whole, and how the rules and structure of them are flawed. The articles talk about how most crime is done because of people's lack of resources, the cycle of poverty, and the fact that it’s so hard to find legal means of making money after having been to prison because of employers’ strict background checks.
Tim and Dick have a long discussion that night. Dick has known that the system is corrupt but has been working his ass off trying to make changes from within the police force. Tim thinks that the police systems in the U.S. ( especially Gotham) are too corrupt to disassemble from within because of the fucked up rules that make up the system.
Tim is planning the start of The Drake Foundation, which will partner with The Wayne Foundation to help people in poverty, with or without criminal records, get access to better jobs, food, housing, and healthcare. He knows that Bruce wouldn’t let him have total control of the Wayne Foundation, so he’s decided that this is his best option. He’ll even set up a 24-hour helpline that will help people set up appointments with social workers from The Drake Foundation.
Once The Drake Foundation is up and going, Tim is planning to pass out the cards for the helpline to anyone that he catches doing non-violent crime, as Red Robin, instead of handing them over to the police. He’s already convinced Steph, Cass, and Jason to do the same thing when the time comes. He’s never been so grateful to have Jason on his side. For people who do commit violent crimes, he will still hand them over to the police until he discovers a better option but will also give them the number to the helpline.
Dick thinks about this conversation for a long time .
July 19, 2020
Tim turned 20 years old today. He works all day, until Steph yanks him away from work at 7:30 and drags him to the manor. There’s cake and Alfred’s homemade ravioli, and, honestly, life could be worse.
When he gets back to his flat, there’s a gift bag on his kitchen table. The tag is signed “R.H.”
Tim’s jaw drops when he sees what’s inside. It’s a first edition copy of an ‘X-Men’ comic. Maybe Jason does consider him a friend after all. Tim grins.
The protests are still going on. Red Robin meets the Red Hood nearby, as he has been doing nightly, so that they can step in when violence starts, whether it’s the protestors or the police who start it.
“I got your gift,” Tim says with an awkward smile. “I love it, thank you. You didn’t have to.”
“Don’t mention it,” Jason says. Tim finds himself wishing that he could see behind Jason’s helmet to assess his facial expression but doesn’t let his mind linger on it for too long.
July 29, 2020
Police brutality continues. Dick quits his job and decides to start studying social work at Gotham University.
August 16, 2020
Tim decides to give Jason a gift for his birthday. It’s only fair since Jason gave him one. Unsure of what else to get him, he gives Jason a flash drive containing one of Tim’s computer programs that can hack security systems even as powerful as the bat computer.
Jason is silent for a long moment. Tim hates that fucking mask.
“Could you take that stupid helmet off when we’re talking like this?” Tim blurts out nervously. “I already know your identity, and it feels like I’m talking to a wall.”
Instead of being offended, Jason snorts out a laugh. Surprisingly, he obliges. “Thank you, Red,” he says when his mask is off. Tim sees amusement in Jason’s expression. “I’ll put it to good use.”
“Don’t mention it,” Tim says with a chuckle, his cheeks warmly slightly. It’s what Jason said when Tim thanked him for Tim’s birthday present, so that’s the first phrase that comes to mind.
September 2020
The Drake Foundation is up and running. Tim has already put a few million dollars from his own wallet into it. But, it doesn’t take long for Tim to realize that he underestimated how busy the hotlines would be, despite his research. Over a dozen people who call the hotline end up getting hired to answer hotline calls. Several others get jobs at Drake Industries, which is becoming gradually more popular among the working class, even outside of Gotham, and is now opening a few new branches.
The whole Bat Family, including Bruce, has agreed to pass out The Drake Foundation hotline cards to criminals that they apprehend, barring rich supervillains like Two Face, the Black Mask, the Joker, and Penguin.
It’s jarring to Tim how many people needed but didn’t have access to healthcare, with a disturbing amount of people who already have health insurance but who still can’t afford basic healthcare because of copays, until The Drake Foundation helped them. There are also way too many people whose health insurance companies don’t cover mental, dental, or vision health. He makes sure to put more of his personal funds towards helping fix the problem.
November 2020
Red Hood taps on Tim’s window, wearing a domino mask and holding his helmet in one hand. Tim is happy to see that Jason remembers what Tim said about his helmet, but he tries not to let it show. Tim opens the window, raising a curious eyebrow at him.
“You know people are going to be after you even more, now,” Red Hood says casually, “as Tim Drake.”
“Hello to you, too, Hood,” Tim says with a roll of his eyes.
“I’m just saying. I’ve heard whispers of crime lords not being very happy about what The Drake Foundation is doing. So keep an eye out,” he says.
Tim smirks. “It almost sounds like you care.”
Jason rolls his eyes. “All I’m saying is that it would probably be wise to up your security. Also, more attention and surviving more attacks with minimal help means it’s more likely for people to associate you with your nightlife persona.”
