Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Soft rain falls on his bedroom's window, a relaxing and quiet song that Tim listens to as he looks at his computer.

Things have finally settled down, now that Bruce is back. After some weeks, he took back his position as CEO of Wayne Enterprises, but he couldn't ignore how well Tim had managed the company, so he offered Tim an internship in the marketing and design department. Tim was relieved by this, being a CEO wasn't really for him, even if he was good at it his father made sure he was, but he  loves photography, so working in the design of things is very cool. And also, he's very good with technology, and no one else is young enough to make ads that work on Tiktok.

The only problem here is that Tim has been getting a bit too focused on his work in WE, and now he needs to finish this essay for history due tomorrow. And that wouldn't be a problem, but Tim had to finish editing some photos for a weird photography contest his art teacher made him participate in and now it's 4AM, and he has to go to school in less than three hours. Yippee.

And that also wouldn't be a problem, he has pulled  a lot of all nighters in his life, but Bruce is in a weird fixation of his coffee intake and has taken all of his stash from his bedroom. Oh! And Tim can't go downstairs to make some because if someone notices he wasn't asleep he will get benched. 

Tim's life is a tragedy, a very cruel one.

Okay, time to get back to that damn essay, Tim. Enough time feeling sorry for yourself.

Tim has regretted multiple things in his life, but accepting to go with Bernard to that party easily made it to the top ten.

Don’t get him wrong, it had been really  fun. Bernard had introduced him to a few of his friends that invited them to the party to begin with, and they were very nice. They had played fuck marry kill (He was weirdly put into a lot of people options, most of them choosing fuck. Tim thinks it was funny joke. Although his heart did funny things when Bernard asked if he could put him in both marry and fuck.)

Anyways, at the end of the night Tim can admit he got a bit drunker than he originally planned.

Tim slips through the same window he had snuck out from hours ago, but he finds that he isn’t alone.

Bruce is patiently waiting for him in a nearby chair.

So yeah, Tim regrets going to the fucking party, because for some reason Bruce wants to know where he is at all times.

Ugh, he still isn’t used to adults being like this.

Tim listens at the sound his pen makes against the paper as he does his homework. It's a calming, quiet noise that eases up Tim's lingering anxiety after his fight with Bruce last night. Or well, more like morning. It was 7AM when he got back. Which probably was what made Bruce notice he was gone. But hey, he managed to hide from him that he was drunk!

Bruce had grounded him until further notice, and told him to go to his room, and Tim knew better than to openly disobey adults. So he took the longest and most precious nap of his life and woke up at 5PM. Tim has been working for a couple of hours now, but he is still fucking confused. Honestly, and helplessly clueless to Bruce's anger. He had an A in every subject, he had submitted every report on time and had cracked all the cases Bruce had sent him. Like, him going to the fucking party with Bernard hadn't affected him! 

So when Bruce started lecturing him, Tim couldn't bring himself to argue because he didn't understand.

But anyways, there's nothing he can do about it now. 

So Tim keeps working on his homework, and then on a few protect for WE. Now that he can't patrol, he might be able to catch up on his sleep, so it isn't all bad. 

He ends up going to bed at 1AM, so mission accomplished, he guesses.

Tim is exhausted  after school. 

Tomorrow he doesn’t have class, they have a weird holiday thing and only went on monday. Not that it means anything, with Bruce grounding him yesterday and all that. But hey, at least he doesn't have to wake up early.

He walks through the entrance as quietly as he can, and manages to make it to his bedroom without being seen by Damian. He really isn't in the mood to be taunted for being grounded right now, even if Damian's insults are less venomous nowadays.

He turns on his computer and resumes his work.

God he hates being grounded. Especially when Bruce won't forget it. Or go away.

Ugh, he shouldn't have gone to the party. It wasn't even that cool.

Tim wakes up by a knock on his door. Wait- Wakes up? When did he fell asleep?

"Dinner's ready, Timberlina." Tim jumps at Jason's voice. Oh, Bruce did mention his siblings would come tonight. Tim didn't expect Jason would actually show up, though.

He sighs, he really isn't in the mood to hear Jason make fun of him for being grounded.

Tim opens the door, and can't even open his mouth before Jason takes his arm and drags him to the dining room.

"Wha- Hey! Jason, let go of me!" He exclaims.

I'm Jason's defence, he does let go of him. But they are already there and Tim falls on his face with the force of the movement.

He flips him off, Jason just grins.

Tim suddenly remembers his current situation and gets up as quickly as he can. Dick is in the corner of the room helping Alfred to set up the table. Alfred then retreats into the kitchen again.

Okay, no Bruce. That's amazing. He can still make it back to his room. He turns his back to them, facing the door and-

"Tim." 

Fuck.

Jason watches as Tim's face turns paper white when Bruce enters the room. He looks fucking terrified.

Steph had told him he's grounded because he snuck out home to go to a party, so it had made sense that he was hiding away from Bruce in his room.

But the pure fear  in his face as he turns to look at Bruce? 

