Close to Home - chapter 15

[iesika]

Close to Home

15

"Hey, Cowboy," Clarence called from the sidewalk. "Come introduce your friend."

Kon seized the excuse to pull away and step back. "Um," he said.

"Cowboy," Tim said, not quite a question.

"Cuz of the farm and - it's dumb." He turned to looked at Clarence, who had a curious and expectant look on his face. Behind him, Jake was still holding Caroline's purse, his mouth wide open. "Um. This is my - I mean, this is-" he felt Tim brush a hand across the small of his back, and then he touched Kon's arm lightly as he stepped up onto the curb. "Tim." He finished.

Tim's walk was all different - looser, somehow, especially around the hips - and for a moment all Kon could do was stare. He watched Tim look around at the darkened street, the storefronts, the crowd of teenagers, like he was a tourist in a strange and foreign country. While he didn't actually say anything, his whole bearing seemed to scream the word 'quaint,' like maybe Smallville was a third-world village with interesting local customs.

The other kids from the club were staring right back, too, like maybe he was the space alien in their midst. Kon cleared his throat and gestured at them in turn. "This is Clarence," he said, "Lilah, uh, Carson? Right? Hi. And Katie and Mel, Caroline, and this is-"

Tim took a few lazy steps into Jake's personal space, forcing him back half a step. "You must be Jake," he said, holding out his hand for a shake that made Jake wince a little. "Conner's told me so much about you."

Jake, for his part, looked a bit like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming semi. Kon thought maybe he knew how he felt. He watched, helpless and stupid, as Tim looked Jake blatantly up and down without letting go of his hand. His eyes came to rest on Caroline's purse, and he smirked. "What a lovely handbag," he said, pleasantly, and then turned abruptly back to Kon, dropping Jake's hand without another thought. "So sorry I'm late," he told Kon, his voice warm. "Is there time for me to clean up a bit before we go? Between the flight and the ride..." he brushed a stray hair back from his face. "I know I must be a mess."

God, his voice. It was low and lazy in the back of his throat, with way more of an uptown Gotham accent than usual, and he sounded like he couldn't quite make up his mind between flirtatious and insulting. "Uh, no, you look," Kon swallowed. "Good. But, uh, we've still got a little time."

"I assume this..." Tim glanced up at the sign above the door, "...fine establishment has a restroom I might borrow?"

"What? Oh. Um, sure. Here, it's -" he opened the door and held it for Tim, and then realized what he'd just done and considered punching himself in the face - it would have to hurt his brain less - but Tim just walked through the door like it was the most natural thing in the world, catching Kon's wrist in a light grip as he passed and tugging him subtly along behind him.

"Unless you're going for 'love-struck beyond all hope of redemption," Tim murmured under his breath, "you might want to work on that pole-axed look a little. I mean, I know I'm absolutely ravishing tonight-"

"Oh, God, shut up," Kon hissed back. "Why the hell did you come as yourself?"

"I didn't," Tim told him with a brief, hard little smile, looking like himself for half a moment before they got to the bathroom doors. The smile melted into the lazy, lopsided smirk that apparently meant Tim Wayne, socialite, and his eyes ticked to the door in a silent cue. Kon sighed and pushed it open for him, and then let it go to turn back to his friends, who had followed them inside.

The moment the bathroom door shut, Chase grabbed him by the arm and forced him into a booth. "How the fuck are you dating Tim Wayne?" he demanded in an undertone as he slid into the seat across from him. Clarence and Lilah crowded in around them, but Jake lingered a few yards away by the counter, stacking plates and cups for his sister, who was still in the back somewhere. Caroline was busy at the center of a circle near the front, telling everyone who'd listen who had just walked into the diner.

Stick to the truth when possible, right? "I, uh. Asked."

"You - " Chase's mouth dropped open, and he stared. "Damn. You've got balls."

Delilah shoved Chase until he moved over enough for her to sit down beside him. "Where did you even meet him?"

"Uh. Gotham." Tim emerged from the bathroom, his hair now brushed back, neatly, and gelled into place. Everyone was so focused on Kon, though, that they didn't see him.

"Okay," she said, "but how?"

Tim stepped forward and rested his hands on the back of the booth on either side of Delilah's shoulders. When she didn't notice his presence, he leaned forward a little. "Well," he said, making her jump, "his cousin's a friend of the family. I needed Clark’s help with something one day and ended up with Conner instead."

