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The quiet beeping of the alarm pulled Bernard from his daze that was set on his course work. Damn, 1:00 AM already. He sighed and rubbed his eyes, saving his work and putting pins in the tabs he had open to ensure he wouldn’t lose them and would be able to finish his paper. It was just some 3 page thing on the patterns and behaviours of certain youth groups for a class he took on a whim. It would take him and Tim less than an hour tomorrow to finish, so he wasn’t too worried about having to stop now.
He leaned back in his office chair and stretched, flexing his back and shoulders until he felt that comfortable pull and the subtle cracks that made him feel a bit more normal. Well, closer to normal. He wasn’t sure exactly what he did to have such a bad back at his young age and yet here he was, a college kid that could barely stand without cracking it once a day. Good thing he had Kon around that could pick him up and crack it for him on occasion, and Tim who gave him tips on how to stretch it out himself. It took him a second but he slowly stood, stepping into his warm slippers he had left under his desk next to his personal heater (which he remembered to turn off), and took off into the apartment’s living room.
Tim had a patrol tonight with the bats, and Kon had decided to go along with them. He had just come back from his week in Smallville which he designated each month and desperately wanted to go out in the field with him. It was a common thing for him to do after trips out of town when Batman was off somewhere else and couldn’t stop him. He’d follow each of his boyfriends along like a clingy puppy wanting attention, and neither were strong enough to disallow him from doing so. Bernard knew that he would be in for it tomorrow, that he probably wouldn’t be allowed out of Kon’s sight all day, stuck in a cuddle with him or having him hug him from behind while he did his work. But honestly? He wasn’t too mad about it. It’d be hard to complain about having a handsome, buff, punk, half alien following you around and clinging to you like a koala.
But both going out for patrol at the same time meant Bernard was tasked with having to prep the apartment for what the pair would need or potentially need once they were back. What had been dubbed ‘the closing shift’ by the couple. Having partners who go out and get themselves beat up every night could be…challenging. Not knowing what state they would come back in was always stressful, so preparing for any emergency was best practice. From minor scrapes and stab wounds, to fear gas and aphrodisiac pollen, they always prepped for anything (though, things that were really serious would be brought back to the bat cave to have more “professional” help). It was always better to be over prepared than under.
Bernard arrived in the living room, unlocking the windows so the two could easily get in when they got back. It was rare they came in through the front door. He made sure they were clear of anything that could be knocked off, houseplants moved to their temporary shelf. With those saved from a trip to the floor, he moved the hutch from underneath the windowsills to place down a small crash pad they kept in the closet just to make sure the landing was soft after a few…accidents. After one too many drive rolls that ended with Tim clutching his funny bone laughing and crying, it was for the best. (Tim had had the forethought to put wheels on the cabinet being the sweetheart he was, which was helpful for Bern since he wasn’t blessed with vigilante training or super strength). He then made sure their furniture was draped with soft blankets that were very absorbent in case there was any active bleeding. As much as he loved his boyfriends, he was NOT going to have to clean blood stains out of his furniture, nor buy new covers for them every other week. It was also so they could bundle up after any sort of attack that affected their bodily temperature or in case either was in shock, something Bernard had learned could happen the hard way. Two birds, one blanket. Happy with that work, he set off to the next task.
He then moved to the measures they had to patch them up. He first wheeled over their little cart they had set up just for this, the shelves of it lined with gloves and surgical masks and other sterile medical supplies (the bottom tier even had those kits doctors used to scrub in for surgery in the case of dire situations. Bernard always wondered how Tim got his hands on them.) Off of it, he grabbed the large and extensive first aid kit that he and Tim had made together. Kon, being invulnerable with his goddamn invulnerability, luckily didn’t need to worry about that (because any situation where he had to was a one way trip to more advanced, post kryptonite care), but they always made sure it was overly stocked for Tim’s sake. There was everything in it, ranging from bandaids and temporary stitches, to antidotes and serums.
He riffled through and found the syringes, getting needle tips to both draw and administer anything they might need, having the sterile supplies at the ready. With that set up, he moved onto less extreme measures. He went to the freezer, got out the ice packs, and grabbed some self heating heat packs from the cart. He then got a little pouch on one of the tiers that rattled softly, it containing bottles of ibuprofen and acetaminophen, lining them up on the counter to be easily accessible in case of anything, he also set up a few water bottles from the fridge and left them along side the medication to make taking them easier.
