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The Wayne family was no strangers to trauma. This also meant that they were no strangers to triggers and finding out about triggers they didn’t even know about. Tim observed the family when he first became Robin. Dick’s triggers involved his parents and anything regarding them, the voicemail beeping, and Jason’s Robin costume. Sure there were probably more, but at the moment, those were all Tim could discover.
Bruce’s triggers also involved his parents, guns, bombs, Manors that have one less child than there should be, and kids in Robin suits. Tim disvocered the last one after trying on the Robin suit the first time and found that Bruce wouldn’t even look at him unless absolutely necessary. Not that Tim blamed him. He was only a temporary Robin until a better one comes along.
Alfred’s triggers were rare to find, and when he was triggered it was hard to spot the difference between normal, stoic Alfred the Butler and Alfred, grieving grandfather. But his triggers involved jason’s apron. Which hung right besides Alfred’s and obviously hadn’t been used in a while.
Tim did his best to recognize the triggers and do his best to avoid them. He went home after patrol, never showed up early, never asked for help, took all the verbal putdowns and critiques with a smile and then practiced until he was perfect.
Then Jason returned and instead of trying to kill Tim at Titans tower like everyone thgouht he would do, Jason knocked on the door of the Manor and was let back in with open arms. The Lazurus pit, while present, didn’t poison Jason’s mind and after he beat the shit out of a couple of dozen ninjas, Jason returned home, and everything was back to normal. Well except for the mini assassin that trailed behind Jason and babbled and tried to attack every living thing. Mainly Tim when the teen actually came over for patrol. The toddler’s name was Damian Wayne Al Ghul, and after seeing how the boy was being treated, Jason took the child with him when he left.
Tim watched from the sides as everyone’s triggers calmed down while Jason skyrocketed since the time he was Robin. Seeing Tim made it worse and seeing Tim in a Robin uniform made it a whole hell of a lot worse.
So Tim did what he thought was best and went home. Nextdoor. Since his parents, while absent almost eleven months out of the year, they were still alive and Tim was their son. So if Tim went on patrol then he would slip into the Batcave and change real quick before taking one of the tunnels that he had discovered to dump him out in the woods by his house.
After Jason’s return and Damian’s arrival, things changed. On patrol, Bruce was happier, even occasionally laughing at a joke Jason would make through the coms. Tim tried to stay as quiet as possible, only ever giving monosyllabic answers so his voice didn’t trigger jason. Tim stopped being invited to stay over. It wasn’t just Tim who noticed that Jason was triggered by the new Robin. Bruce and Alfred must have noticed too because they stopped asking the teen if he wanted to stay for dinner, or if he needed to spend the night because he was to injured. On the one occasion Tim was to injured to go home, he stayed down in the Batcave by himself and then slipped out the next morning. Dick for some odd reason kept trying to connect with Tim, trying to get him to stay for dinner, asking about his day, what he was working on, and normal questions that normally would seem friendly, but to Tim they were a trap. Because he couldn’t get suckered in to feeling welcome and part of a family he knew he would never be apart of.
So after Patrol, Tim went back to Drake Manor with it’s cold halls and emptiness. He would microwave something to eat and sit by himself at a table designed to hold eight.
Everyday the routine continued. Tim would go right on time just to patrol, avoid Jason, Dick, Damian, and Alfred. He would get chaged, find Bruce and wait for his orders. Tim would patrol, go back to the Batcave, let Alfred quickly check him over for injuries, and then go home.
Some nights, Dick would quickly place a hand on Tim’s shoulder or give him a quick side hug, and it was the best feeling in the world. Tim couldn’t remember the last time he had had positive touched. Those were the nighs that Tim would cry the whole way home, longing to go back to the Wayne family and ask Dick for a hug. But Tim would stay strong and would walk home and then pile blanket after blanket on top of himself to try and replicate human warmth.
The routine continued for roughly four months before things changed. Batman and Robin had gone out to apprehend Ivy and Scarcrow. Unforutnaly Scarcrow managed to dose Ivy with fear gas which made all of the red heads pollen a mixture between whatever she wanted and fear gas. And just Tim’s luck, it was cuddle pollen. Cuddle pollen wouldn’t have been terrible if Tim actually had someone at home waiting for him. But because he didn’t, it made Ivy’s pollen even worse.
