#jaytimsecretsanta

[chibinightowl]

Dinner, Dancing, and a Dog

For the @jaytimsecretsanta 2018, I received prompts for @brightestdaay and chose fake relationship for the mission. Beta read by @comebackolivia. 

Enjoy!

~*~*~

It starts with a favor, as things involving Jason so often do. Tim adjusts the phone against his shoulder and blows his bangs out of his eyes with an impatient huff. “You want me to what?” “Be my date for the night. It’ll make my cover more complete if I have some arm candy.” Yeah, that’s what he thought Jason said the first time. “You do know that five hours before isn’t exactly the best time to ask a favor like this, right?” He can hear the frustration in Jason’s voice. “I know, I know. But it’s just dinner at Scarpetto’s. Guy or gal, doesn’t really matter to me.” “No, but it matters to the Sicilian mobsters it sounds like you’re trying to nail.” Tim eyes the clock on his desk. If he leaves now, he’ll have enough time to shave and tame his eyebrows into something vaguely feminine that won’t take forever to grow back. “You owe me.” “Done. I’ll pick you up at 8.” Tim glares at his phone. One of these days, he’s going to collect on all the little favors Jason owes him. Big time. ~*~*~ Jason lets out a low whistle when Tim opens the apartment door. Traffic had not been kind earlier so he’s glad the rush job passes muster. “Wow, I’ve heard some stories about the things you can do with makeup, but this is top notch.” Tim shrugs and the fabric barely covering his shoulders flutters slightly. “If I’m going to crossdress, I’m not going to half-ass it.” “Nope, I can see that.” Jason nods approvingly. “Perhaps you can teach me a few things.” It’s hard to keep a straight face because Jason’s idea of a disguise tonight is a goatee. Tim can’t spot any telltale signs that it’s a fake, so it is entirely possible that the dark facial hair is real. He supposes he can give him a bonus point for dyeing the white streak on his brow. It stands out. “About what?” Tim replies blithely as he grabs a coat. “Padding? Falsies? Gaffes?” Jason pales slightly. “I was thinking mascara and eyeliner. There’s a club I need to hit up in a few nights where that kind of look is in.” Tim flashes him a bright rosy smile. “Darling, that look hasn’t gone out of style for ages.” He takes Jason’s arm and marches him out the door. 

The target is Paul Giannini, an up and coming mobster who Jason believes is the newest hitman for the Petrillo crime family (the irony behind the name means nothing to Jason, so Tim doesn’t elaborate). They’re relatively new to Gotham, transplants from New York, and seem to be trying to rebuild what was once Carmine Falcone’s little empire. Not that this has a chance in hell of happening under Batman’s watch, but it’s nice to let these guys spin their wheels before showing them the ugly reality of what doing business in Gotham really entails. Jason isn’t doing more than surveillance tonight and for his own reasons that have nothing to do with Bruce as he was quick to explain during the drive to the restaurant. 

Tim doesn’t care. He’s the one in a dress after all. 

Dinner is good. It always is here, and Tim makes sure he bats his eyes and coos at appropriate times. Jason tries to play along as best he can, but it soon becomes clear he has no idea what to do with a date. “You’re acting like you’ve never done this before,” Tim says quietly once the antipasti is devoured. He may be playing a simpering girlfriend but damn if he’s not getting a free meal out of it. The faint reddening of Jason’s ears is all the answer he needs. “I haven’t exactly dated much,” he admits quietly, which is more than Tim expects from him. “Time, inclination, you name it. I always worry I’m going to hurt the other person.” Tim can’t fault him for that. “I get it. I really do.” Jason smiles crookedly and huffs a small laugh. “I’ve heard about your track record.” “It’s nowhere near as bad as Dick’s,” Tim replies with a cheeky grin and takes a sip of wine. The woman Giannini is with gets up and heads toward the bathroom. Tim glances at Jason and he nods wordlessly. She’s almost as important as the mobster so he follows after counting to ten. Sauntering into the women’s bathroom like he totally belongs there, Tim pauses at the mirror to check his makeup since the woman he’s tailing is in a stall. Nothing wrong there so he freshens up and shares a smile with the bottle blonde when she emerges. The smile drops when she draws a gun. Tim is moving before she has a chance to aim it, gripping her wrist tightly and forcing her arm away from them both toward the floor. She’s shouting at him, screaming about how they can’t pin anything on Paul. He doesn’t know or care how they knew they were being spied on, all he’s focused on at the moment is not getting shot or his eyes clawed out by the woman’s free hand. He shifts slightly and puts more pressure on her wrist, forcing the woman to drop the gun. She shrieks as he kicks it into one of the stalls and Tim blinks from the sheer volume she manages to reach. The gun is out of the way, so he pins her against the countertop and forces both arms behind her back. “Would you please stop that?” he says in a low tone. Too low. Her eyes widen. “You’re not a woman!” she manages to get out before Tim claps a hand over her mouth to muffle her. In the brief silence, they both hear the gunshot from the dining room, followed by loud shouts and screams from the other guests. It’s impossible to say who shot who from in here, but Tim just hopes that Jason isn’t involved.

This is all going to hell. The blonde tries to headbutt him and Tim decides he’s done with her. A quick nerve strike has her limp in his arms, her eyes wide in shock from the sudden paralysis. “You’ll be up and making trouble in less than ten minutes,” he says as he tucks her inside one of the stalls and closes the door. “Enjoy the view.” Retrieving the gun with a tissue, he hides it in his purse and peers out the door to get the lay of the land. It’s pure chaos in the dining room and Tim doesn’t spot Jason immediately. He does see Giannini laying against an overturned table with blood streaming down one shoulder, gun in hand and shouting at some unseen person about his innocence. What he’s saying doesn’t make sense though, not for what Jason dragged them here for, so there’s a distinct possibility this isn’t Jason’s fault at all. Tim keeps low and carefully creeps out. It’s a challenge in three inch heels but he manages. As soon as he emerges, a voice speaks up from behind him. “Thank fuck that’s you.” It’s Jason. Glancing over his shoulder, Tim finds Jason peering out from the men’s room. “What are you doing?” he hisses and tries to crab-walk backwards. Again, heels. “Can’t a guy take a piss in peace?” “You’re on surveillance. Hold it.” “You went to the bathroom!” Tim wants to throw up his hands and scream. This is what working with Jason always does to him. “Whatever. You get what you need or is that little firefight out there not the kind of trouble you feel like jumping into?”

“Those are Maroni’s goons out there. I think they’re gonna take care of my problem for me.”  

That sounds awfully permanent. Tim scoots past the men’s room door and hides behind a large planter. Taking his phone out of his purse, he sends a quick text to Barbara via one of their encrypted numbers for police backup. She replies back an instant later saying they’re already on the way, with the SWAT team en route too.  

“Time to leave,” Tim announces and darts down the back hall to the employee only door. He’s been here enough to know it’s actually the backdoor to the restaurant that leads out into the alley.  

“What the hell?” Jason protests as he follows. “Since when were you in charge?”

“Since SWAT is on the way and we really don’t need to be stuck here for questioning later.” He also doesn’t want to be here when the nerve strike on Giannini’s girlfriend wears off as she’ll easily point him out unless he gets gone now.  

“Works for me.”  

They’re barely outside when Jason wraps an arm around Tim’s waist and hauls him close, the hiss of a grapple line firing up and into the night. Tim has a brief moment to hold on tight before he’s swept off his feet like the proverbial damsel in distress.  

“What was that for?” he asks once they’re on the rooftop, feeling slightly breathless. He smacks Jason upside the head for good measure, which makes him feel much better.

Jason growls and rubs his head. “I have a safehouse in this building. We can lay low for a couple hours, watch a movie or something, and then I can take your bitchy ass home.”  

Tim wants to protest but his ankles hurt and the sooner he’s out of these shoes, the better. “Fine. But I’m picking the movie.”  

~*~*~*~

After the other night, Tim should have seen this coming. At least this time, he has more than twenty four hours notice, which is good since his ankles are still sore.  

“What time?” he asks with a long suffering sigh.  

“Nine?” Jason replies hesitantly. “Your place because I still can’t quite get the hang of that thing you showed me with the eyeliner?”  

This, at least, he did see coming. “Fine. What club are we going to?”  

Jason rattles off the name of a gay club in the Upper East Side that Tim is rather familiar with. “I know it. I’ve picked up my fair share of drug samples there.”

“You don’t need to wear a dress,” Jason adds, clearly trying to be helpful since he knows Tim is doing him yet another massive favor.

He’s glad they’re on the phone because Jason would probably try to deck him if he saw his hugely exaggerated eye roll. “Well, I could, but that would send the wrong message. I’m more believable as your date if I’m in pants this time.”  

“Huh?” Jason sounds confused.  

There’s a growing suspicion in Tim’s mind, one that is going to have him on the floor laughing once this call is over. “Jason, you do know this is a LGBTQ club, right?”  

The long silence is answer enough.  

“Right,” Tim replies matter of factly. “In that case, make sure you wear a pair of tight pants and a t-shirt that’s one size too small for you. Anything else and you’ll probably stand out too much.”  

Considering Jason’s considerable physique, he’s already going to stand out. Tim has a feeling he’ll be the one doing the real work.  

“Okay,” Jason agrees in a slightly taken aback tone. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”  

“Later.” Tim hangs up and glares at his phone. Why is he putting himself through all this? The favor he’s going to call in at some point will need to be a doozy.  

~*~*~

Tim totally called it earlier. For all the guys whose type is tall, dark, and muscular, Jason is a piece of meat they can’t wait to get a chance with. Most aren’t pushy once they see him all but clinging nervously to Tim, but a few are forward enough to keep the taller man close. They put out a cover story that fits all too well — this is Jason’s first time in a club like this and he’s a bit overwhelmed.  

Proud to be out with his boyfriend, but still overwhelmed.  

Another new suspicion grows in Tim’s mind, one that harkens back to their dinner conversation the other night. Jason doesn’t date much. Or very possibly at all. This would explain volumes as to why he’s asking him of all people for assistance. Sure, Jason has to know he’s opening himself up to Tim’s ridicule but what he has to dish out is lightyears weaker than the constant ribbing from Dick.  

So Tim plays the role of the more experienced boyfriend, laughing and teasing his significant other lovingly as they maneuver slowly toward the VIP rooms where a drug dealer on Jason’s radar has taken up residence and uses a handful of people here as runners who scope out potential deals, from those who just want to have a little fun to others looking for a more serious fix.  

Jason isn’t after him tonight, he just wants to see what he’s pushing.  

“I’ve heard a rumor that he’s got access to fentanyl,” he explains to Tim out on the crowded dance floor, their bodies pressed together firmly. When he’s not stressing over where to place his hands, Jason is a decent dancer. “If it’s true, then I want to know where he’s getting it.”  

That is definitely something Tim can get behind. He nods and wraps his arms around Jason’s neck, drawing him closer so he can speak without shouting. “Any idea what the street name is around here?”

If he’s going to be asking around, knowing the right terminology for this part of town will help. What Jason’s real interest is here remains to be seen, but there has to be a connection to the Bowery and Crime Alley if he’s wandered out of his usual haunts.  

Jason frowns, but whether that’s from Tim’s breath tickling his ear or because he doesn’t know, Tim can’t be sure. “I’ve heard both Jackpot and Murder 8 on my streets.”

Tim knows quite a few more, but this doesn’t do him any good. “We may need to do this more than once. Establish ourselves, work our way up.”

“I thought you’d been here before?”  

“In various disguises.” The one he’s wearing now is a bit more eye shadow heavy than usual and for once in his life, a five o’clock shadow hides the shape of his jaw. It irks Tim that it still takes him a few days to grow something that Jason, Dick, and Bruce all have to shave off twice a day if the need calls for it. Perhaps he’ll get lucky the further into his twenties he goes.  

The first night is a bust, even if they do score some rather questionable lollipops in a bright shade of blue that would make Dick proud.  

They come back several nights later and Tim manages to buy some oxycodone from the backroom dealer. Apparently, the man doesn’t trust his little army of tweekers with the real cash deals. He drops a hint that he’s in the market for something a little more potent and the dealer gives him a smarmy smile, openly eying Tim in his too tight pants and stylishly ripped t-shirt.  

“I’ll see what I can do for you,” is all he says, and Tim takes that as his cue to leave.  

He makes his way toward the bar where he left Jason and stops short, fighting down the impulse to laugh. It’s way too loud in here for it to carry far, but he’s undercover.

Jason has two men practically wrapped around him, one with a slender build Tim would probably have if he didn’t have to work out so much while the other guy is a bit more compact. He can’t help but notice neither one of them is any taller than him. What’s even more hilarious though is Jason’s deer-in-the-headlights expression. He’s on the verge of bolting, Tim can tell.

Well then. He can’t have that.

Tim strolls up to the bar, letting just a hint of predatorial intent enter his gaze. Right here and now, Jason is his and those two guys are poaching on his territory.

The things he does to maintain a cover.

Jason spots him and shoves away from the bar, completely ignoring the two men pouting and pleading with him to stay.

“Thank fuck,” he says as he all but hides behind Tim. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt more like a piece of meat in all my life.”

