SUCKER | Tim Drake X Male!Reader.

SUCKER | Tim Drake X Male!Reader.

SUMMARY: It's not like you meant to get in trouble with Batman himself by hacking him and finding his identity, you were just bored.

Reader is trans!

A/N: Don't want to be that guy but if you liked this, it would be cool if you followed me/reblogged so it can reach more people! I'm new here so it would be great help. Requests are also open if anyone is interested. Not much x Tim on this one, its more like an origins story thingy. Check out part 2 tho.

PART TWO.

Okay, you had fucked up this time.

It's not like you even meant to do so, you had been working so hard the last year to get a decent laptop and it had gotten broken in ten seconds by a stupid virus.

Well, maybe you were at fault for successfully hacking into Batman's super-secure system and revising a lot of his ultra-secret archives, but how would you have known he would send a virus your way the minute he found you out?

Just the thought of going back to making greasy pizzas and only eating that for a whole year made you gag… And it's not like you could go to Batman and make him buy you a new computer, even if now you knew who he was. That would just mean he had the chance to put you in prison, or worse, tell your guardians.

Luckily, he could not track you down. You had created your security and were using Gotham Public Library's internet. Even if they came for you, you'd be long gone. Or so you thought.

One of the librarians, probably the last one on shift, let you know she was closing soon. You left the place with a useless computer packed in your messenger bag.

Fixing this was gonna take a while.

Walking alone at night in Gotham normally was pretty scary for people who lived in the city and knew how dangerous it was, you had never been worried about it though; no one back at home cared if you came back, and it's not like you were interesting enough to be part of a crime. Plus, Batman and company were out there to protect you and everyone else.

Right after rounding the corner, just a few blocks from home, you felt a slight pinch in your arm. Something like a needle, you figured, and if you were right you wouldn't like what was next.

Not like you had time to figure that out because you immediately blacked out.

You woke up still a bit dizzy, all you could tell was that you were sitting. Your first instinct was to rub your eyes to wake up but once you tried, your hands were not able to reach your face, something was holding them down. your second reaction was to fully wake up and panic, making you completely aware of your surroundings.

The place looked like a standard interrogation room, or at least from what you have seen in movies. You couldn't move your hands because you were cuffed on a table, there was an empty chair in front of it but no two-way mirrors anywhere. However, there was a camera hanging by the ceiling in a corner.

"This is stupid," you looked directly at the camera, talking to whoever was watching you. "If you wanted money, you got the wrong kid. Dude, I'm a foster kid and we’re poor."

There was no answer.

"You're fucking dumb," you laughed, hoping some teasing would bring whoever was keeping you to the room and get you an explanation on what was happening. "You really tried so hard and you got the wrong fucking person. Honestly, I would be embarrassed."

A door opened behind you, making you smile and shake at the same time. The person walked slowly and silently to the empty chair, it was all probably for the drama of it. Then you saw him.

It was the fucking Red Robin.

"What the hell? Have you gone rogue or some shit?" you were confused, he was supposed to be one of the good guys who never held people captive unless they did something bad, was he not?

He ignored your question.

"How did you hack into our computers?"

Oh, that made more sense now. Of course, even if you were smart, they had much more resources than you, and finding you wouldn't be as hard as you thought.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," you lied. Maybe acting stupid would save you from this one, at least you hoped so.

"I tracked you. I know what you've seen and what you know. But I have nothing on you, who do you work for?"

"Lenny's pizza, it's on Belmont Street," you answered honestly. "Though I wouldn't recommend their stuff, Pizza is too greasy and they're really stingy with the pepperoni. Cheese is not great quality either."

"Do you think you're funny?" he ran his hands through his hair, clearly frustrated.

"Well, sometimes I make pretty good jokes. I'm not good under pressure though, maybe if you uncuff me I'll tell you a pretty good one."

"Who do you work for?" he growled, getting up from the seat.

He started walking around, you couldn't decipher if it was because he was nervous himself or to make you nervous. You had seen Red Robin in action before, though. He was smart, it was all probably an act to get you to talk.

"Brooo," you complained. "I already told you, I work at Lenny's."

