A/N) So here's another installment of Stephanie's and Tim's adventure.
In case it wasn't obvious, this is a no-hero's AU, Tim's a slick business man and Steph is a single mom.
I always wondered what their lives would look like without Robin and Spoiler.
Here we go.
I hope you enjoy the potential in this story, and the drama I will try to instill.
She's late.
Why oh, why did she always butcher important days for herself. Ugh, Stephanie Brown knows her lot in life is just generally unlucky but still. It took her so long to get a job interview, forget the fact that it was at Wayne Enterprises, she needs this job, desperately.
She lets out an annoyed huff, pushing stray blond hairs out of her face, trying to keep her worn leather purse on her shoulder as she presses peddles with scuffed black pumps, brushing down her purple pencil skirt as she tries to fix her hair in the rear view mirror of her beat up old Honda civic.
That is a mistake.
She gasps and slams breaks, as a biker curses at her across the cross walk and cars honk at her, Gotham morning traffic was brutal and cutthroat.
"Dammit." She hisses and waves at an indignant driver as she takes the turn sharper than she should have.
After nearly running over a dog, running a red light, and avoiding a collision with a nut job on a scooter, she manages to make it to the only thing in Gotham that sparkled and shone hour the thick of Gotham's perpetual gloom and fog.
Wayne Enterprises. She's had always wondered if she would ever be able to set foot in this place, it was the dream of most college students to work here. WE was the most prestigious company in Gotham and had the bets reputation for hiring young people in need of work. WE's mission was to keep as many people employed so Gotham won't have more people on the streets.
She doesn't know if that was working but she admires a corporation for trying.
With a deep breath she parks in the shaded parking garage and looks at herself in the rear view again. Oh – her mascara was flaking. She frowns, drug store stuff were always a hit and miss. She couldn't afford better at the moment.
She takes out her travel size makeup remover bottle and swipes a little under her eyes, then reapplies mascara to the lashes, the dark brown framing her blue eyes nicely.
She reapplies some of her cherry lip-gloss too for extra measures and adjusts her blazer. Okay, no more delaying. Time to get this job.
With another fast breath she gets out of her car, her legs creak as she stands and adjusts her skirt and purse strap.
She only teeter son her heels for a moment before she makes it to the elevator and presses the button, the elevator arrives with a Ding and she steps inside, silently grateful that the cart was empty. Gives her more time to prepare mentally.
"Hi – my name is Stephanie Brown, nice to meet you." She mutters, faking a tight smile and holding her hand out to air. No, no – not brave enough. "Er, hello there, I'm Stephanie Brown, thank you for this opportunity." Too kiss-ass like. "Hey there, name's Steph, looking forward to working with you!" Yuck – she cringes and shakes out her face, cheeks flapping, she's making this worse.
It's fine, it'll be fine. She can do this if she just acts like her friendly charming bright self. Right? Right.
Her phone pings. She looks at the cracked screen and smiles at the text with flower emoji's littering it. YOU CAN DO IT! In all caps.
Steph giggles, thanks Cass, she types back with a wink-y face and heart.
Cass sends her back an exaggerated thumbs up. ALSO AGGIE IS STILL WATCHING CARE BEARS. I MIGHT BE DEAD BY THE TIME YOU GET BACK.
Stephanie smiles but the elevator lets out a sharp 'ding' before she could answer and she tucks the phone in her purse as she adjusts her bun and blazer one more time and forces confidence in her step as she enters a very shiny, very busy cooperate building.
The floors and walls gleamed in cohesive colors of grey and white and the gleaming half-moon desk at the front looked large and threatening. She swallows and plasters on her widest brightest smile as she approached the prim and clean girl looking secretary.
"Hi!" She winces at the loudness and nerves that are clear in her voice but she plows on, "I'm here for an interview at eleven?"
The secretary, who looks gorgeous in her black blazer uniform, rakes her dark eyes up and over Steph and she obviously makes a judgment and Steph forces her smile to stay as the girl taps on her computer sharply, "Oh, you're the eleven o'clock." The girl looks at Stephanie again in reproached, "You're late, sorry Mr. Drake doesn't accept late applicants. He's taking lunch now."
What? Steph's heart drops to her toes as bills and overdue charges fill her mind. Oh no, she can't – "Um – traffic, you know how it is. Are you sure that he can't make an exception for this one – "
"No, sorry." The girl appears almost smug instead of decently remorseful and she turns away clearly done.
Wow. They don't waste time here.
Steph frowns, her stomach tightening painfully. "Oh, well, thanks for your time."
"Mmhm."
Stephanie turns away and walk away, much less pep in her step as group of men in black suits flurry past her, someone shoves her.
"Ugh, rude." She scoffs.
"Mr. Drake, the meeting is at twelve."
Stephanie stops. Her ears prick up – wait – what?
"Move it to twelve fifteen, I need to take a phone meeting with Mr. Wayne first." A tight and mature tone speaks amidst the gaggle of corporate men, the voice sounded young though.
"But sir – "
"A few minute Allen." The young voice is curt and no nonsense.
Stephanie knows this might end badly but her brain turns. A crazy idea pops into it and she think – hell – better to try then live in regret. She straightens and rushes after the group.
"Hey, hey wait! Sir! Mr. – Mr. Drake!" She calls, but her voice is drowned from the noise the group of men were making, she tries to shove her way into the throng but she can't elbow through the ranks, she hops and calls. "Hey! Hey! Just a moment of your time sir! Ah!" She gets shoved and the group melts into an elevator. She groans.
Oh, come on.
The elevator is set to the garage. Hum – she stands up and runs for a closing elevator. "Wait! Hold the door!" She flies through the closing door, shocking the few people inside, "Heh – sorry." She apologizes as she tries to straighten her harried appearance.
