This is based on an RP with my friend JASONTODDLOVER. She's been a great help with creating these interesting story ideas and playing several RP roles helps in understanding the characters that we love so much. And we have a lot of fun. In this world we have created, the brothers are all related, and they get along more than they fight. This is Earth 14, in the Multiverse. This story takes place three months after Brothers, Portraits and Messages.
A/N: After weeks of interruptions, illnesses, and other crises, plus having to handle a succubus determined to take Tim's life force, the Bat Family finally gets a vacation, to the Bahamas, but is it the trip of their dreams? This is an edited tamed down version from the original.
Serpent in Paradise
Part 1
Bruce went into Tim's current hospital room and found him asleep. Dick was sitting in a chair keeping an eye on his brother from his most recent ordeal. Taking care of that Succubus wasn't pretty. 'I hope we never have to go through something like that again. We cut it way too close,' Bruce thought. "How is he?"
"Well, I don't know. He seems to be holding up well, but we all know he's stressing on the inside. I hope he feels better tomorrow." Dick looked back at his brother with a worried look on his face.
"He's been through a great deal," Bruce said. "I learned that Adriana had been killed two years ago. Her uncle died soon after that under mysterious circumstances."
"Damn, I guess that was that succubus's doing."
"Adriana probably still had feelings for Tim when she was killed. Knowing that, that Succubus found a way to reach Tim. A Succubus not only will charm a person, they will take on the personality of that person and those person's feelings toward someone. Tim is lucky that she did not find him two years ago. We might not have been able to save him."
Dick didn't want to think about that. 'I would have lost a brother by blood I didn't know about.'
"Let's let him sleep," Bruce suggested. "The more rest he can get the faster he will recover. The hospital is going to have a hard time explaining that creature to the police."
"Yeah, how do you explain a succubus laying dead with its heart cut out," Dick said. It was more of a statement than a question.
"Probably as well as a madman like the Joker running around," Bruce replied. "They'll think of something. In the mean time, how do we safeguard Tim? He seems to be targeted lately. And I don't like it."
Dick stared at Bruce and knew he wouldn't like Dick's answer. He didn't want to say it. 'Tim is happy as Red Robin and I'm not going to destroy my brother's happiness.' he thought. "Homeschool? You can't background check every child there without a perfectly good reason. Oh...wait...you can and you probably have."
"Alfred overheard early on Tim mentioning to that false Ariana about testing out," Bruce said. "He is 16 but his GPA has always been that of a college level student, even when he was 13. I should have realized that going back to High School isn't a challenge for him."
"Well, we could ask if he wants to test out," Dick said.
"He did test out his sophomore year. He could very well do it again for his final year. He would be graduating early."
"Sounds like a great idea."
"We could check the schedule for early testing and if Tim meets their requirements he could test. I only sent him back to high school because he dropped out on my account. I can see that I was wrong in sending him back where he obviously isn't happy or challenged."
"Don't blame yourself," Dick said. "He was trying to make you happy."
"Yes, he has tried to please everyone but himself. I think it's time he deserves a little something for him."
"He needs a vacation," Dick concurred.
"And we were planning on one before all this happened with Black Mask and that Creature," Bruce said with distain. "We better plan one quick before anything else happens."
"That's true. We need everyone's opinions though. No, on second thought let's have Tim choose."
"That is a great idea. We can ask him later. Let's go check with Jason and Sasha. Perhaps they might have some ideas."
"Alright, Bruce."
Dick and Bruce went next door to check on Jason and Sasha. Damian was also with them, despite the hospital's policy that no one under 12 was allowed in patient rooms. Bruce saw the sad look on both their faces and perhaps the news he came to discuss with them might also be good for his second son and his fiancé after losing their first unborn child.
Bruce could not help recall how it happened. 'I remember following Alfred and the police into the media room. The place looked like a bloodbath. A creature that appeared to be a girl about 16 years old that looked like Ariana was lying up against the wall, her throat was slashed along with her belly. Jason was holding Sasha and crying. He was refusing to let go of her. Dr. Leslie Tompkins was there, trying to coax Jason. Alfred must have called her.'
"We need to get her stabilized," Dr. Leslie stated, trying to talk to a very distraught Jason into letting go of Sasha.
"Jason . . . Son . . . What happened," Bruce asked.
"No, no, no," Jason had tears streaming down his face.
Bruce knelt down. Sasha was unconscious. "Please, tell me what happened."
"She . . . she . . . The baby . . ." Jason couldn't get the words out. He held her closer.
Bruce noticed the blood on her legs. 'She miscarried,' he frowned. "Oh Jason . . ." Tears formed in Bruce's eyes. "Leslie needs to take her, get her stabilized. I don't think you want to lose her, too."
Jason nodded slowly, letting the paramedics take Sasha from his arms.
'And that wasn't the end of it. The thing came back and attacked Tim in the hospital,' Bruce thought, bringing those memories into the forefront of his mind.
"Oh . . . I found you," the Succubus smiled and she went over to place a hand on Tim's face. Tim was in a comma and did not respond at first. "I missed you Timmy," The Succubus leaned down to kiss him. "Now we can finally be together." The Succubus trailed her hand down Tim's chest. "You love me . . . right Tim?" The Succubus kissed his neck then moved her hand to rub lower down.
The strong sent of strawberries waft toward Tim's nose. Tim let out a whimper as his body responded to her touch. 'I shouldn't be responding. She's bringing me out of my comma somehow.'
"I'll take care of this for you," The Succubus gave him a squeeze.
'No . . .' Tim's breath was quickening. ' . . . Why isn't anyone coming in . . . Please don't . . .'
"Pennyworth, we need to hurry," Damian called the butler by his last name letting him know the urgency of the situation.