"Then you sold the information."

"I would be out of this damn city if that was the case, birdy." You laughed at his accusation.

"I'll call Batman if you don't tell me what you've done."

You were a big Batman fan, you liked his work and were grateful for it but who really does want to be on the enemy end of his work? not you, he was pretty scary after all.

"Fine!" you huffed. "I did hack into your system and confirmed your identities. Not like it was a surprise to me, to be honest, I had my suspicions."

He looked at you, his eyes asking you to go on.

"Well, first of all, you have got to be damn rich to have all the equipment Batman has and I asked myself, Who in Gotham has the mo-"

His fist loudly hit the table and you rolled your eyes, his intimidation tactics were not working. Maybe it was because you were already nervous, you just were great at pretending nothing was happening. not like he needed to know all that.

"Just tell me what I want to know."

"Ugh, you're boring" you grunted, he didn't care. "I was bored and wanted to test my skills."

"That can't be just it."

You started to explain.

"Well, I wanted to see if I was smart enough to take a complex security system. When I thought which one would be the hardest inside of Gotham– and not the world," you interrupted yourself, excited. "Because hello? I'm still a teenager, I'll have time to take on the whole world and maybe even the universe later. What I mean to say is, you won that complexity award inside my mind and I had fun with it."

He left the room with no words, leaving you confused.

Hours later he came back, the sound the rusty door made when opened made you cringe. This time Red Robin, who you knew the name was Timothy, sat carefully on the chair and kept looking behind, like waiting for something. He didn't talk."

"What the hell is wrong with you?" you were quick to anger. It was all so stupid, this guy had kept you for a few hours in there for no reason and now he was silent and looking at what you assumed was nothing. You wanted to go back to your house, eat something and take a nap.

"You have two options," a distorted voice spoke from behind. You had never heard it but you immediately knew who it belonged to.

"Dude? You said you wouldn't bring the big scary bird in here," you squealed. "Fucking shit, you're an absolute liar. If I wasn't cuffed to this damn table I would–"

"You work for me," the voice interrupted once again, still standing behind you. "Or I'll send you to prison."

"I'll tell everyone in prison Bruce Wayne is Batman if you do that shit."

"Will they believe you?" Tim asked with a smirk.

"Fuck you, Timothy. You have the dumbest name I have ever heard and your hair is ugly.”

Batman didn't seem to care about your comments, but you could see Red Robin’s face, he was squinting and you could tell how hard he was trying not to snap at you and look uninterested and professional in front of the big guy. It was a bit funny.

“Okay,” you accepted the offer, they had you cornered. At least you had something new to do in your free time.

Tim took some keys out of his utility belt, uncuffing you with them while you unsuccessfully tried to cover your laughs with a cough. Something about utility belt keys was just so dumb, you noted in your mind to tease Tim about it later. Once you were able to get up you looked back at Batman, who was still waiting at the door. He was even scarier up close.

“Don't try anything funny,” the teen warned you.

“Why the fuck would I do that? You fight criminals as a hobby, dude.”

“Don’t call me dude, that’s not my name.”

“Whatever,” you dismissed him. “I'm just good with computers, I have no idea how to fight and I'm shitting myself by just looking at Batman right now.”

They lead you outside, where you had a ride on the batmobile to Wayne Manor and ultimately the Batcave. Tim was in charge of telling you everything about their computer systems and Bruce introduced you to the rest of their family.

Everyone was excited to meet you, some were a bit suspicious but you couldn't blame them. Jason became one of your favorite persons the moment you met him, both bonding over sarcasm and teasing Tim. Damian wasn't interested in you at all and Duke was shy but welcoming. Dick and Steph offered to be your ‘bat tour guides’ and Cass tagged along to keep an eye on you.

Now you not only had something new to do in your free time but also a whole bunch of new friends.

Lost and found | p.parker

Andrew!Peter Parker x reader

Summary: Peter had lost you. When he finds you again, he doesn't believe his eyes.

