I’ve been imagining this story prompt for a week now and am finally writing it down
Danny and Tim are in the same class (college or high school idc) and Tim has a raging fever from some infection he got tumbling around Gotham rooftops and alleys. It’s a filthy city, infections are gonna happen (does he have a spleen? dealers choice).
Danny, Tim, and another classmate are put on a team project for the duration of the class, and the other notices Tim is flushed and sweaty and calls him out for it like “Hey dude I think you’re super sick you should go to the nurse” and puts a hand against Tim’s forehead to test for fever. Tim’s too exhausted to protest. He’s legit almost passing out but good at hiding it.
“Wow he’s really burning up. Danny, feel this.”
“Nah I can never tell,” Danny says. “I run cold so checking temp isn’t something I’m good at.”
“Well maybe that’ll help him wake up a little,” and the other classmate grabs Danny’s hand and puts it against Tim’s cheek.
Tim sighs and presses his face into Danny’s hand like a cat. Danny blushes. Other Classmate laughs and shoves Danny closer to Tim, who absolutely buries his face against Danny’s neck and drags him into a vice-grip-hug.
Danny is sputtering and blushing tomato red.
The teacher finally notices and walks over. Whole class is watching, laughing, whispering. Other Classmate explains to teacher that Tim is super feverish and teacher tells Danny to take Tim to the nurse.
Danny tries to move away but Tim holds on tighter and Danny eventually just sighs and lifts Tim into a princess carry (making more classmates giggle or whistle) before walking out of the room to go find the nurse’s office on campus.
Story extras -
Tim is given some basic meds and the nurse calls his emergency contact to pick him up with orders to visit their family doctor. (Bruce or Dick or anyone else, whichever fits your timeline.)
Tim becomes lucid enough to ask Danny why he’s so cold (he hasn’t let go yet) and Danny says, “Well not every meta can fly or throw laser beams. Some of us are just chilly. And it comes with the perk of not needing a winter jacket.” — in this story Danny isn’t shy about being meta, it’s a good cover to deflect any ghostliness, and being naturally cold is an easy answer alongside being something that’s obvious to anyone who touches him by accident. He plays it off nonchalantly. Maybe he goes on a rant about metahuman rights and how just because some people got a funky gene it doesn’t always result in superheroes and villains, some people are just accountants who hiccup bubbles.
Tim is severely touch starved and enjoys holding Danny for that reason. No other. Nope. That’s all, just the touch starvation. It’s really nice to have a prolonged hug and be held by a really cute cold boy.
Danny tries to pass Tim off to whoever comes to pick him up. It’s embarrassing trying to pry Tim off him and Danny can’t seem to make the blushing go away. “I’m so sorry. Wow this is so awkward. No this has never happened to me before and I’ve never talked to Tim before today we’re only in a couple classes together no we aren’t secretly dating why would you think that?! No he didn’t ’fall asleep in my arms’ he literally passed out from fever please get him to the hospital asap he needs an iv for fluids and meds!!”
Danny eventually gets back to class, which is nearly over. Other Classmate joined a different group and the teacher gives Danny a printout of the assignment that he can complete with Tim within the week. Great… now Danny has to see the cute clingy boy again. He can’t let Jazz know about today or she’ll read way too much into this.
Damian Wayne had never experienced true suffering before.
Then the new veterinarian opened across from the animal shelter he volunteered at.
He was kind to every animal.
He hand-fed injured pigeons.
He let ugly three-legged cats climb onto his shoulders during appointments.
He wore oversized sweaters with paw prints on them.
AND WORST OF ALL—
He was the most beautiful person he had ever seen in his entire twelve years of existence.
Not regular pretty either.
No.
Universe-ending pretty.
Like “ethereal being accidentally trapped in human form” pretty.
Like “Greek gods would start drama over him” pretty.
Like “why is there sparkles around him when he holds baby rabbits” pretty.
And unfortunately— the veterinarian was approximately ancient.
As in TWENTY.
Which meant Damian could not even emotionally justify his feelings because Grayson would never let him hear the end of it.
So instead Damian did the mature thing.
He decided Drake needed to marry him immediately.
Tim Drake was dragged to the animal rescue at 7:12 AM against his will.
Tim: “Damian it’s SATURDAY.”
Damian: “There is an emergency.”
Tim, half asleep: “Is someone dying?”
Damian: “Potentially my future happiness.”
Tim: “…what.”
Damian shoved him through the clinic doors dramatically.
And that’s when Tim saw him.
