Fic: Apartment Shopping
Title: Apartment Shopping
Characters: Tim Drake, Zachary Zatara
Rating: G
Warnings: SCHMOOOOOOOOOOOP
Word Count: 1, 740
Author's Notes: For dinahqueen's birthday because she is lovely and spoils with lots of awesome Zat/Tim. She requested a schmoopy, snarky domestic scene and this is the result.
The real estate broker stares at Tim and Zach in confusion. They have been arguing for the past two hours as she showed them apartment after apartment, and Zach knows that she is probably wondering how on earth they are planning to live together.
“There’s no fire escape, what if there’s a fire in the building,” Tim says, and Zach hears the implied ‘how am I supposed to sneak into the building at ungodly hours of the night’.
“I’m sure the place isn’t going to catch fire suddenly,” Zach answers and gives Tim a look that says ‘can’t you just use a grapple hook or something?’ because Zach really likes this apartment; it’s well-situated and open and spacious.
Tim makes a face and Zach is about to open his mouth in a snappy response when the broker cuts in first, “There’s another apartment like this a few blocks down, and I am sure the building has a fire escape.”
Despite the expression on her face, she’s been amazingly composed in spite of Tim’s constant questioning about safety and location and anything else he can think of. Zach knows just how patient she is because he’s already snapped at Tim for it once or twice.
“Sure, we’ll take a look,” Tim says and follows her down the stairs.
As he walks past Zach turns and walks close behind Tim so he can whisper, “Perhaps we can try a cave? Would that be more to your liking?”
Tim bristles, Zach can feel the tense of muscle when they’re standing so close together, “Or you could just spend your entire life in your dressing room? Maybe set up a bed beside the stage so you never have to leave?”
“Look, let’s just try this last place and if it’s not right we can give up for the day, try again next week.” Zach tries in an attempt to placate Tim, they’re both tired; Zach’s spent the week on a string matinees and shows, barely getting in to bed before he has to be up again to make sure everything is ready for the next day’s show and Tim has been with the Teen Titans all week, trying to make sure they’re properly trained and aren’t likely to get themselves killed on every mission.
Tim doesn’t answer, just catches up with the broker. She’s standing at her car when Tim and Zach make their way down to her, and as she gets into the car Tim and Zach both climb onto Tim’s bike.
“After this, I am never riding bitch again,” Zach hisses into Tim’s ear just before Tim puts his helmet on. His only answer is Tim revving the bike hard.
They follow the woman’s car to a block of apartments nearby and by all outward appearances it seems decent. There is a fire escape, Zach notes with relief, and easy access to the next building in case they ever need to make hasty exits out the window and across the rooftops.
The apartment isn’t a big as the last one, but it’s slightly better set out, with the sun pouring into the bedroom and spilling into the living room; giving the place a nice warmth. There’s only one bedroom, because they specified one bedroom, and Zach is appreciative of the fact that the landlord doesn’t seem bothered by it at all. The kitchen is small and neat, which isn’t a problem because Zach and Tim rarely ever prepare a meal for two; their time schedules run too differently. The bathroom is big for the size of the apartment, and Zach spends a few seconds appreciating the large bath tucked against one wall.
Tim takes longer inspecting each room, looking for anything that could possibly be wrong with the place.
“What do you think?” the broker asks eventually, and Zach can see that she’s starting to get a little nervous with their indecision.
Tim quirks an eyebrow at Zach in questioning and Zach nods.
“Okay.” Tim answers her question and Zach wonders if she’s going to faint with relief.
~
“I can just magic all our stuff here,” Zach suggests as Tim settles down on the floor, placing the shopping bag on the floor in front of him.
“What stuff?” Tim asks with a smirk, “Our bed was ruined when you tried to magic me to it.”
“You’re the one that broke the headboard,” Zach replies sulkily as he sits down next to Tim, “And anyway, you’re the one who spilled acid on the coffee table.”
Tim has the decency to look mildly ashamed but then he says, “At least I didn’t accidentally turn the couch into a frog.”
“I changed it back straight away!”
“But it’s never been the same since, it’s too springy.”
Zach shoots Tim a betrayed look, as if the pun has visibly injured him. Tim grins. Their old apartment, Tim’s old apartment, really had been far too small for them.
“I think the point is that we needed new furniture anyway, we can take a trip out to Ikea tomorrow,” Tim suggests.
Zach does look visibly wounded now, “Ikea? Ikea?”
“What’s wrong with Ikea?”
