Pokeluv101

“I… Superboy…” She stumbled over her words. It didn’t take much for Tim to piece together that she had once again sneaked away from the nurses to follow Kon. Then, she began to cry. “I’m sorry! Superboy got hurt because I was bad. Mom said I need to stay with the nurses and listen to them. I thought it would be alright to follow Superboy as long as I didn’t leave the hospital. Can I see him and tell him that I’m sorry? I don’t want him to hate me.”

“You have nothing to apologize for. What happened was an accident and you can’t blame yourself for that.” Tim immediately knelt down to comfort the child. He let go of his phone and quickly pulled out a napkin to wipe her tears. “Let’s go find your parents. I’m sure they’re worried if you left your room without telling them like last time.”

“No!” She screeched. For someone so small, her cries were able to overpower his soft spoken reassurances. Her tears drowned out the soft spoken reassurances that he gave her. “There was so much blood.”

“Conner… Superboy wasn’t injured badly and you should know that nothing can truly hurt him. Even if he was hurt, he would never regret it or blame you. He’d tell you that as well.” Tim could see how much she looked up to Superboy. He thought he could use the public image created by Rex to comfort her. However, it only reminded Tim of the reason why he fell in love with Kon rather than Superboy. “Conner has the heart of a true superhero. There’s no one like him: strong, brave, loving and kind.”

“Superboy is okay?” She asked, her voice much calmer now that her tears had subsided. Tim was relieved that he managed to comfort her until he noticed how she wasn’t looking at him. She had been staring at something behind him when she asked the question.

He looked over his shoulder and found Kon standing a few feet from them. How long had he been listening to their conversation? He was breathing heavily as though he had raced out of the room in a panic. Tim couldn’t think of why he would rush to him though. As he was trying to find the reason, Kon gave him the answer. “You called and I heard someone yell something about blood.”

Tim took out his phone and saw Kon’s name on the screen. He had accidentally pressed his number when searching for a napkin. He was caught between being happy that he had run to rescue him but also worried that Kon would suspect he still had feelings for him. In the end, Tim reminded himself that he was only acting as any bodyguard would. Also, he might not have heard him with how loud the girl was.

He still searched for something to deflect any suspicion Kon could have that he loved him. Tim took the girl’s hand and guided her to Kon. “See, Kid, I told you that nothing can hurt Superboy! He’s strong and can catch a falling car so one little cart is nothing for him. Show her your hand, Conner.”

He didn’t move and, instead, he took the moment to study him. Tim felt as though Kon could see through him to the truth. If anyone could, it was Kon. He knew him better than most. Then, Kon crouched in front of the girl and held up his bandaged hand like a valiant hero. Seeing his easygoing smile, Tim let out the breath that he hadn’t realized that he was holding.

“You’re one brave little lady.” Kon poked her nose in a brotherly gesture. The praise made her face beam with a smile. “Hey, when you were in the stairwell with us, did you notice anyone strange there? Maybe the guy who pushed the cart? He could be a bad guy so we need to catch him.”

“My friends didn’t believe me when I told them that Superboy saved me! Can you come play with us?” She asked, too starstruck by Superboy to answer his question. Most would be frustrated by the child’s antics but Kon only smiled and nodded.

“Superboy, pick me up! Superboy, how fast is your race car?”

“Conner, it’s almost time for your interview.”

Tim called to Kon from across the sea of fans. While the small gathering had started with a few children, the crowd quickly grew with more fans of Superboy. Kon took the time to give each person an autograph and speak with them. Between his boyish charm and warm personality, Tim could see how he became famous. No matter whether he had decided to be a racer, actor or model, he belonged in the spotlight.

They had gathered in the playroom designed for recovering children. A few kids were clinging from Kon’s arm to test his strength and he effortlessly swung them in turn. Watching them, Tim couldn’t help but think of how Kon would make a great father and how they once discussed having a family. He immediately shook the memory from his mind.

