Timothy Drake was a familiar face in Gotham's headlines—this year’s 23-year-old rising golden bachelor.
He always appeared perfectly composed in front of the cameras.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhiyDIW9nC
The click of his leather shoes on the sidewalk was clean and crisp, and the clasp on his briefcase was always shut just right.
No matter what reporters asked, he stayed calm.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelfcfrph84
About company strategy, about the direction of the conglomerate, about long-term vision—he never said the wrong thing.
But all the articles mentioned one thing:327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVggG5IhaGa
He always arrived alone, and left alone.
As if he was born to be someone who didn’t need companionship.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv93n5EsMTy
Not only was he the heir of the Drake Group, long operating across Europe,327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0I4szTYVv8
he was once under the guardianship of Gotham’s richest man—Bruce Wayne.
That relationship was never publicly explained in full.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHu89OnKZzm
But in a few blurry old newspaper clippings, the two were photographed appearing in public together.
A young boy stood beside a man in black, his head lowered, looking at his own shadow.
The public only knew he was the “genius chosen by Mr. Wayne,”327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwmmN4PdKs
but few ever asked what kind of void he had been chosen to fill.
Unfortunately, no media outlet had ever caught him showing any romantic interaction with a woman.
There were a few times paparazzi mistook a female assistant walking into a building with him for a new girlfriend,327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31iKPm4pSl
but Tim personally spoke out to clarify.
He said: “Please don’t use someone’s professionalism and hard work as material for gossip.”
That statement circulated online for days—327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mpFtwbOM5
calm, sharp, and impossible to argue with.
Today, our President Drake had a new mission: to pick up his adorable little nephew.
A pink star was marked on his schedule—rumor had it he’d put it there himself.
Alfred joked that this was the first time in his life Tim had ever left the house on time for something other than a board meeting—327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlEqW8J2nG
and it was to go to a kindergarten.
Tim merely replied calmly, “It’s an urgent task. Punctuality is the baseline.”
Finn was the child of his adopted sister and second brother, Jason Todd.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtORsDlxxcw
And yes, the family tree was a mess.
Even Tim didn’t really want to explain it—327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqnyoGpFCl
probably only Alfred could make sense of the legal and blood ties woven into it.
But to him, Finn was simply family.
The kid had a sharp tongue, moved fast, loved to interrupt, was clingy, loved to draw—and was frankly terrible at it.
But in that moment when Finn ran up and hugged his leg,327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxp3sSjoIJZ
Tim always found himself thinking: This kid matters.
Today, both parents were busy—Leila had a concert, and Jason was tracking down the mastermind behind a smuggling ring—327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIvjDeT0VB
so the mission fell to Tim, the kid’s uncle.
He said nothing, just rolled up his shirt sleeves,327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHi9FFyWqV
left his office in a high-rise, and headed toward the address Alfred had prepared.
He knew this wasn’t just “picking up a kid.”327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFcCOY5P0q
This was stepping into the world they had all tried to keep separate.
To be honest, Finn really was an adorable kid—full of energy.
Since he was three, he would leap off the couch, declare “I just defeated you!” to Jason,327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrsY2vjX2d
then bounce back up to land another kick for good measure.
He loved drawing, even though he couldn’t draw a proper square.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXa5MwFCquG
He loved asking “why,” and would interrupt you with the next “why” before you could answer the first.
Bruce had given one order: Finn was to have a normal childhood.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNG7Bqxioz
No one in the family was allowed to let the boy know about their secret identities.
But Tim was certain—soon enough, four-year-old Finn would figure out that something was off.
After all, not every house had hidden skylights on the roof.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgASwxnqrQN
Not every uncle, aunt, or older cousin disappeared like clockwork in the middle of the night.
And not every kid drew a shadowy figure with wings spread wide,327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBtDk9dOew
perched on the edge of a high-rise building.
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One thing about Finn always left people half-laughing, half-helpless.
Every single day, Finn went around announcing,327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGG9FDDuZZ
“When I grow up, I’m going to marry Miss Nora!”
It didn’t matter if he was eating, drawing, or even napping—327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETJF6qfVmR
he’d suddenly declare it like it was some grand historical mission.
One time after nap time, he even told a classmate,327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOQFNEO1gg
“I dreamed about the wedding, but Miss Nora hasn’t said yes yet.”
Tim had never met this “Miss Nora.”327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhI8tZKJVSM
He’d only heard the name a few times from Finn at home, but hadn’t given it much thought.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfcG29YBfd
After all, it wasn’t unusual for a kid to be fond of their teacher.
But apparently, the kid’s entire sketchbook was filled with drawings titled:327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMby01LLGx
“Me and Teacher Got Married.”
There were cakes, rings, and even one page with a veiled figure riding a dinosaur.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIYy41MrE6
Tim had seen one of them—and went completely silent.
Nora Virell. Tim had looked her up.
Her background was perfectly ordinary. Normal parents, graduated with a degree in education,327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn51WihAjTS
and started working at the kindergarten right after school.
