Archive of Our Own ^beta

The crowd was surprisingly tame for the usual breakfast rush hour. That should have been Tim’s first sign that something was amiss. 

In the five months since leaving Gotham, in the 21 days and four months since Tim started working at some diner, in a nowhere town, he’d been mostly at peace. Did he miss his home? Yes. His Titans friends? Absolutely. His family no, the Waynes weren’t his family. He did miss them though. But things were better this way, he needed them to be.

His dad probably was still yet to notice Tim was gone, and the Bat-clan had Jason, the better Robin, the actual son, back now. There was no room for him in anyone's lives. Not after his stupid failure in the Tower, where Red Hood proved he was the nothing he always knew he was. 

“Order up!” Tim called out to a waitress, passing down a plate of pancakes. 

From over the counter he spotted the sheriff walking in, whispering something to the owner, both looking up in his direction. He froze, a chill running down his body. 

He’d left before his hand was fully healed, because he didn’t want Bruce to feel pressured to keep him around so long. Tim knew Bruce was just being nice, waiting for him to be in peak health before letting him go. So he’d made the burden easier and left of his own accord, wanting control for once in his life.

Tim had it all planned out. He knew what bus to take out of town, what rest stops to get off at and change vehicles, what motels to sleep at… He’d memorized it to a T and destroyed all the evidence. He's lived- worked with a house full of hackers and detectives, after all. 

It had been natural, the act he put on before his departure. He cuddled with Dick as they watched movies. He helped Alfred with dinner in the kitchen. He’d waved goodbye to Bruce on his way out to catch the school bus… Except it wasn’t school where he was actually headed. 

Was it a bit shocking to see his face on the news? Yeah, very shocking in fact. He’d been at a gas station, when the TV screen behind the cashier caught his eye. Needless to say, he’d hightailed it out of there before he could be recognized as ‘Missing Drake Heir, Bruce Wayne Distraught.’

As he sat in the back of the sheriff’s car, stomach churning, Tim remembered thinking at the time that Bruce would forget about it soon enough. But seeing one of his sports cars parked in front of the station, he realized how wrong he was. Maybe he should have left a note explaining, but he worried they might freak out since that’s how Jason left. Even though he was leaving as Tim Drake and not Robin, Tim still didn’t want his fam- ex colleagues to relive their trauma because of him. 

The sheriff made him follow him into the station, and Tim was preparing his speech, when his eyes landed on familiar shoulders. And the words intended for his mentor, to help Bruce understand that Tim was okay with being relieved of his duties, flew out the window. With a body built like a tank, black hair with a white stripe and teal eyes, Jason Todd turned towards him. 

The young man’s face morphed from impatience to relief, as he rushed to Tim. Who, on the other hand, was rooted to the ground in terror. 

“Timmy!” 

Before Tim could resist, he was scooped up into Jason’s arms, held so close, his nose was pressed into his jacket, the smell of gunpowder putting him on edge. 

The last physical contact they’d had was still vivid in his memory: 2 weeks before he left. The same hand of the first that broke him, caused him horrible pain, had ruffled his hair in passing when Jason entered the manor for the first time in years.

“Sup, Replacement?” He’d said. 

That was the moment Tim understood what was happening. Now that Batman and Red Hood had a truce, now that Jason was back home, Tim didn’t have a place in Wayne Manor anymore. He didn't have the right to stand beside Batman. 

Then again, when did I ever?

This ‘hug’ was convincingly brotherly, but Tim knew this was all an act. Even though his breath was ragged from the fear, he thought of Janet and played along with it, for the sake of his public image. 

Slowly moving his arms out from they were squished against Jason’s chest, Tim wrapped them around his neck. His heart pounded as he wondered what Jason’s next move would be… Then he felt calloused fingers pet his hair and Tim went boneless.

Because in all his weirdest fantasies, getting hugged like that by his Robin never felt this good. 

His head was fuzzy and Tim tuned out from the world, managing to have enough awareness to tell the sheriff that ‘yes, he did know this man,’ and to hear Jason talking. 

When he came back, he was in the backseat of Bruce’s car, head pillowed on Jason’s leather jacket. And now that they were alone, Tim let the tears fall down his face as he stared at Jason in his white undershirt behind the wheel. He cried quietly, so quietly he knew not even the Red Hood could hear him.

He cried until his tears ran dry and he’d fallen into an uneasy sleep.

