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Damian huffs as he slides further into his seat. This was idiotic. Why was he getting punished for something others did??
“Mr. Wayne, you must understand, these boys are seniors, and have bright careers ahead of them. Having bullying on their records could ruin their chances. Besides, what’s a little teasing between peers?” The principal's pleased grin ruined his facade of a kindly old man.
The two boys snicker in their seats, their parents smirking next to them.
Principal Anders was a famous racist, anyone of color in the school knew that.
That’s why it was so easy for boys like this to be cruel.
“Principal Anders, this is stupid!” Duke huffs. “They were attacking him, not teasing him! Even if it was just teasing, Gotham Prep was a strict ‘No Bullying’ policy, unless you forgot. Again.”
“Mr. Thomas, please. You should be grateful that you aren’t being expelled, with what you did to these poor gentlemen!” Oh yes, those poor young men, with black eyes. The man was acting like Duke was ripping limbs off.
Damian was not too pleased with Duke either, to be fair. Damian was perfectly capable of defending himself, he didn’t need Duke to save him.
“Now, we will have to call your foster father, for the both of you, to discuss suspension for the both of you.” Principal Anders says, grabbing suspension papers from his desk.
Duke and Damian shared a look. Father was in a meeting all day with board members. Pennyworth was on holiday with an old war buddy of his. Richard was in Bludhaven, Todd was still legally dead, Brown and Cain were with Gordon for “Batgirl things”, whatever that meant.
That left…
Damian saw the exact moment that Duke realized who was coming to pick them up, with a wide grin on his face.
Principal Anders won’t even know what hit him.
–
Bruce sighs as he hangs up on the school.
“Damian and Duke apparently got into a fight at school…” Bruce informs Lucius. “Is there any way I could leave?”
Lucius snorts. “With how pissed the Board is with you? You’d be lucky to leave by midnight. They aren’t happy with you leaving… well, you know.”
“I think Tim did excellent as CEO.” Bruce furrows his brow.
“Yeah, he did well. Scared the shit outta the Board, they were scared at the mere prospect of… JJ being CEO.” Lucius sighs.
“Well, someone needs to pick the boys up, and if it can’t be me, it has to be…”
–
There was a knock at the door, and Shelly, the secretary, pokes her head in.
“Principal Anders, there’s… someone here to see you, about the Wayne boys.”
Principal Anders brightens. “Oh, yes, of course, let them in, Shelly, honey.”
“O-of course, come on in, Mr….?” She pauses, unsure.
“Mr. Drake-Wayne, Ms. Shelly.” a smooth and lilting voice answers. Duke smiles at the voice.
“Hey Tim.”
Timothy Drake-Wayne enters the office like he owned it. As far as Duke knew, it was likely that he secretly did. Tim was… interesting to be siblings with. He was not a person easy to look at, by any means. His skin was pale white,and covered in healed chemical burns from the bleach the Joker dunked him in. The green hair was now black, but Tim often ordered Bruce or Dick to help him dye his hair fun colors in streaks. Today it was a dark red. Two scars stretched from his eyes all the way down to his cheeks, in a poor imitation of tears. The smile that was cut into mouth stretched all the way to the ends of his cheeks, showing off his teeth in an unsettling way that reminded Duke of a wolf baring its teeth. Duke noticed that he didn’t bother hiding the scars with makeup, as if he wanted to frighten people today. Tim was frightening, and all of Gotham knew. But he loved his family very much. And having that love and loyalty directed at you was the best feeling in the world. It was gifts and hugs for you, and it was threats and blood to anyone you disliked.
“Hi, Duke, how was school?” Tim sits in the chair in between Duke and Damian, kicking his feet out and resting them on Anders desk.
“It was good, beyond all of this.” Duke answers.
“Yeah… what is this about, anyways?”
Principal Anders stutters. “Mr. Drake, these young men were attacking–”
Tim glares at the man, as if he were dirt on his shoe. “Did I ask you, Mr. Anders?” Tim smiles. “No?” He leans closer with a sharp grin “Cat got your tongue?”
The man shakes his head and gulps.
Tim leans back. “Okay, what happened? I want no details spared.”
Damian mumbles something.
Tim gives Damian a sharp look. “They what?”
