Fic: Life in Manchester 3/3. Bart/Tim. PG.

[museofspeed]

Title: Life in Manchester 3/3
Fandom: DCU
Characters: Bart/Tim, Kon, Steph, Carol, Preston, Max Mercury, White Lightning.
Prompt: fanfic100: 68. Lightning. wtf27: High School AU. au_abc: School. dcu_freeforall: 44. control over chemical composition.
Word Count: 2240
Rating: PG
Summary: Bart enjoys a movie, Kon and Steph are helpful, and Tim is a Boy Hostage.
Author's Notes: Yay, last part of Life in Manchester! Thanks to julius12 for the beta like always! In case you're wandering around lost, here's the first part and the second part. Also, apologies to Joss Whedon.



"That was so good!" Bart said as they walked out of the theater. "I loved the girl who was all, like, not a stereotype! And I love how they totally found love at that weird place! Do those things actually exist? What kinda idiot would think those work?"

Carol and Tim looked at each other, completely bemused. They hadn't expected the movie to work this well.

"Yeah, it was really funny," Preston said. He looked at Carol and Tim. "What'd you guys think of it?"

"It was good," Carol said. "Not really high quality film, but cute."

Bart shrugged. "It was no Brokeback Mountain, but I liked this better anyway. Brokeback Mountain was depressing."

"Haven't heard of that one," Carol said.

"Oh, uh, it's not that well known. Maybe you could see it in a few years," Bart said.

"I'm a little surprised you like it so much," Tim said to Bart. "Weren't you telling me earlier that you thought homosexuality was wrong?"

Bart's eyes widened. "Uh, I do! I was just, uh, ohlookatmywristIgottago!"

Carol, Preston, and Tim looked at each other.

"Bart, we don't care – " Carol started to say, looking up. She stopped. Bart was gone.

"How did he leave so fast?" Preston wondered.

"Bart seems to go fast a lot," Carol said.

"It's like he just vanished," Tim said.

Preston shrugged. "I'm sure he'll turn up. So how did you guys like the movie? I thought it was great." He looked at Tim. "Really think people should be able to come out as gay and that kind of thing without the world jumping on them and everything, you know?"

Tim said nothing. He glanced at Carol.

"Um, Preston," Carol said. "I guess this is probably a good time to tell you. I'm gay."

Preston glanced at her, surprised. "Wait, you are?"

"Uh, I'm also gay," Tim said.

Preston nodded. "I knew that. Didn't know about Carol, though."

"What, you knew?" Tim said. "Since when?"

"Tim, we've had the same gym class since, like, forever. I've seen you looking at some of the guys. You're not that subtle."

"You never said anything," Tim said.

"I was waiting for you to tell me," Preston said. "I figured you'd say something if you wanted me to know."

"I'm just glad you're not disowning me as a friend or whatever," Tim said, giving him a small grin.

"Hey," Carol said. "If you knew he was gay, why were you making bets about when we start dating? I mean, it's obviously not going to happen."

Preston grinned. "No one knows what anyone else bet. When we graduate and you two haven't so much as kissed I get all the winnings and pay for film school."

Tim snorted. "How am I not surprised?"

"Guess I'm a little predictable," Preston said. "And, uh, don't worry. I won't tell anyone. That you're gay."

"Thanks," Tim said. "I don't think I'm ready to be outed."

Preston nodded, then grinned and nudged him. "So…Bart? Eh? Eh?"

Tim rolled his eyes. "Why is everyone trying to set me and him up?"

"They kissed," Carol said.

"Carol!"

"I knew it!" Preston said.

"What, am I not allowed to have any secrets?" Tim asked.

"Nope," Carol and Preston said.

Tim grinned. It'd be different with Preston knowing, but hopefully, it would be better.

Now to figure out Bart.



"SoItoldhim that being gay was wrong like yousaidandhewasallyeah but then we went tothismovieabout gay cheerleadersanditwasreallygoodandIsaidIlikeditthenheaskedmeaboutnotlikinggaypeople!" Bart took a breath. "Now I don't know what to do!"

Robin stared at him. "I didn’t catch most of that."

"He was talking about telling a guy that being gay was wrong and…gay cheerleaders?" Superboy scratched his head. "I don't know if that's hot or lame. Cause they wouldn't do you, but it'd be really hot."

