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mostlydysfunction · 3 years

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From The Stars, Part 9

Summary: Kira moved out of town for isolation and peace and quiet. But that quickly gets turned on its head when a spaceship crash lands not far from her house and a strange creature decides she's its new queen. Luck had never been on Kira's side, but things are going to get a lot worse for her as she's forced into this new role and everything her new alien subject thinks it entails.

Warnings: Lying, shady parents, some hinted at violence at the end.

Authors Note: Again, this has been up on my Ao3 since like February. Link is in my masterlist if you prefer to follow there and get updates sooner. There’s going to be only a couple more parts to this one however, so might not even matter.

MASTERLIST

Kira watches the SUV roll down the hill and into the lake. It’s cloudy, the moon and stars covered, bathing the trees in darkness. Kira’s only light is from the flashlight in her hand, aimed at the SUV currently sinking in the lake. She won’t move until it’s gone under completely, not wanting anyone to see what’s happening.

Two months ago if you had told her she would be standing in the woods in the middle of the night sinking a federal agent’s SUV in the lake to cover up their murder by her alien babies, she would have thought you were insane. But now she felt nothing. Her babies needed to eat and it was just unfortunate that the Feds happened to be the first to show up.

Kira waits until the bubbles have stopped before turning, making her way up the hill and back to the road. It’s a bit of a hike back to her house, the air cold enough she can see her breath fog in front of her. Her mind goes to her children and if they’re warm enough in the barn. Her alien hadn’t shown any signs of minding the cold, but her children were obviously different than him, and she can’t help but wonder if they can tell the temperature difference.

She feels a sense of urgency as she gets closer to her house, hating being apart from her family. They were her family now. Her children, their father. She doesn’t understand the relationship between them, she doesn’t even know if it’s biologically possible for her to love an alien. Humans could feel emotions towards animals, inanimate objects. Emotions including love. Who’s to say it’s not possible to feel the same for an alien lifeform she has no communication with who had forcibly impregnated her with his eggs. Maybe it’s only the oxytocin talking, the immediate motherly instinct she had felt over her babies that was drawing her closer to her alien. Or maybe it was because around him, she felt safe.

Kira opens the door to her barn when she returns to her property, quickly closing it behind her as her babies run up to her. They’re hip-height now, growing faster than she thought possible. All eight of them surround her, bumping her gently with their heads. She smiles down at them, patting them each on their smooth heads. They let out content little cries, warming Kira’s heart. Her alien approaches her, nudging her gently with his own head. She gently strokes its elongated head, leaning against him.

Her eyes drift closed, her brain buzzing with energy. She focuses on it more and finds she can see with her eyes closed. The barn looks distorted like she’s seeing out of a fish-eye lens. The colors are darker, not quite as vibrant with her own eyes, but she can hear every small sound wave bouncing off the walls. She can hear something speaking, not words but a sort of idea in her mind. She can feel her eight babies around her, all of them like strings connected to her mind.

She wants to lose herself in the sensations, bury herself in them, and never come out, but her phone vibrating in her pocket snaps her out of it. She pulls away from her alien, her brain reeling for a moment before she centers herself back on Earth.

“I have to take this. I’ll be back.” She says, backing away from her babies and her alien.

She leaves them in the barn, heading back towards her house. She looks at her phone. She doesn’t want to answer, but she knows she has to.

“Hello?”

“Kira? God, I thought something had happened to you! I was going to come and check on you but...you sounded so sick when we talked last and then you weren’t answering.”

Kira feels a pang of guilt in her chest. “I’m sorry, dad. I was on some heavy meds. It was some kind of viral thing. Wiped me out for a few days. I didn’t even think to look at my phone. I’m doing better now though.”

“That’s good. That’s...really good.”

“Do you want to come over? Catch up a little?”

“Yes. That would be great.”

*********

Kira sets the cups of coffee on the kitchen table before taking a seat. Her dad looks old. Older than the last time she saw him. He’s had something on his mind. She can tell by how messy his hair looks. He would always run his fingers through his hair repeatedly when he was thinking hard. Her mother used to joke he’d go bald from doing it one day. Now that she looked at him, Kira can see his hair is thinning. There are dark circles under his eyes and he looks about as bad as she does, but she doesn't think he birthed alien eggs days ago.

“Kira...I’ve had a lot on my mind recently. About you. About this place.”

Kira sips her coffee. It’s scalding but she can’t bring herself to care. She hums in response, letting him continue.

He runs his finger in a circle around the rim of the cup. It’s an old habit. It means bad news. “You’re all alone out here. I shouldn’t have left you out here by yourself. But...your mother...I just couldn’t...”

