Dick had called it “mandatory sibling bonding.”

Jason called it “free food.”

Damian called it “a waste of valuable training time.”

Tim simply sighed and accepted that, every once in a while, the four of them needed a day where they weren’t wearing masks, chasing criminals across rooftops, or arguing over patrol routes. Bruce had practically shoved them out the manor doors with a rare smile while Alfred wished them luck—particularly with Jason’s inevitable restaurant choices.

They hadn’t even made it past noon before Jason’s stomach decided the schedule.

“Burgers.”

“We’ve passed six restaurants,” Dick pointed out.

“Exactly. And I want burgers.”

“You always want burgers,” Damian muttered, sounding deeply offended by Jason’s dietary habits.

Jason grinned. “See? You get me.”

Tim laughed quietly, following behind his brothers as Jason triumphantly led the group toward the nearest Burger King. It wasn’t exactly gourmet, but Jason looked as if he’d won the lottery.

The lunchtime rush was already in full swing.

Families filled booths with happy chaos, teenagers crowded around the soda machines, and the smell of fresh fries drifted through the restaurant. Employees hurried between registers and the kitchen, balancing trays and calling out order numbers over the steady buzz of conversation.

Tim’s attention had been on Jason dramatically debating whether he deserved one Whopper or two.

Then Dick suddenly slowed beside him.

“Oh,” Dick said with a knowing smile.

Tim looked over. “What?”

Dick subtly nodded toward one of the registers.

“…Isn’t that Bernard?”

Tim’s head snapped toward the counter.

There he was.

Shaggy blond hair that somehow looked both neatly kept and effortlessly messy, bright green eyes full of life, and a Burger King visor sitting atop his head. Bernard was greeting an elderly couple with the same enthusiasm he greeted everyone else, smiling so brightly it looked completely genuine as he patiently answered their questions and helped them customize their order.

He laughed at something the older gentleman said before wishing them a wonderful afternoon.

The corners of his mouth lifted almost instantly.

“You’re smiling,” Jason teased, immediately noticing.

“I always smile.”

“Not like that,” Dick laughed.

Damian glanced between Tim and Bernard before giving a tiny, almost imperceptible smirk. “Remarkable. Drake appears capable of displaying emotions after all.”

“I display emotions.”

“You display mild concern.”

Bernard’s eyes landed on Tim.

Then his entire expression lit up.

His smile somehow became even bigger as he instinctively waved across the restaurant without a hint of embarrassment.

“Tim!”

Several customers turned, but Bernard didn’t seem to care in the slightest.

Tim lifted a hand with an amused laugh, unable to hide how happy he was to see his boyfriend.

Bernard had taken the Burger King job months ago after talking endlessly about wanting to become a chef someday. Tim had been the one to encourage him to work somewhere with food, insisting that every kitchen taught something valuable, even if it wasn’t a five-star restaurant.

He learned every station he could, memorized ingredients, asked the cooks questions whenever business slowed, and somehow managed to make ordering a burger feel like the highlight of someone’s day. He talked to everyone, remembered regulars by name, complimented kids on their drawings, chatted with tired parents, and made nervous first-time employees feel welcome. Sometimes he talked a little too much, occasionally holding up the line because someone mentioned a hobby he also loved, but nobody could stay annoyed with him for long.

Being kind came as naturally to Bernard as breathing.

And watching him happily brighten an ordinary fast-food restaurant somehow made Tim’s heart feel impossibly full.

Dick leaned over with the grin of an older brother who knew exactly what he was doing.

“So…”

Tim already knew that look.

“…We’re absolutely ordering from Bernard’s register.”