Spider-man Reborn

Guys guys guys guys look!!! It's Spider-man!!! I can die happy now 🤗 The artist is so talented! Ya'll should check their instagram if you want to see their other work @dietcreativity or this is on their tumblr @dreamofwaves.

And without further ado- the next chapter---

Peter pulled once again at the clip on tie, wishing he could just throw it out the window. It didn’t bother him exactly, only when he tried reaching over the table while standing on a chair. He already has the tip of it still drying from the bowl filled with something that smelled strongly of alcohol.

It was pure skill that he even managed to escape Damian’s side. His family refused to let him be on his own during the summer art gala. He was pretty sure they expected him to bite someone, as if he even did that before. Dick didn't let him get close. If nobody acted rude then Peter wouldn't have to bite them. 

Huffing, Peter stalking into the crowd in search of Cass. He could hear her steady heart, always calm and always soothing. It was like a beacon, the soft gentle beating calling him to rest at her side. Following the drum, Peter slid around the guests that gossiped and talked about things he couldn’t bother listening to. 

“Come on, gorgeous. I can show you a night you’d never want to forget.” Some sleazy guy tried, his voice forcefully pushed to be husky but only succeeding in him sounding like a smoker. Peter wrinkled his nose. He hoped the poor girl wasn’t planning to take him up on that. 

Finally breaking free from the suits and dresses of the crowd, Peter stepped out into a more secluded area. Cass was leaning against the wall, boxed in by some guy. The guy stood about a head taller than her with his hands caging her in. Brown hair gelled back making his head shinier than should be natural. 

Peter could smell his cologne from here. He was pretty sure he didn't even need his enhanced sense to smell it. 

Cass leaned back further into the wall, her eyes studying him. Her dress was still smooth, black and yellow that reached just past her knees. She never wore anything skin tight unless it was her Orphan suit. He spotted her hands frozen and fisted by her side.

Peter knew Cass could beat him up. He also knew she didn’t want to cause a scene either.

Okay, maybe biting people shouldn’t be considered a bad thing. 

He crept forward, locking eyes with Cass who shook her head the barest inch. Too bad he never got Bat training like his siblings, how was he supposed to know she was telling him to stand down? Peter pounced on the man’s arm, biting down on it when he finally backed off of his sister. 

“What the-!” The creep yelled, shaking him off. “What the fuck?!”

Peter bared his teeth, feigning a lunge that sent the guy running off. He considered going after him. Talia had been teaching him a lot about tearing someone down. The creep would run to the bathroom… where it was secluded…

A gentle hand in his hair pulled him back from his planning. Peter focused on Cass instead, a small smile on her face as she ruffled his hair. “Why didn’t you punch him?”

“Crowded. He was harmless.” Cass signed, poking his chin. “No biting.” 

“He was creepy. No one should talk to you like that.” Huffing, Peter stood back up. 

“There you are, Peter.” Damian stepped through the crowd, marching up to them. Peter hid his pout. He really thought he got away from him. “Father has said you are to stay by my side tonight. Do not wander off for your own good.”

Sighing, Peter joined his brother’s side. Cass joined them this time which made it better. Peter knew people often tried to get themselves on the Wayne’s good side but he didn’t think they would try that. Would someone try that with him when he was older?

That has to be a crime. 

They wandered around the event a little more. Peter watched some people actually discussing some of the art hanging on the walls or on the displays but most mingled with each other. Duke and Steph managed to get out of this event because of daytime patrol and ‘I’m not really a Wayne so good luck suckers.’

Maybe he should ask if he could join Duke someday for the daytime shift. His dad already let him out with them once. He has to be changing his mind by now. Especially after Peter managed to arrest three guys on his first night!

It was during their second round circling the space when Peter spotted Dick. He stood tall in his light blue suit, angling forwards to a redheaded girl in a dark red dress. A redheaded girl who wasn't Babs. Not-Babs twisted her hair between fingers, smiling and biting her lip while batting eyelashes up at him. 

Again?

Why was everyone going after his siblings? Why would anyone want them like that? 

Dick had the fake smile he usually wore around paparazzi and his dad’s business partners. His nose was just a little crooked from being broken so often on patrol. Sure he was getting old and should find a nice person but Peter didn’t think it would be some girl trying to be famous. He should intervene before she could mind control Dick. 