And of course, because the world loved to torture the cinnamon roll child, Tim’s rebreather got knocked off in the middle of the fight. Ivy noticed and dosed him right in the face with a large, uncomfortable amount of pollen/fear toxin, and instantly Tim felt the change. But he couldn’t stop. With Jason back and Damian growing up quick, likely to take over the Robin mantel when he became of age, Tim’s legacy as Robin was on the line. So he scooped back up his rebreather, slapped it on his face and fought besides his mentor.
Throughout the fight, Tim could feel the fear and anxiety creep into his conscious and the lonlines and the longing for someone to hold him gripped his skin. Unfortunately, the ache on his skin was nothing new, and not something that would take down Robin. By time the fight was over, Tim was on the verge of a panic attack. But he held it down. Batman and Robin got back to the cave and Jason ran up to talk with Bruce and discuss what had happened. Jason’s eyes flickered over to Tim but the younger boy looked away and ran to the lockers to get changed. After washing off the leftover pollen and dawning civilian clothes, Tim slipped out through the tunnel that led him back home.
Instead of getting something to eat, Tim ran right to his room and buried himself under the blankets. The twelve year old boy threw blanket after blanket ontop of himself, trying to mimic human warmth. He was even cuddled around heating packs, hoping that the heat would chase away the cold. Nothing worked though, it simply helped the shaking.
After a few hours of shaking, Tim managed to drift off into an uneasy sleep, dreaming of nothing else but Dick’s hugs.
Tim awoke a few hours later to an obnoxious banging. He blinked awake and looked around the room to locate the source of the annoyance. Tim winced as he sat up, shivering as the chill that he had managed to starve off for the last few hours returned with a vengeance now that the blankets had fallen off and the heat packs had cooled down. After groggily looking around, Tim located the source of the banging to be someone at his window. But not just any person. Jason Todd was at his window witha fist poised, ready to strike the window again.
Quickly Tim got up and opened the window, figuring this was it. This is the moment Jason confronts his biggest fear and beats the shit out of him before telling him not to come back. Tim slid open the window and glared at the older boys looming frame. “Will you be quiet! My parents are asleep!” that wasn’t true, they were on the other side of the world already starting their day. But Jason didin’t need to know that. Maybe he would keep the beating light if he thought his parents were home.
“They must have great ears to be able to hear you from Egypt.” Well that failed. Tim shivered as Jason glared at him. His skin was still cold and bruning at the same time. And it felt like little needles were stabbing his skin, making him want to curl up and cry in pain. Tim just pusehd the shivers down the best he could but he still whimpered when a particularly terrible on shot throuhg his skin. “Whats your problem?” Jason asked with a sneer.
Tim just shook his head. “Nothing. What are you doing here anyway? Shouldn’t you be at home with your family?”
Jason nodded but gave an explanation. “Well I was at home but you seemed…off…tonight. You normally let Alfie check you over but you got out of there so fast that there was no way something wasn’t wrong. When I asked Bruce if something was wrong, he said that patrol went fine, nothing big. So something isn’t adding up, Which is why I decided to do my own investigation as to why you are seeming so off. And now I find you shivering and on the cusp of a panic attack even though it is a good 70 degrees in here and from the sounds of it, patrol went smoothly, so I ask, what the hell is going on with you?” Tim turned around, intending to leave, effectively done with the conversation, when Jason put a hand on his shoulder to stop him from leaving. And that one simple touch was all it took to bring Tim to his knees. The cold that he had been feeling for hours wasn't a new feeling, it was simply intensified.
Touch starvation was a bitch on cuddle pollen.
To Tim’s immense embarrassment, he whined when Jason retracted his hand after being startled by Tim’s dramatics. “Tim! Timbo! Babybird, talk to me, whats wrong?” Jason asked in a panic, worried for the younger kid that had wormed his way into Jason’s cold green heart. The older teen kneeled down and brushed his fingers through Tim’s hair like he would Dami’s after a nightmare, or like Bruce or Dick would do for him after a flashback. Tim leaned into the touch unconsciously, humming in approval at the warmth radiating off of Jason’s skin.
‘Touch starved.’ Jason thought to himself. “Timmy, I need you to answer me honestly, did you breathe in any pollen tonight when you were fighting Ivy?”
Tim could barely nod an answer due to being so caught up in the warmth coming from Jason’s hand which was still on his shoulder. The next thing tim knew, he was being scoped up into Jason’s arms and carried somewhere. ‘At least I get to die happy.’ thoght TIm before drifting off into unconciousnious.