Tim makes sure to smirk at the other men before turning his attention on Jason. “I can’t take you anywhere, can I?” he asks, wrapping an arm around Jason’s waist and dragging him out to the relative safety of the dance floor. They can’t leave quite yet. “Do I need to put a collar on you? A leash?”

“You’re such a shit, you know that?” Jason comments as they find the beat of the music and settle in.

“You’re the one who’s a trouble magnet.”

“I didn’t ask those guys to climb all over me!” Jason’s ears are more than a little red.

Tim wraps his arms around Jason’s neck and tugs him down slightly, his mouth pressed close to Jason’s ear. From the right angle, it looks like he’s mouthing a line up the side of Jason’s neck, which is the point he’s trying to make to the two men who are still watching them closely from the bar. “You need to relax. We’re undercover and you’re the one acting like the shy virgin. In case you’d forgotten, we’re a couple here. Act like it or these things will keep happening.”

This close, he can feel Jason swallow even as his back stiffens. Before Tim can even register it, he’s shoved away from him. His protest dies on his lips as Jason spins him around, slotting himself against his back, hands falling to Tim’s hips like they belong there.

“Better?” Jason’s voice is rough and low in Tim’s ear as they start dancing again.

Tim swallows, startled by the overwhelming sense of how right this feels. He’s no stranger to being held like this, some nameless person grinding against him while his attention is elsewhere following his target. His body reacts as it never has before and ever so briefly, he wishes that Jason’s hands would slip just a little lower.

Reality comes slamming back into him when another dancer accidently jostles them. What the hell is he thinking? This is Jason Todd, the same man who has tried to kill him more than once. A few years may have passed since then and they’ve managed to forge a pretty good working relationship, but to say they got off on the right foot would be a complete and utter lie.

So why is Jason making him feel this way?

A little too late, Tim nods his head, remembering the question. “Yeah. Fine.”

They leave a short while later, Tim hoping that Jason doesn’t notice the slight awkward shuffle to his steps.

Third time is the charm, a fact for which Tim is glad for because once they hit the dance floor again and Jason’s big arms wrap around him, his body starts to betray him once more. He’s never felt so glad to see one of the drug runners and hit them up to see their boss.

Tim pays out the ass for the fentanyl, not quibbling because this guy knows he’s got the money and is marking it up.

That night after they leave, he and Jason part ways to change into their uniforms and return, staking out the front and back doors of the club. It’s late by the time the dealer exits through the employee door. They tail him all the way to Burnley and into a nondescript townhouse.

Jason lowers his binoculars. “Well, thanks for helpin’ me out. I think I got it from here.”

Tim frowns, but doesn’t argue. His part in all this, pretending to be Jason’s boyfriend to create a believable cover, is over. “No problem. You still owe me one.”

“Yeah, yeah. You know I’m good for it.”

Surprisingly enough, he does.

~*~*~*~

Tim drops his box with a heavy thunk. Inside, something crunches and he takes a certain amount of petty delight in Jason’s frown.

“What if I told you the coffee mugs are in there?” Jason says. He’s arranging the silverware drawer.

“That’s your problem, not mine. I have travel mugs that don’t break.”

Tim stalks away to grab another box. How the hell he let himself get talked into this, he has no clue.

This being the third time in less than two months that Jason has asked him to help out with one of his cases. Or, more specifically, asked him to be in a fake relationship to help establish his cover. He’s starting to see a pattern here.

“Why the hell did I say yes?” Tim mumbles as he grabs another box from the back of their small moving van.

He knows all too well why he did. It’s the same reason that’s been haunting him for the last six weeks. The same little feeling that keeps reappearing anytime he even so much as gets a text from the man.

This isn’t happening to him. It can’t be. He does not find Jason attractive.  

“His face is stupid,” he mutters, then sighs.

Leaning against the back of the van, Tim closes his eyes, trying to calm himself even as he toys with the wedding band resting on his finger yet again. There is nothing to be worked up over. It’s not as though Jason is doing this on purpose. He really does need his help here because a single man living in a neighborhood like this one is going to catch someone’s attention, especially since Jason needs to make himself visible and approachable. He gets to be the house-husband while Tim toddles off to work every morning and returns in the evening. Their marriage is a complete and utter sham. Nothing to get worked up over.

Besides, it’s not like Jason even sees him the same way. This is just a job. A case. Bad guys to be caught.

The drug ring Jason has been after is much bigger and better organized than he originally suspected, the trail leading into the suburbs of Gotham Heights, a solidly middle class neighborhood where crime is more of the white collar variety than anything else. This particular subdivision is relatively new though and when Tim poked around, there were more income figures in the upper five digits and lower six than the rest of the area. Wannabe real housewives of Gotham is what Jason called them and Tim has to concur. In fact, it’s what they’re hoping for. Two good looking gay men moving into the area is bound to attract the kind of attention they want, and Jason is fully ready to play house-husband and collect all the gossip while Tim is at work.

“Here, let me get that one.” Jason’s unfairly big arms reach around Tim to grab a larger box.

Tim huffs and blows his bangs out of his eyes. He needs another haircut but decided against it as it’ll help detract from how similar he appears to Timothy Drake-Wayne. That and the glasses that are perched on the end of his nose, ones that he never lets himself be seen in public with for this very reason. If it works for Clark, it’ll work for him, at least to the casual observer.

“I had that.”

“You’re supposed to be the computer nerd, remember? Lifting big boxes isn’t in your repertoire.”

Tim eyes the muscles flexing under Jason’s t-shirt, easily managing the weight. “Fine.” He picks up a large plastic tub labeled Bedding and takes it into the house.

There are three bedrooms in the house, but from what Tim understands, one is being used for their surveillance equipment and the other for the makeshift office where Jason is ostensibly writing a novel. The current plan is to rotate sleeping in the master bedroom while the other sleeps on the sofa.

Right. Tim heaves a sigh as he drops the bin on the floor and stares at the unmade king-sized bed he’d help set up earlier. “This is gonna suck.”

~*~*~

Two weeks later, Tim is ready to revise that statement. His life doesn’t suck. His life is a miserable living hell.

The routine he and Jason have fallen into is, well, domestic. Every morning, he’s out the door no later than eight to do battle with the evils of rush hour into the city where he mucks around and does casework from the quiet safety of his apartment in Crime Alley. Every evening, he makes his way back out to the suburbs, rolling in no later than six.

Thank god they have a garage because Tim is pretty sure he’d die if he had to go through the front door and make a show of kissing Jason for anyone who is watching.

“Honey, I’m home!” Tim calls out with more than a little bit of sarcasm coloring his voice.

“Fucking finally.” Jason sounds frustrated over something.

It’s probably dinner. He’s taken to watching cooking shows in the afternoon and applying what he’s learned.

Tim kicks off his shoes in the laundry room and crosses into the wide open kitchen.

Jason is wearing an apron. It’s a crying shame he’s also wearing jeans and a faded blue henley.

Son of a fucking bitch. Not again. Tim swallows hard and thanks every god he can think of that the man is facing away from him and can’t see him flounder.

“Rough day?” he manages to say without stumbling over his words.

“Just a shitty one.” Jason points toward the sink. “Wash up, then grab your plate. We need to talk.”

Great. Just great.

They sit at the kitchen counter, Jason taking a large swig from his beer bottle before digging into his meal. Tim is a little slower to start and fiddles with the wrapper on his. “What happened?” he finally asks.

“I think I’ve narrowed it down to which house around here is our real target. I finally saw that pool maintenance truck pull up today.”

The fentanyl and possibly some other drugs are being funneled into the city with vehicles that appear to be for legitimate small businesses, like plumbing contractors or yard maintenance trucks. Vehicles that wouldn’t catch anyone’s attention with drivers who actually make a show at doing what they’re there for. Or so Jason says from what he’s observed.

Tim perks up. “That’s not bad news.”

“No, it’s actually pretty good,” Jason concedes. “The problem is that I can only take so many walks through the neighborhood and chat with so many people before it starts to look strange.”

“Okay…” Tim doesn’t see where this is going.

“We need a dog.”

He blinks and drops his fork. “What?”

“We need a fucking dog. One with a good amount of energy that gives me an excuse to wander around.” Jason viciously stabs some broccoli and stuffs it in his mouth.

“And just what will happen to the dog when we’re done here?” Tim asks. He’s always wanted a dog but doing so for the sake of a mission isn’t exactly the best reason.

Jason gives him a look that clearly says he thinks Tim is being an idiot. “We find it a good home, duh.”

Right. Because that’s totally going to happen.

~*~*~

The dog’s name is Darcy because this is what happens when Tim lets Jason name things. He’s a two year old black-and-white American bulldog who thinks he’s a lapdog and drools more than any creature Tim has ever seen.

For some bizarre reason, he also adores Tim and tries to sleep with him on the sofa instead of on the big beach towel they’ve laid out on the bed in the master bedroom.

“Ugh, get off me,” Tim says, trying to shove Darcy aside one night. “You’re supposed to sleep with Jason.”

He’s tired. Really tired. All this sleep he’s been getting can’t be healthy because pulling an all-nighter didn’t used to be this challenging.

Darcy whines and gives him the big sorrowful puppy dog eyes that never fail to melt Tim’s heart. How anyone can say no to this dog is beyond him. If it weren’t for the fact that most people thought he was a pitbull mix at the pound, he’d probably have been adopted sooner.

“You’re a big baby.” Tim yanks at his blanket. More of it needs to be over his shoulders and not pooled around his waist where the dog has made a nest from it.

“I can’t believe you let him walk all over you like this.”

Tim looks up to find Jason leaning in the hall entrance. Apparently, his battle over the blankets caught his attention. “I do no such thing.”

Jason rolls his eyes. “Come on. The bed’s big enough for all three of us.”

No. No no no no no. This has been what Tim’s resisted most from the moment they moved in together last month. Living with the man that he’s finally acknowledged to himself that he has a crush on is painful enough. Sleeping beside him is a whole different ballgame.

“It’ll be okay,” Tim says, trying to find an out. “If you can just get Darcy in there, that should be fine.”

Jason is already shaking his head. “He whines at the door to be let out. Get your ass in there. Or are you afraid I’ll smother you in your sleep?”

Tim would almost prefer it if it means he can escape what are likely to be some very awkward morning boners. “I starfish in my sleep.”

“What does that mean?”

“I tend to sprawl out. There’s a reason my bed at home is a king.”

Jason runs a hand through his hair and yawns. “We’ll fuckin’ deal with it if you start kickin’ me. Now, get in there and go the fuck to sleep.”

“I want to state for the record that this is a bad idea,” Tim comments as he stands. Darcy ever so helpfully jumps off the sofa, freeing the blanket.

“Noted.”

~*~*~

The case drags out for three months, two of which Tim finds himself sharing a bed with Jason. And Darcy, because the dog somehow manages to sleep between the two of them on his beach towel.

In the end, Jason not only manages to figure out the supply route, but also where he needs to head next.

“Montreal is not where I expected this case to go,” Tim says one evening as they’re eating dinner. “But it’s not entirely surprising. Canada has a pretty similar problem.”

Jason nods thoughtfully. “I’m sure I’ll end up in China at some point, but the base of this particular supply line seems to end there.”

“Well, my Mandarin is a bit rusty, but if you need help, gimme a call.”

“I will. And don’t think I’ve forgotten what a massive favor you’ve done for me with all of this.” Jason gestures to the house around them and the home it really has become.

Tim frowns and glances down at Darcy, who’s waiting ever so patiently for any crumbs or slivers of meat that may fall to the floor. “Yeah, about all this… Umm… I really don’t care about the house, but… I don’t want to give up that overgrown lapdog.”

Jason smiles fondly at the dog. “Neither do I. You’ve got the space at your apartment, right?”

“Yeah, but I’m busy. Face of WE and all that crap.” Tim scowls and leans down to rub behind Darcy’s floppy ear. The dog’s tail thumps loudly against the flooring. “He needs more attention than I can give him on my own.”

“Well, I can always stop by. To help.” Jason’s gaze darts away in a brief flash of uncertainty that Tim hasn’t seen since that neighborhood barbeque they went to last month where they had to act like the married couple they’ve been pretending to be. Holding hands was enough to make Jason’s ears turn red, although he tried passing it off as too much sun.

Tim narrows his eyes, a suspicion rising in the pits of his heart that almost feels suspiciously like hope. Before he can talk himself out of it, he reaches out and takes Jason’s hand.

Cue the red ears. And a faint flush that reveals a slight scattering of freckles over his cheeks.

“What?” Jason asks, clearly startled by Tim just randomly holding his hand. He looks everywhere but at him.

“Jason,” Tim says slowly, carefully because he really doesn’t want to be wrong. “You do know you can come by my apartment to see me, too. I wouldn’t mind at all.”

He doesn’t let go of Jason’s hand.

“I… uh… Are you sure?” There’s that insecurity again, but Jason’s giving him a hopeful look, one that makes him appear so much younger than he is.

Tim raises their joined hands to his mouth and presses a kiss onto the scarred knuckles. There’s no mistaking the heat that flares in Jason’s eyes. “I’d love it if you did. Perhaps we can take Darcy out together. Have a cup of coffee somewhere.”

“Yes!” Jason all but shouts, then blushes harder as Tim chuckles over his enthusiasm. “Fuck, we kinda went at this ass-backwards, didn’t we?”

