Tim Drake-Wayne was always told he was destined for great things. He hadn't exactly expected that to mean he would be acting CEO of Wayne Enterprises by the age of nineteen. Bruce was a lazy bastard who had other things he wanted to focus on, which left his most responsible adopted son in the position of handling his business. Mostly Tim was fine with it, but a lot of times the work got pretty damn stressful. He needed a release to just let things go.
So, he and his best friend Conner decided to meet up at a club for the night. A really nice one. The two of them could pretend to be just normal teenagers, it was going to be great. Tim knew exactly how to dress for it, too. Tiny black leather shorts that clung to his lithe, lean form, and a sleeveless turtleneck crop top with rips across the front that covered just enough skin not to be indecent. His dark hair was perfectly fluffed, his makeup was perfect, there was even a little glitter on his cheekbones that sparkled. Was it too obvious that he had every intention of hooking up with someone tonight? Probably.
Just as Tim was finishing his eyeliner he heard the doorbell to his apartment ring. Odd. Conner wasn't supposed to come get him. He wandered over to the door and pried it open. For a long moment he just stared. Oh. It was the man Bruce had hired him to get him out of a kidnapping situation the week before. The one that was very hot but also kind of an asshole. "What're you doing here?" He asked, eyebrow raised.
The job had supposed to have been over. Quick in and out, rescue Wayne's kid from Al Ghul hands and return him to the guy who'd paid his fee. He'd done that, even followed the rules that the guy had set into place with his 'no life can be taken for granted' stupidity. He'd switched lead to rubber and pulled his explosive reach just enough to leave bodies breathing and he'd done the damned job.
But the man who'd put the mark on young Timothy Drake's head hadn't been found among the injured. And Bruce? Well...Bruce was a very careful man.
So, here he was. A couple of days later, fresh from relocating his whole damned life from where he'd been crashing to an apartment that Wayne paid the rent on, a long term contract burning a hole in his pocket. He still wasn't entirely sure if he'd actually wanted the job or if Wayne had kicked his pride just enough to goad him into it before his rational thought could step in.
Either way, that door swung open and Jason schooled his eyes firmly on the younger man's face instead of taking in the very well put together outfit that Tim had put together. It was a very nice face. He cleared his throat and made himself look away to instead glance around the apartment he could see into.
"Your father was supposed to have briefed you. I'm gunna go out on a limb here and say that he didn't. I'm your new head of security, Mr. Drake."
"My father..." Tim narrowed his eyes dangerously at the mention of Bruce. Why on Earth did he think this was necessary? Sending someone to rescue his ass when it got taken was one thing, but a bodyguard? The man must have lost his damn mind if he thought that Tim was going to tolerate that.
He took a step back and pulled out his phone. "Give me a moment, won't you?" The younger of the two asked, turning away and calling Bruce up. To Tim's credit, he didn't scream. He almost never does, that wasn't really his style. His voice was on the quieter side but downright vicious when he asked Bruce what the hell he was thinking doing this without even talking to him. Bruce played stupid and insisted there was already a contract signed, so Tim couldn't do much about it. Jason would be following him whether he wanted it or not.
Tim hung up on and took a deep breath before he turned back towards Jason. "Fine. Until I find a way to nullify your contract, it would appear I don't have much say in the matter." He reached for the boots he had near the door so he could pull them on and tighten the laces. "But I've already promised to meet my best friend at a club tonight and I'm not changing those plans." Standing back up to his full (short) height, Tim gave Jason a challenging look. "Your first day can be tomorrow if you don't think you can keep up."
It seemed like he'd been right on the money when he'd guessed that Bruce hadn't filled his middle son in on the fact that he now had a security team. While Tim pulled out his phone and oh so calmly tore the older man a new asshole, Jason took the opportunity to step into his new boss' apartment. Had he been invited? No. Was he going to have to learn the layout and set up security cameras tomorrow anyway? Yep.
The place was huge, furnished like someone had looked at a catalog and pointed at a layout. It was nice, but it felt a little like he was standing in a show room instead of someone's home. Still, it was leaps better than Jason's new apartment downstairs. His floorplan was the same and situated directly under Tim's so that if there was a struggle that his cameras didn't catch, he'd be able to hear it quickly. Of course, his own apartment had a mattress on the floor and his clothes still living in a duffle bag, but at least he now had a whole drawer for his spices.
When Tim's attention was back on him, he arched a brow. "I wouldn't think you'd be that quick to get rid of a security detail, Mr. Drake. Considering how we met, I'm a little surprised you didn't have one already. Your father was vague on those details." His lips tightened a little when he learned of the evening's plans, but he only took a moment to glance down at his black t-shirt and BDUs before sighing a little.
"I'm guessing you'll want me to change into something that doesn't scream 'security', then?"
"I didn't have one because I don't need one." Tim told him flatly, ever the stubborn little shit when he gets the opportunity. "I was only taken because I was distracted. Otherwise I would have done a better job of defending myself." He knows how to fight. Maybe not several men at once, but he's still pretty confident he could cause enough chaos to get away. Apparently, Bruce disagrees. Which was both frustrating and annoying, he'd told his father multiple times that he's not interested in having any security. If Bruce didn't have to, why does he?
