Dick groggily opened his eyes. Jason and Barbara were arguing by his head, and he looked around. The last place he'd expected to wake up in was the medical area, yet here he was.
"I'm surprised you didn't leave me in the street, Jay," Dick admitted as he sat up carefully. Barbara stopped him.
"Don't strain yourself," she warned.
"It was tempting," Jason assured him.
"I assumed as much."
"So," he sat on the edge of Dick's bed, "you wanna share any details about how you ended up bleeding in the street?"
"Joker sent Deadshot and some goons after Ivy. They caught me coming off the bridge as you went on. They attacked me, I escaped, I made it that far before passing out," Dick sighed, running his hand through his hair.
"Any particular reason they were after you, or just pure malice?" Jason smirked.
"And it didn't look like you bandaged yourself," Barbara added.
"They were after me because of Harley, and Harley bandaged it," Dick said calmly.
"Uh huh," Jason nodded, "and that's how you wanna leave the story?"
"She broke it off. We're done. So you don't have to worry about that anymore," Dick looked down at his hands. He pretended it didn't hurt. It was easier that way.
"So Deadshot nearly killed you on the Joker's orders for what we can only assume has to do with you being with Harley," Barbara said, "yet your little puppy dog eyes say that's not what you're sad about." She crossed her arms as she stared at him.
"I'm not sad. I'm fine Babs, really," he laughed.
"Were you always such a liar?" Jason taunted.
"I used to be able to get away with it more," he smiled a little.
"Or we just let you get away with it more," Barbara offered.
"True," Dick chuckled. "So when's the big bad bat going to descend on me?"
"Probably pretty soon." Jason stretched. He was wearing his mask instead of his helmet. "At least he won't be yelling at me anymore."
"Yeah I'll probably be his favorite this week," Dick rubbed his head. "I'm sorry Jay."
"I think Damian'll be his favorite this week. He's the one who found you."
"My favorite, maybe," Dick smiled a little. Bruce strode into the room and glared at Dick.
"What happened?" he demanded.
"Short version: Joker sent Deadshot and his goons to kill Ivy for being a traitor. Apparently I'm on the hit list as well because I was sleeping with Harley Quinn, but it's okay because she broke up with me, so..." Dick looked down. "So sorry I got stabbed, and sorry I've missed so many damn patrols," he sighed.
"So what, you getting stabbed is miraculously going to make you stop slacking off?"
"Yeah, I guess. I'll be up and moving in a few hours, and back to regular patrol schedule. I'll even volunteer my next three break days to Jason, and catch some sleep on the end of my supply shifts, sound fair?" Dick looked up at Bruce, his jaw set.
"I'm not going to drop it," he warned. "You were nearly killed."
"Yeah, surprise surprise," Dick sighed.
"What happened?" he demanded again.
"I told you! They ran me down until I couldn't anymore, and then she left me. So problem solved," Dick snapped, sitting up. He immediately regretted it, his jaw tightening as pain shot from the wound in his side.
"You're not saying it like a problem was solved. You're saying it like you're trying to get us to stop asking questions, so we'll leave you alone."
"It could be both," Dick muttered, lying back carefully. Barbara smoothed his blanket over his legs.
"Oh come on Dickie Bird," Jason lounged across the empty space of his bed, "you can tell us. We're big kids; we can handle it."
"I fell for her, and she dumped me," Dick said bluntly.
"Harsh," Jason groaned.
"Why was Deadshot involved?" Bruce asked; he ran his hand across his jaw below his cowl.
"Joker sent him after Ivy. He got me," Dick sighed. "Must be the Joker's lackey."
"Because?" he pried.
"Because she was sleeping with me- why are you all acting like this!?" He demanded, getting angrier at their persistence. "I was screwing Harley Quinn, the Joker got pissed about it, so he sent Deadshot to kill me. As he was about to finish me off, Harley came and stopped him, but she told me it was over in the process. Called me out for using her, told me that that was what she always was to me. All sorts of things that weren't true. Then she left." Dick stood carefully, waving Barbara away when she tried to help, and he looked up at Bruce, squaring his shoulders. "Enough of the story for you?" he asked, his jaw set. "Since you're always so forthcoming with us."