Which was totally true, but there had been supervillains involved. Kon bit the inside of his lips to keep from laughing.

"And he just made such an impression that I had to chase him down."

Such an impression in the sidewalk. Ivy had gotten her clutches on him and Tim had chased them all the way to Hawaii with a chunk of kryptonite. But fine, if Tim wanted to play that way... "You just didn't like it that I left with that smokin' redhead."

Chase was turning back and forth in his seat like he was watching a particularly riveting tennis match. Delilah was doing a reasonable job of pretending not to be seriously annoyed that Tim was leaning over her head.

Tim narrowed his eyes just a little. "I was only looking out for you. She had a bit of a...reputation."

"So," Kon said, feeling like he was maybe getting the hang of things, "when you followed us back to my place and punched me in the face..."

Tim's eyes narrowed even further, and suddenly Kon recognized the shift in expression as a tiny little Robin-smile hidden underneath the snobby smirk. "I still maintain that was entirely justified," Tim said, and it was the most like himself he'd sounded since he'd gotten there. It made Kon grin. Tim was still there, under the supercilious and weirdly flirtatious attitude. As long as he could still see Tim through the disguise, he could remember that this was a disguise, and hopefully make it through the next few hours without an aneurysm.

Chase turned sideways in the booth and scooted back so that he could see the both of them. "I've lost all faith in the International Querier," he said, sounding slightly awed. "How the hell did you keep that out of the tabloids?"

"He wasn't a Wayne then," Kon said. "Were you? Sweetheart."

"Not by name, no," Tim agreed. He tilted his head and shot Kon a surprisingly heated look from under lowered lashes. "Darling."

He and Tim stared each other down for a long moment, until Jake spoke up, quietly, from over by the counter. "So... I'm sorry if this sounds rude. You're really Bruce Wayne's son?"

"Adopted," Tim said, turning his lazy-snake smile on Jake, who kept wiping his hands on his slacks.

Jake's eyes jumped rapidly from Tim to Kon and back again a few times, like he thought he must be missing something. A punchline, maybe.

"I always thought Wayne was queer," Chase said. "I mean, aren't you like the third or fourth guy to move in with him?"

Tim made a face. "I'd rather not think about his love life if I can help it, thank you."

"There's a lot of rumors, though," Chase went on. "Hasn't he ever-"

"Ew," Kon said loudly, cutting him off. "Chase, seriously, stop. He's-" he glanced at Tim. "He's-" Batman. "-like Tim's dad, okay?"

"Does he know?" Clarence asked. "About you, I mean?"

Tim laughed before Kon could answer. "Oh, definitely. We've butted heads over Conner more times than I can count."

Clarence frowned. "He doesn't like that you're dating a guy?"

It was Kon's turn to laugh, because he knew the answer to that one. "He just doesn't like me."

"Oh, come on," Tim said, smiling. "He's warmed up. After all that traveling I did last fall, he told me how glad he was you'd been there for me when I needed you."

Kon sat back, blinking. There wasn't any way to take that without it being a compliment. From Batman.

"Anyway, we don't talk about our feelings all that much, but he lends me the jet when I want to visit Conner. That has to mean something, don't you think?"

"Jet?" Jake squeaked.

Tim rolled his shoulders back and sighed. "I don't know how anyone managed a long distance affair without one. Even before I got my pilot's license, my brother would fly me out-"

"Your...brother," Chase said, looking sly. "You do have brothers."

"Three," Tim agreed.

"Any of them single?"

The laugh that exploded out of Kon's mouth surprised even him. Everyone in the diner turned to look at him, but he couldn't stop. He covered his mouth to muffle the sound and hunched over the table. When he finally got himself under control, there were tears in his eyes. "You - ha!" He wiped his face. "Oh God. Sorry, Chase, but bad news. One's eleven, one's psychotic, and the only one worth talking to about the most enthusiastically hetero dude I've ever met."

Tim's smirk sharpened until he looked like himself. "What makes you think Dick is straight?"

"Um," Kon said, taken aback. "Kory?"

"You should talk to your cousin more," Tim said, then stood up from his lean. "Shouldn't we be going? I mean, I do understand the concept of 'fashionably late,' but there's taking things too far..."