Kira reaches out, putting a hand over his. It feels strange to her, to touch human skin again. She almost doesn’t like it. “It’s okay. I know.”

Her dad stares into her eyes for a moment, taking her in. “There’s so much she wanted to tell you. She begged me to tell you, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I couldn’t face the truth. I didn’t know how to tell you. I wasn’t sure you’d believe me.”

Kira frowns, her stomach churning. She doesn't like his words. “Dad...what are you talking about?”

He sighs, taking a long drink of his coffee, staring out the back door. “I remember it like it was yesterday. Right out there. Where the roses are. It used to be hydrangeas before...before you arrived.” He runs a hand over his face. “God, I should have told you this years ago Kira...”

“Dad...you’re scaring me.” Kira’s hands are shaking as she sets her coffee cup down.

Her dad turns back to look at her, holding her gaze. “You’re not ours.”

Kira’s body goes cold at his words, a strange feeling running through her. Her whole life she’d been told they were her parents. This was her dad sitting across from her. And now...

“W-What?” She pulls her hands into her lap, squeezing them into fists to stop them from shaking.

“We don’t know where you came from. Well...we sort of knew...” Her dad glances back out at the garden before looking at her again. “Kira...you fell from the sky.”

Kira can’t say anything. None of it was making sense. Her brain was buzzing, churning, his words seeming like a foreign language. Thankfully he doesn’t wait for her to respond.

“It happened almost twenty years ago. It was almost dark. Your mother was outside planting tulips on the other side of the garden. I was making dinner. Grilling, like I used to. Everything was quiet like it gets out here, but then...the sky exploded. Blew the windows out, it was so loud. Came down in a ball of fire right into your mother’s hydrangeas. I thought it was the end of the world for a moment, but then...your mother was always so quick to act. Put the fire out with the garden hose. I thought it was some kind of meteor, but once the flames died, I could see what it was. It was...some sort of space pod. We tried and tried to get it open, see inside. Eventually, we managed to pry it open and inside...You couldn’t have been more than four years old. Teary-eyed and sucking your thumb. You looked so human.”

He runs a hand down his face. Kira can see the tears in his eyes.

“The feds were on us almost immediately. I wanted to turn you over to them, but your mother refused. She knew what would happen to you if we did. So we hid you. Made up some bullshit story. The feds didn’t believe us, but we were insistent.”

Kira’s mind begins to work at high speed. The visits from the feds suddenly didn’t seem so strange anymore.

“You were so human in every way. Almost every way. You never got sick. Kids always got sick but you never did. You could bend metal with your bare hands and you could hear things miles away. Your mother taught you to control it. She was better at that than I was. I made it my job to make you feel as normal as possible. She dealt with all the...strangeness. That’s why when you told me you were sick...I knew something had to be wrong. Something was going on. You’ve never been sick before.”

Kira clenches her fists tighter, taking in her father’s words. She had arrived on Earth in a spaceship? She supposedly had superpowers? He was right in one thing...she had never been sick before. She just thought it was a good immune system. But apparently, it was something else. Something more.

“Kira...please say something.”

“I don’t...” Kira bites her lip, breathing deeply. “You expect me to believe that? That I fell out of the sky in a spaceship and...I’m supposed to be what, Superman?”

“No, it’s...” Her dad sighs, looking down at his coffee. “I knew you wouldn’t believe me. I wanted your mother to tell you from the beginning but...she thought it would be best...if you thought you were normal...”

Kira stands from the table, unable to sit anymore. “Bullshit. I call bullshit.” She makes her way to the back door, looking out at the roses. The place she supposedly crash-landed on Earth. “You had an affair, didn’t you? I was never my mother’s child and you couldn’t live with that so you made up some bullshit story to hide it! That’s why you couldn’t stay!”

“Kira, you know I would never have...”

“I don’t know anything anymore.” She clenches her fists again, glaring at him. “I don’t know what’s more unbelievable. The story that might be true or that you would spew some bullshit to try and hide something else you did to fuck up.”

“Kira, I loved your mother!” Her father stands from the table, knocking over the chair. “I loved her more than anything. But we couldn’t...” He takes a deep breath. “We tried. We tried so many times. She wanted so badly...but we couldn’t. Then you fell out of the sky like an answer to our prayers.”

Kira feels tears prick behind her eyes. The story is starting to sound not so fake the more she thinks about it. She had an alien hiding in her barn with her babies she had birthed after mating with him. An alien that had crashed to Earth and found her and chosen her. If she was also an alien...it would make her new reality not quite so strange anymore.

“Kira...I’m sorry...”

