Take The Photographs (and Still Frames In Your Mind)

take the photographs (and still frames in your mind)

snapshots of ignored relationships.

i. dick & steph

Dick sat on the counter in his apartment; Steph stood next to him, staring intently at the waffle maker. Her curls were piled on top of her head in a messy bun and she had changed into a sports bra and a pair of yoga pants she’d stolen from him. He was in his boxers and an undershirt.

Steph broke the silence to say, “I know you’re normally the one who says this, but I want you to know I’m here for you.”

Dick sent her a wan smile. “I know. Sorry I couldn’t always say the same.”

She shrugged.

.

.

.

ii. cass & jason

Jason woke up to find his sister standing over him. He screamed.

Once his heart rate got under control, he snapped, “What the fuck, Cassie?”

Cass said, “You are hurt. Tim told me.”

Jason sneered and sat up, cursing his past self for falling asleep on the couch. “Tim should’ve kept his fucking mouth shut.”

“I was worried,” she said.

Jason’s lips screwed into a grimace. “You don’t need to worry about me.”

Cass shook her head. “I will anyways. Do you need help?”

“It’s just a hyperextended knee. I guess you can stay though, I hate watching movies alone.”

(read the rest on ao3)

Five Times Stephanie Brown Made the News

This fic is for @ladykattz who I offer a million apologies for being so late. I hope this fic makes it up to you.

Prompt: “Can you do something with Stephanie being Tim’s date to a gala or visiting him at Wayne Enterprises for whatever reason? I just wanna see how all these high class or professional workplace people view this unknown girl who is constantly chilling with the Waynes.”

1. The first time Stephanie made the news, she was fifteen and Gotham exploded at the news of another vigilante working their way through the Gotham underworld. Word on the street was, this one wore purple and had hair bright as the sun. Among themselves, Gothamites gossiped. Some didn’t believe she’d last a week, others thought she’d make it to a month. No one believed she would ever truly succeed. Behind her mask, Stephanie narrowed her eyes and swore to prove them wrong. 2. Stephanie makes news again as Stephanie, friend of the elusive Cassandra Cain, whom which journalists would sell their organs for to get an interview. They watch as the blonde chatters freely to the sole daughter of Bruce Wayne, a smiling often flitting across her face, one mirrored easily on Cassandra’s face as well. At one point, Cassandra Cain laughs so hard she doubles over, clutching her stomach. Her eyes wrinkle, and the newspapers papers dub her a beauty in a beat. Who is this girl, who seems to familiar to the most elusive and impassive members of the Wayne Family?

3. The third time Stephanie made it on the news, she was seen in the arms of one Timothy Drake at the Wayne Gala. The same mysterious blonde hanging out with Gotham’s princess was now firmly established as the girlfriend of one of Gotham’s prince. The news story only briefly brushed over how Tim’s eyes never left his date, how under the soft lights the two smiled like gems. How Dick’s arms often wrapped about the two like family and Damian dances with Stephanie and over again. Mostly, it focused on the elites throwing themselves into a tizzy as they fumed over a common girl on the arms of one of the men in highest demand. This blonde, with her obnoxious laugh and cheap jewelry had the nerve to steal one of the most wanted men, and did so in a Macy’s dress. The ladies decked out in Gucci and Swarovski diamonds fluffed their hundred dollar insured hair in disgust. The elites scorned and scoffed, but no one could deny the happiness radiating off of the couple. Nor could they deny that the words “pompously overdressed clout” left Stephanies lips multiple times as the couple laughed themselves into oblivion watching the Elite of Gotham flush purple. 4. The fourth time Stephanie made the news, it was after an interview with a Wayne Enterprise secretary. The anonymous secretary provides multiple reports on the recent sunshine appearing in the Wayne Enterprises. It would appear that rain or shine, a blonde female would skip up the stairs to the Wayne Tower, press a kiss on Mr. Drake’s forehead (which, in the 279 days that she has observed Ms. Browns arrivals, have never failed to bring a happy smile to his face) and cheerfully encourage the workers to keep up the good work. Ms. Brown, the secretary raves, is a miracle worker. She was thoughtful too, always asking Mr. Wang about his daughter and Mrs. McClain about her hospitalized father and Mr. Mendoza about his newborn. It was as if, she writes, entrapped in her shining blonde hair and blue eyes was the sun itself. It certainly had a favorable effect among Tower the workers and Mr. Drake himself.

