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Tim stared at the floor, blinking back tears. He didn’t know why he’d said that. He was stupid, so so stupid. What had he been thinking?
His mother gave an irritated sigh. “Look at me, Timothy,”
His eyes darted up sharply. She had one hand raised to her face, primly pressing against her temples. Her shiny turquoise rings reflected the light of the dining room chandelier, bright pinpoints against the sharp edges of her face.
“Yes mom?” he said softly, not daring to raise his voice much above a whisper, he’d already caused so much trouble.
“You’re almost an adult now, Timothy,” She said, still not looking at him, “It’s far past time you learned what is and is not acceptable to say to people,”
His eyes were pooling now, and he tried to subtly lean his head back to prevent the escape of his tears. His mom was right of course, he was 12 now, old enough to know that arguing with his father wasn’t appropriate. Especially about something as stupid as a school play.
“I know mom, I'm sorry, it was my fault,”
“Yes,” she said, lips pressed firmly together, “yes it was,” She sighed, taking in the sight of shattered glass that littered the dining room floor. “Your father and I work very hard to provided for everything you have-”
Tim nodded frantically, “I know mom, I’m sorry. I was being rude and selfish, and, and I-”
She raised a hand and cut him off, “It would do you good not to interrupt so much,” Tim flushed a deep red as he realized how disrespectful he was being.
“As I was saying,” she restarted, “your father and I work very hard to provide you with the lifestyle you possess. Doing that means sacrificing certain things . Neither your father, nor I, had the luxury you have when we were growing up, and it is insulting to the work we have accomplished to demand- to insinuate,” Tim’s stomach twisted uncomfortably as his mother’s voice took on a sharp edge, “That we are inadequately doing our job as parents,”
Tim paled then, all the blood draining swiftly from his face. He began shaking his head frantically. His fists clenching and unclenching unconsciously, as he desperately tried to convey to his mother that he would never- that he had never -
He hadn’t meant to imply that his parents weren't good. Tim loved his parents, he loved his parents so, so, much- he just… he’d just thought-
Sometimes, selfishly, Time wished they were around more. And, the calendar in his father’s office had said they would be staying through the end of the week. And well, it was stupid, but Tim had gotten excited. Cause, he was in the school play, and Ms. Beth had given him the biggest role in his grade cause she trusted him to remember all the words. But now his parents were leaving again, and Tim had lost his temper at the table like a baby.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly, repeating the words over and over. He hoped desperately, that somehow, they would make up for him being a terrible son.
His mom let out a long breath, hand again raised to massage her forehead. “Jack…” she frowned, “Jack shouldn’t have thrown that glass, that was also not appropriate,”
Tim froze, he didn’t know how to respond to that.
“Your father has a temper, he is… a very single-minded man. It is a benefit to us in business, but…” she trailed off and went silent for a moment, “He should not have thrown that glass, I’m sorry that he did that,”
“It’s okay, mom,” Tim said softly, wishing he could reach out and take his mom’s loose hand.
She dropped her arm suddenly and took a deep centering breath, “Go to bed, Timothy,”
“Mom?”
“Just- I’ll,” she waved her hand at the floor, “take care of that. Go to bed,”
“Okay,” Tim said, backing his way out of the room, pausing for a moment in the doorway, “Goodnight mom, I love you,”
She let out a low sigh and turned to look at him. Her gaze rested on his face for several moments, giving him time to notice just how tired she looked. Time to take in the little bits of gray beginning at her temples, and the slight chipping of her nail polish on her right hand. But mostly, he watched her eyes.
They had the same eyes. It was something Tim had always liked. Something he could pick out with confidence in photos, proof of their connection across as many miles apart as their family was stretched. She pressed her lips together. “Go to bed, Timothy,”
When he woke up the next morning, they were gone. The glass from the flood had been carefully picked up and piled at the end on the dining table. Curved pieces reflecting the green of the bottle of wine from dinner that sat beside them.
