A/n: This story is inspired by the Wayne Family Adventures (I absolutely love that webtoon, i don't think you guys even know) ep. 111: Haley (one of my all time favourite episodes). If you haven't read it, np. All you need to know is in that episode, Tim is forced to clean Dick's apartment because apparently he made a mess the night before so this is supposed to be a prequel of Tim showing up that night.

It was one of Dick's rare slow days, so he was just relaxing on the couch. He had some police case-work to do but that was all. He'd already done a quick patrol and the streets were pretty quiet, likely thanks to his actions taking down a big player a couple days ago. A good thing too because the weather was absolutely terrible today, rainy and muddy everywhere. It made for nice white noise though, making him almost fall asleep there on the couch.

He reached a hand down and scratched behind Haley's ears, the small dog curled up on the teal carpet. By now, he'd gotten tired of his casework, so the files lay messily on the table from where he'd tossed them, though he really should have put them on the smaller table behind him so he didn't have to see them each time he looked at the tv. It wasn't that the work was hard - in fact, it was mainly boring paperwork that he just couldn't bring himself to focus on. At least that was one upside to vigilanteism - not as much paperwork involved.

His eyes drifted closed, his hand still limply hanging by Haley which was how he felt it when she suddenly perked up. Just as his eyes flew open, there was a knock at his window - the one leading out to the fire escape. His training kicked in and pushed away the sluggishness in his mind, assessing the situation.

He hadn't heard the actual fire escape - which even masked by the rain was still usually quite noisy - so it had to be someone who was trained. Maybe an assassin. But assassins didn't knock and Haley wasn't defensively poised - looking even a little excited - so the more likely option was that it was one of Dick's numerous siblings. But which one was the question now.

Jason had come by pretty recently, so it was doubtful he'd come by for another week or so unless it was an emergency - and from the lack of urgency in the knocking and the fact that the window wasn't already broken through, that wasn't the case. Maybe Damian? But he'd gotten out of the habit of sneaking out and coming all the way here after getting in trouble one too many times. Bruce wouldn't be in Blüdhaven, and girls rarely ever came to his apartment. Well, Cass did sometimes, but it probably wasn't her - she knocked more softly. So that just left Tim.

He paused whatever show he was (barely) watching on the tv and got up slowly. Painfully. Stretching and everything. Groaning because he'd actually been quite comfy. Suffice it to say, it was a process, one he enjoyed thoroughly since it was only Tim and Tim was always fun to mess with.

There was another knock, more impatient this time so Dick sighed. "Okay, okay, I'm coming."

He reached the window, opened it, and stared. Then blinked. Pursed his lips and made his decision.

"You are not coming into my apartment like that," he said, looking pointedly at Tim's drenched, dripping, muddy self, making Tim glance down too. He looked downright miserable and Dick would have laughed if the prospect of cleaning up after his brother tomorrow hadn't sobered him up.

"Please?" Tim asked.

Dick sighed and pinched his nose. He obviously couldn't just leave Tim there, but his apartment…

"Fine. But just wait here for a sec, let me get you a towel."

He promptly left and came back with the two oldest towels he had, giving Tim one to wrap around himself as he carefully stepped onto the other one that Dick had placed on the floor. He winced at the mud and dirt that dripped from his brother.

Tim started to dry himself off a little, shivering as Dick closed the window.

"You staying the night?"

Tim looked guilty as he asked, "Can I?"

Dick rolled his eyes. "Timmy, I'm not gonna say no. I just needed to know whether or not to get the couch-bed set up." He didn't know whether to laugh or feel sad about the relief that came on Tim's face as he said, "Thanks Dick."

"Yeah, whatever. I'd hug you or ruffle your hair or something, but…"

Tim grinned and shook his head anyway, splashing some mud-water on Dick who yelped. Haley got up and jumped about, barking happily as she pawed Tim's dirty legs. Tim noticed and leaned down to pet her, dripping dirty water everywhere and making the floor and Haley muddy. Dick winced again, but said nothing.

Whatever cleaning that would need to be done was tomorrow's problem. Besides, the apartment had been due for a tidy up anyway. They could just turn it into a deep clean instead. But… as he thought about it, he might not have to lift a finger if he played his cards right.

First order of business though was dealing with the sad-looking, sopping sibling he had in his living room and the muddy dog now rolling around and getting dirt everywhere.

"Okay," he addressed Tim, "you dry enough to run to the bathroom? There should be an extra towel in the cabinet in there and I'll leave some of my clothes outside the door for you to change into. And don't worry, the underwear will be from your stash you keep here."

Tim rolled his eyes at Dick's grin, muttering a quick thanks before sprinting past his brother to the bathroom. Once he was gone, Dick turned to a muddy Haley, who now regarded him with joy-filled eyes.

"Well, at least one of us is having fun. Maybe I should just toss you in the shower with Tim to get you clean huh?"

Haley just barked her approval, then promptly shook herself and splattered mud everywhere, making sure nothing and no one was spared the fun of the rainy day.

A/n: Yeah, just a short little prequel but I hope you still enjoyed it. If you haven't already, I highly recommend reading Wayne Family Adventures, it's so good. But anyway, yeah Haley is adorable and Dick can't even be mad at the mess now. Not like he's the one who ends up cleaning it anyway. ;)

Stay safe and see ya soon.

- CrowofArcadiaOaks