“Excuse me, please let me through. I am Conner’s manager.” Tim lied and tried to push his way through the crowd to Kon. He assumed that it would be easier to get past the fans if they thought he was his manager. He traded his suit blazer for a sportsjacket, sunglasses and a hat. The disguise would also keep people from recognizing Timothy Drake-Wayne.

Unfortunately, people continued to act as a wall around Kon instead of moving aside like he expected. He needed to wave his hand over his head to get his attention. He heaved out a sigh and tried to walk around the group and reached out to grab his arm. Tim barely touched his sleeve when someone pushed him aside. He stumbled back a few steps back before he felt someone catch his hand. He looked up and found Kon smiling at him.

“Sorry, guys, but my boss needs me.” Kon apologized as he gently pulled Tim to his side. He subtly moved in front of him to shield him from the crowd. “Shall we get going to the next interview, Alvin?”

Tim nodded. He turned to the crowd and deepened his voice to match his disguise. “I hope you all enjoy Conner’s surprise meet-and-greet. He believes in supporting everyday heroes like doctors, nurses and first responders. He would love to spend more time with you all but he has a busy schedule.”

With the lie, they were able to leave the playroom without a fuss or protest. Kon started to take Tim’s hand so he could lead him to the parking lot. Before he could, Tim stepped out of reach. He tilted his head at the elevator and tapped his finger against his lips. He didn’t say a word yet Kon understood that he wanted to speak with him where they were less likely to be overheard. He was able to read his subtle gesture even after years had passed.

As they walked to the elevator, Kon studied Tim. He had protected him from the falling cart so he wasn’t hurt. His concern was how it could shake him emotionally. According to Dick, Tim had been targeted a few times already. His shoulders were stiff and Kon could see the experiences were already weighing on him. The thought sent a wave of protectiveness through him.

They reached the elevator and Tim pressed a keycard against the scanner. He ushered Kon inside and immediately shut the door before someone could follow them. Now that they were alone, his body relaxed. “Damian said the staff elevator has cameras but no sound recording. We can talk without anyone leaking our conversation.”

“We wouldn’t want anyone to learn about my next surprise meet-and-greet. Right, Alvin?”

Tim rolled his eyes at Kon’s obvious teasing. “I couldn’t think of another way to steal you away from that crowd. I think my disguise is pretty good considering that I had to throw it together at the last minute. You probably didn’t recognize me at first.”

Hearing the pride and passion in his voice, Kon couldn’t correct him that he knew the truth the moment he heard his voice. While he disguised her voice, there was one thing that was distinctly his. In the sea of people asking for Superboy, Tim was the only one who called him by his name. Kon told himself that moved on from their break up but that was one thing he missed from their relationship.

Then, Tim asked: “Are you upset that I kidnapped you from your adoring fans?”

“Actually, you saved me from signing a million autographs. I never imagined becoming a racer would involve so much PR. Don’t get me wrong, I love the attention but it can be a bit much at times. I thought hiring Rex to deal with that would mean I won’t have to worry about those things. He drags me around for interviews and photoshoots.”

“Rex is well known in your industry. You should listen to him.” The advice felt wrong even as Tim forced himself to say the words. He reminded himself that it was best for Kon’s dreams. His manager had years of experience and he was the best person to help him reach the stars. Tim could never tell him the full extent of how Rex carefully managed Superboy’s image.

Tim quickly shifted the conversation back to their current situation. He held out the keycard to him. “With the crowd that you draw, there’s bound to be a flock of reporters waiting for us outside. Damian moved my car to the private staff parking lot. There’s a back exit and my windows are tinted. We can get out without too much trouble.”

“So, how much do we owe Damian? The kid’s sweet but I doubt he’s helping us this much for free.”

