6 Years

6 years

“I can’t believe you’re finally leaving,” Stephanie says, bumping her feet against the bed.

“Yeah,” Tim agrees, focused on folding his clothes. “Took awhile to get here though.”

“If only you were leaving next year,” she says wistfully.

That gets his attention. He stops folding, and looks at her.

“Why?” He asks, curiosity peeking through his eyes.

“They say if you’ve been friends for seven years, you’ll stay friends forever,” Steph says, leaning back on the bed. “We’ve only got six.”

She can’t see him anymore, but she knows he’s shaking his head.

“Do you not have faith in our friendship lasting?” Steph thinks she can hear hurt in his voice. She doesn’t know. She tries to pretend that the chasm between the two isn’t growing.

“Maybe.”

Stephanie hears Tim pause. She can picture what he looks like: face almost blank, but with that kicked puppy dog light shining through, head slightly tilted, hair falling in front of his eyes.

She wishes she had the courage to look up at him, because it would be a stunning sight to see, but that’ll address the tightness in her heart and it’s too late for that now. 

“Stephanie?” He asks again, and yup, that’s definitely hurt she hears in his voice.

She stay silent, hoping that maybe he’ll give it up and they can move on to the light topics they were discussing beforehand (she knows he won’t).

Instead, the silence between them grows heavier and heavier and suddenly it’s hard to breathe and Stephanie wants to scream– 

“It’s just,” She starts hesitantly, “You’re going to be so far away.” She watches Tim’s shoulders relax slightly (and hates herself a little more for causing him a moment of worry because Tim doesn’t deserve that he doesn’t deserve that–)

“Yeah, I know what you mean. It’ll be weird not even living in the same town as everyone.”

Stephanie says nothing, choosing to watch him silently as he turns back to his backing and almost wishes she said something else. Instead, she just wonders. She wonders about how Tim will be when he gets to his college (he’ll throw himself completely into his work at first, never bothering with socializing. He’ll dedicate himself wholly into his work and never come out unless there’s someone who can drag him out, someone who won’t be her anymore). She wonders if he will be able to make friends (he will. Tim is extremely charismatic once he pokes his head out from work. It’s how she stayed by his side even after her initial curiosity wore off.)

She wonder if he’ll finally get a girlfriend. (He will. Tim has a soft charm to him that make it hard for anyone to look away, has a crooked smile that still made Steph swoon even after years of friendship. He’ll get a beautiful girlfriend easily, one who will hold his hand and go out on dinner dates with him and meet his family and gently cup his face and lean up and kiss his lips–)

Steph suddenly feels sick.

Instead she thinks about the past six ears, the most beautiful six years of her life, the phone calls at 2 a.m. when she would talk and he would groan about sleeping and oh God what if those end please no.

But it’s no use because suddenly she’s thinking too hard and she realizes that soon instead of long talks at night Tim will be hanging up early and laugh with his new girlfriend and his new friends and she will fade slowly out of his life until one day his girlfriend will point at a picture of her and ask who is she? and Tim will laugh and throw his arms around her and say no one important to us dear.

She’ll slowly lose importance in his life and that thought terrifies her.

Please, she begs to whoever is listening. Please don’t take him away from me.

@time-to-hit-the-clouds personally I think Bruce noticed that 13-year-old Dick had noticed Barbara and was like “hah AS IF” and “you’re waaaay too young, chum”

“Bruce shut up I don’t know what you’re even talking about”

[cue Bruce’s “dad face”] 😏

And it’s kind of true, Dick know Babs is pretty but he doesn’t really think about it too much. Bruce is safe.

But then. 

Dick turns 18. 

He notices Barbara. NOTICES notices. 

Barbara notices him noticing her. 

And doesn’t mind. 

[cue flirting] 😘🤗

Bruce minds. 

And DAMNIT, why did they have to pull this over on him now?? Bruce can’t hate Barbara! She’s been around way too long!!!

[cue Bruce’s brooding/sulking while Dick and Babs flirt in the background] 

😑 … 😚😌

Bruce makes a vow. No more Batgirls.