Warnings: reader's death at the beginning, angst, fluff at the end

Words: 1.7k

Requests: Okay request ask about No Way Home: Reader gets pulled into Tom’s Peter’s universe and in Andrew’s Peters world you died in stead of Gwen so maybe a like sweet cute reunion type of thing between Andrew’s Peter and reader?

and

hello it could be a request from andrew peter where the reader returns, despite being dead, as otto and goblin. and all angst and happy. because I read that emma stone was going to appear but due to the covid she couldn't.

A/N: this was painful to write tbh, but it has a happy ending if you ignore that they're gonna be separated again technically

Peter had dealt with a lot of loss in his life. First, his parents that he had lost way too early in his life. He had grown up without them, being raised by his aunt and uncle. When he was younger, he had often dreamed about how life could have been with his parents. He knew so little about them, when he thought about it. There were so many corner pieces but nothing connecting them. What flowers did his mother like? What was his father’s favourite movie?

He grew up to know these things about his aunt and uncle after all. May loved the flowers that smelled the most like a summer day would, his uncle preferred to watch action movies over simple dramas. Peter knew their favourite foods, their work schedules and most of all, he remembered his childhood so often. They had always tried their best to make Peter feel like everyone else even without completely replacing his parents. He was lucky to have someone care for him like that.

His world was shaken when his uncle died. Back then, he had been to young to understand the loss of his parents completely, to feel the emptiness to its full extend when it happened. Now he had lost his father figure again, leaving a gaping hole in his heart and so much rage. Perhaps he could have saved him somehow, perhaps he could have changed something.

When he thought that he had finally managed to deal with Uncle Ben’s death, he lost the next person. This time he couldn’t save them again. Whenever he closed his eyes, he saw your face, the remainder of a scream still on your lips, your hand reaching out for him to catch you but he never did. By the time his webs reached you, you had already hit the ground, your neck snapping right in front of him.

If he had to describe how he had felt in that moment, he wouldn’t be able to do it. His world had just completely fallen apart in that moment. His body had not felt like his own anymore, his legs had given in as soon as he reached the ground. Your lifeless body, laying there like a shattered flower in the middle of so much destruction. “No, no…” he mumbled, his voice sounding so far away. The tears ran down his cheeks and they seemed to burn on his skin. He felt like he couldn’t breathe anymore, like his heart would stop any moment.

You looked almost peaceful even when there was a storm raging inside Peter. He picked your head up gently, his fingers brushing through your hair one more time as he pressed his forehead to yours, his tears falling onto your face. How many times was he able to hold you like that, with your chest moving against his own, your laughter against his ear. But everything was silent now. He could probably hear a hairpin drop. He felt nothing but that numbing pain.

He knew that he should have been more careful. He should have prevented all of this from happening. He would give his own life so that he could hear you laugh one more time. He would give everything so his fingers would forget the feeling of your cold skin against them, the missing heartbeat, the laughter that echoed in his head as the most painful memory that he could not store away yet.

Loss was a constant in Peter Parker’s life, one that he could not get rid of, no matter how many lives he saved, how many bad people he stopped. He would never be able to get back what he had lost, not now and never in the future.

One day, when he was just on the way back from the grocery store, taking a shortcut over the roofs, everything changed. The world around him simply did. Buildings were taller, others smaller and some signs changed their meaning. He was not in the New York he knew as his home and that terrified him. It took him some time to figure out that he was probably in another version of this city. Peter had no clue how he had gotten here though. Did he drink something? Did something bite him again, but this time it would be much worse?

To be fair, the last few months had just been filled with grief for him. Just when he started to get better, he was focusing on fighting crime again, so the last thing he wanted now, just as he got back into his routine, was to land somewhere else, some place he didn’t know. And then he wasn’t able to figure out how he had gotten here in the first place.

Things started to happy pretty fast as he wandered around the city. He stepped through some sort of portal, following two voices he didn’t recognise. He found another Peter Parker which confused him even more. How many versions of him were there? Why did he meet one now, in this strange other version of New York?

And then he met another one, found out about the fact that he was not the only one from his New York that had found their way into this universe.

It was not until he arrived in the youngest Peter’s high school that worst thing happened. Peter was brooding over a few ingredients he had just mixed together when the two large doors to the school lab flew open.