“Sweet? Only you can say that about a demon child.” As much as he complained about his little brother, Kon knew that Tim would never allow anyone else to say anything against Damian. Tim clicked his tongue and added: “I need to cover for him the next time he wants to sneak out from under Bruce’s nose. I won’t repeat his threats for the scenario that I get his boyfriend’s jacket dirty.”

He tugged at the cuffs of the large jacket he wore. Tim had intended to borrow Damian’s clothes for his disguise but they were too small. Though the jacket had the opposite problem, it was more manageable. After he made the comment, he felt Kon’s gaze on him more intensely. Did the sportsjacket look strange on him? It shouldn’t matter how Kon saw him yet the question still nudged at Tim’s mind.

Before he could make the mistake of asking Kon, the elevator stopped and the doors opened. Tim paused to glance around the private parking lot and ensure that a reporter wasn’t waiting for them. His brother assured him that no one would be able to enter without a keycard but he wanted to be cautious. Once he was certain that they were alone, he walked to where his car was parked.

They entered the car but he didn’t start the engine immediately. Instead, Kon reached over and slipped the sunglasses from his face. The parking lot was dimly lit but he could see every detail of Tim’s pale blue eyes. “We’re alone so you don’t need this disguise anymore. We’re going back to your office. Did Dami leave your clothes here for you to change?”

“We spent more time at the hospital than I originally planned. I completely missed the meeting. We should just retire for the day after I pick up the minutes. I can read the report and update Lucius on the project later tonight. One of the perks of being the future CEO is that no one can complain that I’m working from home.”

He slipped off the sportsjacket and carefully folded it before he tossed it into the backseat. Kon looked over Tim in his simple white dress shirt. The relief he felt at the sight surprised him. He knew that the jacket belonged to Damian’s boyfriend so it didn’t hold any value to Tim. However, Kon imagined Tim wearing his leather jacket like he used to and hated the thought of him with anything else. He told himself that didn’t have the right to be jealous when they weren’t together. His heart wouldn’t listen to reason.

After a few minutes passed, Tim said: “You’re staring at me, Conner.”

“I want to apologize for what happened earlier. I shouldn’t have said that you were the Grinch without a heart.” Tim had forgotten about the comment until Kon mentioned it now.

“I have heart. It’s just very small. Right?” Tim joked but Kon could see that his smile was slightly forced. Seeing his expression, he couldn’t help but tenderly run his thumb along the curve of his lips. It was a familiar gesture from when they were dating that he used to coax a real smile from him. Like before, Tim’s lips followed the stroke of his finger and smiled softly. Kon missed the sight.

“You have a heart that survived Gotham.” Most would dismiss him as a businessman who inherited the role from his father but, to Kon, he was the bravest and kindest person that he knew. Tim was different from the celebrities and socialites who Rex tried to have Kon date. “The nurses said that the hospital’s playroom was funded by anonymous donations and gifts. That was you, wasn’t it?”

“Why would you assume that it was me? I already have my hands full with the Wayne-Drake foundation and that doesn’t leave much room for additional charity. There are a lot of people with the money to give toys to a hospital.”

“It’s Gotham. You have more Luthor types than Waynes here.” Kon shrugged. There was a chasm between the upper and lower class in Gotham. The wealthy families would make a show of donating the hospital to flaunt their status.

“I thought I was the pessimistic one between us. You don’t believe that there’s another generous family who would help children?” One of the things that made Tim fall in love with Kon was his optimism. He saw the best in people and life. Kon had seen the worst of people so Tim knew that his outlook wasn’t naive. It was simply the kind of person he was.

“Janet Lynn. There’s a plaque with her name in the playroom. I couldn’t help but notice it because that’s your mom’s maiden name. You said Sacred Hearts was rebuilt recently so she couldn’t have donated enough to get a fancy ‘thank you’ framed like that. I’m not a detective like you but even I can see that you’re the one donating in her name.”

