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Tim blurts out "I don't actually really like beer but I always get embarrassed when I try to order cocktails so I drink it anyway." before going very very pale and slapping a hand over his mouth. He looks at Dick as if he's just revealed some grand secret, then quickly looks away.
Dick raises one eyebrow in Tim's direction, deeply confused. It's not even the way Tim looks horribly embarrassed over a seemingly small secret that's bugging him, it's that he knows that already, and he's sure Tim knows he knows. "Uh, Tim? What's wrong buddy."
Tim turns to look at him with an expression like Dick has just signed his death warrant, his eyes are wide and panicked and his mouth seems to be working against his throat. Eventually he manages "Whatever those goons hit me with has a very specific effect - truth serum, and I'm terrified I'm going to spill my guts and ruin everything."
On instinct Dick puts a hand on Tim's shoulder and begins an attempt to comfort him "I'm sure you wouldn't ruin everything-"
When Tim's mouth starts working, presumably to explain in great detail how he could indeed ruin everything, Dick slaps one gloved hand over Tim's mouth. Even with the hand in the way, Tim still makes an attempt to talk, so Dick panics and shoves his hand in so his fingers are resting on Tim's tongue.
When Tim is done talking Dick stares at him warily, horribly fixated on the way Tim looks with his lips wrapped around Dick's fingers and the wetness beginning to seep through the material where it's pressed up against Tim's tongue.
He pulls his hand out as quickly as he can without hurting Tim and wipes it on his thigh. He manages a weak "sorry" before marching to his bike like it's to his death. The look he'd seen on Tim's face when he'd been about to spill whatever it is he's so scared of had been haunting, and it doesn't matter how desperate he is to know every little facet of Tim's life, nothing is worth putting that expression on his face.
Tim follows him to the bike, similarly tense, and gets on behind him. Wrapping his arms around Dick's middle and pressing his face to his back he says "I love when you let me ride your bike with you." Before his teeth audibly clench and he urges Dick to start the engine.
It's not like they normally talk on the bike, other than the occasional whoop or yell, but the ride is tense and quiet regardless. Dick can practically feel the stress dripping off Tim from the way he's holding on.
When they arrive in the cave it's empty save for Alfred, who is dutifully preparing the testing equipment. He looks deeply unimpressed but his brows crease in worry when his eyes catch on Tim, who without Dick to hang onto has wrapped his arms around himself as subtly as possible. He still looks pale and almost sickly, eyes darting nervously back to Dick every few seconds like he's a bomb waiting to go off.
Tim scuttles off towards Alfred like he can't be free of Dick fast enough, which he has to admit stings. Obviously Tim and Alfred are close, and Dick would never want anything to happen to that precious relationship, but he can't deny the part of himself that wants to monopolize Tim's time and wishes he could be the person Tim goes to no matter the crisis.
He tries to busy himself with grabbing Tim's change of clothes, which has nothing to do with the the fact that sounds from the cave travel particularly well to this one corner. He's sorting through the shirts and pants when he hears them begin to speak.
"Is everything quite alright master Tim?"
There's a deep exhale of breath and then "You know it isn't Alfie, but if you're asking if I've gone and spilt my guts all over the place like a giant disgusting pile of mushy goo, then yes everything's perfectly peachy."
"Well sir, you still have quite the mouth on you, the situation can't be so dire then."
Tim groans "Alfred what am I going to do?" he's practically whining now, in a way he so rarely does these days but for comedic effect or to bother Dick; it makes him wish even harder he was the one there taking care of Tim.
"I'm sure you'll make it through. Look, the computer says this concoction will run its course in an hour and then you will be back to perfect shape. Or you will be once you get some rest."
"Thanks Alfred." Tim still sounds deeply put out.
Alfred sighs heavily and adds "Might I suggest master Tim, that you simply speak with master Dick? I will say that I believe you've dithered over the issue for far too long. I doubt if you were honest it would turn out as poorly as you seem to think. Master Dick cares for you a great deal and something as important to him as matters of the heart is unlikely to scare him away."
