kismet

Boy Wonder: Just stopped a mugging. Victim was male, 22, green eyes, and brown hair with a white stripe in it.  

The All-Seeing Eye: Peter Parker. He comes by the library pretty often.  

Tim stared down at the screen of his phone, open to the family group chat (sans B) with a gaping mouth. The Lazarus Pits had been destroyed years ago so how exactly did someone else end up swimming in them.

He quickly used the Bat Computer to do a search on the name. Peter Parker. The man was achingly normal from what Tim could tell. Besides the apparent fact that he was a metahuman. Born and raised in Queens, New York by his aunt and uncle who both passed away before he was eighteen. He spent three months in foster care before aging out of the system and starting at Empire State College, triple majoring in bio, chemical, and mechanical engineering. He was smart. Really smart. He’d moved to Gotham less than a month ago after receiving a scholarship to Gotham University. Looking at his grades, Tim could understand how he got one so easily.

What he didn’t understand was why Parker had moved to Gotham. Nobody moved to Gotham without reason. But from what Tim could tell, Parker had just up and decided to randomly apply for a scholarship at Gotham U and moved just as fast.

There was no record of Peter living anywhere in Gotham, but from the way he looked like he could blend in to the homeless community, he figured Peter probably didn’t have a place yet.

From what he could see, Peter was a good guy. A bit of a loner maybe, Tim couldn’t find anything about any friends except for an Edward Leeds who died in 2009 alongside his whole family. After that he didn’t seem interested in making friends. He was close with his family though, if the pictures on May Parker’s facebook page were anything to go by. A genuinely good guy, had volunteered at the local shelters for his whole life. His uncle was a police officer and his aunt was a nurse, both also seemingly genuinely good people.

It was suspicious. Which is why the first thing Tim did after scouring through the man’s records was call Barbara.

“Hey Tim, what’s up?” Babs answered after a few rings, her voice tired.

“Peter Parker.”

“Tim.” Barbara groaned through the line. “Leave the poor boy alone. He’s a nice kid.”

“Exactly!” Tim snapped back. “Nobody that nice moves to Gotham. I went through his files and it all seems legit!”

Barbara sighed heavily. “I know. I went through them the first time I learned his name. Isn’t that more reason to just let him be?”

“You would think, but no! Something’s not right here Oracle.” Tim swore, clenching his hand into a fist.

“Tim.” Barbara groaned again. “I can’t do this right now, I’m at work.”

“Is anyone even in the library?” Tim asked petulantly.

“As a matter of fact, yes.” Barbara said sharply before a beep sounded in Tim’s ear. He pulled the phone away from his ear with a grunt. If Barbara wouldn’t help him, he would have to investigate himself.

It wasn’t hard to find Parker, walking home from work one night. Red Robin jumped from rooftop to rooftop as the man weaved through the streets, making use of alleyways as he seemingly tried to leave Tim behind.

He was struggling to keep up as Parker speedily raced towards Crime Alley. It was hard to get a good look at the man when he was moving on the roofs but he could tell that the man was painfully skinny.

He cursed as he lost sight of the man, and cursed again when he realized he didn’t have Babs to tell him where Parker had disappeared to. Not that she could’ve, Parker had an interesting habit of avoiding most cameras somehow.

Tim almost wanted to scream when it happened the next three times Tim had begun to follow him, even with his siblings helping him.

It was frustrating, the man’s ability to just disappear from sight. Even more frustrating was Tim’s inability to follow him. He was Red Robin for gods sake, he didn’t just lose people. Especially not random civilians.

The rest of his family had taken to going to Harley’s and talking to him there after hearing he’d become a bartender but unfortunately for Tim, he’d been put on a three month ban for breaking someone’s fingers as RR. Even more unfortunately, Harley knew their identities so he couldn’t even go in as Tim Drake.

That didn’t mean he gave up, no. Red Robin practically walked Peter home from work every night, the man losing him every time. It wasn’t a coincidence.

