it was a well known thing in the family that you did not enjoy sparring in the slightest. it was the only thing about training that you openly despised - the running was fine, the learning new shit was fine - but the second that you had to actually fight someone bare fisted? it was met with vehement protests.

bruce had tried almost everything. threatening the loss of technology, promises of extra rewards, everything. he'd almost begged on his knees - it was fucking important. sparring was important. it would teach you how to fight back, but you still declined.

but tim? he'd had a plan. a small plan, one that had been in the back of his mind.

unlike the rest of the group, you weren't family. you had your own parents, your own life yet in your free time you hung around and bruce had sort of just accepted that. so he felt more comfortable in executing his plan the first time around.

it'd started as a joke. he'd been sparring with steph and he'd taken off his shirt at one point after getting too hot when steph had told you to get off your ass and get in the ring.

and you'd obliged. you'd listened. you had gotten off of your pretty little ass and gotten into the ring with him and christ you'd been feisty - all hands on, actually trying for once. it hadn't clicked at first, but later on? once he'd thought about it properly? it all just… clicked into place.

it soon became his little hack - starting the sparring off with someone else before getting you into the ring and dropping his shirt. was it manipulative? maybe a little, but it was for your own good. you had to learn how to fight to continue going on patrols.

but it was nights like these that had his heart pumping.

the two of you had been going at it for a while - everyone else had retreated for the night. it went back and forth, hit after hit as the two of you went at it, getting more and more worked up as the hours passed. tim lived and breathed for it.

managing to get the upper hand, he swept your legs out from under you, dropping down to pin you on the mat, his body overpowering yours with an infuriating ease. it was hard to believe that he was so stupidly strong.

"you put up a good fight," tim panted, one hand pinning your hips in place while the other was splayed over your chest, forcing you to remain still.

"but you'd have more success if you kept tension here-" his hand moved from your hip to your thigh, squeezing lightly, "and here," the hand on your chest moved down to your abdomen.

it was amusing, watching you struggle beneath him. at this point, he was pretty sure that you were the prettiest boy he'd ever laid eyes on, but now? having you sweaty, shiftless and struggling beneath him? it was even better. he could feel himself getting all hot under the collar which wasn't exactly ideal.

"i thought you were stronger," tim teased as he put more of his own weight onto you, relishing in the way you glared at him. "apparently not. tragic."