saone: (birdboys)
[personal profile] saone
Title: Fireworks
Author: [livejournal.com profile] saone77
Summary: Just another New Years in Gotham
Rating: PG
Pairings: Dick/Tim
Fandom: DC Comics
Warnings: Not betad, grammarians beware.
Word Count: 2172
Disclaimer: This is indulgent, cracktastic fiction.
Notes: Written for the New Year celebration square of my Schmoop Bingo card which I'm finally getting around to. Bad me.







"Should auld acquaintance be forgot," Dick murmurs. He's standing in shadows on the second floor overlooking the atrium and the guests - his guests - mingling about in their masked New Year's finery. It's not the first event he's hosted for the Wayne Foundation, nor will it be the last. These society functions do get easier, but he still requires a bit of time to himself before he enters the fray.

He takes a few deep, grounding breaths. He's not a circus kid anymore. He's a Wayne in everything but blood. He belongs here.

"You're just delaying the inevitable," Barbara's says through his earbud.

"I know," Dick says, "believe me. Any news?"

"R's been called out to a mugging, but B's staying within a two block radius."

"Okay." They hadn't received any hard info about threats to the party, but an ostentatious masquerade bash in Gotham was sure to get the motors revving among the city's more flamboyant criminals. "What about BG?" Dick asked.

"She's already headed home. Baring any unforeseen complications she should have ten minutes to shower and primp before whats-his-name shows up."

"Tyler," Dick says, choking back a laugh. It was really cute how mama-bearish Babs got over Steph's boyfriends. Dick's pretty sure she inherited the trait from her dad.

"Whatever. Oh," Bab's voice brightens, "f.y.i. you might want to steer clear of Patti Henrickson."

Dick's eyes immediately sought out the bottle-blonde, third generation socialite. She and some of her equally vapid peers were holding court near the bar. "Why?" It's not like he was planning on engaging her in conversation anyway, but there was a wickedly gleeful note in Bab's voice that made Dick's hackles rise.

"I was testing the microphones I have around the room earlier," Babs says with a deceptive innocence, "and when I heard your name, well, I had to listen in to make sure it wasn't a secret kidnapping plot or something."

"Uh huh. And was it a secret kidnapping plot, or something?"

"It was about how the next season of her reality show is going to be all about getting a new boyfriend. Guess who she's nominated for the role?"

Dick's pretty sure he hasn't felt this horrified since the last time he faced the Joker. "Please tell me you're joking. Barbara, that can't happen." Dick imagines a future with Patti Henrickson and her cameras following him around Gotham trying to get him into compromising positions, or worse, succeeding in getting him into compromising positions. Not to mention the strain it would put on his usual nighttime activities and his relationships.

"Sorry, Hunk Wonder, not joking, but B and I have already put together a plan. Have faith." Barbara's voice is warm and Dick immediately relaxes.

"Let me guess," he says, "you're going to arrange for me to be humiliated in front of Gotham's elite, and once the dust clears no one with any desire of having a social standing would want to get near me." And maybe Dick could finally stop spending so much time pretending he's part of this world.

"While that's not such a bad idea, and I do dearly love any plan that ends with you red as a tomato, Short Pants, if you get ostracized from high society that means Bruce'll have to step up to the plate again, and I think he'd be more likely to ship Patti off to Siberia then let that happen."

Dick sighs. "Yeah."

"Just trust us," Babs says. "Now, get down there. Your guests are waiting."

Dick squares his shoulders, lifts his chin, and straightens the velvet material around his eyes. "Right. Once more into the breach."

"Godspeed, young sir. Oh, and remember, debutantes can smell fear. Oracle out."

"Great," Dick mutters. That's just what he needed to hear.

___________


Dick spends the next abysmally long hour being air-kissed, and back-slapped, and passed around from one group of Gotham's rich and powerful to another. He manages to successfully avoid Patti and her posse, although there's a close call near the mens room. At eleven-fifteen there's a loud BANG that can only have been caused by an explosion, and the boisterous crowd goes silent and tense. Before Dick can even start to worry, Barbara's voice is in his ear.

"B and R are taking care of it," she says. "Also, your package should arrive momentarily. He'll find you, just be ready."

Dick blinks. He then pastes on his most guileless expression and says loudly, "Wow! I guess somebody's starting their celebrating early. Don't worry everyone, our fireworks are still set for midnight."