With all that ready, he admired his handy work for a second before consulting the dry erase board posted for this routine. Was it obsessive of Tim to set up dry erase boards and lists for every situation he deemed necessary? Yes. Was it also very hot and sexy of him and somehow deepened Bernard and Kon’s attraction to the man? Also yes. He checked off the things he had done so far. Set up safe entry points? Check. Prepare comfortable rest points? Check. Organize first aid? Check. All the mandatory and necessary tasks were done. What was left were the little things that he always did as his own personal touches to the routine that weren’t necessary but just kind to do for his hero boyfriends.
The first thing he did was pull out a protein bar for Tim and a bag of Kon’s favourite sweets for him. Both boys had preferences for “nourishment” after exerting themselves, both wildly different, yet Bernard was happy to meet both. If Tim liked a mostly flavourless condensed hunk of protein to be able to fuel his body back up, he was more than willing to stock up on them when grocery shopping. Same with Kon’s preference to reward himself with some sweet and sour gummies after kicking whatever they were fighting’s ass. He set them both up next to the aforementioned water bottles, before heading off to their shared bedroom.
Once there, he turned up the heat just the slightest bit within that room (a perk of having a rich boyfriend who invested in a decently sized apartment was getting central heating and cool systems that were independent from one another.) He liked to make the bedroom all toasty for them when they got home, giving the two a relaxing space to lay down and curl up with him, forgetting the world and chaos outside even just for a few hours. He followed it up by pulling out some underwear and pyjamas for the two, laying their preferred sleepwear out for the two. Tim liked soft pj sets and briefs, while Kon liked any old t-shirt that he’d usually lose when they tucked in for bed with baggy sleep bottoms and boxers. The juxtaposition of both his boyfriends night time style was cute. He personally was a briefs and tank top guy, but always wore some sort of comfy bottom while lounging, which ranged from his own pyjama bottoms to stolen pairs of his boyfriends sweats. He was a simple guy.
With that all set up, he slipped into the ensuite to get that ready for them. Even though Bernard himself wasn’t the sweaty mess he knew his lovers were going to be, he liked to join them in their post patrol shower. It was fun and flirty and he liked being a romantic, sue him. He pulled out each of their shower caddies from the closet inside the bathroom, placing them on the counter and ensuring their products weren’t empty. He switched out Tim’s razor blade for a fresh one, not wanting his baby to get razor burn from a dull one, and getting Kon a bar of soap that wasn’t just a sliver with some hairs in it. The things his sweetheart did sometimes made him question his level of cleanliness. Next was nighttime skincare and toothbrushes, which he just had to pull out of the drawers, not going through the effort of putting toothpaste on for them. He wasn’t that meticulous. With those all in order, he pulled out towels, face clothes and loofahs for all three of them and left them on the counter ready for them. Once done, he trailed back out to the living room.
With the way he went about it all, he could easily make a killing posting those lifestyle vlog type videos where people just wordlessly film themselves doing their morning or nighttime routines. Laying things out and organizing them, weekly restocks, he could be the king of that content style. The only thing stopping him being that he was too lazy to set up a camera and him being sure Tim would shoot down the idea for security reasons. As funny as it would be for that to be the way Superboy and Red Robin’s identities get revealed, they would just have to be the ones that get to enjoy his doting routine he’d set up. Bernard glanced over to the clock. 1:15 AM. Hey! A new record.
He settled down on the couch in the living room, whipping out his phone to just idly scrolling, flipping from app to app. This was always the hard part, waiting for them to arrive. Patrols never really had a set end time, especially if fights broke out or if there were delays in their deliverance of justice, but Bernard was patient, he could wait. He’d always wait for his boys.
He loved them both more than anything, having deep and tender connections with both, connections he couldn’t imagine having with anyone. Tim was his first serious boyfriend, his first relationship where they moved in together in that house boat and started sharing their lives. Their love was theory boards and library dates, unmasking identity and revealing layers of themselves beyond that. It was Ferris wheel rides and lazy Sunday documentary marathons, clean linen and vanilla scented romance with a hint of unhinged devotion only two theorists could have. They had built a foundation that could never shake in his eyes.
