Author's Note: I'm definitely having Fall Break by now. I'm really glad this story's gotten the amount of views that it has. Thanks everyone!

When Roy finally began to wake up, Tim waited patiently for him to realize he was leaning on a total stranger.

It didn't take long. He suppressed a smile as the brunet leapt up and started stammering out apologies, his face reddening.

"Why did you want to meet me here?" He asked, standing up. Roy stared at him for a few seconds, as if weighing his options, and then spoke.

"I need you to..." He trailed off and bit his lip nervously.

Roy wanted to just say 'nevermind' and leave, but...he didn't want to waste Timothy's time.

As if he wasn't already. Timothy probably had enough time on his hands without doing random strangers favors...wait...

"Why did you agree to meet?" Roy asked, frowning a little. "You don't even know me."

"You sounded like you needed help." Timothy replied immediately. "What was I supposed to do, refuse?"

Yes, Roy wanted to say. Yes, you were. I didn't expect you to actually say yes. You were supposed to refuse, and I'd find some other way.

But that just wasn't possible anymore. He only had twenty dollars left, he was sick of canned food. And, though he loved it, he knew he couldn't survive on bread and water alone.

Speaking of water, he wanted a shower. Deodorant could only do so much for the smell, and his hair felt dead and greasy and just fucking gross and Evelyn deserved a home too if he could find her one.

He glanced at Timothy, who looked a little confused, and realized he'd just spent almost a minute awkwardly silent.

But why the Hell had he called Timothy Wayne of all people? He could've called anybody else!

No, actually. He couldn't have. He didn't know anybody else. Of course, he didn't know Timothy either.

He didn't even know how he knew Timothy's phone number. It had just appeared in his head as he passed the payphone, so he dialed it in. And then he knew whose number it was as it rang, and he hadn't been able to hang up.

Well, fuck it. He thought. Risk nothing, gain nothing.

"I need your help. I, uh...you probably saw me on the news, if you watch it..." Timothy nodded. "And, I..." He shook his head. "I...I'm sorry I wasted your time." What the Hell is wrong with you? Quit whining. You really think you've got it so bad? At least you're alive. At least you're living somewhere.

"You're Elroy, then?" Tim asked him. Snapped out of his thoughts, Roy nodded. "You don't want to go home?" Roy shook his head now. He couldn't trust himself to speak. "...do you at least have somewhere you've been living?" Roy stiffly and slowly nodded again. He wasn't going to show Timothy his home if the other teen asked. Too big of a risk. "You look like you haven't showered in a while..." Timothy muttered, as if to himself. Roy spoke at this.

"Oh, thanks for making me feel more self conscious about it." He said, humor luckily making itself known through the sarcasm. He wasn't the best at social interaction. Timothy cracked an almost unnoticeable smile.

"How about...I let you stay with me for awhile?"

"Uh...excuse me?" Roy asked, his eyes widened.

Tim hadn't really thought about it until after he said it, but now he was committed to it. Roy had proven trustworthy more than once. And he could watch the kid for when he eventually used his ability.

Besides, his chest felt tight when he looked at Roy. Like he couldn't breathe. This hadn't started until he knew about the abuse.

It was anxiety. He had no clue how bad the abuse had really been.

Tim and Jason didn't always see eye to eye, but they both had a soft spot for women and kids. In Tim's case, especially kids.

The fact that Roy was probably around his age wasn't relevant.

Roy's expression was...odd. A mix of confusion, disbelief, and surprise. It was almost comical, but he didn't want to point that out.

"I'm not joking, before you ask. And I won't call the police unless you want me to." Roy stared at him.

"But...isn't it illegal to have a runaway live with you...?"

"Don't worry about that, okay? You'll be fine."

"But what about you? I don't want you to get in trouble just because of me..." Roy looked away as he said it, and anger sparked in Tim's stomach.

He wanted to find Roy's parents and kick their asses.

"I promise, it's okay." Tim smiled at him. "Come on. It isn't very far. Mind walking?" Roy stared at him, then slowly shook his head.

Okay, this was already way too surreal.

Roy. Was walking with Timothy Wayne. To said person's house. To temporarily stay.

Holy freaking Hell.

He didn't know what to say. Thank you? Sorry to trouble you? Fuck, marry me?

He cringed inwardly at how much his brain was screwing up, but he was an odd mixture of excited and nervous, and it was messing with his thought process.

"I...thank you, Mr Wayne..." He said quietly as they walked. Way to make it awkward, Roy.

"Don't worry about it." Timothy replied. "Just call me Tim, okay?" Roy nodded, then realized Tim couldn't see since he was walking behind him.

"Okay..." He looked ahead and frowned.

"Hey, Tim...isn't that your brother?" Roy asked him. Tim looked up ahead.

There was Dick, walking towards them with that confident, almost cocky smirk.

"Oh, damn..." Tim muttered.

"What? You don't like him?" Roy asked, and Tim could feel the teen's eyes on him.

"Not anymore." Tim replied coldly...but it was a lie. Before he could say anything else, Dick was right in front of them.

"Hey Timmy." Dick said, smiling. Only his eyes betrayed how apprehensive he was. "Who's your friend?"