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Tim’s hand wasn’t shaking, his eyes were just vibrating.
His parents would be happy, Tim was using big words like they wanted him too.
He needed to be older, and he had to act older. If he acted older, maybe his parents would come back home. He didn’t like his parents not being home; and they were starting to stay away for longer and longer and longer .
But Tim needed to do his German language homework - he wasn’t allowed to sleep yet. His mother and father wanted him to be fluent in German, Spanish, English, French, and Mandarin.
He started to lift his hot chocolate - Mrs. Mac wouldn’t pick coffee up in the groceries unless his parents were home - but it was so super light. Tim lifted it too hard, and he hit himself in the mouth.
Tim cried out, whimpering and holding his hand to his mouth. His eyes filled with tears; and even though he wasn’t supposed to cry - he did. His mother and father were in Sweden anyway - they wouldn’t know.
“A kitten? But no adults are here.” Tim looked up to see Catwoman herself looking into the room. Tim was way too tired to wonder why she was there. “Oh dear oh dear sweet one, you’ve got an ouchie.”
Tim decided he was dreaming. He must have fallen asleep. Tim couldn’t think of another reason why he was being cradled in her arms. Catwoman was holding him like he was a baby, tucking his head onto her shoulder and rocking him.
Tim decided he didn’t want to wake up from his dream.
He sighed, letting himself relax in the nice cat's arms. Tim liked this dream, it was even better than the dreams he had of his parents coming back and giving him a hug. The only strange thing that was going on in his dream was the pain in his mouth. But Tim decided that that was way less important than the pleasure of being held.
Tim was going to cry when he woke up from his dream.
But he wasn’t waking up yet. Nope. The cat holding him was walking out of the room he had been in, leaving his German behind. Tim didn’t care, too melty to worry. She was so warm too, and it was kind of cold in his house. But Catwoman was so warm Tim let himself be melty.
Tim whined when they went outside. It was cold ! And this was Tim’s dream! Tim wouldn’t let it be cold! Tim… Tim didn’t know how to change his dream, but he didn’t want it to be cold! He was just starting to get warm! Tim whined again to protest more.
Tim could change his dream by whining, because Catwoman turned around and went back inside. Tim hummed happily as she tucked a blanket around him. All without putting him down!
This was the best dream of Tim’s life!
They went back outside. But Tim was warm and he was snuggly and he was being held - Tim didn’t whine this time. He just hummed and tucked his face into the nice cat’s shoulder.
He must have lost time, even though Tim was trying to stay with this dream. Because the next thing Tim knew he was entering a delightfully warm building.
“You are my little itty bitty kitten.” Cat scratched his head when Tim grunted in pleasure. Tim made the sound again so she wouldn’t stop.
“Miss Catwoman?” Tim was dreaming of British men too? It must be because he had watched Sherlock… “Miss Silena, is the lad Master Bruce’s?”
“Somehow; I’m not surprised that that is your first question, Alf.” Tim didn’t understand what Cat and Sherlock were talking about, but he was being petted so it couldn’t be more important than that. “No, he isn’t. I was conducting business at the Drake’s manor, just a few miles down the road. They’re out of the country, but they left their kitten all alone in their mausoleum of a house. It was cold, and there’s no way that this little one could reach to turn on the heat so I took him. He’s a snuggly little kitten; absolutely precious.”
Tim hummed into her neck; he liked being called precious.
“I see. And you brought the lad here to be taken care of?”
“I did. I know Bruce has Dick and Jason, but this little kitten won’t take up much more room. Can probably perch on those obnoxiously large shoulders of his without Bruce even knowing.” Tim smiled as he dreamed the woman kissed his head. “I have business to attend to still though, Alf.”
“I can take the lad up to Master Bruce’s room for introductions.” It took Tim a second to realize that that meant he would get put down. Tim didn’t want to be put down. Tim whined more since that’s how he changed his dream the first time.
“You’ll have to carry him. I don’t think the baby is awake.”
“He will not be the first, nor the last, lad that I have carried to bed Miss Selina.” Tim was shifted away from his Cat and given to Sherlock. Sherlock held him just as gently as Cat did. Tim stopped whining. Whining did work in dreams. Tim was surprised - it never worked when he was awake.
“There’s a good kitten. Alfie and Brucie and Dickie and Jayjay will snuggle you all up, precious.” Cat stoked his head again, before she stopped. Tim gave a protesting grunt, and then Sherlock pet him. Tim went melty again.
“Miss Selina, please ensure that - if the lad truly does not have a caretaker - the Mr. and Mrs. Drake return to find their mansion empty.” Sherlock said. “Oh, and if you would be so kind as to bring over the lads' things I will give you the stash of flea treatments for your other children.”
“I was planning to bring the kitten’s things over, Alf. But I’ll still take the flea treatments please. Somehow, yours work better and longer than anything I pick up - even if it’s the same damned brand from the same damned store .”
Sherlock stroked his head when Tim whimpered at how angry Cat sounded.
“Aw, kitten. It’s okay baby. Catwoman isn’t annoyed with Alfie, she promises.” Tim got more pets. Tim would be happy if he never ever stopped dreaming.
“You may conduct your business Miss Kyle, I will care for the lad.” Sherlock was rocking, and Tim really, really , wanted to sleep but then he’d wake up and he wouldn’t be dreaming any more.
“Have a good night Alf.”
Sherlock started to sway, and Tim lost time again.
“Master Bruce, Miss Kyle has brought you something.” Sherlock said softly.
“What did she bring?” Tim thought he knew that voice.
“Is that a baby!” A boy gasped.
“You have a kid?” A different boy demanded. He sounded as sleepy as Tim felt.
“No, Master Jason. Master Bruce doesn’t have another child. And Master Dick, he is a few years older than a ‘baby’.” Sherlock rocked him more. “He lives next door, with the Drakes. He doesn’t have anyone to care for him, and he is quite young.”
“No one was there?” Tim was transferred to someone with a very soft shirt. Tim hummed and rubbed his face on it.
“No, Master Bruce. Miss Kyle is checking, but we do not believe there was anyone there.” Sherlock said softly.
“I’ll investigate it in the morning, Alfred.” Tim liked the rumbling chest, it was soothing.
“He’s so little.”
“See, I’m not a baby.”
“No, you’re just a little wing. He’s a baby bird.”
“Boys, you’re supposed to be sleeping. And this one definitely needs his sleep.” The rumbling was so very soothing, it was enough to put him to sleep…