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smol tim is smol

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Ever since Tim worked out (a) worked out Batman and Robin's identity and (b) realized that she could sneak out of the house at night without anyone noticing, she has a system. She keeps a bag packed with her camera, a bottle of water, and some snacks in case she gets hungry, and she has a set of dark-colored clothes, a nice warm jacket and shoes with a lot of grip for running around Gotham. When she gets to go out depends on who's at home with her that night. Tonight is really easy, because her parents are in the city but at a big party, and usually they go right to bed when they get home without checking on her.

She's gotten really good at analyzing patrol patterns based on current crime rates and past patrol routes. Bruce Wayne is supposed to be at the party tonight, so she heads to one of the most likely places Robin is going to go to tonight.

It's colder than she expected tonight, but that's okay. Tim finds herself a snug, semi-hidden place on a fire escape and settles in with her legs pulled up to her chest for warmth. All she has to do now is wait.

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"I won't be mad at you, I promise," he tells her encouragingly, after a moment's hesitation. He can't deny he might get mad if it turns out she's being used by some villain to spy on them, but he also knows that it probably won't be her he's angry at, and he can keep his emotions enough in check that he can hide it from her if that does happen.

She seems to consider this for a little while before deciding he believes him. "I like to take pictures."

She carefully removes her camera from her bag to show him.

"Pictures? Of us?" he leans forward to get a better look, intrigued "Just for fun, or has somebody else asked you to do it?"

"For fun."

She surrenders her camera over for him to look at, though there isn't anything newer than a few days old, for obvious reasons.

He takes the camera slowly, trying not to make any sudden movements and scare her, and scrolls through the pictures.

"Hey, some of these are pretty good..." he looks up at her with a smile "Do you like to take pictures?"

He's not mad? He's not mad!

She smiles at him shyly. "Uh-huh." Most of them are of Batman, Robin, and a few other criminals and crime fighters, because mixing these pictures with more ordinary ones wouldn't be a good idea.

"That's good," he nods encouragingly, handing her back the camera. His expression turns a little more serious for a moment and he leans in, voice calm and reassuring.

"Tim... I promise I'm not going to be mad or get you in any trouble, but do your parents know where you are?"

And... She's back to looking uncomfortable and staring anywhere but at him. ".....No?"

Ah. Well, that wasn't good.

"It's dangerous to come out here on your own, you could get hurt," he told her, trying to make sure he sounded concerned rather than angry "I would feel a lot better if I knew you were home safe, is it okay if I take you home now?"

She shrugs. "I can go on my own." Robin has important things to do! More important than taking her places.

"Would it be okay if I came with you?" he asks gently "I wouldn't want anything to happen to you on the way..."

She blinks at him, like she either isn't sure what could possibly happen to her on the way or just isn't used to people insisting on going places with her.

Or maybe it's just that he's Robin and really, there are more important things for him to do than to follow some kid around. "Um. Okay. If you want."

"Of course! Hey, got to make sure my biggest fan is safe, right?" it's not that she's actually said she's a fan, but given that she's been following them around taking pictures he assumes that's the reason.

Straightening up, he holds out a hand to her "You ready to go?"

After she carefully tucks her camera way, she takes his hand. "Okay."

Home, apparently, is one of the more upscale neighborhoods of Gotham. She leads him to a nice-looking townhouse where, judging from the lack of lights on, no one's home. Or at least, no one's waiting up for her.

"Is anybody home?" he frowns, looking over the unlit windows, wondering if she'd been left home alone. It was clear at the very least she'd been left poorly supervised, and that was bad enough.

"Uh-uh." She hadn't expected them back for a few hours, at least. There's plenty of time, since Robin made her go home early.

She digs the house key out of her pocket. "I'll be okay on my own now."

"Before you go... Do you get to come out and take pictures a lot? Do your parents ever know?" he asks thoughtfully, he knows he's seen her a few times now, he can't help but wonder how often she's left so unattended. He didn't really believe there was actually someone in there.

When in doubt: mumble. "...no...?"

Is he going to tell them? She's not sure what they'd do if they knew.

He hesitates, not sure how to proceed. He wants to push more, get more information and find out just how neglected she is. She seems perfectly well-adjusted but he still can't help but worry.

"...Tim, I'm really worried you're going to get hurt, and if you're out and about and you get hurt your parents aren't going to know about it, so it's really dangerous," he explains to her, as seriously as possible, "If I promise to come visit you, can you promise not to come looking for us again?" This way, he could keep an eye on her situation.

She glances down at her camera. On the one hand, if she promises not to go looking for them, she won't get to take pictures. But Robin might come visit her, at least a couple times, if he remembers.

And she's not sure she can say no to him, cause. Robin. "...okay." But she doesn't sound happy about it.

(And then if he forgets, she could go out again. Conditional promises.)

"I'll swing by and visit you next week, okay?" he says, holding out his little finger to her "Pinky promise?"

He toys with the idea of giving her something, but there's very little he carries that isn't a weapon of some kind, and he doesn't want to give her anything that might be studied, just in case she really isn't just doing this for fun.

After a moment's thinking about it, he grins.

"And we can take a picture together before you go, okay?"

She holds out her pinky for him. "Pinky promise."

And then. AND THEN. Something behind her eyes might have just exploded with glee. "Okay!"

He links their pinky fingers together for the promise and then shuffles round so he's closer to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

"Okay, you want to take it?"

"Okay." It won't be as good as her usuals because she can't see, but she beams for the camera.

This one is going with her first picture of Dick, definitely. "Thank you."

He leans in close so the camera definitely gets them both, flashing a grin.

"You are welcome. I'll see you soon, okay?" he gives her a quick hug before letting her go, staying to watch until she gets inside.

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sorry for the delay!!

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