“I want you to leave.” She says, her voice shaking. She hates it. She turns back to face her dad. “Get out. Go home. Don’t come back here.”

Her father stares at her brokenly for a moment before grabbing his coat and heading towards the door. Kira stays where she is until she hears his car door shut before heading out to the barn. She’s shaking by the time she reaches the door, slipping inside quickly and closing the door.

She takes a few steps into the darkness before dropping to her knees, tears falling down her cheeks. She’s overwhelmed, not knowing what to believe or even what to think. If the story was true, then so much of what had happened made perfect sense. But if her dad was lying to her to cover up something else...either way he had lied to her. He had hidden the truth about her for her entire life. She feels anger bubble up inside her.

Her children are by her side in seconds, snuggling up to her. She reaches out to them, touching them, solidifying herself in reality. She should have died. She had carried eight eggs to term and birthed them. She had lost so much blood...too much blood. But here she was, mostly healthy with no medical help. She had never been sick a day in her life. She had managed to tame an alien simply with her presence. She had seen what he was capable of. He could have killed her instantly that night, but something about her had stopped him.

Maybe she was alien.

Kira is on her feet as soon as the barn door slides open. It hits the other side with a slam, the shadow of her father standing in the doorway. Her heart leaps to her throat, the buzzing of her babies loud in her ears.

“Kira...what the hell?”

“Dad...you should have just gone home.”

#xenomorph #alien #xenomorph x human #xenomorph x oc #from the stars

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davidmann95 · 3 years

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Comics this week (4/28/2021)?

adudewholikescomicsandotherstuff said: This week’s comics?

comics-and-videogames said: Comics this week?

The Marvels #1: On the one hand this is a well-constructed debut with solid art, I love the basic premise of “the Seven Soldiers setup but as an ongoing and spanning the whole universe”, and the new guy Kevin Schumer has a really fun gimmick. On the other there’s nothing stellar about it and...holy shit, Busiek’s actually building this entire book around the Fake Sliding-Timeline-Friendly Vietnam Waid came up with (or I’ve heard Busiek came up with but Waid used first)? I don’t think I’ll be pursuing it on my own, but my dad seemed excited for it and I expect he’ll keep getting it, and if so I’ll be curious to see where it goes and how much it ultimately delivers on the promise of its setup, and also whether it manages to avoid immediately becoming the most unwittingly racist thing in Marvel’s current lineup. Or maybe it's already there and I'm just too pale to see it?

(And that last page? This really is just More Astro City, huh?)

M.O.D.O.K.: Head Games #4: Not as good as the issues leading up to it, but a solid end to an enjoyable mini.

The Amazing Spider-Man: Curse of the Man-Thing #1: Not as much of a blast as the first issue, but Orlando predictably writes a good Spidey.

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #25: God, I just don’t know how much longer this can keep me on the strength of a one or two good moments every few issues only for it to coast on that. Where’s the Black Bolt and Exiles guy? I’m giving it one more issue because it looks ready to turn some cards over, but if it keeps dithering I’m done.

Abbott 1973 #4: I’m giving this one more issue too, but literally only because it just has the one issue left.

The Department of Truth #8: This is gonna be one of those books where unless you’re willing to go seriously in-depth in a way I don’t for this format it’s gonna be basically impossible to review, because the shorthand is always going to be “yup, it’s exactly as incredibly good as it’s already been in exactly the same ways”.

Once & Future #18: This keeps on almost getting me to go fuck it and switch to trades - not as a matter of quality, as a matter of how best to process it as a reader - and then giving me a reason to stick around for the month-by-month, and damn if this doesn’t give the best reason yet.

Crossover #6: The best issue yet, because this time I yelled FUCK YOU twice instead of just the once the first issue pulled out of me. Gotta admit I’m very curious about this next one though (and that this is apparently how it went about, well, that, as much as it ever could is so defiantly anticlimactic and unsatisfying I’m almost convinced it has to be deliberate, and I would nearly be impressed were that the case).

Batman/Superman #17: This continues to comprehensively rule and is almost certainly DC’s best ongoing comic for the foreseeable future, and the demonstration of the new Batmobile upgrade is one of the purest “god, aren’t superheroes/comics just the best sometimes?” moments I’ve read in a minute.

Action Comics #1030: It’s wild how much this reads like a debut issue, though given this is in a sense PKJ’s *fourth* kickoff to his Superman run after Worlds of War, The Golden Age, and Superman proper, it’s not too surprising he’s really good at it by this point. Sampere is a beast unchained here, Warworld is interesting for the first time ever and Krypton feels as tantalizingly alien and magical as it ever has, there’s really good character bits anchoring every scene here, and Johnson clearly recognizes where he’s treading familiar ground and makes sure to subtly assert that he’s not going in the well-worn, predictable directions. If this is what to expect from him going forward given this is the title he’s staying on long-term, I’m a more than happy camper. The Midnighter backup continues to be a very pleasing improvement from its Future State debut too.