His icy blue eyes looked Jason over and he sighed. "Yeah, if you're coming, I'd rather you try to blend in as one of my friends and not my personal bodyguard." This is going to be a disaster. How is he supposed to hook up with anyone when he'll have his 'head of security' breathing down his neck? The club is bound to be full, Jason will probably stick closer because of that. Sneaking away is going to be especially difficult. Then again... he's an adult. He can just tell the guy to hangout on the other side of a door and wait for him, or something. Bruce might love if Jason interferes with Tim's exploits but that doesn't mean he'll actually do it. That better not have been in the contract or he's going to truly unleash on his adopted father.
"We don't have long, though. Conner's going to be there in ten minutes and expects me to be there too. Try to make it fast." Tim's only seen him in his working clothes so far, but neither outfit really screamed 'fashion'. He sort of doubted the guy even has something good to wear to a club. As long as it didn't scream 'undercover cop', it'll have to do. "Is your place far?"
He was aware of the Wayne family's ability to fight. It wasn't particularly hidden, their reputation for being a powerful family in and of themselves going a long way to keep their ranks safe, but Jason couldn't quite help but to twitch an eyebrow at the younger man's assurance that he didn't need a security detail. The man's cockiness would be his downfall against men like the one who'd already taken him before.
Which was why Jason was there to begin with.
He didn't say anything, however, not wanting to start off the night with bruising his new employer's ego. He'd have plenty of time to do that in the days to come, he was sure. And that was before his team arrived. He made a mental note to keep Roy on camera duty as much as possible. Kori could handle herself, but Tim Drake would rile his hothead of a best friend in about three words flat. Arti... He'd cross that bridge when he got there. At least he knew he could count on Bizz to keep things mellow.
Usually.
Glancing down at his watch, he pursed his lips. "Thankfully, no. The position came with the apartment below yours, so it's just an elevator ride away. I'll be ready in four, I'll meet you here." He didn't wait around to see Tim's reaction to finding out that he was his new downstairs neighbor. He was already mentally shuffling through his duffle bag. Judging by Tim's clothes, this wasn't a 'sit around and chit chat' kind of bar and he hadn't exactly been clubbing any time recently.
All in all, however, he thought he didn't do too bad. Four minutes later, he tapped once again at Tim's door, freshly dressed in a pair of painted on, ripped up jeans and a dark red t-shirt that looked like it had once had dreams of being mesh. Thick leather straps crisscrossed his thighs, but with the holsters removed it just looked like a harness. He couldn't really do much with his hair as short as it was, but he'd added a simple black collar around his throat and silver studs flashed on his earlobes. Fingerless gloves completed the look and while he wasn't the most comfortable, he was pretty sure he'd at least pass muster.
Tim nearly choked when he heard that Jason would be living in the apartment just below him. He was going to kill Bruce the next time he saw him. What right did he have to just invade Tim's personal life like this? It's absurd. Then again, maybe he should just be grateful that Bruce didn't tell Jason he could stay with him in his apartment. Tim's young, but he's lived on his own for years at this point. Being forced into close proximity with someone you'd never met would be bad enough without having them leave their shit all over your bathroom. He huffs a little but decides to let it go for now.
The quickness with which Jason returned was surprising. Tim had taken the better part of an hour to pick everything out, do his makeup and hair perfectly, and mentally prepare for the night. Jason looked... well, Jason looked really good and all he really did was throw on some clothes. But he'd fit right in to the club. There would be people falling all over themselves to get his attention, a strong attractive man like him. In other circumstances Tim definitely would have been interested. Though he's never been the sort to chase. Still, that kind of distraction would certainly free up Tim to accomplish his tasks. The night might end up being very interesting, indeed.
"Yes. Let's go." Tim gave a nod of his head, giving no sign of the thoughts running through his mind. The idea that he found his new head of security hot was the sort of information that couldn't even be tortured out of him. He led Jason to the exit of the complex. The club itself was only a few blocks away and since he was planning on drinking, walking was his plan all along. Although, that very line of thinking made him more vulnerable. Drinking and then walking home alone in the middle of the night. Not super smart. Unless Jason ended up really distracted, he'd be around on the walk home to make sure Ra's doesn't try to snag him again.
The difference between Tim getting ready and Jason getting ready was simple. Tim was dressing to feel good and attract attention to himself with a goal of highlighting his assets in a way that was tasteful yet alluring. Jason just needed to look the part. He couldn't care less if people were actually interested in what he was putting out there because he wasn't actually putting out anything. If dancing with someone let him keep a closer watch on Tim, then that's what he would do. The fact that he could move well and hide his backup weapons with relative ease in his particular chosen outfit? That was just because he bought all of his clothes to be easy to move and hide weapons in.
Which probably said more about him than he cared to think about. Fortunately, he never thought about it.
He arched a brow when Tim hit the button for the ground floor instead of the garage in the elevator, that brow then furrowing a bit as he followed the younger man through the doors out onto the street. Walking wasn't the choice he would have made, especially not with Tim in the shoes he was in. If they ended up having to run, he'd have to haul the man up over his shoulder if he needed to get any speed, which would put him on a one handed shooting stance with his backup weapon. He didn't like those odds, especially not at some ass crack o'clock time of pitch black when Tim was ready to head home.
He'd have to have a talk with his new employer about safety protocols for the future. For tonight, however, he resigned himself to calling an Uber and paying the extra fuck o'clock premiums.
He heard the club a block before they actually saw it and tension spiked through Jason's chest as Tim confidently skipped the line that wrapped around the block. The place was packed. He was surprised, but he still frowned a little as he flashed his ID at the guy manning the door before he followed that leather clod ass into the building. It was alternately too bright and too dark all at once and the music was already starting to thrum unpleasantly at the base of his skull, but it was the sudden press of bodies around him that made him really start to question his life choices.
