tbowaut

Tim has to learn how to roller skate for a mission, that's- yeah that's the context...

Over the next couple days, Tim's roller skating skills rapidly improved, their determination fueling their progress. Hours upon hours were spent in the mobility gym, with the sounds of wheels rolling across the polished floor echoing throughout. They started by perfecting the basics: maintaining balance, gaining speed, and turning with precision. Each repetition brought greater control and confidence and a rush of adrenaline they hadn’t realised they’d been missing. An excited grin grew tugged loose their lips as all the responsibility hushed quiet at the back of their mind.

As the sun rose and set, they soon incorporated agility exercises, deftly weaving through obstacle courses, ricocheting off inclines and performing daring acrobatic maneuvers on skates. Their body moved with grace and purpose, adapting to the newfound challenges. 

With a firm grasp on movement, Tim advanced to wielding various weapons. Swords sliced through the air, and bo staffs spun with deadly accuracy as they honed their skills, seamlessly blending martial prowess with the fluidity of skating.

Finally, sparring sessions with Kon put Tim's abilities to the test. Blows were exchanged, and strategies were refined, all while balancing precariously on their skates. Through trial and error, Tim quickly adapted and before the hour was up they’d successfully kicked Kryptonian butt to Jupiter and back. As Kon glared at them from the floor, they snickered with a slight feeling of pride.

“Hey,” Kon pouted, taking their hand to help him to his feet, “ don’t get cocky, I got you like twice today,” 

Humming non committedly in reply, Tim didn’t point out that it was 2/37, because really who was counting? Instead, they checked the time, finding only 4 minutes until they had to be across the mountain for the final mission briefing.

A playful smile slid on their face as they powered off the combat sensors for training. “Hey Kon,” They readied themself, angling toward the door. “Race ya,” 

And then Tim was out the door, speeding down the halls and leaving Kon spluttering behind them. Cackling and knowing they had mere seconds until Kon was on their tail, Tim used every shortcut they could think of and closed every door in Kon’s way.

Rounding a corner they got to a long hallway with Arsonal and Green Arrow, arguing and blocking the way. With their speed, Tim made a quick calculation as inspiration struck; Kon would win otherwise, and they were –maybe, debatably– competitive so with Newton on their side Tim gave it a shot. 

They built up speed, and jumped– bracing their legs on the walls in a spilt they pointed their toes at and incline. And like holding their hand out in the wind, they rose to the ceiling –soaring over the two screeching heroes below– before they tilted down to build back speed and rocketed down the hall; using their momentum to launch off another wall and change direction around the next corner.

They could hear Kon gaining on them as the entryway to the briefing room glowed a blue light down the dimly lit hallway. With a straight shot, they left an opening for Kon, reaching for their bow staff. They hooked it in the pocket of Kon’s leather jacket when he passed, slingshotting themself into the room and across the finish line.

At the crazy speed of flying Kryptonian and then some, Tim was forced to jump the meeting table even as they skidded to a stop. 

The room fell into a stunned silence as the squeal of Tim’s rubber wheels echoed off the walls. Nightwing's domino eyes widened momentarily before a smirk appeared on his face. "Looks like you had fun," he commented, amusement clear in his voice. “And you were complaining…” Tim couldn't help but return the smile with a shrug, still breathless from the exhilarating race.

Batman looked at Tim like they were the reason he was getting gray hair, giving Tim a long, suffering sigh as he gestured for them to take a seat. “I’m going to have to ban roller skates as well as skateboards in the manor.” He clicked, glaring at Dick who shrugged in response.

"We have a debriefing to start. Take your seats." He ordered, sweeping his cape in a tired way that meant Bruce was questioning why he ever had children.

Tim felt a wave of adrenaline ebb away, replaced with the familiar focus that came with the task at hand. They carefully maneuvered around the table, taking a seat beside their fellow teammates. Kon, red-faced and trying to hide a grin, settled into a chair next to Tim and Bart was vibrating in his chair on Tim’s otherside.

