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Dick quickly walked through the halls of the manor. He was exhausted to say the least. He was out late after patrol in Gotham, because he had to swing by Bludhaven to finish tying up some strings on an old case. He then had to come back to Gotham because Damian had failed to say that he needed supplies for a school project.
Which was what he had to go help Damian with.
“Hey! Dick!” A voice said coming out of one of the open doored rooms that Dick recognized at Tim’s room he sometimes crashed at
Dick paused, hand on the doorway, leaning inside.
Tim was sitting on his bed, papers and multiple expensive computers teetering on the edge of the bed that made Dick’s eye twitch with nervousness. It was hard to remember that Tim grew up as rich as B did.
“What’s up?” Dick asked instead of screaming and moving all of the way too expensive technology away from the edge
Tim brightened the room with a blinding smile that made Dick’s heart melt and both narrow his eyes in suspicion. Tim was a Gothamite. That was a smile that Dick had seen Bruce don at galas when he wanted something. And the smile Tim had used on Dick one too many times back when Tim was Robin and did something Bruce didn’t know about.
“So... There is a company gala tonight...” Tim started, eyes sparkling with a pleading look
Dick’s hand left the door way as stepped backwards.
“Can’t sorry!” Dick said easily
Tim scowled, “It’s for the company. I am the only Wayne that is going to be there. It’s bad press if I’m alone. For the family company.”
Dick shrugged unapologetically. The last time he went to a gala, he broke his ‘Richie Wayne’ persona and punched a reporter in the eye. Time before that he broke not one- not two- but three chandeliers. And Dick always got so bored.
“Sorry Timmy, I’ve gotta help Damian with a school project,” Dick said never more thankful for Gotham Prep’s stupid assignments
Tim stared at him.
Dick smiled.
Tim narrowed eyes.
Dick’s smile faltered.
Tim smiled, understandingly, “Of course. Damian needs you. You’re probably tired from last night too. I can probably get Cass to go with me.”
Dick smiled warily, “Are you sure? Because-”
Tim laughed, “No, no it’s fine. Probably best if Richie Wayne didn’t make an appearance.”
Dick laughed tiredly and in relief.
Tim laughed too.
Dick walked away and went to the library to help Damian.
He should’ve known Tim didn’t let things go that easy.
--
Dick sighed, sitting across from Damian on the floor of the library, hands sticky with glue and glitter. Stupid projects. Stupid Bludhaven thugs not letting him get the healthy amount of sleep.
Somehow, everyone else had migrated to the same room, each doing their own thing, watching in amusement but never lifting a finger to help.
Jason was sitting on the window seat, Pride and Prejudice in hand as he snickered when Damian cursed in League Arabic trying to get the glitter out of his hair.
Steph was on the lounge stretcher, scrolling on her phone, and taking pictures as Damian threatened her with one of the three swords Dick had sworn he had already confiscated.
Cass was curled up reading and watching Damian and Dick, on the couch in between Duke and Tim. Duke was watching unashamed, eating a bag of chips. And Tim was typing on one of his tablets.
“Tt! This is ridiculous!” Damian seethed
“It’s okay Damian,” Dick soothed, “We’re gonna figure it out. I promise.”
Damian stabbed the exacto knife into the cardboard furiously. Or was it just a knife? Dick didn’t know. He was too tired to care.
“Jason can you cover my routes tonight?” Tim said, not looking up from his tablet
Dick glanced up at Jason who scowled rolling his eyes.
“Fine, what do I get?” He said
Tim said nothing but adjusted his hoodie, seemingly absentmindedly, but Dick knew it was a tactical move, clearly showing the large white scar that stretched across his throat.
Jason scoffed, knowing he had loss as Dick winced in the reminder of what Jason had done to Tim. At least Tim got free favors. And was alive.
“Why are you skipping patrols anyway?” Jason snarked
Tim didn’t look up, just kept typing, “I have a gala to attend for the company.”
On instinct everyone in the room but Tim shivered.
Dick wasn’t the only one who hated galas. Dick didn’t know how Tim did it. But he did feel a little bad about bailing on Tim. Just a little. Or maybe it was the scar he could still see making him feel guilt.
“Sorry for bailing Timbo,” Dick said, not really feeling the guilt as he looked back to the project and away from the scar
Tim shrugged, “No problem. Hey Duke?”
Duke looked at Tim, humming slightly. Dick glanced back at his family as Damian mumbled under his breath about honor and how he has been reduced to such idiot things.
“I’m kinda hungry,” Tim said
Dick paused.
Tim didn’t ever really admit he was hungry. He ate with his moods or Alfred or Kon had to force food in front of him.
Tim blinked innocently at Duke, “Did you happen to see any...sour grapes in there?”
Dick froze.
Oh god.
Tim smiled.
Oh fuck.
Dick swallowed thickly, slowly sitting down the glue stick.
Duke frowned, “Sour grapes?”
Tim nodded, “Yeah... I could’ve sworn Dick brought some...or was it ...Wally?”
Dick choked.
Duke shrugged, “I don’t know man sorry.”
Dick stared at Tim.
Tim’s eyes were alight with blackmail.
Dick had already lost. He knew. Right then and there, he was gonna end up stuffed in a suit smiling at that gala. What Tim had just uttered, were two words that the entire original Titans had sworn never to speak of again. Back when Dick was Robin. He had sworn no one would find out. Jason could never know. Or god forbid Steph.
And there Tim sat. Typing away at his tablet. Smiling like he was an innocent angel who just wanted sour grapes.
Dick forced a smile, eye twitching just as Tim turned to Jason and Steph with his mouth open ready to blab, “You know what Tim? I think I may actually go with you to that gala.”
Everyone stared at him.
Tim grinned.
“You know,” Dick said trying to act calm, “It’s good press.”