Chapter Text
Tim wasn't right, he knew that from a young age. He could sense it through his fathers scared eyes and his mother's shake of her head and disappointed sigh. There was something wrong with him and he just didn't know what.
He was always the cause of their arguments. Always. His father had tried to take him to play catch once upon a time and Tim had agreed instantly. He had never played catch before, he hadn’t even known what it was until his father demonstrated it to him. Jack said all kids played it and Tim asked why he hadn’t as he copied his fathers movements. Mother had found them then. She wasn't happy. She gazed at Tim as she answered but Tim didn't think she was talking to him, not really. ’You are delicate Timothy,’ she had said. ‘Special and cannot be replaced.’ Mother had taken his cold hand in hers and dragged him away.
That wasn't the only unusual thing about him however. He was seven and incredibly smart but he was also so oblivious. Tim was good at academics but he didn't know much else, hell he didn't even remember much else.
One night mother was in her study room. Tim wasn’t allowed in there and his father pretended it didn't exist. That night his father had taken his small hand and together they had wandered onto the back porch and to a small cement trail surrounded by flowers and garden. There was a thin, oval shaped board with four wheels underneath. Tim was smart, he knew his times tables and Shakespeare but for the life of him he couldn't figure out what that was.
”It's a skateboard Tim,” his father had said, sad smile on his lips. “And I'm going to teach you how to ride it.”
Tim wanted to, he really did but he knew mother would be furious. Ever since the catch incident mother had told him to never do something like that again. He had tried to argue, to disagree when blood red nails had dragged right through the middle of his scalp. All the fight had left him in that moment as mother whispered how special he was, how he was un-replaceable. He was told to never do something that could cause him potential harm like that again. Tim had agreed, not wanted to but he felt like he had no choice. He had no control.
“But mother-“ He tried but his father cut him off by placing large but warm hands on his small shoulders. That size difference was almost laughable really.
“Your mother seems to forget you are a child, ironic since she made you. You’re a kid Tim, you're my...” His father trailed off, looking conflicted before shaking his head and gazing at Tim with a burning fire blazing in his eyes. “You are my son and I will be there for you.”
Something in Tim's brain sparks and flares as large unnatural blue eyes stare up at his father. This was the first time Jack had ever called him his son and he meant it, he truly meant it. Whatever control his mother had was cut like clippers to a wire and Tim felt warm. They promised to keep this their little secret.
Tim‘s a fast learner. All he had to do was watch his father demonstrate the basics and he had for theory down pact. His mind wonders though, he couldn't help but think how fragile his father looked. He was so... breakable.
That terrified Tim.
No, that was silly. Tim was the fragile one, that's what mother always said. And mother was always right, Tim knows that. He can't remember why or how he knows that but he just does.
His father skates up to him huffing and puffing and rather sweaty from the short skate. Despite all that he was smiling, teeth glittering under the porch light. His father steps down from the skateboard, laughing and shaking his head. He was having fun Tim realises. Transfixed eyes stared up at the older man as his father pushes the skateboard towards him with his toe.
“Your turn kiddo,” he says and slowly Tim nods, letting the larger hand engulf his smaller one. Carefully and with help Tim gets two feet securely on the board and warily looks up at his father.
Jack just chuckles and places his palms on Tim's hips, gently and slowly pushing Tim forward. Quickly he latches onto those fingers as the board wobbles, bumping as it goes over a stone and stares wide eyed as they make their way down the cement path.
He relaxes slowly, letting go of his father's fingers as the ride smoothing out, his father dodging anymore stones. Carefully he lifts his arms up and lets smile cover his lips as he stays upright. It was nice, he liked it and now he truly knew that his father was really there for him no matter what.
“How do you like it kiddo,” Tim turns his head, meets his fathers gaze and smiles.
“It’s fun,” he admits, eyes bright and excited. His father smiles softly and turns him around, pushing him down the path once again.
That secret stays theirs and theirs alone, even when mother shakes her head at them fondly from a window a year later.