Chapter Text
Kon has kept a close eye on Tim for a while now. He can’t put his finger on what exactly is different. But something is off balance. Tim has always been in control. He has always had a plan. Kon should have guessed that he’d have a plan for his own end too.
Tim swore that his plan was to fake his death. He even confirmed it when Kon texted him about it later. He promised that he wants to take Kon with him. But Kon read his initial plan. He may not be as brilliant as Tim is, but he knows suicidal tendencies when he sees it.
Kon loves Tim so much. He had loved him well before his death, but didn’t have the words to explain it. When Kon came back, Tim was different, but he was still the man he loves. If Tim needs him to move to a tiny ass town in Michigan under the guise that this was always the plan, then Kon is going to move to that town with him. He is going to show Tim all the love he deserves. And he is not going to leave his feelings in question.
Kon has been waiting for Tim to bridge the gap. To come to Kon when he’s comfortable. To ask him out when he’s ready. But Tim seems to not realize how Kon feels. Kon hasn’t exactly had the opportunity to explain it, so maybe that’s why. Kon will just have to fix that.
And that is exactly what Kon plans to do. Tim is usually the planner. But Kon can also do it. Sort of. He might enlist Cassie’s help and maybe a bit of Cissie’s too. He only wants to make sure his plan is the best it can be for Tim before he implements it. Tim deserves only the best.
Anyhow, Kon is ready to implement said plan. He has brought Bart, Cassie, Cissie, and Anita to help Tim move everything to the house Tim bought in whatever tiny town in Michigan. Kon doesn’t really care to remember the name yet. The house itself is outside the town limits. Plus, Tim might get bored doing absolutely nothing. Kon knows small town life, what with living with the Kents. Tim’s a city kid. Is he really suited for rural life? Kon is excited to see. Whatever happens, Kon gets to be along for the ride. Which rocks. Because it's Tim.
He has imagined Tim retiring. Kon has fantasized about Tim relaxing into his life, finally letting others share the burden. He has imagined what a comfortable happy Tim looks like. Kon hopes that his presence is part of that future. That Tim will want him like he wants Tim.
Kon knocks at the front door of Tim’s apartment. Tim made him and the others come to Gotham via normal mundane transportation, even though they’ll be using their powers to get rid of Tim’s stuff, to stay off Oracle’s radar for as long as possible. It’s a good plan, probably effective, but Kon still feels silly using the door when the window would do.
Tim answers the door, smiling when he sees everyone. It's a stale gala smile that turns Kon's stomach. They all file inside. A pile of used cardboard boxes, currently empty, sit in his living room. Kon holds up the sticker sheet he brought.
“Thought we could put stickers on your furniture.” Kon explains, grinning. “Each of us get a different color dot. That way we can just take what we want at the end without accidentally taking the wrong chair or whatever.”
Tim’s nose wrinkles in that super cute way he does when he thinks one of Kon’s ideas is dumb.
“Why not just take it as we go?” He asks, tilting his head to the side minutely.
“Um, so we make less trips and limit how many times Oracle spots us?” Kon replies. Tim looks impressed by how well Kon has thought this out. Score!
“Okay.” Tim agrees, waving them all inside past the mountain of boxes. “Have at it then.”
Everyone splits up to tackle different rooms. Bart starts on the living room. Cassie takes the kitchen. Anita and Cissie grab the guest room and the bathroom respectively. Kon is going to help clear out the medical room, the one uses to handle patrol related injuries, when he pulls up short. Tim won’t need any of that stuff when he “goes”.
“Want me to pack up and donate the medical supplies?” Kon asks, stopping Tim in the hallway near his bedroom. Tim pauses, furrowing his brow, before shaking his head sharply.
“It would look suspicious if the rooms only a few people know about were packed up.” Tim says, shrugging. “I have it written in my will that Tam will have had the movers - that’s you guys - already deal with the rooms that anyone could access. The medical room will have to be cleared out by one of the bats whenever they show up after.”
“Okay.” Kon says, a little unsure. “Then where do you want me?”
Tim gives Kon a strange look before realizing what he means. Kon is totally chalking that up to further evidence that Tim does in fact like him. A major piece of anecdotal evidence in that column is the whole run away with me thing, but Kon is going to gather evidence as much as he can. That’s what Tim would do.
“Uhh, you can help me in the bedroom.” Tim answers, a tiny bit flustered. He hides it well. If Kon wasn’t already tuned into his heart rate and breathing, he would have no idea.