"You see your guy?" He had to raise his voice and lean in closer to be heard, his hand coming up to Tim's hip to keep him from walking off before he finished his question.
The hand on his hip was what got Tim's attention, though he didn't miss the question. His icy blues slowly trailed back up to Jason's face and he lifted an eyebrow. Was he planning on clinging to him all night? That might serve as an issue. There's a long moment where he holds Jason's gaze before Tim looks away again, back towards the crowd.
Conner's not hard to pick up. He might only have a few inches on Tim, but he's got the bad boy leather look that he loves to indulge in. "Yeah, there he is." Like a wisp, Tim disappears from Jason's hold and makes his way through the crowd to his best friend. He greets Conner with a tight hug but it's rather platonic seeming, at least from Tim's side. They both look back over at Jason when Tim tells Conner something, and Conner frowns but nods his head.
Tim heads back closer to the man charged with keeping him safe, his best friend on his tail. "Jason, this is Conner. Conner, Jason." That seems like a good enough introduction. "We're going to get some drinks. Do you want something?" He doubts Jason will partake, because this is work for him, but it'd be a good opportunity for him to loosen up a little. There are plenty of eyes on the two of them already, straining to see if there's something there or if one of them can be pulled away for a good time.
Tim doesn't wait for an answer. He's not the most patient in social situations and he needs a bit of a buzz if he's going to pull this off. So he makes his way to the bar and orders a Manhattan while Conner gets a beer. Tim's never been overly fond of the taste of beer. He'll drink it, but he'd rather stick to something a bit more classy and less hoppy. Then he turns to look at Jason expectantly.
Conner was a surprise. Not because he didn't expect Tim to have a taste for bad boys with his chosen attire and taste in clubs, but because for as much as Conner gravitated towards Tim, his employer did not return the sentiment. That hug told a story of the taller boy being a forever friend, as did the guy lined glare that was sent his way with the introductions.
He had to fight the urge to smirk, instead only giving Conner a little nod of acknowledgement before he simply followed Tim to the bar. Conner wasn't his problem, nor was his apparent automatic dislike of him.
"Jack and coke, light ice." He was working, sure, but the fastest way to stand out in a place like this was to be empty handed. It was better to lean against the bar, nursing a glass of what would be easy to replace a little later with just soda. He was a large man, a single drink wasn't going to be enough to compromise him.
It could, however, keep him from reflexively pulling a knife on the next stranger that bodily brushed past him on the way to their own pleasures.
Tim would be terribly embarrassed if he realized how obvious his weakness for bad boys was. He'd love to believe he isn't the cliche that he actually is--a pretty, rich boy that longs for a good time with a ruffian in a leather jacket that treats him like a princess in the streets and a whore in the sheets.
All of their drinks were put on a tab funded entirely by Bruce Wayne's black card. It's not as though the man would notice such a small amount missing, and even if he did he wouldn't care. Not as long as he knew Jason was there at the club keeping an eye on his precious child. Tim fought the urge to role his eyes at his own thoughts and instead sipped at his drink. It was a bit strong on the whiskey but not bad.
Actually, having Jason around to watch his drinks was kind of a genius idea. The smile Tim flashed him in response was a genuine and only a touch impish. "Appreciate it." There was a tall table not too far off that Tim led them to, so he could place his drink on it. He turned, gave Jason a small nod, then headed for the dance floor.
Tim might not be the most agile or graceful of his siblings, but it'd be untrue to say he didn't know how to put on a show. He knew how to pull eyes to him. How to tilt his head just so, moisten his lips, drag his fingertips along his own body.
Cliches were cliche for a reason. There wasn't anything inherently wrong with them just because they were common. Opposites attracted or some stupid shit like that. Jason honestly didn't care that Tim had an eye for large bad boys who could bend him in half and keep him there while they used him for whatever they wanted.
Well...he cared a little bit. Because it would be far too easy for a man like that to simply ignore 'no' and at that point? At that point, Jason cared quite a lot. Not only because he was being paid to keep Tim safe, but for a whole new level of personal that no one save for his team had ever seen before. It wasn't pretty and the likelihood of it showing up for Tim wasn't large, but it also wasn't zero. Tim was pretty and rich and everyone in Gotham knew who he was and who his daddy was, scumbags included.
Tim's flash of a real smile shook him free from his swirling thoughts and Jason dipped his head in answer as he picked up his drink and pushed away from the bar to follow Tim's lithe little body through the crowd. The table wasn't quiet, but it was less crowded and it still had decent sight lines of the dance floor and as soon as Jason was able to slot himself between it and one of the world's most uncomfortable stools, his shoulders relaxed.
"Go! Have fun." He waved the two younger men off, finally taking a sip of his drink. It wasn't bad, but whisky and coke was hard to fuck up. The burn of the alcohol was pleasant at the back of his throat, though, and he hummed a little as he let himself move a little with the music.
And Tim? Well, watching Tim was easy. One might even call it a treat. The younger man might not have been the most agile of the Waynes, but he moved with an honesty that was refreshing. He wasn't a dancer, he wasn't trained or practiced. He moved because he wanted to move. Because he wanted to be seen.
A few songs in a row came on that Tim was partial too and he was content to spent his time out there on the dance floor performing. People stared, some tried to approach, but it never really paid off for them. He's a very finicky sort of guy with discerning tastes and not just anyone gets to have him.
