Reading Time:
8 Minutes
Janet Drake was the only one who knew that her son wasn’t Jack’s but Tony Stark’s. On Tim’s 18th birthday or if her or Tony’s death happens before that, Janet has ensured that the truth will come out. Janet has passed away, and now Tim learns who his dad really is. With the newly formed Avengers butting heads with the Justice League, Tim is now dealing with the fallout of who his real dad is, struggling to be Robin and keeping that under wraps from his real dad, juggling what he and Young Justice get up to. Tony and Bruce butt heads as both try to be the dad Tim deserves to be, and what does Thor mean Tim and his friends are considered great heroes within the Galaxy?
I’m a rolling thunder, pouring rain
I’m coming on like a hurricane
My lightning’s flashing across the sky
You’re only young, but you’re gonna die
The sound of AC/DC Hells Bells filled the lab as Tony lost himself in the music as he worked on his latest project.
“Sir, I hate to disturb you, but there is something that I think you need to know.” JARVIS cut off the music as he placed an article from Gotham City on one of Tony’s many monitors.
“This better be important, JARVIS,” Tony grumbled. He saved what he had been working on, and his eyes flickered to the screen, and he froze.
Janet Drake Dead
The words seemed wrong to Tony; there was no way that this could be true.
The woman who had taken Gotham Elite by storm, reminding everyone that a woman was just as capable as a man in running a company, has died. As it was reported earlier, Janet Drake, along with her husband Jack Drake, had been kidnapped. Janet was pronounced dead on arrival. From what we have learned, poison her husband, Jack, is in a coma on life support, and it is unclear if he will ever awaken. At this point, it is unsure of what will become of their son and heir, Tim Drake. Stay tuned for updates as this story unfolds.
Tony found himself stepping back. He couldn’t believe what he was reading. Janet was dead.
“JARVIS, I need to know everything that happened. And I need to know where Tim Drake is.” Tony ordered.
“Right away, sir.”
Running a hand down the side of his face, Tony could only remember the woman who had captured his attention the first time they met. Her passion and her command of the business world had drawn him in like a moth to a flame. He had been wild back then, before he had been kidnapped and became Iron Man. She had been unlike any other woman he had met at that time.
Janet Drake was ice, and she went after what she wanted, and she had wanted him. He wanted her just as much. Their relationship had been brief; it was clear that Jack wasn’t who Janet wanted, but he had the money she needed to take the business world by storm. He had only met Tim once, at the only gala he had ever attended in Gotham; it wasn’t to his taste, and he couldn’t stand Bruce Wayne. He had been blown away by how smart the young boy at five had been.
Tony was bored; he hated that he had to be here, but Obadiah refused to let him back out of this. Obadiah was determined to see if they could create a deal between them at Wayne Enterprise.
“Excuse me, Mr. Stark.”
A soft no louder than a whisper drew Tony’s attention down to the little boy who had somehow appeared at his side. “Yes, can I help you…um.” Tony trailed off, uncertain of the young boy’s name.
“I am Timothy Drake, sir.” Tim introduced himself, holding out his small hand to Tony.
Bending down, Tony shook his hand. “Is your mother by any chance Janet Drake?” He could see Janet in the boy with his eyes; they were just like Janet’s, but he couldn’t see much of Jack in him.
Tim nodded his head, “She is my mother. My mom wanted me to bring you to her; she wants to talk to you.”
Before Tony could ask Tim where his mother was, gunfire filled the air as the gala was attacked by Scarcrow that evening.
“Sir, I have the information you have requested. Tim Drake is currently under the care of Bruce Wayne.” JARVIS’s voice broke Tony from his thoughts; he never did learn what Jarent wanted him to talk to him about that night.
A disgruntled look appeared on Tony’s face. He tried not to judge people; it wasn’t his place, given his own history, but Wayne was an airhead, but given the state of corruption and crime in Gotham, he guessed for now it was best that Tim be with Wayne. He cared about the children in his care and would protect Tim and not try to use him just for his money.
“Keep me updated about what is happening in Gotham,” Tony ordered.
+******+
Gotham
Tim still couldn’t believe it; there could be no way that his mother was dead. Janet Drake seemed untouchable; she wasn’t someone who should die from poison.
“Tim, are you okay?” Dick asked as he joined Tim on his bed and wrapped his arm around Tim’s shoulders. He knew what Tim was going through. Tim wasn’t close to his parents, but he loved them and losing them like this was going to leave a scar that would never really heal.