“Well, this is actually one of the longest relationships I’ve ever had, but it’s also the first one where I haven’t gone on a real date. How about we fix that before you go to Montreal?”

Jason nods, then bites his bottom lip. “Umm, does that mean I can’t kiss you until after the first date?”

“Hell, no.” Tim pushes their mostly empty dinner plates to the side and seats himself on the counter. He tugs Jason to his feet and the taller man slots himself between Tim’s parted thighs in a way that he can’t wait to explore in more explicit detail later.

Their mouths meet, hesitantly at first as Tim lets Jason set the pace, then harder as Jason’s confidence grows.

Jason moans against Tim’s mouth as he tugs lightly on the short hairs at the back of his neck. The moan quickly turns into a groan as Darcy launches himself up from the floor, whining and barking as he tries to get in on the action.

Tim starts to laugh, even as the dog manages to get his front paws up on the counter. “I hope he doesn’t do this all the time.”

“Something tells me he’s going to be a worse cockblock than Dick.”

[redrobinfection]

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

JayTim | Complicated Relationship | Angst | Betrayal | UST | One-Sided Attraction | 5.4K (below read more link) | Read on Ao3

AN: This fic is a gift to @chibinightowl for the 2018 JayTim Secret Santa Exchange. It represents a small portion of a much larger AU developed for the prompt "Pirate Captain Jason and Privateer Captain Tim chasing each other around ocean and ending up marooned together"… maybe someday chibi_nightowl and I will share the rest with everyone else ;)

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A stiff wind beats against their ship, sending chilly spray up over the bow and into the faces of his haggard crew. Captain Timothy Drake bears the sharp gust and biting spray with grim equanimity.

"Captain, please! This is our thirtieth watch since we began this hellish grind and if we stay on this heading, we'll run right into those storms brewing right o'er the horizon. Let us break off and seek calmer seas."

Stephanie's - his navigator - words roar around him like the sea, but he doesn't yield anymore to her than he does to the roughening surf. He knows a storm is brewing - he can smell it, feel it even - but he doesn't care. His eyes are fixed on a hazy smudge on the horizon, his target of nearly eight days now, and he'll be damned if he lets it go. Not now. Not after so long…

"Cassie, please, you know I speak sense! Help, me convince him!"

Tim feels a light touch on his arm and turns to his first mate, the fierce Cassandra Sandsmark, who is peering into his face with equal parts concern and steely resolve.

"Tim, I agree with Stephanie on this. Our crew is lagging, the winds are rising, and if we don't turn back soon we'll likely be caught out in this storm. We weren't equipped for a jaunt much longer than a few days and we aren't rigged for open water. We've given those pirates a good run of it, but time and fortune are against us now. We need to turn back."

He frowns. "Re-rig the ship and begin tying down loose articles, but we won't turn back until they do. We'll smash these bastards between our hull and the storm if we have to. Those are your orders," he reiterates firmly, eyeing both of them sternly. Cassie tsks in exasperation and Steph scrubs her hands through her hair with a sound of frustration. Conner Kent and Bartholomew Allen, two more of his trusted lieutenants look up from across the ship in concern and curiosity.

"Captain, really, the crew is-

"These seas will tear us to flots-

"Enough!" Tim cuts across them, tearing his eyes away from his target to stare them down. "I hear your concerns and, as always, I appreciate your candor, but my decision stands. Maintain visual contact and move to intercept at best possible speed."

Cassie and Steph share a look, but in the end, they are still his best and truest. They salute him crisply for the whole crew to see. "Aye, Captain!" Cassie immediately turns to the crew and begins issuing orders to adjust the rigging, but Steph hangs back.

"If I may speak freely-" Steph begins in a low voice.

"I doubt you'd hold back even if I asked," Tim replies drily.

"-and as your friend," she continues, her acknowledging grin still tinged with worry, "the crew would feel a whole lot better about this rough haul if we knew what was so important about this one measly ship." She sighs and tilts her head back, rolling one shoulder. "Every person on this ship trusts you with their life and would follow you into hell itself, but it's not often you to lead us on in the dark. The crew is antsy, tired, confused, unmotivated..."

Tim opens his mouth but Steph presses on, turning to fix him with the full force of her icy blue stare. "They see a fire in your eyes and wait for you to light it in their hearts, but instead you keep your reasons to yourself and lead us on this wild goose chase, into a storm, in open water, and all for what?"

"Steph-"

"Hell, even I'm feeling a touch flighty, not knowing if you'll sacrifice us to Davy Jones just to catch a single ship and ne'er e’en tell us what's worth more'n our lives to-"

"Steph!" Tim finally bellows, shaking his head and turning her away from the crew. She colors but holds his gaze. He sighs and leans in.

"The man on that boat wearing the captain's tricorner, he's the reason I came to Bristol," Tim tells her quietly. Steph's eyes widen.

"Wait. He's the one that…"

"Aye, the very one."

Steph covers her mouth with one hand and stares over Tim's shoulder toward the ship in the distance. "No… are you sure?"

"Completely. And even if I wasn't, that ship flies known pirate colors; as privateers in service of the crown, we'd chase them down for entering crown territory in any case. But…" he trails off and his eyes harden. "I'm sure, Steph."

Steph's gaze hardens as well and a spark of something fierce and wild - the very spark that caught his eye back when he first put together his privateer crew back in Bristol - lights up her eyes. "In that case we'll have to prepare a proper 'thank you' for him, eh?" Steph cracks her knuckles and grins savagely. Tim shakes his head fondly. "May I share this news with the crew?" she asks him beseechingly. "They'll be wanting to share their 'thanks' with this bastard as well, I'd imagine."

Tim hesitates, but nods stiffly. "Aye, but keep it brief. They don't need my whole bloody life story, Stephanie."

"Aye, Captain," she replies with a jaunty salute that barely disguises the rage behind her eyes as she turns to the crew and begins to walk the length of the ship, calling out in a loud voice, "Okay, listen up you sorry lot, we've got a grand personage on that boat up ahead-"

Heads come up and eyes turn toward her while Tim does his best to tune out her voice. He turns his gaze back to the ship in the distance.

"-that very cur that once tried his damnedest to betray and murder our esteemed captain-"

A distant part of him can feel his crew's eyes on him, but his mind is elsewhere, imagining a face, imagining the look on it when they overtake that ship, board it, then sink it to the depths.

"-one Jason bloody Todd, scourge of the Caribbean, and foulest among pirates! I expect you all to give him your 'warmest regards'-"

Murmurs rise among the crew, heads nodding. Cassie looks surprised and furious, but she turns her fury toward the horizon. In the background, Conner's face takes on a dark cast and Bart cracks his knuckles with a wicked grin.

"-so what say you, crew of the Red Robin? You ready to catch this sonofabitch and send his sorry excuse of a ship down to the murky deep?"

"Aye!"

Tim smiles grimly into the biting wind and imagines the face of one Jason Peter Todd in the moment he gets his long-overdue comeuppance.

"All hands on deck for best available speed and make preparations to board!"

"Aye!"

He smiles and looks in grim satisfaction to the storm ahead.

~*~

"Jason? Jason! Damn you to the depths, Jason Todd! Listen to me when I talk!"

Jason nods absently, his eyes fixed on a slip of a ship far off to their stern. "I hear you, Roy…"

"But you don't listen!" Roy bites back, stepping between Jason and his view of the tailing ship. Roy frowns. "All you want to do is stare dreamily back at that damned ship and mutter to yourself. You're lucky Kori has her wits about her or they would have caught us naught but five minutes out of port."

"I can't believe it, Roy, it's him, it's really him..."

Roy, his third-in-command, rolls his eyes. "You keep saying that, but who is 'him'? Who is on that ship that has you so moony you would've about thrown yourself under their keel if we hadn't hauled you away?"

Jason scowls and rips his eyes away from the horizon. "It's him, Roy. The one I thought I’d…"

"Is that supposed to mean something to- OH," Roy's eyes widen as he remembers a drunken confession Jason made to him over too many brandies all those months ago back when Jason first brought their crew together.

"He's the one you killed while hopped up on Joker's Breath? Back when you tried to take the Batfang out from under ol' Bluebird?"

Jason winces, but nods. "Aye. Him. Tim."

"Tim, huh?" Roy looks uncertain. "Are you sure? You only got a glimpse of him before they raised the alarm and Kori sped us away, thank God in heaven for the good head on her shoulders."

Jason nods and turns his gaze back to the distant ship. "I'd know that face anywhere, Roy. It's him."

Roy rolls his eyes again. "Okay… well, I guess you didn't kill him after all, but considering the fuss he's put up trying to run us down, I can't imagine he's all too happy over the attempt."

"I don't care," Jason says. "He's alive. I could sing, Roy. My God, he's alive…" He runs his hands through his hair for the hundredth time, teasing it into wild, unkempt spikes.

"Yes," Roy responds flatly. "Actually, it's been eight days, Jason, how has this not sunk in yet?"

"He's really alive…"

Roy closes his eyes and tips his head back, groaning. He crosses himself. "God in heaven, preserve us…"

"Save some of those prayers for the hours to come, Roy Harper. We'll be needing them once this storm breaks," First Mate Kori Anders tells him as she approaches from behind.

"They must be suicidal following us into this storm," Roy comments wryly.

"A trait we clearly share, since we're headed into it ourselves!" their helmswoman Artemis calls back over her shoulder.

"Aye, but you'd have thought they'd've turned back by now," Roy muses, rubbing his chin. “It was a mad plan, but it should’ve worked a charm...”

"Never underestimate the lengths to which a pirate - former or otherwise - will go to set to rights a wrong committed against them," Kori comments blithely, pulling out her looking glass. She sighs after a moment and turns to Jason.

"Captain, there is nothing for it. We cannot outrun them and we are vastly outgunned. We must come about and bring the fight to them, on our own terms."

Jason nods. "No more running. I need to see him, one more time..."

Roy makes a sound of disgust as Kori frowns in confusion. "You're missing the point, Captain Todd. We're not planning to turn around to kiss your lover on the cheek. That man is after our blood; we need to make a stand, draw first blood and drive them off," he reminds him.

Jason finally turns his full attention on Roy, a blotchy flush rising on his cheeks. "He was not my lover, not after… No, we don't take the offensive today." Roy begins to interrupt him, but Jason persists, eyes taking on a grim cast.

"He's not after our blood, he's after mine," Jason tells them firmly. "I'll… I will speak with him. We will work this out." Kori and Roy raise their eyebrows, but wisely told their tongues. "We will defend ourselves, but we will not draw first blood. That is an order. Is that understood?"

Roy and Kori stiffen under his unyielding stare, their doubt and uncertainty yielding to trust borne of long partnership and camaraderie. "Aye, Captain."

"Come about! One-eighty to stern. Ready the sweeps and prepare arms! We fight to defend only, by strict order of the captain himself! Prepare for hard sprint at the word!" Kori orders the crew in a booming voice. Jason turns back to staring across the waves toward their shadow. Roy scrubs a hand across his face in exhaustion then hurries to help the crew prepare their vessel for the rough stretch ahead. Artemis and the rest of the crew of the Red Hood look around at each other uneasily, but comply without hesitation.

"Aye!"

~*~

"Tim, I'm so relieved you're alive! I don't even have the words to express how glad-"

"Save your breath, Jason!" Tim yells back hoarsely, fighting to be heard over the howl of wind and rain and pounding seas around them. He strikes out at Jason wildly, recklessly, forcing Jason closer to the edge of the steeply rolling deck.

They slide around on the slick planks and tumble over loose detritus in a frenzied dance, Tim striking out violently while Jason attempts to talk him down from his rage. Around them the crews mirror their fight, Tim's crew attacking with a vengeance while Jason's fight just to hold them at bay. Truthfully, it was all they could manage in any case, outnumbered as they were by Tim's privateers.

Kori's plan to turn back fast and hard and surprise Tim's crew worked a charm. They'd been taken off-guard so badly when the Red Hood had suddenly appeared out of nowhere on leeward side that they'd hadn't the time to run out their long guns and had instead begun immediate boarding, just as Jason and Kori had hoped. Unfortunately, the storm that had been brewing around them also arrived to the fight not long after they, and now it tossed their ships around like toys, threatening to take them both to the crushing deep for their troubles.

"Tim, I'm so, so sorry! I never meant-" Jason bellows over the wind, dodging another wide swing of Tim's staff.

"Shut up! Shut up and fight me, you arsehole! I don't want to hear your false apologies!" Tim howls back, launching himself heedlessly across the deck of his ship to strike again. "You. Tried. To. KILL! ME!" he pants out, his face livid in the sporadic flashes of lightning. "You. Ungrateful. Hog-brained. Ill-begotten. Betraying. Piece of filth! Fight back, you spavined cur! FIGHT MEEEEE!"

Jason lets Tim dart in close and rap him smartly across his side, but the younger pulls his blow almost immediately, looking all the more enraged for Jason having allowed the hit. Jason shakes his head, sending rain and seawater flying from his sodden hair. "I killed you, Tim, I watched you die and I'll never forgive myself! Never! I'm sorry, so sor-"

"LIAR!"

They both stagger as the ships lurch, and a sudden cry of fear rising from many mouths turns their heads to stare in horror at the massive swell rumbling toward the linked ships. Calls from both crews to pull back gangplanks, cut loose, and brace for impact are faint under the roar of the sea, but there is no way they can be ready in time.

