Casual Occurrence
Summary: Tim tickles his oldest brother all the time, Dick sees no problem with this. Jason seas a very large problem with this and asks Dick to correct the power divide. around 4.8k
Notes: this was two fics smushed into one, and I added an over arching plot to both sooo I really hope it flows well but if not… that it’s why lol. As always, minimal editing. I didn’t exactly mean to leave Damian out, but it definitely reads like he’s not yet involved in the family.
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Tim getting bolder and braver was becoming a double edged sword for Dick.
On one hand, his shy, introspective, quiet little brother was coming out of his shell and having more fun. On the other hand, it happened to be at Dick’s expense.
Touch, delicate and friendly touch, were not inherent or instinctive to Tim like they were his big brother. It had taken years for Tim to accept touch without getting startled or clamping up.
So the first few times Tim casually dared to poke at Dick or tickle him in passing, Dick was ecstatic, like almost couldn’t contain his excitement ecstatic. He felt pride that his little brother was comfortable enough to initiate play with him. A previously foreign concept to the little guy, and here he was seeking it out.
He always hightailed it the other direction after he did it. So Dick would giggle and pretend to be the slightest bit annoyed like Tim had truly gotten him. He tickled Tim plenty but he let him get away with his little pokes and prods without direct retaliation in fear that Tim would stop.
But that had been awhile ago. Tim was much further down the path of family bonding and sibling antics, practically an old pro by now.
Meaning Dick didn’t need to tread so lightly anymore. He honestly probably would have let it go on forever, but Jason had to go and point it out to him…
Tim left the kitchen with an energy drink in one hand, and used his other to poke his index finger right into Dick’s ribcage.
A yelp left the older boy’s mouth while he instinctively reached over to press on the spot and dispel the ticklish feeling.
Tim was already through the entryway and halfway down the hall by the time Jason questioned his brothers’ behavior.
“You know what, I’m just gonna say it. That’s fucking bullshit,” he had a particularly sour frown.
Dick furrowed his brow and looked down the hallway where Tim had now fully disappeared. “What? That’s his first can in like two days—“
“Not the drink dumbass. I’m talking about him getting neglected kid privilege. I was a neglected kid! You would have tackled my ass and put me in an arm bar for that shit,” he grumbled.
“What?” Dick was more confused now. He went over the interaction in his head and… oh.
“You let that little punk tickle the crap out of you all the time but if I so much as look at you funny—“
“You’re so dramatic, Jay.” Dick rolled his eyes, catching up to Jason’s point. “And he does not ‘tickle the crap out of me.’ He’s just a kid—“
“He’s 15. That shit was maybe necessary when he was a newbie, now he’s more than able to take care of himself.”
“Whatever you say, Jay.” Dick tried to wave off his concern.
“It’s blatant favoritism.”
“It is not,” Dick elbowed him in the side.
“So you’re saying I could start doing it and you wouldn’t retaliate in any way?” Jason raised not only an eyebrow but a hand as well, and it was rapidly moving towards Dick’s ribs.
“No!” He quickly caught the wrist and pulled his brother’s hand far away from his side. “I’m not saying that at all,” he huffed tossing it away. Jason smirked like his point had been made and Dick found himself a little stumped.
It was kinda true. He had always been more rough with Jason than Tim, but that was about the nature of their character and who they were when they met more than anything. Jason would not have handled kid gloves well, he likely would have ripped them off and beat Dick with them.
Just like now, Dick knew when he was being goaded, Jason had that look in his eyes and he was practically radiating ‘FIGHT ME’ energy.
“But you can try, if you’d like.” Dick challenged.
Jason seemed to narrow his eyes, staring deep into Dick’s own like he was searching for an answer. Fully expecting an all out attack, Dick felt his muscles readying to move, like a spring building kinetic energy.
Jason finally sighed and slumped back in his chair. “I promised Alfie there would be no blood on this visit.” The spring relaxed, Dick deflating a bit in his seat. “And I told him I’d help him with the garden anyways,” Jason got up from his chair, a little bit of a pout in his voice.
