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Tim yawned as his eyes scanned the words projected onto the screen of the Bat computer. He still had to write up the report for that night’s patrol, plus he’d made an interesting break on a case he’d been looking at and didn't want to stop when he was so clearly on a roll.
Around four in the morning, Alfred had stopped by and attempted to coax Tim to sleep, of course, Tim had refused, and the best Alfred had managed was to drape a thick blanket over his shoulders before retreating up the stairs.
Tim didn’t know how late it was anymore, but even Bruce had gone to bed now along with Dick and Jason who were staying the night.
A sudden chill of icy cold air crept through the cave. Tim wrapped the blanket further around him and pulled it taught. He appreciated Alfred’s gesture, but he wished the older man hadn’t because the soft warmth of the fabric just left him longing for all those things he couldn’t have.
Tim didn’t like to sleep.
Tim refused to sleep.
Tim avoided sleeping.
None of it was true, or at least not completely.
Once Tim had loved to snuggle up at the end of the day and let his mind drift away, but for some reason, he’d never felt comfortable sleeping on a bed. Maybe it was because of his parent’s strict rules on having a clean room and a perfectly made bed. Or perhaps it was of all those times he’d sleep out in the open to wake to his dad yelling. Tim wasn’t sure what the reason was, just that he could never fall asleep in a bed.
He'd used to grab pillows and blankets to create some makeshift den in the smallest wardrobe of his room. It had been dark and warm, and he used to fall asleep almost instantly in there. But then his parents had found out and it turned out seven-year-old boys should be too mature for blanket forts.
Even now he lived at Wayne Manor permanently Tim didn’t want to risk appearing childish, except now he was within the cocoon of the crimson blanket Tim desperately wanted to curl up in a corner and sleep.
Everyone was asleep, perhaps if he just slept for a short while and woke before they did…
Tim took a large swig of coffee, then bundled up the blanket and found himself running up the Batcave stairs before he could think about this logically.
The quicker he moved the heavier his limbs felt as the weight of his exhaustion came crashing down. By the time he reached the door to his room, he was shuffling along, his eyes drooping closed every few seconds. He’d grabbed several blankets from sofas and chairs across the manor, including Jason’s Wonder Woman one, but he’d be returning them before anyone could notice.
Normally he’d leave his bed alone in case his parents came in, but Tim was so desperate for warmth he yanked his duvet off the bed followed by the pillows and began stashing them in the wardrobe. He’d gathered more than he’d ever had before and the floor was no longer visible, obscured by the fluff and fuzz of comforters.
Tim clambered in, his head brushing against the dress shirts hanging above him, and pulled the Wonder Woman blanket over him.
Warmth seemed to engulf him like a protective shield. Tim rubbed his hands against the soft fabric, letting the fluff slip through his fingers. He felt as though he was seven again, but that didn’t matter because he could feel his eyelids closing and the comforting pull of sleep on his mind.
He let out a content sign and gave in to unconsciousness.
Tim was woken by light, far too much light. He lifted a hand to block it from his eyes, squeezing them tighter shut.
“…in here.”
“…he’s asleep?”
He could just about make out voices, but they sounded distant and slightly warped as though he were underwater.
Tim pulled the blankets closer and pressed his face deeper into the fabric, trying to block it all out and drift back to sleep again.
Suddenly he could feel the pillows beneath him shifting and he was wide awake, all traces of sleep immediately gone from his mind.
He sat up straight so quickly that he nearly headbutted Bruce.
“I’m awake!” He yelled. “I wasn’t sleeping. I swear I wasn’t sleeping.”
For a moment Bruce looked startled, his lips pursed in a confused pout. Then the corners of his mouth tipped upwards in an amused smile, “It’s okay Tim, we were just worried when we couldn’t find you.”
Tim blinked, his mind still feeling groggy from his abrupt awakening. He glanced around, looking from Bruce to Dick to Jason. They didn’t look angry at him, nor were they sneering at his childishness. Jason may be eyeing his blanket slightly suspiciously, but that was about it.
They weren’t mad. They weren’t going to grab the pillows and drag him out. They weren’t going to hit him or yell at him or punish him. He wasn’t at home with the Drake’s he was safe at the Manor. He was safe.
Tim slumped further into the blankets at the realisation.
“I’m sorry for scaring you,” Tim murmured.
He could feel Bruce’s hand on his arm, a reassuring squeeze, “It's okay, I’m just sorry we woke you.”
“You need the sleep,” Dick added.
“Why does his needing sleep entitle him to my blanket?” Jason asked.
It must have been his still sleep-deprived state and exhaustion from being woken because Tim wouldn't normally dare challenge Jason, but at that moment he pulled the Wonder Woman blanket closer to him.
“Mine.” He said firmly.
“Did you just growl at me?” Jason asked, amazed.
Dick laughed.
Bruce sighed, one of those perfect dad sighs he did whenever he wasn’t sure how to deal with them.
Tim could feel the pillows shifting again and he snapped his eyes open to see Jason making his way into the fort in an attempt to reach out and snatch his blanket back.
Tim wriggled his legs, slamming them hard against Jason’s ankles. It was an attempt to annoy Jason and get him back for what he was about to do. Tim hadn’t expected Jason would be so caught off guard that he’d go toppling down so he too ended up a heap in the nest of blankets.
“Hugs!” Dick yelled.
Tim and Jason started to protest as they attempted to wriggle up and move out of the way, but it was too late. Dick practically launched himself into the wardrobe, grabbing both of them into one of those octopus hugs of his.
He could hear Bruce’s slightly amused, slightly startled laughter.
Tim stopped wriggling. He could feel Dick’s warmth through the thin fabric of his shirt, and it was better than any warmth the blankets could offer. He twisted himself round so he was facing towards Dick and nestled his head into his older brother’s chest.
“Come on B,” Dick said.
“What?” Bruce replied and Tim could practically hear the frown in his voice.
“Tim is finally sleeping, Jason’s letting me hug him for the first time in so long -” Dick began.
Jason snorted at that but didn’t protest.
“- There’s no way I’m letting you miss out on that.” Dick finished.
Tim expected Bruce to object, to say he had work or a meeting or better things to do. He expected Bruce to tell them they should stop being childish. He didn’t expect the pillows to shift once more as Bruce made his way into the cupboard that was far too small for the four of them.
“I’m only staying one hour.” He said, but his voice was already starting to sound muffled by sleepiness.
“Yeah right.” Dick laughed.
Tim could feel himself starting to drift again as exhaustion claimed him once again.
He’d been working on zero hours of sleep for so long, he’d had his protective shields up for so long, and he’d been scared of messing up around the others for so long…
Tim took in a deep, refreshing breath and allowed himself to be vulnerable for the first time in years.
Bruce shifted beside him, growing less and less tense by the second. Tim could feel the comforting rise and fall of his chest as he too succumbed to the lure of sleep.
He suspected they’d all relish in this rare moment of domestic comfort and sleep that none of them would be moving any time soon, which was a thought that sent his lips twisting upwards in a joyful smile. He certainly felt no need to move, and he had no intentions to let the others either.
Maybe he should make blanket nests more often.