Fic: Blood and Family (1/?). Hella lot of Bats. PG-13
Title: Blood and Family 1/?
Author: shananagin
Claim: Supporting characters
Characters/Pairing: Barbara/Ted, Cass, Steph, Bruce, Dick, Jason, Tim/Bernard, mentions of Dick/Barbara.
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1700
Prompt: For dcu_freeforall: 38. Hypnotism. For au_abc: Vampires. For wtf27: 12. Fantasy AU (urban).
Summary: Bruce, Jason, Dick, Tim are vampires. Cass, Steph, Barbara are slayers. Ted and Bernard are romantic interests. A lot of stuff happens.
Author's Notes/Warnings: For cissie_king who asked for "Steph & Cass, vampire hunters in AU Gotham City. Double points if they hunt Batman" when I wanted prompts for my wtf27 table. Also for unrequited_rain who didn't believe me that Tim/Bernard was more awesome than her so-called amazing bandom AU fic. To her, I say ha! Also, thanks to musicianatheart who stepped up to beta as my usual beta has gone missing. She's awesome!



"Steph, Cass, do you have stakes, holy water, everything?"

"Duh," Steph said. "We've been doing this for a while, Babs."

"You have to be careful," Barbara said. "Really. I know you've been doing this for a long time, but they've been doing it for longer!"

"Wish you could come with us," Steph said. "Then you could see how totally prepared for this we are."

"You know I can't," Barbara said. "But I'm practically with you. And I do know you're good. I hope you're good enough."

"I know," Steph said. She tapped her earpiece. "All seeing, all knowing Oracle. Our esteemed Watcher."

"Right," Barbara said dryly. "Ready, Cass?"

Cass nodded.

Barbara walked over to her computer screen and pulled up a picture. "Jonathan Crane's been seen in a graveyard in South Gotham. You should be able to slay him pretty easily."

"If he doesn't run away again," Steph said. "Such a coward."

"Don't underestimate him," Barbara said. "He shouldn't be hard, but there's always the chance he got better."

"Loosen up!" Steph said. "Motorcycles downstairs like always?"

"Of course," Barbara said. "Good luck, girls."

Barbara watched them go, Steph chattering happily to Cass, who listened patiently. Cass was known as the silent slayer in their circles. She could talk, but she almost never did. Steph didn't have a cute nickname, but she was quickly becoming one of the best slayers in the business.

Barbara had been the best, back in her day, but her time was up. Bruce Wayne, the oldest, most feared vampire possibly in the world, had caught her and given her to his first son, Dick Grayson.

As long as she was apart from them, they couldn't give her orders, and she was free. But she couldn't go out and fight anymore. If Wayne or Grayson gave her an order, she'd obey without question.

"Hey, are the girls gone?" Ted asked, poking his head into the control room.

"Yes, though I don't know why you didn't want to come out earlier," Barbara said. "It isn't really scandalous for you to crash on my couch."

"But our secret affair! No one must know!" Ted said.

Barbara rolled her eyes. "Come on, Ted. Do you think we'll crack it today?"

"We're getting closer every day," he said.

"Good," Barbara said. "I want this curse gone. I want to kill the vampires who did this to me."



"Crane's in our territory," Bruce said, crouched on a gargoyle.

"That scarecrow?" Jason shrugged. "I can take care of him."

Bruce nodded approvingly. "Good." He turned to Dick. "You seem upset. You haven't been feeding enough."

Dick sighed. "I've just…I don't know. Haven't felt like it."

"Moping over Miss Gordon, huh?" Jason asked.

Dick just scowled.

"Hey, leave him alone!" Tim said.

Bruce nodded. "It's a shame she escaped you, Dick. Have you figured out how she did it yet? It shouldn't be possible."

"I know," Dick said quietly. "Human servants are bound to do what their masters tell them. Maybe it's because she's a slayer. Had some kind of trick?"

"No, slayers are normal humans without their weapons and training," Bruce said. "And she still is a human servant. I can still feel her."

"So order her to come back!" Jason said.

"She has to be able to hear the order," Tim said. "That's how it works, right?"

Bruce nodded. "If either Dick or I were to meet her, we could get her back."

"Yeah," Dick said quietly. "But she's smart. She'll stay away."

"Anyway, when do the rest of us get human servants, huh?" Jason asked. "You got Alfred, Dick lost Barbara, what about me and Timmy?"

"Stephanie and Cassandra," Bruce said. "From what I've seen of their styles, I think Barbara trained them. I was thinking Cassandra for Jason and Steph for Tim."

Tim smiled. "Thanks, Bruce. She seems perfect. Can I go feed?"

Bruce nodded and watched Tim leap down to the street. He loved all his sons, of course, but there was something about Tim. Somehow, he'd managed to keep his innocence and happiness despite the terrors they experienced daily. That was rare.

It probably helped that Dick and Jason were fiercely protective of him. They did their best to shield him from the worst the Gotham underworld had to offer. Bruce was glad of it. He'd hate to see Tim corrupted.

"I'll go take care of Crane, now," Jason said.

"Go," Bruce said.

Dick was still looking off in the distance longingly.

