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Breaking News: Super Proposal Gone Wrong
Sources confirm an attack at Lex Corp's party last night. Kryptonian assailants including General Zod attacked and wounded Timothy Jackson Drake Wayne moments after Conner Luthor, heir to Lex Luthor, aka Superboy proposed. Sources report that Mr Drake Wayne, majority shareholder and CEO of Wayne Enterprises, is recovering in private with his new fiancé. We at the Cat Co Worldwide will keep you informed as we learn more about this developing situation.
My best wishes to the couple. Get better soon Tim.
Bruce frowned as he pulled up another article. Not even Cat Grant was willing/able to bring themselves to report what they all witnessed. Tim was dead.
Breaking New: General Zod, Scourge of Metropolis Dead
All assailants including General Zod were neutralized by Superboy upon recognition that his fiance Mr Drake Wayne had been attacked and seriously injured. While we at the Daily Planet do not condone murder we will make an exception in this case as Superboy’s actions were, in my personal opinion, an act of completely justified self defense.
We send our best wishes to the couple and pray for Mr Drake Wayne’s speedy recovery.
Bruce arched an eyebrow. Lois Lane of all people was defending murder? While surprising he understood where she was coming from. She viewed Conner as her son as much as she did Jon and it was likely killing her and Clark that they couldn’t help him. It was killing Bruce.
Opening another article he felt a silent tear slide down his cheek. A brilliant photo of Tim’s face as Conner proposed taken only a few moments before tragedy struck. Tim’s deep blue eyes glittered with unspent tears as he smiled at Conner on one knee the most perfect engagement ring for Tim visible in the shot. Silently he left himself a reminder to message Leslie for a copy of the photo as it was truly lovely.
The article accompanying the photo was decidedly less lovely. Though knowing Leslie’s distaste for Superman and fondness of Superboy and Tim it made sense that she would be upset with him personally. Yet even she refused to say Tim was dead instead alluding to him recovering in private like everyone else.
But he understood the reluctance to say what they all knew. Understood that saying it made it feel real in a way that it didn't yet. Was that because of how quickly it had all happened or because Superboy left with Tim's body without letting anyone get close Bruce wasn't sure. But their reluctance made sense. It hurt less this way.
What didn’t make sense was why he, and the rest of the immediate Wayne Family, had been called to Wayne Enterprise at 7 in the morning less than a week after Tim’s death. Of everyone in attendance Jason and Cass were the only ones who didn’t appear fully confused as to the reasoning behind this meeting. That being said even they were still visibly confused.
“Thank you all for coming in today” Lucious started as he entered the conference room with his daughter, Tim’s assistant?, Tam close behind. “As much as I wish I could postpone this meeting more per Tim’s contingency plan we cannot”
“What is this about Lucius” Dick asked his confusion making Bruce feel a little better. At least he wasn’t the only one genuinely in the dark.
“To ensure Wayne Enterprise and the various social projects Tim runs do not fall into disarray in his absence he has planned for each of you to take over the programs best suited to your skill set, personality, and schedule”
As Lucius spoke Tam handed various sized stacks of files to each individual at the table. Flipping through the top file Bruce skimmed what appeared to be an outline giving instructions regarding a food distribution organization.
“Each of your roles and all projects assigned have carefully constructed instructions written by Tim personally to ensure everything runs smoothly until he can return to us.”
There was a pause as they took in the how many files there were before them. The smallest file was at least an half inch thick while the biggest looked more like a book than a file.
“How many social projects does Wayne Enterprise run?” Duke asked incredulously. He knew Tim kept busy but this seemed ridiculous. Even for him.
“Hundreds” Tam replied flatly “these however are just the ones Tim manages directly. . .of which, not including the ones already being managed by Jason and Cassandra, there are 63”
“Tim manages 63 social projects directly?” Jason asked shocked. Since Bruce’s return from the time stream he had taken over a few smaller projects from Tim, specifically projects involving Crime Alley, but Tim had always made it seem like he only handled a few. If he had know he was handling so many he would’ve offered to help more. Would've gotten the rest of the family to help more.
