Yes, we've got Tim back in the den. With him staying pretty much home bound, they're aren't a lot of places he'll be hanging out at.
Tim watched the rain gently tap against the den window. With little to no light from outside, it was the only thing keeping him preoccupied. With Bruce and Damian on patrol, Alfred cooped up in the cave, and Dick in his room, Tim needed something to keep himself awake. Plus, he always found the sight and sound of rain soothing.
"I thought you were a sleep." Bruce stated.
Tim sighed. Of course Bruce would see him, entering the room without making a sound.
"I was." Tim quietly admitted. "But I woke up and I can't seem to fall back to sleep."
Bruce approached the windowsill, sitting down with Tim. He didn't initially spark a conversation, wanting to observe Tim. The dark circles under Tim's eyes were just forming and Tim was lightly shivering. Tim had to be tired, but Bruce knew that he wasn't going to admit to it.
Since the incident in the park, Tim has tried to avoid discussing his panic attack. It was an issue that Bruce wanted to address, but he questioned if he was the best qualified to do so. He felt he had some qualities to help Tim through it, but a neutral party he was not.
However, Bruce wanted to focus on other things. Tim's current condition mostly. He wanted to know what woke Tim up and what brought him downstairs. Bruce placed a hand on Tim's shoulder.
"What's up?" Bruce asked.
Tim took a moment to respond. He seemed disheartened about something.
"Have you seen Ra's?" Tim asked.
Bruce anxiously stared at Tim. The last thing he wanted to hear was Tim inquiring about anything to do with the whereabouts of Ra's al Ghul. It was too soon
"Why?" Bruce inquired.
"I'm scared." Tim sighed. "I can't seem to sleep without wondering if Ra's is out there planning something."
Bruce didn't want to answer that. Not because he didn't know, but because he didn't want to frighten Tim more than he already was. Bruce knew he couldn't give Tim the answer he wanted and that troubled him. However, he knew honesty was the only logical choice, even if he didn't know how Tim would react. Lying to Tim would do nothing for him.
"I haven't seen him." Bruce admitted. "To be honest, since your rescue, it's almost like he vanished. I haven't seen a single assassin. Talia hasn't shown up once to see Damian. Nothing. He's just gone. I don't know if that's a good or bad thing."
Bruce let Tim process his investigation. He didn't appear distressed, but he didn't appear pleased either. With Ra's unaccounted for, Bruce knew Tim had to feel something about it. Even if he wasn't showing it.
"What do you think about it?" Bruce asked. "How do you feel about this?"
"Uncertain relief." Tim sighed, finally looking at Bruce. "Deep seeded fear. Part of me feels like I should feel relieved that he's gone, but I know this can't be permanent. He has to be out there somewhere. He has to be planning something." Tim briefly set his sights back on the window. "When I woke up, I thought I saw him outside, but a flash of lightning revealed that it was merely a fox hiding in some bushes."
Tim was responding pretty well. His paranoia was understandable, but Bruce was glad that Tim wasn't overreacting. He understood the feeling of uncertainty, the fear that Ra's could be out there waiting for him must have been terrible.
It was even worse in Bruce's mind. He was supposed to protect Tim, but he couldn't give Tim the comfort he needed. Nor could he give Tim the satisfaction of knowing that Ra's wasn't going to bother him.
"I'm sorry." Bruce apologized.
"You have nothing to apologize for." Tim replied. "I'm the one who's paranoid."
Tim slowly arose from the windowsill, yawning. With Bruce home, he felt a little more comfortable trying to sleep.
"I'm going to try and sleep." Tim sighed.
Bruce stood up, placing a hand on Tim's back.
"I'll be here if you need me."
The following morning wasn't any clearer. The light rain turned into a downpour. Tim watched the rain fall from his bedroom window. He heard the door open, but didn't bother looking to see who it was.
"Are you okay?" Alfred's voice softly inquired as he entered the room with Ace not too far behind. "We missed you at breakfast."
"Yeah," Tim sighed, rubbing his eyes, "I just wasn't hungry."
Alfred looked out the window, catching a glimpse of Tim's view. Outside of the weather, there wasn't anything of significant value. Just the dampened yard and scattering critters.
"Why don't you come downstairs?" Alfred invited. "It's much more fun than cooping yourself up here."
"But there's nothing I want to do down there that I can't do up here."
"Except eat. Interacting with your family. Relishing in the freedom that you have. Calling up your friends. Need I go on?"
Tim didn't bother answering that. He knew Alfred could name more and he didn't feel like listening to more.
"Fine." Tim sighed, standing up. "I'll come down."
Ace growled at the window, irked by something, before letting out several loud barks. It startled Tim and got Alfred's attention. Tim started to panic, worrying Alfred. Alfred approached the window, intently searching the scene. Tim painfully held his breath.
"It's just a Persian cat." Alfred sighed. "Miss Kyle's no doubt. In which case, I believe this is Snowball."
Tim sighed in relief, approaching the window. It was just a cat. A fluffy white cat. Alfred sympathetically approached Tim wrapped arms around him.
"I'm sorry." Alfred apologized.
"It's okay." Tim accepted. "It's not your fault."
Alfred released Tim patting him on the back. He gave Tim a soft smile, glad to see him calmed down.
"Let's go." Alfred requested, leading Tim towards the door, before giving Ace some attention to Ace. "As for you, we're going to have to do something about your little outburst. What's the matter with you?"
"Go easy on him Alfred." Tim requested with an amused giggle. "He is Bruce's dog, and that is his chaotic love life's cat."
Hearing Tim giggle pleased Alfred. They walked out of the room together with Ace following close behind.
With the attention off of the yard, the cat exited the premises. Her attention wasn't on them, not even thinking that they noticed her. She trotted down the streets of Gotham, not even noticing the rustling in the bushes behind her.
Yes Alfred and Ace have a moment to shine. And the cat is a bit of an O.C. (original cat XD) since I doubt Selina has a Persian named Snowball.