Batman: Black and White #5:

Jimenez/Leigh: This was really fun! Looking forward to what Jimenez writes in the future.

Weeks/Cowles: Obviously gorgeous but I do not even kind of get what this was supposed to be.

Tamaki/Lupacchno/Von Grawbadger/Maher: ok

Gillen/McKelvie/Cowles: OK. So reading this I immediately thought “yes, this absolutely rules, but it’s a *little* surprising to see people flip out so hard at it when I’ve seen this exact gimmick done very, very recently. Well, I suppose when you do Young Avengers and W+D and you’re doing a Batman comic you’ve more earned that name recognition boost”. But THEN I saw what was really up and yeah this absolutely rules, no caveats.

Campbell/Bennett: Suffers from having to follow up the last feature and the narration gets more than a touch turgid by the end, but forgivably so for a first-time writer when it looks like this.

#Week's Comics #Opinion

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marudny-robot · 7 years

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Sometimes

Title: Sometimes Fandom: DCU, Young Justice (1998), Teen Titans, Red Robin Rating: PG Summary: Of course, for Tim, even telling her about his friends, was apparently too much. A/N: Well, for first fanfic in this fandom It isn’t so bad. And I hope, there’s not too many mistakes. One-shot based on head canons between me and angel-gidget. Just look for MisterS!anon tag there. Enjoy!

Sometimes, Tam wished that Tim wasn't a part-time vigilante.

That way, she wouldn't have to worry about some ninja slash assassins trying to kill her boss (or her). Or having to deal with said boss, when he stains her couch with new injuries gotten during the night. (On the plus side, she can do pretty neat stitches now – an ability she didn't thought she would need).

There were also minor things, that simple Assistants for sure didn't have to do. For example, because of lack of heroes at that time, Tam once had to help Oracle coordinate some JLA mission – and let me tell you how, despite being weird, it was stressful (but telling Superman to get his ass over there right now, was definitely one of her favorite experience).

And ok, from lesser scale, maybe lying about my boss's strange leather-clad night exercises, is probably nothing new for any rich man's Personal Assistant. But lying about gained injuries, suddenly cured injuries, ninja, assassins, aliens, alien tech, ancient magic incidents, sudden visits from megalomaniacs with penchant for world domination and recruiting her boss and just general weirdness, that to normal human being (even from Gotham) usually don't happened – it certainly is.

But that was sometimes. She usually didn't mind, really.

The point is: she just wished Tim would inform her before some another part of his vigilante-life would present itself before her. Or let her prepare somehow.

Of course, for Tim, even telling her about his friends, was apparently too much.

&&&

The first time Tam met one of her boss's friends (certain Bart Allen, former Impulse, currently Kid Flash), was during her work in WE.

She and Tim were in Tim's office working on new contract with overseas client. She was searching for that little nuisance in 260 pages contract, when sudden gust of wind made to the office, scattering everything (including the 260 pages contract) around the room.

Where that wind came from?

From certain guy, who was standing in the center of the room and was holding bags with Chinese food.

“Bart!” and whom, apparently Tim knew.

“HiTimWhat'supIwasthinkingthatwehaven'tseeneachotherlatlyandyou'rebusywiththeWEanddon'thavetimeforusanymoresoIdecidedtomeet'yainsteadandIbroughtfoodbecauseyoulookedthinlasttimewe'veseeneachother-”

Tam looked shocked at their guest. He talked as fast as he gesticulated while talking, making little gust of wind around him. Papers with contract, as well as other documents, were scattered across the office or flying near.

Her boss didn't seem so shocked as her. He didn't even acknowledge the paper chaos around them and just… smiled and talked with his friend.

Tam blinked, not believing what she saw.

Tim was happy. Genuinely happy. Not press-fake-happy, not I'm-about-to-win happy - just that kind of happy, that Tam never had a chance to see on Tim.

She had to pause gathering scattered papers, just to commit that sight to memory. She didn't thought that it was even possible for him to express – if not feel – such emotions (maybe somewhere, deep down in her mind she knew that it's normal – that it's how it should be).

As Tam was standing there, lost in her thoughts, looking at them, she didn't register when Bart run away from the office. Not only that, somehow, the whole contract, all the pages in order, was in her hands again.

She was still standing in the same spot, when Tim stopped waving to his friend in goodbye and looked into the containers to see what kind of food had been brought here.

