Title – There is Beauty in a Breakdown
Disclaimer – I don't own anything of Batman, DC Comics or Teen Titans.
Summary – This story is completely Alternate Universe. Jason is alive and the ages are a bit different. Bruce Wayne is taking care of all three sons, Dick, Jason, and Tim but their lives start to shift when Tim falls for a certain Superboy.
Rating – T
Author's Note – I've never written a slash before… so this should be interesting, but I just can't help but see how much these two were meant for each other! So here I go and try.
X X X X X X X X X X
Minds are like parachutes. They only function when they are open.
Sir James Dewar, Scientist (1877-1925)
To be in love felt like you could take on anything, you could swim through the oceans and hold your breath for eternity, you could run through fire and ignore the searing pains that came, even standing naked in the arctic was nothing when you are in love. It was a shield that protected you against all harm and negative words. But when something breaks through that barrier, prepare to fall hard. You were so high up in cloud nine that the fall is ten times worse when your heart is broken. It's shattered to pieces and the pain is unbearable, even the strongest of men can be brought to their knees by a broken heart.
Especially, when that love was never meant to be unfolded in the first place. It was never meant to happen it was so forbidden and so wrong that it felt so right and so …. Welcoming….
At least that's how Robin felt at this moment as he was curled up on the roof top of one of Gotham City's skyscraper. His knees were drawn up tightly against his chest as he cried until only heart wrenching sobs were heard but no tears. His heart was shattering before his very eyes, the pain traveled from his arms to his chest and the tears were starting to sting his raw cheeks from his constant rubbing away the tears. He was weak, not only for sitting here crying in the middle of the night ignoring the rain starting to pour but because he couldn't admit to everyone that yes, he was indeed in love with a man. Him, Tim Drake, Robin, partner to Batman was in love with Conner Kent. Kon was his best friend, has been since he came to them years ago, but something changed within those years, a different kind of friendship began to grow, it was an unfamiliar feeling… oh he's had relationships before mind you, but not like this, not with the same sex, not with his partner in hero.
No, this feeling was strange and unique and it took awhile for it to blossom and when it did it was on cloud nine for them. But now Tim was back on earth and hurting badly from the fall….
X X X X X X X X X X
Bruce Wayne multi billionaire sat at his desk drinking his coffee for the morning going over some new business partnerships. This was his life, business man in the morning, a father in the evening and The Dark Knight in the night.
It was a boring morning, always doing the same repetitive thing; luckily for him he had the money to pay people to be his associates and secretary's. He would do what he could and he worked hard but he was a very tired man during the day after his night filled adventures that he just doesn't always have the strength to give it his all at work. Especially Luscious Fox, his next most trusted friend next to Alfred and Dr Leslie who know the secret identity of Batman, help him along greatly with his work.
Being at home wasn't any easier, in fact sometimes he believed it to be harder. Not that he didn't enjoy a difficult task, he just felt that sometimes he bit off more then he could chew sometimes. He took on a lot for being just a thirty – three year old.
But he loves his boys. All of them, including his rebel son, Jason. It has been thirteen years since this all began. He was twenty and visiting a circus for a charity event. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine he would be coming home with a son. He watched the Grayson's fall to their death, the sickening crunch of their bones popping out of their skin and the blood splatter from the force of being tossed that far down. How their hands were still connected even in death…. It seemed to be quiet for so long, nobody was sure what to do but then he heard it, a tiny boy screamed loudly. He was on the top of the perch and scrambled down screaming at the top of his lungs.
"Help them! Help them! Please! Anybody!" He screamed running to his bloody mother and father. Bruce surveyed them and knew it was too late, that fall obliterated them, killed them instantly. The woman's neck was broken with her spinal cord popping out of the back of her neck and her husband's spine was in the same shape, popping out but not piercing the skin. These two were dead.
