Chapter Text
The sky was more star than anything else. (How powerful.)
The black of darkness was few and far between. The aether was nearly swallowed whole by the burning bright stars that stood like stadium lights, tall and imposing, facing down towards the battle field.
Shards of weapons glinted under the stars. Almost making the battlefield look like it was an unfinished painting. Spots of metal glinting harsh white on the otherwise black ground. Dust and ash replaced half the actual breathable air.
Despite the area brightly lit up, Tim could barely see.
He was drenched wet.
He could not recognize his own voice.
Tim was eleven when he survived his first war, standing victor. The boy in front of him was twelve. That Prince was now a King. (Hail the boy-king.) He did not look it. Tim did not think the prince was anything other than his closest bond. He was precious. He was delightful and lovely. The prince was still here.
They had done it. They won. (How bloody.)
Tim dropped whatever he was holding. It let out a loud CLANG. (Was it a weapon?)
Tim ran to him. Among the viscera was silence.
The boy had an elder’s silver hair, and a too-natural aura that projected uncanny valley vibes. They collided like the stars above. Holding each other’s arms, silently and desperately making sure the other was okay. Unended. Alive.
Tim wanted so much to smile, to show his elation that the other was okay. Show how happy he was that the other was safe. But he couldn’t. Not here. Not after the shitshow they were standing in the aftermath of. They leaned into each other, forehead to forehead.
Then, the prince (boy-king) moved and kissed Tim’s forehead.
Tim felt the ice seeping. Etiquette instilled in him translated the action. A goodbye. No. No. No. That cannot be right. No. Tim refused.
“Please,” Tim tried without crying. “Please-”
Tim did not recognize his own voice. It felt like shards of metal weapons.
“I’m so sorry,” the boy said, “I wanna keep you here.”
Gloved hands cupped his face. Electric green stared into his own eyes. Tim hates how much he relaxes at the sight. (Electric green eyes kept him safe.)
“But I need to protect you-.”
“I'd rather-” Tim sobbed. “Be ended than grow old with-without-”
They held each other in the forgotten battlefield. Walls of red, green, and black. Hills of bodies. The stars bearing down; silent. They had survived too much. They had too much to do. This could not be how this chapter of their existence ends.
“Not without th-the best of you!”
“Then you won’t.”
Deep in his bones, the promise was set. Tim felt it. Magic had sealed this moment forever, carving it into their very existence.
Tim heard the whirring of a portal.
He did not need to turn to see it. It was large, floating at the edge of the blackstone cliff face they were on. Shades of galaxies, orange and red and green; all of which are spiraling. With one last kiss to his forehead, the boy shoved Tim through the portal.
“DANNY”
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“Hey, Cass!” [Happy voice. Slight rasp- indicative of sleep.]
Cass smiled underneath her mask. She loved talking to her family. Keeping the phone to her ear, she jumped gracefully. Turning left, she leapt once more, then ducking down to turn right.
“Hello Tim.”
“Let’s go to the Golden Dragon on Tuesday for lunch. Vietnamese sounds good?”
Of course he knew she was returning to Gotham.
Cass slowed to a stroll, walking down the cement pathway. She always looked forward to hanging out with Tim. Digging into the yellow utility belt around her waist, she hummed in agreement. Lightly fingering the small cylindrical device, she pulled it out, using her thumb to flip the cap open revealing a red button.
“Anyways, how was your day?”
“Productive,” She pressed the red button. Boom. The base imploded. One less Assassin base in the world. “I have souvenirs for everyone.”
“Oh? I can’t wait, Songbird.” [Vocal tilt; Amusement. Curiosity.]
Cass liked that nickname. It made her happy. Her smile widened.
“Have to go, see you Tuesday.” Cass said.
“See you Tuesday, love you.”
“Love you too.”
Just three more days. Cass had a to pack and a plane to catch. She hoped her brother liked the mini Arakhchi hat and valerian root. Armenia was interesting. She needed to pick up a book on Saint Mesrop Mashtots while she was still here.
Cass grappled away.
✧˖°. ⋆｡˚･:*˚:✧｡˖°. ⋆｡˚･:*˚:｡✧˖°. ⋆｡˚･:*˚:✧｡˖.˚･:*˚:✧｡˖°. ⋆｡˚･:*˚:｡✧˖°. ⋆｡˚･:*˚:✧｡. ⋆｡˚･:*˚: .✧
Tim marked Tuesday on his calendar app. Maybe he should brush up on his Vovinam stances before then. The owner deserved his best.
Especially since Cass liked them.
Tim thinks he stopped aging. It’s been awhile. He’s still physically seventeen. (Never grow old.) He tries not to think about it too hard. Anymore.
It did not matter to him right now, it has not affected him harshly yet. So he kept this observation to himself. A tweeting noise interrupted his thoughts. Ah, Tim needed to disable the disappearance contingency. It would not do to have that alarm go off in the middle of his time with Cass.
Tam knocked on the door, “Have a good weekend, Mr Drake-Wayne.”
Tim could hear the pointed-ness of that statement. Yeah, that was fair. He raised his hands, palms towards Tam, in surrender. “I’m logging out now, Tam, promise.”
The woman stared at Tim with suspicious eyes. Rude- fair, but still. Tam huffed, pressing a button on the wall, making the blinds close over the wall of window glass.
“Have a good night Tam, see you Monday.” Tim gave his best I’m-going-I’m-going smile. He even turned off the Police radio he was listening to! (A good podcast.) After staring deadpan for a few more seconds Tam gave a small smile with a huff of air and a wrinkle about her eyes and said goodnight again before leaving. He could hear her heels clicking on the tile to the elevator.
All Tim had to do was deactivate the ‘In case I have disappeared’ contingency code for the week and he was set. He signed in, completing step two.
Black and White became of the room. Tim jerked up. Getting out of his seat. Danger! Then green and red spiraled into galaxies. Tim’s eyes widened. That was a portal-
“What-”
A light blue pendant the colour of Tim’s eyes laid on the ground. Tim was not there.
SIX DAYS REMAINING UNTIL PROTOCOL ACTIVATES
Silence.
The computer screen went to sleep.
In a dirty alley, a small boy carrying an unconscious white haired girl jumped out of a spiraling portal. Running to hide behind a dumpster.