Tim was floating in a void. His scales were humming contently in his hand. The abyss felt safe, no one could hurt him here, not under the presence of The Shadow himself.

  It was like a warm blanket had been wrapped around him by a caring parent. He wanted to stay here. Where he didn’t have to think so much through a fuzzy, drifting head.

  His hair swayed in the currents of the void, along with his clothes. His bag, held loosely in the hand not holding his scales, was as suspended as the rest of him.

  No one was holding onto him. It suddenly occurred to him that in his attempt to grab his bag, he had moved out of the Judge’s grasp.

  That was unfortunate, he thought they had nice hugs. Their affection would be the only thing that could make the void better.

  That thought seemed a little strange, he probably wouldn’t have thought of it while he was more awake. But he wasn’t, plus the him who was more awake always pushed away the people that cared about him.

  Suddenly the currents shifted and he sped what seemed to be downwards. Gloved hands pulled him towards . . . he was too tired to understand what.

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  He distantly felt himself rematerialize out of the warm shadows.

  Oh.

  He was out of the abyss. He kind of wanted to go back.

  A deep voice chuckled, one voice snickered, another made a sharp “Tt” sound, a fourth coos. A fifth cleared its throat, “Would you kindly settle the young master into the nest, master Bruce, it appears that he is rather sleeper deprived. We can have our intended conversation in the morning when he awakens.

  He recognizes the voices. Who were they again? They’re important. His scales thrum in sleepy joy. Oh right, these are his Others. He somehow goes more boneless in Shadow-Bat-Dad’s arms.

  As Shadow-Bat-Dad walks he hears Storm-Many Wings-Older Brother coo again, walking somewhere to his right. He lets his duffel bag be taken from his hand.

  Promise-Fire and Ash-Older Brother trails behind them, dragging Fury-Painter-Younger Brother with him.

  Tim? Feels wind on his face for what feels like a second between blinks, but time feels odd, so he doesn’t know how long it actually lasts.

  Shadow-Bat-Dad sets him down on an incredibly soft surface. Before Tim can protest, four of his Others are laid out around him. A fifth, Assiduity-Eldest-Grandfather, was perched nearby, keeping watch.

  ‘This is nice’ is the last thought Tim has as he finally drifts off into the depths of slumber.

  Bruce - Shadow (Nicknamed Bat)

  Dick - Storm

  Alfred - Assiduity

  Thomas - Salubrity

  Martha - Enmity

  Jason - Promise

  Damian - Fury