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Tim rubbed his neck gingerly, necks weren’t supposed to feel like that normally, oh well. His feet thumped across the cement rooftops lightly, jumping from building to building freely. Patrolling around late Summer always made him feel weirdly nostalgic. Late Summer did in general, but especially when he was up on top of Gotham like this. He smiled to himself as the soft, golden light of early morning cracked through the horizon, dusting the usually miserable looking city with a quiet air of peace. This is how he wished others could see it, not the regular drizzling of rain splattering from the gloomy grey mush of clouds above.
Tim landed with a muted thud on a rusted fire escape, rolling his shoulder with a wince before vaulting down to the alley below. The muscles along his back protested, the dull ache of overexertion settling in like it had signed a lease. He’d have to stretch more next time, or at least try to avoid sleeping in weird angles at his computer. Patrol that night had been largely uneventful, still resulting with him having a few blooming bruises along his sides and a small cut just under his right eye, though. He could’ve taken the bike, but the quiet of Gotham at this hour made walking feel like a luxury. Barely any traffic, the streets still hushed before the buzz of morning fully kicked in.
The sky was barely awake, soft strokes of pale peach and cool blue stretching over Gotham’s skyline. Tim moved like a shadow across the rooftops, he had already stripped off his gloves in preparation for de-suiting back at the cave, fingers flexing in the cool air. A soft thump echoed behind him as a second pair of boots hit the rooftop he was currently crossing. Dick.
While these days Dick was usually in Blüdhaven over the week, he tended to stop by for the weekend to catch up with everyone or help out with patrol. Tim loved it, having his brother nearby just like he used to, just with a little more space. Things were great between them recently and that seemed to be the pattern across his other brothers too. Jason and Tim regularly stopped by at each other's safe houses and apartments for (in Tim’s case) Jason cooking for him, or (in Jason’s case) Tim getting some help on a troubling robbery or hacking. Even Damian was tolerating him a lot more than previously, just the last week he had walked past Tim eating breakfast and not said a single thing about his, probably horrible, posture.
Tim turned his head back to nod at Dick politely as he continued his path towards the Manor. He was fully suited up, hair puffed out in a way that told Tim he had been using his way too expensive conditioner he had said he would be dropping out of his shower routine. What a liar, Tim scoffed under his breath, hiding the smile that spread across his face. Dick sped up slightly to push himself to be in line with Tim, feet landing with perfect grace. He had that dopey smile plastered on his face that Jason usually teased him for, reminding Tim of a dog or a young child. patrol had clearly been fun for him.
“This is Red Robin closing off for the night, heading back now,” He murmured softly into his coms, voice scratching with a gentle tiredness. Beside him, Dick nodded in recognition, eyes trained on the distant pull of the Manor.
“Me too- uh Nightwing!” He added quickly, forcing Tim to conceal a snicker with a soft cough. He snapped his head to gently glare at his younger brother, signaling the lack of acting talent he apparently possessed.
“Yeah, seems about time to clock off. Robin you heading in too?” Jason’s deep voice sounded through the coms, startling Tim an unreasonable amount.
“Affirmative, I’m currently following after the three of you.” Damian hummed in his usual ‘all business’ tone. Wait, three of us? Though Tim, craning his head to the side to catch a glimpse of Jason’s signature helmet a building over, keeping pace as always. Of course, Jason waved patronisingly, telling Tim he must look more surprised at his appearance next to them than he thought. Damn Jason and his unnerving ability to stalk silently.
The fast and firm echo of Damian’s footsteps, maybe a building or two behind him, gave Tim a strange reassurance. They were so consistent it was slightly scary, yet mostly calming to Tim’s patrol-dead brain. He sighed softly to himself, running a hand through his hair, trying to detangle it from the wind’s constant meddling.
“Saw you get nicked by that knife earlier RR, don’t want your pretty boy image getting messed up,” Jason smirked, grin obvious even under his mask.
“Oh shut up-” Tim muttered at the same time Dick turned to him, his concern spearing Tim sharply.
“Are you hurt?” His voice cued no room for hesitancy or brushing off of injuries, as the Wayne boys were so known for.
“No, I’m not hurt Dick, it’s barely a scratch. Hood’s just being a jerk,” He hissed with an exaggerated eye roll, knowing Jason was watching. To prove his point he angled his head towards Dick, showing the thin line of dried blood adorning his cheekbone, light and insignificant as described.
“Ouch,” Jason clutched his chest dramatically, still fighting off the smug smirk he bore. “I thought I was going to be spared from the infamous Red Robin eye roll™. Thought you were supposed to be in a good mood, didn’t you hang out with that super boyfriend of yours yesterday?”
“Oh, Kon? Yeah, I went over to the Kent’s” Dick hummed quietly in consideration.
“Did he not give you enough kisses? That why you’re grouchy?” Jason scoffed, tone still painfully teasing in a way that made Tim’s skin itch.
“ No , I’m not even grouchy!” Tim spat back, too annoyed by the sudden topic to realise how fast his mood had soured. Sure, he might’ve been a little bit frustrated with everyone earlier, but that was just because they were getting on his nerves. Just like now.
