Caffeine Withdrawal | T. Drake ✔

[36] Silence Is Golden

To say that Tim was in a bad mood would be an utter understatement. His head was wound up in bandages, not allowing him to talk and with his dropping caffeine levels he was pretty much wishing for someone to inject coffee straight into his bloodstream.

It seemed as if his siblings were not bothered at all by his current predicament as they had left him in the room by himself, leaving only his phone and laptop with him so that he could keep himself occupied. 

Only Damian had dropped by twice to check up on him and even his fleeting company could not elevate his mood since all he had given him were threats and warnings. 

He was quite visibly frowning for his brain had refused to cooperate and he had to shut down his laptop. His blue eyes were aimlessly looking up at the ceiling when the door burst open and he sat up, his eyes snapping ahead to see the entrant.

Seeing Stephanie he was about to fall back down on  the pillow as if disappointed but she spoke up, "I have a surprise for you, Timato."

He held up the board laying on his lap on which the words GO AWAY were written in bold with a permanent marker.

She laughed, "really? You'll regret this later." Turning back, she spoke, "come Dora, he doesn't want to meet us."

A pillow hit the back of her head for hearing Dora's name Tim had immediately climbed out of bed. He was frantically clearing up the mess in his room and seeing his attempts, Steph dissolved into laughter even more.

"Fine, I'll give you five minutes to fix all this up. But on the sixth minute I'll bring Dora in regardless of the situation of your room," she closed the door again.

As promised, the door reopened five minutes later but Tim had managed to fix his room to a tolerable state. Dora stepped inside and it seemed as if Steph had found someone else to bother for she wasn't with her.

"Hi Tim," she smiled as she came to sit down beside him, "how are you?"

He couldn't speak so he simply shrugged in reply.

"Just fine then," she asked, "or a little more than fine now?"

A smile broke out on his face and he gently interlaced his fingers through hers and nodded. His face had lit up seeing her there and a smile played upon her features as well. 

"Steph told me you fell down the stairs," she spoke up because she knew she was the only one who could keep the conversation going, "and at first I was thinking that's a bad excuse. But when I saw the flights of stairs you guys have here, I realized it's quite believable. Don't ever trip on those though because these too can be bone breaking."

He gestured that he had fallen down the stairs twice before at which her eyes widened.

"God, Timmy, don't you ever look where you're going?"

It seemed as if he would laugh but couldn't. But his blue eyes sparkled just like they did each time he laughed, reminding her of all the times he had burst into his contagious laughter with her before all that jaw dislocation scenario.

"They say silence is golden but I want to hear your voice soon," she mumbled, leaning closer to him, "so recover as soon as you possibly can. And the shop feels really boring without you too."

He gently squeezed her hand in reassurance, his eyes softening into an adorable expression such that she laughed.

However the two hadn't noticed Jason and Stephanie standing against the door, witnessing their half silent exchange.

"If I could die from a cuteness overdose, I would," Jay remarked making the two turn around slightly flustered, "and if these two could die from an embarrassment dose, they would too."

"Stop teasing them, Jay," Steph rebuked him, "just because you don't have a girlfriend doesn't mean you can go around bullying those who do."

His eyes widened in alarm, "hey, who told you I don't have a girlfriend?"

"Roy doesn't count," she replied back, "and Helena was wise enough to break up with you years ago so you don't really have a say in this."

Dora recalled Helena's name so her brow furrowed a little, "wasn't she the one who came to drop Alex off?"

"Yes," Jay nodded, "but we've gotten over each other. And she would be better suited with Al so... As for what you were stating, Steph, Roy doesn't count but Kori does, right?"

"She's your alienfriend not a girlfriend," Steph retorted immediately.

He raised an eyebrow as if warning her, "right now you are asking for a trip hurtling down the stairs to be honest. And I would be more than just glad to fulfill your wish."

"Shut it."

Tim held up his GO AWAY board again rather annoyed by both Jay and Steph at which the three of them burst out laughing.

"Anyway we just came to tell you guys that dinner is laid out," Steph added, "but if you don't want to come Tim, that's totally fine with us. In fact, stay cooped up here in your room so that we can have some peace."

"No, he'll come," Dora spoke up, "right, Tim?"

He nodded in affirmation but pointed to his board again.

"Right right, we're going away," Jay nodded and pushed Steph out as well, "don't be too late or else we won't leave anything for you two."

Dinner was an amusing affair because Tim was forced to have a very liquid diet and he kept making weird faces while downing the vegetable soup. The rest of them enjoyed Alfred's cooking and Richard who had come back from work was quite pleased to see Dora there too.

Bruce had been held up in a meeting so apart from him all the Waynes currently present in the Manor were assembled in the dining hall.

"Be grateful, Drake, or else I'll take your bowl away from you," Damian remarked at which Tim pushed his bowl towards him as if asking him to take it already, "there are many people out there who don't even get this to eat and you are being an ungrateful little bitch right now."

"Master Timothy, if you won't eat properly, you will have to delay your medicines and then you will not recover quickly," Alfred spoke up in a calm tone but the meaning behind his words was firm and clear, "I am sure you would not want to stay silent for a lot more days then it is necessary."

Tim sighed knowing that he was right and took the bowl again, his lips pursed together as he looked down at the contents willing himself to finish it all up.

"If you do get it finished, I will personally brew as much coffee as you want," Alfred motivated.

All of them knew that was the kind of motivation he needed for he picked up the straw again and carefully began to consume the soup.

After dinner, Richard and Barbara went to drop Dora off at her place but Timmy was still battling with the soup. Taking pity on him, Alfred finally took the bowl when he had finished a considerable amount of it.

Tim looked at him gratefully and he gently patted his head, "you will take your medicines first then get the coffee."

A slight wave of disappointment crossed his features but he knew he was saying it for his own benefit. If he wanted to recover and speak again, he would have to take all the necessary medicines and precautions.

Though he had decided to attach an extra protective layer on to the Kevlar of his suit that would protect the jaw as well so that he would never have to face such a dreadful situation again.

***