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Tim is frustrated. He’s supposed to be a big kid and take care of himself. His parents are depending on him! But Tim is stuck. There are vines wrapped around his ankles, twisting around his middle, and trapping his wrists. Every time he wiggles, the leaves shake, tickling Tim and causing him to only move more. Tim heaves as big of a sigh as his four year old lungs will let him. This is definitely interfering with his journey to visit Ms. Mac.
“If it isn’t the dynamic duo!” The green woman’s voice calls out, sickeningly sweet. Tim thinks really hard. He’s heard of the dynamic duo before. But he can’t quite remember where. A stray leaf tickles at Tim’s nose and he sneezes. “Do we have another visitor?” The lady asks. Tim’s not really sure what to say. He’s not supposed to talk to strangers. But the green lady murmurs softly to the vines and they set Tim down gently. So he decides to introduce himself.
“Hello!” She calls out to Tim politely. Tim waves tentatively, wanting to desperately hide behind the pantleg of a parent or nanny. That’s his usual move at the galas his parents insist that he attend. Meeting new people can be very intimidating. Tim learned that word from his word a day calendar that Father got him last year for his birthday. “Are you lost?” She asks, kneeling. Tim sees Batman and Robin slowly cutting themselves free of vines over her shoulder and decides to help. Helping heroes is the right thing to do, isn't it? If it isn't, it should be, Tim decides. Tim just has to hold the nice lady’s attention until the heroes can get free. Easy peas-y.
“I don’t think so. This is Jackson avenue?” He asks, trying to hide how his voice waivers. Helping heroes can be very scary. She nods. “Yes, it is. Do you live here?” Tim shakes his head.
“Where are your parents?” The lady in green says, brows furrowing.
“Oh! That's easy. They’re in Peru!” Tim says proudly. He’s memorized his parents’ itinerary and all the emergency numbers they gave him. It's an important part of being a big kid!
“What are you doing out on the streets at ten at night?” The lady asks, tone concerned. Tim shrinks in on himself a little. He’s upset the lady and she’s been nothing but nice to him. And upset plant ladies might be meaner to Batman and Robin than she could have been if Tim hadn’t involved himself. He lets out a small pitiful sigh.
“I’m on a very important journey.” He says in lieu of a full explanation, tone very serious. Batman and Robin are almost completely free of the vines.
“And what is the purpose of this journey?” The green lady tilts her head curiously.
“I’m gonna go to my nanny’s house. She lives in a place called the Bowery. I’ve never been but my parents said that if she doesn’t answer to go see her in person.” Tim hedges. It’s not totally a lie. He did try to call and got no answer. He needed help reaching the stove to make himself dinner and his step stool had disappeared from it’s usual hiding place.
Technically, his parents just never told him to go to Ms. Mac’s place. They provided no instructions of what to do if she didn’t answer. Tim was supposed to figure it out, on his own. So he did. And set out for Ms. Mac’s apartment. But that was hours ago. He’s hungry and tired and had been walking for ages before he got trapped in the vines.
“It’s just a few blocks that way.” Tim explains, pointing south. “I’d almost made it before I accidentally got tangled in your vines. I’m very sorry, Ms. -?” Tim trails off, hoping the lady would supply her name. “Call me Ivy.” She offers. Tim gives her a gracious nod.
“Like I said, I didn’t mean to interrupt Ms. Ivy. My apologies.”
Ivy’s expression stills and then cracks into a large smile. “My plants say you were respectful.” She says evenly. Tim blushes and looks down at his shoes. They’re a little small on his feet and hurt but they still work and Tim doesn’t know how to get new ones without the money to buy them, so he’d carefully tied them, wrapping them in duct tape for good measure, before venturing out earlier tonight. Besides, it would have been needlessly rude to be unkind to the plants. They are following Ivy’s orders, that much is clear. And they didn’t know about Tim’s important journey so there really wasn’t a reason to be mean, even if he was frustrated.
“I believe that this is where I step in.” A voice says. Ivy and Tim both turn to see a freed Batman and Robin. Ivy holds out her wrists and Batman zip ties them together.
“What are ya gonna do with the kid?” She asks the caped crusader. Robin slides an arm protectively around Tim’s shoulders and grins. “We’ll ensure that Tim here gets the best care!” Tim looks up at Robin with big wide eyes. “You will?” He asks, awed.
