Disclaimer: not mine
A little amusing when I get a PM saying I read your profile and I want to do art for you since if they had actually read my profile, they would know that means they are immediately being blocked. Do not PM/review me about artwork! I don't want to turn off PM's again but I'm getting sick of these people.
Bit of a filler chapter
Chapter 12
Tim leant into Bruce's side, watching him work. It was easier to think, to remember, now. Keeping track of things like time was still hard but that was fine. There was a familiar sound and he sat up as Jason stepped into the Nest. He inhaled and then grimaced. "Stinky."
Jay laughed and ruffled his hair on the way passed. "Everyone's a critic," he grumbled playfully but went to the showers.
It wasn't his fault gunpowder stank!
"Being mean to Jason?" Bruce asked, and Tim chirped, leaning back into his side.
,
Bruce chuckled, stroking his son's hair. Tim had improved so much in the week since Bernard had brought him back to the Nest. You could almost see the change with every feeding now as his brain healed from the time deprived of oxygen and blood. His curiosity was clear, had been from the start, as was his frustration as he became more aware of what was missing. The key was keeping in occupied so they stayed with him in shifts. It was the easiest for Bernard since he could fall back on the Sire bond.
But Bruce wouldn't give up his time with Tim for anything, it was like getting an insight to Tim as a young child, if his parents hadn't been so neglectful and tried to smother who he was under the perfect heir routine. He knew Jason loved his shifts as well, as did Cass but she always worked with Steph since Steph sometimes didn't know when to stop teasing Tim. Damian was being kept well away given their past together. The last thing they needed was Tim attacking Damian because of it. There was a reason Tim avoided the Manor when Damian was home…and his birthday had just made things worse again when they had been at a stalemate for almost a year. Dick had been over a few times and Tim seemed to waver in his reaction to his big brother. Duke was fine which was good.
Tim's old teammates would be helpful but they were on a mission. They were in for a shock when they got back, especially since it had been Kon who raised the alarm. But given they were all Meta's; he couldn't see them taking Tim's change badly.
The thought that his ancestor was behind this, it made him feel sick. Was the man anything like the family history said or had that all been a lie, the man hiding his true personality behind a mask? After all, being turned hadn't changed Tim so why would it have changed Joshua? Unless the Sire had something to do with that? He'd need to ask Bernard, though the boy had been raised human so there was no guarantee that he would know.
Constantine was gathering Dark and they were working on what to do about the vampire population. Apparently in most cities they ran like any other group of people with a structured leadership, rules, policing their own…Gotham wasn't the only city that was out of control but it was one of the worse.
He didn't like waiting, but with how easily they had taken Tim and controlled him, it was too dangerous. Tim needed them right now.
,
Bernard lay on the bed that had been moved into the Nest for them, it wasn't safe yet to have Tim in either apartment where he might catch a scent and try to take off. Tim was curled up with him, purring softly as he suckled. Bernard gently stroked his back as Tim drifted to sleep.
Part of him dread the day that Tim was fully recovered. Would he remember what had happened to him? That it was all Bernard's fault? If they hadn't been dating then Tim wouldn't have been taken.
Tim whined softly, nuzzling at him in his sleep, obviously picking up on his agitation. Bernard smiled softly at him, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. Tim settled back into a deep sleep; one hand curled against Bernard's chest.
He loved him so much, whatever it took for Tim to be safe and happy, he'd do it…even if Tim wanted him to go.
,
Cassie listened as Bruce…Batman explained what had happened to Tim. She felt sick. Poor Tim and Bernard. All because Bernard loved Tim and those bastards decided they had the right to say no.
"But he's okay?" Kon demanded.
"He's recovering, the process of turning with a half-vampire Sire means that his brain was deprived of oxygen and blood for some time. He's doing a lot better now than he was at first. He recognises us all the time now and his speech is improving. His memory can still be spotty, especially with recent events."
