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It's rare when the manor is silent. There's not many of the family who still lives there (really it's just Damian), but everyone visits and stays the night or nights often. Tim stays there more often than he should, but Alfred and Bruce aren't complaining. Damian doesn't, either but he always has that look about him like he'd rather Tim be anywhere else. Still, they warmed up to each other enough that Tim didn't feel like he had to be on guard around the kid anymore. Although, that feeling had truly faded a long time ago. More-so, Tim had just been watching Damian out of the corner of his eye in case the kid decided to make good on Jason's ideas of a prank war.
The quiet in the manor is nice. Tim is able to read his book without interruptions. He knows, distantly, Jason is somewhere in the manor and so is Damian. He also knows Damian would do anything to avoid interacting with Tim right now before dinner. They had an argument over something dumb and Tim can't even really remember it now, but he knows he was totally in the right.
It's why he's confused when Damian walks into the sitting room Tim's occupying. He's laying on the couch when Damian spots him, rubbing at his eyes blearily. The moment he does, he walks faster, making a beeline for Tim. Tim thinks he's about to to get pounced and tenses.
"Dami?" Tim asks warily. Damian doesn't answer. He also doesn't jump him. At least, not really. Instead, he clambers onto the couch, complaining about not hitting his growth spurt, and shoves himself under Tim's arms and the book he's reading. Tim lets Damian invade his space only because he's so caught off guard. By the time Tim has even the thought to react, Damian is already sprawled over his chest and seemingly asleep.
Damian is never one to show affection. Especially not this blatantly. Especially not after a fight. His usual tactic is to ignore the person until he's done brooding, or fight it out. Tim doesn't know how to react to this. He stays so still he doesn't even breathe. He's just staring at the bundle of hair on his chest.
Damian makes a strangled noise in the back of his throat and starts to move again. Tim sucks in a breath and Damian starts to relax again. Tim tilts his head and starts breathing normally. Damian relaxes fully on his chest, body going lax.
"Alright," Tim mutters. He may not fully understand what's going on, but he can understand whatever mindset Damian is in now. He's been in the same position, just with him on Jason's chest, checking his pulse and listening to his breathing. He doesn't understand why Damian of all people is making sure he's alive, but Tim's not about to argue with the little assassin.
Tim tries to focus back on his reading, but it's difficult. Every time he forgets to breathe for even a second off from usual, Damian is stirring. He doesn't make it past even one paragraph before he hears light footsteps entering the space. When he looks up, Jason is standing in the threshold with wide eyes.
"What. The fuck?" he mouths. Tim goes to shrug, but stops when he realizes it'll rouse Damian.
"I don't know," he whispers, "I'm scared."
"I had a nightmare," Damian says. His voice is thick with sleep (and if Tim didn't know any better, he'd say tears). All at once, Tim understands. For someone who's supposed to be a detective, he's a little embarrassed he didn't get it earlier.
Tim holds his book up and Jason takes it from his hands before walking back out of the room. He wraps his arms around Damian and (once he's sure Jason is out of the room) presses a kiss to the kid's head like Jason had done for him whenever he had nightmares.
"Do you wanna tell me about it?" Tim asks. He's not surprised when Damian shakes his head. Nor when Damian sits up and glares at him.
"You will not tell anyone about this," Damian demands.
"Wasn't planning on it, kiddo," Tim reassures him.
"And what of Todd?"
"He didn't even have his phone on him. And if he tries anything, I have more than enough blackmail to keep him quiet." Damian studies him for a moment before nodding and falling back onto Tim's chest. Tim wraps his arms around Damian again. He keeps his breathing deliberately even this time, leaning his head back on the arm of the couch. He closes his eyes and makes sure Damian isn't at risk off falling off.
At some point, Tim falls asleep.
When he wakes up, Damian is surprisingly still asleep. Judging by his breathing, he's not waking up anytime soon. Tim cracks one eye open and is more startled to see the rest of the family in the room spread across all the seating. Bruce is in an armchair straight across from him and Dick and Jason are sharing a couch. Bruce glances up from the magazine in his lap and smiles at Tim.
"Picture?" Tim mouths. Bruce nods, lifting his phone as an answer. Tim gives him a thumbs up and leans back again. He falls asleep to the quiet sounds of his family surrounding him. He hopes it brings Damian the same comfort it brings him.