“Where are you going?” He heard Damian ask as Peter changed their trajectory. “No, Cain. He will not be biting any more people. Who has Peter bitten? We must have them tested, Peter may require some form of vaccination now.”

Ignoring the conversation behind him, Peter quickly stormed towards the pair. Dick spotted him immediately, his smile softening and becoming real. Peter pushed the pride at receiving a real smile while the girl only saw his fake one aside once he joined his side. “Hey Pete. Where’s Damian?”

“Is she your girlfriend?” Peter pointed to the red head. “You said you can only have five girlfriends at a time. She’s gonna be seven now.” Peter made a show of stomping his foot and glaring at Dick.

His brother blinked, confusion clouding his eyes before he snorted. “I don’t remember saying five, Pete.”

“What!?” The redhead snapped, blinking between the two. “That- That’s. Ugh, and I thought you were one of the good ones!” 

They watched her storm off as Damian and Cass finally joined them. Dick sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Thanks for the save, Pete. But I had it handled.”

“Of course. Richard had hoped to lure a girl to his bed tonight. Good work Peter, we cannot allow his frivolous tendencies to bring dirt to the Wayne honor. Though perhaps a better lie would have sufficed.” Damian hummed, a hand to his chin. “Next time suggest Richard has acquired some sort of sexually transmitted disease that-”

A hand blocked Damian’s mouth before he could go further. Peter blinked as Dick laughed awkwardly. “Yeah let’s not do that. I promise there’s no luring girls to bed, okay?”

Peter crossed his arms. He had his hands full tonight if he hoped to ward off the creeps from his siblings. Speaking of… Tim was supposed to be here. 

–

After some attempted damage control, Dick resigned himself to being named a playboy like Brucie Wayne in the near future. Peter has apparently made it his life’s mission to chase off anyone within their age range tonight. Idly, Dick wondered if Peter knew that Steph and Tim dated once. 

Maybe he should let it slip out. Or he’ll save that information for future use. Their family thrived off blackmail and Dick was the only one who was near impossible to bribe. Besides, bribing his siblings for bonding time was always a perk as the eldest. It was practically his job. 

Tonight was supposed to be a regular art charity gala to raise money for some rising artists. Bruce, as paranoid as ever, had planned a schedule to keep Peter in someone’s sight throughout the night. It was only when Selina made a show of falling asleep that Bruce finally gave up going over every minute of the schedule.

Every. Minute. 

Dick had thought that the insane Peter Watch schedule was a little too much. Sure, Peter gets himself into a lot of trouble regularly. The past few galas were made a lot more interesting with Peter squaring up against old rich men. Of course, that was funny since old rich men don’t typically aim guns at Peter’s head. 

Granted, Two Face didn’t exactly raise a gun at Peter. His henchmen did. He just flipped his coin as if he wasn't threatening a seven year old kid.

Maybe they should have stuck to the insane schedule.

“Whatcha waiting for? You scared?” Peter taunted the gun wielding goon. His arms crossed over his little tuxedo as he glared up at the man. Two Face stood just to the left, the flesh half of his face quirked up in what would have been an amusing smile. If not for the coin he flipped in his hand.

“Harvey! Ignore him, kid’s seen too many shows.” Bruce laughed, slinging an arm down to pull Peter close. 

Dick pinched the bridge of his nose, regretting his choice of dancing in the middle of the room earlier. Of course he couldn’t get out when Two Face’s men crashed the gala. 

“What is Peter doing?” 

“Oooh please tell me he’s gonna bite Two Face! I need that on camera!” 

“Should we get Red Hood in on this?”

“Fuck no. We have this handled.”

His siblings are no help. Dick surveyed the room carefully, hostages were all crowded against a wall surrounding him. There were no doors he could slip through to get changed. 

Red Robin should be just outside somewhere. Signal was on the roof with Spoiler. Orphan should be changing now. Damian… Dick spotted Robin crouched above them. The second floor of the museum had left their lights off, a signal for the gala members to not go up there. It left an open space for his siblings and Robin has taken that as his perch. 

At least if something happened, Robin would jump in. Bruce couldn’t change either, not with Peter right there. 

“I think it’s time your kid learns about fate, Bruce.” Two Face chuckled, flipping the coin idly. “What do you say, boy? Heads or tails?”