Tim sighs. “Tell me something I don’t know. But having more ‘security’ also ups my chances of being unmasked by said security.” Tim eyes Jason curiously. He knows it’s a risk, but he can’t help but ask, “Unless you might be willing to be my bodyguard?”
Jason is silent and pensive for a moment before saying, “I might be persuaded, for the right price. Asking nicely also might help.”
Tim huffs a sigh and rolls his eyes. He touches his hands together in front of him and bats his eyelashes theatrically. “Oh, please , would you be my bodyguard, Jason, sir?” he says, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Jason bursts out laughing, and Tim laughs with him. “You little shit,” Jason mutters, but he’s clearly amused. Maybe they are friends, Tim thinks to himself.
“I’ll think about it,” Jason promises.
Jason agrees to be his bodyguard the next day.
December 2020
The Drake Foundation expands. There already seems to be a slight shortage of supervillain goons in Gotham.
Drake Industries’ profits are higher than they’ve ever been. Instead of increasing his own salary, Tim increases the salaries of his employees and donates 1% of all of Drake Industries’ profits to The Drake Foundation.
Several affordable housing developments are being built in and near Gotham by The Drake Foundation, and none of the employees of Drake Industries have to pay for healthcare anymore.
January 2021
The Drake Foundation expands its reach from just Gotham to the whole state of New Jersey. Tim has to hire more people to manage his fan mail (and hate mail).
Jason has helped prevent Tim from being kidnapped approximately 26 times already, during his two-and-a-half months as Tim’s bodyguard.
February 24, 2021
The U.S. Congress just passed a bill called The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021. It (theoretically) prohibits police from racial profiling. It’s long overdue, but it’s a start. But Tim knows that, as a country, everyone still has a lot more work to do before “all [cis, straight, white, able-bodied, neurotypical, Christian] men are created equal” becomes “ everyone is treated equally and has an equal amount and quality of opportunities.”
April 2021
The Drake Foundation has now expanded its reach to ten states. Almost a dozen large, affordable apartment buildings have been built or fixed up, and dozens more are currently in construction.
Many rich people are complaining that The Drake Foundation’s housing prices are too affordable, and that “it’s bad for the economy.” Some people in the Right Wing are boycotting Drake Industries. Tim publicly argues, on Twitter, “It’s sad how many people think that other people being able to afford to survive is a bad thing.”
One day, Tim gets a text from Bruce asking if Tim wants to have brunch together. Tim is wary, but he agrees. Jason refuses to join them, unsurprisingly, despite still being Tim’s bodyguard.
Bruce is stiff and awkward, but not angry, as they greet each other. Tim nervously waits for him to speak, knowing that he wants to say something.
“You’ve done a lot of charitable work lately, Tim. You’ve surpassed my expectations. I’m… proud of you, son.”
Tim represses a gasp and fights back tears. He’s proud of himself for not bawling like a little kid when Bruce tells this to him, so awkwardly yet so honestly. He wonders who talked Bruce into doing this. Was it Alfred? Dick? He’s going to find out later so that he can thank them.
Tim swallows a lump in his throat. “Thanks, Dad,” he says, trying not to choke up.
Tim feels the itch to tell Jason about what Bruce said but immediately pushes the thought away. Jason doesn’t need another reason to feel excluded or “replaced.”
What Tim does tell Jason is that Bruce wanted him to pass along the message that Jason’s welcome at the manor anytime.
Jason snorts in disbelief when Tim relays the message, but Tim can see a tiny bit of happiness peek through Jason’s mask of nonchalance.
Tim is starting to be able to read Jason a lot better, these days. If he’s honest with himself, it still makes a secret part of him giddy knowing that he’s friends with his childhood hero now, despite their rocky history. He finds himself really enjoying Jason’s company, most days that they spend together.
October 2021
Gotham City’s crime rates may still be higher than many places, but they’re lower than they’ve ever been in the history of Gotham. Crime rates are slowly dropping in every city that The Drake Foundation touches. It’s gotten to a point where a few of the Bats have moved out of Gotham, to cities with higher needs for vigilantes. It’s also helped Bruce realize that there are other ways to fight crime besides with fists.
The Drake Foundation is now housing thousands of people, and it’s helped millions of people get better jobs. So, on one memorable day, the mayor gives Tim Drake a key to Gotham City.
Tim’s heart hammers in his chest the whole time. It’s hard for him to accept so many compliments. It’s hard enough to be the center of attention on his birthday , let alone when there’s a whole-ass city-wide celebration in his honor. But he makes it through the ceremony somehow, and he’s both anxious and as high as a kite by the end of it.
“I guess congratulations are in order,” Jason tells Tim after the ceremony.
Tim laughs, trying and failing to suppress a grin. His cheeks are sore from smiling all evening. “I don’t know, I’ve been congratulated a lot already. One more might go to my head.”
Jason chuckles. “Yeah, sure.”
