Chapter 6:

Key Character: Barbara Gordon

Nothing like the smell of Chinatown. Though the aroma of food is not exactly the healthiest thing to consider, it's the type of aroma that gets stomachs growling. Chinatown was one of the places to be in Gotham when it comes to eating good food at cheap prices. Plus, who doesn't love Chinese or other Asian food?

Definitely not Tim, which is why he came out here to eat dinner. Out of all the restaurants in the area, Tim chose a small one that specialized in Chinese and Thai cuisine. The restaurant itself wasn't exactly 5-star quality, not to mention that it was more like a hole-in-the-wall. However, sometimes it is these types of restaurants that serve the most authentic meals.

Tim needed to be in a place like this.

A place that no one would expect the son of Bruce Wayne to be in. A place that no one knows who you are, and no one would care about knowing you in the first place. A place where people would gradually live their lives minding their own business.

He didn't care where he was, as long as he's out of Wayne Manor.

And for tonight's dinner, he won't be eating alone.

"Hey! Sorry I'm late."

Tim looked up to see a face he hadn't seen in a while. "Hey Barb!"

He stood up and gave Barbara Gordon a hug before pulling out a chair for her to sit.

"Such a gentlemen, aren't you?"

"Only the best for milady."

She giggled at his playful manner as she sat on the end of the small table opposite to him.

"Missed you Barb."

"I missed you too Tim. How have you been?"

Tim surely missed her gentle, warm personality. Her sweet voice never ceased to make him feel at ease. She was a friend that anyone could lean on when they need a shoulder. No matter how busy things get, she'll find the time to be there for whoever needs her.

Barbara Gordon was a woman who Tim admired a lot. Similar to many other people in the family, she went to a trauma that ended up shaping her life. The Joker was really good at leaving scars in this family, but Barbara still had persistence. She was crippled, but luckily healed. No matter what, she managed to keep a smile on her face. She always focused on living a positive life, and Tim applauded her for that.

She was like a sister to Tim, and Tim really needed to see that pretty face again.

"I've been pretty good," he lied, "How about you?"

"Pretty fine myself," she answered happily.

The two got off to a good start. Seeing each other's faces allowed for a pleasant time for the both of them. Barbara told him all about her work as Batgirl, as well as letting him know how proud she is of her father's achievements in the GCPD. That allowed Tim to envy her slightly, but nonetheless, he can't be any happier for her.

Later, after the waitress took their orders, Barbara decided it was time to get more specific.

"So Tim, what have you been doing?"

"Oh you know, just spending my days handling some typical gangsters or thugs trying to rule the block. Nothing new."

"How about the others?"

Tim took a brief pause. "They're doing fine too," he spoke in an uncomfortable manner.

"They're treating you fine, I hope?" Barbara asked kindly.

"Oh, yeah of course." He hesitated to answer at first, but he lied again anyway.

"Are you sure?"

And that's when he knew, Barbara found out about his situation.

"Dick told you, didn't he?"

"He just cares about you Tim."

"Is that why you texted me to hang out today?" Tim asked in a disappointed tone.

Barbara reached out her hand and placed it on his. "He may have influenced me to see you as soon as possible, but I one hundred percent swear I planned to see you anyway, Tim."

No doubt Tim believed her, but it didn't necessarily make it any more comforting. All he wanted was to meet up with someone close to him; someone who doesn't care about his current situation. He just wanted to get away from it, but somehow the topic always seems to follow him wherever he goes.

"Tim, please talk to me."

Even worse, he can't say no to that gentle, sincere voice.

After sighing, Tim finally decided to speak out the truth.

"Alright Barb. Yeah, I'm not doing well at all. Haven't been for quite awhile."

Barbara was instantly worried, but still remained calm. "Care to tell me what this is all about?"

"I'm just so tired of feeling left out," the seventeen year-old stated, "Bruce treats Damian, Dick, and even Jason as his most valuable people. His most 'prized sons.' Yet him, and neither do the others for that matter, don't even care about me."

"Tim….." Barbara held his hand across the table again, "You know that's not true. They care about you deeply."

"Doesn't seem like it," Tim claimed, "They all work together. They all are in good communication. And me? I'm just pushed aside. You should have seen me Barbara. Whenever Bruce is going out, whether it be an event or a mission, I'm not exactly the first to be invited. And when I am, it's usually a pointless position."

Barbara felt bad seeing him so upset. A sullen look was not something that was typical on Tim Drake's face. It disheartened her to see how such an upbeat young man can feel so down.

"Maybe Bruce is just trying to get close with all his sons at once," Barbara stated while trying to make a valid reasoning.

"I'm his son to you know. How come he never spends much time with me as he does with the others?"

"Maybe because he's trying to build a good relationship with Damian? Also, I bet he's still trying to get Jason to come back home. That also explains why Dick isn't around a lot too. If Bruce needs to get close with those two, what better person to help him other than Dick?"

Barbara made a really good point indeed, but that still doesn't excuse the reason for why Tim was always left out.

"I'm not trying to sound selfish, but if someone like Damian or Jason can have Bruce's attention, why can't I? I was never a burden to Bruce."

"You just answered your own question Tim," Barbara pointed out, "You aren't a burden to Bruce. You never were. Bruce never had to worry about you. You were good to begin with."

Though he appreciated the kind words, he still had more on his mind.

"To be honest Barb, I felt like I was just an annoyance in the first place. Bruce had his reasons for choosing the other three for the role of Robin, but me, I just begged for it. And because of me, my parents almost got killed, and Bruce had no choice but to take me in as an act of kindness. It's not like Bruce ever wanted me in the first place. I never came from tough situations like you guys."

