Chapter Text
Tim’s phone beeped in the middle of class. Tim’s phone never beeped in the middle of class because no one Tim’s age even had a mobile phone. Not that Tim had friends who would want to contact him anyway but that was beside the point. The phone was given to nine year old Tim Drake with strict instructions that it only be used in emergencies. With wide eyes, Tim looked down at his backpack, which was leaning straight up against the desk leg.
Sure enough, the glow of the phone had illuminated the inside of the backpack, casting light on the color coordinated folders and notebooks. Tim quickly glanced up but his teacher hadn’t turned around. Though, the girl in the desk next to Tim had shot him a dirty look. He smiled and shrugged apologetically. She huffed, rolled her eyes, and turned her attention back to the front of the classroom.
The suspense was gnawing away at Tim’s mind but he had to wait until lunch time to sneak away into a bathroom stall and examine his phone. He didn’t know what he was expecting but a message from his mother certainly was not it.
Janet Drake took her son’s education quite seriously so she would not have interrupted unless it was an emergency of sorts.
Timothy - Leaving for Argentina. Be back end of August. Possibly sooner. Fired the housekeeper. You’ll be looked after by Wayne’s ward for the summer. More information in a letter at the house. Richard Grayson will began today and is picking you up after your classes end. I expect you to fax us a copy of your final grade reports. Mother
Tim grimaced at the text on the screen. His mother wrote text messages as though she was sending a telegram. Wait…he quickly scanned the message again. Richard Grayson? Dick Grayson? Why was Dick Grayson going to be the one to look after him for the summer?
He did understand why his mother had sent the text though. He expected a note to come through the school with his next class with the same instructions but Tim was a high-profile child and would need proof from his own parents before getting into the car with a stranger.
Still, Dick Grayson was not entirely a stranger. Tim doubted that Dick remembered their first meeting. Barely a toddler, Tim had begged to go to the circus and under pressure from the media from not being suitable parents, Janet and Jack had made an outing of the entire day, even going as far to photograph themselves with the circus talent “The Flying Graysons.” Tim distinctly remembered Dick giving him a hug and promising to do a quadruple somersault just for Tim.
However, the Drakes’ media blurbs were overshadowed by the acrobats’ deaths during the very same show. Dick Grayson had quickly been taken in by Bruce Wayne and as far as Tim could see, had been having a very healthy life. He was always bubbly and excited in news and tabloid stories. Tim hoped that he wasn’t that…personable in real life but he supposed that only time would tell.
In fact, Dick had had such an impact on Tim that he had pursued acrobatics until his mother insisted that it was not a suitable hobby for her son. Tim had tried to stay away from any kind of gossip about Grayson but he couldn’t help it. He had liked Dick when he first met him and still even had the photograph from that day at the circus.
He shook those thoughts out of his head. Dick Grayson was a cool high schooler. Classes had ended for them a week prior and no matter how Dick ended up being roped into spending time at the Drake house, Tim resigned himself to another lonely summer. The only thing he was remotely excited about was his photography.
With the summer starting in just- Tim looked down at his phone again for the time- three days, two hours and twenty-three minutes and his parents leaving the country again, Tim could photograph Batman & Robin all he wanted without worrying about his sleep schedule for school the next morning.
No more groggily hitting his alarm or falling asleep in the shower. Tim was naturally an early riser but with late nights following around the Dynamic Duo, his usual 6AM wake up time was delayed until at least 630AM. It was the worst but worth it for the photographs Tim developed most afternoons.
For the rest of the day, Tim switched between zoning out, bored by his afternoon classes, and wondering if the messages from his mother were an elaborate joke. He yawned, thinking back to the night before, with Batman and Robin and the Joker. Tim never liked when they fought the Joker. That man seemed unhinged. Incredibly unstable, if Tim were to harbor a tentative diagnosis. The class bell snapped Tim out of his daze and he automatically straightened from his slouch.
Sure enough, right outside the school grounds and waiting with the other parents who had come to pick up their precious offspring, Dick Grayson was waiting for Tim. Ignoring the swarming students around him, Tim took a moment to appreciate the teenager. He was clearly trying to be incognito by wearing a simple hoodie with sunglasses resting on the top of his head. Tim rolled his eyes at the group of giggling schoolmates as he passed them on the way out. As if the Wayne heir could go unnoticed at his middle school alma mater.
“Tim, right?” Dick had a large smile for him and Tim tried stumbled at the attentive face. He ignored direct eye contact, instead, kneeling down to focus on his untied shoe lace.
He sighed and stood up once his task had been completed, “Richard Grayson, correct?”
Grayson blinked, most likely a surprise due to his formal tone, Tim presumed. He received that look quite often. “Just Dick is fine.” The smile was back again as well as an extended hand.
Hesitantly, Tim accepted the handshake. He could do handshakes. Handshakes were business and he had dealt with them before when meeting colleagues of his parents.
“I just got my license so I brought one of Bruce’s cars today. You know my guardian, Bruce, right?”
Tim murmured an affirmative response. Dick apparently took that as a sign to keep talking.
“I wasn’t sure how you usually got home after school. Your mom didn’t give me a lot of info about your daily life and-”
“I-” Tim began to interrupt but stopped, realizing that Dick had still been speaking.
“Yea?” Dick leaned against the car, eyeing Tim’s surely nervous stance.
“No, I’m sorry. I interrupted you. Please continue,” Tim gestured. He was sure that his cheeks were pink. Where had his manners gone in two short minutes?
“I was just going to say that we have a lot to learn about each other,” Dick smiled. It looked sincere but Tim switched his attention to the car. Perhaps the teenager was going to make the best of his summer. Get on Tim’s good side so he could leave to hang out with people his own age. Tim could support that idea. It would be beneficial for the both of them.
“I usually walk home. Just because the weather has been so nice,” He looked up and saw that Dick was now looking at the car with disdain, “But this is fine! I don’t mind!” Tim assured him.
“Well, I’ll remember that for tomorrow,” Dick flashed Tim the grin that covered most newspapers after a Wayne charity function. He made a move to open the passenger side door but Tim beat him to it.
“I’ve got it,” Tim said quickly. He froze as Dick’s hand came down on his shoulder. The touch caused him to look up. Dick was so much taller than him. Tim was pretty sure he was never going to get a growth spurt. He didn’t need reminders from his new babysitter. The hand being moved changed his attention again.
“Sure, sure, no problem,” Dick waved him off and walked around to the driver’s side.
The car ride home was mostly silent. Dick didn’t even fiddle with the radio but Tim was watching him. He wanted to changed the station from the public broadcast network but didn’t. Tim wasn’t sure why at first but then realized that Dick was a new driver and probably wanted to prove himself. Which was ridiculous because why would it matter what Tim thought of Dick?
“Your mom said she was going to leave you a note on the dining room table,” Dick informed him. Tim nodded his thanks even though he already knew where the letter would be located. His parents left the same letter for him whenever they left on a trip. Sure enough, a business envelope was resting against the silver centerpiece. It had Timothy written on the front in tight, black letters.