"Help them!" He cried in anguish. Still, nobody moved. Some people began to just clear away not wanting their children to see this horrific death. But Bruce Wayne stayed put, something about this he knew it wasn't an accident. They both looked up in fear before they fell. They knew what was happening at the last minute. As if they could see what was happening with the cord.
This was murder and he couldn't help but feel the same anguish he felt at that age when his parents fell down dead and bloody holding on to each other. It was sick to watch your parents bleed to death and run around screaming "Help them!" while everyone just walked on knowing they were dead.
A girl not much bigger then the small trapeze artist himself was carrying a small whip and she was dressed in a lion tamers outfit. She walked over and grabbed the small boy carefully guiding him away from the mess. The ambulance came finally and helped carry the bodies out. All Bruce could do was sit and stare, everyone cleared out once the ambulance arrived.
Once Commissioner Gordon arrived Bruce Wayne was by his side in an instance, "What about the boy?" he asked.
"Shame, the circus wants to take him in, that girl's parents, Miranda said they would be honored to take him in, but child protective services don't want this kid anywhere near this circus, not since his parents were murdered. They are afraid whoever did this will be after him next. He will be safer here in Gotham where we can place him in child care."
"What about family of his?"
"He doesn't have any that will take him in. his father's side of the family are all gone or too old, and his mother's side of the family banished her long ago for running away with her newly wed husband and unborn child. They joined the circus knowing they both had gymnast abilities. It was perfect, because she gave birth right here in the circus and everyone loved him. Dick Grayson basically learned how to walk on a tight rope. Tragedy nobody will take him in… I have his test scores right here, brilliant boy. Home schooled all his life too."
"You can't leave him in the care of foster care, they always pick the worst families to stay in, and when they can't find a decent home they lock them away in Juvie."
"I'm sorry Bruce, there is nothing I can do, he's in the hands of child protective services now." He truly looked sorry.
Why Bruce did it, not even he knows, but… "Then I will take him home. I will adopt him."
Gordon looked up surprised written all over his features, his flaming red hair was always combed neatly but it was the first time Bruce started to notice the graying hairs. "No offense Wayne but you are a play boy what would you want with a little boy?"
"My parents were murdered in front of my eyes too James, I feel like I can sympathize with the kid."
Gordon nodded, "Very well. I will talk to the boy, he's yours. We'll finalize all of the paperwork tomorrow for now take him home Wayne, and good luck."
It was a hard task, very hard and thankfully he had Alfred to help him. He became a father at twenty and had to mold this boy into a man without somehow ruining him. The boy was so attention seeking he would do anything to get attention, when they took him to the store he would run around and do anything to have pair of eyes on him. He would spin around on chairs and do hand stands, in school he'd get into trouble for doing dangerous stunts and then out of no where he would fall into a deep depression. He loved attention but his parents his missed gravely. Bruce never really replaced them, but now he held a special place in his heart
Soon Dick became Robin, Batman's sidekick and partner in crime fighting. Soon, there was a new a new comer, Jason Todd. Batman found him at nine years old, a street fighting kid who was a complete rebel and never listened to anyone. His mother left them so shortly after he was born. She would have been a good mother had she not been so wrapped up in her own world. His father was murdered by Two Face, for his gang related background. Now Jason was left alone.
Another child was taken in by Bruce Wayne, who was now twenty – four.
Jason was hard to take care of, he was a serious ADHD child and had to take medication to help sort it out. He was abused and neglected and needed mental help. Dr. Leslie was always happy to take the child in and give him the mental help his parents were never able to give him.
He had some work to do, but he practiced and practiced so he could be Batman's sidekick also. Soon Dick had created a new name for himself, Nightwing. Still Batman's partner but now that left Robin open, Jason now held the name with pride. He was still rebellious and liked to do things his own way, but Batman threatened to take Robin away from him if his activities got him into any more danger. So he reluctantly calmed down when in the Robin persona.
