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Bruce should be proud, elated even that his son, Jason was taking initiative and going to prom. He was currently leaning against the doorway of his second youngest son’s room as he observed Jason fumbling with his tie in front of a mirror.
He looked quite dapper in his tailor-made suit and tie, a rare look for Jason who lived in worn out muscle tees and vintage leather jackets. He knew that materialistic things, despite being the son of a literal billionaire didn’t quite interest Jason.
Bruce wouldn’t necessarily call Jason anti-social. He just knew that his son preferred the company of books over people, especially people who were in the upper echelon. When he did have friends, he ran with a bad crowd, which led him to being held back for a couple of years and a notch on his permanent record.
It put a strain in their family, with Bruce not being able to handle seeing his son face the consequences of his actions. Jason believed that Bruce cruelly imposed this world of materialism, pedigree, and stuffy etiquette on him, knowing that he’s just a mere child from the Crime Alley. Bruce just wanted to provide him a better life, where he could flourish without the risk of the volatile and fatal nature of the streets – where he wouldn’t have to worry about his next meal or his repressing any of his desires. He knew that Jason was just being reckless – seeking solace with people from a more similar background as him.
He had adopted the boy all those years ago after a chance encounter in Crime Alley. Jason was trying to steal the tires off his car, and ever since Bruce had seen the looks of pure determination, resilience and grit in that little boy’s eyes, he had never looked back at his impulsive decision. The son of a missing prostitute and an absentee father, Bruce knew that he could provide a better life for the boy. Bruce was confident in the fact that he had raised a fine young man.
Thankfully their relationship had vastly improved since all those years ago, with Bruce doing his best to diminish that insecurity that Jason had over his past. No material item or glory could ever be greater than the love Bruce had for his sons, no matter their backgrounds.
Suddenly, the sound of their doorbell broke Bruce out of his thoughts of the past and his own relationship with his second youngest son.
“I’ll get it, Alfie!” Jason shouted as he zoomed past Bruce, and ran down the stairs if the loud banging footsteps were any indicator.
Bruce couldn’t help his curiosity, and promptly followed his son. Who was the lucky girl that caught Jace's eye? The one that managed to get Jason all interested in the performative and shallow spectacle of an All-American prom night.
When Jason had opened the main door, Bruce was greeted by the sight of a somewhat familiar face. Well, it wasn’t a girl. It was Timothy Drake, the next door neighbor’s son.
Bruce knew about the Drakes, and their only heir – having met the boy all those years ago in one of those upper echelon galas as a tag-along with his parents. With the sudden loss of Janet, and the subsequent coma of Jack, the Drakes had gone through some financial crisis in recent years, but managed to rise above it with Drake industries still barely standing.
Timothy was clearly a pedigree Gotham child raised with a silver spoon in his mouth, so Bruce couldn’t exactly deduce what Jason and Timothy had in common.
Timothy was clearly younger than Jason, and standing next to his son’s bulky figure only emphasized that. Jason was 19, nearly turning 20 in the upcoming months while Timothy was just only 16. It wasn't like they were childhood friends that happened to go to the same high school. Bruce doesn’t know how a senior like Jason could form a relationship with a freshman like Tim.
Everything in their relationship just didn’t make sense to Bruce.
“Wow, you look stunning, Baby.” Jason commented as he gave the smaller boy a satisfied once-over. Bruce couldn’t help but silently agree, there was an alluring nature to Timothy Drake – one that he couldn’t immediately explain.
“You clean up real nice too, Jason.” Tim retorted back as he instinctively reached towards Jason’s chest, and fixed his tie.
Bruce felt like a shameless voyeur watching this intimate interaction akin to the affectionate nature of a newly married couple.
Suddenly, a pair of piercing blue eyes met his. “Hello, Mr. Wayne.” Timothy greeted him with a sweet smile.
Bruce slipped into his sleazy persona as he held his hand out instinctively, “Please, call me Bruce.” A warm delicate hand met his, with a considerably powerful grip especially coming from such a frail body.
“Shit, I forgot your flower thing.” Jason commented, then he turned back to Tim. “Wait right here.” With that Jason ran back up the stairs leaving his date with his father.
This left the two blue-eyed ravenettes in the foyer all alone. Bruce had been surrounded by beautiful people in his life, but there was something disarming being around the young Drake heir. Tapping into his detective skills, he took the time to actually consider Timothy.