“Do you prefer Timothy?” Dick looked at the letter, slightly apologetic.
“Tim is fine.” The response was nonchalant. Tim was more interested by the letter, which had been left open. One paper cut by opening a sealed letter and his mother never let him forget it.
Timothy.
Bruce Wayne called and asked our plans for the summer season. After polite chatter, he inquired about your care and insisted that his ward needed to learn some responsibility. I do not expect it to last long as you are perfectly capable. However, I have grown tired of your previous housekeeper and thought that perhaps Grayson will be inspired by your own intellectual pursuits rather than those of his guardian.
As previously mentioned, you are perfectly capable of caring for yourself. Feel free to fire him at your leisure but I thought this would be a suitable summer project for you as well as a step for the Drake company in partnering with Wayne.. That being said, I left additionally summer studies for you in my library.
Mother.
So, Dick had been forced into this by Bruce Wayne because he needed responsibility. Tim had to give him credit, Dick did not appear to be a sullen teenager against his will. He seemed to be, by all accounts, a pleasant person to be around.
In fact, while Tim set out his homework, Dick did the same with a smile on his face. He bashfully informed Tim that he had some summer school work to do. Just math though, he had insisted, I’m good to go on most everything else but math isn’t up to Bruce’s standards.
Homework was done for a near two hours in complete silence. Tim was grateful for the silence. He did not find any annoying habits that he originally thought would apply to someone who had appeared as animated as Dick. Not even the chewing of a pen or foot tapping. Dick Grayson knew how to be quiet when it was necessary and Tim was thankful.
Once it reached 5:30, Tim finally spoke up. “What exactly are you…How long do you…” Tim trailed off. Unsure of what he was asking. He wasn’t sure if there was a polite way to asked someone seven years his senior to leave his house.
“Your mom said there was a night guard so I figured I’d stay every night until they came.” Dick shrugged. “I brought you dinner too, if that’s okay. Again, I’m not sure what you like but your mom was pretty insistent about being healthy so I had Alfred whip up some grub.” Dick gestured to the table in the kitchen. Tim hadn’t noticed that food had been set out.
“Alfred?”
“Yea, Alfred Pennyworth. He works for Bruce.”
“Ah, I see.” Dinner was eaten in silence but this time, with nothing else to concentrate on but his meal, Dick seemed a little restless.
“Please, tell Mr. Pennyworth that this is delicious. I enjoyed it very much,” Tim said in a quiet tone. He wasn’t lying. He had enjoyed the salad and the salmon. Both were exquisite. He could get used to eating like this all summer.
The compliments to Alfred clearly made Dick happy. His huge smile had returned. “I’ll definitely let him know. I’m sure he’ll be happy to hear that.” Tim helped him carry dishes over to the sink and in silence, companionable this time, Tim thought, as they washed the dishes and tupperware containers.
Dicks’ loud ringtone nearly caused Tim to drop a dish. Before answering the phone, Dick took the large plate from where it was pressed against Tim’s chest in surprise.
“It’s just my phone, sorry about that. It’s probably Bruce, wondering where I am.”
Tim nodded and Dick took that as a sign to answer his phone.
“Bruce? Hey….Yea…Okay…I’ll be home soon, I’m just waiting for the night guard for the Drake house….”
Weird, Dick is nearly seventeen. It was only a little bit before seven o’clock. That doesn’t seem like too late for a teenager to be out. Maybe Bruce Wayne is more strict than Tim thought.
“Well, you can go out without me….I can meet you there. Now that I have a license and all…Okay, sounds good, bye.” Tim couldn’t help but reveal a small grin at Dick’s happiness for passing a driving test.
“Do you twos have a Wayne Foundation event tonight?” Tim asked, setting a clean dish back in the cabinet. He hadn’t remember reading about one in the papers.
Dick looked at Tim curiously. “Uh, no. We are just, hanging out together tonight. Bruce wanted to take me out for ending the school year and he…uh…wasn’t able to last week.”
“Oh, that’s nice of him,” Tim mused. He sat back in front of his homework, pleasantly full after the dinner and opened up his mathematics notebook. “Where are you going?”
Dick gave him that look again, a mixture between curiousness and…perhaps uncertainty. Tim down his gaze down to his book. He thought he was being polite by inquiring about Dick and Bruce. Maybe he was wrong in that assumption.
The intercom buzzed three times. Dick looked at Tim and made a move towards the front hall.
“It’s just the night guard, Robert,” Tim stopped him. “He’s just letting me know that he has arrived.”
“He doesn’t come inside?”
“Why would he? We have a guard house on the ground. He stays there,” Now it was Tim’s turn to be confused and not for the first time since he met Dick Grayson that afternoon.
“That’s my cue then. I better meet up with Bruce You sure you’ll be okay here, Timothy Jackson Drake?”
“Of course,” Only Tim’s eyes followed Dick through his motions of packing his backpack. Tim was much more focused on how Dick could possibly know his middle name. What an odd piece of information for his mother to give his babysitter.
“Then I will see you tomorrow,” Dick gave Tim that signature smile and reached out to ruffle Tim’s hair. Tim froze under the touch but Dick didn’t seem to notice. “Have a good night, Tim. Call if you need anything.” He shouted over his shoulder.
Well. What an odd day.
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Dick picks Tim up from school for the rest of the week and follows him to a martial arts class.
“Hey, Tim! How was your day?”
“Good afternoon, Dick,” Tim nodded at him, pleased at the absence of a car. “It was fine, thank you. Yourself?”
“You have martial arts lessons today, correct? I mapped it out to make sure but they are only five blocks way.”
“Yes? I mean, yes, I do. Until half past five.” Tim looked up, a mixture of shock and suspicion were sure to be on his features because he realized that his mother had probably informed Wayne and Grayson of his extra curricular activities.
Dick was more energetic today. Perhaps it was because they were both outside but he showed off the acrobatic skills that he had clearly kept up with over the year. At one point, he even did a somersault in the middle of the sidewalk. He did all this while questioning Tim about his life and responding with tidbits about his own.
Tim answered the questions as briefly as he could. Some were regarding his favorite teachers or subjects. He had to think carefully which only garnered some curious looks from Grayson. If Tim was going to answer a question, he was going to take his time and do it properly. No one had ever asked him about favorites before. He liked it. It was rather similar to a game. Although, when Grayson followed up one of Tim’s answers with a “why?” the game got complicated and almost too personal. It made Tim uncomfortable. He was sure that his uneasiness showed as his hands were twitching out of his pockets.
“And why martial arts, Tim?”
“I need to learn how to defend myself.”
“Need to?” Dick’s eyes snapped to Tim’s. Tim wasn’t sure how Dick went from joyous to suspicious and he wasn’t sure why he, Tim Drake, would even raise suspicion.
