Chapter 48: Old Enough

Tim's POV

Bruce walked with me to the Allen's front door as he toted my overnight bag. I had been invited to a sleepover with my best friends Bart and Conner. I was really excited and really nervous. This is going to be my first sleepover. Before I could knock on the door, Bruce placed his hand onto my shoulder, stopping me. I looked up at his tall frame.

"Tim, if something happens or if you aren't having fun or if you just want to come home, you can call me and I'll come and get you. Okay?" he offered, clearly upset and worried about the fact that I was growing up.

"Okay." I replied as I knocked on the door. The door was soon opened by Mr. Allen. Before I could go inside, Bruce placed his hand on my shoulder and started telling him about my allergies, and what time to take my medication, and his rules about what I was allowed to do and not do, to call him every hour to inform him of my activities and current location, and everything else unnecessary.

After probably thirty minutes of rules and threatening Mr. Allen about what he would do if something happened to me, Bruce was finally going to leave. We hugged each other goodbye and Mr. Allen led me inside to where Conner and Bart were.

After playing video games, board games, calling Bruce a lot, doing tricks on the trampoline, playing soccer, wrestling, eating dinner and having dessert, and play fighting, we decided to watch a movie. Bart and I crashed onto the couch and ate popcorn, while Conner was looking through their DVD case.

"What do you guys wanna watch?" Bart asked before shoving popcorn into his mouth.

"Whatever you guys wanna watch." I replied.

"Hey, let's watch The Omen!" Conner shouted excitedly.

"What's it about?" I ask.

"Dude! It's awesome! How have you not seen it yet?" Conner asked.

I shrugged my shoulders. Conner removed the disc and tossed me the case.

"Um, this movie is rated R." I replied softly.

"Yeah, so… wait. Tell me you're not too scared to watch rated R movies?" Bart questioned between handfuls of popcorn.

"Well…." I began. Technically I wasn't even allowed to watch PG-13 movies.

"Come on Tim. You live in Gotham! You see scarier stuff than what's in this movie every night!" Conner interrupted.

Technically that wasn't true. I'm twelve and my family treats me like I'm five. I'm not allowed to go near any 'dangerous' criminals. But, Bruce finally let me go with him to capture the Riddler. He's probably the scariest villain that I've faced, which is sad. Bruce won't even let me watch PG-13 movies. I guess watching one rated R movie could't hurt. What he doesn't know won't hurt him. Right?

"I mean, do you still sleep with a teddy bear?" Conner snorted.

"I…nno." I lied, while thinking about my stuffed monkey lying in my overnight bag. Is that a bad thing?

"Let me guess. You still sleep with Bruce?" Bart teased.

"No!" I lied as I turned red. Actually, I still crawl into bed with Bruce or Dick or Jason. And they've never made fun of me for it. I can't help having bad dreams and I feel safer if one of them is there.

"You do to! Come on Tim, you'll be thirteen soon! You're a Titan now! Stop being a baby!" Conner taunted.

"I'm not a baby!" I yelled.

"Then prove it." They yelled at the same time.

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

Why? Why did I let them talk me into watching this movie? Why did his name have to be Damien? Why did he have to have a really big dog like Titus? I wanna go home.

"See, that wasn't so bad. Was it?" Bart asked.

"Nno." I lied.

"See, I told you that you could handle it." Conner replied.

"Yeah, well we had better go to bed." Bart suggested, while yawning.

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

Bruce's POV

"Bruce, you're exactly on time." Barry replied surprised, while glancing at his watch.

"You seem surprised." I replied, pushing past him and entering their home. "Where's Tim?"

"I think they're playing outside."

"You think?" I growled.

"Bruce, you're early… Would you like some coffee?" Iris asked, walking up to us.

"Iris, it's good to see you again. And thank you for the offer, but I'm fine."

"Well, I'll go and see if I can find Tim." She replied and walked out the back door.

"Is there a reason why there is no adult supervision?" I growled.

"Relax, Bruce. I know everything that goes on in my household." Barry replied confidently.

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

Tim's POV

I hugged my knees to my chest as I sat in bed. It's been two days since I've had any sleep. It's been two days since I slept with my stuffed monkey. I'm twelve. I'm too old to be crawling into bed with my brothers or Bruce. I'm too old to be sleeping with a stuffed animal. I shouldn't be getting scared either.

I screamed when my door opened, revealing Damian and Titus.

"Drake! Stop screaming!" he ordered, flipping my lights on.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, hoping he wouldn't kill me.

"I could hear you crying and I came to tell you to halt it at once! I am trying to sleep!"

"I'm not crying." I sniffled as he came closer.

"Drake, do I need to get Father or Grayson?"

"No! I'm too old for that!"

"Very well." He replied and turned to exit my room. He paused and turned to face me. "Drake, we all have nightmares… And as for you being too old, Todd slept with Grayson the night the Joker escaped last weekend. And Grayson still keeps his elephant on the shelf adjacent to his bed, where he can see it and Todd has his bear stowed under his bed within arm's reach."

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

Bruce's POV

I opened my eyes as my door opened slowly, only to shut itself. Tim. He's the only one who hesitates to come to me. It's as if he's afraid I'll turn him away.

"Tim, you can come in."

Silently, he pads over to my side of the bed and patiently waits until he is invited to crawl in with me. I can see that he has his monkey with him. A small smile crosses my lips. He's still not too old to sleep with his father.

"Daddy?" he whispers.

"Hmm?"

"You don't think Damian has 666 tattooed on the back of his neck do you?"

"What!"