Fic: Sitting Ducks (Kings Among Runaways, Jason/Tim)

[iesika]

Series Title: Kings Among Runaways
Story Title: Sitting Ducks
Summary: The AU where Tim ran away from home at the tender age of mumbledyteen, and Jason got let off with a warning, the night he met Batman.
Warnings: Sexual content including minors, both disturbing and hopefully not.
Note: The series is indexed here.

Sitting Ducks

The car they take isn't the same one Jason tried to strip, last year. Turns out there's a bunch of them, sleek, shining black things all over the damned cave on turntables and lifts. Batman had hustled them through before he'd had much time to look around. He'd had to grab Tim's hand for him to keep up, drag him past the cars and the computers and the goddamned dinosaur with his eyes wide, not even looking where they're going, just trusting Jason to lead him right.

They collect Tim's package - he hadn't been bluffing - and then Batman asks where they've been staying, and Tim tells the fucker, so they go empty their room at the Motel 7 and Batman leaves the keys and a few hundred dollars on the bed, which is the closest Batman gets to telling them they're not coming back.

Batman keeps calling Tim "Drake," and Tim keeps answering, so Jason figures that must really be his last name. It's kind of funny that he's never mentioned it before, but Jason's never really thought to ask. There's a lot of stuff Jason hasn't asked, and now he's kind of wishing he had - stuff like how Tim got so good at creeping around on rooftops.

Jason wishes he knew why Tim was so calm. He looks a little happy, even, in that quiet way he gets, triumphant, maybe, like after a score. He's acting like they won a motherfucking prize, and it's starting to freak Jason out a little. He doesn't say anything, though - just hustles Tim along when they get back to the cave, up the stairs after Old English, who takes them up into some kind of huge dining room and -

Okay, Jason can maybe understand the prize thing, now, because he's never seen a spread like this in his life. There's eggs and bacon and sausage, potatoes with onions, toast, juice, a huge bowl of fruit, and once he and Tim sit down and dig in - they haven't been starving lately, but it hasn't been that long, either - the guy leaves and comes back with a platter stacked high with pancakes, half blueberry and half chocolate chip.

The old guy stands in the corner and watches them eat. Jason thinks he's keeping an eye on the family silver, until he catches the guy smiling, out of the corner of his eye. After that, he's not sure what to think.

"This is really excellent," Tim tells the guy, who bows a little and smiles down at him in this really kind of fond way.

"Yeah," Jason says around a mouthful of the best pancake he's ever had. He gets an eyebrow, so he chews and swallows before he says, "thanks."

"It's my pleasure young sir. I haven't had the occasion to do a proper fry-up in quite some time."

"So, you're...Batman's cook?"

He gets the eyebrow again, but this time it's more amused than stern. "Among other things."

Tim coughs into his juice, and the guy hands him a napkin before Jason can move. After he wipes his chin, Tim looks up and says, "thank you, Mr. Pennyworth."

Pennyworth's eyebrows both go up, this time, but slowly, and Jason gets the feeling somehow that he's more impressed than surprised. "We will be having a little chat, once you've rested," he says, and then glances at the last few bites of pancake Jason really doesn't want to waste but can't possibly make room for. "Shall I show you to your-" his eyes dart between them "-room?"

"Please," Tim says, and his voice is thick with happiness.


The room turns out to be a suite with a couch and a fireplace, and the biggest goddamned bed Jason has ever seen. As soon as the door is shut, Jason wedges a chair under the nob and pulls Tim around by the shoulder.

Tim goes with it, and then lunges forward and up to wrap his arms around Jason and kiss him on the mouth. It's the first time Jason's ever pushed Tim away, and he feels awful doing it, but he presses Tim back to arm's length.

"What," he says, slowly, "the hell?"

Tim's just grinning at him and trying to slip his hold to get closer. After a minute, Jason caves and lets himself get hugged, but he turns his face away. "Seriously," he says.

Tim just laughs against his throat. "You smell like - I don't know. Chemicals. And there's something pink in your hair."

"What?" Jason touches the back of his head. His hair feels slightly sticky.

"Let's clean up," Tim says. He's so cheery he's fucking bouncing as he takes Jason by the hand and drags him into the bathroom.

"Oh my fucking God," Jason says when he sees it. There's a huge round tub sunk into the floor - probably a whirlpool, and a shower big enough for at least a dozen people, with heads and hoses at all kinds of angles. There are two sinks - full vanities, he realizes, and between them are two plastic toothbrushes still in their wrapping, and a brand new razor.