“Want to.” Tim corrected himself. He did not need anyone interfering with his bullies in the school yard. All students dealt with bullies and Tim was no different. However, due to his smaller stature, his parents had agreed when he outlined a reasonable plan for him to learn self-defense.
Dick seemed to notice Tim’s distaste towards the subject and it wasn’t mentioned for the rest of their day together.
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Tim probably wouldn’t have had to broach the topic of martial arts again if it hadn’t been for the following day. It was the last day of school but when Tim left the school building, Dick was no where to be found. Tim attempted to stand up on his toes to see over the other students but so far, it just looked like delighted students with even more excited parents, both groups anticipating the summer holidays. Tim stalked back to the front steps of the school, debating if he should wait for Dick or just walk home by himself.
Before he even reached the front stairs to the school, someone’s foot was kicked out before him. Tim tripped over the offending limp and sprawled on the ground.
His cheek stung and Tim didn’t have to lift a hand to know that he was most likely bleeding.
“What are you still doing here, freak?” Tim kept his head down, recognizing the voices of three twelve year olds who were two grades above him. “School’s out. You’re not allowed back in until September.”
Tim really didn’t want to get beat up. He supposed no one ever really wished for that but he had wanted to start the summer off on a positive note.
“Is there a problem here, boys?” Tim froze. Dick. Dick had come. He rolled over and sure enough, Dick Grayson was chastising his bullies. “You really should respect your fellow school mates. Even if school is out, you should never cause harm to anyone else.”
“He tripped.” One of Tim’s offenders shrugged.
Tim’s eyes grew wide as he saw Dick’s eyes glare daggers at the boy who dared to make an excuse. “I’m not your parents and I’m not certainly not part of the school,” Dick growled. “If I hear that you touched Tim or caused anyone else harm at all, you’ll have to deal with me. Got it?” This was another one of Dick’s transformation that Tim had a hard time soaking in. He had gone from happy to terrifying within seconds. With a jerk of his head, Dick sent the boys running out of the now deserted school yard.
He walked over to Tim and pulled a handkerchief out of his back pocket. He wet it a little with his tongue and Tim cringed at the thought of germs but he stayed obediently still as Dick rubbed some of the dirt and blood of his cheek. “Don’t worry, I’ll let you disinfect it once we get back to your house.” Dick must have read his mind. “I’m sorry that I’m late,” Dick added.
“Its okay,” Tim mumbled. He allowed Dick to grab his hands and pull him off the ground.
“It’s really not,” Dick sighed put the dirty cloth back in his pocket.
“It is,” Tim shrugged and grabbed his backpack off the ground.
Dick groaned, pushing his faces into his faces. “Argh,” He sighed and looked towards Tim, who had a nice bruise forming on his right cheek. “So this is why you wanted to learn how to defend yourself.” He held out his hand, presumably for Tim’s backpack. When Tim didn’t make a move to give it to him, Dick moved closer and took it, shouldering it.
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
Tim shrugged. Even though he was out in the open, with Dick’s eyes on him, he felt trapped. He opted for a change of subject, “At least it is the summer now. I won’t have to deal with them. Also, thank you,” This time, Tim knew that his cheeks were bright red. He felt Dick’s hand ruffle his hair again. That was clearly going to become a staple during their time together.
“And you’ve got three months to hang out with me.”
Dick was waiting patiently so Tim conceded and looked up at his babysitter. Dick smiled at him and it seemed so genuine and Tim had to smile back. Not a huge smile but certainly not a small one by any means.
Maybe the summer wouldn’t be so bad after all.
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“It’s your first official day of summer, Tim! I won’t let you stay inside all day doing work.”
“But-”
“How about the circus?”
“No!” Tim yelled before he could stop himself. Dick turned around quickly, shocked at his outburst. Tim had barely spoken above a whisper the past three days. “No. No, thank you. I don’t want to go to the circus.” He didn’t want to relive the nightmares from when he was younger. How did Dick still like the circus?
“Okay, no circus then. But we have to do something.”
“Can’t we just stay inside? I wanted to read.”
“You can read later in the afternoon,” Dick promised. “What are your feelings on the zoo?”
“The zoo? With the animals?”
“Have you…have you never been to the zoo before?”
“I think it is a school trip next year…” Tim mused.
“But your parents never took you when you were younger?”
No, Tim thought uncomfortably, they took me to the circus and it was a disaster and we never went anywhere as a family ever again.
Instead, aloud, “I think my mother might have thought it to be unhygienic.”
“Well, how do you feel about it?” Dick asked carefully. He already knew Tim’s dislike towards germs and his love of antibacterial.
“I would like…I would like to see some otters. They have them there, correct?” Tim had always been fascinated by otters. He wouldn’t voice it but he even thought they were cute in addition to being remarkably agile in water.
“Gotham Zoo definitely has some otters. Along with a billion other animals.”
Tim huffed, “I doubt there are a billion.”
“You know what I meant, come on.”
And that is how Tim spent the first day of his summer vacation at the zoo with Dick Grayson.
For the second time in less than a week, Tim’s phone was ringing. He pulled it out of his pocket and just stared at it. Dick scooted over on the bench and looked over his shoulder.
“Aren’t you going to answer it?”
“Oh. Yes, of course. Hello?…This is Timothy…Oh…I see…No, that will be acceptable. Thank you for informing me…”
“What was that about?”
“That was my family’s security company. Our usual night guard, Robert, is ill and they’ve informed me that they are stretched thin. A replacement night guard won’t be able to arrive at the house until well past their normal time.”
“What time do they plan on being there?”
“They said midnight.”
“Perfect and I forgot dinner so we can go eat at at casa de la Wayne,” Dick said in an exaggerated Spanish accent and waggled his eyebrows at Tim.
“What?”
“Well, I planned on taking you home to the manor for dinner anyway. I didn’t think you’d really want to eat fast food at the zoo.”
Tim wasn’t entirely sure how the two situations were connected but he was secretly pleased that Dick was aware and actively taking steps to ensure Tim’s comforts regarding health and cleanliness.
“If you insist…” Tim said slowly. “But if it’s all right with you, I’d like to change first. And shower. I smell like animals.”
“But you had a good time, right?” Dick’s hopeful gaze searched Tim’s face.
“I…I had a very nice day, thank you.” Tim placed his hands in his lap and fiddled with his phone, “I enjoyed the otters very much.”
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“Hello there, Master Timothy. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. Master Richard has told me much about you.” Tim was standing slightly behind Dick. He wasn’t sure why he was so nervous but Mr. Pennyworth, Alfred, seemed extremely cordial.
“But he’s only known me for three days,” Tim blurted before he could stop himself. He shook Alfred’s outstretched hand.
“Our Dick is very observant.” Alfred confirmed what Tim had seen earlier at the zoo. Dick didn’t seem the type to be vigilant but Tim supposed it was his own fault for judging a book by its cover. “Come now, Master Bruce is awaiting us in the dining room.”
