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Tim slunk through the shadows and ledges of the batcave. Bruce was officially back home recovering now with Dick and Damian still running patrols. Nothing had been said about Tim returning to Robin but Tim didn't feel as upset about that anymore. He had partially finished renovating an apartment near Jason's usual lurking areas and was already living there full time.
The bats rustled above and below Tim observed Dick was alone in the cave. Damian and Bruce were probably still up in the manor.
Tim hesitated feeling the recent hurt flash through him, then physically shook it off to leap down.
Over the years Tim had practiced navigating in dragon form. He could use a bit of magic to hover or lengthen his leap. He did so now to land gently in Dick’s hair.
Dick started and looked up at him through his bangs. “Timmy?”
Tim was rapidly falling outside his comfort zone but he had prepared carefully for this opportunity. He had years of trust built with Dick, though it'd been a rough few months.
He snuggled down in Dick’s hair, cooing and enjoying the smell of coconut shampoo and the thick wavy texture.
“Tim I …” Dick’s voice cracked and he shuddered out a breath. Tim trilled at him to soothe his worries.
That seemed to have the opposite intended effect. Tim's stomach flipped as Dick rapidly sank down on his knees with a sob and reached up to his hair. This was not part of the carefully outlined forgive Dick through cuddles plan! Tim went limp and allowed himself to be maneuvered until Dick cradled him in his arms.
“Tim, I am sorry.” Dick had tears running down his cheeks. Tim chirped in alarm and was squeezed tightly against Dick’s chest.
“It's okay Tim. I'm fine. Just really sorry. Seeing Bruce again it hit me just how young you and the others are. I didn't mean to make you feel abandoned. I am so proud that you asked Jason for help.”
Tim snuggled further into the clutch of Dick’s arms, placing his head on his shoulder. Really, it didn't matter. He'd had a great time bonding with Jason; something he'd always wished for. He just didn't want to lose his big brother.
Dick was silent, but still shaking and Tim could feel wetness along his back as the man continued to cry.
He transformed into his human form so he could wrap his brother in a true hug. “Dick, it's fine.”
They stayed held in each other's arms for a few moments longer enjoying the warm embrace. “Tim, I really am so proud.” Dick whispered against his ear with a final squeeze.
Tim pulled back with a smile before he heard the sound of someone on the platform above approaching their direction. He wasn't ready to handle Damian still. He shimmered shapes and quickly slunk off as Damian and Bruce approached.
“Grayson, why are you on the ground?”
“Dick have you been crying? Is everything alright?”
Dick assured them he was fine and, as the other two weren't exactly known for talking about their feelings, it was glossed over quickly enough.
Soon, Dick and Damian finished patrol preparations. The echoes of the batmobile driving away had barely quieted when Bruce called out. “Tim, you can come out now.”
The small dragon crawled out from behind the computer to sit on the desk. Bruce gave him a soft smile. “Thank you Tim.” Bruce cupped his face, large hand engulfing his small form and ran a thumb over his cheek. Tim gave into his instincts for a rumbly purr. “Thank you for being strong. I'm proud of you.”
Tim felt the emotion swell up and he pushed harder into Bruce's hand. Bruce gave him a couple more strokes before the computer pinged. “Okay, time for work bud. Want to help me with coms?”
Tim chirped his agreement.
~
Returning from patrol now that his father was back always had Damian feeling nervous. He dreaded the reprimanding he was always so certain was coming.
He trailed behind Richard as they walked up to where the original Batman was still typing at the computer.
“Did Tim leave or is he upstairs?”
Damian stiffened at Richard's question. The pretender slinking around his father was the surest way for Damian’s place to be threatened.
“Neither.” His father answered without looking away from the screen.
Damian watched as the two men looked at something in front of father, no, in the direction of his lap?
He quietly walked up behind as he heard Richard make a soft excited sound.
Damian barely reeled his own gasp. In his father's lap was a sleeping blue creature the size of a small cat. Damian saw long bright blue fur, small narrow ears and an elongated snout. A miniature dragon.
He stared, uncertain what was occurring. “Grayson, what is that?”
Richard met his eyes, startled a bit as if he wasn't aware Damian had approached. A odd look crossed his face that Damian didn't recognize. He looked at his father instead but his father was also unreadable.
It was his father that answered finally though. “This is Tim.” He said factually.
Damian looked back at the creature sleeping on his father's lap and then to Richard to explain.
Richard sighed, but it was with a kind smile. “Tim's a dragon, Damian. He doesn't talk about it, but he doesn't hide it either.”
Damian was uncertain what to do with this new information. So, he simply nodded as if that statement made perfect sense, and excused himself.
Up in his room he tried to quickly sketch what he'd seen in order to think more on it later.
~
It took months to learn more. Damian was patient though. First he changed his attitude towards Tim overall. He started by just scaling his aversion down to a casual indifference. He now knew Tim was not a human, he was a magical creature. A dragon wasn't really a challenge to his place in the family, he was a new potential ally.
Damian could deal with a dragon in the family.
On patrols Damian was quiet when working with Tim and found the dragon would treat him the same. They'd coordinate and be distantly respectful.
Outside of uniforms, Damian rarely saw Tim dragon or human. He'd moved out of the manor and didn't seem to stop by consistently at all.
