In this story Tim, Dick and Jason are all younger. Timmy's parents aren't the greatest, and Jason hasn't died yet. No slash, just fluff. Please read and review! This is my first published story and should be interesting
Disclaimer: I do not own Batman or any of the characters. If I did there would be alot more hugs and cuddles.
Tim sat on the window seat waiting for his parents. He was always waiting for his parents. He hated and loved when they came home. He loved those three minutes and eight seconds when they would notice him and love him. He hated every minute afterwards when they pretended he didn't exist. His parents would be coming soon. They would come around that bend in the driveway and the taxi would drop them off. His Dad would make a lame joke, and pay the driver, then they would come into the house. Tim waited patiently. His blue eyes watching the curve in the street. Occasionally he would wipe his dripping nose with a sweaty tissue in his hand. His parents were supposed to come back tomorrow, but sometimes they were going to be longer and they didn't call and let Tim know. So Tim waited.
The doorbell rang. Tim, with his eyes glued to the curve in the road had neglected to notice the boy approaching from the side of the house. But he was there now. Tim, peering out the window and a little to the right, could only see the top of his head. It was covered in unruly black hair, and the boy appeared to be fidgeting. Tim was creeping down the stairs, when the doorbell rang again, this time more urgently. Tim jumped in alarm and lept the last three steps to run through the kitchen to the side door.
Just as the doorbell began to ring for the third time, Tim cracked the door open. Standing on the side steps was Jason Todd, the kid from next door. He was also Robin, the boy wonder. Tim knew. But did Jason know that he knew? Tim shuffled his feet. Jason was staring at him. Finally Jason seemed to shake himself.
"Hi!" He said.
"hello." Tim replied quietly.
"Ummm…" Jason said and scratched the back of his head. Tim sniffled and wiped his nose. "Sooooo… I'm Jason. I live next door?"
I know. Tim thought.
"I'm Tim." He replied. Jason nodded and waved his hand, like that was old news.
"I was wondering if you wanted to come over and play video games with me? I just got that new swordwalkers game that just came out, except it's a two player, and Dick is 'studying' with Barbie" Jason said sarcastically. "So I was wondering if you wanted to play it with me."
Tim was shocked. Jason, his hero, Robin, the cool kid from next door, wanted him to play video games at Wayne Manor. No one had ever wanted to spend time with Tim. Not his parents, not the kids at school who called him a nerd, not even the house keeper who came by on Tuesdays and Thursdays to dust the dust and make sure he was alive.
"Kid. Kid, you there?" Tim started and shook his head. He had spaced out, and here Jason was asking him over to his house.
"Yes. Yes, please I would like that." Tim said, and then he wiped his ever-dripping nose again. Jason grinned.
"Sweet!" And I bet Alfred can give you something for your nose." Tim blushed, and ducked his head. He had to get a cold this week. It probably came from those late nights taking pictures of his neighbors and their "extracurricular activities".
"Grab your shoes Timmers and lets go!" Jason said. "Oh and grab a jacket too. And do you need to tell your folks where you're gonna be? Cause I don't wanna get in trouble with Bruce and the cops about this." Tim opened the door a little bit too let Jason in.
"My parents aren't here right now." Tim said as he pulled his sneakers out of the closet. "They're in Meg-i-gor-i-a. But they should be fine with it." Who was he kidding? Tim knew they weren't going to be back today. They were never back when they said they would be.
"Who is watchin ya then?" Jason asked. Tim had sat down to pull on his shoes, and had his eyes on his laces as he answered.
"I'm old enough to look after myself." Tim said. Jason gave him a skeptical look. Tim struggled to tie the thick laces and grunted as the knot came apart again.
"C'mon kid. You must be… what, four?" Jason asked. "No way your parents would let you live here alone. I have to tell Bruce and Alfred if I even leave the house!" Tim sniffed and wiped his nose. The stupid laces wouldn't tie.
"I am eight, thank-you-very-much." He said as he tried tying the other shoe to see if that one would tie any easier and groaned when it didn't. "And my parents have been leaving me since I was four, they say that I am plenty old enough to look after myself. I ride the bus to and from school. The housekeeper brings groceries every Tuesday and Thursday and to dust the dust and make sure I'm alive. I'm fine." Tim was breathing hard after this little speech, and sneezed three times into the sleeve of his shirt, and then wiped his nose on the tissue. Jason knelt down and started to tie Tim's shoes. Tim blushed, and they stayed like that in silence until Jason had finished double knotting Tim's right sneaker.
"thanks." Tim whispered and then dug in the closet to find his jacket. Jason stood waiting patiently, till Tim threw on his black fleece. Tim expected him to tell him to hurry up and then rush him out the door, but instead he said:
"You'd better grab a scarf too. It's getting pretty cold." Tim shrugged and grabbed the old red scarf off the hook. He hurridly wrapped it around his neck and then turned to Jason.
"I'm ready." He said. Jason grinned at him.
"Then let's go." He said.