"He could be talking about male cheerleaders," Robin said.

"Ew! C'mon, man, it ain't that, is it?"

Bart shook his head. "No they were girls. It was called But I'm A Cheerleader. You should see it, it's awesome."

"Oh, yeah, sure sounds cool," Superboy said.

"So what's the problem?" Robin asked.

"I was really excited about the movie and forgot I'm supposed to not like gay people!"

"Why isn't he supposed to like gay people?" Superboy asked. "There's nothing wrong with gay people!"

"He's got a crush on a guy and he kissed him," Steph said. "It's supposed to protect his reputation."

Superboy stared at her. "Robbie, that's terrible advice! What if this kid is gay! He'll be really confused!"

"Did I mention this is in Manchester?"

"What, England?"

"Alabama."

"Oh." Superboy shrugged. "Still. That's dumb. There's gotta be a better way."

"So what am I supposed to do?" Bart said. "Your century sucks!"

"Some things do about it, yeah," Superboy said.

"Look, here's the plan," Robin said. "You find some gay porn and put it where your friend can find it – "

"Were you really trained by Batman?" Superboy asked. "Because that's a sucky plan."

"It could work!" Robin insisted.

"Uh, maybe I’ll ask Jessie Quick for help instead," Bart said. "She seems less – "

"Bart!" Max said, running into the cave. "Hello Robin, Superboy. Sorry to interrupt your team meeting, but Impulse is needed in Manchester."

Bart scowled. "Why can't you do it? You never do anything! You just sit around – "

"Preston, Carol, and Tim were kidnapped by White Lightning. She's demanding you come in exchange for their safety."

"ByeRobinandSuperboycomeonMaxwhatareyouwaitingfor?" Bart said, zooming away.



It figured Tim would be the only one tied up.

White Lightning had some kind of power that made boys fall in love with her. At least, boys who liked girls. And girls who liked girls, apparently.

This meant that Tim was tied up with Carol and Preston staring up adoringly at White Lightning as she ranted about how a certain Speedster was being very slow.

"I don't get it," Tim said. "Why us?"

"Luck of the draw, kid," White Lightning said. "I needed a hostage, the three of you were there. Course, I had planned for the girl to be the hostage, but you'll do fine. Boys kissing boys, huh?"

"Oh, lay off."

She laughed. "Oh, I don't mind it at all. Kind of sexy, actually. Sticking up to the man, living by your own rules, it's just the kind of thing I stand for."

"Amazing how that doesn't comfort me," Tim growled.

She giggled. "Hey, Carol sweetie? Come here a minute?"

"Sure, anything for you," Carol said, dazed.

White Lightning kissed her.

Tim struggled against his bonds. "Let her go!"

"But she likes it! Don't you Carol?"

Carol nodded. "Yeah…"

"You're taking advantage of her!"

"Oh, lighten up!" White Lightning said. She pushed Carol away. "She's not my type."

"You…you…" Tim strained uselessly.

"Don't worry, I'm just having fun with you kids. None of you will be hurt. It's only Impulse and those stick-up-the-ass grown ups I wanna hurt."

"That's good to know," said someone behind Tim. "Cause I won't let you hurt anyone."

It sounded like Bart. What was Bart doing here?

White Lightning smirked. "Impulse," she said. "How entirely like you to just run in here. Let me guess: no plan?"

Impulse? Tim hadn't noticed they sounded so similar before.

"Preston, Carol, will you protect me?"

"Yeah, of course," Preston said. He and Carol ran towards Impulse.

There was a blur and Preston disappeared. Another blur and Carol disappeared.

Tim saw White Lightning pulling out some kind of strange weapon.

Impulse stopped in front of White Lightning and scowled. "If that was your plan, it sucked."

"No," White Lightning said, pointing the weapon. "That was the distraction."

"Impulse!" Tim yelled. "That weapon thing!"

Impulse had already seen it. He ran towards White Lightning and knocked it out of her hands. He punched her at superspeed and ran back to Tim.

"Grife, are you okay, Tim?" Impulse asked, fumbling at the knots on Tim's wrists.

"Yeah, I'm fine, thanks."

He sounded like Bart. He knew Tim's name. Big feet, same wild hair. Same mouth. Tim couldn't see Impulse's eyes, but he'd bet they were gold.