The veterinarian looked up from where he was bottle-feeding an injured kitten.
Messy white hair.
Blue eyes.
Oversized hoodie under scrubs.
Tiny paw-print bandaid on his cheek.
Surrounded by like six different animals at once like a Disney princess blessed by God personally.
Tim:.............................
Damian watched the soul leave Drake’s body in real time.
Hook.
Line.
Sinker.
Excellent.
Danny: “Oh! Hi! You here to volunteer?”
Tim: *Buffering*
Damian: “This is my older brother Timothy. He is single.”
Tim: “DAMIAN—”
Danny blinked. Then smiled. Tim nearly hit cardiac arrest.
Danny: “Cool. I’m Danny.”
Tim, internally: Danny. Danny. His NAME is Danny.
Damian could literally SEE the moment Drake got attached.
It was disgusting.
Five minutes later:
Tim was holding three puppies.
Danny was laughing at something he said.
Damian was sitting nearby with the satisfaction of a man orchestrating political warfare successfully.
Grayson arrived thirty minutes later and immediately sensed evil.
Dick: “Why is Tim staring at that veterinarian like he just witnessed the second coming?”
Damian, calmly feeding a rabbit: “The plan progresses smoothly.”
Dick: “The WHAT.”
Meanwhile Jason wandered in, took one look at Tim, and started cackling.
Jason: “OH MY GOD. Replacement’s got a crush.”
Tim: “I do NOT.”
Danny, from across the room: “Tim can you hand me the antiseptic?”
Tim: already halfway across the clinic before the sentence finished.
Jason collapsed against the wall laughing.
Steph found out in under 24 hours.
Steph: “So let me get this straight. Damian found a pretty vet, realized he was too young, and reassigned the crush to Tim?”
Damian: “Correct.”
Steph: “And Tim actually fell for it?”
Damian: “Drake has the survival instincts of wet paper.”
Tim, in the background, googling: “How to impress veterinarian ethically.”
Bruce found out three days later when Tim voluntarily woke up before noon to “visit the shelter.”
Bruce: deeply concerned (i would be too)
Alfred, meanwhile, had already figured everything out.
Alfred: “Master Damian appears quite invested in Master Timothy’s love life.”
Bruce: “…why.”
Alfred: “Because the young veterinarian resembles a woodland fae creature specifically engineered to appeal to your sons.”
Bruce: “…I see.”
Alfred: “Frankly, sir, I’m surprised Master Jason has not proposed yet as well.”
Jason, walking by:
“I’M THINKING ABOUT IT.”
The worst part?
Danny genuinely WAS Tim’s exact type.
Sleep-deprived disaster? Check
Kind to animals? Check
Looks like he hasn’t slept in three business days? Check
Accidentally funny? Check
Mysterious weird vibes? Check
Probably haunted? Check
Tim never stood a chance.
Damian watched the disaster unfold like a proud parent.
Because if HE couldn’t marry the Goddess of a vet—then at least he could secure visitation rights through Drake.
Clark: Hey, odd question, but does anyone have parenting experience?
Oliver: no
Barry: I have babysitting experience but not fatherhood
Diana: I was the last child on my island, so no.
Hal: I also only have babysitting experience
Arthur: I'm not a parent yet....I need three more months before my little turtle is here.
Bruce: Yes
JL: ....come again?
Bruce: I have children, so I have parenting experience. Why?
Clark stun: Um well I have a little boy and I needed advice....I'm sorry Batman has kids?
Bruce: I am the proud father of ten
Hal: Ten!?
Bruce: *stoneface* I love them very much. What advice do you need, Superman?
Clark: Er...well Danny is only five but he keeps breaking things around the house.
Bruce: Is it due to his Kryptonian strength?
Clark: No, hes adopted. He's a regular human
Bruce: When he breaks things, is it ussually when he's playing or after a moment of silence?
Barry: Why does that matter?
Bruce: It matters a lot. If its play time he's doing it on accident, but if its after moments of stillness and silence hes doing it on purpose to test Superman's boundaries. Children who are adopted from bad foster homes tend to test boundaries by seeking the punishment they believe will eventually come. He may not be completely settled in Superman's home yet.
Oliver: Oh my god, he is a father....
Clark: Danny is definitely doing it on purpose but I don't think its to test my limits. I think its more scientific curiosity? He tore apart my toaster to make a net launcher for ghosts
Hal: Did it work?
Clark: Yes it did launch a net but it only caught our landlord.