“Better get to it then,” Dick eyed him like he was still waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Nodding, Jason walked further into the kitchen to dump his plate in the dishwasher and wash his hands. His movements seem normal enough but the older vigilante knew better than to drop his guard.
So when Jason reached out on his way by and tried to grab a handful of Dick’s ribcage, he jutted to the right to avoid his hand. Unfortunately, Jason was just as aware of Dick’s awareness of him and had his other hand ready to tickle into his neck.
It was barely anything, the smallest scoff left his lips, but it was the principle.
“Jason!” He was on his feet and careening through the halls while Jay shouted insults over his shoulder trying to keep distance between them.
When Dick finally caught him, he of course made him pay for his crime in the form of holding him down and tickling all over his back before enlisting a nearby Cass to tickle his knees at the same time.
When Jason’s eyes were filled with mirthful tears, and his smug energy had been thoroughly corrected, Dick fell onto the carpet beside him, shoulders touching, Cass falling into his other side.
“Do you really think I take it too easy on Tim?” Dick asked in earnest.
“Yes.” Came from both of his little siblings, one still panting and catching his breath.
He lifted his head to raise an eyebrow at Cass.
“He’s provoking.” Cass shrugged.
“Maybe he’s just—“
“The little brat is asking for it, literally.” Jason chuckled to himself and Dick bit back a comment about Jason’s antics from 15 minutes ago and how hypocrisy is unbecoming.
Dick looked back at Cass for more confirmation and her nod was more reassuring than Jason’s complaining. “He’s trying to play. Play back.” She offered.
He thought for a moment, mourning the shy, quiet, reserved little boy he took under his wing. He dug down to find the brighter side, Tim was becoming a goofy, silly, obnoxious teenager. It was a nice reflection to his usual serious and work minded side. Replacing grief with pride, Dick decided to get to work.
He had a lot of catching up to do.
——————
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Cass (he definitely didn’t trust just Jason), but Dick felt the need to ease into this little experiment. If Cass was wrong (unheard of), he didn’t want to erase a safe space he and Tim and inadvertently created.
So the next time Tim walked by and tased into his side, Dick pulled him into a very loose headlock, if it could even be called that, and gave him a few pokes to his ribcage. No pinning, no chasing, no worst spots, just a quick response.
Tim seemed to beam at the continuation of their usually short game and grinned ear to ear while he batted softly at Dick’s hands and urged him to let go while he fully leaned into his big brother.
He did it again, Tim dancing his fingers across Dick’s collarbone had him snapping his neck to his shoulder to pinch Tim’s hand in place.
“Hehey!” Tim giggled when Dick reached behind him and started squeezing at Tim’s hip. He let go quickly and let Tim start back into his pace through the manor, probably down to the cave.
And on it went, Dick just started poking back, and Tim seemed to notice and hadn’t shown any signs of stopping, so it was a win. Cass was of course, correct. (It doesn’t matter that it was Jason’s point first, he’d rather die than admit Jason was right about something).
He let his degree of retaliation vary, just to keep Tim on his toes of course.
Sprawled across the living room arm chair, yapping with Wally on the phone, he knew his little brother couldn’t resist messing with him. As predicted, Tim scratched across the bottom of Dick’s foot as he went by.
This time Tim finally seemed to expect Dick’s reaction, and was double timing it out the French doors.
“Tim!” Dick bellowed in what seem to be extremely practiced faux irritation “One sec, Walls—“ he tossed the phone down and started running after his brother. “Get back here, gremlin!” Faded away from the speaker.
Wally was mid conversation when Dick put him on verbal pause, he heard silence for a few moments, then squeaky protests that sounded like the littlest Robin, followed by a stream of giggles and light shoves.
“Okay I’m back,” all of the sudden came through loud and clear.
“You sound busy,” Wally grinned through the phone.
Dick chuckled. “Nah, just had to get the little bird contained.”
Wally heard a very distinctive, ‘h-hehelp mehehe!’ through the phone.
