𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒊𝒇𝒕 𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒅 (Batfam FanFic)

39. Physical Therapy

Wayne Manor – The Next Morning

A gentle knock stirred Lucy from the daze she'd been sitting in. Morning light had spilled through her bedroom window for a while now, but she hadn't moved far—just sat there on the couch tucked against the wall, still processing everything from the night before.

"Come in," she called out, expecting maybe Alfred or Damian.

Instead, Tim Drake poked his head through the doorway.

"I figured you might need help getting ready," he said casually. His voice was softer than usual—almost tentative.

Lucy blinked, surprised. She was already dressed—jeans and a soft hoodie, simple but comfortable. "Uh... already beat you to it."

Tim gave a small, crooked smile and held up a tray with two cups. "Then I guess I'll just have to settle for delivering coffee."

He stepped inside, and she couldn't help but notice the way he held the tray—carefully, like it was a peace offering. He set it down on the coffee table, handed her one of the cups.

"I added sugar and creamer to yours," he said. "Figured you wouldn't go for my usual battery acid."

Lucy snorted softly and took the cup. "Thanks. You figured right."

They sat on the couch in silence at first, sipping their drinks. The air between them was thick with unspoken words, memories of fights and awkwardness clinging to the walls like stubborn shadows. It was the first time they'd really been alone since... well, since everything.

Tim leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and stared at the floor. "I, uh... I wanted to apologize."

Lucy blinked. "What for?"

"For... a lot of things. The way I treated you when you first got here. The stuff I said at the park." His voice dipped lower. "Especially that."

Lucy set her coffee down, heart thudding a little harder than before. She remembered every word from that fight—sharp and cruel, cutting into her even when she tried to pretend they hadn't. But more than that, she remembered the pain in his voice. The grief. The confusion. The weight he'd been carrying that had nothing to do with her.

"I was angry," Tim continued. "Not at you. Not really. At everything else. Jason. Bruce. Stephanie..."

At that name, Lucy's breath caught slightly.

"I said things I didn't mean," he finished, voice raw. "And I'm sorry."

There was a long pause.

"I forgive you," Lucy said softly.

Tim looked up, surprised.

"You were going through something. I mean... we all were." She offered a small smile. "And hey, I've said some pretty dumb things too."

He smiled back—almost bashful, like the weight of that forgiveness surprised him.

"Still," he murmured, glancing down into his coffee. "Not everyone would've given me another chance after what I said."

Lucy shrugged. "I guess I'm not everyone."

That made him chuckle. "Definitely not. You're..." He trailed off, then cleared his throat. "You're kind of amazing, honestly."

That brought the blush. Hot and fast. Lucy looked away, pretending to be fascinated with the window pane.

"You're not so bad yourself," she mumbled.

Tim coughed. "Well. Now that we've maxed out our emotional quota for the morning..."

Lucy laughed, grateful for the ease that was slowly threading between them now.