Bruce: So your son is a genius. Lucky for you, I have many children just like that. My third once hacked the Pentagon to place a coffee order in their cafe since I grounded him from the Batcoffee-maker.
Diana: Impressive
Bruce: Thank you. Superman, when Danny breaks things apart, does he ussually intend to use his inventions to fight ghosts?
Clark: Um yes?
Bruce: Excellent. Praise him, but gently explain that you need the items around the house and that you will, instead, take him to buy supplies once a month to build whatever he wants. You can put those expenses on my card. Also, bring the boy over; my genius children would love to meet another weaponsmith.
Clark: Wow! Thank you Batman!
Bruce: Please call me B. My children do.
Oliver: Am I the only one alarmed that B said "another" weaponsmith?
Bruce: Yes. His name is Clark Kent. He can be trusted.
Danny: Okay. *Writes note down* What about the woman next to him?
Bruce: That's Cat Grant, and no, she can't be trusted. Everything you say to her will turn into a gossip-lifting, life-ruining article.
Danny: Got it. *writes more notes*
Jason, watching the two from a few feet away: Say, who's that kid Bruce is media training? Is he a new ward he took in?
Tim: No, that's Danny Fenton, the face of Fenton Works. They signed up as a sub-company of Wayne Enterprise. Originally, they were a paranormal investigation and capture company- yes, I mean ghost hunters- but it was discovered that almost all thier tech can be used on metas. Bruce wants to make medical equipment that can be used by our enhanced citizens.
Jason: I see. But why a kid so young? He's your age, right?
Tim: Hmm, apparently his parents, the owners of Fenton Works, made him CEO so they could focus on ghost hunting and the occasional meta medical machines for Bruce. He got here a week ago to shadow me for CEO training, and Bruce stole him after they met outside my office. Danny hangs onto his every word, and I think Bruce forgot what it was like to have a kid actually listen to him.
Jason: Ah thats makes sense. What do you think of him?
Tim: Well, he's a little naive, easy to trick, and has way too much empathy for the cold world of business. I'm gonna have him in my bed.
Jason: Ah....well that took a turn. One I do not like so I'm gonna....*walks away*
Tim: He will be ✨️mine✨️
Bruce overhears everything from the bugs he planted on his kids: Danny, go ahead and change Tim's status. He can not be trusted.
I really do love that Batman is supposed to be this super strict and tough badass who has his rules and doesn’t budge on them for shit; to the point where unless they get express permission, the metas that literally make up his superhero team and closest companions aren’t even allowed to step foot in his city.
and then his kids come along and his entire backbone just falls apart at the seams.
Tim, walking into the cave and interrupting an online JL meeting: sorry just grabbing the bleach!
Bruce, pausing: what do you need bleach for?
Tim: oh, Jason killed another guy and wants help with the cleanup.
Bruce:
The JL, who know Batman as the strict ‘no kill guy’:
Bruce:
Bruce: …but just one? he only killed one, right?
Tim: yeah.
Bruce:
Bruce: bleach is over there
JL: ?!?!?!
-
Superman, video calling Bruce: i know you don’t allow metas in Gotham, but there’s a crossover between a job i’m on in Metropalis and a deal i believe to be going down in Gotham, so i was hoping that-
Bruce: no. send me the case, i’ll sort it. stay out of my city.
Superman: Bruce-
Duke appearing in the background of the call: B! COME LOOK AT THIS SHIT, I FIGURED OUT A NEW WAY TO USE MY POWERS!
Bruce: that’s great, chum! I’ll be right there!
Superman:
-
Batman: I will not have guns in my household.
Damian: you understand that both Pennyworth and Drake have firearms in the manor, correct?
Batman:
The JLA:
Batman: when did Tim get a gun?
Damian: when Todd took him and I to a shooting range and gifted us them.
all the batkids are nepo babies not in the civilian/monetary sense but rather because as batman’s babies they are allowed to do whatever the fuck they want in gotham meanwhile any time any other member of the hero world steps out of line batman comes down on them like a steel hammer on a walnut.
batman will provide a list of rules for the JLA any time they need to work in gotham and the JL will just look between the rules and the group of kids hanging out behind batman like. hold on now.
flash: no metas?
batman: yup.
flash: who’s that then?
batman: that’s signal, he can glow and he’s lovely, now take his fucking name out your mouth.
flash: …
~
superman: and you said no guns?
batman: yeah absolutely no guns allowed.
dick: *from upstairs* dAAAAAAD I’M GONNA BE LATE FOR WORK HAVE YOU SEEN MY BADGE AND GUN?
batman: *yelling back* I THINK YOU LEFT THEM IN THE OFFICE.
dick: OH YEAH, THANKS.
batman: NO PROBLEM SWEETIE HAVE A GOOD DAY AT WORK!
superman: hm.
batman: he’s different.
superman: how?
batman: i love him.