That makes no sense.

"What are you doing?" Bruce's voice is completely emotionless, as usual. But Jason can see a hint of worry in his eyes. Jason is freaking out a bit, too.

The dining room becomes silent, all eyes on the interaction.

Tim shallows, then rushes to explain. "I'm so sorry B, I just- Jason doesn't know I'm grounded and dragged me here, I'll get right back to my room." His voice leaks anxiety, and Jason has to stop to think for a second because What. The. Fuck? 

Bruce's face turns into a more visible confusion. "What? Tim, why would you go back to your room? It's time for dinner." 

"Because I'm grounded?" Tim's voice is nervous and unsure, like if didn't know the answer to a question in class.

Really, What the hell is happening? Jason only came here for Alfred's cooking.

(He ignores the part of him that is extremely concerned for his baby brother.)

"Tim, grounded doesn't mean you can't ever leave your room. You know this, right?" Dick says, carefully picking his words.

"Well, yeah. I wouldn't be able to go to class otherwise." Tim answers.  

"But- Tim, not only for class. Have you not gone to the kitchen in all this time?" Dick asks, voice full of incredibility.

Tim shrugs.

"Then where have you been eating?" Jason chimes in, expression full of concern. Because honestly, what kind of answer is that?

Tim looks really confused now. Like, really. 

He shrugs again.

Dick's face morphs into horror. Jason feels his do the same. "Tim, have you not eaten since you got grounded?" Jason asks, voice full of barely repressed anger. To what? Good question. Life, he guesses.

Tim seems to mistake their expressions with anger directed at him, and bites his lip, looking at the door longingly.

He is shaking a little, his eyes are a bit wet.

He stays quiet.

Damian and Alfred enter the room through the kitchen, hearing the commotion. Jason can hear Steph and Duke coming as well. Cass just somehow appeared at some point.

Jason is starting to think that Janet's and Jack's parenting methods went a bit worse than fucking criminal neglect.

Okay, so this could have gone better. Tim thinks, as he feels anxiety fill his entire being.

"Wh- Tim why haven't you eaten?" Bruce asks, and he can't mask the bewilderment in his voice this time. That confuses Tim a bit, but he guesses he just can't believe he has to make Tim repeat the rules when he is that old. 

Hey, in his defence, it was all Jason's fault.

"Uh- I'm grounded." He answers, managing to hide the anxiety. Adults get mad at him if he shows it. Not that he has happened a lot of times, but his parents where always mad at him when they came home.

Jason's eyes glow a bit green. Tim doesn't understand why, but it spikes his anxiety nonetheless.

"Tim, what do you think being grounded means?" Bruce asks him.

Ugh, he hates when adults ask questions like that, just to remind him of the rules like he was fucking three.

"I can't be seen or heard by you, can't spend my money on things and can't waste food." He answers, robotically. It's a lesson he was made repeat hundreds of times. One or twice every time his parents got back home, and the remaining ninety percent by phone calls.

His family expressions are horrified. And a lot of voices speak at the same time.

"Tim, that's not-" "Who the fuck taught you that?" Dick's voice is cut by Jason's.

"My parents." He answers, anxiety returning full force. Was that not what they wanted him to say? That- Did they have more rules he wasn't aware of? Should he have helped making dinner? Or maybe setting the table-

"Oh my god." Dick exhales, looking sick.

Why does he look sick? Tim doesn't understand.

"But then- You weren't allowed to eat when you were grounded?" Steph chimes in, her eyes full of anger.

Oh no, Steph won't understand that he was just a very spoiled and ungrateful kid. He needs to do damage control, and fast.

"I mean, they never stayed more than a couple days at a time, and usually forgot that I was grounded to begin with. And when I got bad grade, they would take away my allowance, but I could still eat at school. It was fine really, I was to spoiled and they just wanted me to understand that I needed to be grateful for what I had." Maybe Bruce doesn't think he is ungrateful, and that's why he still can eat? That would make more sense. Maybe.

But when he looks at his family, he sees they don't look convinced. At all.

Okay, maybe his parents where a bit extreme, but it got the job done. Besides, they had to waste less money on food that way.

"Tim, I need you to listen to me." Bruce starts, grabbing Tim's shoulders.

Tim has never been more scared on his life, but nods. There isn't much else he can do, anyways.

"What your parents did was not only criminal neglect, but also plain abuse. Punishment does not mean harm, punishment is a way of showing kids their actions have consequences. Starving your son just because he made something wrong is sick, Tim. And I'm sorry I haven't explained to you what being grounded means here. But you need to understand that no matter what happens, no parent should ever cause pain to their child. Ever." 

That- Okay, that just doesn't apply to him. His parents didn't abuse him. Really, they are making this a way bigger deal than it is, Tim is just begging for attention.

But no matter how hard he tries, Tim can't find a hint of dishonesty in Bruce's voice.

He feels his shoulders slump in defeat, but that doesn't mean he gets it. He is still...conflicted. 