“My goodness, Mr. Drake! Buy a guy dinner first.” Kon jokes. Tim sputters. But Kon laughs and all tension is resolved as he pushes past Tim and into his bedroom.
The house in Michigan has three bedrooms. The idea is that they’re friends could stay over if they want. One could be turned into an office or something. That leaves one as a bedroom. At least, that’s Kon’s hope. If his plan works.
Tim’s bedroom is kind of a mess. Piles of clothes, stacks of papers, tons of photos without frames pinned across the many corkboards. Kon gestures wordlessly at the sprawl, silently asking where to start. Tim shrugs.
Kon picks up an old Nightwing T-shirt, holding it up for Tim.
“Keep or no?” He asks gently. Tim’s relationship with his family is fraught, to say the least. Hence, why they are faking his death instead of just retiring like a normal person.
Tim grabs the edge of the T-shirt, running his fingers along the hem. His gaze is a thousand miles away. Kon waits, letting him take his time.
“I think I want one of each of them.” Tim mutters to himself, mood dour. “To remind me of them.”
“One of each vigilante?” Kon clarifies. Tim nods wordlessly. Kon folds the t-shirt, laying it onto the bed.
“Why don’t you pull out the ones you want and I’ll pack them.” Kon suggests. “Since you know which you like in a t-shirt or a sweatshirt or whatever.”
“Okay.” Tim agrees. Kon smiles softly. Whenever Tim gets that distant look in his eye, and goes less than verbal, Kon gets worried. It’s like Tim gets locked in his own mind.
Tim sorts through his clothes. Kon folds them neatly and then packs them into boxes. Then they pack away his desk, the electronics rewired to avoid any connection to the Bat or Oracle systems.
After they finish most of the room, just furniture and decorations left, Kon suggests they take a break. Tim looks wiped. His heart rate is up. His breathing faster than it should be. He’s about to cry. Tim hates crying. Especially in front of people.
“Do you need a minute?” Kon asks gently. “I can give you some space.” A panicked expression flits across Tim’s face for a moment. It is all the warning Kon gets before a teary Tim is in his arms.
Kon holds him. Whispering gentle reassurances, rubbing a hand up and down his back. Tim clutches onto him, trembling. Kon hasn’t seen Tim fall apart like this before. He’s heard tales, stories from Cassie when everyone was dead. But seeing it with his own two eyes is something else.
Slowly, Tim’s breathing evens out. He pulls back, eyes red-rimmed and glassy. Kon presses a quick kiss to his forehead before he can think twice about it.
“Thank you.” Kon breathes. Tim twists his face in confusion.
“For getting snot all over your shirt?” He asks. Kon shakes his head.
“For trusting me enough to cry around me.” Kon answers, brushing away a stray tear from Tim’s jaw. He watches the other man’s Adam's apple bob in his throat.
Tim’s eyes are wide. All Kon sees is adoration and vulnerability. The trust Tim gifts him. All Kon can feel is the overwhelming urge to return the favor.
A crash from the other room interrupts whatever moment was happening between them. They jolt apart on instinct. Kon already longs for the proximity of Tim’s body.
“Come pick your furniture before I take it all!” Someone yells. Tim sighs, resting his forehead on Kon’s chest. “Our friends are going to be the death of me.” Tim whispers.
“You can always tell them to go.” Kon reminds him. Tim scoffs.
“Like they’d listen.” He retorts back. There’s that teasing dynamic that Kon loves about their relationship.
“Oh poor Tim.” Kon laments. “Harassed by his loving friends who are helping fake his death. You are so put upon. I have no idea how you deal with it all!”
Tim snorts. He’s smiling again. The true real kind that reaches all the way to his eyes. Kon’s chest tightens and his heart does that stupid loop-de-loop that it always does when Tim smiles.
“Fine.” Tim says reluctantly. “Let’s head out into the fray.”
“It can’t be that bad.” Kon reassures him. “They’re all packing boxes and stuff.”
“You underestimate our friends’ ability to create chaos.” Tim says sternly, a fond smile still fixed on his face.
Together, they head out into the hallway. Almost immediately, they have a near miss with being run over. A flash of lightning is all the warning Kon gets. He presses them both against the wall to avoid becoming smears on the wood floors.
Bart zips by, clinging to a worn leather recliner.