Timothy Drake by all accounts, was an androgynous beauty. The length of his raven hair barely met his shoulders. His gorgeous features were accentuated by a light coating of make-up – clearly emphasizing his bright blue eyes, and soft pink lips. Despite being a boy, Bruce could see the swell on his chest and the curves of his lithe figure. Timothy was wearing a backless red dress that exposed expanses of his soft pale skin. Admittedly a little inappropriate for prom, especially for an underage boy to wear, but it looked ravishing on Timothy. Bruce swore he had seen the same dress during one of the galas he had attended for the past week, maybe on Selina.
Bruce tucked away the revelation that his son was dating somebody who looked visually similar to his father’s on-again off-again lover.
Much to his own chagrin, he knew that he had essentially checked his son’s young date out. Call him a creature of habit. Bruce also knew that he was starting to cause discomfort to Timothy with all his staring if Timothy fidgeting with his purse was any indicator.
“Timothy!” A voice called out followed by the pitter-patter of small feet. Suddenly a small figure ran up and smashed into Timothy’s body. It was his youngest son, Damian.
Bruce was shocked at his action with an immediate apology ready on his lips, but much to his further surprise, Timothy leaned his son’s figure, and hugged him with the same vigor.
Bruce couldn’t help but have a gaping open-mouthed expression at this, his youngest son had the hardest time opening up to anybody that wasn’t Alfred, his mother, or his army of pets.
“Dami! How’s my little artist?” Timothy asked with the same excitement, still crouching.
Damian preened at all this sudden attention, “I made you a drawing.”
“Aw, You’ll have to show me next time, Jason and I are going out.” Timothy playfully shook the boy’s hair.
A rare pout formed on Damian’s lips, “I will accompany you!”
“Sorry Damian, but it’s just a boring event for grown-ups.” Timothy gave him an exaggerated dejected look.
“Just like father’s boring parties?” Damian looked at Bruce then back to Timothy.
“Exactly.”
“Alright then, I’ll leave you both to it.” Damian said with an air of finality as he nodded his head in agreement – as if he was personally allowing Timothy to go on without him. “Timothy, your dress would look far better in emerald.”
“You think so? I just wanted to match with your brother.”
“I don’t mean any offense, I think you look divine.” Damian puffed his chest. “Todd knows having you around is a boost to his status.”
“I see you’ve met my youngest.” Bruce couldn’t restrain the amused chuckle that came out of him.
“I’ve accompanied Jason babysitting a couple of times.” Timothy admitted with a flush on his face. “Sorry, I hope you don’t mind.”
Bruce looked down at Timothy’s crouched figure, trying his best to conceal his slight ogle at the boy’s tits, “Not at all.”
“Dick told me the same thing, but it seemed rude to not introduce myself personally.” Tim finally stood up, and responded bashfully.
“Nonsense, Timothy, everyone in this manor adores you, both Alfreds included.” Damian supplied by letting go of his grip around Timothy.
Was he the only one in the family who wasn’t aware of Timothy’s presence? How long had Timothy been in their lives to the point where he had formed a great relationship with all members of his household except him.
“I’m back, Timbo.” Jason stepped down the stairs with a corsage in his hands. “Of course, you got the demon brat wrapped all around your finger again.”
“Don’t call him that, Jason.” Tim nagged with an amused expression.
“Mind keeping your paws off my date, Damian?” Jason raised an eyebrow at his younger brother.
‘TT.’ He clicked his tongue as his grip remained tight around Timothy’s slender waist, sneering at Jason.
Damian turned all his attention back to Timothy, his scowl melting off, “Timothy, you’d much rather go to the zoo with me, right?”
“Maybe some other day, Dami.” Timothy flashed a comforting smile to Bruce’s youngest son. “I promise.”
Damian begrudgingly let go of Tim as he ran out of the room to wallow in his concealed childishness. Bruce sometimes forgets that even with Damian’s advanced eloquence and etiquette, he was still a child at the end of the day.
There was an air of discomfort in the room with Damian’s abrupt absence. Timothy clearly wanted to go after the boy, but Jason had an impatient look on his face.
“Could I just talk to him quickly?” Tim asked Jason as he glanced at the direction Damian ran to.
“Baby, the event starts in half an hour.” Jason pleaded. “I promise we’ll spend time with him next week. We'll take him to the zoo.”
Before it could escalate into a bigger issue, Bruce jumped into their conversation, “I’ll talk to him, go enjoy your prom, boys.”
"You heard the man, Baby!” Jason wrapped an arm around Timothy’s waist as he guided him out the door. “Now let’s get your fine ass to that dance floor.”
“It was nice to finally meet you Mr. Wayne.” Timothy politely looked back and bid his goodbye.
“Likewise, Timothy.” Bruce genuinely replied as he silently approved of his son’s choice of a date.
