Chapter Text
It’s been just about six months since Jason had started seeing Tim romantically; it had been two months since the cat was let out of the bag to the rest of the Bat Clan. It’s been five weeks since Jason had started coming by the Manor to regularly come see Tim and put up with whoever else was there. It had been two weeks since he started properly regretting coming around and it’s been three days and four hours since Jason started contemplating why he ever let Tim talk him into coming to see him at the Manor in the first place when they could meet at Jason’s safe house.
“I don’t know why I keep letting you trick me into coming here.” Jason grumbled as he watched Tim finish something up on his computer, Jason was leaning against the desk, half resting and half ready to bolt out the window if they got checked up on one more time.
“It’s not that bad here.” Tim said without looking up from his work, this conversation wasn’t the first they had even today about this.
“Easy for you to say, you don’t have Bruce trying to crawl up your ass.” Jason said, glancing over at the shut door. “The only benefit of coming here-“
“Other than seeing me?” Tim grinned over at Jason, who sighed and smiled back at him.
“Other than seeing you, is that how much it seems like Bruce acts like it’s scarring him for life when he walks in on us making out.” Jason finished.
“’Making out’, we’re not teenagers, Jay.” Tim laughed, putting some last finishing touches and felt a flutter in his stomach when Jason suddenly was behind him and breathing in his ear.
“I’m making up for lost years, babybird.” Jason hummed, softly planting kisses up Tim’s neck up to under his ear and started to work on sucking to leave a hickey.
“Ngh…Jay…not there…” Tim sighed dreamily, unable to hold back a shudder; his fingers curling on the keyboard making gibberish appear on the screen.
“Worried the tabloids will see~?” Jason purred against the mark, giving it a nip and felt Tim push his rolling chair back into him, forcing him to back off unless his feet wanted to get run over.
“Along with literally everyone else.” Tim said, rubbing the spot like that would help it not make a mark and frowning up at Jason. “It better not be a mark.”
“Mm, and what are you going to do if it is?” Jason challenged playfully.
“Kick your ass.” Tim said matter of factly, not surprised when Jason laughed at him.
“I’d like to see you try, rich boy.”
“Want me to meet you at the pit, zombie boy?”
“Do you two not call each other by your actual names?” A voice at the door startled the two of them; everyone in their line of work was far too sneaky. “It’s time for dinner.” Damian rolled his eyes before walking away, not bothering shutting the door behind him.
“You know, when you call me babybird, Bruce’s eyebrow twitches.” Tim said, getting up from his chair and stretching out his limbs. “It’s kind of funny.”
“Yea?” Jason hummed interested, then glanced out the door, wondering if it would just be better to climb out the window instead enduring another ‘family dinner’ or whatever Bruce thought this gaggle of weapons he’s gathered was supposed to be.
“Getting flighty on me?” Tim hummed, wrapping his arms around Jason’s arm, resting his cheek on Jason’s shoulder. “You don’t have to stay, I can come by after, I know you don’t like all of this.”
“No.” Jason agreed, turning to kiss the top of Tim’s head. “But I like you, so I don’t mind.”
“Yes you do, but that’s a sweet lie.” Tim smiled up at him and pushed up on his toes so they could properly kiss. “Alright, Jaybird, let’s go deal with the masses.”
~ ~ ~
It’s only been less than ten minutes and Jason was wondering why he declined Tim’s easy out to leave; it was so loud with everyone at the table for once. Every single Bat seemed to be here tonight and they were all talking over each other and laughing or yelling for something.
Alfred seemed to be pleased despite the chaos and he had even been extra glad to see Jason, he had made him a cup of tea to go with his dinner which Jason was grateful for but it didn’t do much for how on edge he felt.
Bruce was only a few seats down from Jason, only Dick sitting between them and Jason could feel the old man’s eyes on him every now and then. Their relationship was better than it has been but there were plenty of rough patches left and Jason wasn’t interested in smoothing them out. Not tonight at least.
From under the table Jason felt Tim grab his hand and squeeze it tight, he looked like he was getting over stimulated as well. So Jason squeezed back, knowing that Tim really liked spending time with everyone even if they could be a lot and having Jason there too. For Tim, Jason would suck it up and stay put.
“Can you pass the rolls, babybird?” Jason asked, having to speak up a bit over the noise, the end of his sentence spoken during a strange pause in noise and was rather loud and he was sure everyone heard it. Great timing.