‘He can’t hear you, birdie. Now quiet down I’m on the phone.’ Dick lied through his teeth before speaking back into the phone. “Go ahead. You were complaining about—“
“Barry, right,” with a shake of the head at Dick’s ridiculous antics, he started back into his stream of consciousness. He knew his friend was listening, even if he could still hear soft giggles and laughs. Dick was a great multitasker like that. He had a feeling Tim would be passed out in his brother’s lap well before the end of their phone call.
———————
Tim had of course noticed, just like he noticed everything.
He was trying his hardest not to acknowledge it though, because if he did, Dick might a) stop and b) know that Tim was very much on purpose trying to get the snot tickled out of him all the time.
It’s not his fault, it just happened to be one of very few things that made him forget about everything on his ridiculously full plate. He just wasn’t sure how else to ask.
At first, he thought Dick let him get away with it because he didn’t want everyone around to know he was so ticklish so he kept his reaction small and didn’t go after Tim in the moment.
As he got a little older, he came to the realization that Dick was placating him, like letting a little kid win a board game. It bothered him quite a bit, never one to take pity or a helping hand when he didn’t have to; He contemplated stopping all together out of embarrassment.
But, he thought back to feeling powerful and figured he could let Dick treat him like a kid, as long as it was actually, Tim who was pulling one over on Dick. He decided to roll with it because to be honest, getting to reduce The Richard Grayson, to giggles and scoffs felt like power incarnate, even if it was just for a second.
With that in mind, he decided to take at least a little bit of advantage of his brother, poking and prodding more and more all the time. Almost always when Jason was in the vicinity since he was clearly irritated by Tim getting away with what he got tickled to pieces for.
—————-
Dick just looked way too peaceful. Sprawled across the couch, one hand behind his head, TV playing the news softly on the background.
Tim couldn’t help but test his luck. With Dick getting more and more playful seemingly out of no where, Tim hadn’t actually gotten away with tickling the eldest in weeks. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to strike.
Tentatively, stealthily as he could muster, Tim reached over the back of the couch. Inch by inch, his hand moved forward and he kept a close eye on Dick’s breathing pattern, it stayed even and Tim took a deep breath, as silently as possible.
His fingers hovered at Dick’s armpit and he started to moved forward to reach him.
Before he moved a hand closed around his wrist.
“Crap, wait!” Was all he got out before he was yanked forcefully over the back of the couch.
“Nice try, kiddo,” Dick’s voice was as bright, and smug as Tim had ever heard it, no sleep lingered in his words.
“You weren’t even sleeping, you jerk!” He landed in a heap.
“You were the one about to tickle me! I’m just returning the favor,” Dick blew a raspberry right into Tim’s neck to get him to stop battling his limbs.
“HEHEY!” Tim squeaked trying to stretch away from the sensation. “Dick, come on! I was just-“
“You were just about to tickle me awake, which would have been so rude.” Dick managed to pull Tim into his chest, and squish him between himself and the couch cushions.
“Maybe you deserve a taste of your own medicine,” Tim grunted trying to pull his legs up to push against the back of the couch and dislodge his brother.
“What?!” Dick suddenly rolled forward, Tim’s knees curling up was the only thing stopping Dick from completely pressing him against the seat cushions now. “I would never, do something like that!” His feigned innocence was wasted on a little brother who knew much better by now.
“That’s such bu-buhuhull shihihit, you ‘n Ja-ahahahAHAHAY!” Tim’s argument was lost to uncontrollable giggles pouring out of him as Dick’s fingers reached his ribcage to start clawing his fingers in.
“Me ‘n Jay, what?” Dick teased, scratching at the soft skin where ever he could find it. Tim’s eyes were squeezed shut, his chin tucked down to his chest, shoulders up to his ears.
“I’m not- that’s doesn’t work on mehehe anymore!” Tim’s embarrassed flush was luckily hidden by his already red cheeks from laughing so much.
Dick rolled his eyes and removed a hand to reach down and pinch at bony kneecaps, it earned him heel to the shin— but it was worth it when Tim shot his legs down straight and Dick could pull Jason’s preferred brand of brotherhood; smothering. Literally.