“Oh, you so are ,” Jason chuckled, wiggling his eyebrows even though no one could see. “Have you guys even kissed yet?”
“ Yes ,” He huffed, wanting nothing more than to stop talking about this as soon as possible. It wasn’t that he hadn’t kissed Kon , he had, many times, not that they needed to know that. He just hated talking about that kind of stuff with his brothers. One time he had walked in on Dick and Kori making out and that had traumatised him so badly to the point where the thought of them doing anything with anyone made him want to gag. He just couldn’t understand how they could all tolerate it, how they genuinely wanted Tim to blab about his whole relationship in all it’s TMI glory.
“Maybe, what you really need is to sit back and relax… Let that Superboy get down on his knees and-”
“Red Hood!” Damian’s voice snapped loudly, Tim could only imagine the red colour of his cheeks. It was an effective way to shut Jason up, even he had forgotten the young Robin was still following behind them. Dick nodded in agreement with Damian, his turn now to roll his eyes under his mask.
Jason let out a bark of laughter but held up his hands in surrender. “Alright, alright, no more sullying our little detective’s reputation. I’m just saying, if I had a boyfriend who could fly, I’d be late to every patrol too.”
Tim groaned, tugging his cape tighter around himself like it might shield him from the conversation. “You’re always late to patrol anyway!”
Dick gave Tim a gentle nudge with his elbow, grinning in that too-charming-for-his-own-good way. “You know they’re just jealous, right?”
“Jealous of what, exactly?” Damian asked dryly as he finally caught up, landing beside them, his cape fluttering softly in the breeze.
“Of Tim,” Dick answered, leaning in closer to him. “For having someone who makes him smile like a loser.”
“I do not smile like a loser.” He bit back, though lacking any real anger anymore.
“You do,” Jason and Dick said at the same time.
“Remind me again why I hang out with any of you?” He groaned again, louder this time.
“Because deep down, you love us,” Jason sang cheerily, voice fading gently as they finally neared the edges of the city, turning into suburbs. They slowed down slightly as the outskirts of the Manor grounds came into view, the trees casting long shadows in the early morning light.
That night as they sat down for the newly mandatory Sunday dinners, Tim found himself lost in the gentle bantering, already missing Kon. As Jason had said, he had hung out with Kon the day before. They’d curled up together in the loft of the Kent’s barn, an 80s fantasy movie playing on the wall from a janky projector Clark had finally managed to fix for them. Tim didn’t even remember the name of the movie, maybe The Princess Bride, maybe Labyrinth. All he remembered was Kon’s arm around his shoulders, fingers brushing slow, lazy circles over the hem of his hoodie. The low rumble of his voice whenever he whispered a dumb comment about the plot. The way his eyes crinkled when he laughed, unguarded and full of light. He was so unbearably kissable.
He’d been dating Kon for a few months now. It still felt surreal sometimes. Not because it didn’t make sense, it did. In fact, it made too much sense. That was part of the problem. Tim wasn’t used to things fitting easily, but the way they had been perfect best friends, it just made sense to be perfect boyfriends , too.
He would never forget the first time they had actually had sex together. It hadn’t been planned. Nothing about Kon ever really was, not the way he grinned, not the way he showed up at Tim’s window without warning, not the way he leaned into a kiss like it was the only thing tethering him to the world. It had been late, well later than they usually stayed up together. Considering Kon was a full time vigilante, it was honestly a miracle he got anything done in Tim’s eyes, always practically passing out after twelve o’clock.
Tim had barely managed to get back to his apartment after a mission, aching all over, tired in a way that settled deep in his bones. And still, seeing Kon appear through the glass made his heart thump and reignite all over again. They had been lying curled up against each other on his far too big bed, giggling through whispers and gentle kisses. The kisses had turned warmer, and the soft caresses soon became grounding grips. His hip, or his waist or neck. Tim didn’t care where Kon touched him, everywhere felt like fire.
It was perfect though, just as he had known it would’ve been. Wasn’t rushed or filled with pure lust. It was simultaneously slow and gentle mixed with a blend of undiluted adoration and desire. He had laughed as Kon accidentally broke the lube bottle in anticipation, immediately shut up by the heat in Kon’s eyes. The way he had looked at him, like Tim was a fallen angel, sent just for him.
Meanwhile Tim stared down at his mashed potatoes, lost in thought, as Damian and Jason bickered across the table. Dick, ever the mediator, was trying to direct Alfred’s perfectly roasted vegetables to everyone’s plate in fair portions, while also stealing the crispiest ones for himself when he thought no one was looking. He pushed his food around his plate now, lips twitching faintly, trying to pretend he couldn’t feel his cheeks burning.
“Are you even chewing or just mentally evaluating your mashed potatoes?” Dick asked, nudging his arm playfully.
Tim blinked back to the present, finally taking a forkful of the mentioned mash potatoes up to his mouth. “Thinking.”
“About Connor?” Damian asked, far too bluntly. Jason nearly choked on his water.
Tim gave a flat look to all of them. “Yes, actually .”
Dick chuckled, clearly delighted. “Well, that’s fair,” He smiled mischievously, faux swooning onto the side of Tim’s chair with an overly-exaggerated sigh.
