Fic: Make This Go On Forever, Tim/Steph, NC-17
Title: Make This Go On Forever
Author: boywonder_iii
Rating: Maybe R, but I'll say NC-17 for sexual situations just to be on the safe side.
Warnings: Little bit of angst, lots of fluff and maybe a sex scene or two. Alternating POV.
Word Count: 5,128
Pairing: Tim/Steph
Summary: Stephanie thought she was just imagining things when she saw the darkness in Tim, but the more and more she was with him, the more she realized he was slipping further towards the point of no return. Unbeknownst to him, she had something up her sleeve to keep that from happening.
The obligatory Authors Notes: Spoilers for Robin #174 and the Robin/Spoiler Special. My attempts at fluff seem to have started out with angst. I blame iTunes. Every song that seemed to come on while I was writing was really rather dark. I promise though, it doesn’t stay too angsty. I did promise some fluff. But bear with me, I haven't written like this in a very long time.
aravistarkheena, Thanks for the rad Tim/Steph fics. This, I do for you. :)
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Tim wasn't quite sure how to feel about everything.
Part of him wanted to rejoice at the fact that the girl he loved was actually alive. So he would, he would start to feel this swell in his heart and see a glimmer of hope at the end of a very long and dark tunnel. Then he would remember that the reason he thought Stephanie was dead was because she had lied. That swell in his chest would turn into a knot in his stomach and a lump in his throat. She had stayed away for such a long time and that didn't sit right with him. He loved her. He was pretty sure he still did, that was for sure. But did she still love him? She was the one girl who had brought out passion in him. She made him happy, she made him angry, she made him feel too many things at once. He'd worked too long on shoving his feelings down for her to just come and bring them out of him again. So he'd taken the passive/aggressive approach. He was too in control of himself and his feelings to speak up about it, yet too bothered by it all too really let it go.
Like everything else, it just became another thing that ate at him on the inside. All he could do was shove it to the side like he did everything else and worry about it later. He had work to do.
He'd been working on one particular case involving a kidnapping and he was currently in front of the computer database looking up information. His uniform was partially on, he'd yet to put on his gauntlets, cape, and mask. His tunic was unlatched carelessly as his eyes scanned the news reports. He was so immersed in his search that he almost didn't hear the stealthy footsteps behind him. Almost. He turned the chair around and looked over his shoulder at Stephanie, who was already in full gear, sans mask and hood. He kept her gaze for awhile, both of them silent, then he turned back around to face the screen again, one hand navigating while the other began to latch up his tunic. "Hey," he said distractedly. She came to stand up next to him, not surprised by his iciness. "Hey yourself," she responded back carefully.
"What do you need?" he asked, still not looking at her. So they had teamed up a few times recently, it didn't mean anything. Not a damn thing. Nope. It also didn't matter that Zoanne had finally grown tired of his excuses and had broken up with him.
"I need your help."
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In another time and another day, Stephanie would have responded back with an equal chill, but she wasn't all that immature anymore. She had more empathy for others now and she could definitely understand Tim's demeanor.
This is why she had to get him out of this funk. She had a lot of time to make up for.
It was going to be tricky getting him off of this case to get him to tag along with her, but she'd made sure to have that track covered. Last night Stephanie had pretty much backed Bruce into a corner, finger shoved into his chest and all, and demanded to let Tim have a day with her without him butting in or interrupting them. To her surprise, he merely looked down at that offending finger digging into his chest then back at the owner of that finger and calmly said "That's fine, Stephanie." Then he simply walked away, leaving her standing there with her surprise. She figured she'd have to put up more of an argument. This was Batman, however. Little did she know he'd already anticipated the request the moment Tim had so valiantly swept her up into his arms and kissed her right in front of him. From that moment on he'd started to anticipate a lot of things about the two of them.
So now she needed a plan. She knew Tim wasn't going to just drop everything he was doing just to give in to her whims. He had been very tense around her, even when they weren't speaking. Sure, they were working together again like old times, but it was hard getting him comfortable around her again. He acted like a complete stranger around her unless they were in uniform kicking badguys asses.