The mentioned dining room was large, moreso than Tim had imagined it. It had an expansive table that Tim only though existed in films. Sure, the Drake mansion had its share of overpriced and absurd objects but the elongated table, with Bruce Wayne at the head made for a surreal and chilling scene.
“So this is the young Drake?” Bruce’s voice managed to be quiet and loud at the same time. Unintrusive and yet it still managed to fill the room.
Tim followed Dick to his seat and answered in a polite and attentive tone, “Yes, Timothy, sir.”
“Well, Timothy, I’m Bruce Wayne.”
Cold, unpleasant eyes. Not at all like the fool that the news talked about. Tim found himself wanting to run far away from the manor. The conversation seemed more like a chess match than anything else.
“Dick tells me that you’re a good student.”
“I try.”
“Is that all? He says you also do martial arts.”
“Some, yes.”
“Is that normal for a child your age? Perhaps introductory karate would be better suited for your level.”
“Bruce!” Tim looked up from his plate and saw Dick glaring at Bruce.
“I did the introductory lessons for most forms of self-defense before I found one that suited me.”
“Self-defense?”
Tim did some quick thinking. He didn’t want to discuss bullies with Bruce Wayne. The man clearly already thought he was incompetent. How was carefree Dick able to survive in a house like this? Thinking of Dick, Tim also didn’t like the idea of Dick remembering that Tim had needed protection. “Sure, I mean, a lot of kids my age take those classes for extra-curricular activities. We all want to be like Batman,” Tim attempted to joke.
“So you don’t have a problem with Batman? Batman seems like a menace to Gotham’s society. Thought, I suppose for a child of your age, it would hold some interest.”
“No? Why would I have a problem with Batman? Gotham needs someone to look after her,” Tim mumbled. The food prepared by Mr. Pennyworth was delicious but he had lost his appetite over the odd conversation with Mr. Wayne.
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“Can I go home?” Tim pleaded with Dick who gave him a strange look. Alfred wouldn’t let him help with the dishes and Bruce hadn’t spoken another word through the rest of the meal. Dick had dragged him to the library afterwards and let him explore. Tim’s excitement over the books wasn’t as strong as it would have been under normal circumstances. He couldn’t stop thinking about the strange dinner. As a result, Dick tried a different plan and took Tim back to the kitchen, where Bruce was watching Alfred scoop ice cream.
“Can I go home after this?” Tim asked again, politely as possible, but Dick who gave him a strange look.
“Of course not, Timmy, I won’t be able to sleep with thinking about you all alone in that big house.”
“What do you mean?”
“Without the night guard! Are you feeling okay?” Dick pushed back Tim’s hair and felt his forehead.
“That’s…that’s what this is about? Because the…night…guard…” Tim looked at Dick like he was certifiably insane, Joker insane.
Tim saw the exact moment that Dick’s thoughts were able to parallel his own. There was a sadness there that Tim had never before saw directed at himself. Dick had thought the night guard was there to protect Tim.
There was an awkward silence in the kitchen as Tim realized he wouldn’t be allowed to go back to his house and the rest of the Wayne family worked out what exactly Dick had been thinking. It was Alfred who spoke up and gave the final say on the matter.
“I shall make up a guest bedroom for you, Master Timothy.”
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Tim rolled over in the strange bed. It wasn’t that the room was uncomfortable. In fact, it was very welcoming. It was just that it was Tim’s first night of summer and he had desperately wanted to spend the whole night taking photographs of Batman & Robin. He couldn’t very well sneak out of Wayne Manor unnoticed. He tried to ignore the countless amount of noises that the house seemed to make once the sun set but it still took Tim hours to fall asleep.
“Master Timothy? Awake so early?”
“I am an early riser, Mr. Pennyworth.”
“Please, call me Alfred.”
“I’ll try to remember. Thank you. For letting me stay over, sir.”
“Master Timothy, you’re welcome here anytime.”
“I’m just going to go home now, if that’s all right.”
“I’ll send Master Richard over when he wakes up.”
“He doesn’t need to hurry or anything.”
Alfred just smiled accommodatingly and Tim couldn’t shake the feeling that he was missing something important.
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“Hello there, Kitten. I haven’t seen you around here lately.” The smoothness of the voice did nothing to steel Tim from the initial surprise of it appearing in the first place. He let out a high-pitched squeak and nearly lost grip on the fire escape on which he had been so carefully balanced.
Plucking his camera from his hands and twisting into a flip so she was right in front of his face, Catwoman appeared.
“Um. Hi.” Tim’s mouth wasn’t out of squeaks just yet.
“Don’t worry, I don’t tell Batty that you’re watching him. You might want to be a bit more careful though.” Before Tim could react, Catwoman had grabbed hold of him and he was swaying on a sturdy roof. She gentle pushed him to sit on a vent and handed him his camera.
“How did you- I mean- how long?” Tim mentally berated himself. He thought he had been being careful. He hadn’t run into any of Gotham’s main villains nor had he been seen by Batman & Robin.
“Only for a few weeks. You’re a brave one, aren’t you? I can’t help but be worried about you though, small fry.”
“I’m okay. I haven’t gotten hurt,” Tim mumbled, rotating his camera in his hands, trying not to make eye contact. Catwoman wasn’t going to hurt him, he was sure. She was mostly a thief. An impressive thief. Would it be too much to ask for her photograph?
“Still, Kitten, that won’t mean that you’ll stay that way. You, young Drake, need to be careful.”
Tim’s head snapped up “How did you know my name?”
“Figured it out when I followed you home two weeks ago. I wanted to make sure you got there safely,” Catwoman shrugged. Even her shrugs looked sophisticated.
“Why?”
“Why not?”
Tim wasn’t sure how he felt about this. He had gone from being independent to letting Dick and Alfred worry about him and treat him like a child. Now even Catwoman was worried about him. It was just another reminder that he was only nine years old and not the adult with whom his parents so wanted to converse. He was nudged out of his thoughts.
“Don’t think about it too much, Kitten. It’s time for you to call it a night.”
Knowing he didn’t have a choice, Tim sighed. “Yes ma’am.” Catwoman disappeared into the night but Tim knew her direct absence wouldn’t give him license to continue his night out. Sighing and gently placing his camera into his bag, Tim made the long walk back to his house.
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The next morning, Tim awoke to a meow and a yelp. He stayed put in bed and looked at the clock. He had gone to sleep at five AM and it was eleven thirty AM. Not bad for the first night time outing of the summer. He still had plenty of time for his studies.
“Tim? Tim? Are you still in bed? Are you feeling all right?” Dick. Of course. That explained the yelp but not the meow.
“I’m awake, Dick. And I feel fine. I’m just getting dressed.” Tim allowed himself to stretch before actually leaving his bed. His own bed, this time. Not the one in Wayne Manor. It was nice to be back in his own quiet room even after only a night of absence.
“Someone left a cardboard box on your stoop, Tim. There is a tiny black kitten inside. Do you want me to take it to the shelter?”