“In addition to his responsibilities as Majority Shareholder and being a very active CEO yes, Tim runs 63 social projects directly.” She stood there silently observing the reactions of everyone present for a moment before continuing “and that’s not including his recently ended nightly activities”
A silence permeated the room as Tam’s words sunk in. Tim handled all of this in addition to actually running Wayne Enterprise and Vigilante work. And before this very moment none of them knew.
“How” Cass started pausing as she continued to consider the logistics of everything they had just learned “when sleep?”
Tam laughed. It wasn’t a mean laugh but it was empty. Like when you laugh because you don’t know how else to respond without hurting someone’s feelings. How you laugh when someone asks a question they already have the answer to.
“Up until a few months ago, he only slept if and when he passed out from exhaustion” she paused allowing the hushed whispers of concern for just a moment before continuing “about a year ago thougu, with Kon’s help, he started getting at about 3 to 5 hours of rest most nights and actually eating a real meal at least once a day”
“Tim eats” Dick countered his eyes stinging at the implications of her words. The implication that Tim only started getting any semblance of rest/nourishment after he retired from being Red Robin. After he moved out of the Manor only visiting on occasion.
“Prior to this last year how many times can you honestly say you’ve seen Tim eat anything of substance?” Lucius asked. He wasn’t being mean or accusatory but his words still stung “and I don’t mean seen him with food, I mean actually eat since taking over as CEO”
There was a pause at they all realized they couldn’t answer him. They couldn’t actually remember the last time they saw time eat prior to this last year. It’s quite possible none of them had ever seen it happen in literal years.
Then they remembered about six months ago when Tim came to visit the Manor with Conner. Alfred had commented on how he owed Conner for successfully getting Tim to start taking better care of himself. How his skin was no longer a ghastly pale for the first time in longer than anyone could remember.
“Why didn’t he say something?” Bruce asked his voice weak. They had failed Tim time and time again and yet despite all the chances he continued to give them they kept failing him. “was he that scared we wouldn’t help”
“He didn’t want to burden us” Jason replied silent tears falling down “he never wants to burden us because he’s afraid if he does we’ll stop caring”
“That’s not true Jay and you know it” Dick challenged openly crying as well. He and Tim were still trying to work on things post Bruce’s return but he had thought they were in a good place. Why would Tim think they'd stop caring? They would never stop caring.
“Todd is right” Damian countered slowly his face tight “we were openly dismissive of his struggles and repeatedly belittled his efforts in the past. He likely believed if we knew he was struggling we’d relapse and slip back into our old ways”
“How could he think that?” Dick cried not grasping what everyone else seemed to understand “he’s our brother and we love him, we would never-“
“But we have” Bruce cut him off looking more heartbroken and crestfallen than Dick had ever seen him “and just because he's forgiven us and we’ve been doing better this past year doesn’t change that fact.”
“but”
“It doesnt matter. He’s trusting us now. He’s trusting that we can keep his life together while he’s gone” Jason interrupted his voice sounding far more confident than he felt “and our first step in doing that is by making sure we do what he needs us to do without allowing our guilt to prevent us from doing so”
Everyone nodded in agreement all silently formulating various plans on how to prove to Tim that he can trust them upon his return as they began to read through the files assigned to them. They had faith Conner would bring Tim back to them.
Though, if Bruce was being honest, he did wish they had some clue as to where Conner had flown off to with Tim or an idea as to what he planned to do. Not even Clark had any idea where they were, which was rather concerning.
“Where’s my favorite baby bird” a voice positively purred appearing as if from no where. Bruce recognized the voice but for some reason the way she spoke short circuited his brain. That voice was never this friendly.
“Probably in a closet somewhere makin out with his hunky boy toy again” another voice replied with a thick accent between laughs “I can’t wait to see the ring, Cloney Boy said it was gorgeous enough to make Kitty jealous”
“As long as we don’t walk in on them doing more than that again I’m fine” the first speaker countered “as impressive as the sight was it wasn’t one I wanted or needed”
The laughter continued slowly increasing in volume until the speakers landed on the small balcony attached to the conference room.
What in the hell was Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn doing here?