Eventually someone stepped up to dance with Tim, and for the first time that night, didn't immediately get shut down. He was exactly his type, too--tall, handsome, and dangerous. The dancing was honestly pretty fun at first. Flirty with a bit of touching but nothing scandalous. Bruce Wayne's favorite son couldn't be photographed all out groping someone on the dance floor, but he knew how to be a bit of a minx and keep the attention on himself. Things were beginning to look up and he was fairly certain he was going to get the exact kind of lay he needed.
What Tim didn't notice was the dark look that came across Kon's eyes. At one point the man he was dancing with set a hand around the back of Tim's neck to pull him in closer. That wasn't a very smart move. It felt too controlling, but Tim couldn't even get a god damn word out of his mouth before Kon was making an ass out of himself. The two of them got into a pushing match and that only irritated Tim more. He knew how to fucking protect himself and tell a guy off, jesus fucking christ.
Of course a little shoving and posturing evolved into more and it wasn't long before the whole thing looked like it was about to become an all out brawl. There were too many people around Tim for him to feel fully safe in that moment, and he panicked as his head turned to try to figure out where the hell Jason went.
In Conner's defense, Jason also immediately didn't like the man's hand on the nape of Tim's neck. He tensed, eyes narrowing as he watched Tim's small flicker of displeasure. That was his cue to give the man an out, to make it abundantly clear to this overstepping stranger that Tim was dancing with him and was flirting with him and might even possibly go home with him that night, but that Tim was also never alone. Never again, at least for as long as Jason was on his contract.
He wasn't about to step in until Tim needed him to step in, though. If Tim's reaction had been different, Jason still wouldn't have liked it, but he wouldn't have stopped it. It wasn't his place to judge if Tim liked a little slap with his tickle, after all. It was just his place to keep him safe while he indulged.
Kon, apparently, hadn't gotten that memo. Or, more accurately, had thrown it out in a fit of possessive jealousy.
He was up the moment that Tim's face said he didn't appreciate the overly forward grip on his neck, drinks forgotten as he rounded the table. Before he could get there, however, Conner was there and escalating the situation more than it needed to be. Jason frowned, a muscle ticking in his jaw as he wove his way through the growing crowd of onlookers. If Conner was going to always escalate things like this, he was going to have to plan accordingly. If nothing else, for every stray punch that clipped Tim, he'd return to the older boy with interest.
By the time Tim started to really look around for him, Jason was sliding his bulk between the young CEO and the fight that had broken out. He could hear the club's security starting to fumble at the edges of the crowd and the last thing that Tim (or Bruce) needed was Tim's name showing up in any news coverage that came out of all this, so Jay simply caught the man around the waist and snugged him against his chest, lifting just enough to clear those heeled boots off the ground so Jason didn't have to worry about tripping as he started to force his way through the ring of Looking-Lu's to put distance between them.
Oh, Tim absolutely preferred a little slap with his tickle in the right mood, but never with a stranger. There had to be a certain level of trust for that to be acceptable. Even in a fury of hormones he was far too smart to blindly hand himself over willingly to someone he knew absolutely nothing about, handsome or not.
Jason popped up out of fucking nowhere and Tim barely had a moment to gasp in a breath before he was being pulled in. The size difference between the two of them had never been more apparent than when Tim was crushed against his bodyguard's chest like that. A strong arm wrapped around him and pulled him up and it really wasn't Tim's fault that his natural reaction was to put his arms around Jason's neck for something to hold onto. The likelihood of him being dropped was astoundingly low, but his brain kicked into survival mode and wanted to make sure he kept hold of his lifeline.
While Tim wasn't particularly bulky, he had enough muscle not to be considered a complete waif, so it shouldn't have been so easy for Jason to just haul him around like a ragdoll. It was so incredibly sexy and Tim had to force himself to think about literally anything except the idea of Jason being the one to fill the need that had pushed him towards the club in the first place. "Huh?" He asked, because it took a few seconds for the synapses in his brain to fire properly. "Oh. Uh, no? No. Conner's an idiot but he wouldn't hurt me." Tim was pretty sure the guy would rather die than cause him the slightest hint of pain.
The guy had gripped his neck harder than he should have, but Tim was hopeful there wouldn't be any kind of bruise left behind. He wasn't that delicate. "Let's just--let's just go. I'll text Conner once we get outside." Not that he planned on waiting around for his friend, Tim was a little to pissy about having things ruined for that. Conner did at least deserve to know he'd left, though. And that he was safe, no thanks to him.
Tim wasn't a complete waif. Jason was just built like a brick shithouse. Most of his team were. It was an occupation that tended to call for people with particular skillsets and most of the time that skillset came with a certain minimum degree of physical conditioning. Not always, of course, but it was a stereotype for a reason. Especially on his team, something that Tim would get to personally learn in a few days when everyone else filtered in from where they'd been enjoying their various downtimes.
Tonight, however, it was just him.
Tim wrapped toned arms around his neck and Jason hummed a little in appreciation of the boy's reflexes even as he turned to point them back towards the door they'd come in through. Were there closer exits? He didn't know, he hadn't had time to get a schematic of the building. Better to head for an exit he was certain of than to waste time and risk getting caught in a potential situation looking for something that might be closer.
"He's something, alright..." Was it his place to grumble and judge his employer's friends? No. But he wasn't going to stop himself, either. Bruce knew the kind of no-nonsense person he and his team were when he hired him. Tim hadn't, but that wasn't Jason's problem. "We're going to have to have a talk with him before this happens again. I don't tolerate people making my job harder because they're jealous."
