Though Tim would like to believe he'd never do what he was told by just anyone, he did still pause in his steps when Jason called for him to stop storming away. Maybe it was nothing more than knowing there was no one else that he wanted to go to for help with this, but he found hope rising in his chest when the older boy admitted he'd just been fucking with him. Such an admission should have made him angry, but it didn't. So maybe there was a positive side to being let down by so many people in your life that you had super low standards.

Nothing that Jason asked of him was unfair, but he didn't think he'd like his answer, either. "I guess... I'm not really sure." He brushed some of his dark hair behind his ear as he turned around, crossing his arms over his chest once more. This time it was a defensive gesture, though not because he felt physically threatened. Tim was wary he was about to get laughed off the roof, and he wasn't sure how he would take something like that. He shouldn't allow anything Jason said to hurt him, but that was easier said than done. "I don't want to hurt it, and I don't think it should have to go away if it lives here. I'd really rather not threaten it, and I might not be able to. But it has to stop killing people, Hood. You know why." He's not about to repeat any of Bruce's lectures to Jason. That'd be a dick move (and probably a Dick move), but it would be cruel. Tim might be fierce but he tries not to be cruel to anyone. Not like that.

"I know that there are a lot of people that believe that some people aren't worth an opportunity to redeem themselves." Present company included, obviously. "But one person shouldn't have to live with the weight of deciding the fate of all those evil people, right? It can't feel amazing." His lips twitched into a deeper frown. "And besides, imagine if someone else found out about this. They might be willing to hurt it or kill it in revenge. I don't want that, either."