Rolling further with their legs now entangled and able to fully squish Tim beneath him, Tim knew exactly what he was doing.
“Dick! I can’t breathe!” Came out extremely muffled as Tim’s words were swallowed by couch cushions. Pointy elbows tried to ram into Dick’s ribcage, but it’s not like Tim could gain any momentum to pack a real punch.
“What was that, Timmy? Can’t quite make out what you’re saying, you shouldn’t mumble so much,” he grinned and let his fingers get back to their very important work; Working between Tim’s ribs and even venturing to press into his stomach where they found purchase.
Dick was sure new bruises would come with this stunt as elbows and heels worked to dislodge him. Tim’s head was under his chest, cheek pressed against the cushions and muffled laughter and shrieks reverberated through Dick’s chest.
Tim tried to rise up a few times, but if he managed to get any room between himself and the couch Dick would just explore the area with vigor and Tim would inevitably collapse back into the leather fabric below him under his brother’s crushing weight.
Dick could tell Tim was trying to get something out through his panicked cackles so he let off for a moment, letting oxygen fill back into the kid’s lungs. “Yes? Did you need something under there?” Dick asked, sitting up in his knees. Tim’s arms remained pulled tight to his side in a protective measure, taking in large breaths while he could.
“Air! You fucking asshole! I need aiAHAHA—” Unimpressed with his attitude, Dick’s hands converged to grab a handful of each of Tim’s sides. Right above his hips where it was a little soft and pliant, his fingers dug into the front, his thumbs tasering the backs. Tim’s shrieking laughter cut off in silent wheezes.
Never one to defend himself well from a tickle attack, Tim just balled his hands into fists like he could concentrate the ticklish feelings out through them, never mind that he could use them to fight his brother off.
“That wasn’t very nice,” Dick grinned continuing to pinch away. As his fingers dug further in, Tim’s hands finally gripped his wrists but he couldn’t find the strength to push or pull him away. “A few little pokes and all your manners go out the window?”
“Yuh-you wanna talk about manners, circus boy?” Tim still managed to sass.
“Circus boy?!” Dick feigned offense. “You’re just asking for it now,” he collapsed back down with more force than necessary, Tim once again squished beneath him.
“You’re way heavier than you look,” the younger hero grumbled from his flattened position.
“Yep, just keep the insults rolling baby bird.”
Giggles turned to muffled shrieks as Dick blew a raspberry into the sensitive skin between his neck and shoulder, then the back of his neck, then the other side of his neck.
“stopstopstopstopstop!” the squeaky chant came out much more desperate than Tim anticipated.
Dick did not oblige, instead just administering raspberry after raspberry.
“Youhuhu didn’t even let m-mehehe get you first!” Tim shrieked out.
“But you almost did, and intent is enough.”
“Since when? You always let me—“
“I could be wrong. But I think you’ve had an uptick in bravery lately, and I just need to make sure you know who’s the boss around here,” Dick grinned. “Where was it you were about to tickle me? Hm?” He let up on the raspberries just to reach under him and pull Tim’s arm out straight so his forearm and hand stuck out past Dick’s shoulder. He leaned back down using his weight to keep Tim’s arm in place.
“DICK WAIT! NONONONO PLEASENOTTHERE!” Came Tim’s giddy shout. If he heard any real requests to stop from his little brother, he’d be up in an instant, but years of being the eldest sibling, Dick knew a token protest from a real one.
“Sorry Tim, but I don’t think I can skip it now… you just have me sooo curious,” he used his left hand to cross over and grab Tim’s right wrist. He lifted up just enough that he could reach under himself and jab his fingers wildly into the younger boy’s now exposed armpit.
Tim’s efforts to pull his arm down to were noticeably weak, but not non existent. Dick was reminded that the 15 year old was growing stronger everyday.
Though his reactions certainly didn’t spell out ‘growing out of it’ any time soon, Dick still felt like he should savior these moments.
Tim was in tithers. He’d been prepared for a reaction, albeit a sleep induced one, but this, this was not what he’d been expecting when he decided to tickle his brother.
