All It Takes is One Moment
TonaBabino
Summary:
It takes a cat to rufflle some feathers. Tim Drake learns this after he loses his parents and is taken in by Selina Kyle. It begins his journey to adult hood, with the friendship of certain bird brains and the trials of being a thief's son.
Notes:
Welp. Another story! Been plotting this one..not fully written but shall start it! Wheeeeee. The first chapter is a bit jumpy but really just needed to do some set up. Hopefully it's okay!
Also I do not own anything belonging to DC.
Also basically set when Tim is 11 years old and Jason is is 13. Jay is already Robin as well at this point.
Enjoy : )
Chapter 1
It started out as a usual rainy day in Gotham. The clouds were dreary and depressing. It matched Tim's mood perfectly.
It was two weeks since his parents had passed. They had been on one of their many trips and had been attacked. For once Tim had been glad to have been left behind. But he missed them terribly. He had been staying at an orphanage owned by the Wayne Foundation. It was nice and quaint, but it wasn't home.
The rain matched his memory, of the day he found out.
He remembers the night clearly. It had been down pouring in Gotham when the maid had returned. She was followed by a burly office with a name Tim Drake could not recall afterwards. The officer explained awkwardly that on their trip, both his parents had been killed.
Murdered.
'Batman's been working on the case helping us put the killer behind bars.' The officer was saying. But Tim couldn't hear straight. Tim couldn't see straight. And with one last look at the maid, he fainted.
But Batman would save him right?
'Timothy. There's a lady here to see you.' The voice belonged to Anne or Angela, he couldn't recall, but she worked there. He followed her out and found himself facing an elegant woman.
She was tall and slim with olive skin and dark hair pulled back. She wore a deep green dress that matched her emerald eyes.
'Hello there Timothy. My name is Virginia Randall. I knew your dear mother. And when I heard the news I knew I just had to help out.'
'Okay.' Tim said slowly. Angela turned to him then.
'She agreed to take you in Tim. You can have a home now!' He gulped, he knew with his surname someone would pluck him but it still unnerved him. But he smiled gracefully as he went to gather his belongings. He then followed Virginia to his soon to be new home.
Virginia lived a large penthouse. It was sparse for furniture but was bright with large windows and lovely plants throughout the house. Tim took over her guest room and had a large dresser awaiting for him but also a walk in closet.
It took a few days for Tim to begin to adjust to his surroundings. The social worker visited him after the first week and remarked how reasonably well situated he had become.
But Tim knew it was all he had so he carried on. Virginia meanwhile was sickly sweet, putting out all the stops to Make Tim comfortable at her home. It was about the same size as the Drake home. She was well off but not to the extent of Bruce Wayne. She has one maid and one chef.
Tim is still not sure if he can call it home however. Not yet.
From there they settled into a routine. Virginia ran several business including a home for prisoners of war and child soldiers overseas. She warned Tim she would often be gone for business trips. But that was okay. He was used to that.
He had been staying with her now for almost a full week. It was only after that he knew it was most likely for good and took his first jaunt outside at night. Tim scaled the fire escape easily. It wasn't as easy as home with going out late with Virginia now. But he was able to sneak out with his camera on her trips. Her assistant Brad often stayed there during those trips as Tim was still quite young. But some nights he had "business " to attend to and left after dinner. Tim found his night was clear of fog. He was glad it was late August and the humidity was finally leaving Gotham.
He dropped down into the alley. This should have led him to a drop off spot for a local drug ring growing.
He was thankful Virginia respected his privacy so she never saw his hidden cork board plotting the routes with red thread and photos he had taken. Photos of Batman and Robin. He could avoid thinking of his parents, his home, if he focused on this. Them. The Dynamic Duo.
Chewing his lip he ducked behind a nearby dumpster. They were late. By his calculations the drug ring was moving that way. The ones running the show seemed to be increasing drop spots and meeting places further east and exactly right where he was.
'So you're pretty small for an undercover.' Tim jumped and spun around. There in his brightly coloured uniform was none other then the boy wonder.
'You should probably get going though.' Robin muttered as footsteps sounded behind them.
