Chapter Text
Most people normally feared spring cleaning but Tim feared Mrs Mac instead. It wasn’t like she was mean or anything but she didn’t shy away from roping him into her cleaning, and for most eight year olds cleaning was not fun.
So! Tim ventured off into Gotham with his friend Ives and his mom. If he was honest, he was really doing everyone a favour here. He couldn’t get in Mrs Mac’s way and he didn’t have to clean so it was truly a win-win situation.
As he got into the backseat of Ives’s moms Honda CR-V, Ives was wiggling his eyebrows at him to which Tim very maturely stuck his tongue out in response.
Mrs. Ives caught sight of him in the rear-view mirror and smiled warmly. “Hello Tim! How's your morning so far?” Mrs Ives asked, turning her gaze back to the road as they headed to the mall.
“Mrs Mac is in her super cleaning mode since my parents are arriving today” Tim huffed, slumping back into the seats as he replied.
“Well thank goodness she isn’t a super villian ay?” Mrs Ives laughed.
Tim sank lower into his seat, cheeks warming. During his last sleep over he and Ives were debating on who they knew would turn into the scariest super villain and Tim was quick to throw Mrs Mac’s name into the hat.
“God help us all if she starts cleaning the streets of Gotham!” Ives joined in.
“Shut up.” Was all Tim could muster before the two blondes burst into laughter.
But if Mrs Mac did turn into a villain it would be the end for all of them. Someone in her way of sweeping? Cleaning equipment squirted in their faces! Someone walked over a spotless floor with shoes on? A whooping with her broom!
Tim was just being realistic here! The Ives family just had no idea.
As Mrs Ives eventually stopped laughing she quickly swapped topics. “So Tim, when are your parents getting here? I remember you saying they were in..” She paused to think “Oh yes! The Caribbean”
“Bingo!” Tim perked up immediately.
“Are they bringing you anything back?” Ives asked.
“Yup! But I won’t be able to see till after dinner. Mrs Mac is making stew tonight” Tim’s nose scrunched up.
He isn’t a fan of her stew but his parents loved it and the fact it brought Mrs Mac closer to her heritage, whatever that meant.
“Sounds fun, where are you boys headed today?” Mrs Ives asked as she made her way through the carpark looking for a spot.
“Bowling!” Tim cheered at the same time Ives shouted “The Arcade!”
This debate had been going on since Friday and it was now Sunday! A new bowling alley had opened and they had these cool batman bowling ramps that Tim wanted to check out, but Ives was desperate to go try to beat the high score on the Mortal Combat game but someone called GGY kept beating him.
Good for them honestly, but it was driving Ives nuts, so it was driving Tim nuts.
“You’re just going to complain about not winning the whole time,” Tim huffed, crossing his arms.
"Well it's crazy! Nobody should have a score that high." Ives threw his head back dramatically and stared at the roof of the car. "Well, besides me."
"You literally just proved my point." Tim laughed.
"No I didn't."
"You did!"
"Didn't!"
“Boys!” Mrs Ives butted in before they could continue.
Both Tim and Ives shared a look before looking out their own windows. Being told off by your friend's mom was way worse than being told off by your own. You just felt more guilty plus the news will then spread to your own mom! Then it's double trouble.
“When we get out I’ll flip a coin, okay?” She somehow locked eye contact with both himself and Ives from the rearview mirror. It amazed him how she could do such things, his mom tried once but it didn’t really have the same effect.
“Okay” both boys chorused before immediately trying to jinx one another.
Inside the mall, Mrs Ives had dropped them off at the bowling alley.
Suck on that Ives!
The whole walk there, Tim wore the smuggest grin he could manage. Eventually it ended up with the pair pulling ridiculous faces at each other behind Mrs. Ives' back.
It was short lived as she had turned so fast it could put the Flash to shame and caught them in the act.
“My dad won a bowling championship when he was 12!” Tim blurted out quickly to distract her before she gave out to them again.
“Oh, was he?” Mrs Ives replied, a small smile on her face.
“Yup” Tim said popping the p. “He has the trophy on display at our apartment, he says someday he will show me his super throw” Tim grins up at her as they enter the bowling alley.
As Mrs Ives was about to rent the shoes, Tim tugged on her shirt slightly. “I don’t think I’m allowed to get the shoes, mom says they carry diseases.” Tim announced dead serious.
“Well, I’m sure she was just being silly.” Mrs Ives laughed, but it wasn’t her usual one as she rented one pair of shoes.
The three of them ventured over to their bowling spot and watched as Ives struggled to slip the diseased shoes on, while Tim stared down at his normal non threatening shoes.
“They are too tight!” Ives whined, while Mrs Ives just rolled her eyes and searched her purse for something, Tim didn't know what. Purses were just big jungles!
It's true! He’d seen a whole puppy just sit in one, they’re massive.