And Kon? God, with Kon it was a whole new level of well, new. They were all in their first throuple together and even though Tim and Kon had such a deep and complex relationship before they even got together, that didn’t stop Bernard from forming his own beautiful relationship with the half kryptonian. Their love the crash of salty waves on an unexpecting beach, it was a stone gathering moss as it rolled down a hill. It was asking permission and granting it without thought, gentle touches on a random roof at golden hour. It was explaining for hours to a captive audience, being shown things he never could imagine from their universe. It was learning how to make their own clothes and wearing his boyfriends jacket to the corner store. It tasted like summer in a kiss, cool popsicle stained tongues mingling on a hot day. It was just so new and unexpected and he couldn’t ask for a better person to spend time with.
But their shared love? The love that could only be felt when all three were together? That was something he’d never thought he’d experience. It was racing through Gotham on a motorbike while glimpses of a body rushing next to them soared by. It was dive bar dates in smallville that ended with running in fields in the dark, illuminated by fireflies and making out in Pa Kent’s barn on haystacks. It was apologizing to Bruce and Clark that he was stealing one of his bats and his “clone” for the night, and earning the hint of a smile beneath the cowl and a midwestern warning to be safe. It was just…it was home, and belonging and shared holidays and personal growth and fights over stupid shit and fuck I’m so sorry’s and cuddling on the couch after long nights. It was everything he needed, everything he wanted.
How did he ever get so lucky?
And now here he was, sitting happily on their shared couch, fingers running patterns on the soft blankets he’d put on them, sighing contently to himself. His focus was drawn away from his phone as the sound of clanging on the fire escape, making him look up at the windows to see red spandex standing next to blue with black leather. He smiled as he watched Kon slide the window open, Tim using his momentum to crawl through and slump down the wall, landing on the crash mat on his butt with a soft “humph”. Bernard couldn’t stop the gentle giggle that passed his lips.
“Welcome home.”
He smiled.
A laugh rung out through the window as a flying figure threw himself at him, flying over the body that had sprawled out on the mat, panting softly as it continued to groan. Kon grabbed onto Bernard and gripped him tightly, squeezing him in his muscular arms.
“Hey baby, how was your night?”
He said in that slight purring drawl he’d pick up every time he went to smallville that made both Bern and Tim weak in the knees. He could recite a phone book in that voice and they’d listen. He pushed through the slight shiver that rolled up his spine and hugged him back.
“Hi sweetheart, it was good.”
He smiled, kissing Kon’s temple and stroking his undercut the way he knew he liked.
He gently glanced around his Super boyfriend to look at his Bat, who was still sprawled out and breathing like he’d struggle to run the mile in gym. Bernard quirked his brow at him and then Kon.
“Are you ok?” When he didn’t get an immediate answer, he turned to Kon “Is he ok?”
The other laughed heartily as he glanced over his shoulder at Tim, who looked like a bird, or well bat, that hit the window.
“Yeah he’s fine. Him and his siblings decided to race on rooftops over and over again after already completing patrol and he overexerted himself trying to beat all of them.”
He explained, shaking his head as he recounted the antics but still having a dreamy look in his eyes and tone as he did. God, they were both so whipped. Bernard laughed softly, gently untwining himself from his boyfriend on the couch to help the one on the floor.
He grabbed the water bottles from the counter and tossed one to Kon, not seeing if he actually caught it or used his telekinesis to, before crouching down over Tim. He cocked his head to the side and smiled down to him, earning a weak smile back.
“I beat Jason and Dick, that’s all that counts…I think Steph cheated.”
He said shakily. Bernard chuckled.
“If she figured out how to, I would respect it.”
He said with a small laugh, handing him the water bottle. The man below him nodded.
“Oh for sure, Stephanie Brown deserves nothing if not respect.”
He said with a laugh, but they all knew the comment was genuine. Tim reached up softly and held Bernard’s face, dragging him down to his hands and knees to meet him in a soft kiss. They looked like a more pathetic version of MJ and Spider-Man, heads in opposite directions, but the moment was tender nonetheless (besides the sound of Kon snapping a picture on his phone and cooing.)