It also wasn't his job to protect Conner's feelings.
The crowd parted easily enough for them, the bouncer at the door giving them an understanding glance, and then they were back out into the evening air. It wasn't 'fresh', nothing in Gotham was ever 'fresh', but it was several degrees cooler than the body heated club and some of the tension in Jason's shoulders eased as soon as the doors closed behind them and the worst of the thudding bassline was cut off.
He didn't put Tim down, though. Not until he'd put a couple dozen steps between them and the front door, and even then he still kept an arm securely around slender shoulders. To anyone on the street, he just looked like a protective boyfriend. Or maybe a possessive one. Jason didn't really care what he looked like as long as eyes slide over them like unfocused water and he could keep them going in the direction of Tim's -and now his own- building.
"I was going to call an uber so we weren't walking, but I don't think either of us are as tired as I thought we'd be. I'm sorry your night got interrupted."
It sounded like quite the way to spend an afternoon, watching Jason lecturing Conner on not getting jealous. Conner wouldn't handle that well at all and Tim wasn't sure that Conner had a chance at beating Jason in a fight if it came down to it. Still, it felt important to correct him so that things didn't end up getting out of hand. "Conner wasn't jealous. He's just protective, that's all." Tim was never the sort of guy people developed genuine romantic feelings for. A good time? Sure, but that was something different entirely. "I'll let him know it's your job to look out for me now so he doesn't need to."
Speaking of which, he did say he would text Conner once he got outside. Tim pulled out his phone and typed out a message about Jason walking him home, expressing prissy irritation at having his night ruined, and to just leave his security up to Jason until he got Bruce to call off the contract. Tim had every right to rail against an assigned bodyguard because it was all about him, but he expected Conner to respect Jason's job and not make it harder. Jason was just trying to earn a living, after all.
Bruce and his paranoia have made Tim wary about taking Ubers when he didn't have to, so he was grateful to walk, even if he would be a lot safer in a stranger's car now that Jason was with him. He'd still rather not. The sigh that left him at the mention of his ruined night was more dramatic than it needed to be, and he crossed his arms over his chest like a petulant child. "Sure, you sound devastated." Mostly he was just pissy he wasn't going to get laid.
A thought occurred to him then, and it wasn't a particularly smart one, but even Tim couldn't always be a genius. He glanced at the hand connected to the arm that was wrapped around him, then up towards Jason's face. Hm. Jason was very much his type, and if the two of them had met under different circumstances, Tim would've certainly tried to shoot his shot by now. There was something to be said about not mixing business and pleasure, and anything physical happening between the two of them could make a working relationship harder in the future, considering they already bickered plenty.
Still, Tim offered Jason a little smirk before he turned his head back towards the direction the two of them were headed. "I might be able to think of a way you can make it up to me."
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From Memes
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So, he and his best friend Conner decided to meet up at a club for the night. A really nice one. The two of them could pretend to be just normal teenagers, it was going to be great. Tim knew exactly how to dress for it, too. Tiny black leather shorts that clung to his lithe, lean form, and a sleeveless turtleneck crop top with rips across the front that covered just enough skin not to be indecent. His dark hair was perfectly fluffed, his makeup was perfect, there was even a little glitter on his cheekbones that sparkled. Was it too obvious that he had every intention of hooking up with someone tonight? Probably.
Just as Tim was finishing his eyeliner he heard the doorbell to his apartment ring. Odd. Conner wasn't supposed to come get him. He wandered over to the door and pried it open. For a long moment he just stared. Oh. It was the man Bruce had hired him to get him out of a kidnapping situation the week before. The one that was very hot but also kind of an asshole. "What're you doing here?" He asked, eyebrow raised.
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But the man who'd put the mark on young Timothy Drake's head hadn't been found among the injured. And Bruce? Well...Bruce was a very careful man.
So, here he was. A couple of days later, fresh from relocating his whole damned life from where he'd been crashing to an apartment that Wayne paid the rent on, a long term contract burning a hole in his pocket. He still wasn't entirely sure if he'd actually wanted the job or if Wayne had kicked his pride just enough to goad him into it before his rational thought could step in.
Either way, that door swung open and Jason schooled his eyes firmly on the younger man's face instead of taking in the very well put together outfit that Tim had put together. It was a very nice face. He cleared his throat and made himself look away to instead glance around the apartment he could see into.
"Your father was supposed to have briefed you. I'm gunna go out on a limb here and say that he didn't. I'm your new head of security, Mr. Drake."
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He took a step back and pulled out his phone. "Give me a moment, won't you?" The younger of the two asked, turning away and calling Bruce up. To Tim's credit, he didn't scream. He almost never does, that wasn't really his style. His voice was on the quieter side but downright vicious when he asked Bruce what the hell he was thinking doing this without even talking to him. Bruce played stupid and insisted there was already a contract signed, so Tim couldn't do much about it. Jason would be following him whether he wanted it or not.
Tim hung up on and took a deep breath before he turned back towards Jason. "Fine. Until I find a way to nullify your contract, it would appear I don't have much say in the matter." He reached for the boots he had near the door so he could pull them on and tighten the laces. "But I've already promised to meet my best friend at a club tonight and I'm not changing those plans." Standing back up to his full (short) height, Tim gave Jason a challenging look. "Your first day can be tomorrow if you don't think you can keep up."
