Chapter Text
Tim was excited, which was new. Tim was never excited, well, except when his parents were coming home. Tim's parents never come home, and when they do, they're off to a meeting or a gala. No matter, Tim is excited, which isn't usual for him. Why is he excited? Well, that's obviously because Tim is being taken to the circus!
Tim has never been to a circus before; this might be where he'll get his new sibling. You see, Tim has been trying to get a new sibling since forever. His parents even became certified so they could adopt someone for Tim!
Tim has been walking towards the circus tent while holding both his parents' hands, that's right, BOTH! Tim is a big boy, so once they find a seat, he's mature enough to be left alone while they go do some business. Tim waits, and he waits. He waits until he decides that if he's old enough to sit by himself, he's also old enough to wander around. Getting up, Tim makes sure nobody steals their spot by putting their stuff on the seats, but it being Gotham, he makes sure to hide anything of value.
As he walks, Tim begins to imagine what his new sibling will look like. Will it be a boy or a girl? Blue-eyed like him and his mom, or green-eyed like his father? Dark hair obviously, but will they be doomed to be short like Tim and his parents, or will they be taller than anyone around?
Tim is so excited imagining what his younger sibling might look like that he didn't see where he was going, and he bumped into someone and landed on his butt. "Hey there, are you alright?" Said the person Tim bumped into. "I'm fine, sorry..." Tim said as he was helped up by the stranger. "No problem. By the way, where are your parents?"
Looking at the stranger, Tim's short life seems to flash before his eyes. Standing in front of him is an older boy with blue eyes and dark hair. This boy was familiar, oh yes, he must be the one who will become his new brother. This boy might be older, but that doesn't mean Tim still can't be his older brother; it'll work out somehow.
"Are you sure you're all right? I'm Dick, what's your name?" Asked his new broth- Dick. Oh, Tim's must have been in his head too long. "Um, I'm Tim, I mean I'm Timothy Drake, but you can call me Tim." Tim said, standing straight and keeping eye contact while offering his hand for a handshake, like he was taught.
Dick laughs at how serious he's trying to be. "Well, hello there, Tim. I'm Richard, but you can just call me Dick." Dick smiles, and Tim had to close his eyes due to how bright that smile was. The sun is nothing compared to this boy's smile.
"So~ Where are your parents, Timmy?" Oh, right, Dick asked that already, Tim shouldn't be rude. "They left me to go handle some business. I was supposed to stay and watch our seats, but I am too mature for that!" Tim puffs out his chest pridefully, with the confidence to back it. "I see," Dick says, laughing once again, bringing a smile to Tim's face. "Why don't we get you back to your seat? I'll even take a picture with you if you agree!"
The picture was amazing, Dick even brought over his parents (darn it), who are apparently THE FLYING GRAYSONS, and Dick hugged Tim during the picture. Tim almost melted into that hug, but instead, like a proper older brother, he turned around to face Dick to pat his head after the picture. Dick and his parents laughed at that, causing Tim to blush slightly.
They led him back to his seat, but Tim wasn't ready to leave his new brother (ignoring the fact that Dick has his own parents). "Dick, could you stay with me until my parents return, i-if you don't mind, I mean..." Tim held Dick's hand to stop him from leaving, and Dick's parents nodded with a smile, giving Dick permission to stay back until Tim's parents came, while they went off to prepare.
"So, do you want me to perform a quadruple backflip for you when it's my turn in the spotlight, Timmy?" Tim couldn't believe Dick just offered to do a move just for him. Tim is definitely keeping Dick. "I WOULD LOVE THAT!" Tim didn't mean to yell, nor did he mean to grab both of Dick's hands, but here he was, jumping up and down embarrassingly, in front of his new brother.
"Timothy, we do not yell." Said a calm, almost dry voice. Tim blushes immediately, letting go of Dick's hands and looking at the ground. "Yes, mother, I apologize for my momentary lapse of judgment." His mother and father stood behind Dick, and Dick moved back to let them get to their seats. They walked past Tim, leaving him standing with Dick.
Tim looks back up to follow and notices the strange expression Dick has on his face. "Dick, are you alright?" Dick seems to have shaken off whatever was going on with him as he looks back at Tim with a slightly dimmer smile. "No, nothing's wrong. Enjoy the show, Tim. I hope it's one you'll never forget." *Dick hugs Tim once more before walking off to get himself ready for the show. Tim can die happy now.
Tim returns to his seat, sitting down with perfect posture as the show begins. "Mother, when will the Flying Graysons begin their part of the show?" His mother looks down at him. "If things go according to plan, then they'll be up after the elephants and clowns. You seem to like the youngest Grayson." Tim nodded, making sure to leave his expression masked. His mother has been teaching him how to keep his expression from giving away any of his thoughts.
Yes, mother, at first I had believed him to be my new sibling, I foolishly didn't recognize him as the son of the Flying Graysons." Tim said, keeping his voice level and eyes focused on the show. "That was indeed a foolish mistake, but you also shouldn't be so careless as to admit your mistakes so easily. Keep your criticisms to yourself, do not allow others to see any weakness, nor tell them of any." Mother was right; he should keep everything, including his mistakes, close to his chest.
"Timothy, I know you wish for a sibling, and perhaps you shall get what you desire. Though, as a Drake, you should be willing to get what you want yourself without revealing or expecting to be handed your desires." Tim nodded, his mother was right once again, never give anything away, and if you want it done right, do it yourself.
As the show went on, Tim continued to repeat his mother's wisdom in his head. He needed to do better; he was a Drake after all. Suddenly, a scream brought Tim out of his thoughts, and in front of him, chaos was unfolding.
In the center of the ring lay the bodies of Dick's parents, who seemed to have fallen to their deaths if their bodies had anything to say about it. Tim didn't move, didn't allow himself to react outwardly, and neither did his parents. His Father, seemed to be fighting to stop a smirk from playing on his lips, not that it mattered; his Father has always been a strange man.
Mother slowly moved to stand, as did Father, and Tim did the same. Tim followed his parents as they left and went to the car. Once they were all three in the car, his Father looked back at him through the rearview mirror. "Looks like you'll be getting that sibling soon after all, sport." His father said with a grin. "First, there will be a short process your new sibling will have to go through before they are presented to you, but yes, you will soon gain what you desired." His Mother said as they began the drive back to Drake Manor.
Tim didn't know what to feel; should he be worried for Dick, scared of what he saw, or excited about his new sibling? It doesn't matter; all Tim knows is that he wants his new sibling to hurry through whatever process they must go through, as he really wants someone to hug right now.