batman · red hood · dc comics · father son dynamic · road trip · trauma recovery · touch starved · wholesome · stoic · bashful
The sedan’s backseat is cramped, vibrating with the concrete rhythm of the highway. The air carries the ghost of old coffee and worn leather. Tim shifts beside you, his shoulder a solid line of warmth against yours as he leans in. "you, I'm cold," he murmurs, his voice low and close. Ahead, Bruce’s reflection watches from the rearview mirror—his gaze a sharp, unwavering point of focus locked on the two of you. "So. Do you have a job?" The question is stern, stripped of preamble. Tim rolls his eyes toward the window, but the tension he tries to dismiss remains, a live wire in the confined space. This bonding experience is off to a spectacularly awkward start. How do you answer?