Okay, maybe he can understand his point. Logically. Actually believing it is harder. But he just- It doesn't make sense.

"But then- I-" He shallows, clenching and unclenching his hands. "I- I don't understand." He admits. His voice betraying him with some wetness.

"That's okay Tim, the only thing you need to know right now is that hurting you isn't-" Bruce's speech is cut by Tim's voice.

"No! That's not- That's not what I meant." He says, his breath picking up. He hugs himself, shaking more than before. A tear falls from his eye, he wipes it immediately. He steps out of Bruce's grip. He just- He doesn't fucking get it.

"Hey, hey- Baby bird, it's okay. Can you tell us what you meant, then?" Dick says, voice calm. It's not his Nightwing-scared kid voice, but it isn't too far from it.

More tears slip from his eyes, he tries to wipe them, his hands pushing back his hair and tugging it. "I- Fuck." He takes a couple more of deep breaths. His thoughts going way too fast for him to put into words.

"I just-" His voice breaks. "I didn't- Why-" A shaky sniff cuts the sentence, he looks for the right words. "Why do you care?" He finishes, and he is so full of confusion and anxiety that it's impossible to mask it anymore.

Bruce looks at him, bewildered. "What do you mean, chum?" He says, voice careful.

Tim shallows again. "I- It- Why did you get mad at me when I went to the party?" He asks, voice quiet and small. Please don't get angry Please don't get angry- 

"Son, I got mad because you sneaked out to that party without telling anyone where you were, and without asking me for permission. You have to understand, it’s not about the party itself—it’s about the fact that no one knew where you were, and if something happened and you got hurt, we wouldn't have noticed." Bruce answers, carefully picking his words.

But that- Tim doesn't understand-

"Exactly! That- That's the point! You wouldn't have noticed- It wouldn't have affected you." Tim tries to explain, tears falling freely from his eyes. Because nothing makes sense.

Bruces eyes soften. "Tim, you are my son. Looking after you is my job, chum. And I'm so sorry your parents never took care of you like they should have." He wipes the tears from his cheeks, and presses a kiss to his forehead.

And Tim still doesn’t believe him, at least not completely, but he trusts Bruce. And he knows, locally, that what they did wasn’t okay. It’s just- a lot to accept.

"This is cute and all, but I would like to get back to the part of Tim not eating since yesterday morning." Steph says, still looking a bit murderous.

Jason, with a matching expression, chimes in as well. “Yeah, I’m not going to let your parents’ starving you  slide that easily. God, Is that why you are so short?”

Tim finishes clearing his face with his sweater sleeve and turns to look at him, moving away from Bruce’s touch. “They didn’t starve me. I still got food at school, and like I said they weren’t home enough to be a problem. It was barely anything compared to what you went trough as a kid, Jason.”

Jason looks seriously at him, opening his mouth. Tim tunes him out. He doesn’t want to hear more people talking shit of his parents.

But Jason notices him drifting off, and he is having none of it. “Nuh uh, Timbo. Listen to me. I didn’t have enough to eat, but you weren’t allowed to. Your parents chose  that. You even said they called it wasting food! But Tim, you need to understand that what they did has no justification. Even if they weren’t home enough for it to become a problem, which I really doubt and is also another bad thing they did, the consequences that had on you are still important. Tim, you spend almost two days without eating because of it. It is a very big deal, and I need you to understand that.”

Tim blinks. Okay, that was a lot.

But- Tim wants  to believe him. He wants to be able to rely on them, to ask them for help when he needs it, he wants- He wants to learn how to be loved by his family.

He wants to trust them.

“Okay. I think- I think I understand.” Tim finally says.

Bruce looks at him again, thoughtfull. “Did you not tell anyone when you went to a party before?”

Tim shrugs. “There wasn’t anyone at home to tell. And they didn’t care where I was when visited, only at galas. The only thing that they punished me for was when I broke something, got a bad grade or didn’t keep the house clean."

Suddenly Tim feels Cass’ arms hug him from behind. “Me worry. Little brother scared.”

“Oh- Don’t worry Cass, I just though I wasn’t allowed in the kitchen.” Tim tells her. Cass just tightens his hold.

“And that reminds me. Tim, the other rules about not being seen or heard? Also abusive. We will talk about what punishment means later, but for now lets just have dinner and calm down. You need to eat.” Bruce says, already going to the table.

Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. Tim is feeling a bit lightheaded.

Cass seems to catch that, and quickly guides him to a chair.

Alfred brings the food, and chatter quickly fills the room. Tim is silently grateful for it, too exhausted to keep being the center of his family's attention.

“Oh, and Tim?”  Bruce calls him. “Since you weren’t aware that what you did wasn’t allowed, you are no longer grounded. But don’t do it again.”

Relief fills Tim’s entire being. And with Duke telling him about the latest gossip in school and Damian being weirdly kind to him when he asks for the salt, he doesn’t think being grounded was that bad. At least compared to his parents.

Although this doesn’t seem the end of his journey. And maybe, he is a bit excited to discover what having adults that care about you feels like.