“That we will lad!” Batman says, tying Ivy to a nearby bench.
Wow! That’s so nice of them! Tim should do something to thank them but words hardly feel fitting for something so nice. “Thank you!” Tim says, but as he thought, it isn’t enough to convey his gratitude.
A large thick cloud suddenly bursts from the nearby pods dotting all the vines. The cloud is powdery, glittery, and a slight incandescent blue. “Cuddle pollen!” Robin yells, throwing his cape around Tim to try to shield him from the stuff. But it coats Tim’s hands, arms, face, and hair. Tim can even feel it in his mouth when he breathes in.
“Blechh!” Tim exclaims, trying to get the taste off his tongue. “It’s yucky!”
Then the feelings begin. Tim does not know the words to describe the sensations in his body. He’s not even sure if they’d be on his word a day calendar.
Tim whines. The feelings hurt. Like too hot and too cold all at once. Like a billion ants are crawling inside his skin and panicking just as much as he is. Tim makes a distressed noise and curls up in a ball on the ground. It’s too much. It’s all too much.
“Apologies, Tim. But I savor my freedom too greatly!” Ivy calls distantly.
Tim groans and curls tighter in on himself. The physical feeling is getting stronger and is now accompanied by a horrifying sense of loneliness.
Tim tries to hold in his tears but they fall anyway. Strong gloved hands grasp his arms and before he can think better, Tim latches onto the person. The stiff, tough armor presses sharply against his face.
“Ohhh, babybird.” A deep voice chuckles softly. “Don’t you worry, you'll be okay. I've got you.” Gloved fingers card through Tim’s hair and he bites back a sob.
Two voices are talking softly and Tim feels himself being loaded onto someone's lap. Tim fights through the pain and feelings to crack open one eye. He spies the Robin logo on the chest Tim’s face is resting against. Robin is safe. This is good. Tim breathes out a relieved sigh, only helped by Robin wrapping his limbs around Tim tightly.
The very identifiable sound of the Batmobile revving to life registers in Tim’s brain. He'd be freaking out about riding in the Batmobile if he wasn't feeling so much. They ride back to the batcave, which again, Tim would be freaking out about if he wasn't so out of sorts.
Strong arms grasp Tim again and hold him gently. An elderly gentleman shines a light in Tim’s eyes and asks questions of Batman and Robin. Tim watches with wide eyes as Batman receives an injection and a lollipop. Then Robin. The older man turns back to Tim now, and asking him which arm. Tim shakes his head adamantly. Tim’s never been to the doctor but he's pretty sure you shouldn't let strangers inject you with things, even if they look nice and are friends of heroes.
“W-what is it?” Tim whispers, scared.
“An antidote.” A warm voice rumbles. “We take it when we get exposed to Ivy’s pollen to make the effects stop.” Tim cranes his neck without lifting his head off Batman’s chest.
“I don't think I should let a stranger inject me.” Tim explains timidly.
“What if Robin does it?” The older man offers. “Would that help the young sir feel comfortable?”
Tim stares at the needle and then at Robin. He and Batman do look better. And is it rude to say no to Robin? Tim chews his lip. He doesn’t really know how he’s expected to behave in this situation. So he has to figure it out on his own. Like his parents told him to. He’s a big kid, he should be able to figure it out by himself. Robin is safe. Batman doesn’t hurt kids. After weighing his options, Tim agrees.
Robin carefully takes the syringe from the man and slides up Tim's sleeve. He cleans the back of Tim’s upper arm with a disinfectant swab before quickly injecting the serum. It pinches but the tight arms holding him close squeeze gently and Tim forgets all about it. Batman is looking down at Tim with a strange expression that Tim doesn’t recognize. Batman tilts his head to the side and hums softly. The physical pain lessens quickly but it still feels like he’s crawling with ants under his skin. “How do you feel Tim?” Batman asks, handing Tim a lollipop. Tim shrugs and stashes the lollipop in his pocket for later. He should probably stop hugging Batman. He’s a superhero. He’s probably busy and Tim is probably in the way. Afterall, his parents always say so.