"I'm not the one whose secrets nearly got them killed," Bruce reminded him. "So while I'm sorry if her ending it hurt you, it's for the best." Jason winced sympathetically behind Bruce's back for Dick.
"Like your secrets never come back to haunt you, Batman," Dick snapped angrily, pushing past him and walking out of the cubicle. He grabbed his jacket along the way.
"Nightwing!" Barbara cried, chasing after him. "You know you're just going to make it worse with him." She slowed her pace to walk beside him.
"I don't care anymore," Dick muttered, gingerly touching his side. The bandages were tight around his waist, and he bit his lip as he glanced at Barbara. "If he wasn't such a hypocrite nowadays, maybe I wouldn't have a problem."
"Maybe if she hadn't hurt you and turned you away, you wouldn't have such a problem with him," she countered.
"Oh please, I can handle a bad break up, thanks," Dick muttered.
"Well then I won't be nice to you. If you want to be mad at the world, go ahead." She stepped around him, walking ahead.
"Barbara…" Dick sighed quietly, letting her go. She turned and walked backward in front of him.
"Let me know when you're ready to stop snapping and ready to talk."
"I know, I'm sorry," Dick sighed. "I'm just… this is all pretty fresh, and those jackasses just kept pressing me, wanting me to say it… I'm sorry." He glanced at her and then looked up, rubbing his eyes. "Thank you."
"Yeah well you're going to have to say it eventually, and they're just not patient." She shrugged. "You did want to be ready for patrol again," she reminded him.
"I didn't want to be ready to let her go, though," he looked down. "Patrol was the way to go. I need to hit something."
"And rip your stitches out? I don't think so." Barbara shook her head. "You're going to have to work this out the hard way."
"What do you suggest?" he asked quietly. Barbara stopped and smiled.
"I can't just offer a magic fix, Dick. I'm not a therapist."
"Thanks," Dick frowned, looking down sadly. "I'll just head up to my room for some rest. See you at shift change." He walked to the elevator and watched Barbara as the doors closed.
Joker opened his eyes.
"Harley?" He coughed, raising a hand to touch the bandage on his head. Harley lifted her head up from where she was curled up next to him. She blinked her eyes open, realizing she must have dozed off.
"Puddin?"
"What... What happened?" Joker glanced at her and then sat up furiously. "Crane! That son of a bitch-" Harley grabbed his shoulder.
"Don't… be mad at him. And be careful." She glanced at the bandaging.
"That little slimy worm," Joker laughed through his teeth. "It was all fun and games," he muttered, chuckling as he allowed Harley to ease him back to the bed.
"He thought he was doing what was best," she murmured, fidgeting his bandages into a new position.
"But you took care of me," Joker said distractedly, catching her fidgeting hands.
"I…" She looked down. "I did leave for a little bit," she admitted. "We… I thought Ivy was in trouble."
"Rightly so," he laughed and then shook his head a bit as it spun from his concussion. "If I ever get ahold of her I'll throttle her. But you keep me in check, don't you, Doll?" He laughed, cupping a hand on her cheek.
"And, uh," she pursed her lips, her thumb tapping distractedly against the corner of his mouth, "Deadshot might have some bad news for ya."
"And what might that be, Harley?" Joker grinned at her steadily, his eyes set on her face.
"That I shot him in the hand and some other stuff happened and then Nightwing knocked him out." She bit the inside of her cheek. "In my defense, I thought I was going in ta save Red." Joker watched her for a moment. He smiled vacantly, and then pursed his lips.
"So you saved the little whelp, then," he sighed.
"A little," Harley admitted. "But I told him I had ta get back to you, and I think he got the message that I won't be seeing him anymore." She grinned hopefully at him even though she still felt crushed by the whole event. She didn't know what she'd expected of her relationship with Nightwing, but she would have never imagined it end up like that. Joker smiled a little at her, his eyes narrowing.
"And are you sure that it's what you want?" He cocked his head a bit.