"What do you need help with?" he asked, clicking a few links from the files he was going through on the computer. He grabbed a device from his utility belt and connected it to the hard drive, syncing the technology together so he could use it while on his investigation. If he was interested in what she had to say, he wasn't showing it.
"Well I've gathered some leads on something big going down at the Ballinger Hotel downtown over on 6th St. You know, that sly fancy one that seems to be attacked by super villains every other week? I want to do some surveillance but I really don't think I can handle it alone."
Tim stopped what he was doing, obviously in thought, then slowly turned to look at her. "Go ask Bruce. You're in the club now, I'm sure he'd love to start mentoring you again." Spite. Great. He really was bitter, wasn't he? She didn't show any emotion although on the inside she was cringing slightly. He wasn't making this easy. "I don't want to work with him. I want to work with you," she said evenly.
He tilted his head down slightly, his hair falling into his eyes. He didn't have his mask on so it was the next best thing he could do to conceal any possible emotions that might be running through those baby blues of his. She could see his jaw tense slightly as he thought it over. "You can't handle it alone? Usually that's your style." Again, he had an edge of contempt in his voice. She didn't waver, she knew what he was trying to do. He was trying to get her angry like she used to get when he goaded her. She wasn't falling for it.
"Sometimes it's my style yeah. But y’know what, Boy Wonder? I’m not so proud now. I finally got it, that thing you always warned me about. Getting tortured and shot and you know, almost dying... takes the pride out of a girl." Tim visibly cringed at that last statement. She knew that was a low shot, still she carried on. Her voice softened a touch. "I know when something might be too big for me. I need you on this one, Tim." She was using guilt. She knew it was a dirty move. Whatever it took to get him to go with her to that destination, so be it. She wasn't going to whine, she wasn't going to beg. Finally after a moment, Tim sighed, raising his chin again as a hand came up to swipe through his hair. “Ok,” he said finally.
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Ok he could deal with this, knock out her problem in two hours max, then continue on with his investigation. Every time he was around her, he grew more and more comfortable again. He started to feel a little like that boy that died with her, with his dad, with his best friend. Maybe being around her wasn’t just because they got more work done together. Maybe it was because it was good for him.
The thing is, Tim was settled with where he was with himself. He ignored the idea that he had a dark hole in his soul that grew bigger every day. He denied needing anyone. The last person he tried to grow close with was Cassie, and well basically she’d broken up with him and made their little “affair” seem so… trivial. Now here Stephanie was, worming her way back into his heart. Oh who was he kidding? She’d never left. His cool exterior was just a show.
Without a word, he finished syncing his tech then put the PDA back in his belt. He finished putting on the rest of his gear, saving the mask for last, then headed towards his car. Without a word she followed. It was disconcerting how subdued she was now. She still had a fire in her, but it was quiet and tempered. She’d definitely changed… but how much?
Once they got in the car and were speeding out of the Cave, he began to grill her for information. “So what’s the situation?”
“New gang in town, totally under the radar with the GCPD.”
“Ok… so what’s going on at Ballinger?”
“I… I’m not quite sure yet. I just know something is going down there. We’ll see when we get there.” That made Tim glance over to her.
“Do you even know if they’re going to show up?” He was growing suspicious.
“Very sure. Trust me,” she said seriously, looking over at him. She didn’t have her mask on. She still had a thing about taking the mask and hood off in his car. It added to the intimacy between them. The only barrier that remained was his domino mask.
“What numbers are we dealing with?”
“Well we’re probably talking about some buyers and sellers plus guards…” She looked up thoughtfully as if doing some math in her head. “Maybe fifteen?”
He gave a curt nod. “Well, we’ll see.”
He didn’t ask anymore questions. He had the sinking suspicion that this was a ploy to merely get them partnered up again. It was going to turn into another one of their little “dates”.