~
wonder woman: you are against taking human life, are you not?
batman: absolutely and that is non-negotiable. we are not judge jury and executioner.
wonder woman: i see. turn around.
*jason and tim two rooftops over, arguing how best to dispose of the loa assassin corpses they just took down*
batman:
batman: i dont see a problem here. those are my sweet boys.
jason, distantly heard from behind: yeah fuck you we’re his sweet boys.
wonder woman: *sighs*
~
batman: honestly the most important thing is that we serve justice and keep morality intact even when dealing with the toughest cases.
green lantern: damian has a secret prison under the titans tower where he’s been torturing their villains rather than trying to reform them.
ten year old Tim Drake having a minor phase of liking archeology bcs of his parents so he starts digging shit up in his garden, but because he’s Tim Fucking Drake he does it too well and accidentally unearths one of the tunnels that connects to the fucking batcave.
ten year old Tim Drake who already knew who Batman and Robin were, finding out he now has a secret tunnel in his garden connecting his house to their lair, and he’s just like ‘fuck yeah that’s cool.’ and starts exploring.
thirteen year old Jason Todd bored and fucking around alone in the batcave system when he comes across a fucking ten year old who knows his identity, clearly idolises the hell out of him, and is just kinda wandering around the cave system alone and completely chill about it. they see a super dangerous spider and Tim just starts info-dumping on the species. when asked if he has a curfew to go back home by he goes ‘uh, July i guess? that’s when mom and dad get back.’ it is early February.
thirteen year old Jason Todd who takes a minute and then goes ‘ok this is funny as fuck i promise i won’t snitch to Bruce.’
Jason Todd and Tim Drake being secret cave buddies. Jason Todd and Tim Drake hanging out in the tunnels and making fun of Batman and Nightwing from the shadows. Tim Drake who has to buy a whole new set of night-vision camera lenses for his new photo album that’s just photos and selfies of him and his new best friend Robin fucking around in the underground pitch-dark.
Jason Todd who dies, gets revived, is told by Talia that Tim Drake has ‘replaced him’ unknowing they’re already friends, and Jason who all he can think of is that time they played hide and seek in the cave system and Tim clung to the fucking ceiling via a stalactite for 45 minutes straight. Jason Todd who just looks at Talia and goes ‘yeah sounds about right for him.’
Jason Todd being told he has to deliver Damian to Bruce and he decides ‘absolutely the fuck not’ to the idea of even touching the front door. they have a Ring camera he is not getting caught on that bullshit.
Jason Todd who just goes to Drake Manor and uses Tim’s old entrance to get into the tunnels, his home away from home, dragging Damian along, until he gets to a spot where he can secretly signal into the batcave for Tim to sneak the fuck away.
fifteen year old Tim Drake who gets called into the tunnels to find the Red Hood, unmasked as Jason, presenting to him a random child which he declares to be the son of Batman.
fifteen year old Tim Drake who comes full circle and says ‘ok this is funny as fuck i promise i won’t snitch to Bruce.’
the cave boys are reunited. a third is added to the club. a new photo album is filled. when Tim brings Damian up through the tunnels into the cave he looks Bruce dead in the eyes and says fully straight-faced ‘this is your cave son. i found him wandering, he was born from the shadows of the bat.’
eleven year old Damian Al Ghul-Wayne who’s spent the past three and a half years under Jason Todd’s influence and sombrely declares ‘the cave birthed me for you, father. i am darkness. i am your child.’
Damian: i remember when i first came to Gotham, how awe-struck i was by the power of Batman and his Robins; how badly i wished to live up to the mantle and make everybody believe in me and honour me as a part of the team,
Tim: *prompting hum*
Damian: …and then i met you all.
Tim:
Tim: and now?
Damian: i feel like there’s better things to do with life.
Tim, easily: yeah, going behind the scenes really takes that respect away, doesn’t it?
Damian: so you know what i mean?
Tim: oh yeah. when i first became Robin i adored Bruce and the concept of being Robin. thought it was magical. thought it was gonna be the best time of my life.
Damian: and then?
Tim: and then Bruce started getting on my fucking nerves.
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