"Wait," Kon said, shocked, but everyone was agreeing with Tim and shuffling their purses and jackets around as they stood. "No, wait, dude - Tim!"

Tim turned around.

"Clark?"

Tim shrugged.

"No way."

Jake was the only person still paying attention to them, and he was staring at Tim with his eyes and mouth wide. He'd said he knew Clark, Kon remembered, so of course he was flabbergasted, because Tim was totally making that up. He had to be.

"No way," Kon repeated. "Ha ha, funny joke."

"I have pictures," Tim said casually as Russell came and led Jake away toward the door. "Now come on, or we'll get left behind, and I don't know where we're going."

Pictures? Pictures? Tim had - what? What kind of pictures? Kon sat frozen, half out of the booth.

"If you don't hurry up, I might show you," Tim threatened.

Kon hurried.

*

The others all piled into cars and minivans, and, after a brief attempt on Katie's part to get him to swap rides, Kon found himself perched awkwardly on the back of Tim's Ducati, trying to decide what the hell to do with his hands. He'd never actually ridden on a motorcycle - not a real one. There had been the Supercycle, but he didn't think that counted. There'd been a passenger area on the back - and, well, it had been sentient. And flown at several hundred miles per hour.

Kon didn't actually need to hang on, but it would look weird if he didn't. But that caused all kinds of new problems. Was he supposed to grab onto Tim, or to the seat, or what? There wasn't a bitch bar, and even if there had been, he and Tim were supposed to be dating, right?

"Put your arms around me," Tim said under his breath.

Kon rested his hands on Tim's waist.

"Tight," Tim insisted, and then stood briefly to kick the engine on. Kon hadn't quite been prepared for how it would feel thrumming between his legs. He wound up grabbing Tim around the chest as the bike roared into motion, so where to put his hands wasn't as much of an issue as he had feared.

If Kon were riding on a motorcycle behind someone he was actually dating, he was pretty sure he would have considered it a sexual experience. He could feel Tim's heart against his chest and under his hands and the twitch of his muscles as they leaned into the turns, bodies pressed tightly together. Since this was Tim, though, Kon was pretty much trying not to think about how closely he was molded against Tim's ass, and how the seat was vibrating under him. He didn't even try to cop a feel.

They were going to have to dance together, Kon realized, suddenly. Did Tim even dance? Kon had a hard time imagining him even doing the Junior High Sway, but this Tim Wayne... Kon could only hope he didn't get dragged into some kind of fancy ballroom thing he didn't know. It would be an excellent way to make him look like an idiot.

The community center was only a few blocks away. When they got there, it was all lit up and surrounded by cars and clusters of teenagers in suits and dresses. The roar of the Ducati made most of them turn to look - and stare, though Kon wasn't sure if it was them or the bike that got more attention until they dismounted - and the eyes followed.

The rest of the club unloaded from their vans like clowns out of a circus car, but they didn't really start attracting notice until everyone started to pair up. Tim put his arm around Kon's waist, his hand resting possessively against the small of Kon's back. He leaned up on his toes and pressed his mouth to Kon's ear. "Showtime, loverboy."

Oh, that wasn't fair! Kon was - Kon had very sensitive ears! And super-hearing, so it wasn't like Tim needed to get that close! He shivered and fell in with the others, who were arranged loosely in a double line with Clarence alone up front like a drum major. There was some jeering and catcalling from the kids around them, and Kon heard several people muttering angrily and several more laughing, but no one actually approached them as they walked through the big double doors into the lobby, which Kon could only think was a good sign.

They were stopped at the doors to the reception hall, though, by an older man Kon didn't recognize who apparently had a problem with Daniel's boyfriend. "If you're not a student, I can't let you in."

"But I bought him a date ticket," Daniel protested.

Kon and Tim moved up through the line, past the rest of the students milling about.

"Date tickets are for dates, young man, not your friends from other schools."

"He is my date," Daniel said.

The man blinked and took a step back. "No, that's - that's unacceptable."

"Why?" Kon asked. "Look, you just let in Lilah's boyfriend, and he's not even in high school."

"Shh," Russell hissed from behind him.

"We could rearrange a bit, if that's what it takes," Katie said. She hooked her hand through Kon's arm. "Your boyfriend can walk in with Mel. Caroline and Daniel can swap-"

"No," Kon said, "he's going to let us in. We bought date tickets, we brought dates, end of story."