“I’m numb. I don’t know how to really feel, Dick. I always believed that my mom was untouchable; she had taken on Gotham’s elite and come out on top. I thought that my dad would go before her. It feels wrong that she is gone. I can’t even remember the last time I saw her; she hasn’t been in Gotham for months. My dad is in the hospital, and looking at him, I can’t remember the last thing I said to him. And the worst part of this all is I wish it were my mom who was in the coma and not my dad.” Tim hated himself for admitting that, but it was the truth.
“Oh, Timmy,” Dick hugged Tim tighter. “I understand, I would never think the worst of you. You loved them both in different ways. You are allowed to grieve for your mom and ask no demand to know why she was the one taken from you. I could never hate you or think the worst of you.”
Slowly, Tim wrapped his arms around his brother, “Thank you, Dick, I needed to hear that, and thank you for being here for me.”
Pressing a kiss on the top of Tim’s head, “I will always be here for you, Tim. Alfred has already informed Bruce that he isn’t allowed to stop your friends from coming to visit. He has begun making sure we have enough food to feed a speedster.”
A laugh escaped Tim, one that turned into a sob, and despite trying to hold it in, Tim soon found himself crying.
“It’s okay, Tim, just let it out.” Dick urged as he rocked his little brother back and forth.
+******+
Two Days Later
Steve had noticed a change in Tony; he didn’t want to push the other man into talking about something he wasn’t ready to.
“Sir, you might want to pay attention to the screen,” JARVIS ordered.
Unless it was an emergency, JARVIS rarely interrupted them when they were planning out a mission.
Turning to the screens, Tony could only stare at the video waiting to be played. “Play it, JARVIS.”
“Tony, if you are watching this, it means that I am dead. And the secret that I have kept hidden for years is ready for me to reveal to you. Tim is your son. If you don’t believe me, which I understand if you don’t, after all, how many women have come forward claiming to have had your child? But I don’t lie, and I wouldn’t lie about this unless it suited me, and it does. Tim is my only heir, which means he gains everything I have left behind, and it means he would gain everything you have since he is your only child. Timothy is the only heir to the Drake and the Stark fortunes. I didn’t tell you earlier because, honestly, I needed Jack; I needed him to give me the lifestyle and the money I needed to build my own empire in Gotham, which I have. I cared about you, Tony, but once I realized I was with child, I couldn’t let you or Jack know the truth. So I broke things off with you and made Jack believe that Tim was his son. I think in some ways, Jack knew the truth, given the way he never warmed up to Tim. He can’t do anything about it. I left everything I owned in Tim’s name, and since I own the most shares in Drake Inc, those passed onto Tim. I wasn’t the greatest of mothers to our son. I have seen how you have changed, so take care of our son.”
Tony could only stare.
“JARVIS, ready the jet we are going to Gotham.”
Steve’s voice pulled Tony out of his shock. Tony could only stare at Steve. “We have your back, Tony,” Steve promised.
+******+
Tim hadn’t known what to expect when his mother’s lawyer had given him a video his mom had made especially for him. He had asked his team and Dick to be there with him as he played it.
“Timothy, if you are watching this, it means that I am no longer with you. I had hoped I would have been able to tell you the truth when you reached 18, but it seemed fate had different plans for me. You are the best thing that has happened to me. I know I didn’t show you how much you mean to me, and I am sorry about that. Tim, Jack is not your biological father. Your real dad is Tony Stark. Tony and I had a brief affair. I can’t say that I regretted it because it gave me you. But Tony was at a time when he wasn’t ready to be a father and give the world we live in, if the truth got out, I would lose everything I had worked for. So I made a plan, I would tell you when you turned 18 and let you decide what you wanted to do from that point on. I sent a video to Tony as well so that he knows the truth. You are my only child as well as Tony’s, which makes you the heir to both the Drake and Stark fortune. I didn’t say this enough, Timothy, but I do love you.”
After the video ended, silence filled the room.
“Dude, your dad is Iron Man!” There was no missing the excitement in Bart’s voice.
“As in co-leader and backer of the Avengers, whom the Justice League don’t truly trust, and Batman, who completely distrusts him,” Dick added. Bruce had given him and Tim a PowerPoint full of reasons as to why they shouldn’t trust them, along with all their weakness.
“Tim?” Kon asked softly as he rested a hand on Tim’s shoulder.
Blinking, Tim looked into the eyes of his boyfriend. “My dad is Tony Stark, someone I have always admired. I don’t know what to do.”
