[COMPLETE/CLOSED]

[chastewing]

WHO: Dick Grayson and Tim Drake.
WHERE: Entrance and out.
WHEN: The day after that log, at noon.
WHAT: Dick and Tim are going out to eat.
FORMAT: Paragraph.
WARNINGS: None.

Comments

[noctivigant]

Dick is early a few minutes himself but this is probably because he might have been driving a little too fast. Not terribly, but it's been a while since he's taken his motorcycle out for a spin just because and he couldn't resist the rush. When he takes the kids out for lunch or whatever trip has been planned that week, it's always by car. So this makes for a nice change of pace.

He pulls up in front of the gate and takes his helmet off, leaving it on his bike before greeting Tim, somehow not surprised to find the boy there early. It just fits with the kind of person Tim seems to be. "Hey there," he says cheerily as he gets off, taking the old leather jacket he managed to find and tossing it over to Tim.

"Ready for your first ride?"

[chastewing]

Tim catches the jacket and it takes one quick look to know it's going to be too big. It is too big -- but it's also Dick lending him a leather jacket and he's not going to turn it down. Just like the chances of him turning down a ride on his motorcycle were practically non-existent.

He puts it on awkwardly, the sleeves nearly hiding the entirety of his hands and the shoulders falling loosely, making Tim look even thinner and smaller than he already is.

He raises an eyebrow at Dick and lifts his arms on his sides to show just how much that jacket is not his size but doesn't say anything on the subject.

"As much as ever, I suppose."

[noctivigant]

Dick has to suppress a chuckle and try (and fail) to hide the smile behind his hand. Maybe he should just buy the kid a new jacket but why do so when this is much more amusing? Maybe he'll grow into it...which, considering Dick's built, is not likely but it makes for a good excuse.

Dick decides not to say anything on the subject either, going for giving Tim a thumbs-up of amused approval instead. Next he takes out the second helmet he brought along - something that should actually fit Tim - and offers it to the teen.

"Well then, let's get going."

[chastewing]

Tim looks down, pulling on the jacket a little. At least it seems to amuse Dick, so... He won't be wearing it anywhere else, however.

The helmet does fit him and he knows how to tighten it and how much. He's never put one on, but he's read about it, the same way he's read about what lever does what, how to accelerate, how to break, how to change gears... Same with most cars. He knows a lot about cars and motorcycles, really. A ridiculous amount of things considering he never drove a car before or rode on a bike.

That's just the way he is.

He waits for Dick to balance on he motorcycle -- it's already on neutral, from what Tim can say -- before climbing up behind Dick. And... they're close, something Tim doesn't especially like -- being close to people. It just adds up to the generally weird feeling going through him. Weird because he's not comfortable, but he's also incredibly excited and nervous, as if Dick was constantly judging him. He knows he doesn't have to impress him, but it's hard not thinking about that when he's spent

[noctivigant]

Dick easily settles back on the motorcycle, putting his own helmet back on before he simply waits for Tim to get ready as well. All the while tuning into Tim's emotions which might be considered a rude thing to do but it's not something Dick can control. It's not like he can turn it off and the closer people are, the more their feelings can feel like as if their his own.

Though he doesn't really need his empathy to tell him Tim isn't too comfortable with this. The slack grip and the rest of the body language Dick can feel tell him enough.

"Relax," he says as he taps Tim's hand with his fingers once. "And you're going to need to hold on a lot tighter before you're ready."

Uncomfortable or not, he'd rather not risk it and he doesn't intend to take off until he's sure Tim won't fall off.

[chastewing]

He'd argue that he's perfectly fine if he had the guts to argue with Dick. One day, maybe, but he definitely doesn't have it right now, so he shifts a little and hangs on Dick's waits with a better grip.

Dick can't tell he's blushing, at least.

"There." You can go so it feels like holding on to you that much is useful, now.

[noctivigant]

Dick gives a little hum of appreciation before taking off. He's making sure to start slow and built up speed as he goes, trying to 'ease' Tim into the feel of a motorcycle. He has to restrain himself from going what might be too fast for Tim though he can't resist weaving through cars a few times but he does it with careful consideration of the extra weight.

Maybe luckily the town isn't that far off and it doesn't take too long for Dick to reach his destination, it helps that the place he has in mind is more on the edge of town too. He slows down and parks his motorcycle neatly.

"Here we are," he announces half-way through the act of removing his helmet.

[chastewing]

Tim appreciates Dick going easy on him. He knows when to lean on the side, he knows enough to expect some of the drive, but experiencing this is vastly different than whatever he could have prepared himself about. He trusts Dick not to kill them both and to be careful, of course. Dick wouldn't do anything dangerous while someone else was on his motorcycle, or, at least, not in a completely non-threatening situation.