The man looked around at the crowd of same-sex couples now filling half the lobby. "Is this some kind of stunt? A prank?"

Tim huffed and pushed Katie off of Kon's arm to hold it himself. "Is this town really that backward?"

"This is a high school dance!" Kon said. "Everyone's just going to stand around talking and drinking punch, anyway. What do you think we're going to do?"

"Obviously he's aware you can't keep your hands off me," Tim said, sounding bored. "We will, of course, begin the homosexual orgy the moment his back is turned."

Kon was too busy choking on his laughter - which just got worse with the look on the doorman's face - to notice who was approaching from within the hall, until it was really too late. He saw one enormous hand land on the guy's shoulder with a clap, and then he was looking up into Clark's faintly amused face.

Kon was pretty sure he was going to die.

"Something wrong, Earl?" Clark asked the doorman with full mild-mannered Clark Kent earnestness. "Oh, hi, Conner. I was wondering where you were."

"What are you doing here?" Kon blurted before he could stop himself. Oh, God. He couldn't even look Clark in the face, because he just kept thinking about what Tim had said about pictures.

"Well, the school sent out letters asking for chaperones, and I thought it might be nice to visit Ma for the weekend. Lois is around here somewhere - she's hiding, though. One of the English teachers was trying to talk her into a guest lecture, and she suddenly developed a weak bladder. Oh, but look, we're holding everyone up. Come on in, stop blocking the door."

"But-" Earl protested.

"Tim," Clark said, holding out a hand to shake. "Nice to see you. How's the takeover bid going?"

"If you were supposed to know," Tim said, "Bruce would have told you."

"Ha! Okay, fair enough," he backed up from the door, motioning Kon and the others to follow suit. "Had to try, though. A man has to make his living somehow. Still, good to see you. Are you staying over?"

"Well," Tim said, sounding suddenly sly. He wrapped his arm around Kon's back, despite Kon's attempt at subtly pushing him off. "That depends."

"On?"

"Whether you and Lois are taking the guest room. You know I don't mind bunking with Conner..."

Kon couldn't take it anymore. He grabbed Tim's arm and marched him away out to the dance floor, where the other club members were gathered. "What the hell?" he demanded.

"Sweetie," Tim said in his stupid, horrible Tim Wayne voice. "You know I'm just teasing." He caught Kon's hand and threaded their fingers together, and then put his free hand on Kon's shoulder. "Come dance with me?" His eyes cut to the side, and Kon turned his head to see Jake watching them from over Russell's shoulder.

"You-" Kon hissed. Before he could get another word out, Tim had tugged him forward until their chests were touching and slid his arm around Kon's back. Kon mirrored him without even thinking about it, so that his palm was pressed against the space between Tim's shoulder blades.

"Oh, don't be mad, baby. Clark knows I was only kidding."

"Are you sure?" Kon demanded, quietly now that they were standing so close. There were a lot of people looking at them, he realized. "Why is he even here?"

Tim started to sway with the music, urging Kon along with him in a slow arc. "You realize," he said in an undertone, sounding blessedly like himself despite his Tim Wayne smile," There's a good chance that the killer is here tonight? And your friends-" he nodded at Katie and Mel who were dancing nearby, Mel's cheek pressed to Katie's décolletage, "-are being deliberately provocative?"

"Provocative," Kon scoffed. "They're just dancing."

"They're making a statement," Tim corrected, "socially and politically. They're refusing to be cowed. It's admirable, but it does raise the possibility of attracting your killer's attention."

Kon stumbled a little as Tim turned them around. It was weird talking to him with their faces so close together, but, hey, at least Tim had brushed his teeth recently. "You really think the killer would try something here, as crowded as it is?"

"If he's angry enough? Maybe." Tim shifted his grip on Kon's back, pulling him a little closer. He smelled different than usual - faint cologne and something that might have been his hair product, instead of clean sweat and chemicals. "And it's probably best if Superboy doesn't make an appearance, if he can help it."

Kon stopped moving.

"As someone who's had to really fight in front of his classmates - well, I thought you'd rather avoid the experience."

"You asked him to come!"