"Yes," she assured him. "I don't want to see him anymore. Ever." Her cheeks burned with shame at the thought of seeing Dick again. It would be better for everyone if she avoided him. Joker grinned.
"That's my girl," he laughed, ruffling her hair and closing his eyes. Joker laid back in the pillows.
"How are you feelin'? Can I get ya anything?" She fussed over him.
"No no, I'm just fine," he smiled, and took a deep breath. "You could go feed Nygma and Dent, since I won't be able to." Harley looked at the bedroom door like she expected to be able to see them in the living room.
"Where are they? I haven't seen 'em up here in a while."
"I moved them downstairs. I know you didn't like them, and I'm sorry I have to ask you to feed them for me," he sighed. Harley grabbed his face and gave him a sloppy kiss before wrapping her arms around him and hugging him tight.
"You're the best Mistah J. An' I'm sorry I've been so terrible to ya. I pinkie promise I'll be better, and I'll be in charge 'a feedin' 'em. Just don't hate me."
"I couldn't hate you," he laughed, wrapping his arm around her back. Joker grinned darkly to himself. Harley buried her face in the crook of his neck.
"Good, cuz you're all I got, Puddin."
"Well we watch out for each other," he purred, his coat soft under her hands.
"Us against the world," she giggled.
"Mad love," he agreed. Harley leaned back still smiling.
"You should rest. Does it hurt?"
"A little. I'll rest. So long as you stay." She grinned.
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Selina," Bruce sighed, "you know I want to stay, but with Dick off of city patrol, I should really head out there."
"Then I'm sorry to disappoint," she said quietly, looking up at him. When he'd walked into their penthouse, she'd had a picnic set up by the panoramic windows. She sat on the blanket now, her legs crossed. Selina picked her wine glass up. "Maybe Dick had the right idea," she muttered, downing the rest of the glass and picking up the bottle. He knelt down beside her and took the glass out of her hand, setting it down and cupping her chin.
"You know I want to be here with you."
"Oh I know." Selina looked out the window. "Doesn't make it hurt less." He leaned his forehead against hers.
"He's my son, I need to protect him and help him. But you're my wife, and I want to be here for you." He kissed her forehead. "This isn't an easy decision."
"We're a family. It shouldn't be a decision at all. You think I'm trying to make you choose between your wife and your son? Of course not. But that doesn't matter right now. I just want..." Selina laughed and then glanced at him. She bit her lip. They were a dark maroon today, her pale eyes rimmed in smoky black again. "Um… Hey. How… how many of the Batfamily members does it take to change a lightbulb?" she asked hesitantly, smiling a little. He stroked a thumb across her cheek.
"How many?"
"Um, none. Because you all like the dark," she giggled a little and smiled at him hopefully, putting a hand over his cupping her face. The corners of his mouth turned up.
"I don't want to leave you," he sighed. Selina looked down. All she wanted was for him to laugh at her, or even smile. He'd given her a little, but it wasn't the same.
"Just go, Bruce. I'll see you in half a week," she sighed, wrapping her arms around her legs pulled to her chest. Selina smiled a little. "I'm headed out for patrol as soon as the sun rises."
"That's hours away," he reminded her. He pulled her into his lap. "How can you expect me to leave when you look like that?"
"Like what? Exhausted and dirty, like the rest of the populus?" She sighed sadly, again curling into a ball on his lap. She was lying. It made her happy that he'd noticed that she'd napped all day and then showered and got ready for him.
"No," he scolded, kissing her forehead. "As beautiful and breathtaking as the day I met you. And every day after that. I'm really not sure how I ever leave." He smiled down at her. Selina smirked, but her heart leapt at his smile, and she began playing with his fingers in her lap.
"Oh Batman, if only you could romance the rest of the world like you do me," she joked, glancing at him before looking out of the windows at the dark skyline. It was strange, seeing the lightless city skyline, but it was a backdrop that they were all used to seeing by now. "And I'm fairly certain you'll find a way to leave," she chuckled. "Duty calls, and all that."
"The word duty implies reluctance. Extreme reluctance on my part." He held her closer. He'd trained for years under Ra's al Ghul, been Batman for over a decade, and faced countless villains, but seeing how sad it made her and still having to say goodbye was one of the hardest and most painful things he'd ever done. Selina glanced over her shoulder at him.