And superspeed would explain the sudden disappearances and how he could win a fight against the entire school.

"Oh my god," Tim said. "You're – "

"Oh, Impulse," White Lightning said, her voice sounding sickly sweet like it did when she used her powers. "You don't want to send me to jail, do you?"

Tim could see Impulse falling for it. "Well, maybe – "

Tim grabbed him by the front of his costume and kissed him. He really hoped he was right about Impulse being Bart, or it could be very embarrassing.

Impulse made a small noise, then kissed Tim back. It was different from the first time. A real kiss, not just a nervous peck.

It was still short, though. Impulse broke away and smiled at him, then ran over to slap a pair of cuffs on White Lightning's wrists. "You are definitely going to jail, lady," he said. "No maybes." He grinned at Tim. "I can take you to where Preston and Carol are. I think they'll be over White Lightning's thing by now."

"Thanks," Tim said. Impulse picked him up, and after a moment they were with Preston and Carol.

"I cannot believe I kissed her!" Carol said. "Oh, ew. I'll need like, an ocean of mouthwash."

"Hey guys," Tim said as Bart set him down.

"You're okay!" Preston said. "Thanks, Impulse."

"Really, urgh," Carol said. "Thanks…Impulse." She glanced at Impulse, frowning thoughtfully.

"Yeah," Tim said softly. "Thanks."

Impulse smiled almost goofily at him. "You're welcome. Uh, I gotta go. See ya!"

Tim watched him vanish, still smiling.

Preston smirked. "Lois Lane," he coughed.

Tim rolled his eyes. "Oh, shut up."

"I think you should go for Bart, not Impulse," Carol said carefully.

"Yeah," Tim said. "I think I might."



"Guysguysguyshetotallylikesme!" Bart shouted, bursting into the Justice caves.

"Bwuh?" Robin said. "Superboy, the Impulse went off early."

Bart rolled his eyes. "So I was like, rescuing him, and he kissed me! He totally kissed me!"

"Were you in costume at the time?" Steph asked.

"Uh, yeah," Bart said. "Why?"

"This'll be why I don't do the secret identity thing," Superboy said. "You just got yourself into a classic superhero love triangle."

"A what?" Bart asked.

"See, Bart likes Tim, right?" Robin said. "And Tim likes Impulse. But Tim doesn't know that Impulse and Bart are the same person. See the issue?"

"Oh. Oh."

"See?" Steph shook her head. "You're doomed, kid."

"What do I do?" Bart asked.

"You could tell him," Superboy said. "Like I said, secret identities are so not worth it."

"Max'd kill me," Bart said. "He's already annoyed that I'm really not subtle and stuff."

"I'm sure you'll figure out something," Robin said.

Suddenly an alarm went off.

"…Ace Atchinson reporting live from the archeological dig where just recently Doctor Nina Dowd has been – "

"Hey, I know her!" Robin said. "That's Spoiler's mother!"

"Let's go!" Bart said.



Tim had planned out the perfect thing to say when he saw Bart. He would be forthright and honest, telling Bart that he liked him and that he knew he was Impulse. He'd then be all official and ask him out, and Bart would say yes and it would all be good.

But when Bart walked over to him, smiling shyly, everything Tim had planned flew from his head and all he could manage was a strangled, "Hi."

"Hi," Bart said. "How're you? I heard you guys had a run in with Impulse. Pretty cool, huh?"

"Yeah," Tim said. "He – I – uh, Bart, can we – um. I have to tell you something."

"Okay," Bart said. "What?"

"Uh, privately," Tim said.

Bart nodded and followed Tim to a remote spot on the school grounds.

"Look, Bart. Um. You know on Saturday when I, uh, when I was kidnapped?"

Bart nodded. "Yeah, I heard."

"Well, Impulse saved us, like I said. And uh, I heard him before I saw him."

"Yeah?"

"He sounded like you, Bart."

"Lotta people sound like me."

"It did get me thinking, though. Impulse also looks like you."

"He's, uh, got a costume. How can you tell?"

"He knew my name."

"Maybe he read the phonebook!"

Tim rolled his eyes. "Bart, you've got a Flash ring."

"It's to, uh, remind me of Keystone! Lotta people have these. You can get 'em easily at the Flash Museum!"

"Bart," Tim said, catching his hand. "I really hope I'm right that you're Impulse."