To say Jason freaked out when he found out Tim ran away was an understatement. If anything, it was more like he had a heart attack when Alfred called, asking if he’d seen or heard from the 3rd Robin.

After, in a green haze, having searched all of Crime Alley, the surrounding areas, and shooting a couple guys, Jason made his way back to the cave. 

To say Dick Grayson was a mess, was an even bigger understatement. Having driven all the way from Blüdhaven, and interrogated every and all known criminals who crossed him, Nightwing was a disaster . He’d launched himself on top of Jason the moment he stepped off his bike, sobbing into his shoulder.

“He’s gone!” Dick wailed, clinging to his younger brother like a lifeline. “He left  everything ! Little Wing,” his red-rimmed eyes met Jason’s, “he didn’t take the suit. He’s alone and he doesn’t have the suit.”

“Where’s Batgirl and Spoiler?” Jason asked, voice rough.

“Still out there,” Dick whispered. “Babs is looking too, and she thinks…” he breath hitched. “She thinks he ran, that he had it all planned out… But we don’t know for sure yet, we haven’t located his laptop or phone.”

A fist clenching against Dick’s back, Jason looked up to see Bruce walking down the cave stairs. He was talking- no, he was yelling on the phone. The man’s hair was in disarray, and looked he like he was about to burst a blood vessel.

“Yes, Jack, like I said, he was here this morning, but didn’t come back after school. The records show he had an excused absence, but no one-” He pinched the bridge of his nose, leaning against the chair of the Bat-Computer, listening to Jack Drake on the other end. “ No , there weren’t any ransoms! The GCPD haven’t received any- For Christ's sake, if he was kidnapped, I’d pay them!”

Dick shared a look with Jason, who frowned.

“Oh, shut up!” Bruce shouted. “I just hope you have a fantastic time wherever the fucking hell you’re vacationing now!” He ended the call and aggressively threw the phone aside.

“Master Bruce, I do not believe your cell phone is to blame for this,” Alfred commented.

The butler’s lack of acknowledgement for Bruce’s language made the family situation very clear. They were all rattled by Tim’s sudden vanishing act.

In the next five months there was still no sign of him, and Jason made a lot of new discoveries about his replacement. His messy bedroom spoke for itself, for one. Jason spent hours looking through the pictures on a camera sitting alone on the desk, and even longer with the binders Dick showed him.

He never thought he’d see his younger self smiling next to Batman again. It was strange, because he could remember little Timmy following them with his camera, he remembered having to save him countless times from the stupidest circumstances. But he never really thought about the pictures his most precious possession held.

He never realized how really fucked up it was, that he beat the living shit out of his sweet, innocent baby brother.

Bruce was pacing. It was starting to drive Dick nuts. He paused brushing his fingers through Cass’ hair to glare up at him.

“Would you sit down?” he asked impatiently, for the tenth time.

“It should’ve been me,” Bruce growled. 

Dick rolled his eyes. “You know you can’t stop Jason once he puts his mind to something. Besides, he was the only one here when Babs called the Cave.”

“She should have told me first,” Bruce complained, throwing his arms up.

“That wouldn’t stop him,” Cass commented, snuggling closer to Dick.

“Exactly!” he agreed. “Jason would’ve stolen your car the moment he got the news anyway. Then you’d both be down there. Besides, once the Commissioner called, he’d already left. We’d have an even bigger problem if people thought that some stranger went to pick Tim up.”

With a grunt, Bruce went back to pacing and Dick groaned. Cass patted his thigh sympathetically, giving him a soft look.

“They’ll come back,” she assured him. Dick sighed sadly and she gave him an all-knowing frown. “What?”

“It’s just…” He glanced nervously at Bruce, who was suddenly narrowing his eyes at him with interest.

“Dick…”

“All I can think about is what Cass was saying, before Tim left,” he admitted, biting his lip. Dick locked eyes with her as she nodded, understanding what he meant. “I brushed it off so quickly. Jason kept saying he wanted to make it up to him, and they were hanging out all week… But I don’t know if he can bring him home.  I never considered…”

“Consider what?” Bruce scowled, turning to Cass. “What is it?”

“Tim’s feelings,” Cass answered simply.

“Yeah, like how he was feeling about being in the manor,” Dick explained.

“Oh.” Bruce’s eyes widened, staring between them. He pinched the bridge of his nose. “ Oh . Shit, you don’t think-!”

“Language, Master Bruce.” Alfred entered the room and they all spun around to face him. “Your stolen car is coming up the driveway,” he informed them calmly. 

