Chapter Text
Tim flipped and flopped uncomfortably in the guest bed at Wayne Manor, trying to find the best position to settle down and sleep.
He hadn’t seen it coming, when Dick successfully convinced Bruce that he should stay the night. Though he did think Bruce agreed a little too quickly, Tim was too sleepy to get super suspicious about the matter.
The last conscious thought Tim had, before waking up barely a couple hours later, was how warm Wayne Manor was… His own house was just so cold… So lonely and cold…
Dick was just on his way to breakfast, yawning from a long and rough night, when he heard the piercing shriek.
Tim!
His brain barely managed to get itself together, before he’d burst through the door to the room Tim was staying in. In a quick dash, Dick was on the bed, pulling a shivering Tim into his chest.
“Shh,” he whispered, stroking his hair.
“I’m-m sorry ,” Tim hiccupped, tears running down his face.
“It’s okay,” Dick reassured him, using the edges of the sheet to wipe his blotchy cheeks. “Shh, it’s okay.”
Tim shook his head, weakly trying to pull away. Dick moved back a bit, worried he was smothering him too much, until Tim gave a pained gasp.
“No! No, don’t go! You c-can’t leave me!”
And Dick hugged him tighter, at a loss of what to do beyond that. They’d just finished dealing with an Arkham break-out, he rationalized, so perhaps the new Robin was dreaming about facing one or more of them again.
“I’m not going anywhere, Timmy,” Dick said, “promise. You’re okay, Baby Bird, you’re okay now. It was a bad dream, but you’re awake now.”
He felt Tim give a couple shuddering breaths against him, before popping his head up to stare at Dick.
“ ’m sorry,” he mumbled again.
Dick sighed, cupping his cheeks. “It’s okay, Tim, you had a nightmare. It’s perfectly natural, after the night you had.”
Tim nodded in his hand, looking away, eyes brimming with tears again. Dick was about to ask what was the matter, when he heard heavy footsteps coming down the hall.
Bruce was in the room seconds later, stopping right at the door and frowning. Giving him the look , Dick tried to communicate with him silently. But of course, Bruce was a dense idiot, who couldn’t understand that when he just stood there, all he was accomplishing was scaring Tim.
Tucking him under his chin, Dick glared at Bruce, mouthing ‘ get over here .’ Which Bruce actually complied to, despite the awkwardness.
“Did you have a nightmare?” he asked, sitting on the far corner of the bed.
Way to state the obvious!
Dick rolled his eyes at him and Bruce cleared his throat.
“You know, nightmares have a way of over exaggerating our realities,” he started, “causing fear and panic-”
“Oh my God,” Dick groaned. “Don’t you even! Why are you trying to break down and analyze this?”
“I am not,” Bruce grumbled back. “I’m trying to tell him it’s just a dream.”
Opening his mouth to say something, anything, Dick was interrupted by a quiet little whimper.
“But, it wasn’t a dream,” Tim murmured, “it’s real.”
Bruce searched through his memories of that night, making a list of who Robin had faced, preparing himself. Only he wasn’t ready for this.
“What’s real?” Dick encouraged him, stroking his head.
Tim whispered something, too low for Bruce to hear, but he clearly saw his eldest son freeze, paling slightly.
“Oh, Tim ,” he cooed, wrapping him up in an even tighter hug, if that was possible without strangling him. “I’m right here, I promise. I’m not going anywhere.”
Bruce fidgeted, watching Tim saying something else and Dick gave a small snort of wet laughter.
“Okay, well yes, I do have to go back to Blüdhaven, but I’ll still be just a call away. You say the word and I’ll come right over, no matter what!”
He was starting to feel left out of the conversation and the loop. Not to mention, something had been pulling at his heart since hearing the scream. It then tugged and mixed in with a different, more raw emotion, when he found Dick had arrived at the scene first. Almost like something that started with a ‘j’.
Is this… Judgmentalness?
But that didn’t sound quite right. What exactly would be feeling judgy about? It couldn’t be Tim, because it wasn’t his fault he had a nightmare. Was it Dick? Yes, this strange, sour emotion was directed towards Dick, for some reason, but what really was this feeling?
No, it can’t be… Am I… Jealous?
Broodingly pondering the question, Bruce almost failed to hear Dick’s next words to Tim.
“Even if I can’t be here physically, Alfred is always here, and I’m sure he loves being with you,” he said with a smile, booping Tim’s nose. “So there you go, Timmy. You’re not all alone, you’ve got me and Alfred, and… Uh…”
He broke off, avoiding looking in Bruce’s direction.
“And we love you very much.”
Bruce managed to stop his jaw from dropping at the implication. So maybe he didn't like Tim at first, but he was so smart and brave, he’d grown on him and Bruce wanted so badly to hold him and comfort him. Because, damn it, maybe he probably was jealous of Dick at that moment, wishing he’d gotten there before.