“What happened?” she asked trying to comprehend the whole incident. Her stomach growled at the smell of food, so she put down the contract and joined Tim.

“So…” Tam started, picking one of the containers. “Who's that guy, again?”

“Bart. One of my friends.”

Friends? Tam didn't want to question him, but she hardly saw anyone who could be considered Tim Drake's friend. Acquaintance – sure, crazy family member or coworker – always, but honest to God f r i e n d?

“Yes. FRIEND.” Uh-oh. The disbelieve must have been seen on her face. “We met during one crazy summer, you know? We both and couple other guys. Were really close, but lately everyone had their own crisis to take care of. With some, I haven't heard of them in a long time.”

The way Tim said it, made Tam want to apologize. She felt sorry for him. You see, since she had knew him, Tim was …sad. The saddest person she knew. Of course, because Tim rarely told her anything about himself – and considering the kind of life he lived – she was thinking about reasons for that sadness. Call it curiosity. However, her mind constantly supplied her with visions of brutally killed love, destroyed childhood, some weird dissatisfaction at the World and Humanity in general… No matter what she thought, it was the Red Robin, the hero, who have reasons to be sad, not Tim.

She tended to forget, that behind the mask, Tim was still a kid. A normal kid, who have normal problems – as missing his friends.

“Huh. Good to know you have those, Boss.” She ignored Tim and halted him from speaking. “But make sure, that the next time they decide to visit, it's not during work.” to which she pointed toward paper mess on the floor.

&&&

Next time, she have heard about Tim's friends was really not so long from the first situation. About three weeks later, when visiting Metropolis branch of WE, her boss took her on a trip, during their 20 minute lunch break, between meetings.

Three streets from WE building. On a rooftop.

“Why are we here, again?” she asked, tying her coat more tightly around her, in chance to get warmer. It was a really windy day, and a really shitty place to wait.

Her boss never answered her. Of course. She should get used to it by now. That whatever plan Tim's executing, he tends to forget about the rest of the world. Especially about his Assistant. Worse, that he forgets to, you know, inform her about whatever his vigilante's brain had planned. And e v e n w o r s e – those plans, in 70% of time, tend to somehow kick her in the ass.

So she tried asking again – desperation called, after all.

“Tim. What. Are. We. Waiting. For.”

Silence was her only answer.

She sighed, searching through her purse for a hat and gloves. It was getting colder, as wind started to blow stronger than before. And while she was looking through her bag - when she started to consider cursing it, along with the weather, her boss and her to low paycheck for this kind of stress - a sudden question startled her.

“What is that?” Asked Tim, pointing to something in her bag.

Tam looked at him first, to shocked of hearing his voice at all. Then her brain registered the disgust in his voice and his intense gaze at the pointed object.

So, curiously, she looked at the pointed object.

“This?” she pulled out a notebook from her bag.

“Y e s.” Oh, so she didn't imagined that disgust. Who knew that Tim could be so expressive? “Why do you have it?”

Tam looked at the accused object in her hand, turning it slowly and searching very deliberately for any clue that would give answer for what the hell is Tim's problem with her Superboy notebook?

Ok, maybe it wasn't professional, but she didn't have time to buy any business-looking like notebooks, before going to Metropolis. So, she did the second best thing and brought any empty one she already had. Just because that one was bought during her fangirl days, didn't make it any less practical.

“What, jealous?” She snipped, turning her head in his direction.

“Jea- What? No! I'm not jealous!”

“Careful there, boss. Someone may think otherwise.”

“Look. Could you just hide it and don't pull it out? Kon still has one of the biggest ego I know of, and I don't really need for it to get even bigger.” Tim plead Tam, but Tam was still annoyed at Tim, so she asked him instead of doing what he asked her to do.

“Kon?” she said, holding the Limited Edition of Punk Superboy Notebook high in her hand.

“One of my friends from that One Crazy Summer? Please, Tam. Hide it, before he sees it. He may suggest giving autographs! A u t o g r a p h s, Tam!”

“I'm always happy to give autographs to my lovely fans.” Said Superboy, startling Tam. Then, he took notebook from her hands, signed on the cover and give her back. Tim scowled and glared at the newcomer the whole time.

“So, you must be Tam!” Kon-el said with enthusiasm, completely ignoring Tim. “I've heard about you! From Bart, of course, not from Mr Grumpy Pants over there.” he gestured to Tim, as his friend's glare got more deadly. “You know, he never speaks about you and I'm supposed to be his best friend, right? He didn't tell you about me, did he? Typical Rob. So, you know me, The Superboy, if that notebook says anything, but what about you? How come you work for the Brooding Bird? Better yet, how come you know about Mr Broody McBats and his little colony of birds and flying rodents? Bart mentioned Rob saying something about you being his life saver?