When they arrive, Tim takes a look around, removing his own helmet. It's one of those main streets in town, with shops, restaurants and a cafe. He starts ruffling his own hair, placing it again even if he doesn't have a mirror, correcting most of the disaster that was probably caused by the ride.

Dick's hair still looks fine, though. It makes Tim flatten his hair faster.

"Is there anywhere you wanted to go?"

[noctivigant]

"Yeah," Dick replies and motions to the café. "They've got great sandwiches there and the apple pie's good. Not as good as Alfred's but I don't think comparing anything to Alfred's cooking is fair." If there's one thing he misses, it would definitely be that.

He slides off the motorcycle and helps Tim get off it before he puts the helmets away in the storage compartment and makes sure his precious bird is secure. Once he's certain, he straightens up and starts walking towards the café, fully expecting Tim to follow.

"So, how did you like your first ride?"

[chastewing]

Tim waits for Dick to lead the way and follows him in the small café, answering as they're walking. He's not exactly by Dick's side, instead walking one step behind. That's how he's comfortable.

"It... will require some getting used to," Tim answers honestly. "Which doesn't mean I didn't like it. I don't like trying new things all that much because I feel inadequate but I know I have to try them out more than once until I don't feel that way anymore." He smiles, "it's a vicious circle."

He wouldn't like being able to do everything perfectly on first try, either. Certain things, yes, but not everything. It would remove a lot of the good feeling of being able to do something for the first time. The excitement of discovering or succeeding doing something is worth it, very often.

[noctivigant]

"You're way too serious about this." Dick chuckles and pauses in his steps so he can ruffle Tim's hair - probably somewhat unintentionally undoing Tim's previous efforts to flatten it. "But I'm glad you didn't hate it."

And with that he enters the café, holding the door open for Tim as he casually greets the staff with obvious familiarity. The café is one of the small but really homely feeling ones. The atmosphere is why Dick likes the place so much.

He picks a table in a more secluded corner out of habit, it's both cozier and allows for more privacy that way.

"What would you like for lunch?"

[chastewing]

Tim doesn't think he could get any less serious about -- anything, really. It's how he feels safe. He doesn't need to tell that to Dick, he just smiles shyly and tilts his head a little, knowing this will tell everything that needs to be.

Tim feels out of place, everyone knowing Dick here, and wonders for a moment if he's going to get introduced --

He can deal with people just fine. His parents were the head of Drake Industries, he had to learn hot to talk and he knows how to play adults. He can smile in a 'listens attentively without being invasive' way, or make a frown that will exactly say 'you are completely right, I sympathize and hope it will get better'. But Dick would be able to tell because he's good enough for that and Tim isn't sure how to act natural

[noctivigant]

"It's quite delicious," Dick replies with an amiable smile that will hopefully put Tim at ease a bit. Dick doesn't quite get the nervousness, in his opinion there's no reason anyone should feel nervous around him unless they were either a criminal or have wronged him in some way. Tim hasn't done that nor is he a criminal. Not as far as he knows anyway and Dick hadn't been able to resist doing a little digging. He always shrugs that off as a detective habit.

The whole point of this lunch was so they could get to know each other better but he doesn't want to force it or have it be uncomfortable for Tim. He's just a bit - okay, maybe a lot - curious about the boy Bruce has decided to take in as well. That, and Tim's rather serious disposition makes him intriguing.

When one of the few waiters stops by, he does introduce Tim and as his little brother even before placing his order of "The usual" and turning his attention back to Tim.

"Do you want something to drink with that?"

[chastewing]

Tim doesn't know for sure that Dick looked him up, but he has incredibly strong suspicions that this is the case. To be honest, he would probably be a bit disappointed if he ever found out that Dick hadn't done a little digging. Tim is, for all intents, a stranger who knows of his double life. It is only safe to look into Tim's background and keep an eye open.

Tim says hi and speak ups when he has to, somewhat surprised he finds any words at all after Dick has introduced him as his little brother. He is Nightwing's little brother. There's that saying -- you can't choose family -- and of course, Tim would have preferred to be chosen by Dick, but this is still a lot more than he would have expected a month ago

[noctivigant]

The thing is, Dick can choose his family. By legal standards he has no ties to Bruce whatsoever anymore and definitely none to Tim but this is Dick accepting Tim as a little brother even though he has the option of not making any relation at all

[chastewing]

There are a lot of things bothering Tim, always, but he's not cryptic and that isn't the kind of answer he gives away. He thinks about shaking his head slowly and smiling in the very specific 'I'm sorry I bothered you, you can go on' manner, but he doesn't want to use these on Dick. He also finds that he doesn't want to avoid answering his questions. If he asks, it's because he wants to know, and Tim won't dismiss it.

There's also part of him thinking that not answering Dick when he expects Tim to is going to push him away and give out the impression Tim doesn't want to talk and spend time with him. It would be partly true, but only because he's been taught (he's taught himself?) that talking about himself too much wasn't appropriate and could also be a weakness