“I overheard Damian talking to Dick about it. He wanted to donate but was too prideful to use Father’s money. Dick tried to help but that’s hard on a policeman’s salary. Janet Lynn donated and Damian swore to pay back every cent.” Tim explained without directly confirming Kon’s words. Kon couldn’t help but chuckle at the irony of how the brothers could be so similar with their stubborn independence.

Tim leaned his head against the cold glass and watched Kon in the corner of his eyes. His mind wandered without him even realizing him. Kon had always been the one to comfort and listen to him whenever he felt insecure. He voiced a worry that he usually kept to himself. “If Dami was a few years older, the CEO role would be his. He is Bruce’s biological son. Do you think that whoever is after me would target him in this situation?”

“Bruce sees you as his kid too.”

“That’s not what I meant, Conner.” They both knew that Tim was lying. “The attacks started after Bruce made the announcement that I’ll become CEO after him. Most of the board has a motive to get me out of the way of a promotion. If one also hates me personally, it would help narrow down the suspects. I don’t have many allies on the board. Lucius is the only one who trusts me.”

“So, show them how you’re already smart enough to be their boss. Focus on that and leave the investigation and protection to me. That’s my job as your bodyguard.”

Wayne Tower was tall enough to be seen anywhere from Gotham. Yet, it was only when Kon drove by that its full scale struck him. Traffic forced them to idle next to the building. In the corner of his eyes, he glanced from Tim to Wayne Tower. The tower highlighted their contrasting upbringings. He had climbed his way to the stars yet there were times he still felt worlds apart from Tim. Before the Kents adopted him, Kon’s most consistent home was his car.

Kon couldn’t help but question whether that could be one of the reasons he broke up with him so suddenly. As soon as he had the thought, he dismissed it. Tim never judged him after he told him his stories of backpacking through Hawaii. When they visited his family’s farm, he greeted his grandparents warmly and didn’t shy away from farmwork.

After two years of trying to find a reason, he was still asking himself the same questions. Maybe they were too different? Was his family against their relationship? The only certainty Kon had was that Tim was crying when they broke up. If he had truly decided to end things, he would’ve been more detached.

“It should only take me a few seconds to run to my office and grab the reports and minutes. You can wait in the car and order takeout. It’ll be nice to have food waiting when we get home. Are you in the mood for— Shit.” Tim swore and sank lower in his seat. The way he hid confused Kon since the windows were tinted and no one would be able to see into their car.

“Something wrong, Wonder? You’re acting like there’s an executioner waiting for you outside.” Even as he made the light joke to comfort Tim, Kon subtly scanned the crowd outside. His hands shifted over the steering wheel, prepared to race away at the first sign of danger. Tim tended to overlook his own safety while focusing on others. If someone was able to make him so tense, they must be dangerous.

Kon followed Tim’s gaze to a brunette man who walked on the edge of the sidewalk and knocked on each car window that he could. He immediately locked the car door as a precaution. Tim groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. “That’s Callum. He calls himself my ex when we’ve barely been on three dates. He has been trying to win me back since he learned that I’ll be taking over the company. I bet he’s more obsessed with money or me. As you can see, my love life is a mess.”

“I won’t let him near you.” He promised. It was a simple statement but Tim felt his shoulders relax. Whether the words were as a bodyguard or an echo of their past relationship, he was grateful that he had Kon by his side. He was honest when he said that he never had the best luck in relationships. Kon was the rare exception for a time. Tim believed that they could spend the rest of his life happy together.

He was sharply pulled out of his memories when he saw Callum turned towards there. There were still a few cars between them so Tim whispered to Kon. “He shouldn’t know that this car is mine. Once traffic clears up, circle the building until he leaves. I don’t want to go inside because he’ll just follow and use the opportunity to slip through the gate. He has done it before. If he doesn’t leave after three loops, I’ll call Jason to have Callum trespassed.”

“While you’re calling him, also tell him how he’s an annoying ex on the verge of stalking. Your brother should know if someone is targeting you. Before you say that you can handle it by yourself, you’re just being stubborn.” He added before Tim could argue back like he knew he would. From the way he pouted, Kon knew that he was right.