Jason called Alfred as soon as Tim passed out. The butler promised to be there in three minutes, two if he didn’t obey the traffic laws. And tim, even unconscious leaned into the warmth radiating from Jason’s body. By time jason made it downstairs, Alfred had already picked open the front door lock and was waiting for the two boys. Alfred gasped when he saw Tim which made the younger boy start to whimper and tear up even knocked out. “Let’s get him to the Manor. You said that he had breathed in Ivy’s pollen, i’ve already got an antidote in the car. After that the symptoms will ease up and eventually it wont be as bad. But Master Tim will still need someone to hold him until the pollen has worn off. I’m sure that won’t be a problem once Master Dick sees the state that Master Tim is in.” Alfred got the boys in the car and injected a yellow liquid into Tim’s neck. He hesitated for a moments longer and brushed the hair away from the small teens forehead, smiling down at the boy when Tim blinked open, smiled and passed back out.
Alfred started the drive home while Jason held Tim cradled in his arms. “Alfie, the pollen shouldn’t be this bad. At least, I don’t remember it being this bad. I just wanted someone to hold me for a bit before it wore off. Tim nearly had a panic attack when I moved my hands to call you. Dosen’t Bruce or Dickie hug him? I get he dosen’t get much attention from his parents since their gone about eleven months out of the year, but-” Jason cut off with a gasp as Alfred slammed on the breaks and whirled around.
“Master Jason, what do you mean that Master Tim’s parents are gone eleven months out of the year? He informed us that they were simply busy with work at Drake Industries most days. And if they were gone so long, then where is the nanny or a supervisor?” Alfred seemed devastated at the new news he had just received. All this time he had assumed that Timothy simply had more freedom than the average teenager. He had met the Drakes a few times, but they never seemed like the type to criminally neglect their child.
“He was all alone Alfie. I did some digging. The Drakes make just enough appearances to make it seem like they are in Gotham, then they leave for two to six weeks at a time, usually coming home for a day before taking back off to some other country. Their architects, and the items they discover are all brought back home, or published under false ID’s.Tim’s been alone since he was six years old and we never noticed. Either Bruce draws up the adoption papers or I request to come back alive legally so I can adopt him. I’m not letting him stay by himself anymore.” Jason calmed down as Tim started to whimper once again and burrow into Jason’s side, a strong shiver wracking his tiny frame. Jason hushed the small teen and brushed his fingers through Tim’s black hari.
Alfred looked at the two in the mirror. “I do believe that after hearing about this, Master Tim will be adopted post haste. But you do not have to let that stop you from coming back alive legally my dear boy, we would love to be able to declare you alive again. Now, get Master Tim inside and to the den while I go get the other Masters. I’m afraid that there is nothing more I can do for Master Tim at this point beside prescribing cuddles and having someone near him at all times. The pollen will likely mess with the poor boys head making him woozy and a bit nauseaus. If he is alone with no one touching him for longer than a few minutes, the cold and ache will return worse than before. The pollen should wear off within the next twenty-four to thirty-six hours, but until then, Master Tim is not left alone for more than a few minutes. Lets go.”
Alfred parked the car in the wayne Manor parking lot and rushed up the stairs with Jason carrying Tim followed closely behind. After entering the house and depositing hats, gloves, shoes and jackets, Alfred went right to get Bruce, Damian, and Dick who were in the library, while Jason went left towards the den to get Tim wrapped up in blankets.
Moments later Alfred returned with the other three and left to gather more blankets and pillows for the impromptu movie day. Everyone was holding on to the shaking teen in some way shape or form. Jason had moved the lanky teen to Bruce’s lap so his father could hold Tim like he probably had never been held before. On the right Jason rested his hand on Tim’s wrist, making sure that tim could pull back if he needed to. Damian shared Bruce’s lap and leaned into Tim, understanding not much with words but understood from Tim’s body language and the others reaction that Tim needed cuddles. Dick took a few moments to turn on a movie before settling down on Bruce’s left, resting his arm on both Tim and Damian.
And for a few hours, all was peaceful.
Until about nine AM the next day when the family woke up to the sound of screaming. After taking a night off from patrol, leaving it up to the Birds of Prey and Batwoman, everyone was sound asleep. The screams were coming from Tim, who was thrashing and clutching his head in a painful manor. Jason leapt to action first and pinned Tim’s arms to his side. After getting closer, Jason was able to hear what Tim was saying over and over again. “Not real not real not real wake up not real not real…” Jason hugged Tim tiger whispering reassurances that he was infact, real. It was going better until Tim got a look at Bruce and freaked out once again.
