Innocent He Is Not
“So, what is it?” Tim asked, resting his chin on Peter’s shoulder.
“An arc reactor!”
“I don’t know what that means.”
“It’s something from home— a clean energy source that significantly boosted out tech. It’s something my old mentor invented.”
“You could work for Wayne Enterprises, you know?”
“How would HR feel about the CEO hiring his boyfriend?”
Tim snorted. “Fine, fine. We could just pay you as an anonymous donor or something.”
Peter could almost hear Matt coming up with a contract. “Whatever works, I just want this place to get some help, you know? That, and this will help with my tech.”
“You’re just excited to have access to a lab, huh?”
Peter beamed. “Yup, you got me. It’s not as high tech as I’m used to, but it’s still pretty good!”
“More high tech than the Batcave?”
Memories of working on suits and various projects with Tony danced around Peter’s head. “You have no idea.”
“Well, this is it, kid,” Jason announced. “Home sweet home. Why didn’t you want to stay at the manor?”
“You asked first. If you don’t want me, I can always just go back, ‘cause, believe it or not, I was doing just fine and—”
“Yes I still want you here, Pete. Chill the fuck out.”
“Yep. Can do. Doing. Done.”
Jason rolled his eyes. “Alright, all I ask is that you stay in school, do the dishes every once in a while, and come to me if you need help, okay? I care about you, Pete. Hell, after this weekend, the whole family does.”
“Even Damian?”
“Ok, maybe not Damian yet, but spend some more time with him and that kid will come around. So, unpack your stuff while I whip us up some dinner. It won’t be as good as Alfred’s, because nothing ever could be, but I’ve been told I’m a pretty good cook, so hopefully that counts for something.”
“Ok.” Peter went to his room and began to do just that, pausing when he noticed a package on the bed tied with a red ribbon. Peter cautiously tugged on the ends, undoing the bow, and lifted the lid. Inside lay a familiar insignia— his beloved Spider suit! They had gotten rid of the blue parts of the suit and replaced it with black, adding a more intricate design. The fabric felt structured and almost solid.
“Kevlar,” Jason supplied. Peter turned to see him watching from the doorway, a soft smile on his face.
“Check under the suit,” Jason suggested. “There’s another surprise in there.”
Peter moved the fabric aside, revealing a utility belt with a red bat on the buckle. Peter’s mouth fell open as he opened each of the little pouches and compartments, finding all sorts of gadgets inside.
“Smoke pellets, some batarangs,” Jason explained, “we would have put extra web fluid in there for you, but they weren’t able to figure out the chemical composition. You might want to drop the cave after school some time and add some.”
Peter nodded silently, gaping at the beautiful creation in front of him.
“Well, go on,” Jason urged. “Try it on.”
Jason closed the door behind him, leaving Peter to do just that.
Technically, it wasn’t the best idea for Tim to be out and about. Apparently Scarecrow, Mr. Freeze, Clayface, and the Riddler had broken out of Arkham, according to police chatter and the local news. Citizens were encouraged to stay inside at all costs, wear gas masks when in the streets, don’t drink the tap water, all the normal Gotham stuff. Not to mention what Tim knew. He knew that with those guys out, it was only a matter of time before that fucking clown decided he wanted in on the fun. At least Tim wasn’t being bothered by the League of Assassins again. That would be just what he needed.
So, Tim probably shouldn’t be out. especially since he was just Tim at the moment, and not Red Robin. But Tim had to make sure his apartment was okay, make sure nobody had broken into it. So, here he was.
A swish of fabric behind him made Tim freeze and whirl around, looking desperately into the shadows of the alley to his left. Fuck, that was never good. Unless it was one of his siblings playing a joke on him, which they would never do in costume to an out of costume Tim Drake.
Sure enough, a voice demanded, “Give me all your money!”
Tim slowly raised his hands and turned around to face the would-be mugger aiming a knife at him. The mugger cackled. “Oh, Tim Drake! Fucking jackpot! Take out your wallet, nice and slow.”
Tim began to do just that, mind spinning with how he was going to get himself out of this one. “Better yet,” the mugger mused, “I could take you hostage instead. Get your adopted daddy to send me a couple million. That would be nice!”
Tim swallowed, eyes darting around. Shit. Shit fuck shit. How could he reasonably take this guy down without giving up his identity? Tim inhaled, about to do something when a shadow from above swooped down and kicked the guy into the wall behind him. A web secured the guy to the wall and Spider-Man was dangling upside down in front of Tim. Tim bit his lip, appreciating the new look. It hugged in all the right places (not that the other didn’t, but this was… different, somehow) and Peter was somehow able to pull off Gotham colors like a native.
“Hello, completely random citizen,” Peter greeted.
Tim rolled his eyes. “Hello to you too.”
“Do I get a thanks for helping?”
Tim smirked and stepped closer, carefully rolling up the edge of Peter’s mask just past his nose. He kissed Peter softly, then not as softly, groaning pleasantly. They pulled apart, and Tim was pleased to see Peter’s cheeks tinted red. “That enough of a thanks for you?”
“Mmm, more than. What are you doing out here at night? And alone?”
“I had to make sure my apartment was still in decent shape.”
“You have an apartment?”
“Yep. Sometimes the manor can be a bit much.”
“I can see that. So, you wanna show me this place?”
“Why Mr. Spider-Man, are you trying to seduce me?”
Peter smirked. “Maybe. Is it working?”
“Honestly, you could just breathe and it would work. Sure, why not? Walk a scared, innocent man home?”
“You are a lot of things, Timothy Drake, but ‘innocent’ is not one of them.”