A/N: Written for, you guesed it, batfic_ contest. Let me know what you think!
Swimming Lessons
"I can't swim." Tim told Dick glancing at the pool doubtfully.
"I know." Dick returned. "Which is why you're going to learn. Get in." They were both in swim shorts and standing by the shallow end of the Wayne Manor pool. Dick jumped into the water his head disappeared for a second and resurfaced grinning at his surrogate younger brother. "It doesn't bite." He teased splashing Tim playfully.
"Shut up." Tim slid into the pool slowly muttering about being cold and awful older brothers.
"All you have to do is grab onto the ledge," Dick demonstrated. "And kick!" Tim tried to copy and almost immediately began to choke on water. "Stand up!" Dick said cheerfully lifting his younger brother out of the water. "Let's try again."
After nearly an hour of practice though it was becoming pretty clear why Tim couldn't swim. He could ace a spinning back flip on solid ground but could barely float in water.
"Why do I have to learn this?" Tim bit out frustrated and embarrassed. He was Robin! Wasn't he supposed to be good at everything? And yet a simple exercise easily mastered by 6-year-olds was evading him.
"You know why. Bruce can't constantly be worried about you drowning every time you get near the docks. This is the easy part. Come on, again." They tried again and again. "I'm not going to let you drown, Tim!" Dick told him. "You just need to relax, not worry so much, and do what comes naturally."
"What comes naturally is to sink like a stone." Tim said darkly.
"How's it going?" Bruce stood at the edge of the pool.
"Bruce, he's just like a –"
"Don't!" Tim groaned slipping his head under the surface.
"Fish out of water."