The calm that sweeps over the room is almost tangible. Dick barely refrains from shaking his head at how willing his fellow Gothamites are at wearing blinders. He decides to steal away for a few minutes to contact Oracle to find out who tried to hit the party and if he should expect anything else, when an appendage that's more claw than hand wraps around his left forearm and holds tight.

"Patti," Dick tries for a smile, but he's pretty sure all he can come up with is a grimace. "You look..." Orange, his mind unhelpfully supplies. "Awesome!"

"Really?" drawls a very familiar voice, close to his ear. "I'd say she looks more like an over-coiffed carrot." It's Selena. "Darling," she says to Patti, "spray tans may not be hazardous to your health, but they certainly are toxic to my eyes."

Dick's trying to moderate his grin, but he knows he's failing. Selena looks gorgeous, as always. She's in something that's no doubt ridiculously expensive but still understated enough to be classy, and she's practically dripping with jewels - most of which are actually hers. Her eyes, behind their mask, are bright and full of promised wickedness. Here, little mousie.

Dick almost feels sorry for Patti. Almost.

Any lingering sympathy he might have felt is completely erased as Patti sinks her brightly painted talons further into his arm. He just barely hides his wince.

"I highly doubt Dickie here goes for cougars, sweetie," Patti says.

"Cougars," Selena practically purrs. " I don't know what I detest more; that term or the people who use it. Anyway, Kitten, I'm not the one who practically has a death hold on the poor boy's arm. Afraid he's not going to stick around unless you've got a good grip?"

"Why, you!"

As Patti sputters her outrage, Dick manages to slip out of her hold. She makes a grab for him again, but Selena steps between them, making more cutting remarks and running interference. As Dick deftly maneuvers his way through the crowd, he makes a mental note to buy her something really nice, or at least turn his head the next couple of times he finds her in any suspect positions.

Just as Dick slips out onto the balcony an outraged squeal cuts through the usual party chatter. He closes the door behind him and takes a few steps until he's clear of the windows then lets himself slump against the building's weathered exterior. He absently rubs at his still smarting arm. There are four crescent marks in the wool of his tux.

"I'm thinking we should check Patti for any latent mutations," he says. "It's either that or she's taking some amazing nail supplements."

"I'm pretty sure she bathes in the blood of virgins - or puppies - but don't quote me on that."

Dick's smiling as he looks towards the sound of Tim's voice.That smile quickly drops as he sees how the younger man is dressed. He was expecting the Red Robin suit, not the finely cut tux the younger man is actually wearing.

Tim must have misinterpreted Dick's expression because he says, "I know, I look stupid. I don't think I'll ever get used to these things." He pulls at his collar.

Dick blinks a few times. "You look... dashing, young sir," he says, in his best Alfred impression.

"Right." Tim snorts. He jumps a bit as the line he must have used to repel to the balcony is cut loose to slither down in front of his feet. They both look up in time to see Damien's head disappear behind the parapet.

"I guess I should be thankful he didn't do that while I was still using it," Tim says, coliing the line around his forearm and then stashing the thing between some miniature evergreens in one of the balcony's planter boxes.

"So what are you doing here," Dick asks, "and in a penguin suit, no less?"

"Ugh." Tim makes a face and fiddles with his tie. "Do not mention the word penguin. I went toe to toe with old Oswald earlier at the fish processing plant, and I swear my costume is gonna smell like halibut for the next month."

"That's why you're in..." Dick shakes his head and moves close to Tim, batting the younger man's hands away from the mess he's making of the material at his throat. "Let me," he says, his voice softer than he would have liked. "There is something called Febreeze, you know?"

"Uh." Tim blinks and swallows. There's a minuet shake of his head, and then he says with only a shadow of the dryness Dick expected, "I'm aware. But Oracle told me I'd be in a better position to help you if I was dressed to work the inside of the party."

An odd alarm starts ringing in the back of Dick's mind. "She did, did she?" He finishes with Tim's tie, but instead of retreating, he stays close, his hands smoothing over the strong line of Tim's shoulders.

There's movement in the darkness, someone swinging towards them. Dick's entire body tenses before he recognizes the red, green, and yellow of Damien's costume. "Incoming," he murmurs. He's expecting Damien to stop before he gets to them or to swing past and somersault to the railing behind him. What he's not expecting is for the youngest member of the Bat-clan to give Tim a hard shove as he's blurring by.

Dick stands firm and catches Tim in his arms. "What the-"

The balcony door opens. "Dickie! There you... Oh, my God!"