Tim goes right for the shower, stripping off as he steps in and sending his underwear at Jason's face. Jason catches it and gathers the rest of the fallen clothes, and then pokes his head out into the main room.

The chair is still where he left it.

"Come on," Tim says, laughing. When Jason's turning around, he's pulling a hose off the wall. "I will spray you."

"I've gotta piss," he says, but he's stalling. He checks the chair again after he does his business, then locks the bathroom door and strips out of his clothes before joining Tim in the shower.

He washes quick as he can. Tim kisses him, twice, and when Jason turns away, he wraps his arms around him from behind and kisses his shoulder. "Jay," he says, and there's a plea in his voice. Jason can feel him, hard, against the inside of his thigh, and Jason wants, but not now, not like this, and definitely not here. He shakes the water from his face and hair, and steps away, out of the shower to the fluffy towels on the rack - which is keeping them warm he realizes with a little moan.

"Jay?" Tim calls, but Jason ignores him as he dresses, because if he turns around and sees him, naked, wet and hard, reaching out for him --

They haven't done more than kiss and grope around a little. Tim's only - Jason's not actually sure how old he is - young enough to be pretty fucking gun-shy, mostly. And Jason knows all about early fucking blooming, but he's not some creep. He's been telling himself that Tim's gotta make the move - that he will, if he really wants it. Tim gets what he wants, damnit.

It's not going to be tonight, though, in some rich guy's house - Batman's house. There are stories about Batman, about that kid he used to keep around, and maybe Jason's not afraid of Batman, but he's not letting his guard down, not with Tim to look out for.

"Jason," Tim says, and this time he sounds frustrated. Jason cracks the door and peers out.

The chair has been returned to its spot by the window.

Jason shuts the door and grabs Tim's clothes. "Get out," he orders.

"What?"

"Get out of there. Get dressed, Tim. If we have to bolt--"

"We won't," Tim interrupts, but he hangs up the hose and cuts the taps. Jason hands him a towel, and he dries his hair. "We're perfectly safe," he argues.

"And you figure that how, exactly?"

When Tim steps out of the shower, he wraps his towel around his waist instead of taking his clothes. He heads over to the sinks and unwraps the green toothbrush. "There's precedent," he says, and opens the medicine cabinet to reveal about six kinds of toothpaste and a bunch of other stuff besides, including - Jason takes a step closer - three kinds of condoms, and a tube of medical lubricant. He shuts the cabinet and glares at Tim in the mirror.

"You did deliberately give him the impression that we're sleeping together," Tim says. He runs a little water on the toothbrush, squirts out a bit of paste - and then turns and sticks it into Jason's open mouth. Jason squawks in surprise and bites down to keep from dropping it.

We are, Jason wants to say, but his mouth is full. They're not having sex, not really, but they haven't slept more than a foot apart since October. He watches Tim fix up the other toothbrush, and then grumbles and starts scrubbing while he goes to check the door again.

Still no one in the bedroom. Jason ventures out of the bathroom, still brushing. Their stuff is where they left it. Other than the chair, the only thing that's changed is the striped pajamas laid out on the bed, one set a little bigger than the other.

Boys' pajamas. Jason turns on his heel, back into the bathroom, and spits. "Get dressed," he orders again. He rinses his mouth and wipes it, then returns to the bedroom and tries the door. It's unlocked, and the hallway is dark. He shuts it and crosses the room to the window, but when he pulls the curtains back, he finds it painted shut.

There's a noise behind him and he spins to find Tim watching him, still wearing the towel and nothing else. "I told you," he says, gently, "We're safe here, Jay." He sits down on the bed and picks up the smaller pajama shirt, pale blue striped with white. He holds it up to his own chest and looks down, tracing the "RG" monogrammed in dark thread over the heart.

"You don't wonder why he's got kids pajamas lying around? Or maybe what happened to Arr Gee?"

"He's in New York," Tim says, "dating a supermodel and saving the world on a regular basis."

Jason's mouth drops open, and he sits down in the wooden chair. "You gonna tell me what the fuck is going on?"

Tim looks up at him, startled at first and then a little sheepish. "Um," he says. "I really haven't, have I?"

"Really not," Jason says, and then, because it's been bugging him. "Batman called you Drake."

"Oh," Tim says. He folds the shirt carefully and smooths it out on his lap. "Yes."

"And...You know his name?"

"Bruce Wayne."

Jason just stares. After a few seconds, he starts laughing. The giant-ass house make sense now, and how he's paying for all the cars.

"Robin's name is Dick Grayson. He was a circus acrobat until his parents were killed. Mr. Wayne took him in and made him a superhero."

