A/N: Yes, I slightly stole something from Young Justice.
It was late when I got back from being on patrol. No one was in the cave when I got there. I went to the changing area to get out of my costume and into my robe when I was startled for a second when I heard his voice. I wasn't expecting him to be there standing, especially since he was supposed to not come back home till tomorrow from the medical care he was receiving at the Watchtower.
"How was it out there," he asked.
"A pretty typical night out there," I replied as I pulled my robe over me. He was still all bandaged up but he was at least wearing warm clothes.
He approached me with the look he only has when we are alone. It was the look he gave me last night when we both wanted to be more intimate but couldn't risk it. He put a hand to my face and tucked my hair behind my ear before he pulled my waist towards him with his other hand. He finally gave me the kiss we so badly wanted to have aboard the Watchtower last night. Bruce maybe didn't know how to communicate with words very well, but he knew how to communicate with his kisses. I could feel him emit his feelings through the touch of his lips. He was relieved to be here and comforted by my presence. After the kiss, he held me against him for a few moments. I took the time to breathe him in and I almost felt like I could melt in his arms. Yesterday was scary. I could have lost him.
"You leave against medical advice," I asked concerned.
"No. J'onn told me I should go home," he replied and pulled away so he could see my face. I bit my lip and looked at him suspiciously.
He snorted a bit at that. "Seriously Barbara."
"Are you sure you just weren't such a pain in the ass that J'onn just let you have your way," I asked still suspicious.
He shrugged his shoulder slightly. I couldn't help but give a small smirk. I stood on my tip toes again and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Glad you're back," I said gripping his hand. I let my thumb brush up and down against the inside of his wrist. Since our time together I learned that he is responsive to even the slights touch there.
"I was on the computer earlier and it noticed some files were opened last night," he said referring to the Agamemnon files I found last night.
"I found your contingency plans. They are pretty extensive," I replied. He then started to walk to the computer and I followed.
"What did you think," he asked not showing any emotions. He motioned for me to sit down in the chair.
"I think you should be the one sitting down right now," I replied refusing to sit. He gave me a resistant look and I followed with a resistant look of my own.
"Fine," he replied sitting. I smiled a bit over my victory and then decided to answer his previous question.
"I'd like to say I am shocked that you have such detailed files on how to take out different league members, but that would be a lie."
"You read your file," he said as more of a statement than a question.
"It was...thorough," I said. He looked at me concerned.
"And that is code for..." he asked in a trailed-off manner.
"I wasn't a fan of some of it," I said hugging my robe tighter to me. I was starting to feel cold. I forgot how it can get down here at night.
"What weren't you a fan of," he asked confused.
"That you view me as a huge blindspot," I said looking up at nothing in particular at all. I did that sometimes when I was trying to not get emotional.
"You're my partner. Of course, you are going to be a blind spot," he replied.
"I appreciate the loyalty, but I don't want you to be blinded by it," I said concerned.
"There is loyalty and there is blind loyalty. Trust me when I tell you that I don't have blind loyalty for anyone, including Alfred," he said turning to look at me finally.
I nodded my head. I hoped that was true because I don't want to ever be a liability. Then I remembered there was one more issue that needed to be cleared up.
"You need to take something out of yours," I said firmly.
He just hmmed. He does that when he is intrigued.
"The part about Tim being the best target to use to distract you. You need to take that out. Just put me. I don't want you to even plant the seed in someone's mind that Tim should be a target," I said feeling a bit distressed.
He could tell I was never going to let it go and this was a drawing-a-line-in-the-sand moment for me. He stopped looking so severe and his eyes softened.
"I will," he replied. He brought up his file and changed it to read: Taking hostages is a good distraction, particularly if they are friends or family. Batman will make the ultimate sacrifice if he is forced to in order to save someone, especially if that someone is part of the Batfamily. Batgirl would be the best target.
"Better," he asked looking at me. I felt a wave of relief crash over me.
"Yes," I said. I got a bit misty-eyed for a moment as I shivered from the damp cold cave. I didn't realize how much that bothered me till now.
"You're cold. We should go upstairs," he said getting up from the chair. I heard him exhale sharply. He only does that when he is trying to hide an injury.
"I am cold but you should be in bed," I said referring to him struggling with pain. He looked at me frustrated.
"You know you almost died right? You have five fractured ribs. You are at risk for a collapsed lung," I said irritated that he was irritated.
"Yes Barbara, I know my current medical condition," he said annoyed. I took his hand and pulled him with me up the stairs.
"I know it sounds counterintuitive, but Alfred would kill you right now if he saw you out of bed," I said shaking my head.
"He already knows and I'm sure he will still be upset with me tomorrow. He said he was considering restraining me to the bed," he replied. I turned to him with a smirk and my eyebrow up.
"Not a terrible idea," I said as straight-faced as possible.
"I knew you were going to say something the second it came out of my mouth," he sighed knowing how my humor can be a bit juvenile sometimes. I just smiled and I continued our walk back up the stairs. I looked back for a moment and I saw that he was smiling too.
We got to the top of the stairs and we were met by Alfred. I quickly let go of Bruce's hand and greeted Alfred.
