FIC: Ne Nos Inducas in Tentationem 1/1, Fandom: DCU, Teen Titans, Batclan, Rated: R
Title: Ne Nos Inducas in Tentationem
Author: in_excelsis_dea
Summary: "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from Evil." Matthew 6:9-13. For the first time in his life, Tim has given into temptation. Now he's paying for it.
Characters: Tim, Cassie, Rose, Jason
Genre: Angst, Drama, bit of Romance.
Rating: R
Warnings: Swearing, mention of sexual acts though not in too much detail.
Disclaimer: The characters are not mine. I'm simply borrowing them and am making no profit.
AN: Written for the 64damn_prompts Challenge, using Prompt 58. Enemy Gate. Comments/con crit is always appreciated.
Once.
He gave in once.
One measly freaking time.
And now he's being damned for it.
She's come into his room, come into his bed for months, wearing not a stitch. And God, he's done his best to ignore her. He sends her away, does not give in. He won't let her do this to him, tempt him like this. Yes, she's beautiful. Yes, she turns him on, makes him think of her, dream of her, lust after her.
But she is not his to have.
And he doesn't even want her. It's all physical. It's just a primal attraction- two superb specimens of the species searching each other out, fuelling an instinctual need to copulate. Damn it, he doesn't really like her. It's his body, not his mind. He's a teenager. He's male. To him, everything can spur on thoughts of sex and mating and lust.
But she's not what he wants- she's not what he needs.
He knows that. She knows that. Hell, she's sleeping with his brother, for God's sake. She only wants him because he's a challenge, because he won't give in.
Except...he does.
Once.
Cassie...Cassie had been really testy lately. Before they were lovers, they were friends and he really thought he knew her, understood her. Except that the last week, she had transformed into someone he just didn't know. And when she kicked him out of her bed, and he was wanting, wanting to badly and Rose was naked in his bed and forward as usual and kissed him and any protest- any resolve- he had flew right out of the window as blood rushed from one part of his body to another.
He let her take him. Or he took her. He isn't really sure anymore. The entire ordeal was a bit fuzzy, as if he were looking in from the outside, watching someone else fuck Rose and moan and lose themselves in her. Because that type of behavior really isn't him. Tim was raised better, taught to respect women, told that you didn't cheat on your best-friend turned lover, even if she was apparently having some problems. He should have tried to work through them with her, instead of seeking out someone else. It's only going to bite him in the ass later on. Stuff like this always tends to.
Really.
Sleeping with a teammate while dating another does not bode well. Especially when the two girls on either side of the equation hate each other. It's definitely going to blow up at him. And the guilt...
He'll cuddle with Cassie, and suddenly remember Rose in his arms. He'll be inside Cassie, and remember Rose's inner walls clenching him. He'll dream of Cassie and have her face morph into Rose's. It's- it's driving him nuts. He- he can't keep doing this. Rose has appeared in his bed five times since then, and he pushes her away every time, though something inside him calls out for her.
He doesn't care.
He doesn't want to know.
Damn it, he's happy. Yeah, Cassie's been having a hard time. He's asked her about it and while she won't share details with him, she alludes that it's a female thing and her mom and Diana and Donna are there for her and no, she really doesn't feel like sharing anymore and can they please change the subject. They do and he'll squeeze her hand and she'll squeeze back and then he knows that she's okay and she's open to him taking things further. There is no reason why his mistake should have any effect on their relationship. He's so totally over Rose.
Except he's not.
And the next time Cassie gets upset, merely days later, he finds Rose waiting for him.
This time he initiates the sex.
It feels good- really good. He's able to push Cassie and their fight out of his mind and simply focuses on the woman underneath him, on top of him, taking control of him. He may be a control-freak with everyone else, but for some reason, he doesn't have a problem letting Rose take control in the bedroom. It's...refreshing.
She's refreshing.
He feels terrible for thinking it, but can't deny the truth.
Rose may not care about previous commitments or relationships. She may not care about sleeping around, hurting her other partner. Hell, as if Jason would care. He actually ran into Jason a couple days after the first time he and Rose had "done it". Well, "run into" wasn't exactly the right phrase- more like Jason had appeared in his window, lounging with one leg outside and one leg in, mask less and in civvies. "She's a good fuck," he said. "Have fun with her, Timmy boy, I know I sure do." And then before Tim could even blink, he was falling and swinging away.