'She's playing with me . . . trying to bring me to . . . Trying to bring on that explosion of light . . . She's trying to draw out my energy . . . It's all I can do to hang on,' Tim did his best to hold back. He knew if he couldn't, it would be the end of him. He would fade from existence.
The Succubus could tell that her prey was not responding in the way she wanted. "No, this will not do. I need every drop. And I know how to get it." She pulled off Tim and removed her scrubs. She got into position and lowered herself down.
"Ahhhhhh," Tim cried out. "I don't know how much longer I can hold back. It's taking every ounce of strength I have.'
The Succubus wiggled her hips slightly. "Come on Tim." She started bouncing up and down. "You can do better than that."
'I . . . Can't . . . Hold . . . Out . . .' Tim tried to keep from crying out again, but it was becoming too much. "Ahhhhhhhhh!"
"Mmmm . . . yes," The Succubus cooed. "Oh yes."
'My . . . My energy . . . Is . . . Almost . . . Gone . . . Just . . . Want . . . To . . . Sleep . . . ' Tim's mind was blanking out.
"Don't fall asleep now. You'll miss the fun part. We're almost there." The Succubus leaned back down to kiss Tim, slipping her tongue into Tim's mouth. The scent of strawberries was luring him once more into responding. The Succubus started to draw out the last of Tim's life force until she was rudely interrupted.
"GET OFF OF HIM!" Bruce growled, despite the fact that he did not have a cowl on. Batman was coming out.
She snapped her head up to see Bruce and Dick standing in the doorway. She eyed the younger man, licking her lips. Maybe she could draw him in next, but not before she was done with feeding on this particular prey.
"No," she laughed. "I like being right here. You should join me."
"You will never get me to join with you," Bruce said, mistaking the Succubus' intended victim.
"Join me," She gave off the scent of peaches to draw in the younger man. "Or I'll kill him." She gripped Tim's hair and pulled his head up, her claws right at his throat.
Dick started to move forward, but was blocked by Bruce's arm.
"Dick . . . Get out of here . . . Now," Bruce growled, broaching no argument. Bruce was prepared to restrain Dick if he had to.
Dick didn't argue. His father's pull was stronger than any enticing scent. He walked away only to see Damian and Alfred rushing over and standing next to Bruce.
"Master Bruce . . . Stand back, please," Alfred lifted the mirror so it pointed in the direction of the Succubus. He tried to keep the mirror facing her to draw her attention.
Tim could tell her scent had changed. It smelled of death.
"Father, here, stab her with this," Damian handed his father a dagger. "It has been blessed."
Bruce grabbed the knife and slowly moved into the room, keeping his eyes on the woman.
The Succubus eyed the dagger in the older man's hands. It gave her a strange feeling. She crouched down like a cat, keeping Tim between her and the man with the dagger.
"Block the door!" Bruce ordered.
"Excuse me Alfred. I got this," Damian watched as she came closer, her eyes darting around for a possible escape route. He steadied himself and then tossed the holy water on her.
"AHHHHHHHH!" The holy water burned. 'That little child got me! I'll kill him!' The holy water seeped into the Succubus' skin like acid and she fell to her knees.
Bruce didn't usually kill, but this thing wasn't human. He waited for an opening.
Alfred brought the mirror closer. The Succubus stared at her reflection, caught in it's own trap. 'What was I doing again? I'm so beautiful.' The Succubus lifted her hand to touch at the mirror.
Bruce saw his opening and took it. He moved behind her while she was distracted and plunged the knife deep into the left side of her back, right where her heart should be. The Succubus arched back then stilled. Her chest exploded with pain and her heart burst forth and crumbled to dust.
Bruce wiped the images from his mind. It was over. Now what they needed was to forget. And the best way to do that was a distraction from their troubles.
"Jason, Sasha," Bruce started to speak.
"How is Tim?" Sasha immediately questioned interrupting Bruce's train of thought. "He was so distraught earlier."
"He's sleeping now," Dick answered.
"That's good. That thing did a number on him. I should have killed her myself. I thought I had. If only . . ."
"Don't blame yourself, Sasha," Jason interrupted her dark thoughts. "That thing is gone. We shouldn't dwell on it."
"We came to discuss going on a family vacation and allowing Tim to choose the location," Bruce stated before any other thoughts of that thing interfered with the mood he was trying to set, a hopeful one.
Jason just shrugged, somewhat indifferent." As long as we get away from this cold weather."
"Well, where would you want to go?"
"Bahamas? Jamaica? A place with no cold weather at all."
"Dick? What is you opinion?"
"It doesn't matter, just away from this place so we can get everything out of our minds."
"Damian?"
"-tt-" Damian didn't care, but he secretly agreed with Grayson.
As the five of them were discussing plans, Tim's dream about Ariana came back. Tim saw her the way he remembered her at fourteen, dark flowing hair, her body enticing him, and the strong smell of strawberries. They were back in his bedroom at the Manor and he started kissing her deeply. She ran her hands all over his body, then lead him to the bed. He lay down and she climbed on top of him and exposed herself, bringing Tim along with her. The dream of their lovemaking was intense and Tim couldn't seem to get enough of her. Then the images change and Tim suddenly felt trapped. Ariana changed, shaping into something malevolent and evil. Her hair was no longer soft and her eyes became cold as flint. Claws as sharp as razors appeared, raking his skin. She latched onto him, sucking him dry, draining his energy, his life force. Tim tried to get her off, but couldn't. He struggled harder, twisting and turning. "NO! GET! OFF! AAAAAAHH NOOOOOOOOOOO!"
"Oh no, that's Tim!" Dick exclaimed.
Continues with Part 2