Scrambling to his feet, Dick raced past Alfred towards the door. He needed his little brothers back home. He wanted them to know they both had a place in Wayne Manor, and in his heart. 

Please be okay, please, Tim, please!

Not particularly caring where he left Bruce’s stupid sports car, Jason parked in front of the manor. He got out from behind the wheel and opened the back door, crouching down to Tim’s head.

Tim was asleep on top of his jacket, face red and blotchy, probably from crying. Jason leaned forward to press a kiss to top of his head.

“Baby Bird, can you wake up for me?” he whispered, encouragingly. Tim eyelids fluttered before he squeezed them shut. Jason tried again. “Come on, kid, we’re here.”

Slowly Tim opened his blue eyes, looking away from Jason, and pulled himself up to a sitting position. To Jason’s surprise, Tim reached his arms out towards him and let Jason lift him up, clinging to his neck.

Carrying him back to the manor, Jason could finally feel just how boney he’d gotten as he rubbed his back. He really hoped Bruce wouldn’t go all intense Batman on him, Tim really didn’t need all those questions right now. Sure, Jason was wondering what caused his brother to leave, but he also knew he needed to breathe too.

During his absence, Jason contributed several theories, all of which had been scrapped: 

A new kind of fear toxin? No Scarecrow sightings around that time. 

Jack Drake (the bastard) got too physical? Jack had been out of town for a month and the foreseeable next few. 

He met a boy and they eloped! ‘ No, Jason, just no.’

Honestly, Jason still couldn’t understand what could ever make Tim want to leave. 

The front door opened when they reached the top step, and Dick came out, literally ripping Tim out of Jason’s grasp. He responded by giving an offended huff, which Dick ignored, hugging Tim.

“Tim!”

Thundering footsteps behind him, announced the arrival of Bruce and Cassandra, with Alfred trailing behind more quietly. Jason stepped back, letting them surround him.

“Little brother,” Cass said fondly, reaching for him and kissing his teary cheek.

Bruce stood a little apart, a longing look on his face, and Jason resisted the urge to yell at him. He looked conflicted, like he wanted to take Tim away from Dick and Cass, and hoard him for himself, only something was keeping him back. Alfred came closer and patted Tim’s shoulder.

“Welcome home, lad,” he said.

Jason felt a little more whole at those words.

_____

Jason felt a little more than just ‘annoyed’ at Bruce, as he sat with his back to him in the Cave.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t notice the unfair distribution of patrol time?” he asked, crossing his arms definitely.

“We all agreed on this schedule already,” Bruce sighed, not looking up from the work he was doing on the Bat-computer. “It’s arranged so that there’s always at least one person around Tim throughout the day.”

“But I’ve only spent an hour with him during the past few days!” Jason complained. “And it was with Dick. Dick. What, are you afraid I’m going to try to kill him?” he joked. Then he froze, his own words bouncing back to bite him. “Shit. You think I’m going to attack him. You don’t trust me!”

“Jason,” Bruce flipped around, looking at him. “Calm down-”

“Don’t tell me what to do!”

“I do trust you,” he trudged on, “and I know Tim does too… I’m just not sure how entirely comfortable he may feel alone with you right now.”

“What’re you talking about?” Jason snapped, outraged, his breath coming in small gasps. “We were hanging out the whole time before… before…” His eyes widened, his vision blurring. “You’re- You mean- He ran away because of me?”

“Jay…” 

Bruce reached a hand towards him, only for it to get slapped. Jason stumbled away from him, shaking his head, a stray tear escaping his eye.

“Jay-”

“Leave me alone!” He cut Bruce off, bolting up the Cave stairs.

“Jason!”

He didn’t turn back, he kept running through the tears, until he stopped in front of a bedroom door. 

Tim’s door.

In the past week, since coming back to Gotham, Tim had a lot of emotions and thoughts swirling through him. 

At first he was very confused, but now things made more sense. Tim was worried about Jason coming to finish the job he started in the Tower, until he realized how nice and patient he was actually being with him. Dick and Cass were naturally happy to see him, and Alfred liked everybody anyway.

The dead giveaway to the situation was Bruce, who’d kept his distance, like usual.

Tim understood. It was wrong for him to just run away, he was thinking about the family, but not the people of Gotham He thought he’d considered everything, yet he forgot one of the most important things his parents taught him to be aware of. So Tim had come to a conclusion: it would take time, but slowly they’d have to break off they’re public relationship.