Two years later as both boys began to grow more comfortably with each other and their new father they began growing with their night secrets. Nightwing was still adapting to the name, and Robin was now growing more independent and wasn't keen on the bright colors of the Robin suit. He began designing his own, with the help of Luscious Fox of course.
Bruce Wayne's business partner was murdered one night, some believe he owed money in the wrong places and couldn't pay it back after he fell from grace. That's where Bruce came in, he was trying to do a partnership trying to bring him back up but then he heard he had been murdered, leaving an eight year old behind. His wife long since died and he remarried to a woman named Dana, but the child hated her.
He would let Dick and Jason play with the child while they did their business affairs and then Jack Drake would take Timothy Drake home and the boys would always have so much fun together that Bruce felt it right if he took in the small eight year old.
He was small, much smaller than when Dick first came to them at eight. The boys were happy, Dana was happy for she called him a devil seed and Bruce was wondering since when did he get so many kids?
Tim wanted vengeance at such a young age, he was brilliant, level headed and well behaved. Comes naturally when he was rich most of his life and was given the best schools. He was quiet, much quieter then the other two boys. Especially since all three boys lost their parents they were all so somber and quiet but they opened up and finally started to smile. But Tim was different, Tim seemed unhappy all the time. He was always laughing and getting into trouble with Dick and Jason when he babysit that he was reluctant to take in the child, but he refused to give him up to child foster care.
He gave the child months to see if he improved, but he didn't. everyday he would wake up from Alfred, take his shower and eat breakfast rarely saying a word, when he came home from school he did his homework studied and then he would sit by a window and just sit there, as if waiting for something. It wasn't under Bruce showed Tim who he really was and what his brother's were. That black vengeance in Tim's heart began to decrease as he began his training.
After Bruce trained Tim, he soon became Robin. Jason hung up the Robin mantle and moved onto his own persona, Red X. There was a new Robin costume created for an entirely different Robin. This outfit was red and black with the cape yellow on the inside but black on the outside.
He finally began to open up, and even began smiling and laughing again. he was still quieter then the other two and more level headed, more of the brains and detective skills in him, but his crime fighting eased the pain of his father's murder. Crime fighting eased the pain for all of them.
And the years have passed on where the boys respected him as their father and they even looked at each other as brothers.
Years later, Bruce is now thirty – three. Dick is twenty one, Jason is eighteen and Tim is now fifteen. He couldn't believe how time flies, after all these years. These boys were everything to him and he'd be damned if he let anything happen to them.
"Mr. Wayne?" A soft voice called out. Cindy, a skinny brunette with small breasts but hips that could seduce any warm blooded man.
"Yes Miss Cane?" he called out pretending to not look at her. She knew what a heart throb she was, and moved in instantly on him. She first targeted the boys getting close to them before moving in on Bruce. It was a Christmas party and she asked to speak with him in private. Bruce having one too many drinks didn't think anything of it until they stepped into his office and she shoved him against the desk cupping him tenderly but with plenty pressure to send shivers down his spine. He pushed her back and explained that they were work partners, that this will not go on and walked out on her. Shortly there after she apologized.
If it weren't that she was the best damn secretary he's ever had he'd fire her in a heart beat. Sure Bruce Wayne was a playboy and slept with whoever he could get his hands on if he had the time but he never touched anyone he worked with. A couple of clients he dated and then somehow made it to bed but he never would touch anyone within Wayne Enterprises.
It was never a good idea, he was an acting playboy and hey the lay was always enjoyable, but enjoying that kind of lifestyle got tiring of course. The last thing he wanted to do is act like an airheaded, spoiled, womanizer, but he couldn't act too much like Batman, he had to be the complete opposite to protect his identity.
"Your youngest is here to see you." She called out softly pouting softly noticing he was no looking at her.
Bruce looked up and frowned looking at his watch, "He should be in school…. Send him in."
She nodded and turned around leaving the door open.