“Har-”

“Heads.” Peter huffs, slipping out from under Bruce’s arm to stand more in front. Was… was Peter trying to block Bruce? 

Dick sucked in a breath as the coin was tossed higher than before. It felt like the air had been vanished as they watched it flip. Peter watched the coin, head tilted defiantly upwards. 

Two Face caught the coin, staring down at the back of his hand. The comms went silent as his siblings waited for the verdict. Robin shifted above them, coming closer to crouch over Bruce and Peter. 

“Tails.”

The goons behind him cocked their guns. The safety latch echoed in the silent room.

“Sorry, Bruce. Fate’s decided this one isn’t for the world any longer. My sincere condolences, old friend.” 

Two Face brought his own pistol to Peter’s head. The barrel pointed between little bambi eyes. 

“Thunder!” The speakers around the ballroom sparked to life, blasting a faintly familiar song. Everyone in the room shot up at the volume, Peter’s own eyes widening as Two Face whirled on his feet to look for some perpetrator. 

Robin nearly slipped from his perch, ducking backwards into the shadows before he could be caught. 

His phone vibrated. 

You’re welcome, Circus Boy.

Stark. Dick grinned. Tim and Peter really made the best A.I they could have ever needed. 

Just as the music picked up, Robin and Red Robin dropped in front of Peter and Bruce. Spoiler and Orphan corralled the goons to the left as Signal pulled the lights from the room. He could still hear the fighting happening around him before he, too, fell into his own role. 

Dick started pushing at the guests, guiding them towards the doors he knew were to the right. He just had to get everyone out while the others handled Two Face and the goons.

“I can walk, dad!” Peter’s voice whined from behind him, flooding him with relief. They were here. Good. Dick moved carefully, bringing a hand to Bruce’s shoulder before finding Peter.

“Don’t do that again, Peter. Please.” Dick was way too young to have an aneurysm. Or a heart attack. Can you have both at the same time?

He’ll never make fun of Bruce’s schedules again. 

–

Peter couldn’t stop smiling as he clung onto Tim. His 19th birthday party was being held in their backyard which meant Tim came home. He just has to figure out how to make him stay after the party is over. 

Maybe he could web him in the attic? At least until he can convince Tim it’s better to stay here?

But Tim said he didn’t feel safe anymore because of Jason…

Peter couldn’t really do anything about that. He could only train harder to prove to Tim he’d keep him safe. 

“Peter, I’m not going anywhere.” Tim laughed, his hand ruffling Peter’s hair. 

“Not yet.” Peter scowled. Glaring at a pair of new people coming over. Both boys were tall. The first had black hair and blue eyes, muscular and broad shouldered. He would fit in with their family pretty well. The other was a redhead and was thinner. He didn’t recognize them. 

“Happy Birthday, Tim!” The redhead grinned, eyes dropping to meet Peter’s. “This’s gotta be Peter! Ohmygodhe’ssocuteeee lookathimKondoyasee?He’sglaringatusawwwhe’slikelittleTimalloveragain!”

Peter rubbed at his ear, his mind recycling the word vomit that just spewed from the redhead. 

“Go away.” Peter hissed, snapping at the air as the guy darted back. He blinked a little, swearing that the hand was a lot closer to his cheeks a second ago. 

“Peter, be nice. These are my friends. Kon and Bart.” Tim laughed. “Guys, be nice. Peter bites.”

“Aw he’s just ferocious aren’t you!” The newly named Bart cooed. It reminded Peter of Steph, except she sounds better when her voice goes all high pitched. His dad did say that everyone here would be vigilantes…

Peter raised his wrist, firing a line of webbing at Bart’s face. The sudden attack landed as Bart blinked at the webbing before gagging dramatically. 

“Oh ew what is that! Getitoffgetitoff!” Bart danced around them before speeding off as Kon and Tim burst out laughing. Peter scowled, he wanted to spend the day with Tim. He made the perfect present and he couldn't show it with everyone interrupting. 

“It’s nice to meet you, Peter.” Kon nodded at him, not coming closer. 

“Do you have powers?” Peter asked, leaning forward to study the guy. 

“Uh.. Yes?” Kon tilted his head curiously. 

“Good. Protect Tim, okay? I’ll protect him soon but I’m not ‘trained’ enough yet.” Peter made air quotes at the training, feeling snubbed that no one would train him other than Talia “Creepy Forest Lady” Al Ghul and Jason “Crime Lord and hates dad” Todd. 

