Work Text:
Fiancés, family, and fiascos
Tim-20
Connor-21
Bruce-49
“Bruce, you got a moment?” Tim asked, nervously twisting his fingers together.
Tim was at the doorway to the study, the private one, with the entrance to the BatCave. Bruce sat behind the desk, most likely working on some of the WE stuff Tim had sent over for approval. Tim was CEO of Wayne Enterprises, and Bruce trusted him implicitly, but there where a few projects that were still close to his heart and wanted to stay close on.
Plus it was probably a good idea to have other things to focus on instead of just Batman stuff all the time.
Bruce looked up from his laptop and smiled at Tim at the entrance.
“Sure sweetheart, what’s up?” Closing the computer’s lid, he gestured to the comfy chairs in from of his desk. The public study that was used on the rare occasion that Bruce had a business meeting at the manor, did not have comfy chairs, more like torture devices to encourage the guest not to stay long. Tim thinks the only outsider to ever enter this study was Commissioner Gordon, and Commissioner Gordon was practically family. Yeah, Dick and Barbara weren’t actually married, but they had been dating for like ever— 8 years?—she was definitely considered family at this point. No point in even thinking about Bruce and Selina’s, whatever it is relationship.
Marriage.
Yeah, that what he is here about isn’t it. He’s here to talk to his dad about marriage. Specifically, about marrying Connor— well— asking Connor to marry him.
What if he says no? Ok, no. Panic about Connors answer later, first talk to dad about marrying a meta, a Super one at that, and if that all works out Connor would be living in Gotham, but Batman has a pretty strict No Metas rule for Gotham.
Easy. Ugh.
“Tim, are you ok? your looking pretty stressed buddy, what going on?” The relaxed smile that first fill Bruces face was quickly being replaced with his concerned Dad face. He seemed to realize that what ever the issue was didn’t seem to be a Bat issue, so he stayed there calm and waiting for Tim to continue.
Tim pulled himself from his procrastinating musings saying “No. No nothing bad, good actually, or I hope good? I think it’s good,” Tim flopped into one of the chairs, and ran a hand down his face. “Ok, let me start over.”
There was amusement entering Bruce’s face now. Tim always tended to ramble when he got nervous. Bruce nodded to Tim’s statement, and waited to Tim to continue.
“Ok, so you know how me and Connor have been dating awhile now?” Tim finally got out.
Bruce nodded in confirmation. “Almost 4 years, yes”
“And I know that that not like super long or anything not like Dick and Barbara, or I mean you and Selina have been flirting or whatever for like 2 decades.” Bruce choked a little at that.
“Not two dec-” He was cutoff by his rambling son.
“But, but like its different for everyone right? I mean some people get married after like 6 months, or not for like 10 years, and honestly the divorce rate is kinda the same for either. And know 20 is kinda young, but hey, I was a CEO at 17, and really how do you tell its the right time anyway? Or the right person? It all emotions and huge lack of quantifiable data, and I’ve done the research, there is no best age to get married, and…and…”
Tims ramblings came to a halt as Bruce got up from behind the desk and walked around to sit in the chair next to Tim and take his hands in his.
“Did Connor ask you to marry him.” He asked gently, giving Tim’s hands a reassuring squeeze.
Tim let himself be calmed by his dad's presence, and squeezed back.
“No,” He shook his head. “I want to ask Connor to marry me. Is that ok?”
Bruce’s eyebrow went up at the question. “Is that ok?” Bruce repeated the question back to Tim. “Well that’s not really up to me sweetheart, that kinda up to you. Did you think I would disapprove?” He asked with a apprehensive look on his face.
“NO, no, well kinda? I know that you’ve never had a problem with me and Connor dating, and your always really nice to Connor. But, I mean, like some of the stuff I mention before, like being to young, or not dating long enough, and he’s a meta, and like if we get married we had always planed that Connor would move to Gotham. And I know that you and Clark aren’t on the best of terms in recent years.” Tim babbled in one breath.
Bruce, with all of his Batman training and years of dealing with 5 kids was impressively able to comprehend all of what Tim said.
Burce Hunh’d, then spoke.
“Ok lets take this a step at a time.” He said,
“One, too young? Yes 20 is young, but Tim your a lot like me. We don’t generally jump into things blindly. If I know you, this is something you have been thinking about, researching and probably even talking to Connor about for a long time. This is a decision that only you can make, but if you want approval from me I do not believe that this a decision that you have come to out of youthful recklessness.” Bruce said reassuringly.
“As for not dating long enough, I don’t think you can use your brother and me as role models to the perfect relationship,” Bruce laughed a little bit at that. “Your right, everyone is different, and will have a different amount of time before they feel ready for that next step.”