Before Tam had any chance reply (after initial shock fall down), Superboy got smacked in the face with a flash-drive.

“Here's what you needed. Now go before I bring out Kryptonite.” growled Tim.

Kon rubbed his face, where the evil thing hit him. Slowly grabbed the flash-drive, then turned his face to Tam.

“Kryptonite, he says. Can you believe, he cried last time he saw me? Said he missed his best pal.”

“Kon!”

“Jeez! I'm going, I'm going already!” Before flying too far, Superboy, one last time, turned to Tam. “It was nice meeting you, Miss Tim's Girlfriend!”

“KON!” But Superboy was to far to hear any threats uttered by red-faced Tim. Doesn't matter, because he would hear them eventually from his best friend. After, of course, he would learn more about certain Tim Drake's Assistant.

Tam and Tim were standing for a while, looking at the flying away silhouette of Kon-El. And while Tim were trying to develop heat vision thanks to his friend, Tamara blinked, trying to comprehend the whole situation. Moment later, she gathered her wits and abruptly turned to Tim.

“So.” She began slowly. “You WERE jealous!”

Tim didn't reply to her. Didn't even looked at her direction. He just went straight to the staircase, and before going down, he said, while still not looking at her:

“Lunch brake's over. We need to go.”

Tam went after him, once again cursing her Boss.

But despite everything, it appeared to be a good day – at lest her inner fangirl said so.

&&&

“So.” Tam began slowly. “You knew Cissie King-Jones.”

“Yes.”

They were sitting in a car – Tim driving, while Tam sat on his right. The road from film set, which they were driving away from, to Gotham was almost empty.

“You just decided to see Cissie King-Jones.” Tam said. “On film set. During shooting film, where she plays main character, at the same time, stopping everyone during they work just to say Hi to her?”

“Yes. That's what I did.”

“AND you introduced me to THE Cissie King-Jones.”

“Yes.”

“I don't think you understand what I'm saying.” she paused to get few deep breaths. “YOU introduced ME to THE Cissie King-Jones. Not only that, YOU are OLD FRIENDS with her! You are old friends with Olympic Gold Medalist in Archery, Wendy the Werewolf Stalker Lead Actress and All Time Top3 Popular, last year Oscar Winner, Hollywood Actress.”

“…Where are you going with this?”

“Are YOU freaking SERIOUS?! To think you're supposed to be detective here.” she put her head in her hands, completely dumbfounded by her boss. When she talked again, her voice got that dangerous tone, reminding Tim of whenever any Batgirl was interrogating criminals. “Tim. Do you know what I was doing two weeks ago, on my free day?”

Tim's voice wavered a little, when he answered. He was surprised by Tam's sudden outburst, but wasn't going to admit of being scared of his Assistant.

“…No.”

“I was waiting. In line. For her autograph. I was waiting five hours, Tim. Five hours. And you just waltzed there! Ignored the documents we were supposed to take care of in the office, and drove ALL THE WAY there! Then, you were being all Wayne Heir and ignoring everyone, going straight to Cissie! Just to say HI to her?! Tim, why are you like this!”

Tim blinked, thinking what he was supposed to say. “…Umm” He started lamely. “If you want I'll call her agent next time and set a date?”

“NO!” Tam shouted “Are you stupid! G-d! Why do you have all that money and privilege if you don't know how to use it!”she said, gesticulating wildly.

Tim drove on the roadside and stopped the car. He waited, letting Tam to cool of, before he said:

“I didn't know that you are her fan.”

“AND I DIDN'T KNOW, YOU WERE OLD FRIENDS WITH HER!”

They were silent after that. Tim started the car and got back on the road. They didn't talk to each other, didn't even looked at each other, both looking at the road.

When WE building was in their sight, Tim decided it was time to do what was right.

“I'm sorry.” He said. “I'm really REALLY sorry.”

“…No, you are not.” she said tiredly.

“…Ok, maybe I'm not, but please? Don't be mad?”

Tam didn't answer for a while, then she huffed, and turned her head to her boss.

“Ok.” she smiled slightly. “But you must tell me - how you guys met? She hugged you back there, boss.”

“Well… THAT group of friends? In which, Conner and Bart are part of? That's were we met.”

Tam blinked two times, while looking at Tim. Then – after she registered what she just heard, she groaned and hided her face in her hands.

THOSE Tim's friends. Olympic Archer. Superheros. Arrowette.

Figures, Tam. Figures.

