2019-12-14 - Secondary Function

Summary:

Tim and Steph study at the library.

Log Info:

Storyteller: None
Date: Sat Dec 14 20:24:25 2019
Location: New York University

Related Logs

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Theme Song

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stephanie-browntim-drake

Tim often does his studying at home or in the Cave. There's more room for exotic multi-tasking. When he's in public, he can't mix study with Red Robin activities. He has to focus. This is probably why Steph has insisted they spend some time at the library.

So here they are, sitting together at NYU's library, each with study materials in front of them. Tim's is all digitised, some CAD programs up as he works through the bugs of his current engineering project. Every so often he frowns or fidgets, rolling his shoulders. He's not used to sitting still like this.


Meanwhile, Steph has history books and fabric samples and sketch pads strewn across her work space. For a few minutes, she doesnt say anyrhong a out the fidgeting, but finally she sighs and looks up. "You're so wiggly," is the gentle grouse, pink lips twitching in a gentle smirk.


Tim huffs. Of course she noticed; he was just wondering how long it would take for her to comment on it. "I don't usually sit still when I'm working on a problem like this," he says, his voice low. "I do pushups, or at least crunches or something." But it's Red Robin who keeps himself fit and kickass. Tim Drake is just some random heir boy.


Longer than usual? Stephanie tips her head to the side as she regards her boyfriend.
"Maybe pace a bit? We could move to one of the study rooms in the back?" she ogfers, unwittingly suggesting thw campus' library make out spot.


"In the back?" Tim tilts his head and peers in that direction… and then starts to blush. Yes, he knows what happens there. He'd noticed some Suspicious Activity and investigated there before, and then the people in question thought he just liked watching, and it was a whole thing. So he just blushes quietly for a moment, and then… "Sure."


It's Stephanie that knew it was a good place for privacy, but really never looked i to why. she had no reason to, so she left it be. unlike a curious little birdling. So, when tim agrees, Steph starts packing up.

"And maybe when we get there you can tell.me why you're blushing?"


Some would call Tim curious; some would call him a nosy little shit; some would call him vigilant. That's the one he prefers. He at least has enough control over his natural curiosity that he doesn't go guzzling cactus juice. Tim rises up and does his part to pack up. When she calls out the blush, he ducks his chin. "W-Well, other students here… they use that spot's privacy for, um, a different kind of workout." There's still a lot of heat and grunting. Just not so much muscle work.


There is a noticeable delay in Stephanie's response as she processes the reason he gives her. The moment she realizes it, her hands still and her cheeks go crimson.

"WeDontHaveToGoIfYouDontWantTo," she blurts out, shoulders tense, nerves up. Which is really stupid. They do live together… the option to take the relationship to the next level of intimacy is there. They just… havent yet.


A few makeout sessions do not an escalation make. Tim's cheeks burn brighter when she blurts out like that, and he lays a hand on her tensed-up shoulder. "It's not that! I do want to!" Pause. "…g-go there and study together, I mean. No reason not to use it for studying. It is still in the library. Anything else, that's… u-up to us, right?"


It strikes Stephanie, in that moment, just how much easier it seems to make out with Red Robin on a rooftop than suggest making out with her boyfriend in the library. Her shoulder softens even as her cheeks burn under his touch.

"R-r-right," she says, blue green eyes slide back to her hands. It shouldnt be as surpriaing as it is to see the tips of her fingers slightly white. She makes her hands relax, her shoulders smoothing out the final few degrees.

"Did.. you want to scout it out first? And I'll bring our things?" Because if it's taken…


Tim squeezes her shoulder, then his fingers move to pressing into little spots of tension. Dammit, he knows the weak points on her body far too well. That's what happens when you take Bat-level dedication and apply it to 'giving my girlfriend backrubs'. Phrasing it as 'scouting out' makes Tim relax, nodding his head. "Sure." It's not a risk of voyeurism. It's reconnoissance. So he moves on ahead, carrying his laptop. Moments later, there's a ping on Steph's phone. «The coast is clear.»