Smushed between a fairly heavy body, and the couch cushions, he couldn’t have much of a reaction, all he could do was laugh, yell and curse. He was also doing plenty of elbowing and kicking, but he was essentially a bug under a shoe right now, his trapped limbs had such a small area to gain momentum he was doing little damage more than maybe a bruise or two from repetitive hits.
The thing was, knowing he was safe, Tim didn’t really mind. He was overly tired from staying up all week for a case, big surprise. He was pretty sure Dick knew this is exactly what he needed.
However, he couldn’t help but feel slighted after not being able to pull off his initial attack. And Tim was nothing if not a schemer, so against all better judgement, he used his free hand and all his concentration to squeeze at Dick’s hip bone with impressive force.
Dick did let out a pretty startled genuine laugh, so Tim counted it a win and already noted the action worth it. His arm coming down and blocking Tim, wasn’t a surprise.
His brother lifted up, and Tim really took in deep breathes now.
As Dick sat up and narrowed his eyes at the back of Tim’s head he spoke, “You just had to get your poke in, didn’t you?”
“Well its hardly fair-“
“There is no ‘fair’, Tim.” Dick’s tone had the hairs on the back of his neck standing up. “I’m the big brother; I’ve been kind enough to let you have your fun. And this is how you repay me?” No one ever accused Dick Grayson of being under theatrical.
Tim’s answer was cut off with his own ear piercing scream when Dick grabbed a hold of both of his hips, only squeezing one side.
Tim instantly tried to roll onto that side, giggling and becoming more laugh drunk with every pulse.
As soon as he made any headway in rolling over and blocking the hand, Dick started squeezing the other side.
A jolt of electricity ran through Tim’s spine as he tried to over correct and spin the other way.
“Evil!” He laughed out. “You’re eheh-evil!”
Dick kept up this technique for a few minutes. Switching sides every time Tim managed to start blocking his fingers, evil as he may be,Dick didn’t mention that Tim kept his arms straight down to his sides, never once bothering to grab Dick’s wrists or trying to pull himself out from under his brother.
“Alright, all this work has made me tired,” was all the warning Tim got before the air was knocked out of him again, as Dick crashed back down.
“As tired as I am though,” Dick mused. “I’m pretty hungry too, those raspberries were pretty tasty earlier, think you might have a few more?”
“Fresh out!”
“Hmm, I think I see one right here,” Dick turned ever so slightly to press his lips against Tim’s neck again.
He didn’t bother protesting this time, just squirming in place and letting out a gleeful shriek every time new contact was made.
“Crushing the shrimp?” Dick heard a very unmuffled voice, causing him to lift his head up.
“Hey, Jay,” he grinned. “Yeah, am I doing this right?” He gestured to Tim below him with a grin.
Their little brother took the opportunity to try to squirm free once again. “get him off of me!” Came Tim’s perfunctory whine.
Jason ignored his pleas and looked to Dick instead. “No, you suck at this— let me help.” It was all sincerity in his expression when he reached down the grab Tim’s ankle. Tim who immediately started protesting. “He’s not nearly loud enough,” he started scribbling along the bottom of Tim’s socked foot at the same time Dick leaned back down for round two of raspberries.
Pressed under Dick’s weight, his legs had no where to hide, Tim was resigned to squirming in place and making his irritation known through unintelligible screams.
“naAHA-leheTGOHOHOJAHAY!” Was all his brothers’ could make out from the long string of syllables.
Jason gave a snort of amusement before dropping the ankle back down to the couch. Tim’s legs bent at the knee and curled in as far as they could to hide them.
“Have your fun, I’m just glad to see you evening the scales with the little brat.” Jason commented while Dick kept dutifully blowing raspberries across Tim’s neck and shoulders wherever he could.
Dick stopped his attack to laugh at Jay’s comment, lifting up on his elbows. meaning Tim had a moment of reprieve.
“Even?!” He chose to yell through heavy breathes instead of catching up on his oxygen intake. “We’re not even approaching the realm of even!”
“I don’t mean you and Dickface. I mean you and me. It’s not fair, you can’t have little shit privileges if I can’t.” Jason shrugged unapologetically.