It was...an odd meeting, to say the least.
And it stuck in his head for days.
He's- he's not leaving Cassie, for Rose. No way in Hell. Rose is...she's a good fuck and that's it. Sure, she's beautiful. Sure, she has a determined spirit and she's a brilliant fighter and she's sarcastic and unafraid to do what she wants and her moral code is less than stellar and she gets rebelling and the way his family can be so damn stifling (even when it's really the last thing you'd expect from a Bat) and that sometimes it's so freaking annoying to be good all the time and man, he just needs to let go occasionally and do something reckless, stupid, completely out of character simply to remind himself that he isn't a Robin drone, but actually a real, living breathing person.
Cassie...tries. But she doesn't really get that. Her mom was understanding of her powers from the beginning, and she has a (well, relatively) normal superhero family to take care of her. She doesn't have to hide behind a mask. She doesn't have to pretend to be someone she's not. Amazons are all about being warriors and passionate and fighting for what they feel is right and not letting anything stand in their way. Which is sort of like Rose, except Cassie still has innocence and Rose...doesn't.
Neither does he.
He doesn't have a molecule of innocence left in his body anymore. He's been through too damn much, witnessed things that send grown men to their knees, fought the deadliest and craziest beings on the planet- and off- and survived. He's a martial arts master, an excellent hacker, a technological genius, one hell of a detective, a perfectionist in every way. He is a middle-aged man trapped in a seventeen year-old body- or at least that's what it feels like at times. Weary with the world, weary with himself. Weary at his own too-human limitations.
Limitations Cassie doesn't have.
He doesn't resent her. Seriously, he doesn't. It's just...sometimes... Rose is human. Rose got dosed with Serum by her father, but she's still human. All the serum did was enhance natural abilities. She's quick with a sword; fights on her feet, can sometimes see a move before it's made. But Tim can do all those things as well. They're just traits of being an extremely-well trained martial artist. And, okay, her precognition goes a bit deeper than that and her skills do sometimes seem unnatural. But most people call Batman unnatural. And Batman, for as loathe as he is to admit it, is only human as well.
Damn it. He shouldn't be thinking like this. He does not love Rose. He loves Cassie. Sure, they're having some problems. That's normal- right? People in relationships sometimes have problems. They'll make-up, spend a day in bed, talk and murmur and make promises that they probably can't keep, but it doesn't matter because they're there together. And that really triumphs over it all.
This thing with Rose- it's nothing. Cassie is the one he wants- and he really wishes he could be more convincing when saying that. Because this...this...
Maybe banging his head against the wall would be a solution. Maybe it'll knock some sense into his brain. He sure needs it... Rose...is intoxicating. Exotic. Foreign. Sure, he's attracted to her. But it does not mean anything.
Does it?
He clenches his fists, takes a deep breath. Cassie. Focus on Cassie, because that's who you're waiting for. She left again for another week with the Amazons and he- he spent the entire week with Rose. He's ashamed and he needs to tell Cassie, tell her that he loves her and it's all his fault and he swears he's going to break it- what it? Is there something more between them than just casual sex- off and refuse her from now and oh, Lord, he's sorry and he feels terrible and it's just been so hard with her not speaking to him and taking off and he really does feel for her and wants to know what's going on and wants to help because he loves her and isn't that what boyfriends are supposed to do?
When Cassie enters, he notices that there's something different about her. A lightness to her step, a smile on her lips, almost a glow about her. She's happy and Tim prays that this is the end of their problems, even though he knows it's not. Because...because he can't deny that he does feel something for Rose. Damn it, Drake, brilliant time to admit it- you've got feelings for two separate women.
Fucking brilliant.
The room's hot- too hot. He needs air. Lots of air. Go outside. He's got to get outside before he explodes. Except...
"Tim, I- um, I wanted to apologize. I know I've been acting like a bitch lately, and I really am sorry. It's just...I've had suspicions for awhile now, but this time finally confirmed it." She walks over to him, takes his hand and he can't help but look into her eyes and the emotions contained within. Because she really doesn't deserve this...him...whatever.
It's just got to stop.
Now.
"Cassie, I- I need to tell you something..."
"Let me go first, Tim. Please. I need to tell you this, because it's wonderful news."
This...does not bode well. At all.
"I'm pregnant, Tim. We're having a baby."