“As for Connor being a meta in Gotham and my relationship with Clark, first my disagreement with Clark is actually his treatment of Connor, and he knows my disappointment with him. As a result I don’t think we will see more Clark in our lives if you get married.” Then Bruce gave Tim a pointed look. “And do you really expect me to believe that you did’t know, that I knew, that Connor visits you in Gotham everyday?” Tim felt his face heat up with embarrassment, why did he think he could sneak something by Batman, or his dad.
Bruce chuckled and stood up and pulled Tim in to a hug, when the hug ended he continued.
“My rules on Metas is really to just keep the JLA from coming here and messing with things that they don’t understand and making things worse. If Connor want to wants to switch his focus to Gotham for Superheroing, that may be a longer conversation and require planing and training. But I have no problem with Connor living here.”
"The only question left is do you want to marry Connor right now?”
Tim thought for a second, did he want to marry Connor?
The only answer that came to mind was, yes.
He and Connor had talked about the future many times, and how they their lives to go.
He had done research on every available topic concerning marriage.
Tim had no examples of successful marriages to even look up to and say I want that.
But still the only answer that came to mind was yes.
“Yes,” he said, smiling at Bruce with happy assuredness.
CRASH!
Both Bruce and Tim jumped into action at the sound outside the study’s window. When they got there and peered out they saw Connor in a small crater on the ground, where it looked like he’d fallen, his eyes wide staring at the two Waynes.
There was a moment of pause where no one spoke.
“Um—Opps?” Connor nervously chuckled.
That broke the spell and Bruce motioned for Connor to come inside, “The Front door please.”
Connor stood up, rubbing the back of his neck embarrassment, nodded and headed towards the front of the house.
———————
When Connor entered the study, Tim was right there, eyes wide and fidgeting apprehensively.
“How long where you there? How long where you listening? What did you hear?” Rushed out of Tim.
Connor once more reached up rubbing the back of his neck, his gaze jumped from Tim’s dad expressionless at his desk to Tim, slightly frantic in front of him.
“Ok, its not my fault.
“…”
“Ok, so maybe a bit my fault.” He started with a wince. “So I heard you heart rate pickup, and I focused in just to make sure you where ok, like I do sometimes you know??” He looked pleadingly to his boyfriend —fiancé?— before continuing.
“And then I heard my name, and then….I kept on listening…and I guess without meaning to I flew here as I listened…sorry”
Tim’s eyes were as wide as Alfred's tea saucers.
“So, so everything then?” Tim's voice was slightly higher pitch than normal. “and, you fell out of the sky because…. You were upset?”
Connors head shot up from where it had been hanging in shame. ‘What! No!” Shaking his head frantically.
“Not upset, no! Surprised! Happy! Excited! I mean… if you haven't changed your mind?” His arm extended out towards Tim, reaching like he wanted to comfort, but stopping short.
And I couldn't believe it possible to Tim's eyes widened even further, then started to feel with tears. Oh no he had really fucked up.
Then just as Connor was about to start his rightly deserve groveling, Tim spoke softly.
“Does that mean yes? That you would —” Tim cut off, staring at Connor with such hope.
“Yes? Wha— Oh! Yes! Yes I want to marry you!” At those words Tim leapt into Connors arms with what Connor could recognize now as tears of happiness, as Connor felt the same tears building his eyes.
—————————————
The boys were broken from their own little world, with the sound of a shutter, they turned to see Bruce smiling at them and holding a camera.
“Alfred would kill me if I didn't get a photo.” He shrugged, still smiling. “For the scrapbooks you know.”
“Daaadd.” Complained Tim, but Tim was much too happy to care much, and it probably be a great photo for Tim’s collection anyway.
Bruce walked around the table, and enveloped both of them in a hug, and kiss on the top of Tim’s head before releasing them.
“Tim you may pick any on the BatVehicles, except the Batmobile as a present.”
Huh? Tim thought, that’s a non sequitur? Tim and his siblings always jokingly argue about who's going to get which BatVehicle, especially the Batmobile. But what does that have to do with his engagement?
“Huh? What are you talking about?” Questioned Tim as he exchanged confused looks with his —fiancé!
Bruce smiled jovially as he led them out of the study and towards the kitchen.
“Well as the first of my children to give me a son or daughter-in-law, you get first pick of the vehicles. The Batmobile is reserved for whichever one of you give me my first grandchild.”
Tim and Connor paused after that statement and looked at each other.
Tim’s face turned serious, he looked Connor in the eyes, pointing his finger at him “You knew my family was crazy when you agreed to marry me, no take backs!”
At that Connor bursts out laughing, swings Tim into his arms and floats after Bruce towards the kitchen. “Don’t worry babe, they haven’t scared me off yet.”