Tim Drake oneshots

Unmasked

Fic: "Unmasked"

The night in Gotham was relentless, with rain pouring down in heavy sheets, making the city even darker than usual. Batwoman stood perched on the ledge of a crumbling building, her cape whipping in the wind as she scanned the street below. She’d tracked a gang of arms dealers to this part of the city, their hostage—a terrified woman—being dragged into a nearby alley.

I’ll have to move fast, she thought. The woman was clearly in danger, and these thugs wouldn’t hesitate to use her as leverage.

Without another second of hesitation, Batwoman launched herself from the rooftop, landing silently behind the group of armed men. They didn’t even know what hit them.

The first one went down with a swift kick to the head, his body slumping to the ground. The second turned in time to see her fist collide with his jaw, sending him spinning into the brick wall.

The woman—blonde, petite, dressed in a torn black dress—was huddled against the alley’s wall, her eyes wide with fear. Batwoman quickly dispatched the remaining thugs, her movements precise and efficient. Within seconds, the alley was quiet, the only sound the rain splashing against the pavement.

"You're safe now," Batwoman said, turning to the woman, offering her a gloved hand. "Come on, let’s get you out of here."

The woman hesitated, her eyes flickering nervously from Batwoman’s face to the fallen men around her. There was something odd about her posture, something... familiar.

"Are you hurt?" Batwoman asked, her eyes narrowing slightly. The woman’s breathing was uneven, but there didn’t seem to be any visible injuries. Still, there was something off. Too composed for someone who was just kidnapped.

"No, I’m fine," the woman replied, her voice soft and shaky. "Thank you for saving me."

Batwoman studied her carefully, then extended her hand again, waiting for the woman to take it. She watched the slight hesitation, the pause that didn’t quite match the fear she was projecting. Batwoman’s instincts were kicking in now—something wasn’t right here.

She tilted her head, her eyes narrowing as she took in the woman’s features. The blonde wig was a little too neat, the makeup a little too heavy, and there was something oddly familiar about her eyes.

"You’ve got to be kidding me..." Batwoman muttered under her breath.

The woman’s eyes widened slightly, her posture straightening, but not enough to give it away to someone who didn’t know better. Unfortunately for her, Batwoman did know better.

With a quick, smooth motion, Batwoman reached forward and yanked the blonde wig off the woman’s head. The bright locks fell away, revealing a mess of short, dark hair underneath.

"Tim?" Batwoman asked, her voice half incredulous, half amused.

The “woman” sighed deeply, his shoulders slumping as his disguise unraveled. "Damn it," Tim muttered, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I was really hoping that would last a bit longer."

Batwoman crossed her arms, glaring down at him. "Care to explain why you’re dressed like a damsel in distress?"

Tim glanced around at the unconscious thugs scattered around them, his eyes shifting back to Batwoman. "Long story," he said, giving her a small, embarrassed smile. "But let’s just say I needed to get some information, and... well, blending in was easier this way."

She raised an eyebrow. "Blending in as a kidnapped woman?"

"Hey," Tim said, standing up and brushing off his dress, "you’d be surprised how effective it is when no one expects it."

Batwoman shook her head, biting back a laugh. "You know, you could’ve just asked for backup instead of going undercover as Gotham’s latest victim."

Tim smirked. "And miss the chance to show off my acting skills? Come on, Kate, where’s the fun in that?"

Batwoman rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the grin that tugged at her lips. "You’re impossible, you know that?"

"I’ve been told," Tim replied, slipping the wig back into place and adjusting the dress with a theatrical flourish. "But hey, the mission was a success."

"You were almost dragged into a van," Batwoman deadpanned.

"Yeah, but almost is the key word there," Tim shot back. "I had it under control."

"Sure you did," she said with a smirk, nudging him with her elbow. "Let’s get out of here before someone else mistakes you for an actual victim."

Tim chuckled, giving one last glance around the alley. "Good idea. Besides, this dress isn’t exactly combat-friendly."

Batwoman shook her head as they moved out of the alley together, the rain still falling heavily. "You’re going to have a lot of explaining to do when Bruce finds out about this."

Tim winced. "Yeah, I’ll figure out how to spin that one later. But for now, let’s just keep this between us, okay?"

"Not a chance," she said with a grin. "This is too good not to share."

Tim groaned, but there was a playful light in his eyes. "Great. Just great."