He wasn’t banking on a Spoiler. 

Tim Meets Ice Skating

Tim follows a specific schedule.

At 6, he gets up, gets dressed, and brushes his teeth.

At 6:30, he runs out of the house to go to work at Wayne Industries with a cup of coffee in hand. At the age of 17, he’s their youngest official worker (and he basically runs the company.)

At 12:30, he stops for a quick lunch break.

At 7, he saves all changes and leaves the building.

And at 7:30, he goes to one of the many indoor ice rinks of Gotham owned by Oswald Cobblepot. And he’s not there to skate, Time doesn’t even like skating.

No, he’s there for the blonde skater who’s always there at 7:30 helping kids out.

She’s certainly not the best skater there (but this rink is for enjoyment, not professionals), but she’s the only one who’s has that positivity just radiating off of her. She’s the only one who truly looks content, just skating gracefully while the other groups whiz by her, laughing and cheering. She’s the only one who doesn’t laugh when a kid falls but squats in front of them, coaxing them to skate, gently leading them through the rink.

She’s the only one he’s there to see.

Tim first saw her when Dick dragged him and the rest of the family there, insisting that they go for “family bonding” and “joy that can only come from gliding on ice.”

Jason had told him he was full of shit, and Tim agreed whole-heartedly.

When he did go though, he saw the blonde skating by herself and nearly fainted.

The light had been hitting her at just the right angle, highlighting her cheekbones and showing off the contours of her face. She moved languidly, legs gracefully gliding on top of the ice and no Dick he was not staring.

Somehow, he’d learned that she comes around at 7:30, there to skate by herself but also willing to help the little kids out.

Those times when she does help the children skate, compassion written on her face, they’re nice to watch. But his favorite times are when she’s left alone to skate. There, she starts to loosen up, relaxing until a small smile graces upon he face and she moves freely, like there’s not a trouble in the world.

He’s content to just watch her on the side as she laughs and spins.

But she’s not.

“Hey you, what’s the deal?” She snaps, glaring at him from the rink. “You’ve been watching me skate for weeks. Do you have anything to say?”

Blue, he realizes, staring at her. He’s never been this close to her before. Her eyes were blue, like the sky on days where clouds are nowhere to be seen and there’s a light breeze and-

“Well?” She demands, eyebrows arching. “Are you going to answer me?”

Tim flushes and offers her a flustered compliment on her skating (it stills earns him a smile though, and Tim goes him that day with spirits soaring.)

Afterwards, she always makes sure to greet him with a cheery “hello” and a blinding smile. They’d sit on the side together and just talk, first about ice skating, then about their day, their lives, their families.

Tim would watch her talk, her hands moving animatedly, her cheeks flushed, and feel this unknown sensation bubble up in his chest.

He’d still come everyday, watching her skate. She got a little more daring, executing more spins and jumps than normal (he’s not complaining, strangely enough he finds himself liking the way her legs flex, her back arch, her arms stretch.)

He loves seeing the delight and cheer on her face when she perfects a spin (his favorite is when she mastered the flying sit spin, she was so excited that she flung her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek. He went home with his head in the clouds.)

It’s December 31st and he’s walking by the ice rink when he notices the light inside (he’s pretty sure the ice rink shouldn’t be open on New Year’s Eve). He’s surprised to see Steph there, getting ready to start a spin before the door slams close.

She starts and her feet come out beneath her, crashing onto the floor.

Tim is by her side in seconds, gently helping her up and spewing out apologies faster than she can understand.

He pulls her up, careful to not hurt her and she stands up and oh.

She’s close to him. Like, really close. Like if he just tilted his head he’d be able to kiss her close.

Like Steph standing on her tiptoes and pressing her lips up against his mouth close. Like Tim kissing back with all he’s got while fireworks herald in the new year close. Like Tim’s hands sliding down to fit perfectly onto her hips close.

They break apart, breathing heavily.

“Happy New Year Tim,” Steph whispers, gently leaning up to kiss his lips one more time before walking away, humming one song or another.

Tim just stands there, dazed.