Finally alone in his room in the manor, Tim pulled his knees closer, blankly watching a cartoon on his laptop. Why Bruce insisted somebody stay around him practically 24/7, he didn’t know. It was kind of overkill, in Tim’s opinion. No, it was horribly suffocating. And it was unnecessary! He understood now, after all.

There was a quiet knock on the door.

Tim groaned.

Is it so hard to get one 20 minute episode of peace?

Rolling out of bed, he walked over to the door sluggishly, opening it, expecting it to find Cass. Only it was Jason looming over him, face shadowed over.

“Oh.” Tim blinked. “Are you on babysitting duty?”

Then he heard a choked sob and took a better look at Jason.

“Jas-”

He swayed forward and Tim almost flinched, memories of Titans Tower flashing before his eyes.

They almost toppled over, when the literal tank of a man threw himself on top of Tim. They would’ve fallen if Tim hadn’t managed to steady them at the last second. He could feel Jason shaking against him with every sob, his shoulder sagging with the weight of his head and the tears soaking his t-shirt.

Tim gripped his back. “Jason? What happened?”

“I’m so sorry.” Was the wet and muffled answer he got. “Tim, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Jason babbled on. “I know- I know I can’t make it up to you. But then I realized I never told you I’m sorry- I’m sorry - You left because you hate me and you’re scared and everyone’s scared-” He started hyperventilating, crying desperately. “ I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry -”

Tim took a deep breath and lowered them to the ground. He pulled Jason off of him and planted his hands on his shoulders. Jason shielded his face with his arms.

“Jason. Look at me.”

“I can’t- ”

“Okay. Then listen,” Tim tried calmly. “We’re going to count to ten together, and you’re going to follow my breathing, okay?”

“ I can’t! ”

“Yes you can Jason, you’ve got this.” I can do this. “Ready? One…” Inhale. Exhale. “Two…” Inhale. Exhale.

They kept going until reaching 10, and Jason let his arms fall away from his face. He bit his lip, avoiding eye contact.

“Hey, there you are, good job,” Tim told him.

“Sorry, this was stupid,” Jason muttered. “Shouldn't've jumped on the guy that’s terrified of me…”

“Okay, for starters,” Tim continued carefully, “I wouldn’t say ‘terrified’, ‘kind of uncomfortable’ is a more acceptable term.”

Jason snorted, but teared up again.

Shit. Nice going, Tim.

“Look, yes, I was really nervous around you before, maybe borderline scared.” Tim gave Jason’s shoulders a squeeze. “But I think we’re both getting better, right?”

“I made you go away!” Jason whimpered back, scrubbing at his face. “I was- I kept trying to be around you all that week, and I made you leave!” 

Tim sighed, thinking back to the week before he left Gotham. 

He remembered curling up next to Dick on the couch during movie night, Jason sitting at their feet, commenting the whole time. He remembered cooking dinner with Alfred, Jason hovering his shoulder as he peeled a carrot over the sink. He remembered waving goodbye to Bruce and running into Jason, who was just coming inside.

He remembered the day Jason stepped inside the manor for the first time in years, the way he'd ruffled his hair and given him an uncertain smile. 

“I’m sorry, Jason. I’m sorry I made you feel like I left Gotham because of you,” Tim acknowledged. “I didn’t realize you didn’t understand. I didn’t either at first,” he explained, “I mean, I knew why I was leaving. I just didn’t get that I was doing it wrong, I should have consulted with Bruce to see how he was planning to deal with the situation.”

Gradually, through his short speech, Jason started turning his head back to Tim, a puzzled expression on his face.

“Plan… the situation?”

“Yeah, you know,” Tim said more brightly, kind of glad that someone was finally talking about it, instead of pretending it wasn’t happening. “Now that you’re back, I’m not useful to Bruce anymore. And since I was going to be fired anyway, and I didn’t really want to stay at my house, because I didn’t want to get in the way or anything, I went somewhere quieter. But, genius that I am, I didn’t even think about what the press would think if Timothy Drake suddenly vanished. It reflected badly on Bruce and WE, you know.

"So, when you came for me, I got a little paranoid and thought you were after me, after me. And I totally freaked out, but then we got back and I realized Bruce needed me to publicly break off our relationship. We have to be careful about it though, because Vicki Vale is good at sniffing out a set up, like this.”

