Sorry for taking so long to update -_-* our teachers decided that they were going to spring about seven tests on us in like three days :( so I have been pretty stressed lately, but I promised Celticlily I would update (i said on Friday or Saturday so I'm a day late) but hey it's an update :D
Okay this is just a warning, the next chapter may take a little while as I have a rugby match on Wednesday against the best college in the country and we are going to get thrashed (the last time we played the game had top be called off halfway though because we were loosing so badly :( ) and I will probably be hurting and exhausted... and a lot of the time I can't write when I am exhausted; in pain yes... exhausted no. Hopefully it won't be a long wait and you will all be like "Why did she tell us this?!" but I thought I would warn you because I am nice and hate leaving you hanging :)
So on with the new chapter... this is written for Reading Addict who wanted something on their time in Tokyo (this is part one there *will* be a part two... I am just having writer's block on how to get there :/ ) so enjoy :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Batman (but I do wish DC would be clearer on whether there is going to be a Red Robin ongoing series because 'something is going to happen' is NOT good enoutgh :( )
As always prompts and questions are welcome XD
"Welcome to the largest metropolitan area on Earth little bro." Emerging from Tokyo International Airport they were almost swept away with a crowd of bustling commuters. All Tim could do was look around and gape. Gape at the skyscrapers that had looked so tiny from the plane; gape at the bright lights, the vibrant colours, the buzzing sound of the busy metropolis.
"Pretty cool, isn't it Babybird?" He nodded profusely, not trusting his voice at the moment. It was exciting, he had never been out of Gotham before... not even on school trips, just being here was enough to make his voice break... but in Tokyo, a city with so much history and culture; Tim was pretty sure his voice was a wispy string of high pitched squeaks at the moment. Jason and Dick chuckled a bit and ruffed up his hair, guiding him to a waiting limo that Mr Pennyworth had insisted on driving himself.
"Bruuuuuce… where are we going first?" Mr Wayne smiled at his impatient eldest son,
"The hotel to drop off our bags, then I think Mr Hu's for dinner?"
"Yes!" the simultaneous outcry came from both Jason and Dick as their fists were punched into the air. Tim smiled. They were happy; everything was alright as long as everyone else was happy. As long as everyone else was happy there was no shouting, no arguing, no looks of pure hatred and despair. It was nice, to be in a place of smiles and hugs… even if he didn't deserve them, even when he had been bad, imperfect, Tim.
It was nice.
Nice that Mr Wayne and his family could be happy even with him around, that they didn't grimace when he passes into their line of sight; that they still laughed at each other's bad jokes with him sitting right next to them. Nice.
"We are so totally not getting the seafood special for Dick again"
"Hey why not?"
"Because you threw it up"
"Oh yeah… that wasn't so pleasant… let's not do that again"
"Hey Babybird; you ever had Japanese before?" Tim stared at him blankly… had Japanese? What did he mean had Japanese? "… I'll take that as a no, you're gonna love it. Mr Wu does the most awesome chicken noodles ever" his face stayed blank, food, Jason was talking about food. Had he ever had Japanese food before? He had never been out to dinner before; his parents had never taken him, and he was pretty sure they had never had Japanese at home; well he had never made it when his parents were away and they didn't make it when they were home… in fact they didn't really make anything when they were home. They practically lived off frozen meals brought from the supermarket, or food the maid made when his parents were home and employed someone to do the things that they didn't want to. Tim had never really liked the ready meals, they were oily and dry and bland and some made him sick, or made his thought close up tight and painfully itchy. The food he made when he was home alone never did that. He just hoped Japanese weren't like those ready meals.
"Oh man those noodles are amazing… little bro you *have* to be so excited about those noodles" Dick's smile was blinding as his arms wrapped around Tim pulling him into a hug, he offered a small smile back;
"I've never been out before" his voice small and emotionless, it was a simple fact, nothing more, nothing less; but it brought looks of contempt to the faces of those in the car… even Mr Wayne looked disgusted.
"Your parents went out to dinner all the time… at least once a week when they were home" Tim nodded, they had.
"It was usually when I had done something wrong; they didn't like me when I did stuff wrong so they went out." Dick tightened his hug suddenly wishing that Alfred wasn't such a good, so that they went out more because Tim currently denoted going out to dinner with doing something wrong (even if that thing wasn't wrong at all) and that wasn't right.
"Wait…" Jason's voice was blunt and to the point "so Babybird you're telling me that you have never eaten dinner outside of your house?" Tim shook his head silently "You've never been out for Pizza or Chinese, or fish and chips" Tim shook his head again, eyes cast down to the floor of the limo "not even to a random diner; or MacDonald's to eat junk food" more shaking, his eyes started tearing up. He had failed, somehow he had failed them, he was supposed to know these things, but he didn't.
"I'm sorry" his voice, barely a whisper, rang out though the limo even against the loudish roar of the engine.
"Babybird"
"Timmy, little bro"
"Tim, there is nothing for you to be sorry about, we're not upset *with you* about anything, no, nothing at all" Mr Wayne was smiling at him even though he had failed. That wasn't supposed to happen. "Though when we go out; if you don't like something you need to tell me; and I will get you something else." Tim nodded vaguely tears still prickling his eyes as the car pulled to the front of the hotel.
