Work Text:
Tim blinks awake wearily, exhaustion hanging off his skin despite just waking up. He takes a deep breath, dragging his eyes around the room the way he always does when waking up. His room looks untouched by anyone except himself, which is normal, but he always checks just to make sure that nobody else has been there.
He grabs his phone, smiling when he sees a message from Bernard, reminding him to be at their favorite diner at the pre-arranged time. Tim hums happily, slowly crawling out of bed. He’s been looking forward to this for days, so he’s been taking it slow the past week to save up enough energy to power through today (even if he knows that it doesn’t work like that). Despite the soreness in his legs and the tiredness that is ever present in his bones, he smiles as he gets ready for the day, leaving the house promptly at 10:30, to meet Bernard at 11. He leaves behind his mobility aids, not because he feels good enough to not need them (he really doesn’t feel good today), but because he wants to be good enough for Bernard.
Alfred drives him, since he often can’t drive himself safely, and when he arrives at the diner, he greets Bernard (who’s already sitting at a table) enthusiastically, as if he wasn’t feeling tired enough to collapse.
“Bernard, hi!” Tim slides into the chair across from Bernard, who smiles widely at Tim.
“Tim! You look like you’re having a good day,” Bernard replies, both because Tim is properly groomed (meaning; he took a shower the night before, did his hair, and chose a nice outfit to wear) and because his smile has yet to dim. Also, likely, because he didn’t have crutches or a wheelchair, if Bernard’s pointed look means anything. Tim ignores it, nonetheless (he tends to do that with a lot of things recently).
“It’s ‘cause I’m with you,” he jokingly flirts. Bernard amusedly raises an eyebrow.
“Alright, alright,” Bernard displays the palms of his hands in surrender, “if you say so. Let’s order, then we can go back to my house and watch the movie, does that sound good?” He asks. Tim smiles wider.
“That sounds perfect.” Tim picks up the menu, his eyes scanning it as he readjusts his legs, trying to quell the soreness that is ever-present. He rests his feet on the bar that connects the chair’s legs, taking weight off of his thighs but adding it to his calves. Needless to say, it doesn’t help much. Tim purses his lips, frustration ebbing at his thoughts, but he takes a deep breath and pushes away the feeling. He will not let this affect his day.
Tim hums when he sees food that looks good, making little comments here and there, a habit that he has yet to kick. Bernard merely smiles, though, so he thinks that it’s okay. When the waiter comes by, Tim orders a simple salad and Bernard a burger.
“You’ve started working again, right? At W.E?” Bernard says suddenly. Tim nods.
“Yeah, it isn’t every day, but Bruce has started to tell me about work happenings and I go in once a week. Hopefully, as I start to get better, I can go in more, but Bruce wants me to take it slow, since everything that happened a few months ago.” Tim answers. He understands why Bruce is apprehensive to let Tim start working again, what with what happened all that time ago when he was still unused to having to take care of himself and letting himself rest and he ended up in the hospital from overexertion without rest. Bernard hums.
“I’m glad you’re feeling better. I’m sure it was scary.” Bernard sympathizes. Tim hums.
“Yeah, but that’s all in the past. How’s college going?” Tim changes the subject, laughing nervously. Bernard hums suspiciously, but relents nonetheless.
“Good, I’ve been swamped with assignments and whatnot recently since it’s near the end of the year, but it’s the final push so I’ve been getting it all done rather quickly,” Bernard laughs lightly, going along with Tim. The waiter sets their food out in front of them and Bernard thanks them. They stay silent as they eat their food, merely enjoying each other’s company. As they finish their meals, the exhaustion that hangs off of Tim grows heavier, weighing on Tim’s limbs as he stands up to walk out of the diner with Bernard.
Tim tries his hardest not to stumble, to stay awake and alert as they walk to Bernards apartment. It’s only a few blocks away, Tim should be able to make it! Bernard chats idly, not paying attention to Tim’s struggles (which Tim is forever grateful for, even if Bernard isn’t meaning to). Tim all but collapses when they reach Bernard’s apartment complex, but he holds himself together for the sake of not making Bernard worry more than he already has the past little while.
“So, what movie should we watch?” Bernard asks as they pass door after door, Tim reading the number on each one until they reach Bernard’s. Tim hums.
“I’ve been meaning to watch How to Train Your Dragon? So maybe that one?” Tim hesitently offers. Bernard grins, reaching into his pocket and digging out his keys.
“I love that one! I have them on DVD, so you can set it up while I make some snacks, does that sound good?” Bernard asks while pushing open his door, pointing to the DVD shelf beside the TV. Tim nods, following Bernard’s direction as the smell of popcorn fills the room. Tim opens the DVD player and places the disk inside, the TV automatically turning on and starting the movie.
Bernard walks in, a massive bowl in his hands and a smile on his face.
“We just ate, we are not going to be able to finish that bowl of popcorn.” Tim huffs, amused. Bernard’s face turns completely serious.
“There is always more room for popcorn.” Bernard states. Tim smiles fondly, sitting on the couch with his eyes trained on Bernard as he does the same.
(Bernard looks to his side, halfway through the movie, to make a comment to Tim, but the aforementioned boy has his eyes closed, his breathing even and face relaxed. Bernard let's out a knowing laugh, having seen the signs of Tim being tired but pretending not to, of onl for Tim’s sake.
Bernard shifts, turning his body to the side and lowering Tim’s head to lay on his lap. Tim lets out a breathy sigh, settling rather quickly as the movie continues in the background. Bernard lets Tim sleep.)