Jason sees his chance and scrambles across a plank just before two of his crew push it off their rail, safely alighting on the deck of his own boat. He hears a cry and turns, eyes widening in horror as he watches Tim go down with the plank, eyes fixed on Jason's, one a hand still reaching out as if to snag his coattails and drag him down with him. He watches in slow motion as the back end of the plank rises while the other drops, striking Tim hard on the back of his head. Cries of alarm rise from some of Tim's crew as their captain goes limp and plummets like a stone into the inky surf. Jason moves without thinking, the roar of the sea and the screams of their crews dropping away as his world narrows down to a single point: Tim.

He dives headfirst into the gulf between their ships and lets the current take him. He searches wildly in the pitch black with his rapidly numbing limbs and nearly gasps in relief when his legs strike a large mass. He twists and turns, finally snagging an arm just before a wave flips them head-over-heels. He tugs the body close, wraps all four of his limbs around it while praying that it is, in fact, Tim, and waits for a lull.

His lungs are burning by the time he finds a chance to rise, slinging one arm around Tim while he uses the other to scrabble for the surface. They reach air just in time for him to suck in a quick breath before another wave pushes them down once more. A bolt of lightning illuminates a piece of flotsam that washes over them and Jason seizes it, hauling the body up and onto it in the next lull. Another flash reveals Tim's slack face and their two boats disappearing into the storm.

Not ideal, but he'll take any good fortune he can get along with the bad. There was no way their boats would be able to get to them in these rolling seas, anyway. They would all have to ride this out and see where they end up in the morning.

Jason turns Tim onto his side and thumps between his shoulder blades, breathing a shaky sigh of relief when he feels coughing. He climbs up beside Tim, throws an arm and leg over him, and braces himself to hang on for the both of them, for as long as it takes, until they ride out this storm.

~*~

Tim wakes slowly, the smell of wood smoke registering first, then the unpleasant, sticky-gritty feeling of taking an unplanned bath in seawater…

His eyes snap open and he lurches upright with a strangled gasp that dissolves into coughing. His throat feels awful and it stands to reason he might have swallowed a good portion of that seawater he bathed in, but he's currently coming up blank on why or how that might have occurred. That's fine; he's woken up this way more than once in his time as a pirate, and then later, as a privateer. One of many workplace hazards. It'll all come back to him eventually. Or it won't and he'll make due anyway. He always does.

A small sound draws his eyes across the fire to the sight of a man and in an instant it all comes back to him with a burning fury. "YOU!" he bellows, throwing himself at the man, at Jason Todd, nearly setting himself on fire in the process. Jason has the good grace to look guilty before surprise overtakes his features, but Tim is livid at the other things he sees there. Happiness. Affection. Lov-

"Tim! Easy! Take it easy, pajarito! You took a rough tumble and breathed no small amount of seawater before I fished you out last night!" he has the temerity to plead. Tim fumes.

"How dare you! You don't get to call me that anymore, you bloody mutineer!" he wheezes hoarsely, aiming a punch straight for that smug, handsome face that has the gall to look pained at the accusations.

The infuriating man catches his fist in a firm grip, but his shoulders wilt. "No, I don't suppose I do, at that. Tim, I'm so sor-"

"No!" Tim screams, ripping his fist away and launching himself at Jason anew. They tumble back into the sand and Tim rains open handed blows against Jason's ribs, causing him to grunt involuntarily. "I don't care how sorry you are! I don't want to hear it! That doesn't excuse you for conspiring against my friend - your own brother! That doesn't erase the damage you did to him! To us! And I absolutely refuse to let you weasel your way out of this after you stabbed me square in the chest and left me for dead!"

Jason bucks his hips and rolls them, pinning Tim's legs with his weight and pinning each hand with one of his own. Tim wriggles and fights like a man possessed, but Jason holds firm, staring down at Tim with that stupid, pretty, mournful face of his.

"I know I hurt y-

"You were my friend, Jason! My brother! More than a brother!" Tim howls, drowning out that bloody voice. He can't stand it, can't stand to hear it again after all these months, that same voice he hears in his dreams sometimes, whispering friendly quips and sweet nothings before it morphs into the low growl he heard just before he took a knife to a rib, lucky that he took it to a rib and not between them. "You were the closest thing I had to love and you tossed it all away like rubbish! And for what? For some new 'friends' of yours?"

"Tim, I-"

"I hate you! I despise you, and I will take you down for what you did, even if I have to come back from the dead to- hmmnf!"

Jason leans forward and shuts him up with a rough kiss, something so familiar and yet so strange after all that's happened. Tim lets himself go limp and kisses back after a moment, seeing an opportunity. He tells himself he doesn't enjoy the contact - that Jason is as striking as ever, but he doesn't want any part of that anymore - and that he's only letting his body fall back into this familiar rhythm in order to play along, but it messes with his head, nonetheless. Jason pulls back after a moment and stares down at Tim with an expression that is a vision of relief and guilt and joy all rolled into one. He’s beautiful, as always, but Tim isn't falling for that pretty face anymore. Never again, he swears.

"You've already come back from the dead, Tim," Jason tells him softly, easing up on his hands, then lifting one of his own to trace the line of Tim's face. "We both have, and I would gladly die aga-"

Tim uses that chance to flip them and summarily strikes Jason in the temple with his fist, dropping the man instantly. He scrambles off of him and drops back into the sand with a grunt. After a moment to catch his breath, he slowly begins taking in the island around them, studying the trees and the sand and the curve of the beach around them.

It looks... small. Intimate, even. No chance of him disappearing to some secluded corner and pretending he hasn’t just been marooned on an island with the one person he currently hates most in this world. After a moment he tilts his head back and releases a wheezy sigh.

"Well, fuck."

~*~

Jason groans, then attempts to bat away the scratchy object repeatedly nudging his cheek. All he wants to do is roll over and sleep off the awful pounding in his head. He shouldn't have let Roy talk him into having so much of that damn rum, he thinks hazily.

"Wake up, you lunk," a voice off to his right says, the scratchy object nudging with greater insistence.

"Lemme alone, Roy…" Jason begins to grumble until the tone and pitch of that voice registers and he snaps awake. "Tim!"

Tim Drake sits back on his heels with an sullen glare, but proffers a roughly cut half of a coconut that Jason accepts with shaky hands. There is coconut water in the cleaned out shell and suddenly Jason's thirst hits him hard and fast much like the wave that knocked them from their ships did hours ago. His memory of the last day and a half trickles back to him as he gulps down the sweet water gratefully.

"I still can't believe it's really you," Jason admits hoarsely once he catches his breath again.

"Well, it is, and I can't believe you thought it was a good idea to snog me into submission after everything you've already done," Tim replies, pinning him with a sharp look. Jason winces, and sets the coconut down in the sand.

"I'm sorry-"

"I swear, if I hear you say the word sorry one more time…" Tim growls, rolling his eyes in irritation. He sighs, then moves to put the campfire between them. Jason watches him warily. Tim glances over at him then rolls his eyes again.

"Relax, I'm not going to attack you again. For now," he adds with a slit-eyed glare. "I'm still upset with you and no amount of 'sorry's or 'I feel terribly about it' is going to change that, but we can't afford to be fighting each other right now." He gestures to the island around them. "I scouted out our new refuge. We could probably subsist here for weeks, if not months, but it’s a small island and we're all each other has on this sad little spit of land, so, for the time being I propose a truce."

"I agree, heartily," Jason says, clenching his hands together and twisting them, "but I can't live with myself if I don't at least try to amend for some fraction of-"

Tim shakes his head wearily. "I don't want to hear any of it, so don't waste your breath." He gives Jason with a searching look. "Words are cheap, Jason. If you want to prove to me how sorry you are for what you've done, then allow me to take you in to the proper authorities to pay for your crimes."

Jason opens his mouth, but Tim presses on, leaning in intimidatingly. "And know this, Jason Peter Todd: our truce lasts as long as we inhabit this island. As soon as we step off of it, I will spare no expense to bring you to justice. I'll chase you to world's end if need be. I swear on it."

Jason nods, feeling the burden of their shared past weighing heavily on him as replies. "I will."

Tim tilts his head in confusion. "What?"

"I accept your offer of escort to the ruling authorities of any port of your choosing, and I will readily give myself over to suffer whatever punishment they decree in the name of justice," Jason tells him, leaning in to meet Tim stare for stare. "I will never forgive myself for what I did to you - and to Dick - but if it puts your soul at ease, then I will gladly welcome whatever punishment is due to me under the eyes of the law."

Tim stares. "Jason… you'll hang for piracy," he states plainly.

"If that makes amends to you, even in the smallest bit, then I'll go to the gallows gladly," Jason replies, just as plainly.

Tim's eyes widen and his face pales under a slight flush of sunburn. He takes a moment to collect himself and Jason welcomes it, taking the opportunity to drink in the sight of Tim like a man dying of thirst.

Words are cheap, as Tim says, but Jason knows to the depths of his soul that he would go to the gallows happily just so long as Tim's face is his last sight on earth. After too many months of dreams, nay, nightmares that begin with kissing Tim and end with a knife lodged in Tim's chest, there is nothing more beautiful to Jason than the sight of Tim alive and well. Every moment he stares, even the moments of baleful glares and raised voices, feel like rain on parched earth, a balm for his burned and battered soul. He'll take soul-searing fire all day, any day over the horror and betrayal he sees in Tim's pretty ocean-blue eyes every night.

Eventually, Tim clears his throat, studying his woven fingers intently. "Honestly, I didn't think you'd… in all my dreams of this day, I'd pictured confronting you, imagined hauling you away, sometimes imagined keelhauling you or locking you away in my brig to rot, but... I don't think I've ever imagined you actually going to the noose." He glances up, showing Jason his first glimpse vulnerability in what feels like lifetimes. "If you did, I think I'd lose a part of myself on that noose…"

He trails off, deflates with a sigh, then scoots around the campfire until they're sitting roughly side by side. Jason could reach out a hand and touch his arm - he wants to, desperately, if only to confirm Tim’s real and this isn't just another dream - but he holds himself back.

"Explain."

Jason tilts his head and raises a brow in confusion.

"Explain to me what happened," Tim clarifies. "All these months, I've nursed my wounds and my wounded pride, but what really rankled most was never understanding why." The pain and betrayal Jason recalls in his dreams every night shines in Tim's eyes now, and he can't stand to see it, but he refuses to tear his eyes away, punishing himself with the sight of it.

"Why did you turn on Dick?” Tim demands. “Why did you stab me in the chest for something as silly as a Captain's mantle? What did those strange new friends of yours offer you to convince you to betray everything you'd worked for your entire life?"

Jason shakes his head. "They didn't offer; they poisoned," he corrected in a low voice. He plucks a long palm frond from their meager fire and stirs the glowing coals, picking his words wisely.

"Joker's Breath" - Tim's eyes widen in horrified understanding - "was what they offered, and I was fool enough to give in to their wheedling the second night after you'd left to scout ahead. One time was all it took to snag me in their web. By the time you came back…" Jason trails off, shaking his head and refusing to continue. It didn't matter why he did it, it only mattered that he did and he regretted every bit of it with every ounce of his soul.

"Explain," Tim demands again, eyes shining like blue steel in the firelight.

"All that matters is that I was a blasted, naïve fool for letting that riffraff pressure me into taking their poison, and then for letting it consume my every thought thereafter until Dick threw me into the brig to sweat it out," Jason tells him. "Everything that followed that moment of weakness was entirely my fault, and I will never forgive myself for a single bit of it. Never."

Tim lets out a long breath before he speaks again, slowly, as if he is choosing his words very deliberately. "Whether you forgive yourself is your affair, but if I am ever to forgive you - and a large part of me sorely wants to, if only for the benefit of my own peace and sanity - then I need to understand what happened."

He leans in close, catching Jason's gaze. "I need to hear your side of this. You may be surprised to hear it, but I, well…" - a blush darkens the redness in his cheeks and he fidgets but holds Jason's gaze doggedly - "As much as I was infuriated and confused and hurt by what happened that day, I still missed you."

Jason blinks in surprise and Tim nods to himself. "I still love you, despite it all,” Tim admits, “and not understanding how you could do this to me - to all of us - has made that love nothing but a terrible ache in my soul."

"You.. I…" Jason swallows, struggling. "I did all those terrible things and still you have it within you to love me?" he gasps incredulously.

"Yes, but love is funny, Jason. Never doubt for a moment that I also hate you just as much," Tim informs him bluntly. He narrows his eyes and points a finger into Jason's face threateningly. "I wasn't kidding about despising you. I despise what you did and I despise you…"

Jason gapes, mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.

"…but I can't stop loving who you were - who you may still be, somewhere deep down in that muddied soul of yours - and that is just the way it is," Tim concludes with a nod of finality.

Jason closes his mouth and lets out a long breath of his own. "So… you really want to hear my side of things? You're sure?"

The tension drains out of Tim's shoulders and he rolls them once before shooting him the ghost of a grin Jason knows all too well. "Please," he asks, his gentle tone at odds with the challenge in his expression, playfully daring Jason to defy him and see what happens. A marriage of steel and grace, Tim's hallmark style.