Tim had one foot through the leg of his jeans and Dick’s comment had thrown off his balance. A loud thud sounded as he hit the floor. Ow.
“Tim? What was that noise?”
“I just…I tripped, Dick. I’m coming.” Tim hurried to right himself and dress properly. He opened the door and sure enough, Dick was there and holding a compact but durable box with the smallest kitten that Tim had ever seen.
“I can just drop him off the shelter and come back, you don’t have to come,” Dick offered.
“No! I mean, no, please. I want to keep it.” Tim fought back a blush. Dick lowered the box so Tim could reach in his hand to pet the soft fur. The kitten meowed softly and bunted Tim’s hand, asking for more pets.
“Would your mom be okay with that? I know you aren’t allergic but still…” Dick trailed off which was fine because Tim wasn’t really listening. He was already planning out what the kitten needed and what sort of toys wouldn’t make much noise but still hold the kitten’s attention.
“Tim. What about your parents?”
“They…they don’t have to know,” Tim shrugged. He knew his parents wouldn’t notice a cat. They weren’t home that often and when they were, he would just keep the kitten in his room. He lifted the kitten out of the box and held him close, smiling when he purred against his chin.
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Over the next two months, Tim found multitasking a lot harder to do but then again, maybe he just had more options. He spent most of his days doing the school work that his mother left for him or helping Dick with his own summer studies. When pressed, he would play certain video games with Dick but if left to his own devices, Tim was content to read from the extensive collection at Wayne Manor.
And at night, once Tim was back in his own house, he was able to sneak out and follow Batman & Robin on their adventures. He hadn’t seen Catwoman since the first night of the summer but he knew it was foolish to hope that she hadn’t been watching him. He had had a good track record so far but there were some nights where Dick and Alfred would insist that it was too late for him to go back to his own house and he just had to sleep at the manor. The only bad part about those nights would be no Batwatching. Tim found that he couldn’t resist Dick’s charm and Alfred’s warmth. Bruce Wayne, however, was a completely different story.
It wasn’t as though he was cruel towards Tim. He just was uninterested, which seem to make Dick angry and Alfred exasperated but Tim didn’t mind. He was used to that with his own parents so in a way, it was normal.
The first time he came over without the prompting of Dick, Tim had been terribly nervous even though, just a day prior, Alfred had been so polite and helpful in setting up a temporary area for the kitten within the library. The kitten, who was so mischievous and, as it turned out, a skilled acrobat, that Tim decided to name him, Batman.
Dick laughed so hard when he heard the name that Tim was genuinely worried for his health. When he asked what was so funny, Dick just replied that he hadn’t realize how much kids Tim’s age liked Batman. Tim wasn’t sure how to respond to that. Mainly because he didn’t have friends his age. Or friends at all, for that matter.
He did meet Dick’s friends one day. They had stopped by the manor to hang out with Dick even though Dick insisted that he couldn’t leave Tim. Tim didn’t see the logic in that as he was with Alfred in the kitchen, learning how to make a pie crust. Maybe Dick didn’t want to see his friends and was using Tim as an excuse. It didn’t matter either way.
“Don’t you want to go out and meet Master Richard’s friends?”
“Um, no. No, thank you.”
“I’m sure he wants you to meet them and he’ll find you eventually. Master Richard has always been a determined young man.” As though on cue, Dick poked his head into the kitchen.
“Tim, I want you to meet somebody. Well, two somebodies.” And before Tim could refuse, Dick had disappeared back out into the hallway.
Tim felt childish as he peeked around the kitchen corner. All it took was a somehow polite shove from Alfred and Tim was out in the hallway.
“This is Kory and Roy,” Dick told him, happily. There were two red heads in front of Tim, a girl and a boy, both Dick’s age. The girl seemed nice and smiled at Tim but the boy had a scowl on his face that made Tim uncomfortable.
“Pleasure to meet you both,” Tim said quietly. He had to work on his eye contact.
“So you’re the one who stole Dick from us this summer.” The girl, Kory, teased. Tim could tell she was teasing because of her smile. Roy, however, just managed to strengthen his scowl.
“Ignore him, he’s been in terrible mood all day. Dick’s told us loads about you.”
Tim was able to get away with only a small amount of niceties, ignoring Dick’s hurt look and Alfred’s disapproval face.
“Don’t give me that look, Alfred.” Tim squirmed under the butler’s glare. “I talked to them for a bit.”
“I suppose you did. However, I’m sure Master Richard was only trying to be nice by introducing you to his friends.”
Tim was about to say that Dick didn’t get hired to be nice to Tim. He only was hired to watch Tim and to make sure some nasty fate didn’t befall him. But Alfred’s look stopped him. No one in the house seemed to like when Tim brought up the fact that Dick was, for all intents and purposes, his babysitter. Tim just sighed and continued to knead the dough for his pie crust.
—————————————————————————————————
“Tim, can you hear me? Wake up, Tim. I’ve got to get you back to the manor”
“What?” Tim mumbled.
“Come on. You’ve been asleep all morning.” Tim just rolled over and mumbled something, his thought process not quite connecting to his voice
Dick? All afternoon? That didn’t sound right. He didn’t even go out to photograph Batman & Robin last night. He had been too tired. Oh…he was tired. Maybe he was getting sick.
“I was getting a worried so-” Dick’s attention was caught by one of the picture frames on Tim’s orderly desk.
Tim groggily sat up, wondering if something had happened to Dick or if he had just imagined him. He took a few seconds to compose himself before focusing on Dick at the desk. Dick came over and sat on the edge of his bed. He had a picture frame cradled in his hands. Not just any picture frame but the picture frame. The one that contained the photograph of Dick and Tim all the years ago.
“This is my family. The date…this was the night that they…and you were there?”
“I’m sorry,” Tim’s apology was barely a whisper. His head was fuzzy and he wasn’t sure what to say but an apology seemed to be in order.
“No, it’s not your fault, Tim.” Dick shook his head. “It’s okay, Tim.” And then after a few seconds, quiet and mostly to himself, Dick murmured, “It’s why you didn’t want to go to the circus.” He took a deep breath and set the photo back in it’s place. “Come on, Tim. Let’s get you to the manor. Alfred will make you some homemade chicken soup and maybe, just maybe, I’ll watch that stupid documentary with you.”
“I like Planet Earth,” Tim murmured and laid back down in the bed. He didn’t feel like moving. Actually, he wasn’t sure that he’d be able to move but being sick in Wayne Manor couldn’t be that different from being sick anywhere else. “Don’t want to go. Your dad doesn’t like me. Can’t eat soup in the summer”
“He isn’t my dad. You know that already, Tim. And…Bruce doesn’t like anyone at first. He just has a lot of stuff to worry about. You’re sick and I’m not letting you stay here. And I wouldnt’t tell Alfred about that soup comment, if I were you. He takes his soup very seriously.”