Tim does something he has not done in a long time, unless it's from acute and life-threatening blood loss.
He faints.
Author: in_excelsis_dea
Summary: "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from Evil." Matthew 6:9-13. For the first time in his life, Tim has given into temptation. Now he's paying for it.
Characters: Tim, Cassie, Rose, Jason
Genre: Angst, Drama, bit of Romance.
Rating: R
Warnings: Swearing, mention of sexual acts though not in too much detail.
Disclaimer: The characters are not mine. I'm simply borrowing them and am making no profit.
AN: Written for the 64damn_prompts Challenge, using Prompt 58. Enemy Gate. Comments/con crit is always appreciated.
Once.
He gave in once.
One measly freaking time.
And now he's being damned for it.
She's come into his room, come into his bed for months, wearing not a stitch. And God, he's done his best to ignore her. He sends her away, does not give in. He won't let her do this to him, tempt him like this. Yes, she's beautiful. Yes, she turns him on, makes him think of her, dream of her, lust after her.
But she is not his to have.
And he doesn't even want her. It's all physical. It's just a primal attraction- two superb specimens of the species searching each other out, fuelling an instinctual need to copulate. Damn it, he doesn't really like her. It's his body, not his mind. He's a teenager. He's male. To him, everything can spur on thoughts of sex and mating and lust.
But she's not what he wants- she's not what he needs.
He knows that. She knows that. Hell, she's sleeping with his brother, for God's sake. She only wants him because he's a challenge, because he won't give in.
Except...he does.
Once.
Cassie...Cassie had been really testy lately. Before they were lovers, they were friends and he really thought he knew her, understood her. Except that the last week, she had transformed into someone he just didn't know. And when she kicked him out of her bed, and he was wanting, wanting to badly and Rose was naked in his bed and forward as usual and kissed him and any protest- any resolve- he had flew right out of the window as blood rushed from one part of his body to another.
He let her take him. Or he took her. He isn't really sure anymore. The entire ordeal was a bit fuzzy, as if he were looking in from the outside, watching someone else fuck Rose and moan and lose themselves in her. Because that type of behavior really isn't him. Tim was raised better, taught to respect women, told that you didn't cheat on your best-friend turned lover, even if she was apparently having some problems. He should have tried to work through them with her, instead of seeking out someone else. It's only going to bite him in the ass later on. Stuff like this always tends to.
Really.
Sleeping with a teammate while dating another does not bode well. Especially when the two girls on either side of the equation hate each other. It's definitely going to blow up at him. And the guilt...
He'll cuddle with Cassie, and suddenly remember Rose in his arms. He'll be inside Cassie, and remember Rose's inner walls clenching him. He'll dream of Cassie and have her face morph into Rose's. It's- it's driving him nuts. He- he can't keep doing this. Rose has appeared in his bed five times since then, and he pushes her away every time, though something inside him calls out for her.
He doesn't care.
He doesn't want to know.
Damn it, he's happy. Yeah, Cassie's been having a hard time. He's asked her about it and while she won't share details with him, she alludes that it's a female thing and her mom and Diana and Donna are there for her and no, she really doesn't feel like sharing anymore and can they please change the subject. They do and he'll squeeze her hand and she'll squeeze back and then he knows that she's okay and she's open to him taking things further. There is no reason why his mistake should have any effect on their relationship. He's so totally over Rose.
Except he's not.
And the next time Cassie gets upset, merely days later, he finds Rose waiting for him.
This time he initiates the sex.
It feels good- really good. He's able to push Cassie and their fight out of his mind and simply focuses on the woman underneath him, on top of him, taking control of him. He may be a control-freak with everyone else, but for some reason, he doesn't have a problem letting Rose take control in the bedroom. It's...refreshing.
She's refreshing.
He feels terrible for thinking it, but can't deny the truth.
Rose may not care about previous commitments or relationships. She may not care about sleeping around, hurting her other partner. Hell, as if Jason would care. He actually ran into Jason a couple days after the first time he and Rose had "done it". Well, "run into" wasn't exactly the right phrase- more like Jason had appeared in his window, lounging with one leg outside and one leg in, mask less and in civvies. "She's a good fuck," he said. "Have fun with her, Timmy boy, I know I sure do." And then before Tim could even blink, he was falling and swinging away.
It was...an odd meeting, to say the least.
And it stuck in his head for days.