"It'll be ok, Bruce," she smiled a little, her eyes a bit unfocused. She looked thoughtfully down at their hands again. He lifted her chin back up.
"I know it'll be okay. That still doesn't make me want to leave."
"And it doesn't make me miss you any less," she laughed. "But we'll see each other again soon, right?"
"Not soon enough," he sighed. He stood up with her still in his arms. Selina wrapped her arms around his neck and looked up at him.
"What are you doing?" she asked, glancing at the dark sky outside.
"I'm standing up," he said simply.
"Well where are we going?" She cocked her head, smiling a bit.
"Despite what everyone says, I don't always have a plan." He grinned, his graying hair tousled with his cowl pulled back. Selina laughed and smoothed it back, kissing his cheek.
"I can't believe you admit that," she giggled, and crossed her legs over his arm.
"If you tell anyone I did, they'll never believe you," he smirked.
"There's the Bruce I know," Selina giggled.
"You can't say that. I'm supposed to be mysterious."
"Well..." She traced a finger over his chest, looking down. "Do you think you could be super mysterious... And be a husband and... And father?" She glanced at him, smiling. Bruce stared at her.
"I get the feeling you're not talking about the kids I already have…"
"Well... No," she stopped smiling, watching him nervously. Her hand anxiously twisted in his hair at his neck. "Haven't you ever wanted...? I mean, with me..." She looked down, blushing.
"And you're…" He cleared his throat. "Are you… You're not…"
"Pregnant? No. I was just thinking about it, is all," she shrugged.
"You want to have a baby?" He glanced out the window. "Into the world we live in now?"
"What? You want me to wait? Is there a better time coming?" Selina dropped out of his arms, walking away and back to the windows.
"Where did this come from?" He ran a hand through his hair as he followed her, stepping around the picnic on the floor.
"Nowhere. It's just something I think about," she looked down. "Just forget I said anything."
"I can't forget it," he cried. He grabbed her arms and spun her around to look at him. "You just said you wanted to have a baby."
"And you just told me that it was a bad idea," she started crying, staring back at him. "It doesn't matter if I want to."
"Hey," he pulled her into his arms, "it does matter what you want. You took me by surprise. I never imagined you'd want a kid with everything going on. I never even thought about it."
Because you're not talking about me. You wouldn't want to have a kid with everything going on, so you assumed I wouldn't either, she thought spitefully. "But you don't want to," Selina looked down, not hugging him back.
"Selina," he sighed. "Why do you want to? Don't we have enough to worry about? Aren't you stressed enough?"
"I said to just forget it," she pushed him away, walking to their bedroom and closing the door behind her. Bruce took a deep breath. He walked over to the door and knocked.
"Selina." He waited. "Please don't do this."
"Do what? Shut you out? Pretend nothing phases me? Sound like anyone you know?!" She shouted. "Or did you mean overreact? Too late," she sighed as she leaned against the door. What the hell was she doing? Why was she acting like this? She didn't want to spend this time apart, either, so why was there a door between them?
"No." He sighed, resigning himself to the fact that city patrol would be undermanned tonight. "Please don't refuse to speak to me during the little time we have together."
There was silence, and then he heard the door click open. Selina looked through the crack.
"I'm tired, Bruce. I'm tired of being the weak one, the one everyone's walking on eggshells around. I'm tired of being sad, and being like this-" Selina rubbed the tears in her eyes away angrily. "I want to stop being the useless one around here. Even Dick for all his messed up choices lately has got it right- maybe we have to fight, but maybe we have to fight for the right things. I'm tired of being handled like I'm made of glass, and I just want it all to stop." She stepped away from him when he tried to touch her, and she walked to the windows. "All of this, all of these people… they live simple little lives. But none of them are weak. They live day to day, not knowing if there will be a tomorrow, much less a better one, and they work with what they have. They keep their heads up. So why can't I? I'm so helpless that I got myself bitten, I'm useless and incapable and these arguments are always all my fault and this world is going to shit, even if you can't see it. I'm just… done."
