@glimpseddarkness sent a meme from Dick:
“your feelings matter too! i can’t help you if i don’t even know what’s making you upset!”
How could he not know? Was everything so easily forgotten to him? Tim knew he was being unreasonable, that he was being an overemotional teen, something he wasn’t exactly known for. Dick had explained himself and it made sense, but his heart had never really listened. Part of him still felt cast aside. Not good enough. Not really part of the family. Alone and unwanted. Unneeded.
Bruce was back and Tim wasn’t really sure what to do anymore. While he’d been looking for Bruce, he’d been busy with that, pushing everything else to the back of his mind. Now, he had considerably more time for it, but if he thought to much about what lurked in those dark corners, he’d lose the last of his sanity, so instead he went all in when it came to being Red Robin. When he wasn’t out on patrol or a mission, he did research or worked out. He tried to avoid his family, but without making them suspicious. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to be with them, but he knew that sooner or later he would snap. Dick had managed to make him come very close to that this time. Sometimes he reminded Tim of a badger; never letting go.
“I’m not upset, just a little stressed. I’ve got lots to do, but thanks for stepping by. As you see there’s nothing here to do, I’ll see you on patrol.” As he spoke, he tried to lead Dick towards the front door, wanting him to leave his apartment, but he also knew that if Dick didn’t want to leave, this would be a nearly impossible task.