Damian knew it was a matter of time.
~
As part of solidifying his position as Robin, Richard had encouraged meeting other young heroes which led Damian to his current situation. Superman had arrived and, for the reward of petting a cow, Damian had allowed himself to be carried to the Kent farm to spend time with Superboy. Jon, Damian would admit, was a useful and tolerable ally.
Once they landed, Jon immediately took him to the cows. The Kent's only had a few older dairy cows, but they all huddled up to the fence upon seeing the boys approach.
Damian enjoyed rubbing their velvet noses and scratching along their necks as Jon excitedly spoke about a new video game he had for them to try.
They were still idly chatting when a white blur zoomed by startling Damian and causing the cows to give a soft bellow.
“Krypto!” Jon shouted in reprimand and Krypto the Superdog stopped a few feet away. “I didn't realize you had a dog with powers.” Damian observed.
“He mostly follows Kon.” The other boy shrugged.
Damian approached calmly with his palms up to pet him when he noticed the dog had something in his mouth. “Jon…”
“Krypto drop it!” The dog barked at Jon, which actually did have the effect of dropping a small blue creature.
Damian dove down instinctually to save whatever creature had fallen victim to Krypto’s antics. Recognition immediately flared in him as he lifted the dragon up.
The blue fur was soaking wet and plastered awkwardly but Tim started chirping and trilling down at Krypto in clear admonishment. Damian held Tim in his palms in awe as the dragon finished his rant, shook and then puffed to magically manage the slobber away.
“Krypto!” Kon finally appeared. “Tim is not a toy!”
Tim leapt from Damian's hands to his shoulders and gave a growl in the direction of dog and owner.
Jon laughed. “Glad you are okay Tim.”
“Tim, I'm sorry he nabbed you again. I promise I'll shut my door so you can nap.”
Damian heard a snort and another growl from beside his ear.
“Oh don't be like that Tim!” Kon whined. He reached out but Damian dodged the clumsy attempt.
Tim gave one last reprimanding chirp towards Kon and Krypto before laying across the back of Damian's neck and around his shoulders.
Kon rolled his eyes. “Fine stay here, I have chores to help with anyway.” He smiled as he said it though and shot the group a wink before taking to the sky, Krypto following.
“Well,” Jon said brightly. “Tim loves the chickens, how about we visit those next?”
That's how Damian learned Jon could have a twisted sense of humor. By ‘love’ he meant that Tim ‘loved’ to try to make the chickens fear him.
Tim strolled through the chicken run like he ruled the roost. Damian watched as the hens gave him a wide berth mostly ignoring his presence. When the rooster strutted up though Tim reared back on his hind legs and sent a small bout of fire into the air above. The rooster squawked and fluttered till he was behind the humans. Then he crowed loudly to try and save face.
Jon's uncontrolled giggles as Tim became the center of the hens attention and the bane of the rooster’s existence were contagious and Damian felt a smile breaking out.
~
After the incident at Kent farm, suddenly Damian found the dragon in all sorts of places in the manor. Like a veil had lifted, now the dragon was easily seen napping in the sun, on a library bookshelf, on the batcomputer desk, above the fridge and once in the pantry in a box of fruit snacks.
Damian's portfolio of dragon sketches grew. He didn't mind human shaped Tim either though (who could also be found sleeping in strange places). It was easier to think of him as a dragon.
Even when they went out in public.
Damian thought Tim was actually quite clever in how good his human disguise was. No one suspected. They'd strolled through the park and gotten some pictures of the wildlife already but their specific mission would be found on the streets. Tim put their stuff in a locked bag and dropped it in a safehouse before they continued their walk.
There had been a rash of kidnappings recently during the daytime. Tim had hypothesized that Damian would look like a lost rich kid and maybe they'd see a lead.
Sure enough within a few blocks, they noticed a nondescript van following them.
They hadn't expected the league ninjas that came out… but the league wasn't going to be expecting the dragon in his pocket either Damian smirked.
The air shimmered and a full size Red Robin, bo staff extended, appeared crouched over Damian in the back of the van. It was a small crew of ninjas that Tim easily dispatched and Damian was free in a matter of moments. The van didn’t even have a chance to leave the street.
Damian exited the back, straightening his clothes with an air of nonchalance as Tim disappeared into his hood again.
He shut the van door and without another look back, strolled off to continue their mission.
~
Tim eyed the furry competition to his territory. Damian stood to the side, clearly nervous and obviously trying to pretend he wasn't.
The tuxedo cat in front of him looked away from the dragon and back to Damian with a meow.
“Alfred, Tim. Tim, this is Alfred. Pennyworth brought him home from the shelter last week.”
A week, Tim lamented. That meant his little brother was fully attached to this furry little interloper. The cat looked back at him and blinked slowly.
Tim sighed internally. Jason never betrayed him this way… But sometimes sacrifices must be made. He rumbled a purr and approached the cat slowly.
Luckily he had learned how to deal with cats thanks to Jason's obsession with feeding the Gotham wildlife.
He rubbed against the feline in greeting before flopping down and rolling over.
Tim was humiliating himself but Damian’s happy smile as his cat purred back was worth it.
Plus... Tim eyed the fancy cat tree Damian added to his room.. that looked fun.