grab your hat, get your coat, the cellar door is an open throat (open/closed)

[overlyprecocious]

Who: Tim Drake overlyprecocious, others
What: catch-all post for late April/early May. some post-Jason fight things.
When: late April, early May
Where: Dick's apartment, other places tbd
Content Warnings: dissociation, references to childhood neglect and abuse, (so far) light reference to food insecurity

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[forceforlight]

Kon hadn't stayed long when he dropped off the younger Tim. Which isn't surprising, because there aren't a lot of people who would have sent him off. And he probably wanted to get back to the older Tim to deal with...whatever had caused this.

He'd find out that soon enough.

Still, Tim's greeted by a lick to his hand as Haley twists around at the pets. And there's the scent of coffee in the air and the sound of somebody moving around in the other room. But Dick doesn't come to the door, intent on giving Tim the time he needs to sort himself out.

[overlyprecocious]

Haley's tongue when she licks him is wet and a little rough and almost startlingly real against his skin, and he finds himself blinking at her in something like confusion at the gesture. He doesn't remember how he ended up here - he feels like his thoughts are running at a lag compared to the rest of the world - and it takes him some time to realize that he's smelling coffee and there's someone else in the apartment in another room.

Haley still feels like the realest thing in the room, so when he finally does stand up, he scoops her into his arms and keeps her safe against his chest as he wanders out of the bedroom to see who else is here.

[forceforlight]

Dick's in the kitchen, clad in long pajama bottoms and a t-shirt for some band on this world. So, his normal sleeping clothes. The coffee pot gurgles softly to the side as the toaster pops and Dick pulls them out, getting out some butter. He glances over at the movement out of the bedroom and smiles. "Hey," he says, voice pitched low and nodding toward the couch in...what counts as a living room. Really, it's pretty open plan other than the bedroom Tim came out of and another door that's probably the bathroom. "Go ahead and sit down. I'll bring you over some coffee in a moment."

[overlyprecocious]

"Hi."

It may only sort of count as a living room, but it has a couch and that's all that's necessary. It's easy to just follow Dick's orders and take himself and Haley to the couch, where she promptly settles onto his lap, and Tim starts automatically petting her again. It's nice.

[forceforlight]

He's not a fan of the way Tim's just sort of drifting. That's implying a level of disassociation that he's not too certain he likes. He finishes the toast, leaving it dry but for butter at the moment, then pours a couple cups of coffee before going to the couch and putting it all on the coffee table. "You okay to have some food, Tim? Or at least some coffee?"

[overlyprecocious]

He hums noncommittaly before picking up the coffee and just leaving it in the hand that’s not busy with Haley for the moment. It has a strong smell that’s nice to just inhale right now. Gives him a feeling like he’s just starting to wake up.

At least when his gaze lands on Dick, it looks like he’s actually following him now instead of observing blankly.

[forceforlight]

That's a good start. And since there wasn't an actual answer, Dick's content to just let him settle down for a bit with the coffee and with Haley.

Haley, who is very good with just staying in Tim's lap and being pet, though she does butt her head up against his hand from time to time when she wants something a bit different. Like ear scratches. Something that requires a little bit of paying attention.

Dick takes his own coffee, sitting down on the other end of the couch. He does reach for the remote for the TV, turning it on to one of the music channels on low. Nothing loud, nothing shouty. Just something that keeps the room from being entirely silent with the two of them there and means Dick doesn't have to try to keep up a one-sided conversation at the moment.

[overlyprecocious]

It's a pretty good environment to just - drift in until his brain starts to settle a little more back into his body. His coffee is more lukewarm than hot by the time he finally tries to take a sip, which at least sparks A Feeling because he makes a slight face at it for not being Correct.

Somehow, that finally leads him to think about how long he's been here, and maybe a bit of how he got here. He's not sure if he wants to ask those questions yet, but at least it causes him to pay attention to Dick. Even try saying something.

" - Hey."

Nailed it.

[forceforlight]

Dick knows a bit about what he needs when the world gets to be too much. And what Tim sometimes needs, though he hasn't for a while. (That Dick knows about, at least.)

He's content to sip his coffee and wait, though, relieved when Tim starts showing signs of coming out of it. "Hey," he says once Tim speaks. "Just remember that lukewarm coffee is better than lukewarm tea. And is less likely to get Alfred to tut at you."

[overlyprecocious]

He still makes a face at the coffee again, and sets it down on the table in front of him. He didn't really need coffee that bad anyway. He just -

Well.

He doesn't know what he needs. "How, um. How long have I been here?"

[forceforlight]

Dick makes a show of checking the wall clock. Like he doesn't already know. "About eight hours? Maybe a touch more. You seemed to need rest more than anything, so I got you comfortable and Haley decided to keep you company."

Dick had slept on the couch. Close enough to hear if anything were happening in the bedroom.

[overlyprecocious]

"Oh."

That's... not great. Longer than he thought, definitely. Longer than it... usually lasts. He swallows. " - Sorry."

[forceforlight]

"Nothing to be sorry for." Dick keeps his distance, but reaches out and very lightly pats Tim on the shoulder. Only for a second, in case he's touch adverse. "I think some part of you knew you were in a safe place and it let your head sort itself out at the pace it needed to instead of trying to rush things."

[overlyprecocious]

"You shouldn't have had to deal with me, though. So."

Usually, he just comes back to himself eventually and takes care of whatever on his own. He didn't want Dick to have to deal with this. He didn't even want Dick to know about it.

[forceforlight]

Dick sips his coffee for a few seconds, gathering his thoughts. Then he leans forward, setting the cup down while looking at Tim. "It's not a case of having to deal with you," he says finally. "You're my brother. You may not be from my world, but that doesn't make you any less my brother for it. And that means that, when you are having trouble, whatever that trouble may be? I'm going to be here for you. To either help you fight or just be there for you while you deal with it."