"Cassandra and Stephanie can help us get your Barbara back," Bruce said.

"Great," Dick said quietly. "Thanks."

Bruce squeezed his shoulder. "It'll be all right, Dick," he said.

Dick looked at him and smiled weakly. "Thanks," he said again.



Tim waited until he was out of sight before switching directions abruptly. He preferred Bruce not to know where he was going. Bruce wouldn't approve of him having the same meal as often as he did, but Bruce wouldn't approve of a lot of the things Tim did, if he knew.

He knocked and leaned casually on the door frame. He needed an invite. It was annoying, but not difficult to get.

Bernard opened the door, and Tim grinned. "Hey," he said.

"Hi, Alvin," Bernard said. He stepped back. It wasn't a clear enough invite.

"Can I come in?" Tim asked.

"Yes, of course. You don't have to ask every time, you know," Bernard said.

"I do," Tim said, smiling as he stepped into Bernard's house.

"So polite," Bernard said. "My mother's not home. I'm cooking dinner. How do you like your steak?"

"Rare," Tim said. "Still alive if possible."

Bernard laughed uneasily and went into the kitchen.

Tim wasn't there for steak, and they both knew it. Still, Tim was happy to follow niceties. He had plans for Bernard.

Plans that didn't necessarily need for Bernard to be gasping and shuddering against Tim in Bernard's bed, but it was amazing how much easier it was to feed on someone when you slept with them. Tim had been feeding off Bernard for weeks and Bernard still hadn't figured it out.

When they'd finished, Bernard curled against Tim.

"Are you going to leave again?" he mumbled sleepily. "You always leave."

"Maybe," Tim said. "Do you want me to?"

Bernard shook his head. "Stay," he begged.

"I could stay forever," Tim whispered. "We could be like this always. You and me. For eternity. Would you like that?"

Bernard looked up at Tim, eyes wide. "Are you proposing to me? We're teenagers!"

Tim had been seventeen for a very long time. It was one of the many reasons he resented Bruce.

"You know as well as I we're mature enough to make these kinds of decisions," Tim said. "But no, I'm not asking to marry you. I'm asking if you'd like to stay with me forever. Just like this."

"There's so much I don't know about you, Alvin," Bernard said quietly.

"My name is Tim."

"Tim?"

Tim smiled. "Now you know more about me than anyone I've been involved with before."

"So paranoid," Bernard said.

"I could open up to you completely. Tell you everything. Why I never visit you during the day, why I wait for you to invite me in, everything. But if I did, there would be no going back."

"I want that," Bernard said.

"And you'd stay with me? No matter what?"

"Of course I'd stay with you. I love you." Bernard gave a half laugh. "Isn't that pathetic? We've known each other for so little time."

Tim smiled. "Not at all. I think I could come to love you."

"Really?"

"Mmm." Tim stuck his thumb in his mouth and broke the skin with his fang. Then he offered it to Bernard.

"Al – Tim, you're bleeding," Bernard said.

Tim nodded. "Taste it."

Bernard glanced at him, confused. "That's…that's weird. Is this where you tell me you've got some weird blood kink?"

"Please, I just need you to do this once." Tim kissed Bernard's forehead. "Trust me."

Bernard still seemed hesitant, but he didn't resist as Tim pushed his thumb into his mouth.

Tim didn't let him have much. He didn't want to turn Bernard, after all. He pulled his thumb away. The cut was almost gone, anyway.

Bernard's breath caught. "Tim," he said. "What have you done to me?"

"Given you eternal life. And eternal youth."

"What?"

"Bernard, I'm a vampire," Tim said.

"Impossible," Bernard said. "Vampires don’t exist."

"You know how you always feel lightheaded after we're done?"

"I thought that was because it was just that good."

Tim smirked. "I am good. But that's not why. I've been feeding off of you. Not a lot."

"So, what, am I a vampire too now?" Bernard asked. "That is how this works, right?"

"No, that wouldn't serve either of us," Tim said. "You're still mostly human. Just…a human servant. You'll live as long as I do if you're not killed, but you do have to do my bidding."

"That's ridiculous."

"Touch your nose," Tim ordered.

Bernard did it.

Tim smirked.

"What?" Bernard looked hurt. "So I'm just…what, your slave?"

"Honestly? I didn't make the rules for this thing. I do need…someone. I can't go out in daylight, and I've got plans. But if you're not willing, I'm not going to force you." Tim rubbed Bernard's back soothingly. "I need someone I can trust. Please, Bernard, will you help me?" A request, not an order. "I'll answer all of your questions, tell you everything. You can tell me if you don’t want to do something, I swear."

"And if I say no?"

"You'll never see me again."

Bernard was quiet for a moment. "Okay," he said, finally.

Tim smiled and continued petting Bernard until he fell asleep. This time, Tim would still be there in the morning.

Bruce was the oldest of them all and very good at what he did, but he was wrong about some things. Tim knew exactly how Barbara had escaped. An unwilling human servant, especially a clever one, was not worth the effort.

Bruce was old-fashioned and outdated. Tim had plans. Bruce stood in the way of those plans.

It was very simple. Bruce would have to die.


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