“Yuck,” Jason muttered, shoving a carrot into his mouth.
Tim jabbed his fork in his direction, mashed potato somehow still clinging to it. “You have something you wanna say about my relationship?”
“I wasn’t going to,” Jason grinned. “But now that you’ve reminded me-”
“Jason,” Dick warned.
“Ugh,” Damian muttered, dramatically setting down his utensils. “This entire family is insufferable.”
“You just need to actually get laid, maybe you’d be a lot more enjoyable to be around then,” Jason shrugged, tone as if he was offering genuine advice, which it probably was. Tone as if he was offering reasonable advice, fit better.
Right before Tim could spit back a frustrated jab, Dick locked eyes with him with that dumb big brotherly kindness that signaled he was about to say something he was proud of himself for saying.
“Tim, there’s nothing wrong with being a virgin,” He smiled warmly, placing a hand on Tim’s shoulder, ignoring the mortified drop of his jaw. In the silent few seconds that followed, a thousand thoughts raced between his ears. He definitely wasn’t a virgin, surely they knew that, but the way his two older brothers were currently looking at him told him all he needed to know. Oh well, he wasn’t going to be the one to disprove that assumption, at least not right then. That was for sure.
Bruce, who had been conspicuously silent for most of dinner, likely in the vain hope that the chaos would burn itself out, finally cleared his throat and set down his knife and fork with a practiced kind of finality. He had a mildly entertained glint in his eyes, it had been a while since everyone was bantering like this.
“We need to start discussing quarterly patrol rotations,” he said, in the tone he usually reserved for Wayne Enterprise meetings and crime negotiations. “Blüdhaven’s been seeing a spike in-”
“Is this because you don’t want to hear about Tim’s sex life?” Jason interrupted, mouth full of roast chicken. His hand was outstretched in a casual way, flinging a piece of chicken onto Damian’s lap, who scowled and muttered something angrily. Probably a death threat. “Or Lack of…?” He added grinning.
Tim nearly dropped his fork. “What the hell, Jason?!” His cheeks were now burning at full force, a shameful mix of embarrassment and left over warmth from his earlier spiral.
Dick groaned softly, one hand pinching the bridge of his nose. “I’m begging you, please , just one dinner without someone invoking someone else’s sex life.”
Bruce didn’t even flinch, cutting his own chicken politely. “I want to remind everyone that this is still my house.”
“And I’d like to remind you,” Jason said, gesturing broadly with his fork again, eyes flicking between Bruce, Tim and Damian, “That your youngest son was the one who asked Tim if he was thinking about Connor, and not in the ‘is he eating enough protein’ kind of way.”
Damian scowled further, arms crossed tightly over his chest. Tim could just sense the scoff brewing in his throat. “I merely asked a question. He was obviously lost in thought. And considering how in love he’s been lately-”
“I’m not that obvious,” Tim muttered, turning redder by the second.
“You are,” Dick supplied quickly, sipping his water calmly.
“You really are,” Jason agreed, leaning his chin on his hand. “You’ve got that dreamy, ‘I’d really like to stick my hand down his pants’ glow.”
Tim dropped his head to the table with a dull thud. “Can we not do this right now?”
“Why not?” Jason said with faux innocence. “We never get to talk about your love life, and I, for one, am proud of you. All grown up, sneaking your Kryptonian in through the window like a rebellious teenager.”
“I’m literally in my twenties, Jason.” Tim deadpanned, beyond the point of caring now.
“And yet still blushing like a freshman on prom night,” Jason said, raising his glass to him. “Adorable.”
Bruce visibly clenched his jaw. “Back to patrol-”
“I’m just saying,” Jason plowed on, undeterred. Leaving Bruce to cast an unsurprised side eye towards him, sighing tiredly. “if I had a super boyfriend like Kon, I wouldn’t even see daylight.”
“You don’t see daylight,” Damian said coldly, ignoring the offended glare Jason shot towards him.
Dick, always the diplomat, tried valiantly to redirect the quickly deteriorating conversation. “So… Alfred, these potatoes? Amazing. What did you use this time… rosemary?”
“Don’t think we didn’t notice that deflection, Richard,” Damian said flatly. “You’re just as complicit in this ridiculousness as Todd.”
“I’m not complicit,” Dick said, putting his hands up in mock surrender. “I’m just trying to keep the peace and maybe eat my green beans in silence.” That was an impossible situation, but Tim took pity on him so kept his mouth shut.
He finally raised his head, hair flopping down into his eyes as he gave Jason a murderous glare. “You do know that if I told Kon about any of this, he’d find you and bench press your entire apartment, right?”
“See, that’s why I like him,” Jason said, nodding approvingly. Once again forgetting the cutlery still in his hands and nearly holding his knife to Damian’s throat. “Got good taste. Knows how to make an entrance. Probably knows how to throw you around a bit, too-”
“ Jason !” the table chorused.
“What?” he said, laughing through his next bite. “He started it by being all blushy and weird. I’m just making sure we acknowledge how deeply whipped he is.”
Tim didn’t even deny it. He just stabbed his broccoli with a little too much force. “You’re lucky I’m too tired to start poisoning your food.
