Chapter Text
The day had started like any other; wake up, give Jason a big hug, and brush his hair eat breakfast. There was something weird in the atmosphere today though. It wasn’t anything bad or scary, just different. Tim had noticed it as soon as he had gotten to the kitchen that day. Then he remembered.
Damian was coming back from the Kents’ farm today! Tim hadn’t seen the other boy in a few weeks and he was really excited to see him again. Hanging out with Jason and Dick was awesome too, but he missed the serious boy. With a spring in his step, he took his usual chair next to Jason so they could start eating pancakes. Alfred even handed him a few with butterscotch chips in them! Normally the man insisted that maple syrup was enough sugar to start the morning, but maybe he was in a good mood today. It was special after all; none of them had seen Damian recently.
“So, Timbo, are you excited for today?” Jason ruffled his hair from his place next to him.
He beamed back at the ebony wolf. “Yeah! It’ll be really cool to see Damian! It’s been a while, I want to show him the picture I took on your phone.”
Tim had been experimenting with Jason’s phone recently, taking photos from different angles and with different filters. He found it really fun! It was so interesting to catch a scene from a different perspective, and how he could manipulate the viewer’s reactions based on what was shown. Tim didn’t have the ability to bring people and objects to life on paper the way Damian did, but he could capture and hold it for however long the picture lasted.
Jason seemed a bit confused though, as did Bruce and Dick. “I’m glad you’re happy to see him. But it’s an important day for two reasons, Tesorino.”
He scrunched his nose as he thought about what might make today special. The longer he thought about it the more panicked he got. Did Tim forget about something? What if he couldn’t figure out what it was and they got angry with him? Sometimes his parents would do that when Tim forgot about the day of a Gala and came to get him from his den.
Instead of answering, Jason just leaned forward and pulled him into a soothing hug. Sometimes Tim forgot that he wasn’t with his parents anymore; that the same rules didn’t apply. It was nice that he didn’t have to worry about anger and fear and pain.
Jason reached behind him, and placed something on his head. “Happy birthday, kiddo.”
Leaning back Tim touched the cardboard object on his head with a goofy smile. “I…It’s my birthday?”
Jason’s face flickered from disbelief to sadness to fury in the blink of an eye, but then settled onto something more like gentleness.
“Yeah it is, Tesorino.” Jason shifted and brought Tim across his lap easily.
He caught the party hat so that it didn’t fall to the floor, and Tim clutched it tightly to his chest.
“Oh.”
Tim really didn’t know what to say to that. He had never known when his birthday was—his parents were never around to celebrate it—and Tim had never wanted to ask. Then a pit settled into his stomach.
“Is that the only reason Damian’s coming back today?” Tim asked frantically, “He doesn’t have to if he doesn’t wan—”
Jason hushed him, putting a steadying hand on his back. Tim hadn’t realized how high his shoulders had risen until the man placed his other hand on the juncture between his collarbone and shoulder blade. He let out a slow breath and allowed the tension to leave his body. Sometimes he forgot how much different his life had become in the last six months; it seemed like he was a completely different person.
“He wants to come back and celebrate your birthday, buddy. I promise. Would you be okay with him bringing a few friends with him? They’ve heard a lot about you, and want to meet the nephew he talks so much about.”
“I-I…Okay.”
“Great!” Jason beamed. “Babs and Cass wanted to come over as well, if you’d like to see them.”
Tim brightened considerably at the news. It had been a long time since he had seen Cass or Barbara. He often wondered how the girl was doing. Dick occasionally showed off photos of the pair that Barbara sent to him, but it wasn’t the same. It would be good to see the other girl again.
Three hours later saw Tim waiting excitedly by the door. He didn’t know who would get there first, but he wanted to give both of them the biggest hug he could! Tim could barely keep himself from fidgeting, but he managed. Jason was helping Alfred and Dick set up the manor’s pool for a party while Bruce fired up the grill for a late lunch. Apparently grilling was the only thing that Bruce managed to be good at, the rest was Alfred’s territory.
The doorbell rang!
Tim heaved the door open—it was heavy!—and revealed two fiery redheads, one with glowing green eyes and the other with a hideous baseball cap on. He had to crane his neck just to meet their eyes, but once he did, Tim gave them both a shy smile.
“There’s the birthday boy!!” Roy ruffled his hair gently. “Good to see you again, kiddo! You look even more like Jason in person! The photos he sends don't do it justice.”
He preened at the compliment. He knew that he would never be as tall or as strong as Jason, but he did have blue eyes and black hair! Sometimes he even stole Jason’s leather jacket and pretended to be him in the mirror while no one was looking.
“Hello, Tim. It is wonderful to see you again.” Kori kneeled and brought him gently into her arms. “I am glad we can see each other under better circumstances this time.”
Her hugs were warm and calming, like the glow of a sunset. Tim leaned into her embrace and relaxed almost instantly; he didn’t know her too well, but Jason had told him a lot of fun stories about the “shenanigans” that they had gotten up to as Outlaws. Kori always seemed to get the other two out unscathed.
“Hi!”
There was a girl about his age that peaked out from behind Roy. She had deep dark eyes and thick curly hair with a smile as bright as her father’s. While the man was fairer in complexion, they were clearly related; there was the same intelligence behind their eyes, and a playful sort of mischief about them. Jason had told him enough about Lian to recognize who she was.
“H-Hello, I’m Tim.” He mumbled from his place in Kori’s arms.
Roy cooed a bit at his timidness, and Tim went an even darker shade of red, but otherwise didn’t comment.
“I know, you’re my baby cousin! I’m Lian!” The girl seemed really excited to be here. “Happy birthday!
Roy chuckled, “You’re a year older than he is, Lian.”
“Like I said, a baby!” Lian tugged Tim from Kori’s arms, and the woman let him go. “Wanna hear about my archery lessons???”
As he was pulled away, Tim couldn’t help but smile at how animated the girl was. The others would be there soon anyway. This was going to be the start of a very exciting, and very good day; he could tell.