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The place was huge, furnished like someone had looked at a catalog and pointed at a layout. It was nice, but it felt a little like he was standing in a show room instead of someone's home. Still, it was leaps better than Jason's new apartment downstairs. His floorplan was the same and situated directly under Tim's so that if there was a struggle that his cameras didn't catch, he'd be able to hear it quickly. Of course, his own apartment had a mattress on the floor and his clothes still living in a duffle bag, but at least he now had a whole drawer for his spices.
When Tim's attention was back on him, he arched a brow. "I wouldn't think you'd be that quick to get rid of a security detail, Mr. Drake. Considering how we met, I'm a little surprised you didn't have one already. Your father was vague on those details." His lips tightened a little when he learned of the evening's plans, but he only took a moment to glance down at his black t-shirt and BDUs before sighing a little.
"I'm guessing you'll want me to change into something that doesn't scream 'security', then?"
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His icy blue eyes looked Jason over and he sighed. "Yeah, if you're coming, I'd rather you try to blend in as one of my friends and not my personal bodyguard." This is going to be a disaster. How is he supposed to hook up with anyone when he'll have his 'head of security' breathing down his neck? The club is bound to be full, Jason will probably stick closer because of that. Sneaking away is going to be especially difficult. Then again... he's an adult. He can just tell the guy to hangout on the other side of a door and wait for him, or something. Bruce might love if Jason interferes with Tim's exploits but that doesn't mean he'll actually do it. That better not have been in the contract or he's going to truly unleash on his adopted father.
"We don't have long, though. Conner's going to be there in ten minutes and expects me to be there too. Try to make it fast." Tim's only seen him in his working clothes so far, but neither outfit really screamed 'fashion'. He sort of doubted the guy even has something good to wear to a club. As long as it didn't scream 'undercover cop', it'll have to do. "Is your place far?"
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Which was why Jason was there to begin with.
He didn't say anything, however, not wanting to start off the night with bruising his new employer's ego. He'd have plenty of time to do that in the days to come, he was sure. And that was before his team arrived. He made a mental note to keep Roy on camera duty as much as possible. Kori could handle herself, but Tim Drake would rile his hothead of a best friend in about three words flat. Arti... He'd cross that bridge when he got there. At least he knew he could count on Bizz to keep things mellow.
Usually.
Glancing down at his watch, he pursed his lips. "Thankfully, no. The position came with the apartment below yours, so it's just an elevator ride away. I'll be ready in four, I'll meet you here." He didn't wait around to see Tim's reaction to finding out that he was his new downstairs neighbor. He was already mentally shuffling through his duffle bag. Judging by Tim's clothes, this wasn't a 'sit around and chit chat' kind of bar and he hadn't exactly been clubbing any time recently.
All in all, however, he thought he didn't do too bad. Four minutes later, he tapped once again at Tim's door, freshly dressed in a pair of painted on, ripped up jeans and a dark red t-shirt that looked like it had once had dreams of being mesh. Thick leather straps crisscrossed his thighs, but with the holsters removed it just looked like a harness. He couldn't really do much with his hair as short as it was, but he'd added a simple black collar around his throat and silver studs flashed on his earlobes. Fingerless gloves completed the look and while he wasn't the most comfortable, he was pretty sure he'd at least pass muster.
"Ready to go?"
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The quickness with which Jason returned was surprising. Tim had taken the better part of an hour to pick everything out, do his makeup and hair perfectly, and mentally prepare for the night. Jason looked... well, Jason looked really good and all he really did was throw on some clothes. But he'd fit right in to the club. There would be people falling all over themselves to get his attention, a strong attractive man like him. In other circumstances Tim definitely would have been interested. Though he's never been the sort to chase. Still, that kind of distraction would certainly free up Tim to accomplish his tasks. The night might end up being very interesting, indeed.
"Yes. Let's go." Tim gave a nod of his head, giving no sign of the thoughts running through his mind. The idea that he found his new head of security hot was the sort of information that couldn't even be tortured out of him. He led Jason to the exit of the complex. The club itself was only a few blocks away and since he was planning on drinking, walking was his plan all along. Although, that very line of thinking made him more vulnerable. Drinking and then walking home alone in the middle of the night. Not super smart. Unless Jason ended up really distracted, he'd be around on the walk home to make sure Ra's doesn't try to snag him again.
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Which probably said more about him than he cared to think about. Fortunately, he never thought about it.
He arched a brow when Tim hit the button for the ground floor instead of the garage in the elevator, that brow then furrowing a bit as he followed the younger man through the doors out onto the street. Walking wasn't the choice he would have made, especially not with Tim in the shoes he was in. If they ended up having to run, he'd have to haul the man up over his shoulder if he needed to get any speed, which would put him on a one handed shooting stance with his backup weapon. He didn't like those odds, especially not at some ass crack o'clock time of pitch black when Tim was ready to head home.
He'd have to have a talk with his new employer about safety protocols for the future. For tonight, however, he resigned himself to calling an Uber and paying the extra fuck o'clock premiums.
He heard the club a block before they actually saw it and tension spiked through Jason's chest as Tim confidently skipped the line that wrapped around the block. The place was packed. He was surprised, but he still frowned a little as he flashed his ID at the guy manning the door before he followed that leather clod ass into the building. It was alternately too bright and too dark all at once and the music was already starting to thrum unpleasantly at the base of his skull, but it was the sudden press of bodies around him that made him really start to question his life choices.
