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Getting hit with Ivy's new 'cuddle poison' was objectively not good.
It was an accident, really. He just hasn't slept in a while because there was this case he was working on and he had an algebra text next week and Bruce needed help at WE so everything was just a lot.
Dick and Tim went out to patrol just over 2 hours ago, and they finally found Ivy. She escaped Arkham about a week ago. And during the fight, Tim slipped. He shouldn't have done that, because Ivy saw it and threw the powder at him.
While Ivy looked at Tim, Dick grabbed her. Dick put her in cuffs and they brought her back to Arkham.
Logically, Tim knew that it took an hour for the poison to set in, that's why they hadn't immediately went back to the cave. But the illogical part of Tim thought that maybe Dick didn't care. He didn't care that Tim was freezing and would need a hug, because why would he care? This poison went away in a couple of hours, it's not fatal, you just get over it.
So, when on the trip back to the cave Dick went "Are you okay? Did it set in yet?" Tim was shocked.
"Uhm no I don't think so" Dick nodded and Tim started going faster. In reality, he was absolutely freezing and needed something someone here with him. But Dick was so far away and Tim didn't even like hugs but he didn't really care right now and everything is a bit too bright and suddenly there was an arm around him.
Tim hadn't noticed that he stopped. But Dick was hugging him and there were hand carding through his hair. He could feel the weird material of the gloves and he didn't feel Dick's hug at full force because of their costumes but he felt a bit warmer now.
But then he got too hot. "Get off me" he shrugged Dick off and he hurried over a rooftop. They were almost home. He can lock himself into his room and sleep it off and nothing will happen. He doesn't need Dick or anyone smothering him.
"C'mon Red it's been an hour, we can hurry home, watch a movie together. It will be fun" Tim acted like he didn't hear him. He acted like he didn't see the hurt flash through his brothers eyes.
Tim never liked hugs. Everyone knew that. He felt suffocated in them. Like there was no escape. But when he first got to the manor years ago when he was 13, Bruce said that he was 'touch-starved' and that meant that lots of people wanted to give him hugs to make up for all the hugs he didn't get as a kid. It was exhausting.
They arrived at the cave and before Dick could say or do anything, Tim left to take a shower and change out of his Red Robin uniform. He sneeked up to his room and locked the door.
He fell into his ginormous bed and ignored the way he was shaking.
Then he heard knocking.
"Go away Dick I'm fine!" He shouted.
"It's me Drake" he heard Damian say from the other side of the door. What does he want?
Tim got up, it was agonising, he was so so cold, and opened the door.
There stood Damian, in his pyjamas, with a laptop in hand.
"You should be asleep, you have school tomorrow" Tim said and glared at Damian.
"You do too" Damian glared back. Without an invitation, Damian pushed past Tim and sat down on his bed.
"Did Dick send you?"
"No" Tim watched from the door as Damian opened up the laptop and started browsing through movies. Damian scooted over so there was some space for Tim next
Tim just glared at Damian some more. But the cold was getting worse and he couldn't stop his full body shaking. His eyes swept over Damian's small frame. He looked so cuddly in his pyjamas and hair slightly messed up. Damian wasn't even looking at him, he was fiddling with his laptop.
Finally, after lots of internal debating Tim climbed in next to Damian and pulled the covers over them. His side was touching Damain's side and he couldn't hide a sight of relief at the warmth he was feeling.
Damain started the movie and put his head on Tim's shoulder, sliding over the laptop onto the duvet over their legs.