Our Story So Far...
If you've actually read the preceding one-hundred-and-sixty-six chapters, feel free to skip ahead to the chapter below... Or not, you must be a very dedicated reader. For those of you who just joined us and are only here just to follow the romantic misadventures of poor Tim Drake, keep reading.
In comics, Timothy Drake was the third Robin (or 'Red Robin' if you prefer) appearing after Jason Todd and Richard Grayson. And unlike the previous Robins who were only smart, Tim was brilliant. He was the 'cerebral' Robin, a natural-born detective and planner who tended to out-think an opponent.
My story is set in an Alternate Universe in the year 2021. Bruce Wayne is still the CEO of Wayne Industries, but he is not the Batman. Instead, Captain Richard Grayson (who was rescued from the brink of death by a time-traveling Raven Wayne) has just become the Batman. But don't feel sorry for Bruce, he's married to the twenty-two year old Raven (from Teen Titans) who is actually the breakout star of this story.
After the second death of Black Adam (at the hands of Mister Miracle), Raven took on the mantle of Shazam, becoming the Champion of Magic. Mrs. Wayne is also the Goddess of Hope - as we learned that Trigon was not a demon, but rather a New God. Bruce and Raven have now prevailed against some of the most powerful foes in the DC Universe, including Raven's father Trigon, the misanthropic Ra's al Ghul, and the devious Darkseid.
Put simply, Bruce Wayne is now married to one of the most powerful women in the Universe.
And even before then, Tim had developed a major crush on Raven.
As a preeminent genius in nanotechnology and micro-electronics, Tim Drake was recruited to Wayne Industries after graduating with his second PhD at the tender age of eighteen. He was instrumental in the development of the WI-Screen; a nanite-powered portal that a user may create from thin air. This portal may serve as a video screen, a computer, or any other multimedia device.
At twenty-four, Tim is the youngest (and brightest) Vice President at Wayne Industries, whom many believe will succeed Bruce Wayne as CEO. Bruce Wayne suddenly found himself as the Acting President of America during its greatest crisis after the death of Lex Luthor. Having now survived the war with Darkseid and Trigon, Bruce is now stepping back both from Congress and Wayne Industries to concentrate on running the newly formed Justice League.
Which leaves Tim Drake hopeful that Bruce is about to give him some very good news concerning a promotion...
CLXVII
Epilogue: The Romantic Adventures of Tim Drake
Part One: Shanghaied
As the early afternoon sunlight filtered across the polished mahogany of a massive boardroom table at Wayne Industries, it was all I could do to simply stare at my imposing boss - now seated directly across from me. Even without the meticulously-dressed team of lawyers seated quietly beside him, Bruce Wayne was still damned intimidating.
He was the most powerful man in America and one of Gotham's favorite sons. He had also been my boss and mentor for over three years now. And honestly, I idolized the Hell out of him.
Ten minutes ago, Bruce had personally slid it across the table to me… that sacred covenant which I had naively believed would have passed the consecrated mantle of C.E.O. from corporate-father to corporate-son. That he would have named me as his successor. Because Bruce Wayne had been like a father to me, especially after my own father had lapsed into a coma after a business trip in Haiti. The same one where my mother had died. For all intensive purposes, I was now alone.
When I began to peruse its fine scripture, it was more than I ever hoped for. If I fulfilled the terms of this contract, I would be promoted to C.E.O. of Wayne Industries and given signing bonuses that I thought didn't exist anymore. At only twenty-four, Mr. Tim Drake would become one of the most powerful business leaders in the world.
I would become the man.
But then I came across one very disturbing clause...
One obligation that couldn't be right.
"Bruce… This clause here under section 4.36… Is this some sort of joke? It says that I must participate in at least one successful date before December 25th of this year... You were just testing me to see if I was actually reading the contract, right?"
You'd hand me the real contract and we'd laugh about my pathetic love life afterwards over drinks, right?
"It's no joke, Tim. It's part of the contract. Clause 4.36 states that you have to go on at least one successful date before this Christmas in order for this document to take effect. It was very intentional."
Who the Hell forces their employees to go on dates?!
"But… A date? With a woman? Is that even legal?"
"The Supreme Court believes it is. This contract represents an opportunity should you voluntarily fulfill its legal requirements and does not affect your current status. You are free to legally challenge it of course… but it will stand."
Of course it would.