The elevator can't reach the bottom fast enough as she bites at her thumb nail, eyes glued to the glowing numbers as they move down.
C'mon, c'mon!
Ding!
Yes!
"Thanks!" She yells at no one and runs out, her steps echoing in the garage, where, where did they go? She spins around – aha! She spots the black cloud heading towards the first ramp and she runs after them, "Wait!" He shrill voice echoes, and it's ignored.
Ugh – fucking elitists.
She grits her teeth and dodges around parked cars and avoids touching anything – this place was full of sleek Lexus and Volkswagen's.
"Sir, nononononono!" She gasps as the men get into a car and she doesn't think. She just moves – she may be reckless and an idiot but you know what? When faced with inflated prices and the possibility of being homeless in the next month? She didn't give a crap. She jumps in front of the moving car and the driver screams, slamming on the break as she stands there, arms thrown out, chest heaving, hair fallen around her shoulder and face and she's sure she looks wrinkled and deranged, her wrung out purse swinging on her elbow as she tries to catch her breath.
"Oy! What the hell you, psycho bitch!" The driver throws out in clear Gotham fashion and she rolls her eyes, he was clearly freaked out.
"I - " She gasps and coughs, her throat dry as she presses a hand do her chest and heaves over. "Oh god, - I just need- man I am out of shape – a word!" She hacks and makes her way to the driver's window and he rolls it up mostly, which is actually funny.
"I just want to talk to your boss, Mr. Drake – "
"If this is an assassination attempt, you suck at your job." The driver snarls.
"No!" She gapes, her eyes widened, what? Was that like a thing for these people? "I just – I had an appointment at eleven and I was a little late and I really, really need this interview because I know I can do the job if I got the chance and I have bills and rent and – "
The side of the fancy SUV opens and a polished shoe steps out, a young man, on the average side of height, and long-ish hair with sharp cornflower blue eyes that shock her into straitening for how serious they looked when they regarded her. "You were the eleven o'clock?" He sounds less than impressed which makes her irritated.
"Yeah, sorry I'm not a size zero supermodel, but normal people need jobs too you know." She says and gasps, smacking her hand over her mouth – now was not the time to be sassy to the man she just chased down in hopes for a job, "Sorry, I just – it's been a long day. Look – I have credentials, and a cover letter, and my references are expansive, I also did charity organizing in collage for functions and I had a 3.9 GPA along with my – "
"Hang on." His hand goes up, "Look, this is a company, things happen the way they are supposed to, in order, because if they don't, things fall apart. You – if nothing else – "He regards her coolly she feels frumpy all over again, and subconsciously reaches for her messy hair, "clearly proved yourself to be a wildcard. I don't think a machine works with a loose gear, do you?" He looks at her in the eyes and she opens her mouth.
No words come out.
He was clean and clinical and she wonders where the philanthropy came in here?
Maybe she was a charity case not worth indulging in. Too normal.
"I – this isn't what I look like – "
"I don't care what you look like." The man says, "I care how clean you can work."
"I am a fast learner; I just need a chance." She said numbly, she feels like her opportunity is sliding between her fingers like water beads. But it was the truth, all she needed was a chance.
Prestigious Mr. Drake makes an impatient sound and looks ta his no doubt thousands of dollar watch, seriously? Who owns a watch anymore? "Now I'm late for my appointments."
Its slightly accusatory and pointed. Like he saying – see, you couldn't even keep your appointment what makes you think you can help me keep mine?
Stephanie feels her desperation push up her belly and throat and it makes her shake and feel weak, "Just give me a chance! One week! One-week unpaid trial – I promise I can turn your mind around, please." She's one desperately weak second later from dropping to her knees and begging.
He looks at her, one leg in the SUV step and one hand holding the frame, his perfect dark brow raised and he regards her again, and something odd happens.
She sees it, like an opaque glass screen, it cracks in his eyes – like a film was covering them and his face breaks the mask it was holding, his brows furrow, wrinkling his smooth forehead and he bites the inside of his cheek and he suddenly looks like he's a child instead of a young man.
"Sir, Mr. Wayne is calling." A gruff voice shatters the weird limbo she and this young man had gone into pulling both into reality.
"Yes, of course."
Stephanie's heart cracks and she feels tears warming the back of her eyeballs, well – at least she can say she tried. She takes a shaky breath and moves to let the SUV pass.
"Come in on Monday – seven o'clock sharp, don't be late or this won't fly past day one." The young man says clipped as he looks at her form the SUV window.
Stephanie freezes, mouth falling open. "Really?!" She catches herself at his sharp brow raise. "I mean – y-yes, yes sir! Of course, wouldn't dream of."
"Good. See you Monday Ms. – "
"Hmm – oh! My name!" She cringes, "Sorry, yes, Stephanie Brown, s-sir." She reaches a shaky hand to his and he takes it.
Her arm warms and she can drag her eyes away from his, it shocks her so much her face flushes pink.
"Nice to meet you Ms. Brown. Oddly." And his mask cracks for a moment as a phantom smile tugs at his full lips. "I'm –"
"I know who you are!" Stephanie blurts and bites an internal cringe at herself. "Uh yeah – sorry – um, nice to meet you too – for sure. Thanks again! Have a nice – er – lunch!" She calls as the vehicle pulls away and she waves like an idiot after it, "See you on Monday!"
Oooh, that was humiliating. C'mon Steph why are you such a freak? She cringes and smacks her forehead in self-loathing. Then the conclusion of the insane adventure hits her.
She's got a job . . . well – sort of, but – she will have a job, this was just a foot in the door that she desperately needed and that means. . . she can finally afford at least to feed Aggie and pay the bills. Which is all she really could ask for at this point really.
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