“I don’t need to bother my family since I hired a bodyguard to deal with things like this.” Tim countered. He had always been reluctant to involve his family and friends in his troubles. He preferred to deal with things on his own so he wouldn’t be a burden to them.

Tim nearly jumped out of his skin when there was a knock on the window. He already knew that it was Callum before he glanced to the side. The man leaned close to the door and pounding his knuckles against the glass. For once, Tim was grateful for Bruce’s paranoia and overprotective nature. The updates to the car should keep anyone from seeing inside. He still found himself shifting closer to Kon.

“Of all the fucking times to be stuck in traffic.” Kon’s fists were so tight around the wheel that his knuckles turned white.

“Ignore him. I know men like Callum. He’ll go away once he realizes that I’m not going to humour him just to stop him from annoying me.” Tim could easily see through Callum’s plan. If he knocked enough, the driver would roll down the window to confront them. Gothamites weren’t known for their patients and soft voices. Once they lowered the window, he could look inside for Tim.

Tim took out his phone, prepared to call security to have him escorted off the property. He only hesitated because he was worried that Callum would cause a scene. With so many people watching him, he didn’t want a single regretful coffee to fuel weeks of tabloids. He bit his lip. Why was his life folding in on itself? He hesitantly glanced at Kon. He could only imagine what he was thinking at that moment.

“Babe, cover your ears.” He didn’t know what surprised him more: the order or the endearment. He was confused about why he told him to cover his ears but he trusted him. Once he had, Kon slammed his hand on the horn. The abrupt and loud sound startled Callum enough to force him away from their car. He jerked the wheel to turn away from traffic.

He expertly wove between the other cars and turned into the opposite lane. The maneuver was so quick that it made Tim dizzy and he was barely able to catch him. He blinked and they were driving away from Wayne Tower. Kon was a talented race car driver but Tim was surprised that he managed to escape the tightly packed cars without hitting one. He couldn’t help but stare at Kon. They had been on countless leisurely rides. This was one of the few times he took him racing and it gave him a spike of adrenaline.

The rush of excitement faded though. “What the hell, Conner? I told you to wait and circle the street. You didn’t need to race off like that.”

“Ignoring the issue isn’t going to fix anything. I thought it would be better to just leave. You can ask Lucius to email you the reports. It was either this or I introduce myself as your bodyguard to your stalker. Knowing you, you wouldn’t appreciate the commotion.” With the explanation, Tim’s frustration faded. His heart softened at how thoughtful Kon was to him. “You helped me get away from my fans so think of this as returning the favour.”

“Lois asked if he could come. She thought that this would be an opportunity to include him and help him feel welcomed.” They had a complicated history with CK and that past hardened each word Kon spoke. He pulled Tim closer against his side. “I know what it feels like to be on the outside so I texted him an invitation. Also said he doesn’t need to come if he’s busy. Never thought the arrogant bastard would actually show his face here.”

Kon tended to see the best in people and allowed them the chance to reform. However, even his empathy had its limits. He couldn’t bring himself to fully trust Prime after he attacked his friends and was the one who killed him. He wouldn’t allow him to do the same to his mate— especially now that he was carrying his child. Protectiveness and possessiveness made his bear his fangs. The only thing keeping him from striding forward to confront Prime was Tim’s holding his hand.

Tim’s phone rang and he let go of Kon to read the text. “Shit, the wheelchair ramp is blocked. I chose this park because it’ll be accessible for Babs. I want everyone to be able to enjoy the picnic after we make the announcement. My brothers are in the parking lot with her but there’s a lot of things to carry. Can you go help them, Conner?”

“But…” The logical part of him knew that Tim would be safe with so many superheroes in the park. A majority had kryptonian abilities as well. Nevertheless, he didn’t want to leave Tim. Then, he looked down and saw the concern in his eyes. Family was important to both of them and Tim would want him to help Barbara. With a reluctant sigh, Kon let him go. “I’ll be back soon. Stay near Kara and Kenan.”

