Content Notes: SFW, abusive relationship, incest and gaslighting.
When Danny sees Tim's machine, or what's left of it, he bursts into laughter.
"Oh, Tim," he says as he climbs up on the thing, even though he is secretly impressed; Tim's mind should be beyond repair, and yet he found the focus to design his own lake monster, the drive to turn it into reality, and the despair to put it into action. All Tim's struggles have been in vain, as usual, but Danny does have to applaud the effort. His brother is nothing less than extra-ordinary.
Not that he's going to tell Tim that.
"What were you thinking?" Danny calls out instead, lowering himself into the cockpit of the machine monster. Tim is huddling in the corner, hugging his knees to his chest, his eyes wide and haunted. Danny shakes his head. "You know how the townsfolk are like, Tim. They aren't going to swayed by your toys and feats. They already know what you are."
Danny paces over to his brother, watching as his shadow slowly swallows Tim's figure. He kneels down next to Tim, reaching out to stroke a hand through Tim's messy hair, petting him like he would a dog. Tim isn't meeting his eyes, staring through him, but Danny knows he's listening. Danny smiles, leaning over to whisper into Tim's ear:
"Sad, mad, broken. That's you and everyone here knows it." Danny grabs Tim's neck into a tight grip, squeezing it until Tim looks him properly in the eye. "That's why you need your baby brother, Tim. You know I will always be here for you."
He kisses Tim on his tense, hard lips. He thinks about the man he saw with Tim at the beach before, a stranger with soft eyes and smile, who was so gentle when he spoke with Tim. He thinks about the way Tim's eyes lit up during that conversation, and the memory makes him seethe.
"You need nobody else." Danny kisses Tim again, harder now, keeps kissing Tim until Tim responds, his mouth going soft and slack underneath Danny's lips, parting for him, even returning the kisses. After he's satisfied, Danny draws back, grasping Tim's hands so he can pull him up with him.
"There is a monster in the lake," Tim mutters as he stands up. "I just wanted to-" He falls silent, biting his lip.
"I know." Danny wraps his arm around Tim's shoulders. "I will give you all the attention you need."
Danny will have to keep an eye on the newcomer. He has spent too long shaping Tim into his liking, making Tim his; he isn't going to let go.