"Alfred," I said surprised. I could feel the warmth from my blushing cheeks.
"Mistress Barbara. Master Bruce. I see you both have decided to finally retire," he said without letting on that anything was strange.
"Yes, Barbara felt the need to drag me upstairs," Bruce replied covering for why I was holding his hand. It was true that I was holding it to drag him upstairs, but I was also trying to be intimate with him.
"Well sir, she seemed to succeed where I failed tonight," he replied dryly.
"Between the two of us we will make sure Bruce convalesces," I said following Alfred's dry tone. I looked at Bruce and shook my head in mock disappointment. He looked at both of us annoyed but also he knew he'd been defeated.
"Alright, I get it," he replied. Alfred looked at me proud of our victory.
"Was he this fussy as a boy," I asked still mocking him.
"No. I'm afraid he has become more unmanageable with age," Alfred said.
"God bless you Alfred," I said giving his arm a quick squeeze. He just smiled at that and put a hand on mine.
"Good night my dear," he said sincerely looking at me.
I went up to my own room and left Bruce to exchange words with his intrepid butler.
About One Week Later
I just got off of work and went straight to the cave. Bruce texted me that there was some news he needed to discuss.
"J'onn called. There was a breach of security up in the Watchtower," Bruce said turning to look at me from his computer.
"What? How," I asked a bit astonished.
"A few individuals dressed as Watchtower operators," Bruce said.
"Oh, you mean people did exactly what I said they might do? I'm not going to tell Clark I told him so," I replied.
"I wish you would," he said turning back towards the computer.
"What were they there for," I asked afraid of the answer.
"They stole the Annihilator," he replied.
"Oh good. A battlesuit made for the actual god of war," I said sarcastically, "Who took it?"
"Cadmus. JR Vance, a member of the bridge crew passed inside information to Cadmus and used an anti-telepathy device to mask his thoughts from J'onn," Bruce said bringing up Vance's profile.
"Isn't he the son of Robert Vance of Vance Software," I asked looking at his profile.
"It seems so. Looks like JR has had a bit of a lackluster resume compared to his father. His father actually fired him from the company three years ago," Bruce said.
"Cadmus found someone who was trying to prove they were capable of doing big and risky things," I replied a bit annoyed.
"I told Clark ages ago that it was a bad idea not to have more security protocols when it came to personnel, but he insisted that it would be fine," I said frustrated.
"You're starting to sound like me," Bruce said with a bit of a snort.
"Well, I'm a bit fed up with his attitude towards Cadmus lately, actually most of the League's attitude towards Cadmus," I replied shaking my head.
"That's why we are looking into it. I know our leads have dried up some but this whole incident gives us a new thread to pull on," he replied knowing my anger was justified.
"I suppose your right," I said.
"Where is Tim," I asked looking around.
"He's upstairs and grounded," he replied. Unfortunately, that was something that happened a lot these days.
"Jeez again. What is it this time," I asked confused.
"He fought with another boy at school," he said still staring at the computer in front of him.
"Did he win," I asked. Bruce's head turned and shot me a look.
"What? If he lost he should be in double trouble," I said shrugging my shoulders trying to lighten up the mood. Bruce just shook his head and sighed.
"Is the other kid okay," I asked slightly afraid of the answer.
"He has a black eye," Bruce said looking disappointed.
"Hey, Tim's a good kid Bruce. He's going to get into trouble once in a while but for the most part, he is level-headed," I said putting a hand on his shoulder.
"He needs to control his impulses," Bruce said sternly.
"Hmm, that's all huh," I asked in a tone that was suspicious. He didn't respond.
"Who was it that he punched? Was it Chad," I asked crossing my arms. I hated that kid. He's targeted Tim since he started school.
"I don't know," Bruce replied, "does it matter?"
I looked at him shocked. Does it matter? Hell yes, it does!
"BRUCE! It totally matters," I said shocked.
"Why," he said annoyed.
"Chad is Tim's nemesis! Batman has Joker. Superman has Lex Luthor. TIM DRAKE HAS CHAD NASH!" I was floored that he didn't see the relevance.
"Are you really comparing a 14-year-old boy to a homicidal maniac and a malignant narcissist," he asked giving me a look. I shrugged my shoulders.
"Okay, Chad isn't homicidal but he could be a malignant narcissist," I replied putting my hands up.
Alfred soon appeared downstairs with one of the green juices that Bruce drinks daily. "Alfred, was it Chad that Tim hit," I asked ambushing him almost immediately.
"It most certainly was Mistress Barbara," Alfred replied.
"And are you surprised," I asked knowing Alfred was going to back me up.
"No not at all. The young sir seems to have an ax to grind with Master Timothy," Alfred replied.
"See, it's just common knowledge," I said pointedly to Bruce. Bruce just rolled his eyes a bit and started drinking his juice.
"Seriously Bruce, that kid has had it out for Tim since day one. It's messed up," I said feeling very protective.
"I understand that, but Tim knows that he is a skilled fighter and has no business fighting some kid at school," Bruce said making a good point.
"I get it, but did you at least hear Tim out before you punished him," I asked concerned.