He calmly wrapped one arm around Tim's waist. He was by far more of a thicker build then the previous Robin had been. Not as slim and graceful as the first. This Robin was sturdy and had more strength. More brutality. But underneath was kindness Tim knew.
He gave a small squeak as Robin drew his grapple and fired it. Tim was barely given a moment of hesitation before Robin took flight. Landing near a dumpster two blocks away. Tim stumbled almost into it. With a small smile Robin waved and took off back to the drop off spot. Tim stood there in awe.
A Few Weeks Later
'B I just don't get it. Everything according to your research shows her foundation to be solid.' Jason said pulling his mask off. It was three in the morning but thankfully summer had rolled in and he had no more classes.
'Dick sent me some interesting tips, regarding the group we took down almost a month ago. Those men were working for a man named Clyde Nowe. Nowe owns a shipment company that is supposed to bring import for several restaurants into Bludhaven. Dick had tracked him and found he had several body parts alluding to selling them on the black market.' Bruce said, his cowl lowered now.
Jason made a face, 'Gnarly.'
Bruce ignored him and went on, 'During his investigations it was found that several bodies belonged to survivors from a civil war in Africa that were being housed by a home run by Virginia Randall. It's no coincidence.' Bruce finished. Jason nodded and flicked a couple of articles across the screen. He paused at one and gave a small gasp.
'What is it?' Bruce asked. He glanced at the newspaper article and gave a small frown.
'I know that kid.' Jason said.
'This may complicate things sir?' Alfred said sliding beside Jason, plate of treats in hand. Jason eagerly accepted while Bruce merely tilted his head to one side.
'I don't think so, but we will see.'
Tim found a routine settling in with Virginia. She sat with him often for breakfast and dinner. He was excused from any sort of classwork upcoming Virginia claimed was not good for grief at such a time. Tim was grateful for that as he could only really focus on one thing it seemed at a time now. He would sneak out every couple of evenings to catch a glimpse of the dark knight only to have a handful of photos. It seemed even Batman was playing it low recently.
During breakfast Tim was barely able to keep his eyes open but during the evening they shared pleasant small talk. One dinner he finally asked a question that had been on his mind for some time.
'What was my mother like when you knew her? You said you knew her.' Tim blurted. Virginia smiled.
'I knew your mother from school. We went to the same prep school. Oh she was such a teachers pet. All prim and proper. I had to practically drag her to go to anything social.' Virginia said laughing at the memory.
'Did you know my father?'
'Not as well. He had a bit of a rebellious streak in him I have to say that made them a good "opposites attract" couple.' she replied smiling softly.
Brad suddenly appeared to her right, 'Ma'am I need to a have a quick word.' Virginia nodded laying her napkin down and excused herself. She returned a smile gracing her lips again and dinner carried on. It would be the following night that Tim's luck ran out again.
He was doing his usual route that he had taken up the past couple of weeks with Virginia, and running into the new boy wonder. Tim had become rather intrigued so he mapped out Robin's solo patrol now solely. So later that night, Virginia away and Brad running late night errands, Tim struck out into the Gotham night. He ended up in a random alley he didn't really look deeply into where. He spotted a closed theatre but before he could really thinking more voices were heard heading down the alley. he scurried into the nearest dumpster. He used a nearby broken piece of brick barely managing to hold it upwards to keep the lid from slamming on him.
'Look we got only a couple more days till the ship gets in. We gotta know if he's gonna pay the rest up front It's that or he doesn't get the kids.' The voice belonged to Brad. The other to a large thug with greasy hair and a goatee. Tim switched his camera to have no flash and hoped the night mode worked well.
'Did you hear something?' Brad said turning towards the dumpster. Tim sucked in his breath and held it.
The other man cursed in another language and Brad turned back to him, 'Look bub I ain't speaking anything other then American and we're gonna get you to call you boss and pay up in American bills right now or I'm gonna put a bullet in your throat okay. Or maybe and ear, so you got me pal?'
The other man nodded and pulled out a phone. Several minutes of him speaking another language he hung up and spoke to Brad.
