Fic: Across the Pond (Tim/Squire)
Title: Across the Pond
Fandom: Batman
Characters/Pairing: Red Robin/Squire (Tim/Beryl)
Rating: PG-13
Words: 901
Summary: Tim chases a lead across the Atlantic, and finds that there's more than one reason to stick around.
Author's Notes: Contains mild speculative spoilers for post-Battle for the Cowl Bat-verse. Also, this is all aravistarkhena's fault. She turned me onto this pairing, and I'm writing this quick-fic to help her get over writer's block. :D
Tim raced the Redbird through oncoming traffic. Apparently the only thing harder than chasing villains through oncoming traffic was doing it on the other side of the road.
"Oi! Red Robin! Bad guys at three o'clock!"
At Squire's shout, Tim rolled down the window and threw a smoke bomb at the motorcycling thugs who were chasing them. As the cloud of smoke enveloped them, one crashed into the other, running them both off the road. From the ditch, one unleashed a volley of gunshots. The bulletproof shielding of the Redbird protected Tim, but a bullet grazed Squire's arm. Tim saw her pull her motorcycle off the road to a safe stretch, and he followed her.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine. Just grazed me." Squire replied as she checked out her arm. "Thanks for the assist."
"No problem. Who were those guys?"
"A band of low-rent hooligans called the Royal Reign. Their leader claims to be the true heir to the throne of England, and they're trying to attack Buckingham Palace. They're annoying, but not a serious threat. They fire real ammo, though."
Tim gently took hold of Beryl's arm, examining the wound. "It's just a minor graze. Nothing internal. Just dress it, and you should be fine to continue patrol, if you want."
"Cheers." Beryl looked over Tim's new costume. "I never did ask, 'Red Robin'...you are Tim Drake under there, right?"
"Yeah. Trying not to let it get out too much, but it's me."
"What brings you across the pond, then? Not that I'm not happy to see a friendly face, but I'd think Gotham would be keeping you busy."
"Gotham's in...good hands. Even if I have my opinions about Dick's choice in Robins, it's his to make. I don't want to be stepping on his toes. Besides, he may be ready to move on, but I still think Bruce is out there - or at least the answer to where he is will be. I'm chasing down some Alchemists' Society in London."
"The Society of the Golden Orchid?"
"That's the one! How did you know about them?"
Squire grinned. "Cyril and I busted them up when they tried to turn all of London's water into wine a few years back. They're mostly harmless. I can show you their hideout, but I don't know. They never seemed to be all that competent."
"Great. Hopefully something good will come of this trip. France turned out to be a dead end, and it's getting frustrating."
"Is that the only good thing to come out of this trip?" Beryl playfully punched Tim in the arm. "And here I thought you were happy to see me."
"I am." Tim hesitated for a minute. "Honestly, you're one of the few people left I feel comfortable talking with. Stephanie and I fell out. Both our faults. Dick and I have...issues over some of the decisions he made. And I don't really feel like I fit with the Titans anymore. I think a part of me knew this London trip was probably going to be a dead end. Maybe I just wanted a chance to talk to someone who understands this kind of life."
"Well, you came to the right place, then! Instead of beating up creepy old Alchemists, we can go get some chips, talk things over. As long as you ditch that creepy new mask. You're a good mate, so I'm telling you - not your best look."
"Blame Jason. It used to be his." Tim grinned. "We should probably go make sure those crazy Monarchists are out of commission before we run off, though."
"Nah, I alerted the Royal Guards. They're used to dealing with them, and we can't have all the fun, can we?"
As Beryl grinned mischeviously, Tim felt a smile creep onto his face. Being here, with Beryl, reminded him of what it used to be like in Gotham. Back when he enjoyed what he did, before being a hero became synonymous with those he loved dying. He was here on a mission, he said to himself. Not for pleasure. But none of those thoughts dissuaded him from leaning in and planting a soft kiss on Beryl's lips.
"Why, boy wonder. I thought you'd never get the courage up." Beryl smirked as she kissed back, knocking Tim backwards onto the hood of the Redbird.
"Are all British girls this aggressive?" Tim laughed in between kisses.
"Only the ones trained by the Knight." Beryl loosened Tim's cowl just enough so she could nibble on his ear. "You know...Cyril's been telling me that crime is down in London lately. I'm pretty sure I could get him to give me a leave of absence to join you on your hero's quest. At least for a while, until I've got to go back to school. If I've got to beat up the Royal Reign one more time..."
"That sounds great. I always wanted to have my own Robin."
"Pfft. You're the Robin, boyo."
"Oh, yeah? We'll see about that!" Tim grinned as he tackled Beryl, rolling over on the hood of the Redbird and kissing her passionately. It felt good to be with someone fun, in a country where death didn't seem to be lurking in every corner. Whoever won this playful tussle they were currently engaged in, they would make great partners, and that was exactly what he wanted right now.
