A Little Faith

02: Love Coach

Tim Drake
Love Coach
    Tim sighed, he was definitely having a rough day. Alfred had picked up Tim from school, and hadn’t heard a word from the boy throughout the entire ride. Rachel was sipping a glass of champagne in the sitting area when Tim walked into the room.
    “Don’t you think it’s a little early to be drinking?” Tim said plopping down on the couch. Rachel placed the class down on a coaster. She and Dick had just turned 21, and both twins had been taking advantage of that… by raiding Bruce’s alcohol collection.
    “Yeah, but I’m not as crazy as Dick,” Rachel said sticking her tongue out the boy, “I don’t go out at night and go hooking up with ladies at the bar. I spend my time patrolling.” she put her feet up on the footrest and got comfortable in the chair. She looked over at Tim as he lay across the couch. Tim’s expression seemed to be a little grim. “What happened?” she asked looking at him.
    Tim sighed, “Stephanie and I got into a fight.”
    Rachel snorted, “Oh, Tim’s first time with girl trouble.” Tim glared at her as she chuckled, “Alright, what was the fight about?” She knew that Tim would need some advice.
    Sitting up, Tim raised an eyebrow, “Since when did Rachel Grayson become a love guru?”
    Rachel rolled her eyes, “I’m a girl, doofus. I make the perfect love guru for you, because I know how girls think.” she crossed her arms over her chest and gave Tim a stern look, “So what happened between you two?”
    Another sigh came from Tim, “She wants to know why I’m leaving in the middle of dates.” He and Stephanie had been dating for a few months now, and it didn’t surprise Rachel all that much that the girl was finally starting to notice how Tim would disappear. “And obviously I can’t tell her why,” Tim groaned flopping back onto the couch.
    “Then I’ll take your patrols whenever you have dates,” Rachel stated, “It’s better than lying.” Tim looked at her again a little shocked. Rachel was a kind person, but she also had a busy life too. Rachel had taken on the role of being Bruce’s possible business heir, and was very active in Wayne Enterprise operations. And she still managed to patrol with at least Batman or one of the boys at night.
    “Are you sure?” Tim asked.
    “Yeah,” Rachel said, “You deserve to be a kid once in awhile, Tim-Tam.” Tim frowned at the name of the Australian cookie. Rachel had been calling him that for years now… and it reminded him of how she and Dick would pick on him. Rachel snorted and then glanced at her glass of champagne. Their conversation was finished for the day.
    A few nights later, Tim and Stephanie were on the way back from the movies. They were walking hand in hand down the sidewalk when tires screeched. Tim barely had time to register what was going on, but when he heard the screams and gunshots, he pushed Stephanie to the ground and covered her as bullets shattered the glass of restaurants and storefronts. He looked up to see Nightwing and Nightingale on their matching motorcycles chase the shooter’s car. He sat up more seeing Dick and Rachel race off.
    Tim was supposed to be partnered with Dick that night, and Stephanie would have probably been here with one of her friends instead of him. Then, he would have been worried about her, but instead he knew she was safe.
    As the two teens stood in front of Stephanie’s door, Stephanie smiled sweetly at her boyfriend, “Thanks for walking me back to my place.”
    “Why wouldn’t I walk you back?” Tim grinned, “I need to make sure you’re safe.”
    “Which you definitely did tonight,” Stephanie said leaning closer to him. She pecked his lips and held his hands tightly, “Thank you for being my hero tonight.” Stephanie then turned around and opened the door to her house as Tim had a lovesick grin on his face.
    He definitely had to thank Rachel later that night.