Tim sat at his desk, his laptop open in front of him, but he couldn’t focus. Across from him, Lilian, the cheerleader he had a massive crush on, was typing away on her own laptop. The chemistry project they were working on had turned into something more complicated than he had anticipated—mainly because his brothers were intent on making his life miserable.

“Tim and Lilian, sitting in a tree,” Dick teased, peeking around the corner of the door. “K-I-S-S-I-N-G.”

Tim barely glanced up, trying to ignore his older brother. “Very mature, Dick.”

“Or maybe we should call it... Tim and Lilian, stuck in a lab,” Jason smirked, leaning against the doorframe. “I mean, look at him. How does he expect to focus when—” He paused dramatically, glancing at Lilian, then back at Tim. “When she’s distracting him with that smile?”

Tim’s cheeks flushed a little, but he quickly masked it with a scowl. “Jason, seriously.”

Damian, ever the brooding younger brother, crossed his arms, standing in the doorway with a smug expression. “I think this whole thing is pathetic. Why waste time on a project when you could be training?”

“You know,” Jason continued, dragging out his words, “with the way Tim’s acting, it’s like he’s on a first date. Doesn’t even know how to act around a girl.”

Tim slammed his hands down on the desk, clearly frustrated. “It’s a project, not a date!”

Alfred, who had entered the room quietly to check on them, smiled faintly. He remained composed as always, though there was an unmistakable twinkle of amusement in his eyes. “Master Tim, I do believe your brothers are simply... trying to help you relax.”

“I’m not relaxed,” Tim muttered under his breath, “I’m trying to get this done.”

That’s when the door creaked open, and the only girl in the family stepped into the room, arms crossed and eyes narrowing at the sight of her brothers teasing Tim.

Lilian looked up, her bright smile fading a bit as she noticed the tension. “Are they always like this?”

Tim hesitated but nodded slightly, trying to hide his discomfort.