"Hey." He didn't reach out to touch her again, no matter how much he wanted to. "You are not incapable. And you are not nor will you ever be helpless. You're one of the strongest people I know. No one else could put up with me. Or anything else that goes on around here. Or survive being bitten and still be standing here in front of me pretending they're useless." He stared at her seriously. "Just because you feel strongly, doesn't make you weak." Selina didn't say anything, but she turned to look at him sadly.
"You're wrong. I get in the way, and I hold you back. I don't want to try anymore. I want you to be able to go out and do the hero thing- save Gotham, be the Batman- but I want… I want a part of you here, with me, so that when you leave, I can let you go. So that if you…" she looked down, tears welling in her eyes again. "If you die, you'll still be with me."
"Selina." He grabbed her face, stroking her cheeks with his thumbs. "Stop it. I told you; we're going to be fine. Nothing is going to happen to me. You don't have to let me go because I'm always coming back."
"Go ahead, Bruce, lie through your teeth like you always do," she whispered. "Your sons believe you when you give them false hope and promise; I don't. I never did. There's no way we all make it through this."
"I'm not lying. I won't lie to you," he assured her. "You think I would dare die on you?" He smoothed her hair. "I would never do that to you. I will always come back."
She watched him, and then looked down in resignation. "Okay," she agreed, stepping closer to him. He lifted her chin up.
"Don't worry about me."
"That's funny, I was about to say the same to you, but would it stop you?" Selina smirked.
"No," he agreed. "But I can hide it better."
"You're avoiding what I said."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"I want to have a baby, and you don't. And the sun's coming up soon, so we should be getting ready," she walked past him to the closet, pulling out her uniform.
"You did just spring it on me five minutes ago. You can't expect me to be anything but surprised." He ran a hand across his jaw. "Please don't be mad."
"I'm not mad," she sighed, pulling her catsuit on.
"Then what?" he asked. "Disappointed? Frustrated?"
"Indifferent," she shrugged her jacket on, zipping it up.
"Selina," he sighed, grabbing her shoulders and spinning her around to face him. "You're not indifferent. You know I love you. I just don't think a baby is the right decision right now."
"And I trust your judgement," she said sadly, watching him. She shrugged his hands away and pulled her cowl over her hair. He nodded.
"I'm sorry. I know this isn't the life you wanted."
"Bruce," Selina turned to look at him, lifting a hand to stroke his cheek. "That doesn't matter anymore. This is the life we live now. I just don't want to live it without you."
"I know." He studied her for a long moment. "I just want to make you happy, but increasingly, it feels like I keep denying you happiness. I want you to have everything you could ever want, and it's hard that I can't give you everything."
"I don't need everything. I need you." Selina smiled a little.
"Everything you want." He grabbed her hand. "Like I said, it's never easy to leave you."
"I know, sweetheart," she smiled a little. "Thank you for trying." He pulled her back into her arms.
"For you, I'll always try," he promised.
"And that's all I ask," Selina stroked his hair, holding him tight.
"And all I ask is that you don't stop being you," he told her. "You don't have to try and hold things in because you think you're weak or that's what I want. Stay the you who isn't afraid to give me hell. You were never afraid to tell me how you felt. Don't start now."
"Promise," she kissed him gently and then smiled a little, stroking his hair.
"Good," he smiled a little, "and I'm sorry I ruined your picnic."
Selina smirked. "You know, I don't think it would've lasted long with us, anyway. Your loss, big man."
"Jason," Stephanie whined, "hurry up and get out here."
"I'm coming as fast as I can," he muttered. He was draped across his bed, his head hanging over the edge. Steph groaned. "Hey, at least you got off supply run to cover city patrol. I never got my break." She rolled her eyes.
"Just get out here you whiney baby. It's not my fault Dick had a breakdown. Just get out here before Bruce freaks out that no one's covering Gotham."
"I told you I was hurrying," he complained.
"That doesn't look like hurrying." Jason's head snapped around to see Ivy standing in the doorway to his bedroom.