Dick was still laughing, mostly because Tim went utterly silent and Dick could tell he was piecing the last few weeks together.
Finally, an outrageously shrill voice came out from under Dick. “THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT?!” Tim was suddenly fighting harder to get free, probably to try and tackle Jason. (Or thank him, if Tim were being honest.)
“It sure is,” Dick nodded sitting up on his knees again, he didn’t let his prey go yet. He just wanted to give him a better view of the traitor in his midst. “Jay felt the need to point out what he thought was unfair and asked if I could correct it. Since he was feeling left out,” Dick winked at Tim.
“I was feeling like the brat needed a humbling.” Jason rolled his eyes. “He’s not a baby anymore—“
“Can I get that in writing?” Tim interjected.
“Well— you are still a big dumb baby.” Jason gave a thoughtful correction and Tim stuck his tongue out at him. “But you don’t get baby sibling privileges past the age of 14. Especially when I didn’t get them at all.”
“You did too!” It was Dick’s turn to roll his eyes. “Besides, pretty sure whatever I didn’t let you get away with, Bruce did.”
Jason didn’t seem to argue with that. “Fair enough.” He shrugged instead. “Don’t you think the kids had long enough of a breather?”
“Huh? Oh yeah,” Tim barely registered the words before Dick was clawing into his stomach with one hand, and using the other to ruffle his already tangled hair. “Almost forgot about you, birdy, you’re so quiet when you’re not giggling.”
“Okahay!” Tim squirmed and laughed beneath him. “Okayokayokay!” He tapped against his brother’s knee.
“Had enough?” Dick smiled, resting his hand on Tim’s stomach rather than wriggling it all around.
Giggles were still slipping out left and right as he mentally came down, but Tim knew his brother would respect the tap, so he squeezed his eyes shut and focused on catching his breath.
Jason hadn’t left yet, still meandering the room, so Dick took his opportunity.
“Alright, sibling hierarchy back in balance! Someone find Cass! Mandatory movie night!”
“Mandatory?” Jason raised an eyebrow.
“Well I’ve already got one tuckered out baby bird here, what’s a couple more?”
Jason’s weight shifted from foot to foot and he glanced between his two brothers before sighing. “Fine. But we’re not watching another Barbie movie.” He headed out the door.
“Princess and the pauper?” Dick asked Tim the second he was gone.
Tim sleepily nodded yes and grinned. “He’s gonna yell at you,” he mused while Dick started shuffling around. Tim made no protests as he was scooted and moved.
“He’s always yelling at me. And anyways, Cass will back me up.” He shrugged settling in the couch himself, he then pulled Tim upright and into his side, dropping an arm around him.
Sleepily, Tim blurted out a thought that was itching at him. “Do you want me to stop? Tickling you?“
“No,” Dick shook his head. “I don’t mind, do you mind me tickling you back?“
Mimicking Dick’s answer, he shyly shook his head into his brother’s side. “No,” he mumbled.
“Good, now go to bed before Jason comes back and picks a fight so I can tell him you’re sleeping on me and he can’t disturb you.” He ran a hand through Tim’s hair to help the process along.
“Hmm?” Tim mumbled.
“Perfect.” The rumble of Dick’s light laughter in his chest was the last thing he could fully make out.
After a few minutes Jason comes in with Cass attached to his back, and an arm full of snacks.
“What the hell?” He grumbles as his sister slides down to the ground. “I said no Barbie—“
“Shhh! Tim’s sleeping.” Dick said with all the energy of a mother bear.
Jason, whose complaint was with how often he’d seen the movie, not its content, was about to wind up to start arguing further but Cass furrowed her brow at him and set her jaw.
Jason’s words died in his throat and he deflated under his sister’s glare. “Fine. We’ll watch ‘em switch places for the millionth time.” He fell into the couch next to Cass and let Dick press play without further complaint, resigning himself to slipping out of the room when no one was paying attention.
If Alfred found all four of them passed out on the couch with the credits rolling, that was Alfred’s business.