"You see your guy?" He had to raise his voice and lean in closer to be heard, his hand coming up to Tim's hip to keep him from walking off before he finished his question.
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Conner's not hard to pick up. He might only have a few inches on Tim, but he's got the bad boy leather look that he loves to indulge in. "Yeah, there he is." Like a wisp, Tim disappears from Jason's hold and makes his way through the crowd to his best friend. He greets Conner with a tight hug but it's rather platonic seeming, at least from Tim's side. They both look back over at Jason when Tim tells Conner something, and Conner frowns but nods his head.
Tim heads back closer to the man charged with keeping him safe, his best friend on his tail. "Jason, this is Conner. Conner, Jason." That seems like a good enough introduction. "We're going to get some drinks. Do you want something?" He doubts Jason will partake, because this is work for him, but it'd be a good opportunity for him to loosen up a little. There are plenty of eyes on the two of them already, straining to see if there's something there or if one of them can be pulled away for a good time.
Tim doesn't wait for an answer. He's not the most patient in social situations and he needs a bit of a buzz if he's going to pull this off. So he makes his way to the bar and orders a Manhattan while Conner gets a beer. Tim's never been overly fond of the taste of beer. He'll drink it, but he'd rather stick to something a bit more classy and less hoppy. Then he turns to look at Jason expectantly.
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He had to fight the urge to smirk, instead only giving Conner a little nod of acknowledgement before he simply followed Tim to the bar. Conner wasn't his problem, nor was his apparent automatic dislike of him.
"Jack and coke, light ice." He was working, sure, but the fastest way to stand out in a place like this was to be empty handed. It was better to lean against the bar, nursing a glass of what would be easy to replace a little later with just soda. He was a large man, a single drink wasn't going to be enough to compromise him.
It could, however, keep him from reflexively pulling a knife on the next stranger that bodily brushed past him on the way to their own pleasures.
"I'll watch your drinks when you want to dance."
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All of their drinks were put on a tab funded entirely by Bruce Wayne's black card. It's not as though the man would notice such a small amount missing, and even if he did he wouldn't care. Not as long as he knew Jason was there at the club keeping an eye on his precious child. Tim fought the urge to role his eyes at his own thoughts and instead sipped at his drink. It was a bit strong on the whiskey but not bad.
Actually, having Jason around to watch his drinks was kind of a genius idea. The smile Tim flashed him in response was a genuine and only a touch impish. "Appreciate it." There was a tall table not too far off that Tim led them to, so he could place his drink on it. He turned, gave Jason a small nod, then headed for the dance floor.
Tim might not be the most agile or graceful of his siblings, but it'd be untrue to say he didn't know how to put on a show. He knew how to pull eyes to him. How to tilt his head just so, moisten his lips, drag his fingertips along his own body.
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Well...he cared a little bit. Because it would be far too easy for a man like that to simply ignore 'no' and at that point? At that point, Jason cared quite a lot. Not only because he was being paid to keep Tim safe, but for a whole new level of personal that no one save for his team had ever seen before. It wasn't pretty and the likelihood of it showing up for Tim wasn't large, but it also wasn't zero. Tim was pretty and rich and everyone in Gotham knew who he was and who his daddy was, scumbags included.
Tim's flash of a real smile shook him free from his swirling thoughts and Jason dipped his head in answer as he picked up his drink and pushed away from the bar to follow Tim's lithe little body through the crowd. The table wasn't quiet, but it was less crowded and it still had decent sight lines of the dance floor and as soon as Jason was able to slot himself between it and one of the world's most uncomfortable stools, his shoulders relaxed.
"Go! Have fun." He waved the two younger men off, finally taking a sip of his drink. It wasn't bad, but whisky and coke was hard to fuck up. The burn of the alcohol was pleasant at the back of his throat, though, and he hummed a little as he let himself move a little with the music.
And Tim? Well, watching Tim was easy. One might even call it a treat. The younger man might not have been the most agile of the Waynes, but he moved with an honesty that was refreshing. He wasn't a dancer, he wasn't trained or practiced. He moved because he wanted to move. Because he wanted to be seen.
And fuck if Jason could make himself look away.
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Eventually someone stepped up to dance with Tim, and for the first time that night, didn't immediately get shut down. He was exactly his type, too--tall, handsome, and dangerous. The dancing was honestly pretty fun at first. Flirty with a bit of touching but nothing scandalous. Bruce Wayne's favorite son couldn't be photographed all out groping someone on the dance floor, but he knew how to be a bit of a minx and keep the attention on himself. Things were beginning to look up and he was fairly certain he was going to get the exact kind of lay he needed.
What Tim didn't notice was the dark look that came across Kon's eyes. At one point the man he was dancing with set a hand around the back of Tim's neck to pull him in closer. That wasn't a very smart move. It felt too controlling, but Tim couldn't even get a god damn word out of his mouth before Kon was making an ass out of himself. The two of them got into a pushing match and that only irritated Tim more. He knew how to fucking protect himself and tell a guy off, jesus fucking christ.
Of course a little shoving and posturing evolved into more and it wasn't long before the whole thing looked like it was about to become an all out brawl. There were too many people around Tim for him to feel fully safe in that moment, and he panicked as his head turned to try to figure out where the hell Jason went.
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He wasn't about to step in until Tim needed him to step in, though. If Tim's reaction had been different, Jason still wouldn't have liked it, but he wouldn't have stopped it. It wasn't his place to judge if Tim liked a little slap with his tickle, after all. It was just his place to keep him safe while he indulged.