He stared and gasped. It was one of the tallest skyscrapers in the city, sleek and lit up like a Christmas tree; a very tall Christmas tree. The whole thing was made out of tinted glass; it almost looked like Wayne Enterprises back in Gotham. The hotel was subtly imposing, a piece of architecture that laid claim to the land, the city, without anyone batting an eyebrow.
"Mr Wayne; how nice to see you again, your usual suite is ready for you. May I take your bags?"
"Thank-you, Alfred will help you, I'm sure" Mr Wayne said whilst literally picking Tim up into his arms as he tried to get the bags out of the limo's boot. His embrace was warm, soft and loving; nothing like Tim had ever felt before. It felt safe, like he could fall asleep for eternity there and nothing would ever wake him; the world could pass into a zombie apocalypse and Tim would still feel safe in Mr Wayne's arms.
"Of course Master Bruce it will be my pleasure"
"Mr Wayne I should hel-" Jason bopped his nose and he recoiled in surprise, brow creasing in confusion
"Shush Babybird dad is carrying you and you are going to enjoy it, so just relax." He was hugged close to the man who had always been so kind to him and he nodded into the man's shoulder.
"Master Bruce I will see you upstairs"
"Yes, thank-you Alfred." Their butler left them at the front doors with the porter as they took the porters' entrance and went up to the hotel's penthouse that way. Mr Wayne however strode thought the doors and into the magnificent lobby.
It was huge, took up the two bottom stories of the building and was as open plan as you could get. Tim couldn't help but mutter a small "wow" as they passed through; and that's what they did: pass through. Mr Wayne didn't stop. He walked straight passed the huge marble columns at the entrance, straight passed the glass reception desk that took up most of the right side of the hall, straight passed the fountain in the middle of the room where a dragon was breathing water instead of fire; straight to the elevator and no one batted an eyelash. It was like Mr Wayne owned the place... did he own the place? It would make sense... but he couldn't really find himself caring because the flight had been late, and long, and they had technically lost a day (which they were going to gain back; well at least some of it) and he was really tired, and Mr Wayne was really comfortable, and his eyelids were drooping... and, even though he didn't want to fall asleep on Mr Wayne, because he shouldn't fall asleep on people because it wasn't proper, and it was unbecoming, and Mr Wayne wouldn't like him if he fell asleep; even though he shouldn't he couldn't help it. Especially with the monotone buzz of the lift as they went upwards, he fell into a surprisingly blissful, safe sleep.
Bruce was certain he has somehow been turned into a fourteen year old girl because 'Awwwww' that was literally the only thing that went through his mind as they exited the elevator into their suite. Tim was such a cute sleeper... Tim was cute anyway, but especially when sleeping almost weightless in his arms.
Tim really needed to eat more. From what he'd heard today, he probably hadn't eaten properly since he was five if *really* ever. Which was probably why he was so small; he was being denied the nutrients he needed to grow properly. Mentally taking down a note to make sure that didn't happen now; the damage, however, was probably already done, Tim would always be small, he would probably be teased for it.
And it was all the Drakes' fault. He had never felt so angry at anyone, not even Chill, than he did at that moment at Jack and Janet Drake.
"Hey dad, what's up?" an involuntary "huh?" graced his lips before he looked up at his two sons already settled into their rooms
"Nothing Jason; why?" his son smiled back at him and raised his eyebrow in an Alfred-like manner
"Oh it's just that you had that I-want-to-punch-someone-now face on so we thought something might be up" he chuckled, it was small and gentle as to not wake Tim, but it was still there
"I was just reminiscing on parenting and hoping that I'm a good dad" he had expected awkward smiles and shuffling feet; he had not expected being gently barrelled into by two teenaged boys,
"The best" Jason hugged him tighter, making sure not to squish Tim's feet while did so, but really; Jason had to think that. He was the only dad Jason knew, Willis Todd didn't count; a man who abandoned his kid to the streets because his new girlfriend didn't like him and said the money could be better spent on her, gambling, alcohol and the occasional drugs didn't deserve to be called a father.
"I'm putting you joint top, with my dad; because you're both awesome" coming from Dick, who was attached to the other side of him like a starfish, that was high praise. John Grayson was a better father than he could ever be.
In all honesty, he wasn't a good father. He was a broken, obsessive, compulsive, vigilante who was at times an overly flamboyant playboy, who dressed up at night in a bat themed armoured suit and beat criminals to a pulp. No, he wasn't a good father, he tried to be. He tried so very hard to be; but he just wasn't.
What he was; was blessed with two (soon to become three once the paperwork came through) sons who were every type of amazing you could come up with. Smart, witty, brave, annoying, funny, a joy, well behaved with a hint of mischievousness… amazing.
And somehow they were his.
"Master Wayne I assure you, you are doing very well in that department" Alfred, who had probably been listening to the whole conversation had somehow managed to take a picture of their makeshift family, was now smiling at them from the corner of the room picking up the valet ticket and putting the camera in his pocket for 'later'.
With his free hand he ruffled Jason's hair then brought his arm round dick to squeeze him into a tight hug. They may not be the most conventional family but that's exactly what the five of them were: family. They loved each other, complimented each other, brightened each other's days and he would be damned if anything happened to them.
They were his.
"So who thinks we can make it to Mr Hu's without waking Tim?" they were a family;
And one day Tim might see that too.
Thanks for reading... one more question;
ANYONE have ANY idea what is going on with Cartoon Network and Young Justice?
I want a third season not ANOTHER hiatus :( we only just got off the last one.
Thanks again for reading
Supernova95 XD