Tim and Kon stared at him for a second before Tim sighed, hugging him close. “I’m not gonna die, Pete.”

“That’s what everyone says and then they die!” Peter huffed, wiggling from Tim’s crushing hug. “Come on! I wanna show you your present!”

Peter dragged Tim towards the tables. He could hear Kon following but he technically didn’t say no to the deal so Peter figured he was okay. 

Without Tim living at the manor anymore, it left the lab to be empty more often. Peter managed to pass all the tests his dad and Tim had set for him before allowing him to enter the lab again so he used the opportunity to make Tim’s present. He pulled the long box out from underneath the table, hidden from view from anyone trying to steal it.

“What is it?” Tim asked, kneeling on the ground to help Peter bring it out.

“Open it!” Peter grinned, bouncing on his heels a little before reminding himself to calm down. Tim glanced at him curiously when he stopped bouncing but returned to the packaging. “Alfred helped me wrap it!”

He watched as Tim carefully pulled apart the wrapping. Forcing himself to stand still, Peter watched as Kon smiled from behind Tim. Did he know what was in there? Did he peek?

“You peeked!” Peter pointed at Kon, he has to know. How?

“No I didn’t.” Kon grinned as Tim chuckled. “I have powers, remember?”

Oh. “X-ray vision? Can you see through anything? How far can you see? Does anything block it? Can you see-”

“Peter.” Tim laughed. “He has x-ray vision and he can’t see through lead. He’s Superman’s son.”

Superman is Clark Kent, if Peter remembered correctly. So this was Konner Kent. Peter studied Tim’s friend again, nodding to himself. That’s a good friend to have. He’s like Captain America but with super powers and not just enhancements. 

“A bo staff?” Tim perked up, pulling out the metal staff. “What do these do?”

Peter grinned at the curiosity. Tim’s eyes lit up as he studied it. “It’s got electricity! Push that button and it’ll stretch and you can detach it too! Right there, do ya see?”

He spent weeks in the labs working on the perfect gift for Tim. Mr. Stark helped him come up with the bo staff since Red Robin uses one regularly when fighting. All Peter had to do was add a few advancements. And he didn’t set anything on fire when he did it. 

“You made it?” Kon asked, eyebrows disappearing beneath the fringe of his hair. 

“Yeah?” Peter frowned. Was it weird? Tim and him had made Stark on their own. He was almost done with the new helmet for Jason, too. 

“I love it, Pete.” Tim grinned, pulling him in for a hug before he could ask any more of it. Choosing to ignore the question, Peter melted in Tim’s arms. He whispered a quiet, ‘Happy Birthday’ as he heard his dad’s heartbeat approach.

–

Jason circled the mat where Peter stood. He was aware of Dick sitting in a corner with case files laid out around him but at the moment his focus was on Peter. He was different today. 

“You getting sick, Pete?” Jason frowned, gently pressing the back of his hand against Peter’s forehead. He didn’t feel too warm.

“I’m fine. What are we learning today?” Peter grinned, taking his hand into his smaller ones. 

Sighing, Jason melted. He crouched in front of Peter with a small smile tugging at his lips. He’s being paranoid, spending time around the batclan is getting to him. “Well, I thought today we can work on defense.”

He had been thinking on what to teach Peter that was safe. Something that he could use if Batman was still insane enough to bring him out again and something to protect him as a civilian. 

Peter didn’t need to learn to fight like a bat. He just needed to learn to protect himself. Jason knew that no one in their fucked up family would abandon Peter like he was. If Peter was in danger they were all coming out of the shadows, hounds on the hunt, for whoever would dare to hurt him. 

As long as Peter could stay standing till they arrived, he would be fine.

“For now, I just want you to block me.” Jason started, carefully going over the different forms of blocks that Peter could do. With his enhanced strength, he could hold out longer than most. A hit could be deflected or just as easily stopped by his little hands. “You ready?”

Once Peter nodded, Jason rose from the ground. There was a seriousness in his eyes that wasn’t there before. A level of focus that Jason’s seen in plenty of people. People trained specifically for this. 

Dickwad wasn’t paying any attention. After their first lesson with a babysitter, Dick has taken to finishing up on work or preparing for cases for patrol. Has anyone else noticed this? Why was Peter so serious now?

