DC Comics Imagines

Milkshakes - Tim Drake x Reader

Summary: Your feelings for Tim feel unrequited until he confesses to you.

Word Count: 1606                                                                                                                                        

Warnings: The beginning is loaded with angst, and then at the end KABOOM! Fluff everywhere!

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"I want him to see the flowers in my eyes and hear the songs in my hands."
― Francesca Lia Block, Dangerous Angels

The Wayne Charity Ball was one of your favorite events of the whole year. Wealthy businessmen with suits more expensive than your annual paycheck, delicate handmade pastries, and the polite chatter replaced with glares when backs turned - but it was the little things that made it the highlight of the winter.
Every year, during the ball, you and Tim would sneak out of the gala with your fancy dress and Tim in his tux to go to one of your favorite places in Gotham, Angela's Diner. It was an escape away from the dangerous life you both lived at night - and Tim found a way to spend time with you without his brothers hovering over the two of you. For 5 hours, you and Tim were just yourselves - and it was the best sensation. Life just felt right in those moments with him.
Your half a decade-long tradition had started when you had first met Tim at the age of nine. Any nine years would have died of boredom at the galas - and luckily, you and Tim found each other.
Except that tradition seemed to be no longer yours.
You had been waiting outside in the garden of the Manor, after escaping the dense crowd of the ballroom. You knew it was difficult to leave, but it had been nearly an hour. You recalled how Tim had promised to meet you there, a smirk on his face. "You know I'll be there, (Y/N)." Tim had said. "I just have to socialize so Bruce can forget about me." You'd laughed, remembering all the happy moment's you two had shared at Angela's, together. You hoped Tim felt the same contentment you did when he looked back at the memories.
When Tim finally arrived, it seemed your hoped were wrong.
"Hey (Y/N)! Sorry to keep you waiting. I'd like you to meet Cassie."
Cassandra Sandsmark, daughter of Zeus. Current Wonder Girl. Was most definitely the girl who turned head's everywhere she went. Strong. Intelligent. Bold. Beautiful.
Would anyone ever see that in you?
You glanced and put on your best poker face. "Hi, nice to meet you. I'm (Y/N)."
Tim and Cassie glanced at each other, then back at you. You suddenly noticed they were holding hands.
"So, where to?" Cassie asked, tilting her head to you, but her eyes never left Tim's.
Her words barely even got past you, as you slowly began to piece everything together. You had dedicated so much time to this boy, and now...
Holding back tears, you tried not to let your lip quiver as you spoke as confidently as your shattered heart would allow you to. "Tim, I'm...going back in." As much as the hurt look on Tim's face was a pain to see, you couldn't afford to be selfless anymore; for your sake.
You turned to Cassie and shook your hand as gently as you could, internally cringing at how firm her grip was. "I'm sorry we had to meet like this," you mumbled and ran back into the manor and farther into your sorrows, pitying yourself every step of the way.

Getting over Tim had been one of your greatest hurdles yet. Every day you looked around for a friend to stand with you against the world; to remind you not to let a boy get in your way. It was a stab to the heart knowing that Tim had been your only friend. You just couldn't understand what was missing from the bond that had held you and Tim together for so long.
You layed in bed, thinking about all the things you could have done with your life. The if only's had progressed over the days, making your regret almost unbearable.
A buzz from your nightstand quickly disapparated your thoughts. You stiffened, knowing who had sent a text message at this hour. You couldn't help but pick up your phone.
Tim: Meet me at Angela's in 20 minutes. We need to talk.
You scoffed. Damn right, you thought as you automatically got out of bed. What the hell were you doing?
You sighed as you got dressed, constantly weakly reassuring yourself how you were too good for him. You were throwing your emotions into dangerous territory.

Tim drummed his finger's on the table as he anxiously waited for your arrival. He hadn't understood what had gone wrong and was too whipped for you to let this take over his mind any longer. Bruce had not been pleased when something as simple as a misunderstanding had influenced Tim's usual attention toward cases.