And standing there, looking at everyone in the room, were you. The bottle he was holding fell to the ground, the glass shattering, the liquid spilling over the entire floor. Something seemed to wrap so tightly around his throat, robbing him of the ability to speak or to make a sound. He blinked a few times, aware of all the confused looks he was getting, but he was not able to believe his eyes. How could you stand there? Just a few metres away from him when he had clearly seen you die, back in that tower. When he had seen your dead body, cold and motionless, when you were such a painful memory in his head, when your death had forced him into his knees. When you had died and he had lost all the happiness in his life.

You stared at him, eyes wide open, and he could tell that you were trying to put so many pieces together as well. How did you end up here? How were you still alive? Nothing made sense anymore.

Peter had to force himself out of his chair, his legs feeling like jelly. He was not sure if they could even carry him far enough.

Then he stood before you, his eyes filled with so much pain. It was your turn to ask yourself what had happened that made him so sad. Peter was always a force to be around, happy, lighting up the entire room for you. The guy that stood in front of you seemed like he had seen too many horrible things.

“Peter,” you whispered. Did he even hear it?

What were the odds that you had landed in this strange place with your boyfriend?

“You…” He wasn’t able to say more. Before you could reach out, he was on his knees, his arms wrapping around your legs as he held you so tightly. “Peter,” you said again, confused, surprised – puzzled, most of all. What was happening? Why did this happen? What had happened to him?

“Peter, what happened? Do you know where we are?” you asked, hoping for an answer, but you knew you wouldn’t get one. Your boyfriend started sobbing, his hold around your legs getting tighter. Reluctantly, still not sure what was happening, you wrapped your arms around him as well, your heart aching at the sound of him crying. You wanted to comfort him – you needed to comfort him.

“I saw you die, Y/N, I saw you die.”

For a moment, you couldn’t even register his words. It took you a few breaths, it took you a moment to close your eyes, before you understood what he was trying to say. You had died, but at the moment, you were pretty sure that you weren’t dead.

“I saw you fall, I held your body,” Peter continued, his voice reflecting all the grief he had felt.

Maybe you had been right with your first assumption. This was another universe, where all things happened differently. What if this wasn’t the Peter you were with in your world, but another one that came from a place where you had died in front of him?

The thought terrified you. It left you with a cold sensation in your entire body. How did you die?

“I’m alive, I’m very alive right now, Peter,” you assured him. He needed that, you knew it. This was not the right moment to talk about your theory of what had happened, to ask Peter what he thought about it or where he came from. It was not the moment to ask any questions, because you knew that he was still the Peter you knew and you had just come back to him somehow, after he had originally lost you.

You sank to your knees as well, the cold tiles adding to the freezing sensation in your body, but you didn’t mind. Not when you were able to take Peter’s face into your hands, feeling the stubble under your fingers, something your Peter had just newly acquired.

His forehead leant against yours, the tears leaving his face wet. Just like on that fatal day, he was holding you again, forehead against yours, but this time, he could feel your breath against him again. He could feel your chest rise and lower against his own, he could hear the heart beating in your chest.

Maybe all of this wasn’t quite right and a lucky coincidence, but he could not let you go.

Maybe he would never let you go again. The tears kept coming and coming, but he did not feel the numbness anymore. He felt relieved, alive, more than he did in the last few months, because you were in his arms again.

Because some version of him did not make the same mistakes.

Andrew's Spider-Man and supervillain reader?

Your Favorite Villain│Andrew Garfield!Spiderman x Villain!Reader

Warnings: Brief descriptions of violence; some suggestive content; set in tasm!

Word Count: 1k

Summary: You have no desire to be a hero, so you’re not above causing some havoc to catch the attention of the Amazing Spiderman.

Author's Note: No spoilers for Spiderman: NWH! Thank you anon for putting in a request, I hope I did you justice. I did try to keep this gender-neutral, but I may have subconsciously written this regarding a feminine reader, so sorry about that. I wanted to do a sort of enemies to lovers trope and was inspired by Spiderman and Black Cat’s dynamic. Also to clear any confusion about (Y/n)’s power, they essentially have the ability to teleport themselves or whatever inanimate object they desire.