"No, I'm sure it's all above board, Mr. Wayne. But what does a 'successful date' even mean? Does it mean that I have to ask a girl out and that she accepts and we meet? Does that constitute success?... Or are you proposing that… ahem… sex has to be involved?"
I loosened my tie and collar (suddenly feeling warm) as Bruce calmly replied.
"There are no expectations of sex whatsoever - and it would not affect the outcome either way. In fact, it would be illegal for Wayne Industries to base career advancement upon the sexual acts of our employees. On the following page, under addendum 4, you will see that my wife Raven Wayne is named as the arbitrator who decides what constitutes a successful date and what does not. It's totally up to her to define a 'successful date'. Our lawyers have briefed Raven on what is within the law."
Damn it! As I read Addendum 4, I realized Bruce had sealed my professional fate. Besides being a known empath and mind reader, Raven was just too freaking hot for me to ever lie to. I could barely even talk in front of her without garbling my words for crying out loud! Now I was expected to reveal all the gory details of my romantic life to her?! Bruce must have known that I had a major crush on his young wife...
Oh God!... The thought struck me then! What if Raven found out I had repeatedly fantasized about her?... What if she already knew?! Was she peaking into my head at Thanksgiving?! Is this why Bruce was punishing me like this?! He would kill me if he found out…
I took a deep breath and calmly exhaled. Maybe I could bargain with him…
"Mr. Wayne… I don't see what my personal life has to do with my ability to lead Wayne Industries. I'm perfectly willing to negotiate some of these other provisions to something… more inline with expectations based upon my limited work experience… if clause 4.36 were to be dropped. Surely we can come to an acceptable compromise?"
Honestly, I didn't need the incredible amount of money and stock that was being thrown around with this contract. I could have lived very comfortably on a lot less and remained blissfully single. If Bruce had sought to make me an offer I could not refuse, he had succeeded… except for that damned date clause.
"This contract is non-negotiable, Tim. The date clause stays."
Damn it! So much for bargaining. But would he actually follow through?
"So what happens if I don't go on a successful date, then?"
"Someone else will become C.E.O. of Wayne Industries… and the contract is rendered void. You will continue as Executive V.P."
Yes, but under who?
"…Will you stay on as the C.E.O. then?"
Actually, that would have been fine by me.
"No, Tim… I will be available as a share holder and consultant, but nothing more. I'm retiring as C.E.O effective December 23rd. I've already filed my resignation with the Board this afternoon..."
So the rumors were true. Bruce Wayne was leaving the company. And now, more than ever, I didn't want to see him leave. Had he really thought this through?
"Bruce, you're going to crush the share price with your retirement! You need to name a successor."
"That's why I've already given your name to the Board, Tim. But know this… I won't allow you to become the leader of the company my great-grandfather founded, the same company that bears my family name… until you go on a date. Now… Will you sign the contract?"
Bruce had left me between a rock and a hard place and he knew it. For the first time ever, a Wayne was going to retire and let a non-Wayne run their company. And he wanted me to be that person. This was an historic event, and I was deeply honored… but why did he have to put in that date clause?!
"I'll sign, Bruce… But I'll ask you one more time to reconsider about 4.36…. Please."
I realized my mistake immediately.
Bruce stared across the boardroom table, fixing me with that gaze.
Those same blue eyes that had held Gods in their icy chill now carefully held my own. It was hard to breathe when he looked at you that way, the stare that could stop time. This great man had not only faced the God of Vengeance and all of Trigon's terror – he had also saved the daughter of Nemesis from her own dark destiny - loving her more powerfully than any force the Gods themselves could wield.
Bruce Wayne had traded verbal barbs with nefarious Darkseid - endured a shattered femur and eight broken ribs - before blasting the God with the LexCorp Tachyon Cannon, rewriting the tide of the final battle. He had allowed Raven to become the Champion of Magic when Bruce himself could have claimed the power of six Gods as his own. But he didn't need it.
This stalwart hero of men had faced down the League of Assassins and defeated the most dangerous intellect on the planet at Lex Luthor's own deadly game. He had led America during her most dangerous hour, founded the Justice League, mobilized Congress and then impregnated a Goddess during his spare time.
And he had done all of this in only two months…
And I had just pleaded with him to reconsider forcing me to go on a date.
I picked up the pen and signed my name to the contract.
"Bruce… I'll do my best… but no promises. Dating has never been my strong point."
The great man smiled at me.
