Work Text:
“You’re good for him,” Dick observes.
Tim grins. “It’s not hard. He’s good for me too. To me.”
Tim scrawls in his journal, BATMAN IS
Then he stops and frowns, scratches it out. He writes again,
BATMAN IS BRUCE IS SMILING MORE. HE LIKES WHAT I BRING HIM
Except no, so Tim scratches that out again.
BATMAN IS BRUCE IS SMILING MORE. HE LIKES WHAT I BRING HIM HAVING COMPANY. I THINK HE EA
That’s not the right words, so Tim scratches that out once more.
BATMAN IS BRUCE IS SMILING MORE. HE LIKES WHAT I BRING HIM HAVING COMPANY. I THINK HE EA HE EATS MORE WHEN I'M AROUND AND HUNGRY TOO. SO I GET HUNGRY FOR SOMETHING AT LEAST FIVE TIMES A DAY. HE ACTS
Pause, scratch it out.
BATMAN IS BRUCE IS SMILING MORE. HE LIKES WHAT I BRING HIM HAVING COMPANY. I THINK HE EA HE EATS MORE WHEN I'M AROUND AND HUNGRY TOO. SO I GET HUNGRY FOR SOMETHING AT LEAST FIVE TIMES A DAY. HE ACTS IS VERY KIND TO ME. I THINK WE'RE ALREADY FRIE
“Hi, Bruce,” Tim says without lifting his head.
Bruce clears his throat and steps away from reading Tim’s journal over his shoulder. “Tim. Alfred asked—told, really—me to get you for lunch.”
“Alright.” Tim shuts his journal and tucks it into the bottom of his bag, ignoring Bruce’s eyes tracking his movements. He smiles up at the man. “You’re gonna eat too, right?”
Bruce stares at him for a little.
Tim tilts his head, squinty-eyed with his smile. “What?”
Bruce lifts his hand, pauses like he’s unsure. Then his hand comes down on Tim’s head to mess up his hair. “You need to brush this rat’s nest.”
Tim squawks but doesn’t do more than bat at Bruce’s hand. “Hey!”
Bruce smiles at him, small but earnest, and starts heading out of the room. “Come with me, Tim.”
Tim smoothes down his hair and follows, because he always follows. “Yeah, yeah.”
Dick hums, flopping back onto his bed and shutting his eyes. “He can be difficult, you know.”
Tim says, “it’s okay.” He pulls his knees up to his chest on Dick’s desk chair. “He’s kind. And I’m not lonely anymore.”