“Now boys I’m headed to get my hair done. I want you to stay here and to not go outside those doors unless it's an emergency, do you understand?” Mrs Ives spoke and for a minute she sounded like their math teacher Ms Thompson.
Tim shuddered at the thought.
“Yes ma’am!” Tim replied before Mrs Ives gave him a wicked look.
“Ma’am? What am I a hundred years old or something?” she replied, earning snickers from both Tim and Ives.
When Ives finally got his shoes on, Mrs. Ives took her leave. Tim briefly wondered what she was going to do to her hair before his attention was immediately stolen by his friend.
"Let's bowl!" Ives cheered as they searched for a bowling ball they could actually carry. Some of them were crazy heavy!
That's when Tim found the legendary batman ramp that he’d come for but there was a younger kid using it and he didn’t really feel right going and asking for it.
“Dude, just ask for a turn” Ives whispered.
“No way! You ask”
“Me? You’re the one that wants it” Ives hissed.
“I’ll just have a go when they are done.” Tim huffs, giving the ramp one last glance before going back to their lane.
“Whatever man. Hey watch this, I'm going to do it backwards!” Ives ran up to the taped line and took aim on the rogue themed pins. He surprisingly got a good few down.
Ives took his next turn and one pin was very close to falling but remained up, internally Tim cheered but didn’t let it show.
“Awh man! This is rigged! Rigged I say!” Ives lifted his fist, acting as if he was about to start a riot.
“Uh huh, sure just say you are doodoo at it” Tim grinned.
“Oh yeah? You try!” Ives challenged.
Tim walked up, took aim, then hurled the ball with all his might. Only four on the left hand side fell.
No worries Tim had another chance!
Tim took aim and threw the ball again but only one went down.
“Rigged!” Tim accused the pins. He had his dads blood. He should be a pro by now!
“Of course your holy bowlingness!” Ives snorted as Tim unleashed his most villainous glare.
Ives just stared for a moment before full on laughing at him. “Y-you look constipated” he could barely get the words out as his laughter kept interrupting him.
“I do not!” Tim blushed. How embarrassing.
Ives didn’t respond at all. He just doubled over laughing.
Eventually, the two kept bowling until the ramp was finally free. Unfortunately for them, it was heavy, and for a terrifying second Tim thought Batman had actually turned into the ramp.
For the remainder of the game Tim used the ramp which was really helpful. It brought him 10 points in front of Ives!
“You’re cheating using that! So much for your dad being a champion!” Ives accused.
“Nuh uh, I’m just using my nat-u-ral resources” Tim grinned as he pushed another ball down Batman’s back knocking three pins down.
“I got a spare! Yes! Future champion right here!” Tim cheered
“Sure.” Ives deadpanned.
To Tim’s surprise, Ives is good at bowling. Sure he knew Ives had a knack for gaming but he didn’t think it existed outside his computer.
"When did you get so good at bowling?" Tim asked as he pushed a heavier ball with a bit more force than usual.
"Well, sometimes me and my sister go to the bowling place next to our house. She's a sore loser though" Ives laughed and Tim smiled.
He’d never really spoken to her, she was always in her room when he came over. But she seemed nice enough anyway.
“Don’t call your sister a sore loser,” Mrs. Ives scolded, though there was no real heat in it, which made both Tim and Ives jump.
Tim hadn’t even heard her come in. Then again, with bowling balls flying and music blasting, it wasn’t exactly quiet.
Still, it was very rude sneaking up on people like that!
“Look Mrs Ives I’m winning!” He said smugly. He was only really winning by one point but it was still one point more than Ives had so ha.
“I see that hun” She smiled softly.
“We’ll see. I still have one more go!” Ives scoffed.
“Yeah and I have two! Plus I have the power of Batman helping” Tim stuck his tongue out, normally an act Mrs Ives would scold him for but she didn’t comment on it.
Tim pushed the ball down the ramp and scowled when it only hit three before going into the gutter, his next go wasn’t that much better. The ball hit dead center knocking down two more before going into the same gutter!
Honestly it was rigged.
Ives nudged him over and shot the ball down the ramp with full speed earning him a strike.
“Strike! Look at that, I guess Batman really does help!” Ives cheered as he raced to get another ball, copying his stance from before and watching as the ball flew down the lane knocking down all nine pins.
“I’m so going to beat you Tim-Tam!” Ives did what could only be described as hideous, but to him it was his victory dance and Tim could not let that continue.
Tim copied what Ives did with less power and knocked over eight. Both Ives and Tim cheered, both pumped with excitement over the last pin.
Ives narrated Tim’s next move as he angled the ramp at the last pin and took aim.
One sad pin stood there at the edge watching as Tim’s ball slowly approached before grazing it lightly.
It didn’t go down.
“I won!” Ives jumped in the air, celebrating his victory.
Tim stared at his friend and couldn’t help but laugh.
“Okay show off” Tim rolled his eyes.