Tim tugged until Kon fell back into position and let himself be led in a vague circle. "To be fair," he whispered, entirely too close to Kon's ear, "schools are always trying to get their world-renowned Pulitzer-winning alumni to show up at school functions. And he didn't need much convincing."

Kon fumed quietly. "Why are you leading, anyway?"

"Because you weren't moving?" Tim shifted his grip. "Here, you can lead if you want. You're taller, anyway." He stepped away and then back again as they rearranged their limbs, and Kon was surprised to find he missed the warmth and feel of him for the brief moment he was gone. "I didn't invite him to embarrass you," Tim went on. "He's backup."

"Since when-" Kon realized his voice was too loud and lowered it to a harsh, quick whisper. "Since when do the two of us need backup to handle one low-level meta?"

Tim looked at him slyly, somewhere between Red Robin and Tim Wayne. It was disconcerting to say the least. He pressed himself closer to Kon and laid his head on Kon's shoulder, his breath warm against Kon's neck. "Since we became the most attractive targets on the floor."

"Since-" Kon repeated, then broke off. "What?"

Kon would have thought it impossible, but Tim definitely snuggled closer, until his lips were just brushing Kon's skin as he spoke. "Look around, loverboy. Everyone's watching us."

Kon looked up. Jake and Russell were still dancing not far away, with considerably more space between them than Tim and Kon had. Jake was definitely watching them - he quickly glanced away when he saw Kon looking up. All around them, though, people were glancing their way at least periodically. He opened up his awareness of his hearing, for a moment, and yes, underneath the music and the general hum of conversation, a lot of people were talking about Tim Wayne and Conner Kent.

"You evil genius," Kon whispered in admiration. He was so used to thinking of Tim as an expert on going unnoticed, but he'd completely turned that around, tonight. It really was like Mr. Sarcastic all over again, in a weird way. "That's why you're like this? Why you didn't wear a disguise? Why you're being so..." Obnoxious? Flirtatious?

"In part. Do you read the tabloids?" Tim asked. "Watch the entertainment channels?"

"Uh, no."

Tim pressed his face against Kon's shoulder with a chuckle. "Hm. No wonder you were so floored, then, if you've never seen Brucie in action."

Kon's mouth twisted. "Brucie?" he asked. He couldn't mean Batman, because no way would anyone give Batman a stupid nickname like that.

Tim stepped back a little and changed his grip, and.. shifted, somehow, his whole posture changing. "Ha ha ha, tiger!" He yanked Kon around in an uncomfortable circle, dragging him on stunned, stumbling feet. "You're just an amazing dancer, you know that?" He stepped on Kon's foot - hard enough that Kon was glad to be invulnerable. "Oops. Sorry, lovely, it's all this champagne! You know, you should come skiing with me and the boys, sometime. There's this darling little chalet in Switzerland - or is it Sweden? Which one has the skiing? I always get them confused. One of them has skiing and the other has meatballs."

"God, stop!" Kon hissed. He yanked Tim back against him and tucked his head back against his shoulder with one hand, trying to shove him back into the other persona. Across the room, he could hear Clark laughing like nothing had ever been funnier. "You're so creepy, sometimes!"

Tim shrugged and then settled back into place. "It's what I do."

"So creepy," Kon repeated, fondly. Tim's hair tickled his lips when he spoke. "How'd you get so good at being other people?"

Tim slid his hand down to rest, warm, in the hollow of Kon's back. "Hm. I'm not sure? Some of it was taught. Bruce and Alfred are both consummate actors. But...well, I've always been good at...hiding, I guess."

"Hiding?" Kon asked. He turned his head to get his mouth out of Tim's hair, pressing his cheek to it instead. His mind went to the old Robin mask - the green one Tim had been wearing when they first met, with the eyes hidden by white lenses. He hadn't seen what was behind that mask for a long time. They'd been friends and teammates, fighting together and with each other, saving lives, saving each other's lives, and he hadn't known what color Tim's eyes were. Hadn't known his name. Hadn't even known he had a family until long after half of it was dead. Tim's own parents hadn't even known him - not really. Maybe not until the end. "Yeah," he said, and for some reason his throat went a little tight.

"It's all about preserving the secrets," Tim went on, against Kon's shoulder, apparently oblivious to Kon's sudden change in mood. "What we do - us poor crazy normals in masks and tights, I mean - well, it relies on fear, and mystery. It wouldn't work without the act. So Red Robin isn't me. But I'm not always Tim, either. Or Tim's not always me." He paused and shook his head, pulling back to look at Kon. "That probably doesn't make any sense."