As if Jason would ever dare to defy this man's wishes. He scrubs a hand through his salt-sticky hair and drops the tension from his own shoulders, settling himself down before the long, anxious tale ahead. "Well, going back to where it all started, not long after you left on that ill-fated scouting trip…"

[utazawa]

Always get the Details

For the @jaytimsecretsanta exchange 2018. De-aged was the prompt I decided to go with and the recipient is @mymaingoal. @chibinightowl was kind enough to do a last minute beta read of this for me.

What I've learned from this experience: Always save your stories on more than one device.

~*~

Jason works on picking several locks to a tightly sealed room while Tim keeps a look out for anyone coming.

“I don’t like that we don’t have comms in,” Tim gripes.

“Suck it up. If we want to catch both the buyers and the sellers, you know we have to be undercover, that includes no above average tech.”

“What if something goes wrong? You were rather vague on the details when you dragged me out for ‘date night’.”

“We sent photos of the buyers, sellers and ‘merchandise’ to Arsenal already. If we don’t check in, he’s supposed to anonymously pass the information off to the Commissioner.”

“That’s great, but you still haven’t explained why we haven’t let all these easy to free people go.” Tim hisses as he gestures through the heavily paned window on the metal door next to him that reveals a room full of drugged men and women. “Why are you so determined to get into this particular room?”

Jason stops to look at his obviously pissed off and concerned boyfriend. “Sorry, babe. I know I sprung this on you last minute, but I promise I’ll explain soon.” He returns to the last lock on the heavy door.

“Last minute!? Jason, I thought we were actually going on a date until you brought me here, told me to put on a wig and contacts so I wouldn’t be recognized, and to just play along.”

When Tim slips up and uses his name in the field, Jason realizes he needs to explain now or suffer the consequences, ones that will make his life miserable for however long it takes Tim to forgive him. “Red called me with intel on my way to your place. He’s working overseas on this international human trafficking ring and just found out that an auction was going down in Gotham tonight and that they have a special item up for bid.” He takes a breath and concentrates on the lock for a moment. It’s trickier than the ones more commonly found on doors like this. “The special item is a meta-human. We can’t sneak that many people out on our own undetected and they’re in no state to get out by themselves. If anyone finds us, it won’t be good. Besides, you know what the government is like when it comes to meta-humans. We need to get them out of here, then we can call this in and save the rest of those people.”

“If you had said that in the beginning, I wouldn’t have been so pissed.”

“Yeah, yeah, it couldn’t be…I’m in!” Jason opens the door, steps into the room and promptly comes back out. “This is a two-person job. I need your help.”

Upon entering the room, Tim spots the reason why. There’s a young girl strapped down to a stretcher with an inhibitor collar on. She’s staring up at them with a terrified look in her eyes.

“I’ll get her loose from the table, you work on the collar,” Jason says quietly.

Approaching the child, Tim speaks softly to her. “Don’t worry, we’re going to get you out of here.”

She still looks terrified. They’re not even sure if she speaks English, so he tries giving her a reassuring smile as he slowly reaches for the collar and gets to work on releasing it. This particular model is one he’s gotten his hands on before, so it doesn’t take long to override the release mechanism.

Jason manages to release her from the gurney fairly quickly. He hears the locking mechanism click and Tim slowly removes the collar from her neck. The girl bolts out of the bed and scurries across the room.

“Hey, it’s okay,” he says soothingly. “We’re only trying to help.”

They make the rookie mistake of approaching her at the same time.  The little girl raises her hand defensively and releases a blast of energy that sends Tim and Jason to the floor, darkness overtaking them both.

~*~

Jason slowly wakes up, head pounding and feeling completely disoriented. Wherever he is, it smells weird. He reaches up to touch his aching head and realizes two things. One, everything hurts; two, his clothes feel weird. Opening his eyes, he realizes he’s in a strange basement, or what looks and smells like a basement anyway. He looks down at his clothes and feels even more confused because he’s wearing some rich old man’s hoity toity monkey suit. What the hell is going on?

A groan comes from behind him and he slowly turns around. There’s a kid, maybe 7 years old, also drowning in a too big suit. Crap, this isn’t good. He doesn’t know what kind freak grabbed them, but he’s clearly got a fetish. They have to leave right now.

The kid groans louder and opens his eyes when Jason shakes his shoulder. “Come on, we have to get outta here.”

“Where are we? What’s going on?”

The boy’s accent throws Jason. He’s not from the streets, not sounding like that. “I dunno. Just woke up here and I’m not plannin’ to stick around to find out.”

Standing up, Jason almost loses his pants. The belt is way too big and doesn’t have enough holes. There’s nothing here to make a new one, so he grips the waist band and looks around, spotting the straps on the bed. He pulls them off, shying away from thinking about why they’re even there. One gets tied around his waist and he tosses the other to the young boy.

“Tie that around your waist,” he says as he rolls up his pants so he doesn’t trip.

“Why are you helping me?”

“Do you want me to leave you here?”

“No.”

“Then don’t ask stupid questions.” Jason starts rolling up one pant leg while the boy works on the other. The boy’s legs are skinny but not in a way that looks like he’s not getting enough to eat. He’s just tiny. “I’m Jason,” he says, not liking the quiet. “What’s your name, kid?”

“Tim.”

Tiny Tim. He wants to snicker at it, but in reality, he’s freaking out because they’ve been here too long. Losing it won’t do any good. He’s gotta stay calm. Grabbing Tim’s hand, Jason pulls him up.

“Ow.”

“Sorry, but we have to go, now. I don’t wanna be here when whoever took us comes back.”

How did that happen anyway? He can’t remember. The whole night feels like a blur.

Tim is showing obvious signs of panic – shaking, rapid breathing rate – but he’s silent as he follows Jason carefully through the halls. One floor up, they find a small window with a few crates conveniently placed beneath it. Jason turns to give Tim a boost and gives him a funny look when he sees that he has his shoes tied together and slung over his shoulders.  

The boy shrugs. “They're too big, but I might need them.”

That’s not an entirely bad idea. Jason helps him onto a crate. “Can you get it open?”

Tim nods determinedly, but he struggles with the window for what feels like too long before it opens with a loud scraping noise.

Jason winces and checks for signs of anyone coming while Tim makes his way through the window. Not hearing anything, he pulls himself up onto the crates and barely squeezes through the tiny window.

It’s a straight drop to the ground, but it’s not too far, at least for him. Tim probably had some trouble though, but he’s nowhere to be seen. Jason really has to look around to spot him hidden in the shadows against the opposite wall.

“You okay?” he asks.

Tim looks up from rubbing his knees and nods. Silently, they start trying to find their way out of the area, avoiding the one spot that is very active with people coming and going.

After half an hour of ducking behind objects and staying out of sight, they decide they're probably far enough away to walk in the relative open.

Tim pulls on Jason's sleeve to get his attention. “We should contact Batman and Robin.”

“Why would we do that?”

“Why wouldn't we? They help people and besides, whoever took us might take more kids!”

Jason scoffs and looks away. “Batman don't care about us Crime Alley kids.”

“Of course, he does!”

Tim is obviously upset by the accusation. Jason eyes him carefully, putting together the pieces of the little puzzle he’s been trying to solve since they woke up together in that room. “You're not from around here, are you?” He indicates the dirty streets and alleys around him with a sweep of his arm.

“Well…no.”

“’Round here, you wanna stay under Batman’s radar. You don't want him decidin’ to ‘help' you and sending you to Child Services. That's worse than the streets.”

Tim opens and closes his mouth a few times, but eventually just shuts it. He's obviously not sure how to respond to the new information.

Jason kicks a stone on the ground and watches as it disappears into the darkness. He just wants to get out of here and go back to his current squat, but he has to make sure the kid gets home alright. At this time of night, there’s no telling what else is lurking in the shadows. “Look, I'll walk you home and you can do whatever you want after I'm gone. Where do you live?”

There’s slight hesitation before Tim responds, “Gotham Towers.”

Jason is surprised the streets aren't crawling with cops if this kid is from a neighbourhood like that. He really wasn't kidding about not being from around here. It makes him wonder how Tim is so good at moving around undetected.

“Come on, let's get you home.”

~*~

They’re about half way through New Town when Jason gets the feeling that something’s wrong. Really wrong. He tries looking around to see if anyone is following them and doesn’t, not that it means anything when alleys are nothing but black holes waiting for their next prey, but he does notice Tim looking around with a confused expression. He pays attention to what Tim’s staring at and quickly realizes a few of the buildings and businesses seem wrong. Wasn’t that bookstore a pawn shop the last time he was through here? It wasn’t that long ago, was it? Maybe a week? He also could have sworn that building across the street was an empty lot.

“Yo, Tim. Do you know how long they had us? I thought it was only a few hours, but things don't look quite.” He stares in amazement and horror when they turn onto the next block. “Holy shit!”

“What happened?” Tim breathes, eyes wide and just as surprised as him. He turns to Jason for an explanation, like he would know why this whole block of the city has drastically changed.

“How the hell would I know?”

Tim flinches back at Jason's harsh exclamation.

“I'm not mad at ya and I’m not gonna hit ya, so just stop it.” Jason sighs, feeling like an asshole. “Sorry, I'm kinda freakin’ out a little. Not your fault.”

Tim seems to relax a little, but he’s obviously still concerned about the changes as well. “Are you sure we shouldn't contact Batman?”

“What the hell is Batman gonna do about this?”

“Well, umm…” Tim drops his gaze to the ground. “I don't know.”

“Exactly. Let's just keep goin’. Your folks must be worried.”

They keep walking, taking note of just how drastically some areas have changed.

“Jason?” Tim asks, speaking up after they pass through another block where nothing is familiar to either of them. “Do you think we should see a doctor? It doesn't feel like I've been gone long enough for the city to change this much. Maybe whoever took us gave us something and it’s messing with our heads?”

Jason is surprised by the kid. He hadn't thought of that possibility and it's a really damned good point.

“You're right.” He grabs Tim's hand and changes course, heading back toward Crime Alley. “Let's go see Doc Thompkins. She runs the Free Clinic and doesn't ask too many questions.”

Tim seems like he recognizes the name as he perks up and follows after him, keeping his hand firmly wrapped in Jason’s.

~*~

They're a few blocks away from the clinic when Tim suddenly pulls Jason into an alley and presses them against the wall.

“What the hell are...”

“Shhhh.” Tim puts a finger up to his lips and looks up.

Jason has no idea what he’s on about, but he stays silent, eyes on the sky when he spots a Robin shaped shadow flying briefly overhead. Okay, now he’s confused. Didn’t Tim say they should try and find Batman and his boy toy wonder? So why is he hiding from them now?

After a couple of minutes where Tim insisted they be silent, Jason's had enough.

“That was Robin, wasn't it? Why the hell are we hiding? I thought you wanted to find Batman.”

“That wasn't Robin.”

“Wasn't Robin? He was wearing a cape, in Gotham, and it sure as hell wasn't Batman.”

“He was dressed like Robin, but that wasn't him. I'd know.” For the first time tonight, Tim sounds entirely sure of himself.

“What does that mean?”

“Doesn't matter. The point is, we can't trust whoever that was.”

Jason looks at Tim in a mixture of annoyance and confusion. “Whatever, let’s just get to Doc Thompkins.”

They hurry to the clinic. Once they arrive and tell the check-in nurse what they think happened to them, they’re quickly ushered into a room and provided with a suitable change of clothing.

Doc Thompkins comes in and asks them a few questions, leaving after taking some blood samples, and promises to return shortly.

At this time of night, the clinic is very quiet, and the walls are thin. Too thin, really and they hear her say their names from out in the hall.

Tim gives him a surprised look, one that Jason knows he’s mirroring.

He doesn’t remember introducing themselves, although he supposes it’s possible the doc recognizes him. Jason jumps down off the exam table and darts over to the closed door, opening it ever so slightly to hear what’s being said.

“…get Tim and Jason, now.” There's a pause as the other person presumably responds. Doc Thompkins doesn’t sound happy. “Then send Robin. Those boys need help beyond what I can give them. I’ve got blood samples I can send you. Your testing equipment is much better than mine.”

Jason really wants to know what she means by that and how she’s got a direct line to what sounds like the freaking Batman. So much for this place being safe. He spares a thought to leaving without Tim, but the boy’s recent change of heart about Batman won't let him.

“We have to go.” He pulls Tim up out of his seat by his arm. “We shouldn't have come here. The doc called Batman or someone to come get us. I think they plan to send Robin.”

In the light of the exam room, Tim’s light blue eyes stand out as they widen in fear. He willingly follows after Jason. They wait for the hall to empty and sneak out of the clinic, eventually hiding under a dark set of stairs a few blocks away.

“I can't go home tonight.” Tim's statement is so definite and out of the blue it startles Jason.

“Why the hell not?”

The boy fidgets. “If Dr. Thompkins’ knew our names without us telling her, then she might know our full names. If Batman gets that information, he could easily find me. Now that they’re not the same people, or at least Robin isn't, I don't want to go with them. Mrs. Mac will be worried that I'm not home, but my parents are away, so they won't know, unless it really has been a long time and they’re back from their trip. They’re almost always gone.”

Tim looks a little upset by the end of his statement, so Jason slings an arm over his skinny shoulders and pulls him into an awkward hug. “Okay, we won't take you home, but it's late. I don't have a home to go back to, so let's find somewhere to crash and we'll try to figure this shit out in the morning.”

