They quickly fell into a routine. Jason would find Tim after school and Tim would go home with him. Sometimes he stayed for dinner but mostly the boys worked on homework then played games together. Sometimes they would read books or play outside. Jason had a real passion for literature that often expressed itself in spirited recreations as he acted out a particularly exciting scene for Tim. Alfred had offered to drive him to school as well, but Tim refused. He didn't want to impose more than he already was or have them realize that he was alone. If they knew they would want to help which meant he would be imposing even more, and he didn't want that.
He met Jason by the eighth-grade hallway where Jason had most of his classes and they walked together to collect Tim's bike. Jason was complaining about a class when he suddenly changed the subject.
"Oh, Tim, you got to see if you can stay for dinner tonight. Dick's coming over." Tim stopped.
"Dick Grayson?" he asked incredulously.
"Well yeah," Jason laughed. "Who else?"
Tim pulled out his cell phone and sent a text to a number labeled "mom". Not long after he'd started regularly accepting Jason's invitation it occurred to him that it would seem suspicious if he didn't ask his parents' permission for anything. He knew actually texting them wasn't an option for a number of reasons. They didn't like to be bothered and rarely answered for one, and he wasn't entirely confidant that they would approve of Jason as a friend. It was easier if they didn't know. So, using his credit card, which had a ridiculously high spend limit, he bought himself another phone. He programed it to automatically respond "Yes you may" or "No you may not" when sent certain keywords. He tended to keep it close, just so that if a more detailed response was needed, he could find a way to send it manually. He texted this phone now and received the automatic "Yes you may".
"My mom says it's ok."
"Awesome dude! You'll like Dick. He's super weird but he's pretty cool."
Tim nodded lost in thought. He'd met Dick Grayson once before, and he'd never forgotten it. Conversation drifted to other matters and before he knew it, they were at the manor.
"Surprise!" Dick shouted as they walked through the door. "I managed to get off of work early."
Dick gave Alfred a hug, then Jason who squirmed, unsuccessfully attempting to escape his grip. He turned to Tim and held out his hand.
"You must be Tim. Everyone's told me all about you, I'm so glad I can finally meet you in person." Tim shook his hand.
"It's an honor really," Tim gushed, "I'm a huge fan." Dick looked confused. "Haley's Circus" Tim explained. "I saw them, you, once. When I was really little. We took a picture. You did a quadruple backflip for me." Dick's eyes widened.
"I remember you! He exclaimed. "You were so small. I can't believe you remember. That's incredible!" His exuberance faded slightly. "Then you must have seen my parents-"
"Yeah," Tim nodded. "I did."
To Tim's surprise, Dick knelt down and pulled him into a hug. He stiffened at first, but soon relaxed. It felt nice.
"I don't suppose you still have that picture?" Dick asked after releasing Tim from the hug.
"I do actually." Tim said. "If you'd like, I could make you a copy." Dick smiled.
"I would like that very much. Now," he said standing up. "Last time I was here I was promised a Super Smash Bros tournament that we didn't get to. I'm sure a three-way contest will be even better than a two way." Tim grinned while Jason groaned.
"It's smash brothers not bros, doofus." Jason insisted.
"Then why spell it bros?" Dick countered smugly.
"Because as anyone with half a brain cell knows, its abbreviated and shouldn't need explaining." Jason poked Tim's arm. "Timbo, back me up here." Both turned to look at him. Tim shrugged.
"The abbreviation actually stands for brothers, but the meaning is the same either way, so I don't think it really matters."
"Thanks for the backup." Jason grumbled and the three of them raced for the TV.
Dinner that evening was wonderful. Having Dick around put everyone in a better mood. He was funny and charming, always sure to include Tim in his jokes just as much as Jason. Tim wished he had a brother like that. Tim laughed at something Dick just said and made eye contact with Jason. At that moment a stab of jealously shot through him. Jason had an older brother to joke with, a father who was there and listened, and a practically grandfather who cared. What did Tim have? An empty house and distant parents who were impossible to please.
Tim felt guilty as soon as the thought crossed his mind. His parents worked hard to provide for him and all the people under them. They did so much for the community, with the jobs Drake industries provided and the charities they supported, it was only right that they have high expectations of him since it would all be his responsibility one day. They needed to travel for their work, they couldn't get anything done at home, not while they had to care for him. And he really was lucky that he still had both of his parents. That was more than Jason had. No, he was grateful. He had a house, he had parents, and he had a friend. Three if he counted Alfred and Dick. Maybe even four.
Tim glanced over to where Bruce sat. True to his word, Bruce had been nothing but kind and welcoming to him so far. Tim had seen him be stern with Jason but never cruel. He clearly cared about his family and it seemed, about Tim too.
"I talked to my parents." Tim said, filling a pause that had come in the conversation. "They said it's ok for me to come over and stay for dinner every day since they have to stay at the office late pretty much all the time. As long as it's ok with you." He looked at Bruce nervously, trying to gauge how he felt about Tim's interpretation of Bruce's invitation to "come any time". To his relief, Bruce smiled.
"I'm glad to hear that Tim. We've all enjoyed your company, Jason especially."
"I enjoy being here too." Tim said. And that was the truth.
Bruce, Dick, and Jason watched from the window as Alfred drove Tim home. "What do you think?" Bruce asked.
"Hard to believe" Dick said.
"He hasn't mentioned anything about Batman and Robin to Jason."
"Do you think he knows?"
"I'm not sure but it's certainly possible."
"well, either way he seems like a nice kid." Bruce grunted.
"Nice won't keep him from getting killed if he keeps following us out there."
"Is he?" Dick asked.
"We haven't seen him on patrol but if a nine-year-old can traipse around Gotham for months without being noticed by us, or his parents, being caught once won't be enough to get him to stop forever."
"hmm, what do you think Jay?" Jason grunted and shrugged sullenly.
"I'm going down to the cave to get ready for patrol." Bruce announced turning from the window. "Will you be joining us?" he asked Dick.
"Wouldn't miss it" Dick replied with a grin.
After Bruce left Dick knelt by Jason. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"When did I say something was wrong?" Jason demanded, suddenly defensive.
"Is it about Tim?"
Jason sighed. "I guess."
Dick waited. Seeing that Dick wasn't going to let this go Jason continued.
"It's just, I sought Tim out 'cause Bruce asked me to, cause we wanted to know what he knew and if he was working for somebody and all that. But we still don't actually know. And the weird thing is, I like having him over. He's super smart and fun, knows all sorts of crazy stuff. Hanging out with him feels, I don't know, normal. I mean, sometimes I wish he knew I was Robin so I could show him the cave and tell him about all the stuff we do but then I'm glad he doesn't cause it's nice just being a regular kid for once. It kinda feels like I'm lying to him, cause I'm only his friend 'cause Bruce told me to. I hate that."
Dick thought for a moment.
"Well Little Wing, seems to me like it doesn't matter how you two became friends. You're friends now. You need someone close to your age to hang out with and having someone not really connected to the nightlife has its difficulties, but like you said it's normal. I didn't really have that when was your age, I'm glad you've got it now. It's good for you. And something tells me that Tim needed a friend too."
Jason was quiet.
"I guess you're right." He said
"Of course I'm right. I'm your big brother, that's my job." Dick laughed.
"Big pain's more like it, Dickhead." Dick nimbly dodged a punch.
"Ahh Little Wing, the time has come for me to challenge you to a race to the cave. The winner shall be crowned with laurels while the loser-", he stopped when Jason raced past "Hey, I didn't say go!" Dick chased his brother down the hall.