Bruce finally decided that this would be the end of the conversation, clearing his throat at least two times louder than necessary. “I would just like to add that I hope all actions of a sexual or intimate nature that any of you engage in, are safe and consensual,” He then turned to face Jason, slinging an arm around his chair, “And if you have any questions regarding that area, don’t be afraid to come talk to me about it, including you, Jaylad,” He smiled down sinisterly, Dick fighting back a snort at the rosiness of Jason’s cheeks.
The rest of the dinner was calmer and lighter, Tim soon excusing himself to head up to his room in the Manor. He was staying just for the night as he usually did on Sundays. He shut the door behind him with a soft click, pressing his back to the cool wood and letting out a long, exasperated groan. He could still hear the faint murmuring and dishes being cleared from downstairs.
He tossed his phone onto the bed, flopped down after it, rolling over and burying his face into the pillow. It was only when he felt the lingering heat on his cheeks that he groaned again. “I’m just making sure we acknowledge how deeply whipped he is.” Like, yeah, okay, true , but still. Did Jason have to announce it to the entire dining table like he was presenting a weather report?
With a resigned sigh, he stretched out, letting his limbs splay over the bed in a lazy sprawl. He reached for his phone again, opened up FaceTime, and hit Kon’s contact. The call started ringing quietly, slightly muffled by his quilt pressing into the speakers. It only took a few seconds before Kon answered, half his face filling the screen. His dark curls framed his face perfectly, a natural halo , Tim thought. He was on his bed in Smallville as of the posters above his bed of horrible 70s and 80s movies he had forced Tim to sit through.
“Hey, Rob,” He smiled, voice low and warm. “Miss me already?”
Tim didn’t even try to hide the way his face lit up. “You know it,” He shifted, trying to get comfortable before settling on his side with the phone propped against a pillow. “You busy?”
“Nah,” Kon replied, “Just finished cleaning up after dinner with Ma, she misses you too, you know?” To which Tim nodded softly, “Maybe it means you should come over again soon…?”
Tim snorted, burying half his face into the pillow. “Wow, pulling the ‘Ma misses you’ card out already?”
“You know it,” Kon smirked, trying his best Tim impression, then tilted his head. “You okay? You’ve got that look.”
“What look?”
“The one where your brain is loud,” Kon said, raising a brow. “You wanna talk about it?”
Tim paused, staring at him for a moment, then sighed again. “Family dinner got… weird.”
“Weird how?” Kon puzzled, trying to decode Tim’s unsure facial expression.
“You were the main topic,” Tim said, deadpan, suppressing another groan.
Kon blinked, then smirked. “Was it about how I’ve got a massive dick?” He then wiggled his eyebrows smugly.
Tim fought back the urge to laugh, he was trying to have an at least semi-serious conversation. “Nah, but like, Jason was full yapping on about us,”
Kon broke into laughter, flopping back on his bed so that his curls flopped into his eyes. “God, I love your brothers.”
“You can have them,” Tim grumbled. “Take them far away. Like another dimension far.”
“No thanks,” Kon said, grinning even wider. “Then who’d embarrass you in public?”
Tim gave him a flat look. “You. You already do that.”
“Yeah,” Kon said, tilting his head affectionately.
“You know what else he said?” Tim huffed, exasperated, “He said something about me needing to get laid and Dick burst into this whole ‘you don’t need to be embarrassed about being a virgin’ thing. And everyone agreed ! They all think I’m a virgin!”
Kon burst out laughing again, full-bodied and unapologetic, his smile practically splitting his face in half. “Wait- wait, what?” he choked out between snorts. “They think you’re-?” He flopped onto his side again, wheezing a little as he stared at the screen with wide, delighted eyes. “Oh, babe .”
Tim groaned, dragging a pillow over his face. “Don’t ‘babe’ me. It was awful! I almost choked on mashed potatoes and then Bruce tried to give us a little safe sex talk.”
That only made Kon laugh harder. “God, I really should’ve been there for this dinner. I would’ve backed you up.” Tim peeked out from under the pillow, eyes narrowing, knowing fully well that he would’ve made things ten times worse.
“In my defense,” Kon added, propping his chin in his hand and giving Tim that lazy, lopsided smirk that never failed to make Tim’s stomach flip, “I do think we’re doing a pretty good job not being virgins.”
Tim choked out a laugh before burying his face in the pillow again. “You’re insufferable.”
“And yet you still call me,” Kon said proudly. “Even when you’re mortified beyond all human comprehension.” Tim nodded in quiet agreement, smiling into the fabric.
“Do I give innocent vibes?” Tim raised his eyebrows, smiling as ‘innocently’ as he could, which only made him look like he was trying to hide a murder.
Kon snorted loudly. “So, wanna FaceTime until one of us falls asleep mid-sentence again?”
Tim rolled his eyes, smiling. “Yeah. But if you hear me snoring, you’re hanging up this time. I mean it.”
“No promises,” Kon said smugly, already adjusting his phone like he was settling in for the night. “I like hearing you snore. It’s cute.” Tim rolled his eyes even more dramatically, pretending he didn’t see Kon screenshot it. He just shifted the pillow again, let his eyes flutter shut, and listened to the soft sound of Kon’s breathing on the other end of the line, his voice still babbling quietly about something irrelevant.
