Chapter Text
From below it seemed like the diving board was miles away. So high up that jumping from it seemed like the worlds most impossible feat. That only the brave and reckless would make. It looked so far away.
Kon felt like he should be on the ground. Still staring up at it from the pool deck. Instead his feet were planted firmly at the top of the stairs. He didn’t want to fly. No the pool was much preferred to this.
Diving felt like a risk, one he shouldn't take. His Da- Clark had been one back in highschool. The best in Kansas if he was to believe all the gushing Ma liked to do. Though that’s probably all it was. Gushing. It wasn’t hard to be the best at something in that state.
He had started swimming as a kid, in the pond back home. It started just tailing after Pa while he drove the boat. Being one with the water and the fish. That murky pond had become his home for year’s. Every spring and summer he could be found swimming laps.
Then Pa was gone. During one of Kon’s football matches he kneeled over with a heart attack, and was gone. Before they could even get him to the hospital it was over. And so was the teen’s time in Smallville.
All of that led to him standing there. Trying to pretend he enjoyed diving. Unfortunately he was good at it. Great according to Cassie, and Bart. Even more so the people who put this team together. Ever since he’d joined Kon had been able to get away with just being a long distance swimmer.
Yet here he was standing mere feet away from one of the high dive boards. Trying to pretend he couldn’t feel Tim glaring daggers into his back. Refusing to move a single inch. He was like a stone statue
“I can’t stand here all day! Unlike you I actually have a job outside of this. Dive.”
The words were braked out in a rough tone. Spat out as if Tim was about to lose his temper. The other teen was standing at the top of the steps. Arm’s crossed, as he wrung water out of his hair with a towel.
Kon knew what he'd see if he turned around. The odd scar that took over Tim's chest, or just his icy cold glare. They’d been at this for hour’s. Him refusing to go off the diving board. While the other boy silently brooded.
"This is my job, just give me a minute-"
Tim snorted and trugged forward. Rage carefully hidden in his face. As if it was a skill he was very well practiced at. Almost as if it was his greatest talent.
"No, it's ridiculous that they think I can help you. When you won't even fucking get on the diving board. I didn't come the way out here to fight with some dumb country boy."
Conner couldn't even get a word in. Before he felt himself being dragged to the diving board. The other teens hand was around his wrist. And it was a shock of how strong he was for his small size.
They were so far above the ground. The pool looked so small, like one mistake would leave him crashing to the side. It was terrifying he was not meant to fly. Being up so high made him want to scream. Curse Clark for being known as a diver.
Even more curse Lex, for trapping him in all these contracts. If it wasn't for that man. The bald devil himself, Kon would still be back in Smallville. Yet here he was.
Grabbing the railing before they could move further, he planted his feet. Trying to pretend he wasn't standing there on the diving board. Instead trying to imagine the dock back home. To see the pond he spent years swimming in.
"I don't need a stuck up rich boy to teach me how to dive! Go eat caviar with a queen or whatever the hell you one percenters do."
If he had been turned around. Then Kon would have seen the way Tim shuddered and clenched his fist. Taking a wobbly step back on the platform he scoffed. Blue eyes seeming dull for a moment.
Kon found himself turned around in a matter of moments. Stumbling he tripped onto the railing even tighter. His knuckles going paper white.
A hand was shoved against him a moment later. "I'm not fighting with you when I should be practicing. Dive."
"I never asked for your help! I'd love if you'd go practice and leave me the hell alone. Instead of pulling this bullshit."
The other boys brows rose for s second. His nose crinkled in confusion, before the look went away moments later. Replaced by a determined look.
"Dive, and I'll leave you alone."
He might have been beyond fed up. But Kon never backed down from something. No matter how much he hated diving. How much it made him like Clark. Made him someone he hated being.
Once he started to fly all he could see was a world. One where he was a different person. It had haunted his dreams for years. A place where he does among the birds. Miles above the world itself.
Though they had started feeling like nightmares once Pa was gone. How could be so good at something and not able to save pa. What person was so selfish they won't save their own family.
So he didn't dive. It felt like a betrayal to Pa. Yet he moved the end of the board. Sending a targeted look right at Tim. Before closing his eyes.
Kon pushed himself off the edge, body hurling towards the water. He wasn't one for the fancy flips some divers like the Waynes were known for. They scared him, for a reason he had never been able to figure out. It was almost as if they reminded him of someone.
He pushed all sand thoughts out of his head as he plummeted into the water below All the layers of clam he'd been feeling broke away. As he neared the water.
Trying to snap his body away, he crashed into the pool. Right side collided with the water harshly. It was like he landed on a pile of bricks.
It wad well known omg divers that a good landing was very important. If you entered the water wrong it could be immensely painful. It had to be carefully executed, graceful and nimble.
The pain hit in a rush as he sunk into the water. Letting the rush of failure run though his body for a long moment. No, it wasn't s fail he told himself.
Kon had dived. The fact that he did it was a success, even if there was a bruise on his side later. That would fade in a few days
Reaching the surface he was met with cold blue eyes. Somehow Tim had gotten to the ladder. A smirk was planted masterfully on his lips.
Leaning against the ladder he held up a towel. It was odd to say the least to see him being semi nice. Kon had started to wonder if the other teen even knew what that meant.
"That was awful. You were going to land it Conner-"
He was cut off a second later. "Kon."
A dark eyebrow was raised for a moment. "Kon, you were going to land it. But you tried to do something, I have no fucking idea what. That was basically a crash landing."
Rolling his eyes the taller teen sighed. Getting to the edge of the pool he pulled himself up. Arms straining with muscles at the easy task.
While he was trying to stand up something whacked him across the face. A towel? The damn towel Timothy freaking Wayne had been holding. Of course it was.
Looking up he saw the other guy had already started to the stairs. It seemed when the media said he lived and breathed diving they weren't joking.
"When you're actually serious about this come find me."