Archive of Our Own

Tim waited on the doorstep of the manor. His little pink sheep that was holding a strawberry was resting on his lap. Bags rested next to him. Dick and Jason invited him over for a sleepover at one of Jason's safe houses. Tim was beyond excited. He got to have a little brother bonding time.

A car pulled up into the driveway. 

The driver's window rolled down to relieve Jason in black sunglasses. Dick was next to him in the passenger seat.

"Get in loser we're going shopping," Jason said.

Tim grabbed his bags and his plush that he decided to name Rose. He walked towards the car and placed his bags in the back next to where he would be sitting.

Jason started driving, heading in the direction of a small shop.

Pulling up and parking Dick jumped out first. Quickly grabbing a trolley Dick picked up Tim and placed him inside.

"We are getting snacks. If you like anything, just say." Dick told him.

They walked down each part of the store, picking out random snacks.

Each time Jason picked out a snack with a soft package, he would throw it in the trolley, making sure to hit Tim, who would let out a giggle.

By 30 minutes, the trolley was almost full with Goldfish, Lucky Charms, Doritos, Pretzels, Garlic hummus, popcorn, and some chocolate.

"Do we have enough?" Tim asked, looking at all the food.

"I think so. If not, we can always get some more." Dick said.

They went to the checkout where a middle-aged woman was working. She easily spotted Tim and smiled at him.

"What a cutie. Is he your brother?" She asked Jason and Dick.

"Yep. Our little baby brother." Jason said, ruffling Tim's black, fluffy hair.

Tim moved away and went over to Dick and hid his face in Dick's chest. His face is red with embarrassment.

After all the items were scanned Dick used a credit card to pay for it.

Still leaving Tim in the trolley, they pushed him to the car.

They took out the shopping first while Jason held onto the trolley for Tim to get out. He quickly jumped into the back seat, ready to see what Dick and Jason had planned with him.

The drive didn't take long. Maybe time went by fast because Tim was just so excited.

Pulling up to an apartment building they got out. Each grabbed a shopping bag to help carry upstairs. 

Jason grabbed the keys out of his front pocket and unlocked the door and used his foot to push it open.

"Welcome to my Apartment," Jason said, Tim was pretty sure if he didn't have his hands full he would have opened his arms.

Tim went with Dick and placed the shopping on the kitchen counter. Jason was quick to follow.

"What do you wanna do, Baby Bird?" Dick asked.

Tim bit his lip. He knew what he wanted to do but maybe his brothers didn't want to do it. There was no harm in asking though.

"Can we go patrol for a bit?" Tim asked.

Jason went over to his window and looked outside.

"What do you say, Dick? Dark enough for a couple of birds." Jason joked.

Dick didn't say anything, instead, he grabbed the Red Hood helmet that was resting on the coffee table and threw it at Jason who easily caught it.

Tim quickly ran downstairs to grab his bags and Rose. He ran back upstairs. Excited to go patrol with his big brothers.

Tim went into the bathroom to get changed, while Jason went into the bedroom and Dick stayed in the living room.

Tim was the first one to be ready and waiting for Jason to say he was decent. Dick was taking the longest like normal.

Walking out Dick had his Nightwing suit around his waist, covering his hairless chest in baby powder. 

"I think you missed a spot." Jason teased.

"Ha Ha." Dick faked a laugh, "I don't want to get a rash. Can you help me with the zipper?"

Jason rolled his eyes but agreed.

Dick pulled the suit the rest of the way up.

Jason went behind him and grabbed the zipper and pulled. It went halfway up his back and got stuck.

"Suck in, Dickhead!" Jason grunted out.

"I'm trying." 

"I like you ate too much cereal." Jason pointed out.

"Are you calling me fat?!" Dick gasped.

"Yes."

While this was happening Tim couldn't stop the giggles that racked his body.

Finally, Jason got the zipper up.

"There you go. Didn't even get skin." Jason said patting Dick's shoulder.