He had no idea how right yet how wrong he was about his speculations.
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Once they had his car parked he let her lead the way to the scene. She was glad he was letting her take the lead. Her little plan wasn’t going to work so well with him going off on his own, leaving her to follow. They had parked the car several blocks away and were now trekking through the rooftops near the hotel. They finally landed on a 20-level structure next to their destination. Stephanie knew exactly where they were going. “40th floor, right there.” She pointed with her finger, then dropped it and lifted her other arm, her grapple gun already armed and ready to fire. She shot it then was gone, already rocketing up.
Tim stood there a moment, speculating still. Something was off. Maybe it was because he was going on so very little information. She seemed to be withholding so much, he didn’t know what to believe and what not to. With a slight grimace he shot his own line to follow.
She had already landed on the balcony but was hardly being stealthy. Once he landed after her, he looked around then peered inside through the glass double doors that led into the room. He took notice that it was a suite, obviously a rather fancy one, and it was… empty. Very empty.
“No ones here,” he said, completely in Robin-mode.
Steph was already smirking behind her mask. “No, not yet,” she said.
He lifted his head up and tilted it slightly in curiosity and confusion. “What?”
She didn’t answer him. Instead she shoved the double doors open and walked inside as if she owned the place. He quickly went after her, grabbing her arm. “Whoa there, what are you doing? Your guys could show up any minute. It’s better to stake it out on the balcony.”
She rolled her eyes behind her mask and pulled her arm away gently. “Relax. There are no “guys”. Just us.” She gracefully turned and slipped past him, grabbing the doors to shut them with a resounding slam. Then she made it a point to lock them. In case he tried to leave, it would slow him down enough for her to catch up to him and stop him. As an after thought, she shut the curtains hastily. She didn’t want him thinking about Gotham tonight.
When she turned around he was standing there with his arms crossed, looking well… pissed off could be considered a good term.
“What are you doing?” he asked, his tone genuinely curious but also rather annoyed. He had this leveled look about him and she knew he was working things in his head trying to figure her out. She knew that look all too well.
“I’m getting you away from that out there,” she said, pointing towards the balcony doors towards the city. She pulled her mask up and off completely, shoving her hood back. She gave him a smile. “Relax, Tim… I promise, there’s no one coming.”
“I’m aware of that now,” he said evenly. Here was the hard part. Convincing him that what she was doing was for his own good. “We shouldn’t even be in here if no ones coming.” Now he was trying to use simple logic. She had a plan and she knew he knew she had one.
She simply wagged a finger at him then brought her other hand up to start taking off her gloves. “Ah ah ah, that’s where you’re wrong, Boy Wonderful. This is my room for the night, fair and square. I did pay for it, after all. And now… that makes this your room, too. Our room.”
Tim’s brows shot up. “What?” he asked. He took a slow step back.
She couldn’t help but laugh at that. At least some things didn’t change. “Chill out there, Boy Virgin, I am not here to seduce you.” She took in a deep breath then let out a long sigh, a few locks of her hair floating up with the expelled air. “That night… when… well when I let you know I was back, I told you to take it easy and slow down. I promise I was just as excited as you were to see you, but come on, Tim, did you think we were going to go back to the way things were? I’ve changed. Everything has changed. You have, too, and from what I’ve seen so far it’s not a good thing.” Tim tensed up, crossing his arms again. He didn’t say anything. She was relieved, that meant he was willing to listen.
“We both know we still work really well together. That’s as Robin and Spoiler, though. But what about Tim and Stephanie? What about the people behind the mask?” She took a step forward, heat rising in her voice. “Do you even know who you are anymore? Or are you just Robin?”
Tim’s eyes narrowed. “Maybe I am just Robin now. Is that so bad? He’s who you always wanted so badly.”