“Bruce! You need to go. Tim is freaking out with you here and probably still high on pollen. Give me a few minutes to figure out whats wrong, ok?” Bruce reluctantly nodded and gathered up a confused Dammina in his arms before leaving the room with Dick in tow.
“I’m here babybird. I’m real. Nothing is going to hurt you.” Tim just sobbed louder and made a half assed attempt at getting out of Jason’s arms while mumbling about being a burden and needing to leave and staying out of Bruce and Dick’s way. “Babybird, why would you say that! Of course they want you here wi-”
Tim screamed and yelled and pushed Jason away. “Don’t Lie to me! They don’t actually want me here! I’m tolerated-not welcome! WHY DON’T YOU SEE THAT?!” Tim pushed himself away and covered his head, ready for the blows. His skin still burned and he wanted to burrow back into Jason’s arm and let Dick brush his hair, and let Damian dn Bruce hug him, but he had ruined that. Jason was Bruce’s son, not Tim. He was the replacement, temporary, a stain on the Robin’s legacy.
Jason patiently sat down across from Tim, giving the boy space to run away if he needed to, but Tim remained in the corner that he had pusehd himself into. He held up his hands slowly and stretched them out, the universal way of asking if someone wanted a hug. Tim looked at the open arms like they were a venus fly trap, luring the pesky bug in to trap them in a powerful grip before slowly killing it’s prey. After waiting, Jason lowerd his arms but told Tim that he was welcome to a hug anytime he wanted one. All he had to do was ask.
“You’re not a burden. I want you to now that. I will be the first to admit that I was a bit of an asshole when I first came back. Seeing another kid in the Robin costume made me want to protect you and kill you at the same time. And I don’t want to kill you which is why I stayed away. I’m sorry if I made you think that you were unwanted. But I can guarantee you, Bruce wants you here, Alfred wants you here, Dick wants you here, even the little Demon wants you here. I want you here. Not only are you Robin, but you are just as much my brother as Dick and Damian are mine. Now, you do not have to forgive me, you don’t have to want anything to do with me, but Alfred said that you can’t be away from touch for long or the cold will come back, and I can already see you shaking. So do I have your permission to come close and hug you?”
Jason waited patiently for Tim to nod before scooting closer and wrapping the kids tiny body into his own muscular arms.
“I’m sorry that I made you want to kill me.” Tim broke the silence with a hushed whisper after a few minutes of quiet cuddling.
Jason startled at the apology before shaking his head. “I am the one that should be apologizing. You did nothing to make me angry, it was just the way I reacted to the pit and coming home. Is that why you always hightailed it out of here every night? You didn’t want to trigger me?” Tim nodded into his chest.
“I thought you were coming to kill me last night. I wasn’t going to fight you. No one would care to much to look for me. My parents would probably come home and not even notice that I was dead until my mother smelled my rotting corpse. The last thing that I wanted was to make you uncofmrtable. It has been my job since day one to be there for both Batman and Bruce Wayne. He never needed me. He needed you, but you were gone and I couldn’t let Batman become a villain. So I became the one he needed. Someone to take the verbal abuse, the punches, the wrong names. But that all happened when Bruce was Batman. When Bruce was Bruce and not Batman, he would bandage me up and apologize. I just did what my parents trained me to do. Take the hits and roll with the punches, both metaphorically and physically. And now you’re home, Bruce and Batman no longer have a need for me, I’m causing more harm than good for your mental health being here, and my parents are supposed to return sometime within the next few days. So once I can stand being alone again, I will be out of your hair for good.” Tim closed his eyes and prepared to go back to sleep but was rudely interrupted by Jason picking him up and dumping on the couch for easier cuddles.
Then the older boy turned and looked Tim in the eyes and made his point clear. “Ok, first things first, you are not a burden. I do not care what you think or what your parents told you you had to be in order to be loved. You are not a burden. Understood?” No answer. “Understood?”
Tim nodded.
