"Are you afraid?"

Tim blinked, looking up from where his fists were clenched on his thighs. "Wh...what?"

"Are you afraid?" Jason asked again, without a hint of malice.

Tim looked back down at his hands. His small, Tim-sized, Robin-glove-fitting hands. The spell had worked- they were back to who they were supposed to be.

Still, though, he wondered if a part of him would always reside with Jason now. And if somewhere deep inside of him, there was a part of Jason, too.

"I'm not afraid," he said, though his voice was tight. "I'm angry."

"Oh." Jason shifted on the couch, which they both had not moved from since they had switched back. "Because... because of me?"

"No. Not anymore."

And Tim saw how Jason sagged his shoulders, like he was afraid this time he really crossed the line, this time he really couldn't save himself. Tim had thought that too.

He guessed they were both wrong.

"So, guys, I'm heading out," Dick called from the front door. "You guys okay now without me?"

Jason rolled his eyes. "We're actually better without you, if your ego can believe it."

"Ha ha." A pause. "This... was quite the story, wasn't it?"

"...Not one you'll be telling Bruce anytime soon. Right?"

"No. A promise is a promise." Dick hesitated as he opened the door. He gave them both a smile. "You guys take care of yourselves, 'kay? I don't know when the next time'll be that we're all together again, so..."

He seemed reluctant to say the word, so Tim said it for him. "Goodbye," he called.

"...Goodbye." The door slammed shut, and the semi-darkness returned.

Tim straightened his back as he noticed that he was now alone with Jason. He clasped his hands, then unclasped them, then gripped the fabric of his pants.

"Then why are you angry?"

The younger boy started. "What? Oh, right... I guess, I guess I'm angry because there's nobody to be angry at. Does... does that make sense?"

"Yes," Jason breathed, as if he had just had an epiphany. "It does make sense."

Tim squirmed slightly at their closeness, arms almost touching. This did not escape Jason's gaze.

"...I'm sorry."

"F-for what?" Tim stuttered, eyes wide.

The dead Robin's eyes pierced him. "You know for what. For not giving you back your body. For hating you. For... for being your hero, but letting you down."

"My hero... Bruce told you, didn't he?"

"Yeah. While he was saying he'd given up on me."

Tim sighed, remembering the phone call that had turned so sour so soon. "Well, he may have given up on you... but Dick hasn't. And I won't. So you don't have to be sad anymore."

Jason shot him an incredulous look. "Who said I was sad? I didn't say I was sad, I mean, I don't need anyone's approval-!"

"You didn't need to say it," Tim countered. "You know... you're not alone in this world. There are people who can understand you. You just... need to let them."

Jason snorted. "If that's the case, you might want to take your own advice, Mr I'm-Too-Cool-To-Ask-For-Help."

Tim let out a soft chuckle. "I guess we're both idiots, aren't we?"

"Yep. A pair of butt-kicking, body-swapping idiots."

A comfortable silence fell between them.

"Jason..."

Jason raised an eyebrow at the hesitation in Tim's voice. "Yes?"

"Do you... do you wanna come with me to the Manor?" he blurted.

A blush rose in Jason's cheeks. "I shouldn't... Bruce..."

"Screw Bruce," Tim said bluntly. "I want you to come. So please..."

"...You don't have to do this 'cause you feel sorry for me or anything."

"Stop making excuses, Jason. I'm doing this because you deserve it."

And he knew this would get to Jason, because for most of Jason's life he'd been fighting for things he thought he'd deserved. Bruce's love, the Joker's death, the Robin suit... all things he'd held as his own. And, if Tim were honest, all things he'd never get.

But his home? The Manor? That, Tim could give him.

"Fine then," Jason said casually, masking the fear and hope in his voice. "Just for a minute or two. Because you want it so bad. Because obviously I don't want to be there, but there's food, and I'd always loved the paintings-"

"Jason?"

"Yeah?"

"Shut up," Tim smirked. "And get your butt off this couch. There's a manor waiting for you."

The path up to the Manor was at once well-worn and new, as if you could walk barefooted on it and feel the footprints of the people who had passed by. This sense of history made Jason uneasy, as did the flowers, and the grass, and the damned giant building looming in front of him.

Everything was confusing. In his ears, in his eyes, in his chest. He didn't know what to feel, so he opted to suspend everything and feel nothing at all.

It wasn't working.

"They're home," Jason remarked throatily.

Tim gave him an unreadable glance. "Is that a problem?"

"No. Yes. I don't know." Jason stared at the lights in the window. "Is it supposed to be?"