"No," he stated, "because there is no excuse."
"Alfred," I said throwing up my hands.
"It seems Master Timothy has decided to mimic Master Bruce's stubborn-," Alfred stopped for a moment as Bruce shot him a look, "I beg your pardon, I mean stoic demeanor, and refused to tell me what started the fight."
"Well, I'm going to at least go talk to him," I said leaving. Bruce didn't say anything. He just watched me go up the stairs.
When I got to Tim's room, he was laying on his bed throwing a ball up against the wall.
"Wow kid, you're giving me real Steve McQueen vibes," I said peeking my head through his door.
"Who," he asked confused.
"Nevermind," I said shutting the door behind me, "so what the hell happened?"
"Some kid got mouthy and so I had to deck him," Tim said as if there were a good enough reason.
"You mean Chad was mouthy to you. He's been mouthy before and you've never decked him," I replied sitting at the end of his bed.
"Ya well I did this time," he replied.
"Well, what did he say," I asked trying to get the story out of him.
"I'm not repeating it," he said laying on his side and turning his back towards me.
"Do Alfred and Bruce know what he said," I asked now concerned.
"No," Tim said flatly.
"Was it about them," I asked. I had a feeling it was.
"It was bad Barbara," Tim said with his back still turned.
"You can tell me if you want. It won't leave this room," I said staring at him. He finally turned and sat up.
"He said that Bruce was an idiot and that he only adopted me so that he could get women into his bed and I was only there to make Bruce look good. And then he said it was pathetic that I treated Alfred like he was my grandfather," Tim said looking down. My heart ached for him.
"I would have wanted to deck him too," I said leaning slightly toward him.
"Chad is such a jerk. I get it, he has money and two parents. He doesn't need to rub it in my face," Tim said clenching his fist.
"Did punching Chad really help," I asked putting a hand on his foot.
"Yes," Tim replied finally looking back at me.
"Did it really," I said giving him a pointed look.
"No," Tim said sighing and looking away again.
"Let's try and turn the tables on this situation, why do you think Chad has such a thing about trying to torment you," I asked.
"Because he's a vindictive asshole," Tim replied sitting up and facing me.
"Yes, but why. It seems to me that if everything at home were okay he wouldn't be like this," I replied.
"I suppose so," he said agreeing.
"So maybe Chad being an asshole to you really has nothing to do with you and all to do with Chad," I continued, "The real question is why those comments bothered you so much?"
Tim looked down and concentrated on the ball he had in his hands. "I know what Chad said about Bruce isn't true, but what if I felt like Alfred was like my grandfather? Would that be so pathetic?"
My heart almost split in two. I put a hand on his a squeezed. "The extreme opposite kid," I said with a smile.
"You know, I'm sure Alfred sees you as his grandson. I know Bruce doesn't talk about it a lot, but Alfred is like a father to him," I said explaining why his feelings were in no way pathetic.
"Do you think Bruce sees me as a son," he asked. Ah, we are hitting the real issue here.
"Yes," I said with no hesitation.
"How do you know," he said challenging me.
"He calls you his son all the time," I said. I then realized that maybe Tim had never heard it.
"Yes in public with others. That is part of the act," he replied.
"That night when he came home after fighting the Imperium, we were talking and he mentioned to me how he trusted me with not only his life and secret but the life of his son. He was talking about you. Unless I was fighting aliens with a totally different kid that night. He's called you his son to me more times than I can count since then," I said as sincerely as possible.
"So you're saying I'm being ridiculous," Tim replied.
"No. Not at all. You've been through a lot," I said giving him a sad smile.
He just gave a smile back.
"You know, you can talk to me no matter what. I'm always going to be there for you. You are my family too," I said nudging him.
"Just don't move to Metropolis again," he said nudging me back. I don't know if Alfred or Bruce had been listening but the next part was something I was not expecting. Tim and I both heard a knock on the door and Alfred opened it.
"Master Timothy, you are wanted downstairs by Master Bruce," Alfred said with his normal pomp and circumstance.
"Great it's time for my lecture," Tim said getting up. Alfred had a slight smile on his face but said nothing. I followed them both outside to the basketball court outside. Odd we never use this. Bruce was there with a basketball. He bounce-passed it to Tim once he was within reach.
"Just because you are grounded and I'm still recovering doesn't mean we aren't training still," he said.
"What? Did you have an aneurysm or something," Tim asked shocked that Bruce passed him a basketball.
"Hand-eye coordination. One-on-one, you and me," he replied with a slight smirk.
"You ready to get dunked on," Tim said dribbling the ball, laughing, and rushing past Bruce to make a dunk at the basket. I couldn't help but laugh out loud. Alfred was also smiling from ear to ear.
"I'll get a kettle started for some tea and check on the dinner you have in the oven," I said quietly to Alfred.
"Mistress Barbara, don't fret about the dinner. I will be there soon, " Alfred said.
"I'll manage without you. You stay and watch as long as you like," I said putting a hand on his arm. He looked back at me with a grateful smile and patted my hand. Watching Alfred look proudly at Bruce and Tim was a moment I would never forget.