“Second, Bruce is an emotionally constipated asshole who can’t get his emotions across if he had someone reading them from his mind. But let me tell you this, Bruce loves you like a son. At the start of me being gone, things were rough, ive gathered that, and you felt like you had to do anything and everything to keep our family safe. And i’m so proud of you for being an amazing Robin and a smart little genius. But Bruce is downstairs arguing with his lawyers about getting you removed from your parents custody and having you moved to ours. That is how Bruce shows his love.”
“Third. I was a jerk when I first came back. I was scared to get close to you and losing control. I should have trusted myself more and gotten to know you before wanting to skin you. But I swear to be the best big brother ever. In fact, if Bruce wasn’t adopting you, I was going to have him legaglly bring me back to life so I could adopt you. You never have to be alone anymore Babybird, I promise. I love you so much little brother, and I swear I will do better. Ok?” Tim nodded, not feeling up to talking and worn out from the last few days events.
“Why don’t we get you to your room? Alfie already had one made up for you in the family wing for when Bruce got his head out of his ass and welcomed you. I’ll stay with you and we can decorate it to your standards tomorrow.” Jason picked up the half asleep Tim and carried him to the room that was right next to Jason’s and across from bruce’s.
Bruce provided enough evidence and Tim was removed from the Drake’s custody and after a short period where the boy had to be placed in a group home so an inspection of Wayne Manor could take place, Bruce was rewarded custody of Tim.
The first night that Tim stayed at Wayne Manor, te teen hid in his room, not wnaitng to be a bother. Jason, the drama queen he is, kicked open the door while yelling an apology at Alfred, holding several large shopping bags full of room decor. Since Tim didn’t get the schance to decorate his room before being seent to a temporary group home, Jason decided that there was no better time than now.
When he entered the room, Tim was sitting on the bed with his knees tucked to his chest and his head tucked down to muffle his quiet sobs. He looked up startled when Jason kicked open the door and tried to quickly wipe away the tears before Jason could notice. But the older teen noticed the tear stains and dropped the bags and crawled onto the bed to hug the teen.
“It’s ok to be scared Timbo. This is all new and your staying somewhere with a lot more noise and people than your used to. But you don’t have to hide your feelings here. We all love you and want you here. I promise.” Jason held out his pinky and looked at Tim in anticipation.
“What are you doing?” Tim asked looking down at Jason pinky finger.
“I’m making the ultimate promise. A pinky promise. Have you never done one?” In all honesty Jason was a bit surprised since TIm was twelve years old, and what twelve year old hadn’t done a pinky promise. But Tim shook his head and said he had never done one, so naturally, Jason had to show him. “And this is the ultimate promise. It can and will never be broken. So your stuck with us Babybird, whether you like it or not!” Jason messed up Tim’s hair and smiled when the kid giggled and tried to fix his black bangs.
“Now no more tears tonight. I have Star Wars and nerd items for your room. So lets get started on making this place start to feel like home?” the rest of the evening was spent with the two boys, and eventutally Dick and Damian, Dectrating tim’s room to his liking. Towards the end, Tim started to get overwhelmed with pointing where he wanted things and being in control. So Jason declared he was hungry and tired and offered that they take a break for snacks and a movie.
Jason had made it his own personal goal to get closer to Tim. But the boy was making it extremely hard for the eighteen year old. During movie night, Tim sat on the floor and was shocked when Jason offered him a spot next to him on the couch.
During meal times the boy didn’t speak unless spoken too and never asked for seconds.
Tim didn’t bother to inform them that he didn’t have a jacket until they found out by mistake. That was the same day that they found out someone had stolen his tennis shoes at the group home. Then he apologized for being so negligent with his things.
The perfect opportunity came in the middle of school. Since Tim was a mini genius, he took online classes for things like english, science, and math and then attended Gotham Academy for PE, Art, and his other electives. Jason didn’t mean to hear the announcement. But it was his turn that day to drop off the teen at school. When they got there, the school was gathering for an assembly.
Bruce had recently legally brought Jason back to life with some sob story about believing that Jason had been killed when he was kidnapped all those years ago. Jason decided to listen in to the assembly and discovered that there was an Art fair coming up. Specifically in photography. The whole school was encouraged to apply, and kids that were already in photography club or classes would attend as part of their grades. Jason knew that Tim was in the photography classes and was an excellent shot. So after hearing all he needed to hear about the fair, Jason took off.
To be fari, he was going to leave it up to Tim to bring up to the family. Jason asked if anything interesting had happened at school, anything exciting. Both received a no. so Jason took matters into his own hands.