'Transfer done.'
'Good boy.' Brad said patting his "friend" on the arm as he silently drew a gun from his back pocket. He quickly fired into the man's temple. Brad plucked the phone from the man's hand and left whistling as he went.
Tim finally began to breath normally when he shifted after a few minutes. However when he did the brick was knocked down and the lid slammed shut on him. Tim shouted in shock and slammed his palms against the lid. He began to panic when he didn't have the strength to lift it. Tears streamed down his face and he clutched his camera to his chest. Another moment passed when suddenly, the lid lifted.
'I knew a heard a voice!'
Tim looked up, blinking away tears to see none other then Robin. Next to the boy wonder was another vigilante. Tim had not seen the man in person until now but recognised him easily from media. Also the blue and black shone distinctly against the Gotham shades of black and grey. It was Nightwing.
'Here.' Nightwing said lifting Tim easily as Robin held the lid. Tim's feet hit the ground and he knees buckled.
'Brad!' He babbled, 'Brad and another guy, the dead body! They were making a deal, about kids and a ship!'
Robin and Nightwing shared a look, 'Hey calm down.' Nightwing said, 'What's your name?'
'Tim..Tim..'
'Listen did you hear what happened to the man who was killed?' Nightwing pressed. Tim knew he was steering him out of eyesight of the body. GCPD had yet to arrive.
'I heard and saw. The man's name is Brad! He works for Virginia Randall!' Tim stammered. Then he remembered. He held out his camera.
'I took a photo of them before...before he shot him. Take...take it!' Tim said forcing his camera into Robin's hands. The gloves brushed his own shaking hand. Robin nodded and slung it across his neck. He then unclasped his cape and flung it over the smaller boy. Nightwing frowned but Robin quickly added, 'Let's get him out of hear so they don't confiscate his camera from us.'
Nightwing nodded and turned to call the police in. Robin pulled out his grapple and held out his hand to Tim, 'We'll stop them.' he said, 'just hang on for now.'
Robin took him to the nearest rooftop and they helped him down to street level. Nightwing stayed above seemingly communicating no doubt to the bat himself, while Robin walked him to the subway station for him.
'Stop getting into to trouble.' Robin grumbled. Tim gave a small smile.
'I just hope Brad is stopped, I can't wait to tell Virginia, I never liked that guy anyways!' Tim said. Robin gave a strained smile.
'I'll get this back to you some point.' Robin said absently waving the camera.
'We'll probably meet again.' Tim said, 'Better now!' Robin called out as Tim ducked inside and Robin flew off into the night. All in all Tim was ready for his bed. However when he reached his home he easily unlocked the door, not bothering sneaking in. What he found was not a distressed Virginia. She was fully dressed with Brad on her right and a larger man holding some sort of automatic weapon on her left.
'Dear Timothy. I see you had an accident.' Virginia said, 'like you fell, into a dumpster perhaps?'
Tim froze, 'Virginia?' he stammered.
'Brad saw you dear hiding and taking photos. Now where did you precious camera go?' Virginia said striding forward, a hand gun now twirling in her manicured fingertips.
Tim gulped, 'I...I lost it-'
'Don't bullshit me.' She hissed snatching his arm and dragging him towards the dining area, 'We're gonna put you with the rest until you fess up.' She slammed him into the ground. He hit the nearest chair and gave a cry. Brad came closer and Tim kicked him hard in the ankle.
'Brat!' Brad snarled. He pinned Tim down holding his arms to his side and forcing Tim to slide to the floor as Virginia returned a rag smelling strongly like chemicals was pressed to Tim's face. And with that everything went black.
'These photos indicated Brad indeed meet with the dealer Toan and most likely killed him.' Batman said back in the cave.
'So what did you find on your route?' Dick asked. His mask now off.
'That the shipment is more of a transfer. She is moving the kids but also receiving for her program.' Batman said, 'She has it so that actual children of war will be arriving in three days, However what we know, is that the ship taking the other children, back to the Congo is arriving tonight. Those Children will then be sold into either slavery and their organs taken.'