“I’m sorry Mr. Batman.” Tim says, pulling away. “I’ve been an inconvenience.” Tim can see Robin mouthing out the word in the corner of his eye. The strong arms tighten slightly, holding Tim in Batman’s lap without preventing him from leaving if he really wanted to. And Tim does not really want to. He wants to stay in Batman's arms forever.
“How are you feeling Tim? Your safety is a priority, not an inconvenience.” Batman explains. Tim wrings his hands anxiously. It feels really nice to be held. He can’t remember the last time he was carried and held for this long. But Tim’s being greedy. These cuddles don’t belong to him. They’re meant for Robin. “I don’t know. I feel itchy. But Robin really should be getting hugs.” Tim tries to explain. The thoughts keep getting jumbled in his head as his body wants to melt into his hero’s hold. Robin, with a delighted grin, clambers onto the cot with Batman and Tim. To Tim’s surprise, Robin doesn’t take his place. Instead, he wraps an arm around Tim and slumps into Batman’s side opposite of Tim. Robin closes his eyes and falls asleep lightly. Tim looks to Batman, who seems not far from sleep himself. Well, it is late. And it’d be rude to make Batman take him home now. Tim lays his head back down and closes his eyes slowly. Before he knows it, he’s asleep.
Tim wakes up to soft murmuring. Someone new is cuddling Tim on the cot. Another young boy, maybe a few years older than Tim, with a poorly affixed domino to shield his identity. Tim can see one edge of the mask peeking up and recognizes the boy as Bruce Wayne’s newest charge, Jason Todd. Mother and Father had instructed Tim not to speak with the Wayne boys but Tim doesn’t know why. Jason seems nice and he’s a good cuddler. Surely snuggling isn’t the same as speaking so Tim isn’t breaking any rules. Batman’s voice carries over from the batcomputer, Robin’s too.
Tim strains his ears to listen without moving from Jason’s comfortable grip.
“I can’t believe I didn’t notice!” Batman says, clearly upset. Tim tenses.
“You couldn’t have known.” Robin says, sounding upset too.
“But he’s our neighbor. Tim has been right next to us this whole time, and I didn’t notice.” Batman argues. Huh, Tim thinks. The only house close enough to be neighbors to the Drakes is Wayne Manor. And Jason Todd is Bruce Wayne’s newest adoptee. And he’s cuddling Tim right now, on a cot in the batcave. Bruce Wayne must be Batman. Which makes Dick Grayson Robin. Jason stirs beside Tim, snuggling in closer and shifting Tim from next to Jason to on top of the boy. Tim squeezes Jason softly and Jason hums happily. An urgent feeling in his belly tells Tim that the no speaking rule must be broken.
“Jason!” Tim whispers. “Jason, wake up. I gotta pee.”
Jason’s eyes open quickly and he sits up with a start. “How do you know my name?” He asks, startled. Tim sighs. He points at the two at the Batcomputer who haven’t noticed the boys yet.
“Bruce Wayne. Dick Grayson.” Tim says, and points at Jason. “Jason Todd.”
Jason’s mouth drops open in shock.
“Don’t worry! I’m not gonna tell anyone. I just gotta pee.” Tim promises. Jason, mutely, points Tim in the direction of the bathroom. Tim goes to the bathroom, evading Bruce and Dick's notice. Tim washes his hands carefully after relieving himself, using a very nice step stool with Wonder Woman on it. Then Tim pads back to the cot, only to find it empty.
“Tim.” Bruce calls. Tim freezes and turns around slowly. He waits for Bruce to go on. It’s rude to interrupt. “Tim, sweetheart, do you know who we are?” Bruce asks gently. He doesn’t seem mad. Or upset. But Tim has missed those signs from adults before, and it didn’t work out well.
“Nooo…” Tim lies. Batman, because he is still wearing the cowl, smiles fondly.
“That’s a very precarious no, lad. Are you sure you don’t know our identities?” He asks again. Tim sighs and looks down at his socks. Someone must have taken his shoes off for him while he slept. “Maybe.” Tim admits. “Okay, yes, but I didn’t mean to, I promise!”