A clean, traceable record.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVi38XjZsD7
No red flags, no suspicious social media, no odd financial activity, no name changes,327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwzF2zjTEx
no history on the black market—which was saying something in a city like Gotham.
By all accounts, she was just a teacher.
But she did have striking blonde hair and bright green eyes.
In the photo, her long curls were slightly tousled, and her smile tilted with a playful curve.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggUi3wfThC
Her gaze sparkled—like she was always ready to say,327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHqngFLJl1
“Alright then, let’s play.”
Maybe that was what drew Finn to her.
Children were particularly sensitive to colors—327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbowgZmmhTM
blonde hair and green eyes probably looked to him like someone straight out of a fairy tale.
He even asked Bruce how to win a girl’s heart.
Tim rolled his eyes.
He’d been reading the newspaper at the breakfast table across from them.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgco12zWrx8
Bruce, on the other hand, had looked like he’d just swallowed a whole cup of bitter tea—327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGmcDQSwzm
clearly unprepared for that kind of question.
Tim had told himself silently,327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUU12WzINQ
He’s four.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyl0qt5T3Dj
Still, he remembered the name: Nora Virell.
Following Bruce’s instructions, he went to pick Finn up after school.
That afternoon’s meetings and document reviews had been cleanly crossed off his schedule—327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXH8O0ZqfZ
this time slot had been reserved just for this.
When the time came, he left the office.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoTxR4Mgry
It felt less like an errand, more like a quiet reconnaissance mission.
The kindergarten was much cleaner than he’d expected.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35MH6t6oLI
The kids inside were playing games while waiting for their parents.
The walls were covered with colorful cardstock and stickers, and the air smelled faintly of hand soap.
A few children sat in a circle, piecing together a puzzle.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsQvm2n5ts
One of them suddenly burst into high-pitched laughter.
Tim found the front desk teacher.
She was checking the roster, and when she looked up and saw him, her expression froze for a second.
The young teacher looked stunned—327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVG6kcsR8z6
probably unsure who this sharp-dressed, serious-looking man was.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8vge8GOtd
People who came to pick up kids usually didn’t carry this kind of aura.
Tim gave his name and showed the parent authorization form.
His movements were precise, his voice steady and calm—327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MVw7mdiqC
like someone handing over an official document.
It couldn’t be helped.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSkhwUSVEM
Gotham wasn’t exactly known for its safety.
This city had no shortage of missing persons and strange kidnapping cases.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7pg9mmPp2
Even kids weren’t immune.
Especially kids like Finn—327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡww2Ts2Be5v
born into a family always skirting the edge of danger.
The teacher suddenly became very enthusiastic, personally leading Tim toward the classroom.
Her voice picked up speed, her smile widened—327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipcgKaoLT5
clearly realizing this man wasn’t just anyone.
Tim had seen this before.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsj6PDVkNe3
Rich, single men always attracted attention.
He didn’t react.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6v0ZY4Nhzf
He just followed quietly, glancing at the lesson plans and class photos on the walls as they walked.
The children were all smiling brightly.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gZNM9MLGH
In one photo, Finn stood center stage, dressed like a lion.
They reached Finn’s classroom.
The room was softly lit; the lights weren’t turned off yet.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaejytNSJAV
A few kids were still putting up drawings on the wall.
As soon as Finn saw him, he jumped up and ran over.
His little feet pounded like he had his own personal drumbeat.
“Uncle! Uncle!”327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VCLE4GzkX
He ran up and hugged Tim’s leg tight.
His body was warm and slightly sweaty.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UpK0m45cp
His small arms clung tight.
Tim ruffled Finn’s hair. It was damp—he must’ve been running around just before.
His bangs stuck to his forehead, and the skin behind his ears was red from all the activity.
Tim crouched down to help him with his backpack.
The zipper got stuck for a second.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiXNDUFmAa
He didn’t say anything, just adjusted it quietly.
Finn was chattering nonstop—327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAExzofsoER
something about Miss Nora wearing a red dress,327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmTl0Jx4ym
Miss Nora saying his drawing improved,327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaCUyF6MhZ
Miss Nora drinking coffee but still not napping.
“Uncle, I want to introduce you to my future bride!”327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uFq3VjXI3
Finn said with determined excitement, dragging Tim toward the corner of the classroom.
A woman was crouched there, putting toys away.
Her movements were unhurried, carefully aligning wooden blocks one by one back into their box.
“Miss Nora! Look! This is my uncle!”327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwN38MLbE1Y
Finn’s voice sounded like he was introducing a brand-new toy.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9jtfO2pMy
He was so excited, his grin nearly touched his ears.
A woman looked up.
Her motion was unhurried but deliberate—327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8p7exjbEd
as if she’d already heard the whole conversation,327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVCYJ31nfv
and had simply been waiting for her cue to enter.
Her green eyes gleamed like polished jade as she looked up.
She didn’t flinch, didn’t rush to smile.327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrqo6VODjB
She simply looked—calmly—at the man standing at the door in a black suit.
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And for the first time, Tim laid eyes on the blonde teacher named Nora.
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and then Add to home screen.