Tim reflects on his first day at school. Tim is 9, Jason is 15, and Dick is 19.

Chapter 40: My First Day at School

Tim's POV

Dick hugged me tightly before telling me to have fun and actually talk to people. Then Daddy bent down and told me to do good before hugging me. I didn't want to go to school. I was nine years old and I had never been to a school before. Why couldn't I just stay home with Dickie, Daddy, and Alfred? I was going to be all alone today.

I glanced up at Jason, who was sitting in the back of the limo with me as Alfred drove us to the school. He caught me looking and snarled at me as I quickly scooted as far away from him as possible and kept my eyes glued to the floor. Jason was scary and mean. That's when Alfred cleared his throat while glaring at Jason in the rearview mirror.

Soon Alfred pulled into the school and Jason quickly jumped out without saying goodbye as I gathered my new backpack. "Have a good day, Master Timothy." Alfred spoke up. I nodded in return and walked up to the doors of the school.

I tried to avoid getting in everyone's way. I felt about an inch tall as I was knocked down, pushed, and shoved by everyone in the hallway. Soon I arrived at my classroom. Late. I felt my face growing red as all eyes were on me. My teacher, Mrs. Palmer, informed everyone that I was a new student and asked me to share something about myself. But, I couldn't. I couldn't get any words to come out. After what seemed like hours, she asked me to sit down and that I could share later as everyone else, but one girl laughed at me.

My desk was located in the middle, right beside the love of my young life. Stephanie Brown. The way she smiled at me. Her hair was like staring at beautiful sunshine. The way she told me her name and that it was okay to be nervous… it was beautiful.

Soon, Mrs. Palmer put review problems on the board. I knew all of them immediately. I had written down every answer, before some of the kids had even taken out a piece of paper. Soon Mrs. Palmer asked me why I wasn't working. I then felt the eyes of everyone staring down at me. I just shrugged my shoulders as she approached my desk and looked at my paper.

I remember watching her eyes narrow as I shrunk into my desk. She accused me of cheating and I did nothing to defend myself. That's when Stephanie informed my teacher that she didn't see me cheating. Yet, no one believed her.

Then the rumors started. Rumors quickly spread about how I didn't know how to talk, I was a midget, I was stupid, I had to have a girl defend me, I was Bruce Wayne's charity case, I was raised by wolves, and other false statements were spread.

When we went to lunch, I remember seeing Jason walk past me without a second glance. I remember taking a seat by myself; not feeling hungry at all. Then some of the really mean kids from my class formed a circle around me and took the food off my tray and ate it. Then they teased me and said really mean things to me. Relief came when the bell rang. I quickly hurried away from them and ran back to my class.

The rest of the day went by so slowly and it kept getting worse. I just wanted to go home. I wanted my brother to hold me and tell me it was going to get better. I wanted to sit in my daddy's lap and have him brush my hair out of my face. And I wanted my grandfather to give me a cookie and talk to me with his British accent.

When the bell finally rang, I hurried outside. But, the really mean kids from my class circled around me. I was shoved roughly to the ground, while some of them made fun of me, while the others threw dirt at me. I cried. I tried so hard not to cry, but I couldn't help it. I just wanted Dickie or Alfred or Daddy to come and save me. And I did get saved, but it wasn't like I expected it.

"What in the hell do you think you're doing!"

I looked up to see Jason parting the circle around me. He marched right over to the kid who pushed me and lifted him straight off the ground and shook him. A dark stain started spreading around the boy's pants.

Fearfully, the one who shoved me answered, "I'm sorry! We didn't know you were friends with him!"

I watched Jason's eyes narrow as he jerked the kid directly in front of his face. "Damn right we are! He is my little brother. And if you ever touch him again… No! If you ever even look at him, I'll make sure to buy you a tampon because you're gonna be pissin blood for a month when I get through with you. And that will be the least of your worries. You have a problem with him; you have a problem with me. Do I make myself clear?" he growled.

"Yyess, sir." The kid stammered as Jason let him fall to the ground and he quickly ran from us, crying and screaming. The other kids stood speechless gazing up at Jason.

"The same rule goes for the rest of you. Touch him and you'll spend the rest of your life in a living Hell. Everyone else had better get the hell away from here, while you still have a chance to walk. Now!" He growled as the crowd ran for their lives.

I stared up at Jason in awe and in wonder. He walked over to me and picked me off of the ground. He brushed the dirt off of me and wiped the remaining tears from my eyes before asking me if I was okay. I didn't answer him, I was too awestruck. My hero had just saved me. Robin saved me. Robin called me his best friend. Robin called me his little brother. Robin had stood up for me. Robin is my big brother.

I watched in amazement as Jason swung my backpack over his shoulder and took my hand before dragging me over to where Alfred was waiting on us. Before we reached the car, Jason stopped and looked down at me.

"Okay. I can't deal with this silent hero-worship shit you're giving me right now. You gotta start talking… now would be nice… You can talk, right?"

"You're my hero." Was the first thing I ever said to him.

I could tell he was taken by surprise by my answer. "Um… thanks? Oh, and if anyone ever screws with you again, just let me know. I'll take care of it."

Suddenly, the thoughts of my horrible first day returned to me. And I cried. I felt so stupid. Here I was crying in front of my hero. My brother. I halfway expected him to laugh, but he bent down to my level and pulled me tightly against him as I told him about how bad my day had been. I told him about how my teacher accused me of cheating and what happened at lunch and how Stephanie must think I'm a loser and everything.

"Don't cry, Babybird… Tomorrow will be better. I promise."

He had just referred to me as Babybird for the first time. My hero gave me a nickname.

As I slid into the car, I heard Alfred tell Jason that the other kids were lucky that Jason got to them before he could.

********Break********

Jason was right; the next day was better. As soon as Alfred dropped us off, Jason walked me to my classroom. No one pushed me in the hallway. All the other kids made sure to get out of Jason's way. When we got to my class, Jason walked me straight over to my desk and glared at all the mean kids and smiled at Stephanie. They didn't bother me at all. He walked straight up to my teacher and whispered something in her ear that made her turn really pale. She never accused me of cheating again. I still don't know what he said, but I think Jason has something over her. He said I was too innocent to understand.

At lunch, Jason sat with me and he even gave me his cookie, before making all the kids who had stolen my lunch, give me their cookies. And Stephanie sat with us! She did most of the talking, but she sat beside me!

When school ended, Jason was there to walk me to the car. And when we got home, Jason played Legos with me and Dick watched a movie with me. Then both my brothers listened to me as I told Daddy about my day as Alfred made me cookies.

School did get better for me. But, my favorite day will always be my first day at school, because Jason became my brother that day.

For those who have sent me requests, I'm still working on them. (Sorry its taking forever. I'll finish them eventually. I usually just work on them, when an idea hits me.) But, thanks for all of the reviews and awesome comments I'm getting!