He looked up at Jason, hoping this cleared things up. It didn’t sit well with Tim for Jason to feel guilty for something that wasn’t his fault.

It was Tim’s. 

Like usual.

Oh my God. It was never about me.

Was the first thing Jason thought when Tim finished and looked up, staring at him expectantly with his blue eyes. Followed by:

Oh my God. I’m going to semi-kill Bruce. Then drop him in a Lazarus Pit and kill him for real.

But he stayed where he was. He sniffed. “Tim, can I give you a hug? A real one?”

“Oh, of course,” Tim accepted immediately. 

Jason felt embarrassed when the kid reached up and wrapped him into a hug. Huffing, he re-adjusted and tucked Tim under his chin, holding him close.

He mulled over his next words.

“Hey.”

“Hi?”

“Tim, you're not useless.”

“Yeah, I know that,” Tim snorted. Jason could just feel the eye roll he received. “I'm a good detective. I'm good with a camera. I know how to cook, and okay, cleaning isn’t really my thing, but I’m good at what I do.”

“Yes, you are…” Jason lifted him up, ignoring the squeak, and deposited him onto his bed. “I mean to Bruce. You’re not useless. I-” Tim opened his mouth to protest, but Jason shushed him. “You have no idea how he was while you were gone.”

“Was he distraught?” Tim asked sarcastically. “The news called him distraught.”

"That doesn’t even begin to cover it,” Jason assured him. “He was upset. He was worried out of his mind. Alfred had to physically drag him away from the Bat-Computer, because he wouldn’t stop looking for the map with all the bus routes out of Gotham.” He gave a small laugh, cupping Tim’s cheek. “And don’t even get me started on the earful I got for stealing his car to get to you. He wanted to be the one that picked you up.”

“I don’t understand anymore,” Tim whispered.

“Timbo, I’m trying to tell you he loves you.”

Even if it shouldn’t be my place to do that.

He relaxed as Tim looked to his feet, a frown on his face, finally coming to terms with-

“No. He doesn’t.” 

Groaning, Jason dropped his head onto Tim’s shoulder again. He was getting tired, and really, it was Bruce’s job to tell him this stuff, not Jason. So instead, eyeing the computer on Tim’s bed, he lifted his head again.

“What’re you watching?”

Tim mumbled something inaudible, sighing when Jason grinned at him.

“Ducktales.”

“Can I stay and watch with you?” Jason asked, meeting his eyes. Tim nodded.

Minutes later, they were cuddling in Tim’s bed when Cass came in. She smiled as she saw them and jumped in with them, snuggling into Tim’s other side. Cass and Jason shared a look over Tim’s head, and she gave him a small nod.

Tim wasn’t sure when he fell asleep, but at some point he woke up to find himself curled into Jason’s side, who was sleeping like a rock. He pressed his face into Jason’s chest and exhaled heavily. 

He was glad he’d been useful to his hero, his Robin. He liked being around Jason even more now, he liked how nice he was, almost brother-like. Tim even felt a warmth in his chest when he told him Bruce loved him, it was such a sweet, well intended lie. 

It was sad, knowing he’d have to leave again eventually, but Tim hoped maybe he and Jason could stay friends.

A heavy hand laid on the back of his neck and felt Jason shifting under him.

“Hey, Timbit, you okay?” Jason asked, a bit hoarse.

“I guess so, what about you?” he responded, yawning.

“I guess so too… Where’s Cassandra?”

“Probably left forever ago to tell Dick,” Tim giggled, earning an amused huff from Jason. 

“Bet he was in here taking pictures. He’s gonna hold it against me, I’m sure.”

They pause in silence for a moment, until Tim yawned and closed his eyes again.

“ ‘m going back to sleep,” he informed Jason, only to get a rough shake. “What?”

“What time is it?” Jason asked, something in his voice.

Grumbling and rolling over, Tim flopped his hand around, searching for his phone. He brought the small, bright screen to his face.

“About 3 fucking a.m.”

“Oh, perfect!” Jason said cheerfully. A little too suspiciously cheerful.

Time barely had time to question what he was up to, when Jason got to his feet and picked him up, dropping Tim over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

“Jason, nooooo,” he whined, Jason’s collar bone jabbing him in the stomach. “What are you doing?”

“Taking you to the comfiest place in the whole manor to sleep.”

“No…” Tim felt himself go pale. He’d heard it from Dick several times. He knew exactly what place he was being carried away to, even before the door opened. “Jason, please, no,” he said in a hushed voice. 