It is a miracle that Stephanie doesnt moan under the touch of his fingers. He knows her body too well. She is not complaining. Wel, maybe a little when he stops and pulls away. She collects herself, gathers their things, and when he texts, she makes her way over. Even as he said the coast was clear she too scans the area upon entering, setting everything down on the table.

"Hi." she greets, the bkush back.


It's a simple spot, though more casual than some of the study rooms. The table is lower, and rather than chairs there are a few bean bags. Bean bags which could each be big enough for two, if the two didn't mind sharing personal space. No wonder this spot has ended up with such a 'secondary function'.

Tim sits up straight at the edge of one of those bean bags, just finished plugging his laptop in as it sits on the table. "Hi," he says. "S-So, um. Study?" The 'or' is implied but not spoken.


The implication is not lost on Stephanie, evidenced by the way her blush deepens, reveals the faint dust of freckles that normally arent seen. Speechless, she nods, grabbiing a sketch book and a pencil, and making her way over to the bean bag. Gracefully she lowers herself to it, slumped into his side.


Sketch book. Sketch book means study. Tim nods, letting out a breath he'd been holding. "Right." He squeezes an arm around her shoulder. But he does shift slightly away: they'd moved to this room for a reason. He slides off the beanbag onto the floor, and starts doing crunches. At the apex of each, he's in reach of his laptop for a few seconds, and makes a few adjustments.

It's like the exercise gives him extra time to think, and gets the blood pumping more clearly, helping him to analyse the problem. He works out… while he works things out.


The sketchbook was meant to be a cover for the implied…! Stephanie manages not to huff. afterall, the reason for moving here was for him to ha e the privacy to work out they way he prefers. Stephanie settles in to sketch, half her attention on the choke point entrance to the study room, the other half on her boyfriend, who she ends up sketching instead of the design she was supposed to get done for class.


Tim is, of course, oblivious to the fact that she's sketching him. He's working the problem and he's exercising his body; that takes up the majority of his focus. Which means she gets the chance to see him while he's focused on something else, to see the analytical look almost glowing in his eyes. That's what sets him apart from most of the rest of the Family: his brain works almost like Bruce's, taking problems apart and coming up with scenarios and solutions. Other bats and birds may fight better or move better, but none of them think like him.


It is what drew her to him all those years ago, before she was able to put a name it what she felt. That intensity and intelligence in his gaze captured her as easily as the young Robin had caught the girl hoping to spoil her father's plans and get his attention. Of all the people she's met, Timothy Drake is a puzzle she loves studying and being studied by. It's rare moments like this where she can watch him, his 'guard' down. The only sounds in the small space are his breathing, his typing, and her pencil scraping across her paper.


You can't just do crunches all day long, though. You have to balance the muscle groups. So after a little while, Tim rolls forward, back to his feet, and starts doing squats there in front of his laptop. That keeps him in range for longer at a time, which suits his breakthrough: his fingers fly over the machine, putting components in place on the computer-assisted design.

And soon after, he finishes. He lets out a sigh and slumps back into the beanbag. He's breathing heavily, there's a little sweat shining on his skin. Anyone peeking in would think for sure they'd been using this room for its Secondary Function.


The blush on her face helps that impression. Steph sets her sketchbook aside, closing it on her pencil. Hesring his breathing, seeing that faint flush of exertion, Stephanie leans i to his side, fitting her shoulder under his arm and further suggesting why he's panting and she's only blushing.

"All done?" she asks, not meaning to be coy.


Tim sighs, his arm draping over her shoulders. He closes his eyes to just focus on the feeling of her there with him. Tim's focus is an intense thing sometimes. Especially when his eyes open again and he smiles at her. "Just need to do some prototyping later, make sure it all works like it should." His fingers tease at the edge of her hair. "How about you?"


She smiles in reply, one hand coming to rest on the center of his chest. It's where she can feel his heartbeat against her fi gertips.

"No. But it's okay," she replies, content and calmer than before.


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