Dick reflexively clutches Tim to him at the sound of Patti's voice. His mind tries to filter through all possible responses to find the one most appropriate to the situation he's in. "Uh..."

"Is that your little brother?!"

Tim's face turns scarlet, but he doesn't try and brake Dick's hold. "Not really."

Dick lets his fingers flex against Tim's back. "Technically, but..."

"I'm adopted."

"So am I."

Patti's more red than orange, and she looks like she's about to have a fit. "That's-"

"Adorable," Selena says, appearing behind Patti's shoulder. She gives Dick a massive wink. "Isn't it?"

"No, it's-"

"Patti, dear," Selena's voice is dripping with faux concern, "you're not... homophobic, are you?" There's a gasp from the crowd gathered beyond the door. "Isn't your reality show on Bravo?"

Dick can see the gears start to turn inside Patti's head.

The socialite laughs. It's like a switch has been flipped and she's suddenly all smiles and sunshine. "Homophobic? Hardly! I'm just surprised, that's all. Such a naughty boy, Dickie, leading me on like that." Her facade slips just a bit. "Naughty, naughty boy."

Dick shrugs, as much as he can with his arms still firmly wrapped around Tim. "I didn't realize I was," he says honestly.

Selena chuckles, then quickly turns it into a polite cough. "Well," she says, "we'll just leave you boys to it. Though, don't think you can keep the balcony all night; midnight's coming up soon, and then it's time for fireworks." She smirks and lets her gaze travel up and down Dick and Tim's bodies. "Or, more fireworks, as the case may be." She firmly pulls Patti inside and shuts the door.

"I'm so confused," Tim says. "What just happened?"

"Um." Dick knows he should step back and give Tim some space, but the younger man doesn't seem inclined to move away either, and he's wiling to milk this closeness for all its worth. "I think we were just outed."

"You're welcome," Oracle says in his ear.

"For making sure Patti's lost interest?" Dick asks her.

"Hmmm. That too. Don't do anything I wouldn't do, Short Pants. But trust me, I would do a lot."

Tim's flushing again. It's adorable. He clears his throat. "So, um... you too?"

"You mean, you..."

"Yeah, pretty much."

"Oh. I, yeah... Yeah."

"Okay. Right."

"For fucks sake, just kiss him!" Oracle's voice is loud enough to make both men wince.

Dick has no idea where she might have cameras hidden so he aims a scowl in a random direction then pulls his earbud out. After a moment's hesitation Tim does the same.

"It's not midnight yet," Tim says softly.

"How long have you wanted this?"

Tim bites his lower lip before he answers. "Years."

Dick inhales sharply. He must have been blind. "Then we have a lot of previous midnights to make up for."

As their lips touch, Dick swears he can hear a low, growly voice mutter from out of the darkness, "it's about time."

_____________

end


Date: 2011-03-09 01:46 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kiyala.livejournal.com
This was just great! I love how you wrote Babs and that last line? Brilliant xD ♥

Date: 2011-03-10 01:35 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] saone77.livejournal.com
Thank you! :D

Date: 2011-03-09 02:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] zolac-no-miko.livejournal.com
Eeeeee!! I loved this! So funny, and so sweet! I love when the whole family conspires against for them. Even Damian helped! Haha, I wonder what he thinks of all this. He's probably off somewhere pretending to be disgusted. Not that I imagine he's homophobic, just... Drake, ew, Drake and Grayson kissing, BLARGH! XD

Silly Tim and his self-image issues. DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT YOU LOOK SEXY IN A TUXEDO? OR ALL THE TIME, REALLY?

*swats at Daddy Bats* Go away you nasty voyeur, shoo, shoo! XDD

Date: 2011-03-09 10:28 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] realpestilence.livejournal.com
They're ALL voyeurs, that's what Bats do. Surveillance=love! \0/

Date: 2011-03-09 10:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] zolac-no-miko.livejournal.com
I INSTALLED FIFTY CAMERAS IN YOUR BEDROOM BECAUSE OF LOVE.

Date: 2011-03-10 12:19 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] merelymine.livejournal.com
THIS IS THE TRUEST THING I'VE EVER READ.

Date: 2011-03-10 12:33 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] realpestilence.livejournal.com
THEY'D BEST BE TWO-WAY CAMERAS, SO I CAN WATCH BACK!

Date: 2011-03-10 03:02 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] zolac-no-miko.livejournal.com
EACH SIDE SURVEILLING THE OTHER IS THE BATFAMILY EQUIVALENT OF A HUG.