"Can we see him?" She asked, wanting to see him, needing to see with her own eyes that he was…alive, or whatever it was called for a vampire.
Tim…at least he hadn't attacked or killed anyone, he would hate that. Bernard had kept him isolated enough until Constantine had shown up. She figured at the moment, he was like someone with brain damage, but at least he was getting better. The thought of Tim dead…it made her feel sick. How much worse must Bernard feel for being forced to be the one to kill him? She liked Bernard, but how did none of them realise he wasn't fully human? Yes, he had a slow heart but shouldn't she have at least sensed something as a demigoddess? She could usually sense the supernatural, even if not connected to the gods.
,
Kon entered the Nest, struggling to keep his heart from racing. "Tim?" he called softly and then he heard a growl.
"Easy Tim," Bernard's voice reached him and he moved to the kitchenette to find Tim tensed, Bernard holding his shoulder.
Tim stared at him blankly for a moment before his eyes widened. "Kon?"
"Hey," he greeted gently.
Tim tore himself from Bernard and Kon caught him. He was cold, everything that Kon had memorised long ago to identify him was now silent. Tim held on to him tightly enough he could feel it and then…
"Is he purring?"
"Yep, means he's happy," Bernard was smiling softly.
"You okay?" Kon asked in concern. They'd both been through something so traumatic…even if Tim didn't fully remember or understand at the moment.
Bernard shrugged slightly. "I will be. Just…waiting for the other shoe I guess once Tim's fully back."
"He won't hate you," he promised.
"Won't he? It's my fault they targeted him."
"You could say it's Bruce's fault for being related to the bastard," he pointed out.
Tim whined at them, obviously picking up the unhappiness. He looked up at Kon with big red eyes, still effective as puppy eyes as the blue had been. The claws and fangs were startling but the paleness…
"Will he ever be able to go out again?"
Bernard frowned. "He might learn to hide some of it, but some vampires can't. No way to tell yet but most cities have places set up for those who can't hide to socialise."
Good, that was good.
"Missed you," he whispered to his best friend.
"Missed Kon," Tim answered, and for a second he wondered if he was just parroting the words but no, it was there in his eyes. He had missed Kon.
,
Dick kept his distance, Tim not wanting him close today. He had to accept that, that when Tim remembered everything, he might tell him to get out. He'd really messed up with missing Timmy's birthday. He wanted to make things right between them but he just didn't know how. At least Tim wasn't attacking him? though Bernard could stop him which was why Dick mostly came around if he was available.
He'd really thought Damian was better than when he first came, and in many ways, he was, but finding out he'd messed with Dick's systems to ensure he wouldn't get messages from Tim? That really hurt. And made him question a lot of the last years.
And then Dick yelped as Tim pounced him, tensing, but there was no pain, no attack. Thankfully. Tim stared down at him with eerie red eyes and Dick held his breath. "Why?"
"Why what, baby bird?"
"Not like me?"
"No Tim…I love you kiddo. You're my baby bird. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." He felt the tears in his eyes, shocked when Tim leant in to lick them away. Okay then. A cold nose pressed to his throat, Tim taking in deep breaths. Then he nodded and cuddled in.
The floor wasn't exactly comfortable but he wasn't going to suggest moving.
,
Cass curled with Tim, her little brother. He had saved her in Hong Kong…but she hadn't been able to save him. Even if she could have, she'd still been recovering. They had a movie on quietly in the background, Bernard had been shoved off upstairs since he couldn't afford to just vanish from his life. Plus, it might draw the other vampires out if they saw he was back to living in the building.
They all knew Tim wouldn't like Bernard playing bait, but he'd offered and Constantine and ensured he was as protected as possible.
"Idiots," Tim scoffed as the people on the screen ran screaming, and she giggled. He was doing a lot better now, talking more. "Sequels better."
"Change?" she offered, but he shook his head.
He kissed her temple and she smiled at him, kissing his cheek. His skin might be cold and bloodlessly pale, but he was still her beloved little brother.
TBC…