“Hey,” he said, eyes fluttering open just a little. “You wanna come over tomorrow?”
Kon paused, the corners of his mouth lifting slowly. “To your apartment or the Manor?”
“Apartment,” Tim quickly replied, “Gotta head into WE in the morning so i'll be nearby anyway, thought you could come over for lunch or something? Unless you’re busy?”
Kon huffed, looking mock-offended. “Busy? With what? Helping Ma clean up the barn for the millionth time? She just doesn’t get it… the barn will always be a mess, that's what barns are… I, uh- sounds good, I mean,”
Tim nodded, giving him a sleepy smile. “I’ll let you know once I’m free from the office, okay?”
“Can’t wait…” They both fell into silence for a moment, the kind that stretched comfortably between people who didn’t need to fill every space with words. That was before Kon cleared his throat. “Should I bring anything? Snacks? That one jumper of mine you like stealing? Condoms?”
Tim groaned, hiding his face again. “You were doing so well .” Kon just laughed, voice softening slightly.
“I’ll be there, I miss you every second I’m not with you,”
“You’re so cheesy,” Tim huffed gently, half gazing into Kon’s eyes through the screen.
“Sweet dreams, Rob,” Kon murmured quietly, noticing Tim’s eyes going droopy. “Sleep tight,” Tim attempted to mumble back a ‘you too’, but nothing really came out. He knew Kon would know he said it though.
*****
Tim juggled his keys and an aggressively overfull tote bag as he nudged open the door to his apartment with his hip. The lock clicked, and he stepped inside with a sigh that somehow carried the weight of every report he had miraculously endured that morning. The door swung shut behind him, sealing the world out. His shoulders immediately dropped a few inches. He kicked off his shoes with a little more force than necessary (one narrowly missing the coat rack) and dropped everything onto the entryway bench in a chaotic heap. Alfred would’ve had a heart attack just from the sight. Honestly, everything in his apartment might’ve.
All the furniture excluding the same seats where he sat on the couch and kitchen island were covered in a thin layer of dust, it wasn’t like he was hosting parties there or anything and when it got really bad, Jason or Dick would vacuum for him. Steph had given up completely, learning to move in the precise pathways Tim used.
Giving himself a small sniff he came to the conclusion that he probably still smelled like printer ink and a conference room full of old rich businessmen. He moved through his apartment like muscle memory had taken over, grabbing clean clothes from the bedroom and shuffling into the bathroom. His mind wandered, like it always did when he was under hot water and alone, back to Kon. He was probably already nearing Gotham, music blasting in the truck Clark had given him, hair a windswept mess. Despite having the ability to fly he would insist on driving into Gotham once he neared the suburbs to ‘see it from Tim’s perspective’ or something. Tim thought it was strange, but didn’t argue with him on it. He could practically hear Kon’s off-key humming, the way he’d drum his fingers against the steering wheel in rhythm to some trashy pop song.
Tim smiled, tilting his head under the spray and letting it rinse through his hair. He wondered if Kon would crash on the couch again tonight, limbs sprawled out in impossible directions. The thought made his stomach buzz with happiness. Once out of the shower he dried off and got dressed, ordering noodles from his favourite Chinese place. Despite originally organising for a lunch his WE business had, as always, gone on for longer and it was now later afternoon. An early dinner then , Tim thought, sending a message to Kon about the food he’d ordered.
Soon enough the door buzzed and Tim grinned, already moving toward it. Kon, in all his perfectly rumpled glory, all denim and perfectly maintained curls. In one hand he held a six-pack of ginger beer, in the other a small stuffed bear to add to Tim’s quickly expanding collection.
“Hey, baby,” Kon said, flashing him that impossibly easy smile. Tim rolled his eyes but didn’t bother hiding the way his face lit up.
“You brought me another bear? I told you this was casual, not a real date anyway,” Tim stepped aside to let him in, Kon leaning in to kiss his cheek on the way past.
Kon glanced around, sniffed the air theatrically, then raised an eyebrow. “Candles? Mood lighting? I sense this is a date,” He placed the ginger beer onto the kitchen counter and tugged Tim close by his sweatpants pockets.
“I just showered. I’m clean. The apartment’s clean-ish. I thought I’d try something new,” Tim murmured softly.
“Something new like ‘romance’?” Kon teased, wrapping his hands around his waist, thumb rubbing gently over his hip bone.
“Maybe.” He popped the ‘be’, letting his head fall forward to Kon’s shoulder gently, just breathing against the soft fabric of his shirt. He then leant his head up to kiss him, slow and warm, lips sliding against each other. Tim pulled away gently, taking note of the wanting look in Kon’s eyes, “Food will be here soon so,” he hummed gently, “Why don’t you go sit down on the couch, put on a movie or something?”
Kon nodded, smiling like a kid on christmas. He nuzzled at Tim’s neck for a few seconds, placing some quick kisses up to his jaw before shifting over the couch at the other end of the room. God, Tim felt like his knees could collapse at any moment, Kon was his ultimate weakness.