"I knew it!" Steph cried over the comms before Jason flicked it off. He sat up and glanced nervously around his room. It was clean and nothing was out of place, but it was sparse. There wasn't anything extra or decorative; it was just where he crashed. He didn't spend much time in here aside from sleeping.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Kate left for supply run." She shrugged. It was weird hearing her name come out of Ivy's mouth, but Kate hadn't been a stickler for identities after the Infection outbreak. Bruce had put Kate in charge of watching over Ivy, and making sure she wasn't a threat.
"Right." He cleared his throat. "So how's the tower?"
"Okay." She added, "From what I'm allowed to see."
"Well you have threatened to kill us all," Jason defended. He stood up, stretching his back.
"I'm not complaining. Except for the lack of life around here." She looked around his practically empty room.
"No one's really around enough to keep houseplants." He yawned. "But I'm sure you'll fix that."
"And what exactly am I supposed to be doing around here?"
"Nothing really." Jason shrugged and sat back down on his bed. "You're not really trusted around here yet."
"What about you?" she asked. "Do you trust me?"
"Not really," he answered honestly.
"And that's why…" She gestured at his face. "The mask."
"What?" He reached up and touched his face at the same time he remembered he still had his mask on. He'd taken his Red Hood helmet off because he felt ridiculous walking around the tower with it but knew Bruce didn't want Ivy knowing too much about them yet, so he'd put his mask on and forgotten about it. "Oh yeah," he grunted. Wearing it reminded him of times he'd rather forget.
"So I still don't get to see what you look like?"
"Not yet, Huckleberry." He grinned, and Ivy rolled her eyes. At least she could see his expressions now; it was progress.
"I swear if I look hard enough, I'm going to find a book in here with a list of plant names."
Jason laughed. "I'll admit, not my best line." He laid back on the bed. "Cut me some slack."
"Aren't you supposed to be hurrying somewhere?" she reminded him.
"Shit." He reluctantly stood back up.
"Is it always like this?" Jason stared at her in confusion. "Everyone out doing their job."
"Yeah," he shrugged. "Welcome to the dream life huh?" He grabbed his helmet off the table and walked to the door. He held it open for her. "We take rotating breaks. Spoiler has the next one, and Nightwing and I have the one after that. Unless I can convince Spoiler to switch with me," he muttered. Ivy stepped out into hall.
"So someone's always here to make sure I don't get into trouble."
"Exactly." They walked over to the elevator in silence until Jason's comm beeped. "Yes Spoiler, I am coming."
"It's almost shift change," she complained.
"I know, so I might as well not even head out-"
"-I am not switching with you," she interrupted, and he laughed.
"It was worth a shot."
"So how's the walking flower?" she taunted.
"Goodbye Spoiler." The elevator stopped to let Ivy out. She paused as stepped off.
"How do you know I'm not going to gas everyone?"
"Are you?" he asked with a small smile.
"No."
"Air filtration system."
"I could just poison everyone while you're gone," she challenged.
"Again, are you going to?" he asked in amusement. She stared at him for a long moment before finally answering.
"No."
"I'm starting to think you just don't want me to leave." Her face immediately turned sour.
"Bye." She got off the elevator as he laughed.
"See you later, Tiger Lily." She couldn't help but glance back as the doors closed on him. He was smiling after her, his helmet still tucked under his arm. She begrudgingly smiled back as the doors shut, once again pleased she could see his expressions.
Stephanie walked sluggishly into the labs, the bright white lighting making her tired eyes burn a little after being out in the dark for so long. It was nearly six in the morning, none of the scientists were awake yet, and the lab was empty save for the sounds of growling coming from the far end. Red Robin stood in front of the glass quarantine observation room, where an Infected paced the length of the wall of windows. It growled and snarled, moving with a burst of speed to slam into the glass. Red Robin furiously scribbled away in a yellow business notepad.
"I may not be a scientist," Steph said, "but I'm going to take a wild guess and say he's Infected." Tim jumped when she spoke, and glanced over his shoulder. He smiled a little. Tired eyes blinked slowly, and he took a deep breath.
"Yeah. And also been injected with an absolute ton of a fear toxin that we synthesized from the blood of the other people that Scarecrow had gassed." He turned back to the zombie in the observation room, it's eyes fixed on the two heroes.