Tim tensed and popped his head up when he heard the bell ring as the door opened. His heart nearly burst when you walked in with grace. The aura around you made it seem as if he was watching an angel soar.
Tim cleared his throat and weakly called out your name. His already growing anxiety soared when you swung your head in his direction and scrunched your eyebrows together, clearly displeased. Hesitantly, you strode across the diner, stopping at Tim's table and crossed your arms.
Tim almost died when he looked up at you and saw your red eyes and blotchy face: all because of how thoughtless he had been the other night. You huffed, clearly impatient, dragging Tim out of his thoughts.
Tim nodded his head toward the seat in the booth across from him. "You might want to, um, sit."
You rolled your eyes as you slid in, careful not to touch Tim's legs with your own. Tim took a deep breath and tried to calm his pounding heart by pretending he had never messed up. "Do you want anything to eat? I already ordered our usual order, chocolate milkshakes."
Tim crossed his fingers as your lips twitched just the slightest.

Your lips...

You leaned back in your seat and finally spoke. "Why don't you just tell me why you asked me to come to Angela's at 2 in the morning? And please, don't waste my time and stick to the truth." With the way Tim was looking at you, staying cross was becoming more difficult by the seconds.

Tim nodded. "Right," he began. "(Y/N), I didn't mean to ruin our special night by bringing Cassie along without your permission. Cassie, she's been through a lot, and she means so much to me. I've been trying to get her to smile forever, and I miss when she used to be happy."
You shook as you felt a familiar tightness in your throat. The hope you had felt before you had entered the diner vanished as you accepted that you would only ever be the girl that would watch Tim fall in and out of love, but never with you. Tell me, you thought. Tell me how perfect she is, how she lights up your world, how you much you love her...
"It's been hard for her ever since Kon-el passed away... I mean, they both were in love and.." Tim paused as you gasped and leaned forward, slack-jawed. "You're dating a girl whose lover just died?" You sputtered, disgusted. "Tim, as your best friend, I'm telling you that that's unacceptable. It's - that's just so wrong!"
Tim's eyes widened as he furiously shook his head. "What? No! (Y/N), Cassie and I are not dating! I'm just, trying to be a better friend." he revealed.
You leaned back in your seat, inhaling the breath you realized you had been holding. Tim took in your dazed expression, his emotions hanging on a thread. "(Y/N), I came here to talk because I've been thinking about us." he began, focusing on your eyes gazing back at him. "And I think because I can't stop thinking about you, that we should..." Tim's eyes trailed back down to your lips, as they began to twitch again.
You laughed as you understood what Tim was trying to get at. "Only if I get to hear you say it," you promised, eyebrows raised. Tim's shot up as well as if to say challenge accepted.
"(Y/N) (L/N), I'm in love with you."

You choked, laughing. "Tim, what do you mean?" You snorted, only to instantly regret it as you saw Tim's face fall. Realizing he was serious, you smiled as you suddenly felt lightheaded and electrified. "What I meant to say is that I'm, flattered. I mean, I've had feelings for you for quite a while but hearing this from you," you looked up, grinning at Tim's giddy expression, "means everything."

Tim slowly leaned forward, putting his mouth near your ear.
"(Y/N)," he whispered, tilting your chin toward his and entangling his fingers in your hair, and then you were kissing. He brushed his lips against yours softly at first, and then with a swift gradation of intensity that made you want him as if he was the only real thing in a dizzy swaying world. His insistent mouth was parting your shaking lips, sending wild tremors along your nerves, evoking sensations you had never known you could feel. And before a swimming giddiness sent your head spinning round and round, you knew that you were kissing him back.
"Two chocolate milkshakes," the waitress announced, bringing you back from your utopia. Tim blushed as the waitress chuckled, setting down your milkshakes in front of you. Sometimes the best day's are the ones you wait for.