Chapter Text
Who was more upset that Damian got transfered to both his brothers and Drake’s class, is up for debate.
It’s currently a tie between Bruce (due more to the reasons that got Damian kicked out of his previous two classes) and Damian himself, who hasn’t looked this put off since his father refused to buy him throwing knives at the age of five.
Jason is thrilled at the chance of having another spy in his enemie’s class.
Tim is wary and hoping that the rumors about the forth Wayne child are exaggerated. Greatly.
“I refuse to encourage your childish games with Drake.”
“Damian,” Jason wheedles. They’re currently in the teacher’s lounge as usual. Jason’s pretty sure Damian should be in class, but considering the fact he need’s his help, Jason’s not saying anything.
“I refuse.”
Jason pouts. “Fine. I bet you’ll help once you realize how much of an asshole he is.”
“Jason stop spreading lies.” Dick looks up from his conversation with Roy and Kori, the dance teacher. “Tim is about as far from asshole as you are from a respectable member of society.”
Kori laughs. “I’ve yet to meet Tim. My students talk of him much though.”
“He filled in for my class once, ever since the kids have jumped every time I so much as sneeze saying that I should go home sick.” Roy shakes his head. “I don’t know what he did, but my class loves him.”
“Lies, all of it. Tim is a horrible bitter shell of a human being.”
Damian clicks his tongue and stands. “I believe I’ve had enough of this talk. I’ll simply have to see what Drake is like for myself.”
His older brothers and their friends watch him leave.
“Now that kid is one bitter shell of a human being.”
Dick shrugs. “Yeah, lil bit. I blame it on all the dark roast coffee.”
***
Tim was nervous about having Damian in his class. He was kicked out of his previous English class for calling the teacher a dirty pig who can’t tell a comma from a period. And some other choice words that Tim still can’t tell if they’re made up by other students or actual quotes from Damian.
To be honest it could be either.
Whatever he did to get kicked out his prior Algebra class is unknown, but Mr. Perazzo is still on paid vacation. Tim didn’t even know the school had paid vacation.
The first bell rings signalling that students should begin heading to class.
Tim greets his students as they walk in and sit down at their desks.
Damian is one of the first to arrive.
He looks Tim up and down when he does. Tim has the distinct impression that he’s failed some test.
Which he probably has. Mr. Todd’s probably told his entire family about Tim.
Inwardly Tim sighs. He really hopes Damian isn’t going to be a problem child because of some feud his older brother has.
Nonetheless, Tim has a job to teach Damian. “There’s an open seat over there.”
“It’ll do,” Damian answers then strides over to the aforementioned seat.
Tim raises an eyebrow at that but says nothing.
The second bell rings. Class has begun, and now the real test begins.
Tim begins teaching, hoping for the best.
By the end of his lesson, Tim has come to two conclusions. 1) Damian is too smart for his own good (a phrase Tim’s own house keeper was fond of calling him when he was younger).
And 2) Damian is bored.
Tim can’t blame Damian for starting trouble, he should be in Algebra 2 at the least.
During the break between classes Tim begins planning a different, more advanced set of lessons for Damian. Hopefully those will keep him busy while Tim talks to a counselor about having him moved into a more advanced class.
Jason’s waiting for Damian, lucky him that Damian’s period after Tim is Jason’s class. He’s fresh from the front.
“Hello lovely brother of mine,” Jason sing songs, “How are you this fine day?”
Damian side steps Jason’s hug.
“Hello Todd, I still refuse to play part in your childish game.” Jason pouts like earlier.
“You’re no fun. At least tell me what you think of him.”
“I have no opinion of Drake at the moment, for the moment he is merely there.”
Jason grins. “The silent treatment then! Never thought about that. It must be tearing Tim apart! I’m proud of you kid! Now sit down squirt, we have English to learn.” ***
“It’s happening! It’s happening!” Wally screams. He teaches Biology next to Steph. Tim likes him.
“What’s happening? Wally why are you screaming?”
Steph looks concerned. “Did your water break? Oh my god Wally are you having a baby? Quick guys it’s time! Get me some warm wash rags and a tub of hot water!” “No, no, no Steph! Wayne’s here for his inspection”!”
Mr. Smith drops his coffee cup. It shatters on the floor. No one moves to pick it up.
The entire room is frozen, Tim is slightly scared at the immediate reaction just a name caused.
Steph breaks the spell. “So sugar daddy’s visiting early?” The other teacher’s move immediately, almost in a panic.
“I thought he was coming tomorrow?” “Oh god, Jane I need you to fill in for me! Of all the days for him to come it just had to be when I’m a mess! I need to go clean up!”
Soon the room is almost deserted as the others rush to fix themselves and their classrooms.
Only Steph, Tim, Dick, and Roy remain. Dick and Roy join Steph and Tim at their table. Thankfully Dick is wearing sweats and not the booty shorts he’s been rumored to wear. Tim’s still unsure about whether the rumors are true.
“I get being nervous that someone important is visiting, but really? It’s kind of insane how everyone reacted.”
Steph wags her finger at Tim. “Oh Timboy, you’ve been away from Gotham too long if you’ve forgotten the power and appeal held by Bruce Waye. And his children,” she winks at Dick who blows kisses back.
Roy gives Tim a questioning look.
“I studied in Europe the moment I turned sixteen and only came back last year,” he answers. Roy nods but doesn’t mention the other questions the answer brought up.
“Anyways,” Steph continues “Everyone wants to make a good impression. Bruce is still single and some teachers want to make an impression if you know what I’m saying. Me? I find his kids more interesting.”
