Sour Candy | T. Drake ✔

[10] Planning A Trip At Short Notice

Much to Tim's relief, Dora got a lot better after breakfast but before the two could go downstairs, Alex had come up himself. He had gotten slightly concerned when Tim had taken breakfast upstairs because he knew Dora never stayed in bed for too long without any reason.

When he entered the room, Dora was having breakfast while Tim was attending a phone call.

"Hi Al," she offered him a bright smile, knowing that as he had come up, it definitely meant he had gotten worried for her and came to check whether she was okay or not.

"What happened? You never take so long to get up," he asked, sitting down on the chair beside the bed.

"Just tired," she replied, "so when Tim offered to bring breakfast upstairs, I didn't refuse."

"Take an off today," he suggested, "and don't worry about the shop, we'll manage."

She shook her head slightly, "no, actually I do need one off but not for today."

Tim's call had ended so he joined them as well, sitting down on the bed across from Dora.

"Take one off today and the other one too," Alex added, "I've noticed you get tired often and are probably overworking yourself."

"Alex, I'm fine. And I don't need the off for rest."

He was slightly surprised, "then for what reason?"

She looked at Tim briefly but then spoke up, "I want to go to Bludhaven. I miss Mum and Luke a lot."

There was a while of silence in between them. Tim had judged the concern deepening on his face so he added, "she won't be going alone. I offered I would take her if you agree."

"Oh... And for how long?"

"Just for one day," she answered, "I know we have a lot to look after at the shop and I don't want to trouble you for more than that."

His honey shaded irises softened, "that's not a problem. You can go if Tim's going with you and you can stay for more than a day if you like. We'll manage here."

The smile that lit up her features got rid of all the exhaustion as she hugged him, "thank you so so much, Alex."

"Hey, the chair would topple off and I'm in no mood of falling," he chuckled as she let go of him. But then he added, "but you said you were tired and traveling might tire you out more."

"Of course not," she stood up, the smile hadn't faltered from her face, "all the exhaustion vanished the second you told me I can go. See, I am perfectly alright."

"You're excited, that's a different thing," Tim remarked.

"And this looks like the kind of excitement which comes from a sugar rush," Alex added, "you'll diffuse in no time."

"Way to spoil my mood, Al."

He gently ruffled her head, taking the tray from her, "not spoiling your mood, I just can't help but be concerned for you. But since you really want to go, I won't stop you."

"You're the best," her smile widened and even Tim found himself thinking whether her smile was magic because it made her look just like the radiant and bubbly Dora had first fallen in love with.

A long time had passed since then and a lot had changed. Both him and Dora had changed but seeing her smile and happy made him feel happy as well.

It was almost as if the shock he had had before breakfast, due to her being unresponsive and then telling him that she had fainted, had simply not even happened. And then it seemed as if Dora preferred not to tell anyone else about it so he didn't bring that up in front of Alexander.

"You have no idea how happy I am right now," Dora was eager to pack up her stuff as Alex headed downstairs.

Tim couldn't help but smile upon seeing her like that, "oh I do have a clear idea, you're bouncing around in happiness."

She raised an eyebrow playfully, "and isn't that a good thing?"

"A very good thing."

She stopped rummaging in her closet as she came to stand in front of him, her arms gently encircling his neck as she reached up on her tiptoes to kiss him.

Tim's arm had automatically draped round her waist as he bent down, savoring the moment.

But she broke off the kiss, "I've got to pack too, y'know."

"So... When are we leaving?" He asked, realizing that they hadn't asked that from Alex nor had Dora mentioned a date or time earlier.

"Tomorrow morning," she replied, "I literally can't wait to see both of them. And then we'll come back day after tomorrow because I can't burden Alex either."

He nodded, "okay, anything else you want me to know?"

"Yup. Do not tell Luke we're coming, I'm thinking it would be a great surprise if we just show up."

He agreed, "of course, besides I'm not in contact with Luke either. Haven't talked to him ever since he last came here."

"Right. Don't worry, once you get to know Luke, you'll see how friendly and nice he is. I know you both have really not interacted much."

He hummed in reply, a thoughtful look crossing his features, "let's just say the circumstances weren't favorable."

She squeezed his hand gently as she pulled apart, opening her closet wide, "instead of thinking about the past, how about you help me decide in what clothes to pack. If Steph was here I would definitely have preferred her opinion but..."

His eyes flickered slightly, "hey, are you implying that you would prefer her opinion over mine?"

"Well... She has excellent taste," she reasoned but then quickly added, "not that you don't, of course..."

"Dora, sometimes you can be so annoying," he remarked, smile widening as she laughed.

"Yeah and you're stuck with me for a lifetime, such a pity."

"I intend to disagree with this remark. A lifetime with you sounds heaven."

She pinched his nose affectionately, "and there goes bird boy into loverboy mode..."

She turned back to the closet and picked out a few outfits, holding them up in front of him.

"Alright so, Bludhaven isn't as bleak as Gotham so I was thinking bright colors would do great. What do you think?"

"I think anything looks absolutely ravishing on you," he replied, watching a faint pink dawn on her fave as she smiled.

"Really?"

"And you'd look breathtaking in this one," he picked out a light pink and green sundress.

"That's my favorite one too," she replied, "and yes I definitely look breathtaking in it."

He watched her pack the rest of her things, smiling at how happy and excited she was to go and meet her mother and stepbrother.

He wished that she would be just as happy everyday because he absolutely loved seeing that beautiful smile on her face and her laughter was a sound that made him feel alive much more than anything else ever could.

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