“Hey, Rob.” Bart sing-songs, voice lilting. Tim sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Yes,” Tim answers Bart’s unasked question. “You can have the recliner.”
“Thanks!” Bart replies, rushing out in a flash of light. Kon bites his lip to hold in a laugh. Tim gives him a beleaguered look.
They are still pressed against the wall. Realizing it, Kon steps back, giving Tim some room to breathe. Tim looks a little disappointed about the space between them. Another example for Kon’s list.
Cassie’s snicker from the kitchen, drawing Tim’s attention away from Kon. A part of Kon mourns being the center of his attention. But he notices the tips of Tim’s ears, peaking through his shaggy hair, are bright red.
“If you two are done flirting -” She says and Kon’s body goes rigid. Her outing Kon’s feelings for Tim is not part of his plan. But Tim pushes forward, seemingly ignoring the comment. Huh. Kon will have to keep an eye on that. Tim might just think all the care and concern are just teasing or joking. Well, Kon will just have to make himself more clear then.
“Kon wasn’t flirting.” Tim brushes off. Kon stays silent. If Tim can brush off everything so far as Kon not being interested, he’ll just have to be way more direct.
“Well, regardless, I need your okay on these dishes.” Cassie points to a pile. “This cookware looks brand new.” Tim grimaces.
“That’s ‘cuz it is.” Tim admits. “Alfred gave it to me as a housewarming present. I never really got the chance to use it.”
Kon looks over the beautiful set of pots, pans, baking implements, mixing bowls, and dishware in pristine condition laid out on the counter. The color scheme would fit perfectly in their new little house. Cassie must think so too, given her grin and the glint in her eye.
“Wouldn’t it be nice if you and Kon got to settle in with everything you need to cook together?” She asks innocently. Kon’s face burns. He bakes and cooks all the time for Tim. But the idea of them doing it together, of coming home to Tim at the end of a long day. Well, that hits Kon right in the heart.
“What do you think Kon?” Tim asks, still looking at the assembly on the counter. “Ya think we can use all this stuff?”
“Yes.” Kon manages to says, surprised at how steady his voice sounds. “We’ll use it.”
“You've got it, boss.” Cassie says with a mock salute. “I’ll pack up this stuff and put it in Kon’s pile.”
Tim thanks her. Then he wanders off to check on Anita and Cissie. He'll probably also finish his room if Kon knows him. And, boy, does Kon know Tim.
Kon takes the opportunity to interrogate Cassie on what the fuck is her plan here.
“What are you doin’?” He hisses as soon as Tim is out of earshot. “My plan is to ease Tim into the idea. Not just say ‘I love you!’” Cassie rolls her eyes at him and tosses him an empty box to fill with dishes.
“Your ‘plan’ is to play house and avoid the difficult conversation about emotions.” Cassie grouses. She shoots him a pointed look. “Tim hasn’t realized that you’re even interested. You gonna address that at some point?”
“Yes!” Kon insists, packing his box neatly. “I plan on working up to it. But it is clear that I need to be more obvious. I just want him to have a chance to have a say.”
“He asked you to move across the country with him.” She points out, taping her box closed and starting a new one. “Sounds pretty serious for two guys who aren’t even dating yet.”
“I know.” Kon admits. “But that’s Tim. We might do this is the craziest order imaginable, but I’ll get to be with him. It’ll be worth it.”
“Just so long as you remember that you’re worthy of love too.” Cassie says, pausing. “You deserve the world, Kon.”
Kon swallows around the lump in his throat. “Tim is my world.” Kon admits freely. He’s head over heels for Tim. Falling so hard that not even his powers can save him. Cassie shakes her head fondly.
“You’ve always been a pretty full throttle guy.” She murmurs. “I just hope you don’t change yourself to be who he needs.”
“I won’t.” Kon promises, hearing Tim’s footsteps in the hallway. “I’ll still be me. I’ll just be a happier me and do it somewhere else.” Cassie laughs and Kon catches Tim’s snort from the hallway.
Tim’s waifish figure is hidden in the shadow of the doorway. Had he not made a noise, it’s possible Cassie wouldn’t know that he’s there. Kon smiles in his direction, not to tip her off, but to acknowledge his presence.
“Hey stalker.” Cassie greets. “How are the rest of the team getting along?”
“They’re ready to head out with their stuff. I even finished up my room. You got your car?” Tim responds, stepping into the light of the room. Cassie is one of the few of their members that actually has a license. Technically, they all know how to drive. But not all of them have managed to pass a driver’s test.