Oh that pissed her off. She closed in the space between them and for a second she didn’t know if she wanted to kiss him or hit him. She opted to shove a finger in his chest, pretty much in the same fashion she did to Batman. “Oh yeah? You think you know so much? Well you’re wrong! I’ve missed you, Tim. That’s why I did this, that’s why I’m here. I know who I am now, but you don’t. I want you to get to know me again.” She flattened her hand against his chest, fingers running over the armor. “And I want to get to know you, too. So tonight we aren’t Robin and Spoiler.” Her voice softened and her eyes drifted down to the R symbol on his chest. After a moment her eyes flickered back up to his face. That damn mask was still in the way. He was hiding behind it so well, too. She couldn’t see anything on his face. “We’re just Tim and Stephanie, getting to know each other again. Can we do that, Tim? Aren’t we worth a second chance?”
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Tim didn’t know what to say, really. She was making it very clear that she wanted to get to know him again, but he didn’t know if he wanted her to know who he had become. What he had become. He shifted his weight uncomfortably. “I have work to do.” It was a weak protest. He knew it. She knew it. He was surprised when she actually had a response for that.
“I have his permission to keep you tonight.” His head shot up when she said that. She didn’t have to say his name, he knew who she was talking about. He was surprised, but then he looked mildly irritated. “Great. I’m glad you feel you had to get his permission to hang out with me.” She sighed and walked past him away from the balcony and into the sitting area of the suite. “Would you drop the attitude already, Drake? It’s getting really old.” She stopped and turned around to face him, a knowing look on her face. “Or is it Wayne now? Is that it? Change of last name and suddenly you’re Batman Jr.? I mean what’s it going to take to get you to open up, a near-death experience? Do I have to throw you off the balcony to get you to talk?”
He furrowed his brows and grimaced. He didn’t say a word for a long moment. Every protest he tried to give, every excuse he had, she had a counter argument for it. Some things didn’t change. They were bickering like they used to. He ran a hand through his hair and loosened up, actually chuckling softly. “The more things change, the more they stay the same,” he said thoughtfully. He sighed deeply, bringing a hand up to peel his mask off. “This isn’t going to be easy,” he said seriously.
“It can be a lot easier than you think.” She took a step forward, hand pressing more firmly against his chest. “Tell me what’s been going on.”
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It took half an hour to get Tim to really start talking. They were on the massive king sized bed, sitting across from each other. They’d relaxed somewhat, he’d taken off his cape and she’d taken off her utility belts. It had been awkward at first, asking questions with kid gloves. He’d wanted to start talking about her time spent in Africa first, but she insisted there would be time for that later. Tonight was supposed to be about him.
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An hour into it he was crying. It had been subtle at first, just a few tears that made her hurt deep inside for him. She’d been reluctant to mention them, he knew they were there so why point them out? When he started talking about finding his dad in the kitchen in his own pool of blood, Stephanie felt sick to her stomach. He started crying harder, completely vulnerable to her and she had to reach out and grab his hand, stroking it soothingly. She felt regret. She should have been there. He had been there for him time and time again but when the time came that he needed her, she was dead to him. He told her about Conner and how he had to hold his friends dead body in his arms with Cassie. He told her about Bart and how it was just so hard having his two best friends gone. He didn’t mention what happened with Cassie, however. Eventually the tears subsided and he collected himself. She knew he’d needed to talk. He made no mention of how he grieved for her. That was ok, she wasn’t quite sure she wanted to hear it just yet.
She wiped his tears away with such affection that it was touching. It was affection he felt like he'd been starved for. She held his face in her hands gently, her thumbs stroking his cheeks as he gripped her arms in a similar fashion, his hands wrapping around her forearms. They sat there like that silently for a long while.