Fandom: Batman
Characters/Pairing: Red Robin/Squire (Tim/Beryl)
Rating: PG-13
Words: 901
Summary: Tim chases a lead across the Atlantic, and finds that there's more than one reason to stick around.
Author's Notes: Contains mild speculative spoilers for post-Battle for the Cowl Bat-verse. Also, this is all aravistarkhena's fault. She turned me onto this pairing, and I'm writing this quick-fic to help her get over writer's block. :D
Tim raced the Redbird through oncoming traffic. Apparently the only thing harder than chasing villains through oncoming traffic was doing it on the other side of the road.
"Oi! Red Robin! Bad guys at three o'clock!"
At Squire's shout, Tim rolled down the window and threw a smoke bomb at the motorcycling thugs who were chasing them. As the cloud of smoke enveloped them, one crashed into the other, running them both off the road. From the ditch, one unleashed a volley of gunshots. The bulletproof shielding of the Redbird protected Tim, but a bullet grazed Squire's arm. Tim saw her pull her motorcycle off the road to a safe stretch, and he followed her.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine. Just grazed me." Squire replied as she checked out her arm. "Thanks for the assist."
"No problem. Who were those guys?"
"A band of low-rent hooligans called the Royal Reign. Their leader claims to be the true heir to the throne of England, and they're trying to attack Buckingham Palace. They're annoying, but not a serious threat. They fire real ammo, though."
Tim gently took hold of Beryl's arm, examining the wound. "It's just a minor graze. Nothing internal. Just dress it, and you should be fine to continue patrol, if you want."
"Cheers." Beryl looked over Tim's new costume. "I never did ask, 'Red Robin'...you are Tim Drake under there, right?"
"Yeah. Trying not to let it get out too much, but it's me."
"What brings you across the pond, then? Not that I'm not happy to see a friendly face, but I'd think Gotham would be keeping you busy."
"Gotham's in...good hands. Even if I have my opinions about Dick's choice in Robins, it's his to make. I don't want to be stepping on his toes. Besides, he may be ready to move on, but I still think Bruce is out there - or at least the answer to where he is will be. I'm chasing down some Alchemists' Society in London."
"The Society of the Golden Orchid?"
"That's the one! How did you know about them?"
Squire grinned. "Cyril and I busted them up when they tried to turn all of London's water into wine a few years back. They're mostly harmless. I can show you their hideout, but I don't know. They never seemed to be all that competent."
"Great. Hopefully something good will come of this trip. France turned out to be a dead end, and it's getting frustrating."
"Is that the only good thing to come out of this trip?" Beryl playfully punched Tim in the arm. "And here I thought you were happy to see me."
"I am." Tim hesitated for a minute. "Honestly, you're one of the few people left I feel comfortable talking with. Stephanie and I fell out. Both our faults. Dick and I have...issues over some of the decisions he made. And I don't really feel like I fit with the Titans anymore. I think a part of me knew this London trip was probably going to be a dead end. Maybe I just wanted a chance to talk to someone who understands this kind of life."
"Well, you came to the right place, then! Instead of beating up creepy old Alchemists, we can go get some chips, talk things over. As long as you ditch that creepy new mask. You're a good mate, so I'm telling you - not your best look."
"Blame Jason. It used to be his." Tim grinned. "We should probably go make sure those crazy Monarchists are out of commission before we run off, though."
"Nah, I alerted the Royal Guards. They're used to dealing with them, and we can't have all the fun, can we?"
As Beryl grinned mischeviously, Tim felt a smile creep onto his face. Being here, with Beryl, reminded him of what it used to be like in Gotham. Back when he enjoyed what he did, before being a hero became synonymous with those he loved dying. He was here on a mission, he said to himself. Not for pleasure. But none of those thoughts dissuaded him from leaning in and planting a soft kiss on Beryl's lips.
"Why, boy wonder. I thought you'd never get the courage up." Beryl smirked as she kissed back, knocking Tim backwards onto the hood of the Redbird.
"Are all British girls this aggressive?" Tim laughed in between kisses.
"Only the ones trained by the Knight." Beryl loosened Tim's cowl just enough so she could nibble on his ear. "You know...Cyril's been telling me that crime is down in London lately. I'm pretty sure I could get him to give me a leave of absence to join you on your hero's quest. At least for a while, until I've got to go back to school. If I've got to beat up the Royal Reign one more time..."
"That sounds great. I always wanted to have my own Robin."
"Pfft. You're the Robin, boyo."
"Oh, yeah? We'll see about that!" Tim grinned as he tackled Beryl, rolling over on the hood of the Redbird and kissing her passionately. It felt good to be with someone fun, in a country where death didn't seem to be lurking in every corner. Whoever won this playful tussle they were currently engaged in, they would make great partners, and that was exactly what he wanted right now.