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The moon was at its peak in Gotham’s warm night. The wind brushed against Tim’s cheeks, shifting his ears and the tail of his suit. He followed the rhythm of his own movement, rising and falling on the balls of his feet, barely containing his excitement. He made sure to move in a way that kept the tail swaying from side to side, in a
The moon was at its peak in Gotham’s warm night. The wind brushed against Tim’s cheeks, shifting his ears and the tail of his suit. He followed the rhythm of his own movement, rising and falling on the balls of his feet, barely containing his excitement. He made sure to move in a way that kept the tail swaying from side to side, in a mesmerizing motion.
In the way he knew it drew in the flower in front of him.
Azalea tracked the thin strip of leather as it moved back and forth, like a kitten caught in its soft sway, distracted from the important conversation the adults were having.
Tim stepped forward, still rolling his hips to maintain the movement of the tail. His attention stayed on the two women, making sure they were both absorbed in their conversation, not noticing his gradual approach toward Jason.
There was no real problem with him interacting with Jason, but Catwoman had caught him borrowing something important, and she had reprimanded him. Part of his punishment had been losing permission to go out with Jason, so his time with the flower was more limited.
Today’s exception existed only because they were all waiting for the arrival of the great bat—and other adult matters that did not interest him. He was not here for that.
He accepted the truce with his mentor in silence. He had not gone unnoticed in any way, but he had been allowed to have his moment with Jason before any meeting began.
With the distance finally closed, he stilled his movements, taking hold of his tail and lifting it. The metal tip brushed against his lips, resting over the wide smile stretched across his face, while Azalea’s gaze followed the path until it met his eyes.
“Little flower,” he purred his name. “How have you been?”
Azalea took a deep breath, exhaling slowly through his mouth, releasing specks of dust over his covered face. Tim held his breath, his smile never faltering. Jason was always so pretty, and shy, enchanting him with a soft pollen of love.
Even if it was not necessary. Not before, not now.
Even so, Jason still acted shy around him, as if he had not already expressed his feelings before—or at least his discomfort with the pollen. The magic would erase his memories as it faded, and Tim would be left empty, without knowing what tender moments they had shared when Jason was unafraid with him.
Jason wrapped his arms around himself, his eyes fixed as he waited for the pollen to take effect.
Tim almost wanted to tell him it wouldn’t. That he could be himself with him. With or without the pollen, he would stay.
He just needed to find the right moment. The right words. And push past the fear of ruining whatever they were building before it had even begun.
For now, he preferred to let him believe the pollen had taken hold, letting Azalea feel safe.
“It’s cold, and my plants are growing sleepy,” he said. “Will you give me a hug?”
Tim swallowed any sound of excessive excitement, limiting himself to stepping closer to Jason and wrapping his arms around him. The cold latex of his suit brushed against Jason’s exposed skin, sending a shiver through him, raising goosebumps along his body.
“Sorry,” Tim whispered. “I didn’t bring a coat.”
Jason shook his head, leaning back with a soft sigh against Tim’s chest. Jason did not purr, but he might as well have, with the way he pressed himself against his suit.
“It’ll warm up,” he murmured, a drowsy tone settling into his voice.
The truth was, the night never favored Azalea. His flower did not enjoy it as much as he did, preferring the early morning, when the sun flooded Gotham and spread across his warm skin.
That was why Tim always carried an extra coat, just for him. Unfortunately, this time he had been dragged out of the apartment by Selina before he had the chance to grab one.
“Did you get my gift?” he asked softly, careful not to disturb the calm surrounding them.
Jason hummed, his hands circling Tim’s waist, pulling him closer. His fingers slid down to catch the edge of his tail, idly playing with the strip of leather.
“I adore all your gifts,” he whispered.
Jason lifted his face, bringing their gazes together. Even in the darkness, Tim could see the way the blue burned in his eyes, sharp enough to steal his breath.
“They’re always beautiful, Kitty,” he added.
Tim held his breath, loosening his muscles to maintain the appearance of ease while letting Jason move as he pleased. Jason’s lips brushed against his cheek and the corner of his mouth.
Never a full kiss.
Never a touch that went beyond something shallow, almost as if Jason refused to cross a line while he believed Tim was under the pollen’s influence.
It left a gap between them that Tim wanted to cross, just to find out what would happen if he tried.
If the longing he felt whenever he looked at Jason was returned. If the desire to stay together a little longer was stronger for Jason than the fear holding him back.
He just needed to make one more move to prove it.
To prove he had been drawn to Jason from the very first moment he saw him—dressed in that full-body suit, carrying the force and conviction of someone who could kill you just by breathing too close.
Maybe it made it hurt less when he learned about the pollen and the empty time carved into his mind. Maybe it made it worse.
Jason felt something for him, but he did not trust enough to stay at his side without chemical manipulation involved.
Tim wanted to change that. That when the time of the pollen ended, Jason would still be in his arms, accepting that it was what he wanted—and that he hoped Tim wanted it too.
That did not stop him from being himself when he had the chance.
“Aren’t you going to kiss me?”
Jason flushed, the pink in his cheeks matching the vivid tone of his suit, echoing the flowers woven into his hair, threading through his body.
“No… I…” he looked away, pushing aside the guilt lingering in his eyes. “Not yet. But maybe someday.”
Tim swallowed, gathering his courage, maybe for the first time in months.
“How about in seven minutes?” The air tightened, the words settling heavily between them.
Jason parted his lips, closing them again and again, holding onto an answer Tim waited for with quiet patience.
“My lips are poisonous,” he murmured.
Tim smiled, softer this time, trying to project calm onto Jason.
“I have the antidote.”
Jason gasped, startled. The pink in his cheeks deepened into red almost instantly.
“Red looks good on you,” Tim said, not knowing why. “It’s a very pretty color against your skin.”
Whatever answer Jason might have given was interrupted by Ivy, now standing beside them, watching with amusement.
“Azalea’s poison isn’t… easy to stop,” she commented, winking playfully. “So stay away from my flower, stray cat.”
They separated immediately. Jason looked anywhere but at Tim or his mentor. Tim simply stepped back, crossing his fingers in hopes of avoiding a reprimand from his own mentor.
“Hello, beautiful ladies. And others.”
Robin’s voice cut through the tension that had built, drawing everyone’s attention toward him. He slowed his steps, picking up on the almost claustrophobic atmosphere despite the open rooftop.
Robin stopped, nearly hiding behind Batman as the older man stepped forward to face them.
“Did something happen?” he asked, his voice deep and flat, but still carrying a decent level of courtesy.
Catwoman waved a hand dismissively.
“Young idiots in love, that’s all.”
Tim didn’t know who let out the sharper squeak, but both he and Jason definitely had, exposed without mercy in front of Batman.
Jason lifted his gaze, only for his eyes to collide with Tim’s. Both of them feeling everything openly, without restraint. No magic, no lie between them, leaving them exposed in a way neither had even been ready to consider.
Robin raised his hand, and Tim didn’t know whether to call it luck or misfortune, but he spoke without caring about the situation.
“Does that mean I can ask Kori out?”
Yes, young Robin, draw the attention to yourself so Jason and I can ignore everything until we are forced to face it.
“There’s no time for that,” Ivy cut in. “There’s a chemical bomb somewhere in Gotham, and we need to stop it.”
Wait… that’s what’s going on?
They needed to stop the bomb, or he needed to die happy, poisoned by Jason’s lips.
Whichever came first.