Feet dangling over the edge of a building, you hum a small tune as you wait for a certain someone to appear. Pulling the box closer to your figure, you examine the priceless items kept inside. Taking out a necklace, you’re quick to clutch it to your person when you hear the sound of Spiderman land behind you.

“You left a mess back at the museum. That’s not like you.”

“Museum?” Standing up, you play dumb before holding the necklace up in front of him. “Oh! Museum! I was wondering how I got all these nice things.”

While you couldn’t see the man behind the mask, you were sure he was rolling his eyes at your antics. Setting the expensive jewelry back in the box, you sigh. “I’m just joking. You can take a joke, can’t you? Or does Spiderman not have a sense of humor?”

Going to pick up the box, you stumble in surprise as you feel his webs tie your wrists together. Hands bound by his webs, you stare at him with a sly smirk. “Do you love binding your enemies, or am I just lucky?”

Peter doesn’t answer, merely shaking his head. The hero walks up towards you, moving the box of stolen artifacts away from you before grabbing your bound wrists. “Come on. We’re going to the station.”

“Do we have to?” You lift your arms, hooking them around the hero's neck to bring him close to you. “You know how this’ll go down anyways. We’ll fight, I’ll give you most of the artifacts back as a sign of a truce before sneaking off. Why not save our energy and do something more productive?”

Glancing down at where his lips would be, you wait in silence, giving him time to think before sighing. Spiderman had too strong of morals. Yet, something happened. Something different than usual. You felt his arms wrap around your waist as he released the sound of a strained sigh. “I don’t get you. One moment you’re stealing from museums, banks, taking anything you want, and then the next, you’re saving citizens by my side. Why do you do it?”

“Why does it matter?” Bringing your face closer to his, you bite your lip. “Hero, villain…Labels are just so restricting. I do things because I want to.”

His grip on you tightens, making you sigh longingly. The two of you enjoy the moment, well aware that neither of you would settle this with ease. Not tonight, anyway. His morals were too strong, and yours too fluid. Still, for these brief seconds, he could ignore what you stole and you his unwavering ability to always be a hero. And so, you kiss him softly through his mask, leaning into his embrace ever so slightly.

“Sorry, Spidey.”

Your apology was quick as you brought your knee up to his stomach before flashing away, appearing at the next building, webs no longer restraining you. You wave teasingly, a smile on your face as you hold the box of artifacts. Peering inside, you huff in annoyance as you realize Spiderman had taken the necklace, the one thing you desired the most from your stolen goods. As if on cue, the hero calls your attention, waving the piece of jewelry from his spot.

“Looking for something?”

“You’re insufferable, you know that?”

You hear him laugh while swinging towards you, clearly amused by your remark. The box of items disappears from your hold, warping to a location he wouldn’t be able to find without you. He comments on how that’s cheating, making you laugh as you warp, appearing behind him. Attempting to swing at his head with your leg, he catches your foot mere centimeters away. Grunting, he keeps a firm grip while turning around to face you. He swings your foot away, causing you to stumble. The hero catches you with ease, your back against his chest.

“This is certainly an interesting position,” you comment under your breath, aware he can hear you and probably your racing heart.

“Do you always deflect with humor?”

“Just around you.” Again you disappear, now standing at the ledge of the roof. You hold the necklace he had and place it around your neck. “You’re fun to tease and you can’t say you don’t enjoy it.”

He doesn’t respond, making you laugh in response. Silence had never been so loud. Toying with the necklace around your neck, you tilt your head. “I’ll make you a deal, Spidey. I keep the necklace, and you get the rest of the artifacts. Sound fair?”

“I need all of the items. I’m not bargaining with a thief.”

Placing a hand over your chest, you feign being hurt by his comment. “Just a thief? And to think we shared a kiss.”

The two of you stand at opposite ends of the building, neither of you making a move. If you wanted to, you could disappear with the stolen artifacts. In fact, you probably could have taken them without him being aware in the first place. Peter could never understand why you did what you did. You were an enigma, and he was curious to know who was under the mask.