5. The fifth time Stephanie makes the news, she is a new hero. Another year, another gala, another outing as one of Gotham’s most well established couples. Tim slips his arms around Steph’s waist and she leans up to press a soft kiss onto his jaw, raising her hand to admire the gleaming diamond on her finger. Together, they greet all those who congratulate them on their recent engagement. A soft love wraps around them, and happiness radiates off them. Stephanie takes great delight in bragging about the newest Revlon eyeshadow and the upcoming Fenty Beauty release as the ladies gather around her. A few titter and clutch luxury powders, but she’s proud to see that majority of the women are listening intently to what she says. It never fails to delight her when girls walk up to her to strike a conversation about a product she recommended. Still, of course something goes wrong and this it comes in the form of the Condiment King, shouting about his own power and youth and lost chances. When the rest of the elites rush back and a jumble of confused shouts and scared expressions, Stephanie takes the opportunity to punch him right across the jaw- after she chews him out for even thinking about interrupting her special moment and her engagement. Not on her watch, she snaps, glaring down towards the trembling Condiment King, aiming a kick towards his ribs. What a girl, the elites whisper among themselves. How selfless, how heroic. Her fiancé is a lucky man. What a hero.

Behind them, the Wayne family grins.

Tim you are adorable

Of Bricks and Wedding Rings

Stephanie might not be rich like a certain heir of a multi billionaire, but she still understands big gestures. So when Tim challenges her to outdo his proposal with ferris wheels, skywriting and fireworks, Stephanie takes it seriously.

Because Stephanie might not have the money to buy out amusement parks or huge diamond rings, but she does understand people and she never shied away from a challenge.

Stephanie launches her plan with Dick. She carefully lays out everything she wanted to happen and how to enact it. Dick shrieks and jumps onto the chandelier, eyes shining in delight.

Next, she sets off to get everything she needed.

Whistling, she skips down one of the many alleyways of Gotham, keeping an eye out for a nicely sized brick.

It can’t be too big or too small, she decides, frowning at a pile of bricks.

It was a nice circle, she decides, finally leaving with a brick tucked under her arm. To begin and end with a brick.

They started a chapter together, connected by a brick (literally, a brick in her hand connecting with his face), it’s only fitting that they begin the next chapter with a brick.

The day began with cuddles. Tim wrapped himself around her, breaths tickling her neck and Stephanie promptly kicks him out of bed before he decides to sleep all day.

The day progresses with a impromptu flash mob at the street mall that Tim stops by, Cass conveniently nearby to steer him directly to the center of it, Bruno Mars’s voice ringing across belting out Marry Me.

The day stops for Stephanie a minute before she gets ready to get out.

“Oh my God,” she breathes, staring at the brick in her

Three.

Dick flings his arms around her, pushing her towards the stage.

Two.

Jason tosses her the microphone, smirking.

“Go get him, tiger.”

One

“No need to fret Brown, Drake is pathetic. He would likely fall right over for this cacophony,” Damian sniffed, tilting his head in disdain, belying the sparkle in his eye.

Zero.

Steohanie inhales, steps out, and clears her throat.

“Timothy Timbo Timmie Tim-Tim Drake!” She chants into the microphone, butterflies starting to crowd her stomach.

Tim gapes at her.

“You sir, the singlehandedly biggest dork on this side of the planet. You still sleep with your Batman doll and wake up in the weirdest positions. You forget to wear a jacket and then complain about the cold. You enjoy reading the newspaper in the mornings. You pull all nighters and then complain about how tired you are. Any sane person would recognize how weird you are.”

She takes a deep breath.

“And yet, everyday I want to wake up next to your stupid self. I want to be the person you wrap yourself around at night, the one who reminds you to wear a jacket, the one who you discuss the newspaper with, the one who reminds you to get some rest. So I guess that means that I’m not sane because Timothy Drake, on the honor of this brick, will you do me the honor of making all that come true, and marry me?”

Stephanie has a second to breathe before Tim launching himself at her, lips smashing against hers. She gasps out a laugh, dropping the brick to press herself closer to him.

“Mine was still better” Tim whispered against her lips.”

“Bet.”

Stephanie Brown: *exists*

Steph’s Father: *is a criminal and an asshole*

Steph: *with no imput from Batman & co* …I’m gonna fight crime.

Robin: *tells her to stop fighting crime*

Steph: *keeps fighting crime*

Steph: *gets pregnant, has a baby*

Steph: *does what she thinks is best for the baby, then goes back to fighting crime*

Batman: *promotes her, then tells her she’s not good enough to fight crime and is going to stop*

Steph: *is sad, keeps fighting crime*

Steph: *starts a gang war by accident, dies*

Steph: *comes back to life, keeps fighting crime*

Robin: *tells her to stop fighting crime again, this time very strongly and in no uncertain terms*

Steph: *promotes herself to Batgirl, keeps fighting crime*

Entire Batfamily: *strongly disproves of and complains about Steph fighting crime*

Steph: *wins them over, keeps fighting crime*

DC: *erases Steph and her past from the universe*

Steph: *……..comes back, keeps fighting crime*

Although DickBabs or Dibs as I like to call it, will always be my OTP. I feel like TimSteph is often overlooked. They’re pretty darn cute too. I love how she is so loud and open about her attraction to Tim and he’s just so bashful about it.