Once the food arrived and was laid out on the coffee table, Tim finally joined Kon on the couch, tucking himself into the corner, one leg folded up beneath him. He slipped on his promised hoodie, smelling the collar and relishing in the way it was exactly Kon’s scent. Kon had picked some stupid action movie, one with five too many slow-mo explosions for Tim to care about the plot. They ate in that easy, familiar way that people who’ve spent years learning each other’s rhythms do: passing containers wordlessly, leaning into each other’s space, brushing fingers and knees until it just made sense for Tim to settle his bowl on the table and let Kon pull him in.
Tim ended up half on top of him, his head tucked against Kon’s shoulder, their legs tangled under the blanket Kon had dragged off the back of the couch. His fingertips traced lazy shapes on Kon’s chest, like his body couldn’t not be touching. Kon had his arms loosely wrapped around Tim’s waist, one hand occasionally running up his spine in a soothing drag.
Neither of them were really watching anymore. The TV screen flickered silently across their skin, but all Tim could focus on was the warmth pressed against him. The way Kon shifted just slightly every so often, like he couldn’t bear to be still if it meant being closer. The quiet thrum of his heartbeat under Tim’s palm.
Tim huffed a laugh, leaning up to kiss him again. This time slower. More lingering. Kon’s hand slid to the nape of his neck, grounding him. The kiss deepened naturally, the kind that pulled at something low and warm in Tim’s stomach. When he pulled back, just barely, their foreheads pressed together, both of them breathing a little harder.
“You wanna-” Tim started, voice unsteady in a way that wasn’t nervous. “...stay over tonight?”
Kon nodded instantly, eyes still half-lidded, like it wasn’t even a question. “Of course. Good thing I wasn’t joking about bringing those condoms, huh?” He smiled playfully as Tim hit his arm gently, rolling his eyes.
Kon laughed low in his throat, the kind of sound that made Tim’s stomach swoop like he’d just stepped off a rooftop a second too late. “Okay, okay,” Kon said, lifting both hands like he was surrendering, but one stayed curled around Tim’s waist, fingers slipping under the hem of his hoodie just to brush skin. “I’ll behave. Sort of.”
“You’re already not behaving,” Tim muttered, but there was no heat behind it. He was flushed, cheeks blooming pink all the way to his ears, and Kon could feel it where their bodies pressed together. He was also aware that Kon could probably feel the way that he was very much getting hard against his leg, luckily for him, he could see Kon was dealing with the same situation.
“I like when you get like this,” Kon murmured, voice gone husky as he leaned in to kiss him again, just the corners of Tim’s mouth at first, before pulling him in fully. Tim melted into it, hands curling into the fabric of Kon’s shirt as he deepened the kiss, chasing the way Kon’s lips parted so easily under his. The movie was long forgotten, background noise to the slow burn of mouths moving together.
Tim shifted to straddle his lap without thinking, knees bracketing Kon’s thighs, weight settling into him like it was the most natural thing in the world. Kon’s hands dropped to his hips, thumbs rubbing gentle circles through the fabric of Tim’s sweats, grounding them both.
“You’re such a tease,” Tim whispered against his mouth, nipping lightly at his lower lip. “All smug with your little bear and your stupid truck and your stupid perfect mouth-”
Kon grinned, biting back a laugh even as his pulse picked up. “And yet you keep crawling into my lap, Drake. Weird.”
“Shut up,” Tim said, smiling as he kissed him again, messier this time, all teeth and heat and the quiet, breathy sound Kon made when Tim dragged his nails lightly up the back of his neck.
“You know,” Kon murmured, voice thick as he tilted his head to trail kisses down Tim’s jaw, “I really, really like this hoodie on you.”
Tim hummed, fingers tangling in Kon’s curls. “Good. You’re not getting it back.”
“Not even if I ask real nice?” Kon asked, grinning against his throat. Tim shivered at the sensation.
“You can try,” Tim challenged, voice lower now, almost a dare. And Kon loved when he got like this, all quiet confidence and flushed skin and eyes dark with wanting, he didn’t hesitate. He flipped them gently, laying Tim down across the couch in one smooth motion, hovering above him with a grin. The blanket slipped down to their waists, forgotten. “Consider this me trying,” he said, leaning down to kiss him again, slow, deliberate, and lingering with all the intent of someone who knew exactly what buttons to press.
Tim's breath hitched as Kon’s hand slid under the hoodie, palm skating over his ribs, the heat of it making his skin jump. He dragged him closer, legs wrapping around Kon’s waist, pulling him flush. Their kisses turned hungry, playful turned into something deeper, more pressing. Tim tugged lightly at the collar of Kon’s shirt, breath warm against his ear. Kon quickly stripped himself of his own leather jacket and shirt, smiling at the small breathy gasp Tim let out, his hands tracing along his tanned chest. God , Tim’s fingers were so slim and elegant, precise and purposeful, Kon would love to feel them wrap against him tightly… his arm or throat or-
“My turn?” Tim hummed cockily, smiling approvingly as Kon lifted himself off Tim’s body to let him pull his hoodie and shirt over his head. He was completely and equally mesmerised by the smaller boy’s scarred chest and arms as he was of Kon’s perfect, smooth skin. He just wanted to lick at every slice of healed flesh, make him really squirm beneath him. Luckily for him, Tim wasn’t finished, taking advantage of Kon’s momentary release of grip to tug off his sweatpants, leaving him in just his navy boxers.
