Work Text:
“This is getting ridiculous.” Dick Grayson was pacing in the living room, where the rest of his siblings (minus Tim, the topic of discussion) were seated on the couch. “All he does is work. I don’t even see the kid sleep.”
“Maybe he likes it.” States Jason, even though he frowns at his own words. “Maybe it’s fun in that weird brain of his.”
“He’s going to wither away!” Dick throws himself onto a couch dramatically. “One day we’re going to go down into the cave and find his body still sitting at the computer!”
“I bet he’d find a way to organize his own funeral.” Dick reached over as smacked Jason on the head.
“This is serious!”
“I don’t see why we have to do something about Drake’s appalling habits. It’s not our problem.” Sniffs Damian.
“If he keeps going at the rate he is, it will start affecting patrol.” Damian sits forward.
“We must do something about this.”
“That’s the spirit Damian!” Dick jumps back up to his feet. “Operation: Get Tim a Hobby is a go!”
“Jesus Christ.” Groans Jason.
“Why are we doing this?” Tim and Dick were standing in the gym in front of the gymnastics equipment Bruce had installed for Dick when he was younger. “I have things I need to get done.”
“You need a break!” Said Dick, excitedly. “What better way than to learn a new skill! Besides, maybe you’ll like it!”
“I have doubts. Like a lot of them.”
“You don’t know until you try! Let’s do some stretching before we start.” Dick led Tim through a series of stretches, some of which Tim couldn’t quite get his body to do.
“You gotta bend a bit lower than that.”
“My body doesn’t go any lower, Dick.”
“Yes it does, look. I’m doing it right now.”
“You bend weirdly. It’s unnatural. Normal people have bones that prevent your body from doing that.”
“Bullshit. You can get lower.”
“I will literally start breaking bones if I do.” They stretched for a few more minutes before Dick deemed them loose enough to move on. He ran Tim through a few beginner tumbles before moving on to more complicated maneuvers once he felt Tim was ready.
Unfortunately, Tim sucked at gymnastics.
“Dick,” Tim wheezed after falling on his back for the third time, “This sucks. I’m miserable. 0/10 experience.”
“Come on, Timmy! Don’t give up now!”
“This sucks and I hate it and I’m never doing this with you again.” Tim groaned and pushed himself back up.
“Let’s try again. I’m sure you have it this time!”
“Absolutely not. I’m done.”
“Come on, just try again.”
“I’m going to go shower then go back to work.” Dick watched Tim walk away with a frown.
Hopefully the others had some better luck.
Tim was doing work at the computer in the cave when Jason swooped in and picked him up.
“Jason, what the fuck are you doing. I’m working.” Jason carried him up the stairs and through the manor until they reached the library, dumping him roughly onto the couch.
“You’re taking a break and reading for a bit to relax.” Tim watched Jason pick up a book and settle into an armchair.
“Dude. I have work to do.”
“Dude,” Jason mocked, “You can take a break. Find something to read and shut up.” Jason watched Tim scowl out of the corner of his eye as he stood and made his way to the shelves. Nodding to himself, he got comfortable and started reading his book.
About an hour later, Jason glanced up again only to find Tim pouring over pages of what appeared to be a case file.
“Tim.” Tim glanced up at Jason.
“What?”
“You’re supposed to be reading.” Tim looked confused.
“I am reading?”
“A book, Timmers. You’re supposed to be reading a book.”
“You didn’t specify.”
“You’re supposed to be taking a break from work!”
“This isn’t work though. It’s a cold case.” Jason watched Tim scribble something onto the paper. “A cold case, which is now solved. Thanks for the break Jason, it was fun!” Tim stood up and clapped Jason on the back, before making his way out of the library.
Jason sighed. At least he could tell Dick he tried.
Tim watched Damian walk into the room with paints and two canvases.
“Absolutely not.” He said.
Damian walked back out of the room.
Tim was going crazy.
He wasn’t sure what his brothers were trying to accomplish, but if he was dragged into another unnecessary activity he was going to riot.
He had taken to avoiding everyone by camping out in his room on his laptop after the last attempt from Dick, which is why he bit back a groan when he heard a knock at the door.
“No Dick, I’m not going to Zumba with you.”
“It’s me, I’m afraid.” He heard Alfred say as his door opened. “I was wondering if you had a moment of spare time, Master Tim?”
“Of course, sorry Alfred.” Tim pushed his laptop to the side. “What’s up?”
“I seem to have come across an old camera of mine while cleaning, and am quite curious to see what is on the roll of film inside. If I recall correctly, you have a history of photography?”
“Yeah,” Said Tim, “I used to dabble a bit. Did you want me to put them on a thumb drive?”
“I was actually wondering if you would be willing to develop them into physical copies? I’m a bit old fashioned, I’m afraid.” Tim was a bit surprised at the request, but part of him was a little bit excited. He really did enjoy developing photos and it had been a while since he had last had the opportunity to.
“I have a darkroom setup back in Drake manor. I’ll head over in a few minutes and get that done for you.”
“I appreciate it, Master Tim. Would you be willing to have an audience to curb an old man’s curiosity? I’ll admit, photo development is an interesting topic to me.” Tim didn’t know if he had ever had anyone ask to see the process in which he developed photos, and a small part of him was ecstatic that someone actually wanted to see something he was passionate about.
“Yeah,” Tim smiled, “It would be nice to have someone there.”
(Tim ended up teaching Alfred how to develop photos, and the two of them started to go on photo outings once a month to have a project to work on.)
((Dick was jealous that Alfred was the one to get Tim back into a hobby. He owed Jason money now.))