Tim laughs. “We all know Cass owns your heart.” “Yeah, but Bruce damn that man,” she whistles her appreciation.
Dick shudders. “Could you not talk about my dad like that?” Steph sticks her tongue out. “Now you know how Damian feels when all his friends rave about your ass.”
Roy laughs and stands. He didn’t say much, it makes Tim worry that he doesn’t like Tim as much as the others. Which is ridiculous for Tim to worry about, he’s been unliked and hated before. Still the feeling lingers, why it does he no idea.
“I should probably go clean up my workshop. It’s kind of a mess.”
They wave goodbye to Roy, Tim stands too sighing.
“I suppose I should go manage my own classroom. Thanks for the coffee Steph. I don’t understand why there’s never any in the pot.”
Steph and Dick say goodbye, Dick’s amused.
They exchange a look once the door has shut behind Tim.
“Do you think we should him about Jason?” Steph shakes her head. “Naw. We just need to make sure that he gets coffee when he can. Jason told you about Tim attacking him I assume.” “Yeah,” Dick laughs “Jason deserved that.”
Steph laughs too. “He really did. Tim’s still avoiding him. But you know Jason. he’ll probably push it.”
“Hope he doesn’t do it while Bruce is visiting.”
***
The halls are silent, the students are actually doing their work, and Damian is still slouching in his seat but for once he’s not bored.
Tim has yet to run into Jason, he’d prefer to keep it that way.
Mr. Wayne had yet to visit Tim, and to be honest Tim was beginning to think that he had forgotten about him. It had happened before with people that held far more importance to Tim.
But that’s implausible. Tim teaches one of Mr. Wayne’s childen, and has a running fued with one of the others.
Someone raps on his door. Most of the students freeze looking up at the door. Mr. Wayne is here and the children know. Tim really hopes this isn’t one of those children sense evil things.
The door opens before Tim can reach it, Tim’s smile freezes on his face.
“Why howdly doodly there neighbor. Hope you don’t mind that I’m tagging along, principal Pru had something come up and needed someone to fill in as Bruce’s guide. Who better than his kid right?” Mr. Wayne walks in behind Tim. He’s handsome, tall, and muscular. Tim could see why the others would be in a fit over it. But right now having Mr. Wayne in his classroom means having Mr. Todd either, which is one trade off Tim never agreed to.
Mr. Wayne extends a hand to Tim, he shakes it.
“Hello Mr. Drake. Pleasure to meet you,” Mr. Wayne greets.
Tim remembers his words. “The pleasure is mine Mr. Wayne. Mr. Todd, if I may inquire, don’t you have a class right now?” A student in the back nods. She’s been on her phone live tweeting and snapchatting the moment there was a knock on the door. The entirety of the studnet body (and a fair amount of the faculty) are waiting for the next installment with baited breath.
“They’re in the library with Ms. Gordon working on a project.”
Tim nods cursing everything.
“There’s an open table back there if you would prefer to sit while I teach.”
Mr. Wayne nods and leads Jason to the table. Once seated he pulls out a notepad and a pen.
Tim begins saying what he was teaching earlier.
Mr. Wayne writes something on his notepad then slides it over to Jason when Tim’s back is turned.
So this is the one you’ve been talking about so much. He doesn’t seem too bad.
Jason rolls his eyes and scribbles something back.
Believe me, he’s a giant asshole.
Bruce’s eyebrows raise when he reads it.
He’s kind of cute.
Jason looks at Bruce with shock and disgust.
He is my mortal enemy who wants to see me destroyed, and you call him cute??!!!??!
Were the exclamations really necessary Jason? And besides you said the same thing about Roy and Sara.
Jason snorts on accident. Tim turns around eyeing them. Bruce waves him away smiling apologetically.
That has nothing to do with this. I’ve met more assholes that I’ve hated than assholes that I’ve dated. Besides, Sara and I don’t even talk anymore.
Bruce begins laughing. Tim turns around about to say something. Bruce starts coughing trying to hide his laughter.
“Sorry, had a tickle in my throat.”
Tim nods clearly unimpressed.
You know, he’s kind of adorable.
Jason glares at Bruce.
Normally you go for people who can beat you up, Tim doesn’t seem to fit that. Oh wait, wasn’t there that thing where he kicked your ass before you even knew what was happening.
The look on Jason’s face sends Bruce into loud guffaws.
Tim turns around clearly angry. There is ice in his tone and eyes. Despite the fact that Bruce is the one examing the school it feels as if it is he who is being examined. He has been found wanting by the look of Tim.
One student shivers. The entire room has grown colder with Tim’s emotions.
“Excuse you Mr. Wayne, but this is a classroom, my students are trying to learn a new topic and you are disrupting that.Leave.” Bruce stares in shock. Jason is both petrified and happy that finally his father will see Tim the way he does. A frigid asshole. He just never expected him to be cold because of his students.
Bruce nods. “My apologies. I hope this hasn’t left a bad impression.”
He stands to leave.
The entire school watches the student’s snapchat reading HOLY SHIT MR DRAKE JUST TOLD BRUCE WAYNE TGTFO amazed. No one’s acted that way before. But if anyone would and would get away with it, it would be Mr. Drake.
Jason follows Bruce out of the class. He closes the door behind him.
They begind to walk down the hall in silence.
Bruce turns to Jason.
“You know, now I see why you talk about him so much. He could kick your ass without lifting a finger. You always were a masochist.”
Bruce chuckles slightly and jumps out of Jason’s way. He begins speed walking away from Jason while laughing.