The next time Tim woke up, he was in that bedroom at Wayne Manor and Alfred was attempting to spoon feed him soup.
“Ah, finally awake, Master Timothy. I was getting a little worried.”
Before Tim could respond, Bruce had stuck his head through the open doorway. “Any improvement, Alfred?”
“Yes, sir, he is awake and his fever has gone done by a degree.”
“Good. That’s…” Bruce saw that Tim was looking at him with wide eyes. “That’s good. I’ll be in the study.”
“Very good, sir.” Alfred clinked the spoon against the bowl to get Tim’s attention. “Soup, Master Timothy.”
“Did he just ask how I was?”
“Indeed.”
“But why would he ask that?” Tim was in a daze. Bruce hated him. Maybe Tim was really sick. He opened his mouth obligingly when Alfred cleared his throat. Once he had eaten all the soup, Tim snuggled back down into the blankets. The room was nice and cozy. Tim closed his eyes for a moment but when he opened them again, the bed was no longer comfortable. In fact, it was almost lumpy.
Blinking a few times, Tim rolled over and found the answer to the lumps. Dick was there. Dick was in Tim’s bed and had latched onto him while he was sleeping.
“Dick,” Tim knew that he was borderline whining but he was sick so he gave himself a pass.
“Mmmtim…mm sleeping, little brother. No talking…” Dick’s mumbles weren’t entirely clear but Tim’s breath caught when he heard them. Little brother? Tim tried to push it out of his mind. He was ill. He was obviously hallucinating both Bruce and Dick. However, as he fell back to sleep, curled up in Dick’s grasp, Tim felt a warm and fuzzy feeling in his stomach and he was pretty sure it wasn’t just from Alfred’s soup.
————————————————————————
“Tim, we’ve known each other for a while now, right?”
“I guess. If you can call almost three months ‘a while’”
“I can and I will. But we need to get you into a hobby. Your martial arts class doesn’t start up again until September, you’ve finished all the work your mom left for you and you refuse to play video games with me. Don’t give me the story about the library because I don’t want to hear it. We need to find you a hobby.”
“I have a hobby,” Tim blurted out. He clapped his hands over his mouth but it was too late. Dick had a sparkle in his eyes and he motioned for Tim to scoot over on the couch so he could curl up next to him.
“You? Timothy Jackson Drake? Have a hobby just like us mere mortals?”
“Ugh. Shut up, Dick.” Tim knew his face was bright red but he had gotten better at ignoring it. He was comfortable around Dick. Dick brought out a childish side of Tim and he had found, over the past few months, that he didn’t mind.
“Tell me, Tim. Tellmetellmetellme!”
“Okay, okay. But you have to keep it a secret and we have to go to my house,” Tim bit his lip. He had just gotten some pretty impressive shots of the Riddler the night prior. It might be nice to show them to someone.
“Secret and your house, got it.” Dick saluted and led the way out of the manor and down the street. It only took a few minutes for Tim’s brain to race over the possible consequences for showing Dick his photos.
“Dick you have to promise,” Tim looked towards his closet. No, he was looking at the space above his closet. He was suddenly nervous about showing Dick his photographs.
“Sure, Tim, I promise.” Dick swore, more curious than sincere.
“Okay.” Tim closed his eyes, inhaled, exhaled, and then opened them again. Okay,” He repeated. He used the a stepstool to reach to the top of the closet pulled down a box. It looked like every other box in the house that their old housekeeper used to switch their winter clothes with summer ones. Except that this one didn’t have clothes. Emitting a small grunt, Tim heaved the box up onto the bed, next to where Dick was seated.
“This…this is my hobby.” Tim said, shyly. He opened the box to reveal meticulously kept stacks of prints and negatives. All of Batman & Robin and their adversaries. Dick let out a small gasp as he rubbed the edge of the top photograph, which showed Robin and the Riddler. Tim smiled and looked up at Dick but to his disappointment, Dick wasn’t smiling. He almost looked a little sick.
“Have you showed these to anyone else?” Dick spoke slowly and carefully.
“No, of course not,” Tim answered, confused.
“Good, don’t.”
“What?” Tim nearly dropped the stacks of negatives in his hands.
“Tim, these photos are amazing. You could probably submit these to a newspaper or something but they could endanger Batman. You don’t want to be responsible for that, right? And you shouldn’t put yourself in danger either. Promise me that you won’t go out anymore.”
“But-”
“Seriously, Tim. What if your parents found out about this? Or what if you got hurt or captured down by Crime Alley? You’re going to get caught one of these times.”
Tim tilted himself away from Dick, looking down at the photograph that he had gently placed in his lap. It was one of his favorites. Batman was perched on the top of one of the tallest buildings in the city. In the same photograph, Tim was able to capture Robin mid-flip. Tim could almost swear that Batman was glaring at Robin for being so bright and uplifting, and the opposite of the dark and dangerous persona that Batman projected.
Dick was his friend, right? He had even called himself Tim’s brother. Dick only wanted him to be safe. Now that Tim thought about it, a nine year old sneaking out at night was probably a terrible idea. He had never gotten caught but he had experienced some close calls.
Dick’s hand gently came down on Tim’s shoulder and he spoke softly, “I know that you really like Batman and Robin, Tim. But what would they say? How would Batman respond to someone spying on him like this?”
“But, I wasn’t spying on him!” Tim insisted. He wasn’t spying, was he?
“Weren’t you?” Dick’s face was the picture of innocence but his tone of voice was suggesting something that Tim didn’t want to think about.
“I have to get back to the manor but think about what I said. You’re a great photographer, Tim. You shouldn’t be wasting your time on Batman. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” Dick leaned down and kissed the top of Tim’s hair, smoothing it like Tim liked instead of the usual ruffle he did at the end of the day.
As Dick left, somehow, he seemed more upset than Tim.
———————————————————————————————
It had been been a week and Tim tried to forget about that conversation. Dick seemed to forget the event ever occurred. In his mind, Tim had gone over the entire summer, cataloging his own nights compared to his days with Dick. Maybe Dick was right. What would Batman say if someone was taking photos of him? He’d probably be furious.
Tim had occupied himself with attempting to teach his own Batman how to use the outdoor litterbox instead of the one inside. His parents were coming home soon and although Tim would still keep a smaller litterbox in his room, he wanted Batman to know where it was in his backyard.
That night, after dinner when Bruce was explaining a complicated math problem to Dick elsewhere in the manor, Alfred surprised Tim with his own personal room in the household.
“Alfred…” He knew that if he looked up, his watery eyes would be immediately seen. Tim ran his hands over the bedspread. It was a dark blue plaid with simple pillows. Resting in between the two pillows was a small stuffed otter.
“Master Richard wasn’t sure if you would approve of the otter but I insisted. I understand that you are a very intelligent young man of nine years old but that does not mean that you are not allowed to enjoy the simpler things in life.”
“But…why?” Tim’s voice was not wavering. Absolutely not. Alfred knew that he wasn’t questioning the stuffed animal.