Oh. Oh. That's...Tim's excitement makes a certain scary sense now. "Okay," Jason says, when he can breathe, "you know this how?"

"I..." Tim trails off and looks away. He sets the shirt carefully on the nightstand. "I met him once. Dick. He was really, really nice to me." He picks up the pants and folds those too before setting them on top of the shirt. "And then I saw his parents die. I saw him see his parents die."

Jason doesn't know what to say to that.

"And then when I saw Robin, later, I knew it was him, which meant Wayne had to be Batman." He looks up. "Come to bed, Jason. I want you to hold me."

Jason can't say no to that. He slips between the cool, smooth sheets when Tim folds them down, and pulls the other boy into his arms, to kiss his face and stroke his hair. The bed is huge - big enough for five more of them, at least, but they don't take up any more room here than they did on that tiny, dirty mattress they had hauled from squat to squat until they'd made it big.

Tim falls asleep pretty quickly. Jason keeps his body between him and the door until the sun comes up.


Dear faile_neume ,

Stop enabling.
Love, Jessie

Dear kirax2 ,

I wrote you a giant hot tub. I suggest you fill it with porn. Also, POST THE KISSES
Love, Jessie

Comments

[faile-neume.livejournal.com]

But my dear Jay,

I need to keep fucking with your head. And if enabling this is the way to go, well. I'll make it up to you, promise.

Love, your Timmy

[iesika.livejournal.com]

No, see, that relationship ended when you failed to take advantage of me dropping the soap.

There are people here and I want to be writing.

[faile-neume.livejournal.com]

D:

But Jay... no whatever it's fine. I'll just slowly manipulate you to get what I want.

Pretend they aren't there!

[iesika.livejournal.com]

I think you've got the wrong Timmy.

DRAMA is happening. I'm thinking of going somewhere, but I've got like 4 bucks since I ordered pizza yesterday. Also, I am in my pajamas (neither striped nor monogrammed)

[faile-neume.livejournal.com]

Timmy gets what he wants. Regardless of what Timmy he is :P

Ewww drama. I wish I had striped and/or monogrammed pyjamas. I'm not sure where you could go for $4, go get a coffee?

[iesika.livejournal.com]

I FOUND A TEN I'D HID FROM MYSELF. But then I went for tea.

Kon and Jake had coffee and angst.

Even the coffee made Kon think of Tim. Kon wishes Tim and his family had less drama so he could have Alfred!Coffee more often.

And I want to paint Jake's paintings.

[faile-neume.livejournal.com]

Woo! I love finding hidden money. Now I want some tea. I hope I have some Black currant tea left.

Aww, was it healthy angst or Bat-style angst?

Everything makes Kon think of Tim :/

Do it! But only if you have time.

[iesika.livejournal.com]

It was HELP! I'M GAY IN A SMALL TOWN! angst with a side of Kon STILL not knowing when he's being hit on.

Kon is in LUUUUURVE! And possibly denial.

[faile-neume.livejournal.com]

That sounds like okay angst. Sucky but not going to ruin lives.

Kon is /definitely/ in denial. I'm sure he'll figure it out eventually.

Even though I kind of don't want him to, because Tim is an ass.

[iesika.livejournal.com]

Kon is /definitely/ in denial. I'm sure he'll figure it out eventually.

Not until after some very confusing makeouts.

Even though I kind of don't want him to, because Tim is an ass.

Nooooo! I'm so afraid I'm going too far! What if he gives Jake a scholarship and fixes him up?

(I think I'm over wanting him with Bernard but now I have a crazy impulse toward JIMMY OLSEN OMG).

[faile-neume.livejournal.com]

Confusing make outs are the best kind! I should not have that kink. Oh god.

But he's still manipulating Kon heaps :(

Is the scholarship for an art school? And Jimmy Olsen? REALLY? Isn't Jimmy a bit old for Jake? Maybe one of Timmy's other vigilante friends?

[glymr]

AHHHHHH! *hugs you* I love you! I am so in love with this AU!

Okay, first, the link for "Looking Out for the Little Guy" is broken, so you may want to fix that.

Second, I adore this story. I love Jason's paranoia, right up to the end, and Tim's instant comfort and ease with the whole situation. I love how Tim traces the "RG" and how he doesn't actually *wear* the pajamas. I love how Jason is still trying to control the situation, even though he has no idea what's going on. I love how Tim is getting aggressive now that he *can*.

Really, I just love everything about this. When it's done, you really must post it EVERYWHERE, because people are going to just die when they read it.