'When are we leaving?' Jason asked slipping his mask on again.
'Soon.' Batman said, his cowl back in his place.
Soon was only forty minutes later. Nightwing and Batman were ground level as they easily and silently took out the guards near one exit of the ship. Meanwhile Robin stayed hidden. He watched as a van pulled up, and three armed men came out, the back was opened and they began to haul injured or unconscious children and teens out. Another van then pulled up and Virginia herself stepped out of the passenger seat, Brad of the drivers. Brad and another man began unloading from that van, large crates.
They were big enough to hid bodies of children inside to cross the ocean. It made Robin's blood boil.
'B, they're here.' He whispered into his comm.
'Stay put, we're taken out the one's inside, coming now.'
It was only three seconds until familiar smoke bombs went off. By this point mot of the kids were still near the truck they came on. There was yelling and Robin caught sight of a streak of movement in blue. Nightwing's limbs moved with grace as he kicked guns out of hands and smashed his sticks against faces. Batman and Nightwing easily took the crew down and Robin saw his cue. He leaped down having to roll and take out one guy buy the ankles to get to his target. He made it to the truck, 'Get those that are out back inside, then climb in!' He pulled one small girl and laid her back into the truck as the other awake children followed suit. Once loaded guns began to be fired from behind him.
'There's more!' he yelled. More boys were rushing towards them. Batman easily knocked the closest down with his batarangs. Nightwing swung around a pole high kicking another.
Robin meanwhile easily hot wired the truck and took off. One goon leaped out of the way of his vehicle as he pressed his comm.
'Contact the police. Victims are secure and we've totally got them taken down.'
'The GCPD are most certainly, or rather totally on their way, estimated time of arrival will be eight minutes.' came the crisp British reply.
'Snarky, snarky.' Robin muttered.
When Tim came to he was at the nearest hospital. He sat up as a nurse passed his room, he shared it with two other teens.
'Ah, Mr...Mr Drake! Please be careful sitting up! You'll be a little dizzy from the chloroform they used but otherwise you will be fine. I shall let the commissioner know you're up.' She said briskly then took off. Tim groaned laying back on his pillow. Of all the things to happen like this, it had to be him.
Did this happen to other kids?
He soon heard more footsteps and gingerly sat up again, this time it was a doctor and Commissioner Gordon.
'Hello there lad.' Gordon said, 'I guess the nurse explained to you of your injuries.'
Tim nodded, 'What happens to Virginia?' he asked.
'Well sadly she'll be facing jail time.' Gordon said.
'And what about me?' Tim asked.
Gordon licked his lips nervously, 'Well I know it's been hard for you Tim, but you'll go back into the system. Tomorrow a social worker will retrieve your things. Then they'll take you to the orphanage until a new family can be found.'
Tim groaned. not again!
Daylight came far to fast for Tim. The hospital deemed his fine and he left with a petite woman named Sarah. They drove without a word passed between them back to the orphanage he had been at prior to Virginia. He settled in for the night. Everyday for the following four days he asked Sarah when he saw her about his things. Finally on the night before day five he made up his mind. He thought it would be difficult slipping pass security but it was easy. Or maybe it just came natural to Tim. He soon found himself back at the penthouse. he fished in the pockets of his now torn up jeans, and found his key.
When Tim reached his room he saw it was in disarray. Virginia must have torn through it to find the camera. His dresser drawers were pulled out, clothing across the floor and bed. Note books and novels torn apart. The worst however was his wall. She had wrecked his cork board and ripped up most of his photos. He fell to his knees. Tears prickled his eyes. He cried when the funerals happened and when he said good bye to the maid, and now. Now it was a wave of tears that flooded and he couldn't stop himself.
Until he heard a sound a creaking, and barely there foot steps. He spun around, book bag in hand and gasped at the intruder.
'Well, this isn't what I was signed up for.' the woman said. She wore a tight fitting black body suit with a slim belt that held her whip and a small pouch or two. Her eyes were hidden behind goggles and hair hidden under the hood. Although she wore heels they barely made a sound. Her lips a ruby red.
It was Catwoman.
