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Tim looked around his new room a bit morosely. It wasn't really a new room per se and it also wasn't really his room. It was the guest bedroom at Wayne manor he'd occasionally used during his time as Robin. Usually just for a recovery time when his parents weren't around to notice him missing.
Now, though his dad was in the hospital and his mom was gone. He had his school uniforms in the closet, street clothes in the dresser and his treasures hiding under the loose floorboard. All these random pieces of his life scattered about.
Alfred, Dick and even Bruce helped him move his personal items but he'd moved his most secret and precious collection in the dead of night to avoid witnesses. Or actually really, really early in the morning after patrol and before Alfred made breakfast.
He took a shuddery breath. Was he really going to do this?
He craved it so badly though. Just a few minutes at least.
Bruce was off at work. Alfred at the grocery store and Dick left to go back to Bludhaven.
Tim stuck his head out of his room and checked the hallway again just to be safe before shutting the door. He moved to his walk-in closet, behind the shoe shelf to the place he stashed the goods. Alfred would probably find it, but Tim was hoping for his discretion not to talk.
There in a large cardboard box was his stuffed plushie collection. He only brought his most favorite. There were cats with squishy faces, fluffy monsters with wings or tails, dogs with floppy ears, and a few teddy bears.
Tim slipped into his dragon form. From experience he knew he matched and blended with his collection due to his own fluffy light blue fur that covered his dragon form. At this size he matched the height of his favorite bear.
The pain and sadness already felt a bit muted from the magic swirling, so Tim dove into the arms of his bear.
Relief filled his being and Tim relaxed, sinking into the blissful pile of squishy softness.
~
Tim came back to awareness at a rustling sound from the front of the closet. He'd dozed off. Crap.
He scrambled a bit, catching his claws on the cardboard box he was buried in.
“Tim?”
Tim recognized Dick’s voice and grew still. He must not have left after all. Crap again. Maybe Dick wouldn't look in the back…
Dick popped his head around the shelf.
“Jason used to hide back here too sometimes.” Dick sighed. “Look, I know you aren't a little kid but it's okay to have stuffed animals. I still have them.”
Tim held Still.
He was still in the box surrounded by other fluffy creatures. Maybe Dick wouldn't notice…
“What the heck, Tim, are your eyes glowing?”
Tim debated closing his eyes, but that'd probably be a give away… He honestly wasn't sure the best course of action here. He was decently sure Bruce already knew he was at least part dragon thanks to paranoid DNA testing but they'd never /talked/ about it.
“Tim..” Dick sounded a bit hesitant now. “Why don't you come out? We can go watch a movie or something…”
Tim shivered a bit, rustling the toys. Dick had promised they'd watch that new sci-fi together next time he came. Maybe he'd watch it with Tim now?
He decided to just be brave and try. He lifted his head and started to attempt climbing out of the box again. He sunk into the plushies and scraped at the cardboard. It was like quicksand!
Suddenly a hand scooped under him, lifting him out and gently placing him on the floor of the closet.
Tim looked up at Dick.
Dick stared in shock.
“Holy Dragon Tails… Timmy you are freaking adorable!” Dick’s voice rose in excitement. Tim chirped, alarmed at the noise.
“Oh my gosh, can I hold you?” Dicks eyes grew. “Please?” he begged. "I'll be so gentle. I won't squeeze you. Promise!”
Tim hesitantly moved closer and bumped his snout against Dick’s hand.
“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh…” Dick continued to chant. He scooped Tim up in his arms supporting his legs and placing the dragon's head on his shoulder. “You are fluffy and, holy guacamole, you are soft.”
Dick’s arms tightened around him. “Are those your ears? Why are they so tiny and cute!? Timmy, I think I'm going to pop. How’d you get even cuter?”
Tim pressed into the warm embrace. The older Robin wasn't soft like his self made cuddle pile, but Tim could hear his heart beating a soothing tempo and felt the heat of Dick’s arms soaking into his pelt. He pressed more firmly against Dick’s shoulder and neck.
Dick made an unintelligible noise and scooted backwards, out of the closet into the room.
“Tim?” Dick adjusted so he was looking Tim in the eyes. Tim blinked back. “Can you watch a movie like this?”
Tim tilted his head wondering what the older man was after. Dick gasped at him, so he quickly nodded to assure him it was fine.
“Augh” Dick groaned and pulled Tim back against him “You are too adorbs for words!”
He got up and started heading out of the room before freezing. “Do Bruce and Alfred know?”
~Titans/Young Justice ~
Once word got around that Tim was a dragon, he rarely made any attempt to hide it in front of those he trusted.
He commonly enjoyed hanging at Titan's Tower and accepting the easy affection of the other young heroes.
The San Francisco sun was also great for catching afternoon naps.
One such day he was enjoying soaking in the sunlight when a shadow fell over him. He grumbled and rolled over out of his curled position to see Bart.
The speedster was grinning and holding something in his hand. “Morning Tim.”
The dragon sighed and rolled back over to his belly. Bart was always up to someth- what was that!?
On the ground less than a foot away from Tim's snout was a distorted, hovering, red bug.
It was incredibly suspicious and Tim dove to catch it.
He lifted his paw but the bug had disappeared. Tim glanced around and there! It was now hovering a few feet away.
He growled and jumped for it but it moved again just outside his reach. Tim barely paused, openly giving chase to the intruder.
Around and around it spun through the room, but Tim was determined!
He finally used a bit of magic to lengthen his leap and caught it against the wall.
He lifted his paw to ensure the villain was dealt with but… Nothing was there.
It reappeared a few inches away and Tim scrambled on the wall to catch it again.
Again it disappeared. Magic fuckery!
That bug was going down! This was Tim's domain! Tim growled as it reappeared by the couch. He wasn't going to lose this round!
Much later Tim was exhausted and appreciated Kon taking the laser away from Bart.
~
Attempting to ride on impenetrable shoulders is tricky but Tim was a smart dragon.
He leapt off the top of the fridge, aiming for Kon’s outstretched arm. He missed and scrambled at Kon's shirt, clawing his way up to his shoulder instead.
They'd been practicing all day. Tim would leap off a nearby object aiming to land on the super’s arm like a bird of prey.
So far he'd landed in Kon’s hair, on Kon’s face and memorably almost landed in Cassie's tea before being saved by a combination of superspeed and TTK.
He clawed into Kon’s shirt using his core muscles and tail to stabilize on his shoulder. He'd keep working on the landing till he got this down perfectly.
Kon smiled over at him and rubbed under his chin with a finger. Tim purred and melted down. Well maybe he'd take a break for a moment.