“Okay, thank you.”

Jason scratches the back of his neck, a bit embarrassed by how grateful Tim sounds. “Don't mention it.”

They find a decrepit apartment building and after some searching, discover a room that’s easy for two boys to sneak into via the fire escape. It must be lived in, because the door is locked, but there’s no sign that anyone has been there recently. Jason is beyond exhausted at this point, so he decides to take the chance. They curl up together on the clean, sheetless bed and fall right to sleep.

~*~

Loud, barking laughter startles them awake.

“This is priceless! Where's a camera when you need one?”

Jason opens his eyes and glares at Roy, still dressed in his Arsenal get-up, holding himself up against the wall and crying from laughter. In his arms, Tim stiffens.

“What the fuck are you laughing at?” Jason gives him an unimpressed look for the rude awakening.

Roy's laughter increases in volume. “Don’t gimme that look, Jaybird. You're not very threatening, looking like that!”

Jason attempts to get up to knock some sense into Roy when he hears a rip and realizes just how restricting his clothes are. He looks down in horror. No wonder Tim is frozen in place. His pants are ripped down the ass, and his thighs have busted through the seams. His shirt feels like a skin-tight crop top.

But he's lucked out compared to Tim. Tim's clothes are ripped everywhere, held on by mere threads.

Last night starts to come back to him and as he looks around, he realizes they’re in what’s actually an older safehouse of his. Thank God for small favors, even if he does need to revamp the security.

Jason glares from over the top of Tim’s head. “Harper, what the fuck did you do?!”

“How is this my fault?”

“You sent us after that meta. What did she do to us?”

“Well…”Roy hedges, clearly enjoying this too much.

“Roy!” Tim adds in, exasperated. “Explanation, now!”

The archer rushes to start speaking, apparently not trusting Jason's modesty to keep him grounded for long. “Turns out she's a magician. Found out too late she was being sold as a meta because they bring a better price so I called Zatanna after you missed your check-in, and she tracked her down using some magic crap I don’t understand. The kiddo feels bad about what she did to you, by the way, and says she’s sorry.”

Jason growls in frustration. “I don't give a damn how she feels right now. I’m losing blood flow in some rather important places, so go get us some clothes!”

Roy laughs loudly again as he makes his escape.

Now that they have some privacy, Jason envelops Tim in his arms and breathes in the scent of his hair. It always calms him, and this time isn’t any different. “I wasn’t kidding about the lack of blood flow. Let's get these rags off and really give Roy a reason to regret laughing at us.” He kisses the back of Tim’s neck, but Tim jerks away.

“I'm not jeopardizing my chance to get clothing just because you’re horny. This is your safehouse, so go find a blanket. I'm cold.”

“Bossy. I think I like you better as a kid. Tiny Tim.”

Jason grunts hard at the bony elbow to his gut. Okay, perhaps this Tim is just fine after all.

[flashthroughlight]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Batman - All Media Types, Batman (Comics) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Tim Drake/Jason Todd Characters: Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Dick Grayson, Ra's al Ghul, Roy Harper Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Space, Alternate Universe - Robots & Androids, Established Relationship, Temporary Amnesia Summary:

Tim has been reset, but Jason will stop at nothing to get his lover's memories back.

A gift for @themandylion as part of the @jaytimsecretsanta

[write-my-dreams]

JayTim Secret Santa: Just Dance

Title: Just Dance

Author: write-my-dreams

Pairing: JayTim

Genre: Fluff

Warning: None

Rating: G

Note: For GeneratorCat 

Read it on Ao3

“Tim, I don’t even know how to dance! I’d rather punch a snobby rich person than look at them let alone speak to them, I always feel out of place at family gatherings, and to go so public… I just don’t think I’m ready.” His shoulders hunched defensively.

Tim bit his lip. He didn’t want Jason to be miserable. “Your dancing ability or lack thereof doesn’t matter to me.”

[jaytimsecretsanta]

Preparations are being made for the next JayTim Secret Santa!! Woo!!

A schedule is currently being put together and sign-ups will open in a couple of weeks!

The format is going to be a little different this time to ensure that all gifts make it in on time and communication is more guaranteed than just by using Tumblr’s messaging system.

I’m excited to see who’s going to be participating this year!

[the-sky-is-a-lie]

Summary: With the strange ability to see the red strings of fate, Tim had always known many secrets - some of which he wished he had never learnt. 

For @go-n-ef as part of the @jaytimsecretsanta exchange.

I would also like to give my thanks to both @sweeetsummerchiild and @asteriaism for thier help and support in writing this. Love you guys!

[fatcatsarecats]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Batman - All Media Types Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Tim Drake/Jason Todd Characters: Tim Drake, Jason Todd, Roy Harper, Damian Wayne Additional Tags: Fluff, Comic Book Science, Comedy, Humor, Crack, Crack Treated Seriously, Alternate Universe Summary:

Tim has a good idea what his epic birthday surprise might be, and he's hardly ever wrong when it comes to guessing about his surprises.

"This is going to be so great!" Tim exclaims, bursting through their living room in his handcrafted, blue-velvet wizard robe—his faction lovely embroidered into his chest by his own two calloused hands. "I heard we're all starting a new campaign and I brought my starter set! I hope you all got your characters sheets with you!"

Waving a book manically at the room, it takes a second before Tim realises, sadly, that he’s alone.

Well, Tim thinks, flopping onto the nearest sofa and sighing. There’s a first time for everything, and apparently, his super epic birthday isn’t Jason joining his D&D group like he thought it would be.

The surprise could only go downhill from here, if Tim were honest. _____ To @utazawa for @jaytimsecretsanta

[cadkitten]

The Fate of an Innocent Napkin

For @acidtongued for the @jaytimsecretsanta exchange on tumblr.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17085503

[chibinightowl]

Soap Suds

For the @jaytimsecretsanta prompt Car Wash

Tim smirked to himself as he dropped his soapy sponge in the red plastic bucket. He’d have to bend over to pick it up again and damn if he wasn’t going to put on a show in the process. Behind him, sitting in a lounge chair with some freshly made lemonade, was Jason, relaxing and relishing the fruits of his labor. Or in this case, winning a bet.

Too bad Jason had no clue Tim lost that bet on purpose.

Sure, he put in the effort, made it look like he was giving it his all (and at one point, he almost thought he’d win until Jason stepped up to the plate), but in the end, Tim admitted defeat. The things he did for the greater good.

In this case, it was being Jason’s servant for the afternoon.

The man had no clue what he was in for. For months, they’ve been playing a game of cat and mouse, their hard earned friendship taking on a new aspect as they started flirting and teasing each other in and out of the mask. Stephanie had told them on more than one occasion to get a room while Damian threatened to castrate them both if they didn’t stop it. They laughed it off, but there were lingering glances on both sides that gave Tim the belief that this may not be as one-sided as he thought.

Time to end this.

Tim picked up the hose and sprayed the beat up car, sending soap suds flying. He may have overdone it, but hey, he was a man on a mission. And a soaking wet t-shirt and clingy shorts were on the menu. The mist from the water hitting the car ricocheted back to soak him even more.

“I think you missed the tires there, Timmy,” Jason offered helpfully from his seat on the lawn chair when Tim dropped the hose.

“No, just saving them for last.”

They would be his final salvo. The car wash may have been Jason’s idea for putting Tim to work, but damn if he wasn’t going to make it his own. If this didn’t get Jason to admit he desired him, then Tim would have to take matters into his own hands.

Perhaps with the spray hose.

“You really need to take better care of your car,” Tim commented as he slowly knelt down to retrieve his sponge, making sure that the angle was just right for Jason to take in the leanly muscled lines of his own thighs. Thick was not a word to describe Tim at all, but he wasn’t a slouch when it came time to hit the gym. “If you’ve got another few hundred miles left to these tires, I’d be surprised.”

It took Jason a moment to reply. Sneaking a peek over his shoulder, Tim suppressed a grin. The man’s eyes were glued to his backside. “Yeah, well, not all of us have Bat-funded bank accounts.”

“Like it’s that hard for you to swindle money from drug lords and put it to better use.” Tim stood and artfully squeezed the sponge over the bucket, water and soap dripping down his hands.

He turned back to the car and knelt, feeling the wet shorts stretch across his bottom. That wasn’t all Tim felt as he started washing the grubby hubcap. Jason’s gaze burned as hot as the afternoon sun.

It didn’t escape Tim’s notice that when he moved to the other side of the car, Jason stood and approached, ostensibly to inspect his work. Inwardly, he crowed in delight as the taller man stood almost directly behind him while he washed the third tire.

“Tim,” came Jason’s voice, low and husky. “What are you doing to me?”

“What do you think I’m doing?” It was not an innocent answer, Tim made sure Jason could tell.

“I think you’re trying to drive me insane.”

“Hmm…is it working?”

Jason knelt behind Tim, spreading his knees wide so that Tim’s body fit perfectly within the cage of steely muscle. “Yeah, it’s working.”

Tim melted back into Jason’s embrace. Victory had never felt so good.

[r-misa]

For the event Christmas in July Day 27: Amusement Park (Sorry, but I love it so much X°°D) For @jaytimsecretsanta

[utazawa]

Beat of Your Own Drum

Thank you @chibinightowl for encouraging me to write. This is for you. @jaytimsecretsanta JayTim Christmas in July Day 12: Music Festival

Jason follows a catering truck as it parks behind a fancy hotel in downtown Gotham. He’s wearing a too big t-shirt that’s torn and ripped and a pair of threadbare jeans. His arms are wrapped around his grumbling stomach trying to quiet it and keep warm as he waits for the workers to start bringing the food inside. The caterers flit in and out of the hotel leaving their truck open. After several minutes they’re all finally inside and Jason rushes forward, grabs a container from the truck and keeps running before anyone comes back out. He runs to a dark alcove in the parking garage and tears open his prize. “Shit!” Jason quickly covers his mouth and looks around. He sees no one is coming and looks down forlornly at the open plastic container. All that food and I grab a container filled with napkins folded like swans.

Jason reaches behind him where he hid a tire iron earlier that day and looks around the parking garage. At least tonight won’t be a complete bust. Lou was right about this party, I’m gunna make a ton of money if I can sell off some of these tires. He stays hidden until there hasn’t been any activity in the parking garage for half an hour before he leaves his hiding place to find his best options.

Jason’s heart is pounding. He had just removed the last tire from a Rolls Royce when he heard someone coming. He’s hiding in a corner against the wall, the tire lying at his feet, and hoping someone doesn’t look his way since he’s not hidden well enough if someone looks directly at him. Damn rich people and their brightly lit parking garages. An older gentleman comes into view and is frowning at the tireless car. The old man looks around and doesn’t seem to notice Jason. Just as he’s about to walk away Jason’s stomach decides to complain loudly about his hunger.  He stops even breathing in an attempt to keep from being seen, but the stranger’s eyes lock on his location.

“Come out from there lad”, the man says with a surprisingly gentle tone. Guess there’s no point in hiding now. Jason takes a deep breath, squares his shoulders, and steps away from the wall. His posturing would be more effective if he could keep eye contact, but his eyes are darting every which way to find a way out. “Now don’t try to run off, I have a proposition for you lad”. Jason’s eyes widen and he curls in on himself a bit as he starts backing away, constantly keeping his eyes on the stranger. Jason’s back hits the wall; he takes a deep breath, squares his shoulders, and glares at the old man. “I don’t….I can’t….I would rather be beat”, he yells a little frantically.

There is a moment of silence after this declaration where the gentleman just looks puzzled and then horrified. “Oh, no my boy, you misunderstand me.” The stranger stays where he is, but holds his hands up in a placating gesture. “Let’s try this again. My name is Alfred Pennyworth. If you would be so kind as to put the tires back on the car, I won’t contact the authorities and I will be sure to get you something to eat.” Jason slowly relaxes slightly as he observes how repulsed Alfred looked at his insinuation and how genuine he appears to be with his offer.

Jason takes one tentative step away from the corner. “Why?”

Alfred smiles with sad eyes. “You obviously need the tires for money for food, and I need the tires so that I can drive myself and Master Bruce back home.”

“Why not just call the cops?”

“Though there are better ways to get food, I can understand doing whatever you can to stay safe and fed. Besides, I doubt any of us want to spend the rest of our night with the police, and it is no trouble to get you some food.”

Jason studies Alfred for another moment. “Okay” He stands the tire on its side and rolls it back to the car, getting started on putting the tires back on as Alfred supervises.

 Jason is putting the last tire on the car when he hears someone approaching.  “Alfred, is everything ok? You’ve been gone for a while.” He peaks around the side of the car and sees Bruce Wayne walking towards Alfred. Holy shit! I tried to steal from Bruce freakin’ Wayne! There’s no way he’s not going to call the cops. He tightens the last lug nut and then slowly backs away from the car planning to get away while Bruce and Alfred talk.

“Ah, Master Jason,” Master?!?! “if you could kindly put the hub cap back on, we can see about paying you for your services.”

Bruce looks over at Jason and back at Alfred with a questioning look. “We had a flat tire sir,” Jason startles at the lie, but stops backing away, “and this young man offered to help me change it. In exchange I intend to give him a proper warm meal.”