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Two hours later they were laughing. “…. And so no, seriously. I had my head in an antelopes mouth! No seriously, there was nothing else, I had to stick my head in a dead antelope skins mouth! I’ll admit, I looked fierce, but oh my God did that thing smell!” She had to stop there because she was laughing too hard. Tim had a hand clutching his stomach as he leaned back, his face flushed from laughing too hard. He was letting out long sighs trying to recollect himself and his breathing. “Oh man,” he said while he wiped a tear away, this time from the mirth. “At least it worked, right?” Her laughter had subsided into a few giggles as she nodded. “Oh yeah. Granted it didn’t go as smoothly as I had planned, but I certainly scared the bejeezus out of some of those guys.” She giggled again then leaned back, looking at him nostalgically. He had completely loosened up and he was laughing. He looked just like that boy she’d fallen in love with before she even knew his name. The flushed color of his cheeks brought out the blue in his eyes. Stephanie instantly grew sober and before he could notice her change in demeanor, she suddenly leaned forward and grabbed his face again with both hands. This time, however, she was none too gentle as she pulled him forward, her mouth capturing his in a searing kiss.
Tim’s eyes shot open wide in surprise when she did this but he didn’t pull away. At first he seemed frozen, too frozen to respond back, but then slowly he melted under her touch and tilted his head to part his lips, his hands floundering for a moment before he grabbed her shoulders to brace himself. She still tasted the same. He was grateful for that. Familiarity was a rare comfort he could afford these days.
He felt her slide a hand down his neck and to his shoulder, applying a little pressure. Suddenly she gave a push and he was on his back staring up at the ceiling. A second later she was in view looking down at him, her blonde hair framing her face and tickling his own. The light above her seemed to make her glow and for a second he was wondering if he really was dead and maybe was in heaven. He almost scoffed at the corny thought. He focused back up at the girl above him. She hadn't straddled him completely, but she did have one knee between his, semi-straddling his thigh. "Hi," she said sweetly, a lot like that girl he'd fallen in love with. He smiled fondly, feeling this huge weight lifted off of his chest. "Hi," he responded back thoughtfully. He turned his head to the right, looking at the clock on the night stand. It was fifteen past midnight. Her fingers pressed against his chin and pressed, forcing him to look back up at her. "There's no where you have to be except right here," she said evenly, her tone totally serious. He opened his mouth to protest, as much fun as this was he had cases to investigate and leads to follow up on. Before he could even get out a syllable, she pressed a finger to his lips. "No," she said forcefully. She slowly pulled her finger away from his lips. He didn't say anything, just merely grimaced and swallowed hard. "I want you to relax, Tim. Be yourself. You're not just Robin, not anymore." Her tone lightened some. "I mean come on, do you know how many other teenage guys would kill to be in your spot right now?"
Hesitantly he glanced down and when he did she shifted slightly, sliding her left leg over his other one. Now she was straddling both of his thighs. When his eyes traveled back up he saw that she was looking at him. He'd gone completely rigid beneath her. He thought to himself how many times he'd wished he had been given one more day with her with future knowledge of what was to happen so he could change things. He had loved her so fiercely yet had never even shown it... well of course except for when their lives were in jeopardy. That's when he started tearing doors down and threatening peoples lives just to get to her. Other than that he had never really shown it. He'd never really given her what she'd always silently wanted.
She had always wanted him.
How many times had he told himself if he was given that chance, he would submit to her? Now here he was underneath her, basically at her mercy. He swallowed hard then tentatively leaned up to press his mouth against hers, one hand sliding up to grip her waist. The kiss started innocently enough then slowly started to heat up, both of them growing bolder with each stroke of tongue. His eyes opened when he heard that first click and felt a release of pressure on his chest. She had unlatched the first clasp of his tunic, then the second, then the third. He broke the kiss for a moment to glance down, her bare hand hot against his chest as she slipped it underneath the now open armor. He took in a deep breath then felt her lips brush against his again lightly. He kissed her back, his eyes still open as he glanced down the length of their bodies, watching her hand go for his utility belt. He pulled back just enough to speak, his lips still brushing against hers with every word. "What about taking it slow?"
"To hell with slow, Tim." Then came the sound of metal against metal as she unclasped his belt. She pulled it out from under him then let it slide carelessly to the floor. He had a hard time finding a response as she began to rid him of the rest of his uniform.