He dressed himself in silence and took his bike to school. The day passed mostly in a blur, as the teachers tried and failed to keep class on task, students whispering to one another about costumes, and lines, and stage fright.
Before he knew it, Tim was backstage getting dressed. He was playing a businessman, so his costume wasn’t anything particularly flashy, nothing he hadn’t worn 100 times over for galleries, and galas, and whenever mom was feeling particularly religious. But still, his fingers were shaking, rattling around, and making it impossible to tie his tie.
Tim ripped it off his neck in frustration. The stupid thing was too long, it was the wrong color for the season, the wrong size. At that moment Tim hated it. Tim was- he was- he was furious. With a cry of frustration, Tim balled the tie up and hurled it into the corner. His breathing was heavy and his chest tight. To his utter mortification, his eyes were beginning to burn.
Tim just wanted to curl up into a ball and die. He was an awful son, an awful person. What was he thinking insulting his father like that? Demanding to know why they wouldn’t come to his show. Like a- like a- like a little brat!
He was sure they hated them, hated him so much that they were just gonna leave him alone forever!
“Hey,” Tim jumped, frantically scrubbing the backs of his hands against his eyes to hide his tears. “Sorry kid, I didn’t mean to spook ya,”
“Oh it’s okay,” he mumbled turning around, “It was my fault-”
Tim froze as he saw who he’d turned to face. Jason Todd gave him a small smile from under a sea of messy curls that were smashed haphazardly under the flat-billed cap his character wore. Tim had seen him a couple of times at full cast rehearsals. But, for the most part, they never had reason to cross paths at school.
“You okay?” Jason asked cautiously, but all Tim could hear was Robin Robin Robin. “Kid?”
“Yeah!” Tim burst out with a yelp, “yeah I’m fine, I’m okay. I’m sorry, did you need something? Am I in your way?”
“You’re all good kid,” Jason said easily, a hint of a laugh in his voice. He took a step forward. “You need any help with that tie?”
Tim blushed scarlet, “it’s okay, I can manage,” he mumbled.
“You sure?” Jason stepped around him, bending over with a flourish to pick the tie up, “These things can be a real bitch- I only just figured them out myself,”
Tim opened his mouth to assure Jason again that he would be able to figure out when the other boy reached out and laid the tie around Tim’s collar. His jaw snapped shut suddenly, the pure shock of being so close to Robin.
Jason pulled down until he had the sides at a length he liked and began to work on the knot. “So what’s the matter, kid?”
“What?”
“I mean,” Jason frowned, “I’m not gonna make fun of you or nothing- you just seem like you’re kinda having a rough time. Is it nerves?”
“Oh,” Tim breathed out softly, “it's alright, I’m okay- it’s, it’s stupid,”
“Hey kid, I’m all ears- I don’t judge,”
Tim squeezed his eyes shut tight, “It’s just, I was really hoping my parents would be able to be here today. But their work… so they couldn’t, and- I’m just overreacting,”
“Hey, it’s all good-" Jason said, working through the finishing touches, "that sucks, I'm sorry they couldn’t make it.” The knot was done, but Jason stayed hovering in front of Tim. “And I mean- I don’t think you’re overreacting. It- it sucks being let down- even if people don’t mean to, or can’t help it,” he rushed out, seemingly sensing Tim’s protests.
“Thanks,” Tim said softly. He wasn’t sure that he quite believed him, but still- It was Robin. To trust him any less than 100% felt sacrilegious.
“So do you have anyone out there?” Jason asked, jerking his thumb in the direction of the auditorium. Tim shook his head. prompting a hum from Jason, “Well that’s settled then,”
“What’s settled?”
Jason’s face split into a wide grin, “You’ll just have to come with my family to get milkshakes after!"
Tim let out a little squawk of protest. But before he could get any real words out, Jason had his arm thrown around his shoulders and tugging him out of the green room towards the wings of the stage.