As everyone settled, Batman stood at the head of the table, his commanding presence filling the room. "Now that we're all here," he stated, his gaze sweeping across the assembled heroes, "let's–

Green Arrow burst into the room, giving Tim a haunted expression. “Batman! I think that one’s possessed” He accused pointing a finger, cupping his hand in a way that seemed to make him think Tim couldn’t hear he added in a whispering tone “...It can fly”

His eyelids fluttered open, squinting against the harsh, artificial brightness of the sun lamp overhead. The light created sharp contrasts, casting Red’s unblinking domino stark against the sterile white of the infirmary. Kon's head was nestled against Red’s chest, he could feel the warmth from their laptop from where it whurred on his back. There was a trace smell of salt water in the air mixing with something more sour. He couldn’t pinpoint when Red had stopped typing but the sounds of keys no longer filled the now too quiet infirmary.

The infirmary where Kon was laying in nothing but his Batman boxers, cuddled up to Red Robin.

As soon as Kon could comprehend what was happening, embarrassment flooded his mind. He jerked back as fuzzy memories of begging Red to stay warmed his ears. He wanted to die.

“Hold still.” Red tutted, adjusting tubes that stick out of one side of his body.

Freezing, Kon complied with a complete loss for words. Would have said something profound like ‘Uuuuhhhh…?” while Red leaned over to put down their computer, but his mouth was so dry he just ended up smacking his lips. They slipped out from under him with more grace than he could have managed, quickly filling a cup with water for him. 

Kon briefly looks for a sheet to cover himself with but only finds one completely tucked into the bed it feels like it was sewn on. He pulls on it with fruitless mortification, hearing returning footsteps he snaps his hands in front of his underwear. Red looks visibly irritated when they come back to see he’s moved to a sitting position. Kon’s only response is a shaky embarrassed grin.

“Vision normal?” They ask, holding his chin steady as they study his eyes. 

Fumbling for an answer, he remains slack jawed as they tip his head in a few directions and feel at different parts of his throat.

“Kon.” Red stares expectantly.

“I -right -yeah.” He splutters, flinching away when they shine a bright light right in his eye. 

One hand grips his jaw and the other forces one of his eyes open as Red lectures something about a pupil reflex. Their hand is warm even through the latex glove, and Kon’s mind scrambles as Red perches one knee on the bed leaning over him. He can count the worry lines on their face as their hands make micro adjustments in position; gently pushing and feeling their way across his jaw and down his neck.

Every movement of their hands sends warm bubbly tingles through Kon’s body. All the air is sucked out of the room and he can’t breathe; like his lungs forget how to move. Maybe they’re frozen like the rest of him under Red’s analytical gaze as their fingers hit his collar bone.

Kryptonite had never made him feel this floaty before. Weird. 

“Kon, are you listening?” Red’s voice drags him down to the mortifying present. Their hand cups his jaw more gently this time as they tilt his face to look at theirs. “Are you struggling with hearing?”

“I’m- no.” Kon gestures to the water on the table to give himself a second. He’s surprised when instead of handing it to him Red sits next to him and brings it to his lips. The cool water does little help as heat continues to rush to his face and the hand on his jaw keeps his mouth dry. 

“Just, can’t focus.” He gulps when they pull away the cup.

“You were pretty out of it earlier.” Hums Red, wiping a drop from his chin with their thumb. The floor drops out from under him, and something in his chest spasms. Their brow unfurrows and their tone softens. ”I had asked you to tell me if there was any pain.”

More slowly, they repeat the soft touches down his throat and Kon fights the effects of the Kryptonite to keep his head out of the bubbly fuzz. He makes a noise when there’s an uncomfortable twinge.

“Swollen lymph nodes.” Red notes moving away from the area. “Expected immune reaction.”

Their fingers hit his collarbone again. His face sizzlies with heat.

“Do you remember what happened?” They ask, nudging his face to look at them again.