“That was certainly kind of you”, Bruce says as he approaches Jason with his hand extended. “My name is Bruce, and you are?”

Jason shakes his hand. “Umm…” Should I lie? “..My name…” Jason takes a breath No “it’s Jason..uhh…sir”

“Jason! It’s nice to meet you. Let’s get this hubcap on and be on our way then.”

Jason looks at Alfred a little suspiciously. “You didn’t say anything about having to travel with you.”

“I did say I would give you food. You can’t have thought that I meant to go back into the charity event and take the food for the guests?”

Jason flushes as that is exactly what he thought. Jason looks at Alfred and Bruce, “I appreciate the offer, but” Jason can’t think how to finish the sentence and not get in trouble, but he knows better than to get into cars with strangers.

As if reading his mind Alfred responds, “You are welcome to wait here, and I will bring you back some food. However, it is rather cold out and it will take considerably longer to get you fed if I must bring the food back here.”

Jason’s stomach grumbles loudly at the talk of food. “I can wait here.”

Bruce speaks up, “If I might make a suggestion. I can give you my cellphone to keep with you until we drop you off wherever you would like to go after you’ve had a proper meal. When we travel in the car, you can sit up front with Alfred, in the back with me, or I can sit with Alfred up front and you can sit in the back by yourself. Whatever would make you most comfortable.”

“Might I add that the car and manor are much warmer than this drafty parking garage.”

Jason looks at the car a bit longingly. I’m so hungry and it’s really cold. If I really get stuck I could call for help. There’s no way a rich guy like Bruce Wayne would have a phone that doesn’t work. “I…okay…please.”

“Great!” Bruce beams and pulls out his cell phone and hands it to Jason. “Why don’t you and Alfred get situated in the car and I’ll put this hub cap back on. You two must be freezing after being out here so long.”

“Thanks sir.”

“Call me Bruce, and it’s no trouble.”

Jason eyes the car for a moment and decides he doesn’t want to sit in the back with the tinted windows so he hesitantly slides into the passenger seat after Alfred gets into the car and gives an encouraging smile.

 Jason pulls his jacket tighter around him as he walks around the grounds of Wayne Manor. He looks around the grounds and back at the manor. I still can’t believe I live here now. Never in a million years did I think getting caught stealing tires would be a good thing. I still prefer spending most of my time outside though, I don’t want to get too used to it, but it’s nice to have a place to stay, for however long this lasts.

It’s still early evening, but it’s already dark out. Jason notices a light through the trees and decides to investigate. He walks until he gets to the stone wall surrounding the property. He climbs up using the wall and a tree as foot and hand holds and sits on the wall. The source of the light is a single window in the manor next door. Can this distance even be considered next door? It’s kinda weird that there’s only one light on.

Jason lies on the top of the wall watching the stars and forgetting about his neighbours until he sees movement out of the corner of his eye. Is that a kid? Jason sits up and watches as a kid opens the window and stares out at his driveway for a few minutes before disappearing back into the one lit room. Wonder what that was about. Jason’s watch beeps from the alarm he set. Better head back in for now.

 After supper one night Jason decides to ask a question that’s been bothering him. “Hey, what do you know about the people who live next door?”

“Not a whole lot. They’re names are Janet and Jack Drake. They have a business that’s doing well and they spend most of their time working out of town. Sometimes we will see them at different events around the city. They were at the charity event where we met you. Why do you ask?”

Jason’s gut twists uncomfortably. “Are they out of town now?”

“I think they mentioned working on a merger overseas back in December. I think they said it would take about 5-6 months so they should be back in a month or two.” Jason’s eyes widen considerably.

“Are you quite all right Master Jason?”

“Yeah”, Jason mumbles distractedly. Has that kid been all alone in that house since Christmas?!?! “Can I invite a friend over?”

Bruce and Alfred look perplexed by the change in topic. “Of course you can. What’s the number and we can call to arrange to..” “Thanks,” Jason interrupts as he rushes towards the door. “I’ll be right back!”

Jason grabs his bike and pedals to the neighbour’s house as quickly as he can. He jumps off the bike in the front yard and runs up the steps to ring the doorbell. After a few minutes he rings the bell again a few times in a row. I’ll give him 5 more minutes then I’m trying his window.

A few minutes go by and no one answers the door. Jason runs around the side of the house and yells up at the window that is usually lit at night. “Hey kid, you in there?!” Jason sees the curtain move slightly, but no one appears. “Come on! Don’t make me climb up that tree, just open the window and talk to me!” Jason yells. After a minute a thin, dark haired kid opens the window and peers down at Jason. “Um…who are you?”

“I’m Jason. What’s your name?”

“What are you doing here?”

“I’ll tell you that as soon as you tell me your name.”

“I’m Tim”, the kid responds quietly.

“Well Tim, I’m your neighbour, and as the only other kid in the neighbourhood I thought it only right that I invite you over to play games. It would have been easier to ask if you would have answered the door though.”

He doesn’t know what to think. Jason’s suspicion is confirmed when Tim responds, “I..You…I’m Sorry…Wait…really?!”

Jason chuckles. “Of course it’s easier to talk face to face instead of yelling at you from the lawn.”

“I’m not allowed to leave my room when the nanny isn’t here, so I couldn’t answer the door.”

I’m so glad he hasn’t been completely alone all this time. “Oh. Well, can you call your nanny and tell her you were invited to Bruce Wayne’s house and ask her if you can go? Or ask her if I can visit? You’ve gotta get bored being here by yourself.”

“I….you really want to hang out with me?” Tim looks very uncertain, but a little hopeful.

“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t.”

“Just…ok…I’ll be right back”, Tim yells excitedly before disappearing back in his room.

Jason grins to himself. I should have done this sooner. He looks so excited. I hope she says yes.

“Umm…Jason? She…she wants to talk to Mr. Wayne first.”

“I’m not allowed to give out his number. Can I get hers? I’ll ask him to call her.”

Tim talks quietly into the phone for a minute, and then hangs up. “Ok. She’s expecting his call. Her number is 555-2473.”

Jason pulls out his phone and sees he missed 3 calls from Bruce already. Whoops. Guess I should have told him where I was going. Jason smiles up at Tim who is staring at him as he dials Bruce’s number and prepares to be scolded. “Jason Peter Todd, you better have a good reason for leaving without telling us where you were going and not answering when I called.” “Sorry Bruce. I just wanted to get here ASAP. I didn’t mean to worry you. I can take care of myself you know.” “Where are you and why didn’t you answer your phone?” “My phone was still on silent from school. I’m at the Drake’s. Timmy wants to visit, but his nanny wants to talk to you first. Can he still come over or am I in trouble?” Bruce sighs. “No, you’re not in trouble, but don’t do it again. Wait, their son is there? Are the Drakes back sooner than I thought?” “No, they’re still gone, he’s by himself Bruce. The nanny isn’t here right now. Can you please call her and convince her to let him visit?” Jason can hear tightness in Bruce’s voice as he says “Give me her number.” “555-2473. And Bruce?” “Yeah?” “Thanks.” “Anytime kiddo.”

Jason disconnects the call and gives Tim and thumbs up. “What do you wanna do when you come over?”

Tim giggles. “She still has to say yes.”

Jason smirks. “I know. So what do you want to do when you come over?”

A little reluctantly Tim asks, “Can we play Mario Kart? I think it would be more fun with two people.”

“Sure Timmy. Anything you want.”

Before Tim can respond a phone rings and he disappears back into his room. A minute later Tim pops his head out the window. His eyes are wide with disbelief as he yells down. “I’m…she says I’m staying the night!!!”

“Great! Pack a bag and meet me at the front door!” Jason makes his way around the house not even waiting for Tim’s response. I don’t know whether to be mad or happy. Why the hell would his parents leave him by himself all night, every night? And he shouldn’t be so thrilled that some kid he’s never met demanded that he come over to hang out. Though I’m glad I can make him happy. The front door creaks open and Tim locks the door behind him.

“Tim!” Jason says as he grabs his pack from him and throws it over the handlebars of his bike. “Let’s get going.” He holds on to the handlebar of his bike with one hand and throws his other arm over Tim’s shoulder. “Alfred makes the best cookies and hot chocolate, you’ll love it.”

“Go to your room. You’re grounded.”

Jason slams the door and lies down on his bed. Bruce hates me. There’s no way he’s going to keep me around much longer. Why can’t I keep my anger in check? I hate it. The kids at school think I’m beneath them. I can handle that though. But saying I’d do that, it’s not right. And…ughh…I’m so mad!

Jason picks up his phone and begins to type.

Jason: You free?

Tim: What’s up?

Jason:  I just got grounded.

Tim: What happened?

Jason: I got suspended from school for punching a guy.

Tim: Why did you punch him?

Jason: I don’t want to talk about it.

Tim: Does Bruce know why you punched the guy?

Jason: No. I don’t want to give him another reason to kick me out.

Tim: Jason. He’s not going to kick you out. And why would knowing the reason you punched somebody make him more likely to kick you out, then thinking you didn’t have a good reason. I know you had a good reason, whatever it was.

Jason: What if he believes part of what they said is true, and that the other part isn’t worth the hassle?

Tim: What did they say?

Jason: They said a street rat like me can only get good grades because I’m screwing my peer tutor and she’s letting me cheat off of her.

Tim: I can see why that would make you angry, but why didn’t you ignore them?

Jason: I did.

Tim: So what happened after that?

Jason: They started flipping Jenny’s skirt up, she’s my tutor, and making kissy faces at her. They told her she should drop the street rat and be with a real man. I pulled him away when he wouldn’t stop harassing her when she said stop. She ran off and I told him if he ever did that again I would tell a teacher.

Tim: Then what happened?

Jason: He said he’d do whatever he wanted to her because if I told the teacher anything he would tell the whole school how I was bragging that I get to live with Bruce Wayne because he thinks I’m good in bed. I got so mad, he kept dragging other people into it, and I punched him. I don’t care how high class he thinks he is, he can’t do that to people.

Tim: You have to tell Bruce what happened.

Jason: I can’t. Besides, he doesn’t want to talk to me right now. He was so mad when he picked me up.

 Ten minutes later the doorbell rang and Jason heard Alfred greet Tim. What’s he doing here? Jason quietly moves to the top of the stairs so he can hear what’s going on.

“Mr. Wayne.”

“I’ve told you before Tim, call me Bruce.”

Tim squares his shoulders and talks professionally. “Mr. Wayne. You need to talk to Jason.” What is he doing?!?!

“Jason is grounded for using unacceptable behaviour.”

Tim loses some of his professional tone. “Did you ask him what happened?”

“Of course I did. He wouldn’t say. Just said the kid deserved it. Until he apologizes he will remain grounded.”

“He won’t apologise. I wouldn’t either.” Is he serious? ”Did you ask him what happened when he wasn’t around the teacher and the kid he punched?”

“No, I didn’t”, Bruce answers with a less sure tone. “Tim, do you know what happened?”

“Yes, and you need to talk to Jason because I won’t tell you.”

Bruce studies Tim’s face for a moment, and then yells up the stairs. “Jason, you can come down now, I know you’re listening.”

Jason comes down the stairs quietly and won’t make eye contact with anyone. “By the sounds of it we need to talk about this sooner rather than later.” Bruce places his hand gently under Jason’s chin and makes him look up. “Will you please tell me what happened today Chum?”

Jason nods and looks over at Tim for a moment before looking back at Bruce. “Can Tim stay?” Bruce thinks about it a moment and then responds, “Sure Jason. Whatever you need.”

Jason and Tim are lying on the balcony of Wayne Manor and staring up at the stars on a warm July night.

“Hey Jason?”

Jason turns to Tim who is staring up at the stars with a slight red tint to his cheeks. “Yeah?”

“Thanks.”

“For what?”

“For noticing me.” Tim smiles gently and looks over at Jason. “For coming over to ask me to hang out. For bringing the fact that I was home alone at night to Bruce’s attention so that he could talk my parents into letting me stay here when they’re away.”

“They’re gone a lot aren’t they?”

“Yeah, I mean, they were gone for 5 months. Then, they weren’t even home a month when they started planning their next trip.”

Jason reaches over and gently holds Tim’s hand. His heart is pounding a mile a minute. “Are you happier now?”

Tim beams and squeezes Jason’s hand. “Definitely.”

“Then it was definitely worth it.” Jason smirks. After a minute they both turn back to looking at the stars but their hands stay linked.

GOTHAM CITY MUSIC FESTIVAL AUGUST 18, 2018 ROBINSON PARK 9AM – MIDNIGHT

Jason reads the notice that came in the mail and smiles. Timbo and I have to go to this!

“Alfred. Can you drive me and Tim into town next weekend?”

“So long as you both have permission I don’t see why not. What’s next weekend?”

“The music festival is happening! It’s so much fun. A lot of the concerts are always free so even kids like me could go. I mean, not that I couldn’t pay now, but there are so many people there. It’s a lot of fun!” Jason blushes as he realizes that he’s acting like a little kid.

Alfred smiles at him. “Just make sure to ask Master Bruce. If you plan to stay too late, he may insist that someone be with you.”

“Okay Alfred. Oh, and can you keep this secret from Tim? I want to surprise him.”

“As you wish Master Jason, now go ask Master Bruce before you get too involved in your planning.”

