"That went well," Tim commented sarcastically after Dick escaped. Bruce glared at him and he glared in return. "What did you expect will happen? That he'll roll over and take it?"

Bruce's stony silence was clear indication that, yes, he did expect something along those lines.

"Unbelievable," Tim exclaimed and went back to typing.

Damian finished his breakfast and vanished upstairs.

"His… attachment… to Jason is... unhealthy," Bruce stated after a moment of silence.

"Oh my God!" Tim slammed his laptop shut and rubbed at his temples. "Are you serious right now?"

"What's unhealthy, Master Bruce, is your jealousy that Dick prefers Jason's company over your own," Alfred commented casually.

"Wait," Tim looked at Alfred and then at Bruce with wide eyes. "Really? That's what this is about?"

"It's not," the Batman denied. "It's about Jason being irresponsible and clearly not-"

"Oh my God it totally is!" Tim buried his face into his hands and laughed. "Oh my God."

"Tim," Bruce shook his head.

"No, no, no," Red Robin interrupted him. "It's hilarious. Bruce Wayne got all jealous because his de-aged son likes his other son better. It's a shame it can't make the headlines." He chuckled some more, while Alfred finished cleaning up after breakfast and left to take Damian to school. Then Tim composed himself, looking at Bruce seriously, "Of course Dick's attached. Jason was the first one to reach out to him."

"He would have come to us eventually," the billionaire defended.

"No, he wouldn't," Tim shook his head. "Not this time. It's been months, Bruce. It's not how Dick operates, no matter how much you wish he would. And even if he did, in what condition do you think he would be in by then? We're lucky Red Hood was in Blüdhaven on his birthday. Otherwise we probably wouldn't know, that something happened to him until long after he didn't show up to the party. And from what Jason said, Dick probably would be seriously injured or dead by then."

"Hn," was Bruce's only comment.

Tim sighed and stood up, gathering his things.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I have a little big brother to cheer up while you fix this." He made his way out of the kitchen but paused in the threshold, looking over his shoulder at Bruce. "Oh, and make sure you'll get the angle of the camera right. We want to have a clear view of Jason eviscerating you."

"He wouldn't," Bruce stated incredulously, followed by a lot more nervous, "Right?"

Tim grinned and walked away, whistling cheerfully. His good mood didn't last long though. With a sigh, Tim climbed upstairs and headed towards Dick's room. He knocked and then tried open the door, only to find it locked. Oh shit, he didn't ran away, did he? Jason was going to kill them for real. And Bruce would be pissed, despite it being his own fault.

"Dick, are you in there?" Tim knocked more insistently.

"Go away!" came the muffled, wavering voice from the room.

Red Robin slumped against the door in relief. Oh, thank God, Dick was still there. Crying, but still safe in the manor.

"Dick, come out, please," Tim requested. He was sorely tempted to pick the lock, but he knew it would just make things much worse.

"No," came the defiant reply.

"Alright," Tim made himself as comfortable as he could against the wall, opened his laptop and went to work while he waited for Dick to become less stubborn or get hungry enough to emerge.

About ten minutes later Dick peeked out, tears still falling from his reddened eyes.

"What are you doing?" he asked incredulously.

"Working," Tim answered distractedly.

"Go to your room, or somewhere with a table and a chair," miniature Nightwing fussed. "You can't be comfortable here."

"Well, I'm not," Tim admitted. "But I'll get lonely if I'll go somewhere else."

"That was lame," Dick huffed opening the door wider and stepping out.

"It got you out," Red Robin put his laptop aside and gently pulled at Dick. "Come here."

Dick went into the hug willingly enough. Tim wrapped his arms around the child comfortingly and waited until the tears had stopped.

"You know, Jason's leaving yesterday wasn't your fault," Tim murmured into his hair.

Dick only nodded. Because what else could he do? He didn't want to talk about why Red Hood would leave. And he definitely didn't want to talk about his self-imposed restrain in shows of affection.

Tim hummed and gestured at his laptop.

"I really need to finish this soon, so let's get you something to eat. You can help me with that and then we'll do whatever you want. Within reason."

"Okay," Dick agreed, moving around to Tim's back while Red Robin grabbed his computer and stood up.

"Alright?" Tim checked.

Dick shifted a bit and tightened his grip, "Yes."

A couch was definitely an improvement from the floor. Tim sat down, placed laptop on his knees and got to work while Dick finished his breakfast next to him. Then the kid climbed into his lap, forcing Red Robin to readjust his and computer's positions to accommodate him. Dick watched for a while what he was working on, suggesting some thing here and there as he slowly took over the typing. Tim let him, relaxing back into the couch. He was cozy and warm and Dick's weight against his chest was surprisingly comforting. He didn't even know when he fell asleep.

Tim jerked awake sometime later. Dick was still sitting on him, though the laptop was now on the table and the TV was playing quietly. He groaned and rubbed at his eyes.

"Hi," Dick smiled up at him.

"Hi," Red Robin replied. "How long I was out?"

"About two hours," Dick shrugged. "You work too much, Timmy."