"Thanks Cindy, nice shirt by the way." Tim said walking towards the door.
He cringed at Cindy's laugh, nice girl, really, but Bruce knew when that was a flirting laugh and she was definitely getting ready to flirt with his fifteen year old son. Speaking of fifteen, he was going on sixteen in just a few days. He had a hell of a party to plan tonight.
"You like it? Between you and your brother's you are the only one to compliment me." There was that low sultry voice she used when she wanted something.
"Ah, well my brother's are dumb… I will see you later Cindy." Tim walked past the woman and straight into Bruce's office shutting it tight behind him. Scowling at the brunette.
"Are you supposed to be in school right now?" no time to laugh at his face, he had to scold the boy for cutting class.
He took one look at the older man and frowned, "I thought you knew today was that teacher conference thing."
And for once he looked surprised. He always remembered certain things like that. Or if he failed to remember, surely Alfred would have remembered.
"What brings you here?" He played it off by digging in his desk and began pulling out stacks of papers that still needed his signature for final approvals.
Tim slumped down in his chair and buried his head in his hands, "I know you're working and all, but … I need some advice on girls."
And that sure was surprising also. The boys never came to him with their girl troubles. He gave them the talk and that was it. Period. They never came back. Well… Dick came to him when he first began dating a girl named Starfire, an alien princess who was part of his old team, the Teen Titans. He said he used protection and he's not sure if it was even possible, but she could be pregnant. Oh Bruce was furious alright. Dick was only fifteen then and he spent the weekends over at the Teen Titans Tower and how his relationship started with that girl escaladed into something as adult as sex was enough to make any father's blood boil. He warned Dick, that he's too young to be in any sexual relationship. But, that sure didn't stop him.
Turned out the alien girl was simply having something along the lines of puberty, some kind of alien way they develop but it sure made Dick believe she was pregnant. It was strange but she kept throwing up and she was spotting. Tests after tests said no, she wasn't pregnant. Now they were positive. Starfire wasn't. They still are not sure if she can conceive with a human.
That relationship did not last long. He was now seeing Barbara, Commissioner Gordon's daughter. Bruce was again furious but only because Barbara was in college and Dick was still in high school when they hooked up. He trusted Dick enough to trust Barbara and Barbara was always so smart and mature, that he knew Dick was in good hands.
And now he couldn't be happier with the relationship. It was off and on, and when they were off he went back to Starfire. It was sick, almost as if the kid couldn't stay single. But it was apparent he was still young and not sure of who or what he wanted.
Currently he was single but very close to Babs, too close for just friendship.
"Bruce?" Tim asked frowning getting closer to his guardian's desk.
"What kind of advice?"
"I'm not sure… Steph is acting kind of weird… like avoiding me and blushing whenever she sees me. I don't know what to think… do girls every act this weird with you?"
"They always act weird with me, I'm Bruce Wayne, they cling to my every move. I move to the other side of the room and they are already waiting for me with their skirts hiked up."
"Oh and don't forget the fuck me red lipstick they always wear."
Bruce was not amused by his language, usually it was Jason but not from Tim, Tim who sat by the computer learning new things everyday and guided them along during missions when he was not feeling up to ass kicking.
He was going to be an even greater detective then Bruce that was for sure, but as for fighting, he still lacked, but it was all good and well, because his brains were far more valuable.
"Don't talk like that." he scolded his young ward.
"Sorry, but it's true, even your secretary was practically itching to get to me just to get to you."
He sighed and began writing up some paperwork, "I know, trust me I know. I would get so angry when I left you boys alone to go mingle with the guests at the parties and those scantily dressed women were hanging all over you guys. Makes me sick, why do women flaunter over young boys just to get me?"
"Women all work like that, well… a lot anyways, get to the children, once you warm them up your as good as gold with the bread bringer." Tim stood up at that moment, "well I should get back guess I've just been worried about her behavior but you don't have much to say… I'll get you get back to work. See ya Bruce." Tim said as he slinked away without so much as a pause to let Bruce speak either.