They both stood after that, slowly with soft groans, Bernard offering Tim his arm to help him up. The two shuffled to the counter where Kon met them, floating by and snatching his gummies off of it as he idled next to his boys.
“You’re not hurt, baby?”
Bern asked, gently pushing the black bangs out of his boyfriend's face as he helped him peel the domino mask off. Tim shook his head, grabbing a bottle of pain reliever and his protein bar.
“No injuries, just sore...and tired”
He said plainly, slumping against the counter a bit. Kon chuckled a bit.
“That’s what happens when you try to be a show off.”
He teased softly, kissing his forehead. Tim weakly swatted at him, but there was a slight blush on the tops of his cheeks. Bernard smiled along, knowing he had probably put in more effort than he usually would because the super was there.
“I assessed the situation…I have tomorrow off so it’s not the end of the world if I’m just a little achy.”
He argued, before finishing the bar in a second bite. The two others shared a knowing glance that made Tim stick out his tongue like a petulant toddler, making both to laugh. Kon threw a citric acid coated candy at him which pushed Bernard call off the war between them.
“Alright alright, I think you both need a shower and to get into bed.”
He said, an arm around his non floating boyfriend as he helped him start stripping off tactical gear. Kon gave an overdramatic frown.
“Aw really? I’ve barely spent any time with you today.”
He pouted, Bernard chuckling at how he called it earlier. He reached out with his free hand and pushed his love's curls back.
“We’ll have all day together tomorrow, sweetheart..”
He smiled. Tim smiled beside them, propping himself up on the counter with a soft expression as he watched the two interact in such a domestic way.
“Besides,” Bernard continued. “You’re both stinky. You’re lucky I’m even around you two right now.”
He teased. Tim just rolled his eyes and chuckled while Kon put on a whole display of mock offense.
“I can’t believe you. I, your favourite boyfriend, who was out of town for ages, being disrespected like this? How cruel can you be Bernard?”
He said in a dramatic voice, making the other boys roll their eyes. Bern chuckled.
“You’re welcome to sleep on the couch if you’re not willing to join us in the shower.”
He said as the other took his hand and they started making their way to the bedroom. Kon chuckled and smiled, following along.
“I never said that.”
The three stood together as they got clean, Kon and Bernard helping Tim a bit since he was clearly exhausted, helping him scrub his scalp clean and wash the hard to reach places for him. As he was rinsing himself off, the super gently wrapped his arms around his blond boyfriends waist, pressing kisses behind his ear that sent goosebumps down his arms.
“Thank you.” He mumbled lazily in a slightly hoarse voice. “Thank you for all this, for always doing all this.”
His hands traced B’s ribs softly, making the other giggle through his body melting at how sweet the other was being.
“I’m always happy to do it, someone’s gotta keep you heroes in line.”
He muttered back, grabbing the face that was trailing down his neck to kiss him on his lips. When they pulled away, he caught Tim watching and smiling softly to himself again, eyes hooded with exhaustion. Kon pressed another kiss to his cheek.
“We couldn’t be heroes without you here…you’re our at home hero.”
He smiled. Bernard turned around and hugged him fully, holding each other under the warm stream of the shower. They felt another pair of arms join the embrace as Tim hugged Bern from behind, turning his head to kiss him too. He then kissed Kon over the blonds shoulder, all of them smiling and giggling and privately gushing over each other in their own minds.
Once they were out and went through their needed routines after getting clean, Tim and Bernard sat alone on the bed as they waited for Kon to finish doing his hair. He didn’t like to sleep with wet curls. Soft hands trailed light leg hair before Tim spoke.
“He’s right, you know.”
He said simply, making his boyfriend look at him a bit weird. Before he could ask, the other continued.
“Kon’s right…we wouldn’t be able to do everything we do without you.”
He smiled softly, earning a soft hum from Bernard.
“You’re the best, you know that?”
He added, smiling down at him. B blushed but broke into a soft smile.
“Knowing I pulled you both? I feel like I am.”
He teased, earning an eye roll and another soft kiss.
Yeah, he had no idea how he got so lucky.