“You are a part of our family, Master Timothy. We would not have it any other way.”
“But it’s nearly September and…”
“Well, we’ve had quite a busy summer here at the manor and I wanted to design this room sooner but August is as good a time as any.” Tim isn’t entirely sure what he means by ‘busy summer’ but he also doesn’t know if Alfred gets involved in Bruce’s work affairs. “Surely you don’t intend on leaving us once school is back in session? Who will help me test the scones for full flavor? Who will argue with Master Bruce when he is in one of his debating moods? Who will make sure that Master Richard completes his homework on time?”
Tim blushed. He never had much cause to blush before meeting the Wayne family. They were nothing like the tabloids and newspapers described. He had been an independent child but now he was realizing that he became that way because his life demanded it. He was allowed to act his age if he so pleased and he was part of a family.
That night, Tim slept in his new room at Wayne Manor, clutching at his stuffed otter.
———————————————————————————————
Tim looked at the clock and then at the television. He heard that the news had captured footage of Batman and Robin. He wasn’t sure if it would coincide with his parents’ layover.
The Drakes were scheduled for a very short layover in Gotham and to Tim’s surprise, his mother had insisted on coming to the house for lunch. He was sure that it wasn’t to check on him though. Maybe she had forgotten something. Janet had insisted that Tim not change whatever plans he had but Tim had no plans, Dick was in New York with his friends for the day and Alfred was shampooing the carpets in the manor.
Tim made sure that Batman, now growing into a graceful adolescent cat, was safely locked in his room. His parents naturally checked up on his studies and asked how the security service was operating. With one eye on the small kitchen television, Tim assured his mother and father that nothing in the house had been stolen.
Then Janet inquired about Dick. Well, that’s putting it too politely. Her exact words were “How is the neighborhood circus performer treating you?”
At first, Tim started to open his mouth in order to defend Dick but then, he was distracted. The news report. Batman & Robin. It’s mostly Robin and…no…
The footage was of Robin doing a quadruple flip. But…Dick does quadruple flips. Tim remembered before Dick had showed off in the martial arts gymnasium.
Tim took a deep breath and tried to go over the math in his head. From when Batman showed up, to when Dick’s parents were murdered to when Robin appeared on the street. Batman’s endless gadgets and money source, Robin’s acrobatic talent for someone who seemed so young.
“Our Dick is very observant.”
“Batman seems like a menace to Gotham’s society.”
“Bruce doesn’t like anyone at first. He just has a lot of stuff to worry about…”
“How would Batman respond to someone spying on him like this?”
“Well, we’ve had quite a busy summer here at the manor…”
“Timothy? Are you feeling well?”
He was sure that his parents were talking to him but all Tim heard was static. He was going to be sick. Dick’s attentiveness and his kindness and…little brother. Yea, Tim was definitely going to be sick. He quickly excused himself from the table and barely made it to the foyer bathroom before he lost his meager lunch in the toilet.
Everything had been a lie. The Waynes had befriended him in order to keep an eye on him. Dick had thought he was spying on Batman so in turn, Dick spied on Tim, befriended him and convinced him to stop taking photographs. Well, don’t worry anymore, Robin. No more photographs of you.
A knock came on the door. “Timothy, do not exert yourself if you are getting sick. It wouldn’t do well. We have the Wayne gala in a week. Remember to check and make sure you still fit into your tuxedo. Your father’s secretary will call and remind you.”
And that was it. Tim retched into the toilet again as he got a new view of his life from the floor of his parents’ bathroom. He simultaneously wiped at his mouth and his tears. His parents never bothered with him, they only wanted to use him to gain access to the Wayne family whereas and the only friend he had was a Wayne and that too was a lie.
Tim attempted to remain calm (he won’t start crying again, he won’t, he won’t). He typed out a letter and printed it on his mother’s stationary. Then, Tim penned his mother’s signature with perfection and faxed it to Wayne Manor.
Attn: R. Grayson
As of today, your position in our household has been terminated. Thank you for your services over the past three months.
Janet Drake
For the rest of the day, Tim ignored all phone calls, knocks at the door and even return faxes. He just sat in his room but it felt cold now (so different than the warm living space that Alfred had created for him). He stared at Batman, who was playing with his shoelaces (What a terrible name for a cat. Tim got the joke now. Ha. Ha. Very funny Richard Grayson. You have such a sense of humor, Robin)
———————————————————————————————
Later that night, Tim was attempting and failing to fall asleep. Batman (he really needed to think of a new name for his cat) must have sensed his mood because the feline curled up right next to him and purred against his chest.
Tim just sighed when someone knocked against his window. He knew it had been coming.
Sure enough, Dick was perched on his windowsill. No, not Dick. Robin. Robin was outside of Tim’s window.
Tim slid out of bed and opened the window. He started speaking right away. He had prepared the speech during the afternoon.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to spy on Batman and Robin. I won’t…I won’t do it anymore and I’m sorry. You can take all the photographs if you want them. I already put them in a box down against the back door.” Tim was done. Finished. He just wanted school to start so he would have something else to focus on.
“Tim, that’s not what I came here for…” Dick’s voice sounded sad but before he could come into the room, something starts beeping. “I need to go, Tim. There’s been a breakout but can I come back and talk to you?”
“No,” Tim said strongly, his voice only cracking a little. “There isn’t anything to talk about. Please just leave me alone.” Tim slammed down the window.
When he woke up the next morning, the box of photographs was gone. Tim spent most of the morning trying not to cry.
———————————————————————————————
For the interim week, Tim tried to think of different ways he could avoid the charity dinner at Wayne Manor but his mother would not hear of it. Janet insisted it was good manors after spending all summer with Richard Grayson.
“Timothy, really. What has gotten into you? You had no complaints about the Waynes for nearly three months and now you wish to break all ties? I don’t see why. I spoke to Bruce Wayne only yesterday and according to him, Grayson’s grades have improved immensely and he sincerely thanks you. Another step towards a partnership with our two companies.”
Bruce? Thanking him? Probably for the photographs. Either way, it’s how Tim found himself in a tuxedo in Wayne Manor. He tried not to look directly towards where he knew his room and stuffed otter were located. He had been able to dodge Bruce, Dick, and Alfred for most of the night. Mostly because they kept getting intercepted by press and needed to attend to the catering, respectively. Tim was able to sneak out to the garden where he was trying his hardest not to have a panic attack.
“What’s the matter, Kitten?” Selina Kyle came out of the shadows, dressed in a long black gown with a dipped neckline. She winked and him and suddenly, even more things became clear for Tim.
“You’re…You’re!” Selina Kyle was Catwoman. Tim had to sit down. Selina led him to the closet bench. It was cold through his thin tuxedo pants but at least he wasn’t about to fall over.
“Shhhh, careful, Kitten, we don’t want people getting all excited over this. And I know that you can keep a secret.”
“Yes, Ms. Kyle.”