&&&

Three months later, Tam's mood was considerably better – as was the weather. Little breeze, clear blue sky and sun shining high above her head. She was walking through the shopping district, window shopping. Tomorrow, she would have to meet with French branch of WE R&D. But not today. Today she was on vacation.

Still – she had that nagging feeling. Had she forgot something? But what?

Oh. Right. Remind Tim.

Fortunately, for that particular task, one phone call was sufficient.

“Tim, you haven't forgotten about the new series of applications for WE Scholarship?” she said as soon as her boss picked up.

“Hello, Tam. How are you? I'm doing great, thanks for asking.”

“Tim.”

“I remember about them. I was just about to read those, but I'm not sure where…”

“Green folder. Second lowest shelf. Make yourself coffee first, I don't believe, you are awake enough for your job.”

“…Thanks. For thinking about me. And you would be surprised, how much I can do half-asleep.”

Tam sighed, looked at the sky, then answered.

“Timothy Jackson Drake! Don't you dare sign anything while being half-asleep! And remember, you have a meeting with last Scholarship winner on Thursday. Don't be late. Everything is on your calendar. Her profile is also in the binder. Don't you dare upset her! She seems easily intimidated and we don't want bad press!” she was silent for a while, wanting to hear any confirmation that she was heard. None was said. ”Tim?”

“Mhm?”

“Can you repeat what I just said?”

“Yeah, yeah… Meeting. Not late.” she heard squeak of the chair and rustling of papers.” Be nice. Watch out for bad press- Oh! Why didn't you tell me it was Greta, who won? …Huh. Wonder, why she chose that subject. Little morbid, I must say.”

You know her? ”Wait. What do you mean morbid?”

“Well… considering her history…”

“Tim. She wrote about conduction of electric energy by different water resources and practical usage for it. What in that seems morbid to you?”

“Well, yeah, I see your point… But… it's how she died?”

“…Die- WHAT?!”

“She is alive right now, of course, but still… Don't sound shocked. She is one of THOSE friends, Tam.”

Right. She sighed again. Those superhero friends, about whom Tim doesn't even mention. Of course! It was so obvious, Tam! Why are you freaking out, Tam?

“Ugh. Whatever. I need coffee. Do your job and try not to call me, understood?” Tam didn't wait for Tim's answer as she disconnected. Work done – time for vacation.

&&&

Unfortunately, her vacation didn't last long. She knew that one day isn't that much, but two hours? Really?

Not only that, it seemed she somehow picked up Tim's tendency to summon bad guys, wherever he went. Right now, she was crouching with other clients and bank workers – all hurdled in the same corner. She had hands above her head as everyone, and prayed that no-one would be shot at.

And really – who still robs banks during the day?

It was bad. She couldn't do much from here. Not like superheroing anyway – she wasn't Tim, after all, but calling the police seemed hard. The robbers would see her immediately. What should she do? What-?

Apparently, she didn't have to do anything. Something very fast came and, before she registered what happened, she was outside, behind the police – as everyone else.

Few minutes later, Wondergirl and Superboy walked out of the bank – all five robbers tied by rope, dragged by Wondergirl. Police took them to the car, while two officers talked with the hero duo.

During their talk, Superboy turned his head in Tam's direction. He must have recognized her, considering how surprised he looked.

Before Tam had chance to move, Kon-El stood in front of her.

“Miss Fox, would you go with us?” he asked.

&&&

After talking with the police, they went to one of the many cafe that were there. For a while, no one said anything. They were sitting outside, waiting for their drinks. Only after waiter came with their orders and put them on the table, did conversation started.

“Cassie” said Wondergirl, holding her to Tam.

Tamara accepted the handshake. “Tam. Nice to meet you.”

“I'm aware you two know each other” said Cassie gesturing between Kon and Tam. At their nods, she continued. “Sorry for that sudden invitation for coffee. I wanted to meet you, but never thought I would have a chance to even hear about you. You know how… secretive Tim is.”

Tam just nodded sadly. She new exactly what Cassie was talking about. She didn't want to sound like noisy reporter, but hearing bits and pieces about anything of his vigilante's life was annoying. Especially in the most inappropriate time.

Cassie, seeing her face, huffed. “I guess we are on the same boat.” she relaxed in her chair, smiling. “So! Tell me about yourself! How did you meet Tim? Or - do you want to hear some stories from our adventures?”

Now, that was surprise. Normally, she isn't given information freely, like that. Especially about Tim's second-life.

“Tell her about Mr Sarcastic.” Kon smiled, while stage whispering to Cassie. She laughed in response.

“Opposite to you, I don't want her to run away from Tim at first given chance.” Cass said, after calming down.

Tam eyed them both. “Should I ask?”