Tim's confession discouraged Barbara even more. There was no way she was going to let him downgrade himself like that. "Tim, don't you dare think that you are unwanted."

"But its true isn't it?"

"Okay, maybe it may seem like you 'forced' yourself into Bruce's life, but don't you even think for a second that Bruce regrets taking you in. I know damn well that he loves you, the same way the rest of us do. We are all happy to have you Tim."

Even with those kind words, Tim felt only a little bit cherished. "I love you too Barb, and I love the others too, but I also feel like the others are so caught up with each other that they forget about me. Even when Bruce is away, Dick, Jason and Damian manage to keep in close contact with each other. Not only is it hard to feel like a son, but it's hard to feel like a brother as well."

"Oh Tim…." Barbara's heart did feel for him. Even though the others surely have busy lives, why can't they at least acknowledge him? "I'm sorry you feel that way. Maybe you should talk to them about it? Dick said you're trying to avoid them."

"I already told Jason that I don't want to be the type to beg for attention. I'm not trying to sound conceited, but don't you think that if I was 'loved,' I wouldn't need to force myself to have a relationship with these guys?"

"That's true," Barbara admitted, "But you're going to have to talk to them about it at some point."

"Well it's also kind of annoying how all of a sudden, now they pay attention to me. I don't know if you know, but I kind of lashed out at Jason and Damian after they pissed me off. So I guess I already had the chance to express my feelings. It just pained me to know that no matter how awful Damian or Jason had treated me in the past, Bruce seems to prefer them instead of me."

Barbara did not know he already talked with Jason and Damian about this, let along not knowing that his brothers secretly are the cause of his current mood as well. Hopefully Tim didn't say something nasty, but Barbara did hope that Tim at least had some for sort of vent for the sake of his mind.

"I'm just trying my best to just let it go Barb," Tim added, "This happened for awhile now. Shoot, it probably happened since I was brought into this family in the first place, but I was just oblivious to it all."

After saying what he needed to say, Barbara just looked at him with pure sympathetic eyes. All he needed was what any boy his age needed.

Love.

Love from a parent.

Love from a sibling.

Love from a friend.

To Barbara, Tim deserved any love he can get. Sure, he may not have come from a complicated life or suffered any trauma, unlike many people in this family, but that doesn't make him weaker than anybody else. Tim knew how to take a stand. He knew how to lead. He knew how to take control when he needs to. He knew how to put a smile on a person's face. And above all, he is just Tim Drake, and Barbara loves him for that.

He's strong. He's unique. He's brilliant. He's fun.

And he's a young man who needs a shoulder to lean on, just like anyone else.

"Can I tell you something Tim?"

After sulking for a few seconds, Tim looked at her what curious eyes that signaled for her to speak.

"When Dick and I broke up, it was one of the hardest experiences I dealt with. I mean yeah, it doesn't sound as bad at all comparing to what the Joker did to me, but it was still tough regardless."

Tim was intrigued to see where Barbara was headed with this conversation.

"I had the most caring, charming man ever," Barbara continued, "He was mine. He was my own, and I had to let him go. It just didn't work out."

Tim definitely knew how that felt, but it was Kon that had to let him go. Tim didn't want to let go.

"And just because I let go of that one man," she continued, "I felt alone. I loved him, and he was my world. After we broke-up, I felt isolated. See, after the Joker left me injured on that horrid day, I still had emotional support from everyone I loved, including Dick. Yet, after my break-up, I had no shoulder to lean on. Dick was the man who comforted me the most, and I couldn't go to him for comfort. I was all on my own, and the pain got even worse when I saw him talking with that girl Kori."

This time, it was Tim who sympathized for her. Barbara was strong. She is a woman filled with patience and willpower. He would have never guessed she felt that way after a break-up.

"Have you ever tried talking with him about it?" Tim asked earnestly.

"I wanted too, but I didn't. I didn't want to complicate things even more. All I did was wait around to see if we'll get used to talking to each other like friends again, or to see if I will finally move on from it. Yet now when I think of it, maybe I should have talked with him. What do you think?"

Tim didn't take a second to think of it. "I think you should talk to him Barb. Just because you guys broke up, doesn't mean you guys can remain friends. You guys were practically the best of friends! You don't have to tell him that you want him back, whether you do or not, but you should tell him that you miss him. I can guarantee you that he misses you just as much."

Barbara smiled. "Do you think Kon feels that way too Tim?" She knew of their break-up, but she also knew of their loving friendship even before that.

Tim was caught off-guard indeed. "I… I wouldn't know."

"Then how about you do what you told me? You should talk to him."

Now that was a good point. Barbara definitely got him.

After sighing, Tim told her in a quiet tone, "Maybe I will."

"And can you do me one more favor?"

Tim looked at her with curious eyes.

"If you can talk to him, then can you talk with Bruce and your brothers too?"

It was just now when Tim finally understood the point of this conversation. Like Barbara, Tim was also making the mistake of running away from his problems instead of facing them.

And as if right on time, the waitress finally came with the food. Time flies when having a serious conversation. Tim didn't have to answer her question through words coming out of his mouth, for she can already tell by the look on his face. It was the same look he gave when she asked him to talk to Kon.

But for the night, it was time to forget about the situation and just enjoy each other's company.

"Well, let's dig in," Barbara exclaimed cheerfully.

A/N: I appreciate all of you for the reviews, favs, and follows. Moreover, I would also like to say that if any of you have something to say, please leave me a review! That would mean a lot! Whether you like the story, think there are certain skills I should work on, make a comment, express an opinion, or simply give me a one-liner, please do so! I would highly appreciate it.

I'm just a guy trying to improve my writing.

Thanks!