Sour Candy | T. Drake ✔

[11] Surprise Visit

The doorbell rang and Camille came out to answer it but Luke had gone to open the door already. However as he held the door open, surprise crossed his features and he was tackled immediately into a tight hug by Dora.

He stiffened at first since he wasn't expecting such an abrupt reaction but then softened upon realizing it was Dora, "hey, Dora... For a second I thought I was going to die right now since you almost knocked all the breath out of me."

"Sorry, Boots, hadn't known you could die from a surprise visitor else I would have planned something else," she laughed as she pulled apart, eyes landing on Camille who was standing in the doorway quite surprised to see her and Tim.

"Not that stupid name again..." He was shaking his head as if disappointed but the smile on his face and the sparkle in his hazel eyes showed he was glad to see them there.

"Dora, darling, this is such a great surprise," she engulfed her in her arms immediately and the smile on Dora's face widened as she hugged her back, "I'm so happy to see you."

"I missed you so much," she whispered, holding tight.

"Me too, sweetie," Camille pulled apart while Luke had opened the door wider for Tim to step in.

"Hi," Tim mumbled, a polite smile gracing his features as he stepped in, "hope we didn't drop by at the wrong time. Dora wanted to keep this a surprise so we didn't call beforehand."

"And a beautiful surprise it is, dear, come on in," Camille exclaimed, leading the two inside while Luke closed the door, "lunch is ready so why don't you guys freshen up and we'll eat first? Luke, would you take them to Dora's room?"

"Of course, come on up," Luke had taken Dora's bag from her, effortlessly carrying it up the stairs while Tim and Dora followed.

Tim could see that Dora was very happy to meet Camille and Luke, the smile on her features hadn't faltered for even a second and her brown eyes shone in happiness.

Luke had opened the door to the room where Dora used to stay back when she used to stay a month alternatively with them, before she left for Gotham. And as Dora stepped in, she noticed everything was the same as before and the room was still kept tidy as if both Camille and Luke expected her to come.

"You guys still kept my room the way I had left it?"

"Yeah, Cami kept this room just like you left it because she hoped you would come and visit us," Luke replied, placing her bag down by the bed, "if you guys need anything, just call. I'll be downstairs."

"Sure," Tim nodded and Luke was about to step out but paused seeing that Dora had gone to the bathroom while Tim was alone.

Luke had been waiting to get Tim alone as he had to talk to him so he took that opportunity, "hey Tim..."

The boy looked up, blue eyes gazing in hazel, "yeah?"

"I never really got to thank you properly for all you have done for me," he spoke up, "first for how you helped me getting out from Father's base and then also for patching things up between me and Steph. I... I am really very thankful to you."

Tim stood up and approached him, "you don't have to thank me. I did what I had to."

"But still, you did a lot and I really appreciate the way you fixed up things between me and Steph as well. If it weren't for you, I would have never found out the real reason we grew distant."

Tim gently patted his back, "Luke, you are important to Steph and she's my best friend. So of course I had to do what I could to get you two back together. And even though we have not interacted much, I have a feeling you're a great person." And then he added with his smile widening, "or else Steph wouldn't have been so in love with you."

He watched a faint dash of pink splatter across his face with Luke attempting to disguise it, "oh come on..."

By then Dora had come out as well, "how nice, my brother and my boyfriend are finally getting along."

"It was never us not getting along earlier either, we just didn't get the chance," Luke added.

"Agreed," Tim added.

"True enough but now you two have plenty of time to do so," Dora smiled, "do you know, Tim, Luke might seem very shut out at first but once you get to know him, you'll find he has a great sense of humor and is really fun to be around."

"It took me a month to adjust around Dora too, not gonna lie," Luke admitted, "but by now I try my best to not be so reserved as earlier."

His phone buzzed and he saw that it was a text from Camille asking them to come downstairs as lunch had been laid out.

"Alright guys, I've got to go now. Cami's calling," he told them before heading out, "I'll tell her you will be down in a while too."

"Thanks, Boots!" Dora called out, hearing a low groan from Luke who was halfway down the stairs.

"Anything but Boots, Dora!"

Tim chuckled and Dora turned to look at him, an eyebrow raised though a smile played upon her lips as well. "What? Can't I laugh when you guys are being funny?"

"Of course you can laugh," she remarked, "by the way I'm going downstairs too."

"Just coming."

She closed the door behind her as she went downstairs. Lunch was laid out in the garden and Tim joined them as well shortly afterwards, noticing that it seemed quite like a picnic. The garden was very well kept too and it was no wonder since both Luke and Camille were fond of nature and had a shared hobby of gardening.

To Tim, it felt much better to be away from the bleak atmosphere of Gotham and it was indeed a nice change to be in Bludhaven. As for Dora, she had been missing her mother and Luke a lot so obviously she was delighted to be there too. 

"So did you guys come here by train?" Camille asked.

"No, by plane. And believe me, I am never sitting in a plane again," Dora remarked.

"Why?" Luke asked.

"It was my first time so I was already scared," she explained, "but Tim here said that once the plane took off, I won't even know whether we're in the air or not. Then guess what, the exact opposite happened. I've never felt that nauseous in my entire life."

"In my defense, the first time in a plane is not always a pleasant experience," Tim added, "but I forgot since a long time has passed by then for me. I just thought if I assured you that you won't feel a thing, it would work."

Camille turned towards her daughter, "he's right though. Once you get used to it, it doesn't make much of a difference. You can't just decide not to ever sit in a plane again just from the first time."

"To me, the first impression is the last impression," Dora replied, "so no planes for me. And Timmy, when we do go back, we're taking a train."

"As you wish."

***