With that, Jason and Timothy had left to go to prom, just like all the other American teenagers do – a temporary glitzy solace and celebration from the cruel hands of puberty and hormones.
But before Bruce could start thinking of what to say to his youngest son, and his growing attachment to Timothy, he spotted an anomaly in the room. Timothy had left his purse on top of the table. As Bruce went to grab for it, he accidentally knocked it down – revealing the private contents of Timothy’s bag. There were some cosmetics for touching up, a tampon, his phone, some mints, and… two condom wrappers.
Embarrassment filled his body at this discovery, finding out your children have sex is a weird feeling. He knew that his sons were sexually active, and that they weren’t as sneaky as they assumed. God knows how many red haired girls and boys, Dick had sneaked into the mansion throughout the years that Bruce had turned a blind eye to.
Bruce knew that it was hypocritical of him to persecute his sons for having a very active sex life when his notoriety for having a pretty young thing in his arm every night was well known in the world. There was something unsettling about being faced with the reality that Jason, his second youngest son, was sexually active. He should be proud that they were at least practicing safe sex.
He thought of Timothy, sweet Timothy, writhing underneath Jason’s hulking body, making the sweetest sounds known to man. Feelings of lust started making itself known as the prospect of bedding the young boy – however, this was quickly overcome with feelings of shame at the reality that Bruce had just lusted after his son’s underage date. Maybe, it was time to call Selina again, and give it another shot – if he found himself being consumed with desire at this boy who had found his special place within Bruce’s household.
He carefully picked up the contents of Tim’s bag, not wanting to cause any more damage to Tim’s belongings. When he picked up Timothy’s phone, it flashed to a wallpaper selfie of Tim and Jason on a date. Tim was planting a kiss on Jason's cheek as his son had the widest grin among men. Bruce had never seen his son so love stricken or happy with the way that he looked at Tim. He knew that Jason had a habit of keeping to himself, especially with everything he had been through – so to see him open himself up to anybody was heartwarming. Consequently, the feeling of shame intensified after this revelation.
Admittedly, this also incited some feelings of envy within Bruce, at the reality that his second youngest son had managed to find genuine love behind him. Truth be told, he reveled into his playboy reputation, getting lost in the sea of warm bodies and carnal pleasure was something Bruce had enjoyed thoroughly. However, as he had grown older, he had started to yearn for a genuine relationship.
Bruce felt his heart drop to his stomach as he finally picked up the two red condom wrappers only to notice the clear pierced holes in the middle of them. Bruce heard about all the urban legends that young girls getting knocked up during prom night. It was almost a rite of passage in the smoggy city of Gotham as there was a rise in teenage pregnancies after prom season. He also knew of the old headlines about the infamous Drake daughter turned son controversy in Gotham all those years ago. The inevitable fall of Drake industries as Jack Drake didn’t make a complete recovery. It didn’t take long for Bruce to finally piece things together.
Suddenly the door opened to reveal Tim looking frantic as his eyes darted around the room, only for them to land on Bruce holding the contents of his purse. Tim must’ve noticed his shocked revelation with the condom wrappers in his hand.
Instead of cowering with fear and mortification at his plan being discovered by his boyfriend’s father, Timothy seemed to revel at Bruce’s discovery. His whole demeanor immediately shifted in the blink of an eye, as he sauntered towards Bruce with a Cheshire grin on his face, “You’re a lifesaver, Bruce.”
He grabbed his purse from him, and carefully tucked those condoms back into its pocket. “I do hope we get along well.”
Bruce couldn’t have let him go without asking, “How did you end up in a relationship with Jason?”
“I knew he loved me by the way he looked in second period.” Timothy admitted with a sweet smile.
Bruce couldn’t help but ask, “But do you love him?”
Timothy rolled his eyes at this question as if it was a stupid question, “Of course I do, and we obviously want the same things in life.”
Bruce pressed on, “Which are?”
“Stability and a large family.” Tim answered with an indistinguishable air of finality. ‘Something that you also desperately yearn for’ goes unspoken, but mutually understood.
There was a moment of silence as they both stared at each other akin to a battle of a predator against another predator.
“I’ve got to go, Mr. Wayne. See you next time!” Tim purred out as he winked at Bruce, leaving him behind all alone in the foyer of his giant mansion.
Suddenly, Bruce finally realized why Timothy had reminded him of Selina beyond the physical attributes. They both got what they wanted in life. Bruce knew that he should put a stop to this, but he can’t find the will to. He had gone through all the pros and cons in his head, and every single time, the pros outweigh the cons.
Something tells Bruce that he’ll be seeing more of Tim soon enough, and frankly, he doesn’t mind it one bit.