Kon nudged Tim towards the two because he trusted that they would protect him. He flew away, intending to return as quickly as possible. Tim watched him leave and silently calculated how long it would take to reach the parking lot, clear the path and help carry everything back. He reasoned that he should have enough time.

He took a deep breath before he walked to Prime. Tim stopped a few feet in front of him and he was careful to position himself with the table between them. Lois petitioned for the League to allow him a chance to prove himself. CK hadn’t given them a reason to distrust him since then. However, the past was hard to forget with the nightmares and scars that he left them.

Prime looked up from his comic book and raised his brow at Tim. “I didn’t expect you to be the first one to say hello. Sometimes, I see you around the Watchtower and you always ignore me.”

“You killed my mate. Bart aged himself and almost lost his powers chasing you. My team became a mess because of you.” He spoke bluntly. Prime didn’t flinch back at the glare that Tim aimed at him. He had grown accustomed to the League’s judgemental eyes. They both sensed a few people shift towards their table but no one tried to step between them. Whether they were careful to not have the tension escalate into a fight or they wanted to give him a chance to speak, Tim was grateful.

He tried to maintain his composure. He refused to let memories of the past make him falter in front of Prime. “Today is important to Conner and he invited you. So, don’t be an arrogant jerk to him. He’s strong, kind and a great hero. If you even suggest that he isn’t, you’ll regret it. Our Earth’s kryptonite doesn’t work on you but it can be modified to match your world’s version.”

“Oh?” The threat didn’t appear to faze Prime. He simply tilted his head and flipped to the next page of his comic book. “Then I need to be on my best behaviour like I already am. How far along are you with this little weapon against me?”

Tim hesitated. He met Prime’s eyes and placed a hand over the pup in his stomach. “I never started and I don’t intend to. I’m not going to play with Kryptonite that could hurt my mate and his family. You are Conner’s family until he says otherwise.”

“You bats are interesting. Every Kryptonian has a Robin and I should get one too. Jason’s the type to give me a chance and be my friend. Do you think Bizarro will be willing to share with me? Bizarro follows him like a duckling with their mother but he shouldn’t mind if I take a little of Jason’s attention. Your Superboy sounds like he’s ready to throw me into the Phantom Zone right now.”

He barely finished speaking when Kon suddenly came between them. The ground shook with the impact of his purposeful steps as he moved in front of him and grabbed his shirt in his fist. Prime didn’t flinch back and merely raised his hands in a mocking show of surrender. Kon didn’t punch him but the threat was there in his growl. “Did you touch Tim?”

“Prime didn’t hurt me, Conner. I just wanted to tell him to behave himself for the barbeque. I’m safe. We’re both safe.” He said and released his omega scent to calm him. Kon knew that Tim would never lie about the safety of their child but he still took a moment to look back at him. After he saw that he was uninjured, he let go of Prime’s shirt.

“Sorry,” Kon forced the apology through his teeth. He didn’t believe Prime deserved to hear it when he had every reason to be protective of his mate. He only said the words to ease the tension in the air around them. Stress would negatively affect Tim and their pup far more than his pride.

If Prime was offended by Kon’s attack or halfhearted apology, it didn’t appear on his face. He only let out a self-deprecating laugh. “Does this mean that I can’t be your pup’s godfather? That’s a shame since I’m one of the strongest heroes here and I can protect them the best.”

“Wait, a pup? Is Tim pregnant?” With Kenan’s realization and outburst, the rest of the family surrounded the table. They were only curious and excited with the news but being crowded so suddenly made Tim step back. Kon quickly wrapped his arms around his waist and pulled him against his chest. Feeling his warmth and protection helped calm him.