Kon, apparently, hadn't gotten that memo. Or, more accurately, had thrown it out in a fit of possessive jealousy.
He was up the moment that Tim's face said he didn't appreciate the overly forward grip on his neck, drinks forgotten as he rounded the table. Before he could get there, however, Conner was there and escalating the situation more than it needed to be. Jason frowned, a muscle ticking in his jaw as he wove his way through the growing crowd of onlookers. If Conner was going to always escalate things like this, he was going to have to plan accordingly. If nothing else, for every stray punch that clipped Tim, he'd return to the older boy with interest.
By the time Tim started to really look around for him, Jason was sliding his bulk between the young CEO and the fight that had broken out. He could hear the club's security starting to fumble at the edges of the crowd and the last thing that Tim (or Bruce) needed was Tim's name showing up in any news coverage that came out of all this, so Jay simply caught the man around the waist and snugged him against his chest, lifting just enough to clear those heeled boots off the ground so Jason didn't have to worry about tripping as he started to force his way through the ring of Looking-Lu's to put distance between them.
"Are you okay? Anyone clip you?"
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Jason popped up out of fucking nowhere and Tim barely had a moment to gasp in a breath before he was being pulled in. The size difference between the two of them had never been more apparent than when Tim was crushed against his bodyguard's chest like that. A strong arm wrapped around him and pulled him up and it really wasn't Tim's fault that his natural reaction was to put his arms around Jason's neck for something to hold onto. The likelihood of him being dropped was astoundingly low, but his brain kicked into survival mode and wanted to make sure he kept hold of his lifeline.
While Tim wasn't particularly bulky, he had enough muscle not to be considered a complete waif, so it shouldn't have been so easy for Jason to just haul him around like a ragdoll. It was so incredibly sexy and Tim had to force himself to think about literally anything except the idea of Jason being the one to fill the need that had pushed him towards the club in the first place. "Huh?" He asked, because it took a few seconds for the synapses in his brain to fire properly. "Oh. Uh, no? No. Conner's an idiot but he wouldn't hurt me." Tim was pretty sure the guy would rather die than cause him the slightest hint of pain.
The guy had gripped his neck harder than he should have, but Tim was hopeful there wouldn't be any kind of bruise left behind. He wasn't that delicate. "Let's just--let's just go. I'll text Conner once we get outside." Not that he planned on waiting around for his friend, Tim was a little to pissy about having things ruined for that. Conner did at least deserve to know he'd left, though. And that he was safe, no thanks to him.
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Tonight, however, it was just him.
Tim wrapped toned arms around his neck and Jason hummed a little in appreciation of the boy's reflexes even as he turned to point them back towards the door they'd come in through. Were there closer exits? He didn't know, he hadn't had time to get a schematic of the building. Better to head for an exit he was certain of than to waste time and risk getting caught in a potential situation looking for something that might be closer.
"He's something, alright..." Was it his place to grumble and judge his employer's friends? No. But he wasn't going to stop himself, either. Bruce knew the kind of no-nonsense person he and his team were when he hired him. Tim hadn't, but that wasn't Jason's problem. "We're going to have to have a talk with him before this happens again. I don't tolerate people making my job harder because they're jealous."
It also wasn't his job to protect Conner's feelings.
The crowd parted easily enough for them, the bouncer at the door giving them an understanding glance, and then they were back out into the evening air. It wasn't 'fresh', nothing in Gotham was ever 'fresh', but it was several degrees cooler than the body heated club and some of the tension in Jason's shoulders eased as soon as the doors closed behind them and the worst of the thudding bassline was cut off.
He didn't put Tim down, though. Not until he'd put a couple dozen steps between them and the front door, and even then he still kept an arm securely around slender shoulders. To anyone on the street, he just looked like a protective boyfriend. Or maybe a possessive one. Jason didn't really care what he looked like as long as eyes slide over them like unfocused water and he could keep them going in the direction of Tim's -and now his own- building.
"I was going to call an uber so we weren't walking, but I don't think either of us are as tired as I thought we'd be. I'm sorry your night got interrupted."
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Speaking of which, he did say he would text Conner once he got outside. Tim pulled out his phone and typed out a message about Jason walking him home, expressing prissy irritation at having his night ruined, and to just leave his security up to Jason until he got Bruce to call off the contract. Tim had every right to rail against an assigned bodyguard because it was all about him, but he expected Conner to respect Jason's job and not make it harder. Jason was just trying to earn a living, after all.
Bruce and his paranoia have made Tim wary about taking Ubers when he didn't have to, so he was grateful to walk, even if he would be a lot safer in a stranger's car now that Jason was with him. He'd still rather not. The sigh that left him at the mention of his ruined night was more dramatic than it needed to be, and he crossed his arms over his chest like a petulant child. "Sure, you sound devastated." Mostly he was just pissy he wasn't going to get laid.
A thought occurred to him then, and it wasn't a particularly smart one, but even Tim couldn't always be a genius. He glanced at the hand connected to the arm that was wrapped around him, then up towards Jason's face. Hm. Jason was very much his type, and if the two of them had met under different circumstances, Tim would've certainly tried to shoot his shot by now. There was something to be said about not mixing business and pleasure, and anything physical happening between the two of them could make a working relationship harder in the future, considering they already bickered plenty.
Still, Tim offered Jason a little smirk before he turned his head back towards the direction the two of them were headed. "I might be able to think of a way you can make it up to me."