He's- he's not leaving Cassie, for Rose. No way in Hell. Rose is...she's a good fuck and that's it. Sure, she's beautiful. Sure, she has a determined spirit and she's a brilliant fighter and she's sarcastic and unafraid to do what she wants and her moral code is less than stellar and she gets rebelling and the way his family can be so damn stifling (even when it's really the last thing you'd expect from a Bat) and that sometimes it's so freaking annoying to be good all the time and man, he just needs to let go occasionally and do something reckless, stupid, completely out of character simply to remind himself that he isn't a Robin drone, but actually a real, living breathing person.
Cassie...tries. But she doesn't really get that. Her mom was understanding of her powers from the beginning, and she has a (well, relatively) normal superhero family to take care of her. She doesn't have to hide behind a mask. She doesn't have to pretend to be someone she's not. Amazons are all about being warriors and passionate and fighting for what they feel is right and not letting anything stand in their way. Which is sort of like Rose, except Cassie still has innocence and Rose...doesn't.
Neither does he.
He doesn't have a molecule of innocence left in his body anymore. He's been through too damn much, witnessed things that send grown men to their knees, fought the deadliest and craziest beings on the planet- and off- and survived. He's a martial arts master, an excellent hacker, a technological genius, one hell of a detective, a perfectionist in every way. He is a middle-aged man trapped in a seventeen year-old body- or at least that's what it feels like at times. Weary with the world, weary with himself. Weary at his own too-human limitations.
Limitations Cassie doesn't have.
He doesn't resent her. Seriously, he doesn't. It's just...sometimes... Rose is human. Rose got dosed with Serum by her father, but she's still human. All the serum did was enhance natural abilities. She's quick with a sword; fights on her feet, can sometimes see a move before it's made. But Tim can do all those things as well. They're just traits of being an extremely-well trained martial artist. And, okay, her precognition goes a bit deeper than that and her skills do sometimes seem unnatural. But most people call Batman unnatural. And Batman, for as loathe as he is to admit it, is only human as well.
Damn it. He shouldn't be thinking like this. He does not love Rose. He loves Cassie. Sure, they're having some problems. That's normal- right? People in relationships sometimes have problems. They'll make-up, spend a day in bed, talk and murmur and make promises that they probably can't keep, but it doesn't matter because they're there together. And that really triumphs over it all.
This thing with Rose- it's nothing. Cassie is the one he wants- and he really wishes he could be more convincing when saying that. Because this...this...
Maybe banging his head against the wall would be a solution. Maybe it'll knock some sense into his brain. He sure needs it... Rose...is intoxicating. Exotic. Foreign. Sure, he's attracted to her. But it does not mean anything.
Does it?
He clenches his fists, takes a deep breath. Cassie. Focus on Cassie, because that's who you're waiting for. She left again for another week with the Amazons and he- he spent the entire week with Rose. He's ashamed and he needs to tell Cassie, tell her that he loves her and it's all his fault and he swears he's going to break it- what it? Is there something more between them than just casual sex- off and refuse her from now and oh, Lord, he's sorry and he feels terrible and it's just been so hard with her not speaking to him and taking off and he really does feel for her and wants to know what's going on and wants to help because he loves her and isn't that what boyfriends are supposed to do?
When Cassie enters, he notices that there's something different about her. A lightness to her step, a smile on her lips, almost a glow about her. She's happy and Tim prays that this is the end of their problems, even though he knows it's not. Because...because he can't deny that he does feel something for Rose. Damn it, Drake, brilliant time to admit it- you've got feelings for two separate women.
Fucking brilliant.
The room's hot- too hot. He needs air. Lots of air. Go outside. He's got to get outside before he explodes. Except...
"Tim, I- um, I wanted to apologize. I know I've been acting like a bitch lately, and I really am sorry. It's just...I've had suspicions for awhile now, but this time finally confirmed it." She walks over to him, takes his hand and he can't help but look into her eyes and the emotions contained within. Because she really doesn't deserve this...him...whatever.
It's just got to stop.
Now.
"Cassie, I- I need to tell you something..."
"Let me go first, Tim. Please. I need to tell you this, because it's wonderful news."
This...does not bode well. At all.
"I'm pregnant, Tim. We're having a baby."
Tim does something he has not done in a long time, unless it's from acute and life-threatening blood loss.
He faints.