"Lucky me.".

They each put their masks on and were ready to go out.

They didn't even find a lot of crime it was mostly just flipping off roofs and doing tricks. They even saw Batman.

He gave them a soft smile and even a small wave and with that, he was gone.

Tim was hit with a feeling in his chest. A ping of loneliness and anxiety even though he had his brothers with him. Tim didn't understand why he got that feeling.

"Come on, let's head back," Dick said.

When they got back, Jason undid Dick's zipper. Dick was the first one to call dibs on the shower first. No one disagreed.

After Dick, it was Tim then Jason.

After showers, Dick and Tim moved the coffee table out of the middle of the room to the side, near the window.

Dick and Jason placed the mattress that was in the bedroom on the floor in the living room. 

Dick and Jason took the mattress while Tim had the couch. They spent most of the rest of the night eating snacks and watching movies until they couldn't keep their eyes open anymore.

Tim was the only one left awake. Listening to his brothers' snores. Surprisingly Dick snored the worse. Probably due to getting broken noses the most. Tim's bet that it was because he talked so much when getting kidnapped that they just punch him in the face to shut him up.

Everyone could sleep with all the snoring. They are used to it and it reminds them that they are with someone in the family. But something wasn't right for Tim.

The feeling was the same when he saw Batman leave. It was worse than before it felt like it physically hurt. 

Tim pulled the covers over his head and pushed Rose to his face as he tries to muffle the sobs that were going to escape soon. He didn't want to wake up his brothers at all.

Tears started to fall. He just wanted Bruce. It was like he knew Bruce wasn't here and that made him upset. It was stupid. He had Dick and Jason with him but it just wasn't who he wanted.

He let out a sob and that was enough for Dick's and Jason's big brother sense to kick in.

They both wake up, fully awake. It was like they weren't even sleeping.

Dick wrapped the blanket away from Tim's head just to see his baby brother's tears.

"Aww, Timmy what happened?" Dick asked, reaching out to play with Tim's hair.

"I-i miss Bruce." Tim hiccupped out.

"Why do you miss that old man? We are having a good time." Jason pointed out.

Tim's bottom wobbled. He felt bad. Jason seemed upset that he said he missed Bruce.

Dick hit Jason lightly on the arm.

"He doesn't mean it in a rude way. Just what makes you miss Bruce?" Dick asked, more kindly.

"I don't know," Tim said honestly, "I felt fine. U-until now."

"Separation anxiety," Jason said, as a fact.

"Did you just feel like this now?" Dick questioned.

Tim thought about it.

"When we saw him on patrol… my heart hurt."

"Does your heart hurt now?" Jason asked, more alarmed.

"Yeah."

Dick leaned so, his ear rested on Tim's chest. After finding his heart was okay Dick turned his head and blew a raspberry over Timmy's heart. He giggled.

"Does you heart still hurt?" Dick asked with a smile.

"A little. Can we call Bruce?" Tim asked.

"Sure." Jason said, grabbing his phone and tapping the contract.

Of course Bruce answered right away.

"Is everyone okay?" Bruce asked right away.

"Yeah. Timmy just missing you."

Jason put the phone on speaker.

"You okay, Sweetheart?" Bruce asked Tim.

"I miss you."

"I miss you too. Do you want to come home?" Bruce asked.

Tim looked at his brothers who was giving him soft looks. If Tim did say yes they wouldn't even be mad. They would understand but Tim didn't want that.

"No I wanna stay. Just wanted to talk to you."

"That's okay. Get yourself some sleep. Love you, boys." Bruce said his goodbyes and hanged up.

Once the phone was out of the way Dick grabbed Tim and pulled him down to the mattress for cuddles. Jason was quick to join them.

After a while of just cuddling. While Tim soaked in the warmth Dick asked a question.

"Does it still hurt?"

Tim thought about it. His heart didn't hurt at all.

"My heart is happy." 

THE END