Early Morning Alarms

Early morning alarms

At two A.M., Stephanie was awakened from an obnoxious ringing and groaned.

“Oh you’re kidding,” she grumbled. “He was doing so well.”

When her neighbor first moved in, she had been excited to see someone new. That had changed once fire alarms started ringing every night.

It was understandable if her neighbor set off the fire alarm if something dangerous actually happened but no. Her neighbor was just an awful cook.

Normally, everyone in the complex would have descended upon this person by now, but there was just a little something stopping them.

Her neighbor, lean with black hair and blue eyes, just happened to be Tim Drake, adopted son of Bruce Wayne, multi-billionaire. He could buy them all with a wave of his hand.

So, they stayed quiet and grumbled to themselves.

But Steph was tired and annoyed. She liked her sleep, and hasn’t even gotten a full nights sleep months. Her schoolwork was starting to suffer as a result, and Barbara was starting to send her looks.

This was going to stop, and soon.

So Stephanie goes grocery shopping and knocks on her neighbor’s door.

"Hi! I'm Stephanie!" She says cheerfully. Her neighbor blinked at her (darn, he was cute too). "I'm here to teach you how to cook!"

—

This is inspired by a really old timsteph fic where she meets him because of a fire alarm in the apartment building but I can’t find it for the life of me so please help :)

The Mystery of the Misplaced Mail

Stephanie Brown could feel her heart rate spike already, blue eyes blazing as she glared at the offending object in her mailbox.

Because in her mailbox, her wonderful mailbox meant to contain her mail was another box labeled “To: Mr. Timothy Drake, Apartment 306.”

This has been a reoccurring event ever since a couple months ago, where she had first opened her mailbox to Timothy Drake’s mail. At first she had laughed it off because he was in the neighboring apartment to hers, and just shoved it back into his mail box. But now, five months after the first incident occured, she’s very quickly becoming annoyed. Especially today. Today she was flaming mad.

This. Ends. Now.

Stephanie grabs the mail and takes off, ignoring Mr. Bane who waves at her as she tears through the hallway, runs up three levels of stairs, and slams at the door to room 306. She ignores the muffled “coming!” and continues to attack the door, feeling her cholesterol levels rise.

She doesn’t wait for Mr. Timothy Drake to finish opening the door, just pushes at it and marches in.

“How does this keep happening?” She shrieks, flinging the mail right into the blue eyed man’s face, ignoring the three men laughing in the apartment. “It literally has your name and your apartment and-“ she broke off abruptly, face flushing.

Because holy hell, Timothy Drake? He was a knockout.

She’s heard about him before because he’s basically the prince of Gotham, but Jesus she didn’t expect him to be chiseled by the hands of God.

He’s taller than her, with broad shoulders and blue eyes that shatter her world and put it back together. His glasses carefully frame his face and oh lord his face is doing funny things to her stomach.

Open mouth, insert foot.

“So um, yeah” She says awkwardly, feeling a flush rise up her cheeks. “You should label your things more clearly? Um, have a good day?” Clumsily, she stumbled to the door and prepares to walk out when a hand grabs her wrist and she’s right into Timothy Drake’s dazzling eyes.

There’s flecks of green in there too, she thinks, dazed.

“Sorry about that,” Timothy says to her, sheepish grin on his face. “I had no idea that was happening.”

Stephanie nodded stupidly. “Uh, yeah, I, um, I usually just stick it back into your mailbox,” she says, kicking herself for her lack of eloquence.

“Thank you,” he says, smiling warmly at her. “I don’t suppose we’ve met, have we? I’m Tim Drake, pleasure to meet you.”

Stephanie can tell her face is red as a tomato.

“Yeah, I’m Stephanie, I uh, I live in the apartment next door,” she says finally, jabbing towards the general direction of her apartment. “Um, sorry for barging in like... that,” she finishes awkwardly, ducking her head slightly.

“No problem,” Tim says with a crinkle to his eyes. “Let me make it up to you yeah? Are you open any time soon? There’s a good steakhouse around the corner.”

Stephanie feels her stomach erupt into butterflies as she realized that Tim Drake, attractive man with a devastating smile, was asking her to a date.

“Um, yeah,” she says, “see you Monday? 5 o clock?”

Tim grins at her and she thinks she can definitely get used to this feeling in her chest.

“See you there.”

_____________________________________

Tim waited for the door to close before wheeling onto the male closest to him.

“Jason I told you to stop messing with her mail!”

___________________________________________

I am so sorry!! This was supposed to go up last week, I had it queue’d and everything but it just never went up, and I just realized now.

Of Christmas Sweaters and Abominations

Timothy Drake would like to shrink into a nearby crevice and never come out. Timothy Drake would like to sink into a lake and never surface. Timothy Drake would like to fight Harley Quinn with one hand tied behind his back. Timothy would like to do anything but have to stand in front of Wayne Enterprise’s associates in an ugly Christmas sweater.

Timothy’s seen some downright ugly things in his life (a drunk Swamp Thing ranks pretty high) but nothing is uglier than the abomination he has been forced into.

The sweater (if it can even be called that) is a horrendous furry green and red explosion with silver tassels flying everywhere and a plump santa leering at everyone.

Tim nearly cried the first time he saw it.

Damian’s having the time of his life, laughing at him in the corner. Tim shoots him a stink eye. It’s just not fair that he weaseled out of this, staying safe in a striped sweater.

Dick skips by him and Tim nearly gags at the Christmas joy radiating off of him. Of course Dick manages to pull of his horrendous light up Christmas sweater and hat. Dick can’t look bad in anything.

Tim is halfway through despairing about the state of humanity and mourning his own ruined social standards when warm arms wrap around him and all his thoughts float away.

Humanity was good and well and prospering. His social status wasn’t completely ruined. Damian Wayne can eat his smirk. Dick Grayson can shove his stupid smile somewhere else.

Because Tim Drake, in all his ugly Christmas sweater glory, had the prettiest girl in all of Gotham hugging him. He can feel a smile tug at his lips as he relaxes into Stephanie’s arms.

“Hey you,” She giggles, “You look dashing.”

Tim grin and neatly turns around.

“Hey yourself,” he says, pressing his forehead against hers.

Never mind the fact that they’re wearing the same sweater, Stephanie looks like a goddess. Tim swears that he’s not biased but he’s convinced that red, green, and silver are her colors.

“You have that ridiculous look on your face again, Drake,” Damian shoots as he slides out to greet Stephanie and only mildly grumbles as she reaches out to ruffle his hair.

“You’re an angel,” he says as Damian moves away to pester Dick. “I have no idea how you deal with him.”

Stephanie laughs and he drinks up every sound, eyes glued to her glowing smile and gleaming eyes.

“Let’s ignore our baby demon and enjoy each other’s company, yeah?”

Timothy hums and wraps his arm around her waist. He could almost forget that this beautiful woman was the reason for his pain in the monstrosity that called itself a sweater-

almost.

“You owe me,” he huffs. “I am suffering in this disgusting example of all of humanity’s failures.”

Stephanie only laughs again, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“You love it,” she says, before leaning up to connect their lips.

“Merry Christmas, boyfriend wonder.”

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.

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.”

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)