“Come on,” Dick said, helping Tim untangle himself from his blankets. “Why don’t we go get some breakfast, yeah?”
Tim nodded, sniffling. “Yeah, okay… Sorry for making such a big scene, I didn’t mean to be a bother.”
“Tim, you’re not a bother at all,” Dick told him, before Bruce could even formulate the words.
Left to trail behind them, Bruce tried to connect the pieces, though nothing seemed to make sense, not from the things Dick was saying to help Tim feel better. He stared at his partner’s back.
What’s the matter?
Tim let Dick lead him into the kitchen, where it smelled like Alfred had freshly baked muffins and, best of all, coffee.
“Good morning, Young Masters,” Alfred greeted them, inspecting Tim very carefully, before him a gentle shoulder squeeze.
He tried, he really did, to avoid all the attention he was getting all through breakfast, as Alfred fussed about how much he ate, or Dick wouldn’t remove his arm from around his shoulders.
It wasn’t that big of a deal, nothing that made him require so much unnecessary attention. Besides, Bruce seemed to think so too, Tim could tell, based on how he frowned at him the whole time. And he was right, it was just a dream, a silly, stupid dream, based on his unreasonable insecurities and selfish needs.
Like mom and dad say, 'no need to be such a baby Timothy.'
“So,” Dick finally spoke seriously, once they were done eating. “Tim, I’m going to ask you some questions, okay?”
Tim nodded solemnly, knowing this was coming, ever since he confessed about his nightmare.
‘I’m alone, I’m always alone and- and nobody even likes me!’
“Can you tell us how often you’re alone in your house?” Dick asked.
“Not more than a few hours at a time,” Tim answered carefully, “but only on non-school days. Mrs. Mac comes over with groceries and I make dinner and.. Stuff. And besides, I come here all the time anyway.”
Dick stared at him thoughtfully. “Yeah, I think you said that last time, right?”
“Um, yeah!” Tim nodded quickly, relaxing.
Okay, I’ve got this, just a simple question, no problem.
“You do come here very often.” Tim shrunk at the accusation in Bruce’s voice. “Doesn’t anyone ask where you’re always going?”
“I- uh… No?” Tim tilted his head in confusion.
“Nobody questions where you get all those injuries from?” Bruce pressed on.
“...No? I mean, I don’t know?” He shook his head, hoping he wouldn’t start crying.
“How many people are there in the staff?”
“There’s Mrs. Mac… and a gardener that comes.”
“I know your parents are out on archaeological digs a lot, and they don’t take you...”
“Why are you asking all these questions?” Tim snapped, standing up.
He didn’t feel like crying anymore, his face was red, the embarrassment giving him goosebumps.
“Tim…” Dick started, reaching for him, but Tim flinched back.
“Tim,” Bruce called him, in that deep rumble he used as Batman.
“No, no, I get it,” Tim backed away, eyeing the exit. “I mean, I always knew you didn’t- But I get it, I really get it now- I’m just gonna…”
He ran out.
What’s so wrong with me that makes everyone push me away?
“Tim?”
Dick found Tim huddled under the computer in the Cave. With a sigh, he sat down on the floor, peering into the dark with as bright a smile as he could muster.
“Hey,” he said, “I don’t think I’m gonna fit down there, you wanna come out?”
“Tim isn’t here right now, leave a message,” Tim grumbled into his knees.
“Geez, well isn’t that too bad,” Dick sighed dramatically. “I was going to ask him if he was okay.”
“He’s- I’m-” Sighing, Tim climbed out from under the computer, settling down beside Dick. “Look, I know how it looks, but I’m fine. The thing is, I know how to take care of myself. I just tend to be selfish sometimes.”
“Okay,” Dick said slowly, blinking. “Can you explain what you mean by selfish?”
Tim shot him a side glance. “I mean, I was just feeling shaken up when- when I said that earlier. I’m not a baby, I don't need attention all the time, because I’m old enough to be able to handle things myself. I shouldn’t have taken advantage of you guys, and your money, and your time, just because I’m acting whiny.”
“You’re whiny?” Dick repeated. “You? I don’t know, you’re probably one of the least whiny people I’ve ever met.”
“No, but I
am
,” Tim tried to reason, making Dick’s heart wrench. “I’m an attention seeker, it’s okay, I can admit that about myself. Like, the world doesn’t revolve around me! I shouldn’t be calling my parents all the time over the smallest things. ‘I’m cold, why can’t I turn the heater on?’ ‘Are you coming home for my birthday?’ ‘I fell off my bike and sprained my ankle, is it okay if I go to the hospital?’ They have a job they need to take care of, a whole company they should be worrying about.
“And my actions reflect on them and that company. If I stayed home from a gala because only I don’t feel good, our public image would be ruined and Drake Industries would lose money. It’s not their fault they got stuck with such a horrible little brat.”