But it was too late, because the next thing he knew, he was being dropped directly on top of Bruce’s sleeping form. There was confusion, a tangle a limbs and a dip in the bed, before Tim managed to get himself off . He felt his stomach tighten when Bruce sat up, giving him a sleepy look.

“Tim?” He asked. “Did you need something?”

“Yes,” came Jason’s voice from behind Tim. “He needs you to quit being so emotionally constipated for a minute, so you can tell him he’s not your business partner, he’s your son.”

Tim mentally sighed in the silence that followed, his heart hammering in his chest.

He should have known Jason’s idealization about Tim and Bruce’s relationship would go this far. He didn't want Jason to be hurt, but he also didn’t see a need for Bruce to lie.

Strong arms held him down when he tried to squirm out of the bed.

“Jason,” he tried to reason, like a true businessman. “I can see where you’re coming from. But when I was Robin, our partnership worked differently than-”

“ Was Robin?” Bruce’s soft whisper interrupted him.

“Yes?” Tim answered, now more unsure than ever…

Was I ever Robin at all?

“You don’t- You’re not Robin?” 

Tim didn’t know why Bruce sounded like he was asking a question. If he never saw him as Robin, did he want Tim to acknowledge that too?

“Oh for fuck’s sake,” Jason grumbled.

Bruce didn’t have time to finish saying “language”, because Tim was being shoved into him, again.

“Jason, stop that!” Tim complained, his voice cracking, unwanted tears forming in his eyes.

“Bruce- Dad , stop making it worse. You’re making Timmy here believe you don’t want him around, that this was all some kind of stunt to get the press off your back. Baby Bird,” he addressed Tim now, more gently. “Like I keep telling you, the man was crying himself to sleep on the nights he actually went to bed.”

“I did not,” Bruce grunted.

“Bruce…” Jason growled in a warning tone.

Tim sniffled, ducking his head and hiding against Jason’s chest. He knew Jason had good intentions in mind, nevertheless, Tim couldn’t even bring himself to look at Bruce, with how embarrassed he felt. Not to mention the tears that were definitely racing down his burning face.

He didn’t sob, he simply lied there, listening to Jason’s heartbeat.

Then there was a big hand rubbing his back.

“Tim…” Bruce started. And ended. He tried again. “I’m really sorry. Can you look at me?” Tim burrowed into Jason, who patted his head.

“It’s okay, Timbo. Shhh,” he whispered softly. “You’re okay, I promise.”

“Tim?” Bruce tired one more time. Tim gave in a little bit, twisting slightly away from Jason. That was all the opening Bruce needed to pull him into his chest. “I owe you a lot. You’re always helping me, and I appreciate you so much.” He took a deep breath. “Whether- whether you think of me as a dad or not, you’re my son and I love you. I was really scared when we couldn’t find you. Don’t go away again. Please .”

“Sorry,” Tim mumbled into his shirt. “I didn’t mean to scare you, I thought…” his body shuddered of its own accord, “... I thought…” 

Bruce kissed his forehead, wiping his tears.

“I didn’t want to get my hopes up,” he confessed wetly. 

“Aw, Baby Bird,” Jason murmured, squeezing in closer, so that Tim was sandwiched between him and Bruce. “I know what it’s like, always waiting for the other shoe to drop… But, buddy, you’re wanted here. Promise.”

“Shhh, sweetheart, shhh, you’re okay,” Bruce rumbled, cupping his cheek. “Jason’s right. You’re always safe and wanted in my home. Our home .”

Hiccupping, Tim nodded into his hand as acknowledgement. He yawned.

“Why don’t you sleep for now?” Bruce suggested. “It’s late.”

Closing his eyes, Tim let himself feel safe between the two, warm, solid bodies.

“I’m sorry, about earlier, Jason,” he heard Bruce whisper, followed by Jason grumbling. 

“Yeah, well, some people don’t change I suppose.” Jason’s tone was a lot lighter than expected.

“I’m sorry for being an emotionally constipated jerk.”

“Wow, he accepts his flaws, the change is happening before my very eyes!”

“I know when I’ve made mistakes.”

“You do not .”

“Yes, I do .”

“You need it rubbed in your face, to see it at all. You’re so nearsighted with this stuff.”

Tim let Jason and Bruce’s hushed bickering lull him to sleep. He knew things weren’t the best right now, but like he remembered himself telling Jason earlier; they were getting better.