After a week of not hearing a single thing about the photography fair, Jason gathered up everyone while the kid was at school and told them about their photography fair. Jason announced his plan. They were not to bring up the photography fair so they didn’t put Tim on the spot and make him feel self conscious or anxious. But if he did bring it up, act excited and ask when it is and if they could come. But make sure to encourage it if mentioned. Regardless, they were all going to the photography fair, whether Tim mentions it or not.
So about two weeks after the announcement of the photography fair, Tim makes an announcement at dinner that he will be gone the next day. He is staying after school for a project. Bruce pauses from wiping mashed potatoes off of toddler Damian’s face and asks Tim about his project.
“Just a project for school. Nothing special.” Tim goes back to his roast and green beans after that and the topic is dropped.
The next day, Tim packs his backpack with a manilla folder of some of his best pieces. The shots are of beautiful landscapes and the beauty of Gotham. He hides the folder in his photography bag along with his camera and the captions that go with each picture. Jason drives him to school, blasting music the whole way. As their pulling up to the school Tim makes a few reminders. “The project starts right after school until around seven. Don’t worry about picking me up. I um, have a friend thats dropping me off.” A blatant lie Jason knew. The kid was going to try and walk home so he didn’t disturb the family during when they would normally eat dinner. Little did Tim know, the whole family was going to be there to look at his photos later that evening. Jason nodded and smiled.
“Ok! Have fun at school and working on your project! See you tonight Babybird!” Jason yelled as Tim walked faster and further into the school. After watching to make sure Tim made it safely into the building, Jason made his way to the florist to pick out some flowers for his little brother It was a Wayne family tradition for Bruce and Alfred to bring flowers for their kids to all of their major school events. Plays, reciatals, major games whether they win or lose, club events, whatever, Bruce and Alfred always picked out a beautiful bouquet of flowers that go with the sport colors or the personality of the game. And Jason was in charge of picking up todays flowers.
When Jason got to the florist that the Wyane family always support (the old Wayne family gardner from when Martha and Thomas Wayne were alive before he retired after their passing), the shop was empty save for an elderly couply pidking out some roses in the back. Mark Atkinson was in the back of the store pruning the delicate flowers. The older man was tall and skinny with graying hair and a warm smile. For thirty years he was the Wayne family head gardner, starting in his early twentys. After the Wayne’s passing when he was nearing his mid fifty’s he retired and opened a small floral shop in honor of the people he called his friends. Bruce knew the man from an early age and was sad when he retired, but still found ways to support the man with his business, always ordering his flowers through him and keeping is business afloat.
“Ah! Jason! I’ve been expecting you! Come in, come in.” The old man bellowed in a slight british accent from across the store. Jason smiled and made his way across. “Now, Alfred informed me over tea last week about young Timothy and his upcoming photography fair. I assume you are here for some flowers for him?”
“Yep! Tim has had a hard time connecting and didn’t even tell us about the fair until I found out by accident. I want to help him get connected. I’ve seen a few of his pictures before. They’re are beautiful and so well done. I’m so happy to call him my little brother.” Mr. Atkinson smiled fondly at the boy and picked up three bundles of flowers from behind the conter.
“Now these are the ones that I thought would go best for young Tim. The first are yellow irises, with some green leaves. Irises stand for elecenque or the art of uing language and words, and a picture is worth a thousand words. And the yellow iris stands for passion.”
“The second option is yellow and blue roses, extremely rare to find blue roses naturally in nature, which is why I grow them myself. The roses represent family and uncunditoonal love. The yellow represents trust and bonding, while the Blue represents that someone is special or unique.”
“And our third option. Amaryllis which means pride, strength, and determination. The red flower represents passion and love. The yellow symbolozes happiness and joy, something taht I hope Tim gains while living at Wayne Manor, and orange which represents positive energy, happiness, and good health. And Of course the colors are alll bright and vibrant like a photography color and a certain bird at night.” Because of course Mr. Atkinson knew about their night time activities. He provided the flowers for Jasons funeral and his Robin funeral.
Jason had a tough decision on his hands, and after a bit of heming and hawing, he went with the Roses. He liked what they symbolized and the colors had one from the warm and one from the cool section of colors in photography. Jason paid for the flowers and got home and put them in a vse full of water until it was time to leave.
For a few hours the family hung out. Damian toddled around demanding Dick played with him. Jason started and finished another book, and Bruce worked on Wayne Enterprise paperwork. At four the family ate a light snack and left fo Gotham academy. When they got there, the auditorium was bursting with eager parents and members of the community eager to see students work.