Third, if I'm going to post the kisses, I should probably flesh it out a little, maybe write the whole "first job" they pulled? There's just...not much to it right now.

And fourth, I will *totally* write porn for you, honey. I was thinking about it all afternoon after the first time I read this (then I had to go out, and was distracted the whole time!) BUT I want to talk to you about timing and continuity a *bit* more before I do. You've done such a good job of writing Jason as both suspicious and sensitive that the set-up is going to have to be delicately handled if we're to make it work.

Thank you so much for writing and posting this! It completely made my day, even if I ended up thinking about Timmy and Jay in a tub together all afternoon.

[glymr]

Oh, P.S. I have some ideas for Tim's background I wanted to talk to you about, too. If I can't catch you on IM, I'll try to email you later.

[iesika.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid I won't be on IM tonight, but feel free to email me.

[glymr]

Okay, will do. I sympathize about having people over and wanting to write!

[iesika.livejournal.com]

Of course he didn't wear them! They are holy relics!

Thanks for the lovely feedback! I think I hopefully hit these points in my email...though thanks for pointing out the link problem.

Also, you make it sound like imagining Tim & Jay in a tub is a BAD thing...

[ladymirth.livejournal.com]

Of course he didn't wear them! They are holy relics!

I snorted so hard I think I ruptured a nostril. Owie.

[iesika.livejournal.com]

*pets you*

[zenithjolt.livejournal.com]

Ok, LOVED.THIS.XD!

I loved creepy/mysterious Timmy. Alfred here was fantastic, I lol'd at the eyebrow raises. And i have to say, the chair being moved back to the window was creepy, i really liked that part, don't know why. The tube of lube and condoms in the cabinet was hilarious, fantastic fic!

(There will be more yes?)

[iesika.livejournal.com]

Is he creepy? He's not creepy deliberately. At least, not on my part. He'll get to be really creepy later...

Which, yes, is confirmation that more is coming.

Also, Alfred is my favorite character to write ever in the history of ever, but one does inevitability find oneself making us of the word 'eyebrow' with some frequency.

[shiny-glor-chan.livejournal.com]

Oooh. Mooooore. ...I should totally be getting ready to go out and get a costume together for a con, but I want moooore fic. >>;; I think I read them all, though. Your Jason is wonderful. I love the Jason-Tim interaction. This how they should be, and this possibility is part of the reason I ship them so much. <3

[iesika.livejournal.com]

The most current list of all the bits is at the top of The Bargain.

Thanks for letting me know about red_robins, by the way. I somehow didn't know it existed!

[shiny-glor-chan.livejournal.com]

<3

>>;; Yeah, me and Saavi have been lazy bad mods. She's a busy one, and I'm just lazy. >_<;;

[ladymirth.livejournal.com]

My brain just exploded from the cute and the hot and the TIMMINESS!! adjkslajsdkl!@#$


Y'know, Tim's seems like our own Timmy who has somehoe been transported to this Elseworld from canon universe and has been trying to control and manipulate things in his own uniquely adorably freaktastic way so that they reach an even better conclusion.

I know I seem to be ignoring Jay, but I'm not I'm just distracted by Mr. Awesome-in-miniature over there. Also: Hot naked teenage boys wearing only white towels and a hot tub and a huge-ass bed with condoms and lube (there must be days when Alfred must think that he just doesn't get paid enough for this job) and ROBINS! *does jig*

You have created a monster. Be very afraid.

[iesika.livejournal.com]

I designed the shower, tub and bed ENTIRELY to entice kirax2 to write me dirty dirty porn.

(it's working. Just so you know what you have to look forward to.)

[anthraciteowl.livejournal.com]

Perfect. Just perfect. Tim is perfect in his transports of fanboy glee and Jason is perfect is his suspicious caution and Alfred is far better than perfect, with his eyebrows and his moving chair. I can only imagine his expression when he stocked that cupboard with condoms and lube. Poor guy.

[iesika.livejournal.com]

I love Alfred so much. Why don't I have an Alfred icon? I should make an Alfred icon. I also need to make an icon out of that panel where he tells Bruce Tim is disturbing.

I love how you automatically assume Alfred moved the chair. This is not where the chair goes! The chair belongs by the window. Also, no guns for you, master Jason, but you can keep your cigarettes.

[the-protagonist.livejournal.com]

he bed is huge - big enough for five more of them, at least, but they don't take up any more room here than they did on that tiny, dirty mattress they had hauled from squat to squat until they'd made it big.

Beautiful! I love the whole thing, but this one is one of my favorites. :)

[littlemissgriff.livejournal.com]

You over-protective klepto. Jason, you are wonderful