Dick only avoids dropping the clothes through the power of years upon years of training. Not only is Alfred aware of whatever dreadful secret Tim is so terrified to reveal, but the secret also pertains directly to him. Him and matters of the heart.
He's out of view of Alfred and Tim from here, and they're out of his view, likely the only reason he was able to eavesdrop on their conversation in the first place.
It's just… Alfred couldn't mean that… what? Tim is in love with him? Surely not. Dick discards the idea pretty much as soon as it comes to him, before he lands on a much more understandable answer. Tim is queer and thinks Dick will be disgusted by him.
His heart aches at the thought, surely that's not the impression he gives, is it? He supposes he knows just as well how irrational the fear surrounding coming out can be, he's faced it himself after all. If he has been doing anything to make Tim nervous though, he definitely needs to right that wrong immediately.
He doesn't want to force Tim into a conversation about it if he isn't ready, but he also doesn't want to be indirect. The time for subtly has clearly passed.
He walks over as calmly as possible, he doesn't want to give Tim the impression he's angry, as much as it tears at him that there's something so personal he didn't know about Tim. He sends a look to Alfred, silently asking him for space. He sighs, disliking whatever it is he sees in Dick's expression, but he grants it.
Tim looks at him warily, hands tugging at his glove nervously. Dick takes a deep breath and starts talking "Tim, I didn't mean to eavesdrop and I'm sorry." Tim goes more pale than he's yet to all night, Dick speeds up his pace, hopefully he can get his point across before Tim actually throws up. "But I heard you and Alfred talking and I'm sorry I ever made you feel like you couldn't trust me with that part of yourself. I love you Tim, you're my little brother."
And just as Dick tells him "And being gay or bisexual, or however you identify, would never change that" Tim blurts "I'm sorry! I know you don't feel the same way, but I can't help it, I've been in love with you since I was thirteen!"
Dick is pretty sure his brain just fully shuts down. Information overload and suddenly he's not taking any information in or out. It's just Tim blurting out that he's been in love with Dick for nearly a decade now.
Tim seems to similarly stop working, mouth hanging open as a bright flush takes over his earlier pallor so quickly it must be painful. He mumbles "oh. You meant- oh. Ha, okay. Yeah."
And then when he looks up at Dick and takes in what must be a deeply unhelpful expression, he does something Dick oh so very rarely sees him do anymore. He starts crying. Tim looks shaky and overwhelmed, silent tears multiplying until he's bawling uncontrollably.
He chokes on a barely comprehensible "sorry, this is so stupid. I don't know why I'm crying."
Dick can't help it, he crawls onto Tim's cot and takes his face in his hands, wiping away the tears only for them to be replaced moments later. He pulls Tim into a hug, pushing his face into his shoulder while Tim tries to get a hold of himself.
"Is this what you thought was going to ruin everything Tim."
"Yes!" he practically shouts it, despite how muffled his voice is into the fabric of Dick's suit. "You're my brother, you should be disgusted Dick. Why aren't you disgusted."
Dick shushes him gently, rocking his body back and forth. To be honest, he hasn't given himself a chance to think about what he feels about this. He isn't quite sure he wants to detangle it. There was no immediate rush of disgust at Tim's admission like there maybe should have been, but that can easily be attributed to how much he loves Tim. He can't imagine ever being disgusted by Tim or anything he feels.
Even when Tim told him about the future villainous version of himself the most he could muster up was a profound sadness, not disgust. It's Tim. His Tim. He's quite sure there's nothing he could do to ever make Dick hate him.
So he tells Tim that, stroking his hair in a way he hopes is soothing "I could never be disgusted by you Tim."
Tim pulls back, when he looks at Dick his face is covered in tear tracks and his nose is dripping. He looks a complete mess. He's still the most beautiful person Dick knows. Tim asks, shakily "Do you really mean that?"
"Yeah, Tim. I do. You're my brother, you always will be." He thinks, immediately, that that must have been the worst possible thing he could have said in that moment.
As he's scrambling for something to say to make it better, A smile breaks through Tim's expression like the clouds parting in the sky. He's so so pretty. Tim leans back into the hug and thanks him, and Dick holds him until the drug leaves his system and he falls asleep.