Peter shouldn’t have that look in his eye. 

Motioning for Peter to wait, Jason walked off the mats to the storage closet in the back corner. The owners thankfully leave it unlocked, especially after he started using the place to train Peter. Rifling through the boxes for the perfect tool, Jason grinned.

The bright pink pool noodle was trapped behind extra bars and a broom near the back. It took a little maneuvering before he managed to slip it out with a triumphant cry. 

Dick raised an eyebrow, his lips splitting into the all too familiar smile while Peter’s own face scrunched in confusion. 

“You’ll be blocking this, kiddo.” Jason grinned, bonking his head with the pool noodle. Peter squawked, waving the foam away.

“Why is that even here?” Peter asked, ducking when Jason halfheartedly wacked it in his direction.

“Beats me.” Shrugging, Jason knocked it against Peter’s shoulder casually. “You’re not very good at dodging. Really gotta work on that, shorty.”

He grinned as Peter’s smile found its way onto his face. The serious expression melted away quickly in the face of a pink foam noodle.

Thus, Jason spent the next hour chasing after Peter around the mat. Carefully whacking at Peter as he dodged it while laughing. Jason couldn’t stop his own smile as Peter giggled each time he felt the brush of the noodle. 

Dick squawked when Peter leaped over him. Jason put more force into the noodle as he knocked Dickie-bird aside. “Hey!”

Jason snickered as the pink noodle passed harmlessly over Peter’s head as his brother squealed. Dick’s footsteps joined their dash around the gym, his files left forgotten on the floor behind them in favor of coming after Jason.

“Catch, Peter!” Jason tossed the noodle before twisting to knock Dick to the ground. Hands clamped onto his arms to bring him down with him. 

“Not so fast, Little Wing!” Dick laughed, shoving him off him with little force. Jason grinned when he rolled off as Peter smacked Dick’s face with the pool noodle. 

Grinning, Jason leaned farther away as Dick pleaded for mercy. Peter’s laughter filling the old gym. 

That’s the expression that was missing. 

He smiled, glad to see Peter being a kid.

Like he should be. 

–

Red Robin dropped from his swing. The wire retreated smoothly back into the grapple gun as he landed into the alley. The small-time gang readied themselves farther into the alley, heads swiveled in his direction. 

You would think the criminals would find somewhere else to group up in. Closed quarters with a vigilante was just asking for trouble. 

“You wouldn’t happen to be willing to have a simple conversation before the fight, would you?” Red Robin tried, only half sarcastically. It would save him from one too many bruises if he could just get answers now. 

When three of the seven men pulled guns from their backs, Red Robin decided they refused his offer of a parlay. A shame since he was the only one in the area at the moment. Seven against one shouldn’t be hard but he was a little wary of the smaller alley. One of the gunmen was farther in the back, he couldn’t aim clearly so that leaves the other two being his most immediate threat. 

The pipes and crowbars the others raised were gonna be trouble only if he doesn’t get the guns taken care of first. 

Slipping two batarangs easily between his fingers, Red Robin focused on the guns as the men rushed forward. Loud bangs echoed in the alley as the guns were discharged. Swiftly jumping upwards, one arm reaching for the fire escape above, he threw the blades at the firing weapons. He swung over the dumpster before kicking into the third gunman.

Trusting his batarangs from earlier took care of the first two, he focused on the fight he had around him. The third gunman was quickly knocked out before he raised his arms to block a pipe swung at his face. Oracle cursed in his ear which he decided was entirely unhelpful and an ‘irresponsible use of the comms’. 

“Yell at me later, O.” Huffing out a breath, Red Robin ducked another wild swing as he slipped into the crowd of six. 

Peter blames himself for Tim leaving the manor. 

Falling into the fight, Tim focused on the more serious problem on hand. 

Selina had promised talking to Peter would help and it ended up doing the opposite. Tim felt worse for leaving whilst feeling all the more relieved that his apartment felt safe. Sometimes Peter could act so mature and serious that Tim forgets he’s just a kid. He couldn’t remember acting out when his parents would leave for months on end, he couldn’t relate to Peter with that.

Peter’s been terrified whenever any of them had to leave. He’s seen each of them leave and not come back. He’s faced what should have been the final time they left out the door only for them to appear months or years later, alive and well… ish. 