“You’re just- you’re perfect, Tim,” Kon whispered, breathless and wanting. Before Tim could say anything back, maybe a quip, maybe something embarrassingly sincere, the door burst open with the kind of dramatic, uninvited flair that only one person in Tim’s life ever managed to pull off without getting immediately punched. Keys jangled softly meaning it could be the only sibling responsible enough to actually come in the normal way without kicking the door in.
“Tim?” Dick called out as the lock clicked open, voice concerned and echoing through the entryway. “I tried texting, but you didn’t answer and I just had a weird feeling, so I-”
Tim’s soul left his body.
Kon was half-naked, sprawled over him like some sort of hot, living blanket, and Tim himself was a total mess: hoodie discarded across the floor (along with his literal pants ), hair tousled, flushed all the way down his chest. They both froze like animals caught in headlights, staring wide-eyed at the source of their imminent social death.
Dick walked halfway into the room before stopping dead, his mouth hanging open. “Oh,” he said, and then again, slightly higher-pitched. “ Oh . I’ll just- come back later then,” Kon made an awkward sound in his throat and tried to scramble up, but the blanket tangled around his legs, making it worse. He quickly climbed off Tim, chest still heaving from whatever was about to happen.
Tim, fully modified and practically naked, clutched at a nearby throw cushion to hold over himself. “Dick,” he said, voice very, very flat. “Hi.”
Dick, thankfully, immediately slapped a hand over his eyes and spun on his heel like he’d touched a hot stove. “I didn’t see anything. I saw nothing. I’m blind. So very, very , blind”
“Why are you even here?” Tim asked, his voice strangled with full burning humiliation. Of course his voice cracked too, really selling the whole ‘innocent younger brother’ act.
“You weren’t answering your phone! And Damian said you hadn’t checked in, and I just thought-” Dick cut himself off, groaning. “God, Tim, you could’ve told me you were... busy !”
“I didn’t plan on being walked in on mid-makeout session!”
“Mid-makeout session? T here were pants coming off! That’s not mid, that’s- I’m leaving!”
Dick made a beeline for the door, nearly tripping over his own feet as he fumbled with the knob like it had suddenly become a puzzle box. “Have fun! Use protection! Oh my god…” The door slammed behind him, and the silence that followed was deafening.
Kon slowly looked up at Tim from the floor, biting back a sheepish laugh, “Well that could’ve gone a lot worse.”
Tim groaned breathlessly and dropped his face into his hands. “He’s worse. He’s so much worse . He’s going to tell everyone .”
“I don’t know,” Kon said, crawling back up to the couch and wrapping his arms around Tim again, this time from behind. “He seemed pretty shocked, maybe he won’t talk too embarrassed?”
“Dick will never ‘not talk’.” Tim assured him, firmly, melting back bonelessly into Kon’s arms.
Kon pressed a kiss to the side of Tim’s neck, warm and light. “Still wanna pick up where we left off?”
Tim let out a sigh that was half-laugh, half-suffering. “Give me five minutes. I need to go scream into a pillow first.”
“Fair,” Kon grinned, nuzzling into him. “You’re still ridiculously hot when you’re embarrassed, by the way.”
“Shut up.”
*****
He just wanted a sandwich. Something simple. Something that would in the best case scenario not involve running into any of his brothers. Magically he had avoided them all morning, the Manor was a decently big place, still, he couldn’t be in peace for very long. Jason was already at the counter, scrolling through his phone and drinking tea from a mug that Dick must’ve made Bruce when he was a lot younger, judging by the spelling (but who could really tell with Dick). Damian was perched on a stool like a well-dressed gargoyle, scowling down at an innocent wrap he was making himself, it was unknown why he was so upset with it. And then, worst of all, Dick entered from the hallway behind him, already mid-conversation with Jason, until he spotted Tim and immediately stopped walking like someone had hit him with a batarang.
Tim stared at him. Dick stared back. Jason looked between them, then grinned, way too wide.
“Well, well, well,” Jason said, setting his mug down with the theatrical clink of a man about to start drama. “If it isn’t the bedroom bandit himself.”
“How long did it take you to come up with that?” Tim spat back, cheeks already flushing at the dread of this conversation. “I was just trying to make lunch,” Tim muttered, heading toward the fridge like it might protect him. “Not be publicly crucified.”
“Well from what I’ve heard-” Jason began, tilting his head like a dog eyeing its food.
“You didn’t hear anything,” Dick snapped, finally coming back to life. “I told you not to say anything!”
Jason’s grin only widened. “Oh, we all know you’d told me before you’d even left the building,” to which Tim sighed, it was unfortunately true. “This is just hilarious .” Jason said, nudging Damian’s arm like they were on the same wavelength. “Our boy Timmy’s all grown up. Finally getting a piece of Mr Superhunk.”
“Please stop,” Tim said, now elbows-deep in the fridge and seriously considering smothering himself with the cheese drawer. “Please just let me keep my dignity.”
Damian snorted. “You lost any claim to dignity the moment you allowed Kent into your bed.”