"You're not! That'sjustcrazy!"

"Want to know why?"

"Why?"

"Because…because," this was it. He had to say it. It was so much harder than it had been in his head. "I think I'm falling in love with Impulse," he said. "But I'm also sort of falling in love with you. So it'd be really convenient if the two of you were the same person."

Bart grinned. "Really? So you weren't mad about that kiss?"

Tim smiled. "I kissed you too, didn't I?"

"Yeah," Bart said. He grinned. "Can I kiss you now?"

"But people might see us," Tim said.

Bart picked him up and before Tim could blink they were in France. "No one we know," he said, grinning. "I can get us back in an instant."

Tim smiled back and kissed Bart, winding his hand in Bart's hair and ignoring the people who stared. He was kissing the cutest, funniest superhero around. He'd stare too, if he were them.

Comments

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

Steph is insanely unhelpful. But we love her anyway!

XD Welcome! Thanks for reading! I'm glad you liked it!

Of course there was a happy ending! I couldn't be mean to the poor boys! Not permanently!

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

(As soon as I write it! This one was actually finished long before I'd started the Vampire one, but it took a while to be beta'd.)

[darthbatgirl.livejournal.com]

"takes Tim and Bart and smooshes them together" This totally rocks. The perfect ending to a really fun story. Kon was great and Steph not so much, which just added to the fun.

Love this.

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

She maintains operation: gay porn would have worked!

Thank you! Glad you liked!

[milleniumrex.livejournal.com]

Brilliant! Just so much YJ fun, and I can really tell you love Waid's Impulse. You've officially convinced me to seek it out! Great fic!

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

Waid's Impulse is love.

Yay, thanks!

[geministar01.livejournal.com]

Heh. I didn't want to review this until I read the whole thing (mostly because the Steph-as-Robin thing is a concept I hate with a passion and it stood out to me in the first chapter even though I *knew* that wasn't the point. Stupid irrational hatred, self, get over it already. DX) I'm glad I waited, because now I can appreciate the full awsomeness all at once.

Specifically, I loved all the times that Tim got compared to Lois Lane. That was just a hoot. XD And Bart, perfectly chraracterized as always, and with all the fun little goofy parts thrown in, it was just a great story. Awsome job!

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

XD I couldn't resist the Lois Lane thing. I mean, I would totally call my friend that if I lived in the DCU and they had a crush on a superhero.

And I'm glad you liked it despite Steph being Robin!

[repmetsyrrah.livejournal.com]

Wow, that was awesome, just awesome....Did I mention the awesomeness of it?

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

No, must have slipped your mind...XD

Thank you! I'm so glad you liked!

[ladymordecai.livejournal.com]

Hee! Love. I like how you integrated all the other changes in this world (Bernard=Spoiler !! ), and the advent of YJ.

This was probably my favorite bit: "I think I'm falling in love with Impulse," he said. "But I'm also sort of falling in love with you. So it'd be really convenient if the two of you were the same person."

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

XD How could I resist Bernard as Spoiler? He looks good in purple!

Oh, I'm so glad that part worked! I had a little trouble with the end. Heh, the poor boys. Steph gives horrible advice.

[(Anonymous)]

I have to say, I spend a lot of time lurking around the various Teen Titans/Young Justice slash sites, and I've read a lot of stories by a lot of authors. And, honestly, I don't think I ever have as much fun as when I'm reading your stories. Cute, clever and convincing, you always manage to remind me that fanfiction is actually quite a wonderful and enjoying past time (I frequently come re-read your stories after encountering "bad-fic," and you're quite effective for washing the taste of bad Harry Potter slash out of my brain, just so you know). I don't have an LJ myself, nor have I written any comicbook fanfics yet, but I simply had to finally comment on one of your stories and say that you do a fantastic job, and I quite wish you were able to dictate certain things in the cannon of the DC universe. Because Tim/Bart would be so flawless and really be a beacon of light in an otherwise grim and confusing multiverse of angst.

Also, I dearly hope this new Manchester!Universe sticks in your brain and you're forced to write more. I can just see Tim being a great influence on Bart, and Bart doing things like bringing him to a Young Justice meeting (I just envisioned Tim leading Young Justice without any training or super-powers, nothing but a fearless attitude and plenty of bad-ass-sassitude, clashes with Steph and Kon and Cass, oh my!). Ooooh and Wally's reaction (for better or worse, you decide of course!). Anyway, I love your stories and your style, and your penchant for adorable couples. I hope to see many more stories from you, and wish you luck (which you clearly don't need) in writing them.