“The furniture requires assembly. Do I look like the sort of person who assembles?” Zach grimaces, “There’s a little antique furniture dealer near Robinson Park, we should be able to buy most of what we need there.”
Zach expects Tim to protest, because he knows Tim has a fondness for shiny, bright, modern things where Zach loves the dark wood and strong metal of antiques; but Tim just shrugs and hands Zach a tupperware container.
“What is it?” Zach asks, peeling back the lid, it’s still warm despite the time between when Tim had heated in the microwave and now.
“Mushroom risotto. Alfred made it for us,” Tim answers as he hands a fork over to Zach.
They busy themselves with dinner for a few minutes, leaning against each other and staring out at their new apartment. They’d been living together for months now, mostly at one of Tim’s apartments but it had taken Zach tripping over Tim’s lab set and nearly burning the place down for them to realise they needed something a bit bigger. There’s a study at this place, which Tim has already taken over as a home away from Cave, but Zach doesn’t really mind because Tim’s promised he can have most of the space on the bookshelves for his ancient tomes and spell books.
“-illusions,” Tim’s voice cuts through Zach’s thoughts and he turns to see Tim watching him with an expression of fond resignation.
“Pardon?” Zach has to ask, because he really hadn’t been paying attention.
Tim points to the hazy looking bookshelf sitting in the corner and the phantom Zach and Tim curled up on a couch together, blueprints spread over the table and a spell book sitting in Zach’s lap. Zach focuses a little harder and the phantom Zach puts the spell book down so it can reach over and run a hand through the phantom Tim’s hair, resting it’s hand at the base of it’s neck and pulling the phantom close for a kiss. Just as their lips meet Zach drops the unintentional magic and the illusion disappears.
“You’re getting very good at that,” Tim comments casually but he’s flushed with surprise and amusement.
Zach tries not to blush and fails miserably, “It keeps me entertained when you’re out late.”
He keeps his tone flat but at Tim’s haughtily raised brow he has to press his hand to his mouth to suppress a laugh.
“I don’t want to know.”
“Why Timothy, I am sure I have absolutely no idea what you are suggesting.”
Tim laughs then and Zach smiles at him, enjoying the rare moment of Tim actually expressing enjoyment. Tim finishes his meal a few seconds after Zach does, and Zach lazily waves the dishes into the sink for later; Tim is watching him again, apparently still fascinated by Zach using magic without spells. Tim brings his focus back onto the bag sitting at his side and pulls out another container, and then a bottle of champagne.
“Timothy! We’re underage!” Zach admonishes mockingly.
“As if we both haven’t been drinking at formal events since we were 12,” Tim reminds him, “Can you magic up some flutes?”
“engapmahc setulf raeppa,” Zach summons two glasses and hands them to Tim with a flourishes.
Tim pours two glasses, sets them and the bottle down and then slowly pulls back the lid of the final container. The smell of rich chocolate fills the room; Zach moans.
“Alfred’s black forest cake,” Tim tells him, placing the small cake on the floor between them and handing Zach a fork.
Zach accepts the fork eagerly and breaks off a portion of the cake, popping it into his mouth. He moans again, “This is the best thing I have ever put in my mouth.”
“Oi!”
Zach stares at Tim for a second and then shakes his head sadly, “Nope. Sorry, you just can’t compete with this cake.”
“I’ll be sure to tell Alfred you’re pleased with it,” Tim says and Zach chokes a little on a mouthful of cake.
He can’t ignore the smirk on Tim’s lips, but he carefully composes himself and puts the fork down; exchanging it for a glass of champagne. Tim picks up his own glass and they tap them together lightly.
“What shall we toast to?” Zach asks.
“Me finally having enough room to actually move about without tripping over your props.” Tim suggests.
“Or me being able to get some peace and quiet when you are intent on staying up all night going over plans,” Zach counters.
“Owning an apartment that doesn’t have cameras installed by Oracle.”
Zach glares at Tim, “Being far, far away from your crazy family.”
“You can never escape my family,” Tim stares at Zach with wide, terrified eyes.
Zach has to put his glass down so he can laugh and Tim chuckles quietly next to him. When Zach regains his composure he leans into Tim and rests his head on Tim’s shoulder.
“To peace and quiet.”
Tim drops a kiss on Zach’s head and tucks his legs under Zach’s, “To us?”
Zach smiles and shakes his head but he stills shifts so he’s curled up around Tim, he takes Tim’s hand and presses a kiss to the soft skin of Tim’s wrist, “To us.”