“It’s okay, you are not in trouble.” Bruce says, pulling down the cowl. “Would you like something to eat?” Tim’s stomach growls loudly before he can respond. Bruce laughs and sweeps Tim up into his arms. “I’ll bring you up to the kitchen with Dick and Jason.” Bruce says, climbing the stairs. “You aren’t coming?” Tim asks, trying to hide the hurt in his voice. It should be okay, Mother and Father never eat breakfast with Tim. But he was really looking forward to possibly eating breakfast with Batman. “I’ll join you after I change out of the suit. Don’t worry.” Bruce says, running a soothing hand over Tim’s back. Tim doesn’t want to melt into Bruce’s hold but it feels so nice that he does.
Bruce sets Tim down in a booster seat at the kitchen table. Jason has one too so Tim doesn’t feel too embarrassed about needing one. Dick gets a normal chair and is already shoveling a sugary cereal into his mouth. “Hiya Tim!” Dick greets. A disapproving tut comes from the kitchen. The older man from last night is making something on the stove.
“Master Richard, please refrain from speaking with your mouth full.” The man says. “As for our guest, do you have any foods you don’t like or allergies?” Tim stares at the man. He’s allowed to not like foods? Mother and Father always told Tim to eat what he was given and to be grateful. He does have stuff he likes to make, but usually it is whatever is easiest to reheat on the appliances that he can reach. “I dunno.” Tim admits shyly. He stares down at his plate to avoid the upset look he knows will be coming his way. He can feel his ears burning in shame.
“That’s alright, my boy!” The man says lightly and Jason nudges Tim with his elbow.
“Alfie likes to cook, don’t worry. If you don’t like it, then he’ll make you something else. Dickie and I’ll eat whatever you don’t want.” Jason explains patiently. Tim wrings his hands, thinking.
“I like pancakes… with chocolate chips?” Tim ventures. Jason and Dick both give Tim big grins.
“Easily done. Syrup or butter?” Alfred asks, smiling encouragingly. Tim shakes his head.
“No thank you, I don’t like the sticky feeling on my hands.” Tim says.
“I hate that too.” Bruce says from the doorway. “Though usually I am able to avoid it by using utensils and a napkin.”
True to his word, pancakes begin to be served just a few minutes later. Tim takes small bites of his while Dick’s pancakes disappear like they were sucked into a black hole. Jason cuts his pancakes into grid-like pieces before dipping them in syrup. Bruce slathers on butter and syrup and cuts large bites that have to be folded on top of themselves to fit onto the fork. Tim smiles to himself. This could never happen back home. Mother and Father would never eat at the table. Alfred joins them with a small plate of pancakes for himself. Tim watches carefully but no one else seems to think it’s weird. “Are they to your liking, Master Tim?” Alfred asks, catching Tim staring. Tim nods. “I like them a lot better than the frozen ones at home. They’re warm in the middle.” Everyone laughs like Tim made a joke. Tim doesn’t.
Bruce clears his throat and changes the subject quickly. “Tim, buddy, I wanted to talk to you about your shoes.” Tim sets down his pancake and wipes his hands on the napkin in his lap before turning to face Bruce. He waits for Bruce to continue.
“I took off your shoes last night, and, well, they sort of fell apart in my hands.” Bruce explains, chagrined. “I’d like to buy you new ones to replace that pair.”
Tim hums to himself quietly. “That’s okay. They were small and pinchy.”
“Why didn’t you get new ones then?” Jason asks. Tim turns back to Jason to answer.
“‘Cuz I don’t have any money.”
“Aren’t you rich?” Jason retorts. Tim shakes his head.
“Mother and Father are rich. I have to earn money before I’m rich.” Tim explains. Maybe Jason just doesn’t know how these things work. But Dick looks confused too. Maybe Tim isn’t doing as good a job of explaining as he thought he was.
“Bruce doesn’t make me earn money for clothes.” Dick says softly, brows knitting together.
“What can a four year old even do to earn money?” Jason asks, aghast.
“Oh that’s easy. I do chores. Mother and Father like to keep the house spotless, so I help.” Tim explains excitedly. This he does know how to explain. It only took his four or five times to explain it to Ms. Mac until she finally understood.
All the faces around the kitchen table beg to differ, but Tim hasn’t fully explained how it works yet. “‘Cuz I’m little, I can reach into places and clean stuff that big kid hands can’t. Also, sometimes, I get to clean the basement and hang out with all the cool spiders and stuff. It’s really fun.” Dick and Jason are now smiling and nodding. But Alfred and Bruce don’t look like they understand yet. Figures, they’re adults, not big kids. Adults sometimes forget what fun is like. Mother and Father do.
