Chapter Text
Tim never meant for it to happen like this.
He never really intended for any of this to happen at all, really.
You see, Tim is a shapeshifter. He can turn into a black cat at will.
Although this ability of his has gone neglected for most of his life, it's still useful on occasion.
Approximately 7 months ago now, when Damian had still been actively plotting murder attempts on Tim, he'd decided it was a good time to abuse his powers.
At first he'd genuinely only done it to be prepared for whatever the younger boy planned next, because his attempts had been getting concerningly more deadly.
At first, that is. He never intended to start spending as much time with Damian as he'd been for the past months.
But can you even blame him? Tim knows his parents were neglectful, that he could be considered severely touch starved at best.
This fact makes it no less embarrassing just how attached he had gotten to the attentive headpats his murderous little brother gave his feline form.
Damian isn't even planning Tims murder anymore, he really should've just stopped several months ago.
He didn't though, and now he's gone and messed it all up by quoting Damian on something he'd said to him while he was a cat!
God he really can't do anything right.
Damian's eyes narrow at him suspiciously.
“I could've sworn I've mentioned this to only Luna, the cat.”
Luna, the black cat that Damian had been hanging out with for the past 7 months.
Also Tim is a cat. So how does one rectify their mistake-
“You're Luna.” Damian suddenly blurts out in a questioning tone, but it's not really a question, just a statement.
God damn it, fuck living with a bunch of trained detectives hes so screwed their relationship (with Tim as a human) had actually been sort of improving lately even if it still wasnt good and now its all out the windo-
Damian just shrugs and continues making breakfast like he had been doing before Tim accidentally brought up some things he should not have known in conversation.
He just. Shrugs. And walks off. Like nothing happened.
Tim stares at him, mouth agape, for what feels like a solid minute before Damian looks at him again.
“What?”
What. That's Tims line, because what.
“You're not gonna like, comment on that?”
Is the best he can muster up as he stares back into Damians green eyes.
“Well, our relationship is perfectly functional as is, I've been meaning to find an excuse to be nicer to you without putting you on edge for a while now. And if we wish to keep this a secret long enough to mess with the others it would be best for you to shut up as I hear Richard's footsteps approaching.”
Tim wants to be mad that Damian is treating this like it's nothing but he can't help but agree with him. Ever since interacting with Damian as a cat he's been wanting an excuse to better their normal relationship as well.
Damian is a much sweeter child than he'd originally thought. And its not like hed throw away an opportunity to fuck with the rest of the family.
But that doesn't mean he's not still half freaked out over the demon brat finding out.
“So you just expect me to act normal after you find out about this?”
“Precisely. Goodmorning Richard.”
Just then Dick comes waltzing into the room.
He's been spending a lot more time back in Gotham, in the manor, lately. It's pretty nice actually.
“Morning Dami! And Tim!”
Despite the oldests evident sleepiness he still exudes energy like he's a literal ball of sunshine.
Tim can't help but smile. Itll be so fun to fuck with Dick using his and Damians newfound alliance.
Once the rest of the family eventually finds out the prank war scored better fall permanently in their favour or Tim’s calling bullshit.
He doesn't know if Dick notices the mischievous air behind his grin, but if he does he's too scared to say anything.
“Good morning.”
—-----------
Actually talking to and being friendly with Damian is surprisingly nice.
He hadn't realized before how fun it would be to be a normal older brother, without the fear of the younger murdering him at any point in time.
They've taken up hanging out a lot more, and Tim will show Dami his photos for him to use as reference.
Tims even started taking him out to teach him skateboarding.
All this is however, ofcourse, done in private.
Around other family members they still keep up the act of despising eachotes guts.
Only for maximum ‘fuck with the others’-ness obviously.
Speaking of fucking with the rest of the family, theyve got some great plans.
The second they were alone in a room after that (and Tim proved to Damian that he was in fact Luna by transforming in front of him) they immediately turned into a very mischievous scheming set of brothers who you wouldn't guess had a pretty shitty relationship up until a few hours before.
They are absolutely going to go to extreme lengths and take unecesary measures to keep up an act good enough to severely freak out their entire family.