Damsel | T. Drake ✔

[07]

Tim hadn't noticed the time as he was busy with a few assignments he had been tackling with the interns and was currently looking after the pending paperwork. Though when he finally wrapped it all up, he realized that it was way past off time and the last bus had left as well.

His car had been in need of a few repairs so unlike usual routine, he had taken the bus to come to Wayne Tech in the morning. And by then there wasn't any other option for him to go back.

His head was already throbbing as he hadn't had a single cup of coffee since afternoon, forgetting about it due to the intense workload. So the caffeine withdrawal had started to take hold of him as he felt twice more tired than usual.

Knowing that he didn't have the strength to walk all the way back to the Manor, he dialed Jason's number. After a few rings, he finally picked up. "Sup, Babybird?"

"Can you pick me up from Wayne Tech? Please?"

Jason paused for a moment, weighing out his options, "well... I can't."

"Why?"

"I'm unavailable," he replied vaguely.

Tim's tongue clicked in annoyance, "I can't call Dick because he will be on duty, otherwise I wouldn't have troubled you. Jay, please, I'll repay the favor anytime."

"What happened to your car?"

"I took the bus this morning."

"Then you should have left your office in time for the bus," Jay remarked, "look, I'm out on a date and I can't ditch it. Sorry not sorry."

"Jason..."

"I know you're pulling that pretty innocent look right now but if I left my girl at the restaurant to pick you up, people would think I'm an asshole."

Tim glanced at the clock, knowing that the later it got, the worse it would be for him, "you're already enough of an asshole for anyone to think otherwise."

"Go get some coffee because I can hear your withdrawal symptoms through the phone." Though Tim could overhear him talking to someone else, "sorry, love, it's just my douche of a brother. Of course not, he doesn't need any help whatsoever. He'll live."

"Is that Helena? Or are you hooking up with Roy and Kori again?"

"None of your business," Jay mumbled back, "look, Roy says he could pick you up but given his condition, I would recommend that he didn't. He's wasted."

Tim rolled his eyes, "no thanks, Mr Hoes before Bros. I'll walk back myself."

"And get some coffee on your way home or else you'll pass out somewhere in the city and end up getting abducted again."

"Stop pretending that you care," he disconnected the call before Jay could fire a retort back and packed up his stuff. Checking his office one last time to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything, he finally stepped out.

The roads were silent as he walked looking for the nearest cab station but given the time, he knew it would be rare if he found one. Luckily for him, the Manor wasn't very far but then thinking about Jay's warning, he decided to go to a coffee shop first just so he could come back to his normal state.

He had taken a short cut and was passing an alley when he felt as if he was being followed. He came to a halt abruptly and turned around to be met with a pistol pointed straight at his face. Tim's blue eyes flashed in irritation because unlike other people, he hadn't gotten scared to see a gun aimed at him. 

In fact he was pissed at that obstacle between him and the coffee shop.

"Empty your pockets, boy, or I'll put a bullet through your head," a gruff voice addressed him and he noticed that he had gotten surrounded by four other men as well.