Seven Things About Timsteph

Stephanie Brown has seven stuffed animals from Tim Drake.

"Here," he said, thrusting the small furry object onto her lap. "I saw this and thought of you." 

 Tim Drake has seven ties from Stephanie Brown. 

 "You don't have enough style," she says bluntly. "Thankfully, you have me to fix that for you, and you will forever banish those horrid things you call ties from your closet." 

 Stephanie has six lipsticks from Tim. 

 "See, I saw this one and I knew you had to have it. It's purple too!" Tim says to her (she doesn’t even like purple lipstick). Somehow those become her favorites; it may or may not have to do with the way Tim's face lights up when he sees her wearing them. 

 Tim has six keychains from Stephanie. 

 Tim's been to every single place that Steph got the keychains from. Still, there's something special about the way she eagerly watches his reaction as she gives them to him. 

Stephanie has five 90s on her classes to thank Tim. 

 "After that, you move 16 over here, then you divide by 36, and you get x," He says, concentrating on her homework. Stephanie can't help but think he looks like a work of art, her crappy lamp washing light across his face, showing off the contours of his face. 

Tim has four cuff-links from Stephanie. 

They're far from being the most elaborate or expensive cuff-links he owns but they're still some of his favorites, and he makes a point of wearing at least one once a week. 

 Stephanie got four hugs from Tim.

Each time, she felt the safest she could ever be, wrapped up in Tim's warm arms. She couldn't help but feel like she fits perfectly with him, her head fitting perfectly against the curve of his neck. 

 Stephanie gives him three kisses on the cheek. 

 Tim feels heat explode onto his face as Stephanie leans up and presses her lips carefully against his cheek. Jason decides to take a picture right there, and Tim keeps it hanging so that it's the first thing he sees when he wakes up. 

 Tim stitched Steph up three times.

"Chill out boy wonder, I'm not going to break," she grins, watching Tim hesitate for the third time. Still, she can't help but feel cherished as Tim carefully stitches her up, concentrating so hard his forehead creases. 

Tim saved Steph's life two times 

 "Breathe Steph," He whispers as she's choking on air. Tim tried to ignore the bruises on her neck. He's never wanted to kill anyone more than he's wanted to kill Cluemaster. 

 "Thank you," she whispers to him late at night, when they're TimStephRobinSpoilerBatgirlRedRobin. 

He hums and carefully resists the urge to kiss her right there, after being so close to losing her to a bullet. 

 Stephanie taught Tim two things.

"No, Tim!" She laughs, hitting his shoulder. "Move your pinkies here, on C, and let your fingers fill in this space in between!" She couldn't help but feel pride rise up in her as she watches him play his first scale. (And even more pride when he successfully plays Mary Had a Little Lamb) 

 They both have one secret. 

 "I love you," he whispers, watching her chest rise and fall as she sleeps peacefully.

 "I love you," she finally allows herself to say it aloud staring at a blank screen where Tim had just bade her good night.

me externally: I write fanfic because I enjoy it! I write for myself!

me internally: validate me. drown me in kudos. i will sell my soul for comments and fic recs

Close as Strangers

Tim hurts Stephanie a lot

Or: soulmate au that none of you asked for where any injury inflicted upon your soulmate is also inflicted onto you

Stephanie flies up with a scream breaking through her lips, ripping her bedsheets off and clasping her side. The heavy metallic smell of copper floods her nostrils, and Stephanie bites back the pain ripping through her.

Already there are more bruises blossoming on her body, purple and blue covering her like a painting.

Her hand comes away sticky and she sighs, blinking in the dim light casted in her bedroom by the moon. The sun isn’t up yet and Stephanie resigns herself to another sleepless night.

She stares at her hand, blood staining it slowly as it runs over the lines on her hand, bleeding through her fingers and onto the bedsheets- Oh hell no.

Stephanie flings herself out of her bed, wincing slightly at the pain that burns in her right side, observing her bedding with horror. The blood is spreading already, blooming out like a wave, consuming everything in it’s path. She swears silently. This is the seventh one she’s ruined ever since she’s moved out of her mom’s house and into Gotham University.

