Steady On Forward

Chapter 1

"No, just...give me a minute." After a few seconds, he grabbed Dick's arm, and hauled himself up to sitting. "Oof I feel like I got run over."

Dick made a sympathetic noise.

"If you're making sure he gets upstairs into bed, then I'm going to head out and finish up patrol," Bruce said.

Dick nodded and waved him off.

"I don't need an escort to get upstairs," Tim protested, as Bruce headed across the Cave to the Batmobile.

"Mhm." Dick didn't bother to sound like he believed him. "Because you're so well known for going to bed when you're told. You're getting an escort so you don't do something like try to go back to your apartment." He held out his arm for Tim to grab, and then paused, looking him over. "Let's find you something so you can get out of your costume first, or Alfred will have our heads. I take it you're not really up to a shower right now?"

Tim grimaced, but nodded. "Yeah I don't think so." Better to admit it now than to try to force himself through it and have his still-shaky legs collapse under him. He really didn't fancy taking a fall to the hard tile floor right now — his poor body had been through enough tonight.

He let his legs dangle off the side of the gurney and carefully peeled his mask off his face as Dick rummaged through his locker.

"Here." Dick tossed him a soft t-shirt and sweatpants, and turned away, heading back to the lockers to get changed himself. No costumes in the manor was a rule for a reason.

They got dressed quickly, and shoved their uniforms and boots into their lockers. 

"You think Alfred will give me coffee?" Tim asked. "I know I'm not supposed to have it so late, but I just went through an ordeal, I think I deserve it." 

Dick wrapped an arm around his waist for support, and Tim reluctantly let him take some of his weight, putting an arm over Dick's shoulders. He really hated needing to lean on people, but he thought he would hate getting up close and personal with the floor right now a bit more.

"Not a chance. You're supposed to be going to sleep. To recover from said ordeal." Dick led him to the elevator, and Tim huffed.

"I'm twenty one, I should really be able to make my own coffee choices by now."

Dick rolled his eyes as they got into the elevator. "Well you can be the one to tell Alfred that. Can't wait to see how that pans out."

Tim did not pout the entire rest of the way to his old room. Definitely not. That would be childish.

"Alright, in you get," Dick said, holding back the covers.

"I can get into the bed myself, Dick," Tim said annoyedly, but he slid into the bed.

"I know, but I'm tucking you in. You've had an ordeal," Dick said, leaning over to tuck the blankets securely around Tim.

Tim rolled his eyes, but allowed it. "Thanks mom," he said sarcastically. Not that his actual mother had ever done anything like this for him. He certainly wasn't going to admit to Dick that he actually kind of liked being mothered, though.

Dick just kissed his forehead, and left with a, "Sleep tight, Tim," before shutting off the light and closing the door softly behind himself.

"Was that Master Timothy?" Alfred asked, and Dick looked over to the butler standing at the end of the hallway.

"Hey Alfred. Yeah, he had a run-in with Scarecrow and his fear toxin."

"What a shame. Shall I prepare a snack for him?"