Maybe Peter has a reason to hate Tim moving out but what could he do to help with that? Visiting every day defeats the purpose of why he left in the first place. Not to mention, Steph had told him that Jason had shown up to beat on Bruce. 

Red Robin hissed when a sharp shot cracked into the night, pulling him from his thoughts. The six men had dropped to three. Twisting, RR kicked around at the guy beside him before rushing for the newest gunman. He ignored the twinge at his side, he must’ve been hit while he was distracted. 

The gun was quickly dropped as Red Robin caught the guy by the arm. Pulling his arm around his back, he quickly shoved the guy towards the second gangster. 

“We couldn’t have just talked?” Sighing, Red Robin finally took the bo staff from his side. Peter’s gift in hand, he pressed the much loved button that extended the staff to a very nice 7’. He twisted it easily in hand as he stalked towards the final two. 

“Fuck off.” One of the last men standing spat, rushing for him with a rusted pipe. Red Robin figured he should probably check where the rusted pipes were taken from as most discarded pipes had a place to go usually. That had to be dangerous. Not to mention a recurring impromptu weapon for these guys.

Ducking the swing, Red Robin brought his bo staff upwards just under the guy’s arms. It took a fraction of his strength and a little bit of experience to carry him to the ground where he proceeded to punch him till the man went limp.

Panting, Red Robin looked for the final guy. He didn’t stand near the back of the alley like he had previously. The footsteps hadn’t gone far so he had to be in the area. He spared a look at the guy before standing, Oracle would have directed the police to his location by now so he doubted he would need to zip tie this one at least. 

He heard it just as he took his first step forward. The slightest step behind him that Orphan would have been impressed by, if only the guy didn’t take such a deep breath first. Red Robin twisted lightly on his feet as anticipation built up. Pain flared at his side, distracting him for a moment. 

A moment too long as metal met his face just as he saw the last guy swinging.

Red Robin raised his arms too late as he was thrown back from the hit. He rolled, pushing himself to his feet before metal slammed into his back. He hissed, dropping to the cement as another hit bit into his back. 

Oracle called for an update.

He couldn’t move his arm where it was trapped under him. The barrage of hits weren’t letting up. It was all he could do to raise his left hand to cover his neck. His side burned but he could kick. If he could just-

“Hey asshat!” A heavily modulated voice growled. Bloodied walls and green threatened to rise like a tsunami in his mind as gunshots cracked into the night. Where the repeated beating of the pipe was lost under the sharp pops of bullets piercing the air. 

The thud followed the silence beside him. 

It was as if he was back in the Titans Tower. Alone and in pain. Dying and still trying to crawl crawl crawl away. Tim tried to push himself away as a hand braced his shoulder. A broken whimper escaped him when he wanted to curse.

He couldn’t die here. 

He’d be proving Peter’s point. 

“Hey, hey! Replacement. Fuck, calm down.” Red Hood cursed as he tried to buck away from the touch. He couldn’t die here. “TIM!”

The hand was gentle. The bite of a knife only a phantom against his skin. There was no crack of his bones breaking. 

“You’re okay. You’ll be okay.” The modulate voice continued, somehow softer. Was it softer? 

A whimper escaped him as hands ran over him, checking for injuries. He stilled under the check, holding his breath. He hadn’t been hit in the head, he’d have remembered if he had. Then what was this?

Why was he alive?

“He’s fine. Beat to hell with a GSW to the abdomen but alive.” The sharpness returned. Biting and angry. Rage and green. Tim sucked in another breath as the hand… the hand patted his hair. “Let’s get you back.”

“Wha-why’re you…?” Tim groaned, biting his cheek as the Red Hood lifted him carefully from the ground.

“You’re hurt.” Red Hood scoffed, as if that should explain it. It really didn’t. If anything, Tim felt a lot more paranoid with the fact. “Look… I… I wasn’t in my right mind. Still not.”

Tim frowned, watching as Red Hood put him on a red motorcycle. “That’s a shit apology.”

Before his mind could spiral. Before he could hate himself for trying to piss off the Red Hood. The previous Robin barked a loud laugh. He climbed onto the bike behind him, leaning around to reach the handles. “Yeah it is. Is an apology gonna fix it?”

“No.” It wouldn’t. Tim couldn’t imagine an apology would just remove the terrifying night from his memory. 

“Can’t forgive myself. Why should you?”