And this one was her favorite too.

Rubbing her eyes, she makes her way slowly to the bathroom and lifts her bloodied shirt to check on the injury. She groans, pain beating into her skull. Her breathing starts getting labored, and it hurts to draw in a breath. When she finally meets this soulmate of hers, she’s actually going to kill him.

Stephanie leans over to grab her first aid kit, which was already starting to run low on supplies.

She just restocked it last week.

She cleans her side as quickly as she can before expertly wrapping the wound, with deft fingers who’ve had years of experience behind them.

Her soulmate’s a pain. It is his fault that she’s now majoring in the medical field. She wasn’t going to have her mother wrap her wounds for the rest of her life, and someone was going to have to care for her idiot soulmate.

Although it did seem like someone did, seeing how he wasn’t dead yet. Her soulmate must be a huge daredevil because there hasn’t been a day since she’s turned 13 where she hasn’t woken up with a multitude of bruises and cuts on her body.

(Steph tries not to think about the amount of times she’s woken up with broken bones. One of the biggest mysteries in her dorm is the topic of her soulmate. Who’s so daring that their soulmate would end up covered head to toe in wounds?)

“Soulmates are a gift and should be treasured, they said,” she grumbles under her breath, moving onto the other cuts still opening up on her body, “it’s a blessing, they said.”

At this point, it’s better they don’t meet. She’s not sure if she’ll be able to restrain herself from killing the idiot herself.

Rolling her eyes, she throws herself back onto her bed. Her soulmate might be determined to get himself cut to pieces but she sure as hell isn’t looking forward to facing her test without sleep.

As it turns out, the test isn’t an issue, curtesy of Two Face invading.

They all watch with bated breath as he flips the coin.

“Tails,” he announces. “We wait for the Bat.

There’s a collective sigh of relief. With Batman, they have a chance of salvation.

Stephanie feels something start to build up, like something important and life changing is going to happen, and it’s going to happen soon.

Robin comes in first, bursting in the door with his bo-staff in front of him. Batman quickly follows suit and Steph watches with bated breath as they engage in battle.

Even when everyone else runs out, she stays in the corner, fixed onto the battle. She stares in horror as one of Two Face’s grunts drives a knife into Robin, burying it to the hilt and blood gushes out and-

Steph doubles over as pain erupts from her own abdomen and a small scream escapes from her lips.

Two Face doesn’t see her, and but Batman and Robin do, and in her pain-induced haze she thinks their eyes may have widened.

And then everything goes dark.

Stephanie awakens slowly to the familiar beeping of a heart monitor. The rest slowly washes over her, the slight murmuring of voices, the tapping of keys on a keyboards and- Where those bats?

Her eyes snaps open and she flies up, cringing slightly as her body screams in pain.

“Hey, take it easy,” she hears, and the curses she has ready die down in her throat.

Turning over, she studies the male who’s to be her soulmate. He’s a cute one, hair blacker than night, eyes bluer than the ocean.

Stephanie wonders what she’s done to be blessed with a man who basically won the genetic lottery.

And then she remembers that he’s the reason why she’s been in constant pain everyday for six years and her mood sours quickly.

“Just my luck,” she grumbled. “I meet my soulmate and I can’t even get out of bed to strangle him properly.”

The boy cracks a hesitant smile and Steph tries to ignore the fact that her heart (and the heart monitor) skipped a beat before flying into overdrive.

God he’s handsome.

Stephanie blinks when she feels a hand gently encase her own, rubbing it apologetically. She fixes her gaze onto her soulmate, the one who’s very soul was carved out to fit hers perfectly, and feels her checks heat up.

Stephanie tries to think of something to say, something to kickstart the conversation.

What does one say to the person whose soul is tied so closely to their own that their body can’t stand it when the other gets hurt?

Stephanie squirms slightly under his intense stare, the way his eyes seems to be worshiping her.

“Hi,” he finally says with a crooked smile that she loves already. “I’m Tim.”

She smiles, warm as the sun.

“Hello Tim, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Stephanie.”

And then the silence is shattered and their fate is sealed.