"And that does?" She stepped beside him, shooting him a quick grin.
"Different things to different Infected. They're still people. This guy, in particular, is less scared. It's like he's furious," Tim explained, pursing his lips as he watched the Infected claw at the glass in front of them.
"Maybe you insulted his sister," Steph whispered as she watched the zombie with fascination.
"Maybe I… what?" Tim finally tore his attention off of the snarling figure behind the glass and looked at Stephanie with a frown. "What does that mean?"
"I don't know." She shrugged. He was clearly overtired. "I'm just trying to come up with ideas here. Maybe we put him in jail or something."
"Oh." Tim looked down at the words scrawled illegibly all over the yellow page, with complete disregard for the lines. "You know, I've thought of something," he mused, turning the pad of paper so that he could look at something he'd written sideways. "If- in the problem's simplest form- the brain isn't technically dead, just dormant and trying to preserve itself, then theoretically, if we could get a telepath like Martian Manhunter to help, not only could we maybe restore the brain's functions, but also that person's memories. Personality. Everything back the way it was." He stopped, biting the eraser of his pencil. "But that still doesn't solve the physical damage…"
"Okay," Steph yawned. "I'll take your word for it."
"Okay," Tim agreed, yawning when she did.
"Jinx!" she cried and punched him in the arm. "You owe me a kiss."
"I don't think that's how it works," Tim laughed. "And I don't think you can jinx a yawn." He walked back to his desk, his half cape sweeping around his waist. Tim glanced around the lab before rubbing the back of his neck. "Ready to go?" He asked, his eyes settling on Stephanie.
"Nope." She smiled sleepily at him and leaned against the glass wall the Infected was behind. "Not until I get my kiss."
Tim pursed his lips, glad that she couldn't see his cheeks reddening under his mask. She was so beautiful. He wasn't about to admit that he'd recently asked Dick and begged Jason for advice on the front regarding women, but he had; and he'd take that secret to the grave with him. That didn't mean that he couldn't employ some of the tactics that they'd told him to.
Tim walked around his desk, in what he hoped was an elegant fashion, and moved towards Stephanie, planting one hand on the glass beside her head as he leaned closer to her. Tim took his mask off and ran a hand through his hair, his blue eyes meeting hers.
"Just a kiss?" He asked quietly, smiling a little. He hoped that he looked seductive or tempting, and not quite as idiotic and clumsy as he felt.
"I did say jinx." She grinned. Not that he was awkward, but Tim had never been the most suave at anything seductive, and she could tell he was trying and thought it was cute. He was a lot less shy than when they'd met as Robin and Spoiler, but she would have hated to have him change completely anyway. She reached forward and bunched her hands in either side of his cape. Tim kissed her gently, cupping her face with his other hand. He pressed her against the glass, wrapping an arm around her waist.
The Infected slammed into the glass behind them, and Steph jumped and screamed. Tim laughed and glanced over her shoulder, holding her tight.
"It's ok, Stephie, I've got you," he chuckled quietly and looked down at her, smiling.
"I'm too tired for it to turn into a horror movie in here," she complained.
"Then let's go," he amended, taking her hand as he pulled his mask back over his head and led her from the labs, turning lights off as he went.
"So how's the sciencing been going?" She yawed, pressing her face into his back as they walked. Tim smiled a little. They stepped onto the elevator and he pulled her in front of him, kissing her cheek as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
"Not bad. Not good, but not bad," he told her, his voice quiet in the enclosed space. Tim leaned over and pressed the elevator button.
"Good," she sighed, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I've missed you."
"I've missed you too," he smiled a little, leaning back against the wall. His hands rested on her hips. He hoped he was pulling off an attractive gaze.
"I'm too tired for you to try and seduce me," she laughed. "It's going to work." Tim blushed.
"I'm not trying..." He muttered, walking out of the elevator and towards his bedroom. Tim closed the door behind them. Steph dropped face first into his bed and pulled a pillow toward her.
"Then maybe I'm just flattering myself," she mumbled. Tim watched her, and then crawled into bed beside her.