“Thanks Alf”, Jason exclaims as he runs off to find Bruce.

Jason and Tim are in the back of the car as Alfred drives them into town. Jason is just about bouncing in his seat he’s so excited about going and surprising Tim.

“Can you tell me where we’re going yet?” Tim’s voice sounds like a mix between amused and frustrated.

“Soon. I want it to be a surprise.”

Jason keeps looking out the window and when they’re a block away from Robinson Park he puts his hands over Tim’s eyes.

“Hey! Jason, come on, can’t you just tell me?!”

“No, you have to see it all at once.”

“Are we at least almost there?”

Alfred stops the car, gets out and opens the back door. Music can be heard playing from the park. “We’re here sirs. Now remember. You need to meet Master Bruce here at 8 o’clock if you wish to stay later.”

“Thanks Alf. We’ll meet him. I set my alarm and everything.” Jason helps Tim out of the car, while keeping his eyes covered then walks over to the entrance.

“Can I look yet?” Tim asks with a mixture of impatience and excitement.

“Almost.” Jason pulls Tim ahead another 5 steps. “Okay. I’m going to move my hand now.”

Jason moves his hand and watches as Tim stares wide-eyed at the all of the booths set up. His eyes are darting from food carts, to jewelry stands, clothing stands, and craft stands, to stands selling merchandise for all the different bands, and then his eyes move to the outdoor stage and the crowd of people dancing to the music. Tim turns towards Jason with a huge smile. “This is a great surprise! Where to first?”

“Let’s get some lemonade and then check out the band!” Jason starts pulling a laughing Tim towards the lemonade stand.

“Why are you laughing?”

“You’re like a kid on Christmas morning. I like seeing you like this.”

 Jason and Tim are sitting on a grassy hill listening to the music, with Bruce and Alfred further down the hill enjoying the music and giving them their privacy.

“Did you have fun today?”

Tim turns to him with an incredulous look on his face. “We ate, danced, listened to live music, got into a water gun war, won a t-shirt and CD, and now we’re still listening to music while waiting for fireworks. Today has been fantastic.”

“I’m glad.” Jason turns to Tim, reaches out and grabs hold of his hand. “You know how you thanked me for helping you not be lonely?”

“Yeah. What about it?”

“Well, you helped me too. You stood up for me against Bruce Wayne and made me talk to him about what was going on at school. And you made me talk to him about how sure I was that he’d eventually kick me out. You even made me tell him what I thought was mine and Alfred’s big secret about his tires. Who knew he knew all along that I didn’t fix a flat because the spare tire looks different. Anyway, I guess, I’m trying to say, thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me for that.”

“I know, but I want to, and… I’m less lonely now too.”

The music stops as the fireworks start up. Jason and Tim smile at each other and look up at the fireworks.

After the fireworks are done and the music starts back up Tim quietly says, “Jason?”

He looks over to see Tim looking at him. Tim’s face flushes red, he leans forward and gives Jason a quick kiss. Jason blushes, smiles back at Tim and squeezes his hand. Tim leans against him and Jason wraps his arm around his shoulder. They spend the rest of the night listening to the band play before they go home.

[my-one-love-is-music]

Christmas in July 10! (189)

More barista!Tim and @jaytimsecretsanta Christmas in July day 10: Exotic Vacation (that actually isn’t that exotic)

Tim smiled, not even paying attention to what was playing on the t.v. in his apartment. Jason’s arms were wrapped around him and they were laying on his couch, his head pillowed on Jason’s chest.

After their first date, they’d spent more time with each other away from Tim’s work and Jason’s night job. Even if they didn’t go out often, Tim was more than happy to spend a night in on his couch with Jason at his side.

The shot of the movie they were watching changed, panning out from a palm tree and waves crashing on a beach. Tim sighed.

“I could use a vacation in a place like that,” he muttered.

“So let’s go,” Jason mumbled into his hair as he pressed a kiss to the top of his head.

Tim raised an eyebrow and sat up, bracing an arm against Jason’s chest so he could look him in the eye.

“What?” Jason asked.

“What do you mean, let’s go?” he asked.

“I mean, let’s go. You want to go on a vacation so let’s go on vacation. Let’s go to the beach. I could probably steal one of Batman’s planes and we could go to a private island,” he said with a smirk.

“We can’t just go on a vacation,” Tim said.

“Why not? You want to go.”

“Yeah, but I have work and you have work. We can’t just up and leave whenever we want. My boss would kill me.”

Jason sighed. “You obviously want to go, though.”

Tim shrugged and laid his head back down on Jason’s chest. “I know I want to go, but we can’t. Maybe some other time.”

Jason tightened his grip around him and looked back at the movie they were watching.

~~

Tim was humming along to the music playing over the speakers and wiping down the counters when the door was pushed open behind him. He turned with a smile, his greeting dying on his lips when he looked over the three masked men holding guns.

He swallowed. “Can I...can I help you?” he asked.

The one in front leveled the barrel of his gun at Tim. “You’re coming with us.”

“What?” he asked, gripping the towel tighter in his hands.

“You deaf?” the one behind the leader asked. “He said, you’re coming with us.”

“Don’t think about struggling,” the leader continued. “Boss said we can mess you up as much as we like as long as it’s not fatal.”

Tim set the towel down, balling his hands into fists to hide the shaking. As scared as he was, he wasn’t going to let it show.

“Let’s go,” the second one who’d spoken snapped, stalking over to him. He grabbed Tim by the collar and pulled him out from behind the counter.

The one who hadn’t said anything, stepped forward. He grabbed Tim’s wrists and looped rope around them, tying it off sharply. A sack was thrown over his head and Tim sucked in a harsh breath.

Tim stumbled when he was pushed forward and he tried to keep his breathing under control. He didn’t need to start hyperventilating or have a panic attack when he was surrounded by men with guns and couldn’t see anything. The air was hot and stuffy under the sack. He fought to relax and breath, but his anxiety wasn’t abated when he was thrown into the back of a van.

He felt it move underneath him and sat up, drawing his knees to his chest. Wherever he was going, he hoped Jason would still be able to find him.

After what felt like forever, and many falls because of how sharply the driver was taking the turns, they finally came to a stop. Tim looked around even though he couldn’t see anything from underneath the sack.

Rough hands pulled him from the back of the van. They dragged him by his shirt collar and he fought to keep up with their quick strides. Metal squeaked and he was shoved through a door, the floor changing underneath his feet and nearly making him trip again.

He was turned and pulled backwards, landing harshly in a metal chair. The sack was pulled from his head and Tim looked around. A larger group of men with guns stood around him and a man wearing a cheap, gaudy suit and smoking a cigar stood in front of him.

“So this is the pretty boy Red Hood has his mitts all over,” he said in a smoke roughened voice as he knocked the ashes from the end of his cigar. “Those idiots better be right about him caring about you as much as he does. I’d hate to splatter your brains all over the place because he couldn’t be bothered to make an appearance.”

Tim stared at him, his heart beating quickly in his chest. This was different from the time he’d been robbed at gunpoint. Tim could tell that killing wasn’t a problem for this guy and it wouldn’t matter what he said if Jason didn’t show up.

“You’re quiet,” he continued. “I like that. You won’t get on my nerves.” He turned to face the front entrance. “Red Hood better not keep me waiting long.”

Tim kept his eyes forward as the minutes ticked by. He didn’t want to look at the men surrounding him. They shifted on their feet often and Tim was worried if he looked the wrong way, they were bored enough to start hurting him. He tracked the amount of time that passed by how much the boss smoked of the cigar. It was almost down to the bud and there wasn’t any sign that Jason was nearby.

“Well,” the boss said, flicking his cigar to the floor. “I guess he’s not gonna show. It’s a-”

The door clanged open and Tim swallowed, heart jumping into his throat. A broad figure stood there before he started forward. The men around Tim pointed their weapons at him and the boss started to chuckle, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

“Looks like you finally showed up. I thought you weren’t gonna make it. Was worried my boys were wrong about your little toy.”

“He’s not my toy,” Jason growled. Tim swallowed. He’d never heard so much anger in his voice before. “But that doesn’t mean you’re allowed to touch him.” He stopped a few feet from the boss, hands clenched at his sides. “Are you hurt, Tim?”

“N-no,” he said. He swallowed his voice sounding shaky and small to his own ears. “But this isn’t what I meant by wanting an exotic vacation.”

Jason chuckled. “If you can still make jokes like that then you’re going to be just fine. Maybe next time you’ll listen when I say I want to take you away. Don’t worry, I’ll have you out of here in five minutes.”

The boss growled. “Think again, you’re not getting out of here ali-oof!”

Tim blinked. Jason had moved without anyone noticing and punched the boss, sending him sprawling to the floor. Most of the gunmen stared before they realized they were holding weapons in their hands. By the time they started shooting, Jason had his own guns out and shot the first two in the legs.

He weaved and dodged as pained screams filled the air. Tim watched, enraptured as the men rushed past him, leaving him mostly unguarded. He looked around, hoping to escape their notice since he hadn’t been tied to the chair.

He stood, ready to run, when someone grabbed the back of his shirt. He choked when he was pulled backwards and felt cold metal press to the side of his head.

“Stop right there, Hood.”

The boss had recovered and slipped around the rest of the group without Jason noticing. Jason shot the man he was grappling with in the leg before shoving him to the floor by the throat.

“One more step and your pretty boy gets it,” he hissed.

“Don’t you dare,” Jason hissed, voice filled with wrath and anger. He raised his gun and pointed it at the boss. Tim squeezed his eyes shut, worried the next shot was going to go straight into his brain. “Open your eyes, Tim,” Jason said, gently.

He blinked reluctantly and looked at Jason’s helmet, wishing he could see his eyes. The eyes he’d gotten so familiar with.

“Duck,” Jason said. A shot rang through the air and Tim dropped his weight without thinking. Another shot exploded over his head and he twisted back to find the barrel that had been pressed against his head had discharged. The boss’s eyes were wide. He staggered back and looked down, pressing a hand to his chest. It came away bloody and he looked up at Jason before falling to the ground.

“Come on,” Jason murmured as he walked over to Tim. He pulled Tim to his feet and Tim threw his arms over Jason’s head since his wrists were still tied. He squeezed tightly as his whole body started to shake. “Let’s get you home,” Jason murmured.

If you enjoy my work, please reblog or consider buying me a ko-fi!

[ao3feed-jaytim]

"Timmy, Got Your Number and I Gotcha For the Summer"

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2PlV9bi

by redrobinfection (ChristmasRivers)

"...it's a bummer that things go so fast..."

A collection of short JayTim drabbles originally posted on my tumblr for the JayTim Christmas in July event hosted by @jaytimsecretsanta.

NEW "Ice Cream" - Jason convinces Tim to join him for post patrol ice cream. "Watermelon" - Jason and Tim debate the merits of Watermelon. "Food Truck" - Tim convinces Jason to reconsider his childhood dream.

Words: 1353, Chapters: 3/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Batman - All Media Types

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Tim Drake, Jason Todd, some occasional guest appearances ;3

Relationships: Tim Drake/Jason Todd

Additional Tags: jaytim christmas in july, Fluff, Silly, Established Relationship, Ice Cream, Watermelons, Food Trucks, Other Additional Tags to Be Added

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2PlV9bi

[jaytimweek]

Is there going to be a summer event this year?

Hi - not this summer, I’m afraid! We need time on our end to create prompts, set up a brief voting period and allow enough time for all of your to actually create content that we get to share.

However, it’s definitely a possibility for next summer! We’ll add it to our list to explore and make sure you provide this feedback again at the conclusion of JayTimWeek Fall 2018 - we always welcome feedback.

I heard rumors that @jaytimsecretsanta MIGHT be doing a little something in summer. Check out their blog! 

[jaytimsecretsanta]

JayTim Christmas in July!!

I’m please to announce the very first JayTim Secret Santa Christmas in July event!

This is a completely voluntary event and no sign-up is required to participate! You’re welcome to make fanart, fanfic, edits, moodboards, playlists, basically any creative outlet you have is welcome! You are welcome to take the prompts in any direction you wish and can go the NSFW route as long as you tag accordingly.

Do as many or as few prompts as you like and remember to tag this blog @jaytimsecretsanta so I can reblog your lovely creative works for all to see!

If you’d like a typed out version of the dates so you don’t have to squint at the calendar above, check below the cut for the dates and prompts!

July 1 - Heat Wave

July 2- Beach

July 3 - Ice cream

July 4 - Fireworks

July 5 - Watermelon

July 6 - Food Truck

July 7 - Summer Storm

July 8 - Ice Coffee

July 9 - Water Balloon

July 10 - Exotic Vacation

July 11 - Stargazing

July 12 - Music Festival

July 13 - Camping

July 14 - Sunburn

July 15 - Sunset

July 16 - Road Trip

July 17 - S’mores

July 18 - Sleeping In

July 19 - Car Wash

July 20 - Carnival

July 21 - Picnic

July 22 - Ice Skating

July 23 - Rainy Day

July 24 - Drive-In

July 25 - Gift Giving (And Jaytim Secret Santa Exchange Sign-ups Open!)

July 26 - Shopping Spree

July 27 - Amusement Park

July 28 - Snow Day

July 29 - Date Night

July 30 - Summer Job

July 31 - Free Day!