“Clock’s ticking, Spidey. What’s it going to be?”

“You can keep the necklace.”

“That’s a good boy.” You say with a smile on your lips. The box reappears, this time by Peter’s feet. “Pleasure doing business—”

Your sentence is cut short, Spiderman launching a web and pulling you towards him. You let him do so and don’t struggle as he slowly removes the necklace, his fingers brushing at the edge of your mask. Waiting with bated breath, waiting for him to remove it, you watch as he only takes the necklace.

“You could have taken it off.” You whisper, eyeing him suspiciously. “Don’t you want to see who the criminal behind the mask is?”

“I’d rather you willingly do it yourself.” Peter answers before stepping away from you.

“Will I ever get to see the Spider behind the mask? I mean, if I take mine off, it’s only fair.”

“Maybe, but I don’t reward criminals.”

“Not even the ones you like?”

“Try to go straight, alright? You have a gift, one that could be used to help people.”

You had no plans to change your ways. Yet the tone in his voice, his belief that you could do better…shook something in you. Lightly pushing him away, you begin to back towards the ledge again. Blowing him a kiss, you watch as the world shifts, your vision distorting as you start to warp yourself to another location.

“I’ll think about it.”

A Little Box

Dick Grayson x reader

Christmas series 3

Warning: none?

Dick arrived back at your apartment almost late. The traffic had been awful. He pulled off his work tie and walked into your bedroom. You were putting final touches on makeup in front of a vanity. He gave you a tired smile and kissed your hair before grabbing his clothes.

He changed into a cashmere sweater that Bruce had bought him last Christmas and a nice pair of trousers. Most cops couldn’t afford anything like that and he didn’t want to stand out in Bludhaven so he had rarely worn it. But it was perfect for Wayne Manor Christmas dinner.

Dick watched as you stood up and he smiled. You really looked beautiful in a nice blue dress. “What is it, Pretty Bird?” You asked.

“Just admiring the lovely lady in front of me,” Dick said. You smiled. He was always sweet like that. He grabbed his blazer from the closet and pulled it on. You grabbed your coat as well.

The car ride was nice. Dick’s Porsche was warm and he easily maneuvered the soft snow falling on the highway. It was going to be a white Christmas after all.

Well, in Bludhaven. As you neared Gotham it changed to nasty sleet. You wanted to hold his hand but didn’t want to distract him on the nasty roads. This was his home, you reminded himself. He’d driven these roads a billion times. Bludhaven, your home, was snowy. Gotham was wet.

The size of the manor always took your breath away. And with it decked out for Christmas, it was even more beautiful. Dick parked in the giant garage that had many beautiful cars. He held your hand with one hand and slid his other in his pocket.

He felt the box. He certainly didn’t forget about it. There were other presents that he dropped off earlier in the week on a surprisingly nice weather day. But this one had his heart beating quicker.

“You okay, baby?” You asked him with a frown. He realized that he was just standing around like an idiot.

“Yeah. I’m great. Let’s get inside,” he said. You both walked into the house through a side door. There was many and each entrance was just as lovely. A side view of the main staircase framed a tree that had to be 14-16 foot tall stood proud. You could faintly smell cinnamon and some kind of roast meat. There was laughter from the main study. Pre-dinner drinks.

Bruce, Tim, his girlfriend, and Duke were having some sort of lively debate. Damian and his girlfriend were playing chess in the corner. Jason was a no show. It wasn’t a surprise. He rarely showed. And Cass was on the way. Alfred must have been in the kitchen working.

They all welcomed you both as you walked in the room. You sat on a leather couch in front of a gigantic roaring fire. Dick had his hand on your knee, gently rubbing circles.

“I am fine with books to movies but remakes need to stop,” he said. Duke all but gaped.

“I thought you liked the It movies.”

“I did. But most of the others were so bad.”

“We should remake movies that could have been great but were bad,” Tim added. “Like any video game movie pretty much. Like imagine if we started with a Spider-Man game. The movies would be awful.”