Tim had thought a lot about going to college in the years after he got his GED and became the CEO of Wayne Enterprises. It hadn’t seemed worth it for a long time but eventually Tim had been so desperate to do something for just himself that he had applied to Gotham U on a whim. When he received the email stating that he had gotten in, he had been shocked silent. But then excitement had taken precedence in his mind. He was now starting his third year and now he had even more than just graduation to look forward to.

Tim was buzzing as he made his way towards the classroom. He’d practically jumped in excitement when he’d noticed that he and Parker shared a class. He took a deep breath, shaking the adrenaline from his limbs before stepping confidently into the room.

Peter Parker was sitting three rows from the front, his laptop open in front of him. He was leaning leisurely back in his seat but jerked up suddenly, wide green eyes meeting Tim’s. The man’s mouth fell open and a pretty blush crawled up his face. He made a small squeaking sound as they looked at each other, Tim thought it was cute.

Tim smirked slightly, none of his siblings had told him Peter was so pretty. He had seen pictures of course but there hadn’t really been any good ones that weren’t older than six years.

Peter looked away hurriedly but not before he greedily looked Tim up and down, biting his plush bottom lip.

Tim smiled, huffing a laugh under his breath. Well, here was his chance to get to know this new mysterious figure.

He slowly walked up towards the man, sliding soundlessly into the seat beside him. He watched in amusement as the man flushed further.

“I’m fine!” Peter whispered suddenly, practically hissing the words out under his breath. Yes he was.

Tim smirked again. “Nice to meet you, Fine. I’m Tim.” He said a bit cheekily.

Peter turned slowly, his face slack with shock. He continued to stare for a good minute before blurting a sudden, “Peter!”

And Tim got to watch as his face scrunched up at himself. Tim raised a brow, almost wanting to laugh. God, he was fucking adorable.

“I’m Peter, not fine.” Peter said after another pause. “I mean, I am fine! But that’s not my name. Ya know, because my name’s Peter. Peter Parker.”

Tim’s lips twitched in amusement as the man rambled. Cute. “Nice to meet you, Peter Parker.” He purred.

Peters eyed widened further and his ears went bright red. “Yeah.” He breathed, before waving his hands. “I mean- it’s nice to meet you too. I mean. Of course-“ He cut himself off with visible effort and Tim couldn’t not smile at him.

“You’re cute.” He said without much thought, to caught up in how he felt like he was floating.

“Uh-“ Peter jerked back, mouth falling open as he let out a little squeak.

Unfortunately before he could respond further than ‘uh’ the teacher had entered the room and begun the lesson without much fanfare.

After the class ended, Peter stood and began walking away but Tim spoke up before he could actually leave. “Peter. Give me your phone, I wanna put my number in.”

“M-me?” Peter stuttered cutely before shoving his phone into Tim’s hands. Tim grinned. “Yeah, cutie, you.” He answered, putting the phone back into Peter’s hands.

Peter looked down at the screen, his mouth falling open as he caught sight of the contact name. Tim took that chance to make his exit while the man gaped. He chuckled under his breath as he left. Cute.

When Tim got home from school he fell onto the couch with a dreamy sigh.

Steph raised a brow from where she and Cass were cuddling. “What’s with you?”

Tim sighed again. “I met Peter.” He answered.

Duke sat forward curiously. “And?”

“And he’s cute!” Tim shouted, jumping forward and putting his face in his hands. “Why didn’t any of you tell me he was cute?”

Cass rolled her eyes. “You’ve seen him as Red Robin.”

“Not up close!” Tim squawked, waving his hands.

“I’m a lesbian but I guess he’s pretty adorable.” Steph said after a minute.

“See!” Tim called out, feeling vindicated for his surprise.

“Aww. Timmy has a crush!” Duke sang, smiling brightly.

“It’s not a crush!”

‘It’s a crush’ Cass sighed, smirking.

