There's this trope that I really like where they sort of phase into each other so here's my attempt at that

Here's some other artists' takes on it that are rlly banger...

https://www.tumblr.com/eggsplice/777655097066913792/codepency?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/lunehowls/774861934107492352/i-really-loved-you-you-know?source=share

There's more but idk where right now!

Here's the bg if you want it

Which, on Christmas, isn't unusual for most people. They're often too busy watching movies or getting ready for dinner, both of which Tim hasn't done in a good long while.

This Christmas is different, though. He may not be surrounded by family, but he's definitely surrounded by something pretty darn close to it. Dick had driven over from Bludhaven, Jason had dropped off some presents earlier before dipping to go spend the evening with Roy and Lian, and Damian had spent the morning in Russia with Jon and his dad, pelting snowballs at eachother.

Bruce, even though he didn't normally celebrate Christmas himself (but got plenty of gifts across the whole of Chanukah from family, friends and co-workers alike) had made sure the bottom of the tree was entirely obscured with the amount of gifts sitting under it.

Kon had dropped round some gifts from the whole team before flying to the Kent farmhouse for what Tim was sure was an abhorrently big meal, enough to feed 10 men. Or, 3 hungry Kryptonians and some (human) change.

Normally, even on Christmas, Tim would've glanced at his phone about 10 times before breakfast. As the only (kind of) adult in the family with any kind of free time over the holiday season, he had taken it upon himself to keep an eye on the Gotham Rogue Gallery's rare daytime dealings, just to make sure they didn't jeopardise anyone's Christmas.

But, this year... he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Because he couldn't stand knowing, definitively, whether or not his parents had wished him a Merry Christmas.

It was the first Christmas out of contact with them. They'd had... a falling out, as Alfred had called it, in September, leading to Tim not being invited home for Christmas this year.

It... sucked. Being so close to the house he grew up in, boxes of his stuff that he hadn't gotten round to moving over to the Nest yet still sitting in their attic. If they hadn't thrown it all out already.

Even though he was surrounded by everyone he needed at this time of year, even though he was surrounded by laughter and light and so much love, he still felt empty. Hollow. Wrong.

I approached Her.

One hundred and twelfth bloom, I had a hard time remembering how to pronounce Her ancient and alien name, fortunetly for me She let's me call Her Daisy. A being of such age just sitting at a table in a cafee.

'Is something wrong little one?' She asked, as if Her presence here wasn't so out of place for me.

'Nothing Miss Daisy' I responded, hoping i kept a straight face.

She showed me to take a seat next to Her on a Affini-sized couch. I still had no idea what She would want from a girl like me, just a boring, normal, mortal person.

I still took the seat nonetheless, talking with Her was always interesting and I couldn't miss out talking to someone so fascinating.

'How was your week?' I started with a safe question.

'Nothing special, at least nothing more special than you here petal. So let's talk about the most interesting thing that has happened this week and what is on said "thing's" mind. I see something is bothering you and has been so for our last few meetings.'

I just sat there frozen with her 6 mesmerising eyes piercing through me. I had no idea how to bring up how insignificant I felt next to Her.

I did not want to mention how hard it was to adjust to the idea of no more capitalism, how it all felt so foreign and I wanted to cry. It was not bad by any mean, I just had a hard time adjusting and it was all my fault and i shouldn't concern Her with such banalities.

I jumped as I felt a vine poking at my arm and then going inside of it.

'Pardon me, I seem to have asked a hard question causing you some unnecessary anxiety. I hope you do not mind some class-E and very mild class-D to help you talk.

I was scared of what was about to come out of my mouth, I did give Her permission to administer me xenodrugs just in case but I never expected class-D.

'Just you are so old, not like it is bad or anything but my mind just thinks it is weird you even notice a dumb girl like me also ever since the Affini arrived everything has been changing and it is so much. Suddenly it is okay to wear a collar in public and even though I always wanted that I just can't get myself to do it because I am still scared people will look weird at me. Please make it stop, please.'

I stopped as soon as i felt her administer something to neutralise class-D in me. I stared at my hands just wanting to cry and expecting her to do, I don't know, something. Something bad must happen, it always does when I open up, parents hated me for that, some friends did too, now Her.

Instead I felt a warm embrace.

'It is okay little one, you are absolutely not dumb and I am deeply sorry for making you speak what you think like that. I however belive it was necessery for you to say it out loud and I am glad I could hear it, that way I may help you. In the meantime would you like to order something warm to drink while you recover?'

I just silently nodded.

After some time i have noticed what a beautiful night it was. I hang on to the one familiar thing I could see, the stars. I always liked watching them I could always count on them, recognising constellations above made me feel calmer. I finally got a nice lukewarm tea, just the way I liked it. Another thing to ground me and calm me down.

'Do you remember the first time you saw the stars?' I asked after what felt like an eternity.

'Of course I do.' She responded with that gentle voice of Hers.

'How different was it from the one here?'

'Unimaginably so.'

'You must miss it' I knew I would.

'To be true with you my dear, I don't. If that sky stayed with me for all my blooms I would not have taken florets, I would have not helped so many cuties like you. I am aware change is scary, especially for your species,from my observations, however it is also natural. The world around you will change, sophonts you meet will change, the sky will change, you will change but it is for the better. Standing in place doesn't get anyone anything. Even if some things don't seem to ever fully change, sometimes you will meet old friends and it will be as if not a day has passed. You will find a few thing that will stay somewhat the same, the way you like tea, what your favaurite genre of books is, ones your heart belongs to.

Although a lot will be diffrent and you must remember that. Some sophonts need help with accepting that truth of the ever changing universe, others realise it on their own. Once you realise you can change and leave things behind you can be fully yourself. You can be free from what everyone thought you should be, break out of that rigid idea.

For instance, becoming a floret is about accepting that change, you put all the terrible things behind yourself and can begin being your best self . Tonight you are an independent, but who knows about tomorrow?

I may have a new pet to talk about the stars with.

We will see, won't we petal?'

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: All For The Game - Nora Sakavic Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Nicky Hemmick & Aaron Minyard & Andrew Minyard Characters: Andrew Minyard, Aaron Minyard, Neil Josten, Kevin Day, Nicky Hemmick, Erik Klose Additional Tags: Political Assassination, Poison, Assassins & Hitmen, Protective Andrew Minyard, POV Andrew Minyard, Andrew Minyard Loves Nicky Hemmick, Murder, Whump, Angst, You know what?, Angst with a Happy Ending, the best possible happy ending in my humble opinion, No Beta we die like Seth Gordon; against advice and in a way that inconveniences everyone Summary:

What happens when Nicholas Hemmick is disappeared in the middle of the night during a raid on Eden's?