More power for you,
jacob

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

Aww, thanks! This comment totally made my day. I'm so glad you enjoy my work! And Harry Potter Fandom is a very scary place. But I'm a good mouth wash for it? Er, brain wash? Thanks! I have to admit, I started out in Harry Potter fandom. Didn't stay for very long, though.

Oooh, me dictating the canon of the DCU. That would be...interesting and probably terrifying. XD I might go a little power mad. It would be like the Golden Age, but more gay! And the Golden Age was pretty gay.

And as for more Manchester verse...it's possible. Not soon, possibly not ever, but it would be fun to revisit, maybe. The problem is, I get so many ideas that things longer than three, maybe five parts at the absolute maximum tend to stay unfinished. Admittedly, this was technically one story at first, I just split it up because it was long, but my point stands. I get distracted if things don't end fast enough. Still, you can always request them in one of the random drabble posts I do or whatever. I did enjoy this universe a lot.

[(Anonymous)]

Careful, if you keep being so nice I might actually become involved in the community and start giving you those plot/story bunnies =)

And to be honest, the wish for more Manchester!verse is mostly because it's the latest thing you've written, I'm sure that as soon as you get the next story down I'll be clamoring for more of it as well.

You started out in Harry Potter? How far back did you start? That's a pretty intense fandom to start fanfiction in. I myself was introduced to fanfic through Dragon Ball Z (and anime, and--well--pretty much most of my geeky interests were sparked by it, lol). Thankfully, that phase passed relatively quickly and I moved onto fandoms with power-levels well over 9000.

After writing this and thinking about how fun it might be to start dipping my toes into DC fanfic, I'm gonna go make an LJ, maybe write a story or something. I'll be sure to start reviewing more regularly as well, because you deserve all the accolades I can foist upon you, in my incredibly humble but always correct opinion.

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

It was pretty damn far back. I started after the fifth book came out, I think, but I know the sixth book had come out when I wrote my first, and then I wrote a little after the seventh came out. I left the fandom quickly after that, though.

*cackle* Oh, what I'm working on now is amazing. Modesty? What's that? But really, it's got vampires and plotting and creepy geniuses!

Yay! I'm a gateway drug!

Aww, thanks! Reviews are the fuel that feeds my writing fire! Only that's entirely not true, because I wrote a lot even before a lot of people were reading my work. Point stands that they're fun to get, though.

[saavikam77.livejournal.com]

Hee hee!! XD Perfect ending. Thank goodness Tim headed Bart's assumptions off at the pass and let him know that he knew. :p

*applauds*

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

It was either that or do the whole, "Are you sure you don't have anything to tell me? You can tell me anything, you know. Trust me." And then the hero being all, "Nope, nothing," because you know, secret identity and THIS IS WHY I HATED SMALLVILLE.

*cough* anyway! Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! It was really fun to write.

[greteldragon.livejournal.com]

Awwww that's so sweet!

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[jacklemmon.livejournal.com]

D'awwwww!!!!

I loved this! All three parts were just... god I love me some AU'ness and Bart/Tim!! YAY!! <3

Thanks so much for sharing these!!

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

Aww, thanks! Mmm Bart/Tim is fun.

I'm glad you enjoyed them!

[derawr.livejournal.com]

This was great. Very adorable. :)

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Out of curiosity, how did you find this? It was posted a while ago and two people have commented today.

[derawr.livejournal.com]

I found it by looking at your Randomly Important Stuff entry. I was about to read your Blood and Family fic but got distracted by the prompt link. :)

I'm busy procrastinating at the moment.

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

Oooh, people actually look there? I feel my pitiful attempts at organization have not gone to work! Well, glad you found your way here!

Procrastination is fun!

[thegodoftigers.livejournal.com]

I really thought it was cute buuuttt...

I know it sounds strange but I've always had an idea that Preston and Carol (who are best friends) would get together if Carol and Bart thing never work out (which is almost impossible, unless Carol change drastically within the 4 years of saperation from Bart)...

XD It's like my 2n OTP