For the first time that day, Prime appeared guilty and he made a rueful smile. “That was supposed to be a surprise but I ruined it, didn’t I? You can punch me for that. I deserve it.”

“Wait, Prime knew but you told me to keep it a secret?” Jon yelled and crossed his arms.

“You should’ve told me, Conner!” Kenan gently punched his arms.

Watching the two begin to bicker, Kon had to chuckle. He should’ve been irritated that he wasn’t able to make the announcement the way he planned. Any anger he had disappeared when he felt the support of his family. 

“You’re going to be a father. It still feels like yesterday that you were a brash teenager running into fights.” Steel’s voice was a mixture of disbelief and pride. A few of his cousins had to nod in agreement. Kenan threw his arm around his shoulder and gave him a bright smile. Kon appreciated everyone’s congratulation yet he found himself looking to Clark for his reaction.

There were times when he feared that he didn’t have a place in the universe— let alone in Superman’s family. Even when they made a seat at the table for him, something held him back. Kon had felt lost. He needed to find who he was outside of Superman’s clone and what he wanted for himself. It took travelling through countless galaxies for him to realize that his home was Earth with the people who he held dear. He would do anything to protect Tim and their pup.

“Have you two picked a name yet?” Clark asked. The question was all Kon needed to hear. He could still remember the day that he was given his name. He hadn’t realized how something simple would become so important to him. A thousand fans cheering for Superboy could never compare to how Tim whispered his name at night.

“We have a few ideas but we’re waiting until we know the pup’s gender to decide.” Tim hesitated before he added: “I hope you don’t mind, Ma. If it’s a girl, we would like to name her after you.”

“Mind? I would be honoured!” Martha took both Tim’s hands in her own. “I know a few things about raising superpowered children so come to me for advice or anything else that you need. Don’t underestimate how challenging it will be because your pup will be three quarters human. Oh, you must come to the farm and take a few hand-me-downs for your pup. I’m certain Wayne can afford an amusement park for your child but we want to give them a few heirlooms from us.”

“We’ll appreciate anything that you give our pup.” Tim looked down at the elderly woman’s hands and his heart tightened in his chest. He couldn’t help but wish that it was his mother whose hands were holding him while aged and wrinkled. His mother died when he was barely a teenager so he would never be able to ask her for advice with his pregnancy or raising a child.

Tears began to cloud his eyes and he suddenly found it difficult to thank her like he wanted. Tim searched his pockets for a napkin to dry his tears, worried that he would cause a scene. Kon was faster. He gently pulled him closer and wiped his tears away with his sleeve. “You okay, Wonder?”

“I’m fine. It’s just the hormones making me emotional and sentimental.” Being wrapped in his arms would usually help calm him yet his eyes began to water again. He thought of the family he lost, the one who adopted him and the gift that Kon gave him. Tim had been so lonely as a child that he never imagined he would be surrounded by a warm family like now. “Thank you, Conner. I love you.”

“I should’ve known that the only thing more protective than an alpha is a pack of bats. Your family is human but stranger than mine.” Kon laughed and earned himself a quick glare from Tim. His frown was more from hunger than the lighthearted comment. Any irritation he felt eased when Kon held a grape against his lips. Sitting on his lap, Tim allowed him to feed him.

He had been hoping to eat something sweet and salty like steak covered with honey and peanut butter. Alfred insisted that he should be the one to cook the steak to perfection. He would ensure that the steak was well done to not harm his pup while being satisfying enough for Tim’s food cravings. He already went through several steaks and Krypto stole the failed attempts. Tim appreciated the effort but he was beginning to worry that he would be full on grapes before Alfred finished.

Tim leaned back against his strong chest and watched his brothers spar with Kon’s cousins. He didn’t know whether he should smile or shake his head at the reason they decided to have a friendly spar. “I don’t know why they made a tournament to decide who will be our pup’s godparent. Neither of us are that religious. I swear everyone just wanted an excuse to test their strength.”