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It was nothing like he'd expected. It was better than anything he could possibly imagine. At first he was timid, unsure, almost scared even to lose himself in her, but once she climbed under the sheets and back on top of him, he was hers. She was warm, wet, and unbelievably tight. When she first sank down and began to rock experimentally, he felt a panic in his chest because this was too new for him. She looked down at him and spoke softly, telling him to calm down as she placed a hand on his chest and rubbed soothingly. He was safe. He finally regained himself and focused, letting her take control of him. Her movements were slow at first, but over a period of time he could feel a shift of rhythm begin to increase. Male instinct kicked into gear and his hands gripped her hips possessively, as if to say I'm never letting you go. I'm never letting you leave me again. She let him, in fact she welcomed it as she showed him just how much she'd missed him. He kept feeling his eyes close but every time they did he forced them open. He didn't want this to end up being a dream he was waking from.
It was hard to imagine he wasn't dreaming when she cried out his name during her first release. He shuddered underneath her as she did so, not to say he wasn't trembling the whole time that is. At some point during this her hands had found his and had them pinned above his head. He really couldn't find the will to complain about this new type of bondage.
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She had barely recovered from what they'd done together when she realized he hadn't let go with her. Her grip on his hands had relaxed and he had taken the opportunity to slip his hands down and around her back, pulling her underneath him. He seemed to have gotten the hang of how this went.
Tim had always been a fast learner.
She was surprised yet at the same time she wasn't when he started to move against her with a newfound power. He kissed her sweetly while his body did unbelievable things between her legs. She'd always figured he would be good at this, but never this good. Oh damn, she thought as she began to feel that pressure build up inside her again. Her gasps and soft cries encouraged him and when he felt her arms tighten around him and fingertips dig into the scarred flesh of his back, he kept his position, his mouth at her ear and hers at his. When he told her he loved her, that's when she arched up against him and let go of what had built up deep inside, feeling him follow seconds after her, nearly blinded by the sensation she gave him. At some point during this second act, his hands had grabbed the sheets on the bed and were bunched up in white-knuckled fists. One of her hands had slid up to the back of his head and held a fist full of his long hair. Stephanie, still high from the afterglow, softly began to giggle underneath him, her hand now stroking the back of his neck. "That was one hell of a homecoming, Boy Wonder," she said, then started to actually laugh. "Pun intended."
It was an odd sensation for Tim to literally feel her laughing, so he slowly pulled away from her, still in a daze. He shifted to the side then collapsed next to her, trying to catch his breath. He'd run four minute miles, jumped the various rooftops of Gotham, and had gone up against a deranged clone of Conner, all of that without even breaking a sweat. What he'd just done with Stephanie had him feeling like he'd just run a marathon with cinder-blocks tied to his ankles. He mused that it had something to do with the intense emotional aspect of their coupling.
They were sweaty but she didn't seem to care. He didn't either, really. She scooted up next to him and laid her head in the crook between his chest and shoulder, the muscles making a nice pillow for her head. "Mmmm," she said exhaustedly. "Think you can do something for me?"
"Hmm?" Tim was getting thoughtful. She smiled against his chest. "Don't leave until morning."
Tim stretched underneath her then yawned. "I won't leave you," he said, that one sentence holding multiple meanings. Her smile widened and she ran a hand along his chest.
"Oh and one more thing," she said idly, pushing herself up onto an arm.
"Hmm?" Tim was getting sleepy. It was obvious he was going to get some good sleep tonight. Maybe for the first time in a long while.
"The hair," she said slyly while running her fingers through it, more delicately this time. "I like it like this. Long. It's really very hot." She gave a few locks a little tug for emphasis, then gripped a little tighter and pulled him in for another kiss. He instantly got the idea and smiled against her kiss, unsure now if he was going to get that sleep after all.
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Morning came but neither of them made any moves to get up. Both of them were thinking the same thing. They wanted to make this go on forever. Despite their line of work, maybe if they were lucky... it would.