Tim didn't answer, but fell back, so now they were walking side by side. Jason shuddered slightly as he walked by a patch of grass that had been flattened.

That was probably where Tim had landed when Jason had... well... kicked him out of the window.

God, he didn't deserve forgiveness, did he? Why did they insist he was worth saving, when he just kept proving them wrong?

"Hey," Tim said, jolting him out of his thoughts.

"What?"

The boy gestured to the door. "You wanna knock?"

And he was plunged back into his thoughts again, drowning in a sea of voices. He couldn't breathe. It seemed stupid- it was just a knock, just a fist against wood. He was good at fists. It should be easy.

But he wasn't a fool. He knew, in a weird strange way, that this choice that he made right now would be an everlasting one. A mark.

Either he ran away, keeping everything the same and safe and sound... or for once he moved on, and let the changes, good or bad, come to him.

He knocked.

"Just a moment!" A voice called from beneath the polished door.

A second later a bolt was sliding back, and a bright pair of eyes peered out into the daylight. Jason's gut squeezed as a smile graced the butler's face.

"Master Tim, Master Jason," he greeted. "What an unexpected surprise."

"Hey Alfred," Tim replied happily. "Can we come in?"

Jason knew this question was only for him.

"Of course, of course! I'll have cookies in the oven for you two in just a minute."

Tim, sensing Jason's reluctance, tugged at his sleeve and dragged him through the doorframe. By now, Jason felt like he was actually drowning.

"Tim," Jason whispered, as Alfred bustled around in the kitchen, "this is a mistake."

"No it isn't. Trust me."

"I can't. I can't do this, I can't-"

Jason's voice stopped when he felt a hand slide into his, warm and small. He didn't look down, but relaxed slightly.

"Do you want to see your room?" Tim asked quietly.

"O...Okay. Just until the cookies arrive. Then I'm outta here."

Tim shot him a look that said 'yeah right', but before he could actually say it a voice cut through the air.

"Tim?" Bruce called from the staircase. "Is that you?"

Jason's heart stopped in his chest.

Tim bit his lip nervously as he heard the footsteps descend towards them. Jason, beside him, had gone completely still.

If he ever gets out of here, Tim reflected, he'd probably be traumatised for life.

But it wasn't fair. It shouldn't be this painful to go home.

"Bruce," Tim greeted, hoping his voice didn't sound like what he felt.

Bruce's large frame came into view, and as it did the look on his face morphed from casual disinterest to absolute shock.

"Ja... Jason," Bruce choked, like his name was some sort of spell.

Jason stiffened, and Tim could feel the sweat on his palms. Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe it was stupid to think that, for once, all their problems could be solved by just wishful thinking.

"Yes," Tim replied, deciding to play it sarcastic, "this is Jason. I'm glad you remember what he looks like."

"What are you doing?" Jason hissed.

Tim honestly didn't know either.

"What... Tim, what is he... doing here?"

"He's going to his room," Tim declared. Anger and pain grew within him. "And he's going to stay the night."

"What?! Tim, are you insane?" Jason looked like he was on the verge of fainting.

Bruce's face twitched, his expression stoic. "...What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm... I'm hanging out with my brother."

The word hung there, thick and demanding attention. Jason was staring at him, eyes wide, mouth agape in a stupor. And Bruce...

Well, Bruce was still standing several steps above them, but not looking at either of them particularly. In fact, it almost seemed like he couldn't see them at all.

Tim was satisfied with his work. He tightened his hold on Jason's hand and dragged him, past Bruce's unmoving figure, up the flight of fancy stairs and onto the second floor, where the corridor of rooms stared at them. He made his way carefully, deliberately, to the one room that was forbidden.

"This is your room, right?"

Jason blinked, slowly dragging himself out of his reverie. "Yeah... Yeah, it is."

He reached for the doorknob and hesitated.

"Jason?" Tim waited. "What's wrong?"

"Is it the same?"

"Well, yeah, of course it is. Alfred never changed it."

"That's what I'm afraid of."

"Why?"

"Because... now I have to acknowledge how much I've changed. And I... I don't want to. I don't want to see how much I've... how little there is left of me."

Tim frowned. "That's ridiculous. Jason, we all change. That doesn't make us any less of ourselves. Even if your change involved magic pools of acid and clowns, it doesn't make you any less of Jason Todd."

"You didn't know me before," he protested.

"I know. That's why, to me... this has always been the best version of you."