“Oh, you are so like her! I’m surrounded by sore losers!” Ives complained, but there was a smile still on his face.
Ives started to walk off before Mrs Ives called out “are you just going to walk out with those shoes?”
Ives looked back at his feet before running back “shoot I forgot!”
Tim stood there, watching the screen above switch from their game to a Batgirl bowling ball knocking down the rogue pins. Then an arm was wrapped round him, it was Mrs Ives. Tim settled in against her as she rubbed her thumb against his shoulder.
“You did good, he just got lucky” She whispered, which made Tim giggle.
“I’ll beat him next time don’t you worry” Tim winked at her, his dad loved his winks. For some reason he said it reminded him of a fish.
“Promise?” Mrs Ives smiled.
“Promise!” Tim chirped.
“Ugh! these stink!” Ives shrieked, holding the shoes away from his face.
Ives was quick to get his own shoes back, claiming that his smelled much nicer but Tim couldn’t tell one bad smell from the other.
And just like that, they were off.
They were supposed to help Mrs Ives in the supermarket. Sunday meant shopping day in her house, but she said they could get takeaway for dinner instead, which made Tim jealous because he was stuck having stinky stew.
On the drive home, the radio was off, which was strange since Mrs. Ives usually liked singing in the car. But Ives was talking loud enough that you wouldn’t have heard it anyway.
“I can’t wait to go home, I’m so tired” Tim stretched slightly and leaned back in his seat
“You’re always tired! You sure a vampire hasn’t bit you before? Would explain a lot of things.” Ives stared at him, almost as if he were looking for bite marks.
“I’ve not been bitten by a vampire! You’ve seen me in the sun” Tim shot back
“Dunno could have been a fake Tim” Ives nodded as if his theory made complete sense, which did not.
“If I was a vampire, you'd be the first person on my list to suck their blood.” Tim rolled his eyes.
“How sweet!” Ives grinned
From there the topic changed from one thing to the next until they reached Tim’s apartment building.
“Thank you for bringing me out Mrs Ives!” Tim smiled as he got out of the car.
“It's not a problem Tim, you can always call us if needs be, alright sweetheart?” Mrs Ives replied, which was a bit odd but okay!”
“Alright!”
Tim waved before racing inside, it had gotten a bit chilly outside. Plus, his parents were going to be home! Maybe if he made cute puppy dog eyes he’d get to open his present before dinner.
As he got to his floor, everything was eerily quiet, his parents' music wasn’t playing, and he could hear murmured voices.
Ugh, maybe they were in another one of their arguments which meant not only was he having stew but it will be in awkward quietness!
As he pushed the door open, he glanced around the empty apartment.
“I’m home!” He announced cheerfully, but when no one answered he called out “Mom? Dad? Mrs Mac!”
He huffed, slipping his shoes off, and ventured into the living room. where he found Mrs Mac sobbing in front of the TV.
She normally watched sad movies when she thought no one was home, Tim watched one with her once called Titanic. Tim cried for days about the rats that died on the boat, that was until he remembered the Rat Catcher existed and he found himself not caring after that.
Just like he didn’t really care about this, sorry Mrs Mac but he had more important issues to attend to!
He continued on with his search, knocking on his parents bedroom door before letting himself in. To his surprise their suitcases weren’t there and neither were they.
No biggie!
They could be in their office, it wasn’t unusual for them to dive into their work which meant they went straight to their office so that's where he searched next.
He knocked on the door, calling out to them.
“Mom, Dad! I’m home!” He opened the door and peeked inside.
Empty.
Tim circled back to the living room, only to see his mom’s face on the TV
“Hey look its mom!” Tim cheered, as Mrs Mac wailed.
Tim grabbed the remote, turning up the volume so he could see why his mom was on the TV
“-adly passed away upon returning from her trip to the Caribbean, her husband Jack Drake is currently staying at Gotham Central Hospital in a coma. Will he ever wake up? Doctors are not commenting on the matter, leading many to believe his condition is critical…” The news man, David, had announced.
“Oh, my dear boy…” Mrs. Mac whispered.
She took the remote from his hand, turned the TV off, and pulled him into a tight hug.
No..
This can’t be real.
It’s a dream, and Tim’s going to wake up in Mrs Ives’s car, and everything will be fine.
His breath hitched as tears started to form.
His mom was supposed to tell him off for annoying Mrs Ives.
He gripped onto Mrs Mac’s arm.
He was supposed to eat the stew and be told if he didn’t eat he wouldn’t get his present.
A sob escaped his lips.
His dad was supposed to slip him a chocolate bar before bed, telling him to not tell his mom.
Mrs Mac kissed his forehead.
His mom was supposed to give him a look, knowing all about the chocolate.
“The- they’re lying. They have to be!” Tim sobs
Mrs Mac kept shushing him, her grip tightening like she was trying to hold him in place.
Tim twisted in her arms, trying to get a better grip on her.
“I want my mom” Tim sobbed