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"Robin. Robin. Robin. Al? Hey--!! Wonder Boy? Bird of Steel? Rob on the Cob? Helloooo!! Earth to Robin!!"
Tim's head hurt. He noticed that only after Kon's voice broke through the fog. He considered pondering the correlation, and maybe he would've made a quick quip about it as he came to, but alas, he really wasn't in the mood right now. Preposterous, yes! But true.
The cold concrete beneath him seeped through his insulated suit, causing a small but sharp shiver to shoot up his spine. The light breeze indicated that the two were probably higher up and outside. Perhaps on a roof? A balcony? His head was pounding in sync with the aches strewn across the rest of his body, and he figured it was still night if his patrol injuries were still this fresh.
Reluctantly, he peeled one eye open just to get a perfect view of Kon's face and Kon's face alone. Okay, wow. Close. Very close. Too close. This is probably a better time than ever to announce his freshly conscious state.
"What the hell're you doing here, Superboy?" He groaned as he sat up, using his free arm to push Kon's face out of the way of his own. He wasn't aware that signing up for a hero team meant the extinction of personal space, but apparently, as he'd learned the hard way, the fine print says otherwise. Bart, Greta--hell, even Cassie all had hard times when it came to staying in one's lane. Kon was no different.
Kon's worry-wart expression shifted into relief, and Tim felt a relief of his own wash over. Strange, but he didn't think much of it. Nobody would want to see their friend all strung up like that. "You're alright!! Phew. No offense, but dragging your unconscious body all around Gotham to getcha some help does not sound like my idea of fun."
"Right." Tim nodded slowly.
He tried to recall the events that lead him to where he was now: laid out on a rooftop in what looked like the Fasion District with a raging headache and a red and blue contribution to said headache. The last thing he remembered was getting caught off guard by a big group--some kind of new gang in town?--in an alley while he was getting ready to head back to Brentwood before they did curfew check-ins and... Well, not much after that. Just great. He really hoped he didn't have a concussion. It was nearing time for winter break and he really didn't want to go home just to explain a concussion to his dad and Dana.
Kon finally decided to grant Tim the luxury of some space and Tim decided that the disappointment that panged through his chest was from the loss of warmth in the harsh Gotham winter. No other reason, of course.
"You didn't answer my question. Why're you here? I didn't take Gotham to be your ideal vacation spot this time of year." He raised an eyebrow--not that Kon could see it all that well, but it's the thought that counts--and folded his arms to keep his hands warm. As well-insulated as this winter suit was, he still needed to preserve all the warmth he could get.
Kon himself was bundled up more than Tim, and it was kind of offputting not seeing him in his typical hero attire. He'd almost forgotten about Kon's brand new lack of TTK. Thankfully, his mind offered up the info before he and his big mouth decided to question the abnormality. Score one for Tim Drake, zero for major humiliation.
"Well, my severely concussed friend," great way to start things off, "I happened to be in the area when I saw you, despite lacking a bit in the damsel department, in quite a bit of distress!! And who am I to turn down the opportunity to save your bossy butt?" He grinned like he was proud of some major achievement and like he hadn't explained the situation at hand in the least eloquent way possible. Not that Tim would've said it much better, but still. He deserved to complain a bit. He earned it with the apparent concussion.
A cold chill blew past them, and Tim drew his cape a little closer. A small voice in the back of his mind urged him to give into the Young Justice habit of invading personal bubbles, but that voice was stupid and subsequently ignored. He had an image to uphold, after all. Not only that, but snuggling up to one of your friends wasn't exactly the kind of thing dudes were supposed to do. Yeah, Tim was gonna have to give a big fat veto to that idea.
Kon peeked an eye open, pouting at Tim's unimpressed expression. "Well? Where's my 'Thank you, Mighty Superboy!' or 'You're my hero, you handsome devil!'? I totally saved you from those dweebs in leather!!"
Right. That.
"Thank you for the help, Superboy. I don't believe for a second that you just 'happened to be in the area,' but I appreciate you being here anyways to save my normal butt." Okay, maybe he was grinning a little. Just a smidge. Sue him! Kon had a way of making him do that even when he irritated the life outta him. It wasn't Tim's fault he was so darn... Kon-ish.
Kon fiddled with the cuffs of his jacket, lips tugging into a small frown. He was one of the more expressive guys Tim knew.
Maybe it was a bad thing to have such a terrible poker face in their line of work, but Tim kind of liked it. He really admired how he wore his heart on his sleeve the way he did in full confidence. It wasn't something Tim himself often had the luxury of, but Kon... Kon had no problem pouting when he was upset or smiling like a madman when he was even the slightest bit cheesed. Weakness or not, Tim liked this trait. He wouldn't want Kon any other way.
Kon let out a huff. "Alright, alright. So maybe I did have a reason for stopping by. But you've gotta promise not to get all upity 'bout it, kay? Like--pinky swear it, Rob."
He extended a gloved pinky toward Tim, the glint of some weird, golden wrist cuff catching Tim's eye. Tim's grin softened and he hooked the pinky offered into his own.
"I solemnly swear that I, Robin, the Boy Wonder, will not get 'all upity' about whatever strange reason you've got for traveling all the way out to Gotham."
It was a bit silly to Tim, but the reassurance seemed to calm Kon's nerves, so he didn't mind.