“They spoke poorly of my accent, and the color of my skin.” Damian snarled, clearly embarrassed.
Tim sniffs. “That’s stupid. Why would they do that?”
“Racism, Timothy.”
“Well, I don’t know, I thought that this school was in high standing, and would certainly not judge someone based on biological adaptations such as melanin.” Tim tilts his head. “I mean, of course their parents know better than to encourage such behavior.” He sends a wide grin towards the parents, who shrink in their seats and attempt to hide their children.
“Mr. Drake, you are not acting–”
“Properly? Are you saying that I am not acting properly?” Tim interrupts. “But I think it is you who is acting quite inappropriately. After all, you cannot even call me by my proper name. But that's no matter. I understand if you do not wish to call me Mr. Drake-Wayne, so instead you can call me Mr. Napier. I am in that sort of… mood.”
“Mr. Drake, that is not something to joke about!” One of the mothers cries. “You Wayne’s know nothing of basic manners…”
“I disagree, Mrs. Wilkes. I’m always joking! How could I not, when everything is so funny!” Tim exclaimed loudly. “And I’m in such a joking mood, since you interrupted my lovely date with my lovely boyfriend for such bullshit!”
“You have a boyfriend? How come I’ve never heard of him??” Damian demands.
Tim sighs. “Must I tell you everything going on in my life??”
“I mean… B legally has to report on your behavior bi-monthly. Including your relationships.” Duke mutters.
“But that's so… Invasive! Can’t a boy date a handsome man without Commissioner Gordon being aware!?”
“Boys, please. Mr…. Napier, you have to understand that these boys' behavior was unacceptable. They could have serious consequences over this, but I am willing to put it past us, with nothing on their records, in exchange for some… monetary compensation. It’s only fair. And of course, the families harmed should be paid for damages.” Anders looked a lot more nervous than before, but seemed too stubborn to give up the thought of an easy pay-out.
“I completely agree, Mr. Anders! The victims certainly should be given compensation. I think… oh, five thousand, each? That should compensate fairly!” Tim smiles. “So when can we expect payment?”
“P-payment…? Mr. Drake, you are the one who–”
“Pays?” Tim cuts him off. “But that can’t be right. You said money to the victims, correct? Who else is more of a victim than my little brothers?” His expression hardens. “Unless you’re discriminating against your students. But I know that you’re smarter than that, of course.”
Principal Anders looks like he had fully given up, and his only goal now was to survive this interaction.
“O-of course Mr. Drake-Wayne…” he doesn’t even look Tim in the eyes.
“Good. Now, I will be taking the boys out of school early. They need to rest after such a traumatic day. They won’t be showing up tomorrow.”
–
Timothy led the two of them out of the parking lot, checking his phone.
“What are we doing now?” Duke asks, breaking the silence.
“We are going to get sorbet. Then, I’m going to drop you off at the manor, before heading back out to meet with my boyfriend. We have to hurry though. I don’t want him thinking that I abandoned him. Besides, he likes sorbet. He will like it if I get him some.”
Damian wrinkles his nose. “Must it be sorbet?”
“Yes. Sorbet is delicious, brat.” Tim ruffles Damian’s perfectly combed hair.
Timothy Drake-Wayne might be scary to the rest of Gotham, but he certainly loved his brothers.
–
“Hey, Tim, Babe? You paying attention?” Kon waves his hand in front of his boyfriend's face.
For the past twenty minutes, Tim has done nothing but stare at Kon, and while Kon loved the attention of his boyfriend, he still wanted to at least talk to him.
Tim’s eyes focused, finally truly looking at Kon.
“No, I wasn’t.” Tim grins. “What do you need, Love?”
“Just curious what you were thinking about. Why’d you leave our date earlier?’
“Oh.” Tim fiddles with his hands, attempting to peel off skin that was no longer there. “Damian and Duke needed to be picked up from school early. They were getting bullied. I’m sorry that I didn’t mention that I was leaving.”
“It’s okay, you got me lemon sorbet. That's my favorite.” Kon smiles as he takes another bite.
Tim’s smile grew even wider. “I know.”
–
“Oh, Tim admitted that he has a boyfriend.”
“HE HAS A WHAT?!?!”
–