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Title: In this together
Pairing: The Robins
Fandom: DCU Band!AU
Rating: PG.
Disclaimer: All fun, no cash
Author’s notes: 100% organic. May contain minor flaws and imperfections that beta-treated slash wouldn’t.

Summary: a rough night before the Robins hit the big time. When the crowd starts to lose interest and the band starts to lose cohesion, Tim knows how to pull all back together.

Band!AU back-catalogue
[livejournal.com profile] modestroad  Comment_fic prompt that started it all
Perils of rocking the big time with my The Star That Burns Brightest
[livejournal.com profile] faile_neume ’s perfect Bass Porn (Dick/Tim)
[livejournal.com profile] modestroad ’s fantastic tour tee-shirt design.
[livejournal.com profile] faile_neume 's painfully beautiful Together (Tim/Steph)

Followed directly by my Repairs and Re-plans

[livejournal.com profile] shiny_glor_chan ’s awesome The Fame

[livejournal.com profile] the_protagonist ’s ungodly beautiful “Untitled City-riff” lyrics





Please, please, please come play if this AU inspires.


It would have been an understatement to say the night was going badly. From the point they’d arrived at the venue, it was clear it was not their night. The owners of the club were rude and the venue was set up all wrong for their rig, their hotel booking had been messed up and there was nowhere close to park the van so they’d had to lug their gear several blocks.

When they got back to the van to grab the second load of gear, some guy was trying to break into it. That at least gave Jason a chance to blow off steam as he gleefully kicked the shit out of the guy before Tim and Steph dragged him away. Having to fill out a police report would just add an extra level of trouble to their day they didn’t need.

The slow set up and the fact Alfred was busy finding them a new hotel meant that none of them ate lunch and without regular meals Tim became cranky and unreasonable.

By the time they got on stage, things were already spiralling out of control. Damian knocked Jason’s beer with his heel and spilt it everywhere. Jason had been drinking since midday and saw fit to retaliate by striking Damian up the back of the head with a drumstick. Only Steph’s hand on the back of his neck stopped the youth from dropping his nay flute and launching himself at Jay.

“We’re losing the crowd.” Dick whispered, leaning into Tim’s shoulder as Jay and Steph belted into the rift. The audience was edgy and restless and in the wrong mood for what they were playing.

“I’ll take it.” Tim replied, nodding to the others.

Jay and Steph wound up the song; recognising the signals Tim was giving them. Even completely off their game they were still a family and use to reading each other’s body language.

Tim left the hidden corner behind Dick which he usually played from and dragged a chair to the centre of the stage. He sat down, cradling the bass into the right position, stretching his fingers around the neck, feeling the slight burn. His bo staff felt like this too but in a different way. He closed his eyes, remembering the way he felt in the Robin suit, on the rooftops of the city, at Bruce’s side and the words flowed.

Tim’s voice was never as strong or as clear as Dick’s but the song was his own and he sung it low and slow, plucking at bass’s strings in time to rhythm of his word.

He sang of Gotham and its endless nights. He sang of the wings of its champion and of the shadow he cast. He sung of longing and love and loss, and everything they’d left behind.

“But we turn away to face the day,” His voice cracked at the last line caught on his lips, a single tear rolling down his cheek. “Farewell to Gotham’s shadows.”

There was silence over the club but for the odd quiet sniffle.

Dick crossed the stage, slinging an arm around his brother and hugging him warmly. “You didn’t have to.” He whispered in Tim’s ear, knowing the emotion toll the song took on the youth.

“We needed to remember.” Tim sighed, wiping his face. “He’s why we’re together.”

Jason got up to clasp Tim’s shoulder as the audience found its collective voice, screaming and cheering their approval. The whole club rose in applauses as Tim, rather wobbly, found his own feet and moved back to his usual spot.

Damian caught his eye for a second, granting him a tight, fleeting smile and a nod of approval.

Steph planted a quick kiss on Tim cheek as he passed before kicking out a power cord from her guitar. “So you lot ready to party?” she called, smirking as the crowd roared with her.

Later that night, the older four found themselves crammed into the single double bed Alfred had managed to find them. Dick hummed the tune of Gotham’s Shadows as he stroking Tim’s hair, planting soft kisses on the top of his head. Steph curled up against Tim’s other side, her head resting on his chest. Jason reached over the sleeping girl between them to brush his fingers over Tim’s stomach.

Sometime during the night, Damien gave up the couch he had so fervently fought for and crawled in with them, tucking himself against Dick’s side.

Dick rolled over, sleepily hugging his often aggravating youngest brother. They were together; they’d be ok.


repairs and re-plans

Date: 2010-03-10 01:34 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] munnin-odanin.livejournal.com
Damian sat on the edge of the stage, the violin squashed between his knees as he attacked it with pliers.

“You break it; she’s going to hurt you.” Jay growled, crossing to double check the drum placements.

“Unlike you Todd,” Damian growled in return, twisting the pliers viciously, “I happen to know how to handle a real instrument.”

“Then what are you doing assaulting the Blonde Terror’s fiddle like a mad dentist?”

“I’m replacing the broken strings. I want...” he trailed off, going quiet for a moment.

Dick eased out of the shadow and crossed to stand in front of the youth. “What is it you want Damian?” he asked gently, resting his hands either side of Damian’s knees.

“I want to fix it for her.” the boy mumbled. “I know she won’t be able to play it tonight but...”

“That’s very kind of you Damian.” Dick whispered, gently touching his forehead to his little brother’s. “I’m sure she’d appreciate the gesture.” He reached out to hold the violin still as Damian removed the torn wires.

Jay wandered over to join them, “So can the Girl Wonder play tonight?” He asked, untwisting the replacement string and handing it to Damian.

“She seems to think so but I’ve asked Alfred to have a look at her hand when she’s ready.” Dick mused, “We may need to re-jig the set list – drop Twisted Smile and No Mans. I don’t want her to risk hurting herself on the solos.”

“I can do it.” Damian jutted out his chin. “I can handle the solos.”

Jay cocked his head at Damian disbelievingly. “I know you’ve done alright with the backing guitar but-”

“He can do it.” Steph called across the stage as she and Tim crossed to join them. “I’ve been working with him and Little D’s got the hooks down perfect.” She met Dick’s eye. “Damian takes the lead guitar tonight.”

Dick nodded to the hand she was cradling against her chest. Her wrist and hand were hidden by crisp white bandages. “What’s the verdict?”

She shrugged. “Alfred stitched me up but...” she trailed off, shrugging as Tim wrapped a comforting arm around her. “I’m not allowed anything more complex that a tambourine for a least a week.”

Dick shot her a dazzling smile. “One tambourine, coming up!”

Re: repairs and re-plans

Date: 2010-03-10 01:37 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] faile-neume.livejournal.com
Aww this was so lovely. The imagine of Damian trying desperately to fix the violin is wonderful <3

Re: repairs and re-plans

Date: 2010-03-10 01:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] munnin-odanin.livejournal.com
He really does want to help. Poor kid.

Re: repairs and re-plans

Date: 2010-03-10 01:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] faile-neume.livejournal.com
He's probably still a little messed up by Talia and Ras. But the Bats will make him better ^_^

Re: repairs and re-plans

Date: 2010-03-10 03:01 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] darthbatgirl.livejournal.com
Aww Damian is a little darling. (A little darling that throws nerve strikes.)

Re: repairs and re-plans

Date: 2010-03-10 09:56 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] munnin-odanin.livejournal.com
He's a sweet little tiny ninja doom but he really does care.

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