Characters: Tim Drake, Zachary Zatara
Rating: G
Warnings: SCHMOOOOOOOOOOOP
Word Count: 1, 740
Author's Notes: For dinahqueen's birthday because she is lovely and spoils with lots of awesome Zat/Tim. She requested a schmoopy, snarky domestic scene and this is the result.
The real estate broker stares at Tim and Zach in confusion. They have been arguing for the past two hours as she showed them apartment after apartment, and Zach knows that she is probably wondering how on earth they are planning to live together.
“There’s no fire escape, what if there’s a fire in the building,” Tim says, and Zach hears the implied ‘how am I supposed to sneak into the building at ungodly hours of the night’.
“I’m sure the place isn’t going to catch fire suddenly,” Zach answers and gives Tim a look that says ‘can’t you just use a grapple hook or something?’ because Zach really likes this apartment; it’s well-situated and open and spacious.
Tim makes a face and Zach is about to open his mouth in a snappy response when the broker cuts in first, “There’s another apartment like this a few blocks down, and I am sure the building has a fire escape.”
Despite the expression on her face, she’s been amazingly composed in spite of Tim’s constant questioning about safety and location and anything else he can think of. Zach knows just how patient she is because he’s already snapped at Tim for it once or twice.
“Sure, we’ll take a look,” Tim says and follows her down the stairs.
As he walks past Zach turns and walks close behind Tim so he can whisper, “Perhaps we can try a cave? Would that be more to your liking?”
Tim bristles, Zach can feel the tense of muscle when they’re standing so close together, “Or you could just spend your entire life in your dressing room? Maybe set up a bed beside the stage so you never have to leave?”
“Look, let’s just try this last place and if it’s not right we can give up for the day, try again next week.” Zach tries in an attempt to placate Tim, they’re both tired; Zach’s spent the week on a string matinees and shows, barely getting in to bed before he has to be up again to make sure everything is ready for the next day’s show and Tim has been with the Teen Titans all week, trying to make sure they’re properly trained and aren’t likely to get themselves killed on every mission.
Tim doesn’t answer, just catches up with the broker. She’s standing at her car when Tim and Zach make their way down to her, and as she gets into the car Tim and Zach both climb onto Tim’s bike.
“After this, I am never riding bitch again,” Zach hisses into Tim’s ear just before Tim puts his helmet on. His only answer is Tim revving the bike hard.
They follow the woman’s car to a block of apartments nearby and by all outward appearances it seems decent. There is a fire escape, Zach notes with relief, and easy access to the next building in case they ever need to make hasty exits out the window and across the rooftops.
The apartment isn’t a big as the last one, but it’s slightly better set out, with the sun pouring into the bedroom and spilling into the living room; giving the place a nice warmth. There’s only one bedroom, because they specified one bedroom, and Zach is appreciative of the fact that the landlord doesn’t seem bothered by it at all. The kitchen is small and neat, which isn’t a problem because Zach and Tim rarely ever prepare a meal for two; their time schedules run too differently. The bathroom is big for the size of the apartment, and Zach spends a few seconds appreciating the large bath tucked against one wall.
Tim takes longer inspecting each room, looking for anything that could possibly be wrong with the place.
“What do you think?” the broker asks eventually, and Zach can see that she’s starting to get a little nervous with their indecision.
Tim quirks an eyebrow at Zach in questioning and Zach nods.
“Okay.” Tim answers her question and Zach wonders if she’s going to faint with relief.
~
“I can just magic all our stuff here,” Zach suggests as Tim settles down on the floor, placing the shopping bag on the floor in front of him.
“What stuff?” Tim asks with a smirk, “Our bed was ruined when you tried to magic me to it.”
“You’re the one that broke the headboard,” Zach replies sulkily as he sits down next to Tim, “And anyway, you’re the one who spilled acid on the coffee table.”
Tim has the decency to look mildly ashamed but then he says, “At least I didn’t accidentally turn the couch into a frog.”
“I changed it back straight away!”
“But it’s never been the same since, it’s too springy.”
Zach shoots Tim a betrayed look, as if the pun has visibly injured him. Tim grins. Their old apartment, Tim’s old apartment, really had been far too small for them.
“I think the point is that we needed new furniture anyway, we can take a trip out to Ikea tomorrow,” Tim suggests.
Zach does look visibly wounded now, “Ikea? Ikea?”
“What’s wrong with Ikea?”