"You can be yourself with me, though," Kon said seriously. "You know that, right? We - you and me - there's nothing you'd ever have to hide from me."

Tim's expression didn't change - not really - but his eyes went strangely soft for a moment. They were really blue, up close like this - really kind of startling. Tim's pupils were wide in the low light, with just a thin circle of pale color around the edges. Then Tim blinked twice and turned his face minutely away. He swallowed. "We're not alone now, though."

Kon glanced around. There were definitely a few people still looking at them, but it wasn't nearly as bad as before. "Yeah, but I think everybody's getting bored."

Tim made tiny sound of disapproval. "We can't have that."

Kon chuckled. "So, Mr. Expert, what do you suggest we do about it?"

Tim was silent for a moment, and then cocked his head just a fraction of an inch, falling back into his Tim Wayne smile. "Dip me."

"What?"

"Dip me," Tim insisted.

Kon rolled his eyes, but when the music got to a bit where it didn't seem too out of place, he spun Tim onto his arm with an exaggerated flourish and dipped him low, until only his telekinesis and Tim's crazy balance were keeping him off the floor. Tim laughed loudly - not his real laugh, but something bright and plastic - and threw his head back, his eyes sparkling.

He really looked like he was having a wonderful time. Kon spared a moment to wonder if he'd been that way with Spoiler, back before she'd broken his heart. He didn't think he'd ever seen what Tim looked like in love, and that seemed like a horrible shame all of a sudden. Tim was so closed off all the time, now. Kon would have loved to see him open and happy like that, for real, instead of as part of an act.

He pulled Tim back up from the dip into another spin, and then caught him and pulled him close with enough force that Tim had to catch himself with his hands on Kon's chest. He felt those hands slide up over his shirt, and Kon thought Tim was reaching for his shoulders until Tim's fingers stroked right up his neck to cup his jaw and pull him down. He realized what was happening just in time not to actually jump when Tim's lips met his, his mouth firm and demanding against Kon's own, his breath warm and faintly scented with mint.

Kon froze in shock, every muscle in his body locked tight. Around them, he could hear the reactions of the other dancers as if through a fog - sounds of shock and disgust and, in the case of a few of his friends, transports of delight. Across the room, he could hear Clark choking on his punch, and then Lois laughed, and somehow that was the impetus he needed to wrap his arms tight around Tim's waist and kiss him back.

If everyone was going to stare, anyway, they might as well give them a show. Kon bent Tim back over his arm, the kiss deep and wet and as filthy as he could make it. He licked across Tim's mouth, showy and sloppy as something out of a porno flick, licked his teeth and his tongue. He pressed their bodies tight and just went for it, kissing Tim like they were fucking right there on the dance floor, open-mouthed and panting - and Tim gave back as good as he got, biting Kon's lips, sucking his tongue, deep and hard - moaning, one hand cupping the curve of Kon's skull, the other sliding down to grip his ass and pull their hips together.

It was the moan that got to Kon, reverberating in Tim's chest, rumbling up into the back of his throat and spilling into Kon's mouth. Kon swallowed it, greedy, because even though he knew this was all an act, one more perfect character moment from Tim Wayne, gay socialite, it still felt real. It felt good. He was getting that bubbling feeling in his chest again, the way he felt when he managed to make Tim really laugh, and - oh. Shit. Fuck. Kon was really getting a little too into it, because - he felt a jolt go through him as Tim's teeth scraped along his tongue - because he was getting hard. He tried to pull back a little, to ease off, but Tim wasn't having it. He wouldn't let Kon go - wouldn't let him pull back.

Tim was going to feel it, the way their hips were pressed together. Any second now. Kon tugged, harder this time. He felt Tim's grip slip a little, but he still didn't let go. Kon didn't know how he was supposed to get himself out of this situation - he couldn't just push Tim back. They were supposed to be boyfriends - and anyway, Tim would probably guess why Kon was suddenly reluctant to keep up their act. God, he would never let Kon live it down!

"Gentlemen!"