“Yeah my car’s downstairs.” She replies, tossing Tim her keys. Tim catches them easily and throws them over his shoulder. A flash of lightning catches them.
“Bart!” Cassie hollers after it. “You better not be driving my car!” She chases after him. Bart leads her further into the apartment. Tim’s smirk is gorgeous. It makes Kon’s stomach swoop.
“Sooo,” Tim begins, stepping forward. “Once we move everything I’m keeping there, to our new place, what do you want to do?”
Kon knows that he’s totally gone on this man. But questions like that have to be unfair. His brain is conjuring all kinds of activities they can do together, alone, in their new house.
“Break the place in?” Kon suggests, wiggling his eyebrows. Tim set him up so well, Kon has to follow through. Tim flushes.
“Wendy marathon?” Tim says, once he’s found his voice again. Kon hums in agreement. They keep stepping closer, drawn into each other.
Bart races past them, cutting between them, Cassie not far behind. Whatever moment that was, is shattered. Kon has to physically restrain himself from pouting.
“What about your stuff?” Tim asks suddenly. “Don’t you have stuff from your place you need to move?”
Kon rubs at the back of his neck. How does he tell Tim that Kon has like one duffle bag of stuff to bring with him to Michigan? Will their literal wealth differences freak Tim out? Kon’s shoebox of an apartment didn’t exactly allow him to accumulate a lot of stuff. He has like a duffle and a backpack worth of things to his name.
“Ummmm” Kon mutters. He looks up at the ceiling to avoid Tim’s expression. “I have like one bag so I’m good. I kinda already flew it over?”
“You’ve already seen the place?” Tim asks. Kon sends a silent prayer of thanks that Tim focused on the second part and not the first.
“I checked it out with my x-ray vision in case there were foundation issues and stuff.” Kon admits, blushing. He wanted to make sure the house was safe for Tim, alright? Sue him.
Tim crosses the distance between them. With hesitant hands, he wraps Kon into a tight hug.
“Did you like it?” Tim whispers. Kon returns the hug tightly, pressing their bodies together.
“I love it.” Kon responds truthfully. “You did a great job picking out a place.”
“Alvin Draper has a great realtor." Tim jokes. Kon brushes a bit of Tim’s hair behind his ear.
“You did a great job.” Kon repeats pointedly, practically daring Tim to argue with him. Tim doesn’t rise to the bait, though. Instead, he squeezes Kon tightly and steps back.
“Let’s go home.” Tim says, blushing lightly. Kon’s heart does that loop-de-loop and his stomach swoops and he wants to kiss Tim so freaking much. Instead of doing that, Kon agrees, takes Tim’s hand, and wraps him up in his TTK.
Kon flies Tim to their home halfway across the country. He gets Tim settled before preparing to fly off again. Leaving to get the rest of the stuff from Tim’s nest, but not without another cheek kiss first. He really couldn’t help himself.
Like before, Tim looks like he doesn’t quite believe it. When it hits him that this is real, that Kon’s affection is real, Tim looks blown away. Kon finishes ferrying all the boxes over, using his TTK to take as few trips as possible.
Tim has already set up a few things. The boxes are arranged in the rooms their contents are from. The cushy sofa, Tim having purchased and arranged for delivery beforehand, sits in the middle of the room.
The TV has the first DVD in the box set ready. The Wendy the Werewolf Stalker theme playing in the background through the speakers set up on the ground. Good to know Tim has his priorities in order.
Kon sidles in next to Tim, laying close on the couch. Tim snuggles even closer. Kon's chest warms. He hits play and tosses the remote on the box in front of them. The rest of their furniture will be delivered within the week.
“I’m really glad you’re here.” Tim says softly, resolutely staring ahead at the screen.
“Where else would I be?” Kon jokes lightly. He slings an arm around Tim, who shifts in his grasp. His bright blue eyes peer up at Kon, searching for something. Kon stares right back, trying to figure out what Tim needs. Whatever he needs, Kon will give him.
“Can I kiss you?” Tim breaths out. His eyes widen like he didn’t mean to say it out loud.
“Yes.” Kon answers, leaning forward. “Please.”
Their lips meet. Tim’s eyes slip closed. Kon loses himself in Tim. In his chapped lips, his strong yet soft hands, and his sweet taste. It is the best homecoming Kon could ask for.