“Better not. I would rather forget it ever happened.” replied Cassie. “But if he ever decide to …I don't know.…”

“Shave his head and wear belly shirts?” supplied Kon.

“Yes! If he ever decide to shave his head and wear belly shirts, you let me know, ok?”

“Now, I'm torn between asking and not-asking.” Tam said, amused. “Before story time - can I ask a favor? Don't tell Tim about the robbery. Or, at lest, my involvement in it. I don't want him to worry.”

Before Kon had a chance to ask why, Cassie shushed her friend and, smiling slightly, answered Tam.

“Consider it done.” she said. “Now, have you heard about time we saved Earth, by playing baseball?”

&&&

“Mind telling me, why we both got those invitations? No bugs or anything - checked. Just simple invitations.”

Tim looked up from his work. Tam just came to his office, holding two envelopes in her right hand. He gestured to her to show him those for closer inspection. Little tense, he looked closely at every side, before pulling the letters from the inside. However, when he read from who those were, all tension seemed to disappear from him.

“Well?” Tam asked, confused.

“Invitations for party. From my good friend. Apparently, she wants to meet you.”

“Why? Who's your friend?” Tim just smiled, but Tam stopped him before he had a chance to answer. “Wait. Let me guess. THAT group of friends? From Crazy Summer?” Tim just smiled wider and nodded.

“So, do you want to go?” he asked her.

“I'm not sure…”

“Cissie would be there.”

“Hell yes.”

&&&

“Anita, hi! Sorry for being late, we were hold up at the meeting.”

“Tim!” Anita stood up from the chair near the table, and came towards them. “Long time no see!” She hugged him, before turning her head to Tam.

“Ah! You must be The Tim's Assistant, right? I'm Anita Fite – Tim's childhood friend.”

“Tamara Fox. Just call me Tam.” she accepted the handshake. “And what do you mean by The? Was he talking about me? Only good things, I hope.” she asked, giving her boss a stink eye.

Anita just laughed loudly at Tam's question. “Oh, please.” she said moment later. “He's Rob, mon. I only heard about you from others.” Oh. That kind of did make sense. It's good to know, her boss isn't withholding things from her only.

Tim just huffed at the accusation. “Well, I think introductions are in order, aren't they?” he said, looking at both of them. Anita just mouthed of course, but Tam just frozen up. No. She knew what was coming. And she didn't like it.

“Don't you d a r e!” she hissed at him, but Tim ignored her completely.

“Tam – meet Anita, another friend from that crazy summer, as you guessed. Anita – this is Tam, my Assistant – She is my common sense. Also, she brings us coffee at the office to remind us that she is mortal, otherwise the rest of what she does would make us forget that fact.”

Tam just groaned, hiding her face in her hand in embarrassment. Anita only laughed more.

It took some time before she calmed down, but when she did, she said to Tim:

“Dramatic as always. But, I heard something about marriage? Is it true?”

Tim just smiled, shaking his head slightly.

“Oh. No. It – unfortunately – isn't true. I'm not that lucky, you see.”

Tam just groaned again. It was nice to hear Tim compliment her like this, true. She loved those compliments. But. Does he really had to do it during most, if not every, introductions?

Anita and Tim seemed to stop joking and decided to catch up on each others lives. However they didn't had chance to talk long before children, who were playing few meters from them, started screaming for Anita to come. Their host shook her head and sighed, before speaking to them.

“Grab a plate and eat something, the table's over there. You can put presents on the pile next to it. I'll be back in a few, ok?” she went without waiting for an answer.

Tam, for the first time, looked around. Today was nice, sunny weather and the party was in the backyard. Just as Anita said, the table – on which was enormous amount of food – stood near equally enormous pile of presents.

“I thought it was just party for your group.” Said Tam to Tim. “Why are there kids running around?”

“It's a birthday party. They are gonna be 8, if I remember correctly.”

“And who's gonna be eight?”

“Anita's parents.”

“Anita's pare- WHAT?!”

“Long story. Hey! Let's grab some cake before they eat it all! I swear, you will love it.”

“Tim, wait!”

But, of course, her boss didn't hear her, as he went to the food. Tam immediately went after him, trying to navigate between children running around her, losing her footing once or twice and having to stop abruptly more than she appreciated.

Sometimes, she wished, Tim would told her things like those beforehand.

Sometimes.

#Tam Fox #Tim Drake #Red Robin #Young Justice #Teen Titans #Bart Allen #Kon-El #Greta Hayes #Cissie King-Jones #Cassie Sandsmark #Anita Fite #Maruda writes #Maybe I'll rewrite it later #Tim must work on his telling people things skills

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