"Look. You've never had powers, right? And I've never not had powers. Until--well, now. And I kinda, sorta, maybe, possibly... thought that hanging with you for a bit could help me get used to it. Y'know, learn the ways of the non-powered!!" He continued fiddling with the cuff of his jacket, looking anywhere but Tim in a way that could almost be described as endearing. It won't be--not by Tim--but it could. "Guardian's been helping loads, but diversity's always good and, well, you're like... one've the best non-powered heroes I know!!" He smiled sheepishly.
"Don't let that get to your head." He tacked on.
Tim blinked a couple times, quite frankly caught a bit off guard by Kon's outright ask for help. It wasn't something he was all that used to from him, but... He couldn't just leave him hanging. Brentwood curfews be damned.
If Kon wanted some kinda training help or company or whatever else he was seeking by coming to Tim, who was he to turn him down? Kon was his friend. "Sure. I'll help you, Kon. You can join me on pa--"
"Woah, woah, woah!! Hold the phone real quick, Robbie. You can't go back to patroling like that!!"
Tim's smile quickly evapporated. "What? Didn't you just say you wanted me to help you get better at heroing without powers?"
Kon was frowning too now, eyebrows knit in that way that they did whenever one of his friends worried him. You'd think with how loud and reckless he could be, he wouldn't be one of the worriers of the team, but he was a surprisingly considerate person, especially with his friends. Tim kind of wished he wasn't right now.
"Dude. Your brain's gotta be splitting in two right now with how hard one've those lame-o's hit you earlier. I can't letcha go out with a bump the shape, size, and color of Reddy's head on the back of your's!!" He leaned over to peek at the area Tim (alegedly) got hit, and Tim promptly shifted to prevent such an act of invasion.
"You're being dramatic."
"Am not."
"Are to."
"Am not."
"Are--I'm not doing this with you, Kon. I'm fine. Promise."
Kon's frown deepened. "Isn't there any--I dunno, train-y stuff we can do that doesn't involve you and a guaranteed incoming wipeout? I did mention that I don't want to be dragging your sorry butt around the city, right?"
The throbbing in the back of Tim's head seemed to agree with Kon's worries. It's not that Tim was particularly looking forward to the possibility of a double concussion, but he felt like he had to find some kinda way to help Kon here. Maybe he was making assumptions, but Kon had to be having a real lousy time right now, powerless for the first time in his two years of life. Tim wasn't much of a fan of seeing Kon so down in the dumps--when he even got to see him. After all, when a powered hero lost their powers, that usually meant no more heroing. This seemed to apply to Kon for a bit since he showed up less and less to help Young Justice out with their missions.
The peace and quiet was fine or whatever, but Kon's obnoxious laugh and stupid boasts were something Tim felt himself almost missing with his more spotty team appearances these days.
Weird, right?
He sighed. "I guess we can just... hang out? Y'know, like normal hanging out."
"Egad!!" Kon gasped overdramatically, "Is that our fearless leader trading a training opportunity for fun time with his buddy?! Well, gee! If you really insist, how could I fathom rejecting this important bonding time with you?!"
For some reason, Tim was beginning to think Kon never intended on sticking to business in the first place.
"Yeah, yeah," Tim relented. If he couldn't help Kon by training him, it was the least he could do to try and cheer him up.
"Come, my noble steed!! We've a city to explore!!"
Kon wrapped an arm around Tim's shoulders, pulling him into his side and gesturing out toward the city beyond. He normally would have pushed him away and made a face, but Kon was warm and he was smiling with all his teeth and he looked so excited to just hang out with him. It'd be cruel to make any distance! Alas, Tim didn't have any choice but to chuckle and lean in.
"Noble steed? Really? Am I just a horse to you, Superboy?" He grinned.
"A stallion, more like--wait is that really what that means? I heard it on a commercial the other day."
Tim's amused huff just made Kon more confused.
"What? Sue me for assuming the dude and his horse were best buds!!" He grumbled, pulling his arm away to fold it in front of his chest.
"So you're calling the two of us best buds?"
Kon's cheeks blazed a bright red. "Well, I'd like to think we're pretty damn close..."
Tim laughed again, pulling him back into that side hug from before. It didn't feel awkward or emasculating like he'd assumed. It was kind of nice, actually. Natural, the way his hand rested on his side and his torso slid next to his. Two puzzle pieces meant to stick together. "Well then, cowboy, it looks like we've got some city-wrangling to do, eh?"
Kon lit up instantly.
Gotham's light pollution was something often unappreciated. It was like it was specifically tailored to eliminate any possibility of getting even a glimpse of the stars up above no matter where in the city you were. It brightly lit up the concrete jungle unnaturally and cast long, dark shadows perfect for the criminal population to lurk and scheme in. It was obnoxious and, while not on the top of Tim's things to dislike about Gotham, it was certainly on the list.
But right now, Tim didn't think an ounce of that light could amount to how bright Kon's smile was.
Alright, maybe that was kinda corny, but who could blame him?
The answer was nobody. It was just the two of them up here. Robin and Superboy, Tim and Kon. Nobody to judge or scold or give them crap. Just the two of them.
Tim thought faintly that they should hang out alone more. Just the two of them had a ring to it.
Kon's arm snaked back around him, not unlike the feeling of his TTK keeping him afloat when he carried him through the skies on missions. He was warm, though. The TTK wasn't as warm. He liked the warmth. Tim returned his smile with one of his own, leaning close and squeezing his side.
"You said it, Wonder Boy!! The city waits for no man!!" Kon cheered, pulling Tim up with him as he stood. He looked out toward the city with an eager look on his face, deciding where to go. Tim wasn't looking anywhere but the boy beside him.
The closeness wasn't so bad, now that he thought about it.