"damn…" He hated when the boys did this too him. They would come for advice and as nervous as they were they'd talk so much or he'd not talk at all and before the knew it, the boys would leave not getting an ounce of advice from him. It's not that he didn't want too, he just didn't know what to say, honestly what could he say?
He can't be for sure on what is going on with his girlfriend Stephanie, but he wanted to say just give it time and see what happens. He sighed and lifted his phone, "Cindy could you page me to Dick please?"
"Of course Mr. Wayne." She said patching him through on the intercom.
After two rings his oldest picked up his cell, "Pizza delivery, how can I help you?"
"Dick can you talk to Tim? I'm horrible at advice."
"Oh hey Bruce… yeah… I can do that, what's up?" it sounded as if someone was talking in the background.
"Who are you with?"
"Oh while Tim is out a couple of his friends came by to help with the party, mind if they stay the night?"
"No that's fine. Tim was saying something about Steph, she has been acting weird and he was asking me on advice… of all people." He placed the phone between his shoulder and ear and began typing away on his computer for a report he had to get filed in.
"Huh… Steph is here now, she said she has something special planned for Timmy after the party so I just left it to her to plan it, maybe that's why she's acting weird." A loud crash was heard, "Damn…. Bart what did I say about vibrating through the living room?"
"Sorry!" He heard the speedster shout.
Bruce just rolled his eyes, ever since the boys started leaving on the weekends or every other week to go be with the Teen Titans, they sure brought home some weird people sometimes. God how he hated it, but if he wanted to be a 'nice father' then he had to allow it. Oh and the Justice League held so much that Bruce hated also. Meta's were always coming into his town unannounced, and that ticked him off more then those money grubbing women. Dick's friends hardly ever came by, supergirl, kid flash, and all of those other ones hardly ever came by, but it seemed with Tim they were always coming by, now it was new Teen Titans, but same names, Kid Flash also goes by Impulse who is Bart, Superboy who is Conner Kent who likes to be called Kon, Cassie is Wonder girl and of course others who came by. They called themselves Young Justice also.
"Alright, well I will let you get back to your work now…" Bruce said getting ready to hang up, "See you tonight."
"Bye Bruce." And they hung up.
God today was such a boring day at the office… it was a wonder how he was able to focus during the day, especially since during the night he is a vigilante. How the boys were able to focus and get perfect grades was beyond him…
He sighed once more and shut his computer off. He looked at his watch and knew it was a tad early, but hey who was to mind?
"Cindy can you let any calls come in for the day know that I left for the day. It's Tim's birthday in a few days so I'll be working on his party." He said over the intercom.
"Not a problem Mr. Wayne. Oh! And Mr. Sampson called while you were with your son, he said Tim's birthday present is ready and will be delivered at the party during the evening." Her voice spoke over the intercom.
"Thank you Cindy, have a good day." He began to pick up his stuff as she said her goodbyes also and off he went for the day, instead of bothering Alfred, who was probably busy cleaning up after those boys he'd take a taxi home. He really debated on leaving the office early only to come home to a teenage ridden house with messy boys but… at least it was entertaining… somewhat.
X X X X X X X X X X
"Hey Alfred." Tim greeted as he set his bag down on the counter and sat at the breakfast nook grabbing an apple and taking a giant bite into it.
"Hello Master Timothy, where have you been all morning?" The butler asked putting dinner into the oven. Looks like enchiladas.
"I took my skateboard and went down to Wayne Tech."
"Good heavens sir, I could have dropped you off, whatever did you need with Master Bruce?" He asked standing up and began cleaning up the kitchen a bit.
"I just wanted to talk to him is all…."
"That's cause Timmy is a Daddy's boy, isn't that right Tim?" Jason teased sitting next to his younger brother, "Oh and you have some friends that want to have your company right now."