Date: 2011-03-10 01:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] saone77.livejournal.com
He's probably off somewhere pretending to be disgusted. Not that I imagine he's homophobic, just... Drake, ew, Drake and Grayson kissing, BLARGH! XD


Exactly! And I can just imagine Tim figuring that out and using it to his advantage by making out with Dick every time Damian gets too annoying just so the little brat will amscray.

Date: 2011-03-09 05:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] the-protagonist.livejournal.com
Aww! I just loved this!

Date: 2011-03-10 01:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] saone77.livejournal.com
Thank you! :D

Date: 2011-03-09 05:44 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wirrrn.livejournal.com

Tim/Dick for the win. Also Patti being scarier than facing the Joker, and Selina getting her cougar on :) This was awesome. Now I'm both scared and hopeful to see your take on Mr. J.... :)

Date: 2011-03-10 05:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] saone77.livejournal.com

Tim/Dick for the win


\o/

Now I'm both scared and hopeful to see your take on Mr. J....

Oh, I don't know if I could do him justice. ;) I might just have to stick to morally-bankrupt, overly-tanned socialites.

Date: 2011-03-09 08:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] a-big-apple.livejournal.com
HAHAHAHA, that last line is the kicker! So cute.

Date: 2011-03-10 05:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] saone77.livejournal.com
Thank you! :D

Date: 2011-03-09 10:01 pm (UTC)
ext_55027: (dc:nightwing)
From: [identity profile] silveronthetree.livejournal.com
Aww! This is adorable.

Date: 2011-03-10 05:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] saone77.livejournal.com
Thanks! Glad you liked it. :D

Date: 2011-03-09 10:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] realpestilence.livejournal.com
Very funny! Selina made me laugh, and I like fics where Tim pines for years, and then gets his man. :D

Date: 2011-03-10 07:14 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] saone77.livejournal.com
Selina made me laugh

I think Selina is woefully underused comedy-wise. I just imagine her as having the driest of dry wit and occasionally looking around at the Bat-clan and mentally composing this Wonkette-style blog.

Date: 2011-03-09 11:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] darthbatgirl.livejournal.com
Oh this is great! Selina and Barbara are both wonderful. Great job!

Date: 2011-03-10 08:35 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] saone77.livejournal.com
Thank you! :D

Date: 2011-03-10 12:42 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] merelymine.livejournal.com
This is fantastic! Tim is clueless and Dick is adorable and I am happy happy happy.

<3<3<3

Date: 2011-03-10 09:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] saone77.livejournal.com
Thank you! I'm glad you liked it. :D

Date: 2011-03-10 02:31 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ladyblkrose.livejournal.com
Hysterical, simply hysterical from the set up, the advisary, the Cougar and the gift, I loved it. Your Selina was at her catty best adn that wannabe Jersey Shore trollop didn't stand a chance. And you even got Damien in on the festivities but Oracle's last line was the cherry on the cake and exactly what we have all been thinking.
Thanks for sharing

Date: 2011-03-10 10:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] saone77.livejournal.com
Thank you!

Oracle's last line was the cherry on the cake and exactly what we have all been thinking.

Even the great Oracle can only take so much. Stupid boys. ;)

Date: 2011-03-10 05:45 am (UTC)
ext_6610: (RR_Friends)
From: [identity profile] webbgirl.livejournal.com
Loved loved loved this. Especially that Babs was playing matchmaker. :)

Date: 2011-03-10 10:49 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] saone77.livejournal.com
Thank you! :D

Date: 2011-03-27 05:24 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] quiet--tiger.livejournal.com
I liked this a lot, from Dick reluctantly taking over the "Wayne face-time" at the parties, to the rest of the Batclan helping him, and even Damian joining in to get Dick and Tim together, Selina being devious and sexy... And of course Dick and Tim coming together at the end! This was a nice read.

Date: 2011-04-13 09:18 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lovingloveless.livejournal.com
This is a really great mix of comedy and sweetness. I just love how the match-making becomes a family affair and everyone gets involved. Each person played their part so well. I'm especially loving Babs and Selina.

You've added various little details that invoke hilarious mental images. I keep getting this image of Red Robin fighting penguin and literally getting slapped with a fish. lol

I loved your characterization and how you made Dick seem capable of sweet talking the crowd, yet so awkward.

I'll have to take a look at more of your work. Great job and I can't wait to see more. <3

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