It was a crush. The next few days passed in both bliss and frustration. He’d been texting Peter non stop and had come to the conclusion that he was genuinely just that nice. Tim still thought it was suspicious that he’d moved to Gotham for no apparent reason but decided that he could wait until Peter told him.

It was a little bit pathetic, his crush. But it wasn’t as if he liked very many people in his short twenty-one years of life. Not to mention Peter was just special.

He had learned a lot about Peter since their class together. He knew that Peter liked Thai food and loved Star Wars. He knew that Peter didn’t know much about superhero’s but admired Wonder Woman. He knew that Peter’s favorite Gotham vigilantes were Red Hood and Black Bat. It didn’t sting. He knew more about Peter’s aunt and uncle than he knew what to do with and even more about Peter’s supposed mentor Tony Stark.

In return he’d told Peter a shit ton about his own life. Nothing about his nighttime activities but enough that Tim felt vulnerable while doing it.

Peter was like nobody Tim had ever met. He was smart and funny and so genuinely kind. He cared about the world, about all of the people in it, big or small. Hearing Peter talk about Gotham the way he saw it was like hearing about a different world. The man saw the world through such a loving lens. Tim would’ve called him naive if he didn’t know with certainty that Peter had seen the evil of the world, had faced it with determination. There was an underlying darkness to the man that Tim found inappropriately attractive.

He may or may not still follow him as Red Robin but what Peter didn’t know couldn’t hurt him. It was less investigating now and more making sure he got home safe but…

Zombie: Just saw Lazarus kid on a roof in Crime Alley.

The All-Seeing Eye: Voluntarily offering information? Who are you and what have you done with Hood?

Zombie: Ha ha

Tim stared at the screen, a concerned frown on his face. What was Peter doing on some random roof in Crime Alley. Was he…?

Boy Genius: Was he okay?!

Demon Brat: Your emotions are nauseating, Drake.

Tim rolled his eyes. Damian was such a little shit.

Waffle Queen: what timbo asked

Zombie: He was fine. Said he was just thinking. Funny guy.

Boy Wonder: Be nice to Timmy, Dami! And Jay, you just believed him?

Zombie: Yup

Tim let out a relieved sigh, remembering that Peter had told him about his love of heights. The fact that being high up helped him think. He worried what the effects of the Lazarus Pit were doing to such a kind person. At this point he was pretty sure Peter didn’t even know he’d died.

He was ecstatic when after their next class together, which they spent whispering under their breath, he got up the courage to ask Peter on a coffee date.

“Yes!” Peter blurted promptly, face flushing. He looked a bit taken back by how fast he’d agreed.

Tim couldn’t help his grin, splitting his cheeks.

“So where should we go?” Peter asked, holding onto the strap of his backpack nervously.

Tim smiled again, reaching forward to grab Peter’s free hand and drag him towards his car. “I know a place.” He answered

Tim gave a reassuring smile and grabbed Peter’s free hand. “I know a place.” He said mysteriously.

The cafe Tim had brought them to was one he’d never been to but Jason had said it was a good and more importantly safe place. Peter was bouncing happily, holding onto Tim’s hand tightly as they waited in line.

Tim almost took a step back when the barista came into view. Poison Ivy. Fucking Jason. Safe my ass. Ivy might not have been terrorizing Gotham lately but she was still a rogue.

Peter made a startled sound, a bright smile spreading across his face. “Aunt Pam!” He chirped happily. Tim’s face went slack with shock was the eco terrorist turned with a soft smile on her face. The kind of smile he’d only ever seen her give Harley. Poison Ivy was his aunt?! That wasn’t in his file.

She came around the counter, opening her arms towards the man. He quickly released Tim’s hand, jumping forward to hold Ivy in a tight hug. “Peter, sweetheart. What are you doing here? I thought you had class.”

Poison Ivy knew Peter’s school schedule. Peter Parker was Poison Ivy’s nephew.