“A godparent doesn’t have to be religious. They just want you to know that your pup will be cared for if anything happens.” Barbara parked her wheelchair behind them. Tim shifted to look back at her but he didn’t leave his lap. She smiled softly at him. “If you end up picking a godparent, raw strength isn’t everything. I can protect your pup and teach them everything I know.”

“I think you’re the strongest batgirl.” Kon said.

“Oh, you’re just saying that to butter me up. You need to do better than that since you immediately left after clearing the ramp.” She laughed and slapped his shoulder. When he held up his hand, Barbara accepted his help. He used his TTK to carefully move her to sit next to them on the picnic blanket.

“In my defense, I thought my mate and pup were in danger.” After Kon left to help Barbara, he heard the confrontation with Prime. His heart all but stopped with fear that Tim’s threat would be angry enough to hurt him. He removed the debris blocking the ramp and flew back to the park as quickly as he could. Kon pulled him closer and placed a protective hand on his stomach.

“Did your obstetrician tell you when you’re due? Once you’re further along, you’re going to be working with Oracle in the Clock Tower. No more swinging from skyscrapers for you.” Her tone made it clear that she wouldn’t hear any argument from him. Tim hesitated to immediately agree with her. He still needed to decide whether he would give up Red Robin to raise his pup.

His vow to make Gotham safer was now more important since his pup would call the city their home. Thankfully, Tim had the resources and support to continue being a vigilante. Kon and his siblings would protect his pup during night patrols. On the other hand, the mere thought of leaving his pup to work made him feel guilty. He knew what it felt like to question why his parents prioritized faceless strangers over their own son. He didn’t want his daughter to have the same insecurities.

“Hey, Timmy, your steak is done. You better finish the whole plate since you’re eating for two now. You’ve always been the runt in the family so it’s even more important for you to get bigger.” Jason joined them on the picnic blanket and held out a plate to Tim.

Before, Tim would’ve been offended by his dismissive tone. His family struggled to be direct and open with their feelings but he came to understand how they showed they cared. Whether it was Alred cooking dinner, Dick remembering small family traditions, or Jason’s distant protection, they were all rooted in love. They weren’t the perfect family like one would find in the movies. However, they were Tim’s and he loved them nevertheless.

Even with that thought, he glanced at Bruce sitting a few feet from them. He had been silent ever since they told him that he was pregnant. Tim assumed it was due to shock. He was beginning to worry what he could be thinking behind the silence. Did Bruce believe he wasn’t ready to be a mother but couldn’t find the heart to tell him? Would Batman force him to choose between a pup and being his sidekick?

Tim’s spiralling thoughts only quieted when Kon kissed the top of his head. He had to wonder if he was able to read his thoughts when Kon flicked a grape at Bruce. “Hey, Gramps, aren’t you going to join the godfather tournament? You have a reputation of adopting kids.”

“I might be too old for a tournament against superpowered aliens.” Bruce looked up from the picnic blanket and stared at them. Something in his eyes told Tim that he was looking past him to a time long ago. “I can’t help seeing that child who forced his way into the Robin costume. You’re my son. You always will be. But you’re all grown up now and you’re going to have your own family. I feel a little old.”

“Bruce… Dad, you are getting older. You don’t need to be afraid of that though. If you can fight crime at your age, you will still have the energy to play catch with my pup.” Tim slipped off Kon’s lap and moved to sit in front of his father. “Kon and I aren’t going to die any time soon but will you be my pup’s godfather? I know you’ll protect them. You did well with us.”

Kon agreed but he couldn’t help adding: “After surviving everything the world has thrown at you, I’m pretty sure you’re immortal. You’re going to grow old enough that our grandchildren will be pulling out your grey hair.”

“My hair isn’t grey.”

“Yet.”

“Hey!” Kara interrupted them and floated over Tim. “I was fighting my ass off for the title and you’re just going to give it to someone who was sitting here. Conner, I demand a re-count of the votes!”