"I know that, Tim. My wife has recently taught me a very valuable lesson - to appreciate the unexpected. It's a lesson that you need to learn as well. It's the last thing I can teach you... I've allowed you to thrive in that bubble you made around yourself – that keeps you from harm's way. But I won't be able to protect you from the unexpected anymore, Tim. That's why I'm forcing you to take the remainder of your vacation… effective immediately. No more bubbles."
"What?! Bruce… I've got way to much to do! With you retiring, there's going to be…"
"That's no longer your concern. Go… see the world, travel. Have fun. You've got four weeks of vacation to use up - and you will not be permitted back into Wayne Industries until that time… or unless you fulfill the terms of this contract first. Understood?"
"Can I notify some people at least? I'm on eight different projects right now. We've got some big…"
"No, you may not. But I'll personally set up your out-of-office... It's the least I can do. And I've just sent you a copy of the contract, Tim. Call me at any time if there's anything you need to discuss. I expect to see you at the Wedding on the 24th. Oh, and Tim… Never lose hope."
What hope did I even have to even lose?
"Oh, the Wedding, right… Well, hopefully I bring a date."
Bruce chuckled as I slowly left the boardroom, as though I were walking across a cloudy dream-scape. Had that really just happened? Did my career at Wayne Industries now hinge upon going on one successful date in the next four weeks?
Sure, my position as V.P. wouldn't be affected by my inability to satisfy Bruce's contract, but it would certainly be affected by Bruce's retirement. There was no guarantee that a new C.E.O. would even keep me around as the executive Vice President. I had no great exit clause or huge payout bonus if I left Wayne Industries… why would I? I had just wanted to work with the amazing Bruce Wayne and his WI-Screens.
I could always find another job. I could even strike out on my own if I had to. Having a few million dollars in the bank allowed you a little comfort. But I wasn't going to give up.
I really did want to be the C.E.O. of Wayne Industries.
When I finally arrived back at my condo overlooking Gotham harbour, it seemed strange to that it was still some daylight. Shadows from skyscrapers fell across the dark waters of Gotham, and its people still walked the streets. It was usually dark when I looked out these windows.
I realized that it was the first time I had left my office in over two days. Time to me had become meaningless. Work had become my life. Reflecting from my fiftieth storey condo high above Gotham, I recalled why I had given up on the whole dating scene.
The emotional scars from six years ago seemed as tender as ever.
Finding someone who was actually interested in the real Tim Drake wasn't easy. I had tried the singles scene after I had graduated from Gotham University with my second Ph. D. I was seventeen and they were "smart" seniors in High School. The kind of girls their classmates referred to as geeks.
The girl's parents always loved me, but the girls themselves… not so much.
It's awkward trying to hold a meaningful conversation with another teenager on the latest advances of nanotechnology and their projected effects on the current political paradigms according to Mencken's Theory. I knew the High Schools weren't teaching those sort of things, but it had been my last PhD thesis.
Also, we had totally different tastes in music. These girls wouldn't even admit that current pop music was manufactured by age-old computer algorithms which I had decoded years ago. For people who proclaimed to love music so much, they certainly didn't understand much about it.
Anyways... those dates had ended badly.
No one (let alone Raven Wayne) could ever call those dating disasters 'successful'.
It wasn't as though I wasn't attracted to women. I was! It was just that to women who could understand my interests, I was only a kid. Even worse, I was a nerdy kid. To women my own age, I was the most nerdy adult they had ever met.
I could have just nodded and feigned interest in whatever they were chatting about, blindly echoing their beliefs about popular culture. But really… I couldn't. Not if I wanted to stay genuinely interested.
At work, people respected me. Even though they considered me some genius eccentric, they still respected what I could do. Bruce had been right, I had been living in a bubble… floating high above the masses, past the Ivory Tower, surrounded by light.
And now he wanted me to pop that bubble…
My bed has never felt as lonely as it did that night, lying there wondering why Bruce couldn't just accept me the way I was? Why the Hell was he even doing this to me? What did it matter to him whether I had a girlfriend or not? It had taken him almost thirty-two years to meet someone, so why couldn't he extend me the same professional courtesy?
Tomorrow, thanks to Bruce Wayne, I was about to venture into the stormy seas of romance with a rudderless boat made from scarps of old thesis paper, scribbled with words only a handful of people in the world could even decipher.
I would christen my ship the S.S. Disaster and yell out 'Bon Voyage!' to life as I knew it, floating away on dark and dangerous waters.