Kon broke the kiss with a gasp, stumbling back as Tim's hold suddenly relaxed. He just stood there for a few seconds, panting and staring at Tim, whose eyes were closed, his lips still parted, his breath coming fast and uneven. Kon could only stare stupidly at him as Principal Cross put his hand on Kon's shoulder.

"Mr. Kent, I'm amazed at your behavior," Cross said, his voice low and barely audible over the buzzing in Kon's ears. "This is a school function. And before you say anything, you wouldn't be allowed to act like that no matter who your date was."

"I..." Kon said. He shook his head and blinked hard a few times. "Sorry, sir, I didn't mean - um.." When he trailed off, Tim's eyes drifted slowly open, just enough for Kon to see how dark they were under his fluttering lashes. He lost his train of thought completely.

"Go get some punch," Cross said, and patted him on the shoulder. "Some air. Cool off a little."

"Yeah," Kon said without really hearing what he'd agreed to. He watched Tim's tongue dart over his lip and disappear again, and Kon licked his own lips in sympathy. God, that had been... Kon didn't think he'd ever had a kiss quite like that, before, and he wasn't even sure what about it made it so different. It had felt... He shuddered hard, all over, and shook his head again. Tim watched him from under heavy eyelids, his eyes darting down and then back up to Kon's face.

Fuck. Kon resisted the urge to glance down, himself. That had definitely turned him on more than he should have. He probably wasn't obvious, but Tim could probably see just what affect the kiss had on him. One kiss. Kon hadn't gotten hard from just a kiss in years. He felt like he was fresh out of the tube, again, with no control over his hormones. He felt...

Had Tim always been so good-looking?

Index | 16

Comments

[ladymirth.livejournal.com]

GLEE. GLEE, I TELL YOU!

THAT IS ALL. I AM PAST ALL COHERENCY. I was howling loud enough when Tim was impersonating a mix of Damien and Zachary Zatara but the Brucie bit just literally made me fall down.

And actually, the first time I read the kiss I was all, 'WANTWANTWANT" but build-up was so good on its own that it almost didnt need the climatic kiss even though it was certainly a delicious bonus.

I FUCKING LOVE YOU. EXPECT MORE MARRIAGE PROPOSALS. Which wouldn't work because I don't think they allow gay marriage in either of our countries. *tear*

[iesika.livejournal.com]

Your glee feeds mine!

... when Tim was impersonating a mix of Damien and Zachary Zatara...

YES. That is exactly what he I was aiming for...plus a healthy dose of oldschool Selina only-brunnette-at-the-ball Kyle.

Where do you live? I'm sure we could meet in the middle, somewhere for the wedding.

[ladymirth.livejournal.com]

Well, I live in Sri Lanka and you're in the States, so I suppose we could meet and marry in Europe, which is awesome because their legislative bodies are not as retarded as ours.

[eliyes.livejournal.com]

I hear Spain is lovely this time of year. ;)

[eliyes.livejournal.com]

You've nailed Clark, adn as I love him, then I must also love you. ;3 His laughter over Tim's Brucie impression was classic, and I'm guessing he choked on his punch and Lois laughed at him when he realised that Kon's not actually playing gay?

[fictionalknight.livejournal.com]

[I should probably have left fdk for the other parts, but I couldn't stop reading long enough. *giggles* I'm loving this story!]

It seemed like you were implying something between Dick and Clark, if I read this right? (please tell me I read it right?!) I have a crazy little thing for that pairing... <3

Anyhoo...I'm going to hop over to the next part so I can get done with this before it's time for bed... ;) Must know how it ends! teehee! :D

That kiss at the end of the part was totally awesome, btw. <3333

[drmellifluous.livejournal.com]

I know you're in the middle of moving and such, so I thought I'd drop another comment because I am once again reading this story and though you might like to know someone is enjoying one of your works while you're dealing with the stress of moving.

This chapter might be my fave. It's got everything that the story had been building towards, like the swell of the wave just as it crests, and the ride was just as smooth. Your original characters are so much fun (Jake! Chase!) and Tim Wayne the Socialite Phenom is so well executed in your hands it makes me really wish that char was canon. The easy banter between Kon and Tim is just a joy to read and Clark's inclusion is like a cherry on top (which I guess makes Lois walnuts?).

And then there's that kiss. That steamy, steamy kiss. I don't think Tim was quite expecting that. Oh this story. So good. Thanks again for writing it. Hope your move goes well.