“Oh!” Peter gasped, pulling away with a blush when he apparently remembered that Tim was there. He rubbed the back of his neck in a nervous tic and gestured towards Tim’s frozen form. “I’m on a date.” He answered.

Ivy turned to him, her smile sharpening dangerously. He felt his spine stiffen as he met her poisonous eyes. Danger.

“Well well if it ain’t Timothy Drake in my little cafe.” She purred. Fucking Jason, he was going to kill his older brother.

Peter, catching onto the tense atmosphere, laughter a bit nervously. “This is your place, Aunt Pam? That’s so cool!”

Ivy softened at the sound of his voice and a proud smile found itself on her face. “It is.” She answered. Tim took her moment of distraction to school his features into a blank mask. Turning back to Tim, she gave a smile with too many teeth. “You better treat my nephew right, boy.”

Peter groaned in embarrassment, covering his face. “Aunt Pam!” He cried out before sending her a stern look. “Don’t make me tell Aunt Harley.”

Aunt Harley?!?!

Ivy sniffed, scrunching her nose. “She would agree with me.

Peter stared for a minute before slumping in defeat with a groan. “Ugh. Fine, you’re right. Can I just have a mocha frappe?”

“Of course sweetie.” She said warmly. “And for you?” She asked Tim.

“Black coffee please.” Tim said after a pause, hopefully it wasn’t poisoned.

“It’ll be right out.” She chirped weirdly bright voice. “Go get a table, sweetie. It’s on the house.”

“Thanks, Aunt Pam!” Peter chirped back, dragging a semi coherent Tim to a table in the back corner near the windows.

“So…” Peter hummed, giggling nervously as Tim stared blankly.

“Poison Ivy is your aunt?” He asked dryly. There was no way it was possible. Tim had dug into every nook and cranny of Peter’s life and nothing had pointed to him knowing Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn.

Peter tilted his head. “I mean not biologically but she and Harley have been looking out for me since I landed in Gotham.”

Tim wanted to let out a sigh, how on earth had that happened? It wasn’t like them to pseudo adopt a random college student. Especially one as ordinary as Peter. Not that ordinary was a bad thing! It was refreshing, actually.

“Landed in Gotham?” Tim asked, raising a brow, a smile starting to crawl up his face. That wasn’t an interesting way to phrase it.

“Y-yeah because I flew here from New York when I moved.” Peter stuttered, flushing prettily. Tim wanted to trace the warmth with his fingers.

“Hm.” Tim hummed before quickly changing the subject. “How was your week then? Did you really meet Red Hood?” Peter had texted him about it around the same time Jason sent his message in the group chat.

“Oh my god, yeah! I forgot about that!” Peter brightened, hands gesturing animatedly as he began to weave the story. Tim listened to him speak with a smile on his face, forgetting momentarily about his worries about Ivy and his frustration with Jason.

Tim was beside himself, all thoughts of Peter fleeing his mind in favor of investigating this new vigilante who called himself Spider-Man. So far he’d been sticking to small time stuff. Muggers, rapists, fires, bike thiefs, getting cats out of trees. He seemed to be everything he presented himself as ‘The Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’.

He stuck to Crime Alley for the most part, only venturing out when he caught wind of someone in trouble. Bruce was furious so that meant Tim was on research duty. Weirdly enough, Jason had seemed to be completely at ease with the intruder in his territory.

There was just something about him that irked Tim. Maybe it was the inhuman way he moved or the bright peppy way he spoke. Maybe it was the brightly colored suit and full mask. Maybe it was the way he would randomly talk to someone named Karen that Tim hadn’t been able to identify. It could have been the way he didn’t seem even the least bit intimidated by the Bats and Birds and seemed to know they were there before they could step out of the shadows.

It also could have been the eery way the Spider-Man reminded Tim of Peter. Peter who had the same sense of humor and bright naive view of the world. Peter who had the same New York accent as the new vigilante.

Tim had a theory and he both wanted it to be wrong and wished desperately that it was true. He wouldn’t be telling anyone about that though.