Tim sounded like he’d repeated that as a mantra to himself many times before, like they were a comfort to him. They sounded like somebody else’s words. Dick couldn’t stop himself from tearing up.
“Dick? What’s the matter, are you okay?” Tim gave him a surprised look, tilting his head in concern. He placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you-”
Dick wrapped him in a big hug, practically crushing him in his arms.
“I’m not upset at you, Tim, I’m upset for you .”
“Oh.” Tim scrunched up his face. “Why?”
Oh, Tim…
Not wanting him to see his pained expression, Dick pressed a kiss to the crown of his head and picked him up, causing him to squawk.
“Dick!”
“I’m taking you back upstairs,” he decided.
“Okay, but-”
“No, buts, Timmy. We’re going upstairs.”
They walked upstairs, Tim complaining quietly the whole way, while Dick shushed him softly. He felt Tim’s body go rigid as he carried him into the den, where Bruce was pacing impassively. Dick stood still, feeling shaky fingers curl into his shirt.
Bruce stopped pacing and looked up, mouth opening and closing a couple, his eyebrows pinching together. Dick took an exaggerated deep breath, trying to prompt his dad and little brother to do the same.
Taking a hesitant step forward, Bruce let his hand hover over Tim’s shoulder, until Dick rolled his eyes and took his own step forward.
Tim gave a tiny, shuddering breath at the touch.
“I’m sorry,” Tim and Bruce said at the same time. Bruce frowned.
“Tim, you can’t be sorry,” he told him, “you didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Oh… No.” Tim slid down from Dicks arms, and stayed with his face in his chest for a second, Dick felt him take a breath, before turning around. “I apologize for yelling at you earlier,” he said in a sort of business voice. “It won’t happen again, sir.”
Dick raised his eyebrows at Bruce, the meaning especially clear this time around.
Do not mess this up. Last chance, dad.
Tim stared up at Bruce with some very well manufactured confidence, Bruce would’ve believed he was faking if his back wasn’t pressed against Dick.
I know, I know, Bruce acknowledged at his son’s look.
“Tim.” With newfound determination, he put one hand on his shoulder and cupped his cheek with the other. “Tim, it’s okay.”
“No, but I really shouldn’t have-”
“That’s not it.” Bruce gave a slight smile. “I mean it’s okay.”
He watched Tim blink as he registered and recognized his own words, finally placing what they meant.
“You’re a good kid, Tim.” He opened his arms in invitation, and didn’t have to wait long before Tim tumbled into him. “I’m sorry for interrogating you and trying to simplify your problems.” Bruce swallowed. “I- I care about you too, in case that wasn’t clear before.”
Rubbing his back, he felt Tim nodding into his throat.
“Hey, chum,” he continued gently. “I’m just going to ask you three questions.”
“ Only three ? ” Bruce and Dick shared a smile at the amuse sarcasm in his tone.
“Yeah. Only three.” Tim nodded again. “Your parents aren’t home are they, or anybody else?”
Tim pulled away, sighing, avoiding eye contact. “Nope.” He popped the ‘p’. “They’re on a very important trip to Germany, to meet with some of their benefactors.”
“When will they be back?”
“February? I don’t know, maybe in March, if they have to stop in Greece and France first.”
“That’s a long time,” Dick interjected.
“I guess so,” Tim shrugged, “but it can’t be helped.”
“I’m sure…” Bruce ran a hand through his hair. “Last question.” He waited for a beat. “How do you feel about staying in Wayne Manor while they’re out of town?”
Tim’s head shot up, his eyes going wide. “Wait. You don’t mean it, do you?”
“Of course he means it, Baby Bird,” Dick said, grinning down at him.
Tim glanced between them with an incredulous expression. “But- But-” He shook his head. “But I’m not- It’s better if we keep things like they are, more proffesional. I’m only Robin, not...”
‘Not your son’ hung in the air.
“Tim, you’re 13. I can’t let you go home to an empty house anymore.”
Technically, I could report your parents for neglect.
“Come on, Tim, think of it this way,” Dick encouraged him, “you can be closer to work now. So much more convenient, right? Saves you a whole trip.”
Tim frowned, thinking about it. “Huh, I suppose that would be more convenient.”
“And you’d have Alfred to cook with,” Dick kept going, “and me, when I come over…” He winked playfully at Bruce, who pulled Tim closer.
“And I also happen to live here,” Bruce grunted pointedly. He searched his face with hesitant eyes. “ I’d feel better if you stayed. I’d be really worried about you, thinking about how something could happen to you, and nobody would be there to help you. You could get sick, or hurt yourself.”
He gave him a worried look. Tim's face softened. He patted Bruce’s shoulder.
“Okay, you don’t have to worry. I can stay here with you,” he attempted to comfort him.
Bruce and Dick locked eyes over his head.
"Thank you."
Well, that’s at least this is a start.