“I-” Kon’s brow’s knit. “We were fighting Freeze.” He looks down and his hands fold. “I evacuated a building.” Red puts a comforting hand over his, humming in agreement. 

“Then what?” They urge, tone like honey.

“I went to- to check on someone” He continues as he grasps at foggy memories. His voice falters slightly. “A boy, saying he was dying…”

Finished fleshing out the outline for this chapter, time to start writing! Oh, do I have time to do this?

*Pushes work off of desk*

Yup totally :D

Tim/Kon - that moment when you commit a B&E as a bonding activity. Ya know, just to cheer up your friend.

AO3 link

“Superboy,” Red calls, from where they stand at a small table, “have you seen the city of Kandor yet?” 

Shaking his head Kon floats over to come see what they’re talking about, when he gets closer he sees what they’re looking at. It’s a city in a bottle, what catches his attention is the fact that the city is populated. On the table there are some notes clearly taken by Superman that Red is skimming, they don’t seem very happy and Kon understands why as soon as he gets a good look at them; they’re in Kryptonian.

“What does it say?” They demand flipping to the page with yesterday's date.

“Uh, December 29th.” Kon reads out, putting on his best posh-Superman impression he can, “The citizens of Kandor are celebrating a holiday they call Woksnansh. Its origins and purpose are lost on me but they’ve made food that smells different than usual and are burning it. I suspect it has religious origins from this fact alone.”

“He’s studying them to learn about Kryptonian culture.” Red hums flipping through notes they can’t read. “Interesting…”

They inspect the notes for a few moments before looking at the city closely. Kon can hear the bustling of the city now that he’s not tuning out the noise of the world in his mind. The bustling streets are filled with people talking and it’s… Kryptonian. They’re all speaking in Kryptonian!

A fond smile forms on Kon’s face. Suddenly another noise gains his attention: the sound of someone landing in the snow outside.

His eyes snap to the door in fear. 

Superman was coming.

He turns to tell Red, when they cover his mouth with their hand. Their face full of understanding, like he doesn’t have to say it; they got it from his body language alone. Glancing around, Red quickly makes a decision and ducks under the table with the Kandor city on it; dragging Kon with them. 

It’s cramped, but they both fit and he watches on as Red fixes the blue table cloth to where it had been before they ducked under the table. 

Kon can hear the rumble of the door and he can barely breathe. God this was so stupid. What were they thinking? Breaking into the fortress of solitude? Superman could hear them, he had X-ray vision, he could probably smell them if he wanted to. 

Kon’s eyes follow Superman around the room, looking through the table cloth with his own infrared vision. The man bustles around grabbing something off one of the shelves before turning and beginning to head their way. Red isn’t breathing as Superman approaches the table they’re under and Kon follows their lead.

He stands right in front of them, the toe of his shoe poking under the table cloth and Kon hears the scratching of a pen on paper. Red and him press further together so as not to touch the man’s shoe, because there really isn’t any room under this dumb table.

Seeming done, Superman takes whatever it was on the shelf and flies out the door. He and Red stay where they are for a few seconds, just to be sure they’re out of hearing range. 

Slowly Red crawls out from under the table and Kon follows, letting out a sigh of relief. Seeming to agree, Red lets out a similar sigh and meets Kons eyes under their domino. They stare at each other in disbelief for a second before they both double over in breathless laughter. 

Here they were: In Superman’s base, sneaking around and hiding under tables like little kids at a party.

“Mon Dieu, that was close,” Sighs Red, 

“Why the table?” Kon snorts,

“Because, if we made noise he’d probably think it was just one of the Kandorians.” They shrug, turning back to the city. “Super senses means it’s best to hide in a crowd.”

“Good to know that’s where you’ll be when I look for you.” laughs Kon, striding back over to the shelves, there's an empty space but he doesn’t remember what was there. 

They spend another few minutes exploring before Red tells him they should get going before Superman gets back to return whatever he took out of the fortress. Agreeing, Kon takes one last look around, quickly whips out his phone to capture the moment and curses himself for not doing so earlier.