"Stephie?" He asked, gently pulling her hood down and sliding her jacket down her arms. He carefully pulled her tank top over her head and started massaging her exposed shoulders.
"Yeah?" She smashed the pillow in her arms, turning her head to smile up at him. Tim pulled his gloves off and slid his hands under the back of her sports bra, rubbing her back.
"Do you love me?" He smiled, leaning down to kiss her shoulder.
"You know it Drake," she laughed. "Why the sudden uncertainty?"
"Just wanted to make sure," he smiled a little, hooking his thumbs under her pants. He pulled them down and she felt his lips trail all the way up her leg delicately, his hands following the motion as he planted a kiss at the small of her back. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.
"And what about you? Do I need to make sure?"
"I love you," he assured her, tugging his cape and shirt off before laying down beside her, one leg draped between hers, his hand absently trailing up and down her spine.
"Good boyfriend," she laughed, turning to face him better and giving him a kiss on the cheek. Tim smiled and pulled her closer to his chest. The room was dark thanks to paneled curtains over the floor to ceiling windows.
"Good," he chuckled, closing his eyes. His bare chest was warm and inviting, his arms around her further emphasizing the sleepy, safe feeling in the room.
"What do you think life would be like if the Infection had never happened?" she asked, laying her head on his shoulder. "If we got to see each other more than every four days... or less I guess if I can make a good patrol trade off. And if you didn't have to worry so much over the cure. But would we have even started dating again?"
"I like to think that we would have found each other," Tim smiled.
"It's just... First it was Alfred, and Helena, and everyone else then Maggie, and then nearly Selina and even Dick seems like he's falling apart. I'm tired of losing everyone to this stupid disease." She pinched her eyes shut, clinging tighter to him.
"Shhhh we have to hold on. I know how much it hurts," he agreed, pressing his lips against her hairline.
"But what's even going to be left at the end?"
"I don't know, Stephie," he said quietly. "I really don't know." She grabbed his face and stared at him, her eyes panicked.
"Then lie to me and say everything's going to be all right," she begged.
"Everything will be alright," he smiled, holding her tightly. "You and I are going to live our lives, get married, have babies, and be happy," he assured her. She nodded, hugging him again.
"But the babies better wait a couple years," she warned.
"Hey, I'm content with sleep. It's you who's always all over me when you come back. You just like me for my body," Tim grinned.
"It's a great body," she giggled. "With an equally attractive brain." She kissed his forehead. "And you insult me," she got mock offended. "Am I that undesirable?"
"I used to think about nothing but you," he confessed. "But it got too distracting."
"Well you shouldn't have stopped." She gave him a quick kiss and pushed the pillow into a more comfortable spot.
"I haven't. I've just... Made sure it wasn't visible in my pants quite as often," he laughed, his cheeks reddening. Steph grinned.
"And what about now?" she asked, pulling him beside her on the pillow.
"Mmm. Now is good," he smiled and kissed her gently, savoring the taste.
"Our break days are supposed to be about us resting," she laughed before kissing him again. Her arms wound around his neck and pulled him closer.
"We're resting." Tim smiled into her kiss. He sighed slowly. "Someday Stephie. Someday I'm going to take you away someplace where it's always warm, and there are no zombies or bad guys, just us." Tim kissed her lazily, stroking her hip with his thumb. "Someplace in the woods with blue skies and a crystal clear lake, with our own personal beach in the sun."
"I'll pack the sunscreen," she sighed, blinking sleepily at him. Tim kissed her neck gently, holding her close. He yawned.
"And I'll build you a house. Just the way you want it. And we'll go to sleep to the sounds of the forest every night, and we'll go swimming and lay on the beach and go hiking and I'll pick you wildflowers every day." He smiled. "And we only have to wear clothes if we want to." Steph giggled.
"See, you just want me for my body too."
Tim smiled at her. "Desperately," he commented, kissing her slowly.
"Well it's not like it's off limits," she smirked, her hand grabbing his side. Tim smiled and kissed her softly.
"I love you."
"I thought we already discussed this." She giggled and gave him a quick kiss. "I love you too."