Fic: Proposals
Title: Proposals
Characters: Tim Drake, Bernard Dowd
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Fluff. Bernard being cheesy. Tim being adorable.
Word Count: 699
Author's Notes: Timestamp fic of What The Doctor Ordered for
aravistarkheena. Set 3 years in the future. This is sort of canon. It depends where I end up going with the fic.
Bernard stretched out lazily on the deck chair, the sun warm on his skin and the sea breeze gently tugged at his hair. Tim was laying on another deck chair, looking much less relaxed than Bernard was.
“Tim,” Bernard sighed, “would you relax for at least a minute?”
Tim gave him a tight little smile and Bernard rolled his eyes, deciding on the appropriate course of action to distract Tim from whatever was worrying him. He smirked at Tim to keep his attention then reached over to pick up a strawberry from the fruit platter. He slowly touched the strawberry to his lips and bit down around the red flesh. A drop of juice made its way down his chin and he caught it on the tip of his finger, he very deliberately put his finger in his mouth and sucked the juice off. He flicked his gaze over to Tim, who was watching him intently and biting his lip.
“Did you want something Timmy?” Bernard asked huskily.
“Yeah,” Tim licked his lips, “You.”
Bernard hummed happily and sat up, stalking over to Tim and straddling him. The deck chair creaked at the combined weight, but Bernard trusted Wayne yachts to have decent deck chairs.
“You want me, here I am,” Bernard murmured.
Bernard closed the distance between them and kissed Tim. Tim responded eagerly, leaning into the kiss and wrapping his arms around Bernard’s waist. Bernard had one hand next to Tim’s head for support, but he used his free hand to tug up Tim’s shirt and run his fingers over Tim’s skin. Bernard ran his thumb over Tim’s most recent scar and Tim froze. He made a broken sound in the back of his throat and pushed Bernard away from him a little.
“Wait, Bernard, I have to talk to you about something,” Tim protested.
“Mmhmm,” Bernard hummed, leaning down to kiss Tim’s throat.
“Uh, Bernard, I really need to ask you something,” Tim wriggled away from Bernard’s mouth.
Bernard pouted and sat back, still straddling but giving him space. Tim propped himself up on his elbows so he was almost sitting. He stared at Bernard for a few seconds.
“I just,” Tim took a deep breath, “I nearly died last week-”
“You die nearly every week, it’s a drawback of dating you but I’ve learnt to deal with it,” Bernard cut in.
“Would you let me finish?” Tim snapped.
Bernard nodded, looking slightly concerned and Tim smiled apologetically, and nervously.
“I could die any time I put on the costume, I could be gone without having a chance to say goodbye and that scares me Bernard,” Tim
paused, considering something.
Bernard got off Tim’s lap and sat next to him instead, taking one of Tim’s hands in his.
“Usually that makes me want to push you, and everyone else, away. To protect you, so you don’t get hurt,” Tim explained and Bernard smiled wryly, “But when I was recovering in the Manor, I was unresponsive I know, but I could hear you talking to me, and I finally realised something.”
Tim stopped talking and stood up, pulling Bernard with him and grasping his hands.
“I realised I don’t want to push you away. I want to keep you close and I want to keep you close forever.”
Tim smiled nervously again and reached into his pocket then dropped to one knee. He opened a little black box and gold ring glinted in the sunlight.
“Bernard Dowd, will you marry me?” Tim asked softly.
“Does this make me the woman?” Bernard teased, smiling down at Tim.
“Please be serious for once in your life,” Tim scolded, but he was smiling too.
Bernard grabbed Tim’s free hand and pulled him up. He cupped Tim’s face in his hand, running a thumb over Tim’s cheek.
“Yes Tim, I will,” Bernard replied quietly.
Tim smiled a small, knowing smile for a few seconds before it turned into a huge grin. He took the ring out of the box and slipped it on
Bernard’s finger. Bernard returned Tim’s grin then pulled him close and kissed him firmly.
“I love you,” Bernard whispered, his lips still touching Tim’s.
“I love you too.”