"Hello Master Jason." Alfred greeted and handed him some cookies.
"Thanks Alfred, have I ever told you that you are the best?"
"Only every second you see me young sir."
Tim just smiled and left the kitchen in search of his 'guests'. He rounded the corner and into the activity room where he saw his older brother Dick leaning against the couch and talking to someone. He snuck up close enough to see a brown blob of hair that was talking to Dick.
"Hey…" Tim greeted his brother.
Dick turned around and smiled, "Hey baby brother, finally, where did you go run the marathon? You have guests chum!"
Chum… Bruce calls Dick chum all the time, he must have gotten used to it because he started calling him chum now.
In that second two heads popped up from behind the couch, Bart and Kon. "Hey guys! what are you doing here?" Tim asked smiling wide and walked over to the chair across from the couch and taking a seat.
"We wanted to be here early for your birthday party!" Bart said jumping slightly on the couch.
"Oh… well that's cool… considering my party isn't for like two days."
"Hey your girl was in your room earlier, but she took off just moments before you got here."
"What? Steph was here and didn't wait for me?" Tim pouted staring at his older brother.
"Yeah I think she was doing something special for you for your party and then left, anyways whatever you think is wrong with her, I wouldn't worry about it because she obviously likes you enough to do something special for your party."
"Dad told you about me coming to him?"
Dick just nodded and began walking away, "Anyways I'm heading out for a bit, I'll be back before dinner. See you twerps."
Kon stuck his tongue out at him as he walked away and then turned to Tim, "Well Bart said he can stay for dinner, but his Aunt wants him home by nine tonight so it's just me, is it cool if I spend the night?"
Tim nodded, "Sure, that's cool… I'll ask Bruce when he gets home. So you guys want to go play some video games before dinner is ready?"
Before he could finish blinking both boys were gone and already into the other room grabbing games and the console. Tim just laughed and helped them set up and before they knew it they were playing sniper shooter video games.
After a half an hour of playing video games Bruce Wayne came into the mansion and was happy to see the boys staying out of trouble. He greeted them and as soon as he did Alfred announced it was dinner time. At that time Dick finally returned home and joined the rest for dinner.
It was a quiet dinner, until Bart began eating everything in sight and kept apologizing about his fast metabolism. And then Kon would bonk him over the head telling him to quit being such a pig. Tim would just laugh and then Jason and Dick got into an argument about who stole who's pants. Luckily Tim was much smaller then the two boys.
Dick was tall and lean perfect for a gymnast's body, Jason was tall and stocky with strong muscles that were more pronounced than Dick's but perfect for a street fighter. Tim was short, lean, muscular and athletic.
Finally after an eventful dinner Bart looked at the time and sighed, "whelp, time for me to go home, it's 8:59…"
"So I'll see you at my party Bart?" Tim asked walking the young speedster to the door.
"Of course! Now you and Superboy behave yourselves, I would have stayed but my Aunt wants me to watch a movie with them and it starts at 9pm. Gotta go! See you guys!" And within a blink of their eyes Impulse was gone.
"Well Masters it is time I retire for the night, will you be heading out Master Bruce?"
"For a bit, Dick and Jason want to go so they will be going with me. Tim, Kon you guys go to bed you have school." With that said the three boys were gone and already heading down to the Batcave.
"Why does everyone think you have school tomorrow Tim?" Kon asked heading upstairs towards Tim's room.
"I don't know… I've told them time after time… Oh well, let's go to bed already I'm pooped!" Robin laughed heading upstairs after Superboy.
It didn't take them long, especially after such a long and exciting day to fall asleep into a dreamless sleep. Kon took the couch that was set up in the boy wonder's room and of course Tim kept his own bed. It was comfortable enough and both fell into a deep sleep.
Well here is the first chapter! It's a prologue into their lives and the beginning of a love between Tim and Steph, but a new love morphs with Robin and Superboy keep reading guys this story will get better!