“He wasn’t in my bed!” Tim shouted, finally turning around with a sandwich in progress and a face bright red from the neck up. “We were on the couch !” Jason doubled over laughing while Dick stood frozen in memory, his eyes carrying a tired depth previously invisible.
“I’ve sat on that couch…” Dick mumbled under his breath, “I’ve sat where you and him were-”
“Oh my god,” Tim cut in, slamming the bread down on his sandwich so hard the tomato squished out. “We were wearing clothes .”
“Not enough of them,” Dick muttered, eyes still a little haunted.
Jason wiped a tear from his eye. “God, Tim. You couldn’t have warned him?”
“I didn’t know he was coming over!” Tim said, already regretting every decision that led to this moment. He stumbled over his words helplessly. “He just- he let himself in!”
Dick crossed his arms. “Because you gave me a key!”
“Well I’m taking it back!” He snapped, so deeply embarrassed by the look on his face.
“Okay,” Damian said, standing with full dramatic poise. “I’m leaving. This conversation has made me physically ill.”
“Don’t forget to bleach your eyes,” Jason called after him. He then turned back to face Tim, suddenly serious, “I am happy for you though, Connors not a bad looking guy,”
Dick nodded reluctantly, finally stepping closer. “He is good for you. I just...” He paused, shivering. “Yeah, you know what I want to say.”
*****
Tim had barely managed to escape back to the cave for some much-needed peace when he heard the telltale thud of boots behind him. He sighed, didn’t even turn around. “Jason, if you’re here to bring up the couch thing again, I swear to god-”
“Nope,” Jason said, far too cheerfully, the tone sending goosebumps along Tim’s arms. “I’m here for a mature conversation. One that’s been a long time coming.”
Tim turned slowly in his chair. Jason leaned against the cave console like he was posing for a PSA, arms crossed and expression way too smug. Dick followed a second later, holding two bottles of water. He offered one to Tim like a peace offering, then sat on the edge of the console.
Tim narrowed his eyes. “Why do I feel like I’m about to be scolded?”
Dick winced. “Not scolded. Just... gently guided.”
Jason smirked. “Educated.”
“I am literally twenty-one years old,” Tim deadpanned. “You are aware of this right?”
“Exactly,” Dick said, taking a deep breath. “Which is why this is the perfect time to talk about safe sex.” Tim blinked. It was the only reaction he could muster.
Jason nodded solemnly, as if this was a normal, rational conversation and not a waking nightmare. “See, after Dick's little ‘experience’, we realized something. We don’t actually know if anyone’s ever given you the talk. Not the birds and bees version-”
“-though if you want a refresher-” Dick started.
“Please don’t,” Tim cut in quickly, eyes piercing into the floor.
Jason held up a hand. “No, this is the advanced course. The premium. The ‘you’re an emotionally repressed vigilante with a scary brain and a very hot boyfriend’ edition.”
“I- what… what is happening right now?” He questioned helplessly.
Dick ignored him. “Look, you’ve been through a lot. We didn’t want to push. But now that things with Kon seem... serious, or at least heating up, we want to make sure you’re being safe.”
“So,” Jason said casually, arms folded. “How’s the pelvic soreness?”
“Please. Please. Please tell me you’ll never ask me that again.” Tim begged desperately.
“I’m just saying,” Jason went on, undeterred. “First time’s rough. Especially on a couch. That thing has like, zero lumbar support.” When Tim stared back at him, mouth slightly open in confusion, he just continued on. “Come on, it’s fine. Everyone’s gotta start somewhere.”
“I did not start anywhere last night. May I remind you I am twenty-one years old .”
Tim raised both hands. “I need you to back up, because it sounds like you think that was... my first time?” Both of them went silent.
Dick tilted his head. “It... wasn’t?”
“Jesus, no,” Tim said, visibly horrified. Wondering deeply what about him gave ‘innocent little boy’.
Jason looked at him, mouth half-open. “Are you telling me you’ve done it before? Like, before last night ?”
“Yes! And before you ask- none of your business.”
Jason actually choked. On air, which was semi-impressive. “How- when?”
“How?” Tim echoed, exasperated. “Are you serious?” Thanks a lot Jason, nice to know.
“I just mean… I didn’t think you did things like that! You’re always so ‘Tim’. About it.”
Dick looked weirdly betrayed, eyes going slightly wide and puppy-like. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
“Why would I tell you?!” Thankfully that seemed to shut Dick up a little. Tim pushed the keyboard away from his fingers in an attempt to move his arms without them uncontrollably flying towards Jason’s currently unbroken nose.
“And you’re using protection?” He began, trying a different approach now.
“Obviously.”
Jason gave him a squinty look, considering his options. “What kind of lube?”
Tim slowly turned toward him. “Get. Out.”
“Water-based or silicone?”
“ Jason .”
“We just thought that since B might not be the best option for you when discussing things of ‘this’ nature, we could step in with our brotherly support.” Dick reasoned, putting a hand on Tim’s shoulder, thumb stroking gently and momentarily calming him before the pure humiliation of it all caught back up to him.
“…You are using lube, though, right?” Jason asked again.
“OUT!”