Thanksgiving
A Word: Because nothing says 'family holiday' better than some good, old fashioned family angst/drama/criticism!
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"I don't understand," Damian says and Tim is honestly shocked that the boy isn't whining. It shows a level of restraint that Tim is quite frankly envious of at the moment as they follow Dick into the formal dinning room. The one that is so rarely used despite Alfred's best efforts. "Why must we celebrate the eradication of an indigenous people with the ritual fattening and slaughtering of an animal?"
There's a turkey roaming the estate. Fat and content. Not knowing how very close to being killed and stuffed it came before Damian figured out why the press was making such a fuss over a stupid bird. Tim gives it until Christmas before Alfred finds a suitable enough home for it well away from the manor. The cow at least has been providing the older man with a fresh supply of milk. The turkey has only made a mess of one of the side patios and left far too many droppings to be believed.
"It's tradition," Dick says with the kind of glee that really isn't faked. Their older brother really loves tormenting them all with his special brand of sadism. 'Family' bonding times and events like Thanksgiving are right up his alley. "Besides it's all about family now days."
Damian's head snaps to the side and Tim shakes his head sharply at the boy's look. "Don't push it," Tim mouths the warning and -wonder of wonders- Damian actually heeds him and shuts his mouth.
It's a slow process, but the boy can learn.
It's easier to let Dick have his way when the holidays come around. To grin and laugh and draw his family around him like a blanket. Despite what a horrible and bad idea it is to get them all together in close quarters like this with no immediate crime to distract themselves with.
Case in point. When they enter the room Jason looks to be one word -wrong or right- away from launching over the expertly laid out table with his butter knife. There is a suspicious lack of any sharpened implements on the table, and Tim feels relieved that Alfred is taking measures to prevent last year's pre-dinner incident.
Stephanie, by contrast, looks pleased and downright smug as she studiously ignores Jason's glare. It's a sadly effective tactic to rile the older man up, and a move that Tim labels as plain stupid on Steph's account. The only reason she's pulling it off now is Cass' presence beside her. Calm and silent despite the faint frown line creasing her forehead.
"You made it!" Dick throws himself into the tense atmosphere with abandon.
Flinging his arms around both women, and a smile at Jason. His words could be for any or all three of them. It doesn't really matter. He steals the seat next to Cass and Tim reluctantly moves around to the other side of the table. Damian darts around him. Stealing the seat across from Dick and Tim grits his teeth as he slips into the seat beside an obviously on edge Jason.
It's not his favorite place in the world but it seems to be one he's finding himself in more and more often. Why everyone has decided the one person in the world Jason has tried his hardest to kill should always be within his arms reach is beyond Tim. He'd suspect more sadism except there's a distinct lack of glee when it happens. He's starting to theorize that attempts on Tim's life are simply seen as normal now. Which is worryingly logical considering how many people sitting at the table have honestly tried to kill him at one point or another.
Damian sulks in his seat. Sparing a stiff nod to Cass that she returns with a smile. She's already far more relaxed as she watches them all. There's a gleam to her eyes when she looks at Tim that matches Dick's. Tim's known her long enough to know she's picking up every thought Tim's having and laughing at him. Dick has already found a soft spot in Steph's defenses. Asking about her mother and ignoring the way her answers are stiff and clipped as she spends a family holiday not with her own mom. Jason's spinning a fork over his knuckles like a knife and side eying Tim. Taking in the light armor that Tim made sure to wear under his sweater and flexing his other hand.
They're off to a fine start already, and there aren't even any bread rolls on the table yet. The only thing that could make this worse is-
As if on cue, Bruce comes in. Eyes sweeping them all up in a matter of seconds before he makes his way to the head of the table. Tim waits through the silence and the soft greetings of Cass and the louder greeting of Damian. Alfred continues to not come in after Bruce with platters of food large enough to distract everyone. Which is usually a timed thing the older man works out to ensure the awkward family situation doesn't happen too often.
Bruce is early for whatever reason. Tim turns -noticing the way the fork has stopped spinning in Jason's hand, and the way Steph is now out and out glaring- to find Bruce staring straight at him. The frown is seen more in his eyes and Tim already knows what's coming. What's been coming for a few weeks now, but he has managed to put off with cases and leads when they're working.
The tradeoff had been valid. Red Robin had let a petty criminal go and snagged some bigger fish with the info that deal had gotten him. Knowing the whole time that Batman wouldn't have approved of the choices he made, and doing it anyway.
Bruce slowly turns that look onto each of them in turn. Tim doesn't know exactly what anyone else might have done, but he can guess. Steph's glare turns heated and she doesn't look away. Jason bares his teeth in a snarl and his knuckles go white on the fork. Damian flushes even as his face turns stubborn. Cass is completely passive, nothing showing on her face or in her actions. Dick's grin takes on a knife's edge that's all combative.
Tim begins to give serious consideration to throwing everything he has in with Babs. Sure, he'd have to deal with her Birds, but at least she's far enough away from Gotham most days to not have to worry about being drawn into things like this.
Bruce takes a deliberate breath and Tim braces himself, because Alfred is nowhere in sight to stop the coming family brawl.
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