“Can we talk about how annoying it is when people think we work like Spider-Man? Like I can’t catch a bus or anything. No one acts like him,” Dick said. Tim and Duke laughed out loud.

“Bro, if there was ever a vigilante asked to ‘do a flip’ it would be you. Throwing himself off buildings to pounce on bad guys? Talks too much in fights? That’s you,” Tim said.

“I don’t-“

“Dinner is served,” Alfred said at the doorway. The conversation stopped as they all moved to the formal dinning room. You sat next to Dick and watched his beautiful profile as he continued to argue with Tim and Duke over Spider-Man. The little hairs that flopped on his forehead. The smile he kept just a moment from showing all the time.

“Hhmm,” a voice said clearing his throat. Jason stood at the doorway with a woman. She appeared nervous.

“Master Jason! You made it,” Alfred said excitedly. “I recieved your message but it’s been many years. Sit. Sit.”

The pair sat across from you and Dick and the table all stared. Jason had a date? In the years that you’d dated Dick, you’d never seen him at Christmas or with a girlfriend, much less both.

“Yeah, it’s Christmas,” he said shrugging.

“Glad you could come,” Dick said with a grin. Damian was whispering to his date. Probably telling her who the heck this man was.

A burgundy mushroom soup was served. The soft clatter of spoons was loud as everyone quietly ate. Bruce kept glancing at Jason and the woman he saw.

Cass showed before the second course was served and hugged everyone including Jason’s mysterious date before declaring that she liked her. It was nice to see everyone at once. Bruce insisted that Alfred share pudding with everyone else and the older seemed quite pleased.

Dick on the other hand was literally sweating. He was forgetful in conversation and his glass of wine lay untouched. He was thinking of that little heavy box in his pocket. He’d talked to you about marriage. You’d had those late night conversations about marriage and children and the future. It wasn’t a surprise that you’d both considered marriage. But to ask in front of his entire family was scary. On Christmas too. He considered chickening out.

“Dick, are you okay? You kinda spaced on us,” you said, putting a hand on his knee. He sat up and smiled. But his eyes were still a little too wide to be casual.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he said. This was a great time to do this. A sign from god some would say as the entire family was watching him. His fingers moved rapidly over the box in his pocket.

“Actually,” Dick said a little too loudly. “I... uh, I have a question.”

If everyone wasn’t watching him before, they damn sure was now. You looked at him confused as he took your hand. He was literally panting. “Lovebird, babe. I love you.”

“I love you too,” you said, feeling almost uncomfortable with the attention of the whole table. He wasn’t drunk so what was wrong with him? Cass grinned widely and covered her mouth. Of course, she understood Dick’s body language instantly.

“We’ve kinda talked about this before so I hope it’s not too much of a surprise. But I’d like to talk about forever. Will you marry me,” Dick asked. His blue eyes were so wide and he looked a mess.

“Will I marry you?” You asked shocked like an idiot.

“Oh god, I have a ring,” he said pulling it out of his pocket and handing you the box. You opened it and looked at the ring. “Please say something,” Dick pleaded. The table watched. They couldn’t turn away if they wanted to.

“Yes! Yes,” you said grabbing his face.

“Yes?”

“Yes,” you answered and he kissed you quickly. The table broke out in applause. Dick pulled back slightly to look in your eyes. He clumsily slid the ring on your finger. It was so pretty in the candlelight from the table.

Alfred appeared at the table with champagne a few minutes later and everyone got a glass. Even Damian and his date got a tiny amount for a toast.

You and Dick sat close together all night and you honestly couldn’t tell what anyone else said or did as you just wanted to be with him. It was early in the evening that you retired to his old room as the storm had gotten too bad for a drive back to Bludhaven. No one could blame the love birds for wanting alone time.

So, you know, lately, I’ve been hearing this sound. Everywhere I go, like a tick, tick, tick… Like a time bomb in some cheesy B-movie or Saturday morning cartoon. The fuse has been lit. The clock counts down the seconds as the flame gets closer, and closer, and closer, until… all at once… BOOM!

tick, tick… BOOM! 2021 • dir. Lin-Manuel Miranda