“The furniture requires assembly. Do I look like the sort of person who assembles?” Zach grimaces, “There’s a little antique furniture dealer near Robinson Park, we should be able to buy most of what we need there.”
Zach expects Tim to protest, because he knows Tim has a fondness for shiny, bright, modern things where Zach loves the dark wood and strong metal of antiques; but Tim just shrugs and hands Zach a tupperware container.
“What is it?” Zach asks, peeling back the lid, it’s still warm despite the time between when Tim had heated in the microwave and now.
“Mushroom risotto. Alfred made it for us,” Tim answers as he hands a fork over to Zach.
They busy themselves with dinner for a few minutes, leaning against each other and staring out at their new apartment. They’d been living together for months now, mostly at one of Tim’s apartments but it had taken Zach tripping over Tim’s lab set and nearly burning the place down for them to realise they needed something a bit bigger. There’s a study at this place, which Tim has already taken over as a home away from Cave, but Zach doesn’t really mind because Tim’s promised he can have most of the space on the bookshelves for his ancient tomes and spell books.
“-illusions,” Tim’s voice cuts through Zach’s thoughts and he turns to see Tim watching him with an expression of fond resignation.
“Pardon?” Zach has to ask, because he really hadn’t been paying attention.
Tim points to the hazy looking bookshelf sitting in the corner and the phantom Zach and Tim curled up on a couch together, blueprints spread over the table and a spell book sitting in Zach’s lap. Zach focuses a little harder and the phantom Zach puts the spell book down so it can reach over and run a hand through the phantom Tim’s hair, resting it’s hand at the base of it’s neck and pulling the phantom close for a kiss. Just as their lips meet Zach drops the unintentional magic and the illusion disappears.
“You’re getting very good at that,” Tim comments casually but he’s flushed with surprise and amusement.
Zach tries not to blush and fails miserably, “It keeps me entertained when you’re out late.”
He keeps his tone flat but at Tim’s haughtily raised brow he has to press his hand to his mouth to suppress a laugh.
“I don’t want to know.”
“Why Timothy, I am sure I have absolutely no idea what you are suggesting.”
Tim laughs then and Zach smiles at him, enjoying the rare moment of Tim actually expressing enjoyment. Tim finishes his meal a few seconds after Zach does, and Zach lazily waves the dishes into the sink for later; Tim is watching him again, apparently still fascinated by Zach using magic without spells. Tim brings his focus back onto the bag sitting at his side and pulls out another container, and then a bottle of champagne.
“Timothy! We’re underage!” Zach admonishes mockingly.
“As if we both haven’t been drinking at formal events since we were 12,” Tim reminds him, “Can you magic up some flutes?”
“engapmahc setulf raeppa,” Zach summons two glasses and hands them to Tim with a flourishes.
Tim pours two glasses, sets them and the bottle down and then slowly pulls back the lid of the final container. The smell of rich chocolate fills the room; Zach moans.
“Alfred’s black forest cake,” Tim tells him, placing the small cake on the floor between them and handing Zach a fork.
Zach accepts the fork eagerly and breaks off a portion of the cake, popping it into his mouth. He moans again, “This is the best thing I have ever put in my mouth.”
“Oi!”
Zach stares at Tim for a second and then shakes his head sadly, “Nope. Sorry, you just can’t compete with this cake.”
“I’ll be sure to tell Alfred you’re pleased with it,” Tim says and Zach chokes a little on a mouthful of cake.
He can’t ignore the smirk on Tim’s lips, but he carefully composes himself and puts the fork down; exchanging it for a glass of champagne. Tim picks up his own glass and they tap them together lightly.
“What shall we toast to?” Zach asks.
“Me finally having enough room to actually move about without tripping over your props.” Tim suggests.
“Or me being able to get some peace and quiet when you are intent on staying up all night going over plans,” Zach counters.
“Owning an apartment that doesn’t have cameras installed by Oracle.”
Zach glares at Tim, “Being far, far away from your crazy family.”
“You can never escape my family,” Tim stares at Zach with wide, terrified eyes.
Zach has to put his glass down so he can laugh and Tim chuckles quietly next to him. When Zach regains his composure he leans into Tim and rests his head on Tim’s shoulder.
“To peace and quiet.”
Tim drops a kiss on Zach’s head and tucks his legs under Zach’s, “To us?”
Zach smiles and shakes his head but he stills shifts so he’s curled up around Tim, he takes Tim’s hand and presses a kiss to the soft skin of Tim’s wrist, “To us.”