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It’s bittersweet how Tim’s health takes a positive turn after Bruce dies. Dick tries not to cry thinking of his father caring for Baby Bird for so many years but not here to see Tim getting up and around on his own. They get him a walker as he still gets tired a lot, his muscles atrophied from so many years of chronic weakness and bedrest.
Even his slow shuffle is a miracle.
Damian follows after him like an adorable mix between a duckling and a mother hen, always two steps behind unless he’s fetching something for Tim. (And, ok, comparing their brother to the lame cat they saw in an alley wasn’t Dick’s proudest moment but since then he’s never seen Damian more motivated about another human being, dedicating himself to Tim as though he was part of the new Robin’s growing menagerie).
Then Tim finds the portrait.
Then Tim starts talking about leaving.
“I don’t know if I can handle it, Alfie,” Dick confesses, exhausted after a long patrol that closes out a week of long patrols.
“There’s no point stressing over it, lad,” the butler hums as he stitches up yet another gash.
“He’s not even making sense! I get him and Bruce were close but I saw the body. Superman saw the body! Yet Tim’s convinced himself Bruce is alive and that he has to go find him. He’s better but he’s still not well! Who knows what could happen to him! It…it’s too much at once. I can’t lose Tim on top of everything else.”
“I’m sure everything will sort itself out,” Alfred says, tying off the thread. “Speaking of Master Tim, I do need to get his breakfast prepared. Would Master Damian like to take it up once I’m done?”
“I’m pretty sure you’d have a fight on your hands if you tried to stop him,” Dick replies, latching onto the provided distraction. Both men pretend not to notice how the shadows move as Damian sneaks upstairs so he can act like he hasn’t been eavesdropping again.
It turns out the butler was correct; everything sorted itself out though not in a way Dick would have hoped for. Tim’s good spell turns out to be short lived, all his progress seemingly evaporating overnight. The teen is once again unable to get out of bed by himself let alone leave. It’s a big job caring for him full-time but with Damian determined to help it’s more than manageable. Dick can now see why Bruce was so taken with the task; it provides a soothing distraction from the heavy burden of the Batman mantle.
(He tries to guiltily squash the feeling of relief as he packs away the walker.)
(He doesn’t entirely succeed.)