"So I heard," Tim admitted. "So, since you did my work for me, how about ice cream?"

"Yeah!" Dick lit up and immediately jumped down, bouncing on his feet impatiently as Tim gathered himself to actually get up.

Tim chuckled and ruffled his hair.

"Maybe we'll get you a haircut on the way," he teased.

"Not you too," the kid pouted. "I like my hair the way it is."

"Fine, fine," Tim put his hands up in surrender. "I'll just let Jason shave it off while you're asleep."

"He wouldn't!" Dick shrieked, covering his head protectively. He glared at his little brother, "Now I won't sleep. Thanks!"

Red Robin laughed.

Tim drove them to the city and they got ice cream and then went to the movies. After that Tim wanted to let Dick tire himself out in the park, but the kid was anxious to go back to the manor. Tim tried to figure out why all the way back.

"It was fun," Dick said with a forced enthusiasm when they entered the manor. "Thanks!"

"But?" Tim drawled.

"Nothing," the kid dropped his gaze down and shuffled his feet. "I'll leave you to your work now, I guess?"

Aw, shit. Jason was right. They didn't paid enough attention to Dick until they were forced by him, and even then it was begrudgingly at best. Tim knew that, but he didn't know how deeply affected Dick was by that. And he was affected. Very much. Jason's protectiveness suddenly made a lot more sense.

"Barring a real emergency, I don't have anymore work today," Tim stated. "Bruce knows I have better things to do."

"Oh," Dick mumbled and turned in the direction of the TV room. "Okay then."

Now that just wouldn't do. Tim quickly closed the distance between them and lifted Dick up, ignoring his surprised yelp.

"And by better things I mean hanging out with my big bro," Red Robin explained.

"Really?" Dick asked, and the skepticism in his voice hurt Tim.

Jesus, how Jason got through this?

"Of course!" Tim couldn't stop himself from kissing Dick's temple and squeezing him to his chest.

And that was the moment the fate decided to intervene. Tim's phone went off. Work. Emergency. Fucking hell. Red Robin started swearing.

"It's okay," Dick smiled at him. "Go."

"It's not okay," Tim shook his head. "At all. You want to come with me?"

"No," Dick scowled. "Bruce."

Ah, yes. The level of 'you're an asshole and I'm ignoring you' Dick managed to achieve when Bruce crossed path with them as he was leaving for work was impressive.

"I can't leave you alone here," Tim said, imagining all the ways little Dick could kill himself if not supervised.

"Yes, you can," Dick stated firmly. "I'm not a child."

"I know that," Tim sighed.

"Alfred and Damian should be home real soon if that makes you feel better," the kid pointed out.

"They should be back an hour ago actually," Tim bit his lip. "Are you sure you don't want to come with me?"

"I'm sure," Dick nodded. "How about that? I'll just sit around and watch TV, no acrobatics since you're so worried. And we can talk on the phone until you're done or they come back?"

"Fine," Tim agreed. Jason was soo going to kill him. "I'm sorry. I really am."

"It's fine," Dick waved him off. "I understand. Have fun!"

"Right, fun," Tim snorted and hurried to his car.

As they agreed, he talked to Dick until Alfred and Damian got back fifteen minutes later. As Dick disconnected Tim really hoped he wasn't laying about that. When he got back to the manor it was late. Bruce and Damian were in the Batcave, readying for patrol and Dick loitered around with his plushie. Tim stopped and squinted at it. Was it… No way! He spied Bruce scowling at the toy, when he though nobody was looking. Oh my God! Whoever got Dick the Red Hood plushie was a genius.

"Hi guys," he greeted with a large grin on his face.

"Tim!" Dick exclaimed, skipping to him and holding out the toy. "Look what Damian got me!"

Tim raised his eyebrows in surprise. Damian? He looked at Robin. Damian was very busy with something at his belt, avoiding his gaze. Batman shoot his son a betrayed look. It was amazing.

"Awesome," he beamed at Dick. "How about we'll let the Bat and Brat play and we watch a movie or something?"

"Aren't you going on patrol?" Dick narrowed his eyes at him in suspicion.

"Nope. I told you, I don't have work today."

Dick grinned.

They watched a movie. Halfway in Dick started to drop. But it wasn't until Dick curled up with the intention to sleep, that Tim turned the TV off and relocated them to Dick's room. Naturally the kid suddenly was wide awake again.

"Go to sleep, Dick," Tim encouraged.

"I don't want to," the child whined.

Tim sighed and then had an idea.

"Okay, well, why don't you lie down anyway and I read to you?"

"Yes, please!" was the enthusiastic reply.

Tim smiled, picked up a random book and settled on the bed. Dick curled into his side, clutching his new plushie tightly. Four pages in and Dick was sleepy again.

Tim put the book aside and carefully arranged the child to lay fully on the bed under the covers.

"More?" Dick mumbled.

"Another time," Red Robin whispered. "Sleep now. Jay will pick you up after his patrol."

"Mm, okay," Dick shifted into more comfortable position and fell asleep.

Tim picked the book back up and continued to read, waiting.