“How’s that little scoundrel I dropped off for you?”
“He’s doing really well. He’s very healthy.” Tim informed her. “And, thank you. For him.”
“It looked like you could use a friend.” Selina’s smile bordered on pitying and Tim knew that she had to know what had happened among him, Dick, and Bruce. He wasn’t sure how she found out but it was clear in her eyes.
“Tim? Why are you talking to Selina?” Both Selina and Tim turned to see Dick, looking confused and possibly angry.
“Oh please, Richard. This little Kitten & I go way back. I was just checking on the little charge that I left in his care.”
“Selina gave you Batman?” Dick asked in incredulous horror.
“You named him Batman? How cute. How…fitting.”
Before Selina could start on a lecture, Tim waved her off. He brought himself to full height, which wasn’t much at all and addressed Dick, “I don’t care to talk to you right now.” He said and Selina moved to stand behind Tim. Protective mother.
“Tim, I…I don’t know what you want me to say. I don’t know what you want from me. I’m so sorry and I want you to come back to us. We all miss you.” Tim couldn’t remember another time that summer where he had seen Dick so upset.
“I just want you to leave me alone. And then I’ll leave you two alone. I know it’s what you both wanted in the first place.” Tim tried to hold back his tears as he hoisted himself over the garden fence and made a beeline for his house.
———————————————————————————————
It had been a week since the Wayne party. His parents had gotten home that night and his mother had even asked if he was feeling okay. Apparently, Bruce Wayne had magnanimously covered for Tim and said he had gone home because he was ill.
School had started and Tim had prepared himself for the start of a new year. For his new life. A life where he finally realized that other children had their parents home more often than just a few weeks out of the year. The silence in his home, once comforting, Tim now found depressing and he missed Dick’s noise.
He had spent so much time thinking during the first day of school that he hadn’t even realized that sixth grade bullies had gathered around him. It was a testament to his level of his current depression that Tim had the ability to zone out completely until he was sitting in the nurse’s office with tissues stuffed up his noise and an ice pack against his eye. Ow.
The door to the office flew open and a worried Bruce Wayne quickly strode in and over to Tim.
“What are you doing here?” Tim was surprised but he tried to mask it with angry. He was pretty sure that it wasn’t working.
“Are you okay?” Tim resisted the urge to flinch as Bruce gently grabbed his chin and tilted his face.
“I’m fine,” Tim said quietly, moving his face from Bruce’s grip. Bruce let out a loud sigh.
“Tim-”
“What are you doing here?” Tim repeated his question. There was no malice in his voice. He had all but given up.
“Before your parents left, they said the school would not accept a security agency as an emergency contact and asked if I would be willing to act as your legal guardian.” Bruce gestured towards the door out of the nurse’s office and Tim sighed.
“And you said yes…” Tim murmured as he followed Bruce outside to his car, an expensive European brand that Tim didn’t recognize.
“Of course. No child should be alone. Your parents…they’re gone for the next year.”
“You think I don’t know that?” Tim grumbled. His entire face hurt. He didn’t want to deal with Bruce Wayne right now. He slouched down in the passenger seat, ignoring the practical voice in his head about how it would hurt later.
“Tim…Dick and I saw you one night. We spotted you taking photographs of us and we weren’t sure what to think. No parent in their right mind would let their child out but we knew that your mother…”
“What about my mother?” Tim spoke before realizing he was supposed to be a broody nine year old.
“She has interesting ideas for the Drake company. And she isn’t afraid to use unorthodox business movements to succeed. I thought that she was taking advantage of you and a young boy’s fondness for Batman & Robin in order to use our identity as leverage.”
“You thought I knew who you were?”
“Yes. Then Dick insisted that you didn’t know anything.”
“I didn’t. Not until…well, I saw you on the news. Not you, really. But Robin, I mean Dick. He did a quadruple flip. Not a lot of people can do that.”
“A flip gave us away? Fantastic.” Bruce replied dryly. Tim tried to smile but his face hurt too much.
“Tim, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have put Dick up to it and we should have chosen another way. I know that you’re not a normal nine year old.”
“Thanks?” Tim replied, confused. Where was this going?
“You’re incredibly intelligent and you figured out our identities. You would have figured it out anyway, I’m sure of it. If you still want to take photographs of us, I won’t stop you.”
“You won’t?”
“No, but I’m going to insist that you learn how to defend yourself. And not in some martial arts studio. Dick and I will teach you. Under a few conditions.”
“Conditions?” Tim thought he was going to get reprimanded again. Now Batman wanted to teach him self-defense in order to take photographs?
“Yep. You need to talk to Dick. You’re allowed to be mad at us. It’s perfectly justified but you’re still part of our family now. We all miss you and Dick has been moping around the manor.” Bruce put his hand on Tim’s knee. “I’m sorry for the way I acted. We just want you to be happy.”
“I…what are the other conditions?” Tim asked quietly. Not going to cry. There had been too much crying over the past week.
“Well, I’d like for you to choose a few of your best photographs so Alfred can get them framed. We can hang them in the Batcave.”
“But you have all the photographs…” Tim started before getting distracted by Bruce’s use of the word Batcave.
“The box hasn’t been opened yet. We want you to detail them for us. They’re your photographs, Tim.”
“I…I can do that.”
“Good, I’m glad.” Bruce smiled at Tim and tentatively, Tim gave a small smile in return.
“I’ll stop in Wayne Enterprises’ building for a moment to get some paperwork and then we will be on our way.”
Tim exhaled once Bruce’s door shut.. He felt a little bit better. A little. He still didn’t know how to approach Dick or even Alfred. They had reached a possibly stalemate for now and Tim supposed that was all he could ask for. It sort of felt like the beginning of summer again. Tim could deal with uncertainty so long as he intended for it to move forward at some point.
Maybe autumn wouldn’t be so bad after all.
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Tim was about to fall asleep against the upholstery, finally content for the moment. Just as he dozing off, there was an odd noise outside the car. Almost like a scraping and squeaking.
Opening the door ever so slowly, Tim peeked out the crack. There was a boy! A teenager, maybe. Not quite though. He was trying to steal the tires right off of Bruce’s car! Tim couldn’t help but let out a gasp of surprise.
“I wasn’t doing any- hey, wait a minute. Are you okay?”
Tim didn’t say anything. He wasn’t sure what to say.
“Shouldn’t you be in school?”
Still, Tim kept silent. Shouldn’t you be in school? He thought privately to himself. Although, the boy had answered his curiosity about how bad his bruises looked.
“Who hurt you? Was it the rich guy who owns this car? Did he beat you up?” The boy’s eyes grew wide and Tim quickly turned around, expecting to see Bruce’s imposing figure. Instead, it was Killer Croc. He was still a half block away but coming in fast.
“Come on! Come with me!” The boy hissed at Tim. He had a look in his eyes, Tim thought it to be a mixture between pity and determination. Tim was grabbed out of the car before he knew what was happening.