“Mother and Father give me a stipend of $5 a week for all my help. And I was saving up for new shoes ‘cuz my old one didn’t fit but then I had to buy medicine when I got sick and that was really ‘spensive so I hadda start over.” Bruce’s face is a blank slate, like the ones Tim sometimes makes his face into at galas. Alfred looks calm but Tim can see how his white knuckles clench around the silverware in his hands.
“Well!” Jason says, throwing an arm around Tim’s shoulders. “It’s a good thing Bruce has more money than God. He can buy you new shoes and medicine and still not run out. Isn’t that right Bruce?” Bruce nods robotically. Tim watches as Alfred breathes deeply and gently sets down his utensils. Tim relaxes and goes back to his pancakes. Eating is much easier when none of the adults are upset.
*************************************************************************************************************
They buy Tim light up shoes with Batman on them, at Tim’s insistence. Jason complained the entire ride home that he should be allowed to share a car seat with Tim since he weighs next to nothing and they could both fit. Bruce has an inkling that Jason just likes Tim’s cuddles, especially since both boys are touch starved and express their need for contact pretty similarly. Dick seems to be handling the soft adoption of a new brother a lot better than when Bruce brought home Jason. Jason had attempted to hold Bruce up with his own tire iron, which while adorable, did not make a good first impression on an overprotective Dick.
Tim’s stay at Wayne Manor was meant to be temporary as they attempted to get in contact with the child’s legal guardians. But they were unreachable. Ms. Mac, it seems, had been fired and moved into a shelter for women. Tim’s important journey that night was doomed to fail from the start. And his parents, well, they were in Peru. Unreachable. And uncaring once the Wayne lawyers got a hold of them. So Tim is theirs now. His quirks and unusual habits. His adorable owlish blinking eyes that peer into your soul. He's theirs.
Tim, now a menace in light up shoes, likes to sneak around and pounce onto people from above them. How he climbs that high, no one knows. Not even Dick. He started so shy and timid, afraid of saying or doing something out of line. Bruce can only guess what Jack and Janet did to condition their four year old to behave that way. Maybe Tim will tell them one day. Or, hopefully, his time in Wayne Manor can help Tim forget all about it. Jason and Tim are now attached at the hip, cuddling whenever possible. Alfred adores his new grandchild. And Bruce, well, he’s over the moon. He loves his three boys. His babies. Even if Dick insists that he’s almost a pre-teen.
Tonight, about a month after they bring Tim home, Poison Ivy is poking around the manor. Bruce wants to protect his children, his home, but doesn’t want to use Batman to escalate the situation. Does he call the cops? Ivy didn’t hurt him or the kids last time. She used cuddle pollen, when she really could have hurt them with the vines. Before Bruce can figure out what to do, he spots Tim, in his favorite light up shoes, toddling out to meet Ivy. Bruce rushes out of the security room, running full speed towards the front door. Bruce leaps off the top of the stairs and hauls ass towards Ivy and Tim. Ivy is kneeling down in front of Tim in the grass, speaking softly. Bruce pulls up short, huffing.
“Tim! Sweetheart, you okay?” He asks, still a little panicked.
“Oh hi Bruce. This is Ivy, she is why Batman brought me to you.” Tim replies cheerily. Bruce, out of pure muscle memory, reaches a hand out to shake. Ivy stifles a laugh and shakes Bruce’s hand.
“I just wanted to check on Tim. I heard he got placed in Wayne custody.” She turns toward Tim with a wink. Tim giggles.
“Seems like everything is in order, so I’ll head out. But my plants will be watching you.” She warns. Bruce nods numbly. He watches as Ivy walks into the trees and scoops Tim up into his arms protectively.
“Bruce!” Tim calls, bapping Bruce softly on the face. “Can we go inside and have ice cream? Please!” Bruce narrows his eyes, trying to spot Ivy in the dark foliage. But she’s gone.
“Alright, buddy, we’ll go have ice cream.” Bruce agrees, clutching Tim to his chest. Tim wiggles in his arms happily, and lets out a small cheer.