By time they managed to find Tim, it was nearing six thirty and the family had seen just about everyone’s booths but Tim’s. They found the boy set up in the back, hidden from view. Nobody was visiting or asking the poor teen any questions. All around him, were kids older than him with huge displays crowding out Tim’s little table. And everyone else had parents, siblings, teachers, friends gathered around talking. As the Wayne’s made their way over, a teacher that Bruce recognized as tim’s photography teacher walked around going from one booth to the next. She skipped right over Tim’s and moved onto the next one. Bruce felt his heart break as he saw his second youngest hang his head so his long black hair covered his eyes. His small frame shook with silent sobs.
Quickly Bruce weaved through the crowed, the rest of the family following behind him. By time they managed to reach Tim, he was already packing up his photos and was nearly done before Bruce stood there and cleared his throat.
“Sorry sir, but this booth is closed. I’m sure there are others that you haven’t seen that would interest you much more.” Tim never looked up and continued to carefully load up his picutres into the case.
“Nah. I’m right where I want to be.” Bruce definitely shocked Tim seeing as the teen whriled around, photos clutched to his chest in shock, eyes wide. “Hi.” Bruce said to snap Tim out of his daze.
“W-what are you doing here? I m-mean, of course you can be here, its public land and a school and your Bruce Wayne, you can basically go anywhere you want with I guess so-”
“Tim. Your rambling.” Bruce sadi fondly.
“Right. Sorry. Shutting up now” mumbled Tim quietly
“No! Nonono. I just wanted you to be aware hat you were rambling. I don’t mind that you were rambling. Why are you packing up? I thought the fair ended at seven. And I really want to see your pictures, if your ok with it.”
Tim thought it over before slowly handing over the photos that were in his hands to Bruce so his foster father could flip through them. The rest of the family gathered around and looked at them ohhing and ahhing. Jason looked up to seeing Tim blush a bright red and duck his head in embarrassment.
After looking through the last one, Bruce handed them back so the others could get a better look. A few minutes later everyone looked at the tiny teen and picked out their favorites. Damian just wanted all of them to throw around, but everyone else genuinely liked them.
“Timmy! These are the some of the best pictures I have ever seen! You have so much talent.” Dick claimed and hugged his little brother, smile dropping when Tim flinched in the hold before melting into the hug.
“Ok. Out of the way Dickiebird, It’s my turn with the kid.” Jason pushed Dick out of the way. “He leaned down close to Tim and whispered into his ear. “I’m so proud of you Babybird.” He handed Tim the flowers and before even beginning to explain the flower origin and the reasoning for the color, Tim rambled out the answer and the whole origin and how they got to the US in the first place. Jason laughed and ruffled Tim’s hair. “Your so smart Tim! I could listen to you talk all day.”
Bruce nodded in agreement and kept looking at the pictures. “Tim, I would like to enlarge and frame a few of these if thats ok with you. You did such a good job on these and I’m super impressed.”
Tim flushed and nodded. “You know you can talk right, rambling is not a bad thing.” Bruce reassured his foster son.
“Ok.” Tim said in a quiet voice. “You can frame them if you want.” Bruce could start to tell that Tim was getting overwhelmed with all the praise and attention, so to change things, Bruce said they should head out so they can go get some dinner. Everyone nodded and helped Tim pack up his belongings before ushering them out of the school and into the car for dinner.
Everything was going great. Good company, good food, and lots of fun. By time the family got home. Alfred carried in Damian while bruce carried in a sleeping Tim. as the older man tucked Tim into bed, the boy woke up a bit and snuggled into Bruce’s arms.
“Goodnight dad…”
Stunned, Bruce smiled and kissed Tim’s forehead. “Good night son. I love you.”
A few days later, upon arriving back in the states, the Drakes were arrested for criminal neglect, child abuse, and child endangerment. After a short trial, the Drakes were found guilty and Tim was permanently removed from their care after the parents couldn’t even tell the judge how old their kid was. Bruce was awarded custody.
That night, Jason cuddled with Tim on the couch while the others were patrolling and Damian was asleep. “Thanks for coming to find me that night Jay. You’re the best family I could ask for.”
Jason pulled Tim closer and smiled while kissing his forehead. “I will always come for you Babybird. You’re my little brother, and I love you.”