Jason's mouth quirked a little at the corners, and Tim allowed himself a small smile too. It was nice when you found the right thing to say, especially when you always said the wrong ones.

"Are you going to open that door?"

"Don't snark me," Jason huffed, seemingly settling back into his bad-boy self.

He reached for the doorknob with a solid determination, twisting it and pushing inwards. The door swung open smoothly, as if it was still lived in, still being used.

Jason took a step forward. And stopped.

"Jason...?" Tim's voice wavered with concern. "Is everything alright?"

Jason's eyes were wide as he took in the room.

"Holy bad taste, Batman," he finally cried. "This is the ugliest room I've ever seen!"

Tim blinked. "Uhh... what?"

"Why is everything green? What, was I into vomit back then? And what is this thing? Is this a cockroach? Why on earth would anyone have a cockroach plushy toy? This looks like it would give me nightmares, not take them away!"

"I'm... uh, I'm sure we can fix it-"

"Yes, yes, that is exactly what we should- is that the Rainbow Magic book collection? Why the heck did Bruce let me buy that?! Geez, Replacement, you were right- I'm much happier the way I am now."

"Ah... I'm glad you're okay now."

"Man, back then I was as big a dork as you are."

"Hey!"

"Oh c'mon kid, you know it's true." Jason opened a drawer and frowned at its contents. "Besides," he continued, tossing stuff out casually, "dorks are adorable."

"I am not a-" Tim broke off as he realised what Jason had just said.

"Yes?" Jason raised an eyebrow at him, daring him to make a comment.

Tim blushed. "That's- well-"

"Hey," Jason interrupted. "Look at this."

Tim walked over and peered curiously into the lowest part of his drawer, where there was a crumpled piece of paper.

"It was my New Year's resolution. The year that I... left."

"Oh." Tim shifted uncomfortably. "Well, what does it say?"

Jason moved over to the bed, and Tim followed suit.

"Let's see," Jason said grandly, "Number 1: Buy Paige the Pantomime Fairy. Oh my god, why did I put that on here? Are the rest just as lame? Spray paint the Batmobile... eat 30 cookies in 30 seconds... sneak up on Alfred... hah, good luck with that, past me. Did I actually do any of these things?"

Tim's gaze landed on the bottom of the page, and he suddenly burst out laughing.

"What?" Jason frowned. "What's so funny?"

"N... N-number 52," he choked.

"There are 52 of these things? Let's see... Number 52: Get a younger sibling?!" Jason's eyes widened. "What? I assure you Tim, I do not remember writing this."

Tim had fallen over, now spread on the bed. "Look... it continues!"

"Get a younger sibling and... read Rainbow Magic to them?!" Jason stared at it. "Okay, I'm pretty sure this wasn't me. There's no way I would've wrote this!"

"Y'know, it's not too late to finish the list," Tim teased. "Especially that one."

"No way. Nuh-uh."

"Oh come on, you're staying the night, aren't you?"

Jason huffed. "Only because you're forcing me to. And don't think I cared at all when you called me a brother. Because I didn't."

"Okay. And you totally did not write that you wanted to read Rainbow Magic to me, either."

"I didn't! It's a lie! The list is a lie!"

"Hmm... let's see which book I should choose, out of your 40 book collection... Ow!"

"You deserve that," he smirked. Jason looked at the bookshelf, a memory from a lifetime ago. He sighed. "Thank you..."

"For what?"

"For... y'know... bringing me here. For saying that in front of Bruce. I should've just given back your body in the first place, Tim. You shouldn't forgive me for it."

"Jason... you were strong enough to give back a life that was taken from you. I should be thanking you. Or maybe we should just accept that we'd do anything for, and to, each other."

"How do you know that? How can you trust me?"

"I know that... 'cause you're going to read me Ruby the Red Fairy, and it will be the best story of both of our lives." Tim pulled the slim novel from amidst the countless others, and handed it to him.

He took it grudgingly, but was smiling nonetheless.

"Fine. Gather round, children, by which I mean the one child in this room. And here we are: Chapter 1, The End of the Rainbow..."

Hey guys! Remember when I said 'soon'? Well, three weeks later is apparently soon for me. Sorry! I was writing The Five Stages Of You as well, so I hope that makes up for the lack of updates!

This is the final chapter of this story, and I want to thank everyone who reviewed or liked or followed this. It's been an incredible journey, and I loved writing it. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Oh, and happy early Chinese New Year! I hope everyone has a lovely rest of 2017.

Disclaimer (man, I haven't done one of these in ages): I don't own Rainbow Magic (duh).