Tim looked amused, looking past Jason at Bruce, seeing that twitch again and smiled at Jason as the rest of the table continued like before but the volume had gone down a bit.
“Of course, babe~” Tim hummed the nickname, watching out of the corner of his eye and was pleased it got a reaction as well, he grabbed the basket of rolls to hand to Jason. “Would you like the butter too, sweetie pie?”
Someone at the table choked on a drink and Jason and Tim exchanged a look through their eyes alone and knew they could have a bit of fun tonight.
“It looks like it’s on the other side of the table, boo bear.” Jason said, noting how hard Tim tried not to laugh at that one. “I’d hate to put you out like that.”
“You know I don’t mind, pookie.” Tim grinned when they heard someone down the table make a weird gagging sort of noise.
“For the love of god, here!” Duke said, sliding the butter dish down the table over to the pair. “You two are so weird.” He muttered.
“For wanting butter on my roll?” Jason asked feigning confusion, taking the butter and spreading it on his bread. “I love bread, excuse the fuck out of me.”
“Aw, there’s nothing wrong with that, love, don’t pay him any mind.” Tim assured him, putting another roll on Jason’s plate for effect.
“This needs to end.” Dick muttered on Jason’s other side.
“Shnookums, you need more greens and you know it.” Jason chided Tim when he passed along some green beans that were making its way around the table. “I’m serious.”
“Just because sometimes you can get me to call you daddy doesn’t mean you get to act like one.” Tim rolled his eyes but still added some to his plate.
Someone dropped a dish, several chairs pushed out suddenly and Bruce was currently choking on whatever he had just been eating.
“This is disgusting! I have no appetite anymore!” Damian declared, having been one of the people that was bailing the dinner table and stalked off out of the dining room.
Jason had to hide behind his hand to keep from laughing so much, he had not expected that one at all and god it really sent Bruce into a spiral from the looks of it. Tim was lucky Jason wasn’t proposing to him on the spot right now, that would have really caused a scene.
“Gosh, little bird, you can’t just say that outside the bedroom.” Jason lightly scolded him, not lowering his voice by all that much.
“You can’t call me ‘little bird’ outside of the bedroom either, lover, gosh, you know what it does to me.” Tim countered, playfully swatting at Jason’s chest as he started to blush because that had been actually true and a nickname that Tim loved for reasons Jason has yet to understand.
“I can’t take this anymore, you two need to fucking stop with this! This is the dinner table!” Dick slid his chair back, grabbing his plate and making his way out of the dining room in a huff.
There were very few of them left in the dining room that were either completely ignoring Jason and Tim’s nickname fest or were just unbothered. Bruce was glaring at the pair of them, which the two of the decided to pretend they did not notice and actually eat the rest of their dinner.
“Isn’t it lovely to have the whole family over for dinner, Master Bruce?” Alfred asked, placing a hand on Bruce’s shoulder when he looked like he was about to say something.
“…yes, Alfred.” Bruce grumbled, he should just be grateful that each of them kept showing up even if things were…awkward at times.
“Who needs dessert when I have you, babybird?” Jason’s voice broke mild quiet that had fallen over the dining room.
“Oh please.” Tim laughed. “Jason, no!” He squeaked and squealed when Jason got up and picked Tim right up and threw him over his shoulder. “Jason Peter Todd! Put me down!”
“Never!” Jason grinned back over at Alfred and Bruce. “I’m stealing this and will not be returning him for some time, thanks for dinner Alf! Bye old man!”
With that Jason carried off a still protesting Tim, leaving Bruce, Alfred, Cass and Steph left at the table. Bruce dropped his face into his hands while the girls snickered at the opposite end of the table.
“I love family nights!” Steph laughed, Cass nodding in agreement. “Come on, sweet cheeks, I think the old man could use a pint of ice cream.” She said, getting up with Cass who followed her past Bruce toward the kitchen.
“Don’t start too, Stephanie.” Bruce muttered.
“What? My darling sweet angel darling baby sweetie pie lover and I are just getting you some ice cream, papa man, you don’t want it?” Steph teased but pulled Cass quickly through door laughing as Bruce turned in his seat.
“Children are a blessing.” Alfred chuckled and patted Bruce sympathetically, just another day in Wayne Manor.