Tim swears he can see affection in Jason’s eyes for a second, and, damn, he wonders if this blush of his is going to be permanent. Tim wonders, for a moment, if Jason is straight, but then he realizes that if he wasn’t then Tim would probably already know by now. Their community loves their gossip, after all. It’s a shame… But at least he seems to enjoy Tim’s company, which is honestly more than Tim could ever hope for. Sure, Jason is an asshole most days, but underneath that rough exterior, he’s a genuinely good person. Tim is happy that they seem to actually be friends now.
June 24, 2022
Tim is enraged. Roe vs. Wade has been overturned, and now there are no federal protections for people’s rights to have abortions. Tim thinks of the few friends he’s had who admitted to needing abortions after being sexually assaulted. He thinks of someone he knows who almost died from her high-risk pregnancy, ended up miscarrying, and swore to never bear another child. He thinks of his trans male friend whose health insurance denied him prenatal healthcare because of his legal gender having changed to male. Tim is going to do everything that he can to make this right.
The Drake Foundation will soon offer free abortions to those in need. Tim floods his social media feeds with feminist memes and articles.
September 3, 2022
“Eat the rich,” the meme in front of Tim says. Tim knows what the Left has been saying. He knows that, even though he’s been giving so much of his money to charity, he still has a higher weekly salary than the median yearly salary in the U.S. What he’s planning on doing goes against everything his parents ever taught him, but you know what they say, “If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change.” Michael Jackson knew his shit, may he rest in peace.
September 20, 2022
Tim takes a week off from his job as a CEO to work as Alvin Draper at Starbucks. He changes his hairstyle and wears bulky glasses to hide his identity. The experience is… eye-opening, to say the least.
“What’s your verdict?” Jason asks him at the end of the week, smirking knowingly.
Tim takes a deep breath and heaves a sigh. “My verdict is: fuck this shit.”
Jason laughs bitterly. “Yes! Fuck that shit!” he agrees. He throws an arm around Tim’s shoulder. “You know, I gotta admit, you’re really something, Baby Bird.”
Tim gapes at Jason, his cheeks heating rapidly. “I, uh, thanks.”
Their faces are close. Tim can’t help but glance down at Jason’s lips, but then he catches himself and curses internally. At first, he hopes that Jason didn’t notice, but then he catches Jason looking at his lips. He licks his lips subconsciously.
“Can I kiss you?” Jason asks.
Tim’s heart leaps in his chest.
“Yes,” he says breathily.
October 2022
Tim has made the announcement. His entire board of directors has quit. He’ll hire new ones: better ones who are more compassionate.
Tim is decreasing the salaries of the people at the top of Drake Industries’ hierarchy in order to increase the paychecks of his employees in the working class. Every one of his employees will be getting an income that’s at least as much as the median income of the U.S. (about $70K a year), including janitors, warehouse workers, receptionists, and everyone else. Because they put just as much effort into their jobs as everyone else.
The jobs that require a college degree will have higher salaries, and so will the people who have more experience, but no one in his company will get a higher salary than 2.5 times the median salary of the United States - not even him. A few years ago, his income was over a hundred million dollars a year, but those days are gone. A lot of his money ended up just accumulating in his savings accounts. He’s had an epiphany: his time isn’t worth more than anyone else’s. He doesn’t deserve more money than the average person, he’s just been lucky enough to have access to things that others haven’t because of the accident of his birth.
When Tim makes the announcement, there are widespread murmurs of Tim being “a communist.” A lot of people accuse him of having lost his mind. There’s even some rich, white, Christian dude who accuses Tim of being “against the will of god,” to which Tim replies, “All I’m doing is treating all my employees with an equal amount of respect. You Christians like to say, ‘love thy neighbor,’ don’t you? Does loving someone mean paying them a tiny fraction of what you pay someone else for working just as hard as the other person? And to those who argue that you think the working class ‘aren’t working as hard’ as those in the upper and middle classes, I dare you to try working full time as a fast food crew member or as a cashier at a grocery store. I bet you wouldn’t last a week.”
December 2022
Many Right Wingers are boycotting Drake Industries, but their claims are looking less and less valid to most people as time goes on. Drake Industries is ever-expanding, opening more and more branches across the United States. Drake Industries’ profits are at an all-time high, and Tim never thought he’d be so happy to have so little money in his personal bank account. He’s always wanted to make a big, positive difference in the world. Now he knows how to.
February 6, 2023
“Two hundred and sixty-one bills
With the purpose to take away queer and trans rights
Have been proposed, across the U.S.
Just during this legislative session
Thirty-three bills have been defeated
And won’t come to pass
But six times as many bills are advancing
And one of them has already been passed
How much longer will this last?
The fight is not over yet”
Tim is once again appalled by the U.S. government, but he still won’t give up. He’s going to keep fighting. ‘And honestly,’ he thinks, looking down affectionately at Jason as he sleeps with his head in Tim’s lap, ‘I know that I can do it and that Jason will be by my side the whole time.’
“God, I love you,” Tim mumbles to Jason’s sleeping form. One day, he’ll tell it to him when he’s awake.