Chapter Text
Stephanie trails behind Tims as they go to the beach. Both had promised Bruce they would stay and watch Damian as Bruce went to an event at the country club.
Yet, one thing led to another, and now Damian made an offer they couldn't refuse.
“You both can actually be cool if you let me come with you, and I can bring a friend.”
“No way, Bruce would kill us,” Stephanie said. There is no way she’d gal for this trap, worse, let Bruce down.
Tim turned to her, pleading that this might be a good idea.
“I mean, did you take work off? You spend the summer here and not a party?” He smiles
She thinks about it; maybe it could show Cassandra that Steph is cool, funny, and pretty.
Wait, why does she even care about what Cass even thought?
“Fine.”
•••
Her cropped top was a pretty lavender color, with daisy. The light of the bond fire make her lip a pretty rose color, her hair an ashy blonde.
Across the fire was Bernard Dowd, another blonde who had his arm around Tim. His other hand held a red cup filled with some sort of beer.
Damian was farther away from the fire skipping rocks, and collect frog with some girl that lived across the town.
“It crazy how you guys even made it out, I thought your dad had an Iron Fist.” Bernard said leaning into Tim, staring at his lips.
suspicious.
“He doesn’t have to know about anything.” Tim replied as if they were moments away from kissing.
“Excuse me,” She stood up giving the two some much needed space. Stephanie could go to Damian and his friend but then what would be to point of even coming to this party.
She walked in the opposite direction of them heading to where there were drinks and probably some weed.
She brushed by some red head, and got the the table pouring something pink into her new cup.
“Wait you’re not from here are you?” That same redhead asked, seems like she had made her way back to Steph.
“I’m from Crim-“ Stephanie already felt like an outsider. “Central Gotham” She finished pouring her drink.
“I’m Josephine, but my friends call me Jo” The redhead, or Jo says taking the bottle of pink punch out of Stephanie hand.
“I vacation here, you should see me more.” Jo said placing the the half filled bottle to her lips and taking a sip of it.
Steph raised her eyebrow, taking a sip out of her cup.
“How could I do that?” She asked
“The debutante, everyone who vacations here has as to done.” Jo pauses, “Well expect that Wayne girl.”
“Cassandra?”
“You know here?”
“Know her I was here almost first-“
Then there’s a hand on Stephanie’s shoulder, a breath of strawberry wine escapes her lips.
The hand is soft, and familiar. The hands are Cassandras.
“Aren’t you suppose to be with Tim and Damian.” She says spinning Steph around, now they’re only inches away from each other face.
“I am.” Steph says pointing at the bond fire where Bernard and Tim legs were over lapping and taking sips from each others cups.
Until they saw Cassandra. Tim pushed Bernard off, standing up and shouting for Damian to go to the car.
“He’s already screwed, don’t worry.” Cassandra fixes Steph’s hair. “Bruce came home fifteen minutes ago, and from what I hear is that he’s tried contacting both you and Tim multiple times.”
Shit. She had turned her phone off to encourage herself to be more social able.
Stephanie stumbled with her phone and turning on. Her notifications popped so quickly that her phone almost felt like exploding.
Most of them from Bruce.
“I was trying to be more social-“ Stephanie felt her phone escape from her grasp. It was Jo.
She say Cassandra roll her eyes, “If you’re done here I suggest that you think of an excuse for the alcohol breath to Bruce.”
“I’m sure I will.” Stephanie whole idea for coming here was to prove she wasn’t just some kid. Steph was more than Cassandra’s kid brother’s best friend.
Jo had returned her phone sliding it into Stephanie’s back pocket before leaving.
Stephanie was too occupied with Cassandra, and the stupid way she could make Steph doubt herself in minutes.
“We should get to the car, i’m sure you don’t want to be more intoxicated for the long conversation.” She took Steph hand leading her to the gray jeep that Jason sat driver in.
The back was Damian, the girl he brought along, Ara, and Tim.
Both boys looking defeated and Ara texting away on her phone.
•••
“If we survive this I swear i’m gonna stop cheating.” Tim said fidgeting in Bruce’s home office.
Bruce couldn’t be too harsh on them right? He barley even liked Stephanie.
“Especially because he trusted you.”
Scratch that Bruce is about to hate her.
The door opened to the office, Bruce appeared his eyes begging to close and him still in semi formal wear.
Now Steph felt like an ass.
“You two.” He says approaching the back of the desk.
“You have exactly two minutes to explain why you weren’t where you promised to be. As well as sneaking out,” Bruce paused meeting Steph at eye level. “Underage drinking, and bringing a fourteen year old into the mix.”
“Fifteen.” Tim corrected failing from not rolling his eyes.
“He turned fifteen three weeks ago, so forgive me if i’m not use to it Timothy.”
Why was Tim setting them up like this.
Stephanie stood up clearing her throat.
“Mr.Wayne, It was totally unacceptable on our part to go behind your back,” She can’t keep eye contact.
She focus on the family portrait on the back. The length of Cassandra’s hair was much longer, she wasn’t wearing any make up as they pose in-front of the pool. You can see Jason threatening to push Bruce in as he ruffled the boys hair.
“You have every right to be mad, but we swear that nothing like this would happen again.” Stephanie’s voice was cracking by the end.
Bruce sighs, but his eyes softened looking at Tim.
“You two should go get some rest. They’re a long list of chores awaiting in the morning.”
Tim was quick to get up and drag Steph out that door. Until Bruce spoke again.
“Tim.”
“Yes?”
“I love you, and i’m gonna be here-“ Bruce pauses and Stephanie can feel the blue eyes burn her head.
“Goodnight, and love you both.”
Tim muttered and ‘love you’ and dragged her out before she could process the rest of the convo.
•••
Tim laid his head on the Stephanie’s purple pillow on the lower bunk.
“You know you’re lucky to have someone who can stand you like that.” Stephanie said folding clothes into the same suitcase.
“Stephanie you’re being dramatic, he doesn’t want you to leave over a silly mistake.” Tim replied looking like the personification of guilt.
“For you it’s a mistake. For me it’s Social Death, they’ll boot me out of Gotham Academy.” She replied with obvious sarcasm.
“He obviously hates me more than ever.” That wasn’t sarcasm.
There a sudden shadow at the door. It’s fucking Bruce.
“Stephanie.” He enters the room, before slowly bending down to Stephanie level.
Steph could burst into thousands of tears.
“I’m not going to kick you out of our house, or school because you did something wrong.” He places a hand on her shoulder. “You’re as important as anyone else in this house.”
Stephanie could feel the tears bubbling up, Bruce gently raised her to her feet and guided her to the purple bed As Tim scooted to the side. “There’s a reason why these sheets are purple instead of pearl white.”
Stephanie laid down on her own. All she wanted as this to end, to Bruce not to be this nice to someone who’s basically drooling over his daughter.
The lights turn off as Tim leaves to the top bunk and Bruce begins to leave.
“Goodnight, love both of you.” He says before slowly shutting the door.
Stephanie phone beeps after the click.
Cass <3:
You,Me and Tim have to practice a dance for the Birthday and the debutant if you want to make it.
Cass <3:
I also want to show you the stars.