***

[ T <•> I ]

I: my aunt found out about this whole vigilante business.

T: and...?

I: she was furious.

I: she went back to Metropolis.

T: why was she furious though? She trained you herself, if I recall correctly. She should have been proud of you.

I: she is scared.

I: she doesn't know about whatever happened with Two Face's gang but if she found out about that, she won't let me stay in Gotham for even a minute longer.

T: try talking to her, give her your perspective.

T: and if you want someone else to convince her, let me talk to her.

I: you?

T: trust me, I can be very persuasive.

***

T: I wasn't kidding, Ren, let me talk to her. Everything will be fine.

I: no.

T: why not?

I: in case you don't remember, you still don't know who I am really. And I don't want you to find out.

T: I thought we were past that.

I: I love you, Tim, but I can't tell you just yet.

I: try to understand.

I: please...

T: I do understand.

***

I: I feel terrible about keeping you in the dark.

T: don't.

T: if you think it's better this way, then I have no objection.

I: why are you so fucking sweet, Tim?

T: to be honest, I don't know myself.

***

T: since you have met my brothers now, except for Damian, Richard wanted you to come over for movie night.

I: I can't.

T: why?

T: oh I meant you can come over as a vigilante. They won't ask you to remove your mask.

T: plus Barbara and Stephanie are dying to meet you.

I: bugs me why you don't have any objection now?

T: because it's either I invite you or the whole of Gotham's freak club (aka my lovely family) ties me upside down to a gargoyle.

I: poor you.

T: exactly.

***

I: are you doing okay?

T: yeah, why?

I: have you seen the news?

T: oh that...

T: I am so going to get fired.

I: at the rate at which this whole thing is turning into a scandal, I can't be very much certain myself.

T: so me and my boss were accidentally leaving the building together and she was briefing me about a report that I am working on with Mathias.

T: we hadn't even reached the parking lot when the whole area began swarming with paparazzi. Like a swarm of bees, they attacked us with their pestering questions about when we were going to make our "secret relationship" official...

T: I have never felt more embarrassed my whole life.

T: and trust me, that's saying a lot because my brothers put me through embarrassing shit every fucking day. 

T: still this one was the worst.

I: do you know how she's handling the whole situation?

T: pretty well actually.

T: she ignored them completely and kept talking about the deadlines for the submission and when the cameras started to flicker too much, she showed them the middle finger right before leaving.

I: and you think this sort of behavior is labelled as dealing well with the paparazzi?

T: I don't know, what do you think?

I: I don't know either. 

***

[ Gotham's Freak Club ]

The Walking Dead: the middle finger, really?

Flying Grayson: yup, I would say Irina Luthor is way more intriguing than I thought initially. Like come on, who shows the middle finger to the press?

Demon Spawn: you do, Grayson. On multiple occasions.

Timmy Toes: exactly.

Flying Grayson: that's because I'm the coolest of the lot but looks like she's here to steal the throne.

The Walking Dead: not everything is about you, Richard Self Obsessed Grayson.

Flying Grayson: damn now I do feel a little bit worried. What if she does manage in stealing my throne?

The Walking Dead: I would serenade her with the crown myself.

Flying Grayson: you traitor!

The Walking Dead: my pleasure...

Timmy's Girlfriend: what throne are you guys talking about?

Flying Grayson: the throne of eternal sass and awesomeness. Certified to Richard Grayson since I don't even know how long.

The Walking Dead: by the way, Ren, aren't you even the slightest bit of worried about this whole scandal?

Timmy's Girlfriend: worried... Oh you have no idea.

Timmy's Girlfriend: my aunt left for Metropolis way earlier than she had to, all because of the stupid paparazzi. The asshats won't let us go anywhere at all in peace. They even turned up at home so the guards had to kick them out.

The Walking Dead: oh dear.

The Walking Dead: they have been surrounding the Manor since a week now as well. Each time we step out, the first question we hear is; who is your brother Tim Drake actually dating?

Demon Spawn: and I told them that they were the stupidest people I have known for even assuming that Drake is dating. With his personality, he is going to die single.

Timmy Toes: what do you have to say for yourself, huh? With your personality, the only person who could date you would be Lucifer himself.

Demon Spawn: either you shut up right now or I will kick you so hard that you'll forget your name.

Timmy Toes: this is my victory dance whenever I succeed in pissing you off.

Timmy's Girlfriend: I do wonder how many other tricks you're hiding behind this innocent good boy facade of yours.

Demon Spawn: you, Drake, are the worst abomination to ever walk the earth.

The Walking Dead: so fucking hilarious.

Timmy's Girlfriend: it's not hilarious in the least. I wish I could sew their mouths shut for eternity.

Demon Spawn: you're not talking about us, are you?

Timmy's Girlfriend: of course not. I meant the press, those nosy little no gooders...

Timmy Toes: and how's your Dad taking it?

Timmy's Girlfriend: I am so tired of hiding all the newspaper I can get my hands on. Thank God he keeps way too much busy that he doesn't know yet.

The Walking Dead: who is your Dad?

Timmy's Girlfriend: that's for me to know and you to stay the fuck out of.

The Walking Dead: hey that was my line!

The Walking Dead: I will sue you for plagiarizing!

Timmy's Girlfriend: and how will you do that exactly? As far as you know, I might not even exist.

Timmy Toes: that's my girl ❤

Flying Grayson: wait a second...

Flying Grayson: so now you guys are comfortable with the whole dating scenario?

Timmy's Girlfriend: kind of.

Flying Grayson: so that means you have gone official! Let me tell Babs at least, she has been rooting for you guys since so long.

The Walking Dead: who's going to tell the press?

Timmy's Girlfriend: Jason, no.

Demon Spawn: too late.

Timmy Toes: I swear I will kill the person who did that.

Demon Spawn: you're welcome to try it, Drake.

Timmy Toes: fucking shit, you little gremlin, how dare you!

Timmy Toes and Demon Spawn have left the chat.

The Walking Dead: Dick, get the popcorn. I'll get the soda.

Flying Grayson: on it, bro.

Flying Grayson: trust me, Ren, you're missing out. This is going to be better than any action movie ever in existence.

***

Timmy's Girlfriend: what's happening?

The Walking Dead: wait, let me send you a picture.

The Walking Dead: this is the warzone five minutes after the war between Timmy and the gremlin.

Timmy's Girlfriend: holy shit...

Flying Grayson: Bruce should not know about this. We have to fix it before he returns.

The Walking Dead: I told Alfred, he said he would help.

Timmy's Girlfriend: and where the hell are Tim and Damian?

Flying Grayson: still fighting.

Flying Grayson: my gorgeous wife is trying to tear them apart.

Timmy's Girlfriend: Barbara?

Flying Grayson: yup, the love of my life.

The Walking Dead: oh finally, they are calling up a truce.

Timmy's Girlfriend: thank God...

Timmy's Girlfriend: is Tim okay though?

Timmy Toes: yeah I'm fine, nothing new.

Demon Spawn: I dare you, Drake, next time I will make sure you are not fine.

Timmy's Girlfriend: do not lay a hand on him, Damian.

Demon Spawn: or what?

Timmy Toes: hey hey hey, calm down. One fight a day is enough!

Flying Grayson: why the hell are you still texting? Bruce is coming back in an hour. So fix the shit up that you both have created.

Flying Grayson: right now!

***